486 suspected terrorists arrested in Abia

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62167

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Clueless Eagles against 64 Iran Eight-page pull-out inside

486 suspected terrorists arrested in Abia

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, ANAYO OKOLI & BEN AGANDE

•Arrived Abia, enroute Rivers in 35 buses •Imo Govt plans 8-point security measures •Boko Haram can't be allowed in S-East — Obiano

U

MUAHIA—SOL DIERS from the Asa Military Base of 14 Brigade, Ohafia Barracks, Abia State, Sunday arrested 486 suspected insurgents including eight girls. The arrest was made same day bombs were uncovered and defused in a church in neighbouring Imo State.

The suspected insurgents were said to be Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS: Stephen Keshi: The wrong coach for the World Cup •P.17

Power struggle & US Senate primary elections

54 .

•P

Mr & Mrs

ENYEAMA TO THE RESCUE—Nigeria's goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama (L) fights for the ball with Iran's forward Ashkan Dejagah (bottom) during a Group F football match between Iran and Nigeria at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, yesterday. The match ended goalless. AFP photo.

TARABA KILLINGS: Curfew imposed on Wukari as death toll hits 22 9

Low oil production in Nigeria, Libya, others fueling global changes

4

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 3

4— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD: Nigeria has highest number of out-of-school children— UN

BY EMMA UJAH & VICTORIA OJEME, with agency reports

T

HE United Nations disclosed, yesterday, that worldwide Nigeria has the largest number of children who miss school as increased insecurity in the north shuts down centres and prevents access to education.

The Nigeria office of UNICEF, in an e-mail statement yesterday, said out of 10.5 million children who are not attending school in the country, 60 percent are girls who live in the north. The statement said violence and security challenges, particularly in the north-east,

mean parents have withdrawn their daughters from classes or are unwilling to enroll them, while many schools have closed down.

Almost one out of three primary school age and one in four junior school age children are out of school in Nigeria of about 170 million people, according to UNICEF. Schools which remain open in the north-east are often overcrowded, understaffed and under resourced, the statement said.

Chibok is draw back— MINISTER

Meanwhile, Minister of Women Affairs and Social

Development, Hajia Zainab, has said the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, has drawn the nation back, especially in the promotion of the girl-child education in the country.

The Minister, at the celebration of the 2014 Day of the African Child in Abuja, however, assured that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan would continue to work for the education of every Nigerian child.

She urged well meaning members of the public to join the government in the effort to rescue the abducted girls and make the nation’s

schools safe for the children.

Mrs. Maina urged the international community to make good their pledges at the World Economic Forum for Africa, where many world leaders committed themselves to the Safe School Project in Nigeria initiative.

According to her, work has been going on behind the scene to rehabilitate the girls once they are released by their abductors.

She said: “The ministry is working on a comprehensive psycho social support, trauma management, counseling and empowerment for

MoU: From left— Ms. Patricia O'Donovan, Director, International Training Centre, ITC, Turin; Dr. Clement Illoh, Permanent Secretary, and Dr. John Olanrewaju, Director General of Michael Imoudu Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between ITC and MINILS during the 103rd conference of the International Labour Organisation held in Geneva, Switzerland.

PHOTO: Funmi Komolafe .

parents and the girls when they return.

“This is because most of the victims and their families are psychologically traumatised and need counseling and support to be reintegrated and return to schools.”

Don’t forget Chibok girls— BROWN

Also, former British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown has urged the world to remember the kidnapped girls on the Day of the African Child.

Brown, who is also the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, praised young people around the world as they mobilise to demand education for all.

Brown said: “Young people throughout the world have dedicated today, Day of the African Child, not only to education, but in solidarity with the 287 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Thousands of people have come together united with one cause: safe schools for every girl and boy.

“While the global community has failed to deliver safe schooling, young people are demanding safe, quality schools for all children everywhere and stand in solidarity with the northern Nigerian girls of Chibok and all those around the world who face these struggles.”

SOWETO students

Oil production declines in Nigeria, Libya, others fuelling global changes

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, Moscow, Russia

D

ECLINE in oil production in Nigeria and some other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, members including Libya, Iran and Saudi Arabia, accounting for about 600,000 barrels per day production is one of the major causes of the changes in global hydrocarbon production matrix in 2013, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2014.

This decline in 2013 production capacity is also responsible for average oil prices exceeding $100/barrel for the third consecutive year, despite supply growth in the United States.

Speaking at the launch of the Statistical Review at the opening of the 21st World Petroleum Congress, WPC, which began yesterday at the Crocus Expo in Moscow, Russia, BP’s Group Chief Executive, Mr. Bob Dudley, noted that whereas production fell in some OPEC member countries, it however, increased in nonOPEC countries.

100,000bpd.

Dudley, who said in his review that energy markets reflect broader themes, also noted that “energy production continued to be impacted by geopolitical factors.”

For instance, in the case of Libya, one of Africa’s top producers, he said: “Oil production in Libya suffered the world’s largest decline in the face of renewed civil unrest.”

Statistics

Specifically, in its review of the global energy situation in 2013, the Annual Statistical Review captured the worst production decline from Libya, down by 520,000 barrels per day, bpd; Iran 190,000bpd; Saudi Arabia 110,000bpd; and Nigeria

Rise in US prodduction

But for production growth in the US, exceeding 1.1 million, the largest in the world during the review period, the oil market would have suffered higher oil prices.

The US alone accounted for about 96 percent of the minimal 0.6 percent, or 560,000 bpd rise, in oil production, supported by growth in Canada, +150,000bpd; and Russia +150,000bpd.

This helped offset the declines in some OPEC countries as well as some non-OPEC countries like Syria 120,000bpd; United Kingdom and Norway 80,000bpd respectively; and Australia 70,000bpd.

Despite the production mixed bags observed in 2013, the statistical review noted that overall, “consumption and production increased for all fuels, reaching record levels for every fuel type except nuclear power.”

The African Union designated June 16 the Day of the African Child in 1991 to honour the memory of students who were massacred in Soweto in 1976 for protesting against inequality in Apartheid South Africa.

Events are organised every year to promote children’s rights.

Young people, schools, teachers, and faith groups from across the world will unite and dedicate the Day of the African Child 2014 to the delivery of quality education and safe schools.

Over 100 events took place in 45 countries yesterday, while a flagship event will later take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where an assembly of youths from across the globe will host a Youth Takeover of the African Union.

Alongside the Addis Ababa event, there will be a youth takeover of Rio de Janeiro City Hall, attended by Mayor Eduardo Paes and several members of his cabinet and a youth takeover of the Capitol Building in Liberia.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

MEETING—From left: Governors Willy Obiano (Anambra); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) and Theodore Orji (Abia), during a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

486 suspected terrorists arrested in Abia Continues from page 1 going to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in search of work.

The suspects were arrested at about 2 am when their vehicles were intercepted by soldiers between Arungwa Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and Imo Gate, the Abia State and Rivers State boundary.

They were said to be moving in a convoy of 35

Hummer buses when they were intercepted.

However, two of the buses were said to have escaped arrest.

According to Abia State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, who briefed journalists, yesterday at the military base in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, where they were being detained, the suspects are aged from 16 years upwards.

Chikamnayo who was

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake —Victor Hugo

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

W

HEN we lose something, even a loving re lationship that was special to us, the pain of our loss is not in the fact that the person, position, or possession is gone from our life... it’s not impossible to lose something we never owned — Guy Finley What we actually lose is an image, a carefully constructed mental picture of ourselves long-secured in place by someone or something that helps us to see ourselves - or feel good about ourselves - the way we imagine ourselves to be. And with that person, position, or possession no longer in place to sustain that image, our pain is in the loss of that imaginary self.

But, who you really ‘t lose anything because your True Nature is onewith the whole timeless goodness of life. And it’s not impossible to lose yourself!

When you know you can’t really lose anything or anyone, if you understand there is no real division between you and the one you love or, for that matter, between you and love itself, then the heartache of loss simply ceases to exist for you.

accompanied during the briefing by the Commander in-charge of the battalion, Lt. Col. Rasheed Omolori, who also confirmed the arrest, said that the suspects allegedly came from Kano, Taraba and Jigawa states.

They were said to have claimed that they were going to Port Harcourt in search of work.

Lt. Col. Omolori, who however declined further comments on the arrest, said that a report had been forwarded to Army Headquarters, Abuja.

The commissioner, however, said that further investigation would assist in unraveling the true mission of the suspects but insisted that "the movement was suspicious”.

C h i k a m n a y o commended the Army and other security agencies in the state for their vigilance and urged them not to relent.

Some of the vehicles which have been impounded by the Army authorities have the number plates: Jigawa RNG 98XA; Osun RLG 176XA; Kano AF 411 DAL; Lagos BDG 487 XK; Abuja EP 86 ABC and Bauchi ZAK 48 XA, among others.

Imo's 8-point security measures

Meanwhile, the Imo State Government has announced far reaching security measures, following the botched bomb attack targeted at the Living Faith Church, Winners Chapel, Owerri.

Announcing the eightpoint measures, yesterday, in Owerri, after several hours of special security meeting he held with security chiefs and a cross section of Imo people, Governor Rochas Okorocha, said that government would summarily take over uncompleted buildings found to be hideouts for criminals.

“Uncompleted buildings in the cities in the state and environs without security guards, will be taken over by the government because criminals use them as hideouts”, Okorocha said.

The governor, who branded the security measure as “operation know your neighbour”, also ordered hotels in the state, to install security cameras and should on a daily basis, forward a list of all their guests to the Director of State Security Service.

“Trailers bringing food items from the North would no longer be allowed to come into the state at night but only during the day and the food items would be off-loaded at a designated place, off the state capital”, Okorocha said.

While saying that lands left fallow for several years and not used for any economic or gainful purpose

but taken over by criminals, will be seized by the state government, the Governor also banned the smoking of Indian hemp anywhere in the state.

He warned residents in the state to be very careful with broken bottles, cans, leather bags, parked tankers and vehicles around their homes, public places and public buildings.

“Traditional rulers in the state are directed to summon emergency meetings of their various communities to take stock of strange faces living within their autonomous communities”, Okorocha said.

The Governor then announced that government has concluded arrangements to meet all non-indigenes in the state, adding that nobody comes into a state to commit crime of any kind without an internal collaborator.

It was the considered opinion of Okorocha that since those who commit these crimes are human beings, they must also be residents somewhere, and their neighbours should equally be able to know them and what they do.

Boko Haram can't be allowed in S-East — Obiano

Meantime, Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra state, said yesterday that the Islamic Terrorist group, Boko Haram will never be allowed to have a stronghold in the South Eastern part of the country.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after the governors of Enugu, Abia Anambra and Ebonyi states paid a solidarity visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Obiano said the governors of the South East were watchful of events in the country and would do everything to ensure that the sect’s activities do not get to the region.

According to him, the governors were in the Villa to assure the President that despite the challenge of insecurity, the people of the South East

are with him.

On the possibility that Boko Haram may extend its activities to the south East, the governor said: “No, they can’t get there; I can assure you of that.

We will not allow that to happen. I can’t tell you in any material details about bombs found or not found.

All I can assure you is that we are very alert in the South-East and we are watching what is going on. I can assure you that Boko Haram cannot come to the Southeast” he said.

On the visit of the governors to the President, Obiano said: “The SouthEast governors came this morning to assure him that we are with him all through the way and that he can count on us.

“The President is a human being and he is under a lot of pressure and some other people are making the work a lot more difficult for him. Instead of supporting him to steer us out of these stormy waters, they are adding kerosene to fire.

So we are here to tell him that we are supporting him and that he should count on us” he said.

On the erosion ravaging parts of the South East, the governor said that the World Bank with the state governments are working on a lot of erosion sites already.

“They have expanded the four erosion sites they are working on currently to 12; so they are adding eight more erosion sites.

I believe that this intervention which is 50/50 per cent contribution will go a long way in helping to tackle the erosion sites we have in the state.

“We are also tackling erosion from the legal point of view. Bush burning will no longer be allowed, so also is cutting roads to lay pipes to houses. These are some of the factors that lead to erosion. We want people to do the necessary things that they should do; we want people to stop termination of drainages abruptly. We are putting a law in place to ensure that anybody that violates the law will face the consequences” he said.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Court remands 5 in prison over drug deal

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS— A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos five accused persons charged with illicit drug deal.

The accused are Joseph Akpe, Gabriel Fokito, Edward Zuta, Ameri Atotafe, and Celestine Azanrete, all residents of Badagry in Lagos.

They are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on the offence and are being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were remanded following an application by the prosecution.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, pending ruling on their bail application and adjourned till June 27 for ruling.

Earlier, the prosecution had told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 27 at Badagry in Lagos, adding that they conspired to import about 1020.5 kilogrammes of Indian hemp from Ghana, through Nigerian territorial waters.

According to the prosecutor, the accused were eventually apprehended by Customs officers, who later referred the case to the NDLEA for prosecution.

Falling window glass kills woman at Rivers secretariat

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT — Peo ple cried uncontrollably yesterday at the Rivers State secretariat when a lady, Thereza Amadi, allegedly died after being hit by a window glass that fell from one of the offices at the top floor of Point Block building in the secretariat.

Eyewitnesses said the frame of the glass window landed on the lady’s head, bursting the brain. The lady was allegedly walking on the base of the building when the accident occurred.

Some persons, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the lady was not a civil servant. They further urged the state government to begin rehabilitation works on buildings in the secretariat complex, saying they were already too old and weak.

Gunmen abduct Bayelsa commissioner's 77-yr-old mother •Demand son's resignation as ransom

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — MOTHER of Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Furoebi Akene, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The incident, the latest in the series of high profile kidnappings in the predominantly riverine state, occurred 14 days after the abduction of the mother-in-law of the Bayelsa State Speaker in the creeks of Southern Ijaw council area.

This is said to have caused panic among political office holders in the state, many of whom have resorted to relocating their parents to Yenagoa, the state capital, from the hinterland.

It was learnt that the victim, identified as Madam Patimi Akene, was seized about midnight, Saturday, and whisked away by six armed men, who stormed her country home through the waterfront at the riverside town of Fonibiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The victim was said to be returning from a night vigil when she was seized by the gunmen who have since contacted her son, demanding his resignation from the State Executive Council as condition for her release.

Speaking on the development, Akene said his mother was seized by the gunmen without firing a shot, adding that they would have been in the dark but

for her grand-daughter staying with her, who witnessed the incident.

He said: “My mother was in company of one of her granddaughters when the armed men arrived at about midnight and took her away through the creeks towards the direction of the ocean.”

According to him, shouts of the mother for help was cut short by the gunmen with a threat to kill her and her grand daughter.

“Preliminary investigations from the movement of the gunmen showed that they knew her and had been stalking her.

They decided to take her quietly to avoid alarm,” Akene said He also confirmed that the armed men contacted him Sunday evening, demanding his resignation from the cabinet of Governor Seriake Dickson as commissioner.

His words: “Someone that I suspected to be one of the kidnappers called me and said they don’t need my money, but that I should withdraw from the present administration as commissioner. I think what they are demanding is for me to resign my appoint-

ment.

“I think the people interested in my job as commissioner in the state are the ones behind the abduction of my mother.”

Contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident, saying they have mobilised policemen to comb the waterways and creeks of the state.

“The terrain is very difficult but we are working hard with a view to identifying the location of the victim and rescue her,” he said.

Accident scene at Goza on Airport Road in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

OGUN DRUG WAR: Identities of slain NDLEA officials revealed •One arrested over clash

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BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS — THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, gave identities of its personnel killed in a mob attack Sunday, while on assignment in Owode,

Ogun State, as Bolaji Owolodun, Rabiu Usman Kazaure and Ishaku Joshua.

The agency also disclosed that another personnel who sustained injuries in the attack was responding to treatment in

an undisclosed hospital.

Describing their death as unfortunate, the agency ’s Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, vowed that the agency would leave no stone unturned until perpetra-

PROTEST: Members of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Lagos State Chapter, protesting alleged non-implementation of Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), in Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

tors of the dastardly act were brought to book.

Describing the deceased as gallant officers, Giade said: "It is shocking that officers on legitimate assignment will be attacked and killed by people whose interest they were protecting. I have ordered investigation into the incident and the agency will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are arrested and dealt with in accordance with the laws of the country."

As first step to match words with action, spokesperson for the agency, Ofoyeju Mitchell, told Vanguard that the main suspect had been arrested and would soon be charged to court.

He assured that the agency would take care of families of "these gallant heroes of the anti-narcotics crusade who have paid the supreme price for a drug-free society. We shall immortalise them by punishing the culprits while sustaining the fight against drug barons."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 7

Man, 35, commits suicide in pool

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN — A 35-year old com mercial motorcyclist, Ismaila Isa, yesterday committed suicide by jumping into a pool at Onipepeye area of Ibadan.

The incident which took many people by surprise attracted hundreds of sympathisers who continued to wonder why the man

Man, 44, hacks into e-mail, steals N700,000

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AGOS — An alu minium fabricator, Emmanuel Okoebor, 44, who allegedly hacked into an e-mail account and duped a man of N700,000 yesterday appeared before an Ikeja magistrate's court.

Okoebor, a resident of 14, Akintoye Sogunle Street, Unity Road, Ikeja, is standing trial on a four-count charge of fraud, stealing, forgery and impersonation.

The prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, said the accused committed the offences on June 5, at 21, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.

He said Okoebor hacked into the e-mail account of one Mrs Ose Oyakhilome and through it, sent a mail seeking financial assistance from Mr Chidi Ezinmako.

The prosecutor said the accused falsely represented himself to be Oyakhilome and defrauded Ezinmako of N700,000.

Okoi said Okoebor received the money through his FirstBank account. The prosecutor said the accused also forged the e-mail address of one Mr Tobi Fashina.

He said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312, 363 and 378 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anyone convicted for fraud.

Okoebor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mrs Margaret Dan-Oni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till July 14, for mention.

decided to choose death as an option.

The owner of the motorcycle said the deceased was not owing him, that he always gave him the agreed amount at the end of each day’s work.

According to an eyewitness, before his death, the Okada rider used to ply Adegbayi/ Alakia/Gate axis.

The source said the deceased came from Adegbayi/Alakia end of the road, parked his bike and then jumped into the deep pool.

Before help could come his way, he had drowned.

It was gathered that other Okada riders and residents of the area were helpless as no one could save the drowning

man.

The Oyo State Director of Fire Services, Oyekunle Kareem confirmed the incident, saying the man's corpse had been handed over to the Police.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said the command was yet to be informed.

UniAbuja shut indefinitely as students protest

A

BUJA— THE Governing Council of the University of Abuja have ordered the shutdown of the school indefinitely It was reported that as the #BringBackOurExams protest was heating up, some students that were still within the school mini campus were chased out and the school put under lock and key.

It wasn't a different story in the hostels at the mini campus as students were also ordered to leave and tear gas canisters was fired into the air making the whole atmosphere unbearable.

At themain campus of the school, a notice has been placed in all departments and hostels

The protesting University of Abuja students. ordering every student to leave the school compound immediately.

At press time, students were

packing their luggage preparing to leaving while many had left since the beginning of the strike action.

Pastor nabbed for inflicting injuries on his sons

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — A middle-aged pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches in Ile-Oluji area of Ondo State, Peter Etim, has been arrested for child abuse.

Parading the pastor in Akure, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State Command, said he inflicted serious body injuries on two of his male children.

The two boys, Elijah (10) and Hope (8), according to their father, stole N180 and

also sold some wares in his shop on credit without his permission.

The suspect, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, said his boys' actions made him lose his temper. The suspect was paraded at the state command headquarters.

Vanguard gathered that the pastor inflicted the injuries on his boys by using electric wire to beat them.

Speaking with newsmen on the development, the command image maker, Mr. Kayode Balogun, advised

parents and guardians to be careful about the way they treat their children.

Balogun said children have some rights which needed to be protected under the Child Rights Act of Ondo State and the federation.

He said the suspect, with his two children, will be handed over to Child Rights Department of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ondo State for prosecution in line with the Child Rights Act of the state after concluding investigation.

PROTEST: Traders at Ogba retail market in Ikeja area of Lagos protesting planned demolition of the market by the state government, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Man, 34 electrocuted while salvaging burning shop

BY EMMANUEL OKOLIE

A

GBOR —A 34-year-old father of one has been electrocuted in Idumuesa village in Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State, while trying to save a friend’s shop from burning.

Part of the friend’s shop was already burning, according to eyewitnesses, when the victim, Mr. Fidelis Uwaninbi, rushed to the scene with a bucket of water.

He had not gotten to where he wanted to pour the water when a live high tension wire fell on him.

He was said to have died on the spot, and his body taken to a morgue in the area by a team of policemen who arrived the scene some minutes after the incident.

The deceased’s elder brother, Mr. Chucks Uwanimbi, who confirmed the incident, said the death was painful and a great loss to the family.

8 employees docked over N46.8m goods theft

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AGOS —Eight employees, who allegedly broke into their employer's warehouse and stole goods valued at N46.8 million, yesterday appeared before an Apapa magistrate's court in Lagos.

The accused are Donatus Nwosu, 44; Bolton Eyan, 21; Stanley John, 29; Charles Akurieme, 29; Lucky Ozorchor, 34; Chidi Onuma, 34; John Okon, 36; and Ifeanyi Duru, 23.

They all reside in Apapa area of Lagos and are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, burglary and receiving stolen property.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Kalu Umeh, told the court that the accused conspired and stole goods valued at N46.8 million, property of one Jude Iloka.

Umeh said the accused committed the offences on May 8 at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 285, 305, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

All the accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The senior magistrate, Mr M.O. Olubi, granted them bail in the sum of N2 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—9

Nigeria urged to strategise on accessing project funds

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, Moscow, Russia

I

N the light of trillions of dollars of funds available for financing global oil and gas projects, the Federal Government has been urged to develop focused strategies for accessing these funds, or risk being left behind by other smarter countries.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a plenary on Financing Investment in the Oil and Gas Industry: Challenges and Opportunities, at the 21st World Petroleum Congress, WPC in Moscow, Russia, the session’s Vice Chairman, Nigeria’s Dr. Attahir Yusuf, argued that against the backdrop of such availability of enormous funds, Nigeria needed to carefully assess its project requirements to determine its funding needs.

Yusuf, who is also the Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said: “This is very, very important as a country.

Therefore, we need to have a focused strategy earmarked for raising funds.

“The big deal is that the funds are available, so we have to look at our requirements: what do we need the funding for?

Is it for exploration? Is it for production or for infrastructure development?”

NEPAD : From left— Mr. Dosumu Oluwole, Administrative Manager & Acting Head of the Secretariat, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, NBGN; Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi; Dr. Nike Akande, NBGN 1st Vice Chairman; Ambassador Fidelia Njeze, Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD; and Chief Chris Ezeh, NBGN Chairman, when NBGN executive paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Njeze in Abuja.

TARABA KILLINGS: 24-hr curfew imposed on Wukari, Ibi as death toll hits 22

BY SONI DANIEL, NORTHERN REGION EDITOR & JOHN MKOM

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ALINGO— ALARMED by the magnitude of killings and destruction of property in Wukari and Ibi local government areas of the state, Taraba State Government yesterday slammed a 24-hour curfew on the two warring communities.

Similarly, the police have been deployed in the affected communities to prevent the escalation of violence and to fish out the perpetrators of the attacks.

The Taraba State Police Commissioner, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, who announced the measures during a visit to the areas yesterday, warned that adequate punitive measures would be taken by security agents to deal with the masterminds of the crisis.

Adeyemi, who was accompanied by senior police officers and other security agents to the crisis torn communities, said it was disturbing that the two communities had chosen to be attacking each other despite all attempts by the police to bring peace to the areas.

The visit of the commissioner came as the death toll in the last clash on Sunday morning rose to 22 from the initial 11.

It will be recalled that Sunday ’s attack, which claimed many lives started over an argument between two persons near a church in Wukari.

The spat later degenerated into a fight that led to the burning of a shop near the church which has a battery

charging point for cell phone users.

An eyewitness Mallam Bako Useni, said the quarrel was between a Christian and a Muslim and also led to the

shooting of some soldiers, who were deployed to quell the fighting.

It will be recalled that there had been serious crises in Wukari, which led to the

signing of the recent peace agreement among Fulani, Tiv, Jukun and Muslims in the area on one hand, and the Taraba State Government on the other.

Ado Bayero yet to visit Emir of Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO— HOPE of early reconciliation between the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II and siblings of his predecessor, Alhaji Ado Bayero has been dashed following the alleged refusal of the patriarch of Bayero family, Sanusi Ado Bayero, to pay a solidarity visit to the emir.

Sanusi Ado Bayero, who is the Chiroman Kano, reportedly left the country as soon as it became obvious that he had lost the succession war to the former Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor.

Sanusi Ado Bayero, by virtue of his title, was supposed to pay a solidarity to the Emir to douse tension raised by succession struggle.

A source disclosed that “ we have history repeating itself as it may interest you to know that the same scenario played itself up when late Bayero emerged emir of Kano 51 years ago.

“In 1963, Aminu Sanusi, father of the new emir was Chiroman Kano when Ado Bayero was appointed by kingmakers and he never paid solidarity visit to Ado Bayero, but remained indifferent to emirate activities until he joined his ancestors.

“This development

constitutes a headache to the new emir, who appeared in a hurry to open a new page and the situation became more worrisome considering its negative signal to the outside world.”

The source maintained that “the emir ’s visit to the Queen Mother at Yakasai was part of strategies to test his popularity and acceptance. The mammoth crowd that escorted him on the visit was a clear attestation that he is gaining control.”

However, Alhaji Sanusi II has commenced consolidating his grip on the throne as he had ventured out of the palace on what palace source described as “Confidence building”

FG, American investors sign MoU on gas plants

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—WORRIED by lull that characterised the power privatisation, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a team of American investors with a view to fast tracking the realisation of gas fired power plant.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Federal

Government by the Minister of State for Power, Muhammad Wakil, while Mr. Roy Yeferez signed for the American investors.

The five man investors are expected to fund the power projects and also provide technical expertise.

The MoU also stipulated that the investors should ensure that indigenous engineers understudy the project execution to enable

them have necessary skills to operate the plant on completion.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of State for Power, Muhammad Wakil commended the determination and doggedness of Team Africa and its associate, Yeffet Mesika Group, for the partnership.

He said: “Team Africa is known to talk less, and more of action,” adding that their

belief in our nation’s potentials has underscore the reliability of Team Africa to deliver on the proposed power project.

He said the Ministry has had understanding with Bayelsa State Government where the proposed plant will be located.

The plant also has ancillary transmission line facilities that will make up the Turkey project.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Lagos seeks life jail for paedophiles

LUTH: Patients discharged en-masse as strike worsens

BY MONSUR OLOOOPEJO

L

AGOS State Gov ernment yesterday advocated that anyone found guilty of rape case, especially pedophiles, be sentenced to life imprisonment without option of fine, saying “It will help the country to achieve zero case of rape.”

The government spoke through the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at a briefing to mark the International Day of the African Child 2014, with theme “A Child-Friendly Quality, Free and Compulsory Education For All Children in Africa”, in Alausa Secretariat, attended by the Commissioner for Information and strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello.

According to her, “Recently, I made an assertion that with the increase in rape cases and sexual harassment, there is perhaps the need to make psychiatric test compulsory for some men as part of the routine check, especially the perpetrators.

I notice sociopathic tendencies in some men, a situation where a father impregnates his own daughter or a blood brother impregnates his sister or an uncle impregnating his cousin cannot be explained and calls for concern. ''I am however optimistic that with the stringent sentence of a life imprisonment with no option of fine for offenders, I think there will be a maximum reduction in rape cases.”

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIELOLAWALE

L

AGOS—TALES of woe and anguish have continued to trail the healthcare services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos as the indefinite strikes by doctors and health workers continue to bite harder.

With no apparent end in sight, the two strikes, called by the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, LUTH branch on one hand, and the Joint House Unions and Associations, LUTH branch on the other, have brought the nation’s foremost tertiary healthcare centre to its knees in the last 16 days.

Although most of the wards have become desolate following en-masse discharge of patients, those with no alternative means of accessing healthcare remain adamant even as little or no access to healthcare service are available.

The scenario, when Vanguard visited the hospital yesterday morning, was pitiable.

A young man dressed in shirt and trouser was accosted haggling with a taxi driver over how much was to be paid for conveying his sick mother to another hospital.

Their loud exchanges added to the confusion and ordeal of other patients who looked on helplessly until the situation was brought under control after about 30 minutes.

At the Children’s Department, two of the three wards were locked. It was gathered that fol-

lowing the large-scale discharge of patients, all those remaining were gathered into one ward for what was described as “better management”.

Of 29 beds, only six were occupied.

A woman, who identified herself as Anna, who brought her son for treatment for an infection, disclosed that she could have taken her child elsewhere, but for the fact that she had paid for admission.

“It is not as if I don’t wish to leave the hospital but I have already made payment before they embarked on strike and I don’t have money to spend in another hospital. Where I will get

L

AGOS—AN Ikeja High Court was yesterday told that Mr. Raphael Onwuzuligbo, a forensic experts and defence witness in the ongoing N10.9bn loan granted to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Futureview Financial Services, Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi by the defunct Bank PHB under Francis Atuche, were not forged as alleged.

In his evidence before Justice Lateefa Okunnu, Mr. Onwuzuligbo, an Assistant Supritendant of Police, disclosed that the

day to check if the staff had resumed work.

President of the Association of Resident Doctor, LUTH, Dr. Omojowolo Olubunmi, affirmed that the strike would continue until their demands were met.

“There is no tangible evidence on ground that they will accede to our demands, so the strike still continues.”

Speaking on behalf of the management, Head of Corporate Services, Mrs. Hope Nwawolo disclosed that dialogue was still ongoing and some of the demands had been met.

“Hopefully, before the week runs out we believe they will resume work as some of their demand are already met and we believe in a short while we'll reach reasonable conclusion.”

PRESS BRIEFING: From right; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Mrs. Risikat Akiode, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Dr. Segun Osunyimika, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sport, during the press briefing on International Day of Africa Child, at Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Allegation of luggage pilfering resurfaces at Lagos Airport

I

KEJA—PILFERING of belongings of air travellers has returned in full force at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The development has left many

victims with sour tales of how they lost valuables after arriving at the airport from various overseas countries.

The victims alleged that their belongings were tampered with during the process of bringing

Atuche: Forensic expert confirms witness’ signature

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

money to begin the whole process all over again? The remaining money with me is just for food. I pray that they call off the strike quickly because it has really set back my son’s treatment.”

Another woman who spoke said, “My plan was that they should attend to my daughter first and when she is okay, I would run around to get the remaining money we might be owing. But since they are on strike, which hospital can I go to try such thing in a situation where some hospitals will demand above what you will pay before treatment?

Kolade, who came to check if the strike had been called off, disclosed that he also called at the hospital yester-

forensic examination of all signatures used in the loan transaction showed that they came from one source but not be forged.

Earlier in her testimony, Mrs Ebi had accused Atuche, to have “contrived” a loan worth N10.9bn purportedly granted her company by the bank.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, stole about N25.7bn belonging to the defunct bank by fraudulently describing the sum as loan grant-

ed to some alleged phony companies?

In his defence, Atuche through his lawyers led by Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN subpoenaed the police for forensic expert to examine the signatures used in the transactions.

Led in evidence by Atuche’s counsel, the forensic expert said that though pictorial appearances of signatures used in the transactions might look different, the scientific analysis depicted a master pattern, consonant with Mrs. Ebi, which made the signatures difficult to be forged or stimulated by any other persons than the signatory.

their luggage to the conveyor belts at the arrival hall of the airport.

According to them, any baggage not padlocked stands high risk of being pilfered by the ground staff of the aviation handling companies at the airport.

One of the victims, Mrs Sarah Ashafa, lamented that her luggage had been tampered with at the nation’s premier gateway after a recent trip overseas.

Ashafa lamented that she lost many personal belongings at the airport on June 3 on her return from a trip to the U.S., saying that she had suffered a similar experience before.

“When my bags got to me through the conveyor belt, I discovered that one of the bags that had my under wear, shoes and other items had been torn open with many items missing. I was very embarrassed; why should they steal my pants along with my

shoes and clothes?'' she asked.

"The authorities should do something about it because I know that this will be happening to other passengers. I believe it happened here in Lagos,’’ she said.

Another victim, Mr Fred Uzo, who returned to Lagos on May 8, aboard a Delta Airlines flight from the U.S, also complained that he lost an expensive belt he kept in an unlocked compartment of his luggage.

“I was amazed when I returned home to discover that the belt was gone. I later realised that I kept the belt in an unlocked compartment of my luggage.

“I was totally embarrassed because I didn’t realise that such crimes could still be taking place at the Lagos Airport after all the measures put in place by the Federal Government.”

Uzo said that he had thought that the era of luggage pilfering at the airport had ended, urging the authorities at the airport to step up security at the luggage area of the airport.

Vanguard, TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2014—11

Ekiti guber: IGP reads riot act to candidates, supporters A

HEAD of Saturday's guber natorial election in Ekiti State, Inspector-General of Police,IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday warned contestants and their supporters not to attempt rigging or instigating violence as the Police would deal with any act of violence.

