APC, PDP battle over $5.5bn NLNG dividend

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62447

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

N150

I am not caged, Buhari replies Nyiam 9

APC, PDP battle over $5.5bn NLNG dividend •PDP should account for the money paid in before handover — APC By Henry Umoru & Olasunkanmi Akoni •Stop lying to Nigerians, PDP replies BUJA—THE All •Says govts before Buhari never touched NLNG dividend A Progressives Congress (APC),

yesterday, asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to account for $5.5 billion realised from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) since 2004.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also called on the Federal Government to urgently unravel what happened to the past Company Income Tax/ Continues on Page 5

Gunmen invade Rivers market, kill 8 6 Mr & Mrs BOMB—Executive Secretary of Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Barde Al-Hassan (L),with others at the scene where bomb was discovered at ECWA Bishara 1 Church in Jos, yesterday. Inset: Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau Command, Mr Emmanuel Abuh (R), briefing newsmen on the discovered bomb. Photos: NAN.

COLUMNISTS: In the name of Nigeria, they share •P.41 C M Y K

What did Tambuwal tell Gbaja? •P.42

‘The Economist’ and CBN’S 'toothpick alert' •P.40

Banks face massive decline in public sector cash flow in July 9

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Two star witnesses died mysteriously after testifying against Nyako, EFCC tells court Says witnesses are afraid to testify

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA— THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that two key witnesses it lined up to testify against the former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), who is facing money laundering charge, have died under mysterious circumstances.

The EFCC, in a counteraffidavit deposed to by one of its lead detectives, Mr. Adekunle Christopher Odofin, said the witnesses, Ma’aji Mohammed Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu, were found dead shortly after they came to its office and testified against the accused former governor.

Late Iro was Regional Manager of Zenith Bank Plc, North East, and was in charge of the accounts of Adamawa State with the bank.

He was said to have adduced incriminating evidence against Nyako who is answering to a 37count criminal charge alongside his son, Abdulaziz, a serving Senator.

They are facing trial alongside their alleged accomplices — Zulkifikk Abba and Abubakar Aliyu.

Five companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds — Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited— were equally charged as the 5th to 9th accused persons.

Trial Justice Evoh Chukwu had on Friday granted the accused persons bail to the tune of N350 million each.

They were asked to produce two persons to stand as sureties or in the alternative, provide one surety who must be a serving Director in any Federal Government establishment.

The surety, according to the court, must show a proof of ownership of landed property in Abuja, depose to an affidavit of means before the Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court as well as show evidence of three years tax payment.

Besides, the accused persons were directed to surrender their International Passports to the court alongside their two recent passport photographs, even as the court slated September 30 to commence their trial.

EFCC kicks against bail

However, EFCC is kicking against their release on bail, decrying that, “two of our crucial witnesses, Ma’aji Mohammed Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu have

died in mysterious circumstances and this has instilled fear in other prospective witnesses in this case.”

The anti-graft agency expressed its fear that Nyako and his son would go into hiding.

It told the court: “Securing the arrest of the 1st and 2nd accused persons was very difficult as they became fugitives upon becoming aware of the ongoing investigation against them by the commission.

“That the commission obtained a warrant of arrest dated January 28, 2015, against the 1st and 2nd accused persons. The said warrant of arrest is marked as Exhibit RJ1.

“That the commission had to declare the 1st and 2nd

accused persons wanted in the national dailies and other media before they could be found after several months.”

Why Nyako was arrested

Narrating what led to the arrest and trial of the ex-governor, EFCC, through Odofin, who was a member of the team assigned to investigate the allegation against the accused persons, averred: “That following a petition received by the commission in October 2011 alleging gross abuse of office against the 1st accused and other criminal misappropriation of moneys running into tens of billions of Naira of the funds of Adamawa State Government.

“The commission swung into action and carried out discreet

investigation into the said allegations.

“That the investigations carried out by my ream revealed the following: a) That the 1st and 2nd accused are the owners of the 6th accused, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, which they operate by themselves.

“That several fictitious contracts running into billions of Naira were awarded to the said 6th accused while the 1st accused was governor of Adamawa State.

“That on the instruction of the 1st accused Ma’aji Mohammed Iro made several cash lodgements running into billions of Naira into the accounts of several companies and individuals including the accounts of the 6th and 9th (Crust Energy Limited) accused persons, all from the accounts of Adamawa State Government for no specific reason.

SUNDAY SERVICE: From left: Daughter of the Vice President, Miss. Kanyinsola Osinbajo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Women Affairs Minister, Senator Helen Esuene; Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara; Administrator, Aso Villa Chapel, Mr. Abba Mshelia and Guest Preacher, Pastor Seyi Malomo after the Sunday Service at the Aso Villa Chapel, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Close ranks to save Nigeria from rejected PDP, forum tells APC Senators

By Soni Daniel

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BUJA —THE forum of ex-legacy parties that metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked Senators elected on the platform of the ruling party to close ranks and work with President Munammadu Buhari to rescue Nigerians from the hardships imposed on them by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. The forum said in a communique made available to Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, that it was wrong for some selfish APC

senators to allow the PDP which they claimed had been rejected by Nigerians at the polls to take a key position meant for the ruling party in the National Assembly.

The document which was jointly endorsed by the group’s National Chairman, Yusuf Tabuka and the Secretary, Ajayi Nicholas, pleaded with its members in the NASS to stop further deprivation of the rights and privileges of the APC by the minority PDP in the legislature because of a few greedy members.

It said: “We demand that our senators quickly resolve any

differences they may have and move on to serve the overall interest of Nigerians.

It is on record that Nigerians rejected the PDP at the polls and any attempt to impose themselves through the Senate back door must be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians and our senators.

“It is suicidal for the growth of our democracy for Nigerians to reject a political party at the polls only for the same party to come back to the leadership of our Senate where the APC was given a clear majority by the Nigerian people to lead the Senate.

Nigeria’s active telecoms subscribers hit 146m — NCC

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AGOS— THE N i g e r i a n Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, said the active lines in the nation’s telecommunications industry stood at 146,561,744 in the month of May. The commission made this known in its Monthly Subscriber Data which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN reports that active lines in Nigeria were 145,476,326 for the month of April. The figure increased by 1,085,418 in May, the NCC said.

According to the data, 144,386,841 of the 146,561,744 active numbers subscribe to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network services.

The GSM operators increased their active customers by 1,329,607 as against the 143,057,234 subscribers they recorded in April.

The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators had 1,993,278 active users in May, indicating a decline of 241,024 from the 2,234,302 customers they had in April.

Also, the monthly subscriber data showed that the Fixed Wired/ Wireless networks’ consumers reduced to 181,625 in May, after losing the 3,165 customers they recorded from the 184,790 data for April.

The chart revealed that the Tele-density of the c o u n t r y ’ s telecommunications industry increased to 104.69 per cent in May, from 103.91 per cent in the month of April.

NAN reports that the Tele-density statistics measure the percentage of a country’s population with access to telecommunications services, as determined from the subscriber base.

Nigeria’s Tele-density is currently calculated by the NCC on a population of 140 million people.

NAN also reports that there was an increase of 0.78 per cent in the Teledensity of Nigeria in May.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY13, 2015 —3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

AN EVENING WITH FEMI ADESINA

From left: Oluwatobi Adesina, son to Mr Femi Adesina; Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG Limited; Mrs Adenike Adesina; Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to the President and Oluwatosin Adesina during an Evening with Femi Adesina, in Lagos organized by Nigeria LNG, Saturday.

PHOTOS: AKEEM SALAU.

Mr Eniola Bello, MD, Thisday newspapers (left) and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard newspapers at the event.

From left: Mustapha Isah, Head of News, Silverbird-Rhythm FM; Ken Ugbechie, Publisher, Political Economist magazine and Mr Steve Nwosu, Deputy Managing Director, The Sun newspapers.

From left: Funke Egbemode, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph; Wale Sokunbi, Chairman, Editorial Board, The Sun newspapers and Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Head, Media Relations, Nigeria LNG.

Fayemi to deliver 3rd President Atta Mills’ memorial lecture

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MMEDIATE past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will be the speaker at this year ’s President John Evans Atta Mills’ Memorial lecture in Accra, Ghana on July 21.

Fayemi will be speaking on the topic: “Intellectuals in Politics and Governance in Africa: The Legacies of John Atta Mills,” at the annual national event dedicated to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Ghana, who died on July 24, 2012.

A letter from the office of the President notifying Fayemi of the lecture reads: “Your impressive credentials as an academic, journalist and researcher on peace and security in Africa makes you a worthy choice for the occasion. Your presence and participation in this national event will further enhance the historical bonds of friendship and solidarity between Ghana and Nigeria.”

The letter was signed by Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff

to President John Dramani Mahama on behalf of the planning committee.

This is the first lecture in the series to be delivered by a non-Ghanaian. The first memorial lecture was delivered by Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, former Minister in the Rawlings administration and the

second lecture by Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former Foreign Minister of Ghana and UN Special Representative for West Africa.

This year ’s lecture coincides with the (71st posthumous) birthday of late President Atta Mills, who was born on July 21, 1944.

Statisticians seek govt’s inclusion in budget planning

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AGOS — THE Association of Economists and Statisticians of Nigeria, AESN, has said the association is ready to work with the Federal Government to proffer solutions that will assist in making a profound budget.

This was disclosed in an interview with the President of the Association, Mr Kehinde Oteje at a seminar and induction programme in Lagos.

Oteje stressed that economists play a vital role in a developing nation as they assist the government in budget planning for the

benefit of the masses.

According to him, the association has been able to gather economists and statisticians from various parts of the country and trained them to make an impact on the nation’s economic development.

He said: “Economists go down to the root of an environment, they find out the population of the people in a locality, their needs and map out a report on their findings. The statisticians now figure out what will be the value added to the population as well as the cost of implication. All these will be put together and send it to government.

What you must know about Zakat-ul-Fitr

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ASICALLY, Zakat-ulFitr serves several purposes for the fasting Muslim or the payee. One is to shield him from any indecent act or speech during the fasting period, serves as a signature indicating he has completed his fast because fasting without Zakat-ulFitri is not completed while the third purpose is to serve as food for the needy. This is important because Allah (SWT) wants we share love and happiness to our brothers during the feast.

So, in that regard, every Muslim is required to give Zakat-ul-Fitr. In that way the society benefits because the poor don’t have to go begging before they enjoy the feast of Eid-il-Fitr. It is also a token of appreciation to God for having enabled him to observe fast. It also purifies one’s soul from miserliness.

The question now is who is to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr?

Islam has made it obligatory upon every

Muslim who has beyond what he and his family will take for Eid-il-Fitr. It is incumbent on the poor just as it is mandatory on the rich. Th only person who is not entitled to pay Zakatul-Fitr is a Muslim in captivity as at the time when Zakat-ul-Fitr is due.

The free indigent have no excuse if he possesses the nisab which is just a Sa’ above what he and his family will eat for the day.

No doubt, he is entitled to receive but he must give also. It does not cause the poor to suffer any loss, he will pay only his Zakah and then receive the Zakah of various people. So, in essence, every Muslim is expected to pay. This is because so long as the essential rationale is shared by all Muslims, then they also share the same obligation. That is one of the several beauties of Islam.

When is Zakat-ul-Fitr due?

The jurists agree that

Zakat-ul-Fitr is due at the end of Ramadan. Some are of the opinion that it is due at the sunset of the night when the fast of Ramadan ends. (the eve of Eid-il-Fitr) Others say that it is due at the start of Fajr (dawn) on the day of ‘Eid explaining that it is an act of worship connected with the ‘Eid, so the time of its payment should not be before ‘Eid just as sacrifice on the ‘Eid of Adha. But the widely accepted norm is to give it before Fajr because some of the food have to be processed before eating and as we know, we have to eat before we go for Eidil-Fitr prayer. It is good that the receiver will be sure of what to eat before eid.

Again, it should be noted that you cannot delay it as it amounts to total disregard of its essence and that act becomes a sin against Allah (SWT) However, it is accepted as Zakah for the one who pays it before the ‘Eid prayer, and it is sadaqah for the one who pays it after the prayer. Put succinctly, it is not absolutely nullified after due time but it becomes Sadaqa and not Zakah.

The implication is that the inability to pay it on or before due time makes it a debt on the Muslim.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 —5

POCKET CARTOON

AWARD—From left: Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu,Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc; Mr Peter

Amangbo,Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc with Ray Kyles,Deputy British High Commissioner and Mr Olusola Oladipo, Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc. at the formal presentation of ISO Awards to Zenith Bank Plc by the British Standard Institution(BSI)held at the Civic Centre,Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU

APC, PDP battle over $5.5bn NLNG dividend for reinvestment.

Continues from Page 1

Education tax as well as dividends paid to the Nigerian government by the NLNG, against the background of published reports that the funds were never paid into the Federation Account as they should have been.

Reacting to the question, the national leadership of the PDP said the APC was lying.

It dismissed as untrue, accusations that former President Goodluck Jonathan had anything to do with the accounts of the NLNG, saying that PDP-led governments before the present saved the money

PDP is grandstanding However, the APC described as a glaring example of grandstanding, the attempt by the PDP to distort the facts about the source of the $2.1 billion that was approved for sharing by the three tiers of government by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said: "Whereas the Presidency corrected the initial erroneous report that the shared money was sourced from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), the skittish opposition continued to

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Follow three rules; Respect yourself, Respect others, and take responsibility for your actions— Dalai Lama

T

AKING full responsibility for one’s life is the key to living a life of absolute freedom. It means to stop blaming others, the unreasonable demanding employer, ungrateful children, unpredictable weather; irritating spouse, unreliable friend, unreliable government, unfavorable circumstances, and even the feeling that life’s not fair on us.

Blaming everybody else is great until you’ve got no one to blame but yourself. Instead, realize that you are the creator of your own life story.

Taking responsibility means a shift from being a victim to being a conscious creator. Consciousness is the key element here. Again, Robert Betz says it even better: “We tend to be conditioned, for instance by action A, which automatically triggers reaction B and, therefore, our days often resemble a movie on auto-repeat.”

Before automatically reacting to something in the future, let’s take a deep breath, realize that you have a choice and that the first choice is whether we want to simply react in a reflex-like manner or whether we want to make a conscious decision of what the best course of action is. Choosing the latter means to consciously create your life and to take responsibility for it.

insist it was from the ECA and that it was part of the ‘savings’ by the Jonathan Administration.

"Well, we can tell Nigerians that the $2.1 billion was sourced from the $1.6 billion Company Income Tax/Education Tax paid to the Federal Government on June 17, 2015, over two weeks after the Jonathan Administration left office, as well as the $500 million tax paid by Shell.

We can tell Nigerians that this is the first time the payment of the Income Tax/Education Tax by the NLNG was being disclosed by any government, in addition to paying it into the Federation Account for sharing, hence those who call it their ‘legitimate’ earnings should be asked why they did not demand the sharing of such ‘legitimate’ earnings in the past.

"We can tell Nigerians that apart from the said $1.6 billion NLNG payment for 2015, NLNG also paid $1.4 billion as Income Tax/ Education Tax in May 2014; paid $0.3 billion as Education tax to the Federal Government in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and $1.2 billion in VAT and With-holding Tax to the Federal Government since 2009. These payments are just those made in the past six years alone, hence there were other payments before then.

"In addition, dividend payments totalling $4,728,136,946 was paid to the Federal Government between 2004 and 2009, out of which only $127,851,348.19 was credited to the FG’s

Independent Account with JP Morgan, leaving a balance of over $4 billion. The questions to ask therefore are why all the past taxes and dividends were neither fully paid into the Federation Account nor shared by the three tiers of government and what happened to the funds," it said.

APC said now that President Muhammadu Buhari has started to ensure that all funds due to the Federation Account are paid in there as well as plugging all financial leakages, in an effort to restore transparency to the system, it is important to let Nigerians know why all due funds were not paid into the Federation Account in the past and what happened to such funds.

Where is $5.5bn NLNG dividend?

The party also said that as part of the investigation, the PDP must be asked where it kept the $5.5 billion which it said was the dividend paid to the FG by the NLNG before the May 29 handover.

"Since, according to the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan asked that the money be ‘left for the incoming administration to manage’ it is important for the party, therefore, to tell Nigerians in which account the money was ‘saved’ because it is definitely not in the Federation Account," it said.

APC insisted that for any opposition to be credible, it must not only be factual and truthful, it must eschew pandering.

"Had the PDP embraced these cardinal principles, it would not have, in the rush to belittle the package that was approved for the states by President Buhari and to discredit his administration, engaged in outright lies and selective perception.

While the PDP became fixated on the source of the money shared by the states, it forgot that there were other measures in the package that included a special intervention fund of between N250 billion and N300 billion from the CBN as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries.

"The PDP also forgot the debt relief programme designed to assist the states to restructure their commercial loans of N660 billion, with a view to extending the life span of such loans and reducing the states’ debt-servicing expenditures. That way, the states are freed from their perennial inability to pay workers’ salaries, and more funds are available to the various governments to use for the benefit of the people.

They have forgotten that the only time in the country’s history that this kind of rescue package was made was also during the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari as military Head of State," the party said.

It advised those who are showboating and distorting facts to tarry a while, as what they are seeing is just the first step in a long journey to clear the rot left behind by years of purposeless governance, plug all financial leakages, ensure that all funds due to the Federation Account are paid in there for the benefit of all Nigerians and bring to justice all those who have mismanaged or looted the commonwealth.

"The revelations concerning the deep rot in the system that will come in the weeks and months ahead will shock even the most ardent critics of the Buhari Administration’s salvaging efforts," APC

added.

Stop lying to Nigerians –PDP Countering, the PDP in a statement by its National Publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, urged the APC to desist from misleading Nigerians on the NLNG, saying no government before now touched the money.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the misleading and outright falsehood by the APC. The truth is that the NLNG had been on a 10-year tax haven until 2014.

“Within this period, successive governments, right from President Olusegun Obasanjo never shared nor tampered with the cumulative dividends.

Whatever taxes paid from the NLNG go through the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and recorded as part of the income of the Federal Government.

“It is imperative to note that by the end of the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, NLNG dividends had risen to a cumulative $5.6billion and not a single cent was ever taken from the funds.

“Although it is within the rights of the APC administration to spend the funds in any way they may decide, it is however, cruel for them to inflict on us all such malicious falsehood while the current Presidency, without the benefit of economic advisers and relevant statutory organs of government unilaterally decided to deplete the funds without thinking of the attendant future investments and financial obligations of Nigeria in the NLNG project.

“The APC must note that there is a limit to propaganda and lies.

Now is the time for governance and this government has shown total unpreparedness to face the challenges of governance at the centre.”

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Gunmen invade Rivers market, kill 8

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— EIGHT persons were shot dead, weekend, by unknown gunmen at Agbonchia market area, Eleme Local Government of Rivers State.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Command said it had uncovered plans by two rival political groups to protest, today, the Federal High Court ruling in Port Harcourt that nullified the May 23 elections of 22 local government executives.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Austin Agbonlahor in a statement in Port Harcourt, warned that the police will not allow any act that would cripple peace in the state, urging those aggrieved over the high court judgement to explore legal means to express their feelings.

On the market shooting, state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, however, said five people died, adding that a suspect had been arrested.

He said the killers stormed a place around a market where people wash motorcycles and opened fire on those around, noting that five persons died at the end of the shooting.

He said: “The assailants came on motorcycles, opened fire at a motorcycles wash point at Agbonchia Eleme and fled. Five persons lost their lives.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the attack was related to cult activities. One suspect is right now undergoing interrogation, while moves to arrest other fleeing miscreants has begun.”

Eyewitnesses said eight persons lost their lives in the incident, corroborating the account of the police image maker that the assailants were

As police warn against protest over High Court verdict three in number and came on a motor bike.

They said the assailants pretended as if they came to wash their bikes.

“Suddenly, they started shooting at those around and when they were done, they hopped on their bike and fled,” the eyewitnesses said.

The incident caused tension in the area as nobody could say if it had anything to with politics or cultism.

Some feared it would be connected with the sack of 22 council chairmen in the state.

A member of the community said: “Politicians can go to any length. Maybe factions of the two political parties are engaged in a war already, following political developments in the state last week.”

Another member of the community said it was likely a cult-related attack.

of live cartridges, were recovered from them.

Police caution

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Austin Agbonlahor in a statement in Port Harcourt, appealed to the political class to allow peace reign, stressing that the state had seen enough of politically-motivated protests.

He said: “Information at the disposal of Rivers State Police Command indicates plans by unknown individuals to hold a protest today in Port Harcourt metropolis and other locations

in the state against the recent Federal High Court judgment nullifying the election of the chairmen of 22 councils and the swearing-in of caretaker committees in their stead.

“Similarly, the command has credible intelligence that the protesters will be countered by another group. This could lead to confrontation with unpleasant consequences.

“We are in a democracy, where the Rule of Law and the right to protest are legitimate rights and aspirations.

However, these rights stop

where those of the other person begins.

“We acknowledge that anyone can hold a legitimate and peaceful protest; it is also fair to admit that the protest planners would not be able to control the process as pro- and anti-forces, and hoodlums, could hijack it and turn the state into a theatre of violence.

“So we are advising that all aggrieved persons should sheathe their swords and toe the path of honour by resorting to legal means of seeking redress and justice.”

We killed 3 suspects —SARS

Confirming the development, the state Police boss, Chris Ezike, said that on the same day, detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, who were on stop-andsearch duties at Obiri-Ikwere junction, encountered a group of hoodlums operating in a Toyota Camry car.

According to him, in the ensuing gun duel, the three suspects were killed by the police.

He added that bullets and one AK-47 rifle, with 20 rounds of ammunition, one pump action gun, with breach no. T5870, three locally-made revolver pistols and one doublebarrelled gun, with 45 rounds

STUPIDITY: Crossing Oshodi-Apapa Expressway at Cele Bus Stop beneath a pedestrian bridge, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

‘How my father beat me with barbed wire because of mum’

By Esther Onyegbula

12-yr-old girl says dad beats mum regularly over her addiction to lottery

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Ebutte Metta chapter, have rescued a 12-year-old girl (names withheld), who was battered by her father in Lagos.

It was gathered that the victim was found in critical condition at Oyingbo market, EbuteMetta, following beatings she allegedly received from her father.

A close family source said: “The victim, a Junior Secondary School, JSS, 1 student with the Canal Secondary School, Orile, Lagos State, would have died from the wound she sustained after her father flogged her with barbed wire, but for the intervention of vigilante members, who found her writhing in pains in the dead of the night.”

It was learned that Kafayat was rushed to Star Clinic, Ebutte-Metta, where she is receiving treatment from the wound she sustained all over her body.

‘He broke my mother’s knees’

Narrating how she incurred the wrath of her father, the girl said: “I live with my parents at 4, Kuforiji Street Orile, Lagos.

“On July 7, I ran away from

home after receiving severe beating from my father. My offence was that I tried to stop him from beating my mother.

“My father accused my mother of using his hard-earned money to play lotto game and he descended on her with anything he could lay his hands on. My father alleged that my mother loves patronising lotto game and he beat her up mercilessly and broke her knees.

“Despite my mother’s cry for help, none of our neighbours came to her rescue because they are afraid of my father. When I could not bear the beating anymore, I begged my father to stop. He became furious and pounced on me, using a barbed wire to flog me.

“This is not the first time my

father will beat my mother and I. I have lost count of his endless beatings. On one occasion, I begged my mother to relocate four of us, her children, to Ilorin so we can stay away from our father due to his constant beating.

decided to sleep in the market because I do not want to go back to my father’s house. It was while I was sleeping at the market that some vigilante men came and rescued me. I told them my plight and they took me to the hospital.”

‘My mum said he'll change’

Police refuse to intervene

“I am the first child. My mother said my father will change, but he gets worse by the day. My mother is currently on admission at the Charity Hospital, Orile, following the beating my father gave her.

“I could not stand his beating anymore and I ran away from home to meet one of my mother’s friends at Oyingbo market, but I did not meet her when I got there.

“I was in great pains and I

Agbodemu Musbau, Secretary of the VGN, said: “At Iponri Police Station, they said they do not handle such a case.

At Area C Police Command, Surulere, they told me to take her to the office of the Public Defender.

“I have been running around with this girl to get the necessary authorities to look into this matter and arrest the father, but they have refused to take up the case.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—7

Bayelsa govt, NOSDRA staff among victims of Agip pipeline explosion

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—NO fewer than 13 persons died in last Thursday ’s Agip pipeline explosion along TebidabaClough Creek trunk line in the mangrove swamp of Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Among victims of the explosion are staff of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA. Bayelsa State government, which confirmed the death toll in a statement yesterday, expressed regrets over the explosion.

The statement by the Information and Orientation Commissioner, Esueme DanKikile, also said six staff of an indigenous oil servicing firm,

M. G. Vogas, a soldier on guard duty and two Agip staff, were also killed in explosion.

The deceased staff of the monitoring unit of the Environment Ministry in Bayelsa State government is an indigene of Nembe LGA, while the NOSDRA staff is from Enugu State.

Also among the dead is an indigene of the host community of Azuzuama, who was part of the Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, team.

Cause

Dan-Kikile said: “Bayelsa State government regrets to confirm the occurence of a fire explosion of July 9. From available information, the incident occurred during repairs of pipeline, following an oil spill.

“The incident resulted in the death of 13 persons.

Government uses this opportunity to condole with the families of the deceased on this tragic loss.

“Government also sympathises with the injured persons and affected communities, and assures them of adequate support towards the treatment and recovery of the injured.

“Government is working with relevant agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation and to unravel the cause and circumstances of the explosion.

“We will also determine and undertake appropriate measures to fully address this tragedy and to prevent future occurrence.

“In the meantime, government wishes to appeal to the affected families and immediate communities in the incident area for their cooperation in the efforts to

properly address this disaster and its sad consequences.”

Shocked Bayelsa Environment Commissioner, Mr. Inuiro Wills, in reply to Vanguard enquiry said: “It is a tragedy for us all. We lost one of our staff and one staff of NOSDRA.”

Hospitals

At the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, where two of the survivors were taken, a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims had been referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, River State, due to the degree of burns they suffered.

Meanwhile, the state police command in its preliminary report, confirmed the death of a serving military personnel in the explosion.

Truck crushes couple, son in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—A man, wife and their eldest son were, yesterday, crushed to death in an accident involving their ash-coloured Toyota Camry and a container-bearing truck at Agu Awka end of EnuguOnitsha expressway.

The family’s six-month-old baby boy, his four-year-old brother and seven-year-old sister, who survived, were in very critical condition and are receiving treatment at the Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka.

At press time, the wrecked remains of the family’s car were still beneath the truck, with many sympathizers wailing and cursing the truck driver.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the driver of the truck, with number plates LSR 897XQ, ran away immediately the incident occurred.

According to the eyewitness, when people noticed the high speed with which the truck was moving, they started waving, trying to slow him down.

The eyewitness added that it was a few seconds after that that he rammed into the car, which was heading towards Enugu.

Casualties

The victim, Mr. Okechukwu Odinigwe, who died on the spot alongside his wife and the eldest son, hailed from Urunnebo village in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The three surviving children, two boys and a girl, were rushed to Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka, for treatment

6 month-old-baby, two others in critical condition

As bus plunges into river in Anambra

The accident. by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC. When Vanguard visited the hospital yesterday, the three were seen at the intensive care unit, with the doctors battling to save their lives.

A large number of policemen and men of FRSC were later seen at the scene of the accident going through some of the documents that littered the area.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Eze, said investigation into the cause of the accident had

begun.

… as bus plunges into Okpu River

Elsewhere yesterday, a bus driver lost his life when his vehicle fell into Okpu River, Okija, on Onitsha-Owerri expressway, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The cause of the accident was still not clear at press time.

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has condoled with the family of the victims of the

ghastly motor accident.

A statement from his office said: “Saddened by the development, Obiano has undertaken to pay all medical bills to be incurred by the surviving children, who were receiving treatment at the Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka.

“He expressed his condolence for the lives lost and assured Ndi Anambra that he would always ensure the safety of lives by regulating movement of heavy duty vehicles within the state.”

Prophet allegedly swindles member of N5m

By Esther Onyegbula

A

man of God (names withheld) has allegedly defrauded a former church member, Ms. Rita Okoro, of N5,000,000, being part of the total sum he had obtained from her and her family members, while pretending to assist in securing the release of her brother, who had been detained by police in Lagos since January 17.

It was learned that Ms. Okoro, and her sister, Ngozi, were members of the said prophet’s church, until they discovered that he had been taking advantage of their predicament, like many other members of his church, to exploit and defraud them.

Vanguard gathered that Rita and her family are not the only victims of the prophet’s fraudulent activities. However, not many members of his church whom he had defrauded have mustered the courage, like Rita and her family, to speak up.

Okoro told Vanguard that sometime in January, following the arrest and indefinite detention of his brother by police operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, over an allegation of being an informant to a kidnapping gang, and frustrated by the persistent refusal by SARS to either charge him to court or even allow their family or legal representatives to see him, they approached the prophet for assistance.

She said the prophet agreed to help and made calls to a ‘top police officer’ at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

She said the prophet then claimed to have travelled to Abuja and then started demanding money for logistics.

She said at different times, she had given money to the prophet and paid some into his account, amounting to N5,000,000.

She said: “At this point, we sensed foul play and wrote a petition through Network for Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, to Special Fraud Unit, SFU, EFCC and ICPC with a view to assisting me recover my money and to investigate the prophet’s activities.”

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY13, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—9

Banks face massive decline in public sector cash flow in July

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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AGOS — PUBLIC sector funds inflow to the financial system is expected at about N941 billion this month, a massive N265 billion or 22 per cent decline from the figure of N1.21 trillion actual inflow recorded last month.

The development will portend a significant liquidity tightening in the money market signaling increase in interest rates amidst expected rise in yields in government securities.

The breakdown in the public sector funds flow published by FSDH Merchant Bank Economic Research shows that while total inflow of about N941bn will hit the money market from the various government maturing securities and Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, in the month of July 2015, expected outflows from the various sources such as government securities and statutory withdrawals are estimated at N531 billion, leading to a net inflow of N410 billion.

Already, the financial system has recorded about N330.86 billion inflow so far in the first two weeks of the month while N124.5 billion, N159.9 billion and N102.7 billion are expected this week, next week and last week of this month respectively from maturing Federal Government obligations to the financial system.

The balance of about N223 billion is expected inflow from FAAC. However, the funds flow does not include possible interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, at the inter-bank segment of the foreign exchange market as well as withdrawals by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, from the system which are difficult to estimate.

With this, FSDH said “the current Nigeria economic fundamentals points to the fact that the government securities market should expect an increase in yields in the longer dated Treasury Bills (TBs) and Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds (FGNBs), while the 91day and 182day TBs are expected to decline.”

The yields on fixed income securities are expected to be higher in the month of July 2015. The following factors, according to the research report, would drive yields on the fixed income securities in the next few months: the expectation of a further depreciation in the value of the

Naira; the increase in the debt position of the Federal Government; low oil price and oil revenue and the expectation of an increase in inflation rate.

Analysis of the liquidity situation in the money market and the fixed income securities market in the month of June 2015 shows that there was a

net inflow of about N338 billion from various sources, compared with a net outflow of about N580billion in the month of May 2015.

I'm not caged, Buhari replies Nyiam A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari declared, yesterday, that he was not caged by any group or individuals and that he was in firm control of the presidency and the country.

