Presidency uncovers more infractions

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 63008

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

How my wife died at LUTH —Bereaved Ausbeth Udebu >>36

2016 BUDGET LOGJAM:

Presidency uncovers more infractions

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Victor Ahiuma-Young & Omezia Ajayi

THE DISTORTIONS

PROJECT

DISTORTION

Lagos-Calabar Rail Lagos-Ibadan Exp. Rd Second Niger Bridge Odukpani-Itu-I/Ekpene Rd Benin-Sagamu Rd Itakpe-Warri Signalling Calabar-Ikom-Obudu Rail Kano-Damaturu-Ngala Rail

Removed Reduced by N24bn Slashed by N3.9 bn Reduced by N4.3bn Reduced by N800m Cut by N302.9m N267m expunged N260m cut

•Saraki begs Southern senators on Calabar-Lagos rail project •Presidency opens talks with NASS leadership •Railway workers, S-South APC react

Osinbajo tasks Shell on Forcados terminal repair

7m Nigerians facing humanitarian >>9 crisis

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OWEI LAKEMFA

A walk with Aregbesola in Osun

— Report Mr & Mrs MEETING: From left; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former Deputy National Chairman/Host; Chief Bode George and Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Tunji Shelle, during a stakeholders welcome back meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Lagos...on Saturday.

P.32

HENRY BOYO ECONOMY: Why increasing crude prices will cause more problems

P.34

OCHEREOME

NNANNA

Questions for the FG and DSS

COLUMNISTS:

>>43

B U J A — A S controversy continues to dog the budget transmitted by the National Assembly to the Presidency for assent, indications emerged, last night, that President Muhammadu Buhari was still furious with the high level of distortions inflicted on his estimates by the lawmakers.

This came as the Senate, weekend, moved to pacify Southern senators over the controversy surrounding the Calabar-Lagos rail project in the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

Also, Nigerian Railway workers have advised the Presidency and the National Assembly to harmonize their positions

Continues on Page 5

>>14

Fulani herdsmen sack Benue community

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Africa Empowered Akinwunmi Adesina

•P.35

President, African Development Bank C M Y K

2 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 3

4 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON open up the country and give a new lease of life to Nigerians, the NASS had effectively rendered the budget inoperative and should, therefore, not be signed into law.

There were indications, however, that with the return of Buhari to the country on Saturday, the NASS might have decided to reconsider the document in order to avoid negative public opinion, especially given the complaints by most members that only a handful of their members in the Appropriation Committees orchestrated the noticeable infractions without their knowledge.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a handshake with the Asantehene, HRM Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on his arrival for the traditional wedding of his son, Aminu Atiku Abubakar and his bride, Nana Akyiaa, at the palace of the Asante monarch, in Kumasi, Ghana, weekend.

2016 budget LOGJAM: Presidency uncovers more infractions Continues from Page 1 and ensure the reinclusion of the LagosCalabar railway project in the 2016 budget.

Similarly, the SouthSouth chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed strong disavowal to what it claimed as the mutilation by the National Assembly of the 2016 budget proposals and warned the legislators not to derail President Buhari’s plans for the country.

Meantime, the presidency has formally opened talks with the leadership of the National Assembly.

Speaking to VANGUARD, last night, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said that there were efforts to reach a consensus on the issue.

According to Shehu, the outcome of the meeting between the executive and the

legislature would determine the president’s next line of action.

He, however, did not know how fast both parties can reach agreement to timely resolve the issue.

"It is when we reach a common ground that we will then know the next line of action. For now, the presidency is still talking with them”, he said.

New distortions

On new distortions found in the budget, the President was said to be considering measures to deal with those who masterminded the budget infractions, thereby drawing back the hands of his administration.

Competent sources said the President became more upset as more stunning revelations emerged that apart from the Calabar-Lagos Railway Project, the National Assembly also expunged other key

IT'S UP TO YOU

C

BY AYO ADIO

OMMITTED people believe they can achieve their goals. They can visualize and are confident of crossing the finish line. It’s up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves — William Shakespeare

M

ASTERING your destiny begins with identifying your character strengths, your gifts – what you inherently know how to do well, often without thinking. Each of us is designed to have a unique impact on the world around us; when we are awake to the impact we can and do have, and consciously focus on enhancing this gift, we become masters of our destinies.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE You do not tell a blind man that there is no salt in the soup

national infrastructure projects and drastically reduced the votes earmarked for others.

According to sources close to the APC secretariat, Buhari was said to be very furious that the lawmakers virtually rewrote his budget and transferred cut from national projects to their personal constituency projects, which were neither provided for nor had been taken care of elsewhere.

Among the key projects, which capital provisions in the budget were drastically reduced are the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which votes the lawmakers reduced by a whopping N24 billion; the Second Niger Bridge, which estimate was slashed by N3.9 billion.

Similarly, the provision for the reconstruction of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states was reduced by N4.3 billion; the votes for the completion of BeninShagamu Road was also reduced by N800 million, while the votes for the Itakpe-Warri Signalling Project was cut by N302.9 million.

The NASS completely expunged from the budget the sum of N267 million meant for the design and feasibility studies on a Standard Guage Rail Line for Calabar-Ikom-Obudu and another N260 million slated for the Maiduguri, Kano-Damaturu-Ngala routes.

A top APC official, who is close to the Presidency, explained, last night, that it would amount to a disservice to Nigerians for Buhari as the leader of the party, who promised change for the people, to sign such a budget into law.

The official maintained that by removing the key infrastructure which the President intended to

Saraki begs Southern senators

Also, strong indications emerged weekend that the Senate was putting in place moves to pacify Southern senators over the controversy surrounding the CalabarLagos rail project in the 2016 Appropriation Bill, with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, practically begging Southern senators over the removal of the Calabar-Lagos rail project from the budget.

A source told VANGUARD that as part of moves to find a common ground on the budget in the interest of Southern senators, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, met with Southern senators in his office, last Thursday evening, with the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central, and some members of the committee.

It was resolved at the meeting that there was need to look at the areas of concern since the Calabar-Lagos railway, if accommodated in the budget, would be beneficial to the cities and towns the proposed project would have its routes.

According to a source at the meeting, the Senate President asked the appropriation committee to find a soft-landing for the executive on the proposed project for the overall interest of the states the rail line would pass through and Nigeria in general.

The source, who was privy to some of the issues raised at the meeting, told VANGUARD that Senator Goje promised that his committee would give the proposal an accelerated approval, if President Buhari sent it to the Senate as a supplementary budget.

It was also gathered that the Southern senators told the Senate President that if the project was eventually accommodated in the 2016 budget, places such as Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State; Ore in Ondo State; Benin in Edo State; Agbor; Sapele; Warri; Ughelli, all in Delta State;

Onitsha in Anambra State; Yenegoa in Bayelsa; Port Harcourt in Rivers State, among others, would benefit from it to boost their development.

It would be recalled that senators from the Southern part of Nigeria last Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to give his assent to the 2016 Appropriation Bill that had been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives until both chambers agreed to include the CalabarLagos rail project in the budget.

According to the Southern senators, the call for the supplementary budget was an attempt to deny the south an opportunity to enjoy a viable rail project.

The resolution came after both federal legislators from the South West, and South South geopolitical zones met in their caucus levels last Tuesday night and resolved to resist any attempt to deny their people the viable project.

While the South South, South East senators met at undisclosed locations outside the National Assembly complex, South West senators had met at the residence of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, APC, Lagos East.

Railway workers react

Meanwhile, Nigerian Railway workers weekend in Lagos, advised the Presidency and the National Assembly, to harmonize their positions and ensure the reinclusion of the LagosCalabar railway project in the 2016 budget.

Acting under the platform of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, NUR, the workers urged the National Assembly, its committees and the executive arm of government to desist from further trading of blames and resolve the Lagos – Calabar railway project issue for the sake of Nigerians.

The union in a statement signed by the Secretary General, Segun Esan, said: “The Presidency and the National Assembly should stop any further bickering

and blame game that is going on in the media as a result of the alleged removal or non-inclusion of the Lagos-Calabar railway project in the 2016 budget.

Such blame game will not help us as a nation but rather will portray us as unserious people. The only patriotic and honest thing to do now is for the executive and the legislative arms to come together and clear the project for inclusion in the budget. No two ways about that."

South-South APC warns NASS

In a similar vein, the South-South chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed strong disavowal to what it claimed as the mutilation by the National Assembly of the 2016 budget proposals and warned the legislators not to derail President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans for the country.

A statement issued by the national vicechairman of the party, South-South, Prince Hillary Eta, while condemning the complete deletion of the CalabarLagos rail project weekend, also accused the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation of wanting to disrupt the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ikot Ekpene road.

The statement alleged that N5 billion of the N6 billion voted for the project was removed and taken to non-existent projects in Kano State, in the constituency of Abdulmumin Jibrin, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation.

The chapter thus vowed to take legal action against the National Assembly on the issue.

Eta in a statement issued at the weekend, said: “We are very upset that our representatives in the National Assembly would discard decorum and hinder progressive change by acting at variance with the i n f r a s t r u c t u r e development agenda of the APC-led federal government."

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY APRIL 18 , 2016

Customers rap Ikeja DISCO over poor service, threaten protest

By Gloria Adokwu

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USTOMERS of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja DISCO, yesterday decried perceived poor service delivery by the company despite crazy bills, among others, and threatened to begin massive protest against Ikeja DISCO today.

Operating on the platform of Citizens Access to Electricity Initiatives, CAEI, they equally called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to review the privatization in the power sector with a view to correcting associated problems for a better service to the citizens and rapid economic development of the country.

CAEI listed the problems associated with electricity supply by Ikeja DISCO to include “Estimated billings of customers without meter, Nonreading of functional meters, faulty transformers and breakers, rickety distribution network, poor relationship with customers, lack of expansion/ over loading of feeder pillars, non-provision of safety material on fault clearing, poor remuneration of staff, unfriendly attitude with labour, Lack of prompt response to fault finding/clearing, lack of investment in the sector.”

In a statement by Abdulsalm Aliu Fashola, CAEI noted that “as a result of the above findings, our organization wrote letters to the management of electricity companies that were in charge of Lagos and Ogun states. Unfortunately there was no response to all our various communication by these companies. All further effort’s put in place by this body to carry out the mandate of our organization which is to address issues bothering on access to electricity has always been frustrated by these companies.''

$2BN LOAN: Lagos lawyers chide Fayose over letter to Chinese govt M

ORE reactions have continued to trail Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose’s letter to the Chinese Government, asking it to refuse President Muhammadu Buhari’s request of $2 billion loan.

Lawyers drawn from the Ikeja and Ikorodu branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos State and other lawyers, yesterday condemned Fayose’s action, describing it as mere irritant and inconsequential.

President Buhari had last week paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China with some state governors, the Central Bank governor and some ministers.

The president had concluded negotiations for the loan and a currency swap deal with the Chinese authorities as part of efforts to revive the Nigerian economy in the face of dwindling oil revenues.

On April 12, Fayose had reportedly jetted out to China while Buhari was there, urging the Chinese authorities to refuse the facility being requested by the Nigerian Government.

He said “all Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations were against any applications for new foreign loans.”

This, he said, was on the grounds that servicing current debt burden already gulps over 25 per cent of the country’s annual budget.

Reacting to Fayose’s letter, a former Chairman of Ikeja Branch of NBA, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, described the letter as of no consequence, since negotiations had already been concluded.

“The letter by Fayose is similar to a situation of bringing a motion for a court injunction for a completed act.

“This letter is a mere irritation especially coming from a sitting governor; I will urge Nigerians and especially journalists to regard his letter as nothing, but a

BIRTHDAY: From left: Alhaji Prince AbdurRasheed Aremu Akiolu Animashaun, celebrant; Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos and Senator Hassan Fashinro, during the 90th years birthday celebration prayer of Oba Akiolu's uncle, Alhaji Prince AbdurRasheed Aremu Akiolu Animashaun, at Ilupesi Hall Enu Owa, Lagos Island.

Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

mere irritation.

“Negotiations are already concluded and the Chinese government are willing to release funds to Nigeria.

“Although, it is very disheartening that such a letter is coming from one of our governors, but I think it serves no purpose,” he told NAN. Ubani, urged Nigerians to resist any act capable of disrupting the smooth running of government.

In the same vein, the Ikeja Branch Chairman of NBA, Mr Yinka Farobi, described the letter as “over stepping of one’s boundaries.

“Fayose was elected as a state governor and not as the president of Nigeria. His letter is clearly out of the purview of his powers and I seriously condemn it,” he said.

Farobi also urged Nigerians to be supportive of moves aimed at positioning Nigeria for growth.

Again, the Ikorodu NBA Branch Chairman, Mr Dotun Adetunji, described the letter as a show of rascality.

He noted that although “there is a provision for immunity for a sitting

Navy foils vandals' operation, recovers 20,000 jerry cans

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, weekend, foiled vandals operations in Solou, Kamoru and Imola communities in Lagos, forcing them to abandon over 20,000 fifty litres jerricans which were to be used to siphon stolen petroleum product from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipelines.

Some of the jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum products were recovered in an abandoned wooden boat in Ilado-Odo area. The recovery puts into spotlight over 8000

litres of recovered stolen petroleum products from vandals along that axis, in two days.

The recovery was made during a raid of the communities by the Navy in its resolve to checkmate excesses of crude oil thieves.

Led by the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Abraham Adaji and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the raid was extended beyond the waters as operatives stormed communities around the creeks.

In the process, a route which links the farewell buoy, a location on sea where oil tankers

wait for clearance from relevant authorities was discovered.

On closer observation, it was discovered that pipes were connected from the oil tankers to a wooden boat in which were over 200 drums.

Some of the drums were discovered to have been filled with siphoned products from one of the oil tanks. The pipes were subsequently disconnected and the boat in which were over 200 drums, seized. However no arrest was made.

Also in the creeks over 20,000 abandoned jerry cans marked with different initials such as MX, VTN, SNT were sighted at different locations.

governor, there must also be a limit on the activities of a leader.”

In his words: “There are 36 states in the federation and out of these states, only one governor has courage to write to a foreign authority, urging it to refuse funds to its Federal Government.

“To my mind, such action is really reprehensible and should be discouraged.

“There is no problem with being in opposition, but If you want to be in opposition, you conduct such opposition in a reasonable manner,” he also told NAN.

Lagos tasks newly-employed teachers on professionalism

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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HE Lagos State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has urged the 1,300 newly employed primary school teachers in the state to see their employment as a call to duty and service to humanity.

It will be recalled that the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had directed the board to employ 1300 primary school teachers to boost the manpower in the public primary schools.

The board had on April 15, issued appointment letters to the newly employed primary school teachers.

Chairman SUBEB, Dr. Ganiyu Sopeyin, while presenting the appointment letters, urged the teachers to help the state to achieve its set goals in the area of primary education.

According to Sopeyin, through the Public Affairs Officer, Mr Seyi Akitoye, the new teachers were appointed following an open competitive process by the state government, which was adjudged to be of international standard.

He also reaffirmed that the present administration had invested in education to make public primary schools more attractive and competitive.

“The teaching profession is a noble profession which demands high professionalism. The new teachers should remember they were given opportunities which many are still seeking. This is a

golden opportunity for you to contribute your own quota to the development of the state.''

19 countries for 2nd Nigeria Agrofood Fair

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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VER 70 technology leaders from 19 countries will be displaying their latest solutions at this year’s Nigeria Agrofood & Plastprintpack Fair with a view to boosting food safety and diversity in the country.

The 3-day Fair scheduled for 2628 April, 2016, in Lagos, is being organised by German show specialists, Fair-Trade.

More than 1,300 visitors are expected at the event, which will also feature French Live Bakery.

The countries expected at the event are Austria, Benin, China, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA. “Agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria supports the Nigerian agrofood industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creating an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products”, says Martin März, Managing Director of the German trade show specialists fair-trade.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 7

I’m not interested in becoming PDP chairman — BODE GEORGE

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George says he has no ambition of becoming the next chairman of the party.

He, however, advocated the need for the PDP to zone the chairmanship position to the South West saying the region remains the only one that has not got the position since 1999.

George said this when he addressed newsmen shortly after his return from an overseas trip.

He also called on the interim national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sherrif to honour his word to handover to an elected chairman at the National Convention on May 21 this year.

The PDP leader, in his address entitled: ‘Our Party at crossroads’, argued that the national chairmanship of the party should be zoned to South West now.

Faulting speculations of his interest in the chairmanship

CD dissociates self from call for sack of DSS boss

By Daud Olatunji

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HE Campaign for Democracy, CD, has dissociated itself from the 14-day ultimatum given to President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Musa Daura over controversial issues surrounding the alleged killing of five Fulani herdsmen and two other Igbos in Abia State.

The pro-democracy group, while reacting to a media report credited to one Dede Uzor Uzor issued in Onitsha, Anambra State, described the initiator as a selfstyled spokesperson of the group.

The group in its statement jointly signed by National President, Comrade Bako Abdul Usman and National Secretary for Publicity, Comrade Lanre Ogunyinka said it could not have issued such statement on a national matter.

He said: “The fake National Publicity Secretary, Dede Uzor A. Uzor described Duara’s allegation as false, having been investigated by Governors Rochas Okorocha and Okezie Ikpeazu of Imo and Abia states after which it was discovered that the herdsmen were actually killed by some kidnappers who were on the rampage in some parts of Abia and not IPOB or MASSOB members, as alleged by Daura.”

Fayose’s opposition to FG’s China loan, act of sabotage —APC

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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BRIEFING: From left; Head Media Management Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Sonny Aragba-Akpore; Deputy Director Spectrum Admin, Oluwatoyin Asaju; Director Spectrum Administration, Nwaulune; Head Public Relations, Reuben Muoka and Head Online Media and Special Publications, Okoh Aihe at a media briefing on the upcoming auction of 2.6GHz spectrum in Lagos. position, George said “I have no plan, no ambition, slide or

straightforward looking for it” He however said that a lot

SLAIN EKITI NURTW BOSS: Family petitions CJ Omolafe Aderiye testified, Justice

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AMILY of the former Ekiti State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), late Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who was murdered by gunmen shortly before Governor Ayodele Fayose was sworn in 2014, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, alleging that the judge handling the trial of accused persons has compromised.

In a three-page petition, written on behalf of the family by Samson Aderiye and submitted to the CJ, the family said: “The entire member of the family are aggrieved by the way the judge is handling the case.

I have been following the case with other members of the family from the beginning when the accused persons were paraded as the killers of late Chief Aderiye. I have also been attending court with other members of the Aderiye family. ''The matter got to a worrisome level when on 7th day of October, 20115, Okeowo Gbolahan, the Personal Assistant to late Chief

Ogunmoye adjourned the case to 26th October, 2015 for cross examination instead of allowing him to be cross-examined immediately.''

Reacting to the development, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ekiti State, Dr. Foluke Dada, who was one of the parties copied, said: “I received a copy of the letter but we don’t want to comment on what is going on in the court now. Interestingly the letter was addressed to the Chief judge of the state and other parties were copied. We have made effort to contact the Aderiye family but we haven’t been able to access the address they gave on the letter.' ''We hope that the CJ would do the needful by investigating the judge they have appointed.

“Sir, before 26/10/2015, I was reliably informed that Justice Ogunmoye brokered “peace” between the witness who had earlier testified as an eye-witness and the accused persons’ family on the ground that they were from the same Ekiti and this led the witness to change everything he had earlier said in his testimony.

of his friends, elders of the party have been saying that if the position is zoned to the South West they will push him for it.

He said they are saying this because “ you know we are in opposition, there is no Villa any more, no president from our party.

Therefore management of the party must be different, it has to be serious strategic thinking, intellectually bias to reasoning and discourse and network with the people for you to take decision.”

George said: “On the issue of national chairmanship, based on the spirit of equity and fairness which is the foundation and principle upon which our party was build by our founding fathers, the South West deserves the national chairmanship now. This is the right and proper thing which must be done. The South West is a significant zone for the Nigeria federation which cannot and must not be treated with levity.”

Frowning at the delegation that went to the party ’s National Executive Committee, NEC, that the South West was not interested in the chairmanship position, George said he was sad of the development.

Oil-freeze talks end in failure amid Saudi demands over Iran Vienna.The summit in the Qatari

By Michael Eboh

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EGOTIATIONS in Doha between OPEC members and other oil producers ended without any agreement on limiting supplies, a diplomatic failure that threatens to renew the rout in prices.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, told reporters after the meeting that there was no agreement, while he added that the possible freezing of oil output would next be discussed during the meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members states in June in

capital, which dragged on for more than ten hours beyond its initially scheduled conclusion, finished with no final accord.

Discussions stumbled after Saudi Arabia wouldn’t agree to any accord unless it included Iran, which wasn’t present at the meeting, according to a person familiar with knowledge of the matter. ”Given the expectations ahead of Doha, the failure to reach a freeze agreement is likely to cause an oil market selloff,” said Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a former White House official.

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described Governor Ayodele Fayose’s opposition to the Federal Government’s request to take loan from China, as sabotage and a seditious conduct that must not be allowed to go unchallenged.

The party said President Muhammadu Buhari’s quest is in tandem with other countries of the world that are engaged in bilateral arrangements for development purposes.

Fayose had on Wednesday written to the government of China, urging President XI Jinping not to approve $2b loan to implement development component of the 2016 national budget He sent the letter through his emissary to the Chinese Embassy in Abuja while he personally took a copy of the letter to Shanghai to be delivered to the Chinese President.

Faulting the governor’s action, the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, regretted that the governor got himself busy spending Ekiti money on frivolities while workers’ salaries remained unpaid for four months.

He said “As we speak, doctors are on strike and Ekiti people are dying while the governor go about with the activities that will lead to evasion of justice in his several alleged criminal cases so that he can protect his questionable wealth across the world.''

8 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—9

7m Nigerians facing humanitarian crisis —Report

By Omeiza Ajayi

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BUJA— NO fewer than seven million Nigerians are now facing humanitarian crisis, a new report published by the International Organization for Migration, IOM, has shown.

Of the figure, 1.9 million people were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The report noted that since the beginning of 2015, the NorthEast of Nigeria has witnessed an increase in violence conducted

by Boko Haram, causing a major humanitarian crisis.

It said: “The intensification of attacks, as well as the counterinsurgency activities has resulted in chronic insecurity and violations of human rights and humanitarian standards, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable civilians and triggering waves of forced displacement.”

IOM said it was working with its partners to help the Federal Government support some 2.4 million displaced people in the affected states.

According to the reports, “there are now seven million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, including 1.9 million displaced by the insurgency.

"Some 92 per cent of the IDPs are hosted by low-income host communities, bringing alreadystretched services and resources under increased pressure.”

It, however, called for more donor support, as well as deeper collaboration among humanitarian actors for effective coordination of humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

Through its Displacement Tracking Matrix, DTM, the organization is currently conducting assessments of the number of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in the area and their needs to inform the humanitarian response of the government and the international community.

The report added: “In the worst-affected state of Borno, IOM teams are currently working in 15 previously inaccessible local government areas, LGAs, and 86 wards and hope to access other badly affected areas. The data emerging clearly shows very high levels of humanitarian need.

“According to the most recent DTM report (February 2016), 1,434,149 IDPs have been identified in Borno, out of a total of 2.4 million in the whole area."

“As part of the DTM program, IOM is conducting biometric registration of IDPs in Adamawa and Borno states, as well as in Yobe state, where it is supporting the UN World Food Programme’s Cash Transfer Programme.

“As of the end of March 2016, a total of 124,827 individuals – 98,209 in Borno and 26,618 in Yola – have been biometrically registered. The vast majority of

IDPs who have been registered live in host communities, where little or no assistance has been provided due to lack of humanitarian access and security concerns,” IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission Enira Krdzalic said: “In support of the National Emergency Management Agency, IOM is

systematically collecting data on the humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

"The data clearly shows the massive scale of the emergency and urgent humanitarian needs.

IOM is working with the government and partners to provide humanitarian assistance

to IDPs and other affected populations, but the scale of the problem far exceeds available resources.”

In addition to DTM and registration, IOM is providing shelter, camp management, psychosocial support, livelihoods and other services to IDPs and affected populations.

FG to build synergy with private sector to diversify economy —Buhari

By Chris Ochayi

A

VISIT: From left, Senator Mohammed Gobir; Senator Shehu Sani; President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejososa and Deputy Head of the Cuban Mission in Nigeria, Ms. Miriam Morales Palmero, during a courtesy visit to the Senate President by the envoy, in Abuja.

Labour faults Senate's moves to amend CCB, CCT Act Says amendment self-serving, dangerous to anti-corruption war As SERAP drags Senate to UN

By Victor AhiumaYoung

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AGOS — ORGANIZED Labour, weekend, faulted moves by the Senate to amend the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, warning that it was not only dangerous to the fight against corruption, but also selfserving.

This came as the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, petitioned Professor Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, asking him to use his good offices and position to urgently request the Senate to withdraw amendments to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act. According to the group, the amendment, if passed into law, would seriously weaken the Act, undermine the fight against corruption in the country, and exacerbate extreme poverty and violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, contended that it was intriguing that it took the trial of the Senate President for the Senate to discover that there were flaws in the law setting up the CCB and CCT. NLC in a statement by Ayuba

Wabba said: “In the past one week, the Senate initiated a process for the amendment of the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. “In furtherance of its objective, the Senate fast-tracked the process of this amendment via two readings (first and second) within 48 hours. It has also set in motion the process for removing the jurisdictional powers of CCT on criminal matters via the amendment of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act. “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress hold the view that the noble intention of the Senate notwithstanding, the timing is suspect and fraught with danger."

SERAP drags Senate to UN Meanwhile, in the petition dated April 15 and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation expressed concern that the Senate of Nigeria would any moment from now pass amendments to Public Officers Protection Act; Administration of Criminal Justice Act; Code of Conduct Bureau Act and the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act with the political objective of securing a soft-landing for the

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing corruption charges.

