FG defends Amaechi, says project captured in budget

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 63005

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N200

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

LIGHT UP LAGOS

FG compiles list of N5,000 beneficiaries; to release N350bn to >>12&16 contractors

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), unveiling the plaque to commission the Light Up Lagos Project on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Ile Zik – Gateway, Sango Ota), yesterday. With him are Senator Olamilekan Adeola (3rd right) and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. AbdulRazaq Balogun (2nd right).

Borrows N600bn annually to pay salaries

CALABAR-LAGOS RAIL LINE:

FG defends Amaechi, says project captured in budget

By Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

We won’t revisit project, Senate tells Buhari Asks President to submit supplementary budget Reps keep mum over budget controversy

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BUJA—IN what appears to be a rebuttal to the National Assembly’s submission, Monday, that the N60 billion Calabar-Lagos railway project was not captured in the 2016 budget, the Federal Government has insisted that the project was duly submitted and accepted by the lawmakers for Continues on Page 5

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: I didn't

keep record of money handed to Badeh —Witness•P.9 VANGUARD AWARDS—From left: Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima; receiving Vanguard Governor of the Year Award from Dr. Oba Otudeko,Chairman of the occasion, at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2015 held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Nigeria mustn't be consumer market for Chinese products — Buhari

•P.9

COLUMNISTS: Honour for man that brought Catholic faith to Communicating change: APC, Awka in 1916 where is the See Inside C M Y K

strategy?

A gradual His religion transformation forbids to a failed •P.19 •P.17 condoms •P.42 state

What would it take for a politically exposed Nigerian politician to resign?

•P.19

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

of Budget and National Planning at the National Economic Council Retreat in March 2016, in the presence of state governors.

"They were also mentioned by the Vice President last week in Lagos at The Nation Newspaper ’s First National Economic Forum.

“It is hoped that with this clarification, the raging controversy over the Calabar-Lagos rail project will be put to rest.”

CONFERENCE—From left: Mr. Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange (LSE); Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) and Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, at the 2nd NSE/LSEG Dual Listings Conference, yesterday, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

FG defends Amaechi, says project captured in budget Continues from Page 1 approval.

This came on a day the Senate said the protest of the executive would not make it revisit the budget passed two weeks ago, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to submit a supplementary budget.

Members of the House of Representatives, however, kept sealed lips on the matter, yesterday, But in a statement by the Media Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. James Akpandem, yesterday, the federal government insisted that the relevant committees of the parliament received the document.

The statement read in full: “In view of the recent controversies surrounding the 2016 budget, it has become

necessary to state the following to set the facts straight: The details of the 2016 budget were received by the President on Thursday, April 7, 2016.

“Immediately this was received, the President, desirous of signing the document into law as soon as possible, directed that copies should be made available to heads of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government.

"Ministers were asked to go through the details and give their reactions as it affects their respective Ministries to guide the President and enable him sign the Appropriation Bill into law.

“That process is still ongoing and no statement has been issued by the Executive on the matter,

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OUR feelings are always subject to your will.

It doesn’t matter how you feel at the moment, if the will and determination is there, you will achieve your goals. It's up to you.

Y

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Giving Opens The Door For Receiving — Florence Scovel

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IVING is beautiful. If you are a giver, you are familiar with the feeling that comes when you make life easier for another. Giving is beyond material things. For instance, you give patience, trust, love and loyalty. But life is a beautiful teacher, the lever that stops your ramp from going over the edge, and also the genie that opens your treasure chest for being a giver. Simply put, with time we learn to apply right discrimination when we give.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A baby on his mother's back does not know that the journey is far.

apart from the one by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohamnmed, to confirm that details of the budget are being examined. No final decision has been taken by the President and no other statement whatsoever has been issued on the matter.

“With reference to the specific issue of the Calabar – Lagos rail project, we will like to state that the two railway projects, Lagos-Kano and the Calabar-Lagos, are very important projects of the present administration; and it was always the intention of the Executive to have both projects reflected in the budget submitted to the National Assembly.

“However, it will be recalled that the Budget Office made a number of errors in the initial proposals of a number of ministries. These errors were all corrected by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the corrected versions were submitted to the relevant committees of the National Assembly. This included that of the Ministry of Transportation.

“The amended Ministry of Transportation budget was accepted by the relevant committees and that was the version defended by the Minister of Transportation and his team.

“It must be emphasized that the two rail projects are part of those for which the President is currently negotiating funding with the Chinese government.

“The N60bn provided in the budget for the LagosKano and Calabar-Lagos rail lines, respectively, is counterpart funding to support the Chinese financing for the projects.

“These projects are part of the Strategic Implementation Plan of the government which was disclosed by the Minister

No going back — Senate Meanwhile, the Senate,yesterday,said that in spite of protest by the exec utive over alleged non-inclusion of the N60 billion LagosCalabar coastal rail project in the 2016 budget, it would not revisit the budget.

Instead, the Red Chamber asked President Muhammadu Buhari to prepare a detailed supplementary budget capturing the project and submit before it for consideration.

The Senate, which took the decision during its closed-door session, shortly after resumption of plenary, insisted that the President must sign the budget as passed, thus giving indication that the legislature might override the President if he vetoed the bill as passed by NASS. The closed-door session where the resolution was taken, was clouded in heated arguments as some senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, insisted on capturing the LagosCalabar rail project in the budget, while those from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stood firm that the President must assent the budget and later submit the project in a supplementary budget.

Vanguard gathered that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the onehour long session, upheld the latter due to overwhelming support for it.

Addressing newsmen later, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdullahi Sabi, said senators during the closed session resolved that the President should assent to the budget as passed and include things left out in the main budget in a supplementary budget.

He insisted that the project, contrary to the position of the executive that it was captured in the budget, was not included and asked the executive to stop instigating Nigerians against the

legislature which, according to him, has done so much in the budget to ensure dividends of democracy were speedily delivered to them.

He said: “I know very well that the last one week has been full of the language you guys have already crafted ‘controversy ’, even though for us, there is no controversy.

“Like you will recall, I issued a press statement yesterday (Monday), on behalf of the Senate to make our position very clear with respect to the issue of the budget. And let me make it very clear that we issued that statement simply to clarify the situation and not to confront any authority or threaten anybody.

“We are a democratic institution and whatever we do, we remain guided by the grund norm of the country which is the constitution.

“Today, we have resumed plenary, having come back from our recess and, of course, we went into executive session, which is the normal practice, to welcome one another and discuss issues that we believe pertain to the burning issues on ground, in this case, the issue of the 2016 budget and the smooth workings of the Senate and the National Assembly.

“Now, what we issued yesterday (Monday) remained our position.

Today, all we did was to confirm what exactly are the true pictures of these situations and in my capacity as spokesman of the Senate, I did not go to press with falsehood.

“I have to verify my facts. I have to get my facts and to speak on this facts; and I think we have made that point very clear and we would definitely remain guided by the tenets of the Nigerian Constitution as we did whatever we were supposed to do.

“Now, one thing that is obvious is that yes, we have passed the budget, Nigerians are asking what next for us? What is important now is for the budget to be signed.

“The constitution has taken note of this kind of

scenario where you may have omissions or shortfalls of allocations and Section 81 of the Constitution is very clear on what you need to do, which is to sign the budget and then submit a supplementary appropriation.

“I want to assure you that the Senate is not unmindful of the cries of Nigerians. That we said, for example, that the Lagos-Calabar rail project was not in the budget does not in any way undermine the fact that it is a very, very important project for this nation to embark on.

“So, the National Assembly, the Senate is open if the executive brings a supplementary appropriation with respect to these and any other issue that they feel very strongly about. We are ready and willing to consider such.

“But the most important point to note is that we want to remain guided by the provisions of the constitution.

“I think if we do that, all these raging controversies will be off our back and we can all concentrate and begin the process of implementing the 2016 budget so that those dividends of democracy youth unemployment issue, the empowerment of women, the social intervention programme, the infrastructure programmes, the agricultural programmes are treated.

“The rains are already here and all the other projects that we know will kick-start the Nigerian economy can begin to be implemented.”

He said having passed the budget, “ we are moving into the second phase of our responsibility, which is oversight.

“So we want to appeal to Nigerians that the Senate is committed to doing its work diligently.

It is committed to listening to the yearning of Nigerians and to do what is right."

However, members of the House of Representatives kept sealed lips on the controversy yesterday.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016

Court remands Lagos officer over tax racketeering

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—MAGISTRATE A. T Omoyele of an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded a Lagos state tax officer Taiwo Ajulo to Ikoyi prisons over alleged contempt of the Court.

Ajulo was remanded when the magistrate inquired why he should collect tax cash from sureties instead of allowing the sureties pay tax through bank.

Omoyele remanded Ajulo after he, had told the court that he collected tax based on the bail bond given to sureties.

The sureties had reported to Omoyele that the tax officer collected the sum of N120, 000 but was still demanding for more before he would issue tax clearance receipt to them.

The sureties were standing for a defendant who was alleged to have stolen 61 pieces of air conditioner worth N15 million, whom the complainant had brought to court, which the tax officer was now asking them for outrageous sum before he would issue them tax clearance.

One of the sureties, known as Anabuike Emeka, told the court that the tax officer had a middle man who collected the sum of N120,000 out of N200, 000 which Ajulo initially demanded.

Teacher, wife docked for attacking school proprietor over salary

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AGOS—A 64-year-old teacher, Samuel Mensah, and his wife, Matilda, who allegedly attacked a school proprietor with hammer over unpaid salary, were yesterday charged before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Mensah and Matilda, 42, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage.

They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijiale, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 5 at No. 1b, Chesachi Hani Okoroafor Close, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

He said that the first accused, who was recently sacked by the school authorities, unlawfully entered the school premises and assaulted the school proprietor, Gloria Obinna.

He said the accused also assaulted two female teachers; Uche Huton and Anita Eguije, by inflicting injury on their left hands, abdomen and neck with a hammer.

Mile 12 market moves to new site in Sept — AMBODE

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday said the Mile 12 market will be relocated to the new Imota site within the next six months.

Ambode said this when he inspected the proposed site.

The Governor, who was accompanied on the inspection visit by top officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and members of the State Executive Council, noted the relocation of the market became necessary following the recent clash in the

area, just as he directed the Ministry to move to site and commence work on the market immediately.

He however expressed optimism that the relocation will drive commerce and investment into the Imota area, urging residents to gear up to receive the vast number of visitors that will visit the market.

“We are all aware that we had a little crisis at Mile 12 Market in Ketu recently and here is the new site that we are relocating Mile 12 Market to.

“So, our new commodities market would take off from here and so I like to give the Ministry of Physical Planning the directive to commence activities here within the next one week. We believe that if we start within the next seven

days, within the next six months, Mile 12 Market, Ketu will be a thing of the past.

“We are committed to doing this. We know it is in the interest of all Lagosians that we relocate Mile 12 Market. The marketers themselves have agreed; the onus is now on us to ensure that we deliver this new market within the next six months.

“I want to appeal to people in Imota that you will be having new set of investors; new set of traders and then new set of tenants. You should be very accommodating because we are bringing a whole lot here,” he said.

Governor Ambode also assured residents that the state government will consider the possible expansion of the road

UNVEILING: From left; DG, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; MD, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roy Naaman and Director, Cadbury, Mr. Dotun Sulaiman during the unveiling of the new Bournvita pack and world's largest Cocoa-Beverage inflatable jar in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

N6.8BN FRAUD: EFCC re-arraigns ex-NAMA boss, 6 others

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arraigned the Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalam and six other persons over alleged stealing and conversion of the agency money amounting to N6.850 billion before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

EFCC had last week Thursday arraigned the NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the directors.

The other defendants are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, wife of Adegorite, Joy, who is the Managing Director of Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd and two limited liability companies Randville Investment Ltd, Multeng Travels and Tours Limited alleged to have been used as conduit pipe to defraud the agency.

The other defendants in the amended charge are Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun.

The matter was listed for hearing of the bail applications of the

defendants, yesterday, but the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court that he came with a 24 count amended charge and urged the court to allow the charge to be read to the accused persons again.

According to him, two other defendants were included in the amended charge and the defendants counsels did not oppose the application.

Trial judge, Justice Babs Kiewumi granted the request and the charge was read to the defendant who took their plea.

Meanwhile, the defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the first count of the amended charge, EFCC alleged that the first to fifth defendants and one Nnamdi Udoh still at large between January 31, 2013 and September 3, 2015, with intent to defraud, conspired and induced NAMA to deliver N2,847,523,975 to Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd under the pretence that the said sum was the cost of clearing consignments belonging to the agency.

network around the market and connecting the Ikorodu and Epe area, saying the relocation of the Mile 12 Market as well as the Oko Baba Sawmill Market to the axis will have multiplier effect on the Lagos economy.

“We are on our way to Agbowa now. We intend to relocate Oko Baba Market in Ebute Meta to Agbowa and so this axis will be a big axis for commerce, for employment and then for prosperity and that is what we want for the rest of Lagos,” he said.

Governor Ambode, who also visited the Imota Rice Processing Factory in Ikorodu Division, assured that the facility will be overhauled and be ready within the next six months.

He said the intention of his administration was to upgrade the facility to a standard that will achieve a 10,000 metric tonnes per hour production of rice and also invite private investors to complement the intervention with an additional 10,000 metric tonnes per hour.

“That is the only way we can be clearly said to have intervened seriously and that is the only platform we can use to allow the inflow of rice paddy from Kebbi State. You will all recall that we just signed an MoU with Kebbi State and the intention is that we want a consistent flow of raw materials to come so that the era of importing rice from abroad would become a thing of the past, He said aside Kebbi State, Lagos was also looking at partnership with other states, saying that on the long run, such collaboration will ensure that residents can consume locally processed rice within the next six months.

The Governor said a vibrant infrastructure that will attract the best professionals and experts to manage the facility would be put in place.

“This is a major investment and we cannot allow it to rot away. So in the next three to six months, when we come back here, we must be eating Eko Rice,” he said.

The Governor, who also visited the new site for the Oko Baba Sawmill Market, assuring that the project will be delivered before the end of September.

He said the project will ensure that the Ebute Meta - Third Mainland Bridge loop, currently an eyesore will be cleaned up.

FG starts IDPs' return to their homes

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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T was revealed yesterday that the Federal Government has started the process of resettling the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, back to the areas liberated from Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, who said government is interested to get the people back to their

communities to start fresh life after they were forced to relocate from their domains by Boko Haram terrorists.

Speaking through Mr Dauda Noah, a Director in the Ministry of Interior, Dambazau at a Media Round-table organised by SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Developing Effective Policy Framework to Address the Situation of Victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria, he said the

time is now to relocate them.

The round-table, which took place in Lagos was to address the impact of the terrorism on the people and how the IDPs is expected to be treated after they are out of the camp.

Dambazau said the joint military task force had made progress in the battle against the insurgents, noting that it is believed that preparation has to be made to get the people back to their various communities.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 — 7

Kidnapping now attracts death penalty in Oyo

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has given assent to a new kidnapping (prohibition) bill 2016, which prescribes death sentence or life imprisonment for any person who engages in kidnapping.

The governor, after his approval of the bill also vowed to enforce the law to the letter, warning kidnappers to leave the state in their own interest.

The bill, which had earlier been passed by the legislative arm and sent to the governor for assent had earlier prescribed life imprisonment for anybody found guilty of the offence.

But, after signing it into law, a capital punishment is now awaiting any kidnapper whose victim or victims die while in captivity.

The bill added that a convicted offender will be liable to life imprisonment if the victim is released or rescued unhurt upon the payment of a ransom, while the kidnapper will be compelled to pay back the ransom.

Similar punishment awaits any person who procures, engages or gives information culminating in the kidnapping of a victim.

Before the assent of the governor, the bill was passed by the legislative arm following the submission of report by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Justice, Hon. Olukayode Akande.

The Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adeyemo and Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the House, Mr. Paul Bankole, had earlier signed the bill before the governor’s assent.

The law prescribes life imprisonment for any person who kidnaps or threatens to kill, maim or cause bodily harm in order to compel another person, corporate body or organization to do or abstain from doing any act as a condition for the release of the victim.

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VISIT: From left; Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, Council member, and Chairperson, Compliance Committee National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN; Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, President &Chairman of Governing Council, NIMN; Mr Tarang Gupta, Marketing Director, Friesland Campina WAMCO Plc; Mr Tony Agenmonmen, 1st Vice President, NIMN and Mr Sidney Ogodo, Registrar, NIMN, during the courtesy visit by the NIMN team to WAMCO. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Under the new law, 20 years imprisonment awaits anyone that makes an attempt to kidnap, while anybody who aids or abets kidnapping is liable to imprisonment for 15 years upon conviction.

Besides, the law stipulates 15 years imprisonment or any noncustodian punishment that may be determined by the court for any

person who puts himself forward to be kidnapped for the purpose of extorting ransom from his employer, any person or body.

According to the law, any property owner who knowingly or willingly surrenders his building over which he has control to be used for the purpose of keeping a kidnapped person is liable to 15 years imprisonment,

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AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned former Acting Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Haruna Baba Jauro, his brother in-law, Dr Dauda Bawa and his company Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd before Justice C.M.A Olantoregun of the Federal High Court Lagos on 19count charge of stealing and money laundering.

Jauro was arrested by EFCC based on its findings during the investigation of his predecessor, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

It was discovered that the former Acting DG, while being the C M Y K

while such property shall be forfeited to the government.

Any person who willingly allows his or her electronics, equipment, instrument, mechanical or movable item to be used for the purpose of kidnapping, aiding or abetting kidnapping has also committed an offence and will be committed to prison for 10 years if convicted.

2016 budget crisis vindicates me — FAYOSE

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said recent happenings in the nation has vindicated his earlier position that President Muhammadu Buhari is too old to govern Nigeria.

Describing the raging controversies between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the 2016 Budget as confirmation of his position on President Buhari, Fayose said “Nigerians should expect more blunders like this until 2019.”

The governor, who said it was now obvious that the President

and his All Progressives Congress, APC, only wanted power desperately without the wherewithal to govern, adding that; “I warned Nigerians of the consequences of electing an octogenarian as president and with the international embarrassment that this budget crisis has become, I have been vindicated.”

According to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Pubic Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said; “It is obvious that there is total disconnect between the President and his cabinet members as many of the ministers don’t even have access to him probably because the President

N156M FRAUD: EFCC arraigns ex-acting DG of NIMASA

By Godfrey Bivbere

PDP leaders defect to APC in Gbonyin

Executive Director, Finance of the agency received the sum of N156,477,500 as gratification from Akpobolokemi to allow the former DG and his cohorts to embezzle large sums of monies from the agency. The said monies were traced to Jauro’s company account,

Thlumbau Enterprises Ltd, which his brother in-law, the second accused person used to oversee.

Jauro is said to have refunded N35 million, being part of the money he collected from Akpobolokemi to the Federal Government.

spend most of his time resting as a result of his old age.

“The reality is that the President is challenged by age, exposure and ability. He did not read the budget proposal he presented to the National Assembly and this should be a lesson for those who clamoured for a Buhari’s presidency that no man can give what he does not have.

“The question is; can a minister present supplementary budget to the National Assembly and can the National Assembly act on budget proposal submitted by a minister?

“It is shameful that after blaming former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for close to one year, the presidency is now blaming the National Assembly for its inability to prepare a common budget.”

The governor commended the National Assembly for exposing the lies of the presidency, saying it was shameful that President Buhari and his men could blame the National Assembly for their incompetence.

PVC DEPRIVATION SUIT: Court awards N400,000 against INEC

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, awarded N400,000 cost against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for not issuing Permanent Voters Card to a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Chijioke Emeka.

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba also ordered the electoral umpire to immediately issue the PVC to the plaintiff.

The lawyer, who was deprived of the PVC before the last general election, after he had completed the registration and data capturing process, had sued INEC, claiming damages.

The plaintiff in the suit, complained that INEC had failed to issue him his PVC even though he registered to vote and was issued with a voter’s card.

He had prayed the court to compel INEC to issue him with a PVC to enable him to vote in the 2015 election. The suit could not be concluded before the elections.

CORES of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders in OdeEkiti at the weekend reportedly led hundreds of their supporters to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to their leader, Joseph Olu Omolona, their decision to join APC followed disenchantment with the PDP leadership, which they said used to thrive in breaking promises with the people.

Omolona, a former Chairman of the Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities, University of Ibadan branch, and former Secretary to Ayekire/Gbonyin Local Government, added that PDP had become a party that had no capacity to lead Ekiti State again owing to leadership crises and selfish agenda of individuals in government.

Other leaders received into APC by Senator Gbenga Aluko and Local Government Chairman of APC, Mr. Samuel Falade, included former PDP councillor, Tunji Jackson; PDP Local Government Women Leader, Mrs. Shola Falade; former PDP House of Assembly candidate, Mrs. Labake Ademuagun; and Femi Ogunlusi, among others.

Lawyer asks Aregbesola to produce Osun’s debt profile

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SOGBO—AN Osogbo based Human Rights Lawyer, Kanmi Ajibola, has challenged Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola to produce information about the debt profile of Osun state.

Ajibola in a letter sent to the Governor of Osun state dated April 11, 2016, and made available in Osogbo yesterday, also asked the governor to produce the lists of all the capital projects being executed by his administration since November 26, 2011 till date.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016—9

Nigeria must not be consumer market for Chinese products —Buhari Calls for reduction of trade imbalance between Nigeria, China Orders establishment of c'ttees on new China, Nigeria projects China releases $15m for 50 agric farms in Nigeria

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By Levinus Nwabughiogu

EIJING — NIGERIA must not be seen as a consumer market alone, but an investment destination where goods can also be manufactured and consumed locally, President Muhammadu Buhari, has said.

He also ordered immediate establishment of technical committees to finalize discussions on infrastructure projects.

The President equally decried the trade disparity between Nigeria and China which he said was only in the favour of the Asian country.

Available reports showed that business and trade relations between Nigeria and China in the last 10 years had increasingly appreciated, with bilateral trade volumes rising from $2.8 billion in 2005 to $14.9 billion in 2015.

Of this figure, Nigeria accounted for 8.3 per cent of the total trade volume between China and Africa and 42 per cent of the total trade volume between China and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, countries in 2015.

Speaking at the opening of a Nigeria-China Business/ Investment Forum, yesterday, in Beijing, capital of China, President Buhari said trade and economic relations between both countries must be mutually beneficial and reciprocal.

He called on the Nigerian and Chinese business communities to work harder to reduce the trade imbalance between both countries.

He said: “Although the Nigerian and Chinese business communities have recorded tremendous successes in bilateral trade, there is a large trade imbalance in favour of China as Chinese exports represent some 80 per cent of the total bilateral trade volumes. This gap needs to be reduced.

“Therefore, I would like to challenge the business communities in both countries to work together to reduce the trade imbalance.

“You must also imbibe the spirit of having a mutually beneficial relationship in your business transactions. You must not see Nigeria as a consumer market alone, but as an investment destination where goods can be manufactured and consumed locally.”

C'ttees on new China, Nigeria projects

The President also ordered immediate establishment of technical committees to finalize discussion on infrastructure projects discussed with the Chinese government.

This came as President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic C M Y K

of China offered $15 million agricultural assistance to Nigeria for the establishment of 50 agricultural demonstration farms across the country.

Besides, the Chinese government promised to increase its scholarship aides to Nigeria from 100 to 700 students on a yearly basis.

Signing of agreements, MoU

These developments followed the signing of a plethora of mutual agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, between Nigeria and China in Beijing, yesterday.

Both President Buhari and President Jinping, who led their

respective country officials, witnessed the events.

The agreements included a “Framework Agreement Between the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the Peoples Republic of China.”

Others were a “Memorandum of Understanding on Aviation Cooperation Between the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China” and a “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and

the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on Scientific and Technological Cooperation”.

Also, a “Mandate Letter Between the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria on Renminbi (RMB) Transactions" was also signed.

Speaking after talks between his delegation and high-ranking Chinese government officials, led

by President Jinping, President Buhari directed that the technical committees would expedite action and conclude their assignments before the end of May. The President lauded China’s readiness to assist Nigeria to rapidly industrialize and join the world’s major economies.

Reacting, President Jinping, while agreeing that economic diversification was one sure way of achieving prosperity, promised that China would provide Nigeria with infrastructural support.

FORUM: From left: Chiahemba Ayom; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, SBM Chairman, Songke Yang and another official at the Nigeria-China Business Forum in Shanghai, China, yesterday.

FG ready to receive prisoners from UK

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

BUJA —THE Federal Government has expressed its readiness to receive Nigerians who are serving various jail terms in the United Kingdom, UK, prisons.

Comptroller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service, Dr Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu, stated this, yesterday, in Abuja when the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) and officials of the UK Embassy in Nigeria went on an inspection visit to Kuje Medium Security Prisons.

“Our prisons are ready. We are ready to receive the prisoners anytime they are brought back,” Ekpendu assured, declining to give detail.

Earlier, Dambazau refuted speculation that government was concentrating on developing Kuje Prisons as it normally hosts highprofile inmates.

According to him, “concentration is not just on Kuje prisons but some prisons in other states, including the Kirikiri prisons.

“We are hoping that by the time the budget is signed and we get our releases, we are going to embark on renovation of some prisons, capacity building and reinforcement of security."

