Buhari to fight graft with 5 special laws

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62428

N150

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Low statutory allocation to states, the true story— CBN

Buhari to fight graft with 5 special laws

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By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Dapo Akinrefon

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•Picks five bills from 7th NASS to be signed into law •The Office of the Financial Ombudsman Bill 2015, National Convicts and Criminal Records Bill 2015, Electronics Transactions Bill 2015, Whistle Blower Protection Bill 2015 and the Nigerian International Financial Centre Bill 2015.

•Osinbajo to lead legal experts on the crusade; Agbakoba reacts

A G O S — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is expected to employ five proposed laws as his weapons in the fight against corruption, close associates of the President have disclosed.

Presidency sources

Continues on Page 5

OPC pulls out of pipeline surveillance contract 54

Why Zuma allowed Al-Bashir go 57 DINNER—President Muhammadu Buhari waves to other guests as he is recognized amongst other Heads of States at a dinner which took place, yesterday, at the International Conference Centre in Johannesburg South Africa during 25th AU Summit

Fraudulent, corrupt persons occupying judicial offices— CJN COLUMNIST:

Armed lunatic seizes ide s throne in Delta n eI e S community C M Y K

Acting Black, but White •P.38

•Ogun State not owing salaries — Govt

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Boko Haram: 10 killed, 12 injured in Yobe 55

Mr & Mrs

2—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (M); Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, Mr. Mikhail Chudakov (L); Chairman /Chief Executive, Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Erepamo Osaisal (3RD R), with delegation of the International Atomic Energy and Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission during a courtesy call on the Vice President at the Defence House, Abuja, yesterday.

State House photo.

Buhari to fight graft with 5 special laws Continues from page 1 disclosed that a committee of legends in law, led by the vicepresident, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo identified the five bills which have been passed on to the President for further scrutiny. The President in turn is said to have requested legal advice on the five bills which include the Office of the Financial Ombudsman Bill 2015, National Convicts and Criminal Records Bill 2015, Electronics Transactions Bill 2015, Whistle Blower Protection Bill 2015 and the Nigerian International Financial Centre Bill 2015.

All five bills were among the 46 rushed through the Senate on June 3, the last day of

sitting by the 7th Senate.

Presidency sources, however, could not confirm if the presidency gave any prompting to the Senate on the bills that led to the controversial passage of the 46 bills in a space of 10 minutes.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu nevertheless confirmed the presidency’s interest in the five bills but would not say more than that when contacted by Vanguard.

However, normally reliable sources close to the President told Vanguard that the President has sought legal advice on the bills.

The sources, however, would not say to what degree the Osinbajo-led

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself— Shaw

I

F we’re stalling, we won’t grow. But if we’re consciously active, we will. And you decide how you want to grow and to take responsibility for shaping your life. Because, if you don’t make a decision about how you’re going to grow, life will make it for you. If you’re not in the process of becoming the person you want to be, you are in the process of becoming someone you had no intention of being.

What if you lost your job or suffered a serious financial setback? You might want to just give up.

You may even be scared. But if the person you want to become is an optimistic and courageous person, you might decide not to react in fear. Instead, you might act as if you had no fear of failure and courageously put yourself out there for new employment opportunities. Or you may look at your job loss as a chance to go back to school instead of wasting time on regrets, depression or fearful inaction?” Change the way you act and even change the way you think. An important gift you give yourself, is the gift of creating the person you want to be.

committee of legends in law has gone on the issue, but it is expected that the committee would prod the President to give his assent to the bills.

Osinbajo has generally been expected to lead the administration’s efforts in justice sector reform and the identification of the five bills in the initial campaign against graft is believed to be in that direction.

Osinbajo leads law experts “A Committee of legends in law led by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is putting finishing touches to a recommendation that will request President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to five of the 46 bills hurriedly passed by the 7th National Assembly at the point of its exit,” the normally reliable source now working with the president told Vanguard on the basis of anonymity.

The sources, however, could not confirm if the opinion have been delivered to the President who is expected back in the country today after a twoday visit to South Africa.

It is expected that the President’s assent to the bills would officially signal the administration’s expected fight against corruption.

Garba told Vanguard that President Buhari and his Vice had promised the nation in

the course of their campaign that they would strengthen the country’s anti-graft laws. “If these bills are of help and I am convinced that they are, then expect some action in that direction,” he said.

The five weapons The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill sponsored by former Senator Ganiyu Solomon “seeks to provide for the manner in which individuals may, in the public interest, disclose information that relates to unlawful or other illegal conduct or corrupt practices of others; to provide for the protection against victimisation of persons who make these disclosures.”

Senator Solomon first presented the bill to the House of Representatives where he served in 2007 but the bill did not get the expected legislative and executive endorsement until the concurrent passage by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bill defines the nature of an impropriety that qualifies for disclosure, the procedure for disclosure and the protection that would be given a whistleblower by government agencies.

It aims to give some measure of protection to individuals who give out information on alleged malfeasances in government to security agencies.

The Electronic Transaction Bill, 2011 was sponsored by a former member of the House of Representatives, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta provides the legal framework for electronic transactions in the country. The bill especially becomes

relevant for security agencies in the wake of increasing transition of the country from a cashbased economy towards a cashless economy facilitated by electronic channels.

The Electronic Transaction Bill, when signed by the president, is expected to facilitate egovernment services and promote transparency in the transaction of government businesses, including procurement and sales of goods and services.

The Nigerian International Financial Centre Bill, aims to produce three separate agencies, namely, the Nigeria International Financial Centre Authority (administrative body); Nigeria Internal Financial Centre Regulatory Authority and the Nigeria International Financial Centre Judicial Authority.

The effect of the three agencies would be to position properly the country at the centre of global finance and as such attract international finance into the economy.

The Office of the Nigerian Financial Ombudsman, 2015 which was also passed by the Senate on June 3 seeks to establish the Office of the Nigerian Financial Ombudsman, as an independent body charged with the responsibility of resolving financial and related disputes in the Nigerian financial services sector.

The establishment of the Office of the Financial Ombudsman is also expected to lead to efficiency in dispute resolution in the financial services sector.

The Convicts and Criminal Records Bill, 2015 aims to among others ensure a proper documentation of convicts and criminals for the purpose of keeping a record of criminals in the country.

President must have political will— Agbakoba

On his part, a former

president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, who highlighted ways the president could tackle corruption in the country said he (Buhari) must have the political will.

His words: “The first thing is to strengthen the anti-corruption agencies, he is also to make them independent and wellfunded. He is to realign all the anti-corruption agencies into frameworks that can deliver. He would have to look at whether the EFCC, ICPC and Special Fraud Unit are not doing conflicting jobs. What is important is that first of all, he must have the political will, strengthen the anti-corruption agencies, he should also fund them. He should also give the anticorruption agencies independence to go after anyone, who is found wanting without fear or favour.”

“We need new strong laws, the laws to tackle corruption now are weak, they are also duplicating and confusing and sometimes, the laws are wrong. So, sometimes, we need simple laws that will state who is a corrupt person.”

Continuing, the legal luminary added: “What is important is the political will, strong institutions, allow these institutions to work independently and finally, give them the money to work. Once you have these four things in place, it is very easy to fight corruption.

But when you now have an agenda, then, there is a problem. For instance, if you want to go against corruption in the oil industr y, if you are president, you must be prepared to allow whatever comes out of the probe to come. But if you want to hide anyone, then, there is a problem.

These are the ways you can fight corruption.”

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Accused sues DPP, CP over detention

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—A 49-year-old man, Olawale Aminu, has dragged the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, and Commissioner of Police before an Ikeja High Court over his detention in prison.

Aminu, alongside three other persons, including Charlie Ebube, 40; Ogara John, 47 and Chidozie Alekwe, 21, are facing a two-count charge of felony, to wit, ar med robbery, brought against them by the police.

Count 2 of the charge read: “That you Charlie Ebube, Ogara John, Chidozie Alekwe, Olawale Aminu and others now at large, on May 20, 2014, along Lagos-Ibadan Toll Gate, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did rob the sum of N500,000 and five Nokia phones valued at N50,000 property of one Mr. Adedoyin John.”

According to the charge, the offence is punishable under Section 1 (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 398 Vol. XXII Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, as amended.

In the suit, which was brought pursuant to Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, Aminu is seeking an order discharging and releasing him from prison custody on the ground that the DPP and CP have no case against him.

However, in a letter dated September 11, 2014, the state’s DPP stated: “This office is of the view that a prima facie case of conspiracy, robbery and impersonation cannot be established against the suspects.”

At the resumed hearing, the trial judge, Justice K. A. Jose, held that service was yet to be perfected on the 1st Respondent (CP).

Subsequently, the judge adjourned till July 9 for hearing of the application, after the respondent must have been served.

CAUGHT: Firearms and ammunition recovered by police from robbers along Warri/Sapele Road, by AP Filling Station, Warri, Delta State.

Passenger steals N350,000 on Abuja-bound flight

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—THERE was mild drama aboard a 6:45a.m.

Aero flight from Lagos to Abuja yesterday, as one of the passengers (names withheld) stole about N350,000 from a luggage belonging to an Austrian, Novotny Anton, also a passenger on the flight.

The 31-year-old suspect, seating on seat number 23C, was said to have been spotted by one of the airline’s cabin crew when he removed the Austrian’s bag from the locker where it was kept as he was planning to change his seat.

An eyewitness, who was aboard the aircraft, said the suspect removed the bag from the locker where the Austrian sat, took it to his own seat, giving the impression that he was changing seat and stole N150,000 and 500 Euros belonging to the Austrian.

The suspect ran out of luck when a female cabin crew saw him and asked him to remain seated when he was trying to return the bag to the overhead locker before the Austrian could suspect any foul play.

When the plane landed at Abuja airport, the Austrian could not find his bag and raised alarm. The cabin crew member told him to check the bag with the suspect.

After the suspect was stripped naked, he told other angry passengers that he mistakenly took the bag in place of his own.

The Austrian later discovered that N150,000 and 500 Euros had been taken from the bag.

Other passengers immediately descended on the suspect and the money was

later found on him, alongside a wrap of marijuana.

Aero spokesman Mr. Simon

Tumba, said the airline would issue an official statement on the incident later.

21-yr-old NYSC member killed in Benin

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—ARMED robbers have killed a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member identified as David Onyeasina, in Benin, Edo State capital. Two of the robbers have been arrested by the police.

The 21-year-old corps member, who was posted to Edo College, along Murtala Mohammend Way, Benin, for

his primary assignment, was a graduate of Fine and Applied Arts from Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, Osun State.

He was said to have gone to a shop to buy a recharge card last Saturday when the robbers attacked and shot him dead.

The suspects (names withheld) who were arrested by police on patrol, said late Daniel was hit by stray bullets as they attempted to escape.

Edo State Police Command spokesman, DSP Stephen Onwochei, who confirmed the arrest, listed items recovered from the robbers to include two cut-to-size guns, nine live cartridges, 10 mobile phones and jewellery belonging to their victims.

Onwochei said the police are on the heels of other members of the gang and urged the public to assist the police with relevant information.

Two robbers set ablaze in Onitsha tyre market

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—TWO armed robbers, who have been terrorising Nkpor and its environs in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have been set ablaze by an irate mob at the new motor tyre market, Nkpor.

Nemesis came for the robbers when they attempted to snatch an undisclosed sum of money from a trader, who came to procure goods at the market.

The two robbers, who operated on motor bike, allegedly stopped the trader along Onitsha/Enugu Expressway, and ordered him to hand over the money in his possession at gunpoint.

A source said as the suspect was about to resist the order, they shot at him thrice, but the bullets did not penetrate his body.

The eyewitness said, sensing danger, the robbers were about to flee when the trader brought out his dagger and stabbed one of them on the chest.

An oncoming vehicle hit their bike and both fell off as they tried to run away.

Onlookers immediately mobilised and set the robbers ablaze.

The police, acting on a tipoff, stormed the scene, took the robbers’ gun and motorbike, drove off the scene of the incident, while the bodies were still burning.

Contacted, Ogidi Divisional

Police Officer, Mr. Hassan Musa, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Ondo court

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—AN Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, sentenced a fake 30year-old Cameroonian medical practitioner, Wembe Martins Duclarie, to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Duclarie was found guilty of the offence of holding himself out as a medical practitioner and operating illegal hospitals in the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—7

Soldiers shoot driver over N500; colleagues shut Zaria-Kaduna highway

By Agaju Madugba

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ADUNA—FOR allegedly refusing to part with N500, some unidentified soldiers in the early hours of yesterday shot a truck driver conveying potatoes from Zaria to Kaduna.

Protesting the shooting, other truck drivers used their vehicles to block both sides of ZariaKaduna highway.

The development led to several hours of traffic gridlock at Tudun Wada Dankande, near the old toll gate, scene of the incident which reportedly occurred at about midnight.

From his hospital bed at St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in the Kaduna metropolis, where sympathisers rushed him, the driver, Abdul Saminu, said the soldiers forced him to stop and that after confirming that he was carrying a consignment of potatoes, demanded N500 from him.

He recounted his ordeal: “The soldiers used their van to block the road and I had to stop and they found out that my truck was filled with potatoes.

“They then asked me to give them N500, but I told them that I had only N200 on me. They were not happy, so they dragged me out of the truck and started slapping me before one of them pulled the trigger and shot me in the leg. They entered their van and drove off.”

Efforts to reach the Army spokesman at the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful, as he did not answer repeated calls to his phone.

It took the intervention of

Kaduna State government for the tanker drivers to be persuaded to end the blockade at about 3p.m. yesterday.

Deputy Governor of the state, Bala Bantex, and the Kaduna State Commissioner

of Police, Umar Usman Shehu, visited the scene and appealed to the protesters to call off the action, assuring them that the relevant authorities had commenced investigation into the matter.

School proprietor, 70, allegedly rapes 8-yr-old pupil why she was taking long, only the school is located, it was

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—POLICEMEN attached to Igbogbo Division in Lagos have arrested a 70-year-old school proprietor for allegedly raping an eightyear-old pupil.

The Primary 4 pupil of Brighter Glory School (names withheld) disclosed that the proprietor, Mr. Isaac Eniasec, sent her to go and tidy up his office after close of school.

Midway into the clean-up, she said, “he came into the office and asked me to lie down. I was scared because of what my mother told me about men.

When I hesitated, he tore my pant and laid on me.”

Caught in the act

Meanwhile, her classmate and her younger sister, said to have been on their way home with her when Eniasec called, reportedly went in to find out

to catch the proprietor in the act.

A relative of the victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Vanguard that on sighting the pupils, the proprietor got up, straightened his shirt and dashed out of the office.

She said when the news reached them, they rushed to the school only to find the pupil still in the proprietor’s office and bleeding from her private part.

She said: “We took her to a private hospital where doctors confirmed that there was penetration and that her hymen had been broken. Some semen were brought out of her private part and shown to us.”

It’s animalistic, says victim’s father

Describing the incident as dehumanising, father of the victim disclosed that when news of the alleged defilement went round Eturenren Street, where

discovered that his daughter’s case was not the first of its kind with the 70-year-old man.

He said: “This is a big disgrace; a child that is old enough to be his granddaughter. It was after the incident that I got to know that my daughter was not the only girl that has been assaulted by the man.

“We want him to be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others with such animalistic tendency.”

However, when contacted the septuagenarian’s son, who refused to have his name in print, described his father’s act as the handiwork of the devil, saying he could have been under a strange influence.

Spokesman for Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, saying he had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for further investigation.

Militants kill 2 policemen, loot armoury in Calabar

By Emma Una

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A L A B A R — MILTANTS, Sunday night, launched a fierce attack on the Marine Police Base at Eyo Edem Beach in Calabar, leaving two policemen dead and another in a critical state.

The hoodlums, numbering about 30, came in speed boats and attacked the base at about 2a.m., killing the two officers, while others scampered for safety.

A fisherman said: “The policemen killed were sleeping inside their vehicles, so they could not escape when the militants launched the attack.”

The pirates looted the armoury at the base after destroying several vehicles in the operation that lasted for about one hour.

Cross River State police spokesman, Mr. Hogan Bassey, said only one policeman was killed, with another in a critical state.

Customs impounds N45m contrabands in Lagos

By Esther Onyegbula

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PROTEST: Zaria-Kaduna Highway blocked by truck drivers in a protest over the shooting of a colleague by soldiers at Marabar-Jos, Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

jails Cameroonian fake doctor The accused person reportedly operated four different hospitals in communities across the state, including Ala, Ogbese, Owo and Akure, before the bubble burst.

Delivering judgment yesterday in Akure, almost a year after he was arraigned, the Chief Magistrate, Olubunmi Dosunmu, said the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Dosunmu said the accused

held himself out as a medical doctor without a requisite qualification and also administered treatment to people when he was not eligible to do so.

The accused was arrested in April 2014, and charged to court on a one-count charge of holding himself out as a medical doctor without requisite qualification or registration contrary to Section 17(1) and punishable under Section 17(5) of the Medical

and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2014.

The prosecution called four witnesses to testify in proof of the charge, while the accused person called a witness.

The defense counsel also presented Danladi Sunday to testify.

Chief Magistrate Dosunmu pronounced the accused guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years imprisonment from the date he was arraigned in

court.

The prosecution counsel, Wale Bamisile, described the judgement as a victory for the judiciary and the medical profession.

His defence counsel, Olamuyiwa Familusi, said the accused would appeal the judgement.

Director of Hospital Services in the Health Ministry, Dr. Olatunbosun Obaado, expressed satisfaction with the verdict.

AGOS—OPERATIVES of the Federal Operations Unit of the Customs Service have impounded a wooden boat with 4,404 bags of 50kg parboiled rice and 3,000 cartons of smuggled poultry with a cumulative Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N44,626,000 in Lagos.

The seizures were made in two separate operations between June, 11 and 12; after the operatives received intelligence report of smugglers activities at the Gbaji Yeke-Badagry waterside.

While inspecting the seizures at the Gbaji YekeBadagry waterside, Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Turaki Usman Adamu, said the operations were driven by intelligence which was carefully articulated and discreetly executed.

The Controller commended Lagos Roving Team leader, AC Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, for the gallantry displayed by his team.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Why I'm yet to appoint ministers —Buhari zSays I dont know why people are anxious for ministers

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari explained, yesterday, that he was yet to appoint his ministers because his predecessor ’s transition committee submitted its report on the previous administration to him late.

Buhari, who spoke to newsmen at the Summit of the African Union in Johannesburg, South Africa, said he was being careful in order not to make mistakes in appointing individuals especially to key positions such as in the finance and petroleum ministries.

His words: “I don’t know why people are so anxious about ministers. But eventually we will have (them). But the main reason is that I have an interim committee which I agreed with the former President Jonathan that the ministers of the outgoing government should hand over their notes or their documents to this interim committee so that a position can be prepared for the new government to start from with clear records from ministers.

“But the ministers knew that they were going while the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, would remain.

If anything goes wrong they would be invited to explain, but unfortunately the outgoing government did not cooperate.

“So, what the committee did was to divide itself into about five subcommittees and got a resource person that was willing to come and bring the document, and so they prepared and I got the report I think three days ago.

I'm not in a hurry to get ministers

“I was waiting for this report because I would like to know the position of things in the government especially in terms of finance and petroleum industry.

So, I am not in a hurry to get ministers.

“I want to get ministers after at least I have seen the report because I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week because this report would give me what actually happened in terms of security, and economy of the country.

“And since I have to have ministers from politicians and technocrats, I wouldn’t (like to) make the mistake of getting somebody, who has been involved on account of accountability.“ Buhari added that he, Jonathan and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, had agreed to let the former ministers hand over their notes to the interim committee he had formed.

He said that the planned examination of the hand-over notes had to be suspended when the outgoing ruling party accused his then incoming administration of forming a parallel government.

Buhari said he actually wanted to get a platform from the former

ministers on which to start from following the problem of accountability in the administration.

The President, who recalled that during his time as Minister of Petroleum during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo military regime, the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had only three accounts, said that during the immediate past administration, the NNPC and the Ministry of Finance did not know how many accounts they had. He described the development as improper.

On emergence of Saraki as Senate Presdent

He also said that the emergence of Sen. Abubakar Saraki as Senate President divided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in spite of the moves by the party to avert a crisis.

He said that the onus was on

the National Assembly to resolve the issue as it had its own criteria for choosing its officers, which was why he did not want to interfere in the exercise.

Buhari said the problem of Boko Haram had been internationalised and expressed happiness with the support coming from Nigeria’s neighbours and the G7 in an effort to end insurgency.

Non-APC members may make Buhari’s ministerial zSays I am not interested in SGF position list —Oyegun zExplains delay on the list

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, yesterday, said Nigerians who are non cardcarrying members of party were likely to serve as ministers in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyegun also said that he was not interested in the office of the Secretary to Government of Federation, SGF, as being speculated in different quarters.

According to APC National chairman, Buhari’s government and APC as a political party were more concerned with assembling technocrats and other competent hands who would key into the vision and objectives of the present government.

Oyegun, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, added that the background of such persons does not matter as long as he was capable to deliver and serve the Nigerian people, even as he explained why the list of ministers was yet to be made public.

He said: “There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the president. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the president to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying members of the party.

“What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President. What we are interested is in the ability of the people to bring up the ideas that will help Mr. President achieve the set

PRESENTATION: From left: Executive Vice Chairman, Proton Energy Ltd, Mr Oti Ikomi; Chief Executive Officer, Pan Africa Solar Ltd, Mr Marcus Heal; Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commisson (NERC), Mr Sam Amadi; Managing Director, Nigerian Solar Capital Partners, Mr Joel Abrams and Executive Director, Turbine Drives Ltd, during NERC'S presentation of electricity generation licences to four companies in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

objectives and the ability to deliver on what the President wants.

“Secondly, this is an executive function and the President has the right to consult as widely as possible.

This means he might pick people within the party; people outside the party. It is a prerogative the President should exercise and we cannot question that. We are quite happy about the way he is proceeding.

I am not interested in SGF position

“On this issue of SGF, I will respond to you in case, because I don’t want to offend anybody but I will say this quite definitely. I have not in anyway, in capital letters and underlined, solicited for any position other than the national chairmanship of APC. I think I am clear enough, isn’t it? And nobody has approached me on that saying he is considering me either on that position or another.”

Oyegun also refuted claims that the delays in making the list public was due to incompetence of President Buhari, adding that no one

in the party’s hierarchy was holding the president to ransom.

On ministerial list

He said: “We have a very capable president. He is capable as ever. The President is a very careful man. He wants to be sure the kind of people he will appoint are people who are passionate about the country. What is really important is the speed of the delivery of his policies.

“You can see that things are already improving in spite of that fact. You can see in the electricity front, the supply of petroleum, etc.

They are not connected. What the president is doing is to conduct a very thorough check on the background of the people he will appoint.

“Like he said, he said he belongs to everybody and he belongs to nobody. They should just be patient. He does not want to make avoidable mistakes.

What is important is to see whether on a daily basis your life is improving. Everything that can be done in these few days are being done and the effect is being felt already.

“Let me assure the public that peace is on the way. We had a problem in the family, no doubt about that, but we are moving

quickly to resolve it. As you can see, we are working hard to see that the leaders and rank and file don’t start throwing punches.”

On NASS leadership

On the controversy trailing the election of new leaders of the National Assembly in both chambers, Oyegun said that the parties were closing ranks, saying peace was on sight.

He reminded those laughing at APC as a result of the “family crisis” that the setback was only temporal as the party would eventually conquer.

He said: “All the party has decided to do is to re-unify as quickly as possible our members in both chamber of the National Assembly under the existing realities. That is the first priority. Every other thing will follow. All other things will have to wait. This is because, if for instance, the president says he wants to present his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate. We don’t want a situation whereby the Senate will be divided. So, we are trying to sort that out. It is our number one priority. We are happy that we are arriving at amicable settlement of the situation. This one cannot wait for long. It has to be immediately."

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—9

Why statutory allocation to states dwindles —CBN zGives insight why states can't pay salaries

By Omoh Gabriel

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AGOS — THE dwindling resources of states and local governments suffered a 30.6 per cent fall from federation account allocation in April 2015 when compared with what the states got in the same period last year.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Economic Report for the month of April said that the total statutory allocation to the state governments stood at N153.45 billion in April 2015. This was 30.6 and 22.9 per cent below the 2014 monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month, respectively. The dwindling revenue of federal, state and local government is as a result of falling oil prices.

Giving insight into the poor financial status of states which depends on monthly federal allocation, the CBN report for April said: “The breakdown showed that at N119.27 billion or 77.7 per cent of the total, state governments’ receipt from the Federation Account was below both the 2014 monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 29.7 and 30.3 per cent, respectively.

“At N34.17 billion or 22.3 per cent of the total, receipts from the VAT Pool Account was below the monthly budget estimate by 33.4 per cent, but exceeded the level in the preceding month by 22.2 per cent. Total receipts by the local governments from the Federation Account and VAT Pool Account stood at N88.91 billion at end-April 2015.

"This was lower than both the budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 33.8 and 19.7 per cent, respectively. Of this amount, receipts from the Federation Account were N64.99 billion (73.1 per cent of the total), while the VAT Pool Account accounted for N23.92 billion (26.9 per cent of the total).

“At N735.07 billion, estimated federally-collected revenue in April 2015, was lower than the monthly budget estimate by 9.8 per cent. It was, however, higher than the receipt in the preceding month by 35.8 per cent. The decline in estimated federallycollected revenue (gross) relative to the monthly budget estimate was attributable, largely, to the shortfall in receipts from oil revenue during the review month

Fall in receipts from crude oil and gas exports

"At N286.24 billion or 38.9 per cent of total revenue, gross oil receipt was lower than the monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 36.8 and 21.5 per cent, respectively. The decline in oil receipts relative to the monthly

FORUM: From left: Ismail Omamegbe, Head, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, FirstBank; Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu, Centre Manager, FirstBank Sustainability Centre; Dr. Kenneth Amaeshi, Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh and Timothy Arowoogun, Group Head, FirstBank at the ‘Leading a Sustainable Business’ Executive Programme sponsored by the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, in Lagos. budget estimate was attributable to the fall in receipts from crude oil and gas exports, occasioned by the drop in the price of crude oil in the international oil market."

The report further stated that “gross non-oil receipts at N448.83 billion or 61.1 per cent of the total revenue was above the monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 23.9 and 154.1 per cent, respectively. The increase in non-oil revenue relative to the monthly budget estimate reflected largely, the increased receipts from the FGN Independent Revenue.

Distribution among three tiers of govt

"It also said that of the gross federally-collected revenue, N307.45 billion (excluding deductions and transfers) was transferred to the Federation Account for distribution among the three tiers of government and the13.0 per cent derivation fund.

“The Federal Government received N146.49 billion, while the state and local governments received N74.30 billion and N57.28 billion, respectively. The balance of N29.38 billion was distributed to the oil-producing states as 13.0% Derivation Fund.

From the VAT Pool Account, the Federal Government received N10.25 billion, while the state and local governments received

N34.17 billion and N23.92 billion, respectively.

In addition, N33.53 billion and N9.49 billion were distributed as Exchange Gain and NNPC Additional Revenue among the three tiers of government and the 13.0 per cent Derivation Fund as follows: “The Federal Government received (N15.37 billion and N4.35 billion), while the state and local governments received (N7.79 billion and N2.21 billion) and (N6.01 billion and N1.70 billion), respectively. The balance (N4.36 billion and N1.23 billion) was distributed to the oilproducing states as 13 per cent Derivation Fund.

"Furthermore, N6.33 billion was received by the Federal Government from the NNPC in respect of the eighth equal installment refund of indebtedness. Overall, the total allocation to the three tiers of government from the Federation Account and VAT Pool Account in the review month amounted to N425.14 billion, compared with N557.80 billion in the preceding month.

“At N452.38 billion, the estimated Federal Government retained revenue for April 2015 was above the monthly budget estimate and the receipts in the preceding month by 46.0 and 77.1 per cent, respectively. Of the total amount, the Federation Account accounted for 32.3per cent, while FGN Independent Revenue, others, VAT Pool Accounts, NNPC Refund and NNPC Additional Revenue accounted for 59.6, 3.4, 2.3, 1.4 and 1.0 per cent, respectively.

Total expenditure

“At N155.52 billion, total estimated expenditure for April 2015 was lower than both the monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 60.2 and 26.3 per cent, respectively. A breakdown of total expenditure showed that the recurrent expenditure accounted for 88.8 per cent, while the capital expenditure and transfer components accounted for the balance of 2.8 and 8.4per cent, respectively.

Non-debt obligations accounted for 43.7per cent of the total recurrent expenditure, while debt service payments accounted for the balance of 56.3 per cent. Thus, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated surplus of N296.86 billion."

Fraudulent, corrupt persons occupying judicial offices in Nigeria —CJN

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA — THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, decried what he termed the devastating influence of unscrupulous, fraudulent and corrupt persons occupying judicial offices in Nigeria.

The CJN, who spoke at the opening ceremony of an induction course organised for newly appointed judges and kadis at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja yesterday, maintained the Nigerian judiciary is now more prepared than ever before to weed out the bad eggs within its fold.

According to the CJN, “the Nigerian judiciary is now more prepared and more poised than ever before to rid itself of all ugly dirts inflicted on her by

unscrupulous, fraudulent and corrupt persons occupying judicial offices in Nigeria.

“The National Judicial Council and the respective states’ Judicial Service Commissions are adequately empowered to remove, with ignominy, any judicial officer or judicial staff that has chosen the path of dishonour to be corrupt and fraudulent.

“The Code of Conduct covers all aspects of all the judicial officer’s life both in and out of court. It must be studied, digested and imbibed by all judicial officers in Nigeria.

“Every judicial officer must abide by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Judicial Ethics as expounded in the Bangalore principles of Judicial Conduct.

“Any judicial officer that does

not abide by the Code of Conduct is on his way out of the Nigerian Judiciary.”

Prompt disposal of cases

Besides, he tasked judges across the federation on prompt disposal of cases, stressing that it is a constitutional requirement.

He said: “A good judicial officer must dispose off matters before him promptly, efficiently and diligently. You must demonstrate due regard for the rights of the parties to have their cases heard and disposed off without unnecessary delay.

“You must devote adequate time for court duties, be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters before you. The administration of justice is a serious business, with important

obligations and responsibilities.

“Court cases involve tremendous stress for court users and therefore the courtroom is not a place for judicial officers to try their hands at being comedians”, he added.

Meantime, induction course for newly appointed judges and Kadis is organised annually by the NJI in furtherance of its mandate to facilitate the continuing judicial education fir judicial officers and their staff.

The theme of this year’s course is “Inculcating Judicial Values in Newly Appointed Judicial Officers.”

In her welcome address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice R. P. I. Bozimo noted the fact that the judiciary is expected to serve as the guardian of the rule of law, the embodiment of values and integrity.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Lagos to establish environment conservation clubs in schools

L

AGOS—THE Department of Conservation and Ecology in the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, on Monday said that environment conservation clubs should be established in all schools in the state, to ensure a healthy environment.

Mrs Titilayo Raji, Head, Department of Conservation and Ecology, spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of the conservation club at the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba.

She said that the establishment of such clubs in Lagos State schools would further c o m p l e m e n t government’s efforts in ensuring healthy environment.

Raji described students as change agents and future leaders, who were in a better position to sensitise members of their families on the need to avoid depleting resources of their environment.

Earlier, the Principal, Rev. Chris Ugorji, said that there was the need for positive environment action by all, to preserve the planet Earth.

Ambode dissolves parastatals, agencies’ boards

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, with Agency Reports

Shukrat Umar as the new Accountant General of the State.

Mrs. Umar, prior to her new

appointment, was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

She also worked for at least 15 years in the private sector,

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday approved the dissolution of all boards of parastatals and agencies of government in the state.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor while stating that the dissolution takes immediate effect, however disclosed that the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the State Independent Electoral Commission are exempted.

Governor Ambode commended the modest contributions of the members of the dissolved boards, just as he wished them well in their future endeavours.

Meanwhile, the governor has also approved the appointment of Mrs. Abimbola

WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY: From left: National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun; Executive Director, Third Age Initiatives for Elderly Rights and Welfare, Mrs Toun Giwa; 89-year-old pioneer and Professor of the University of Lagos, Prof. John Sodipo and acting head, Lagos liaison office, ECOWAS, Mr Olatokunbo Okunola, at the annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Lagos, yesterday.

Be patient with Buhari, Opadokun urges Nigerians

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—CONVENER of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms, CODER, Chief Ayo Opadokun yesterday urged Nigerians to exercise patience with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying; “What had been wrong for almost 20 years cannot be righted one day.”

Opadokun made the appeal

during an interview after a closed-door meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

According to him, “Nigerians have right to be so impatient. They have been so shortchanged and terribly governed that they have to expect a lot and quickly too. But we have to appeal to Nigerians that what had been wrong for almost 20 years cannot be

righted one day.

“For instance, I was asked why he has not done anything about Chief Mashood Abiola, the acclaim winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections. And I said Nigeria has a National Assembly that has not been packaged together. He (Buhari) as an executive cannot take on their job, or give a national monument to Abiola without the National Assembly.

MKO paved way for democracy – DAUGHTER

By Dapo Akinrefon

L

AGOS—ONE of the daughters of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Miss Habiba Abiola, has said that her father ’s death paved way for democratic government in Nigeria.

Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June

1993 presidential elections died in detention.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Abiola said that the June 12 celebrations which coincided with her birthday reminded her of the many years she missed without a father on her special day.

She said; “At eight years

old, I could not begin to understand the importance and significance of such a tremendous victory by my father. ''I did not realize it was the beginning of true democracy but also eventually the end of many years of military rule.

She, however, stated that; “To many, Bashorun MKO Abiola

Rep reassures constituents of quality representation

By Simon Adewale

L

AGOS—THE member of the House of Representative representing Amuwo Odofin federal constituency in Lagos State Hon. Oghene Egoh, has canvassed for support from the Federal and Lagos State governments towards

before joining the Lagos State Civil Service as Chief Accountant 13 years ago.

