Errors: FG fires Budget D-G, 26 others

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62694

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

OIL PIPELINE ATTACKS: Buhari reinforces military presence in Niger Delta 12

N150

I was not arrested

by EFCC —Ex-DMI boss, Wiwa

8

Errors: FG fires Budget D-G, 26 others

By Favour Nnabugwu, Emmanuel Elebeke, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Omeiza Ajayi & Caleb Ayansina

•As gale of sack sweeps through federal parastatals •Buhari appoints Abdullahi DG, Budget Office •Akabueze appointed Special Adviser, Planning •Abike Dabiri-Erewa is SSA, Foreign Affairs & Diaspora •Omeri hands over at NOA, Ekeoba becomes Acting DG

BUHARI RECEIVES WTO TEAM— President Muhammadu Buhari (Middle) with, from right: Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Adviser to the Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ambassador Garcia Andresen; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema; Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari; Director-General, WTO, Ambassador Roberto Azevedo; DG Customs, Ahmed Ali (Rtd) and Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, during a meeting with WTO team at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

N-Delta Amnesty Programme ends in 2 yrs — BORO P.20

Call Ayiri to order, Ijaw leader tells Olu of Warri See Inside

C M Y K

COLUMNISTS:

NIGER DELTA VOICE

YINKA ODUMAKIN Borno: Whose report would we believe?

P.17

FEMI ARIBISALA

Blunders upon blunders upon blunders

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in a move to douse the tension over the 2016 budget controversy, fired the DirectorGeneral for Budget, Mr Yaya Gusau, and announced a replacement in the person of Mr. Tijjani Abdullahi.

Also, Mr. Ben Akabueze was appointed Special Adviser to the President on National Planning.

The two appointments take immediate effect.

President Buhari also appointed former House 1. Sola Omole - NTA of Representatives 2. Ladan Salihu - FRCN member, Mrs Abike 3. Sam Worlu - VON Dabiri-Erewa as his 4. Ima Niboro - NAN Senior Special Assistant 5. Emeka Mba - NBC 6. Njeze Olufemi - PTDF on Foreign Affairs and 7.Fidelia Akuabata - the Diaspora.

Again, yesterday, the NEPAD 8.Munir Abubakar - President sacked heads

FIRED

NSITF 9.Ernest Nwapa - NCDMB Continues on Page 5 10.Gimba Kumo - FMBN 11.Suleiman Bogoro TETFund 12.Peter Jack - NITDA 13.Asabe Ahmed - PAF 14.Seyi Sijuade - NRC 15.Emeka Ezeh - BPP 16.Benjamin Dikki - BPE 17.Farouk Ahmed PPPRA 18.Joseph Odumodu SON 19.Paul Orhii - NAFDAC 20.UjuAisha Baba - NIPC 21.Rasheed Olaoluwa - BoI 22.Onyeka Onwenu NCWD 23.Mike Omeri - NOA 24.Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko - ITF 25.Roberts Orya NEXIMBank 26.Beatrice Jedy-Agba NAPTIP

Area Commander dies in Valentine Day tragedy 4

Mr & Mrs

13

Court warns FG, DISCOs against disobeying order on electricity tariff 8

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

3 soldiers face court-martial over manslaughter

Area Commander dies in Valentine's Day tragedy

J

T

OS—THREE soldiers attached to the Operation Safe Haven, whose operation is saddled with the task of keeping peace in Plateau State have been court-martialed for various offences.

Commander of the unit, Major-General Tagbo Ude, at the inauguration of the court, yesterday, at 3rd Armoured Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Bassa Local Government Area of the state, said though the accused have allegedly committed some offences, justice would not only be done in the entire trial, but will be seen to have been done.

He said: “The offences the accused persons are being tried for ranges from manslaughter, offences in relation to public and service property, as well as conduct to prejudice of military discipline, all punishable under Armed Forces Act CAP A 20 Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”

Cultists clash in Lagos over member's death

By Evelyn Usman

F

OLLOWING the death of one Monsuru Fowotade on Valentine's Day at a birthday party in Oworosoki area of Lagos, some of his friends stormed the area yesterday in what they termed reprisal attack against those that allegedly killed him.

For several hours, the area was like a war theatre, following sporadic shootings from members of the rival groups.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was attacked by a member of a rival group allegedly headed by the son of a traditional ruler in the area.

He was said to have died at the Gbagada General Hospital from the injuries he sustained from a stab to the chest.

When news of his death reached his colleagues at Ferry area, they reportedly stormed their opponents’ abodes in the early hours of yesterday, announcing their presence with volleys of bullets.

By Evelyn Usman HE Lagos State Police Command was, yesterday, thrown into mourning following the death of one of its Area Commanders, Osung Ekpo, in a swimming pool on Valentine's Day. Ekpo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, reportedly drowned in a swimming pool in Ajah area of Lagos, Sunday.

As the news of his death filtered in, officers and men of the Area ‘K’ Police Command, Morogbo, broke down in tears, describing their boss as an amiable officer.

Ekpo was said to have gone to a hotel in the company of some friends, Sunday, where some of them decided to have a swimming exercise.

While a version of an account said Ekpo hit his head on a concrete wall when he dived into the pool, another version had it that he swam to the deepest part of the pool.

One of his friends, who noticed his absence, raised the alarm. Ekpo, as gathered, was brought out of the pool and rushed to an unidentified hospital where he was declared

... as police parade 9 other suspects

By Daud Olatunji

A

Usung Ekpo dead.

Some officers described his death as mysterious, disclosing that it occurred after he led some policemen to reclaim police land from land grabbers at Morogbo area of Badagry, which is under his jurisdiction.

Lagos State Command Public

Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus in a statement said: “The Lagos State Police Command regrets to announce the death of Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Osung Ekpo, who until his death was the Area Commander, Area ‘K’ Morogbo, Lagos.”

Bauchi police nab 3 suspected kidnappers, rescue 2 victims

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—BAUCHI State Police Command, yesterday, arrested three

suspected kidnappers who allegedly kidnapped two children and demanded for N500,000 ransom.

The Police Public Relations

Another ‘lunatic’ caught with 18 ATM cards, jewelleries

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—DETECTIVES in Ondo State, yesterday, arrested a middle-aged man, who claimed to be insane, in possession of an unspecified amount of money, jewelries and no fewer than 18 Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards of different banks.

Vanguard gathered that the man was arrested in Ijapo area of Akure, after some resident in the area suspected him to be an armed robber monitoring the area.

After he was interrogated by the residents of the area, he was reportedly handed over to the police in Ijapo, when he could not explain his mission.

While confirming the arrest, Police spokesman, Femi Joseph, said the suspect would undergo medical tests to ascertain his mental state.

3 arrested for killing 9 persons in Ogun

He said: “We do not want to presume that he is a mad man.

There are medical tests he needs to undergo for us to believe him. If at the end of the day he is found to be a robber, as it is being speculated, he will face the wrath of the law.”

Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, in a statement in Bauchi, gave the names of the suspects, arrested on Sunday, as Abubakar Mohammed, 27, of Jos, Plateau State; Sanusi Inuwa, 40, of Wuntin Gobirawa village and Danlami Abdullahi, 45, of same address.

He said: “The three suspects conspired and kidnapped two children, aged eight and nine, of Dungal village, Bauchi and demanded N500,000 from their parents.

“All the victims were rescued in good condition and handed over to their parents.”

He said one Dane gun and N66,000 were recovered from the suspects, adding that the case was under investigation after which the suspects will be charged to court.

BEOKUTA—THREE members of a gang of armed robbers, alleged to have killed no fewer than nine persons in the Ijoko area of Sango Ota, Ogun State, have been arrested by police in the state.

Parading the suspects and nine others yesterday at the Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta for various crimes ranging from cultism, car-snatching to armed robbery, the state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, said the gang had been terrorising the people of Ijoko area for seven years.

According to the police commissioner, Ali, Rasak Ogundairo, 25; Idowu Tijani, 45 and Raimi Ogunkunle, 25 who belonged to the same robbery gang and cult group, have confessed to committing the crimes.

The commissioner further explained that a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state stormed their hideout and arrested Ogundairo with one double-barrelled cut-tosize pistol and one singlebarrelled pistol with 14 live cartridges and two expended cartridges.

According to Ali, the arrest of the suspect, who confessed to have killed five persons in Ijoko area, led to the arrest of the other two.

“The leader of the gang, Idowu Tijani, confessed to have killed four people who were in Ijoko area of Otta,” the police boss added.

Produce Beninoise, court orders EFCC

T

The alleged mad man

EN days after the arrest of two Beninoise, Gnanhoue Sourou Nazaire and Senou Modeste Finagnon by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged stealing, the commission, yesterday, failed to produce them before a Lagos State High Court,

Igbosere.

While an order of production was issued by Justice Toyin Taiwo, the request for warrant of production was made by their counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), who led John Olusegun Odubela, Abubakar A. Shamsudeen, Mumini Bamidele and Grant Ouwuka.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

CLOSING GONG—From left: Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive

Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Simran Jidal, Elena Tarasenko and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, President, NSE at the Closing Gong Ceremony of TRIUM Global Executive MBA at the NSE in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Errors: FG fires Budget D-G, 26 others Continues from Page 1

of 26 federal parastatals, agencies and commissions.

The sack of the Director-General, Budget Office and heads of other parastatals is coming on the heels of President Buhari’s sack of some university vicechancellors.

The President also, yesterday, approved the i m m e d i a t e disengagement of 26 chief executive officers of some federal parastatals, agencies and commissions.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir

Lawal in a statement, said those affected in the gale of sack include head of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA; Mr. Sola Omole; heads of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN; Voice of Nigeria, VON; News Agency of Nigeria, NAN ; National B r o a d c a s t i n g Commission, NBC and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF. Others were New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF; Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board,

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO

P

EOPLE might not like what you look like or where you come from, but one thing is certain, results are most times undeniable and once you have them, respect for you is inevitable. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Gratitude opens the door to power and wisdom, the creativity of the universe —Deepak Chopra

Y

OU cannot feel envious and grateful at the same time. They’re incompatible feelings. If you’re grateful, you can’t resent someone for having something that you don’t. People who have high levels of gratitude have low levels of resentment and envy. Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness.

We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we have received. This doesn’t mean that life is perfect; it doesn’t ignore life’s challenges. But when we look at life as a whole, gratitude encourages us to identify some amount of goodness in our lives.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A war declared in advance does not consume a cripple

NCDMB; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN; Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund; National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA and the Petroleum Equalization Fund.

Also on the list of those whose chief executives were sacked were Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC; Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP; Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE; Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA; Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON; National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC; Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, NIPC; Bank of Industry, BoI; National Centre for Women Development, NCWD; National Orientation Agency, NOA; Industrial Training Fund, ITF; Nigerian Export-Import Bank as well as the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP. The President also directed the most senior officers in the parastatals, agencies and commissions to oversee the activities of the organisations pending the appointment of substantive Chief Executive Officers.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and

Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the new DG Budget, Mr. Abdullahi, "is a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, and a banker of repute with experience in managing public finance, who will now replace the current Director-General (Budget), Mr. Yahaya Gusau.

The new Director-General of Budget is expected to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning to efficiently deliver on the mandates of the Budget Office of the Federation.

According to the statement, President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Mr Akabueze as the Special Adviser to the President on National Planning.

Akabueze who is the immediate past Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State, has worked in senior management positions in Citi Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa, NAL Merchant Bank, Sterling Bank and BIA Consulting Limited, among others.

He is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; Fellow, Institute of Credit Administrators."

Budget of controversy It will be recalled that 2016 budget had sparked off controversy, with the legislature accusing the Executive of padding and doctoring provisions made by ministries departments and agencies of government.

The controversy deepened when the Federal Ministry of Health disowned the budget proposal submitted on its behalf by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

Health Minister, Isaac Adewole, who addressed the Senate Committee on Health during its budget defence session, said the proposal drawn up by the ministry and submitted to the budget office had been doctored and that “foreign” appropriations, different from what was submitted, had been smuggled in.

“We have to look into the details of the budget and re-submit it to the

committee,” he said.

“This was not what we submitted. We will submit another one. We do not want anything foreign to creep into that budget. What we submitted is not there.”

Earlier the Senate had discovered a sum of N10 billion “questionably smuggled” into the budget of the Ministry of Education for an allegedly questionable subhead.

A senior Presidency official told newsmen that a “budget mafia” was responsible for the e m b a r r a s s i n g allocations in the budget.

Just last week, the newly set up unit of the federal ministry of Finance disclosed that Federal government spent N825 billion in three years on travels, maintenance, local and international training, welfare and office stationery / computer consumables.

The head of the Efficiency unit set up by the Ministry of Finance Patience Oniha to streamline government overhead expenditure, said that from the study of government overhead expenditure it carried out between 2012 and 2014 on the average 60 per cent of federal government overhead expenditure were incurred through local and international travels, maintenance, local and international training, welfare, office stationary and c o n s u m a b l e s , honourarium and sitting allowance, meals and refreshment and books.

According to Oniha the Unit, which carried out an extensive and detailed review of the Overhead Expenditure data of the government for the period 2012 to 2014, found that the overhead spending

pattern was concentrated on a limited number of items including travel, maintenance, local and international training, welfare and office stationery / computer consumables.

Ms Patience Oniha, stated that “The C u m u l a t i v e Expenditure on these five items was N825 billion, representing 61 per cent of the Cumulative Total Overhead Expenditure o f N1, 353 billion for 2012 to 2014. This means that the average amount expended annually on these five items during this period was N275 billion. The estimate for 2015 shows a continuation of this trend.”

Overhead spending exceeded allocations to capital in all the years reviewed.

Omeri hands over at NOA, Ekeoba becomes Acting DG Meanwhile, Mr. Mike Agbo Omeri, immediate past Director General of NOA, has handed over the leadership of the agency to Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba who is the most senior director and in charge of Political, Civics, Ethics and Values at the agency.

In a brief handover session, Omeri expressed gratitude to the past and present administrations for the opportunity given him to serve the nation as NOA Director General and for the support given to the agency during his tenure.

He thanked staff of the agency for their cooperation and promised to remain an advocate of the agency in terms of autonomy and funding to enable the agency deliver on its mandate.

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—7

C M Y K

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2016

I was not arrested by EFCC — Ex-DMI, Gen Wiwa We don’t have any record of his arrest —EFCC

By Soni Daniel

A

BUJA — FORMER Director of Military Intelligence, DMI, Major-General Letam Wiwa, yesterday, denied report of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying he was neither arrested nor detained.

The EFCC corroborated his position, saying the commission has no record of his arrest or detention.

Major-General Wiwa said:

“There was not even an invitation, let alone an arrest. I was really surprised when I read the report and I guessed it must be a magic arrest.

“I just woke up this morning (Monday), and people started calling me that they saw reports of my arrest in the papers. I am now sitting in my office in Oshodi, Lagos. They didn’t even ask the army whether any such arrest happened.”

The EFCC, on its part, confirmed that the former DMI

was not arrested as reported by the media Spokesman for EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement: “I can’t find any such detainee in our records. I can’t find anything on him.”

Before Mr. Uwujaren spoke, another top official of the antigraft agency had said the report of General Wiwa’s arrest was untrue.

The EFCC said: “We are not aware of any such arrest.” He said Wiwa was neither invited for

questioning nor arrested by the EFCC. According to him, the operations of the DMI had nothing to do with procurement of equipment for the army or any security agency.

Vanguard had wrongly reported that Gen. Wiwa was arrested in our Monday edition of February 15, 2016. We regret the embarrassment the story might have caused the esteemed General.

Naira falls to N345/$ in parallel market

By Babajide Komolafe

L

AGOS — THE naira, yesterday, suffered its biggest daily depreciation against the dollar as it exchanged for N345 to a dollar in the parallel market.

This represents N20 depreciation when compared with the closing exchange rate of N325 per dollar in the market on Friday.

But the naira was relatively stable at the official interbank foreign exchange market as the interbank rate stood at N197.47 per dollar at the close of business, yesterday.

The naira also depreciated by N45 against the British pound as the parallel market exchange rate rose to N485 per pound, yesterday, from N340 on Friday.

Bureaux de Change sources, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, attributed the sharp depreciation to persistent scarcity of the dollar and pound sterling in the market.

According to an Abujabased BDC operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “the market is experiencing huge demand for dollars but there is no supply. Even those who have dollars are not willing to sell. The way things are going, the rate might reach N350 per dollar before it stabilises.”

This development widened the gap between the interbank rate and the parallel market rate to N147.53 per dollar from N127.53 per dollar last week.

INSPECTION: From left, Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc, Mr. George Marks; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki during an inspection tour of the permanent site of Nigeria Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Tariff: Court warns FG, DISCOs against subsisting orders As TUC, others protest at Fed High Court premises

By Innocent Anaba

L

AGOS— A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, warned the Federal Government and Distribution Companies, DISCOs, against disobeying subsisting court orders on electricity tariff.

Also, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and union affiliates, with placards, yesterday, at the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos, protested the hike in electricity tariff by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC and DISCOs. Trial judge in the matter, Justice Mohammed Idris, at the resumed hearing in the matter, yesterday, said government must not act in a way that shows disdain for the court in a constitutional democracy.

Justice Idris said: “The point must be made that obedience to the rule of law by all citizens is sacrosant, but more particularly those who publicly take the oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution

is panacea to good governance and respect for rule of law. In a constitutional democratic society like ours, this is meant to be the norm.

“It is an act of apostacy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules meant to regulate matters. I must say it loud and clear that the government of this country shall be a government of laws and not of men.”

Labour unions protest

Protests by labour unions have trailed the new power tarriff approved by NERC. Activist and lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, had last year in a suit sought a perpetual injunction restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without significant improvement in power supply for at least 18 hours a day.

Justice Idris had made an order directing parties to maintain status quo. But,

while the suit was pending, NERC announced the tariff hike.

Yesterday, Adebiyi informed the court that he had initiated contempt proceedings against NERC chairman and DISCOs’ Managing Directors for disobeying the court’s orders and prayed the court to commit the alleged contemnors to prison.

But NERC’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, said he had filed an appeal against the order by Justice Idris. He said he also had a pending application for stay of proceedings pending determination of the appeal.

Adebiyi said the contempt charge should be heard first since NERC had undermined the court’s authority.

In a short ruling, Justice Idris said after a careful examination of the records of court, there were a number of pending applications to be dispensed with.

Among them is the Form 49 filed by the plaintiff and a motion for leave to serve the purported contemnors through their counsel.

Catholic Bishops back Buhari’s anti-corruption war

A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA—CATHOLIC Bishop Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, yesterday, threw its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, just as it stressed the need for all hands to be on deck if the anti- graft war must be achieved in a holistic manner.

The Catholic Bishops also backed the government’s effort at checking insurgency by members of the Boko Haram that have continued to engage in massive killing and wanton destruction of property in the North East region of the country.

Delivering a homily at the Vesters and Benediction for the 2016 first plenary session of the CBCN, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ Catholic Church, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, the Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said the church was in support of the anticorruption crusade being fought

by President Buhari-led government, but advised that all Nigerians must be carried along to make the war a success.

He noted that the twin evils of corruption and terrorism were interlinked, stressing the need for concerted efforts of all Nigerians to address them with a view to bringing about total healing of Nigeria.

Saraki, Dogara, inspect abandoned N52.031bn NILS project

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA — THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, inspected the N52.031 billion world class ultra-modern National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, project which had been abandoned by the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The contract was said to have been awarded in 2012 with the contractor mobilised to site on July 2013 and a total sum of N44 billion released for the project while the level of completion is put at 26 per cent.

Already, erosion is threatening the site, said to have been abandoned about March 31, 2015, by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc over non release of the balance which is put at N8.7 billion.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2016—9

Northern govs fault Sani on IDB loan Say FG was part of delegation to the meeting

By Emmanuel Aziken & Henry Umoru

L

AGOS — The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has denied claims by Senator Shehu Sani, Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, alleging illegality in the move by the governors to obtain loans and other development assistance from the Islamic Development Bank, IDB. Denying the claim of the senator that the governors were seeking the IDB facility without the consent of the Federal Government, the Northern governors said the Federal Government gave approval and was part of the delegation of Northern governors to the meetings with the IDB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Reacting through the chairman of NGSF, Governor Kashim Shettima, it said proper research by Senator Sani would have shown him that the Federal Government even procured the visas for the delegation and provided a senior officer to accompany the delegation to the Saudi trip.

Governor Shettima, through his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, said: “Like Senator Sani said, it is true that the Federal Ministry of Finance is the body saddled with the statutory responsibility of facilitating all foreign loans and the Northern governors were very much aware of this as well as all the necessary steps they needed to take which they actually took, sufficiently.

“By way of background, the decision to seek the support of the IDB was reached at one of the governors’ meetings held at the end of September 2015 in Kaduna which was presided by Governor Shettima.

"In November, 2015, Governor Shettima, acting on behalf of the forum, wrote a letter to the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, seeking consent and request for facilitation to the IDB. "The Federal Ministry of Finance then wrote to the Islamic Development Bank in Jedda which culminated in the trip by the delegation of the Northern Governors on January 31, 2015.

“In fact, it was the Federal Ministry of Finance that obtained visas for the delegation of the Northern governors through its

correspondences with the IDB. The IDB had written to the Saudi Government, and requested visas for the delegation which were then issued by the Saudi embassy in Abuja with all passports only released to the Federal Ministry of Finance in the third week of January 2015.

"It is also important to say that because the Northern Governors’ Forum was strict on due process, a Deputy Director at the Department of International Economic Relations, who is also the Desk Officer in charge of the Islamic Development Bank, IDB,

at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, was included by the Northern governors as part of their delegation.

“The inclusion of that Deputy Director was a novel step that made the entire trip a hitch free one given the fact that the Federal Ministry of Finance was not only directly involved in all the discussions held between the governors and top executives of the IDB but even provided all the policy guidelines required by the governors including addressing grey areas wherever they came up.”

2016 Budget: We're working with executive —Ndume As Reps dump Communications Ministry budget

By Emman Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA — TO ensure the harmonization and speedy passage of the 2016 budget estimate, the Senate Leader, Mr. Ali Ndume, yesterday, said the Senate was working in tandem with the executive arm of government.

Ndume, who spoke to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the budget was riddled with errors and needed the collective input of the appropriate stakeholders to make it work.

He said: “I hope you people know that I am the Senate Leader and this is All Progressives Congress, APC, government. So if the Senate Leader comes to see the Vice President or the President in the villa, is it supposed to be a surprise?

I guess it is because, most often, I come in the night but this time, I came in the afternoon and it became very strange.”

Reps dump Communications ministry budget

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Information and Communications Technology, ICT, yesterday, asked Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, to produce

a copy of President Buhari’s copy of the budget within four days.

The Muhammed Onawon (PDP, Nasarawa) led Joint Committees on Information and Communication Technology, ICT, turned down the budgetary proposal presented by the Minister of Communications, Mr Shittu, on the ground that it was still different from the copy presented by President Buhari earlier in the year.

Immediately the minister presented his budgetary proposal, the Chairman of the House Committee on Telecommunications, Saheed Fijabi, picked holes in the presentation, saying: “We have two budgets here.

We can’t be discussing something different. They are not defending what we have.”

Linus Okorie (PDP, Ebonyi), who spoke in the same vein, said it would be tantamount to committing an act of illegality to deliberate a budgetary proposal alien to the lower legislative chamber, adding: "We cannot alter the basis of the law. Here we have a capital provision for N5 billion. What we have here now are new and extraneous projects.”

Shittu pleaded for the understanding of the lawmakers, saying the same copy of his ministry‘s budget would be presented to them after the entire federal ministries' budgets would have been finally harmonised by the Finance Ministry.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16 , 2015

NUC ex-scribe urges caution over sacked VCs

By Dayo Adesulu

A

S controversy continue to trail the sack of three Vice Chancellors of the three federal universities, the former Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola has urged stakeholders in the sector to tread the path of caution, stating that there may be some laws guiding their appointments that were not made public.

Okebukola, who spoke with Vanguard yesterday said; ‘’The Jonathan administration erred in short-circuiting this process in the appointment of the foundation Vice Chancellors for the 12 new federal universities.’’

According to him, the present administration is repeating these errors in the appointment of those Vice Chancellors without due process.

His words: ‘’I am aware that the terms of nine of them expired today, February 15 (yesterday). I am also aware that adverts were placed announcing vacancy positions for the nine new federal universities and at some point, the process was halted. ‘’I am also aware that many of the nine Vice Chancellors had handed over to their deputies to hold fort until new Vice Chancellors are in post. It is therefore fallacious that the nine Vice Chancellors were sacked.’’

Assembly summons Tutors General over alleged insubordination

By Ebun Sessou

L

AGOS State House of Assembly yesterday summoned Tutors General and Permanent Secretaries (TG/PS) of the six Education Districts in the state to appear before it on Thursday to explain why they decided to shun several invitations to appear before its committee on Education.

The summon followed the report by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Lanre Ogunyemi, at a plenary that the top civil servants had ignored series of invitations to clear some issues.

According to Ogunyemi, the TG/PSs failed to appear before the House Committee during budget defense last December.

They also allegedly ignored the committee’s invitation to appear on January 19 and February 8, this year.

BRISTOW CHOPPER CRASH: Pilot called for help twice — AIB

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

L

AGOS—THE Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday said that the pilot of the Bristow Helicopter crash that occurred on February 3, where all the eleven passengers were rescued called for help twice, adding that the first was declared by the crew at the 78 Nautical Miles from Lagos when he complained of instrument problems.