Towards this end, the IGP is to deploy 100 hi-tech mobile equipment, including Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, counter terrorism tanks newly acquired by the force, violent crowd-control tanks, anti-bomb disposal vehicles, intelligence tracking vehicles and trucks of various sizes.

Also to be deployed during the election are Police surveillance helicopters, which the IGP said would patrol the three Senatorial zones as well as Police

dogs and mounted Police patrol teams and other law enforcement gadgets.

Abubakar used the occasion to announce that everything had been put in place and that the Police would leave no room for any misbehaviour, advising troublemakers and persons not directly connected with the smooth conduct of the election to stay out of the electoral process as anyone caught flouting the law, no matter how highly-placed, would be made to face the law.

A statement by Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba, said “The deployment from Force headquarters is a reinforcement of other security measures already put in place by the Police, especially the deployment to strategic locations of the personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), the Bomb Disposal Unit, designed to effectively boost the integrity of the electoral process.

It is also to ensure an atmosphere

of peace, orderliness, safety and security of persons, votes and all sensitive election materials during the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.”

While reassuring Nigerians, especially Ekiti State indigenes of the readiness of the Police and other security agencies to do their utmost best towards ensuring a hitch-free election, the IGP reiterated his earlier call on citizens, especially gubernatorial candidates, party chieftains, opinion moulders and other relevant stakeholders for their co-operation throughout the period of the electioneering process.

Don't impeach deputy gov, kinsmen warn Ondo lawmakers

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—KINSMEN of Ondo State Deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi yesterday raised an alarm over allegation that some members of the state House of Assembly are plotting to impeach him, warning against such plot in the interest of peace in the state.

There have been growing insinuations that some individuals and groups are plotting impeachment of the Deputy Governor.

A group known as the Akoko Leadership Forum in a statement in Akure warned against such move, saying it could disrupt the peace of the state.

The forum consists of academics, politicians and professionals from the four local government areas of Akoko.

Spokesperson of the group, Ade Adejoro accused some unnamed lawmakers of being the arrow heads of the plan.

Adejoro called on the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to intervene and stop the process forthwith.

But in a swift reaction to the speculation, the state House of Assembly, denied any plan to impeach Olanusi, noting that such action was never on the agenda of the lawmakers.

House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Jumoke Akindele, while reacting to the speculation, said impeachment was a constitutional matter, a process that had to start from the appropriate quarter, adding that there was no information from any quarter to that effect.

BRIEFING: Professor Olusola Oyewole, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, making some explanations during the inspection of the newlybuilt ceremonial building at the campus, while Professor Adekojo Waheed, DVC Academics (left) and Prof A.B Idowu, Chairman, Ceremonial Committee listen during the pre-convocation briefing held at the Alabata campus yesterday. Photo by Wumi Akinola.

Court adjourns case against Fayose till June 30

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI—THE coast was yesterday cleared for former governor of Ekiti state and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Saturday’s election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, to contest this Saturday gubernatorial election in the state, after an AdoEkiti High Court, adjourned the case instituted by Citizen Party, CP, and a socio-political group to stop Fayose from contesting the election, till June 30.

That is two weeks after the election would have taken place.

A socio-political organization, otherwise known as Eeleven and CP had filed an application in the court, asking it to stop the former governor from contesting Saturday’s election on account of the fact that he (Fayose) has not disclosed in a form he filled for the Independent National

Electoral Commission, INEC, that he was impeached while he was governor in the state.

The court, presided over by Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi had in its last sitting granted a substituted service to Fayose.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and PDP were joined in the suit.

When the case came up for hearing, lead counsel to the applicant-plaintiff, Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN, pleaded for accelerated hearing of the case in view of the fact that the election in which the eligibility of the defendant was in question would be coming up this Saturday.

According to him, the court was empowered under the Electoral Act to proceed with the case so that his clients would be deemed to have gotten justice.

He submitted that the case was ripe for accelerated hearing because the defendants had been served notice since Monday after the court ruled

that Fayose be served through substituted means.

Countering this position, counsel to the respondent, Ahmed Raji, (SAN), said the case before the court was not ripe enough for hearing since there was no written application forwarded to him.

He asked the court to give him seven days to respond to the application.

Raji said the plaintiff could not argue the case orally because there was no written application to that effect.

He urged the court not to treat the case as urgent and should not rush the proceeding as demanded by the applicant.

According to him, the case could still continue even if his client eventually won the election on Saturday.

In his ruling, Justice Ogunyemi, said the rule of law must be obeyed in the case, concerning the issue of oral or written application, citing Section 39 of the constitution.

Group plans debate for Osun guber candidates BYGBENGAOLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—A socio-political group, the Congress of Youths in the South-West, COYIS, yesterday announced its plan to organise a debate for candidates contesting the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

According to COYIS, the debate was to provide a level playing ground for all the candidates and afford them the opportunity to present their manifestoes and plans for the development of the state to the general public.

The state coordinator of the group, Prince Adeyemi Adejugbagbe in a statement in Osogbo, said the debate was not to witchhunt or humiliate any candidate, promising that there would be orderliness at the programme.

Adeyemi urged political parties not to politicise the debate, saying “COYIS is non-partisan and those that would anchor the event do not have political affiliations with any political party.”

Firm plans British varsity for Nigeria

L

AGOS—GLOBAL Education Counseling, GEC, a firm that specialises in facilitating university admission overseas, has said it has concluded plans to establish the first British university in Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer of GEC, Mr. Theo Theodorou who spoke in a chat with Vanguard at a career fair in Lagos, said the National University Commission had approved some courses for the firm and would commence studies soon.

Theodorou said the fair aims to counsel students on the easier ways of securing admission overseas, saying “The aim of this fair and the subsequent ones we have is to give quality education counselling to students in Nigeria who have the fear that studying abroad is an uphill task. Though, we do not look at the massive turnout, we focus on quality of the output which is what GEC is all about.”

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Itsekiri group to WIPMG: Your claim over Ogidigben EPZ lands inflammatory W

ARRI—A PAN-Itsekiri group, Itsekiri Consolidated Movement, ICM, has described the claim by Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, WIPMG, that 2,500 hectares of the 2,800 hectares of land, earmarked for the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project belongs to Gbaramatu and Ogulagha communities, as “inflammatory, inciting, vexatious and embedded in absolute falsehood.”

ICM, reacting to a statement credited to Chairman of WIPMG, Chief Patrick Bigha, cautioned that if recent utterances by WIPMG and Gbaramatu chiefs on “ wild claims to major parts of lands to be used for the Ogidigben EPZ project are not immediately halted, they may generate fresh crisis between Itsekiri and their Ijaw neighbours, a situation which will provide further distraction to the current administration on issues of peace and security.”

The Itsekiri group, in a statement by its Chairman, Oritsegbemi Besidone, said that the comment by Chief Bigha and Gbaramatu Council of Chiefs “is a testament to insinuations that Itsekiri are not safe under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

ICM's statement is coming

on heels of similar rebuttal by prominent Warri chief and Itsekiri activist, Chief Ayirimi Emami, against an earlier claim

by Gbaramatu Council of Chiefs to the ownership of majority of lands meant for the EPZ project.

According to ICM, “Ethnic nationalities, including Ijaws, are working and investing in the EPZ project,” just as it noted that “nobody is a war lord in the field of battle.”

The Itsekiri group said that the

statement credited to Chief Bigha and others “is a strategy to misguide innocent Nigerians, who are not conversant with the true history of land ownership in Warri as well as to frustrate moves towards the ground breaking ceremony of the Ogidigben EPZ.” It said that the geographical map on the land mass on which the Ogidigben EPZ project is situated is clear for

everyone to see and further proof of the fact that the legacy EPZ project is domiciled on Itsekiri homeland.

WIPMG, an Ijaw assembly in Delta State, had weekend, warned the people of Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, against causing another crisis in Warri with their claims to the ownership of Warri lands.

VISIT: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left) and the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshall Samuel Abosede, during a courtesy call at Government House, Yenagoa.

No plan to instigate students' protest with N200m —Rivers govt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government, has dismissed the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the government had concluded plans to release N200 million to students of the state origin to protest against the appointment of an Administrative Chief Judge by the National Judicial Commission, NJC. Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, Mr Mathew Osika, said the allegation was unfounded and malicious.

The PDP, in a statement by Mr. Jerry Needam, media aide of the state Chairman, had accused the government of planning to mobilise students with N200 million to protest against Justice Daisy Okocha's appointment as Administrative Chief Judge of the state by NJC. Osika said: “It is totally untrue, baseless and unfounded that Governor Rotimi Amaechi planned to induce

students with N200 million to protest against NJC. The perpetrators of such malicious rumour are doing so to divert attention from the contending issues surrounding the unconstitutional process of appointing

an acting or Administrative Chief Judge by NJC. “Rivers State Government will not misuse funds meant for development projects to service frivolous activities or to jeopardise the welfare

and academic pursuit of students in the state. Government wishes to call on all well-meaning students and members of the public to disregard such claims and remain focused in defending truth and justice.”

Edo reads riot act to contractors handling UBE projects ard. Take photographs of

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State Government has urged contractors handling projects in the 192 wards in the state to speed up work on the projects or have same revoked.

The charge was given yesterday by the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Stephen Alao, during the payment of mobilisation fees to contractors in Benin City.

The jobs which covered the 192 wards in the state, include construction of new classroom blocks, reconstruction and renovation of existing classroom blocks and supply of furniture to the schools.

Alao noted that the contract awards followed the due process, stressing that the state government was committed to the speedy completion of projects in the state, particularly in the educational sector, just as he warned that the state government would not tolerate jobs that are not executed with quality materials.

He also warned contractors against bribing Engineers, adding that “the projects will be monitored very closely. Your money is with us. Anytime you complete your jobs, we will pay you. You don’t have to beg or lobby me for payment. Do not compromise on stand-

your project as you progress. We will not allow any sub-standard job to stand.”

JTF impounds illegal oil bunkering barge

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Forc, JTF, operatives in the Niger Delta, code named Operation Pulo Shield, have intercepted and impounded an illegal oil bunkering barge laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil in the creek of Bayelsa State.

The barge, christened Gracious Enduer, was intercepted by the anti-illegal bunkering troops of Sector 2 of the JTF deployed at Kalatoro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, JTF, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, “The arrested barge is currently anchored at Kalatoro waterways waiting to be towed pending preliminary investigation before being handed over to the prosecuting agency.”

He added that the troops led by the Deputy Commander JTF, Commodore Henry Ekpa, also invaded an illegal crude oil camp site in the Southern Ijaw council and destroyed several illegal bunkering points and Cotonou boats laden with suspected illegally acquired crude oil near the Obama flow station.

“The suspects on sighting our troops absconded, abandoning the Cotonou boats. The boat and its content were set ablaze in situ,” he said.

In another development, he said the JTF operatives have also arrested a tanker loaded with over 33,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen Automated Gas Oil at Ogale in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Dickson seeks end to marital conflicts among public officers

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has frowned at the rising cases of marital disputes among political office holders in the state due to mounting pressure of state duties and ordered that a roster be set up to allow his aides to embark on annual vacation with their families.

Dickson also ordered the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, to prepare a roster for annual vacation for all members of the state executive council and other key state functionaries to allow them spend more time with their families.

Delivering a message to mark this year’s Fathers’ Day at the King of Glory Chapel in Government House, the governor urged the political class and career civil servants, to spend quality time with their families.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—13

Edo Assembly initiates contempt proceedings against suspended MEDICARE IN UGBORODO members

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

T

HE All Progressives Congress leadership of Edo State House of Assembly has initiated contempt proceedings against the four Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, suspended members of the House.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Uyi Igbe and Majority Leader, Mr. Philip Shaibu, had gone to court, saying that the four lawmakers, Festus Ebea, Patrick Osayinmen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogierhiakhi, were in contempt of the order of the court, since they failed to heed the restriction by the court not to show up at the Assembly complex, yesterday.

The presence of the suspended lawmakers at the chambers of the House, aborted the sitting of the House, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide, has blamed the stalemate in the crisis rocking the Edo Assembly on the leadership of APC, accusing them of acting under instruction.

Commenting on yesterday’s sitting, which saw the warring legislators in disorderly manner, Urhoghide, said: “The stalemate in the Assembly today is the involvement of the leadership of the APC, which is acting on instruction from the state government.

“The APC legislators know that they have unlawfully suspended the four PDP legislators, yet they are still waiting for instructions. Everybody has the right to move from one party to another and that was what those who defected from the APC to the PDP did, in the exercise of their fundamental rights.

“The least we ask from them is that the suspension order on the PDP legislators be lifted

immediately. The lawmakers should be allowed to enjoy all their rights and privileges, their withheld salaries paid to them and their seized vehicles returned to them. They should realise that Edo people are watching them. We have always said that the Edo Assembly is a rubber stamp to the executive and we have been vindicated.”

On his part, the member representing Orhionmwon South constituency and one of the four suspended legislators, Mr. Friday Ogierhiakhi, said: “The stalemate will remain until they reverse the suspension order.”

The suspended lawmakers turned up at the House sitting, despite the court order.

Earlier, all the lawmakers and journalists were screened thoroughly at the gate of the Assembly by policemen before they were allowed into the premises. Following security reports that the lawmakers were mobilising thugs and arms to storm the Assembly, the police searched the offices of the lawmakers as early as 6a.m., while their cars were all parked outside the premises.

The lawmakers including the Speaker, Uyi Igbe, entered the chambers at 10:15a.m., but could not commence sitting when the APC lawmakers insisted that the four suspended members should leave the premises.

Tension heightened when a PDP lawmaker, Mr. Rasaq Momoh, took over the seat of the Sergeant At Arms and refused to vacate same.

The APC lawmakers insisted Momoh should vacate the seat but Speaker Igbe calmed the situation while the lawmaker remained on the seat.

On why the House did not sit, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Kabiri Adjoto, explained: “We could not sit because the four suspended lawmakers were in the chambers. We told them that we had visitors in the House as a result the Sergeant at Arms could not come out with the mace.

“They first went to the Federal High Court and the court said we should not declare the seat of those who decamped to the PDP vacant. We obeyed the court and we did not declare their seats vacant. Now, they committed misconduct, they were suspended. Then a High Court restricted them from entering the House, yet they defied the order of the court by still showing up today (yesterday).

“Because we believe in the sanctity of the House, we said we could not sit because we had strangers in the House,” he added.

Rivers NBA denies condemning amendment of state High Court Law

T

HE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Rivers State, has denied condemning the amendment of the state High Court Law by the Rivers State House of Assembly. The amended bill was also assented to by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amechi.

Chairmen of Ahoada, Isikpo, Bori and Degema branches of the NBA, Mr. Collins Obullor, Mr. Promise Iwezor, Mr. Joe BerebonBori and Mr. Obaye Ekine, said that they were not in any way associated with the statement condemning the law, but promised to collectively look into the matter.

The Chairmen noted that

they had embarked on comprehensive peace move to amicably resolve the vexed issues plaguing the judiciary in the state, especially the appointment of the Administrative Chief Judge by the National Judicial Council, NJC. They added that the Head of Peace Committee, Senator Cyrus Nunieh, was seriously discussing with the aggrieved parties to resolve the impasse.

They urged members and the general public to exercise patience and await the outcome of the peace move. They advised lawyers in the state to desist from acts capable of jeopardising efforts by the committee to achieve meaningful result.

Mission team in lifejacket kits

Ugborodo women undergoing medical test

Ugborodo community receives free medicare

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—A COALITION of the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation in Coastal Region Communities and Escravos Ugborodo Women Empowerment Foundation (CROWEF/ EWEF) assisted by medical experts from Warri, Delta State, has delivered free medical care to residents of Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The charity healthcare was valued at over N2 million by the organisers. Women, youths and children in Ugborodo were tested on HIV/ AIDS, diabetes, blood pressure, malaria, with special de-worming plus vitamin ‘A’ supplement droplets administered on children under five years.

Aside from free medicare, the coalition also doled out

treated mosquito nets, bags of rice, concentrated tomato puree, bar soaps, ceiling fans, flasks, tea mugs, vegetable oil, footballs, t-shirts and foodstuff.

President of CROWEF/ EWEF, Mrs. Praise GbubeneAbraham, said that the nongovernmental organisation and the assisting medical experts led by the Directors of Agbowus Medical Centre and Ereda Clinic, Dr. David Agbowo and Dr. Emmanuel Areh; and Mrs. Daisy Akagbosu (Founder, Louise Remi Akagbosu Memorial Foundation), were all motivated to bring succour to Ugborodo people who she described as “long neglected despite their rich oil resources.”

Mrs. Praise Gbubene-Abraham, from the Wilkie Kperegbeyi family of Ugborodo, who is a member of the newly inaugurated Peace Initiative Committee for Ugborodo/Ogidigben Community, appealed

to the women to be united in sustaining peace in the community so that development can come to the area.

Chairperson, Ode-Ugborodo Community, Mrs. Omebenje Ayuwe, in a vote of thanks, hailed the charity healthcare providers, particularly Mrs. Gbubene-Abraham, whose efforts, she noted, had attracted development to the area. She expressed confidence that her recent peace building role would further endear her to the people.

She expressed gratitude to the organisations that donated in cash and other items to ensure the success of the mission.

Prominent among them were, Dangote Industries Ltd., Lagos; JAD Construction Ltd., Warri; Kenvee Nig. Ltd., Lagos; Save Visions Africa, Lagos; Subaya Metalware, Apapa-Lagos; Gazingstock Petroleum Co. Ltd., Lagos; Helf-zibah Trading Co. Ltd., Lagos and Agbowu Medical Centre, Warri.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

I'll still rebuild Achebe's primary school buildings —Jonathan

BY NWABUEZE

OKONKWO N I T S H A — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reaffirmed his preparedness to renovate the dilapidated school structures at Akpakogwe Central School, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, which the literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, attended during his early days.

Jonathan, who spoke through his Spiritual Director, Venerable Obioma Onwuzulumba, at St. Monica’s Anglican Church, Woliwo area of Onitsha at the end of the 2nd Session of the 29th Synod of the Diocese on the Niger, said he had asked the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, to furnish him with the design and estimated cost of the proposed renovation.

The President said he would never renege on the promises he made at the burial of Achebe at the primary school compound last year.

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Anambra stakeholders meet Obiano

Banker jailed for life over missing business partner

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA—AN Otuocha High Court in Anambra State has passed a life jail sentence on a banker, Jude Onwuzuluike, who had been standing trial since February 2013 over the whereabouts of his business partner, Chinwuba Ekwenze.

Onwuzuluike, a staff of United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Ogboefere, Bridge-head, Onitsha, had been arraigned in the court on a one-count charge of kidnapping Ekwenze since January 14, 2013.

In her judgement, Justice J.C. Anunude, stated that all the available evidences before the court, including the investigations of the police and Department of Security Services, DSS and their written reports, proved that the convict actually lured out the victim and knew what transpired that made him to be missing up till date.

The police had in February, 2013, arrested, interrogated and arraigned Onwuzulike before the court on the charge of conspiring with others now at large to kidnap Ekwenze, a motor spare parts dealer at Nkpor, near Onitsha, an accusation Onwuzuluike pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, about six prosecution witnesses, including the police and a personnel of the Department of State Services,

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UJUMADU

WKA—ANAMBRA State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, yesterday met with stakeholders from the various political parties in the state and got their assurance on the need to move the state forward.

Apart from few stakeholders, including former Governor Peter Obi and Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central in the senate, it was, indeed, a gathering of who is who in the state.

Essentially, the s t a k e h o l d e r s commended the governor on his achievements since assuming office on March 17, 2014, especially his courage to invite all Anambrarians for the meeting, irrespective of political leanings.

decision to kidnap and probably assassinate Ekwenze was that based on a mutual agreement reached between both parties in 2011. Ekwenze deposited the sum of N2 million with Onwuzuluike as a banker on a fixed interest rate of N100,000 every quarter.

John further told the court that in 2011 when the agreement was reached between them, Ekwenze made an initial deposit

of N1.5 million and, in 2012, raised the deposit to N2 million, adding that although Onwuzulike was giving Ekwenze the agreed N100,000 every three months as interest on the deposit, Ekwenze at a stage decided to terminate the business by asking Onwuzulike to return the whole N2 million to him, to enable him acquire a piece of land and commence a housing project.

VISIT: From left: Richard Robinson , Head, Africa Trading Global Markets, Adeola Azeez, Deputy Country Head, Dr Eugene Juwah , Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and Charles W.J. Weller, Head, Office of Deutsche Bank in Nigeria, during a visit by a team of investors and officials from Deutsche Bank London, Dubai and USA to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, in Abuja, yesterday.

DEMOLITION: Onitsha traders count losses

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

BY VINCENT

DSS, who investigated the matter, testified before the court against Onwuzulike who could not produce any witness at all, except his team of lawyers. While in court to testify, the DSS personnel wore a mask to avoid easy identification.

One of the prosecution witnesses and Ekwenze’s elder brother, John, told the court on oath that the summary of the reason behind Onwuzulike’s

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WKA—HUNDREDS of traders in the commercial city of Onitsha, affected by the recent demolition of the controversial Ekesons Motor Park in the popular Upper Iweka area of the town, have been counting their losses, even as Governor Willie Obiano said the exercise was to rid the city of hoodlums.

The traders, who said the matter was pending at the Federal High Court, Awka, before the demolition by the state government’s special task force, noted that they had been finding life difficult since the demolition took place.

According to the traders, it is pitiable seeing hoodlums having a free day looting and carting away their wares, while the demolition was going on.

Mr. Simon Okoye, who claimed that he owned two shops in the market said: ”The demolition took us by surprise because the park has been a subject of litigation and even the court has given an order restraining the government or its agents from disrupting the business of Ekeson group who

are the owners of the park “We were surprised to see over 50 Task Force members demolishing all the structures, including our corporate office.

They chased us away and even towed our buses to an unknown destination and condoned off the entire place as hoodlums had a free day.

“The hoodlums carted away

cartons of motor parts as the demolition was going on.”

Counsel to Chief E.E Ojukwu and Ekeson Motors Agencies Ltd, Mr. Fidelis Mbadugha of A.N Anyemene, SAN, chambers, described the demolition as a clear contempt of court.

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has reiterated the

determination of his government to rid the state of criminals to sanitise Anambra State.

Governor Obiano, who spoke when he visited the demolition site, said the exercise was part of the ongoing plan to create a conducive environment in the state to attract investors.

....Motor firm describes govt action as went ahead to demolish the demolition include EPS Parcel inhuman park, impounded and towed Service consignments, among

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NITSHA—THE manager of Ekeson Group, Onitsha, Mr. Samuel Ude, has lamented the wanton destruction recently visited on their motor park and company property by the bulldozers of Anambra State government on the instruction of the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

Recounting their ordeal to newsmen, the company chief regretted that the governor did not give them any form of notice before embarking on the demolition.

He said the state government

away several vehicles belonging to the company to an unknown destination.

Tracing the origin of the motor park to 1992 when the Federal Ministry of Works granted them a registered 99 years leasehold, Ude wondered why the Anambra State government would go ahead to demolish the park using military men, even in a democratic dispensation. He put the losses suffered from the demolition to over one billion naira, stating that apart from the company’s property, other items carted away during the

which are bundles of recharge cards belonging to another company, and estimated at over N300 million.

He described the action of the state government as barbaric, inhuman, and unconstitutional as it carried out the demolition regardless of the leasehold granted the company on the land by the federal government.

Mr. Ude lamented that the demolition has thrown over 200 employees of the company into the labour market.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,JUNE 17, 2014 — 15

Benue, C'River get $5m grant for sanitation

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

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BUJA—BENUE and Cross River states yesterday received $5 million to boost sanitation.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the grant in Abuja, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said the grant would promote hygiene in the states.

According to the minister, Nigeria needs massive investment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals’ target on sanitation.

While assuring that the grant would go a long way in addressing the problem of poor sanitation and hygiene in the states, the Minister said: “The population of Nigeria with access to basic sanitation and hygiene has been fluctuating from 37 per cent in 1990 to 34 per cent in 2000; and it has gone up to 41 per cent in 2012 under national assessment.

“This is, however, far from our set national target on MDG of 65 per cent by 2015 and 75 per cent by 2020. For us to reach the stated MDG targets, massive investment is needed to provide access to water supply and basic sanitation and hygiene.

“It is on this note that we welcome the support and participation of our development partners in scaling up access to water and sanitation.”

In his address, Executive Director, WSSCC, Dr Chris Williams, said the grant was the first donor initiative developed in Nigeria, led by the Government’s National Task Group on Sanitation, NTGS. Williams added that the innovation saw international funding matched by national, regional and local funding to significantly improve the sanitation and hygiene situation in the two states in Nigeria.

According to him, it also sets a framework for replication in other states in order to achieve the national target of an Open Defecation Free, OGF, Nigeria by 2025.

AGM: From left: CEO, Afriland Properties Plc., Mrs. Uzoamaka Oshogwe, Chairman, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and Company Secretary, Mr. Obong Idiong, during the 1st Annual General Meeting of the firm in Lagos.

ASUU STRIKE: UniAbuja shut indefinitely

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA—THE Governing Council of the University of Abuja, yesterday, ordered indefinite closure of the school.

The closure was the result of the #BringBackOurExams protest in the campus by the students, which prompted the authorities to chase out the students and put the school under lock.

It will be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UniAbuja branch, embarked on indefinite strike on June 2, 2014, in protest against the refusal of the VC to pay their three years check-up allowance.

However, the Vice Chancellor denied owing the

lecturers any allowance, and accused ASUU of blackmailing him.

As a result of the strike, the semester ’s exams which had earlier started were put on

hold. But the students took to the streets of Abuja to protest the continued strike by ASUU. The students, who had planned to take their protest to the Ministry of Education,

ADVICE TO JONATHAN: SAN faults Clark on Adoke

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI SAN, to be sacked from office for giving wrong advice to President BUJA—A constitutional Goodluck Jonathan. lawyer and Senior Chief Clark had maintained that Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Adoke, being the AGF, wrongly Sebastine Hon, yesterday, advised President Jonathan on the faulted the recent call by nature of state of emergency to be prominent leader of the Ijaw declared in Borno, Yobe and nation, Chief Edwin Clark, for Adamawa states. the Attorney General of the According to the Ijaw leader, the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, AGF ought to have advised the President to sack the political structures in the three states, rather than just abridging certain freedoms of the citizens of those states as it was the situation now.

However, in a statement he issued in Abuja, yesterday, Mr. efforts to rescue the girls.”

Hon, insisted that Chief Clark was Omeri further revealed that wrong. security operatives in He said: “I think the Elder Maiduguri, Borno State, apprehended seven terrorist who infiltrated the town to carry out terrorist missions.

“In the course of interrogation, they explained

BY VICTORIA OJEME that they were asked to carry BUJA—PRESIDENT out some bombing and Goodluck Jonathan has sabotage activities in furtherance of directives of the approved the appointment of leadership of the terrorists Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as Ambassador-at-Large. group,” he said.

As Ambassador-at-Large, Tukur The NIC coordinator, who was silent on the identity of would be assigned special duties the terrorist group, however, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

His appointment was contained noted that further investigation, patrol and in a statement issued yesterday surveillance in the locality by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been stepped up by the in Abuja.

Tukur, erstwhile National troops.

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CHIBOK GIRLS: C'ttee to submit report this week

BY CALEB AYANSINA &

FATIMAHKAREEM

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BUJA—THE Report of Federal Government Fact Finding Committee on Chibok will be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan this week, the Coordinator of National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, has said.

Omeri disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the security situation in the country, alongside representatives of security agencies.

He said: “We wish to appeal to Nigerians and the international community for more understanding and patience in the determined

Federal Secretariat and National Assembly, said what they wanted was to resume normal academic activities in the campus like their mates in other schools.

They were, however, not able to protest due to heavy rainfall in Abuja metropolis.

The hostels at the mini campus were not left out as students were also ordered to leave and tear gas canisters were fired by the police to disperse the students.

At the main campus of the school, a notice had been placed in all departments and hostels ordering every student to leave the school compound immediately.

As at the time of this report, students were seen packing their bags preparing to leave, while some had left since the strike started.

Statesman is getting it wrong here. First, the insinuation he is making is that the President has no brain of his; hence takes the advice of his lieutenants, hook, line and sinker.

“Secondly, Chief Clark is not a cabinet member of the Presidency; hence he is not expected to be privy to internal memos exchanged between the President and his cabinet Ministers.

“What Chief Clark is doing now portends grave danger for the sanctity of the hallowed office of the President of Nigeria, as it shows. If what Chief Clark is doing is right, that sensitive information is available to outsiders in the scheme of officialdom."

Jonathan appoints Bamanga Tukur Ambassador-at-Large

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Chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, from 2012 to January 2014, has in the course of his career in Nigeria’s public service, served as the General Manager and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Ports’ Authority, NPA, from 1975 to 1982, among others.

He was elected governor of the then Gongola State in 1983, but currently, he is chairman of the Board of Directors of Nigerian Railway Corporation.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Panic in Chibok over alleged Boko Haram letter

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—THERE was panic in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, where over 200 female students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, were abducted

by Boko Haram Islamic militants over 60 days ago, following a letter purportedly from the sect members informing them of their plans to attack the local government again.

A top local government official in Chibok town, who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed this to newsmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday.

According to him, when they met the police with the letter they were assured of maximum protection, but the police, however, complained of lack of fuel for their vehicles, as the ban on the sale of fuel in the local government for fear that insurgents would use it to burn houses made it impossible to access the commodity.

He, however, stressed that the

local government assured the security operatives that it would buy the fuel for them and also pleaded for more reinforcement from their headquarters as the

number of security personnel might not be enough.

He said: “Whenever Boko Haram tell you that they are coming, they never fail to come.

Our fears now is that, we do not

know when and how they are going to come but our people are in great fear. We are calling for prayers as well as the government to provide adequate security in Chibok.”

CONFRENCE: Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Jama’atu Nasiril Islam, JNI (right) and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, at the national conference on practical steps in uniting the Nigerian Muslim Ummahs, organised by JNI in Kaduna.

Plateau PDP suspends chairman

BY MARIE-THERESE

NANLONG

J

OS—THE State E x e c u t i v e Committee, SEC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Plateau State has suspended its chairman, Dr. Haruna Dabin from the party.

Dabin was accused of failure to render financial accounts to the party. He was also said to have deliberately refused to call regular meetings of the various organs of the party in the last one year, prompting some

members to institute a suit against the party.

In a communique at the end of the SEC meeting at the Presidential Lodge, Jos, yesterday, read by the Chairman, Mangu Local Government Area, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, who represented elected council chairmen, it was stated that the Deputy Chairman, Raymond Dabo had been mandated to take over the running of the affairs of the party in acting capacity, pending the outcome of investigations by the party’s Disciplinary Committee.

Ayu tips party for victory in 2015 Republic Senator, Professor

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI— F O R M E R Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has declared that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is better positioned to win the 2015 election than the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Ayu spoke weekend, in Lessel, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, at a ceremony marking the formal defection of opposition stalwart and Third

David Iornem from the APC to the PDP. He noted that the defection of Prof. Iornem whom he described as the engine room and master strategist of the APC to the ruling party was a major accomplishment for the PDP. He said: “People say that I am an astute politician, but the truth is that I learnt everything from Prof.

Iornem who is a political strategist and a major backbone of opposition politics in Benue and indeed Nigeria."

Zamfara releases N42m to flood victims

BY SALISU MARADUN

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A S A U — GOVERNOR Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has approved the release of N42 million as assistance to the victims of the recent flood disaster in Gusau,the state capital.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Emergency Relief Agency, Alhaji Atiku Maradun, who made this known at Gasau, said that about 250 houses were affected by the flood which ravaged the Barakallahu area of the state.

According to him, the gesture was to cushion the sufferings of the people whose houses were destroyed during the disaster.

Maradun further said that his agency was earlier directed by the government, to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the flood and work out modalities for assisting the victims, adding that his men were currently compiling another list of victims of similar disasters across the state with a view to assisting them, particularly those whose houses were completely washed away.

Insurance key to economic transformation —Ezeh

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BY NAOMI UZOR

A G O S — CHAIRMAN, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, NBGN, Chief Chris Ezeh has described insurance as not only a tool for wealth creation but the key to economic transformation of any country.

He spoke ahead of a public lecture on insurance organised by NBGN tomorrow at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. Ezeh said the lecture, will focus on ‘Insurance as a Tool for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Economic Growth' with a view to deepening insurance culture among Nigerians, particularly the vast poor and rural dwellers in conjunction with government and other stakeholders.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 17

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HIS World Cup is done and dusted as far as Nigeria is concerned. We would be extremely lucky to get past the first round. There is no doubt in my mind that, barring an act of God, Nigeria’s chances are next to nothing. The only team we have a chance against is Iran and, even there, we are more likely to draw than to win.

Therefore, I am not writing this for this World Cup. I am writing for the next one; because it takes four years to win the World Cup. Nigeria had a very good chance of winning this year’s World Cup. We have the players that can compete at the highest level. However, one major thing worked against us: we won the African Cup of Nations under the stewardship of Stephen Keshi.

