Why we've not arrested Jonathan- EFCC boss

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62669

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Why we've not arrested Jonathan — EFCC boss

•Speak out, PDP tells Jonathan

•Says Metuh, Haliru, others used private firms to receive funds from ONSA •Return balance of N170m traced to you, EFCC tells Jafaru Isah •I won’t return N100 million, says Chief Falae LIONEL MESSI: FIVE-TIME WORLD FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

BUJA—THE 2015 Ekiti, A Economic and Financial Crimes Osun polls: Commission, EFCC explained, yesterday, why it has not arrested Probe former President Goodluck Jonathan panel following startling revelations on how the wants 2 former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) Army allegedly disbursed over $2.1 billion meant for officers arms purchase to various retired Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

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How I slept with a large snake for 5 days — Owa monarch Lionel Messi holds his trophy after receiving the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award for Player of the Year in Zurich, yesterday. Photo: AFP. C M Y K

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Time to end the bad blood between the Yoruba and •P.17 Ndigbo

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—From left: Coordinator of the Presidential Programme On Amnesty for the Niger Delta, Retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (L), receiving some publications from the Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Mrs Ibim Semenitari, during Boroh's courtesy visit to the NDDC office in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Why we've not arrested Jonathan — EFCC boss Continues from Page 1

individuals.

Alarmed by the revelations, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has, however, asked Dr Jonathan to speak out.

This came as the antigraft commission disclosed that one of the beneficiaries, the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah had returned N100m out of the N170m he collected and was given administrative bail to source for the balance of N70m.

Another beneficiary, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae however insisted that he would not refund the N100 million he collected from Chief Tony Anenih, which was said to have come from Dasuki.

Facts have also emerged how former Chairman of

Board of Trustees, BoT of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Olu Falae entered into a working relationship prior to the 2015 presidential election.

Explaining why the former president has not been arrested while speaking with online news publishers yesterday, in Lagos, the EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Magu said that no document has been traced to Jonathan giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any purpose other than arms purchase.

He said that all those questioned so far in connection with the money were people who disbursed or collected it for reasons other than the purchase of arms and ammunition.

“All approvals by former president Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes.

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OU can achieve together what you couldn’t alone. Always resist the temptation to walk through life alone.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be —Marianne Williamson

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HAT are you putting into your mind? The mind is everything, what you think you become, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” Fill your mind with life-affirming thoughts and tomorrow will find you farther along the success way.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A hunter does not tell all he sees in the bush.

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All the memos approved by him were for the purchase of arms,” he said.

Speaking about Olisa Metuh, the EFCC boss revealed that the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party said he would rather go on hunger strike than refund the N400 million he allegedly collected from Dasuki.

Maga also said that Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former boss of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, was recently re-arrested after new evidences of alleged embezzlement of N34.5 billion and another N600 million were linked to him.

The EFCC chairman stressed that the war against graft was not selective and assured Nigerians that his agency was not teleguided in the ongoing anti-corruption fight.

According to PDP, since former President Jonathan was still alive, he should come out and explain to Nigerians whether he authorized his former National Security Adviser to distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.

Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Abdullahi Jalo said, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked the National Security Adviser to distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign.

According to Jalo, “Jonathan is alive, he should clarify whether he asked the National Security Adviser to

distribute money meant to fight Boko Haram into his campaign. What is important for one to know is that former President Goodluck Jonathan is alive. Has he ever said go and take the money for arms meant for Boko Haram to campaign for me? Is there anytime that Jonathan asked for anything from either Dasuki to go and distribute this money meant for fighting Boko Haram for his campaign?

“As you all know, no single kobo will be spent by the federal government or former President Goodluck Jonathan without the Act of the National Assembly. Some people however decided to divert this money to something else.

“Darkness has now come to light, we have now discovered that it is not only PDP members who collected the money but those in APGA collected, Falae collected, Tanko Yakasai collected.

They all collected the money under the guise that they are campaigning for Goodluck Jonathan.

“It is known to us that money meant for campaign are given to the national chairmen of various political parties.

We had a dinner in the banquet hall where some billions were collected meant for campaign for Jonathan. That money was meant for campaign.

Dangote, Otedola and others donated. So why would somebody tell us that you are taking money meant to fight Boko Haram, which is from an Act of the National Assembly. Any money appropriated is coming from consolidated account of the federal government and its usage must be meant for that”.

The PDP which also disowned the embattled National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh who has remained detained by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said that as a party, it will not fight for his bail and others who have been alleged to be involved in the arms deal scam because they did that on personal levels and not on the platform of the party.

According to Jalo, “the issue of bail does not have anything to do with PDP. Let them tell us how much they have brought to PDP, to the national chairman and the money used for campaign, we want to know from them.

“PDP has nothing to do with individuals that used their companies to get money. PDP has no company, it is a political platform. There is PDP account and they did not even inform the PDP that they had received this money, they just went and

slept with their families eating eggs and rice."

Jalo who noted that public should not misconstrue the unfolding issues with that of the PDP, said that individuals that were presently involved, accessed public funds through their various private companies and not the PDP even though they were members of the party. He added that the Arms fund were an appropriation of the National Assembly to which the former President and Dasuki Sambo were aware of and were aware of the limit of using the funds other than what it was meant for.

The PDP deputy National Publicity Secretary said, “There are a lot of outcries against our members that have been taken to court because they received money from what we called Dasukigate or arms deal.

“The former acting National Chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru, who was taken to court is now on bail, he has a company Pam Proper and Property limited, he was given N600 million under a registered company of Corporate Affairs Commission, you can find out what the contract was meant for. Has he done what he was asked to do with the N600 million?

“Olisa Metuh’s company is Destral investment limited, he was given a job of N400 million. What has that got to do with PDP, you can bear me witness, when Olisa was accusing Lai Mohammed that he collected a contract from one of the states in the West, even Lai Mohammed took him to court, so now the hunter is now the hunted. Lai’s case has not been proved, Olisa is under investigation.

“Let us put the record straight. We want anyone of these people that have been accused whether in PDP, APGA or APC to come out and tell us that the money they collected, was given to PDP or their party. When he was given

this money was he given the money to go and campaign for Jonathan, if yes let him show us the paper, let him present an evidence, but whoever was given this money should know that this money was not meant for that, it was meant for arms purchase.

“Thank God the party has kept quiet deliberately, maybe, because some have benefited. If we cannot clean the party now, the future is going to be bleak.

“If the Legal Adviser of PDP, rushes to go and bail out Olisa Metuh now he is doing the wrong thing, because he has to separate the party and Olisa as an individual.

Go, bring balance of N170m cash traced to you, EFCC tells Jafaru Isah Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission confirmed on Monday that it had retrieved N100 million out of the N170 million traced to the account of the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Mr. Jafaru Isah.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, confirmed the retrieval of the cash from Isah, adding that it was the partial refund that informed his administrative bail to enable him to go and source for the balance.

Magu, who made the disclosure in response to criticism that he quickly released the APC chieftain and close associate of President Buhari while holding onto Olisa Metuh of the opposition PDP, said that the refund was not a guaranty that the suspect would not be prosecuted for receiving public funds illegally.

There has been a furore over the ‘sudden’ release of Isah from EFCC custody while other suspects duly granted bail by the courts, are still being held by the antigraft agency.

Continues on Page 6

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

RECONCILIATION MEETING——From left: Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central; with the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman, North-west Zone, Alhaji Inua Abdulkadir and Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed at the APC North-west Zone reconciliation meeting in Kaduna, yesterday.

Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Why we've not arrested Jonathan — EFCC boss Continues from Page 5

The opposition PDP believes its key figures, who received huge cash from the office of the National Security Adviser and are being detained by the EFCC, are being p e r s e c u t e d notwithstanding their admission that they indeed, received the said cash for election purposes.

But in the case of Jafaru Isah, the amount of N170 million traced to him is said to have been paid by the embattled ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki, to enable him to acquire a property in Kano State for him.

The deal, it was gathered did not go through, as a member of the Jonathan cabinet paid a higher amount of money for the same building which Isah was billed to buy for Dasuki.

Isah, who was arrested by the EFCC last week, is said to be a close friend of Dasuki and a political associate of President Buhari, although Buhari did not know about the N170 million deal with Dasuki.

The Presidency immediately distanced itself from Isah upon his arrest, making it clear that it would not interfere in his prosecution by the EFCC. An aide of the President told Vanguard in confidence that although Jafaru Isah was a close political ally of President Buhari, the first citizen would nonetheless remain neutral in the matter in line with his avowed position to deal decisively with corruption.

While describing Isah as a political ally, who had

been with Buhari from the days of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party to the Congress for Progressive Change, the aide made it clear that the long relationship did not in any way suggest that Buhari was associated with the collection of N170 million from the Office of the National Adviser by the embattled politician.

The aide said: “It is true that Isah has been with Buhari from the days of the ANPP and CPC and was equally a member of the Transition Committee and actually headed the Defence Committee but that does not mean that Buhari knows anything about the N100 million said to have been collected by the man from the ONSA.” Jafaru, who was a military administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and one-time governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Kano State, is also described as a close friend of the embattled ex-NSA, Dasuki, who is facing multiple charges over money laundering and breach of public trust in three courts.

Arms deal :I won’t return N100 million, says Chief Falae National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, yesterday, said he would not refund the N100 million he collected from Chief Tony Anenih, which has been alleged to have come from the former

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Chief Falae, explained that the amount was given to him for onward delivery to his party, to assist sell ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid, saying it was not paid through the office of the former NSA. To this end, he has asked the government to hold Anenih, former Board of Trustees of the PDP, the source of the money rather than either himself or his party.

Speaking at a press conference, in Abuja, through the party ’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abdul Ahmed Isaiq, Falae insisted that his party would not return any money to the government coffers, since the money it got was neither from Col. Dasuki nor Office of the National Security Adviser.

He explained that the money was as a result of electoral alliance his party entered with the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to deliver the then President Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election quest.

He said those who were returning money to the government were those who got money directly from the Office of the former NSA, saying he cannot be part, since he did not get the money from Dasuki or the office he was occupying.

“In terms of refund of money, I want to say here that those people who are refunding money are those who got their money directly from the arms deal fund.

“Our fund did not come from the arms deal, our fund came from an electoral alliance with the

PDP and we knew that the PDP had a fund raising committee that gathered billions of naira and PDP had been in government for 16 years. “ So, with that, we knew that the PDP had the capacity to fund the alliance that was formed with them by the SDP, he explained.

“You don’t postulate what you don’t have on the ground, you can’t build on a non foundation.

“We, as a political party knew that the PDP was a capable hand in the electoral alliance which we entered with them.

And we equally knew that the PDP had a fund raising, where it generated over N20 billion down.

“So, whether the money came from Col. Sambo Dasuki or his office, is what we don’t know and it is left for them to ask Chief Tony Anenih to explain, “he added.

He emphasized:” “We knew that the PDP had been ruling Nigeria for 16 years. So, this was the basis of our electoral alliance with them.

“We can’t refund any money to anybody because the money we got as a party came because of the alliance we had with the PDP and we have the agreement note from this alliance.

“If it is possible that the money Chief Anenih gave us was from the arms deal, it is left for them to ask Chief Anenih to clarify. As far as we knew, we did not have any dealing with Dasuki. “ Our office did not ever have anything to do with the office or person of the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. “ Dr Abdul explained that

prior to the 2015 presidential election, the SDP was approached by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP through its BOT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for electoral alliance for the re-election bid of the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

He said Chief Olu Falae, being the national chairman of SDP, summoned the National Executive Committee, NEC of SDP to a wellattended meeting to consider the PDP’s proposal of electoral alliance for the re-election bid of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, since SDP did not field a presidential candidate of its own, saying the money that the SDP was given, which he noted, was being alleged to have come from the arms deal fund, was as a result of the alliance.

He, however, said, his party was in full support of the ongoing fight against corruption, saying anyone found wanting should be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

“If you look at the cardinal principles of the Social Democratic Party, one of the basic ones is that of zero tolerance to corruption. So, anywhere there is fight against corruption, SDP is in support, once it is done according to the ambit of the law. “ In terms of the misappropriation of arms deal fund, as a party, I want to say that anybody who violates the law should face the consequences, “he added.

2015 presidential poll: How Anenih, Falae sealed PDP/ SDP working cooperation Fresh facts are beginning to emerge on how former Chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae entered into a working relationship prior to the 2015 presidential election.

A letter which was accessed by Vanguard yesterday buttressed the political marriage entered into by PDP with Chief Anenih on one hand and the National Chairman of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae on the other hand against the backdrop that the SDP had no presidential candidate for the 2015 Presidential election as

there was the need for PDP’s candidate, former President Goodluck Jonathan to be supported.

The letter by Chief Tony Anenih, the then Chairman of PDP BoT was dated January 26, 2015 and it confirmed the claim by Chief Olu Falae that there was inter-party cooperation between the PDP and the SDP to support Jonathan’s presidential ambition.

The PDP through Chief Anenih had agreed to the six issues raised by the SDP before it could support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in last year ’s presidential election.

Falae, who admitted that he received on behalf of the SDP the sum of N100 million from the PDP through Anenih, following the agreement to work together, told an online newspaperPremium Times-that the money was distributed to all the state branches of the SDP. Chief Falae had also stated elsewhere that his party, which did not have a candidate for the presidential election, decided to work for the actualization of Jonathan’s re-election after the PDP agreed to the six issues it placed on the negotiation table.

Anenih’s letter had clearly responded to the six issues, thus paving the way for the PDP-SDP working cooperation.

The letter, entitled: “Inter-Party Co operation” and signed by Anenih in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP reads: “I write to sincerely thank you for your letter dated January 23,2015, on the above subject matter.

“After due consultations with relevant stakeholders of our party, I am pleased to convey to you our decisions on the issues and to further inform you that the President and the leadership of our party have expressed delight and strong optimism to fully cooperate and work with the SDP in the circumstance.

“On the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference” that “Please be assured that the report of the National Conference will be implemented to the letter.

We believe that having regards to the fact that the National Conference was a baby of the President, he is in a better position to implement it. And this is what he is doing.”

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—7

Lassa fever claims one in Edo

By Gabriel Enogholase

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NEWS READING POSITIONS: A newspaper vendor (lying down) and a customer going through the dailies at

Oshodi, Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

2 arrested over attempt to defraud Gov Fayose

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO EKITI—EKITI State Police Command, yesterday, paraded two suspects, Benedict Odiga, 38 and Abdusalam Hassan, 30, for attempting to obtain money from Governor Ayo Fayose under false pretense.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop James, said the suspects, who claimed to be President Buhari’s private security aides, were arrested at the governor's Afao-Ekiti country home.

However, one of the suspects, Benedict Odiga, denied trying to obtain money from Governor Fayose under false pretence, saying he was in Ekiti to see the governor, which he said was successful.

He said: “We only used those documents to beat security so that we can get access to the governor. We did not have a sinister mission, nothing to achieve.

We did not demand for money from the governor.

Our mission was just to see him.”

Asked why the governor got them arrested, if they were there to help him escape impeachment as being rumoured, Benedict said: “We discussed with him and when he suspected that those documents were forged, he decided to call the police.”

Man, 25, kills wife’s lover; another poisons 4-yr-old son

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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OS— A 25-year-old man, Sohnan Sunday, of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, has confessed to killing his wife’s lover, one Garba Vondung, who he said impregnated his wife twice and aborted both pregnancies.

When the suspect was paraded by the Plateau State Police command in Jos for culpable homicide yesterday, he said he killed Vondung in selfdefense when he met the deceased and his wife, Chanchit Sohnan “making love in her room.”

Narrating the incident, Sunday said: “I have three children with my wife, but she was going out with Garba. I asked him to stay away from my wife but he refused. To my knowledge, she had aborted twice for him.

‘Family supported her’

“I reported the illicit affair to my wife’s family, but they told me I should understand that she is an orphan who needed assistance. My wife left me since May last year to her father’s house, but I was going there to see her.

“One day in December last year, I went to the house to beg her to return to my house and I met my wife and her lover making love. Immediately they saw me, the man stood up and took a knife in the room but I overpowered him, collected the knife and stabbed him.

“When my wife saw him bleeding, she raised alarm and

Mother throws newborn out of window neighbours came with sticks and started beating me. I managed to run away and reported the matter at the Police Station in Langtang, but they referred me to Wase where I was arrested.”

Paraded alongside Sohnan by the State Commissioner of Police, Adekunle Oladunjoye, were one Ishaya Mafwahai of Mbar village in Bokkos Local Government Area, who

allegedly poisoned his four years old son; and 21-year-old Salome Samuel of Shonong village in Riyom Local Government, who threw her new born baby through a window.

While Mafwahai said he was “hypnotized,” Salome said she did not kill her baby but gave birth to a dead child and had to dispose of the corpse in that manner.

‘Herbalist hypnotised, raped, defrauded me of N7.9m’

By Esther Onyegbula

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PERATIVES of Xsquad at the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a native doctor for reportedly hypnotising, raping and defrauding a 32-year-old lady (names withheld) of N7,900,000.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect, Ifatade Elegbeleye Ademola, who hails from Ado Ekiti, poses as a cab driver and after selecting a victim, either introduces himself as a native doctor who specialises in curing different types of ailments or as being able to provide house helps.

According to the victim, who is into oil and gas business, “I met the suspect in March 2011 after my mother boarded his cab a couple of times from Iyana Ipaja to the house.”

She said Ademola assisted her mother with a sales representative. Later he told her mother that while he was praying to know if the sales rep would stay, he got a revelation that her daughter has a water husband.

It was via the performance of rituals to free her that he allegedly started the extortion.

She said: “From the day I had my bath at the river, I was not myself again. That was when he hypnotised and raped me. All I know was that Ademola began to collect money from me. The total amount he collected was N7,900,000.”

In his defence, Ademola said: “I did not collect any money from her. I met her through her mother. I am a cab driver and a native doctor. I told her mother that she has a spiritual husband.”

ENIN—EDO State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Heregie Aihanuwa, has confirmed that one person has died from Lassa fever in the state, as doctors at the Irrua Specialist Hospital were battling to save the life of another person, who was also diagnosed with the disease.

The commissioner, who stated this yesterday, said the dead person was among the five persons that were brought to the Irrua Specialist Hospital for showing symptoms of Lassa fever disease.

Aihanuwa disclosed that five persons were treated and discharged at the hospital, adding that the dead person succumbed to the disease because the person did not report for treatment early.

He said: “All cases of Lassa fever are treated in isolation wards in specialized centres such as Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

We are putting measures in place to stop the further spread of this current outbreak.”

7 die in Jigawa road accident

By Aliyu Dangida

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IX students and a driver died in an auto crash involving a Toyota bus with number plates 41A 05 YB on Gaya-Kano Road, weekend, while several others sustained injuries.

Mr. Zayyanu Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer, Jigawa Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who disclosed this yesterday to journalists in Dutse, said that the accident occurred at about 12:55p.m.

Ibrahim said the accident occurred when the driver of the bus, conveying exchange students of Unity Schools from Damaturu, Yobe, to Abuja, lost control at Zangon Buji village in Dutse Local Government Area.

He said 16 others, who sustained various degrees of injury, were receiving treatment at Dutse General Hospital and Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

Fashola unfolds 13-point agenda to revive power sector A

BUJA— MINISTER of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, unfolded a 13-point agenda to drive efforts towards enhancing power supply in the country.

Fashola said in Abuja during his maiden meeting with power generation, distribution and transmission companies, and other stakeholders that the agenda was drawn up to ensure effective monitoring of the sector.

The minister said the agenda involves continuous public engagement on tariff collection,

debts, power generation, maintenance, ancillary services, dispatch orders and discipline.

Other areas include gas requirements and constraints, transmission constraints, 33KV load offtake, imbalances-locations of excess, overload safety, service quality, new captive and embedded generation, franchising and other issues relevant to the growth of the sector.

According to Fashola, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that all

stakeholders in the sector should hold monthly meetings on issues concerning the industry.

He said the meeting would be rotated among the various GENCOs, DISCOs, TCN and other stakeholders across the country.

Fashola said all decisions reached in such meetings would be binding on all the stakeholders.

In this respect, the minister stated that the various companies and stakeholders would each be represented by a management member with

authority to take decisions on behalf of their companies.

He explained that in order to minimise the cost of hosting the meetings, the companies were advised to jointly pull up resources required to hold the meetings.

The minister further said the meetings would also involve lawyers, engineers, planners and other stakeholders, adding that the ministry would issue a communiqué at the end of each meeting on steps taken to address challenges in the sector.

EFCC quizzes Mba, NBC D-G Over sale of broadcast spectrum to GSM firm

By Soni Daniel & Emmanuel Elebeke

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BUJA— THE Director General of the National Broadcast Commission, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, was yesterday, arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over suspicion that the commission under him made the Federal Government to lose huge funds.

It was alleged that the commission under Mba illegally sold a public broadcasting spectrum worth N34 billion to one of the telecoms companies and the amount was not properly accounted for.

Stakeholders alleged that the sale did not follow due process and was not transparent as it gave an edge to a company, which is a major GSM player in Nigeria.

Besides, the name of the commission is said to have featured frequently in the ongoing investigation by the EFCC into the mismanagement of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Army by the ONSA. It was gathered that the commission aided and abetted one of the suspects in Dasukigate to secure a major job because of his closeness to the last administration.

NBC is said to have also stood guaranty for the said company to secure the acquisition of digital broadcast facilities ahead of other Nigerian stations and secret award of contracts without following due process to the chagrin of the government.

The commission, it was also gathered, did not fully comply with the directive of the Buhari administration to close its accounts and revert to the Treasury Single Account, TSA, domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Based on the discovery of wrongdoings, operatives of the

AWARD: President Muhammadu Buhari (right), receive the GLO CAF Platinum Award for Good Leadership from Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN commission, last week, swooped on the NBC headquarters in Abuja to arrest Mba but did not meet him. They left a note for him to report to their office in Wuse 2 but took along the Deputy Director of Finance and Accounts and some files relating to some financial transactions.

EFCC sources said, yesterday, that Mba had been under investigation for about a month but did not say why he was picked up.

Mba, Vanguard learnt, reported to the EFCC head office around 10 am, yesterday, and was immediately taken in by his interrogators, who asked questions on many transactions now being investigated by the agency.

At press time, it was still

unclear when he would be released by the agency.

A senior official in the NBC said last night that they did not know why the DG was invited by the EFCC barely two days after a deputy director was questioned and some files taken away by the operatives, who visited the office.

The officer said: “‘The EFCC came back to NBC on Friday after their first visit on Monday but I do not know the details of what they came for but I am aware that it was not unconnected with the ongoing arms cash investigation.

“When they came, they went straight to see our DG, who was not around but they dropped a message for him that he was wanted in EFCC office. Today, I have been trying to get

information about the whereabouts of the DG because he is not in the office now.

“I don’t know the details of the matter. I suspect t that the EFCC might have resorted to interrogate the DG because they felt that person they met last week didn’t have the right information they are looking for.

“I have been trying to find out from the guy in the DG’s office but I am aware the investigation has to do with somebody in the past government.

“The office has been very quiet since morning. Like I told you, they are still investigating the financial transaction they saw in the account of the company they are investigating in connection with Dasukigate.”

Unclaimed dividends hit N90bn in Q3 2015 —SEC

By Peter Egwuatu, with agency report

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), yesterday, said that there was N90 billion unclaimed dividends at the end of September 2015.

The Head, Marketing Development, SEC, Mr Henry Adekunle, made the fact known during a sensitisation road show by the commission on E-Divided Registration.