Her appointment, according to the statement, takes immediate effect.

provision of amenities for the area.

Addressing newsmen during a get together in Festac town at the weekend, Egoh said the biggest problem in Amowu Odofin was infrastructural decay, adding that as a lawmaker it was his duty to help make laws and through oversight

functions ensure the better life in Nigeria generally and Amuwo Odofin specifically.

He said that as a lawmaker he does not have the requisite executive power to directly award contract but would not relent in his push towards developing his constituency and will also address present challenges facing his people.

was just an accountant, philanthropist and politician.

To us his children, he was just Dad. ''Our family paid the ultimate price and we still miss him dearly.”

While she reiterated that her father ’s legacy and sacrifices paved the way for future democratic governments in Nigeria, Abiola said; “My father ’s vision for our great nation led him to selflessly give up family, wealth and subsequently his freedom for the opportunity to serve his country which he did not live long enough to realize.

Today, we all sing and rejoice that change is here. But we must not forget the struggle and the lives that were lost for the benefit we as Nigerian citizens reap today.”

Kashamu backs down, withdraws N20bn libel suit against Obasanjo

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA——Determined to wriggle out of the extradition net that is threatening to envelope him, Senator Buruji Kashamu has withdrawn the N20billion libel suit he filed against former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Kashamu who is representing Ogun-East Senatorial District, persuaded Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, to terminate further hearing on his case against Obasanjo.

This is even as Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division o f the Federal High Court has slated June 25 to commence hearing on the extradition application that was entered against him by the Federal Government.

Vanguard gathered that Kashamu, who is currently battling with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, over moves to extradite him to the US, premised his decision to withdraw the libel suit on an ongoing settlement talks between him and Obasanjo.

Consequent upon a notice of discontinuance he filed before the court Justice Ashi struck out the matter on May 26.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 11

Aregbesola, Omisore bicker over Osun’s debt profile

Ogun not owing workers' salary – GOVT

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—FORMER Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that the loans taken by Governor Rauf Aregbesola's administration from various sources since 2010 when he assumed office currently stands at over N480 billion.

But Aregbesola said Omisore’s figures are discredited and fraudulently arranged to blackmail him.

Speaking on a radio programme in Ile Ife yesterday, Omisore also accused Aregbesola of alleged financial recklessness and lack of proper planning that plunged the state into its present mess.

According to him, the loan burden and the alleged continuous wasteful spending by the governor are some of the reasons the administration has been unable to pay workers and pensioners for the past seven months.

Omisore who was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in last year's election alleged that the governor also wasted the state’s resources on political campaigns during the last governorship poll and the just concluded general election without minding the consequences.

His words: “The principal debt of Osun State under Ogbeni

By Daud Olatunji

A

VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (right); Australia's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Richardson (middle) and Public Affair Officer, Australia High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Okokon Odiongenyi, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo.

Rauf Aregbesola is N480 billion. They took N300 billion loan amounting to N10 billion for each of the 30 local government councils. “ They first raised N60 billion bond and later another N40 billion bond. They borrowed for O’meal project, borrowed for school uniform project, they borrowed for airport project.

Governor Aregbesola in his

reaction said Omisore, “has merely demonstrated further the mischief and ignorance he is known for with the fraudulent N480 billion loan figure.’’

According to the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, while Omisore’s fabricated N480 billion loan figure exposes his ignorance in matters of finance, he has also

N8BN CBN FRAUD: Court refuses suspects bail

By Ola Ajayi

I

B A D A N — T H E countenances of staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other commercial banks who are standing trial over alleged fraud running into

billions of Naira fell yesterday as a Federal High Court in Ibadan refused their bail applications, describing their offence as mind-boggling and a capital offence against the nation’s economy.

According to the ruling, the

Fayose vows to partner with new lawmakers ...As Assemblymen go on retreat

A

DO EKITI— GOVERNOR Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has vowed to work in synergy with the legislative arm of government for the rapid transformation of the state Fayose spoke yesterday while declaring open a three-day retreat for the 26 newly-elected members of the state House of Assembly at Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi Ekiti Represented by his Deputy, Kolapo Olusola, he noted that the retreat became necessary to sharpen the skills of the new legislators in the art of lawmaking, which is their primary assignment in the Assembly.

Fayose, who urged the lawmakers to work with the

executive to implement his administration’s six-point Restoration Agenda, congratulated the legislators on their election, saying their assumption of office conferred on them onerous responsibilities to live up to the expectation of the electorate.

The governor noted that apart from lawmaking, the legislators should work hands in hand with members of their constituencies and take the issue of their oversight functions with utmost dispatch.

He informed the lawmakers that many executive bills would be sent to them for passage into laws to aid good governance and welfare of Ekiti people.

offence which the court further described as a new dimension in economic crimes, has serious implications on the nation’s economy.

The accused persons last week, through their counsel, applied for bail saying they would neither jump bail nor influence the wheel of justice if granted bail. The court then adjourned till yesterday for ruling on the bail applications.

The CBN report which the anticorruption agency, EFCC, acted upon states that “a systematic scheme, which has been on for several years, was being run in which mutilated higher denomination notes, originally meant for destruction, were swapped with lower denomination currencies. The practice, known as inter-leafing, basically labels a box with a higher value than its true content.”

While dismissing the bail applications filed by the accused at the sitting of the court yesterday, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel said with the weight of the offences, they had failed to convince the court that they would not jump bail ordering all the suspects to be remanded in Agodi prisons pending their trial.

demonstrated his mischief in the outright lies in his figures.

“Every knowledgeable person in Osun and beyond has the figures of the Osun borrowings by virtue of the Aregbesola administration’s openness.

“Osun could not have borrowed secretly as the two bonds in the capital market and the Sukuk Bond were celebrated.

“While we took a N14.4billion Sukuk bond in two tranches, the state government also approached the capital market for a N30 billion loan.

“These are verifiable facts and which are in the public domain. So, what new thing has Mr. Omisore said other than regurgitating the same old-fashioned, weather-beaten lies that could not help him dislodge Aregbesola in the August 9 governorship election?”

B E O K U TA — OGUN state government has refuted a report listing it among states grappling with unpaid salaries, saying , it was not owing any worker in the state.

The government in a statement signed by Secretary to the State G o v e r n m e n t , Ta i w o Adeoluwa claimed that Senator Ibikunle A m o s u n - l e d administration had never owed workers salary since inception.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a story published in Vanguard newspaper today, Monday, 15 June, 2015, titled: “18 states bankrupt, can’t pay salaries.’’ The said erroneous report lists Ogun State as one of the 18 states.

“We hereby state without any equivocation that since inception of this administration till date, Ogun State does not owe its workers. We are indeed one of the few States in the country which , despite the dwindling Federal allocation have consistently been paying their workers’ salary as at when due.

“For the avoidance of doubt, workers in Ogun State have received their May 2015 salary.’’

4 hemp farmers jailed 2 years in Ekiti

A

DO-EKITI—A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, sentenced four men to two years imprisonment for cultivating hemp farm.

Justice Isaq Sani, who handed down the sentence, however, did not give the men an option of fine.

He sentenced the four men to six months each on the twocount charge of cultivation and possession of the illicit drug (Hemp).

The convicts included two siblings - Terwase Tondu, Daniel Tondu, Beeve Friday and Suberu Idowu.

Sani, however, said the sentences would run concurrently, commencing from the day of their arrests.

The convicts, who were

arrested on Feb. 25, had pleaded guilty to the charges.

The judge said:“Based on the evidences before this court as presented by the prosecution and their plea of guilt, I hereby find them guilty as charged.

“I hereby sentence the accused to six months on each of the counts.”

Earlier, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) prosecutor, Mr Charles Ugwuja, had told the court that the accused were caught on Feb. 25 without lawful authority cultivating 76 hectares of hemp.

He said the farm was discovered by NDLEA officials at Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area between Ekiti and Ondo states border.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Don’t ban ogogoro, distillers’ union begs FG

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

LEH—PRODUCERS of local gin, popularly known as Ogogoro, under the aegis of Okwagbe Distillers Union, Delta State, have appealed to the Federal Government not to ban the production of the alcoholic drink.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had last week, stated its resolve to commence the confiscation of Ogogoro and conduct sensitization across the country, following the death of more than 60 persons arising from the consumption of local gin in Rivers and Ondo states.

Reacting to NAFDAC’s resolution, Chairman of the union, Mr. Samuel Egedegbe, said that their distilled gin does not kill, emphasizing: “It is the Ogogoro produced from methanol that kills.”

He reiterated that their “distilled gin” is produced from palm wine derived from raffia palm or liquefied sugar mixed with yeast and “ well cooked before distilling the

gin.”

He added: “In the case of methanol, they do not have factories and they do not cook before distilling their gin.

Rather, they only mix the methanol with water in their houses and automatically they

have produced gin inside their bedrooms. On our part, we the members of the distillers union produce our gin through a scientific distillation process.”

On his part, Secretary of the union, Prince Anthony, said

that the union was duly registered with the Delta State Government since June 18, 2010 with registration number 0938, arguing that “If we are transacting illegal business, we would not have registered it with the government.”

INSPECTION: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Inom State (middle) flanked by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Chairman Itu LGA, Mr. Michael Etim (right), and the immediate past Finance Commissioner, Mr. Akan Okon, after inspecting a gully erosion site at Enen Atia, Itu LGA, along Calabar-Itu Highway.

PDP accuses Edo govt of collecting N200bn allocation for LGs

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the state government, since its inception in 2008, has collected over N200 billion as federal allocation meant for local governments in the state, lamenting that in spite of that, workers at the councils were being owed salary arrears running into months.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who addressed journalists in Benin, yesterday, on the state of affairs in Edo State, also alleged that reports from the Debt Management Office, DMO, had indicated that the state's external debt stood at $143 million while its internal debt was over N250 billion.

He added that despite the huge debt profile, the state government has continued to borrow more money.

He lamented that only about 30 percent of the Federal Allocation to local governments in the state were given to the chairmen of councils to

operate hence they are unable to pay their workers’ salaries running into arrears of months.

However, reacting, the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Afairs, Mr. Lucky James, described the allegation as cheap blackmail and called on Chief Orbih to provide proof and evidence that the state

government had collected the money meant for the councils and diverted it to other sources.

Continuing, Orbih, said “We are indeed witnessing strange times in Edo State. The people have seen the government’s gross insensitivity to their plights; what does he do with the allocations meant for the local

governments?

“Ever yday, local government workers are seen on the streets of Benin protesting just to attract the attention of the government to their plights. We have now a situation where the government can no longer meet its obligations to the people even in the payment of salaries of casual workers."

Edo Election Tribunal grants Akpatason’s request

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal, yesterday, ruled in favour of the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC and member representing Akoko Edo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason, on the motion challenging alleged irregular signatures in the petition against him by the candidate of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Oladele Bankole-Balogun.

Counsel to Akpatason and APC, Ken Mozia, SAN, had observed that in the joint petition by the PDP and its candidate, BankoleBalogun, the petitioner signed in his column while somebody else signed on behalf of the PDP without indicating his name.

He argued that the petition fell short of the Electoral Act, which requires that the name of the person who signs on behalf of the PDP must

be stated. Therefore, he urged the tribunal to strike out the petition based on improper signing of the petition by the PDP and urged the tribunal to hear his motion.

But counsel to BankoleBalogun and the PDP, A. Thomas, argued that based on section 25 of the schedule to the Electoral Act, by virtue of that section all motions should be taken along, during the hearing of the substantive suit and not through a motion as he urged the tribunal not to hear the motion.

FG, Delta govt urged to address marginalisation of oil producing areas

By Onozure Dania

W

IFE of HRM Bini Pere III, Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom, Delta State, Queen Charity Tiemo, the Ibe-Yin 1, has called on the Federal and Delta State Governments to address the neglect and marginalisation of oil producing kingdoms in the state.

Tiemo said that the agencies created to address the developmental challenges in oil producing kingdoms have been politicised, hence the core oil producing communities are left unattended to.

The Ibe-Yin 1, while fielding questions from journalists in Warri at a thanksgiving/reception after a fasting programme for Egbema Kingdom, appealed to the Federal and state governments to see the development of oil producing areas as their number one priority.

Tiemo stressed the need to provide basic infrastructural facilities like bridges, roads, potable water, electricity and hospitals to the oil producing areas.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUN E 16, 2015

Why Saraki, Dogara may not move to official residences now

Financial system set for N1.2trn cash inflow this month

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—STRONG indications have emerged that President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara will still remain in their private houses or rented apartments for up to the end of this year, unless the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA expedite action on the completion of the official residences of these principal officers of the national assembly.

The edifices are approximately put at N24 billion, just as the National Houses’ scope of the work include the residences of the Senate President with Banquet Hall; Speaker of the House of Representatives with Banquet Hall; Deputy President of the Senate and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The new residences are located at the three Arms Zone and on the left side as one approaches the main entrance to the National Assembly.

The contract includes construction of residence of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker. Each residential compound comprises a five-bedroom main building with a swimming pool and lawn tennis court, three-bedroom residence for ADC, threebedroom guest house, fourbedroom staff quarters and a gate house.

There are common facilities such as chapel, mosque, banquet hall, general gate house and utilities.

T

HE CONDUCT of fiscal and monetary policy actions in the month of June 2015 may result in heightened liquidity in the money market by end of the month.

Already the financial sector is expecting that a total inflow of about N1.2 trillion will hit the money market from the various government maturing securities and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in the current month.

This figure will be significantly higher than the N732 billion

recorded last month and this would indicate that the financial system liquidity would be significantly high comparatively.

Though this development may indicate a tendency for a lowering interest rate only the inter-bank rate may be affected while the lending rate remains high.

Already about N473 billion inflow has hit the banks’ treasury from public sector, mainly from the maturing government securities, in the first two weeks of this month while FAAC inflows are still

being expected.

However the financial system is also expecting cash outflows from various sources such as government securities (Nigerian Treasury Bills Issue) as well as statutory withdrawals estimated at over N736.4 billion, leading to a net inflow of N436.9 billion.

In addition there will be Central Bank of Nigeria’s debit for cash reserve ratio (CRR), though the outflow impact was minimized with effect from last month when the rate was dropped from 75 per cent to 31

SWEARING-IN: Clerk of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Jafar (left), swearingin the newly elected Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kauwa Damina, during the inauguration of members of 8th Bauchi State House of Assembly in Bauchi, yesterday. Photo: NAN

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT: Reps to resolve impassse

with Buhari

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives is to engage President Muhammadu Buhari on how to amicably resolve the impasse on the 4th alteration to the 1999 constitution, which former President Goodluck Jonathan withheld assent.

The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara disclosed this while addressing members of the Nigerian Civil Society situation Room who paid him a courtesy call.

The Speaker said the 7th House had amended its rules to ensure that bills passed in the previous assembly do not suffer denouement

He explained that the number of pending bills was worrisome but the House would compile all such bills particularly those passed and are awaiting presidential assent. He said the lacuna in the signing of the amended constitution, the PIB and the NABRO bills were top most on the agenda.

“As soon as we start legislative

ALLEGED 15BN FRAUD: Court declines to stop EFCC from

arresting Nyako

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declined to restrain the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting the former Governor of Adamawa State , Admiral Murtala Nyako over his alleged complicity in money laundering.

Nyako was alleged to have siphoned over N15billion from the Adamawa State treasury while he held sway as its governor.

The anti-graft agency had previously declared him and his son, Abdul Azizi wanted following C M Y K

per cent for public sector funds.

Also there could be possible interventions at the inter-bank segment of the foreign exchange market as well as NNPC withdrawals from the system which may further reduce the net inflow. Already about N200 billion outflow has been recorded so far in the month.

Total outflow last month was N1.3 trillion yielding a negative flow of N580 billion, which indicated a contractionary monetary policy action.

According to financial analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank the current Nigeria economic fundamentals point to the fact that the government securities market should expect an increase in yields.

They added that “although, the yields may drop temporarily because of the huge liquidity in the market, we expect the declining oil prices, declining external reserves, weak exchange rate, expected rise in the inflation rate and expected fiscal deficit to lead to an increase in yields”.

Head of research at FSDH, Mr. Ayodele Akinwunmi, told Vanguard that the market should expect CBN to apply its liquidity management tools to control excess liquidity in the event that the expected inflow fully materializes. He said this would be in line with the overall macroeconomic policy of the CBN Monetary Policy Committee stance in the second quarter 2015.

their alleged refusal to honour many invitations from the commission.

Subsequently, his son was arrested in Gombe state on February 14 by EFCC operatives.

EFCC insisted that the exgovernor who was impeached from office on July 15, 2014, by the Adamawa State House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct, used his son and other top officials of the state government and looted public funds.

Meantime, following the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nyako

who went on self-exile during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, returned to the country May 30.

He later surrendered himself to the EFCC which on June 1, grilled him for over 10 hours at its headquarters in Abuja.

Meanwhile, in a pre-emptive move yesterday, Nyako approached the high court with a motion ex-parte wherein he sought for an interim order of injunction against all the security agencies in Nigeria.

Further cited as respondents in his motion dated May 28 and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/474, which was moved in court yesterday by

his lawyer Mr. E.O. Ogumgbede, were the EFCC, the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service.

Specifically, Nyako prayed the court to grant him, “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their servants, privies or whoever they may assign, from arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, threatening or taking any untoward action against the applicant in connection of the facts of this case, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons before this court”.

business, we will get a compendium of all bills pending and engage Mr. President on how to resolve the issues around them’, Dogara noted.

The Speaker also urged the civil society organisations (CSO’s) to carry out a NEEDS assessments on the National Assembly so as to help set an agenda for the Nigerian legislature.

He explained that such an assessment should be independent of the National Assembly and the outcome sent to them for consideration.

He assured that his administration would place premium on the integrity of the budget process adding th at the alleged non transparency in the process has been the cause of crisis between the National Assembly and the CSO’s.

“It (budget) has been a subject of bitter exchanges between the House and the CSO’s. This time around, we are going to put it in the front burner” Also yesterday, leader of the delegation and executive director of PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo urged the House to ensure that priority bills such as PIB, constitution review and NABRO are passed and signed into law.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUN E 16, 2015 —15

‘Don’t take Revenue Mobilization Commission seriously yet'

Council chairman alleges threat to life zWe can’t be intimidated —Councillors

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—EMBAT TLED chairman of Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. John Onyeakpa, has petitioned the state police command over alleged threat to his life.

The council boss is having a running battle with the 18 councillors of the local government, who last week served an impeachment notice on him over alleged misappropriation of the council’s funds.

But in a twist, yesterday, Onyeakpa, in a petition by his counsel, Mr. Emeka Agbapuonwu, and addressed to the state police commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma, claimed that he had been receiving threat calls and text messages on his phone, following his squabble with the councillors in the local government area.

But the councillors, in a swift reaction, said they would not be intimidated by the chairman’s action.

In the petition, Agbapuonwu said: “It is our instruction that shortly after the assumption of office by Mr. Onyeakpa, the councillors in the local government started making unbearable and unjustifiable demands from our client for the purpose of covering their campaign and election expenses.

“As a result of the inability of the chairman to meet with the unlawful demands, they have resorted to threatening the life of our client by using strangers to make threatening phone calls.

“Our client has been hiding since the 1st day of June, 2015 as he has continued to receive strange calls with hidden numbers on his cell phone, threatening to kill him, if he is seen anywhere around the local government headquarters at

In the suit No AG/32/2015, the local government chairman is seeking an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the respondents from holding or attending meetings for the purpose of discussing or taking decisions on the impeachment of the chairman or proceeding with the impeachment against him or initiating or taking part in any proceedings for processes pertaining to or connected with the issue of impeachment or removal from office of the plaintiff as the chairman of the Orumba

South Local Government Area, pending the determination the substantive suit.

He also prayed for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Chief Judge from giving effect to the 1st to 19th defendant/respondents’ request to appoint a seven- man panel to investigate the allegations against him.

He further asked for “a declaration that the clandestine impeachment process initiated by the 1st to 19th defendants against him without lawful and valid service of an impeachment notice on him, is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” and “an order of court setting aside the purported notice of impeachment by the defendants against the chairman."

The councillors in a swift reaction, said they would not be intimidated, adding that they had made up their minds on the issue.

One of them, Mr. Chukwudi Okwuma, said the impeachment became necessary and remained the last resort as the activities of the chairman, from inception of the p r e s e n t administration to VISIT: Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (right), date, had been welcoming the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, during the detrimental to the latter's congratulatory visit to the Senator, at his Abuja residence, local government. yesterday. Photo: Office of the DSP

Umunze.

“We most humbly request that you cause a high powered investigation to be conducted into this complaint with a view to getting to the root of this matter.”

In the meantime, the embattled local government chairman has dragged the 18 councillors and the chief judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi to court over the happenings in Orumba South Local Government.

Joined in the suit pending at Aguata High Court, is the secretary of the local government, Mr. Samuel Okoye.

O

NITSHA—THE national women leader of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mrs. Amaka Agbiogwu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to include more women in political positions in line with the 35% affirmation for women in politics.

Agbiogwu, who spoke exclusively to the Vanguard in Awka, said the 35% affirmation had not been fully implemented by previous government.

She urged the present administration to give the women folk a sense of belonging in the country by implementing it.

C M Y K

E

NUGU—FORMER speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Dr. Olisa Imegwu, said yesterday that he was not at all enthused by the current salary review by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Review Commission, RMFRC, that drastically cut down salaries of the President and others, describing it as halfhearted.

Imegwu, who spoke on phone to Vanguard, said: “The review of salaries of public officers, as presented by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Review Commission, is half-hearted.

“For Nigerians to take them seriously, they should not only review those of ministries/parastatals, they should recommend the removal of pension for governors currently in our constitution.

“Public service should be seen as a sacrifice and service to the masses and not an avenue for enrichment.

“Remuneration should be made modest or less attractive to attract only those who are interested in service than making money and it will remove desperation for public office.”

PCC Anambra secures release of 10 awaiting trial men

T

HE FEDERAL Commissioner representing Anambra State in the Public Complaints

Commission, PCC, Dr. Angela Mbah, has vowed to beef up efforts to ensure sustained jail delivery services and accelerated

Implement 35% affirmation for women, APGA urges Buhari

By Enyim Enyim

By Austin Ogwuda

“The number of women in political positions both at the federal and state levels is very infinitesimal and we are pleading with our dear President to carry the women along, considering the fact that women in Nigeria form majority of the electorate that vote in every election,” Agbiogwu said.

She advised women to participate actively in politics, noting that history had shown that women in public and political offices had performed even better than their male counterparts.

Agbiogwu appealed to the menfolk to allow their wives to get involved in politics so as to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

“Some men do not allow their wives to participate in politics

because they erroneously believe that their wives once in politics would no longer perform their duty as a wife. ‘’But that is not true. The time has gone when the position of women was in the kitchen and that does not mean that if a women is politics she would shirk her responsibility as wife and mother,” she said.

She, however, noted that the problem facing women in politics was that of economic empowerment that had limited them from favourable competition with their male counterparts.

She added: “Our major problem is economic empowerment. As a woman, if you do not have money you can not contest and win any election in this country.

redress for administrative injustice in her state.

Dr. Mbah stated this, yesterday, following her intervention in the release of 10 awaiting trial inmates from the three prisons in the state by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi.

Mbah, who expressed deep concern over the plight of helpless awaiting trial inmates in prison cells across the country, called for greater collaboration among relevant government agencies to ensure speedy dispensation of justice and jail delivery services.

In this regard, Dr. Mbah commended Justice Umeadi for the jail delivery while entreating State Chief Judges to visit the prisons regularly in order to reduce the number of innocent Nigerians languishing on awaiting trial list.

While vowing to redouble her efforts in checking administrative injustice and securing redress for the victimized and the aggrieved,

in line with the mandate of the commission, Dr. Mbah called on the people of the state to continue to take advantage of the PCC as a platform to secure redress for administrative injustice.

She said the commission would soon embark on extensive media campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the constitutional mandate of the commission in securing redress for administrative injustices or intimidation by public officers at no cost.

JOGS 74/79

I

JEBU-ODE GRAMMAR School Old Boys Association, JOGS, 74/79, will meet on Sunday, June 21, 2015, at No. 7, Ayotola Ogunnaike Avenue, Animotu B/Stop, Isasi Road, Berger, Akute, Ogun State.

According to the General Secretary, Adelana Adeola, the host is Dr. Dolapo Ajanlekoko, Medical Director, KingSmith Medical Services Ltd, Akute, Lagos.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Recurrent expenditures stall nation’s progress

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—THE m e m b e r representing Okiqwe South federal constituency in the National Assembly, Deacon Chike Okafor, has called on the federal and state governments to reduce recurrent expenditures to channel available funds to other human-oriented projects.

Deacon Okafor made his feelings known yesterday in Owerri while briefing newsmen on the initial activities of the 8th National Assembly.

“I am advocating this practice as an economist and not as a lawmaker. I sincerely appeal to the federal, state and local governments to look into their recurrent expenditure and see how to hold it down to help other sectors grow,” Okafor said.

He said since the nation’s economy was largely dependent on oil, Nigeria could not effectively determine the price in the international market.

PDP’s lawyer at Abia polls tribunal dies

By Anayo Okoli

U

M UA H I A — L E G A L luminary and lead counsel to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Abia State Election Petition Tribunal in the just concluded governorship election

in the case against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN, died yesterday in Owerri, Imo State.

His death was announced at the tribunal by his close friend, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, at its sitting of the tribunal in Umuahia yesterday.

Uzoukwu, who is the lead

counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said Nwaiwu died after flying into Owerri, the Imo State capital, from Lagos with no report of illness yesterday.

Uzoukwu, however, told journalists that his demise would not affect proceedings at the tribunal since he was not the only

Driver rescued, textiles burnt as bus catches fire on 3rd Mainland Bridge

By Bose Adelaja

O

NE PERSON was rescued, yesterday, as a commercial bus and some textiles

materials worth millions of Naira were burnt to ashes on Third Mainland bridge in a fire outbreak involving a bus.

The incident occurred around 4pm, when the bus, a Volkswagen

LT model, marked AGL 914 XE, heading for Lagos Island suddenly caught fire while in motion.

Vanguard gathered that the fire which occurred on Oko-Baba axis

Dearth of judicial workers worry Imo indigenes

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

W E R R I — CONCERNED Imo people have expressed concern that the state's judiciary was running with far less than the complement of judges required for an efficient and speedy dispensation of justice in the state.”

The people of Awaka, Owerri North local government area of the state, made the lamentation yesterday, in an address read by Barrister Emeka Nwaneri, during a reception in honour of the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Paschal O. Nnadi.

“There is also a corresponding need to create new judicial divisions and magisterial districts in the state, to cope with the increasing number of cases arising from the state,” the people said.

Continuing, the people noted that so far, there was no judicial division in Ngor Okpala, Owerri West and Owerri North local government areas, adding that there was no magistrate court sitting anywhere in Owerri North LGA.

counsel for the party.

After the news was broken in the court, the tribunal chairman, Justice Usman Bwala, led the judges and people in the tribunal to observe one-minute silence for the departed legal lawyer.

Meanwhile, the matter between Ikpeazu and Otti has been adjourned to June 22.

Traffic stalled during the fire on Third Mainland Bridge, yesterday.

of the bridge was attributed to carelessness on the part of the lone occupant of the bus who was not in possession of a fire extinguisher at the time of the incident.

Motorists on the bridge were said to have put a distress call across to the state fire service, having tried endlessly to fight the fire which raged for about an hour.

At the time of filing this report, the victim was said to be unconscious and could not respond to questions from sympathisers and law enforcement agents, but was later rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

The incident was said to have resulted in a traffic gridlock which lasted for hours as onlookers and sympathisers waited to catch a glimpse of the development.

This also hampered the ability of the fire fighters to arrive the scene on time and put out the inferno.

Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Razaq Fadipe, confirmed the development, lamenting that the incident could have been averted, if the driver had a fire extinguisher on board. ‘’It is unfortunate that the driver who happened to be the lone occupant of the commercial bus was not in possession of a fire extinguisher and this was why everything was burnt beyond recognition,’’ he said. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Otti congratulates Saraki, Dogara

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in last April elections in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has

congratulated the new Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on their elections.

In a statement in Umuahia, Dr. Otti expressed confidence in the

ability of the two leaders to effectively handle the affairs of the National Assembly.

He said he was confident that they would “deploy their wealth of experience, maturity and network garnered over the years

Uba assures constituents of effective representation in Senate

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Dr. Andy Uba, has promised the people of the zone more effective representation, commending them for the trust in him.

Uba spoke after attending thanksgiving services at the Catholic and Anglican Churches at Uga, his home town.

After the church services, Senator Uba, while addressing the mammoth crowd, thanked them for their continued support and loyalty and promised that his second term in the Senate would usher in better representation for the seven local government areas that make up the zone.

He specifically promised them that the dilapidated NnewiOkigwe federal road would be included in the federal

government budget for reconstruction.

He also thanked the oil magnet, Prince Arthur Eze and others for supporting him financially towards his re-election.

In his homily during the church service, Archdeacon David Obiagbaoso of the Anglican Church said that thanksgiving was a biblical injunction, which should be practised by true believers.

to further deepen democracy in Nigeria”.

Otti described the senate president and the speaker as “intelligent, bold, experienced and visionary leaders, who have steadily graduated to the pinnacle of the nation’s political leadership”.

He specifically extolled the virtues of the senate president, who he described as a chip of the old block, for having successfully and progressively sustained the legacy of his legendary politicianfather, late Senator Olusola Saraki.

Otti also congratulated the deputy senate president and deputy speaker on their victory and expressed the hope that the new leadership of the 8th National Assembly would sustain the peace and stability that characterized the 7th assembly.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015— —17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 THE salary crisis across Nigeria in government service is only a snippet of the abandonment Nigerians face in their democratically elected governments. We have had democracy without the people, except at elections where even peoples’ votes may not count.

How could our governments have run for months without paying salaries and pensions? Why did the economic difficulties that supposedly resulted in the hiatus not affect the lifestyle of governors and their families throughout the months of non-payment of salaries? There was not a single example of the economic challenges reflecting in the lives of our first families. What we heard were fabulous tales of their acquisitions, in addition to living at phases we never thought were possible.

For a long time, our people have been on their own, catering for themselves. It is in extreme cases like these that we hear about persistent failures of governments. Few actions of government consider the welfare of the people, not minding that politicians execute elections campaigns as

Governments Sans People if the people would have a part in governments they elect.

Democracy is defined as government of the people by the people for the people, our Constitution made the matter more modern in its prescriptions about the centrality of the people to our democratic governments. Concerns about the welfare of the people, according to our Constitution, should be the foundation of government actions.

Section 14 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution states, “ The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government ”. All our governments elected since 1999 swear to the Constitution, including Section 14 2(b),

with the same blind enthusiasm with which they get into office, thinking only of power and how they could use it for themselves and few others.

The indifferent position of governments, not only in Abuja, to Section 14 2(b) is responsible for democratic governments that have unapologetically become government of the people “without the people”.

Suggestions that the Federal Government should grant loans to States to offset the backlog of salaries face some challenges.

The number of States in crisis could be more than the 18 often listed. More importantly, there is no law to regulate the financial relationship. Though Section 164.

(1), provides that, “ The Federation may make grants to a State to supplement the revenue of that State in such sum and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the National Assembly,” the National Assembly did not make such laws in 16 years.

We can scale this hurdle through a “doctrine of necessity” , but we need governments that run on Section 14 2(b).

OPINION Imoke: A legacy of peace and political stability

By Lloyd Ukwu

I

T is leadership that defines a people. A people, nation or state draws its inspiration from its leader. Thus, a state is invariably a reflection of the quality of its leadership. On meeting the former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, I was definitely taken by his coolness, humility, patience, willingness to listen and tolerance for alternative and even opposing views. I was deeply impressed by his brilliance, versatility and incisive mind. Earlier, I was surprised by the ease with which we breezed through the main gate to the governor’s office. That was significantly different from other states where gaining entrance into the governor’s office, demands rigorous security scrutiny.

My friend explained that the relaxed security at the governor’s office and the easy access to the governor were reflective of the nature of the governor. He runs an open government and is very accessible to his people. Also, unlike most state governors whose siren-blaring motorcades send road users scampering out of the way, or risk being run over or severely punished by the governor’s security deals, Liyel Imoke, as governor, did not use siren. His motorcade joined in C M Y K

with the regular traffic flow. And he insisted that the drivers stop at every red light and obey all traffic rules.

His style of leadership and commitment to the service his people translated his many innovative and trailblazing policies and programmes. These, combined with the people’s love for him and trust of his leadership explained the success story that Cross River had been in the last eight years. A detailed discussion of the successes of the programmes and policies of the Imoke administration is beyond the scope of this writing. The point however is that Imoke left an imprint on Cross River State; among his other successes, he brought peace and social stability to the state.

A visitor to the city of Calabar will be struck by the receptivity of the inhabitants of the city. Unlike many Nigerian cities where people are wary of strangers, the people of the city, even at odd hours of the night, readily warm up to strangers. It is fear bred by crime that

That the state has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria did not come about by chance

makes people apprehensive of strangers.

Understandably, in Calabar, a virtually crime- free city, the residents are readily receptive to outsiders. During the eight years of Imoke’s administration, Calabar was continually rated the most peaceful city in Nigeria by the Nigerian Police High Command based on the fact that it had the lowest crime rate in the country. A report by an international organization wrote, “Its (Calabar) relative peace and tranquility, coupled with low crime rate, clean and natural environment, choice tourist attractions and second to none hospitality nature of the people has made it a tourism haven with vast potentials and opportunities”.

