NJC fires 2 judges, 2 others to refund 10 months' pay

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 63010

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

ALLEGED MISCONDUCT, AGE FALSIFICATION:

NJC fires 2 judges, 2 others to refund 10 months' pay

Says judge did not publish judgment delivered until after 40 days Delivered judgment 35 months after close of evidence Exonerates Lagos High Court judge of allegations of misconduct

DSS arraigns Rivers SSG, 12 APC chieftain over re-run polls ON 2016 BUDGET—President Muhammadu Buhari (left) receives Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (behind Udoma) at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

705,352 apply for 9 10,000 Police jobs

Post

No of Applicants

Available

ASP

202,427

500

Inspectors

169,446

500

Recruits

333,479

7500

Specialists

——

1500

TOTAL APPLICATIONS: 705,352

See Inside C M Y K

COLUMNISTS:

P.17

TABIA PRINCEWILL

Time for a new War Against Indiscipline

A

BUJA— THE National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday, sacked Justice O. Gbajabiamila of Lagos State High Court and Justice Idris M. J. Evuti of the Niger State High Court for judicial misconduct.

One of two other judges was also suspended on account of age falsification and ordered to refund all salaries he received from June last year, while the other, though retired, was ordered to have all salaries earned till June 2015 deducted from his gratuity and paid to the

Continues on Page 5

$2.1BN ARMS PROBE: Don't try Dasuki in secret, court tells FG Igbo communities worry about activities of herdsmen

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

P.43

DEAR BUNMI

Does my wife still want her ex?

Prosecution disowns exhibits against Saraki; CCT rejects his plea for one week adjournment 7 Mr & Mrs

8

Badeh: Why I made conflicting statements 5 — Witness

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POCKET CARTOON 2 other judges sanctioned

REPS IN OGONI —Members

of the House of Representatives Committee on Army, during their visit to the sites allegedly damaged by soldiers on Feb. 22 and 23, 2016, in Ogoni communities of Gokana and Khana Local Government areas of Rivers State, yesterday. Photo Nwankpa Chijioke.

NJC sacks 2 judges, 2 others to refund 10 months' salaries Continues from Page 1 NJC, being the body responsible for payment of salaries to all judicial officers.

Aside recommending their compulsory retirement, NJC also said it had, in exercise of its powers under Paragraph 21 SubParagraph (d) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, ordered the deduction of their salaries from June, 2015.

The council which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said it took the decision at the end of a meeting held on April 13 and 14.

NJC okayed Justice Gbajabiamila’s sack after it found that he

delivered judgment in a matter before him 22 months after written addresses were adopted by all the parties and 35 months after the close of evidence in the suit.

The council said after it investigated a petition lodged before it by Mr. C. A. Candide-Johnson, SAN, it concluded that the action the judge took in suit No ID\1279\2007 P. K. Ojo Vs SDV & SCOA Nigeria Plc, was contrary to constitutional provisions that judgments should be delivered within a period of 90 days.

According to a statement by the acting Director of Information at the NJC, Soji Oye, “His Lordship did not publish a copy of judgment he delivered on December 24, 2013, until after 40 days, contrary to the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OUR feelings are always subject to your will.

It doesn’t matter how you feel at the moment, if the will and determination is there, you will achieve your goals. It's up to you.

Y

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Giving Opens The Door For Receiving — Florence Scovel

G

IVING is beautiful. If you are a giver, you are familiar with the feeling that comes when you make life easier for another. Giving is beyond material things. For instance, you give patience, trust, love and loyalty. But life is a beautiful teacher, the lever that stops your ramp from going over the edge, and also the genie that opens your treasure chest for being a giver. Simply put, with time we learn to apply right discrimination when we give.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A baby on his mother's back does not know that the journey is far.

provision of the constitution which required that a copy of the Judgment of a Superior Court of Record be given to parties in the case within seven days of delivery.

“That the Hon. Judge continued to hear the suit in his court after he had been notified of the pendency of a motion for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal and that an appeal had been entered.

“Prior to the issuance of the first writ of attachment, the court registrar under the direct administration of the Hon. Judge, falsely misrepresented to the Deputy Sheriff in a memo dated November 28, 2014, that there was no appeal or motion in the case file as at November 28, 2014.

“Meanwhile, there were two Notices of Appeal and two summons to settle records in the court’s file. That the Hon. Judge gave an order on February 23, 2015, upon an Ex-parte application substituting the name of SDV Nigeria Ltd with Bollore Logistics Nigeria Ltd without serving the order of substitution on the affected party or its legal representatives.

“That the Hon. Judge failed to maintain professional competence required to preserve the integrity of the judiciary.

“The above allegations constitute misconduct, contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and Rules 1.3, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.7 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Similarly, NJC, said it found two other judges of the High Court of Niger State, Justices Evuti and Ta nko Yusuf Usman, guilty of allegations that they falsified their dates of birth.

It said the judges were indicted on the basis of a petition filed against them by one Mohammed Idris Eggun.

NJC said though it did not suspend Justice Usman because he had earlier voluntarily retired from office, it, however, ordered him to refund all the salaries he received from June last year.

Whereas Justice Evuti was alleged to have falsified his age from September 15, 1950 to April 10, 1953, Justice Usman allegedly falsified his age from June 27, 1950 to June 27, 1951.

“A fact-finding committee set-up by the Council found from the records made available to it that the Hon. Justice Evuti used three different dates of birth over the years as September 15, 1950, April 10, 1953 and April 1, 1953 and, therefore, recommended his compulsory retirement with immediate effect.

“Apart from the recommendation for compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice Evuti, council recommended to the government of Niger State to deduct all salaries received by him from September, 2015 till date from his gratuity and remit same to the NJC that pays salaries of all judicial officers in the federation.

“With respect to Justice Tanko Yusuf Usman, council did not recommend his compulsory retirement because it had already accepted his retirement with effect from March 1, 2016.

“However, council decided to write to the government of Niger State to deduct from the gratuity, the salaries received by him from June, 2015 when His Lordship should have retired from the bench”, the statement further read.

Nevertheless, NJC said it had at the same meeting, exonerated Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, of allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Instead, it reported counsel to SEC, Oluwaseun Olusiyi, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for walking out on the judge after she was told that her matter was not ripe for hearing.

BADEH: Why I made conflicting statements—Witness

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—AIR Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, retd, the star witness in the ongoing trial of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday, admitted that he made conflicting statements against the defendant.

The witness, who was the former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that most of the things he said in his evidence-inchief were not contained in five separate statements he volunteered before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Yushau made the disclosure while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Chief Akinolu Olujimi, SAN. Asked why he concealed information from operatives of the anti-graft agency, the witness, who earlier told the court that Badeh took N558.2million monthly from the salary account of NAF officials, said he only responded to questions put to him by EFCC officials.

“I stated very clearly that statements I made at the EFCC were based on questions that were put to me. I did not tell the EFCC that I knew more than they asked me,” he stated.

However, Yushua, narrated before the court how Badeh spent part of the N3.9billion he allegedly siphoned from NAF account in 2013.

He said the former military chief paid N1.1billion cash to acquire a mansion at Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja.

Yushau told the court

that the N1.1bn was converted to dollars and paid to the owner of the mansion situated at Ogun River Street, Maitama, through a proxy whose name was given as Barrister Useni Umar.

He maintained that the defendant, in a bid to conceal his ownership of the property, directed that the title deed be prepared in the name of a company, Yalikam Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC, which is prosecuting Badeh on a 10-count criminal charge, had also joined the firm as the 2nd defendant in the matter.

He said: “I know Barr Useni Umar, he was the one that was used to purchase the house and pay for the construction of the house that was purchased by my boss at Maitama.

“After Umar found three properties that were available for sale, I went with him and the 1st defendant to inspect it.

“Umar said the price of the building was N1.1billion. The 1st defendant said the price was okay and directed him to conduct a search on the property.

“When he confirmed the property, my boss gave me a name that should be used in preparing the title deeds.

“I gave the name based on instruction by my boss. The name he gave me was Yalikam Nigeria Limited (2nd defendant).

“Money for the property was not paid instalmentally it was paid cash, in dollars. The documents were handed to me and I gave them to my boss,” he said.

However, the witness said he never told the EFCC anything about the property.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY APRIL 20 , 2016

SYNAGOGUE: Court remands engineers

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Jane Echewedo

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday remanded the two engineers that constructed the collapsed seven-story guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in prisons.

The engineers, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun, were remanded after their pleas were taken by the court on a 111-count charge of gross negligence and criminal manslaughter preffered against them.

Meanwhile, one Niyi Jegede who represented the Synagogue Church as a corporate body was not remanded in prisons alongside the engineers.

There was a brief argument on whether Jegede could be remanded or not. However, the court absolved him.

18m Lagosians lack potable water — ERA/FoEN …Labour berates Lagos govt over water supply crisis

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Bose Adelaja

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A G O S — ENVIRONMENTAL rights advocacy group in Nigeria, Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, yesterday claimed that over 18 million Lagos residents had no daily access to clean and safe water, warning it might expose residents to waterborne diseases.

This came as organized labour blamed the state government for the alleged acute water scarcity being experienced in parts of the

state for the last two weeks.

ERA/FoEN, accused the state government of running an antipeople water policy, asking Governor Akinwumi Ambode to make a public statement on the proposed public private partnership (PPP) water privatisation in the state.

At a briefing, Deputy Director of ERA/FoEN, Akinbode Oluwafemi, claimed failure of the government to open up on the water privatisation had kept members of the public in the dark though the resignation of the immediate past Group Managing Director of the State Water

Corporation, Shayo Holloway was a good step in the right direction.

Akinbode alleged of systematic non-release of funds meant for procurement of chemicals for water treatment by the state.

He said: ‘’For us, this happening has become regular in the last seven months and fits into our belief that there is a grand ploy to make Lagosians believe that indeed the public sector workers cannot manage water infrastructure.’’

Also, he likened water PPP in the state to that of power supply, which had continued to worsen

NGOZI UDEBU: Family announces burial plans

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

L

AGOS—EVEN as the outcome of the probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Ngozi Udebu, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, is yet to be made public, burial arrangement for the deceased has been announced.

Family sources said a wake keep would hold on April 21, followed by a requiem mass at St Dominics’ Catholic Church, Lagos, the next day at 10am.

A vigil Mass and would be held on May 5, and burial would take place at Asaba on May 6, 2016, preceded by a funeral mass at 12 pm.

Meanwhile, a group, Hope Alive Child Care Initiative, in collaboration with Medical Police, plans to hold a walk on Saturday, April 23, 2016 to protest public displeasure and the deteriorating state of the nation’s health system.

Founder of the group, Mrs. Adaugo Nwalema, said it was no longer acceptable the rate Nigerians died in the hands of medical workers out of negligence and lacked of facilities.

He said: “How long will it take to strengthen the degrading/ deteriorating health system of our great country? The quality and effective patient care is the foundation of success?”

1ST NIGERIAN DRUM FESTIVAL: From left; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; his wife, Olori Wuraola and Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland during the 1st Nigerian Drum Festival yesterday. Photo by Wunmi Akinola.

COLLAPSED LEKKI BUILDING: Lagos govt vows to punish culprits L

AGOS State government has vowed to ensure those behind the collapse of a high rise building at Lekki, which killed no fewer than 35 persons, were brought to justice.

Sources told Vanguard yesterday that those already arrested in connection with the disaster were doing everything possible to escape justice.

It was learned that investigations into the incident have so far shown that most of the structures in the garden were built with substandard materials and in flagrant disregard of Town Planning Laws and Regulations of Lagos State.

According to a source, report of the investigation would soon be sent to the Office of State Director of Public Prosecution for quick commencement of prosecution.

Vanguard gathered that Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, owners of the

collapsed building had approvals for only two of the 34 sites it has across Eti-Osa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Banana Island.

To show its seriousness about ensuring justice is done on the matter, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode only recently fired some top officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency on grounds of negligence.

He also set up a committee to investigate the building control and regulatory regime in Lagos State.

From records at the Corporate Affairs Commission, It was learned that Mr. Richard Nyong, a native of Akwa Ibom State, is the purported owner of the company that is reputed to be worth billions of Naira.

However, unnamed sources insisted that the real owner of the firm is a former governor of one of the South-South states who had mobilised resources, human and material, to ensure the

company got away with fragrant violations of the state’s building laws.

across the nation.

According to him: ‘’A water PPP regime in Lagos will be a replication of the electricity sector privatisation, which has unleashed high bills on the people without delivering improved service. If the Lagos projects sails through, the average Lagosian, already crushed by the huge costs of procuring water for drinking and other uses will be further levied while those who cannot pay will be cut off from a basic human right. ‘’The World Bank in December 2015 opened up that it has withdrawn support for the PPPs in Lagos and Nigeria.. Going by this public announcement by the World Bank, we expect the Lagos State government to take a more pro-active step in ensuring the management of our water resources is democratically implemented. We are therefore demanding the governor to publicly declare his stance on the controversial PPP and guarantee the protection of the rights of Lagosians to water by ensuring full disclosure of the PPP with the World bank, and a halt to the project as the double-speak of the World bank has already shown there is something being hidden from us,’’ Meanwhile, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, claimed the water supply crisis aimed at promoting privatization water supply on the guise that public expenditure on public services was wasteful.

General Secretary of the union, Yusuf Lekke Zambu, said: “The action of Lagos State Government has become more worrisome in view of the fact that the state government had promised in a formal letter responding to the agitations of the Union, Civil Society Organizations and the international community against privatization of its water agency that it will not privatize its water.''

FG to axe states over non-remittance of taxes Procedure, chaired by Michael

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—SOME of the 36 states of the federation that failed to remit taxes to the Federal Government in the past five years may face stiff sanctions, including forfeiture of their monthly federation allocations.

The un-remitted taxes, according to the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, Babatunde Fowler, were collected on behalf of FIRS. The FIRS boss, who dropped the hint at the Investigative public hearing on ‘FIRS accounting procedure,’ conducted by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on FIRS Accounting

Enyong Okon, who represents Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency, of Akwa Ibom State.

According to Fowler, less than 20 percent of the taxes (Value Added Tax, Withholding Tax and CIT) collected by the affected states were accounted for.

He added that a lot of states that never remitted taxes were yet benefitting from monthly federal allocation.