Wrong choice Once we won the African Cup, Stephen Keshi became impregnable. He became a shoo-in to carry Nigeria to the World Cup. No doubts were tolerated; after all, Nigeria had not won the African Cup in 19 years! How then can any rightthinking person think of replacing our new-found champion after his famous achievement? However, the World Cup is not the African Cup. African football still remains relatively substandard vis-à-vis the football played in Europe and Latin America.

Stephen Keshi: The wrong coach for the World Cup World-class coaches The assumption that because Keshi managed the Super Eagles to World Cup qualification he is the right man to lead us to the World Cup itself is wrong. In 2006, Keshi led the Togolese team to World Cup qualification. However, realising what Nigeria has failed to realise, they dropped him for the World Cup itself and chose a far more-experienced world-class coach, Otto Pfister of Germany, to replace him.

A lot of song and dance is made of extraordinary football players, but more than ever before, football at the highest level is a tactical game between the coaches. A good coach can ensure that you don’t see Lionel Messi or Cristiano

,

Coaches like Keshi may be good enough to get Nigeria to win the African Cup. But they are not good enough to take us to the World Cup

In any case, the players we have brought to this World Cup are a shadow of those who won the African Cup. Even though we defeated Cote d’Ivoire in the African semi-finals, we are no match for them today, as FIFA rankings testify. It does not help matters that, unlike the Ivorian players who proved their mettle by coming from behind to defeat Japan in their first match in this World Cup; our foreign-based players have mostly been benchwarmers in their respective clubs this past league season.

This means many of them don’t have recent match-fitness.

In November 2013, I wrote an article in this column warning Nigerians that while Keshi was more than able to enthrone Nigeria as African champions; the hard truth is that he is not qualified to lead us to the World Cup. I was shouted down by a hosanna of Keshi’s new-found praisesingers. But people should know by now that abuse and invective never dissuade me from my opinion or from what I believe to be the truth.

,

Ronaldo throughout a match.

He studies the opposing players and devises the tactics that best neutralise their strengths. He identifies their weaknesses and exploits them.

At the highest level of football, a good coach is the difference between victory and defeat. If you don’t believe me look at what happened to Manchester United in the EPL (English Premier League) after the departure of Alex Ferguson. With virtually the same players, United went from winning the English Premier League to becoming an average team in a matter of months. The answer was to quickly get rid of coach David Moyes and replace him with world-class Louis Van Gaal.

In this World Cup, Van Gaal’s Netherlands team has already made mincemeat of the current world champions by tactically exploiting Spain’s vulnerability to high balls played to the left shoulder of their central defender. Unless and until we are prepared to make these kinds of non-sentimental decisions in the choice of coaches, and are prepared to

pay their high fees, we will not be able to benefit from Nigeria’s large number of world-class players.

difference in football at this level.

Keshi’s limitations

The strength of Jose Mourinho of Chelsea, the highest paid coach in the world, is in reading the game. This ensures that Mourinho’s second half is often a revelation to his first half.

Arsenal will always have a problem playing against Chelsea in the EPL because Mourinho is a better reader of the game than Arsene Wenger.

This league season, Liverpool was a better team than Chelsea.

Nevertheless, Liverpool lost 20 to Chelsea because Mourinho outfoxed Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers.

You can also tell the dexterity of a coach by the substitutions he makes during a game. With the world-class coaches, their substitutions immediately change the game. None of these skills are evident in Stephen Keshi. His current team is inadequate even at the basic level. The Super Eagles are predictable. They lack speed, match-stamina, ballpossession, accurate passing and clinical finishing.

Keshi is a tactically deficient coach. A seasoned coach would have a field-day exploiting Nigeria’s tactical deficiencies. The ball is easily won from us and then we have a problem retrieving it. We have a problem penetrating our opponents’ defenses. We don’t seem to have strikers hungry for goals. Because our recovery from a failed attack is often slow, we are highly vulnerable to fast counterattacks.

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ith Keshi at the helm in this World Cup, the chances are slim that the Super Eagles will win any match in their group, not to talk of progressing beyond the group stage. Since winning the African Cup, the performance of Keshi’s Super Eagles against non-African opposition has been dismal. His fan club insists these matches are merely preparatory to the big event of the World Cup. However, these so-called preparations never ended. Keshi spent the whole time trying out players in order to choose a team. Up to the very last preparation match against the United States, he was still trying out different cocktails of players.

This means he has not had any real time to test his first eleven as a unit. As a result, Nigeria’s Super Eagles play today as individuals. They have not been blended into a team.

When Nigeria played against the United States in our last warm-up game, Stephen Keshi was no match for Jurgen Klinsmann.

Unlike Keshi, Klinsmann is a World Cup veteran. He was part of the German team that won the World Cup in 1990, and he managed the German national team that came third in the World Cup in 2006.

Klinsmann’s U.S. team easily exposed the underbelly of Keshi’s Super Eagles. They made us look like rank amateurs. Nigeria hardly held the ball for any length of time.

We could not even string together decent passes.

The Americans realised that Nigeria’s strength was on the left flank and quickly shut us down there. Nevertheless, there was no change of tactics from Keshi as we spent the entire match trying to break through the left flank to no avail. It is this inability to read the game and change tactics accordingly that is a major handicap of Stephen Keshi. But that is precisely what makes the

Tactical dexterity

Lethargic players

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igeria’s players are not driven and motivated. We play as if nothing is at stake. Our defense is lethargic and flatfooted. Captain Joseph Yobo is way past his prime. Against the United States, American strikers easily danced around him. Jozy Altidore only managed to score one goal for Sunderland throughout the entirety of the last EPL season.

But playing for the United States, he was too much for the

Nigeria’s lackluster defenders.

Jurgen Klinsmann discovered that there was a gaping hole in the left flank of the Nigerian defense.

As a result, journeyman Altidore became a local hero, scoring two dazzling goals against Nigeria.

If he could do this, I wonder what to expect from Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic of Bosnia Herzegovina. I shudder what Lionel Messi and Kun Aguero of Argentina would do to us. If not for the fact that Nigeria has in Vincent Enyeama, one of the best gold-keepers in the world; some of the matches we played recently would have ended up as goal fiestas against Nigeria.

Our mid-field lacks creativity. The players are experts in back-passing the ball. They run up and down with little inventiveness as to how to open up the opposition’s defense. Mikel runs like a spider with the ball with little intention to go forward. He is one midfield player who never scores goals.

Even during set-pieces, he lacks ambition and will hardly approach the opposition’s eighteen.

Our attacking line-up lacks bite. The players seem bereft of innovative goal-scoring ideas. They are easily shut out of the game. Speed and dynamism are the hallmarks of today’s football. That indeed was the distinguishing feature of our World Cup winning Junior Eagles. We have already seen this in evidence in this World Cup, which has already become a goal-scoring extravaganza. However, the Super Eagles lack pace and speed. Their attacking system relies on a slow build-up, ensuring that the opposition easily decodes their intentions a mile off. Only Victor Moses seems inclined to carry attacks into the opposition’s penalty box.

2018 World Cup

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hat needs to be done? It is too late for this World Cup. But immediately thereafter, Nigeria needs to get a world-class football coach.

There is no room for misguided nationalism here. Luiz Scolari is Brazilian; nevertheless, he coached the Portuguese national team. Fabio Capello is Italian; nevertheless he coached the British national team. It is not about being nationalistically pig-headed. It is about insisting only the best is good enough for Nigeria.

Coaches like Keshi may be good enough to get Nigeria to win the African Cup. But they are not good enough to take us to the World Cup. They don’t have what it takes to tactically outsmart maestros like Germany’s Joachim Low or Spain’s Vicente Del Bosque.

That should remain the enduring lesson of this World Cup, after our cookies have crumbled.

18— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 CONCERNS about the future of Nigeria are growing. Many groups talk about Nigeria without attention to rectifying the issues.

The 1999 Constitution, which some have pointed out, began with a fallacy, bears the brunt of the blames for our collective.

The preamble to our Constitution packs these lies. We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Having firmly and solemnly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, Dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people Do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following Consti-

We The People… tution.

Nigerians never gave themselves the 1999 Constitution. The military did! Preambles in constitutions capture the essence of the document. When rooted in lies, the entire document is flawed.

We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The constitution was a product of series of dialogues among the fed-

erating units.

We, the people of Kenya, acknowledging the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation, Honouring those who heroically struggled to bring freedom and justice to our land, Proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace as one indivisible sovereign nation Respectful of the environment which is our heritage and determined to sustain it for the benefit of future generations Committed to nurturing and protecting the well-being of the individual, the family, communities and the nation

Recognising the aspiration of all Kenyans for a government based on essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law Exercising our sovereign and inalienable right to determine the form of governance of our country and having participated fully in the making of this Constitution Adopt, enact and give this Constitution to ourselves and our future generations.

The Kenyan Constitution reflects current concerns and is truthful about the participation of the people in its making. Parliament passed it on April 1, 2010, Kenyans voted (66.9 per cent in a referendum) on August 4, 2010 in favour of the Constitution.

People’s involvement in making the Constitution, even the amendments, would address the fallacy of “ we the people” and dissatisfaction with Nigeria .

OPINION

BY MICHAEL EGBEJUMI-DAVID

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HROUGHOUT history and throughout the world, some names have become synonymous with wickedness and negativity. Some names are only famous for their notoriety.

Joseph Mbu, the current Commissioner of Police in Abuja has managed to haul himself into this league.

For the Police Commissioner, it's been a while coming. Mbu has been cultivating the negative side of things for quite some time. Through hard work and sheer doggedness, he succeeded in planting his name firmly in infamy, where he appears most comfortable.

A lot of Nigerians only became aware of the name, Joseph Mbu when the man operated as the parallel governor of River State. But before he got the pink slip and was forced out of Port Harcourt, brother Mbu was a Deputy Commissioner in Anambra State, I think, at the time when the then governor, Chris Ngige was bundled into the boot of a very small car, whisked off, and was locked away for a moment or two in an audacious Igbomade coup. A few years later, Mbu reared his head as Police Commissioner in Oyo State. There, he led the team that sacked the palace of one Ashipa in a most humiliating manner. Mbu claimed that he was enforcing a court order in the Alaafin versus Ashipa faceoff. The Ashipa lost. To this day, the Ashipa chap has not fully recovered.

So, no, Mbu did not turn up in River State with the kind of CV that would make any State executive overjoyed. Shortly

Joseph Mbu again! after he arrived Port Harcourt, and without any prompting, Mbu forcefully declared that he would not be pocketed.

That was the first signal that the man was sent to Port Harcourt to do a hatchet job. And it didn't take too long at all before the script unfolded, with our ubiquitous First Lady casting herself - not for the first time - in the Director's role. The rest is unpalatable history.

But before Commissioner Mbu departed River State, Governor Amaechi lost the rest of his hair. Mbu also ensured that the House of Assembly became an arena for inelegant kerfuffle - with broken heads and broken egos thrown in for good measure. He made sure that State legislators with distended bellies laid prostrate on a well swept road at least a couple of times. And his final act was to set free the thugs that were used for these and other nefarious enterprise.

So when a couple of weeks or so ago organised thugs surfaced at Unity Square in Abuja wearing t-shirts that proclaimed "Release our Girls" and then proceeded to smash up the chairs and other logistics of legitimate peaceful protesters, with plenty of police officers at hand, grinning from ear to ear, everyone looked in the direction of the Police Commissioner. You just knew that if there was going to be unpleasantness introduced into the whole colourful, dignified, and peaceful protest in Abuja on behalf of the missing Chibok school girls, it was going to come via Joseph Mbu.

That is what the man does. He appears to know no convivial or positive way to carry out his duties. For him, it's all about malfeasance, repression and heavy-handedness. After the all too convenient introduction of a rival protest group of hardened thugs, Mbu declared that dangerous elements were about to hijack the protest. Then he proclaimed, "Protests on the Chibok girls are hereby banned with immediate effect. As the FCT police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness." In banning the 'bring back our girls' heart-warming protests, he said, "People have been protesting over a month now…when you continue to do it persistently, it becomes a nuisance to the government.

Maybe we should just tell him: Over 200 innocent school girls abducted by criminals for more than 50 days with no end in sight is more than a nuisance and is far more embarrassing to the government. Wild eyed male thugs intimidating mainly female peaceful protesters and smashing up their chairs and equipment while the police look on with gleeful eyes in the presence of the international media is a damn sight more embarrassing for the government.

Naturally, the organisers of the protests headed to court and, thank heavens, saner voices prevailed over the weekend and Mbu's ill-advised ban was rescinded.

I don't know why some people insist in portraying Nigeria as a jungle, as an uncaring space. And I don't know why or

how Jonathan has somehow mastered the art of stealing defeat from every situation.

The other time, when things got too tight for Joseph Mbu, after he'd realised that he had been used and was about to be dumped, he rushed off to the press and plonked down for some sophomoric and weepy salutation ads to congratulate his boss, the IG for being on the job for two years. Following the reversal of his haughty 'bring back our girls' protest ban, and realisation that he might be sidelined again, God only knows to what Mbu might resort to starve off another possible shuffle down the road. It won't surprise me if the IG comes home one day to find Royal Fathers from his place waiting for him in his sitting room with their game faces on - that is after he might have driven past two brand new, half nourished cows (advert space don't come cheap) tied down in his front yard.

As Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu ought to concentrate his effort at this time to providing effective security for Abuja during the oncoming FIFA world cup games rather than consolidating his reputation as government 'go to' guy when there's a dirty job to be done.

In the meantime, if I were Bala Mohammed, the FCT Minister, I will start a rigorous regime of fasting and prayer, preferably on Fridays, until Mbu packs his bags and muskets and hits the road again.

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

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—19

E

VERY time we witness death, of the type of my bosom friend, David Akiri, of the Delta State University and his immediate younger brother, Ogaga, we begin to question the reason for our existence. Is life really an exercise in futility or it has meaning? If it is a futile exercise, why do we have to go through the whole mad rush; hustling and bustling to seek vanity? If there is meaning to life, an opinion, to which I subscribe to, how do we handle it?

It is clear to me that if all you do in life is to build on the 'me alone' philosophy, you are on the path of vanity. We only become true human beings by virtue of our interactions which breed love, which in turn breed procreation, that leads to multiplication. Love is sacrifice - the ability to give a part of you. When you do that, you are helping to create meaning for living. The impact that you make while living determines the relevance or real purpose of our existence on earth. Jesus Christ paid the supreme sacrifice of love, 2014 years after, the purpose of his coming to earth is getting stronger.

Simply put: Our purpose of existence is Love- Giving, Sharing and Sacrificing - for each other. If we build on this thinking, we will

have a much safer and developed society.

Our privileged brothers are too greedy. Wealth is for sharing; when you invest in people, you are building asset, a light most of us have not connected with.

We prefer to allow our money to lie idle in banks all over the world, chasing vanities, rather than invest in people. Our politicians, leaders and tycoons are busy piling up assets like the rich fool in Luke's gospel. Only a very negligible percentage is exempted; that is why activities of the type of the SALIMO-WITS leadership initiative must be brought to light.

I volunteered to be part of a journey of this non-governmental body to bring change to remote communities that are living in denial.

Right in the middle of the forest between Epe town and the Lekki axis of Lagos State, are clusters of villages - Dongo, Ladeba, Abegede, Idi-ori and many others, serene and unaffected by the hustling and bustling activities going on in other parts of Lagos. You have to cross the atlantic waters with a canoe- type engine boat to get here. You will swerve off the Epe expressway at a point after Bogije, beside Fortis Oil station and drive about three kilometres of bumpy road to a village called Oribanwa, from where you will embark on the boat

When you invest in the Salimo Wits type of initiative, you are impacting on the world, you are helping to leave the world better than you met it, you are helping to establish a reason for living

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journey to Dongo, the first of these settlements that you will meet.

The journey was both fascinating and pitiable.

Fascinating at the discovery; what comes to mind is the village era of Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Camara Laye's African Child.

Pitiable in the sense that, amidst the grandeur and splendour of neighbouring Lekki, lies villages so remote from civilisation.

T

his is where the Salimo Wits Foundation, under the leadership of Mr Dan Ekoko, chose to impact lives. How they established contact with these villages was not made clear to this writer but on the governing board of Salimo Wits are

As 2015 general elections approaches

BY DAVID IFODE "No duty the Executive has to perform is so trying as to put the right man in the right place". - Thomas Jefferson.

A

S we approach the 2015 general elections, voters again, have another opportunity to ensure, that their votes count while insisting on supporting only, those who are able to give good or positive account of their stewardship?

A basic challenge we must do away with is this mentality that our votes will not count due to manipulation. We should 'fight' to make our votes count and make democracy work because it is a known fact that those in privileged positions never give them up without a fight. We must also down play ethnicity, religion (the present 'war' should explain), "paddy paddy" support, undermine the gifts and party affiliations and be simply Nigerians to put the right people in the right place.

That way, we can force our politicians to' behave responsibly and speak responsibly'.

Thomas Jefferson's statement above though not directed at Nigeria at the time he made it, somehow, may be responsible for the level of mediocrity at various levels of leadership in government today presidential, governorship, local government chairmanship and legislature - borne out of those selected or elected and appointed into positions of responsibility. If a non-performing person is selected or elected into office, he would also surround him or herself with like minds. As we approach 2015, we should note that those we allow into leadership positions can make development faster, better or worse.

2015 should be time to avoid lip service and punish politicians responsible for our suffering at all levels (Federal, State, Local Government or Legislature) by voting them or their parties out in the coming elections? This way, we would be

ready for a better tomorrow and national greatness?

Now, without prejudice, let us compare our political system with the American, we try to imitate more wrongly than rightly. In the American system we have adopted, campaigns start anywhere from several months to several years before election days.

The first part of any campaign for a candidate is deciding to run. Prospective candidates will often speak with family, friends, professional associates, elected officials, community leaders, and the leaders of the political parties before deciding to run.

Once a person decides to run, he or she will make a public announcement and is open to public scrutiny. He or she would seek Public Relations (PR) Counsel. PR people advise such clients to create a planbefore a crisis occurs-to minimize damage and protect reputations. This is a deliberate strategy by a prospective candidate, either to "test the waters" or to keep the media's attention. Also during this period, candidates travel around the area they intend to run for elections to meet with would be voters. This allows voters to get a better picture of who a candidate is than what they read in the paper or see on television. The candidate equally has first hand information about the needs of the people and their aspirations.

"To test the waters" prospective candidates are allowed to move freely without hindrance in their pursuit. Under this process, a prospective candidate's ears are to the ground, to perceive the rumblings that can either encourage or discourage them from participating in the coming elections. They do not donate cars, motor-cycles, tricycles, sewing machines or grinding machines etc or cash to solicit for votes. In the American democratic system, the people have the right to elect whom they want. This perhaps explains why they do better.

In the Nigerian system however, in a

missionary pastors like Owoyemi Emmanuel and Kingsley Ewere.

Other members of the board present are Roland Eyetu, Vincent Prosper and youthful Akin Adelakun as secretary.

What these people through Salimo Wits and partners, Divine Treasures, did for these communities on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April 2014, will not be forgotten for centuries to come.

They laid the foundation for human capital growth, which is a must for any society interested in development.

First, because of the prevalence of drug abuse amongst youth in the various communities, caused by extreme poverty and ignorance, a drug sensitisation training was arranged for them, detailing the dangers inherent in drug misuse and abuse. A trained pharmacist of repute gave the lecture; of course, there was an interpreter who translated the message in the local dialect. This was followed by another lecture "From waste to wealth" delivered

by Mr Sunny Ikhioya, a trained sociologist and experienced human capital development expert.

A number of youths volunteered for training in different areas of trade and crafts. Those who chose to further their education were promised free scholarship by the foundation.

The icing on the cake, was the free medical services offered to the communities on Saturday the 12th. Tests were conducted by trained medical personnel and treatment administered. The people were joyful, there was

,

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

,

The Salimo-Wits leadership initiative

In our democracy,it is believed, that the godfathers, the wealthy and party leaders are the ones with the right to elect whom they want and not the people. No wonder progress is so slow

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deceptive manner, a few unserious candidates seeking for relevance or bargaining power for positions, are the first to start campaigns in the media, a tool to bargain for positions later. Next are some godfathers, with doubtful character who would later show interest even against the odds, finance personal supporters, some social or, ethnic groups to run media campaigns and print posters in their favour, begging or urging them to run for elective offices.

Some money bags not credible to run for political offices also show interest by running publicity or print posters of their eligibility, to 'test the waters'. When the campaigns receive negative response, the prospects deny such ambition. Some relate such campaign to the work of opponents or element of coincidence, over their unannounced ambition to run for elective offices. Whether true or false, in his novel "False Impression" Jeffrey Archer wrote, 'An FBI Maxim says never believe in coincidences but never dismiss them'.

There are those in government, who have made illegal wealth from the system and believe they have intimidating credentials based on wealth to run for elective offices. They intimidate prospective voters for support in anticipation of financial gains.

There are also those who leave their political parties for the opposition to find

excitement in the air, gifts in the form of books and writing materials were freely given.

According to the president, Mr Dan Ekoko, this is just the beginning as "many Goodluck Jonathans and Barak Obamas will emerge from here". He further reiterated the determination of the foundation to "becoming a foremost nongovernment organisation, with the specific of berthing quality change globally, starting with Nigeria social, economic and political arena".

The beauty of the whole programme is the selflessness of the board: None of them is from these villages. In fact, Mr Ekoko, the president, is an Itsekiri man from Warri, Delta State. The only thing missing in the whole programme was the absence of representatives of government, both Federal and Lagos State.

Such a noble gesture deserves their attention and support. It is also a programme that is recommended to all men and women of means in the society, to use their wealth to uplift the less-privileged.

When you invest in the Salimo Wits type of initiative, you are impacting on the world, you are helping to leave the world better than you met it, you are helping to establish a reason for living, a reason for our existence - that of love, sharing and caring for one another.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

room for eligibility by creating confusion and blaming their former parties for the woes of the society. Remember these new opposition candidates once received awards for those parties and also sang their praises when the going was good.

There are some others who may be genuine prospects, out of fear, in order not to offend the Godfathers, President or Governors regarded as party leaders with the power to nominate candidates for elective positions, play the waiting game and shy away from making their intentions known. There is nothing wrong with power if used correctly, to improve our strength in terms of moral and economic power - but are we doing just that?

For the very qualified and with good intentions to perform creditably if elected, but who would not condone mediocrity, their inability to afford the financial burden of running for elective offices in Nigeria stops them. No matter how a candidate comes out in Nigeria he or she would face hindrances - thugs, kidnapping, abuses, destruction of campaign materials and physical attacks amongst others.

Because most voters believe that their votes would never count, as elections are usually rigged and candidates selected, they want their votes to be on "cash and carry" basis. Many other voters would rather not vote. The "cash and carry" voters would sell their votes, to the highest bidder irrespective of the character.

The 'cash and carry' politicians are already at what they know to do best. They are already on a drive towards 2015 without declaring their intentions giving out so called dividends of democracy cars, motor-cycles, tricycles, sewing machines or grinding machines and cash amongst others to solicit for votes.

Nobody is asking where the funds for the goodies come from.

In our democracy,it is believed, that the godfathers, the wealthy and party leaders are the ones with the right to elect whom they want and not the people. No wonder progress is so slow.

*Mr. Ifode, a current affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 21

FAAN grows revenue by 17% through automation

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

T

HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has disclosed that its revenue increased by 17 per cent because of the recent automation carried out on the revenue sources of the agency.

FAAN General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati, said there is transparency in the current automation .

According to him “There has been increase in the revenue of the agency since the introduction of the new automation system and it has been able to close loopholes through which funds that belong to the agency are siphoned by unscrupulous individuals.”

FAAN management further said the automation has ensured a steady progress in revenue collection, which is expected to rise up to N70 billion when the automation of all the airports is completed.

Mr Dati further disclosed that the agency was largely kept in the dark by the automation carried out in the past because the concession model was handled by external company “in a black box to FAAN” and therefore was not transparent, but in the present automation the contractor deploys and maintains the equipment and software, but FAAN staff members are trained to operate and use the system.

“So we know every amount of money that is entering our accounts, even the financial transactions by our clients who run shops, restaurants are captured by the system, so there is full

From left: Gbenga Ade Sonuga, Chief Operating Officer, Citi Asset Management Limited; Lisa Bonnikson, Country Manager, West Africa, U. S. Trade and Development Agency; Lee Zak, Director, U. S. Trade and Development Agency; Abu Ismail Ejoor, Executive Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (Benin Disco) and Lucky Ayomoto, Legal Counsel, Benin Electricity Distribution, at the grant funding announcement for the Benin Disco by the US agency in Lagos. transparency because our staff are empowered for full visibility,” Dati said.

The FAAN spokesman also said in the past the invoices generated by the external company was customised accordingly, but the present automation electronic invoices are

generated by the agency in a more efficient and effective manner and this means full ownership of invoicing process which enhances reconciliation.

Commenting on the automation , an executive member of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association

Reps fault budget planning process ... say NPC’s role hijacked

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

C

hairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development and President of the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Bethel Amadi, has faulted the nation’s budgeting and formulation process and accused other agencies involved in the process of hijacking the role of the national Planning Commission, NPC. Hon. Amadi made the assertion during the inauguration of boards of three parastatals under the National Planning Commission, NPC. Amadi noted that the NPC had not been playing any major role in the nations’ budgeting processes, which he said has always resulted in poor results.

He urged the NPC to assume its full responsibility and be more involved in the budgeting processes and formulation of the budget in line with the clearly defined national plan.

“We are convinced that the role of National Planning Commission, NPC in the preparation of national budget, so far, has not been felt, and we have said that many times.

“NPC and its parastatals and agencies should be more involved in the budgeting process and formulation to ensure that the budget is in line with the clearly defined national plan.

“We as a committee have sat over and over again, despite the need to have the budget office completely overseeing the budgeting process under the ministry of finance, the role and input of National Planning Commission should not in anyway be undermined,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, the Supervising Minister of National Planning Commission, Amb. Bashir Yuguda , charged the new board members to live up to their expectations and the mandate the President reposed in them.

The Minister described the three agencies as great pillars of the economy, upon which the Transformation Agenda of federal government relies on.

He urged them to use their wealth of experience and expertise to make quality inputs capable of assisting the NPC to achieve its set goals.

He said: “We have just inaugurated the boards of all the parastatals under the Commission, NISER, CMD and NBS. The inauguration is to charge the board members to live up to expectation and to the mandate the president has delegated them. I urged them to help plan better for Nigeria with their wealth of experience.

“I have no doubt that you will bring your wealth of experience to bear as we work towards achieving the Transformation Agenda of the present administration. The focus of this administration on performance and results, as you are all aware, is underlined by the need for a fundamental paradigm shift from the old way of not paying enough attention to measuring performance, or measuring it only by the amount of activities undertaken, or monies spent, to a new way that emphasises the delivery of development results to Nigerians.

“Therefore, we need to develop the capacity of our workforce through regular training and retraining for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness using the Centre for Management Development (CMD).”

ATSSSAN, FAAN branch, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the workers want the automation but insists that it must be transparently done and expressed satisfaction with what has been done so far to boost the revenue of the agency.

“We opposed the old system because our investigation revealed to us, and we were convinced, that it was not transparent. Instead of increasing our revenue, we were losing money. At a time we stopped getting our allowances and the money paid to maintain the airports stopped coming.

We fully support automation, but it must be transparent”, the labour leader said.

176.1

4.15

3,147.00

+62.00

16.93

0.23

113.22 +0.20 106.75 +0.22 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.73 259.698 209.6592 172.056 1.5173 0.3006 237.1243 24.8414 41.2547 28.0914 237.866

155.23 260.538 210.3367 172.61 1.5222 0.3106 237.8905 24.9221 41.388 28.1821 238.6351

155.73 261.3772 211.0142 173.168 1.5271 0.3206 238.6568 25.0028 41.5214 28.2729 239.4037

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/06/2014

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

INVESTORS Top 10 performing stocks

INDEX MOVE

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

N the list of top 10 perform ing stocks last week were Conoil Plc, Eterna Plc, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA), P.Z Cusson Plc and Airline Services and Logistics Plc. Others were Prestige Assurance Plc, Neimeth Pharmaceutical Plc, West African Provincial Insurance Plc and Custodian and Allied Plc. Conoil Plc led with 39.87 percent or N20.73 to close at N72.73 from N52.00 it started the week at. Conoil

has in the last one year been defaulting in its obligation to the investing public by failing to render its financial statement to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, timely. As it is, the company is presently operating below the post listing rules requirement of the NSE for late submission of its full year for period ended December, 2013 and was subsequently fined N1.5 million. Notwithstanding, the company is still penciled down as operating below minimum listing requirement for non-submission of its first quarter financial statement for March, 2014. Stockbrokers believe that the short fall could be the reason minimal activity on its shares compared to some of its peers in petroleum and petroleum products distributors’ sector.

As at the end of transactions on Friday June 13, 2014, investors bought 30,000 units of the company ’s shares. Though it rewarded shareholders with dividend in its financial year ended December 31, 2012, it was a significant drop over what was paid in 2011. Specifically, the amount paid within that year as dividend fell by whooping 60 percent from N2.50 in 2011 to N1.00 in 2012.

The financial statement for that same period showed that significant drop in basic measurement indicators. The turnover fell to N149.993 billion from N157.512 billion, representing 4.77 percent decrease.

Profit before tax also nose-dived at N1.148 billion was 70.89 percent decline over N4.382 billion reported

in 2011, while profit after tax was N714.981 million, as against N2.997 billion a year earlier.

The share price had previously risen to N76.00 from year low of

N23.00 before sliding to the current market price.

Another petroleum and petroleum products distributors’ listed equity, Eterna Plc, rose by 26.80 percent or N0.93 to emerge second on list. It started week at N3.47 and closed at N4.40 per share. Following its dependence on bank’s loans to run its operation, shareholders had at the last annual general meeting appealed to the Board and management to seek alternative source of funding.

Eterna paid its last dividend 10 years ago in 1999, paying N0.08 per share.

The company just released its 2013 full year financial statement with revenue rising to N98.3 billion, representing 9.66 percent increase compared with N89.6 billion in 2012. This, the company attributed to increased fuel and crude oil revenue of N8.4 billion. However, despite the increase in revenue, the gross profit declined by 5.28 percent from N3.0 billion in 2012 to N2.9 billion.

Caverton Offshore Support Group, which was listed on the Exchange just a month ago, followed with 12.93 percent or N0.57 price appreciation, rising to N4.98 from N4.41. The company had made history by being the first oil services company to be quoted on the Nigerian stock exchange. True to the management’s promise of coming into the

market with some announcements that will impact positively on the share price, the company last week announced plan to commence construction of first aircraft training school in sub-Saharan Africa, a move that is expected to drive the revenue. It also announced that Total Exploration and Production had granted it contract extension following the expiration of three years contract it won with the company (Total) in 2011 for the operation of four helicopters into TEPENG’s offshore fields. The extension will see Caverton servicing the company till 2016. This is in addition to the acquisition of a brand new AW139 helicopter, the 7th in the company’s fleet. However, it seems investors have not been well disposed towards the stock as the share price has fallen from N9.50 (the listing price) to the current market price.

United Bank for Africa appreciated by 7.55 percent or N9.57 to close at N8.12 from N7.55; P.Z Cusson went up by 6.94 percent or 2.50 to close at N38.50 from N36.00; ASL advanced by 6.06 percent or N0.14 to close at n2.45 from N2.31; Prestige Assurance recorded 5.88 percent or N0.03 increase, rising to N0.54 from N0.51; Neimeth went up by 5.83 percent or N0.07 to close at N1.27 from N1.20; West African Provincial Insurance added 5.56 percent or N0.04 to close at N0.76 from N0.72, while Custodian and Allied advanced by 5.06 percent or N0.17, rising to N3.53 from N3.36 per share.

The ideal National Investors

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

HE last edition recommended that there should be one Investors’ Protection Fund (IPF) in the capital market, instead of the multiplicity of such fund as implied in the Exposure Draft Guidelines on the National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF) being promoted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The article also recommended that existing IPFs and those in the pipeline should be suspended or absolved by the SEC sponsored NIPF. But there is need to review some aspect of the draft guidelines of the NIPF. One of such aspect is the governance of the NIPF. Section 5 of the guidelines states, “The Board shall consist of: Members who shall be the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission and such number of Executive Commissioners appointed for the Commission from time to time; Two or three other members who shall be appointed by the Commission.”

The above structure needs to be amended once

the NIPF becomes the only investors’ protection fund in the capital market.

First, the various players and categories of investors must be represented on the board of the NIPF. This means stockbrokers, listed companies, securities exchanges, capital trade points, mutual funds and shareholders must be represented on the board to ensure balance of opinions. Secondly, the governance of the Fund is too tied to SEC. Why should the DG of SEC also be the chairman of the Board? Why not one of the Executive Commissioners of SEC or somebody appointed by SEC? Also why including all the Executive Commissioners of SEC on the board?

Maybe they don’t have enough responsibilities as Executive Commissioners.

This arrangement is not good for corporate governance and it belittles the office of the SEC D-G. It is like having the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the Chairman of

WS MARKET NE

GSK declares N1.2bn dividend, as Onuzo becomes new Board Chairman

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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SK Consumer Nigeria Plc has declared N1.243 billion dividends, which translates to N1.30 per share for the financial year ended December 2013.