That the state has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria did not come about by chance. It was the consequence of a deliberate and conscientious effort of the former governor of the state, Liyel Imoke. Before Imoke became governor in 2007, the crime rate in the state was considerably high. And at the inception of his administration, he promised to “transform the state into a peaceful, secure, economically viable, politically stable and culturally diverse society, where social harmony and the rule of law are strongly established”. And he undoubtedly made good on his promise.

Another legacy of Governor Imoke is political stability. He superintended a peaceful transition of power in the state.

This is a rare accomplishment in a state with complex and volatile ethnic mix.

First, he refused to be a sit-tight political operator. And thus, unlike many other

governors, he chose not to run for the Senate.

With a style of governance that transcends ethnicity and godfatherism, and respects dissenting views, he ensured that power was transferred to the Northern Senatorial District, a district that had not for once produced a governor. This gave the generality of the people of the state a sense of belonging, as they now know that irrespective of what part of the state they come from, they can aspire to the highest political office in the state.

He made the party primaries open to every aspirant and ensured a level playing field for all the candidates. He encouraged a power shift to more youthful leaders, and the emergence of capable and committed hands to stir the affairs of the state for the next four years. The most notable of these is the new governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, a professor and distinguished lawmaker that is very popular with young voters. He also encouraged the election of vibrant men and women as the representatives of the people at the National Assembly. A number of political godfathers and old style political operators in the state who are used to quick-fixes and imposition of their preferred candidates on the party and the people were irked by Imoke’s more equitable and egalitarian approach to the party primaries. But the generality of the people of the state applauded it. Over all, it reinforced the political stability in the state.

*Mr. Ukwu, a lawyer, wrote from port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015— —19

Will Nigeria set the pace for the black race?

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

have always believed that the government has a responsibility to educate its citizens and this, apart from free tuition includes; provision of standard equipment to facilitate training and a good remuneration for teaching staff. However, most often than not, the resources available are not enough to meet this obligation and that is where the responsibility of the citizenry comes in.

If the government cannot be depended upon to fulfil its obligations, do we as citizens fold our hands and look? I am saying this because we all have a responsibility as citizens to move this country forward irrespective of those we put in charge of governance. The growth of the capitalist west - Great Britain, USA and the rest - was not due to the activities of government alone but the entrepreneurial brilliance of the individuals at that time Henry Bessemer inventor (steel), Eli Whitney (cotton), Henry Ford(motor car), King Camp Gillette (shaving blade) and many more-. What the government did was to complement their efforts with patent rights and protective policies to back home grown

businesses. In other words, the development of a nation is the sum total of the activities of the individual citizens and the government in power.

When we talk about developmental drive and focus, it must begin from our academia and research institutions.

Curricula and research projects must be tailored along the peculiar needs of the nation, whether it is food, power, construction, science and technology e t c. Our researchers and scientist are too complacent and over reliant on government.

There are lots of opportunities for private partnership but you will find that they are not taking advantage of the situation like, for example; the indians are doing. If our researchers come up with viable projects they will find willing buyers and if there are willing buyers together with the government, they will begin to reap their due rewards in terrms of profit. Enough of recycling old notes and text books relating to foreign curriculm. Research projects involve huge sacrifices, in terms of material, personnel and funds as well as discipline, and hard work. Are our academicians, researchers and scientists ready for this? Are

they ready to forgo ‘owambe’ parties for the ‘studiousness’ of the academia? That is the question.

The Indians, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Indonesians and others are doing it, why not Nigerians. We must begin to imbibe the possibility mentality, if not we shall remain where the White Supremacist have placed us.

My friend and big brother Mr Richard Okotie recently sent me a post that has been trending in the social media. A lengthy but must read for all. This is a speech made by former South African President P.W. Botha to his cabinet about 27years ago. It

Could Botha be right given the way blacks have ruled themselves both in Africa and outside the continent with the Haiti example

At the 8th National Assembly election: PDP giveth and PDP taketh

By Godwin Etakibuebu

T

HE Holy Bible recorded the story of a man called Job, a Chaldean, from the land of Uz, around the present day Iraq [known as Far East in the days of old]. God Himself attested to his character in Job 1:8 “that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fear God, and eschew evil”.

For this reason probably, God blessed him tremendously. But typically to its work, the devil brought great calamity on this upright man when in just one day, according to the Bible; Job lost everything he had, including all his children – seven boys and three girls.

When the news of the death and destruction of all he had got to him, all Job said was “God giveth, God taketh,blessed be name of the Lord”.

The Bible says that in all these, “Job did not sin against God” as he worshipped his Creator instead. The lesson in this story of Job is that whoever gives something can also take that thing away.

Something similar to this Job story happened last week during the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly, where there were loses to the All Progressive Congress; the Party with overwhelming majority in both Houses of the National Assembly, the Party that formed government on the 29 th of May, 2015, as the APC ‘allowed’ the election of the National Assembly’s leadership to be put in place by the opposition party – People Democratic Party. It was a dramatic turn of events. It was one miscalculation here and there. It might have even be as a result of “temporary moment in display of arrogance of power” or even inability C M Y K

to manage “success of victory ”.

Whatever the reason, victory had been slashed by the PDP to the humiliation and detriment of the APC. Something must have gone wrong. What is that thing?

Obviously, there is no way an article like this can capture the totality of the forces that turned “a winner to a loser” overnight because it must be the combination of many things. I am of the opinion however that the first mistake the APC made [in arriving this land of disaster] immediately after the general election that brought it to power is that of not sitting back to analyse the cogent political dynamics that delivered success to its path. If it had done that, it would have been able to know about the many errors of the PDP, which included but not limited to, “error of judgement by thinking that the departure of five sitting governors [mostly from the North West, North East and North Central] would not affect its electoral

It is becoming so unfortunate to know, too early in the day though, that the APC did not learn from these identifiable two mistakes that “nailed” the PDP

was reprinted by David G. Mailu for the Sunday Times, a South African newspaper in 1985. It reads thus: "We are not obliged even the least to try to prove to anybody and to the blacks that we are a superior people. We have demonstrated that to the blacks in 1001 ways.

The republic of South Africa that we know of today has not been created by wishful thinking. We have created it at the expense of intelligence, sweat and blood...We do not pretend like other whites that we like the blacks. The fact that blacks look like human beings and act like human beings do not necessarily make them sensible human beings.

Hedgehogs are not porcupines and lizards are not crocodiles because they look alike. If God had wanted us to be equal to the blacks, he would have created us all of a uniform colour and intellect. But he created us differently; Whites, Blacks, Yellow, Rulers and the Ruled.

Intellectually, we are superior to the Blacks, that has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt over the years. I believe that the Afrikaner is a honest, God fearing person, who has demonstrated practically the right way of being. By now everyone of us has seen it practically that the blacks cannot rule themselves. Give them guns and they will kill each other, they are good in

fortunes”.

Again, if the APC had truly analysed and appraised its “routes to success” during the general election,it would have seen another colossal error of the PDP when it “stuck to the belief that one man [Bamaga Tukur – its chairman then] was indispensable.

Even when the aggrieved serving governors of the party confronted their leader [then President Goodluck Jonathan] to choose between them and BamagaTukur, the leader stuck to the latter and this became the “tonic” those governors [and their mentors] needed to exit the party. At the end, PDP learnt too late that “a tree does not make a forest”.

Though, there are many other reasons, like large scale corruption [nearly all Nigerian politicians across the political parties are guilty of this], arrogance of power, lack of internal democracy, betrayals based on “dogs eat dogs”, uncontrollable greed, gang-up of one section against another, religious intolerance, that led to the PDP “giving away its mandate to rule” to the APC, the two most important reasons, to my mind, were the PDP placing “too much premium on one individual [Bamaga Tukur] and allowing those five sitting governors “walked” away.

It is becoming so unfortunate to know, too early in the day though, that the APC did not learn from these identifiable two mistakes that “nailed” the PDP. Because if it had evaluated the situation and taken these facts to heart, it would, from the first day of coming to government, taken to the wisdom of not building its continuous route of greatness around one or two individuals. Yes, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former governor of Lagos State, with his larger than life posture, might have translated to become the undisputed “Jagaban of Lagos politics” and a political leader of the Yoruba race in the South West geo-political zone, truth is that he is not yet the maestro and godfather of the Nigerian political kingdom.

The fall-out of the 8 th National

nothing else but making noise, dancing, marrying many wives and indulging in sex. Let us all accept that the black man is a symbol of poverty, mental inferiority, laziness and emotional incompetence. Isn’t it plausible therefore that the White man is created to rule the Black man...And here is a creature (black man) that lacks foresight...The average Black does not plan his life beyond a year”.

Has the blackman fared any better after all these years?That is the crucial question. Could Botha be right given the way blacks have ruled themselves both in Africa and outside the continent with the Haiti example ? The choice is ours.

Do we want to live with this insult or change the negative stereo type of a typical black man? To all of our numerous professors, academicians, all of our researchers and scientists, indeed all of our leaders, now is the time to make Nigeria, nay the black race proud and prove that Botha’s theory is grounded on faulty foundations. It is left for Nigeria as the most populated black nation on earth to set the pace.

Will the change of government kick-start this process? We wait and see. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Assembly election has proved this logic. It is sagacious therefore to conclude that if the name of the APC national leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, did not come as “insurance cover” on the two”anointed” candidates for the leadership of the National Assembly [more of Honourabe Gbajabiamila than Senator Lawal] they probably would be presiding now as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively. The name of the national leader is no more an asset to those who operate under his umbrella but now a great liability.

In addition to this bitter lesson, the APC is equally failing to understand the dynamics of power block that made the emergence of the Buhari presidency possible. And until the ruling party carefully evaluates, analyse and understands the real hideous ‘principality and power’ [as the Holy Bible calls them] that made ascension of Muhammadu Buhari,as democratically elected president possible, it shall be losing power gradually but steadily to the opposition. But even, of more importance to the APC, is to sit down and re-evaluate the difference in “acquisition and usage of power” because President Muhammadu Buhari”is for every person and he is not for any person”.Could that be the reason he did not meet with his party leaders and elected representatives at the International Conference Centre in Abuja while the greatest ‘coup’ of installing the leadership of the Senate was being perfected at the National Assembly? This question should be food for thought.

But for now, like Job in the Bible, APC can as well learn how to sing this one bitter chorus: “PDP gave it to us by its numerous mistakes and blunders and PDP has taken it away from us by our own miscalculation and blunder - may the name of the PDP be blessed”.

•Mr. Etakibuebu, a commentator on public affairs, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Ogun community laments bad roads, govt neglect

By Kingsley Adegboye

I

N spite of promises of dividends of democracy by politicians to the people under the current dispensation, many communities in Nigeria still lack basic infrastructure, including good roads and electricity. This is particularly worse for those who are compelled by circumstances to live in the rural areas.

This is the story of Oke-AfaMagboro, a sleepy, but fast growing community situated between Arepo and Ibafo in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.

The community whose land stretches from the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with its only entrance located beside the overhead bridge before the camp ground of Mountain of Fire and Miracle MFM, inward Ibadan, has over the years been neglected by successive administrations in Ogun State.

Indeed, Oke-Afa community, connected by a deplorable earth road that leads in and out of the settlement is yet to witness any meaningful infrastructure development. The community lacks all basic social amenities ranging from public school, potable drinking water, electricity, hospital and conducive market environment, among others.

Vanguard Metro’s visit to the community recently revealed that the only road there was a bad sight to behold, as the road which cuts across a natural canal, had been overtaken by flood that sacked business owners along the road after recent down pours in the area.

VM gathered that the residents of the community, through selfhelp, have been responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the only access road that serves two other communities around Oke-Afa. They are Olowofela and Kajola. It was further learnt that before the area became populated by non-natives, the road was not motorable during rainy season due to flooding. It was gathered that residents in those bad times had resorted to using canoes to cross from one

We have severally called on the state government to come to our aid, but no assistance has so far come our way

•One of the many bad portions on the deplorable Oke-Afa Road last week end to the other.

But the residents eventually decided to take the bull by the horns about five years ago as they tasked themselves to construct a bridge across the canal to stop the perennial flooding on the road during the rainy season. And every year before the rains, the residents have continued to upgrade the road through levies and donations. It was however discovered, that in spite of the efforts of the inhabitants to keep the road motorable, its condition has continued to worsen by the day because the bridge across the canal which was meant to be a

palliative measure pending the intervention of the state government, has depressed which causes water from the canal to overflow the road whenever the canal is flooded.

Speaking to VM on the deplorable condition of the road, Mr. Babatunde Adesanya, President, Oke-Afa Residents Association, an umbrella body of all Community Development Associations, CDAs, at Oke-Afa, said the residents have been tasking themselves to fix the road in the past five years to enable vehicular movement on the only access road into and out of the community. Adesanya who

disclosed that the road is subjected to deplorable condition, particularly during rainy season because the road has no comprehensive drainage channels, lamented the neglect of the community by the state government.

Alhaji Mojeed Ogunjobi, a resident, said the Association had sometime last year written to alert the Ogun State government over the deplorable condition of the road, adding that in the letter the attention of the government was drawn to the flooding in Oke Afa which was attributed to the construction of Magboro Road on the MFM Camp side by the state

government.

It was explained in the letter that the construction of Magboro Road had led to water being diverted to the Oke-Afa end which causes flood on the road whenever there was heavy down pour. Alhaji Ogunjobi, however, lamented that the government neither acknowledged the receipt of the letter nor did something about the situation Also commenting on the challenges besetting the community, Pastor Emeka Kalu, General Secretary, Oke-Afa Residents Association, and Chairman, Brentfield Community Development Association, said it is regrettable that as strategic as the community is, in terms of human potentials which are in the range 20,000 inhabitants, the community is confronted with series of infrastructure challenges as a result of being neglected by government..

Kalu who hinted that not even a single polling unit was allocated to the community in the last general elections in the country, pointed out that the presence of the state government in the community by way of infrastructure provision will be beneficial to the government in terms of revenue generation.

Corroborating the feelings of the residents of the community, Sunday Shobowale, Chairman, Zone ‘A’ CDC said: “We have severally called on the state government to come to our aid, but no assistance has so far come our way in spite of the fact that we are part of the state. We have been abandoned in issues relating to developmental projects, but during elections, politicians will come to the community to campaign and seek our votes”.

Poor electricity: Magodo residents cry out to IKEDC

By Lamidi Bamidele

T

HE joy that greeted the February 21, 2013 signing of the Share Sale Agreements and Concession Agreements between the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the 14 preferred bidders for 15 of the 17 companies created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, has since faded in most parts of the country.

Indeed it has been complaints galore by consumers/subscribers across the country.

This was the case when residents of the central zone of Magodo Residents Association recently staged a peaceful protest within their zone to show their displeasure with Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company IKEDC on the incessant power failure being witnessed in the area. This, according to the residents, was as a result of the visibly old transformer which was often overloaded and could not

distribute the power transmitted to it, thereby leading to loadshedding. The angry protesters were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions urging IKEDC to wake up to its responsibilities, especially that of providing service(power supply) for which payment is being made.

Benjamin Olamijulo, an engineer and Vice Chairman, Central Zone of Magodo Residents Association, said the IKEDC has not been fair to them, adding: “They only come here to collect money without any improvement of any sort. A businessman that has taken a concessionaire agreement has to invest and improve on the existing facilities and manage his customers”.

He said further: “Several letters have been written by the central zone to the Managing Director of Ikeja DISCO, Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje to provide a transformer to the zone without response”.

The chairman of Magboro

*Placard-carrying residents during the protest Residents Association, Kunle Fashogbon, in a telephone conversation, said the transformers in Magodo are overloaded. “We have sent two different delegations to IKEDC and their responses have always been that they cannot give what they don’t have.

Central zone, was bitter at the fact that the IKEDC had ignored all entreaties to improve power supply service to the area in spite various self-efforts by residents. According to him: “The current transformer being used

was paid for through contributions by the residents.

This included the cables, the poles and all other materials which automatically become the property of IKEDC and we still pay exorbitantly whether there is electricity supply or not”.

Mr Odu further emphasised the need for IKEDC to respond to their request urgently by supplying a transformer to the area to curb load-shedding as the residents of the zone are known for their prompt payment of electricity bills.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

—21

Lagos: LCCI pleads for reduction in cost of doing business

By Naomi Uzor

L

INSPECTION: From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Abdulkadir Musa; Director, Weights and Measures Department, Engr. Adeyinka Sikuade and Principal Legal Metrology Officer, Mr. Olusegun Ateji during the inspection of filLing stations in Abuja.

EITI pledges to aid reforms in energy, minerals sector

By Michael Eboh

T

he global Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Transparency Initiative (EITI) has indicated its readiness to assist President Muhammadu Buhari in carrying out the proposed reforms in Nigeria’s oil, gas and mining sectors.

Chairperson of EITI, Clare Short, according to a statement by Nigeria Extractive Industries

$129.40

-2.65

$3,154.00

14..00

$11.55

-0.17

CURRENCY BUYING

Transparency Initiative (NEITI), will also hold consultations with President Buhari on the implementation of the independent reports of NEITI. The statement signed by Mr. Ogbonnaya Orji, Director, Communications stated that the Meeting is also expected to provide the International Chair, who is on a three-day working visit to Nigeria, the platform to brief the President on the importance of integrating the EITI principles in his economic policy agenda as obtainable in

$62.47

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CENTRAL

DOLLAR 195.9 196.4 196.9 POUNDS 303.4491 304.2236 304.9981 EURO 221.0927 221.657 222.2213 FRANC 210.6452 211.1828 211.7204 YEN 1.5936 1.5977 1.6017 CFA 0.3143 0.3243 0.3343 WAUA 272.955 273.6516 274.3483 RENMINBI 31.5618 31.6428 31.7238 RIYAL 52.2261 52.3594 52.4927 KRONA 29.4759 29.5512 29.6264 SDR 275.0044 275.7063 276.4082

CBN Exchange Rate as at 15/ 06 /15

resource rich countries of the developed world.

Orji further stated that while in Nigeria, Short, will also be expected to visit the NEITI Secretariat, observe a meeting of the Inter Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) set up by the Federal Government to implement the findings and recommendations contained in the NEITI Audit Reports.

He said, “The visit of Clare Short to Nigeria is seen in the development sector as a global endorsement of President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability which are consistent with EITI

principles.

“Short is at the head of a delegation of a special implementation Committee set up by the World body EITI, drawn from fifty member countries.

“The visiting International Chair of the EITI, Clare Short was a Member of the British House of Commons for 30 years. While in the Parliament she served the British government as Minister for Women Affairs, Secretary for Transport and later Secretary of State for International Development.”

The visit of Clare Short to Nigeria is seen in the development sector as a global endorsement of President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to good governance

President Buhari had a couple of days ago, listed the implementation of the findings and recommendations of NEITI Audit Reports as a priority within his administration’s one hundred days in office, especially as the reports have publicly disclosed several cases of mismanagement and underpayment of taxes, royalties, under assessment and other lapses resulting in billions of dollars revenue loss to the Federation.

Nigeria joined EITI in 2003, began implementation of its principles and established NEITI in 2004. Nigeria also became the first among the 50 member countries of EITI to support implementation with a law, the NEITI Act of 2007.

Among the member countries of the EITI are Britain, France, Germany, Australia, United Kingdom, Norway, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Peru, Ghana Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Liberia and many other countries in Sub Saharan Africa.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a world body committed to enthroning transparency, accountability and prudent management of revenues from oil, gas and mining to support even development and reduce poverty in resource rich countries like Nigeria.

agos Chamber of Com merce and Industry, LCCI, has urged the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to look critically at the various components of the cost of doing business in Lagos state, with a view to bringing down this cost.

The President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, who made the call, said the state offers tremendous opportunities for business, but a great deal still needs to be done to bring down the cost of doing business in the state in order to allow the private sector to support the government in the delivery of its mandate especially in the area of job creation and revenue generation.

He noted that the capacity to create jobs and grow revenue is a function of the quality of the investment environment.

“We urge the state government to look critically at the numerous taxes and levies imposed on businesses by the agencies of government and the local government.

We need these to be properly streamlined by the governor ’s office and published for the information of the public. This will enhance the monitoring and streamlining of the taxes and levies that are payable by businesses in the state,” he said According to him, given the geographical peculiarities of Lagos State especially the topography of the state, the management of coastal erosion and flood prevention needs to be better consolidated under the new administration.

“The Chamber is concerned about the vulnerability of the state and the challenges of flooding and coastal erosion and this has to be taken even more seriously by the new administration” he said.

Bello noted that Jo creation is a national challenge confronting all the states in the federation, as the unemployment situation has reached a crisis level.

“We therefore appreciate the concern demonstrated by the governor in tackling this problem. However, it is our view that the creation of an enabling environment for businesses (particularly SMEs) is perhaps the most potent way to deal with the problem of unemployment.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Going to court might worsen the plight of the depositors of Savannah Bank. But that is supposed to be the last option after dialogue or engagement with the CBN and management of Savannah Bank has failed

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY PETER EGWUATU

P

Z Industries Plc led the cream of top ten price gainers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE last week, rising by 19.86 per cent to close last week Friday at N35.00 per share from N29.20 it close penultimate week.

Twenty four equities appreciated in price during the week under review, lower than twenty seven equities penultimate week. PZ Industries which top the gainers’ chart recently recommended distribution of N794.1 million to shareholders as interim dividends for the current year ending May 31, 2015. The dividend recommendation was part of the third quarter interim report and accounts of the conglomerate released recently.

Key extracts of the nine-month accounts for the period ended February 28, 2015 showed PZ Industries recorded marginal growth in sales amidst notable decline in the bottom-line. While sales rose by 0.56 per cent, pre and post tax profits dropped by 22.85 per cent and 27.91 per cent respectively.

Trailing behind PZ Industries on the price gainers’ chart was Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, which appreciated by 14.80 per cent or N4.50 per share to close at N34.90 per share from N30.40 per share penultimate week.

Okomu Oil third quarter results ended September, 2014 submitted to the NSE showed that profit went up by 28.5 7 per cent. The company’s impressive profit growth may have beaten analysts’ earlier expectations that the drop in global prices of palm oil will erode income of the company.

For the first nine months through September 2014, Okomu’s net income increased by 28.57 percent to N2.07 percent from N1.61billion in the earlier third quarter (Q3) 2013.

The impressive results at the bottom line was fuelled by effective and efficient cost control mechanisms put in place by management that saw operating expenses reduce by 26.12 percent to N1.79billion.

Additionally, cost of sales were down by 6.38 percent to N2.93billion in Q3 2014 as against N3.13billion last year while cost of sales margin reduced to 42.52 percent in the review from 46.16 percent last year. Okomu’s revenue in the period under review rose by 1.61 percent to N6.89 billion from N6.78bn last year despite local prices lagging behind global prices.

May and Baker Plc occupied the third position on the gainers’

chart, rising by 14.38 per cent or N0.22 to close at N1.75 per share from N1.53 per share the penultimate week. May and Baker, which recently held its Annual General Meeting, AGM posted a pre tax profit of N101.1 million, compared with a loss of N11.4 million in 2013. The company recorded a profit after tax of N63 million, up from a loss of N103 million in 2013. This was achieved on the Group’s turnover of N7 billion, against N6.3billion in 2013, representing a growth of 10.2 per cent.

Trailing May & Baker on the price gainers’ chart was National Salt Company Nigeria, NASCON Plc , which went up by 14.14 per cent or N0.99 per share to close at N7.99 per share from N7.00 per share. The company which held its AGM last week announced to shareholders of the company’s change of name to NASCON Allied Industries.

The management of the company explained that the adoption of its new name is to reflect current investments and new operational status of the company as a manufacturer of other related consumer and daily need products apart from salt.

Forte Oil Plc also in the top ten gainers’ chart rose by 8.23 per cent or N13.15 per share to close at N173.00 per share from N159.85 per share. Forte Oil Plc had declared a dividend of 250 kobo per share and bonus share of one share for every five shares for the financial year ended December 31, 2014. The company had rewarded shareholders with a dividend of 400 kobo in 2013. However, the cash dividend was reduced while a bonus issue was added.

According to the audited results made available, Forte Oil recorded a decline of 11 per cent in net profit, falling from N5 billion to N4.45 billion. In all, the company recorded a revenue of N170 billion in 2014, showing an increase of 33 per cent above the N126 billion posted in 2013. Cost of sale rose by 31 per cent from N116 billion to N152 billion.

Other income dipped by 78 per cent from N6.388 billion to N1.39 billion. Other five gainers in the top ten chart includes Livestock Feeds Plc which gained N0.15 to close N2.40 per share followed

by Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc rising by N4.76 per share to close at N4.18. UBA Capital Plc garnered N0.06 to close at N1.46 per share, followed

by Berger Paints Nigeria Plc which went up by N3.27 to close at N11.36, while TotalFinaElf Nigera Plc gained N4.94 to close at N159.99 per share.

INVESTOR' ,

An appeal to President Buhari on Savannah Bank

By Babajide Komolafe

T

he above is the summary of the response from Mr. Chinedu Okoli, one of the depositors of Savannah Bank in his response to the last edition titled, “What should the depositors of Savannah Bank do?

Writing from Enugu, he said, “Thank you for bringing up the Savannah Bank saga and plight of the depositors?

Honestly when I read this topic on Vanguard for the first time last month and the

consistent write up that followed week after week, I cried. I cried because this is the first time a newspaper house (Vanguard) has actually written about the pains and struggles of depositors of Savannah Bank since the withdrawal of its licence in February 2002 (13 years now). What happened to us depositors of Savannah Bank has never happened to any bank depositor in the history of banking anywhere in the world. This is the only bank that is operating as a

living and at the same time a dead bank for 13 years. Living bank in the sense that since 2009 it had its licence restored, dead in the sense that it has remained unoperational since 13 years.

Honestly speaking it will be too late now to institute legal action against CBN and management of Savannah Bank, because after 13 years of closure, If we go to court now, we may spend a total of 13 years from high court to Supreme Court.

The only genuine option

Annual General Meeting : From left, Non-Executive Directors, Mr. Jonathan Girling and Mr. Samuel Kuye and Managing Director, Mr. Dayanand Thandalam Sriram all of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc at the 44th Annual General Meeting, GM of the company in Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

GSK pays N717.5m dividend as shareholders approve 1 for 4 bonus

By Providence Obuh

G

laxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc has declared a N717.5 million dividend for the 2014 financial year, just as shareholders of the company approved the one for four bonus shares proposed by its Board of Directors.

In the year under review, the company recorded a turnover of N30.52 billion growing 5 per cent over the previous year. Profit before tax at N2.75billion and profit after tax at N1.85 billion declined over the previous year by 36 per cent and 37 per cent respectively. Total assets grew from N26.2 billion to N27.96 billion during the year ended December, 2014.

Speaking at the 44th

Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, Chairman, Board of Director, GSK, Mr. Edmund Onuzo, highlighted some of the challenges faced by its business in the year under

The incidence of counterfeits and parallel imports continues to be a big challenge to the business and our ability to ensure we deliver products of value

review to include: a drop in Nigeria’s crude oil production which was aggravated by the drop of crude oil prices; insecurity, especially the incessant violence in the Northern states and sporadic cases of kidnapping for ransom; the Nigerian Stock Exchange ending year on a negative note as a result of collapse in world oil prices; among others.

According to him “While operating expenses were well managed, the company recorded an exchange loss of N893 million as a result of the naira devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN in the first quarter of 2014. Furthermore, an increase in cost of goods sold of N1.234 billion as a result of the sale of brands by the GSK group to

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 23

,

'S FORUM now is to bring this issue before our current president, incorruptible President Mohammdu Buhari.I plead with you to publish and address our plight to Mr. President consistently just as you have being doing, he can mandate CBN to bring this saga to logical conclusion.”Okoli definitely has a point.

Going to court might worsen the plight of the depositors of Savannah Bank. But that is supposed to be the last option after dialogue or engagement with the CBN and management of Savannah Bank has failed. Furthermore, while the CBN has not given the slightest indication of its

We would assist depositors of the bank to seek the support of agencies or groups in the economy that could facilitate their engagement with the CBN and owners of the bank

Lucozade Ribena Suntory, added to the decline in profit.”

Onuzo noted that another major challenge encountered in the year was the healthcare sector outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and industrial actions by health workers due to alleged insincerity on the part of government.

According to him “The incidence of counterfeits and parallel imports continues to be a big challenge to the business and our ability to ensure we deliver products of value, especially the pharmaceuticals to our consuming public. During the year GSK continued to work with the regulatory agencies including NAFDAC and customs to stem the unfortunate menace of counterfeit fake and parallel imports.”

Onuzo however said that for the company to be successful, it must confront and overcome identified

response to the lingering inability of the owners of the bank to reopen for business, there is the impression in many quarters that the CBN may not be willing to dabble or have another face-off with the owners of the bank.

Also, given that there are so many issues requiring urgent attention from President Buhari, it is not clear if he would have the time to pay attention or repond to an appeal from depositors of Savannah Bank.However, the worst thing to do in this matter, is, to do nothing. And that is what the depositors of Savannah Bank must not do.

In this regard, Vanguard Investors Forum is committed to supporting depositors of Savanah Bank in whatever reasonable plan of action proposed to recover their money trapped in the bank.

This is because the suffering of the depositors reflects one of the huge defects in the financial sector architecture in Nigeria.

Consequently, we would assist depositors of the bank to seek the support of agencies or groups in the economy that could facilitate their engagement with the CBN and owners of the bank, with a view of bringing an end to the suffering of not being able to access their money trapped for 13 years in Savannah Bank. (Please send comments and enquiries to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com).

risks to its growth and profitability in the next 12 months.

H e s a i d “O u r w i n n i n g strategy for the coming years must include a strategic redesign of our Route to Market (RTM) with portfolio focus to build momentum behind drinks, invest in key SKUs (PET, 150ml), drive deeper and wider penetration and strengthen the non-drinks portfolio.

“The company would also focus on a commercial model ensuring distributor margin and investment aligned to support growth. We must as a mater priority continue to invest in talent to build demand generation and e f f i c i e n c y, d e e p e n o u r demand planning capability and route to market expertise.”

“We would continue to strengthen our customer marketing intelligence and to build strategic alliance with our distributors pan Nigeria to ensure reach and penetration” he added

There are other operators in town and since they have moved the share capital of stock broking firms higher, many will wither out and cases of this sort will spring forth.

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Shareholders to SEC: Watch out for other operators As a follow up on BGL suspension by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, shareholders have restated that the regulatory authority should be on the look out for more operators in the system. They foresee that with the recapitalization exercise carried out by SEC, issues of infractions, unauthorised sale of shares, among others will continue to arise; they also advised the regulatory body to take bold step to clean up the system “because right now people are not buying shares.”

By Providence Obuh

activities. SEC is trying to sensitise the environment for investors. I r. Femi Oduyemi of Nigeria Shareholders think it is the right step in the right direction and I believe it will serve Solidarity Association: "I do not have stock with the BGL Group but as a as a deterrent to others. There are shareholder I think suspending them will serve as other operators in town and since a deterrent and final warning to them. When their they have moved the share capital clients do not give them mandate to sell and they of stock broking firms higher, many sell, it shows laxity and insincere habit on their will wither out, cases of this sort will part. A big company like BGL who should serve as spring forth.

"Many stock brokers that have sold example to others is involved in such a shameful act. We respect the MD of BGL and for such a the shares of their client will be company to have involved in this sort of thing coming up, issues like this will arise gives us fear to put our money in big firms, they and SEC should take bold step to should have a mind to change. However I give clean the system because right now kudos to SEC and say that all the companies who people are not buying shares. “Once you are bitten by a snake, when you are involved in things see worm you call it like this should be snake,” that is exactly sanctioned, we still It gives us fear to put the position of Nigeria have others who are investors, things need hiding. I have case in our money in big to change for good.

Idumota, is in relation It is not necessary firms; they should to unquoted stock, we whether SEC consults went to the Institute of have a mind to change anybody or not, they Stock Brokers and we have identified them won the case. for wrong doing before Shareholders should be fully enlightened by SEC on their roles so ever taking that decision, with what that we can always take up any erring stock SEC has done, they are trying to broker even without coming to the exchange on protect the interest of the shareholders. In the capital market, a legal position.

Mr. Godwin Anono, Chair man , Nigeria the rules are started and once you Professional Shareholders Association: "the default you should be penalized. " suspension of BGL by SEC is a long story, because people have gone to complain about their

M

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Stakeholders lament non-passage of PIB

By Sebastine Obasi

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas industry have expressed their disappointment over the inability of the immediate past 7th National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry bill, PIB, which had been in the works for more than 12 years now.

At the last legislation day, only the House of Representatives passed the PIB, while the Senate refused to pass it, thus nullifying the action of the lower house.

Speaking on the development, the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr Obafemi Olawore, said he was disappointed that the PIB did not eventually see the light of the day during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

“They did not meet my expectation in this regard. I am disappointed! I thought they would pass it, but they did not. What do we do? It means all the reforms that we have been expecting in the oil industry have been postponed.”

President Muhammadu Buhari

Olawore explained that the passage of the bill by the House of Representatives was an incomplete exercise, adding that the Senate also needed to pass it before it is harmonised and sent to the President for assent.

“For us, it is a disappointment that the bill was not passed by the two Chambers before the end of the seventh assembly. Instead of

the Senate to give the PIB priority, they passed 46 bills in 10 minutes,” he said.

According to the Secretary General of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Mr. Isaac Abarere, it is a surprise that the House of Reps members could pass the bill on the last day of its official duty.

“We need to know the details before reacting. If the bill was

passed with the clauses which harmonise the power of the Minister of Petroleum, then it can be said to be a good thing for stakeholders. It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives had to delay the bill until the end of 48 months before passing the bill,” he added.

Also, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Sahara Energy, Mr. Kola Adesina, said that the passage of the bill by the House of Representatives cannot be relied upon as the clauses in the bills have not been clearly spelt out.

He said that it is too early to celebrate since no one knows which of the clause had been altered, adding that it is impossible to agree that the bill has been passed since the Senate could not pass it.

