Jonathan,Buhari in war of words

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62317

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Female suicide bombers kill 39 in Yobe, Borno markets 8

ATTACK ON CAMPAIGN BUSES

OBASANJO MEETS JONATHAN. See more faces at Jonathan's Niece' wedding on Page 17.

Jonathan, Buhari in war of words

By Henry Umoru & Dapo Akinrefon

•Opposition is desperate; warn your supporters— Presidency •It's PDP on PDP violence, says Buhari, absolves loyalists

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, traded words with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Major-General Muhammadu (rtd) over the burning of his campaign vehicles in Jos, Plateau State.

President Jonathan, who is running on the banner of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged Buhari to call his supporters to order on the grounds Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

Is CBN defending the naira or dollar?

•P.44

Mr & Mrs ARMED FORCES—From left: Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senate President David Mark; President Goodluck Jonathan, and mother of the President, Madam Eunice Jonathan; at the Inter-Denominational Church Service for the 2015 Nigeria Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Abuja, yesterday. State House photo.

Apostle Fakeye, founder C&S Movement, Ayo nio dies @78 •P. 46

Ambode, others DSS REPORT: challenge INEC on PDP plots to postpone credible polls 10 elections — APC 8

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

PVC LIST—People checking their names on the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) list at a polling unit in Maiduguri, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

ATTACK ON CAMPAIGN BUSES: Jonathan, Buhari in war of words Continues from Page 1 that suspected APC supporters burnt two of his campaign buses, saying that the action was a sign of desperation on the part of the opposition party.

However, the Buhari Campaign Organisation has distanced itself from the allegation, saying that the incident in Jos was a PDP on PDP violence arising from the party’s rigged primaries.

In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, Director of Media and

Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, warned General Buhari and the APC not to prepare the ground for the reenactment of the postelection violence of 2011.

Don't prepare grounds for postelection violence — PDP The statement read: “It is on record that General

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Gratitude is an opener of locked-up blessings — Marianne Williamson “Just a little shift in perception and the universe, all therein, bubbles with sparkling light and colours.

It’s the time of year where all attention should be focused on divine love and the spirit of gratitude, so what does it mean personally, when you hear the phrase “count your blessings.

“Johnson Oatman, Jr., a bi-vocational Methodist minister wrote over 5,000 hymns, including Count Your Blessings in 1897. Count Your Blessings is considered his finest hymn and for over one century it has been one of our most loved hymns. It’s a song of thankfulness to God that is sung by most English speaking people around the world on Thanksgiving Day and all year long. One writer said about Count Your Blessings, “It is like a beam of sunlight that has brightened up the dark places of the earth.”

Reflect upon your present blessings, and just be grateful for life. Gratitude is an opener of locked – up blessings

Buhari’s utterances since 2011 have fuelled violence especially the post-election violence in parts of the North which claimed the lives of many youth corps members who were deployed as ad-hoc staff for that year ’s election.

“It is sad that up till now, General Buhari has refused to apologize to the Nigerian people for that barbaric and shameful incident or show any remorse for the actions of his supporters.

He could not even bring himself to tender an apology to the families of those young corps members that were hacked to death and murdered in cold blood by his agents.

“As if that was not enough tragedy unleashed on the polity, General Buhari recently said that the ‘baboon and the dog would be soaked in blood if what happened in 2011 repeats itself in 2015.

“The Jos attack on the campaign buses of President Goodluck Jonathan would appear to be a pointer to what the opposition APC presidential candidate is planning before and after the February 14 presidential election.

“We, therefore, call on

w e l l - m e a n i n g Nigerians and members of the international community to speak forcefully against this development, which threatens our elections and democracy and which falls way below the standard of best international practices.”

Free, fair elections Also in a separate statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, condemned the action, stressing however, that the incident would not deter the determination of the Federal Government to ensure free and fair elections in the country next month.

Alkali said: “We have observed a dangerous trend of politically motivated violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by supporters of those who have shown desperation to assume political power at all costs.

“While we are not surprised by acts of desperation already shown by these people who have no articulate

agenda for nation building, we are amazed at how quickly they are willing to manifest their evil intentions on our dear country.

“The incident in Jos, Plateau State where our campaign vehicles were torched by irate youth supporters of the APC, underscores the need for vigilance as we progress towards the General Elections. This criminal behaviour, which was meant to intimidate others and deny them their freedom of choice, stands condemned.

“The leaders whose utterances and conduct have encouraged this kind of behaviour must bear full responsibility for this. With the way things are going, it seems the ultimate agenda of making Nigeria ungovernable as prophesied by these politicians is underway.

“In carrying out this unpatriotic behaviour, they wish to first of all discredit the electoral process and set the stage for an orgy of violence once they fail in the elections.

“Nigerians are well aware of these antics and are fully prepared to protect their rights to freedom of choice.

“We condemn the acts of violence in Jos, Plateau State and also condemn the threats to violence in every other part of the country. This ugly trend must stop.

We declare unequivocally that no Nigerian citizen should be prevented from campaigning in any part of the countr y. We, therefore, call on the law enforcement agencies to protect and guarantee the safety of every Nigerian legitimately canvassing for votes all over the country.

“We invite law enforcement agencies to

note the pronouncements of desperate politicians who are bent on fanning the embers of hate and threaten the peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections.

“We once more wish to reiterate the commitment of President Jonathan to a peaceful and rancourfree electoral process.

He has said times without number that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. We wish to sound a note of warning to politicians to desist from this vicious circle of lies, rumours, intimidation and violence.”

Don’t demonize opponents —Buhari Reacting to the allegation, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that “the incident in Jos was passed as a PDP on PDP violence flowing from their rigged primaries.

That is the earliest security report we got.

Nobody should change that and use it to demonize opponents.”

He noted that “General Buhari was the first to condemn this incident the moment it was reported on Saturday.

Check his Twitter handle. These were his words: 'I have been informed of the burning of PDP campaign buses in Jos today. This is unacceptable! There is no excuse for this violence.'

"I am hoping that the police will immediately investigate, arrest and prosecute the culprits.

Our democracy cannot tolerate violence in any form. PDP should leave us out of their Wahala."

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014

Two teens die in ditch, as NSCDC nab drug dealer in Jigawa

By Tina Akannam

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UTSE—TWO teenagers, Sabo Bala and Sani Danladi aged 15 and 17 years respectively died in a ditch when the dug-out sand fell on them.

The state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Muhammad Gidado, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard, said that the land caved in on them while they were digging mud sand at Zaidawa village in Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Gidado explained that his officers alongside some villagers dug out the corpses, added that if they had received the alert on time, the boys would have been saved.

He said that the bodies of the deceased had been handed over to their parents and buried according to Muslim rites after they were confirmed dead by doctors.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Gidado cautioned parents and guardians to stop assigning hazardous jobs to their children.

Similarly, a wanted illicit drug dealer in the state was arrested during a joint operation carried out by NSCDC and Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency,, NDLEA in Babura local government area of the state.

Police arrest suspected gunrunners

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate involved in the sale, repair and transportation of locallymade guns.

The suspects, Tunde, 28 and Mathew, 33, were arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, while attempting to purchase four AK 47 guns with 128 rounds of ammunition on November 21, 2014.

Vanguard gathered that during their operations, one of the suspects, a dismissed soldier used his military identity card to ward off unsuspecting security operatives while transporting ammunitions to different location within the country.

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AGOS—TRAGEDY struck weekend, when a 32-yearold man was burnt in a fire that engulfed a building in Ijaiye area of Lagos. Several others were reportedly injured in the fire which also destroyed property worth several millions of naira.

The incident brings to 30, cases of fire recorded between January 1 and January 11, 2015.

Report had it that the deceased identified simply as Williams occupied a one-room self contained apartment located on 15, Alabi Crescent in Ojokoro area of Ijaye.

Although the exact cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained but it was suspected to have been caused either by a lit candle or a mosquito coil.

Residents were said to have C M Y K

Nigerian Army School of Education. I got to the venue of the screen after they had completed the screening.

“What actually happened was that I needed some money from him to enable me go back to the Nigeria Army, that was why I called my cousin, Gboye to assist me financially. On November, 20 2014, I called him to remind him about the money and he said somebody was sending money to him and that he will call for any account number.

“The next day November,

21, he called me that a friend wanted to send a car to him from Oshogbo to Lokoja. He asked me to drive the car from Oshogbo to Lokoja. I refused because I didn’t want any trouble.

“Later he sent his friend’s number and asked me to contact him that he was bringing the car and that I should come with him to collect the money. I was still having an Army identity card. It was after he called me and I came to meet him that I was arrested, I don’t know anything about the gun.”

Suspect account

Speaking to Vanguard, Tunde, said: “I am from Okenne in Kogi State. I am a driver and was arrested at Oshogbo, Osun State. I am married with two children. I was arrested after a friend, Gboye Sunday, aka Black informed me that his friend wanted to sell a vehicle.

Gboye and I went to the same Secondary School in Kwara State.

“Gboye asked me to drive the vehicle from Oshogbo to Lokoja. He later directed me to one Alhaji who showed me the vehicle and then told me that there was a gun in the boot. I told him I cannot drive with gun inside the vehicle. I helped him to inspect the gun and then gave it back to him.

He then asked me to sit in his room so that he could remove

Man, 32, dies in Lagos fire

By Evelyn Usman

the gun. I was still sitting in the room when police officers came to arrest me.

“Before now, I had helped Gboye take a Toyota Camry vehicle from Ilorin to Kaduna and he paid me N40, 000. I don’t know if the vehicle was stolen.”

Defending himself, Mathew, a dismissed soldier; from Yegba East in Kogi State, said “I was arrested because Gboye is my cousin. I was dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2012 because I went late to the screening of the

been alerted by shouts of help from the affected room. A passerby, who noticed smoke emitting from the room was said to have attempted to break its door apparently to save the man in danger. But he reportedly almost got choked by thick smoke.

Neighbours, tried all they could to prevent the fire from spreading to the main building before the arrival of men of the fire service.

When the door of the affected apartment was eventually opened by men of the fire service, its occupant, Williams, according to the Director of the Lagos state Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, was found on the floor with minor burns. On further checks, he was confirmed dead.

30 fire incidents in 11 days

Record at Vanguard’s disposal showed that the

END OF THE ROAD: The suspected gunrunners, Tunde and Matthew, as paraded by police incident is the 30th in January 2015 alone. Fadipe said that it was the tenth fire incident attended to yesterday, alone.

Among the distress calls attended to yesterday, were those at Lorenzo club house on Ado Road in Ajah and 8, Ibi Street, by Plywood Junction in Epe, area, involving two flats.

Others include some shops at Kirikiri area of Lagos, where goods worth several millions of naira were destroyed.

Fadipe blamed the cause of the incidents on human error, advising members of the public to be more careful with the way they handle electrical appliances and power generating sets.

He advised residents to be careful with lit candles and mosquito coils which he said were the common causes of the fire outbreaks recorded this year.

“Power generating sets should not be kept in a place where it would generate additional heat because it could lead to explosion which could result in fire,” he said.

Kidnappers snatch Malaysia returnee in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

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WERRI—DARE devil kidnappers, yesterday, stormed Ubokwu, Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State and whisked away Mr. Iheanyichukwu Chima, to an unknown destination.

Although information on the abduction was sketchy at press time, it was gathered that the armed hoodlums struck between 1 and 2a.m., Sunday.

A member of the community, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Vanguard that the kidnappers carefully cut off the spiral wires used to secure the family building before gaining entrance into the house.

“Since this young man

returned from Malaysia before the Christmas and New Year, we were seeing policemen around him, but it appeared the policemen were absent on Saturday night,” the source alleged.

It was not clear at press time, who was behind the kidnap, but Vanguard, gathered that “Iheanyichukwu, is currently erecting a two-storey building in the community and is pursuing the project with a speed that has baffled the natives.”

The aging kidnap victim’s father, Emmanuel, could not be reached for comments, but sources close to him, claimed that he has been inconsolable since the kidnappers struck and took his son.

The phone of the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, could not be reached for confirmation at press time.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—7

Edo CP parades 40 suspected cultists

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ACCIDENT: An accident scene on Airport Road in Abuja on Saturday night. (INSET): National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, officials helping accident victim at the scene. Photos: NAN.

Benue bizman killed 4 days after abduction

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI— Barely four days after his abduction by gunmen, Chief Edwin Okechuhwu, a prominent Makurdi, Benue State business man, has been killed by his abductors.

The body of deceased was reportedly dumped at the High Level area of Makurdi town in the early hours of Saturday by unknown persons.

Chief Okechukwu was last Tuesday kidnapped from his home at the popular Iorkyaa Ako Street, on High Level, at 8p.m., and taken to an unknown destination by four armed men.

Vanguard gathered from family sources that after his kidnap, his abductors made contact with his family and demanded a ransom of N15 million which the family could not raise.

“We suspect that he was killed

because the family could not raise that outrageous ransom.

It is unfair, the man was a businessman who lived on loans and facilities from financial institutions to carry on with his business. It was not as if the man had money somewhere,” the family source said.

showed that there were no signs of torture or injuries on the corpse.

He said: “We learned he was diabetic, we do not want to draw any conclusions as to the reason for his death, because we are digging deep in order to ensure that all suspects in the matter are arrested and made to face the law.”

Delta Police arrest man over assault on journalist

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OMADI — THE Delta Central Police Area Command has arrested a man identified as Gregory Tuodonye, who was among a mob that attacked and dispossessed a Daily Sun Newspaper reporter, Mr. Kofa Kings of his valuables, on December 6, 2014 at Kpakiama in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

The suspect who has has been on the run after the incident, was

People buying fairly used sweaters to tackle cold weather in, Dutse, yesterday. Photo: NAN C M Y K

Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr John Bako, said Okechukwu’s corpse was recovered on Saturday at the High Level roundabout area of the town.

Bako said that investigations into the unfortunate incident were still ongoing, adding that preliminary investigations

among the mob leaders that have been on watch list of the Delta Central Police command before he was arrested in Ughelli area of the state.

The reporter, Kofa, while narrating his ordeal, said: “It was God that delivered me from the hands of the unsuspecting mob.

I was at the gate of Kpakiama Secondary School trying to get into the premises where the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries for Bomadi/Patani federal constituency were holding to cover it. Before I could explained myself, youths numbering 20 pounced on me.

“The most surprising aspect of the attack was that almost all the attackers are my kinsmen. The suspect forcefully took my handset while others took my recorder and money, before I was saved by some good Samaritans.”

A veteran journalist writing for a community newspaper (Urhobo Vanguard), Mr Vincent Ugbunisi, condemned the attack, noting that it was callous and wicked. He described the attach on Kofa as uncivilised, barbaric and warned that it should stopped.

Ogbunisi, while calling on the government to enact laws that will

safeguard journalists in the country, said anybody caught subjecting journalists to such inhuman treatment should not only suffer the consequences alone but with their sponsors.

He promised that the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, will follow up the case since media practitioners have become an endangered species.

He called on the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Baba to look into the matter and ensure the protection of journalists carrying out their legitimate duties.

ENIN CITY— FOLLOWING the killing no fewere than 15 persons in Edo State in the past two months in a suspected rivalry cult war, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Folunso Adebanjo, weekend paraded 40 suspected cultists.

He said the command would commence the arrest of cult leaders and prosecute them in courts.

Adebanjo, however, appealed to the Edo State Government to assist the police in the provision of vehicles, bullet proof vests and other security gadgets to enable it fight crime vigorously in this 2015.

He described the activities of cultists in the state as worrisome and unacceptable.

The told journalists during the parade that “ we have arrested over 40 suspected cultists.

The worrisome thing is the issue of reprisal killings and the command is not going to take it lightly. They are going to be charged for attempted murder and various crimes related to murder. What we are going to do in this 2015 is to arrest all the heads of the cult groups and charged them to court as accomplices. These senseless killings must stop.

“We are aware that about five persons have been killed and that is senseless. All of us must join hands and stamp out these murderous cultists.

We are not going to allow them, if they are running crazy, we will arrest them and charge them as accomplices."

Suspected oil thief nabbed in Delta

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI— POLICE detectives have arrested a 46-year-old suspected oil thief from Arhavwrien community in Delta State.

The suspect was arrested with the aid of youths of Oviri Olomu community, who took the detectives to the spot where crude oil was being

refined by bunkerers.

Vanguard learned that a crude oil pipeline that traversed the community ’s river, bordering Arhavwarien community was earlier vandalised.

Following the vandalization, oil bunkerers stormed the area with bunkering equipment and were allegedly refining crude oil locally.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Budget 2015, electoral matters top agenda as NASS resumes tomorrow

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — THE National Assembly, NASS, will from tomorrow consider the passage of the 2015 Appropriation Bill and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategic Paper, MTEF &FSP, which was presented to it before the Christmas and New Year break.

The 2015 Appropriation Bill was submitted to the NASS by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, last December.

The House of Representatives will also, on its part, debate electoral matters and other issues of national interest which would top the agenda as they resume from a three-week Christmas break tomorrow.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the House may slash the oil benchmark from $65 to $40, considering the rate at which the price of crude oil has been fluctuating between $47.3 and $50 per barrel in the oil market.

Also on the front burner for deliberations of the House is the issue of 2015 general elections scheduled for next month.

The House Committee on Electoral Matters headed by Rep Jerry Manwe, PDP, Taraba had invited the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega to the House last Friday to tell Nigerians his readiness to conduct the 2015 polls, but the INEC boss failed to show up due to his ill-health.

Similarly, the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which has generated so much debate among Nigerians, especially the stakeholders in the industry, is another issue that is waiting for the lawmakers to deal with.

But it is not clear whether the considerations of the 2015 budget would be based on the previous benchmark of $65 per barrel and the exchange rate of N165 following the continuous fall of the oil price in international market and the exchange rate that had risen to N200 in the parallel market.

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ANNIVERSARY: From left: Sultan of Sokoto, Dr, Abubakar Mohammed Sa-ad III; Governor Mukhtar Ramallan Yero of Kaduna State; Emir of Zauzau, Dr Shehu Idris, and General Theophilus Danjuma (retd) during the 40th anniversary of Emir of Zazau on the throne, in Zaria, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Female suicide bombers kill 39 in Potiskum, Maiduguri markets

By Ndahi Marama, with agency reports

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AIDUGURI — OVER 20 people were killed at Kasuwar Jagwal GSM market in the commercial capital of Potiskum, Yobe State, yesterday, when two female suicide bombers, one of them aged about 15, blew themselves up in the crowded market.

The blasts came just a day after a young girl thought to be aged about 10 killed 19 at a Chicken Market in Maiduguri, in the neighbouring Borno State.

Potiskum is in the west and about 100 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, that witnessed series of bomb blasts including the suicide bomber that hit a police formation weekend.

Residents said the suicide bombers invaded the crowded market at about 3pm and detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. A resident of Potiskum, Mallam Aliyu Usman, told Vanguard on phone, yesterday, that the death toll could rise as most of those who sustained injuries had lost much blood due to bleeding before security operatives could reach the scene.

Unconfirmed sources said over 20 people were killed, adding that their mangled bodies were seen at the scene of the blast.

Earlier on Saturday, two people were killed when a car exploded outside a police station in Potiskum.

“We evacuated six bodies including those of the two female suicide bombers to the hospital, 21 people were injured in the attacks.

A security source involved in the rescue operation told AFP of Sunday’s bombings: “One

of the bombers looked 23 and the other 15.

“The first bomber — the 23 year-old — detonated her explosives just outside the entrance of the market, where volunteers were screening people going inside the market with metal detectors.

“The second bomber was terrified by the explosion and she tried to dash across the

road but she also exploded.”

Both the security official and a nurse at the Potiskum General Hospital said six people were confirmed dead and 21 injured.

Witness Ibrahim Dambam said the second blast went off as people fled the first.

Sunday is Potiskum’s market day and attracts traders and shoppers from all

over Yobe State and beyond.

Panicked shoppers fled and traders abandoned their stalls at both the mobile phone market and the city ’s main market, which is just next door.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attacks but suspicion is likely to fall on Boko Haram, which have increasingly used female suicide bombers since last June.

DSS REPORT: PDP’s plot to postpone elections —APC

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, alleged that the invasion of its Data Centre by the Department of State Services, DSS, was a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to postpone next month’s general elections.

Addressing newsmen at the APC Data Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed described the summary report released by the DSS as an embarrassment to all intelligence-gathering organiaations around the world.

The party also picked holes in the alleged confessions by workers arrested from the data centre, saying: “Please recall that in a statement we issued on December 5, 2014, we accused the DSS of resorting to the use of torture to obtain forced confessions from the workers who were arrested during the first raid on our party’s data centre.”

The DSS had released the summary of its findings following a raid on the party’s data centre on 10, Ajibola Street, Ikeja, on November

22, last year, saying that the APC had an "articulated plan to inflate the party ’s membership data as well as hack into Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters register across the country.’’

But Mohammed noted: “Its immediate response, which was issued on the same day and which got a big play, was to dismiss the findings as hogwash, a great disservice to Nigeria and an embarrassment to all intelligence-gathering organisations around the world. Our stand on the ‘findings' has not changed.”

According to him, the DSS report is garbage and is not worth the paper on which it is written.

Plot to postpone polls He said: “We will like to tell all Nigerians that the crap called ‘findings’ is part of the ongoing efforts by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to postpone

next month’s general elections.

Having seen the handwriting on the wall vis-a-vis the growing rejection of the PDP by Nigerians, the Jonathan administration has gone into a panic mode, while embarking on a plan to postpone the elections.

“Apparently, the thinking at the DSS, which is working in cahoots with the PDP, is that its report that the APC plans to hack into the voters’ registration data base of INEC, will raise doubts about the integrity of the voter’s register to be used for the forthcoming polls, and subsequently force a postponement of the elections since the existing register cannot be used for the polls.

“Unfortunately for DSS and the PDP, this thinking was based on a wrong premise, as we will show shortly, and it has backfired.”

Mohammed explained that “before you say our claim is outlandish, remember that some prominent Nigerians have publicly called for the postponement of the election - which can only benefit the Jonathan administration and delay its impending waterloo at the polls. Place the calls side by side with the apparently doctored outcome of the DSS investigations and the timing of the report’s release, and you will understand where they are coming from.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—9

2015: JUSUN strike stalls rulings on Enugu, Ondo, Anambra, Niger PDP crises zStrike illegal, Daudu, ex-NBA boss

By Innocent Anaba & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has deepened further, due to the inability of courts to determine who should be the authentic governorship candidate of the party in Enugu, Anambra and Ondo States ahead of next month’s general elections.

All the courts across the federation are currently under lock and key following the indefinite strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, since January 5.

Meanwhile, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, has said the strike was illegal, as it has imposed undue hardship to different segment of the society.

The development had foisted a state of helplessness on the ruling party which was statutorily required to submit the names of its governorship flag-bearers in the affected states to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, within a specified period.

Left with little option, the national leadership of the party, despite subsisting court orders, had gone ahead and submitted to INEC, names of aspirants it said emerged from its primaries in the four politically-turbulent states.

The said primary elections are, however, the subjects of the litigations before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, with more than two aspirants in each of the states laying claims to the governorship ticket of the party, having emerged from parallel primary elections in their states.

Contempt proceedings Meantime, the decision of the party to submit names of its choice candidates to INEC ahead of the impending general election has, however, exposed it to contempt proceedings.

Specifically, Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, had on December 18, ordered PDP and INEC not to submit or accept anyone as the governorship candidate of the party till January 14, a day he adjourned to hear separate suits lodged by two PDP governorship aspirants in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze and owner of Peace Mass Transit Limited, Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi.

Whereas Senator Eze is praying the court to not only okay the parallel primary election that produced him, but to also declare

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VISIT: From left: Chairman of Mikano International Limited, Mr. Mofid Karameh; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Alhaji Basheer Hamza and Managing Director of Mikano International Limited, Mr. Christian Farine during the minister's visit to Mikano head office in Lagos, weekend. him as the authentic flag-bearer of the party for the impending governorship election in the Enugu State, Onyishi who also purchased the expression of interest/nomination forms for the election, is seeking an outright cancellation of the December 8 primaries for being in breach of section 87(4) (b) (I) of the Electoral Act. Also, the court granted an application by Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, who was said to have won the controversial primaries, to be joined in the suits as an interested party.

Ugwuanyi, who is a member of the House of Representatives, had in his application through his lawyer, Mr. Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, insisted that he ought to be joined as a party in the suits since the outcome could affect his political interest in the state.

Onyeshi prayed the court to, not only direct PDP to conduct a fresh governoship primary election in Enugu State, grant an injunction restraining INEC from accepting/ acting upon any name whatsoever forwarded to it by PDP as the winner of the election purportedly held on December 8 or as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Similarly, Senator Eze in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2014, prayed the court to restrain "the PDP, the National Working Committee, NWC, and INEC, by themselves, agents, officers, officials, privies or representatives and other person whatsoever, deriving authority from them from submitting, forwarding or sending the names of any other person other than himself, as their duly elected governorship candidate

for 2015 governorship election in Enugu State, pending the final determination of the substantive case.

Anambra State Meanwhile, the Anambra chapter of the PDP has asked the court to jail INEC chairman, Prof.

Jega for flouting a court order in relation to the outcome of its National Assembly primaries in Anambra State.

The court had on December 5, 2014, restrained INEC from accepting “any delegate list or nominated candidates” from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee that was purportedly set up by the party’s national leadership to manage the affairs of the Anambra PDP. Delivering judgment on a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/854/2014, which was filed by the Chairman and Legal Secretary of Anambra PDP – Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye – (for themselves and the state’s executive committee of the party), Justice Chukwu affirmed the plaintiffs’ as leaders of the party in the state.

He equally declared the caretaker committee illegal on the ground that it was wrongly constituted while the tenure of the Oguebego-led EXCO was yet to expire.

Therefore, the court stopped INEC and its agents from accepting any delegates list or nominated candidates from primaries or congresses conducted by the said illegal committee.

In Ondo State

The story is not different in Ondo State where different factions of the PDP in the state are fighting over who should be regarded as the authentic gubernatorial flag-bearer of the party for the forthcoming election.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the high court had earlier fixed January 6 to begin hearing on a contempt charge initiated against INEC by the Olu Ogunye-led executive of the party in the state and some aspirants to the House of Representatives.

The contempt proceeding emanated from an order of the court that directed INEC to only relate with the Ondo State PDP executive headed by Ogunye in respect to the conduct of primaries and election.

It was alleged that rather than comply with the said order made

by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, the electoral body received two lists of nominees from the PDP national body and the plaintiffs.

However, although the PDP went ahead and submitted the names of some of the candidates against the subsisting court order, the ongoing strike by JUSUN has however stalled the planned hearing on both the contempt and substantive suit.

Niger State Also, hearing was aborted on who should be recognised by the electoral body as the bona-fide governorship candidate of the PDP in Niger State.

The high court had originally slated January 8 to hear and determine whether INEC should publish the name of Alhaji Umar Nasko or that of Mr Mu’azu Hanafi Sarkin as the candidate

of the party in the state.

Sarkin had through his lawyer, Mr. Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN, argued that the voting that took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, was in contravention of Article 19 (1) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines and Section 87 (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

He contended that evidence on record before the court as admitted to by the party in its counter-affidavit, showed that only a single agent of the party purportedly wrote names of delegates and cast votes on their behalf, contrary to Section 199 of the Evidence Act, and urged the court to direct the defendants to produce “all the illiterates they helped to write their names during the primaries” Ekomaru also challenged the 908 votes “purportedly cast for Nasko” at the primary of the party held on December 8, arguing that the said primary was unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect as the process was conducted in breach of specific provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Strike illegal —Daudu Daudu, Coordinator Rule of Law Development Foundation, in a statement in Abuja, said the effect of the strike is phenomenal, because “aside from the economic and social losses occasioned to the country, which runs into billions of Naira, the psychological trauma inflicted on the nation by this strike, especially in view of the impending election, is incalculable.

“Pre-election cases that will determine appropriate and or eligible candidates for the said elections have been put under lock and key by JUSUN’s action.

Governorship election petitions now pending suffer the risk of being caught by section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, which prescribes that all petitions must be concluded within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition and does not provide for any allowances arising from force majure situations.

“The current industrial strike by JUSUN is not only ill-timed but it is lawless, illegal, and unconstitutional and is also made in the utmost bad faith. We call upon JUSUN to call off its strike, return to the drawing board and restrategise in view of the inherent and indeed manifest constitutional weakness of its cause.

"It is in the overall interest of Nigeria that JUSUN is not unwittingly used to arrest the nascent democratic growth of this great country.

"Nigerian political history is replete with persons, groups etc who have played the same kind of role that JUSUN is now playing and have in the process set the nation’s political timetable back."

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

NIMC takes delivery of 6.6m e-ID cards in four months

Synagogue Coroner: Activist wants Magistrate to resign

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L

AGOS—THE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) yesterday said it had taken delivery of about 6.6 million National Electronic Identity Cards (e-ID Cards) since the scheme was launched in August 2014.

Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, General Manager, Finance and Investment of NIMC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Abdullahi said that the cards were being issued to their owners from Abuja and Lagos offices.

He added that eligible Nigerians that had enrolled and received the commission’s SMS would soon collect their cards in their respective states.

“The commission is mindful of the fact that the NIMS card scheme, when fully issued, will have in excess of 150 million in circulation and with an estimated annual replacement rate of about 15 per cent.

“The commission worked on the design of the card for over one year. This partly account for the long time it took to start issuing the cards after government gave its approval in November 2012.

“NIMC can confidently say its card is unique and very difficult to counterfeit or forge.

“The commission had taken delivery of about 6.6 million cards since the card was launched in August, 2014, as part of the 13 million cards under the pilot scheme approved in 2012.”

FASHOLA SIGNS BUDGET: From left: Mr. Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, during the 2015 Budget signing by Fashola at Lagos House, Lagos. Yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Ambode, others challenge INEC over credible polls

By Gbenga Oke

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A G O S — GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Lagos state, Mr Akinwumi Ambode has called on the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) to stand up to its responsibilities ahead of February general elections.

He also urged Nigerians to stand up and challenge INEC to do the right thing before and during the elections.

Ambode who was a panellist at an event organised by a non governmental organization called January 9 Collective, (9JC) annual lecture over the weekend called on Nigerians to vote for the change which APC preaches.

Speaking on the lecture topic tagged, “2015 General Polls:Beyond the Rhetoric’s of Credible Elections”, he said it

is high time INEC brought about sanctity in the electoral process in Nigeria.

His words, “I think it is high time INEC as an institution rise to its responsibilities and it is only when we have an independent INEC, then we can talk of credible polls like the one we had in 1993 general elections”.