He noted that plans were underway to bring at least 20 million of the 27.5 million SMEs operating in the country into the tax net, adding that the Joint Tax Board meeting held recently in Kano State also resolved to increase the tax payers at the state level from 10 million to 20 million into the tax net by May 2016.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 7

Seek spiritual help, S'West APC spokesmen tell Fayose

By Dapo Akinrefon

P

UBLICITY Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the SouthWest states have called for spiritual assistance for Governor of Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, saying he needs it to overcome his mental condition that is negatively altering the workings of his mind.

But in a swift reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State said the attack on Governor Fayose has exposed the APC’s image makers as a bunch of “illiterates and rascals who can only at best be spokesmen of a party like APC.” In a statement, jointly signed by the APC spokesmen of Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos and Osun states, Messrs Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, Taiwo Olatunbosun; Sola Lawal; Joe Igbokwe and Morakinyo Akintola, they said the call became inevitable on account of the persistent odd conduct by the governor before and after he assumed office for a second term.

The APC publicists also appealed to Yoruba traditional rulers and institutions to quickly assist the governor “in his current condition,'' depicting him as ''a man suffering from psychosis.”

The statement reads: “We have observed that Fayose’s public conducts suggest that he has a disease of the mind and mental crisis that need a great assay of science and spiritual intervention to save him before he becomes dangerous to the society.

“His recent public attitudes call for state of emergency about his mental health. His thoughts and emotions have been so impaired that he has completely lost decorum and conduct expected of a man that can safely live in peace with other people in a sane society where the law works.

“The last was his embarrassing and illegal communication with the Chinese authority urging President XI Jinping to refuse financial assistance to Nigeria to enable the country address her economic challenges. Also in China, he mounted a rostrum at

OGUN LCDA, BOUNDARY ...APC leadership need medical test, not Fayose — Ekiti PDP ADJUSTMENT: Protesters storm Obasanjo’s PARTNERSHIP DEAL: residence Prof. Wole Soyinka (left) and Chairman, Troyka Holdings, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo at the surprise party held to mark the TroykaPublicis partnership deal at The Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos.

a train station addressing travellers in tattered clothings and posted his photograph on the Internet, claiming that he was addressing investors in China even when there was no Federal Government’s approval that he ought to seek before a state can embark on such diplomatic trip,”, the statement noted.

Also, the APC spokesmen alleged that “all these suggest that Fayose is suffering from unsound mind and needs quick

Prosecution disowns exhibits against Saraki ...As CCT rejects Senate president’s plea for one-week adjournment

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE prosecution witness against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Economic and Financial Commission’s operative, Mr. Michael Wetcas, yesterday disowned the documents tendered against him, saying most of the petitions were filed in 2012, while his investigating team was constituted in 2014.

IGP orders probe into Ogun Tricycle Association fracas

By Angela Okpe

P

OLICE authorities in Abuja, have ordered investigations into a case of

medical and spiritual interventions ''As far as we are concerned, before he becomes dangerous to Governor Fayose is doing what the people he governs.” any right thinking person with love of Nigeria at heart should Ekiti PDP reacts do.”

In a statement by its State The party berated remarks Publicity Secretary, Mr Jackson made by the APC spokesmen Adebayo, the PDP spokesman said saying “It is not Fayose, who is “we in PDP believe that any serious providing good governance to the party publicity officer should be people that elected him that need image maker not using foul medical test but the president and language on opponent unlike leadership of APC that have these nincompoops calling grounded Nigeria’s economy themselves image makers. because they are neophytes.”

alleged forgery and illegal usurpation of powers through falsifying resignation of members of Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, TORAN, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly perpetrated by erstwhile members of the association.

This followed a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, by aggrieved members of the trustees of the association after what they perceived as “the inability of police authorities in Ogun state to bring to books all those fingered in the criminal charges” during their investigation.

This came as spirited efforts by the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to persuade the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja to suspend further hearing on the 13-count criminal charge pending against him for one week crumbled yesterday.

Saraki had through his team of lawyers led by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, begged the tribunal to adjourn the matter for at least seven days to enable him properly study some of the exhibits the Federal Government tendered in evidence against him.

“My Lord, we apply for an adjournment to enable us to at least study the exhibits that have been tendered, some of which did not form part of the proof of evidence that was earlier tendered by the prosecution.

“This is even necessary considering that is has become evident that some of the exhibits were not properly marked.

This application is in the interest of justice and consistent with our right to fair hearing as enshrined in the constitution.

“My Lord we make this application with all humility and

with regard to the order you made for the matter to be heard day-today. We are appealing to your discretion. The laws are not self enforcing”, Agabi begged.

Saraki further anchored his appeal on section 36(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

However, the request was vehemently opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who urged the tribunal to refuse it for want of merit.

“The prayer of this application is not specific, it is ambiguous.

My Lord had ordered that the witness should continue so that he can conclude his evidence by tomorrow (today).

“The evidence in question was collected by the defendants since Monday. They proceeded with the cross-examination today (yesterday) because they were satisfied. My Lord we have gone beyond proof of evidence having already tendered these documents as exhibits.’’

Delivering a bench ruling on the matter, the tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, refused the application, even as he ordered Saraki to ensure his appearance before the tribunal by 10am today.

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — HUNDREDS of indigenes of Sango and Ijoko in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun state, yesterday, besieged the private residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, urging him to prevail on Governor Ibikunle Amosun over the creation of Local Council Development Area and boundary adjustment.

The protesters, comprising communities leaders, market women, youths, traditional rulers and religious groups urged the former president to intervene in the controversy surrounding the location of Ota LCDA so as to avoid repeat of Ife and Modakeke riot.

The protesters were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as: “Please, let us avoid a repeat of Ife and Modakeke, let our boundary from time immemorial remain, ‘For continuous peace, don’t merge us with Ota LCDA and ‘We are one since centuries, don’t divide us now” among others.

Though Obasanjo was said to be away at the time of the visit, the protesters submitted a petition at his residence for “necessary action.”

Addressing newsmen, the traditional ruler of Igan community in the area, Chief Idowu Olaniyi explained that they decided to seek Obasanjo’s intervention being a chief of Egbaland, because the issue affects the Egba people.

Olaniyi said “We want Obasanjo to help us talk to the authorities to stop their move to divide Sango. Egba people in the area are suffering. “The boundary arrangement in the proposed LCDA would make us lose all the basic amenities belonging to Sango communities to Ota area of the local government.”

Earlier, the protesters blocked the entrance to the state House of Assembly at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta before they were addressed by the Speaker, Suraj Adekumbi.

But addressing the protesters at the Assembly complex, the Speaker promised that the legislature would look into their agitation and petition.

Adekunbi, who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, said the House had received over 100 petitions on the proposed LCDAs.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

$2.1bn arms probe: Don't try Dasuki in secret, court tells FG allowing the government to mask the witnesses billed to testify in BUJA — ABUJA Division the matter or to allow them to bear of the Federal High Court, pseudo names.

Justice Adeniyi noted that the yesterday, declined to allow the Federal Government try the Federal Government had, in the former National Security Adviser, charge against Dasuki, supplied NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) names and addresses of the 11 witnesses it intended to call secretly.

The four-count criminal charge against the defendant, a pending against Dasuki before document he said was already in the court borders on money the public domain.

Besides, the court maintained laundering and alleged illegal that there was no evidence to possession of firearms.

While refusing the application indicate that the life of any of the by the Federal Government, trial witnesses was being threatened Justice Ademola Adeniyi ordered in any way, stressing that the that the defendant, who had been defendant was not charged for in detention since November 3, acts of terrorism.

It, therefore, refused the Federal 2015, be granted access to his Government’s application for only family members and lawyers.

The court said there was no lawyers and accredited journalists point for it to make an order to be allowed inside the court room

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

during the trial.

Dasuki’s lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, earlier told the court that operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, kept his client incommunicado since December 29, 2015, when he was re-arrested upon perfection of his bail conditions.

Raji, who insisted that the protracted incarceration of his client had greatly hampered his right to prepare his defence, told the court that the DSS recently blocked Dasuki’s 95-year-old father from seeing him.

Consequently, Justice Adeniyi ordered the security agency to grant Dasuki access to his visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays for at least two hours.

He said such meetings should take place in the Interview Room

at the DSS Headquarters and the Federal High Court premises in Abuja.

Specifically, the court directed that the defendant should on each of the visiting days, be granted access to four lawyers and two members of his family.

However, Justice Adeniyi declined Dasuki's plea to be discharged from the case owing to his continued detention.

The court dismissed the application as lacking in merit, saying Dasuki should initiate contempt action against the Federal Government if he felt that his detention was in contravention of subsisting court orders.

The court went ahead and fixed May 18 and 19 to hear the substantive case against the defendant.

Involve us in construction of $14bn Dangote oil refinery — Indigenous firms Nigerian firms lack capacity —Project consultant We've capacity to deliver —Indigenous firms

By Clara Nwachukwu

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AGOS — INDIGENOUS service companies have asked to be involved in the construction of $14 billion Dangote Oil Refinery as a way of avoiding enormous capital flight from Nigeria.

Their none involvement, they claim, will defeat the Federal Government’s aspirations on local content development.

This came even as a consultant with Dangote Oil Refinery insists that the country lacks enough capacity to handle the 650,000barrel capacity refinery project.

Some Nigerian firms, who spoke with Vanguard, complained that almost all the works involved in the project were being executed offshore, particularly in India.

This, according to them, has denied indigenous companies the opportunity to leverage their competences and ability to create jobs estimated at over 20,000.

But the Project Consultant for Dangote Refinery, Mr. Babajide Shodoye, in a telephone interview with Vanguard, regretted the capital flight, but insisted that there was not enough competence in Nigeria.

He said: “It (capital flight) is true, but sad. But where are they going to do it in Nigeria? Let us know where they can fabricate the components.”

Shodoye said the company would not compromise competence in favour of content development.

“Refinery construction is based on licensed patented technology.

So, how much of this technology exists in Nigeria? The last time such was done in Nigeria was 30 years ago and it was not done by any Nigerian company. In other words, none of these things have been done by Nigeria," he said.

Nigerians

DECORATION: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari (left) decorating the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador during a visit to the Senator's office at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. have capacity

But Nigerian firms, under the auspices of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, maintained that its members have capacity to deliver.

PETAN, formed to bring together Nigerian oil and gas entrepremeurs to create a forum for exchange of ideas with major operators and policy makers, is made up of Nigerian indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry.

PETAN Chairman, Mr. BankAnthony Okoroafor, told Vanguard exclusively: “PETAN companies have the capacity and capability to fabricate facilities and even pipe coating.

"So for the interest of our country and for our survival, those millions of dollars should not be

used to provide jobs for two to three thousand jobs abroad when those jobs can be provided within the the country.”

To underscore his argument, Okoroafor noted that the 1,000barrel capacity Niger Delta refinery was built by Nigerians.

He said: “There are many components of a refinery. There is a tank farm, that would have several storage tanks; we have storage tanks for crude, and storage tanks for finished products. ‘’They would have pipelines.

There are pipelines instrumentations, civil engineering works, metering, and all these components can be done

by PETAN companies. So when you give these jobs to Nigerian companies, this money is going to reside in the country. That is what we refer to as value added local content. We are not moving

the dollars international, we are empowering Nigerians.”

Nigerian firms lack capacity

But Shodoye is not convinced about their competences, saying: “I contacted three of the biggest engineering companies and none has the capacity to do one of the plants. The problem is that very few of our engineers are viable and can handle major projects.”

As a result of the numerous applications, he said interested Nigerian firms were urged to form associations and liaise with foreign partners, particularly Engineers India Ltd., EIL, to execute the jobs.

“Eil has done almost 47 refineries. In a real sense, it has about 50 years experience,’’ Shodoye said.

China to start importing from Nigeria —Emefiele

W

ASHINGTON — THE Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said the Federal Government was talking with China so it would also be importing some of its own requirements from Nigeria.

According to Emefiele, this would help to reduce the gulf in trading between the two countries.

Speaking at a press conference at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, on the last day of the 2016 World Bank/IMF spring meeting, Emefiele also said part of Nigeria’s deal with China was that the country became the Asian country’ s trading hub in West Africa.

He said: “China has appointed South Africa as its trading hub for Remnibi transactions in the South African region, has appointed Kenya as its trading hub for East and Central Africa.

“And Nigeria, the mandate that we signed is for us to be appointed as the trading hub in West African. In all, we expect that it is going to be mutually beneficial.

“We are talking to China so that it would also be importing some of its items from Nigeria, so that the trading balance can be sort of reduced.

“Will Nigeria benefit from this? I want to say categorically that Nigeria benefits from this. It’s less pressure on the dollar and consequently on our reserves.”

Emefiele added that the CBN could not continue with indeterminate adjustment (devaluation) of the currency, without taking necessary structural reforms.

“For the first time, we are taking structural reforms seriously in the country. We’ve always talked about, when you do an adjustment, follow it up with structural reforms.

“But we are saying this time we’ve done an adjustment and we are following it up with structural reform, where we are saying we must diversify the economy away from depending on oil.

“I’ve said it that we have seen people who are coming in an investing. During the china trip, we saw people who said they can now come in instead of exporting those items into Nigeria, they can now bring those plants into Nigeria and begin to produce those things in Nigeria because our climate is good."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—9

705,352 apply for 10,000 Police jobs As PSC vows to stop impunity by officers

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — BARELY three weeks after the Police Service Commission, PSC, opened the portal for applications for 10,000 vacancies approved by the Federal Government, the commission has received 705,352 applications.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, at last year ’s National Security Summit, approved the recruitment of 10,000 policemen into the nation’s Police Force for better service.

A statement signed by the commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said 202,427 had successfully applied for the position of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP; 169,446 for Cadet Inspector and 333,479 as Constables.

“The commission will be recruiting 500 Cadet ASPs, 500 Cadet Inspectors, 1,500 Specialist Officers and 7, 500 Constables to meet the President’s approved 10,000 new entrants into the Force,” the statement said.

Chairman of the Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, had earlier confirmed in Abuja that the process of receiving the forms had been smooth and transparent.

He explained that the commission was committed to making the recruitment a huge success, adding that the commission would continue to make the process of the recruitment transparent.

He assured the applicants of fairness and equal opportunity since the commission was only interested in recruiting for the police the best brains in the society.

Okiro said he was excited with the huge interest shown

by Nigerians in entering the Police Force.