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: I did not keep record of money former Defence Chief. handed to Badeh — Witness “All the statements I made were

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA — FORMER Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (retd), yesterday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the erstwhile Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd), had a particular officer whose duty was to convert N558.2 million to dollars monthly.

He, however, said he did not keep record of money handed to Badeh.

Yushua, who is the star witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which is prosecuting Badeh over allegation of siphoning about N3.9 billion from NAF account in 2013, told the court that the dollar equivalent of the N558.2 million was usually handed over to the

defendant at his official residence at Niger Barracks, Abuja.

Even though Yushua earlier informed the court that all the past Air Chiefs also indulged in such practice, however, he said that upon his assumption of office, Badeh detailed one Group Captain Sini to handle the dollar conversion.

He said Badeh, subsequently, influenced the redeployment of Group Capt. Sini to the Finance and Accounts Unit.

He said: “The chief later asked me to post Group Capt. Sini to take over the changing of over N558.2 million into dollars which he brings to me and I personally take the dollar equivalent to him (Badeh). My Command Finance Officers have all the records of all the money I gave to Chief Badeh.

“While I was in custody of the

EFCC, my finance officers were also invited and they gave the records of all the property procured for the defendant.”

On N90m to furnish mansion

Meantime, while being crossexamined by Badeh’s lawyer, Chief Akinolu Olujumi, SAN, the witness said he never told the EFCC that the defendant used N90 million to furnish a mansion he bought for his son, Alex Badeh Jnr. “In EFCC, I was never asked how much was used to furnish Alex Badeh Jnr’s house. It was in the court that I first mentioned the issue of the N90 million. It is, however, in the record of the Nigerian Air Force that the money was paid,” he said.

Yushua also denied allegation that he was coerced by operatives of the EFCC to implicate the

answers to questions from the EFCC. But the statements were mine and were voluntarily made,” he insisted, saying the N558.2 million was left over from funds meant for payment of salaries.

More so, the witness told the court that prior to his appointment as the CDS, Badeh, hitherto held sway as the officer in charge of budget office of the NAF. He said: “The responsibility of budgeting for the NAF was under the Chief of Policy and Plans and the first defendant was in charge of that office from August 2010 to sometime in 2012.

That was during the time of Air Marshal M.D. Umar.

“Budget office of NAF was not under the Director of Finance and Account when I was there. So I did not know what was going on in respect to budgeting."

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Kogi Assembly crisis: Reps summon IGP, AGF

Reps ‘kill’ bill seeking reduction of political parties to 5

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, summoned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Solomon Arase, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the AGF’s directive to the IG to disregard the National Assembly’s resolution to seal Kogi State House of Assembly.

Recall that the National Assembly had taken a resolution directing the IGP to seal the state Assembly over the recent crisis that engulfed the assembly and also took over legislation of the House, pending the resolution of the crisis.

But the AGF reportedly told the IGF to disregard the National Assembly directives, claiming that the legislative body erred in its resolution as he described the crisis as a mere misunderstanding among the legislators that had no security threat to the state.

Worried by the directive of the IGP, the House in its resolution, after debating on the motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ossai Nicholas Ossai, representing Ndokwa East/ Ndokwa West/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State, invited the IGP and the AGF to appear to explain the reasons behind their actions.

The House, presided over by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, set up a 22-man adhoc committee, chaired by the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, to interface with the duo to find out the reason behind some of their actions in the Kogi imbroglio and report back to the general house.

The inclusion of the IGP was to ascertain why it took him several weeks to implement the resolution of the National Assembly directing the police to seal the assembly complex, pending the resolution of the crisis.

The mover of the motion, Ossai, regretted that after the House had taken a resolution on the Kogi State House of Assembly to forestall any break down of law and order, the AGF told the IGP that the decision of the National Assembly was unwarranted and unlawful.

The Majority Leader said the National Assembly had a responsibility to defend the constitution of the country and also protect the mandate given to them, which has constitutional backings.

C M Y K

A

AGM: From left, Omowunmi Fajemiloye, Company Secretary, Nigerian Economic Summit Group NESG; Mr Kyari Bukar, Chairman; Mr Asue Ighodalo, Vice Chairman and Mrs Sola David-Borha, Vice Chairman, during the group's Annual General Meeting, in Lagos, yesterday.

Subsidy on petrol rises to N9.09 per litre As marketers blame NNPC for worsening fuel crisis

By Michael Eboh

A

BUJA — THE amount the Federal Government is subsidizing Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, rose, yesterday, to N9.09 per litre, according to the latest pricing template released by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA. Specifically, this means that if the Federal Government is to hands off subsidizing the product and allow market forces determine the price, Nigerians would be made to pay a minimum of N95.09 to buy a litre of the petrol from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) retail stations, and N95.74 per litre from other marketers.

This was even as the unending fuel crisis witnessed across the country continued, yesterday, showing no sign of abating, with some oil marketers blaming the NNPC’s suspension of product allocation to some of them.

The PPPRA, in its template, released yesterday, put the cost plus freight of imported petrol at N74.83 per litre, with other cost elements hiking the landing cost of the product for marketers to N81.44 per litre.

With a distribution margins put at N14.30 per litre, the Expected Open Market price of the product rose to N95.74 per litre.

However, the Federal Government fixed the ex-depot price, which is the price at which marketers purchase the products from depots, at N76.50 per litre, while the retail price was fixed at N86.50 per litre.

Marketers blame NNPC for worsening fuel crisis

In spite of the looming increase in fuel price from May,

a petrol station owner in Abuja, who is a member of Association of Credit Marketers of Petroleum Products in Nigeria (ACMPPN) lamented that members of the association had not been allocated products since March.

Lifting of suspension

The marketer called on the NNPC and its subsidiary, the restructured Pipeline Products Marketing Company, PPMC, to urgently lift the suspension it placed on product allocation to credit marketers if it was serious about ending the fuel crisis.

However, National President of Association of Credit Marketers of Petroleum Products in Nigeria (ACMPPN), Samuel Nwoga, insisted that its members were not indebted to the NNPC, saying the group was already in talks with the NNPC with a view to resolving the areas of differences in the best interest of the country.

Also, NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer, Downstream, Henry Ikem-Obih, said the NNPC had received a letter from the group and a meeting was being scheduled.

The marketer, who chose not to be named, said the ban on petrol allocation to credit marketers in March coincided with aggravation of the now three-month acute shortage of petrol that has defied all solutions, as it led to the shutdown of thousands of filling stations across the country.

According to him, the argument that credit marketers are hugely indebted to PPMC is not true, adding that marketers had bank guarantees to back their business.

He said: “Each credit marketer has a bank guarantee

and that means the credit is secured. So, why is NNPC asking the major marketers to go back to business and we that have bank guarantees you are shutting us out?

“What is happening is nothing short of sabotage because the credit marketers have the best distribution business not only in the big cities as Abuja and Lagos but also across the country.

How OBJ, Jonathan handled scarcity

“We have the most stations in this country with over 1,000 petrol stations. The previous governments, when there is scarcity like this, will order the depots where we are loading to load us to supply to Nigerians.

“And if they load us, within two days the whole scarcity ends but as it is now, despite the acute scarcity, NNPC has failed to reverse their decision and lift the suspension.”

He maintained that without the participation of its members it would be impossible to end the fuel crisis, especially as none of its members was currently loading from depots across the country.

He said: “Under Obasanjo regime, the system of credit marketers worked perfectly and when Jonathan came, he also adopted the system and you will have noticed that under Jonathan, even when you had few cases of scarcity, it did not last as long as we are having it now.”

He, therefore, urged the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to urgently direct the PPMC to lift the suspension of products allocation to credit marketers and order depots across the country to load their trucks.

BUJA — MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, ‘killed’ an amendment bill seeking to reduce the number of political parties in Nigeria from about 65 to five.

This led to a debate on the general principles of a “Bill for an Act to Alter Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Limit the number of Political Parties to five and for other Related Matters” promoted

by Ali Mohammed Wudil (APC, Kano).

Wudil had said the amendment would allow for a manageable number of political parties that could be structured toward exerting maximum impact during electioneering periods.

He explained that the current structure of having over 60 political parties in the system had created platforms for mere adoption of popular candidates from politically viable parties for pecuniary exchange that adds no real value to the struggle for offices around the country.

He said: “This is the 7th amendment, by and large, to allow other four parties to exist along side the party which is currently in power.

“Some parties are not fit to be called parties at all by the sheer pronunciation of their names, the structure of their offices and leadership component, and as such should be removed by the provision of the amendment bill.”

In her contribution, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said: “If we have a lot of political parties that have failed to measure up in the past, now is the time to reduce them.”

Philip Shuaibu (APC, Edo) in his submission, argued that the bill was coming at the wrong time, adding that the nation’s political landscape was not matured for a reduction in the number of parties operating within it.

Based on Shuaibu’s superior argument and the support it got from other lawmakers, who spoke against the bill, it was killed by voice vote as majority of lawmakers present rejected the amendment, following question by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016—11

2 security men docked over alleged gang-rape

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—TWO security guards, who allegedly raped a 17 year old teenage girl were, yesterday, docked before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

The duo Solomon Ichoja, 23 and Geoffrey Arve, 20 who provides security for Dstv , were docked before Magistrate Mr W. Balogun.

The defendants, who reside at 7, Olosa Street, Victoria Island and 44 Kaka Street, Ayobo respectively are facing a three count charge of conspiracy, sexual harassment and rape preferred against them by the police.

Police parade 72 suspects for robbery, kidnapping, cultism

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—THE Police in Rivers State, yesterday, paraded 72 persons arrested for armed robbery, kidnapping and cult related

activities at the state Police headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

A lady who was among those paraded allegedly organised the kidnap of her two sons, whose ages were put at seven and five

years respectively.

The driver, who allegedly drove the children away from the house she lived in with her husband in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area of the state was among those also paraded.

MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS: A commercial transport bus, also known as Danfo, caused multiple accidents while trying to make a U-Turn on the expressway and was hit by a fast moving trailer, thereby causing traffic chaos, at Mile 2 Bus-Stop, Lagos, yesterday. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

When interviewed, the lady who gave her name as Abigail said, she was roped into what she knew nothing about.

According to her, the husband, Mr Brown allegedly abandoned her to live in an apartment he rented for his girl friend from Ghana in the same Eleme.

“This lady, my husband’s girl friend threatened to deal with me for demanding that my husband should come back home. The next thing I found myself here over allegation of kidnap of my children to get at my husband,” she said.

The man who allegedly drove the children said, he was only asked by the lady to take the children to her elder sister’s house.

“I was arrested for driving the children to the house of the sister to their mother. I don’t know how I came to be labelled a kidnapper,” he said.

Fuel, forex crises push inflation to 4-yr high …CBN benchmark rate upset

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

R

ISING COST of food and transport, occasioned by acute fuel and foreign exchange crises, have combined to stoke

up Nigeria’s inflation rate, rising to a near four year high of 12.8 per cent in March, up from 11.4 per cent in February.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in a report released, yesterday, said: “The higher price level was reflected in faster

increases across all divisions.”

A major development in the inflationary trend is the sustained month-on-month, Mo-M, rise since December 2014 with only October 2015 respite, showing a 15-month consecutive rise. The current inflation level is the highest recorded since August 2012 (11.7 per cent).

According to the NBS, the acceleration in March Composite Consumer Price Index, CPI, was driven by faster growth rates across all divisions, save for the Restaurants and Hotels division, which increased at a slower pace year-on-year, Y-o-Y, for the second consecutive month.

The Food sub-Index (Farm Produce and Processed Foods) rose 12.7 per cent Y-o-Y and the Core sub-Index (All items less farm produce) rose to a three-year high of 12.2 per cent Y-o-Y as against 11 per cent growth in February.

The fastest increases were recorded in the Imported Food and prices of Energy & Utilities – Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuel division – which rose 15.1 per cent and 15.9 per cent Y-o-Y.

government revenues, weakened the Naira and caused growth to slow.

Economists at Financial Derivatives Company Limited, FDC, run by one of Nigeria’s notable economists, Bismark Rewane, stated: “The month of March was unique as the fuel scarcity intensified and higher transport costs filtered through to commodity prices such as beans, tomato and pepper.

“While our initial time series analysis projected an increase of 0.4 per cent, the severity and longevity of the prevailing fuel scarcity has distorted price levels."

FDC economists also stated that the dichotomy between urban and rural prices may persist given the impact of rising transport costs and exchange rate pressures on urban prices.

In its reaction to the latest inflation report, economists at Afrinvest West Africa, a Lagos based financial institution, said ’”although the recorded higher headline and subindices inflation level for March are in line with our expectation for the month, broadly lagged analysts’ forecasts, we reiterate that the current inflation trend remains primarily driven by cost–push factors. ”However, the surprising twist in monetary policy objectives to inflationtargeting at the last MPC, Monetary Policy Committee, of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, meeting an aggressive Open Market Operation of CBN mop-ups raise further questions on the potency of the tools currently being deployed in taming inflationary pressures.

Transportation, Fuel, forex crises induced NBS report indicates that the Food subindex grew at a faster pace for the 5th consecutive month as higher transportation costs, which can be broadly attributed to the recurring fuel scarcity, coupled with seasonal changes as well as the lingering foreign exchange, forex, challenges, pressured food prices higher in the month under review.

The forex pass-through effect is evident in the 15.1 per cent Y-o-Y and 2.6 per cent Inflation upsets CBN policy rate M-o-M growth in the Imported Food The latest inflation rate has completely index. upset the monetary policy rate change effected by CBN barely 10 days ago.

Implications, analysts’ comments The apex bank had jerked up its While explaining the adverse benchmark rate to 12 per cent from 11 per inflationary trend as inevitable, economists cent principally due to the fact that in some financial institutions have February 2016 inflation rate at 11.7 per cent indicated that the trend would be sustained had made the benchmark rate negative. in short to medium term.

According to analysts at SCM Capital Fuel pump price at all time high Research, an arm of Sterling Bank Plc, “the Meanwhile the NBS Premium Motor Nigerian economy is facing its worst Spirit, PMS, Price Watch for the month of economic crisis in decades, fueled by the March has indicated that Nigeria recorded collapse in crude oil prices at the its worst fuel crises in the month under international markets, which have reduced review with national average pump price

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

FG set to release N350bn to contractors Compiles list of N5,000 monthly beneficiaries

By Gabriel Omoh & Emma Ujah

T

HE Federal Government is set to release the N350 billion which it set aside to boost the economy, a Presidency source disclosed in Abuja, yesterday.

It was learned that the money is available and would be released as soon as the budget was released.

The strategy is one of the various first-line actions of the Federal Government to inject life into the economy that has been under stress for several months.

Contractors have already expressed their readiness to return to sites of various uncompleted projects across the country.

Many of the contractors, especially those constructing various roads across the country, returned to site early last month when the decision of the government to push the N350 billion into the economy was announced.

Indeed, some of them started skeletal work but suspended work almost immediately, as they adopted an attitude of “wait and see”, on the modalities of disbursing the said amount.

FG compiles list of N5,000 monthly beneficiaries It was also learned that the list of beneficiaries of the Federal Government's monthly N5,000 conditional cash transfer is already being compiled. One million poor

C M Y K

Nigerians will benefit from the programme.

The source disclosed that the compilation was in collaboration with the World Bank which had started compiling a social register.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was very passionate about social investments by his administration among the ordinary Nigerians who were mainly responsible for his election and would not do anything to jeopardize their

confidence in him.

According to him, eight states of the federation have already been covered and the criteria to determine beneficiaries have been clearly spelt out.

They include: school enrolment by the parents of school-age children; immunization of children against child-killer diseases as well as, the aged and disabled poor.

It was disclosed that the programme would run throughout the period of the administration’s tenure.

It was also learned that contrary to widely held opinions in some quarters, the N5,000 monthly stipend programme had not been cancelled by the Buhari administration.

The source clarified that while some people held that the Federal Government was to pay N5,000 monthly to graduates, the graduates’ scheme would be the recruitment of 500, 000 volunteer teachers who would be paid N30, 000 monthly.

The graduates’ volunteer programme would run for two

years, with the expectation that the volunteers would be able to secure other jobs as the economy throws up new opportunities, the source said.

In addition, he said that the administration’s micro-credit scheme for small businesses would act as a game-changer in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, subsector of the economy.

Under that scheme, a revolving loans fund would be made available to Nigerian youths who want to go into small business as well as those already in business, to enable them expand their operations.

Dickson warns NDDC against servicing political interests

By Samuel Oyadongha Managing Director of NDDC,

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, warned the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, against being used as platform to service political interests.

He said that the commission should be used to serve the interests of Niger Delta people, adding that available resources should be channeled to projects that will enhance the development and prosperity of the region.

He added that his government was ready to partner the NDDC in building the proposed road and bridge linking Nembe to Brass, estimated to cost about N100 billion.

Dickson, when the acting

Mrs Ibim Semenitari, and leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, called on him in Yenagoa, also suggested that the NDDC should collaborate with state governments in the region to execute priority projects that would serve as catalysts for the socio-economic development of the region.

The governor, who identified the three senatorial road projects in the state as key to creating access to the Atlantic Ocean and economic p r o s p e r i t y, said that the construction of such projects, worth billions of naira, would a t t r a c t development and socio-

economic progress to the state.

The governor commended the NDDC for the award of contracts in Bayelsa State, but decried the number of abandoned projects in the state, attributing the development to the overpoliticization of the activities of the commission.

The governor also called on the Federal Government to constitute the governing council and advisory board of the commission to enable governors and stakeholders of the region make inputs, concerning

the award of critical projects that are beneficial to the people.

Earlier, Mrs. Semenitari said that the purpose of her visit to Bayelsa was to assess on-going projects and identify areas of immediate intervention according to needs.

According to her, the NDDC had awarded a total of 28 regional projects from its inception, out of which two had been commissioned, 20 ongoing, while six are yet to kick off.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016—13

We don’t need Onishe to crown our king, Delta community tells kingmaker A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE people of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State, have said that they don’t need an Onishe to crown their king.

It will be recalled that Mr Emmanuel Ejiofor had told newsmen that the new king of Ubulu-Uku, HRM Obi Chukwuka Akaeze I, was not crowned by him and therefore, not recognised.

The 17 years old monarch was crowned after the demise of his father, HRM Obi Edward Ofulue III, who was kidnapped and murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen in January.

Reacting to media statements by Ejiofor, the people reiterated that in the history of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, no Obi has been crowned by an Onishe.

Women who gathered at the palace described Mr Emmanuel Ejiofor as a mischief maker.

Addressing newsmen, National President of Ubulu-Uku Development Union, Mr Jones Ofunne, urged the police authorities and other security agencies to conclude their “investigation, expose and punish those involved in the kidnapping and killing of our king.”

On Ejiofor’s claim that he didn’t crown the youthful king making his ascension to the throne illegal, Ofunne said, “Ejiofor’s inordinate ambition to crown a king cannot materialize in his (Ejiofor) lifetime.

“He has not watched any king being crowned in Ubulu-Uku and has never participated in the coronation of any king before HRM Obi Edward Ofulue III.” Disclosing that Ejiofor was derobed as the Onishe of the kingdom on July 2, 2011 because of his rebellious attitude, Ofunne, who was flanked by the Regent, Prince Anthony Ofulue,

the Palace Secretary, Chief Joseph Obaze and other chiefs, said Ejiofor's removal as a chief was endorsed by the Obi-incouncil and the entire community.

Noting that it was the royal family and inner house chiefs that perform the traditional rite by putting the heir apparent on the stool in secrecy, he said: “He

becomes the Obi from that moment. He does not require anyone to crown him thereafter.”

Reiterating that the crowning of the 17 years old, HRM Chukwuka Akaeze I, followed all the pattern of his grandfather and father’s enthronement, he said, “Ejiofor’s recognition as an individual is inconsequential and of no effect."

SIGNING CEREMONY: Director-General, National Pension Commission, Chinelo AnohuAmazu (middle); Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ, Bola Onadele Koko (left) and Daisy Ekineh, Chairman, Board Regulation and Risk Management Committee, FMDQ OTC, during the official signing ceremony of the Regulatory Supervision Collaboration Agreement between PENCOM and FMDQ OTC, in Abuja.

I’m proud of my friends, Oshiomhole replies Ize-Iyamu

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole has told a governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that he was proud to call Alhaji Aliko Dangote a friend, adding, "but you, Ize-Iyamu, cannot boast of your friends and associates because some of them have been convicted for looting the state’s treasury.”

Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who was Secretary to State Government during the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as governor of Edo State, had recently, said that “with the touted relationship with Dangote, it is just a few months to the end of his tenure that he could attract him to lay foundation stone for cement factory in Edo State.”

However, in a response by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the governor said: “I am proud to associate myself with Dangote, and I am proud to say that my friendship with Dangote has yielded a $1 billion investment in the state in the form of a brand new Okpella Cement factory which will offer close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to people of the state.

“My friendship with Dr. David C M Y K

Ladipo yielded another $1 billion Azura Power Plant. My friendship with Captain Hosa Okunbo has yielded a $750 million Wells and Carlos Farms which is set to employ over 85,000 people.

“I am proud to say that under my stewardship as governor,

investors now find Edo State very attractive and they are coming down here in droves.

Already a Chinese Steel Company, Yongxing, is in full production and is already seeking ways to expand its operations; another Chinese company, Time Ceramics

Limited, is also into full production and already into the second phase of expanding its operations.

“More Chinese companies are planning to set up their factories in different parts of the state, these are my friends, these are my records which I'm proud of.”

APC not sponsoring petitions against Rivers govt —Finebone

T

By Gbenga Oke

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter, has described as frivolous and the height of falsehood, the statement by the state government claiming that APC was sponsoring petitions against it.

APC also said that the PDP was afraid of its own shadows hence the reason for raising false alarm.

According to the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George, on behalf of the Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, accusing the APC of sponsoring groups to

raise frivolous petitions against PDP members to have them arrested by security agents.

“This is an inglorious height of falsehood and propaganda by the PDP in Rivers State.

“While the APC will not join issues with the PDP, we make

bold to state in clear terms that we find neither the PDP nor its partners worthy of any patronage or collaboration with the APC for anything noble. The difference between light and darkness is never in doubt and PDP is the darkness here."

Gov Emmanuel employs wife of late DPO

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has given automatic employment to Mrs. Gbibari Etok, wife of deceased Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Onna Local Government Area of the state, Supol. Friday Etok, who passed on recently.

Emmanuel, who announced this during a condolence visit to the deceased's family at Ikot

Idaha, in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state, said that the employment would take effect immediately after the funeral of the late officer.

He said the gesture would enable the widow to cater for the seven children the husband left behind.

He pointed out that late Friday Etok was a hardworking cop, describing the news of his death as shocking and saddening.

Bayelsa commissioner nominees told to put state above personal interests

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

Y

E N A G O A — MEMBERS of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, yesterday, screened the 15 names of commissioner nominees submitted to it by the state governor, Seriake Dickson, calling on them to put the state first above selfish considerations.

The lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Kombowei Benson, after an interactive and performance evaluation session of the nominees, who appeared before the House, reminded them that though the pressure from political associates and family members may become unbearable due to their appointments as commissioners, the objective should be of service and loyalty to the state government.

Three of the nominees, who were former members of the House were asked to “bow and go” in line with the tradition of the House.

UNIBEN inaugurates anti-corruption body

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—ANTICORRUPTION and Transparency Unit, ACTU, a body that serves as eyes of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, in government institutions, has been inaugurated in the University of Benin, UNIBEN. The committee, which is made up of 11 senior lecturers drawn from various faculties of the university and two other non-teaching staff of the institution, has Prof. A. Ighoroje of the Department of Physiology as Chairman.

Other members of the committee are Prof. D.I. Teilanyo, Prof. A.O. Aisen, Prof C. Okiemen, Dr Friday Ezomo and Engineer Johatem Edoreh.

The commissioner in charge of ICPC in Edo State, Mr Olukile Olusesan, while inaugurating the body, said more ACTU committees would be set up in other institutions starting with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, tomorrow.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

‘Nigeria tops investment destinations’

By Nkiruka Nnorom

D

ESPITE the weak macro-economic condition in the country, coupled with challenges in the foreign exchange market, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, yesterday said that Nigeria remained the preferred investment destination in Africa.

He made the remarks at the second dual listing conference organised by NSE in conjunction with the London Stock Exchange Group, LSEG, in Lagos.

He said owing to the critical role the capital market plays in sustaining economic growth, it behoves the Federal Government to leverage opportunities in the stock exchange to unlock the potentials in the economy.

CBN, Zenith boost economic diversification

Senate moves against CCT, to amend Code of Conduct Act

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE Senate has begun moves to amend the Code of Conduct Act, with the objective of removing the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and the Presidency.

With the fresh initiative, the Senate is out to whittle down the powers of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and CCT. The Code of Conduct Act CAP C15 LFN 2004 bill, which was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta North, passed first reading.

In the bill, entitled Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Senate is seeking to transfer the control of CCT and CCB from the Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, to National Assembly or the Office of the Attorney-General of the

Federation, AGF. Prior to the reading of the Bill for the first time, there was, however, a mild drama when the first Order Paper for yesterday, which was circulated to journalists, was withdrawn. In the withdrawn Order Paper, the Code of Conduct Bill was omitted, but

included in the copy distributed to lawmakers.