Disclosing this development at the AIB headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, AIB Commissioner Felix Abali, added that the aircraft descended from 3,000 feet to 1,500 feet noting that at that time, it was the Flying Officer, FO, who was the Pilot Flying, PF. According to him “The Captain took over control expecting to stabilize the helicopter but the aircraft was not responding to control inputs. ‘’ The pilot again called for help from the Radio Operator at the offshore platform, which was relayed by two separate aircraft.

One aircraft was following the communication and relayed the ditching, which occurred at 10:20am at 29 Nautical Miles away from the platform.”

The AIB boss also said it will send some of the black boxes abroad to determine the actual cause of the crash.

Abali further pointed out that a thorough investigation was ongoing to determine the actual cause of the crash adding that the black boxes would be sent outside the country because the AIB equipment at its laboratory in Abuja could not download one of the black boxes.

OBSEQUIES: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi (2nd right); former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji (right); Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna (3rd right); Senator Olamilekan Solomon (2nd left) and Senator Adesoji Akanbi of Oyo South Senatorial District, during the final burial ceremony of Late Chief Adamson Aruna (Habib's father) at Trans-Amusement Park, Old Airport Road, Samonda, U.I Road, Ibadan, on Saturday.

He said “The black boxes will be flown outside the country especially one of the boxes that we have is Cockpit Image Recorders, and these boxes, unfortunately, we do not have the equipment to download them here. We are taking them to the

A

Lagos-based firm, Linda Manufacturing Company, makers of X-pression hair attachments and Weave-on, has called on the Lagos State government, law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to come to its aid as some aggrieved unionists, who were sacked from the company recently have disrupted the operations of the firm for the past three weeks.

Speaking in Lagos, Operations Manager of the company, Mr. Monday Nnah, said the sacked unionists had blocked workers from attending to their work, adding that the workers were said to have went on the rampage

Investigation Bureau, AIB and vital components relevant to the investigation including Flight Data Recorder FDR/Cockpit Voice Recorder, CVR and the Cockpit Image Recorder, CIR, were retrieved for further investigation” he added.

WATER MISHAPS: Lagos reads riot act to boat owners

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—WORRIED by incessant boat mishaps, Lagos State Government yesterday warned boat operators against use of rickety boats, saying: “It will not be business as usual again.”

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Mrs. Abisola Kamson handed out the warning at a one-day training

Lagos firm raises alarm over siege by sacked unionists

By Etop Ekanem, Esther Onyegbula & Angela Okpe

United Kingdom (UK) Essential flight recorders will be flown out for downloading while TRIM actuators will be sent to the manufacturers for investigative testing” “Initial field investigation was carried out by the Accident

moments after their appointments were terminated by the company.

According to Nnah, the South Korean company, which is based in Agege with headquarters in Mushin, currently has about 8,000 workers on its pay roll, saying the action was capable of affecting the economic progress of Lagos State and the nation as a whole by sending wrong signals to investors, especially at this time that the Federal Government is sourcing for foreign investors.

Meantime, one of the protesting casual workers, yesterday slumped after she was teargassed by some policemen who attempted to contain the situation that turned violent.

The casual workers reportedly stormed the factory at about 10 am, to express their grievances over a staff of the company that was sacked by the management last week.

programme organised for Waterguards on the safety and rescue technique.

Kamson noted that the warning was necessary to effectively tackle and stem the tide of boat mishaps in the state.

According to her; “We are going to come out with the standard that the vessel operators must comply with. It is no longer business as usual as an aggressive enforcement of guidelines for operators of commercial boat, coupled with a media campaign will be launched by the Authority as part of efforts to reassure citizens that the state government is committed to their safety.”

Kamson said the government would do everything possible to sanitize water transportation

sector in the state, noting: “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration would ensure safety of life and property always through improved quality of water transportation in the state.”

The LASWA boss emphasized the importance of the role of Waterguards in ensuring that Water transportation by all standards, remains the safest and efficient mode of public transportation. She added that the training programme was aimed at sensitizing the Waterguards on water savy techniques.

She stated that the state government remained committed to developing water transportation system in Lagos in line with the global best practice.

KIDNAPPING: Lagos to float day care centres Women Affairs & Poverty

By Josephine Agbonkhese

L

AGOS—TO stall the activities of child kidnappers who penetrate families disguising as caregivers, the Lagos State government has announced plans to establish day care centres across the state, beginning with the Alausa Secretariat and Oba Akinjobi areas of Lagos.

Disclosing this at a fact finding interactive session with professional women associations organized by the state Ministry for

Alleviation, WAPA, to examine the problems faced by women and children in the state, the Commissioner, Mrs.Lola Akande, decried that the spate of kidnapping in the state and nation in general was taking a toll on women’s economic productivity by raising anxiety over the welfare of their children while at work.

According to Akande, attached to these centres will be a standard training institute where caregivers and nannies will be trained, while a database will also be established for every one of them in the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2016—11

Customs intercepts arms, ammunition at Lagos port

By Godwin Oritse

L

AGOS—THE Tin-Can Island port command of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS), yesterday intercepted arms and ammunition concealed in a container just as one suspect was also arrested.

Disclosing this in Lagos,

during the hand-over of the contraband cargoes, Customs Area Comptroller (CAC) of the command, Mr. Yusuf Bashar said that the healthy collaboration amongst security agencies working in the command led to the interception.

Bashar also said that the

Customs will continue to synergize with all relevant agencies to ensure the security and safety of Nigeria.

Over 980 rounds of live 9mm ammunitions and one Taurus pistol with number THX43606,.

Also contained amongst the military ware was a pair of black boot, a military face cap, a pair of

IKIRUN ROBBERY: Osun Security Council commends police, others the Assistant Commissioner of

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THE Osun State Security Council yesterday commended the Police and other security agencies that foiled the bank robbery incident in Ikirun last Friday.

Addressing newsmen after the state security council meeting, Osun Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Kola Sodipo, held that security agencies in the state needs to be lauded for their gallantry, utmost sense of duty and professionalism.

The Osun CP represented by

Police (Operations) ACP Jesubiyi Taiwo, stated that the Police and other security agencies swiftly responded to the security challenge with superior fire power.

He added that the recorded success was the result of the Armoured Personnel Carriers provided the police by the state government, stressing that four of the robbers were killed while four have been arrested.

The Police boss assured the people of the state of its readiness to protect lives and property, maintain peace and

deter any criminal activity in the state.

He said, “Last Friday, armed bandits attacked three commercial banks in Ikirun, in Ifelodun Local Government area of the state, these bandits came with sophisticated weapons and explosive devices.

“The police responded swiftly with superior fire power, four of the robbers were killed while four others have been arrested.

Sums of money were also recovered from the robbers.

Every effort is being made to apprehend other members of the gang who are in hiding.''

AUTO CRASH: Poly students seek Oyo govt, others help

By Ola Ajayi

I

B A D A N — FOLLOWING injuries sustained by their colleagues in a fatal motor accident that claimed some lives on Oyo-Ibadan road, several students from Polytechnics across the country staged a rally in Ibadan yesterday, calling on

Governor Abiola Ajimobi to come to the aid of the recuperating students.

While speaking in behalf of the students, President, National Association of Polytechnic Students, Mr Adeyeye Olugbenga said the rally was meant to call attention of Oyo State Government and other well-meaning Nigerians

Ajulo, LP ex-scribe denies leaving party situation demands it. I

By Dapo Akinrefon

F

ORMER National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Kayode Ajulo has denied leaving the party but that he resigned his position as scribe of the party.

In a statement, Ajulo said “I want to reiterate that at no grant any interview whewre I stated either expressly or impliedly that I have ceased to be a member of the Labour Party. I did voluntarily resign my position as National Secretary of Labour Party but I still remain a bonafide financial member of the party.”

Explaining the motive behind his resignation, he said: “I know that voluntarily resignation seems strange in our culture, but I see nothing wrong in bowing out if

contested for the exalted office based on certain projection, understanding and specific goals to give Nigeria people, masses and workers a platform to actualize their political expectation. ''However, in life there are time when the environment may not be conducive, where things seems to be out of order and things not working out the way you projected it.”

“Who knows the resignation may be a kneel-jerk to reposition the party to greatness. It should be seen as a sacrifice for a new beginning. Every end, after all, is the beginning of a new thing. Permit me to seize this opportunity to thank those that assisted me to far. Their goodwill, counsel and support really counted,” he said.

to provide money for the treatment of remaining accident victims lying critically ill at the intensive care unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

He said; “We decided to embark on this rally in respect of our colleagues who were unlucky on the 8th of February in a ghastly motor accident. Having lost four of them with two staff, we still have four others lying critically ill at the UCH.” “Some of them under the intensive care unit require a lot of money. The school management of the Polytechnic Ibadan have tried so much, they have footed part of the bills.”

“But, considering the enormous fund required to sustain the lives of these ones, we believe that the government of Oyo State is a listening government especially when it comes to students matter.

“That is why we have come here in a peaceful manner to attract their attention.''

camouflage hand gloves and an army coloured plastic container.

He added all the contents of the box measuring 13cmx11cm are prohibited items to be imported by any individual adding that these are material that can only be imported by the military.

“We believe that there must a sinister reason for the importation of the prohibited materials,“ he added.

According to Bashar, “There is a network of moving and distributing these arms and ammunition.”

He said that the cargoes that were shipped from the United States were discovered in a one by forty foot container with number crhu452745/2.

He also disclosed that the suspect was with the Directorate of the State Security Service just as investigation into the unwholesome import.

Bashar, who declined to answer certain questions from pressmen said that he could not give certain information so as not to jeopardize the on-going information.

Meanwhile, the command collected a total of the N24.8 billion for the month of January of 2016 surpassing the figure of N20 billion of January 2015.

AMCON seeks buyers of Keystone Bank

A

SSET Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON yesterday, said it was seeking prospective investors to buy Keystone Bank, the last of the rescued banks yet to be sold.

AMCON said in a statement, that it had decided to divest its 100 percent interest in the bank and ask prospective buyers to submit their bids by March 4.

AMCON appointed Citibank’s local unit and FBN Capital as financial advisers to manage the process, asking prospective investors to submit bids, showing evidence of credibility and eligibility for the transaction.

The Federal Government nationalised three lenders, Afribank, Spring Bank and Bank PHB in 2011, while AMCON then recapitalised them and changed their names to Mainstreet Bank, Enterprise Bank and Keystone Bank.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Prof. Sagay, Lori-Ogbebor, others make Olu of Warri’s admin council

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—THE Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, has inaugurated a body of eminent Itsekiri sons and daughters to constitute the Olu-in-Council.

The 26-man council inaugurated by the monarch in his palace is to assist him to achieve his vision for the kingdom.

Members of the council are Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chief Rita Lori- Ogbebor, Edward Ekpoko, Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and Charles Ajuyah, SAN, former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Also in the council are Chief Yahaya Pessu (Ojomo of Warri Kingdom), Chief Isaac Jimide (Ikeri of Warri Kingdom), Chief Brown Mene (Ogwa-Olusan of Warri Kingdom), Chief Francis Omatseye (Edigbe of Warri

Kingdom), Prince Eroro Emiko and Prince Andrew Ayu. Others are Chief Roland Oritsejafor, Chief Kofi Kartey,

Chief Ayiri Emami, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, Pa. J.O.S Ayomike, Engr. Alex Neyin, Pa. P. K. Gbragada, Jolomi

Rewane, Dr. Ebietsuwa Omotsola, Dr. Jackson Reyeforju, Chief P. E Uku, and Mrs. Patricia Arawore.

Speaking at the event, the

Olu urged the team to leverage on a 10-year master plan, including setting up an Itsekiri archive/library/ museum, as a guide to develop the kingdom.

Pipeline attacks: Buhari reinforces military presence in N-Delta

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — DETERMINED to end oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas pipeline in the Niger Delta region, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Abuja announced the deployment of military and task forces to the region.

Another reason for the deployment of troops, the president said, was to stop the kidnapping of citizens for ransom in the coastal areas of

the country.

The president also said that his administration was concentrating on the resettlement of displaced persons and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the North East.

President Buhari made the disclosure at a meeting with a delegation from the United States Institute of Peace in his office at the Presidential Villa.

He assured the delegation that the task forces, coupled with his administration’s ongoing war against corruption, will be executed within the ambit of the law.

He explained that mechanisms had been put in place to ensure respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism.

“We attach great importance to human rights. If there are breaches, they will be investigated and dealt with,” he said.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said his administration welcomes the growing international support, especially from the United States and Europe, for Nigeria’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President also expressed happiness with the support of Nigerians for the cardinal

programmes of his government, the security of the country, the war against corruption and the revival of the economy, which he said, would continue to be vigorously pursued.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Nancy Lindborg, who led the Institute’s delegation, applauded the progress made by the Buhari administration in ensuring greater security in Nigeria.

She promised the continued assistance of the Institute for the reconstruction and development work going on in the country.

INAUGURATION OF THE OLU-IN-COUNCIL BY THE OLU OF WARRI, HRM OGIAME IKENWOLI PHOTOS: AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

The Olu of Warri, HRM. Ogiame Ikenwoli (7th from right)with members of the Olu-In-Council shortly after inaugurating them at his Palace in Warri Yesterday. From left: Prince Yemi Emiko, Dr. Jackson Reyefoju, Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor, Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor, Prof. Itse Sagay, Chief (Mrs.) P. Uku, Chief Kofi Kartey, Mr. Esijolomi Rewane, Chief Yaya Pessu (1st -9th left); Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN; Mrs. Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Apostle Yemi Omaghomi, Engr. Alex Neyin, Chief Brown Mene, Chief Isaac Jemide (1st-6th right, front row), Mr. Edward Ekpoko,Dr. Lucky Abioluwajuma, Prince (Barr.) Eroro Emiko, Chief Ayiri Emami, Dr. Andrew Ayu, Chief Francis Omatseye and Barr. E.T. Emiko.

From left: Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Committee, Prof.

Itse Sagay, Chief Roland Oritsejafor, former Minister of Defence and Chief Ayiri Emami.

C M Y K

From left: Chief Brown Mene, Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief Kofi Kartey, Chief (Mrs.) P. Uku and Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori-Ogbebor.

From left: Chief Yaya Pessu, Chief Ayiri Emami and Chief Thomas Ereyitomi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—13

N-Delta Amnesty Programme ends in 2yrs —Boro

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE Presidential A m n e s t y Programme for Niger Delta militants initiated in 2009 by late President Umaru Yar’Adua will end in the next two years.

The Coordinator and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Brigadier- General Paul Boro (retd), disclosed this at an interactive session with the media in Abuja, yesterday, even as he announced that the clean-up programme of the Niger Delta would start in a month.

He explained that the clean-up would start from Ogoniland and spread to other parts of the region.

Boro noted that on assumption of office in August last year, he designed an exit strategy for the amnesty programme which he described as extremely expensive for the nation saying that 3,232 beneficiaries of the programme would exit this year.

All those affected, according to him, had been trained as entrepreneurs and given business and setup starter packs.

He said: “A lot has happened, particularly, now that the programme has an exit strategy. It is an

expensive programme because of the security nature. We cannot be paying so much without knowing when we will stop paying. Although this is expensive, everything has been planned. So, we have planned it in such a way that all things being equal, the programme is supposed to end in two years.

“What I want to achieve is sustainable reintegration because since I assumed office on the last day of July last year, there have not been skirmishes that disrupted economic activities as such. There has been peace and I want to sustain the peace that we have been enjoying in that area.”

According to him, 17, 323 beneficiaries had been trained out of a total of 30, 000, leaving a balance of 12, 678 who are at present in various institutions of higher learning, or learning trades in the country and other parts of the world.

According to him, the exit of 3,232 beneficiaries this month and others before the end of the year would save the nation about N4.6 billion in stipend payment this year.

He explained that until now, there had not been any group of beneficiaries that had exited the programme, saying, “This is significant

in a five-year programme of the Amnesty which has never exited any beneficiary before I took over.”

Boro noted that his team had taken proactive steps with a view to moving the Amnesty officials closer to the beneficiaries by opening offices in Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River, Delta and Rivers States, stressing that similar offices would be opened in Abia, Bayelsa, Imo and Ondo States.

He said: “The aim of opening offices in the Niger Delta states is to bring the Amnesty Office close to the locations of the ex-agitators to achieve effective coordination of their activities. We have also opened an office in our mission in the UK because just before I took office, there were protests all over where we have our students. So, I feel it is proper for me to open offices where they are so that they can go and complain, if they have any, instead of protesting and embarrassing the nation.

The same thing I want to do for the US, South Africa, Russia and Malaysia. I feel it is better we have offices where our embassies are so that we can better manage the beneficiaries in those places.”

Obasanjo awarded Abuja rail project without design, MOU, Senate told

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—THE Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was yesterday, told that former President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the Abuja rail project in 2007 without design or Memorandum of Understanding, MoU. The then Minister of FCT and current governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, was said to have signed the contract based on uncalculated estimate.

The revelation came as the committee discovered that the contract, which stood at 60.67 kilometres, was inflated by $10 million per kilometre even as the length was later reduced to 45 kilometres without refund of the cost for the 15.67 kilometres dropped.

To this end, the Senate Committee, led by Dino Melaye, has demanded the refund of $195.878 million being the amount for the 15.67 kilometres cut out, from the Chinese firm, CCE, handling the project.

Project Manager of the company, Etim Abak, who answered questions from members of the committee during their oversight assignment to the project site, said the contract was signed by the then FCT Minister without design and MoU, adding that it was carried out based on what he simply identified as conceptual design.

“The contract was awarded based on conceptual design and estimates not properly done. There was no formal design submitted and rail bridges and crossover bridges were not captured in the contract,” he told the committee.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Melaye, speaking at the site, said his research showed that the rail project was inflated by over $10 million per kilometre, wondering why such corrupt act was perpetrated by the handlers of the project.

Noting that the contract sum was $841.645 million and project completion period was 48 months while the scope of work was 60.67km standard gauge, with double railway tracks and associated permanent way within FCT, Melaye said the whole project was shrouded in fraud.

He wondered why the project, which length initially stood at 60.67 kilometres, was later reduced to 45. 245 kilometres without reduction in the cost of the project initially paid for.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—15

Bukola Saraki: Time to shine or melt

By Magnus Onyibe HE firestorm generated by the Code of Conduct, CCT arraignment of senate president, Bukola Saraki over alleged false declaration of his assets when he was governor of Kwara state has taken the dimension of political witch hunting. At least, that’s the view of his numerous supporters, especially fellow senators who came to that conclusion after the recent supreme court’s denial of the senate president’s prayer to prevent CCT from further prosecuting him. In a terse statement, majority of the members of the red chambers , reaffirmed their confidence in Saraki’s leadership while pledging to sustain their

T

unflinching support for their embattled leader throughout his travail. Left with no other option,and perhaps buoyed by the exaltation of his colleagues, Saraki is now looking forward to his day in court,early next month where he will either shine or melt.

Normally ,witch hunting is not an uncommon part of politics and anyone who is in doubt, should ask Hillary Clinton , former First Lady, senator and secretary of state’s of the United States of America, USA and presently the Democratic Party front runner for the White House .

The ‘banana peel’ to borrow Nigerian lingo,deliberately put on the path to the Oval Office for Mrs Clinton to step on,slip and fall to prevent her from getting

there is known to all keen observers of the race to the presidency of the USA .

That’s why a sad event on an ordinary day, during her time as Secretary of State, such as the attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, where the USA ambassador,Chris Stevens and a couple of other compatriots were killed by Libyan terrorists, became a sort of albatross that would define her candidacy for the presidency.

Likewise for former two term governor, and now senate president,Bukola Saraki, whom forces,similar to the ones intent on hamstringing senator Clinton in far away USA, seem to be determined here in Nigeria to equally undo him as senate

•Senate president, Saraki president and ruin his chances of running for the presidency in 2019 or beyond. Just like Hilary Clinton ,who the ghosts from her time as Secretary of State,suddenly started popping up as soon as she announced her interest in the presidency, Saraki’s alleged breach of public service code with respect to his network during his term as governor is being dangled like the sword of damocles over his head. The difference between

both situations with Clinton in the USA and Saraki in Nigeria,is that while Clinton is confronting her demons barely ten (10) months to when president Barack Obama is supposed to hand over,to his successor on Jan 20, 2017, Saraki is embroiled in a presidential ambition motivated legal tango , less than 8 months into the commencement of the new regime which has four (4) years or 96 months tenure.

Make no mistake about it, not all politicians can stand the heat of blackmail and scandal.Take the recent case in the United Kingdom, U.K.for instance.

Chuka Umunna, a Labour Party leadership front runner in the U.K.dramatically abandoned his candidacy barely after three days of launching it for fear of the muck which might be raked up about him, his fiancée and his mum.

Hear him: “ Since the night of our defeat last week, l have been subject to added level of pressure that comes with being leadership candidate “. According to him “ l have not found it to be comfortable experience.

Comfortable experience One can imagine what running for leadership can be like , understand its demands and attention but nothing compares to doing it and the impact on the rest of ones life.

Consequently,after further reflections, l’m withdrawing my candidacy”.

You can imagine that the scenario above is the sort of attitude that the fear of blackmail could have compelled Hillary Clinton and and Bukola Saraki in the USA and Nigeria respectively to adopt, but alas the pair of Clinton and Saraki are made of sterner mettle, hence they have decided that instead of chickening out like Chuka Umunna in the Uk, they are soldiering on.

The duo of Hilary Clinton and Bukola Saraki are veterans of many political battles. Along with her husband former president Bill Clinton, Hillary survived the famous whitewater real estate scandal that rocked the then governor of the state of Arkansas’s presidential quest for No 1600 Pensilvania Avenue, Washington DC -which is the White House and residential address of US presidents. After getting to the White House together , Hilary and Bill survived the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal that led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the USA by the House of Representatives.

To be concluded C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBUARY 16, 2016 — 17

W

HEN the incredible issue of a missing/ counterfeited 2016 budget arose some weeks ago, I was expecting to hear from the APC that Goodluck Jonathan was to blame. Surprisingly, that did not happen. Instead, blame was traded between the Presidency and the National Assembly, seemingly forgetting that both organs of government are now controlled by the same APC. The stock-in-trade of this government is to blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything. If there is petrol shortage: Jonathan is to blame.

If there are power cuts, Jonathan is to blame. If there are Boko Haram killings, Jonathan is to blame.

This government has apparently not yet heard the aphorism that: “the buck stops with the president.” Nine months down the road from his inauguration, the president continues to pass the buck to Goodluck Jonathan. Then came the defining issue of the 2016 budget.

419 budget Mr. President did not just send the budget to the National Assembly, he presented it himself with great fanfare and bells and whistles. This was supposed to be his signature proposal. With seven months squandered ostensibly trying to get a cabinet of saints and angels who turned out to be the same old , many with corruption allegations hanging over their heads; the budget was expected to provide redemption for the government.

It would provide a bold new start to the government’s muchheralded “change” with a N6 trillion “zero-based” proposal that would defy Nigeria’s austere economic circumstances, and put us firmly on the launch-pad to economic recovery and diversification.

This makes it all the more perplexing that the 2016 budget has turned out to be the biggest blunder of this government in a catalogue of blunders that has now come to define it. I am still waiting for those who voted for APC to admit they blundered royally. In their blunder, they have given us a government that keeps going from one blunder to another.

Denying the budget We did not need Olisa Metuh, the opposition spokesman conveniently padlocked by the EFCC, to expose the blunders in the 2016 budget proposals.

Different government spokesmen have competed to distance themselves from it as much as possible. Charles Dafe, Director of Information, Ministry of National Planning, blamed the blunders in the budget on the government’s insufficient knowledge of the zero-based budgeting. Who is to be held responsible for this ignorance? Surprisingly, Dafe forgot to mention Goodluck Jonathan.

Isaac Adewole, the Minister C M Y K

Blunders upon blunders upon blunders of Heath, also forgot to blame Goodluck Jonathan. Instead, he maintained: “rats invaded Nigeria Budget documents and smuggled foreign items.” You may well ask who was supposed to buy rat poison. Did Goodluck Jonathan forget to hand it over on his departure?

Lai Mohammed, the pastmaster at blaming Goodluck Jonathan for everything, could not blame Jonathan for once.

The man who promised to hold 365 carnivals in 365 days in 2016, and was awarded a budget allocation bigger than the Ministry of Agriculture, openly disowned the government’s “budget of change.” Apparently, someone had gone ahead to change a number of the item; much in the spirit of the APC’s highfalutin change mantra.

Among them, the N5 million proposed for buying computers for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Film and Video Censors Board mysteriously became N398 million.

The Ministry of Education was also unable to scapegoat Goodluck Jonathan. Instead, a fictitious N10 billion that showed up in its figures was attributed to a “typographical error.” That just might qualify as one of the most expensive typos in the history of Nigeria. But how can N10 billion be a typo when it should not even be there at all?

Was it N1 billion they were trying to put that mistakenly became N10 billion? Or was it N10 million? What difference does it make when no one can even tell us what the money is meant for?

Outright fraud How come a significant amount of these so-called errors have to do with the presidency itself? What error accounts for

Mr. President, the buck now stops with you

the N3.8 billion allocated for capital projects at the State House Clinic meant for the president, vice-president and their families alone; compared to the N2.6 billion allocated for all the 17 government teaching hospitals nationwide. How come the amount budgeted for feeding the president is more than sufficient to feed entire villages for years?