The President was reacting to assertion by Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), who in an exclusive interview with a national daily yesterday stated that President Buhari was caged by some powerful forces around him who now dictate and determine most decisions of the President, especially in the areas of political appointments.

Nyiam was quoted as saying that some of the appointments of the president were lopsided.

He said: “One of the greatest things I heard from Buhari was when he said 'I belong to everyone, I belong to no one.'

I believe him, but I do hope he doesn’t allow some irredentists around him to prevent him from practicalizing it and not for his own ethnic nationality.

“The recent appointments we have seen so far suggest that President Buhari is being misguided and being pushed to be very partial. He has made critical appointments in three critical areas. One is the Accountant General of the Federa- tion, the Director of DPR and the acting INEC chairman. These three critical appointments and of course that of the Chief of Staff are all coming from the same zone.

“There is also that of the

By Franklin Alli

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VISIT: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo(left)and Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State during a visit to the former President at his Hilltop Mansion, GRA, Abeokuta, yesterday. PHOTO: WUNMI AKINOLA.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

Curves expands operation, opens outlet in Nigeria

Director General of the DSS, Daura. Not only is he a man that has been in retirement, he is directly from the president’s town.

If Jonathan had done the same thing by appointing the Director of DPR and the Accountant General from the South-South, people would have raised hell.

“You must remember that the Accountant General took over from someone from the South-West, Otulana. Why couldn’t Buhari appoint a south westerner, at least as a gesture to the South-West for the support they gave him. The DPR director was an Igbo chap. I think these appointments are clearly indicative that the President has not been allowed to follow his principle that he belongs to everyone.

“President Buhari is a man I served with, he is a man who is a true Nigerian; he is a man who is a true man of God. What I am suggesting is that he appears increasingly and gradually being caged by irredentists who are going to spoil his chances of becoming the Mandela of Nigeria.

“I have said it before that the closest analogue of Mandela in Nigeria is Buhari. But it does seem to me that some elements, some irredentists with agenda will not allow Nigeria benefit from such a figure.”

But reacting to the statement, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said though individuals are entitled to their opinions, the comments credited to Nyiam were not true. According to him, if Col. Nyiam admitted to have a vast knowledge and workings of the President in the past and also spotted his impeccability, he was

in a better position to tell other people that President Buhari cannot change.

Said he: “Well, Col. Nyiam is just an individual. He is entitled to his opinion. But his opinion is not necessarily right.

The fact that he said it does not mean it is true.

“I am happy that he knows the person of President Buhari deeply. If that is the case, he cannot easily admit that the man he spoke glowingly about cannot change or be influenced by anybody.

“Everyone in Nigeria knows President Buhari. He had been a Head of State and we saw how he dealt with corruption and even now, he is not relenting.

As a matter of fact, he made corruption the chief issue among his campaign promises and he is dealing with that.

“Besides, he has said right from his swearing in that he belongs to no one but everyone.

Why would he now change?

And don’t forget that the President before he was elected, ran for the same office three times. So, would he win and then give his presidency to someone else to run for him?

“Again, the President has said he does not have northern agenda. Look, Nigerians needed change and they have got that by voting President Buhari to power. He has a national agenda because he was voted for by all Nigerians.

“So, it will be preposterous to accuse Mr. President of having pro-North agenda or that he is caged. Caged by whom? He is the President of Nigeria and should be seen and addressed as such."

AGOS — CURVES International has expanded its operation to Nigeria with the opening of its office at Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos, and targeting 300 more outlets across the country over the next five years through franchise.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistles, commissioned the Nigeria Office at the weekend, thus bringing the American health and Wellness Company’s global operation to 94 countries.

The event was graced by the Editor ,Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon; Brian Mcleary, Commercial Counsellor, US Embassy; former CEO Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi; Clives Robinson , Regional Director Curves, Africa; Amanda Coetsse, Director of Operations, Africa; Emma Esinnah, Country Director, Curves International Nigeria, among other dignitaries from the business community.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Entwistles, represented by the Commercial Counsellor, lauded the entry of Curves into Nigeria, saying: “ What Curves is doing has inspirational and multiplier effects on the economy of countries wherever it operates.

“Nigeria is the most populous and has the largest market in Sub Saharan Africa and women are very critical to this country’s economic wellbeing. We look forward to celebrate your accomplishments and to help you expand as much as you can in Nigeria.”

On her part, Director of Operations,Coetsse said Curves is a fitness and weight loss firm with facilities designed specifically for toning women in 30 minutes, adding: “Curves promises to help create a new community of healthier and happier Nigerian women, and a generation of entrepreneurs through the franchise opportunities; “Over the next four to five years, Curves will be very accessible to Nigerian women, with a plan of nearly 300 outlets in the country. In addition, Curves will create over 2,000 employments in the same period and most beneficiaries would be women.”

Robinson added that Curves has been in operation for 25 years and has grown to over 7,000 locations with more than four million members.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

UPN LEADERSHIP TUSSLE: Faction recognises Fasehun

Nigeria’s active telecoms subscribers now 146m — NCC

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—THE N i g e r i a n Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, said the active lines in the nation’s telecommunications industry stood at 146,561,744 in the month of May. The commission made this known in its Monthly Subscriber Data. ''Active lines in Nigeria were 145,476,326 for the month of April. The figure increased by 1,085,418 in May'', the NCC said.

According to the data, 144,386,841 of the 146,561,744 active numbers subscribe to the Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM, network services.

The GSM operators increased their active customers by 1,329,607 as against the 143,057,234 subscribers they recorded in April.

The Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, operators had 1,993,278 active users in May, indicating a decline of 241,024 from the 2,234,302 customers they had in April.

Also, the monthly subscriber data showed that the Fixed Wired/ Wireless networks’ consumers reduced to 181,625 in May, after losing the 3,165 customers they recorded from the 184,790 data for April.

RAMADAN LECTURE: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (right) being welcomed by the Executive Secretary, Epe Local Government, Mr. Ahmed Seriki (2nd right) and Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun (2nd left) during the governor’s arrival at the Special Ramadan Lecture organized by League of Imams and Alfas, Epe Division at Epe Local Government yesterday.

Labour kicks against renewal of TCN’s mgt contract

By Victor Ahiuma-Young 2012, entered into a three year administer or enforce the Grid

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AGOS—WORKERS in the nation’s power sector, weekend in Lagos, raised alarm over plot by some government officials to renew the management contract with Manitoba Hydro International to take over the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, today, despite perceived failure to fulfill terms and conditions of earlier contract.

Operating on the platform of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, the workers lamented that the company with the Federal Government had on May 28,

Utomi backs FG on bailout to states “Secondly, if they

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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AGOS—FOREMOST economist, Professor Patrick Utomi, has commended the recent bailout by President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government to all tiers of government towards offsetting outstanding salaries of workers, saying the move will stimulate the economy.

He made the remarks at the weekend during the public unveiling of a book: “Integrity in Governance, The Nigerian Experience”, authored by Mr Arinze Echeta, a lawyer.

According to Utomi, “Anybody who does not see the bailout as justice for the people whose salaries have been owed, the person has a moral problem.

understand economics, they would know that if they don’t have salaries and they do not spend money they are killing the entire economy of the state because the woman who sells roasted plantain by the roadside will not have customers, she and her family are then in trouble.

“So it is important for stimulating the economy, the money is going into the pockets of those people. So if it’s established that is morally of value to do that, the question is therefore, how you do it.”

While saying he was not privy to the details of the structure of the so called bailout in which some governors have claimed it’s their money, “whatever it is, there was need to stimulate the economy,” he said.

management contract to transform TCN into a technically and financially efficient, sustainable, stable, commercially viable and market driving company that is capable of evacuating the maximum capacity of generated energy from the generating companies to the distribution companies, DISCOs and large consumers throughout Nigeria on 24 hours daily operation.

But NUEE in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, gave 34 reasons why workers in the sector had described the management contractor as a failure, insisting that “The management contractor has failed to recognize best practical, cost effective solutions on the table for quickly improving the TCN that were recommended by actual power sector experts, management contractor instead chooses to seek private audience with government to plead that they are victims of circumstance instead of admitting their failure and the market requires discipline and accountability, not political posturing. ''If the administration is still confused over this matter, then the best solution is to have the management contractor and actual power sector experts sit together with it to address every issue for properly determining the fate of the TCN management contract.”

NUEE listed perceived failures to include “failure to improve voice communications that are critical for safety and reliability control, failure to effectively

Code or Market Rules, failure to improve the emergency preparedness focus of the TCN and failure to provide best practice company business continuity plan or emergency response plan.’’

AGOS—IN apparent reaction to the statement removing Dr Frederick Fasehun as the chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, another faction within the party has disowned Professor Bankole Okuwa as the party’s National Chairman.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Adeoye Jolaosho, in a statement said Dr. Frederick Fasehun, remains the National Chairman of the party.

The statement read in part: “By virtue of the first UPN National Convention held at the Yard 158 Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos, last January 9, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the pioneer National Chairman of the party, was returned to the position,” said Jolaosho.

He said the election of Fasehun as well as other members of the National Executive Council (NEC) complied with Article II Section 7(2) of the party’s constitution, which stipulates that: “The National Convention shall elect the national officers of the Party each of whom shall hold office for a maximum of four years or for such other lesser duration as the National Convention may fix but shall be eligible for re-election,”

Lawyers warn EFCC against losing cases frequently

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AGOS—THREE prominent Lagos-based lawyers yesterday, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, needed to do more in the area of prosecution and win cases, to justify its establishment.

The lawyers said yesterday, in Lagos that further EFCC losses in court would mar its popularity.

They said the commission needed to be more diligent in its prosecution of alleged corrupt public officials as a way to support the Federal Government’s anticorruption crusade.

Mr Jiti Ogunye said the EFCC needed to be more committed and diligent in its investigation and subsequent prosecution of those accused of fraud.

Ogunye said the way the charge against Mr Femi Fani-Kayode was prosecuted by the EFCC had revealed the need for a review of its handling of the prosecution of suspects.

“The EFCC’s dilatory and cavalier prosecution ended up telling Nigerians that it was not sure of what it was doing.

“The way the charge against Fani-Kayode was being changed showed that not much was properly done

by the anti-graft agency.

“It has an advantage as both the investigating and prosecuting body and so will not be excused for failure to bring those charged with corrupt enrichment to answer for their deeds.

“The anti-corruption body ought to know the strength of the cases they are taking to court on the basis of their investigations,” he said.

Similarly, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, urged the EFCC to streamline the counts it brings against suspects.

“The EFCC is fond of going to court with so many counts as charges.

“It is an indication that the prosecution is unsure of what it is doing when it brings about 40 to 50 count charges against a person.

To the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (Ikorodu Chapter), Mr Adedotun Adetunji, the EFCC needed to improve on its investigation of allegations against suspects.

“The agency has to be more diligent in the investigation of financial crimes and the prosecution of offenders.

“It needs to ensure more diligence so as to be able to prosecute more efficiently and effectively,” Adetunji added.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 11

PDP, APC bicker over alleged EFCC move against Fayemi

By Dapo Akinrefon

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi were yesterday engaged in war of words over alleged moves to prosecute the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. While the PDP raised alarm over plans to shield Fayemi from inevitable arrest and prosecution

by EFCC, the former governor said the party was merely hallucinating.

In a statement by the state’s Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Jackson Adebayo alleged that some leaders of APC were planning to approach President Muhammadu Buhari through his closets men from the north in a “desperate attempt to shield Fayemi from inevitable arrest and prosecution by EFCC”.

The party said “it has come to our notice that there is a sinister motive by the leaderships of the All Progressive Congress to put presure on the presidency to halt the investigation of the former APC governor by the EFCC when it dawned on them that the various petitions before the EFCC on the financial mismanagement of the APC administration in Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014 can not be ignored again by the anti graft body in its current moves against past governors.”, The PDP, however, noted that “We are aware that the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria police have reached an advanced stage in their investigation of the financial mismanagement of the immediate past government in Ekiti State and alleged outright diversion of money meant for the state to private pockets. We are also aware that Fayemi has approached a top security chief who is very close to the president to intervene., “

Fayemi reacts

In his reaction, Chief Press Secretary to Fayemi, Mr Olayinka Oyebode declared that “I think the PDP-led government

in the state is merely hallucinating.”

Oyebode, 'told Vanguard that “This is a pure case of hallucination. You and I know that it is the incumbent governor, Ayodele Fayose, that has a case with EFCC. And I am sure you know that his N1.3billion poultry scam case came up at the Ado-

Ekiti High Court sometimes in 2014 shortly before the elections.

The case could not be heard on its adjourned date owing to the closure of courts in Ekiti since last year.”

Oyebode added that “if there is anybody who should be running from pillar to post, begging to be bailed out of EFCC investigations

AWARDS: From left— Managing Director, Euromoney, John Orchard; Group Treasurer, Access Bank Plc, Dapo Olagunju; Group Managing Director Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe and Editor, Euromoney, Clive Horwood at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2015 held at the Natural History Museum in London, UK where Access Bank won the Best Flow House in Africa award, weekend.

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KURE—ONDO State government weekend debunked insinuations that it received a bail-out from the Federal government to pay outstanding workers salaries.

Instead the state government said that it only received N2.2 billion accrued to it from taxes, being part of June allocation from the Federation account.

The state government however put its monthly

He bestrides the literary world like a colossus — AMOSUN

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OVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has congratulated the 1987 Nobel prize winner for Literature, Prof Wole Soyinka, on the occasion of his 81st birthday.

Amosun, according to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, described Soyinka as “A quintessential scholar, who bestrides the literary world like a colossus.

“Soyinka excels in all the genres of literature and his prodigious works have continued to be a reference point in academic circles all over the world,” the statement said.

According to the governor; ''The first winner of the prestigious Awo prize for Leadership “has continued to be a source of inspiration to youths across the globe on top-notch scholarship, values of industry and public spiritedness.”

He wished him robust health and many more years of meritorious service to the nation.

Ambode vows to develop Epe

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PE—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, assured residents in Epe area of the state of infrastructural development in the course of his administration.

The governor, who gave the assurance while speaking at a special ramadan lecture held at the premises of the Epe Local Government Council, thanked the people for the support shown to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the electioneering campaign, promising that the development of Epe is

uppermost in his heart.

He assured residents of the area that his government will reciprocate the gesture by carrying out infrastructural projects that would make life comfortable for them.

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone here. I know that a lot of us contested, but the bottomline is that I belong to this community and whatever it is that we do, it is in the interest of this community. We are all going to stand together to make sure that the development of Epe is

Ondo denies receiving FG’s bailout

By Dayo Johnson

or trial by the anti-corruption agencies, it should be Fayose.”

Absolving the Fayemi administration of mismanagement of state funds, Oyebode said “Fayemi ran one of the most responsible and corruption-free governments not only in Ekiti State, but in the country. He has been out of office for nine months and has not been invited by any anti-corruption agency be it EFCC or ICPC.’’

SOYINKA AT 81:

wage bill at N4 billion.

Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade and his Finance counterpart, Chief Yele Ogundipe said this at a joint briefing in Akure.

Ogundipe said that the bailout proposal presented to the President at a recent meeting by state governors was yet to bear fruit as modalities are still being worked out.

The two Commissioners made the clarification following the controversies the said bail out

is generating across the country and the agitations by workers.

Ogundipe said the governors recently met with President Muhamadu Buhari over the lingering issue of default in payment of salaries and other contractual obligation.

According to him “One of the things that was decided on was that the Federal Government will find a way to bail out the states in terms of loan and the fund in the excess crude account could also be considered for sharing.

uppermost in our heart”, he said.

Governor Ambode, who hails from Epe, however enjoined residents to join hands with his government, urging them to use the period of the Ramadan to pray for the success of his tenure in office.

“I am glad Epe is one. It pleases God that what we’ve missed in the city for almost 40 years has come to us. It is now left for all of us to join hands with this government”.

“There is nothing I can do for Epe people that can be enough, but I assure you that Epe would be a new city. All I need from you now is prayer because I am ready to pay my dues in Epe and I will try my best to ensure that Epe and indeed Lagos State witness all round development and transformation”, the governor said.

Earlier, the guest lecturer, Dr. Nosirudeen Onibon, urged those who would form the cabinet of the Governor to imbibe the culture of moral competence in the discharge of their duties.

He said governance thrives on division of labour, hence all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of the administration.

Onibon expressed optimism that with Governor Ambode in the

Idiroko Customs intercepts poultry products worth N4.3m

By Esther Onyegbula

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HE Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Headquarters Monitoring Team, Idiroko axis, at the weekend, said it has intercepted 810 cartons of frozen poultry products worth N4, 374, 000.

The team Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Yahaya Usman, said the seizure will be destroyed in a designated site at the NCS premises, Ikeja under the watch of critical agencies of government including NAFDAC. While displaying the seized goods, Usman said his team has an effective collaboration with the residents of the area, as units and commands of the Customs remain committed to totally eradicating the menace of smuggling.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Don’t amend DESOPADEC law without consultation, Lori-Ogbebor tells DTHA

By Clifford Ndujihe

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IGER Delta leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has advised Delta State House of Assembly against amending the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, law without consultation with the communities and stakeholders.

Lamenting that what the lawmakers and state government proposed to do would further pauperise the oil producing communities, Lori-Ogbebor, in an interview with Vanguard, weekend, cautioned them against acts that could precipitate crisis in the state, saying: ‘’If the House of Assembly wants peace in the Delta, where all of us will live happily, the matter of DESOPADEC is a matter that no government should jump into without talking to the people and the traditional rulers who are actually suffering in their villages.’’

She urged them to be mindful of the fact that the issue of managing proceeds of the 13 per cent accruing to Delta State was still pending at the Supreme Court.

She said: ‘’I am asking Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to tread softly on this new bill because the DESOPADEC law is built on derivation. You cannot throw it away. For example, he has created some committees and the people who are in those committees have nothing to do with the riverine areas. So I want him to tread softly and not create problems that James Ibori and I had for eight years. The matter is still at the

Supreme Court and we will go back to the Supreme Court.

“I fought for 13 per cent derivation which is meant to improve and develop the oil producing areas. It came during the time of (former governor) Ibori.

We were all happy because the devastation of oil production in our area and indeed the whole of Niger Delta is unspeakable.

“I fought (Chief Olusegun) Obasanjo to get that 13 per cent.

I wanted the government to use the 13 per cent judiciously in the oil producing areas but Ibori was using it as part of state money, hence I went to court. I was in

court for eight years with Ibori up to the Supreme Court. The matter is still at the Supreme Court today. The reason I let go or I am waiting is that before Ibori left, he created DESOPADEC. I thought that (former Governor Emmanuel) Uduaghan who was taking over from him, would manage DESOPADEC properly.

“Ibori and the government made a law that 50 per cent will be for the development of the riverine areas and the government will take 50 per cent.

And that was what they practised. When they created DESOPADEC, I was happy that

Uduaghan would be able to address the problems of the state through DESOPADEC. Before Uduaghan left, I was disappointed that the DESOPADEC he left was not the one that I dreamt of. At the tail end when Uduaghan was leaving, he brought out a bill to make DESOPADEC more effective but he rushed it in the twilight of his tenure and the bill did not go through. ‘’Now, Governor Okowa is creating another bill and he is trying to pattern the bill on the NDDC which is not possible. It cannot be."

COMMISSIONING: Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, flanked by MD, Keystone Bank, Mr. Philip Ikeazu (right) and Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule, during the commissioning of a library block built by Keystone Bank Plc, at Isieke Community Model Secondary School, Umuahia.

Naming of Deep Seaport: Court orders maintenance of status quo W ARRI—A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered parties to maintain status quo in the suit challenging the naming of Deep Seaport project in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Trial judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar, who made the order at the hearing in the matter, said parties should “maintain status quo antebellum and refrain from mentioning the Deep Seaport after any community,” pending the determination of the suit.

Defendants in the suit are the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Delta State Government, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, while plaintiffs are Chief Ayirimi Emami, Itse Elijah Wilkie,

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Mike Okoturo, Pastor Emiko Fregene and Samuel Pirah for Ugborodo community.

The judge said that it will be in the interest of justice for the parties in the suit to maintain status quo, because the matter is now before the court.

Chief Emami, Wilkie, Mike Okoturo, Pastor Fregene and Samuel Pirah on behalf of Ugborodo community through their lead counsel, Chief E. Akpofure, SAN, are praying the court to, among others, declare that “the proposed naming of the Deep Seaport sited in Ugborodo land

between Madangho and Ubefan” is “ wrongful, against public policy, unconstitutional, illegal and therefore null and void.”

Meanwhile, Kpokpo and Gbaramatu communities are seeking to be joined in the suit as second plaintiffs and defendants, respectively.

Delta gov poll: Ogboru drops motion to opposing the motion, inspect election materials leadWhile counsel to Governor Ifeanyi

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — T H E governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the April 11 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has withdrawn his application seeking to inspect election materials before the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba.

Ogboru, through his counsel, Mr. Dele Adesino, SAN, had urged the tribunal to compel the

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to make available and allow for inspection, materials used in the conduct of the said governorship election.

Ogboru, among other prayers in the application, had sought the barring of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, and INEC from participating or being present during the inspection, arguing that such would hinder the smooth adjudication of the matter.

Okowa, and PDP, Mr. Ken Mozie, objected, arguing: “We are not opposed to the motion to inspect the electoral materials but we want to be joined during the inspection.”

Ogboru, through his counsel, quickly informed the tribunal of his desire to withdraw the petition, saying, “I plead for your lordship's indulgence to withdraw this application.”

Consequently, the tribunal Chairman, Mr. Nasiru Dunmi, struck out the application.

Delta govt warns against brutalising students

By Perez Brisibe & Ochuko Akuopha

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Government has warned school authorities in the state against resorting to bullying as a means of instilling discipline in unruly students.

Handing down the warning at Government College, Ughelli, while reacting to reports of bullying and extortion of students at a meeting with the principal, staff and parents, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, advised teachers to shun the use of excessive force that could inflict bodily harm and injury on students.

Ebie emphasized that the state government, knowing the danger that bullying posed to friendly and conducive teaching and learning environment in schools, would address the issue with the seriousness it deserved.

Edo women condemn rising cases of child defilement

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—A coalition of women groups in Edo State, under the aegis of Edo Women’s Development Initiative, EWDI, has condemned the rising cases of child defilement and molestation in the country and called on relevant authorities to check the trend.

President of the group, Professor Yinka Omoregbe, who addressed newsmen to kick-start the second Edo Women’s conference with the theme: Violence, Crime and Unemployment, in Benin City, weekend, said: “We believe that these issues are not just about arresting the criminals or imprisoning them, it is not about killing them, but it is about discussing why those things have arisen, why we should behave decently and how we should train and bring up our children."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—13

Probe corruption in amnesty payment, SERAP urges Buhari

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe allegations of corruption against the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, which led to alleged non-payment of entitlements and allowances to some beneficiaries.

SERAP, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, yesterday, in Lagos, said that it received a petition from seven individuals from Patani in Delta State, accusing the authorities of not paying them their entitlements four years after their integration into the government’s amnesty programme.

The petitioners, Sukore Daniel, Ekperi Abel, Enodeh Eniyekperi, Ebaretonbofa Keme, Akperi Tamaraebi and

Godspower Desmonds, according to SERAP, alleged that they had gone through the required training under the Amnesty Programme by the Federal Government.

According to SERAP, although the Amnesty office had issued identification cards to them and collected their bank details, they have not received their monthly payment of N65, 000 due them under the programme from November, 2011 to date.

Expressing fear over the issue, SERAP, said: “We are seriously concerned that the accrued allowances to the petitioners might have been stolen, diverted or mismanaged. We fear that these cases may not just be isolated incidents and that there are likely to be a broader pattern of corruption, and impunity, and are in large part the consequence of the previous government’s failure to address it.

“We believe that the

President can play a leadership role in addressing the problem and ensure justice

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the April poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has dismissed speculations that he was down with stroke.

Peterside, who spoke to Vanguard during his media briefing, yesterday in Port Harcourt, called on his

Uroye commends Okowa on appointment of commissioners

F

ORMER caretaker committee chairman, Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Augustine Uroye, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, for appointing competent commissioners to help his administration achieve its promise of prosperity for all Deltans.

Uroye, in a statement, yesterday, commended Okowa for appointing aides with very rich pedigree, especially the choice of Vincent Uduaghan as Commissioner for Transport, Newworld Safugha for Energy, Chief James Augoye for Works and Joyce Overah for Science and Technology.

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supporters to dismiss such rumour coming from political opponents.

“At least, you can confirm from seeing me now that I am not suffering from any stroke,” he said.

Peterside told newsmen earlier that his party will challenge some of the actions of the state government on the dissolution of the elected local government councils by the court among others.

He alleged that Governor

corruption policy of this government.”

BIRTHDAY: From left: Chief Nelson Ogbemi; Mr Franklin Ogbemi, celebrant's husband; Mrs. Jane Ejuitchie-Oroye, behind the celebrant and Mrs Grace Ogbemi, celebrant, at a luncheon to mark the 80th birthday anniversary of Mrs Ogbemi, in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

I'm hale, hearty, Peterside assures supporters

By Jimitota Onoyume

and fair play to those affected.

Doing so will be entirely consistent with the anti-

Nyesom Wike was using local contractors to carry out his operation zero pot holes after he had announced that he was going to engage Julius Berger and CCECC for the rehabilitation work.

Decrying the state of insecurity in the state, Peterside alleged that six weeks after Wike assumed office, he had not been able to come up with a blue print on how to govern the state.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—15

Police vow to arrest killers of Enugu monarch

However,the Police Public suspects who may have attacks. We are working round Relations Officer,PPRO,Enugu committed the act. We have the clock to unmask the killers Police command,Mr. Ebere launched manhunt on them and and bring them to justice.

Amaraizu has assured members we are closing-in on them.

“Calm has returned to the area

By Francis Igata of the public of its resolve to arrest “Our operatives have been following the presence of our the killers in a timely manner. drafted to the community to operatives who are bent on The police spokesperson forestall further breakdown of law ensuring safety of lives and NUGU—WORRIED by said,”we already have a list of the and order through reprisal property.” outcries elicited by the killing,weekend, of the traditional ruler of Isienu Amofu,Nkerefi community in Nkanu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Peter Onuoha, and three others,the Enugu Police command has assured members of the public of its determination to arrest the masterminds.

Other victims who were killed when unknown gunmen struck the community under the cover of darkness are; husband and wife,Ejike Udeme Uzor, Evelyn Udeme Uzor and Daniel Ogbu.

The incident had thrown the community and its environs into mourning even as the motive behind the dastardly act appears nebulous.

VISIT: Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (3rd right)and President, Coca-Cola International, Vanguard gathered that tension Mr. Ahmet Bozer (3rd left), flanked on the left by Mr. Kelvin Balogun, President, Coca-Cola has built up in the community Central East & West Africa; Mr. Ade Ipaye, Chief of Staff to the VP (left) and on the right Mr. following fears of reprisal attack Adeola Adetunji, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria and Mr. Clem Ugorji, Director, Public from supporters of the traditional Affairs & Communication, Coca-Cola Nigeria, during a courtesy visit by a Coca-Cola delegation. ruler.

E

I'll not withdraw my petition against Ikpeazu —Otti

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA—ABIA State governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] in the last general elections, Dr. Alex Otti has denied rumours that he was negotiating with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his party,

PDP to drop his petition at the tribunal describing the rumours as “wicked, baseless and blatant falsehood”.

Dismissing the rumour as laughable, Otti said negotiating to withdraw his petition would amount to betrayal of the trust the people who supported and voted for him reposed on him.

He however admitted that different emissaries from his opponents had continued to approach him for a truce but insisted that no amount of pressure and persuasion would make him to drop the struggle to pursue the matter to a logical legal conclusion.

Otti, in a statement issued

Eze Ohiri obeys court order

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—THE battle for the Chairmanship of Imo State Council of Ndieze may have finally been resolved, following the tacit endorsement of Eze (Dr) Cletus Ilomuanya as Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council by the embattled Eze Samuel Ohiri.

Vanguard gathered that Eze Ohiri had last week, in compliance with an order of an Owerri High Court, paid Eze Ilomuanya N20,000 cost plus the N1,500 he was fined as court fees for the Writ of Execution, for instituting a frivolous suit challenging Eze Ilomuanya’s Chairmanship of the Council which the Court of Appeal, Owerri had earlier resolved in favour of Eze Ilomuanya on July 5, 2013.

The demand notice stated “take notice that a Writ has been issued for the attachment and sale of your goods and chattels in execution of the judgment/ order obtained against you in this action/matter and the amount for which it has been issued is stated below”.

Eze Ilomuanya had through his Counsel, Ogbonna Ajuzie of Obiora Obinawu, SAN, Chambers in Aba, Abia State, filed C M Y K

a Writ of Execution, demanding the enforcement of the Court Order made on May 26, 2014 which Eze Ohiri had allegedly refused to obey.

The Court had through Judgment Form 41 dated June 24, 2015, warned Ohiri of the contemptuous consequences of not complying with the Order of Court.

It was further gathered that soon after receiving Judgement Form

41, which served as a reminder to the existing court order, Eze Ohiri rushed to the High Court Registry and paid all the fees ordered by the court.

It would be recalled that Eze Ohiri had sometime in 2014, instituted Suit No HOW/525/ 2013, seeking the determination of the Court on who, between him and Eze Ilomuanya, is the lawful Chairman of Imo State Council of Ndi-Eze.

NCC, stakeholders disagree on call interception, licensing regulation draft

By Emmanuel Elebeke

S

TAKEHOLDERS IN the nation’s telecommunications industry yesterday openly disagreed with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC on its planned introduction of lawful interception and licensing regulations.

They argued that even though, the Commission is empowered in its Act to make regulations, such must pass through the legislative procedure to invalidate the existing laws in the constitution.

This position was canvassed at the public inquiries on the draft, Lawful Interception of

Communications (LI) Regulations and Licensing Regulations organized by the NCC. The draft LI Regulations aims to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria as well as the collection and disclosure of intercepted communications.

Also, it is expected to specify the nature and type of communications to be intercepted, penalties for noncompliance and measures to safeguard the privacy of citizens as contained and guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.

weekend in Umuahia, said that the mandate freely given to him

by Abia people through the ballot was non-negotiable, saying he was marching on with the legal action at the tribunal.

Entitled “My governorship mandate non-negotiable”, Otti described the rumoured secret talks with his opponents for a possible reconciliation as untrue and handiwork of political jobbers.

“The rumour is baseless, blatant falsehood and the wishful thinking of idle political jobbers and rumour peddlers, in their deliberate attempt to cause mischief and deceive unsuspecting members of the public.”

High disease burden in Imo — Perm Sec

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—THE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Imo State, Dr. Johnny Ihebereme, says a recent research captured the state as being among some other states of the country “ with a high disease burden”.

Dr. Ihebereme, who disclosed this in Owerri, while receiving drugs worth over N40 million from agencies, also said that the situation requires lots of resources and technical support to tackle the problem, which has claimed the lives of women and children in the state.

Dr. Ihebereme however said that government was intensifying efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat these diseases through its health facilities with the provision of qualitative, affordable and accessible drugs.

PENCOM TO S/EAST GOVS:

Enrol on contributory pension scheme

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE National Pension Commission, PENCOM, has called on states and local government areas in the South-East region to expedite action towards full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 THE rains are back with heavy flooding also staging a come-back. Nigeria over the years has battled flooding disasters across the states.