Also, the Secretary General, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, Mr. Tony Uranta, said there was no justification for the 7th Assembly not to have passed the PIB that would have put an end to the recurring crisis in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The PIB was introduced to the National Assembly since

2007. It is disheartening that the PIB which sought to establish a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the petroleum industry was not given priority passage by the 7th Assembly.”

“To sanitise the oil and gas sector and make it equitable and workable, curbing corruption by giving teeth to existing laws in the petroleum industry, the PIB should no longer be delayed,” Uranta said.

He however urged the Senate to remove the clause in the bill, interpreting host communities to mean the entire nation.

“There is no way the entire nation will be host community in the oil and gas sector. Every region has its endowments even in the mining sector.

Host communities must be interpreted to be those producing the oil and gas in the country,” he said.

He also urged the 8th Assembly to make passage of the PIB one of its first priorities.

Also, Mr. Ikem Ohia, a director of Ascon Oil, said that the passage of the bill by only the House of Representatives was nothing to rejoice about.

Skye Bank grants N450bn loans to energy firms

By Michael Eboh

D

ESPITE warnings over the rising incidence of non-performing loans, NPL, especially as it relates to exposure to the energy sector, Skye Bank Plc gave out N449.872 billion loans to energy firms in two years, between 2013 and 2014.

Specifically, information obtained from the bank’s Annual Report and Financial Statement for the 2014 financial year, showed that the bank recorded total loans and advances of N651.261 billion in 2014, compared to N549.858 billion in 2013.

Out of these loans, the N240 billion issued in 2014, represented 36.97 per cent of the year’s total to energy firms, while in 2013, the N209.076 billion loans, represented 38.02 per cent of the year’s total to the firms.

A breakdown of the bank’s loans to the energy sector is as followed: •In 2014 oil and gas downstream companies N21.304 billion;

* Oil and gas engineering services companies - N79.456 billion; oil and gas upstream companies - N120.678 billion, * Power sector companies N19.358 billion. · In 2013, oil and gas downstream customers N20.554 billion; * Oil and gas engineering services companies - N70.656 billion; * Oil and gas upstream companies - N105.772 billion; and, * Power sector customers N12.094 billion.

Board executives related loans Worthy of note are some insider-related loans granted to some directors of the bank.

Specifically, two non-executive directors of the bank were significant beneficiaries of the bank’s loans to the energy sector.

According to the annual report, two companies — Newcross Explortation and Production, and Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, linked to Mr.

Jason Fadeyi, a Non-Executive Director of the bank received N8.35 billion and N17.077 billion respectively from Skye Bank in 2014, compared to loans of N5.613 billion and N15.479 billion respectively, received by both companies in 2013.

“The 2014 financial year was one in which the local economy, and by extension, commercial banks, endured significant decline in crude oil prices, elevated inflation owing to pre-election spending...

Two other companies — PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited, and Integrated Energy, Distribution and Management Company, linked to Mr. Olatunde Ayeni, Chairman, Skye Bank, received N11.17 billion and N9.061 billion respectively as loans in 2014, compared to N1.59 billion and N8.122 billion received in 2013.

The bank also recorded off balance-sheet engagements in terms of loans granted to Newcross and PPP Fluids totalling N50 million and N233 million respectively.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, PWC, and other analysts had in the wake of the declining crude oil price warned that financial institutions in Nigeria risked erosion of their capital. Also, the financial sector and the economy are at risk of being plunged into another crisis over banks’ exposure to the energy sector.

Even Skye Bank’s Chairman, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni, confirmed this in his note to shareholders

of the bank in its Annual report and Financial Statement for the 2014 financial year.

He said: “The local and global environments within which your bank operated in 2014 was not different from 2013, but this time, it faced heightened threats on diverse fronts.

“The 2014 financial year was one in which the local economy, and by extension, commercial banks, endured significant decline in crude oil prices, elevated inflation owing to preelection spending, uncertainty related to the political environment, continued monetary policy tightening by the banking, and a consistent depletion of external reserves.”

Ayeni further stated that the tough operating environment negatively affected the bank’s financial performance in the 2014 financial year.

Specifically, the bank’s profit before tax and profit after tax declined by 46.7 per cent and 47.4 per cent to N10.47 billion and N9.74 billion respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 25

AFDB finances EEP electricity master plan for $3.5m

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HE Ethiopia Electric Power (EEP) has developed the final draft of a master plan for electric power distribution in Addis Abeba and its surrounding areas, at the cost of 3.5 million dollars, financed through a loan obtained from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The distribution master plan, which is for the next 20 years, looks at gaps in the electricity distribution network in order to fill the growing demand, includes a distribution improvement plan, an environmental and social assessment study and the transfer of technology to EEP. The plan incorporates the 10 districts of Addis Abeba and 12 Oromia towns within a 50Km radius.

Development of the master plan started in 2014. The document was presented on June 11, 2015 by Oona Nanka (PhD.), principal power systems engineer at Parsons Brinckerhoff, the UK firm contracted to do the drafting, at a meeting attended by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EEP, Azeb Asnake (Eng.).

The plan will assess existing conditions and upgrade the existing capacity in terms of generation, transaction and distribution. It will also estimate the size and location of load and forecast loads, integrate the electric distribution system with existing plans for construction and other infrastructure, identify capacity shortfalls, and add to the transformers’ existing capacity which is 132Kv.

By Sebastine Obasi

F DONATION: From left: Operations Manager, West Africa and Mauritania, Schlumberger, Mr. Ayo Fasakin; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Benin, Prof. Abiodun Falodun; Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Vice Chancellor, UNIBEN, Prof. Osasere Orumwense; and Director, UNIBEN Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Kenny Ladipo, at the donation of equipment to the Centre by Schlumberger in Benin.

For future network challenges, the draft plan proposes to increase supply using primary substations and underground cables, introducing 133Kv capacity to existing substations, improving the capacity of transformers and distribution lines. It also proposes repairing existing networks and installing new expressway networks. In the long term, the proposed projects require an estimated 1.6 billion dollars, which will be funded by development partners, Misiker Negash, EEP external relations head told Fortune.

According to the EEP’s top executive, the draft master plan is developed to identify the whereabouts of the

problems. Other than the 25year master plan for the whole country, there was no specific master plan for Addis Abeba, she added. The GTP I also had no specific targets for Addis Abeba, she disclosed, but the draft master plan and its proposed recommendations are going to be used as an input and reference in the second GTP. “It does not mean anything if I do not mention the exact demand for electricity in Addis Abeba. However, there are continuous power interruptions in the city and the actual supply is not more than 60pc to 70pc of the total demand,” Azeb said after a press briefing held at Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday June 11, 2015.

Alemayehu Tegenu, minister of Water, Irrigation & Energy also weighed in, saying that the demand for energy is growing at 25pc to 32pc annually in the country. Actual supply for the whole country amounted to 2,300MW in GTP I, but the government wants to attain the 10,000MW mark by the end of the second GTP. The 10,000MW figure was initially conceived as a target for the end of this fiscal year in a few weeks, which is also the end of the GTP I period.

The World Bank awarded Ethiopia last place in Africa, with power utilization of 45kWh per person in 2009, the year before GTP

NEITI urges AfDB to entrench transparency in resource management

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HE Nigeria Extractive I n d u s t r i e s Transparency Initiative, NEITI, has called on the newly-elected President, African Development Bank, AfDB, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, to focus on entrenching transparency in the management and utilisation of revenues from natural resources in Nigeria and other African countries.

In a statement in Abuja, Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, lamented the fact that over the years the AfDB had not done enough on governance challenges facing resourcerich nations in Africa.

She, therefore, urged Adesina to re-direct the attention of the organisation to focus more on natural resource

EKEDP to generate 474MW through embedded power

governance issues, using the NEITI global framework.

She said: “Poor management of oil, gas and mining revenues is responsible for mass poverty in resource rich AfDB member countries in Africa.

The AfDB at this time needs to pay greater attention to implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI, in resource –rich member countries like Nigeria, through deliberate policy to provide support to remediation, civil society and human capacity development.

“NEITI looks forward to working closely with the AfDB in Nigeria in many areas including expanding the EITI implementation to aid

national development, and poverty reduction.”

Ahmed described the election of Adesina as timely and an opportunity for a new chapter to commence in the affairs of the regional organisation.

She also urged him to take urgent steps to liberalise the

Poor management of oil, gas and mining revenues is responsible for mass poverty in resource rich AfDB member countries in Africa

development programmes of AfDB, in order to attract larger participation of member countries in terms of access to information, policies and plans of the organisation.

She noted that at the moment, most member states have limited knowledge of the AfDB programmes and how these programmes can be accessed to address peculiar development challenges in many areas of governance facing the continent.

“At the centre of these problems which the AfDB needs to pay greater attention to is increasing rate of poverty, resource wars and conflicts,” she added.

E D E R A L Government’s call for electricity companies to embrace embedded generation to ensure rapid development got a boost as the Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, EKEDP, said it has concluded plans to acquire up to 474 megawatts of power through embedded generation.

It also said that the initiative will double its current allocation from the national grid.

The embedded generation programme involves the construction of smaller sized generating plants that is connected to and evacuated through the distribution network infrastructure.

The proximity of these smaller sized plants to load centres within various communities is expected to assist EKEDP in alleviating some of the current challenges being experienced by unclogging its transmission grid of bottlenecks amongst other notable issues.

According to EKEDP, the programme, which has been submitted to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, for approval will go a long way in alleviating the shortage of power supply from the grid which has been unstable and in recent times.

It explained that 50 letters of interest were received from generating companies, out of which 14 companies were adjudged adequate in possessing the technical and commercial capacity to participate in the first phase of the embedded generation programme. The projects are expected to be completed within the next 18-24 months.

Speaking on the development, the Managing Director, EKEDP, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said: “With the active support of NERC for our proactive measure, our customers can indeed expect to enjoy the benefits of the privatisation of the power sector.”

Apart from the embedded generation plan, EKEDP is also engaged in bilateral negotiations to purchase more power into our network which will bring relief to our consumers in the short term.”

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JUNE 16, 2015

NEMSA will create unhealthy rivalry —NERC

By Ediri Ejoh

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HREATENED by the usurping of some of its statutory functions, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has described the establishment of the Electricity Management Services Authority, NEMSA, as an unhealthy rivalry, and unsuitable for the country’s fledging power market.

In a telephone conversation, Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, told Vanguard that Nigeria’s emerging electricity market is not ready for an unhealthy rivalry amongst regulators.

He argued that the establishment of the controversial NEMSA may derail the regulator from its responsibilities to the power sector, as the new agency is a mere duplication of roles.

He, therefore urged the government to allow the electricity sector gain the much needed momentum to propel it to the next level of its development rather than seeking to destabilise it with other forms of regulation.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s signing of the NEMSA Act, has been widely criticised as whittling down the regulatory functions of the NERC. Consequent upon signing the Act on May 26th, the former president granted power to NEMSA to provide technical regulations and inspections in the Nigerian electricity market, thereby usurping the regulatory control hitherto enjoyed by the NERC as enshrined in Section 32 of the Electricity Reform Act 2005.

Technical regulation Rushing in defence of the Commission’s capacity to effectively regulate the industry, Amadi said: “The National Electric Power Policy, NEPP 2000, and Electric Power Sector Reform Act, EPSR Act 2005, which are the guiding spirit for the power sector reform unambiguously mandated the Commission as the sole and independent technical and economic regulator of the, Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI. “At this point, I must correct the wrong impression being created by some people that there is no effective technical regulation of the NESI. “It is not valuable to the system, among all the issues surrounding the sector and the country; I am standing on my point that it is duplication.”

Against this backdrop, he maintained that “The new bill is capable of distracting the Commission from its core mandates, causing disharmony and derailing the progress made in the power sector.

“NERC has put in place several regulatory instruments to address technical and safety issues arising from across the electricity supply chain.”

He therefore insisted that the transparency and independence exhibited by NERC had earned the sector its inherent level of confidence, thereby boosting in the inflow of local and foreign investors into the sector.

Competition is good for the industry However, analysts of current developments in the power sector are

VISIT: From left: Mr. Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Mr. Chris Osarumwense; Managing Director, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr. Haruna Momoh; and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, during a tour of NNPC retail stations in Abuja to ascertain the fuel scarcity situation. of the view that competition will promote healthy regulation of operations in the industry.

According to Mr. Odetola Seyi, a United Kingdom based economic analyst, the introduction of NEMSA as a regulatory authority is necessary to check extant gaps in the technical regulation of the electricity industry.

He noted that the functions and operational mode of the agency would streamline regulatory roles in such a manner that will ensure that the substandard equipment are not allowed into the country.

Also commenting, Mr. Olubunmi Martins, who is also an energy expert, said the introduction of another body to regulate the activities of the power sector is crucial as it would consolidate on the gains recorded in the power sector.

He said the decision to set up another regulatory agency is in line with international best practices, adding that the United States also has similar agencies that perform such roles.

According to him, “It is important to have a parallel regulatory agency specifically set up to monitor the activities of the operators especially in the area of management oversight and performance.”

He argued that oversight monitoring has been lacking in the industry since the sector was fully privatised a couple of years ago. He added that NEMSA will pre-qualify companies that import electricity equipment into the country in order to check sub-standard equipment.

NEMSA Act By the Act, NEMSA becomes the technical regulator and enforcement institution in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI. Accordingly, it has also taken over the Electricity Inspectorate Service, EIS, a department previously located in the Ministry of Power, which responsibility was transferred to NERC under the ESPRA Act 2005.

NEMSA will also acquire the staff and assets of the current Electricity Management Services, EMS Plc, which hitherto served as a utility

service provider to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. The agency was constituted to engage in such ancillary services like meter testing amongst others in the sector.

Clause 6, Part 2 of the Act contains a list and description of 26 different functions, including: •Standard setting - “to specify technical standards for electrical plants; • Inspection - “to regularly carry out periodic inspection, monitoring, and assessment; •Enforcement - “to ensure that power systems and networks put in place have been properly executed; and, •Provision of services - “to provide comprehensive technical support services that will guarantee the efficient production and delivery of safe and reliable power supply and general industry development activities.

Duplicating NAPTIN’s function Furthermore, part of NEMSA’s function to “promote measures for advancing the skill of persons engaged in the NESI” is also seen as duplicating the role of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN. Agreeing, the Director General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, Mr. Reuben Okeke

The former president granted power to NEMSA to provide technical regulations and inspections in the Nigerian electricity market, thereby usurping the regulatory control hitherto enjoyed by the NERC

, however noted that this aspect “ was .. never mentioned all through the public hearing. It is actually duplication, as NEMSA cannot be involved in capacity development.

NAPTIN is an Agency under the Federal Ministry of Power established since 2009 by the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, and registered by the Bureau of Public Entreprises, BPE, specifically for capacity building and training of all workers in EPSI both technical and non-technical.”

According to him, “Before the bill was passed into law, there were public hearings from all involved in the power sector. However, the role of the Act is to ensure that the power sector is rid of substandard product that would undermine efficiency in services delivery.

“While it shields the sector of that, NAPTIN, on the other hand is saddled with the responsibility to empower personal with the technical knowhow of maintaining such assets .

Those who would work in the power sector are going to be trained by NAPTIN.” He noted that without the training of personnel, there will be no expertise in the power sector.

Admitting that the Act is a necessity, as it will liberate the country from fake equipment, Okeke said: “we are in a country with people who do not care about lasting benefit but immediate enriching of ones pockets despite the effects. As such, NEMSA is strategically placed to ensure that standard equipment are used for electrical installations, and that they also meet international standards.”

Eunisell introduces spill prevention technology

T

O strengthen its record on health, safety and environment, HSE, Eunisell Solutions has introduced a secondary tank containment system on its production facilities to further minimise oil spill in the country.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Dickson Okotie, this is in line with the company’s commitment to the health and safety of its staff, and the growing need to find more innovative ways to protect the environment. This is particularly where containment of environmentally hazardous fluids are stored within its production facilities.

He explained that the secondary containment system is designed to withstand fluid pressures resulting from rapid fluid fill from a noncatastrophic failure of up to 15,000 barrel of oil.

“The design is such that the surface mounted containment system can safely contain the internal fluid pressure.”

27 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JUNE 16, 2015

Inadequate fund stalls steel sector devt — —Madugu A

By Gabriel Ewepu

BUJA - FOLLOWING Nigeria’s comatose steel sector and poor industrialisation policy, the Director General, National Metallurgical Development Centre, NMDC, Jos, Prof. Ibrahim Madugu, said inadequate fund has stalled development in the sector.

Madugu, who said this while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, also asserted that the sector would have been at the same level with some industrialised countries had the past administrations been determined to revolutionise the sector with adequate funding to attract investors.

His words: “If the sector is adequately funded, I assure you that the sector could have placed Nigeria on equal footing with some industrialised nations. And that would have turned the steel sector around.

“I assure you that the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, could have been able to place Nigeria on equal footing with some industrialised nations.

“The government would have transformed the entire steel sector and caused a breakthrough in the nation’s revenue generation, job creation, and attraction of more investors.”

However, the NMDC boss also disclosed that the centre can boast of some modern equipment acquired during the last administration that would make Nigeria self-sufficient in steel production.

According to him, the centre has the capacity of providing competent services to the public and private

sectors, as it is also making efforts to conduct research and strengthen the mineral data bank of the country for prospective investors.

“The National Metallurgical Development Centre has achieved a lot in terms of state of the art research and development equipment like electric arc furnace, lead-zinc plant and metal testing facilities among others.

“We have also procured robust tensile testing machines - AAS, XRD and XRF, which are high profile equipment. We acquired them during the former government. We intend to commercialise some of them in order to boost the internally generated revenue in the Centre.

We have a lead-zinc pilot plant which will be the first in West Africa.

When fully operational, the country will be able to produce some amount of lead/zinc ingots for local consumption.

“One of the electrical arc furnaces will be used for slag processing while the second will be used to conduct a different kind of research into steel.

When this is done, NMDC would be able to produce automobile parts.

“To this end, the NMDC has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Centre for Automotive Design based in Zaria.

We will be producing some steel parts for them such as crane shaft, crankshaft, connecting rods, block engines, brake drums, and wheels.

These will all come to fruition very soon.

“We will be able to produce corrugated roofing sheets which are made from Electroplated Zinc and other items,” he stated.

Miners move to create 300,000 jobs annually

By Gabriel Ewepu

M

INERS under the aegis of Mining Association of Nigeria, MAN, have resolved to create about 300, 000 jobs in the sector.

This was disclosed by the Chairman, MAN, Alhaji Sani Shehu, at a news conference with theme: “Mining is the Answer,” where he said that the association has also developed a fiveyear Strategic Development Plan, SDP, for the mining sector.

He said the SDP will help create as well as contribute up to 10 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. He said Nigeria has at least 33 viable solid minerals deposits, all of which contribute less than one percent to the GDP as compared to 10 percent generated from the sector before oil was discovered.

Shehu said: “The solid minerals industry is witnessing a renaissance and its relevance to Nigerian economy can no longer be downplayed, especially at a time when critical, diverse investments are needed to enhance the economic empowerment

of our people.

“The Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, has developed a five-year Strategic Development Plan for the mining sector which would create 300,000 jobs annually as well as contribute 10 per cent to the GDP. “The vast occurrences of solid mineral resources in each state of the federation are yet to be accorded due attention; collective and affirmative action is desired in order to fully exploit the enormous prospects that exist.

“South Africa, which is less endowed than Nigeria in this regard, depends on solid minerals exploitation for 18 per cent of its GDP and has created over one million jobs.”

The MAN boss also recalled measures taken by the former administration to reform the mining industry by creating institutions which provided a platform for the sector in line with industrial best practices.

He said even with the reform, the sector still had challenges of inadequate skilled labour, inadequate geological and bankable data, multiple taxation as well as inadequate logistical support and a host of others.

28— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

FG commences validation of reviewed EIA Act 1992 zNITP President canvasses enforcement of legislation

By By Jude Njoku & Funmi Olasupo

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OING to Apapa from any part of Lagos could be likened to travelling through the biblical “valley of the shadow of death.” The reason for this description is not farfetched. Apapa is home to the nation’s busiest seaports, tank farms and other blue chip companies, hence the traffic snarl on virtually all the roads leading into and out of the town.

It is commonplace to find heavy-duty trailers and articulated vans stuck on the highway for several hours, thereby impeding the free flow of traffic in that axis. The traffic jam along the OshodiApapa expressway, has been directly linked to the congestion in both the Apapa and Tin-Can ports and the long queue by petrol tankers to load their consignment from the tank farms in the neighbourhood

Recurring questions The recurring question on the lips of concerned stakeholders is “ who approved the construction of these tank farms in Apapa and environs? Did the owners carry out the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, required by the law, to determine the effects of such projects on their neighbourhood and how they would be mitigated before the construction of such projects are commenced? If the EIAs were done, were the reports/recommendations subjected to public scrutiny and open debate as required by the EIA law? What are the measures put in place by the operators of the tank farms to cushion the horrendous impacts of their activities? It is the view of stakeholders that an EIA would have identified the negative multiplier effects of locating tank farms in an already congested neighbourhood.

The EIA Act No 86 of 1986, reveals the likely environmental problems and mitigation measures that are anticipated prior to project implementation and addressed throughout the life circle of the project. Vanguard Homes & Property checks revealed that the Act has been observed more in breach than compliance.

Provisions of revised Act

Against this backdrop, the Federal Government in 2014, set up a Ministerial Committee to review the 29-year old legislation. The Committee which has concluded its assignment, expunged, added and reframed some sections of the existing Act in line with current practices and practical realities.

A stakeholders conference was therefore convened last week to validate the reviewed Act. Speaking at a two-day forum tagged National Stakeholders workshop on the validation of the draft revised Environmental Impact Assessment Act No 86 of 1992 in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Fatima Mede explained that

The primary purpose of the EIA is to ensure that environmental concerns are incorporated into any project planning, design and decision making

the reviewed EIA would address population and development, climate change and gender issues in Nigeria.

“As a demonstration of our nation’s firm commitment to the implementation of such principle, the Federal government promptly promulgated the EIA Act No. 86 of 1992. The Act makes it mandatory for EIA to be fully applied to major development projects in the private and public sectors of the economy right from the planning stage.

Recognizing that environmental protection and management can only be achieved through

collaboration and cooperative efforts, the Federal Ministry of Environment has been working closely with the relevant Federal line ministries, Parastatals, State Ministries of Environment and Local Government Authorities and Non Governmental Organizations for the implementation of the EIA Act. Considering that the EIA Act has been in active enforcement for well over two decades now, the time is apt for its review, especially now that global environmental issues are undergoing paradigm shifts in several cross sectoral areas like population and development, climate change and gender issues,” the Permanent Secretary said.

In her goodwill message, the former Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Senator Uche Ekwunife, said that the review will help fill up the gaps that exist which have

One of the numerous tank farms at Apapa. Insert: Traffic snarl along Oshodi-Apapa expressway

Excerpts from EIA Act 86 of 1992 T he objectives of any environmental Impact assessment (hereafter in this Decree referred to as “the Assessment”) shall be – *to establish before a decision taken by any person, authority corporate body or unincorporated body including the Government of the Federation, State or Local Government intending to undertake or authorise the undertaking of any activity that may likely or to a significant extent affect the environment or have environmental effects on those activities shall first be taken into account; * to promote the implementation of appropriate policy in all Federal Lands (however acquired) States and Local Government Areas consistent with all laws and decision making processes through which the goal and

presented a challenge to the effective implementation of EIA in Nigeria.

Ekwunife, who was represented by Mrs. Comfort Asokoro Ogaji, noted that the EIA administration has suffered a number of setbacks due to the extent of coverage of the Act. “Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool for sustainable development. The primary purpose of the EIA is to ensure that environmental concerns are incorporated into any project planning, design and decision making. A successful updating of the Act will not only update the document to current realities but will serve as the beginning of better EIA administration where both the regulators and the regulated will have a clearer up and up to date document to work with,” she said.

objective in paragraph (a) of this section may be realised; *to encourage the development of procedures for information exchange, notification and consultation between organs and persons when proposed activities are likely to have significant environmental affects on *The public or private sector of the economy shall not undertake or embark on public or authorise projects or activities without prior consideration, at an early stages, or their environmental effects. *Where the extent, nature or location of a proposed project or activity is such that is likely to significantly affect the environment, its environmental impact assessment shall be undertaken in accordance with the provisions of this Decree.

•The criterion and procedure

under this Decree shall be used to determine whether an activity is likely to significantly affect the environment and is therefore subject to an environmental impact assessment project before the commencement of the project the environmental assessment process may include *a screening or mandatory study and the preparation of a screening report; An environmental impact assessment shall include at least the following minimum matters, that is – * a description of the proposed activities; * a description of the potential affected environment including specific information necessary to identify and assess the environmental effects of the proposed activities; * a description of the practical

activities, as appropriate; * an assessment of the likely or potential environmental impacts on the proposed activity and the alternatives, including the direct or indirect cumulative, short-term and tong-term effects: * an identification and description of measures available to mitigate adverse environmental impacts of proposed activity and assessment of those measures; *an indication of gaps in knowledge and uncertainly which may be encountered in computing the required information: *an indication of whether the environment of any other State, Local Government Area or areas outside Nigeria is likely to be affected by the proposed activity or its alternatives; *a brief and non technical summary of the information provided under paragraph (a) to (g) of this section.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 —29

A real estate development... FM experts charged to sustain the growth of such investments

FM practitioners urged to sustain growth in real estate sector

By Kingsley degboye

A

RECENT report by P r i c e Wa t e r h o u s e Coopers, PWC, predicted that real estate investment value would increase from $9.16billion to $13.65 billion in 2016. Against this backdrop, the Managing

Director of Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Ltd (AM Facilities), Mr. Femi Akintunde has charged facilities management experts to brace up to support and sustain the anticipated growth Akintunde,an engineer,

spoke at the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Facilities Management Roundtable in Lagos last week. The forum was sponsored by his company as part of activities to mark World Facilities Management Day. “Going by this revelation however, for Nigeria to meet

its vision 2020 20, a lot still needs to be done in the areas of improved public infrastructure to drive the required positive change in the real estate and facilities management sub-sectors and the general living condition of the average Nigerian,” he said.

He stated that for these subsectors to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy, practitioners must embrace global standards and best practices in the execution of projects.

Akintunde said his firm has been sponsoring the annual roundtable in order to “ raise awareness, set agenda, and promote global standards in the industry” “We understand that the dynamics of the market are changing and we want to position facilities management to play a critical role in that mix”, he said.

Former Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Shasore, who gave the keynote address, said the facilities management industry is one of the few industries certain for growth in the foreseeable future.

“The FM industry is one of the few industries that is certain for growth in the foreseeable future in this region and nation. For the sheer obvious reason that we have such a deficit to fill. I’m sure many of you know that in the World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15, Nigeria is ranked at 134 in infrastructure out of 144 economies, “ Shasore who was represented by the managing director of Cluttons Nigeria, Erejuwa Gbadebo, said .

In their submission, participants from the oil and gas sector pointed out that facilities management was still at its infancy stage and therefore could not attract the right investments.

Lagos to investors: Follow due process in land acquisition or ...

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HE Lagos State Government has advised those intending to invest in landed property in the state, to follow due process or risk losing such investments.

Giving the advice at a oneday workshop organised by Tayo Tiwo & Co in partnership with Sofunix Investcom, the Director of Land Services in Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Oyegbola regretted that many people buy land before carrying out proper investigations to ascertain the genuineness of such properties. The theme of the workshop was ‘Perfection of titles in Nigeria: Issues and Resolution’.

Another problem is that people don’t want their relatives to know that they have money so they tend to keep the whole process secret

“Application to the office of Surveyor General seeking information in respect to the land in question can save you from losing your hard earn resources. But many people don’t bother about this. They just assume that once the seller presents documents to them,everything is okay,” he said.

“Another problem is that people don’t want their relatives to know that they have money so they tend to keep the whole process secret, forgetting that the biggest investment they can make in life is landed property. If you are engaging in that kind of investment, you must be ready to open up and seek legal

counsel. Many buy land without telling people, while some buy without genuine documents”, the director lamented.

Oyegbola who assured that the state’s digitalization project will reduce cloning, forgery and any other dubious act in the process of land transaction, urged

people to do all they can to ensure that the property they are committing their resources into, are genuine.

“Our recent achievement in the processing of Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, indicated that the future is bright. Last year, we started with digital processing of C of O which was first of its kind in Nigeria."

IFMA blames infrastructure decay on lack of budgetary allocation ...Says Nigeria understands only breakdown maintenance

T

he International Facility Management Association, IFMA, has attributed the high level of infrastructural decay in Nigeria to tlack of budgetary provision for the maintenance of the existing infrastructure.

The Programme Director of IFMA, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Collins Osayamwen who disclosed this Abuja at the 2015 World Facility Management Day, regretted that Nigeria does not give priority to maintenance related issues.

The theme of this year ’s World Facility Management day was ‘Building Resilience for The Future’.

Osayamwen noted that the

only kind of maintenance Nigeria understands is breakdown maintenance, which he said is due to lack of proper planning and budgetary provisions.

“I tend to a little bit disagree that Nigerians lack a maintenance culture, the reasons why we are unable to maintain our infrastructure, not even from government alone but even private is because from the word go, we get it all wrong. The kind of maintenance we know in Nigeria is breakdown maintenance, until it fails you don’t care whether it needs service or not, “ he said.

He pointed out that the inability of the engineers,

builders and architects who build to work together with facility managers who maintain the facilities, have contributed immensely to infrastructural decay in the country.

“Unfortunately we don’t have any budgetary provision to ensure that these facilities are managed and maintained. What we now do is to run from pillar to post when we have a crisis in our hands. Until we are able to give it its rightful place, we will continue to see this level of decay in our infrastructure,” he said.

He lamented that though facility management is yet to be recognised as a

profession, he said the organisation is making efforts to ensure that the body is recognised by the law.

In his remarks, a former President of IFMA, Senator, Ahmad Abubakar said he would make sure National Assembly works out a bill that would legalise facility management.

Senator Abubakar added that they have been trying to achieve that over the years, adding that legalising the body was one of his priority as a senator.

He revealed that the mutual suspicion among engineers, architects, facility managers and surveyors would be adequately taken care of when the bill is put in place.

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

New roads emerge in Eko Atlantic City

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE promise of South Energyx Nigeria Ltd, developers of Eko Atlantic City to construct a congestion-free city that will not guarantee street parking and where traffic will flow freely, has been actualised with the development of main thoroughfares and access roads in the upcoming city in Lagos.

The Sales and Communications Executive, of Eko Atlantic City, Miss Valentina Halim disclosed this in a press statement.

“So far, over 28 kilometres of roads have been completed to stone base level and 25 kilometres have been block paved. Eko Atlantic’s main Eko Boulevard and roads will be a role model for 21st century urban planning,” she said.

She added that over the next few months, further road works will be carried out in the City’s districts: The districts include: Harbour Lights, Marina District (inner and

The Eko Atlantic new road outer ring roads), Downtown and Avenue 1 and Avenue 3

(with direct access to Ahmadu Bello Way). The work, according to her, comprises

the build-up of the sand subbase with laying of the crushed stone base course in

the more advanced roads.

She disclosed that the opening of Akin Adesola Road has introduced a second entrance into Eko Atlantic City from Victoria Island. The road has significantly reduce the drive distance for trucks carrying rocks to the sea wall, a mile and a half offshore, helping to speed up construction.

Miss Halim explained that previously, the route from the entrance of Eko Atlantic City to the sea wall was around five kilometres. But the new access has reduced the distance to just two and a half kilometres and further provides unhindered access to the completion of road works in Phases 1 and 2 of the City.

Propertygate’s boss lists firm’s growth prospects

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HE Managing Director/ CEO of Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi has identified the competitive edge of the company despite the challenges facing the real estate sub-sector in Nigeria.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, Ajayi who listed the key

growth factors. He said the company would continue to wax stronger irrespective of the challenges militating against the real estate sector.

“Propertygate Development and Investment Plc is comforted by the fact that it is in a business where the need for its products and services remain tremendously high, and will

continue to be so for a long time to come. The company will continue to review key strategic issues of markets and products, sales, funding, production and marketing, in addition to strengthening its operational strategy ”, Ajayi told shareholders.

Commenting on the factors that would help drive growth

in the real sector, he explained that the products and services in the real estate are always in high demand. He said another set of growth drivers are the nation’s demography, planned economic expansion, much anticipated growth in infrastructure and the atmosphere of hope generally.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 —31

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Auto policy: PAN migrates from SKD to CKD P

AN Nigeria Limited has concluded arrangements to commence CKD production of Peugeot 301 in earnest. This historic feat was attained recently when the Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi and the PSA Group Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Jean-Christophe Quemard, signed a technical agreement that will allow PAN Nigeria to migrate from SKD (SemiKnocked down) to CKD (complete knocked down) production.

Speaking shortly after the signing of the agreement in Kaduna, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi, expressed happiness with the new development noting that the signed pact was a confirmation of confidence PSA Group has in the company. He stated that the mutual relationship between both parties have become more robust and stronger than ever before.

According to him, the early transition to CKD operation is in line with the objectives of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP),

which encourages local production of vehicles and components in the country.

AlhajiBoyi re-affirmed the commitment of PAN Nigeria, a leader in the Nigerian auto industry, in realizing to fullest the objectives of the National Automotive Policy. CKD operations represent a bold step towards real do-

CKD operations represent a bold step towards real domestication of production activities in the localization of the auto industry, creating opportunities for jobs, skills and component parts manufacturin

Peugeot 301 assembled in Kaduna

Managing Director PAN Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi (left) with PSA Vice President, Middle East and Africa?, Mr. Jean Christophe Quarmed during the CKD agreement signing at Paris recently. mestication of production activities in the localization of the auto industry, creating opportunities for jobs, skills and component parts

manufacturing.