There is really no point in itemizing the anomalies in the budget because they are just too many. But a few examples should exemplify just how ludicrous they are. In the socalled budget for change, N259 million is allocated for buying tyres, batteries, fuses and other whatnots for the cars in the presidency. N27 million is allocated for buying c-caution signs, fire-extinguishers and towing-ropes.

Spurious sums in excess of N100 billion are included repetitively. Bogus costing of N53.7 million is repeated 52 times; while those amounting to N37.8 million appear over 369 times. In some cases, the purchase of the same vehicles, computers and furniture are replicated 24 times to the tune of N46 billion. N795 million is set aside just to update the website of one ministry, putting to shame the amount alleged to have been used for Babatunde Fashola’s infamous website while he was governor of Lagos State.

In short, Buhari took five months to choose ministers. He had eight months to prepare a budget. Nevertheless, he ended up by presenting one of the most bogus budgets Nigerians have ever seen. That is the change we can surely do without.

Forex market Other changes have only entrapped law-abiding Nigerians. The daughter of a friend of mine, C.Y. Ogunseye, was getting married in the United States. He travelled abroad expecting to make use of his Nigerian credit card. After he got to Chicago, government made changes that pulled the rug from under his feet. His credit card had become invalid, to all intents and purposes. Clearly, no one in the presidency put a human face to the changes they made, which might have made them ease Nigerians into the new

policy so that people like C.Y. already abroad are not caught in the lurch.

Another friend of mine, Pamela Mommah, has a daughter in university in Belgium. Since Buhari came in it has become near-impossible to pay her school-fees. Now we are told overseas school-fees have been placed on the CBN’s foreignexchange prohibitive list. The monies for them will now have to be sourced from the parallel market. The president had promised to make the naira equal to the dollar while asking for our votes. Now that he is president, the naira is in free fall.

It has depreciated by over 50% since the inception of his presidency; from N225 to N335 to the dollar.

The same president who recently went outside the country on a five-day sabbatical which possibly included a medical check-up, has also included buying foreignexchange officially for overseas medical treatment on the prohibitive list.

As if these blunders were not enough, the vice-chancellors in 12 of the universities established

by Goodluck Jonathan were summarily dismissed by the government, replaced by new government appointees. This has become another example of the government becoming a law unto itself.

Vice-chancellors are tenured.

That means they cannot be removed before the expiration of their term without a prima facie case of incompetence or dereliction of duty, and even then only on the recommendation of the board of the university’s governing council. But the government not only sacked the VCs without board approval, it sacked the boards before sacking the VCs. Having done this, it then replaced the VCs in a manner completely contemptuous yet again of Nigeria’s federal structure. Four out of the twelve newly-appointed VCs are from Kano University alone; an action clearly in violation of Nigeria’s federal character principle.

Corruption baton-change Since the inception of the Buhari administration, all we have been hearing is corruption, corruption, corruption. The

president insisted he would kill corruption before it killed Nigeria. Therefore, we all expected the government to come up with steps designed to kill corruption; something no nation on earth has ever done before. However, instead of even attempting to kill corruption, the government has merely been determined to kill the PDP. So what is the state of corruption in Nigeria today? By all account, it is hale and hearty, thank you very much. All that has happened is that the baton of corruption has been passed from the PDP to the APC. One example here should suffice.

A lot of song and dance has been made by the government since its inception of cleaning up the NNPC. The former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, has been excoriated to the position of “public enemy number one.”

The president has refused to appoint a Minister of Petroleum Resources, deciding to oversee that portfolio himself and, thereby, keep a tight rein on the oil industry. But he has given us a Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in the person of Ibe Kachikwu.

So is corruption now being choked to death in the Nigerian ol industry? If reports are to be believed, that is far from the case.

According to Bako Abdullahi Yelwa, a former official of the Kaduna chapter of the Independent Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the change that has happened is merely that a new cabal of thieves and robbers are now controlling the NNPC and its affiliate, the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC).

Yelwa maintains this is responsible for the neverending cycle of fuel scarcity that remains prevalent all around the country. The new cabal is said to insist on extorting money before issuing the allocation of petroleum products. Yelwa insists the kerosene allocations promised IPMAN members have been diverted to the “relations, friends and cronies”.

He said, "I challenge anybody to ask any marketer if they have gotten allocations. PPMC staff are frustrating independent marketers. Why will they ask for a percentage of our profit before giving us allocation? And when we refuse, they frustrate the process of getting our allocation.

They only give product allocation to marketers that have given them a share of their profit upfront.”

The president needs to address the issues raised here expeditiously. Since he is now the de facto Minister of Petroleum Resources, one need hardly point out that these kinds of sharp practices, nine months after his election, cannot continue to be attributed to Goodluck Jonathan. Mr. President, the buck now stops with you.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 ONE of the sacred collaborative duties of the executive and legislative arms of government at the federal level is the preparation, passage and endorsement of the budget of the Federal Government.

It was in that direction that President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22, 2015 laid before the National Assembly his proposals for a N6.08 trillion spending plan for the Federal Government in 2016.

Inevitably, the late presentation of the spending proposal and the required Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, helped to delay consideration of the budget by the National Assembly till after the Yuletide holidays.

Just before the National Assembly commenced hearings on it, the budget went missing, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Senator Ita Enang, was accused of doctoring it.

Following the rapprochement after the alleged doctoring of the budget, expectations were that the process of

Retooling the budget process approving the budget would be fasttracked.

Alas, that expectation has now been put off following continuing revelations by both administration officials and the legislators of inherent defects in the spending plan now before the National Assembly. In fact, the said “paddings” prompted the Chairmen of Appropriation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin to announce last week the indefinite suspension of the possible passage date of the budget

from February 25, 2016.

In one particularly instructive case, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole disowned as fake, the spending plan of his ministry presented before the National Assembly.

This, coming against revelations of the perceived determination of an institutionalised “budget cabal” to influence the budget towards satisfying selfish interests calls for concern.

The long time it took President Buhari to fully establish his government after his inauguration is obviously taking its toll on governance as

a whole. We risk losing a whole year to the delay. That delay led to a situation where ministers were barely familiar with their ministries before being made to defend budgets prepared by bureaucrats.

However, the situation on ground is more than what meets the eye and is indicative of a defective bureaucracy determined to sustain the odious system that has made annual budgets of the Federal Government to have little impact on the citizenry.

That is reflected by news reports of the repetitive provisions of items as computers, motor vehicles and a number of items in annual budgets.

Given the promise of change that ushered in the present administration, the unfolding developments are undoubtedly embarrassing.

The public is waiting to see how President Buhari treats the bureaucrats that corruptly attempted to sabotage the budget. We hope he will send a strong message that this will no longer be tolerated now or in the future.

OPINION

Buhari and Nigeria’s negative image ByMichael Egbejumi-David

S

OME thirty years or so ago, Fela had a hit song titled, ‘Beast Of No Nation’ in which he sang, “I never hear that before o, make government talk o, my people are useless, my people are senseless, my people are indisciplined.

Which kind talk be that o...?”

Fela was referring to Buhari’s military government.

30 years on, nothing’s changed: President Muhammadu Buhari is still socking it to his people, still disparaging his people, still bad-mouthing them in the committee of nations. In a recent interview with a British newspaper, Buhari declared that Nigerians abroad have made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking. He finished off by saying, “We will encourage our countrymen to stay at home, work hard and make a respectable living at home.”

There goes our number one ambassador perpetrating negative stereotypes again.

Really Nigeria doesn’t need Buhari’s type of unhelpful intervention right now. It will further worsen its citizens’ marginalisation abroad and increase prejudice against all Nigerians.

Secondly, a president who habitually goes Overseas for medical treatment has no standing at all to tell other Nigerians to stay home. The same factors, same conditions at home that propels the C M Y K

president into the arms of doctors in a foreign land are the same that drives many Nigerians abroad. Everyone’s life and future is dear to them and they’ll do everything possible to make sure they get the best they can get – not just presidents.

No, Buhari did not say that all Nigerians abroad are criminals but he abdicated his responsibility when he threw some of his own citizens under the bus in a foreign land to a foreign media.

That can never be cool. It is already hard for some Nigerians in the UK in light of the recent recession and the influx of Eastern Europeans into that country. For our own president to put his boot in is very disheartening. Buhari has handed the UK government and other racists another (official) weapon with which to further marginalise Nigerians.

Is there more crime in Nigeria than in the USA? No. Are there more criminals in Nigeria than in the UK? No. Who are the number one foreign prisoners in the UK? The Polish. Nigeria is not even in the top five5.

Without Nigerian Doctors and Nurses, the UK NHS will struggle very badly -

In his second coming, it seems to me that Buhari is only interested in bending over backwards to please and pander to our erstwhile colonial masters when there is absolutely no need for it

maybe even collapse for a short while. If all Nigerians in the IT and Social Work sectors in the UK pull out, those sectors will struggle. What about Nigerian Pastors? Ditto for the USA; if Nigerian educators down tools, that sector of America will struggle. Perhaps these were what the president could have flagged up in his interview. If he later meets with Nigerians in a private Nigerian forum, he could tell them off.

He could remind the few yahoo boys to lay off, return home and stop giving the country a bad name. Rather it was the President who gave the country a black eye.

I spent 33 years living abroad; Brazil, USA and the UK in that order. I tell you, sometimes it wasn’t easy image-wise.

The first stigma we faced in those days was that we were a brilliant people under un-dignifying military yoke. Then the Yahoo and credit card boys came in the 1990s and made life really uncomfortable for every Nigerian. A few drug dealers came later. I never heard of human trafficking.

Back then, even our Embassy and Consular staffs (from Rio de Janeiro to London) treated their fellow Nigerians like unwanted people. You’d be lucky if you could get anyone in those places to talk to you. You’d be luckier if you got your passport sorted in two months. At its height, one chap who went by the imaginative name of Alhaji Alhaji who happened to be our High Commissioner (Ambassador) in London, in a fit of undiplomatic hysteria, declared that

most Nigerians in the UK were criminals and wondered aloud why the British government issued them visas. Only God and a few privileged angels knew what provoked the man.

However, things began to improve in the 2000s thanks in part to the efforts of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, and largely due to the excellence and achievements of second generation Nigerian Diaspora.

It is Buhari’s primary task to make our image problem abroad better. However, in his second coming, it seems to me that Buhari is only interested in bending over backwards to please and pander to our erstwhile colonial masters when there is absolutely no need for it. It took the government of Murtala/Obasanjo in the mid 1970s to take on the British head-on and get us some much deserved respect.

We seem to be going backwards in that regard again. We seem to be taking instructions from Downing Street, in particular, and the European Union in general before we make any moves in Nigeria.

The Wikileaks revelations of a few years ago where our very senior government officials were falling over themselves and couldn’t wait to blab to low level Western diplomats was a painful read.

I do not see how Buhari’s latest remark would encourage any potential investor to come to Nigeria. The president ought to know that his main job is to defend Nigeria and Nigerians everywhere; not to put us down in foreign media in the hope to please foreign leaders. That is old and it is unproductive.

*Dr. Egbejumi-David , a medical practitioner, wrote from London.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBURARY 16, 2016— —19

Imperative of Maritime university

By Sunny Ikhioya

T

HE way this government has gone about the business of governance since inception suggests that it is on a vengeance mission. It is as though there is an axe to grind with the previous government and this will not help its course.

Government: whether good or bad is a continuum. It is on going, it never stops. It is like a relay race, where one segment of the race is handed over to another through a baton but governance goes much further, it never stops. That is why all the bickerings by the present regime against the previous are uncalled for. There are laws in the land to take care of infractions and no reasonable person will complain against its use on offenders but when you act as if there is nothing good to pick or continue from where the previous regime stopped, then there is something wrong.

The statement by the Minister of transport to the effect that the federal government intends to shut down the Maritime university, Okerenkoko, Delta state is one of such misguided decisions. We should consider the advantages the nation stands to benefit from it rather than the unnecessary witch hunting. No matter the misgivings about it, a project that aims to educate

and empower our youths must be applauded, no matter its location. There is no federal project established in Nigeria that has been without sentiments. There is the Kaduna refinery, Nigeria Defence Academy, Obafemi Awolowo University and so on, to mention but a few. What matters is the contribution of these institutions to progress and national development. If government shuts down the maritime university, it stands to lose. The plan and scope of the marine university is done in such a way to cover all the gaps in our marine and acquatic cultures; administration, engineering, transport/ shipping, oceanography, meteorology, and many more.

The Minister was talking about Oron, this has been more on cadet training, the scope of the university goes much further. In any case both of them can co exist because of their relevance to the system.

We cannot stop one for the other. The opportunities available to this nation as a result of this project are too numerous to mention. It will serve as a recruitment bank for highly technical marine based professionals, which presently is dominated by foreign interests. It will contribute to great peace in a region that is so much in need of it. We have not touched on the physical and

infrastructure benefits that will accrue from this development. There is the popular saying that; “an idle mind is the devil's workshop”, a properly engaged youth will not dabble into any form of militancy, he will weigh the consequences of his actions before getting involved in such acts. The siting of a university opens up the community.

University communities are well endowed with vast land, tax free campuses and these attract the best of qualified skilled men. It is also boosted by housing developments of contemporary standards. The establishment of a university immediately raises the status of the environment in which it is sited. The Okenrenkoko project is already established, it should not be allowed to die.

Some years ago, the late Professor Ambrose Alli, against

The federal government must therefore find an appropriate channel to keep alive the Okerenkoko University project, closing it down is not an option

vehement protest, choose to locate the Bendel state university in his home town Ekpoma. Today, Alli is no more but the university is still serving the needs of so many Nigerians beyond the Bendel state boundaries. That is the point been made here. The overall importance of the project must take precedence.

The country, especially Niger Deltans need such kind of project which emphasises on practical and theoretical skills building. Courses of this nature outside our shores, cost a fortune. The universities already in existence in the country do not offer core marine professional courses.

For a country that still cannot offer half the number of university applicants' admission, the Okerenkoko project is imperative.

We must be able to separate the purpose and advantages the project serves the country from the process under which it was brought to be. If laws have been flouted, culprits should be brought to book without infringing on the interests of people living in the environment.

Alternatively, since the school project has reached advance stage and such cannot be abandoned, and the federal government is handicapped with funding; the federal government should immediately set up a committee to look at the public private partnership option, not

Open letter to Mr. President: Delivering Change

By Suleiman Arzika & Hauwa Ibrahim

Y

OUR Excellency, your path to the presidency has been long with many twists and turns.

None of us can fully comprehend what you have gone through the past twelve years to reach the current exalted position of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Knowing what you believe and what you represent, we supporting you from the sidelines can only feel that your presidency signals an unlikely rebirth of our country. Much has transpired to create the space for this political moment in our country’s history.

You understand the “seriousness of the legacy” we are currently living. The structure you stand on is built on the strong will and loyalty of the Nigerian people. Yet, there are fault lines of security, corruption and unemployment, which continue to weaken and divide the country.

By 2015, Nigeria was at a breaking point. Whether one voted All Progressive Party (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there was a consensus that something had to change. It was the youth demographic who articulated this not only with energy and passion but also with commitment. They found their dreams articulated in the promises of the Buhari presidency, especially the call for honesty and the belief that necessary, difficult changes would be made without fear of the “vested interests” that seem to have captured and imprisoned Nigeria’s development. Mr. President, you were fortunate to have Nigerian youth believe in and mobilise support around you on an unprecedented level in our political history. Despite the doubts of their parents and various other obstacles, they were committed to and delivered your victory.

"It would be a misstep to believe that going forward the simple correcting of mistakes carried out by the PDP would be C M Y K

enough. The promises made to youth particularly around youth unemployment must be acted upon with both care and urgency. This is valuable energy and goodwill that can be harnessed to ensure that the important and difficult work ahead is not only done, but also done with accountability.

Mr. President, you have the ability to engage with this demographic in direct and committed ways through social media and telecommunications. This generation needs to be connected to through the avenues where they are consumers, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and be asked their opinion through group text messages and conference calls. It is evident that the youth are organised and reachable through various organisations that support your presidency. While they still believe in your promises, there needs to be a re-engagement. Youth are for the most part, the ones that got you elected and they are the ones that can help you generate real change in Nigeria if policy changes are focused around and through them.

For a long time now the system of government in Nigeria has been alien to the people. The gap between the government and those governed has widened and the citizens are often fundamentally at odds with those holding political appointments. This has led many Nigerians, especially the parents of the youth we speak of, to view government as a “fat cow to be milked” rather than a body that they can and must take an involved role in influencing.

By focusing on youth engagement in

Focusing on the issues of youth unemployment and governmental corruption are direct ways to address deeper problems of security

tackling unemployment, corruption, and security you will be helping everyone have faith in the political process and all citizens will begin to engage more deeply in the political process.

Focusing on the issues of youth unemployment and governmental corruption are direct ways to address deeper problems of security. The ability to develop a true sense of freedom and security can only come from being part of a sustainable society. Economic stability and the confidence in a merit based systems of employment, rather than relational means of employment, are both ways to ensure the confidence of Nigerian citizens. Therefore, addressing corruption within employment is necessary.

In order to begin to do this, we need to know a thorough accounting of who is currently unemployed in the country and those in diaspora who want to come back home. A proactive initiative, independent from government, should be undertaken to do this. Different methods, at a grassroots level, such as surveys and interviews over social media and the call to a return or report to the wards, Districts and local government centre, Nigerian embassies and missions abroad can be used to gather information in a national/ international database that consists of potential workforce and their skill sets.

This can be used specifically to coordinate a base of employable youth.

By coordinating a database of those who are looking for employment, the government also has an opportunity to actively and transparently engage capable citizens to be employed in local, state and federal positions as well as allow a vibrant private sector to thrive. This is a key initiative to cut down corruption in government and help citizens feel that there is an equal opportunity for skilled citizens to be fully involved in political/ non political positions. This is especially true in terms of appointment of members of cabinet at different levels. There needs to be a transparent database of all of the highly qualified (and not so “qualified)

a few individuals and bodies will be interested in such a programme as it centres on highly skilled and professionalised training. It could be nurtured with the aim of running it as a profitable and self sustaining institution. The infrastructures are in place and the aquatic terrain perfectly suited for practical marine training. Investors can be brought in from within and without to keep the project afloat. I am sure that not a few of the top notch businessmen from the Niger Delta will be interested in the project, if it is properly sold to them. Even if that option fails, the state government can take it over with a view of running it as a self sustaining institution. The school of aviation in Zaria, a highly professionalised institution has managed to survive all these years despite the challenges posed by federal government funding.

What am I saying? The country is still seriously deficient in the man power area of marine and related studies and so any plan to establish one irrespective of where it is sited is commendable because the advantages are too numerous to let it go. The federal government must therefore find an appropriate channel to keep alive the Okerenkoko University project, closing it down is not an option. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Nigerian citizens (willing and desirous of moving Nigeria forward) to restore a true sense of authenticity.

While a database such as Sure-P exists (other governmental programmes may exist), and therefore the government may have an established system, the administration should focus on a database of the Nigerian workforce that is independently managed. This ensures that there is transparency in who is hired in governmental positions and open up the field for private entrepreneurship. Such other data can also be improved, in an independent manner, by modeling the database and programme similarly to programmes such as “JobCorps” in the United States. This would not only provide a comprehensive way for open positions to be filled, but also allow a platform for the youth workforce to gain additional training and education around employability. The building and strengthening of this database will also be beneficial in recruiting young Nigerians in the diaspora to return to the country and be part of the country’s development.

An additional way to reduce youth unemployment, cut down corruption and build stronger security is by looking at how youth can be better involved in the police and military. The Police are the face of a Nation. There is already a need to grow the numbers in the ranks of the police and army. There is also the common experience of Nigerians being taken advantage of by the Police.

This is done by the same police that is responsible for providing assistance, protecting/enforcing law and order to the public in time of need. But how are individuals to have trust in the Police Force based on some of their actions?

Recruitment of youth who have been specifically engaged in supporting your campaign promises around anti-corruption should be undertaken so that there is a cultural change of transparency within the ranks of the police and military while giving them the dignity they deserve. *Mrs. Ibrahim, a lawyer, resides in Boston, USA & Arzika, an ICT entrepreneur, is based in Abuja.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBUARY 16, 2016

Bornu: Whose report would we believe? "...among the calamities of war may be jointly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages."

(Andy Ward,"The Idler" magazine,11/11/1758)

T

HERE is no debate that Nigeria is at war and consequently "truth don die" (apology to Femi Anikulapo-Kuti).

And nothing typifies the obituary of truth in our country today than official reactions to the Boko Haram war going on in the North East primarily with occasional forays into other zones of the north and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

In the build-up to the last elections, the party in power made all sorts of promises believable only in a republic of idiots. One of such was the promise to end within a month Boko Haram activities when elected into office.

They created a narrative that somehow encouraged Boko Haram while heaping all the woes of terror on the "incompetence" of the former administration.

It was Oscar Wilde who said when the gods want to punish us they answer our prayers. APC was elected on the basis of these promises and eight months down the line, it is either they are distancing themselves from those promises(the way ministers are disowning their budgets!) or spewing untruths to a hapless people as a face saving measure.

It is a travesty of some some sort that an administration headed by a man full of integrity whose sobriquet is " Baba Gaskiya" (the truthful one) among the millions of his admirers is now renowned for cheap propaganda and sickening lies just to avoid the discomfort of the truth.The President has taken some attacks over certain comments he made at different fora because he would speak the truth as he sees it not minding whose ox is gored. It is this contradiction between his moral cognition and the depravity of his environment that made my good friend Hillary Okoronkwo to call him "the Jesus of Abuja without disciples".

A ministerial tour: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gleefully announced to the country on 28 December,2015 thus: “Today, I can report that the war against Boko Haram is largely won.

“I can confidently say this C M Y K

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Information & Culture minister. because just recently, I led a group of 33 journalists from both the local and international media to the hotbed of the insurgency, that is, Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama.

“Today, I can report to you that the entire 70 plus kilometres stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki which leads to Cameroun and the Central African Republic are in the hands of our gallant troops.”

He said the military presence could be felt "every few metres along the road; at a point along that road we were just a kilometre to Sambisa forest. They have so degraded the capacity of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack.”

A few days after this boast, Boko Haram struck mercilessly prompting commentators to say that the minister had technically

Governor Shettima and Alhaji Mohammed should undertake a victory tour of all the local governments in Borno state on live camera and with only their regular security aides. If they return without any incident, then Senator Garbai should be arrested and prosecuted for rumour-mongering

reawakened Boko Haram with his premature victory party borne out of the haste to play Comical Ali. The activities of the terror group has since not ceased.

While Boko Haram continues its bombings and killings every effort go on at the level of officialdom to sustain the untruth that the group has been routed.

Baba Kaka Garbai, the Senator representing Borno

Central on February 6, 2016 addressed a press conference where he put a lie to all the claims about Boko Haram. He made a shocking revelation about a devastating attack by the terror group in which scores were burnt alive: "They actually got the signal a few days before the attack that the insurgents were likely to attack them, they reported to the constituted authorities but nothing was done."

A lie and misconception He said it was a lie and misconception that the insurgents have largely been overpowered by the military, insisting that: “It is a wrong assumption that most of the local governments in Borno are recaptured from the Boko Haram. In reality this is not true in the sense that apart from Maiduguri Metropolis, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar, these are the three local government that are under the occupation of the Nigerian government where the military and police are maintaining law and order.

“Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are 100 percent occupied by the insurgents. There are some local governments that are partially occupied by the insurgents especially as the local government secretariats have been liberated but their hitherlands are still controlled by the insurgents.”

Garbai gave an instance of Konduga which was liberated but still has many communities in the local government area under the insurgents.

He also said “though Gwoza town has been liberated there still remain six wards in Gwoza local

government area still occupied by the insurgents.”

He said: “From my count, only three local government are fully liberated, 21 local governments partially occupied by insurgents, that is there is still some level of Boko Haram occupation side by side the military or any other constituted authority. The local government fully occupied by Boko Haram are Abadam, Mobbar and Kala Balge.’

He advised that: “We should not live under the illusion that Boko Haram are decimated or weaken, these are not reality and neither a true reflection of the reality. The reality is that most of the local government in Borno is partially occupied by Boko Haram.”

A few days after the Senator spoke,Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno stare coming straight from Saudi Arabia told journalists that the Senator was not giving a true account of Borno situation .

The governor who said Borno State was better now than it was six months ago, said: "As the Chief Security Officer of Borno State, I can tell you authoritatively that no local government is under the occupation of Boko Haram."

He added: "Our military deserves commendation, because all my local government areas have been liberated; only a few insurgents that remain in the Sambisa forest where they continue to launch some pockets of attacks as a result of the bombardment that is going on in their hideouts."

I was on a Bel-view flight to Abuja the day after the governor spoke with a good friend and brother of mine. There were quite a lot of friends and acquaintances to exchange pleasantries with on the flight including the man just denied the governorship seat in Kogi by high wire politics, Hon. James Falake, Mr. Steve Orosanye, Mr. Kayode Komolafe of Thisday, Prof, Ishaq Oloyede, among others.