Recently, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA ) identified states and local government areas prone to flooding in Nigeria, cautioning against environmental habits that compound the disaster. These include Niger, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Heavy rainfall, severe winds, unusual high tide, tsunamis, or failure of dams, retention ponds, or other structures that retain the water are contributory factors.

Flooding can be exacerbated by increased amounts of impervious surface or by other natural hazards such as wildfires, which reduce the supply of vegetation that can absorb rainfall.

In Nigeria, floodwaters from Cameroun enter Nigeria through the Benue River, into the River Niger on its way to the sea.

In the last three decades, the impacts of flooding have increased from significant to threatening proportions, resulting in loss of lives and

Bracing For The Floods property, wreaking irreparable havoc to the citizens. This often leads to the collapse of houses, schools buildings and bridges. Market places and farmlands are submerged for weeks and sometimes are washed away. Serious flood disasters occurred in Ibadan in 1963, 1978, April 30, 1980, 1985, 1987 and 1990.

Flooding can be prevented if Nigerians take serious measures to combat it. The most basic thing about flooding in human settlements, especially urban areas, is to ensure that water is given its natural right of way on its way to the seas. Any blockage is a date with disaster in the

future. That is why town planning authorities and other specialists charged with regulating building activities must ensure that houses are not built on waterways.

Citizens must also be sensitised to refrain from dumping refuse in gutters and drainages.

Whenever the drains are de-silted, the trash should be properly disposed of, rather than being kept for the next rain to return it to the drainage. The local authorities have formed the habit of abandoning their responsibility to educate the populace and play their part in preventing human practices that aid flood disasters.

When flood disasters do occur as they are bound to do all over the world, governments should take it upon themselves to respond to the needs of victims. Those displaced from their homes must be provided with temporary shelters, while efforts are made to assist them to return to their normal livelihood as soon as possible. This is how it is done in more developed parts of the world where the welfare of the citizens are taken serious.

Law-abiding citizens who pay their taxes and vote for politicians during elections have the right to be catered for in times of need.

OPINION Open letter to President Buhari

By Chuks Iloegbunam

I

HAVE watched carefully, with high expectation, but also with a tinge of regret, certain national developments since you were sworn-in as the democratically elected President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015. People have accused your government of lethargy.

Critics have pointed to a streak of favouritism, if not nepotism, in the precious few appointments you have so far managed. Some, even of your own political party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – have openly expressed doubts as to whether the change promised to dawn with the inception of your administration is in any way remotely resembled to what is so far self-evident. None of these is of immediate concern to me here.

My interest, Mr. President, is more fundamental since it touches on the very soul of Nigerian democracy, which you solemnly promised to nurture and enhance.

It was former US President Harry S. Truman who often admonished that, “If you can’t stand the heat,get out of the kitchen.” His context was political, an arena in which blackmail, disinformation, excoriation and scaremongering aggregate as the common fare of partisanship.In that regard, any politician worth the name takes the cue and delivers as much as he receives, if not much more. In my view, however, ournation’s fight against the cankerworm of corruption should, first and foremost, be a patriotic national service, not a schedule for partisan dogfights.

Unfortunately, the indiscriminate and groundless invectives currently being spewed C M Y K

by your political apostles are in dissonance with the democratic ethos you promised Nigeria.They boil down to hysteria. And they are guaranteed to be counter-productive because they promote the fallacy that to be of service to one’s fatherland is mutually exclusive with malfeasance.

Please permit me, Mr. President, to quote a famous mantra of yours: “If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

The fight against corruption is many-pronged.

But it does not include the demonisation of the innocent. Unfortunately, some of your teammates have been on the rampage, leveling unwarranted and unsubstantiated charges against top functionaries of the administration you succeeded. For instance, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has been vitriolic in his attacks against a Minister in the Jonathan administration whose offence, so far, appears to be her agreement to serve her country of birth. Does Oshiomhole not appreciate the possibility of the truly guilty escaping justice via the highway of distraction he is busily generating by his wild apportionment of guilt with neither concrete evidence nor rudimentary trial in a court of competent jurisdiction?

I raise for your consideration,and reversal, the interminable pillorying of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the immediate past Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance by, not the wayward social media,

The focus should be on priorities

but GovernorOshiomhole and a few others associated with him. Nearly thirty years ago, the inappropriateness of lumping guilt and innocence in a single category of censure and penalty was roundly denounced in circumstances that can only remain vivid in your memory, dear Mr. President. Thefollowing is apart of President Ibrahim Babangida’s inauguration speech of August 27, 1985, the day he toppled your military junta: “While this government recognises the bitterness created by the irresponsible excesses of the politicians, we consider it unfortunate that methods of such nature as to cause more bitterness were applied to deal with past misdeeds. We must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice.

The innocent cannot suffer the crimes of the guilty.”

How can we, in all sincerity, find ourselves again at the point of reminding Your Excellency that “We must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice”? Really, how can we, especially bearing in mind your solemn declaration at your inauguration on May 29, 2015, to wit: “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.”

I crave your indulgence to briefly examine a religious aspect of the dreadful thing that is going on because, it is not at all certain that GovernorOshiomholeand his coterie have looked at all sides of everything. I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian (Catholic). But Islam is a religion I hold in high esteem. I understand that the basic principle of Sharia is that one’s testimony must be based on knowledge, clarity and trust. The Noble Quran [43:86] says ”…But only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.” The Ninth

Commandment of the Christian faith is a compelling injunction: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbour!”

Governor Oshiomhole’s smear campaign against the government of former President Jonathan may be down to personal grudge against some functionaries of that administration. His tenancy of the Edo State Government House expires in a year. When he vacates office, would the ComradeGovernor rather prefer a kind of treatment whereby, instead of examining his legacy with a sense of duty and balance, a band of critics would rise and drown out every other sound with incessant and mordant attacks on his name and person? The way things are going, it seems safe to suppose that the profession of faith is rampant among politicians who, nonetheless, consider the upholding of their religious tenets as the tiniest of concerns.

The penchant to heap every imaginable sin in the world on Dr. Okonjo-Iweala does not wash.

Many Nigerians see this as unwarranted persecution. In so far as definitions go, Coordinating Minister does not mean Supervisory Minister. Ministers in the Jonathan administration did not report to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala. Why, then, is she being asked to account for all the Ministries in the last dispensation when all others who held down ministerial portfolios are alive and available?

Anti-corruption fights often fail because people distract themselves chasing shadows. Mr. President, you should please prevent yourself from falling into this trap. The focus should be on priorities. Thank you, Mr. President, and may your administration represent a spell of God’s abundant blessings on Nigeria. * Mr. Iloegbunam, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

JULY 13, 2015

PRESENTATION - From left, Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; MD/CEO, Zenith Bank, Mr. Peter Amangbo; Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Ray Kyles and; Executive Director, Zenith Bank, Mr. Sola Oladipo, at the formal presentation of ISO Awards to the bank by the British Standards Institution in Lagos.

Nigeria lags in global outsourcing industry •Contributes just $2bn of $500bn

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

N

igeria is lagging behind in the global outsourcing industry, contributing only $2 billion out of the $500 billion the industry generates worldwide annually.

Investigation showed that globally, India is leading the pack followed

by China, Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil without the presence of any African country.

Other countries on the top 10 list C M Y K

include Indonesia, Bulgaria, Philippines, Chile and Japan. Some of the operators in the industry who spoke to Financial Vanguard, said despite the potential of outsourcing in terms of revenue generation and job creation, Nigeria is lagging behind among the comity of nation.

The Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria, AOPN president, Dr. Austin Nweze, said that outsourcing holds the key to job creation. He noted that in 2020 it is expected that outsourcing will

create a minimum of 38 million jobs globally, while the online industry

Online outsourcing alone can create about 30 million jobs

will be moving from $15 billion to $25 billion, creating 30 million jobs.

Nweze said also that of the $25 billion, Nigeria is expected to contribute at least 20 percent because of her increased number of youths, but regretted that Nigeria is lagging behind in this process.

“We have $25 billion for online outsourcing alone, at the last count the industry as a whole was close to $500billion, presently US is outsourcing to India and China and has be able to recover from the economic downturn, and US is becoming an outsourcing hub,” Nweze stated.

He said the job of the Association is advocacy - to sell the importance of outsourcing so that people would understand outsourcing more. “That is why we are advocating that government should understand outsourcing and accord it its place in the development and creation of jobs. Outsourcing can solve their problem in job creation,” he noted.

According to him, “Online outsourcing alone can create about 30 million jobs. So what the Association is trying to do is to know the contribution of outsourcing specifically. So now we have to know the amount it is contributing to the economy. We are going to carry out a study.”

Nweke who said that Nigeria is yet to come to terms with the reality of outsourcing, noted that Nigeria is still playing in the peripheral of the outsourcing business.

“Here (Nigeria) we started from the supply side, we have not started the domestic demand side, we are servicing the outsiders, the thing is that Nigerian companies have not be able to embrace outsourcing because they don’t know the value.

“If they know the value of the thing you want, you have to invest and protect that thing. So we are saying that outsourcing is the key to economic growth, it is the key to job creation, it is the key to creating wealth, for individuals and for the nation.”

“And that is why we are saying if you understand the value of

Continued on Page 18

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Cover

Vocation & TTec ec hnical echnical Education - K ey tto o Ke improving Nigeria's de ar devvelopment (P (Par artt 1)

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PRESENTATION: From left, Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Lead Consultant, Spreadout Media Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nwagwu Churchill; Executive Director, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Kayode Lawal and Managing Director/CEO, Minds Share Media Nigeria, Mr. Chudi Obiora, at the presentation of the Best Poster Award in the financial services sector by the representatives of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) to the Bank in Lagos…

Nigeria lags in global outsourcing industry Continued from Page 17 outsourcing, then you will invest in it. So we chose that theme. We want to realize the value, which country in the world, is either you are in the demand side of outsourcing or your are in the supply side, so both ways we are creating, the demand side is benefiting from the supply side, because the demand side the economics have moved, US economy for example, 70 to 80 percent service, so some other countries too that their economy have not really developed.”

On the other hand, Peter Jack, Director General,/ CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA who was represented by Dr.Sunday Folayan, a member of NITDA governing board was of the view that outsourcing is becoming a new thing in the Nigerian economy, “because talking about employment opportunity we believe that it is going to create a lot of opportunity for employment, that is the believe.”

Describing the difference between casualisation and outsourcing, Jack said outsourcing is a function instead of setting up a means of doing it, you get someone else to do it. For example, he explained; you want to make a car, car would have tyres, seats and so on, you can get a company that makes tyres to make your car tyres, get C M Y K

another company that make seats to make your seats, when those companies make those things they bring it to your factory, may be you make the engine, you combine them together, then you make a car, so we say you have outsourced the manufacturing of your tyre to another company, that is outsourcing.

"You will notice a trend in banks now. When you go to banks, some banks no longer have their staff as tellers or cashiers, they outsource job of tellers or cashiers to some other companies, some even outsource security to another company, that is outsourcing, so the moment you have a security company that handles security within your organisation, you have outsourced security to that company.

“Now this is where it gets interesting, you cannot and

Outsourcing is already growing in the sense that people build subject areas that they are very competent in

it is not elegant to already have staff to carryout functions and you wake-up to say you want to outsource that company and you don’t have determinate thing to do with those staff, what will be right is to find a way to disengage them properly and compensate them properly, but not to say we no longer want to treat you like our staff, we now want to threat you as casual labourers. People who are already staff. That is casualisation and it is not in the spirit of outsourcing.

So where the people already do it, outsourcing will strive, but if you are trying to force existing resources who are doing things in outsourced model, is a recipe for disaster. I think ultimately Nigerians will become more aware of the practice, like everything will strive for a balance, make sure things are done decently.”

He went on to say that this will now bring value to the Nigerian economy if we start outsourcing most of our jobs. "Outsourcing is already growing in the sense that people build subject areas that they are very competent in, and you will find out that others who want to do things would yield to them.

“If you want to make computers, for example, you don’t start by manufacturing mother boards, you go to China or

Continued on Page 19

echnical education is a planned programme of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options, supports basic academic and life skills, and enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership, preparation for industry-defined work, and advanced and continuing education.

Vocational education and training prepares learners for careers that are based in manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic and totally related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. In other words, it is an “education designed to develop occupational skills.” Vocational and technical education gives individuals the skills to “live, learn and work as a productive citizen in a global society.”

Technical and vocational education has been an integral part of national development strategies in many societies because of its impact on productivity and economic development.

Despite its contributions the leaders of Nigeria have not given this aspect of education the attention it deserves, and this is one of the reasons for the nation’s underdevelopment. This article focuses on the dearth of skilled technical and vocational manpower in Nigeria and argues that technical and vocational education holds the key to national development.

Every facet of the economy has been affected by lack of skilled technicians. The financial sector lacks technicians to regulate the banks and to develop financial software to properly tackle the rising fraudulent activities in the banking sector. Without security, development is impossible in a society; no nation can sustain its democracy if the citizens lack confidence in the police.

The police violate the citizens’ human and civil rights and lack forensic laboratory and fingerprint

technicians to conduct criminal investigations. And due to poor training, military officers are known to beat up the citizens who challenge their powers and go scot free for their inhumane actions.

The danger posed by environmental pollution and fake drugs is alarming. The less educated in the society lack the skill to manage AIDS, cancer and diabetes among other serious health problems. One wonders what the nation’s health minister and the 36 state health commissioners are doing to tackle these issues. Every good citizen is aware that the neglect of technical and vocational education is socially and economically injurious, because it is robbing the nation of the contributions the graduates would make on national development. For that Nigeria is today wearing the toga of a poor state.

Although technical and vocational education seem deficient in ‘citizenship or leadership training’ (Friedman 1982). It provides students with “life skills to become productive entrepreneurs as it engenders creative and innovative ideas, enlarge the economic pie, and increase personal freedom. Most of the so-called “expatriate engineers” who are being paid millions of dollars to build Nigeria’s roads and bridges are graduates of technical and vocational colleges. Yet the leaders do not take technical institutions seriously.

Nigeria’s current preoccupation with university education reduces economic opportunities of those who are more oriented toward work than academic.

Not everyone needs a university education.

Awarding licenses to greedy organizations and individuals to establish private universities that are not even as equipped as some of the technical and vocational schools in the United States and other advanced nations cannot develop the society.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 19

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently excluded some goods being imported into the country from the list of items valid for foreign exchange in the Nigerian foreign exchange markets. The implication of this is that those who import these items can no longer buy foreign currency from banks, bureaux de change or any other official source to pay overseas suppliers of such goods.

Instead, they have to source their foreign exchange from outside the banks and bureaux de change. These items are not banned but importers cannot access There are a lot of bamboo are wasted, and farmers are foreign exchange from stick all over Nigeria that can falling deeper into poverty Nigerian banks. be used to produce tookpick if while policy makers export The CBN came to the it is so important to Nigerians. their jobs and income to ricedecision as a result of the The sad thing is that instead producing countries? Besides, continued pressure on the of Nigerians to stand solidly these rice importers are tax Naira exchange rate. The behind the monetary authority evaders who use their decision of the apex bank has to call the bluff of western connection with politicians to not gone down well with many interests against Nigeria, shortchange the nation through importers and their foreign many are supporting and waivers and concessions. interests that want the Naira sponsoring publications Nigeria must do everything it to further lose value. Some of against the restriction of can to protect the jobs and the items in question are access to foreign exchange. incomes of local farmers and products that abound in The pressure on the Naira at boost local production using Nigeria. Nigerians are able the foreign exchange market some of the same principles to produce enough of these might continue to mount and Western economies use to items to service the economy. see further depreciation in justify the protection of their Even those not being value of the Naira if stern farmers through huge produced locally are not measures are not applied. The subsidies. essential products that the naira is already exchanging at Nigerians must know that the nation cannot do without.

N350 to the pound and N230 country cannot attain its full The restriction has started to the dollar. Unfortunately, potentials by importing yielding results as Nigeria’s western economists want anything and everything. Since foreign exchange reserves Nigeria to further devalue the the introduction of Structural has risen sharply to $31.89 naira knowing too well that Adjustment Programme by the billion from its previous the country is importbalance of $29.1 billion as at dependent and devaluation last week. will further impoverish the It is common knowledge citizenry. that Nigerian farmers are At the current exchange rate, producing substantial paddy no local industry will survive rice but the nation continued and the economy will worsen to spend billions of dollars because Nigerian economy is every year importing rice. It not export driven. Devaluation is also common knowledge of a currency is profitable to that palm kernel/palm oil only an export-driven abound in Nigeria, yet, economy. The Nigerian Nigerians are importing economy has to be made to be same. The most ridiculous of productive and a hard these imported items are decision has to be taken to Indian incense, wood particle change the economy ’s boards and panels, plywood structure, resuscitate local boards and panels, wooden manufacturing and expand doors, toothpicks, tomatoes/ job creation for Nigerians. tomato paste. Every year, Why should Nigeria keep tonnes of tomatoes grown in allocating scarce foreign the north go waste because exchange to rice importers of lack of local patronage. when huge amounts of paddy Besides, it is a thing of shame rice of comparable quality that a Nigerian businessman produced by poor will go to China and all he hardworking local farmers can import is tookpick. across the rice belts of Nigeria

Nigerians: Time now to decide what not to import

The pressure on the Naira at the foreign exchange market might continue to mount and see further depreciation in value of the naira if stern measures are not applied

Babangida military junta, the devaluation of the Naira has been pursued with the hope that the economy will be better off but that has not been the case. The introduction of SAP saw the massive devaluation of the local currency and the enthronement of a free float for the Naira. At inception of the famous deregulation of the foreign exchange market, the CBN introduced three-tier foreign exchange markets.

There was the first tier market which was the official rate at which the government bought foreign exchange from the CBN. There was the second tier market where the private sector and other individuals were sourcing their foreign exchange requirement from.

The third was the autonomous foreign exchange market where exporters put the proceeds of their exports and sell same at their own determined rate.

However, there existed and still exists a parallel market where un-licensed individuals hawk foreign exchange along major streets in Nigeria and even in mosques. The rates that ruled these markets were never the same. In fact, there have been multiple exchange rates in the economy since deregulation. This gave room for foreign exchange speculations that resulted in excess demand for foreign exchange. Nigerians, banks and others have been hedging against depreciation ever since. Today, the demand is high because those who have the resources are buying dollars for keeps in anticipation of possible

devaluation of the Naira as a result of declining oil prices.

In fact, the Nigerian economy has been dollarized with local prices quoted in dollars.

In economics, there is what is regarded as shadow price of a given commodity. The shadow price usually is the price that is envisaged if the product were allowed to find its true value in a free market setting. As a result of the shadow price of the naira, the international business community always agitate that the currency was over-valued and that the true exchange rate of the naira is the parallel market rate.

Following this argument, Nigeria has continued to adjust the currency from N2.02 to the dollar in 1986 to N230 today. In 1987, the exchange rate was N4.02 to the dollar and in 1988, it had moved along the parallel market rate of N4.54. The economy was still on its knees as the exchange rate moved further in 1989 to N7.39 and in 1993, the two markets were merged at N22.05 to the dollar. By the turn of the century in 2000, the exchange rate was N102.10 to the dollar. By 2002, the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar was N121 and in 2004, the rate had peaked at N133. Today, the Naira is exchanging in the inter-bank market at N230 to the dollar.

The handling of the exchange rate in the past had been questionable. Nigerians must come to grips with reality and stop frivolous importation.

Nigeria cannot continue to devalue its currency to satisfy few selfish interests.

Cover

Nigeria lags in global outsourcing industry Continued from Page 18 India for companies that are already manufacturing boards, even those companies who make those things, do not make everything. People that make screens specialise in screens, those that make keyboard specialise in keyboard. So you get from all the sources and assemble. So as someone

who wants to do something, you outsource all the parts to other people to do.

On whether if it’s being practiced in Nigeria, he was of the affirmative; “It’s already being practiced in Nigeria. We don’t just get to recognise it as outsourcing.

I mean if you want to build a house today, you get a builder who builds it. You get a carpenter who does the furnishing; you get a draper

to do your curtain, which is outsourcing. It’s not more complex than that. It is already something we are doing, we just need to put in more structure, and put it in a more definite form.”

On whether there are policies to this effect, he quipped; “Of course, there are policies, “NITDA is working very hard to show the roadmap and working with associations like the AOPN is

a right logical step to let the policies work for the people.”

Accordingly, in another development, global Information Technology, IT outsourcing (ITO) services in 2012 reached $251.7 billion, a 2.1 percent increase from 2011 spending of $246.6 billion.

Also according to the latest outlook by Gartner Inc. European sovereign debt crisis and economic volatility

in the US are the major reasons Year on Year growth fell to 2 percent from 8 percent in 2011.

Businesses in Europe and US then slashed their IT spends and budgets and most of the Indian outsourcing vendors hinted that clients spending and budgets will either remain flat or will be cut down in 2013.

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20— Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Business & Economy

6 ships with petrol, foods arrive Lagos

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ix ships laden with petrol, diesel and bulk rice are waiting to berth in Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) disclosed this in its daily publication- Shipping Position - made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.

The document reported that 29 other ships were expected at the ports from July 9 to July 20. The expected ships are laden with base oil, general cargo, buck wheat, frozen fish, bulk salt, crude palm olein, bulk sugar, container and crude palm oil.

The document indicated that other ships were coming in with petrol, kerosene, diesel, bulk sugar and bulk malt. NPA also reported that 22 ships were already in the ports discharging buck wheat, base oil, bulk soya, general cargo, bulk rice, fresh fish, containers, petrol, diesel, and gypsum.

Electricity in rural areas'll enhance agric growth, says NERC

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hairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi said on Thursday that availability electricity in the rural areas would enhance the growth of the agriculture sector. Amadi said in Abuja that with rural electrification, modular powers could be created in the rural areas to enable farmers to preserve their surplus farm produce.

He said crops such as maize could be stored in local silos powered by light for longer periods. He said, “With rural electrification, you can create modular powers, small powers not to the grid, whether using sunlight, or other renewables to create small light that can power those communities before the national grid comes to them,“ he said.

According to him, it will not be realistic for people in the rural areas to wait for the national grid to get to all parts of the country before they can engage in agric business.

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Nigerians in Diaspora remit N10.35trn in 4 years

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he Nigerians in D i a s p o r a organisation (NIDO) said its members remitted about $63.17 billion (N10.35 trillion) into the country between 2011 and June 2014. Dr George Manuwuike, the Chairman Board of Trustees of NIDO, stated this in Abuja during a news conference on the Diaspora Day 2015 scheduled to hold from July

23 to July 27 in Abuja.

Manuwuike said that the Diaspora remittance was second only to oil and gas revenue as the highest foreign exchange injection to the Nigerian economy.

“As the umbrella organisation of Diaspora Nigerians, we are proud to associate with the phenomenal amount that Nigerians living abroad have been bringing to the national

economy. Recently, the World Bank reported that between 2011 to June 2014, Nigerians in the Diaspora had remitted about 63.17 billion dollars (N10.35 trillion) into the country.

“In terms of remittance from her citizens living abroad, Nigeria was ranked five globally next to China, India, Philippines and Mexico,” he said.

The chairman said that

BRIEFING: From Left: Dr Osaren Emokpae, Chairman, Havilah Open Door Limited, Mr Amuzie Akpaka, Deputy Vice Chairman, Havilah Open Door Limited, and Mr Friday Ngbodi, Group Deputy Managinig Director, Havilah Open Door Limited, During the Press Briefing to Mark 15th Year Anniverssary Celebration of Havilah Open Door Limited, A Marketing Communications and Industrial Security, in Lagos. Photo by: Kehinde Gbadamosi

NIDO, since its inception in 2000 had served as forum for Nigerian Diaspora networking and advocacy. He said that it had organised tens of trade and investment conferences that brought together Nigerians and foreign investors for dialogue opportunities for technological, educational, industrial and other forms of investment in Nigeria and others. He said that NIDO intended to reverse and convert the “brain-drain” the country had suffered for so long into “‘brain-gain”.

“NIDO plans to ramp up its engagement in Nigeria to ensure that its mission and goals are achieved, and impact of its actions are felt by both government and the Nigerian masses. It is for this and other purposes that a structure of NIDO has recently been registered here in Abuja as a Non Governmental Organisation.

We believed that this action will instil confidence in NIDO as a partner with all our citizens and government at all levels,” he said. He said that the organisation wanted to use this year Diaspora Day to raise funds for a number of projects that were proposed for the benefit of Nigerian people.

OPS wants takeoff of SMEs Development Bank

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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anufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture arms of the Organised Private Sector, OPS, have called for the take off of the SMEs Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) without further delay.

Vanguard learned that since the Bank with $1 billion capital base was inaugurated last year by the Federal Government to cater for the credit needs of manufacturers in the micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sectors of the economy, it has neither office nor Board of directors.

Dr. Frank Jacobs, President, MAN, said it was high time for government to revisit it and make it to function like the Bank of Agriculture, BOA, and Bank of Industry, BOI.

Chief Bassey Edem, National President, NACCIMA also said: “The take-off should not be delay considering the importance of the bank.

According to him, the establishment of the development bank for SMEs is long overdue and a step in right direction as long as

The bank will assist small scale business owners to access funds for a longer tenure of between five to seven years.

government ensures that the set objectives are achieved.

The NACCIMA boss said that the capital base for the bank should be measurable to global standard of such a bank and must be able to give facilities to SMEs at a single digit interest rate for it to have the desired impact on both the citizenry and the national economy.

“The bank when operational will not duplicate the role of BoI, rather it is complementing it, enhancing the economic agenda of government and making access to funds by small entrepreneurs less stressful,” he stated.

Recall that the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, had during the launch of the Development Bank of Nigeria, said when it is on ground, the bank will help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access

funding for a longer period of time, something they have never being able to do.

“The bank will assist small scale business owners to access funds for a longer tenure of between five to seven years. She noted that many people with business ideas could not access funds and in cases where they are fortunate to access funds they will be asked to start paying back after a year knowing well that businesses take between two to three years to stabilize, lamenting that many business owners have not been able to march the timing of the loan they get with the timing of their investments,” she stated.

Reacting to the development, Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director BOI, said: “DBN is welcome; it has been launched. I don’t think they have any office yet and I am not aware of any MD appointment. Again, we keep our fingers crossed.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 21

Business & Economy

MEETING - From Left: Dr Christopher Kolade,Chairman of Occasion, Dr Chris Ogbechie,Guest Speaker,Mr Victor Odiase, Disscusant and Dr Nosike Agokei, Past President ICSAN at the Institute of Chartered Secretary and Administrator (ICSAN) roundtable meeting on corporate governance at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island Lagos. Photo by: Biodun Ogunleye

Capital market appoints dematerialisation project manager

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he capital market operators h a v e appointed a renowned Nigerian consulting firm to guide the implementation of the much-awaited dematerialisation of the nation’s portfolio investments. Capital market sources said) in Lagos that the firm would act as project manager for the full dematerialisation of the market.

Dematerialisation is the process of replacing paper certificates with electronic records at the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS). They said that the project manager would also guide the implementation of direct payment to clients and the mass trading system proposed by the market operators.

“We, the stakeholders in the market, have come together to appoint a project manager that will guide and coordinate the implementation process of various initiatives in the market,” they said.

The market operators said that the plan of the current management of the commission was to ensure implementation of the various initiatives of CMC in the past five years.

According to one of the sources, the consulting firm would work closely with a technical committee appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure smooth transition.

He said that the report of the demateralisation committee had been with SEC for five years. He stressed that the commission’s present

management remains committed to the market full implementation of the materialisation project. Mr Mounir Gwarzo, SEC Director-General, had at the first Capital Market

Committee (CMC) meeting in the year, pledged that the final blueprint of the dematerialisation document would be ready in July.

He said that the commission would at the second quarter

CMC release the final blueprint of the dematerialisation for effective implementation. The directorgeneral said that the blueprint would address legacy issues that had affected dematerialisation exercise.

“The CMC dematerialisation committee submitted extensive report, we are now talking of implementation and we have set up a technical committee to handle it,” Gwarzo said.

He said that the report of the technical committee, comprising the Nigerian Stock Exchange, registrars, SEC and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), would be out by the next CMC meeting.

The acting director-general said that the major aim of the technical committee was to drive dematerialisation implementation. He said that the CMC was working to ensure that funds from transactions would be credited directly into investors’ accounts, rather than through the stockbrokers. “One area that we also think will encourage investors greatly is the area of direct payment where if a client gives his shares to be sold, the proceeds would be credited into his account directly,” he said.

Zenith Bank records another first with three BIS certifications

By Babajide Komolafe

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enith Bank has become the first company in Nigeria to achieve at once three certifications from British Standards Institution (BSI).

Last week the bank achieved the BIS certifications for Information Security Management System ISO/IEC 27001:20013, IT Service Management System ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 and Business Continuity Management System, ISO 22301:2012.

In a ceremony in Lagos, the certificates were awarded to the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia and the CEO, Peter Amamgbo by British Standards Institution (BSI) from the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr Mike Purves. A number of high ranking executives, officials and employees also attended the ceremony from Zenith Bank and Global Info Swift.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank remarked: “Our commitment to these internationally accepted standards stems from a resolve to deepen customer experience through greater information security, an efficient IT management system and a robust business

continuity plan that emphasizes the protection of the customers and their investments in an increasingly unpredictable business environment.

Certification to these three standards is strong proof of the bank’s commitment to implement policies and practices that meet globally recognized standards.”

The Chief Executive officer, Mr Peter Amamgbo commented that “Zenith Bank is proud to have achieved this milestone, technology is at the core of our business strategy in order to meet the needs of our customers. For us, the customer is the reason we are in business, therefore it is essential that we deliver exceptional customer services. Certification to these standards will assist us in doing this.

He said, “Today is a landmark occasion. Landmark, not just because Zenith Bank is being awarded, but today is actually a special journey for me. We are talking of a three in one award and this is the first time in the history of this country that any institution at all, whether financial

institution, manufacturing or service industry would be having these three certifications at the same time.

“I want to say that the award itself comes with a lot of responsibilities. It challenges us further to ensure that we keep to the tenets of the awards and I want to assure the BSI and all those present here today that the management and board of Zenith Bank is absolutely committed to continue to support this initiative and we would continue to give our support to ensure that this bank gains other certifications. We should not rest on our oars. We would also ensure that the award and all what it stands for is engraved in our DNA." He further added that “becoming certified to these three standards provides evidence in our efforts to comply with local and international regulations relating to data protection, privacy and IT governance.

"We hope through implementing ISO/IEC 27001, it will give greater confidence to our customers," he said.

Medview Airline begins flight operations into Maiduguri airport

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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EDVIEW Airline began flight operations into the Maiduguri airport last weekend following the opening of the airport to flight operations.

Disclosing this development to newsmen, Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said that the airline will commence four weekly flights beginning from Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

He said that commencing the flight will help reduce the long hours of stress on the road which the people of that region go through to get in and out of Maiduguri and further commended Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State for calling on investors to return to the state as there was now relative peace in the region.

“Our decision to commence flights to Maiduguri was informed by the need to link up the people of this region to other parts of the country,” Alhaji Bankole said.

According to him, the four flights from Lagos to Maiduguri will be routed via Abuja.