This is even as Mr. Edmund Onuzo joined the company as the Board Chairman following the retirement of Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, who has served in the Board for 14 years.

Addressing shareholders at the 43rd Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the chairman, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, said the company is ready to diversify its operations to cover other industries in Nigeria.

He noted that the company recorded a rev-

enue growth of 15.3 percent to N29.18 billion compared to N25.3 billion in the 2012 financial year.

He attributed the growth in revenue to product development in the consumer healthcare segment and continued sales, marketing and distribution efforts as well as its strong presence across Nigeria.

“The company has also been able to sustain a steady growth due to the brand equity enjoyed by virtue of its parent company (GlaxoSmithKline Plc) and robust product portfolio.

“Net income for the period increased three percent to N2.91 billion, compared with N2.82 billion for 2012. Cost-to-sales was relatively stable at 60 percent for the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 23

S FORUM INVESTORS SPEAK

MENT

What most shareholders don’t know about stock trading (2) I

Protection Fund (2) NDIC, or Nigeria Interbank Settlement System. Thus for the purposes of corporate governance, and to preserve the dignity of the office of SEC D-G, this governance structure should be amended. One of the Executive Commissioners could be the chairman while other members of the board are appointed from critical segment of the capital market. Of course these suggestions are meant for a NIPF that is the sole investors’ protection fund for the capital market.

The second aspect of the NIPF guidelines that needs to be amended is the funding. Under the framework being promoted by SEC, each Investors Protection Fund would be funded through contributions or levy on operators in the market. That is, dealing members of securities exchanges would contribute to the IPF of their exchange and members of capital trade points would also fund that of their points. The implication is that almost all the operators in the capital market would be made to contribute to fund one IPF or the other. However, if the market has just one IPF, like the NIPF, though operators will still have to contribute to funding it, the contributions would go into just one fund, based on well articulated criteria.

2013 financial year, which can be attributed to stable prices of major raw materials,” he said. “Operating Expenses (OPEX) grew 17.48 percent year on year (YoY) as against 15 percent for 2012 financial year, which was majorly fuelled by the 47.6 percent rise in administrative expenses. The growth in operating expenses may be attributed to GSK Nigeria’s push into new markets across West Africa for both pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products to sustain market share,” Osunkeye added.

Other highlights of the result showed that other income declined 39.1 percent, further contributing to the 4.51 percent growth in operating profit with operating profit margin at 14.24 percent vs. gross margin of 39.76 percent.

Return on Average equity (ROaE), declined marginally to 23.65 percent in 2013 from 26.2 percent in 2012, while return on average assets (ROaA) remained stable at 11.14 percent for the period. Earnings per share (EPS) increased by 3.37 percent to N3.05 compared to N2.95 in 2012, while net profit margins remained stable at 17 percent.

NVESTORS in the capital market like every other area of business are always particular about the return they derive from their investment. This often times, is the motivation for investing.

To shareholders in the equity market, these returns come in form of dividend and sometimes, bonus share and price appriciation which help them to solidify their investment base either by reinvesting on the same stock or looking out for another potential company where they hope to get more reward.

Even when some shareholders who have been clamouring for a more robust market understand the benefits of trading on •Sir Sunny Nwosu their shares, they still prefer to hold on to them awaiting the dividend no matter how small it may be.

Some minority shareholders, who spoke with Vanguard Investors Forum, explained some of the reasons why shareholders prefer to hold on to their shares.

Excerpt: continent.

BY WILLIAM JIMOH Their structure, fundamentals IR Sunny Nwosu, National and past financial records are such Coordinator, Independent that when you have their shares, Shareholders Association of you do not even think of selling or trading on it because you are Nigeria (ISAN): The importance of trading on sure of the return for which reaany company’s shares is that it son, you can go to bed and sleep shows the viability of the stock because the future is bright for and also helps to build up capi- you.

Another thing with such compatalisation, which is the strength nies is that their bonus policy is of the shares. Trading also helps shareholders to go home also very good meaning if there anytime with something and will be trading on such shares, it that is the joy of the whole proc- will be very minimal. That will, ess, because when you are in- therefore, increase the price of vesting, it is a form of saving. buying it because many shareFor these reasons, sharehold- holders who can afford such stock ers cannot but be very passion- will long to buy it. And the higher ate about their return which is the demand, the higher the price. dividend, it is because just like It is only when such companies when you put money in the give bonuses which normally bank, you expect that interest come in five years intervals that will be paid to you and if the you see people off loading their interest is not forthcoming, there holdings. Even when some shareis nothing wrong with you holders are in need of money, they asking questions as regards still hold on to it.

A minority shareholder will non payment of interest. prefer to borrow money in the William Adebayo, Chair- bank with interest than to sell his/ man, Greenwich Shareholders her shares in Friesland, because Association of Nigeria at the end of the day, they know ( G S A N ) : that the interest they will have to That shareholders hold onto pay is nothing compare to losing their shares rather than trading their holdings in such company, on them will always remain a which is like raw gold. source of concern to This is not applicable to listed stakeholders in the market as companies alone. Unlisted comlong as the fundamentals of pany like MTN, the minimum unit such companies remain very you can buy is 4,001 in dollar and at the end of the day, when you sound.

For a stock like Friesland convert this to Naira; it will be a Foods WAMCO Nigeria Plc, million plus. Another reason is makers of Peak milk, their fun- that companies in this category damental is so sound that the pay you dividend four times a year shareholders that have their and Friesland also pay twice a year shares hardly sell or trade on it which is another reason why the because, if you look at the mar- company remains very relevant ket today, this is the only com- and those that have the shares will trade on them. pany that pays the highest divi- not dend in Nigeria if not across the Imagine if you have share in any of these companies in a moment

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•Olufemi Oduyemi like this when the Naira is becoming weaker everyday making it detestable for the holders to sell them for weaker currency. They do so with the mindset that the currency will be stronger and they can sell in the future to make more money.

Another stock you can talk about today in the capital market is Nestle, which most shareholders are unwilling to sell today. Most of them bought the shares when the price was between N200 and N400 and not as high as N1,083, which is the price today. They feel that if they sell now, they may never be able to buy it again.

Normally, if there is much demand, the price of the stock will go up and if there is more supply than demand, the price will fall and that is what has kept the price of these stocks high over the years.

If you are living in a country like Nigeria where the inflationary trend is very small, it is better you hold on to your rewarding shares because by the time you sell them, to buy them again, you will find out that your N100, 000 cannot buy up to 100 units, because the brokers will remove two percent as commission on each of the shares and there are other charges attached to buying and selling of shares.

The most important thing is for shareholders to buy share that have good fundamentals so that they can have an edge over inflation.

Oduyemi Olufemi, member, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA): Shareholders are left with no other option than to hold onto their shares considering the economic situation in the country.

As investors, who have been in the market for long, we take the performance of the companies into consideration, and we also consider things like the owners of the companies and their Board of Directors in respect of any decision we make as regards their shares including when to trade.

Another thing we consider is in house information of these companies.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Oando’s woes heighten with N13bn loss in six months …Records N56.69bn in debts

BY MICHAEL EBOH

O

ANDO Energy Re sources, OER’s woes continued as the company announced a loss of $39.9 million about N6.384 billion, in its first quarter 2014 financial performance bringing its total loss for two consecutive quarters - first and second to $80.889 million, about N12.94 billion.

OER, which holds interests in 11 oil licenses is the exploration and production, E&P subsidiary of Oando Plc. Following the Reverse Takeover of Exile Resources, Oando Plc holds 94.6 per cent in OER that is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

OER’s N6.384 billion ($39.9 million) loss is 3.58 per cent of its parent company’s N178.27 billion current market capitalisation.

According to the result released on the Toronto Stock Exchange to international investors, the company also continued to wallow deep into debts, as it recorded $354.3 million, about N56.688 billion in borrowings as at March 31, 2014.

The borrowing is 41.68 per cent of OER’s current market capitalisation, which is about US$850 million (N136 billion) and 31.8 per cent of its parent company, Oando Plc’s market capitalisation.

The borrowing, the company said, comprises convertible loans and acquisition loans to the tune of $233.3 million, about N37.328 billion and operational loans of $121.0 million, about N19.36 billion.

The loss recorded in the first quarter of 2014 was in spite of a five per cent rise in its revenue to $32.2 million.

The company explained that the loss was primarily as a result of financing expenses relating to the Conoco Philips' acquisition, a development that may have confirmed industry regulator, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR’s fears over the ability and capacity of Oando to purchase and operate the Conoco Nigerian assets.

The company recorded $10.3 million in cash flow from operating activities in the first quarter of 2014, compared to cash outflow of $18.0 million from the same period last year, while cash and cash equivalents stood at $300.6 million.

Commenting on the result, Mr. Pade Durotoye, Chief Ex-

From left: Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State; Mr Momar Nguer, Chairman, Total Nigeria Plc; Mr Taofiq Tijani, Commissioner, Minisrty of Energy and Mineral Resources; Alexis Vovk, Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc and Dr Gloria Elemo, Director General/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, at the official commissioning of Total First Solar Service Station at Onigbagbo, Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU. ecutive Officer, OER, said, “Our first quarter was highlighted by positive operational results that saw us increase our year on year oil production by 22 per cent.

"This increase in quarterly production from the Ebendo Field was as a result of a higher production uptime experienced due to reduced shut-in's on the Agip trunkline evacuation route.”

The company explained that it is in the final stages of acquiring ConocoPhillips' Nigerian upstream oil and gas business, adding that the acquisition is expected to position it as one of the leading E&P players in Nigeria, as measured by total reserves and production.

According to the company, it believes that the Conoco Philips acquisition represents a game changing opportunity for

OER and its shareholders.

The company maintained that the acquisition will add, “A 20 per cent working interest in the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Joint Venture (NAOC JV), which includes 41 discovered oil and gas fields with remaining oil and gas recovery, approximately 40 identified prospects and leads, 12 production stations.

“Approximately 1,490 kilome-

ters of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas pipelines, three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale-Okpai 480 megawatts combined cycle gas-fired power plant, and associated infrastructure.

“Approximately 36,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("boe/ d") based on average production between January and December 2013.”

Lagos lawmakers flay FG on importation of generating sets

BY EBUN SESSOU

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HE Lagos State House of Assembly has criticised the increasing rate of importation of generating sets into Nigeria, saying that it is as a result of the Federal Government’s ineptitude and inability to provide adequate power supply to the people.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, disclosed this during a chat with newsmen at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Lagos.

Ayinla accused dealers in generating sets of hiding under the auspices of importation to frustrate the electricity supply situation in the country.

According to him, dealers of generating sets capitalise on

the lapses of the Federal Government to import generators, as consumers have no other choice than to patronise them.

He blamed the Federal government for failure to provide electricity which has empowered the generator dealers to widen the scope of their business.

His words: “If the federal government had done the needful, dealers of generator would have no other choice than to stop the importation."

The lawmaker, who is also a generators dealer, recalled that the ENRON project that was initiated by the former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, failed because the Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo scuttled the initiative.

He argued that such a politicking was responsible for the setback in Lagos State’s electricity generation capacity, adding that governments are expected to run irrespective of which political party is in power.

“The issue of politics should not be considered in the development of the nation. All politicians should work handin-hand for the growth of the country and no project should be abandoned.”

Ayinla reiterated that majority of Nigerians are living below one dollar per day because of epileptic power supply, adding that jobs are not provided and many cannot work independently or in self-employment.

He maintained that inadequate power supply is also re-

sponsible for the failure of the manufacturing sector.

According to him, "If you want to go into manufacturing sector, you must be very careful because diesel will finish you out of business. Government working against itself is not good for the democracy of the country. If government provides power for its citizens, the issue of importation of generating sets would be a thing of the past.

"If there is efficient electricity supply in the country, the growth of the people will be enhanced. There will be no problem of poor health care, transportation among others.

The truth is that the government is not ready to assist its citizens. The major problem of business is electricity,” he concluded.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 25

Oil & People •CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU cnwaozuzu@gmail.com

Marginal fields licensing round 2013: Prospects, delays (2) T

Total decries late subsidy payment, pays N3.7bn dividend

BY PETER EGWUATU

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OTAL Nigeria Plc has lamented Federal Government’s late payment of subsidy, and attributed this to the huge financial expenses experienced by the company, even as it paid a total of N3.734 billion as dividend to its shareholders for the financial year ended December 31, 2013.

Addressing shareholders and newsmen at the 36th Annual General Meeting, AGM in Lagos, last week, the company’s Chairman, Mr. Momar Nguer, expressed disgust over the unchanged marketing margins in the petroleum industry.

According to him, “The marketing margin, which is generating the cash flows, has not been reviewed since 2007. So, it’s been seven years during which the cost of doing business has increased substantially. Therefore, margins should be reviewed regularly in order to take care of inflation and other cost of doing business in Nigeria. Frozen margin for such a long time of seven years is not good for the industry.”

Commenting on the delay in subsidy payment, he said, “We are also suffering from huge financial expenses as a result of delays in the payment. On the average it takes eight months for the government to pay us back the subsidies. In our balance sheet at the end of 2013, we were owed N12 billion. The financial expenses of that debt represent 10 per cent of our net operating income.

“We are also not getting a fair share of allocation of petroleum products, as Nigeria is a net importer of refined products as 80 per cent of the fuel is imported. Is it normal that with 12 per cent market share with 500 stations, three first class storage facilities and proven record of compliance, Total Nigeria only gets about three percent of the import allocations?”

Therefore, the Total Chairman called for transparency in the allocation of products as well as companies’ performance with regard to the actual importation. “Competition is good by nature.

It is good for the consumers because it brings down costs as well as brings innovation. So it gives consumers choice to make,” he added.

Meanwhile, the shareholders at the AGM, admonished the Total Board of Directors to consider the issuance of

bonus as well as building a refinery in Nigeria.

Shareholders’ associations leaders, such as Sir Sunny Nwosu, Mr Godwin Anono, Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, and Mrs Bisi Bakare, who spoke for the members at the meeting commended the Board for the total dividend payment of N11 per share despite the harsh operating environment.

According to them, “We appreciate the interim and final dividend that the company has declared, but having invested for a long time, it is necessary for the company to consider us for bonus issue.

“We also advise the company to think of building a refinery and in so doing the issue of subsidy would become a thing of the past. We are not really happy with the increase in our expenses and we think the issue of recapitalization should be considered.”

NERC tasked on customer satisfaction

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BY CHRIS OCHAYI

BUJA: The management and staff of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, have been advised to hold electricity customers in high esteem if it desired to reach greater height.

The Editor, the Guardian Newspapers, Mr Martins Oloja, who gave the advice last week in Abuja, during the quarterly Distinguished Visitor Lecture series, an initiative of the NERC, said the regulatory agency stands to succeed if it maintained cordial relationship with her customers.

Oloja spoke on the power of customer advocacy and the need to manage those who consume electricity effectively.

According to him, Nigerians are generally complainant, which makes it imperative to manage them better. “Customers can become advocates if they are treated better and if the product is of good quality,” he said.

He was also keen to assert that the customer needs to be educated. This education provides them with the knowledge that they will use to advocate on behalf of the Commission with a clear understanding of its policies and achievements. This education can only be achieved by effective engagement with the customers.

These corrections aimed at enhancing the reputation and credibility of the marginal field programme were reflected in the eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the general guidelines.

Eligibility & Evaluation Criteria A total of 31 fields were offered in the second licensing round, with 16 of these located onshore and 15 in the continental shelf. The Petroleum Minister encouraged companies wishing to participate in the bid round to form consortia that would enable them leverage upon one another’s strengths.

To be eligible, a company must be registered in Nigeria and at least 51% of the beneficial interest of the company must be owned by Nigerian citizens; no single shareholder may own more than 25% of the shares in the company; the company must have upstream oil and gas experience; and the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation must authorize the company to conduct oil & gas exploration and production activities.

In addition, foreign companies may participate in the process by either incorporating a Nigerian branch with the

HE need to invite foreign part ners has become inevitable given that most local banks have not co-operated with marginal field operators in putting these fields into production.

However, such invitations run contrary to the core moral concept and principles of the marginal fields’ licensing exercise. The original principle behind this exercise whereby the government took undeveloped discoveries, which has proven oil, from the oil majors and awarded these to local companies, was to encourage indigenous capacity building in the upstream petroleum sector. The indigenous marginal field operators were expected to employ Nigerian geologists and petroleum engineers, acquire workstations for their use, utilize other local skills in field development (in the office and on operational site), put local talent on site to supervise well drilling and produce the oil, and in the event, increase the pool of technically capable oilfield personnel who can replicate the same exercise elsewhere in Nigeria and abroad.

Therefore, to invite technical partners would mean that the country still has not The indigenous marginal field ‘indigenized’ the deoperators were expected to velopment of these employ Nigerian geologists and marginal oil assets.

The Petroleum Minpetroleum engineers, acquire ister provided some workstations for their use, utilize justifications for a conother local skills in field tinuation of the polidevelopment cy on marginal fields Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeprogramme. Firstly, the Minister comria along the lines stipulated in the mended the efforts of indigenous upabove eligibility criteria, or may wish to stream operators citing that marginal enter into joint venture (JV) arrangefield operators currently account for ments with one or more local Nigerian about one percent of the nation’s pecompanies. Considering past experitroleum production and that of the eight ence with marginal fields bid winners, (8) oil assets that have so far been dithe Nigerian Government is favorably vested by the IOCs, at least four (4) are disposed to joint applications. DPR held by active marginal field operators permits successful companies emerging who have continued to demonstrate refrom the bid round to engage with formarkable technical ability in operating eign financial and technical partners to significantly larger assets. Secondly, the jointly develop and produce the fields.

Minister stated that the successful The implication is that FOCs may deawardees in the 2001 round have adcide to engage with the licensing prodressed corporate social responsibility cess directly, or wait to engage with sucas a critical element. Thirdly, the opercessful bidders. ators have adopted development and A committee made up of representaproduction strategies that are in line tives of DPR, leaseholders and exterwith the nation’s Gas Flare Policy as nal financial advisers are to assess the well as global environmental guidelines bid submissions with the objective of on Green House Gas (GHG) emissions identifying those bids that are most likeby ensuring full utilization of associatly to be successful in operating the mared gas. Based on these modest ginal fields as well as further developachievements by the marginal field oping the Nigerian oil industry. Successerators, the Minister explained that the ful companies are to be notified and givFederal Government was encouraged en further instructions on how to preto kick-off the second marginal field lipare and submit a more detailed techcensing round in line with the objecnical and commercial bid. tives of the local content policy. However, in designing the modalities for the ...To be concluded 2013 bid round the Minister of Petroleum, MrsDeziani Alison-Madueke, Dr. Chijioke Nwaozuzu, a petroand the DPR decided to take into conleum policy expert wrote from the Emerald Energy. Institute, Universideration the constraining factors that affected the 2003 bid round winners. sity of Port Harcourt.

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Power facility

BY CHIJIOKENWAOZUZU

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26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Appropriate price, key to gas devt —Stakeholders

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

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TAKEHOLDERS in the nation’s gas sub-sector have called on the federal government to review the gas pricing template.

They made the call at the last Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) annual general meeting and business forum held in Lagos, stressing that this is to serve as a bankable commercial framework and help boost the development of the gas industry.

President of the NGA, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, stated that the demand for gas has surged after the privatisation of the power sector.

“With at least 70 per cent of Nigeria’s power generation facilities built to be gas-fired, the demand for gas for this new market is set to put gas in its rightful place as the core driver in the efforts to bridge the power supply deficit in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the task in the years to come is to find, develop, process, transport and distribute sufficient gas to power industries and homes such that gas is regarded by the average Nigerian as the energy and feedstock of first choice.

“Suffice it to say that the value chain for gas in Nigeria remains the same with other developing countries, but the challenges inherent in the Nigeria chain are undoubtedly huge,” he added.

Also speaking, Deputy Group Managing Director,

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, said that Nigeria still lacked sufficient gas supply for domestic use.

“Nigeria, a country with huge gas reserves, despite the power sector reforms still lacks sufficient gas supply for domestic use,” he said.

Emphasising the Group’s involvement in gas, Sule said that Dangote Group, generates about 262 Megawatts (MW). The power is generated as follows: “Dangote Sugar – 16MW; Dangote Cement, Obajana – 135MW; and Dangote Cement Factory, Ibese – 111MW.” At Dangote Sugar, he said,

the monthly gas consumption is about 9,000,000 standard cubic feet of gas.

According to him, “The Nigerian Gas Reserve is put over 180 trillion standard cubic feet. Nigeria, a country with huge gas reserves, despite the Power Sector Reforms still lack sufficient gas supply for domestic use.

“This has led to: - Gas supply disruption to the few functional power generating companies. Futile efforts were made by some state governments who commissioned Oil majors to increase generation, and the approved construction

of four thermal power plants (Geregu, Alaoji, Papalanto, and Omotosho) with a combined capacity of 1,234MW to meet generating goal of 6,500MW in 2006. Another 14 hydroelectric and natural gas plants are all planned for completion in 2010 by the Federal Government.

“Huge investments are required for gas project off-take and credit risk management issues for potential investors in the sector.

“To realise the Federal Government's goals to increase power generation through gas, they should continue to

NLC, NERC disagree over increased electricity tariff

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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Synthetic natural gas plant

NNPC charges business directorate on value innovation

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA: The Group Man aging Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, has challenged the Business Development Directorate to evolve innovative and proactive strategies for identifying new business opportunities that could capture and create value for the Corporation.

Yakubu said the move is designed to further consolidate on the gains of the NNPC’s transformation process, which was initiated to reposition it for the post-PIB era.

The NNPC boss gave this charge at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop with the theme: “Value Creation: An Optimum to Business Development,” organised by the Business Development Directorate of NNPC to brainstorm, build

encourage use of gas due to its benefits (stop flaring, environmental friendly, and cost effective), which positions it to compete effectively with other refined petroleum products.

“Encourage more IPPs to boost power, and provide the much needed support for economic growth, and guaranteed returns on investments.

“The private sector therefore, has a critical role to play for the success of the gas to power projects. They should explore and maximise the vast opportunities that abound in the sector, as well as gas to power projects.”

the capacity of staff, and chart a way forward for the Directorate which held in Abuja.

He pledged utmost support to the Directorate on account of its strategic importance as the engine room of creative business ideas that could sustain and propel the Corporation to higher heights, urged the Directorate to wake up to its responsibilities.

According to him, “the time to take your mandate more seriously is now… For NNPC to realize its vision of becoming a world class oil and gas company in line with our transformation road map which includes the right to play on the global scene, a strong business development capability must be a top and strategic priority.”

Yakubu noted that the evolving business environment in the international energy scene especially

the development of shale gas in the United States, and increasing competition from traditional oil producers like Angola and new ones like Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda present challenges that should propel the development of new strategies.

He urged the Directorate to “build the necessary capabilities and skills and seek collaboration from within and outside the NNPC business ecosystem” in order to fulfill its mandate.

Yakubu also called for a high-level cooperation and interaction between the Business Development Directorate and other Directorates, in order to achieve synergy and unity of purpose in the process of exploring new business opportunities.

He added, “ while the Business Development Directorate must take leading

roles in identifying opportunities for the organisation, a shared-value strategy must underpin our growth aspirations.”

S p e a k i n g e a r l i e r, t h e Group Executive Director, Business Development Directorate of the NNPC, Ms. Aisha Abdurrahman, said concern about the sub-optimal level of activities in the Directorate inspired the unit to organise the workshop to generate ideas and chart a roadmap for actualising its mandate.

She listed the core functions of the Directorate to include generating and developing business opportunities; optimising existing assets; executing downstream obligation projects for Production Sharing Contracts, PSC; and ensuring that NNPC’s activities are in compliance with extant laws and regulations.

HE leadership of the Ni geria Labour Congress, NLC, has criticised the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, over its recent increase of electricity tariff.

The NERC had in May, announced a slight increase in energy cost, which became effective from June 1, 2014.

The NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Umar, who criticised the new tariff regime while speaking at the stakeholders meeting held last week in Abuja, said electricity tariff was increased by the regulatory body without due consultation with the apex labour union.

He said; “the rate of tariff increase is quite worrisome, and there is no proportionate increase in electricity supply.

The amount of consumption should determine the rate paid by consumers, what Nigerian consumers expect is an improvement in power supply, but what they have gotten in return is a hike in electricity tariff.”

Umar said Nigerians are tired of excuses from the regulatory body, adding that the NERC must match accessibility with affordability.

He also urged the regulator to properly investigate the activities of the Distribution Companies, Discos, which according to him, bill customers based on estimation and not on efficient metering system.

“It is one thing to announce tariff rate without the capacity to enforce it. The social service component of electricity must not be laid down for profit maximisation because the consumers are always at the receiving end,” he added.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 27

PH, Kaduna refineries to return to full capacities

BY SEBASTINE OBASI & EDIRI EJOH

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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HERE is hope that the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, would be returned to full installed capacity this year, just as the Kaduna refinery is expected to run at 100 per cent capacity by 2015.

The hope was raised with the deployment of General Electric’s three 25-megawatt (MW), aeroderivative gas turbines to generate uninterrupted power at the PHRC. The installation of GE’s mobile gas turbines at the PHRC would ensure that Nigeria’s largest refinery has the power it needs to overcome chronic grid outages, which have reduced PHRC’s output to 30 percent of its total capacity of 210,000 barrels per day.

The outages and other factors have forced Nigeria to import large volumes of refined petroleum products to meet its domestic needs.

Speaking on the deployment of GE’s distributed power technology to ensure reliable energy supply, Mr. Akinwole Omoboriowo, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Genesis Electricity Limited, said the three turbines will provide both the base-load and back-up power to support refinery operations.

“We are excited to work with GE to deploy their proven TM2500+ gas turbine technology and help Nigeria successfully return the Port Harcourt refinery to full service as quickly as possible.

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From left: Director, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Mr. Garth Smith; Member, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Omo Christopher Isu; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale; Chairman, MEMMCOL, Mr Kola Balogun and Muhammed Ricco, Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, during the visit of the House Committee on Power to MEMMCOL head office, in Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

“This project was not only important in getting the refinery back into full operation but also to support Nigeria’s long-term economic interests by achieving optimum refining capacity,” he added.

The three gas turbines are expected to start commercial operation in August 2014, and as a result, Nigeria will be able to drastically reduce its use of imported refined fuel products.

Also speaking, Ms Lorraine Bolsinger, President and CEO of GE’s Distributed Power business said, “Our

TM2500+ technology’s highpower density and compact footprint make it the perfect solution to address Port Harcourt Refining Company ’s fast ramp-up, on site power requirements while also ensuring the refinery ’s longterm viability.”

She explained that in support of the local content requirements and reflecting the company ’s commitment to promoting workforce development opportunities in countries where it operates, GE is training local engineers to operate and manage

the refinery ’s TM2500+ units and also has in-country service and maintenance workshop to serve the units.

According to her, “The Po r t H a r c o u r t r e f i n e r y project represents GE’s second TM2500+ order in Nigeria. Both projects have been for oil and gas industry projects, illustrating how GE’s distributed power technologies as well as sales and project financing capabilities can help Nigeria and other countries more effectively utilise their domestic energy resources.”

Tackle oil sector crimes with special unit, CSOs tell FG

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE Federal Government has been called upon to set up a special financial crimes unit for the oil and gas sector to deal with corruption in the sector, especially in the area of fuel subsidy.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day workshop on monitoring and reporting of oil subsidy fraud/corruption cases in Nigeria, tagged; ‘Advocacy against impunity in oil subsidy regime in Nigeria,’ organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), with support from Justice for All (J4A) and the Department for International Development, DfID. According to the communiqué, the Federal Government should create a Special Oil and Gas Sector Financial

American investors to build 400mw power plant

Crimes Unit as recommended by the Nuhu Ribadu Committee as the anti-corruption agencies are not sufficiently equipped to deal with these specialised crimes.

The communiqué was signed

by Mr. Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ; Mr. Kunle Idowu, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (NNNGOs); Mrs. Oyindamola Musa-Oseni, Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Comrade Lawal Ibrahim Adebayo, Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre, Lagos.

The group called on the Presidency to demonstrate the political will to prosecute all companies and individuals indicted by the Lawan Farouk and Nuhu Ribadu Committees

on oil subsidy fraud and corruption, adding that there should be no shielding of sacred cows by government.

The group in the communiqué expressed concern over the management of funds under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), running into billions of dollars saved from fuel subsidy since January 2012 till date.

They also lamented the nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries in the release of information to the general public even when sought under the Freedom of Information Act, especially as it relates to oil subsidy fraud and corruption investigation and prosecution since January 2012 till date.

Continuing, the communiqué stated, “The Judiciary should

expeditiously adjudicate all pending criminal matters relating to oil subsidy fraud/corruption and bring all erring persons to justice as justice delayed is justice denied.

“The Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) should release and make public information on all cases currently going on relating to oil subsidy fraud and corruption.

“The National Assembly should revisit the issue of oil subsidy fraud/corruption and demand accountability from the executive and judicial arms of government as part of its oversight functions.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, should be properly financed and resourced to execute their mandates of thoroughly investigating and prosecution of suspects.”

team of power investors from the United States of America, USA, has promised to build 400 megawatts, MW power plants in Nigeria over the next 14 months.

The leader of the five-man American delegation, Mr. Roy Yeferez, who disclosed this during a visit to the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil, in Abuja, described the nation’s current power generation of 4,000MW as grossly inadequate.

Yeferez said Nigeria with the population of over 170million people, now requires at least 30,000 megawatts to enable it carter for the populace.

The group has identified site location in Bayelsa State that will generate 400MW of electricity in the next twelve to fourteen months; there are also plans to increase power generation to between 500MW and 600MW in the next four years.

Yeferez said his team, comprising both technical and financial experts have over 50years experience in Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, around the world, adding that they were in Nigeria to create jobs for the teeming Nigerians.

Paltry generation He said, “ we are prepared to assist Nigeria with power generation, the paltry generation put at about 4,000MW is abysmally low to cater for 170 million people, at least the country requires 30,000MW now.”

He promised to be part of the vast opportunities that abound in Nigeria, stressing that it is rather unfortunate that the international media are awash with only negative stories about Nigeria, but he has found out that Nigeria is a wonderful country with warm citizens.

In his remarks, Wakil highlighted four key reasons why Nigeria is the best investment designation in Africa.

He noted that the nation’s legal environment is protective of investment, adding that there is huge market from population of 170 million, big purchasing power and above all, the political will to drive and support the sector.

The minister said further that the American investors have shown rare courage to come and see things for themselves, adding that the ministry was given matching orders to woo prospective to fast track investment activities in the sector.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Reform West African drug laws, Obasanjo, Annan declare

A

• In recent times, cases of untreatable gonorrhoea have made the rounds following emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of the gonorrhoea pathogen. Health officials are worried that one day there will be no antibiotics left to treat gonorrhoea.

Alert!:

Gonorrhoea fast becoming untreatable

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

G

ONORRHOEA, the world’s most commonly reported Sexually Transmitted Infection, STI, is becoming more and more untreatable, and experts are worried of the implications of a world with cases of incurable gonorrhoea.

In recent times, several cases of the disorder have defied treatment following emergence of multi-drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (bacteria that causes gonorrhoea) to a range of normal and special strength antibiotics.

Already, two of the most reputable health bodies in the world - the World Health Organisation, WHO and the Centres for Diseases Control, CDC, have issued alerts about the existence of untreatble strains of gonorrhoea on the loose.

The WHO, notes that with the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae to almost all known antibiotics and with no new therapeutic agents being produced, gonorrhoea may thus become virtually untreatable in the near future.

Currently, experts are calling for action to contain this unprecedented antimicrobial resistance to the gonorrhoeae pathogen and asking that strategies be taken to prevent emergence of untreatable gonorrhoea.

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine warned that resistance of the bacteria causing gonorrhoea to all known antibiotics is threatening the world’s ability to cure the disorder.

Commonly known as Veneral Disease, VD, “gentleman’s disease”, the “clap”, or the “drip”, gonorrhoea is a contagious disease transmitted most often through sexual contact with an infected person.

It may also be spread by contact with infected bodily fluids, and a mother could pass on the infection to her newborn during childbirth. Men and women can be affected.

The infection is easily spread and

occurs most often in people who have many sex partners.

Studies show that gonorrhoea actually has a long history of evading treatment.

For instance, in the 1940s, gonorrhoea became resistant to sulfanilamide; in the 1980s, it became resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and streptomycin.

By 2007, gonorrhoea was resistant to fluoroquinolones - one of the most powerful group of antibiotics -including ciprofloxacin which is no longer recommended for treatment.

While the number of gonorrhoea cases has gradually decreased since the 1970s, the disorder is now becoming resistant to cephalosporins, the foundation of the

last available treatment option.

It is this emerging cephalosporin resistance and its potential health and economic consequences in the future. that the medical world is losing sleep over. However, efforts to control the spread of resistant strains might reduce this potential burden.

Gonorrhoea bacteria grow in warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes in women, and in the urethra in women and men. The bacteria can also grow in the mouth, throat, and anus.