As we took our seats on the plane, there was a gentleman

sitting next to me holding a copy of Daily Trust which reported the governor's statement. I whispered aloud to the man that whom shall we believe now between the Senator and the governor plus Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his response sent cold shivers down my spines. "Don't mind those sitting down in Abuja talking nonsense. I came to Lagos to process the papers of my soliderson who was killed in Borno. He was less than a year in the Army."

Dissecting the truth The situation in Borno is a classic case of what the Yoruba say of the situation where the face of the farmer is all swollen but all the insects that sting in the bush say they are not responsible for the farmer's plight because they have been on siesta.

Our fathers from the depth of their wisdom say that the conversation with a man accused of having scrotal elephantiasis should not be more than four sentences. That if a man is said to have giant testicles and he says it is not true, he should be asked to display his downside which he should do with alacrity. Case closed!

Knowing the truth in Borno is very easy like the proposition a gentleman made before the army dispelled the rumour by Alhaji Lai Mohammed that Jonathan bought "fake weapons". The fellow asked the minister to stand on a podium at Eagles Square and some solders should test those weapons on him!

In like manner Governor Shettima and Alhaji Mohammed should undertake a victory tour of all the local governments in Borno state on live camera and with only their regular security aides. If they return without any incident, then Senator Garbai should be arrested and prosecuted for rumourmongering. I can't get the words of Amilcar Cabral off my mind "Tell no lies,claim no easy victory"

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

— 21

Economy: Look towards Poland, Dycha tells FG, OPS

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Andrzej Dycha, has advised the federal government and Nigerian private sector operators to look towards Poland with a view to returning the economy to the path of accelerated growth.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, he said that Poland has consistently maintained the leadership position in the European Union region in recent times and was ready to replicate its scientific and technological know how in Nigeria.

Technological know how According to the Ambassador, Polish investors were eager to invest in the Nigerian economy and that a new relationship between the two countries could re-write Nigeria’s economic development efforts, within a short time.

His words, “Poland has maintained the leading position in terms of growth among the OECD nations since 2005 and ready to extend its scientific and technological success stories to Nigeria, the largest economy on the African continent.

“We have expertise in the energy sector with a EUR 130 billion investment in renewable energy projects, waste-towealth plants and power blocks grid distribution; automobile industry; agriculture; as well as, Research and Development, RD; transportation infrastructure.

$116. 10

"Nigeria is a land of opportunities. We have ambitious investors in Poland who have indicated their intentions to invest in the Nigerian economy, the economic challenges facing the Nigerian economy has provided a huge opportunity for investors to invest in key sectors of the economy. Polish investors from Poland are ready for long term investments owing to the strategic importance of Nigeria in Africa."

The ambassador said that, intent on changing her bilateral relations with Africa, the Polish government has launched the GoAfrica programme with a view to massively investing on the continent and that Nigeria must key into the programme.

The volume of trade between Nigeria and Poland now stands at €250 million and this has prompted a desire by Polish investors to come to Nigeria to do business.

Mr. Dycha described the level of trade between both countries as impressive and noted that this

By Jimoh babatunde & Gabriel Olawale

T

HE CEO, Erisco Foods, ChiefEricUmeofia,hassaid that the non release of findings of test conducted on imported tomatoes paste by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is not only killing Nigerians but the country's economy.

The entrepreneur said 91.9 % of imported tomatoes pastes from China into Nigeria are substandard, asking “what has NAFDAC

$2,826.00 60.00

0.41

$29. 85

-0.05

CURRENCY BUYING US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA

0.09

$33. 77

196 283.67 219.4416 199.3085 1.7196 0.3178 274. 8413 30.1762 52.2388 29. 3919 275. 5368

SELLING 196.5 284. 2766 220.0014 199. 817 1.724 0.3278 275. 5425 30. 2536 52.3721 29. 4669 276. 2397

197 284.9999 220.5612 200.3254 1.7284 0. 3378 276.436 30. 3321 52. 5053 29.5419 276.9426

CBN Exchange rate as at 15/02/2016

C M Y K

products while Poland sends to Nigeria, chemicals, cosmetics, machinery and processed agricultural items.”

He added, "Poland is the largest European Union producer of apples, poultry meat, carrots and significant

producer of other vegetables. We are facing a challenge of transition from low value added production of raw food towards processed products offering great opportunities for investors."

BRIEFING: From left, Executive Commissioner Legal & Enforcement, Securities and Ex-

change Commission, SEC, Mrs. Sa'adatu Bello; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mounir Gwarzo; General Manager Operations, Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS) Mr. Joe Mekiliuwa, and Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Ade Shonubi, at the post e-dividend sensitisation Town Hall Meeting press briefing, in Lagos.

Importation of substandard tomato paste killing local economy --- Umeofia

3.10

$13.16

volume of trade between would provide a platform for investors from both countries to form strategic partnership towards increasing the level of investments in Nigeria.

The Ambassador said Nigeria exports "mainly agricultural

done about their findings?

Ratherthangoingafterthe importers, NAFDAC opted for negotiation. Do you negotiate with criminals who are hell bent in destroying our economy and destroying our people?”

Chief Eric Umeofia disclosed that last year the agency held a meeting with importers of tomato paste from China where it was revealed that NAFDACwasconducting a study on the quality of tomato paste imported from China.

He noted that the aim of themeetingwastoaddress food safety issues, tackle any challenges and come up with the way forward as to ensure that only quality tomato paste in retail packs are imported

distributed and sold in Nigeria.

Umeofia regretted that nothing has been heard from the leadership of the food regulatory body since last year, while he is aware that a study conducted by the agency revealed that majority of the tomato paste in the market across the country fall short of required standard.

He added that he is also aware of the findings of Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology detailing the health implication of unregulated importation of tomato paste.

“The laboratory analysis of study which covers 27 main markets and four major supermarkets in Lagos indicate that 286 tomato paste out of 298 sampled fall short of the codex standards and the Nigerian Industrial Standards has specified that tomato content should be 28 percent minimum.”

There are growing concerns that some of the unhygienic ingredients and colouring added to Tomato paste are not easily broken down or flushed in the system

Umeofia whose company produces tomato paste locally said the food safety implication and attendant health effects of the various findings are very alarming as its results indicated that companies importing tomato paste products from China are conniving with the Chinese manufacturers to dump substandard products to the unsuspecting Nigerian consumers.

“Therearegrowingconcernsthat some of the unhygienic ingredients and colouring added to Tomato paste are not easily broken

down or flushed in the system.

Rather, they get lodged and may have a connection with rising incidences of unexplainable health conditions in Nigerians.”

He added that the survey carried out by Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, NISLT, of 16 tomatoes paste samples analyzed for 13 parameters selected shows that some manufacturerscompromisedstandardinareaofamountoflycopene, starch content and heavy metal contamination.

Ambode hosts 5th Lagos Corporate Assembly

By Babajide Komolafe

G

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode will host chief executives officers from the private sector in the 5th Lagos Corporate Assembly holding this week.

The event, which is organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative is tagged “A+ Meets Business.”

It will be held on Thursday, February 18th, 2016 at the banquet Hall, State House, Ikeja, Lagos.

This was disclosed today by the Honourable Commissioner, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye in his office. He explained that

Corporate Assembly is a forum for public and private sectors engagement which provides a platform for feedback and regular interaction between the Lagos State Government and members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) in the State.

According to him, the assembly would provide the opportunity for captains of industries, chief executive officers, managing directors and other stakeholders in the business world to discuss with His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State Governor, on factors militating against doing business in the state amongst other issues.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Generally, most banking industry analysts are fearful of Tier 1 banks’ huge exposures to downstream oil and gas and Access Bank was not an exception

,

INVESTOR'S

,

Earnings Season: What prospects for Access Bank Plc?

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

A

CCESS Bank is amongst top Tier 1 banks in Nigeria and as such commands considerable investors’ interest with large shareholdings. The full year results is in the process of completion expected to be turned over to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for approval in a few weeks time before investors’ announcement.

Banking sector performance is not presently blue as a few red flags have been seen even among the Tier 1 banks in the past few results since third quarter 2015 (Q3 ’15).

This has been due to generally poor economic environment and in particular the massive decline in the oil and gas sector where most of the big banks played big, leading to big losses and weaken assets quality.

Access Bank has however shown some level of positive performance in the interim 2015 results, giving the impression that all will be well in the final results. But that is on the assumption that in addition to several negative industry trends, the oil and gas exposures would not have crystalized into huge bad loans, eroding profits.

2015 Interim Results Review The Q1 didn’t show good performance across all parameters as net interest income declined by 3.3 per cent. But this indicator have since showed significant recovery as the bank’s published Q3 2015 results showed a positive 2.0 per cent haven been supported by foreign exchange and derivative non-interest income to deliver a year-to-Q3 40 per cent growth in profit before provision.

But the sharp rise in loan loss provision in Q3 by about 66 per cent and equally huge jump in operating expenses, OPEX, by about 38 per cent took a heavy toll on the bank’s income as cost-to-income ratio rose 63.2 per cent Q-on-Q, up from 61.5 per cent in Q2.

However, despite the combination of spikes in both loan loss provision and OPEX the bank’s pre-tax profit rose sharply by over 40 per cent to N60.4 billion.

Other key performance indicators that were looking up include loans growth which C M Y K

went up by 17 per cent yearto-Q3, and deposit base up by 9.1 per cent. The Y-on-Y 42 per cent growth in gross earnings to ¦ 257.6 billion in Q3 was largely driven by strong growth in trading income while 18 per cent increase in interest income to ¦ 155.4 billion Y-onY in Q3 was driven by 22 per cent Y-on-Y growth in income from loans and advances.

The huge jump of 106 per cent Y-on-Y in non-interest income to ¦ 102.2 billion in Q3 was as a result of increased net gains from trading. However, net trading income dropped significantly by about 30 per cent to N21.6 billion in Q3 due to maturity of some of the underlying trading transactions.

Full Year 2015 Insight: Analysts Positions The bank appears to be on track to meet its target on Return On Equity, ROE, for the year. ROE was diluted following the Tier I capital raise in Q3’15.

It is likely that continued pressures on margins accentuated by regulatory measures and stiff competition

Given the bank’s efforts in containing operational costs, we are somewhat bullish on Profit After Tax with a forecast of 17.3 per cent Y-on-Y

may result in muted NIM growth in the full year 2015 results.

Some analysts like InvestmentOne have expressed concern over the volatility and sustainability of the bank’s foreign exchange and derivative related non-interest income. Hence they believe there would be a moderation in these performance drivers reflecting in the full year results.

Generally, most banking industry analysts are fearful of Tier 1 banks’ huge exposures to downstream oil and gas and Access Bank was not an exception. But in overall the bank’s Non Performing Loan, NPL, ratio remain in line with peers at 1.75 per cent as at Q3 2015.

InvestmentOne revised down its 2015 year end deposit base growth estimate from 10 per cent to remain at the Q3 levels of 9.0 per cent year-to-Q3 and left its forecast on loan book performance unchanged at 17 per cent.

InvestmentOne said full year pre-tax profit would reflect potential gains from the general decline in yields and the continued support from foreign exchange and derivative related income.

Highlight of the drivers include loan and deposit growth forecasts of about 4.5 per cent each; moderation in foreign exchange and derivative impact in noninterest income; impact of the 100 basis points increase in regulatory general provision; and expected general contraction in yields and slowdown in loan growth.

With recent efforts in expanding its retail segment and the new drive towards growing its loan book, Afrinvest Group analysts forecast a 17 per cent growth

in gross earnings on the back of 21 per cent increase in interest income.

Similarly, Afrinvest says “given the bank’s efforts in containing operational costs, we are somewhat bullish on Profit After Tax with a forecast of 17.3 per cent Y-on-Y. “We employed a blend of Net Asset Valuation, Dividend Discount Model and Residual Income Model with a respective weight of 40 per cent, 30 per cent, and 30 per cent. We arrived at an intrinsic value of N6.86 and 12-month target price of N8.64 implying 81.2 per cent upside to the market price of N4.77 as at July 31, 2015”.

Last weekend, Access Bank shares closed at N4.10 but Afrinvest had remarked that the general market mood has affected the price movement.

Access Bank’s executive pulse Some explanations have been given by the bank on some key performance drivers.

In the Q3 presentation, the bank’s chief financial officer, Seyi Kumapayi, said expenses which at N106.2 billion, grew by 38 per cent was largely due to recruitment and training of staff to boost retail market penetration, investment in brand equity development, particularly in the retail segment, through increased marketing activities, upgrade of IT solutions to improve business processes and service delivery to customers.

The over 65 per cent jump in the impairment charge to N11.6 billion with a corresponding rise of over 100 per cent in cost of risk to 0.9 per cent in Q3, according to him, were in line with the bank’s strict methodology on provisioning for bad loans.

Access Bank Financial Profile

He said the bank will continue to monitor and improve the quality of its risk assets to minimize credit impairment losses.

He also noted that tighter system liquidity and regulatory environment reflected in the Cash Reserve Requirement harmonization of private and public funds negatively impacted the bank’s cost of funds, resulting in a Q-on-Q increase to 5.4 per cent in Q3 from 5.3 per cent in Q2.

Similarly the bank’s Net Interest Margin, NIM, which declined by 100 bps Y-on-Y to 5.9 per cent in Q3 was largely driven by increasing funding costs due to a higher interest rate environment, though NIM improved Q-on-Q by 30 bps.

According to the bank’s chief executive, Mr Herbert Wigwe, the strategic piorities for 2016/ 17 includes cultivating an innovation culture and creating platforms to develop market disruptive solutions for its customers.

It will also include deploying flexible and reliable channels infrastructure that permeates customers needs across all segments through an enjoyable omni-channel experience The bank would also leverage big data and analytics, utilizing customer transaction data to create an intuitive understanding of customer needs to deliver personalized value propositions.

The bank intends to boost value chain banking by creating an ecosystem using its client base to provide a robust bouquet of products and services within a network It also hopes to proactively manage risk and capital by enhancing its risk management framework to create sustainable shareholder value whilst optimally allocating capital to emerging opportunities.

Holy Aruosa, traditional church of Binis gets face-lift PAGE 25

Bayelsa communities may forfeit EU-assisted water projects PAGE 26

VOL. 1: No. 81

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

monarch.

Recall that this same character whose penchant for not submitting to any constituted authority had earlier gone to court in defiance of the mutual understanding reached by both the Ugborodo Interface Committee of which he is a member and the Gbaramatu people on the imperative to move the EPZ forward.

The Augustine Oborogbeyi chaired Ugborodo Interface Committee resolved with the Gbaramatu party that we allow this project to go on because it is going to give a new lease of life to the people. The issue of nomenclature was critical, we said let them name the Gas City after Ogidigben, an Ugborodo community and name the Sea Port sited in Gbaramatu after it.

Both parties believed we have done justice to that matter and we signed that agreement in presence of Delta State Government, Federal Government, NNPC and other stakeholders. We celebrated the development and went home.

The same character that would not put himself under any control came up said he is not subservient to that decision. This is a group, which he is a member and the decision was binding on the entire Ugborodo, which they represent. However, he said he would not accept the agreement duly signed, so he alone went to court.

Understanding and maturity Chief Ayiri Emami

Chief Godspower Gbenekama

Call Ayiri to order, Ijaw leader tells Olu of Warri •To ward off fresh Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis

By Egufe Yafugborhi THE Ibibenimowe (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, has implored the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, to control his subjects, especially the Ajuwaoyiboyami of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, aka Akulagba, to avoid rupturing the existing peace between Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities.

Chief Gbenekama, who was reacting to the Itsekiri leader’s outburst in an interview, last week, with Niger-Delta Voice, said he (Emami) was even disrespectful to the revered monarch, who he (an Ijaw leader) has tremendous respect for because of his personality. Excerpt.

ECENTLY Chief Ayiri utterance and unruly character Emani defended his role more than ever before. He now in the recent blowup of pipelines even went as far as insulting the in Warri South-West area and his respected stool of the Olu of Warri comments in another unfolding and the amiable persona, who Tompolo saga. How well does occupies that stool currently.

It spoke of his character, he has his explanation settle the scores no respect for anybody and will with the Gbaramatu people?

Normally, his so- called defense not subject himself to the control should not have sprang any of any body or entity, including surprise knowing the character his respected monarch. You can that is involved, but I must tell now see why we must maintain you that after reading his reaction, the clamor to call him to order.

That is a strong I am even more surprised at his

R

C M Y K

conclusion to draw, where in Ayiri’s interview did he insult the Olu of Warri?

If you probably did not read him, he exhibited his clear show of disrespect for the monarch when he revisited the issue of the Export Processing Zone, EPZ,

For us, their Interface Committee showed a lot of understanding and maturity and so we were ready and still ready to collaborate with them to ensure that the project materializes

where we share stakes in Warri South West area. In his remarks flawed with much misrepresentation, a subject surreptitiously for the first time, insulted the respected stool of Olu by saying His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli I was not a king when the EPZ issues started. Therefore, he should sit where he is and the only person strong enough to say bring Ijaw nation to its knees is Ayiri.

Personally, I am surprised because we respect the stool of the Olu of Warri. We respect it even more now because of the persona, who currently occupies that stool. We see him as somebody who has a profile and who believes in live and let live.

No person, especially a subject, has spoken against this authority and it is not coincidental that it turned out to be the same character that first broke that tradition. Now, he is not also subservient to the Olu, his

For us, their Interface Committee showed a lot of understanding and maturity and so we were ready and still ready to collaborate with them to ensure that the project materializes. That is why we appeal to the Olu of Warri to call his subjects, including Ayiri to order because the inflammatory statements he makes are capable of destroying the peace we now enjoy. This same character has come up to say he is not also subservient to the authority of the Olu, his monarch.

Let me also add for the records that I, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, the Ibibenimowe of Gbaramatu Kingdom, led all discussions on the EPZ project as it affects that kingdom. I led the protest and addressed the press conferences; I remain spokesperson from the beginning of the protest to when we had a resolution. So for somebody to come up to say a Tompolo influenced, directed or took center stage in the protest was so wrong.

Yes, Tompolo is a Gbaramatu man. He has every right to say anything pertaining to Gbaramatu, but on this particular subject, I led the protest and still lead the process for the kingdom.

So we are compelled to maintain our appeal that the King should Continues on page 25

24 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

ALLEGED SCAM IN C-RIVER HOSPITAL:

Patients cry out, finger nurses

*I don’t have power to speak - Dr Ayi Etim, Medical Superintendent *I’ll probe the affair - Dr Inyang Asibong, Health Commissioner

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

Front view of the hospital

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABAR—PATIENTS have complained about the mind-boggling extortion and exploitation by staff of the General Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, especially nurses, who sell their own drugs to sick persons.

Patients, who spoke to NigerDelta Voice, also grumbled that those that sell drugs at the Pharmacy Unit do not issue receipts for the actual drugs and consumables like drips and gloves purchased, thereby undercutting the hospital.

Fraudsters: Mr. Bassey Asuquo, who brought his father for treatment at the hospital, narrated his experience to this paper. “We brought our father here Friday, last week (fortnight ago), but unfortunately, we lost him on Monday, February 1. However, for the three days we spent well over N40,000 without any receipt apart from the one we were given at the morgue when he was deposited.”

“They tell you that the cashier is not around but the truth is there are no receipts issued, it is also alleged that most of the drugs they sell there (hospital

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

and its pharmacy) belong to some 'big people' in the hospital,” Bassey said.

According to him, “When you enter some of the wards, you might even the leave the hospital with another ailment different from what you came to be treated for, take the male ward for instance, the place is unkempt while some of the rooms, both in male and female wards are flooded with water from the rest room.”

“But, I can boldly tell you that the only two places you can get the best services is the eye clinic and maternity ward in all fairness,” he added.

Organized network Corroborating Bassey, Mr. Fidelis Richard, who brought his wife, Chinasa Richard, said while the government was trying to generate revenue, some persons were busy pocketing the money.

“This is all I have, the names of the prescribed drugs, the ones they have are uncalled on the sheet but I demanded for receipt of what I paid for, the nurse, who sold the drugs to me at the pharmacy told me that the cashier was not available and sincerely speaking, I have not gotten any receipt.

“I hope you people are looking into this matter because this trend has been going on for years ,as they extort people in diverse ways because they know you are in dire need of help. They know you do not have time because you will quickly pay to get whatever it is to save the life of your person,” he asserted.

Contining, he decried the sharp practices engaged in by staff at the hospital. But, I was surprised when I went out to get the remaining items from a pharmacy outside and I decided to make inquiry about the one I bought at the hospital pharmacy and I discovered that the drugs I

The Pharmacy paid N8,500 for was just N3,820 outside, yet I was not issued receipts.

“We are appealing to His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade, to look into this matter because we cannot afford to be extorted in such an environment , he should send external auditors to the place to open their books, a lot of fraud is being perpetrated in that place,” lamented.

Tight-lipped: Contacted, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Ayi Etim, said he required a written authorization from the commissioner before he would comment on the matter, saying he was not qualified to speak without permission.

His words: “You people should write to the commissioner and get authorization before I can speak to you; I feel I am not in the best position to talk to you people until I have authorization to do such.”

Sincerely, I’m unaware — Asibong :Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs.) Inyang Asibong, said she was not aware of such activities in the hospital but revealed that they were trying to adopt Point of Sale, POS, system to checkmate such challenges. “I will look into the matter because I am not aware of it, there are challenges that could arise due to transition phases but I will look into all that,” she said.

Niger Delta Voice also gathered that the commissioner paid an unscheduled visit to the hospital weeks ago and reiterated government’s plan to revamp state governmentowned hospitals to promote medical tourism.

A’Ibom commissioner unveils Gov Emmanuel’s road agenda •Woman resists demolition of her bungalow after pocketing N5.6 m compensation

By Tom Moses

U

YO— AKWA-IBOM State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim InyangEyen, has explained why Governor Emmanuel Udom embarked on massive road construction and urban networking in the state.

Speaking in an interview with Niger Delta Voice, he said with the bold imprint of the previous government, the present administration did not want people to drive on a tarred road and disembark at a spot to continue the journey on a tumbledown road.

His words, “So what the government is looking at is a situation where we build a sophisticated road network.

What the last administration did are the areas we want to tackle.

If you are driving on a tarred road and at some points, you drop off. No, there has to be a continuation and that is what we call networking so as to ensure that there is no gap left if you are driving on a tarred road in Akwa-Ibom State.”

“Therefore, every of those gaps that were left before, we are trying to lock-up those gaps so that if you are driving on a tarred road, there is a continuous network and no breakages and government is determined to ensure that it is all over the state,” he said.

Inyang-Eyen boasted: “There is massive construction work going on everywhere in the state, I do not think there is any area that is not having construction work going on. It is massive and we intend that most of these projects will be this year, while only a few will be carried on to 2017.”

Speaking glowingly about the ongoing dualization of Oron road, he said critics practically incited villagers against government when it decide to knock down some buildings to transform the area, but not without paying compensation.

He, however, said the story has changed today with practical evidence of Governor Emmanuel’s vision staring

Mr. Ephraim Inyang -Eyen, Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom

them on the face.

Oron drama: According to him, a woman collected N5.6 million as compensation from the state government, but turned around to prevent officials from demolishing her bungalow building at Oron for the new road dualization project.

His words: “I can assure you that if I go to Oron now, I do not need security, when I went to pay compensation, I sat in an open space and I was not attacked, I went there last Friday and there was a lady who took N5.96 Million on a bungalow and did not want to remove the house.

“I ordered that the thing be removed and it was Oron youths that ensured that it was removed because I told them that if it is only that building that is standing there and should the rains return and there is flood in Oron, government should not be blamed because everybody would blame the government and we took it down.

“That job (Oron road dualization project) will be ready in the next three weeks, one month and the Oron people are happy.

Massive construction everywhere The commissioner asserted: “The dualization from the Airport, East-West Road through Okobo is ongoing and by the time Etinan, Ikot Oku Ikono with a Flyover from Abak is completed and linked to Etinan, Etinan to Eket, Eket to Ibeno and then, Etinan to Ndon Eyo, what would be achieved is that this state would have been locked-up with dualized roads.

“There is massive construction work going on everywhere in the state, I do not think there is any area that is not having construction work going on. It is massive and we intend that most of these projects will be this year, while only a few will be carried on to 2017.”

Reintroduction of toll: On why he is placing so much emphasis on dualized roads, he said, “It makes driving easy, it takes all sizes of vehicles and government can generate money from it. If the federal resources continue to dwindle, we can toll those roads and ask the articulated vehicles that are for commercial purposes to pay some money for their maintenance and allow private people to pass free.

“If you go to Calabar-Itu Road like I had proposed, if it was a state road, I would have ‘tolled’ it and those conveying granite from Akamkpa, would give us money to maintain that road because some of these roads that we have constructed, if they are maintained, 25 years is their lifespan,” he added.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 25 CELEBRITY PLUS

IN THE EYE OF THE STORM:

I know why they blackmail me, but I won’t surrender —Rt Hon Igbuya, Delta Speaker

EDO… HEART BEAT OF THE NATION

New administrative block

Holy Aruosa, traditional church of Binis gets face-lift •My loyalty to the Palace undiluted, Odubu, Edo Dep Gov/Donor

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—SUNDAY, last week, was quite a joyous one for worshipers at the Holy Aruosa Church Benin, the traditional Bini Church, where the Oba of Benin and his chiefs worship.