The second Order Paper was distributed to journalists few minutes after the lawmakers concluded a closed-door session, where the Bill ought to have been read for the first time without journalists’ knowing.

It was gathered that some lawmakers protested against

the move, after which the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, ruled that it should be made open.

Speaking to journalists after yesterday’s plenary, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi noted that the bill was to save Nigerians and Nigeria from overzealous politicians, who will always use CCT to go after perceived enemies and settle some differences.

Why I collected $100,000 from Otedola—EMENALO

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE former Secretary of then House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, gave reasons he accepted $100,000 from oil mogul, Mr. Femi Otedola, in 2012, as part of $3 million bribe money allegedly promised the Chairman of the committee, Farouk Lawan.

Emenalo, who testified before Justice Angela Otakula of an Abuja High Court sitting at Lugbe, yesterday, said he took the money to expose Otedola’s

move to compromise members of the subsidy committee.

He testified as star witness, PW-1, of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, in the ongoing trial of then Chairman of the committee, Lawan.

Emenalo said that he collected the $100,000 bribe money from Otedola in $100 bills.

Under cross-examination

by Lawan’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Emenalo maintained that he collected the $100,000 as exhibit against Otedola.

He told the court that the first meeting he had with Otedola was on Sunday, April 22, 2012, with a follow-up meeting between them on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the oil mogul’s Abuja residence at Aso Drive, Maitama.

He told the court that he subsequently handed the money over to Lawan as exhibit.

Meanwhile, Justice Otakula has adjourned further hearing on the matter till today.

Though Emenalo denied allegation that he received $20,000 bribe from Otedola during their first meeting, but admitted that it was during the second meeting that Otedola gave him the $100,000.

THIS IS NOT WAR-RAVAGED SOMALIA... IT’S APAPA-OSHODI EXPRESSWAY

T

HE efforts of the Buhari-led administration to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil got a boost yesterday, when the agreement that will herald one of the largest granite mining and processing plants in Africa was signed in Beijing, China, between Shanghai Shibang Machinery Co. Limited and a local company, Granite and Marble Limited.

The companies also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to establish a plant for assembling of mining equipment and supporting capacity building for the industry.

The granite mining and processing plant is being supported with the special intervention fund of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, through Zenith International Bank Plc. Speaking at the ceremony, the board Chairman of SBM, Mr. Songke Yang, expressed optimism that the plants should come on stream during the course of the year, while Chairman of Granite & Marble, Mr. Chiahemba Ayom, thanked the ministers of Trade & Investment and Solid Minerals and the financial institutions for their support.

C M Y K

Traffic jam resurfaces at Itire-Berliet-Ilasa axis of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway due to yawning potholes; a flower-laden truck fell at the spot, yesterday. PHOTOS: Biodun Ogunleye, Diran Oshe & Lamidi Bamidele.

LEFT: A truck, with number plates EKY 229 XD, fell at the bad spot at Berliet Bus Stop, yesterday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016—15

Enugu builds 2,500 houses for civil servants

By Emeka Mamah

E

From left—Ms. Nona Adimora, Mr. Ikenna Oguihe, Mrs. Adachukwu Ekwueme-Oguihe, Dr. Okechukwu Onyemelukwe, HRH Igwe Laz Ekwueme, Mrs. Chidi Ekwueme-Onyemelukwe, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Dr. Helen Ekwueme, Mrs. Lami Ekwueme, Mr. Chike Ekwueme, Mrs. Jacquelyn Ekwueme, Ms. Adaeze Ekwueme, Mr. Akaolisa Ekwueme and Emeka Aginam, Deputy Hi-Tech Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, at the Vanguard Personality Awards in Lagos.

Peter Obi urged to withdraw from Anambra re-run

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—THE Legal Adviser to Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, has said that if former Governor, Peter Obi, wants to retain the hard-earned integrity he built over the years, he should toe the path of honour, withdraw from the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial re-run race and allow the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conduct the exercise only for the parties whose original candidates have not been disqualified, as stipulated by law.

He said it is unfortunate that a person of his calibre is being used by opposition parties to destabilise Anambra Central and keep it perpetually vacant, when other seats in the state and other parts of the country are properly represented by a senator.

He added that whatever Obi is doing now is a contamination of his association with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking to newsmen yesterday at the St. Faith’s Anglican Church, Fegge, Onitsha, during the closing ceremony of a three-day Onitsha South Archdeaconry Women’s Conference, Ezeokenwa contended that rather than forcing himself to contest the re-run race, which he is not legally and morally qualified to do, he should wait till 2019 for sake of convenience.

C M Y K

Disengaged Abia workers demand for salaries arrears

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—WORKERS disengaged from Abia State civil service in 2011 have urged the state government to pay them the arrears of their salaries.

Recall that the former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, on October 1, 2011, ordered the disengagement of over 4, 000 non-indigenous workers from its workforce and later recalled the affected workers from outside the South-East zone.

Leader of the disengaged workers, Fidelia Ihejirika, who spoke to journalists in Aba, lamented that only five percent of the workers have been reinstated, while the others are roaming the streets.

She accused the state government of playing politics with the issue.

Ihejirika said: “Majority of the disengaged workers have not been reinstated. All you are hearing are lies. Only five percent of the workers were recalled.

The over 4,000 workers were sacked the same day, and yet only few have been recalled.

Is this not discrimination? Let them pay us our five-year arrears of salaries since 2011.

“About 71 of us have died.

Our children have dropped from schools. Some have packed to their villages.

“We were disengaged because we were not from Abia State. Those from non-Igbo states were recalled.

“Is this not a great injustice, because people from Abia State are still working in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states? If they no longer want us, they should pay us off.

Should we go empty handed after 35 years of service?”

She alleged that those who got recall letters posting them

to their areas of assignment are yet to receive their salaries.

When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie

Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu, said he no longer speaks on issues that involve government decisions.

Anambra agency drags politicians to court over billboards

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—ANAMBRA State Signage and Advertisement Agency, ANSAA, has dragged some politicians in the state to court for allegedly refusing to pay the stipulated fees for their billboards and posters in public places.

Managing Director of ANSAA, Chief Jude Emecheta, said in an interview in Awka, yesterday, that following pleas by some of the counsel to the politicians to resolve the matter out of court, his agency has given the affected politicians one week to pay or have their names published in the media.

According to Emecheta, the agency was worried that despite efforts to restore the beauty to the environment, politicians and their agents

had been defacing the streets and refusing to pay the necessary fees.

“Their lawyers have told us they want to settle with us out of court and we have given them one week to do so, otherwise we will publish names of all the politicians involved,” he said.

He said the agency had written the President of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN, reminding him of millions of naira owed to the agency.

The letter, dated April 12, read: “We will be glad if you inform all members of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN, that by month end, the agency will embark on enforcement, which means that the boards of OAAN members indebted to the agency will be pulled down.”

NUGU—THE Enugu State government is to build 2, 500 houses for low and high income earners, the state Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Solomon Onah, has said.

Five hundred of the houses would cost N7.5 billion.

Onah spoke, yesterday, during a ceremony to mark the commencement of the sale of forms for 500 plots of land at the New Independence Layout along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu.

He further said that only single family or twin duplexes /bungalows of not more than two floors, including the ground floor would be built in the new layout under PublicPrivate Partnership, PPP.

Bishop tasks Buhari on oversea trips

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—THE Bishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Abakaliki, Bishop Lawson Elom, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently tackle the hardship facing Nigerians and the country, especially in ensuring the reduction in the price of petroleum products.

He also urged him to cut down his oversea trips and concentrate on making the change agenda of APC government a reality.

Bishop Elom spoke in Abakaliki shortly after the 22nd annual synod.

Maiden Enugu investment summit to reposition regional economy—Elumelu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE maiden Enugu State Investment Summit commenced yesterday, with a charge from the Chairman, Heir Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, on governments of the South-East geopolitical zone to forge a partnership that will drive the regional economy.

The two-day summit, christened Oganiru Enugu State(Progress of Enugu State), holding at Michael

Okpara Square, with the theme Beyond Oil: Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth and Sustainable Development, is aimed at attracting prospective investors to take over the operations of identified state-owned companies and corporations through Privatisation and Commercialisation Council inaugurated by the governor, to serve as catalyst to reposition the economy and uplift the living standard of the people.

While delivering his keynote speech, Elumelu, who is equally on the board of United Bank of Africa, UBA, Plc and Transcorp Hotel, said: ”Enugu State is on the path of economic repositioning with the hosting of this summit.

“There should be a collaboration from other sister states in the south-east to establish a framework for regional partnership, which will position the region to undertake capital intensive projects that will affect the economy."

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016

FG borrows N600bn annually to pay salaries — SGF

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—THE Federal Government has disclosed that it borrows internally over N600 billion on average each year to pay salaries of its workforce.

According to the government, many states may not be able to pay salaries in the next three to four months, if things continue the way they are.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal, disclosed this yesterday in Jos, where he represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening ceremony of the 63rd

General Church Council meeting of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA. He urged all faith-based organizations and traditional institutions to sensitize the citizenry on the need to exercise patience in the hardship currently being experienced by all, stressing that though this administration inherited a country robbed almost to the last penny, it would be revived within a short time.

The SGF lamented that the present administration inherited an ailing economy that must be nurtured for sometime before it stabilized and assured citizens that with

the desired cooperation, the country would come out of the challenges and assume its rightful place as the most populous black nation.

His words: “N600 billion is on the average, if you look at monies coming from the Federation allocations, even for the states, Federal Government sometimes get N130 billion and sometimes if lucky, N200 billion and we have an expenditure profile of roughly N800 and N900 billion. Naturally, you need to augment sources from everywhere and from wherever you can find it.

“There are so many avenues, I’m talking about local

borrowings, not international.

There are ways and means to raise the money, because the monies coming from the Federal allocation is not enough and the figures are not fixed, they vary from month to month, it depends on what is able to get into the treasury and our own share of it.

Just like the states and you remember that there was a time Osun State got N55 million in a month from the Federation allocation and the state has a salary bill of over N4 billion in a month, so the problems are too many.

“This government came into power at the very brink of the collapse of our nation, which

had over the years been riddled by corruption, insurgency, youth unemployment and economic meltdown. Some stolen funds have been recovered from the corrupt public office holders and negotiations are ongoing with the host countries where those funds were lodged to repatriate our common wealth.”

Earlier, the President of ECWA, Rev. Jeremiah Gado urged governments at all levels not to do anything that will forbid God’s will from being done in the country and urged governors to be fair to all, irrespective of party affiliation, religion or tribe.

He prayed that “This administration should serve God and the people of Nigeria with distinction in fairness, justice and equity.”

N50m fraud allegation splits Ogun school proprietors

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—AN alleged N50 million scam has split the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, into two opposing factions.

A faction of NAPPS led by National Deputy President, Chief Yomi Odubela has accused the immediate past president of the association in Ogun State, Dr. Abayomi Jiboku of allegedly mismanaging the association’s N50 million while he was in office.

Odubela, who made the allegation while inaugurating the executive members of a faction of the NAPPS state chapter led by Samuel Olusegun Oyekunle at the Nigeria Union of Teachers Hall in Abeokuta, added that the former state president remained impeached.

But the former President of the association in the state, Dr. Jiboku in a swift reaction at a news conference held inside the NAPPS State Secretariat in Asero, Abeokuta said that the N50 million fraud allegation against him was untrue, malicious, unfounded and borne out of jealousy.

He said that he had voluntarily submitted himself to the Force CID in Abuja for investigations of the allegations levelled against him, describing the alleged masterminds of the fraud allegation against him as those who want to drag his name in the mud.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 —17

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OT enough attention is being paid by the media or even by Nigerians themselves, to the deliberate acts of sabotage from certain anti-reform interests who do not wish to see the Buhari administration do well because it is a direct threat to their own crooked means of livelihood.

Even within the APC, which is a merger of different groups not necessarily held together by the progressive reform agenda the President is championing, there are people who loathe change and simply joined the party to retain power.

Without a common understanding (and most of all acceptance) of the necessities for reform, especially between governing elites, real change is difficult as elite interest in Nigeria resides in the maintenance of the plutocracy we have always known: government by the wealthy in the interest of the wealthy alone.

Added to this is the global incentive for African politicians to be corrupt: if one can so easily hide funds in Panama or other tax heavens, it is no wonder the money meant to develop our societies ends up shoring up foreign bank accounts.

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Communicating change: APC, where is the strategy?

High level discussions It is a shame that the logic behind the President’s trips is both poorly communicated and understood: without his presence at high level discussions to repatriate funds or even to identify means of eradicating the foreign, complicit actions and conditions which facilitate money-laundering in the first place, it would be difficult to achieve much. Indeed, Nigeria’s reputation has been badly damaged over the years so it is very necessary for the Chief Executive to state his case for development to other world leaders in person.

If it is too difficult for government to get the political and business elite to buy into the reform process, then the Presidency and the APC must look to the people responsible for their victory, for support: the poor and middleclass. It is time in Nigeria for a new social contract, a new alliance different from what was

•President Muhammadu Buhari done in the past whereby government allies were rotating, zonal factions of the political elite. The President’s real and only allies are the poor, the only people to

We must do away with the culture that says “big-men” are untouchable; it allows impunity, one of the central reasons why our country’s economy is in dire straits today

whom ‘change’ is beneficial.

It is of course possible to find behavioural incentives to convince the elite to believe in policies and ideas that favour the majority, but this has to be a long term project. In the short term, the ignorance and tribalism which have allowed these same political elites to get away with defrauding their constituents must be checked. How can anyone claim it is “taboo” to investigate former Presidents or their relatives? If they have done nothing wrong, then they have nothing to fear. We must do away with the culture that says “big-men” are untouchable; it allows impunity, one of the central reasons why our country’s economy is in dire

Social contract with the poor The Presidency has not told the story of how or why it is the real champion of the poor, the excluded and economically marginalised nor has it consistently told Nigerians that nobody is poor because their ethnic group is side-lined but rather because of bad governance by people of that same group: we are after all, a federation, a concept many don’t understand. State governors have more responsibility for development at the local level than even the President, whose actual role is to create an enabling environment.

The social contract with the poor should be built on a communications strategy, which consistently explains the issues with real life, relatable examples of not just failures but solutions. There is an ongoing struggle between the Presidency and vested interests: the continuing budget saga proves it.

Well-meaning Nigerians who want to have power, roads and amenities our counterparts abroad take for granted, should know on which end of this struggle their interest lies. This is about our nation’s survival. The Presidency should be directing a dialogue whereby the citizenry gets to truly understand what the real issues are and the constraints to change.

Osinbajo

National Assembly

T

I

WON’T tackle the b u d g e t sagas; this deserves its own article. Let’s focus first on our lawmakers’double income, a travesty in these lean times, or in any time really.

About 21 former governors, according to allegations, currently receive pensions from their states and salaries as senators, yet the same states can’t pay their workers, received bailout funds and ask for more.

Nigeria combines wickedness with absurdity. As for the idea that the National Assembly can insert constituency projects into the budget, it contradicts the separation of powers: the executive, i.e. the Presidency and the min-

straits today. Imagine if in the US every criminal or accused knew that he would never be brought to justice because some poor misguided indigenes from different states, would claim marginalisation and witch-hunt by the Federal Government, forgetting these same individuals they protect did next to nothing to lift them out of poverty! If it sounds impossible or ridiculous in the US, why do we accept this in Nigeria?No one is above the law so if there is evidence of wrongdoing, everyone and anyone can and should answer for their actions.

The concept of witch-hunting or selective justice is a scam created by frightened individuals to subvert the rule of law. The Prime Minister of Iceland resigned over his wife’s secret account in Panama, pending further investigations over the source of the funds, etc. Why is decency, respect for one’s people and country, respect for their image, the norm elsewhere, yet in Nigeria not only is it unusual, we the people don’t demand it! Quite the opposite. We must begin to separate politicking from facts and Nigerians should not allow themselves to be used in the defence of evil. It is not in our collective interest.

The reason why so many, even among the upper middle class, are anti-reform is because their income derives from clientelist networks, that is, most Nigerians

make money from attaching themselves to patrons, the equivalent of a Roman slave master in Antiquity. It is imperative the APC, the Presidency does a better job selling the benefits of reform, particularly to the poor, the backbone of its support system: watch them fight the ‘change’ battle once they fully realise what is at stake. A modern economy cannot survive on patron-client networks. Currently, corruption’s dependents say the President is destroying the society because he is attacking a system where parasites feed off the state and throw crumbs to their followers who hail them for it.

They don’t want a system where one makes money through hard work or merit: how tasking for those who have never done an honest day’s work in their lives!

•The Nigerian Senate in session istries are the sole government actors with the constitutional competence to undertake such projects. Legislators can lobby for projects for their constituents but by no means can they carry them out. Scandal by

scandal, Nigerians uncover the scams and dysfunction keeping us from progress. It’s a shame however that no one in government is making sure the truth isn’t distorted again once it comes out.

HE Vice President makes sound pronouncements which should be relayed more often. It is indeed “pathetic” that Nigeria benchmarks its budget on the oil price. We must re-examine the abnormal, dangerous facts of Nigerian governance and policymaking, which somehow became the norm.

It is not about insulting the past administration or anyone else: progress, development, change, call it what you want, demands unsentimental analysis and correction of past mistakes. The common denominator in all Nigerian governments, past and present, is the weakness in communicating facts and ideas, which would help their cause. The budget is another one of those severely misunderstood, miscommunicated issues. Austerity would make

•Prof Yemi Osinbajo matters worse. We need to do what should have been done long ago, especially in times of plenty: invest our way out of trouble, hence why 30% of the budget is earmarked for capital expenditure. *Tabia Princewill is a strategic communica- tions consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016

The reign of confusion that has bedevilled the 2016 Appropriation Bill continues to reverberate with the allegation that the two chambers of the National Assembly distorted the infrastructure development agenda of the Federal Government before forwarding the Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

Media reports have it that the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives headed by Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon Abdulmunin Jibrin respectively, altered allocations to key areas and reallocated them to projects located mostly in the Northern parts of the country.

Worthy of particular note was the alleged arbitrary “cancellation” of the Lagos-Calabar railway project and the diversion of funds allocated for it. The project is billed to cost 80 billion naira. The Federal Government reportedly allocated N60 billion in the controversial budget as a counterpart fund which

Bring back Lagos – Calabar rail project the government of China will complement with N20 billion to ensure its speedy realisation.

President Buhari’s current trip to China is aimed at securing a loan to finance this and other capital projects.

While Presidency sources claimed that government had to return the budget to the National Assembly because these alterations would derail its core development agenda, Hon Jibrin insisted that the LagosCalabar railway line project was never included in the budget that Buhari submitted to the National Assembly in the first place. He,

however, argued that the Federal Legislature had the right to appropriate funds under the constitution and that his constituency was also part of Nigeria and had the right to benefit from the development programmes of government.

We do not dispute the fact that the Legislature is vested with the power to appropriate public fund and supervise its expenditure. This is expressly reflected in Sections 80 to 84 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. We, however, hasten to caution that these powers must be applied without

prejudicing the constitutional rights of the Executive to provide good governance in line with the campaign promises of the party in power.

We condemn in strong terms, any efforts by politicians from any section to hijack funds meant for the even development of the country to gratify their home region.

We also, most importantly, call for the immediate restoration of the Lagos-Calabar Railway project in the 2016 budget and its speedy implementation. This and other projects lined up in the budget presented by President Buhari will go a long way in massively providing jobs, diversifying the economy and linking up centres of commerce in the South for national prosperity and integration.

We urge the President to pursue this and all other laudable provisions in the budget to their logical conclusion and assure him that Nigerians are eager for his success.

OPINION The Council of Ministers of the Federal Hand over or took over power(2) Government met and appraised the Continued from yesterday

By Eric Teniola

I

T was agreed that the statement would be typed and Dipcharima would sign it on our behalf. We were then asked to return home and await further instructions. I only got to break my Ramadan fast around 9.30pm”.

In taking over power on January 16, 1966, the then Head of State, General Ironsi made the following broadcast to the country: " The Military Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to state that it has taken over the interim administration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the invitation of the Council of Ministers of the last Government for the Army to do so.

For some time now there have been escalating political disturbances in parts of Nigeria with increasing loss of faith between political parties, and between political leaders themselves.

This crisis of confidence reached a head during the elections in the Western Region in October last year. There were charges by the opposition parties rigging of the elections and general abuse of power by the regional

government in the conduct of the elections. Riots, arson, murder and looting became widespread in Western Nigeria since October. The situation deteriorated and certain army officers attempted to seize power.

In the early hours of the morning of 15 January 1966, these officers kidnapped the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and took them to an unknown destination. The revolt was widespread throughout the country and two Regional Premiers and some highranking army officers were killed. The whereabouts of the Prime Minister is still unknown. The vast majority of the Nigerian Army under the command of the General Officer Commanding the Nigeria Army remained completely loyal to the Federal Government and immediately took steps to control the situation.

I here state again categorically as a member of that cabinet that we did not hand-over voluntarily. It was a coup

problems confronting the government.

They appreciated the immediate need to control the serious situation which threatened the Federation. They also saw quite clearly a possible deterioration of the situation in the light of developments on Saturday, 15 January 1966. On Sunday, 16 January, the Council of Ministers unanimously decided to hand over voluntarily the administration of the country, with immediate effect, to the Nigerian Army.

This was formally done the same day by the Acting President of the Federation.

The Government of the Federation of Nigeria having ceased to function, the Nigeria Armed Forces have been invited to form an interim Military Government for the purpose of maintaining law and order and of maintaining essential services.

The invitation has been accepted and I, GENERAL JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNAKWE AGUIYI-IRONSI, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, have been formally invested with authority as Head of the Federal Military Government and Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces”.

In his own words, Chief Richard Akinjide said the Ministers did not hand over to Ironsi. In 2000, he said” under

the law, that is, the interpretation Act, as acting President, Nwazor Orizu had all the powers of the President. The GOC said he wanted to see all the cabinet ministers. And so we assembled at the cabinet office. Well, I have read in many books saying that we handed over to the military. We did not hand-over.

Ironsi told us that” you either hand over as gentlemen or you hand-over by force”. Those were his words. Is that voluntary hand-over? So we did not hand over. We wanted an Acting Prime Minister to be in place but Ironsi forced us, and I use the word advisedly, to hand over to him. He was controlling the soldiers. The acting President, Nwafor Orizu, who did not cooperate with us, cooperated with the GOC. Dr. Orizu and the GOC prepared speeches which Nwafor Orizu broadcast handing over the government of the country to the army. I here state again categorically as a member of that cabinet that we did not hand-over voluntarily. It was a coup”.

A lot has happened to our country since then and a lot will still happen. As we enter the New Year, it is my hope and prayer that the best years of Nigeria, are still to come.

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

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

A gradual transformation to a failed state T’S nearly half a century war is not a family indaba.

One thing that these few weeks since the Nigerian Civil War I ended, but it won’t be exaggerating of confusion have brought out in to say that Nigerians have since lived their lives in the trenches and under the enervating threat of yet another outbreak of civil hostilities. There are those pockets of reminders, timely warnings to those literate enough to read the signs that Nigeria perches precariously on the precipice of disaster. From the June 12 debacle, the murder of MKO Abiola, the Ogoni struggles and the periodic cataclysms of ethnic militias; the staged proclamation of sharia law in parts of the north, the death of Umar Yar’Adua and the attempt to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power to his then deputy by a cabal of shadowy characters, the bloodbath that followed Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in the 2011 election to the Occupy Nigeria protests of 2012, Nigeria has been the proverbial scrotum on which a combustible fly has chosen to perch. But for anyone desirous of a foretaste of what it would be like if Nigerians took up arms against one another today, the last three weeks should suffice. So let all chic adventurers and rooky warlord beware: a civil

bold outlines is this country’s gradual transformation into a failed state. Nigeria may not have fallen apart at the seams, the patch work of diverse nationalities that the British clobbered together may still hold together, but the peace that reigns at the moment is of a type with the one that precedes destruction. It demands both attention and careful managing.

And the indices of Nigeria’s gradual collapse are mirrored in the severe weakening of social fabric and near total collapse of governmental strictures since the perennial energy crises that have held us bondage in the last few years returned again with renewed vigour in the last few weeks. With power supply at an all-time low even though tariffs are sky-high, with fuel as scarce as a hound’s tooth and state officials out of their depth as to what to do, there is hardly any other way to describe the symptoms our nation manifests than as those of a failed state.

While the energy crises persist, fuel dealers hoard products sourced from state outlets at

approved rates and make a kill reselling them at black market rates. Security agents and others entrusted with the responsibility of halting such corrupt transactions turn a blind eye after their hands have been greased. Many states groan under the backlog of many months of unpaid salaries with their governors boldly calling the bluff of labour and daring those workers not satisfied with their condition of financial incapacitation to do their very worst. It would be telling a lying to say Nigerians have ever had it this bad. The grimness of the situation beggars belief even without any official or general acknowledgment of the breakdown of social order.

Nigeria may not be at war yet but the picture out there tells us we are on the cusp of one. This is the dour news from the streets. These are the days of caution, of the dusk of destruction or the long night that precedes a new dawn. Either way we must choose in which direction to go.

But in what direction can we go when cattle herders have abandoned their prodding staff in favour of AK47s and embarked on a campaign of mass murder? From

But with the war-like situation at home, with the beleaguered country looking increasingly like a failed state, Nigerians would be hard put to make sense of the frequent presidential trips

What would it take for a politically exposed Nigerian politician to resign?