Adekunle said the essence of the three-day sensitisation walk was to encourage investors to provide necessary information to enable them to claim their dividends electronically.

According to Adekunle, “Edividend means electronic dividend, which is the profit an investor gets from the company which he has invested his money.

“All we are saying here is that our investors should go and register to collect your dividend electronically in their preferred bank.

“All that we expect from an investor is to go to the bank and fill a form, which will contain certain information.

You will be required to give certain information like your passport, account number, whether savings or current and then your BVN. “Your Central Securities Clearing System number will be required if you are already dematerialised.

“But if you are not, you will go with your share certificate number after which you will be validated using the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System portal where the e-dividend form is actually located.”

He said that after a successful validation, the completed forms would be sent to the registrars of the various companies, who would consolidate all the investors’ dividends and commence payment accordingly.

Adekunle said “the objective of this initiative is to make sure that the N90 billion unclaimed dividend is depleted within the next six months after the completion of this exercise.

“The exercise will be free for about three months and close in March. Six months from that date, we expect that these N90 billion would have fully depleted.”

He said the exercise would continue afterward but investors would be required to pay N100 which was not subject to review.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016— 9

2015 Ekiti, Osun polls:

Army panel recommends retirement of 2 officers 3 others to lose commands, one for trial; 15 on watch list As panel summits report to COAS

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

VISIT: Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu Middle); Kamar Abass, CEO of NTEL (right) and Osondu Nwokoro, Director, External Affairs of NTEL during a courtesy call on the minister, in Abuja.

CBN stops sale of FOREX to up FOREX deposits in banks BDCs Opens Naira crashes further to N283/$1

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor & Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

L

AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has stopped, with immediate effect, the sale of foreign exchange, FOREX, to Bureaux de Change, BDCs, as part of measures to reduce the pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves.

The reserves, which closed last year at $28.364 billion, dropped last weekend to $28.193 billion, showing a depletion by $170 million in the first trading week of this year. To date, it had lost about $3.8 billion since mid last year when CBN announced a recovery to $31.8 billion.

As the new policy shift was being announced, yesterday, the national currency, Naira, completely reversed its Christmas gains, hitting a new low value of N283/USD1 in BDCs and the parallel markets. The currency had gained from low business cycle of Yuletide and informal supplies from returning Nigerians, appreciating to N265/$1.0 against N281/$1.0 it recorded in the middle of last month.

The Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who announced the policy change in Abuja, yesterday, said BDCs are now to source forex from the autonomous market.

He also announced that members of the public can now resume transactions on their domiciliary accounts. That means bank customers can now resume depositing of foreign currencies in their accounts with their banks.

Emefiele’s words: “The bank (CBN) would henceforth discontinue its sales of foreign exchange to BDCs. Operators in this segment of the market would now need to source their foreign exchange from autonomous source. They must, however, note that the CBN would deploy more resources to monitoring these sources to ensure that no operator

is in violation of our anti-money laundering laws.

“Despite the fact that Nigeria is the only country in the world where the central bank sells dollars directly to BDCs, operators in this segment have not reciprocated the bank’s gesture to help maintain stability in the market. Whereas the bank has continued to sell Dollars at about N197 per dollar to these operators, they have in turned become greedy in their sales to ordinary Nigerians, with selling rates as high as N250 per dollar.

“Given this rent-seeking behaviour, it is not surprising that since the CBN began to sell foreign exchange to BDCs, the number of operators have risen from a mere 74 in 2005 to 2,786 today. In addition, the CBN receives close to 150 new applications for BDC licences every month.

“Rather than help to achieve the laudable objectives for which they were licensed, the bank has noted the following unintended outcomes: “Avalanche of rent-seeking operators only interested in widening margins and profits from the foreign exchange market, regardless of prevailing official and inter-bank rates; “Potential financing of unauthorized transactions with foreign exchange procured from the CBN; “Gradual dollarization of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subtle subversion of cashless policy initiative; and prevailing ownership of several BDCs by the same promoters in order to illegally buy foreign currencies multiple times from the CBN.” He described the insatiable appetite of BDCs for forex as “a huge hemorrhage on our scarce foreign exchange reserves, and cannot continue especially

because we are also concerned that BDCs have become a conduit for illicit trade and financial.”

Emefiele said BDCs operators who cannot cope with the new regulation had the option of turning in their licences to collect their N35 million cautionary deposits with the CBN.

On foreign currency deposits

On foreign currency deposits, Emefiele said: “The bank would now permit commercial banks in the country to begin accepting cash deposits of foreign exchange from their customers.”

According to the governor, the policy objectives for banning the foreign currency deposits have been achieved.

He explained that CBN put the policy in place because it discovered that speculators were withdrawing their Naira deposits and using same to buy up foreign currencies and then depositing same in banks and waiting to change the same at higher rates.

His words: “We discovered that Nigeria was fast approaching the dollarization of the economy. At that time we saw that a lot of people were speculating and there were a lot of speculative attacks on the currency (Naira).

“We saw situations where people were going into their accounts, took the Naira out of their accounts to buy dollars.

Some were going to their banks to borrow money to buy dollars and then pass those dollars to their accounts and it got to a point that the banks vaults were full and the banks wanted us to collect the cash and to give them electronic dollars which we said we could not do.

“What we had to do at that time, it was like a flood, a torrent that we had to put break to that flood.

At this point, we think, let’s open the tap a little and let’s see whether there will be proper behavior by the operators and the people in the market.”

BUJA— THE board of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate allegations of professional misconduct by some officers in the 2015 elections that pitched President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, against former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has recommended the compulsory retirement of two senior officers of the Nigerian Army.

General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, who chaired the board of inquiry, while submitting the report to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Abuja, also recommended that three officers were to lose their command and one officer was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification.

A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said: “Other recommendations include placing 15 officers on watch list, nine officers were to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations levelled against them.

6 officers to face audit c'ttee “Six officers are to face an audit committee and 62 officers (mostly of the rank of majors and below) were to be given Letters of Displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counselling.”

Based on petitions and allegations of unprofessional and partisan conducts of some officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army during the 2015 General elections, Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections last year, the Nigerian Army set up a high powered board

of inquiry.

The statement said: “The board, after a thorough job, had today, Monday, January 11, 2016, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

“Submitting the report, Chairman of the board, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, stated that the board placed advertorials in the media requesting for memoranda from the public before they commenced sitting.

23 officers, 100 soldiers, 62 civilians appeared before it “In all, he stated that 23 officers and over 100 soldiers appeared before it as well as 62 civilians."

According to him, the board had made far-reaching recommendations that would assist the Nigerian Army and the nation in future.

He thanked the Nigerian Army for the opportunity to serve and reiterated the board’s members’ willingness to serve when called upon for any other such assignment.

In his remarks, while receiving the report, Lieutenant-General Buratai thanked the board for a thorough and dispassionate job devoid of influence from any quarters.

He expressed delight that the board, knowing the gravity and implication of their report on the careers of officers and impact on the Nigerian Army, discharged their assignment diligently and professionally.

Buratai assured that the report would be reviewed accordingly, in line with Nigerian Army’s legal and administrative procedures.

The Chief of Army Staff also enjoined members of the Board to share knowledge acquired in the course of their assignment with their colleagues for the benefit of the Nigerian Army and the nation.

He further reiterated assurances that the Nigerian Army would continue to remain professional and apolitical in the discharge of its responsibilities.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 , 2016

Ambode swears in Prof Fagbohun as 8th LASU VC ...Tasks new leadership on academic excellence

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has charged the new leadership of the Lagos State University, LASU, to refocus on intellectual engagement, as well as leadership quality and brace up to the developmental and academic challenges of an emerging globally competitive citadel of learning.

Ambode gave the charge yesterday, during the swearing ceremony of Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun as the 8th substantive Vice Chancellor of LASU, held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the governor said the priority of his administration for educational institutions at the tertiary level is for them to nurture students to become wealth creators and innovators capable of contributing positively to the communities and the nation.

He stressed that his administration was not just passionate about academic excellence, but equally committed to raising the standards and providing the necessary infrastructure for tertiary institutions in the state to deliver outstanding results.

Ambode recalled that the journey towards the actualization of his vision for the institution began on September 22, 2015 when the Governing Council was inaugurated to chart a new a course as well as signing a Bill amending the enabling law setting up the institution.

Metuh sues EFCC over detention

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS Lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, to order the immediate release of Chief Olisa Metuh, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Olisa Metuh was arrested by the operatives of EFCC on January 5, in his house in Abuja and has been in custody since then, without access to his family and lawyers or doctors.

In the suit, No. FHC/L/CS/21/ 2016, filed against the EFCC and Attorney-General of the Federation, Adegboruwa is contending that under section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC has exceeded the maximum time allowed by law for the detention of a citizen, without trial in any court.

He is also praying the court to restrain the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies whosoever from further constituting a threat to the life, liberty and freedom of the applicant either through arrest or by physical abuse or violence

F

OUNDER of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Pastor Temitope Joshua, has been ranked by a group known as Movement for Progress Initiative as the 13th most famous pastor in the world and Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola of the Christ Apostolic Church emerged 32nd.

Speaking at the ranking event

either generally or for the purpose of preventing or disturbing their free movement in any part of Nigeria.

He also want an order of the court, directing the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or otherwise howsoever to forthwith

release the application from unlawful custody.

He is praying the court to declare that “The respondents are not entitled to arrest, detain or in any other manner restrict the liberty of the applicant on account without charge in flagrant violation of the

Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 35, 38, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6, 9, 12 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

FG to review insurance bill — FINANCE MINISTER

By Peter Egwuatu, with agency report

A

BUJA—THE Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun yesterday, said plans to review the Insurance Consolidated Bill to ensure an efficient insurance industry in the country have been concluded.

This is contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Press, Ministry of Finance, Mr Marshal Gundu.

Adeosun said that the move aimed to make the Bill conform to the ideals of contemporary insurance practice.

She said that the review would form the basis of a new draft bill,

which would be sent to the National Assembly for consideration.

She said a committee had been constituted to carry out the review and make its findings known in three months.

According to the minister, the Terms of Reference of the committee include a critical

SCHOOLS RESUMPTION: Lagos charges administrators on hard work, moral values

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—AS public schools in Lagos State resume for the second term of the 2015/2016 academic session yesterday, the Deputy Governor,

TB Joshua emerges 13th world most famous prophet that took place at Egbeda area of

By Bartholomew Madukwe

NEW LASU VC TAKES OVER: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (left), congratulating the new Vice-chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, after the oath-taking ceremony, in Lagos yesterday. Photo NAN.

Lagos, Coordinator of the movement, Mr. Opahigbe Lawal, said it is imperative to acknowledge and celebrate Pastor Joshua because of his humanitarian efforts across the globe.

“It is great to break the news that Pastor T. B. Joshua was ranked 13th most famous prophet in the world by a global digital media company called Ranker. This feat was possible due to his contribution and support for humanitarian across the globe.

Dr, Idiat Adebule has urged school administrators across the state to redouble their efforts in the New Year and ensure improvement in pupils’ academic performance to justify government’s huge investment in education.

Adebule, who also supervises the education ministry however, commended principals, teachers and schools administrators for helping government to implement policies that were bringing positive changes in public schools.

The Deputy Governor in statement to signify the commencement of a new academic session, noted that the objective is achievable when teachers and school administrators rededicate themselves to the ethics of the teaching profession, making education interesting and inspiring to their students, inculcating good orientation, and

moral values, encouraging pupils to be hardworking and be self disciplined.

According to her, “We have the unique responsibility to be the prime change agents our dear state needs to become a better place to live and work. All what we need is to rededicate ourselves to the ethics of the profession and make education interesting and inspiring again, while I urge you to encourage hard work, ethical conduct and moral values.’

Adebule while reminding them of the important position of the state in the country called on all stakeholders in the education sector to join hands with the present administration as it strives on a daily basis to implement relevant educational policies geared towards making education in the state not only a role model for the country but the whole of Africa.

review of the draft Insurance Consolidated Bill to make it a framework or principle-based legislation.

She said that the review also aimed to align the insurance sector with the powers of other financial regulators in the country.

“It will provide a thorough examination of current market problems and recommend appropriate regulatory powers for the sector to allow the Insurance Regulator Act appropriately.

“The committee is to undertake a review of all other insurance laws and update the draft Insurance Consolidated Bill to align with international best practices.

The committee is also to make other recommendations as it deems fit for the overall good of the nation’s insurance industry,” she said.

Adeosun said the committee would be chaired by Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, a renowned expert in Insurance Law, while Dr Talmiz Usman from National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) was the Secretary.

Members will include representatives of the Ministry of Finance, NAICOM, Nigeria Insurers’ Association, Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers and Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria.

Kamar Raji from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Dr Ladi Hamalai of the National Institute of Legal Studies were also named members.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 , 2016

Ambode swears in Prof Fagbohun as 8th LASU VC ...Tasks new leadership on academic excellence

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

A G O S — GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has charged the new leadership of the Lagos State University, LASU, to refocus on intellectual engagement, as well as leadership quality and brace up to the developmental and academic challenges of an emerging globally competitive citadel of learning.

Ambode gave the charge yesterday, during the swearing ceremony of Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun as the 8th substantive Vice Chancellor of LASU, held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the governor said the priority of his administration for educational institutions at the tertiary level is for them to nurture students to become wealth creators and innovators capable of contributing positively to the communities and the nation.

He stressed that his administration was not just passionate about academic excellence, but equally committed to raising the standards and providing the necessary infrastructure for tertiary institutions in the state to deliver outstanding results.

Ambode recalled that the journey towards the actualization of his vision for the institution began on September 22, 2015 when the Governing Council was inaugurated to chart a new a course as well as signing a Bill amending the enabling law setting up the institution.

Metuh sues EFCC over detention

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS Lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, to order the immediate release of Chief Olisa Metuh, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Olisa Metuh was arrested by the operatives of EFCC on January 5, in his house in Abuja and has been in custody since then, without access to his family and lawyers or doctors.

In the suit, No. FHC/L/CS/21/ 2016, filed against the EFCC and Attorney-General of the Federation, Adegboruwa is contending that under section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC has exceeded the maximum time allowed by law for the detention of a citizen, without trial in any court.

He is also praying the court to restrain the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies whosoever from further constituting a threat to the life, liberty and freedom of the applicant either through arrest or by physical abuse or violence

NEW LASU VC TAKES OVER: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (left), congratulating the new Vice-chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, after the oath-taking ceremony, in Lagos yesterday. Photo NAN. either generally or for the purpose of preventing or disturbing their free movement in any part of Nigeria.

He also want an order of the court, directing the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or otherwise howsoever to forthwith

release the application from unlawful custody.

He is praying the court to declare that “The respondents are not entitled to arrest, detain or in any other manner restrict the liberty of the applicant on account without charge in flagrant violation of the

Applicant’s fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 35, 38, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Articles 4, 5, 6, 9, 12 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

FG to review insurance bill — FINANCE MINISTER

By Peter Egwuatu, with agency report

A

BUJA—THE Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun yesterday, said plans to review the Insurance Consolidated Bill to ensure an efficient insurance industry in the country have been concluded.

This is contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Press, Ministry of Finance, Mr Marshal Gundu.

Adeosun said that the move aimed to make the Bill conform to the ideals of contemporary insurance practice.

She said that the review would form the basis of a new draft bill,

which would be sent to the National Assembly for consideration.

She said a committee had been constituted to carry out the review and make its findings known in three months.

According to the minister, the Terms of Reference of the committee include a critical

At last, Davido, Sophia Momodu settle scores

By Iyabo Aina

Momodu broke this cheery FTER a long drawn me- news on his Instagram dia battle that lasted handle yesterday night.

Quoting Shakespeare more than one week, popstar, Williams’ Merchant of VenDavid Adeleke a.k.a Davido ice, the veteran journalist and his Baby mama, Sophia wrote on his Instagram Momodu have finally resolved page,”All is well that ends their differences.

Publisher of Ovation Maga- well. Sophia Momodu zine and Sophia’s uncle Dele with baby Imade Adeleke last night at Grandpa, Dr. Deji Adeleke’s home...”

SCHOOLS RESUMPTION: Lagos charges The 23-year-old pop administrators on hard work, moral values singer and his estranged and schools administrators for lover have engaged on

By Olasunkanmi Akoni helping government to imple- media war over the removAGOS—AS public schools ment policies that were bringing al of their daughter, Imin Lagos State resume for positive changes in public schools. ade, from Sophia’s custothe second term of the 2015/2016 The Deputy Governor in state- dy. The singer had alleged academic session yesterday, the ment to signify the commence- that a pathology test was Deputy Governor, Dr, Idiat Ade- ment of a new academic session, conducted, in which it was bule has urged school adminis- noted that the objective is achiev- discovered that his daughtrators across the state to redou- able when teachers and school ble their efforts in the New Year administrators rededicate them- ter, Imade, was fed with and ensure improvement in pu- selves to the ethics of the teach- breast milk contaminated pils’ academic performance to ing profession, making education with cannabis.

Sophia fought back justify government’s huge in- interesting and inspiring to their vestment in education. students, inculcating good orien- through her lawyers, Adebule, who also supervises tation, and moral values, encour- when she requested the the education ministry however, aging pupils to be hardworking original copy of the alleged commended principals, teachers and be self disciplined. medical report that Davi-

A

L

Sophia Momodu and Imade Adeleke

do published during the week from Clina Lancet laboratory.

While it was heating up, the warring parties surfaced at the National Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking In Person,NAPTIP, where they finally agreed last Friday to cease fire.

review of the draft Insurance Consolidated Bill to make it a framework or principle-based legislation.

She said that the review also aimed to align the insurance sector with the powers of other financial regulators in the country.

“It will provide a thorough examination of current market problems and recommend appropriate regulatory powers for the sector to allow the Insurance Regulator Act appropriately.

“The committee is to undertake a review of all other insurance laws and update the draft Insurance Consolidated Bill to align with international best practices.

The committee is also to make other recommendations as it deems fit for the overall good of the nation’s insurance industry,” she said.

Adeosun said the committee would be chaired by Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, a renowned expert in Insurance Law, while Dr Talmiz Usman from National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) was the Secretary.

Members will include representatives of the Ministry of Finance, NAICOM, Nigeria Insurers’ Association, Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers and Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria.

Kamar Raji from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Dr Ladi Hamalai of the National Institute of Legal Studies were also named members.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 11

Fayose lacks integrity to accuse Buhari of dictatorship — APC

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said that Governor Ayodele Fayose lacks the democratic credentials and integrity to accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of being tyrannical and constituting a threat to the survival of democracy in the country.

Fayose had on Monday described as dictatorial, the President’s handling of cases involving the Deputy Governorelect in Kogi State, James Faleke; Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, among others, adding that the roles of the DSS under the nose of President Buhari were clearly undemocratic, tyrannical and a threat to the survival of democracy.

He also accused the civil rights groups of keeping silent while the President allegedly abused the rights of fellow Nigerians.

But a statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, faulted Fayose’s tirade against the President, saying Fayose was the least to raise a finger in defence of democracy based on his antecedents as a “ reckless promoter of anti-

FACILITY TOUR: From left; Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Devackumar Edwin; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola (back row) and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote inspecting the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plant, during the facility tour of the plant by the CBN officials on Sunday. democratic conduct.”

Describing the governor as a man suffering from the diarrhea of the mouth, he said: “Governor Fayose,

clearly unfit to be a governor, should be the least to complain about anti-democratic conduct because he is the greatest threat

to democracy in Nigeria based on his serial breaking of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria.

Workers’ salaries gulp 90% of monthly allocation — AJIMOBI

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said that ninety per cent of monthly allocation is expended on payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

He said this at an annual interfaith thanksgiving service held at the governor’s office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The governor said instead of negative comments from some quarters, his administration deserved to be commended, adding that despite the fact that the Federal Government is owing the state three months allocation, he went extra the mile by paying his workers .

Ajimobi said, “Though, the Federal government is owing us three months allocation, we are owing the workers two months. We deserved to be commended. You are less than 100,000 and we are spending 90 per cent of the allocation to pay your salaries. You should be appreciative. Only a crazy governor will not wish his civil servants well and only crazy civil servants will want to earn money without working”.

While underscoring the sacrifice his administration has been making since the advent of financial crisis, he hinted that for the past five months, his aides

have not received salaries and they work conscientiously.

Governor Ajimobi also allayed fears of the workers over rumoured retrenchment assuring them that none of them would be sacked except those

found culpable in fraudulent activities.

“In this period of economic downturn, we will know who is a governor indeed. We will govern the state with good managerial skill. I have said it

that I will not retrench any worker in the state. But, we can not allow ghost workers any longer. Some people stay in London and they receive salaries as workers in this state.”.

BAYELSA: Mimiko hails Dickson's re-election

A

KURE—GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday applauded the re -election of his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriaki Dickson for a second term in office.

This followed his declaration by the National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the recently concluded gubernatorial election in the state.

Dr Mimiko in his congratulatory message through his Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade said it was not for fun that the election process had to extend to a supplementary level, adding that God eventually manifested Himself because “one with God is majority” He said though there are no easy elections, but submitted however that, when man erect obstacles are involved, only God’s intervention could justify His chosen.

Dr Mimiko said that the Federal Government has a lot to do for the people’s confidence

to be restored in the country’s electoral process.

He submitted that it has become very obvious that the nation has

fallen back from where it used to be as far as free and fair and violent free elections are concerned.

Sacked FUTA staff school teachers want VC removed

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—THE crisis over the sack of 45 teachers of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. staff primary school took a new dimension as the institution's Chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities yesterday called for the sack of the Vice Chancellor of the varsity, Professor Adebiyi Daramola.

They alleged that the Vice Chancellor was. employing other staff without following due process.

The sacked teachers, who staged a protest against the development on the campus yesterday, locked the gate of the school and asked the pupils to go back home.

“It is laughable that as shameless as Fayose is, he is now accusing the civil rights groups of keeping silent in the defence of the purported abuse of the rights of Nigerians by the President and we wonder what the governor’s legal backers said or did when he was serially breaking the laws of the nation in the last one year to the shock of Nigerians.

“Fayose invaded the court with thugs to beat up a judge and tear court records in the Chief Judge’s office and used seven lawmakers to illegally impeach a Speaker in the Assembly of 26 members.

“He used thugs to lay siege to the Assembly to prevent 19 APC members to attend House plenary sessions for six months and used seven PDP members to illegally pass the budget and confirm his commissionernominees while also arbitrarily cancelling programmes legally backed by the Assembly laws without recourse to the same Assembly for repeal of such laws and topped it with storming the Assembly with the gavel to pass a budget he presented in illegal manner to the shock of Nigerians and the world.''

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

Bayelsa poll: Sylva heads for tribunal Accept defeat, political parties urge Sylva As Okowa lauds Dickson for hard earned victory

By Samuel Oyadongha, Jimitota Onoyume, Festus Ahon & Emem Idio

F

ORMER Bayelsa State governor and candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the just concluded governorship poll in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday said he would challenge the outcome of the election in the state at the tribunal, describing the exercise as a sham.

Sylva, at a news conference in Yenagoa, slammed the state Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, describing it as a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rigging machine.

Meanwhile, 14 of the 20 political parties that fielded candidates in the just concluded election, have advised Sylva to accept the outcome of the poll.

The political parties, while also endorsing the result of the poll, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll and called on Sylva to join forces with Governor Seriake Dickson, winner of the election, to move the state forward and stressed that the state needs ideas and partnership and not antagonism.