The church founded by Oba Esigie at about 1506 AD and established by Oba Akenzua in December 11, 1945, has suffered infrastructural decay over the years.

Consequently, the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Ehenede Erediauwa, during his thanks giving service, last year in the church, entreated the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, to erect a befitting administrative block to provide a comfortable working environment for the Ohonsa (chief priest) and others that run the church.

He recalled that Christendom in this part of the country started from the Holy Aruosa Church and stressed the need for the church to enjoy a face lift like other churches while its historical background is jealously guarded.

The Deputy Governor whose father is the Okaevbo of Urhomehe and one of the APC governorship aspirants angling to take over from his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, took up the responsibility and last week was like a carnival in the church as the completed administrative block was inaugurated.

Speaking at the occasion, the Crown Prince represented by the Oliha of Benin Kingdom, Chief Oliha, described the edifice as an act of God. While commending Odubu for his kind gesture, he prayed that God Almighty

would help him achieve his dreams, politically and otherwise.

“It has been a very impressive event, it is an everlasting event. They say a thing of beauty is a thing of joy forever. We are praying that for somebody who has been able to do this, whatever he is looking for on earth will not be scarce from him. God will continue to bless him; he will be a blessing to his generation,” he said.

The chief priest, Harrison Okao, described the gesture as very rare, saying that the edifice would not only help in

making the administration of the church easier, but also give the church a new lease of life.

He poured praises on Odubu, saying, “One thing is for somebody to be rich and it is another thing to be kind enough to give to people. Odubu may not be a multi-millionaire, but he is a nice person, he is loyal to the palace, to God and his people.

He did this for us from his heart.

I want to tell others to emulate what Odubu has done because whatever good you do, you will reap it in future.”

Odubu, who expressed gratitude to the crown prince for giving him the opportunity to build the administration block, reiterated his loyalty to the palace of the Oba of Benin and vowed to protect the sanctity of the Benin royal home.

According to him, “I am a proud Benin man and for me as a proud Benin man, whatever we have belong to the palace of the Oba of Benin. Therefore, when the crown prince, Ambassador Ehenede Erediauwa during his thanksgiving, directed that the church needed a befitting office, I was all too glad to accept to give them one that is befitting of this church.

“Recall that the earliest foray of Christendom happened in this building. Christianity first came down in this part of the world here in Holy Aruosa. Therefore, I am all too glad to be one of those keeping that legacy alive. It is all a modest homage to the Oba of Benin and I am so glad that he accepted my kind gesture,” he said.

By EMMA AMAIZE SABA—SPEAKER of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Monday Ovwigho Igbuya, linked to several fraud allegations since he assumed office, has said that he knew why the peddlers of the false information and their sponsors were press-ganging him, but vowed that he would not capitulate to their plan.

Speaking to Niger Delta Voice, he said: “I know those holding me to ransom and the purpose, but I have developed a shock absorber to absorb the lies they churn out against me every month. They have hired journalists, particularly the online media to intimidate.

“I am not bothered about what they write anymore, I see it as politics to run me down. I see the writers of those false stories as journalistic jobbers, they want me to call them and settle them, but they can continue. It is the duty of he who alleges to prove.

“They say I am collecting N3 million monthly from local government councils in the state, how much allocation do the local government councils get at the end of the day after paying workers. Most of them owe workers up to eight months, where will they get N3 million monthly to give me.

“I can tell you that what the people doing this want is money, but I have also made up my mind to ignore them. If not that you raised the matter now, I will not talk about it because I have made up my mind to pay no attention to them. However, if those behind the allegations are serious, let them publish the falsehood in a

A

Call Ayiri to order Continues from page 23 discipline his subjects and ensure that those getting out of control do not cause another crisis.

There has been much tongue lashing, especially by your folks against Ayiri for leading the military to the points where vandals recently blew up pipelines, what was so misplaced in his role?

We have a commissioner in Delta state overseeing oil and gas who I am sure is Itsekiri. We have another young man who is Special Adviser to the governor on Petroleum Matters, Barr.

Bosin Ebikeme. Therefore, you have both Itsekiri and Gbaramatu sons elected to oversee oil and gas- related issues in the state, who could easily access these areas, where they blew up the pipelines.

When we saw the face of Ayiri Emami in the front pages of the papers as chief tour guide, we felt worried knowing his character. True to his character,

not quite two days he was blabbing on Channels Television that the perpetrators of the act was at Oporoza and that if leaders of Oporoza do not handover those persons, there would be a lot of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, if the military come and destroy those places where the people reside.

True to that talk again, two days later, the military toed that line, saying they would hold the leaders responsible for acts committed by people in their community.

Ikpokpo where Ayiri took the military is a boundary town between Itsekiri and Ijaw. Who is Ayiri in Delta state? Is he still the chair of the Delta Waterways Security Committee. He wrote in the papers that he is the chair, Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, under Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL community development platform in the area. The pipeline that was blown does not belong to Chevron. It is a NNPC facility.

What brought a Chevron IRDC chair to this matter? Therefore,

we saw the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau in the role Ayiri played.

True to his words, everybody has run away from our area.

There are many IDPs already as he predicted because he is working in tandem with the security agents, but we warn that security agencies should be professional in their duty to fish out the perceived culprits. We have repeatedly condemned any act of criminality, including destruction of pipelines. We do not support it under any guise.

We do not allow it in our domain.

However, they should not be listening to people who are out on personal vendetta missions to mislead their professional judgment. I call on all sons and daughters of Gbaramatu that have left our communities to return home. I believe in the professionalism of the Nigerian security forces. If there is no distraction or undue influence, these people are going to do a good job, security operatives cannot molest law-abiding citizens molested going about their duties.

To be continued next week.

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

Hon. Monday Igbuya, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly national newspaper like Vanguard, which I can get hold of and see whether I will not sue them,” he said.

Igbuya further said: “The intention of their sponsors is clear, they see my position as Speaker as a threat to their political plans, so they want to dragoon me.”

Ill-fated UPU sanction

It has been one month, two allegations for Igbuya in recent time, has been in the eyes of the storm before and after he emerged as Speaker. Last year, the umbrella body of his ethnic nationality, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, led by then Chief Joe Omene, banned him and other top Urhobo politicians in 2014 for supporting the governorship proposition of the people of Delta North Senatorial district (Anioma).

He was lucky his candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, won the April 2015 governorship election.

However, a tornado hit the UPU after the ban and the new leadership under Chief Gabriel Ofotokun, who is the PresidentGeneral, Interim Executive Committee, had since lifted the ban on him and others.

Many ‘crimes’ of Igbuya

While the lawmakers were battling the election petitions against them by their opponents shortly after their elections, an online publication alleged that 23 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members in the Delta State House of Assembly, led by Igbuya contributed N5 million each to compromise the Election Petition Tribunal and receive favorable judgment.

However, a member of the House, Hon Efe Ofobruku and a former lawmaker, Godwin Abigor, both of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, however, dismissed the allegation. Igbuya was also accused of settling a political opponent with N180 million to retain his position, but the opponent described the report as false.

Before then, there was also a report that the Speaker and other members of the House collected N200,000 each - a total of N2.4 million kickback to screen 12 commissioner nominees forwarded by Okowa sometime Continues on page 26 C M Y K

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

By EMEM IDIO

Y

ENAGOA—THERE are indications that nine rural communities in Brass, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State may lose the EU- assisted water and sanitation projects in their areas, under the Niger Delta Support Group, NDSP, if the state and local government councils fail to pay their counterpart funding for the scheme by October.

The nine pilot communities, therefore, have urged the state and local governments to honor their financial obligations to enable them access potable water.

The communities are required to contribute five per cent, state and local governments, 25 per cent and EU, 70 per cent of the total investment cost of water supply facilities for the construction and rehabilitation works.

At a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa attended by foreign partners, community leaders and officials of the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the beneficiaries described the EU intervention as their only hope and called for urgency on the part of government.

The paramount ruler of Odi, King Shine Apere, paramount ruler of Sabagreia, and the Amananaowei of Kaiama town, Chief J Burutolu, Ekpein II, who spoke for the benefiting communities, expressed readiness to mobilize their subjects pay the five percent contribution required of communities.

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

I know why they blackmail me

Traditional rulers, community leaders of benefiting communities and other stakeholders during an interactive meeting of NDSP in Yenagoa

Continues from page 25 in July, last year.

Last month (January), another accusation came that local government chairmen and councilors in 25 local government areas were at loggerheads with Igbuya overunlawfulremittanceofN325million to the state House of Assembly. Chair, Association of Local Government Chairmen in the state, Mr. Malik Ikpokpo, debunked the allegation.

A fresh allegation also came that he demandedN1billionfromtheManaging

Bayelsa communities may forfeit EU-assisted water projects *Stakeholders urge state govt, Brass, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGs to pay counterpart funding Representative of the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, a Director of International Cooperation in the ministry, Mr. Samuel Eloho, while commending the EU for its invaluable works in Nigeria, disclosed that five states namely, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, and Rivers were currently benefiting from the NDSP.

He, however, warned that states and local governments, which fail to pay their counterpart funding by October might lose the EU assistance.

“According to our records, the benefiting communities are responding well and have already deposited more than 80 per cent of their counterpart funds into the banks and nothing yet from the state and

local governments.

“The ministry of Budget and National Planning remain committed to carrying out its oversight function to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring the realization of the objectives of the Niger Delta Support Programme (Water and Sanitation component) in Bayelsa State,” he said.

Director of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC,ChiefWilliamMakinde, in return for the passage of the commission’s 2016 budget. Chief Makinde in a statement denied that Igbuya ever made such a demand.

The up-to-the minute charge as at the time of this report was that he doled out N5milliontoperfectanarrangementwith the Ministry of Justice, Asaba, to exoneratetheleaderofakillercultsquad.

Devoted Okowa backer

UnrepentantIgbuyafiredathiscritics: “If I allow all these allegations to bother me so much, then, I am not a politician; theirgameplanisobvious,itistounsettle me. However, I have made my position clear and I am restating it, there is no vacancy in Government House, Asaba, until 2023. My reason is that the governor,SenatorIfeanyiOkowaisdoing very well. So they can go ahead with their blackmail against me.

“As far as I am concerned, no sane Urhobo man from any political party, not just PDP,should gun for governorship in 2019; we should just allow Okowa to finishin2023.He(Okowa)haschanged the face of my constituency, Sapele, in just seven months. He is committed to the Sapele Market, completion of the abandoned Sapele Stadium, he has dualized Sapele Road, which was a reproach to us before now and is ready to do more.

CENTENARY COMMEMORATION OF LATE PRINCE OGBE YONWUNREN IN WARRI PHOTOS: AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

From left: L-R; Chief (Mrs.) P.E.B. Uku, Prince Agidotan Yonwuren, Chief Yaya Pessu, Chief Johnson Atseleghe and late Prince Ogbe’s grand sons, at the unveiling of Prince Ogbe’s statue, during the centenary commemoration of late Prince Ogbe (1916-2016); Son of Prince Yonwunren, grand son of Olu Akengbuwa I, 16th Olu of Warri (1798-1848).

From left: Chief V.T. Uku, Chief (Mrs.) P.E.B Uku and Mrs. Bawor Omiyi.

C M Y K

Chief (Dr.) A.M. Bubor( left) in warm hand shake with Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike, Chairman of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought & Author of Biography of late Prince Ogbe and his wife, Mrs. Ayomike.

The new Statue of late Prince Ogbe

A cross section of some Great Grand Children of Prince Ogbe.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 27

,

S FORUM

Investors who view bear markets as something that must be avoided at all costs are falling into a limited thinking

,

Standard Bank investment conference to create new opportunities A

By Nkiruka Nnorom

NOTHER opportunity to diversify and shelter investments from crash in equity is being created as Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference opens next week in Lagos.

Many investment analysts have been pointing at fixed income options and other alternative investment outlets since third quarter 2015 when stock market rebound appeared illusive up till date.

Speaking at the pre-conference media briefing, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, stated that major domestic and global investors as well as fund

managers will have access to information on the key economic issues which would enable them make well-informed investment decisions in Nigeria.

The focus of the event, according to David-Borha, is to highlight growth opportunities in critical areas such as power, agriculture, SME, manufacturing and energy, among others.

Insights on various investment issues would be provided by headline speakers from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Stock Exchange, National Pension Commission and Debt Management Office.

Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Mrs. Titi Ogungbesan, identified oil and

gas, agriculture, power and macro-economic stability as some of the issues for discussion at the event, which is expected to attract institutional investors from across the globe who will meet with most

of the top rated corporate companies in West Africa.

“Besides the direct impact on the Nigerian economy, the conference will provide both local and international investors with

opportunities to meet with some of the companies they have investments in, or in which they hope to make investments. It will also serve as a bridge to connect these investors to opportunities inherent in Africa’s biggest economy, which has been opened up for private sector participation,” Ogungbesan stated.

When to buy and when to sell stocks — Stock Exchange CEO

T

By Peter Egwuatu

HE Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has advised investors to exploit the opportunities of the current situation in the stock market and invest more. Onyema made the call following the bearish run in the market, saying “This is the

NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC FY:2015 Result - Financial Highlights (NGN Billion)

best time to buy equities.” He noted however that though this is the right time to come into the market, investors need courage and money to participate, stressing that a lot of people don’t have the courage, neither do they have the money to invest. “If you have the two, then you are good to go. But those who have money don’t have the courage and those who have courage, don’t have money. There are very few people that have both. So, you need the two Cs, which is courage and cash to play in the stock market at this time,” he stated.

According to Oscar, investors who view bear markets as something that must be avoided at all costs are falling into a limited thinking. Here’s why the best way to make it through current market volatility is to actually “befriend the bear.”

On when to sell, he said “Once you’ve decided what to buy, and when to buy it, the next step is for you to decide when to cash out. Some investors believe they can “time” the market, accurately predicting when it will rise and

fall. As a result, they counsel selling all your stocks when the market is about to fall, and buying them all back when the market prepares to rise. Unfortunately, investing is not that easy.

Granted, when overall economic woes begin to hurt corporate earnings growth, and companies start to flounder, you might consider selling your overvalued, lower-quality stocks of such companies. “But beyond that very general scenario, an accurate system for timing the market remains an investor’s pipe dream,” he stated.

Many investors are quick to withdraw their cash when returns turn sour. But several academic studies have proven that investors who chase performance, tend to do vastly worse than those who stay put. “Be prepared to stick to your stock through good times and bad, he emphasized.

Selling stocks can present a more complex set of questions.

Two major warning signs may suggest that it’s a good time to sell:On the business’s fundamentals change, he said.“

Stock Market Outlook (Feb. 16 — Feb. 22'15)

A

FRINVEST West Africa, a Lagos based investment house reviewed last week’s stock market actions and came up with the following as expectations for the next one week: Weaker average daily market breadth and volume traded last week pared the Afrinvest sentiment to 2.5 this week relative to 3.0 last week.

Although our earnings expectations remain unimpressive based on macroeconomic constraints during the last financial year, dividend yield expectation appears attractive due to the heavy price corrections in the market and low risk free rates.

Hence we expect to see more bargain hunting in stocks with consistent dividend paying history this week ahead of full year earnings and corporate actions. The rally my however be short-lived as one-year forward earnings based valuation multiples will continue to adjust lower due to impact of exacerbating macro risk on operating performance of companies. We urge investors to cautiously time market entry.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS Send complaints or enquiries about any quoted company, issues, products and services of any capital market operator or agency to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com.

We investigate and publish with feedback

C M Y K

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

NNPC spent N307bn on subsidy in 2015 T

VISIT: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director, Nigerian

National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (right) the British Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth, Baroness Joyce Anelay, during a meeting at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

In addition to the amount spent on subsidy, the NNPC recorded crude oil losses of N8.399 billion; product losses of N51.314 billion and spent N103.5 billion for pipeline repairs and management cost.

N137.79 billion, N84.5 billion, N103.56 billion, N90.09 billion, N102.99 billion and N101.96 billion for January to June respectively. From July to December, it remitted N77.4 billion, N76.18 billion, N73.26 billion, N88.48 billion, N66.526 and N92.67 billion respectively.

Giving a breakdown of domestic sales proceed, the NNPC earned N987.54 billion from the sale of crude oil; N28.26 billion from sale of gas while other receipts stood at N3.625 billion.

However, the Corporation’s exports were significantly lower than its domestic sales, as it earned $4.74 billion, about N948 billion from the export of

crude oil and gas in 2015. It utilised $4.13 billion, about N826 billion for Joint Venture cash call funding, and remitted only $607.827 million, about N121.6 billion to the Federation Account.

Of the total export sales proceeds, the NNPC earned $3.16 billion from the sale of crude oil; $1.296 billion from the gas sales, and $282.773 million from other receipts.

The report stated that total export proceeds of $197.15 million were recorded in November, consisting of crude oil receipt of $161.90 million, LPG & EGTL $34.84 million, and miscellaneous receipt of $0.42 million.

Nigeria’s budget at risk as IEA warns of more oil surplus

By Sebastine Obasi

N

IGERIA’s 2016 budget may not be fully implemented as expected going by the predicted downward trend in oil price, unless government makes a quick readjustment.

In a report that tempers expectations of an imminent rise in oil price, the International Energy Agency, IEA, said that demand for the oversupplied commodity is unlikely to witness significant growth in 2016. This is as Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia — all members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, ramp up production.

“Having peaked at a five-year high of 1.6 million barrels per day in 2015, global oil demand growth is forecast to ease back considerably in 2016, to 1.2 million barrels per day, pulled down by notable slowdowns in Europe, China and the United States,” Paris-based IEA said in C M Y K

By Chris Ochayi

A

By Michael Eboh HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, spent about N306.92 billion on subsidy between January and December 2015.

According to the NNPC’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report for December 2015, the subsidy experienced a dip in the amount transferred to the Federation Account, which dropped to N1.02 trillion.

In a six month period from January to June, the NNPC spent N15.35 billion, N11.175 billion, N31.06 billion, N30.01 billion, N53.05 billion, N18.928 billion, respectively on subsidy, while from July to December 2015, it spent N35.95 billion, N35.51 billion, N18.11 billion, N27.66 billion, N16.5 billion and N13.62 billion respectively.

In addition to the amount spent on subsidy, the NNPC recorded crude oil losses of N8.399 billion; product losses of N51.314 billion and spent N103.5 billion for pipeline repairs and management cost.

Furthermore, the NNPC repaid N75.965 billion from its N450 billion indebtedness to the Federation Account.

Specifically, the Corporation paid N6.33 billion monthly, from January to December 2015, to the Federation Account.

As a result, NNPC’s total payments from its domestic sales proceeds to the Federation Account in 2015 stood at N1.095 trillion. On a month-by-month basis, the NNPC remitted

FG, German coy to construct 125MW solar power

its monthly market report. It added that the recent uptick in the price of Brent crude to $33.31 a barrel from January’s 12-year low of $27.15 a barrel could be a “false dawn.”

“With the market already awash in oil, it is very hard to see how oil prices can rise significantly in the short term,” the IEA report said. “In these conditions the short term risk to the downside has increased.”

This prediction puts Nigeria’s budget on the edge as it is predicated on $38 per barrel, with oil accounting for more than 80 percent of the country’s revenue.

While speculation that OPEC members and those outside the cartel may agree to cut production pushed up oil price earlier this month, “the likelihood of coordinated cuts is very low,” the IEA warned. It said: “Persistent speculation about a deal between OPEC and leading non-OPEC producers to cut output appears

to be just that — speculation.”

In January, production from OPEC’s 13 members climbed by 280,000 barrels a day to 32.63 million — 900,000 barrels a day over the average required from the group in 2016, as Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia increased output.

The IEA estimated that even if OPEC production did not increase further, global oil stocks would build up by 2 million barrels every day in the first quarter of 2016, followed by a 1.5 million barrel a day increase in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, supplies outside OPEC, including U.S. shale, slipped by 500,000 barrels a day in January over the previous month, halting an annual growth. This year, non-OPEC output is expected to decline by 600,000 barrels a day, the IEA said.

“The big fall-off in production from US shale producers is taking an awful long time,” the IEA report said. “Perhaps

resilience still has some way to go.”

However, commenting on the current drop in the prices of oil at the international market, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, said the budget would not be derailed.

“Our budget is achievable. We have ongoing reforms targeted at diversifying our revenue base, away from single oil commodity economy. Our Minister for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu is assiduously applying innovative financing in his oil sector to address any likely revenue gap from our projected or anticipated N820 billion from oil.

“Other reforms are the plugging of leakages through zero tolerance for corruption application of sound public financial collection system such will provide a wide coverage for VAT and personal income taxes collection,” he said.

NIGERIAN Indigenous Company and German firm, Nova Solar Power, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, IFC have concluded arrangements to construction a 125 megawatt solar power in Kankia, Katsina State.

Nova Solar power according to the plans will in partnership with the katsina state government produce the 125MW solar Plant under the Public Private Partnership Agreement, PPP. This development was revealed at a forum of the Nigeria, Germany Energy Partnership Forum, last week in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Louis Edozien, who chaired the meeting, said the energy partnership between the two countries is yielding positive results and will assist Nigeria to tackle poverty and improve standard of life for the people through employment generation.

Edozien said the German Cooperation Agency, GIZ, promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency and rural electrification on one hand and sustainable development on the other as well as deepening economic development in Nigeria.

Economic development He argued that Nigeria has demonstrated policy stability in the energy market, adding that the Federal Government will continue to provide the enabling environment for investors in the sector to ensure the provision of uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians.

On his part, State Secretary, Federal Foreign Office, Germany, Mr. Stephan Steinlein, said Nigeria and Germany have to learn from each other on how to decarbonise their economies in the most efficient and cost effective way.

Steinlein said Germany has decided to decarbonise its energy sources and has provided a stable investment framework for renewables. He noted that Nigeria is eager to increase its power production in an emerging economy of about 180 million people and Germany is ready to support Nigeria to tackle energy shortages, reduce carbon emission and embrace renewable energy models. Steinlein added that generation cost for all renewable sources are now at the same level as those of fossil fuels without added external risks such as air pollution and disposal.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—29

Reps seek 160,000MW for Nigerians

By Ediri Ejoh

T

HE House of Representatives said Nigeria would require up to 160, 000 megawatts, MW, to meet national demand as the world standard puts 1000MW as a benchmark to satisfy the needs of one million citizens.

The Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Tariff, Hon. Babajimi Benson, t o l d Vanguard that the country ’s 5000MW generation is grossly inadequate. His words: “Going by global statistics and standards to the derivations of electricity supply, the rule of power in the world is that, for every one million people there should be 1000 megawatts.

“And the population of Nigeria is over 160 milllion, and we are celebrating about 5000megawatt. So, we ought to have 160,000 megawatts.”

He argued that the power sector should be a gold mine, but currently undergoing some challenges. “There is a gap currently in the sector.”

Electricity tariff On electricity tariff, Benson, posited that relevant stakeholders in the sector have fought against the tariff.

“Stakeholders in the power sector have embraced the tariff increment, but the consumers are at the complaining end.”

He recalled that the House had asked all stakeholders of their positions on the tariff.

“We have asked all stakeholders, including owners of the Distribution Companies, DISCos; Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network, NECAN, and the regulators to present their positions on the issues which they did.

“However, NERC only submitted their response a couple of days to the 1st of February new tariff date. The House had expressed displeasure on that because we assumed they were treating us with levity. We have analysed all the documents. But presently, the House is working tirelessly to see that the budget is passed.

“We don’t want anybody to suffer, we want Nigeria to grow. Our job is to find a middle ground for everybody.

Either by way of enlightenment or speak to the Discos to see reasons,” he explained.

Nigeria, others to have more access to electricity in 2020 As US pledges continuity for powering Africa

By Ediri Ejoh, with agency report

N

IGERIA and other African countries will have more access to electricity, as President of the United State, U.S., Barack Obama, signed into law an initiative under the Power Africa Scheme, to bring electricity to 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020.

The President made this initiative during his tour of Africa last year. The U.S. also pledged a financial commitment of $7billion to support the scheme, which was drawn from $43billion in investment pledged from other public and private partners.

According to the scheme, the Electrify Africa Act of 2015, will give legal backing to Obama’s flagship Power Africa scheme, which is trying to improve access to electricity through publicprivate partnerships.

However, it took nearly two years for the initiative to be passed in both houses of the U.S. Congress. The new legislation is likely to ensure that the scheme continues even after Obama leaves the White House in 2017. The

.A sub-station scheme has set itself the longterm target of doubling electricity access in subSaharan Africa.

About two-thirds of people in Africa do not have access to reliable power. M a n y Nigerians are forced to rely on generators for their electricity supply.

In a statement, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Mr. Ed Royce, a long-time supporter of the

initiative, said: “The legislation would improve the lives of millions in subSaharan Africa by helping to reduce reliance on charcoal and other toxic fuel sources that produce fumes that kill more than HIV/Aids and malaria combined.

“It would also promote the development of affordable and reliable energy.”

Also, management consultant firm, McKinsey,

estimates that it will cost $835billion (£575billion) to connect the entire continent’s population to electricity by 2030.

Also, African governments, development partners, and the private sector are all involved in the Power Africa scheme so as to ensure a profitable way out of the continuous menace of power outage in Africa.

Security agency to engage 3m youths

T

By Michael Eboh

HE proposed Maritime Security Agency will boost employment in the country, by engaging over three million youths within three years, while tackling the issue of vandalism of oil assets.