The petition, copied to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, read in part: “SERAP considers these amendments to be in bad faith, patently an abuse of legislative powers, politically biased, and demonstrably unjustified in a democratic and representative society governed by the rule of law, and incompatible with the country’s international human rights obligations.

“SERAP also considers the amendments to amount to “legislative rascality” as they are not legitimate exercise of legislative power, and if allowed can exacerbate extreme poverty and violations of the right to an adequate standard of living of Nigerians and other human rights.

“The amendments also threaten the injunction that government must be accountable, responsive and open; that public institutions must not only be held to account but must also be governed by high standards of ethics, efficiency and must use public resources in an effective manner.

BUJA— President Muhammadu Buhari, weekend, reiterated his administration’s commitment to diversify the nation’s economy from its present over-dependence on the oil sector to manufacturing and agriculture by building synergy with organized private sector.

President Buhari, who made the remarks at the commissioning of the N5.6 billion Nestle Nigeria Water factory at Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, said government was ready to encourage the growth and expansion of organised private sector to achieve government policies and programmes.

Buhari, who was represented by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, emphasised the readiness of the administration towards making the collaboration effective.

According to him, the 2016 budget clearly details a robust road map for business expansion and growth using the involvement of the organized private sector for diversification of the economy.

He said government would, through the Public Private Partnership, PPP, initiative encourage the private sector to excel by providing an enabling macro-economic environment and the necessary infrastructure that would drive business growth.

The President noted that Nigeria was increasingly becoming the destination for foreign investors.

On the attraction of foreign investors to the country, he alluded to the fact that Nigeria was not just known for its economic viability and market but it’s diversity in terms of human resource and natural endowment.

He admitted, though, that there were challenges to doing business, noting that government was committed to providing the private sector the ease to do business while growing the economy.

He urged corporate organizations to emulate Nestle for their contributions in the growth and development of the country’s economy since independence.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Boko Haram: Troops uncover observation posts, underground food Cache of foreign arms, ammunition too storage facilities

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA — THE Nigerian Army said, yesterday, that its troops prosecuting clearance operations of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East have discovered and cleared strategically positioned observation posts constructed on trees by the group for early warning information on troops' movement.

This came as Special Forces of the Nigerian military, yesterday, recovered a massive cache of arms and ammunition belonging

to Boko Haram sect in one of their hideouts.

The Army also unearthed an underground storage facilities where the insurgents keep their stock of food.

It was gathered that the sentries in the past assisted the terrorists to know when troops were approaching their hideouts, enabling them to organize ambushes that frustrated many attempts to clear out the hideouts.

However, luck ran out on them, following a double assault by the combined forces of the military in an unexpected dawn raid which finally led to the destruction of

their hideouts.

A statement from Army Headquarters, signed by Col. Sani Usman, said: “On Saturday, April 16, 2016, troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B and 22 Task Force Brigade conducted a simultaneous dawn raid on suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts at Biggoro, Warpaya and Aura, North of Kumshe in Bama Local Government Area.

“The essence of the operation was to stop the reported criminal activities of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the three villages.

“The surprised dawn attack

yielded positive result as the troops discovered well concealed observation posts on trees in the villages constructed by the terrorists to give them early warning of troops movement or approach.

“In addition, the troops found that the observation posts on tree tops were constructed in such a manner, with chairs and ropes, to pull up foods and other needs by the sentry without necessarily coming down the trees.

“To also save for the rainy day, the terrorists had underground food storage facilities where they

stocked large quantity of foodstuffs.

“The troops killed two Boko Haram terrorists and also recovered three AK-47 rifles, magazines and ammunition.

“They also recovered two motorcycles from them. In addition they rescued two children from the terrorists."

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Army last weekend re-opened the Damaturu-Biu road which had been closed down for three years due to the activities of members of Boko Haram sect.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—11

49 abandoned babies rescued in Lagos ...353 beggars removed from streets

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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response while four were released to their parents and guardians after necessary verification.

However, 17 children were approved for adoption by the family court. This consists of 14 local adoptions and three international adoptions, according to the document.

It will be recalled that the state

government had between October, 2015 and first week of January, rescued 531 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons from the streets.

The government within the period under review also rescued 323 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons from the streets of Lagos.

It was noted that the 531

rescued beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons have been rehabilitated at the Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun axis of the state.

Also, the document stated that 353 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons rescued earlier were released to their relatives for onward reintegration into the society.

O FEWER than 49 abandoned and lost children were rescued across Lagos State between January and April, 2016, just as 323 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons were also taken off the streets in the months under review.

This was contained in a publication made available by the state government on the activities of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration on Youth and Social Development.

The statistics, according to the state government, represent the activities of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development between January and April 14, this year.

According to the document released by the state government, “35 lost but found children were given suitable placement in appropriate orphanage homes across the state.

“10 abandoned babies were rescued and given suitable placement and adequate protection within the period under review.

“Four special children were rescued and given placement in appropriate homes for care and protection in the state.

“Twenty-two children were screened on television for public Boko Haram sentries and underground food storage discovered by Nigerian troops

Police arrest vigilante group leader over death of 6-yr-old girl

By Peter Okutu

persons were reportedly injured following the ugly incident, which BAKALIKI—FOR killing occurred at Azuogba-Agu village a six-year-old girl, of the community during the Chinaecherem Nwite, during a burial of one Peter Ude. A resident of the area, who gave burial ceremony, Police in Ebonyi State have arrested a vigilante his name as Okechukwu, said the leader, Mr. Peter Nwokpo of family of the late Ude had invited Umuhuali Community in Ishielu the vigilante leader (Nwokpo) and his team to the burial to assist in Local Government Area.

Vanguard learned that four maintaining law and order when

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the unfortunate incident occurred.

He recounted: “We were in the burial of one of our kinsmen, when we suddenly heard a gunshot from the vigilante group invited to the burial to maintain law and order.

“After the gunshot, we saw a six year old girl shattered with bullet lying lifeless on the ground. We made inquiry and discovered

6 feared dead as rainstorm ravages Adamawa LGs

By Umar Yusuf

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OLA—NO fewer than six persons were feared killed as strong rainstorm ravaged Shelleng and Guyuk local government areas of Adamawa State.

Vanguard gathered that more than 2,000 residential houses

alongside federal and state government structures were seriously damaged.

According to the report, the local government secretariat, Divisional Police Station, hospitals, among other government property, had their roofs completely blown off.

The member representing Shelleng in the Adamawa State

House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Shelleng had raised a matter of urgent attention on the floor of the House on the need for quick government intervention.

He told the House that more than 3,000 families had been rendered homeless by the devastating rains, which occurred weekend.

Police raid hotel, arrest 40 ...female suspects accuse officers of sexual molestation

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—NO fewer than 30 men and 10 women were, yesterday, arrested in a hotel at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, by the Nnewi-Ichi command of the Special Anti

Robbery Squad, SARS, of Anambra State Police Command.

Vanguard gathered that the SARS operatives, acting on a tipoff that criminals lodge there, stormed the place at about 9.00p.m. to make the arrest.

The police claimed also that weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered during the

raid, while some female suspects accused the SARS operatives of dehumanizing them and not having respect for womanhood by not allowing them to dress up and also beating, exposing and allegedly inserting their fingers in their private parts.

Some of the suspects were later granted bail.

that it was the vigilante leader, Mr. Nwokpo, who shot her.

“People said it was an accidental discharge, but, I wondered what type of accidental discharge that will make someone to be shooting indiscriminately because the gun-shots were too many,” he said.

Another victim, who sustained injuries during the incident, Ahamefula Usulour, told Vanguard that the vigilante leader went to the burial with pump action gun, cocked it and shot into the air.

Usulour, who sustained stomach injury, alleged that Nwokpo attempted to shoot more into the air but that it didn’t go through like the first one, making him to point the gun directly to where people were staying and and began shooting, killing the six year old girl instantly while three other persons including himself sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“We had warned the man to stop shooting when he shot the first bullet, but he refused to listen to us. He was very drunk and that was why he didn’t listen to us and continued shooting,” he lamented.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP George Okafor, confirmed the incident.

Police arrest 5 suspected robbers, two cultists in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Police Command has arrested five suspected armed robbers, who specialized in snatching cars with locally made bullet proof vest in Ota area of Ogun State.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the suspects were arrested Saturday around 10a.m. on Owode/Idiroko Road in Ota. Adejobi also said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ago Iwoye for allegedly initiating young members into their cult group, weekend.

He said: “The suspected robbers were arrested by police operatives attached to Onipanu Division of the command following a tipoff from an informant. The suspects include Mathew Faleti, 25, Shola Isah, 35, Monday Edun, 22, Moses Kumolusa, 20, and Adebisi Telfa, 20.

We carry out robberies in hotels —Suspect

By Esther Onyegbula

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WO members of 12man robbery gang, have revealed how they operate in hotels in Lagos and its environ as they were paraded by Lagos State Police command.

The two suspects, Kayode Johnson and Owolabi, arrested March 15, during a robbery operation at Exclusive Hotel, Iju Shaga, had been on Police wanted list for different robberies within and outside Lagos.

Kayode Johnson, 30, also known as Badoo, told journalists at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters that “my colleague and I were arrested on our way to a robbery operation. When we saw policemen I quickly dropped the gun I had with me inside the drainage system so that they would not have anything to rope me with robbery. We rob mostly in hotels within Lagos State.

"During the last operation we had not started robbing when we were arrested by policemen on routine patrol."

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Nigerian Content: FG'll cut contracting cycle to 6 months —Kachikwu

By Sebastine Obasi

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HE Federal Government is to cut the contracting cycle in the Nigerian oil and gas industry from its current stretch of between two to four years to just six months, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said.

The minister stated this at the stakeholders interactive workshop on Nigerian Content Policy organised by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) in Calabar, Cross River State.

He identified the long contracting cycle as a major contributor to the high cost per barrel of Nigerian crude oil compared to other OPEC member countries, listing other challenges to include multiplicity of bidders, application of manual tools in bid evaluation and divergent tender requirements by approving entities such as the NCDMB, NAPIMS and the IOCs. The minister who was represented by the Group General Manager,

NAPIMS, Mr. Dafe Sejebor, stated that the contract approving entities were already implementing his charge to strategise and develop a single contracting procedure which will soon be issued to the industry.

He confirmed plans to categorise companies that have invested heavily in the economy and become local content champions for specific work scopes in a way that will facilitate contract opportunities.

These measures, he said,

would enhance transparency and further boost investor confidence.

Noting that a good number of Nigerians had been motivated by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act to acquire high cost marine vessels and oil rigs, the minister assured that the Act’s provision of first consideration for Nigerian owned assets shall always apply in tenders related to utilization of rigs or marine vessels.

NDPC to Okowa: Rename DELSU after Felix Ibru

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—NIGER Delta Peace Coalition, NDPC, has urged Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to immortalize the first governor of the state, the late Olorogun Felix Ibru, by renaming Delta State University, DELSU, after him.

National coordinator of NDPC, Chief Zik Gbemre, in a statement, weekend, explained that as the first

civilian governor of the state who also facilitated the transformation of the institution into a fullfledged university, there was no better way to immortalize the late Ibru than to rename the institution after him.

He said: “Just the same way Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, was named after Chief Awolowo amongst others, there is no better way to immortalize Ibru than to name the Delta State University after him."

Buhari’s critics should have their heads foreign trips had gone a examined —Oyegun long way in helping to save

By Simon Ebegbulem

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E N I N — N AT I O N A L Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, weekend, defended President Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign trips, saying that people like Governor Ayo

Fayose of Ekiti State and other critics of the president over his foreign trips need their heads examined.

Saying that Fayose was ignorant of the problems confronting the nation and the solutions to them, he insisted that President Buhari was on the verge of restoring the nation’s lost glory outside the country, noting that the President's

N-Delta issues still burning —Rep

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A member of the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi, has called on the Federal Government to make more investments in the Niger Delta to fast-track the development of the region.

Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the public presentation of a book titled, Cross over Journalist: Reporting the Niger Delta, written by Mr. Kola Oredipe, a Radio Nigeria staff, Chief Agbedi, said all hands must be on deck to achieve infrastructural and human

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capacity development in the region.

The lawmaker, who represents Sagbama/ Ekeremor federal constituency of Bayelsa State in the National Assembly, assured that he and other National Assembly members from the region would continue to agitate for better deals for the people who produce the wealth of the nation.

Agbedi, who was the chairman of the occasion, commended the author for adding to the literature of the Niger Delta by documenting his 15years active journalism experience covering the region.

the nation after what he described as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s most disastrous outing in 16 years.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, Edo State, Oyegun noted that the forces of darkness and economic saboteurs opposed to the nation’s growth and development were bent on frustrating the efforts of the APC-led administration under Buhari in his efforts at rescuing the nation from the ongoing fuel crisis and revitalizing the ailing economy.

Governor Fayose had last week allegedly written a letter to the Chinese government asking it to shun President Buhari’s proposal to secure a $6 billion loan for Nigeria.

But Oyegun, who reacted to the criticisms, said: “Most people do not recognise the very sorry state of the nation’s economy and the fact that the country’s economy was run aground and crashed, which contributed in no small measure to the crash of crude oil from N120 per barrel to a miserable N30 to N40 per barrel at the international market."

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—13

Probe explosion at Agip’s oil field —Bayelsa community R

ESIDENTS of Olugboboro in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have called for investigation into the March 26 explosion that killed three oil workers in the area.

The residents made the call in separate interviews in Olugboboro, yesterday.

An explosion occurred at an oil field operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC,in the area on March 26, killing three workers.

An earlier blast occurred at the company’s oil field in Azuzuama on July 9, 2015, leaving 14 people dead.

Dr Peter Irabor, DirectorGeneral, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, who confirmed the deaths in the March 26 explosion, attributed the incident to poor safety procedures at the oil field.

Mr Ebidimie Ugbe, spokesperson of Olugboboro Community Development Committee, said he was worried over the frequency of explosions in the area and the number of lives being lost.

He said that the explosions that took 17 lives within eight months in the area cast doubts on the safety measures taken by the oil firm.

“After the incident, the Oil and Gas Task Force came to our community with some men of Nigerian Security and Civil

Defence Corps and urged us to show them where the oil spillage occurred. We led them to the site.

But some people are now insinuating that the community is culpable. I stand to say that our people are not part of the cause of the oil spill.

“We do not know what caused the spill and we do not know about plans to sabotage the oil

facility. What I am saying is that they should investigate it,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Iboro Biekiri, urged the government to investigate the cause of frequent explosions at Agip’s oil fields in the area.

“The actual cause of the frequent blasts should be properly investigated rather

than some people insinuating that the fire was caused by explosives,” Biekiri said.

Meanwhile officials of NAOC and its parent company, Eni, had declined comments on the incidents.

Mr Fillippo Cotalini, Media Relations Manager at Eni, was yet to respond to the message sent to him via his e-mail, on the March 26 pipeline explosion.

THANKSGIVING: Children of the late Olorogun of Warri Kingdom, Chief Oritsegbiten Popo Edodo, led by Justice (Mrs.) Alero and Dr. Marcus Eruaga, during the thanksgiving memorial mass marking the first anniversary of their father death, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Warri.

N-Deltans entitled to benefits from NDDC projects —Semenitari

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—ACTING Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, weekend, said it was the duty and responsibility of every purposeful government to address the basic needs of its citizens.

Semenitari, who spoke while inaugurating completed road projects executed by NDDC in Ika South and Ika North- East Local Government Areas of Delta State and the flag-off of distribution of tractors for mechanized farming in the state as part of her working visit to the state, said it was the right of the people of the Niger Delta region to enjoy basic amenities provided by the commission.

Flanked by the Delta State Director of NDDC, Mr Gbubemi Ogor and some other top management staff of the commission, Mrs Semenitari added that NDDC, as an interventionist agency of government, was determined to better the lot of the Niger Delta people through the execution of people-oriented projects.

She commended the people of Ika nation for turning out in their C M Y K

numbers with beautiful music and dance to show appreciation over the completion and commissioning of the roads which include Odeh Street, Cemetery Road, Ossian Street and Umeri-Upper Ojekpolor

Road projects aimed at enhancing socio-economic activities in the locality.

Flagging off the distribution of the tractors, Semenitari said that the NDDC was interested in promoting agriculture in the

Niger Delta region for increased food production and ensure food sufficiency in the country as well as support the Federal Government’s drive towards the diversification of the nation’s economy.

Rights group demands recall of 13 sacked VCs

By Innocent Anaba

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ONCERNED Citizens for Educational Development, a civil rights group, has asked the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamau Adamu, to take steps to comply with the presidential directives on the recall of the 13 Vice Chancellors of some federal universities whose appointments were wrongfully terminated by the Federal Government in February.

The group, in a statement in Abuja, weekend, by its national coordinator, Solomon Adodo, expressed concern that despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s public apology for the wrongful dissolution of the governing boards of the affected universities, which preceded the sack of the Vice Chancellors and

the directive that the affected university dons be recalled, the minister is yet to comply with the President’s order.

It said: “We are dismayed that the Minister of Education, who is an appointee of the President, has chosen to misinterpret Mr. President’s statement and turned a deaf ear to the directive that the whole imbroglio of sack/ removal and replacement/ appointment, be reversed. This is unhealthy for our educational system and the apparatus of governance as a whole.

“Mallam Adamu has unwittingly usurped the powers of the Visitor to all federal universities by his tacit refusal to reverse his missteps. To this extent, the minister must be called to order and compelled to do things in the right manner, to wit: recalling the sacked Vice Chancellors since he also made the decision unilaterally.”

The group recalled that most of the affected Vice Chancellors etched their names in gold as heroes of our thriving democracy while serving as Returning Officers in the 2015 general election.

It is to the credit of the affected university Vice Chancellors, according to the group, that the dons refused to compromise and rig the 2015 general election, the dividend of which all Nigerians now enjoy, stressing that, “As such, these patriots should not be mistreated with such actions as have been meted out to them by the Minister of Education.”

The group expressed hope that the universities would not be treated as what they called, “A fiefdom of political compensation where autocracy prevails, then Mr. President’s stand that Vice Chancellors cannot be removed or appointed without recourse to the Governing Council, ought to be implemented in its entirety.”

A-Ibom to execute 300 projects in public schools

By Chioma Onuegbu

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YO—AKWA Ibom State Government has concluded arrangements to embark on 300 projects in public schools across the 31 local government areas of the state.

Commissioner for Education, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, who disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen, weekend in Uyo, listed some of the projects to be embarked upon to include construction and renovation of school buildings, provision of desks, perimeter fencing and boreholes.

Akpan explained that the current effort would address the problem of dilapidated infrastructure in schools which the state has been facing, noting that priority attention would be accorded public primary and junior secondary schools found in very poor state during the selection process.

He stressed that Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration has remained committed to the free, quality and compulsory education programme despite the dwindling revenue accruing to the state.

Oshiomhole appoints VC for Tayo Akpata Varsity

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appointed Prof. Aduwa Ogiegbaen the Vice Chancellor of Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor.

Until his appointment, Prof. Ogiegbaen was the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Ekenwan Campus, Benin City.

In a letter, the governor said: “I wish to inform you that Edo State Government has approved the upgrading of the Edo State College of Education, Ekiadolor, to a University of Education to be known as Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor.

“I feel privileged to have the honour, by virtue of the powers conferred on me as the Visitor by the enabling laws establishing the university, to appoint you as the Vice Chancellor of the University with effect from April 18, 2016,” the statement added.

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Court orders Emeribe to remain MLSCN Registrar

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Abuja has ordered the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, MLSCN, Professor Anthony Emeribe, to remain in office pending the determination of a suit challenging his planned removal.

The court further fixed June 3 to rule on an application seeking to restrain the council and the Minister of Health from interfering with Emeribe’s appointment.

Justice Peter Lifu made the order on Friday after he listened to counsel to the plaintiff and that of the defendants.

Emeribe had approached the court, praying it for an order restraining the council from interfering with his duties as Registrar.

He had in the substantive suit marked NICN/ABJ/62/2016, prayed the court to abort moves to remove him as head of the council.

He told the court that the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria had, by a letter dated February 19, approved the placement of an advertisement for the post of Registrar/CEO of the council, a post he currently occupies.

Osinbajo tasks Shell on Forcados Terminal repair

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has tasked the management of Shell BP on speedy completion of current repairs on the vandalised Forcados Gas Terminal in Delta State.

The Vice President gave the charge on Friday while on a fact-finding mission at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Available reports from the

Presidency showed that the damaged oil installation was responsible for the recent power failures in most areas of the country as the flow of gas to the terminal was cut off.

Osinbajo was accompanied to the site by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Shell officials led by Country Chairperson, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, and officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC, led by the Chief Operating Officer for

FORUM: From left— ICT Officer, Nigerian High Commission, Ghana, Mr. Kalu Oji; Head of Flight Operation representing MD/CEO, Med-View Airline, Captain Godfrey Ogbogu; Senior Agency Manager, Mr. Azeez Abass; Ghana Country Manager, Medview, Mr. Gideon Femi-Awe, and Head, Ground Operation, Mr. Ajigbotosho Ola, during the airline’s trade partners' forum at the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

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BUJA—THE Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammed. has said Nigeria required about $284 million to achieve the target goal in immunisation.

Dr. Ado made this known ahead of the conference of Anglophone Africa Peer Review Workshop on sustainable immunisation financing in Abuja.

He told journalists in Abuja that vaccines and immunisation financing were very critical to Nigeria’s anticipated eradication of polio virus in the country next year.

He said: “As it is now, we

“Many people do not even know that power supply is hampered by what is going on here.

“What is going on here affects the Nigerians and the economy.

The damage done to Forcados affects our oil earnings but also as important is the power aspect.

“Forcados is a major source of gas. About 40 percent of our gas supply is affected, leading to the problem of power supply in the country.

“The damage done to Forcados terminal is the chief reason for the poor power supply that has affected the country recently. The President is particularly concerned about this outstanding gas projects.”

There is, however, an interim alternative arrangement by NNPC to supply gas to the plants for which the Vice President expressed satisfaction. One of such methods included trucking.

“We have seen the alternative steps taken by NNPC to ameloriate the damage done and the problem associated with getting gas from that terminal to all of our plants,” he said.

He disclosed further that “there are efforts being made by the Federal, state governments and communities to tackle current vandalism challenges.”

Rep denies complicity in power outage during Saraki’s trial

By Emman Ovuakporie Conduct Tribunal, CCT, last & Johnbosco Agbakwuru Wednesday.

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BUJA—THERE have been allegations of complicity against a member of the House of Representatives from Kwara State, Zakari Mohammed, over power outage during the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of

However, the lawmaker has denied any involvement in whatever form on the power outage, claiming that the report was stage-managed and politically motivated to hoodwink the public.

Reacting to the report associating him with the lightout during Saraki’s trial, he

Nigeria requires $284m for immunisation goal

By Victoria Ojeme

Upstream, Mr. Bello Rabiu.

He regretted that the power supply, which he said had peaked at an unprecedented 5000Mw, a few months ago had dropped significantly.

He said: “I came here on the instruction of the President, who is concerned about the damage done to Forcados. I came here to see for myself and underscore the great implication for the nation’s economy.

require about $210 million for polio campaign. With support from partners and funding from government for 2016, we have been able to bridge the gap. We do not have a gap for polio campaign in 2016.

“However, by 2017, we have about $284 million required for polio campaign. Taking cognizance that the Federal Government has been consistent in terms of providing resources this year, it is providing about $80 million as part of its contribution for polio campaign and partners are making up the difference.

“With that, we believe that next year, we should be able to give to Africa and

Nigerians a polio-free country.

“We are very optimistic that

by July 2017, we will deliver to the President a polio-free country.”

Muhammed explained that Nigeria had “spent over 20 months without any case of polio.

“Nigeria has been removed as a polio endemic country by WHO, but Nigeria is not yet a polio-free country. I think we need to understand the difference between the two.

“Nigeria no more transmit polio virus; we have been delisted from the list of polio endemic countries. But we need to know that it will take us close to two years to be free.”

said: “I have read a story in an online medium, which insinuated that I was behind power outage last Wednesday at the sitting of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, during the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

“The said publication was not only false but an outright balderdash, sheer rubbish and a deliberate attempt to use this medium to tarnish my hard-earned reputation.

“The so-called stagemanaged and politicallymotivated report was designed to hoodwink unsuspecting public to believe that I am a violent political office holder.

“To set the records straight, I had no hands in the outage at the CCT Tribunal. I have no relationship with any staff or technicians at the tribunal which would have made me to influence the outage.

“I also do not work with or own shares in Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to have wielded contacts to disrupt power supply to the tribunal.

“I have never met with technicians in charge of the alternative source of power

for the tribunal.”

Mohammed, who is Chairman of House Committee on Basic Education, further said: “In the jaundiced story, which was branded as an exclusive copy, no attempt was made to speak with the management of the tribunal on what led to the outage.

“Other than a curious security source, there was no fact to substantiate the so-called scoop which by all-intent was meant to achieve a predetermined agenda.

“In defiance of the ethics of journalism, I was not contacted by the publisher of the story for my own side of the story. I am the most accessible member of the House of Representatives.

“As a journalist and the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, I obliged the press unfettered access to information. The said medium chose to give me a blackout to destroy my person.

“It was true that I attended the court session like other members of the National Assembly; we all experienced the outage at the sitting and bore the heat like everyone. It sounds absurd that I will sponsor outage to cause discomfort for myself and others.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—15

Enugu govt earmarks N600m for Nkanu's devt

By Emmanuel Aziken

E RIVERS: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State(left) presiding over the State Executive Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Clerics warn against heating polity

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

N E W I — ANGLICAN Bishops from Diocese on the Niger and Diocese of Niger West, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo and Rt. Rev. Johnson Ekwe, have appealed to the Federal Government not to allow some state governors and other political leaders create tension in the country with anti-people policies.