“INEC is an institution and they are supposed to work tirelessly to ensure we have credible polls but if they seems not to be doing the right thing, I think Nigerians needs to rise to the occasion and ensure the umpire is doing the right thing” he added.

In his lecture, the Keynote speaker, Professor Anthony Kila who is an International Director of Studies at the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies (ECAPS) in Cambridge University stated that it is the credibility of elections that gives legitimacy to

I have no problem with Daniel — ISIAKA

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — T H E governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka has denied the alleged rift between him and his political godfather, former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, describing it as a mere speculation.

Speaking on his alleged strained relationship with Daniel, Isiaka said “I picked my flag as governorship candidate of the PDP on Thursday, I think for anybody that watched, he (Daniel) was standing firmly behind me, that is the peak of C M Y K

it. What that means is that I am here and I am for the ticket any other thing is just insinuation”.

Isiaka however, disagreed with the state party Chairman, Adebayo Dayo, who described former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole as a paperweight politician in the party.

He described Bankole as a valuable member of the party whose contribution would boost PDP's chances in the state.

Commenting on Bankole, he said “That is the opinion of the party chairman and is entitled to his opinion he remains our party chairman. As far as I am concerned, Honourable Dimeji

Bankole is a valuable member of the party. We are talking to him, we know that his coming on board will also assist and we believed that everybody will work together and achieve our aim.

The governorship candidate stated this while speaking with newsmen at the annual new year Thanksgiving and memorial service organised by Daniel.

This is coming as one of the governorship aspirants and a member of House of Representatives from Ipokia/ Yewa South federal constituency, Abiodun Akinlade threw his weight behind the ambition of Isiaka, asking the people of the state to cash their votes for him.

governments.

In his submission, Publisher of Ovation magazine and one time Presidential aspirant, Chief Dele Momodu said Nigeria can still achieve the feat in the 1993 general elections.

He said, “Credible elections are still very possible and I believe we need to go back to the drawing board and check how we got it wrong after that 1993 elections adjudged to be the fairest elections ever in Nigeria. I think we need to start declaring election results at the polling units to give it some level of credibility.”

AGOS—FOLLOWING the ongoing coroner investigation to the collapsed church guest house of Synagogue church of All Nations (SCOAN) last year, a frontline Youth Activist in Niger Delta, Comrade Jerry Agbalakoko Opuofeni, yesterday appealed to the Magistrate in charge of the investigation to follow the determinate spirit of the inquest or humbly resign for a more objective process.

In statement, Comrade Opuofeni stressed the need for the magistrate to apply best practice in Law around the world to address the scope/spirit of coroner’s inquest.

“The ongoing coroner inquest on the collapse Synagogue church guest house seem to be departing from the spirit contained in both article 2 of the terms of European convention on Human Rights and the coroner’s inquest Law, 2007" he stated.

“I wish to state categorically that under the terms of article 2 of the European, Convention of Human Rights, governments in quote, are responsible and required to establish a framework of laws, precautions, procedures and means of enforcements, which will to the greatest extent reasonable, practicable to protect.

Since the Human Rights Acts, 1988 came to force in those cases (Synagogue case) alone, the inquest is now to consider the broader question by what means and in what manner.

Fashola signs N489.690bn 2015 budget into law

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, signed a budget estimate of N489.690 billion for 2015 into law, saying focus would be on completion of on-going projects before handing over in May. Fashola signing the budget bill into law at the Lagos House, Marina, Lagos Island, noted that the budget is an article of faith by government and a sign post for business.

He explained that the ceremony had to come up on a Sunday because of important National meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC, holding in Abuja today, stressing that there was no basis for delaying implementation of budget due to party affairs.

Fashola said: “When we presented the budget there were financial challenges but

as you know our revenue has been based largely on our common contribution.

“We need to be innovative, inventive and hard-working and that is what we have given in the last eight years and we won’t give anything less and with the support of the people of Lagos.

They are ownership of this government and all of its service delivery and I think as difficult and challenging as the revenue issue may be we will consolidate and finish as many possible projects as we can.

“We will continue to render services. The truth is that the service demands don’t stop. They continue on an incremental basis.

That is why also we need experienced hand to continue this work. This is why it is important not to attempt to experiment with the administration and governance of this very important state not only in Nigeria but also in the sub-region and African continent and indeed globally”.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—11

Ekiti APC alleges plan by PDP to disrupt Buhari’s rally T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, has said it had uncovered a plot by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to disrupt the campaign rally for its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, slated for January 14, in Ado-Ekiti.

In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Ola tubosun, the party said it had incontrovertible evidence that PDP had mapped out plans to unleash terror on APC members and supporters by using fake soldiers imported from neighbouring countries to be mixed with local miscreants to cause mayhem.

He said: ”The local miscreants are to help identify APC members and their supporters to be attacked at check points and thereby prevent them from entering the state. The Plan B is to deck PDP thugs in APC uniforms to shoot APC members coming to the rally as PDP did in Rivers State.”

The APC spokesman reminded Nigerians that Governor Ayo Fayose has been boasting that like PDP did in Akure, he will also not allow APC to hold its campaign and ‘Walk for Change’ rally in Ekiti State. "But we urge our teeming supporters not to be intimidated because Fayose

does not have a monopoly of violence. Any attempt to prevent or disrupt our rallies shall be fiercely resisted,” he said.

Olatubosun urged the Army and police to be professional in the handling of political activities in the state and should not allow themselves to be used as instruments of intimidation in the run-up to the February 14 presidential election.

“Ekiti people, like other

Nigerians, have made up their minds to effect a change in the leadership of the country for good governance for national growth and their individual development. No force can deter them from achieving this noble and historical feat,” Olatubosun said.

In its reaction , the PDP described APC’s allegation as ridiculous and face saving, saying it knew fully well that the people of the state have rejected the APC.

According to the state Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, the APC was only trying to give excuses for its impending failure in the coming elections.

He said: “They know that the people of the state will not welcome their team. They know that as the people rejected them during the June 21 poll, they have even seen more of APC’s deceit and would not accord them any warm welcome."

FUNERAL SERVICE: From left: Chairman, Oyo State Labour Party, Mr. Gbenga Olayemi; Senator Brimo Yusuf; Oyo State governorship Candidate, Labour Party, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; his deputy, Alhaji Sarafadeen Ali and Comrade Olu Abiala, during the burial service for a stalwart of the Labour Party, Prince Adepegba Omodele Adegbenjo, at Methodist Church of Nigeria, Idere Local Church, Ibarapa Central,Oyo State, weekend.

Mixed reactions greet Ondo PDP candidates’ list

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—IT was mixed reaction, weekend, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the lists of the candidates contesting the National and state Assembly elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic

Candidates, PDP. The lists of candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Accord Party, AP, and Social Democratic Party, SDP, last week were released last week.

Delay in the release of the list of PDP candidates followed the conduct of parallel primaries by two factions in the state and the

subsequent court action.

However, the list of candidates released by INEC indicated that the governor's faction was accepted, eliciting jubilation across the state.

But the candidates in the other faction, led by business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim wore long faces.

Some of the leaders who spoke with Vanguard vowed

SDP tackles Ogun APC candidate over alleged N50m gift

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ogun State has described the purported N50 million offer by the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, to residents of Ogun Waterside Local Government to restore electricity in the area, as a Greek gift.

Speaking through a member of the House of C M Y K

Representatives, representing Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-North and Ijebu East in the National Assembly, Mr. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, the party said the offer was nothing but a way to hoodwink residents of the area to vote for the party in the forthcoming polls.

The party wondered why the APC government had failed to address the problem of electricity in the area over the last three and a half years in office, saying that the APC wanted to reap where it

had failed to sow.

Abudu-Balogun said that the party which believed strongly in rural development would find a lasting solution to the problem of electricity in the area, adding that his effort to address the problem yielded positive results for some months before it occurred again.

He said: “Ogun APC government only wanted to reap where it did not sow. Residents should be rest assured that the incoming SDP government which believed strongly

to stop the list in court, asking the governor ’s faction to be ready for another round of battle in the court this week as soon as the strike by judicial staff is called off.

Basking in the euphoria that his party's candidates have scaled the INEC hurdle, Information Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said: “With this development, the party is set to commence its campaign."

in rural development will resolve the problem of electricity in the area."

Oyo INEC issues 1.1m PVCs to eligible voters z845, 965 yet to collect

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BADAN—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Oyo State, has issued 1,139,405 million Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to eligible voters in the state.

Mr. Ayo Folami, Head, Public Affairs and Voter Education, INEC, Oyo State, said yesterday, in Ibadan, that the figure was the state INEC’s report as at December 2014.

“A total of 1,139,405 million eligible voters have so far collected their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming polls,” he said.

He, however, said that about 845,965 voters are yet to collect their PVCs. The INEC spokesman said that the percentage of eligible voters who have collected their PVCs was 57.3 It would be recalled that the INEC headquarters recently disclosed that 38.7 million eligible voters have so far obtained their PVCs nationwide, out of the 54.3 million PVCs already processed.

The report indicated that a total of 15.3 million Nigerians are yet to collect their PVCs. President Goodluck Jonathan recently directed the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that all eligible Nigerians got their PVCs before the February 14 election.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Fashola commissions projects in Edo

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, weekend, commissioned the newly reconstructed 11 blocks of 33 classrooms and staff offices at Payne Primary School in Benin City and the AmedokhianUgboha Road traversing two local government areas in Edo Central, Edo State.

Speaking at the commissioning of the projects, as part of activities to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the government of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Fashola said: “I am proud and pleased to be here because as I drove round the city, I saw remarkable developments in roads infrastructure that have taken place here.

“I saw the expanded Dawson Road, Akpakpava, Sapele Road, Airport Road and New Lagos Road. There are lots more that I am yet to see. But why are roads important? They are the link to our civilization. Without roads, market women cannot get their goods to the market.

Without roads, customers cannot get to the market to purchase the goods. Without roads, the children of Payne

Primary School will not be able to get to school. Without roads, transporters will not have work. So, a government that recognizes these understands how to manage an economy.”

He commended his Edo State counterpart for having the mind, the heart and the right team, stressing that

besides opening economic activities in all the areas in the state that had no motorable roads, the rebuilding of school was the right thing to do.

In his remarks, Governor Oshiomhole thanked Governor Fashola for coming all the way from Lagos to commission the projects.

He said: “The story of this

school, like several other schools in the state, reflects the story of Edo State prior to 2009. This school, like other schools, had no roof. Within the classrooms you could find potholes. We had to call them classrooms because that was what they were called. But in truth, a lot of them could not be described as classrooms.”

PRESENTATION: From left: Group Managing Director, SO&U, Mr Udeme Ufot; Akwa Ibom State chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Obong Paul Ekpo and Executive Director, Mobil Producing, Eket, Mr Udom Inoyo, at the public presentation of the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel to Akwa Ibom community in Lagos.

ALLEGED MARGINALISATION: Itsekiri amnesty beneficiaries petition Senate President

By Daniel Gumm

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ARRI—IN a fresh move to tackle perceived marginalisation by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, Itsekiri amnesty beneficiaries have petitioned the Senate President, David Mark, calling on the National Assembly to probe the alleged non-payment of their monthly stipends and “Kuku's refusal to allow the Itsekiri to travel abroad for the necessary training when our Ijaw brothers have travelled out with no hindrance.”

The petition, copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, relevant security agencies as well as government agencies, noted that despite deferring their university admissions to study abroad till January 2015 as requested by the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, funds were yet to be released for their training, even “when we are fully aware that the National Assembly had already approved the

C M Y K

money for the post amnesty programmes on May 20, 2014.”

The petition by Chairman of the Itsekiri amnesty beneficiaries, Mr Peter Tidi, said: “All efforts to see Kuku

and other members of his team have been truncated by their offices after the meeting with them,” noting that the 73 Itsekiri beneficiaries have not been paid their stipends.

They appealed to the Senate

President to wade into the issue so that funds could be released to enable them to travel abroad and their letters of award/sponsorship given to them like their Ijaw counterparts.

Youth leader rallies support for Jonathan

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—AHEAD of the February 14 presidential election, the youth leader of Bayelsa State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Donald Daunemigha, has called on Nigerians to return Goodluck Jonathan as President to consolidate on his transformation agenda for the country.

He urged youths of northern extraction not to cast their votes based on ethnic and religious sentiments but on performance, citing President Jonathan’s establishment of 125 Almajiri model schools in 27 states of the federation as a laudable achievement.

Daunemigha in an interview with Vanguard in Yenagoa, reiterated the President's support for the youths and his resolve to actualise the 30 per cent affirmative action of youths

involvement in politics and decision making in the country.

He said: “We now have more youths aspiring to hold elective offices. This is made possible by

the current administration's determination to include youth in governance, hence there is need for us to support his re-election bid."

Edo PDP, APC woo Oarhe

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HERE are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, are wooing Mr. Dickson Oarhe, as they are mounting pressure for him to defect and join their parties ahead of the February general elections.

Oarhe, who emerged consensus candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, at its primary election held on November 29, 2014 for the House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency, Edo State, it was gathered, is presently being asked by his party to step down for another aspirant.

It was learned that the APC and PDP are likely to cash in on this

situation, in view of the fact that SDP has strong showing with Oarhe as its candidate in Owan federal constituency going by existing rotational formula that favours the turn of an Owan West Local Government Area candidate.

In a chat, yesterday, Oarhe declined knowledge of such moves by the two political parties, saying that he strongly believes in his party and his determination to remain a loyal party faithful.

He said: “It is clear that SDP will sweep out APC and PDP to win all elective positions in Edo North based on our party’s socialwelfare manifesto and the credibility of our candidates.”

OFFAC to work for Okowa’s election

By Charles Kumolu

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SOCIO-cultural g r o u p , Organisation For the Advancement of Anioma Culture, OFAAC, has said that it was committing its resources to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was elected as governor.

It also described Okowa as the unifying factor needed to create a prosperous Delta State.

A statement by its Director, Contact and Mobilization, Mr. Emeka Nmadu, said that the governorship hopeful has the ability to build ethnic harmony in the state.

He said “Our conviction in Okowa is based on an in-depth analysis and understanding of the peculiarity of the state and the need for a unifying factor as a governor of the state with ability to create the much needed space for inclusivity and development of Delta State which Okowa represents."

Patani PDP issues threeday ultimatum over alleged substitution

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, faithful in Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, issued a three-day ultimatum to the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to restore the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, as the party’s flagbearer for the House of Assembly seat for the Patani constituency in next month's election or risk losing their votes to opposition parties.

The party faithful, numbering over 2,000, thronged the streets of Patani at 6a.m,, displaying placards some of which read “Adamu Mua’Azu/ Secondus destroying PDP,” “PDP will lose Patani without Basil,” “No Basil no PDP”, among others.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 15

16 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

Permanent Secretary, Health, Mr. Linus Awute (middle), with member of the committee of Heads of Pharmacy in Federal Health Institutions during the groups courtesy visit on the former, in Abuja, on his right, is Director Food &Drugs services Joyce Ogwu &on his left is Chairman on cttee pharm Otakho Orumwense.

Vote to end bad leadership, Labour, Aregbesola tell Nigerians

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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RGANISED LABOUR and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, have told Nigerians that next month’s general elections provide an opportunity to end lamentation about bad leadership and misery, by voting to return the country to the path of socio-economic performance and greatness.

Governor Aregbesola and Mr. Issa Aremu, a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the presentation of four books: 'Labour and Trade Unions,' 'Industry and Economy.' 'Africa and Global Affairs,' and 'Friends, Comrades and Heroes,' written by Mr. Aremu to mark his 54th birthday celebration.

Speaking, Aremu, who is also the

General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, said he was motivated to write the books to provide enduring materials for Nigerians and Africa in the quest for economic advancement.

Aremu decried the poor state of the nation’s economy and infrastructure, which he said had now put the youths at great disadvantage.

“We should get the youths back to the industry. If Nigeria does not work, African will not work. When Nigeria was working it liberated Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone. But today, we are no more on duty and our leaders have now become very docile.

"Nigeria must wake up to return to good old days of Tafawa Balewa, Gen. Gowon, Muritala Muhammed, and

Anambra PDP Exco warns Jega over list of candidates

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EOPLES DEMOCRATIC Party, PDP, Executive committee in Anambra State led by Ejike Oguebego, weekend, warned that with tomorrow deadline for the final submission of list of candidates for the February general elections, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, stood the risk of being sent to jail over his refusal to accept the list of candidates for the national and state assemblies from its executive committee.

This came as INEC said it was yet to accept any list of candidates for the National Assembly elections in Anambra State and that it was still studying the Federal High Court, Abuja judgment and the ex-parte order.

According to the Commission’s Director of Legal Services Abdulahi Bawa, INEC was yet to take a decision on the issue and would meet on the issue today.

Oguebego recalled that his executive committee had initiated contempt

proceedings against Jega for allegedly flouting a judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja in relation to the outcome of the National Assembly primaries held in the state.

In a motion for committal filed by the party on December 31, 2014, Jega is accused of disobeying a December 5, 2014 judgment restraining INEC from accepting “any delegate list or nominated candidates” from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee purportedly set up by the party ’s national leadership to manage the affairs of the Anambra PDP. Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, in a judgment delivered on December 5, 2014 in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/854/ 2014 filed by the Chairman and Legal Secretary of Anambra PDP – Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye – (for themselves and the state’s Executive Committee of the party), affirmed the plaintiffs’ (Oguebego’s) leadership of the party.

Shehu Shagari.”

The Vice President of NLC insisted that for Nigeria to emerge as an industrial nation, “Nigerians must consume what they produced and produce what they consume .

Without that, Nigeria cannot get out of poverty.”

He recalled that in the 70's and 80's Nigeria was among leaders in the manufacturing sector, but now Nigeria had become leading importer of manufactured goods and Nigerians had become poorer, poverty had forced Nigerian youths to become Okada riders, which could not be considered a decent work.

Aremu, however, argued that the nation was being given another opportunity to return the country to the part of greatness in the next month’s general election, saying, “Nigerians must vote for politicians at the election based on their position on industry, economy, employment, etc. We have always been at the forefront of the struggle and we urge Nigerians to ensure that the country survives; our patriots should fight for their votes and we should all ensure that the votes count.”

On his part, Governor Aregbesola, while presenting one of the books, corroborated Aremu’s view on industrialisation, contending that the way out for Nigeria’s economy was to look inward.

He said: “Until we process what we produce here in terms of agricultural output, make it abundant and affordable, we will continue to be poor. There is no productivity, and productivity ensures that 3/4 of what we consume is produced here. We should produce things that are relevant to us.”

According to him, the forthcoming election was paramount as it would afford Nigerians the opportunity to say no to corruption and misadministration of their resources through their votes.

Aregbesola said “the real issue with Nigeria is that since 1999 we have had a crop of people who have no business in governance."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 17

WEDDING AND THANKSGIVING SERVICE OF PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN'S NIECE, INE PAUL AND DR SIMEON ONYEMAECHI, IN ABUJA, WEEKEND. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida.

President Goodluck Jonathan's niece and the bride, Ine Paul with her groom, Simeon Onyemaechi receiving their wedding certificate from the Primate of From right, President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience; Mother of the President, The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh Mama Eunice Jonathan; the President's niece, Mrs. Ine Onyemaechi and her spouse, Dr. after exchanging marital vows at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, weekend. Simeon Onyemaechi; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Dehinde Arogbofa and others BELOW: The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God , Pastor singing the processional hymn during the Special Thanksgiving Service for the wedding of Enoch Adeboye (right) congratulating President Jonathan while the Founder, the President's niece at the Cathedral Church of The Advent, Life Camp, Abuja.

Winners Chapel, Pastor David Oyedepo (2nd left) and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara watch.

Fromleft; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mr. Femi Otedola; Dame Patience Jonathan; Mr. Sam Nwajoku and wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Aminat Sambo LEFT: President Goodluck Jonathan and the bride having the final father and daughter dance .

RIGHT: From right; Former Bayelsa State governor, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha; Former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi; his wife and wife of Cross River State governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke

From left, Mr. Emamnuel Udom, Governor Godwill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Mr. Jim Ovia C M Y K

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo exchanging pleasantries with President Goodluck Jonathan' at the event.

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 THE number of meetings Nigerians convene to save their country is impressive.

What is disturbing is that these meetings achieve nothing, though some would argue that if things remain as they are, with all the meetings, they would have been worse without discussions about the future of Nigeria.

What is the problem since everyone agrees that Nigeria is unsustainable the way it is run? Why are the solutions not raining in torrents to match the enormity of the challenges? Many factors are responsible for the state of Nigeria. Many have joined in r uining her. Others are seeking opportunities to continue in the ruination of the country through ceaseless wasting of opportunities that present themselves to improve the country. What did many of those calling for changes in Nigeria do when they were in-charge? Do people only realise challenges Nigeria faces only when they are not in office?

The most critical issue facing Nigeria is not federalism as many think. People who cannot make the changes that would improve Nigeria in their own little corners as council officials or state governors

By Adewale Kupoluyi

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HE open letter written by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs and Deputy Chairman, 2014 National Conference, to the two major contestants in this year’s presidential election; President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to generate mixed reactions in the polity because it touched on salient points that bordered on our corporate existence as a nation.

Akinyemi, a Professor of Political Science, had made the following observations in the letter: Firstly, that shortly after the appointment of the late National Security Adviser to the President, General Owoye Azazi, at his own request, he met with him (NSA) to discuss the state of the nation on the eve of the 2011 general elections. At the said meeting, he allegedly told the General that he was neither worried about the conduct of the elections nor its outcome, which he expected President Jonathan to win. Rather, what really worried him was the management of the purported violence that would ensue after the elections, which he said would be massive. Secondly, he disclosed that he suggested to Azazi the ways, in which the violence likely to be ensued, could be contained but that his advice was not acted upon and at the end, elections took place, Jonathan won and “all hell broke loose” because the conflict-controlled measures offered to Azazi were not adopted.

Saving Nigeria From Nigerians would not benefit from federalism which they still see as a magic wand.Concentration of changes at the centre would not be enough. Laws that transfer the powers that the centre has to various segments of government would be a new set of experiments that do not guarantee better results. Our people should concentrate on seeking ways that would improve governance. Changes in the federal structure alone would not address governance, they would not change attitude of politicians, they would not stop corruption, and they would not teach us

new ways of managing our resources.

How would politicians become responsible? Would federalism remove immunity and impunity from our laws?

Would federalism cure us of corruption or infuse us with new ideas about future of Nigeria.

Federalism has its good sides. Those sides are what we see elsewhere. There is no proof that federalism is the elixir we require.

Granted it could free more resources and power notches to other tiers of government, there is nothing to indicate that the resources would not be frittered away by the new power holders.

Solutions to challenges Nigeria faces could be drawn from political restructuring, but a more sustainable path should be leadership. The unconscionable looting of Nigeria, at every level, has nothing to do with lack of federalism. Nigerians who promise to save the country are the ones we are trying to save the country from their clutches. May be, stiff penalties for failed leaders, could check the scandal called leadership. Nigeria has no future with leadership that does not care for Nigeria under its care.

OPINION Problem with Bolaji Akinyemi's letter Thirdly, Akinyemi averred that now that the nation was “back at the same crossroads again” and this time, it was likely to be more precarious, dangerous and severe than the 2011 experience due to the “very notorious prediction from the United States of America’s semi-official sources that the world is expecting a cataclysmic meltdown of the Nigerian nation come 2015" and even though most Nigerians had shown disapproval and disdain at this prediction while many are, however, indifferent to what could be the possible outcome of the prediction and the devastation in terms of the plight of the vulnerable - youths, women and children - who would be victims of such a calamity, if it occurs.

Fourthly, he warned of the envisaged postelection violence, which he stated could be higher and more severe than what was obtainable in 2011 because if “President Jonathan wins, the North would erupt into violence as it did in 2011. If Buhari wins, the Niger Delta will erupt into violence”.

Akinyemi further expressed his worries that, should this happen - even though he does

The real solution to the nation’s problems include the practice of true federalism, good governance, promotion of the rule of law

not “believe that we need rocket science to make this prediction” - it would be disastrous. Preparatory to the predicted mayhem, he alleged that there were allegations of illegal and massive importation of weapons into the country, which he noted, had reached alarming proportions by militias forces with the intention of battling the nation’s official armed forces, going by the reported cases of armed importation into the country lately and the sympathy garnered from some African and non-African collaborators that may wish to dissolve Nigeria “into a theatre of bloodshed, gore and instability ”.

Akinyemi concluded his letter by offering two ways out of the gloomy situation. Number one, he suggested that both presidential candidates (Jonathan and Buhari) should meet and sign a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) that would commit them to civil and peaceful campaigns devoid of threats by preaching the imperative of peaceful elections, taming of party supporters, preventing violent protests and holding of a pre-election meeting between the candidates and the assemblage of 10 “council of wisemen” that would assist in managing the envisaged post-election conflicts.

While it will not be feasible to ascertain what actually transpired between the Professor and the deceased, what remains incontrovertible about the fears nursed by Akinyemi, as an elder statesman and patriotic citizen, is that the upcoming elections would be a critical factor in what becomes of Nigeria in 2015 and

beyond, as predicted in the United States’ “semi-official sources”. Also, the build-up to the elections has been characterised by high level of politicking, provocative statements and bickering by gladiators. The nation’s declining security situation, unemployment situation and socio-economic downturn have promoted the loud call for a change of government, to offer the people an alternative in their quest for good governance. It is this power tussle between the ruling party and the opposition that may brew the tension and the do-or-die politicking that has become a regular feature of African politics.

Despite the stark reality that all is not well with us as a nation, the options propounded

by Prof. Akinyemi may, however, not be too helpful in finding solutions to identified problems. Aside, we should ask; to what extent are the presidential aspirants truly liable for the conduct of their supporters?

We should realise that under the existing laws, adults above the voting age of 18 years are solely accountable for their acts.

Therefore, on no grounds should the aspirants be made to suffer for the actions of others. Secondly, the predicted North vs South violence is a product of social-political problems befalling the nation.

The real solution to the nation’s problems include the practice of true federalism, good governance, promotion of the rule of law, conduction of free and credible elections and the smooth functioning of our public institutions. *Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015— —19

By Dele Akinola

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HE ideal president Nigeria may never have, Our dear country, on account of its tremendous potentials in human and natural resources, was the envy of the Third World including neighbours Ghana, South Africa and the Asian Tigers, when you were born 72 years ago. As you grew up, you must have watched with hightension indignation, like other zealous patriots, how those lessendowed competitors gradually but steadily overtook the fearsome-looking Nigeria, ultimately establishing a commanding, near-unassailable lead in the marathon race of national development. Such indignation has caused you to seek, on different platforms, the opportunity to put in your patriotic quota in reversing the ugly trend, typified, for example, by the callous manner Second Republic politicians compounded the nation’s woes between 1979 and 1983. But the agents and promoters of rot in uniform, agbada and babariga, pampered by intellectual gangsters, have always conspired to prevent you from doing for Nigeria what Jerry Rawlings, armed with your brand of zealous patriotism, courage, sincerity and discipline, did for Ghana.

In a similar letter of mine (Lamentations to Jeremiah of May, 2011) forwarded to “the best president Nigeria never had” in the great beyond, I lamented about how the woes of the country which he laboured hard for an opportunity to fix had worsened since he departed. You will recall that after his yet unsuccessful attempt at the opportunity in 1983, he told the nation he would not personally press for it again. Rather, “when Nigerians need me, they will call for me,” he had closed.

Letter to General Buhari Unfortunately, by the time Nigerians realized he was the best president they could have had, it was too late!

You will recall, also, the desperate attempts, before then, by those whose very essence and livelihood depended solely on profiting from the woes of their nation, to ensure he never smelt that opportunity to do for Nigeria what he did for the Western Region. Then, raw falsehood competed violently with pure treachery. If River Kaduna overflew its banks, sweeping away Aliyu’s hut, Emeka’s car failed to start in Abakaliki, or Aremu’s wife in Ogbomoso went into prolonged labour, Awolowo surely had a case to answer!

This is why I did not start by congratulating you on your overwhelming endorsement by your party for the 2015 presidential election. Already, you have become, more than ever, the object of similar mischief, falsehood and treachery coming from your opponents and those who provide the intellectual fillip on the opinion and other pages of newspapers. You are such an intimidating and fearsome “semi-illiterate” that the super literates in the land have had to go on grueling academic research in yet futile attempts to rubbish you.

They accuse you of once threatening to “make the country ungovernable,” even though those who actually made the particular statement at the time of a tragicomic internal succession war belonged to the camp of you opponents. You are desperately labelled sponsor of Boko Haram, even when those who have been able to capture evil resources large enough to sponsor terror are as close to them

By Adeyemi Johnson

R

ECENTLY, some APC stalwarts principally the party's chairman claimed that Nigeria has deteriorated under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and that APC offers a better solution, but is that true ? Rather than make subjective claims, it is better to examine the facts by global verifiable standards. The most acceptable global composite standard for judging progress or development is the HDI Index. Many accept that Nigeria has not moved as fast as it should in this index.

It measures three basic dimensions of human development, such as long and healthy life, knowledge and a descent standard of living. The highest development is measured as 1, and anything below from 0.9 to 0.01 are a continuum from very high to very low respectively. But if we examine the facts from this measurement, in 2013 the Nigerian measurement on this index is 0.504. ln 2010 when Jonathan assumed office the Nigerian measure was 0.492, but in 1985 when Buhari left office Nigeria was second from last at the bottom of the table with our rating at 0.421. So, although Nigeria has not reached the highest ratings such as 0.810 to 0.870, under the Jonathan administration, it has moved up the Index since the time of Buhari.

But to show that this is a factual measure, If we examine some of the key indicators which make up this index such as life expectancy, which measures how long a person will live if all the prevailing conditions at his/her birth remains so throughout the person’s life, we also see that, in 2012 the life expectancy of a Nigerian was 52.7, in 2010 it was 51 when the Jonathan administration assumed office.

There are some who will say that this is an effort to polish the image of the C M Y K

as they are distant from you.

They describe you, with several Christians on your intimate personal staff, as “unrepentant religious bigot, Northern irredentist and political demagogue.” Yet the political heavyweight your military government packaged in a crate from London en-route Nigeria to answer for economic mutiny against the country was a fellow Northerner and fellow Muslim.

In other such attempts, they have found it a “visible fact” that you are not abreast of some imaginary “global issues of today and tomorrow.” Ordinary Nigerians on the streets however, know the global issues you are allergic to such as mindless looting of the treasury, insensitive cornering of people’s commonwealth and “gluttonous

If Nigerians still decide they do not want you, either by fair or foul means, just walk away quietly into your deserved peaceful retirement

accumulation of wealth.”