PSC vows to stop impunity by officers Meanwhile, the PSC has said it would ensure accountability in the conduct of police officers and vowed to stop impunity in the line of duty by the officers and men of the force.

Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and a commissioner in the commission, stated this at a capacity building workshop for the commission’s Public Complaints Committee on Police Conduct, in Abuja.

Adekeye, who is also the chairman of the committee, said the commission would positively bridge the gap between the public and the police by holding the

policemen accountable and ensuring they conducted their duties in line with laid down rules and regulations and in consonance with the rule of

law.

She disclosed that the committee had received 94 complaints from both the public and the police since it

started sitting in November 2015, adding that the committee was already treating 23 of such cases.

FG to audit emergency response agencies

By Omeiza Ajayi

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VISIT: From left, Second Vice President, Institute of Directors (IoD), Mr. Chris Okunowo; President/Chairman of Council, IoD, Mr. Yemi Akeju; Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. John Aboh and Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Charles Kie, during a visit of IoD team to Ecobank, in Lagos.

No Grazing Bill before us —Senate As Abaribe demands explanation on controversial bill

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA— THE Senate, yesterday, denied that the National Grazing Bill was in its possession, saying it only featured during the 7th Assembly.

The Senate’s denial of the bill came on the heels of a request from Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, who wanted to know if the bill was before the Senate.

Abaribe said his request became necessary, given similar request from his constituents, who wanted to know whether the Senate was treating any such bill.

The red chamber, in an official statement through its Committee on Rules and Business, said the bill presented for consideration in the last Senate, was sponsored

by Senator Zainab Kure, who represented Niger Central at the time.

In the statement, signed by Senator Babajide Omoworare, chairman of the committee, the Senate said its explanation was borne out of several calls inundated senators from their constituents over allegation that the bill had passed second reading and was expecting

possible passage.

The statement read: “Several distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have been inundated with the request by members of the public concerning the pendency of a National Grazing Bill in the Senate.

“This is to clarify that no such bill has been presented by the executive arm of government and none has so far been filed by any Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 8th Senate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a 'National Grazing Reserve Establishment and Development Commission Bill' (SB. 60) was presented by Senator Zainab Kure (Niger Central) during the 7th Senate (2011 – 2015) which has now expired by the operations of law on the June 6, 2015 in furtherance of Section 64(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

Abaribe demands explanation on controversial bill Earlier, Senator Abaribe had requested to know when the bill scaled second reading when it did not even deliberate

on it.

Abaribe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, raised the alarm at the plenary over speculation in the social media that a bill seeking to establish the National Grazing Commission had passed second reading in the 8th Senate.

Abariba, who raised a point of order under Order 43 on personal explanation, said he had been inundated with over 1,000 calls from members of his constituency and the public on the present Senate passing the said bill, a development, he said, surprised him, given that he was not aware of the bill before the present Senate.

He requested to know when the said bill was passed by the 8th Senate, even as he recalled that the bill on grazing reserve was presented at the 7th Senate by Senator Zainab Kure, who represented Niger South in the 7th Senate.

He also recalled that the bill was then rejected.

Responding, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said he had noted Senator Abaribe’s complaint.

BUJA— AS part of efforts to develop a well-coordinated National Emergency Response System, the Federal Government has disclosed plans to audit all emergency response agencies operating in the country to determine their capabilities, both in times of emergency caused by insurgents and in everyday life occurrences.

Those to be audited include National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC; Federal Fire Service, FFS; Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC; Nigeria Police Force and other local and international humanitarian support organizations.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja when he visited the Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani-Sidi.

Ehanire, who stated that he had been consulting with all the MDAs responsible for emergency and disaster management, also added that the ministry would partner with NEMA in responding to the mental health needs of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, who have suffered emotional damage.

“Experts from the neuropsychiatric hospitals are already working on how to attend to the emotional health needs of people in the North-East,” he said.

While he recalled government’s plan to establish 10, 000 primary healthcare centres nationwide, the minister said the gesture would form part of the response at the primary healthcare level.

“Locals would be trained to deliver minimal and basic healthcare package. In the North-East, they will include counselling and emotional issues,” he said.

Stating that there is room to improve on Nigeria’s emergency response capabilities, Ehanire said the Federal Government was working to create a national emergency response system that functions in normal day-today life which would not just have to do with insurgency alone.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

2 children, 8 passengers burnt to death in Lagos auto crash

By Monsuru Olowoopejo & Esther Onyegbula

T

WO CHILDREN and eight other passengers were Monday night burnt to death as

EFCC arrests pension DG, 3 others over N2.5bn fraud

12 others suffer severe burns after a saloon car and commercial bus collided and burst into flames at Iyana Yafin, Badagry Local Government, Lagos State.

Vanguard gathered that the accident, which occurred at about 8:30 pm on Badagry Expressway, caused severed gridlock along the axes.

There were different accounts

of the cause of the fire disaster after the collision of the vehicles.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that one of the vehicles was conveying fuel to the border town of Seme , while another eyewitness said that could not be verified.

It was learned that one of the vehicles with registration number plates KJA 654 XF drove against the traffic in order to avoid being

impounded by the officers of the Nigerian Customs.

A resident, Olakunle Adio, said the bus while driving against traffic switched off its headlamp to avoid being seen by the Customs officers, adding “this was responsible for the head-on collision because the driver of the saloon car was not aware of his action.”

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

T

HE ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested the suspended Director General, DG, of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, Nelly Mayshak, and three others for N2.5 billion fraud.

Others arrested include Yoab Youssoufou, Patricia Iyogun, and Ruth Imonikhe.

Mayshak was suspended indefinitely in March over allegations of fraud uncovered in PTAD – an independent pension agency established in August 2013 to oversee management of pensions under the Defined Benefit Scheme for pensioners not transiting to the defined contributory scheme.

Investigations into the alleged fraud revealed that Mayshak misappropriated about N2 billion that was left in the pension's account of the Head of the Civil Service, Nigerian Immigrations Service, NIS, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS. She also allegedly embezzled about N500 million meant as take-off grant for PTAD. The alleged fraud, which bordered on procurement fraud, was committed during her three-year tenure. In one instance, Mayshak allegedly approved N25,410,000 for supply of 121,000,000 litres of fuel in one day when in fact there was no corresponding storage capacity, as PTAD only had storage capacity of about 11,000 litres, which lasts for about a month.

Mayshak is alleged to have awarded several phony contracts to cronies and staff of PTAD, through which she used to enrich herself as they only served as fronts for her.

The bus and the car involved in the auto-crash

Also, Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Badagry Unit, Mr. Fatai Bakare, disclosed that the bus drove against traffic from Gbaji Bridge to avoid being apprehended by Customs officers and collided with a Mazda 626 car en route to Seme Border.

The unit commander noted that the impact of the head on collision resulted in flames, thereby, burning 10 persons including a child beyond recognition while twelve victims were rescued from the scene.

Bakare said that the survivors were rushed to Badagry General Hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State, Dolapo Badmos and the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said that 10 persons were burnt to death while seven others suffered serious injuries in the accident.

Badmos said the 10 person were burnt beyond recognition while the seven others who suffered serious injuries had been taken to the Badagry General Hospital for urgent treatment.

On the reason for the vehicles bursting into flames, Dolapo argued that one of the vehicles was loaded with jerry cans filled with petrol. “After the collision, the two vehicles burst into flames and the passengers burnt beyond recognition.”

Husband bags one year imprisonment for beating wife

A

MARARABA Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, yesterday, sentenced a 36-yearold man, Benjamin Ogbeji, to one year imprisonment for beating up his wife and calling her a prostitute.

The presiding officer, Vincent Gwehemba, however, gave the convict an option to pay N8, 000 fines, and warned him not to lay

his finger on his wife again.

“If your wife does anything that is provocative and you felt so bad about it, there are many ways you can handle the issue, but not by beating,” he said.

Ogbeji, a resident of Expo 1 Hotel, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, had pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of criminal force, intimidation, mischief and

defamation of character.

He urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

The prosecutor, Donald Herman, had told the court that on April 14, he was ordered by the court to bring to station the wife of the convict, Janet Ogbayi of Ado New Karu, Mararaba.

Herman said on April 16, at about 9 p.m., the convict who

happened to be her husband, came to her rented house at Ado New Karu, Nasarawa State, beat her up and called her prostitute.

He said that the convict after beating the complainant, damaged her fridge, television, TV stand, generating set, centre table, stabiliser and standing fan all valued N137,000.

LASSA Fever claims another victim in UBTH Gabriel Enogholase

A

MAN, who came into the country from abroad for the mum’s burial reportedly died from the dreaded Lassa Fever at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, after receiving medical attention by a team of

health care personnel.

The victim, who was rushed to the hospital after complaining of appendicitis, was confirmed dead after an operation was performed on him.

It was, however, gathered that the victim, who was on a visit to Nigeria, had attended his

mother’s funeral at Ekpoma, in Edo Central senatorial district in the state.

In a statement in Benin City by the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Michael Ibadin, while confirming the incident, said there was no cause for alarm as the hospital management had

Soldiers nab 5 suspected cultists in Aba

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—SOLDIERS attached to the 144 Battalion, Asa, Ukwa West council area of Abia State, have arrested five suspected cultists operating in Aba. Vanguard gathered that the suspects arrested by soldiers stationed at the Ngwa Road Forward Operation Base, FOB,

for allegedly belonging to the Arrow cult group.

Items allegedly recovered from the suspects include three locally made pistols, five cases of live cartridges, two female purse containing N21,935, two Tecno mobile phones, a Microsoft phone, two Nokia phones and five sachets of substances suspected to be Indian Hemp.

Sources within the Battalion

told Vanguard that the five suspects were arrested through a tip-off around Akwueze area

by Ihieorji, Off Ohanku, in Aba South council.

The sources, who lamented the growing trend of cultism among youths in Aba, especially in areas populated by students of higher institutions, vowed that soldiers would leave no stone unturned in tackling the menace.

maintained professionalism in handling the case.

Ibadin said the patient, who was receiving treatment at the UBTH, died three hours after he was attended to at the hospital, noting that “all persons who were involved in taking care of the victim, have all been taken care of according to international best practices.”

He further stressed that management of the hospital immediately swung into action to ensure that the care givers at the hospital including staff and medical personnel, who cared for the victim, were quarantined to ensure safety.

He added that ”there is no cause for alarm as the hospital has continued to provide services to the public under very safe environment.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—11

NEPWHAN tells Buhari: Don’t assent budget until corrections are made ...vows to storm NASS with corpses of HIV patients

By Victoria Ojeme

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BUJA—THE Network of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to

assent the recently passed budget until the National Assembly replaced items it tempered with.

The N14 billion budget proposed by the executive for HIV/AIDS treatment in 2016 was pruned down to N800 million by

the legislators.

The group queried the rationale behind the reduction of the budget to provide drugs for the about 3.5 million patients living with the virus, while it could conveniently approve over N3

billion to buy cars for itself.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, NEPWHAN National Coordinator, Mr. Victor Omoshehin, said it was appalling that the legislators could so afford to toy with lives of the Nigerians,

How 15 years old boy escaped from kidnappers

By Tom Moses

I

KOT-ABASI—15YEAR-OLD Secondary School student, Thank God Udo Jeremiah, a native of Ikot Akpan Udo Village in Ukpum Ete Clan, IkotAbasi Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, Sunday, escaped death by the whiskers after being abducted by three heavilybuilt young men suspected to have come from neighbouring Amazaba Community.

Narrating what happened, Young Thank- Thank-God Jeremiah: I escaped God Jeremiah told the through God's intervention VANGUARD in Ikot-Abasi that he went to work in his “I was overwhelmed with fear father’s farm on the fateful day, because apart from these three but unknown to him he was men being physically stronger being trailed. than me, they also carried Thank God said he had started machetes but God made them to working in the farm for about ten forget that they had machetes on minutes when the three men them, otherwise they would have came out from hiding and butchered me like a cow. pounced on him, with one “I can’t tell where I got the holding him by the neck and the strength from as I struggled with other two men holding unto his them seriously and freed myself legs and dragging him into the from their vicious grip before forest.

attempting to run away but they had fenced me round such that an escape became impossible.

“So, since I was stronger than they had imagined, the three of them started throwing punches at me, hitting me everywhere. Then, I started shouting for help and God answered my call when a motor-cyclist heard my shouts, stopped and asked from where he stood, what the matter was.

“Upon hearing the man’s voice, they took to their heels. That was how God rescued me from the hands of those evil men and I started tracing my way from that forest they dragged me to till I found myself in Ikot Ikwot, a neighbouring village to Ikot Akpan Udo,” Thank-God narrated.

Thank-God’s father, Chief Udo Jeremiah, while confirming the incident, said the family had suspected that something was amiss when Thank-God did not return home when he ought to.

“So, one of the brothers, Sabbath, immediately rode a bicycle to the farm to find out what must have delayed him only for him to notice signs of trodden upon plants and foot-prints indicating that there

was a tussle in that farm.

“So, he rushed back to inform us and the youths of the community that his brother, Thank-God, had been kidnapped.

When the youths mobilized for a search and didn’t find him, we concluded that he must have been killed.

“I thank God that he escaped from them because there is nobody that had been captured by the Amazaba people since 2008 that has been found till date and as we speak, I don’t know whether I would have killed myself before now if Thank-God did not escape from those Amazaba people,” Chief Jeremiah stated.

He lamented that he was still in grief over gruesome murder of his uncle, the late Akpan Timothy murderd by the Amazaba people in 2008 just as the burden of training and taking care of his four children are undertaken by him.

He added that the murder of his son by the same people would not have been palatable.

Meanwhile, there is serious tension in the entire Ikot-Abasi following the rampant cases of kidnap and terrorist activities in the area.

especially the young ones living with HIV/AIDS. He argued that ‘’when you cut down the cost that can give them access to life-saving therapy, it is as if you are unplugging the support oxygen, saying, 'let them die if they want to die.' That is what they have just done with the budget.”

He called on President Buhari not to assent the budget unless the members of NASS undid the wrongs in the budget. “ The President should not assent to the bill because the peoples concern have not been addressed.

President Muhammadu Buhari should not sign this budget that the national assembly has made provision of N3.6 billion to buy exotic cars while they just allocate N1.5 billion to care for people living with HIV. “We cannot continue to depend on partners. We are Nigerians and not Americans. We pay our taxes to the federal and state governments of Nigeria. So Nigerian government should take responsibility of the people living with HIV in the country.”