Similarly, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, congratulated Governor Dickson on his victory at the governorship poll.

Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, described the victory as well deserved.

Meanwhile, PDP has demanded for a comprehensive inquest into the violence and killings allegedly recorded in the just-concluded election.

A statement by the acting National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, in Abuja, yesterday, decried what it described as “desperation” of the APC, whose ‘’thugs openly engaged in violence resulting in the killing and maiming of innocent Bayelsans.

“We, hereby, demand a comprehensive inquest into these killings and that all perpetrators be brought to book,” the statement said.

It alleged that from what happened in Bayelsa, it was clear that the APC was not disposed to free, fair and credible electoral process in the country. ‘’The PDP and lovers of democracy salute the people of Bayelsa State for standing against intimidation, rigging and violence to ensure that their votes prevailed in Saturday’s

C M Y K

BRIEFING: From left: Inko Namatibi of New Nigeria Peoples Party; Tary Eduwin of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Prince Eleman of Independent Democrats Party, during a news conference by Chairmen and governorship candidates of politcal parties that contested the December 5, 2015 and January 9, 2016, Bayelsa governorship election, in Yenagoa, yesterday.

supplementary election.

“In fact, the steadfastness and resilience showed by the people, particularly in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, will go down in history as one of the many sacrifices made to defend democracy in the land,” it said.

Sylva head for tribunal

Sylva, who advanced reasons for rejecting the outcome of the election, said that INEC and the PDP colluded to deny him and the APC victory at the poll.

He said: “I am sure you are aware of my complaints about INEC in Bayelsa. I had initially complained about the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Baritoh Kpagih and the Administrative Secretary of INEC. I said it repeatedly and even put it to writing.

“Usually, before an election, the INEC officials are switched. But they chose to keep the PDP rigging machine. This was the same rigging machine that returned former President Goodluck Jonathan 100 per cent votes.

We felt these people could not conduct a free and fair election.

All our cry fell on deaf ears.

“Even the REC descended into the arena by accusing a faceless candidate of offering him bribe. A REC that was arguing with a candidate was allowed to conduct the

election. This is strange.

“From the beginning, INEC was playing a game.

Materials from the nearest communities were deployed first, while those in distant communities were sent last.

They did not send materials to Ezetu, Azuzuama,Ukubie, Foropa and Koluama early.

What they did was to frustrate the election process because they had a lead.

“And also the outcome could have been declared inconclusive with outstanding votes of 53,000 cancelled. They went against the laws. They plotted against the APC. Anywhere APC won, they cancelled.

“They rigged the distribution of materials. Even the vehicles used were provided by the state government.”

14 parties commend INEC, congratulate Dickson

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, state chairman of Independent Democrat, ID, Prince Elemah, flanked by state chairmen of other parties, commended the efforts of INEC, in the distribution of electoral materials to remote areas of the state and providing a level playing ground for all during the supplementary poll and congratulated Governor Dickson on what they described as a well deserved

victory The political parties that endorsed the statement include All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; African Democratic Congress, ADC; KOWA, Democratic People’s Congress, DPC; Social Democratic Party, SDP; African Peoples Alliance, APA; Independent Democrats, ID; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN; Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN; United Progressive Party, UPP; People for Democratic Change, PDC; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and Mega Progressives Peoples Party, MPPP.

Dickson will work harder —Aginighan

Chieftain of APC in Ijaw nation and former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has expressed the hope that the keenly contested governorship election in Bayelsa State will make the winner, Governor Dickson, conduct the affairs of governance with high regards for the feelings of Bayelsans.

Aginighan, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that the APC governorship candidate, Sylva had raised the bar of politics in the state by nurturing the party into a very strong opposition waiting to grab power anytime.

“There is no doubt that

Governor Dickson will be humbled by the tortuous electoral journey he went through and cannot afford to conduct the business of governance without regard for the genuine feelings of the Bayelsa electorate,” he said.

Governor Okowa has, congratulated Dickson on his victory at the governorship poll.

Okowa, in a statement by Aniagwu, described the victory as “well deserved” for Dickson.

Commending INEC, security agencies and Bayelsans for a successful election, the governor condemned the reported cases of violence and killings which characterized the election.

Okowa said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I congratulate you on your hard earned victory at the Bayelsa State governorship election. Your victory is well deserved because you campaigned vigorously, selling the party’s policies and programme to Bayelsans. Your victory in seven out of eight local government areas in the state showed that Bayelsa State is home to PDP. “Your re-election for a record second term is a fulfilment of the clearly expressed wish of the people of Bayelsa State. I, therefore, urge you to be humble and magnanimous in victory, remain focused and committed to your restoration agenda and work for the advancement of the interests of all Bayelsa people irrespective of their political affiliations.”

Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, has expressed sadness over the reported deaths during the governorship election.

Spokesman of IYC, Eric Omare, in Yenagoa, said that the election of a governor should not be a do or die affair, especially in a homogenous state like Bayelsa.

He commended Dickson for his hard earned electoral victory and all the contestants and the people of the state for their contributions to the deepening of democracy by insisting that only their votes determine who emerged victorious.

“The IYC is sad that so many lives were lost during the electoral process. Election of a governor should not to be a do or die affair especially in a state like Bayelsa that is homogenous. The IYC recalls that under President Jonathan, sanity was restored to the electoral process in Nigeria and the do or die spirit which was prevalent under President Olusegun Obasanjo was banished to the dustbin.

“However, it is sad to note that Nigeria’s democracy has returned to the do or die era.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 13

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14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—15

Demolition of Oshodi market in bad faith —Ohanaeze youths ....Others react

By Ugochukwu Alaribe & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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BA—THE Youth Wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that the demolition of Oshodi market, Lagos by the Lagos State government was in bad faith and targeted at the Ndigbo doing business in the state.

Ohanaeze Youths insisted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode deliberately ordered the demolition of the Oshodi market, largely occupied by Ndigbo in the first week of the New Year, when he knew that Igbo shop owners were yet to return from the Christmas and New Year

festivities.

In a statement by the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group said Ambode by his actions, had drawn a battle line between himself and Ndigbo, whose people suffered huge losses in the demolition exercise.

“It is instructive to observe here that contrary to all principles of common justice, the traders were merely given few days quit notice.

It is equally shocking that the government chose such a wrong time for the demolition exercise, thereby not only taking the shops away from them, but also allowing their wares to be looted.

“We are forced to ask: Could this be the starting point in implementing Oba of Lagos’

earlier threat during the election period that Ndigbo would be thrown into the Lagoon? Could it be another round of deportation exercise, similar to what former Governor Babatunde Fashola did in repatriating Ndigbo?

“It is inhumane for people’s livelihood to be taken away from them in such a brazen manner.

The government’s claim that arms were recovered from a section of the market does not fly here because it cannot be a reason for such a wicked treatment purely targeted at a particular people.”

The youth group insisted that the Lagos State government’s action was a threat to the unity of the country and demanded adequate compensation for the

PRESENTATION: From left: Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Owoseni Fatai; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and widower of late Comfort Indongist Udoh, Mr. Sunday Udoh, during the presentation of scholarships to the children of late Mrs Udoh by the Police Commissioner in Lagos.

Supreme Court'll restore Ikpeazu’s mandate, says Orji

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—IMMEDIATE past governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji has expressed hope that the Supreme Court would restore Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of the state.

Reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment, which sacked Ikpeazu as the governor and declared Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as winner of the April 2015 governorship election, Orji said the verdict was disappointing to Abia people, but expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would reverse the verdict.

“But there is the Supreme Court which is the last point of the judicial exercise in this matter,” he said.

Orji, who spoke to newsmen, in Umuahia, also expressed his respect for the judiciary as the last hope of any politician’s political career.

“Since I joined politics, the judiciary has always been there for me from 2007-2011 as governor and even now as senator, as they

(court) have always authenticated my mandate whenever my opponents drag me to the court.

“I don’t see any difference in this case of Ikpeazu versus Otti case, as some people want to be governor at all cost, simply because they have some money, but money is not everything in politics,” Orji said.

He expressed joy that the governorship election matter does not end at the Court of Appeal but up to the Supreme

Court.

“It is a place where men of integrity, who take their time on such matter and I am sure that Ikpeazu will be returned as duly elected,” he said.

Not satisfied with some judgments of some courts, Orji said that the judiciary was supposed to enhance democracy for the good of the country and its people, “however, this time around, the judiciary at the Court of Appeal has decided to turn democracy upside down.”

traders who had suffered great losses in the demolition.

“We demand that the governor of Lagos State should direct relevant government agencies to adequately compensate these traders as anything short of that, Ndigbo will henceforth, consider Ambode, as their arch-enemy number one.”

Similarly, a former President General of Onitsha Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, OMATA, Chief Ozoh Anakwe blamed the Lagos State governor for the loss the traders suffered following the demolition of the market.

He said: “The destruction of the goods belonging to Oshodi traders, who are mostly Igbo was another way of chasing the Igbo into the Lagoon, like one of their Oba’s threatened during the electioneering campaign for this same governor that carried this inhuman and wicked act against traders “The Lagos State governor was on vendetta mission with the demolition of the market. He does not like Igbo people, he feels they did not vote for him and if you check the local government area the market is located, you will find out that All Progressives Congress, APC, lost there during the governorship and presidential elections, so the demolition did not come as a surprise to us.”

He urged the traders to pay the governor back with their votes when he will come out for reelection for second tenure, saying, “ou know that the politicians are greedy, they will not avoid running for second tenure, they will always stand for re-election and that is the time they should pay him in his own coin for what he did to them.”

He said going to court may not favour the traders because the politicians have their ways in manipulating the courts to favour them, but it was good for them to drag the Lagos State governor and government to court for wilful damage to their goods, at least for it to be on record.

“We know APC government does not obey court orders, they do not care about due process of the law, they are not moved by protest, and therefore, the best option is to use their votes to chase the governor out of seat when he comes out for re-election.”

Nigeria recovers $100m looted fund from Switzerland

By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA—THE Federal Government disclosed, yesterday, it has recovered $100 million looted funds from Switzerland.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Oyeama stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the 22nd regular course of Foreign Service Academy in Abuja.

Oyeama said: “Nigeria recently recovered a huge amount of money from the government of Switzerland. I met with S w i t z e r l a n d representatives last week to work out the modalities for the recovering of these funds. So far Nigeria has recovered over $700 million, and there are ongoing negotiations on how that money would be applied. Discussion is also ongoing to recover another $300 million.”

The minister explained that Nigeria was also discussing with other countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and others to recover Nigeria’s looted funds.

“Mr. President had earlier visited the United States. There were discussions there. So, there are ongoing discussions with governments around the world to bring these funds back to Nigeria,” he said Speaking also at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bulus Lolo called on the 113 foreign service trainees to be committed to the one year course

Biafra: Uwazuruike postpones fasting, prayer, election

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI —THE planned prayer, fasting and election into the offices of the Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, has been postponed indefinitely.

Announcing the indefinite postponement of the programme to newsmen, yesterday in Owerri, Imo State the leader of the group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, explained that the shift was to enable them make adequate consultation.

“The shift in the date for the fasting and prayer session, as well as the planned election, which more than 100 clergymen from the South East and South South geo-political zones are expected to participate, would enable BIM to make adequate consultation,” Uwazuruike explained.

Reiterating that they need to make adequate consultations and preparations before the next date for the event, Uwazuruike also promised that the programme would be made public.

Fielding questions,

Uwazuruike said, “The theme of the prayer session, Give us Biafra, still remains unchanged, while Apostle Gregory Ashiegbu will anchor the prayer for us.”

Explaining what the election into BIM positions was all about, Uwazuruike said it would be different from elections recently conducted in Nigeria, adding that it will be an open ballot system unlike Nigeria’s closed ballot system.

He said that the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, and Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, the founder of

the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, were expected in Owerri, for the event.

BIM had earlier announced that it would hold a three-day prayer and fasting, beginning from today, ahead of February 22, 2016, elections billed for Ikemba Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri.

It had named a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Aniebonam, chairman of the electoral body.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 17

T

HE Yorubas and the Igbos, two of the most resourceful, engaging and outgoing ethnic groups in Nigeria, are becoming implacable enemies.

Increasingly, they seem to hate one another with pure hatred. I never appreciated the extent of their animosity until the social media came of age in Nigeria.

Now, hardly a day passes that you will not find Yorubas and Igbos exchanging hateful words on internet blogs.

The Nigerian civil war ended in 1970. Nevertheless, it continues to rage today on social media mostly by people who were not even alive during the civil war.

In blog after blog, the Yorubas and the Igbos go out of their way to abuse one another for the most inconsequential of reasons. This hatred is becoming so deepseated, it needs to be addressed before it gets completely out of hand. It is time to call a truce. A conscious effort needs to be made by opinion-leaders on both sides of the ethnic divide to put a stop to this nonsense.

Ethnic stereotyping Both the Yorubas and the Igbo stereotype one another. To the Igbo, the Yorubas are the “ngbati ngbati” “ofemmanu” who eat too much oil. They are masters of duplicity and deception; saying one thing while meaning another. To the Yorubas, the Igbo are clannish and moneyminded. They are Shylock traders who specialise in selling counterfeit goods.

But the truth is that stereotypes are essentially generalisations and exaggerations. In a lot of cases, they are unreliable and untrue. Stereotypes must be recognised at their most effective as a joke. They are the stock-in-trade of seasoned comedians; the garnish for side-splitting anecdotes at weddings and social gatherings. Stereotypes should not be taken seriously. We should laugh at them without being offended by them.

The more Nigeria develops as a melting pot of nations, the more we should be able to laugh at ourselves. The greater inclination to do this denotes increasing strength of character and self-confidence.

However, with the advancement of social media, the banter has gone way beyond the jocular and innocuous to outright malice and unadulterated hatred.

Increasingly, what you hear are abusive and pejorative labels of “Yariba,” “Yorubastards” and “Yorobbers;” as well as “Eboes,” “Zooafrans” and “Biafrauds.”

As the insults fly with abandon, you begin to wonder where all this comes from.

What is the basis of all this hate?

In the sixties, the Igbo were slaughtered in pogroms in the North. However, the principal exchange of hateful words today is not between Northerners and Easterners, but between Easterners and

Time to end the bad blood between the Yorubas and Ndigbo

the 2015 election, Oba Rilwan Akiolu summoned Lagos Igbo leaders to his palace; only to threaten them: “If anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water. What you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here. If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you, if you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.”

It mattered little to His Royal Highness that Ambode’s close rival was not an Igbo but Jimi Agbaje; another Yoruba man.

Timeout Westerners. Why are these two ethnic groups so much at loggerheads? How did we get to this pass?

Malicious stereotyping often involves denigrating the strengths of others. The Igbo are very enterprising; a very valuable resource in a developing country like Nigeria.

But then this is castigated as mercenary. The Yorubas take great pride in education; another valuable asset in today’s modern world. But then they are derided as using this to get one over on others.

The saving grace is that the two groups live side-by-side in peace and quiet in different parts of the country.

Moreover, the animosity between them, especially among the younger generation, has not prevented their boys and girls and men and women from falling in love.

Yoruba men marry Igbo women; and Igbo men marry Yoruba women. Meanwhile, “a lutta continua.”

Awolowo factor The Igbo tar the Yorubas with the brush of Awolowo, who they label as “the father of ethnicity in Nigeria.” In that narrative, it is conveniently overlooked that the broadmindedness of the Yorubas enabled Azikiwe, an Igbo man, to win a regional election in the Yoruba heartland in 1954. Instead, what is harped on is the fact that Awolowo mobilised Yoruba politicians to nullify that victory by decamping from Azikiwe’s more nationalist camp to Awolowo’s more ethnically-focused camp.

One of the newspaper headlines that sticks in my memory from 50 years ago is the

The hatred between the Yoruba and Ndigbo has gone on for far too long.

Let there be love shared among us!

one that said: “If East Goes, West will Go- Awo.” After a visit to Ojukwu in Enugu at the height of the acrimony over the mass killing of the Igbo in the North in the mid-1960s, Awolowo declared that if the East was allowed to secede as a result of acts of omission or commission, he would also lead the West into secession.

This flashed a green light for Igbo secession. But when the East seceded, Awolowo failed to mobilise the West to follow suit. Not only did the West not join the East in secession, it joined the North in fighting against the East. Awolowo then became the Commissioner of Finance and Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council of the Nigerian government that prosecuted the war against Biafran secession.

The Igbo have rightly deemed this a great betrayal.

But their case against Awolowo did not end there. As finance minister, Awolowo was the brainchild of the strategy to blockade Biafra; leading to mass Igbo starvation and deaths. With the end of the war, it was also alleged that Awolowo orchestrated the policy whereby the totality of individual holdings of Biafran currency was converted to Nigerian legal tender at a flat maximum amount of only 20 pounds.

This effectively pauperized the Igbo. Since it also coincided with the period when Nigerian corporations were being privatised, it had the effect of locking out the Igbo from strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy; gobbled up in the main by the Hausa-Fulanis and Yorubas.

Brothers in adversity The Igbo case against Awolowo has become the Igbo case against the Yorubas. In the process, it is easily overlooked that prominent Yorubas, like Tai Solarin and Wole Soyinka, defended the Igbo right to selfdetermination during the Biafran War. The properties the Igbo left behind in Yorubaland during the Civil War were not expropriated by the Yorubas, as they were in some other places. When Odumegwu Ojukwu came back from exile in Ivory Coast, all his father’s properties in Lagos remained intact.

Under President Obasanjo, a Yoruba man, the Igbos were given the control of Nigeria’s economic and monetary policy.

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Governor of the Central Bank, Charles Soludo; and Director-General of the Stock Exchange, Ndidi OkerekeOnyuike, were all Igbos. So were the Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili; and the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dora Akinyuli.

Indeed, Obasanjo favoured the Igbo more than his native Yorubas. He appointed an Igbo, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, as the Minister of Defense and another, Air Marshal Paul Dike, as Nigeria’s first Igbo Chief of Air Staff. While the Igbo visit the transgressions of Awolowo on the Yorubas, they do not visit the favouritism of Obasanjo on the Yorubas.

The sins of Awolowo were brought again to the fore in 2012 by Chinua Achebe in his book: “There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra.”

The blogs came alive as blame was traded on both sides of the East-West divide. Awolowo was now cast by the Igbos as the father of the Yorubas; and they were determined to visit his sins on his Yoruba sons to the third and fourth generations.

Mistakes galore Blunders continue to be made on both sides, fanning the flames of hatred. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State blundered by deporting some destitute Igbos back to the East in the dead of night in 2013. This created uproar in the sizeable Igbo community in Lagos. Even though Fashola expressly apologised to Ndigbo for the faux pas, a ridiculous discussion nevertheless ensued about the rightful ownership of Lagos.

Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, put his foot in it when he declared that Lagos, as a former national capital, was “no man's land and so belongs to all of us.” This incensed ethnic jingoists in Yorubaland who, forgetting the traditional hospitality of the Yorubas, asked the Igbo to leave Lagos and go back East.

But nothing quite compares to the broadside that came from the Oba of Lagos. During

The Yorubas and Ndigbo do themselves great disservice by seeing themselves as archenemies.

Within the framework of Nigerian politics, this has limited the freedom of action of both ethnic groups. If one is prominent in this political party, the other is more likely to align itself with another party. This means the one can always be manipulated against the other. Instead, the political space should be opened up by the possibility that the Yoruba and the Igbo can form an alliance. That eventuality is not implausible especially because they actually have common interests.

Both groups prefer a Nigeria that practices fiscal federalism.

Both want a country with a weaker centre. Both want a Nigeria that rewards merit, with a state-structure based on resource-control. Both groups want a Nigeria committed to self-determination. These are grounds for cooperation as opposed to discord. If the North is not to continue to take the South for granted, it must not be allowed to continue to operate in the confidence that the East and the West will always be divided.

In politics, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent allies. Fifty years down the road, the politics of the Nigerian Civil War should not be allowed to continue to cast a shadow over Yoruba-Ndigbo relations. In the Second World War, Germany was the archenemy of France, but now both countries are the staunchest allies. Japan invaded the United States; but now both are on the same side. These turnarounds can and should be duplicated in Southern Nigeria.

As a first step, there is need for a grand gesture. A wellpublicised meeting between the Afenifere and the Ohaneze, where declaratory statements should be made about burying the hatchet.

Thereafter, standing committees should be established to deal with flashpoints; such as the dismantling of Oshodi market in Lagos. The hatred between the Yoruba and Ndigbo has gone on for far too long. Let there be love shared among us!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

AS Nigerian fiscal and monetary policy authorities and political leaders receive the team of economists from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, who are expected to scrutinise the 2016 budget and possibly the Medium Ter m Expenditure Framework, MTEF, 2016 – 2018, we expect utmost care on the part of the public policy executives to delineate Nigeria’s national interest from classical economics.

Mrs Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of IMF, had said last week while on a working visit to the policy executives, that a team of IMF economists will be reviewing and auditing the budget and have a good discussion with the fiscal authorities to assess whether the financing is in place, whether the debt is sustainable, whether the borrowing costs are sensible and what strategy must be put in place in order to address challenges going forward.

Nigerian economists have expressed divergent views over this statement,

IMF and Budge 16 (2) Budgett 20 201 where some believed there was nothing to worry about since the IMF position would remain advisory and Nigerian leaders should be intelligent enough to know and accept only those recommendations that are in the national interest.

Beyond the concern over the seeming interference or overbearing perspective of Lagarde’s statement one of the worrisome issues she raised was her call for increase in Value Added Tax, VAT. She had argued that Nigeria has the lowest VAT rate on the African continent and among the lowest in the world.

The 2016 budget Appropriation Bill already before the National Assembly did not consider increasing tax for obvious reasons. The Nigerian masses are already over stressed economically to be further burdened with a tax increase.

We, therefore, recommend a rejection of any move by IMF to push for tax increases while advising the government to step up efforts to widen the tax net, bringing defaulters and evaders to book.

Secondly, although Lagarde skilfully avoided calling for devaluation of the

Naira, she, however, urged the Federal Government to adopt a flexible foreign exchange policy that will better serve the interest of Nigerians.

We join many Nigerian analysts to interpret ‘flexible’ as meaning liberal, free market option in terms of foreign exchange policy. We, therefore, caution that such approach would certainly force devaluation on Nigeria and end up with adverse unintended consequences on the economy, especially on inflation and cost of living. This will lead to further hardship for Nigerians especially the low income group comprising over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

We advise that while carefully reviewing some of the foreign exchange management measures put in place so far to stem the tide in depletion of foreign reserve, efforts should be made to ease access to the foreign exchange resources required by the productive sector as well as essential imports.

OPINION k, looking ffor or ward (2) Nigeria in 2016: Looking bac back orw Continues from yesterday

By Roberts Orya

A

S a percentage of output, SMEs create more jobs. SMEs account for 60 to 90 percent of jobs in most OECD countries, including Japan and Spain.

Even in the context of export production, the jobs are created locally.

The mantra for US EXIM Bank is to finance U.S. export-related transactions in order to support U.S. jobs.

But in terms of which sectors Nigeria can scale up productivity, exports and job creation over the longer term, NEXIM Bank has held up Manufacturing, Agroprocessing, Solid Minerals and Services as encapsulated in our “MASS Agenda.”

Since assuming office, President Buhari has repeatedly recognised the agriculture value chain and the solid minerals sectors for direct intervention.

This is quite astute. The most effective instrument for intervening in these sectors, based on their rudimentary levels of market development, is fiscal policy; and that is in the grasp of the Administration. Manufacturing and services should thrive on good policies that support market frameworks, including financing.