You are described as one to whom “there are blue bloods and talakawas whose place in life is hewing wood and drawing water”! If you who have refused to steal from the rich, the not-sorich and the talakawas could be so described, how then do we describe the demonic gluttons who gleefully corner talakawas’ pension funds in hundreds of billions while they watch, callously, as the poor souls perish on the queues waiting for their rightful entitlements?

In fact, dear General, some plots have been about sheer trivialities, some so ridiculous they begin to border on intellectual idiocy. That it took you seven days to announce the identity of your running mate has become an issue of campaign of calumny, as if the time taken in making a choice is of greater significance than making a right choice. They say the firmness and activeness of your military government could only be credited to your Second-InCommand as he was actually in charge. But if your Deputy was actually the one in charge, why then was he Number Two? The truth of the matter, however, was that you were such a liberal and selfless leader who believed in sharing service and limelight with your Deputy. Hence you chose a man with similar sterling attributes, as you have done again, to do more of the interaction with the public.

To your detractors, you are by far the oldest human being ever to aspire to lead a nation. The global icon, Nelson Mandela, fresh from 27 years in prison, became South Africa’s president at 76. Americans who elected John Kennedy president at 41 were the same people that made

X-raying the Jonathan years administration, but these measures are not ANPP can be directly associated with the conducted by Nigeria but by independent leading presidential candidate that APC is organs allied with the United Nations to offering as an alternative to the Jonathan measure the progress of mankind, and they administration. And the APC is saying often speak frankly to developing nations publicly that the development that Nigeria to let us know that where we are presently is is boasting about does not reflect on the far from the ideal and we should keep people, but in actual fact, it is states under aspiring to that ideal. But what is the APC the leadership of the legacy members of APC offering ? Looking back at the life expectancy which is pulling down the national average. of Nigerians in 1985 when Buhari left office, The data from states under Buhari’s former legacy parties, are pulling down it was 47.18years and by 1999 the national average. If we take when the civilians took over away the data from these states, we from the military that claims might fare a lot better, what this to have come to correct the ills means therefore is that what has of democracy, the life The data worked better in other states expectancy of Nigerians had from states should be emulated by these states, actually fallen to 46.71years. not the other way round.

Moreover, it must also be under So ,the question is: What is APC pointed out that, although the offering Nigerians? Is it progress national average in terms of Buhari’s or regression? Because apart from HDI measurement is used as former these quantitative facts, the APC is the standard for a country, it also offering qualitative does not reflects the lived legacy expectations. They tell us that reality of everyone or the Buhari is an upright leader without reality everywhere in a parties, are country. This is especially true pulling down administrative blemish. But many have pointed to the public records for some of the indicators used not political statements to verify to measure the HDI such as the national this claim. the standard of living which They point to human rights usually takes account of things average. If like poverty rate and we take away abuses. For example, Tai Solarin spent 17months in jail arrested distribution of poverty. If we take the national distribution the data from with an illegal warrant of arrest had only a photocopy of the of poverty, low life expectancy these states, which signature of the Chief of Staff and low literacy rates in Supreme Headquarters. A Nigeria, it is discovered that we might Nigerian journalist, Vera Ifudu the worst indicator published that she was informed measurements can be found in fare a lot by the late Chief Olusola Saraki states that were formally better who was then in the Nigerian ANPP. The leadership value of

Ronald Reagan president at 70.

Tunisians, progenitors of the recent Arab Spring, have just elected an 88-year old uncle of yours as president in continuation of their revolution.

Unlike most Nigerian political leaders, past and present, you have not been moving in and out of hospitals on account of ill health. Yet they accuse you of lack of vibrancy. At 99, your mother (her first three children are all older than you), Yeye Oodua, Mama HID Awolowo, still bubbles with such inspiring vibrancy that she still coordinates the affairs of the descendants of Oduduwa.

General, your haters are not relenting. And they are not expected to relent even though, as fresh as their focus had been presented to be, they still have not been able to clear the cobwebs of economic rascality, institutional lawlessness and political brigandage in which the Nigerian nation has been entangled for decades. You should expect them to become even more desperate, dangerous and deadly in coming weeks.

They will do all in their political and intellectual capacity to cajole and instigate the Nigerian people against you. But it is left for the people to decide not yours but their fate.

However as you go into this last attempt, just keep faith with the “best president Nigeria never had.” If Nigerians still decide they do not want you, either by fair or foul means, just walk away quietly into your deserved peaceful retirement. When Nigerians need you, they will call for you, hoping only that, unlike in the case of the late sage, by then, it will not be too late.

Have a fruitful, glorious campaign, General, and a Happy New Year.

•Mr. Akinola, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

senate when the matter was probed that, the 2.8Billion United States Dollars which was missing at the NNPC under the Obasanjo regime while Buhari was Minister for Petroleum was traced to Buhari’s private account'at the Midlands Bank in the United Kingdom. She was forced to resign because of this story without evidence to refute her story. While late Fela Ransom-Kuti was arrested for possession of Foreign exchange by the Buhari regime, money that was meant for the upkeep of his band on a foreign tour.

He was forced to spend 18months in jail, by a judge who was forced to imprison him by the Buhari regime, whereas on the same matter of illegal foreign exchange, when the Buhari regime was kicked out, his head of security, Lawal Rafindadi was found to have operated several personal foreign accounts, and until he died he was still fighting to unfreeze the accounts seized from him.

Also,Buhari and his deputy, Tunde Idiagbon made a law for Nigerians, that no one, under 18years should go on pilgrimage to the holy land Mecca but Idiagbon himself was found returning from Hajj with his 14year old son, when they were dethroned. Buhari was aware that Idiagbon went on hajj with his under-aged son. So they made one law for themselves and another for Nigerians.

Similarly, while Buhari was Chairman of PTF, an audit of the Agency found that over 25 billion Naira was missing though the agency, his relative Ahmad Salihijo, whom he appointed as the soleconsultant in charge of all the transactions of the agency, died when the audit committee was constituted, some say he committed suicide to hide the facts, we will never know. But the audit report found many cases of clear over-invoicing and importation of expired products by the agency.

•Mr. Johnson, a public affairs analyst , wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

JANUARY 12, 2015

T

he federal government saved about N500 billion in unutilized funds last year through the implementation of the Single Treasury Account (TSA).

TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts that gives a consolidated view of government cash resources. It is a system, whereby all monies belonging to the government are domiciled in one account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, with payments out and collection into the account done via an electronic payment platform.

The TSA became operational in 2012 with focus on payments, with a pilot phase involving 217 ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) in Abuja. Last year, the implementation was extended to all MDAs outside Abuja, hence all federal government related payments were executed via an electronic payment platform, Remita, an indegineous software developed by Systemspecs, a Nigerian software development company.

Vanguard investigation reveals that the extension of the epayment for government services under the TSA resulted into about N500 billion savings for the federal government in the form of unutilized funds under the 2014 budget. A source close to the TSA project confirmed this development to Vanguard. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said that the N500 billion would have been spent by the MDAs but they could not do so last year because of the use of electronic payment under the TSA. “You know with the e-payment, you cannot just collect money from the treasury, you have to go through the e-payment platform. The process requires you state who is collecting the money and why the money is being collected, and other information which would later be used to trace the money during audit. This helped curtailed misappropriation of funds and embezzlement which are conducted under various guises,” he said.

According to Alhaji Salawu Adeku Zubairu, Director (Fiscal Account & Cash Mgt.) Funds Dept; Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, one of the objectives of implementing the TSA, is to “iincrease internal controls to prevent and detect potential and actual fraud.”

COMMISSIONING - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2l) being conducted round the Solar Power Energy Project to power the Epe PHC Centre at the Epe Local Government Area, Epe by the General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi (3r) shortly after its commissioning. With them are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa (2r), Aladeshonyin of Odo-Noforija, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja (left behind) and, Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamarudeen Animashaun (l)

FG saves N500bn through implementation of Single Treasury Account

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE Speaking on the implementation of the TSA, in a paper delivered at an epayment conference, he said, “While this started with lots of resistance, many MDAs have come to appreciate the positive impact on their payment process. MDAs are now able to process transactions on their own taking responsibility and accountable for budget spending. The TSA has resulted into major reduction in Way and Means from CBN with funds saved used for other projects. It has

also enhanced prompt disbursement of funds and payment to beneficiaries; and timely reporting of transactions, account balance and financial statement making it easy to monitor budget performance for decision making”.

Meanwhile, the Federal government will this week release a circular and enlightenment booklet on the implementation of the electronic collection of revenue (e-Revenue) aspect of the TSA. Though the eRevenue was scheduled to commence second quarter of last year, the

implementation started in December with a pilot phase involving selected MDAs. Following the success of the pilot phase the federal government commenced full implementation on January 1st this year, with a directive to all MDAs to close all revenue accounts with banks by February 28.

The circular and a booklet of Frequently Asked Questions on the new electronic revenue collection regime, which would be will be available at the registration desks of Continues on page 22 C M Y K

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Cover Story

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

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Winner of Blue Santa Selfie Challenge, Ms. Yetunde Ifakoya, looking at her autographed shirt in excitement as the Blue Santa and Olympic Milk Brand Ambassador, Mr. Peter Okoye of PSquare, presents her an autographed shirt and cartons of Olympic Milk at her residence as part of Nutricima Limited’s activity to celebrate the season with consumers and Category Marketing Manager (Standard Milk), Nutricima Limited, Mr. Raphael Agbaje.

FG saves N500bn through implementation of Single Treasury Account Continues from page 21 all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and project members’ banks, are aimed at enlightening the public and all interested stakeholders on the usage of electronic revenue collection platform aimed at checking theft, diversion of collected revenue and all sorts of corrupt practices associated with revenue collection.

Speaking last week at a workshop designed to sensitize MDAs to the commencement of the electronic revenue collection project.

AccountantGeneral of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla said that the implementation of the project which kicked-off on January 1, would enthrone a new regime of centralized, transparent and accountable internally generated revenue management system. As such, he asked that the balances in the revenue accounts should be transferred to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government, stating further that any MDA that failed to comply with the directive by the end of February would be sanctioned.

Otunla said the new platform would improve the availability of funds for financing of developmental projects and budgets as well as plugging loopholes in government revenue collection and management.

The commencement of the e-collection platform, he informed, was a product of series of treasury reforms C M Y K

that began in 2012 and aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s resources.

According to him, the reforms have led to the introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System and the Treasury Single Account. “We have rolled out the GIFMIS and TSA implementation. At inception, a total of 93 agencies were enrolled and as of today, we have about 551, which is about three quarter of the total budget of the federation. ” We have yet to realise the full potential of the reforms.

Some big budget MDAs to with the National Assembly, National Judicial Council, the armed forces and some other autonomous agencies have been reluctant to be brought into the GIFMIS and TSA process. ”The implication of this is that substantial cash resources of the government are still lying idle at a time when our cash flow is facing a lot of challenges. In the face of the cash flow problem, we need to be more creative. We can enhance the performance of the budget by either improving revenue or reducing costs.”

Nigerian stocks fall on poll jitters

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igerian stocks fell the most in the world last week as investors spurned Africa’s largest crude producer with political tensions rising five weeks before a key vote and as oil prices continued to slide.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index fell 0.9 percent by the close to extend its five-day decline to 13 percent, the most among 93 global indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

The naira depreciated 1.4 percent to 181.50 per dollar and Brent crude dropped to $50.40 a barrel for a weekly retreat of 11 percent. The 55 percent decline since the end of June in crude, Nigeria’s biggest export, uncertainty over the outcome of the Feb. 14 election and rising attacks by

Islamist militants are pushing investors out of Africa’s biggest economy.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling People’s Democratic Party are facing a challenge from a merger of Nigeria’s biggest opposition parties, while Boko Haram has attacked the northeast town of Baga twice in the past week. “The risks around Nigeria have increased,” Joseph Rohm, a fund manager who helps oversee Investec Asset Management’s $2 billion Africa fund, said by phone from Cape Town. “It’s a combination of uncertainty ahead of the election, increased violence in the northeast driven by Boko Haram, and a collapse in oil prices.”

he focus is on the roles of human right and, as such, technology and should receive priority in the vocational education in allocation of national resources. enhancing entrepreneurial It has become very necessary skills that will equip students not to only keep technology for entrepreneurship education education bound to the role of in Information and manufacturing skilled Communication Technology manpower but also to economic (ICT.) driven technological development and global environment. The world has economy.

In Nigeria, become globalized and the technology education was future prosperity depends on previously not seen as comparative advantage. This fundamental for national comparative advantage hinges development, or for the on people and their technical economic development, but for or technological sophistication. the school dropouts, and other Towards this, some crucial social and political entrepreneurial and technical development within the nation skills needed by the students and for individuals. Hallak in colleges of education (1990) argues that technology (technical), polytechnics and education is also linked to universities to meet the trends human resources development in a global economy is and that this has an impact on analyzed. more than just economic Technology education is to be growth, but also an impact on considered as the key agent of the wider development of technology development, either individuals and societies. as a way of developing human According to him, it contributes capacity, increasing the shield to: work force for modernization, (a). Individual creativity, industrialization, improved participation in the environmental development or economic, social and cultural as a matter of personnel roles in society. freedom, developing capability (b). Improved understanding and empowerment. of an individual and heir Technology education is respect for others, thus increasingly recognized to be promoting social cohesion and central to both the origins of material understanding technological development and (c) Improvement in health challenges and to the prospects and nutrition. for successfully dealing with (d). Improved chances of them (Alam, 2009). Decision economic development. makers at all levels, need (e). Improved technological timely, reliable access to development. knowledge generated by (f). Socio-cultural change. technology and technical (g). Democracy and equality education to introduce rational (h). Ecological development/ policies that reflect a better quality of life (increasing global understanding of people’s awareness of their c o m p l e x environments). technical, From our analysis economic, social, so far, it is clear that cultural and modernization and article issues e c o n o m i c concerning the development, society, and our depends on environment. investment and Decision Technical decision of makers at all appreciation making and modern trends in levels, need priority setting is technology an integral part of timely, reliable e d u c a t i o n . o v e r a l l According to access to development Woodhall (1997) knowledge planning and investment in formation of generated by t e c h n o l o g i c a l t e c h n o l o g y technology and education and development training produces technical strategies. Above benefits for the education all, technology individual and for education is a society as whole.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 23

Business & Economy

DONATION - Mr. Paul Gbededo, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., (FMN), handing over the key of a Security Patrol Van donated by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., to Mr. Kayode Aderanti, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State to boost security operations in Lagos.

SON liberalizes laboratories for products testing

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

he Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has called on investors in the private sector of the economy to build laboratories for

products testing.

The Director General of the agency, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who made the call in Lagos at a public event recently, said this has become necessary to bridge the gap for more accredited laboratories in the country.

‘It is not only SON that ought to accredit; you (private sector) can set up your own laboratories, get it accredited by international body and do what SON also does.

‘By so doing, you are opening up the market; after

all, how many labs do SON has across the country? We have our limitations and we want you to be part of this process,” he said.

According to him, in order to pave the way for Made-inNigeria products meet acceptable international standards, two of its laboratories had been certified by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.

“The laboratories are accredited in accordance with the recognized international Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 general requirement for competence of testing and calibration Some of the products which will now undergo local testing in the laboratories before export include maize, beans, soya beans, rice, cassava, yam. The certification also accommodates fresh fish, frozen fish and can foods,” he stated.

On the significance of the certification, he said, “We are all making history here. It’s the first time two of our laboratory will be accredited in Nigeria simultaneously.

“With the certification, any product that is certified in the two laboratories would be acceptable and will not be subjected to any further testing anywhere across the world.”

SAHCOL seeks tax rebate for aviation handling companies

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

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anaging Director, Skyway Aviation H a n d l i n g Company, SAHCOL, Mr. Oluropo Owolabi, has called on the federal government to grant aviation handling companies zero tariff on the importation of machines and equipment. He said this became imperative following the granting of zero tariffs on aircraft spare parts.

Owolabi made this plea while addressing aviation reporters at the company’s corporate head office at the cargo section of Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said, “Government meant well for the industry when it said it was embarking on the upgrade of airports and at the same time it should be supportive when handling companies are buying equipment and machines that airlines need for smooth operation”.

The SAHCOL boss decried double taxation by the airport authority and expressed the hope that the committee set up by the aviation minister will address the ugly trend. He

noted that what they got from airlines were not commiserate with services rendered by handling companies.

He said the construction the SAHCOL’s multi-million naira bonded warehouse is at the final stage and will be the best in Africa in terms of facilities being provided. He lamented the recent closure of cargo warehouses by the government

as a result of misunderstanding between agents and customs.

He however appealed to the government to assist in implement the rules that govern the procedure of issues that necessitated the closure of warehouses of handling companies. He added that SAHCOL has not recovered from the billions of

naira it lost during the closure of the warehouses.

“We have to engage extra hands to handle security aspects of peoples’ baggage.

We have to work extra hours with men of the Nigeria Customs Services to decongest the tarmac because of the small size of the apron where cargo freights are parked”, he said.

Hospitality expert calls for national image rebranding

By CHRIS ONUOHA

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he General Manager of African Sun Airport Hotel, Sindiso Sibanda, has said that the Nigeria’s image abroad does not represent what is obtainable in the country in the tourism and hospitality sector, challenging the authority for a need to change the perception already assumed abroad.

Sibanda, a South African, who spoke while performing the commissioning ceremony of the newly built four star hotel in Lagos, said Nigeria is endowed with human and natural

resources and friendly ecological terrain suitable for tourism and business investments, but the negative perception most people have outside the country is having an adverse effect on actualizing these objectives.

The hospitality expert called on the Federal government to make rebranding Nigerian project a top priority, saying he was amazed to discover that the country is far much better place than people are made to believe.

According to him, African Sun Airport Hotel, Lagos, strategically located with an alluring edifice at the heart

of Ajao Estate, Mafoluku, has berthed to add to the ever bubbling city of Lagos, a first class hospitality treatment to meet the needs of the business and leisure class in the country.

Speaking on what the four star hotel has to offer, Sibanda said they were coming with century-old hospitality tradition for which Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe is well known, promising customers world class services just as the group is doing in its popular Holiday Inn and the Victoria Falls hotel, one of the leading hotels in the world.

US stocks slide on falling wages, oil slump

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turbulent week of trading ended Friday with U.S. stocks finishing lower for the third time in five days. The decline followed two days of big gains and nudged major indexes lower for the year. A slide in oil prices deepened, stoking concerns about global economic growth. Energy stocks tumbled, extending their losses for the year.

Investors also were discouraged by a report showing that average U.S. hourly pay declined in December, despite another strong increase in hiring. “We finally got the jobs growing,” said Erik Davidson, chief investment officer of Wells Fargo Private Bank. “Now people are looking through that at the actual wage growth numbers and they want to see improvement on wages, which obviously would spur demand and consumer confidence.”

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index shed 17.33 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,044.81. The index is now down 0.7 percent for the year. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 170.50 points, or about 1 percent, to 17,737.37. The Dow has fallen 0.5 percent this year. The Nasdaq composite lost 32.12 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,704.07.

It’s down 0.7 percent this year.

After a long period of relative calm, stock markets have become more volatile as investors grapple with slowing global growth and slumping oil prices. A gauge of investor anxiety, the Chicago Board Options Exchange’s volatility index, or VIX, rose 3 percent to 17.5 on Friday, up from 12 a month ago. “It’s going to be a volatile year, but I think if you remain a long-term investor ... and you push out this volatility and you focus on the trends, I think (the stock market) is going to have a pretty good year,” said Robert Pavlik, chief market strategist at Banyan Partners.

A combination of positive U.S. economic news, hopes for stimulus from Europe’s central bank and renewed confidence that the Federal Reserve will keep supporting the economy helped push stocks higher in the middle of the week after a tough start to the year.

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Banking & Finance

Protect your card against fraudsters Sterling Bank

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terling Bank Plc has advised individuals and organizations in the country to protect information about their financial transactions, particularly their cards to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.

This advice is coming against the backdrop of increasing ATM related frauds within and outside the shores of the country leading to financial losses on the part of banks’ customers.

In an interview with the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, the Bank expressed regret that fraudsters had taken advantage of the cashlite policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to penetrate electronic payment systems globally.

He explained that although the card payment system in Nigeria was based on the “Chip and PIN” technology, which is adequately protected, some other countries have not fully adopted this technology.

“What is use in some countries is the magnetic strip technology, which makes it easy for fraudsters to clone customers’ cards and fraudulently make use of their card information. Also, some people do not exercise sufficient caution in the manner they handle their debit and credit cards as they either expose it to unauthorized persons or give it out to other people to make withdrawals or transact on their behalf ”, he explained.

The Bank’s spokesman explained that when card information has been compromised, the card-holder becomes vulnerable to fraudulent activities.

His words: “In countries where the chip and PIN technology has not been fully adopted, such as the USA and China, card information such as the card number on the face of the card and the Card Verification Value (CVV) -the set of numbers at the back of the card - can be used to perpetrate fraud even without the customer ’s PIN”.

Therefore, it is not just about keeping the PIN secure, the card number and the CVV should also be protected. He advised customers to exercise additional caution when carrying out transactions in the above-named countries or with companies based in these countries.

C M Y K

Banks lose N265bn deposit in December *As excess liquidity returns * CBN suspends directive on Oil & Gas risk mitigation

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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here is indication that banks lost about N265 billion in customerss deposit in December.

Indication to this emerge last week when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) credited banks with N126 billion for Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for December.

Banks and required to keep 20 percent of private sector deposit and 75 percent of public sector deposit as cash reserve with the CBN. When banks experience increase in deposit, the CBN deducts or debits their account for the cash reserve requirement (CRR). It however credits their account when they experience reduction in deposit. Hence on the average, the CBN will either debit or credit banks with an average of 47.5 percent of any increase or decrease in private and public sector deposits for the period.

The N126 billion CRR credit implies that on the average banks lost N265 billion in private sector and public sector deposit in December.

But if all the reduction in deposit is limited to private sector deposit, the CRR credit implies a N630 billion decline in private sector deposit during the month.

Excess liquidity

returns

Meanwhile excess liquidity (idle cash) returned to the banking system last week, with market liquidity of N701.38 billion at the close of business on Friday. From N560 billion on Monday excess liquidity fell to zero at the close of business on Tuesday, only to rise again to N531 billion on Wednesday and N749 billion on Thursday, due to inflow of N404 billion from repayment of matured treasury bills (government securities).

The resurgence of excess liquidity triggered huge demand for treasury bills, leading to 280 percent over subscription of the total bills offered by the CBN.

The apex bank offered N305 bills comprising N150 billion secondary market (OMO) bills and N155 billion Primary Market bills. The offer attracted subscription of N1.181 trillion comprising N700 billion for OMO bills and N461 billion for Primary market bills, while the CBN allotted (sold) N382 billion OMO bills and N155 primary market bills.

The huge excess liquidity also caused short term interbank lending rates to fall by an average of 160 basis points. From 10.79 percent Monday, interest rate for secured lending dropped to 8.96 percent on Friday, while interest rate for Overnight lending dropped to 9.63 percent from 11 percent.

Naira appreciates in interbank

The N126 billion CRR credit implies that on the average banks lost N265 billion in private sector and public sector deposit in December

On the foreign exchange scene, the naira appreciated

by N3 at the interbank segment, while it remained stable at the official segment and at the parallel market.

The appreciation of naira at the interbank segment was occasioned by $629.39 million sold by the CBN at the biweekly RDAS sessions on Monday and Wednesday. The apex bank, it was gathered also intervened in the interbank market, with special dollar sale to some banks. As a result the interbank exchange rate

dropped to N183 per dollar at the close of business on Friday from N186.1 on December 31st. The official rate and the parallel market rate however remained stable at N168 and N190 per dollar.

CBN suspends directive on Oil & Gas risk mitigation

The CBN on Wednesday suspended its directive to banks on Oil and Gas risk mitigation.

This was conveyed to banks in a circular signed by Mr. K.O Balogun on behalf of the Director, Banking Supervision. The circular titled, “Oil and gas industry credit risk mitigation,” stated, Please refer to our letter titled “Oil and Gas Industry Credit Risk Mitigation” dated December 10, 2014. In view of the on-going implementation of the Basel II/III capital adequacy framework, the application of this regulation has been deferred till further notice. A new date would be advised to all banks in due course.

However, the banks are required to put in place adequate risk mitigating techniques for the management of their Oil and Gas risk exposures which would be reviewed during our regular risk-based supervision activities. Please be guided accordingly.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 25

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Corporate Finance

Investors turn more cautious on ‘Frontier’ debt

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nvestors are turning more cautious about dollar bonds from “frontier” markets - a fast growing but less developed and higher risk sub-set of emerging economies - due to sliding oil prices, low trading volumes and expectations of smaller returns. Within the diverse group of economies, which ranges from Belarus and Belize to Egypt and Pakistan, interest is likely to shift in 2015 towards energy importing nations that will benefit from cheaper crude, and away from oil exporters.

Debt issuance by frontier countries is a small proportion of the total for emerging markets, which are dominated by bigger names such as Brazil or Russia. But their governments have made the most of investors’ hunt for better returns while interest rates in developed economies remain ultra low.

According to Thomson Reuters data, frontier countries sold $19.7 billion in hard currency debt last year an almost 50 percent rise from 2013 and nearly three times the 2012 level.

Yet many, especially oil exporters such as Nigeria and Ecuador, are likely to be hit hard this year by the dramatic drop in crude prices, said Kevin Daly, portfolio manager at Aberdeen Asset Management’s emerging debt team.

S&P 500 erases loss for year as stocks rally

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he Standard & Poor ’s 500 Index (SPX) rallied a second day, wiping out its losses for the year, on speculation central banks will support growth even as the American economy shows signs of strength.

The S&P 500 added 1.7 percent to 2,060.60 at 1:37 p.m. in New York, after rallying 1.2 percent yesterday to halt a five-day selloff. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 300.23 points, or 1.7 percent, to 17,884.74, also erasing its loss for 2015. Trading in S&P 500 companies was 7.8 percent above the 30-day average for this time of the day.

“The New Year hangover has finally cleared,” said Justin Urquhart Stewart, who helps oversee about $10 billion at Seven Investment Management LLP in London.

MEDIA CHAT - From left: Mr. Segun Adejo, General Manager, Finance, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL); Mr. Basil Agborumi, General Manager, Corporate Communication; Mr. Oluropo Owowlabi , MD/CEO and Mr. David Olorundade, General Manager, Human Resource during the media chat with SAHCO management team on the activities of the company in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Stakeholders proffer solutions to capital market downturn Stories By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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takeholders in the capital market have suggested various measures that would be adopted by the regulators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and the federal government alike to ensure full recovery of the capital market from the current downturn.

Part of their suggestions include privatization and listing of state-owned enterprises, redefining the pension administration fund act to encourage more investment by PFAs in the capital market and wooing back domestic retail investors who have taken a flight to safety among other things.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc, Mrs. Oluwatosin Sanni, called on the Federal Government to ensure privatization of state-owned enterprises and subsequent listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, saying that it would help to ingrain the recovery so far achieved.

Besides, she said that strong incentive like tax breaks should be offered telcos and other big firms to promote their listing on the NSE. She further stated that attention should be paid to Pension Fund Administrators’ investment, adding that the guidelines must be updated to ensure full utilizations of

the capital market.

Key industry reforms, according to her, should be continued, while friendly policies and initiatives should be introduced to encourage listing by small and medium enterprises Citing example of actions taken by the United States of America to foster her capital market recovery after the 2008 global meltdown, Sanni said that the US Federal Reserve began a bond buying programme known as Quantitative Easing “QE” and capital injection into critical institutions.

“At the time, it was an unconventional policy that resulted in the reduction of interest rates and the provision of capital to financial institutions. This has helped to spur growth and confidence in the stock market and economy as a whole. The US Fed effectively injected USD 2.5 trillion into the market through debt purchases,” she stated.

According to her, there was also implementation of effective risk management systems and policies across all market operators.

“In 2013, the US SEC adopts new financial responsibility and reporting requirements for US registered brokers to ensure a more stable system with more transparent and well capitalized players – changes were made to net capital requirement, reporting standards & compliance,” she added.

Also speaking, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, said over dependence on foreign investors as source of activity in the market should be curtailed, while seed providers should be sourced from within. “When you talk about deepening the market, the depth of it, most of it, you have a market where 70-80 percent is foreigners. It is dangerous. It is extremely dangerous. Is it because we don’t have money? That is not true! It is not true, because we also agree that we have not even penetrated the market deep enough.

“If we want to grow the

market, we need to have a vision of ensuring that Nigerians are empowered in the goal of that particular market. We need to ensure that Nigerians are part and parcel of that development because what has happened before can happen again and probably, part of it is what we have been witnessing in the last two to three months in this market.

So, we had people in the time past because they had a burst in their economy, they pulled out and when they pulled out, we did not have enough internal capacity to sustain the bump that was going on. Now, we are happy to say that we are being followed by direct investment, our market is international and our 70 per cent of the investment is owned by foreigners.

“When it happens again, the crash of this will have such a monumental impact that we are likely to survive. So, there is need for regulators to begin to look for seed providers from within this country,” he said.

In his own opinion, Mr. Emeka Madubuike, Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, said recovery would be hampered if there is no conflict resolution mechanism in the market.He said that instead of a situation where the regulatory authorities try to change the entire system due to offense by some individuals, defaulters should be taken out of the system.

He said, “The regulators are akin to changing the rules, rather than change the rules because some people are breaching the rules, the culprits should be taken out of the system and allow the entire system to continue instead of crippling the entire system.”

Unity Kapital profit falls by 31%

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nity Kapital Assurance Plc has reported 31 percent decrease in its profit after tax for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the company announced that its post tax profit for the period dropped to N181.171 million as against 254.047 million reported in the same period in 2013.

Similarly, the company’s profit before tax slumped by 35 percent to N202.987 million from N318.129 million posted a year earlier.

However, while the company’s gross premium for the period grew by 15 percent to N2.008 billion from N1.737 billion in 2013, its net claims incurred at N147.427 million was 13 percent increase over N130.693 million recorded in the same period in 2013. The underwriting profit slipped by 10 percent, falling from N905.665 million in 2013 to N817.543 million during the review period, while the net premium earned rose by just one percent from N1.334 billion in six months in 2013 to N1.348 billion during the six months period in 2014.

Meanwhile, Unity Kapital at the weekend, appointed Ms Halima J. Wushishi as company ecretary/egal adviser effective from16 December 2014.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 27

Corporate Finance

Ikeja Hotel declares EGM illegal, to seek court injunction Stories By PETER EGWUATUI

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keja Hotel Plc has faulted the Extra-ordinary General Meeting, EGM held by some aggrieved shareholders as illegal and contempt of court order.