They also appealed to the elected representatives of the people at the National Assembly to wake up from slumber to represent and speak for the Nigerian masses on issues of national interest, and also help the executive to fashion policies that will positively affect the people and address nagging national issues.

The two Bishops, in their separate briefing with newsmen, said: “Governments have the right to fashion policies and their ways of administration. But the lawmakers owe Nigerians the duty of helping the President to balance policies that affect the people, because they were elected to represent the people; to ensure checks and balances.”

They said they were aware that Nigeria had so many challenges, but major issues such as tribalism, discrimination of all sorts, injustice and other vices like kidnapping and terrorism and things not in tandem with the will of God, should be discouraged.

C M Y K

8 arrested over Enugu slave war Gov Ugwanyi meets community leaders today

By Emeka Mamah

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SUKKA—ENUGU State Police Command, yesterday, arrested about eight persons over the ongoing violence at Alor Uno in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, following supremacy battle over alleged slavery.

Ugbene and Ejuona communities in Alor Uno have been involved in supremacy battle over who are the aborigines or slaves in the last 40 years.

The matter, however, reached a climax when a young Ugbene man, Arinze Ngwoke, was, on April 11, reportedly chased by youths from Ejuona and attacked with machete for taking a road reserved for the aborigines, Ejuona, who claimed that the Ugbene people are “slaves.”

Ngwoke is the second victim after Izuchukwu Ezema, who was alleged to have been attacked in March and is still in hospital due to machete cuts inflicted on him for passing through the same route.

Weekend, a woman, Onyedikachukwu Omeje was attacked with her three months old baby by some youths, who claimed to come from Ejuona, for also trespassing on the same forbidden road. Two other women, Augustina Oke and Chidera Attah, have also been attacked for allegedly committing same offence.

However, in the early morning of yesterday, youths from Ugbene were said to have re-grouped and attacked some Ejuona people suspected to be the ring leaders of their people.

The youths reportedly attacked the house of one Emmanuel Onah among others and vandalised it, prompting policemen from the Nsukka Area Command to arrest some Ugbene people including a headmaster, Theophilus Ngwu alias InterState, Emeka Enyoka and one

Sunday Nwa-Ejor, among about eight others whose sons and daughters were said to have carried out the reprisal attack.

Sources told Vanguard that the suspects, who were with the police, were arrested when their sons or daughters fled the

town to evade arrest.

Meanwhile, the Police Area Commander for Nsukka, Mr. Monday Kuryasi, has invited seven leaders each from both Ejuona and Ugbene for a peace meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi at Government House, today.

Abia govt demolishes kidnappers' den, 1 arrested

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Government, weekend, demolished four buildings at Etitiama Mkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state, allegedly used for kidnapping activities.

The buildings, located in Ndinkefa compound in Amafo autonomous community, Mkporo, were allegedly used by suspected kidnappers to harbour a victim, who was kidnapped from Aba. However, luck ran out of the kidnappers as villagers, who noticed strange movements around the building, reported to the traditional ruler of the community, who in turn alerted soldiers. They promptly came and arrested

one of the suspects, while the main culprit, Agbai Agbai Kalu from Ndinkefa compound in Mkporo, escaped.

In a bid to escape, one of them jumped the fence of the building into the roof of a nearby house, belonging to Mr. Ezekiel Samuel, which caved in leading to his death.

Speaking with newsmen after the demolition exercise, the Security Adviser to the Governor, Captain Awa Agwu (retd) said that the action was in line with Abia State Law prohibiting kidnapping.

According to him, by the demolition, government had made a bold statement and warned criminals to stay clear.

NUGU State Government has earmarked N600 million to develop Nkanu East Local Government Area, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has announced.

Speaking when he played host to the people of Nomeh Unataeze community in the local government, the governor said he was aware of the key challenges facing some of the local government areas in the state, especially Nkanu East, Uzo-Uwani and Awgu local government areas.

Governor Ugwuanyi said: “Nkanu East tops the development agenda of this government. We are currently doing a multimillion naira Inyaba bridge because we cannot continue to entertain a situation where someone travelling from Amankanu area of Nkanu East, would have to go round, passing through many local government areas before getting to the council headquarters at Amagunze or other parts of the same local government.”

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, and the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Israel Mbah, commended the governor for his peopleoriented projects and open door policy.

In a presentation entitled Our Road, Our Headache, Mr. Anichukwu described the Nenwe-NomehMburumbu-Nara Road as a critical infrastructure for Nomeh community and neighbouring states and geopolitical zones.

DEBT PROFILE: NBS got it wrong—ABIA GOVT

By Anayo Okoli

U

M U A H I A — GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has borrowed a total of N24 billion since he assumed office 11 months ago.

This is made up of N14.1 billion bailout fund and N10 billion, which government sources said was for infrastructural development.

Meanwhile, Abia State Government has said that its

debt profile was not up to N78 billion as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which also placed the state as the 5th highest indebted state in the country.

State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, who disclosed this while reacting to the statistics released by NBS, insisted that the figures given by the Bureau were inaccurate.

According to him, the state government had engaged a

team of consultants, who are currently working to reconcile the financial position of the state.

He said: “I am yet to see the document but I totally disagreed with the figures they are mentioning and our rating. If I heard you right, you mentioned N78 billion; it is totally unacceptable and I doubt where they got that from.

“Though government is a continuum, from the period we took over, I want to believe that this figure is wrong.”

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 THE Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has directed that hard drug tests should be conducted on urine samples of policemen before they are allowed to handle firearms and lethal weapons. This decision is timely.

Over the decades, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) had assumed notoriety for extra-judicial killings. Most of the incidents arose from the unprofessional handling of firearms. Some of the instances are linked to the mental and psychological states of the officers and men. A lot of people have died in these circumstances, especially at check-points and other public places.

A few days to Christmas last year, a drunken gun-toting policeman guarding a hotel killed two brothers (twins) and their cousin in Ketu, Lagos, for turning down his request for alcoholic drink. He subsequently shot and killed him-

Drug tests for armed policemen self.

The IGP’s order should ensure that policemen who are under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and other psychotropic substances are excluded from arms-bearing.

The rampant consumption of cheap alcoholic drinks and hard drugs by police personnel had earlier caused the police boss to order compulsory, routine psychological tests for the rank and file of the force. This is to ensure that such policemen are mentally and emotionally fit to perform their duties.

The nation cannot afford to con-

tinue to lose its innocent and defenceless citizens to officers rendered trigger-happy by alcohol and drugs while on duty. In every democracy, the Police are empowered to maintain law and order and not to terrorise the populace.

We hope the Police IGP, with the backing of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Federal Government will go beyond merely giving orders and take steps to boost the psychology and morale of the police workforce. The overall health and welfare of these guardian angels of our society must no longer be toyed with. If we want the Police to serve us

better, we must invest adequately towards their overall wellbeing.

We are not doing this well enough. The typical Nigerian police barracks where the officers and men/women live with their families as well as the police stations where they work are decrepit and unfit afor a force that can serve the rest of society with distinction and courtesy.

The high amount of frustration that a typical police officer exhibits in his or her duty post is a reflection of our neglect of their welfare.

As we embark on the recruitment of a new batch of 10,000 officers and men into the Force, greater care must be taken to ensure we keep out people of questionable character. We must employ only physically and mentally-fit candidates, and acclimatise them to a training course that accords great value to human lives and human rights.

OPINION

By Dennis Agbo

S

INCE the proposed Timelines for the 2016 Chapter Congresses and National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was released, the now opposition party that led Nigeria for 16 years has been filled with activities and trepidations.

One would wonder what is still relevant or interesting in a political party that was recently defeated in a national election, negativelybranded by the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, succumbed to internal crises since it suffered defeat. But beneath the façade of seeming vain glory of the PDP lays the future potential of a resonating national political party that is even more poised than ever to launch itself back to national conciseness and repossess its lost glory.

It is for this futuristic potential of the PDP that it is presently witnessing an upsurge of interest in the leadership of the party, both at the national and state levels. One of the states where the appeal and magnet for leadership of the party has attracted attention is in Enugu state.

Enugu is a state where the PDP is a household name, a bold brand and towering image of the best appreciated political party.

Evidently, there are enough reasons why the PDP carries a larger than life image in the state. One is that since the return of democracy in 1999, the PDP has dominated the state in winning almost all the elections conducted in the state.

Secondly, the party in state has delivered

Enugu: As PDP goes into 2016 Congresses the expected dividends of democracy through outputs, not only in physical infrastructure but also in human empowerment and guarantee of freedom of expressions, which is considered as the hallmark of participatory democracy.

It is also pertinent to recall that since 1999, it has been difficult for any other political party to win elections in the state because of the brand of leaders the PDP parades. Not only has the state produced the President and Deputy

At no other time than now does the PDP need a stabiliser and a bridge builder like Ogbodo Presidents of different assemblies of the Nigerian Senate, they were and are still firebrands that glow with intellectual acumen and rescuers of the nation at precarious times.

It was Senator Ken Nnamani as Senate President who saved the nation from near derail to authoritarianism, despotism and almost actualisation of life rule in the guise of third term agenda in 2006. He was of the PDP stock from Enugu state. Same goes in the present effort of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu at curtailing the excesses of the APC at the National Assembly.

Based on the above and more, there is no doubt that there are bound to be concerns on who leads the PDP in Enugu state. While the

concerns are good, especially at creating a robust internal party politics, the merit of selecting the best from the poll of interested persons and groups within the state chapter of the party has become one of the vexed issues.

With the advent of the APC,the PDP as an opposition party is becoming more aware of its challenges and the possible consequence of making mistakes in the choice of its party leaders.

As the countdown to Saturday May 7, 2016 state congress of the PDP approaches, more intrigues and horse trading of who becomes the state chairman is unfolding with interesting personas, among whom is Deacon Okey Ogbodo, a-two time commissioner in the state.

Evidently, there is cold war between members of the National Assembly from the state led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the state machinery led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who until he became Governor was a member of the National Assembly for three terms. Both camps are jogging to convert the incoming state leadership to their side to secure it at least for the 2019 elections.

It is not clear if Governor Ugwuanyi has penned down or has his eyes on a particular candidate but some contestants are said to be aligned to Ekweremadu and Senator Gill Nnaji, who are believed to be working together for a common goal. Such chairmanship aspirants include: Dons Ude, Frank Anioma, Steve Oruruo, Chijioke

Ugwueze and Jerry Eneh.

Other aspirants whom no one is certain the divide they belong are Deacon Okey Ogbodo, and Enoch Agbo. Ugwueze and Agbo, both from Isi-Uzo LGA however have a problem of having affilation with Nsukka cultural zone, especially since the Enugu East senatorial zone is insisting on giving the position to “Core Nkanu Man.” Particularly, he is said to be of the dismatled Ebeano dynasty which has become a leaper in the state but which Ekweremadu is suspected to be rebuilding.

Distinct from the crowd is Deacon Okey Ogbodo whose edge is not just his humility but also in his faith and belief that power belongs to God. He is a man of many political parts, who has withered all political storms in the state and is seen as the right man for the job.

Ogbodo is not just a founding member of the PDP by 1998 but has swam with the Party in its many travails.So, experience is also a selling point for him. Prowess in both executive and political party administrations are selling points for a man needed to unite factors and vagrancies of political shades in the state. he has thisese.

At no other time than now does the PDP need a stabiliser and a bridge builder like Ogbodo whose political sojourns in the state makes him a dependable name at moments when delivery is of utmost importance.

Ogbodo was a unionist as a Banker before his resignation to mainstay politics. By 1998 •Mr. Agbo, a journalist, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

APRIL 18, 2016

NPA loses 10 % revenue as vessel traffic drops *17.646m tons exported through ports in 2015

*20.626 million metric tons of refined products passesd through ports

By OMOH GABRIEL

M

anaging Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Habib Abdullahi has said that a total of 20.626 million metric tons of refined petroleum products passed through the various ports into the country between January and December 2015. The figure showed a slight increase of 0.6 per cent over the amount of products imported into the country in 2014, which figure stood at

20.495 million metric tons.

Abdullahi released the details of Nigeria Ports Authority operations in 2015 to select newsmen in his office.

He said that crude oil lifted in 2015 through the ports was 117.646 million metric tons which was 9.1 per cent more than the 107.880 million metric tons volume that passed through the ports in 2014. The ports, it was learnt generated N11.9 billion in Naira revenue in 2015 and was able to collect N6.9 billion. The data indicates that the naira revenue generated by NPA

dropped by 1.7 per cent from the N12.1 billion in 2014. In the case of the amount it was able to collect from port operators, it dropped by 17.2 per cent from a figure of N8.4 billion in 2014.

According to the NPA boss, the dollar revenue the ports across the country generated in 2015 stood at $873.7 million. There was however a decline in dollar revenue of 2.2 per cent from its 2014 figure of $893.7 million in 2014.

But the dollar revenue collected stood at $629.7 million, a decline of 13.3 per cent gap between the amount

MEETING: Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and World Bank President, Dr Jim Yong Kim at the G-24 Ministers meeting during the 2016 Spring meeting in Washington, D.C., USA. C M Y K

generated and the amount the NPA was able to collect at the end of 2015.

He said that the dollar revenue generated from oil terminals and compulsory Pilotage amounted to $35.5 million an increase of 12.3 per cent over the $36.1 million in 2014.

However, unlike the naira generated revenue, the dollar revenue collected from terminal oil due and pilotage increased by 12.3 from $33.9 million in 2014 to $38.1 million in 2015.

According to the NPA boss, the organisation's local debt stood at N18.9 billion while foreign debt stood at $452.9 million as at the end of the 2015 financial year. The NPA boss also said that the number of ocean going vessels that called at the port was 5,090 which showed a decrease of 8.1 per cent when compared to the 5,541 in 2014. He said the gross tonnage carried by the ocean going vessels was 144,207,122. This is a decline of 2.5 per cent when compared to the 147, 852,920 in 2014.

Further the number of coastal vessels completed was 10,200, a decline of 29.9 per cent when compared to the 14,552 the previous year.

The gross tonnage of these coastal vessels was 6,323,684 a drop of 18.9 per cent from 7,801,567 a year before.

The number of crude oil tankers completed was 976, showed an increase of 8.7 per cent over the 898 in 2014.

The gross tonnage of the crude oil tankers was 98,695,774 a growth of 12.1 per cent over the 88,009,864 metric tons in 2014. A breakdown of cargo movement through the ports showed that Liquified Natural Gross stood at 22,340,277 metric tons showing an increase of 3.0 per cent over the 21679,330 metric tons in 2014.

Giving an over view of the challenges facing the maritime sector in Nigeria, Abdullahi said “Maritime sector is dependent on import and export of goods, so definitely, there is less business now in the ports, this means there is less revenue for us, and that in itself is a very big challenge.

You are very aware that there is some challenge in foreign exchange market, which is related to the revenue of the whole nation, and we are highly dependent on oil revenue and the price of oil has come down; we are very much relied on the world economy, but maritime industries are dependent on world trade, in that way it has Continues on page 18

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Cover

Natural resources and wealth creation M

EVENT - From left, Javier Constante, Commercial Vice President for Dow Packaging and Speciality Plastics business, Europe Middle East and Africa ; Carsten Larsen, MD Dow Southern Africa; Diego Donoso, President Global Business Units for Dow; and Ross McLean, President Dow Sub-Saharan Africa during The Dow Chemical Company African media event held in Johannesburg. PHOTO: Franklin Alli.

NPA loses 10 % revenue as vessel traffic drops Continued from page 17 imparted on our activities, so what ever has imparted on our activities definitely would negatively impact on our revenue.

“The year 2016 has just started, in fact I would say the

year has not even started going by the fact that the budget has not been officially approved. And so, it has impacted negatively on maritime operations. For instance, if you look at goods

and services, we are less by about 10 per cent. Let’s say the number of ocean going vessels that were completed are five thousand, nine hundred, (a decrease of 8.1percent) was recorded in 2014.

Customs, if you go there a lot

DOW penetrating Nigeria, others with 1.3m tons of plastic products *Says industry worth N7bn

By Franklin Alli

T

HE Dow Chemical Company has started penetrating Nigeria and other markets in ECOWAS region with 1.3 million tons of the latest technology in plastic packaging products – plastic wraps and pouch. The company has also estimated that the plastics industry in Nigeria and the entire Africa is worth $20 million (about N7bn) and growing at six percent per annum. Dow asserted that the use of plastic wraps and pouch for packaging food , beverages and agricultural products is the latest innovation that is fast replacing rigid plastics for packaging meat, milk, banana, sugar among other consumable products from factories and farms.

Speaking to VANGUARD in Johannesburg, Diego Donoso, Global Business President for Dow’s Packaging and Speciality Plastics, said that plastics wrap and pouch are fastly replacing their rigid counterparts such as glass bottles, gallons that are more

difficult to recycle. “Flexible plastic packaging is often the most efficient when it comes to reducing food spoilage and waste. They can extend the shelf life of food from three days to fourteen days in store, with in-store waste reduced from an average 3 percent to less than one per cent,” he disclosed.

According to him, to better meet the demand for plastic

products in Nigeria and other markets in the region, Dow entered a joint venture with Saudi Aramco in 2011 to construct the world’s largest integrated petrochemical plant ever built in a single phase to provide 1..3 million tons of high performance plastic products into Nigeria and the rest of ECOWAS market as a growth strategy. Fielding

Continues on Page 19

FIRS registers 362,000 new tax payers

T

he

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said in Abuja that it registered 362,000 new taxpayers across the country within the last few months.

Chairman of the service, Mr Babatunde Fowler, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after a budget defence session with the Senate Committee on Banking and other Financial Institutions.

He said that the service was targeting to meet 90 per cent compliance with tax-paying.

“The honest truth is that when it comes to payment of Value Added Tax (VAT), less than 10

per cent in terms of numbers actually are remitting on VAT. If those people who are benefitting from Nigeria and actually have the love for Nigeria can do the right thing by paying their taxes they will be empowering government to provide services.

“We intend to make sure that we get at least 90 per cent compliance. Over the last few months, we have added over 362, 000 new tax payers and then our job is just to make sure that we enforce payment,” he said.

Fowler added that the service planned to recruit 1,250 new staff once its budget was approved.

any nations of the world are profusely blessed with natural resources, both mineral and agricultural in nature. This does not ensure against poverty in these countries. Developed as well as developing counties are alike in war against poverty. This begs the question, why are nations with natural resources still poor?

Natural resources in a country or community do not equal automatic wealth for the people. A perfect example of this is Nigeria, with the oil rich Niger Delta region which has been besought with crises and clashes that have resulted due to grievances from locals against the governments and multinationals. This has not only led to loss of lives and valuable properties. This has also caused underdevelopment in these areas. In some quarters, natural resources have been described as a curse rather than a blessing.

The idea that natural resources might be more of an economic curse than blessing began to emerge in the 1980s. The term resources curse thesis was first used by Richard Auty in 1993 to describe how counties rich in natural resources were unable to use that wealth to boost their economies and how , counter intuitively, these countries had lower economic growth than countries without an abundance of natural resources.

Natural resource deposits have undeniably brought prosperity to counties such as Norway and Iceland.

Unfortunately, most resource rich counties do not see economic development following their natural wealth.

Rather, relatively resource poornation such as East Asia have grown much faster than countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East that have considerable deposit of oil, natural gas and minerals.

Recent studies show that even after controlling for income and other factors, oil and mineral – dependent countries generally have higher poverty rates, income inequality, child mortality, and child malnutrition than those that are not dependent on such income sources.

These counties, identified by their high ratio of experts of a single commodity to total

exports, also spend less on healthcare, have lower enrolment in primary and secondary schools, and have a higher incidence of political corruption.

The tendency of oil and mineral resource discovery to fuel internal instability and corruption is what has led some to term these resources as a “curse.” This assertion seems justified, as the list of states, both semidemocratic and authoritarian that have declined substantially after discovering oil or mineral resources is nearly as long as the list of those that are resource rich.

Looking at some of the severe cases, the “benefits” of resources can indeed be questioned. Take the democratic Republic of Congo for example. It is the world’s largest producer of cobalt (49% of the world production in 2009) and industrial diamonds (30%), it is also a large producer of gemstone diamonds (6%), it has around 2/3 of the world’s deposits of coltan and significant deposits of copper and tin. At the same time, it has the world’s th worst growth rate and the 8 lowest GDP per capita over the last 40 years.

The picture for Sierra Leone and Liberia is very similar. They possess immense natural wealth. Yet they are found among the worst performers both in terms of economic growth and GDP per capita.

While the experiences of countries such as Bolivia and Venezuela are not as extreme as their resources wealth in terms of natural gas and oil respectively seem to have brought serious problems in terms of low growth, increased inequality and corruption.

When one, on top of this, adds that some of the world’s fastest growing economies over the past decades, such as Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore, have no natural wealth, the picture that emerges is that resources seem to be negative for development.

Of course, not all countries face decline after this discovery, but the list of those afflicted includes Nigeria, Venezuela, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, Algeria, Congo – Brazaville, Kazakhastan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 19

R

ecently the National Economic Council after its retreat came out with the proposal for the Federal Government to cooperate with state governments in a bid to achieve far-reaching economic goals for the country.

In a normal environment where everything is not politicized, the move would have been expected to yield the desired result. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a country where politicians do everything to run down others. If the current government had control in all the states of the federation, the proposal would succeed like success. But principal officers of this administration know what they themselves have done in the past and would not wish away stiff opposition to anything that would make them succeed. The opposition would want to see that they hold on to their own.

In the last dispensation, the repealed and replaced by a companies. In the West, Chief Lagos State Government was people-friendly law. The law Awolowo, apart from the popular vehement in its opposition to cannot vest ownership on state free education, set up a number federal policies just as at the governors and deny the people of industrial estates which twilight, Rivers State direct access to mineral deposits attracted several companies Government was antagonistic to in the same land. To mine any from abroad. It is this simple the Federal Government. mineral, an individual has to reason that the West is the most This government would be apply for a mining licence to the industrialised part of the living in a fool's paradise if the Federal Government while the country today. At this time, the PDP states promise 100 per cent same person building on land Nigerian economy was in top cooperation in policy will have to apply for certificate shape and at take-off stage in implementation of this of origin from the state economic development. administration. What this government. These absurdities The Nigerian economy was government ought to do to free must be dealt with for the nation rated along the same indices the nation from the vicissitudes to move forward. This with Brazil, Indonesia, of poverty and cyclical financial government of change must Malaysia and the rest of the doldrums, is to embark on fiscal muster the moral courage to now talked about BRICS federalism. This is what will face realities and do the needful ginger states to compete in if it hopes to leave a mark on terms of infrastructure, the sands of governance in investment drive and Nigeria. development of the resources in The government must learn a their domain. Asking for lesson from the founding fathers cooperation is to say the least, of Nigeria. In their time, make states lazy. There is Nigeria, after independence, certainly no part of the country was on the right path of that is not endowed with the gift economic growth and of nature to grow its local development. It had visionary economy. But as long as the leaders who were interested in Federal Government holds on the welfare of the people. They to mineral deposits and operated a federal constitution continues to give hand- outs to that was based on true states on monthly basis, it will federalism. The relationship continue to impoverish the between the Federal states and citizenry. It is the Government and the regions rent-seeking attitude of was fiscal federalism. During countries. Then Nigeria had Nigerian political class and the this period, industries were development plans that guided elites that has held the springing up in every region of the nation. In the North, economic progress of the nation the country. In the North, pyramids of groundnuts and to ransom.

Ahmadu Bello who held sway cotton were part of foreign The Federal Government was pre-occupied with setting exchange earning commodities. must remove the obstacle that up farm settlements, textile In the West, cocoa was found in makes states lazy in the industries etc. It was the same abundance. It brought pride to utilisation of local resources. story in the East where Michael the nation. The various regions The Land Use Act and the Okpara set up farm settlements were autonomous entities and Mineral Resources Act must be and a number of manufacturing there was competition among

the regions on internally generated revenue. The military intervention and the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity seemed to have radically altered the course of Nigeria’s economic development. While the military discarded the fiscal federalism structure of the country and made the states to become federal allocation collectors, the discovery of oil made Nigerian leaders to sleepwalk and refuse to plan believing that the money flowing from the ground will solve all the nation’s problems.

Peter Drucker, the management expert, in his book, The Practice of Management wrote that “Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship, the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.

President Buhari and his team must understand that management must always, in every decision and action, put economic performance first. It can only justify its existence and its authority by the economic results it produces. There may be great non-economic result that is the happiness of the members of the political class, the contribution to the welfare or culture of the ruling class, etc.

Yet, management has failed if it fails to produce economic results.

It has failed if it does not supply goods and services desired by Nigerians at a price the consumer is willing to pay. It has

failed if it does not improve or at least maintain the wealthproducing capacity of the economic resources entrusted to it. Nigeria is a land of ample opportunity and immense possibilities. In a fast changing and evolving world, where weaklings of yesteryears have become economic giants and the strong of yesterday are fading in economic glory and becoming weaklings, Nigeria has a chance to make a difference. Twenty years ago, no development economist would have accepted any theory that postulated the emergence of China, India and Brazil as economic power houses. China is almost the largest economy in the world beating United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.

Nigeria was on the path of greatness at independence. It evolved development plans which saw major development in the country at the early stages of the nation’s development on the plank of fiscal federalism.

The first, second and third national development plans were executed but the fourth was abandoned and since then, Nigeria has had no development plan. Nigeria needs to return very quickly to fiscal federalism if it is to tap into the vision many are seeing for it. If the fourth development plan that was jettisoned was religiously implemented, Nigeria would be singing songs of freedom today. In that plan, the framers said “Since the fourth national development plan is only one in the series of medium term plans intended to transform the Nigerian economy and society over time. Nigeria cannot achieve economic greatness in the present set up, Nigeria must go back to basics, not asking for cooperation of states.