It would be recalled that in July 2014, PAN flagged off the local production of Peugeot 301 saloon cars

under SKD platform. “The auto policy had provided a strong incentive to reopen industrial production for Peugeot vehicles

after many years of in-activity, and attract the full support of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) partners, Automobile Peugeot (AP) France. This partnership has created a new window of opportunity for employment and reengagement of disengaged workers and also resuscitate the businesses of the largely moribund local component manufacturers” the Managing Director stated.

With the commencement of CKD production, PAN is the first to achieve such milestone in the auto industry since the commencement of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

Corps Marshal reads riot act to tanker drivers over crashes WORRIED by the rising cases of road traffic crashes involving petroleum tankers in parts of the country, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi has directed strict enforcement of safety standards on petroleum tankers, while urging the operators to comply with the provisions of Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS).

Reacting to reports of the crashes in Onitsha, Anambra state and Iyanaipaja in Lagos, recently, the Corps Marshal stated that while the Onitsha crash which occurred on Sunday, 31st May, 2015, claimed 46 lives with 5 people sustaining various degrees of injury, the Iyana-Ipaja crash caused destruction of several vehicles, even

though no life was lost in the incident.

He further pointed out that the two incidents threw the nation into mourning mood with enormous economic loses, adding that with the combined efforts of other stakeholders, the wreckages caused as a result of the crashes have been cleared and normalcy has returned to the areas.

Oyeyemi, recalled that FRSC in its efforts to avert such fatal crashes involving articulated vehicles proactively launched the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme in 2007, which made adequate provisions for regular training and retraining of the tanker drivers as well as maintenance of vehicles by fleet operators who must have safety managers that are professionals.

He stressed that the

scheme provided for regular safety checks by the FRSC and other relevant agencies to ensure that vehicle standards are carefully observed by fleet operators and drivers, expressing concern, however, that despite such measures, some operators fall short of the standards which compromise the safety of other road users.

“This attitude must change henceforth, as we would no longer tolerate disobedience to safety rules and regulations and would promptly punish anyone that commits offences capable of compromising safety of other road users,” he warns.

The Corps Marshal, while commiserating with the families of the bereaved, assured that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure that the nation

does not experience a repeat of the calamity, stating that he is in touch with relevant unions like NUPENG and NARTO and other stakeholders on how to avert future re-occurrence.

“FRSC is working in concert with all stakeholders to ensure that our roads are made safer for all travelers.

We have directed our commands to strictly enforce vehicle safety standards as

provided for in the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme on all vehicles operating on the nation’s highways including the tankers.

From left: Deputy Corps Marshal, Charles Theophilus; Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah during a visit to the FRSC headquarters by the Chief of Army Staff.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—33

By Theodore Opara

Wildtrak Ranger with smart technologies hits markets T

HE new Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the ultimate model in the Ford Ranger line-up, has made its global debut, ready to take on the world with a new array of smart technologies and an even bolder look for one of the world’s toughest and most capable trucks.

“The new Wildtrak takes the Ford Ranger to the next level with an aggressive exterior, a premium, sporty, interior, the latest Driver Assist Technologies and capabilities that ensure it’s up for any adventure,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president, Product Development, Ford Asia Pacific. “Building on the bolder, smarter and more refined new Ranger, the new Wildtrak is a perfect fit for customers who want to combine genuine 4x4 capability with standout styling and premium features.”

To mark the Wildtrak clearly as the flagship of the Ranger lineup, designers worked to emphasize its tough, sophisticated design.

Flanked by projector head lamps, the bold trapezoidal grille with strong outboard nostrils is finished in a dark, liquid metallic gray. The same accent color continues to the side mirrors, door handles, side air vents, bed rails and tail lamps for a dark, sporty appearance.

“The accent colors on the Wildtrak help to punch out the architecture of the fascia, and make what is already a very bold design even bolder - it’s instantly recognizable on the road,” said Dave Dewitt,

exterior design manager for the Ranger Wildtrak.

“The result is more sports-focused and purposeful, and a perfect companion for a weekend getaway with a surfboard, kayak or quad bike.”

As well as being more aggressively styled, the new Wildtrak features design elements that are both premium and functional. Rectangular fog lamps and a unique sports hoop emphasize

the unique nature of Wildtrak and give it a more technical, refined appearance. Sitting high on exclusive machined 18-inch alloy wheels, and with bold Wildtrak graphics, the new design communicates a fearless sense of adventure.

Even the Wildtrak’s signature orange color has been tweaked to help it stand out from the crowd.

“We wanted to push

the Wildtrak’s orange further, to give it a fun, tough feeling,” said Dewitt. “We call it Pride

Orange, not just because of our pride in the new Ranger, but also because it calls to mind a pride of

Boulos parleys dealers on 4-stroke Suzuki outboard engine

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ETERMINED to give its customers nationwide the best of services, Boulos Enterprises Ltd, distributors of Suzuki products in Nigeria has organised a one-day parley with its dealers nationwide.

The parley which took place at Boulus premises in Ikeja, Lagos recently was attended by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, representatives and local dealers in Suzuki outboard Motors in the country.

The conference was aimed at educating dealers on the advantages of the four stroke outboard marine engine over the two stroke type which consumes more fuel and harms the environment.

According to the chairman of Boulos enteriprises, Robert Ndubueze Ugbaja, our 4-stroke engines are more than 50% more economical than the two strokes.

Additionally, the sales of two stroke outboard motor has been banned by the Nigerian government. The

CONFERENCE: From left, Chairman, Robert Ndubueze Ugbaja, General Manager, Julian Hardy, Stanley Evans, General Sales and Marketing Manager, Charles Kyte, General Aftersales Manager at the dealers conference in Lagos recently. dealers also used the opportunity of the meeting to voice their challenges to the Boulos management.

The chairman explained that the 4stroke outboard motors were carefully made to suit the Nigerian climatic and water conditions.

He noted that the Japanese made Suzuki outboard motors is poles apart from competition as there were made to meet

The 4-stroke outboard motors were carefully made to suit the Nigerian climatic and water conditions

customers stringent demands.

“What distinguished Suzuki outboard motor from our competitors are her exceptional models of outboard motors designed to meet the demand of the market in terms of customer satisfaction.

According to him, a great deal of priority is placed on after-sales service support in terms of provision and availability of genuine spare parts backed by

NAC boss commends GAC brand

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HE Director General of the National Automotive Council, NAC, Engr. Aminu Jalal has commended the management of GIC Motors, representatives of GAC Motors in Nigeria, for the quality of their products.

Engr. Lawal who paid a visit to GIG office on Victoria Island was full of commendation for the company’s sport utility vehicle, SUV, the GS5 and the GA3 Sedan for

lions - it conjures up the Wildtrak’s potential and adventurous spirit.”

their outstanding designs and quality of materials used for the products.

He therefore, renewed the hope of GAC Motors starting up an assembly plant in Nigeria very soon.

As part of its plan to become one of the leading brands in Nigeria, GIC had already concluded arrangements with leading banks to offer finance options to customers who wish to own GAC brand of cars.

Engr. Aminu Jalal, DG, National Automotive Council inspecting a GAC car during his visit to CIG office in Victoria Island, Lagos. With him is the Administrative Director, CIG Motors, Mr. Felix Lee

professionally trained engineers and technicians.

"Boulos Enterprises, in partnership with Suzuki Motors Corporation, Japan, is not only sales oriented but market focused in delivering satisfaction to its customers and partners for life", he stated. This he said has improved their friendship with customers thereby giving Boulos enterprises competitive edge over other brands in the market.

With well structured dealership network across the country, Boulos in conjunction with Suzuki, Japan organises regular free service campaign on Suzuki outboard motors aimed at satisfying its customers.

Highlighting the advantages of buying Suzuki outboard engines from Boulos enterprises, the chairman noted that the company offers high quality products and after-sales service back up, availability of spare parts, availability in various models and sizes, availability of Boulos service team at regular intervals, regular monitoring and checks on customers engines by their technical crew as well as competitive pricing.

Others include under 24 hours response to distress calls, service contract (optional), availability of special tools, first service of engine after 20 hours of engine operation, free, and availability of training facility.

Boulos deals on other products such as Suzuki, Houjue, Derbie, Aprilla, M o t o - G u z z i , (motorcycles) as well as tricycles and trucks.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

By Theodore Opara

UASPADA opens N3.8bn shopping arcade at Trade Fair grounds

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HE United Allied Spare Parts Dealers Association (UASPADA) has commenced trading activities at their ultra modern international shopping complex and permanent site located inside the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Express Way. The shopping complex was built at the cost of N3.8 billion.

Chairman of the association Bartholomew Achukwu while cutting the tape at the official opening ceremony, congratulated all his members for their sup-

port and co operation to ensure a successful actualization of the project and charged the traders and the general public to exploit the new opportunities provided by the complex to enhance their businesses.

“Today being Thursday the 4th day of June 2015 is very symbolic in the history of this association as we all are living witnesses to this great fact that our dreams which started in 2009, has finally become a reality. It is therefore my pleasure to declare this market open for the progress, peace,

unity and prosperity of all our members, stakeholders and entire customers..”

Achukwu while directing the traders to move in their wares immediately to commence trading activities at the new shops, also used the occassion to address issues affecting some members who expressed dissatisfaction over the shop sharing modalities.

“We all agreed that these shops will be shared on first-come first- serve basis, and this process was duly followed during the shop allocations. But for

peace to reign and to ensure that everybody is carried along, we have mapped out 84 shops downstairs for immediate reallocation of those aggrieved members within our jurisdiction in ASPAMDA, who wish to own shops downstairs where trading can be more convenient for them. I request these 84 affected traders to report here before 12noon tomorrow to pick your new shops. “ it is equally important to let you know that this executives don’t have the powers to impose

rent prices on shop owners who suffered to invest their money here for profit.

But as the chairman of this association, I am appealing on behalf of all our members that each shop should not exceed N5,000 per month between now and the next 2years.” He stated.

Also speaking at the event, UASPADA scribe Simeon Uzoetue admonished the traders to desist from associating or supporting those miscreants who parade themselves as United Allied Traders, warning

that the union will not condone any form of parallel government.

The multibillion UASPDA Plaza is a world class business edifice housing 3,000 lock – up shops, and 29 individual plazas. It is a wholesale market offering a wide range of machine parts, engines and accessories including motor cycles, three wheelers (a.k.a.

Keke), tractors, generators of all sizes, marine boat engines and components, as well as all manner of agricultural, industrial and domestic machineries.

Hyundai boosts basic education with learning materials

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YUNDAI Motors Nigeria has completed the distribution of educational enhancing materials to hundreds of thousands of school pupils across five states in harmony with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) values of the Korean car manufacturer of helping the less privileged – ‘Moving the world together.’

Titled ‘Supporting Education for Brighter Tomorrow’, the campaign commenced in phases with Southwest states of Lagos and Ibadan and afterwards schools in Warri, Port-Harcourt and Calabar in South-South geo-political zone.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Head of Sales and Marketing Jatin Nadkarni described the charitable initiative as a continuation of the Stallion Group Hyundai d e a l e r s h i p ’ s magnanimity to support children of the less privileged in basic schools across the country.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria had in 2010 commenced amplification of support for the less privileged including inmates of old people’s homes and orphanages, where it had also canvassed halving populations of children vulnerable to malaria scourge, especially those aged between six months and five years, representing 52 percent of the country ’s populace.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—35

THIS WEEK June 16, 2015 The Day of the African Child celebrated since 1991 to honour children killed protesting in Soweto in 1976 and also to raise awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.

June 17, 2015 The World Day to Combat Desertification, observed since 1995 to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought.

June 21, 2015 International Day of Yoga Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body.

• Pregnant women in low-income countries lack access to family planning, antenatal care and skilled birth attendance, amongst others.

400m lack access to essential health services — WHO

Scientists grow mini

By Sola Ogundipe breasts to 400 million per study cancer ANsonsestimated across the world do not have access to basic but essential

S

TUDYING how human cancers spread and evolve is a complicated business. To provide a laboratory platform in which the growth of cancer can be monitored, researchers have been trying to construct organelles modeled on real organs within which cancer can proliferate.

In a new development on that front, at the Helmholtz Centre in Munich, Germany scientists are now growing three dimensional “mini breasts” derived from individual human epithelial cells. They are using collagen gels that provide the foundation within which the cells can divide and grow.

By using gels of different rigidities, they’ve been able to study what kinds of mammary gland tissues are most welcoming for the spread of cancer.

While they’re not actually growing cancerous lesions, the researchers are looking at how normal stem cells are able to do their work in different gel environments.

That is because cancer cells take on similar properties as healthy stem cells to proliferate, and the researchers have already identified some interesting facts.

C M Y K

health care services including family planning, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, child immunisation, antiretroviral therapy, tuberculosis treatment, and access to clean water and sanitisation, among others.

Disclosing this in a new report, released weekend, the World Health Organisation, WHO, and World Bank Group rsaid an estimated 6 percent of people in lowand middle-income countries are pushed further into extreme poverty because of health spending.

Entitled: “Tracking Universal Health Coverage”, the report is the first of its kind to measure health service coverage and financial protection to assess countries’ progress towards universal health coverage.

It looked at global access to essential health services in 2013, and found that at least 400 million people lacked access to at least one essential health service.

The report also found that, across 37 countries, six percent of the population was tipped or pushed further into extreme poverty ($1.25/day) because they had to pay for health services out of their own pockets. When the study factored in a poverty measure of $2/day, 17 percent of people in these countries were impoverished, or further impoverished, by health expenses.

In a reaction, Senior Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group, Dr. Tim

Evans stated: "This report is a wakeup call. It shows that we’re a long way from achieving universal health coverage. We must expand access to health and protect the poorest from health expenses that are causing them severe financial hardship."

Also speaking, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation, at the WHO, Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, said “The world's most disadvantaged people are missing out on even the most basic services. A commitment to equity is at the heart of universal health coverage.

Health policies and programmes should focus on providing quality health services for the poorest people, women and children, people living in rural areas and those from minority groups," she noted.

According to the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at the World Bank Group, Dr Kaushik Basu, “These high levels of impoverishment, which happen when poor people have to pay out of pocket for their own emergency health care, pose a major threat to the goal of eliminating extreme poverty.

“As we transition to a post-2015 development era, we must act on

these findings, or the world’s poor risk being left behind,” he argued.

Also speaking, Director of the Department of Health Statistics and Information Systems at the WHO, Dr Ties Boerma, opined that as more countries make commitments to universal health coverage, one of the major challenges they face is how to track progress.

“The report shows that it is possible to quantify universal health

High levels of impoverishment, which happen when poor people have to pay out of pocket for their own emergency health care, pose a major threat to the goal of eliminating extreme poverty

TOBACCO BILL:

FG tasked on implementation Page 52

coverage and track progress towards its key goals, both in terms of health services and financial protection coverage, she said.”

WHO and the World Bank Group recommend that countries pursuing universal health coverage should aim to achieve a minimum of 80 percent population coverage of essential health services, and that everyone everywhere should be protected from catastrophic and impoverishing health payments.

This is the first in a series of annual reports that WHO and the World Bank Group will produce on tracking progress towards UHC across countries.

In his view, Managing Director at The Rockefeller Foundation, Michael Myers, said, as the saying goes, ‘what gets measured, gets done. “”With countries around the world taking steps to provide universal health coverage, the ability to identify gaps and effectively measure progress will add critical momentum to this global movement.

“This an important tool for countries to achieve universal health coverage and build more resilient health systems.”

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Hope beckons for cancer patients as hospital makes surgical advances

By Chioma Obinna

H

OPE for a better outcome in cancer treatment was recently rekindled as Apollo hospitals made advances in surgical oncology.

Over the years, surgical oncology commonly known as cancer surgery, a branch of cancer medicine that deals with the removal of cancerous growths in an organ has remained a challenge in most countries including Nigeria.

According to experts, cancers amenable to surgical treatment are called solid organ cancers and distinct from those involving the blood or bone marrow elements, leukemias or blood cancer, or lymphatic glands, lymphomas.

Solid organ cancers include cancer of the the mouth, throat, voice box, intestinal system, liver and pancreas, genitourinary organs, breast, brain and bones.

Commenting on the recent advances made by Apollo Hospitals, India, a Surgical Oncologist, Dr. Ajit Pai who noted the importance of surgery in cancer treatment said in almost all the cancers, surgical intervention is necessary to obtain a diagnosis as well as cure the patient.

Modern cancer treatment uses radiation and chemotherapy to shrink tumours, so that a less mutilating but equally effective operation can be performed

Pai who listed some of the advances to include, organ preservation surgery, minimally invasive surgery and robotic cancer surgery explained that the field is continuously evolving and some of the latest advances have been incorporated into practice and services at Apollo hospitals.

Pai who spoke extensively on each of the surgeries said previously, cancer surgery was mutilating and associated with functional and cosmetic defects. Modern cancer treatment uses radiation and

chemotherapy to shrink tumours, so that a less mutilating but equally effective operation can be performed.”

He said with organ preservation surgery in rectal cancers, almost half the patients would normally require complete removal with a permanent bag to drain intestinal contents, colostomy, “now we are able to shrink tumours with radiation, such that the majority of patients are able to have a normal intestinal passage without need for a bag.”

• In response to Good Health Weekly’s story about tough times being experienced at the Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Home, Badagry, Lagos, Mr Sunday Omolu of Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria Ltd. (3rd right) and his wife, Mrs. Modupe Abiola Omolu (2nd left), visited the Home, recently to donate welfare materials.

“Breast cancer is another tumour wherein the majority of women do not need complete removal of the breast.

Chemotherapy can be used to shrink the tumour followed by removal of the lump and the nodes in the armpit, preserving the form and function of the breast. This is especially important as we see more women with cancers at a young age.”

On minimally invasive surgery, he explained that until recently, cancer surgery was always open using large incisions adding that numerous studies have shown that ‘keyhole’ surgery using laparoscopic techniques is equally effective, has similar cure rates, less painful and has a quicker return to normal activities than open surgery.

“We offer minimally invasive surgery for cancers of the foodpipe, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, large intestine, colon, and rectum and for gynaecologic cancers involving the uterus and cervix.

On robotic surgery, Pai said: “The surgeon performs ‘key hole’ surgery sitting at a console, which has controls to manipulate the robotic instruments inside the patient. The Robot is completely under the surgeons’ control at all times.”

Continuing he further explained that the advantages of robotic technology include highly magnified 3D vision and instruments, which are able to reach the narrowest of spaces to clear the cancer.

“This results in a more radical cancer operation with better preservation of nerves and other critical structures. The benefits to the patient include less blood loss, shorter length of stay, quicker return of normal function and less pain as compared to laparoscopy and open surgery.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

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You can also visit www.zeevirtualmedia.comand view the full list of what we have in stock for couples. Your wife might need something – Uche I have a really small penis and I once read about a penis sheath of some kind that you wear C M Y K

over your own penis to make it look bigger. Please can you help me get it? I don’t know what it is called but I prefer it to taking drugs because those ones take time. Thanks – Timi I believe you are referring to penis extensions and there are two different kinds. One is softer and you roll it over the penis like a condom. It is called a penis sleeve.

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So you can choose from any of these – Uche Please why does my wife complain of pain during sex? At first I thought she was pretending until she showed me the bruises. Now I am scared to be intimate with her – Afis The pain and bruising are due to a lack of lubrication. For sex to take place the genitals must be lubricated. Women are supposed to lubricate naturally but they must be properly stimulated sexually for this to be possible.

Sometimes even stimulation and foreplay are not enough and a lubricant becomes necessary. In times like this, a lubricant like the Colt Slick Lubricant or Mood Water Based Lubricant can come in handy. So get any of these lubricants and use as directed. It will eliminate the pain and bruising – Uche That is all for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16 2015—37

NACA targets 15,000 for HIV counselling, testing in Lagos

By Chioma Obinna & Jennifer Aladetan

T

HE National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has said that it is targeting about 15,000 people for Human Immune deficiency Virus, HIV, testing and counselling in the ongoing free medical outreach programme in Lagos.

Disclosing this during the flag - off of the exercise which is holding simultaneously in Kairo Market Oshodi and Ejigbo Market play ground all in Isolo Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State, the Director Partnerships Coordination, NACA, Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan stressed the need for every Nigerian to know his or her HIV status.

Alhassan said the counselling and testing campaign was

designed to promote the culture of HIV counselling and testing among Lagosians.

"In terms of prevalence, Lagos state is actually higher than the national average but not the highest. National average is about 3.4 percent but Lagos has a higher rate of 5.1 percent. It is important to know that because of the population in Lagos when you translate the percentage into numbers, it's huge. That is why Lagos is one of our priority 12+1 states."

"Our 12 states and the FCT account for about 70 percent of the HIV burden in Nigeria that is why Lagos state is very critical.

A lot of work has been done here and a lot of work is ongoing.

Lagos State is one of the strongest states that are responding to the epidemics," he explained.

Continuing, Alhassan who said the testing programme was being done alongside other medical screening for hypertension, malaria among others, said: "In the next five days, we are expecting to screen a minimum of about 8,000 people but we are looking at 15,000 people."

HIV prevention tips For beneficiaries who tested negative, the Director stated that the team will give them tips on how they can stay negative. "We encourage them to abstain, or use condoms to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. For people who are positive we refer them to the nearest support groups and to several ART centres for

confirmatory test and other tests.

If you need to be on treatment we will direct you to the nearest ART sites where you can go and collect the drugs free."

He further announced that the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child has drastically reduced due to the various programmes of the government that ensure the pregnant women who are HIV positive don't transmit to their children.

Continuing, he said the campaign is focusing more resources on NACA 12 +1 states, adding that presently, it has covered over 20 states of the federation and over 60 locations in the various 12+1 states.

Alhassan, however, called on Lagosians to come enmasse to access the free screening programme which is being done in conjunction with SURE-P

Ensure effective implementation of Tobacco Bill, FG told

• L-R : Chairperson, Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria , AGCPN, Professor Ifeoma Okoye, Director Registration and Regulatory Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze and DG, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, during the presentation of award of excellence to DG, NAFDAC by the Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, AGCPN, at the 3rd Nigeria Clinical Trial Summit, held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos recently.

I

By Chioma Obinna

N recognition of the enormity of illicit trade in tobacco products, a passionate call has gone to President Mohammed Buhari to ensure an effective implementation of the recently signed tobacco bill with a view to reducing 10 percent of adult deaths linked to product consumption.

Making the call in Lagos at an event to mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day, the United Nations, UN, and the Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF, also urged the Nigerian Government and other governments around the globe to push for stiffer laws against illicit tobacco products.

The duo which posited that higher taxation on the products would make it unattractive and inaccessible for intending customers said estimated 10 per cent of adult deaths worldwide have been linked to product use.

In a message by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon read by the Director, United Nations, Information Centre, UNIC, Lagos, Mr. Ronald Kayanja, who noted the ongoing efforts to curb problems pose by tobacco use, said ratifying the protocol is a key element in demonstrating commitment to tackling the problem of illicit trade in tobacco products.

Moon said the theme of this year’s World no Tobacco Day,

“Stop Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products” draws attention to the fact that one in every 10 cigarettes consumed worldwide is illegal. As are many other tobacco products.

Moon also urged policy makers to acknowledge the role of illicit trade in tobacco products not only in worsening the global tobacco

If no action is taken, the disease which kills six million people yearly will end up killing eight million by 2030

use epidemic and its health consequences but also for its security implications, since proceeds from this trade might be used to finance organised crime such as trafficking of drugs, humans or arms, He added that the public should recognise the adverse health, economic, and social impacts of illicit trade in tobacco products and support their governments to eliminate it.

On his part, WHO Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti who was represented by the Country Director, Sunday Abidoye, called on policy makers and individuals to rise up to this challenge and help in reducing tobacco-related illnesses and premature death.

Speaking, the Vice President, World Heart Foundation, WHF, and also the Executive Director, NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye stressed the need for Nigerian government to ensure proper implementation of the tobacco law with a view to ensuring effective regulation of the products.

Akinroye suggested that a higher taxation be imposed on tobacco products as part of measures to make it inaccessible.

“So people should also be responsible and know that they should protect their own lives and that of the people around them,’” he added.

NHF Director on Tobacco, Mr. Dapo Rotifa said the goal of the campaign is to achieve a 24-hour abstinence from all forms of tobacco use across the globe through drawing of global attention to its negative effects.

He said if no action is taken, the disease which kills six million people yearly will end up killing eight million by 2030.

ASA-World partners GHF for 2015 medical mission in Anambra

By Emeka Aginam

I

N partnership with Global Healthcare Foundation, the Anambra State Association World Wide, (ASA-World), has arrived Nigeria for the 2015 free medical mission for the people of Anambra State.

Already , about nine towns, including Ihembosi, Oko, Orama-Etiti-Anam , Ozubulu, Obosi, Agulu-Uzoigbo, Abagana, Oba and Ichi have been selected as the center for the medical mission.

The Chairman of ASA-World, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze in a world press conference at the weekend disclosed that fifteen Doctors , ten nurses, five Pharmacists and twenty volunteers have been assisting in medical care for the annual medical mission.

The medical mission which is under the sponsorship of Kanec Pharma & Household Products , Nnewi, Anambra State, and Angel Pure Groundnut Cooking Oil, Nnewi, Anambra State Nigeria, according to Anakwenze is to offer free medical services to the underprivileged & to save lives of the impoverished people of Anambra State.

He said that the mission is caring for thousands of people needing surgeries, restoration of sights, dispensation of medications, counselling, free prostate, gynecological exams, treatment for hypertension, diabetics, gastrointestinal and other infectious diseases.

While requesting for funding from public spirited individuals around the world, he disclosed that ASA-World has increased the number of towns to be visited to eight as against six town visited last year.

“We intend to provide three months supply of drugs to patients with chronic illnesses instead of one month. All medical and non-medical professionals: Doctors, Pharmacists, Eye, Ear, Nose &Throat Specialists , Internal Medicines, Social Workers, Nurses, dentists, and allied medical field practitioners and all those who are interested in assisting, regardless of profession should are encouraged to register through their respective organization across the globe. There will be no restriction from the state of origin as non-Anambra volunteers are welcome”, 'he said.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Acting Black, but White ACTING White is a derogatory verbal weapon in the African American community. The term is used against African Americans who, by their demeanour and actions, tend to mimic white modes of behaviour. It is used to remind them of their black origin, as well as the fact that no matter how much they pretend to be white, nature has put them in the black community and that is where they would remain for life. This reminder is usually accompanied by some form of ostracism. To be accused of acting white is therefore a social stigma.

Remember the African philosopher, Frantz Fanon? He wrote about something similar to acting white in his book, Black Skin, White Masks. His thoughts were based on the devastating outcome of colonialism on the colonized. Fanon argued that in colonial times, some colonized people underwent such psychological trauma that although they were black people they acted and believed that to ape the white man or woman was the correct and authentic way of life.

If Fanon were alive today, how might he have reacted to the issue that gripped America last week as there emerged a situation that appeared to reverse his contention? It was a case of a naturally born white woman acting black. And her story grabbed media headlines because she was not a white never-do-well who just decided to re-do her identity for frivolous reasons or even for calculated material benefits. Her name is Rachel Dolezal.

The police are yet to apprehend anyone on these allegations which are becoming suspect. She often writes about her black son Izaiah, but it has since been revealed that Izaiah is indeed her adopted brother who has been living with her for several years.

She often poses with a black man she calls her father. But the truth is that the man isn’t her biological father. Indeed her real parents are white who have some German, Swedish and Czech roots.

Her father, Larry Dolezal, told the BuzzFeed news last week that both he and his wife are white, and that Rachel is “our birth daughter and we’re both of European descent, we’re puzzled and it’s very sad.”

So, if the family is of white origin, why would Rachel act black? Larry provided an answer in the same interview. According to him, “She has over the past 20 years assimilated herself into the African-American community through her various advocacy and social justice work, and so that may be part of the answer.”

He added that Rachel has been incommunicado with her parents over the years and “doesn’t want us visible in the Spokane area in her circle because we’re Caucasian.”

Larry’s reasoning is buttressed by what Rachel has in her official biography at Eastern Washington University. Part of her biography reads that “Her passion for civil rights is influenced by her years in Mississippi, where she advocated for equal rights and participated in community development.”

Basic facts about white or black lady

After her outing last week, Rachel defended herself in an interview where she said that “Actually, I don’t like the term AfricanAmerican; I prefer black. So, if asked, I would say, yes, I consider myself to be black.”

Here are basic facts about this white or black lady, however you choose to believe her racial identity.

She is 37 years old, an MA degree holder from the historically and predominantly black Howard University, and an adjunct professor of Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University.

Rachel is the Spokane (Washington State) branch president of the nation’s most prominent and oldest civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) founded in 1909.

In addition, she is the chair of Spokane city ’s police oversight commission. On a number of occasions she made claims about treats to her life and hate crimes against her because she is black.

Rachel defends herself

If all she has done is to advocate for respect for the rights of all people, what is the big deal about her race?

The NACCP also came out with this statement: “NAACP Spokane Washington Branch President Rachel Dolezal is enduring a legal issue with her family, and we respect her privacy in this matter.

One’s racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership. The NAACP Alaska-OregonWashington State Conference stands behind Ms. Dolezal’s advocacy record.”

It is somewhat ironic that as her claim to being black was igniting controversy, the fate of Mr. Bruce Jenna, now Ms. Caitlyn Jenna, was garnering applause all over. Sixty-five years old Bruce is an Olympic decathlon champion and an American sports icon and more recently a television personality. This June, she showed up on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine as a woman with the name Caitlyn, having undergone a sex change.

No one is crucifying her for her transgender status even in the knowledge that for several years he had masked her real personality as a man acting woman.

Rachel is not alone in this cobweb of racial inanity.

When Obama declared his intention to run for the U.S. presidency in 2007, some people in the African American community dismissed him as acting white and not black enough to represent them. Ariana Miyamoto is a bi-racial lady (black father and Japanese mother) who won the Miss Japan pageant. She is being scurried in the Japanese press as a hafu (half) Japanese. In some countries, people like her are derided as point five as in decimal calculations.

Remember apartheid South Africa? Then, people were classified as white, coloured or black.

Two issues are clear: Rachel is Caucasian by birth and has patently lied about it for several years; she is passionate about her civil rights activities.

Question is: what is more important, her commitment to championing the civil liberties of coloured people in the United States or the fact of her faked racial background?

I agree with NAACP’s support for her work. Her university ’s president, Mary Cullinan, has also come out in Rachel’s support. Is it a criminal act for Rachel to commit herself to uplifting the downtrodden, her own racial background notwithstanding? If by claiming to be black she has in any way exploited the situation for private gains, then that is another matter.

But, if all she has done is to advocate for respect for the rights of all people, what is the big deal about her race?

I came across this article

by Sean Davis (June 12, 2015) with the interesting caption: If Rachel Dolezal Isn’t Black, How Is Caitlyn Jenner A Woman? In other words, what is all the fuss about? The brouhaha about Rachel sounds so much like Macbeth’s (Shakespeare) soliloquy about a “tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—39

•Emerhor: Guber candidate

•Harriman: GMB State Coordinator

•Okpozo: Delta South leader

•Okowa: Confronting a divided APC

•Enuha: Delta North leader

APC plots against Okowa in Delta DELTA State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa may have been sworn-in as the fourth democratically elected governor of Delta State, in fact, the first from Delta North, to occupy the Unity House, in Asaba, but the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not prepared to give him a free ride.

By Hugo Odiogor

N

OTHING best demonstrates this resolve as the continuing mobilisation by the APC to recruit disaffected members of the PDP into its fold. Among former prominent members of the PDP recruited so far are Chief Solomon Edojah, a former chairman of the PDP

Caretaker Committee in Kwara State, Hon. Almona Isei, a former three term member of the House of Representatives among others.

The national leadership of the party is also alleged to be mobilising men and resources for its men on ground to establish an effective presence in the entire state and mount formidable

opposition to the ruling PDP government.

However, the APC in Delta State is effectively snared by the internal contradictions in the aspiration of its leading lights. While the national leadership is unwavering in its support for the 2015 gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, to pursue the battle to reclaim “his mandate through all

legal means,” a number of party leaders uncomfortable with his manner of entry into the party have remained aloof.

The dissonance within the party peaked two months ago when a section of the party expelled some of the leading figures in the party, a development that shocked national leaders of the party.

Remarkably, the state chairman Prophet Jones Erue who purportedly signed the announcement came out to deny the expulsion. The development was immediately linked to the quest by especially new entrants for reckoning in the expected appointments that are to come the way of the state chapter of the party.

The national leadership is not amused by the intrigues that are playing out as APC members from Delta State jostle for political appointments in Abuja even though the party performed poorly in the last governorship election.

It was perhaps that development that spurred some sympathisers of the party who christened themselves APC Professionals to a meeting on Friday, June 5, 2015 where they resolved to play politics with integrity and professionalism. The body resolved to be the positive agent of change in line with the party's objectives and to act as professionals that will be a positive force to move the party forward in Delta State.

In the resolution made available to Vanguard, the APC professionals equally resolved to work with all the party stakeholders to achieve the party’s objectives.

The chairman of the Group, Dr. Ken Mordi said the national executive of the APC has given very clear directives that Delta state APC should

However, the APC in Delta State is effectively snared by the internal contradictions in the aspiration of its leading lights

put its house in order.

The co-ordinator of Delta State APC professionals Dr. Chris Ugoh, said that the time has come to re-position the party in the state to give PDP a formidable opposition in the build-up to 2019 election. Dr. Ugoh said that while it is gratifying to know that an Anioma son is governor, that that would not undermine the need for viable opposition in the state, to keep PDP on its toes.

The obstacles But there are obstacles that the party must surmount if it must achieve its stated goals.

The first is the structure and style of leadership of APC in Delta State.

A chieftain of the party in Delta North Engr. Hyacinth Enuha said “APC in Delta State is standing on a tripod which has one of its leg in the North the Second in the South and the third in the central and each of the zones had three notable leaders. In the South we have Chief Okpozo in the central there is Chief Frank Kokori while in the North we have Engineer Enuha.