Speaking to newsmen at a press briefing in Lagos weekend, the Chairman of Eko Hotel Plc, Mr. Goodie Ibru said “The story carried by some media that he has been removed as a director of the company following the purported EGM held on 6h , 2015 is false and misleading.”

According to him “The so called EGM was not properly convened; we have over 14,000 shareholders, none of whom were issued with the notice required by section 220222 of CAMA 2004; nor were they afforded the opportunity to appoint proxies to vote in their stead. The fact that a purported “ notice” was published in the Guardian Newspaper is not sufficient.

Again, I was not personally served with notice of intention to remove me, nor was I afforded the opportunity to make a statement in my defense, both of which were rights under CAMA 2004".\ To this extent, he said “ We will rely on court order, as the purported EGM mounted illegality with such reckless disregard for due process as to scandalize anyone with even the most passing familiarity with the capital markets.”

Continuing he said “Even more seriously, the requisitionists sought to hold their meeting in contempt of not one but two restraining orders from Nigerian courtthe first from Suit No. LD/114/ 2013 brought by the first three children of my late brother Alex Ibru, and the second from Suit No. FHC/ABJ/PET/17/ 2014 brought by my sisters Mabel and Grace Ibru.

Giving highlight to the event that culminated in the abortive th EGM of 6 January, Ibru said “The purported Extraordinary General Meeting was requisitioned by the publisher of the Guardian Newspaper, Maiden Ibru, ostensibly acting as the representative of Dadifold Limited, RFC Ltd., and Alurum Ltd. These companies form part of the Estate of her late husband and my brother, Alex Ibru. My brother’s Estate has not been admitted to probate; It is in fact the subject

of dispute. Also in dispute Maiden Ibru’s right to represent the companies and trusts of which it consists.

There is litigation surrounding these issues ongoing at Lagos State High Court, the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja, and the Federal Court of Appeal; and the litigation includes Suit No. LD/114/2013 brought by my nieces, the first three children of my brother Alex.”

He explained that the Federal High Court has

issued an order restraining Maiden Ibru from representing the companies comprising Alex Ibru’s Estate in the affairs of IKEJA Hotel Plc , adding “More particularly, the Order restrains her from holding EGM purportedly fixed for th 6 January 2015. So any resolutions passed at these farcical proceedings should not and cannot be recognized, and we will be challenging them accordingly.”

It will be recalled that some aggrieved shareholders of

Ikeja Hotel , last week Tuesday could not be allowed into the premises of Sheraton Hotel Ikeja to hold a court order EGM as a result of another Federal High Court order obtained by Mr. Goodie Ibru.

The aggrieved shareholders removed Ibru as a director of the company and also appointed an interim Chairman, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, who presided over the meeting that led to the appointment of KPMG to carry out forensic audit of the company.

PROMO - From left : Manager, Inspections and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Afam Ojeh, Head, Savings, Fidelity Bank Plc, Janet Nnabuko, Executive Director, Lagos & South West Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Ikemefuna Mbagwu, Manager, Monitoring, Consumer Protection Council, Ifeyinwa Nwamuo and Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc., Richard Madiebo at the 5th draw of the Fidelity Save4 Scholarship Savings Promo held in Lagos.

Investors urged to seek stockbrokers' expertise to maximize returns

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nvestors in the Nigerian capital market have been advised to leverage on the expertise of stockbrokers to make investment decision that would minimize their risk and maximize return.

A cross section of stockbrokers, who gave the advice also passed a vote of confidence on the new administration of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) describing it as a catalyst of change.

The new leadership is led by Mr. Albert Okumegba, the President of the institute.

He is supported by the first Vice President, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, the second Vice President Mr. DapoAdekoje and the Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr. AdedejiAjadi.

Speaking to Vanguard on the state of the stock market, the Managing Director, Express Discount Asset Management Limited, Alhaji Atiku Kafaru said “Yes the market is down now but it would bounce back when the economy picks up. The indices of the market are in order.”

Responding also to enquiries on the preliminary assessment of the current leadership of the institute, the Managing Director, Express Discount Asset Management Limited, AlhajiAtikuKafaru described the current leadership as round pegs in round holes. According to him, the institute has recorded laudable achievements within the short period that the new administration came on board.

“The current leadership of the institute has raised the bar in the area of visibility.

Members are more interested in the institute’s activities. Membership has increased. The current leadership has a target of about one million members for 2015 through the Diploma Programme and this is achievable.

“As a prelude, the new leadership has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with some tested institutions in order to realize the target for increase in membership base. A lot of sensitization programme is going – on in this regard.”

Wall Street dips after two-day run, jobs data

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.S. stocks edged lower on Friday, after a twoday rally in equities put the S&P 500 back in positive territory for the new year as investors assessed a strongerthan-expected monthly payrolls report.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 252,000 in December, topping expectations for a rise of 240,000, while November ’s outsized 321,000 gain was revised higher to 353,000. The unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage point to a six and half year low of 5.6 percent.

Futures traded lower ahead of the payrolls data, then trimmed losses to turn slightly positive after the release. Data separately showed wholesale inventories rose 0.8 percent in November, topping expectations calling for a 0.3 percent increase, suggesting restocking may boost fourthquarter growth.

The S&P 500 .SPX added 3 percent over the last two sessions, retracing a good portion of its 4.2 percent loss in the previous five trading days, on expectations the U.S. economy will continue to accelerate and hopes the European Central Bank will take more aggressive stimulus action in the coming weeks.

Fed’s JPMorgan oversight marked by turf battles, says Watchdog

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s oversight of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) office responsible for the $6.2 billion trading loss attributed to the so-called London Whale was marked by “turf battles” and a tense relationship with another agency, a watchdog report showed.

The Fed’s Office of Inspector General found a lack of cooperation between the New York Fed and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in their supervision of JPMorgan’s chief investment office, the watchdog said in a report released on Friday.

In one instance, New York Fed examiners tried to join an OCC examination of the chief investment office and were denied, according to the report. Members of the New York Fed supervisory staff said the OCC was “territorial” about its role as the primary regulator, and one indicated that the leaders of both supervisory teams didn’t cooperate, the report said. The 77-page report, with some sections redacted, follows the inspector general’s release in October of a four-page summary.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Business & Economy

Livestock Feeds launches Aquamax

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nited African Company of Nigeria, UAC Plc subsidiary, Livestock Feeds Plc, LSF, has formally launched its Fish Feed, Aquamax.

The feed which is presented in granules and pellets, will provide nutrition in a stable and concentrated form, thereby enabling fishes to feed efficiently and grow to their full potential.

According to the Company, “ with Aquamax, the maximization of aqua resources is guaranteed.

Testimonies from fish farmers that used this product during the test-marketing phase have attested to a Feed Conversion Ratio of 0.75kg feed to 1kg of flesh.”

Speaking at the launching ceremony at the Golden Tulip Festac Lagos, the Group Managing Director of UAC, Mr Larry Ettah justified the introduction of Aquamax into the nation’s fish feed market, saying: “Our investment in fish feed is borne out of the strong and long-term fundamentals of the animal nutrition and fish feed markets.

We are committed to a strategy of increasing profitability through innovative and sustainable nutritional solutions, while leveraging our position and capabilities to meet global standards in the industry. We are also confident that we have the right strategy and the right people to drive our vision.”

NIMN appoints Ag Registrar

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he National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), has announced the appointment of Mr. Sidney Ogodo as the institute’s Acting Registrar.

A release issued from the Corporate Affairs Department of the institute, stated that Ogodo, who has since taken over from Rev. Deji Olokesusi, the former Registrar of the institute, who retired last month, was born in Sapele, Delta State, where he had both his primary and secondary education.

The new Acting Registrar, who is the winner of the institute’s Best M a r k e t i n g graduating student and the Rector ’s Prize for academic excellence in 1986, attended Auchi Polytechnic for his National Diploma in Business Administration and Higher National Diploma in Marketing.

•Palm oil producing plant

Palm oil: Dufil and the quest for backward integration

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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ecently, the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said that Nigeria ranks 26th in the world production of palm oil, falling from its leading position in the 60s and hardly satisfies the domestic demand.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organized to chart ways for successful hosting of the 1st International Palm Produce Conference (IPPC), Dr. Otorm, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, said that the inability of the country to meet the local demand in palm oil production was a clear indication that the fortune of the palm oil sector has declined significantly.

A quick look at the palm oil sector in Nigeria reveals that palm oil is the main vegetable oil produced in Nigeria and Nigeria was the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil in the 60’s.

However, Nigeria lost its dominant position in the international trade after 1980s and is currently the fifth largest producer, far behind Indonesia and Malaysia (51 percent and 34 percent of the world production in 2013/14) (USDA, 2014). Its output indeed represented only 1.57 percent of the world production in 2013/ 14 (USDA, 2014). As regards palm oil production in Africa, however, Nigeria’s production is estimated at 55 percent of African output, making it the largest producer of palm oil in

Africa.

While Malaysia and Indonesia productions have drastically increased over the 1990-2010 period, it has barely been the case for Nigeria, mainly because of its reliance on traditional production methods coupled with major infrastructural challenges being faced in the country, as well as out-dated technology and out-dated production knowledge.

The food grade industrial output of palm oil does not match local consumption.

Indeed, the national demand for palm oil has grown faster than the domestic supply.

Production deficit as at 2014 is well over 900,000 tonnes per annum. Consequently, Nigeria imports palm oil to satisfy the local demand. However, Nigeria has a potential to

Efficiencies achieved by Dufil have been directly passed on to the ultimate consumer, which is evident in the consumer markets for vegetable oil in Nigeria

increase its production through the application of improved processing methods, creation of incentives for manufacturers in the food industry sector to embark on backward integration by investing in palm plantation and thereby satisfying the demand of palm oil locally, while also exporting to other countries.

Due to the constant shortage of palm oil for both domestic consumption and industrial usage, major companies like Dufil and PZ Wilmar are investing heavily in the cultivation of palm tree plantations that will revolutionize the palm oil industry in Nigeria. A combination of these and the efforts being made by Dufil will help the Federal Government’s transformation agenda to achieve its 300,000 hectares for Agribusiness in palm oil sector.

These grave concerns of snail paced development has aggressively made DUFIL Prima Foods Plc, a major player in the Nigeria Culinary landscape, to propel its strategic initiatives to enter into the vegetable oil segment with the objective to provide healthy and best quality palm oil and make it available at every retail point in Nigeria This, the company believes, will eventually benefit the economy and bring relief to millions of Nigerians who deserve the best quality of palm oil at affordable prices.

The company has therefore embarked on strategic backward integration to ensure 100 percent local content in most of the products and this

has led to investments worth billions of Naira in the Nigerian economy in the last 10 years.

These include the establishment of a seasoning plant, the establishment of flourmills, the establishment of oil refinery and the establishment of a palm tree plantation under the Edo State Government Agribusiness revolution scheme.

In its effort to boost the local production of Palm Oil, Dufil has acquired and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Edo State government for 60,000hectares of land for cultivation of palm trees which will help in boosting the local production of palm oil, thereby increasing the supply of palm oil within the country. Dufil is at the fulcrum of revolutionary transformation of the palm oil industry in Nigeria.

Dufil’s initiative has provided thousands of Nigerians employment, moving the vegetable oil towards forces determining free markets, which is a symbol of globalization, revolutionizing the Nigerian economy, rationalizing food markets and strengthening the Naira against foreign exchanges, thereby providing enormous economic benefits to millions of Nigerians.

The primary objective of Dufil’s entering into the vegetable oil market is to reduce the supply shortage in the country with world-class quality at affordable prices for millions of Nigerians to benefit.

Dufil has invested billions of Naira with a world-class facility and committed itself to the development of the palm oil industry and lifts the base of the pyramid by directly aiding the lifestyle improvement of Nigerians.

Efficiencies achieved by Dufil have been directly passed on to the ultimate consumer, which is evident in the consumer markets for vegetable oil in every part of Nigeria. The company ’s entry into the vegetable oil market has radically created a reduction in consumer prices by more than 10 percent over the last 12 months coupled with unmatched quality with international standards, thereby providing direct benefit to millions of Nigerians.

This reduction in price came at a time when Nigerians are reeling in high inflationary pressure with a devalued Naira.

No one has ever thought that processed healthy vegetable oil would be sold in sachets to meet the common man’s purchasing power, but that is happening right now. Healthy oil is no longer an exclusive reserve for the rich due to Dufil’s efforts in establishing a free market for vegetable oil.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 29

E-Commerce

Firm unveils online funding platform for social campaigners

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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boza

Gbosa Technology Limited has announced the launch of SpeaksForUs which provides social campaigners with the

Media Range launches Voto to drive media sharing

ability to raise funds for their cause using targeted crowdsourced ecommerce.

Targeted crowdsourced ecommerce allows campaigners to create wishlists of goods such as branded merchandise like tshirts, posters, face caps, and mugs that they can utilize to run the campaign. These wishlists are then sent to their sponsors and supporters, so that they can financially support the campaign, by purchasing goods and

services from the list for the campaigner, while knowing exactly how their financial support was used.

For organizations or individual campaigners that do not have an internet presence, SpeaksForUs said, it will provide free social media equipped websites that provide online tools to allow full engagement in advocacy issues.

According to them, all the goods in the SpeaksForUs shop are locally sourced,

thereby providing trade to local businesses employing local people as local businesses can sign up to become vendors, using the online registration process that takes just a few minutes.

Speaking at the unveiling, a representative of the firm, Mr Ade Atobatele said, “We are launching SpeaksForUs during the 2015 political season to assist the almost 10,000 aspirants like Jimi Agbaje, Gen. Buhari, Jonathan Goodluck, and others from the grassroots to the federal level raise funds for their forthcoming campaigns.”

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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edia Range Limited, a free online multimedia portal designed to aid Nigerians tell their stories visually has announced the launch of a new indigenous media sharing site, Voto.com.ng.

“We like to think of Voto as YouTube and Flickr rolled into one. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Video possesses this capacity in an even higher degree.

Voto allows Nigerians to share both videos and photos – direct from the mobile devices or desktop computers maximizing the use of web technology for communication as both a social and a journalistic activity,” Media Range said in a statement.

Beside basic uploading and sharing to friends and associates via other integrated social media networks, the site allows users to create or join specific thematic tags around personal events or events that affect the wider society to facilitate ease in grouping, storage, searching and retrieval.

“One of the immediate uses that Voto is being targeted for is the upcoming 2015 general elections. It will easily lend itself to being used as a crowd sourcing platform for widespread coverage of the election across all states of the federation by citizen journalists. A special theme tag – 2015 Elections – will be in use during the period,” the statement added.

Because storing and retrieving multimedia files is resource intensive, the site runs on a dedicated Virtual Private Server (VPS) with a five Terrabyte capacity and the owners say they have made adequate provision for continuous expansion as the need arises.

From left: Mr. & Mrs. Henry O. Osagbemi with their son (middle), Capt Adedotun Osagbemi who graduated to the rank of Captain in Arik Air shortly after the decoration ceremony in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele

Samsung Electronics suffers first profit decline in three years

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU with agency report

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lobal smartphone maker Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has confirmed expectations for its first annual profit decline since 2011, although a pickup in the fourth quarter hinted that earnings may have stabilized in the short term.

The South Korean tech giant lost market share for three consecutive quarters up to July-September, and analysts say the trend likely continued in the October-December

period thanks to competition from Apple Inc’s new iPhones and cheaper Chinese rivals like Xiaomi.

Still, expectations of healthy memory chip demand and improvements in the mobile business on the back of new mid-to-low tier smartphones are buoying hopes that Samsung has at last staunched the bleeding in quarterly earnings.

“I think the company will show a turnaround,” said CIMB analyst Lee Do-hoon, pointing to the positive outlook for Samsung’s foundry and display panel businesses this year.

Samsung said its fourthquarter operating profit is likely to be 5.2 trillion won ($4.74 billion), beating a mean forecast of 5 trillion won from a Thomson Reuters I/B/ E/S survey of 44 analysts.

The outlook means Samsung’s 2014 profit will probably be 25 trillion won, the weakest in three years, although it marks a rebound from the third-quarter’s 4.1 trillion won profit which was the firm’s lowest quarterly result in more than three years. The company is expected to release its annual results around the end of January.

Phase3 Telecom ushers in 2015 with multiple city connectivity

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est Africa’s largest

independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider , Phase3 Telecom has commenced the new year on a high note as it is set to connect more cities to its network.

This development has reaffirmed the company’s key focus to ensure that West Africa enjoys full access to reliable, high-speed and affordable broadband connectivity.

It would be recalled that last year, the company recorded major successes including the addition of over a 1000km to its 6000km coverage area with footprint expansion of its MPLS network and fixed broadband services; making it possible for people and businesses to have access to our superior aerial fiber optics connectivity ’s performance and highly differentiated broadband services with full potential of internet at “superfast” speed.

According to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stanley Jegede, it is a great professional boost for Phase3 family to kick-off 2015 with renewed vigor to connect more cities.

This reinstates the team’s drive to offer strong, trustworthy and seamless communications solutions to clients all over West Africa.

This development is a clear attestation to Phase3’s unflinching commitment to enabling new, advanced and highly differentiated telecommunications services across Nigeria and throughout the African continent in order to deliver the most innovative solutions. “ It is an incomparable high point for us that people and businesses operating in the region can effectively connect with each other and the rest of the world as they ride on our network and strong international partnerships”, he said.

Jegede maintained that connecting these cities also means businesses in these locations get to enjoy network access to over 400 cities worldwide especially with recent network expansion projects, upgrades and global partnership with PCCW Global, the Hong Kongheadquartered international operating division of HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecom service provider.

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30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Agric

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takeholders in the agricultural sector have expressed optimism of increased focus on the sector in 2015, and increased productivity in view of the sharp decline in crude oil price and its impact on the nation’s revenue, as well as the expected impact of the agricultural transformation agenda being implemented by the government.

Prince Emma Ajayi, an agriculture economists and the Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Biostadt Limited.

He wants to see agriculture playing a major role in the country’s economy as the oil price continues to fall in the global market.

“I want to say that the agricultural sector should be a major fulcrum for building the economy in 2015. We are all aware that for the past three and half years the current government has been putting in place a number of policies in favour of agriculture and industrialization as a whole.

We are also aware that there is a global problem with the prices of oil in international market, which is affecting the income and economy of the nation. Today, the prices of crude is at its lowest level, now what this means is that the national income is dropping seriously.

Agriculture should naturally come to the rescue. I expect to see more robust programs around crops commodities, for example, I want to see government tackling cocoa production and productivity in 2015.

Today we are exporting about 200, 000 metric tones of cocoa to the world market, Ivory Coast is doing about 1.2 million metric tones, Ghana is doing about 800,000 metric tones and we are doing a mere 200,000 metric tones .

I expect our government to scale up massively on cocoa production and productivity so as to be able to increase our output to the world market. I know we can even double our output to the world market to 400, 000-500,000 metric tones even in one year.

What that means is that it will increase foreign exchange earnings.

I want government to look at rice production too. Now we should go beyond setting up of rice mills to direct production, because it takes a lot of agronomy and technicalities to produce rice and the government needs to do everything possible to see rice massively produced in Nigeria and if possible begin to target the export market for rice.

We have appropriate agronomic condition for rice production and we have

•Orekoya

•Akpopodion

Our expectations for Agric in 2015 —Stakeholders

By JIMOH BABATUNDE natural ecology for rice in Nigeria, I think that government should seriously tap into them.

Government in their bid for import substitution should also drive commodities such as cassava; let us begin to utilize more cassava flour in the flour industry and flour demanding products.

We should go beyond bread, we should take up the usage of cassava up to 50 per, and this will boost our economy.

We should also think of entering the world market for cassava product export. I have always been an advocate of why don’t we compete directly in gums made from cassava. We can do this, it is stronger glue, it is cheaper to produce and we have the comparative advantage in producing cassava which can be put to use in several ways.

There is no reason why we cannot move from our current 41million metric tones of cassava to even a hundred million tones so as to saturate the world market with cassava products.

So, for me in 2015, I need to

•Ajayi

see government pursuing such policies and issues aggressively next year.

Overall, the government will really need to target several crops commodities, one that will give us some earnings in terms of foreign exchange, an another that will also be

We need to be sure that the three tiers work in synergy on agriculture in order to help the national economy to generate employment, to improve our economy base for industrialization

available for local consumption and of course others that will limit our dependence on import, like in the case of rice.

We need to really have an aggressive pursuit. We need to be sure that the three tiers work in synergy on agriculture in order to help the national economy to generate employment, to improve our economy base for industrialization. These are what I look forward to see next year.

Idowu Asenuga is the Managing Director of Eriku Farm, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun Agriculture will dominate the investment direction in the year 2015, with Nigeria’s over dependence on oil and the sharp drop of almost 50% in the price of crude. Government and investors will have no alternative than to deepen their investment in agric business!

This trend of super investment that started in the last three years will obviously continue as

investors seek investment options for their capital. The year will witness continuous investment in rice, cassava, sorghum, maize and the livestock sector.

Maize production in 2014 (14 million tons) was the highest ever in the history of the country and the price fluctuation of less than 50 pecent witness this year is unprecedented. Maize price has merely fluctuated between 40,000 and 60,000 per ton and government strategic grain reserves are holding the excess production which will create further price stability in 2015.

The federal government has done well through their various initiatives under the Agricultural transformation Agenda (ATA) which if continued in 2015 will surely play a significant role in food production and processing.

With the extension of YouWin to the 4th series next year, recently introduced Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) , Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZ), Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE), Service Provider Operators (SPO), Rice transformation Agenda and the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) to mention a few, the agric sector is poised to contribute greatly to the GDP growth of the nation and also create hundreds of thousand jobs in 2015. These various programmes would shape the events and activities that will happen during the year and it would form the foundation needed to activate the entire food value chain process.

The livestock sector however, suffered a setback mainly due to the high prices of plant protein ingredients. However expectation for 2015 will be increase in the production of crops like cotton, groundnut and soya beans since the return on investment was more than double in 2014. Therefore, the oil seed processing sector is poised to see increase in their output due to better seed supply. Also the steady growth in the poultry industry will be sustained mainly because of the price stability of feed ingredients and availability of cheaper funds like the CACS and other government interventions.

It is however, expected that the devaluation of the naira, possible further or complete deregulation of the energy sector and the outcome of the elections in February will have significant impact on the sector mostly in the first and second quarter of the year while more of the growth that will be witnessed in the year will be seen in the third and fourth

Continues on page 31

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 31

Agric

Our expectations for Agric in 2015 — Stakeholders

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Continued from page 30 quarter.

Conclusively the general agric business sector will grow in 2015 mostly through new investment and expansion of existing ones. Federal government steady and stable policies in the sector will help shape the anticipated growth and the general returns on investment will be an attraction for future investors in the sector.

Dr. Peter Aikpokpodion n agriculturist says the structure put in place by the government under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda will yield results in 2015 as the structural policies have been put on ground to guarantee food security “I think from what we have seen of the great impact of the activities of the Agriculture Transformational Agenda , which have been significant on the agricultural landscape of the country, I see a better agriculture sector in 2015.

What the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, has been driving on behalf of the President is structural transformation of what agriculture is and most of what has been done is those things that don’t just give you quick results.

It is structural transformation, if you talk about structural transformation; you are talking about changing the nature, the form and functions of the systems.

It is like you have a Volks car and you change the engine to that of Mercedes Benz, you know the way Benz engine functions will be different from that of Volk. So that is what has been done through the agricultural transformation agenda.

Agriculture is now seen not just as production but as a whole value chain, when you fix the value chain, you are able to produce for a market.

There is an uptake market; you are producing for the market. There is no question of we are producing cassava and no market rather you are producing for a market, according to market needs.

You are sure of a market and because you have a value chain fixed that is why other sectors can support those activities in the industry. The bank can put money to support it, because they are sure the value chain is fixed, so they can guarantee there is an uptake and they can get their money.

Vitamin A Cassava model sales outlet berths

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•Ibrahim

That informs why banks have been putting money into supporting fertilizer distribution, putting money to supporting farmers’ organizations, putting money to support aquaculture, cocoa farming, and rice farmers and so on Now we talk of the processing zones put in place, we now have investors coming up because they can produce and process their produce. That is why you see a company like Olam setting up rice integrated mill, and this is why we now have Made in Nigeria rice.

On the cocoa front, you can see that the market is being stimulated; the quality of our cocoa is rising now because of the market. You can see people coming into the scene.

Same for cassava, you can see many composite flour companies coming up.

These are all the impact of the transformation agenda; this is what I call structural transformation.

Coming from this background of what we have seen, we want to see in 2015 an economy taking advantage of this great improvement to stimulate economic growth and to stimulate greater employment.

We have seen investors like Dangote putting billions into rice production; all this is to create jobs and greater economy for us.

I see in 2015, greater engagement, greater prosperity and more jobs being created because of the foundational work that has been done through ATA.

•Asenuga

Prince Wale Oyekoya, the Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)’s agriculture sector and also the MD/CEO of Bama farms We should be expecting the three tiers of government getting their acts together because of the current drop in oil price in world market.

Agriculture should come to the aid of the economy and so the government needs to give subsides and grants to Nigerian farmers so as to encourage local content.

Right now our oil is in short demand in the world market, so I foresee a very big problem in 2015. All the transformation agenda they are talking about is not working, we cannot see it yet on the table of the average Nigerian.

We need to put more realistic policies in place than having a somersaulted policy, because I foresee a serious shortage of

Agriculture is now seen not just as production but as a whole value chain, when you fix the value chain, you are able to produce for a market

food in 2015.

I don’t see us prepared for this food crisis staring us in the face come 2015. In the first quarter of 2015, we might start feeling the pains.

The only way out is for government to encourage the farmers by providing the basic infrastructure like roads, security and electricity. This why people are not willing to invest in processing as there is no power and security.

There is no way we can attract investors into the sector without electricity and security , who will in invest in food processing when there is no stable power supply?

Ibrahim Abdullahi, Managing Director of Maslaha Seeds.

I will want to see the consolidation of the successes that have been achieved under the Transformation Agenda in all areas of agriculture especially the seed sector.

As we hope that the forthcoming elections will not affect agricultural growth, we want to see the government supporting the agriculture industry the more with a view to ensuring food security and curtail the reliance on food importation.

I will want to see more application of technology in agriculture in 2015 particularly in mechanization, fertilizer application, seeds and tractorization.

This will come to fruition if there is more collaboration between the public and private sectors in research and development.

he fight against hidden hunger went one notch higher in Nigeria as a model vitamin A Cassava sales outlet in Ibadan was launched by HarvestPlus-Nigeria in conjunction with its development partners, Nollywood producers and actors led by Zeb Ejiro at Idiose, opposite IITA, Ibadan.

The model outlet is HarvestPlus strategy to ensure that Nigerians have access to the biofortified cassava crop to address the health challenges of vitamin A deficiency manifesting in poor vision, blindness, low immunity and poor body tissue development which commonly affects 30 percent of Nigerian children under 5 years and 20 percent of pregnant women.

With over 500, 000 Nigerian households currently planting and consuming the product across the country, and over 550 commercial farmers on board in the multiplication of the nutritious crop on over 1000 hectares of farmland in Nigeria, the need to scale out the product to more Nigerians in order to make the crop accessible to them became the next line of action. ‘’This is just a model”, according to Paul Ilona, HarvestPlus Country Manager. “We need to establish 300 of this model sales outlets across Nigeria so that Nigerians can enjoy the health benefits of the crop. We need partners to buy in into this initiative to make it a reality across the length and breadth of the country”.

The model sales outlet will be known as the ‘Farmers’ Centre’ as it will link up suppliers of the product(farmers and processors) with demand agents( bulking agents, entrepreneurs and consumers) of the product at the model sales outlet. It is therefore a One Stop sales outlet that will cater for all the products of vitamin A Cassava – stems, roots, fufu mash, garri, fufu, packaged fufu flour and confectionaries (Cakes, chin chin, tidbits and pies).

According to Dr Ina Schonberg, Deputy – Director, HarvestPlus who launched the model shop jointly with Balogun Olooto, the paramount ruler of Idiose, Nigeria is a flagship programme in the HarvestPlus organisation and as such a lot is expected of the country programme to reach out to remote areas to make vitamin A cassava products accessible to all.

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 33

Micro-Finance

Commmodity Index Jan 02 - Jan 08, 2015

2015: NAMB to be driven by innovations Stories by PROVIDENCE OBUH

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he National Association of Micro-finance Banks NAMB would be driven by innovation in the year 2015.

Some of the innovations include: the introduction of Microfinance Money Market Association of Nigeria; uniform IT platform system; introduction of agency banking; organising of annual conference; among others.

These innovations would further facilitate the activities of the sub sector, said President of the Association, Mr. Valentine Whensu.

Accordingly, he said, “We want to encourage confidence within ourselves by introducing what we call Micro finance money market association of Nigeria and we are working on that so that we can learn from within ourselves.

We are also working on having our own annual

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele conference in 2015, such that we can bring in people that matters both within and outside the country to talk about MfBs and what benefit they stand to get.

“Financial inclusion is basically micro finance because we are the people dealing with those in the grass roots and we need to bring in the people who are excluded and that is the reason why what the association is doing together with the CBN is to encourage a uniform IT platform system such that we can be every where in this country.

“We are introducing

agency banking, you don’t need to have bricks and mortar to run, you can get your agency which is your customer to have your PoS and business will be done.

“We are the age of technology where you can carry your money on your phone and the people who can do this are people who are working in the rural areas with the MfBs. The association is working to ensure we bring in 65 percent of this populace that are excluded financially back into the net,” he said.

Ikeja City Mall celebrates with orphanage homes s part

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Participants performing in the mall

Olympic milk, Psquare fete customers include: Quality control

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opular music artist, Peter Okoye, also known as Psquare, penultimate week, celebrated the season with loyal customers of Olympic Milk, a brand of Nutricima Limited, makers of Coast, Nunu, Olympic milk and other nutritious food drinks.

Okoye is the brand ambassador of Olympic milk.

Some of the customers

staff of BIC Biro, Ms Joy Orji, a student, Mr. Darlington Nnamani, Site Manager/Store Keeper, Mr. Tunde Popoola, Ms. Ifekoya Adejoke, among others.

These customers participated in the Olympic Milk Blue Santa Photo Contest and were rewarded with win a visit from Brand Ambassador Peter Okoye of P-Square.

of its s e a s o n a l celebration, Ikeja City Mall brought together over 30 kids from three different Orphanages for a one day fun filled excitement, also known as “Gift an Orphan,” an initiative geared towards giving back to the society.