“With Maiduguri, Kano and Kaduna on its schedule, Medview Airline now flies to eight destinations, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola and Enugu on domestic routes and Accra on the regional route. Abidjan, Cote de’ Voire and Conakry, Guinea will soon join the Medview network” he said. It will be recalled that Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have given a go ahead to Medview Airline to operate into Maiduguri airport, which has been closed to commercial flights due to activities of insurgents.

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Banking & Finance

FG vs Obasi: Hearing rescheduled to Sept 30

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he arraignment of factional president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Lawson Obasi and three others over alleged breaking and robbery was rescheduled to September 30th due to the absence of the judge.

Obasi, who is accused alongside Ukadike Chinedu, Augustine Erhabor and Andrew Ashiga, who is said to be at large, could not take their plea as the judge Abba Bello Mohammed was said to be indisposed.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Diri had in March filed the six-count charge before the FCT High Court, Jabi, Abuja.

The accused IPMAN members were alleged to have on April 14, 2014 armed with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, wood, iron rod, and knives violently entered the premises of IPMAN located at No 41 Gnassigbe Eyadema Street, Asokoro Abuja.

They were further alleged to have attacked the

Associated Discount House migrates to Finacle 10

BY EMKA AGINAM

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n a bid to improve efficiency and improve customer experience, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG ) has powered the successful migration of Associated Discount House banking services to Finacle 10 core banking application Finacle core banking solutions were designed to help financial institutions improve their business processes as well as defend them against systemic fraud.

The solutions provide a comprehensive, integrated, yet modular and agile approach to core banking that addresses banks’ sophisticated needs in easyto -configure modules that solve their unique problems while providing highperformance infrastructure that scales with their needs.

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PRESENTATION - MD/CEO, NDIC Alh. Umaru Ibrahim (2nd Right) welcoming the World Bank team of Jan Philipp Nolte (3rd Left), John O'keete (4th Left) and Julian Casal (1st Right) to the NDIC Head Office, Abuja for a formal presentation of NDIC’s Target Fund Ratio Framework while the Corporation’s Director Research, Dr Ade Afolabi and Executive Director (Corporate Services), Mrs Omolola Abiola-Edewor watch.

ABCON laments over-regulation of bureaux de change •Calls for BDC directorate in CBN

BY BABajide komolafe

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ssociation of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has lamented the overregulation of bureaux de change.

The Association, in a letter to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said, “We wish also to inform you of the increasing challenges arising from over regulation and complex d o c u m e n t a t i o n requirements that licensed BDC operators are facing in carrying out their daily legitimate operation. These also have had negative impact on their efforts toward compliance to statutory and regulatory requirements.

Signed by the by the Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the letter stated further, “The various departments of the CBN which includes TED, OFISD, FPRD, IT, BOD and the BOP among others are involved with BDC regulations, supervision, licensing, monitoring etc.

This in our understanding constitutes multiple regulation of a unit of the financial sub-sector that is only involved as a small market player.

“A BDC operator is expected to render daily, monthly, quarterly, half yearly and annual returns to these various

departments of the same corporate body, which could be very cumbersome, repetitive and time consuming for both the operator and the regulator.

In addition to the above mentioned reports, the BDC is also under obligation to render same returns to the EFCC/NFIU, while at the same time reporting to other statutory government establishments as the FIRS

and CAC respectively.”

The Association also complained about the high penalties imposed on BDCs for infractions, complex d o c u m e n t a t i o n requirements, low network on EFASS platform and limited scope of operation.

Consequently the Association appealed to the CBN Governor for harmonization of all the various regulatory

department of the CBN and the NFIU. “We suggest a single BDC directorate at the CBN to be in charge of the BDC sub-sector in order to enhance efficiency, productivity and transparency. This would engender proactive involvement of both the regulators and the BDCs for the growth and dynamism of the sector”, it said.

ABCON also called on the, “CBN to convene a stakeholders’ forum for the review of extant infractions so as to have a workable, harmless penalty regime acceptable to all.

It also called for replacement of the present e-FASS platforms with a more convenient and office friendly platform that will allow the use of emails in the rendition of BDC returns to CBN. The Association also proposed the following that, “Other measures proposed by the Association The CBN to consider as alternative requirement other means of identification such as drivers licence, voters card, international passport etc; We urge the CBN to fulfill its promise of allowing the BDCs participation in the inward transfers like home remittances of Nigerians in Diaspora; “BDC denominated dollar cards and coupons. The CBN should consider the introduction of dollar denominated cards and coupons to BDCs for retailing to the public.

BVN Extension: CeBIH advocates prompt enrolment by customers

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ommittee of E-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH) has called on bank customers to take advantage of the deadline extension and promptly enroll for the Biometric Verification Number (BVN).

CeBIH Chairman, Mr. Tunde Kuponiyi made this call while commenting on the extension of the deadline for enrolment for the BVN. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on June 30 th had announced a four month extension till October 31st 2015 for bank customers to enroll for the BVN. “We are calling on customers to visit their banks and promptly enroll for the BVN”, he said.

Kuponiyi noted that the purpose of the extension is to allow customers enough time to enroll irrespective of where they are based. “The extension presents ample opportunity for bank customers to do their enrolment without the challenge of spending hours on queues as experienced few days to the end of the initial deadline”, he said.

“The four months extension seems a long period, but customers should not delay or postpone their enrolment - it is better to do it now. Customers should not wait a few days to October 31 st to avoid last minute registration rush and avoid spending hours

in banking halls. They should also remember that they can enroll for their BVN from any branch of their bank, hence there is no need to wait till when you can visit the branch where the account is domiciled”, he said.

Listing the benefits of the initiative, Kuponiyi noted that the BVN affords customers the opportunity to register their biometric data against their bank accounts to protect their funds against fraudulent and unauthorised access.

“The BVN protects customer bank accounts from unauthorized access, as biometric information is not easily manipulated. It also increases the efficiency of the banking industry as it reduces incidence of fraudulent/duplicate bank accounts, and easily highlights blacklisted customers. Furthermore, full integration of BVN provides standardized efficiency of banking operation. This means that all banking operations will be verified using the same method, reducing cases of human error or inconsistency. In addition to these, the implementation of BVN means transaction authentication without the use of cards, but instead using only biometrics and a PIN”, he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 23

Banking & Finance

Banks and Nigeria’s $14bn infrastructure challenge

By Babajide Komolafe

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mong other things, Nigeria’s economic development is confronted with the challenge of huge infrastructure deficit.

According to the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) Report for 2011, the country requires sustained spending of $14.2 billion per annum over the next decade in order to address the infrastructure challenge. Furthermore, it is estimated that Nigeria needs N10.63 trillion ($67 billion) for road upgrades, bridge repairs, the energy sector, hospitals and schools.

The above scenario, as experts have surmised, clearly shows that as a result of the huge funding requirement for present and future infrastructural development and its attendant impact on survival and growth of businesses in Nigeria, traditional funding methods can no longer suffice as the traditional fund providers, different levels of government, do not have such resources at their disposal.

Consequently, Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are being adopted to meet the funding challenge.

In Nigeria, PFI and PPP are relatively new models for public project finance and commercial banks remain the formal source of finance for driving PFI among enterprises. Of course, banks have three social and economic functions: to collect and secure savings and other deposits; to finance the economy by handing out credits; and to facilitate payments and to transfer funds. Their role is to reduce the gap between supply (the money deposited and potentially available) and demand (the money needed for investment) that exists between idle money and productive investment.

In recent time, an increasing number of socioeconomic projects bothering on infrastructural and natural resources rejuvenation and business growth and expansion initiatives have been developed and financed through equity and medium

Ifie Sekibo, MD/CEO Heritage Bank to long term loan packages by commercial banks. In the last half decade, leading banks like First Bank, GTBank and Zenith have continued to make strong mark the area of project financing.

However, a quick look at the country ’s project financing market shows commendable influence being exerted by a few new players, who ordinarily, would have been considered as greenhorns without the required skill, stamina and wizardry to play in the intricate game of project financing. Leading in this wise is Heritage Bank, which entered the market about Twenty Four months ago.

Since its foray into the Nigerian, financial sector, Heritage Bank has played a pivotal and leading role in the equity and project financing market, arranging in excess of $2 billion of debt facilities either as lead or sole financier or financial adviser.

The field of engagement has equally been diversified; covering economic sectors such as MSME, Entertainment & Arts, Education, Oil & Gas, Aviation & Haulage and Public Sector.

For instance, the bank has midwived over $100 Million in funding for a variety of transactions in the film and entertainment industry from 2013 to date.

These include Bloomberg TV Africa (the Pan African TV by Bloomberg LLP), Free-to-Air TV Broadcast Rights in

Nigeria for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, HIP TV (a Pan African TV Music Channel broadcast on satellite TV which was funded from scratch) and a variety of other investments spanning content, platforms and production.

Also, the innovative multibillion naira MSME Investment Protection Fund (InPF), which is a noncollateralized funding option with embedded insurance to address the default risk inherent in the SME Finance scheme, remains a strong differentiating indicator of the Heritage Bank approach to SME funding in the country.

However, the recent

An increasing number of socioeconomic projects bothering on infrastructural and natural resources rejuvenation and business growth and expansion initiatives have been developed and financed through equity and medium to long term loan packages by commercial banks

successful finance of Forte Oil Plc’s acquisition of 100 brand new Mercedes Benz product delivery trucks for haulage, logistics and product transportation across the Country as well as the Project Finance Facility to PIPP LVI GENCO to set up a 6.5MegaWatts Captive Power Generating Plant and a 25km Distribution Network to power Public Utilities in Lekki, V/I and Ikoyi represent giant strides by the relatively young Heritage Bank which had already financed similar and bigger projects in Port Harcourt and Abuja in deals worth several billions of naira in the last twelve months.

Speaking on the significance of Heritage Bank’s project finance initiatives, Executive Director, Manila Banking, Niyi Adeseun noted that, “For us at Heritage Bank, our core business philosophy as a timeless wealth partner to our customers is captured in our mission to create, transfer and preserve wealth. Our support efforts through project financing in the various sectors of the economy is one of the platforms that underscore our resolve and readiness to make a mark in the financial sector as a major pivot of s o c i o - e c o n o m i c transformation of our country” Continuing, he explained, “For instance, in the Oil and Gas industry, our interventions span the downstream sector areas of product importation, supply, engineering and many more while we are also gradually getting really involved in the upstream as well. We have financed a few of such projects in Port Harcourt and we have a couple of them also in Abuja”.

In a testimonial, Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Akin Akinfemiwa lauded Heritage Bank on its project financing portfolio.

According to him, “We appreciate the strategic role of Heritage Bank in financing the acquisition of our latest 100 world-class product delivery trucks which, to us, is a very strategic investment that will substantially increase our capacity to grow our revenue and profitability and ultimately maximize value for our stakeholders”.

It is indeed very clear that due to Nigeria’s rich entrepreneurial culture, its dynamic economic landscape is characterized by a high level of local and international trade which has continued to witness growth over the years.

Sterling Bank finances N50m tractors for TOHFAN

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etermined to sustain its stronghold in the agriculture finance space which earned it two awards; the Best Bank in Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) and “Agric Bank of the Year 2014 in Nigeria” in the last one year, Sterling Bank Plc has financed the purchase of tractors for members of the Tractors Owners and Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN). The cost of the tractors is put at N50 million.

Sterling Bank finances the purchase / acquisition of tractors from reputable tractor manufacturers like Massey Ferguson, Mahindra, New Holland, John Deere and Tak tractors who will also provide basic training on utilisation and offer after sales maintenance services.

The tractors which have been distributed to members of the Association following the first disbursement would help in the adoption of mechanized agriculture, leading to additional hectare coverage, higher yields and enhance food security in the country. The Bank in a statement noted that its involvement in the agricultural sector was based on the need to reposition the sector as the main stay of the economy especially so, with the dwindling revenue from oil.

The Bank explained further: “Sterling Bank Plc has continually restated its commitment to the strategic growth of the agricultural sector by providing adequate funding in alignment with the ongoing reforms in the sector aimed at repositioning it as an attractive business proposition, an input provider for the manufacturing sector and a key foreign exchange earner.

“The best bank in Agric Award was conferred on the Bank in recognition of its critical role in the dispensing of financial services to actors in the Nigerian agricultural value chain. This we have demonstrated again with the financing of the tractors which will add value to the sector ” The National Treasurer of the Association, Abdullahi Lawal, who also confirmed the development commended the Bank for supporting the Association and said that it would go a long way in improving the output of the beneficiaries.

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Corporate Finance

RECAPITALISATION: UK regulator says capital levels at insurers “appropriate”

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ritain will not use new EU insurance rules to force the sector to top up on capital as the system already has an appropriate amount, the country’s top insurance regulator has said.

The new EU capital rules for insurers, known as Solvency II, take effect in January.

“I have heard from some a concern that we will use Solvency II to increase levels of capitalisation across the sector, or that we are seeking to load the sector with more capital now so that it is baked into the new regime once operational,” said Sam Woods, executive director of insurance supervision at the Bank of England.

“Let me state very simply: there is no such plan within the Bank of England. The reason for this is also simple: we think that our current regime secures an appropriate level of capitalisation for the insurance sector and puts us in a good position to make the shift to Solvency II,” he told a conference.

REIT rate hike fallout fears may be overdone

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fter a meteoric rise in 2014, shares in many real estate investment trusts (REITs) have crashed back to earth this year as the market braces for a U.S. interest rate hike, but the reversal in sentiment may have gone too far. REIT shares peaked at the end of January, and have fallen 12.3 percent since on fears that the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate hike in years could hurt the sector. Rising rates increase the costs for REITs that have to borrow heavily for new investments. Furthermore, yield-hungry investors who buy REITs for their high dividends during times of low bond yields often abandon them once bond yields start to rise.

But not all REITs suffer equally when rates fall, and a broad selloff may be a “kneejerk reaction,” said Jim Sullivan, managing director at Green Street Advisors, a Newport Beach, California research firm specializing in REITs.

We're working with regulators, stakeholders for smooth process — ABE

By PETETR EGWUATU

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r. Oluwaseyi E. Abe, is the a c t i n g President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS. In this interview, he spoke on the activities of the institute as well as happenings in the capital market, among other things.

Excerpts: The CIS has been playing a pivotal role in the engagement with the capital market regulators on the issue of recapitalisation of market operators. SEC has stated that September 2015 deadline remains sacrosanct?

What is your view?

We are really working in collaboration with regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that the exercise is smooth. We succeeded in securing an extension of the recapitalization deadline. We are still at the fore front of engagements with the regulators to ensure that the interest of operators is protected. It will be preemptive to go beyond this information for now. But we are getting on well with the regulators.

There is the problem of negative reaction to the capital market as a fall out 2008 meltdown. What strategy is being put in place by the market operators to woo back investors into the market?

It is a multi-faceted approach: first, the investors must be educated and informed that our market has recovered, and that current price swings are normal.

Second, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE must fashion out a policy that encourages the licensing of more stockbroking firms to operate in the remote states and towns. Third, corporate governance at all levels must be significantly enhanced.

Fourth, the government also has a role to play in providing liquidity to stabilise the market. Finally, efforts should be stepped up to revitalise the primary market and promote new listings of local and foreign firms.

What is the institute’s major request from the new administration of President Mohammed Buhari?

Some of the issues we would want the new administration to give priority attention to include: Financing of major

•Oluwaseyi E.Abe government projects, such as instance infrastructure, through the capital market, thereby moving from a largely bank-based to a capital market - based financing model; Supporting capacity building initiatives by funding appropriate professional groups such as CIS to carry out the task; Provision of a

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE must fashion out a policy that encourages the licensing of more stockbroking firms to operate in the remote states and towns

buffer stabilization funding arrangement for the capital market. This can be done through AMCON, for instance; Putting in place policies aimed at channeling more savings to investment in the capital market. For instance the federal government should encourage Pension Funds, through PENCOM, to invest more in the stock market; Provision of appropriate incentives and legislation for companies to list; especially those in the major sectors of the economy; Consideration of the potential impact on the capital market whenever economic policies are formulated.

Any other comment for the investing public?

The public should be assured that the Nigerian capital market has fully recovered and it’s on the path of surpassing the previous high points.

Domestic investors should therefore take advantage of emerging opportunities.

However, investors need quality advice from qualified professionals. They must patronize only licensed stockbrokers that are eligible to trade. Investors must avoid patronizing quacks and when they are in doubt of the status of a stockbroking firm or a stockbroker, they can contact the institute for assistance. For the teeming young Nigerians who wish to become finance and investment professionals, the time to take action is now.

CIS certifications will open doors of opportunity to you, as they are some of the most attractive in the country, especially now that activities in the capital market are booming once more.

You presided over the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) on April 30, 2015. What were the remote and immediate circumstances that led to the development?

The remote circumstances, if you want it that way was that our President, Mr. Albert Okumagba stepped aside due to issues relating to the oversight function of SEC as the apex regulator in the Capital Market on BGL, where he was Group MD/ CEO. In view of this development, the Council met and unanimously agreed that I stepped into his shoe immediately to prevent a vacuum. This is in line with our structure and the provisions of our Act. Recall that this was announced at the said AGM and in line with our openness, effective and professional communication procedure.

The Institute also issued a Press Statement to the media, I am sure you are aware to forestall speculative reporting of the matter.

Could you relate the development to the relevant rules guiding the operations of the CIS? Thank you. This question is similar to my earlier explanations. Our Institute has a clear structure for succession. Our rules provide that if the President cannot act for any reason, the First Vice President steps in. It is straight forward, and absolutely consistent with our procedures. That is exactly what happened.

At the AGM, it was announced that CIS has moved from losses spanning six years to profit.

What are the critical success factors and how will these be sustained?

When our team led by Albert E. Okumagba took over the mantle of leadership in 2014, we put in place clear strategies designed to reposition the Institute. This achieved results in the following areas – debt recovery, higher income from self-financing activities, efficient cost management and control and support from other organisations that share our vision. Our Institute has what it takes to be at the commanding height at the global level of professional organisations and we shall continue to explore more opportunities through without losing focus.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 25

Corporate Finance

NSE creates Pension 40 Index to boost market performance

By PETER EGWUATU

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has created NSE Pension 40 Index as part of key initiatives to drive market optimisation.

The NSE Pension Index conforms with the requirements of the Pension industry as specified in the Pension Reform Act 2014 (as amended) and Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets as prepared and amended by the National Pension Commission.

The new index provides tracking mechanism for PFAs, CPFA, Fund Managers and others that Invest in accordance with the PENCOM guidelines.

It can also act as a benchmark for measuring performance and reporting performance to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders.

Commenting on the new Index, Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, said: “Investors want a diversified way of measuring market movements which has a wider coverage of companies as is the global practices. The NSE Pension Index will provide investors with additional tool to make the most of Nigeria’s market. It will also encourage the development of other products such as Exchange Traded Products (ETP’s) and Index Futures in the Exchange”.

The NSE Pension Index will have the top 40 companies

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LAUNCH - From left , Akinde, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Leader for West Africa; Henry Egbiki, EY Nigeria Country Leader and Femi Akintunde, MD/CEO, Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Limited, at the Media Launch of the 5th Edition of EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Lagos. based on market capitalisation and liquidity. In addition, companies to be included must have Free Float Factor of at least five percent. The NSE Pension Index is a Total Return Index. Consequently, normal dividend payments will be reinvested and accounted for in the Total Return Index by a Divisor Adjustment.

Similarly, special dividends from non-operating income require index divisor adjustments to prevent the distributions from distorting the

index (same with price index).

The NSE Pension Index constituents would be reviewed, re-balanced, reweighted and changed once in a year on the first business day in January whereby constituents are changed (added or deleted) based on their market capitalization, liquidity in the previous twelve months and Free Float Factor.

The Nigerian bourse began publishing The NSE 30 Index in February 2009 with index values available from January

1, 2007. On July 1, 2008, the NSE developed four sectoral indices with a base value of 1,000 points, designed to provide investable benchmarks to capture the performance of specific sectors.

The sectoral indices comprise the top 10 most liquid companies in the Banking, Insurance and Food/Beverage & Tobacco (now Consumer Goods) sectors and the top five most capitalized and liquid companies in the Oil & Gas (Petroleum Marketing) sector.

Stanbic IBTC nets N68bn gross revenue in six months

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tanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, a member of Standard Bank Group, has released its six months unaudited results for the period ended 30 June 2015, with gross earnings at N68.3 billion, an increase of 11 percent over the N61.7 billion recorded in the comparable period of last year.

According to the result, which was presented at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE in Lagos weekend, profit before tax during the period stood at N9.5 billion, while profit after tax was N9.6 billion. Total assets went up nine percent to N1.03 trillion from N944.5 billion in December 2014.

The Group maintained adequate capital to support its business in half year (1H)

Chinese equities rebound

2015 which is well above the regulatory requirement. The group’s total capital adequacy ratio closed the period at 15.3 percent (Bank 13.9 percent), while the tier 1 capital adequacy ratio stood at 12.6 percent (Bank 10.6 percent).

These ratios are well above the 10 percent minimum statutory requirement.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, stated that the group is seeking to raise N20.4 billion in rights issue to support its planned growth opportunities as well as business risks and contingencies.

“Stanbic IBTC’s performance recorded in the first half of 2015 was characterized by steady growth in its balance sheet whilst our strong focus on cost

containment helped to mitigate the impact of rising cost of funds and credit impairments on our operating performance,” she stated, adding that “our focus for the rest of 2015 is to reduce cost of funds and continue to resolve impaired risk assets to

Stanbic IBTC’s performance recorded in the first half of 2015 was characterized by steady growth in its balance sheet

ensure increased profitability by year end. We remain optimistic that we can achieve these goals.”

Following the adoption of the holding company structure in 2012, the operating subsidiaries of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc are Stanbic IBTC Bank (including Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited), Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited, Stanbic IBTC Ventures Limited, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, and Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited.

hinese equities have bounced back over the last two days, but they’ve still shed more than $3 trillion in value in less than a month.

From their peak on June 14, Chinese listed stocks lost $3.6 trillion in value by July 9, according to Bloomberg’s China Market Cap index.

That’s comfortably more than the entire economic output of France.

The chart above says it all.

The Shenzhen Composite has cratered. Despite the bounce in stocks on Thursday and Friday, the benchmark has given up more than 75 percentage points of return for the year.

Chinese investors took increasingly leveraged punts to chase the stock market higher. Margin debt rocketed more than five-fold in less than a year, overshot the top of the equity markets and then fell like the spirits of a reckless gambler.

IWG to participate at World Bank conference on Global Financing

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Nigerian based NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisation, “I Will Give” (IWG) be participating at a World Bank organized conference on global financing facility holding in Addis Ababa today, Monday July 13, 2015.

The IWG team will be led by its Head of Secretariat Dr. Lola Dare and two other Steering Committee members who are on its governing council.

The conference would be collating inputs and setting new global Agenda on the theme “Supporting reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health” in the post Millennium Development Goals landscape.

Speakers at the conference would include, Tim Evans, the Senior Director, Health Nutrition and Population, Global practice at the World Bank group; Ariel Pablo’sMendez, the Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Public Health, USAID; and Monique Vledder, Programme Manager for the Global Financing Facility (GFF) at the World Bank.

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26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Business & Economny

Turnover in OTC market hits N9.76trn

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urnover in the OTC market for the month of June 2015 was N9.67trn, a decline of 17 per cent or N1.95trn compared with the previous month’s and a 60 per cent or N3.62trillion increase compared to June 2014 Activities in the T.bills and FX segments of the OTC markets jointly§ contributed 64% to the total turnover, down from 67 per cent recorded in the previous month Repurchase Agreements/BuyBacks recorded an increase over the review period whilst Forex , FX, Treasury , T. bills, FGN bonds and Unsecured Placements/ Takings declined Meanwhile, total turnover in the fixed income market was N4.33trillion, a decline of 23 per cent or N1.32billion compared with May. Activities in the Treasury, T.bills market accounted for 88 per cent of total fixed income turnover; up from 85 per cent recorded in the previous month. On a year-on-year basis, turnover of T. bills and FGN bonds increased 105 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Trading intensity1 of T.bills and FGN bonds for the month of June settled at 0.60 and 0.12 respectively against 0.75 and 0.18 recorded in May. Yields on fixed income securities in

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the month indicated mixed sentiments as 1M2 , 6M, 12M and 15Y 3 benchmark securities declined whilst other benchmark securities

inched upwards. On aggregate, the yield curve was up 23 bases points, bps in the review period.

Outstanding FGN bonds stood at N4.84trillion, 2 per cent or

N91.85billon above the value as at May, with market capitalisation declining N1.54billion to close at 91 per cent of face value, or

N4.41trillion.

T.bills outstanding on the other hand declined 2 per cent, or N124.45billion, to stock at N6.28trillon as at the end of June.

Entrepreneurship critical to development of economy — EGBIKI

By PETER EGWUATU

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rnst & Young, EY Nigeria has stated that entrepreneurship is critical to the development of any economy, as it called on Nigeria government to encourage entrepreneurial spirit by providing necessary support.

Speaking at the media launch for the 5th edition of EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Mr. Henry Egbiki, EY Nigeria Country Leader said “When you look at the matured economies, one would see that entrepreneurs are the people that pioneered growth in those markets.

We can see that in Nigeria, Gross Domestic Product, GDP has gone down due to economic downturn and unemployment is on the rise and for it to pick up,

it requires the activities of entrepreneurs.”

Continuing, he said “The gap in infrastructure and unemployment is going to be solved by entrepreneurs. These are the reasons why we are celebrating these entrepreneurs to spur the younger ones.

Business is about shared value and not about profitability alone.

As they tell their stories people are encouraged to invest in businesses.

Commenting on EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Bunmi Akinde, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Leader for West Africa, said “ EY Entrepreneur of the Year, EOY began in the US in 1986, and we continue to expand the program internationally. We now have over 145 EY Entrepreneur of the Year programs in over 60 countries and EOY is the only global program of its kind. EY World Entrepreneur of the Year was created 15 years ago in 2001 as a natural extension of

our success in running EY Entrepreneur of The Year award programs around the world.

According to her “2015 is the 15th anniversary of World Entrepreneur o f the Year.

Over 15 years, there have been 572 companies represented at EY World Entrepreneur of the Year across 73 countries – all were EOY Winners in their home countries.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year program raises awareness of the important contributions that entrepreneurs make to the global economy and to their community.

On why EY supports Entrepreneurs, she stated that entrepreneurs are critical for the health of the global economy.

According to her “They create jobs, generate wealth and encourage creativity and competition. They also

drive innovations that address some of the world’s most pressing problems.

And they inspire the next generation to innovate. By helping great entrepreneurs to scale, and shining a spotlight on their achievements, we are helping to fulfil our purpose, to build a better working world. Entrepreneurs drive innovation and economic growth, and create jobs. And we focus on the future workforce, from employees to young entrepreneurs, because we know that the next generation is critical to global progress.

Akinde, further stated that the awards aim to recognise the exceptional innovations and achievements of West African entrepreneurs and their efforts in creating jobs and contributing to the growth of the country’s economy.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 27

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28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Homes & Housing

A privately developed bungalow

What to consider before renting or buying a house Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE

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nvesting in real estate has proven to be profitable - however, a good knowledge of what to buy or how to invest in the property market is crucial to avoid unwanted expenses in the future. Lamudi Nigeria lists a couple of tips and ideas to consider when planning to enter the property business.

Your budget Set yourself a manageable budget and stick to it. Agents usually market rental properties by stating the yearly rental price. For those who want to buy, be clear about what type of property you want. Is it for personal use or investment purposes?

Try not to be tempted to look at properties beyond what you can comfortably afford. In addition to your rental costs, you will also need to budget for other related expenses.

These might include service charges if the property is in a block of flats or on an estate, so clarify with your agent or landlord whether they are included in the rent or are an additional charge. Other expenses to consider are the refundable deposit, moving costs, decoration of the property, furniture, or generator.

Location There are plenty of factors to consider when thinking about the location of a property. It is important that you prioritise what is the most important to you in terms of location before starting your search, as this will save you time in the long run. For example, how important are C M Y K

the local amenities to you?

Check the distance to your workplace and schools, access to shopping areas, and public transport, closeness to friends or relatives. It is worth prioritising those and any other factors that may be relevant to you to help you determine your ideal location and to make your search as clear as possible.

Other considerations

There are plenty of options for those looking for property to rent or purchase, in terms of the types of accommodation. Much will depend on your personal circumstances and your life stage, i.e. position at work and most importantly your purchasing power.

Searching for the ideal property In addition to the internet,

which has much information within a mouse click, there are a number of other ways you can search for property. These might include newspapers, but be aware that by the time many papers are printed, some properties may have already been let. You can also contact well-known developers or estate agents directly. Call the estate agents and ask for details of relevant property, and if it sounds interesting arrange a viewing.

It pays to contact a few agents to give you the best chance to find the right property. Drive around the area you are interested in and have a look at any “To Let” or “For Sale” signs and write down the contact details. Keep in touch with agents regularly, as rental properties tend to come and go quite quickly, particularly in some popular areas.

Costs Be aware that once you have found a property, agents and solicitors will charge you a fee.

These can range from five to 10 percent of the total costs depending on the agents, the property and the location. Try to establish and negotiate these costs with the agents in advance as they may vary.

Overall, before you begin the task of viewing a property, make sure you clarify with the agent that the house or flat meets your requirements, the costs and the fees so that you would not waste your time.

FG committed to affordable housing provision — OSINBAJO

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he Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians in partnership with the private sector.

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo stated this in his keynote address at the 2015 Abuja Housing Show & Housing Development Awards, in Abuja, with the theme: “Delivery of Affordable Housing: Financing, Building Technology and Land Issues in Nigeria”.

Osinbajo who was represented by Senator Osita Izunazo, declared that land acquisition and funding are the most pressing issues currently affecting housing provision in the country. He asserted that housing is pivotal to the agenda of the Buhari administration.

This year’s conference which is the 9th edition, which was to help raise awareness on the critical nature of housing needs in the country, addressed the challenges facing the real estate industry by formulating growth strategies.

Participants critically appraised existing

housing policies with a view to remoulding and developing new ones in order to build enduring structures to enable faster housing delivery in the country. Experts in the built environment used the platform created by the

Housing is pivotal to the agenda of the Buhari administration organisers to showcase their activities in the sector.

In his opening address, Festus Adebayo, the convener of the Housing Show, highlighted the challenges bedevilling efforts in the housing sector and emphasized the need for stakeholders to continue discussions and dialogues as well as share experience on innovative ways of dealing with housing issues. “The premise on which the theme of the 9th Abuja Housing Show

was formed was based on the need to get the new administration in Nigeria to prioritise the housing sector in its agenda. Therefore, it is expected that government would make use of the proceedings from this event to move the housing sector forward,” he said.

On his part, Professor Charles Inyangete, Managing Director /CEO Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), took a closer look at the need to facilitate broader access to affordable housing finance for Nigerians. He enumerated some of the bottlenecks militating against the delivery of affordable housing in Nigeria. These, according to him, include: complex land registration and titling; high and volatile interest rates; short tenor of mortgages; lengthy and complicated foreclosures; high building costs; and absence of mortgage insurance.

He said NMRC has unveiled initiatives aimed at stimulating investment in the mortgage market and delivering affordable housing in general.

Kano plans better housing scheme for workers

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ano State government said it is committed to providing a realistic housing scheme for workers in the state.Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has therefore tasked labour unions in the state to join hands with his administration to achieve the set goal. This was revealed in a statement by DirectorGeneral, Media and Communications to the Governor, Baba Halilu Dantiye.