He said the people placed on treatment might not be able to receive treatment, adding that this would lead to their death.

“We are going to storm the National Assembly with the corpses of HIV patients; we will demonstrate because with this budget, people living with HIV will no longer have access to treatment, care and support, and a lot of people will die."

Police arrest woman with decomposing corpse

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—POLICE in Delta State have arrested a woman, who allegedly killed a commercial motorcyclist and kept his decomposing corpse in her room for nine days.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Celestina Kalu, who disclosed this in Asaba, yesterday, said a group of vigilante men led by Mr. Udoro Odiri, reported that the group received an information that a corpse was in one Beatrice Idoro’s apartment at 8, Irifere Eku. She said the vigilante team members had said the deceased was an Okada man simply known as Oghenerho.

Kalu said the deceased was killed April 5, 2016, allegedly by the said Beatrice and the corpse kept in her inner room before it was discovered.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

DSS arraigns Rivers SSG, APC chieftain over re-run polls

By Jimitota Onoyume ORT HARC O U R T — DEPARTMENT of State Services, DSS, yesterday arraigned the Secretary to Rivers State Government, SSG, Mr Kenneth Kobani and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Azubuike Wanjoku, before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, over alleged conducts during the last re-run elections in the state that constituted threats to public peace.

The SSG, Mr Kobani and others now at large were, among others, charged with alleged offences punishable under the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011.

Kobani pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge read to him.

The charges read in part: ”That you Kenneth Kobani, with others at large, on or about March 3, 2016, at a meeting held in your residence at Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, did conspire to carry out activities that could cause a breach of the peace and break down of law and order on March 19, 2016, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code

P

Act. Count two: “That you, Kobani, and others at large, on or about March 19, 2016, at the premises of INEC office, Gokana LGA, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conduct yourself in a manner that caused a breach of the peace by leading and instructing your followers to barricade the entrance of the INEC office, prevented officials of the commission and other ad-hoc staff from discharging their duties and causing stampede in the vicinity, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 d of the Criminal Code."

Count three: "That on or about March 19, 2016 at the premises of INEC office, Gokana LGA, within the jurisdiction of this court, you did hold Mr James Simon, an official of the commission and other adhoc staff hostage until their eventual rescue by security personnel, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011."

Kobani pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Trial judge, Justice Liman Mohammed, later granted him bail on self recognition

and adjourned the matter to June 15 for hearing.

Kobani is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

On his part, Wanjoku, who was the APC candidate for Ikwerre state House of Assembly constituency seat in the rerun election, was charged for alleged false accusation of the Ikwerre INEC Electoral Officer, Mr Kingsley Osifu, of collecting some amount of money from him to disrupt public order and security, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code.

The second count said the conduct of Wanjoku allegedly obstructed the public officer from discharging his official duty, an act punishable under the criminal code.

The third count alleged that Wanjoku threatened to forcefully demand refund of the said money from the INEC officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to the criminal code.

He pleaded not guilty.

Justice Liman granted him bail in the sum of N500,000, ordering that he should get a senior civil servant to sign surety for him.

The court also ordered that he be remanded in prison custody till the bail condition was met.

Ogoni killings: Reps C'ttee to summon Army As PDP, APC bicker over c'ttee

By Gbenga Oke & Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT—THE House of Representatives Committee on Army says it will summon the Nigerian Army for interrogation over its reported involvement in the killings in Ogoni, Rivers State, on February 22 and 23.

A delegate from the House of Representatives Committee on Army had arrived Rivers State for a two-day fact finding visit based on a petition sent to it by the Civil Liberty Organisation, CLO, on the alleged massacre of people in Ogoni by soldiers.

Recall that soldiers from the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, in a bid to stamp out arms running in communities in the state had allegedly raided some criminal hideouts in Yeghe community, Gokana and Bori, in Khana Local Government C M Y K

Area of the state, killing several people and demolishing about two houses including the house of an ex-militant leader, Mr. Solomon Ndigbara.

Speaking, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, shortly after visiting the affected communities, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Army, Mr. Rima Kwewun, said the summons was for the committee to hear the Army ’s version of the story.

Meanwhile, the state All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, accused each over the House Committee's visit to the state.

While APC accused Governor Nyesom Wike of trying to blackmail and stampede the Nigerian Army out of Ogoniland ahead of the rerun elections in Rivers SouthEast senatorial zone, it alleged that Wike was

trying to hound the military out of the zone to pave way for cultists, exmilitants and hoodlums with a view to preventing the people from exercising their voting rights.

PDP on its part, accused the APC of wasting its time making frivolous claims and blackmailing Governor Wike over a well intended fact finding visit being undertaken by the National Assembly members.

PDP, in a statement by its state chairman, Felix Obuah, said that APC’s position was an admission that it actually deployed soldiers in Ogoniland and the entire state during the March 19, 2016 re-run elections to do everything to deliver its candidates in the elections, saying: “We find this fact finding mission by the National Assembly members as a process aimed at giving justice to the people of Ogoni, who have been made to suffer undue abuses and killed for no just cause.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—13

UPU storms court for Ese Oruru Why we're unable to secure Yunusa on bail —Lawyer

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—MEMBERS of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, the apex body of the Urhobo ethnic nationality, led by its National Secretary, Albert Akpomudje, SAN, and the president of the Youth Wing, Ovie Anthony, along with the Women's Wing, yesterday, stormed a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayalse State, in solidarity with their own, Miss Ese Oruru, at the resumed trial of her alleged abductor, Dahiru Yunusa, aka Yellow.

Meanwhile, Mr Kayode Olaosebekan, counsel to Yunusa, who is standing trial on a fivecount charge of abduction and sexual exploitation of a minor, Oruru, yesterday, in Yenagoa, gave reasons why the accused person was yet to be released because he was yet to perfect his bail conditions.

According to Olaosebekan, the public attention on the case and the bail condition which demands that the sureties must be resident in the jurisdiction of the court were scaring away individuals who would have stood as sureties, adding that they will follow the legal processes to perfect Yunusa's bail conditions.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, Akpomudje, SAN, who announced his appearance before the trial judge, Justice H. Nganjiwa, said he was representing Urhobo interest in the matter.

In a chat with newsmen shortly after the court sitting, Akpmudje

expressed satisfaction with the handling of the matter by the prosecution counsel, noting that he will write the Inspector General of Police, IG, to be part of the prosecution team.

Akpomudje said: “Our interest in this case, like I told the court, is that wherever any Urhobo prson is affected in any way, it is the responsibility of UPU to come in and protect that person.

I think the prosecution did well because I felt I was going to take over but what he has done is very good.”

In his remark, the President General of UPU Youth Wing Worldwide, Anthony, said the UPU decided to wade into the

case considering the sensitive nature of the matter and the way it was being handled.

According to him, “When we weigh the issue and the way the matter is being handled, the UPU as the apex body of the Urhobo people thought it wise that we should come in so that we can argue the case properly, so that another Urhobo daughter or any other person will not be a victim of what has happened to Ese Oruru.”

Meanwhile, trial judge in the matter, Justice Nganjiwa, at the resumed hearing, yesterday, adjourned to May 12, for the ruling on the application by the prosecution, Kenneth Dike,

who is seeking the leave of the court to take the evidence of Miss Ese Oruru in secret.

Dike, in an affidavit to support his motion, citing Section 36 Subsection 4, argued that what they were seeking for was to protect the constitutional right of the victim, Oruru, to fair trial being a minor, stressing that the victim would be shy to give her evidence in public.

Defence counsel, Kayode Olaosebekan, urged the court to dismiss the application for lack of merit, describing the application as an attempt to secure a conviction before calling on any witness, since the age of the victim was also a matter before the court.

MEETING: From left: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, King Dandeson Jaja, Jeki V, Amanyanabo of Opobo and the state Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr John Bazia, during the 103rd quarterly meeting of traditional rulers, yesterday.

Edo APC leaders resolve Oshiomhole, Odubu rift

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State held a strategic meeting to reconcile the frosty relationship between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, who is gunning to succeed his boss in the forthcoming September 10 governorship election in the state.

It was learned that the peace meeting which lasted several hours threw up a lot of revelations as regards the root of the crisis, just as both leaders aired their minds on several issues and resolved to continue to work together in the interest of the people of the state.

All had not been well between the duo since Odubu declared his interest to run for the governorship of the state, particularly when it became clear that his boss Oshiomhole was backing the candidature of Chairman of the Economic Team of the state government, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

Contrary to the insinuations that there were attempts to ask the deputy to jettison his ambition, Governor Oshiomhole was said to have told his deputy to pursue his C M Y K

ambition without fear or favour as he was prepared to support whoever wins the APC primaries at the governorship election.

It was disclosed at the meeting that politicians who were bent on destroying the cordial relationship which had existed

between the duo since 2008 when they came into office, were fuelling the crisis for personal interest.

Some of the leaders who facilitated the meeting include the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftain Affairs in the state,

Chief Lucky James, member representing Etsako federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Philip Shuaibu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Patrick Obahiagbon, state Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie and some top traditional rulers in the state.

March 19 re-run, endorsement of our leadership —Wike

R

IVERS State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the March 19 re-run legislative elections in the state served as a referendum on the performance of his administration.

He said that the people of the state resoundingly approved his proactive efforts to improve their lives through quality developmental projects and programmes by voting candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Addressing the 103rd quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, yesterday, he said: “The March 19 elections were a referendum on our administration. It was a

resounding approval of the good work we have done.”

He stated that his administration has demonstrated commitment to the development of the state through the judicious application of resources.

The governor urged the traditional rulers to cooperate with law enforcement agents and the state government to uproot cultists and criminal elements from their communities.

LG boss tasks NDDC on Koko-Ogheye road project abandoned a few years ago.

K

OKO—CHAIRMAN of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, has appealed to the acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, to ensure resumption of work on the KokoOgheye road project

He said the economic and socio-cultural importance of the road to the council, the state and the nation cannot be overemphasized.

“There was great jubilation when NDDC started the road project some years ago. The people are sad today that after a few kilometres, the construction work stopped,” he said.

Calabar-Lagos Rail Project: S-South group slams N-Delta lawmakers

By Soni Daniel

A

B U J A — A N advocacy group in the South-South, The Peoples Mandate Organisation, has faulted lawmakers from the region for keeping mum over the removal of the strategic CalabarLagos railway project from the 2016 budget, describing them as enemies of the people.

The group which addressed newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, also frowned at the attempt by some of the lawmakers to blame the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, for allegedly ‘smuggling’ the said vital project into the budget through the backdoor, saying that they were ignorant of the truth about the project.

National Coordinator of TPMO, Pastor Utibeabasi Daniel and National Secretary, Lazarus Abah, described the nonchallant attitude of the lawmakers from the South-South towards the vital project as unfortunate and betrayal of the support the region gave them.

Daniel, accused some of the lawmakers of displaying total ignorance to the project by trying to blame the Transport Minister for his altruistic efforts and warned them to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the people.

Apart from condemning the lawmakers for shying away from the removal of the project from the budget, the group expressed indignation over the reckless comments made by lawmakers who claim to be members of the National Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

The group particularly took exception to the claim by a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Ehioguwa Agbonnayima, who claimed that the Calabar-Lagos railway project was valued at N100 billion, instead of N60 billion which was put in the budget as counterpart funding.

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

We bought only 36 cars, not 108 —Senators

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA— THE Senate disclosed, yesterday, that senators unanimously rejected the proposed loan to purchase their vehicles, saying none of the 109 lawmakers was interested in it.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Senate Services, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, said the upper chamber never spent over N4 billion to purchase 108 cars for lawmakers.

According to him, only 36 SUVs were bought at the cost of N36.5 million each.

He said: “We had a close session and they agreed that we should give one car per state; we sat down and agreed on who among the three senators from each state needs the car most and that was what happened.”

Gobir, who wondered why Nigerians would kick against the purchase of new exotic cars, said as senators they were entitled to official cars.

Reps endorse $300m Euro Diaspora bond

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday, endorsed the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the Diaspora bond from $100 million Euro bond to $300 million as part of government’s borrowing plan.

The bond was captured under Federal Government’s external borrowing plan 2016-2018.

The approval was granted by the House at its Committee of the Whole, chaired by Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yussuf.

The special Committee of the House, chaired by Babangida Ibrahim, APC, Katsina, in its report adopted by the House, observed that the Diaspora bond was a means of diversifying the sources of government funding and taking advantage of the large Diaspora population.

C M Y K

FG, China to sign agreement on fake goods importation

By Godfrey Bivbere

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HE Federal Government is set to sign an agreement with the Republic of China to stem the influx of fake and substandard goods into the country.

Disclosing this in Lagos yesterday, Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Mr. Paul Angya said part of the agreement is

for the Chinese government to impress it on her citizens to stop the production of such products for Nigerian businessmen and to report importers who ask for such products, as well as give intelligence report on such consignments that leave China unnoticed.

He added that the Minister of Trade and Investment had directed SON to do whatever

it takes to clean up the system, adding “the minister gave us a directive to go and clean up the system and we intend to do it in three months.”

He stressed that 99 percent of all fake and substandard goods are imported, while about 60 percent of such goods get shipped into the country before the process for their form “M” begins,

making it difficult for SON to checkmate them through the SON Certification Assessment Programme, SONCAP. He said as a result of the abuse which Electronic Provisional Clearance Certificate, EPCC, was subjected to, SON had stopped its use, but was forced to reintroduce EPCC between April 28 and July 24, when it will be stopped finally.

Nigeria, Sierra Leone maritime stakeholders meet

By Bartholomew Madukwe

A EDC/FIRSTBANK: From left—Chief Economist, Ifeanyi Uddin; Regional Head, Lagos and West, Tunde Owolabi, both of FirstBank; Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre, EDC, Pan-Atlantic University, Nneka Okekearu; Deputy Managing Director, FirstBank, Gbenga Shobo; and Director EDC, Peter Bankole, at the 2016 EDC/ FirstBank SME Breakfast Series tagged The Economy and You, yesterday.

FG loses N1bn to 37,395 ghost workers—EFCC A

BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said yesterday that the Federal Government had uncovered 37,395 ghost workers on the payroll of the Federal Civil Service, which led to a loss of about N1 billion.

EFCC’s acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, made the disclosure during an anticorruption sensitisation programme organised for staff of works and housing sectors.