The Director-General, Stakeholders for the Maritime Security Agency, MASECA, Mr. Jacob Ovweghre, said in a statement that it will also boost security in the littoral zone and also help Nigeria generate and save over N3.1 trillion annually.

According to him, MASECA can directly employ, engage and empower over 50,000 youths and indirectly employ, engage and empower over three million youths with ease within three years.

He condemned the recent spate of bombings and kidnapping in region, saying it will make the Niger Delta region more destructive and further degrade the environment.

According to him, the action has nothing to do with the Niger Delta agitation, as it is criminal, while he urged the relevant agencies not to leave any stone unturned in their investigations.

However, he advised that the investigation should be objective and transparent and should also not be used to witch-hunt, harass or intimidate anyone irrespective of sex, belief or political affiliates in Niger Delta.

He was quoted as saying: “Today, maritime criminals are giving the Niger Delta region, Nigerian Navy and other security agencies a discomforting and overbearing burden to secure the entire territorial waters and Gulf of Guinea.

“These persistently and challenging myriad of threats look lofty to solve without

collective responsibility of all stakeholders. This is why I call on all the stakeholders in the maritime, petroleum, security and the youths to support the bill for the establishment of the Maritime Security Agency.

“It will enable us join force with the gallant Nigerian Navy to stamp out criminals from our territorial waters and Gulf of Guinea. The Agency might just be one of the missing projects on Youth Development, Employment and Empowerment Programme to broker peace in Niger Delta and Nigeria.”

Ovweghre explained that the Maritime Security Agency is

specially conceived as a Super Coast Guard that will be equipped with light weapons to complement the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to address the discomforting and insurmountable security threats in the nation’s territorial sea and coastland.

He further said that if MASECA gets the necessary legal backing, issues of pipeline vandalism and fuel scarcity would be reduced drastically, ýwhile fuel price might drop sharply, as it will deploy all its personnel to oil installations across the country to safeguard them from sabotage.

Kachikwu meets Qatar, Saudi over crude crash

By Ediri Ejoh, with agency report

A

S the prices of crude continue to fall in the global market, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said he would meet his Qatari and Saudi counterparts to discuss way forward.

The Minister made this known in an interview with Reuters.

The President who doubles as the Group Managing director for the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation, NNPC, said “Have we got to the point where we can say there is a definite strategy?

In terms of production reduction or freezing, no, I don’t think we have got there. But there is a lot of energy (behind the idea).

“As you get closer to the statutory (OPEC) meeting dates ... you are going to see a lot more people get active in those conversations and try to find solutions.”

The prices of crude in the

international market have slumped by more than 70 percent to near $30 a barrel over the past 18 months as OPEC, led by top producer Saudi Arabia, sought to drive higher-cost producers out of the market by refusing to cut production despite a supply glut.

However, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has expressed worry over the continuous fall in crude prices, saying a decision must be reached on how to end the fall.

30 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS; Tomorrow will prove more beneficial. Yet you can make meaningful progress today through your career line. Avoid secretive deal please.

CAPRICORN; It is better to take practical assistance from your good friends than their advice now when Mercury goes on backward motion in Pisces. Be more ambitious.

AQUARIUS; Remarkable success indicated for you today.

But it is important you don’t take for granted competitors emerging along your career line. Be more practical.

PISCES; Many ideas will compete for prominent place on your mind today but you will need to be more careful with new ideas not capable to stand test of time.

ARIES; Those soliciting your support in terms of joint venture may not be telling you everything; that is to say you must guard against deception. Practical approach to your work (hard work) will give you good result.. Take good care of your health..

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

R

IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does not just mean not wearing clothes alone. It includes covering our evil deeds,

God is watching wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for cover under the stone,

TERROR MUDA

under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act; the sun by our shadow

in “Scavenger Elite”

takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS; Although you appear more enterprising, s the element of luck may not bring much success today. It is good to be loving but a bad day to create atmosphere for deep seated jealousy as it can take long time to get over the ripples.

GEMINI; For the next few days you will need to take your health more seriously. As for today you will be willing to give priority attention to happenings within your base.

CANCER; You will need to beware of new ideas coming to you suddenly. Take advantage of your sex appeal positively.

Learn how to consolidate on progress you have made yesterday. Lovers may have an exciting day.

LEO; Simply because you are able to manage the tension within your base of operation without serious trouble today it does not mean you can continue to lord it over others without negative reaction in the next few days.

VIRGO; You will have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the betterment of your cause. Unnecessary argument can not help you now.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA; You can make it your day; financial success is closer to you than you think. The more ambitious and willing you are to keep your secrets the better for your cause.

SCORPIO; You will need to always re-examine your new ideas more than twice before contemplating execution. Here is a day when friends will assist you. Assert yourself positively.

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

What’s 2016 having for Me? Dear Joshua, I am interested in what you are doing for many people, thus I equally want to benefit from your God’s given knowledge. Next few months are important for my business survival. That is why I am seeking your Astrological opinion.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Molaja, Kano.

Dear Molaja, For your own goodness I appeal to you to take what you will find here-under very seriously so that you will avert very serious business trouble coming through partnership very soon. I wish you the best.

Here is a Month that will reverse most of the difficult situation you have recently gone through.

You are therefore advised to take good opportunities. However it is imperative you have it at the back of your mind that next few weeks will bring another round of similar challenges thus you will need to take business you will be able to conclude on or before 28th when the whole thing favours you, especially as it concern partnership related issues.

The month will bring you co-operation, money, love and emotional satisfaction. Savour your good time.

Planetary placement and aspects are calling for carefulness on how you manage your relationships with others as some of them may be forced to betray and or disappoint you over MONEY and other important business transactions, consciously or unconsciously. Either a junior female worker or a lowly rated member of your opposite sex may be willing to tempt you during this period, who you just have to resist whichever way the person comes with her antics.

Your health looks fragile. And you are accident prone. Although the whole of the period calls for carefulness, last two weeks can be a little bit sensitive. Please take note that nothing fatalistic is predicted here, you only need to take care, so that you will avoid the pitfalls of the period.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—33

Bayelsa LG workers shut council secretariat over unpaid salaries

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—WORKERS of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday, shut down and sealed off the council secretariat complex over alleged four months unpaid salaries, crippling not only the activities of the council, but also Yenagoa zonal office of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, which resides in the complex.

The aggrieved workers, who stormed the secretariat as early as 8am, vowed that the complex would remain shut until their demands for the payment of their salaries were met They displayed placards with several inscriptions to drive home their demand and pasted some of the placards on the gate and perimeter fence of the complex.

Some of the placards read: “Pay us our four months salaries”; “Council workers are not salves, they should be treated like human beings”; “NLC Bayelsa State chapter come to our aid to pay our salaries”; “Our children are all at home for not paying school fees.

No money to send our children to school”; “Councillors paid up to date, workers owed four months.”

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees,

NULGE, in the council, Kwaku Oyoro, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved workers, said: “We are protesting because our salaries have not been paid for four months. So, we are asking the chairman to pay us our salaries from October to January.

This is the first time local government workers have not enjoyed Christmas but the politicians bought goats, cows and rice for their families. The politicians have been paid up to date but the workers are being owed.

“We want the chairman to

come and address the workers, we are all hungry, that is why you see this protest. We want him to come here and address the workers. We wrote to the chairman asking the principal officers to come and tell the workers why salaries have not been paid up to date, but they failed us, despite the fact that the allocations have been coming. The gate will remain locked. The Commissioner of Police and the security agencies are aware of what we are doing here. The whole state is aware because we announced our

communiqué over the radio. We have our union members; they will remain here and secure the gate. We are not leaving this place.”

Dwindling allocation But the Head of Local Government Administration, Dr. Ovienadu Torutein, blamed the development on dwindling allocation, saying: “The staff are protesting over nonpayment of their salaries for about three months and it is not peculiar to Yenagoa Local Government. But we are appealing to them that we are going to discuss with them as a family."

VISIT: HRM Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, Asagba of Asaba (3rd right), Sir Monday John Onyeme, Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (2nd right) and other members of the board, during a visit to the Asagba of Asaba in Asaba.

Edo PDP members ask court to sack party Chair

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—AGGRIEVED members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State have approached the High Court in Benin, challenging the continued stay in office of the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih and other leaders of the party across the 18 local government areas, claiming that their tenure expired since September 2015.

Led by one Mr. Osula Ehi, from ward 12 Oredo, they prayed the court in suit number B/12/02/16, to restrain the PDP chairman and others from parading themselves as lawful occupants of the offices, and called on the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to set up a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party until fresh congresses were held.

The suit filed by counsel to the claimants, Matthew Edaghese, alleged that the four years tenure of the State Executive Council, SEC, expired on September 24, 2015, as provided in the party’s constitution, contending that their continued stay in office was illegal and must be addressed.

However, counsel to the C M Y K

defendants, Salman Yidako, told the court, yesterday, that he would respond to the motion of interlocutory injunction and originating

summon respectively.

Justice G.O Imadegbelo, who adjourned the case to February 18, 2016, gave the defendants seven days to file

a reply to the originating summon and motion of notice to enable the court rule on the matter which requires urgent hearing.

A-Ibom communal clash: Community gives conditions for peace to belong to Eastern Obolo and

I

By Tom Moses

KO T-A B A S I — A S parties from the feuding Amazaba Community in Eastern Obolo and Ikot Akpan Udo Community in Ikot-Abasi Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State meet with the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, to reconcile their differences, the people of Ikot Akpan Udo have insisted that the only condition for reconciliation is for Amazaba to be relocated to Otunene.

Village Head of Ikot-Akpan Udo, Ete-Idung Oscar Abel, who disclosed the position of his council and elders of the village to Vanguard in his ramshackled palace, said it would not be proper for anybody to pretend that the Amazaba people’s call for reconciliation was wellintended except to come and spy on Ikot-Akpan Udo for another invasion.

He said the decision of the people of Ikot-Akpan Udo was

because of the incurable pains in their hearts and the losses they recorded in human, property and investments due to alleged serial unwarranted invasion of their land by Amazaba people.

He said: “Yes, we want peace as they do, but on condition that the people are relocated because where they were occupying gave them advantage of invading our village at will.

“Now, since the Amazaba people are looking for peace and the area in which they are living belongs to Ikot-Akpan Udo, they should stop claiming

stop paying loyalty to Eastern Obolo but to Ikot Abasi Local Government. So, government, in the envisaged MoU, should ensure that Amazaba is recognized as a village belonging to Ikot-Abasi. If it is not so, Ikot Akpan Udo will not be a party to any such MoU. If they want us to sign an MoU, the Amazaba people should be located to one part of the land and not allowed to surround us, because of their belligerent nature as there is hardly any December 31 that they do not attack Ikot-Akpan Udo burning down our fishing ports and settlements in the water-fronts."

Okowa’s S-Court victory, the will of God —Delta LG

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — POMMINENT Deltans and groups have continued to rejoice over the recent Supreme Court affirmation of the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, with the people of Ika North East Local Government Area describing the apex court's ruling as the manifestation of the wishes of all Deltans.

Speaking through the platform of Owa-Alero Elite Forum, they maintained that the apex court's ruling on the petitions brought before it by the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor and his Labour Party, LP, counterpart, Chief Great Ogboru, has confirmed that the judiciary still remains the hope of the common man.

The forum, in a statement by Mr. Larry Okompy and Mr. Innocent Okunbor, Chairman and Secretary respectively, while congratulating Governor Okowa and his Deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro on their victory, urged them to see victory as a call for greater service that would move the state forward.

The forum commended the good works the governor had started especially in the areas of human capital and infrastructural development, saying: “The Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Programme, STEP, and Youths Agricultural Empowerment Programme, YAGEP, job creation programmes of the state government which have graduated and empowered over 700 youths in the state to be self sufficient shows that the governor is really committed to the prosperity of the people.

"We want to commend the governor for the training and empowering of over 700 youths in the state in the first phase of the job creation programme and the aggressive infrastructural development going on in all parts of the state. It shows that he is not just talking prosperity for all Deltans but he is actually making it happen. He has shown commitment to the development of the state even in the midst of various challenges."

INEC fixes March 5 for Bayelsa Assembly re-run

Y

By Emem Idio

ENAGOA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed March 5 for the conduct of re-run elections in Ekeremor state constituency

III, and Southern Ijaw constituency IV. Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of Bayelsa State, Austen Okojie, who made this known during a meeting with management staff of the commission in

Yenagoa, disclosed that while election in Ekeremor constituency III would be for the entire constituency, fresh election would be conducted in all the Wards except Olodiama Ward IV and Polling units 2030 in Foropa Ward 14.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 35

Gov Ahmed moves against ghost workers

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for the verification of all staff in its payroll in order to detect ghost workers.

The verification will help increase its revenue to enable it clear salary debts and meet other financial obligations.

Those to be audited will include the state civil servants, basic level teachers, local government workers and pensioners.

The governor disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress held in Ilorin, the state capital.

The governor, who blamed some workers for allegedly receiving multiple salaries for the current inability of Local Government Councils and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to pay workers’ salaries regularly, said the government was already collaborating with banks to use the Biometric Verification Number (BVN) to detect those collecting multiple salaries.

The governor announced that

By Ndahi Marama

M

VISIT: The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II (middle) flanked to his immediate right

by Prof. Umar G. Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr. Usman Malah, Chief of Staff to EVC and to his immediate left by Mrs. Maryam Bayi, Director Human Capital and Infrastructure Group and Mr. Yakubu Gontor, Head Finance Services, NCC during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano at the weekend. the new Internally Generated Revenue drive was yielding positive results, assuring workers that all outstanding salaries would be cleared before the end of next month.

On the proposed N20 billion

bonds, Governor Ahmed said the process had reached advanced stage with the Security and Exchange Commission, Debt Management Office and the Federal Ministry of Finance in order to access the bond for

capital projects.

Governor Ahmed also promised that his government would continue to meet its obligations despite the prevailing economic situation in the country.

Bello sacks Perm Secs, DLGS, Accountant-general, cashiers, treasurers, others

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has sacked all Permanent Secretaries, Head of Administration and Finance, DAF, and all the Directors of Local Governments in the 21 council areas with immediate effects.

Also relieved of their duties are all Education Secretaries, Cashiers and Treasurer in the 21 local government areas of the state.

While the Head of service, Dr. Moses Atakpa conveyed the sack messages to the Permanent Secretaries and Directors during an emergency meeting; the Cashiers, Treasurers and Education Secretaries learned of their sacks through media statement.

Confirming the story, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja said the state Accountant General was also sacked.

“I wish to confirm that Governor Yahaya Bello has directed that all Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Administration are to go on

T

HE Nigerian Ball-Point Pen Industries (NIPEN) has disclosed that smuggled pens among other challenges led to the decline in sales of the company’s products for the year 2014.

Chairman, Board of Directors and Managing Director of the company, Mr. Stephen Faderin, disclosed this at the company’s 40th AGM in Lagos.

He said in spite of the numerous challenges the company faced during the period under review, it was able to grow its assets by 15.9% through additional investment of C M Y K

compulsory leave with immediate effect. The exemptions in this category are people in acting capacity and the Permanent Secretary, Government House.

“Also, the Accountant General has been relieved of his position while the second in command will also proceed on compulsory 30 days leave.

“At the local government level, the DLGs, treasurers, cashiers and

Education Secretaries are to proceed on compulsory leave.

The decision is geared towards ensuring a more efficient and productive civil service.”

Vanguard gathered that the governor decided to sack the Perm Secs, DLGs and others over their alleged culpability in the sabotage of previous staff screening exercises in the state.

Kano records 3 confirmed cases of Lassa fever

K

ANO—KANO State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Getso, yesterday in Kano, disclosed that the state had recorded three confirmed cases of Lassa fever since the outbreak in December, 2015.

Getso, who spoke while addressing newsmen, said two of the confirmed cases were

Why sales of pens dropped — NIPEN

By Etop Ekanem

602 IDPs resume school in Borno

N186 million in property, plants and machinery.

He added that they were able to also increase its revenue by 13.9% from N4.453 billion in 2013 to N5.075 billion in 2014 and raised its shareholders’ funds from N1.714 billion in 2013 to N2.277bn in 2014.

A 57% increase in marketing and distribution costs as well as a substantial investment dedicated to anti-counterfeiting efforts however, led to a an expected 40% reduction in profit before tax for the year.

Faderin said BiC pens recorded a decline in sales volume due to fierce competition from low cost brands, as well as smuggled pens.

recorded in Garun-Malam Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner said that the patients died at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) on Dec. 2, 2015.

He said that the third confirmed case, a young businessman from Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, came to Kano from Benue last week.

The commissioner said that all the contacts were identified and followed up.

According to him, more than 70 per cent of them have either completed their 21 days follow up or tested negative.

He, however, said that another two suspected cases were currently on admission at the designated isolation and treatment centre at Yar’gaya Hospital.

Getso said the State Ministry of Health had taken several control measures to check the outbreak of the disease.

“The measures include the setting up of rapid response team, establishment of the Lassa fever

Emergency Operation Centre and the setting up of the state Committee on the Control of Lassa fever,” he said.

AIDUGURI—THE Borno State government yesterday commenced the relocations of first batch of 602 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Yerwa to Dalori resettlement camp for the re-opening of closed public schools over Boko Haram insurgency in Maiduguri metropolis.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Government Girls Secondary School, Yerwa, Maiduguri, Kubo disclosed that the relocation of the first phase of IDPs would have started last year, but logistic and security reasons halted it; until yesterday with 602 displaced persons along with their relatives in other camps relocated to the Dalori camp.

His words: “We thank God; it is a reality to reopen our schools that were closed down for over a year now, we are conveying this morning 602 IDPs to Dalori camp with their families, as we have assured the people that this exercise takes care of the basic needs of the displaced persons.

While assuring the relocating IDPs, he said: “We assured the people that where we are taking these displaced persons have water and all basic facilities.

Shelter and security have already been put in place.''

He said that the lack of these basic facilities and the security of the IDPs, delayed their relocations to camps for the schools.

Kwabena Adjei wins Master Entrepreneur award

D

R. Kwabena Adjei, Founder and Chairman of Kasapreko has been awarded Master Entrepreneur of the Year in the West African edition of the Ernst & Young (EY) World Entrepreneur Awards held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

His firm, Kasapreko Company Limited based in Accra, Ghana, recently launched a $70m state-of-the art bottling plant in Ghana, which will churn out hundreds of thousands of bottles a day, of a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks which include Kalahari Bitters and Carnival Strawberry.

Kasapreko Company

Limited based in Accra, Ghana is the maker of authentic Alomo Bitters, the brand named by CNN as one of the top 5 emerging drink brands in the world recently, and has seen major success across West Africa and beyond at the 5th edition of the award.

The World Entrepreneur of the Year Award programme was created by Ernst & Young to recognize the accomplishments of entrepreneurs with Award programmes in more than 60 countries around the globe.

Before the event in Lagos, Dr. Adjei paid a courtesy visit on Ghana High Commission in Nigeria, Lagos Consulate, where he was received by Mr. Kwabena O. Appiah, Consul-general.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

GUINNESS/WATERAID: From left—Country Director, Concern Universal Nigeria, Mr. Tim Connell; Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, and Country Representative, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr. Micheal Ojo, and Communications Manager, Guinness, Mrs Olayinka Edmond, at a briefing on their partnerships on Water Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, programme in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Oladamoye Oyesiku, Abiodun Adeoye, Seni Adio, Kemi Jejeloye-Orianzi, Udochi Iheanacho, DEm Eleso, Dayo Adeshina and Tunde Kehinde at the 10th anniversary of Contact Solutions Limited, ConSol.

FOUNTAIN HEIGHTS: Principal, Mrs Adebimbe Delano (middle); Alumni Coordinator, Miss Junadia Danso (4th right, back row); alumni executives, teaching and non-teaching staff, all of Fountain Heights Secondary School, during the alumni week by Fountain Heights Alumni Association, in Surulere, Lagos.

SLOT/LENOVO: From left— Marketing Manager, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Mr. Bolade Oyekanmi; Sales Manager, Organised Retail, Lenovo Technologies West Africa, Mr. Dayo Odusote; Slot Brand Ambassador and ace entertainer, D’banj; representative of Vivian Onyemaechi, Kia Rio grand prize winner, Mr. Nnamudi Marcellinus, and Head of Marketing, Slot Systems Limited, Mr. Jonathan Uzomba, at the final draw of the Lenovo National Promo in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

TECHNO:

Deputy Marketing Manager, Techno, Mr. Attai Ogwuche (left), presenting $25,000 cheque to Shapeera Mnenna MakePeace, winner of the grand fnale of Techno Karaoke competition in Lagos.

PHOTO: Joe Photo Akintola , Editor.

BRIEFING: From left— Operations Manager, Mr. Monday Nnah; company’s lawyer, Prince Azubuike Onyekwelu, and Sales Manager, Mr. Shola Oduwole, during a briefing by Linda Manufacturing Company, makers of Xpression hair attachments and weave-on, on the disruption of the company's operations by sacked workers, in Lagos.

MARKET SPACE: From left— Administrative Assistant, ABE Nigeria, Mrs Thelma Ita; Regional Manager, West Africa ABE United Kingdom Education Institute, Mr. Anthony Atagamen; Director of Studies, Market Space Limited, Mr. George Thorpe, and Head of Centre, Market Space Limited, Mrs Edith Keshi-Robinson, during a briefing the accreditation of Market Space by ABE UK Insititute, in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

LIONS' SYMPOSIUM: From left—Mrs Navita Aggarwal; 2nd Vice President, Lions Clubs International, Lions Naresn Aggarwal, Lions Gudrun Ynguadottir, and Lions Jon Bjathi Thorsteinsson, both past International Directors, Lions Clubs Iceland, during the children's symposium on Obesity in Children, organised by the International Association of Lions Clubs Multiple District 404, Nigeria, in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 —37

Shelter Afrique partners CMB on N3.3bn Pearl Nuga Estate financing

By Kingsley Adegboye

C

MB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited, a front line real estate development firm in Nigeria with over 12 years experience in real estate development has secured strategic partnership with Shelter Afrique (SAf), also known as Company for Habitat and Housing in Africa to finance N3.3 billion Pearl Nuga Estate.

Shelter Afrique is a pan-African finance institution created to exclusively support the development of the African real estate and housing sector. Through its strategic partnerships, it offers products and related services, which support the efficient delivery of commercial real estate and affordable housing.

According to Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CMB, this recent partnership between CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited and Shelter Afrique is a huge step in the right direction as it keys directly into the vision of providing affordable housing for the Nigerian populace.

The CMB boss who added that the partnership with Shelter Afrique will ensure the speedy delivery of Pearl Nuga Court Estate as well as provide mortgage facilities for the off takers, pointed out that “CMB has taken the mantle in this drive for private sector participation in governmental plans and policies. I believe that the private sector has the most strategic role to play in ensuring the housing deficit is reduced to its barest minimum. “I believe the fundamentals of the real estate sector remain strong and healthy despite the economic troubles of last year. We seek the Federal Government’s backing in creating and enforcing policies and laws that will

A

Managing Director CMB, Kelechukwu Mbagwu with Managing Director Shelter Afrique, James Mugerwa at the Windsor Golf club in Nairobi Kenya after signing a N3.3 billion naira financing agreement in which Shelter Afrique will fund CMB’s pearl Nuga Court Estate. ensure the private sector development thrives through financial capitalizations and easily accessible construction finance,” Mbagwu said.

Shelter Afrique has been in operation for over 30 years and is in partnership with 44 African governments, the African Development Bank (AFDB) and the Africa Reinsurance Company.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fasola, in his inaugural ministerial press briefing stated that “the Federal Government will lead the aggressive intervention to increase housing

supply, by undertaking construction of public housing and formulating policies that will invariably lead to private sector participation and ownership in order to reduce our housing deficit. He also recently revealed that there would be change in the policy direction of the Buhari’s administration in the real estate sector. He mentioned that the 2016 budget will make provision for the Federal Government to spend N10 billion on low income housing in each of the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Budget proposal:Fashola votes 62% for road projects, 15% for housing Fashola, include Lagos-Ibadan

By Favour Nnabugwu

F

Address Homes to deliver N2bn estate in September

ACED with the enormous need to provide infrastructure across the country, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has voted 62 percent of the mega Ministry to road projects.

Fashola whose total budget for the year is put at N433billion, came up with a threeyear frame work to utilize the proposed budget out of which N268bn representing 62 percent was allotted to Works, N99bn, an equivalent of 23 percent to Power and N66bn, representing 15 percent to Housing.

The Minister made this disclosure while defending the Ministry’s budget for 2016 before the Committee on Works at the House of Representatives and Senate last week.

Breaking down the budget, the Minister noted that government is willing to complete the over 200 uncompleted road projects across the country rather than embark on new ones, adding that the completion of

the projects will be beneficial to the masses and the nation’s economy. He said that some of these projects were left uncompleted because government owed the contractors and if the money is paid, some of them are willing to return to sites.

He also disclosed that his Ministry had drawn a three year plan with the aim of covering about 6,000 kilometres of roads at the end the of third year, pointing out that each year, a total of 2,000 kilometres of roads will be covered, explaining that the projects are prioritized based on the criteria such as projects with high economic value, those that carry heavy traffic and those that are almost completed.

Fashola added that in the first year, a total number of 31 projects will be covered, a total number of 55 projects will be completed in the second year while 44 projects will be attended to in the third year.