The current oil price slump might be a good psychological therapy for accelerating the pace of economic and export diversification for the country. But we are dealing with an issue that has long been identified. The solutions are in the most not new, as well. But this time around, a higher level of discipline and determination is required for us to achieve success, as the current circumstances are more challenging.

NEXIM Bank interacts with SMEs in these sectors all the time. They are the target of our export advisory services and risk-bearing facilities. We have recently been active in food processing where our

What is the big picture that is expected in 2016? I think 2016 can be the best year for SMEs in Nigeria

interventions have financed over $100 million worth of exports in the last three years. However, at country level, the total financing support to SMEs has struggled to keep pace with the growing requirements of new enterprises and existing businesses needing the next round of growth funding. This explains why the various interventions have not made much leap in the aggregate impacts.

To address this conundrum, I more recently advised that the Development Finance Institutions should be co-opted on a larger scale. Africa’s regional DFIs – African Development Bank and African Export – Import Bank – can help scale up resources. Working with the national DFIs including NEXIM Bank, the critical channels for the transmission of financing interventions for SMEs growth would open wider.

DFIs are specifically mandated to support enterprise development, focusing on the real sectors, and in the case of NEXIM Bank, export market development for the longer term.

Commercial banks don’t necessarily have this orientation because of their capital structure and opportunities that deliver returns in the short-term.

The Central Bank of Nigeria is now more intent in addressing this channel

issue. Its November Monetary Policy Committee meeting decided to incentivise real sector lending by releasing additional liquidity to banks who are willing to participate. Indications are that the national DFIs would also be more resourced.

So what is the big picture that is expected in 2016? I think 2016 can be the best year for SMEs in Nigeria. Their role would be better recognised, and their operations would be better supported. A key frontier of the support is the fiscal plan the government has unfolded in the 2016 budget.

Part of it involves the much bigger capital expenditure which will increase business activities around infrastructure projects, including housing. A seemingly less appreciated part is how the poverty alleviation initiatives that puts money in the hands of the poor can boost patronage for SMEs. 2016 might become a year that enhances opportunities amid challenges. While we recognise the challenges, including the stress in the foreign exchange market, we should not fail to embrace the opportunities, and support the efforts of the government to reflate the economy.

Concluded. *Mr. Orya, is Managing Director and CEO, Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016— —19

Leemon Ikpea: Lessons in simplicity

By Sunny Ikhioya

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ISDOM dictates that, if you want to be successful, you have to follow the examples of successful people. It is also for this reason that testimonies and case studies are highlighted. If it happened to one, it can happen to another. Hence the justification for this copy. It is my belief that not a few will learn from it and put the lessons to good use to the glory of God and the nation. Somebody once said that you cannot say of the character of man until he comes into affluence. It is very difficult to come into affluence and at the same time be humble, especially in an environment like ours. More than 90% of those who have held the helms of affairs in this country have come from very modest backgrounds but what have they done with it? That is why those who have remained themselves despite the temptations of the world must be celebrated. I remember Jesus Christ, who practiced servant leadership; He became poor so that we can become rich. Same can be said of Nelson Mandela and the manner he led South Africa. Also, worthy of note in Nigeria are people like the late Aminu Kano, Balarabe

Musa, late Tai Solarin, late Gani Fawehinmi and our own Uncle Sam Amuka, the doyen of Nigerian journalism. One thing stands them out, their simplicity and selflessness.

They would have used their privileged positions to accumulate wealth and live big but they chose the simple and humble path, for the benefit of mankind. That is why, in these challenging period for the country, we must highlight individuals who have handled their affluence with humility, dignity and concern for their fellow men. In these times of challenges, the rich amongst us must endeavour to take responsibility and carry the less privileged ones along; the government cannot do it alone.

If the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer, society will never attain a balance and without balance there will be conflicts that can lead to implosion like is happening now in the north eastern part of the country.

Chief (Dr) Leemon Ikpea of Lee engineering group of companies is one person that has borne his rise to stardom with utmost humility and service to mankind, the way it is in the Western world. Not for him the needless exotic cars nor the conspicuousness of the rich class, his is the will to impact on the lives of the less

privileged. He appears and disappears in a crowd without anyone taking note of his presence, except for the security details around who are there to prevent the unwanted incidents.

On this harmattan hazy day, the 19th of December 2015, Chief Leemon Ikpea was nowhere to be found in his residence. It was his birthday and his busy schedule ensured that he was out of his Lagos base but, even at that, hundreds of well wishers did not stop trooping in. Left for Chief, he would have loved a very quiet birthday for himself and family but as the saying goes, a gold fish has no hiding place. So when he returned from his trip at about 4pm that same day, he met a crowd waiting to felicitate with him, he was left with no choice but to attend to them and what a party it turned out to be.

Everyone who was opportuned to say a word ot two at the eventf were unitied on one front, his positive impact on them and his

If every wealthy Nigerian decides to touch lives of family members, neighbours, friends, workers and society at large, the country will be better for it

Hand over or took over power

By Eric Teniola

T

IME passes so swiftly. On Friday January 15, it will be fifty years that the Military took over power or were handed over power—depending on one’s interpretation— in this country.

During the encounter there were casualties on that day. I am aware that the children,friends,grandchildren and supporters of those who were killed in the encounter, are making arrangements to mourn the fiftieth anniversary of the demise of their loved ones. I am aware that Kole,Gbenga and Solape, all children of Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun are making preparations to remember their late father. Likewise the children and grandchildren of late Chief Okotie-Eboh are equally making arrangements in Warri to remember their Dad and grandfather. Same goes for the children and grandchildren of late S.L. Akintola who will remember him in Ogbomoso.

In Kaduna, arrangements are also being made to remember the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Those who were mudered in the January 15, 1966 coup are, the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966), the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello,Sardauna of Sokoto(1909-1966), the Premier of Western Nigeria Sir Samuel Ladoke Akintola(1910-1966), the former C M Y K

Finance Minister, Chief Festus Sam Okotie- Eboh(1912-1966), the wife of Brigadier Ademulegun, Mrs.Lateefat Ademulegun, the wife of the then Premier of Northern Nigeria, Hafusat Sardauna, Zarumi Sardauna, the Senior Assistant Security for Security to the then Premier, Ahmed Ben Musa and the Government Driver to the then Premier Ahmed Pategi. The Military and Police Officers who died in the encounter were Brigadier Sam Ademulegun, Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, Colonel Ralph Shodeinde, Colonel Kur Mohammed, Lt-Colonel Abogo Largema, Lt-Colonel Yakubu Pam, Lt-Colonel Arthur Unegbe, Sergeant Daramola Oyegoke, PC Yohana Garkawa, Lance Corporal Musa Nimzo, PC Akpan Anduka and PC Hagai Lai. There is an ongoing debate whether the Military took over power or were handed over power by the President of the Senate, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, who later became Acting President in place of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Only five Ministers

Surprisingly, there was no stationery to write the agreement; and all the office were locked while no official was around

environment. Members of his staff were equally agreed on this. He has contributed to knowledge which has earned him two doctorate degrees from the Ambrose Alli University and Benson Idahosa University respectively. His quest for knowledge also made him spend a reasonable period at the famous Harvard University in Boston, USA, undergoing courses in advanced business administration, what most people in his position cannot afford to do today because of the relative comfort of his status. He has also used his Agbonjagwe foundation to grant numerous scholarships to students in need. According to him, he suffered financial deprivation during his youthful days, therefore will not want any youth with potentials to suffer same fate.

I first met Chief Leemon Ikpea as a school mate at the famous Baptist high school Orerokpe (Bahisco), Delta state in the early '70s. At the time, he was handsome, light complexioned and easy going.

The school was known for strict religious principles – early morning prayers, bed time prayers, sessions in the chapel and good discipline. I am sure some of the attributes he displays today have their foundation in those Bahisco days. Apart from Chief Michael Ibru, I do not know of any Nigerian business man who has carried his brothers and family

are still alive to tell the story of what really happened on that day, January 15, 1966. And they are AlhajiYusuf MaitamaSule (86), Chief Richard Osuolale AbimbolaAkinjide (84), Alhaji Shettima Alli Mongunu (89), no relation to the present Security Adviser, Major General Baba Gana Mongunu(rtd.), Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Folorunso Razak (88) and Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (91). The sixth Minister, Alhaji Inua Wada who died recently in Kano.

He was an uncle to the former Head of State, Late General Murtala Mohammed(1938-1976). Alhaji Shehu Shagari who later became President (1979-1983) is still insisting even till today that the Military took over under duress. In his book,” BECKONED TO SERVE” he wrote that “ I was about to break the Ramadan fast on Sunday 16th January, when all ministers were asked to report to the Cabinet Office at 6.30pm. The whole premises were surrounded by soldiers in battle order that some of us initially hesitated to enter. In the Cabinet chamber were Major General Ironsi, Bukar Dipcharima and Ibrahim Tako Galadima. There were no officials present. Major General Ironsi admitted to us that he had been unable to suppress the rebellion, which he said was getting out of hand. He stated that the mutineers were in control of Kaduna, Kano and Ibadan, and had killed two regional premiers, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Akintola. They had also murdered a number of his best officers, including Brigadiers Maimalari and Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun, the Commander 1st Brigade Headquarters

along like Chief Leemon Ikpea, all of them are virtually in positions of leadership today – in business and politicsthrough his efforts. Ordinarily, when a Nigerian comes into wealth, the first thing he does is to move away from family and friends but not so with Leemon Ikpea.

The same attitude also goes for friends as he does not see anyone in difficulty and not give a helping hand, without any conditions attached to it.

A very hard working man, he is rarely in a city/town for more than three days, always on the move but he has set up his business in such a way that, even with his busy schedule, the business is on auto pilot.

The lessons from Chief Leemon Ikpea can be summarised thus: belief in the Almighty God, hard work, humility, love for family and friends and general philanthropy.

If every wealthy Nigerian decides to touch lives of family members, neighbours, friends, workers and society at large, the country will be better for it. The purpose of wealth is not only to invest for profit but also to re distribute to the less privileged.

Let us all endeavour to be our brother's keeper as we begin the new year, that way, the harsh economic realities can be ameliorated. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

in Kaduna. Ironsi was full of emotion and even shed some tears. When we asked him about the whereabouts of Sir Abubakar and Chief Okotie-Eboh, he said he still did not know but averred efforts were being made to locate them.

At this stage Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (1917-1990) broke down and kept crying:” Please where is the Prime Minister?” When we reminded MajorGeneral Ironsi if he needed to avail himself of the British privilege of assistance, he replied it was too late as the army was pressing him to assume power. Indeed, he confessed his personal reluctance to take over because of his ignorance of government; but insisted the boys were adamant and anxiously waiting outside. He advised it would be in our interest, and that of the country, to temporarily cede power to him to avert disaster. Accordingly, we acceded to his request since we had no better alternative. Ironsi then insisted that the understanding be written.

Surprisingly, there was no stationery to write the agreement; and all the office were locked while no official was around. Alhaji AGF Abdulrazaq, the Minister of State for the Railways (former NPC legal adviser), managed to secure a scrap paper on which he drafted a statement, which we endorsed. That was the so called voluntary hand-over of power by the Balewa Government to Major General Ironsi!

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—21

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

,

The successful conviction, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was a testament to the excellent collaboration between the SEC and the EFCC to advance the goal of investor protection

INVESTOR'S ,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

KOMU Oil Palm Compa ny Plc led the top performers, rising by 19.64 per cent or N5.95 to close at N36.25 from N30.30, followed by Vono Products Plc, which recorded 18.52 per cent or N0.15 priceincreasetocloseatN0.96from N0.81. Learn Africa Plc trailed behind with 15.49 per cent or N0.11 appreciation, closing at N0.82 from N0.71. Lafarge Africa Plc rose by 8.47 per cent or N8.20 to closeatN105.00 from N96.80; Cement Company of Northern Nigeria advanced by 8.02 per cent or N0.75tocloseatN10.10fromN9.35; Fidson Healthcare Plc went up by eight per cent or N0.20, closing at N2.70 from N2.50; Berger Paints Nig. Plc appreciated by five per cent or N0.50 to close at N10.50 from N10.00;E-TransactInternationalPlc went up by 4.93 per cent or N0.15 to close at N3.19 from N3.04; Portland PaintsandProductsPlcadvancedby 4.79 per cent or N0.18 to close at N3.94fromN3.76,whileIkejaHotels Plc rose by 4.47 per cent or N0.14 to close at N3.27 from N3.13 per share.

There are indications that Okomu Oil, which has of late become investors’ toast, may likely record a reversalinitsfullyearfinancialresults.

Extracts from its second quarter financial statement for June 2015 showedthatthecompanyposted30.3 growth in profit after tax to N1.84 billion, which is well above the 2014 full year after tax profit of N1.55 billion. Specifically, its PAT grew from N1.41 billion in H1 2014 to N1.84 billion. Similarly pre-tax profit rose 23.6 per cent to N2.14 billion as against N1.73 billion in the corresponding period in 2014. Revenue also saw marginal 2.5 per cent growthfromN4.87billioninH12014 to N4.99 billion. Its net assets appreciated by 16.1 per cent from N23.23 billion to N26.98 billion. The Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Graham Hefer, said the company hopes to doublerubber productioncapacity this year. Recently, Okomu Oil purchased11,400 hectares of land in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State where it plans to plant about 10,000 hectares of palm oil. Clearing of the site, accordingtothecompany,wouldcommence this year, while planting would take-off next year. Over the past three years, the company reported a steady drop from its peak profitfigureofN10.52billionin2011 to N1.55 billion at the end of 2014.

VonoProducts,whichclosedasthe secondmostactivestockintheweek, despite enjoying investors’ C M Y K

patronage lately, has found it difficult to sustain 2015 gains. As at end of trading last week, the share had lost almost one hundred per cent of profits recorded in the wake of its merger plans with Vitafoam Plc. By mid-2015, the stock price had risen to as much as N1.75 as a result of thenews.However,comparedtothe closingpricelastweek,investorswho bought into the stock then have lost N0.79 or 45 per cent of their investment. Last year, both companies – Vitafoam Plc and Vono Products Plc – revealed plans to combine their businesses to ensure business efficiency.Thebusinesscombination is more of information sharing, developing new ideas and pooling resources together, and will help Vono regainitsfootinginthebeddingand furnitureindustry.Despiteassurances of improved profitability by the company over integration of its operations with Vitafoam, Vono is still operating in the negative region. Its latestfinancialstatementforthethird quarter (Q3) ended June 2015 indicates that it revenue fell by 12.6 per cent from N628.337 million in Q3 2014 to N548.924 million in the review period. It recorded loss beforetaxofN35.711millionasagainst lossbefore tax of 19.413 million in the same period in 2015, representing 84 per cent increase. Similarly, the company posted loss after tax of N37.398 million as against N21.427 million in 2014, a 74.5 per cent increase.

The third company on the list, Learn Africa Plc, has been at the forefront of promoting academic excellence by constantly rewarding outstanding students in the NECO/ WEAC examinations as part of its social responsibility initiative programme. Available financial report andaccountsofthecompanyforthe yearendedDecember2014,showed a marginal drop in all performance indicators compared to the previous year. This is despite the promise by the chairman, Mr. Segun Oladipo, toensurethatthecompanyremains on the path of profitability after the two majority shareholders - Pearson Education Limited and Longman Group (Overseas Holdings) Limited- divested their 51 per cent stake from the company in 2012. Review of the full year result showed that it posted a turnover of N2.21 billion for the year ended December 2014, as against N2.27 billion that was achieved in 2013, which represent a marginal fall of 2.9 per cent (N66.7million). The Profit after Tax, PAT, however halved from N100.13 million to N58.68 million, a development the company attributed to insurgency in the north east part of the country.

Direct Cash Settlement: No more fraudulent stockbrocking (2)

By Babajide Komolafe

L

ast week’s article on the above subject drew the wrath of a stockbroker who wrote a lengthy piece to register his annoyance.

The following are excerpts of his response. “Your writeup on the Direct Cash Settlement System DCSS did much grave injustice to the collective integrity and to both

personal and corporate reputation of the Nigerian Stockbroking community of investment management professionals.

“You proceeded in your treatise from a perspective suggesting by innuendo that the majority of stockbrokers are fraudulent, creating an imaginary impression that the practice of the profession in

Nigeria so far till now has been criminal to say the least.

“It is no longer news that we have had fraudulent individuals and criminal groups operate in our capital market. We may even presume we still do have them but somewhat subdued.

But that does not in any way serve to define that market as unworthy just as several bad

From left: President, International Facility Management Association Nigeria (IFMA), Richard Okesola; General Secretary, Lekan Akinwunmi and the Past President, Iyabo Aboaba, at IFMA’s 18th Annual General Meeting in Lagos

MARKET NEWS

Stockbroker gets 7 years imprisonment for unauthorized sale of investor’s shares

By Nkiruka Nnorom

A

stockbroker, Mr. Tajudeen Folaji, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Lagos State High Court presided over by Justice Kudirat Jose for unauthorised sale of client’s shares.

Folaji studied economics and became a member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in 1996; he worked as a banker before joining First Alstate Securities Limited in 2004.

The court found him guilty of unauthorised sale of shares and stealing for fraudulently converting 31.89 million units of IPWA Plc shares worth N331.3 million belonging to an investor on 3rd April, 2008.

In addition to the imprisonment, the court has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to trace and liquidate properties belong-

ing to the convict in order to restitute the investor while imposing a N20 million fine on First Alstate Securities Limited where he was the Managing Director and dealing clerk.

The successful conviction, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),

The Commission further assured that it would continue to partner with relevant law enforcement agencies to rid the Nigerian capital market of crime

was a testament to the excellent collaboration between the SEC and the EFCC to advance the goal of investor protection.

Following complaints against Mr. Folaji by the affected investor, the Commission launched a detailed investigation that revealed evidences of the infractions committed. The Commission consequently suspended the licence of his firm on 6th April 2010 and transferred the case to the EFCC to prosecute the criminal element of the case, the SEC said.

The Commission has therefore, assured the investing public that it would continue to work diligently to ensure that any capital market operator who defrauds an investor is convicted and that all illegally gotten wealth would be disgorged for proper restitution of investors.

The Commission further as-

Villagers attack contractor, vandalize equipment in A’Ibom

Community asks C-River govt to revoke land sale to PAGE 24 firm

PAGE 24

VOL. 1: No. 78

TUESD AY, JANU ARY 112, 2, 20 16 TUESDA JANUARY 201

How I slept with giant snake for 5 days

— Ow — Owaa monar monarch ch

*I saw it, was mystified and raised alarm *The strangest thing that has happened to me—HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II

By Emma Amaize , Theresa Ugbobu & Nath Onajoke

O

WA-OYIBU — HIS Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Onyeike Efeizomor II, the Obi of Owa Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State and Vice Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers has had many near death tragedies in his 77year sojourn on the planet earth.

The former sub-editor at the Edo State government- owned The Observer Newspaper, boxer and footballer wanted to be a freedom fighter after his secondary education and was preparing to travel abroad to pursue his mission when his people commandeered him as it were to take over the throne of his fathers. In this interview with Niger Delta Voice at his palace, the monarch, who carried the current governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, a native of Owa Aliero community when he was a child and watched him grow up who he is today, spoke on the vicissitudes of life, why people refer to Owa as the land of peace and prosperity and many more.

What is a journalist, footballer and boxer doing on the throne of Owa kingdom?

(Long laughter) Well, as it C M Y K

were, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to sit here, serving my people, learning from others and being part of people, which eventually is part of the government.

There is a festival that joins the entire Ika-speaking and Bini-speaking people together, how do you people celebrate it?

When we talk about festival, we talk about Igue festival and New Yam festival, these two festivals are very material to the life of Ika people and at the same time, it is important in the life of Edo people. However, I will be more specific about Ika people, the Igue festival, which looks like the celebration of a new year is more constant and has to do with unity concerning Ika people and so with the Binis too.

We use the Igue festival to cleanse the community, bring a

We use the Igue festival to cleanse the community, bring a sense of belonging and oneness. Many people look at it as having inclination to rituals

*HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Delta State. sense of belonging and oneness.

Many people look at it as being inclined towards rituals, I will say no because whether you use something to illustrate it, like killing goats and other animals, that is not the essence, the essence is belief in companionship and it is a symbol of bringing the people together. It is bringing the spirit of conviviality among the people and again sense of respect between the old and young.

The new yam festival is the one we thank God and our ancestors

for seeing us all through the year to celebrate harvest, to celebrate the efforts of planting, sowing and reaping. Briefly, these are the objectives of the two ceremonies, there are still others relating to other circumstances and other events, but these two remain most prominent.

We understand there is a deity, Aja, which every Christian and traditionalist worship in Owa, why is this so?

It is not true; we do not compel people to worship any deity in Owa.

You talked about cleansing the land of evil spirits, was there a prevalence of evil in the land at the time?

No, the position is that wherever you live, people die, people fall sick, some of these natural things are the things that every year we hold the festival to ward off the incoming problems and celebrate our survival.

Historically, Owa is famous as a land of prosperity, how did

Continues on Page 26

24 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

attack on the contractor and destruction of his equipment. He said government anticipated human errors and had put contingoncios in place to ameliorate them “What you people have done gives the impression that you are opposed to development which your son, Governor Udom Emmanuel has attracted to AwaIman. You had lived in this village for ages, this type of development did not come, and now that it has come, you want to prevent it.

“I thought that you should have been thankful to God for finally visiting you and not the kind of attitude you have put up.

Government means well for all of you and every other Akwa-Ibom person but what you have done tends to give the impression that you are averse to development and that attitude must stop forthwith.

*Part of the Awa-Iman Road.

Villagers attack contractor, vandalize equipment in A’Ibom

*Ephraim Inyang, Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom State.

*Over alleged undervaluation, omission of names in compensation list *Commissioner for Works berates residents for wild conduct

A

WAH-IMAN— INHABITANTS of Awah-Iman community, Onna Local Government Area, Cross River State unleashed violence on workers of a contracting firm, VKS Construction Company, which is handling a road project in the area destroying its equipment at the weekend.

The irate villagers were protesting alleged undervaluation of their property and exclusion of names of certain persons in the compensation list prepared by an estate valuer, Messrs Bassey Nse and Partners. Their unrestrained action has in the interim stalled work on the Awa-Iman road project.

Commissioner mediates, warns residents

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, who visited the area to resolve the issue between

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

the villagers and contractor, frowned at the unwarranted attacks on the contractor by the people warning that such conducts could stifle the transformation agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration for the area.

He, however, directed the estate valuer to look into the areas of complaints by the people with a

view to correcting them.

Speaking further, Inyang said the manhandling of the workers of the firm and vandalization of its equipment over alleged noncapturing of their property for compensation or under-valuing of same following the government’s restructuring of the Eket Senatorial District did not speak well of a people whose son was at the helm

of affairs of the state.

Assault unjustifiable

The commissioner warned that the anti-progressive action of the people could mar the completion of the road project and other development projects of the governor, insisting that the erroneous non-inclusion of certain names for compensation by the estate valuer did not justify the

“Allow the contractors to do their work while government handles the few areas of discontent. What you should understand is that the compensation paid to you is not a national cake, it is meant for you to relocate and provide yourselves alternative abodes so that the contractors can do their work without interference,” he said.

Inyang also asserted, “But many of you rushed to put up illegal structures on the way so that government will compensate you.