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HAT would it take for a politically exposed Nigerian politician to resign from office in protest of his or her averred honour? If ten trillion naira looted from the treasury was found stashed in his private vault? To stem the tide of public outrage following her purchase of five bullet-proof Bentleys purportedly for the comfort and safety of very important visitors to her ministry? Would he resign if caught with a dripping human head on his way to Okija forest for a ritual the witchdoctor promised would guarantee him power and peaceful pillaging of public funds? Would she resign if discovered naked in a hotel bed with her son’s best friend, though a fervent Christian or pious Muslim who begins her day in the office as Minister of Education with a prayer meeting or who performs the ablution and prays dutifully five times a day?

Would he resign if half of his state’s total federal allocation for the six years he has been governor was converted to dollars, euros and pound sterling and part of it lodged in cash and the other part used to acquire pricey real estate in Lausanne, London, Paris, and the Potomac, in the names of his phoney shell companies registered in the British Virgin Islands?

Would he resign if having entered the House of Representatives with his only earthly possession a 1996 Toyota Camry but three years after has built in his hometown a six-room, three-parlour marble mansion with a four-car garage occupied by a Toyota Landcruiser, a Lexus GX 450,

a Range Rover and a Mercedes S 500, bought, according to several petitions backed by evidence and a whistle-blower, with the illicit proceeds of inflated or bogus contracts for constituency projects he ensured were awarded to himself via his front companies or to his cronies? Would he resign if as Minister of Internal Affairs, 10,000 of the 100,000 applicants for the 8,000 positions to beef up the Customs and Immigration departments who were crammed into a 40,000 capacity stadium for the job “interview,” and all of whom had paid a N10,000 job application fee, perished when the stadium collapsed?

Would she resign if . . .

No, he won’t resign; and, no, she won’t resign. Not even if there were sworn eyewitness testimonies of how he used his mother and she used her only son for human sacrifice. Nothing under the sky is odious enough to shame a politically exposed Nigerian politician. That species, the world knows, has enemies. Legions of

They have no honour to protest, any integrity they once had having been rolled up and stashed away in the bales and bales of mint-fresh naira they are accused of stealing

Nsukka to Ekiti, Kogi to Agatu, the grazing field have become killing fields. One can’t tell the difference between armed bandits and armed cattle herders whose cattle are themselves under the siege of rustlers that run a multimillion naira industry of crime. While the security agencies are stretched beyond limit their failure and helplessness are highlighted in equal measure by the seeming helplessness of our elected leaders to intervene meaningfully in the growing anarchy that plagues the polity.

Nigeria now gives the impression of an airplane on auto-pilot, a militarised fiefdom carved under the competing control of rogue militias. The insurgents in different parts of the north-east have surely been contained to a certain degree.

But their defeat is far from a complete rout. Sambisa forest, a part of Nigeria’s territorial boundary, has for at least two years been under the permanent control of Boko Haram, become a more or less forbidden zone for our military. This is a record in our independent existence. Not even the Bakassi Peninsular, the flashpoint that for several years threatened to draw Nigeria into a bloody fraternal combat with Cameroon was until its formal hand over ever an occupied space.

Neither oil bunkerers, pipeline vandals nor other criminals on the creeks have loosened their hold on the country’s jugular. They’ve continued their plunder and have taken on the security forces in an unprecedented show of might.

They kill and maim anyone that stands in their way as they run, kamikaze-style, to their death.

They are hardly discouraged by any deterrence offered by the state.

Besieged on all sides by diverse groups and individuals including

enemies. All out to undo him or her. Because they are envious of him or her.

Because, p r e d i c t a b l y, they wish to destroy him or her in order to advance their chances of taking his or her coveted office.

No, the politically exposed Nigerian politician won’t resign, because he or she has stolen enough to buy an army of senior lawyers — senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs), in fact — to file motions upon motions, appeals upon appeals, from the trial court or tribunal to the Supreme Court and back, to tie up justice in a Gordian knot of obstruction and delay, so that while the jobless man who steals a goat or the 12-year-old orphan turned pickpocket is summarily convicted and jailed, the senator, minister or governor, long admitted to bail, continues to preside over our affairs as law and policy-maker, as a distinguished statesman or woman.

And why should he or she resign when there are no crowds in the streets demanding that he or she step aside and return to the coveted office only after clearing his or her name? If the growing evidence of maniacal looting of a state’s treasury has only emboldened the accused to grasp even more tightly his gavel of power because, you see, his trial is a withhunt, sheer persecution, by his political enemies, and in any case, he was never invited to respond to the allegations before charges were filed even though he has every chance in the world to do so now, what does it matter that further evidence

public and elected officials who have transformed their offices into positions of lucre, Nigeria totters like a drunken giant on a leg of clay. Our past haunts us.

Meanwhile the Naira continues its free cascade against the dollar, sending the financial sector and the country’s economy into a tailspin. Legitimate users of foreign exchange have no assurance that they will get any to run their business even as some resell what little the Central Bank could provide for profit without fear of consequences. The National Assembly this past week returned a budget long-delayed due to padding for presidential assent.

But not before introducing new series of self-serving padding into a budget already burdened with criminal padding by bureaucrats that are past masters in the art of official pilfering. To whom do you turn when an armed robber keeps the key of the national vault?

And President Muhammadu Buhari, as uncommunicative as ever it would take to make the effort he has so far made to bring the expected change to Nigeria appear non-existent- the president this week washed up his begging bowl and faced China in search of a $2 Billion dollars loan. Some of the projects for which the loan is intended have already been removed from the budget that awaits his assent by the National Assembly. But with the war-like situation at home, with the beleaguered country looking increasingly like a failed state, Nigerians would be hard put to make sense of the frequent presidential trips. Buhari is not the cause of the quagmire in which Nigerians have found themselves but his government must provide palpable evidence of what makes it part of the solution.

of how he laundered his loot in assets transferred to shell companies hidden in a tax haven abroad should have newly surfaced, thanks to the Panama Papers leak?

And why should the distinguished senator David Mark, longest serving senator of the republic, immediate past president of the upper house of the legislature, do more to clear his name often mentioned in connection with unaccountable wealth when all he needs do is deny that he owns any or all of the eight money-laundering shell companies associated with him in the Panama Papers?

His enemies are at work and it is they who should be ashamed. He will continue to be a distinguished senator and make laws to govern the rest of us who had not heard of the expert money-laundering duo of Mossack and Fonseca until last week. Not resigning to protest his or her honour is the mark of the politically exposed Nigerian politician. Perhaps that is because, as with Soyinka’s Elesin Oba in that timeless drama Death and the King’s Horseman, they have no honour to protest, any integrity they once had having been rolled up and stashed away in the bales and bales of mint-fresh naira they are accused of stealing from their impoverished fellow citizens?

20—Vanguard, WEDNES DAY WEDNESDAY DAY, APRIL13, 2016

Tension in Anambra community over disappearance of man from police custody

By Nwabueze Okonkwo,Onitsha

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Armed policemen Another source, however, alleged that the policemen might have dispensed with him and accused him of trying to escape from custody.

Consequently, Obi’s wife, Chika, has cried out to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, demanding that the police should produce her husband without further delay.

Chika who spoke to newsmen in her residence at Nkpor, hinted that the armed policemen numbering about five had stormed their Nkpor residence on the fateful day, arrested her husband and whisked him off to Ogidi Police Station where they detained him for three days

Kingsley Obi...still missing before taking him to Abuja.

She alleged that during the arrest which took place between 10 am and 11 am, the policemen who arrived their residence with about six civilians who were indigenes of Nkpor, allegedly confiscated her phone and that of her husband before taking him away in handcuffs, in the presence of their children.

Flanked by some of her husband’s relations, including Chief Godwin Onwukwe (a.k.a Apiti Nkpor), she identified the civilians who accompanied the policemen to their residence as Chibuzor Okeke, Ikenna (a.k.a Wester), Obinna Onwukwe, Sunday Udo and one Obi. She added that between the Sunday they arrested him and Wednesday when they took him away to Abuja, the policemen at Ogidi police station refused to allow her see him inside the cell or give him food because,

according to them, any suspect arrested by the Federal SARS does not have access to his relations.

According to her: “Our children and I have been suffering from hunger since then and the worst is that I can’t even pay our children’s school fees and fend for them since they took him away”.

One of their relations, Chief G o d w i n Onwukwe, who spoke on the development, said he was in Abuja waiting for the policemen to arrive with Obi so that he would wade into the matter but unfortunately, the policemen arrived without him and on inquiry, they told him that he escaped from their custody on their way which he said was unbelievable.

Escape from custody

Onwukwe said he had already briefed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, on the matter and he had dragged the policemen and the entire police authorities to the Federal High Court, Abuja, including the IGP, Anambra Police Commissioner, Femi Ojo (ASP), Inspector Louis Otu and Abdulazeez Aliu (SP) to compel them to produce Obi in court, dead or alive.

Contacted on the allegation, Chibuzor Okeke, who Obi’s wife alleged had accompanied the policemen to their residence on the day of the arrest, denied being Our children present, adding: “Since she said that her and I have husband was taken been suffering away by policemen to Ogidi Police Station, she from hunger should hold the police since then and responsible. I was made to understand that Obi’s the worst is arrest might not be that I can’t unconnected with the murder of one even pay our alleged Tochukwu Enekebe as children’s he was among the principal suspects school fees currently in the police and fend for wanted list”.

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By Ebele Orakpo

‘O

•Wife, relations cry out to IGP HE arrest of a middleaged man, Kingsley Obi, on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at his residence, Mgbachu village, Nkpor-Agu in Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra State, by a special police squad from the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad, FedSARS, Abuja and his alleged disappearance from the police custody, barely three days after is still causing ripples within the community and among his kinsmen.

His arrest, according to sources, might not be unconnected with a town union leadership crisis currently rocking Nkpor Community and which had allegedly led to gruesome murders and arson in the area.

One of the sources had it that as the police squad was taking Obi to Abuja for interrogation over a criminal allegation yet to be made public, he allegedly jumped out of their vehicle along the highway somewhere in Kogi State and escaped into a nearby bush.

What manner of change is this?

H Chineke God, deliver us from this wahala. Is this what we voted for? The suffering is too much,” lamented Patrick, a commuter in the Apapa-bound bus, in reference to the long queues at petrol stations, often spilling into the road and obstructing the free flow of traffic.

“Kai, we have never had it so bad. No fuel to drive your vehicle, no fuel to power your generator and no light from PHCN. What have we done?” asked Lucy.

“This government is getting it all wrong. How can you say you are no longer paying subsidy and at the same time fixing price for marketers? It’s not done anywhere. It won’t work,” said Ken. “How many marketers are selling at the fixed price?” asked Dayo.

Replied Ken: “Why should they? You are not paying subsidy, they suffered to source for dollars at almost double the price, and you are asking them to sell at your fixed price? That is callous!”

Said Jide: “We are going through the pangs of childbirth. Before we enjoy, we must suffer. Just bear with government a little longer and in the end, we will all enjoy. After all, you don’t expect PMB to fix PDP’s 16 wasted years in one year. He is not a magician.”

Retorted Patrick: “Aha, APC defender! Please people are tired of your blame game. We were told PDP was the worst thing to have happened to Nigeria and that APC was going to change everything for the better and we all clapped. Now that they are in power, everything is going from bad to worse. Labour should organise peaceful protests. We no longer sleep at nights because of heat and no fuel to power generators.”

“Shebi everyone is a wailer now. In fact, some even wail more than the original wailers. I dey laugh oo,” said Lucy sarcastically, adding: “We made our bed so we must lie on it without complaints please.”

Narrated Frank: “This change is changing everyone. Last Saturday, I called one Aboki to cut my nails. I grew up in Kano so I speak Hausa very well. We got talking and I asked him his state of origin, he said Katsina. I said oh, they are the ogas at the top. To my surprise, his countenance changed and he said to me: ‘Abeg, no talk like that. Buhari has disappointed us.

Balance not APC Change We all went to the North to vote – almajiris, the lame, blind, children – everyone went to vote because of the wonderful promises he made to us. Now, he is not fulfilling any.’ He said he had not eaten anything that day, this was around 2.00pm and he said he will use the money he will get from his services to eat. I began to wonder how many people he will cut their nails to be able to make enough money to afford a decent meal. I had to give him something to eat. He asked for old clothes also. He said they’ve not had it so bad.”

“Next time when you hear change, you ask what type of change because change get different levels.

These days, when you say change, people look at you somehow,” Frank said.

“I was in a bus a few days ago and a commuter asked the driver for change. Another commuter in another bus looked at him and said: ‘Abeg, we no wan hear that word again’. The man said he was asking for his balance not APC Change,” said Ken. “It has gotten to that level. PMB and his team should look for solutions and stop the blame game.

If they don’t know what to do, let them copy the things the past government got right and continue from there. In fact, it’s high time he took a break from his worldwide junketing and face governance. Things are getting out of hand and he is busy going round the world. He should act fast before people take laws into their hands,” counselled Patrick.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Marine engineers vow to end acquisition of scrap vessels

By Godwin Oritse

the number of vessels that cannot move or those that are sub-standard because they cannot meet the minimum standard required for a vessel to be operational.”

Uwadia called on regulatory authorities concerned to live up to their responsibility and ensure that

T

HE Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) in Nigeria has said it would ensure that only certified sea-worthy ships are acquired and brought into Nigeria. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, President of the association, Engr.

Charles Uwadia said that the initiative would be among key issues for discussion at the association’s Maritime Technical Summit themed ‘Challenges of Maritime Transport Industry in Nigeria,’ billed for this month of April.

Uwadia said policy makers in this respect would be exposed on the demands and requirements needed, which must be complied with in ship acquisition as obtained in other parts of the world.

He lamented the large number of abandoned ships at the bar due to failure to meet prescribed standards for operational purposes, while highlighting the importance of compliance and verification in sustainable maritime practice.

“We want to use this summit to advise stakeholders, the government on how to maintain their vessels to eliminate sub-standard vessels on our waters. Right at the outside bar, you will be surprised at

‘Why Nigerians can’t lift crude, other products’

By Godfrey Bivbere

F

ORMER National Hy drographer, Comdr. Joseph Abulu, has said that Nigerians are not able to lift crude oil and other petroleum products because government is not giving opportunity to indigenous ship-owners even when they have standard vessels capable of performing the function.

The former navy officer in an exclu-

1.30

$2,914.00 8.00

$ 43.23 0.40 $ 40.63 0.27 CURRENCY

BUYING

US DOLLAR 196 278.8688 POUNDS 223.244 EURO 205.0853 FRANC 1.8103 YEN 0.3204 CFA 275.334 WAUA 30.2801 RENMINBI 52.2486 RIYAL 29.9933 KRONA 276.6932 SDR

196.5 279.5802 223.8135 205.6085 1.8149 0.3304 276.0364 30.3578 52.3818 30.0698 277.3991

SELLING 197 280.2916 224.383 206.1316 1.8195 0.3404 276.7388 30.4355 52.5151 30.1463 278.1049

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/04/2016

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survey reports before any ship would be allowed into the country.According to him, Ghana as a countrytry has recorded exellence by ensuring a mandatory report by a professional marine engineer or surveyor from the country’s marine engineers’ body.

LAUNCHING: From left: MD/CEO Keystone Bank Limited, Mr Philip Ikeazor; MD/ CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr Emeka Emuwa and Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, during the opening of Nigerian Agri- Finance Conference in Abuja.

Ghana as a countrytry has recorded exellence by ensuring a mandatory report by a professional marine engineer or surveyor from the country’s marine engineers’ body $ 124.65

minimum standards are met, to avoid down time in the course of operations at sea.

The group’s President also said that it was important that Nigeria upheld the professional practice of engaging competent marine engineers and ship surveyors for

sive interview with Vanguard saidthatmostofthoseinvolved in the lifting of the products presently do not have their own vessels but are only chartering vessles.

He said it is not right for the FederalGovernmenttobeacquiring vessels for that purpose, stressing that there are Nigerianswhoownshipsand haveadequateknowledgerequired to lift products for export.

According to him, “1 was telling you of the present situation where the federal government is now acquiring tankertoliftproducts,thereare people who have tankers to lift our petroleum products. 1 have been in the vanguard of those fighting for Nigerians to be allowed to lift our crude oil goingtotheinternationalmarket.

“Nigeria is the only oil country in the world that uses foreign vessel owners and foreign vessels to lift her petroleum products to the international market.

Why should a Nigerian not

own a super tanker, and at any rate 1 could remember in 1999/ 2000 during the Obansanjo administration, 1 was the member of the committee that was set up to look at how Nigeria can start lifting crude.”

Stock market: CIS suspends Foresight CEO Securities

By Nkiru Nnorom

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HE Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has announced the suspension of Barrister Alex Ogbebor from all stock market activities for a period of six months over fraudulent practices.

Ogbebor, is the CEO, Foresight Securities and Investment Limited, and not"Forthright Securities and Investment" as earlier reported, accodring to a statement by the institutes’s Public and Media Relations Consultant, Mr. Sola Oni. Oni explained that "This clarification becomes necessary in order to put the records straight.

We apologize to Forthright Securities and Investment Limited over the unintended mix up and for whatever embarrassment this might have caused. Barrister Ogbebor works for Foresight

Securities and Investment Limited ".Mr Ogbebor was suspended for six months by the Institute after he was found guilty of three charges. Ogbebor was guilty of writing to run down a competitor, Pan African Capital Plc through deliberate misinformation.

The CIS stated that Ogbebor failed to observe high standards of commercial honour in its business with Pan African Capital while he deliberately misled the Institute through falsified facts to gain personal advantage over Pan African Capital.

Delivering judgement, the Chairman, Institute's Disciplinary Tribunal,Mr Oluwaseyi Abe, said :" Your name, Bright Alex Ogbebor is hereby struck off the relevant part of the register of members of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and the sentences would run concurrently on the three counts."

— 21

Indonesia pledges support for Nigeria on industrialisation

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu & Ann Nwafor

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HE Republic of Indonesia Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto has expressed the need for Nigeria to begin to look at the possibilities of harnessing other huge opportunities to industrilising the country, saying that there is a lot for Nigeria to grow its economy aside oil. According to the Ambassador, who gave the advice attheopeningceremonyofabusiness meeting of Indonesia Solo Exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria is hugely blessed with several other dependable natural resources aside oil and it is high time Nigeria diversify from oil.

AmbassadorPurwantoalsotold the meeting that it is interesting to know that President Buhari has put in plan to place Nigeria on the right direction and with globalisation, every country needed to do the imperatives to growing their economies.

Intimating further, he said that both NigeriaandIndonesiashare similar proximities, stressing that, “Indonesia has achieved in industrialising itself and we want to share with Nigeria our experiences.” Notably, he pointed out that although, no nation can be self-sufficient, it is imperative for countries to often work hand in hand to finding solutions to building one another.

However, the meeting was introduced to various existing business and investment opportunities that are bound in Indonesia, while listing other possible areas of business to include agriculture, mining, power generation and distribution, manufacturing and ship building.

According to Ambassador Purwanto, it is important for Nigerians to know that Indonesia is known by good quality products and hold highly the bi-trade relations shared with Nigeria, adding that most of goods like garments, soap, medicine and others being consumed in Nigeria and Europe are from Indonesia.

Also speaking at the business meeting,theDirector,Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre, Lagos, Mr. Nino Setiawan, said that the exhibition was a reminder of the existing bilateral ties between his country and Nigeria.

He stressed that the two countries trade relations are becoming stronger as days go by, while promising to remain committed towards ensuring that Nigerians who are interested in investing and or doing business with Indonesians enjoy the best of the Trade Center’s assistance.

22 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

,

If what is written on the policy document appears too technical for your understanding, then don’t take up the product

,

NAICOM ex-staff appeal to Minister of Finance for reinstatement

S

OME former staff of the which took place at National Insurance NAICOM, and other Commission, NAICOM, who g o v e r n m e n t were disengaged by the establishments, was immediate past Commissioner induced by the government for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, - the President Obasanjohas appealed to the Minister of led administration. It ended Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, to in 2006. compel NAICOM to reinstate "One hundred and fifty them. members of staff of the In an appeal letter to the Commission were affected Minister signed by the 68 in the exercise. This disengaged staff, the affected comprised staff whose persons stated that their jobs services were out-sourced had been restored since June like drivers, cleaners, and 2009 by the Bureau of Public others who had less than Service Reform (BPSR) but three years to retire and NAICOM still refused to were advised to do so reinstate them. because of the imminent The letter stated, “Hon implementation of the Minister, our prayer is that God Pension Reform Act, 2004. will use you to restore our jobs They voluntarily put in by directing the Management their papers, properly sent of NAICOM to according to the on pre-retirement training BPSR ‘issue recall letters to the and received Certificates reinstated officers’ and have all of Retirement from the our salaries and allowances Bureau of Public Service paid from the date of last Reform (BPSR). Those of us payment. Not only did the BPSR reinstate our jobs, the Federal High Court also did by granting us Order of Madamus.”

As at the time of this Briefing the Minister on ‘disengagement’ in happenings in NAICOM, the statement reads, “On September 2008, Friday, the 5th of there was no ‘onSeptember, 2008, we came for our normal day’s work going restructuring at the National Insurance exercise’ in the Commission. Shortly after resumption, letters were National Insurance distributed in batches, one Commission set after the other, spanning from the morning (NAICOM) to late evening. At the end the day, a total of 68 staff of the who had many more years Commission were involved. in the service of the The ‘disengagement’ letters Commission kept our jobs. had a common format tacitly A new Commissioner for stating: ‘Following the on- Insurance was appointed going restructuring exercise in in July, 2007 and resumed the Commission, we regret to duty on the 1st of August, inform you that your service is 2007. He was the immediate no longer required with effect past and last Chief from September 8, 2008.’

Executive Officer of Globe This was a very big surprise Reinsurance Corporation to all of us so affected, more so prior to his appointment. when no reason whatsoever This company could not was given. The only thing that meet up with the June sounded like a reason was the 2005- February 2007 phrase ‘the on-going Insurance Recapitalisation restructuring exercise.’ exercise carried out by “As at the time of this NAICOM. ‘disengagement’ in September He later became the 2008, there was no ‘on-going Commissioner for restructuring exercise’ in the Insurance the same year that National Insurance the exercise ended and his Commission (NAICOM). The Reinsurance Company last restructuring exercise, liquidated.”

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURAN Understand that insurance product before buying Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

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E all need one form of insurance or the other because life is full of risks and insurance is the only risk transfer mechanism that is reliable. In other words, you can insure all your risks and go to sleep.

However, when you are taking up any insurance cover, make sure you understand what is written on the policy document. If what is written on the policy document appears too technical for your understanding, then don’t take up the product.

In the past, insurance companies have been able to get away with not paying claims to some insureds because such customers refuse to read what is contained in their policy documents. However, the story is changing because the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, the industry regulator, has decided to wield the big stick on claim defaulters. NAICOM has made it mandatory for insurance companies to submit their product forms and documents for approval before selling such products to consumers. As a result, NAICOM has made it mandatory that policy wordings

must be written in simple and easy to understand English.

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Mohammed Kari said, “Before insurers start selling products, we try as much as possible to scrutinise them before they are issued out. If any form is issued out or given to consumers different from what we approve, we will sanction the company.”

Kari said that NAICOM has now introduced the principles of treating customers fairly,

adding, “Insurers must simplify all policy documents in simple English to ensure that they are understood by the prospective consumer or the policyholder to avoid misguidance.

So if you have a genuine insurance claim to make from your insurer as a result of a loss you suffered, be rest assured that your insurance company will settle your claim. However, if your intention is to defraud your insurance company, then be ready to bear the consequences.

Outstanding claims

Insurers must simplify all policy documents in simple English to ensure that they are understood by the prospective consumer or the policyholder to avoid misguidance

Only recently, insurers were forced to cough up over N11 billion to settle all outstanding claims in their books being owed consumers for over three years running. This was in response to the directive given to insurers late last year by NAICOM to wipe out all outstanding claims from their books.

Recall that NAICOM, late last year, collated claims details from all insurance companies and complains on delayed and unsettled clams from members of the insuring public in its efforts to verify the persistent complaints of the consumers of insurance about an unsavoury

AWARD: From left, Chairman, Damilola Block Industry, Owo, Chief Kayode Agboola, receiving Lafarge evergreen award and a cheque; CEO, Cement Lafarge Africa, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo and the company’s chairman, Mr. Bolaji Balogun, at the 2015 Lafarge Customer Award, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

VOL. 1 NO 63 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARYWEDNESDAY, 20, 2016 Vanguard, APRIL 13, 2016

Aku Road, Nsukka.

Nsukka LGA, Enugu State.

Honour for man that brought Catholic faith to Awka in 1916

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—LATE Chief Chukwuneke Ofodile, who brought the Catholic fate to Awka in 1916, is one of 43 persons to be honoured by the Church during its centenary celebration tomorrow. The award would be one of the highlights of the week-long celebration which started last Sunday in all the parishes in the town, with Rosary procession from the parishes, which terminated at the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral with a benediction.

Chairman of the centenary celebration committee, Professor Austin Nonyelu, went down memory lane on how Chief Ofodile attracted the church to the area despite initial challenges.