Magu said apart from the widespread procurement frauds in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, the issue of ghost workers was a source of serious concern to the commission.

He said: “EFCC has uncovered 37,395 ghost workers in the Federal Civil Service and investigation is still going on.

Our investigations have so far revealed that the Federal Government has lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers.

“The figure will definitely increase as we unravel more ghost workers buried deep in Federal Civil Service payrolls.”

He also explained that the commission had established a Procurement Fraud Unit to handle the increasing number of petitions relating to

violations of the Public Procurement Laws.

He, therefore, advised civil servants to avoid any act that was in breach of public procurement procedures, warning that violators risked imprisonment and dismissal from service.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary (Works and Housing), Abubakar Magaji, said as drivers of

government policies, MDAs should be in the forefront of compliance with public service laws and regulations.

He said the works and housing sectors had resolved to regularly organise interactive sessions to reorientate officers on the importance of compliance with extant laws, regulations and guidelines.

delegation of the members of the Board of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration will meet private investors and heads of government parastatals in the shipping industry to establish areas of collaboration, today.

This was disclosed in Lagos by the SecretaryGeneral, Africa Shipowners Association, ASA, Ms. Funmi Folorunso, who explained that the Sierra Leone-Nigeria meeting would avail parties with opportunities to share experiences, exchange views and distil ideas to facilitate a robust Africawide shipping industry.

She said: “The Sierra Leonean delegation will meet officials of the Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, among others.”

FUEL SCARCITY: We owe foreign creditors $1bn— Marketers situation, Adewole explained that

By Sebastine Obasi & Prince Okafor

F

UEL scarcity may last a long time as marketers have stopped importation due to a $1 billion debt burden.

Speaking to Vanguard yesterday, the Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA, Olufemi Adewole, said marketers had not imported products since December 2015.

He said: “Since December, we have not imported products. You will recall that NNPC has been importing about 78 percent, while 22 percent was allocated to DAPPMA, MOMAN and NIPCO.

“The letters of allocation were given to us, but we have not been able to secure foreign exchange due to government policy on FOREX. “Consequently, exposure to our creditors has left us with a $1 billion debt.”

Adewole explained that due to the debt burden, their creditors had resorted to being paid in cash.

He said: “Our creditors now demand that all our imports must be cash backed and of course, it is in dollars. We do not have money to import because CBN has not given us FOREX.” Denying the fact that marketers divert petroleum products, thereby aggravating the scarcity

they do not have enough products to warrant such diversion.

According to him, “the queues are still long because there is no foreign exchange to bring in cargoes. For now, there is inadequate FOREX. If we get the FOREX, we will be able to bring in the cargoes and supply all our customers.

“The much that we have in circulation right now is from our members and NNPC imports. All hands are on deck to ensure that the fuel queues disappear in a short time.

“It is not something that will go in one day or two days; the situation has lingered for about two months now. So it could not go in one day. What we are working towards is to ensure that it disappears as fast as possible.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Military at tail end of North-East operation —CAS

Senate's summons of CCT Chairman invalid —FALANA

By Evelyn Usman

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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HIEF of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, yesterday in Lagos, said the Military had made remarkable progress in the war against insurgency in the NorthEast, assuring that they were at the tail end of operations in the area.

This came as he disclosed that the Air Force would soon take delivery of additional platforms for the battle against insurgency.

Speaking at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, after commissioning five projects, including the installation of executive seats on the C-130 aircraft the CAS said the military had so far succeeded in disorienting terrorists by making it impossible for them to move in convoys or occupy any location in the north-east.

Describing the operation so far as excellent, he said: “When you compare the situation in 2014 or the beginning of 2015 to today, you will agree with me that there is a great difference.

“This is because then, Boko Haram was moving in convoys of 15 to 20 vehicles. Such is not happening again today.

“I really do not want to comment on what happened on Monday because I do not have details. Generally, I can tell you that we are making substantial progress in dealing with this problem. We are at the tail end of the north-east operations.”

He attributed the success to the support of the Muhammadu Buhariled government.

H

CHIBOK: From left— Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee; American gospel singer, actress and radio host, Yolanda Adams; Representative Frederica Robinson and President, South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, during a press conference on #Bringbackourgirls.

Ekweremadu now EFCC ambassador, calls for special courts

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said yesterday that if war against corruption must be achieved in all its ramifications, there was the urgent need to establish special anti-corruption courts.

Senator Ekweremadu, who noted that the setting up of such courts would help reduce the burden on regular courts and fast-track trial of corruption cases, spoke when he was decorated anti-corruption ambassador by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He was decorated in his office by a team from EFCC, led by the National Assembly Liaison Officer, Suleiman Bakari.

Ekweremadu said: “I have been an advocate of special courts for the trial of corruption cases and I believe that other countries, who have enacted laws establishing such, are not fools because there are benefits to be derived therefrom.

“The idea is to expedite trial to make sure that those who are involved in corruption

Lawyer docked for failure to produce suspect

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA— A lawyer, identified as Ndubuisi Uhugbu, has been arraigned before an Aba South Magistrate’s Court presided over by Chijioke Nwogu after he allegedly failed to produce a client he took on bail at the Police Area Command, Aba. Vanguard gathered that Uhugbu had, on December 1,

2015, stood surety for his client, Nkechinyere Eze, detained by the police for allegedly issuing a three million Naira dud cheque to a business partner, with the promise to produce her on demand.

Uhugbu failed to produce Eze on December 8, 2015, as he promised and was subsequently charged to court.

matters will have their day in court.

“When we have special courts, just as we have the National Industrial Court, such courts will do better than they are doing now.”

While advocating for value reorientation of Nigerians at all levels, with a view to returning to good values,

Ekweremadu also cautioned EFCC to ensure that that the Rule of Law was respected in fighting corruption.

Earlier, leader of the EFCC delegation, Bakari, appealed to the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the agency and advocated speedy passage of all the anti-corruption bills before it.

Bill on January deadline for budget passes 2nd reading in House of Reps

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE Bill to ensure that budget proposal for every fiscal year was passed into law before the first day of January passed through second reading in the House of Representatives, yesterday.

The House also passed into law the Bill for an Act to establish the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which provides additional powers and functions to the office, as well as the establishment of the Federal Audit Service Commission.

The Bill for an Act to alter Sections 81 and 82 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to ensure that proposed budgets from the executive were passed into law before the first day of January of every year as provided in Section 318 of the Constitution, was sponsored

by Ossai Nicholas Ossai, who represents Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State.

Meanwhile, the Bill for an Act to establish the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation also seeks to repeal the Audit Act,1956; the Public

Accounts Committees Act, Cap. P35, LFN (Law of Federation of Nigeria), 2004 and the re-enactment of the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2016.

The House further passed to second reading a Bill for an Act to provide the framework for handling unclaimed financial assets to establish the Unclaimed Financial Assets Agency and the Unclaimed Financial Assets Trust Fund.

The House also considered the motion that called for an end to the deconstruction of Nigeria’s flag and urged the Federal Government to direct the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to embark on public enlightenment and reorientation on the need to put an end to the deconstruction.

The House in the motion sponsored by Samuel Ifeanyi Onuigbo, representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia Federal Constituency of Abia State, urged the government to mandate the agency to be the only source of obtaining the national flag to ensure that the correct format of the flag was produced.

UMAN rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday, faulted the invitation extended to the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, by the Senate Ethics Committee.

Falana, in an open letter to the Senate, noted that apart from the fact that the committee lacked the powers to extend such invitation to the judge, that there was a pending case at the High Court sitting in Abuja rendered such invitation invalid.

He said: “It is necessary to point out that the Ethics Committee of the Senate lacks the power to summon the Tribunal Chairman to testify in respect of a criminal investigation. More so that the allegation being examined by the Ethics Committee of the Senate is the subject matter of a pending criminal case.”

The lawyer disclosed that the invitation at a time the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was before the court, showed that “the leadership of the Senate has resolved to frustrate the trial.”

He advised them to withdraw the summons.

16 Abia monarchs get staff of office

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA— GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, yesterday, presented staff of office to 16 newlyrecognised traditional rulers chosen by their various autonomous communities.

According to Governor Ikpeazu, the traditional rulers were called to serve their people not to misrule them, and implored them “to rule with honesty and the fear of God.” He urged the royal fathers to ensure that their reign brought peace and progress to their communities, warning that his government would not tolerate rancour and acrimony in their communities.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 —17

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N Election Day 2015, Nigerians decided they preferred order to chaos and seemed united in the belief that we must finally have a country where hard work and merit, rather than looting public funds, amount to something. This war is not about APC or PDP, we must learn in this country to dissociate facts and logic from ethno-religious sentiment and party affiliations.

Thisisawaragainstcorruptpractices, against the distortion of our economy to suit the whims of a few.

Nigeria is a country where individual earnings do not reflect real productivity, talent or work. Rent collectors institutionalised a process whereby feeding off the state and public assets is the most profitable occupation, while the majority suffer in silence as their commonwealth is sucked away.

The war is against the oligarchic tendencies of our flawed republic where a handful of people impede the progress and development of millions. How such people attain power is a fascinating subject: The appointment of incompetent men and women to public office is the worst form of corruption; it is the fundamental distortion of governance we are paying for today.

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Time for a new War Against Indiscipline

Weak policy decisions It results in poor planning, weak policy decisions and outright theft.

It is a shame we have generalised mediocrity through Federal Character but I have no doubt that the further Nigerians push the war against corruption, the more inclined the public will be to fearlessly debate and take on issues whose failureshavebeenprovensetbacks to national development. What is lacking now is a mobilisation of Nigerians against unruliness and confusion,theclimatewithinwhich inequality and injustice thrive. I will share a short story to exemplify the insufficiencies,madness and commotion ruling our society.

I was on my way back to Lagos from a trip to Abuja last week. The Lagos-Abujalegofmyjourneywas cancelled barely a few hours before departure and I had to purchase a new ticket on another airline because the initial airline’s website was down and its phone lines unreachable. Airlines in Nigeria, as we all know and unfortunatelyaccept,routinelycanceltheir flights without any explanation or apology to passengers and I was

Inside the MMIA, Lagos attempting to get a refund which in our society almost amounts to an act of rebellion as one is supposed to accept poor service (much like bad governance) without com-

A lack of decorum and orderliness seemingly pervades almost everything a Nigerian does and it seems as if to be a “complete Nigerian” one must detest politeness plaints despite being a paying customer (or a tax-paying citizen). The ticketing queue was a long one, which Nigerians in our usual loud, brash way, attempted to bypass.

Everyonebelievestheyare bigman

in Nigeria, someone with more rights than others, whose needs are far more urgent. Local flights within Nigeria not better organised than public transportation where shoving and pushing to get unto a bus or haggling with its conductor, are the order of the day. It will be interesting for sociologists to study why there seems to be no major difference between the behaviour of the upper and lower classes, all motivated by greed, desperation and most of all, survival.

A lack of decorum and orderliness seemingly pervades almost everything a Nigerian does and it seems as if to be a “complete Nigerian” one must detest politeness and show a marked disdain for any regulation. These traits, inheritedorcopiedfrom“big-men” whose cultural influence amounts tobraggingoverstolenpublicfunds and outrageous spending, are the reason why we must have the courage for introspection:

Okonjo-Iweala

NASS constitutional amendments

T

E

VERY time one thinks things in Nigeria can’t get stranger or any more illegal, or morally reprehensible, they simply do, proving the political class has no shortage of ideas and inventiveness when it comes to ensuring its wrongfully amassed privileges go unchallenged.

So unbothered are they by public perception, the laws and ethics the National Assembly is supposed to defend, that some Senators will dare propose constitutional amendments which in essence amount to decriminalising corruption.

To say that they misunderstand their own role as guardians of the people’s rights and of democracy will mean misjudging the deliberate nature of this subterfuge. This can only be perceived as a

We must look at ourselves, not just our leaders and see how we anticipate and prepare their failures, granting them “soft-landings” because their behaviour only mirrors what is acceptable or justifiable within our society.Like many others, I was unable to get a refund and almost missed my flight in the process. Tempers and frustrations were running high, unhindered by the airport’s lack of ventilation and functional ACs. By the time I reachedthegatesforboardingwhat awaited me was much worse.

A vapid, uninterested voice announced on the airport’s intercom system that yet another flight had been cancelled. Groans of pain ensued. Passengers who had already been waiting several hours without an update got angry till a mob formed and attacked ground staff, prompting others to join them in blocking the boarding gates.

They were adamant that no other passengers would board their flights until airport authorities and

the airlines provided them with adequate information with regard to their flights. So another fight ensuedbetweenpassengersattempting to board their flights and those whose flights had been cancelled for the umpteenth time.

In the chaos that followed, no security operatives were visible for almost an hour. Airport staff issued contradictorystatementsfurtherenraging passengers on both ends of the divide and those with access to the protocol lounge fled and barricaded themselves within it. I took refuge with a few others behind a standing AC once we had identified our corresponding interests, that is, to board our flight which was ready to depart, with or without us.

By this time, ethnic slurs were bandied around as it turned out that those blocking the boarding gates were mostly of Northern extraction, while those attempting to board were headed towards the South East or South West. The airport on that day was a mini-Nigeria, ruled by chaos and brute force, a country where ethnic thinking overtakes reason and selfishness trumps solidarity in the face of a common, oppressive enemy.

A country where the only way to be heard is to pose a threat because no one respects well behaved, law abiding citizens. Victims hurt other victims while the real perpetrators ofunfairnessgounchallenged.My newfound allies and I used Roman infantry tactics to manoeuvreour way towards the boarding gates.

All in all, it was a surreal experience, which brought me to the following conclusion: ending corruption and indiscipline in this country is certainly government’s responsibility, but it also hinges on the citizenry’s support and understanding of the issues at hand.

Why should we change? Why is our individual comportment linkedtoournationaldevelopment andprogress?Therelevantauthorities have so far done a poor job of ensuring service providers in Nigeria(airlines,telecomscompanies, banks etc.) offer good services instead of exploiting Nigerians. The Presidency has the moral standing to spark debates and guide a national conversation on all the issues holding us back.

Now is the time for something different, governance that goes beyond accusations, allegations and simplistic press releases.

Change is within our reach.

•The Nigerian House of Representatives in session ruse deployed by the system to protect itself but Nigerians see the duplicity and machinations of anti-people political figures.