This is wrong because if government spends all the money on payment of compensation, certainly, this work would be stifled and tomorrow, you want to blame government for not providing you road and other infrastructure.”

Community asks C-River govt to revoke land sale to firm *Blasts Privatization Council for supposedly mortgaging villagers’ interest *ENG-HAUT manager refuses to speak to NDV

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

B

UTENG — THE people of Buteng, one of the seven host communities to ENG-HAUT Rubber Industries Limited, EPF sub-Zone company, licensed under the Nigeria Export Processing Authority in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, have requested the State Government to revoke the sale of its land to the firm without their say-so.

The villagers also carpeted the Cross River State Privatization Council, CRSPC, for selling the community’s land to the firm without passably protecting their interest and sticking to fundamental “privatization principles.”

Head of Buteng community, Chief Dominic Asuquo Ojong, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, NDV, lamented that since ENGHAUT took over the Cross River Estate Limited, CREL, in 2003, about 12 years ago, it has undermined and abandoned the community.

He said it took up to two years after the takeover before the host communities could have access

*Entrance to ENGHAUT Rubber Industries. to the management using high level of diplomacy and dialogue.

His words: “ENGHUAT is acting as if they are above the law of the land, we have written to Privatization Council ,we have approached the company severally but our pleas seem not to be taken serious , how can people from another country just come and take over our land without recourse to our opinion and input.”

“My people have been neglected, we have been disregarded, we have been humiliated, the issue must be addressed accordingly,” he bemoaned.

Angry with govt

The community in a letter signed by the secretary, Mr. Dennis Nyong, said, “The

inclusion and sale of our land by the government with utmost disregard to Buteng community will never be taken lightly and we will stop at nothing until it is addressed.”

According to him, Dunlop, the original owners leased the land in 1954, only for the CRSPC to sell it to ENG-HAUT without ascertaining the true situation of things about the land.

The community urged the state government, as a matter of public interest, to “delist Buteng land from the list of items sold to ENGHAUT as content in the privatization agreement.”

It further urged it to revisit the agreement and privatization process as well as cause ENGHAUT to pay the landlord communities the 12 years outstanding land rent from 20132015.

Non-compliance with agreement

“They should review the MoU which has expired since August 2014 or completely revoke the agreement with the company for lack of competence and non compliance to the terms of

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By TOM MOSES

C M Y K

Compensation not national cake

CROSS-RIVER…

LAND OF PROMISE

AKWA IBOM…

*One of the damaged vehicles belonging to the VKS Construction Company.

*Buteng community secretary, Mr. Effiong Dennis Nyong.

*Village head of Buteng, Chief Dominic Asuquo Ojong.

contract,” he asserted.

Speaking further, Nyong urged the privatization council to use the standard template in privatizing state-owned estates to enable communities concerned derive full benefits from the programme, rather than the quagmire it had plunged the people of Buteng.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 25

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

How I slept with giant snake for 5 days — Owa monarch Continues from Page 23 problems and celebrate our survival.

Historically, Owa is famous as a land of prosperity, how did this come about, is the community still prosperous?

So, it is, it has to do with the establishment of the kingdom, we have it from our history that when there was a problem in Benin kingdom and the then Oba of Benin approached the Obi of Ute kingdom to send military reinforcement. The founder of Owa returned from the war to find out that his father had passed on, but the question was who should take over as successor from his father. They informed him that his younger brother, Okpu had taken over the throne and naturally, two kings do not reign in one community, but using his military experience, he did not want to levy war or ask his brother to step down.

He instructed the removal of some basic instruments in the shrine; it was in the course of that that he took away the medicine for productivity. He also took the medicine for prosperity and other vital materials. He placed it on the head of one of the runners and propounded the doctrine of where the elephant faces, that is the road. They now moved and by the time they got to a particular spot, that material

*HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Delta State. which the runner carried on his head dropped at a particular spot (pointed a forest from his palace).

They settled there and his immediate younger brother, Ozomo, he was Odogwu, he asked him to move a slight distance as a buffer. He settled there, the point at stake now is that the pot that dropped there is what he took from the real source of the family shrine. What was passed on to us about what transpired was that where that the pot settled down, that is the strength of Owa people and at the same time, the prayers said there cover the entire Owa land.

Every area you call Owa, peace and prosperity reign in that place.

There is the story that you slept with a snake in the same room for several days without it harming you in your childhood, was it an ancestral guide, can you tell us what happened?

(Laughs) I must say frankly, I will not say categorically that it came to protect me or that it forgot to harm me. However, I have seen that what God has put together, they say no man should put asunder, if God has destined that I will be king of Owa, I will be that and no arrow fashioned against me will prosper. I think right from birth, this kind of protection has been coming in different forms. I have to thank my God because I have encountered this kind of circumstance repeatedly but at every stage, I overcome. It was a miracle to me, it was very surprising, it was very shocking, I thank God, each time I think

He instructed the removal of some basic instruments in the shrine; it was in the course of that that he took away the medicine for productivity. He also took the medicine for prosperity and other vital materials

55 youths give up cultism in Rivers RIVERS… TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

*Youths at the Eleme peace rally

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME AND MOSES BRIGHT

P

ORT HARCOURT— ABOUT 55 youths in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State have relinquished their membership of various cult groups, including the dreaded Debam and Dewell, promising to be ambassadors of peace in the state.

The ex-cultists, who spoke after a peace rally at Ebulu community attended by the C M Y K

about it, I cannot just imagine, it tells me I should be more humane, I should be more responsible, always give thanks to God and do justice to all manner of people. How God did that for me and why He did it, I do not know.

You have not told the story yet, when exactly did this happen, how did you finally come to see the snake, for how many days was the snake there with you and you said there were other circumstances, we are all ears? (long laughter again) Well, it is not everything that happens to man that you want to expose.

Perhaps, if you begin to do a lot of in-depth explanation, if there are forces working against your interest, you might be reminding them that they have not done enough homework to be able to get at you adversely, that force can be reinvigorated, but simply put it was the first experience.

I was then a houseboy living with a headmaster, late Mr. G.N.C Diai at Owa-Aliero community, I was in charge of animals like fowls, dogs, goats in the family and I was very friendly with these animals. Even till today, if I enter your premises and I find a dog, merely looking at the dog and whispering in a peculiar way, the dog will like it and start playing with me.

I can play with a dog and make it to go to sleep, the same thing I do with goats, the fowls were about three when they were handed over to me and in no time, it went to 100, the whole place was filled- up and they multiplied. We had a cage where he we put the hens and cocks and just by the boys quarters, we have places that we keep wood to prevent rain from falling on them.

At a point, the place was actually congested but I was not expecting any danger, I had a

bed made up of palm fronds and bamboo, you cut it as if you are making a fence, put it on the floor with grass in between as foam and a mat on top of it. There was no electricity at the time and you rely on the stars to have light, one particular day, my master held a get together of teachers in the school compound, they had a gas lamp that you pump those days, music was on and they were dancing.

I didn’t know when I raised alarm I was listening to music and watching them, suddenly but close by, the fowls would make some disturbing noise and I wondered why they were making noise incessantly, so I came very close to watch. I sat by the side of the house to find out what was happening.

Unexpectedly, I saw a shadow moving by the side of the wall and the thing was crawling, a light flashed and I saw it moving like a snake, I watched closely but still do not know what I saw, I was confused and did not even know when I raised the alarm. I shouted: see snake seriously; they jumped out from where they were dancing.

Mr. Diai and others asked me where is it, where is it, I said I saw it there, they showed bravado, searched the place, the thing went underground, they did not see it. They went back to continue with their party, the man gave me a very serious knock on the head saying that I was a crook and that I was disturbing their enjoyment. I felt very sad and still went back to the place. Then, I saw the thing again, I could not bear it, I called another houseboy from another master and he raised alarm much more than I did.

They ran out again and felt that this time around, let them look for it. They were using a long stick to poke everywhere to see whether it would come out until one of the teachers saw it, it was by the edge of the wall, and it had put its head up. He threw his stick away and ran and as he was running, he was raising alarm. It was only then that they began to feel that there was sense in what I was saying.

Finally, they brought a torch and started looking for it.

*Eleme council youths during the peace rally.

chair, Caretaker Committee of the local government, Mr Johnson Nwugo, said they have seen the value of peace.

They also vowed not to go back to their old ways.

Elated, Mr. Nwugo thanked the ex cultists for embracing peace, assuring that the council would come up with empowerment programs to engage them.

He also promised to liaise with companies doing business in the area to help employ some

of the youths.

A clergy man, Rev Erasmus Ake, also enjoined the repentant cultists not to go back to their old ways, advising that they should nurture the newfound peace in their lives.

One of the repentant ex- cult leaders, Tami Philip, thanked the council boss for his efforts at making them drop their old ways. He assured that they would remain as peace ambassadors in the local government and the state.

*DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN: Residents and traders at ramshackle House No 10, Robert Road, Warri, Delta State turn a blind eye to the impending danger despite conspicuous indications.Photo by Egufe Yafugborhi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 27

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S FORUM eggs in our Academia, Healthcare System, Legislature, Judiciary, Military, and Law. Enforcement Agencies generally, do not serve fairly to define those institutions as unworthy” (Olaleye Williams) It is true that there are many stockbrokers who are not fraudulent.

However it is also true that fraudulent practices are rampant among stockbroking firms and as indicated in last week’s article, many investors have fallen victim.

Like an adage that says, “It is the misdeed of one slave that brings abuses to all the slaves”.

While Investors Forum is committed to educating investors on the role and importance of stock brokers, it would also be honest enough to inform them about the reality of these fraudulent practices and various policy measures like the Direct Cash Settlement System (DCSS) available to avoid been defrauded This stockbroker is trying to defend all

He sold my stock since October, 2015 but till date he refused to send the proceeds to my account. He kept lying that NSE blocked his account with his bank stockbrokers in the country. This is not expedient because you don’t know what the others are doing.

On this platform we have received complaints of unethical practices by stock

broking firms and registrars with so called reputation of integrity. One of such complaints was received last week from one of our readers, Mr. Ahmed Y. In response to last week’s article on Direct Cash Settlement, he wrote, “Thank for the information. Let me this opportunity to seek advice on how to deal with my broker. He sold my stock since October, 2015 but till date he refused to send the proceeds to my account. He kept lying that NSE blocked his account with his bank. I have not received the dividend declared by the company I’ve shares in despite the fact that I filled the e-dividend form. Is there’s any step that I can take that will enable me to recover my money.”

Definitely this investor and many others who have fallen victims of fraudulent stockers will not agree with Olaleye’s defence of his colleagues. In fact, his defence was weakened by an announcement from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week of the conviction of one Mr. Tajudeen Folaji, a former stockbroker with First Alstate Securities Limited. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Lagos State High Court presided over by Justice Kudirat Jose. The court found him guilty of unauthorized sale of shares and stealing for fraudulently converting 31,886,200 units of IPWA Plc shares worth N331,297,618 belonging to an investor on 3rd April, 2008.

Interestingly, and contrary to Oleleye’s argument, Folaji is not a quack or fake stockbroker. He is member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. That means he is a ‘Chartered Stockbroker’.

Thanks to the introduction of the Direct Cash Settlement System (DCSS), investors would not need to be afraid or fall victim of fraudulent stockbrokers be it chartered or fake.” TO BE CONTINUED. (Send comments, complaints and enquiries to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com)

sured that it would continue to partner with Nigerian capital market of crime and other relevant law enforcement agencies to rid the forms of malfeasance.

Chief Ziggy Azike, (Nigeria Bar Association Representative), Mrs Lizzie Ofulue, graduand’s mother; Miss Sandra Kika Ofulue, Graduand; Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria; Dr Phil Ofulue, graduand’s father and Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN/Life Bencher at the Call to the Bar Ceremonies in Abuja.

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All these things will have impact on the market, due to the fact that a lot of things have piled up after 2015

,

2016: Consistent economic policy ‘ll drive capital market

quality of life of Nigerians. When it happens that way, it is going to The Nigeria capital market will increase our liquidity position, is like experience a boost if only economic a multiplier effect. For internal policies put in place by the federal liquidity, there is no hope. Foreign government are consistent and investors will be interested if there is implemented . Consistency will attract stability in the government policies foreign direct investment, said and this is going to have effect on the shareholders whose expectations from capital market, also if there is fiscal the stock market are high. While discipline is going to affect the market commending government policies, they as well. said that the policy which tries to Comrade Oguntoye Lawrence, reduce corruption will also have its Distinct Shareholders Association of impact on the market.

Nigeria: As a shareholder, my expectations R. Segun Owolabi, Western are enormous even though the ICON Shareholders present government is creating a lot Association of Nigeria: Presently the of challenges for us in the market. The market is bearish but what we are banking industry, the manufacturing looking at is the inflow of money and and production companies are looking there is no way we can wish away for alternative measures to boost their foreign direct investment, internally we company, looking at the issue of are having challenges Commission on as regards to liquidity.

Turnover (COT) in The inflow of money which this year is would boost the market going to be zero COT. to a robust level, that is On the other hand if what the federal there will be government is doing retrenchment in the presently, all the banking industry The inflow challenges we are whether we like it or of money facing are not and most of the surmountable. For would banks will be looking instance the security for interest to boost boost the challenge and all the their operation. market to a economic policies put in As the issue of COT place and those comes in, robust economic policies are retrenchment will level consistent and there is follow suit and most of no price inflation in the the banks would want market. Then the foreigners will start to raise capital for their investment. showing more interest in Nigeria This government’s policy has caused because of the reduction in corruption so much, although I commend the and they will in turn see Nigeria as policy because it will reduce potential country to invest in. I think corruption, even if most Nigerian the market would return to a robust companies are corrupt. level.

Most companies and even banks However, much can not be achieved who are unable to meet expectation with the liquidity problem we are are going to merge as a result of having now. The foreigners will have regulatory sanctions, so most of them interest in our economy if we can will want to work for the future. encourage indigenous investors. The All these things will have impact on foreigners will help our indigenous the market, due to the fact that a lot of investors to increase their investment things have piled up after 2015. I still because whatever that comes in may maintain that the policies which aims not instantly go out, it will work within to reduce corruption will also affect the system and is likely to affect the the market.

By Providence Obuh

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28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 29

Energy firms owe Nigerian banks N4trn

By Michael Eboh

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NERGY firms operating in Nigeria owe banks in the country about N3.982 trillion as at September 2015, according to data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The amount accounted for 30.6 per cent of the total N13.014 trillion owed banks by the private sector in the month under review.

The CBN, in its Quarterly Statistical Bulletin for the Third Quarter of 2015, Q3, 2015, disclosed that the indebtedness represented an increase of 14.33 per cent or N499 billion when compared to total indebtedness of N3.483 trillion as at August end 2015.

Also, the amount was 11.45 per cent or N409 billion higher than the N3.573 trillion recorded by the end of December 2014.

Giving a further breakdown, the report stated that downstream, natural gas and crude oil refining companies owed about N2.241 trillion, compared to N1.806 trillion and N2.047 trillion as August 2015 and December 2014 respectively.

Similarly, upstream oil and gas servicing companies owed N1.212 trillion, as against N1.217 trillion N1.099 trillion in the same corresponding period.

In addition, Independent Power Projects and power generating companies’ indebtedness stood at N359.568 billion, against N328.38 billion in August and N276.125 billion in December 2014, while power transmission and distribution companies owed N169.4 billion, rising from N131.7 billion and N150.88 billion in the review period.

Sectorial breakdown

*A sector-by-sector breakdown of bank loans revealed as follows: *Services sector - N5.8 trillion; *Industrial sector - N4.57 trillion; *Information and Communication, Transportation and Storage, and General N2.88 trillion; *Trade and General Commerce - N1.03 trillion; *Government - N618.4 billion; *Construction - N554.25 billion, and; *Agriculture - N469.9 billion.

Also the banks extended loans and advances worth N392.43 billion to state governments; N14.99 billion to the Federal Government; and N4.55 billion to local governments.

Continuing, the report said: “Aggregate credit to the domestic economy (net) stood at N17.176 trillion representing an increase of N452.4 billion or 2.7 per cent

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DISCOs, GENCOs revenue shor tfall now N478bn ...As CAPEX allowed for DISCOs remains N50bn

By Sebastine Obasi

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The increase in credit to the domestic economy (net) was attributable largely to the increase of N519.4 billion or 16.1 per cent in claims on central government (net)

and N739.2 billion or 4.5 per cent above the levels recorded a month earlier and at endDecember 2014, respectively.

“The increase in credit to the domestic economy (net) was attributable largely to the increase of N519.4 billion or 16.1 per cent in claims on central government (net).

The increase was, however moderated by the decreases in claims on private sector and claims on state & local government by N51.5 billion and N18.0 billion respectively.”

It added: “Net claims on the central Government stood at

N3.749 trillion, representing an increase of N519.4 billion or 16.1 per cent above the level recorded in the preceding month. This was attributable to the increase of N237.8 billion or 14.6 per cent in development stocks/FGN bonds and a decrease of N311.2 billion or 38.1 per cent in central government deposits.

The increase in net claims on central government was, however moderated by the decrease in treasury bills by N33.4 billion or 1.4 per cent.

Nigerian banks at risk over oil price decline — Lagarde

By Michael Eboh

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ANAGING Director, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Ms. Christine Lagarde, has warned that the prevailing uncertainty in the oil and gas industry could plunge the Nigerian financial system into crisis. In a statement during her visit to Nigeria last week, Lagarde also expressed concerns that firms that had increased their leverage and dollar-denominated debts over the last couple of years may come under pressure due to rising interest rates, a strong dollar and a declining naira.

She said: “Growth in 2015 is estimated at about 3.2 percent, its slowest pace since 1999, and only a modest recovery is expected in 2016. For a country with a rapidly increasing population, this means almost no real economic growth in per capita terms.

“On top of the slowdown, vulnerabilities have increased. The ability to manage shocks is restricted by low fiscal savings and reserves. And the weakening oil sector could stress balance sheets and put pressure on the banking system. “Reduced confidence and lower capital spending would also impact the non-oil corporate sector.

Unfortunately, this sector looks less resilient today than during the downturn of 2008-09.

Companies that have increased their leverage and US-dollar debt in recent years may now come under pressure as they face rising interest rates and a stronger dollar.”

She gave the Nigerian financial sector a pass mark, saying that Nigerian banks are generally well-capitalised and more resilient than during the downturn of 2008 and 2009.

However, she noted that the banks are beginning to feel the impact of the growing vulnerabilities in the corporate sector, leading to rising non-performing loans, which will need to be carefully monitored and managed.

According to her, “The new reality of low oil prices and low oil revenues means that the fiscal challenge facing government is no longer about how to divide the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil wealth but what needs to be done so that Nigeria can deliver to its people the public services they deserve - be it in education, health or infrastructure.

“This means that hard decisions will need to be taken on revenue, expenditure, debt, and investment going forward.”

She further said that given the structure of the Nigerian economy, the massive fall in oil prices, which is expected to continue, has changed the medium term foundations for economic resilience.

EVENUE shortfall by generating and distribution companies, also known as GENCOs and DISCOs haS risen to N478 billion since November 2013, when the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN assets were unbundled and handed over to private investors.

Industry sources told Vanguard that the sector initially had a shortfall of about N290 billion from November 2013 to December 2014, while attributing the rise to the fact that data handed over to them was not in line with agreement signed upon privatisation.

The situation is further compounded by the N50 billion capital expenditure ceiling allowed for all the DISCOs in a year, further deeming the yearnings of Nigerians to have regular power supply as soon as possible.

Although the revenue shortfall was partly addressed by the N213 billion Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, loan facility (repayable over 10 years with interest), bso far, only N65 billion has been disbursed to the power companies.

Whilst the Transitional Electricity Market, TEM, officially commenced February 1, 2015, the DISCOs were supposed to pay market bills in full, even though cost reflective tariffs were not in place.

According to a source, “From January to the end of October, 2015, the new additional sector shortfall rose to about N265billion, that is now N478 billion from take-over to date. If there is no immediate tariff review, the sector will continue to have a deficit of N20 billion a month. The Shortfall is being felt by gas suppliers, generating companies, transmission and distribution companies.”

He added that in spite of negative cash flow, over N26 billion has been invested by the DISCOs in the assets and improvements since take over.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

NEMSA plans phasing out of wooden power poles

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA — THE Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority, NEMSA, Mr. Peter Ewesor, has said that the agency will soon outlaw the installation of wooden poles in the country.

Eweso, who disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said the measure is meant to forestall bad installation practices in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI. He also said the move became necessary in order to stop the increasing incidents caused by bad wooden poles, stressing that banning the use of wooden poles is one of the first things the agency will do in 2016.

He said: “I want to tell you there are some bad installation practices in this country. We are going to make sure that we outlaw some of them. I will give you one; you will find out that we have what we call firewood type of wooden poles.

“Today in Nigeria, there is no where you have good factory producing good, well treated poles. The simple reason is that these unscrupulous wooden pole producers produce poles that are cheap, because they have not been treated; there are procedures of treating wooden poles.

Intensifying collaboration “So we are going to outlaw the use of wooden poles in 2016. It will be one of the first things we are going to do, because bad wooden poles have caused a lot of accidents in the power sector.”

He added that NEMSA is intensifying collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON; the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, and other relevant agencies to ensure that defective electrical equipment do not find their way into the country. He maintained that electrical accidents can be reduced to the barest minimum if practices are done according to the rule, and also meet international best practices.

He added that the agency will ensure that any new project to be embarked upon this year must meet international best practices, in terms of design and specifications as well as planning and execution.

Ewesor insisted that the maintenance of such projects is sustainable, while the agency also planned to create a platform that would enable every Nigerian to easily report any impending danger through easy information to NEMSA.

NERC, Reps differ on Feb 1 power tariff hike

By Ediri Ejoh

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HE Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and the House of Representatives have remained resolute on their different opinions regarding the take-off of the new electricity tariff, scheduled for February 1.

The Chairman House Committee on Power, Hon. Daniel Asuquo, told Vanguard that the House position on the tariff increment has not changed, despite NERC’s insistence to go ahead with the increment as planned.

According to Asuquo, “the House position on the tariff increment has not changed because there is a Committee constituted by the House to investigate and report back to it. That committee has not submitted its report for the House to deliberate on it findings.”

He noted that the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had sought the House understanding for a quick roll out of the new tariffs to help

stabilise the market and attract investments.

But he said: “Our advice was that there should be appropriate consultation with the Nigerian populace and clear agreements entered with the Disco’s (distribution companies) and other critical players in the value chain.

“Nigerians should know what investments have been done by the new owners and what the expectations are if the tariffs are agreed, with time lines for delivery of better service etc,” he added.

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had some months ago,

The House position on the tariff increment has not changed because there is a Committee constituted by the House to investigate and report back to it

restrained NERC from implementing the planned new electricity tariff, while the House had also ordered the Commission to suspend the move until it has concluded investigations into activities of operators in the sector.

The Ad-hoc Committee investigating the activities of Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, in a letter many weeks ago and addressed to NERC, reminded the Commission of previous communications in which it was agreed that further actions be suspended regarding review of electricity tariff in Nigeria.

Consumers rallied for support: But commentators on the issue urged consumers to support NERC if the increment will bring about sustainable electricity delivery.

The Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said it is difficult to fault NERC and the Minister’s claim that the proposed tariff review is a major plank of the power sector reform and critical to electricity delivery.