There is also discontent that a socio cultural association in the state was given so much latitude in the run up to the governorship election, thereby provoking resentments from other cultural sensibilities in the state.

At another meeting of the Anioma APC Leaders Forum held at Chief Engr. Hyacinth Enuha’s Country home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, on Sunday the 7th of June, 2015, the Leaders Forum resolved to bring all the APC members in Delta State, together, resolve their differences and speak with one voice.

The entire forum also reaffirmed their confidence on the leadership of Chief Engr.

Hyacinth Enuha as the APC Leader of the entire Delta North and they all further pledged to fully support Enuha’s leadership and also the need to continue to cooperate with all the other Leaders in the other Senatorial zones, namely; Chief Frank Kokori of Delta Central and Senator Francis Okpozo and Temi Harriman of Delta South.

Engr. Enuha said the old members of APC have no reason to fear the admission of new members once the procedure for admitting such new members is made seamless.

Dr Ugoh told Vanguard that he supports the idea that Anioma people should be fully represented and effective in all the existing political parties and all the parties must give Anioma people their fair share as Nigerians.

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Like Jonathan, Buhari has no political backbone — ODIA OFEMIUM •I 've worries about Buhari’s govt, not expectations IN this interview with Vanguard, renowned poet, novelist and social critic, Odia Ofeimun expresses his worries about the new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, and suggests ways to move the country forward.

Ofeimun also worked as private secretary to the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo before his death. Excerpts:

By Prisca Sam-Duru

E

XPECTATIONS? PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari wishes to fight corruption, uphold national security and run an efficient government.

Let me be straight out with it: How successful he can get depends on how willing he is to move away from the Greek gifts he is being promised by our so called foreign friends who know but won’t tell that we have all these problems of corruption insecurity and inefficiency in government because Nigeria has not restructured in favour of a common morality for all Nigerians.

Only a restructured Nigeria can stand up to foreign wheelers and dealers. Restructuring is not only about North and South struggles. Although it is part of it. It is about national strategy and grand policy making. Let Muhammadu Buhari join Goodluck Jonathan in rejecting the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, and continue to reject foreign soldiers stamping on West African soil, and refuse the wayo Western solution to malaria scourge that Goodluck sidestepped to the annoyance of so called Western friends.

And then insist, as no Nigerian government has dared since SAP, on building proper factories to stop the influx of goods, essential commodities that glut our spaces. See who will offer to attend his next anniversary. And that will tell who Nigeria’s friends are.

Worries about Buhari’s administration So, to make a clean breast of it, I have worries about, not expectations from, President Muhammadu Buhari. My worries stem from knowing what he must confront as other Nigerian Presidents before him and as he himself did in his first coming. Near certainty is that, one of these days, he will go to Davos as Mandela did and they will give him scientific reasons why he must stop being so passionate about a Freedom Charter or call it a development charter for his country. Davos wanted a Free South Africa without spine. Apartheid had given white children a special

deal. But when Mandela had his time to do it for all South African children black and white, they showed him the beauty of market forces which can only now be justified by the trade imperialism over far and distant neighbours while fuelling xenophobia in those left behind.

I want to hope that President Buhari wont buy the hash which says that in an emergency, such as we are in, you must leave all control to market forces that are usually blind but controlled by identifiable levers.

The domestic component of such disavowal is to be gleaned from the body language of domestic allies who do not want to have anything to do with political restructuring or who are buying into a crude regionalism that is really another name for co-federalism.

The first thing to note, and quite a pity, is that like Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari has no serious political party. Just a rabble with ill - digested political slogans. So if he is determined he will have to learn to work truly outside the box.

The first thing to note, and quite a pity, is that like Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari has no serious political party.

Just a rabble with ill digested political slogans

•Ofeimun: Jonathan was right to say corruption is not just about stealing Within the box, he will be fixed in the way that the pre - existing cabals fixed Goodluck Jonathan after mauling President Olusegun Obasanjo and leading him down the garden path until he thought he needed a third term to square up. Of course, there is no reason for the cabals to use the same old methods.

Remember that Goodluck tried to say that the cabals, not mentioning the market gurus from outside, were overpowering him. Well because his party had a short attention span and was all scatterdiagramatic in vision, he could not tackle the requisite levers. A heartily fractured ruling party collapsed into pressure as a matter of policy. As for Jonathan, he could not make his claims ring true in the face of an opposition within and outside his party determined to use every means possible to deny reality.

Now reality has just caught up with everybody.

The demonstrators on the streets and the opinion leaders across the media who were suavely minding the turf for the cabals will need now to remove the wool from their eyes. Some of them without realizing it had turned fuel subsidy into an issue that it wasn’t.

So the point is how to have a genuine turnaround awareness capable of meeting real problems head on. I want to say that the problems can be met.

President Buhari has to be able to stand up and win respect for his sheer guts rather than let himself be overawed by undue pressure from so called friends abroad and allies at home who are merely thinking of clipping coupons. He needs to cultivate a grounding with ordinary Nigerians to withstand inevitable pressure. And by ordinary Nigerians, I mean the millions who need good health, genuine education, jobs, freedom of

speech, movement and association. Already he has a Fulani problem which he can only solve if he forgets the cult of Arewa entitlements.

The question is, would he who belongs to everybody and nobody at the same time, find the skill and patience to do it right? Of course he would also have a Yoruba and an Ndigbo problem which he can only deflate by realizing that all ethnic groups want virtually the same things that the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of state policy prescribe.

Yes each ethnic group may wish only its own in to be in bounty. But the national mood since Awolowo’s successful campaigns for free education and other social welfare measures favours a system that covers all Nigerians.

Those who will say that the fall in oil revenue nullifies such precepts are not of this world as both the Bible and the Koran can be invoked to defend them.

Putting all children under fifteen at school ought to be made condition for any African state becoming a member of the African Union. It is the sure way for ethnic nationalities in geographical formation to be counted upon to rise above narrow nationality and become producers and resource controllers who see neighbours as co-workers.

Common welfare lays the basis for entrenching commonalities.

To extend such to herdsmen is to put real capital behind old River Basin authorities and building proper ranches to stop the rampages across country.

On corruption and stealing The reality is that you can’t build a country right or fight corruption and maintain security until you remove the lopsided

structure that creates the basis for multiple moralities and hence violence.

On this score, I agree with Goodluck Jonathan’s much derided quip that corruption is not just about stealing. Goodluck Jonathan got it right. His loud and learned assessors do not know what they are dealing with when they scoff at the distinction he made.

The shame of it is that the learned opinion leaders in our midst stand on straws once they get on a binge of partisan slogan mongering.

Now that elections are over, lets hope normalcy will intervene and allow all to try to define our terms properly. Otherwise it is self immolating to find oneself on the same side with so called progressives who, for instance, look for scientific reasons to disenfranchise a third of the registered voters and still talk about free and fair elections.

Absolutely retrogressive. Sad too to call them revolutionaries.

Even with card readers and DNA technology, see the gory and fictitious election results that it yielded in Rivers, Kano, Delta, Katsina, Awka Ibom, Jigawa and Bauchi. It is a mess. Nigerians have had to accept the hogwash to avoid the Armageddon that some doomsday prophets had predicted. Come to think of it, the electoral officers who registered underage children in their large numbers! Shouldn’t they be taken to court to account?

You see, this is why I say it is not about expectations but worries.

And, talking about reforming the electoral system, President Buhari needs to borrow a leaf from President Umaru Yar ‘Aadua whose sense of integrity required him to admit that the election that brought him to power was flawed. President Buhari should face it squarely.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—41

No, Borno lawmakers are not rubber stamp of the gov —WAKAWA

By Ndahi Marama

This time around we have to look inward and see how the hundreds of youths in our area can be gainfully employed or engaged.

How do you intend to attract projects to your area even as a lawmaker?

Our role is primarily to make laws and our people ought to know that it is only the executive that is constitutionally empowered to execute projects but the legislature is to lobby to ensure the executive consider our people in project execution or improve infrastructure for my constituency. I will surely do

Hon Ayuba Stephen Wakawa, is a member representing Hawul constituency at the Borno State House of Assembly (BOSHA), he was reelected for second term on April 11th, 2015 general elections on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Wakawa is seen as one of the loyalists of Governor Kashim Shettima. In this interview he bares his mind on his re-election and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

W

HAT new things do you intend to do in your second term?

I am going to advocate for any move to address the challenges of insurgency and impact positively on the lives of my people. I will be more involved in sponsoring or supporting bills and motions to improve the lives of our people particularly in the area of agriculture. Our people are majorly farmers but unfortunately, they’ve not been able to go to their farms for a

•Wakawa: We are not rubber-stamps long time now due to continuous attacks by Boko Haram. We hope the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari will bring the insurgency problem to an end. I am going to pursue vigorously formulation of policies to help boost agriculture for our people. I also intend to bring and support a bill for

improvement of education and job creation for our people. As you know, education is important to my people and that is why my area is one of the educationally advanced societies in the state. I will do everything within my power to improve on this and support every government efforts to build and renovate schools.

It is unfair to say we are rubber stamp for the executive or that we did not perform

this because any leader who works for the people will surely reap the fruit when another election comes. But more than that, working for the people is like working for yourself because you will one day leave political office and return to your people. So whatever one does, one will still come back to share from the good or bad if the person fails to perform.

How would you react to the criticism that the House of Assembly has been a rubber stamp for the executive in the last four years?

It is unfair to say we are rubber stamp for the executive or that we did not perform. If you consider the environment where we were operating since 2011 when the last legislature was inaugurated, people will rather commend us because we were operating amid Boko Haram attacks amid bomb blasts and all manners of security threats. Our lives were threatened. Many legislators could not even sleep in their houses. We were running from one place to another, yet we never ran away from our primary responsibility of law making. We were attending sittings regularly and passing bills. We didn’t relocate to Abuja on the basis of insecurity.

We stayed here with our people, deliberating and making laws even when our lives were threatened. I think we should rather be commended not criticized.

Nigeria in need of electronic voting system

By Nnorom Chijioke

T

HE plethora of cases emanating from the 2015 Elections demands for total electronic voting system as the only panacea for credible, free and fair election in Nigeria. The election of 1993 that gave rise to the JUNE 12 debacle though adjudged credible and fair still had some concerns, which gave room for the obnoxious annulment that moved our dear country backward.

The Semi electronic voting system deployed in the 2015 election had brought to the fore the need for total Electronic system. From 2007 when Electronic registration was introduce till the last election, one thing is certain, that electronic data base cannot function well with a manual voting system The introduction of the card reader could not prevent controversy not with the mess from operating the equipment properly and result resolution. But one thing became clear, and that is, that some level of control was introduced which led to the level of credibility ascribed to the 2015 process.

Electronic voting will to a certain level limit the involvement of person from accreditation to

result release.

The electronic system we require would be self activated and operated via an INEC server based database, whereby both registration and any other process involved in the electoral process does not require a second person to deploy; depending on the ability or knowledge of the electorate. I know some people would want to latch into the old argument of the literacy level of Nigerians.

The deployment of GSM succeeded despite that and today even the old women in my village have phones they use in contacting their children anywhere in the world. The percentage of Nigerians in this cadre is small and could be catered for with special arrangement.

In this computer age what you do not have as regards software that could assist you in getting things done is what you have not conceived. Getting a software developer to develop software that could assist our dear country to deploy a fool proof electoral system is not hard to come by. I believe in my country and we need to challenge ourselves and not rely on what obtains elsewhere. The peculiar creatures

called Nigerians cannot be found anywhere in the world and I believe that Nigerians can solve the Nigerian problem if adequately motivated and challenged.

It is most appropriate for us to adopt an Electoral electronic system which begins with registration or re-registration of all eligible electorate and generate a new data base that would have the biometric of every electorate: e.g.

•NAME, PASSPORT, AND THUMB PRINT synchronized in a recordable storage format •Existing INEC WARD/LGA/ STATE CONSTITUENCY/ FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY/ SENATORIAL ZONE/STATE/ COUNTRY In this software, anyone can register from anywhere from any computer where he/she could access the INEC website and then complete the requisite form on the site. I do not intend to discuss the attributes of the software here but to adduce that it is workable and where we desire it, there are places this could be developed.

From a good electronic system, what we require from the National Assembly is to state the required minimum electorate for

ward to be created and the required minimum for state or Federal constituencies to be created. This would be easy for both the electoral body and the National Assembly as they do not require an agitation from a group of people or request from a political group, but the input from the electoral data which is available and retrievable from the commission’s data base.

With self activated and self operated electronic system, the country would be saving a lot of money from printing of materials, ballot boxes to the logistics of moving materials from one point to another etc. Secondly the process would be so designed that each electorate would ascertain from the screen if his ballot had been accepted. There would be no room for over voting, as the software would prompt a ballot with the voter’s picture and stored thumbprint which would only accept voting when the thumb for the voter marches with the thumb print in the data base.

Whatever features required for authenticating the voting system would be incorporated in the design.

Also one could vote for any election of his or her choice from anywhere in Nigeria if such a

person is a Nigerian registered voter. This would reduce the panic movement associated with election as well as save lives that are lost either by movement on the road or during election .

Electronic voting would be personal and discrete. Political thugery would be of no use then and ballot snatching etc would never be witnessed in our polity any longer.

This is a clarion call on our respected men and women of the hallowed chambers of this Eight National Assembly, to write their names in Gold by setting the pace for good governance through credible, free and fair Electoral process. They would be doing that if they approve for an Electronic system of electoral process in our dear country. We urge them take a critical look on what we would gain and make adequate appropriation for both the development of such software and its subsequent deployment for Elections in Nigeria.

From the last and previous elections it had become obvious that our projections had been wrong both on our voter population and voter turnout.

•Nnorom Chijioke can be reached via chijioketee@yahoo.com

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Protesters shut down NPDC flow station in Delta

By Perez Brisibe

U

GHELLI—HUNDREDS of protesting youths and women from Ughelli South and Udu Local Government Areas of Delta State, yesterday, stormed the Jeremi Flow Station of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, in Ughelli South council and forced workers at the facility to shut down production.

The protesters, mostly indigenes of Isoko Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, said that they were pressing home their demands for pipeline surveillance contracts and unpaid N1.4 billion funds from the OML30.

Demanding separate pipeline surveillance contracts for Urhobo and Isoko ethnic nationalities, spokespersons for the protesters, Efe Okovwurie, Morrister Idibra and Pastor Rochard Erhurhore

Okowa vows to tackle unemployment with entrepreneurship

By Festus Ahon

A

S A B A — D E LT A State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that his administration will focus on skill acquisition and entrepreneurship to reduce youth unemployment in the state.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the First Baptist Church, Oghara, held in honour of Erhiatake Ibori, legislator representing Ethiope West Local Government Area, Okowa said that his administration will create conducive environment for skill acquisition, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in order to create more job opportunities for Deltans.

He explained that giving the present financial challenges in the country, the state government cannot employ everybody into the state civil service, adding: “When technical and entrepreneur skills are developed and nurtured, it will become easier to obtain micro-credit support, create employment outside government and the state economy will prosper.”

in their remarks, warned that all facilities in OML 26, 30, 34, and 65 would remain shut until NPDC and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, grant them their requests.

The protesters who stormed the flow station at 9a.m., also demanded that NPDC should immediately create a Contract Department in its Edjeba office to take care of contractors in Delta State.

“NPDC is heavily indebted to most indigenous contractors and must pay up the nine months outstanding monthly salaries of host communities workers in OML 26, 30, 34, and 65,” they said.

VISIT: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, (right) receiving economic documents from the President of Rivers State Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum, Mr Ibifiri Bob-Manuel, at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Chijioke Nwakpa.

Pro-democracy group faults EFCC’s fresh charges against Sylva A pro-democracy organisation, Open Democracy Network, Nigeria, has expressed sadness over the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to press new fraud charges against the former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, based on a case that had been dismissed by the court.

In a statement in Abuja by S. Mahmood, the group accused EFCC of reactivating a frivolous litigation that embarrassed the country and the legal system.

EFCC had, in a fresh 50-count charge on Friday, accused Sylva, alongside Francis Okukoro, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku, of using three companies, Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited, to move about N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers, between 2009-2012, in the pretext of using the money to supplement the salaries of the state government’s workers.

But another 42-count charge before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was on June 10, dismissed and EFCC accused of abuse of court process.

Justice Evoh Chukwu, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja,

had earlier struck out another EFCC suit against Sylva involving a N2.5 billion charge, which centred on the same set of transactions as the N19.2 billion.

Open Democracy Network, Nigeria, in the statement, said: “Having lost its case, the EFCC has approached the Federal High Court once again, even though it knows it can never win this matter in a properly constituted court of law. This strange 50-count charge against Sylva constitutes an even greater abuse of court processes and, from every indication, it will suffer same fate as the other

frivolous ones. Why? “Even a fresh lawyer knows that once a case has been dismissed, the only option open to the loser is to go on appeal. It cannot return to the same court or a court of coordinate jurisdiction. Secondly, under the rules of the court, a prosecuting authority has to conclude its investigation before proceeding to court, satisfied that it has a case it can substantiate.

Investigations and trials cannot be open-ended. Sylva left office since January 2012, why is it difficult for EFCC to prove anything against him in court?"

Detained staff of security firm appeal for IG's intervention

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—FIVE staff of the Erhengbo Okomo Security Services Nig. Ltd, Benin, Edo State, who were allegedly arrested at their place of work at Oliha Market, Benin, by men of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad, have appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to intervene in their matter to ensure that justice was done.

In a petition to the IG by their counsel F. Osadolor, they accused the police officers from the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad who were sent to Benin in the wake of cult related activities, of abusing their powers and foisting injustice on innocent Nigerians.

They insisted that they went to work on the day they were arrested following the appointment of their employer, Ehrengbo Okomo Security Nig. Ltd, by the Oredo Local Government Area as Chief Security Officer of Oliha market, Benin.

According to them, the appointment of the former Chief Security Officer of the market was earlier terminated by the authorities of Oredo council, adding that they assumed duties on May 15, 2015 in the presence of policemen from neigbouring police stations.

Ayomike family acquires confiscated Nanna Museum photographs from UK

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—THE Johnson Ayomike family of Warri, Delta State, has acquired from a museum in the United Kingdom, UK, some historic photographs taken away by colonialists from the Nanna Living Museum, Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of the state.

Chairman of Warri Study Group, WSG, Edward Ekpoko, told Vanguard, yesterday, in Warri that the photographs were those of the Nanna

palatial residence, adjoining warehouses, stores and town, as well as four British warships, Phoebe, Widgeon, Alecto and Philomel, depicting scenes in Ebrohimi before and during the British/Nanna war of 1894.

He said that the family will hand over the celebrated photographs to the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Usman, for the Nanna Living History Museum on June 24.

Ekpoko said the warships commanded by Admiral Bedford in September 20, 1894, engaged in “hot exchange of booming canon with Ebrohimi every five minutes with smokes filling the air over the area."

According to him, former governor of the old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, HRH Prince Edun Akenzua and other personalities will attend the epoch-making occasion with the current head of Nanna family, Chief Victor Nanna, as chief host.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015— 43

ABIA: Revenue contractors defy Ikpeazu’s order

30-yr-old man accused of stealing N652, 000

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

By Precious Akubueze & Lepe Opeyemi

A

BA—DESPITE Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s directive to revenue agents to stop harassing residents and motorists in Abia State, the agents in Aba have continued pasting demand notices, warning residents to comply or be dealt with.

Governor Ikpeazu had stopped the payment of all levies being paid in the state until they were harmonized.

Our correspondent who visited some areas of the city as Ngwa road, Ogbor Hill, Umungasi, Umule, Abayi, Ohanku and Obohia roads, discovered renewed pasting of demand notices by revenue agents for infrastructure and Sanitation levies being collected

by Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA,.

One of such demand noticesread: “Last Warning. With reference to the previous demand notice served to you for the payment of sanitation fee for 2015 amounting to N9, 600, you are therefore warned in your own interest to make the payment on or before 48 hours of this notice or face prosecution.”

When one of the revenue agents who declined to have his name on print was confronted on the governor’s order, he said the order did not affect payment of sanitation levy.

Our correspondent also discovered some revenue agents who lined up major road junctions in Aba collecting assorted revenue and tolls.

Vanguard reports that the residents and businessman in the state have lamented the incidence of multiple taxation which had increased the cost of doing business in the state.

A resident of Umule area, Emma

L

AGOS—A 30yearold man, Odey Thomas, was, yesterday, arraigned before the Magistrate's Court of Lagos State for allegedly stealing the sum of N652, 000.

The defendant is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Supol Olu Ojaokomo, told the court that the defendant, with no fixed address, stole the sum of N652,000, from one Saheed Ayiaka Ajayi to procure a marriage permit for his in-law, Amisu, based in London, a presentation he knew to be false.

He said the incident occurred on April 10, 2015, at 22 Road Festac Town in Apapa area of Lagos State.

According to the prosecutor, the offence is punishable under section 409, 312(a) and 285(1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State Nigeria 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The Magistrate, Mr P.A Adekomaya, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two responsible sureties.

He adjourned the matter till July 13, 2015, for mention.

Orji told Vanguard that he heard that the state government had stopped the collection of levies but that the agents warned them to pay the levy or be prosecuted, claiming that infrastructure levy was not among the levies stopped.

When contacted, Senior Special

Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, said multiple taxation had been a hydra-headed problem for the state and called on the residents to resist such payments as the governor’s order was still in force.

He said Governor Ikpeazu was

trying to harmonize the issue of multiple taxation, block revenue leakages and grow the economy of the state by encouraging businesses through a situation where payments would be made into government approved bank accounts.

Ugwuanyi swears in SSG

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,yesterday, revealed that the choice of his Secretary to the State Government,SSG, was based purely on merit, devoid of sentiments or political consideration.

Ugwuanyi disclosed this during the swearing in ceremony of the

new SSG, Mr. Gabriel Ajah, at the Exco Hall, Government House, Enugu.

The governor described Ajah as a thorough-bred civil servant, adding that his appointment marked a further demonstration of the state government’s resolve to take what it believed would constitute giant strides in the arduous task of governing Enugu State in this dispensation.

The governor further explained that Ajah, prior to his appointment, was the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the state, having been appointed into the former office since 2001.

He said that Aja had served the state meritoriously and charged him to deliver on the new mandate given to him to justify the confidence reposed in him.

MINISTERIAL SLOT: Enugu-North APC rallies behind

Ezea .Says the people have been marginalized

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu-North senatorial district, has appealed to other zones in the state to support the nomination of Okey Ezea, governorship candidate of the party in the April 11 election, for ministerial appointment.

The zone regretted that since 1999, the zone has not produced a Minister in the Federal Executive Council, FEC, a situation that had embittered the people.

In a joint news briefing with six Local Government Area Chairmen of the party that make up Enugu-North senatorial zone, chairman of the zone,Mr. Emecheta Ugwu, lamented that

the zone had produced no minister since the 4th republic.

He said: “in the spirit of justice,equity and good governance,Enugu-North senatorial zone of Enugu State should be allowed to produce the next minister.

“We elected Ezea as our nominee from the zone haven polled 21 votes to beat other contenders in an election the committee conducted. ‘’We have been marginalized in the scheme of things. We have credible men and women from our area who are eminently qualified to be ministers.

“We control over fifty percent votes and population in the state.

Justice can only be said to be done when unequals are treated equally. It has been a trend in Enugu State for ministers to

emerge from the zone where the governor emerged from. Our own should not be different.”

Continuing, the APC chieftain expressed dismay over the conduct of the party leaders after the just concluded elections, frowning on the acrimony generated by the disbursement of campaign funds.

He lamented that rather than concentrate on building a foothold for the party, its leaders had engaged in blackmail, backbiting, influence-peddling to pull the party down.

He quickly called on its leaders to close ranks and prepare for the December local government council elections which would provide APC the opportunity to field 277 candidates for 260 wards and 17 local government councils to reposition the party.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On state govts' inability to pay their workers’ salaries

T

his is the highest show of irresponsibility on the part of these states.

States should remember that payment of workers’ salaries is a contractual obligation which took effect the very day each worker filled out and signed the employment form. -Mr. Ime Okon, Lecturer

O

ur politicians can not do anything right. In some places, when things get tough, government will cut spending to save and rescue the economy.

Only in Nigeria do we see this kind of nonsense. Miss Ukogu Chinasa, Musician

I

t is important that the legislature enact laws which peg a ceiling on money each state of the federation can borrow based on the economic strength of that state. No governor would exceed the limit when such law is on ground. -Miss Chika Dike, NYSC member

L

ike every contract, an exit clause is built in where the worker or employer would give 30 days’ notice of termination of this contract or pay one month’s salary in lieu of notice. So why must these state governments owe the workers? -Mr. Emmanuel Iyoke, Businessman

T

he excuse that these states had issued ‘irrevocable payment orders’ to contractors is untenable and such act goes to show the abysmal level of irresponsibility and crass display of impunity exhibited by these states. They should pay their workers.

-Miss Orlietan SalamyWorker

I

t is conventional that in circumstances like this, the party that has breached the contract must have to pay damages for such, which should be spread as interest accruing on each worker’s unpaid salaries. What is NLC doing? -Mrs. Morayo Simeon, Businesswoman

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

El-Rufa’i appoints Dada-Onazi as Head of Service

K

A D U N A — GOVERNOR Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has announced the appointment of Mrs Alisabatu Dada-Onazi as the new Head of Service of the state.

El-Rufa’i made the announcement on Sunday at a civic reception organised in honour of his Deputy, Mr Barnabas BalaBantex, in Kafanchan.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that before her appointment, the new head of service was the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

RAMADAN: Regulate your feeding during fasting period, diabetics told

K

ANO—THE Diabetic Patients’ Association of Nigeria, Kano branch, has advised diabetics to regulate their feeding during the Ramadan fasting period to avoid crisis.

Prof. Musa Borodo, Chairman of the Association, gave the advice during the association’s sensitisation lecture for diabetic patients in Kano.

Borodo disclosed that about 2 million people were living with diabetis in Nigeria and that people with history of diabetis in their family are likely to be patients.

He explained that it was important for the patients to ensure that they regulated their meals and medications during the Ramadan period in order to have a successful fasting, free from crisis.

Dr Muhammed Ibrahim, the Chief Speaker at the event, said about 300 million people were afflicted by the disease, globally.

He added that the figure would multiply in the next 20 years.

Ibrahim said that the ailment was common in developing countries where nutrition is highly unregulated.

Court of Appeal sets up 2nd election petition tribunal for Kogi

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—IN view of the high number of election petitions arising from the national and state House of Assemblies elections, the Court of Appeal has constituted another election tribunal to hear the cases in Kogi State.

Chairman of the second Tribunal, Justice Akiniyi Akintola from the Oyo State Judiciary made this known yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, during the inaugural session of the three-man panel, saying it was created out of “expediency.”

According to Akintola, “The Court of Appeal set up the panel taking into cognisance, the time constraint for one panel dispensing justice on 29 petitions within the statutory time frame of 180 days.

“We (Tribunal) seek the cooperation of counsels and urge them to dwell on the substance of each matter to ensure that justice is dispensed within the limited time frame.

“We will appreciate if you

MEDICAL MISSION: From left; Medical Expert from USA, Dr. Buari Osman; Acting COO, Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Phillip Akinola; medical experts from United States of America, USA, Dr.Dapo Popoola; Dr. Olabisi Jagun; Dr.Alexander Jagun and Dr. Anu Esuola, at the Isale-Eko Medical Mission, organized by Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Grace Arena in conjunction with the medical experts from USA, in Lagos. don’t embark on voyages, the objective of which is diversionary, time wasting or to distract our attention. We solicit your cooperation in ensuring that we utilise the limited time available to us. We will do our

best to ensure that within our ability, justice is dispensed.”

Responding on behalf of other counsels, Pius Akubo, SAN, who welcomed the judges to the state, said the lawyers were aware of

election petition time-frame, and pledged that they would strictly adhere to the time line.

“We are very conscious of our responsibility under God, to advance the cause of justice,” he said.

Patronize registered banks, not wonder banks, NDIC tells Nigerians

By Marie-Therese Nanlong Corps, NYSC Orientation

J

OS—THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has assured that Nigerians had no access to banks and urged the people to imbibe the culture of saving their money in registered instead of wonder banks.

Addressing the Batch “A” members of the 2015 National Youth Corps, at their orientation at the Plateau State National Youths Service

Camp, Mangu, he said it was important to sensitize the corps members on the need to patronize “registered banks” in their own interest.

He said that the essence of orientation was to create awareness about the activities of NDIC in a bid to engender confidence in the country ’s banking system.

His words, “This orientation is necessary because many people are not aware of the activities of the NDIC and may

not have confidence in the banking system but the banking system in Nigeria is healthy.

“All over the world there is awareness problem, so we decide to go to NYSC camps to sensitize corps members.

Some of our awareness campaigns are also in secondary schools; we also have radio jingles to create this awareness.

“As at January 2014, there were about 113 countries with deposit insurance schemes all

Robbers attack NAN's Taraba State correspondent

J

ALINGO—THE Taraba State Police Command Sunday confirmed an armed robbery attack on the residence of Alhaji Adamu Sadiq, the State Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Mr Joseph Kwaji, the Command’s spokesman, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Jalingo, said the robbers attacked Sadiq’s residence at about 10 p.m. on Saturday and carted away his Honda car and other valuables.

Kwaji, however, said the car had been recovered, but that the correspondent’s home theatre set, a television set, IPad, cell phones, laptops, desktop computer, among others, were still with the attackers.

He said the police had since commenced investigation into the incident, stressing that the perpetrators would soon be brought to justice.

Narrating his ordeal, Sadiq said he returned home after seeing off a friend who visited him at about 9.30 p.m., and met seven men armed with guns

inside his house.

“They requested that I should give them money.

They told me that they have come to collect the money I had and that if I refused to give them, they would kill me.

“Unfortunately for them, I had no money on me and that was how they resorted to packing my electronics and other personal belongings.

“They requested that I give them my car key which I did and they packed my electronics in it and drove off,” Sadiq said.

over the world, but 65 percent of Nigerians have no access to banks either because they have no means of earning money or they dwell in rural areas.

“We encourage people to form the habit of saving their money in registered banks and not wonder banks so that they do not end up being duped with no possibility of recovering their savings.

“The corporation is tasked with the responsibility of providing technical and financial assistance to banks and paying off depositors when a bank fails as every bank accredited to carry out banking business is a member of NDIC. “NDIC has the capacity to pay a depositor the maximum amount of N500,000 in case a bank fails within 90 days when the proper procedure is followed.”

Stating some of the challenges facing the Corporation, Vontau noted,” we have judicial problems when a bank fails, low level of awareness about NDIC in Nigeria, poor record keeping of customers’ accounts in banks and difficulty in realizing asset in case of bank liquidation.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015—45

C M Y K

VISIT: Mr. Victor Omoregie, Corporate Affairs/Protocol Manager, Vanguard Media Ltd. (right), and members of Business Club, Marywood Girls College, Ebute Metta, Lagos, when the students paid Vanguard a visit. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese.

ETISALAT/KIDS: From left— Oludare Onasanya, Co-Producer, Kids Say the Darndest Things Nigeria; Enitan Denloye, Director, Brands and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria; Chichi Nwoko, Executive Producer, Kids Say the Darndest Things Nigeria; Idiareno Atimomo, Manager, Youth Segment; and Modupe Thani, Head, Sponsorship and Events, both of Etisalat Nigeria, at the premier of the Etisalat-sponsored Kids Say the Darndest Things, in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

PDP WOMEN: From left— Mrs Adepeju Obiazor, Coordinator Ojo Vanguard; Mrs Olushola Oladeinbo, Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Woman Leader; Mrs Aishat Obasa, wife of Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, House of Representatives member for Ojo Constituency, and Mrs Amaka Obi, at the victory party by Ojo PDP for Mr. Obasa.

LG: From left— Mr. Seonghak Kim, Managing Director, LG Electronics, West Africa Operations; Mrs Foluke Adeleke, Managing Director, Okay Phones; and Mr. Steve Seungeui Lee, General Manager, Mobile Communications Division, LG Electronics, West Africa Operations, during the launch of LG G4 smartphone in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

WALIMATUL: From left— Alhaji Munir Bankole, MD, Medview Airline and Founder, Ikotun Arabic and Islamic Centre; Oba Abdul Azeez Asiwaju, Onikotun of Ikotunland; Imam Abu-Bakry Obalanlege, Chief Imam of Ikotun Central Mosque, and Engr. Lookman Animashaun, during the 14th Walimatul Qur'an of the Centre in Ikotun, Lagos.

SCIENCE CONFAB: From left— Mr. Qaiser Rashid, Marketing Manager, Gaviscon, RB West Africa; Professor Musa Borodo, President, Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN; Dr. Asif Naqvi, ConsultantGastroenterologist and Director of Medical Education at Princess Diana of Wales Hospital, United Kingdom; and Dr. Samaila Adamu, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, at the Gaviscon-sponsored 8th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of SOGHIN in Ilorin, Kwara State.

ATLANTIC RESORT: From left— Mr. Barry Spencer Hughes, Senior Vice President, Hok London; Mrs Francisca Dyegh, GM, Sales and Marketing, Grenadines Homes; Mrs Semira Oguntoyinbo, GM, Corporate Services, Propertymart Limited, and Mrs Noimot Olatunji, Acting Managing Director, Grenadines Homes, at a briefing on the partnership between Grenadines Homes and Hok London for the proposed Atlantic Resort project in Lagos.

SCHOL ARSHIP : From left— Kunmi Balogun, Marketing Communications Manager, Eunisell Chemicals Limited; Vincent Nbinye; Victoria Dede, both scholarship benficiaries; Ken Amadi, Chief Executive Office, Eunisell Chemicals Limited, at the 2015 Eunisell Scholarship presentation to students of Nkpogwu community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

By Ikenna Asomba

O

ver the last few weeks, residents across parts of Lagos have continuously been overwhelmedby floods resulting from the heavy downpour in the state, which most times begin in the early hours of the day until midevening.