In the words of Dana Mosora, Sustainability Director for Dow business in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said that the company is advancing the world to transistor to a circular

economy where waste is designed into new products and services. “The circular economy would focus on reducing food waste, improving resources efficiency

Mr. President: Fiscal federalism will end Nigeria's economic woes

Nigeria needs to return very quickly to fiscal federalism if it is to tap into the vision many are seeing for it

Cover Story Continued from page 18 questions on the expansion of Dow’s office in Lagos recently , he said “ Nigeria is key market for the packaging industry with almost 50 percent of the population living in urban areas and a new generation of consumers driving GDP growth which is expected to reach $294 billion by 2020. “ Also sneaking , Carsten Larsen, Managing Director Dow Southern Africa, added :” We tailored our products to be relevant to the local markets. “ Javier Constante, Commercial Director for Dow business in EMEA, corroborated that 1/3 of food produced around the world is wasted because they are not properly packaged

from the factory to the end users. “ Flexible plastic packaging is the solution to food waste. “ Similarly, Sami Mainich, Sales Director for Dow Packaging and Speciality Plastics Middle East, Africa

and Turkey, stated: “ We are a growth business in a growing region. In 2012, Dow opened its West African office in Ghana and followed by the office in Nigeria in June last year. “

Lack of strategy, poor leadership, Nigeria’s greatest challenges - Alile

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ormer Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Stock Exchange and Acting President General, Chattered Institute of Strategic Managers and Leaders, CIMSL, Dr. Hayford Alile has said that apart from the systemic economic leakage called corruption, lack of overarching strategy and poor strategic leadership and governance, remain Nigeria’s greatest challenges.

He stated this while speaking at the inauguration of principal officers of the CIMSL in Lagos.

He said: “As a result of this, any institution, public or private, that focuses on the research, learning and practice of strategic management and leadership is an indispensable catalyst in driving destiny fulfilment for individuals, organisations and nations, anywhere in the world.”

At the inauguration of the principal officers, which was for the African unit of CISML in Lagos, the Registrar General of the Institute, Professor Joseph Mba said CISML is purposed, among other things, to develop theories in current global management standards, and tailor them to solve emerging countries and organisational problems and exploit emerging opportunities.

Some of the CISML Africa officers inaugurated include:

Apostle Dr. Hayford Alile as Acting President General; Dr. Ghalib Fahad, Deputy President General; Dr. Austin Izagbo, President/Chairman CISML Africa; Mr. Reuben Djopong, Deputy Vice President, CISML Africa; Col. Agbu Kefas, President/ Chairman CISML Nigeria; Pastor Wale Oyeniyi, Vice President CISML Nigeria and Mazi Dr. Sam Ohuabunwa as Chairman, Charter Assessment Committee.

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Interview

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y way of introduction, I would like to say that I personally have been in the system for a long time, so it is not something that is new to me. I was Assistant General Manager, General Manager, and Executive Director before I became the Managing Director of the authority. So any other challenge that I might have encountered when we first came in may not necessarily be new to me. But in the last few months, you are very much aware there is change of government and this change of government is complete change of regime, it’s also complete change of ideas, complete change of philosophy.

It is not like from one similar government to another. It is a complete overhaul of the system. And so, in this new government, we had expected new philosophy and definitely there will be some challenges not only in the maritime sector but in the overall economy because the government itself must have sat down and understood the problem that it has encountered. That in itself, also made us face some challenges because the maritime sector like every other sector is impacted by economic policy of the government. So, yes I would say that in the last few months, we have had some challenges and we are still waiting for the government and the economy to be stable. We are still trying to see how best we can, like every other industry, to accommodate and face some of these challenges.

Can you tell us some of these challenges that you are facing?

The maritime sector is dependent on import and export of goods. So definitely,

There is need to review all ports concessions — NPA bos bo L

AST Wednesday, the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, Alhaji Habib Abdullahi had an interactive session with select Business Editors in Lagos. He spoke of the challenges in the maritime industry, the role of NPA in the economy and what the authority is doing to key into the diversification sermon of the Federal Government. Excerpts:

By OMOH GABRIEL there is less business now in the ports. Less business means less revenue for us. That in itself is a very big challenge.

In which way has the current policy direction affected the fortunes of your operations?

We are very much aware that there are some challenges in foreign exchange market which is related to the revenue of the whole nation. We are highly dependent on oil revenue and the price of oil has come down. We are very much reliant also on the world economy because the port industries are dependent on world trade. So in that way it has impacted in our activities.

And when I say it has impacted on our activities, it goes without saying that it has impacted our revenues.

At what rate would you say your revenue has been impacted?

The year has just started. I

Abdullahi

would not even say that the year has started; after all, the budget has not been approved.

If you look at the number of our goods and services, we are less by about 10 per cent. I have the statistics with me. The number of ocean going vessels was 5,090 as at last year, that is, a decrease of 8.1 per cent from upward of 5,541 for example in 2015. Generally if you look at all these traffic and the cargo traffic as well, you will see that there is some negative impacts and that definitely has to do with the source of our revenue and the economic activity of the nation.

So it has negatively impacted us.

How are you reorienting the ports?

We have to go with the current government’s thinking. And that is diversification of the economy so that we are less dependent on oil. That is what the government direction is. And what we are trying to do now is to make sure that we encourage exports and we have already written a letter to the federal ministry of agriculture and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council. I will give you one interesting example. There are quite a number of empty containers in the port. Why are they lying idle? If only we can encourage people to export instead of taking them out of the ports as empty. People are exporting yams and other agricultural products, so if you create that, you can diversify the economy.

We have quite a number of solid minerals as well. So we can diversify into agriculture, we can diversify into solid minerals so that these containers that are lying idle in the ports or are being taken away empty can be utilised; so in our own way, we are also encouraging exports. That is one of the areas that we think we can diversify and

Abdullahi compensate for the revenue that we are losing.

The question is how are you preparing the ports, for instance the various terminals and what have you, to accommodate the volume of exports that will come with this change agenda we are facing?

Well, we have to work hand in hand with the concessionaires. You know that the terminal operators are the ones that are running the ports, so we have to reorient them. At the same time we are also synergising with customs.

We are trying to see if we can make some ports dedicated terminals for exports. I have scheduled a meeting with the controller general of customs.

The maritime sector is dependent on import and export of goods. So definitely, there is less business now in the ports.

Less business means less revenue for us

Some of you may be aware that I was with him at Ikorodu last week. We were there and we saw that the number of empty containers is large and the place is messy. So we are trying to see how we can make that Ikorodu to be an export terminal for example. This is just an example and we have some other interested parties that are coming in and we are trying to have some dedicated ports. We have the Ilaje ports in Ondo State. You know the former Olukola port, they are trying to make that ports to be dedicated to solid minerals. So quite a number of people are coming and they are showing interest.

Using other ports apart from Lagos You see, quite a number of people do not understand our operations. I do not tell you that when you are bringing in goods, you must use this or that port. It is dependent on the importer or the exporter.

Now more especially now that all the ports have been concessioned, we are just landlords and all we need to do is to keep the entire necessary infrastructure and I think we are doing that in all the ports. It is left for government, the concessionaires and the terminal operators to encourage people to use their ports. It is interesting that people use Lagos ports even though Lagos is choked up instead of using Calabar ports.

Although there are some

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 21

Interview General that when I was in Secondary School, the rail line was by the side of my school, and we used to keep time because of the rail. And every day there were two trains running to and from Lagos.

And somebody is saying we have achieved something because there is at least one train per week now.

ss oss

challenges there but it is a very deep sea port which depth is even higher than Lagos’. And we have the West African terminal there but people still do not want to use them as much as they use Lagos even though some of the things that are coming in go to Aba for instance. But still people prefer to come to Lagos. Maybe it’s left for you to investigate and find out why.

Ports infrastructure development Again I have to re-educate the public. It is not our responsibility to provide access roads into the ports. I wish it were. If it were, I assure you we would have done something about it because it is very disturbing. You see anything that happens, it is NPA but access road is the responsibility of the federal ministry of works, Lagos State government as well, more especially when it comes to some policies. It is even part of the responsibility of the local government. But we spend quite a lot of money on the ports. Last year, we spent about N500 million in order to meet our CSR obligations. The only thing we can do is within the ports. And we are developing the infrastructure within the ports. You know the 1.6 km roads that we constructed in Apapa. We have also done similar works in Tincan Island. The federal government now is doing something about it and I would like to say that there is already C M Y K

a committee, which we are also members of which is trying to see that the access roads and the place is being cleared.

On Railway Inter-modal type of transportation is one of the key issues that I forgot to mention.

If only railway is working as it used to be all these congestions would have eased off. Our responsibility within the ports is to develop the rail system. If you remember, about two years ago, the rail within the ports was commissioned along the ENL carrier. Also in Port Harcourt, we did that.

We are also developing that infrastructure within the ports. And I think the work has gone 93 per cent and also the one within Port Harcourt is being completed. But there has to be a definite policy.

I was telling the US Consul

High cost of importing through Nigeria Those who are importing through Cotonou are simply smuggling. It is ridiculous.

People are complaining that this port is congested which means there is a lot of business. And at the same time, there are other factors that work against bringing in goods through the country.

The economy itself encourages smuggling. People smuggle because of some of the economic policies. Some people say that the port is expensive but compare it with other places in the world.

People do not even know how much it costs to import. But people are just peddling rumours that it is cheaper to import through Cotonou ports.

But it is actually because it is cheaper to smuggle goods through the Cotonou ports as they dodge the fee they are supposed to pay. So the issue is not necessarily what people think. Our port is relatively competitive and if you ask the terminal operators, a lot of people are making money, otherwise there would not be so many applications for people wanting to set up the sea ports in Nigeria. So it is not because the other ports are cheaper, but smuggling is going on but I think with the seriousness of Customs now, all that will change very soon.

Abdullahi

How many of t h e s e concessionaires owe NPA? First and foremost, there are quite a number of them that are owing definitely, but you see, business like

There are quite a number of them that are owning definitely, but you see, business like this continues every year, monthly, and every quarter we sit down and reconcile our accounts this continues every year, monthly, and every quarter we sit down and reconcile our accounts just like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corperation(NNPC).

Well there are different kinds of revenue, different kind of dues that we are supposed to collect from the concessionaires. Government is very much aware of what is happening so it is dynamic and continuous. And then due to the challenges that we face, the question of the Treasury Single Account, because some of them do not even know how to deposit the charges or due.

Because of the introduction of the TSA, there is that challenge especially on the dollar component of the rents and charges. Because we insist that we must be paid in the foreign currency that is in the dollars that we agreed on they are saying that they can not access the foreign exchange and want to pay us in naira.

But, I am refusing to collect that because what they are also collecting is in dollars so they should go and find the dollar because that is what they are collecting.

So these are all the challenges that we are trying to sort out which is quite normal.

Some of this people are paying, some of them are current but, there are some that are facing some difficulties and problem, and every day we are making sure we reconcile with them and very soon you will see the result. I have written a letter to the government that there is a need to review all the concessions, so that at least, all the challenges are addressed from both sides.

Extension of some concessions The second question is the extension of concessions, let me tell you what happen, some of these concessionaires when they took over with a dual responsibility, we have some responsibility and they have theirs.

Part of our responsibilities is development of infrastructure

which we are engaged on. Let me give you a typical example, some of them want their site and when business increased, because some of these sites have been there for more than 50-60 years, some areas were even collapsing. We have so much challenge that we could not do everything alone, and these guys said ok why can’t we do it and when they did it, instead of paying them, they insisted you give them one to three years more so they can collect back the money spent on rebuilding the infrastructure and it is because of that reason we wrote to the government, Federal Ministry of Transportation, NCP and to the Federal executive council.

So it is the NCP that gave the extension, based on of cause on our recommendations that ok this guy has done this and that job. We need to extend their period to 2-5 years so in most of these cases that is what has happened. Like in the PortHarcourt ports, when it was concessioned, the 2 terminals operators operating there inherited a dilapidated ports.

And so they were asked to fix them, which was our responsibility and not the responsibility of the concessionaires which they did and they had to recovered their money.

Some of your old traditional mandate has been taking up by this concessionaires to what extent has this affected your revenue generation profile?

It has affected it positively, you see then we had operators, we also take care of the infrastructures, engineering, cradles which you see around.

Also it was NPA that have to take care of them and to be honest that is how we work. As you are aware it is ours and we spend a lot of money on it.

There are lots of patronages and when people come in they want to repair one thing or the other that is the whole essence of the ports reform. The port operation has become more efficient and we are assigned to take our own kind of responsibilities.

The volume has increased; the concessioners them self now have to go out to look for market which increase the volume of business. If you compare all that to our annual report, for instance at 7 and 6 percent or 7 and 5 percent, and what we have earned between 7 and 15 percent, the difference is clear. I have said it everywhere that when people say that the concession is not working, it is not a success, I disagree with them.

The port concession is a success and I think there are challenges which I believe could be much better.

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Banking & Finance

Sterling Bank Emerges Tops at Risk Management Award

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n recognition of its excellent risk management practices, Sterling Bank was conferred with the award for the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Banking and Investment Services category of the Nigeria Risk Award (NRA) for 2015.

Meanwhile, the 54 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sterling Bank Plc will hold tomorrow in Lagos.

A key item on the agenda for the AGM is the proposed dividend of N2.6 billion which if approved would be paid to the expectant shareholders.

The dividend represents a 50 per cent increase over the sum approved and paid to shareholders at the end of the 2014 financial year.

The Award, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Banking and Investment Services category, was presented to the Bank last weekend at Nigerian Economic & Social Risks Summit which held in Lagos.

The Joachim Adenusi-led Conrad Clark Nigeria (CCN) Ltd, organizers of the Award is the pioneer dedicated risk management award for Enterprise Risk Management activities in Nigeria. The organization which is affiliated with the Institute of Risk Management,United Kingdom was set up to recognize organizations with impressive Enterprise Risk Management practices in the country.

This Award is coming barely one month after the OneCustomer Bank emerged tops among Nigerian banks in the Lafferty Bank Quality Ratings.

Sterling Bank beat other banks, insurance companies and other players in the financial services sector that submitted entries to win the Risk Award.

The Bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, assured that the Bank will continue to put the necessary structures in place to ensure adequate risk management in the Bank and serve as a reference in risk management practice in the industry.

His words: “Sterling Bank is committed to best practice in risk management. This informs why we have continued to fortify our Risk Management team and provide adequate training programmes to ensure that they are up-to-date in current risk management practices worldwide.”

C M Y K

Mobile payments records highest transaction of N6.5bn in March •Number of PoS drops by 4.4%

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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obile payment recorded its highest monthly transaction of N6.5 billion in March, indicating increased adoption of mobile devices for payments.

This was disclosed by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) in the electronic payment report posted on its website.

The report revealed that the value of transactions through mobile payment grew faster than other channels between

January and March this year.

In terms of value, mobile payment grew by 51 percent

Mobile payment grew by 51 per cent from N4.3 billion in January to N6.5 billion in March

from N4.3 billion in January to N6.5 billion in March. On a yearly basis, mobile payment recorded the second highest growth, after the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP). From March 2015 to March 2016, value of mobile payment rose 75.6 percent from N3.7 billion to N6.5 billion.

In terms of volume, mobile payment grew by 55 percent to 190,277 in March from 121,940 in January. Compared to the volume in March 2015, mobile payment grew by 146 percent from 77,185 March 2015, to 190,277 in March 2016.

ORACLE CLOUD DAY: From left, Country Managing Director, Oracle Nigeria, Adebayo Sanni; CX Leader, Oracle West Africa, Austin Oshodi; Oracle Cloud Champion, Adeola Adebari and IDM/Webcenter Consultant, Hamilton Iyoha at the Oracle Cloud Day held on Thursday, Lagos.

Coronation Merchant Bank boosts efficiency with stringent risk procedures

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oronation Merchant Bank has indicated its commitment to boosting its operational efficiency through implementation of stringent risk management procedures.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar stated this adding that the management is also committed to strengthening the Bank’s risk ratings. He spoke during a review of the bank’s operational strategy in Lagos. He said, “Risk management is one of the pillars of our operations and this awareness continues to influence our organizational disposition to risk management and corporate governance. As a bank, we presently maintain a 77.3 percent capital adequacy ratio above the regulatory minimum of 10 percent and subject our operations to very stringent risk management procedures”.

In line with its aspiration of becoming Africa’s premier investment Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank seeks innovative strategies and avenues for boosting its operational efficiency.

These initiatives include the recruitment of highly skilled bankers with local and international experience to strengthen its various Strategic Business Units (SBU’s) to

deliver exceptional benefits to clients and other stakeholders.

For the financial year ended December 2015, the Bank announced a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N2.33bn, which is an increase of 43.7 percent over last year’s figure of N1.62 billion, and the Bank’s Profit After Tax (PAT) rose from N1.61bn to N3.22 billion, 100 percent growth over the previous year’s figure. Outside profitability and efficiency of the Bank’s operations highlighted by the results, Nonperforming loans reduced to 0.4 percent from 0.76 percent of the Bank’s total loan book in 2014.

This underscores the Bank’s commitment to risk management and effectiveness of its deployed strategy towards creating quality assets. The Bank’s non-performing loan is distantly below the prudential guidance of 5.0 percent which is a contributory justification for ‘A-’ Agusto risk rating.

In a related development, the Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Onome Komolafe said that “In just one year, our assets base grew by 5.6 percent to over N78bn and a dividend payout of 10.5k per share was announced.

Commenting on this development, President, Association of Licensed Mobile Operators (ALMO), Mr. Dare Owolabi said: "The growth of mobile payment transactions has not started. We are still scratching the surface.

Sometime in the nearest future,especially when we as a body surmount the challenges we face, the number of transactions you see today will quadruple. Most of the transactions recorded today are done in the urban with non or limited interoperability. Once the MMOs extend their services to the rural areas with laudable products and interoperability kicks in, monthly transactions will be over a 100 billion."

Number of PoS declines While the NIBSS report revealed a general increase in the volume and value of transactions across the various electronic payment channels, it however shows a decline in the number of Point of Sale Terminals in the country.

While the number of PoS deployed across the country declined to 116,602 in March from 119,126 in January, the total number of registered PoS dropped by 4.4 percent to 135,651 in March from 141,787 in January. However on an annual basis, PoS deployed rose by 2.5 percent from 99,670, in March 2015, while the number of registered PoS rose by 17 percent from 125,766 in March 2015.

Transactions through Point of Sale (PoS) grew by 10.6 percent and 19.4 percent in terms of value and volume between January and March. While the volume of PoS transaction rose from 3.6 billion in January to 4.3 billion in March, the value rose from N47 billion to N52 billion. On an annual basis, the volume of PoS transaction rose by 65.3 percent from 2.6 billion in March 2015. The value of PoS transactions rose by 56 percent from N33.5 billion in March 2015.

The NIBSS report also revealed increased use of the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) during the period. While the value of transactions through the NIP channel rose by 16.6 percent to N2.8 trillion in March from N2.4 trillion in January, the volume of transactions rose by 29 percent to 9.47 billion in March from 7.3 billion in January. On a yearly basis, the value of rose by 47 percent from N1.9 trillion in March 2015, while the volume rose by 88 percent from N5 trillion in March 2015.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 23

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Corporate Finance

Fidelity Bank targets better customer service with new app upgrade

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etermined to provide cuttingedge, round-the-clock banking services to its teeming customers, Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the upgrade of its mobile-based banking application - Fidelity Online Banking app.

In a statement, the bank said the much improved software application puts it in a pole position to drive efficient service delivery and customer acquisition by essentially placing innovative financial services in the hands of Nigerians residing in un-served and u n d e r - s e r v e d communities.

With an increasing customer base, Fidelity Bank says it is channelling significant human and financial resources towards building an innovative, secure digital banking platform with a huge emphasis on superior userexperience.

Specifically, it noted that the upgrade will enable subscribers of the online banking application carry out more banking transactions well beyond mundane financial services such as funds transfers and bills payment, in a secured environment any time, anywhere.

Divisional Head, Electronic Banking, Adédèjì Olówè, explained that the new Fidelity Online app is not just an upgrade of the old but a new application with enhanced features that can be used with a range of mobile devices such as Apple, Samsung, Blackberry and other Android products.

He disclosed that the app offers customers a simple, seamless and secure banking, adding that customers can bank, how and when they want to.

C M Y K

Access Bank remains committed to increased growth, profitability —WIGWE

BY PETER EGWUATU

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ccess Bank Plc has stated its commitment to increased growth and profitability in order to enhance shareholders' value in the current financial year 2016.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, who disclosed this said “In the coming year, we will remain resilient in the execution of our bold strategy for increased growth and profitability.

Though market conditions will remain challenging, we will focus on innovation, proactive risk management and data analytics as catalysts for diversifying income streams and enhancing retail expansion, so as to maximize shareholder value in 2016 and beyond.” He stressed that the 2015 results reinforced the bank’s resolve to generate sustainable returns despite challenging market conditions.

According to him “We achieved strong financial progress in 2015 as the Group recorded a 44 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax, PBT to ¦ 75 billion from ¦ 52 billion in 2014, with significant contribution from our securities trading business.

Guided by a robust risk

management framework, our diversified business model yielded positive results as we grew the business cautiously and recorded sound prudential ratios. During the year, we successfully raised

capital by way of Rights Issue which has significantly strengthened our capital base and now provides us with sufficient headroom to harness opportunities in key growth sectors of the

•Herbert Wigwe, Group MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc

We successfully raised capital by way of Rights Issue which has significantly strengthened our capital base and now provides us with sufficient headroom to harness opportunities in key growth sectors of the economy

Weak macro-economy: Investors urged to seek asset diversification

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

I

n view of the weak economic growth, shaky financial markets, and less accommodative monetary policies, investors have been urged to diversify their portfolio across asset classes that perform differently in various economic environment.

Mr. Oyelade Eigbe, Head, Investments of Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, stated this in a report titled ‘The Stagflation Puzzle Investment Direction’, saying that proper asset diversification helps in stabilising portfolio performance over time.

He posited that industrial and agriculture sectors stand out as preferred investment options and called on investors to allocate more resources to both sectors as they offer positive returns despite the economic

challenges.

He added that the industrial and agriculture sectors could be beneficiaries of the present administration’s policy thrust.

“Over the last quarter, we witnessed inflation rise (Feb’16: 11.4 per cent vs Jan’16: 9.6 per cent), increased unemployment rate (Q4’15: 10.4 per cent vs Q3’15: 9.9 per cent) and reduced economic growth (2015 real GDP growth of 2.79 per cent, the lowest rate recorded in the rebased series) At the second Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of 2016, it was noted that the CBN was struggling with “Stagflation”, which is an economic situation characterized by slow economic growth rate, high inflation and high unemployment. At the end of the meeting, the committee decided to tighten monetary policy.

“The MPC raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 100bps to 12 per cent; raised the Cash Reserve Requirement

(CRR) of banks from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent; retained Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent; and adjusted the asymmetric corridor from MPR+2 per cent and -7 per cent to MPR+2 per cent and -5 per cent (i.e. CBN will lend to banks at 14% and accept deposits at 7%).

“Whilst the appropriateness of the decisions may come under contention, the major concern on the investment front is how to appropriately allocate your assets in such a period,” he said.

Giving the breakdown of sectoral performance of various assets classes, Eigbe said that 2015 earning season showed mixed results, but reflected a decline in earnings generally.

He explained that the banks quarter four numbers were weak, though better than expected; Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) also showed weaker numbers though consumer staples showed slight resilience.

economy. In addition, the recent upgrade of our national scale credit rating to ‘A’ by Fitch Ratings – even in an extremely difficult environment – will enable growth in the market share of our customers’ businesses and solidify our position as a top player in the industry.”

Wigwe noted that the bank has made remarkable headway in redesigning its systems and processes to enhance service delivery across all customer touchpoints, with emphasis on tailored customer interactions, adding “Leveraging innovation, we introduced products and solutions which have enhanced our brand equity and recorded significant customer adoption and migration to our digital platforms.

A cursory review of the bank’s 2015 financial performance show that gross earnings increased by 38 per cent from N245.5 billion in 2014 to N337.4 billion, an indication of improved efficiency in driving profitability. The interest income and non interest income contributed 62 per cent and 38 per cent respectively to boost the earnings.

Interest Income grew by 17 per cent Year on Year , y/y to ¦ 207.8 billion in 2015 from ¦ 176.9billion in 2014 as a result of improved income from lending activities and increased yield on investment securities.

Non-Interest Income stood at ¦ 129.4 billion, up 89 per cent in full year 2015 from ¦ 68.4billion in full year, 2014, largely attributable to strong gains on Foreign Exchange, FX trading income, which reflects management’s ability to diversify the bank’s revenue sources.

Also, operating Income increased to ¦ 234.8billion in 2015, representing a 39 per cent growth y/y on the back of increased earnings compared with ¦ 168.4billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the period rose to ¦ 75.0billion, representing a 44 per cent y/y growth when compared to ¦ 52.0billion in 2014. Profit After Tax (PAT) was up 53 per cent in 2015 to ¦ 65.9billion from ¦ 43.1billion in 2014.

Other performance indicators show that the bank’s Return On Average Equity (ROAE) grew from 16.5 per cent in 2014 to 20.4 per cent in 2015, , indicative of the bank’s commitment to maximising shareholder returns.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 25

C M Y K

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Corporate Finance

FCMB rolls-out Season 3 Promo, rewards customers

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irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is set to enhance the experience of its customers through another bumper reward scheme tagged ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3”. The latest promotion has been designed to provide extra empowerment value to customers of the bank, while encouraging financial inclusion and savings culture. The ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3”follows the huge success recorded in the second phase of the Millionaire Promo held between August 2015 and January 2016 across the country.

The exercise produced twelve millionaires and 1,920 winners of various top-range gifts.

In a statement, FCMB explained that the Millionaire Promo Season 3, which runs from April to November this year,is targeted at all segments of the society, especially existing and potential savings account customers of the bank. This however, excludes salary and domiciliary account holders.