Among the projects according to

Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and Murtala Muhammed International Airport road in Lagos, explaining that LagosIbadan Expressway is a major traffic road where bulk of imported cargoes come into the country through Apapa and Tin Can ports to other parts of the nation.

“Food items as well as livestock from the North also come to South-West and other areas through the same route. In view of this, if this road is fixed, it will be for economic interest of the nation, so also the second Niger Bridge that traverses from the South-East to other parts of the country, and just as Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in Lagos serves as the gate way to Nigeria.

“With the budget proposal, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) will have the advantage in providing comprehensive maintenance on federal roads across the six geo-political zones of the country."

DDRESS Homes Limited, a Lagos-based real estate development company, is set to deliver a N2 billion estate called The Address Homes by September this year. The residential estate comprising 30-unit estate of fourbedroom semi-detached homes, is located in the ambient neighbourhood of Femi Okunnu Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

The residential estate which sits on a parcel of land, secured with registered deed of assignment title with Governor’s content, is less than two minutes’ drive from the Lekki Epe Expressway, by fifth roundabout.

The main contractors include Messrs Famous Construction Company Limited, Wassob and Play In Architecture, one of the foremost design firms in Nigeria currently pushing the boundaries of the real estate industry, according to Mr. Oladimeji Audu, the Marketing Manager of Address Homes Limited.

According to him, the choice of the location was carefully selected as the company wants to provide a residential estate with zero tolerance for flood during the rainy seasons, a common feature, he said, with some of the estates in the Lekki axis. He revealed that most of the houses are presently at plastering, finishing and roofing stages.

Finishing and roofing stages Funding for the project was sourced through shareholder funds, banks and “deposits from clients who have been referred from others who attest to our reliable and competent dealings in our previous projects,” Audu said.

The company is offering the units at an introductory special price of N80 million with 30 per cent initial deposit and payment of the balance spread over the completion and delivery date of the project (September 2016).

However, this price is expected to go up sometime later to N85million or above. Audu stated that this method of marketing is widely used in the industry to attract buyers at the initial stages of the project when no structure is yet standing. But with some of the structures being completed, the price will attract a little increase because the finishing has become visible.

Audu emphasized the lavish use of space in the estate, adding that each semi-detached house owner would be able to park five cars within his compound. A communal swimming pool, children’s swimming pool, club house, gym, basketball court, entertainment terrace to host household parties are among some of the offerings on the property.

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 39

Report of Surveyor-General

Ilamoshe: Land owners, landlords agree to abide by Surveyor-General’s report Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

F

OLLOWING revelations in the investigative report on relative positions of lands at the troubled Ilamoshe community in Oke-Afa-Ejigbo area of Lagos carried out by Lagos state office of Surveyor-General, land owners and landlords of the affected area have agreed to abide by the report signed by the state Chief Surveyor, Adebukonla Adeyemi on behalf of SurveyorGeneral.

A certified true copy of the report made available to Vanguard Homes & Property last week said: “I am directed to inform you that we have completed the composite plan of the survey plans you submitted in relation to the survey plan NO. CD 728/ 77 dated November 11, 1977. The composite plan is as shown in plan NO. MSC 3107.

Composite plan “The property said to belong to Mr. Andrew Itimi, surveyed by Surv. Jonas Okeke, with plan NO. 100/LS/651/99 dated October 21, 1999, represented as A in the composite plan does not fall the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Mr. Hammed Ishola Makanju with plan NO. CK/LS/1423A&B dated 1/11/88, labelled B in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Mr. Adewale Bamidele Oyenuga with plan NO. KOL/41/95 dated 24/10/95, labelled C in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr.

A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to chief Adekunle Oyedipe with plan NO. CK/LS/1295 dated 15/10/87, labelled D in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Dr. Idowu Oladunjoye Malomo with plan NO. LU/LA/1063/92 dated 20/05/92, labelled E in the composite plan does not fall within

the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Mrs. Caroline Funmi Sanni with plan NO. LAA/195/351/2012/LA dated 11/12/2012, labelled F in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Captain Joseph Awodeha with plan NO. ADAKS/037/LA/92

dated 19/08/87, labelled G in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Adewale Bolarinwa Adedeji with plan NO. ADAKS/010/LA/94 dated 30/09/94, labelled H in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo. “The land said to belong to Engr. Raymond Sunny Uzoh with plan NO. ADAKS/018/LA/93 dated 15/03/93, labelled I in the composite plan does not fall within the judgement area and does not fall within the area claimed by Mr. A. H. Ojo”, the report stated, insisting that the information provided above is without prejudice to the actual locations of the respective lands.

Reacting to the survey report, Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale, one of the principal actors in the land tussle, said with the report which has explained everyone’s position on the disputed lands, no more trouble is envisaged in the area, pointing out that everyone involved in the matter will abide by the report of the SurveyorGeneral of the state.

Mr. Osuolale who added that all they are waiting for now, is ratification exercise on the lands, disclosed that why the matter lingered for a long time is that the lands in question are not located in a particular place, and several individuals are involved, explaining that it is not easy to deal with people in situations like

theirs.

“The problem before now was that everybody was coming to take coordinates of the lands that are not located in a particular place and giving different reports. There was also the issue of individuals involved in the case, and you know that it is not easy to deal with people.

They were saying different things at different times because of influence of their friends. But now such disagreements are no more, as the survey report has explained the true situation of the matter,” Osuolale noted.

Judgment creditor It will be recalled that before now, a truce was brokered by the Ejigbo Police Division between the judgment creditor and managing director of Nigercat Nigeria Company limited, Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale, and landlords of the affected area to enable property owners verify their lands and title documents with the office of the Surveyor-General at the state Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

It was further resolved at the meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ejigbo Division, Superintendent of Police, Segun Titiladun Ayo in his office, that a committee comprising leaders of the six Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ilamoshe and counsel to the judgment creditor, Patrick Arasanmi, should be set up to work out modalities of arriving at a ratification/ settlement arrangement.

BCPG forum: Stakeholders urge govt to embark on large scale timber regeneration

S

TAKEHOLDERS who gathered at a one-day seminar last week in Lagos on “Timber as an Endangered Material in the Nigeria Construction Industry” have called on the government to embark on large scale timber tree regeneration as a matter of urgency in order to over come scarcity of mature timber in the country.

The stakeholders comprising builders, engineers, estate surveyors, land surveyors, quantity surveyors, architects, politicians, policy makers, government officials, saw millers and carpenters in Oko-Baba Sawmill on Lagos Mainland, while speaking at the forum organized by Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) also decried the rising spate of roof-induced building collapses as a result of immature timber being used as roof trusses.

The forum deliberated on issues such as wrong quotation for timber by carpenters, inappropriate measurement of planks by saw millers, cutting- corner habit on the part of contractors and building owners.

In his remark, Mr Jide Jimoh, a member of House of Representative who was the chairman of the occasion, said that the need to find solution to the problem of timber in construction industry had become imperative, blaming the problem on corruption as it pervades across the strata of the society.

Professor Labode Popoola of the University of Ibadan who was the guest speaker, bemoaned high rate of

deforestation in the country, saying that most of the mature trees have been cut down, while illegal lumbering has denied government the expected revenues from forest.

According to him, 400,000 hectares of land have been lost to shifting cultivation He stated that signs of endageared timber include high extraction cost, high rent or royalty, high number of logs loaded by trucks, high price of resource commodity and distance travel.

He pointed out that timbers were endangered due to increased demand, obsolete technology, political instability, poor forest funding, outdated forest policies and laws and unrealistic valuation.

On ways out of the woods, he suggested the need for sustainable trade and consumption patterns of forest resources, adding that government must review its policies and laws, provide adequate fund for forestry and partner with private sector

On ways out of the woods, he suggested the need for sustainable trade and consumption pattern of forest resources

to tackle deforestation.

Representing Commissioner of Forestry in Ogun State, Mr. Dolapo Odulana, said all stakeholders must be at the vanguard to raising or establishing forest farm, noting that most of the trees being felled for construction were no longer mature before harvesting.

He called for enlightenment campaigns on the need to shun illegal lumbering, putting appropriate price for plank and the need to turn forest into business to provide employment for the people.

He disclosed the initiative put in place by Ogun State Government to revamp its forest, decrying the rate at which Omo and other forest reverses were degraded.

He said: “Forest ownership must be reviewed, forest policies that are old should also be reviewed.”

President of BCPG, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, pointed out that timber sizes specified in the Bill of Quantities were, at times, inconflict with what is obtainable in the market, urging the need to resolve the issue among stakeholders.

President of Professional Carpenters of Nigeria,Mr Anthony Aluko, said that the quality of wood available were no longer standard the way they used to be, saying that reduction in their measurement and sizes were rampant. Oba of Igbobi, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi, urged the need to plant trees to avoid extinction of the resource.

He also advised professionals and home builders on the need to treat wood for house construction.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

Why people think Buhari is witch-hunting Jonathan — MOMOH HON Abubakar Momoh, a two term member of the House of Representatives from Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State in this interview insists that the probe into arms acquisition should not be restricted to the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan if the Federal government is to be taken serious in its anti- corruption war.

By Gabriel Enogholase

W

ERE you surprised to hear that funds meant for arms purchase was diverted to other uses?

No, I wasn’t surprised. We were aware that these things happened, not just during the Jonathan administration, but right from Obasanjo’s time. If the probe will be taken back to that time, all former head of states should be assembled to give account of arms purchased by their administrations.

It did not start with Jonathan’s administration but it is just a system that has been established which Jonathan inherited and continued with.

So, if I were the president, I will do my best to collect money from those I can and then establish a procedure that everybody will know that, once you embezzle government funds, you will be prosecuted. That is how to end corruption.

But when you decided to focus on the immediate past administration then people will begin to read meaning into it and see it as witch-hunting and victimization.

There is nothing that was done in the administration of Jonathan that was not done in the administrations of Yar’Adua and Obasanjo. The fact remains that a tradition had been established and because it is a system, you passed it from one administration to another.

government wants to curb corruption, let them go to the ministries, which is where the real corruption is taking place.

They should not limit it to Dasuki alone because people will read meaning to it. People like Raymond Dokpesi should not be blamed for collecting money for advert from NSA because he cannot ask him where he got the money.

If I don’t contest, I will work with the person who is going to be governor to ensure that he wins. I know who is going to be the next governor and I will deploy my entire political arsenals to ensure that he wins

We thank God that a man has come to say no, we cannot continue that system. I also believe that if the man had come when things were buoyant, people around him would have been doing it even if he is honest.

I believe that the president is on track and he is trying to set a standard for all to follow; if anybody falls below that standard, he would have committed an offense.

People see the money as huge sums of money, but during the oil boom, they saw it as small money.

Small boys had billions of dollars in their account throughout that period of oil boom. But what had happened

•Momoh: Arms probe should go beyond Jonathan regime this time around is when the prices of oil have crash and we are looking for money.

Many people who were involved in such acts thought Jonathan will continue and nothing will happen. We must also be cautious because once a person’s name is mention, people see him as being corrupt but it is wrong.

People mentioned Tanko Yakassai who collected money from Tony Anenih, Rasheed Ladoja and the rest only

Bello’s first media stir

By Dapo Akinrefon

G

IVEN the seemingly romantic rapport he had with the press during his eventful campaign, news of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State locking out journalists from a state function should have been puzzling.

Newspaper reports indeed alleged that the governor instructed security agents to lock out the media from the inauguration of the state’s deputy governor, Simon Achuba at the Government House, last week.

Challenged on the seeming volte-face of the governor, his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, however, gave a totally different account alleging what he claimed as a clear case of misinformation.

•Bello: Denies locking out journalists “I was surprised when I saw the reports because no such development was brought to my notice by the press men. I expect them to hear our own side of the story before the damaging publication.

“Gov. Bello didn’t give anyone

any order to stop journalists from covering Government House activities. Many of them were there yesterday to cover the swearing in ceremonies of the Deputy Governor.

“This government will work with the media because the

There are rumours that you are eyeing the Edo state governorship seat in the July election. What is your reaction?

For now, I cannot give you a definite answer. We hear funny names of people who ordinarily cannot win councillorship election saying they want to be governor. Majority of those indicating interest don’t have political structures; they are just fortunate to have little money.

Apart from one or two of them, none of them has ever held a serious position in government.

If I don’t contest, I will work with the person who is going to be governor to ensure that he wins. I know who is going to be the next governor and I will deploy my entire political arsenals to ensure that he wins.

collected; what they were given was for election.

Were you expecting that they should have asked where the government got the money from?

It is not possible. So such people should not be asked to return their money because it was given for them to do something with.

N260million is nothing to Anenih that you can say he embezzled. Mr. President cannot give him the money for election and he will ask him where he got the money from? If

There seems to be a rift between you and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, how true is that and what is your assessment of his administration?

Immediately the governor conceived the idea of contesting, I stood with him. But since he won, he has been on a war path with me. He came with a vision and I can say that to a reasonable extent, he has tried his best with the reasonable resources available.

media played a massive role in public information and enlightenment”.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo told Vanguard that the reports arose from a breakdown in communication between the correspondents and the Governor’s media managers, saying the issue was escalated.

“I am a journalist and I know the respect due to journalists.

The SA Media waited for them outside but we didn’t see them.

I had to come to the gate again but they were not there. Our lines are open but no one reported the development to us only to go to press without adequate checks.

“Gov. Bello respects press men and will always accord them due attention. The different versions of the story have put my respected colleagues on the defensive.

While some said they were

chased out of the Banquet Hall, others said they were denied access from the gate.

“I have been consulting with the Office of the SA Media to ensure that we make the coverage of government activities devoid of stress. We are prepared to work with media men and we expect them to always feel free to clarify issues from us before they make sensitive assertions”.

A top security operative in Government House, Lokoja, who craved anonymity. told Vanguard that security men at Government House cleared journalists to cover the event.

He denied reports that they were hostile.

“We are trained to be very civil in our operations. We are journalists’ friends and never stopped any journalist from entering Government House.

The reports must probably have hidden motives that they are not telling the world”.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—41

Volkswagen Centre unveils all-new Passat T

HE Volkswagen Cen tre has unveiled the much anticipated revolutionary techsavvy eight-generation 2016 Volkswagen Passat in Nigeria.

Positioned between Golf (Jetta) and Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the new Passat is significantly fitted with swank exterior, more aggressive features with exceptionally refined interior appointments.

The new Passat’s exterior is characterized by sleek horizontal lines with uniquely shaped headlight units and LED headlamps that look strikingly different. This is in addition to short overhangs, long wheelbase, striking bonnet and shoulder lines with excellently shaped radiator grille and front bumper.

The LED headlights for instance have a far more prominent eye-catching chrome strips and unmistakably daytime driving light that carries over into the grille, and at the rear, the stylish taillights also lit by LED, change the graphics from horizontal to vertical when the brakes are applied.

Donning a sporty elegant design with top-class comfort and innovative technologies like modern infotainment and comprehensive connectivity, the new Passat is coveted as Europe ‘Carof-the-Year 2015.’

Superior driving comfort The design of the new Passat is no doubt a fusion of man and machine with its total weight reduced by 85 kilogram compared to its predecessor. This weight reduction remarkably helps in lowering the average consumption and superior driving comfort of the car which is designed with innovative MQB platform and various lightweight construction measures. These innovations make the car more agile and faster.

On the outside, Volkswagen has changed the body panel from the A-pillar forward, even though it isn’t quite noticeable, just about every exterior detail, including the trunk and the taillights have received razor-edge treatment, with the headlights becoming extensions of the sleeker grille.

The interior has similarly gone decidedly upscale with improved materials that include real stitching everywhere, including the armrests, while every button and knob moves with precision to provide perfect tactile feedback.

For instance, the standard in-

struments cluster now look classy and exclusive, with a standard 5.0-inch display screen similar to the one fitted in the new Audi TT. The steering wheel has also been redesigned, incorporating a switch to a frameless rear-view mirror; broad air vents with three vanes and a centrally positioned analogue clock.

The Passat also gets a host of other features and safety attributes for the 2016 model year.

They include easy-open keyless access to the trunk that only requires a moving foot near the back of the vehicle to open and Post-collision Braking System,

which is now standard on all models across line-up. This new system will apply the brakes after a primary collision is detected by airbag sensors, which

helps to reduce residual kinetic energy and the possibility of additional damage. Others are adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with autono-

mous emergency braking, blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert, lane departure warning, aerial view overhead camera and parking steering assist.

Test Drive: JAC models surpass expectation

N

IGERIA, because of its huge population has stood out, over the years as a large market, and automobiles are not left out. Different automobile brands abound, but a recurring challenge has been durability and ability to withstand our environment, road condition, temperature etc.

Another challenge has been that of perception for vehicles coming from Asia, especially from China, are Chinese vehicles really durable? Can they give value for money? Are they truly comfortable to drive ?

These were the issues Elizade, a name known for quality for over 40 years, faced, when it decided to stake its name with a Chinese brand called JAC. Is the company regretting putting pen to paper for JAC? Far from it! The company is even regretting its relationship with JAC did not start earlier. JAC ranks as the number one and number four commercial and passenger car manufacturer in China respectively.

Marketing Director of Elizade, Mr. Olu Tikolo recalls that over

two years ago when the company decided to distribute the JAC brand in the country, his company decided to put some units to test by giving them out to taxi drivers and fleet users.

The result of the test drive, according to him, was very satisfactory because the vehicles were subjected to daily usage on diverse and tough terrain in different parts of the country by various drivers.

The feedback, Tikolo said, was very encouraging as his company had thereafter made tremendous improvement on the different models on offer.. Reinforced suspension, fuel efficiency, efficient air conditioning system etc.

Only recently, the company decided to allow auto journalists to flog the car in Lagos. The J5 offers the comfort that far surpasses its price and look. It is a comfortable sedan.

Around Lagos roads, the car was able to withstand some of the bad roads and pot holes that the car was test-driven on. The shock absorbers did not fail!

The traffic jam on Lagos roads

is nothing to worry about because of the powerful air conditioning system and smooth sounds from the auto set to keep you company.

One is also impressed with the car which comes in 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre engines, as the rear sensor is a safety feature that guides against crashes; the tyre pressure detection function and the Formica dash board finishing also add to good finishing.

The J3 may not give same comfortable features, but what stand the JAC models out is the fact that they are all coming with reinforced suspensions and fuel efficient technology.

Reinforced suspensions Elizade distributes both passenger and commercial JAC vehicles. Among the passenger cars are the J5, J4, J3 and the soon to arrive Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). For the commercial segment-1.5 tonnes, 2.5 tonnes, 3.5 tonnes and 4 tonnes trucks. The J5 which is the sedan top of the range, comes with leather and cloth seats as

well as automatic transmission.

Head of Elizade Autoland, saddled with the JAC brand, Mr. Ademola Adewunmi reasoned that the successes recorded so far with the JAC brand is not unconnected with the pedigree of Elizade in the auto business as well as the features of the brand.

According to him, customers automatically enjoy three years warranty or 100,000 kilometres for all models of JAC, even as his company has well trained technicians and spare parts to deal with after-sales issues.

Founded in 1964, JAC annual complete vehicle production capacity has reached 700,000, and engine production capacity of 500,000. JAC has a national level technology R&D center and established the first overseas design center of the Chinese automotive industry in Turin, Italy, in June 2005. In October 2006, JAC’s second independent overseas design center was established in Tokyo, Japan.

JAC has been constantly improving product quality and the level of management, and has been named “Recommended Brand for Export “, “The Most Competitive Brand on the Market”, “Enterprise for Exemption from Export Inspection”, and “National Quality Award”by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronics Products, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, and the China Quality Association, symbolizing the company’s product quality and management level have reached the most advanced international standards.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

MEDIA INTERACTION:- From left: Mrs Sadiat Babatunde, a community member; Mr Isaiah Fayomi and his wife, Mrs .Christiana Fayomi during a 2-day media dialogue on Female Genital Mutilation & Cutting, FGM/C, abandonement organised by UNICEF in Osogbo and Ile Ife, by UNICEF in Ile Ife, Osun State.

FGM: We have stopped cutting women and girls — Isaiah Fayomi, Head of circumcisers in Ile Ife, Osun State

By Sola Ogundipe

F

OR almost 70 years, Chief Isaiah Fayomi has practised as a professional circumciser, and currently, he holds sway in Ile Ife, Osun state as the Head of Circumcisers.

During a 2-day media dialogue on Female Genital Mutilation & Cutting, FGM/C, and abandonement, organised by UNICEF in Osogbo, the 83year-old that is reknowed for circumcising both males and females, related how, for the best part of 60 years, he was actively involved in the practice of female circumcision on girls and women of all ages.

Inherited practice In a chat with Good Health Weekly, Fayomi, who hails from Ile Ife, said the duty of ‘cutting’ females was bestowed on him by tradition, and he was really good and popular at it, and he even taught his wife, Christianah, how to circumcise in 1987.

“I inherited the practice I met my forefathers doing it and they knew exactly why it was important for females to be circumcised.

“When I was a young boy, I was circumcised along with my male and female siblings.

We were seven in number. I have since been circumcising people regardless of sex or age.

I used to circumcise people of all ages, even pregnant women and I did it well until recently

we were told not to circumcise females again.”

Fayemi avowed that he has since stopped circumcising females because he doesn’t want to go against the law of the land.

“I stopped female circumcision in the last seven years, but I still circumcise males. My wife has also stopped. No one circumcises females in Ile Ife or in Osun state anymore,” Fayomi explained.

The octogenarian said female circumcision had been a longterm traditional practice and the belief was that females that are

not circumcised would be promiscuous.

I stopped female circumcision in the last seven years, but I still circumcise males; my wife has also stopped. No one circumcises females in Ile Ife anymore

“In the whole of Ile Ife, Modakeke, Ipoku, Ede, Ikire and environs, I am well known, because when I circumcise, it heals very fast. People recommend me and I even do home visits.

There is no age limit to when a man or woman cannot be circumcised by me. I circumcise the young and old, Citing instances of his exploits, he recalled a woman that was brought to him after she had been circumcised by somebody else.

“She had developed some

growths on her genitalia and that was becoming an eyesore, so I had to recircumcise her.”

But after the Osun state government intervened and I was enlightened about the health hazards to women, I decided to support that female circumcision should be abandoned.

On her own part, Mrs Christiana Fayomi who has been a successful circumciser for close to 29 years, admitted that she had no idea that circumcising girls amd women was harmful.

Converted: “The stoppage met us suddenly. On July 2, 2015, there was an intervention by the government for circumcisers in Osogbo, and I was able to appreciate the dangers of FGM/C. I saw the diagrammatic representation of the female genitalia and was tutored about the ills of the practice and I am now promoting its abandonement.

Christianah, who said she charges between N500-N1,000 to circumcise an infant or child, while adults usually pay N5,000, is now a convert.

“When I got to know about the ills of female circumcision, I was surprised. They explained everything to us, and said we should stop doing it.

We all agreed that we were going to stop it and we have stopped ever since.”

But Sadiat Babatunde, a community member in Ile Ife, remains astute. “Personally I think it is good to circumcise girls and women. Not doing so would make them promiscous.Even a man that is not circumcised would not enjoy his life. An uncircumcised woman would be promiscuous and uncomfortable,” she argued.

Omron introduces low-cost care for hypertensive patients

By Chioma Obinna O ensure easy access to information and treatment for hypertension, Omron Healthcare EMEA has launched a pilot project tagged “Omron Medical Connect”, to enable patients receive remote consultation and prescriptions for hypertension from qualified cardiologists.

The project which will run in collaboration with cardiologists at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH is aimed at providing patients with hypertension care in pharmacies close to their homes, reduce cost, travel and waiting time during appointments.

Under the project, 500 patients will be recruited to demonstrate feasibility and effectiveness of the innovative healthcare delivery model. The Pilot takes place February to October 2016 in Lagos.

Giving insight into the project, Group Manager, Omron Healthcare EMEA, Paul Stevens, said the mission is to go beyond tracking numbers to provide services that enable patients take control of their health and live longer, healthier lives.

Stevens said: “By reducing the burden of chronic disease management on hospitals, while providing a platform for patients to receive high quality care at low cost, we believe that Omron Medical Continues on Page 43

T

COMMISSIONING - From left : Senior Registrar, Cardiology Unit, LUTH, Dr Olalekan Makinde; Country Manager, Nigeria & Ghana, Omron Healthcare, Olugbenga Abiodun; MD, Mebik Pharmacy, Pharm Bridget Okocha, and Senior Marketing Manager, Omron Healthcare Europe ,Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Paul Stevens; during Omron Medical Connect media parley in Lagos recently.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016—43

RESTORATION OF SIGHT: Pledge your eyes before death, Nigerians told

By Sola Ogundipe

W

ORRIED by the myriad of challenges confronting restoration of sight through corneal grafting also known as Keratoplasty, Nigerians have been urged to leave a legacy of sight by pledging their eyes before death.

Making the call in Lagos, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Managing Director, the Eye Bank for Restoring Sight, Dr Mosunmade FaderinOmotosho, said corneal blindness can be cured through corneal transplant by removing the damaged cornea and replacing it with a healthy one.

“The challenge is getting a suitable system for collection of the corneas, processing it and distributing to the doctors.

Calling for enforcement of legislation while lamenting that majority of those that really need cornears cannot afford to pay, Faderin- Omotosho, said between last December and the 2nd week in January, four babies aged 8-11months with bilateral cornea infections, were referred to the Eye Bank.