The governor lamented that a sustainable housing scheme for workers had not been realised despite their immense contribution to the development of the state. He asserted that it was time workers got permanent shelter for their families, adding that, “in advanced countries, if you are working, you have shelter”.

Ganduje made the assertion at a meeting with members of the state branch of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the Government House in Kano.

Mortgage rates dip amid global economic concerns

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verage long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell last week, retreating from high levels for the year amid economic turbulence overseas. The lower rates brought an incentive for prospective purchasers toward the end of the spring home buying season.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said that the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 4.04 percent from 4.08 percent a week earlier. The rate on 15year fixed-rate mortgages eased to 3.20 percent from 3.24 percent.

Markets around the world have been nervously watching tumult and a nearly month-long slide in China’s stock markets, and Greece’s economic crisis as it tries to negotiate a rescue from its European partners. That has pushed investors to seek safety in U.S. Treasury bonds, pushing interest rates lower.

Bond yields for Treasury have been pushed lower by the rise in bond prices. Mortgage rates often follow the yield on the 10-year note.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 29

Business/Economy FG grants port status to Kaduna inland container depot

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HE Federal Government has declared Kaduna Inland Container Depot (ICD) a port of origin and final destination to extend shipping services to hinterlands and landlocked areas to decongest the ports. Notice of the declaration is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ignatius Nweke, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), made available to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the declaration is contained in a government gazette No 60 Vol. 102 of May 26, 2015, entitled “Kaduna Dry Port Declaration Order, 15”. The NSC said “it is expected that the Kaduna Inland Dry Port will have the status of international port, including customs, immigration, port health officials, as well as government security agencies.” The statement noted that the gazette, which was signed by the former Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, had now upgraded the Inland Container Nigeria Ltd. (ICNL) Bonded Terminal, Kaduna, to the status of dry port of origin and final destination.

“The gazette indicated that the newly-designated port with the capacity to handle 29,000 containers per annum shall be a customs port. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C 45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.”

Nasarawa plans to create 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths

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CEREMONY- From left: President, Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Chukwu Ifenna; Chief Executive Officer, Fasadeb Communication, Fesus Adebayo; and Chairman, FCT Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal, Prince Seyi Lufadeju during the 9th Housing Show closing ceremony and award night held in Abuja.

The Inland Container Depots (ICD) and Container Freight Stations (CFS) were initiated by the NSC to bring shipping services to the hinterlands and

country which were yet to be designated as port of origin and final destination in Ibadan, Kano, Jos, Aba, Funtua and Maiduguri.

Expert makes case for ship owners to access Cabotage Fund

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HAIRMAN, Planning Committee, Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) Mr Ayorinde Adedoyin, on Friday said ship owners should be allowed access to the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

Investors trade 475.01m shares worth N3.94bn on NSE Activities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday remained on a negative note, just as investors staked N3.94 billion on 475.01 million shares transacted in 3,007 deals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the volume of shares traded closed higher compared with 222.19 million shares valued N4.25 billion exchanged in 3,714 deals on Thursday. Multiverse emerged the most traded equity with an exchange of 210 million shares worth N105 million traded in five deals.

It was trailed by Access Bank which accounted for 59.59 million shares valued N298.26 achieved in 255 deals, while Zenith Bank sold 31.91 million shares worth N603.10 million traded in 236 deals. FCMB sold 25.20 million shares valued N73.09 million exchanged in 44 deals and GT Bank traded 23.92 million shares worth N621.87 million transacted in 202 deals.

landlocked neighbouring countries in order to decongest the ports. The NSC statement indicated that there were other approved ICD/CFS in the

The market capitalisation dropped further by N9 billion to close at N10.835 trillion against N10.844 trillion recorded on Thursday.

Similarly, the All-Share Index lost 38.97 points or 0.12 per cent to close at 31,729.26 compared with 31,769.23 achieved on Thursday. Forte Oil recorded the highest price loss to lead the losers’ chart, dropping by N5.24 to close at N180 per share.

Unilever trailed with a loss of N2.10 to close at N39.90, while Nigerian Breweries dropped by 99k to close at N136.51 per share.

Julius Berger lost 53k to close at N47.97, while Honeywell dipped 17k to close at N3.23 per share.

On the other hand, C & 1 Leasing led the gainers’ table, growing by N7 to close at N158 per share. 7UP followed with a gain of N1 to close at N189, Lafarge Africa appreciated by 89k to close at N102 per share.

Guinness garnered 87k to close at N139.50 and Okomu Oil Palm increased by 50k to close at N28.50 per share.

Adedoyin stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been the custodian of the fund since 2004 as stipulated by the Cabotage Act. He said government should also enforce the Local Content Act. Adedoyin said enforcement of the Local Content Act would bring positive developments to the maritime sector. He said that in 2016, with determination, the Expo would be made bigger.

Adedoyin urged the stakeholders in the maritime industry to be more determined to enable them achieve their

goals. He said some of the companies which participated in the Expo were not known before now . “The whole idea of NIMAREX is to showcase what you have and allow people to see what you do, how you do it, and the value added service you can give to their business.

We should continue to do what we do. We should continue to show people.

“At least, this year I have been able to prove a point that at least we can do it.

“If we are determined to do it by next year, they should come and we will make it bigger. The larger we are the better for all of us,” Adedoyin told NAN.

TrustFund Pension posts N1.1b profit after tax

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RUSTFUND Pension PLC on Friday declared a profit after tax of N1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Board Chairman, Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, disclosed this during the 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Abuja. Trustfund Pension is one of the pension fund administrators (PFA) licensed to operate in the nation’s pension industry.

Olejeme, represented by Mr Peter Esele, a Director in the company, said the company generated an income of N4.2 billion for the year 2014. She

said the profit before tax stood at N1.34 billion. the chairman said the company had also declared a 25 kobo ordinary share dividend for the 2014 financial year for members whose names appeared in the company ’s register as at December 31, 2014. She said the company had also declared the same dividend of 25 kobo in the year ending 2013. Olejeme said despite difficult business environment the company operated on in the year 2014, it was still able to maintain the same dividend.

ILAS Agara, the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, on Friday in Lafia said the state government had concluded plans to create 10,000 jobs. Agara said this when he received a Nasarawa State Students Association (NASA) delegation who paid him a solidarity visit. He said the move was in an effort to provide jobs for unemployed youths in the state before the end of Gov. Umaru Al-Makura’s administration.

Members of NASA were drawn from tertiary institutions in the state. The deputy governor said the state government was not happy about the growing army of unemployed youths in the state and was determined to bring it to an end.“As soon as the financial profile of the state improves in the coming months, the state government will employ the first set of unemployed youths through the creation of job opportunities.

The state government has resolved to provide jobs for the employment of the young graduates who are roaming the streets in the state without any means of livelihood. We only want to appeal to them be patient with the government,” he said.

Stock market operators call for more participation of FG, local investors in nation’s bourse

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OME capital market operators on Friday advised the Federal Government and local investors to participate more actively in the market in view of recent developments in China. They said in Lagos that the Federal Government and market regulators should introduce policies that would boost local investors’ participation in the market.

The operators also urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to look into ways of increasing local participation instead of scouting for foreign investors. Mr Ariyo Olushekun, the immediate past President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), said that Federal Government should show more interest in the stock market for economic growth and development.

Olushekun said that the National Pension Commission (PenCom) should give more powers to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to invest higher percentage of the funds in stocks.

30—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Micro-Finance

Database creation crucial to informal sector inclusion in contributory pension scheme — Expert A pension expert, Mr Omabise Baro, said that the inclusion of the informal sector in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) would require the creation of a database.

Baro told newsmen in Abuja that it was important for the regulator to first register the organised private sector preparatory to incorporating its members into the scheme.

“To widen the base - well is not going to be over night, is not simple, it will require ensuring that we have a good database, we can identify these companies.

“People have to be registered; we have to be cautious before we start talking about welders and artisans, I would say even the private sector that is not very organised - that is people who own small businesses, that the businesses are registered - I think that is where we should go first before we start talking about people who don’t have a business name, who are just hawking product or services on the street.

“So, we should take it from public sector, organised private sector where we are today and then take it a step lower to smaller businesses.“ The new Pension Reform Act 2014 has made provision for the inclusion of the informal sector in the contributory pension scheme. Following the amendment to the Act, stakeholders have repeatedly asked questions on how the inclusion of the informal sector will be a success. Baro suggested the inclusion of a compliance mechanism as part of measures that could be used to drive the private and informal sector inclusion in the scheme.

SIGNING: From left, Mory Soumahoro, Chairman, West Africa Securities Regulators Association (WASRA), Mounir Gwarzo, Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Nigeria and Adu Antwi, Director General, SEC Ghana during signing of MoU on WASRA, in Abuja.

Stories by PROVIDENCE OBUH

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ccion Microfinance Bank (AMfB) is targeting micro entrepreneurs and low income earners in Port Harcourt (PH) Rivers State with a viewing to expanding beyond Lagos.

The bank with about 20 branches in the south west region has been operational since inception in 2007.

In a statement from the bank, the opening of a new branch in PH near Mile One

Accion MfB eyes low income earners in PH Market further emphasizes its mission to economically empower micro-entrepreneurs and low income earners by providing financial services in a sustainable, ethical and profitable manner thus improving the socio-economic

well-being of Nigerians and also demonstrating the bank’s commitment to financial inclusion in the country.

The bank added that it is expanding across the country to further provide professional financial services to customers

GEC powers overseas admission for 7,000 students in 14yrs O

ver 7000 Nigerian students have been offered admission to school abroad through Global Education Counseling (GEC) in the last 14 years.

Meanwhile, about eight students graduated penultimate week, from its Management Education Training (MET) centre in Lagos to study at Debreceen University in Hungary.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer, GEC, Mr. Theo Theodorou, said that the programme had guaranteed over 7,000 admissions into its partner Universities in the UK, Canada, Europe, US, Malaysia, among others.

He said, “We are working

hard to develop young skills and for them to become independent, to grow up and be able to face the challenges ahead of them. Their exposure to our University partners has allowed them to interact with them and hear first hand what they will expect when they reach their chosen universities.

“The challenges we face in Nigeria do make us all focused and determined to succeed. This is reflected by the sound academic delivery of the pragramme to guide the wards to a successful outcome overcoming the day to day challenges that they have faced to name a few, NEPA, Lagos traffic,” he said.

On her part, Registrar,

GEC, Mrs. Amaka Enweluani, disclosed that the programmes offered at GEC MET include: International Degree Foundation Programme; International Medical Foundation Programme; International Pre-Masters Programme; Cambridge Advanced Level and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

She added that the programme runs three sections in a year with lectures based on academic works and research to ensure the students get the basic knowledge of their different specializations.

mainly in the lower strata of society who are unbanked or do not have access to regular banking services.

According to MD/CEO AMfB, “We have consistently transformed our customer ’s businesses by giving them easy access to loans and other financial services. This is the value we bring to the Port Harcourt. We will continue to serve our customers to give them a brighter future.”

She further added that the expansion plan for the bank is in realisation of the bank’s national expansion programme.

Meanwhile, the bank has disbursed over N38.5 billion loans to over 36,000 customers since inception, with a current customer-base of over 168,000 and a fully paid-up share capital of N1.205 billion as at December 2014, as well as total assets of over N3.06 billion in the same year.

The bank has disbursed over N38.5bn loans to over 36,000 customers

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 31

E- Commmerce

Suregifts leverages technology to drive employee, customer rewards STORIES BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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igeria’s online gifting p l a t f o r m , Suregifts.com.ng has introduced an online solution that leverages technology to drive and improve the process of employee and customer rewards.

Suregifts offers a platform for organizations to purchase gift cards for as many employees as they want with each gift card tied to a monetary value which employees can redeem at over 50 top retailers of their choice nationwide.

Speaking on what motivated the solution, the founders, Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi, Babafemi Lawal and Adeoye Ojo said they understood the role of gifting in corporate culture and how it helps to drive employee motivation.

They said: “The average employee in the Nigerian workforce looks to his rewards as a big part of his motivation towards work; this therefore has made the importance of a rightly motivated employee a major one to every organization. This is the reason why many corporate organizations and employers of labour want to get it right always. We noticed that professionals and business people wanted to reward colleagues and clients but did not know what to get them.”

According to them, “The discovery that one of the biggest headaches to organizations is what to procure, how to procure and the most effective logistics solutions to employ has given us a push in the right direction to introduce this solution. The Human Resources, HR departments of many organizations get regular complaints of employee rewards not done right and the reasons are not farfetched. A reward that does not hold any importance to the receiver cannot really be appreciated as one.”

They argued that the concept of gift cards from Suregifts Nigeria has now taken the strain off HR and Procurement managers as they are now relieved of the worries, tensions and stress that comes from rewarding employees.

The trio who also run an online consultancy service that helps prospective customers and human resource managers figure out

their homes.”

Also speaking, a Port Harcourtbased employee of a pan-African l o g i s t i c s company who p l e a d e d anonymity narrated how he had racked up N76,000 in rewards for an impressive performance in 2014 but when he travelled to Lagos for the end of year party to pick up his supposed cash bonus he was UNVEILING: From right, Mr Oghuzan Silivrili, Marketing Director, Reckitt instead handed Benckiser West Africa; Helen Paul, Harpic Brand Ambassador and Omotola a gift card of Bamigbaye-Elatuyi, Marketing Manager, Reckitt Benckiser West Africa at equal value.

“My wife was the unveiling of the new Harpic TVC and Brand Ambassador in Lagos. glad the Photo: Lamidi Bamidele remuneration was cashless and that meant appropriate gifts or rewards company, commenting on I couldn’t squander it on for corporate clients, noted how his organization has frivolities,” he said. “We had that since the introduction of benefited from the solution to buy groceries and a the platform, the solution has said: “Rather than deal with smartphone with it.” been embraced by many the trouble of transporting In recent times, Suregifts organizations in Nigeria, tonnes of rice to staff members has powered employee mostly driven by its cost during the Christmas festive rewards for over 50 effectiveness and flexibility of season, we just handed them organizations including use. gift cards which they shopped Oando, FBN Capital, Wema Charles Ojakaro, a human online with for whatever they Bank, KPMG, DHL, Black resource person at an oil desired, and was delivered to House Media and Dangote

‘Logistics, key to unlocking e-commerce potential in Nigeria'

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ritical logistics infrastructure must be put in place if the full potential of e-commerce in Nigeria must be realised, this is according to the Managing Directors of African Courier Express, ACE Tunde Kehinde and Ercin Eksin.

The duo who pioneered ecommerce in Nigeria as cofounders of the online retailer, Jumia.com said that while e-commerce will play significant roles in the economic boom that is expected in the coming years, logistics presents a unique challenge that must be tackled before the objective will be attained.

“The Nigerian ecommerce market presents unique challenges.

Nigerians are not as trusting of online retail as most westerners, and this means that most online retail in Nigeria is pay- ondelivery. In Nigeria, this leads to logistics issues concerning finding

customers at a time when they have the cash for their purchases, and issues surrounding cash remittance to the merchant. For many companies, the difficulty of mitigating this logistical challenges have been a barrier that keeps them from effectively pursuing ecommerce,” said the duo in a media chat recently.

“These are the conditions that led us to create Africa Courier Express (ACE), a

Nigerians are not as trusting of online retail as most westerners

company that aims to completely redefine the way e-commerce is handled, by placing focus on creating a technological infrastructure and adapting processes that will allow Nigerian – and by extension African ecommerce to grow stronger,” they added.

According to them, “ACE’s technology, all developed inhouse by talented, young, entrepreneurial minds, allows us to provide merchants with more details and information about their shipments – enabling them to make better business decisions. ACE manages tasks with a multi-faceted technological system that can be adapted to meet merchants where they are.

“Whether by use of a full API integration, managed by ACE, or through a unique Pick-Up-Tool created inhouse, orders are inputted into and subsequently tracked throughout ACE’s unique system.

Mexico City to place fleet limit on Uber cars

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exico City could become the first city in the world to limit the number of Uber cars, according to draft regulation that the company said last week also threatens to wipe out its most popular service in the giant metropolis.

Aside from the fleet limit, the plan seen by Reuters aims to enforce a minimum car value of 250,000 pesos ($15,909) on Uber and companies like it, a big worry for the ride-hailing service that is coming under increasing pressure from regulators.

The San Francisco-based company said the minimum value would hit hard Uber X, its cheapest and most popular service used by 90 percent of drivers. The startup cost to most drivers using the service was about 150,000 pesos, Uber said.

“This would imply the end of Uber X,” the company said in a statement. “This would dramatically increase the cost and decrease availability for Mexican riders.”

Samsung to launch new Galaxy Note phablet mid-August

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amsung Electronics Co is bringing forward the launch of a key premium smartphone model, the new version of its Galaxy Note phablet by mid-August, according to a Reuters’ report last week.

Recall that previous versions such as the Note 3 and 4, typically launched in September.

A Samsung spokeswoman declined to comment.

The mid-August launch will likely put the new Note smartphone model on the market ahead of arch-rival Apple Inc’s next iPhones.

The U.S. company is preparing for its largest initial production run for new phones so far by the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier last week.

Samsung is seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2014, when its annual profit hit a three-year low as smartphone earnings slumped.

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 33

“Power consumer advocacy network collapses after two months.”

PUNCH, Friday, July 3, 2015, p34.

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he story by Okechukwu Nnodim, writing from Abuja went on to say that “The Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, which was inaugurated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission about two months ago has collapsed.”

Reading the report, it is obvious that the NERC and the members of the Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, NECAN, cannot agree about who is to fund the programme. There is fault on both sides as will be demonstrated presently. But first a few questions need to be answered.

Who are the members of the NECAN and how were they selected or appointed to represent consumers? Which consumer groups do they represent, private, corporate, public or foreign missions?

The second question is important because all the Governments of Nigeria, Federal, States and Local Governments are also consumers; so are foreign missions (US Embassy, British High Commission etc). When were they recognized as an advocacy group? And why was NERC, itself a consumer, inaugurating NECAN if it had no intention of funding it?

For NECAN, only two questions will be sufficient.

Who sent them on this mission?

And did they embark on it

POWER CONSUMER ADVOCACY:

Matters arising expecting the Federal Government to fund it, in other words, another piece of cake to share?

Permit me to start with NECAN and the advocacy it had undertaken. As someone who had been involved in advocacy before, Christian Governor in Lagos State in 2015 being the latest, it would appear that altruism is lost the minute those embarking on advocacy rely on third parties, government or otherwise, for the initial funding. Christian Conscience, CC, an NGO which resulted from my articles in November 2011 was funded exclusively by the members, and, later, some well-wishers. No appeal was made to government or any of the political parties who were the targets of our advocacy.

The principle is clear, “Who pays the piper dictates the tune.” Once your programme is funded by government, there is proscription on what you can do.

With regard to electricity, the service quality and the charges, the Federal Government had handed us over to the Distribution Companies, DISCOs, without spelling out for us what our rights as consumers under private companies will be. In fact, by the very pregnant silence, the Federal

The Federal Government had created a class of privileged private companies, called DISCOs, which can rob consumers at will – without any apparent recourse Government had created a class of privileged private companies, called DISCOs, which can rob consumers at will – without any apparent recourse. The NERC is an agency of the Federal Government, and was a party to this rape of the consumers.

Clearly, it makes no sense to expect NERC to promote an advocacy network whose objective is to liberate consumers from financial slavery. NECAN should never have been inaugurated by NERC. There is another reason for NERC to stay out of this advocacy. This time it involves fairness to the DISCOs. Much

as we love to hate them, there is still a need to ensure that as we move towards resolution of several contentious issues between us as consumers and the DISCOs, we must still be aware that we are fighting with our friends and Fellow Nigerians – not foreigners and enemies. And when the fight is over, meaning when all issues have been resolved, they will still be our friends and Fellow Nigerians. NERC, which is part of government, has no business sponsoring NECAN because that would amount to the Federal Government sponsoring one group of citizens (consumers) against another group of corporate citizens (the DISCOs). I am not a shareholder in any DISCO and will not be. But, in fairness to DISCOs, the NERC had no business inaugurating NECAN. It is just as well that it had collapsed like a sand castle built on the beach by kids.

That still leaves unanswered the question: should there be a NECAN or something like it? The answer is definitely YES!!! But, on what foundation should it rest?

“Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not who would be free must strike the blow?” Lord Byron, 1788-1824.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF

QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 67).

History is replete with examples of injustices and inequities endured by people until they themselves rise up to say “Enough is enough”.

Before Christian Conscience, I had been involved in other advocacies. One other effort resulted in Alternative Dispute Resolutions, ADR, now an integral part of our legal system. With Nigerian Courts being overburdened, justice delayed, cost of litigation escalating, it was obvious something needed to be done.

Governments were not the game-changers, people like Barrister Kehinde Aina of NCMG, and others were. But, the first great break when a friend of mine, William Braxton, then in the US Embassy, helped to bring a retired US Judge to deliver a lecture on ADR. Prior to that, in the late 1960s, I was a warrior, in every sense of the word, fighting for black Americans to be able to vote. I still have the scar from one violent encounter. Today, Obama is President of USA. Governments never assist in redressing injustice until the victims themselves act.

If we want a strong Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network, then it must be financially independent of governments and headed by people ready for combats not cake-sharers. The justice for which that network will fight will be lasting and NECAN will constitute the peoples’ watch dog over DISCOs. But, we must create it ourselves.

Business & Economy

CBN to support revamp of oil sector B

arely a week after pledging support for rice farmers and processing companies in Nigeria, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CON, has underscored the Bank’s determination to lead the revitalisation of the oil palm sector in Nigeria in order to provide jobs for Nigerians.

Mr. Emefiele made the pledge in Abuja on Friday, July 10, 2015, during a meeting between the Bank’s management and oil palm value chain stakeholders to agree on a road map to resolve the challenges in the oil palm value chain in Nigeria.

He expressed concern at the contrasting fortunes of Nigeria from being the largest C M Y K

producer of palm oil worldwide in the late 1950s and 1960s, to becoming a net importer of the commodity from the 1980s to date.

According to him, Nigeria currently lags behind in a distant fifth position in world production, behind countries that many years ago sent emissaries to Nigeria to learn production techniques and to get their first seedlings. Mr. Emefiele also decried the practice where huge amounts are spent to import items that could ordinarily be produced locally, the Governor stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate restore the glory days to the oil palm sector in the country.

While recalling the recent policy of the CBN that excluded 41 items from being

procured with foreign exchange from the Nigerian foreign exchange markets (Interbank and BDCs), Mr. Emefiele reiterated that the policy measure was introduced to help conserve Nigeria’s foreign reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation in the country. He said the CBN decided to take the lead and play a major role in the resuscitation of the oil palm sector and decided to take a bold step and include Palm Kernel, Palm Oil Products and Vegetable Oils in the exclusion list of items not valid for foreign exchange at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange window.

Mr. Emefiele also reiterated

that the decision taken by the CBN to include palm oil products in the exclusion list was taken after a thorough analysis of the sub sector.

This, he said, was taken in the overall interest of the country, for the resuscitation of the local oil palm industry and to improve employment generation in the country.

“For the country to attain self-sufficiency there has to be committed development of more estate plantations and coordinated partnerships between the small holder plantation farmers and processors,” he said. Accordingly, he said the CBN, as part of its developmental initiatives, had introduced the ‘Anchor Borrower Programme’ designed to create economic

linkages between small holder farmers and processors by organizing farmers into cooperatives to boost production and take advantages of economics of scale While enjoining all stakeholders to see the present situation as an opportunity rather than an adversity, he charged all to collaborate with the CBN to ensure that the country stops exporting jobs abroad and in the process importing poverty. It will be recalled that the CBN management last week in Abuja met with officials of State Governments and rice processing companies to strategise on increasing the low utilization capacities of rice mills in Nigeria.

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

People in Business

We assist parents in moulding, shaping their children’s overall character – Nonyelum Arinze

By Ebele Orakpo

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s. Nonyelum Arinze is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ben ‘N’ Glad’s Haven (BNG Haven), a childcare centre based in Enugu, Enugu State.

In this chat with Financial Vanguard, Nonny, as she is fondly called, speaks on why she left the banking industry to follow her dream and also the challenges and her vision for BNG Haven.

Excerpts: Background: Nonny, a graduate of Medical Parasitology and Entomology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, is a graduate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and has a Diploma in Children Studies and Human Resource Management. She will be rounding off her Master’s in Business Administration at the ESUT Business School in September.

Upon graduation from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nonny did her one year compulsory *Nonyelum Arinze...Working in the banking sector helped to prepare me service to fatherland at the General and gave me the needed experience Hospital, Suleja, Niger State. While still serving, she got employment at the First City Monument Bank Plc in Minna, with their children. having passed the relevant tests. So as "My motivation for this soon as she completed her service year, business is to help bridge the she resumed work in the bank and was gap and assist parents in the there for over six years. moulding and shaping of their child’s overall behaviour, Why I left banking: attitude and character. It is a According to Nonny, being an good thing that parents have entrepreneur has always been her careers to pursue and all, but ambition so while she really enjoyed on the flip side, our children working in the banking sector for over (who we always say are the six years, she was always conscious of custodians of the future), the fact that she was going to leave to burden I have whenever I looked at most children shouldn’t have to suffer for it. born in this generation where parents are so careerstart up her own company.

If they are truly the custodians She said: "Working in the banking driven and most times don’t have enough time to spend of the future, then there is need sector helped to prepare me and gave me the needed experience.

"I’ve always known I had business, leadership and administrative qualities so working in a corporate organisation like the bank helped to fine-tune those qualities coupled with the fact that I have a burden to impact *Some of the children havsociety positively and be a part of the much needed ing fun change. The banking industry didn’t give the platform I needed to express that desire so I knew it was inevitable to leave at some point."

I have always had this strong connection to children and my love for music helped to make the passion strong

Motivation: "I have always had this strong connection to children and my love for music helped to make the passion strong.

The motivation to start a childcare centre for children of all ages was born out of the C M Y K

to invest in them."

Why BNG Haven: "The name is a combination of my dad’s (Ben) and Mum’s (Glad) names.

The Haven part of the name simply means Safe Place because my desire is to provide a safe place for children to have fun, learn and interact with their peers.

It was a vision that was inspired by my mum before she passed on in 2009 so after years of grieving and struggling to raise funds to start it after she died, I decided to do it in her honour," she said.

The outfit which was officially opened and dedicated towards the end of September last year, started full operations in January.

"I started with one pupil and as at today, we are 27. Five pupils in the creche, two in preschool and 20 students in Ballet Dance School. Presently, I have four staff including myself."

Initial capital: "Initial capital which includes start-up funds and rent was N2.5m which I raised from my savings, family and friends. My dad and siblings helped a lot especially my dad at the setting up stage."

Challenges: For Nonny, the major challenges are funding and publicity. "Being a one-man business per say, money for working capital and possible expansion is very tight.

Publicity and funding actually go together because without money, it is almost impossible to effectively publicise the company and being a new business, good publicity is very essential.

Another challenge is not being able to get people that will buy into the vision enough to support, partner or invest.

Being a start-up, most people in the position to invest are sceptical and a bit averse to the idea of supporting a new business."

In the next five years...

"In the next five years, I see this business expanding to the point that it will be a complex of some sorts. By this I mean, we will now be located in our own complex large enough to contain the enormity of the vision with its various services. I see the business having branches in major cities in Nigeria because the saying that it takes a whole nation to raise a child, is true.

I see this business having a prominent voice in all things children, education and childcare. I see it financially stable enough to offer employment to thousands of Nigerians and I see it grow beyond the boundaries of Nigeria," she enthused.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 35

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36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 37

Aviation

AIB investigates Emirates, Hak Air ground accident at Lagos Airport

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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he Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, AIB, has commenced investigation into the ground accident involving a Boeing 777-200LR belonging to Emirates Airline and a parked plane of Hak Air which occurred last Monday night at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The incidence which occurred around 9.30pm had the B737-400 plane owned by HAK Air badly damaged.

According to Head, Public Affairs, AIB, Mr. Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the agency has “adequately deployed a team of investigators to determine the circumstances surrounding the serious incident with a view to making possible safety recommendations”.

Oketunbi further said the aircraft marked A6-EWD was

taxing for a take-off en-route Dubai when its wing tip cut into the B737-400 aircraft parked on the apron of the domestic wing of the airport.

While the Emirates aircraft had a little damage on its

wing tip, the Hak Air B737 “sustained substantial damage.”

He added that the Emirates flight was aborted and the passengers were evacuated immediately.

Meanwhile, The Commissioner of AIB, Dr. Felix Abali had on Tuesday inspected the scene of the occurrence and promised that the investigation shall be handled with speed. “Every incident is a safety issue that must be thoroughly investigated. This will help in preventing accidents and sustain safety in aviation.

This investigation will be conducted with speed”, he said.

MEETING - From left: Managing Director/CEO, Design Extra, Yemi Idowu, CEO, Wichtech Group, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Pastor in charge of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (City of David) and leader of the team, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade and Director, Julius Berger Plc, Dr. Mutiu Sunmonu, after the governor's meeting with investors at Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

ART seeks stronger NCAA

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

A

viation Round Table, ART, a nongovernmental organisation in the aviation industry, has called for a stronger Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to enable the Authority discharge its functions creditably. This is just as the group accused the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, of misplaced priorities in the bailout and takeover of some airlines in the sector.

Speaking with aviation reporters at the weekend in Lagos, its President, Mr. Gbenga Olowo in his maiden speech after being elected to lead the organisation, traced the current woes in the sector to a weak NCAA. Olowo explained that aside the random checks on aircraft at the tarmac, the economic regulation of NCAA had failed to live up to expectations of stakeholders and professionals over the years.

Olowo who argued that a stronger, viable and independent NCAA would be able to make airlines come together and seek a way of taking them out of the doldrums, opined that the current domestic operators should be merged to two or maximum three to make them

stronger, profitable and more reliable in their operations.

He said: “The Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, should be the government of aviation like we have it in the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, in the United States, which is the only government agency on transport.

“Our NCAA is not there yet.

The zeal of NCAA ended when Dr. Harold Demuren left the agency. The current

Director-General is more or less a civil servant. We need a vibrant CAA that will be able to take the sector to higher level. It is a shame that we don’t have any airline in this country. When we go outside the country for aviation conferences, people ask us ‘where are your airlines?’ We need a stronger NCAA for us to move forward.”

The group also queried the sincerity of the Asset

Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, in bailing out some airlines in the sector.

ART maintained that the survival of any airline in the industry did not depend on the payment of debts owned financial institutions by airlines, but funds to increase their business operations and gradual payment of their debts to the banks.

Sesby Travels, at portal launch, highlights customer service

By DANIEL ETEGHE

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anaging Director of Sesby’s Travels and Tours Limited, Mrs. Sesby Adeola Banjo has revealed that the agency made about N1billion turnover on its ticket sales for the year 2014.

This is just as she said that the agency would ensure that its customers would be adequately taken care of from the point of making their travel plans till they get to their final destination, stressing that the focus of the agency was to give a seamless travel experience to its passengers.

Disclosing this development to newsmen

during the launch of the agency ’s portal in Lagos, Mrs. Banjo said that the agency was opening its portal to get in touch with its numerous customers. She said that the avenue would afford its numerous customers the opportunity to book online and do all their travel plans in the comfort of their bedroom.

According to her, the customers/passengers could be given 25 per cent credit facility which would enable them to buy their ticket and pay one week later with zero per cent before they travel adding that, the product would help passengers to travel conveniently.