The heavy flooding apparent in most parts of the state, residents say has exposed the poor drainage channels and dilapidated state of roads in the megacity, even as several residents have been sacked from their homes.

While the flood has worsened the already chaotic transport system in the city centre, motorists and other road users are now subjected to spending several man-hours in traffic snarls. Commuters who are impatient to bear the traffic snarls, usually trek long distances to get to their business and work arenas.

Flashpoints Sadly, every rainy season,year after year areas on flood plains fand, low-line areas are flooded. They include Ajegunle, Mushin, AyoboIpaja, Agboroko, Iba, Igbolerin, Araromi, Coker Village, Amukoko, Ijora Badia, Ajangbadi, Alabarago, Atiporomeh, Badagry, OwodeOnirin axis, Owode-Elelede, Kuramo Beach, Alpha Beach, Okun Ajah, Mende-Maryland, Iwaya, Jakande Estate, Oke Afa, Ejigbo and Bucknor area in Ejigbo, Other areas are Maza Maza, Ijegun Isheri, Agbado, Akute, Agege among others are worst hit by the rampaging flood. Even residents in highbrow areas like Ikoyi, Lekki Peninsula, Surulere, Ikeja and Victoria Island, particularly Ahmadu Bello Way. Lagos intervenes It is however, against this backdrop, that the Lagos State Government last Tuesday, advised residents living in the low line areas (flood plains) to relocate due to the rising level of water from rainfall.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Ayodeji Adenekan, who gave the advice, said it became necessary for affected residents to relocate because of the persistent rains in the state since March.

According to Adenekan, the rains had led to the rise in water level of the lagoons and rivers as a result of back-flow into adjoining low line areas, adding that this had also led to the inability of the various channels and drains to discharge.

*One of the flooded streets in Lagos.

Residents lament as flood wreaks havoc in low-line areas *LASG begins dredging, inspection of drains Still in its concerted efforts to tackle menace of flood across the flashpoints in the state, officials of Office of Drainage Services, led by the Permanent Secretary, Adenekan, last Friday, visited areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, in Victoria Island; Igbojuwo, Amodu, Karimu Taiwo, Okuribido, Fadairo, Smith and Onitire Road, all in Onitire, Surulere; Odon-Eran, Itire beside CeleBus/stop; Kobiti Street, Oniselu Street, Akobi Crescent, all in Mushin; Demuren and Ogunshowobo Streets, both in Kosofe and Odo Iyaalaro, Ojota, also known as System 1, Ikeja.

Speaking to Vanguard, Adenekan who said the visit was aimed at inspecting the major drainage projects in the state, some which are currently being dredged and de-silted, however, advised residents to desist from dumping refuse and domestic waste into the drains and canals.

He said: “We will still go to other areas. The programme is going on all over the state. We are monitoring the progress of the programme, so we are going to visit various locations.

We have already planned all the places that we are working on, and we also have plans to monitor them, to ensure that work is going on well.

Noting that his office aims to barricade the dredged drains and canals to avoid residents dumping their domestic and commercial wastes into them, he added that, “When there is need to have KAI to monitor drainages we have dredged and silted, we will draft them there. However, normally for every drainage channel, there is a right of way. There is a minimum distance from the canal that you can develop. So, we are going to put barricades in some of these canals, as soon as we have funds,

For a very long time now, especially during the rainy season, the three access roads in and out of our community have become no-goareas

because it is necessary.

“We have already given advice to people living in lowline areas to relocate. This happens in every civilized society that whenever there is imminent disaster like flood, people are alerted and asked to move out of their present environment, until after the disaster. As a state, it is not possible for us to house everybody living in low-line areas. But what we can do is advise them to temporally leave those areas when the rain is falling, because there is possibility of drowning. If they do that, in another few hours they can come back to prevent the loss of lives.

“We really need to change our attitude in Lagos. As seen in the Odo-Eran market, Itire that we visited, the traders feel they don’t need refuse bins to drop their wastes. They just throw the wastes into the canal. We are really bothered by this, that is why we are stepping up our sensitization programme. We are deploying vans around markets in the state to talk to traders regularly. Also, we are going to engage the market leaders on the need to collaborate with us in talking to their people to change their attitude.”

Residents lament Meanwhile, Dapo Oluwa, a

resident of Atiporomeh in Badagry, who lamented the ordeal of residents in his neighbourhood said: “It is terrible.

Residents in Atiporomeh, Badagry are really finding it difficult to move in and out of their communities.

For a very long time now, especially during the rainy season, the three access roads in and out of our community have become no-go-areas.

Infact, we are afraid of a major flood disaster, that’s why we are calling on the state government to come to our aid, especially in the area of building roads and deep drainage channels here.”

Similarly, Ejike Agwuegbo, a resident of Satelite Town, a neighbourhood behind Chevron Estate said: “Since this rainy season, the roads in our neighbourhood is flooded, because the owners of Chevron Estate allotted lands to people who built shops on drains in the area.

The authorities of Oriade Local Council Development Area, didn’t help matters, in stopping this illegality, as they collect levies from these shop owners. This had left residents here in a frustration to move in and out of our homes. Even, when it doesn’t rain for days, our neighbourhood is still flooded.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 47

Menace of tanker drivers takes front burner in Ambode’s first week

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

B

arely a week after Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode took over as the 14th governor of Lagos State, he has been greeted with two tragic incidents of fuel tanker accidents, which hit the IyanaIpaja and Egbe Idimu areas of the state. Like a baptism of fire, Ambode was obviously rattled by the tragic inferno which led to destruction of houses and properties worth several millions of naira.

In the first tragedy, a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), reportedly, fell-off the Iyana Ipaja Bridge spilling its contents.

Having embarked on an official trip to Abuja, at the close of work on Monday, June 1, and due to be back in the state on Tuesday evening, he quickly adjusted his plans, returning to Lagos Tuesday morning.

He immediately set up a working committee to find out the immediate and remote causes of the accidents, to prevent recurrences. Defying an early morning downpour, the governor visited the accident scene to access the extent of damage, which had 44 shops, 21 cars and six tricycles, parked along five streets destroyed, leaving 14 persons injured. No life was lost, owing to the prompt response by the State Fire Service.

Irked by the extent of damage, Ambode who commiserated with traders and residents blamed the incident on the carelessness and indiscipline of the truck driver, affirmed that it was time they observed measures to prevent a recurrence.

His words: “I would receive the report of the fire incident in the next 48 hours and we would ensure we do something positively to ensure that life can return to normal.”

The Idimu incident which occurred some days later, was

He immediately set up a working committee to find out the immediate and remote causes of the accidents, to forstall a recurrence

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (2nd right) accessing the level of damage of properties by the tanker explosion accident at -Idimu during his inspection visit to the scene. more devastating as 70 shops and 34 houses were razed by the surging inferno.

The Director of the State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, blamed the incident on the driver of the conveying 33, 000 litres of petrol. Fadipe said the recalcitrant driver was contesting the road with another tanker driver on a sharp bend. This he said led the petrol-laden tanker to fall, spilling its contents to over

100metres from where it occurred.

Ambode summons stakeholders’ meeting The governor immediately called for an urgent stakeholders’ meeting with all the unions of tanker drivers saying that though no life was lost, the extent of damage to properties and the trauma residents would have to go through was unacceptable.

“We do not want this to repeat

itself again. We have said it before, we need to address our tanker drivers and start to enforce our traffic laws. I have directed that the union of tanker drivers we would meet on Monday morning and we must make pronouncement relating to the usage of our roads,” the governor stated.

Moved by the pleas of some residents who lost their properties to the inferno, the governor directed the Lagos

State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, to collate the names of victims so as to provide immediate relief to cushion their pain.

Following another averted tanker accident, on Alake Bus Stop, Idimu-Ikotun Road, Ambode has set up a committee to examine the immediate and remote causes of the incidences witnessed last week.

At the meeting held at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode mandated the committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Tunji Bello, to prepare guidelines for ethical conduct for tanker drivers over the next two weeks. Other members of the Committee include the Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Transport, Special Duties, Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, Director Fire Service, representative of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, National Union of Petroleum Engineering Natural Gas, National Association of Road Transport Owners, Petroleum Tankers Drivers and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

Embrace technology, Ambode charges LASTMA, KAI, VIO

By Dotun Ibiwoye

I

n a bid to boost the morale of officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has said that without the agency, Lagos would be a chaotic city.

Ambode who spoke at a meeting with officials of the agencies at Lagos House, Ikeja, said his administration was poised to give agencies such as LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) a new face.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor, however, noted that he would get the commendations for whatever they do right and the blame for their misdeeds.

He said: “Just visualize that there is no LASTMA on the road, Lagos would be more chaotic. I appeal strongly for your cooperation and support.

As little as you may think your work is, you are going to be the new face of this government.

Anything that you do, that is good, I am going to get

commendation for it and anything you do that is bad I am going to get condemnation for it. So that is my appeal and it is very important to all of you” Speaking to the LASTMA officials, the Governor said the feedback he gets from people is that the traffic situation in the state has worsened, thus, officers must do everything to provide fast track solutions that would ensure free flowing traffic again.

He charged the LASTMA officials to identify trouble spots as it affects traffic bottle necks in the State and deploy additional hands to such places so that traffic can be free

flowing again at all times.

He cautioned against the trend of agencies of the government torturing citizens or making life miserable for them through their actions.

“I would make life simpler for every Lagosian and I would make each Lagosian to be happier than ever before. The duty of every one of you here including me is to make life easier for every Lagosian.

Whatever role we find ourselves, the question is what is it that I am doing or that I have been told to do? Should I do it and make life simpler?

Should I make people that come across me in the course of my

LASTMA officials controlling traffic

duty happier? Once you are able to answer those two questions, you would see that your pattern of service delivery would change,” he said.

He charged the operatives to use technology in arresting those who contravene the law instead of resorting to harassment or forcibly taking over peoples vehicles, adding that the same technology that is used in sending message of reminders about vehicle documents could be adopted in tracking people who commit traffic offenses down without forcible seizing their cars.

He urged the KAI officials to go back to the streets and enforce the law against street trading in a civil manner, pointing that the agency should also look at the option of adopting the use of social media to achieve effectiveness.

He frowned at the practice of VIS officials impounding vehicles for days saying technology should be adopted to ensure that the practice whereby vehicles are detained for so long in VIO yards is eliminated.

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54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Four power firms get licences, target 774mw

By Michael Eboh & Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, licensed four power generating firms to produce a combined capacity of 774 megawatts of electricity.

The companies, according to Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, are: Pan Africa Solar Limited, Nigeria Solar Capital Partners Limited, Proton Energy Limited and Turbine Drives Limited.

To this end, the country earned $250,000 (about N50 million) from payments made by the companies before the issuance of the licences.

Specifically, Pan Africa Solar paid a licensing fee of $30,000 (about N6 million); Nigerian Solar Capital, $40,000 (about N8 million); Proton Energy, $60,000 (about N12 million), while Turbine Drives paid $120,000 (about N24 million).

The companies obtained the licence after satisfying NERC’s requirements for the award of the on-grid licence and making the necessary payments.

Pan Africa was licensed to generate 24 megawatts of electricity through a solar-powered Independent Power Plant, IPP, at Kankia, Katsina State, while Nigeria Solar was granted an on-grid electricity generation licence in respect of a 100 megawatts solar-powered IPP at Ganjuwa, Bauchi State.

In addition, Proton’s licence was in respect of a 150 megawatts gas-fired IPP at Ogorode, Sapele, Delta State, while Turbine Drives’ was in respect of a 500 megawatts gas-fired on-grid electricity IPP at Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, while presenting the licences to the companies in Abuja, urged the owners to abide by the rules of the market.

He said: “The rules and procedures guiding the operations of the market were globally comparable.

We will do our best to follow the rules, which are globally comparable.”

ICT ROUNDTABLE: From left (front row)— Engr. Lanre Ajayi, President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, ATCON; Dr. Wunmi Hassan, President, High Tech for Nigerian Women and Youth; Dr. Sola Afolabi, Team Leader, Accelerated Trade in West Africa, ATWA; Dr. Jinson Olufuye, Chairman of African ICT Alliance, AfiCTA; and Waudo Siganga, Chairman, Computer Society of Kenya, at the just-concluded AfICTA CEO Roundtable in Abuja.

KWANKWASO to SARAKI: Don’t destroy APC with your ambition

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—FORMER Governor of Kano State and Senator representing Kano Central, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday, warned the Senate President, Bukola Sarki, against using his ambition to destroy the party they laboured to build and betray the confidence which Nigerians reposed in them by voting them for change.

In an interview with newsmen in Abuja, the former Defence Minister regretted that the Senate President had used his ambition to destroy

party discipline and should be punished for it.

Kwankwaso also said the position of Deputy Senate President, currently being held by Ike Ekweremadu, did not belong to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and must be returned to All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that for the 16 years that PDP ruled the country, at no time did the opposition get the benefit of having such a position.

According to the APC chieftain, Saraki’s ambition has given the defeated PDP an opportunity to reap where they did not sow because they were

rejected in the polls by Nigerians.

‘I’m most qualified’

Declaring that he (Kwankwanso) was very qualified to contest the Senate Presidency because he was the only governor that gave President Buhari 1.9 million votes, which is 100 percent in Kano state and the only Senator that gave the party 750,000 from his senatorial district, he noted that since the President came from his zone, they agreed to give the seat to another zone which was middle belt, but Saraki’s ambition

OPC pulls out of pipeline surveillance contract

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AGOS— THE Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, said it would pull out its men from guarding all Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipelines nationwide from yesterday.

Mr. Yinka Oguntimehin, spokesman for Gani Adams faction of the congress, said this in Lagos yesterday.

Oguntimehin said it became necessary because the corporation had yet to start paying for the work its men were doing.

He said the corporation was, as part of the contractual agreement entered into three months ago, expected to start payment.

The spokesman said OPC personnel had continued to guard the pipelines with the belief that the corporation would pay as promised.

He said: “When we were

given the contract on March 15, it was agreed that they will release money for OPC personnel for effective protection of NNPC pipelines nationwide.

“We lost one man last month because of the activities of the vandals here in Lagos, while some of our men were arrested in the course of protecting the pipeline.

“We had told them to release some of our money before the new administration took over, but they kept promising us.

“Enough is enough. Three months have passed since our members started monitoring the pipeline, and we have fulfilled our part of the agreement.

“By 10p.m. today (yesterday), our personnel will move out of the NNPC pipelines nationwide and this applies to other groups in the

country.”

Government had in March awarded a multi-billion naira contract to OPC to secure NNPC pipelines in the South-West region.

...asks police to produce missing operatives

Meanwhile, OPC has asked police to produce three of its operatives guarding petroleum pipelines in Sagamu, Ogun State.

According to a statement by the organisation, those missing were Babatunde Adeyemi, Roland Ajayi and Orungbeja Dele-Osagie.

They reportedly went missing after a confrontation with police in Sagamu, Ogun State, axis of the pipeline security contract that OPC holds with Federal Government through the New Age Global Business Ltd.

disrupted the process.

The Senator representing Kano Central pointed out that “from the day President Buhari’s victory was announced, things have started changing in the country.

The power situation is improving, shares in the market are going up, while the exchange rate is stabilising.”

Kwankwaso said things would have been put right by the party immediately after the official announcement of the results, but the leadership delayed and this was what Saraki capitalised on to do what he did.

On whether President Buhari actually summoned the meeting of all elected National Assembly members on the platform of APC on the day of the election of Senate President, Kwankwaso said that it was on the morning of that day that he received a text message, that President Buhari will address them at the International Conference Centre by 10 am.

He added that the message did not emanate from the President, but that the person did not indicate his name.

Senator Kwankwaso said when Saraki stated his ambition, he advised him not to go too far with it because as far as they were concerned, PDP was dead, and now he has given them hope.

On the way forward, he said if he were the party chairman, he would personally write to each APC Senators and House of Representative member to express his displeasure over the unfortunate incident.

He added that PDP have their own agenda to tackle APC and, at the end of the day, irritate the President and put hurdles before him.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 55

Pandemonium as thugs invade Bauchi Assemby, chase members away

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—THERE was pandemonium yesterday at the Bauchi State House of Assembly, when thugs invaded the legislative building during the inauguration of the 8th Assembly.

Despite the heavy security personnel at the Assembly complex, the violent thugs who came from different local government manoeuvred their ways into the Assembly complex disrupting its proceedings.

The hoodlums, who entered the legislative chambers, forced the newly-inaugurated members including their only female member to scamper out of their seats for safety.

Not contended, the suspects climbed onto chairs and tables in the chamber breaking many in the process.

The development forced the 8th Assembly to hurriedly move for adjournment as members made their ways to the Speaker’s office for a meeting.

Security operatives who had a tough time controlling the situation later used tear gas to disperse them.

When the tension was difused, the newly elected Majority Leader, Hon Aminu Tukur lamented that his Android phone was stolen just as there were other reported cases of loss of handsets and valuables.

The Police Public Relations Office, of the state police command, DSP Haruna Mohammed said he had no details of what transpired as he was not at the inauguration, but promised to get back to Vanguard.

By Innocent Anaba

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VISIT: Engr. Peter Jack, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA (3rd left), flanked from left; Bosun Ayeni; Nneoma Ofodile, GM; Phil Okoroafor, Director; Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman, all of Digital Africa Global Consult Ltd, and John Chime of NITDA, during Digital Africa Global Consult's team's courtesy visit to NITDA.

BOKO HARAM: 10 killed, 12 injured in Potiskum

By Ndahi Marama & Bala Ajiya

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AMATURU—ABOUT 10 persons, including the leader of a vigilante group, were killed, while 12 others were seriously wounded when a suicide bomber detonated an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, at the Vigilante Group

Nigerite launches Kalsi building board solutions today

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IGERITE Ltd, a com plete building solutions company has concluded plans to formally launch Kalsi, a new innovative product which is the major component in the dry construction system.

The Kalsi product launch, which is slated for today in Lagos, is being packaged as an elaborate event in view of its pre-eminence in providing sustainable and modern building solutions with a view to achieving the nation’s quest for resolving housing deficit in the country.

Already, major players in the built environment sector have been contacted to be part of the ceremony, which will herald a new dawn in the country.

Besides the unveiling of Kalsi to the target audience, the event will also witness a keynote address by Nigerite’s Managing Director, Mr. Frank Le Bris and a short presentation of Kalsi building board solutions as a

Coscharis appeals court order to disclose information on Oduah's bullet proof cars

major component of the dry construction system by Wale Ogungbe, a builder, on the company’s resolve to maintain its market leadership as a complete building solutions company.

Office in Potiskum, the commercial city of Yobe State at 12.20pm yesterday.

Potiskum is about 100 kilometres west of Damaturu, the state capital.

The IED was said to have been concealed in a desktop computer which the suspected terrorist kept at the vigilante group office.

According to a member of the vigilante group, Isa Ibrahim, the said Boko Haram suicide bomber who carried the ‘’deadly computer’’ in a carton was arrested for allegedly committing an offence.

However, the desk top computer which was inside a carton was brought as part of the suspects bail condition.

“As we were about to confirm the ownership and content of the

carton he was carrying, before handing him over to the military and police for further investigation, it exploded, in our office here in Potiskum.

“Unfortunately, our leader and a woman, and six others were killed in this bomb blast. There are about a dozen others that also sustained injuries in their limbs and various degrees of burns,” Ibrahim said yesterday in a telephone interview.

He said the insurgents had “adopted new strategies of attacks and bombings in Yobe State,” by using different methods, as happened yesterday (Monday).

The Nigerian Red Cross (NRC) and volunteer rescue teams, according to him, later evacuated the dead bodies along with the injured ones to the hospital for deposition, identifications and

‘Virtual fibre solutions'll improve internet services'

By Emeka Aginam

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HE Managing Director, WaveTek Nigeria Limited, Mr Ken Spann has urged operators in the Information Communication Technology, ICT, ecosystem in the country to deploy virtual fibre solutions in their operations to deepen internet penetration and improve quality of services.

Spann, a former staff of Microsoft lamented that there were several applications developed by the software giant that could not work in Nigeria

due to lack of internet capacity.

“Despite the great software Microsoft and others produce, it is frustrating that much of it is not available for Nigerians due to the lack of ubiquitous, affordable internet,’’ he said while presentating the WaveTek E-band forum in Lagos.

His words, “Our point-to-point high-capacity wireless solutions offer high performance, costeffective alternatives to fibre circuits for mobile back haul, service provider, network extensions, and government/municipal network applications. It provides fibreequivalent connections between

locations by transmitting data over microwave or millimetre wave frequencies at gigabit speeds (2Gbps) with future upgrade up to 10 Gbps and has the advantage of add/drop data ports, optional wire-speed AES encryption builtin and provides redundancy for existing fibre network.

“Our solutions are applicable to meet enterprise needs such as server centralisation, remote data storage and backup and leased line replacement.’’

He outlined its benefits to include the utilisation of Green Field Spectrum band for enhancement of quality of service (QoS).

OSCHARIS Motors Limited has appealed a Federal High Court, Lagos order, directing it to disclose to Enough is Enough, EIE, Nigeria, a civil society organisation, information requested by the group, under the Freedom of Information Act, on the 2013 purchase of two bulletproof cars for then Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.

In the appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos by its lawyer, the company is asking the appellate court to set aside the order of Justice Mohammed Yunusa issued on April 28, 2015 and dismiss the suit by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Ayodeji Acquah, on behalf of EIE. In the judgment, the lower court judge, Justice Yunusa had granted EIE’s prayers for: ''A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to disclose or make available to EIE the information requested in the organization’s letter to the company dated October 28, 2013 is a violation of EIE’s right of access to information guaranteed by Section 1(1) and Section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. ''A declaration that the failure and/or refusal by Coscharis Motors to give EIE a written notice that access to all or part of the information it requested would not be granted and stating reasons for the denial and the section of the FOI Act upon which the company relied to deny EIE access to the information it requested amounts to a flagrant violation of the Act and is therefore wrongful; ''An order of mandamus compelling Coscharis Motors to disclose the information requested in EIE’s letter dated October 28, 2013 namely the invoice(s) and landing documents for the two BMW vehicles acquired by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, with chassis numbers WBAHP41050DW68032 a n d WBAHP41010DW68044; and details of the payment for the vehicles.

56— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16 , 2015

UN rights chief asks EU to welcome one million refugees

Migrant crisis: Italy, France clash I

TALY and France engaged in a war of words yesterday as a standoff over 250 Africans stuck at their common border exposed divisions over Europe’s migrant crisis.

Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano described images of migrants perched on rocks at the border town of Ventimiglia after being refused entry to France as a “punch in the face for Europe.”

His French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve hit back by insisting that France was fully within its rights to send illegal immigrants or asylum seekers back to Italy.

The clash sets the scene for some tough exchanges when the two men and other European Union ministers meet Tuesday in Luxembourg for talks on the crisis.

Around 250 migrants — most of them Englishspeaking Africans according to AFP reporters in Ventimiglia — have been camped there for four days, protesting that they should be allowed to enter France on their way to their desired destinations in northern Europe.

“We will stay here tomorrow, the day after and even several months if it is necessary,” said one of the Africans, 20-yearold Brahim from Darfur in Sudan.

“All we are asking is to

African migrants in camps in Italy be allowed to pass through France to get to other countries.”

Alfano said the border scenes were proof that the migrants had no desire to stay in Italy. “They want to go to other parts of Europe and they consider our country as a transit

country.”

Cazeneuve dismissed that argument as irrelevant, citing the Dublin accords under which new arrivals in the European Union are supposed to be processed by the country in which they first land.

Netanyahu says boycott recalls Nazi Germany

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RIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that a Palestinian-led campaign to boycott Israeli goods was reminiscent of Nazi Germany ’s campaign against Jews.

Meeting with visiting Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna, Netanyahu raised the

•Netanyahu issue of “the defamation of the Jewish people” on Polish soil when the Nazis controlled much of Europe.

“The attacks on the Jews

Reporter denies breaching Snowden’s files

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journalist who published the first reports from Edward Snowden’s leaked documents offered a detailed rebuttal yesterday to allegations that Russian and Chinese spies accessed the former intelligence contractor’s files.

Glenn Greenwald, writing on online news website The Intercept, said the reports by the Sunday Times and BBC were based on the false premise that Snowden kept possession of the files he took from the US National Security Agency.

Greenwald, part of a team of journalists who met Snowden in Hong Kong before publishing the explosive articles

“The Dublin rules must be respected,” the French minister said. “When migrants arrive in France that have been through Italy and registered there, European law applies and that means they must be returned to Italy,” he told BFMTV.

were always preceded by the slander of the Jews.

What was done to the Jewish people then is being done to the Jewish state now,” Netanyahu said.

“In those days we could do nothing. Today we can speak our mind, hold our ground. We’re going to do both.”

The Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign aims to put political and economic pressure on Israel over its occupation of the Palestinian territories, in a bid to repeat the success of the efforts that ended apartheid in South Africa.

T

HE UN rights chief yesterday called for the European Union to take bolder steps to address its swelling migrant crisis, insisting the bloc could easily take in one million refugees.

“It is well within the EU’s means to give refuge, over a number of years, to one million refugees displaced by the conflicts in Syria and elsewhere,” said Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

“This would represent barely 0.2 percent of the EU’s population,” he told a special debate on migrant rights at the UN Human Rights Council, pointing out that Lebanon has already taken in 26 percent of its population in refugees.

His comments came as

surging numbers of migrants and refugees have been risking their lives on rickety boats to reach safety in different parts of the world.

More than 100,000 people have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe so far this year, and some 1,800 have drowned trying.

“When people are unable to use regular channels to escape oppression, violence and economic despair, they may attempt, in desperation, to find irregular ones,” Zeid said.

Latvian ambassador Raimonds Jansons, speaking on behalf of the EU, insisted the bloc was trying to address the problem.

Another Bush joins US presidential race

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ORMER Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joined the 2016 presidential campaign yesterday with a rally and speech at Miami Dade College, joining 10 other Republicans already in the race for the party’s nomination. But the Tea party Republicans are voicing their displeasure with Jeb Bush in the hours leading up to his 2016 campaign kickoff.

Bush would be the third member of his family to sit in the Oval Office, and tea party leader Mark Meckler says both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were “biggovernment” Republicans.

The president of Citizens for Self-Governance says they contributed to, quote, “the increase in size, spending and involvement of government in America.”

He also notes that Jeb Bush’s steadfast support for Common Core education standards and immigration reform “is a nonstarter with many

•Jeb Bush conservatives.”

Brent Bozell is the chairman of the conservative group ForAmerica. He calls Bush “unelectable.” For months, Jeb Bush has been dogged by questions about his family ’s presidential legacy, and the formal announcement of his White House candidacy on Monday will do little to quell them.

Relief may come only if and when Bush secures the Republican nomination next year, and it could be from the unlikeliest of places - the person who would be his probable opponent in the November 2016 general election, Hillary Clinton.

Kerry taking Tylenol painkiller for broken leg •Glenn Greenwald about vast surveillance programs, said Snowden had kept no files with him when he travelled to Moscow.

“Snowden has said unequivocally that when he left Hong Kong, he took no files with him, having given them to the journalists with whom he worked, and then destroying his copy precisely so that it

•Edward Snowden wouldn’t be vulnerable,” Greenwald said.

“How, then, could Russia have obtained Snowden’s files as the story claims... if he did not even have physical possession of them? The only way this smear works is if they claim Snowden lied, and that he did in fact have files with him after he left Hong Kong.”

U

S Secretary of State John Kerry is taking nothing more than painkiller Tylenol for his broken leg following his low-speed bike accident,

he said in an interview published Sunday.

Kerry, who remains deeply engaged in the Iranian nuclear talks that have taken place over the

John Kerry recuperating from his injured leg

past 18 months, told the Boston Globe that the narcotics doctors prescribed for him were having undesired effects.

“All I’m taking is Tylenol,” he told the paper in an interview Saturday. “After I got two or three days in, I said, ‘You’ve got to stop this crap.’”

The 71-year-old diplomat was released from the hospital Friday after breaking his right femur on May 31 in a fall on his bicycle in the French Alps.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 16 , 2015 — 57

Boko Haram kills 23 in Chad

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Why Zuma let Bashir go

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UDANESE President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Khartoum yesterday to cheers of supporters after leaving South Africa, where a court had ordered his arrest based on an international warrant for war crimes charges.

Al-Bashir raised a stick in the air as he stepped out of the plane, waving to a few hundred supporters who greeted him at the airport. Some chanted “God is Great” while others cried with joy.

A South African court ruled that al-Bashir, who was attending an African Union summit, should be arrested. The ruling came after he left.

Al-Bashir, in office since a 1989 military coup, is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes allegations linked to the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region.

At the Khartoum airport, supporters of the president raised posters reading “Lion of Africa” scribbled next to a picture of al-Bashir in military uniform and

carried a coffin with a white sheet wrapped around it reading: “The ICC to its last resting place.”

However, a Pretoria court’s ruling that alBashir should be arrested came after he had left the country and in defiance of an earlier court order that he should remain in the country while judges deliberated on the matter.

Judge Dunstan Mlambo criticized the South African government for failing to heed the instructions of the court. “It is of concern to this court that we issued orders and then things just happened in violation of those orders,” Mlambo said.

International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart said in an interview with The Associated Press in The Hague, where the court is based, that “in our view it was very clear” that South Africa should have detained al-Bashir so he could have been brought to trial in The Hague.

•Jacob Zuma the situation entwines South Africa, the AU, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a legal squabble, and a political and diplomatic controversy.

Most crucially, as the Sudanese president was not arrested and handed over to The Hague, once again the ICC has come out looking like a toothless entity embroiled in political wrangling. It has further diminished its international image as an independent global body fighting the good fight.

Impaled upon the horns of a dilemma, South Africa had to choose between two diametrically opposed duties: Its obligation as an AU member state to support its fellow member state Sudan; or its role as a state party to the ICC with a duty to arrest and hand over Bashir.

By honouring this AU decision, South Africa directly disregards its duties to the ICC, to the global community, and to its own judiciary ’s decision that issued the court order, which restricts Bashir’s travel.

Mixed reactions trail Bashir’s let off ...Gambari, Keshi speak

By Hugo Odiogor, with Agency post

S

UDANESE President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Khartoum from Johannesburg yesterday, after South Africa argued against a court application to force the government to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

Bashir, who is in South Africa attending an African Union summit, stands accused in an ICC arrest warrant of war crimes and crimes against humanity over atrocities committed in the Darfur conflict.

South African Judge, Hans Fabricius had on Sunday barred Bashir from leaving South Africa until he had made a decision on an application by a human rights group calling for Bashir’s arrest.

The judge’s hearing resumed yesterday but was adjourned for an hour so the court could study

documents submitted by the state. State advocate William Mokhari said “to the best of our knowledge” Bashir remained in South Africa, although he said five ports of exit had yet to confirm they had received an order not to allow the Sudanese leader to leave.

Caroline James, the lawyer for rights group the Southern African Litigation Centre, said she believed there was a “real risk” Bashir would soon leave the country and the application for his arrest would become “mute”.

Former Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN and UN envoy to Darfur, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari told Vanguard that President Bashir is part of the solution to the crisis in Darfur and any attempt to take him away will rather complicate rather than resolve the crisis.

Ambassador Gambari said “technically all the countries that signed the ICC treaty are obligated to

•Omar al-Bashir effect the arrest of President Bashir but African leaders have protested to the UN Security council on the selective application of the convention but above all it is a violation of the sovereignty of nations to subject serving heads of states to attend to ICC charges while they are still in office. He said the Western countries have equally been hypocritical in their pursuit of indictments which has targetted mainly African leaders who are considered to be soft targets.

Amb. Gambari said it would have amounted to a breach of hospitality for South Africa to effect the arrest of an African leader that was invited to attend a summit of African heads and government. The Ambassador said so many European and American leaders have also committed human

rights violations that would have taken them to ICC. In a similar tone, Former Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi said the court order that ordered the detention of President Omar El Bashir was meant to attract media publicity as the South African government would not allow such detention and arrest to take place on its territory.

He said the action of the NGOs that brought up the case in the first place was a joke that was calculated to please the international sponsors of such NGO. According to Ambassador Keshi, the South African government that invited Bashir to the AU conference was aware of the ICC indictment and there was no way the government of South Africa would allow its territory to be used to abduct an African leader regardless of the ICC indictment of Bashir over his conduct of the social discontent in the Darfur region of his country.

T least 27 people, including four suspected Boko Haram Islamist fighters, were killed and 100 others were injured on Monday in two attacks in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, which the government blamed on the Nigerian militant group.

The attacks, which included at least one suicide bomb, are the first of their kind in Chad, an oil-producing nation and a major Western ally which has spearheaded offensives on al Qaeda-linked groups in Mali and on Boko Haram in neighbouring Nigeria.

“Boko Haram is making a mistake by targeting Chad,” Communications Minister Hassan Sylla Bakari said on state television.

“These lawless terrorists will be chased out and neutralised wherever

they are.”

Bakari did not give further details but Interior Minister Abderahim Bireme Hamid told Reuters earlier that there had been at least one suicide attack at police headquarters.

One witness at the central police station told Reuters by telephone that he had seen three bodies on the ground.

Photos circulated on Twitter of several blood-stained bodies and damaged motorbikes reportedly used in the attack.

Chad has lost dozens of soldiers fighting in northern Mali and in northern Nigeria. The first known attack by Boko Haram on Chadian soil took place in February on the shores of Lake Chad and has been followed by a handful of other isolated incidents.

Prominent Jihadists killed in Algeria, Kenya

A

veteran Islamist militant blamed for a deadly attack on an Algerian gas field and who ran smuggling routes across North Africa has been killed in a U.S. air strike inside Libya, Libya’s government said on Sunday.

This came as a British jihadist fighting for Somalia’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Shebab, is believed to have been killed in a thwarted attack on a Kenyan army base, a Kenyan defence spokesman said.