Calling for counsellors to talk to people to donate their corneas, she said cornea transplants were first carried out in the late 60’s and early 70’s in Nigeria with corneas obtained from abroad, but such transplants are rarely done nowa-

BRIEFING: From left: Chairman Fund Raising Committee, Eye Bank, Mr. Yomi Badejo Okusanya, MD, Eye Bank, Dr.Mosunmade Faderin-Omotosho, Chairman BoT, Dr. Olaseinde Akinsete, Chairman BoG, Dr. Abiola Akinocho, and Board Member/ Fund Raising Committee, Mrs. Fola Akande, during the press conference of Eye Bank For Restoring Sight Nigeria, held recently in Lagos. days because donor corneas are not readily available.

Presenting three beneficiaries of cornea surgery from the EYe Bank, she said: “When the Bank was to be registered, we had to get permission from Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“I have gone to see the Comptroller of Prisons in Nigeria, to see what we can do to harvest corneas, because I have been told that when a prisoner is condemned to death and executed, the body belongs to the government and not the family.

“However, since 1999, after the military era has passed, no

civilian governor has confirmed death penalties so now there are now several prisoners waiting on death row because no governor is ready to confirm their sentences,” Faderin-Omotosho remarked.

In a presentation themed: “Cornea Donation, A brighter World”, Chairman, Board of Trustees, of the Bank, Dr Olaseinde Akinsete, said with a blindness rate of 1 percent, 30 percent of the estimated 1.5 million Nigerians that are blind, have cornea problems and can benefit from cornea transplants.

Lamenting the non-effective-

ness of the Cornea Grafting Decree 23 of 1973, Akinsete, who set up the Eye Bank on his 75th birthday, said cultural beliefs, religion and taboos are hindering the take off of the cornea donation culture in the country.

“Among factors responsible for the appalling situation in which we find ourselves in regard to restoration of sight through corneal grafting are lack of donor eyes and corneas, scarcity of Ophthalmologists interested in corneal grafting, remedial legislation and cultural, religious taboos amonst others, Akinsete pointed out.

Omron Continued from Page 42 Connect can transform the way people receive healthcare, and eventually increase affordability and accessibility for millions of patients.

“Omron Medical Connect will leverage Community Pharmacies as the patient’s main point of care where blood pressure will be measured, the patient will be counselled on lifestyle measures and drug use, and drugs will be dispensed.

Blood pressure will be monitored by a doctor via digital data transfer through a ‘health cloud’, doctors are then able to electronically renew prescriptions based on the blood pressure measurements performed at the pharmacy. Doctors from LUTH will provide the remote monitoring service and this hospital will serve as the referral site for patients with an indication for usual physician-based care.

Further, Stevens explained 10 community blood pressure screening events, targeting 5,000 will be sponsored in collaboration with LUTH to raise awareness about hypertension and identify patients suitable for pharmacybased hypertension care via Omron Medical Connect.

He said at the end, an independent clinical observation study will measure the outcomes of the pilot, measuring patient retention in the Pilot, the impact on medication adherence and patient blood pressure, plus the cost of care to the patients.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

CANNOT go more than two minutes before ejaculating and even to get another erection after that takes a long time plus the tiredness.

Why? Solutions please – Benjamin Premature ejaculation can be caused by a variety of factors such as anxiety, hereditary, masturbation and penile sensitivity amongst other things. Many men experience it. Doing your PC Muscle exercises can help you with ejaculatory control in the long term. But in the short term, you will need the help of ejaculation delay creams such as Stallion Delay Spray. The use of Penile Sleeves like the Stud Extender will also reduce penile sensitivity and prolong intimacy. If you want to shorten the time it takes to get a second erection and get stamina as well, then you will need an erection enhancing supplement like Max Stamina or Libigrow – Uche Hi Uche, my name is Jessica. I really need your help. I don’t want to have sex again until I am ready. Is there anything that I can take to make this possible? Jessica Dear Jessica, all you require to be able to achieve that goal is a strong will. Unfortunately, will power does not come in the form of a capsule so there is nothing that you can take to make this possible. Just focus on your determination to avoid intercourse and you just might succeed – Uche My wife and I are trying to have a baby. So far, we have not been lucky so we have started taking the fertility medicine Fertil Aid. But I also would like something that will make the sperm plenty because after sex, the sperm will just pour out of my wife and it is strange. Thanks – Sunday It is normal for semen to flow out from the woman after sex. Semen is not magnetic so part of it must flow out.

Women who are trying to have children are advised to lie on their backs and lift their legs after sex for 10 to 15 minutes. This will ensure that the semen gets to the egg during ovulation. So your wife should do that. But if you still want to increase the volume of your semen, then take Volume Pills supplement – Uche

I am 64 years old and I suffer from weak erection. My friends gave me one Rhino 7 pill or something like that. They said they got it from you and that you can get it for me. I will appreciate it - Ugo Rhino 7 and Boss Rhino pills are the best right now and handle most adult male sexual complaints such as weak erection, lack of erection, premature ejaculation, penis enlargement and performance stamina. As I am sure you know by now, one capsule of Rhino 7 can work for up to five days. Call the numbers below to order – Uche Please how effective is Spanish Fly and how is it taken? I have used it before but I am not sure of the dosage. Thank you? Ann Hi Ann, the typical Spanish Fly supplement that comes in liquid form is enough for two doses. This means that you can take half of it in one day and half another day. It is a cheap but effective arousal drink that works for hours – Uche I have been having poor libido for two years.

This has resulted in weak erection inspite of all my love play with my partner. Is there a permanent solution to this problem? – Babatunde It all depends on the cause of your erectile dysfunction.

Diabetes and aging are two of the main causes of erectile dysfunction and if that is the case with you, then there can be no permanent cure. Diabetes has no cure, neither does old age. But supplements such as Rhino 7 and Power Zen Gold can help you, while you are taking them – Uche That is all for today. Happy Valentine everyone. Our Valentine discount sales remain on till the 13th of February, 2016. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call us on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com to place their orders. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

•Residential estate in Lagos representing less than 1% of the nation’s GDP. “Cumbersome and timeconsuming processes for land acquisition and ownership documentation can make acquiring land difficult, while land in urban areas is expensive

Why high networth individuals eye Lagos properties •As EFCC seals alleged products of sleaze

By Kingsley Adegboye

I

N SPITE of the downturn in the Nigerian economy, Lagos has continued to remain the preffered choice for property investors.

According to a recent report

by PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, the Nigerian real estate sector is growing at a rate of 8.7 per cent, which is faster than the average GDP growth rate of 7.4 per cent.

The report noted that “Rental figures in Lagos remain among the highest in the world, with achievable rents at more than $85 per square metre per month. The availability of office space is improving and several A-grade projects are under way”.

In the report titled, “Real Estate: Building the future of Africa”, PwC also projected the country’s real estate investment to rise by about 49 per cent from the current $9.16 billion to $13.65 billion which is about N2.72 trillion in 2016.

The expected increase has

been attributed to a number of factors “This is driven by a growing middle-class driving demand for residential property development and, indirectly, retail, industrial and commercial real estate development.

“High net worth individuals (HNWIs) invest 25% of their assets in real estate compared to 18% or less in equities and other instruments. Continued Government reforms have created an enabling environment for property development and financing.

Foreign investors “Increased allocations of funding to the asset class by local and foreign investors are also key drivers of projected growth in this sector,” it stated.

PwC which is an accounting and auditing firm emphasised that residential real estate market is propelled by the growing population in Nigeria, rising rural-urban migration,

strong economic growth and a growing middle class.

Similarly, it added that commercial real estate market is driven by an influx of institutional, foreign and private business into the country as well as the growth of locally established businesses and multi-national oil companies across the cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

According to the report there is considerable room for profitable investments in the real estate sector due to the huge housing deficit in the country.

“It is estimated that Nigeria has a housing deficit of 17 million houses estimated at $363 billion. This number is expected to increase by two million houses per year at the current population growth of 2.8% per year.”

It also pointed out that if the growth pattern is maintained and improved on, jobs opportunities will be created in the process and the housing

deficit will improve speedily.

Notwithstanding, the PwC report stated the problems facing the real estate industry and cautioned that in spite of the substantial opportunities existing in the Nigerian real estate market, there are a number of specific risks for property investors.

“There are existing problems with access to finance; with a lack of long-term debt financing and an underdeveloped mortgage market, with mortgage loans

Rental figures in Lagos remain among the highest in the world, with achievable rents at more than $85 per square metre per month

Security considerations “Building materials and construction costs are also high and there is a reliance on expatriate workers resulting from a shortage of expertise in the local construction industry.

“Security considerations as a result of local unrest should also be factored into investment decisions. A dearth of infrastructure presents difficulties for potential developers, as non-availability of basic services such as water and energy has forced developers to provide these amenities, adding up to 30% to total development costs.”

Another report on Lagos state real estate investment by MCO Real Estate Limited said Lagos continues to improve its infrastructure and service offerings, pointing out that pockets of affluence continue to rise up not only on the Island but also on the Mainland.

To be concluded

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2016—45

Stop clampdown on pro-Biafra protesters, MASSOB, IPOB tell S-East, S-South Govs •As IPOB alleges starvation, harassment and intimidation of Kanu •Release him so that we can dialogue with him —Ogurushi Igbo

By Nwabueze Okonkwo & Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA— MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has urged governors of the South East and South South states to join hands and stop the attack on pro- Biafra protesters by security agents in their states.

Leader of MASSOB, Chief Solomon Chukwu who stated this during the group’s sensitization visit to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, described the killing of defenceless protesters as a crime against humanity and urged governors to speak up and stop playing politics with the lives of the people.

According to him, “The governors are the chief security officers of their states; they should not sit and watch while security agents kill defenceless protesters. It is the right of the people to protest; they don’t bear arms, why would security agents turn their guns on the protesters who were holding a prayer session in Aba? It is all part of the plot to destabilize the former Eastern region. South East and South South governors should wake up and stop playing politics with the lives of their people. They should rise and take up the matter with the authorities. Enough is enough.”

S-South should stand with S-East

He urged the people of the S-South region to continue to stand with their S-East brothers to actualizate an independent state of Biafra, where they will find satisfaction and freedom to enjoy their resources.

Chukwu who later visited the residence of the late Deputy Head of State of the defunct Biafra Republic, Gen. Philip Effiong, commended the latter for the role he played in Biafra and MASSOB’s Regional Administrator, Uyo region, Obong Bassey Bassey, for the massive mobilization of members in the city and environs, urging them to insist on the group’s non-violent approach to the struggle and insisting that Biafra would soon be actualized.

While commending the MASSOB leader for the visit, Bassey said: “Since the late Gen. Philip Effiong fought for Biafra with all his might, we C M Y K

Detained leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. will also join hands to fight for freedom. Nigeria has failed us, our only hope is Biafra. We believe in Biafra.”

Vanguard gathered that over 1000 people were registered as MASSOB members during the visit.

Allegations of starvation, harassment and intimidation

However, in a new development, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said that its detained leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu is being denied access to food and toiletries and has been subjected to serious intimidation and harassment by some prison officials in Kuje prison, warning that it will make Nigeria ungovernable if anything happens to him.

It condemned the inhuman treatment being meted to Mr Kanu, saying the attitude was meant to dampen his spirit and make him denounce Biafra, adding that the Kanu they know will never shift grounds on his total commitment to the actualization of sovereign state of Biafra.

In a statement issued in Nnewi by the IPOB Media and Publicity officer, Mr Emma Powerful, IPOB said that the inhuman treatment being meted to Kanu was meant to weaken his resolve as directed by the Federal Government agents who are now convinced that he will be set free by the court at the end of the day.

Powerful also berated those who are claiming that the Ijaw people are not part of Biafra, adding that the Ijaws are part of the Eastern region, “and nobody will ever change a people from what they are.

The Ijaws are one people with one destiny with the Biarfan people of the South East.We are one family. The Igbo, Ijaw, Igala, Igbanke, Igede and others have one value system and nobody can change it.”

Also, the Ogurushi Igbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has appealed to the Federal Government to without further delay, release Mr Kanu unconditionally so that the Igbo elders will have a chat with him on his group agitation for Biafra, adding that the agitation for Biafra will be more fierce if anything happens to him in prison.

"The agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra will enter into a dangerous dimension if anything untoward happens to Mr Kanu in prison. I do not think that young man has done anything deserving of the suffering he is going through in prison. I do not think that somebody without a gun or any dangerous weapon who is protesting in his own way the marginalization of his people and demanding that they be allowed to be on their own deserves to be incarcerated this long.

“Boko Haram insurgents are being tried and released even in the face of killing people, but Kanu was not caught with arms, neither

was he training any violent group. So on what basis should they continue to hold him? He is only saying that his people are marginalized and therefore should be allowed to have their own country. That has not called for the kind of trial he is going through. Which treason are they talking about? I advise the Federal Government to release him unconditionally,” he said.

“I am using this forum to appeal again to the Federal Government to release Mr. Kanu. He must be counselled by the Igbo elders when he is released, and let us get things right, the young man is doing what he is doing because he discovered that his people are marginalized.As long as he did not train anybody to carry arms, he is a real Igbo man.

Afterall, he did not stay in London where he has everything to enjoy. He has a genuine reason for his agitation and it must be looked into while the Igbo elders talk with him when he comes out,” he said

Allaying fears

Meantime, the leadership of a southeast-based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations, SBCHROs, yesterday, allayed fears that if Justice John Tshoho of the Federal High Court 3, Abuja Division is allowed to hear and determine the treasonable felony charge against the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, he may likely end up passing a death sentence on him like Justice Ibrahim Auta did to the leader

of Movement for the Survival of Ogoni people, MOSOP, Ken Saro-Wiwa, based on the bias and hostile attitude he had so far shown in handling the matter.

Besides, the group said that if allowed to conclude Kanu’s matter, Justice Tsoho might use the opportunity to please President Buhari so as to advance his ambition to be appointed the next Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, after the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta and his second-incommand, Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati both of whom are expected to retire in 2017, based on the attainment of their statutory required age of 65 or 35 years of service.

Justice Tshoho and three options of handing off the case

They therefore gave Justice Tshoho three options of handing off the case and its case file or be dragged before the National Judicial Council, NJC and be made to face local and international advocacy campaigns.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state,SBCHROs however contended that on the other hand, for the purpose of fair hearing and the avoidance of doubt, they were offering him an opportunity to prove them wrong over the foregoing by showing the world that he has nothing to do with the reported CJ ambition between now and 2017 and that he will henceforth change his hostile attitude and disposition towards Nnamdi Kanu and others in the case before his honourable court.

In the statement, SBCHROs insisted that if truly Justice Tshoho is gunning for the CJship position, then he should hands off the matter for obvious conflict of interest, including his compulsory disposition to do that which would please his potential appointing authority.

They therefore warned: “We make bold to say that we shall resist unstoppably all attempts to sacrifice the lives and liberties of Nnamdi Kanu and others for selfish interests such as CJ ambition powered by sheer act of puppetry and politico-judicial leprosy.”

They maintained that the widely condemned way in which Justice Tsoho has handled Kanu’s case so far may most likely be connected with the ambition as per who becomes the next Chief Judge of the Federal High Court when the current CJ, Auta leaves office in 2017.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 — 47

AFCON qualifier: CAF, NFF keeping us in the dark

Rio 2016: AFN puts athletes to test

By Ben Efe

N

IGERIAN ath letes will have their fitness level tested today in Port Harcourt as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria hopes to produce podium performances at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Athletes who have been in camp at the University of Port Harcourt High Performance Centre and others who have been training on their own, will compete in the one-day meet arranged by the AFN. “The meet is just to gauge the level of preparedness of our athletes for the season’s challenges. We want to see how well they have responded to training in the camp, which started since November. We can only hope to see world standard performances as the build-up to the Olympics continues,”

*Egwero

Siasia Continues from B/Page

23-man squad.

Siasia however, said he will like the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to streamline issues so as to avoid the situation where he will invite the player and the Coach of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh will also invite him at the same time.

“I want to get him, but the last time I invited Iheanacho, Oliseh invited him also so it looked like we were not doing the right thing, so we need to streamline things. If the Super Eagles are inviting him, they should invite him so that we don’t send an invitation and suddenly they get another one from the Super Eagles which suggests that something is wrong somewhere. I will reach out to the team secretary to find out if they want Iheanacho for the next game, but if they don’t

said the AFN president, Solomon Ogba yesterday.

Speaking in the same vein, coach Tobias Igwe added that conditions in the camp have been good and the athletes are in buoyant mood for good performances.

The AFN is the only

federation presently camping athletes ahead of the Olympics. Other federations are still waiting for the Sports Ministry to release funds to kick start their buildups.

“It was early camping in Port Harcourt that made our home-based

athletes produce good times at the All Africa Games last year. This is why the AFN president decided to seek resources for us keep the athletes in competitive mood before the start of the season,”Igwe, fondly called Toblow, stressed.

—Egypt FA *Sanusi, NFF scribe

Isaac Success in Watford’s radar R

EPORTS have said representatives of former youth international, Isaac Success are locked in talks with Watford and Granada for the transfer of the striker in the summer.

Both the Andalusian club and the Hornets are sister clubs and a transfer fee for the Nigerian youth international will only be for bookkeeping purposes.

Having said that, BJ Foundation, the nursery team that nurtured Success before he rose to stardom, inserted a ten percent sell-on clause when he was sold to Udinese and stand to gain if he is acquired on a permanent basis by the English Premier League side.

Contrary to reports in the foreign press, a deal is far from being completed as Isaac Success is yet to accept the salary that he is being offered by Watford.

Watford have offered the 20-year-old a fouryear contract and weekly wages of 20,000 need him, I want him.

Siasia also spoke of Osimhen, the FIFA U-17 World Cup winner, whom the coach said his technical crew has been impressed with his performance. “Victor Osimhen is always a part of us. He is a young man that is doing very well, I was impressed with him and that was why I started him in our last qualifying game in Senegal, you have to look at the practice session and see how the players are doing to determine who plays at any time.”

The coach equally regretted what he described as the drop in form of former Golden Eaglets striker, Taiwo Awoniyi who recently joined Premiership side, Liverpool. He added that he will like him to have more playing time so as to sharpen his latent skills.

“I talked about Awoniyi because he is a good player, but what we saw in Senegal is not him,

*Success

pounds but the ex-Golden Eaglets star and his advisers are holding out for £50,000 per week.

Isaac Success is tied to Granada until the summer of 2019, having extended his contract in August 2015. he is a good quality player but if he gets more playing time before the Olympics, he may pick up again. We want to see how much playing time he will get before the Olympics. We have about four FIFA windows before the Olympics and we hope to use them to look at the players we think might be part of the squad for the championship.”

The former national team player nevertheless said he is yet to know the three players he will select for the games as allowed by the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

Nigeria Continues from B/Page

“Yes there is going to be an international friendly between the Dream Team VI and Brazil, but the actual date of the match in March and the venue will be decided next week,” he added.

E

GYPTIAN Football Association (EFA) officials said they have not received any notification on the postponement of the African Cup of Nations Cup qualifiers between the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs originally billed for March 23.

The Nigeria Football Federation claimed that it has received the African soccer ruling body, CAF’s blessing to shift the game from March 23 to 26 to enable it get the match venue, Ahmed Bello Stadium ready.

“No official letters have been received yet regarding the NigeriaEgypt game’s rescheduling and we’ll announce when we get confirmation,” the association board member Ehab Lehitah said on the EFA official website.

“Egypt will start a training camp ahead of the qualifiers on 23 February, four days before they play Burkina Faso in a friendly at the Borg El-Arab Stadium, Alexandria,” Lehitah added.

2016 NPA Lagos Intl’ Polo tournament enters second phase

T

HE second stage of the 2016 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament will commence today with three matches in the Low Cup. However, Polo buffs will be looking forward to the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup which is the most-lucrative trophy in Nigerian sports, as the winning prize money is N25m.

An exciting first stage

Ibrahimovic Continues from B/Page

on away goals in a 3-3 draw on aggregate.

“With the red card against us last year, Ibrahimovic will want revenge against the Chelsea players,” Courtois told Canal +.

“But there are also two, with Chelsea seeking revenge for last year’s result. This year we want to win this game. For both clubs, to go out in this round, it is not good enough.”

In the Premier League, Chelsea have had a disappointing season and currently sit 12th in the table.

of the high-class tournament came to a close on Sunday with Lagos Shoreline emerging the biggest winners after clinching the Open Cup at the expense of Lagos Caverton. Lagos dominance of the first stage was highlighted by Sao Polo’ win of the Dansa Cup against STL in an all-Lagos final.

The Kola Karim-led Shoreline also added the Oba of Lagos Cup which they won by beating Lagos Ashbert in the semifinal but they are in for a tougher challenge as few other teams are

Moses Continues from B/Page

tional team assured the NFF of his availability for the all-important Nations Cup double header against Egypt in Kaduna on March 26.

NFF’s spokesman, Ademola Olajire confirmed yesterday that Moses called the football house to pledge his availability and loyalty to coach Oliseh.

“Victor Moses called yesterday about media

ready to knock them off the perch in the battle for the Low Cup. They will be competing as Goodfellows/Shoreline with Thomas Ussher +4, and Tobi Edun +2 teaming up with Kola 0 and Tunde Karim +1 in the team. Other teams that will battle for the Low Cup are Rojo, Samsung Rifugio, Smooth FM Polo, Agrovote, Zippy, Agad, MUK/Garages (all from Lagos) while Kano Siemens, Kano Agro Text, Ibadan Eleyele and Ibadan Oluyole will compete as the away teams. reports that he was injured. He said he was ready to play for the Eagles and dismissed that he was injured”, Olajire said.

Nigeria face Egypt in back-to-back 2017 African Cup of Nations fixtures next month.

The Eagles are two points behind group leaders Egypt after two rounds of matches with only the group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the tournament in Gabon.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Moses ready for Eagles-Pharaohs match

By Tony Ubani

S

UPER Eagles West Ham player, Victor Moses was rattled by media reports yesterday

Nigeria to play Brazil I

N preparation for the 2016 Olympics, Nigeria’s U-23 team will take on Brazil in an international friendly match next month, head coach Samson Siasia, has revealed.

The Dream Team VI are one of the African teams, that will represent the continent at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. “I am happy that my plans to put my team in a high level preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games has commenced.

Continues on Page 47

Moses

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:

Ibrahimovic wants revenge —Courtois

C

Continues on Page 47

*GRITTY: Kelechi Iheanacho (left) outjumps his Braziian opponnet at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Nigeria lost 4-2.

Siasia lists Iheanacho, Osimhen for

By Jude Opara, Abuja include Manchester City Olympics sensation, Kelechi Ihea-

A

*Siasia

over his injury that he called the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to assure that he was hale and hearty and ready to play his first match under coach Sunday Oliseh against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

The Chelsea player who is on loan to West Ham, has not kicked a ball for the Eagles since Oliseh took over the reins of the na

HEAD of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Chief Coach of

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

the National U-23 side, Samson Siasia has expressed his readiness to

FRIDAY'S ANSWERS

nacho in his mandatory Continues on Page 47

HELSEA goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has warned his teammates that Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be seeking revenge when the two sides go head to head in the last 16 of the Champions League tonight.

Ibrahimovic was sent off in the second leg of their meeting last season, but PSG managed to reach the quarter-finals Continues on Page 47

*Ibrahimovic

Tonight’s Champions League Games PSG v Benfica v

Chelsea 8:45pm Zenit 8:45pm

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD ACROSS 1 Fall (6) 5 Principal (6) 9 Go in (5) 10 Simpler (6) 11 Victor (6) 12 Round-up (5) 14 Curdle (4) 17 Youth (3) 18 Trust (4) 20 Chartered (5) 22 Declined (5) 23 Recovered (7) 24 Untidy (5) 26 Lukewarm (5) 29 Inactive (4) 30 Marry (3) 32 Only (4) 33 Paled (5) 35 Reiterate (6) 36 Gasped (6) 37 Singer (5) 38 Tiller (6) 39 Sinew (6)

DOWN 1 Ditch (6) 2 Clergyman (6) 3 Ogle (4) 4 Enlist (5) 5 Stitched (5) 6 Threesome (4) 7 Streamer (6) 8 Deserved (6) 13 Dawdled (7) 15 Existed (5) 16 Abrupt (5) 18 Hell (5) 19 Danger (5) 21 Age (3) 22 Damp (3) 24 Reflect (6) 25 Inclined (6) 27 Mailed (6) 28 Benumb (6) 30 Irrigate (5) 31 Storehouse (5) 33 Destiny (4) 34 Challenge (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Shoot 7, Useful 9, Via 10, Bar 12, Train 13, Dear 15, Meter 17, Rubble 19, Yank 20, Ratio 22, Elf 24, Dangled 27, Tea 28, Aisle 31, Clap 33, Starch 35, Later 37, Eros 38, Relax 39, Den 41, III 42, Airman 43, Stone.

DOWN: 1, Judder 2, Depart 3, Rub 4, Site 5, Harry 6, Oriental 8, Lamb 11, Relegated 14, Raid 16, Tell 18, Boat 21, Affluent 23, Fear 25, Nest 26, Dice 29, Shrimp 30, Easing 32, Plain 34, Area 36, Axle 40, Nip

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K