Sexually active teenagers have one of the highest rates of reported gonorrhoea infections.

Nigeria loses 26 women to cervical cancer daily — Okoye

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N

O fewer than 26 Nigerian women die daily from cervical cancer, a radiologist and Founder, Breast Without Spot, BWS, Professor Ifeoma Okoye has disclosed.

Relating results of a survey conducted

by BWS, Okoye, who spoke weekend at the formal launch of a school- based Cervical Cancer Vaccination Awareness Initiative, said cervical cancer is the 2nd highest killer cancer among women and Nigeria is the 10th cervical cancer death tool, worldwide.

"We know 48 million women are at risk, 17, 550 women are diagnosed yearly, 9, 659 women die annually and 26 women daily on daily basis in Nigeria.

This is alarming and most of the cases are rampant."

Further, she called for proactive political commitment to fight the scourge, explaining that studies have shown that cervical cancer is 99 per cent prevent-

able and prevention is key to its reduction and control in the country.

"Government at all levels should improve and strengthen the healthcare system in terms of funding, infrastructure upgrade and training of medical personnel.

Okoye advocated early screening to prevent late detection of cancer cases and cancer mortality.

The Senior Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Dr. Joy Agbara, said it was unacceptable that many women still die when cervical cancer is preventable, treatable and curable.

Agbara blamed the high burden on lack of awareness, resources and low budgetary allocation to the health sector contributed to the country's high rate of the disease burden.

“Cervical cancer has no particular symp-

Continues on Page 29

S the spate of drugs trade within the West African sub-region threatens progress, former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, and immediate past Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan have called on Nigeria and other West African states to reform their drug laws and policies.

In a joint declaration, Obasanjo, who is Chairman of the West Africa Commission on Drugs, WACD, and Annan, initiator of the Commission, noted that drug trafficking, consumption and production in West Africa, undermines institutions, threatens public health and damages development efforts.

"We call on West African governments to reform drug laws and policies and decriminalise low-level and non-violent drug offences.

"West Africa is no longer just a transit zone for drugs arriving from South America and ending up in Europe but has become a significant zone of consumption and production", Obasanjo affirmed, arguing that glaring absence of treatment facilities for drug users fuels the spread of disease and exposes an entire generation, users and non-users to growing public health risks.

Annan, who in consultation with international and regional partners, national governments and civil society organisations, convened the WACD in Continues on Page 30

Pass the VAPP Bill, Medical women urge NASS

T

HE National President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Dr. Valerie Obot has called on the National Assembly to pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition.

VAPP, bill that is before the Senate.

Speaking in Abuja, Obot remarked that “such legislation should be passed and enforced to protect women and girls from physical, sexual and mental abuse.

“MWAN advocates the stipulation of more active penalties for all perpetrators of rape, violence against women and abduction,” Obot said.

She described the abduction of defenceless school girls as “a crime against women folk and a violation of the girl child.

“If we do not protect our children, who will? Where is the confidence and joy of parenthood if our children cannot be assured of their safety,’’ she queried.

She noted that the remaining abducted 200 girls should be searched for as a matter of urgency in consideration of the health Implications and the trauma brought upon their parents and family. .“As mothers, protectors of girls and nurturers of feminine virtues, we are shocked that these events have continued unabated and we join Nigerians to plead for a stop to the menace,’’ she said.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 17, 2014— 29 TUESDA

•L-R: Country Director, Safe Blood Africa, Mr. Idris Saliu; Commanding Officer, Nigeria Air Force Laboratory, Air Commodore, Edward Akinwale; 1st Vice President, AMLSN, Toyosi Raheem, Former member, Federal House of Representatives, Kunle Jenrade , during the 49th Scientific Conference/ Commemoration of her 50th Anniversary last week in Lagos.

Medical lab scientists seek improved blood donation policy

By CHIOMA OBINNA

W

ITH growing insurgency and many challenges associated with blood safety in Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Scientists have called for the institutionalisation of a standard blood donation and transfusion policy, that embraces pooling of resources by government and other stakeholders towards addressing the declining adequacy of blood supply and quality of blood services in the country.

Making the call in Lagos, Country Director, Safe Blood for Africa Foundation, SBAF, Mr. Idris Saliu, said to bein with, there should be allocation of a specific budget for blood safety and blood services to Federal and state Ministries of Health in the country

Saliu said for Nigeria to overcome the challenges facing blood transfusion today, there was a need for political commitment, good planning and efficient coordination and supervision by qualified, dedicated and motivated personnel.

"All technical and financial support should be provided under the framework of national policies and plans, taking into consideration national priorities. There is no zero risk Laboratory screening and processing must be driven by adequate Good Laboratory Practice, GLP, and Good Manufacturing Practice,GMP, because of the inherent limitations, he argued.

He identified lack of blood safety as a major challenge to attainment of the health-related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and that safe blood

Pharmacists reject new PCN Registrar

By VICTORIA OJEME

T

HE appointment of a new Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, has split the rank s of pharmacists in the country with allegations of irregularities in the filling of the vacancy making the rounds.

The PCN recently interviewed applicants for the office of the Registrar which resulted in the appointment of Mr .

Elijah Mohammed.

But a petition to the Minister of Health, obtained by Vanguard in Abuja, it was alleged that, Mohammed’s appointment is in breach of relevant laws for appointment of the PCN Registrar.

The petition, dated June 10, 2014 and signed by a PCN member, Dr Paul Gar, drew the Minister’s attention, “to a breach of Public Service Rule 020205 (a) by the Board of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria at her meeting of 28th May, 2014 where a decision was taken to appoint a new Registrar.

“The Appointee, who has no public service experience, is 54 years old and

is therefore not eligible for fresh appointment into the Federal Public Service as provided by the Rule cited above”, the petition noted.

Further, it noted: “The recruitment exercise itself was marred by other irregularities including the demand for receipts of payment of National Association of Hospital Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria membership dues from applicants.

Also, following sharp divisions among members of the Board over the exercise, the appointment letter was hurriedly written by the Board Chairman, rather than the Ag Registrar/Secretary to Council, and delivered via e-mail to the Appointee”, he added.

Gar, therefore, called for cancellation/ nullification of the recruitment exercise, “purportedly carried out by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and the initiation of a new exercise.

Public Service Rule 020205 (a) specifies that fresh appointees in the service cannot be less than 18 years or more than 50 years old.

supply would contribute immensely in ending maternal and child deaths.

He spoke during the Lagos State Branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, ALMSN, 49th Scientific Conference/ Commemoration of her 50th Anniversary with the theme "Challenges of Transfusion Medicine in Nigeria," in Lagos, He recalled that May 2014, was 42 years since Nigeria signed the WHA Resolution WHA28.72 but blood transfusion has been practiced in the country since the 50s and reached rates comparable to the western world especially in the urban areas soon after independence.

Also speaking, Chairman, AMLSN, Lagos State Branch, Mr. Abiodun Hamzat remarked that the demand for blood transfusion in Nigeria had never been so high in the last 50 years probably due to escalating elective surgery, shortages arising from a fall in supply.

Calling for involvement of stakeholders and enactment of policies that will stem the tide of touts but encourage voluntary blood donation, he said: "It is critical and high time policy makers began to make policies that will affect Nigerians. The recent bomb blastsare case studies.

“When it happened in Nyanya, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a whole lot of Ministers donated blood. There is a high incidence of violence requiring blood transfusion but there is blood shortage."

With a plea for to all Nigerians to embrace voluntary donation, he worried over consequences of tout-remunerated donors; such as transmission of disorders such as malaria, hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV, Saliu npted: "If you follow the trend of HIV transmission in our environment today, the popular way to contact it is through laceration. That is what we are trying to prevent. When people come out voluntarily without being remunerated it gives us safe blood and we will be able to save a lot of lives."

Oral B sponsors 3 for dental surgery

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

I

N the spirit of the World Health Oral Day, complimentary smile makeover initiative, Project Smile, sponsored by Oral-B, from the stable of Procter & Gamble has picked five winners for dental surgery.

They emerged following an intense screening and selection process by a panel of judges composed of Music Celebrity, Dr. Sid who served as Celebrity Judge; a UK-based Periodontist, Dr. Bola Soyombo, a Dental Expert, Dr. Fola-Alade, and Dr. Osaze Ugbo, Senior Dentist, Smile360 Dental Specialists. Prior to the final screening each winner was nominated in a dental case category. They are Tosin Adekoya, Severe Category; Tayo Adelekan, Moderate Category and Jaiye Johnson, Mild Category.

Motivated by their touching stories the judges decided to sponsor five nominees to join the three winners. They include Emem Prosper, collectively sponsored by Dr. Bola Soyombo and Dr. Fola-Alade; Adetunji Adenike, sponsored by Dr. Sid; Christian Okafor, sponsored by Dr. Bola Soyombo, Okonkwo Steven, sponsored by Dr. Osaze Ugbo and Kehinde Martins, sponsored by Dr. Bola Soyombo.

Tomiwa Ajewole, Brand Communications Manager, Oral-B said culmination of the initiative which kicked weeks ago into presentation of the noble awards is indeed a true demonstration of fulfilling the FDI World Dental Federation theme for World Oral Health Day 2014- tagged Celebrating Healthy Smile.

The Oral-B Sharing Smiles activation campaign, is a community-based initiative designed to reach out to disadvantaged communities that cannot afford dental care products and consultation with dentists.

Cervical cancer kills Nigerian women Continues from page 28 toms but women should look out for signs such as pain around the cervix, painful intercourse, foul smelly discharge, weight loss and weakness.

“Go for screening once you notice these signs as such will help to achieve secondary prevention because treatment and cure could be possible.

Agbara called for investment by government in primary prevention through Human Papiloma Virus, HPV, vaccination and secondary prevention through effective mass screening programmes.

The school -based initiative involved parents and school owners or administrators to consent and sponsor the vaccination of girls between the age of nine and 13 as a primary prevention.

•The “Public Private Partnerships ,PPPs, in Health in Nigeria Conference and Awards 2014'”held in Abuja, Nigeria, recently. L-R: Mr. B. Abdallah of General Electronics ; Mrs. Clare Omatseye, MD, JNC International; Dr. O. R. Oluwu, Head of PPP Diaspora, FMOH and Dr. Tolulope Adewole, Consultant Chemical Pathologist, PathCare Laboratories during the event.

30—Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUNE17, 2014 TUESDA

Younger people developing hypertension, diabetes — Experts

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE & BOSEDE OYELOHUNNU

Y

OUNG people in Nigeria are now at great risk of developing Cardiovascular Diseases, CVDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and other unhealthy lifestyle conditions which currently account for one-third of all deaths worldwide.

Experts who noted this trend during the First-Contact Cardiovascular Disease Risk Management Training Summit organised

by Pfizer Nigeria Ltd., in collaboration with Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said the rise in CVDs, is attributable to economic, social, and cultural changes that have led to increases in risk factors.

Eminent Professor of Community Health and Primary Healthcare, at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya, observed that the increase of the CVD burden in Nigeria and other developing countries is due to prevalence of risk factors and lack of access to early interventions.

Odusanya said the trend has not only denied people access to longer lives, but caused immeasurable impact on the economy.

"About 50 percent of the populace is at risk for CVDs, including 30 to 50 million Nigerians in the reproductive age group. The implication of this is evident in a review which shows that about one quarter of the nation’s Gross

•L:R: Clinical Director, Kayhector consulting, Dr. Ibi Erekosima; Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya; of LASUCOM; Permanent Secretary, LSPHCB, Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode and Director, Kayhector Consulting, Dr. Abiye Hector Goma during the CVD Summit in Lagos last week.

Domestic Product, GDP (aroud US$100 million) is being lost to CVDs. "Early detection will go a long way in ameliorating the complication because majority of victims don't even know on time.

So we have to encourage people about regular medical checks and to do away with risky lifestyle.

"Live a stress- free life, eat normally, be happy, stop smoking, reduce salt intake, engage in reasonable alcohol intake and reduce saturated oil in your food," he counseled.

Odusanya urged for aggressive treatment for patients with complications as soon as it is detected to avert early death.

Apart from drug treatment and, in some cases surgery, he recommended daily physical activities and proper management of hypertension among others.

"CVD prevention is worthwhile as it gives no advance warning symptoms. So there is need for more awareness and the right time to start is now. We need to improve the capacity of healthcare workers by engaging them in regular training and awareness."

Commercial Director, Pfizer, Nigeria /Ghana, Olayinka Subai, said the Summit was aimed at creating awareness and helping to check the rising profile of CVDs in Nigeria.

Sanofi Pharma decries counterfeit medicines

I

N commemoration of the World Anti Drug counterfeiting day, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals has decried the rising profile of counterfeit medicines for treating chronic cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

In a statement, Sanofi Nigeria’s Anti-counterfeit Coordinator, Mrs. Uzo Amatokwu, said awareness about the prevalence of fake drugs was still low and called for concerted efforts to stem the tide.

“The general public is not sufficiently informed about the existence of counterfeit drugs and the risks it may be taking in certain purchasing situations.

Counterfeit

medicines are a real danger to patients’ health. For example, they may not contain the same amount of active ingredient as the genuine drug or not meet the same requirements in terms of quality, efficiency and safety as the genuine treatments. It takes collaboration to really fight the counterfeit battle.”

Amatokwu stated.

She revealed that Sanofi recently signed a partnership with Interpol along with 29 major pharmaceutical companies at a total cost of 4.5 million Euros, which covers creation of the Interpol Pharmaceutical Crime Programme focusing on fighting counterfeit medicines.

Reform drug laws Continues from Page 28 January 2013 to make face to the ever-growing threats posed by drugs in West Africa urged government involvement.

"Most governments' reaction to simply criminalise drug use without thinking about prevention or access to treatment has not just led to overcrowded jails, but also worsened health and social problems,” he stated.

In its report, entitled “Not Just in Transit: Drugs, the State and Society in West Africa’, the Commission lamented that the scale of the cocaine trade alone through West Africa (estimated

at $1.25 billion) dwarfs the combined state budgets of several countries in the region.

The report is the culmination of a six-month engagement by the Commission with national, regional and international parties including the African Union, AU, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC. Members of the Commission, Edem Kodjo and Pedro Peres call for active support and involvement of civil society and the international community.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Balotelli warns Italian rivals I

taly striker Mario Balotelli said Cesare Prandelli’s men are a force to be reckoned with after a first-up FIFA World Cup win.

The 2006 champions edged England 2-1 in Manaus to kick off their campaign in fine style, with Claudio Marchisio and Balotelli goals helping Italy to a crucial three points.

Balotelli said the performance should put some of the heavyweights in Brazil on notice.

“It’s a unique experience, I’ve never played a World Cup, now it’s fantastic,” the Milan man said.

“My goal is dedicated to my future wife and my friends who are at home.

“This game was very difficult for the climate and because England is strong:

Croatia silent over nude pictures publication A

fter losing their opening match of the 2014 World Cup to Brazil, all Croatia’s players wanted to do was relax at their hotel pool in the nude.

Who could blame them?

Sadly, the privacy of the pantsless pool party at their Praia do Forte base was compromised by two Croatian photographers, who hid in the bushes and took pictures that were published online.

Southampton defender Dejan Lovren and former Manchester City star Vedran Corluka feature prominently in the al fresco hot tub snaps, which can be viewed here if you are so inclined (warning: NSFW link).

Coach Niko Kovac was furious about the press intrusion on his players’ personal naked reflection time, and has announced that none of them will be available to comment to the press for the foreseeable future.

“I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families,” an angry Kovac told reporters in the team’s Praia do Forte training base.

C M Y K

Italy suffers more, this is typical of our national team, but the important thing is to win and we did.

“We do not fear anyone. The others who must fear even Italy.

“But we must only think about Costa Rica, but we have to be quiet because otherwise we’re not going anywhere.”

Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi said he was thrilled to go up against England mainstay Steven Gerrard, and he also hailed Balotelli’s quality after the 23year-old scored the

winner at the Arena da Amazonia.

“For me is always fantastic to play against Gerrard. He is a world class champion. We are very happy for the win,” De Rossi said.

“Mario? He has the numbers of a world class player.

Suarez raises doubts over technology H

onduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez questioned the effectiveness of goal-line technology at the FIFA World Cup amid confusion on Sunday.

Suarez’s men were comprehensively beaten by France, slumping to a 3-0 loss in their Group E opener in Porto Alegre, but much talk after the match surrounded captain Noel Valladares’ own goal in the second half.

A left-footed shot from Karim Benzema hit the inside of the post before striking Honduras goalkeeper Valladares, who attempted to prevent the ball from crossing the line but saw the Frenchman run away in celebration as referee Sandro Ricci awarded a goal.

As Honduras players protested the decision, goal-line technology deemed Benzema’s initial shot had not crossed the line, sparking confusion on the

sidelines. However, a second replay showed the ball had subsequently gone in off Valladares, proving Ricci’s decision to be correct.

“I wasn’t upset because it was a goal. I was upset because the technology first declared that it wasn’t a goal, then it was a goal,” said Suarez after the match.

“I don’t know which one I should believe. If technology should make everything clear, why at the beginning did the blessed machine say no and then yes... what is the truth?”

Forlan: Suarez ´desperate´ to play pics/ suarez Uruguay forward Diego Forlan said star team-mate Luis Suarez is desperate to play against England in the Group D blockbuster on Thursday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 —33

MESSI: We must improve L

ionel Messi hailed Argentina’s winning start to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ after scoring a classic goal to see off Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

Messi’s trademark run and strike will go down as one of the great World Cup goals, but the Argentina captain admitted he was relieved the team had secured a 2-1 win in the Maracana after a disappointing first half.

Messi said: “It’s important that we started off on the right foot with the three points, but we do have things we must improve. It’s not easy with all the anxiety and the nerves, but the important thing is the result. We had a great second half. We had the ball much more, created several opportunities and that’s what we have to continue to do.”

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella

only awarded his team a mark of 6 out 10 and said his half-time changes to provide more support to Messi had been crucial.

Sabella said: “On balance I would give it a 6. We need to improve and part of that is in my hands - it is up to me.

“The changes at half-time

Copa Coca cola team for the 2014 world cup

Algeria begin against Belgium A

lgeria will kick-off their 2014 World Cup campaign in Group H today against Belgium in Belo Horizonte.

They booked their ticket for the Brazilian showpiece with a play-off victory against the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

Under the iron fist of coach Vahid Halilhodzic since June 2011, the ‘Fennecs’ are aiming for a knock-out stage spot, a feat they have never managed in their three previous appearances in 1982, 1986 and 2010 despite causing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history against West Germany during the Spanish edition.

And they really believe in their chances in a very tricky group, despite facing the uphill task of starting their tournament against a osnia coach Safet Susic was much-fancied side and one of the satisfied with his team’s dark horses of the competition. performance in a match which he “Belgium are amongst the top said had been settled by one of the European teams at the moment. best players in the world of all time.

They have proved it during their Susic said: “We are realistic people qualifying campaign. They have and our goal was to put as much very talented players plying their resistance as possible to one of the trade in the Premier League’s best favourites to win the title, and this is outfits, but we are not going to what we have done. watch them play. We respect “I am satisfied with what I saw, Belgium but we don’t fear them,” especially after we had this Carl Medjani warned. misfortune to concede an own goal in The versatile defender relies on the first couple of minutes. It is a their team spirit to stand up to the huge satisfaction to take part for the challenge. first time in the World Cup and play “To get a good result against against a great team and one of the Belgium, we will need 11 players to best players in the world - and not defend and 11 players to attack, all only of today but of all time.” pulling in the same direction.

Solidarity will be key.

Own goal affected us – Bosnia coach

B

just produced this improvement. They were playing better together and there was more support around Messi. Once Messi received the ball there was better follow-up and better support. I think that, whatever happens in this World Cup, he is among the best players in the history of football.”

I can be dropped —Rooney W

ayne Rooney admits his place in the England team is not guaranteed ahead of Thursday’s crucial clash with Uruguay.

Roy Hodgson and his players feel they must beat the South Americans to regain control of their World Cup destiny after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Italy.

With Hodgson confident that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be available after a knee injury, Rooney’s starting place cannot be taken for granted.

‘I’ve never felt that,’ said Rooney. ‘Why would I feel my place in the team is guaranteed? I work hard to try and get into that team. I’ve never said my place is guaranteed. I don’t expect to play'.

Eagles support GTCF

M

embers of Nigeria’s Super Eagles have identified with the Greater Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, which is founded by Paul Okoku and Coach Stephen Keshi.

Captain Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi and Emmanuel Emenike hailed Okoku and Keshi for championing the effort to put smiles on the faces of less privileged children in Nigeria.

Speaking when Okoku met the players in USA, Yobo said: “ you can count on my support with anything to put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged children in Nigeria, and thank you for your support in South Africa, during the AFCON finals.”

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was equally excited to support Okoku and Keshi in their bid to alleviate the less privileged children. “I’m ready to support anything for my coach and the less privileged children in Nigeria.”

Keshi said he was willing to do more for the primary school he attended with Okoku. “We shall do more for the pupils at St. Paul’s Primary School, Ebute Metta in Lagos and other less privileged children across the country, after the World Cup. “I am back and fully committed to our humanitarian projects because we started this together in partnership with our doctor friends in the USA and Nigeria. We will continue to work together for humanity in Nigeria and also to better the lives of underprivileged children.”

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Drogba: I put my country first D

idier Drogba stressed the need to put Ivory Coast’s ambitions for the World Cup ahead of his after he came off the bench to help the Elephants defeat Japan 2-1.

The 36-year-old, who seems destined to join Juventus, started Saturday ’s match from the

bench but came on in the second half to help play a crucial role in turning their deficit around.

“I was disappointed (not to start),” the 36year-old Drogba said.

“But I have to show my respect to those that started.

“When I went in, I just wanted to help the team to win the match and I

did not need this disappointment in order to be motivated. I don’t know how long I played but I knew it was important to give something extra to the team.”

Japan took a first-half lead against the run of play through a goal from Keisuke Honda, but within four minutes of

Drogba’s introduction in the 62nd minute, Côte d’Ivoire had turned the match on its head to go 2-1 ahead.

Wilfried Bony and Gervinho struck in headed goals 98 seconds apart from each other to see the West Africans go equal on points with Colombia in Group C.

Japan weren’t very dangerous but we trailed and had to come from behind to win,” Drogba said.

“It is a beautiful victory and we are happy with the result. We’ve prepared for many weeks for this game and it was important to start the competition on the right foot. This result will be

very important especially if we play a good game against Colombia.”

Another player who shone on the field for Sabri Lamouchi’s men was Toulouse full-back Serge Aurier.

The 21-year-old’s future has been under a constant cloud of speculation as rumours of a switch to Arsenal have started to increase, and the former Chelsea man feels his compatriot will do well in the English Premier League.

“He’s the best rightback in all of France,” said the striker while adding fuel to the flames. “I think he’ll do well at the next level too, in the Premier League.”

Osacar:

My toe poke was Romariostyle

I

n the follow up to Brazil’s 3-1 win over Croatia, Neymar who grabbed the headlines and the Budweiser Man of the Match award, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari – the only man Oscar was interested in impressing – later insisted his young No11 was not far behind. “I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone,” the versatile midfielder said. “If I did [need to prove something], then it was only to Felipão, and he always showed total faith in me.”

Not only did the 22year-old round off the scoring in Brazil’s 3-1 victory, he was also the hosts’ most creative player, whether attacking down the flanks or through the central channel. Up against a competitive and gifted midfield featuring Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, Oscar also did his fair share of defensive work, no mean feat for a player of his slight stature.

How could anyone want to see talent like his warming the bench?

“He ran with the ball and instigated lots of attacks.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 35

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 37

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Insecurity: Army must be

retrained on terrorism — Gen Onyekweli •How

power can shift to Delta North

MAJOR General Philip Onyekweli (rtd), a former chairman of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, and leader of Ndokwa Nation in this interview among others says that the reason for the under-funding of the military in the past was that the army constituted an enemy to itself during military rule. He says agitation for power shift to Delta North Senatorial zone in Delta State can be achieved through dialogue.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

HE country is currently threatened by insecurity, how do you see the handling of the problem militarily?

It is unfortunate that we found ourselves in this position. We have had insurgencies in the past like the Maitatsine uprising. But this one seems to be holding us down and unfortunately we have suffered greatly. The abduction of our girls is one of them. They carted away our children and we don’t know where they took them to.

Gladly, efforts are on to ensure that the children are back in safe condition.

I will say that a lot of efforts are being made by all concerned. The government, military and other security agencies are working to get them released. It is a difficult situation. And I must say that we did not take it seriously initially. By the time we

enemy to itself. During the military regime, little or nothing was done for the military.

Mr. President was right on that. Maybe they were equipped to deal with external forces and combat situations outside Nigeria but not internal situation. We have formations and there is a way they are armed. But the situation we found ourselves is not conventional war, where you put 10 soldiers in a section with riffle, while another soldier is having a machine gun. It does not work like that.

The insurgents are armed perhaps with machine guns and other sophisticated weapons. The way to deal with the situation is to really arm our soldiers. You can’t fight someone who has machine guns with a riffle. It is a different war situation. It is not the war we are used to. Be that as it may, I think the government is trying to

,

I agree with the people who are saying that the military has not been well equipped for over 20 years. Indeed the military has always been enemy to itself.

During the military regime, little or nothing was done for the military

realised that this thing is deep, it was too late. And our people are now battling on how to deal with the situation. I am confident that the insurgents will never win. They will always lose. But we are losing a lot of people. Eventually they will be defeated because insurgents have never won this type of battle any where.

I am happy that the international community is lending hands to ensure that the situation is dealt with.

What is your take on reports that the military had been grossly under-funded in the past 20 years?

I agree with the people who are saying that the military has not been well equipped for over 20 years. Indeed the military has always been

,

properly equip the military now. I know that our allies will give us the needed support, if our government allows them.

After rescuing the Chibok girls would you support calls in some quarters for the foreign allies to remain in the country and assist in the war against terror?

I don’t think we will need such expertise. What the situation requires is for them to give us proper intelligence and technical support. With that the situation will be dealt with and it can be dealt with quickly.

We don’t need any military base to be established here and I don’t think our allied forces will do that. Though people are afraid of such but we need expertise of people

who know better than we do.

That is the reality of the world we are living in. Our Army is trained for conventional warfare. There is need to re-jig the army to be able to handle asymmetric warfare. Boko Haram is well armed. Our people need the required equipment for this kind of warfare.

Divergent views on the derivation formula seem to be among the things that would make or mar the ongoing National Conference. How do you think that controversy can be resolved?

It is a difficult situation. But the truth is that the 13 percent is going to stay. I don’t see what is going to stop it.

Remember, that the Niger Delta people asked for 50 percent which was not given to them.

Tax to central government They went into discussions which led to the 13 percent.

In a true federation, people are supposed to earn from what they produce and pay tax to the central government.

If that is the situation, we should be asking for 100 per cent but nobody is going to give you that.

We should also be mindful of the difficult situation other people are in. It looks like they may be able to retain the 13 per cent in the interim because of the difficult situations in some parts of the country. You know that the whole of the North East is in trouble.

Several things are wrong in those areas and money is needed to correct the anomalies there. I believe that the entire nation will be satisfied if the 13 percent is retained.

Why is it that each time review of the derivation formula comes up, the North always oppose it?

If I am a Northerner I will also be uncomfortable.

Everybody wants to get the best of everything. The truth is that we focus so much on

•Maj. Gen. Philip Onyekweli (rtd).

oil at the expense of agriculture and other mineral resources. If the mineral resources are tapped in commercial quantities, same 13 percent will go to the North. It has been proved that there are a lot of mineral resources in the North, but people are not interested, they want quick money. People are so concerned about going to Abuja every month to collect oil money.

We need to look inwards on how to exploit the mineral resources on the ground. If that is done, who cares about 13 per cent? I have asked my northern friends why they are bordered about 13 per cent. If I were a northerner, I will make use of the land mass for commercial farming because the Federal Government has pumped in so much money for irrigation projects. America is doing well in agriculture.

China is feeding herself.

Resource control If we can feed ourselves who cares about resource control?

It is important that emphasis is laid on agriculture.

Ahead of the 2015 governorship elections in Delta State, agitations for power shift to Delta North Senatorial zone have remained on the front burner.

From what you have seen so far, do you think it is feasible?

Nothing has ever been easy.

We have to discuss and we have to negotiate. The people holding on to power now did not get it easily. It was through discussions and negotiations.

Going back to when we were in Western Nigeria, we had problems which the NCNC and the Action Group felt that

they could solve. That was how Mid-West was carved out of Western Nigeria. When it was carved out, Osadebe from Asaba and Marierie and Urhobo man were made the premier and governor respectively.

That was how we started.

There is always division, but people will agree so that we can live in peace. When Delta was created from Bendel State, Ibru was the first elected governor. He did not just wake up to become governor, it was through negotiation. In every state there are elders who control the areas; these were the people who dialogued among themselves leading to Ibru becoming governor.

General expectation Someone from Ika, Simone Ebonka was his deputy. After Ibru, we had an easterner as governor while John Edozien from Oshimili was his deputy.

After the military regime, Ibori had Elue, an Aniocha person as his deputy. After him, Emmanuel Uduaghan chose an Urhobo man to be his deputy. So it must be balanced and negotiated.

It is not a question of whether they will allow or not.

Power is negotiated because the general expectation is that everybody will be carried along. If it is not done there will be problem. For instance the Federal Character we have in our constitution is to ensure that every part of this country is carried along. I think that is what we are doing by negotiating and consulting and it seems to be walking very well.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—39

Fall out of APC Convention:

We believe in consensus — Prof Ihonvbere PROFESSOR Julius Ihonvbere served as member of the National Convention Committee and chairman of the Task-force sub-committee for the recently conducted National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview at the Eagle Square venue of the convention, he spoke on the politics behind the emergence of the new national executive committee and other sundry issues . Excerpts:

BY DAPO AKINREFON

H

OW do you see the first national convention of your party?

This is our first convention and we brought in almost 7,000 delegates from across the nation.

We had over 7,000 other supporters outside the venue and I think that is a show of strength.

It demonstrates that APC is together, its influence is nation wide and its vision is for a democratic and more progressive Nigeria. So, this is a huge success.

But some delegates from Ebonyi and Abia states protested at the Convention secretariat for not being accredited by the planning committee...

(Cuts in) I was there because my secretariat was at Zizi hotels.

The truth is that those were people who lost out at the

congress, so they are the faction.

They found themselves in Abuja and were trying to hijack the materials. But they failed because there is a legitimate list from Ebonyi State. So that is not a problem because we are not running a church.

Even in a church, there are factions, after all the Protestants came out of the Catholic Church.

So, when people come here to protest, that is the beauty of democracy, we are not worried about it. At the end of the convention, the new national chairman will set up a committee that will go round the nation and deal with aggrieved members.

Before the commencement of the convention, it was gathered that the party would go by consensus but it was turned down. What happened?

APC is not PDP. I did four national conventions for PDP and they were all selections.

•Ihonvbere: Ikimi's going back to PDP is not an option Even the last convention held by the PDP was the funniest, we are a democratic party. We believe in consensus, which means we discuss, we dialogue, we exchange ideas and exchange positions.

When there is no agreement, we go for elections. So, I think they tried everything possible to reach a consensus.

How true is it that some of the aspirants were forced to step down for a particular aspirant?

I think it was a discussion among brothers. Looking at their

pedigree, strength of character, solid party credentials and the ability to work hard to build a new party.

You see anybody can be a national chairman but only those that can traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria, who have the articulation, foresight, vision, the sense of nation-building and believe in the objectives of APC is the best we can expect.

So a few people were told that they do not have a national base and do not have some of those credentials and rather than

Successful confab ’ll prevent Doomsday scenario — Southern Professionals

A

BY HENRY UMORU

S National Conference continues with debates on the reports of its 20 standing committees, Southern Professionals have urged delegates to make the conference a success to prevent the occurrence of what they termed, a doomsday scenario in the country.

Speaking in Abuja at an interactive session with SouthWest, South-East and SouthSouth delegates, weekend, Coordinator of Southern Professionals of Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, warned that the failure of the ongoing National Conference will be catastrophic for the country if not well handled. He stressed need for delegates to ensure that they give Nigeria and Nigerians six strong federating units, fiscal federalism, decentralisation policy (local, regional and national) with local and regional police heads directly accountable to the electorate; elimination of indigenes/non indigenes dichotomy, individual property

rights, no state religion and freedom of worship for every citizen, sustainable and affordable social security, among others.

Ugwu-Oju enjoined the delegates to work towards uniting and keeping hope alive for Nigerians.

According to the coordinator, most Nigerians want to see a new Nigeria with a new constitution that would be sustainable, viable and strong, transparent, independent, cost effective, free and fair electoral system structures at the local, regional and national levels.

Ugwu-Oju, who promised the delegates that the Southern Professionals would support them in anyway feasible to produce the desirable outcome that can lay a solid foundation for a New Nigeria, said: “To our delegates from Southern Nigeria, my message and plea is straight and direct: Please, keep hope alive for the Nigerian people.

Many Nigerians believe that the current status quo of wealth sharing for the elite (poverty sharing for the masses) as

against wealth creating political structures in the country is highly undesirable and unsustainable.