HE problem with foreign journalists is that they are often unable to gain reliable information on African political appointees beyond a whitewashed picture. In an interview granted to Le Monde, the former Minister claimed it was impossible for Jonathan to save for a rainy day because the governors were against it.

We’ve placed too much emphasis on foreign work experience without checking what were the actual successes of our diasporan would-be talents. It is still too easy in Nigeria to conjure up smoke and mirrors and to be praised for falsehoods and deliberate deceptions. Fighting

Okonjo-Iweala indiscipline also means reviewing our so-called idols and smashing those with clay feet.

*Tabia Princewill is a strategic communica- tions consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the cohost and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 WITH less than a year into his first four-year term in office, President Muhammadu Buhari is already being wooed and prodded to contest for a second term in 2019. Those championing this are some members of the national caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other interest groups within the party.

They were recently joined by the Taraba State chapter of the APC whose chairman, Hassan Ardo, was quoted as saying: “APC members (have) declared their total and unconditional support for all the policies and programmes of the Federal Government and endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second tenure if he is interested in contesting in 2019.”

Asking an incumbent president or governor to declare for a second term has become a tradition among Nigerian politicians. While it is the constitutional right of these individuals to

Allow Buhari to do his work air their political views, we are shocked that the new ruling party, the APC, is toeing the line which the former party in power, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defined during its sixteen years in power. Doing the same thing that the old order is still being discredited for does not reflect “change”.

Besides, President Buhari is yet to build a single kilometre of road or add an extra megawatt of electricity to the national grid or activate any of his numerous promises during the campaigns, apart from the war on corrup-

tion. The financial package that would enable him to start work – the Federal Appropriation Bill 2016 – is yet to be passed, as it is mired in convoluted confusion and controversies.

It was only in recent days that the concrete outlines of the administration’s economic direction started to emerge. Professional politicians within the ruling party should allow the President to justify the mandate given to him almost a year ago by proving his mettle and demonstrating his ability to give Nigeria the “change” he promised.

Prompting the president to ignore the huge amount of suffering that Nigerians are going through amidst severe scarcity of fuel, lack of electricity, massive job losses, growing poverty and the unfinished business of war on corruption shows how shallow and selfish our politicians have become.

They are only interested in positioning themselves for power, rather than tackling the challenges of good governance and the advancement of our society.

The truth is that President Buhari and the APC must prove their worth, . Buhari and his party’s ticket for a second term in office will only come from a resounding endorsement of the people, and this will be based on performance and approval of the electorate.

Politicians should leave President Buhari alone to face his work!

OPINION

Edo: Onaiwu’s solution matrix

By Farouk Usman

T

HE Edo state governorship election slated for September 10, 2016 presents both an opportunity and a challenge to reposition a state with the sobriquet Heart Beat of the Nation. Getting it right starts from the party primaries especially that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state. For a party that held sway from May 29, 1999 to November 12, 2008 and suddenly found itself in opposition in the state, there is a compelling reason to get it right owing to the wobbly performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

To do so is down to a few factors of which the candidate of choice and cohesion of the party after the primaries stand out.

There is an imperative that in keeping with the past, a new frontier of fielding a candidate without the blemish of jumping ship, inconsistency to party fidelity and unalloyed loyalty to the ideals of what the PDP represents is cardinal.

It is in this sense that one begins to appreciate the aspiration of Earl Osaro Osaze Onaiwu, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, and a firm apostle of party discipline and unity in the contest to fly the party’s flag in the Edo guber race.

Onaiwu is not just any other candidate. He is man who has been tempered in the furnace of administrative preparedness having at a young age served under the irrepressible Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia as Personal Assistant. It is a fact that C M Y K

Ogbemudia is the grand architect of the many development monuments scattered round and about Edo and Delta state.

Serving under the one-time Governor of Old Bendel State opened Onaiwu to what service, unalloyed service, means to the changing the lives of people for good.

During this period, the governorship hopeful also brought his idea of governance

For him, serving the people is respecting their wish in a free, fair and credible process and development to the table. His record of service, many have said, is what lent impetus to his being picked by another illustrious Edo son, the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu as Special Adviser.

In all of these, Onaiwu gained insight into the inner recess of power and governance, opportunities that cemented his aspiration to work towards service.

Over the years, he has demonstrated that he is a man of many parts; entrepreneur, socialite, philanthropist, patron of the arts, and fundamentally, a vehicle for the formation of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

In the early days when the governors were without a coordinating body to present a common front on issues affecting states,

Onaiwu proposed a peer review mechanism to the current Senate President Bukola Saraki where states can leverage on their economies of scale for accelerated development. Years on, his vision has lived on leading to his being a pivotal presence in the circle of governors over the years.

Perhaps, David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute and author of "The Libertarian Mind," was referring to Onaiwu when he noted that a leader must have a firm grasp of reality. According to Boaz, good character and a firm grasp of reality are fundamentals for service. In an era where good character is in serious deficit, where the moral quotient of leaders is grossly lacking, Onaiwu comes with a freshness of the untainted.

The place of good character helps the leader to focus on delivering the dividends without the distraction of scandals and the foothold to galvanise the people to chart a new direction for not only growth and development, but moral regeneration.

One other added value of fielding Onaiwu is that having worked closely with governors; he has an array of networks and synergies vital for modern governance. Edo state as it stands requires an individual that can galvanise a whole range of stakeholders to see the potential that the state has and take advantage of investing in it. To this end, experience matters a lot. What are the factors that have hampered Edo from leveraging on its abundant natural resource that is not within the premise of the Exclusive List?

How can the state navigate the pitfalls of shoddy growth and development? How do the people get involved in the development matrix of the state?

Therein lies the difference in the Onaiwu Solution Matrix. For him, it is not just about acknowledging that the boundary of inclusive growth needs to be broadened to include those who have been excluded in the promise of participatory democracy, but getting the people to pitch their most pressing development challenging to the government.

Also, Edo state currently needs a unifier. Not a divisive individual who will further polarise the state along ethnic and geo-senatorial lines. In all his campaigns, Onaiwu has maintained that let the best man wins; let the will of the people be sacrosanct while not discountenancing equity, fairness and inclusion. Aware of the cankerworm of not have singularity of a common platform, the governorship aspirant has been working round the clock to integrate all groupings in the PDP; preaching the gospel of sportsmanship no matter what the outcome of the primaries maybe.

For him, serving the people is respecting their wish in a free, fair and credible process. It is not one dictated by money or some other primordial consideration but one conditioned by the experience, empathy, a vision of the Edo dream, a handle on the rich history of our peoples, the ability to collaborate as well as being nimble and decisive.

•Mr. Usman, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Why does Fayose want Buhari’s goat?

A

YO Fayose, governor of Ekiti State, for more than a year now has been spoiling for a war with President Mohammadu Buhari who he has subjected to all kinds of verbal assaults. The attacks got more personal as the last presidential election drew closer and finally lost all pretence to decency when the PDP hierarchy called Buhari brain dead on account of his age. Patience Jonathan was at the centre of the baiting, wondering what business an ‘old man’ of Buhari’s age had with ‘dragging’ the presidency with her husband. In all these attacks, Fayose seemed to lead the charge against Buhari. This he did alongside a Jonathan that was desperate to be re-elected but who must have been convinced of defeat and had therefore bought into the mudslinging his party members had apparently urged him on.

Rather than challenge Buhari or his party to an issue-based debate in the months leading up to the election, Fayose took up the role of an attack dog. His snarls initially looked like a

desperate attempt at catching at straws, one that was bound to fizzle out with the end of the election. And it did look like that was the case as Fayose took a breather after his candidate lost the election. He even made a statement that sounded like a vague gesture of reconciliation to Buhari after he had been declared winner. But this was for a short while as his resentment ran deeper than his generousity of spirit. His reconciliatory tone must have been prompted by the sudden awareness that a President Buhari would wield immense power which he could deploy with the same reckless unconcern with which Fayose had attacked him. His reputation as a former military leader, if nothing else, must have been sufficient warning. But like the revamped rascals that are many a Nigerian politician, Fayose would soon go back to his vomit attacking Buhari from all sides.

Buhari himself invited some of the attacks to himself as he went about making a series of illadvised decisions, especially in the appointment of his personal

staff in a way that portrayed his administration as sectional. He either ignored comments that called his attention to some of these false steps or dismissed them brusquely. Buhari for a short while after his election indeed appeared deliberately disdainful of opposing views including those of members of the alliance that brought him into office. His determined and unbending pursuit of his own agenda and the manner those closest to him appeared to tiptoe around him, as if afraid to draw his ire, was all many Nigerians from the south needed to take him on. It was apparently this

Fayose really wants Buhari mad leeway Fayose needed to resume his attacks of Buhari.

Members of the PDP were cowed by the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the unearthing of massive corruption against many of them, and the prospect of more exposures forced many of them into frightened silence.

Until his arrest for corrupt enrichment, Olisa Metuh effectively rose to the challenge of taking on the APC. But following his arraignment in January this year, the rank of the opposition party was left without an effective spokesperson. This was all the opportunity Ayo Fayose needed to move into his self-appointed role as opposition spokesman.

During this brief spell his was the most vociferous voice against the

APC even when most of his attacks were directed at Buhari or his office. Yet, he made critical interventions that neither the APC nor the Buhari administration could wave off perfunctorily. Quite a number of his criticisms were both so timely and on point that no objective reading could describe them as lacking in merit. One of his most effective outings in my view was during an appearance several weeks ago on Channels TV Seun Okinbaloye’s ‘Politics Today’. He spoke boldly and intelligently.

But Fayose in the last few months has so much deviated from what could be considered the important watchdog role he played during the absence of Metuh. He seems now to launch his attacks in the fashion of a common rabble-rouser that many took him for, and apparently for the visibility it gives him as the only notable person in the PDP that has consistently called out Buhari.

He now enjoys the attention so much that he has cast himself in the role of an opposition leader.

Not even if this was a parliamentary administration and he the leader of opposition could he be more resolute in his attack of Buhari. He has consistently pitched himself in the role of a Buhari opponent and obviously wants to be seen as the fearless underdog standing up to a bigger opponent. His latest attack is his letter to the Chinese embassy in Nigeria advising them against granting a loan to a Buhari just back from China on a business mission. Fayose really wants Buhari mad.

But much to his disappointment, it would seem, Buhari has wisely not been obliging. Unlike an Obasanjo

Fuel scarcity and a culture of scapegoating

By Ikeogu Oke

R

EADING some of the public commentaries – and other forms of reactions – on the current fuel crisis and associated issues, I was reminded of why I opposed the controversial call to kill the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) made last year by a prominent Nigerian politician. The politician reportedly summed up his justification for the call with the words: “If you don’t kill the NNPC, it will kill Nigeria.”

Clearly, those words should incline all patriotic Nigerians to see the country’s survival and theirs as dependant on their killing NNPC at a time when, due to various factors, its popularity was arguably at its nadir.

Prominent among those factors were allegations of massive corruption and chronic mismanagement. And since we would naturally like to survive together with our country, and be rid of things that pose a fatal threat to our joint existence (as the call implies about NNPC), I believe the politician in question expected us to accept the kill-or-be-killed scenario he created and act like people who understand that self-preservation is the first law of nature. An instance of the instigation or blackmail to kill for supposed self-preservation couldn’t have been more subtle or effective to the discerning mind.

Now, one of such public commentaries is Moses E. Ochonu’s “Dr. Kachikwu’s Blunders” – published recently in Sahara Reporters and Premium Times – which more or less sums up the predicament of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in managing the current fuel scarcity in the country thus: “Whatever he is doing is not working. In fact, it is clearly making things worse. Insulting Nigerians with glib comments about not being a magician only compounds his C M Y K

predicament…. Kachikwu has no one but himself to blame. The man thrives on deception and propaganda…. He deserves whatever opprobrium is heaped on him.”

Let me say en passant that this sort of criticism is too harsh and demoralising.

The function of the responsible social critic is to build hope while identifying problems, and not to demoralise. Ochonu’s criticism demoralises by its unjustified

We must understand that the fruits of reform, can taste sour until it ripens with the possibility of tasting sweet total condemnation of its target and his efforts, and by spreading despair.

And by other forms of reactions, I refer to such call made by the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the Network News of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on April 11, 2016, asking for the minister’s resignation.

Well, I argued in my response to the call to kill NNPC that, whatever the problem with NNPC, our interest as a nation is better served by reforming rather than killing it.

In fact, I was convinced that killing NNPC would amount to turning the organisation into a corporate scapegoat, sacrificing the life of one institution to “atone” for perennial sins plaguing our entire nation like corruption, shorttermism and poor maintenance culture.

And I do not see how such scapegoating can solve any of the problems to which it has become a habitual reaction with some of us. Rather, it has always seemed to me like slaughtering a sacrificial victim to appease some fetish of activist hypocrisy

that would rather not take cognisance of the complexity and resilience of such problems because it serves some vested interests while pretending not to do so.

And I see the call for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s resignation by Chief Bola Tinubu, which serves as a background for Ochonu’s unsparing criticism of the former – and the similar call by the ASUU leadership – as fresh instigations to lead yet another sacrificial victim, a human scapegoat rather than corporate one like NNPC, to the altar of the same fetish.

And I wonder if Ochonu and the ASUU executive recognise how long the problems leading to the current fuel scarcity have lasted with our tolerance as a people, like a pustule growing under the skin of a negligent person who only begins to take note and complain after it has grown into a big boil and ruptured, causing them serious discomfort. After which they blame the physician who may well be doing his best to bring them relief or cure that he is “making things worse” and not acting fast enough.

For instance, in the past sixteen years before Dr. Kachikwu assumed office as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, billions were spent on the “turn around maintenance” of our refineries by successive governments. Specifically, $1.6 billion (about N251 billion) was reportedly voted for the turnaround maintenance of the four refineries across the country by the end of 2014. Yet, nothing seemed to have been achieved by way of truly turning the refineries around to refine enough fuel for our local consumption. Hence we have remained stuck with the shame of fuel importation – for our shores are practically awash with the natural resource from which fuel is refined. And we have continued to expend huge sums to subsidise the product, while putting up with allegations of corruption by entities involved in fuel

that would have responded with a cutting broadside of his own.