She said: “The agency is responsible for planning trip for passengers, arrange for their visa, book their hotels as well as provide shuttle for the passenger on arrival at the airport in order to take them to their destination.

“We give good service at every point in time when dealing with our passengers.

We guarantee cheaper or same fares with the airline” she added.

Mrs. Banjo, however, noted that some of the challenges bedeviling the travel agency were cash, bankers trying to work as travel agent amongst others.

Union demands release of detained airport workers

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he Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ATSSSAN has condemned the detention of its members by the Directorate of State Security in Uyo Akwa Ibom State and has demanded for their immediate release.

In a petition to the Director General of State Security Services dated 7 July 2015, signed by the General Secretary of ATSSSAN Captain Tarnongu , the union said “ Its our great expectation that you would deploy your good office to redress this wrong by ordering the immediate release of our members who are being conspiratorially detained by your officers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. May we remind you that under a democratic society, rule of impunity is strongly frowned at”.

According to Tarnongu, the crises started when members of the ATSSSAN and NUATE at Akwa Ibom Airport Development Company IADCL embarked on strike to express their grievances about the management’s high h a n d e d n e s s , mismanagement of the airport, unpaid wages and allowances and desperate transfer of 150 specially trained staffers to ministries and departments outside the airport.

ATSSSAN further said the management OF IADCL has been displaying unparalleled anti union attitudes adding that a Barrister Idara Etim, the resource administrator in a memo directed that no worker should join any union as the state government has not approved any form of trade unionism while workers already in the union were given February 12 to renounce their membership or face disciplinary action.

The union also said the IADCL has planned to spend $34m to train workers to replace those redeployed to ministries saying it was a grand scheme to corruptly mismanage the state tax payers money.

C M Y K

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Business & Economy

Hope brightens for improved fuel supply amidst threats STORIES BY EMEKA ANAETO, ECONOMY EDITOR

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midst lingering fuel supply dislocations and strike threats there are indications that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a few oil marketers have stepped up importation of the products.

About 37 ships most of them laden with petroleum products are expected to arrive Nigerian ports between last weekend and July 25, 2015, according to Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The development is not unconnected to a recent meeting between officials of the oil marketers’ association on one had and the NNPC, the ministry of petroleum resources and finance ministry on the other hand.

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has claimed that the country’s long running intermittent fuel scarcities are artificial, and the handiwork of unscrupulous oil marketers and depot

President Buhari The meeting, Vanguard learnt, was called by petroleum ministry to broker a deal that would enable uninterrupted supply of the products especially the premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called fuel, to starve off scarcity and head off any embarrassment to the new government of Mohammadu Buhari, a move one of the oil marketers said was primarily for the effected government officials in the ministries and NNPC to protect their jobs.

Vanguard learnt that NNPC was running out of its own supply as the available stock was less than two weeks

consumption volume amidst difficulty in financing adequate stocking. The oil marketers under the umbrella body of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria had back-pedalled from importing and supplying the market because of disagreement with the government of ex- president Goodluck Jonathan in its last two weeks in office over the actual subsidy amount owed the marketers by the government.

The amount in dispute was N160 billion, as the then

finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had paid only N130 billion out of N290 billion claims by the oil marketers.

Okonjo-Iweala had argued that she could only confirm the principal subsidy amount of N130 billion while the balance N160 billion being the back claims on interest charges on loans obtained by the oil marketeers for the imports as well as the foreign exchange differentials cannot be substantiated immediately, a conclusion that made her set up a committee to verify the claims. The committee did not finish its assignment before the

Foreign Investors express interest in the electricity sector

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oreign direct investment into the Nigeria’s power sector got a boost last weekend as Lafarge Africa, a world leader in cement and other industrial goods, said it had applied to Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to generate 260 megawatts of electricity to supply to the country’s grid.

The application falls under the embedded energy plans of the commission.

Embedded energy is basically extra energy generated by Independent Power Producers who generate power for themselves but have excess they can sell to the market.

This is coming at the backdrop of the arrangement in progress by Lafarge Africa, Finland’s Wartsila and the World Bank’s IFC to build a 220 megawatt gas-fired power plant in the country to boost electricity supplies, at a cost

of USD400 million (about N80 billion).

The agreement for this project was reached in September last year will help provide electricity to about 1.4 million households. The plan is to add a 220 MW power plant to Lafarge Africa’s existing 90 MW plant, which is used mainly for its cement operations in Nigeria.

The existing plant only uses 50 MW and supplies about 40 MW of excess power already,

*Job creation in all sectors, Q1, 2015

therefore once the new plant is built about 260 MW will go to the national grid under a power purchase agreement.

According to a Reuters report on this arrangement, Wartsila will build and manage the power plant, while Lafarge Africa will manage the project. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide financial support and advisory services.

government expired on May 28, 2015.

The marketers had bid their time to allow the new government settle down before going back to ask for their balance but they refused to be involved in further importation and selling of fuel at the subsidized price of N87 per litre unless the outstanding claims are settled, a development which had made the supply of the products become epileptic across the country with NNPC imports struggling to cope with the situation Vanguard learnt that the committee set up by OkonjoIweala had recommended that the claims were genuine and that the government should honour the obligations, a verdict which the recent meeting between the marketers and NNPC/ ministries of petroleum and finance have also agreed to.

Vanguard also learnt that banks have keyed into the new development and have started advancing loans to marketers to finance fresh imports of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has claimed that the country’s long running intermittent fuel scarcities are artificial, and the handiwork of unscrupulous oil marketers and depot owners.

These groups, according to them are hoarding to create artificial scarcity and then selling petrol at N95 per litre, instead of the approved exdepot price of N77.66, despite getting supplies from the NNPC and also enjoying Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) subsidy.

The oil and gas regulatory agency says the marketers are making double gains as they are paid subsidy from the PSF and yet they still arbitrarily increase the ex-depot price of petrol.

DPR therefore warns that the licences of offenders would be withdrawn henceforth if they do not desist from such practices, saying the actions of the depot owners who charge a premium of over N17.34 on a litre of petrol, over the officially approved price amounts to defrauding government and the public, since they all get the subsidy for the products they bring into the country.

*New formal jobs in all cadre, Q1, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 39

Advertising & Promotions

How NB divides beer market along taste line STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU espite the avalanche of various beer brands in the market, Nigerian Breweries Plc has gone ahead to introduce a new beer brand; Star Triple X, thereby further dividing the taste line of consumers.

The company says the beer is brewed with 14 natural extra African herbs of bitter kola, kola nut, ginger etc.

The continuous development and introduction of new product (s) is an important source of improvement in consumer (s) welfare and company ’s income.

However, the economic question is how much do consumers benefit from new introduction.?

Or what competitive effects do new product introduction have.?

Generally, consumers are affected by new products in two ways. First, they gain the surplus associated with the additional variety provided by the new product and secondly they develop a new taste bud.

In effect, the importance of successful innovation for long-term performance by brands can hardly be overlooked.

For this reason, competitors will not remain passive.

Observatorily, it’s of fact that two thirds of new product launches meet reaction by competitors after their launch.

This could be empirically demonstrated by the strategic launch decisions that managers take.

The Activation of the new beer brand from Nigerian Breweries, NB Plc at Polo centre, Enugu by Oracle Experience, an Experiential Agency of the company could be said to be a radical step to enter a market already saturated with beer brands.

From what was obtained at the launch the characteristics of the new product launch strategy will have a significant impact on both the occurrence and nature of competitive reactions later.

The competitive effect of radically new products and incrementally new products greatly differs. The results will be that competitors will not respond to radical innovations and to new products that employ a niche strategy.

Competition however can react if a new product like Star Triple-X can be assessed within an existing product

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category.

The results may be that competitors will be more inclined to react to the introduction of new products that are supported by extensive communication.

This is surely going to happen going by the anticedents of NB, even though likelihood of reaction is higher in high growth markets like the Eastern market.

What led to the launch of the new beer, Senior Brand

Manager – Star, NB, Mr. Chidike Oluaoha, said: We are a consumer inspired and a brand led business, at every particular point in time, we go the extra mile to ensure that we provide superior satisfaction to our consumers. And one way we try to do that is to always check with them to know what they want. To know if what they have currently is enough, if there is something extra they would want.

We asked the question in our usual way of checking with our consumers, what more do you want? And that question elicited one answer from them and that answer is, we want Extra! So our consumers told us that they want extra. They love our beer, they love the portfolio of brands that we have because of course Nigerian Breweries Plc is renowned for its portfolio of great brands.

•Consumers sampling the new Star Triple X at the polo centre during the Activation of the new beer from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Enugu.

Chi reiterates commitment to nutritional benefits

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hi Limited, owners of Chivita 100% juice, says it’s committed to meeting the nutritional fruit benefits to consumers.

This the company said follows recent report that says about 90 percent of Nigerians are not meeting the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

According to the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report for 2005, “Fruit juices provide substantial contributions of several vitamins and minerals in higher amounts than some individual fruits offer’ In an increasingly healthconscious world, many brands have risen to the challenge of meeting consumer needs with innovative solutions.

Today, it is gratifying to note that beverage manufacturers like Chi Limited, makers of Chivita 100%, have made it easier for everyone to keep fit, by creating beverages that are simply healthy and affordable.

In spite of stiff competition and uncertainties in the marketplace, Chi Limited has endured to build a formidable brand that is a huge delight to fruit juice consumers.

According to a renowned nutritionist, Dr. Adeleke Adelakun, “nutrition is a key

enabler to meet almost every development goal for human beings, and we cannot overemphasize the role that natural foods without artificial preservatives and refined sugars can play in achieving this” He further stated that “Chivita 100% fruit juices are

naturally nutritious and are usually fortified with nutrients like vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D. They are considered a “nutrient dense” beverage because they contain far more nutritional value than other beverage choices per calorie”

Marketers eulogise Aimiuwu, late NIMN president

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t was an evening of accolades for late Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, former President /Council chairman of the National Institutes of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN as marketing professionals gathered to bid him farewell at the evening of tributes in his honour.

The evening of tribute organized by NIMN as a mark of respect for late Aimiuwu held at the institute’s corporate head office in Shangisha, Lagos, witnessed marketing professionals and other stakeholders from within and outside the nation’s marketing environment pay homage to the memory of the late NIMN boss, who many believed had succeeded in repositioning the institute and enhanced the status of

marketing practice in Nigeria.

Among those who wrote a tribute to the late president were ganiyu Koledoye, incumbent president of the institute, Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan, 1st VP, NIMN,Dr. Ify Uraih, Chairman body of fellows, Mrs Ajuibade, Federal Polythenic Ado-Ekiti, Chief Femi Onafowokan, Executive chairman, Ijebu North East LG, Atan ilugun Alaro, Ogun state, Emmanuel Ogbon and the Alumni of Manchester University Business School (2014 set) of NIMN. It will be recalled that Aimiuwu, who was President and Chairman Governing Council of the institute between September 2008 and August 2013, died at the early hours of Friday, April 17, this year at 68.

TNS, GeoPoll partner on market research

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he management of TNS and GeoPoll recently announced a partnership that would allow them provide market research information to companies across Africa via the mobile platform.

The partnership according to both companies will be driving an innovation which comes with benefits that outweighs that of traditional techniques.

Speaking on the partnership at a media parley in Lagos, Managing Director TNS, Thomas Walker explained that the partnership is coming at a time when the industry is changing and the traditional techniques are no longer in vogue.

“Mobile platform as a new way for market research unlock new doors and possibilities for us as an industry and our clients. With the rapid market competition, forces and dynamism, companies must also evolve. Most consumers cannot recollect what they did last week but now, we ask you what are you doing at the moment and that’s what our clients want to know.

S-Africa wine tasting exhibition returns to Nigeria

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here are indications that the South African Grand wine tasting exhibition is returning to Nigeria. This event which coincides with the Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated around the globe.

The one day event is opened to 18years plus, and designed to showcase quality wines from over 25 wine producers and over 200 wine brands from different regions in the Cape Wineland of South Africa.

Guests are expected to trade, taste and attend the exclusive South Africa Wine course, which shall be pre-registered.

The wine course will be led

by Wine Advisor, Brad Coetzer, from renowned education company, Beverage Intelligence.

The course is however opened to only Trade businesses such as importers, distributors, hotels F&B Managers, retailers, portfolio managers, gourmet and brand reporters and general food and beverage service providers.

The annual event is now established as a platform that delivers an up-market audience in a very prestigious environment.

C M Y K

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

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scathing assessment of the CBN’s strategy for reducing the increasing demand pressure on the Naira was recently published by “The Economist,” which is a UK based internationally respected magazine.

‘The Economist’ in its report titled “Nigeria’s Currency: ToothPick Alert” has clearly drawn the ire of the management of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Even if, CBN dismisses the title of the report as harmless satire, the author clearly pulled no punches in its scornful portrayal of the interventions of our Apex Bank in the foreign exchange market as akin to that of a bungling clown. The anonymous author, for example, describes the process which determined the 40 imported items, which were recently excluded from access to official foreign exchange, as “if the hit list was drawn up by someone wandering around a home and a building site and randomly pointing at items”.

The story further embellished the image of CBN as a comic delight, when it inexplicably gives prominence to Indian incense, toothpicks, as some of the banned items, while forex prohibition for rice and tinned fish importation, which consume more forex appear as an addendum to the less basic items earlier listed.

Nonetheless, the report, considers the official forex ban on tinned fish and rice as a counterproductive measure “for a country that does not produce enough of these things to feed itself, but no matter ”, the anonymous author cynically noted “Nigeria must be shielded from foreign sardines”! The writer’s choice of sardines and toothpicks as its perceived spearhead of threats to Nigeria’s security is probably an attempt to ridicule the futility of CBN’s exclusion of those forty items from official

forex sources.

Furthermore, the author, with an air of presumed superior wisdom, also warns with apparent altruism, that CBN’s attempt to “puff up the Naira’s exchange rate could cause untold harm to Nigeria’s economy ”, as “Emefiele’s policy would (inadvertently) precipitate higher inflation and further weaken the Naira”.

The report’s coup de grace, however, is the brazen condemnation of Emefiele’s managerial incompetence when compared with the performance of the former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, who according to the writer, “ was the toast of overseas investors until he was sacked for exposing corruption by Jonathan’s government”. The author of “Toothpick Alert”, is consequently perplexed at Nigeria’s odd preference, since according to him “if investors (overseas) do not have confidence in Emefiele as successor, which, would have been the worse option for Nigeria: allowing erstwhile Governor Sanusi to serve another four years or undermining the independence of the Central Bank by sacking him”.

Inspite of the clearly rambling unedited colloquial presentation of the story, the no holds barred, frontal attack may inform that the author possibly has an axe to grind with Emefiele as CBN Governor. Alternatively, the author may know next to nothing of the structure or the primary drivers and brakes in the Nigerian economy.

What is clear from ‘The Economist’ story, however, is the overriding message that investors want more Naira

depreciation, so that speculative overseas investors can readily expand their portfolio of Nigeria’s listed equity for less dollar values.

In pursuit of this objective, “The Economist” is ‘ righteously ’ alarmed that ‘instead of allowing the Naira to devalue” (the writer probably means depreciate as a currency does not unilaterally devalue itself) “the Central Bank is trying to defend the Naira rate by blocking imports”. The author ’s superficial understanding of the cause of the Naira’s unending depreciation is possibly an indication that he or she is clearly oblivious of the devastating impact and cause of the poison called “Excess Liquidity” on the Nigerian Economy.

Evidently, our seemingly

It is deceit for anyone to claim that the current low price of crude oil is directly responsible for a weaker Naira

Business & Economy Nigeria targets 20% supply of local petrol demand

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igeria aims to overcome its current refining sector problems in order to produce at least a fraction of the gasoline it needs to use itself.

NNPC said it hopes that domestic plants can cover 20 percent of Nigeria’s petrol needs.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who oversaw much of the refining system’s development, is keen to reduce reliance on costly subsidised imports.

Ian Udoh, Group Executive Director of Refining and Petrochemicals, NNPC, said C M Y K

strategy of the Apex bank to prop up Naira exchange rate.

Surely, the strategy of restricting scarce forex reserves to a nation’s relatively critical needs, which ‘The Economist’ scorned, has infact proved successful in several countries in encouraging local production and import substitution which also promotes increasing employment opportunities.

The preceding narrative should not for one minute suggest that CBN is on track with regard to appropriate Naira pricing. Clearly, so long as the enabling indices of CBN’s monetary instruments (inflation, cost of funds and exchange rate) remain out of gear, the exclusion of forex for rice and other intermediate raw materials will certainly trigger a general price rise, and also widen the gap between the black market and the official Naira exchange rate, to ultimately make the content of ‘Toothpick Alert’ a prophetic report.

Nonetheless, this need not be so if CBN finally accepts that our exchange rate dilemma will not be resolved by mere lip service to the role of demand and supply as the critical determinants of the constant intense pressure on the Naira exchange rate.

Indeed, so long as the disenabling burden of untamed Naira surplus remains our habit, not even hundreds of billions of forex reserves will stop a cascading tumble of the Naira exchange rate and the attendant disastrous consequences for our economy and our social welfare.

Sooner than later, the CBN will have to admit that the monthly substitution of Naira allocations for dollar denominated revenue remains the major threat to the Naira exchange rate and our national security.

SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS

‘The Economist’ and CBN’S “toothpick alert”

that he expected to receive six cargoes a month of Nigerian Bonny Light and Escravos crude oil to run 180,000 barrels per day (bpd) or 40 percent of Nigeria’s total refining capacity. He expected to produce 8 million litres a day of gasoline, accounting for about 20 percent of Nigeria’s estimated consumption.

During the last eight months, no crude was sent to the refineries, said the company contracted to deliver the oil.

A government document also

showed that the deliveries stopped last year but a month earlier, in October. Nigeria has wholly depended on subsidised fuel imports and crude-for-product swap agreements and suffered acute fuel shortages in May. The government’s anticorruption and security services are investigating the intricate structure of oil swaps deals. The crude in those contracts is taken out of the domestic allocation. Due to the dilapidation of pipeline infrastructure, refineries depend on sea deliveries.

unyielding burden of excess Naira supply is clearly responsible for the steady slide in the rate of our national currency; nonetheless, over an understanding of this primary causative factor of Naira depreciation would clearly still be discounted as useless input, so long as the actual object of ‘the Economist’ story is to robustly serve the interest of “blood thirsty” external sponsors and speculators who want to make whoopee on the back of a battered Naira, notwithstanding the deepening poverty and social dislocation that come with Naira devaluation and forex inflows which seek short term bonanza profits from the Nigerian securities market.

It is deceit for anyone to claim that the current low price of crude oil is directly responsible for a weaker Naira. Indeed, if such relationship is true, then the converse must also be valid; in other words, if crude prices should rise above $100/barrel, Nigeria will earn more revenue and the Naira should be stronger; but surprise surprise, how come no such major appreciation occurred in the Naira exchange rate, when crude oil price exceeded $140/barrel with regular output of well above 2million bpd, while Nigeria’s so called forex reserves exceeded $60bn.

Sadly, however, even if the language of ‘Toothpick Alert’ was mundane, with an analysis that lacked depth, CBN’s rejoinder in several full page advertorials was unnecessarily effusive and self depreciating response against a clearly cynical attempt to deliberately ridicule the efforts and

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 41 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

In the name of Nigeria, the theyy share

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E are in an upbeat mood.

Money is beginning to flow again. At least from the federal main supply, to the state and local government taps, and of course the federal tank which collects 52 percent of distributable funds. After months lamenting lack of funds, N804.7 billion was made available to be shared. I wonder what effect this will have on exchange rate as chunks of these funds flow through the tributaries of Bureau de Change and smuggling, into the larger oceans of world finance.

I am of course happy that many public sector workers may get salary arrears and some retirees, their unpaid pension. But I am not sure of the sustainability. For instance, have we heard the last of the Kogi Formula; a disingenuous mathematical formula in which 30 percent of a worker's salary equals 100 percent wage payment?

Although the money is widely claimed to be a bailout for the states to pay workers' salary arrears, we all know that most of it (N231.6B) is going to the Federal Government which does

not claim to be owing salaries. In contrast, the states may get N107.5 billion. The other lifeline, is helping the states to reschedule their commercial loans and acquire more debts in the name of a soft loan. I am not sure these are viable options in the long run. Eyes are set on emptying the Excess Crude Account; what other manner of saving do we have if this fund is liquidated?

All we hear from our leaders is how to share money from the federation account, not adding value to the crude oil we have sold for about sixty years or working to increase our collective wealth. I read the Vanguard interview of July 6, 2015 with Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, the Chairman of the governors' trade union, the Governors Forum. Expectedly, his focus was on sharing. He complained about the ”economic imbalance in the system” that sees the Federal Government getting 52 percent of the shares and states, “only” 26 percent.

His solution: “To g e t t h e Nigerian economy back on

track, all MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal government) must follow due process in remittance of accruing revenue…to the consolidated account for sharing to all tiers of government” His Excellency ’s only suggestion on revenue generation is tax, but how he asks, do you tax a person who lives on less than one dollar a day? I really wonder.

The tragedy is that they are not even efficient and prudent in sharing.

Rather than teleconferencing or employing basic information technology, each state monthly, sends a delegation led by their Finance Commissioner to Abuja to share the proceeds for that month, thereby incurring huge travel expenses. In turn, the job of most governors is not just to share the state allocation, but also that of the local governments.

The fundamental truth we are running away from, is that the thirty six states are drain pipes; they are essentially, means of distribution and sharing, rather than centres of production. We

One of the steps we need to take is to reduce or merge the thirty six states into viable entities, and let each state, cater for the number of local governments it needs

APC and Akande's entreaty

By Abdulrazaq Alao

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WILL start this response using the Yoruba adage; agba kii wa loja ki ori omo tuntun wo, which pre supposes that elders are stabilising forces for the peace of society. It gives pre eminence to the role of elders in guaranteeing stability and peaceful co-existence of various components of the society.

There is no doubt that Chief Bisi Akande, a former governor and pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Congress, is one of the respected leaders and leading lights, not just in the formation of the APC, but the necessary take off harmonisation and synchronisation needed for a formidable opposition. I commend their dedication, perseverance and commitment that resulted in the success and transformation of the else while opposition party to the ruling party, the first of its kind in Nigeria’s chequered political evolution.

In the context of where the APC has found itself today, the party elders, with due respect and deverence, have not performed to the admiration of most of us who see the elders of the APC as role models. The high wired political campaigns, the unity of purpose exhibited, the patriotism demonstrated by all and sundry gave the hope of an organised and united party where the love of the nation supersedes personal or section interests.

By his recent statement, Chief Bisi Akande has opened up to Nigerians the different categories of leaders in the party. Any well meaning member of the party however would understand that there was something pathetically wrong with the postulations encapsulated in the treatise signed by the elder statesman which was meant to be his own public intervention in the crisis of leadership that is threatening the longdreamed achievement of the party.

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What I found most confounding in the treatise was the high moral horse upon which the revered former national chairman sought to ride in denouncing certain actors in the current impasse within the party particularly at the national assembly. It was unfortunate that the former chairman could not openly acknowledge that the unfortunate drama that played out in the two chambers of the national assembly, and more specifically at the senate, on June 9th, 2015 was a clear demonstration of the failure of the party’s leadership to act on time. Their Rome was on fire but the Emperor was asleep.

Chief Akande confirmed in that intervention the common fear of an average northerner in dealing with politicians from the south west. In truth, but for the uncommon miracle that glued the two regions together in the last election, they have never really been successful associates in any political venture. Thus when the 2015 polls brought them together and brought out a resounding victory, many had thought it was going to be the beginning of a fresh relationship that will help shape the future of Nigeria for the better.

But now it is evident the likes of Chief Akande all along had not been happy about the marriage of the north and south-west.

Maybe because in the cult of the old ACN, holding offices was by the discretion of a few men; the Old Aweri of Kongi’s kingdom who are gods and whose decisions must not be inspected, questioned or reviewed. For

What is needed is a careful balancing of the various strength of each part of the relationship

had four viable regions; North, East, West and Mid West, before the military began the craze of creating states. General Jack Yakubu Gowon kicked it off by multiplying the regions by three which gave us twelve states. Then General Murtala Ramat Mohammed followed by adding seven more. By the time Generals Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Sanni Abacha finished with us, we had thirty six states, all, beggarly and on life support. To add a tragi-comic angle, the National Conference of the Jonathan administration proposed eighteen new states.

The principles of state creation have not been development, production or strengthening the federal system. It has basically being sharing the country’s oil wealth.

This is also the basic principle of littering the landscape with unviable local governments.

Given the ruling ideology of sharing, various groups send their sharpest minds to the centre, to grab shares of the national cake. In turn, constituents demand that legislators pay the electorate’s rents and children’s school fees, fund marriages and naming ceremonies, provide jobs, build schools and provide healthcare.

So when different parts of the country send their representatives to the National Assembly (NASS) it is not primarily to make laws or carry out over sight functions, It is to participate in the sharing bazaar.

So basically, t h e N a t i o n a l Assembly becomes a gathering of the tortoise clan, each trying to out fox the other and get a greater share. Given this truism, the Distinguished and

them, your ability to serve is tied to your age in the system, even if that has limited your exposure and makes you unable to think out of the box. For the north, that is however never the case.

Maybe that was why Chief Akande looked down with so much condescension on leaders of the north in that treatise such that he could even isolate/identify ‘democrats’ within the APC and who are not from the north. Hear him: ”Democrats among the APC leadership insisted on selection by mock elections, rather than tribal or sectional considerations. As a result of primary elections, Ahmed Lawan and George Akume emerged as APC candidate for Senate President and Deputy respectively while Femi Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Monguno emerged as the Speaker and Deputy for the House of Representatives.”

There are many questions surrounding the ‘mock elections’ in reference here, the most germane are, how was it that the two personalities that the ‘democrats’ had openly canvassed for were the eventual winner? In that mock election, was every member of the national assembly elected on the platform of the APC present? If some of them had boycotted out of anger or for whatever reasons, didn’t elderly wisdom dictate that the party ’s leadership should have suspended the mock elections to make it truly transparent and all involving? Is this not the same thing that happened in the senate and for which the ‘democrats’ now want to hang Bukola Saraki and co?

It was most uncharitable and unbecoming of an elder of Chief Akande’s status in the politics of Nigeria to cast wild aspersions on the generality of northern leaders and group them in the same camp as oil/drug barons and criminals. So his group was aware they were dealing with criminals all through the elections period and they were comfortable to be associated with such in public and private? So Baba Akande was aware of a meeting in the house of Alhaji Kawu Baraje with the intent of hijacking the

Honourables are ready to settle basic motions like sharing positions not by negotiations, persuasion or voting, but through physical combats. Even after declaring recess, they continue beating drums of war.

Since governance is essentially about sharing, the building of electoral platforms, called political parties, can only be makeshift. Politicians cannot afford to be in opposition, so most swim with the tide. For most of those who feel alienated or short changed at any given time, the logic is to team up with others outside the immediate sharing system, to challenge their ruling friends.

Very few do so on the basis of principles. It is because the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has very few principled politicians that it seems to be falling apart within one month in power.

It is not that we do not know what is wrong with our country.

We do. It is not that we do not know the solution. We do. Our political leaders are some of the sharpest in the world, and they have at their disposal, a pool of some of the best brains in the universe. But we have an indolent, unpatriotic and selfish ruling elite whose primary goal is to share our resources and retain the lion share for their private use.

Running a country like ours, is not rocket science. Our leaders in the First Republic successfully ran our economy without crude oil proceeds. One of the steps we need to take is to reduce or merge the thirty six states into viable entities, and let each state, cater for the number of local governments it needs.

APC for the PDP and kept silent all along?

Or should we rely on the textual analysis of his statement and argue that he was only reporting an hearsay? Then should an elder statesman rely on hearsay to make such wild allegations?

Assuming, but without conceding that a meeting actually took place as is being alleged and that the focus was to see how the nPDP would benefit from the current administration, how has that become a crime, particularly if those involved, for instance, had begun to see deception in the way the ‘cult of elders’ in the old ACN, were going about as if the APC is their sole property?

Another issue agitating my mind is the sudden media onslaught against Saraki and co. Well, why this is not unexpected given that the old ACN is well known for such. But Baba Akande and his fellow travellers should understand that if they used the media to pull down Goodluck Jonathan, now they are in power any attempt to pull down Saraki, a member of their party but whose action they currently deride, will lead to the fall of the party. It will be unfortunate to see such old men using their own hands to scatter the same house they had laboured to build, just like the fabled Akogbatugbaka of Fagunwa’s world of fantasies.

My caution to Chief Akande and co, is that while truly Nigeria has much to benefit from the control of the central government by strong political elements from the Southwest given their political sophistication, they should not forget that that element has never been able to bring them near power even when they sought marriage with the southsouth or south-east. The north has population and that was what helped the APC in 2015.

The records are there for all to see.

Thus, what is needed is a careful balancing of the various strength of each part of the relationship and not for one group to assume a holier-than-thou attitude.

•Mr.Alao, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

I

T does not take a genius to know why the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in crisis. From the look of things, the situation may not change within the foreseeable future. If care is not taken, APC may not rule for more than one term of office, at least not in the current format. It may have to undergo drastic metamorphoses before it can become a political party with the capacity to whip its adherents into line and keep them obedient.

The APC may thus end up being the ruling party with the shortest stint, compared to the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), which ruled from October 1960 to January 1966; the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) which ruled from October 1979 to December 1983 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which reigned from May 1999 to May 2015. The reason for the new ruling party’s woes is that, unlike the defunct NPC, NPN and the defeated PDP, it does not REALLY have a leadership. Not yet.

What it has is a crop of powerful chieftains who came together to wrest power from the PDP and are now slugging it out to assert their supremacies. These include President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. There are other strong but minor stakeholders, such as Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Senator Ahmed Yerima, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the lot, who are more or less in the shadows of Buhari, Tinubu and Atiku.

Secondly, unlike the three aforementioned parties, the APC does not have policies and principles by which it operates. At least, the PDP, in its power sharing arrangement, operated the policy of zoning of principal offices in the Legislature and Executive to reflect federal character and give its stakeholders a sense of belonging. It also effectively implemented power rotation, which started the Presidency from the South in 1999, went North in 2007, came back to the South in 2011 due to constitutional exigencies and would have gone back to the North in 2019 if former President Goodluck Jonathan had been re-elected.

The APC, on the other hand, sometimes says it does not believe in zoning, yet it zoned its National Chairmanship to the South to accommodate Tinubu’s lackey, Dr. John Oyegun. It zoned the presidency to the North to benefit Buhari who had the

What did Tambuwal tell Gbaja? largest electoral capital in the North.

Even in the sharing of the principal offices in the National Assembly, it zoned President of the Senate to North East and Speaker, House of Representatives to South West. If that arrangement had worked, the South East and South-South would have been excluded in the National Assembly. APC would have justified this (as they are doing right now) by saying that they (especially South East) did not “qualify” to produce principal officers as they did not elect “ranking” lawmakers in the APC. It is this chaotic atmosphere that has given way to the free-for-all that we have been witnessing.

Beyond all this is the ghost of political morality, which is now haunting the camp of Tinubu and his loyalists. They say there is no morality in politics. It is true, provided you commit political immorality and get away with it.