FG plans accelerated bridging of metering gap

By Chris Ochayi

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HE Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with local manufacturers of meters with a view to meeting the demand of over three million unmetered electricity consumers nationwide.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who said this at a meeting with local electricity meter manufacturers in Abuja, explained that the government’s decision to encourage local manufacturing of the product is to harness employment potentials. The meeting is to refocus attention on the need to rapidly rollout meters in order to ensure Distribution Companies charged electricity consumers only for energy consumed.

Fashola, who was joined by the Minister of State, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, challenged the local meter manufacturers to think outside of the box through innovations so as to reap bountifully in the fledging electricity industry.

The forum deliberated on issues of concern to Government and the local manufacturers which included the need for Distribution Companies to more aggressively patronise locally manufactured meters.

A representative of the manufacturers, Mr. Kola Balogun, noted that access to and cost of credit is a major impediment to the growth of their production capacity in meeting present and future demands for meters.

While assuring the ministers of manufacturers’ readiness to support the rapid roll-out of meters, they equally urged Government to put in place clearer incentives for local production as opposed to importation of meters. While concluding the meeting, the parties agreed to continuous engagement among the key actors - Government, local meter manufacturers, Distribution Companies, the industry regulators and other stakeholders, while promoting local manufacturing, employment generation and technological development in Nigeria.

According to him, “It is difficult to fault the position of the regulators and the Minister of Power over the quest to make electricity tariff cost-reflective in order to make investments in the sector attractive and sustainable especially in the light of the clamour by the citizenry for a private sector driven power sector.

“In any event, it will still be cheaper (even with the review) than individual firms or households providing electricity through generators powered by diesel, petrol generators or LPFO. However, electricity consumers should not be made to pay for inefficiency or corruption costs.”

Muda argued that it is important to evaluate the elements of the current costs especially the integrity of procurement processes and other operational expenditure under the current dispensation, given the prevailing risk of bloated costs which should be addressed.

Operational expenditure Similarly, the Managing Director, Energy Solutions Ltd., Mr. Yomi Kolawole, insisted that the increment will enable the DISCOs replace dilapidated and obsolete equipment like non-functional transformers and cables.

Kolawole urged consumers to cooperate with the government by allowing the new tariff to commence, while commending NERC for the removal of the monthly fixed charges from electricity bills, saying they are fraudulent.

Also commenting, the Chairman, Iponri Housing Estate Housing Residents’ Association, Alhaji Abdul-Rasak Osho, argued that the increment is good if power supply would be made available.

“If we should consider the amount of money spent to fuel our generators on daily basis, we will see that it is better to pay more on regular electricity supply than to pay what we are paying and no light. We should give the present government the benefit of doubt by allowing the new tariff to commence.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 31

Diamond Estate.

Reduction of housing deficit: FG ponders adoption of Shagari, Jakande models

By Jude Njoku & Caleb Ayansina

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HIRTY-THREE years after Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Alhaji Lateef Jakande were ousted from office in a military coup led by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government may have decided to take a fresh look at the housing models adopted by the duo while they were in office.

Affordable housing The housing models adopted by former President Shehu Shagari in all the states and local government areas in the country helped to boost the housing stock in the country. Similarly, Jakande's housing programme in Lagos is still the talk of the town 34 years after he bowed out of office as the first civilian governor of Lagos State.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who spoke in Abuja recently, said the government would understudy ‘Jakande and Shagari’s housing estates model to develop affordable housing units for the masses. This would involve building 40 blocks in each state.

The minister explained that there would be changes in the policy direction of the Buhari administration in the settlement sector. This, he said, would commence in the 2016 budget implementation when the Federal government would spend N10b to build low income housing

estates in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. It will be recalled that the Obasanjo’s administration upturned the policy of the Shehu Shagari administration by declaring that government would no longer build houses for people to occupy, hence he sold off all government houses built during the Shagari era.

Under Obasanjo, the Federal government through the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, collaborated with developers by provide lands for them to build ‘affordable’ housing estates. This policy direction that was pursued by both Ya’Adua and Jonathan governments.

Unveiling Buhari’s housing, Fashola said there is need for the government to review the existing policy in the housing sector to address the huge housing deficit in the country.

He said; “The housing sector presents an enormous opportunity for positively impacting the economy to promote not only growth but inclusion.

There have been a couple of

The housing sector presents an enormous opportunity for positively impacting the economy

National Housing policies and we intend to appraise the most current one to make changes only if necessary.

Government will lead the aggressive intervention to increase supply, by undertaking construction of public housing and formulate policies that will invariably lead to private sector participation and ownership to reduce our housing deficit.”

He noted that the immediate past administration budgeted less in the housing sector of the economy, promising to reverse the trend.

“So for us, consistency is key,

annual spending is an imperative.

We must change the budget for national housing from N1.8 billion in 2015 to something in the hundreds of billions of Naira that matches our ambition. If we can spend N10 billion in each state and the FCT on housing alone every year subject to the capacity to raise the money and the capacity to utilise the funds having regards to our current construction methods and the time it takes to complete construction, which our ministry intends to change by research and industrialization of housing,” he said.

The Minister explained that the government would embark on seminars and conferences to ensure proper capacity building for stakeholders in the sector to drive the new agenda.

“If we achieve this, we will move from where we are now, start construction in all 36 States and the FCT and sustain this as we go along. In the housing sector, if we complete our on-going projects, and we get land from the Governors in all states and the FCT to start what we know, using the Lagos Home model, we should start 40 blocks of housing in each state and FCT. “We expect State Governors to play a critical role here, by providing land of between 5-10 hectares for a start, with title documents, and access roads or in lieu of access roads, a commitment that they will build the access roads by the time the houses are completed.

New charity on water, sanitation and hygiene in faith-based schools launched

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NEW charity has been founded to work with faith groups on water, sanitation and hygiene, WASH in the world’s poorest countries. Faith in Water is the first charity to focus specifically on working with faithmanaged schools on WASH issues to improve children’s lives and create lasting community impact.

Faith in Water, which is based in Bristol, UK, works globally with all major faiths. It has two key aims: To help faiths focus on WASH in their schools and communities, and to help secular NGOs build effective partnerships with faith groups.

Founder and director, Mary Bellekom noted that “Clean water and good sanitation are essential for health, education and livelihoods.

Yet 750 million people – one in nine worldwide – don’t have clean drinking water and more than a third of people – around 2.5 billion – lack safe sanitation facilities.

“Diseases caused by dirty water and

inadequate sanitation not only trap people in a cycle of illness, poverty and poor quality of life, they are the second biggest killer of children aged under five worldwide and are responsible for more child deaths than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

“Helping people access clean water and safe sanitation is one of the most important ways we can improve people’s lives - – and working with faith groups is one of the most effective ways of reaching the world’s poorest people.

Faith groups are involved in at least 50 percent of schools worldwide so they have a significant role to play in promoting WASH, not just for children but for their families too.”

Faith in Water grew out of the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) which has spent 20 years working with faith groups on environmental issues. It was founded after it became clear that there was both a gap and an opportunity when it came to working on WASH issues.

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

Lagos govt, stakeholders parley on Epe road construction project

By Kingsley Adegboye

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STAKEHOLDERS’ meeting on the rehabilitation of strategic roads in Epe Local Government Area, was last week convened to address all grey areas preparatory to the flag-off of massive roads expansion and rehabilitation by the Lagos State Government in the council area.

Tagged: “Stakeholders Meeting on the Rehabilitation of Strategic/Arterial/Inner Roads in Epe Local government”, the forum was attended by the traditional rulers, women groups, youths, property owners, businessmen and legislators representing the area in both the state and national assemblies.

Welcoming the stakeholders, the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, an engineer, listed the roads to be either constructed or rehabilitated as: Lagos Road, Oke Osho/T Junction, Aiyetoro/ Roundabout; Central Mosque Junction/Orita Marun Stream, all categorised as ‘Grade A’. Others are Oloja Estate; Bature/ Otunba Adeniyi/ Omotayo/Uthman Mustapha and Raman/Ishawu Owolabi, which are in category ‘B’.

The contractor, Messrs Granebury Construction is expected to mobilise to site any moment from now, to begin the

Illustration of the road project

first phase of the project.

Johnson explained that the meeting became necessary in view of the fact that some properties that fell on the Right of ways (ROAs) would need to go. He stated that as a responsible government, “we want to carry you along in the execution of this noble project’.

The commissioner who noted that there can be no gain without some level of pain and discomfort, said the project would affect some existing structures in a bid to achieve the desired rightof -way.

“We therefore solicit for the

understanding and cooperation of all residents, especially, those whose properties will be affected.

We realise that this temporary inconvenience will soon give way to all the conceivable comfort that the project, when completed, will bring to the entire communities”, Johnson remarked. According to him, proper enumeration would be made to ensure that the affected people receive commensurate compensation.

The traditional ruler of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun who spoke at the forum, observed that Epe Division had suffered neglect for long.

Tackling climate change requires concerted efforts — Yusuf, Country Manager, Accenture

By Kingsley Adegboye

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ountry Manager of Accenture in Nigeria, Mr. Niyi Yussuf has urged world leaders, policy makers, governments and corporate organisations to work together in a bid to tackle the threat posed by climate change. The call is coming as concerns about climate change intensify all over the world and as countries gear up toward reducing carbon emission.

Mr. Yussuf made the call recently while analysing findings by the United Nations Global CompactAccenture CEO Study, ‘Special Edition: A Call to Climate Action released in November 2015.

The study, which was carried out using surveys conducted with CEOs of Caring for Climate, participant companies, business leaders from 750 Global Compact participants, drawn from 152 countries across 41 industry sectors and participants, reported that 91 percent of business leaders believe that

climate change is an urgent priority for businesses, progress is on track to restrict global warming to less than 2 degree Celsius, while 66 percent believe business is not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Highlighting the growth and innovation opportunities attached to efforts towards combating climate change, the study reported that 70 percent of leaders from the world’s largest companies see opportunities for growth and innovation, 67 percent report a clear business case for action, while 69 percent see investment in climate solutions as essential to competitive advantage.

According to Yussuf, “But amid this strong belief in the importance of urgent action, and the opportunities that action on climate change can present, the study showed that “just one-third of business leaders surveyed believe that progress is on track to restrict global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (2C)—and just one-third believe that

companies in the industry are doing enough”.

He therefore noted that “Climate change is a momentous threat to development, peace and security, and to market stability.

“However, we thank God and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for this opportunity. We will support the project because Epe is now faced with unimaginable developmental projects.

“We have Lagos Free Trade Zone, the proposed airport, fertilizer plant by Dangote Groups and others like that. At the end of the day, it is Epe that

We plead with government as matter of urgency, to patch the affected spots

would benefit most”, the royal father declared.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Biodun Tobun advised the government to ensure that the payment of compensation would not be subjected to bureaucratic bottlenecks. He implored the contractor to patronise local building materials, as well as engage the youths and artisans in the execution of the project.

The Managing Director, SEGSON Nigeria Limited, Pastor Segun Ogunade called on both the government and contractor to give the execution of the projects a human face. Ogunade urged the youths not to see the project as means of exploitation, but rather, a project that would be beneficial to all and sundry.

Oba of Noforija, Babatunde Ogunlaja assured the contractor that his workers would not suffer any form of molestation in the course of executing the project.

Successful completion “We don’t want the Governor to regret coming with this laudable project. Let us all join hands to ensure its successful completion”, he pleaded.

From women group came the plea for immediate rehabilitation of some portions of the EpeTemu, Imota Agbowa and Isiu roads where craters and potholes have become a common feature.

Mrs. Khadijat Ibiyemi, one of the women leaders said there is need to address the road leading from the town to IKorodu.

“We are traders going to Mile 12 daily to purchase our goods, but the condition of the road is scarry. On several occasions, trucks, in the process of trying to avoid potholes would face uncoming vehicles, which is very dangerous. We plead with government to, as matter of urgency, patch the affected spots,” she pleaded.

DONATION:

Mr. Moses Ojor, an estate surveyor and valuer (right) presenting computers and other information and communication technology (ICT) items to the Delta State Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Chief Efe Appih, in Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—33

FG moves to restructure NDDC ...as debt profile hits N300 billion

By Soni Daniel

F

OLLOWING the sack of the last board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the Federal Government is planning to restructure the commission into a holistic development agency to be manned by core professionals rather than politicians in order to transform the Niger Delta region.

The Presidency recently relieved Dr. Henry Ogiri, Executive Director, Finance, and Tuoyo Omatsuli, Executive Director, Projects in the NDDC of their appointments, paving the way for the newly-appointed acting MD, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, to run the agency alone in the interim.

The unceremonious removal two weeks ago, of the two men, who were seen as indispensible following their retention when the former MD, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia was removed, completes the sack of the board, which was empanelled by President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2013.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, whose office supervises the commission, confirmed in a telephone chat with Vanguard, that the Federal Government would beam its searchlight on the activities of the commission in its bid to make it serve the needs of the region better.

Describing the NDDC as

being in bad shape, Lawal lamented that the debt profile of the agency, which he said had not done much to transform the Niger Delta since its inception, had risen to N300 billion due to many contracts yet to be completed in most cases.

Lawal regretted that the organisation had lost its focus of serving primarily as a strategic development vehicle but served more as a political organisation, thereby denying the people of the

area the real benefits for which it was set up.

The SGF said: “We have to reorganise NDDC to serve as a strategic development organisation to be able to address the peculiar needs of the region and its people.

“As part of the re-organisation, we are going to beam our searchlight on the commission’s activities and see how best to reposition the agency for better performance. We will do whatever

is necessary to put NDDC in a better shape for the overall development of the area.

“I can tell you that the Federal Government is very sympathetic to the Niger Delta because of its peculiar terrain and we need to take urgent steps to put things right in the place.”

On why it took some time before the NDDC management was sacked, he explained that the government needs to study the situation in the commission before intervening.

MEETING: From left: Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during a recent meeting at the office of the Senate President.

Edo 2016: I'm in the race to improve standard of living—Edebiri

A

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in this year's election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has said that he was in the race because he saw that nothing has changed in the standard of living of the people of the state.

“If things had changed for the better since the last time I contested, I would have looked for other ways to contribute my quota to the state,” he said in a statement in Benin, yesterday.

Edebiri said that he plans to create a state where industrialization will be the order of the day as a way of reducing poverty, adding, “I want to change the way people do things and make the masses feel the impact of development.

“I am contesting to make effective social services, health care, education, valid infrastructure, security of lives and property and others available to the people of my state.”

On whether he stands a chance of getting the PDP

C M Y K

ticket in view of the complex political process preceding previous primaries, he said that with the transformation going on in the party, he was sure the best candidate would emerge

without any interference from leaders.

“I tell you, the leaders of our party have learnt their lessons.

They cannot afford to mess up this time. They know that if the

process is wrong the result may be unfavourable. If the right person emerges, I can assure you that PDP will produce the next governor of Edo State," he said.

Delta allays fear on Lassa fever outbreak

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—DELTA State Government, yesterday, allayed fears over the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, assuring that as at yesterday, (Monday) there was no reported case of the endemic disease in any part of the state.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, who briefed newsmen in Asaba to sensitize the public on possible ways of contacting the disease as well as its symptoms, said that despite the state’s boundaries with Edo and Rivers States where the outbreak had been reported, the government was doing everything to prevent its spread to Delta State.

According to Azinge, boundary patrol teams made up of medical personnel and other stakeholders,

had been setup to scrutinize movements across in the seven local government areas of the state that share boundaries with Edo and Rivers States.

He said the councils included Ethiope East and West, Ika North-East, Ika South, Warri North, Oshimili North and South,

promising to step up efforts with other relevant stakeholders including the state Ministry of Environment and local governments to ensure adequate prevention of the spread of the disease to Delta State.

Delta Dep Speaker awards undergraduate scholarships to Anioma students

I

N line with his passion for human capital development, Mr. Friday Osanebi, Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, and Founder of Friday Osanebi Foundation, FOF, has approved the commencement of 2016 undergraduate scholarships for Anioma students.

A statement by the foundation said that to be eligible, a student

must be a full time 100 level undergraduate at an accredited university, polytechnic or monotechnic, brilliant, indigent and of good character and would have passed the FOF scholarship examination.

It said application forms were available at Friday Osanebi Liaison Office at the state Assembly complex.

Delta community sends SOS to Okowa over oil spill

W

By Akpokona Omafuaire

ARRI—OKPELEAMA community of Gbaramatu in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, sent a save our souls, SOS,to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over an oil spill which they said had spread to its coasts.

A statement by Yabrade Moses, Chairman of the community, said, "The spill had caused severe damage and disruption of fishing and farming activities which are our major sources of livelihood.”

He said that the spill was first noticed recently emanating from the petroleum pipeline along Ikpokpo/ Okpeleama Creek (parts of the 335.5 hectares of Ikpokpo/ Okpele-Ama land already acquired for the EPZ/Deep Sea Port Project).

He appealed to Governor Okowa to urgently order a “joint investigation visit (JIV) to ascertain the impact of the spill and carry out immediate remediation so as to prevent further decay of an already fragile ecosystem.”

DTHA Minority Whip presents scorecard to constituents

S

IX months after his inauguration as a member of Delta State House of Assembly, the Minority Whip of the House, Chief Peter Uviejitobor, yesterday, displayed his scorecard to the chairmen of the 32 communities in Udu constituency, which he represents at the House.

Uviejitobor, at an enlarged meeting with the President General of Union of Udu Communities, UUC, and the 32 communities’ chairmen at his residence in Udu, said that the gathering was to brief them on his performance since he assumed office as a lawmaker in the state.

Projects attracted to Udu, according to him, include renovation of three classroom blocks at Orhuwhorun Primary School, construction of solar powered borehole at the school, renovation of three classroom blocks at Ekrota Primary School, construction of three classroom blocks at Ekete Primary, renovation of four classroom blocks at Ukperheren Primary School, among others.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

Dasukigate: Nwobodo’s defection to

Enugu govt, NDLEA synergise to tackle illicit drug trafficking

APC suspicious —Okechukwu

By Francis Igata

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, yesterday, promised to partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to check the endemic trafficking of illicit drugs in the country to salvage the nation’s battered image and advance her economic growth.

Ugwuanyi said that his administration will stamp its foot on the ground against illicit drug trafficking, especially now that Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Enugu operations have up- scaled, given its international status.

He assured the agency of the readiness of his administration to offer necessary assistance that would enable it and other crime

E

NUGU—THE South-East All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, described ex-governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo’s entry into the party as a grand plan to shield himself from the long arm of the law, following his alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deals undergoing probe by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. The ex-governor was reportedly mentioned as one of the beneficiaries of the arms deal to the tune of N600 million meant for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaigns and mobilization in the South-East geopolitical zone in the days leading to last general election.

But reacting to the defection in a statement, APC South-East Caucus spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu said, Nwobodo entered APC through the window as a fugitive running from justice.

fighting agencies to effectively discharge their duties, stressing that there was urgent need to restrategize in order to curb the menace in the country.

The governor while receiving the management team of the Enugu State Command of NDLEA, led by its Commander,

Mr. Ohanyere Nkem, at the Government House, Enugu, commended the agency for its success story so far, in the war against various drug related crimes in the country, noting that illicit drug trafficking and consumption had done the nation’s image and economy more

Petroleum marketers shut down filling stations in Imo

By Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—PETROL now sells for N400 a litre in Owerri, Imo State, where as most filling stations in the state, were closed down, yesterday, forcing motorists and other vehicle owners to patronize black marketers, who cashed in on the

scarcity of the product to hike prices.

This reporter, who went round Owerri town between 7a.m. and 10a.m., particularly MCC Road, Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha Road and the roads from Owerri to Umuahia and Owerri to Aba, including the Owerri to Okigwe Road leading to Enugu State, noted that filling stations were

NAVY: Delta community commends FG

T

HE PEOPLE of Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State have commended the Federal Government for locating the Headquarters Command of the Nigeria Naval Logistics Command in their domain, saying that the gesture has assisted in ridding the area of crime, which was hitherto in the upsurge in the area.

Speaking, yesterday, at the headquarters of the Nigeria Naval Logistics Command,

harm and required the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders to stamp out.

Earlier in his address, Mr. Ohanyere regretted that despite the frantic efforts made in the global war against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, the menace has been on increase.

Oghara, Delta State, the monarch, HRM, Noble Eshemitan, Orife 111, through his Uzi (second-incommand), Chief Samson Takpor said: “We, the people of Oghara, will remain grateful to the Federal Government for locating this command here on our land. It is a nice gesture and we are enjoying it, particularly as it has helped checkmate the high wave of crime that initially characterized our domain.”

The monarch spoke at the 2015 celebration of the Naval

ceremonial Sun Set. The Flag Officer Commanding the command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik, who presided over the ceremony, said: “This command had to shift the 2015 celebration from December 2015 to January, 2016, owing to unforeseen exigencies and particularly following the demise and subsequent funeral rites of one of our trusted officers, Seaman Prince Oyibicha, which sad event occurred late last year.”

shut while the few that had fuel, sold at exorbitant prices.

It will be recalled that Imo State chairman of the Petroleum Marketers Association, Chief Christopher Amadi, had said that there was shortage in the supply of the product in the South East region of the country, which was why it was difficult to control the prices of petroleum products or force marketers to sell at the N86 official price.

Amadi had said that the shortage of the product in the South East had affected how fuel would be sold in the state.

Alleging that the product was adequately supplied in the other regions, while a small quantity was made available for the people of the south East, he lamented that the much attention given to other states, could have been enough reason why the South East was put in a disadvantageous position.

Anambra Central: Umeh urges INEC, parties not to jeopardize fresh election

By Emmanuel Aziken

F

ORMER NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and candidate of the party in the Anambra Central senatorial district election, Chief Victor Umeh has urged stakeholders in the court ordered fresh election to respect the order

excluding new candidates in the fresh contest.

Umeh, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, said, it would be an unnecessary legal jeopardy for a fresh candidate to be submitted given the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the earlier election, which he said, was consistent with earlier rulings by the Supreme Court.

He spoke in the wake of the defection of former Senator Uche Ekwunife from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Insisting that he was ready to face any challenge from any legally recognised quarter, he nevertheless frowned at anattempt to compromise the court's decision, which he

affirmed, ruled out Ekwunife and the PDP from contesting in the fresh election as ordered by the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal in Enugu had on December 7, 2015, removed Mrs. Ekwunife from the Senate, holding that she was not validly nominated by the PDP for the election. The court consequently ordered the

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to hold fresh election within 90 days.

“I am ready for the election again but the important thing to consider now is the need to do everything according to the law.

The previous election was nullified because somebody took part after not being properly nominated by her party, the PDP."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On arms deal, money laundering trial

W

ell done Buhari, my vote to you has not been in vain and I am absolutely getting value for it. Let Dasuki and others defend themselves and prove their innocence. The prosecution should as well prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. -Miss Anasithesia Ezeka, Worker C M Y K

W

hat I knew for certain is that with this trial and very many others to come, a new page has been opened in Nigeria. Never again would those entrusted with leadership positions divert our money to their private accounts. Miss Juliet Ekwunife, Student

W

hich prosecution will present this kind of evidence to court, that money was diverted to someone’s account and the same money was shared to PDP delegates?

APC administration should be smarter than this. -Mr Emmanuel Iyoke, Worker

T

hey do not care about the suffering of the civilians. These big men that receive big salaries monthly, yet they do not get satisfied and they now take to stealing public money too. -Mrs. Aghahowa Mabel, Businesswoman

S

ome people are extremely wicked in the society. They do not help even though they see their fellow citizens in a poor and dying state. Do you know how many soldiers died due to lack of ammunition to tackle Boko Haram? -Miss Constance Anwulika, Model

N

igeria needs a drastic law to punish looters.