Nonyelu said: “Chief Ofodile went to Igbariam to invite the white Reverend Fathers. They were referred to Nteje to discuss with Father Bubendorff, who accepted to meet them later in Awka.

“As agreed, Father Bubendorff, who was accompanied by Brother Joseph, later arrived in Awka and requested Chief Offodile to gather other chiefs and elders to meet him. The meeting became a watershed, as it mid-wifed the birth of the new school and church in Awka.

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“As part of his personal contribution, Chief Offodile donated a piece of land at the extreme part of Awka to the new church and requested his colleagues to clear the land. A new school was therefore erected there: a mud house thatched with raffia mats. The school became operational same year (1916), and one Felix Udeme, from Osomala in the present day Ogbaru, was posted to be in charge.”

Challenges

Nonyelu said the school encountered a number of challenges including lack of pupils and stiff competition from the government school, which was better located and was also better equipped and staffed, adding that it was for that reason that Fr. Bubendorff requested for a change of site for the school which was accepted in 1923.

The school was later moved to the present site: 349, Zik Avenue, Awka, near Nkwo Market, and also doubled as St. Cyprian Catholic Church.

Nonyelu said the centenary celebration will come to a climax with a Concelebrated Mass to be officiated by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, to be assisted by many Bishops and over 100

priests from the various parts of the country on April 16 at the Cathedral.

According to the chairman, prominent Nigerians, including Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, minister of employment, Senator Chris Ngige, former Governor Peter Obi, former national Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, among many others, are expected to grace the week-long event.

Nonyelu, who described 2016 as a special year for Awka people and those residing in the city, observed that the Catholic Church had grown substantially over the years with notable infrastructure, accompanied with spiritual and human development.

He said at the beginning of this year, there were 27 indigenous priests in Awka, in addition to many educational and health institutions, adding that despite some challenges, the church was still growing at a tremendous rate.

Secretary of the committee, Mr. Uba Anene, explained that 43 persons would receive awards as part of the activities during the celebration, adding that among the awardees would be Chief Ofodile who would be honoured posthumously for bringing the Catholic Church to Awka.

Refuse deface Nsukka, ESWAMA helpless

By Chinenyeh Ozor

T

HE urban town of Nsukka, Enugu State, used to be the beautiful bride of the first indigenous university, cited on soft green virginal hills; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, which placed the town on the world map, attracting visitors from all walks of life to the town. But the town now plays host to dirt and refuse dumps.

South East Voice gathered that heaps of refuse dumps positioned at the entry and exit points of the university town portrays the image of the town as the dirtiest city in Enugu State. The heaps continue to increase on a daily basis.

Enugu State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA, in Nsukka Local Government Area seems helpless.

One out of the two refuse trucks allocated to Nsukka council have broken down for over two years and parked at the local government headquarters, while the only existing

Continues on Page 25

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

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GOVERNOR KASHIM SHETTIMA Why Shettima won Vanguard’s Governor of the year 2015 Award — Oshiomhole "If I was asked to vote among ourselves, to choose one Governor who should be really voted for tonight, l will without any reservation vote for Governor Shettima of Borno State because the truth is that it is quite challenging to manage even in a peaceful environment and each time we hear that they have exploded bomb (they are killing children, they are killing women) we expect to see a Governor who is wallowing himself in pity, joining his people to cry as if there will be no tomorrow but in Governor Shettima, every bomb blast reinforces his determination to fight and defeat the forces of darkness.

He has efficiently made a difficult job look so easy. We in Edo state admire Governor Shettima so much and as I have said if I were to vote, I will add my honor to his own because he has shown that the devil is a liar. I congratulate you, I am happy for you and I am happy for the people of Borno state and we in Edo state are hoping that you prevail.

Around this time last year or a little early than that, Governor Shettima had the courage to speak truth to power, that Government was not doing enough, that insurgents were more armed and even more motivated. He spoke to power when it was dangerous to do so.

Each time I see men of courage I feel more reinforced myself, so I congratulate you, Shettima".

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Lagos Alor community elects new leaders

UNN Geoinformatics, Surveying Depts celebrate 55th anniversary T

HE atmosphere was exciting. There was fun despite that Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations are not held in March.

Perhaps, people would ask why the celebrants were in such joyous mood. The reason was obvious. Almost all the participants were returning to their alma mater after several years.

While some are now addressed as professors, doctors and chiefs, many hold key positions in government.

Some were also meeting for the first time since they graduated several years ago.

The occasion was the 55th anniversary and homecoming of the Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying of the University of Nigeria, Enugu-campus.

Although, the award/ gala night took place at the Surveyors’ House, Secretariat, Enugu, the opening ceremony was held inside the main hall of the UNN, Enugu-campus, refurbished by the former Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Prof. Bede Ibe. Speaking on the occasion, the new DVC of the university, Enugu-campus, Prof Smart Uchegbu challenged Nigerian Surveyors and estate managers to help government find solutions to the frequent cases of building collapse in the country.

Uchegbu said that this had become necessary to save further loss of lives and property arising from collapsed buildings.

He also called on the alumni and corporate bodies in the country to support the

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah, Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

institution, as government allocation was no longer sufficient to meet its needs and maintain its leading role in the nation’s education sector.

The DVC, who represented the Vice Chancellor of the institution on the occasion, Prof Chukwuma Ozumba, however, expressed joy and sense of fulfilment that the surveying department that started in 1961 with only 12 students, now had students’ enrolment of over 200.

According to him, since inception, the department had made great strides in teaching, learning and research, which he said were the bedrock of the

existence of the university. His words, “This is a reflection of the importance of this profession in national development; your products are today occupying prominent positions in many areas of human endeavour, both scientific and environmental spheres. In fact, I am informed that one of you, emeritus professor, Francis Fajemirokun, former DVC, University of Lagos, is here on this occasion.”

Earlier, Head of Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, of the university, D r. Elochukwu Moka, reiterated the

A

determination of the institution to continue to maintain its pride of place in the comity of modern surveying training in the country, adding that being the first among the first generation universities to offer surveying, they had strived to maintain that position.

He said: “For us to remain relevant as a force, we have tried to embrace every emerging technology in the field of study within the available resources. ”The university authorities have been supportive, notwithstanding the dwindling allocations from the Federal Government."

Cross section of the former students of Surveying, UNN.

LOR community in Lagos, under aegis of Alor Development Union, ADU, of Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has elected new officers to lead the group for the next three years.

The election, which was held at Alor Christian Centre Alafia, OrileIganmu, Lagos, saw the emergence of Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu as Chairman; Chief Chijioke Uzokwe, Vice Chairman; Engr. Damiona Nwaogbo, Secretary General; Engr.

Marcus Mbaekwe, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Chibuike Nwoye, Treasurer; Chief Mallison Ukatu, FinancialSecretary; Mr. Toochukwu Uzochukwu, Assist.

Secretary; Mr. Emmanuel Udodinma, Social / Publicity Secretary; Mr. Azubuike Onyechi, Chief Provost and Mr. Chijioke Akubue, Provost.

Chief Ojukwu, who was Chairman for the past three years, said his team ensured that Lagos branch was aggressive in its governance and ensuring welfare of its members. He said there was remarkable increase in membership, especially among the youths.

Refuse deface Nsukka, ESWAMA helpless Continues from Page 23 one that manage to evacuate refuse break down at intervals to the embarrassment of ESWAMA workers, who resorts to using bare hands to carry dirts in the town.

A dependable source at Nsukka council, who would not want his name in print, told South-East Voice that the caretaker committee Chairman, Professor Rose Onah, paid no attention to the refuse dumps that litter the town.

The source said ESWAMA lacks both manpower, logistics and materials to challenge the scourge of refuse dumps at Police Barracks Junction, which defaces the entry point to both the Police and Nsukka council headquarters; Aku Road; Techtonics Road; Onuiyi Junction, residence of the first President of Nigeria, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; Ogorugu Road; Ihuama Junction at Obollo Road (Nkpor juction); Ugwu Awalawa and the busy Enugu Road, among others.

The erstwhile Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Mr. Tony Okechi Ugwu, tackled the refuse dumps without waiting for the state government’s assistance.

But as soon as he left office, sites of the refuse dumps returned.

The present caretaker

Refuse at Police barracks junction Chairman is said to still be studying the situation, but concentrated more on appointing ad-hoc workers on revenue and obstruction that chase motorists and cyclists from pillar to post.

It could be recalled that the former state chairman of Enugu State National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Joseph Ugwu (aka Obinwanne) used to provide tippers to assist the council evacuate refuse in Nsukka. That gesture has not been harnessed by the successive administration after Tony Ugwu

‘Dead’ ESWAMA truck at Nsukka LGA.

left office.

The former Chairman of Allied Business Community, Chief Theophilus Nzuteigbo, said that Enugu State government provided enough refuse bins, but that the problem in Nsukka was an inability to handle refuse dumps, which appear in Nsukka at every available space.

“Nsukka Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman should rise to the challenge without looking unto the state government that embarked on roads construction in Nsukka,” he

said.

Chief Anthony Ozonwuemelie (aka Old Man), Chairman, Nsukka Urban Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, said that the sight of refuse dumps in Nsukka is embarrassing to visitors to UNN. He called on the caretaker committee chairman to hire tippers and assist ESWAMA clean up the town.

Efforts made to speak with Professor Onah failed as she did not respond to calls and text messages put across to her line.

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left); former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo (2nd right); founder of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, Rev. Monsignor Obiora Ike (right) during the Mothering Sunday mass at St. Leo Catholic Church, Abapka Nike, Enugu.

ABOVE: From right— Mother General, Catholic Women Organisation, Enugu Diocese, Eunice Oguanya; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo; Dean, Agbani Deanery, Very Rev. Msgr. Tobias Anichebe; wife of Enugu State House of Assembly Speaker, Mrs. Akunna Ubosi; and Mrs. Ndu, cutting the cake to mark 2016 Mothering Sunday/Golden Jubilee celebration of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ozalla, Agbani Deanery.

BELOW: Women serving as altar women with the officiating priests, Rev Fr Boniface Amu and Rev Fr Chukwunonso Eze to mark Mothering Sunday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Imufu, Enugu Ezike Igboeze North Local Government Area.

Njigha Chinenye, one of the winners of N250,000 (middle) during the presentation of prizes. Nigerian Breweries Limited, producers of Life Continental Lager Beer and other titles, splashed N1.5 million on six entrepreneurs who emerged victorious during this year ’s enlarged Scope of Life Beer Progress Booster radio show empowerment programmes.

Armoured cables belonging Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, recovered from vandals.

ABOVE: Obinna Uzor and his wife Henrietta cutting the tape at the commissioning of the new building.

RIGHT: The new church building.

LEFT:Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, staff, Emeka Ogbonna at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA, after an encounter with robbers who killed a policeman.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 —

,

CE & YOU

In the past, insurance companies have been able to get away with not paying claims to some insureds because such customers refuse to read what is contained in their policy documents

27

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Fluctuation in naira could set back sector — Experts

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VISIT: From left, Assistant Executive Secretary,Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, (NCRIB), Mr. Tope Adaramola; President, Actuarial Science and Insurance Student Association (ASISA), Lagos State Polytechnic Chapter, Peter; NCRIB President, Mr. Kayode Okunoren; ASISA President, Lagos State University Chapter, Animashaun Rafiu and NCRIB Executive Secretary, Mr Fatai Adegbenro during the courtesy visit by the students to NCRIB Secretariat, Lagos. attitude of the providers that has brought the image of the industry into disrepute.

Some of the delayed and unsettled claims have been hanging for over three years and more.

Unethical practice Vanguard investigations reveal that insurers that were guilty scampered to settle all outstanding claims in their books for fear of being sanctioned while companies that have not been able to meet the deadline have been penalised appropriately with further sanctions placed on them.

It is worthy of note that such unethical practice is perpetrated only by a few, whose sad posture stains the efforts of the many.

Accordingly, NAICOM, in its continued effort to sanitise the industry of this unpalatable tags

and restore the confidence of the insuring public, has directed all insurers to handle all claims strictly in accordance with the provision of the Insurance Act, 2003.

However, know that if you have intentions to defraud an insurance company, the insurer has every right to repudiate your insurance contract, according to Section 55(2) of the Insurance Act, 2003 which states thus, “Notwithstanding any provision in any written law or enactment to the contrary, where there is a breach of term of a contract of

insurance, the insurer shall not be entitled to repudiate the whole or any part of the contract or a claim brought on the grounds of the breach unless(a) the breach amounts to a fraud ; or (b) it is a breach of fundamental term of the contract.”

In essence, policyholders should take time to study their insurance contracts very well to ensure that they don’t send negative signals to their insurer should they mistakenly make a wrong claim.

S the fluctuation in the naira continues unabated, insurance practitioners are worried that the insurance sector will be hard hit. Immediate past President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu, said that at the level of the common man, the devalued naira will reduce the disposable income of Nigerians, further precluding them to care less about undertaking insurance.

Shoderu said that the present challenge should make national policymakers to be more ingenious in managing the precarious economic state, while the onus is also on insurance practitioners to be more prudent and more resourceful in running their businesses.

Shoderu said that the time has come for Nigeria to break fast the façade of mono economy and develop other latent mineral resources that the nation presently has in abundance. He said, “We must also continually put in place strategies to promote the nation’s industrial sector so as to transform our nation from consumptionbased to production-based nation.

All over the world, elections or politics are a great determinant of national economic and political advancement. Whatever happens

at the realm of polity affects all other facets of national economy, of which the insurance industry is a critical component. This is why we must do all within our means as practitioners to ensure we have a robust polity.”

Meanwhile current President of the NCRIB, Mr. Kayode Okunoren, said that inputs should be solicited from the insurance industry in the government’s economic policies.

Paying premium Group Managing Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr. Bode Akinboye said that the government can also assist in the growth of the sector by effectively enforcing the ‘No premium, no cover’ policy.

Akinboye said that the federal government should set example by paying premium for all its insurances so that individuals and corporate organisations can emulate.

He said, “If the federal government can pay premium as at when due, it will be easier to also help in enforcing the ‘no premium, no cover’ policy. So we expect that under this new change era, government should be good example to the corporate world as well as to individuals.

Investment guideline'll prevent pension fund from getting into wrong hands — Chukwu

M

ANAGING Director of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu has said that the reason for the creation of guidelines on accessing the pension fund for investment is to

protect the fund.

Chukwu who spoke at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria, FICAN, forum in Lagos said that the National Pension Commission, PenCom, came up with the

TOP INSURANCE GAINERS & LOSERS

guidelines to protect the funds from falling into wrong hands.

Chukwu said, “There are frameworks in place for the investment of pension funds into infrastructure. Before you can invest any portion of the fund you have to create an infrastructure bond or you should have an investment vehicle for the investment of pension fund.

The guideline for the investment of pension funds is very clear. It is not enough to say ‘give me the money.’ You must go through the accurate route that allows pension fund to go through infrastructure. If you don’t do that you are not going to access the fund because that structure is supposed to protect the pension fund from getting into the wrong hands.

Meanwhile Director General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu said that any investment with the pension fund must follow the guideline.

Anohu-Amazu said, “While there may be concerted efforts to

raise infrastructure bonds, as laudable as some investments ideas are, we cannot go against the guidelines. All investments must follow the laid down guidelines. We have finalised work on even the new guidelines and what we have in the new guidelines are multi-tiers and not one single fund.”

Anohu-Amazu said that the reason for the guideline is to make sure that the pension funds is safe. “It is to make sure that the funds are safeguarded, shrouded from the vagaries of human discrepancies and all. So an investor will swallow the law, and will have a competitive bidding process.

We will make sure that those that are coming to bid are qualified to do it, we will have a time limit, we will have a monitoring team, we will have those who are looking at it to make sure that the quality of products you purport to buy is not after the road that will develop potholes after two years.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Tunisian club under fire after Udoh failed medical

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lub Africain have come under serious attack as regards Enyimba striker Mfon Udoh, who last year failed a medical with them only to score a hat-trick to sink another Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel in a CAF Champions League at the weekend.

Udoh hit target in the ninth, 55th and 80th minutes on Sunday in Port Harcourt Club Africain claimed Mfon Udoh was suffering from a dangerous and contagious ailment and that was why the Tunis club did not eventually sign him.

Fans have bombarded the Tunis club demanding how it was possible they could have lost such a top striker, who holds the all-time record in the Nigeria league with 23 goals two seasons ago.

Bayern ready for tough test

Udoh eyes CAF Champions League title with Enyimba

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ayern Munich flew to Por tugal yesterday for what they expect to be a serious test of their Champions League credentials against Benfica tonight.

A 1-0 win in Munich last week has put the Bavarians ahead in the tie, but they must successfully navigate a further 90 or 120 minutes if they want to advance to a fifth straight semi-final.

And the 2013 European champions are well aware they cannot celebrate yet.

Moroccan refs for Enyimba/ Etoile clash in Tunisia

•Guardiola

Benfica coach faces another test of ability

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his will certainly not be cheering news for Nigeria champions Enyimba as their CAF Champions League second round return leg match against Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia will be handled by Moroccan referees.

Enyimba have taken a 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Nigeria on Sunday, but Etoile hope they could overturn this deficit to reach the moneyspinning group stage of the Champions League. Moroccan referee Noureddinne El Jaafari will be assisted by compatriots Hicham Ait Abbou and Youssef Mabrouk for a game involving a team from fellow North African country.

•Aigbogun

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NYIMBA of Aba striker Mfon Udoh has expressed his desire to help his team win the 2016 CAF Champions League with his goals after he fired a sensational hat trick against Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the second round, first leg cracker played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Etoile du Sahel have been very fearsome on the continent after winning the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup and analysts were of the opinion that Enyimba would struggle against the Red Devils at home.

But the visitors’ rout began inside the opening 10 minutes when Udoh got the curtain raiser after Joseph Osadaiye was fouled in the 18-yard box before scoring two more goals in the second half in the 57th and 80th minutes to ensure that the Nigerian representa-

tives would be going to Tunis with a good cushion.

Speaking after the match in Port Harcourt, Udoh revealed that he was excited at scoring the goals that made the difference against Etoile du Sahel while stressing that the underdogs term labelled them before the start of the match helped them to calm down to teach the Tunisian side some football lesson. “I am excited by the goals I scored [on Sunday]. It was

nice to win well against as we were regarded as underdogs before the game. We are happy about this victory and we will do everything possible to ensure that we protect the advantage in Tunisia,” Udoh said.

He said he was not keen about ending the 2016 CAF Champions League as the highest scorer but that it would be his personal wish to ensure that Enyimba win the lucrative African club competition.

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enfica coach Rui Vitoria faces another test of his powers of improvisation as he tries to patch up a team without topscorer Jonas against Bayern Munich today.

The Portuguese champions and league leaders were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final last week, a narrow enough margin to give them a chance of producing a major upset at the Stadium of Light.

Iwobi among Africa top 5 stars by France football

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RSENAL youngster Alex Iwobi has been named by France Football magazine among the top five African stars in Europe for the past week. Iwobi provided two assists as Arsenal drew 3-3 with West Ham in a thrilling London derby at the weekend. The 19-year-old Nigeria international has shone for London Gunners after he was given his chance by manager Arsene Wenger this season.

The other top African stars for the past week are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cedric Bakambu from DR Congo, Salomon Kalou of Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria’s Hicham Belkaroui.

Zenith Bank WBL: We could’ve done better – AHIP coach

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FTER beating First Deepwater Basketball Club of Lagos 66-63 in a keenly contested tie in one of yesterday ’s Zenith Bank Women Basketball League in Asaba, Coach of AHIP, Wilson Idanwenkai declared that the standard of the league had improved in leaps as there were no more smaller teams.

C M Y K

Said he, “I must say that the standard of the league has improved. The teams are more balanced and churning out good performances, which is good for the overall improvement of the women’s game. I enjoin all the teams to contribute their quota to the rise of basketball in the country.

He frowned at the

desperation and win-at-all-cost attitude being exhibited by some clubs, pointing out that his team is not desperate to play in the Final Eight in Lagos.

He appraised the match against the former champions as a good game, which his girls could have won by a wider margin. He commended his players for sticking to their

game plan despite the gallant show put up by their opponents.

“We had a nice game against First Deepwater and it was good that it ended in our favour.

However, the officiating was questionable in most cases. It seems some of the teams are desperate to qualify for the Final Eight and the rivalry is becoming unhealthy among teams,” he added.

*Alex Iwobi

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 — 29

Atletico can destroy Barca’s dream D

espite Barcelona holding a slender advantage in their Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid, it’s the Rojiblancos that are in pole position to go through to the semi-finals.

Diego Simeone will know that his team are more than capable of scoring an early goal and then sitting on such a lead for the rest of the game.

Atleti remain one of the meanest defences in European football and that’s just the way that the Argentinian likes it. Backs against the wall, up and at ‘em when attacking – it’s a real old school way of playing but with a thoroughly modern twist.

As has been proved time and again over the last few seasons, there aren’t too many teams that can live with them. Barca are in the minority and do have a bit of an Indian sign over this opponent, having now won seven in a row against the mattress makers.

That’s largely to do with ill discipline from Atleti rather than being outplayed however.

Fernando Torres saw red last week, and Diego Godin and Felipe Luis were ordered off in the league match during the previous game between the pair.

Mata: West Ham all we’re thinking about

PSG will need €190m to meet Neymar’s buy-out clause

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C Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar Neymar, who has had assets seized in Brazil as part of a tax fraud case and whose transfer to Spain was one of the most controversial deals in world football, has had details of his contract released showing he receives a guaranteed salary of €45.9 million with his five-year contract at Barca. His buy-out clause is a massive €190 million.

The detail of his contract came out on the Football Leaks website. The 24-year old Brazilian forward moved to the Catalan giants from Brazilian club Santos in early June 2013. Neymar’s father was among the key negotiators in the five-year deal.

•Neymar

anchester United’s Juan Mata says all he thinks about is the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham. Mata and Co. suffered a massive 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane at the hands of Tottenham on Sunday in a match that may have spelled the end of the club’s Champions League hopes for next season.

But the Spaniard wrote in his weekly blog that he is happy the team has a chance to redeem itself so quickly.

United forced a replay after Anthony Martial’s late equaliser cancelled out Dimitri Payet’s superb free-kick for West Ham.

•Mata

MATCHES TODAY

UEFA C/LEAGUE Athletico v Benfica v EPL Match Crystal P. v FA Cup West Ham v

Barcelona Bayern

7:45pm 7:45pm

Everton

8:00pm

Man Utd

7pm

Holy Ghost College wins NNPC/Shell Cup in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA,OWERRI

H

oly Ghost College, Owerri, HOGOSCO, has for the second time this year, added another feather to its cap by winning the NNPC/ Shell Cup competition for secondary schools in Imo State.

During this outing, HOGOSCO roundly defeated its Government Technical College, GTC, Owerri, counterpart 5-1, to lift the coveted trophy.

Only a couple of weeks ago, HOGOSCO equally won the State Milo Basketball competition, thereby securing the ticket to represent the state at the Equatorial Conference, coming up later this year.

Addressing the participating colleges after the scintillating soccer encounter, which was largely dominated by HOGOSCO, the State Director of School Sports, Ministry of Education, Mr. Christopher Anyalebechi, congratulated the winning team for putting up what he termed “a brilliant performance”.

“By this victory, HOGOSCO will represent the state at Ughelli, Delta State, where the national finals would be held from April 13, 2016”, Anyalebechi said.

It was the considered opinion of the Director that “winning these two events within a few months, have made the College the talk of the town, as far as secondary school sports is concerned”.

Speaking also, the College Principal, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Ogu, expressed joy that the institution has continued to win laurels in football and other sporting events, stressing that the College’s excellent soccer history dates back to the pre-war years.

ITF Confirms Kamuhia, Saidu for Tombim, Dayak Abuja Open

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he International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed Silver badged Samuel Kamuhia and Saidu Musa the bronze badged Nigerian for the Tombim and Dayak Open Tournaments. The duo will be assisted by several Nigerian umpires.

Kamuhia is arriving Nigeria Friday, April 15, two days to the opening ceremony of the month long events that will see Abuja host two international tennis tournaments from April through May at the Package B courts of Abuja tennis club.

Interestingly 219 players from 30 countries including nine players from the host country have so far entered for the 2nd Tombim Open Tennis Championship and over 90 players for the 1st Dayak Open which serves off after Tombim The 2nd Tombim Open has been scheduled to start on Monday April 18 and will last for 14 days for the two legs of the Futures tournament while the Dayak Open commences immediately after, endCommander, Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP. Olatunji Disu (middle), flank ing in May after another two weeks of with medalist of RRS at the just concluded 2016 Police Games in Abuja on Wednesday. high class tennis.

Co-ordinator of Foundation Cricket Club of Lagos, Yinka Fisher presenting a Photo Book on the 30th Anniversary of the club in Lagos at the weekend. Fisher is flanked by members of the club. Photo by Jacob Ajom.

Renovation works of the ITF sanctioned courts to be used for the matches are nearing completion as Tombim Sports Development and Dayak employed capable hands to bring it to internationally acceptable standards so that the visiting officials and international players would play out their games without much complains.

Envisaging the rains during the tournaments, the sponsors decided to upgrade the facilities and cover the centre court so that the matches could go unhindered.