During the promo, various exciting prizes will be won by qualified customers. While four lucky customers will each win the star prize of N2 million at the grand finale of the promo scheduled for December, 12.

Others will be rewarded with N1million at the regional draws that will hold in June, August and October. Other fantastic prizes to be won during the promo include LED televisions, power generating sets, smart phones, tablets and decoders.

On how to participate in the FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3, already existing or a new customer of the bank needs to do is to increase his/her balance by N10,000 in any of the eligible savings account and maintain it for 30 days to qualify for the monthly electronic selection of winners where the star prize of N1million and other fantastic prizes will be won.

Multiple savings of N10,000 will increase the probability of winning. To qualify for the grand finale draws in December, existing and new customers are to increase their balances with N50,000.00 and maintain it for 30 days . Multiple savings of N50,000.00 will also increase the possibility of winning.

Speaking on the promo, FCMB’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu, said the bank is excited to extend the reward scheme as it provides it with another veritable platform to create opportunities, engage and impact on customers in line with one of its values as a helpful financial institution.

More indigenous E&P firms gearing up for dual listing — ONYEMA

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

fter the successful listing of shares of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2014, more companies in the downstream oil & gas Exploration and Production (E&P) sector have indicated

interest to follow suit.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Osacr Onyema, who made the disclosure at NSE/ LSEG dual listing conference in Lagos, said there has also been expression of interest from companies with less representation on the Exchange, especially the telcos and utility firms.

Seplat was the first indigenous Nigerian company to dual list its ordinary shares in London and Nigeria after an Initial Public Offering (IPO) that raised as much as $500 million, an equivalent of N82.5 billion, thereby valuing the company at $1.9 billion.

Onyema stated that many more companies are eager to replicate the success story, saying that

SIGNING - From left, Group Head, Corporate Finance, GT Bank plc, Lara Ogunlaja; Deputy Head, Investment Banking Division, Vetiva Capital, Sola Abiodun; Company Secretary, Lotus capital Ltd, Mas’ud Balogun; Managing Director, Lotus Capital Ltd, Hajara Adeola; Executive Director, Vetiva Capital, Damilola Ajayi,and Managing Director, STL Trustees Ltd, Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo,at the signing ceremony of the Lotus halal fixed income fund in Lagos.

SEC to set up committee on N80bn unclaimed dividends

By PETER EGWUATU

T

he Securities and E x c h a n g e Commission, SEC has disclosed that it will set up committee to address the over N80 billion unclaimed dividend in the Nigeria capital market , even as it has assured investors to underwrite expenses to be incurred by them in the course of keying into the e-dividend platform.

The Director General of the commission, Mr. Mournir Gwarzo said “ We are concerned with the unclaimed dividend and we are going to set up a committee to look into the issue and recommend how it can be addressed holistically.”

According to him “ SEC is extending the deadline for free e-Dividend registration in the country by 150 days starting from Thursday 14 April, 2016. The commission would bear the cost of registration on behalf of any investor who registered within the 150 days grace period adding however that at the expiration of the grace period, subsequent registration of an

investor would attract a fee of N100.”

He noted that the e-dividend management system which was launched last year by the commission in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) to enable investors have direct access to their dividends has enjoyed high level of compliance from the

investing public.

According to him, within three months the public enlightenment programme began, the commission has achieved over 4000 per cent growth in the number of investors that registered to have access to their dividends.

Gwarzo said the commission’s concern was to bring back retail investors to the nation’s capital market.

announcements would have been to that effect if not for the commodity shocks expressed globally in the last couple of months.

“We have done a lot of works with a number of E&P companies and if it wasn’t commodity shocks we have witnessed in the last set of months, you probably would have seen a public announcement. Unfortunately, the way we work, we can’t announce anything until the deal is done. Yes there is a lot of interest; there is a strong pipeline and everybody wants to replicate the success of Seplat.

On the next wave of listing expected in the market, he said: “On a standalone basis, there is still great opportunity for companies and sectors that are not well represented in the market like the telecom companies, a number of utility companies and a lot of government companies that we are putting a lot of efforts into seeing that they are privatized.

So, are the areas that we think that we could see more action in the mid-term.

“But from a dual listing perspective, there is clear path that everybody has seen from the success story that Seplat has had and we believe that that is where we would see a lot of action that will then encourage a lot of issuers to follow suit.”

Speaking, Mr. Nikhil Rathi, CEO/Director, International Development, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Plc, explained that a total of 130 African companies are already listed on the LSE, saying that energy groups are in the minority, while the biggest representation are from companies in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

Virtual accounting berths in Nigeria, to help SMEs in proper bookkeeping

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

I

n an effort to help the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector get unfettered access to necessary equity and debt financing and to ensure growth, Pundit Bookkeeping Services, Nigeria’s leading virtual accountants’, has announced it is offering SME operators a bouquet of bespoke accounting services suitable for their peculiar needs, at an affordable price.

Recently launched in Nigeria, the company provides general accounting services as well as specialized flexible and efficient bookkeeping solutions to SMEs and individuals who desire professional help in keeping track of their finances. By rendering this service to them, SMEs can focus on other important aspects of their businesses without thinking of the high cost of maintaining full-time accountants.

Speaking on some of the benefits that come with hiring this service, Managing Director, Pundit Bookkeeping Service, Ms. Jovita Madojemu, said the company understands that many SMEs in dire need of clear co-ordination in their business finances often think that such professional service comes highly-priced.

She, however, assured that their services are affordable. “We are well positioned to provide such businesses with professionally-prepared books of accounts and services at a very friendly price. This way, SMEs will not only save funds spent on extra office space for the recruitment of a full-time accountant but they will also have access to a pool of professionals and chartered accountants, who will be made available to them, providing expert advice where necessary, as well as detailed information and reports,” Ms. Madojemu stated.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 27

Homes & Housing Finance

SA firm provides N4bn fund for Nigerian property developer

By YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

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V

antage Africa, a Johannesburg-based mezzanine fund manager, has announced the provision of $20 million (about N4 billion) funding to Landmark Africa, a Nigerian property development company.

Mezzanine financing is a hybrid of debt and equity financing that is typically used to finance the expansion of existing companies. It is basically debt capital that gives the lender the rights to convert to an ownership or equity interest in the company if the loan is not paid back in time and in full.

Landmark has developed or managed over 130,000 m2 of prime real estate across the continent. The real estate company is headquartered in Lagos, with offices in several countries including South Africa and the United Kingdom. Over its 19-year history, Landmark has built a high-quality property portfolio, including A-Grade offices for over 100 corporate clients including the Nigerian headquarters for PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Procter & Gamble and provided development management services for one of the largest malls in Nigeria.

Landmark Village Landmark is currently building Landmark Village, which will be an iconic “Live, Work, Play ” mixed-use

•Mass housing development development with breathtaking sea views in the exclusive area of Victoria Island. They have already completed a cutting-edge, spacious 2,500 person events centre, a Japanese Shiro restaurant and a Hard Rock Café just a stone’s throw from the beach. Landmark will soon enhance the development with a state of the art training centre and two extraordinary multitiered office buildings with over 20,000 m2 of dynamic office space. The premises will also encompass a 4-star luxury hotel, fully serviced extended stay apartments and upscale residences for sale, each offering a unique residential experience. Landmark Village will benefit from a vast parking tower providing an abundance

of parking space for all residents and guests. The Landmark Village precinct will provide preeminent comfort for a demanding office, retail, leisure and residential clientele in the nation’s commercial capital.

This type of transaction perfectly illustrates our investment strategy of supporting strong management teams of Pan-African businesses

Importance of property valuation A

property valuation, normally produced as a report, includes property information – rates, size of the land and building, physical details on the construction and condition of the dwelling, details on any immediate issues that may need addressing – as well as information on comparative sales in the area. Property valuation is generally conducted on a request by you, or a lending institution (such as a bank) that is looking to fund the purchase of a property.

The question is always asked: why would you waste your money getting a property valuation?

There is no need, it’s not worth the paper it is written on. Adegbonmire and associates, estate valuers and research consultants highlighted some reasons why you should consider getting a property valuation before selling or buying: To understand the difference between price and value. Price is what you pay the vendor. Value is what your property is worth and can be accurately assessed by a competent qualified valuer. To guide your investment/buying/selling decisions: A property investment is one of the biggest decisions you will make, yet people make them without any objective advice. On the C M Y K

US program offers relief to underwater mortgages

other hand, people always seek qualified financial advice when making other investment decisions.

For an objective assessment: A reputable valuer is objective, an estate agent acts on behalf of the vendor. The aim of an estate agent is to get the maximum price for the vendor.

Personal attachment can cloud judgment.

Everyone forms emotional attachments to the homes they live or a property they wish to buy, which can affect how much they believe they are worth. An independent valuation can provide some clarity and prevent unrealistic expectations. If you are selling, a valuation can provide a good idea as to what you can realistically expect it to sell for – it may in some cases be more than you think it’s worth.

A valuation is a legally binding document and so can be a valuable document when negotiating with buyers/vendors and if any disputes arise.

Prevent any financing shocks: This is particularly an issue if you are buying an apartment off the plan or a house-and-land package, where the price you pay may be affected by rebates, incentives, developer profits, marketing costs and a change in value over time.

Warren van der Merwe, Chief Operating Officer of Vantage Capital, said: “We look forward to partnering with Landmark as they develop a world class mixed-use precinct in Victoria Island. We were impressed by the quality of the office buildings, and restaurants they have completed to date in Nigeria.”

On his part, Johnny Jones, Associate Partner at Vantage Capital, said: “I’m very impressed with Landmark’s long track-record of operating so successfully in a challenging environment like Nigeria. This type of transaction perfectly illustrates our firm’s investment strategy of supporting strong management teams of PanAfrican businesses.”

Paul Onwuanibe, CEO of Landmark added, “We are excited to have Vantage partner with us on our journey to achieving the $5 billion valuation mark over the next decade. Our 19 year global and African real estate experience has keenly sharpened our insight in forging strategic alignments; especially in Africa. We are convinced the advent of Vantage will portend a marked acceleration towards achieving our goals and rewriting the African story.”

Luc Albinski, Managing Partner, said, “Nigeria has received much negative press recently with a number of South African companies running into difficulties there and some announcing their exit. We hope that this mezzanine investment, the twentieth in our history, will help convince investors that the country has much to offer for those willing to take a longer-term, more balanced view of the current challenges facing the country.”

annie Mae and Freddie Mac will offer mortgage relief to about 33,000 underwater borrowers through a plan announced on Thursday by their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency. An “underwater” mortgage is when the balance of the mortgage loan is higher than the fair market value of the property. Under the new program, borrowers would be eligible to have some of their mortgage principal forgiven if they have a loan whose balance is $250,000 or less and they are at least 90 days delinquent on their mortgage payments as of March 1.

Even after the principal reduction, the borrowers would still owe at least 15% more than their home is worth, the regulator said on Thursday.

The FHFA also said it would require investors who buy delinquent loans from Fannie and Freddie to evaluate borrowers’ eligibility for principal reduction if they owe more than 115 percent of the home’s value. The regulator said it is forbidding buyers of delinquent loans from walking away from the properties, requiring them to first try to sell the property to a nonprofit, municipality or other buyer.

Advocates of principal reduction said the new provisions will help homeowners who continue to struggle to make mortgage payments years after the crisis.

When those homeowners go into foreclosure, it creates a strain on low- and moderateincome communities, they said.

“These new programs recognise the value of principal reduction as an important tool that helps to keep families in their homes and reduces the cost of foreclosures,” said Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending.

Structuring principalreduction programs so that taxpayers don’t lose money has long been a vexing task for the FHFA. Agency officials said Fannie and Freddie ultimately will save money by avoiding costs related to putting a property into foreclosure.

The program is a one-time offer that officials described as the final modification for homeowners to come out of the foreclosure crisis. FHFA officials said on Thursday this will help limit the moral hazard of leading borrowers to believe they can take a mortgage they can’t afford and be bailed out.

28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 NOTE: Last week the series ended abruptly in the middle of the paragraph below.

Readers were therefore deprived of the benefit of the entire argument. This is the reason for extending this article to a third part. Fortunately, there has been a later development which needed to be incorporated in our evaluation of what the Economic Summit or Retreat achieved. Please read on. nother programme borrowed from the IBB era is the wheat project. Those of us who were close to the fraudulent wheat project on which IBB’s government threw away hundreds of millions of naira can only hope that there was a typographical error there self-sufficient in wheat General Gowon who set somewhere. Only God knows production. Poor VP. Later that Kano rolling as the nation’s who persuaded Babangida evening, at the Kano Club, it bread basket). Despite all that wheat, which is a was revealed that Nigeria’s these, the wheat project was temperate zone crop, could second citizen had been a failure; the yields were low; be cultivated, with cruelly deceived. All he saw the quality poor and the comparative advantage, in was grass and no single wheat project was corrupt. the tropical sun. Again, this stalk. Two days later, millions It has been necessary to was advertised as a national more were released to Kano state all these because one programme from which State – to grow more grass, expects the Federal Nigerian farmers would naturally. It is a fact, easily Government to do its home benefit. In reality, it was a demonstrated by looking at work and find out why the Northern project benefiting the records that the Federal first initiative failed. One only a few states – Borno, government was defrauded cause of failure was Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna and to by all the states pretending to deliberate falsification of some extent, Plateau. cultivate wheat. So, for the last results. Late Admiral Ikhomu, The wheat variety which time, someone should tell military VP, second in was introduced to Nigeria every President of Nigeria not command to Babangida, was the product of the Green to listen to anybody once visited the Kano project Revolution initiative proposing a wheat on a fact finding tour, as a pioneered by Dr Borlough, programme. There is no prelude to the Federal Nobel Prize winner, for comparative advantage in it Government advancing more agriculture. That variety and Nigeria has several crops funds to the state’s wheat depended on irrigation and which we can develop and programme.

The state massive in-puts of fertiliser cultivate more easily with government took the VP up for its success; rain-fed good yields and with in a helicopter to see the vast methods produced low attendant great returns on areas of wheat farms already yields. The only irrigation investment. cultivated and thriving. The systems that could cope with Finally, IBB’s government official tour lasted three wheat were all in the North; was warned to desist from hours. Returning to Kano, the in the Bakolori Dam site, those two programmes. But, Admiral called a Press near Talata Mafara (then in it appears that each Conference and blasted the Sokoto State) and Tiga Dam, administration invariably critics of the wheat project.

Kano (a lasting monument to attracts some predators or From what he had seen Kano Alhaji Audu Bako, Kano economic saboteurs who State alone can make Nigeria State Governor under

A

Economic summit: Elephant goes into labour, delivers mouse – 3 promote bogus projects from which they would benefit at the expense of Nigeria. If Buhari still insists on NALDA and wheat programme, he can be sure there is one person watching closely as the fraud unfolds.

Meanwhile, tomato puree importation had been prohibited, at least on paper.

Yet, Nigeria’s markets are flooded with imported tomato puree. The effort to promote self-sufficiency in tomato production is obviously halfhearted. Yet, this is one crop which can be cultivated in every corner of Nigeria and virtually year-round – if the incentives are there. It can even be used for alley cropping along with cassava and yams – for instance. A huge internal market exists because of our dietary habits.

There is no single one of our known 200-plus ethnic groups which does not use large quantities of tomato for its food. The goal with tomato, as with cassava, is to go beyond being the largest producer in Africa or the world, but to exceed our own limits of consumption. Then,

we can start exporting.

However, there is a major obstacle to overcome. The Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development recently lamented that Nigerian banks don’t fund agriculture. He sounded as if government is helpless. But, that is only because no government had developed the will to make banks comply.

The Federal government is, by far, the largest customer of any bank in Nigeria. All that is required to discipline the banks is for the Federal Government to withdraw its accounts from any bank refusing to fund agriculture and the resistance by the banks will collapse. WILL is the key to success.

Incidentally Buhari tried it before.

When his government announced in 1984 that multi-nationals wanting foreign exchange must establish farms, breweries and food and beverage companies were the first to comply. In less than one year over 500,000 hectares of land had been acquired and plans were in top gear for several integrated farms. I was involved in one of them. If IBB had not scuttled that policy, Nigeria would have been closer to food security today.

Aviation

FAAN pledges collaboration to grow aviation in Africa

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has pledged the federal government’s commitment to playing a leading role in

advocating collaboration among aviation stakeholders to address major challenges in the development of air transport sector in Africa.

Mr Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN revealed that the

Managing Ddirector of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, stated this while receiving the Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Sherif Fathy at FAAN exhibition stand at the 55th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa board meeting

Nahco records 99.6% reduction in cargo claims, wins Risk Awards

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

N

igerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, (nahco aviance) recorded a 99.6 percent reduction in cargo claims in 2015. This is a reduction from N53 million claims in 2014 to less than N200, 000 in 2015. This is coming on the heels of the company emerging the overall winner in the Public / Technology/Healthcare/ Transportation & Aviation Industry category of the 2015/ 2016 edition of the Nigerian Risk Awards.

According to Mr Adewale Akinwale, Head, Enterprise Risk Management of the

Company, “We had zero aircraft damages. We cut our cargo claims payment down from N53, 434,096.03 in 2014 to just N177, 356.78 in 2015. We achieved all these despite the threat of economic collapse due to 2015 general election fears, highly volatile foreign exchange rates which led to reductions in cargo volumes and passenger numbers, crippling fuel scarcity situations which grounded many organizations to a halt and in the face of an unethical industry competition”. Speaking about the award, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, Manager, Communication and Corporate Services, Nahco, said the award is a testimony to the company’s spirit of resilience

and hard work. “Having emerged the runner-up in the last edition, it took creative efforts on the part of the company to clinch the award, just a year after”. Ajakaye added that Nahco aviance was scored by the judges as the winner in a field that parades top brands.

“The Nigerian Risk Awards is unique in its processes as winners emerge through a rigorous process. It is therefore an award earned through proven effort and consistency.”

In a related development, NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC has announced the appointment of Arc Usman Arabi Bello as Chairman.

and Regional Conference and Exhibition in Cairo, Egypt.

According to Dunoma, “The federal government is attracting private investors to partner and work with the Government to explore the various opportunities in the sector.

“Nigerian airports are playing important international roles in linking the most populous country in Africa to the rest of the world, and it is constructing four new

terminals to increase its capacity for facilitation and processing,” he said.

Earlier, while declaring the conference open, Fathy said Egypt was planning to boost capacities of its key airports.

In his welcome address, ACI Africa president, Mr. Pascal Komla, noted that the conference provided a unique opportunity for aviation executives, experts and exhibitors across the globe to network, share information and forge a common vision for the future businesses of African airports.

CONFERENCE - From left, Founder, Savvi Advisory Services, Mr. Augustine Edet; Managing Director, Simba Pharmaceuticals, Mrs. Oby Okpareke; General Manager, Sales and Customer Care, SKG Pharma Limited, Mrs. Pat Iloba; and, MD, SKG Pharma Ltd, Mr. Okey Akpa, during the company's annual Trade Partners’ Conference in Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 29

e-Commerce

Why Interswitch’s partnering SlimTrader on transaction monitoring —LAWAL

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frica-focused digital payment and e-commerce company, Interswitch recently announced a strategic partnership with Africa’s turn-key e-commerce solution provider, SlimTrader to deploy a new payment monitoring portal on the MoBiashara for Hotels platform. MoBiashara was recently introduced by SlimTrader. In this interview with Jonah Nwokpoku, the Divisional CEO, Switching and Processing, Interswitch Limited, Mr. Akeem Lawal explains that through this partnership, SlimTrader will be better positioned to facilitate seamless transactions between hotels and their guests.

Excerpts due to them as well as What is this new reconcile bookings, stays and payment monitoring inventory. portal on SlimTrader ’s What definite problems is MoBiashara and what the payment monitoring does it mean for hotels? portal built to address?

The payment monitoring The biggest problem that portal is another milestone the payment monitoring in the road map of products portal solves is the lack of and services we have jointly visibility by hotels (their deployed with SlimTrader to administrators and enhance the business of local managers) into their financial hotels across Africa. This position and condition at any follows our partnership to point in time. For hotels enable booking and connected to SlimTrader ’s payments for hotel rooms MFH, the portal provides real online and at hotel front desks, the introduction of an integrated hotel management system as a service that allows hotels manage their inventory online and on premises as well as perform other value added services at the front desk like airtime purchase and even providing a prepaid card for foreign visitors to use time display of all payments while they are in Nigeria. made to the hotel; whether This portal will allow hotels those payments were made see all bookings and online on the hotel’s website, payments made for hotels on other travel agency's sites whether online or on or on the hotel’s premises. premise, see the settlement

•Mr. Akeem Lawal This means that those customers will no longer be confronted with situations in which a hotel is unable to

With this portal, hotel guests never have to worry about discrepancies with hotel records with reservations made online confirm their payment. It also means that hotels will know exactly how much is in their account for settlement at each point in time, allowing them to plan their

Rocket Internet vows to limit losses after 2015 cash burn

BY JONAH NWOKOKU with agency report

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erman ecommerce firm Rocket Internet said it was on track to make three of its start-ups profitable by the end of 2017, and its losses should have peaked last year when its companies burned through 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion).

Founded in Berlin by brothers Oliver, Alexander and Marc Samwer in 2007, Rocket has set up dozens of ecommerce sites, aiming to replicate the success of Amazon and Alibaba in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Russia.

Chief Executive Oliver Samwer said several of Rocket’s companies had made major progress towards breaking even and repeated that three should be profitable by the end of 2017.

“We want to show you a C M Y K

strong improvement in profitability,” Samwer told a presentation for investors.

“2016 will be a good year.

2017 will be very good. 2018 will be a great year.”

Samwer, a serial Internet investor who sold German online auction site Alando to eBay in 1999, said the business had strong cash reserves, including 1 billion euros at operating companies, 1.8 billion euros at Rocket and 1.6 billion euros raised from investors.

Revenue from Rocket’s top companies rose 69 percent in 2015 to 2.4 billion euros. But their aggregate adjusted loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was 1 billion euros, up from 600 million in 2014.

However, Rocket said the average adjusted EBITDA margin improved 6 percentage points to a negative 29.7 percent, driven by its online fashion businesses, although losses

kept mounting at its food delivery and online general merchandise start-ups.

The biggest loss came at Lazada, meaning that Rocket’s exit should help it meet its promise that 2015 was a peak for losses.

Samwer said that home furnishings retailer Westwing and Russian online fashion firm Lamoda were reining in marketing and delivery costs due to scale benefits, while Delivery Hero and FoodPanda were breaking even in some countries and regions.

Rocket reported strong revenue growth at meal delivery firm HelloFresh, seen as a likely listing candidate, as well as at African online retailer Jumia, although losses rose at both.

Samwer said that a target set last September to list one of its start ups by early 2017 might have to be pushed back due to a focus on improving operations, as well as volatile markets.

business m o r e effectively.

What is Interswitch’s role in this partnership?

Interswitch provides the payment systems that integrate with MFH’s online and on premise platforms. We guaranty that once a payment is confirmed; the hotel will get their settlement the very next business day.

We have partnered w i t h SlimTrader to build this platform in a way that fully integrates into the Interswitch payment network, the most reliable payment network in Nigeria today.

Why have you chosen to partner with SlimTrader (MFH)?

Interswitch is constantly looking to partner with innovative companies that are solving payment challenges in Africa.

SlimTrader is one of such companies; this is the reason why the company was one of the very first that Interswitch invested its $10 million growth fund to support their growth. We have since worked with SlimTrader to significantly enhance their value proposition in the hospitality space, co-creating several products, the latest of which is this payment monitoring portal on SlimTrader’s MoBiashara for Hotels platform.

When will this go live and how soon can hotels begin to benefit from it?

The portal is already live and we have started offering it to hotels. Hotels can get this and the other innovative products and services as soon as they sign up for SlimTrader’s MFH platform.

What are the benefits to the end-user, that is, the hotel guests?

With this portal, hotel guests never have to worry about discrepancies with hotel records with reservations made online.

Paying online would be just as good as paying cash at the hotel premises. In fact, paying online might be better as the hotel guest can find discounts for booking and paying online on SlimTrader partner online travel agencies.

‘Upsurge in shopping malls will boost economy’

By Jonah Nwokpoku

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he continued rise in the number of shopping mall has been described as a good development for the Nigerian economy.

Chief Executive Officer, Ibukun Efuntayo& Co,Mr. Emmanuel Efuntayo, manager of the Lagos City Mall stated this in an interview with Vanguard. He said that since the beginning of this year, more than five upscale shopping malls have opened in the country while some existing ones are expanding their outlets across the length and breadth of the country.

For instance, Shoprite, a leading South Africa mass retail supermarket, has been opening more outlets in the country, following its successful debut in Lekki, Lagos in 2005 while Spar, another hypermarket, which also begun operations in the country in the 2000s has also recently opened a new outlet in the Ilupeju area of Lagos to enhance shopping experience of Nigerians among others.

NTA, AREWA24 announce content sharing partnership

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he Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and AREWA24, the all-Hausa language entertainment and lifestyle satellite TVchannel, have announced a broad programming partnership agreement involving all 17 NTA terrestrial broadcast stations across Northern Nigeria. Under the content-sharing agreement, Northern Nigerian NTA stations will broadcast a selection of AREWA24’s most popular original shows, including the channel’s award-winning dramatic series, “Dadin Kowa,” and four other programs.

The NTA and AREWA24 share a common interest in providing Northern Nigerian audiences with the most popular, locallyrelevant and highest quality Hausa-language entertainment programming.

Initial NTA launch markets include: NTAAbuja, NTA-Bauchi, NTAKaduna, NTA-Kano, NTAMaiduguri and NTA-Sokoto, with other stations rolling out in the coming months.

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Economy

SMEs still face hurdles despite new lending initiative – BDSPs STORIES BY EMEKA ANAETO, ECONOMY EDITOR

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ver one year after the introduction of the Business Development Services Providers, BDSPs, the professional loan facilitators in the Micro, Small and Medium Scale, MSME, space, small business owners still lament lack of access to finance.