This is a monumental shame. The option of bail should be discarded. This is an act of treason, allowing terrorists take over territories while some men were sharing the treasury.

-Miss Anne Kelechi, Fashion Designer

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 , 2016—35

S-Court reserves judgment till Jan 15 BENUE GOV POLL: M

AKURDI—THE Supreme Court yesterday reserved Jan. 15 for the judgment of an appeal challenging the election of Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue.

The Justice Walter Onnoghenled six justices reserved the judgment after counsel to the parties adopted their written addresses.

“We have gradually come to the last stage of the procedure at the bar, leaving us at the bench to give our judgment.

“In view of that, Jan. 15 has been agreed by all of us here to be the date to deliver the judgment. Therefore, the judgment is reserved to that date,” he said.

Mr Terhemen Tarzoor of PDP had sought a declaration of the apex court to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment which had dismissed his petition for lack of merit.

The appellate court in Makurdi on Nov. 18, 2015 upheld the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed the qualification and election of Ortom as governor of the state.

Tarzoor had asked the court to reverse the tribunal’s judgment and declare him winner of the

April polls.

He said the tribunal erred in its judgment as Ortom was not qualified to contest in the election.

According to him, Ortom is not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress to stand for the election as provided by the Electoral Act.

Tarzoor had also asked the appellate court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him with the certificate of return.

In its argument, the APC had insisted that its candidate was validly nominated in conformity with the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2010.

APC further said that the

burden of proof rested on the shoulders of the appellants.

On his part, Ortom had argued that the procedure for his nomination as the candidate of the party remained the exclusive right of the APC machinery.

The governor, therefore, urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.

All parties in the case had filed cross appeals and cross appellant appeals challenging certain aspects of the tribunal’s judgment.

RECEPTION: Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State (right) and Chief Victor Umeh, during the civic reception for the governor and his wife by Ezza Ezekuna at Onueke Township Stadium, Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State.

....As parties go to tribunal over Kogi gov polls L

By Kingsley Fanwo

OKOJA—PARTIES to the November 21 and December 5, 2015 governorship poll in Kogi State yesterday began the legal challenge that in the view of analysts will redefine electoral administration in the country.

Kogi governorship election became a peculiar case when the leading candidate in the election, Prince Abubakar Audu, died before voting was concluded.

The choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as replacement for the late Prince Abubakar Audu was vehemently resisted by the running mate to the late politician, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.

Hon. Faleke has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission to the Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the declaration of INEC that the November 21 governorship poll was inconclusive.

The parties in court yesterday were the African Democratic Party, Labour Party, People’s Democratic Party, Progressives People Alliance and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The tribunal chairman, Halima S. Mohammed granted the prayers of all the parties for substituted service on the All

Progressives Congress and its candidate, Alh. Yahaya Bello.

But the tribunal declined to grant the prayer of the Labour Party seeking an interlocutory injunction against the inauguration of Alh. Yahaya

Bello on the ground that the affected parties were not present in court.

However, the People’s Democratic Party’s prayer to inspect election materials which was moved by its legal team led

by Chris Uche, SAN, was granted by the tribunal. The inspection has been slated for January 21, 2016.

The tribunal adjourned till January 21, 2016 when it expects all parties to have been served with the court processes.

Why we went to tribunal —PPA chair

By Kingsley Fanwo

L

OKOJA—The Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Kogi State chapter, Hon. Simeon Ojonuba, has disclosed the reasons the party approached the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for the cancellation of the November 21 and December 5, 2015 governorship election in the state.

In an exclusive chat with

Vanguard, The Chairman said the widespread irregularities which greeted the polls should be tested against the law, insisting that many of the party’s polling agents were brutalized for performing legitimate duties.

Ojonuba said, though the candidate of the party, Mr. Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi was not disposed to the tribunal case, the party owes its teeming members protection against electoral disenfranchisement and

violence.

He said: “Our candidate may have decided to opt out of the case for some considerations best known to him, but as a party, we have decided to pursue the case to a logical conclusion and we have confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice.

“We are not fighting anybody but we must challenge a system that robbed our party victory in the governorship election and we have the right to contest the outcome," he said.

We're equiped to defeat Boko Haram —Maj Gen Irabor

By Ndahi Marama

M

A I D U G U R I —T H E Deputy Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Leo Irabor, has said that all the support needed to win the ongoing war against the Boko Haram terrorist insurgency in the North-East has been provided.

Irabor disclosed this on Sunday, while addressing troops of the 7 Division of Nigerian Army at an event to mark Armed Forces Remembrance Day at St. Bartholomew Military Church, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

He said the Federal government and the military hierarchy are right behind all the

commanders and soldiers in the battle fields to defeat Boko Haram this year.

“What they (soldiers) can take out from me is an assurance on behalf of Chief of Defense Staff and the Service Chiefs is that the President and Commander in Chief and every Nigerian are solidly behind the soldiers; and victory is assured.”

Plateau North alleges marginalisation

J

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

OS—THE Anaguta people of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State are disenchanted with the administration of Governor Simon Lalong, saying his administration has deliberately failed to recognize its people in appointments to key positions.

The Anaguta people, who are the aborigines of Jos North lamented that the Governor is also planning to suppress them by “taking away their ancestral lands and traditional institutions and giving them to nonindigenes.”

Addressing journalists in Jos yesterday, the President of Anaguta Youth Movement, AYM, Emni Nyam stated that previous administrations both civilian and military recognized the status of the Anaguta people and accorded them their rightful place but the reverse was the case now.

According to him, “Anaguta people are the aborigines of Jos in general.

Till date, all districts and chiefdoms in and under Jos North local government area are under the paramount ruler of the Anaguta people, the Ujah of Anaguta who is incharge of all the District Heads in Jos North.

“Previous administrations in Plateau State have recognized the Anaguta people in terms of political appointment especially as regards to membership in the State Executive Council as well as other sensitive appointments in the State and Jos North local government area.

“The present administration of Governor Lalong has deliberately and craftily failed, refused and neglected to follow the right and proper precedent and solid foundation laid by the previous administrations in recognizing and honouring the Anaguta people.

“The administration did not appoint any Anaguta person as a Commissioner from Jos North and even in appointment of membership of the Transition and Implementation Committee of the Council.”

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 37

C M Y K

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

GUBER WAR: d n u o r g i t t O , u z Ikpea Abia THE recent Court of Appeal judgment which sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP and declared Dr. Alex Otti of APGA winner of the April 2015 governorship election may have altered the political equation of Abia State.

By Anayo Okoli

T

HOUGH the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court, Abia politics will never again be the same, where only one political party holds sway and dictates the pace with impunity.

2015 elections, where the ruling PDP faced uphill task to win votes was a pointer to that.

Since the advent of the present democratic system in 1999, the PDP has held sway in Abia State.

Expect for four years, between 2007 and 2010, when former Governor of the State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu had disagreement with the leadership of the party and broke away to form the Progressive Peoples Party [PPA] through which he installed his successor, Chief Theodore Orji, now a senator.

Senator Orji returned the State back to PDP following a disagreement he had with his then political godfather, Kalu.

In the run-up to the 2015 general elections Dr. Alex Otti, who resigned from Diamond Bank, as the group managing director, to actualise his ambition of becoming the governor of the state on the platform of the PDP, however, left the party to join the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

In APGA, he also faced a lot of intrigues as Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba who flew the party’s flag in 2011 and had led the party since his failed 2011 aspiration C M Y K

resisted him. But Otti was backed by the then National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh who Ufomba accused of imposing Otti on the party.

However, after series of court cases, Umeh and Otti emerged victorious, clearing the way for Otti to fly the APGA flag in the governorship election. Otti’s entry into the governorship race promptly and drastically changed the politics of Abia as he gave the ruling party a very good fight.

He ran a massive campaign, matching PDP ward for ward, and constituency for constituency tour throughout the period of campaign.

In the most impressive showing for a party not controlling the state government since the return of democratic rule, APGA came out of the

Governor Ikpeazu, of course was not satisfied with the judgment and has gone to the Supreme Court to test if it passed all legal requirements

elections with 11 of the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly.

Remarkably, the party did poorly in the federal level elections as it won only one House of Representatives seat and no Senate seat, a development that was linked to the fact that the party really did not have much to gain being that it did not have a presidential candidate.

However, the presence of Otti on the ballot in the state level elections shook the state to the foundations in the governorship and state legislative elections.

First ballot Indeed, the governorship election did not produce a winner at the first ballot. Rather the first ballot witnessed series of controversies over the votes from parts of the State, particularly the three Local Government Councils of Isiala Ngwa North, Osisioma and Obingwa.

The two parties disputed the votes scored in the areas, leading to the initial cancellation and reversal of the cancellation of the results by the electoral officers.

Otti’s entry into the governorship race promptly and drastically changed the politics of Abia as he gave the ruling party a very good fight

Willy-nilly as no clear winner emerged at the first ballot, it prompted supplementary elections in some parts of the State after which Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was declared winner by INEC and later sworn-in as governor.

Not surprisingly, Otti headed to the tribunal which dismissed his petition and undeterred, he approached the Court of Appeal which on December 31st 2015 in its judgment sacked Ikpeazu as the governor and declared Otti the winner.

Governor Ikpeazu, of course was not satisfied with the judgment and has gone to the Supreme Court to test if it passed all legal requirements.

The judgment has no doubt unsettled the camps of the two political parties, PDP and APGA, and has energised political permutations in the State at least for now.

Political permutations The judgment, delivered by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye and concurred by four other Justices of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, threw PDP and Governor Ikpeazu’s supporters into confusion.

It was a judgment they never expected. Though he has appealed the decision, the governor is undoubtedly saddled with a great deal of distraction in the business of governance as he is now busy fighting the legal battle of his life.

In any case, the current political trend in the State may not be a big surprise to Abia political watchers, particularly those who followed the 2015 governorship election in the State. Mired in controversies, allegations and counter

allegations, the 2015 Abia governorship election, was capable of throwing up anything. Everybody, including the ruling PDP knows that anything could happen at the Courts because of the fierce rivalry between the two parties and series of protests from both parties during the election.

Series of protests For now the two major political parties are back to the legal chessboard at the Supreme Court which will give the final judgment on the issue.

Meanwhile, the State has remained tense with series of protests by the parties. Though it did not degenerate to any untoward development, there has been alarm raised by chieftains of the two political parties over threats to life.

An APGA chieftain, Chief Ahamdi Nweke who was the star witness in APGA petition at the tribunal was said to have alleged that PDP followers at a meeting plotted to kill him. He was alleged to have named a high profile commissioner in the state as his chief suspect.

Perhaps on the strength of the allegation, security operatives raided the home of the commissioner in search of arms.

The transition chairman of Isiala Ngwa North council, Mr. Ginger Onwusibe also alleged that his house was raided by security operatives.

From all indications, the tense political atmosphere in the State will remain until the Supreme Court finally settles the matter.

But the prayer of every patriotic Abian is that the situation does degenerate to any crisis but remain like usual barking of politicians.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—39

ABIA GOV TUSSLE

It's justice at last — OTTI WHILE PDP is lamenting and condemning the Court of Appeal judgment which sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the Governor of Abia State, APGA partisans are rejoicing. For them, it was justice restored at last.

Thus the moment news of the judgment filtered into the State, celebration erupted in various parts of the State by APGA members and their supporters.

APGA said the judgment was “liberation of the good people of Abia from the bonds of mediocrity and self-centred oligarchy”.

Stories by Anayo Okoli

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TTI reacts: For Dr. Alex Otti, who was declared winner by the Court of Appeal, the judgment was “justice at last”.

He said: “It is said that the windmill of justice may grind slowly but it surely does grind. After more than seven months of tortuous and needless legal tussle, the will of the people has triumphed! Today’s ruling is the triumph of the abiding will of the people against the principalities of thuggery, barefaced robbery and high-handed impunity. It is victory of the silent majority over a noisy, unjust and parochial minority”.

“You must recall that Abia, until the emergence of incompetent and insensitive “lootocracy ”, was the commercial powerhouse of West Africa.

It was an industrial centre where multinationals and indigenous entrepreneurs held sway. It was the area that produced such great men as Michael Okpara, Dick Tiger, Jaja Wachuku, Alvan Ikoku, Nnanna Kalu, OC Ememe and so on. Today, it is a shadow of its former self. Our mission is to restore our beloved state to greatness”.

“For all of us who believe that it is Abia First, I welcome you to come with us to make our state great again. To our opponents including those responsible for what we have gone through in the last couple of months, we extend a hand of fellowship to them as we invite them to join hands with us as we seek to provide credible leadership to our people and restore their dignity. The journey will not be an easy one but I assure you that the result will be fulfilling”.

Reacting on the court decision, APGA Chairman in Abia State, Augustine Ehiemere described it as “a landmark judgment” which he said has proved that the judiciary still has Judges of integrity. According to him, the judgement cannot be faulted because “the judges were thorough in their findings”.

Ehiemere said the party dedicated the

To our opponents including those responsible for what we have gone through in the last couple of months, we extend a hand of fellowship to them as we invite them to join hands with us C M Y K

Judgment an anomaly — IKPEAZU FOR the ruling PDP in Abia State, the December 31st Court of Appeal judgment which sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and declared Dr. Alex Otti of APGA winner of the April 2015 governorship election was a big blow that was never expected. For them it was beyond their imagination and thus, they naturally reacted adversely with protests in Aba and attacks against the Justices of the Court.

But Governor Okezie himself took the court decision calmly.

Immediately, he received the news, the governor met with stakeholders of his party and issued a statement, calling for calm noting that was heading to the Supreme Court to test the Appeal Court decision.

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•Otti: It is victory of the silent majority victory to Abians and the late chieftain of the party Abbott Otisi Kalu who was actively involved in the struggle to liberate Abia, until he died recently.

He condemned the protests by PDP and accused them of hiring miscreants to cause a breach of the peace in the commercial city of Aba, and described the protest as the handiwork of the enemies of the state, who wish to remain in power against the wishes of the people.

Handiwork of enemies of the state APGA chairman alleged that the PDP government recruited street urchins in Aba to foment trouble by blocking some roads in the city ‘’just to create a false impression that the people of the state were unhappy with the judgment of the Court of Appeal”.

Saying that Abia people were happy with the Court of Appeal judgment, the party chairman noted ‘’that the protest had exposed the sponsors as the enemies of the good people of Abia state”.

To him, “the judgment has ended the era of looting and restored the people’s hope that our children will graduate and get befitting jobs rather than keke business, that our schools and hospitals should be equipped and that our public water schemes down should function again”.

The party later organized what it tagged “Victory Rally” which took thousands of its members and supporters round some major streets in Umuahia- For now the two parties are waiting, engaging in all manner of prayers for the Supreme Court decision to swing in their direction.

KPEAZU's reaction: Describing the judgment as an “anomaly” which would be corrected by the Supreme Court”, the Governor said: “I have instructed my lawyers to file an immediate appeal at the Supreme Court, I wish to assure all Abians that all is well. ”.

The next day, Saturday, 2/1/16, supporters of the party from the Ugwa Ngwa political bloc, where Ikpeazu comes from, staged protests in Aba. Led by the former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, the protesters blocked roads in Aba area to show their rejection of the judgment.

Also, the party’s chairman in the State, Chief Emma Nwaka condemned the Court of Appeal judgment, saying that it came to the party as a rude shock. Nwaka recalled that the party had earlier protested the composition of the membership of the panel of Justices that handled the matter on the ground that all of them came from the same judicial division.

He said the Justices erred in law by relying on the Card Reader to arrive at their judgment which he said was against the stipulation of the Electoral Act. Nwaka further faulted the judgment on the ground that the Appeal Court has no right to cancel the elections in Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North council areas.

Many other stakeholders of the party including Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, Ukpai Agwu Ukpai, Movement for Abia Reunion, the party ’s major grassroots structure and the zonal National Vice Chairman of the party in the South East zone, Col. Austin Akobundu.

Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, who is

I remain the Governor of Abia and I believe the Supreme Court will still reaffirm my mandate which was freely given to me by the good people of Abia state during the election

•Ikpeazu: I remain the Governor of Abia the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, condemned the judgment as very biased but called on the supporters of the two the parties to conduct themselves peacefully, even as he accused APGA supporters of wielding dangerous weapons during their victory rally.

Dangerous weapons Ogbonnaya, who said that both parties have the right to hold rallies and demonstrations, insisted that they must be peaceful devoid of any violence. He alleged that he saw APGA youths in the television wielding dangerous weapons during their protest on Wednesday.

Ukpai also faulted the judgment, saying that it never followed the rule law and expressed hope that the Supreme Court would set it aside.

For the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South East zone, Austin Akobundu, the court judgment was a “reckless display of judicial ineptitude and impartiality” by the Justices.

“We are appalled that the Appeal Court supposedly manned by men of high jurisprudence would wittingly decide to disenfranchise a majority section of Abia electorate, three LGAs in all; in effort to give victory to Alex Otti and APGA which they didn’t get at the election. Even when the Appeal Court judges had the option of ordering for a rerun so that Alex Otti and his party, APGA will once more text their popularity in the poll, they chose to award undeserved victory to him”.

40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 41

beams, reinforced cab floor and box frame provides for a rigid cab structure.

The Spacious cabin seats three passengers and is loaded with equipment and storage space which provides supreme comfort. The Canter is packed with comfort – oriented features like; Reclining Seat, Telescopic and Tilt Steering Wheel, Optimized Pedal Positions, Room Lamp, Driver ’s Sun Visor, Radio +CD player.

In a first for cab-over trucks, the gearshift is mounted in the dash. This enables relaxed driving positions and also clears the way for easy movement across the front seat.

The company says “Our engineers paid particular attention during development to keeping your costs low, creating a reliable, durable vehicle with frugal yet powerful engines.

Lowering operating cost •Mitsubishi Fuso Canter

Mitsubishi Fuso Canter as light truck to watch T

HE Nigerian auto market is obviously not lacking when it comes to different brands of automobiles, and even more interesting is the truck segment where the competition is tense because the country is a growing market.

The names are many, but one name that has stood the test of time over the years is the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter, a light truck distributed in Nigeria by CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited.

CFAO Motors’ marriage to Mitsubishi Fuso is not surprising because it is a collaboration between an outstanding motor distribution company with international reckoning and a leading name in auto manufacturing.

Little wonder the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter was voted as the Light Truck of the Year at the recently held Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards, an award that was received on behalf of the company by the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Jaiyesimi and the Marketing Manager, Funmi Abiola.

The Fuso Canter has always delivered outstanding safety and economy, even as the new generation Canter adds a performance dimension of drivers’ comfort. It has been designed from the drivers’ perspective which happens to

upgrade the world standard for Light Duty Trucks.

CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited recently unveiled a new Mitsubishi Fuso trucks range with 5 new models, the light-medium-duty (GVW 9-16 tons referred to as ‘FA’ / ‘FI’ and FK’/FM) and the mediumheavy-duty (GVW 25tons referred to as ‘FJ’,), thus providing an offer to fit any customer.

The Canter doesn’t just do the job but it lets you do it with unprecedented ease and that’s because the newly designed interior prioritizes amenities and comfort for the driver.

Generous interior dimensions, extensive storage space and advanced ergonomics combine to make the cabin a most relaxing place to work.

The Canter engines have the

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited, Kunle Jaiyesimi and Marketing Manager, CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited, Funmi Abiola displaying the award won by Mitsubishi Fuso Canter (Light Truck of the Year) at the 2015 Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos power for your light-duty needs.

Their proven performance comes hand in hand with durability, fuel efficiency, reliability, plus clean emissions for the environment.

With a wide range of available payload configurations, the Canter Series has the versatility for a

great variety of applications with 3 different weight (GVW) ranges; 4.5 Tons, 6.5 Tons and 7.2 Tons.

The Canter is simple in design and Powerful in execution. The Chassis is built with strong, robust frame for versatile body solutions. The doorwell structural frame, side door

Equipped with a Mitsubishi Fuso 4D33-6A four cylinder diesel engine, rated output of 83kW (113 hp) and a peak torque of 304 Nm and piston displacement of 4.2L”. With a more pulling power and performance than is expected for its class, the fuel efficiency, common rail, direct injection engine with four valves per cylinder is designed to deliver ample power and torque while lowering operating cost.

For business growth, the frame members in the chassis are not only deeper and thicker, they are shot-peened & powder coated for greater surface strength and resistance to corrosion.

The Rear suspensions with a taller stack of laminated leaf springs enhances load capacity, while thicker leaves also increases durability making the Canter Trucks able to carry bigger loads.

The Canter has been built to serve as a multipurpose truck for diverse needs in areas like distribution, construction, carrier, and other specialised applications, hence its relevancy in the market and making it the best truck in the Light Duty range.

Hyundai Takes No.1 Spot in CarMD’s Vehicle Health Index •Earns Top Ranking with Lowest Average Repair Costs

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YUNDAI motors was named No. 1 in CarMD’s Vehicle Index Manufacturer & Vehicle Reliability Rankings for its leadership in vehicle dependability. Hyundai earned this prestigious honor for its lower than average repair costs and very low repair frequency among all carmakers.

“Hyundai earning the top spot in this year ’s CarMD Vehicle Health

Index shows our commitment to designing vehicles with strong durability, quality and reliability,” said Frank Ferrara, Executive Vice President, Customer Satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. “When compared with other automakers, Hyundai owners had fewer trips to the repair shop and offering peace of mind to our owners for vehicle health.”

The CarMD Index ranks the top 10 manufacturers, top 100 vehicles, top three vehicles by vehicle category and common repairs by vehicle make.

The 2015 rankings identify the most reliable cars from more than 3,800 different models built over the last 20 years, with analysis of more than 251,000 reported occurrences between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

FAMILY PLANNING:- Chief Nursing Officer, Orisumibare PHC, Alimosho, LGA, Lagos, explaining a point to women during a demonstration of family planning commodities to women attending Antenatal care at the centre.

FAMILY PLANNING:

Discouraging early marriages

A stitch in time saves lives

By Sola Ogundipe

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HEN Gloria Ileka, a mother of three, discussed with Paul, her husband, about adopting a suitable family planning method, he rejected the idea outright.

Paul’s argument was on the basis that family planning commodities are known to have undesirable side effects, especially for the woman.

Although he explained readiness to father more children, Paul, however, said that any form of family planning was ruled out.

But 31-year old Gloria, who hails from Delta State was undeterred. After three pregnancies that produced three healthy children, she was done with childbearing and was determined to adopt a family planning method.

Gloria’s first child is 6, the second 3, and the last born is six months old.

“For years, I have been hearing about family planning commodities and the benefits, and I decided to try it out after I had three children. I knew the advantages of spacing births,” she disclosed to Good Health Weekly.

Gloria who spoke recently during the Antenatal Care, ANC, visit held at the Orisunmibare Primary Health Centre, in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, was con-

cerned about unwanted pregnancy.

“I discussed with my husband who wanted nothing to do with it. But because I'm concerned about unwanted pregnancy, I decided to go for family planning without telling him.

“After making detailed enquiries, I chose an implant method. I found it convenient and effective, so I decided to go for it . I have been using it for years without any problem.

It gives three years protection.

My husband doesn’t even know I’m on contraception. It is good for me because it works for me,” she commented.

Need for consent However, another woman who also adopted a family planning method without her husband’s consent, did not get off as lightly.

Narrating the experience, the Chief Nursing Officer, Orisumbamire PHC, Mrs. Folake Mulikat Giwa, said she had to intervene to save the woman’s marriage.