The sponsors have also provided a sound proof power generating set which will serve the courts and the offices while Internet facilities have been upgraded so that the tournaments referees could upload results as soon as matches are concluded .The training courts and tournament offices are also being refurbished in readiness for the four weeks of international tennis which has now placed Nigeria in the ITF Futures Calendar.

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30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, TUESDAY 13, 2016

Dwindling oil fortunes force rethink in ICT sector •ComTech minister okays council on ICT sector development •NCC trusts 8-point agenda to provide direction •Industry practitioners worry over multiplication of devt roadmaps

By Prince Osuagwu

E

VEN though it has consistently appeared as if Nigeria could not move an inch with its economy without oil, staggering economic realities and consistent dwindling oil fortunes are forcing a massive rethink among policy makers and other stakeholders of the economy.

Nowhere else is this rethink ever seen apprehensively generating debates and collaborations at the same time, than the Information and Communications Technology, ICT sector; a sector often seen as the next mainstay of the economy.

With its over $32Billion FDI/ local investments; over 152 Million active telephone lines and nearly 97Million connection to the internet, growth of the sector is followed by massive job creation whereby several millions of Nigerians and Expatriates have been gainfully employed directly and indirectly by the operators.

With these, the dream of a stable ICT- led Nigerian economy began to dawn on Nigerians as a reality.

8-point roadmap Adebayo Shittu Communications Minister

President of ATCONEngr Lanre Ajayi

Sustainable development Meanwhile, the sector itself has been tinkering on ideas to get itself repositioned in such a way that a sustainable development strategy and growth pattern will not allow its fortunes easily peter out like oil is witnessing at the moment. However, that in itself has generated a problem that needs critical attention; else the bullet will miss the target. At the moment, there are about five separate roadmaps geared towards the development of one ICT sector alone and what worries the stakeholders is that some of them are either fighting each other or near clones of some others.

The fear is that five different development plans sitting in silos, would create more confusion in the ICT industry than when there was even none.

At a dinner organised for the Minister of Communications Technology, last weekend by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, the association has sought for a concerted effort of all stakeholders in the ICT industry towards a holistic developmental C M Y K

evermore into sharper focus in Nigeria. The time has come for Nigeria to redefine its economic strength away from crude oil sales by diversifying the productive base of the national economy” However, the minister drew the attention of ATCON to the challenges its members must have to tackle for a strong ICTled economy is achieved: “Top on the list of these challenges which I want the Council as well as ATCON to address is the paradox of SPAM messages; charges for unsolicited services, alleged under-declaration and underpayment of taxes. Again, poor voice quality and frequency of drop calls have been the bane of telecoms services in the country.

The networks experience frequent congestion at peak periods. These failures combine to reduce customers’ satisfaction and make them unable to receive value for their money”.

•Danbatta-NCC-EVC plan to position the sector as the mainstay of the economy.

The totality of ATCON’s advocacy was for stakeholders to be carried along to get the right development process.

S t a k e h o l d e r mobilization: It was a position the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu bought immediately: I quite agree that the formation of the Council

Technology, particularly ICT, is the critical driver of the knowledgebased economy of this our postmodern world

•Omo Ettu

will enhance the mobilization of the stakeholders and to generate new ideas for tackling the challenges in the industry. I see it as a platform that will bring people with deep experience to the fore and to brainstorm on contemporary issues with the aim of guiding the industry by issuing regular advisory notes to the Ministry.

The minister also added that “Technology, particularly ICT, is the critical driver of the knowledge-based economy of this our post-modern world. As many notable pundits predicted

in the course of the 20thCentury, emphasis and global relevance in today’s 21st Century world, has shifted from nations with huge natural resources to nations with developed human resources that can technologically explore, exploit and manage natural resources for the benefit of mankind.

Today, as the price of crude oil daily goes nose-diving in the International market and foreseeable national revenue generation nosedives with it, the above-mentioned reality of global relevance is coming

On his part, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta believes that the industry was strong enough to hold the economy even though that his commission has laid down an 8-point agenda that can improve the gains already achieved. He had some statistics to back himself up: “Since 2001, over $32Billion has been invested in Telecommunications industry both from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local investors.

With over 152 Million active telephone lines and nearly 97Million connection to the internet, Nigeria now has 107percent teledensity.

Growth of the sector is followed by massive job creation whereby several millions of Nigerians and Expatriates have been gainfully employed directly and indirectly by the operators, companies and Value Added Service (VAS) providers, among others.

Indeed, by ITU estimation, Nigeria Telecoms remained the fastest growing in the world for more than five years so much that it’s still investors’ preferred destination.

“Early this year, we unveiled a Roadmap for 2015-2020 which we christened 8-point agenda. It has been well articulated and well received by the public.

But let me state for clarity that it is the roadmap that is expected to finally take Nigeria to the next levels of telecommunications in line with the change mantra of the new Nigerian government”.

Harmonisation of roadmaps: However, in a related document, a strong industry practitioner and former president of ATCON Engr Titi Omo-Ettu,

Continues on pg 31

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, TUESDAY 13, 2016—31

Why we’re investing on broadband network expansion —Michiel Buitelaar, Smile MD

By Emeka Aginam

Managing Director of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited.

Mr. Michiel Buitelaar has identified that Nigerians are yet to enjoy the benefit of broadband and in this interview highlights that it’s the reason behind his company’s expansion strategies and offerings. He also touches on the challenges associated with operating in Nigeria, but assured that his company will meet its license obligations. Excerpt

N

ETWORK expansion: About this time last year, we celebrated our 6 years anniversary. The fund we secured last year is used to accelerate national network rollout, including equipment and services. It is important we spend the money to expand our network to other cities across the nation and further improve the network in existing cities.

We have shown strong presence in Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria. In these three countries, we launched unlimited network. We also have presence in Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, but we are yet to roll out the network. We aim to think big, so we do things on the basis of scales.

In developing voice, we did that as a big project for the three countries. We believe that the way we implement unlimited voice network is the way to go. We benefit from the scale, which enable us to provide better product across this market, but it’s still about making it happen in the local market.

Experience in the market: We are gathering data. There are a

We are aware of infrastructural issues in Nigeria market but I think there is an opportunity for those providing real quality services both in data and voice

•Michiel Buitelaar

lot of things that could be better.

Understanding the pricing is very important. Obviously, we have to

educate the customers too. People need to understand what data is, people also need to understand that it is not every handset that is ready to receive it. We are convinced that our pricing is good.

Again, there is element of acceptance. Many Nigerians are yet to see the benefits of broad band. Presently, internet access in Nigeria is growing. 90 percent of Nigerians think they need broad band but it is still not there. but I think is still increasing.

Infrastructural challenge: We are aware of infrastructural issues in Nigeria market but I think there is an opportunity for those providing real quality services both in data and voice.

With LTE which is fundamentally a mobile high

network and internet which is very different from GSM and also different from 3G, there is hope. In voice over LTE, we offer voice over a digital carrier. If you make a call on 4G/LTE network, the quality is very high that’s one of our claims. When we say super clear voice, we believe that the quality of our voice will beat the existing benchmark in Nigeria.

Market strategies: We want to be seen as high quality, reliable and fast network operator. Our price is not necessarily the cheapest, but we want to be seen as best voice provider . The way we position voice is an example of that and is very well placed and very attractive to both national and international traffic.

Voice services will increase our sales and our revenues to a reasonable extent. The market for voice will not go down. It cannot go away, everybody wants to make a call.

Dwindling oil fortunes force rethink in ICT sector Continues from page 30 pointed out some holes that must be plugged or the sector would continue to operate in circles.

“In the on-going industry development initiatives, there has been a wait-and-see attitude by industry players in the communication technology industry and this may be a convenient time that specific issues be discussed or specific questions be asked.

There are two documents in public domain regarding the roadmap that the industry may travel under the current

dispensation.

The two documents are Communiqué of the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat in Ibadan, and The EVC’s 8-point Agenda for Telecommunication 2016 - 2020.

My input is a further contribution to those two very good and trending documents.

The EVC’s agenda is particularly very promising and commendable. I also invite attention to three earlier and important documents which specifically address strategic industry development,

namely: The National ICT Policy (2013);The National Broadband Plan (2013 - 2018) and the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT/ (an Entrepreneurship Blueprint) (2013).

“These three documents, in the absence of any critique which may suggest either a deviation or additional strengthening should be viable documents to implement in full measure to assure steady development.

Indeed the earlier two documents recognise them and mention the importance of their full

implementation.

I observe, for example, that the ICT Policy already assumes a Converged Regulator for the Communication Technology Industry while the broadband roadmap prescribes various inter relational tasks and functions which diverse sectors of the economy must perform for Nigeria to attain the 2018 target of a five-fold increase in broadband penetration over the 2013 status. It is important to suggest that the implementation of these functions be pushed”.

FirstBank deepens mobile banking experience with new app

By Prince Osuagwu

W

ITH the bourgeoning mobile innovation and technology growth in the country, no sector of the economy seems to be doing things the usual way anymore.

Not even the banking sector known to be very conservative before, is wearing that toga now.

Everybody is showing Swagg and this has seamlessly transmuted to core institutions.

Institutions like First bank of Nigeria, which with its over 120 years of business operation, was known to lead the conservative approach to business is also now seen as leading the innovation campaign.

From partnering WAEC on eregistration forms of candidates for the November/December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to partnering with the Ekiti State University on strengthening existing infrastructure on Information Communication Technology, edu portal, to incorporate details of students’ transcripts from entry point of admission to graduating

year, the bank has shown evidence that its new life is guided by technological improvements. Recently, it has just unveiled an enhanced mobile application, FirstMobile, which it said will enhance its customers digital experiences.

The bank says the mobile

banking app is another secure platform that allows customers to execute banking transactions and access lifestyle news content on the go from their mobile phones. It is touted to currently be the only mobile banking app that the customer can download on their mobile phone, activate

and transact on without having to visit a bank branch.

Unveiling the app, at its Victoria Island headquarters, recently, Group Head e-business Mr Chuma Ezirim, said that with the smartphone app, customers can enjoy real-time mobile banking

services such as domestic funds transfer from self-owned accounts to other FirstBank accounts and other bank accounts; as well as make quick airtime purchase for self and others on all mobile networks; bills payments; cheque services including confirm cheque and stop cheque, flight booking; and quick account services such as account balance inquiry, statement view and much more. He claimed that the App was situated in a highly secured environment to protect users account on the App. “The App is PIN protected. The PIN is uniquely linked to the App on your device. All transactions on the App are validated by either a transaction PIN known only to you or the Bank’s issued token.

All these are in addition to other security measures put in place to ensure that your transaction information is protected from intruders” he added.

Transaction PIN is required to authorize transactions within a daily limit, meaning that the user has to input the Transaction PIN at the point of carrying out a transaction.

C M Y K

32— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; It is good to express yourself gracefully , but it is equally good to watch what you tell others so that you don’t promise what you can not deliver.

SCORPIO; The best for you today is to give priority attention to practical way to improve on your working pattern and encourage better understanding at work.

SAGITTARIUS; It is nice to rely on yourself but nobody can be an Island on his own; meaning that you will need to be as co-operative as necessary to be successful today.

CAPRICORN; Good advice from the veterans within your base of operation will go long way to get things done the proper way to the betterment of your cause.

AQUARIUS; If you take good advice from your tried and trusted friends you will not have cause to regret but if you become reckless it would back-fire. Be loving..

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Limiting Your Expectation

R

ECENTLY, a journalist acco sted me and wanted to know from me what my expectation is concerning the new government. My answer simply is:

I expect nothing special. Before you crucify me, let me ask you. Haven’t we been having new governments

TERROR MUDA

in Nigeria? Government come and go but our problems don’t just remain, they get bigger and bigger.

in “Never say goodbye”

Over the years, I have learned not to expect much from government as well as individuals. My policy is: blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed.

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; You like it or not, domestic related issues will become prominent on your mind. Career and financial affairs can bring you unexpected success today..

ARIES; Those of you who are more firmed are in for a rewarding day. In whatever you do today it is important you don’t forget both immediate and far future.

TAURUS; You will have more to gain keeping both your personal and financial secrets. Take good advantage of your sex appeal to enhance your love life positively GEMINI; You are becoming more determined to the betterment of your cause. However this is not the right time to re-arrange (and/or) re-plan your finances.

CANCER; Giving priority attention to either day-today working activities or long term career related issue is not bad at all but you must be as practical as possible.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It will be wrong to drop ambitious plans along your career line because of minor disappointment. Take your good friends more seriously.

VIRGO; Time is fast approaching for an important actions concerning you career and/or business lines. Don’t allow friends to mislead you. Be very practical.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s exactly my future ?

Dear Joshua, I want you to tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and what both immediate and far future have for me. When was I born; I mean the day of the week Solomon, Benin.

Dear Solomon, You were born on a Monday as indicated by your horoscope data given here under. You have future. I hope you will take what you will find seriously and utilise them.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA DAY OF BIRTH=MONDAY SUN SIGN = CANCER ;SUN IN 6TH DEGREE OF CANCER. MOON SIGN = ARIES ;MOON IN 24TH DEGREE OF ARIES STELLIUM SIGN = LEO MERCURY IN 1ST DEGREE OF LEO* VENUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO* MARS IN 17TH DEGREE OF LEO* JUPITER IN 22ND DEGREE OF SCORPIO SATURN IN 3RD DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 14TH DEGREE OF LEO* NEPTUNE IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 2ND DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF LIBRA SOUTH NODE IN 8TH DEGREE OF ARIES NUMBERS OF PLANET HOSTED BY GROUP OF STAR SIGNS (ACCORDING TO QUALITY & ELEMENT) ARE; CARDINAL = 3 FIXED =6 MUTABLE = I FIRE = 5 EARTH = 2 AIR = NONE WATER = 3 PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 50% FINAL DISPOSITOR (PLANET AT HOME)= AMBITIOUS SATURN For the past few years you have entered an endless cycle of material success. And your 44th year on earth is meant to be a powerful turning point with major emphasis placed on MONEY and LOVE. Talking of money, it will come through your work .

However the great challenge here is how to hold on to your profits as there are indications of you expending too much of your funds on either women or woman. It is not clear if it is on business or your normal responsibilities. But mind you if it is on business you will need to tarry a while because such may not yield the desired result. Actually if you go into joint venture with a woman during your 44th & 45th years on earth you are more than likely to be cheated; to be fore warned is to be fore armed.

Romantic aspect of it is if you don’t want another wife you will need to be very careful; as romantic escapade can result to avoidable trouble and/or sorrow (God forbid). Please take me very seriously here, Please! Please!! Please!!!

What is more important about this two months is that you will need to be more careful with money between now, and end of year.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

33—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

TUC to FG: Fish out killers of Uniport student

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— TRADE Union Congress, TUC, has called on the Federal Government to institute a probe to identify killers of a student of the University of Port Harcourt during Monday’s protest against reported increase in tuition fees by authorities of the university.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command, yesterday, insisted that none of its men shot any student during the protest.

Spokesman of the command, Mr Ahmad Muhammad, said information available to him was that the police used minimal force to restore normalcy during the protest.

TUC, in a statement by the Rivers State chapter Chairman, Mr Chika Unuegbu, said that all Nigerians of good conscience should condemn the brutal killing of Monday.

He said: “The TUC, Rivers State, condemns in its entirety, the unwarranted killing of a student of the University of Port Harcourt during a peaceful protest. We are worried that if these unarmed protesting students could be killed in cold blood, then there is no guarantee that protesting workers or citizens will not be killed.

“We call on the authorities of the

University of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of Education to as a matter of urgency identify and prosecute those who killed the student. We note that students all over the world have the right to protest.

And as a matter of fact, the right to peaceful protest is protected by the Nigerian constitution.

“We want to state categorically that if after 14 days our demand is not met, we shall convene an emergency TUC State Council meeting and invite the State Council to take a decision on

this matter including the decision to withdraw the services of all our members in Rivers State.

“We appeal to all parents, civil society organisations and people of good conscience to rise up against unwarranted and cold blooded killings in the country.”

VISIT: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle); Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Sir. Etekamba Umoren (4th right) with the Controller-General of Central Bank, Uyo, and other Heads of Department of the bank, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Uyo.

Help us return to our ancestral home, Delta community begs govt

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—THE people of Diebiri-Batan community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have appealed to governments at all levels as well as security agencies to assist them return to their ancestral land without any molestation from their neighbours.

In a statement by the Chairman of Diebiri-Batan community, Mr Don Dickson, the people lamented that they have been living in exile for close to 21 years.

“We want to use the opportunity of government intervention in the peacebuilding between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities, in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas respectively, to return to our ancestral land.

“We are peace-loving and had never been in dispute with Aladja community. Aladja people are already annexing our land by erecting structures and excavating sand in Diebiri community.”

They said that such acts of illegal encroachment could provoke communal conflict and therefore, appealed to government at all levels, security agencies and other relevant authorities to wade into

the issue to avert further crisis in the area.

“Diebiri-Batan, an Ijaw

community, is an oilproducing community in Delta State which produces

about 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day,” the statement added.

Criticizing Oshiomhole won't give you PDP ticket, Ihimikpen tells Ize-Iyamu PDP for running the party down

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Mr Okharedia Ihimikpen, has told the governorship aspirant of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that criticizing Governor Adams Oshiomhole will not give him the party's ticket, rather he should tell the people of the state what he will do if he emerges the party's candidate.

Ihimikpen also lampooned Ize-Iyamu over his comment that he was the only PDP aspirant that criticizes Oshiomhole, said,

“He was the same man who said no man is God, when he was SSG during Lucky Igbinedion's administration. He said Anenih was not God and led the rebellion against his own party then. Has Anenih become God now that he is in the PDP? “He even lacks the moral justification to criticize Oshiomhole because he was in ACN when those things he was condemning Oshiomhole for happened. So he does not need to condemn Oshiomhole. IzeIyamu must apologize to the

when he was in ACN, otherwise he will fail.

“He is the least qualified in the party because he has made antiparty activity an act of valour. For him to come now to say he never decamped, that he was deregistered, is a lie. Nobody was deregistered at that time. I recall that at the time, the national body of the PDP came to Edo and requested that everybody should go to his polling unit to register.

He did not go, he wanted to be registered at Government House. He considers himself superior to anybody.”

Experts call for aggressive safety advocacy to check disasters

S

By Onozure Dania

AFETY Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation has said that the recent safety-related incidents which led to loss of lives and property across the country were preventable through adherence to proper corporate safety processes, enhanced government regulations and enforcement.

Shamusideen Kadiri, who spoke for the group, in

collaboration with other safety organisations, noted that aggressive safety advocacy were the required panacea to check the terrible trend.

He said: “We commiserate with the families of victims of the numerous incidents as we seek an end to these unfortunate events that have been a drain not only on the country’s scarce resources, but the premature termination of the lives and subsequent depletion

of the nation’s skilled and productive labour force.

“It is always disheartening whenever we hear of unfortunate events (which could have been proactively managed) such as we have experienced all around the country over the past year amongst which was the accidental release of chlorine gas in the state waterworks in Jos, Plateau State which resulted in the tragic loss of 10 lives with almost 100 hospitalised."

Engine lubricant dealers assured of better welfare package

M

EMBERS of Engine Lubricant Dealers, ELD, of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have been assured of improved welfare package.

Mr Segun Braimoh, the newly elected branch chairman of ELD, disclosed this, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, while giving out letters of re-constitution of ELD branch executive committee to the newly elected national officers during its first branch executive committee meeting.

Others elected include Gabriel Omoba, Deputy Chairman I; Mohammed Duasubua, Deputy Chairman II; Ugodo Oyibo, Muda Osho Segun Johnson, and Ali Taihri as Vice-Chairman, Warri, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kaduna zones respectively.

Others are Okpalanma Emeka, Secretary; Braimoh Peter, Assistant Secretary; Tunde Oshoribiya, Assistant Secretary II; Sola Soleye, Treasurer; Prince Ogunleye, Auditor I; Philip Mgbemere, Auditor II; among others.

Archbishop Nglass for burial

T

HE pioneer Bishop of Uyo and Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Niger Delta, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd Emmanuel Nglass, who died February 28, 2016, will be buried on Friday, April 15, at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, 41, Gibbs/Brooks Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Service of songs comes up tomorrow, while the funeral service and interment will take place April 15, 2016.

Archbishop Nglass is survived by his widow, Adela, children: Zacchaeus, Esther, Nkabono, Julius, Uminuga, Ogbon, Eyisinbe and Okibotuboon and other relatives.

Late Archbishop Nglass

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

NIPR boss pledges support for MPPPROF

Army Brigade Garrison bursts kidnapping syndicate in Abia ...recovers N5.4m T

HE NIGERIAN Army’s 14 Brigade Garrison based in Ohafia, has burst a notorious kidnap syndicate in Abia State and in the process, rescued a

T

HE NATIONAL President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, has pledged the support of the professional body of public relations practitioners to the Military - Paramilitary Police Public Relations Officers Forum, MPPPROF. The NIPR president while welcoming the forum led by Steve Okonmah, its national president, who were at the Ikeja office of NIPR, applauded the resolve of the Okonmah led forum towards bringing all public relations officers of federal and state government agencies, ministry and paramilitary organizations under one umbrella.

He pointed out that the forum will not only bridge the yawning gap in all government and paramilitary agencies, but will also foster unity and peaceful co-existence among themselves.

kidnap victim while one of the suspects was apprehended.

Making the disclosure in a statement, Tuesday, Acting Director of Army Public Relations,

Col. Sani Usman said: “Troops of 14 Brigade Garrison on Sunday April 10, 2016 conducted an operation aimed at bursting a notorious kidnap syndicate based

Why Buhari can’t intervene in Saraki’s trial —S’East APC ....Links Lagos-Calabar rail controversy to 2019

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

BUJA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained its helplessness in the face of the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, saying the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time.

South East spokesperson of the APC, Osita Okechukwu, stated this at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja during a parley with journalists yesterday.

On the budgetary controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar railway, Mr. Okechukwu imputed that those opposing the project were doing that because of their political

calculations for 2019.

The zonal APC spokesman said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we of the South East zone of APC do not subscribe to the insinuation, that those opposed to the project are afraid of the political gains Mr. President will make in the South East and South South. ‘’They allege that if the project sails, coupled with his success on the war against corruption and containment of insurgency, he will be unstoppable. Hence the fear that the two zones may support him in 2019, given the political value of the project.”

Urging the National Assembly not to throw the baby away with the bath water, the party said: “The welfare and prosperity of Nigerians far outweigh political gains. To erase this ungodly

Senate C'ttee on Health visits FMC, Asaba

T

HE SENATE Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, accompanied by Senator Prince Gbolahan Dada, a member of the Health Committee, the clerk of the Committee, Mr. Danladi Angulu and the consultant to the committee, Dr. Rukevwe Ugwumba, visited the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, March 19, 2016.

In his address to the management of the Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Senator

Tejuoso noted that the committee’s visit was part of their oversight functions.

In line with the current administration’s change mantra, Senator Tejuoso iterated that he would as chairman with the help of his team, authenticate as much as possible first hand, all projects, as well as their usefulness, in conformity with the budgetary allocations to the centre.

He remarked that high on the agenda of this present administration is to make Nigeria

a health tourist destination, and centres such as FMC, Asaba, should be recognized for its areas of specialization and expertise, which he pledged to bring to world class standards.

He revealed that the Senate Health Committee came to the FMC, Asaba, as the first tertiary institution for oversight function as a mark of respect for the immediate past chairman of the Senate committee on Health, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the present Executive Governor of Delta State.

insinuation, we once more appeal to the National Assembly not to be caught in the political cross-fire.”

The South East Zone of APC therefore appealed to the National Assembly to let the Lagos-Calabar Railway Project be, saying, “as we have listened carefully to all the cacophony of voices, none has condemned the project as irrelevant or building bridge to nowhere. Let the blame game stop and let the project be. The controversy over the project is uncalled for and an ill-wind which blows no one good.

“Our appeal is anchored on the truism of millions of employment opportunities and economic prosperity which the project will engender. We need projects like the LagosCalabar rail to create massive employment and revamp the economy. More so, Mr. James Ajayi, when the reality is that aged 81, who died both the executive and December 10, legislative arms are on 2015, will be buried the same page on the on April 16, 2016, project, then it is of at his residence, 5, urgent national Igbon Street, importance.

Igbara Odo, Ekiti “We also understand State. Reception that the Lagos-Calabar for guests follows at Project is in the China- St. James Anglican Shopping List of Primary School, President Muhammadu Igbara Odo. Buhari, for Nigeria’s Wa k e - k e e p infrastructure renewal." comes up on April Late Mr. Ajayi 15, 2016.

James Ajayi for burial

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

G

ood move! The strategy has worked.

Nigerians can now buy fuel at N150, since they were able to sleep in fuel stations for two months and buy fuel at N220. So if they increase the price to N150 per litre, it makes no difference. -Mrs. Agbo Paul, Worker

On FG plan tto o re vie w fuel price revie view

I

f God wants to punish the sinners, he will give them bad leaders as we have them in Nigeria today.

God, please, forgive us our trespasses and give us a God fearing man to liberate the masses from this untold hardship. I rest my case. -Mr. Abiodun Oludare, Marketer

W

hen GEJ wanted to remove the subsidy, it was APC members that organized rallies everywhere, claiming that the government then was anti-people and that fuel should not be selling above N50. -Miss Brenda Okereke, Businesswoman

W

in Nkporo community of Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

“During the operation, the troops were able to rescue a kidnap victim, who was earlier shot and kidnapped by his abductors at Aba on April 6, 2016.