The kids were engaged in movies, face painting, games, music and dance with customised gifts given to them and special vouchers provided by Lacoste, Spur, Max, Mr. Price, Shoprite and Blackup.

Marketing Manager, Ikeja City Mall, Mr. Eniola Ositelu, said that the mall is committed to giving back to the community, pledging a strong commitment to good services.

He said that Christmas party for orphans is a tradition for the mall, with a viewing to celebrating them, and showing them love and a hope to live.

Ositelu said: “We have been able to give these kids the experience of Christmas as enjoyed by their privileged counterparts.

34 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Homes & Housing

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agos State government has slashed various rates applicable to land transactions in the state, effectively cutting down land use charges from 13 percent to 3 percent.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is also pushing for a reduction of property registration cost in the country from 16 percent to 3 percent to boost homeownership.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who signed an executive order to that effect, said the move is to “ensure that land transactions are carried out with minimal difficulty, especially with difficulties relating to payment of taxes, rates and legitimate levies charged under the enabling law”.

Specifically, the executive order, which takes immediate effect, reduces Consent Fees from 6 percent to 1.5 percent while Capital Gains tax, which was previously 2 percent, is reduced to 0.5 percent. Also cost of Stamp Duty has been reduced from 2 percent to 0.5 percent while Registration Fees has been reduced from 3 percent to 0.5 percent. The order, (No. EO/BRF/001 of 2015), provides, among others, that “unless otherwise indicated, the valuation of landed property for the determination of tax and other charges payable shall be by reference to the statement of fair market value produced by relevant professionals, adopted by the state government and published from time to time in the official government gazette”.

Fashola said the order is intended to improve the internal management of the state government and not to create any rights or benefits, substantive or perpetual, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against Lagos State,

US mortgage rates hit new lows

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•A residential estate by the seashore.

Lagos slashes land transaction rates to 3% •As FG seeks property registration cost reduction Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE its departments, agencies or entities, its officials, employees or experts or any other person.

According to him, at the time when the state’s economy was challenged, there was need to continue to grow the information on capital, business concerns and industrialization, adding that some of the expectations in expanding business in the state’s enterprise zones and the free trade zones could only be achieved through the reduction of cost of land acquisition. “We expect also that if we as government play a role, by reducing the cost of setting up business, we have

made a huge impact enabling private enterprise to thrive and in that way hopefully provide employment opportunities to businesses that will be formed as the results of this policy intervention,” the governor said.

In a related development, the Federal Government is pushing for reduction of home registration costs in the country from the existing 16 percent to 3 percent of a property’s value.

This is with a view to making homeownership more affordable, as it has been noted that high cost has prevented Nigerians from buying residential properties.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-

Stakeholders reiterate need for FMBN recapitalisation

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ational Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development has reemphasized the need by the Federal Government to urgently recapitalize the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to ensure efficient delivery of its mandate of facilitating access to housing finance.

The Council made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its 4th national conference held recently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. It noted that in order to re-position the mortgage institution to effectively deliver on its core mandate of providing loans for housing finance, the federal government should speed up the process of its recapitalisation.

It identified failure of some states to embrace the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme as well as non-passage of critical mortgage related bills as parts of constraints militating against effective performance of the bank. In particular, the Council enjoined the six non-participating states, namely: Lagos, Kano, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, and Oyo C M Y K

states to rejoin the NHF scheme.

The communiqué also enumerated other action plans needed to boost affordable housing development and mortgage financing in the country. The council urged the Federal Government to come up with policies to overcome the challenges of high cost of land, transfer fees, registration processes as well as promoting labour trainings. It further noted the need to promote the unfolding paradigm shift in the national housing delivery by creating enabling environment for private sector participation in housing schemes, with special emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources as viable options for reducing the costs of buildings.

According to the Council, relevant stakeholders in housing delivery sector should begin to work in tandem with the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NABRRI) with a view to exploiting technological innovations for the provision of affordable housing for the people.

Iweala, said this was necessary because as long as houses are not affordable to people, there will be no effective demand for houses no matter the amount of mortgage finance available. She said the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company is partnering state governments through a pilot state scheme to slash costs for land titling, governor ’s consent and property registration processes, to enhance the enabling environment for mortgage market growth and increase home ownership.

“So far, 18 states have signed off, all accepting to review extant land titling, governor’s consent and property registration processes to make home ownership possible. It is very onerous that the present processes result in a cost that could be up to 16 percent of the value of the accessed property in question. That is not affordable for our people.

And this is what we are trying to work on because if we don’t work on it, we may have all the mortgage finance, but we will not have the demand. So, the plan is to scale it down from 16 per cent to about three per cent. Without the adoption of this model, it would be difficult to proceed in the provision of affordable houses for Nigerians,” she stated.

It has been observed that although many Nigerians have shown interest in the recently launched Affordable Home Ownership Scheme by the federal government, for which 10,000 housing units are to be built in the first phase, takeup has been weak due to high costs associated with home ownership.

verage U.S. mortgage rates started the year by dipping to new lows, with the benchmark 30-year rate marking its lowest level since May 2013.

The ongoing decline in mortgage rates would appear to be a boon for prospective home buyers. But it hasn’t yet significantly enticed more buyers into the market. At the same time, there are fewer distressed properties and bargains coming onto the market that attract real estate investors.

This week the nationwide average rate on the 30-year loan fell to 3.73 percent from 3.87 percent last week, mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, slid to 3.05 percent from 3.15 percent last week.

A year ago, the 30-year mortgage stood at 4.51 percent and the 15-year mortgage at 3.56 percent. Mortgage rates have remained low even though the Federal Reserve in October ended its monthly bond purchases, which were meant to hold down long-term rates.

FHA to lower cost of mortgage insurance

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n a move designed to bring more first-time home buyers into the housing market, President Barack Obama said last week that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the government insurer of home loans, will lower its annual insurance premiums from 1.35 percent to 0.85 percent.

In a statement, the White House said the move was part of the president’s efforts to expand responsible lending to creditworthy borrowers. “This action will make home ownership more affordable for over two million Americans in the next three years. Since 2009, the Obama administration has taken bold steps to reduce risks in the mortgage market and to protect consumers. These efforts have made it possible to take this prudent measure while also ensuring FHA remains on a positive financial trajectory. By bringing our premiums down, we’re helping folks lift themselves up so they can open new doors of opportunity and strengthen their financial futures,” said Julián Castro, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 35

Business & Economy

Nigeria’s earnings to drop on oil fall — Aganga

By FRANKLIN ALLI

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I G E R I A’ s earnings from overseas will drop hugely this year due to the falling global oil prices.

Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, gave this hint, weekend, when he inspected Secure ID and its subsidiary, Secure Card Manufacturing Limited

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in Lagos. The Minister noted that the falling oil prices will affect the country ’s balance of payments with the rest of the world.

“We are going to have big balance of payments this year due to falling oil price,” he said.

Balance of payments() is an economic terminology that describes the record of all economic transactions between the residents of a country and the rest of

the world in a particular period (over a quarter of a year or more commonly over a year). These transactions are made by individuals, firms and government bodies. Thus the balance of payments includes all external visible and non-visible transactions of a country during a given period, usually a year.

Aganga commended the management of Secure ID, saying “what you are doing is what

every Nigerians should be thinking of- moving the country away from import dependence.”

He assured the company of government’s supports: “we will work with you over time to reduce your cost of production.”

In his response to requests by Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, Managing Director, Secure ID,that government should protect the company through reduction of

duty on raw materials from 10 percent to 5 percent under HS CODE 390.300.00 now 390.30.00, the minister replied: “Any adjustments we will make will be based on sector-specific, and not to individual company. We don’t want to be seen to be favouring one company against the others.

Our approach under the NIRP has always been about value-

addition, encouraging local content and our job is to create enabling environment for you.” “ The new tariff which the ministry is proposing is still at 10 percent but even with that, really, we can survive at 10 percent but for us to be competitive, like Oliver Twist, we are asking for a reduction to five percent. Five percent will make us a lot more competitive,” said Akinkugbe.

According to her, our manufacturing plants will be able to compete with card manufacturers in South Africa, Thailand, UAE and Europe, if the duty on our raw materials is adjusted. It is import that the duty is adjusted.

Fielding question on what actually prompted her to have invested in the business, she replied “There is a story behind the establishment of Secure ID; we started as a company that offers security and management system such as Closed Circuit TV, using biometric, and also card assessment and we did that for about nine years and we got involved and we regulate the smartcard Association of Nigeria and we were invited to be a member of the board of trustees.

What that association was supposed to do is to drive the usage of cards in the country.

“For us to take the country from cash to card and while doing all of that we saw that there was a gap in the marketthere wasn’t a card manufacturing company in the country and all the cards were being imported and we felt that with the kind of population we have, Nigeria has the market for the state of the art card manufacturing plant like this.”

She disclosed that this plant is not built to serve only Nigeria’s market, it is also built to serve outside Nigeria. ”Today we have clients in fifteen countries across Africa and we intend to expand.

That’s the gap we saw and we took a bold step to build the plant you have seen. We are currently responsible for the supply of 13 million high-end, residents’ identity cards from the Lagos State Government.

“Currently we have 215 staff but going to 350 by December 2015.

C M Y

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Insurance

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015 is an election year and it is expected that economic activities will be slow because politicians will concentrate more on politicking than on the economy. However, stakeholders in the insurance sector are hopeful that it will turn out to be a positive year for the sector.

For Director General of the Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, Mr. Sunday Thomas, the forecast for the insurance industry in 2015 will not be accurate without a review of activities in 2014 because there were policy initiatives as well as challenges that will influence what will happen in 2015.

Thomas said that a key policy initiative of the previous year which will shape activities in 2015 is the ‘no premium, no cover ’ of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM. Having gone through the teething challenges that accompanied the implementation of the ‘no premium, no cover ’, insurers are now used to it and have settled down to embrace the policy which will shape the books of insurers positively going forward, Thomas said.

Thomas also said that the deliberate policy of the federal government to put the insurance sector on the spotlight at the tail end of 2014 have the potential to elevate the sector to greater heights in 2015. Recall that the federal government through the ministry of finance at the tail end of 2014 brought together stakeholders in the insurance sector and the economy at large to brainstorm on ways to move the sector forward.

Thomas also said that the enforcement drive of the regulator, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to regulate the sector in accordance with international best practices will add value to the system.

“These and some other issues which insurance operators had to cope with in the market in 2014, will be stabilised in 2015 because they are beginning to overcome most of them now,” Thomas stated.

On the NIA side, Thomas said that the Association will commence the marine module of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID in 2015.

Recall that the motor

From Left: Liz Ashdown, Head of Spirits, Marketing & Ready-to-Drink (RTD) for Diageo Brands Nigeria; Ufuoma Udjoh, Baileys Brand Manager; Waje and Tolu Ogunyemi at the Christmas edition of Ladies Night in Lagos.

Insurers optimistic of a vibrant sector in 2015

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA module of the NIID had been in place since 2012 and it is a platform where all genuine motor insurance are stored.

Thomas said that because 2015 is an election year, things might slow down a little because governments at all levels will have to

find their feet after the election. On the issue of declining oil price, Thomas said that there will be efforts by government to put safeguards in place to guard against adverse effects of declining oil price.

“Due to the fact that 2015 is an election year, there is

The first half of 2015 is likely to be slow which could slow down purchase of insurance products and services

the likelihood of slowdown in implementation of policy initiatives.

Also after the election, it will take the government time to organise itself. So the first half of 2015 is likely to be slow which could slow down purchase of insurance products and services. Also, passing the budget into law could be delayed and the government being the largest spender might slow down in releasing money into the system.

Also, foreign investors could be hesitant in committing their investments into

the economy if the budget is delayed,” Thomas said.

On his part, Chairman of NIA and Managing Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Godwin Wiggle, said that insurers are optimistic that 2015 will be better judging by the economic growth in recent times.

According to Wiggle, “2015 is an election year, however; we are hopeful that things will be better. In terms of the ‘no premium, no cover,’ we will begin to benefit from the policy because we now collect premium on the go. So now, we are writing less business with more cash unlike in the past when we are writing more business with less cash.”

For Managing Director of Sovereign Trust Insurance

Plc, Mr. Wale Onaolapo, 2015 is expected to be positive in terms of insurance contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. He said that all along insurance contribution to GDP is very low so there is a lot of room for improvement for insurers in 2015.

“Our economy is the biggest in Africa and there is still a lot of ground for insurers to cover. So for insurers that know their onions, 2015 is another opportunity for them to capitalise on the huge opportunities staring us in the face and cue into the growth trajectory of the economy. The insurance public has been waiting for this and it is time we meet their need,” Onaolapo stated.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 37

Maritime That the United States at a point in time had to turn to its maritime industry when the agricultural industry failed

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takeholders in the maritime sector have expressed readiness to persist in their efforts to ensure that the sector is accorded its rightful place in the economy While departments of government are strategizing, major stakeholders in the industry are also exerting pressure on the government by providing suggestions on how to grow the industry in 2015.

Speaking to Vanguard on the way forward, legal luminary and foremost maritime lawyer, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, said that the Nigerian maritime industry still holds the key to unbundling the Nigerian economy.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, also told Vanguard that the maritime industry still remains the only industry that can take Nigeria out of the woods if it is properly harnessed.

In a letter to the Coordinating minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Agbakoba said that the government can realise more than N7trillion annually from the industry.

He noted that some of the bills in the National Assembly awaiting legislation has also become an hindrance to the growth of the industry.

The letter reads in part “ Your welcome statement that Nigerians should henceforth view the country as a non-oil producing nation and explore other sources of revenue as a result of the decline in the price of oil, calls for reflection.

“You have suggested broadening the tax base to raise revenue. While this is a good step, we suggest that it only scratches the surface.

“As I have always said to you, there is massive untapped revenue in our maritime sector estimated at N7 trillion per annum. I will suggest that you pay close attention to this sector, which at this time has all but collapsed. In order to tap revenue from this sector there will need to be an overhaul of policy, institutional, regulatory and legal framework.

“There is a raft of legislation pending in the National Assembly, which have deterred growth in the sector, e.g. the PIB, the Ports & Harbour Bill, the Bill establishing the economic

For maritime, the struggle for relevance continues in 2015

By GODWIN ORITSE regulator (shipping sector), and the Maritime Zones Bill etc. In fact there is very good reason to review Nigeria’s Ocean Policy to tap abundant national resources.

“As you know, I have dedicated many years to this sector and have deep knowledge of its potential of revenue generation, which I would like to discuss with you”.

Domain Awareness & Maritime Security In its plans ahead of 2015, the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has vowed to improve on its achievement of last year with a view to creating a balance in Nigerian’s international trade with her partners.

The spokesman of the maritime safety agency, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi while reviewing achievements of the out gone year said that the agency is upgrading of its Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) in Lagos, Bonny and Oron.

He noted that the Radar installation in Escravos, Bonny and Takwa Bay in Lagos will complement the satellite facility and further boost our domain awareness response capability.

ISPS Code Implementation He explained that the MoU entered into with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force has also been instrumental to curbing the menace of piracy and illicit activities in the maritime domain adding that the partnership will be strengthened in the coming.

He also said that compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has been vigorously pursued since the Agency was made

Government can realise more than N7trillion annually from the industry

the Designated Authority (DA) for its implementation in May 2013. Over 38 percent of port facilities in the country have fully complied comprising all the major ports in the country saying that “Our goal is to attain over 90 percent compliance level before the end of 2015”.

Indigenous Ship owners Speaking in similar vein, the President of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Captain Niyi Labinjo said that with the falling oil price, it was time the government ought to look at the maritime industry to grow the economy.

Labinjo explained that the United States at a point in time had to turn to its maritime industry when the agricultural industry failed.

He vowed that local ship owners in will take their destiny in their hands and ensure that they get the right of first refusal when local vessels are being considered for trading in the nation’s coastal waters.

He said “ For us, 2015 will be a good year for us local ship owners because we are prepared to help ourselves if the government will not help us.

“We have the right of first refusal, we should be

accorded that, if the Nigerian system had not assisted the likes of Oando, Conoil, Sahara Energy, they will not be where they are today. “ If they say our vessels are sub-standard, let them use the best of our worst vessels, how many times have they heard that Nigerian owned vessels spilled products.

“Shipping is not small or medium scale business, we will use all lawful means to get them to patronize us and this will include negotiation and persuasion”.

Inland Waterways The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said that it will up the ante of its nationwide safety campaign on the nation’s waterways.

Mr. Tayo Fadile, General Manager Public Affairs of the agency told Vanguard that in 2015, the authority will cover those geo-political zones it could not cover in 2014.

“We are going to increase our safety campaign awareness in the coming year. Last year, we were able to cover only three of the six geo-political zones in the country”.

More online payments for services at NPA So much has happened at the Nigerian Ports Authority in the last nine years.

From port reforms to online payment for shipping services provided by the authority to electronic ship entry and exit notices, a development that has brought about easy monitoring of vessels movement within the Lagos maritime district.

Although, Vanguard could not get the Managing Director, Mr. Habib Abdullahi for comments, one of his aides who refused to have his names in print said that the NPA has also mapped out projections and strategies for 2015.

Shippers’ Council and the challenges of Economic Regulatory function Despite the stiff opposition by terminal operators and shipping lines in Nigeria against the downward review of port and other shipping charges, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Mr. Hassan Bello is undeterred as the court cases instituted by both terminal operators and shipping lines have not in any way affected his work at the Council.

Hassan said that as soon as the legal framework of the Council’s appointment as economic regulator was concluded, the Council will bite harder with view to facilitating trade and protecting.

C M Y K

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Industry

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HIEFTAINS of industries in Nigeria have predicted increase in cost of production in the sector in 2015 due to high interest rate and devaluation of the naira.

Industry stakeholders including, Alhaji Remi Bello, President of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, and his counterpart, Chief Bassey Edem, 1st Deputy President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCI noted that with the unfolding oil price scenario and the consequent exchange rate depreciation, it is plausible to predict higher inflation conditions in 2015. There would be pressures on production and operating costs across sectors. High cost of imports will also be a major factor.

“The combined austerity measures of the government and tighter monetary policy would put additional pressure on consumer prices.

Therefore, we expect inflation rate to cross the double digit mark in the first half of 2015,” said Remi Bello.

He noted that as a result of the import dependent character of the economy, the sharp increase in exchange rate will naturally push up the operating cost of enterprises in the economy.

“Many firms are already feeling the heat across all sectors. In the few weeks, naira exchange rate has depreciated by about 11 per cent in the interbank market and over 12 per cent in the parallel market.

The impact of the depreciation on operating costs will be very profound in 2015,” he emphasized.

He also pointed out that a natural outcome of depreciating exchange of rate in an import dependent economy is inflation. “Cost push inflation will begin to manifest in next few weeks of 2015. This will be driven by high cost of production and high cost of imported finished goods.”

According to him, LCCI also envisaged that businesses driven by government patronage are likely to experience a decline in 2015 given the current government revenue outlook. “Capital projects of governments will reduce drastically and this would affect some segments of the private sector. The unfavourable revenue outlook may result

*Muhammad Badru, NACCIMA President

*Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Industry

Increased production costs top outlook for industry in 2015

By FRANKLIN ALLI in the suspension of some capital projects. Generally, government contractors would experience a slowdown in tempo of activities in 2015. With declining revenue, the risk of default in payment for jobs executed for government agencies will be higher in the short term.

This situation calls for cautious engagement with government contracts at all levels of government. As government revenue

Businesses driven by government patronage are likely to experience a decline in 2015 given the current government revenue outlook

contracts, the capacity to meet financial contractual obligations may be difficult. Already some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and state governments are having difficulties in the payment of workers’ salaries. Many of the states are also currently servicing debts having raised funds in the capital market.

With the current developments, many ongoing contracts, especially the medium to large ones, will attract cost variations. Clearly the exchange rate depreciation will alter many cost parameters. This is a new challenge that many contractors and suppliers as well as their clients will have to confront. This will happen in public and private sectors.”

Interest Rate “The tight monetary policy may continue into the 2015 and this would keep interest rate high in the economy. At its last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the CBN decided to review upwards the MPR and the CRR on private sector deposit from 12 percent to 13 percent; and from 15 percent to 20 percent, respectively.”

Corroborating this, Chief

*Remi Bello, LCCI President Edem, also called on businesses to brace up for the challenges ahead, saying, “ if we are concluding 2014 on a faltering note because of falling crude oil prices and devalued naira, we should all be ready for a challenging 2015.”

He disclosed that as a result of the high interbank rate of N185 per dollar and the 13 percent Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) as against 12 percent at the beginning of the year, businesses have reported increased production cost because they are spending money to bring in their

raw materials.

“As can be seen, the macroeconomic fundamentals are less stable than they were in the first half of 2014 and this has serious implications on the progress of the real sector of the economy,” he said.

Chief Edem also pointed out that another challenge local industries will face is the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, CET, which will take full effect from January this year. Borders will be thrown open to influx of products from neighbouring countries when the tariff becomes operation,” he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 39

Tax Matters It also considers the statutory deductions allowed in the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) such as the National Housing Fund contribution and the pension contribution as well as the statutory consolidated relief allowance.

A cross section of representatives of customers of United Parcel Service, who were rewarded for their outstanding performance during the year 2014.

Computing tax returns using the FIRS tax calculator

By OLUMIDE SOLATE

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omputing taxes can be so cumbersome, especially for the tax types that do not consider any deduction or relief; such tax types include the Value Added Tax (VAT) which is currently 5% of the total sum and the Withholding Tax (WHT) whose rate depends on the particular transaction in question and is also applied to the total sum.

Other tax types which consider certain deductions and reliefs for the benefit of the taxpayers usually require some measure of technical expertise in their computation, especially in the identification of the deductions and reliefs allowed.

Conscious of this fact, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) incorporated a tax calculator application in its redesigned website to help users compute their taxes and at least have an idea of the amount of taxes they should pay, based on their income.

The tax calculator is one of the best features on the redesigned FIRS website.

This will help taxpayers

have an estimated idea of their tax assessment before they file their returns at the nearest FIRS office or via

the e-filing platforms. It is designed to take care of computations for both individual (PAYE and

Personal Income Tax) and corporate (Company Income Tax) taxpayers.

The corporate section

takes cognisance of the type of industry the company operates in, the statutory deductions allowed by the Company Income Tax Act, the applicable capital allowance and unrelieved losses as well as the number of years the company has been in operation. If all the required fields have been correctly filled, a hit on the ‘CALCULATE TAX’ generates the Company Income Tax, corresponding Education Tax and the Information Technology Development Levy (where applicable).

The individual/enterprise section caters for persons in paid employment, partnership businesses and those that are selfemployed. This section makes provisions for both earned (from paid employment) and unearned (other income such as rents, royalties etc.) income. It also considers the statutory deductions allowed in the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) such as the National Housing Fund contribution and the pension contribution as well as the statutory consolidated relief allowance. After filling all the required fields, a hit on the ‘CALCULATE TAX’ button gives the tax payable broken into monthly instalments.

The Tax Calculator is specifically designed to make life easier for all classes of taxpayers. If you ever experience any page loading issue while using the platform, please refresh your page.

C M Y K

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

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“

asarawa to spend N107.9bn in 2015”, PUNCH, January 1, 2015.

The report by Umar Muhammed disclosed that “The budget which was christened the budget of “sustainability ” would be funded with resources from the Federation Account, internally generated revenue [IGR] Value Added Tax, and SURE-P.” Commissioner Danazumi, for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who delivered the budget on behalf of ailing Governor Al-Makura, could be forgiven for not realizing that he had delivered the most unrealistic and unsustainable budget in the state’s history. But, Danazumi need not feel bad. Nasarawa state is merely following in the foot-steps of other states which had presented budgets to their States’ Houses of Assembly.

Simple arithmetic tells us that a state budgeting to spend N107.9 bn (N108 rounded up) would need to generate N9bn per month from all sources in 2015. The question is how realistic is this for Nasarawa?

To start with, SURE-P as a source of revenue has closed shop in reality. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will soon reveal that truth to everybody.

But, when the Federal budget is based on crude oil selling at $65 per barrel and the current price is under $57 per barrel, there will be no subsidy anymore. So out goes an entire revenue source from the estimates.

Nasarawa state budget as a metaphor for unrealistic state budgets Value Added Tax, VAT, could be up or down from last year ’s actual revenue collected depending on how much VAT rate is increased and how much is actually collected in 2015. But, with crude prices going downwards, there is every chance that the Nigerian economy might contract and VAT collection might drop.

However, SURE-P and VAT are minor variables in the budget estimates. Together they cannot account for more than fifteen per cent of the budget estimate. The bulk of the revenue expected to fund the budget of “sustainability” will come from the Federation Account, FA, and IGR. The question is: how well has Nasarawa performed in deriving revenue from IGR? The answer is: very poorly.

In an excellent report titled “States struggling to pay salaries”, DAILY TRUST reporter, Nurudeen Abdallah, on December 15, 2014, page 5, disclosed that, with the exception of Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Kano States, which generated N384.5bn, N87.9bn, N50bn and N24bn respectively, no other state got close to N25bn. Nasarawa actually achieved IGR of

N4.1bn in 2013. The 2014 result might not be different.

That leaves us with the revenue from FA to provide the bulk of the funds for 2015.

And it is precisely on this account that the Nasarawa state budget, as well as those of other states fall apart. As things stand right now, the Nasarawa state House of Assembly will be wasting everybody ’s time, raising false hopes among the people if it expects the state to raise

With the exception of Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Kano States, which generated N384.5bn, N87.9bn, N50bn and N24bn respectively, no other state got close to N25bn

N108bn this year. Here is the evidence.

The October 2014 allocation to states from the Federation Account, should have served as a warning to the states. All the states collected far less than they had collected in a month in more than two years. Nasarawa collected only N5bn from Abuja. That sum included FA, VAT, and SURE-P allocations.

And it also included the state’s share of the Excess Crude account which will not longer be disbursed as long as crude prices remain low.

Furthermore, the FA was made from crude selling at well over $80 per barrel. The FA allocations for 2015 will be made from crude selling at $60 or less and without ECA and SURE-P funds. Certainly N9bn revenue per month can at best be regarded as a gross error, at best; or an unwarranted joke at worst.

Again, it needs to be repeated that Nasarawa is not alone in making this monumental mistake at a time when every state needs advice on how to put together a really sustainable budget.

Readily available information on other State budgets which represent the

prevalent flight from reality include the following: Benue N8.5bn per month budget versus N5.2bn expected; Borno N14.8bn budget versus N7.7bn expected and Gombe N7.5bn versus N3.8bn. One cannot help wondering if ALL the state governors intend to print their own currencies to make up the shortfalls they will experience in 2015.

The Speakers of the State Houses of Assemblies and the Honourable members, if they love their people would be well-advised to put the interest of the people above partisan and selfish considerations. If budgets which cannot be implemented are passed, the people will suffer immeasurably.

Civil society groups in every state should also rise to the occasion. The states that will be destroyed through a bogus budget belong to all of us. Politicians, irrespective of political party should not be allowed to bring unprecedented civil unrest nationwide on all of us.

NEXT: FOR HOW LONG WILL THE COUNCIL OF STATES REMAIN SILENT? The Council of States includes all former Heads of State alive – Obasanjo, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Abubakar and Obasanjo again. For how long will they keep quiet while the nation sinks? For once silence is not gold; it is either acquiescence or cowardice.

Both are unbecoming of Elder Statesmen….

Economy

US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December T

he US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent, according to Labor Department figures.

In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008. But weak wage growth and low inflation are likely to give the Federal Reserve pause for thought over raising interest rates.

The increase in jobs was higher than expected with the strongest growth in professional and business services, construction, healthcare and food services, C M Y K

according to the data released by the US Labour Department. However, there was little improvement in December for part-time workers wishing to work more hours, and average hourly earnings fell by 5 cents after rising 6 cents in November. The fall in the jobless rate was largely due to a drop in the number of people seeking work. Over the whole of 2014, job creation averaged 246,000 a month.

The figures highlight the contrast between the US economy which continues to pick up pace and that of the eurozone which this week slid into deflation. Whilst eurozone policymakers are considering expanding their

stimulus measures to include government bond-buying, or quantitative easing, the US jobs data will encourage

expectations of an interest rate rise later this year.

“This is probably a good enough number to allow the

Fed to stay on course in terms of adjusting policy, but it probably won’t cause them to change their timing from mid-year,” said Peter Cecchini, chief market strategist.

iPhone turns eight years old I t was eight years ago, on Friday, when Steve Jobsunveiled the first ever iPhone at the 2007 MacWorld conference. Thus ending years of speculation regarding whether or not Apple was working on a mobile phone.

Given how ubiquitous the handsets have become in the years since (the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sold upwards of 10 million handsets in their first weekend alone), it’s easy to forget just how revolutionary the device was

upon its launch, popularizing capacitive touch screens and multi-touch gestures.

“As soon as I swiped the screen for the first time, I knew a radical shift in technology had taken place,” says an Apple employee, who joined the company shortly before the phone’s release.

Like any truly great technology, the iPhone’s impact wasn’t just technical, however. The iPhone changed our idea about what a smartphone should be:

carry out some computing functions, to a portable computer that also makes phone calls. It transformed the world of easy mobile Internet search, which in turn set companies like Facebook on the road to being “mobile first” businesses.

The iPhone also democratized the world of software development with the arrival of the iOS App Store, which has since paid out more than $25 billion to app-makers.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 41

Aviation A

viation experts and stakeholders have projected a sharp decline in the price of aviation fuel, also known as JET A1.

They opined that that 50 percent fall in price of crude oil will prompt a decline in the JETA1, which constitute 40 per cent of operating cost of airlines in the country.

The stakeholders however called on the federal government to maintain and improve safety standard attained in the industry this year.

The price of oil has now dropped more than 40 per cent from “a peak of $107 in June”, prompting the conclusion by the Genevabased International Air Transport Association ,IATA, that net “profit of airlines worldwide would rise to $25 billion (15.9 billion pounds) in 2015, giving a profit margin of 3.2 per cent.” IATA represents around 250 airlines accounting for 84 per cent of global air traffic.

According to aviation experts, the last time the industry reported a margin nearly that high was “in 2010, when it reached 3.1 per cent.”

“The industry outlook is improving. The global economy continues to recover and the fall in oil prices should strengthen the upturn next year,” IATA Director General Tony Tyler said. But, he added a note of caution.

“A 3.2 percent net profit margin does not leave much room for a deterioration in the external environment before profits are hit” he said. He further said “Airlines’ spend on fuel will drop to $192 billion in 2015, from an expected $204 billion this year ”.