Buhari has so far maintained a dignified silence which ought to make a more reasonable person not out for mere histrionics to reconsider the timing and manner of his criticisms. Fayose would however rather continue to play to the gallery, making his attacks much in the character of the unprovoked outburst of a street urchin than the sober interrogation of the reflective opposition challenge it could have been.

His constant badgering of Buhari makes one wonder what he is up to or if he has nothing better to do with his time in a season when his overvalourised but long-contested defeat of Kayode Fayemi is again under renewed charges of fraud.

With backlogs of unpaid salaries in the public service, with resident doctors embarking on strike, Ekiti needs Fayose’s attention more than ever. But he is too far gone in his grandstanding that is clearly, for him, an extension of the mindless populism that has seen him buying bananas on the streets from children who ought to be in school, bantering with artisans, munching booli (roasted plantain) in dinghy corners and leading a procession of okada riders on narrow roads. His criticism of Buhari may be his own way of preparing an alibi of a witch-hunt in the event he is one day called upon to account for his stewardship of Ekiti. Then he would claim it was his fearless attack of Buhari that has brought the law after him. He won’t be short of supporters though. But until then, Fayose should get on with the business of governing Ekiti, stop being a nuisance. And get a life!

importation, some of which border on economic sabotage.

Indeed, if anyone were to succeed in resolving this situation that has defied previous governments for nearly two decades in the roughly seven months Dr. Kachikwu has been in office, I would perhaps consider that person not as a magician – which Dr. Kachikwu rightly but tactlessly said he is not, and for which he has apologised – but as a miracle worker or superhuman.

And I am at a loss as to why some of us fail to appreciate that the current difficulties in turning our fuel situation around are worse than before, considering the harsh economic realities due to the drastic fall in oil prices, and the proportionate decline in forex earnings to support fuel importation or finance the maintenance of our refineries even in their current states. The solution, especially if it must be long-term, lies in thinking creatively and taking radical measures which I believe the current government is doing despite serious handicaps.

To adapt that famous quote by Albert Einstein, it would be madness to expect to be doing the same thing about our fuel situation and not remain in the same dissatisfactory position.

The current situation requires supportive action, understanding, patience and sacrifice from the generality of Nigerians, as one would expect from good members of a family whose breadwinner suddenly lost his job or had wages reduced drastically; and who, not of his own making, lacks the savings to cushion the resultant hardship for the family.

Since the NNPC, our entire oil sector and the way business is done are undergoing reform, we must understand that the fruits of reform, can taste sour until it ripens with the possibility of tasting sweet.

*Mr. Oke, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.

20 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 21

Dangote asks FG to invest in infrastructure, housing to support growth

Nigeria's economy’ll be healthier with TSA — Don

* declares N8 dividend

By Providence Obuh

By Peter Egwuatu

A

T

he Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday charged the Federal Government and other African countries to invest in infrastructureandhousingtosupportthe rapidly developing continent, just its company is expanding across the continent.

Hestatedthisatthecompany’sAnnual General Meeting (AGM) where it declaredN8persharedividendforthe financialyearendedDecember31,2015, stressing “The new factories that we opened in Senegal, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Zambia made their first contributions to the business in 2015 and as result our volumes rose by 35 per cent to 18.9 Mt, driving group revenues up 25.6 percent to N491.7 billion as against N391.6 billion recorded in 2014.”

Commenting on the need for government to invest in infrastructure and housing, he said “Africa is rapidly growing. The United Nations estimates that its population will rise from about one billion today to 2.4 billion by 2050, withtheurbanisedpopulationrising from 400 million to 1.4 billion; that is more than four times the current population of the United States. To support this growth, countries must invest in infrastructure and housing.”

According to Dangote “The World Bank estimates that Africa needs to invest $38 billion a year on new infrastructure in power, roads, transport and water and spend a further $37 billion on operations and maintenance, a total of $75 billion a year. However, it estimates that there

OPENING: From left, Bashir Babajo, Group Head, Facilities, Royal Exchange Plc; Nelson Akerele, Group Head, Retail, Royal Exchange; Auwalu Muktari, Acting Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange; Elizabeth Elghoche, Managing Director, Royal Exchange Micro Finance Bank; Kunle Hassan, Head Operations, Royal Exchange Micro Finance Bank and Abiola Sanni, Managing Director, Royal Exchange Asset Management Company Limited, during the official opening of Royal Exchange Micro Finance Bank held in Lagos recently. is a funding shortfall of $35billion a year right now, which illustrates both

While2015was aperiod of transformation for Dangote Cement, against a challenging economic backdrop, the fact is that we achieved something even more remarkable than our rapid and successful expansion across the continent

2.85

$3,037.00

42.00

-0.18

$ 43.99 1.08 $ 41.06 CURRENCY BUYING US DOLLAR 196 278.0456 POUNDS 221.2252 EURO 202.3748 FRANC 1.8008 YEN 0.3171 CFA 274.4894 WAUA 30.253 RENMINBI 52.2472 RIYAL 29.7204 KRONA 275.478 SDR

1.28

By Nkiruka Nnorom

197 279.4642 222.3539 203.4073 1.81 0.3371 275.8899 30.4083 52.5137 29.872 276.8835

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/04/2016

C M Y K

N

igeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, managers of Nigeria sovereign wealth fund, has said that 40 per cent of the additional $250 million (an equivalent of N49.3 billion) allocated to it by the Federal

SELLING 196.5 278.7549 221.7896 202.8911 1.8054 0.3271 275.1897 30.3306 52.3804 29.7962 276.1808

continent.”

Meanwhile, thecompany’s2015 financial reports show that sales volumeincreasedby35percentfrom 14.0 Mt in 2014 to 18.9 Mt; just revenuesincreasedby25.6per cent from N391.6 billion to N491.7 billion; Profit before Tax grew by 2.0 per cent from N184.7 billion to N188.3 billion; Cash flowfromoperationsgrewby39.1per cent from N215.3 billion to N299.5 billion, while return on capital employed reduced from 23.9 per cent to 24.1 per cent

NSIA to fund infrastructure with $250m additional capital

$ 126.85 $15.17

thescaleof theproblemandthesize of the opportunity for a cement manufactureroperatinginAfrica.

He stressed that the market opportunities was apparent to DangoteCementasitopenedplants inSenegal,Cameroon,Ethiopiaand Zambia.

Accordingtohim“While2015wasa periodoftransformationforDangote Cement, against a challenging economic backdrop, the fact is that we achieved something even more remarkable than our rapid and successful expansion across the

Government February this year would be deployed to fundon-goinginfrastructure projects on behalf of the government.

The Authority said that another 40 per cent of the fund would be invested in alternativeassetsclasses,an areaitrecordedremarkable success in 2015, while the remaining 20 per cent would be deployed to the

Stabilisation Fund.

According to Mr. Uche Orji, ManagingDirector/CEO,NSIA,the Authority has identified agriculture, healthcare, motorways, power and real estate as five key sectors for infrastructuredevelopment,adding that they are part of the 15 investable sectorscontainedinitsInfrastructure Rolling Plan.

HenotedthatNSIAhasincreased commitment to development of institutions that would enhance infrastructure investments in the country, while assuring it would continue to explore other asset management opportunities on behalf of the Federation as outlook for the oil market remained challenging.

Orji disclosed that NSIA commenced early works III (EW3) as part of the preliminary construction activities on the second Niger Bridge (2NB) project site in

2015. “Having successfully completed this undertaking in January 2016, coupled with the recent passing of the budget, which expresslycontainedallocationstothe project, engagements toward facilitatingfinancialclosehavebeen given added impetus. Once the Concession Agreement and supportingdocumentsareexecuted, the project is expected to move to financial close,” he said.

According to him, the Authority advanced its healthcare investment programme in the previous year, which involved the development of five modern medical diagnostic centers and a specialist hospital across the six geopolitical regions of the country. Till date, he said, the NSIA has approached 14 federal healthcare institutions across the country.

university don at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Prof. Michah Okafor, has said that the national economy will be healthier if the Treasury Single Account (TSA) is well implemented by the government.

Okafor, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), made this assertion at the Evangel University in Okpoto, Ebonyi State.

In a paper entitled: “Full Implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) in Nigeria: Implications on the Economy,” he said “TSA will lead to better fiscal and monetary policy coordination, as better transparency is achieved through reconciliation of fiscal and banking data, which in turn improves the quality of fiscal information and management that will benefit and improve the country’s economy generally.

“Banks’ profiteering on free money is dangerous to Nigeria’s economic growth; hence the TSA will make the banks to return to real banking. Nigerian banks claim to be the best on the continent and have received numerous awards, some are ranked among the 1000 banks globally, yet our bankers are worried by the absence of free government funds, which makes them look suspect on their activities.”

He further said that the TSA would result to fundamental changes in the economy thereby help government to unify banking arrangements, guarantee oversight of cash resources, promote efficiency, transparency and accountability in government payments, adding that it would ensure that government has access to funds when needed and reduce overall cost of government borrowing.

He outlined about nine benefits of TSA, among which are guarantee of timely information on government cash resources as complete updated balances will be available daily; better appropriation control as TSA allows the Ministry of Finance to have full control over budget allocations and strengthens the authority of the budget appropriation.

22 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

,

There is no excuse for any government body not to pay promotion arrears of its staff for as long as the arrears are genuine

,

Nigeria market to provide knowledge sharing opportunity for WAICA members

T

HE Nigeria insurance market is set to provide the platform for knowledge sharing and networking amongst members of West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) as the body hosts its 38th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Education Conference in Lagos.

The three day event will come up from April 24 - 26, 2016 in Lagos and the theme of this year’s Conference is, “The Practice of Insurance in a Challenged Economy”.

According to the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Conference, Mr. Sory Diomande, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is expected to declare the Conference open.

A major highlight of this year’s Conference will be the swearingin of Mr. Rotimi Fashola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Industrial & General Insurance Plc. as WAICA President during the closing dinner.

The first paper on “Insurance as a Growth option in a Challenged Economy” will be delivered by Mr. Wole Oshin, Past Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association and Group Managing Director, Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc. Oshin is an accomplished business man and a market leader who has delivered many papers at local and international Conferences and Workshops. His paper will be discussed by Mr. Udai Patel, Managing Director, Afro-Asian Insurance Services Limited, London, and Ms. Hope Murera, Deputy Managing Director, Zep-Re, PTA Reinsurance Co, Nairobi, Kenya, while Mr. Mike Hamah, Chairman, Board of Directors, SIC Insurance Company Ltd, Accra, Ghana will chair the session.

Networking and exchange of business information Mr. Gustav Siale, Managing Director/CEO Ghana Reinsurance Co. Accra, Ghana will take the second paper titled, “Traditional Insurance vs. The need for Recaliberation of Industry Practices in Dealing with Future Challenges for Insurers.” This paper will be discussed by Messrs. Shola Tinubu, M.D, Scib Insurance Brokers and Edward F-Kyei, Managing Director, Glico Life Insurance Co, Accra, Ghana while the President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and Managing Director of Nigeria Re, Lady Isioma Chukwuma will chair the Session.

This will be followed by the open forum which will be chaired by the out-going President of WAICA and President of Ghana Insurers Association, Mr. Ivan Avereyireh who is also the Managing Director/CEO, Ghana Life Assurance Co.Ltd. There will also be a crucial meeting of West African Insurance Supervisors Association (WAISA) which will be attended by all the Commissioners for Insurance from the West African SubRegion. The WAICA annual general meeting and governing council meeting will take place thereafter before the closing dinner.

According to the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Regional Director, Africa-Re, Mr. Sory Diomande, “the fact that Nigeria is hosting the 38th WAICA AGM and Education Conference is yet another opportunity for Nigerians to showcase her hospitality. It gives us a unique opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. It is a vote of confidence on the Nigeria insurance market and it creates an opportunity for networking and exchange of business information. I believe the Nigerian market stands to benefit from this event. I also know that the delegates from other countries will have fond memories of their stay in Nigeria” he enthused.

He urged all the players in the Nigerian market, underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters and surveyors to see the event as an industry event and a unique opportunity to make a lasting impression about the Nigerian market.

WAICA is the sub-regional association of insurance companies and brokers in the West African Sub-region. The Association provides a platform for sharing business information and crossfertilisation of ideas.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com C M Y K

INSURAN Protest looms in NAICOM as mgt allegedly reneges on agreement

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

HE last may not have been heard of the battle between the executive management of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Commission’s staff under the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE) as the insurance regulator is alleged to have reneged on some of the contending issues agreed upon by both parties.

The Commission and the Union on March 22, 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) appended by the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari; Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Mr George Onekhena; Comrade Benjamin Anthony, AUPCTRE FCT; Comrade Ibrahim Abdulateef, Chairman of AUPCTRE NAICOM, including witnesses from the Federal Ministry of Finance which was a happy ending that may be cut short by recent development.

The contending issues resolved are non-adherence to government circulars, lack of transparency, staff recruitment and confirmation, inadequate working tools, security issues, payment of 87 promotion arrears, conduct of promotion exercise, non release of 2014 promotion letters to two staff, confirmation and promotion of drivers, unionmanagement relationship, medical assistant to staff, staff training and development, three demoted staff, as well as

victimisation Clause.

But in less than two weeks after the signed MoU, the staff received a letter from the Commission that it would not be able to pay the promotion arrears of the 87 members of staff, hinging its reason on federal government policy but promised to restore the three demoted staff to their former grades.

NAICOM in a memo dated April 11, 2016, signed by the

On the issue of demoted staff, management has approved the restoration of their erstwhile steps on the old grade before their demotion Director (Administration & Human Resources), Dr Habila Amos entitled, ‘Request for payment of promotion arrears’ said, NAICOM would no longer be possible to pay the arrears.

‘Please we refer to item five in the agreement between the management and your union dated March 22, 2016 and be

informed that after thorough review of the matter, management is constrained by the fact that the decision to discontinue the payment was taken by the board based on federal government policy and therefore the arrears cannot be paid.”

The memo further reads, “On the issue of demoted staff, management has approved the restoration of their erstwhile steps on the old grade before their demotion.”

It concludes, “Please ensure that you educate all your members on the true position of the promotion arrears as explained above.”

Agreed timelines A breakdown of the 87 staff whose promotion arrears the Commission bungled after it piled them up for three years are 44 staff for 2012 promotion, 9 of them for 2013 and 34 for 2014.