“However, one of the suspected kidnappers, Mr. Chidiebere Sunday, was apprehended while two of his suspected accomplices escaped.

“One other member of the gang in a bid to evade arrest through the roof of their den fell, hit his head on the hard floor and died.

“The troops recovered the following items from the kidnappers; 2 AK-47 rifles, 9 AK47 rifle magazine loaded with 124 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one Pistol, two rounds of 9mm ammunition, two machetes and the sum of N5,490,000 only.

“Other items recovered include a Toyota RAV4 SUV with registration number MUS 428 RZ, military camouflage jungle hat, six mobile telephone handsets, an iPad, Diamond Bank Debit Card, bunch of different keys, two empty bags and a wrap of suspected marijuana.”

hen GEJ made sure Nigerians got enough fuel, it was said that his government was corrupt. Today, we have a government that is fighting corruption, but there is no fuel, no electricity, no road and no employment. -Mrs. Morayo Simeon, Self Employed

T

here is no fuel, instead of making fuel available across the country they are talking about increasing the price. This is just the same thing that happened in the power sector. I feel so sorry for my country. -Mr. Friday Moses, Banker

I

am not sure this government thinks of the masses at all. When we are crying for power failure, Fashola increased electricity tarriff. Now, we are talking of no fuel, government wants to review the fuel pump price. -Miss Udeaku Nwazota, Graduate

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 — 35

Police parade mastermind of Gashaka killing in Taraba

By John Mkom

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ALINGO—TARABA State police command has paraded the suspected mastermind of the recent genocide orchestrated by unknown gunmen at Garbabi ward of Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Before the parade of the suspect, identified as Ardo Ayuba, at the police command, the Commissioner of Police, Shaba Arkali, said the plan was hatched in the house of the suspect.

He said the suspect was arrested by the policemen drafted to the area to stop the killings.

Although the police commissioner, while briefing journalists in his office at the police

headquarters, said only 15 persons were killed by the gunmen, Governor Darius Ishaku said over 44 people were killed in the attack.

The governor also said five persons were injured, while six others were missing at the time of the report, with over 100 displaced, including women and children.

In a press statement signed by

the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Isahaku on Media and Publicity, Sylvanus Giwa, said the attack started on Sunday with a case of rape by the armed bandits, which the lady resisted, adding that this led to unleashing of mayhem on the entire villages of Gashaka and some part of Bali local government area.

Other places affected by the crisis included Maisuma, where nine people were killed; and Fali village where seven persons were also killed.

He said the 100 displaced persons were taking refuge at Mayo-Selbe, Kungana and Garbabi villages in Gashaka local government area.

However, the commissioner of police told journalists that the Police had deployed 60 mobile police men from Yola to take over the situation.

He urged the people to remain calm, adding that investigation was ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators of the act were brought to book.

P A R L E Y : Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (left) congratulating the DGM/Zonal Head Imo/Abia Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. G. O. C. Okenwa, after his inauguration as a member of s t e e r i n g committee for Imo State Automated Wo r k f o r c e I d e n t i t y Verification and P a y r o l l Management System.

Bauchi approves N166.9m scholarship allowances for students

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has approved the immediate disbursement of bursary allowances to students in the state who are indigenes.

The governor, while inaugurating a 12-man committee saddled with the responsibility of disbursing the allowances, urged them to ensure immediate disbursement of the sum of N166.9m which had been approved for payment of 2015/2016 Bursary Allowances.

Governor Abubakar, who was represented by his deputy, Nuhu Gidado, mandated the committee to come up with a comprehensive database of all ongoing students of Bauchi State origin, including their Bank Account Numbers and BVNs. According to him, the state government will subsequently use electronic means to settle students’ bursary allowances.

The government in a press statement in Bauchi by Yakubu Adamu, Special Adviser on Communications to the deputy governor, yesterday, said on no account should any student be asked to come over to the state capital for his/her bursary allowance, but noted that cheques would be taken to them in their various institutions.

The committee, which will be headed by Alhaji Danlami Garba, has 10 days to carry out its mandate.

It would be recalled that Governor Mohammed Abubakar, during a Memorial Lecture organized by NUBASS, assured Bauchi State students of his administration’s readiness to settle their bursary allowances.

Kogi moves to recover govt vehicles, property from past appointees

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—KOGI State government has warned former political office holders in the state who have made away with their official vehicles or other property to return them or face the wrath of the law.

Special Adviser to the State Governor on Special Duties, Adaidu Akoh, stated this yesterday in Lokoja shortly after his inauguration as chairman, Vehicle Recovery Committee, by the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

Akoh said some political office holders that served under the administration of former Governor Idris Wada had carted away several vehicles from the governments’ fleet a day before the inauguration of the present administration on January 27.

“The refusal of the former political office holders involved in this act to return the vehicles despite several appeal made to them has led to the recently constituted Vehicles Recovery Committee by the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello,” he said.

The committee, which comprises representatives from the state Ministry of Justice, security agencies and transport officers at Government House and that of Head of Service, had been mandated to go in search of the vehicles and recover same

in order to accelerate the smooth running of government programmes.

Akoh urged those involved to follow the path of honour by willingly returning the vehicles in their possession to the committee to avoid embarrassment from security

agencies.

He charged the members of the committee to work assiduously to ensure the completion of the assignment within the stipulated time.

The committee has been given two weeks to conclude the assignment.

NASS summons 26 states over unpaid expenses incurred on federal roads

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—WORRIED by paucity of funds in many states of the federation to carry out developmental projects, the National Assembly has summoned 26 states over the expenses incurred on the federal roads projects executed in their respective states, with a view to ascertaining the facts and figures for a refund.

Already, a total sum of N19 billion is being owed Kwara State by the Federal Government on various federal roads executed in the state from 2004 till date, a development that had denied the present administration the means to execute the intended road projects across the state.

Among the federal roads worked on by the state include Kisi-Kaima federal road,

Kosubosu road, Pada- PatigRogun, Apado-Ilorin-Jebba, among others.

Vanguard checks revealed that the summon was due to series of petitions sent to the National Assembly on various federal roads rehabilitated by some states of the federation, which are yet to be refunded.

Further checks revealed that most of the federal roads embarked upon by the affected states were done during the administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Late Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting, it was learned, was called at the instance of the House Committee on Works so as to assist the committee to verify all claims submitted by the states affected by non-payment of funds incurred on some of the federal roads projects.

Aisha Buhari dedicates proceeds of book launch to Chibok Girls

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RKED by the plight of the relatives of the abducted Chibok Girls and more than 40 Buni Yadi Boys murdered by the Boko Haram terrorists, Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari will tomorrow make a public presentation of her book entitled “The Essentials of Beauty Therapy” at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The book launch marks the 2nd anniversary of the kidnap of the Chibok Girls and the gruesome murder of at least 40 secondary school boys from Buni Yadi community in Yobe State.

Buhari noted that proceeds of the book which is a masterpiece on the intricate linkage between Beauty and wellness therapy as well as improving health conditions of Nigerians, will be dedicated towards charity and bettering the living conditions of families of the embattled girls, parents of the deceased boys and also Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The event is also an eloquent expression of the Federal Government deep concern about the Chibok Girls.

Agatu killings unfortunate, says Buhari’s aide

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BUJA—THE Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, Mariam Marsha, has described the recent Agatu killings as unfortunate and not in the character of Nigerians.

Ms. Masha condemned the attacks allegedly perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The attacks claimed the lives of more than 300 people including women and children.

The incident also resulted in the displacement of people seeking refuge in various communities.

She said government was working closely with key players in the area, to address the root causes of the communal clashes.

“It’s unfortunate because this is very unlike Nigerian.

Violence of this nature is terror and not a part of us.

“And it’s something that we need to work together both within the community at the government level, state and federal levels, but also within the communities.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

MTN'S DONATION: From left— Government & Community Relations

Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Esun; Principal, Ugborikoko Secondary School, Mr. Charles Okotie; and Customer Relationship Manager, MTN Nigeria, Ms. Gloria Osako, during the handing over of school furniture donated to the school by the MTN Foundation as part of its What Can We Do Together initiative.

DONATION:

Members of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Maitama branch, Abuja, with residents of G u l i d a h community during the commissioning of a borehole donated by the society.

VISIT: From left— Registrar, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, Mr. Sidney Ogodo; Head of Administration, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, Mrs. Mariam Joseph; President, NIMN, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye; Secretary General, Mrs. Jacqueline Odiadi and Assistant Executive Secretary, Mr. Adedeji Adewunmi, both of APBN, during their courtesy visit to NIMN office.

FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE: Junior

Achievement Nigeria's Venture in Management Programme, ViMP, participant, Ms. Bello Muinat (left), presenting a JA Our Nation Certificate to a student of Greater Scholars International School, Ajah, Miss Emmanuela Onwualu, after a community service activity, during the annual ViMP mini-MBA for NYSC members at the Lagos Business School.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016— 37

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

2019: Our plans to take over Delta — OTEGA •Says Ogboru, Ochei on board •APC govt 'll surely jail corrupt Nigerians OLOROGUN O’tega Emerhor, accountant, business mogul turned politician was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2015 election in Delta State. Emerhor who lost the election to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Senator Ifeanyi Okowa severally sought to reverse the outcome but failed upon the Supreme Court affirmation of the election.

In this interview Emerhor reviews the outcome of the judicial appeals, the performance of the federal administration and lines up the plans of the opposition towards 2019. Excerpts:

•Otega: We will get a viable candidate

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

W

HAT are your next plans following the court judgments?

Our case just finished in February and we are in March and of course we have a government to run even if we don’t have a specific role today, we believe that we are resourceful people to the government and one way or the other, we will be part of ensuring that the manifesto of APC is clearly delivered and we support the president to ensure that he succeeds and change the direction of this country. That is what I have been involved in since.

What is your assessment of the performance of the APC led Federal Government?

APC government has done very well under the circumstance. You are not a stranger. You are a journalist.

You have seen the revelations that have been happening since the APC government took over.

We met an economy that was totally destroyed. We met a country is so broke and our earning capacity so damaged from two directions; from the production of oil and the quantity we can even sell and the price that oil is selling today. So, you need to measure the progress based on the circumstance that we face.

Do you think the anticorruption war has brought dividends?

This is a serious government, so why won’t people be jailed?

Unless the judiciary has a pact with corruption and they will not jail them. Money has been traced to people’s accounts. Money that came from a source that clearly it is from the government. So, what is supposed to be the defence?

If we weren’t running a

democracy, these are people that they will line up and shoot in places like China, North Korea and other places because they have seen the money traced to your account and the trace leads back to government. It shows you didn’t earn the money, you have no authority to spend that money.

How is the opposition in Delta State?

We worked very hard in opposition in that state for 16 years and we believe that if they allowed an election to happen in Delta state, the opposition will win any day, any time.

We actually were very hopeful

There is an upscale of people who feel that Delta State should be properly run. The resources of Delta State should be properly utilized for the benefit of Delta state

at the judiciary that we were going to have an opportunity for a rerun in that state. That didn’t happen so naturally we were disappointed but we haven’t lost hope but if you were following the politics of Delta State, you can see that for the first time the opposition is now trying to come together again.

You must have learnt that Labour Party for example led by my brother, Great Ogboru is coming to join us in APC to ensure that we have a more robust opposition.

You must also have heard of Victor Ochei, for example, the former speaker of the House who is leading a group from Accord to also come and join us and there are many strong PDP leaders who have fallen out with the PDP, because, you know there is a limit to which you can drive something that isn’t working that is wrong. The resources of Delta State should be properly utilized for the benefit of Delta State and the will of the people should survive in any election. So all that is coming together and we are building a more formidable opposition. So, that is giving

some level of hope and assurance to our people. Yes, there won’t be any other election until 2019 but this is the time to prepare, to work towards that.

Any intention of running again in 2019?

No, that isn’t what I am saying at all. 2019 is too far and so many events will happen between now and 2019 for anybody to say they will be the governor in 2019 but all of us who have run before have the responsibility to analyse why we haven’t been able to uproot the regime that has been in that state for 16 years and it is our responsibility to come together and create a viable platform that will allow a viable candidate to be able to challenge the PDP so that the party in the centre will come to Delta State and good things will come to us.

Teething problems I am not talking about myself. I am talking of all these people coming together to work together and at that point, we will get a viable candidate who will be our candidate and we will use that candidate to ensure that the state is taken.

An alternative to APC in 2019?

What alternative to APC will emerge? I am not conversant with that. APC has only been on ground in government for less than a year. We may have our own teething problems but I don’t think that is enough to break APC into factions that will now go and form another government.

Very soon some of the issues that are concerns to APC people I am sure will be addressed. We inherited a country and a government that is filled with PDP people at all levels; at government level, parastatal level, agency level meanwhile the APC people that did all the work are still waiting to be able to participate in the government.

BUDGET CONTROVERSY: APC not prepared for leadership — BISHOP ISONG BANKING and Finance Management expert, National Patron, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, South-South and General Overseer, Christian Central Chapel International, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, in this interview slams the APCled Federal Government over the controversy trailing the 2016 budget. He also criticised the Federal Government for abandoning the Calabar-Itu Road for decades leading to avoidable deaths on the road that links Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers states to the rest of the country. Excerpts:

O

By Tom Moses

N the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu RoadI believe Calabar-Itu Road was one of the reasons the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was kicked out at the national level and I am praying it should not be the reason the All Progressives Congress, APC would be kicked out in 2019. That is how angry our people are

about the Calabar-Itu Road, which is very crucial to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. It is the oldest road in the South-South and the road that links the two sister states of Akwa-Ibom and Cross River. I pray that the Federal Government should look at it as the major reason it should continue to conduct elections either for PDP or APC. His assessment of the APC-led

Federal Government so far.

The APC government is still basking in the euphoria of winning election forgetting that you can win an election and you don’t win the people. And as I am speaking now, I am one of the leaders of the people, one of the school of thoughts in this part of the world and if this is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, a voice like mine should be heard.

The APC-led Federal Government should stop playing politics of regions and look into the South-South and make the people feel their impact, if at all they are there for the people or else, the continuous cry of these people may cause South-South Spring.

As I am talking to you now, I am going to ply that road within

the next one hour. I have not been able to move since morning, I am waiting because when I was coming from Calabar to Uyo, I used six hours for a journey of 45 minutes drive. I had four hours hold -up at 8 Miles and when I came to Odukpani Junction, I spent another two hours. How can I spend six hours for a 45-minute journey in a country that has oil from the South-South, a country whose economy depends on the oil from the South-South? It is unfair and insensitive.

As a banking and financial guru, what is your comment on the 2016 budget brouhaha?

The tune of any country’s budget is the tune of the music the citizens and the entire economy will dance throughout one full budgetary year.

•Bishop Isong The budget is not only the instrument of planning, the budget is an economic prophecy of the boom or doom that will happen in that country for one year and if we use six months to deliberate on the prophecy, how many months then remains for the prophecy to come to pass?

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 —39

How fresh fruits lower risk of heart attack, stroke

By Chioma Obinna

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OW often do you eat fruits?

Did you know that people who eat fresh fruit on most days are at lower risk of heart attack and stroke than people who rarely eat fresh fruit?

Fruits like oranges, apples, pear are rich in potassium, dietary fibre, antioxidants, and various other potentially active compounds, and contain little sodium or fat and calories.

The findings is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings come from a 7-year study of adults in China, where fresh fruit consumption is much lower than most other countries including Nigeria.

The researchers from the University of Oxford and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences conducted a large, nationwide study of 500,000 adults from 10 urban and rural localities across China, tracking health for seven years through death records and electronic hospital records of illness. The present study was among people who did not have a history of cardiovascular diseases or anti-hypertensive treatments when first joined the study.

The study found that fruit consumption which was mainly apples or oranges was strongly associated with many other factors, such as education, lower blood pressure, lower blood glucose, and not smoking.

But, after allowing for what was known of these and other factors, a 100g portion of fruit per day was associated with about one-third

Gudilah community gets borehole

By Tare Youdeowei

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FRESH FRUIT: A rich source of potassium, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and various other potentially active compounds, that contains little sodium or fat and relatively few calories. less cardiovascular mortality and the association was similar across different study areas and in both men and women.

The lead researcher, Dr Huaidong Du, said "The association between fruit consumption and cardiovascular risk seems to be stronger in China, where many still eat little fruit,

Consumption of apples or oranges is strongly associated with factors,such as education, lower blood pressure, and lower blood glucose

than in high-income countries where daily consumption of fruit is more common.

Co-author Prof. Liming Li, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said: "A recent Global Burden of Disease report put low fruit consumption as one of the leading causes of premature death in China.

O alleviate the suffering of the people of Gudilah Community, Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, and celebrate the World Water Day, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Maitama Branch has donated a borehole to the community.

At the commissioning of the borehole, the Chairman, NSE, Maitama branch, Engr Israel Abraham, said the group decided to donate a borehole to the community to mark the 2016 World Water Day because they discovered that there was no access to clean water in the area which is one of the necessities of life and not a luxury.

The Sarki Gulidah, Sariki Abubakar, of Dogan Payi Village, who commended them for the donation said, “Our wives and daughters have been going to fetch water from the river; we cook, bath and drink this water.”

2016 budget: Removal of polio, HIV provisions, horrendous — NMA

By Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

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HE Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has described the removal of the provisions for polio eradication and essential drugs for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, from the 2016 budget as horrendous.

Reacting to a report on missing projects in the 2016 budget which stated that allocations for the purchase of essential drugs for major health campaigns like polio and AIDS for which the store is fast depleting, were removed, the President of the NMA, Prof.

Kayode Obembe said the action also represents a hazardous lacuna in the country's health system.

In a telephone conversation with Vanguard, Obembe insisted that, "Even if there is remarkable reduction in case incidence, advocacy and health campaign should continue with unmitigated intensity.

Obembe who expressed dismay on the action of the members of the National Assembly said: "In this present scenario, the risk of recrudescence (increased severity

of a disease after a remission) is palpably high."

Media report had at the weekend revealed that allocations for the purchase of essential drugs for major health campaigns like polio and AIDS for which the store is fast depleting, were removed and the amounts allocated to provision of ambulance, which the health ministry did not ask for.

AVOIDING CANCER: Prayer helps but not enough

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ANY Nigerians are not aware of the dramatic upsurge in the incidence and prevalence of cancer in this country. Many reading this article would raise an affirmative hand that they know a family member, a distant relative, acquaintance or friend or colleague that has been afflicted or affected.

The statistics in Nigeria are staggering. There are 250,000 new diagnoses annually. In the next hour, 2 Nigerians would have died from cancer (likely breast and cervical in women, prostate in men).

Anesthesiologists and Pain Doctors provide services for various surgical interventions and for radiotherapy; epidural and intrathecal access for chemotherapy; are called to insert special vascular infusion lines; and, are consulted for pain management.

Often, when I interact with cancer patients and their family members, they ask about radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but, almost always, their greatest concern is about pain.

They want to know the meaning of curative and palliative radiotherapy, external and internal radiotherapy (like the brachytherapy used in prostate and cervical cancers).

They ask, not only about the general side effects of radiotherapy, but its effects on their sexuality and fertility. The same goes for chemotherapy.

About 30 percent of people will have pain when first diagnosed with cancer. This rises to about 70 percent as the cancer advances. The degree of pain is unrelated to the severity of the cancer.

Cancer pain

C M Y K

Cancer pain arises from different causes.

The cancer may simply be pressing on surrounding tissues, or on a nerve.

Cancer treatments, like surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, also damage tissues.

Sometimes nerves are damaged, causing neuropathic pain.....a pain unresponsive to routine analgesics, but treated with anticonvulsants.

Cancer pain will alters the sufferer's emotions. Anxiety, fear, fatigue and depression develops. These aggravate other conditions such as asthma, ulcers and hypertension.

All this suffering destabilizes family and work relationships. Now for some good news!

No death sentence

Cancer is no more a death sentence. Major advances have been made and research continues to bring about better treatments and better survival rates.

And cancer pain can be treated!

What is the most common cancer-related question I am asked? "How do I avoid getting cancer?"

A good question indeed.

First, prayer, in all faiths, helps. But it is not enough.

Recently, a famous Hollywood actress removed her breasts when tests revealed she may be genetically prone and there was also a family history. She took no chances. If the breasts aren't there, she felt unlikely to get breast cancer. There are over 200 types of cancers; unfortunately you can't preemptively remove your prostate, cervix, bowel, brain....you get the idea.“Research has shown that though there is a genetic predisposi-

doctor@lagospainclinic.com tion to certain cancers, environmental factors, under your control, also play an important role.

I remember an O&G Professor who used to say: " If a woman doesn't need her womb and attachments anymore, she should take it out, and throw it away as far as possible!"

What to do

So what can you do?

Regular screening leading to early detection improves chances of survival. New studies have started throwing doubts on the value of screening, especially false negatives and false positives, but my advice is...check, check again, and keep checking.

Second, we are truly what we eat. Aim for a fibre rich diet full of fruit and vegetables and low in salt and saturated fat (i.e. red meat). Mono and poly unsaturated fats are better.

Vaccinations, against Hepatitis B and Human Papilloma Virus may reduce likelihood of cancer, despite their associated controversies. Avoid known carcinogens. Avoid any type of chronic ( long term) inflammation or infection.

Minimize alcohol and don't smoke. Tackle obesity and get plenty of exercise. On that note, "Physician, heal thyself ".....I mumble quietly.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Cry of prison farmers •Beg for private sector support to enhance reformation programme

By Jimitota Onoyume, Assistant News Editor, Port Harcourt

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HEY were 74 in number and are inmates at the Elele Prisons Farm Centre in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State. But they were not in their cells of confinement when Vanguard Features visited. Instead they were taking turns working at a farm.

The size of the farm is about 1, 850 hectares. The prisoners-turned farmers were friendly. They carried on as though they were working for themselves. Occasionally you saw some exchanging banters with the Warders supervising their activities.

Except for the prison uniforms some wore, you hardly knew they were convicts because they had little or no

C M Y K

restriction in the large farm land cutting across four communities in the area. Some of the inmates were in mufti.

The few warders supervising their activities were not armed.

The Farm Manager and Assistant Controller of Prisons, Mr Imokhuale Imohbio said overtime the inmates had become their friends . “ We are like their guardians here. They relate with us like friends, “ he said, One of the prisoners said he had little knowledge of how to cultivate maize before he was convicted which he never nurtured until he found himself at the farm centre. Pointing at some boundaries in the large farm, he said: “ Oga I planted all this. I hope to carry on with mechanised farming when I leave here”.

We lack equipment in the

•Prisoners at the Elele farm planting maize farm: The inmates complained about lack of modern farming equipment for the job. They also enjoined the private sector to support government make

the essence of rehabilitation and reintegration for which the farm centre was set up realistic.

One of them who said he had learnt how to plough with

tractor said there was only one functional at the centre. “ When I finish my service here I will drive tractors for big time Continues on page 41

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 — 41

Cry of prison farmers Continues from page 40 farmers. This is a skill I have acquired here, “ he said.

The inmates believe that if serious attention is given to the farm centre most of them will leave the place reformed and with the mindset to build their lives around skills acquired from the centre.

“Big time private investors should visit this place to see what they can assist inmates that want to complete their jail term with to start on their own. Assisting us with farm equipment will not be a bad idea,” one of them said.

There is also an palm oil processing unit at the farm.

One of the inmates narrated to Vanguard Features how •ACP Imokuale Imohbio in sun glasses they extracted oil from palm explaing a point nuts harvested at the farm.

We made N1.3 million last year: The Farm Manager, ACP, Imohbio in 1976 to provide prisoners with skills told the VM that they generated N1.3 in modern farming, million from the farm’s produce which The Prisons spokesman also said the they plouged into the federation borderless prison cells in the place were account. built for 200 inmates but in the past two “Last year there was no substantial decades they have only had between provision for the farm. But we have 70 to 100 inmates, adding that most of continued to carry on. I am in charge of those in prisons all over the country managing the farm. In summary, I were yet to be convicted. generated N1.3 million last year. No “Provision to accommodate 200 substantial allocation came to the farm inmates was made at inception but in last year too. I believe in quick yielding the past two decades, the population has crops like maize. So we do more of hardly gone above 100 largely due maize and vegetables,” he said. shortage of convicted prisoners for Public Relations Officer of Nigerian deployment to the farm,”.