BDSP is an initiative of the Bank of Industry, BoI, aimed at fast-tracking loan processing while helping small business owners build capacity for standard business practices.

Many small business owners in their different monthly meetings at the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, NASME, and Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, ASBON, have complained that despite the availability of several government special funds for the SME sector, most of them still dont have access to these funds.

The complaints were coming against the backdrop of persistent lament that the SMEs have been shut out of credit facilities by the private sector commercial banks.

Some of the BDSPs who spoke to Vanguard last weekend, however, indicated that considerable progress has been made if the concept is understood beyond access to loans to focus and creating sound business practices amongst the MSME operators.

They explained that the process of standardising the businesses of the SMEs and consequently qualifying them for a loan facility was important to the survival of the enterprises in the first place before the possibility of a loan facility.

Principal Consultant, HT Limited, one of the BoI

C M Y K

BDSPs, Feyikemi Odunuga said, though the initial communication problem within the BDSP arrangement have largely been overcome, it is still difficult getting the MSMEs to provide security for loans even when the cover is lowered at 25 per cent, with interest rate at single digit.

Collateral security requirements for loans in banks including BoI were designed to secure the funds deployed to the loan beneficiaries to ensure the repayments.

Some major collateral include bank guaranty or ownership documents for landed properties such as Governor’s Consent or Certificate of Occupancy.

For BoI since the loans are mainly for equipments the bank assumes ownership of the

equipment as part of the collateral pending the repayment of the loan.

In addition to this, however, BoI would also require the beneficiary to provide additional collateral up to 25 per cent of the loan value.

Odunuga explained that this additional collateral was necessary to secure the commitment of the beneficiary in repayment of the fund provided by BoI for the equipment.

Odunuga also indicated that it was still difficult getting the MSMEs to be tax compliant as most of them try to avoid paying tax, adding, however, that they would be compelled to comply if they have to access the loans.

Other challenges with qualifying the MSMEs for loans, according to Odunuga, includes poor business record and accounting which makes it difficult to even audit or value the businesses.

Under the BoI initiatives the loan applicants are supposed to have audited financial accounts for three years or at least a statement of affairs with detailed bank transaction records.

Odunuga said, however, that BoI is aware of these challenges and that informed the introduction and the role of BDSPs which help loan seekers perfect their business profiles and make them eligible before approaching BoI.

Benefits of BDSPs by Sterling Partners Giving some of the benefits of the BDSPs Mr Davies Anomneze, a senior associate at Sterling Partnership, one of the BoI BDSPs, said the initiative has helped in managing the frustrations with accessing the loans while reducing the turn-around time from application to approval of loan to between three and six months.

Some MSMEs had complained that it takes too long, sometimes up to 10 months to process their loan application.

BDSPs attributed the delays to poor packaging of the applications and outright lack of requisite documents on the part of the MSMEs as a result of a huge knowledge gap amongst most of them, a gap the BDSPs have now come to fill.

According to Anomneze BDSPs are creating structures in the MSMEs while pushing them for growth and standardisation of their processes and practices including marketing.

IMF reviews: Afrinvest revises its Nigeria forecast growth A

t the backdrop of the current economic headwinds in Nigeria and the medium term picture of sustained downturn painted for Sub-Saharan Africa, SSA, by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Afrinvest Research has revised its 2016 Nigeria growth forecast to 2.0 per cent, a huge mark-down from 3.5 per cent it had earlier projected.

Giving reasons for the revision, the research said that the current rally of oil prices is not enough to significantly alter the terms of trade to favour Nigeria as other foreign capital inflow sources have ebbed due to misaligned monetary policy and uncertain fiscal policy.

It stated, “ while the recent rally in oil prices above US$40 per barrel offers fresh hope, we note that the uptick is more grounded in sentiment than fundamentals, hence may be short-lived if recent efforts by OPEC and non-OPEC oil exporters do not materialize.

“While cost-saving fiscal reforms have gained traction, equally important long term fixes to structural shortages of

foreign exchange and petroleum products are yet to be made.

“These have much more impact on private consumption and investment which historically drive economic activities in Nigeria. If these shortages are long-drawn, the fiscal impulse from an expansionary budget may be muted”.

The research added that ‘’the bi-lateral agreements

Despite the shortterm dim outlook, we remain longterm bullish on Nigeria to reap dividends of its demographics and resource advantage

being drawn with Chinese government and agencies currency swaps and loan deals – could, to a great extent strengthen balance of payments and fiscal positions but details are still sketchy and we remain conservative on the potential economic gains that could accrue.

However, the analysts indicated a positive outlook stating that “despite the short-term dim outlook, we remain long-term bullish on Nigeria to reap dividends of its demographics and resource advantage”.

On the political-economy governance the analysts stated that “the current administration remains proreform and more than ever before, there has been intense focus on diversifying revenue sources at every strata of government and build fiscal resilience.

“The excuses justifying some weak responses would eventually be overcome by economic realities which would favour real sector productivity.

“For long term investors, we think valuation of assets in the country are cheap once the necessary and inevitable exchange rate adjustment is made”.

In its revised forecasts titled, “Too Slow for too long” released last week, the IMF, projected Advanced Economies block to grow by 1.9 per cent, at par with 2015 growth but 0.2 per cent lower than earlier forecast in January. The Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EM &DCs) were projected to grow by 4.1 per cent, slightly higher than 4.0 per cent in 2015 but 0.4 per cent lower than January forecast.

The IMF report, however, had a steep 1.0 per cent cut in SSA growth forecast to 3.0 per cent (a 17-year low) which implies the IMF expects growth in the region to decelerate to the slowest pace since 1999 when the East Asian debt crisis triggered a recession in emerging markets.

Worst cut was on Nigeria forecast which had the growth forecasts trimmed by 1.8 per cent.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 31

Advertising & Media

Why mobile technology can’t displace place-based advertising — S&T BOSS M

r. Soji Ogundowo is the Co-Founder of S &T Media, a digital placebased advertising company, whose strength lies in digital platform networked into fillings stations, called AdPump. He spoke on the strength of the product, how it came about and why it is different from conventional and digital billboards.

Princewill Ekwujuru reports.

What is AdPump?

We like to call our viewers the captive or engaged audience.

And most importantly they are active audience because they are out of their homes, and are actually always with the intention to purchase.

We call our maiden platform AdPump. These are the screens that you might have seen at some Forte oil, Oando, Total filling stations. The AdPumps are 22-inch screens televisions, double sided with high quality audio that are placed on top of the metre of fuel pumps at filling stations. This is so that when people are buying fuel, they can have some messages of advertising directed at them.

This is called targeted

advertising.

How does it work?

AdPump has a four minutes cycle. Within that four minutes cycle we have a partnership with channels television for news. So, for channels news at 10pm we have a 30 seconds segment that starts off our week, the same cycle of 30 seconds ad space, we then have 30 seconds sports package so that if you are interested in sports, you can access the latest football news.

We also have 30 seconds advert space and then after that we have another 30 seconds entertainment segment. So our major partners are Channels TV and Pulse.ng, they give us fresh contents every day that we upload remotely to all our locations.

What we don’t want is when you go to the same petrol station you see the same things every time, otherwise you get bored and you stop passing that way.

So every time you go to that particular petrol station, you will see something fresh on the screen, things you will be interested in, may be news,

sports, entertainment, and music, so we try and get everyone something, and in exchange the opportunity to look at our ads.

Is there a similarity between web surfing with mobile phone and your AdPump technology?

No it’s actually very different,

The AdPumps are 22-inch screens televisions, double sided with high quality audio that are placed on top of the metre of fuel pumps at filling stations

as mobile phones get more prominent, there is a technology called NFC that will be adopted into our platforms as well. This means that when you drive into a filling station our platform will be able to communicate with your mobile phone and send an ad to your mobile phone as well.

So there will be a correlation between our screens and your phone. This is exactly what we want. And the fact that more people are focusing on our screen is because it is not strange for them to drive into a petrol station and see another screen. They are already used to having screens all around them. The screens that people will be seeing at the filling stations will not be strange, it’s good for us. Another thing that gives our product an edge is the policy and procedure at the

filling stations. When you drive into a petrol station, for instance, the first thing they ask you to do is to turn off your engine and look at the petrol pump. You cannot lose sight of your product, as you look at the pump, but in a way it is good for us because we have the technology that is going to be incorporated into this process that will give us an advantage.

How do you monitor traffic and measure engagement through AdPump?

There is no way to guarantee that every eye ball is caught, but there is a technology that can do that, but we have not introduced that yet. But what we can guarantee is the number of visitors on average. So most of the visitors at the filling station and each pump, we can tell number of visitors to the filling pumps, we can tell the sales of each pump anytime it goes back to zero. What we find out through our research and through our partners is that most of these filling stations do an average of between 1,800 to 2,500 focuses per day.

So when you think of an average of an eye- ball- to- eyeball, of two persons, sometimes it is more, if you have a commercial bus or a car. But when we take the example of say two persons in a vehicle per day, when you have 2000 vehicles in a filling station you are looking at 4,000 views per day. If you multiple that by 50 stations or by 100, you are looking at a larger number.

So we do have a way, when we talk about data analytics which is a way more advanced than our competitors, different from the roadside billboard

Insurance NCRIB tasks govt on diversification of economy

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

P

resident of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Kayode Okunoren has said that the present situation serves as a good avenue for government to begin to pay more emphasis to diversification of the nation’s economic mainstay from oil.

Okunoren also said that there must be a re-tuning of the minds of Nigerians from rabid consumption of foreign goods and services at the expense of those produced locally.

Okunoren who stated this in Lagos said, “The penchant for luxuries has to be curtailed so as to preserve the nation’s available meager foreign monetary reserve for the essentials, rather than fritter them on irrelevances. It is definitely a period that calls for sacrifice on the part of all Nigerians, including the leadership, if the present

crusade would achieve long lasting positive results. I whole heartedly align myself with the timeless wisdom that ‘to be successful as an individual or a nation, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish, and then resolve to pay the price.”

According to Okunoren, the economic challenges being

faced by the country at the moment as the value of the naira has continued to take a downward plunge against the dollar, pound sterling and other currencies, to the detriment of the nation’s economy, has the resultant negative effect on the nation’s economic revival efforts.

He said, “Aside from the

possibility of stagnating industrial development and favourable trade, the situation is already causing increasing inflationary rate that is affecting the common man in the street.

The mono economy has left the country helpless. Definitely, the insurance industry is not

Life insurance can be dividend of democracy — Ationu

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

I

AWARD - From Left: Manager, Jonaco Pharmacy, Onitsha, Mr. Chizoba Okeke receiving his Hyundai car from Managing Director, SKG Pharma Limited, Mr. Okey Akpa with General Manager, Sales and Customer Care, SKG Pharma Ltd, Mrs. Pat Iloba during the company’s annual Trade Partners’ Conference in Lagos recently.

insulated from these grievous indices of economic recession.

It is a tough time we must all admit.”

Okunoren added that there could not have been a better time to raise the issue of insurance of national assets than now, in view of the present administration’s disposition to prudence in management of the nation’s resources.

nsurance can be used as a fulcrum for dividend of democracy, especially life insurance, said Executive Director, Business Development, UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance, Mr Henry Ationu.

Ationu said this in Zaria, Kaduna state, at the official presentation of benefit cheques by the Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the beneficiaries of the deceased Zaria bomb blast of last year.

Meanwhile, the governor gave out a total of about N30 million worth of cheques to 24 beneficiaries, at an official ceremony which took place at the government house.

Ationu commiserated with the deceased family, commending El-Rufai for putting in place the Insurance scheme to protect the people of the state.

He said, “One of the primary responsibilities of governance is to protect life and property of its citizens and insurance is one of the most effective mechanism for protecting life and property.

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

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rude oil prices wobbled alarmingly, well below Nigeria’s modest budget benchmark of $38/barrel, for several weeks, but, unexpectedly flexed above $40 in early April to rekindle hopes that the fortuitous price spiral will be sustained to partly fund the 2016 projected deficit and partially also satisfy the clearly bloated excess market demand for foreign exchange.

Therefore, if by some ‘strange turn’, oil prices further bounce back beyond, for example, $60/ barrel this year, the almost $5bn projected external loan, in the 2016 budget will become unnecessary; consequently, further debt accumulation which already cost us an arm and a leg to service will also become restrained.

Furthermore, increases in dollar income from higher crude prices will also redress the current market scarcity of dollars and supportively provide increasing cover for our import needs, particularly the raw material requirements of the real sector and fuel imports. The recent fuel scarcity which lasted for over eight weeks, has clearly demonstrated that NNPC do not have the capacity to monopolise fuel imports and successfully satisfy market demand.

Regrettably, however, increasing dollar revenue from higher crude prices may not improve the Naira official rate as often popularly expected; indeed, in this regard, we should be reminded that the Naira exchange rate remained almost static around N155=$, even when oil prices exceeded $130/barrel and CBN consolidated more than $60bn as reserves; consequently, it is therefore unlikely that a relatively more modest rise of just $60/barrel would stimulate the Naira exchange rate.

Nonetheless, parallel market exchange rates may recede

ECONOMY: Why increasing crude prices will cause more problems closer again to the official rate, if CBN once more deliberately creates opportunities to liberally allocate dollars to the black market. Conversely, however, both the parallel market and official Naira rates will improve considerably, if CBN can successfully manage Naira supply at the right equilibrium that would significantly reduce the persistent burden of surplus Naira in the money market.

Thus, if Naira supply was optimally managed against the prevailing level of productivity

by CBN, the local currency would gain more respect and, increasingly become adopted as a stronger store of value by patrons.

However, the official Naira exchange rate will, inexplicably, regrettably, remain static, even if crude prices spike unexpectedly beyond, a ‘fortuitous’ premium price of, say, $200/barrel.

Ironically, crude prices at such an extreme level will actually cripple our economy; in this regard, It is useful to remind ourselves that poverty in Nigeria actually deepened steadily as crude prices rose from below $10/ barrel to over $140/barrel in recent years; curiously, more Nigerians dropped below the poverty benchmark of $2/day income when reserves were more bountiful than when reserves were relatively more modest decades ago. Thus, in the light of past experience, we should be wary of any propaganda that our economic challenges will become resolved if only crude prices rise significantly once again, to swell CBN’s dollar reserves.

Ironically, however, higher crude oil prices have always instigated a corresponding rise in the domestic price of fuel to

make deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector very unpopular. For example, open market petrol price fell below government regulated price of N87/litre when crude crashed below the $38/barrel budget benchmark this year; this unusually low oil price invariably also precipitated cheaper open market pump price without any subsidy; infact NNPC reported that a net profit of up to N6/litre was actually being generated in place of subsidy. However, as crude oil prices crept gradually above $40/barrel, the open market price of fuel once again exceeded the regulated N87/litre.

Indeed the PPPRA pricing template indicates that the open market price of fuel was about N96/litre on the 14th of April; in this event, a N9/litre subsidy has once again returned on fuel price.

Consequently, if crude oil price unexpectedly also, climbs beyond $60/barrel, for example, the deregulated open market

Regrettably, however, increasing dollar revenue from higher crude prices may not improve the Naira official rate as often popularly expected

price and output soar significantly, the open market pump price of fuel will similarly collapse below N50/litre from the erstwhile regulated N87/litre price.

Consequently, although, from the preceeding, petrol will become cheaper domestically, the stronger Naira exchange rate will also serve as a clinical deterrent to cross border petrol smuggling; ultimately, Nigeria’s actual daily consumption of petrol will be more correctly determined.

Furthermore, up to 20% per litre sales tax can be levied to consolidate over N800m daily while the deregulated pump price will still remain below the current N87/litre.

However, the most disturbing feature of higher crude prices and bountiful forex reserves is actually in its disenabling impact on the critical monetary indices which necessarily drive inclusive growth in more successful economies. Curiously, the bountiful reserves CBN consolidates from higher crude prices, inexplicably, instigate the distortional economic burden of exceedingly surplus Naira values in the market.

Indeed, CBN has undeniably relentlessly waged unsuccessful battles to reduce the persistent Naira market surplus to avert inflation. Instructively, however, unrestrained excess Naira supply not only inappropriately fuels inflation well beyond best practice rates below 2%, evidently, prevailing high cost of funds above 20% to the real sector, steadily weaker Naira exchange rates and high fuel prices are all products of incurable excess naira supply in the market.

Incidentally, persistent excess Naira supply with its destabilising consequences are primarily instigated when CBN substitutes and prints Naira allocations for dollar denominated revenue.

petrol price will invariably approach N130/litre. However, it is unlikely that motorists who were constrained to pay N200/ litre during fuel scarcity, may not readily accept N130/litre pump price, without market scarcity.

Thus, although, rising crude price is desirable, as it boosts our foreign reserves, it also has the collateral downside of pumping up the domestic price of fuel to make price deregulation very unpopular, and unfortunately also restrain serious interest in the establishment of private refineries.

So while the sustenance of higher crude prices will improve our capacity to comfortably pay for critical raw materials and fuel imports, the same premium crude oil prices may invariably also instigate higher pump prices to once more accommodate annual subsidy payments of over N2Trillion, or about 30% of the 2016 budget if deregulated pump price approaches N130/litre. So, in such event the level of crude oil prices instructively become a double edged sword.

However, there is the popular perception that since crude oil is obtained from our own backyard, we are therefore entitled to enjoy cheaper petrol prices.

Unfortunately, this expectation is misplaced, because, as we invariably earn much more dollars when crude prices rise, cheaper dollars should be our actual entitlement; furthermore, cheaper dollars should correspondingly translate to a stronger Naira exchange rate.

Meanwhile, a stronger Naira exchange rate would actually make fuel prices cheaper, even without subsidy; for example, if the Naira appreciated to say N100=$1, as it should, if crude

Business & Economy Oni joins FirstBank Board, Odubola retires

F

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced the appointment of Dr. Remi Oni to its Board of Directors as Executive Director, Corporate Banking, effective April 15, 2016 and the retirement of Mr. Abiodun Odubola from its Board as Executive Director/CRO, effective June 30, 2016.

Odubola’s retirement is to enable him pursue his personal interests.

Until this appointment, Dr. Remi Oni was Executive Director, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Nigeria and West Africa at Standard Chartered Bank. He also had concurrent primary responsibilities for the C M Y K

International Corporates Client Segment business for Standard Chartered Bank in West Africa.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director in Nigeria and West Africa, Remi held a variety of senior management roles including Executive Director/ Head of Origination & Client Coverage at Standard Chartered Bank in Uganda and concurrently Regional Head, Network Clients business for SCB in Africa and Head of Local Corporates in SCB Nigeria.

A seasoned banker with over 24 years’ experience in Corporate Banking, Corporate Finance, Commercial Banking and Retail Banking, Remi brings to bear on

the Board of FirstBank practical skills set in the areas of deals origination and structuring, relationship management, business management and strategy. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Ilorin, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), as well as Master of Science in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a member of the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).

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Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—33 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

A walk with Aregbesola in Osun

O

LD friends, like old wine, are usually better than new ones. The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is an old friend. The state he governs, like most in the country, has been financially challenged to the extent that it took a bail out from the Federal Government to pay salaries.

Although almost all states in the country lie financially prostrate like Osun, Aregbesola, perhaps for his vibrancy, oratory and radical views has received the most bashing.

There has been a respite, but now, an upsurge is sprouting. I took time to read materials published about his administration, and decided to call him. Having come a long way back, and sharing some ideals, I thought we owed ourselves some moral duty, at least to discuss. He suggested I come over to the state, discuss, verify, move around and make up my mind.

The first matter agitating my mind, is why a non-urbanized state, facing financial crisis, will embark on building an airport?

First, he explained that the project

was initiated by his predecessor whom he had fought a bitter battle to replace; but he saw the merits and decided to continue. Secondly, that there is a signed agreement between his predecessor and the Federal Government to share equally, the project costs.

Thirdly, that contrary to claims that he reviewed the contract sum upwards to N15 billion and shared the money with the private contractors; the project is actually being executed by a public firm; the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Service Limited (AETSL) owned and incorporated on February 11, 2001 by the Nigeria Air Force.

He gave reasons for continuing the project. It is partly historical as the site is the first place an aircraft landed in West Africa.

Subsequently, the Control Tower which is still standing, will be the centre of an aviation museum.

Essentially, the airport is designed as a maintenance hob to take advantage of the huge number of aircraft in the country, rather than they having to go to Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, America or Europe. This he explains, is why

the runway is as long as 3.6 kilometres with 2.4 kilometres of it already 55 percent completed.

When we visited the site which straddles the capital, Oshogbo and the historic city of Ede, I was shown the valley-like depth from which the runway was filled. He also said it would be a cargo terminal which would make it imperative for firms like the international courier companies, to use Nigeria - their biggest market in the region - as sorting centre, rather than a neigbouring country.

He also argues that the airport would boost agriculture and tourism which the state, with famous festivals like the OsunOshogbo, is already noted for.

Sheer vision and will power he argues, transformed Dubai into an internationally viable city and that even in poverty, a state should invest for the future.

But why should the governor of a poor state use helicopter for some

It is easy to conclude that some opposition is at work, but on the other hand, it could be an internal struggle within the Ashiwaju group in the APC; Africans say, the insect eating up the vegetable, lives inside it

Enthr oning ef vice Enthroning effficiency in the Civil ser service

By Patrick Cole

L

ET'S start and see what an efficient bureaucratic Civil service and university should be like. The examinations leading to admission should all be held on the same day throughout the federation. The results will be posted on a day to be announced, so that everyone knows. Admission to the universities based on the results to be announced the same day throughout the federation.

Universities to publish their calendars at the beginning of each session. Those to be granted accommodation at which halls of residence will also be announced and everyone would know. Graduation days will also be published by the universities and graduates given their degrees on the day of graduation.

Meanwhile, those who want their transcripts should give notice and all should be ready within four weeks. All administrative charges to be collected on due date so that no graduate or past student would have anything to do with the examination and records office so far as transcripts are concerned.

This system is to be replicated in the secondary and primary schools. It has been done before. Our primary schools were run efficiently by the missions or local governments or even private ones like Corona.

There was no messing about with regards to dates of examination; homework, discipline, cleanliness, etc. When students went to Ibadan University, their halls of residence were clearly determined, they checked in and started classes at due time on due date. Our higher school certificate (HSC) or A level results were published in the government gazette on the day promised. The Minister of Education should gird up his loins and get to work, through the NUC and all other auxiliary organisation under him.

A strict Principal, a strict Headmaster, a strict Vice chancellor, Dean, Heads of Department, these are the building blocks of a good C M Y

education system. Moreover can you imagine what kudos it will give the government and the Minister for people to know that this is a fair and no-nonsense Administration. Such discipline could be replicated in the Armed Forces not ruling through Fear but ruling with discipline and fairness. None fears justice except the guilty. If it is clear what would happen to you if you fail to meet the standards as a Headmaster, Principal, and V.C etc; no one would even have the courage to appeal when a case has been so patently hopeless. I would not go to intercede for my own children when they knowingly break the rules.

Once you enthrone efficiency and transparency corruption runs away .The trick is not to relent; once you do corruption is back.

If corruption is to be substantially reduced in the National Assembly transparency must be enthroned, salaries of all National Assembly members in the last four years before the last elections including all allowances,constituency,travel, estacode, etc. year by year, person by person should be published and made public.

The freedom of information Act is a law in Nigeria but the National Assembly seems determined to frustrate it when it comes to releasing their salaries, allowances and other emoluments. If we taught the National Assembly to obey its own laws it will earn the respect of those who elected them. But if, as it is now obvious, they do not want to release information so basic and easily obtainable in

The offices of the, SGF and Head of Service are a mishmash of politics and bureaucracy this must stop

travels? He chuckled ”First, the helicopter, unlike fixed wing aircraft, is a bumpy and even dangerous ride as it is low flying and vibrates a lot. Chief Obafemi Awolowo used the helicopter to facilitate his work in the 1950s,so what is the big deal? If I have to be in Lagos, why won’t I fly the helicopter, rather than spend seven hours on the road? It is not good to be poor in the mind” On the solution to the salary challenge, he said after using the bailout funds to clear the arrears, government negotiated with the workers and agreed on how to use the funds accruing; to service the loan and commercial debts, pay workers and pensioners on Grade Levels 1-7, while Level 8 and above will receive salaries based on available funds. To facilitate this, a 16-person Committee made up equally of workers representatives and management staff under the chairmanship of veteran Labour leader, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu meet monthly to verify the income of the state and determine the amount that goes to workers and government.

Education and youth development can be said to be his main achievement with the state building and running schools.

Some new school structures I visited, compete favourably with the best in the world. There is also the feeding of 250,000 pupils in junior primary school, and the provision of electronic tablets to students in the final leg of High School.

He said when he assumed office “Students were learning under frighteningly depressing environment” and that the quality investment in education will be

all the internet search machines. Why should anyone respect them?

The pursuit of efficiency must be the guiding principle of the Civil Service. The President complained that his budget was mangled by Civil Servants. Sacking of Vice chancellors and University Councils was a mistake; again the President apologised and blamed the Civil Service for wrong advice. In the old Civil service, the Cabinet Office and Cabinet Secretariat prepared all council memoranda including the Budget and circulated them well before the Wednesday Federal Council Meetings (only the Budget memos were circulated on the day of the meeting). The old Cabinet Office had an office called the End Room, full of confidential secretaries who must finish the Wednesday Council meeting minutes that night and circulate the conclusions of the Cabinet minutes by 8am on Thursday. The Governor of the Central Bank brought the balance sheet of the nation every morning at 7:30am. He brought it in person and briefed the Head of State/President on how the Nigeria economy stood every morning. The Civil Service had giants like C. O. Lawson, Abdul Attah, Joe Iyalla, Alison Ayida, Philip Asiadu, Ime Ebong, Gorbi etc.

These were men of calibre, professional, unafraid and gave the best advice any, Government could want.