“To compound matters, the current terrorist insurgency in the country and the seemingly unbridgeable divide among the political class with regards to the 2015 presidential election creates a very likely scenario of total anarchy in Nigeria post-next Presidential election.

Corporate existence The average Nigerian now feels very insecure and by his actions is beginning to question the corporate existence of the country. I am yet to come across any Southern parent who wants his child to go and work in most parts of Northern Nigeria.

“The outcome of this National Conference may be the only chance of rekindling hope in most Nigerians that this country could still become a nation where its citizens could see any part be it East, West, North or South as a land of opportunity that should be explored.”

According to him, the probable Nigerian scenarios that would emerge if the National Conference fails are: * The Presidential Election goes ahead as planned and the incumbent, if he is the nominated candidate of his party, wins the election. The opposition from their statements and actions has put Nigerians on notice about the impossibility of the current incumbent winning the election in a free and fair environment; in other words, if he wins, the election was rigged.

The opposition will then refuse to accept the election results and violence will erupt. Unlike in the past the ensuing violence will be the tipping point that will fasttrack the disintegration of Nigeria. Considering the current security situation in Northern Nigeria and the extreme political polarization, this possible outcome to any Nigerian, who is not living in self denial, is not far fetched. *The incumbent wins the nomination of his party and then loses the election to an opponent from Northern Nigeria.

embarrass themselves, were asked to step down. They were not forced to step down.

How do you see two aspirants from Edo State contesting against each other, don’t you think it was a deliberate attempt to pit them against each other?

At a level, it is possible but it is essentially felt that Edo has quality people. But as an Edo person, I would have preferred that they sat together and reached some accommodation with each other.

Do you have fears that those who lost out may leave the party?

Not in the APC, we are doing everything openly. If you lose openly, you cannot begin to complain and those who are running now, are matured people. They have been through the mill, some of them have been at the grinder and grounded by PDP in the past. So, they know that going back to PDP is not an option.

Osa Director, in a recent interview, alleged that governor has sold APC to the PDP, what is your opinion on this considering the latest development in Edo State?

Well, I will not take such silly comments seriously. The governor is APC. Remember there was a debate on whether he wanted to join PDP, he won that debate because at the end of the day Ogbemudia came out to say they went to Oshiomhole and he refused. The condition that applied then, still applies today and I do not see how he has sold APC.

Control of structure I think some people want to control the structure while he is governor. It is not done anywhere in the world. So there were a few contradictions arising from that, those who could not work out the political expectations decided to leave. Let the PDP come and do their congress and let us see what will happen, part of them will come to APC. How do you see the drama playing out in the Edo State House of Assembly?

It is an internal affair of the legislators in Edo but more seriously, in politics you adopt several strategies of war.

One is do not allow your enemy to grow too strong while you are watching, secondly, exploit the weakness of your opponents.

Third, overwhelm your opponent with your superior strength before the enemy begins to grow fangs. All those factors applied in the Edo State House of Assembly. They were employed and were successful supported by the judiciary.

How soon will the crisis in Edo APC be over?

It will be resolved very soon, they were suspended and not expelled. Very soon, they will talk to one another.

40— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

FEES HIKE:

LASU FEES HIKE: LASU students, govt still Enr olment dwindles as on collision course students, govt disagree

students, govt disagree

CURRENT FEES SINCE OCTOBER 2011

Olukoga announced the reduction of the university ’s fees by 34 to 60 percent across the different faculties.

Government’s 17paragraph resolution

FEES BASED ON GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSED 34-60% REDUCTION

FEES BASED ON THE SUG’S PROPOSED 67% REDUCTION

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HERE seems to be no end in sight to the three years crisis rocking the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, since October 2011, when a new fees regime, which saw

the overall tuition fees jerked up from N25, 000 to as much as N348, 750 was implemented in the university.

In what it described as concerted efforts to restore relative peace to the 30-year-old institution, which has been shut-down twice within the last three academic sessions

(2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/ 2014), following students protests and rampages occasioned by the fees hike, the Lagos State Government, LASG, after a three-day stormy session in Alausa, last Wednesday, through the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Otunba Fatai

In a 17-paragraph resolution titled: Resolutions of the Lagos State Executive Council on the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Lagos State University, Olukoga stated among other things that despite the foregoing, the Ad Hoc Committee has recommended and Government has accepted that the fees and charges payable by students for incidental services and materials are amenable to a downward review for two main reasons.

One, some of the fee components have been applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level only; two, some of the charges included can still be reduced on compassionate grounds.

On the basis of these principles, Government agrees that with the subsidized tuition fees and appropriate moderation of the incidental fees, a reduction ranging from 34 per cent to 60 per cent is possible across the different faculties and courses.

Government has therefore approved the reductions and, in accordance with the Law setting up the University, forwarded its approval to the University Governing Council for consideration and implementation.

Pursuant to its statutory mandate, the University Governing Council will issue details of what is now payable by students in each Department and deal with all other management matters of the University. All individuals and groups within the community are advised to relate to the University Council accordingly.

60 or 67 per cent?

However, pending a final

decision by the Governing Council led by Mr. Olabode Agusto, there are fresh indications that a cross section of students may be opting for at least 60 per cent maximum reduction across the various faculties.

The Students Union Government, SUG, President, Nurudeen Yusuf, last Thursday, in a press briefing insisted that only a 67 per cent reduction across board is acceptable to the generality of the students.

Vanguard has gathered that some of the students who are already tired of the incessant delay in completing their academic career in the school, have welcomed nothing short of a 60 per cent reduction across the various faculties.

Eagerly awaiting a pronouncement by the Governing Council, concerned stakeholders have kept their fingers crossed on whether there is an end in sight to the three-year crises rocking the university over the steep fees hike.

Next line of action Meanwhile, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU-LASU, Dr. Idris Adekunle has refused to comment on the union’s next line of action over government’s 34-64 per cent reduction.

Idris said: Nobody has officially notified us about the 3460 per cent reduction. However, as the tuition fee is one of the three core demands that made our union to embark on an indefinite strike, I cannot take a decision unilaterally on this. We have to take this latest development to Congress later in the week, which will take decision on the way forward.

As lecturers we owe it a duty to this country, not to keep our students on the streets unnecessarily. We pray that government will be sensitive to accede to our core demands for there to be an end in sight to these avoidable crises.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

— 41

Climate Change: LASG begins cooking gas distribution

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

T

O reduce the effect of climate change and ensure cleaner environment , the Lagos State Government has commenced Gas Reticulation System in some of its residential estates.

This is part of the ‘Eko Gas Project’, tree planting initiative and other projects.Aside boosting efforts to purify the environment, the Gas Reticulation System will aslo lead to greater use of LPG (cooking gas) in the State.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Regina Iyabo Obasa recently said that the state government is introducing the gas reticulation system in state owned residential estates as a way of making Lagos resident have easy access to cooking gas as well as embrace the use of cleaner fuel for cooking in various homes.

Can the government effectively control a gas distribution system in a city which has over 21 million inhabitants, with several slums and suburbs? This is a major question on the lips of many observers.

Conventional gas cylinders Obasa said, the pilot scheme had started in new estates under construction such as Ilubirin foreshore, Ijora and iponri with gas piles being installed for domestic use. She explained that with gas reticulation system, individuals need not purchase conventional gas cylinders as each apartment in the estates will have gas supply from a centralized skid plant located within the estate, which in itself is a safety measure.

She said the Lagos State Ministry of Energy plans to install more gas skid plants in Alimosho, Epe, Lagos Island and Badagry areas before the end of this year to make cooking gas (LPG) readily available to residents.

She added that the State Government introduced Eko Gas Scheme as a choice for Lagosians in order to reduce carbon emission from the use of firewood and kerosene, and because of its inherent advantages such as being safer, faster and convenient for cooking.

Last year, the state government launched the Eko Gas

Project, to ensure that cooking gas was brought to the door steps of all residents of Lagos, at affordable prices.

The project tagged ‘Eko Gas’ is targeted at the low income group that relies on kerosene because of the erroneous impression that LPG is more expensive. About 20 per cent of the cost of cylinder would be catered for by the state government.

Earlier in his address, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babtunde Raji Fashola (SAN) stated that the initiative is for the vulnerable members of the society who depend on fire wood and cooking stoves.

Standard of living for the poor people Fashola said “For us, our commitment is to raise the standard of living for the poor people in the state and to let them know that cooking gas in Lagos is no longer the preserve of the rich alone. We have intervened as a government to equalize

Long jerrycan queque for kerosene in Lagos and to make the price of cylinder available at various prices.

Expressing dismay over the country’s poor use of gas despite being one of largest producers of LPG in the continent said: “We also recognize the immense potential of the country ’s gas resources. It is only

right that we devise a means to apply the existing solution to an existing problem meaning that this gas can be used to provide electricity for our country Nigeria”.

“In Africa, Nigeria is rated the largest producer of Liquefied Petroleum Gas yet

we are ranked as the lowest in per capita consumption of this product when actually it is exploited in this country and can be made as a source of energy for millions of Nigerians as an alternative to provide electricity for our people,” he said

Water scarcity: Ketu residents cry out over neglect OUR REPORTER

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ESIDENTS of Ketu L o c a l Government have lashed out at the Lagos state government over its inability to provide constant potable water for the council since 1999, when the country returned to democratic system of government.

The residents lamented that the state government has abandoned them to their fate despite their compliance to law and order-payment of Land Use Charge, LUC and other dues to the state government.

Our correspondent gathered that the most hit were residents of Alapere and Igbo-nla axis of the council, where there was no evidence of government tap or future plan to construct such.

They however appealed to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who has less than a year in office, to intervene in the

lack of potable water that had hit the council, saying that this is the only way the government can bring the dividend of democracy to their door steps.

The residents complained that they rely on water from either unhygienic boreholes or from water vendors better known as Mai-ruwa for their daily water needs.

They explained that lack of public water facilities had resulted to the proliferation of private boreholes, wells and continuous engagement of the Mai-ruwa services to meet their daily demand for water.

Sources said that larger percent of these private facilities lack the good treatment plants to turn the sourced water into drinkable one because they had shallow depth. And do not have the financial capacity to procure the required water treatment plants, forcing them to use it.

Vanguard gathered that few areas that had laid water pipes experienced unstable water supply, thus forcing

them to wait for water distributors or settle for sachet water.

When our correspondent approached a resident of the Alapere, Mrs. Mary Olatunbosun on how the state government had helped in providing their daily water needs, she replied angrily, ”We do not have access to public water facility here, either from the Federal or state government.

We source for water daily and this is done individually.

“And daily, the state government boasts of providing water to the public through their water works in Iju and Adiyan water works. But to our surprise, we have none to drink in our community. ”

115 million gallons of water Vanguard learnt that both water works produce 115 million gallons of water per day and they are powered by an Independent Power Plant, IPP.‘

Mrs. Olabisi Akanbi emphasised; “Let’s not muddle up responsibilities, the government ought to provide portable water for its citizens and not the water vendors-they operate for profit. So the government should try and improve on the accessibility and availability of water supply to its citizens.”

Mr. Christiana Solomon, appealed to governor Fashola, to direct the Lagos State Water Corporation, LSWC to improve on their water supply to the residents.

Solomon explained “ we have public tap but it is not functioning effectively.

Sometimes, we do not have water. All we do is to trek long distance to source for water if those who have borehole deny us access to their facility.”

Speaking to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, LSWC, Engineer Shayo Holloway, said that the state government has a master plan to ensure that all residents of the state have access to portable water.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Crisis looms as Delta community ostracises village

NEPC, RMRDC to partner in product devt for export

T

HE crisis rocking Amukpe community over the alleged removal of Adesa village from Amukpe community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State by the latest constitution drafting committee in Okpe Kingdom, deepened weekend According to an Adesa village leader, Chief Godwin Edeki, the Amupe community should reverse the action, because it was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

Edeki appealed to security agencies to come to the aid of Adesa, saying: “We are law abiding citizens and so call on the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom to call the constitution drafting committee to order because, we know that the Orodje did not give them such powers.

“It is on record that the Amukpe community is made up of 16 villages and there is no cause to discriminate against Adesa village.”

Delta 2015: PDP guber aspirant lists challenges facing Urhobo nation

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PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant in the 2015 election in Delta State, Olorogun David Edevbie, has said that the Urhobos are facing huge challenges ahead of the poll.

The former Principal Secretary to late President Umaru Yar ’Adua and Commissioner for Finance in the Ibori administration, spoke at a consultation meeting with a section of political elders and opinion leaders in Urhoboland at Ekakpamre, Ughelli South Council Area of the state.

He identified political division of Urhobo nation, zoning argument, lack of adequate representation in Abuja and loss of confidence among the political class as major challenges facing the Urhobos in their bid to produce the next governor of the state.

T

PUBLIC PRESENTATION: From left: Chief Akpieyi Joseph, President-General Worldwide, Govenment College Ughelli Old Boys Association; Rev James Brigue, author of the book; Dr. Wilson Badejo, and Mrs. Philo Brigue, author's wife, during the public presentation of Pastoral Inspirations for the Present-Day Christian, at Foursquare Gospel Church, Akinwunmi Street, Yaba Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Deltans hail Oru's ministerial nomination

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—A CROSS section of Deltans, yesterday described the nomination of Dr. Steve Oru, South-South Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a minister as a good omen for the Urhobo people in particular and Delta State in general.

Those who spoke include Chief Tom Amioku, PDP Chairman, Delta Central, Chief Mike Adiotomre, Chief Benson Asore, Chief Ojumah, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, Prince Eric Oharisi, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, Chief Charles Obule, Chief G.N.O. Sefia, General Alfred Ilogho, Mrs Philipa Atagana Longe, Prince Paul Uweche, Chief Tony Oboroh, Prince Ben Oru, Chief Ochuko Edevbie, Mr. Halims Agoda, Mr. Tony Akpomiemie, Mr. Sam Mariere, Dr. Israel Abido, Mr. Tony Oru. Sir Tom Amioku, said: “The

ministerial nominee is a credible Urhobo son, an original PDP indigene/leader, who has remained steadfast and served as a source of encouragement to PDP faithful.”

Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, said: “Urhobo people are happy that they now have the right person to represent Urhobo Nation and the good people of Delta State at the Federal Executive Council.”

Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, on his part, said: “It is said that if a leader walks on the street with nobody following, then such a leader is only strolling. Dr. Oru does not walk alone, he has a mammoth crowd of Urhobo people and indeed Deltans walking with him. The signals are clear, a credible man of the people has been called to duty. To God be the glory.”

Others who spoke in the

same vein expressed confidence that Oru will make the state proud as a minister.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oru, in his remarks when he was welcomed by a cross section of Deltans at Osubi Airport, Delta Stat,e after his nomination, thanked everyone present for the love and support demonstrated by the surprise welcome reception organised for him. He also thanked God for the rare privilege of the nomination as a minister and other privileges he has enjoyed in life.

He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Mohammed Sambo, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Chief Edwin Clark, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for making the appointment possible.

Court orders Delta PC to release seized tricycle to operator

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—A DELTA State High Court sitting at Otor-Udu, has ordered the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ekpan, Mr. Kenneth Akabue and two others to return forthwith a tricycle in police custody, which was seized from a commercial tricycle operator.

Trial judge, Justice J. Azinge, ruling on an ex-parte motion by Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, coun-

sel to the commercial tricycle operator, Mr. Onovuoghakpor Omeyoma, frowned at the attitude of the men of the Delta State Police Command for disobeying an earlier order of the court.

The tricycle of the applicant, Mr. Omeyoma, was on May 22, 2014 seized by Mr. Efe Badare, Chairman, Delta State Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Union, Uvwie chapter and his task force members over the failure of the applicant to pay

union dues and becoming a member of the union.

The court was told that after the seizure, the applicant’s aforesaid tricycle was illegally handed over to the police.

Justice Azinge, said: “The order of the court is meant to be obeyed by parties. The failure of the respondents to obey an order of this court amounts to disobedience of court order which must be met by vehement resistance and should not be condoned.”

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC and Raw Material Research and Development Council, RMRDC, have agreed to synergise their activities to develop new products for export as part of efforts to diversify the country’s economy from dependency on oil.

The sister organisations, during a courtesy visit by the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo, to the Director-General of RMRDC, Dr. Hussein Ibrahim, in Abuja, expressed the urgent need for them to work together.

Awolowo was of the view that the RMRDC was key to the growth of the Nigerian economy given its resourcefulness in terms of researches conducted to enrich its data base and other complementary roles towards the development and promotion of non-oil export.

“We need to collaborate with your agency to ensure the discovery of new products that could be exported with a view to increasing our revenue and diversify from dependency on oil, to nonoil,” he added.

Delta 2015: Okocha most qualified —Fejokwu

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

A

founding member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Okocha, has been described as the only governorship aspirant for the 2015 election in Delta State, who has over the years till date, never worked in any government establishment, rather established his group of companies.

A media consultant, Mr. Emma Fejokwu, who spoke on the number of governorship aspirants in Delta State, said Chief Okocha, who from his adulthood never depended or worked for any private or government establishment, if he becomes the next governor, will be a great advantage to the people of Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—43

Clerics condemn attempted bombing

IHEDIOHA : Deputy Speaker, House of Re p re s e n t a t i v e s , Emeka Ihedioha (left) and former Minister of Infor mation, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, during the Deputy S p e a k e r ' s consultation with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders in Nwangele Local Government Area, with respect to his governorship aspiration in Imo State.

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has called on Imo State government to be proactive in safeguarding places of worship in the state.

Deputy National Secretary of PFN, Dr. Cosmos Ilechukwu, made the call, yesterday, against the backdrop of last Sunday’s bomb planted at Winners Chapel in Owerri which was defused by the police.

Ilechukwu said: “The attempted bombing of the Winners Chapel is to say the least, a very heinous act, which is condemnable in all ramifications.

“We must all at the same time intensify our prayers for divine protection, for as the scripture says, unless the Lord guards the city, they labour in vain that guard it.”

Also reacting, Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, Rt. Rev. David O. C. Onuoha, described the incident as “a very shocking and disturbing news”.

EKO EXPO: Lagos assures on security

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS State government has said it would beef up security around the state to protect the over 10,000 visitors and exhibitors at the 2014 Eko EXPO Trade Fair, Lekki Free Zone, Akodo, IbejuLekki Local Government.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Seye Oladejo, disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos.

Oladejo said security was needed for the trade exhibition holding between August 4 and 10.

He said: “I can assure you that we will build up security in that axis as any responsible government will do whenever it is expecting a huge turnout of people in an event aimed at supporting sustainable industrial and commercial growth in the state.”

Abakaliki residents protest unstable power supply, over-billing

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— NO fewer than 150 residents of Abakaliki, the state capital, yesterday protested epileptic power

supply in their area.

They also complained about high estimated bills served them by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, in the state.

The residents, who stormed

the headquarters of EEDC in Abakaliki, were seen chanting songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions.

Some of the placards read: “We don’t have light. You

Panic as mass transfer to North hits Anambra Police Command

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—PANIC has gripped policemen in Anambra State command, following ongoing massive transfer of most of the officers to the Northern part of the country, where the Boko Haram sect is involved in mindless killings.

Investigation by Vanguard showed that by yesterday about 149 officers in the command had been transferred to Sokoto,

Borno, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Yobe and Adamawa states, among others.

Speaking with the Vanguard yesterday, some of the affected officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the transfer was being done in batches.

They added that about 61 officers were in the first batch, while 88 were in the second, which list was released penultimate week.

The officers described the exercise as punitive, as only senior police officers of Igbo

extraction were mostly affected.

While conceding that the issue of transfer was the responsibility of the Police Service Commission, PSC, the officers insisted that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, was behind the transfer.

“It is really shocking that the IGP, who may be going on retirement next month, decided to carry out this exercise as a parting gift,” one of the police officers said.

Obiano orders review of land allocation

BY ENYIM ENYIM

G

OVERNOR Willie Obiano’s recent order for a review of land allocation to more than 500 people in Anambra State by his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, has continued to raise dust.

In August last year, Obi’s government had, through the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development, headed by the then commissioner of the ministry, Mr. Okoli Akirika, advertised for land allocation at the Hill Top

estate, near NNPC, Amawbia and the business district, Awka.

Of the more than 3,000 persons who applied, about 500 persons got approval from the ministry.

Consequent upon the approval, the commissioner raised a memo to the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, for formal approval.

Akirika in an interview with Vanguard, said he was shocked to note that Obi did not sign the files of the approved allottees, even when they had completed the requirements of government.

Strangely, Obi was said to have flagged off some projects and signed some documents on the same day he was to hand over to his successor.

According to him, each of the allottees paid three years tax of N150,000, N10,000 and N2,000 for structural plan which amounted to N81 million.

On assuming office in the second week of April, Obiano sent back the application files of the land allottees to the new Commissioner for Lands, Mrs. Stella Onuorah, and directed that the applications be reviewed.

have been stealing from us,” “EEDC, we are tired of darkness,” “We need transformers,” “EEDC you are wicked. The bill is too much,” among others.

It took the timely intervention of a team of policemen from Ekumeyi Division of the state police command to ensure the protest did not lead to loss of lives and destruction of property at EEDC office and its environ.

One of the protesters, Mr. A. N. Ukwa, stated that they were protesting because of the illtreatment meted out on them

by EEDC for over two years, despite paying their bills on regular basis.

He said: “We have been suffering and paying unnecessary bills for power we did not consume, thereby making life unbearable, uncomfortable and insecure to for us and our street because of the nefarious activities of the Abakaliki Business Unit of EEDC. “We are tired of their promises: come today, come tomorrow. We even prefer NEPA to these categories of people.”

In a petition to the Principal Manager, Operations, of EEDC in the state, the protesters accused the company of disconnecting them without first rendering commensurate services to them and bringing outrageous bills, even before the end of every month.

All effort to get the Principal Manager, Operations, Mr. E. N. Umoh, to comment on the matter proved abortive as he directed all questions to his Public Relations Officer who was reportedly on vacation.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

‘Investment in Nigeria'll open door to W'Africa'

Senate Education C'ttee commends FUTA

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

M

INISTER of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday in Lagos, told investors that investing in the Nigerian economy will open the doors to other West African countries.

The minister, while declaring open a two-day

T

HE Senate Committee on Education, has given the management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, a pass mark for promoting academic excellence and nurturing a generation of technologically-savvy young Nigerians through its academic programmes.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chuckwumerije, represented by Senator Abubakar Bagudu, during a working visit to the institution as part of its oversight functions, acknowledged the numerous challenges facing education in the country and commended FUTA for its giant strides, saying the university should be supported for it to do more for its stakeholders.

He was accompanied by Senator Emmanuel Agwariavwodo and the Clerk, Mr. Felix Orumwense.

Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Adedayo Fasakin, presented an overview of the university, its achievements, challenges and future projections.

He called for allocation of more funds to the university to solve some pressing problems to enhance its delivery on its mandate of teaching, research and community development.

investment forum with the theme Nigeria-Pakistan Pharma Investment Forum 2014, assured investors from Pakistan that the Federal Government will continue to support all genuine investors wishing do business in the country.

The minister, represented by the Director-General of National Agency for Food

and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, said: “Investing in Nigeria will give you access to the West African sub-region and beyond.”

He told the Pakistan delegation that the event was a result of the visit “to Nigeria by the President of Pakistan, which demonstrates in no small

measure the commitment of both countries to a sustainable and enhanced bilateral relationship, in the spirit of South-South cooperation.

“It further reaffirms our long history of socioeconomic relationship, as members of the Commonwealth,” the minister added.

Agbarha-Otor community cries to Uduaghan over link roads A

GBARHA-OTOR— THE people of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government

Area, Delta State, have called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to help rehabilitate and dualise the link roads to

the town.

Chief Khalil Ofomukoro, pioneer Chairman, Task Force on Environmental

2015: I 'll tackle unemployment, says The 2015 governorship Party, PDP, in Delta Omo-Agege Democratic hopeful, who also visited the North at Ogwash-Uku, said

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—FORMER Secretary to Delta State Government, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has promised to address unemployment problem in the state if elected as governor of the state in 2015.

Omo-Agege, during a consultation meeting with members of Peoples

unemployment was the greatest security risk of the time, expressing hope that “if we are able to tackle unemployment, all other problems, whether robbery, kidnapping, communal conflicts, advance fee fraud, popularly known as 419, broken marriages, prostitution among others, will be reduced to the barest minimal because none of us was born bad.”

Asagba of Asaba same day, said: “My ambition is not borne out of any sense of entitlement that I am an Urhobo man and we must rule.

“I offer myself as a Deltan, who is concerned about the widespread unemployment that is destroying the very fabric of our society.

Marriages are failing and weakening our families.”

16 students get N800,000 Mutu Scholarship

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OMADI — A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Mutu, has disbursed N800,000 through his Nicholas Mutu Scholarship Foundation to 16 science students from his constituency.

Mutu represents Bomadi/

Patani federal constituency of Delta State.

The 16 beneficiaries, who were selected through a competitive examination organised by the Delta State Ministry of Education, were presented with certificates and N50,000 cash.

Presenting the awards, the

lawmaker told his constituents that the event which marks the 6th edition of the annual scholarship award programme was part of his policy on education to build viable standard of education in the constituency in particular, and the Niger Delta region in general.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Sanitation, Ughelli North, who took newsmen round the four roads linking Ughelli to Agbarha-Otor, noted that “they are all in total bad condition and have prevented entry into the town in recent time.

“Residents of the town have been forced to park their cars at home, and visitors cannot also visit the town. The Ibru Centre used to bring visitors from all parts of the country daily, but today the story has changed.”

He lamented the presence of a construction firm and the state Direct Labour Agency, DLA, both of which he claimed “have their asphalt plants in Agbarha town and have been ravaging the roads with their heavy duty trucks.”

He called on the state Commissioner for Works to urgently direct the company to fix the roads.

He added that the existing narrow roads were “built by Shell Petroleum Development Company and late Alex Ibru many years ago and they need to be rehabilitated and dualised.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Super Eagles in Brazil

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PEED and energy are key in Brazil because of the climate.

Cameroon and Spain made my point clear. A few of Kelechi’s type could have helped us as they may not have much of the wear and tear of life. I wish Nigeria Goodluck.— Mr. Mark Uzomba, Worker.

I

honestly believe that we have a good chance of qualifying from the group. Our focus should not only be on Argentina, but on the other countries that makes up the group.

Good luck, Super Eagles. Do well.— Mr. Oluwole Olabode, Worker.

E

A G L E S ’ concentration should be for 100 minutes in each game, giving room for possible five minutes extra time each half. Defenders should avoid unnecessary backpass; Mikel should avoid struggling for set pieces.— Mr. Gil Eigbodo, Businessman.

E

MENIKE, you must learn to fire shots regularly. Please fire shots every time. That is the only way to get goals and win matches. You must be robust and deadly. Sometimes, you can dive professionally and get a spot kick.— Mr. Obim Nwosu, Customer Care Agent.

G

O and do well Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Majority of Nigerians are all behind you and rooting for you to succeed. Go, enjoy your game and surprise and prove your detractors wrong again. I wish you the best of luck in Brazil—Mr. Emmanuel Jannah, MC.

I

F Ivory Coast can come from a goal down and emerge winner in their first match, why won’t Nigeria do better? I just hope that they play as a team and according to coach Keshi’s instruction. Up Super Eagles!— Ms. Okoye Precious, Clerk.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 45

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

1,000 APC members defect to PDP in Kwara

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LORIN—NO fewer than 1,000 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara, weekend, in Ilorin defected to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. The defectors who were from the seven wards in Ilorin West Local Government Area, were received

by Alhaji Mustapha Isowo, state Vice Chairman, Central, of the PDP, at Alore in Ajikobi ward, Ilorin.

Isowo expressed happiness that new members took the courage to leave APC for PDP and assured them of equal treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that defectors surrendered their APC membership cards to Isowo who gave them PDP cards in return.

Isowo advised the new members to register as voters when voters’ registration commence in the state.

He assured the new members that with PDP, they would actualise their dreams and aspirations.

Tolerate one another, Islamic scholar urges Nigerians

I

LORIN—AN Islamic scholar, Dr Abdulkadir Solagberu, has urged Nigerians to tolerate one another, irrespective of religious, cultural and political affilia t i o n s .

Solagberu, founder of Darul-Kitab Wa Sunnah College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, who spoke on Sunday during the graduation of 490 students of the school, stressed the need for tolerance.

He tasked the Committee on Religion at the National Conference to dwell more on factors capable of restoring peace, unity and harmony among religious adherents in the country. ”It is our hope that the outcome of the National Conference will shed more light on the channels to follow toward getting things right in the nation”, he said.

Solagberu said that researches had revealed that lack of social, ethical and moral values had contributed to the deterioration of social justice and fundamental human rights of the c i t i z e n r y .

Plateau moves to shore up IGR, engages 22 proffesional groups BYMARIE-THERESENANLONG

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OS—IN a bid to cushion the effects of the dwindling revenue accruing to the Plateau State government from the Federation Account, the state Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, has assembled over 22 professional groups to discuss tax issues and fashion out ways of increasing the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state.

Speaking weekend during the opening ceremony of a day round-table, the state governor, Jonah Jang urged every stakeholder to seek alternative ways of generating revenue so that government would stop relying solely on the monthly allocations from the Federal Governm e n t .

Jang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Shedrack Best, said “it had become the norm for governments to rely solely on the monthly allocations from the Federation Account to the total neglect of other sources at their doorsteps. ”These monthly accruals are declining with each passing month with states like Plateau being at the receiving

MEDIA BRIEFING: Chairman House Committee on Industry, Hon. Mohammed Onawo (middle); Vice Chairman, House Committee on Industry, Princess Peace Nnaji (left); and Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu during media briefing after the House committee visited the SON facilities in Lagos, yesterday. end. We take professionals to be partners in the leadership of the society so professionals should be seen to be citizens who meet their civic obligations of tax payment as practical examples to others. ”Because we have been made lazy by readily available oil money, we do not see the relationship between the success-

es of government and the way it applies itself to the task of generating internal revenue but oil revenues and oil reserves are increasingly declining,” he said.

He further said the state was also, over depended so much on the Pay As You Earn, PAYE, as another major source of tax and urged the professional

bodies to find ways of making the tax regime and revenue generating machinery of the state more efficient, effective and res u l t - o r i e n t e d .

Earlier, the Chairman of the state BIR, Samuel Pam in his address said the maiden round-table became necessary due to the state’s over reliance on formal sector for taxes.

FCC wants database for equitable manpower, infrastructure distribution

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BUJA—THE Federal Character Commission, FCC, yesterday called for a comprehensive database for equitable infrastructure and manpower distribution in the country The Director, Monitoring and Enforcement in the commission, Mr David Fakeye, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in A b u j a .

“The database would ensure equity and fairness.”

Fakeye said inadequate data had made it difficult to ascertain the distribution of infrastructural facilities and projects.

NAN recalls that the second mandate of the commission is to monitor the distribution of socio-economic amenities, projects and programmes to ensure equity and fairness.

“A comprehensive database in key sectors of the economy will enable the commission to track, monitor and evaluate whether they meet the geographical spread,” Fakeye said.

Over the years, he said the commission had consistently mobilised Nigerians, especially the major stakeholders to buy into the concept of nation building through collective fair sharing of opportunities.

“The frightening lopsidedness in the manpower distribution of

Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, is a product of history and redress will take gradual process, particularly at the entry level”, he added.

He listed none advertisement

of vacant positions and not giving the stipulated duration of advertisement notices by various government offices as part of the commission’s challenges.

Others are none submission

of candidates’ short list to the commission prior to interview, not allocating slots to states or zone prior to interview, and refusing to summit nominal rolls and quarterly returns.

KSU plans world-class Law college, graduates 349 law students BYDEMOLAAKINYEMI

I

LORIN—KWARA State Uni versity, KSU, has said plans are underway to establish a world class college of law, even as it graduated 349 students at its second convocation ceremony.

The Vice Chancellor of the university Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, spoke at the convocation in the school campus, at Malete, in Moro local government area of the state.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the vice chancellor said the graduands had been trained to occupy various leadership positions in the society, stressing that no efforts would be spared by the university authorities to make the institution a world class university.

Professor Na’Allah, noted that the school was established to train, educate, research and

provide services that bring about astute leadership in business and government that would ensure the country developed to compete with twenty first century successful countries of the world.

He explained that 349 students were conferred bachelor’s degrees with two out of them graduating with first class while? 86 were awarded with second class honours Upper division.

Similarly, while 193 received second class honours lower division, 68 others received third class honours respectively.

The Governor, and visitor to the university, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, in his speech, said the state government was committed to the provision of qualitative and quantitative education for the people of the state.

He assured that more facilities for effective teaching, learning and research would be provid-

ed for the University to enable it attain its world class status.

Represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kisira, the Governor commended the efforts of the Governing Council, Senate, Management, Staff and students of the University for living up to the vision of the founding fat h e r s .

Governor Ahmed said the success recorded within five years of its establishment had projected the University to the World as one of the leading universities in the country.

He congratulated the graduands for achieving the feat and their parents for investing heavily on them.