Meanwhile, Aviation unions as well as other stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to brace up and ensure that the sector improved beyond what it attained in 2014.

Managing Director of the Centre for Aviation Safety and Research, Engineer Sheri Kyari said that aviation security is one of the areas that the government should look into by ensuring that security personnels are well trained.

According to him, when that is done, security at the airports across the country will be enhanced. Engineer Kyari also noted that apart from security, safety was

Nigerian airlines to spend less on aviation fuel in 2015

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE another area that the government should improve upon, stressing that the industry was lucky in the outgoing year not to have witnessed any air accident or incident.

He noted that more efforts needed to be put in place to sustain the tempo and ensure that safety is adhered to at all times. He averred that safety was the bane in the aviation industry.

Kyari, who was an engineer with the defunct Nigeria Airways further call on the government to establish a new national carrier as this would create employment opportunities for numerous unemployed pilots and other professionals in the industry. He however frown at the situation where expatriates were freely operating in Nigeria instead of Nigerians doing the jobs noting that this has led to capital flight out of the country.

Commenting on the remodeling project embarked upon by the former aviation minister, Princess Stella Oduah, Engineer Kyari caution the government to ensure that most of the project are fully completed and put into

Government should professionalize the aviation industry in the coming year by appointing a professional as the aviation minister stressing that all the appointees of government were politicians who know nothing about the aviation industry

proper use.

“There is always a backlash once there is a change of administration, the project are ok but government should just try and finish those projects, even the minister said that they are not going to abandon the project, they should try as much as possible to finish the project on time, they should not throw away such project because it is not going to be nice” he said.

Also speaking, General Secretary, Nigerian Aviation Professional Association (NAPA), Comrade Abdul Rasaq Saidu said that government should professionalize the aviation industry in the coming year by appointing a professional as the aviation minister stressing that all the appointees of government were politicians who know nothing about the aviation industry.

Saidu however asked the government to abstain from interfering in the

aviation industry noting that the industry is a sensitive one that only professionals can handle very well. He said, “Federal government must obey ICAO set standards and practices.

“NCAA is not autonomous and this is because of BASA funds, they do not want NCAA to be autonomous and function properly, when you see the DG that is not trying to play ball with them, they will remove him forgetting that, that appointment was confirmed by the National Assembly. You will just hear from the news that he has been removed without any recourse to the National Assembly. It is because of the BASA funds and the oversight function of the two bodies”.

“So they need autonomy because BASA money is to be spent to repair, replace, to improve the aviation industry, it is not for sharing . It is to be spent in the aviation industry. You must try and retrain people because the staff are getting older, when you serve 35 years you are gone , if you don’t train the younger workers to take over, then the industry is heading for a collapse and that is what is affecting us because the money that is meant to be spent and not to be shared, I know this because it is over 35 years that I have been in the industry” Comrade Saidu stressed.

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Advertising

Baileys hosts ‘Ladies Night Out’

Agenda setting & political advertising: Staking integrity

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n the spirit of the yuletide season and as part of activities geared towards celebrating women, Baileys, Irish cream liqueur hosted women at the Christmas edition of the Baileys Ladies Night Out. The event, anchored by Emmanuel Ikubese, Mr. Nigeria 2014, held at Rhapsody’s, Ikeja City Mall, had in attendance women who came out to toast to each other in goodwill and celebration of the season.

Guests were treated to great music by the award-winning R’n’ B Diva, Waje, a fashion show by Mon Ami; Sassy Christmassy cocktails by Eventi cocktails, make up touches by Banke Meshida and Baileys yogurt by Sweet Kiwi; created a pot-pourri of excitement.

There was also a ladies’ dance contest initiated by Waje where some ladies won gifts.

Coca-cola takes ‘Share a Coke’ campaign to town

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oca-Cola Nigeria Limited, CCNL, has formally launched its campaign, “Share a Coke” into the Nigeria market. For the first time in Nigeria, Coca-Cola is replacing its iconic logo with popular Nigerian names on all its packaging - the returnable glass bottle, cans and PET bottles.

Speaking at the launch, patricia Jemibewon, Marketing Director, CCNL, said, ‘Share a Coke’ transforms the global Coca-Cola brand into a special, personal experience for consumers.’

“By swapping our iconic Coca-Cola logo with personal names, we give all our consumers a unique opportunity to connect and share their personalized Coke with the people who matter the most to them- friends, family and loved ones, either in person, or virtually”, she said.

Giving more details, Jemibewon disclosed that the “Share a Coke” campaign recognizes Nigeria’s culture and diversity as 600 popular names have been selected from the rich array of names across the various regions of Nigeria.

“Share a Coke does not only reinforce our ongoing commitment to refresh the world but also to inspire shared moments of optimism and happiness”, Jemibewon concluded.

Ambode The 2015 general election is here, political office seekers have deployed campaigns to win the vote of potential voters,as regarding their promises to the electorate Princewill Ekwujuru writes.

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torytelling in election campaigns is a relatively recent phenomenon, which needs to be investigated in order to enhance understanding of changes and developments in modern political communication.

With the 2015 general elections close, campaigns materials are on the increase, campaigns of some candidates have begun to attract the attentions of marketing communications practitioners. Communication professionals have contended that candidate’s positioning and personal brand expressions have the power to make or mar their intentions to win vote and actualize their political ambition at whatever level. It would be recalled that since the United States’ inception, presidential candidates’ strategies for campaigning have constantly evolved to keep up with changing forms of media, the whims of their audience and the election process. It so be recalled that President Reagan introduced bumper stickers into the American presidential campaigns while President Obama introduced the use of Twitter accounts.

In Nigeria, political campaigns is gradually getting more professional and in tune with the changing media consumption in the country. Though the use of the Social Media has been on the

Agbaje increase in the country, traditional media still remains a force to reckon with which explains the heavy dependence of the tradition print press, radio and television as a means to reach the masses.

Communication experts opined that Nigerian politicians are beginning to recognize the importance of political branding and marketing as a science to win votes. Marketing practitioners insisted that politicians have begun to adopt the marketing principles that competing brands adopt in a bid to win a bigger share of the market.

Some of these strategies, observers said include brand positioning, leveraging personal strong points and integrity, endorsements and, brand offerings and benefits amongst others.

According to John Feyipitan, a brand builder and marketing professional, these are some of the fulcrum

that the gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Party, APC in Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode has based his campaign on thus far.

Positioning, integrity and strong points Political marketing professionals had insisted that political messages resonate with the targets when it refer to the voters as the hero and play up what the voters stand to benefit from voting a particular candidate as against another in an election. This, they argued further is helped when the candidate has integrity to stake.

They argued that when the politician craft his campaign messages as being the fight to improve the life of the voters’ life, or something similar and come with some good measure of integrity, the voters are more likely to believe him. The import of the foregoing is that the voters

will not trust any candidate until they are clear such candidate has the voters’ interest at heart.

Speaking further, Feyipitan noted that, “If you asked me, Ambode has been very strategic with his campaigns for governorship of Lagos State, without mincing words, I can tell that his campaign messages and appearances are being coordinated by professional political marketing consultants. His New Year ’s Day goodwill message to Lagosians was simply spot on.”

Ambode appears to be playing the above card so well.

In his campaign messages and manifestoes, Ambode who became a chartered Accountant at age 27 has always insisted that what drives his ambition to become governor of Lagos was the need to create an enabling environment for every resident of the state to thrive.

Brand Ambode contended that creating an enabling environment for people and businesses in the state would greatly reduced the problem of youth unemployment to a manageable level.

“Whatever we do, the people are at the core of policies. Before we do anything, the question we ask ourselves is, how many employment opportunities will this create?

We will create jobs as an intervention then create an enabling environment for business to thrive because if businesses and industries thrive they will generate more employment opportunities more than any government can.” He stated during an interactive session with students of tertiary institutions in the state recently.

Indomie fetes 100,000 children nationwide … teachers too

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n the spirit of the yuletide,Indomie noodles has feted over 100,000 and 3,000 teachers nationwide, as its fan club marks 9th edition..

The fun Fair which was held in different locations across the nation were held at the following places Faith Plaza Bariga, Park Land M/Land, Fun Factory Ikorodu, Villa Park Festac, Eysian Events Place Alagbado, Starjen Igbolorin, Exibition Hall 1 National Theatre Iganmu Lagos, Brainfield Igando, all came alive as pupils from

various schools kicked off the Christmas party organised by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, through the Indomie Fan Club, IFC. According to Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, Public Relations Officer of Dufil Prima, the event was staged to celebrate Christmas with kids and appreciate their teachers for molding them into great leaders.

“The fan club was launched July 2005 with the aim of creating fun, excitement,

bonding and enabling environment for children as well as a way of appreciating the kids, and the reason is not far-fetched, as it has remained a passion of the company to show appreciation and love to the children, who remain loyal to our brand as they are the brand’s core loyalists” He emphasised, “we continue to place premium on the well being and overall developmental growth of the Nigerian child as there are no doubt, the seed of greater future for our nation”.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 43

Advertising

Technologies to aid greater use of data services coming ….Priority Comm, CEO

Re-branding in perspective: From Agodi Gardens to Agodi Resort

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

•Olumide Samuel

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he telecommunications industry is envisaging new trends in networking, data distribution and tower installation services, Chief Executive Officer of Priority Communications Limited, Mr. Olumide Samuel spoke on efforts made to reach rural areas amidst insecurity, and government’s effort to improving telecoms in Nigeria.

Princewill Ekwujuru reports.

Effect of telecomm on Nigerian economy I think that it has done only positive improvement, there is really no negative impact on the economy. Even the GDP rebasing we are talking about, telecoms had a role to play, it has been able to help in the unemployment situation. A lot of people are employed now, not only that, you can see businesses are more dependent on telecomm services. Let’s not talk about the GSM services that Nigerians use now, it has made business a lot easier.

So it has a great impact, not only on businesses, but in our individual lives. You know no company can work without a computer system. So we are involved in the networking aspect of telecomm. It has a lot more positive things, and I am sure it is going to do a lot more better because there are technologies that are coming that will enable us make greater use of services that we have.

How priority affects businesses Primarily what we do is give them data communication support services in the sense that in the case where they have multiple branches for instance banks have branches all over the place and then they have ATMs and all that, so we do the physical engineering connectivity between those multiple branches so that they can access their networks in their main offices, then we also put some of these infrastructure in place like towers and the masts.

Data services in other African countries I think Nigeria data and telecomm companies are trying, and government is doing a lot right now, there are lots of efforts, even the present Minister of Communication is

putting a lot of things in place in conjunction with NCC in trying to ensure they deliver in that area of communication, and NCC is even licensing a lot of frequency now to be able to open up more field for a lot of things to be done on data. I think Nigeria has done a lot. If your compare Nigeria with any other country, and you know anything Nigeria goes into it does it better. I think by now the telephone system has even proven that no country in the West African sub-region can match what Nigeria is doing in terms of lines that we are using now.

So when you look at it in terms of data or internet specifically, we are actually growing, you can see lot of Optic fibre cables are being laid, apart from the ones Glo and MTN have done, Main one has also come in. We are having bigger bandwidth and we can do a lot more.

Some of the places the challenges are right now is in getting bandwidth into the hitherland, so that is where companies like Priority communication comes into play. We will take the bandwidth from the shore line to the main cities and then take them to the inner cities where all those providers cannot reach. That is what we do, but I am sure that we are moving in the right direction.

Effect of poor electricity supply Electricity is a serious challenge, there’s nobody in this country that is not facing it as a major challenge. When you look at it, there is no services you can run, even if you don’t require electricity for the technology itself, you need it for humans to live in conducive environment, so electricity is very key, and in the nature of our business we end up having base stations all over the place it has to be powered by electricity which does not exist right now. We have to resort to using diesel generators which costs a lot more, so it has actually made services more expensive, and then when you have customers that are very discerning in terms of pricing it is difficult for you to charge at wide margin so ultimately what happens is that our margin is very small,

because of that extra expenses that we have to incur.

Base stations management What we do in our case is that we employ people who manage those base station for us. We don’t want to leave it in the hands of those you cannot really control and monitor it, so most of the places we have base station we monitor them, but I know that there are other service providers who have some other systems of managing, but we feel that our is more cost effective in the long run, if you manage it with our own people , so what we do is that we have a central location and we have those based station that are being managed people in the central locations.

Challenges All businesses are facing the same challenges, the recent insecurity in the north has been a major challenge for our business, fortunately we have a lot of installations in the northern Nigeria and the current security issue is big challenge, we have a scenario were our are attacked, and some of our base station affected, and apart from the security challenges, power is a major issue, those two components are effect the economy, when the economy is not picking up, businesses slows down, so those two components are the major challenges we face now, I think that government can do a lot, they are already doing a lot.

We think that the negotiation with the Boko Haram insurgent

We will take the bandwidth from the shore line to the main cities and then take them to the inner cities where all those providers cannot reach

will go a long way to ameliorate the challenges. We hope that, that will solve the problem and all of us will go back to our businesses. Government has privatized the power sector and we are aware that the companies that bought into the sector are doing a lot right now.

We know that installation of power equipment is a long term investment, we do not expect that we really the immediate effect of power, but we hope that in the next six months to one year the situation will improve, and the cost of fuel consumption by generator will drop.

Data / telecomm sectors in next five years The sector has a lot of potentials, with what government is putting on ground now, I think there is a lot room for really growth, I believe that in another two years we would have grown the sector to more than 500 percent to we have presently, not only in terms of invest, but also in terms of personnel we can employ, because business is not just about making profit, but also about giving people an opportunity to be gainfully employed, so we are hoping that more people will be employed in the sector they will reduce the unemployment situation in the country, and also contribute some things to the GDP of the Nigeria.

There is going to be a massive growth and I am sure if look at it a lot of people are showing more interest in our communication industry, foreign investors are also coming in, not only in the manufacturing, but also to the telecomm sector, we are likely attract more foreign investments into the country which will help our economy in the long run.

Incursion of foreign firms It is a challenge in the form of call to quality, for instance Priority Communications has a branch office in Ghana. In Ghana, we are a foreign player there, so in Nigeria any foreign player that comes in is all well and good. It will only help us to improve in our quality, services and support for our clients, it only means that at the long run clients are going to be selective on the people they want to work with, those has to

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t’s come to fore that a nation’s re-branding effort does not have to be pushed on one solo grandiose effort especially by a government agency. This fact is substantiated by the incessant attempts at re-branding Nigeria by government’s efforts and the consequent failures recorded with little or nothing to show for the investments.

Against this background, a couple of Nigerian organizations have been into one form of sponsorship or the other on Cable Network News, CNN, prominent among these organizations is Globacom which has been a constant factor in strategic sponsorship on CNN which adds value to the nation’s brand image.

However, re-branding can take many guises from the complete wholesale chain of a company or product, inside and out, including name, culture, values, behaviours, tone, visual collateral and all that entails with no connections to the legacy entity, to something less dramatic and of a more evolutionary nature.

In each instance though, the change to whatever degree, affects a change in the minds of the target market in terms of their perceptions of the brand. That change is a process of giving a company, product or service a new image in order to make it more successful. Correctly positioned and developed brands offer a means of generating sustained growth.

Equally they also assist a company to resist or bounce back from competitor attack.

The reasons for re-branding and or relaunching a product or service are numerous and should not be taken on lightly without sound strategic reasons for engaging in the process.

Brands are constantly evolving to ensure they keep abreast of changing needs in the market place. It’s the level of change required that is the critical issue.

Even some of the greatest brands in the world need rejuvenation. Brands like Guinness, Coca-Cola and McDonalds are iconic in their status.

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44— Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

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learly, the travails currently confronting our economy are as daunting as the challenges we faced as a nation during the IMF inspired Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the late 80s and early 1990s.

It is apparent that the serial Naira devaluations from stronger than one Naira to one dollar to what appeared to be an abysmal low of about N70=$1 at that time, was the most significant cause of the tragic economic somersault caused by SAP. The once pulsating engines of our expanding industrial base soon became almost silent, with increasing idle capacity, which threw millions of our countrymen into a famished job market. Worse still, those lucky Nigerians who were still employed, regrettably earned wages and salaries which were reduced to ‘peanuts’ by the suffocating Naira devaluation; inevitably, the ‘check out’ syndrome became fashionable, as well heeled professionals, and technocrats sought greener pastures abroad in order to maintain their accustomed lifestyles. Sadly, the impact of the near fatal blows from SAP still impairs our development till this day, and Nigeria has since remained listed as one of the world’s poorest nations.

Curiously, subsequently, even exceptionally high crude prices, at $140/barrel, and the attendant bountiful dollar reserves accumulated in recent years, did not succeed in redeeming our economy and improving our people’s social welfare.

Inexplicably, increasing dollar reserves, and extended payments cover for our imports, has continued to foster weaker Naira exchange rates, such that one is forced to wonder if less reserves would actually stimulate a stronger Naira!

Well, we do not have to wonder any longer, as reduced revenue from crude oil prices below $60/barrel has clearly

Is CBN defending the naira or dollar? constituted another major onslaught on the Naira exchange rate and economic progress.

Thus, in our quest for a socially and industrially supportive exchange rate, we find ourselves in a bizarre twist of “heads you lose, tails I win”.

Indeed, as with SAP, IMF has curiously also been in the forefront of the Vanguard for further Naira devaluation; the embedded role of IMF technocrats in the management of our economy also fostered the unfortunate notion, despite abundant best ever foreign reserves and extended imports payments cover, that the Naira is overvalued! Regrettably, government economic blueprints such as NEEDS were formulated with this obtuse mindset, that despite fortuitously bountiful reserves, a stronger Naira and growth cannot evolve without economic diversification.

Well, today, the Naira exchange rate is close to the N180=$1 projected to induce economic diversification and growth in the NEEDS blueprint, but clearly, supportive price and exchange rate stability are sadly still unattainable.

Certainly, no economy can succeed when the real sector is expected to access loanable funds at over 20% while consumer demand remains severely constrained with annual inflation rates of 8-12%, with Naira exchange rate also depreciating, despite increasing revenue and extended payments cover, or indeed where a government readily pays over N600bn interest on loans that are simply kept idle despite the acute shortage of funds to drive

real sector growth.

Sadly, CBN and our Economic Management Teams have never been able to construct the appropriate foundation which incorporates low cost of funds (3-6%), low inflation rate (1-3%) and a liberalised foreign exchange market to drive the elusive quest diversification of our economy.

Nonetheless, politicians, critics, and the public are once again singing the chorus of diversification, and as usual, they still labour under the belief that we will get to El Dorado by simply throwing hundreds of billions of Naira at various economic subsectors. Indeed, in an economy with a burdensome abiding problem of stupendously surplus Naira, these huge intervention funds regrettably only make things worse as they simply compound the problem of eternally surplus Naira when expended; ultimately, the intervention funds instigate

CBN has ironically become a greater defender of the dollar than the Naira exchange rate

another kind of government intervention, which makes it necessary for government to increase its rate of borrowing to mop up increasingly surplus Naira with excruciating and destabilising rates of interest which crowd out the real sector from loanable funds in the market with adverse consequences for inflation, economic growth and job creation.

Clearly, the inexplicable burden of eternally surplus Naira is actually the major obstacle in the path of achieving those supportive indices necessary to grow and diversify the economy; eternally surplus Naira is clearly also responsible for weaker Naira exchange rates, as excess Naira becomes regularly pitched against CBN’s rationed dollar auctions which create a market imbalance in favour of the dollar!

Clearly, Nigerians do not interrogate the process with which CBN consolidates it’s so called “own reserves”! In other words, CBN’s strategy of creating fresh Naira values whenever it substitutes Naira allocations for dollar derived revenue, undeniably induces the spectre of surplus cash in the economy; furthermore, the presence of such eternally surplus Naira ultimately also protects the dollar market value against the Naira; thus CBN has ironically become a greater defender of the dollar than the Naira exchange rate!

Thus, the higher the dollar revenue (from high crude prices and output) the greater also would be the fresh supply of Naira that CBN would create and place in the economy as substitute allocations to the actual dollar income.

Thus, whenever we celebrate CBN’s rising dollar reserves, we must recognise that the accumulation of such reserves, unfortunately, ultimately precipitates an increasing spread of surplus Naira or excess liquidity in the money market; consequently, the greater the liquidity the harsher and more counterproductive also would ultimately be CBN’s monetary measures to reduce Naira supply so as to restrain lending and contain inflation despite the adverse consequences of these measures on the economy.

In view of the foregoing narrative, it seems farcical that the same CBN whose monetary measures actually intimidate and pulverise the Naira in the foreign exchange market can be so wrongly favourably perceived as defending the Naira with its reserves!

Thus, it is ironical that the CBN which instigates a market disequilibrium in favour of the dollar when it substitutes fresh Naira values for dollar denominated revenue, now turns round in apparent defence of the Naira exchange rate to increasingly auction some of the dollars earlier captured when it unilaterally set the Naira exchange rate and subsequently suffocated the money market with surplus Naira values as allocations; unfortunately such Naira liquidity invariably precipitate weaker Naira exchange rates when pitched against the rationed auctions from the cache of dollars the Apex Bank earlier substituted with Naira allocations.

Surely, the adoption of dollar certificates for allocations of dollar denominated revenue will eliminate or critically reduce the burden of excess Naira liquidity and therefore give the Naira a fighting chance against the dollar in the foreign exchange market.

Save the Naira, Save Nigerians!!

Business & Economy China’s inflation rate rises to 1.5% in December

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hina’s inflation rate remained near a five-year low in December, edging up to 1.5 percent from 1.4 percent the month before.

Sharp rises in the price of some food items were behind the increase, including a 14 percent rise in egg prices.

Consumer price inflation (CPI) for the whole of 2014 was 2 percent compared with 2013, well below the government’s target of 3.5 percent. Analysts suggested the data pointed to persistent weakness in the world’s second largest economy.

The producer price index C M Y K

(PPI), which includes wholesale and factory price inflation, fell by a greater than expected 3.3 percent in December from a year earlier marking the 34th consecutive monthly fall since September 2012. Analysts had expected PPI to fall by 3.1 percent in December. China’s National Statistics Bureau said the fall was largely due to falling oil prices.

Together, the inflation numbers point to weak domestic demand across China, which some analysts say may give the government room to cut interest rates and take other measures to boost growth which has

slowed to a five-year low of 7.3% in the three months to the end of September.

On Thursday, China said the recent approval of infrastructure projects would not “play the role of using fiscal expenditure as strong economic stimulus in 2015” and that the projects were different to stimulus measures introduced in 2008.

Liu Ligang, an economist with ANZ in Hong Kong, said China’s inflation had been “very tepid”. “Going forward, we do see the risk of deflation is rising, especially [as] PPI inflation has been in negative territory for over 34 months.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ebele Orakpo Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Energy Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Nkiruka Nnorom Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Media/Marketing Capital Market E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 45

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46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014

Okunbor in, as Sunmonu bows out from Shell

Helen Owie celebrates 60th birthday in Benin City

By Clara Nwachukwu

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HE INCUMBENT Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC/ Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, SCiN, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu is being replaced by Mr. Osagie Okunbor.

The replacement follows the retirement of Mutiu, who had put in 36 years in Shell service. It is not immediately clear however, if Sunmonu will be given further responsibilities hereafter within the Shell system, as did his predecessor, Mr. Basil Omiyi, who became the SCiN’s Government Relations executive for a while.

A statement from Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Mr. Precious Okolobo, did not clarify further, but stated that Okunbor has also been named the SCiN’s Country Chair, making him the third Nigerian to hold both posts, as did his predecessors.

The man, Okunbor The statement further gave a brief bio-data of Okunbor, as, “A graduate of Business Administration from the University of Benin.” He is also said to be “an accomplished professional, who brings over 28 years of industry experience and expertise to the role.”

Mrs. Helen Owie cutting her 60th birthday cake with her husband.

PVC: INEC spends N11.5bn on

distribution •One card costsN295 •Refuses to join issues with parties over Buhari •Buhari not qualified for presidential race – PDP

By Soni Daniel, Clifford Ndujihe & Jude Opara

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INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have spent well over N11.5billion naira in eight days just to distribute the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) to registered voters across the country. This development is the reason the commission has not been able to continue the distribution of the cards at the HE

FG to appoint SEC DG this week, as Oteh's tenure ends

By Peter Egwuatu & Nkiruka Nnorom

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TRONG INDICATIONS emerged, weekend, that the Federal Government would this week appoint a new Director General, DG of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC after the tenure of Ms. Arunma

Oteh, ended in as DG of the commission.

Oteh, who was appointed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009, but resumed office in January 2010 when the Nigerian capital market experienced a meltdown following global market crisis.

Apostle Fakeye, Founder, C&S Movement Ayo ni o, is dead

By Bose Adelaja

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EW MONTHS after the demise of the oldest preacher in Nigeria, Pa Akinbode Sadela, another televangelist and spiritual leader and founder of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Ayo ni o, Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, popularly called G.O. Fakeye has died.

Special Apostle Fakeye, 78,

From left, Senator Roland Owie, Chief Otimeyin Adams, Professor Osarhimen Osunbor, Chief Dan Orbih, PDP Chairman Edo State, and HRH Enadikhe Aimuanwosa, during special thanksgiving service to mark 60th birthday of Mrs. Helen Owie, wife of Senator Roland Owie at St. Albert Catholi Church, University of Benin, Compound, Benin City.

was said to have died of an undisclosed ailment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital LASUTH. Other sources, however, told Vanguard last night that Fakeye who would clocked 79 years on March 11, 2015 died in a US hospital.

Special Apostle Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye known also as “The Psalmist” was an engineer by profession. He started preaching when he was a youth.

120,000 polling units across the country indefinitely.

According to the latest data released by the commission, last Thursday, the INEC printed 54,341,610 PVCs of which 38,974,391 (71.35 per cent) have been distributed leaving 15, 567,219 PVCs undistributed.

At N11.5 billion, each of the 38.97 million PVCs was distributed at the cost of N295 per card. In essence, it would have cost the electoral umpire an additional N4.593 billion to distribute the remaining 15, 567,219 PVCs through the polling booths.

This emerged as the INEC refused to join issues with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which accused it of taking sides with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), who the ruling party said yesterday is not qualified to contest the presidential election.

PVC distribution The electoral body has come under severe criticism in recent days following the delay in producing new voter’s cards as well as the difficulties voters are having in going to the various local government councils to collect their PVCs. Explaining the cost implication of continuous distribution of the cards at the polling units, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, said there is no way anybody can think of deploying personnel to the polling units to continue with the distribution of PVCs and registration of voters because of the huge financial implications.

“The process cannot continue indefinitely at the polling unit level because it translates into billions of naira. Just do a simple calculation, all over the country there are 120,000 polling units and let’s say we have a minimum of four people to man each of those polling units, multiply four by 120,000 it will give you 480,000 and if you are to give each of them N3000 naira, multiply that with 480,000 which is the number of personnel needed you will get N1,440,000,000. That is just for one day not the entire exercise and that is why we cannot continue indefinitely because the money is not there, in short that type of money cannot be captured by any budget”.

According to Idowu, it was because of the huge financial implication that INEC came up with the idea of doing it for a time at the polling units before returning cards to the local government councils.

He regretted that people are not going to the councils to collect their voter cards, saying: “If people were to follow due process the commission would have easily mopped up everybody that needs to be mopped up even at that level because we are not doing general voter’s registration, we are doing registration for people who just turned 18 and those who for one reason or the other could not register in 2011.

“This latest exercise, we did it for five days but had to extend it again because if only the people who ought to come to register came even that five days would

have been enough because we projected using the population index of how many people that were likely to have turned 18 since the last registration and those who were not captured earlier but many people who ought not have come out in the first place came out and we discovered that they were there just for one flimsy reason or the other like somebody said he just changed his name and needed a card bearing his new name. Such people have blocked the chances of those who were supposed to be there to register”.

Tamper proof election materials The commission also assured that the electoral materials for the forthcoming 2015 elections cannot be faked by anybody because of the security features adding that the card reader which will be used will fish out any fake card or ballot paper.

“Part of the reason we are printing the materials the way we are doing is to ensure that they are not faked because the security features are there. INEC materials cannot be duplicated, you are free to print your card but our card reader will not read it.

One million multiple registrants caught On the issue of double registrants, the spokesman said already over one million of such people have been fished out. He, however, regretted that the commission is handicapped because it does not have the capacity to prosecute the offenders in court, a development he argued re-emphasizes the need for the establishment of electoral tribunal.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 47

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48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

• The new meningitis vaccine has been administered to over 215 million people in 15 countries within the African meningitis belt.

New meningitis vaccine renews hope for African infants

By Sola Ogundipe

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HORTLY after the Federal government adopted the inclusion of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, PCV, into the National Programme on Immunisation protocol, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has approved the routine immunisation of infants with the MenAfricVac vaccine an innovative and affordable meningitis vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa.

Making the announcement last week, the Meningitis Vaccine Project, MVP — a partnership between the global health nonprofit PATH and WHO—and Serum Institute of India Ltd, manufacturer of the MenAfriVac vaccine, said the stateg

has been set for the elimination of menigitis within the continent’s epidemic belt.

In a statement, Dr. Marie-Pierre Préziosi, Director of MVP, said: “Initial mass vaccination campaigns with MenAfriVac have been highly effective in reducing the number of meningitis A cases, but epidemics will return when rising numbers of unprotected newborns become a larger proportion of the total population over time. Now, with this decision, health officials will be able to ensure that population-wide protection is sustained by routinely immunising infants.”

Before the introduction of MenAfriVac,

people living in countries of the meningitis belt, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, were regularly struck by meningitis A epidemics in which sudden onset of symptoms could rapidly lead to death or permanent disability.

One of the most devastating outbreaks ever recorded was in 1996-1997, when an epidemic wave infected more than 250,000 people and killed over 25,000 in just a few months.

In 2004, MVP partnered with SIIL to develop an affordable, tailor-made vaccine for use against meningitis A in sub-Saharan Africa. MenAfriVac was developed in record time at less than a

tenth the cost of a typical new vaccine.

Since 2010, MenAfriVac has been administered to over 215 million people in the African meningitis belt including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, The Gambia and Nigeria.

One year after large-scale vaccine introduction, experience from Burkina Faso provided early evidence that mass vaccination was associated with a significantly reduced risk of meningitis in the targeted population, as well as among the unvaccinated age groups, suggesting MenAfriVac induced “community” protection.

In parallel to the large-scale vaccination campaigns, clinical studies were designed and conducted to determine the safety, immunogenicity, and optimal dosage and immunisation schedule for administering the vaccine to infants and toddlers alongside other routine childhood vaccines in African meningitis belt countries.