The President's problems with his Budget would not have risen if there is an efficient Civil service. Budget is usually the results of complicated and prolonged negotiations between and among ministries. What can be accommodated or given priority, within revenue and even within an ideological stand.

For example, a Presidency that believes in a balanced budget or one that encourages savings and a surplus budget. These negotiations were carried out between ministries, their results forwarded to Aso Rock to check on what was electorally promised and what was practicable. Thereafter it goes back to Finance and the sub-committees of the National Assembly for further discussion until some version of a compromise is reached.

Sometimes the so called constituency projects

better realized when those who began schooling under his administration, begin to graduate.

He said most of the 40,000 youths who went through his administration’s voluntary service have been fully engaged and that the massive road construction which has been a hall mark of his administration will continue apace.

Aregbesola said he did not fail to plan: “The state was not under any distress when we planned these projects; we had enough money and our plans were funded within the resources available to us. We got our contractors to fund our projects with bank loans. But the problem came with the economic problem the country was plunged into” I had read a publication which claimed that the Governor has become so unpopular that he might be stoned in public. From what I witnessed in the streets of Oshogbo, he has a cult-like followership, and would not need to rent a crowd for a rally, in fact, he may not need to give a notice; all he needs do, is walk down the main streets and the people will throng along.

I have been to many states with at least five times the monthly Federal allocation of Osun, and they have nothing visible to the eyes to justify their huge expenditure.

So why is he subjected to such scurrilous attacks in the media and on the net? It is easy to conclude that some opposition is at work, but on the other hand, it could be an internal struggle within the Ashiwaju group in the APC; Africans say, the insect eating up the vegetable, lives inside it.

i.e the items the National Assembly in the Budget may be problematic. If they were not in tune with the Executive’s wishes or if the National Assembly removes matters dear to the Executive, negotiations continue until an accommodation is found.

That accommodation cannot be part of the budget unless it gets Executive approval even if reluctantly done.

There would be no case in which the Executive and his Ministers will publicly disown a Budget on the basis that it had been doctored by Civil Servants or anyone else. The Executive has a lot of leeway so far as the Budget is concerned even after it has been passed. Economic conditions may deteriorate such that the budget cannot be implemented as presented. Or there may be a surplus and the executive needs more money and would go for further appropriations. The Executive may ignore parts of the budget or do part implement. But a wise Executive does not resort to such tactics, because it may lead to impeachment. At that point, the stakes have gone so high, communication have broken down and a crisis is being played out.

The offices of the, SGF and Head of Service are a mishmash of politics and bureaucracy this must stop. Mr. President must insist on an efficient productive Civil Service otherwise his administration would be like a car without an engine. It would not work.

Changing Colleges of Education to Universities is a sign of inefficiency and the practice must stop. So should this nonsense of plethora of special universities, such as the Petroleum University, Maritime University etc. it is unheard of. In pushing these anomalies, someone claimed N13 billion for the land!

What parameters are used to judge the Civil Service and the Police? Where are the statistics of solved and unsolved crimes? These must be important for promotion and for measuring the crime rate – whether it’s going up or down. continues tomorow

*Dr. Cole, OFR, a former ambassador, wrote from Lagos.

34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Y

ES, “change” has come. But it was not the kind of change most people who voted for General Muhammadu Buhari this time last year had expected. I am not talking about the economic sense of change. That is a topic for another day.

And I am not talking about it in the sense of political change. That is a basket of topics for the days to come. I am talking about the growing insecurity of some sections of Nigerians who are now increasingly being turned into second class citizens in their country in a way never experienced before.

We have heard so much about the socalled “Fulani herdsmen”, a network of well-armed people of Sahelian stock invading farmlands with their cattle, destroying crops, killing, maiming, abducting, robbing, raping, invading and occupying communities all over the North Central, South East, South-South, South West and the Taraba fringes of the North East.

Apart from these criminals, some of whom are said to be non-Nigerians, we have also seen a rash of abductions of Christian under-aged girls selected from the same geopolitical zones. They were taken to the Muslim North, hidden in the palaces of emirs or highly-connected Islamic clerics, forcibly converted to Islam and their family members banned from seeing them. In most cases these minors were raped and impregnated and forcibly married off without the consent of their parents and families and in total disregard of the laws and the constitution that sternly forbid such things being done to Nigerian citizens.

Each time family members made efforts to rescue their children; they are arrogantly and insolently told that they would never see their children again. The Nigerian Police Force does nothing, even when notified. The Directorate of State Services (DSS) pretends not to read the papers and watch TV to see reports of these criminalities running crazy all over our country. The Federal Government and its organs keep mum, and the reign of evil continues. Nothing happens, just as the criminals had boasted.

Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped from his farm by these “Fulani herdsmen” and kept for three days until his family paid a huge sum before he was released. Three months later, they returned to his domain and murdered a member of the Oódua People’s Congress (OPC), whom Falae had hired to guard his property. The Nigerian Police ran aimlessly around. Without the ransom, who knows what would have become of Falae?

A couple of weeks ago, the same “Fulani

Questions for the FG and DSS herdsmen” abducted two women from Ugwuleshi, a community in Awgu LGA of Enugu State. A search party made up of 76 able-bodied men went in a search for their women, a job that was supposed to be done by the Police but which they failed to do. According to media reports, “an Alhaji” from the Obinwanne Hausa/ Fulani settlement in Umunneochi in Abia State, was reported to have made a phone call and soldiers arrived and carted the Enugu men to a detention facility in Umuahia.

They were alleged to be armed with dangerous weapons. They were also accused of burning down some shacks in the settlement. They only breathed the air of freedom after media outrage forced the Police to arraign them in court, which enabled them to be granted bail. See how efficiently the Nigerian security and defence forces act when some favoured Nigerians are touched? See how civilians

The corpses could be victims of violent criminals.

They could also be bodies of armed robbers and kidnappers apprehended, extra-judicially killed and buried in those shallow graves by law enforcement agents. They could even be bodies of suspected IPOB members murdered by the armed forces

become military commanders?

For your information, the Obinwanne Hausa/Fulani settlement was donated as a temporary camp for victims of Sharia reprisal riots by former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu in 2001. The “Fulani herdsmen” now hide in this location and launch forays of attacks in nearby communities in Abia, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi States. Will this be allowed in the North?

Just about a week ago, the DSS carried out a rare feat that showed just how “efficient” they can be. They announced the discovery of shallow graves where 50 bodies were unearthed in a forest in Ugwuanyi community of Abia State (though the traditional ruler of the town, a former journalist who worked for Champion Newspapers, Eze Ogbonnaya Uwadiegwu, denied that the graves were located in his communal land).

A statement from DSS Spokesman, Tony Opuiyo read as follows: “Service has uncovered the heinous role played by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the abduction/ kidnap of five Hausa-Fulani residents, namely Mohammed Gainako, Ibrahim Mohammed, Idris Yakubu, and Isa Mohammed Rago at Isuikwuato LGA in Abia State.

“The abducted men were later discovered at the Umuanyi Forest, Abia State, where they were suspected to have been killed by their abductors and buried in shallow graves, amidst 50 other shallow graves of unidentified persons.

“Arrests and investigation conducted so far revealed that elements within the IPOB carried out this dastardly action”.

This statement is not only seditious, it is also most unbecoming of an organisation in charge of state security. It is capable of setting off ethnic wars across the country and beyond. Even if it is true, there are better ways of decently conveying the information. Those of us in conventional

media houses are forbidden from reporting even the truth in manners that will compromise the security of the country. It is, indeed, unfortunate for the DSS to be at the centre of such an inciting outrage. I have the following questions for Service over the Abia shallow graves incident.

What evidence of forensic experts and tools used to ascertain the ethnic identities of the dead bodies do they have? Let them show us. What about the identities of the rest of the corpses? Which ethnic group did they come from? Or is the Service saying that five dead bodies are more important than 45?

Another question: what concrete evidence can they present to justify their accusation of IPOB or any other pro-Biafra separatist organisation? It is obvious that the other 45 bodies must be those Igbos, the indigenous people of the locality.

Would IPOB, a self-professed non-violent group, be killing their own people along with non-indigenes? It does not make sense.

The corpses could be victims of violent criminals. They could also be bodies of armed robbers and kidnappers apprehended, extra-judicially killed and buried in those shallow graves by law enforcement agents. They could even be bodies of suspected IPOB members murdered by the armed forces. Such graves have been found around Aba, and this has been trending online. We have also been hearing about the hundreds of Shiite members killed and buried in Zaria by the Army.

It is not impossible that IPOB is being demonised to divert attention from the real perpetrators. That is why the call by the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and his Imo Counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, as well as the PresidentGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey, that an independent investigation of the incident should be conducted to unravel the perpetrators is relevant.

I am very suspicious of the speed with which the DSS, an organ of state security that had played deaf and dumb over the activities of the armed Fulani Militias all over the country, jumped to the dangerous conclusion that IPOB killed those people.

A thorough investigation will unearth any ulterior motive behind this act, and if officers are found to have betrayed their oath to protect Nigeria and its citizens without fear, favour and ill will, such officers should be flushed from the Service and sent to jail.

OPINION Edo: Continuity of the new order

By Sunday Edeko

C

ONTRARY to the views expressed by one Mr. Erasmus Ikhide, in an article titled : "The return of the old order”, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the chairman of the Economic Team of the Edo State Government is one of the few governorship aspirants in Edo State who understands the basics of national configuration as it relates to constitutionally settled matters. Godwin Obaseki has a thorough knowledge of statecraft to enable him cope with the challenges of good governance in a democratic society. This writer does not want to join issues with Mr. Ikhide on the history of the Benin people. However, it should be noted that Mr. Obaseki is an illustrious Benin man with thorough understanding of the history of his people. He possesses a dynamic exposition on the Benin historical facts.

Mr. Ikhide asserted that Edo electorate are waiting patiently for him to come clean on how, when and where the capitalist system he was born into’. Everybody knows that Nigeria is a capitalist society. Capitalism in this part of the world started even before colonialism. Wikipedia defines capitalism as an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Therefore, Mr. Obaseki’s assertion that he was born into a capitalist system is perfectly true. Moreover, Mr. Ikhide displayed inadequate understanding of Obaseki’s economic and national development theory. What Mr. Obaseki expressed is that the governor has laid effective foundation for the execution of transactions, policies and projects that will be built upon by subsequent administration under whatever circumstances or C M Y K

conditions. Mr. Obaseki, over the years, has asserted that Edo people should be certain that schools, hospitals and roads built presently would last for a long time. He intends to continue with the laudable achievements of the governor if he is nominated and elected. Mr. Obaseki, who is the head of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Economic Team, is aware that engineers, doctors and nurses have been employed by the Oshiomhole administration.

This is the point at which Edo people have arrived at the zenith of proper management of resources. This is one of the few times in living memory that would-be successor to the governor’s seat is totally committed to the government in which he serves in his quest to continue with sustainable development in the state. Mr. Obaseki’s electricity agenda is the best the writer has seen from a governorship candidate. Since then, he has set out the details in his manifesto. He understands the vital role electricity plays in the industrialisation process. There is no doubt that he will use his fund raising acumen to generate funds to support what the comrade governor has done.

Afrinvest has been ranked as a major Investment Research firm which is at the forefront of playing instrumental roles in the introduction of new financing products such as Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts to Nigerian Companies. He is presently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm which won the Best Asset Management Firm in Nigeria (2014) Award by the Wealth & Finance International Magazine Finance Awards.

This is not the first time that Mr. Ikhide has unfairly condemned the bulwark of the economic team in Edo State.

Writing inopinionnigeria.com on the 16th of January 2016

under the title “Edo 2016: Clowns Now In Search Of Crown”, Mr. Ikhide stated that “Seven plus years ago, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole became the governor of Edo State as a result of the degenerate and decadent state of affairs. His dynamic personality, the clarity of his mind, the catholicity of his ideas and his remarkable talents as an organiser and former union leader infused a new life and determination into the polity and the people’s hope to dream anew.” Later in the write-up, he asserted, “Now, a great deal of the electorate are in an irritable mood on the governor’s moves to truncate the ‘One man one vote’ mantra with his rumoured endorsement of Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The belief is that the less well-known Obaseki did not entertain governorship notion until Oshiomhole drafted him into the race, thereby trusting his candidacy down of the APC party leadership and Edo people. There is the need for the governor to clear his own name.” Mr. Obaseki is well-known within and outside Edo State. He does not seek cheap publicity and relevance. He is in the governorship race because it is his constitutional right and he is willing to serve the people of Edo State. Mr. Ikhide should commend the comrade governor for involving Mr. Obaseki in the governance of Edo State. If Mr. Ikhide ever had confidence in the governor, this is the time he needs to use his talents to promote the course of democracy and development in Edo State.

The old order is dead and buried. Oshiomhole is a personification of the new order in Edo State. Whoever he trusts enough to earn his endorsement is a product of the new order.

Mr. Ikhide will be serving the interest of the old and discredited order if he continues with unprovoked attacks against Mr. Obaseki.

Mr. Edeko, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 35

A

KINWUNMI Adesina has worn many different hats at global institutions of varying sizes in his career. His appointment as President of the African Development Bank Group is his first outing in a financial institution.

What he thinks he will enjoy most about being a development banker is to see an improvement on the quality of life of “African women and men” as a result of the operations and projects led by the African Development Bank during his tenure: “My mandate as President of the African Development Bank, affords me the opportunity to work with highly trained and qualified professionals on some of the continent’s most challenging development goals. We have an interesting mandate as a bank, which is to support Africa in areas that constitute a critical part of the continent’s development strategy and we are adopting a selective, focused approach away from the shotgun approach.

Developmental potential We have identified five elements that we believe if dealt with appropriately will allow the developmental potential of the continent to run free. Coined “The High Fives”, these five priority areas within the context of the Bank’s TenYear Strategy - to light up and power Africa, feed Africa, integrate Africa, industrialize Africa, and improve the quality of life for the people of Africa represent the Bank’s proposed blueprint for African countries and to embark on a course of s u s t a i n a b l e transformation”.

T h e A f r i c a n Development Bank Group (AfDB) is a régional development Bank established in 1964 to foster social and economic development in Africa. Comprising three entites, namely : The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Tr ust

•Akinwunmi Adesina C M Y K

Africa Empowered Akinwunmi Adesina President, African Development Bank Fund. The AFDB’s purpose is to fight poverty and develop living conditions on the continent through the promotion of public and private funds in projects and programs that could engender the continent’s socio-economic development:”We have identified poverty as a scourge that the continent must not simply manage but eradicate, and the best way to address this problem is by financing Africa’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which constitute over 80% of the continent’s private sector, and as you know the private sector is the creator of wealth and veritable engine of economic growth in Africa.

We have launched several programs, such as the Africa SME programme and the Trade Finance Program, the Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility, to increase financial support to the private sector in Africa with the aim of eradicating poverty”.

Adesina is a staunch SME proponent who believes they have potential to play a more pivotal role in Africa’s development. However, SMEs have been criticized for their high rate of bankruptcy.

While they create many jobs, they also destroy a lot of jobs on the grounds that they provide

low value added goods and services and have short lives.

In developed countries, SME growth depends on the business cycles. When the economy is booming the number of new firms is larger than the number of dying firms.

This isn’t the case in emerging markets where SME growth depends on crisis cycles.

Buttressing his proponecy, Adesina explains : “SMEs are crucial for Africa’s development. More than 90% of businesses in Africa are SMEs because they make a huge contribution to GDP. This is not only so in Africa, this is globally the case. In Africa, a lot of SMEs are still operating in the informal sector, often for good reasons, but it hinders their growth. There are challenges in the enabling environment that must be overcome so that SMEs can reach their full growth potentials.

Career options I also believe SMEs and entrepreneurship are essentially the same because entrepreneurially driven SMEs are the drivers of growth in our economies. We need to create such growth oriented SMEs and assist them, through a level playing ground, to grow, prosper and create jobs.

It is true that growth opportunities may be more abundant in some sectors compared to others; agribusinesses, health, education and clean energy offer tremendous opportunities.

But there are also lots of opportunities in many other sectors, and if we can get small businesses to innovate and industrialize, they can also play important roles in local and internal value chains”.

When Young men and women in Africa consider career options, starting their own business is near the bottom on the l i s t .

Entrepreneurship

does not have a positive image and is not encouraged by the school system, families, or social networks. Many young people starting on the job market prefer waged employment to being an entrepreneur because of job security and peace of mind.

The negative attitudes towards entrepreneurship are part of what the AFDB set out to change: “Africa has, in parts, a legacy that does not promote entrepreneurship amongst young people seeking white collar jobs.

And small businesses are often driven by survival needs rather than through entrepreneurial drive.

The AFDB is preparing an initiative that will ‘boost’ African entrepreneurs, by channeling both ‘patient investments’ and technical assistance through a wide range of funds, incubators and other agencies that support early stage and start-up SMEs. The Bank will also support education systems that prepare students for life as entrepreneurs. There will be a strong focus on agriculture and agribusiness, and in particular on smallholder farmers, to enhance productivity and value chains. After all, agriculture is still the mainstay of many Africans, but it is not

African Development Bank Group’s mandate is to support Africa in areas that constitute a critical part of the continent’s development strategy commonly viewed from an entrepreneurial perspective”.

One of the challenges managing an African Bank Group, in a continent where the global economic crisis meets an ongoing local crisis of poverty and unrest is certainly that of a slowdown in the global economy. Africa being a resilient continent- is expected to grow by 4.4% in 2016, above 3.5% for the global economy and slightly behind the 6% for Asia. However, at the back of these challenges lie opportunities. And in the case of Africa, the opportunities are

the need to increase energy production, build infrastructure and shift Africa’s industrial base into more technologically oriented enterprises: “Technological progress offers Africa tremendous opportunities to “leapfrog” its development and have its own kind of industrial revolution For instance, mobile phonebased technological innovations are changing the service delivery landscape in Africa in a number of sectors such as mobile-money, pay-togo energy payment, health care and agricultural services. Not only are these innovations leapfrogging traditional service delivery constraints, they are also expanding the service delivery frontier— making more and better services available with any given level of resources.

Technology innovation “They also provide budgetary relief/savings for government and improving service delivery and efficiency gains.The potential for Africa’s technology innovation is evident with enterprises such as Mpesa, Jumia, Iroko TV, etc. And the Bank is powering these opportunities to new record levels – transforming Africa into an Innovation-driven continent”. By any measure, Akinwunmi Adesina, eighth president of the African Development Bank, has been successful in every chosen career endeavor. He has worked at the Rockefeller Foundation as a senior scientist.

He has also represented the Foundation for the southern African area. Between 2003 and 2008 he was the foundation’s associate director for food security. In 2010, he was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture before his sterling appointment as President of The African Development Bank Group:”I think I have been successful for two main reasons.

First, I have always believed in myself- I always set very high targets for myself and I firmly believe that if I can think of something, then I certainly can do it. I wanted to be President of the AfDB, I believed in myself and I worked hard towards achieving this.

Second, I believe in excellence.

My father was a farmer and so we lived with limited resources. My father only went to school at the age of 14 and upon completion of his education; he joined the civil service at a very low level and made his way to the top. I therefore believed in my father, who served as my role model.’’

BIO BRIEFS Date/Place of birth: 1960, Nigeria.

Education: Bachelor ’s Degree in Agricultural Economics, University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University.

PhD in Agricultural Economics, Purdue University.

36—Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18,

2016

AGONY OF A BEREAVED HUSBAND:

How doctors’negligence caused my wife’s death at LUTH

By Sola Ogundipe, Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

‘I

F I had known, if I had seen death coming, if I had listened to my wife calling out to me, Daddy, don’t go, I would have remained in the ward where I would have stayed overnight with my wife and she would be alive today.” This was the lamentation of Mr. Ausbeth Udebu, bereaved husband of the late Mrs Ngozi Udebu, when Vanguard visited their 4, Church Street residence, Shomolu in Lagos, weekend. It was a solemn reception as the grieving widower was in a pensive mood as he spoke about his wife of 16 years and mother of four, who it was gathered, died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, during the Easter break.

For those who know the Udebu family, the pain following the untimely death of the charming 45-year-old secondary school teacher can only be imagined.

Investigations revealed that prior to her death, the deceased who was diagnosed with ulcer, had been admitted in Ward A4 at LUTH, but the family is questioning the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to Ausbeth, the family is yet to come to terms with the conflict between the laboratory diagnosis for which she had been admitted and the cause of death.

Sudden severe abdominal pain While the laboratory test results showed ulcer, the autopsy conducted after the death revealed that she died of asphyxia (the loss of consciousness due to the body’s inability to deliver oxygen to its tissues). Ngozi was said to have been referred from a Catholic hospital, Regina Mundi, Mushin, to LUTH, following sudden severe abdominal pain on the evening of Good Friday, March 25, 2016, after efforts to stop the pain proved abortive.

Narrating the sequence of events that led to his wife’s demise, Ausbeth recounted that it all started on that Good Friday after observing Passion Mass at their Church, St. Dominic’s Catholic Church which ended about 6pm and I went with my friends. I was with my friends when my phone rang. Later my phone rang and I was asked to come back home because my wife was in pain. Ausbeth who initially thought it was a gimmick to bring him home dismissed the call, but his daughter persisted, arguing that the pain was not the usual pain the deceased used to

•Late Mrs Ngozi Udebu experience during her menstrual cycle.

Worried, he rushed home only to discover it was beyond something he could handle. “ I took her to Regina Mundi Catholic Hospital at Mushin. We were referred to LUTH. At the LUTH Accident and Emergency, A&E, we were received when they saw the referral letter. After a while, they traced the veins and took two bottles of blood and told me to go and do test at Pathcare which I did and the result was ready by 6am.”

He said on returning to the ward, the doctors had written another scan investigation that was also done within an hour.

“Unfortunately, all through this time, my wife was still writhing in severe pain. She was in extreme pains that I have never seen before. After collecting the results, I went straight to the pool of doctors so that they can analyze and maybe take actions. But I got the shock of my life as they asked me to wait until they are ready for ward round. I went back to my wife’s bed which was the first on the line in the section and, unfortunately, she was the last to be seen.

Ausbeth, who accused LUTH doctors and nurses of negligence, said: “We had to wait for over 90 minutes to two hours before they could see us on a case that was supposed to be treated as an emergency. We waited patiently until they came. They looked at the result and said all the vital parameters were in place and in order. They asked me if she had ulcer before and I said no. They even asked me about the kind of food she liked and ate.

•Mr. Ausbeth Udebu They were asking me some questions ordinarily I would not have answered but just because I wanted them to attend to my wife I managed to bring up myself to answer them all. At the end they concluded that it was ulcer that was disturbing her.

“That gave me so much hope that they would recommend something for me and my hope was high. They wrote all the drugs

There was no improvement and they wrote another drug and specified a particular brand that I managed to get after a lot of trouble. This was now on Sunday.

We were now moved to the ward because we were told we had stayed up to 48 hours when the rule was 24 hours.

“I did not see anything wrong with that because my wife was still in pain and weak, however I never knew that would mark the beginning of my problem. We were later informed at the Ward A4, that they have a caveat that no patient relations will stay with a patient in the ward. If I had known I would have done everything possible to remain in a place where I will remain with my wife.

Difficulty in breathing

We had to wait for over 90 minutes to two hours before they could see us on a case that was supposed to be treated as an emergency for me. Of all the things they wrote, the things they had in their pharmacy was the box of gloves, disinfectant and spirit and cotton wool. The drugs Gascol and other injections were not available which I bought outside.

All persuasions to allow my wife’s sister to stay overnight with her, proved abortive as the nurse in charge insisted we should go.

It was like a drama when I questioned how two nurses would take care of 35 patients in a ward.

She said by their training they know how to give priority. I wasn’t convinced but I had to give in.

They made me to go and buy oxygen mask at about 9:30 pm, they tested it and assured me it was working. Ausbeth said by this time, his sick wife was already having difficulty breathing because the pain had sustained for a very long time.

He recalled that in the A&E, there was no light. When the first part of the intravenous fluid got blocked, it was a challenge to find

another vein. I had to use the use the torch of my phone in order to help the doctor trace the vein.

“They punctured my wife all over and at a point started looking at the leg. The first doctor tried and did not succeed and the more experienced one now came and after much searching he finally got the vein. There was no ventilation. Even the window in the room could not be opened. My wife was restless and uncomfortable. I tried to force it open but I couldn’t.

Further, Ausbeth who called on the Federal government to urgently attend to the state of the hospital said: “During my wife’s stay in the Accident and Emergency ward, the toilet was unusable. The floor was waterlogged and I had to personally wade into the toilet carry the bed pan she usedfor toilet to empty the bed pan and wash it. No patient could go into the toilet to use it.

“It is a terrible thing and that was why I want the whole world to hear, I am not only saying that the doctors are not doing what they are supposed to do, the government on their part also have a role to play, you cannot be running a big hospital like LUTH and there will be no light for like two days and nothing will be done. The facilities will get bad and will not be maintained, and this is a place where lives should be saved.”

Another shock When we returned the next morning to the hospital (Monday) I looked at where I left my wife last night, they had already drawn the curtain. I knew what that meant because I lost my uncle in LUTH. They were trying to prevent me from seeing her but I resisted and I saw the lifeless body of my wife, the love of my life for 15 years and mother of my four children lying dead. They never called me, I included my numbers on every form I filled but they never called me.

When I demanded an explanation, that I was not satisfied, the doctor said I should pay for autopsy and I did, after the report came out, they told me that my wife died of asphyxia.

These are things that are miles away from the scan and laboratory results. At the end they suffocated my wife just like that.

The essence of granting this interview is because I don’t want people to make the same mistake I made, by agreeing to leave. The policy that does not allow the relative to stay in the ward that has more than 30 patients with only two nurses it's not workable.

The two nurses did not have capacity to cater for 35 patients at a time. Meanwhile, inside the hospital there is no CCTV camera, now I have no way of knowing what happened to my wife, assuming there is CCTV, I would have told them to play it back to set the records straight.