In his speech, the Chancellor of the University, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, said the University was waxing stronger with the National Universities Commission, NUC, given full approval to all its programmes presented for accreditation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 47

2015: Lame joins Bauchi guber race

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI — FORMER Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election of Bauchi State in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Lame told newsmen in Bauchi, yesterday: “I will soon declare my interest to contest for Bauchi State governor.

We have a committee of experts that are working to bring out programmes that will bring positive changes in lives of the people of the state. ”Part of the things the committee will focus on is to find out areas in the state that need to be improved upon. From the report I have gathered from so far, there is need for exploitation of solid minerals in the state; sports and tourism need to be developed, there is also the need for the security of lives and property and the creation of state police and community policing."

On the inability of the Bauchi South Senatorial District where he hails from, to give Bauchi North and Central the opportunity to produce the governor of the state in the last 16 years, Lame said: “I will contest as a citizen of Bauchi State under APC not PDP and I will ensure fairness and justice to all parts of the state. ”The period of using ethnicity and religion in politics is over. What the people of the state are yearning for is a leader who will bring changes in their lives.’’

Lame further described as dangerous, civilian dictatorship as examplified in the last week’s gagging of the press by the government.

He said: “It is the most dangerous thing to have in a democracy. Once you do that, you are showing dictatorial tendencies and you can’t have dictatorship in a democracy.

“It must be stopped by patriotic Nigerians and I believe that Nigerians have the capacity to do something about it."

Separate religion from fight against Boko Haram, forum urges govts A BUJA — SPOKESMAN for the Northern Delegates Forum, NDF, Mr Anthony Sani, has asked the various governments in the country to separate religion and ethnicity or tribe from the ongoing fight against the activities of Boko Haram in a bid to eradicate terrorism in the country.

Sani said Boko Haram terrorists, who claim to be fighting for God, were in the minority in the country, pointing out that the sect merely uses religion to destabilise the country.

He was reacting to some of the issues in the National Conference.

On corruption, Sani who was national publicity secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, said: "I am not sure if the government and the confab are giving issues of corruption the needed attention. Rather, corruption is being allowed to be the basis of public policies.

"I give you an example. Removal of petroleum subsidy is not being done in the best interest of

the people but being done to remove the sources of corruption in the management of petroleum subsidy. I see no wisdom in it.

"Instead of fighting corruption to a stand still, we seem to allow corrupt practices to overwhelm the polity and determine the direction of public policies.

"If you look at the reasons advanced against the Land Use Act in the constitution by the Committee on Land Tenure, you can hardly avoid the conclusion that they are based more on managerial imperfections and failure of leadership at all levels rather than on soundness of the law. They do this in blithe disregard for rthe fact that most of our good laws are observed more in the breach. ’’So, instead of allowing corruption to overwhelm us and blight our thought and vision about socio-economic development,we should fight it with our head, heart and hand to a stand still.

"To this end, corruption should attract capital punishment because it steals people’s empow-

erment, steals their opportunity and steals their future by outsourcing such empowerment, opportunity and our future. Consider the number of schools and health institutions that would be built if the money were not stolen.

Security challenges

"The security challenges in Nigeria is serious because the challenges are all over the country. We have insurgence, kidnapping, armed robberies, militant activism, piracy, etc, to the extent the insecurity is trying to make some Nigerians reconsider our togetherness. I believe instead of allowing insurgence to set new national agenda for the nation, it is better we all come together and confront the evil.

"I say this because the sect merely uses religion to destabilise the country for whatever reasons and not that they are fighting for God who can fight His cause unaided."

From left: National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Senator representing Kwara Central, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Moshood Mustapha during the APC National Convention at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Kogi APC suspends members over court case

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, Kogi State chapter has suspended some of its members for taking the party to court.

A faction of the party had instituted series of suits challenging the state and local government congresses of the party held in April, asking for the cancellation of the congresses among other reliefs.

However, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Hardy Ametuo, announced their suspension during the inauguration of local government executives, yesterday, in Lokoja.

Ametuo said their suspension was in line with the party’s con-

stitution which stipulates penalties for anyone or group of persons who challenges the party in court.

He said: ”Soon after the congress, this group of people who did not take part in the election raised some issues and the party immediately set up a reconciliatory committee to look into their grievances. ”The reconciliatory committee called for a meeting in which some of these people did not attend. We believe that these people are agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sent to destabilise the party. ”It is just surprising that without waiting for the outcome of the reconciliatory committee, these people went

ahead to challenge the party in court. Their action has gone against the constitution of the party and they are hereby suspended and no longer bonafide members of the party.”

Ametuo then eulogized the North Central zone of the party for conceding the position of the National Women leader to the state, pointing out that the position had already been given to Hajia Ramotu Tijani for her selfless service to the party.

He also stated that the party would take over power from the PDP in the state during the 2015 general elections as the people were tired of the "clueless administration" of the state by the PDP.

Ajaokuta Steel, ITF to train 36,000 youths

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OKOJA — AJAOKUTA Steel Company Ltd, weekend, said it would collaborate with Industrial Training Fund, ITF, to train 1,000 youths in each of the 36 states of the federation.

Sole Administrator of the company, Mr Isah Joseph, announced this when the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada, inspected the complex in Ajaokuta.

He said the company would train the youths at its Metallurgical Training Centre, MTC, in Ajaokuta on various skills beginning from the third quarter of this year.

According to him, the programme will go a long way to empower the youths economically, adding: “It is our plan that training will commence at MTC under the African Centre for Human Capital Development, ACHCD, arrangement in the third quarter of 2014.

“A memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed with the ITF to actualise the Skills Acquisition Programme of the Federal Government.

“The training of 1,000 youths per state of the federation in artisanal skills was worked out for the MTC.” The sole administrator said the 36,000 youths would be trained on carpentry/joinery, mechanical/ machining, electrical installations and wielding, among others.

He said since inception in the 1970s, the company was conceived as a project that would lead Nigeria to industrialisation and enviable position.

He said: “The project, however, had history occasioned by an inter-play of forces that has made the integrated inauguration of the steel plant elusive till date.

The bane of Ajaokuta steel company over the years has mainly been poor funding.

“Capital allocation to the project has remained a mirage for a number of years.

Added to this is the case instituted against it since 2008 by its erstwhile concessionaires which is in the process of being definitively concluded through mediations, courtesy of Mr President.”

48 — Vanguard, TUESSDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

SYNOD: From left: Rt. Rev. George Bako, Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Rt. Rev. Marcus Dogo, Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu, and Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, Most Rev.Josiah Idowu-fearon, at the Diocese of Kaduna Synod thanksgiving service of the Anglican Communion, in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

SUMMIT: From left: President of Ethiopia, Dr. Mulatu Teshome, Mr. Nick Fadugba, CEO, African Aviation and former Secretary General, AFRAA and Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure, African Union, at African Aviation summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

VISIT: DG/CEO, Raw Materials Research and development Council, RMDRC, Dr. Husseini Ibrahim (right) presenting a publication to the ED/ CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council,NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo, during a visit to the NEPC in Abuja.

LAUNCHING: From left: President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, CAFON, Ms Sola Salako, member, Board of Directors, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Junaid Dikko, Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Oluwole Rawa and CEO, Rise Networks, Ms Toyosi Akerele, at the launch of Etisalat Cliqlite, an e-learning product for children, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

MEETING: From left: Mr Femi Oyenubi, Chairman, Public Service Joint Negotiating Council Union, Mrs. Josephine Williams, Head of Service, Lagos State, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, Commissioner, Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions and Mrs. Shade Jaji Perm Sec. Ministry of Establishment and Training, at the opening of the 1st meeting of the Lagos State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in Lagos.

BRIEFING: From left: Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, MD, Mr. Brovo Kim, Mr. Daesung Ra, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu and Mr. Olumide Ojo, during a briefing on the Samsung Galaxy S5 in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, photo editor.

TOUR: From left: General Manager, Industrial Performance, Lafarge WAPCO, Mr. Lanre Opakunle, Manager, Corporate Brand and Sustainability, Lafarge Nigeria, Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun and Products Development Manager, Lafarge WAPCO, Mr, Femi Yusuf, during the media tour of the company plants at Ewekoro, Ogun State. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Lartey Bolaji Asst.

Director; Conduct and Development, CBN, Mr. C.M. Sokan, Asst. Director, Head, Complain Management Division, CBN and Alhaja Khadijat Kassim, Deputy Director/Head, Consumer Education Division, CBN, at a briefing in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube.

AUDITION: From left: Royal FM Ilorin on-air personality, Okunlola Oluwafemi, MTN Project Fame Season 6 finalist, Omolayo Olawale, Splash FM Ibadan on-air personality, Tony Awobode and music producer, Muyiwa Abidoye, during the MTN Project Fame West Africa season 7 audition, in Ilorin.

V anguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 17, 2014,——49 Vanguard, TUESDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Opposition between the Moon and Pluto may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

GEMINI: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

CANCER: Good luck will smile at you. Romantic interlude that started last yesterday may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

LEO: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

VIRGO: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Youngs-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

By Richard Eromosele

R

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

God is watching deeds, wicked acts, ways and sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today. When we commit heinous crime, we run for cover un-

TERROR MUDA

der the stone, under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught. We live a lie. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act; the

in “Never say goodbye”

sun by our shadow takes our photo graph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

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

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder.

Beware of joint venture.

SCORPIO: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

SAGITTARIUS: The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena.

CAPRICORN: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

AQUARIUS: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

PISCES: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

ARIES: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage. And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

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

What is my luck?

Dear Joshua, I am deeply interested in Astrology: and the way you analyse people is great, keep it up. Kindly tell me whatever you think I should know about my life together with my luck, social life and my lucky number.

Michael, Abia.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Michael, Thank you for your words of encouragement. Too many things are important but I think what both your immediate and far future have for you must be revealed to you so that you will be prepared.

Mars in Aquarius together with Uranus are pointers to an active social life. The more influential social circle you belong to, the better for you. You’re the cool-headed type beloved by many but once your anger manages to fly off, it can be very difficult if not dangerous; it’s because of your natal Pluto. Yet they keep coming your way.

Saturn can not help forcing challenges on your way, luckily for you however, you have what it takes to live up to the challenges. And as Saturn will never deny it’s worthy native the deserved success, it also gives recognition.

Saturn or no Saturn, good relationship bet Mars and lucky Jupiter when you were born, are green tumb for WEALTH; you will be wealthier more than having liquid cash; nobody can stop your becoming wealthy. Best colours for you include YELLOW, golden, black but not coconut white. Your sleeping posture should be on East/West axis with your head to the West. 5 is your destiny number, 9 is your ambition, 8 is your expression, your other numbers are 1, 6, 7 & 11. Thus, they are as superior as listed.

Between now and your 46th year on earth (three and half years) women, money, youngster will greatly feature in your life and a few publicity cum commercial success equally indicated for you.

However come your 47th year (around that period) tough challenges which will border on stiff competition, avoidable accident, treachery and money will come your way.

Although it sounds somehow, it’s the needed tonic for and or pillar for an endless cycle of success that will follow. Therefore whatever can be shaken to the foundation or be uprooted by that time should not be initiated now.

The future is truly brilliant for you.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Gas flaring: Confab recommends adequate compensation to Niger Delta

By HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE National Conference has recommended that communities in the Niger Delta region be paid adequate compensation for gas flaring that has adversely affected lives and environment in the region. The conference called for the establishment of the Niger Delta Energy Corridor to serve as a veritable tool for the rapid industrialization of the country.

It equally resolved that proceeds from pollution tax to be collected from oil companies be used to clean up communities that are impacted by oil spill. The resolution came even as delegates to the conference voted against a proposal for a declaration of state of emergency in the power sector in line with the promise made in 2008 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua during a visit to France.

The conference, which made the recommendations, while considering the report of its Committee on Energy, yesterday, also resolved that the powers of the minister to grant exemption to gas flaring should be abolished under Nigerian law. It demanded

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immediate initiation of efforts to clean-up oil spill and restore degraded environments in the Niger Delta in line with recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme.

In order to make fuel supply available to people in the riverine areas, the National Conference resolved that government should investigate why the floating petrol stations built in the past have not worked, and take steps to resuscitate them. The delegates also resolved that government finds immediate means of improving gas supply and transmission to ramp up power delivery to the system as a solution to current cash shortfall in the sector.

In addition, the conference said government should implement the National Gas Plan whose main objective is to transmit gas to all states of the federation for industrial and domestic use and to the Independent Power Projects. It was also resolved that all new non-associated gas produced in Nigeria be reserved for the domestic market until such a time that domestic quota is satisfied; and that a pricing regime for gas should be developed to make this possible.

The conference adopted the recommendation on a total ban on the flaring of associated gas and that any oil field that does not have infrastructure to capture associated gas should be shut down by the end of 2014.

It was, however, resolved that government should release take-off grant to the Hydro Electric Power Area Development Commission so that communities in river HRM Richard Oghnevwogaga Ebelle Okorefe1, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor banks would have access L-r: Kingdom, welcoming the new DPO. B. Division S.P Akintunde to Agbarha, to power. at the Palace.

Adequate representation of Nigerian engineers in the Nigeria into the top 20 economies To realise the vision of providplanning and implementation of of the world; and that the Electric ing electric power supply at afall aspects of the power sector Power Sector Reform Act be fordable cost, Conference resolved reform programme was also rec- aligned with the new policy. that a deliberate policy be put in ommended by the conference.

It was observed that this might place to encourage local producDelegates also asked government involve revisiting the contract tion of spare parts and all electrito ensure level playing ground entered into with the new private cal equipment needed by the elecfor the independent power pro- owners with a view to charting a tricity supply industry. Politicians, ducers and other genuine inves- way forward that would ensure especially elected public officials, tors in the power business. increased, improved quality and and aspiring politicians had a deAs a matter of urgency, the con- sustainable electrical power sup- mand placed on them; that of ference said government must set plies to Nigerians. It agreed that making availability and usage of up a committee to review the cur- the new private power companies liquefied petroleum gas part of rent National Electric Power Poli- be given two years to stabilize and their constituency project undercy to make it suitable to provide a provide efficient electricity supply taking. quantum leap required to propel to every Nigerian.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014—51

Firm test-runs new home ownership concept with 100-unit estate

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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RAN Imperio Group, GIG, promoters of upscale affordable homes has launched a new concept for home ownership. The concept which is known as essential homes, will offer ‘clean and comfortable homes’ to prospective individual home owners and corporate organisations.

The concept is being test-run with 100 unit-South Pointe Estate to be sited on a three hectares parcel of land at Lafiaji in the Lekki peninsula part of Lagos.

The Lagos-based real estate development firm has also concluded plans to deliver South Point II which would be build on five hectares parcel of land. The proposed estate comprises 40 units of one- bedroom bungalows, 60 units of two -bedroom bungalows, 48 units of threebedroom bungalows and 48 units of four- bedroom bungalows. The company also plans to embark on the development of Lakeview Park II, which is located on almost two hectares of land.

Disclosing these facts to newsmen, the company’s managing director, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi said also unveiled plans for its

1.9 hectare-Golden Leaf Estate which upon completion, will accommodate 72 families. Specifically, the estate will consist of 36 three and 36 four- bedroom bungalows.

Mr. Ogunwusi who said his passion to relieve the burden of homelessness among middleclass Nigerians was one of the reasons his company decided to undertake Essential Homes project. The company, he said, plans to deliver the first phase within 100 days.

Lekki peninsula Continuing, the GIG boss who disclosed that a 26.5 hectares parcel of land has also been secured to construct 848 housing units to be named Y’hello Estate.

A breakdown shows that the estate would comprise 60, 288, 264, and 236 of one, two, three and four bedrooms in the Lafiaji area of Lekki peninsula.

Similarly, the company has acquired 90.4 hectares of land within Abraham Adesanya Estate in the Lekki corridor to build 554 housing units.

“It was designed to produce 110 units of one bedroom, 156 of two- bedroom bungalows, 144 of

three and 144 of four -bedroom bungalows; it would be known as Grand Lake.

At Oworoshoki under Oworoshoki Redevelopment Scheme, 200 families would have opportunity to subscribe to any of the house types including 40, 60, 48 and 52 one, two, three and four bedroom apartments. *Some of the houses under the pilot scheme “All the estates are affordable yet classy in style, are schemes are roads, walkways, gether under cooperatives and exquisitely finished terrace bun- streetlights, CCTV, purified wa- groups in order to take headlong galows, spiced with comfortable ter, central sewage system, 24- the housing challenges for a lot ambience. They have air condi- hour electricity supply,” he said of the employees are MTN Cotioning, good quality finishes, ad“At the moment, organised pri- operative Society, Addax, BATN, equate parking, private garden, vate sectors from all the blue chip MEMCOS, Airtel, Shell among AstroTurf football pitch, swim- companies that have come to- others”, Ogunwusi stated. ming pool, fitted kitchen among other recreational facilities.

Specifically, these estates have been conceptualised as medium but upscale residential schemes, targeted to redefine the nation’s housing industry in a significant Abdulazez Shettima of Zamfara

BY FUNMI OLASUPO way.

State and Saidu Dakingari of “At the moment, Essential OVERNORS of the North Kebbi State, weekend affirmed Homes pilot projects are currentEast geo-political zones their support for the project. ly ongoing in five strategic loca- have thrown their full weight Similarly, four first-class tions. But ready for immediate behind the Federal traditional rulers from the two habitation are 28 units, while 72 Governments’ Great Green Wall states, the Emir of Gusau, Sarkin units in South Pointe would be project aimed at afforestating Katsina Gusau, Alhaji Kabir fully ready for subscribers to eleven frontline states currently Muhammad Danbaba, the Emir move in by the end of June 2014. ravaged by desertification. of Maru Banaga, Alhaji Infrastructure that come with the The Governors represented Dr. Continues on Page 53

Climate Change: North East governors, emirs embrace GGW

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52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

World Bank commits $564.5million to Nigeria’s road infrastructure

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

I

N an attempt to improve the nation’s ailing roads infrastructure, the World Bank said that it has committed a total of $564.5million to the country’s road infrastructure projects. The bank did not state the period during which the investment was made. On the negative side, the World Bank predicted a more than100 percent rise in deaths from road accident in Africa, from an annual estimate of 200,000 persons to 500,000, unless concrete steps are taken to avert the doom.

These facts were disclosed by the Programme Coordinator, Global Road Safety Facility, World Bank, Mrs Tawia Addo-Ashong in an interview with Vanguard Homes & Property in Abuja. She called on road safety agencies to start now to embark on a national road safety strategy and plan of

action to reduce the deaths toll.

“In Africa, more than 200,000 people die yearly from road accidents with a predictions that the figure is likely to increase to 500,000 annually by 2030 if the various governments in the continent fail to act now to prevent the doom,” she said.

Nigerian roads, according to her, rank among the poorest in the world in terms of safety facilities, road network and management. This scenario is replicated in the regulation and enforcement of road transport activities.

While many developing and developed countries have engaged in concerted efforts to reduce road traffic accidents, Nigeria seems not moving forward.

The World Bank chief explained that it (bank) has a total of 27 national projects in Nigeria and two regional ones valued at $5.732.3billion.

*Road under construction Specifically, the bank has committed $564.3billon to road projects. A breakdown shows that Lagos urban project of would gulp $4.5m; rural access management project, RAMP 1 $60million; Federal road development project, $$330million and rural roads management project RAMP2 , $170million. Addo-Ashong urged the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC to imbibe the

“Safe System Approach” that recognises preventive efforts by aligning road safety management with broader transport and planning decisions.

“Effective road safety management requires data that users can rely on for accuracy to define road safety problems, identify risks, formulate strategy and develop interventions, set targets and monitor performance. Data relevant to

road safety are collected every day in most countries but these data are not useful for informing road safety practice unless they are properly processed and shared across stakeholders,” she said.

The programme coordinator stressed the need to carry all road stakeholders along in the fight against road crashes in order to reduce them to the barest minimum.

Adaptation not mitigation key to solving climate change —Omojola

BY TARE YOUDEOWEI

I

N celebration of the 2014 United Nations World Environment Day, Professor Ademola Omojola of Geography Department, University of Lagos, lectured on the theme; Raise Your Voice, Not The Sea Level at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

Prof. Omojola warned that Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate change due to low latitudinal location, low adaptive capacity and high dependence on the natural resource base that are climate sensitive. “These could result in a loss of between two and

11 percent of Nigeria’s GDP by 2020, which may rise to between six and 30 percent by the year 2050, and is equivalent to between N15 trillion (US$100 billion) and N69 trillion (US$460 billion), ”Prof Omojola said at the event organised by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, SETPOM, Highlighting the celebration’s thematic objectives; climate change and its impact on the country, review of climate adaptation management in the country, highlights on the issues that need to be strengthened in get-

ting adaptation right, and what to raise our voices on, which SEPTOM is propelling, Prof.

Omojola stated; “ the climate has naturally changed greatly over geological timescales due to natural causes such as; continental drift, variations in earth’s orbit around the sun (Milankovitch cycles), sun-busts and flares, variations in greenhouse gases, changes in solar output, volcanic eruptions, cosmic collisions and particulate matter in the atmosphere (aerosols).”

In proffering a solution, the geographer who explained that

FG unveils plans to connect farmlands to arterial roads, major markets

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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LANS are underway by the Federal government to connect major farmlands in the country to arterial roads and market places. Arterial roads are high-capacity urban road with the primary function to deliver traffic from collector roads to expressways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible.

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, made this disclosure when he received in audience, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mr Sola Omole in Abuja.

Onolememen revealed that the Ministry of Works was undertaking some roads projects in the country to link farmlands

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to arterial roads and urban centres in order to ease farmers plight of transporting their farm produce to major markets.

The Ministry, he said, is seeking ways to collaborate with relevant agencies to showcase and improve its activities so as to ensure effective road network in the country. Onolememen said one of the major challenges facing the Ministry is the inability to get a proper avenue for information dissemination to Nigerians on the developments going on in the road sector.

The described good road networks as the basis for economic development and the eventual development of the country. “Every dollar investment you make in road development, you are actually contributing a

corresponding one dollar to the GDP of the country,” he said.

Onolememen who described Nigeria as a largely agrarian society , noted thatfor the economy of Nigeria to be drastically improved, there is need to connect every part of the country with dual carriageway.

Earlier, Omole, said his visit was aimed at looking at possible ways to partner with the ministry to project its activities to Nigerians.

Omole said NTA was seeking avenues to educate Nigerians about the activities of different sectors of the government.

The DG commended Onolememen on the progress made in transforming the Nigerian road sector and promised to give the ministry adequate publicity.

mitigation in climate change research refers to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and other related strategies to slow the rate of climate change, pronounced; “adaptation actions as opposed to mitigation simply means living with climate change. Adaptation is very relevant because, in spite of all mitigation activities, we are already committed to certain climatic challenges over the next 100 years due to the inertia of the climatic system — the time lag between cause and effect.

“For successful adaptation to climate change we need to recognize that adaptation must happen at the local level, Identify key vulnerabilities—exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, Involve all key stakeholders, set priorities for action based on projected and observed impacts – magnitude, timing, persistent/reversibility, likelihood/certainty, importance, equity and chose adaptation options based on a careful assessment of efficacy, risks and costs.”

Adding that responses have evolved as regards climate change adaptation management in Nigeria, Omojola affirmed; “the Special Climate Change Unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment and a number of civil society organizations embarked on the development of National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPACCN) document, which was developed to facilitate the proposed aggressive but needed and widely supported strategy and action

plan for national response to climate change. Also it is to facilitate coordination and support multi-level and cross-sectorial adaptation responses. The Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders were equally identified and documented while well thoughout institutional arrangements were proposed. These laid the foundation for the formulation of national policy and strategy”

National policy Prof. Ademola Omojola however declared; “recent and projected climate change impact on Nigeria makes effective climate change adaption necessary.

There is need for more and renewed focus on adaptation options. The introduction of policies and strategies may be a turning point in the effective climate impact management and adaptation response in particular thus making human and environment development climate neutral.

However, the gap between what is stated and what is being done must be bridged so that the uncertainties of climate change and its impact may the limited on the society.”

Also celebrating and raising their voices at the 2014 United Nations World Environment Day Celeration were; Dr M. K Ladipo, Rector Yaba College of Technology, represented by Dr Loretta Ofodile, Dr Bayo Otitoloju, President SETPOM and Dr Funmi Doherty, Chairman local organising committee World Environment Day.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 53

Propertygate posts impressive growth; unveils plans to build more houses

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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ROPERTYGATE Develop ment and Investment Plc has announced impressive results in the 2013 financial

year. The company said posted a growth of 75 percent, 168 percent and 40 percent in key areas of gross revenue, profit after tax and shareholders’ fund respectively. Bolstered by this result, the company

last week, unveiled plans to do better in the coming years.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi said the company intends to acquire quality sites

L-R: Non-Executive Director of Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Jonathan Oluwole Ogungbola; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi and Company Secretary, Mrs. Olutosin Aarinola, during the company’s 5th Annual General meeting in Lagos last week

for development of market inspired products. The company would also explore the development of investment properties for market absorption under a collective arrangement.

The real estate firm made these disclosures in Lagos at its 5th Annual General Meeting, AGM. Ajayi who said these plans are essential for profitability and sustainability, added that the fresh move will deepen participation in real estate investment by the public. This is because the barrier of huge capital outlay required for such investment will be addressed by the initiative.

Mr. Ajayi said the company also intends to leverage its development of investment properties to build a portfolio of residential and commercial properties. “To take advantage of opportunities in the market place for our real estate advisory services (which

CLIMATE CHANGE: CSOs seek protection of rights of small farmers

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IVIL society observers have warned that new climate rules could threaten even greater hunger in Africa, if they are not careful to protect the rights of small-scale farmers. ”Negotiations on a new climate deal are struggling due to trust issues – but we will not be hoodwinked by technical or procedural tricks, “ Mithika Mwenda, General Secretary of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, (PACJA, headquartered in Kenya, said at a press conference.

Mwenda was referring to problems at the talks over the chairing and a renewed focus on how to account for emissions from land-use, a central issue for many Africans dependent on the land for their livelihoods. ” Negotiations can’t work when promises are broken. We were promised a legal second commitment period of Kyoto, we don’t have it. We were promised that emission cuts would be strengthened this year, they weren’t.” – Aissatou Diouf from ENDA, a non-profit organisation based in Dakar, Senegal and PACJA member said.

The UN talks, lasting two weeks in Bonn, are focused on increasing climate actions in the near-term and on creating a new climate agreement for 2015 – to come in to effect in 2020.

“We cannot have a situation where because of UN rules we count emissions from farming as if it were industrial emissions. It would open the door to trading in the soil of African farmers by the bankers in Europe.

Comparing apples and oranges like that puts the whole fruit-cart at risk. “ – Hindou U. Ibrahim, from AFPAT, an Indigenous

Peoples Organisation based in Chad and a PACJA member said.

“We are concerned about counting emissions from the landsector in Africa a new deal but we don’t want to see farming left out completely – in fact it has to be there for adaptation. There must be sharing of finance and technology to allow the farmers in Africa who are hit by climate change they have not caused to be able to respond.” Said, Mandla Hadebe, FOCCISA/ EJN a faith-based organization in Cape Town, South Africa, and PACJA member.

“The talks started with the laughable suggestion from Mr

Obama that a policy of keeping US emissions above 1990 levels well into the 2030s somehow counts as leadership. Policy like that is leading us straight to 4C of warming and untold problems of hunger and starvation in Africa,” Mr Mwenda concluded.

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA is a continental coalition of Civil Society Organizations from diverse backgrounds in Africa. The Alliance has emerged as the most vibrant and largest Civil Society platform on climate change and sustainable development.

With a membership of more

Climate Change: North East governors, emirs embrace GGW Continues fromPage 51 Abubakar Chika Ibrahim of Zamfara state have pledged to mobilise their subjects to immediately commence tree planting in support of the afforestation programme.

The Emirs of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammadu Bashar and Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed also pledged to support the afforestation programme in order to check the ravaging desertification and position themselves to reap the long term economic benefits of the project.

Meanwhile, the Federal government has pledged that no community or individual will lose a grain of soil as a result of the Great Green Wall project. The government said it would execute the project in liaison with the communities and hand over to the respective owners of the land for permanent ownership and full economic benefits.

Appealing to the Emirs to sensitise their subjects on the positive impact of the project, the Minister of Environment Mrs. Lawrentia Mallam asked them to convince the people to take ownership of the Great Green Wall.

The District Head of Bachaka under the Kebbi emirate told newsmen that the Great Green Project within his domain is progressing satisfactorily especially in terms of tree planting. While addressing the Gwandu emirate council on the concept of the Great Green Wall project, the Minister appealed to the people to participate massively in the project.

Mallam told the Emirs that all tiers of Government, the Federal, State and Local government as well as traditional rulers in the region have a role to play in the GGW project, which is key to a conducive and economically viable North west region.

than 800 organizations and networks in 45 countries in Africa, the Alliance brings together Faith-based Organizations, Farmers and Pastoralists‘ Groups, Community-based organizations, NonGovernmental organizations, Trusts, Foundations, among other sectors with a common goal of promoting and advocating for Pro-poor, climate-friendly and equity-based responses to climate change.

include development concept, development and investment appraisal, development monitoring, advisory support to real estate lenders and investors, and property rehabilitation among others), the company intends to embark on marketing actions to get these services across to potential markets.

“In general, the company will continue to work vigorously on all areas of its functional strategy to enable it deliver on its overall business purpose. At the macro-economic level, the rebasing of the GDP which put Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, at the end of 2013 ($510billion representing slightly above 25 percent of the combined GDP of the continent and the 26th largest in the world), is a very positive one for the country.

“However, this is overshadowed by the heightened tempo in insurgents’ activities, scaring away foreign investors, including local investors as well. The expectation of stormy political activities in a year leading to an election year has not helped the outlook for 2014. The various forecasts for the capital market for the year has been something exciting.

“The anticipated hope of improved power supply, sequel to reforms in the sector is being replaced by pessimism, as power outage worsens. Notwithstanding, the need for real estate products and services remains very huge in the country. The company is therefore positive that year 2014 will bring it good fortune.

However, we must remain strong, focused and committed”, Ajayi said.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Power Struggle & US Senate Primary Elections

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HE frenzy and fury which her alded the mid-May U.S. Senate primary elections clearly underscore the importance of that institution in the governance of the country. A U.S. senator carries an ambience of power and prestige that far outweigh those of his or her law-making colleagues in the House of Representatives. When a U.S. senator says something, even the White House pays some attention. To be a senator is arguably the next most important political position after the U.S. presidency. Among the powers exclusive to the senate is that of confirming presidential appointees.

Every two years, the balance of power between the Republicans and Democrats in the US senate could potentially change as one third of members of the U.S. Congress would be due for elections to renew their covenant with the electorate. If the mid-May primaries can be used a yardstick for the forthcoming Congressional elections this November, then the elections promise to be intensely fought and bitterly lost.

What makes this mid-term election in November such a huge political enterprise is the current balance of power in the senate. The Republicans already control the House of Representatives and they know that if they add the senate to their political kitty, then the Obama administration would literally be

his opponent will only end up at the Senate’s back bench if elected, Alison has been vigorously campaigning that having spent nearly 30 years in the Senate, it was time for the old, tired and rusty Mitch to make way for younger, more energetic blood.

Unfortunately for Alison, her home state, Kentucky, is one of the areas where President Obama has his lowest rating.

So, the president cannot even go there and show solidarity by campaigning with her. In fact, it is more politically expedient for President Obama to stay away from her as much as possible. And, that fact appears to be the most prized weapon in Mitch’s political armory. At every election stop during the primaries, he would not fail to characterize Alison as a mere puppet that was hand-picked by the president to embarrass the good people of Kentucky. Since winning the Republican Party ticket, Mitch has stepped up this negative campaign tactic. But Alison is ebulliently firing back, asserting her independence and demonstrating that she is a woman of substance who made it to being the Secretary of State in Kentucky through hard work and intelligence. To win the election, her main job would be to convince the voters that she is not a creation of President Obama as Mitch has been trying to present her to the public.