Results from two infant clinical studies in Ghana and Mali and vaccine introduction impact data were presented to the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation in October 2014, and these SAGE experts concluded that a one-dose schedule at nine months of age or older was recommended to achieve sustainable disease control following the initial mass campaigns in 1-29 year olds.

Experience from Burkina Faso provided early evidence that mass vaccination was associated with a significantly reduced risk of meningitis in the targeted population

Indian hospital separates African twins joined at abdomen and chest

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EDICAL doctors at Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai, India, have successfully separated eightand-a-half months old Thoraco Omphalopagus (the fusing of two bodies at the lower chest and abdomen) twins, Abriana and Adriana.

The babies who hail from Dares-Salaam in Tanzania, and joined at the chest and abdomen,sharing a single heart cavity and a liver are now, the first survivors of this type of separation in India.

In a live webcast, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon from Apollo Hospital, Dr K S Sivakumar, said the 11-hour long operation was conducted by a team of 50 staff members, including surgeons, nurses and intensive care specialists.

“This rare procedure involved separation of the pericardium (heart lining), diaphragm and C M Y K

•Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman/Founder Apollo Hospitals (centre) hugging the twins, Adriana and Abriana while their parents Jimmy and Carol look on. the connected livers. Since 2007, eight pairs of conjoined twins with fused livers and intestines have been reported after separation from various parts of India”, he added.

Abriana and Adriana were

conjoined and had been sharing a common heart lining and diaphragm. They also had a connected liver that had to be separated with minimal blood loss.

Chairman-founder, Apollo

Hospitals Enterprises Ltd, Dr Prathap C. Reddy, said after being admitted in August this year, the twins, children of Jimmy Mtemi and Carol-yn Zakaria of Dar-es-Salaam, underwent the final separation surgery on November 11, 2014.

“It took seven hours for the surgery and another four hours for closure by plastic surgeons,” Dr Venkata Sripathi, who supervised the surgery, stated.

The surgery involved separation of the pericardium (heart lining), diaphragm and the connected livers. Conjoined births are rare, one in 50,000 to one in 1 lakh. However, more than 35 per cent die after birth.

Adriana had developed complications post-surgery and another procedure was carried out details of which were constantly shared on WhatsApp. “Adriana’s heart had to be

covered with bovine pericardium and carefully closed with skin and soft tissue.

The liver, abnormally enlarged, could not be fully reduced in both babies,” said Dr K.S. Sivakumar admitted.

"In our over 30 years, Apollo Hospitals has always been a pioneer in healthcare delivery and has continued to excel with world-class clinical outcomes.

We have once again demonstrated our prowess as a global destination for affordable yet world class healthcare.

Conjoined twins, though rarely encountered, are seen in one in 200,000 deliveries.

However, more than 60 percent of them are stillborn while 35 percent of the remaining dies within a few days or months of birth due to various causes.

Conjoined twins can be joined at the chest, abdomen, back, buttock and head.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 49

C M Y K

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

•Useni

Why Buhari stopped governors from being called ‘Your Excellency' — Gen Useni L

IEUTENANT-General Jeremiah Useni, CFR; was a military governor in the defunct Bendel State at the onset of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime in 1984 and subsequently he was minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT in the military regime of General Sani Abacha. On his retirement he joined politics and was a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and subsequently, the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP before his recent defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Gen. Useni was also chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and he is presently the PDP candidate for Plateau South Senatorial district in the forthcoming election.

In this interview, the elder-statesman gave reasons the Senate is not a training ground for young men and shares his experience on politics and life generally.

Excerpts:

By Marie-therese Nanlong

W

HAT informed your defection to the PDP at this time when fellow northerners are in the lead to oust the party from power?

I have very good friends in the PDP and for a long time, they had been asking me to come so we could move together. However, at that time, I was not prepared and I kept saying it was not yet time. Now, I feel the time has come for me to join the party. Not that I am afraid of being in the opposition, not that I don’t have people, there are people even

right now in my former party, I am the only one in position that won a local government election in Plateau; in the last local government election in the State.

We won positions in my local government. Out of 18 councillors in Langtang North Local Government, my former party has nine seats, APGA one, PDP has eight which means that PDP is a minority in Langtang North.

You can see that within the short time I came in, I have made impact and I had victory which means that God blessed my coming in.

Do you agree with the submission of some northern elders like Prof. Ango Abdullahi in the Northern Elders Forum that the PDP has been unfair to the North?

Well, because he is not a member of the PDP, he can say so but I don’t know how many PDP members from the North would say such.

Professor Abdullahi who I know has a different idea. I got to know him fairly well and his ideas when I was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

I made it very clear that whatever ideas they have; they should bring it to Arewa Consultative Forum; any group from the North should know that they are working under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum.

If they don’t bring it to the ACF for blessing; then they are on their own. As far as Arewa Consultative Forum is concerned and especially when

When I was a governor in Bendel State under General Buhari, we were told in clear terms that we should not answer Excellency because we were not the most excellent in the state

I was the Chairman, Board of Trustees, we never made such statements.

We are for the interest of the Arewa alright and we can say interest of the north in particular and the interest of Nigeria in general and we always support both the states and federal governments.

We routinely visited Mr. President and the VicePresident to commend them for what we think is good, and if there are areas that we think he should improve, we give such suggestions. That is what we were doing especially when I was there until I left. I know Ango very well; he is on the other side of the divide so he can say so.

You once said a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sherrif inspired Boko Haram until it becomes a monster it is today. Now, both of you are in the same Party, the PDP. How do you feel about this?

No; being in the same party does not mean we must always agree. Even between twin brothers, they must not always agree. Yes, when Boko Haram started, I said so that I am not surprised this will happen there because I saw what transpired in Borno State when I visited there.

I saw people selling petrol in jerry cans in a filling station and we were in a vehicle queuing up to take petrol, we were in the same car and I said, Mr. Governor, why do you allow people to sell fuel in gallons in a petrol station like this.

Way of making a living He said no; no; no; they should not be disturbed because they are very useful during elections to deal with opponents.

Well, he denied that he did not say so but he admitted that he met those people there but he said because it was a way of making a living and he did not want to disturb them; that is what he said. Now that he decided to join the PDP and the PDP has decided to accept him, it means people are changing; a criminal can change, isn’t it?

We are friends; we have not fought before, it is just that I had to say things as I saw them because I didn’t hear the story from anybody. But we are still friends, there is no problem.

A former Minister of FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo once accused you of bastardizing the Abuja Master Plan when you were a Minister. You were also accused by your former Party, the DPP of poor leadership.

Now, you are in PDP and aspiring to represent the

Continues on page 51

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—51

Boko Haram will be finished this year Continues from page 50

we took it as a joke; we made such mistake during the civil war.

Then, we started with police action which means you don’t have to go into full war. Police were given all the opportunity to do everything and the army was behind but we realized that it was more than what the police could do.

Biafra had imported sophisticated weapons which we never had in our inventory so General Gowon had to declare full war and that’s how we finished the war but because of the initial delay, it took us three years; it shouldn’t have taken us three years and that is what happened now.

It takes time, don’t forget we don’t manufacture these weapons here and you don’t buy them in a shop like bread where you take your money, buy and go.

people of Plateau South in the National Assembly.

What is your take on these allegations?

Modibbo is a friend and I am not aware of him saying what you said but I know people like El-Rufai and one other minister saying so.

I did say that if El-Rufai wants to know the truth of what happened, the facts are in the office or if I am in Abuja, he could come and see me but the truth is that whatever he was trying to accuse me of, if there was any bastardization at all, it had already been done before I came in and I did give examples.

For example where the secretariat is, it was not supposed to be there. It was supposed to be a coordinating centre for all modes of transport like trains coming in, buses etc but later, it was decided that it should be a secretariat.

Where the Vice-President’s house is; the one close to the Villa is not supposed to be there. I gave instances that it wasn’t General Useni who changed them.

Cancellation of plots So why don’t the people check the records and challenge me, I wasn’t the one who did that. In any case, for the first time in the history of the FCT, Federal Executive Council has never sat down to look at plots allocations to the extent of cancelling some and returning some to owners that the FCT administration under El-Rufai cancelled.

It happened under El-Rufai.

So, who bastardized the place?

It was under him that even public spaces, green areas they called it were given out as plots to individuals so that any where you go it was El-Rufai; El-Rufai.

The federal government never sat down to see what happened on allocations but it happened during El-Rufai, there was more harm there. All these things are just politics.

I never left Abuja except to travel home, go overseas, come back, I was always there for anybody to come and check records and I do invite people to come and show records.

I first discovered some of these things and was making amends because some of these houses were built on sewage lines and the rest. When Abacha died, I left but the records are there.

For Modibbo, I have never read what you said he said about me, we are friends and

Type of ammunition

•Useni

we work together.

The DPP thing was politics because some people wanted power so they thought they should try and downgrade somebody but definitely as you know, nobody removed me. I was the leader of the party, nobody impeached me instead they made wrong allegations.

I am not trying to predict that we will finish it within one month or two months but I think this year is going to be a very good year for us to deal with insurgency

Talking about your aspiration to represent the people of Plateau South, what do you have to offer the people that should give you an edge over your opponent in APC? Well, I don’t want to start making comparison with anyone.

General Shagaya was there before and if the people feel he had done very well then it is left for the people to say okay, we don’t need a new man, but if I win, it means that the people think they need a change. We are brothers and we are together.

You are aspiring to be a Senator, how do you rate the Nigerian Senate?

I rate the Senate very high, all the fighting going on in the National Assembly is mostly in the House of Reps not in the Senate.

The Senate is for gentlemen that is why when you see young people struggling to go there one wonders why?

Senate is where you go and sit down and make laws because you already have experience since you have travelled wide, you are to sit down look at the present and future and see how you can make laws that will be for the good of the country. It is not a place where you start learning how to live a new life.

You are there to make fair, honest and proper laws for the good governance of the country.

Are you comfortable and satisfied having governor Jang’s successor from the governor’s zone?

Well, even people from the northern zone, not every one is satisfied. All we are saying is that whether there is zoning or no zoning; it is not fair that we are brothers and you have held this position; the other one has held; it should go round that is what we are saying.

I am not against Pwajok, he is intelligent, I am not against him but there are so many intelligent people anyway in Plateau, in all local government areas, there are many intelligent people.

Excellent people Even in Nigeria, when I was a governor; Bendel State under General Buhari, we were told in clear terms that we should not answer Excellency because we were not the most excellent in the state, there are many excellent people.

Do you think President Jonathan has done enough fighting the insurgency in the country?

He has done enough like I said it very recently during his presidential campaign flag-off in Lagos. When this thing started, yes; we were not properly equipped, the soldiers came in without any sophisticated weapon. Let’s say

You are going to discuss, you are going to order the type of weapon, the type of ammunition; then they will go into production before it comes and there are certain weapons that it must be government to government; no private person can just get it through like that.

So, these are the things, these people had already come prepared so what we are trying to do is get these things in place and as far as I know, the military and President Goodluck Jonathan have done very; very well with the limited and unsophisticated weapons they had but things are improving.

Weapons are coming and I think he has done very; very well.

Nobody should underrate our troops because we have fought with some level of sophistication in other places; we fought and restored democracy and peace in Liberia and Sierra-Leone and we have good records fighting UN operations and don’t forget a Nigerian was UN Commander in Dafur.

Our President, Goodluck Jonathan has done very; very well; it is unfortunate that this thing happened and because of our gentle nature; we like peace in Nigeria and we thought it is something that could finish quickly but more and more weapons are coming in now and I believe this year is our year.

I am not trying to predict that we will finish it within one month or two months but I think this year is going to be a very good year for us to deal with insurgency.

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

of vandalism and the employment of a private firm to secure pipelines was brought to fore by Hon Olarotimi Makinde, APC, Osun.

Towards this direction, a law transferring the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s network of oil pipelines to the states as against the current trend of contracting such role to private firms by the Federal Government is on the way in the National Assembly.

This is, however, sequel to the second reading of a Bill for an Act to Amend the Oil Pipelines Act Cap 7 Laws of the Federation 2004 to Provide for the Transfer of Protection of Oil Pipelines, Safety and Security Across the Federation to the state Governors and Other Matters.

Internal security Security at the National Assembly is another area of focus considering what happened on November 20 when the speaker and other lawmakers were given a raw deal by the Alhaji Suleiman Abba-led Nigerian police force.

Tear gas cannisters

•House of Representatives in session

Issues before Tambuwal’s House as Reps resume tomorow

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

S the 7th House of Representatives gradually comes to an end in less than five months from now, issues ranging from Budget 2015, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, electoral matters and other burning national interests will take the centre stage as the Green Chamber resumes from a three-week Christmas recess, today.

The Hon Aminu Tambuwalled House had spent the larger part of 2014 politicking but the few months ahead may shape, reshape of nip the vibrancy with which it started in 2011.

In the last three years and half the House introduced 668 bills, passed 101 resolutions while 23 bills were negatived.

As of December 18 when the House of Representatives went on Christmas break, a total of 244 legislative outputs came out during plenary sessions that spanned a period of 36 months.

Vanguard probe into the matter revealed then that the

lawmakers treated an average of two bills per month.

But as the House resumes today, Budget 2015 would be on the front burner.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had presented the budget of N4.357 trillion to both legislative chambers on December 17 for legislative deliberations.

Petroleum Industry Bill The much debated and thorny PIB may get a mention as the speaker, in his opening speech in October after its 60 days recess, had vowed that the 7th House would pass the bill that died in the last week of the 6th Assembly, in 2011.

Suffering same fate Also, spokesman of the Reps, Hon Zakari Mohammed in his last briefing on 18 December declared that the Tambuwal led House would ensure the bill do not suffer same fate like that of the 6th Assembly.

2015 polls Another burning national

issue that requires urgent attention is the forth coming general elections, which is about one month away.

An attempt by the House committee on Electoral matters, led by Hon Jerry •Tambuwal

One thing is certain as the 7th Assembly accelerates towards its extinction, it will go into archives as one that recorded the least number of scandals

Manwe, PDP, Taraba to invite the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, did not yield result.

The committee issued a notice last Thursday inviting Jega and other stakeholders to state its level of preparedness to conduct a free and fair polls.

But this was never to be as the committee, after two postponements, issued another notice that the meeting has been postponed till further notice.

Oil theft Oil theft in Nigeria is one area that the House may beam its searchlight on.

Before the legislators went on break last month, the issue

On that fateful day, some lawmakers were forced to scale the fence but they could not escape the tear gas canisters that were shot at them. The report on the invasion of NASS may be presented by the Hon Usman Kumo led Police Affairs committee this week.

The lawmakers may consider a situation where the Sergeant-at-arms take over the entire security apparatus of the National Assembly complex.

Diezani probe The N10billion chartered jet judgement by the court declaring that the green chamber cannot probe the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani AlisonMadueke is one matter the House may delve into.

Chairman House committee on Public Accounts, Hon Adeola Olamilekan, APC, Lagos had last December told journalists that the lawmakers were still studying the judgment before taking a final decision on what to do.

One thing is certain as the 7th Assembly accelerates towards its extinction, it will go into archives as one that recorded the least number of scandals.

This to an extent could be attributed to the sterling leadership qualities of Tambuwal who adequately applied the principles of humility to appease the other 359 lawmakers who hardly see anything wrong with his style.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—53

Buhari is now a captive of Bourdillion

JONATHAN VS BUHARI:

Strategic battles begin in South

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

U

NARGUABLY, the N o r t h e r n part of Nigeria is far bigger than the southern part. It has 19 states, 57 senatorial zones and 419 local councils.

The area by population censuses is more populous than the South, which has 17 states, 51 senatorial districts and 355 local councils.

Given the fewer number of campaign days before the February 14 presidential elections, the contenders would have been expected to begin wooing the electorate from the North. But that is not the case.

Strategically, the two leading presidential standard bearers, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) elected to commence electoral hostilities in the South.

The duo have been busy traversing southern cities and towns since last Thursday with the North yet to get a piece of the campaign cake six days after.

Buhari The APC candidate flaggedoff his campaign last Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.

President Jonathan is from Bayelsa, which used to be part of Rivers State until 1996.

Jonathan's doorsteps From Port Harcourt, Buhari headed for Uyo (Akwa Ibom State), Owerri (Imo State) and Calabar, River State.

Thereafter, he went to Warri (Delta State), Ogoni (Rivers State) and Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. Apart from Owerri, which is in the South-East, the other cities and towns are in the SouthSouth, which is President Jonathan’s zone.

In essence, Buhari strategically took the battle to Jonathan’s doorsteps. Even the detour to Owerri is part of it because Jonathan is perceived to enjoy the support of the Igbo.

C M Y K

— Agbaje

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

I

N a manner suggestive of the new realities around the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidte, Gen Mohammadu Buhari ,rtd, he has been described as a captive of his new political associates.

Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje who conceded that Buhari had vision that distinguished him in past, speaking at an interactive media session at the weekend, however, regretted that all his known sterling qualities have been subsumed by circumstances beyond his control.

“The Buhari of now is not the same Buhari of 2007 and 2011 and I can defend this anywhere.

The Buhari of 2011 was running on his own steam. The Buhari of 2015 is a captive. We know who is behind his running mate. We know those who put all those working in his team where they are today. We can’t be fighting bondage in Lagos and also put ourselves in bondage at the national level. The same model that is paying out in Lagos is what they want to replicate at the national level. We have to fight it. That is the reality on ground.

We have to refuse the attempt at bringing the same me failed model in Lagos State to the centre.”

Jonathan President Jonathan is also prosecuting a similar campaign strategy, burrowing into the South-West, considered as Buhari’s electoral spinal cord this time around.

He flagged-off his campaign at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, which is about 10 minutes drive from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi residence. Asiwaju Tinubu, the national leader of the APC is anchoring the South-West support base for Buhari.

He was instrumental to the emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate.

From Lagos, Jonathan headed straight for Enugu, the former capital of the defunct Eastern Region to

The duo have been busy traversing southern cities and towns since last Thursday with the North yet to get a piece of the campaign cake six days after

•Buhari: Moving round

woo and consolidate his hold on the zone.

After observing campaign free days on Saturday and yesterday, Jonathan, will today, return to the SouthWest with state rallies in Ibadan and Abeokuta. On

Tuesday, the train moves to Osogbo and Ekiti and Akure on Wednesday.

However, his campaign in the North will begin on January 19 with Sokoto and Katsina, General Buhari’s homestead.

AMBODE: Confident

candidate

By GBENGA OKE

W

HO succeeds Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola will be known in a matter of 47 days but if the statement credited to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC|) in Lagos state is anything go by, he may be telling Lagosians confidently that he is the next governor of the state.

When Vanguard met him at en event over the weekend, he sounded so confident and

he boasts of being the best personality to succeed Fashola.

He said, “I am the most competent person among all the candidates. I have worked in Lagos state public service for 27years . I started like an ordinary accountant and moved to the position of Accountant General of Lagos state at 43. All my life, I have worked for Lagos state and what I want now is to become the governor of the state and serve people”.

•Ambode: I will be governor

A double spokesman for Agbaje

T

HE appointment of Felix Oboagwina as the Director of Media and Publicity for the Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation was seen by some in Agbaje’s camp as a step in the right direction.

In the build up to the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Oboagwina proved to Agbaje that he has what it takes to wade off media missiles against his principal (Agbaje).

Perhaps, the reason Oboagwina was chosen as Agbaje’s spokesman was based on the fact that in 2007, he was Director of Publicity of Lagos State Chapter at DPA. Unknown to many, Oboagwina currently holds the position of National Publicity Secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

Dr Fredrick Fasehun, whose UPN party recently endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan’s second reelection bid, is considered to be opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

54—Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Urhobo youths vow to vote for Jonathan, Okowa OVER 3,000 Urhobo youths, under the aegis of two groups, Urhobo Progressive Youth Council and Urhobo Youth Forum, have vowed to vote for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State PDP governorship candidate.

The groups also called on President Jonathan not to consider Urhobo as second half players because they were the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and host to series of oil installations, including the largest gas plant in Africa.

In a statement by Friday Togbe, National Coordinator, Urhobo Youth Forum and Frank Enakemu, National President, Urhobo Progressive Youth Council, the groups said they will vote for the PDP because they don’t want Urhobo to be in the opposition.

They said: “We have decided to tell ourselves the bitter truth that despite the setback, it is pertinent to forge ahead. It is worthy of note that we, the youths, constitute about 65 per cent of the Urhobo voting power, although when it comes to appointment, what we are considered for is not commensurate to our voting strength.”

According to them: “From the First Republic till date, the Urhobo as a people have not joined opposition political parties, hence we decided to vote en bloc for Jonathan and Okowa because politics is not built around ethnic sentiment and personal interest.”

OSHIOMHOLE VS UNIBEN: Edo students

plead over burning of state govt bus

By Gabriel Enoghalese

B

ENIN CITY —A coalition of Students of Tertiary Institutions in Edo State, has apologised to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, over the razing of a luxury bus belonging to the state government by some students of the University of Benin, UNIBEN. It will be recalled that UNIBEN students, who were protesting the demolition of some bungalows which were given to the university by the then Dr. Samual Ogbemudia led administration in the state, razed a luxury bus belonging to the state City Transport, during their protest.

The state government took possession of the property after a High Court ruled in its favour.

Drawn from all tertiary institutions in the state, including the Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi; College of Education, Igueben; College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi, and Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze, the over 200 students said the action

of some students of the University of Benin was politically motivated and would not be condoned.

Addressing the governor, President, Student Union Government, Tayo Akpata University of Education, formerly known as College of Education, Ekiadolor, Amenaghawon

currently not in session. The question then is, those that barricaded the highway, where did they come from? Are they actually students? Why did they not burn the Comrade bus gift to their own institution? That display actually negates the wish of the generality of students in Edo State.”

Uduaghan reiterates call for reconciliation among PDP members

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA — GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has called for reconciliation among members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state.

The governor made the call, yesterday, at the thanksgiving service for the PDP governorship candidate in Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa at St. Philip‘s Anglican Church, Asaba.

He said it was important that the PDP win in the general elections for the sake of the country and in particular, Delta State, reiterating that effective reconciliation was important among members of the PDP.

DESOPADEC reaches out to communities

A

Emmanuel, said: “We are here in show of solidarity to you and your entire cabinet because we know, overtime, and there are bound to be detractors and opposition.

“Specifically, I will want to talk about the script that was acted out a few days ago. It may please you to know, Sir, that students are

S PART of its social responsibility activities, the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has given out various gift items to the people in its mandate area.

Mr. Joseph Ogeh, commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, said the gift items were not meant for Isoko youths alone, also for the elderly and others outside the Isoko North and South local government areas.

He said he went out of his way to accommodate people, who came to him to seek assistance during the end of year festivities.

On the issue of Host Communities, HOSTCOM, Isoko chapter, he said he acted based on a court ruling, which recognised the Morister Idibra executive as the authentic executive, saying that as a man who believes in the rule of law, he could not do otherwise.

Ogeh called on the Isoko people to shun factionalisation because it does not encourage growth.

“A lot of reconciliation has to be done in the party at the national, state and local government levels, even at the unit level. I want to appeal for open hearts to enable us reconcile and forgive one another,” Uduaghan stated.

Observing that there were lots of internal wranglings within the party at the national and state levels, the governor, said: “If you don’t forgive, you are in prison, when you forgive, you release yourself from that prison. You must forgive even a repeated offender, an unrepentant offender, and even people who believe you have offended them, we need to forgive one another so that God will forgive us all.”

He urged the people to be

committed to PDP winning in the elections and commended Senator Okowa for giving thanks to God for receiving the PDP flag as the governorship candidate.

“What is important is winning the main election, and one step to win the main election is this thanksgiving service,” he said.

Fielding questions from journalists later, Senator Okowa thanked God for his emergence as the governorship candidate and urged Deltans not to relent in their support for his aspiration.

Earlier, Venerable Felix Okonkwo in a sermon urged Christians to always forgive those who offend them, stating: “Great people forgive those who offend them, but, cowards seek vengeance.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015—55

Vanguard CLASSIFIED

C M Y K

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OKOJI—I, formerly

MICHAEL—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Ene Michael, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Ene Arepadei Amgbare. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

M A M I N U WA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss M a m i n u w a Oghenetega Shelly, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oghenetega Shelly Ophikor Ideh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ORUATUEGBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oruatuegbe Otinomo Juliana, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbokeme Otinomo Juliana. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O T O N O H — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Emily Nkonyenasoa Otonoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emily Nkonyenasoa Chioma Sonnia Zuokumor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O G B O N N AYA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Benita Ojugo Ogbonnaya, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Benita Ojugo Ekene-Okikere.

All former documents remain valid. National Orientation Agency and general public please take note.

CHIGBUNDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nancy Ekwutosi Chigbundu, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Nancy Charles Oko. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGEMERIEN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Paradise Godsgift Onajite Agemerien, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Paradise Godsgift Ubadigha.

All former documents remain valid.

Mountain of Fire, Miracle Ministries and general public please take note.

MINIMAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayagogo Ifeyinwa Minimah, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Ayagogo Ifeyinwa Okoroafor. All former documents remain valid. Mountain of Fire, Miracle Ministries and general public please take note.

OGULEDO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chiamaka Elvena Oguledo, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Chiamaka Elvena Nelson. All former documents remain valid. Mountain of Fire, Miracle Ministries and general public please take note.

OKOMOBA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okomoba Jennifer, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jennifer Okomoba Johnson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONOJIGHOFIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onojighofia Veronica Emuerieruo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Isire-Wilfred Veronica Emuerieruo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JA-ANNI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ja-anni Mary Onaikhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onaikhe .M. Bishop Lawrence. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGBOMOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbomoh Nkeonye Anne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owase Ann Nkeonye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AT TAI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Attai Kate Otobong, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ighoshemusua Kate Otobong. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OTARU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Otaru Angela, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Angela Emmanuel Ediah. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OLUWAEMUANOR— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Oluwaemuanor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Agbroko. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONODJAHEFE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onodjahefe Rachael Ohke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rachael Ohke Omayone. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ike Onyemechi Pauline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogoke Onyemechi Pauline. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHUKWUJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chukwuji Peace Chioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Peace Adiole.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OWUNWA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owunwa Ogadinmma Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Pereye Odigomma Flora. All former documents remain valid. Oceanic Bank Int. PLC and general public please take note.

known and addressed as Okoji Glory Igbetu, now wish to be known and addressed as Okoji Glory Agbai. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

R-l: All Progressives Congress, APC, national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohhamed, publicity secretary, Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, and System Administrator, Lagos APC Data Centre, Esther Enemuwe, at the briefing

by APC on DSS claim that APC planned to hack into INEC's data base. Photo: Joe Akintola Photo Editor

AKS PDP releases campaign list, timetable

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HEAD of the February 2015 general elections, the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has released her campaign timetable and names of party members selected to serve on its campaign council.

Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the Campaign Council, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, in a statement, quoted the State Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, as stating that “the Campaign Council List, is robust and inclusive of party members who are capable of delivering on the 2015 Project”.

He said, Obong Ekpo commended the State Governor and Leader of the Party in Akwa Ibom for his leadership role in the growth and stability of the party, and particularly his uncommon transformation programme that has elevated the status of the State in the comity of States in Nigeria.

The statement equally applauded efforts of the Governor in stabilizing the party at the national level, particularly in his position as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and other critical organs of the

party, where he serves.

In arriving at membership of the Campaign Council, Mr. Umanah said the party and other stakeholders, gave profound considerations to various factors, including capacity, resourcefulness, logistics, spread and time frame of the general elections.

According to the Publicity Committee Chairman, the Campaign Council is due for inauguration by the Party Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the Party Secretariat in Uyo. He added that the Council inauguration will be followed by the Campaign Flag-off on Friday, January 16, 2015 at Akwa Ibom Int’l Stadium, Uyo, where flags will be presented to the PDP candidates for various positions in the general elections.

Umanah who said the campaign train would traverse the entire State and climax with a grand finale in Uyo, urged party candidates in the elections to ensure full sensitization, mobilization and participation of party members and indeed the electorate in the campaign activities of the PDP.

PAC set for polls monitoring

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HE Police Assistance Committee, PAC, has resolved to be on ground nation-wide to assist the Police and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, through secret monitoring of the election processes during the February 15 general elections.

PAC said it has mandated all its executive members across the states to mobilize their members for proper enlightenment programme on how to carry out the monitoring exercises and device ways of passing out secret information that can prevent manipulation of the elections by unscrupulous

elements who might want to cause chaos or perpetrate rigging during the elections.

In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja and jointly signed by its Director-General, Dr. Martins Oni and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kadri Shina, the PAC called on INEC, the Police and other security agencies working on the elections to work closely with their members in ensuring that necessary information are made available to them which could assist in preventing rigging.

56 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014—57

Do something, President Jonathan

By Nzeribe Ihekwaba

S

EVERAL years ago, the Ghanaian public got fed up with that nation’s rut and economic meltdown and simply demanded that its erstwhile leader, J.J. Rawlings (then Ghana’s President at the material time), must do something. In the streets, the crowd poured out and chanted, “J.J., do something.”

Their grouse was as varied as the disparate groups had contentious mission and agenda. At the end of the day, as they say, Ghana witnessed a fresh breath of national renewal.

Since it is often fashionable among the developing nations to copy strategies and doctrines, as pedestrian as it is in some cases, perhaps the Nigerian powers can own up to the reality of its misfortune: That the nation isn’t moving anywhere. Proof is based on use of critical indicia of national development. The political leadership must finally own up to what everyone else has known for a long time: that infrastructure is it. It is time to fix it rather than the recurring posturing of fixing blame on predecessors and partisan has-beens, the so-called opposition and its relatives in amorphous groups.

Yesterday is terribly gone. And the failed regimes of the past are done even as they disclaim any responsibility whilst many now live with the havoc they wrecked on the system. The loots are also gone since the ICPC and EFCC are doing feebly squat about that, much to every one’s chagrin. The elite will never give up their own, period.

Remorse and restoration The justice of our fate is lost on the rank behaviour of the perpetrators and their kin, that is, they will not surrender to honesty and the greater good. None is the proverbial Zacchaeus that would embrace remorse and restoration.

The pluck of the moment then is that the Nigerian state, having found itself at a crossroads, must look out for how best to dig itself out of the hole.

It is not really enough to dwell on the mistakes of the past, not with the elite chokehold on the political leadership, but a pragmatic reorientation can dislocate the illogical refusal to have a robust reengineering culture. The challenges of the moment have escalated from infrastructure failure to critical security collapse. It can only get worse if the leadership and a committed followership are not bold enough to call the bluff of underdevelopment. The nation must get through the parlous state of its public institutions and programmes using meaningful performance measures or rating criteria to gauge success,

President Jonathan

Map of Nigeria

functionality, and reliability-based audits. .