In 2011, Tinubu felt on top of the world when he succeeded in fouling

If care is not taken, APC may not rule for more than one term of office, at least not in the current format. It may have to undergo drastic metamorphoses before it can become a political party with the capacity to whip its adherents into line and keep them obedient

the zoning policy of the PDP. The Party wanted to make Hon. Mulikat Akande the Speaker of the House Reps to complete a national power sharing formula that went thus: President: South-South, Vice President, North West; Senate President, North Central; Deputy Senate President, South East; Speaker House of Reps, South West and Deputy Speaker, North East.

Tinubu’s intervention in PDP’s affairs threw the party ’s power sharing formula out of kilter. Tambuwal’s antiPDP coup deprived the South West and North East of their rightful dues and instead gave the North West Vice President and Speaker, while the South East got Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker.

But Tinubu and his supporters were elated with their own political wizardry. Incidentally, the warrior at the centre of that drama pushing Tinubu’s pieces on the House Representatives political chessboard was Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the then daredevil Minority Leader. When Tambuwal was successfully enthroned, Gbajabiamila told the media that it was based on “merit”. On Tuesday, June 9th 2015, the ghost of political morality came knocking on Gbajabiamila’s door. He was defeated

by Hon. Yakubu Dogara with the help of PDP lawmakers following a poetic reenactment of the 2011 scenario.

What was rhapsodically romanticised as “merit” in 2011 now became “treachery” for Tinubu’s faction of the APC. Rather than being wise and swallowing their pride as PDP did to allow governance to proceed, Tinubu and the APC “Loyalists” opted to brazen it out and fight to assert what they now called “party supremacy”. Tinubu and Gbajabiamila were exhilarated to destroy the principle of “party supremacy” in the PDP in 2011, but when it came to their turn to have a

taste of that medicine, they opted for a fight. It is this emphasis on power grabbing rather than operating based on credible principled policies that has turned the APC into a free-for-all ruling party.

After the June 25th brawling, which led to the postponement of the House of Representatives till July 21st, the APC set up series of initiatives to make peace among its warring factions.

Funny enough, former Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is now the Governor of Sokoto State, was asked to go and look for harmony between Speaker Dogara and Gbajabiamila’s groups. After protracted negotiations, Dogara’s group offered to concede the Majority Leader position to the Gbajabiamila group, provided that the beneficiaries did not come from the South West and North East. Their argument was, to me, impeccable.

South West already has the Deputy Speaker and cannot also produce the Majority Leader in the same chamber.

North East also has the Speaker and cannot produce any other principal officer when the South East and South-South are yet to get anything.

Dogara insisted on the constitutional imperative of federal character. This effectively edges out Gbajabiamila, the real reason that Tinubu and his loyalists are pushing for “party supremacy”.

When Tambuwal was appointed for this difficult job, I became very curious.

I wondered what he would advise Gbajabiamila to do as a way of ending the feud. Did he ask Gbaja to follow the enduring principle of “merit” which produced him in 2011 and enthroned Dogara in 2015? In fact, how could Tambuwal head such a peace mission when he had boldly and openly sided with Dogara during his June 9th election?

Well, no one told us how the conversation went between Tambuwal and Gbaja. But we did hear how it went when Tambuwal led his peace mission to the Asokoro, Abuja residence of the Lion of Bourdillon, Asiwaju Tinubu.

Livid with rage, Tinubu told Tambuwal that for betraying Gbaja on June 9th, he had shut his door to the South West in case he has a future presidential ambition in mind. Tambuwal reportedly excused himself and left.

The prospect for peace in the APC thus hangs in the balance. In eight days, the House will reconvene, and if the two sides refuse to budge from their obstinate positions we might be in for some serious royal rumble. We hope another Aminu Safana tragedy will not happen – ever again.

OPINION Bamidele Aturu's one sojourn

By Gbenga Gbadesire

I

T was one year last week since the demise of activist, lawyer and politician Bamdele Aturu at the young age of 49. Whilst it was easy for me those days to yearly write about one of my godfathers, late Air Commodore Anthony Ikazoboh when he was murdered in 1999, it has not been easy for me to write any tribute about late Bamidele Aturu for the singular reason that has to do with Yoruba tradition on the age difference between the living and the dead, vis-a vis tribute, eulogy or dirge.

I knew Bamidele Francis Aturu in 1989 when he refused to shake hands with the then Military Governor of Niger State, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe at the 1989 passing out parade for youth corpers.

Though I was with the now rested Prime People magazine then, our relationship extended beyond journalism as we stayed in touch on personal matters especially after graduating in law from Obafemi Awolowo University whereby.

When at the advent of this political dispensation in 1999 I started my own publication, The Session C M Y K

newspaper, late Bamidele Aturu agreed to be our counsel at no cost nor protocol. At the beginning of the problem between Ikoyi Club and I in 2008, the duo of Mrs. Chrisa Anyanwu and Maria Asiaviachi – Ozah two lawyers in his chambers who wrote my letter of appeal to the Club with my name thought as it was reasoned then that writing on his letter head could be interpreted to be spoiling for a fight .

Even when I took the brief to another lawyer that same 2008 only to return it back to his chambers in 2013, late Bamidele Aturu neither turned me back at that dire No lawyer time of my need nor his status capitalised on my predicament rather, he went handled on to conduct research for more pro me to get justice, and his defence of my matter really bono (free brought hope. And when I cases) case was been harassed, late like he did Bamidele Aturu was there for me.

Entering the sitting room of the Bamidele Aturus house in Egbeda, Ikeja is a big family photograph of himself, Adebimpe, his physiotherapist wife and five children staring at you.

Bamidele Aturu was a caring, loving and Christian lawyer, no wonder the Ikeja NBA said his lying in state was the first time the NBA even did it for any late member.

A magnanimous man who made sure he helped built a Redeemed Church for his Lord before building his own house at Egbeda. No lawyer in his status handled more pro bono (free cases) case like he did.

He was a cheerful giver/supporter and only late Chief Gani Fawehinmi comes close in terms of social justice for the less privileged and the oppressed.

As we remember him today, one hopes that some of us his friends, colleagues, brethren and beneficiaries would find time for his lovely wife, Adebimpe, who was suddenly thrown into widowhood that early morning when her husband was preparing to take a flight to Uyo and the cold hands of death suddenly took him, his children, his Akure based father and mother and more especially his chambers because these were all he lived for.

Mr. Gbadesire, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY13, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—45

Murder of a Prof: Tragic drama of how not to be a millionaire

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

‘W

E are pained that those our father employed to protect and take care of him...later ganged-up to kill him just because of his car which they could have taken and spared the old man...”.

These were the words of Adeseni, the third child of the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Prof. Albert Ilemobade, uttered in anguish while reacting to the gruesome murder of his 78-year-old father by his two domestic staff- the security guard, Daniel Ita, a security guard and Olayemi Bamitale, his former driver.

Adeseni who interrogated the killers of his father at the police station, wondered at the motive of their dastardly action despite all that the family had done for them.

Daughter of the deceased, Mrs Ayokanmi Ayuba, said it was a traumatic experience and a great loss to the family. Mrs Ayuba described the action of the two domestic workers as “wicked and unbelievable”.

Ironically, his killers openly

confessed that “although Baba was very nice to us but we had to kill him to be able to sell the car and raise good money to set up our own businesses”.

To be a millionaire, kill your boss: Daniel said they planned to sell the car for N2m and share the proceed equally. The market value of the car, according to the police, is over N5 million.

Daniel said his plan was to return to Calabar as a millionaire, while Olayemi said he would remarry and start a small business with his own share of the money. The murder of the Professor of Veterinary Medicine is believed to have been masterminded by his driver of many years Olayemi, 34, a native of Igogo in Ekiti State.

Olayemi, according to a family member of the deceased Professor, during the last Easter period drove him to the Chapel of Annunciation in the sleek red RAV 4 SUV marke d GGE589CF but disappeared with the car, abandoning his Master in the church.

The late Professor was helped back home after all efforts to locate Olayemi failed as he switched off his phone and went away with the vehicle. After waiting endlessly for him to return with the vehicle for four days, the matter w a s reported at the I j a p o Police station by t h e Professor.

Consequently, the car was demobilised via a tracking device and the driver was arrested and the c a r recovered from him.

It was gathered that he w a s detained and on a second

Comrades in crime: Daniel(l) and Olayemi with the car they tried to sell after murdering the ex-VC

thought the deceased decided not to pursue the matter any longer and asked that the case against his driver be dropped.

But unknown to the former VC, Olayemi haboured deep resentment for his master over his ordeal in police detention.

He was further infuriated when the Professor disengaged him after his release from detention.

Revenge of a sacked staff: He was alleged to have told the late Professor pointedly that “the battle has just started”, after he was informed that his service in the house was no longer needed.

The deceased reportedly kept the threat to himself but scribbled it in his diary.

Olayemi obviously made good his the threat with the gruesome murder of his boss at his Number 40 Ikere Street, Ijapo in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

After Olayemi was disengaged he later found an ally in Daniel Ita, 24, who was the night guard of the deceased.

Lucrative business He was said to have convinced the guard who was engaged seven months ago by the deceased that when the deed was done he (Daniel) would be swimming in “ good money” and will return to Calabar, Cross River State as a millionaire and be able to start a lucrative business instead of the job of opening and closing gate for someone.

Daniel heartily embraced the sweet talk and began to see himself as a millionaire in waiting. But he was also made to believe that the obstacle to his dream in this regard was the Professor.

Advice of a herbalist: He was said to have sought advice from a herbalist who warned them not to kill their master but can dispose him of his valuables.

Olayemi, however, reportedly brushed away the herbalist’s advice and insisted that the Professor needed to die to make their dream become a reality.

A family source was told that Olayemi was unable to sell off the Jeep the last time he took it away for four days because the vehicle has an in built tracking device. So a devilish plan was reportedly hatched on Saturday and was carried out at about

9pm on Sunday.

When Olayemi and his cokiller Daniel were paraded at the State Police Command in Akure, he confessed that Daniel smuggled him into the deceased compound at about 8pm and hid him in the gate house.

The deceased was at the time in bed with his 73-year-old wife, Olakitan. According to their plan, Daniel was to raise an alarm that there was an electric spark where the pumping machine was located within the compound and that the old man should come outside to look at it. This was precisely what happened.

Without any premonition of their evil intention, the elderly Prof fell into their trap. During his confession, the driver informed that he grabbed his former master by the neck, dragged him inside the gate house and strangled him, while Daniel gagged him with some used clothes to prevent him from shouting so as not to attract attention.

Olayemi said the old man struggled but they over-powered him. He added that when it was becoming difficult to kill him he asked Daniel to hold him down while he repeatedly jumped on their victim’s stomach and chest until he breathed his last.

His continued: “We went inside his bedroom and took the car key and some other items like IPad, two phones, laptop, two bags and N7,000 which we used to fuel the car. We left Akure and headed for Lagos.

“We left with those items so that the car will not be tracked again

Although Baba was very nice to us but we had to kill him to be able to sell the car and raise good money to set up our own businesses

because Baba used these gadgets to activate the tracking.”

According to him, they were stopped by some policemen at the entrance of the Ijapo estate but said they recognised Daniel as the security man to the deceased and asked us to go without further questioning.

Continuing Olayemi said they encountered some challenges after men of the Federal Road Safety Corps booked them for invalid vehicle particulars and had to sell the phones and IPad for N3,000 in order to pay for the release of the vehicle.

“We sold off the phones and laptops after being booked by the Road Safety officials. We sold the phones to retrieve the car from them before heading to Ijebu Ode with the hope of selling the car there, “ he said.

Release of the vehicle The duo, it was learnt, succeeded in getting to Ogun State where luck ran out on them as the buyer they met became suspicious because of the price they were asking him to pay for the vehicle.

The buyer later alerted the Police and they were rounded up at about 4am on Monday where they were lodging.

Prof’s last donation to the Church: The vicar of the Chapel of Annunciation Ven. Rev Ayodeji Fagbemi where the deceased worship said the late Professor was in church during the Father’s Day celebration.

Fagbemi recalled that he handed over to him a cheque being his contribution for church development, not knowing that would be his last donation to the Work of God. He described his murder by the two suspects as callous. According to him the church had been praying for his release on daily basis since he was allegedly kidnapped not knowing that he had been gruesomely murdered by his domestic staff.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has declared that the perpetrators of the gruesome murder of the late Prof. Ilemlbade will not go unpunished as he described the late former Vice-Chancellor of FUTA as a man who devoted his life to the service of humanity.

46—VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

elders of the party should have had the courage; the founding fathers, the BoT, they sould have had the courage to go to Jonathan and said: ‘look why don’t you keep to the agreement? But party members and stakeholders went ahead endorsing him. So from now on, any agreement reached, the PDP must abide by it.

• Ojougboh: One man cannot change the Senate rules

Nigerians will be fed up with APC in 1 year — OJOUGBOH D

r. Cairo Ojougboh was member, House of Representatives, Senate Liaison Officer to late President Umaru Yar’ Adua and currently National Vice Chairman, South -South of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In this interview, he said for the PDP to get it right after its loss in the last elections the truth must be told. He attributed the loss to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to adhere to an existing agreement. He also, among others, spoke on Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s election as deputy Senate President and the illegality of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bail out to states. Excerpts:

You were quoted as saying that Nigerians would beg the PDP to return to power, how will this happen?

It is very clear. The PDP is a party and if you look at the APC, there is only one member in APC and that is Buhari. You see, the APC came to power as a result of a gang-up against the PDP and obviously, it is not going to stand the test of time.

There will be a lot of confusion and there will be a lot of problems. Buhari is not going to agree with the persons within the APC because they are not of the same parentage and Nigerians will be very tired because it will be all motion and no movement. In fact, in the next one year, Nigerians will be fed up. You have already seen it and that is the truth of the matter. There will be all motion, no movement.

Will the PDP have a hand in it?

Why would the PDP have a hand in it?

How is the party strategizing to bounce back?

We are repositioning our party and it is when the leaders of the party begin to accept the truth, speak the truth and allow people, who are uncontrollable to take control, work their best and contribute their quota that our party will take over power again. The PDP has remained the most viable and well-built party that this country has ever had.

— YARI, NGF CHAIRMAN

BY HENRY UMORU

O

N why the PDP lost the presidential polls after boasting that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years Let me take you back. When Abacha died, the South came together to say it was their time to produce the president of this country because Abiola had just won the election that was annulled and he was a Southerner. So the North put themselves together and said this agitation if not well handled could break this country. As Northerners, we love this country so we will give power to the South. That was how cleverly, Obasanjo and Olu Falae contested the election in 1999 and that was how power was transferred to the South.

Then, there was an arrangement by the 34 great men that formed the PDP that they would start shifting power eight years to the North, eight years to the South. It was a gentleman agreement. It was enshrined in the PDP constitution but it is not in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The SouthWest had the first shot, everybody co-operated,

Obasanjo became president.

After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said ‘no,’ PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said ‘no, it will not work.’ The PDP had to produce a candidate and that was how Yar’Adua emerged.

Unfortunately, Yar’Adua did not survive, so the North said, ‘look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years’ and they were right.

Jonathan himself said he would do only four years.

Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that power can shift to the North. When time came, a lot of Maccaba dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest.

Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say, ‘ no, I will keep to my agreement.’ So Jonathan contesting meant that the zoning formula had been breached. The North didn’t

take it kindly; they said ‘this is not what we agreed. Even the Christian North that used to be very friendly, especially the North-Central said we had an agreement. Some governors, about five of them left the party because of that, because they saw what was happening. So it was this pressure that the North now agreed that they must take power back, that it was their turn.

Fortunately or unfortunately, only two candidates were presented at the election: Jonathan and Buhari. Buhari is from the North, Jonathan is from the South. The South had done more than enough for the time being for the agreement of 1998/1999. So the North said look we are going to vote for our son whether he is good or bad.

Well, the members most of them, stood on their ground and worked for the party; if you look at the margin, it’s just two million and where did the two million votes come from? Kano and Katsina.

The North and some Nigerians said that look Jonathan could not be strong enough to keep to an agreement that has been well accepted. When Obasanjo said it, nobody believed him, but the

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu resigned recently as the national chairman of the PDP,

In fact, in the next one year, Nigerians will be fed up. You have already seen it and that is the truth of the matter. There will be all motion, no movement.

following pressure from the presidency and other stakeholders that he led the party to failure. Is the entire National Working Committee of the party going to be dissolved?

No, you must follow due process of the law. The NWC members were voted into office and their tenure will expire in March. There are two ways to remove them; number one is they voluntarily resign. Second is that National Executive Council, NEC, with a vote of 2/3 will remove them. Anything short of these two, you can’t remove them. So the party must be patient to wait till March, 2016, to be able to effect any change in the NWC. So far, they have woken up and they are working.

Buhari has bailed out states with money the PDP claimed was part of funds saved by former President Jonathan, what is your take?

Yes, it is money left by the Jonathan administration.

President Buhari has been in office for just one month, where did he get the money from? But the issue with it is the method of disbursement, did the National Assembly approve it?

You see, this is where democracy comes in. Was it appropriated? Does it have legal backing? The PDP is a party and is watching.

APC has produced Senate President while the PDP has produced deputy senate president. How do you look at this development?

The emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy Senate President is a welcome development. You see, it shows you that PDP is the party to beat. It allows you understand that the PDP is a great party.

We speak with one voice. It is a wonderful experience and it is to show any party that you cannot impose your will on Nigerians. The unfortunate incident that led to the failure of PDP in the presidential elections would not happen again. We are one family and from now on, the PDP will learn to obey zoning because this matter called zoning is very important in Nigeria. It is the Nigerian system of democracy and if you don’t align, there is always a problem.

Is it possible for one man to change the Senate rules?

No, one man cannot change the Senate rules It is because the whole thing didn’t go down well with people, that is why they started casting aspersions and looking for scape goat.

Ekweremadu could never have changed the Senate Rules on his own. Because he is the deputy Senate President, which was never expected, they now want to give him a bad name.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—47

APC, NASS CRISES: The avoidable mistakes our leaders made –REP SHUAIBU H

ONOURABLE Philip Shuaibu represents Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He was a Minority Whip in Edo State House of Assembly for two years and later became the Majority leader for six years. He was also a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students. In this interview he says that it is the rebels in the All Progressives Congress, APC, are causing the crisis and that the situation now does not need federal character. He also speaks on other issues. Excerpts:

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru The House of Representatives witnessed a rowdy session recently over sharing of leadership positions, is the development healthy? What is the solution?

When it had to do with dragging of the Mace and fisticuffs, it was shameful. But shameful as it looks, it is important also to correct abnormalities in the House and the House of Representatives being the lower chamber of the National Assembly with younger people, you will expect some level of exuberance to be displayed and that was what led to that rowdiness.

The real issue for me is fighting for the soul of democracy which has to do with party supremacy.

When you jettison party supremacy, the foundation of democracy is threatened because as far as the constitution of Nigeria is concerned, independent candidacy has not been approved and for you to contest and win an election, you must contest on a platform, which is the party.

The party is not a human being that will stand on its own and contest and win an election, it must use its members to do that and those members too have an obligation to render to their party.

The APC came with the policy of changing how governance is being run from the retrogressive style of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to a more progressive leadership and governance.

For us as members of APC in the National Assembly, we are expected to drive the change that the party stands for through policy making, motions and laws. The President alone cannot drive that policy of change that Nigerians voted for. He needs the National Assembly to support him through motions and laws to enable the executive progressively push this change and that is the crisis in the National Assembly.

A situation where the party that brought us in is no longer being respected in terms of who should be its leaders, I think is the first disappointment that anybody can do after winning an election because the contract between the voters and us is to the extent of

the election promises and quality of governance that we promised them.

They voted for our party, some of us won the election because we contested through APC, while some of us won through the combination of the party and our popularity. But majority of people in the National Assembly today won on the basis of the party and the man Muhammadu Buhari. So, you cannot get there now and start disrespecting the party.

On zoning, federal character Some members of the House are calling for zoning, I can tell you that the same people went against the zoning principle. Having won election, now they are talking about zoning. I • Shuaibu: believe in federal character but there are levels of federal will be no winner and loser, character that can bring peace everybody will be a winner. and there are levels of federal For me, a Rep from the Southcharacter that won’t bring peace. South, I will feel cheated that we The situation in National are supposed to produce the Assembly today does not actually Speaker, but the same people follow the issue of federal now that are shouting zoning said character. What the party has South-South produced only four simply done is, we have accepted Reps, South-East produced only the Senate President, we have two Reps and they are using accepted the Speaker, how do we numbers. At that time, it favoured position the National Assembly them, now it is not favouring to drive the policy of change that them and they are talking about the APC stands for? zoning. So, for me I think the Having forgiven them for the principle of zoning was first disappointment in the jettisoned ab initio because the election of some principal officers, President and the Vice President and the loss of the people that are from two major zones – Norththe party supported and the West and South-West. emergence of warring factions, Now, if you check, the Senate let’s streamline the positions to President is from the North, the have them on board so that it will Speaker is from the North. So, if not be a win-win situation. There you are talking about federal character, as far as I am concerned, federal character has not reflected in the election of the Speaker and Senate President.

It has been jettisoned. |So for me, I support what the party has done but at the same time I think flexibility is the watch word and I am happy that the party was flexible to accept Dr Bukola Saraki and was flexible to accept Hon Yakubu Dogara.

They also should be flexible so that this row does not consume them.

I will not want to advice my party or make statements against my party in the open, but nonetheless, my personal opinion about that is that the leadership of the party made a mistake at the beginning.

Why did the party find it difficult to zone political offices immediately after elections?

I will not want to advice my party or make statements against my party in the open, but nonetheless, my personal opinion about that is that the leadership of the party made a mistake at the beginning. I think the party should have zoned

President Buhari should have called everybody to order political positions. The situation we found ourselves after the election shows that in the SouthEast zone by the result that was declared, the APC didn’t win at that place. It won only two seats.

But we won in other zones.

Having discovered that, the first thing the party should have done was to zone the positions according to the reality of how Nigerians voted. That was the first mistake.

The second mistake was the President making a statement that he could work with anybody. The third one was the mock poll that we did because in the midst of the crisis that mock poll was not necessary because we needed more meetings than those things that happened.

So for me, these are the little mistakes we made which are in the past, but obviously the way forward is what the party has done by saying okay everybody should come on board we have accepted what has been done.

That is why I continue to respect the Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, he has taken responsibility and he has accepted. For me that is a statesman, he is putting his experience to bear and we are happy that somebody like that is the chairman presently and he has accepted that we should move on and moving on, we need everybody to come on board and I think the wisest thing the two principal officers should do is to move according to the tides of the party because Nigerians are watching.

If the president should recognise independence of the legislature by saying he didn’t

want to interfere in its affairs, why should the party insist on individuals as if it wants to impose those people on the leadership?

I think the President is the number one leader of APC. As the number one leader of APC, he was not supposed to be neutral. What I mean by not being neutral is that, he is supposed to be part of the decisions of the party as the number one leader and when the crisis was on, I believe that he should have called everybody to order because he is the number one.

Situations like this had happened in my own state, the governor provided leadership and it didn’t degenerate to the level it has gone. So, I feel he should have provided the leadership by calling all of us together. The President shouldn’t have played neutrality as far as the APC was concerned.

As a lawmaker, do you believe in the independence of the legislature?

I believe in independence, but it is relative. We have three arms of government, the executive, the legislature, the judiciary. There is no way the three of them can be independent of themselves in terms of policy. The legislature and the executive are even worse off because the APC government has the majority in the National Assembly. What is going to be the driving force of the APC legislators in the National Assembly? The driving force will be the policy of their party. What is the driving force of the policy of the President, the head of the executive?

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

A’Ibom Gov at retreat, tasks new appointees

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KWA Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, weekend tasked members of his newly constituted 22-man Executive Council to hit the ground running at a strategic retreat held in Lagos.

In his presentation at the retreat, which was meant to key the executive members into the agenda of his administration, Governor Emmanuel who congratulated the new appointees, said that despite the dwindling fortunes of the country, his government was thinking strategically in order to deliver on his campaign promises to the people.

Reviewing the economy, the Governor mentioned that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, the nation’s GDP stood at 509.9 billion (rebased) and a growth rate of 5.0%; while inflation stood at about 9%, crude oil hovered at about 57 US Dollars, as at July 2015.

Emmanuel who noted that the situation posed a great challenge in sustaining comfortable livelihood for the citizens of the country, said the scenario called for States to look inward in order to create the requisite economic buffer that will help sustain infrastructural and social services like education, healthcare and roads development.

He said his administration was determined to stimulate industrial development and Foreign Direct Investment, as well as encourage local participation and engagement that will create economic activities, which will translate into jobs and better livelihood for the people.

Already, according to the Governor, more than 20 foreign investors have indicated interest in coming to set up shops in Akwa Ibom State. This, in addition to other strategic efforts of his government, he said, will create more employment opportunities for Akwa Ibom people.

Governor Emmanuel, therefore, called for support from all citizens, stakeholders and partners in the new drive towards economic development and charged his executive members to take the driver seat in their portfolios, in order to stimulate concrete positive actions targeted at the realization of his agenda for the State.

In attendance at the retreat were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo; the Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren and the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015—49

JOS BOMB BLASTS:

Tales of sorrow, pain and despair days after

By Marie-therese Nanlong, Jos

A

S you approach the gates of the hospitals where they are receiving treatment, everyone you meet wears a mournful, gloomy look. Many of them have tears in their eyes and speak in low, sorrowful tones, while some just gaze into space.

Indeed it was a depressing atmosphere within the premises of the Plateau Specialists Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Our Lady of Apostle, OLA, Hospital as grief-stricken relatives of the victims of the Sunday night twin blasts in Jos, the Plateau State capital, are seen either mourning their dead or taking care of their loved ones who survived with injuries.

Though high casualty fatal blasts are not new to residents of Jos, but the most recent incident that sent many to their early graves was unexpected after over four months of lull and the fact that many could not imagine such a tragedy occurring during this period of Ramadan fast.

Senseless deed But, Alas, the senseless deed was done at a restaurant along the ever-busy Bauchi road as well as in a mosque at Dilimi (Yan Taya) areas of the city that fateful Sunday night when residents were attending the Ramadan Tafsir delivered by the respected Sheikh Yahaya Jingir.

The perpetrators of the evil act also succeeded in pitching Christians against Muslims as a mob hurriedly set on fire two churches in the Dilimi area and attempted burning the popular ECWA Goodnews Church along Ahmadu Bello Way but for the timely intervention of security agents.

The miscreant besides burning the churches proceeded to loot nearby shops, carting away valuables and attempting to attack houses of Christians at the Nassarawa Gwong area of the city, but security agents C M Y K

intervened and the situation was brought under control.

Attempting to speak with relatives of the victims was a herculean task as they were not in the right frame of mind to talk.

Beyond responding to condolences, many refused to share experiences as

*African Church...attacked after the blast at Yan Taya

*Scene of the blast along Bauchi Road understandably they were still in grief.

Getting to Ward 3 where some children injured during the incident were receiving treatment, 12 years old Ismail Musa was sleeping fitfully; he turns restlessly as the father, Musa Abubakar, tries to steady the injured head.

Abubakar said: “My son went to the mosque to listen to the preaching, now see what those evil people did to him. I used to go the mosque with him since we started Ramadan, but that day I did not go with him because I was tired. When we heard the first blast, we thought it was the tyre of a trailer that burst but when the gunshots were heard and almost immediately the second explosion came, it was confirmed that the unexpected had happened.

“I thank God my son is only injured, he will be well, Insha

Allah. But others were not so lucky like him because many people died in the incident; may Allah receive their souls. The federal and state governments should work together and do whatever is necessary to bring this evil to an end.”

A middle-aged woman, Hajia

People were trying to stop the gunman from shooting but he sprayed them with bullets and they died instantly; almost immediately, the bomb exploded and I fell

Mairo Usman, while responding to questions, advised this reporter to let them be as nothing they will say will undo the tragic situation, saying: “We are mourning, this kind of evil should not be celebrated but Allah knows everything. We accept this as our fate and we pray it should not happen again.”

Another elderly man, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, who was in the mosque at the time of the incident said: “I was sitting by the door of the mosque; immediately I heard the gunshots, I ran from where I was sitting. People were trying to stop the gunman from shooting but he sprayed them with bullets and they died instantly. Almost immediately, the bomb exploded and I fell on the ground.

“Before we knew what was happening, everywhere was littered with pieces of flesh and blood flowed freely. We came for the Ramadan Tafsir which is the

tradition every Ramadan but these agents of the devil desecrated the mosque. May the soul of the dead find peace.”

A relative of one Caroline, a sales girl in the restaurant, told Vanguard Metro with tears in her eyes: “It is hard to believe that Caro lost her life while trying to earn a living. She has not stayed long in the place before this evil incident.

They don’t stay that late but because of this Ramadan, people go there to eat after breaking the fast. She was working there to raise some money but she lost her life before she could get the money; it is really sad. I just pray that this thing should end because it is becoming too much.”

Speaking on the situation, the State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, said the first blast which occurred at Bauchi road at a Shangaliku restaurant was carried out by “two women suicide bombers who walked into the restaurant and detonated the bomb and the second took place at Izala Mosques, Yan Taya and coordinated by shooting.”

The Police Boss described the burning of the two churches as “barbaric” and appealed to the people of the state to remain calm as “necessary security measures have been put in place by the Police to ensure the safety of lives and property.”

However, the security measures were obviously not enough to stop another bomb explosion yesterday, Sunday, at the premises of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, in Tudun Wada area of Jos. Though no lives were lost, but worshippers were said to have escaped death narrowly. This fresh incident only serves as a reminder that the merchants of death are still lurking around.

50 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Boko Haram: Chadian renews crackdown on veil

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HADIAN police yesterday warned that anyone found wearing the Muslim full-face veil would be arrested, after a Boko Haram suicide bombing in the capital left 15 dead.

Saturday’s attack in a bustling N’Djamena market by a man disguised as a woman in a full-face veil also injured 80 and spread panic across the city.

“This attack just confirms that a ban” on the

full-face veil was justified, national police spokesman Paul Manga said, adding that “it now must be respected more than ever by the entire population.”

“Anyone who does not obey the law will be automatically arrested and brought to justice,” he warned.

The bomber detonated his explosives belt when he was stopped for security checks at the entrance to the city’s main market.

Muslim-majority Chad

banned the full-face veil, ramped up security measures and bombed militant positions in Nigeria last month after the first ever Boko Haram attack in its capital.

Security was tightened across the dry and dusty capital on Sunday with police and soldiers deployed in all areas, including intersections, markets and mosques.

Nine of the dead were women traders, and fear still permeated the market yesterday.

Burundi delays presidential poll

B

URUNDI’s presi dential election has been postponed to July 21 from July 15, a presidential spokesman said at the weekend, after African leaders urged a delay to try to halt worsening violence in a nation that emerged from civil war only a decade ago.

Soldiers and unidentified gunmen clashed on Friday in Kayanza province, near Rwanda’s border, a regional governor and officials said, further exacerbating tensions in a region with a history of ethnic conflict.

•Nkurunziza Kayanza governor Canesius Ndayimanisha said the gunmen had crossed from Rwanda, a charge denied by Kigali but which will fan fears of

a wider conflict.

Burundi’s army and the government in Bujumbura had no comment on the latest clashes, in which the governor said two soldiers and two gunmen had been hurt.

“The situation is now under control,” Ndayimanisha told Reuters.