“Recently, a woman came to me at the centre. She was on Jadel that was put in March 2015. I was surprised when she came to complain that her husband absconded from home for over three weeks because she had consented to family plan-

ning without telling him.”

The woman in question, Giwa stated, had four children, three girls and a boy, but the woman’s spouse was insisting on having more children.

“Apparently, she had adopted the family planning method because she did not want to go through the ordeal of unplanned pregnancy, so she had the procedure done without her husband’s permission.

“But when he saw the scar of the procedure on her arm, he took offense. He promptly abandoned his home and family as a result.

“Whenever the children called on him, he would tell them to ask their mother what she put in her body, because it was that ‘thing’ she put in

her body that drove him out of the home.

“So the woman became afraid, and in desperation to get her husband back and to save her home, she came back to the centre to request for removal of the implant.

“I agreed to remove the implant, but warned of the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. After much counselling, she agreed to switch to DepoProvera,an injectable form of family planning commodity in exchange. She went home happy and reunited with her husband and family,”she explained.

Stories like these are only a tip of the overwhelming evidence that supports association between attitudes toward family planning and the use of contraceptive methods.

Commitment for action

Whenever the children called on him, he would tell them to ask their mother what she put in her body, because it was that ‘thing’ she put in her body that drove him out of the home

ment partners. A UNFPA-sponsored survey on Population and Maternal Health, MPMH, carried out in Lagos, at selected Primary Healthcare Centres in the six Local Council Development Areas in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State was a revelation.

End-users, community and religious leaders as well as care providers at the centres provides relevant information on access and use of family planning commodities and maternal health challenges and contribution to safe motherhood.

At the Meiran Primary Health Centre in Agbado OkeOdo LCDA, Apex Nurse, Mrs. Olusola Akinboto said the centre, records an average of 5060 antenatal patients daily because of its 24 hour service delivery.

Commodities mostly stocked at the two centres include male and female condoms, IUCD, injectable, pills and Norplant.

It was gathered that injectables are most sought after because they allow the women to have control and privacy over their lives without the knowledge of their spouses.

Even though Nigeria has committed to taking action to improve equity and access to family planning for millions of women on the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, through various approaches including promoting policy formulation and actions that support maternal and child health at all levels, partnering with the private sector, civil society, engaging traditional and religious institutions and develop-

An interesting discovery was that women that agreed with statements supporting girls' education and discouraging early marriage were more likely than women who disagreed to the use of contraception.

Contraceptive practice is more common among men that have been exposed to family planning information and education especially through the media than among those who were not.

In separate chats, Giwa and Akinbo, said clients demand for family planning commodities is on the increase. Daily, on the average, both centres attend to about 50-60 clients each, that request services for family planning among others.

According to Giwa: “It is still the women that benefit mostly because when they have the unwanted pregnancy, the husband does not want to get involved and shirk responsibility.

It is at that time they realise they do not want more children, yet they quarrel with the women if they refuse to engage in sex.

“My message to all women is to be aware. After delivery they should come down to the family planning clinic and get the suitable commodities so they can plan for themselves and the community so they don’t lose their lives by undergoing abortion because of unwanted pregnancy or even committing suicide because by the time the burden is too much on their necks, they may collapse.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016—43

Maximum sanctions await HMOs that betray public trust— AKINGBADE

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By Gabriel Olawale

CTING Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Mr. Femi Akingbade has said that the scheme, under his watch, will not hesitate to apply maximum sanction against those who betray the trust of the government, the NHIS and the enrolees, as a result of dereliction of duty, mismanagement of funds and sundry sharp practices.

Akingbade who reiterated his resolve to remove every impediment that may militate against the smooth achievement of Universal Health Coverage in the country, said the new dispensation will take seriously its duty to protect the rights and privileges of all stakeholders, particularly enrolees.

He said the Scheme is guided in this resolve by the rights of the people to

Mr Femi Akingbade.

good health and general social wellbeing, as well as the posture of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to guarantee that all Nigerians have unfettered access to high quality of life.

He frowned particularly against some Health Maintenance Organisations, HMOs, who receive public funds from NHIS for the purchase of healthcare for enrolees but end up not paying healthcare providers for services.

Healthcare providers He described the practice as outright theft, ungodly, callous and irresponsible, and will henceforth attract severe sanction from the Scheme.

Akingbade, who disclosed that two HMOs were recently sanctioned for related offences, said the negative impact of such profligacy, if unchecked, will be severely felt in critical areas like growth and improvement of infrastructure, equipment, medical consumables, and availability of quality services to enrolees.

He noted that the guilty parties are already fighting back at the Scheme and its leadership, but promised that there will be no respite until the full integrity of the industry is restored.

He urged all stakeholders of the health insurance industry in Nigeria to commit faithfully to their roles and responsibilities, as outlined in the Operational Guidelines of the Scheme, noting that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

UNVEILING: From left - A paediatrician, Dr Akinola, with Advocate for Pampers, Tiwa Savage and her baby, Jameel, and Brand Marketing Director, P&G, Nigeria, during the unveiling of the #MomsKnowBest campaign and Reveal of Talent at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

Nigerian medic designs novel ventilator

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HE prototype of an innovative portable, battery-powered ventilator designed to assist unconscious patients breathe is set to be launched in Lagos.

Manufactured in Canada, the innovation has been described by the Head of the Emergency Department at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, as "a critical device that will significantly reduce infant and adult mortality rates and perhaps, the best thing to happen to resuscitation care in our environment."

The novel medical device with the potential to save millions of lives all over the world, is the brainchild of the CEO of LigandCorp, Dayo Olakulehin, who in 2012, during his housemanship at the LUTH, had an idea for a medical device

that could potentially save millions of lives worldwide.

For four months, Dayo and his team worked relentlessly to develop the affordable device. Three years later, he founded LigandCorp, an organisation devoted to developing and promoting innovative medical devices that will create lasting health solutions in Africa and other developing nations.

LigandCorp’s innovation is expected to cost $300 apiece. Conventional ventilators cost $30,000 while low cost alternatives, which are still under development, are to sell for about $3,000.

The launch of the outstanding innovation takes place on Thursday January 15th, 2016 at The Incubator, City of David in Dideolu Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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RECENTLY broke up with my girlfriend over the same issue I have been having with women over the years. They just won’t shut up. I have a stressful job and when I come back from work, I want to switch off and relax. And that is when my girlfriend normally wants to chat about some crap I couldn’t care less about. Anyway she is gone now and I miss her. I wonder if you can help me find a better way to handle this in the future – James To have long lasting relationships and get along with women, it is important to understand that men and women are different. The inability to embrace this outlook explains why all over the world; intolerance is killing relationships, cultures and humanity itself.

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You see, this can be done. We all experience it. But you cannot keep telling the adult women in your life to shut up and expect them to hang around. That is rude and humiliating. After a while they will leave for sure. Another skill you have to learn is how to pretend to listen when you can’t afford to. It is an important skill that will help your relationships especially when your girlfriend is taking up so much time talking about something you don’t consider important. You don’t really have to listen if it bugs you. Just pretend to listen and nod your head occasionally. And then after a while, ask her what happened at the end. It is not difficult – Uche I don’t ejaculate much and I want to fix that. Please what is the difference between Max Load and Volume Pills? - Haruna

In addition to increasing your semen volume by up to 500%, Volume Pills also gives erections and improves fertility because it increases motility – Uche I keep reading about penis enlargement. I am a woman and if anything, I am interested in a tighter vagina. Do you have anything that can help me or is it only men that you help? Bolanle Bolanle we have products for everybody. Women who want to firm up their pelvic muscles just like you will need two things. They will need a Vagina Tightening Cream and what is called Orgasm Balls for pelvic exercises. The cream is applied within the vaginal orifice minutes before intercourse. It tightens it just for the period of sex. But the Orgasm Balls will make the tightness last longer with constant use. Call and ask for V Gel Tightener – Uche I am 67 years old and I cannot get an erection again.

I am retired and I still dream about sex. Is there a chance that you have something for elderly people that can give a good erection without health problems? Echezona We have something that you can take to get an erection.

It is mild but effective and there are many options you can choose from. Examples are Man Up Now and Maxidus. For someone your age they will give you two to three days of stamina, staying power and a functional erection – Uche I bought Volume Pills and Boss Rhino from you weeks ago and my erections and performance have been solid.

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Yes we can. Call the numbers below to set up the order and delivery arrangements – Uche That is all for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can now call us now on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com to place their orders. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

44 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 45

How Megacity d restaurants turne goldmines

•Mama Put The first part of this piece which was published last Tuesday examined why people prefered to have decent meals without the hassle of going to the market to buy foodstuff, cook or wash dishes.

By Monsuru Olowoopejo with Agency reports ANY of the existing fast food restaurants are owned by small businesses and individuals. Most of the up scale ones are part of a restaurant chain or franchise operation like KFC which provide standardized ingredients to each of its restaurants through controlled supply channels.

A modified version of fast food restaurants are casual restaurants and mobile food centres. Casual restaurants have higher sit-in ratios, and customers can sit and have their orders brought to them. Mobile food services (like food trucks) often park outside work-sites and are popular with factory and construction workers.

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Casual dining restaurants Just a step above fast food restaurants are casual dining outlets where customers get to choose meals from a flexible menu, table service also being provided. The atmosphere here is much more relaxed as clients who patronize this type of restaurant expect to spend some time enjoying their food and are likely to eat their meals within the location rather than take it away.

Fine dining restaurants: Fine dining restaurants are the top range of the restaurant business and are targeted at the elite and people who do not mind paying for a superior dining experience with expensive meals.

They are full service restaurants that offer the finest in food, service and atmosphere.

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They are also the highest priced type of restaurant you can operate and can be very capital intensive to set up. They usually have specific and dedicated meal courses and the waiters and staff are absolutely professional and very well trained. With fine dining restaurants, a lot of attention must be given to detail. The atmosphere of these restaurants usually feature very elaborate and exquisite furniture, lighting, layouts and tableware.

How to start your own food service business – 4 Quick steps Depending on your budget and location, there are a variety of opportunities to exploit in the growing restaurant market.

Before you start, there are a number of things you should consider as you take the huge step of converting this great idea into a brilliant business.

Step 1: Choose a unique concept…

This is the very first step in giving life to your restaurant idea. As we explored in the last section, there are different types of restaurants and food services.

Would you like a fast food (quick service) type of restaurant?

You could start this type of food service with small capital. It could be a small corner booth down the road or you could operate it around your home.

On the other hand, you could buy into one of the popular fast food franchises, which is likely to require huge capital investment.

At the other end of the scale are the fine dining and ethnic restaurants. If you’d like to start an ethnic restaurant, you will have to spend a good amount of money to get a professional chef

who specializes in Chinese, Italian, Thai or whatever type of ethnic food you choose.

If you’d like to start a fine dining restaurant, you should know that it would cost you a lot to start up and you may have to invest some capital in hiring very professional and experienced staff.

A good way to decide on the type of restaurant to start is to examine your location and the kind of people you will be targeting. Are they high-income or low-income earners.

Will they be able to afford an ethnic or fine dining restaurant?

Are they family-type or busy people on the move who just want to grab a quick lunch and walk away? Are they the kind of people who would take their time to have a proper meal? Are they working people, students, labourers or older people?

Understanding your market will help you determine the type of restaurant you should start.

Although capital and proper

With fine dining restaurants, a lot of attention must be given to detail. The atmosphere of these restaurants usually feature very elaborate and exquisite furniture, lighting, layouts and tableware

planning are important, it would be disastrous to start a food business nobody’s interested in.

Step 2: Select a good and proper location Location is the single most important factor that can make or break your restaurant dream.

Is your site located close to and around the type of people your restaurant concept is targeting? If you’re interested in a fine dining restaurant, your site should be located in an upscale commercial or residential part of the town where the kind of people who will patronize you live or work. Will your restaurant be in a place that is easily accessible?

Does it have sufficient parking space? Is it large enough to accommodate the volume of customers you are planning for?

Is the location visible or tucked away in a hard to reach part of town? Again, you must be sure that the area is crime free and the rent you pay for the location will allow you to turn a profit from your food business.

Step 3: Prepare a business plan: You need to confirm if you need any permits or licenses to operate a food business in the location you have chosen. These requirements differ from city to city. In addition to this, your business plan needs to be in place and doesn’t have to be complex or too elaborate.

Seating capacity Even if you don’t intend to source any capital from banks or investors, it is important that you organize your thoughts on paper.

This allows you to see the big picture and easily identify all the obstacles and other things you may not have considered.

In your plan, you will have to consider the layout of the restaurant, the seating capacity and arrangement. You need to design a menu and decide on the best places and suppliers for your ingredients/food stuff. It’s also wise to invest in the right equipment (refrigerators, kitchen and tableware).

The number and type of staff you need should also be a key element of your planning.

You must also think about the competition. How many are they? What would be the main selling point of your restaurant Will you have better-tasting food, great customer service, a friendly and clean atmosphere or higher

quality food at a bargain price?

If you don’t have a plan to set yourself apart from the competition, you may have a big problem.

Step 4: Execute your plan and open for business If you have properly thought through your restaurant business, and set up shop where your market can find you, it should only be a matter of time before your business starts to make good money. However, there are a couple of success tips you should have in mind. We cover these in the section below.

Success tips for winning in the food service business The restaurant and food service business can be very competitive.

To increase the chances of success, the following tips will surely help entrepreneurs and startups who are considering this business idea. (a) Never compromise hygiene, food and service quality: No matter the concept or type of restaurant you decide to start, quality and hygiene must remain top on your agenda.

Hygiene is great for your customers and keeps you on the good side of government health and sanitation inspectors.

Sanitation inspectors The quality of your food and service is the easiest way to gain an advantage over your competition. Understanding the tastes of your market is the starting point in delivering quality to your clients. Quality keeps your customers loyal and encourages them to spread the word about your services. (b) Work on creating a loyal customer base Because people must eat every day, repeat business is the easiest way for restaurants to succeed.

It’s much easier and cheaper to keep your existing customers satisfied and coming back than always trying to get new customers. Think of exciting ways to thrill and excite your customers.

Loyalty programs and discounts for your frequent customers are some great ways to engage customers and keep them coming back! Check out this article for more interesting ways to attract and keep customers: (c) Patience, Hard-work and Perseverance While the whole restaurant business may sound like a walk in the park, it isn’t. This business can be very tough in the early days and a lot of hard-work will be required. If you do not feel up to it, it’s usually best to hire someone who’s qualified and very experienced in running a food service business.

Especially in the early years, the business will need to be nurtured and any profits made should be reinvested to increase its capacity and improve the customer experience.

46 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 — 47

Okocha: I can't set target for Oliseh F

ORMER Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the national team coach, Sunday Oliseh, who’s currently in South Africa, preparing for Nigeria’s second appearance at the African Nations Championship, CHAN. “Well, I can’t set any target for the Super Eagles and coach Sunday Oliseh as far as the African Nations Championship is concerned,” Okocha said.

“Oliseh is my friend and he is my colleague.

I think he’s got all it takes to get us back on track. We don’t have to use the CHAN to judge him. We just need to encourage and support him and let him do his thing.

“Hopefully he is the right person to take us to where we want.

“I have no fears as regards the Super Eagles’ position as 66th in the world and 14th in Africa because big countries and big teams go through difficult periods,” he said.

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L-R: Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, First Bank, Abiodun Odubola; GMD/CEO, Sola Adeduntan, Blessing Okagbare, DMD Gbenga Shobo at the endorsement of Okagbare as First Bank’s Brand Ambassador on Friday.

Football likes me --- Buhari

Solomon Dalung gives President Buhari his CAF award yesterday.

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed that he seems to be lucky with and liked by football as he reiterated his promise to reward athletes who made the country proud from 1985 to 2015.

The President disclosed this Monday while giving assurance on his promise to reward athletes at the State House, Abuja, when the Minister of Youth and

Continues from BP Monday’s ceremony in Zurich.

The 28-year-old beat Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca team-mate Neymar to

Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung presented him with the Platinum Award from CAF given at the GLO/ CAF Awards held last Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

While receiving the trophy and the certificate, the President expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the awards, President Buhari said, “I was in

Lawal Continues from BP The team currently camped in Pretoria, the team have played 2 warm up friendlies against PSL Side Tuks FC and Angola’s Palancas Negras.

Speaking yesterday, the former Nigeria International, Lawal C M Y K

office when the National U-17 team won the maiden edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1985 in China.

Thirty years after, I am being presented again with a trophy won by the Golden Eaglets in Chile and the Africa U-23 Championship won by the Dream Team VI in Senegal. Surely, football likes me.”

Earlier, Barrister Dalung who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa said that all the awards were given to the president for his good leadership since he assumed office as the President.

M e a n w h i l e , machinery is already in place for the Presidential award for athletes which has been fixed for January 21, 2016.

Yesufu backs Gov Ambode on Gov’s Cup upgrading

By John Egbokhan

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BOARD member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Bala Yesufu has backed Governor Akinwumi Ambode for uppgrading the Gov’’s Cup Tennis Futures to a Challengers event.

Speaking in an interview with Sports Vanguard, Yesufu, who was the arrowhead of the now rested Heineken Futures, said the upgrading of the Gov’s Cup Futures was a step in the right direction that would further deepen the tennis space and engender the spirit of competition amongst Nigerian players.

Yesufu, who is Cadbury’s Director, Corporate and Govern-ment Affairs, West Africa, said “what the Governor has done with this upgrading is to redefine the ten-

Messi wins 5th award the game’s most prestigious individual award, winning it for a record fifth time in his spectacular career.

said: ‘ With the kind of preparation the team have had they do not have any excuse why they shouldn’t give us a vey good outing. ‘ The team has been in camp for some time now and have also enjoyed the support of the nff.’

Okagbare is First Bank’s Brand Ambassador

Messi polled 41.33 per cent of the vote, ahead of Ronaldo (27.76 per cent) and Neymar (7.86 per cent). Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards.

Messi was the hot favourite for the accolade voted for by international captains, coaches and a selection of media representatives from around the world having helped Barca to an historic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in a 2014-15

season in which he netted 58 goals in all competitions.

At international level, Messi captained Argentina to the Copa America final, where they were beaten by hosts Chile on penalties one year after losing out in the World Cup final to Germany.

Messi’s five award wins puts him well clear at the top of the list of Ballon d’Or victors.

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, won the women’s award.

nis space in Nigeria. It’s about the biggest and boldest decision to have been made in recent times because by upgrading the Governor’s Cup to a Challengers event, our players must now raise their game because of the high calibre of players who will be coming to Lagos”.

He dispelled fears that the upgrading of the tournament would spell doom for Nigerian players, noting that “the top players coming from abroad don’t have two heads or three hands, so our players have to up their ante to ensure that they are not dominated.

And they also have to be serious with their career.

“It is very clear that if we have a lot of competition that our players will be able to brace up.

I am sure our players will start challenging for more ATP points sooner than later”, added Yesufu.

IGERIA’s queen of track and Africa’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare has been named First Bank of Nigeria’s Brand Ambassador.

With a large collection of medals in track and field events, she embodies the strong qualities of resilience and excellence, a reflection of First Bank’s brand promise to always deliver the gold standard of value and excellence to its teeming customers.

First Bank’s endorsement of Okagbare reinforces the Bank’s core values of Passion, Partnership and People while it also underpins the Bank’s stance to collaborate with its stakeholders and provide support in all aspects of their lives.

The Bank is pleased to associate with Blessing’s qualities and achievements and is proud to present her as a model of hard work and exploits to the youth.

According to a statement by First Bank’s spokesperson, Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Bank is pleased with the endorsement of Blessing as this is a further testament to its support for youth empowerment.

“We are particularly proud of Blessing’s feats in Africa and the globe at large and we were her proud promoters during the 2012 London Olympics. We are optimistic that this endorsement will inspire our youth towards the achievement of their dreams” she said.

Lagos City Marathon: Organizers call for Volunteers

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Organizing Comm-ittee for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have opened another veritable channel for Lagosians to contribute to the development of their City as a volunteer scheme for the Marathon race has been activated.

Head of the Vo l u n t e e r i n g department for the Lagos City Marathon, Ebidowei Oweifie said the call for volunteers to come on board is in line HE

with international best practices as well as giving the citizenry a chance to be part of the epoch event billed for the Centre of Excellence on February 6, 2016.

“This is a big event and we are ready to make it a memorable one, we are calling on everybody to come on board and contribute their little quota” Mr. Oweifie stated Interested members of the public are enjoined to pick forms at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

CHAN: Eagles pip Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 N

Messi wins 5th Ballon d’Or B

ARCELONA and Argentina star Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of the 2015 Ballon d’Or at Continues on Page 47

•Chikatara

Oliseh must deliver in Rwanda – Lawal

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ORMER Member of the NFF Technical Committee, Garba Lawal has stated that the CHAN bound Super Eagles B have no excuse for failure when the championship gets underway. The team have been in camp since December 14 and are now finalizing their preparation for the 4th edition of the championship in Rwanda.

Continues on Page 46

Messi with his award yesterday.

•Oliseh

IGERIA will be at this year’s CHAN with an unbeaten record after defeating Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in a final warm-up match before their departure to Rwanda.

And El Kanemi War riors midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew underlined his class with the match winner in the 45thminute courtesy of a neat finish.

Last year, the Nigeria ‘B’ team beat Burkina Faso 2-0, before they held their West African rivals to a goalless draw in Ouagadougou to qualify for their second CHAN. Last week they were held to a 1-1 draw by another CHAN-bound team, Angola, before they defeated Cote d’Ivoire on Monday evening in Pretoria to fly out to Kigali on Friday without losing a game.

Exactly a week today, they will open their 2016 CHAN campaign against Niger in Kigali.

They will also battle Tunisia and Guinea in the group phase of the competition, which kicks off on Saturday.

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Skirt (6) 5 Origin (6) 9 Duck (5) 10 Entreaty (6) 11 Wood (6) 12 Tag (5) 14 Just (4) 17 Vehicle (3) 18 Ripped (4) 20 Strop (5) 22 Equipped (5) 23 House (7) 24 Plunged (5) 26 Penetrate (5) 29 Tart (4) 30 Curve (3) 32 Challenge (4) 33 Design (5) 35 Vegetable (6) 36 Senior (6) 37 Items (5) 38 Cure (6) 39 Warmed (6)

DOWN 1 Belittles (6) 2 Fix (6) 3 Agreement (4) 4 Shrub (5) 5 Drain (5) 6 Spoken (4) 7 Haphazard (6) 8 Stretch (6) 13 Beating (7) 15 Room (5) 16 Sped (5) 18 Fashion (5) 19 Allude (5) 21 Seed-case (3) 22 Period (3) 24 Smart (6) 25 Dupe (6) 27 Skill (6) 28 Relaxed (6) 30 Slackness (5) 31 Material (5) 33 Fastener (4) 34 Besides (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Snail 7, Chewed 9, Spy 10, God 12, Alive 13, Oval 16, Piano 17, Latest 19, Nose 20, Solve 22, Tow 24, Ashamed 27, Ten 28, Ruines 31, Rugs 33, Access 35, Model 37, Tsar 38, Haven 39, Sum 41, Lug 42, Bureau 43, Meals.

DOWN: 1, Across 2, Recall 3, Peg 4, Span 5, Nylon 6, Invasion 8, Dope 11, Distance 14, Lava 16, Atom 18, Test 21, Obdurate 23, Were 25, Head 26, Dust 29, Issued 30, Shroud 32, Smell 34, Club 36, Onus 40, Mug.

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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