Prisons, DCP, Enobore Francis said part of the challenge they have is that Convicted most of those in prisons round the criminals country were on awaiting trial. He said if timely convictions could be secured There were just 74 prisoners at the time more inmates will benefit from the of visit. He also explained that only training programe at the farm centre. males with few months left of their He also corroborated the need for prison terms come to the borderless private sector investment in the cells.“Those you see here are convicted reformative drive. “ The profit in it is criminals, those having less than six that we will all get a safer society. They months to completion of their prison should come and donate relevant tools terms, those not convicted for violent to aid our integration back to society for crime. We only have males here,” he the prisoners,” he said. said The prisons spokesman said it will be Food basket fine if they were allowed to plough back of the nation some part of the proceeds from the farm to the place to sustain activities there before allocation comes annually since Continuing, he farming is seasonal. said the Niger Delta “So what we want is how to get an Development arrangement that will enable the prison Commission, service pay part of what has been NDDC, donated generated to the federal purse and the functional plough back the other for production,” tractor still in use at No he said. the farm, stressing Case for security towers, walkie that the farm has substantial talkies for PH prisons capacity to allocation Meantime a highly placed officer who contribute to the did not want his name in print said food basket of the came to the the state government should assist the nation. farm last Rivers State command of the Nigerian He said the place Prison Services with walkie talkies to has trained year too. I aide their operations. thousands of believe in He also said the state government can inmates who were also help to build about six security now farm managers quick towers round the walls of the prisons to at various large yielding enable warders position strategically farms in the round the place. “This way we can country. He said the crops like guard against jail breaks effectively. The Elele Farm Centre maize. So will also help was among ten farm we do more walkie-talkies communications among warders in and centres established out of the prisons,“ the source said. round the country of maize C M Y K

42— VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, APRIL 13, 2016 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

Did I profess my love too soon?

Dear Bunmi, MET this smashing guy early in the year and we had a very good sex life - we’re in our late 20's. I love him to bits and, recently, when we were making love, I told him I loved him for the first time. He said he was flattered and carried on making love to me without actually saying he loved me too. Do you think he really loves me?

Tope, by e-mail.

I

I shouldn’t be this broken-hearted at 58 Dear Bunmi, N THREE months time, l shall be 58 and have been involved in three long-term relationships, which ended at my insistence. The last one ended

I

late last year after over 15 years together. My four children from my only marriage are all grown up and I have three lovely grandchildren raised alone because their father seldomly kept in

Sex's not the same now we live with mum Dear Bunmi, GOT married five years ago to my childhood sweetheart; unfortunately, ‘things have been tight since he lost his job and we were evicted from our rented apartment and are now forced to live with my mother.

The problem is, since we did, I haven’t been that much interested in sex. My husband complained that I wasn’t satisfying him enough. I still have sex with him, but only because he wants it. I’m at my wits end as to what to do. I’m scared that he’ll turn to someone else more exciting for sex.

Davida, by e-mail.

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Dear Davida, Finding yourself living back at home with your mum must have jolted your confidence in your marriage and in the ability of your husband to provide for you. You will not

easily respond to him sexually while you sense that he’s inadequate as a husband. Talking through your plan for the future and how you’ll cope financially may reassure both of you.

Unfortunately, your sense of humiliation has been deepened by your husband’s criticism of your love life.

Don’t take this to heart.

Moving in with his wife’s mother must have undermined his self-esteem.

A man whose pride is under siege not only makes a lousy lover, he finds less pleasure m sex.

It is important that you don’t blame each other for the loss of sexual desire that each of you is feeling at the moment.

Agree to avoid anger and focus instead on restoring pride in each other. The sense that you’re valued is the only aphrodisiac you need at the moment!

You need to analyse why you feel so bad. You still have to see your ex at work and in your neighbourhood, this makes it harder to make a break and the fact he’s found a replacement for you niggles. You’re reacting to circumstances you’ve blown out of proportion.

Since you can’t move shop or change house, you get over your current feelings. ...Then concentrate on what you currently have going for you

touch.

My second relationship lasted 10 years and we’re still good friends. It’s my last break-up that’s causing me agonies. We both have thriving shops in a high-brow mall and we live in the same housing complex. He is quite a ladies’ man and even with friends agreeing with me, I was well to be rid of him, I can’t get over him. This gets worst now he’s got someone new. Why am I still heart-broken? I could understand all this if I were a teenager. Please, help!

Angela, by e-mail.

Dear Angela, Couples seeking good times realise after a break-up that feelings are more complicated than the think and the older you get, the messier they become.

But, why are you so unfair to yourself? You’ve had three relationships which worked as long as they lasted, now you must have confidence in your own judgment and remind yourself of the reasons that led to your decision to leave those relationships in the first place.

You need to analyse why you feel so bad at this recent break-up.

You still have to see your ex at work and in your neighbourhood, this makes it harder to make a break and the fact he’s found a replacement for you niggles. Yet, these things don’t change the thinking that went on before the split. You’re reacting to circumstances you’ve blown out of proportion. Since you can’t move shop or change house, you must be strong and get over your current feelings. If you really think you might not find a replacement easily at your age, then concentrate on what you currently have going for you.

A healthy business, lovely children and grand-children and a good roof over your head.

With time, you might meet someone new and if you don’t, life will still be good.

Her failed lavish wedding left me broke!

Dear Bunmi, BOUT THREE years ago, I used most of my savings to pay for my daughter ’s marriage. She’s the only girl though we have two other male children.

Shortly after she got married, I lost a lot of money through the crash of the stock market.

I’m trying to find my feet fmancially, though it’s not been easy. My wife has a bit of an income and that helps.You can then imagine how I felt when my daughter announced recently that the marriage was over. I couldn’t believe it. Neither could my

A

wife. Understandably, she should leave a marriage she’s unhappy in, but I’m really angry that I’m left almost destitute, thanks to a wedding that means nothing now. She doesn’t know how much I spent on the wedding and how much money I have lost, but sometimes I feel like telling her, so she’s aware.

Thank goodness she has a son to show for the charade, but why let us spend that much money?

Taiye, by e-mail.

Dear Taiye, Maybe you shouldn’t have

decided to spare no expense at your daughter’s wedding if it was going to cost you such despair, and so much finance.

It was down to you and not your daughter’s fault. Her happiness had to come first.

She needs all the support she can get especially from her parents. Carry on struggling with your finances whilst you give her all the support she needs. She’s probably going through hell and laying the guilt of an expensive wedding on her will make it worse. It was your choice to splash out!

Money is important, of course, but people should mean more.

Dear Tope, As blunt as this may sound, if your man didn’t say he loved you back then chances are he doesn’t, at least, not yet. He might be flattered by your declaration and could be one of the few who have a hard time declaring their love. Yet, if he was feeling it, he would have said it.

Your relationship is relatively young and he might eventually feel confident enough to tell how much he cares. So, give the guy some time. In a few months time, he might be dying to say those three magic words. So, relax and enjoy the relationship and go easy on the love declaration. A lot of women believe by saying it over and over again like a broken record, they might eventually break their man’s will.

Sometimes, this works - but would he mean it? Now that you’ve told him how you felt, wait for him to reciprocate, when and if he’s ready, he would let you know whether to go on or just, enjoy the momentary ride. Don’t feel bad about what happened though, you’ve done nothing to be embarrassed of.

Brain-washed into being a vegetarian Dear Bunmi, BOUT A year ago, my 19year-old daughter became a member of a radical evangelical movement that banned the consumption of milk or any dairy products because dairy farming is cruel to animals, and milk causes breast cancer and other health problems. At first, I thought it was a phase which she would soon grow out of, but now, she doesn’t eat with the family and does her own cooking. I don’t think she’s getting all the nourishment she could from just vegetables and soya milk extracts she uses as meat. Do you think she’ll be all right.

Fatima, by e-mail.

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Dear Fatima, Recently, there’s been a lot of adverse publicity about milk, especially with the mad cow scare a few years back. But there is no hard evidence that it’s bad for you. According to nutritionists, milk and dairy products are top source of energy and nutrients.

Some people do have intolerance of lactose (milk sugar), especially blacks, but this could be overcome by adding enzyme drops like colief to the milk. Nondairy products like soya milk are widely available and make a good substitute, but soya allergies are also common. As long as she takes supplements that are non-dairy, she should be fine.

His religion forbids condoms Dear Bunmi, Y HUSBAND and I got married about 10 years ago and I’ve just given birth to our fourth child and don’t want any more children. But my husband is deeply religious and won’t use the condom. As a result, I’ve resorted to taking the pill without telling him. My fear is, I’m worried my husband will be able to detect I’m taking it.

Franka, by e-mail.

M

Dear Franka, Women, sometimes react to ‘the hormones in the pill by getting fuller breasts or by

adding on weight. It is, however, unlikely that your husband will link this with your taking the pill.

So, unless he finds your supply in the house, he probably won’t know. Seriously though, you’re taking the pill without discussing it with your husband and that’s a sign that something is not right with your relationship. You have every right not to have another child if you think four are enough, but lying to your husband is not the way to a good marriage and a happy life. Face your husband and talk this over with him until you find a solution that’s right for you both.

Seriously though, you’re taking the pill without discussing it with your husband and that’s a sign that something is not right with your relationship. You have every right not to have another child if you think four are enough, but lying to your husband is not the way to a good marriage and a happy life.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 — 43

UK’s exit from EU could cause severe damage — IMF Zambian police arrest two journalists for allegedly defaming president T Z HE UK’s exit from the European Union could cause “severe regional and global damage”, the International Monetary Fund has warned in its latest outlook.

A lso-called“Brexit”would disrupt established trading relationships and cause “major challenges” for both the UK and the rest of Europe, it said.

The IMF said the referendum had already created uncertainty for investors and a vote to exit would only heighten this.

VoteLeavesaidtheIMFhad been “consistently wrong” in past forecasts.

The IMF, one of the main pillars of the global economic order with a mandate to oversee the international monetary and financial system, also cut its UK growth forecast.

It now expects 1.9% growth in the UK this year, compared with its January estimate of 2.2%. For next year, it expects 2.2% growth, unchanged from its earlier forecast.

If the 23 June referendum in the UK were to produce a

vote in favour of leaving the EU, the IMF would expect negotiations on post-exit arrangements to be protracted, which it warned “could weigh heavily on confidence and investment, all the while increasing financial market volatility”.

It also believes a UK exit from the EU would “disrupt and reduce mutual trade and financial flows” and restrict benefits from economic cooperation and integration, such as those resulting from economies of scale.

UN begins selection process for next two-hour meeting slot to Secretary-General

T

HE process for the selection of the next UN Secretary-General will begin on Tuesday in New York, the president of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, said on Monday.

Lykketoft is to hold a

series of informal dialogues and meetings with the eight potential candidates, according to a letter sent to the 193 UN Member States.

In the letter, Lykketoft informed the candidates that each person will be offered a

•Ki-Moon

present his or her candidature.

He said member states would have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with each person.

The informal dialogues or meetings, he said, would be as open and transparent as possible, with considerable interest of the global public and civil society being duly kept in mind.

NAN reports that eight candidates have been officially presented as candidates of the post of the secretary-general.

They are Srgjan Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Vesna Pusic of Croatia; Igor Luksic of Montenegro; Danilo Turk of Slovenia; Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and Natalia Gherman of the Republic of Moldova.

Others are Antonio Guiterres,theformerUNHigh Commissioner for Refugees and Helen Clark, former Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

Committee recommends impeachment of Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff

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COMMITTEE of Brazil’s lower house of Congress has recommended the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, who faces charges of breaking budget laws to support her re-election in 2014.

The committee voted 3827 in favour of the move,

with a vote in the full lower house expected to take place on Sunday. If two thirds vote in favour, the impeachment will be sent to the Senate.

If the upper house decides by a simple majority to put Rousseff on trial, she will immediately be suspended for up to six months while the Senate decides her fate,

and Vice President Michel Temer will take office as acting president.

It would be the first impeachment of a Brazilian president since 1992 when Fernando Collor de Mello faced massive protests over corruption charges and resigned moments before his conviction by the Senate.

Trump, Clinton hold double-digit leads in New York

O

NE week ahead of the New York presidential primary, Republican and Democratic frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton each hold double-digit leads in the Empire State, three new polls show.

According to the results of

a NY1/Baruch College poll released Monday, Trump has a commanding 43-point lead in his home state, with 60 percent support among likely GOPprimaryvoterscompared to just 17 percent for Ohio Gov. JohnKasichand14percentfor Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

A new NBC/WSJ/Marist

survey also released Mondayshowstherealestate mogul leading Kasich by 33 points (54 percent to 21 percent) and Cruz (18 percent) by 36. A Monmouth University poll released last week had Trump (52 percent) holding a 27-point lead over Kasich (25 percent) and a 35point lead over Cruz.

AMBIAN police on Tuesday briefly detained two journalists over a story quoting an opposition leader saying President Edgar Lungu used public funds to pay for a holiday, in a further sign of rising political tension ahead of August elections.

The two journalists from a privately-owned newspaper were released after paying a bond, police spokeswoman Charity Munganga-Chanda said.

On March 21, Erick Chanda, leader of the Fourth Revolution Party, was charged with

Yellow fever spreads

A

N outbreak of yellow fever has killed 21 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) says, linking some cases to an outbreak in neighbouring Angola.

In a statement, the WHO said the deaths had occurred in January to March, with 151 suspected cases recorded.

There was, it said, a “serious risk of further spread of the disease” in DRC. The acute, mosquitoborne viral disease has killed 225 people in Angola and infected about 1,600 there.

The WHO said the DRC health authorities had set up a national committee to respond to the outbreak, including “screening and sanitary controls” on the country’s borders.

People travelling to Angola will now be vaccinated against the

•President Edgar Lungu defamation of the president having spent taxpayers’ following a May 9, 2015 money at a holiday resort newspaper report in which last year. [nL5N16T3MV] “The two have been jointly he accused Lungu of charged with Erick to DR Congo, kills 21 Chanda. They will appear in court on 18th April,” Munganga-Chanda said. disease, it added.

The offence carries a The WHO statement says that the DRC’s health maximum penalty of 5 ministry has in addition years in prison.

Critics say that with the activated a contingency plan series of arrests, Lungu is which includes more community engagement to trying to intimidate fight the disease and better opponents ahead of the training of health workers. elections.

From L -R: Mr. Har ry Pur wanto, Ambassador of the Republic Indonesia to Nigeria and his wife; Mr. Isaac Joshua, General Consul, Ghana Consulate and Mr. Dhanang Riyo Anggoro, Head of Representatives PT. Dexa Medica in Nigeria during a 3-day exhibition in Lagos.

US air strikes kill suspected al Shabaab militants in Somalia

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BOUT a dozen suspected militants from the al Qaeda-linked

Niger’s Issoufou tightens grip after disputed polls

N

IGER’S President Mahamadou Issoufou reinforced his control over the West African nation in the wake of a disputed election, naming loyalists to key cabinet positions on Monday while making no concessions to the opposition.

In line with traditional practice, the government resigned earlier this month following his re-election in March polls boycotted by the opposition, but Issoufou immediately reappointed Prime Minister Brigi Raffini.

Having served in several different posts in previous cabinets, Mohamed

Bazoum, head of the president’s Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, was named minister of the interior, according to a list of ministers announced on state television.

Hassoumi Massaoudou, who previously served as interiorminister,willtakeover the defence portfolio, an important supporting role for Issoufou, who is a crucial ally of the West in the fight against Islamist militants in the region.

Saidou Sidibe, meanwhile, returned as finance minister but without the economy portfolio.

group al Shabaab were killed in U.S. air strikes in southern Somalia on Monday and Tuesday, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said those targeted posed an “imminent threat to U.S. personnel.” He said the strikes were carried out by unmanned aircraft.

Last month the U.S. military targeted an al Shabaab training camp in Somalia in an air strike that the Pentagon says killed more than 150 fighters.

The militant group, which seeks to impose a strict version of sharia law, was pushed out of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but has remained a potent force in the country.

It has launched frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Westernbacked government, targeting security and government forces, hotels and restaurants.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Ahead Rio 2016 Olympics:

NOC/Wakanow sign agreement for fans movement T

PUTTING HEADS TOGETHER — NOC's Legal Adviser, Vincent Nwana (c) and Sec-Gen, Tunde Popoola putting heads together at the unveiling of Wakanow as Nigeria's sole authorised ticket re-seller for the Rio Olympics.

Watching keenly is Managing Director of Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie.

HE Nigeria Olym pic Committee (NOC) yesterday unveiled tour and hospitality services provider, Wakanow, as the country’s sole authorised ticket provider for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games scheduled for August.

The right empowers Wakanow to sell tickets and also arrange easy passage for Nigerians, who wish to witness the Olympic Games from August 5 to 21.

At the unveiling held in the NOC boardroom in

Egypt rules African Juniors in Algiers E

GYPT swept all the 15 gold medals at stake at the 2016 IT TF African Junior & Cadet Championships held in Algiers.

The seven-day championship featured over 12 countries including host – Algeria, Nigeria, Tunisia, Congo Brazzaville, South Africa, Morocco, Angola, Mauritius, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Morocco and Togo.

In the team events for cadet, junior and U-21, Egypt claimed all the six gold medals while in the singles, the six gold medals were carted home by the Egyptians.

Despite strong opposition from Nigeria in the doubles events, Egypt again claimed the three gold medals to clinch all the 15 gold medals at the tournament.

With its 22-man team winning 15 gold, six silver and five bronze medals, Egypt was

adjudged the overall winner of the competition, while Nigeria with sixman team finished second with four silver and six silver medals to beat Tunisia, which has a 20man team to third place.

Algeria was however upstaged in the top three by Tunisia, which

T

HIS will certainly not be cheering news for Nigeria champions Enyimba as their CAF Champions League second

round return leg match against Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia will be handled by Moroccan referees.

Enyimba have taken a 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Nigeria on Sunday, but Etoile hope they could overturn this deficit to reach the mon-

ey-spinning group stage of the Champions League.

Moroccan referee Noureddinne El Jaafari will be assisted by compatriots Hicham Ait Abbou and Youssef Mabrouk for a game involving a team from fellow North African country.

FIFA

NFF

C M Y K

Algiers.

In the junior girls’ singles, defending champion, Egypt’s Amira Yousry expressed her happinenss over her ability to retain the title she claimed at the 2015 edition in Mauritius after beating compatriot – Mariam Alhodaby 4-0 in the final.

Moroccan refs for Enyimba, Etoile du Sahel tie

*Aigbogun, Enyimba's coach

Continues from BP group which parades itself as the authentic NFF, remains confident that despite the open support Amaju Pinnick enjoys from FIFA, they cannot hold a congress as the court order also disbanded the congress. Feelers from the Giwa camp said any such assembly will be viewed by the court as contempt as the Jos federal high court has

garnered three silver and seven bronze medals.

The host – Algeria had to settle for fourth place with two silver and seven bronze medals. Congo Brazzaville won three bronze medals while Angola and Mauritius has one bronze medal to show for their efforts in

equally disbanded the congress.

One of the top officials informed that Giwa is equally aware that part of the agenda of the congress is to slam a ban on him.

Last week, the Giwa group got the court to relist their case against the NFF leadership, which they had suspended two years ago.

They argued they returned to the court after last year’s AGM in Abuja barred other stakeholders.

Continues from BP suspended if the Jos Court order ‘sacking’ the Amaju Pinnick-led Board was implemented, Vanguard Sports wrote a letter to FIFA asking it to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the email from its Zurich, Switzerland headquarters.

FIFA has replied your soar-away newspaper less than 24 hours later, confirming the email sent to NFF president, Pinnick through an email from Alois Hug of its Media Department, stressing that they actually sent a letter to the NFF and informed it of the consequences of implementing the orders of the Jos court. Below is the FIFA reply to Vanguard’s inquiries:

Dear Ehidiame, Please find below a statement which can be attributed to a FIFA spokesperson: We can confirm that FIFA has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) informing that, if implemented, a recent ruling of the Federal High Court which apparently nullified the elections of 30 September 2014 of the NFF would likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF. Best regards Aloïs Hug FIFA Media department

Lagos yesterday, the Committee’s president, Habu Gumel, described the partnership with Wakanow as part of its programmes to ensure that Nigerians get seamless access to the tickets and other logistics connected with the games.

He said the Committee’s decision to re-appoint Wakanow as authorized ticket provider for Rio 2016 after their first pact for the London 2012 Olympics was based on the company ’s track records and competence in the travels and hospitality industry.

Also speaking at the event, NOC Secretary General, Tunde Popoola, said the pact with Wakanow would enhance Nigeria’s participation at the 2016 Olympics because the company has the resources to move our fans to all the venues to support Team Nigeria.

Expressing his company’s delight with its reappointment as NOC’s authorised ticket provider, Wakanow’s Managing Director, Obinna Ekezie, said his firm has acquired the experience

to do better than it did at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup, which incidentally was held in Brazil.

He said: “We are keen in this partnership because we have very hardworking and knowledgeable people manning the NOC. “We have over 30 outlets across the country where people can go to access the tickets and key into our packages for the Olympics. We are working closely with the airlines to take care of the difficulty with connectivity in Brazil.

“We are also looking at ways to provide affordable fares and other logistics for Nigerians going to Brazil, but we advise interested parties to book their package on time so that we can start processing their documents.”

Ekezie revealed that Wakanow has created a platform that would afford those who want to pay in installment to do so, adding, however, that there are terms and conditions for booking a trip to the Games through his company.

Ex-Leventis United Coach, Okoh is dead

F

ORMER Leventis United Chief Coach, Emmanuel Okoh, died in Lagos yesterday.

Aged 65, Okoh, according to a press statement endorsed on behalf of the family by Charles Okoh, news editor, Champion Newspapers Limited, died after a protracted illness in a Lagos hospital at 4.30 a.m yesterday (Tuesday).

An ex-footballer, Okoh, in his playing

Falcons Continues from BP Mariane Fall to register her 16th international goal.

Igbinovia Osarenoma sealed victory for Florence Omgabemi’s ladies as Bassouare Diaby’s laboured in vain to claw back to upstage the reigning African Queens.

Nigeria join Egypt, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and hosts Cameroon.

days captained Leventis Football Club (Iddo Tigers) in Lagos before being made coach of the Ibadan-based all-conquering Leventis United.

Coach Okoh was voted the best coach in the country when he led the Leventis United to the finals of the African Cup Winners Cup. He also coached Calabar Rovers, Delta Steel FC, Aladja as well as Union Bank of Lagos, before quitting coaching to venture into other business endeavours.

Giwa

Continues from BP Jos, which the NFF had appealed against.

Giwa also announced the dissolution of all State Football Associations, in a move that is seen by close watchers as direct affront to the Sports Minister ’s directives that he has no powers to do such.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016— 45

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 , 2016— 47

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016

Falcons qualify for AWC N

IGERIA have qualified for the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations after defeating Senegal 2-0 at the National Stadium,

Apprehension as NFF plans extra-ordinary congress A

S the confusion caused by the judgement of a Jos high court on the legal tussle between the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Chris Giwa-led group continues, the case may assume a new dimension as an extra-ordinary congress has been fixed for today in Abuja by the FIFA-backed Pinnick

Abuja on yesterday evening The Super Falcons reached the finals of the competition courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate score.

After Asisat Oshoala’s early penalty miss, the hosts struck first when Rita Chikwelu finished off a lovely pass from Francesca Ordega, thrashing a shot beyond Sengal goalkeeper

board.

Speculations are rife that top on the agenda of the extra-ordinary congress of the NFF is the expected ban to be slammed on Chris Giwa and his group.

A good number of FA chairmen and secretaries have already arrived Abuja for the congress.

However, the Giwa

Giwa dares Dalung •Insists on forceful take-over of Glass House

C

HRIS Giwa, chairman of NPFL side Giwa FC has called the bluff of the Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, by insisting that he would forcefully take over the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation today.

Dalung had advised Giwa and his cohorts not to take laws into their own hands and allow peace to reign in Nigeria Football following last Friday’s court ruling in Continues on Page 44

Continues on Page 44

Giwa-induced crisis: FIFA replies Vanguard, confirms writing NFF

By Patrick Omorodion

F

OLLOWING doubts expressed by some Nigerians yesterday over the warning letter from FIFA that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF may be Continues on Page 44

•Giwa

Today’s Fixtures CELEBRATION: Super Falcons players celebrate their qualification for the 2016 African Women Championship yesterday.

Atletico Madrid v Barca 7:45pm Benfica v Bayern 7:45pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Insane (3) 6 Cunning (4) 8 Retaliate (6) 9 Ripe (6) 10 Summit (3) 12 Fishing-basket (5) 14 Jeer (5) 15 Gem (5) 18 Author (6) 20 By mouth (6) 24 Sum (5) 26 Assume (5) 28 Salute (5) 30 Ocean (3) 32 Summer-house (6) 33 Pure (6) 34 Muddle (4) 35 Finish (3) 36 Story (4)

DOWN 2 Soar (5) 3 Idea (7) 4 Encounter (4) 5 Moist (4) 6 Garret (5) 7 Cautions (7) 11 Scull (3) 12 Intimidate (3) 13 Shelter (3) 16 Skill (3) 17 Fate (3) 19 Emit (7) 21 Tease (3) 22 Previously (7) 23 Still (3) 25 Poem (3) 27 Iron (5) 29 Go in (5) 30 Only (4) 31 Tart (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Rascal 5, Teeter 9, Macaw 10, Garret 11, Mended 12, Newer 14, Rift 17, Red 18, Fume 20, Dread 22, Woman 23, Brother 24, Reply 26, Tuned 29, Idle 30, Orb 32, Mere 33, Mined 35, Bridal 36, Roster 37, Revel 38, Needed 39, Tennis.

DOWN: 1, Regard 2, Strife 3, Amen 4, Later 5, Tamed 6, Ewer 7, Tedium 8, Redden 13, Western 15, Irked 16, Table 18, Forum 19, Maker 21, Dry 22, Wet 24, Ribbon 25, Plaice 27, Neaten 28, Debris 30, Oiled 31, Beret 33, Mare 34, Dole.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.