Thomas Evans is believed to have been among a group of militants who launched a pre-dawn raid Sunday on a Kenyan army base in Baure, close to the border with Somalia.

Two Kenyan soldiers were killed and at least 15 Shebab fighters died in

•Mokhtar Belmokhtar,

the shootout, among them two “Caucasians”, according to Kenyan defence officials.

In Algeria, reports said the strike had killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian militant who became a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa and the Saharan border region and was dubbed “The Uncatchable” by the French military.

The U.S. military confirmed Belmokhtar had been targeted in Saturday night’s air strike but did not say if he was killed.

Ebola still threatens W/Africa — MSF

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HE Ebola epidemic could flare up again in West Africa and health authorities are no better equipped to control it than they were a year ago, the head of medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Saturday.

“The reality today is if Ebola were to hit on scale it did in August and September, we would hardly do much better than we did the last time around,” Joanne Liu said on the sidelines of a

meeting on Ebola in Dakar.

Leaders of the Group of Seven industrial nations vowed this week to wipe out the epidemic that has killed more than 11,100 people across West Africa, but offered little concrete action.

While the virus is spreading more slowly than at the peak last year and Liberia has defeated the outbreak, cases have risen sharply in the past two weeks in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Wike dissolves boards, parastatals

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, dissolved boards of all parastatals and agencies in the state, leaving that of the Rivers State Waste Management Authority and the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority.

According to a statement by his media aide, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, the governor also promised to complete repair works on Iloabuchi-Eagle Island road in Port Harcourt within the next three weeks.

The governor, yesterday, while inspecting the road, was told by the contractor handling the project that non-payment by previous government delayed work on the road.

“I tell you now that by Wednesday, we will give him the money and in three weeks time, you must have completed this road. So, I want all of you to give the contractor the needed support so that he can finish the work within three

weeks,” Wike said.

The contractor handling Dr. Peter Odili Woji-Akpajo bypass, assured that one of the

lanes will be completed within the first 100 days of the administration in office.

The governor also inspected

on-going work at the Faculty of Law building at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

INSPECTION: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (3rd left), during inspection of Eagle Island-Irobuchi link Road in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Bayelsa APC expels two over alleged anti-party activities

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, has expelled two of its leaders in the state while seven others were suspended over alleged antiparty activities.

The expelled members are former Chairman of defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, newPDP, Chief Perekeme Kpodo and a stalwart of the party, Mr. Sunday Oputu.

Those suspended are Mr. Godwin Sidi, Fred Akamu, Rosemary Okeazi, Chief Livinus Opratapu, Harrow Zuokumo, Enoch Koripamo and Christopher Abariowei.

Speaking in Yenagoa, yesterday, APC Secretary, Mr. Marlin Daniel, said the duo of Kpodo and Oputu had since left the APC to join the opposition.

“We want to make it clear that they are not members of the party.

They have since been expelled.

Kpodo was expelled when he allegedly said the APC was dead on arrival in the state.

“Oputu himself has not been part of the party. But we are surprised of recent that they have been calling party meetings, in what capacity, we do not know.

“We want to alert the members of the general public to know that they are not part of the APC in

Bayelsa State and that nobody should deal with them in that

respect. We are aware that the reemergence of these people were

sponsored by the PDP government of Seriake Dickson.”

Resign now, APC Deputy National Publicity tells Oyegun

By Henry Umoru / Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—Crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC following the National Assembly election took a disturbing dimension on Monday with the party ’s deputy national publicity secretary, Comrade Timi Frank calling on the national chairman, Chief John Oyegun and the members of the National Working Committee, NWC to resign their positions for gross incompetence.

Frank accused the chairman of conniving with some vested interests in the party ’s leadership as against popular opinion on issue of utmost importance to both APC and Nigeria to defraud the people.

Particularly sad about the development at the National Assembly that robbed the party of its authority, the image maker of the party cited the straw polls that produced Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila amongst others as official candidates of the party for the offices of Senate President and the Speaker of the House of

Representatives as one weighty reason why Oyegun should go.

It will be recalled that in a bid to deliver Lawan, Gbajabiamaila and others, APC national leadership hurriedly conducted a mock election in which the duo emerged as official candidates of the party for the National Assembly top jobs.

But both men were roundly beaten by Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara who won the seats to become senate president and Speaker of the House respectively.

The development also enthroned Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the opposition party’s People’s Democratic Party, PDP as the Deputy Senate president.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Frank said the polls were conducted without the endorsement of the majority of the party members, adding that the people had lost confidence in Oyegun led APC. He said: “If my party could not keep to the promise of change, then we must correct them to keep to that. I have

no fear or favour than to say that the current leadership of the party has practically failed.

“With this incident alone, the chairman should resign from his position after taking a position against the people and the people’s position has finally come to stay. In the Western world, by today the party ’s national chairman would have resigned honourably.

“Not just the national chairman but the entire leadership that took this decision of conducting mock election against the outcry of the larger members of the party, against the bigger picture of Nigerians. A handfull of the party leadership came to take a decision, and by today the people have shown that the voice of the people is the voice of God”.

APC deputy national publicity secretary also blamed Oyegun for not consulting widely before embarking on what later became a suicide mission, dismissing claims that they acted under external pressure.

Udom seeks FG's intervention on erosion

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OVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has sought Federal Government’s speedy intervention to arrest a gully erosion threatening to cut off Calabar-Itu highway at Enen Atai Itam Village in Itu Local Government Area of the state.

The highway, constructed by the former military administration in the '70s, is almost cut off by the erosion threatening the road on both sides.

Governor Emmanuel, who was conducted round the affected area by the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Work, Dr. Ifreke Ekpa, lamented the threat posed by the menace to human and economic life between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States as vehicles ferrying goods and services daily ply the road.

Wike promises to encourage private sector growth in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARC O U R T — GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has promised to create the needed environment for private sector business to thrive in the state.

The governor, yesterday, when members of Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the two seaports in the state will further create a robust economy when they are resuscitated.

He promised to work harmoniously with the private sector to move the state forward.

“We will do everything we can to see that the sea ports are revived. Rather than our people travelling to Lagos to bring in goods for Rivers people, the goods will now come through our ports in Rivers State,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 59 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO; As Saturn enters your Star Sign today it is important you are more practical and seek all important supports of the influential people around you. Be more loving.

LIBRA; The more ambitious you are today the better for your cause. And here is a good day to plan for the future but you must do away with whatever can not be placed above board. Yong-at-heart among you may be in for a romantic day.

SCORPIO; Even if you are tempted to gamble by whoever and/or whatsoever reason you must resist it or else you would be the loser. Being aggressive may help.

SAGITTARIUS; Provided you are willing to cooperate with other poople things will not go out of hands but exhibition of inordinate ambition can earn you avoidable trouble.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

N O T H E R fallacy that I found very difficult to accept is the belief that the rich can’t be broke. And I ask, why can’t the rich be broke? In fact, the rich man is more prone to being

So The Rich Also Cry? — 3

for financial assistance from friends, relations and acquintances. broke than the poor funds to service his Can you now see man. For instance, overhead, he needs that the rich also he needs working money to maintain cry?

Rich or poor, no capital to keep his his status, he also one is immune from n u m e r o u s needs funds to crying.

Yes, the rich b u s i n e s s e s service the also cry! running. He needs numerous requests

TERROR MUDA

in “Never say goodbye”

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN; Element of luck will assist you.

Those of you who are more hard working will have more positive things to show for your efforts. Take care of your health.

AQUARIUS; Many natives of this Zodiac sign will be excited either because of romantic interest within your working arena or practical advancement at work.

PISCES; Reason with those you can take as veterans within your base of operation because if you want to force your way without carrying necessary and more experienced people along it would backfire now or soonest.

ARIES; The more creative you are the better for your cause. However is typical day when too much expectation can bring disappointment. Be more family minded.

TAURUS; If your priority is financial success you may not be disappointed provided you prepare for a few challenges. For now both your mental energy and physical attributes are enough to win you love not MONEY. Be more receptive.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; This is your day when both good luck and your personal efforts will bring you success. Try to be as caring as possible to those within your base.

CANCER; Although there will be challenges at the end of it all you will have genuine cause to smile.

The more secretive you are the better for your cause.

This is not the right time to ignore your sex life. Do away with unnecessary argument.

LEO; This is not the right time for you to either gamble with money or take friends for granted. Secret lovers may be in for an exciting day.

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

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Should I remain hopeful?

Dear Joshua, I want your in-depth analysis and tell me about my social life, and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life. I am hopeful though Anonymous Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, Yes be very hopeful. And what you will find here-under will answer your questions. Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. The best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted.

Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 44th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on. But the same 44th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 46th year on earth.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Oshoala: I want us to play like Real Madrid A

SISAT Oshoala has had a pretty spectacular 12 months by anyone’s standards.

The Ikorodu native took home both the adidas Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 en route to a second-place finish with the Super Falconets in August of last year; while just last week she scored in her senior Women’s World Cup debut.

In between those feats, ‘Superzee’, as she is known by her teammates, signed for Liverpool and earned the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year Award, while also picking up the CAF young and senior player prizes. Add in becoming a Member of the Order of the Niger, an honour bestowed upon the 20-year-old by her nation’s president and it would be safe to assume that Oshoala is content with how things are going at the moment!

And you would be wrong. Despite all of the accolades she has recently earned and the attention she has received from all corners of the planet, Nigeria’s No8 has been finding it difficult to enjoy herself during her first Women’s World Cup so far. That

AMAZON: Super Falcons forward Asissat Oshoala avoids her Australian opponent in their 2-0 loss to the Australians in Canada. is not to say Canada 2015 has yet to be a worthwhile experience for the young starlet, though.

“I have learned a lot of things about myself as a player,” Oshoala told FIFA.com after her team’s 2-0 loss to Australia. At times during the U-20 Women’s World Cup last summer it seemed almost impossibly easy for Oshoala to find the back of the net.

But as the young starlet quickly pointed out, that is simply not the case at Canada 2015.

The NFF were forced to issue an official statement after Enyeama’s comments on the Kaduna venue.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick was quoted in the statement as saying: “Kaduna State has always been a perfect ground for all National Teams, and a city in love with football. We are excited anytime we bring a match of the National Team to Kaduna, because we are always sure of massive support for our team.”

This must have been a damper on the day when he became the most capped Nigerian star at full international level with 101 appearances, one more than what Joseph Yobo achieved at last year’s World Cup.

OGO striker E m m a n u e l Adebayor is unsure about his international future after he was stripped of the captaincy for their match against Liberia.

He was only told on the day of the 2017 African Cup of Nations tie that he would not wear the armband for Sunday’s 2-1 win.

The 31-year-old scored the winner but says he is unsure if he will play against Djibouti in September.

“For now, I don’t know - I’ll be here and I’ll talk with the coach,” he said.

“I need to know whether he really needs me in the team or not.

“I have been the captain for seven or

eight years and then one morning I’m told I won’t be the captain - that means that we can go to Djibouti and he will put me in the stands.

“So I’d rather quit the team than be sidelined or put in the stands there and I think this will be better for me and the team.

•Adebayor

First Eagles goal excites Ighalo W

ATFORD striker Odion Ighalo has said that his first goal for Super eagles will increase his confidence to bang in more for Nigeria.

Ighalo also revealed that he never doubted the ability of the team to beat Chad.

“I am very pleased and delighted with my first goal for Super eagles, it will give me more confidence as a striker to score more.

“I dedicate the goal to God, my family and my late uncle Audu Momoh who passed away few months

back. I never doubted our ability to win the game,even at goalless which we eventually did.”

Ighalo said.

He a scored a goal and assisted Gbolahan Salami for the other as Nigeria beat Chad 2-0 after a goalless first half.

NOC tasks Nigerian coaches on talent development Popoola, tasked the 25

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HE Nigeria O l y m p i c Committee has charged Nigerian Coaches to make grassroots development their watchword instead of paying too much attention on competitions.

NFF Continues from BP final cut for the U20 World Cup in New Zealand after he was named on a 35-man provisional squad.

The unknown striker was so honoured by Keshi that he was even handed the revered jersey No.10 once made famous by football icons in the likes of Austin “Jay Jay ” Okocha, Argentine legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho of Brazil, Italy legend, Roberto Baggio, the great Zinedine Zidane of France, Glenn Hoddle of England, among others.

Enyeama, on the other hand, has been queried over his comments that Kaduna was unsafe for the AFCON qualifier against Chad.

Adebayor unsure about Togo future T

•Ighalo

Man City Continues from BP technical report from the NFF after Iheanacho saw only a total of 83 minutes of action and Nwakali was played for 10 minutes against Germany as the Flying Eagles crashed out of the World Cup in New Zealand.

“City have requested for a technical report of both Iheanacho and Nwakali at the U20 World Cup,” a source informed.

“It is now left to be seen if NFF will grant this request.”

This latest move by City could well snowball

into a frosty relationship between the EPL side and the NFF. Earlier this year, City stopped Iheanacho and Nwakali from the African Youth Championship in Senegal.

Iheanacho, who was the MVP of the 2013 U17 World Cup, is expected to join the Manchester City first-team squad come next season and he will be on the team’s pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore, while Nwakali has been sent on loan to Spanish La Liga side Malaga.

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Gumel counselled the coaches in Abeokuta at the weekend during the closing ceremony of the weeklong International Olympic Committee Taekwando Solidarity course held at the conference hall Mockland Hotel, Abeokuta from June 7 – 13, 2015.

Gumel who was ably represented by the Secretary General of the NOC, Hon. Babatunde

coaches in attendance to focus more on grassroots development where more budding talents could be discovered for exposure instead of concentrating too much on competitions. “ This is the only way Nigeria can discover more Mary Onyalis, Chioma Ajunwas, Yusuf Alis, Henry Amikes, Samuel Peters, Obisia Nwankpas, Kanu Nwankwos, J. J. Okochas and Blessing Okagbares among others”, he said.

Nkwocha Continues from BP The coach Edwin Okon-tutored side trained twice on Sunday and will have their first feel of the pitch of the BC Stadium in Vancouver today ahead of the game against the United States, who presently top the group.

Coach Okon will be desperate for a win to ensure that the Falcons do not crash out in the group stage of the tournament.

“We are not ready to go home. We came here with a mission and we would work hard to achieve that goal,” stated Okon.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 61

Ronaldo Neymar saves the day for Brazil in Copa America opener pledges his B future to

RAZIL kicked off their Copa America campaign with a hardearned 2-1 victory over Peru. Dunga surprised a few with his team selection, leaving out captain Thiago Silva and opting with a MirandaDavid Luiz partnership in defence.

Sticking with his usual 4-2-2-2, the Brazilian coach replaced the injured duo of Luiz Gustavo and Oscar with Manchester City ’s Fernandinho and Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Fred.

It was perhaps an

intriguing decision to leave Roberto Firmino, who recently scored the winner in a 1-0 friendly victory over Honduras.

Peru lined up with an organised 4-2-3-1, starting with a back 4 comprising Frankfurt’s Carlos Zambrano in central defence and Fiorentina’s Juan Manuel Vargas at left back. Copa America 2011 top scorer and Peru’s talisman Paolo Guerrero was passed fit to start as Los Incas’ sole forward, with Schalke’s Jefferson Farfan on the right flank and Cristian Cueva on the left.

Benitez’s reign

TOPMAN . . . Brazil’s forward Neymar (L) kicks the ball marked by Peru’s midfielder Joel Sanchez during their 2015 Copa America football championship match in Temuco, Chile. Photo: AFP

Copa America hosts await Mexico

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FTER stuttering to a goalless draw in what coach Miguel Herrera had described as a “must-win” game, Mexico now desperately need a positive result and performance against the Copa America hosts. Mexico’s poor form in their warm-up matches continued in Viña del Mar last Friday, when unable to break down a Bolivia team ranked as the worst in the competition and that hadn’t won a single match in the Copa America since they hosted it 18 years ago. It means the pressure will firmly be on El Tri when they take on Chile in front of a partisan home crowd in Santiago today.

Herrera has repeatedly spoken with confidence

that his team could make the final of South America’s showpiece event, despite reserving many of his top players for the quest to regain the Concacaf Gold Cup next month. But now his squad has been depleted further, with its most experienced player, 36-yearold captain Rafael Márquez, ruled out of the team’s final two group games with a thigh injury picked up during the match with Bolivia.

It leaves Mexico facing a major challenge going up against a Chile team that kicked off the competition with a 2-0 win over Ecuador and is motivated to lift the country’s first ever major international title. Herrera, though, remains upbeat.

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HE Paraguay squad were in good spirits yesterday as they were put through their paces during training and they have every right to smile after their stunning comeback against Argentina.

Paraguay produced an inspiring performance in their Copa America

Paraguay in good spirits against Jamaica Group B clash on Saturday to come from two goals down to earn a vital point.

And ahead of their match with Jamaica on

Tuesday, the squad took part in a training session as they bid to qualify for the knock-out stages.

Nelson Haedo Valdez, whose sensational strike halved the deficit in Saturday’s clash, looked as if he was still shock by his side’s comeback.

The Argentines looked to be cruising to victory

Rodriguez, Falcao unable to respond as Venezuela stun Colombia

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Paraguay’s head coach Ramon Diaz speaks with Valdez during a training session yesterday

ENIT St Petersburg striker Salomon Rondon scored as Venezuela upset star-studded Colombia 1-0 at the Copa America on Sunday.

Colombia, bristling with Europe-based stars including Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, are regarded as dark horses for the title.

Venezuela’s no longer South America’s laughing stock 42 consecutive Copa

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T was not too long ago that Venezuela were the laughing stock of South American soccer — the team that never beat anyone and never C M Y K

thanks to first-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi from the penalty spot.

But striker Valdez pulled a goal back for the Paraguayans on the hour with a cracking longrange shot before second-half substitute Barrios earned his side a point with a fierce leftfoot drive in the final minute.

won anything. Between 1967, when they made their Copa America debut, and 2007, when they hosted the tournament, they went

matches without a win.

In the 1975 tournament, they were humiliated 110 by Argentina. Even more recently, the Venezuelans were a pushover.

But the 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists were unable to respond after Rondon headed Venezuela into the lead midway through the second half.

The goal settled a niggly encounter at the Estadio El Teniente where the Colombians were never able to find the sort of attacking fluency that lit up their World Cup campaign in Brazil.

Venezuela’s goal came after a quick throw caught Colombia’s defence off guard.

Juan Arango improvised a first-time cross across the box to Alejandro Guerra, who headed back into the path of Rondon.

62— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

Canada 2015: FIFA slams Falcons defender 3-games ban ...To pay N.6m fine

Nkwocha chases Vincent Enyeama!

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UPER Falcons de fender Ugo Njoku has been slapped with a three games ban following her elbow to Australia’s Sam Kerr jaw in their group D match of 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada. She will also pay a fine of $3,250 (about N650,000).

Njoku, came in for Osinachi Ohale in the second half and in the 75th minute she left Kerr with a swollen jaw. The match referee, Stephanie Frappart missed the incident, but not the FIFA disciplinary committee who announced on Sunday night that the player will miss three games, starting from Today ’s last group D match against the USA in Vancouver.

Nigeria coach Edwin Okon said after the game that it was not intentional. Australia coach Allen

Flying Weapon...Ugo Njoku left Sam Kerr in pain after her elbow caught the Australian lady on the jaw during their group D match of the FIFA Women World Cup in Winnipeg.

Stajcic said in his post match press conference on Friday that Kerr would need to be evaluated for a broken jaw, but minutes later Kerr confirmed that she was merely sore and her jaw had swelled.

Njoku did not make the bench in the Super Falcons’s opener against Sweden. It mean the 38 minutes against Australia will likely be the only action she will see in this tournament. The Super

Falcons must beat the USA women to stand any chance of going to the knock out stage for Njoku to serve out her ban in the tournament, otherwise she might as well carry them over.

NSC urges Falcons to go all out against USA

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HE National Sports Commission (NSC), has charged the Super Falcons to go all out against the USA in their final group D match of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Speaking at the team’s hotel, Director of Federations & Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) at NSC, Mrs Hauwa KuluAkinyemi, told the girls

she brought greetings from Nigeria and that the nation was behind them to progress to the next round of the competition.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission and the DirectorGeneral, I came here to say we are happy with you; we are praying with you. We are Nigerians and we don’t give up and it is not over until it

is over. I want to advise that you girls be focused, believe in yourselves, be confident and don’t under-rate or over-rate your opponents. Play as a team and just do it!

“I am here this evening to tell you that it is not over and to encourage you to first of all motivate yourselves and to know that we are behind you in

Washington Spirit takes another Falcons’ player

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UPER Falcons de fender Josephine Chukwunonye has joined the legion of Super Falcons players going abroad to ply their trade, she has signed for Washington Spirit for an undisclosed fee.

Washington Spirit are a top a team in the American women league, they recently signed talented striker Francisca Ordega.

Chukwunonye pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), is officially the second Super Falcons player to sign for the club.

The 23-year-old who debuted with the Super Falcons in 2011 is currently playing in her second Women’s World Cup and has started in

C M Y K

Nigeria’s two matches so far without being substituted.

“I am excited to join the Washington Spirit family; it’s a thing of joy and a dream come true for me,” Chukwunonye told the club’s official site.

“I love playing with great players like Crystal Dunn, who I faced in the U20 World Cup in 2012. I am excited to work with coach Parsons because I know he will bring out the best in me.”

prayers. If you are destined to do something, even if you are not doing it right, somehow God will correct those mistakes and it will turned in your favor.

“We believe in you ladies and I believe that come Tuesday, June 16, something wonderful will happen. God sees the desires of your heart and those desires will be met in this trip,” she concluded.

•Chukwunonye

UPER Falcons’ for ward Perpetua Nkwocha will win her 101st senior cap for Nigeria if she tastes action in Tuesday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group D clash with the United States of America in Vancouver.

This will bring her at par with Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama, who won his 101st cap in the 2-0 defeat of Chad in Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna.

The elegant striker, who won her first cap for Nigeria in a friendly with Ghana’s Black Queens in Lagos in May 1999, won her 100th cap when she came in for Desire Oparanozie against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday.

Before the 3-3 draw with Sweden in Winnipeg on Monday, June 8, Nkwocha had been one of only two Nigerians to score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since Nkechi Egbe netted a famous equalizer against Brazil in the quarter finals of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States of America.

That match, played in Washington, went to extra time before the Brazilians triumphed.

The Falcons notably failed to score a single goal at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, also staged by the United States, following the sudden outbreak of SARS epidemic in designated host nation China. Cynthia Uwak scored the Falcons’ only goal at the 2007 FIFA World Cup, in a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Chengdu.

Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s only goal at the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany four years ago, netting in the 1-0 defeat of Canada in Dresden on

•Nkwocha July 5, 2011. But the Falcons failed to progress after earlier losing by the same margin to France and host Germany.

Not only did Nkwocha become Nigeria’s first woman ‘Centurion’ when she came in for Oparanozie against Australia, in a surprise 0-2 defeat, she also became the oldest player in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, at 39 years and 19 days.

The previous older of the record, Meg of Brazil, was 39 years 18 days when she featured at the 1995 finals in Sweden.

In her meritorious 16year international career, Nkwocha was also named African Woman Player of the Year on four occasions.

In Vancouver on Tuesday, Nkwocha looks to make history with the Super Falcons, at the same BJ Place venue that will host the Women’s World Cup final match on July 5. She will also be hoping to work wonders with the Falcons, not only to accomplish a first –ever defeat of the USA at the Women’s World Cup, but also to sail into the knock –out stage for the first time since 1999, and for only the second time ever.

Enyeama, Oshoala win big at Nigeria Pitch Awards

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UPER Eagles Captain Vincent Enyeama and Super Falcons’ star forward Asisat Oshoala emerged King and Queen of the Pitch respectively at the second edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards held shortly after Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Chad in Kaduna on Saturday.

The Awards Ceremony, which was for the 2014 season drew eminent personalities in the Nigerian foot-

ball community. Among dignitaries at the event were NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko, NFF Executive Committee members High Chief Emeka Inyama, Barrister Chris Green, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Alhaji Babagana Kalli and Alhaji Ahmad Kawu, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and oth-

er top brass of the NFF. Barrister Dan Abia, the MD/ CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Managing Partner of SIAO Partners, Bassey Eyo of Payporte.com, Amb. Ebi Egbe and the BBA Runners Up, Tayo Faniran also graced the occasion.

Addressing the large crowd at the ceremony, NFF President Amaju Pinnick restated the Federation’s commitment to give the or-

ganisers all the support that is needed to grow the Nigeria Pitch Awards into a world class football event.

While speaking on the award process, Pastor Ighodalo, whose audit firm coordinated the voting process, stated that the process was transparent and credible as it reflected the wish of the voters. He said the breakdown of the results would be published after the results were announced.

•Oshoala

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015 — 63

Real Madrid reveal new whiter than white strip for next season R

EAL Madrid kept fans waiting as they slowly gave a step-bystep sneak preview of their new kit for the coming season.

The Spanish giants released a series of cut-out images of their famous white shirt on their official Instagram account, which eventually pieced together, in the form of an over-sized jigsaw for beginners, to reveal the 2015-16 design.

Players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema model the shirts on the club’s website, although the choice of having Iker Casillas at the forefront of the campaign may prove ill-advised following reports the veteran keeper is on his way out of the Bernabeu.

Meanwhile Madrid are actively looking for buyers for Casillas as they prepare to sign Manchester United No 1 David de Gea. Tottenham are reportedly one of the clubs touted as a potential destination for the 34-yearold, which would pave the way for United to replace De Gea with France international Hugo Lloris, who has hinted he is keen to complete a move to Old Trafford.

Casillas is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League and London in particular, though Arsenal’s imminent move for Petr Cech means the Emirates is not an option.

Madrid stars - Ramos, Marcelo, Bale,Rodriguez,Benzema and Ronaldo, line up in their new adidas shirts

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IFA has moved to head off speculation that Sepp Blatter could stay on as president by pointedly making it clear that the adviser responsible for suggesting he might perform a U-turn no longer has a mandate to speak for him.

In the wake of speculation sparked by unattributed comments to a Swiss newspaper, believed to come from the 74-year-old Zurichbased communications consultant Klaus Stöhlker, Fifa said that Blatter stood by the statement

Wenger swaps his trademark coat for French comedian t-shirt

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RSENAL boss Ar sene Wenger swapped his never ending blue coat for something a whole lot more bold while holidaying in Morocco over the weekend.

Wenger was in the north African country for the famous Marrakech du Rire comedy festival when he was spotted wearing the garment, which was covered with the faces of several French and Moroccan comedians including Florence Foresti, Jamel Debbouze and Gad Elmaleh.

Actor and comedian Debbouze owns a comedy club in Paris which was opened in 2008 as a way to get newcomers on the comedy circuit, so he will no doubt see the

IAAF World Youth: AFN calls 16 athletes to camp

THLETICS Feder ation of Nigeria has called 16 athletes to camp in preparations for the IAAF World Youth Championships billed July 15- 19 in Cali, Colombia.

The athletes will resume camp today at the Port Harcourt performance centre with Professor Ken Anugweje coordinating their affairs. The following athletes who met IAAF qualify standard have been invited. In the girl 100meters, Aniekeme Alphonsus and Bolaji Omotayo Oluwaseun .

The girls

Blatter stands by promise to resign, says FIFA

200 and 400 meters have Idamadudu Praise, Aniekeme Alphonsus, Adiakerenwa Blessing.

In the field events and race walk, the following girls are invited triple jump Uche Brown and Olude Fadakemi Florence. Boys 100m has Uruemu Idjesa and Tobechukwu Nwokocha.

The 200m and 400m have Itsekiri Usheoritse, Dare Folarin, Adewale Sikiru and Afeez Abdulramon. 110m hurdler Ojeikere Omon, 400m hurdlers Prior Ochonogor and Airen Williams are also to report in Port Harcourt.

funny side of the design.

As will on-screen partner Foresti who starred alongside the 39-yearold in the 2011 film Hollywoo.

The t-shirt was all part of the comedy festival’s traditional celebrity match which Wenger was taking part in alongside a whole host of professional players, actors and comedians.

Karim Benzema, Didier Drogba, Marouane Fellaini, and Samuel Eto’o were among the star names who took to the pitch and wore the shirts to raise money for the association Al Karam, which was founded in 1997.

Those star names were bound to have grabbed the attentions of the watching spectators almost as much as Wenger’s t-shirt did. It remains to be seen whether he will bring the garment back to the Premier League touchlines next season, fans can only hope...

Arsene Wenger shows off his French comedian t-shirt during a charity game in Morocco over the weekend

•Blatter he made on the day he promised to quit.

“Klaus Stöhlker’s mandate from the Fifa President ended on 31 May 2015. The Fifa president would like to point to his remarks from 2 June,” it said. In that statement, Blatter said he would continue until an extraordinary elective congress to be held between December and February next year.

A Fifa executive committee meeting on 20 July will set the exact date. But Blatter was clear in his intention to “lay down my mandate” and stated: “I shall not be a candidate.”

Scepticism from those insistent on fundamental reform is inevitable since Blatter also promised in 2011 that his fourth term as president would be his last before performing a U-turn and declaring his “mission” unfinished.

Stöhlker acted as an advisor to Blatter throughout his low key re-election campaign, when he was not supposed to draw on central Fifa resources, but his contract expired on 31 May. Quoted elsewhere in the Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag, Stöhlker said Blatter had a “fair chance” of remaining in power depending on what happened in the coming months.

LMC suspends nine Stadiums from hosting League Matches

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OLLOWING reports of the various teams that assessed stadium facilities during the three weeks break of the Glo Premier League, nine of the twenty clubs have had their home grounds placed on suspension by the League Management Company (LMC). The clubs have thus been directed to choose alternative home grounds from Match Day 12 while they fix the problems recorded against their playing turf.

Salihu Abubakar , the LMC Chief Operating Officer said the decisions were reached at the recent LMC Board meeting in Abuja which amongst other deliberations, assessed the reports as it concerned the state of the playing pitches. The LMC Board also gave the clubs a deadline of 45 days to work on other aspects of the facilities that were found to be below requirement.

Abubakar said the reports were classified in three

parts; grounds that had approval, grounds with minor problems for which the club has been given one week to fix and the third are grounds with extensive problems for which the clubs have been asked to fix within two weeks.

Those granted full approval to host matches include Enyimba International Stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Liberation Stadium, Oghara Township Stadium and Warri Township Stadium.

Others are Sani Abacha Stadium, Akure Township Stadium, Aper Aku Stadium, Lekan Salami Stadium and Ilorin Township Stadium.

Four clubs were directed to effect minor repairs on their pitches for which another round of inspection would be carried out on the club’s invitation after Match Day 12. The clubs are Heartland, FC IfeanyiUbah, Wikki Tourists and Abia Warriors.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

U-20 World Cup: Man City fume over Iheanacho’s use •Demand technical report from NFF

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Nig v Chad:

NFF queries Keshi, Enyeama T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation (NFF) has fired queries to both coach Stephen Keshi and captain Vincent Enyeama over issues surrounding Super Eagles AFCON qualifier against Chad.

PL side Manchester City are so shocked about the limited playing appearances of both Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali at the FIFA U20 World Cup that they have

demanded a technical appraisal of the players from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

City scouting and recruitment operations manager Fergal Harkin has demanded a Continues on Page 60

Nkwocha demands more from Falcons against USA Kick-off: 1am (Wed)

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ORMER African W o m a n Footballer of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha has declared that the Super Falcons must do a lot more ahead of their game against United States.

The Super Falcons will tomorrow morning face one of the tournament favourites in a make or mar final group game in Vancouver.

Nkwocha, who made her first appearance in the tournament in the game against Australia, said,”We need to play as a team and work extra hard against USA.”

Keshi has been asked by his employers to explain why non-league striker Gabriel Okechukwu made the Eagles team, while Enyeama has to explain his comments regarding the safety of match venue Kaduna.

Striker Okechukwu features for non-league Water FC of Abuja and he failed to make the

Continues on Page 60

Continues on Page 60 FIFA W/W/Cup 2015 Fixtures

•Okechukwu

•Keshi

TODAY'S

IN VAIN: Kelechi Iheabacgi (r) is pursued by a Brazilian opponent in the opening group match of the FIFA U-20 W/Cup. Nigeria lost 4-2.

Ecuador S/Zerland (Wed) Nig Aust.

v v

Japan 10pm Cam 10pm

v v

USA 1am Sweden 1am

QUICK CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Cook (4) 4 Taxi (3) 6 Knife (4) 9 Help (3) 10 Firearm (8) 11 Defeat (4) 14 Sphere (3) 16 Cabin (5) 19 Described (8) 21 Weird (5) 23 Claimed (8) 24 Iron (5) 27 Bird (3) 31 Ceremony (4) 33 First (8) 34 Transgress (3) 35 Crooked (4) 36 Tree (3) 37 Orient (4)

DOWN 2 List (4) 3 Beat (4) 4 Capered (8) 5 Calibre (4) 6 Sword (5) 7 Fasten (3) 8 Fit (5) 12 Crawl (5) 13 Backbone (5) 14 Mineral (3) 15 Cap (5) 17 Prompt (5) 18 Robust (5) 20 Decrease (8) 22 Consume (3) 25 Elevate (5) 26 Passed (5) 28 Roster (4) 29 Heap (4) 30 Go by (4) 32 Can (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: Duress 5, Pastor 8, Division 9, Mate 10, Wet 12, Elect 15, Lot 17, End 18, Ewe 19, Pea 20, Given 21, Act 22, See 23, Sip 24, Due 26, Dirge 28, Ton 33, Stun 34, Prestige 35, Propel 36, Depend.

DOWN: 2, United 3, Emite 4, Skill 5, Panic 6, Same 7, Outdo 10, Wiped 11, Tease 12, Edged 13, Elver 14, Tense 15, Leapt 16, Titan 25, Utter 27, Impel 28, Greed 30, Organ 31, Snap 32, Step.

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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