One of the reasons the Mitch-Alison for the Senate The year 2014 will not just be another race is very important is that Mitch’s failure mid-term election in the U.S. The outwould be a phenomcome of the polls might see Obama enal political humilpractically serving out his presidency at iation for the Republicans. What greatthe mercy of the Republic Party that er evidence of politloves to him bleed ical embarrassment is there than for Rebrought down on its knees. Right now, publicans than to lose their number one there are 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans man in the Senate to a political novice? and 2 Independents in the 100-member But, Democrats have more to rejoice in U.S.senate. All the Republicans need is Mitch’s loss. Senator Mitch McConnell to capture 6 senate seats and they would was about the first Republican to send a be in total control of the legislative arm clear message to newly elected Presiof government. dent Barrack Obama that he would have Twenty-one out of the 37 senators up a very rough presidency. Mitch had told for elections are Democrats, while 15 are reporters upon Obama’s assumption of Republicans. The political calculus office in 2009 that he and his colleagues shows that Democrats have more of the would work hard to make Obama a oneuphill battle, a problem that is compli- term president. cated by President Obama’s low numAnother prominent Senate election will bers in the polls. But, while the battle take place in the state of Georgia where rages, all eyes are now on a particular Michelle Nunn is the candidate for the senate seat; it is the seat that is current- Democratic Party. She is working hard ly occupied by Senator Mitch McCon- to wrestle back the seat held for fournell, the senate minority leader and sen- terms by her famous father, Senator Sam ator from Kentucky. The senator easily Nunn. The seat is currently held by Rebeat his Tea-Party co-contestant in the publican Senator Saxby Chambliss who primaries, but the battle before him is has indicated his intention not to seek enormous. He is running against Dem- re-election. ocrat, Alison Grimes who is currently the The year 2014 will not just be another Secretary of State in Kentucky. mid-term election in the U.S. The outBoth contestants are poles apart on al- come of the polls might see Obama pracmost every issue, even in physical ap- tically serving out his presidency at the pearance for while Mitch is far from be- mercy of the Republic Party that loves to ing described as a handsome man, Ali- him bleed. Or, the Democrats might reson comes to the game with the physi- tain control of the Senate and make life cal appearance of a beauty queen. Born a little more comfortable for President in 1942, Mitch came to the U.S. Senate Obama and whoever succeeds him, if in1985, when Alison was only seven that person is also a Democrat. years old. So, while Mitch appears to play the gender card by claiming that

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 55

US open to talks with Iran over Iraq T

HE Obama adminis tration is willing to talk with Iran over deteriorating security conditions in Iraq and is not ruling out potential U.S.Iranian military cooperation in stemming the advance of Sunni extremists, Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday. The Pentagon, however, quickly tamped down speculation that the United States would coordinate or consult with Iran on any potential military intervention. It also flatly ruled out the idea of “joint military operations” with Iranian armed forces, which the U.S. has long accused of fomenting unrest and backing terrorism in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

In an interview with Yahoo! News, Kerry said Washington is “open to discussions” with Tehran if the Iranians can help end the violence and take

Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine

U

KRAINE’S energy minister says Russia has cut off all natural gas supplies to his country, adding however that he guarantees reliable gas flows will continue to Russia’s European clients who get imports through pipelines via Ukraine.

Ukraine faced the threat of Gazprom, the Russian natural gas producer, cutting off supplies when yesterday after talks on a long-running gas-pricing dispute failed to produce a breakthrough.

“We have an announcement to make today that gas supplies to Ukraine have been reduced to zero,” Yuri Prodan, the energy minister, said in Kiev.

Sri Lanka shaken by religious riot Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the alQaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the east Baghdad neighborhood of Kamaliya, Iraq, Sunday, June 15, 2014. steps that would restore confidence in the Iraqi government. Asked about possible military cooperation with Iran, Kerry said he would “not rule out anything that would

be constructive.” However, he stressed that any contacts with Iran would move “step-by-step.”

“We’re open to discussions if there is something constructive that can be

contributed by Iran, if Iran is prepared to do something that is going to respect the integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and ability of the government to reform,” Kerry said.

Mali’s armed groups accept dialogue T

HREE armed groups from northern Mali have agreed to begin peace talks with the gov-

ernment aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in the country.

The National Move-

Three armed groups have agreed to engage with the government on the path of ‘dialogue and negotiations’

ment for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA) signed the Algiers Declaration on Sunday, demanding “inclusive” talks with the Bamako government.

In the declaration, the groups agreed to engage with the government on the path of “dialogue and negotiations”, in exchange for the release of prisoners and better conditions for the return of refugees.

The head of the UN mission in Mali, Albert Gerard Koenders, said

warned the entire region was in danger if peace was not restored to the north.

“The region will be in danger if there is no reconciliation,” state television quoted Koenders as saying.

On Friday, Ban Kimoon, the UN secretarygeneral, called for the immediate implementation of a cease-fire agreement following the resumption of hostilities.

Ban said the conflict had created “an altered security landscape in the north of Mali with risks for international security”.

Israel declares #BringBackOurBoys I

SRAELIS and pro-Is rael activists have started a social media campaign tagged: #BringBackOurBoys, to raise awareness about the kidnapping of three young Israeli students last Thursday night in the Gush Etzion area in the West Bank. This is similar to the recent campaign for the release of over 200 female students abducted from a

BRIEFS

secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram Insurgents. In both instances, innocent students were kidnapped by terrorist organizations seeking to wreak havoc in the area.

In a sweeping show of support, Jerusalem Police estimated that over 30,000 people, among them family members of the abducted teens, attended a mass prayer

session at the Western Wall on Sunday to join in supplication for the safe release of the kidnapped students.

The three teens - Gilad Shaar (16), Naftali Frenkel (16), and Eyal Yifrach (19) - were reportedly last spotted at a hitchhiking post in the vicinity of Hebron on Thursday night. No one has seen or heard from them since.

Prime Minister of Isra-

el Benjamin Netanyahu after a security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem held the Palestinian Authority, headed by President Abbas, responsible for the fate of the kidnapped teens and for terrorists’ activity emanating from the areas under its control. He further stated that the PA must do whatever is necessary to assist in bringing the boys back home.

S

RI Lankan police have fired tear-gas and en forced a curfew in two coastal towns popular with tourists in an attempt to end clashes between Muslims and Buddhists that threatens to set off wider religious violence. The police said on Sunday they were widening a curfew in Aluthgama to the neighbouring town Beruwala, a predominantly Muslim area, after violence threatened to take hold in the region.According to the AFP news agency, the two groups attacked each other with stones in fighting over the weekend - the latest in a series of religious clashes to hit the island nation.

UN: S/Sudan children face starvation

O

VER 50,000 children could die this year of dis eases and malnutrition, UN officials say while seeking $1bn in support.

Over 94,000 civilians are sheltered inside hugely overcrowded UN bases More than 50,000 children in South Sudan face death from disease and hunger, the United Nations has warned while seeking over $1bn to support those hit by six months of civil war.

“The consequences could be dire: 50,000 children could die this year if they do not get assistance,” UN aid chief for South Sudan Toby Lanzer said on Saturday at the launch of a plan to support 3.8 million people “hit by hunger, violence and disease.”

China executes 13 in Xinjiang for ‘terrorist attacks’

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HINA has executed 13 people in the western province of Xinjiang for “terrorist attacks”, state media has said.

The 13 - who reportedly include Muslim ethnic Uighurs - were accused of over seven cases including attacks in June 2013 that killed 24 people.

It comes as three other men - who reports say also appear to be Uighurs - were sentenced over a fatal car crash in Beijing last year.

Beijing has blamed Uighur groups for several attacks across the country.

Spain holds eight suspected of recruiting fighters for ISIL

S

PAIN arrested eight men suspected of recruit ing militants for Islamist ISIL forces who have seized much of northern Iraq, including a former fighter in Afghanistan once held at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.The men had helped to send recruits through to the Middle East where they would join the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant insurgency, the ministry said in a statement.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 57

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

C’ttee faults privatization of PHCN •Seeks review of Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005

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BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

HE National Conference Committee on Energy has recommended a review of the privatization process carried out by the Federal Government in the electricity sector.

The committee, chaired by former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, said the Electric Power Sector Reforms Act 2005, should be

amended.

In its report, which was tabled for debate, yesterday, the committee decried what it called the “decay in the power sector starting from the mid1980s” when it noted, “government decided to embark on power sector reforms.”

“This gave birth to National Electric Power Policy in 2002, the policy document which in turn led to the Electric Power

Sector Reforms Act 2005 and the eventual privatization of the unbundled successor companies of NEPA,” it added.

The committee’s report also noted that: “The current installed generation capacity is said to be 9,920MW with available generation at 6,000MW. Technical losses is reported to be at 12 per cent.

However, the peak generation standing at 3,962MW as at

April 28, 2014 is disappointingly below the reported available generation of 6,000MW.” “The post-privatization situation has so far not improved the power sector situation in the country. It has only magnified the cash flow deficit, poor gas supply and bigger ATC and C losses.

The sector is consequently heading towards a major crisis.

“It is the observation of the committee that government’s efforts to implement the NEPP and enforce EPSR 2005 have been challenging and results disappointing.

“The committee also believes that the entire process will not provide the rapid development of the electricity industry at the required rate that can take Nigeria into the league of developed nations.

Consequently, the policy and Act need to be carefully reviewed. Certain provisions of the Act need to be amended, to address challenges presently affecting the performance of the sector.”

Contributing to the debate, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola suggested that state government should be made to play certain roles in the management of the power sector.

Ogunsola faulted the

committee’s recommendation which he said, excluded states in the electricity management.

His words: “There is no mention of the state governments at all in this report. Shouldn’t the state governments have a role? For example, rural electrification seems to me like what should be a state government affair but we seem to want to leave everything to the Federal Government.

Power sector “For over 40 years, we have left the management of the power sector in the hands of the Federal Government. These people who have been brought in have been there for just less than one and half years. So I think we should give them a chance. Billions of dollars and naira were spent by the Federal Government on electricity projects in this country. What came out of it? So we should distinguish between the concepts of privatization itself and whether some of the assets were sold to the wrong people.

“If the assets have been sold to wrong people who could not deliver then that should be reviewed but that should not detract from the concept of privatization as the way forward for our electricity industry,” he added.

••Recommends 26% annual budget for education •Seeks 2 years validity for UTME results

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HE Committee on Social Sector has urged both federal and state governments to jerk up their budgetary allocation to education to 26 per cent in line with the recommendation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO. “Federal and State governments should continue to finance education through adequate annual budgetary provision of at least 26 per cent funding, release of budgeted funds as first line charge and ensuring that funds released are spent with attention to prudence and value for money,” it said.

It also recommended that the results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, be made to be valid for a period of two years.

In doing so, according to the committee, students that score remarkable grades but who could not secure admission into their choice schools will be able to use the results the

following year in pursuit of same.

It said the low carrying capacity of higher institutions in the country in terms of admission of prospective candidates was disturbing, noting that its proposed measure would reduce the unnecessary financial exploits and stress that candidates were passing through.

The committee noted that approximately 1.5 million people jostle annually for about 500,000 available admission spaces.

Admission spaces The Mrs. Josephine Anenihled committee insisted that “JAMB result should last for two years to enable the candidates have another trial to secure admission”.

The committee, which has immediate past Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i as deputy chairman also recommended that the 2 per

cent Consolidated Revenue Fund allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, by the

Federal Government be increased to 4 per cent just as it recommended that the 2 per cent Education Tax Fund

remitted to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, be increased to 4 per cent, in recognition of the importance of education to national development and the need to ensure proper funding of the sector.

Delegate gives govt 2 years to stop gas flaring •Want review of Petroleum Act

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

D

ELEGATES, yesterday, unanimously asked the Federal Government to ensure the stoppage of gas flaring within two years from now and that the power of the Minister of Petroleum to grant waivers on the matter should be withdrawn.

The recommendation came from Isaac Osuoka, a Federal Government delegate, who also called for the punishment of oil firms that did not create the capacity to use associated gas.

Delegates also urged the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency in the power sector to save the economy of the

country.

This was contained in the amendment raised by the conference during the debate on the report of the Conference Committee on Energy, which was eventually adopted.

The conference said the nation’s power sector has suffered so much neglect that has affected almost all spheres of the economy. According to delegates, the situation had given rise to a regime of generating sets which it said pollutes the environment.

The conference also asked the Federal Government to review the Petroleum Act of 1969, saying it was the only way to ensure justice and equity.

It also voted that bitumen should be exploited as a veritable energy source for the country just as it urged the government to implement the national gas plan, which is already in existence.

Efforts made by His Royal Majesty, Edmund Dakuro to allow the Minister’s discretion to grant waivers to some oil firms on gas flaring woefully failed as the delegates argued that gas was not being flared in other oil producing countries.

Similarly, the conference also recommended that appropriate laws should be enforced to control indiscriminate cutting of trees to prevent desert encroachment just as it also voted that street lighting across the country should be based on solar energy.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17 , 2014—59

PVCs: We’re not playing pranks — INEC

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has faulted remarks that the commission was playing pranks with the collection of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

Speaking with Vanguard, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in Ekiti, Mr Taiwo Gbadegesin, dismissed the remarks and assured that duly registered voters in Ekiti State, will be given their PCVs. Gbadegesin said: “We took delivery of the Permanent Voters Card and as we took delivery, we took them to the

local government area offices and they started distribution last Saturday. For two days, they have been distributed at the ward levels but subsequent distributions will be at the local government levels.

As at Saturday and Sunday, distributions were at designated centres in all the wards and local government area offices. The distribution has continued and the Resident Electoral Officer monitored the distribution within and outside Ado Ekiti. The turn out was not impressive in some areas, while in some areas, people turned out to collect their PVCs.” Speaking further, he said: “It

is only those that registered that would collect their PVCs but you do not expect 100 per cent collection. Even those who claimed to have lost their temporary voters card were allowed to collect with the issuance of identification forms.

I do not know what else the politicians want, they have their cunning way of doing things but we did not allow them to overshadow us.”

Asked when the collection of the PVCs would be over, he said “we cannot stop because the directive must come from the national headquarters.

Whenever they say we should stop, we will stop but as I am

Ekiti mechanics ask members to vote for Fayemi

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

•Jega

talking to you, the distribution is still ongoing at the local government area offices. What we did was that we did not allow the politicians to collect the PVCs by proxy.”

Bamidele, Fayose accuse APC of importing thugs •Allegation is revised psychology — Ekiti APC

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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ABOUR Party ’s Governorship Candidate, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele has accused the All Progressives Change, APC in Ekiti State of planning to use political thugs from neighbouring states to cause mayhem during next Saturday’s election.

Bamidele raised the alarm in a statement by his Media Assistant, Ahmed Salami yesterday, where he also alleged that other political parties were aware of desperate position of APC ahead of the election.

Bamidele accused the APC of bringing the thugs from South/ West states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos to disrupt peaceful conduct of the elections, especially in areas where the ruling party is no longer popular across Ekiti State.

The lawmaker also alleged that the thugs are currently being accommodated by the state government inside the Government House, Ado Ekiti, including places in Iyin and Awo Ekiti.

The governorship candidate said APC’s ploy included “preventing declaration of his (Bamidele) expected victory by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC thereby catching on violence as an excuse for INEC to cancel the election results.

Bamidele therefore called on all security agencies currently deployed to Ekiti State to quickly intervene and prevent other electoral frauds being proposed

by APC. He said the people of the state have recognized these thugs in their midst and are now willing to assist the security agencies with useful information about

•Fayose

•Bamidele

their proposed mode of operation.

The statement said: “It has been brought to our notice that the Ekiti State chapter of APC has again demonstrated another desperate bid to remain in power, using all available means including importation of political thugs to foment trouble during and after the election”.

In addition, he said: “This ongoing importation, we have it on a very good authority is being done by the ruling party with support of their collaborators from some South/West states where they have political control. Ekiti people have recognized the sudden appearance of these thugs who have been arriving the state in droves in the last three days.”

He further alleged that “their aim is to cause confusion and mayhem and force INEC to cancel election results especially where they are not popular. This is another attempt aimed at preventing me from being declared a winner in this race, having been favored as the best candidate among the rest. ”

On its part, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised the alarm that the ruling All Progressive Congress-led government has allegedly imported thugs and militants from the neighboring states of Osun, Oyo, Ogun,Lagos and Delta to rig Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The PDP said it had it on good record that all the 16 APC controlled state governors are to storm Ekiti State on Saturday with their security operators to intimidate and harass the people of the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Ministerdesignate, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, warned the APC governors against interfering in Ekiti election, saying doing so could provoke the people to taking spontaneous reaction that could cause crisis in the state.

Prince Adeyeye said “We warn the APC governors against invading our State. We are not asking the PDP governors to interfere in Ekiti for us and we expect that the APC must do same because coming to Ekiti may provoke very serious reaction from our people”.

APC plans to invade Ekiti — PDP alleges

Adeyeye said said that the PDP is not comfortable with the body language of the electoral umpire, and the police.

The minister- designate, however, called on the police to act promptly to dislodge the militants, which according to him are being kept in the Government House.

His words: “While the police have been protecting the APC thugs, the INEC too has not been carrying us along. We want to believe that Governor Fayemi has compromised the two bodies.”

"The APC brought all these thugs so that they can be used as fake police and soldiers to rig election. We heard that fake police and soldiers’ uniforms for them to perpetrate the evil act”.

Allegation is revised psychology — Ekiti APC

Reacting, APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegation, saying it actually represents what the PDP is planning.

He, however, described the allegation as “ revised psychology” .

Dipe said “We know that Fayose cannot win election without using thugs. We are aware that they have started bringing in thugs in trickles.

Fayemi is not known among thugs but among the enlightened people of Ekiti State and human rights community and those people hate thugs.

They are trying to draw the attention of security agents away from heir evils”.

“Fayemi will not soil his name because of election . We want to assure you that thugs will not have a place in the election, it is going to be one man, one vote”, Dipe added.

HE Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) in Ekiti State has adopted the All Progressive Congress, (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, as its candidate. NATA said the adoption is in line with the recent adoption of Fayemi by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of which NATA is an affiliate member.

In a statement by the Ekiti State NATA Chairman, Olasehinde Olubodun, the group which is the oldest and the largest informal sector organization in Nigeria, said the adoption was informed by the ‘glaring transformation of Ekiti state in the context of the 8point agenda.” NATA urges its members to come out en masse and vote for Dr Fayemi.

Olubodun said: “We fully support the Government of Dr Kayode Fayemi. We are impressed by the mechanic village being planned for NATA workers in Ekiti State. We are impressed by the plan to send our members for training abroad this year. We have trust in this regime. We give our unflinching support to a government of the people, driven by the overall interest of Ekiti people.”

Campaign against military rule He said NATA remains bloodbound to Dr Fayemi, saying that the Governor is a member of NATA and has a long relationship with him beginning from the days of the campaign against military rule. Besides, he said “we worked together for several years. We are deeply committed to the second term ambition of Governor Fayemi. He is one of us and we are going to give him 100 percent of our support.”

He said since 2010 when Dr Fayemi came to power, he has led the campaign for the new Mechanic Village which is being promoted by the National Automotive Council (NAC) in Abuja.

“Under his administration, mechanics in Ekiti State now have a sense of belonging.

We are currently working with the state government in collaboration with the National Automotive Council. Ekiti is going to be one of the two states, with Osun as the second, that will host mechanic village in the country”, he stated. Besides, he said the mechanic village will be equipped with modern equipment and has the capacity of engaging over 3000 workers when completed.

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Opening victory pleases Messi

World Cup qutoes

Benzema finally delivers for France

“Do people really need to watch us without our underpants?”

- Croatia international Ivica Olic slamming local media for publishing photographs of teammates swimming naked.

“They look great on the photos.”

- Online comment from one Croatian woman after seeing the snaps.

“I am hoping the gods grant me a miracle.”

- Veteran Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o who has a right knee injury which could rule him out of the game against Croatia.

“The second goal secured the three points and was special for me for the game I was having.”

- Lionel Messi after inspiring Argentina to a 2-1 win over Bosnia.

“I have to admit I’m way behind on that.”

- US Senator Bob Casey when asked for his opinion on the World Cup. “I’d like to be 110 percent, but I am at 100 percent and ready to help the national team.”

K

– Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo on his knee injury.

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IONEL Messi left the Maracana with a smile on his face on Sunday following his man of the match performance against Bosnia-Hercegovina.

“We have things we need to improve but it was a good first game at the World Cup,” the 26year-old captain said after setting up Argentina’s first goal and then scoring the decisive second after a stunning burst from midfield.

“Everyone was anxious to do well. The result was the most important,” he added, before

ARIM Benzema took his tally of international goals to 23 on Sunday with a double as France started their World Cup campaign in fine style with a 3-0 win over Honduras in Porto Alegre.

However, it was the first time in three tries that the Real Madrid hitman had delivered for his country at a major international tournament.

The most high-profile of the much touted 1987 French generation that has failed produce the early results they promised on the international stage, Benzema is now in his prime at 26

admitting that a halftime tactical tweak by coach Alejandro Sabella proved crucial in helping him flourish after the restart.

Argentina switched from a system with three central defenders to their customary 4-3-3, with Gonzalo Higuain joining the attack and helping set up Messi’s goal.

“I think it was a great second half. We had the ball, created chances.

That is how we need to carry on, playing the way we did in the second half.

•Messi

One hurt at Rio protest near Maracana O

•Benzema and finally looks capable of burdening the responsibility of leading the French attack.

Mexico meeting stirs bad memories for Brazil

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RAZIL striker Hulk in sists revenge is not on the agenda as the World Cup hosts bid to all but secure their place in the last 16 against rivals Mexico

•Hulk

today.

Mexico shattered Brazil’s dream of winning the only major prize missing from their honours list two years ago, when they stunned the South Americans 2-1 to claim the Olympic gold medal in London.

But Hulk insists there is no question of Brazil looking to settle a score as they face the Mexicans at Fortaleza’s Castelao Stadium.

It is the same venue where they met in the group stage of the Confederations Cup last year when Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side claimed a 2-0 victory.

NE person was hurt and shots were fired at a demonstration near Rio’s Maracana stadium Sunday as Argentina faced Bosnia in a World Cup encounter.

Police used pepper spray and tear gas to prevent some 250 protesters gathered near the stadium before the game from approaching the venue, which will also host the July 13 final.

Chanting “Hey FIFA, return to Switzerland,” the demonstrators, including members of the radical Black Bloc movement, clashed with the officers when they tried to break through a police barricade.

Tensions rose when a man driving by in a car fired a gun in the air and shouted at protestors to leave, an AFP journalist reported.

Some demonstrators claimed the man was a plainclothes policeman.

O Estado de Sao Paulo reported the injured person was from a local news agency, adding he was not seriously hurt.

Some protestors headed to another neighborhood where they damaged smashed the windows of three banks, according to the G1 news website.

Anti-World Cup protesters near Maracana Stadium, Brazil.

Hodgson tells Suarez to prove class at World Cup NGLAND boss Roy injury.

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•Suarez

Hodgson raised the stakes ahead of Thursday’s potentially do-ordie World Cup clash against Uruguay by insisting that Luis Suarez has yet to prove he’s a world class striker.

The 27-year-old Liverpool star, voted Footballer of the Year for his Premier League performances, is set to return to the Uruguay team for the game in Sao Paulo after missing the 3-1 loss to Costa Rica with a knee

But despite receiving generous plaudits for his 31 goals in England last season, Hodgson believes the jury is still out on the Suarez legacy.

“You can be a great player in your league but to be recognised as one of the all-time greats you have got to do it at the World Cup,” said Hodgson.

“He has got the potential. He is a wonderful footballer.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 61

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Continues from BP Before the match he said African teams are tactically not disciplined and he did not bring anything new to the table.

“His changes were poor. He took out Moses and brought in Ameobi. I think that was a wrong change.

“We saw how Osaze came in and showed a lot

BEATEN . . . Iran’s defender Pejman Montazeri (back) challenges Super Eagles’ Victor Moses during the Group F match at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba Match ended goalless.. Photo: AFP

Eagles

Continues from BP tacts in their attacks.

Iran were poor, very poor that it was a nightmare to Nigerians fans that the Eagles could not fly past a team that lacked world standard class. The match was the first draw in the tournament and has been rated the worst so far.

This ranks as Nigeria;s worst showing against a team that many considered would be the whipping boys from Group F, comprising Argentina and BosniaHerzegovina.

Coach Stephen Keshi

and his players will look back at this match and cause their inaction on the pitch. They were not communicating with each other.

Despite having the greater ball possession, Eagles had fewer attempts at goal and early crash is possible goin by their performance last night.

Parading Ambrose Efe, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona, and Juwon Oshanuwa in defence, Ramon Azeez, Ogenyi

Germany Continues from BP semi-finalist the perfect start at Arena Fonte Nova.

Central defender Mats Hummels scored Germany’s other goal on an afternoon when just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

Not only did they lose centre forward Hugo Almeida and Fabio Coentrao to seriouslooking injuries, they also saw central defender Pepe sent off with the score at 2-0 in the first half

for a completely unnecessary headbutt on Mueller.

The forward did seem to go down a little easily as Pepe caught him across the jaw as two men tussled for possession 30 yards form goal. But only Pepe will know why he then bend down to push his forehead in to Muller’s temple as the German sat on the ground.

Serbian referee Milorad Mazic really had no choice but to send Pepe off and he will now play no further part in the group stages.

Okocha, Star ambassador joins legends as football pundit

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X-NIGERIAN International and Star Football brand ambassador, Austin ’Jay Jay’Okocha, has joined football legends, Ryan Giggs and John Barnes to analyse football matches in the ongoing quadrennial football competition holding in Brazil.

Particularly enthralling was the fact that he was invited alongside other players who have attained legendary status, to give in-depth analysis

on one of the most important games - the opening match of the Football Mundial.

Other ex-footballers invited to give their insights were Shaun Bartlett and Samuel Kuffour. The programme was moderated by popular football sports journalist, John Dykes.

Ryan Giggs is currently the Assistant Manager at Manchester United after playing for so many years for the club; while John Barnes is a former England player.

Onazi and Mikel Obi in a three-pronged midfield and three strikers in Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses, what many would consider a star-studed side,Eagles still failed to fly.

Iran came with a plan, to defend and contain the pressure from the Eagles.

And how well they did their job to now put additional pressure on Eagles, who now have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the next round of the competition.

Much of the blame for Nigeria’s poor showing last night was tactical.

There appeared to be no game plan. And if there was the players made nonsense of it. .

Much of Nigeria’s

attacking thrust in the first half came down the left with Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses combining to cause problems for the defensively-minded Iran side.

Nigeria came closest to scoring in the seventh minute when an Ahmed Musa goal was disallowed after John Obi Mikel was adjudged to have fouled Iran goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi at a corner.

Haghighi was quick to save a Musa freekick in the 31st minute.

Iran began to press more as the half developed and a Reza Ghoochannejhad header in the 34th required a sharp reaction save from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Okocha

of creativity. That is the kind of thing we expected. Iran match would have been our strongest point but we missed it.”

Meanwhile, Coach Stephen Keshi has said that the Super Eagles did their best to defeat Iran.

Speaking moments after the match, Keshi said that “I wanted victory in this match, in fact, I want to win all the matches but this is football, that even when you dominate a game, you still don’t get the resultt”

Mikel Continues from BP Sunday.

Mikel is looking forward to the tournament with enthusiasm, having missed out four years ago through injury and the Chelsea midfielder is confident Nigeria can progress to the knockout stages.

‘This is my first World Cup,’ Mikel said. ‘I want to make sure we achieve something coming here.

We don’t just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.”

The former youth international insisted “I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.

“We know we’re the African champions and people expect us to do well, to represent the African

continent. That’s a bit more extra pressure but it’s pressure that we love. We love to be African champions.”

Since the tournament kicked off last Thursday, with Brazil beating Croatia 3-1, there has been no shortage of exciting, attacking football on display.

Mikel, who is joined in the Nigeria squad by Chelsea team-mates Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo, feels his side can take heart from some of the results in other games so far.

“We’re doing well, we’re doing everything we can, we’re preparing well,’ he said. ‘The result with Spain against the Netherlands shows anything is possible, so we have to make sure we approach games seriously and play well.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 — 63

Brazil’s child sex workers forced to cash in on World Cup

B

RAZILIAN kids as young as 10 are being forced to sell themselves for sex on the streets to cash in on the hundreds of thousands of soccer fans heading to the World Cup, a shocking investigation has revealed.

As soccer fans descend on Brazil for the tournament this week, evil pimps are exploiting young children who are hopelessly addicted to crack cocaine and living on the streets, a report by British tabloid the Sunday People has revealed.

Young girls and boys high after sniffing glue openly sell themselves for sex on street corners in the city of Recife — which is hosting five matches — for as little as $4, the investigative report claims.

The problem is not just confined to Recife — child prostitution is endemic across the entire country.

To the north of Recife lies the beach resort city of Fortaleza, host to six World Cup matches and widely considered to a hotspot for child sex tourism.

Kid sex workers in Brazil

WORKING HARD: Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi drills his players.

Africa can win World Cup — Keshi A

FRICAN sides are as good as any at the Soccer World Cup and one could end up winning it in Brazil, Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi has said.

And if Nigeria were to get that far, against the current odds, expect at least one reporter to be running for cover.

“I will love it. I will kiss you all over,” the former Nigeria captain fondly called ‘Big Boss’ assured a news conference at the Baixada arena, where his players kicked off their campaign yesterday.

African champions Nigeria are one of five

•Mikel

representatives from the continent competing in Brazil - the others are Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast - and face a tough task to get through a Group F that also includes Argentina and Bosnia.

However Keshi said their chances should not be under-estimated.

Asked how close he felt Africa was to winning the Cup for the first time, he did not hesitate: “Very close.

“Because they (the African sides) are good.

As good as any other teams that are here. I think this tournament is an open tournament.

We just have to do what

we have to do,” he continued.

Ghana’s Black Stars were a penalty shootout away from becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals at the last World Cup in South Africa in 2010 while Nigeria have twice previously reached the second

round.

Cameroon made it to the quarter-finals in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

“This team is growing, it’s like a baby,” Keshi said of his current crop of players, when asked to compare them with his class of World Cup debutants 20 years ago.

Vanishing foam W/Cup referees are spraying on the field

W

ORLD Cup view ers around the globe are asking the same question right now: what is that magical vanishing spray the referees are using on the field?

Referees are using a spray similar to shaving foam to stop defenders from edging closer to the ball during free-kicks in Brazil.

The ref sprays the water-based foam in a circle around the ball, walks 10 yards and sprays another line that the defenders need to

stand behind.

Then, magically, the spray vanishes.

Well, maybe not magically. The can contains water and butane gas.

The butane expands when the pressure changes and quickly evaporates, leaving just the water on the ground.

Players, constantly looking for any advantage they can get, would often encroach on the 10-yard area they are supposed to stand behind, but this measure allows referees to police the problem much more easily.

Margical foam: Referee sprays the foam to keep players in check before a free kick.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Today's Matches Belgium Brazil Russia

Eagles clueless against Iran N

IGERIA’S win-less run in 16 years at the FIFA World Cup continued yesterday in Curitiba when they played a barren draw with Iran.

The Eagles were simply clueless. They lacked creativity, passed wrongly and showed no

CONTEST . . .

Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose ( R) vies with Iran’s forward Ashkan Dejagah during their Group F opening match at the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba. Photo: AFP

Continues on Page 62

Algeria 5pm Mexico 8pm Korea Rep 11pm

Okocha blames Keshi for Iran draw ….I wanted victory— Keshi

F

ORMER Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has said Coach Stephen Keshi should be held responsible for the lame approach the team adopted in the goaless draw against Iran last

night.

Speaking as an analyst on Supersport after the match, Okocha said, “Keshi should be held responsible for the way the team played.

Continues on Page 62

Germany hammer Portugal 4-0 G

Eagles condemned to succeed in Brazil — Mikel J OHN Mikel Obi believes the weight of pressure on Nigeria has increased since they won the

vs vs vs

African Cup of Nations in 2013.

After the Super Eagles opened their World Cup campaign with a victory

yesterday over Iran in a Group F match which took them level on points with Argentina, who beat BosniaHerzegovina 2-1 Continues on Page 62

ERMANY’s Thomas Muller plundered the first hattrick of this goal-laden World Cup as Portugal crumbled in the early afternoon heat in Salvador.

The Bayern Munich star scored an early penalty and then a goal from open play in each half to give the 2010

Continues on Page 62

German defender, Matts Humels rejoice after scoring.

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Really (6) 5 Delineate (6) 9 Declined (6) 10 Undergo (6) 11 Lower (6) 12 Lac (5) 14 Clothed (4) 17 Obscure (3) 18 Family (4) 20 Played (5) 22 Flourish (5) 23 Colour (7) 24 Thong (5) 26 Fresher (5) 29 Scorch (4) 30 Mineral (3) 32 Dreadful (4) 33 Demon (5) 35 Deadly (6) 36 Swing (6) 37 Repulse (5) 38 Evaded (6) 39 Adroitly (6)

DOWN 1 Bug (6) 2 Pay (6) 3 Pitcher (4) 4 Challenged (5) 5 Material (5) 6 Paradise (4) 7 Breathe in (6) 8 Mission (6) 13 Earnest (7) 15 Reluctant (5) 16 Prevent (5) 18 Quoted (5) 19 Tree (5) 21 Immerse (3) 22 Gain (3) 24 Climbed (6) 25 Raved (6) 27 Gadget (6) 28 Cure (6) 30 Lubricated (5) 31 Finished (5) 33 Manage (4) 34 Valley (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Fancy 7, Rotted 9, Nil 10, Rid 12, Later 13, Crib 15, Refer 17, Kettle 19, Maul 20, Steer 22, Elf 24, Tangled 27, Pea 28, Aroma 31, Stud 33, Stored 35, Risen 37, Wind 38, Tenor 39, Dub 41, Vow 42, Secure 43, Ashen.

DOWN: 1, Fracas 2, Strike 3, Per 4, File 5, Alarm 6, Cherubim 8, Dirt 11, Delegated 14, Beet 16, Fell 18, Trap 21, Tactless 23, Fear 25, Ness 26, Drew 29, Odious 30, Addled 32, Drove 34, Onus 36, Iron 40, Bet.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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