Burundi’s opposition is boycotting the election, saying a decision by President Pierre Nkurunziza to seek a third term is unconstitutional.

The announcement of his re-election bid triggered weeks of protests in April.

Rwandan parliament debates third term

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WANDAN law makers will tomorrow debate possible changes to the constitution to allow strongman Paul Kagame a third term in power as president.

Over 3.7 million people — well over half of voters — have signed a petition calling for a change of Article 101 of the constitution, which limits the president to two terms, according to Rwandan media.

Lawmakers will review “requests by Rwandans of the amendment of article 101 of the constitution,” the parliamentary calendar read.

Kagame, 57, has been at the top of Rwandan politics since 1994, when an offensive by his RPF ethnic Tutsi rebel force put an end to a genocide

by Hutu extremists that left an estimated 800,000 people dead, most of whom were Tutsis.

As minister of defence and then vice president, Kagame was widely seen as the power behind the throne even before he took the presidency in 2003, winning 95 percent of the vote. He was reelected in 2010 with a similarly resounding mandate. The next elections are due in 2017.

From the trauma of gen-

ocide, he has been painted as a guarantor of stability and economic development, earning praise from donors — and his supporters say many in Rwanda view the prospect of his departure as a step into the unknown. Critics say he has silenced opposition and the media.

Kagame says the decision is for the “Rwandan people”.

“I have not asked anyone to change the constitution and I have not told anybody how or what to think about 2017,” Kagame said in April.

ANZANIA’S ruling party yesterday anointed government minister John Magufuli as its candidate for presidential elections due to be held in October, party officials said.

Magufuli, 55 and currently the east African nation’s minister of works, will be widely expected to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete, who will be stepping down after his second and final term.

“I am proud of our candidate, he is a very hardworking man and I am certain he will be the best

E

URO zone leaders told near-bankrupt Greece at an emergency summit yesterday that it must restore trust by enacting key reforms before they will open talks on a new financial rescue to keep it in the European currency area.

Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be required to push legislation through parliament from today to convince his 18 partners in the monetary union to release immediate funds to avert a Greek state bankruptcy and start negotiations on a third bailout program.

Some laws will have to be passed by Wednesday and the entire package endorsed by parliament before talks can start, one minister said.

Tsipras said on arrival in Brussels he wanted “another honest compro-

•Greece PM Alexis Tsipras mise” to keep Europe united.

“We can reach an agreement tonight if all parties want it,” he said.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is the biggest contributor to euro zone bailouts, said the conditions were not yet right to start negotiations,

sounding cautious in deference to mounting opposition at home to more aid for Greece.

“The most important currency has been lost and that is trust,” she told reporters. “That means that we will have tough discussions and there will be no agreement at any price.”

Iran, Six powers close in on deal

I

RAN and six world powers were close to nailing down an historic nuclear deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran’s atomic program but diplomats said an agreement was highly unlikely yesterday.

After more than two weeks of marathon negotiations, Iranian and Western officials said the earliest an agreement could be ready was more likely today.

“We are working hard, but a deal tonight is simply logistically impossible,” Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for the Iranian delegation, said on Twitter. “This is a 100page document, after all.”

In a sign that prospects for a deal on Sunday were vanishing, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was on his way back to London, though he was expected to return today, officials said.

French Foreign Minis-

ter Laurent Fabius canceled a planned trip to Central African Republic and Ethiopia due to the continued deadlock in the Iran negotiations, a French diplomatic source said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned that some difficult issues remained on the 16th day of ministerial negotiations between Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

Pope Francis ends tour in Paraguay

P

•Kagame Any change to the constitution would require a vote in support by at least three-quarters of both parliament’s lower and upper houses, followed by a national referendum.

Tanzania’s ruling party picks presidential candidate

T

Euro leaders squeeze Greece more to earn bail out

president,” Kikwete said after ballots were counted in Tanzania’s administrative capital of Dodoma.

“He is a no nonsense man. We hope he will help the country to conquer poverty, fight graft and indiscipline.”

Presidential, parliamentary and local polls are due to take place on October 25. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has been in power since modern Tanzania was formed in 1964, and currently has twothirds of seats in parliament.

OPE Francis put into practice his insistence that the world’s poor not be left on the margins of society by visiting a flood-prone slum outside Asuncion yesterday on the final day of his three-country South American tour.

Residents of the Banado Norte shanty on the banks of the Paraguay River shrieked as Francis walked by, reaching out to touch his white cassock and snap a photo with their cellphones.

“Now I can die peacefully,” said Francisca de Chamorra, an 82-year-old widow who moved to the shanty in 1952. “It’s a miracle that a pope has come to this muddy place.”

Francis has spent much of the past week – and before that much of his pontificate – railing about the injustices of the global capitalist system that he says idolizes money over people, demanding instead a new economic model where the Earth’s resources are distributed equally among all.

In Banado Norte, Francis saw people living in shacks made of plywood and corrugated metal. A

few weeks ago, pigs were rummaging through garbage searching for leftovers.

Italy suspends consular services in Egypt

I

TALY’S Embassy in Egypt says it is suspending all consular services in Cairo, a day after its consulate was hit by a car bomb that killed a passer-by and blasted a gaping hole in the historic building.

In a statement yester-

day, Italy says diplomats were working to restore services at the consulate, which issues some 2,200 visas annually.

It says the blast early Saturday completely destroyed some consular offices, including the building’s visa office.

Srebrenica attack re-opens Balkan wounds

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HE attack on the Ser bian prime minister at the weekend in Bosnia that marred Srebrenica massacre commemorations exposed the deep divisions still lingering decades after the Balkans’ interethnic wars ended.

Regional leaders and media condemned the attack which saw premier

Aleksandar Vucic chased from the memorial for the 1995 slaughter of some 8,000 Muslims, by a bottle and stone throwing mob.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said Sunday that the incident recalled the run-up to the bloody 1990s conflict in Bosnia that killed 100,000 people.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY13, 2015 —51

C M Y K

52 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

NLC urges Kwara govt not to divert bailout funds

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—KWARA State council of Nigeria Labour Congres, NLC, has urged Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to ensure the bailout fund for the state from President Muhammadu Buhari was not diverted but used for the payments of outstanding salaries of all categories of workers,including pension debts, the money was meant.

The appeal was contained in a letter signed by the NLC chairman in the state, Alh Yekeen Agunbiade, written to the state government yesterday.

He stated that the communication became necessary to properly guide the state government to maximise the opportunity of the released relief fund and excess crude oil money shared to states of the federation to settle all outstanding salaries and pensions debts to bring relief to all categories of workers in the state.

The NLC chairman further called on the governor to pay early enough and particularly use the money to offset months of debt salaries owed workers, pensioners, parastatals, and agencies in the state who had been anxiously awaiting the payment.

This, according to him, will make Muslim faithful enjoy the end of Ramadan.

Agunbiade also suggested that the money should be used to settle several months of outstanding salaries of local government employees, local government pensioners and all outstanding salaries of workers in the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, especially teaching and non-teaching staff, including all the government tertiary institutions and parastatals owed several months of salaries.

MAKU TO BUHARI: Please, redeploy soldiers

By Abel Daniel

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AFIA—FORMER Minister of Information and governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, has called on

President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently redeployed military personnel to the state over high rate of killings and criminality.

Maku, who was reacting to high rate of senseless killings in the state by suspected insurgents, stated this in an interview with newsmen at his Apo legislative

residence, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, weekend.

He said the recent problems confronting Nasarawa State was no longer communal but insurgent, adding that Governor Tanko Al-Makura’s government had witnessed the largest number of death-toll in the state.

Rukewan Onoge, winner; Odunayo Adesokan, winner; Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Folashodun Shonubi; Kelechi Mbah, winner, and Ugonna Okoli, winner at the 2015 Ennovate Challenge organised by NIBSS in partnership with Samsung and IBM in Lagos on Friday

Another explosion in Jos, no casualty

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—A week after a twin bomb blasts rocked Jos, the Plateau State capital, another explosion occurred, yesterday, morning in the premises of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, in Tudun Wada area of Jos North Local Government Area.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Emmanuel Abuh, confirmed that the incident at about 9a.m., adding no life was lost.

He, however, said the worshippers narrowly escaped death by the whiskers as another explosive was detected and evacuated from the church premises.

He said: “There was an incident at ECWA Tudun Wada but no life was lost. Another explosive planted in the premises was detected and detonated; security is heightened and the situation is under control.”

He urged residents to be on the alert and report any suspicious object or movement of persons to any nearby security agency.

Firm partners ISO to spearhead govt agenda in power sector

I

NFRANET ENERGY Services and the Nigerian Electricity Market & System Operator, ISO, are organising a 2-day workshop on Interpretation and Understanding the Nigerian Transitional Electricity Market Rules.

The Nigerian Transitional Electricity Market Rules had been framed by the market operators to establish the electricity trading system for the Nigerian electricity market, which guarantees an efficient, transparent and nondiscriminatory market administration service to all participants and facilitates the development of a sustainable competitive wholesale electricity market.

The agenda of the workshop

also includes other key issues with profound impact in the effective generation & distribution of electricity in Nigeria.

The Commercial Director of Infranet, Adewale Ogunbunfunmi, who disclosed news of the workshop in Lagos at the weekend, said most Discos in Nigeria were unable to raise the required funding for capital projects from banks, adding that an alternative source of funding capital projects was by revenue assurance.

He said the biggest challenge facing electricity distribution in Nigeria was Limited power generation, explaining this informs the reason they were unable to distribute regular and constant supply to customers.

Head of Finance & Regulatory Affairs of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Abdulkadir Shettima said the issue of tariff was invariably one that had an impact on consumers either positively or negatively.

Facilitators of the workshop include Dr Stephen Labson, Managing Director of slEconomics Pty Limited, a boutique economics consulting firm established in 2004; Engr.

Uzoma D. Achinanya, Managing Director of Emtech Energy Services Ltd, an international consultancy services company with competencies in power generation, transmission, distribution, revenue cycle management, wholesale electricity trading and power sector reform, among others.

According to him, this is the reason the All Progressives Congress, APC, could not win in the presidential election.

He also disclosed that over 100 persons had allegedly been killed by insurgents at Keana, Kadarko, Karu and Obi areas of the state since the election.

Maku added that apart from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the far north, there was no other state currently witnessing endless violence except Nasarawa in the North Central Nigeria.

“The recent dismantling of military personnel from checkpoints is worsening criminal activities in the state. I, on behalf of Nasarawa people, beg President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently redeploy soldiers back to some of the flash-points where they were stationed earlier to curtail the senseless killings of innocent farmers and citizens in Nasarawa State.

“When the military personnel were in charge of all checkpoints, we had minimal cases not until recently. The mercenaries are still in the bush and so many farmers cannot go to their farms for fear of attacks,” Maku said.

He also begged insurgents in the state to have mercy on the people and stop the killings.

School marks 40

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ICTORY HOME School, Ikeja, Tuesday, marks its 40th anniversary/14th graduation prize giving day and award.

The school, which had turned out prominent educationists in various professions, will also give deserving awards to past and present students and teachers.

Managing proprietor of the school, Chief Christian Olaniyan, who said the ceremony will hold on July 15, 2015, at school compound, Ikeja, added that those to attend include chairman of the occasion, Pastor Shola Osunmakinde, Mr. Adesoji Abraham, father of the day, Mrs. Mary Veracruz, mother of the day and other prominent scholars in Lagos State.

Kogi not a failed state—Wada ...as APC group advises against next gov poll

By Ben Agande & Joseph Erunke

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OVERNOR IDRIS Wada of Kogi State has said that despite the financial challenge faced by the state, it was wrong for any one to insinuate that it was a failed state.

This came on a day a group of All Progressives Congress, APC,youths advised the governor against contesting the forthcoming governorship

election in the state scheduled for November 21 this year.

The governor, who stated this during an interactive session with some journalists in Abuja, weekend, noted that the state was viable and had been meeting all its obligations as at when due.

According to the governor, contrary to the falsehood being spread by the opposition in the state that the state is owing its workers over eight months salary arrears, the government is owing workers only one month arrears

of salary.

He said: “Kogi is not a failed state, Kogi is not bankrupt. As we speak, we are owing the workers only one month salary arrears and not eight months or even two months as being speculated. ‘’We have made prompt payment of salaries our priority, our workers received their salaries between 22nd and 25th of every month since I assumed office.

“The problem of the one month salary arrears came in May this

year when there was a shortfall from the Federal Government allocation, when we received only N2.7 billion and we needed close to N3.7 billion to meet our obligations. ‘’We had to go to the bank for overdraft, this problem is not peculiar to Kogi State alone; it is a general problem nationwide because of the economic problem the nation is facing. So, Kogi is not bankrupt and not a failed state.”

Speaking on the forthcoming governorship election and the speculation that Kogi people would not vote for him for second time, Governor Wada said he had not decided on whether he would contest or not.

The governor stated: “If I decide to contest, I am sure the Almighty God that saw me through when I first contested will see me through this time around.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 —53 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

GEMINI: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

CANCER: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LEO: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

VIRGO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

lady recently said to me - This weather is just not friendly. The sun is too much. Let the sun subside before I do it.

And I looked at her and said, supposing it starts raining now what will you do? The

The Weather truth is that the weather has never been friendly. Of course, it is not the business of the weather to be friendly to you. But your duty

TERROR MUDA

is to do everything within your power to be able to use the weather as it is. Tell me, have you ever seen a perfect weather? Whether

in “Never say goodbye”

rain or sun, people have always complained. Yet, some people are making fortune from it, rain or sunshine. You too must do the same.

For he that must succeed does not need to look at the weather.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you.

Be more loving.

SCORPIO: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

SAGITTARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

CAPRICORN: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

AQUARIUS: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted.

Watch carefully what you agree to do.

PISCES: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you.

Don’t neglect love.

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

What does future have for me Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Sam, Lagos.

Dear Sam, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

54—Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

I

plead guilty to some of the accusations made by readers of this column. Of “….trying to shirk National responsibility as member of the The Technical and Development Committee of the NFF” Of “….writing about Saint Finbarrs College and the Principal Cup at a time the country’s football was on fire with Enyeama and Keshi on the front burner” etc.

By private mail and text I did try to reply, and let those who got in touch know that after taking a position on the re-hiring of Keshi, who I believed had nothing more to offer us, it was only fair that I keep away from him and his activities. But that at my family altar I will always remember to pray for Nigeria ( However,I found out, in the spiritual realm that it was a tough call given the overbearing aura of the person in charge).

Three principal issues made me to decide to have some peace. I will narrate them briefly.

As we were preparing for the World Cup, we took a look at our bench and came to the conclusion that it had to be beefed up. In that meeting I contributed that as a member of FIFA delegation to two World Cups in Korea-Japan and France and the Junior world Cup in Malaysia I was in a position to say that World Cup technical crews needed more than a coach and a goalkeeper’s trainer, so we asked Keshi to shop for two or three aides to help complement his efforts.

Not only did he surprise us by saying he was “fine” He unleashed the media on the committee that we were trying to impose Coaches on him. Some even said we were trying to employ a foreigner to boss him.

At the last meeting we had with the Eagles technical crew before the world cup, we noticed that Ike Uche’s name was not on his list despite his current form and goal scoring prowess which Keshi acknowledged as the best then among all Nigerian players, so we asked questions. When we got no answers we then went ahead to PLEAD AND BEG the coach to forgive what ever he must have done and take him to Brazil to strengthen our attacking options.

We went into the scriptures and quoted portions on forgiveness, of asking God to forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. In his closing submission, Chief Anyansi offered to prostrate and begged him, only for Keshi to retort “ Haba Chief…..Noooo I have heard” To our utter surprise and shock, when the final list for Brazil was submitted, Uche was not on that list. I switched off. The insult aside, this was a man who had decided to run the team as a private property.

(He was to later request that on his second coming he will want to work without the Technical Committee. Laughable) Off we went to the World cup with a team that had all funny names invited including a certain Agbim that everyone in this country except Keshi regarded as “good as Enyeama” one who the domestic league coaches and reporters did not rate in the first ten) of course in the same tradition of the Confederation Cup we had all manner of money related issues that led to a shameful strike before a key match.

I repeat that with the mutiny and indiscipline in

‘ . . . .Whom the gods will destroy they first make mad…’ camp, ( One of our players referred to Senate President David Mark as “…you guys”) two deductions. Either the coach was not in charge of the team, or he was in full support of what was going on and this threw him out as a bad manager. Under another watch, Nigeria would have done better at the World Cup than what we did.

Very soon Nigerians will understand better why they

“….whom the gods will destroy they first make mad” is credited to Euripides, a Greek tragic dramatist 484-406BC blackmailed officials into shipping millions of dollars in cash to them instead of the very easy and conventional transfer of monies into their accounts!

Finally, as done by FIFA and CAF, I challenge the Technical Department of the NFF to publish the Technical report of our matches in the last four years.

If not the individual matches, those of the major competitions like CHAN, Nations Cup, Confederations Cup and the World Cup as submitted by the Technical crew of our national teams.

Every time I went for a meeting expecting to see the technical presentation of our coaches, I marvel at what was thrown into our files…..a piece of paper containing camping sites and dates of reporting to camp. Do I remember the number of times we struggled to get the coach to explain the rationale behind the invitation of certain players? “….whom the gods will destroy they first make mad” is credited to Euripides, a Greek tragic dramatist 484406BC. Others link it to Prometheus in Henry Wadsworth’s Longfellow poem “The masque of Pandora” whatever, whoever, it is simple and self explanatory, of a young man who would have moved on and become a hero for life. Who had the opportunity of quitting when the proverbial ovation was deafening, but who for a lot of reasons decided to stay on, and be disgraced out.

And that brings me to the issue of Sunday Oliseh.

In the heat of the NFF imbroglio with Keshi and Enyeama, I heard Oliseh screaming blue murder. How the NFF was wrong, how Enyeama is the best thing

to have happened to Nigeria since satchet water, and how querying belonged to civil servants. etc…etc… In my mind I said “ NO Oliseh No. I wished he was in charge of the Eagles and not taking a player’s mentality to respond to a management decision.”

You can therefore imagine my shock when he was contacted to take over the Super Eagles. First I commend the NFF for swiftly moving to fill the vacant position given our Nations Cup timetable. Secondly, the sometimes not valid argument against the NFF of recycling coaches has been put behind us. I also do not believe that former footballers make the best coaches. The question now remains. Question: will Oliseh be capable? Those who talk about qualification miss it. For analysis and so on I would have given the job to Idah Peterside, Onochie Anibeze , Tony Bekederemo and his Brila FM colleagues. .......We need more than that to be Coach of Super Eagles.

However as put forward by the NFF, especially those who have interacted with him, the future looks bright.

Given the benefit of TOTAL support by all the technical components of the NFF, from my experience I can say without any fear of contradiction that the days of Oliseh will herald the invitation of players on merit. I can swear that attempts will be made to bring back the Super Eagles culture of excellence and “fear factor”…….This is a big risk that has been taken, one that may just work out….SO HELP HIM GOD......for our sake.

Referees and the domestic league I detest clubs who blame referees every time they lose matches.

The Amaju Pinnick led NFF hit the ground running by embarking on human capacity development and referees have been the greatest beneficiaries. The impact was felt immediately the Domestic league started and is still been felt. The referees department of the NFF, the Nigeria Referees association and the LMC deserve commendation for the successes we are recording so far, especially in the eagle eye monitoring of performances and so on which has been enhanced by the appointment of professional Referees Assessors.

It has never been this good.

Let it be said therefore that we cannot expect a 100 per cent performance in less than a year of getting serious. I score the referees over 70 per cent so far and this is is very high. The thirty per cent will be attained when we realize that referees are also human and do make mistakes not because they have been compromised. The remaining thirty per cent will be garnered when we reduce the number of referees been used because for any referee to get less than seven matches in a season does not help him develop.

I conclude by saying that we should develop a scientific way of monitoring and disciplining referees.

Independent recording of matches as an example, different from the ranting of club officials who know next to nothing about the dynamic laws of the game.

Our referees should not be made to go for matches psychologically weighed down by fear depending on the club they have been appointed to officiate.

See you next week.

Schweinsteiger confirms Man United switch

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•Schweinsteiger C M Y K

ASTIAN Schweinsteiger confirmed yesterday he will quit Bayern Munich for Manchester United, subject to a medical, as the German champions lost their first pre-season tournament without him. Bayern announced on Saturday that they had agreed a transfer fee with United for the 30-year-old defensive midfielder, who is set to quit after 17 years to sign a three-year deal with the English club.

Schweinsteiger tweeted a picture of himself on a plane

on Sunday with the caption: “One last dream in my career will come true. I’m excited about the next chapter in my career with Manchester United”. “Dear fans, after 17 incredible years at FC Bayern, 15 national titles, winning the historical triple and uncountable other highlights, I have decided to take a new career step,” wrote Schweinsteiger on his Facebook page. “This decision was very hard to make because you and FC Bayern have, are and will always be an extremely

important part of my life.

“Nevertheless, I would

like to again gain experience at a new club and my destination is Manchester United. “I

hope you understand my decision. No one can take away the incredible journey we had together.”

Leadership presents Nigeria’s 50 most celebrated golfers such a herculean task since

A

LEADING Nigerian newspaper, Leadership, is all set to present the 50 most celebrated golfers in the country since some 50 years back when the late Titan, Chief Tony Enahoro forced the game from the clutches of Europeans and placed it on doorsteps of all Nigerians who wanted to play.

The 50 selected players will be celebrated in a special all color 200-page magazine. The idea of this project is to create the need for a sort of stock-taking on individuals and corporate organizations who offered so much to uplift and develop the game in these past 50 years.

Picking 50 most celebrated golfers in Nigeria was

the venture was far from the Fortune Rich list.

Those selected were picked on pure merit considering what such individuals and corporate bodies must have sacrificed to ensure that the game was not only taken from Europeans who dominated it from the onset but also offered deep roots to ensure its survival.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 — 55

Oliseh arrives tomorrow

By Jude Opara, Abuja

N

EWLY appointed Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh is expected to arrive Nigeria tomorrow ahead of his scheduled unveiling by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He will be coming with chairman of the technical committee of the federation, Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

A source at the NFF told Sports Vanguard over the weekend that the former Super Eagles captain who met in London last week with chieftains of the federation will be joined by Anyansi-Agwu from the United States of America before they return to the country.

According to our source, the new coach would be unveiled later in the week after the meeting of the executive committee of the NFF scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Abuja.

He also debunked talks making the rounds that the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick single-handedly negotiated and employed Oliseh insisting that the technical committee headed by AyansiAgwu was involved in the discussions from the first day.

“Let me tell you that the chairman of the technical committee of the NFF will be returning to the country on Tuesday with our new coach, Sunday Oliseh, and it is expected that he will be duly unveiled within the week; and the board of the NFF will be meeting on Wednesday hopefully in Abuja to deliberate on a number of issues.

Eagles coach. Oliseh, a former Dortmund defensive midfielder is set to be named Eagles coach this week in Abuja and speaking at the Warri City stadium during yesterday’s league match between Warri Wolves and Enyimba, Pinnick said Oliseh was deemed the best hand for the Eagles because of his high intellectual capacity in coaching and recommendations by the Federation of International Football Associations.

Oliseh has a UEFA Pro Licence certificate, C M Y K

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OLDEN Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke at the weekend dragged his wards to the classroom as part of their training regimen towards solid preparation for the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile.

After weeks of physical conditioning and training, Amuneke said it was imperative that the players were shown animated tactical details in order to broaden their horizon.

Amuneke, one of few Nigerians who hold the

high-profile UEFA Pro License certificate alongside the likes of Sunday Oliseh and Mutiu Adepoju, showed the players different tactical formations on a projector with intermittent question and answer sessions with the players.

“These boys are lucky because nobody taught us anything like this in our playing days in the national youth teams,” noted Golden Eaglets’ assistant coach, Kabiru Baleria who played for the Flying Eagles set of 1989.

Boxers have no excuse to fail—Yakmut

By Jacob Ajom

N •CHAMPION : Novak Djokovic successfully defended his Wimbledon title after beating Roger Federer.

Djokovic wins Wimbledon 2015 N

OVAK Djokovic and Roger Federer provided tennis fit for a golden age on Sunday before the world No 1 eased to a third Wimbledon title.

Djokovic was stretched to his limits at times but ultimately proved too good for Andy Murray’s conqueror, winning 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 in two hours and 55 minutes.

The Serb thrashed away a final cross court backhand with a victorious cry to seal it, before eating a blade of grass. He was pushed all the way by the player who had been so imperious up until this match.

By doing so he moved ahead of the likes of Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl

Pinnick continued from B/Page

Amuneke drags Golden Eaglets to classroom

regarded as the highest coaching certificate in the world but comes with a baggage of no experience managing a top team in Europe, Africa, America and no p riot experience coaching of a junior national side.

But rising to defend their choice of Oliseh, Pinnick said the best experience needed to do the job were intellectual capacity and prior experience as a player.

“I absolutely feel that we have made the right choice by picking Oliseh to handle the Super Eagles.

In this age of technological advancement, we must start doing things

to register a ninth Grand Slam title, furthering his case to be regarded as one of the greats of the sport already at just 28.

Federer could not quite rouse himself to the heights he reached in knocking out Murray two days ago, but then his precision serving was up against an even more skilled returner than the world No 3.

The match will be remembered for the outstanding passage of play that developed late in the second set, as the Swiss clung on to force what turned into a thrilling tiebreak that almost lifted the roof off the Centre Court.

Federer had also forced two set points at 6-5 in the first set but the Serb saved both of them

differently. We need a coach with sound intellectual capacity and one who has the highest coaching certificate. He is working with FIFA at the technical study group. The world recognises him and FIFA even recommended him. He has the passion to coach the Eagles and that is also important for us.

“On his lack of experience, Nigerians must realise that he’s not the first to be first named in the world. Berti Vogts and Juergen Klinsmann didn’t have experience when they were appointed, so why the noise about Oliseh”, asked Pinnick rhetorically

with powerful, flat serves wide out to the backhand that were unreturnable.

He is left without a Grand Slam title since 2012 final here and he will know that time is running out to acquire an eighteenth, especially in a sport so physical, as was amply demonstrated here.

IGERIAN boxers have been challenged to put to an end the perennial failure to win medals at international competitions, particularly at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Making the challenge at the commissioning ceremony of the General Kenneth Minimah Boxing Hostel at the weekend, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut said the 30-bedroom facility would serve as a cushion for the boxing federation in terms of accommodation for boxers who will be camped there ahead of international assignments.

“From now on, our boxers will have no excuse not to

appear in our green-whitegreen on the podium in any international event,” the DG said.

Earlier, General Minimah said the facility will primarily solve the problem of accommodation for not only the boxers, but for other federations who would like to camp their athletes there. He however reminded them that fees will be charged.

•Yakmut

CRS SWAN urges Gov Ayade to show commitment to sports

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HE Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Cross River State chapter has called on the Executive Governor of the state, Professor Ben Ayade to see to the continuous execution of lofty sports programmes initiated by his predecessor, Senator Liyel Imoke.

In a terse release signed by the state chapter chairman, Eddie Bekom and made available to

Sports Vanguard yesterday, SWAN expressed worry that the governor was yet to make any serious commitment to “the 19th National Sports Festival which his state got the hosting right from the National Sports Commission, the 11th Obudu International Mountain Race, this year ’s National School Sports Festival which Cross River has won back-to-back four times

and this year ’s All Nigeria\Cross River Athletic Championships.”

The association therefore called on the government to give a serious thought to these sports meets. “ We therefore plead with the Governor to put he needed framework in place for the staging of and, or participation in the aforementioned sports programmes,” the statement added.

Mourinho continued from B/Page close to the talks said.

“Only two clubs from the UAE showed strong interest last month but they could not meet his club’s valuation.

“Mikel has a contract with Chelsea until 2017, as things stand he will not be leaving the club this transfer window as speculated. ”Mikel who moved to Chelsea in the summer

of 2006 has increasingly become a fringe member of the squad due to the form of Nemanja Matic.

With the emergence of highly-rated midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the Super Eagle has fallen down the pecking order at the club ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Fenerbahce are reportedly interested in signing Mikel but Chelsea will only listen

to a US $16.8 million offer. The Turkish club’s president Aziz Yildirim has told the local media they cannot meet Chelsea’s valuation.

“Chelsea want 15 million euros and Mikel asked for €5 million a season over four years.

We are talking 35 million euros,” Yildirim told reporters at their Topuk Yayla training ground.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

Mourinho blocks Mikel C

•Mikel

Why we chose Oliseh—Pinnick

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has refused to sanction the sale of midfielder John Mikel Obi, delivering a blow to United Arab Emirates suitors Al Ain and Al Wahda. The Nigeria international, who started only six league games last season, wants to leave Stamford Bridge after failing to hold down a regular starting place.

The 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract, has been told he remains part of

manager Mourinho’s future plans. “There’s absolutely no truth to reports linking Mikel with a move to Turkey or any Chinese club for that matter,” a source continues on page 55

NPFL Results

A/Warriors 3 Taraba Akwa 1 Kano Enugu 3 Lobi H/land 3 Dolphins Kwara 0 Sharks Nasarawa 1 Ifeanyiuba Shooting 3 Giwa Sunshine 2 Bayelsa Warri 2 Enyimba Wikki 2 El Kanemi

1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1

By John Egbokhan

P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation Amàju Pinnick has for the first time spoken on why former captain Sunday Oliseh was considered worthy replacing sacked Stephen Keshi as the next Super

continues on page 55

Oliseh arrives tomorrow •Pg 55 •Oliseh

•SUPER-CHARCHED ..Djokovic expresses frutration before overcoming Federer 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 to win Wimbledon title yesterday.

Djokovic wins Wimbledon–P.55 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3Range (5) 9 Linger (6) 10 Pantry (6) 11 Irrigate (5) 12 Auction (4) 15 Pleasant (4) 17 Frighten (7) 20 Weight (3) 21 Bird (5) 23 Cupid (4) 25 Object (4) 26 Clothed (5) 28 Agent (3) 30 Guard (7) 33 Detail (4) 35 Roster (4) 36 Royal (5) 38 Fiery (6) 39 Comfort (6) 40 Cap (5)

DOWN 1 Sheen (5) 2 House (5) 3 Stitch (3) 4 Crib (6) 5 Excuse (4) 6 Spike (3) 7 Confess (5) 8 Verdant (5) 13 Try (7) 14 Mistake (5) 16 Behaviour (7) 18 Relaxed (5) 19 Tree (3) 22 Sea-duck (5) 24 Drunkard (3) 27 Demean (6) 28 Three-score (5) 29 Long (5) 31 Wanderer (5) 32 Keen (5) 34 Yield (4) 36 Bone (3) 37 Fate (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Inject 5, Scared 9, Loath 10, Dismay 11, Raised 12, Debar 14, Ewer 17, Dry 18, Ware 20, Dared 22, Oiled 23, Sardine 24, Denim 26, Elder 29, Eden 30, Fen 32, Data 33, Cider 35, Rattle 36, Wanted 37, Alter 38, Strand 39, Render.

DOWN 1, Indeed 2, Jasper 3, Clad 4, Toyed 5, Stray 6, Char 7, Rascal 8, Dodged 13, Bridged 15, Waned 16, Resin 18, Wield 19, Reset 21, Dan 22, One 24, Debris 25, Neater 27, Darted 28, Raider 30, Field 31, Newer 33, Clan 34, Rare.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K