Current planning and governance philosophy must focus more on values added and infrastructure renewal programming than partisanship and elite patronage. Reduce, reuse and recycle are advisedly good environmental protection options but must they be our national ethos for governance?

When will the focus be on fresh ideas, millennial sustainability programming and cutting edge expertise?

Cutting edge expertise Some in the nation’s driving seat have doubtful asset life and may not even be aware of new technology. Paucity of asset funding, and contending fiscal challenges, reinforce the need for an effective and efficient capacity builders and asset management programmers. And there is a compelling need for a strong political will to harness the rethink these facilitators and change agents will bring to the table. But are we there yet?

Since material corruption can never be eliminated, due to the nature of man, at least the new breed, if one were to arise, can use asset audits and performance score cards for quality and performance rating, increase information accessibility and use,

History will be kind to President Jonathan if he succeeds in delivering just one functional sector of the economy during his tenure

enhance and sharpen decisionmaking, make more effective investment and cost decisions, including the socio-economic impacts of asset failures, while delivering the desired service levels.

If President Jonathan must do something, now and not later, he can avail himself of change agents and focus on one of the critical public infrastructure sectors that are in dire need for asset renewal. He can do transportation: highways and waterways, rail, airports and seaports. Or, he can target public utilities: potable water supply, sanitary sewage, and storm water management.

Alternatively, he can focus on healthcare: hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and related facilities. He can even do the one with high visibility: p o w e r generation, transmission a n d distribution.

These are just a sample of critical needs that beckon for m a s s i v e c a p i t a l improvement.

But Jonathan must not spread himself thin trying to impress the entire sector of the economy at the same time.

P a s t governments did so and today there is no single functional sector in Nigeria worth the capital commitment.

President Jonathan can do a thorough evaluation of all sectors and

their portfolio assets so that the public receive value at the end of renewal cycle, even as it generates historical data for longterm, decision-making. History will be kind to President Jonathan if he succeeds in delivering just one functional sector of the economy during his tenure. Just one fully functional national asset firing at all cylinders will give him tremendous accolade. The collateral impact of, say, a functional, reliable power sector will immediately wake up the transportation, educational and or healthcare sectors. Any subsequent investment in these sectors will then yield a better return. The current state of infrastructures is a testament of the effectiveness of whatever asset management and capital improvement programming had been in place before. The nation needs to refine its current best practices.

Private sector participation can c o m p l e m e n t .

Telecommunications is a good example where they have excelled. Education can follow with proper guidelines. Publicly driven economic and asset renewal schemes will require an initial governmental boost via a system-specific condition assessment, fiscal rating and

investment plan. These can be regionalized and incentivized depending on unique local needs and market forces. Government can also drive the development of alternative strategies for various areas to reflect location, manpower and capital budgeting needs. One plan does not have to fit all. .

President Jonathan can even leave his good luck imprints through proper investment, and user-funded programme which feasibility can be tied to individual markets and asset use. By deploying resources based on asset demand, sector revenue returns, conditions and lifecycle costs, efficiency can be activated for economic renewal. And finally, President Jonathan can really walk tall if by mid-term in his tenure he can assert his success story, just in any one sector of the economy, as his hard earned political capital to spend. He can tell his story to the high heavens that he came, he changed, and he delivered. Then the Nigerian public can openly sing his praises and admit that the once “shoeless” boy of Otueke is their national good luck. That will be his mojo for the rest of life! President Jonathan, can you do something?

•Engr. (Dr.) Nzeribe Ihekwaba, Ph.D., P.E., was the Director of Public Works Department when this essay was published in The Guardian newspaper (July 2011), but he is now the Assistant City Manager and Chief of Operations for the City of Miami, Florida, United States.

58 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JANUARY 12 , 2015

White House to hold global security summit next month

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World leaders attend ‘unity rally’ in France

•French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by head of states including (first row, left to right European Commission President European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris yesterday.

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IGNITARIES and world leaders joined hundreds of thousands of people in Paris yesterday in what government officials called a “unity rally” in defiance of a terrorism spree that claimed 17 lives.

French President Francois Hollande was joined by other heads of state and dignitaries including David Cameron, British prime minister; Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister; German Chancellor Angela Merkel along with Sigmar Gabriel,

vice-chancellor and energy minister, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, foreign minister.

Others dignitaries were Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president, as well as Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko. Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania also attended the march.

At the very front of the march was Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris and president of the French Council of the

Muslim Faith.

Ahead of the rally, the Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve had outlined extraordinary security measures to protect VIPs such as British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Meanwhile, French officials had announced “exceptional measures” to protect not only the throngs expected to gather near the Place de la Republique in central Paris, but also a veritable who’s who of foreign

S President Barack Obama will invite allies to a Feb. 18 security summit in Washington to try and prevent violent extremism, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said yesterday after meeting his European

counterparts in Paris.

Related Stories The gathering of justice and interior chiefs came as France mourned 17 victims of Islamist gunmen this week in the worst assault on its homeland security in decades.

•Crowd at the unity rally in France. leaders — a test of the security forces of a nation rocked by days of terrorist violence.

The massive rally comes as French law enforcement officers were being told to erase their social media presence and to carry their weapons at all times because terror sleeper cells have been activated over the last 24 hours in the country, a French police source who attended a briefing Saturday told CNN terror analyst Samuel Laurent.

Amedy Coulibaly, a suspect killed Friday during a deadly hostage siege at a kosher market, had made several phone

calls about targeting police officers in France, according to the source.

Cazeneuve and other officials said 2,300 police officers, as well as paramilitary forces, would be deployed yesterday.

The dignitaries and leaders will be protected by special units.

In addition, police snipers, plainclothes and anti-terror officers will be deployed and parking and transit restrictions will be put in place. The government will close large sections of the city to traffic, Cazeneuve said.

French investigators were still trying to piece

together the web of connections between three terror suspects killed Friday and their suspected links to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and other terrorist groups. They will remain at a heightened security level as the investigations continue, officials have said.

The country continues to cope with three days of terror that left 17 people dead; thousands gathered on the streets for vigils Saturday.

The precautions may help to ease the nerves of a country left on edge by the wave of violence.

AirAsia QZ8501: ‘Black box’ flight recorders ‘found’ I NDONESIAN divers may have located the flight recorders of missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, the head of the search and recovery operation has said.

Bambang Sulistoyo said he believed they had

been found and divers would try to retrieve them today.

They were buried on the seabed underneath the aircraft’s debris, officials have said.

The possible discovery comes amid intense efforts to find the main

fuselage of Flight QZ8501.

It disappeared in bad weather on 28 December with 162 people on board The aircraft was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore and is lying 30m (98ft) below the surface of the Java Sea.

•Search teams retrieved the missing plane’s tail on Saturday.

Three Indonesian ships had detected signals from two different locations about 3.5km (2 miles) from where the aircraft’s tail was discovered, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo said.

“The two are close to each other, just about 20 metres [apart],’” Mr Soesilo said. “Hopefully, they are the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.”

AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes tweeted on Sunday that he had been “led to believe” that the recorders had been found.

But Mr Fernandes said that his “main concern” was recovering bodies from the aircraft’s fuselage.

Earlier he tweeted: “Let’s hope today is a major breakthrough day

and we can find main fuselage.”

An official said earlier that a large object resembling the plane’s body had been found in a sonar scan of the search area in the Java Sea. But Supriyadi, operations co-ordinator for Indonesia’s searchand-rescue agency, later told the BBC’s Indonesian service that reports that the fuselage had been found had not been confirmed.

Supriyadi has said that if the main body of the plane is found, the first priority of search teams will be to remove the remains of victims.

A team of divers had been sent to investigate, he added, but up until recently poor weather conditions had once again been hampering the search efforts.

Rescue workers have been pulling bodies and wreckage from the sea but progress has been slow.

At least 48 bodies have been retrieved so far.

The cause of the crash is unknown but the plane had encountered bad weather and asked for a flight path change before communication was lost.

The flight data recorders are usually housed inside the rear part of the plane.

They are designed to survive a crash and being submerged in water, and contain underwater locator beacons which emit signals for at least 30 days.

Finding them has been one of the top priorities for search teams as they provide crucial clues from the last moments of a flight before it came down.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JANUARY 12 ,2015 — 59

Zuma urges ANC to return to “core values” S

OUTH Africa’s President Jacob Zuma said Saturday the ruling African National Congress needs to get back to its core values and fight corruption in its own ranks.

“We are here to serve the people, the people are not here to serve us,” said Zuma, who heads the ANC as it moves into its 21st year in power.

“Let us re-dedicate ourselves to the core values of the ANC, which include discipline, selflessness and constructive criticism,” he added during celebrations to mark the movement’s 103rd birthday.

His party has been buffeted by attacks on the left from extremist movements spurred by millions of disillusioned South Africans, left behind in the country’s post-apartheid era, who accuse their leaders of bad governance.

Zuma said his party needs to do a better job of managing the country and battling corruption, starting at the local level.

“Every single cadre of our movement must know that his or her responsibility is to make local government function better by getting the basics right,” said Zuma.

“The ANC must continue to lead in

ending corruption in the state, the private sector and amongst our own members,” he added.

The scandal-prone Zuma has been accused of spending $23 million (over 19 million euros) in state cash on a lavish refurbishment of his private residence, though the so-called Teflon president — ‘nothing sticks’ — has weathered other storms before.

The president, who was sworn in for second term in May, also repeated his commitment to accelerate a reform of racist apartheidera land policies.

A 1913 law gave nonwhite residents access to only 10 percent of the country’s farmland, which was subsequently revised upward to 13 percent. The rule put in place a system that still sees a majority of the best land in white hands.

•South African President Jacob Zuma (C) waves at the crowd as he arrives to attend the African National Congress party’s 103rd birthday celebrations at Cape Town Stadium at the weekend

Rebels raze down Ethiopia’s 116 years Empress Taitu’s hotel

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THIOPIA’S first modern hotel Itegue Taitu Hotel, which was built in 1898 (Ethiopian Calendar) in Piazza, Addis Ababa by Empress Taitu Betul, the wife of Emperor Menelek II, has suffered significant damage due to fire, by rebels.

A fire department official said a fire

damaged a hotel which is a historical landmark in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Commander Tadesse Gemechu said Sunday two people were taken to the hospital after being rescued from the fire at the Taitu Hotel which was built in 1907.

Tadesse says the cause of the fire is being

Gambia reshuffles cabinet after coup attempt

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A M B I A’ S President Yahya Jammehhasreplacedjustice minister Basiru Mahoney in the second cabinet reshuffle since soldiers attempted to seize power in the tiny West African state late last month while Jammeh was out of the country.

State television gave no reason in its announcement late on Thursday for the removal of Mahoney and his replacement by AboubacarSenghore,former minister for higher education, research, science and technology.

Jammeh also replaced Kalilou Bayo, secretary general and minister for presidential affairs and the civil service, with Lamin Nyabally.

Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, has accused foreign-based dissidents of fomenting the coup bid. Security forces have made arrests but few details have been released, C M Y K

investigated. Many of the hotel’s rooms, its historic pieces and a bank office were completely burned down before firefighters put out the fire. The city’s famous jazz club that used to be frequented by foreigners and locals alike, Jazz Amba, was also completely destroyed by the inferno.

Addis Ababa’s Deputy Mayor, Abate Sitotaw said efforts will be made to restore the Taitu Hotel.

Libya becoming hot spot for foreign fighters

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•President Jammeh stoking fears in a country regularly accused of human rights violations.

Jammeh replaced the ministers for foreign affairs, information and transport earlier this week, also without giving a reason.

Meanwhile, a US man accused in the failed coup has been denied release as his case is pending.

Papa Faal, 46, is accused of conspiring to violate the Neutrality Act. Prosecutors accuse Faal, a US citizen of Gambian descent, of buying rifles in the US state of Minnesota that were shipped to the West African country in an unsuccessful plot to overthrow President Jammeh.

FFORTS by the Islamic State group to make its presence felt in Libya came as no surprise to the United States, with military officials warning last month that fighters are training at IS camps there.

Intelligence officials say there’s been no letup, but they caution it doesn’t mean the jihadist group sees Libya as part of its expanding caliphate — at least not yet.

The smoke rising from a recent bombing aimed at Libya’s elected parliament in Tobruk was a signal of the chaos in the country and, according to analysts like Jason Pack of LibyaAnalysis.com, an invitation to jihadists and foreign fighters.

BRIEFS 56 people die after drinking poisoned beer in Mozambique

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ONTAMINATED traditional beer has killed 56 people in Mozambique, health authorities in the southern African country said yesterday.

An additional 49 people were admitted to hospitals in the Chitima and Songo districts in the northeastern Tete province, and 146 more people have reported to hospitals to be examined for the poisoning, district health official Alex Albertini told Radio Mozambique.

Those who drank the contaminated brew were

attending a funeral in the region on Saturday, Albertini said.

Pombe, a traditional Mozambican beer, is made from millet or corn flour. Authorities believe that the drink was poisoned with crocodile bile during the course of the funeral.

Blood and traditional beer samples were being sent to the capital Maputo to be tested, said provincial health director Carle Mosse.

“We don’t have the capacity to test the samples,” she told Radio Mozambique.

UN: Muslims ethnically cleansed in CAR

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HRISTIAN militias in Central African Republic, have carried out ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population during the country’s ongoing civil war, but there is no proof there was genocidal intent, a United Nations commission of inquiry has said at the weekend.

“Thousands of people died as a result of the conflict. Human rights violations and abuses were committed by all parties.

The Seleka coalition and the anti-balaka are also responsible for war crimes and crimes against

humanity,” the inquiry said .

“Although the commission cannot conclude that there was genocide, ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population by the anti-balaka constitutes a crime against humanity,” the report said.

The final report of the inquiry, which was submitted to the UN Security Council on December 19, said up to 6,000 people had been killed though it “considers that such estimates fail to capture the full magnitude of the killings that occurred”.

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire.

If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?

SCORPIO; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

SAGITTARIUS; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed CAPRICORN; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation AQUARIUS; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/ or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

LEISURE THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

am sure you know what it means to be kind. But if you do not know, let me simply say, it is being generous being caring about other people.

For everything we do, there is a reward for us. Being kind is

Be Kind no exception. If you are one of those that believe that being kind no longer pays, you need to read this: We all know how difficult it is to obtain American visa these days, so it was on this

TERROR MUDA

fateful day a young man went to the United States Embassy to obtain a visa. He got there early and sat down on a chair. It happened that an elderly man came and the young

in “Never say goodbye”

man rose from his chair for the elder to sit down, unknown to him an embassy official was watching him. That was how he was called inside and given visa.

No interview, no checking of documents.

Be kind, kindness has its own reward.

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; If what you’re doing today ’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today. Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now ARIES; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble TAURUS; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today.

It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

GEMINI; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

CANCER; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

VIRGO; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Success for me?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

Segun, Enugu.

Dear Segun, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault making love-business very interesting. And unless you are more careful and determined you may marry more than once.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

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HE countdown has begun to the thirtieth Africa Cup of Nations, since the competition started in Khartoum, Sudan in 1957.

In less than six days, the attention of the sporting world is expected to be focused on what has come to be established as the third biggest soccer fiesta in the universe outside the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.

In less than six days, the world will stop wondering whether “….it is possible” because in less than six days, CAF will literally perform a miracle by hosting a competition of such magnitude with less than three months of preparation!

Needless going back to the story of how we got here. What is important at this stage is the story of a small country of less than eight hundred thousand people agreeing at short notice to host a competition that ordinarily needs not less than four years of rigorous preparation given the massive infrastructure, human and material capital needed to see it off.

That this Nations Cup is holding is a positive testimony of CAF’s resolve and tenacity and a confirmation of the can do spirit of Africa.

Yes in the year 2012 Gabon and Equatorial Guinea came together to host the Nations Cup. Co hosting as the name implies requires just fifty percent of effort in nearly all ramifications including physical infrastructure and this was the story of Equatorial Guinea with two solid stadiums in Bata and Malabo.

To now host the Nations Cup means Equatorial Guinea must produce two other venues and Mongomo and Ebebiyin were proposed, venues without standard facilities and herein lies the challenge. Option B, the fall back plan of using only Bata and Malabo was logistically tasking, given the need for adequate training pitches as an example.

This is where President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and the good people of Equatorial Guinea will come in for special mention by CAF when the final match is played at the 35,000 seater Estadi De Bata on February 8 2015.

It took less than one month to import and plant grasses in Mongomo and Ebebiyin. The renovation of training pitches, modernization of hotels…….just name it, the people of Equatorial Guinea have taken the challenge and CAF has provided a solid backing by deploying what the Director of the tournament,

CAF gets set to celebrate Africa In less than six days, the world will stop wondering whether “….it is possible”

the young and energetic Amr Fahmy called “……..the best assemblage of CAF personnel ever for the challenge ahead” Yes, it may not be easy, but the will and determination exhibited by all concerned has seen so many battles conquered already and by February 8 the war would have been won.

The acceptance by Equatorial Guinea to host this competition at so short a notice is a direct gain of the Hayatou administration’s policy of not only taking football round Africa, but using it as a medium of development and social emancipation.

In days past, you could count on the fingers of

one hand, countries that could bid and host the Nations Cup successfully, big countries, financially stable, economically sound and with rich football culture ……

Thanks to the Hayatou gospel, countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea can now bid and hope to win.

For the 2017/ 2019 event, Guinea and Zambia staked claims and were not afraid to challenge the Algerias, Camerouns and Cote D’Ivoires of African football history.

I ask myself, if Equatorial Guinea was not given the chance to host in 2012, would they have had the courage to decide to go it all alone in 2015? The answer is definitely “no”.

For Equatorial Guinea, the stakes are really high, but never in my long and intimidating history of Nations Cup participation ( My first Nations Cup as a member of CAF delegation was as a young media officer in Bloomfontein in South Africa in 1996) have I seen such enthusiasm, determination and unity of purpose by all concerned as in the current event.

Whatever the challenge, whatever the effort, in less than six days, the stress will disappear as the focus shifts to the field of play where fantastic matches are on the cards.

Let us start with Mongomo, the so called Group of death, where only two countries, of course, will survive from the incredible trio of Ghana, Algeria and Senegal…….yes, throw in giant killers South Africa, who with a new coach, new mentality and new crop of players are ready to shock Africa. Ask Nigeria.

What about the traditional rivalries, call it derbies that will play out in Malabo, with Cameroun, Cote D’Ivoire, Mali and Guinea? “somebody go die here” goes a popular Nigerian exclamation.

Elsewhere in Bata, host Equatorial Guinea are up against neighbours Gabon with Pitroipa’s Burkina Faso and DR Congo thrown in for good effect.

Yes the duels would have been more pronounced and exciting with defending champions Nigeria’s Super Eagles and The Pharaohs of Egypt in attendance, yet by the time the competition starts, all that will be history as the world awaits a new king of African football….

Let the Matches begin……

NFF eyes more friendly matches for Eagles Federer reaches 1,000 wins G S

E N E R A L Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Amadu has confirmed to sl10.ng that the Super Eagles will play more friendly matches after the games against Cote D’ Ivoire and Sudan.

“We will play more friendly matches this year and I can tell you that we are already discussing with some football federations about the possibility of playing their national teams in friendly matches in the next FIFA free windows.

“Looking at the fact that we didn’t qualify for

the Africa Cup of Nations, the Nigeria Football Federation is doing everything within its powers to ensure we get more games for the Super Eagles,” Amadu told sl10.ng.

But despite confirming the possibility of playing more friendly matches, Amadu however refused to disclose the countries they are currently in discussions with over the possibility of having these friendly games.

“I cannot disclose to you these countries yet but I’m sure they will be made known when discussions are finalized,” he added.

UNDAY in Brisbane, Australia, top-seeded Roger Federer defeated No. 3 seed Milos Raonic to pick up his 83rd ATP title. But this wasn’t just another win and another title. It was the 1,000th match win of Federer’s career.

That puts him in elite

company with Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl for the most singles match wins in the Open Era (since 1968). It’s another milestone for Federer, who has won an Open Era-record 17 Grand Slam titles and has spent a record 302 weeks as the ATP No. 1 player.

•Musa

The game started with Man U lose to Southampton at Old Trafford Manchester United on top,

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ONALD Koeman got back on level terms with Dutch rival Louis van Gaal, avenging their loss at St. Mary’s with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford

that sent Southampton above van Gaal and Manchester United into third place.

Dusan Tadic came off the bench and scored the

breakthrough in the second half as it appeared Koeman purposely shut down in the first hour to frustrate the home side, and then open things up from there.

but after a few half-chances, Southampton grew into the game and it became a physical and edgy midfield battle through the first halfhour, just like Koeman would have hoped.

•Federer C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 — 63

Bundesliga snubs Okocha, Oliseh B

AYERN Munich defender David Alaba is the only footballer with links to Nigeria named by celebrated German newspaper Bild in its ranking of the Top 100 Players to grace the Bundesliga.

Surprisingly, retired Nigeria internationals Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh and Jonathan Akpoborie were not considered for selection , but ex Eintracht Frankfurt hero Tony Yeboah made the final cut.

Though Okocha, Oliseh and Akpoborie were not endorsed by the Berlin - based publication, the trio excelled at Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart.

Austria international David Alaba was ranked in 98th spot behind ex VfB Stuttgart defensive midfielder Sami Khedira, who now turns out for Real Madrid.

The 22 year old has been on the books of Bayern Munich since 2008, and has appeared 113 times in the Bundesliga, scoring 9 goals.

The talented wing

back, whose stock is increasing every year, was German champion in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

The top ten is made up entirely of Germans and there are three players who still play in the Bundesliga - Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm - who became world champions last year. German football icon Franz Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Müller and Lothar Matthaus are the top three players in that order.

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TTF Star Award: Oyo lauds Quadri, pledges support For making the state proud, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has lauded Portugal-based Aruna Quadri for winning the Male Table Tennis Star of the Year award and the Star Point of the year at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Awards, held in Dubai.

The governor said that the people of the state were happy to identify

he shares with Koke and Denis Cheryshev - making him the man most directly responsible for his team’s position at the top of the table. Now he is off to possibly lift another important personal trophy in Zurich.

Despite the fitness problems that hampered his start to the season, Messi still managed to end the 2013/14 Spanish La Liga campaign as its second-highest scorer with 28 goals, though his contribution was not enough to secure Barcelona the title. The 26year-old star made up for that disappointment and his club’s exit in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by guiding Argentina to

with a star from the state, adding that the state government would always assist youth development and support its talent.

Quadri who is from Oyo town in Oyo State edged out three other nominees, China’s Fan Zhendong, his compatriot Xi Xin and Portugal’s Marcos Freitas to win the Male Table Tennis Star of the Year award.

ITTF said that the African champion was nominated for the award the Final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, where he scored four goals and collected the adidas Golden Ball.

Fresh from that achievement, the four-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner is now gunning for the Spanish league’s alltime goalscoring record.

Manuel Neuer has been the undisputed No1 in goal both for reigning world champions Germany and record German titleholders Bayern Munich for several years now. He made numerous magnificent saves at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil to play a key role in his side’s title success and was deservedly awarded the adidas Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

because of his rise in the ITTF rankings during the year to become the highest-ever ranked African player in history.

The governor said: “The state is proud of Quadri’s achievement and we shall continue to offer our support to every youth in the state.

pointing Stoke to put Arsene Wenger ’s side on the cusp of the top four once again.

And despite a nasty first-half injury to Mathieu Debuchy, there good news for the Gunners as they welcomed back Mesut Ozil as a secondhalf substitute.

But Ospina was barely troubled in a first half dominated by the Gunners as the north Londoners took no time to put their noses in front.

Alexis’s cross provided the assist, and Laurent Koscielny was given the freedom of N7 to head past Asmir Begovic.

RESIDENT of the Confederation of African Football, Alhaji Issa Hayatou has hailed Globacom telecommunication operator for renewing the sponsorship deal of the Glo-CAF Awards .

The CAF President noted that Globacom’s third renewal of the awards is a deliberate effort at developing football in Africa, and encouraged the company not to relent in supporting the award ceremony.

He described Globacom’s action as impressive and ideal for the growth of the round leather game in Africa.

Hayatou who was speaking at the third contract signing ceremony between Globacom and CAF for the sponsorship of the Glo CAF Awards, said that the company’s sponsorship of the annual event has spurred young and old talents to excellence on the world stage.

Globacom Limited, signed a fresh deal with the Confederation to sponsor the annual African Player of the Year

Hayatou hails Globacom for renewing CAF Awards sponsorship Awards for another four years. The two parties signed the agreement for the historic third time a few hours before the commencement of the 2014 edition of the Awards at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on Thursday January 7.

Hayatou, signed on behalf of the Confederation, while Globacom’s Executive Director, Legal Services, Mrs Gladys Talabi, signed for the company.

•Hayatou

Crescent Sports Club elects officers

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*Quadri

Eagles Continues from BP Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou. The Elephants attacked more in the game, but they were unable to find a way through against the equally impressive Super Eagles side who stood tall to them.

With both coaches fielding talented players in the build up game, the two teams treated the fans to a classic, but the one-time African Cup of

Sanchez stars as Arsenal stroll past Stoke

LEXIS Sanchez scored twice and set up another to help Arsenal complete a Sunday stroll at the Emirates.

The Chilean struck his 11th and 12th goals of the Premier League season, and crossed onto Laurent Koscielny’s head for the opener, against a disap-

C M

•Oliseh

Oyo lauds Quadri, pledges support

2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or Continues from BP pass from Gareth Bale and deftly cut the ball back for the Colombian, who buried it. CR7 celebrated in front of the stands as if he had scored himself, and deservedly so, because it was his flash of brilliance that served the ball up to James on a plate.

The 29-year-old has been directly involved in 34 of his side’s goals in the domestic championship, scoring 26 and setting up eight. This figure makes it clear just how much weight Ronaldo holds in the Real attack. Not only is he La Liga’s top scorer, but he has also provided the most assists - an honour

•Okocha

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Alexis continued to deliver the beauty, as he took the starring role just after the half-hour mark - a quick one-two with Tomas Rosicky preceded two touches towards goal and then a strike past the Stoke keeper’s near post with a fierce hit.

rescent Sports Club of Benin City in Edo State has constituted a new club executive on January 11, 2015 to run its affairs. The club, a high-profile club caters for the sporting needs of senior executives in Benin City and its environs. The officials are: Mr. Sam Ohio, Pres-

ident; Hon. Henry Idahagbo, Vice President; Mr. Ehigie Osayimwen, Secretary, Mr. Pharez Okpere, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Idemudia Osifo Esq, Financial Secretary; Mr. Ik. Omoregie, Social Secretary; Mr. Felix Akhalu, Ex. Officio; Mr. Simon Krekpe, Ex. Officio.

Nations winners nevertheless managed to emerge triumphant with Kalou’s 84th-minute strike.

Super Eagles stand-in coach Daniel Amokachi handed starts to enterprising Stanley Dimgba and Nigeria Professional Football League top marksman Mfon Udoh.

There was a worrying sight for Elephants fans in the opening exchanges when the dangerous Gambo Mohammed side footed his effort from close range. Cote d’Ivoire fielded majority of their stars with African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure getting a good match from the fearless Joseph Nathaniel in the midfield.

Roma winger, Gervinho should have given the Elephants the lead in the 27th minute of the

match when he beat the Nigeria defence, but he was denied by goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim.

Cote d’Ivoire threatened again when Serge Aurier headed wide from a corner kick and the first half ended goalless in Abu Dhabi.

In a bid to grab the winner, the Cote D’Ivoire technical crew led by Hervé Renard threw more bodies upfront and pressurised the Super Eagles side in the second half.

At the home stretch, Newcastle United midfielder Chieck Tiote found Kalou in the area and the forward slotted the past Agbim in goal for Nigeria. Nigeria’s tour of United Arab Emirates will come to an end with a game against the Falcons of Sudan on 17th January, 2015.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015

Cote d’Ivoire clip Eagles wings C

2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or

•Kalou

ÔTE D’IVOIRE y e s t e r d a y defeated African champions Nigeria 1-0 in Abu Dhabi, thanks to a late goal from former Continues on Page 63

•Agbim

Who wears the crown: Ronaldo, Messi or Neuer?

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ODAY, January 12, 2015, at the Palace of Zurich Congress, the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 will be awarded .

During a ceremony that begins at 18:30 (CET), the most prestigious individual awards will be awarded to one the following three players: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona) or Manuel Neuer (Germany / Bayern Munich).

For the sixth consecutive year, Messi and Ronaldo will

compete for the trophy for the Ballon d’Or. On exploits records, both players were quickly opposed by the media, to the point that their rivalry today goes beyond football.

But whatever happens in Zurich, Ronaldo is worth his weight in gold. The Portuguese star once again played a decisive role against Espanyol. He provided a wonderful assist for James Rodríguez to open the scoring.

Ronaldo received a long

Continues on Page 63

WHO THE CAP FITS . . . Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (M) and Manuel Neuer set eyes on the coveted FIFA crown

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Support (4) 4 Top (3) 6 Moan (4) 9 Help (3) 10 Unusual (8) 11 Loose (4) 14 Pass (3) 16 Sincerely (5) 19 Perplexed (8) 21 Spree (5) 23 Demote (8) 24 Last (5) 27 Untruth (3) 31 Rescue (4) 33 Sufficient (8) 34 Can (3) 35 Respect (4) 36 Attempt (3) 37 Halt (4)

DOWN 2 Dress (4) 3 Penniless (4) 4 Song-writer (8) 5 Tablet (4) 6 Biscuit (5) 7 Tune (3) 8 Perfect (5) 12 Sneer (5) 13 Recognised (5) 14 Dog (3) 15 Flat (5) 17 Of towns (5) 18 Rustic (5) 20 Liberation (8) 22 Shelter (3) 25 Angry (5) 26 Correct (5) 28 Gasp (4) 29 Yank (4) 30 Staunch (4) 32 Strive (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Slight 5, Demean 8, Convince 9, Told 10, New 12, Stall 15, Ass 17, Eat 18, Oar 19, God 20, Attic 21, Ore 22, Gem 23, Aim 24, Tie 26, Peril 29, Ask 33, Itch 34, Disagree 35, Groped 36, Engulf.

DOWN: 2, Loose 3, Give 4, Tenet 5, Dwell 6, Mate 7, Atlas 10, Night 11, Wedge 12, Stamp 13, Actor 14, Local 15, Aroma 16, Speak 25, Inter 27, Ended 28, Issue 30, Spell 31, Shop 32, Agog.

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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