To be concluded tomorrow

VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 37

Mali arrests third man in connection with I/Coast beach attack

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UTHORITIES in Mali have arrested a third man believed to be linked to last month’s deadly al Qaeda attack on a beach resort in neighbouring Ivory Coast, military officials said on SunIsraeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet dur- day.

Gunmen shot swimmers ing a cabinet meeting at Golan Heights yesterday and sunbathers before storming hotels in the town of Grand Bassam, killing 19 people 40 km (25 miles) from the commercial capital, ports the return of the Golan Abidjan, on March 13.

One source said Alou SRAELI Prime Minis- ally recognised. Syria de- Heights could be part of Doumbia was arrested on ter Benjamin mands its return. negotiations for a post-civil Saturday in the Malian Mr Netanyahu said at the Netanyahu has vowed the war Syria. capital of Bamako and susstart of the cabinet meeting: Golan Heights will forever But Mr Netanyahu said: stay in Israel’s hands, at “I chose to have this festive “Whatever is beyond the pected of driving the gunthe country’s first cabinet cabinet meeting on the border, the boundary itself men from Mali to Ivory Coast. meeting held in the occu- Golan Heights to send a will not change.”

A second police source clear message: the Golan pied territory.

There are more than 30 He called on the inter- Heights will forever remain Jewish settlements on the confirmed the arrest but was national community to in Israeli hands. heights, with an estimated unable to provide further detail.

“It’s time, after 50 years, recognise Israeli sover20,000 settlers. that the international comeignty.

Israel has avoided any Israel seized the Golan munity finally recognises major involvement in Heights from Syria in that the Golan will forever Syria’s conflict but fears remain under Israeli sover- any increased presence in 1967’s Six-Day War. Israel annexed the re- eignty.”

Syria of Hezbollah fighters, Commentators say the Sunni militant groups or gion in 1981 but the move HE African Union has not been internation- statement comes amid re- Iranian troops. peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has apologised for accidentally killing four civilians after soldiers mistook them T least 233 people the epicentre and officials visiting one of the worst hit for al-Shabab fighters when have been confirmed say the death toll is likely to cities, Manta, met a resi- they failed to stop at a roaddead after Ecuador was hit rise as information begins to dent who pleaded for block. by its most powerful earth- come in.

The apology came on people trapped under quake in decades.

Sunday, a day after the inEcuador ’s President rubble.

Some 10,000 troops and Rafael Correa gave the lat“We have to be quiet so cident happened in the 3,500 police are being de- est death toll on his twitter that rescuers can listen [for area of Buulo Mareer in the ployed in the affected ar- feedwhile flying back from survivors],” Mr Glas told Lower Shebelle region, eas, as rescue operations a visit to Italy he cut short to him. “We cannot go in with got under way. deal with the disaster. heavy machinery because The magnitude-7.8 He has declared a state of it can be tragic for the quake struck early on Sat- emergency and earlier wounded.” urday evening and was called on his country to be Helicopters and buses felt as far away as “calm and united” are ferrying troops north neighbouring Colombia.

The country’s Ecuador’s but have been hampered by

By Vera Samuel Coastal areas in the Vice-President Jorge Glas, landslides.

Anyagafu north-west were closest to HE UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, and International Development ED Cruz has won all count by the Associated Minister, Nick Hurd, have his focus on the local-level 14 delegates at stake Press news agency, Trump in the western US state of campaigning necessary to still leads the overall del- both reinstated their government’s commitment Wyoming, handing rival win delegates. egate race with 744 del- to supporting Nigeria in According to a delegate Donald Trump, who made egates. Cruz has 559. tackling the root causes of little effort to win the rural terrorism in the country. state, another loss in a seThe declaration came at ries of defeats in Western an event marking the secstates. session has begun in She has been lobbying ond anniversary of the abCruz is trying to prevent Brazil’s lower house of MPs amid indications duction of the Chibok Trump from obtaining the Congress on whether to 1,237 delegates needed to back impeachment against there may be enough votes schoolgirls in Nigeria.

According to the Minissecure the Republican President Dilma Rousseff for the impeachment moters, the UK is working totion to carry. nomination at the July over charges of fiddling gether with US and France, A two-thirds majority convention in Cleveland. government accounts. to providing a range of 342 out of 513 votes are His win further narrowed Security has been the gap in the race for the stepped up outside the needed to send the motion military and intelligence to the upper house, the support to the Nigerian party’s nomination. building in Brasilia as sev- Senate, where a simple government in their search By continuing to make eral thousand rival protestmajority would be enough for the missing girls and small wins, Cruz is gain- ers gathered. to suspend Ms Rousseff their efforts to addressing ing ground on the New Ms Rousseff has accused from office for up to 180 the longer term challenge York real estate baron, who her political opponents of days during an impeach- of terrorism in the country. has thus far failed to shift mounting a “coup”.

“Our thoughts are with ment trial.

Saturday’s arrest was the third reported in Mali linked to the Grand Bassam attacks, that were claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamist group’s North African branch..

Eleven Ivorians, including three special forces’ soldiers, died in the attack. Four French citizens were killed and other foreign victims included citizens of Germany, Lebanon, Macedonia and Nigeria.

Golan Heights'll remain forever Israeli, vows Netanyahu

I

A woman cries next to wreaths of flowers in front of the Etoile du Sud hotel on March 20, 2016 during a tribute to the victims of an attack that killed 19 people on March 13 on Ivory Coast's Grand Bassam resort

AU mission apologises for Somali civilian deaths

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Ecuador quake toll rises to 233

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80km south of the capital Mogadishu. “A speeding vehicle approached the roadblock and failed to adhere to repeated warnings to stop. Assuming the car to be a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), the troops opened fire resulting in the death of four occupants of the vehicle,” said a statement issued by AMISOM. “AMISOM profoundly

regrets the loss of civilian lives that occurred during the operation and presents its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” said the statement.

The incident has been referred to the African Union commission and an AMISOM inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances of the shooting, the AFP news agency said.

UK fully behind Nigeria in tackling terrorism the Chibok schoolgirls,

Cruz wins in Wyoming to close gap on Trump

T

Brazil impeachment vote starts

A

T

their families and the thousands of other men, women and children who have been brutally abducted by Boko Haram, and the UK government remains determined and steadfast to support of Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram”, Cameron they both stressed.

EU to train Libyan forces outside country

E

UROPEAN training for Libyan forces could more realistically be started outside the country in the initial stages as part of efforts to rebuild the North African state, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Saturday.

Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister JeanMarc Ayrault visited Tripoli for talks with the new

Libyan unity government in a show of support to end fighting among rival factions, and combat militants and migrant trafficking.

“I think it is realistic enough to say we have to start training measures from my point of view outside of Libya,” Steinmeier told reporters, when asked about European training plans. He said training could be in Libya later.

38 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

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We're lucky to have Buhari at this time — PROF. SAGAY •Says Fayose is on the road to self-destruction PROFESSOR Itse Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is the chairman of the Presidential Committee on AntiCorruption and one of the country’s foremost experts in constitutional law. A human rights activist, Sagay has undoubtedly paid his dues in the struggles for egalitarian society. Sagay who was part of the pioneer law class of the former University of Ife, subsequently took to academics and rose to become the dean of the law faculty of his alma mater before transferring his service to the University of Benin. At the height of military rule in 1986 he was one of those who ran into trouble with the authorities of the University of Benin for supposedly teaching what he was not paid to teach; which was an axiom for his perceived inclination to the promotion of civil rights in the university campus.

In this interview, Sagay takes a swipe at the Senate for initiating the amendment of the law establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau and also faults the National Assembly for the controversy trailing the 2016 budget. He also berates Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over his letter urging the Chinese government to rescind its decision of a $2 billion loan to Nigeria. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon

W

HAT is your take on the ongoing process to amend the CCT Act by the Senate?

It is the nature of brazenness and impunity into which we have descended in this country that the highest legislative chamber in the country, which is supposed to be there to promote the interest of Nigerians, has constituted itself into a cabal for promoting lawlessness and providing what I will call immunity in advance of intended misconduct.

But the argument of the Senate is that the amendment has nothing to do with the ongoing trial of the Senate President.

Of course it cannot have anything to do with it, the act has been done. Constitutionally, it is not possible for them to do anything about it but they are trying to make room for their own intended misconduct in the future, perhaps they are already guilty of that misconduct and out of fear of what will happen, they are trying to cover themselves before any action is taken against them.

The Kano railway line which favours the north, they collect that and then, remove the railway line which will favour the South and they now shared the N60 billion which was approved for it as counterpart funding amongst other northern projects including an artificial port in the north.

Do you think the people from the South south will look up as slaves and allow them to take away their patrimony? Do you think everything will be alright?

That is why I said those southern senators were sleeping when these two conspirators decided to hijack

•Prof. Sagay the money meant for the LagosCalabar project and distribute it among northern projects.

What I am saying now is that Buhari must insist that the project must be put back in the budget before bringing it back to Buhari.

It is not a question of supplementary budget. What they have done now is an insult on the country, they have created a crisis which is totally irresponsible and nobody is ready to accept a slavery

I think Fayose has a problem.

The way I see it is that, the man who is on the brink of destruction has no restraint about what he does status in this country.

A United Kingdom-based newspaper accused the Buhari presidency of using donations meant to combat insurgency to witch-hunt its opponents. What is your position on this?

Whoever said that is not just irresponsible but I regard that person as a beneficiary of those who looted this country, and who

is being used as part of the corruption that is fighting back. I regard that person as a beneficiary of the corruption that is fighting back. Such a statement is irresponsible and should be disregarded.

The president’s foreign trips has been described as a jamboree of sorts, what do you have to say to this?

Anybody who criticises those trips is either ignorant or mischievous.

You can see that those trips are yielding fruits for this country, those trips are based on invitations and are made by countries that have great respect for him (Buhari) as an individual and therefore based in that respect, it is yielding immense benefits.

Immense benefits It is not every African leader that is invited like that. This man is being invited everywhere because of his integrity and because he has a level of responsibility and because of the programme he has for the recovery of this country.

He is being invited personally and he has to go. You can see that for every trip, he comes back with immense benefits. For instance, look at the trip from China which yielded $6billion potential loan, with various commitments to projects like the Lagos-Calabar railway, which they wanted to derail in the Senate and various other projects across the country.

We are lucky to have a man like that for whom the whole world has respect that they actually invite him

to come and organise and discuss how to help this country. So, it will be irresponsible for anyone to criticize those trips.

But what do you have to say to what Governor Ayodele Fayose has done in writing to the Chinese government not to grant Nigeria any loan?

I think Fayose has a problem. The way I see it is that, the man who is on the brink of destruction has no restraint about what he does. To start with, what is the business of a state governor about a loan that is being given to the federal government?

Is it right for him to take such a step?

He has no business. In fact on the contrary, it is when a state government wants to take a loan, that it will require the federal government to guarantee the loan.

So, he has no business at all and I regard him as being on a journey to self destruction and I wish him luck. Let him continue to destroy himself with his mad impulses.

Two years down the line and the Chibok girls are still in captivity, what step should the federal government take in rescuing the girls?

The federal government can only do two things. They can continue to search for them and prepare a military force to release them if it finds them.

Secondly, if they have a credible evidence that people who captured them are ready to negotiate, they can negotiate with them so that they can be released peacefully. I think those options are presently being pursued.

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 41

42 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016—43

Bello denies donating N70m at Aisha Buhari's book launch

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O K O J A — GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has denied donating N70 million to the book launch of the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, in Abuja last week.

He also decried what he termed ‘media war’ against him by opponents bent on subverting his effort to take the state higher.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja yesterday, said he would not be cowed by the antics of his opponent, adding “the allegation that he donated N70,000,000 at a book launch organised by the First Lady, smacks of laughable political desperation to brazenly slaughter truth.”

Fulani herdsmen sack Benue community

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—DESPITE efforts by the Federal and Benue State governments to end clashes between herdsmen and farmers, indications emerged yesterday that Moor, a council ward in Kwande Local Government Area of the state had been sacked by armed herdsmen.

Vanguard learned that the crisis, which dates back to 2013, has left over 100 persons dead, scores sustaining varying degrees of injuries and close to 8,000 displaced.

A source said: “Moor in Kwande Local Government Area is now an occupied territory.

Herdsmen have sacked the inhabitants from their ancestral homes and taken over the council ward. The crisis started as far back as 2013 and has led to the death of over 100 persons and many others injured.

“All the local government clinics, including 21 primary and secondary schools in the area, have been completely destroyed. The indigenes of the community are refugees in other communities.”

Corroborating the story, the

Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Boniface Otese, said the agency had been making

concerted efforts to avail the displaced persons necessary relief materials.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses

Yamu, said police, military and other sister security agencies were working round the clock to ensure that peace and normalcy returned to every trouble spot in the state.

Why I’m contesting Kogi gov election—Wada

By Etop Ekanem

T

HE immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, has said he is not seeking to inherit the votes of Prince Abubakar Audu, the late All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the November 21, 2015 governorship election.

Wada said rather, he was contesting the results of the governorship election because of alleged irregularities, noting that it was unfortunate that the APC flag-bearer, Audu, died.

Wada made the assertion while adopting his petition before the Kogi Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Under cross examination by counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Governor Yahaya Bello and APC, Wada said though he was deeply saddened by the death of his long time friend, he

was of the opinion that Audu’s votes were voided by his death and could not be inherited by anyone.

In a related development, a forensic analyst, Mr. Samuel

Oduntan, also testified before the tribunal, saying he was the leader of the team that carried out forensic examination of the election documents and that they discovered various irregularities.

BUK's VC makes case for TSA

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

K

ANO—THE Vice Chancellor, Bayero University Kano, BUK, Professor Yahuza Bello, has said the introduction of Treasury Single Account, TSA, has simplified the running of universities in Nigeria.

Bello, a professor of Mathematics, told newsmen in Kano, yesterday, that universities had no problems with TSA, and that it was an added value to administration.

Speaking on the forthcoming 31st BUK convocation, Professor Bello disclosed that 7,446 graduands would be awarded degrees.

The breakdown by the Vice Chancellor shows that 4,771 bagged first degrees 1,603 received master degrees, while 65 would be awarded PhD. He revealed that the university recorded 34 first class, 922 second class upper, 2,403 second class lower and 1,079 pass degree.

He said this year’s convocation would be staggered for three days to accommodate graduands from several faculties.

44 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 45

Champions League

Enyimba: We’ll overcome Etoile’s hostilities N

IGERIA Profes sional Football League champions Enyimba have vowed that Etoile du Sahel can’t stop their march to qualify for the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League.

Enyimba sounded confident as a team of 18 players left Nigeria yesterday morning aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight for Wednesday’s clash with the Tunisian side.

The two-time CAF Champions League winners take a 3-0 first leg lead into their duel with Etoile du Sahel at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse in the second leg of their second round clash tomorrow and the club Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agu assured that the team would get the job done, irrespective of the hostilities “The match in Sousse will be extremely tough and we are confident of overcoming all hostilities to achieve

Vardy ahead, and Moss pulled one back on Leicester’s behalf.

You can’t say he was inconsistent, being equally random for both teams. All flippancy aside, however, it was a thoroughly unsatisfactory afternoon.

Moss didn’t get it all wrong, but he made massive calls seemingly on a whim. His display was so poor, in fact, that he at one time contrived to be wrong, even when he was right. Going into secondhalf injury time, about the best that could be said of him was that he wasn’t a homer – then he gave Leicester the softest penalty to earn a point, and quit on that deal, too.

By then, the locals were stomping towards the exits, muttering dark oaths about conspiracies and special arrangements, but this was

Zlatan Continues from B/Page

is allowed three older players.

Calling up Ibrahimovic appears difficult for Ericson, as the striker is also due to lead Sweden’s senior team at the European Championship in June.

But the player has previously said he would like to play in Rio and the coach hopes that uncertainty over his club future – he is being linked with a host of top English clubs – could play into his hands.

Nadal wins ninth Monte Carlo title R

AFAEL Nadal claimed a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title with victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nadal, who beat Andy Murray in the last four, won 7-5 5-7 60, his 68th win from 100 finals on the ATP World Tour. A double fault from Monfils, 29, closed out the first set in Nadal’s favour and the Spaniard recovered from losing the second to see off the 13th seed in two hours

46 minutes. The 29year-old has now won clay-court titles in each of the past 13 years.

Monfils, a runner-up in the Rotterdam Open in February, earned the backing of the Monte Carlo Country Club crowd as he tested Nadal throughout.

But having earlier saved set point, the pressure told on the Frenchman and he doublefaulted to hand fifth seed Nadal a close-fought opening set.

Rangers pip Giwa, extend lead at top

R

•Nadal our aim. I’m confident that Enyimba will qualify for the group stage of the 2016 CAF Champions League.”

Also speaking, striker Abu Azeez said the Elephants were condemned to qualify for the group stage of the competition “We must qualify to be in the group stage and there-

fore we are going to fight for it in Sousse. This is the Champions League, if you

Continues from B/Page

living in Leicester.

Postcodes are not the problem here; competence is.

Moss should not be let loose on any of the title deciders between now and the end of the season, no matter if he pledges allegiance to Torquay United and goes to live in the Outer Hebrides.

We’ll get to the match, but first the match-defining decisions. In the 57th minute, Moss sent off Jamie Vardy for diving. He was running through with Angelo Ogbonna in contention when he collapsed in a heap. The home crowd screamed for a penalty; instead, Moss produced a yellow card, Vardy’s second of the game, and sent him to the stands.

nothing of the sort.

Moss simply had a very poor game, just as a player can have a very poor game.

The difference is, a player gets substituted before too much damage is done; a referee does not.

Imagine if UEFA could have withdrawn Tom Henning Ovrebo from Chelsea’s match with Barcelona in 2009; or Mark Clattenburg could have been stood down midway in Chelsea’s game against Manchester United in 2012.

This match doesn’t require an investigation – but it might have benefitted from a big shepherd’s crook, or the clang of a talent night gong.

And to think Kevin Friend was taken off Tottenham’s game with Stoke tonight, simply for “I hope to use over-age players and I hope that Zlatan will be available, but it depends on which club he will play for and on the E u r o p e a n Championships,” said Ericson. “If he is available, I want him to play for us.”

Sweden were drawn with Colombia, Nigeria and Japan in August’s Olympic tournament, with the first two games to be played in Manuas.

“It’ll be very hard to play Nigeria and Colombia in the Amazon, while Japan (who they face in Salvador) are a good footballing side,” Ericson said.

want to go far you must overcome small and big teams.''

ANGERS extended their lead at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League to two points after defeating Giwa 1-0 in Jos yesterday

Ikhana pleased to claim Heartland scalp

S

HOOTING Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach, Kadiri

Continues from B/Page

B insists he will announce their names at the appropriate time while expressing optimism over his side’s chances of progressing to the knock out phase. “ I already have in mind the three over aged players that I intend using at the Games,” Siasia said.

“But I will not disclose their names for now as I think it’s still too early to do so. For me, there is no good or bad draw, for all the teams played qualifiers to get here,” the former Super Eagles

Ikhana, says he is relieved with his side’s 2-1 win over Heartland on Saturday in a match day 12 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game.

Muyiwa Lawal and Seun Akinyemi netted for the hosts to cancel out

Bolasie Continues from B/Page

the deadlock just before the half-time whistle, heading in from Danny Welbeck’s chipped through ball.

But on 81 minutes, Bolasie cut inside before hitting a low shot that beat goalkeeper Petr Cech from outside the box.

The result sees Arsene Wenger’s side level on points with third-placed Manchester City but with a worse goal difference, while they trail leaders Leicester by 13 points.

over aged coach admitted.

“Besides, the Group B that we are in has two continental champions alongside Nigeria, so I don’t expect it to be a stroll in the park for us, but with quality preparations I am sure we will pick one of the tickets from this group.

“My target in Rio is to pick the gold medal having won the silver medal in Beijing in 2008, so when I get back to Nigeria, I will put heads together with my assistants to work out our preparations for the Games.

Anthony Oussou’s effort for the Naze Millionaires academic at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Ikhana says the win was extremely important as it comes after a period of “extreme stress” for his charges.

“My team has been under severe stress because we played almost nine matches in about 15 days.

Giwa Continues from B/Page

football buff who is also chairman of Sports Veterans Association, said he is dismayed that Giwa and his group are hell-bent on destabilizing Nigerian football over an issue that the supreme world sports arbitration body (CAS) has laid to rest.

He stressed that Nigeria should respect the status of world soccer governing body, FIFA, having voluntarily elected to be a member.

Hear him: “ The minister of sports can not afford to keep quiet. He needs to restore peace. We are totally dismayed that after an issue has gone to the highest court in sports and has been settled, some people are still using it to destabilize Nigerian football. Don’t forget that we barely escaped FIFA ban the last time this issue came up. We should not portray ourselves like a nation that is not ready to abide by international rules. For the goodness of our youths and our football this issue should be

Godwin Aguda was the match hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 15th minute.

It was sweet revenge for the Enugu side, who lost home and away to Giwa FC last season.

The game was however abandoned in the 87th minute.

Kano Pillars’ poor run against Rivers United continued as they lost 10 in Port Harcourt.

The Sai Masu Gida have now lost nine of their last 10 away games against Rivers United.

Sunshine Stars continued their resurgence under Solomon Ogbeide, whipping El-Kanemi Warriors 3-0 in Akure. nipped in the bud immediately. Enough of this charade. I am not just speaking as an individual, this is the way, we the veterans in Nigerian sports feel. We’ve been watching and we are not happy with what is going on.”

Ogufere charged Giwa and his group to wait for Amaju’s tenure to end before taking over the Glass House, insisting that being the President and board members of NFF must not be a matter of life and death.

“Its about time this issue is settled once and for all.

If you lose an election you keep calm and wait for another time. It shouldn’t be a do or die affair or matter of life and death. Its unnecessarily disturbing the sporting atmosphere in Nigeria. Going to regular court runs foul of FIFA rules. No body forced us to join FIFA and once we are there we must abide by the rules. Nobody is saying FIFA laws are superior to that of Nigeria. We are not talking about superiority now but respecting ourselves as a member of the international community.”

46 —Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

C M Y K

VANGUARD, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 — 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

I’ve picked my over aged players for Olympics —Siasia H EAD coach of the U-23 national team, Samson Siasia says he

has made his choice on the three over aged players to include in his team for the Rio Olympics.

T h e tactician who saw his team z o n e d against Sweden, Japan and Colombia in Group

Rio Olympics: Sweden to unleash Zlatan on Nigeria S

WEDEN’S coach, Hakan Ericson, has revealed plans to include Zlatan Ibrahimovic as an over aged player in his squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The men’s Olympic football tournament is contested by under-23 players, but each squad

Continues on page 45 •Siasia

RESULTS

Continues on page 45

Vardy goes from hero to zero

I

N the end, the draw was the fair result.

Leicester scored, referee Jonathan Moss equalised for West Ham. Then West Ham went

•Zlatan

Continues on page 45

Call Giwa to order, Ogufere tells Minister Bolasie denies Arsenal victory ORMER President rocking Nigerian football and has called the Gunners fourth in

Y

ANNICK Bolasie struck for Crystal Palace to hold Arsenal to a 1-1 draw that keeps

the Premier League table.

Alexis Sanchez broke Continues on page 45

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

F

of West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Jonathan Ogufere , is not happy with the crisis

—P.47

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

NPFL Giwa 0 Rangers Sunshine 3 El-Kanem Rivers Utd 1 Pillars Tornadoes 2 Ikorodu Utd Ifeanyi Ubah 1 Warri Wolves Lobi 1 Akwa

1 0 0 0 0 0

EPL Leicester B’mouth Arsenal

2 0 1

West Ham Liverpool Palace

2 2 1

SERIE Atalanta Fiorentina Verona Juventus Udinese

3 3 1 4 0

Roma Sassuolo Frosinone Palermo Chievo

3 1 2 0 0

LA LIGA Malaga Sevilla

0 Athletic Bilbao 1 1 D’ La Coruna 1

on sports minister, Solomon Dalung to end it by calling Chris Giwa to order.

BUNDESLIGA The highly respected octogenarian Dortmund 3 Hamburg Mainz 2 Cologne Continues on page 45

0 3

QUICK CROSSWORD Across 2 Beam (5) 7 Combine (5) 8 Reigned (5) 10 Performer (5) 12 Born (3) 13 Centre (5) 15 Biggest (7) 17 Outlandish (6) 19 Foot-digit (3) 20 Satisfied (7) 23 Roster (4) 25 Loyal (4) 26 Madder (7) 30 Bird (3) 31 Scorn (6) 34 Matured (7) 37 Alloy (5) 38 Vehicle (3) 39 Dribble (5) 40 Coin (5) 41 Accepted (5) 42 Convent (5)

Down 1 Pointer (5) 2 Begin (5) 3 Feverish (6) 4 Idiot (4) 5 Acrid (7) 6 Birds (5) 9 Shelter (3) 11 Clanked (7) 13 Learnt (5) 14 Artery (5) 16 Fish-eggs (3) 18 Wooed (7) 21 Characteristic (5) 22 Spree (5) 24 Aerial (7) 27 Trap (3) 28 Distant (6) 29 Stream (5) 32 Pass on (5) 33 Challenged (5) 35 Vessel (3) 36 Dingy (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 1, Spread 5, Astute 8 Aircraft 9, Real 10, Beg 12, Watch 15, Set 17, Lie 18, Urn 19, Lea 20, Denim 21, Ear 22, Dog 23, Ace 24, Ewe 26, Eaten 29, Row 33, Stop 34, Tarrying 35, Crater 36, Reeked.

Down: 2, Pride 3, Each 4, Drama 5, Attic 6, Tire 7, Trace 10, Bulge 11 Glade 12, Wedge 13, Tenet 14, Human 15, Sneer 16, Throw 25, Water 27, After 28, Error 30, Ounce 31, Spot 32, Byre.

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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