Vanguard learnt that the executive management of the Commission was supposed to have implemented some of the terms in pursuant to the agreed timelines in the MoU. For instance, the staff training plan was to have commenced and Staff promotion arrears paid by Friday 8th April, 2016 even after the Commissioner for Insurance called a staff meeting on April 7, 2016 during which he assured the staff that the arrears would be paid by the agreed date only for the union to receive a circular on April 11, 2016 that the

BUSINESS SERIES: From left, Managing Director, Pal Pension, Dave Uduanu; CoFounder, Studio One Eight Nine, Abrima Erwiah; Creative Director, LDA, Lanre DasilvaAjayi; Creative Director, Tiffany Amber, Folake Folarin Coker; and the Moderator of the event, Ebuka Uchendu, at the Lagos fashion business series, in Lagos.

VOL. 1 NO 64 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARYWEDNESDAY, 20, 2016 Vanguard, APRIL 20, 2016

Igbo communities worry about activities of herdsmen

•Recent photo of Fulani and their herds

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA- IT has become a common sight in many rural communities in Igbo land to find small thatched houses built by herdsmen in the middle of farmlands. Initially, the villagers did not attach any meaning to these houses, but when they became clusters that took on the look of villages in the middle of their farms, there was a sense of heightened anxiety among the inhabitants.

Previously, herdsmen only took their cattle from such places as Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State and Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State where they resort to bushes around for grazing and return later to their base.

Buyers of cattle come from all parts of Igboland to make their purchases.

However, in recent times, the herdsmen have formed colonies that look like permanent settlements in many communities and indigenes of such communities dare not challenge them.

Those who tried to challenge them have had ugly stories to tell.

On daily basis, the herdsmen are seen on major roads with sophisticated weapons and all the complaints by the people that crops in their farms are constantly destroyed by the cattle, fall on deaf ears. Rather, the herdsmen C M Y K

appear to be claiming equal rights with the villagers over the farmlands and this is where the trouble lies.

Though many Igbo communities have been complaining to security operatives over the unhealthy development in their areas, nothing seems to be happening and the resultant effect is the mounting tension in many villages over the presence of herdsmen in their areas.

The Igbariam campus of the state – owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University is not left out as authorities of the university complained sometime ago of nauseating activities of herdsmen in the university. A visit to the university showed that even during working hours, a large number of cattle are seen parading through the university and interfering with the free

flow of traffic. The cows parade around buildings and disturb academic activities.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Fidelis Okafor had to convene a meeting over the matter, which helped to reduce the tension in the area.

At a recent meeting of the newly Continues on page 24

Killing of Fulani herdsmen: Abia

partners Imo to defeat kidnappers

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—NIGERIANS were jolted last Sunday when media reports credited to the Department of State Services, DSS, to the effect that the Service uncovered 55 shallow graves in a forest in Abia State, where the bodies of five Hausa-Fulani men were allegedly buried.

The report also alleged that the said Hausa-Fulani persons were killed by members of Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPOB; a claim that the pro-Biafra group and its sister body, MASSOB, roundly rejected and heaped attacks on

DSS, accusing it of giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it.

The allegation was so grievous that many Nigerians launched verbal attacks on the DSS, accusing the organisation of trying to trigger off ethnic cleansing against the Igbo. The DSS critics said that even if such a thing took place, the DSS was careless, coming soon after a recent incident, when 76 men from a community from Awgu in Enugu State were detained for two weeks for trying to secure the release of two of their women allegedly abducted by Fulani herdsmen; which also drew national attention South East Voice gathered that the

activities of Fulani herdsmen had become so explosive in the country, particularly in the South East, such that any incident involving them was like a powder keg which could trigger a national crisis.

Worried by this situation, the Abia State government denied the claim by the DSS, more so when the report emanated from Abuja without the knowledge of the security chiefs in the state.

“Our attention has been drawn to a report in a section of the media claiming that the DSS uncovered 55 shallow graves in a forest in Abia State, where Continues on page 24

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Abia patners Imo to defeat kidnappers Continues from page 23 the remains of five HausaFulani men were allegedly buried.

“The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and the good people of the state feel very highly embarrassed by the report which is capable of causing ethnic/communal crisis in the country. The governor believes that stakeholders in information management in the country should be conscious of national security and therefore be cautious and reticent in their approach to such sensitive news.

“We feel even angrier because our check with the security agencies in Abia has confirmed that the information did not emanate from any of the security units in Abia. Both the DSS in Abia, Police and Army have all denied ever issuing such information.

“If anybody or group wrote a petition to the headquarters in Abuja, the most professional approach should be for the headquarters to confer with their departments in Abia.

There is a Brigade Commander here; there is Director of DSS and there is Commissioner of Police, with a PPRO attached to his office. All the units have told me (Governor that) they never released any such information.

“We are also worried that the media organs that published this news did not consider the sensitive nature of that information to national peace and security as to have also conferred and confirmed from their correspondents in Abia.

None of the reports came with the by-line of a correspondent in Abia State.

“We condemn this flagrant abuse of professionalism by all the parties involved in the dissemination of this volatile and sensitive news which has not only embarrassed the government of Abia State but

is also capable of raising tension and ethnic acrimony in the state.

“We re-emphasize that the government of Abia State has not received any official report in this regard and therefore warn the instigators of this bad report to rethink their mischief,” the statement signed

by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s spokesman, Godwin Adindu, added.

However, in a bid to nip any ugly reactions in the bud, both the security council of Abia and Imo State governments quickly met in Umuahia where the issue was the only item on the agenda. At the meeting were the Military commanders of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Abia State and 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze in Imo State; the commissioners of police of the two states, directors of DSS in the states and the Chairman of South East traditional rulers’ council, Eze Eberechi Dick, among other members of the council.

After over two hours of deliberation, the two governors dismissed the theory propounded by the DSS, even as they admitted that a shallow grave with seven corpses of five Fulani herdsmen and two Igbo men was discovered in a forest along Uturu axis of Abia State, adding however, that the killings were carried out by kidnappers who have been terrorizing the two states in recent times.

They did not mention the particular community but explained that it happened in a boundary community.

Enquires made by South East Voice in the area administered by three traditional rulers from both Abia and Imo States also, did not yield fruit as all of them denied any knowledge of such ugly incident in their domain and swore to come together to tackle aggressively, the menace of kidnapping in the two states.

At a joint press briefing, shortly after the joint security

•Gov Rochas Okorocha

meeting, the governors attributed the killing to activities of kidnappers which they agreed needed to be tackled aggressively.

They condemned the killings and said that some arrests had been made in connection with the killings in the forest.

According to them, security operatives had been directed to raid the forest and clear it of miscreants, and warned that any property in which kidnapping activity was carried out would be demolished and the land taken over by the government.

First to speak was Ikpeazu who condemned the killings and dumping of corpses in shallow graves, and noted that his Imo State counterpart came with his security chiefs to enable them fashion out ways of improving security, especially kidnapping and other violent crimes which he said had become recurring decimals in the two states.

He said that they would “restrategize and make bold statements about the security challenges facing the two

One of the contributors said: “We are living in great fear in my community. Before, the herdsmen were used to carrying bows and arrow as they guide their cattle, but these days, one finds them brandishing sophisticated weapons, including AK 47s used only by the military. Despite several

meetings between the herdsmen and community leaders at the instance of security operatives, the situation has not changed.

“Rather, more people from the northern part of the country are joining the herdsmen and building more structures in my community. Of recent, cases of rape and armed robbery have increased in my area, despite the fact that we have an effective vigilante outfit in the town.

Investigation by our people traced these vices to the herdsmen, but our people appear to be helpless because

states, one of such is that we condemn the spate of kidnappings, the killing of five persons including some Fulani men in the forest.

“And we are all united that that particular forest will not only be rid of all criminal elements but we will make sure that where ever they are (criminals) located they will no longer be within Imo and Abia.

The time when criminals will launch attacks from Imo and hide in Abia or launch from Abia and hide in Imo has become a thing of the past.

“The security chiefs have been mandated to cross our borders, free and make sure they pin down these criminals where ever they may be. It is our responsibility to protect the lives and property of all citizens in the states doing genuine businesses.

“We have also agreed that this joint security meeting between Imo and Abia would be sustained. We will make sure that we exchange ideas and ensure that the two states are very safe,” Ikpeazu further said.

Catholic women fete inmates of Owerri prisons

By Chidi Nkwopara

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he inmates of Federal Prisons, Owerri, were yesterday treated to a sumptuous party, as part of this year ’s Mother ’s Day celebration, by members of the Catholic Women Organization, CWO, Maria Assumpta Cathedral Parish, Owerri.

Addressing the inmates while

Igbo communities worry about activities of herdsmen Continues from page 23 formed Igbo Improvement Union, IIU, in Awka, the issue dominated discussion with many people expressing anger over what is happening in their areas.

•Gov Okezie Ikpeazu

we do not know how else to handle the matter.”

South East Voice gathered that the issue would be tabled for discussion during a general meeting of IIU scheduled to take place in Umuahia on Saturday this week. Though the national secretary of IIU, Mr. Edozie Njoku said the main concern of the organization is the erosion devastating many communities in Igbo land, some of the delegates from the states say they would bring up the issue of the herdsmen for deliberation at the Umuahia meeting.

handing over the cooked food and gifts, the CWO President, Mrs. Eze Duruiheoma, explained that it was part of their yearly practice to alleviate the sufferings of a needy group.

“As caring mothers, we are aware that our relations and friends are inmates of this correctional establishment. We therefore have every cause to show concern to in the inmates of this federal establishment,” Mrs. Duruiheoma explained.

While expressing the belief that not all the inmates can be said to be guilty of the offence for which they were charged, the CWO President also appealed to them to regard their current experience as a passing phase in their life.

“I urge you all to regard your current experience as a passing phase in your life. Your travails will come to pass one day. Remain steadfast in your belief in God because He alone can sustain you”, Duruiheoma said.

Receiving the Catholic women on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Precious Ebundor alias General Provost, commended the women for what he termed “your sincere concern for the inmates of this prison”.

Uzoh family builds for the Lord

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HE family of Obinna Uzoh has once again demonstrated their strong belief in uplifting the work of

God by building a befitting Chapel and Crucifix of Adoration for All Saints’ Catholic Parish, Ihiala, Anambra State.

This has been the propelling force for Obinna Uzoh, lawyer, politician, businessman and philanthropist of note, to invest billions of naira in the spread of the gospel through his vibrant instrument of Obinna Uzoh Foundation that has touched every facet of human existence and humanity.

The edifice built and donated by Chief (Barr.) Mrs Herietta Ngozi Obinna-Uzoh, was complemented with the Crucifix, also donated to the church by Uzoh’s children.

In a Holy Mass that preceded the blessing of the Chapel, presided over by Most Rev. Hillary Paul Odili Okeke, the Bishop of Nnewi, the Prelate urged Christians to always seek the face of God by impacting positively on humanity and doing things that will glorify His Holy name, adding that “the motivation is to let our lives be geared towards getting ourselves nearer to God.” While commending Uzoh for his benevolent spirit and large heart, the Bishop used the forum to call on the affluent among the Catholic faithful to emulate the generosity of Uzoh in giving out freely to the church and the less privileged.

Dignitaries at the Easter Tuesday ceremony included His Lordship, Most Rev. Hilary Paul Odili Okeke, who led an array of Reverend Fathers and Reverend Sisters; Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was ably represented, Chief Casmir Maduafokwa, Prof. & Barr. (Mrs) Tony Igwegbe, Chief Ike Odumodu, Dame Beatrice Madueke, Chief Charles Odunukwe, Barr. Emeka Ibe, Dr. Mrs Ethel Obiakor, Chief Chika Emenike, Mrs Sally Ogbonna, Chief Emeka Maduafokwa and a host of others.

CBSS Nsukka wins West Africa Astronomy/Space Science regional node

By Chinenyeh Ozor

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he National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, otherwise known as the Centre for Basic Space Science, CBSS, Nsukka, has been described as one of the government agencies that has distinguished itself in technological advancement both local and internationally for the development of the country.

The rating was given by the International Astronomical Union, IAU, during the first Nigeria Space Science and Astronomy/Forum held at Ascot hotels in Enugu, which featured conferment of awards to eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the public and private sectors as well as tertiary institutions to sustain rapid growth in science and technological research in the country.

Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Greg Nnaji, said while declaring the forum open that the event was all about promotion of technological advancement, adding that the state would continue to partner with the Federal Government to achieve the most rapid technological advancement possible in the country.

Ugwanyi commended the CBSS for winning the West African Astronomy Regional laurel, and expressed optimism that the centre would make a breakthrough in the onerous task to place Nigeria on the world map of leading nations in research and astronomy.

In an opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Chuka Utazi who

represents Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly said that he had personal interest in space science research and education for the advancement of future generations, pointing out that no country can move forward without research and technology.

Utazi who represented both the Deputy Senate President, DSP, Ike Ekweremadu, and other federal lawmakers on at occasion noted that adequate measures had been put in place at the National Assembly to place Nigeria on the world map going by the laurel won by Prof Mrs Frank Okeke as the fifth best agronomist in the

Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe praying for the director of the centre, Prof Fidelis Opara during the event.

Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—Natives and residents of Ibagwa-Nike community in Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State are grumbling following the near absence of mobile phone services in the area which have affected businesses and social life.

Their worries hinges on the

proximity of the community to Enugu metropolis which is barely 2KM or five minutes drive away from their community Also,the residents have been taken aback,over the prevailing situation,wondering what their son,Senator Gil Nnaji,representing Enugu-East senatorial district and senate committee Chairman on Communication is doing to deal with the challenge.

Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 25

Ugwuanyi offers to buy 9,100 raffle tickets for pilgrims

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,Friday, boosted the chances of ordinary citizens of the state to go for pilgrimage at Israel when he offered to pay raffle tickets for 9,100 persons wishing to win free tickets for the trip.

Ugwuanyi announced the gesture at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, during a special day of prayer for the state and its leadership and launching of Win-A- Trip-To- Israel (WATTI) promo organized by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Board in conjunction with the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

The governor drew applause from the huge gathering during the prayer session when he

announced that he would purchase raffle tickets for 35 persons in each of the 260 electoral wards in the state.

The announcement meant that a total of 9100 persons would get the raffle tickets at the cost of N500 each, which would amount to N4.5Million.

Governor Ugwuanyi charged them to pray constantly and intensively for the nation’s leaders to enable them discharge the affairs of government with the fear of God as well as initiate and implement human-oriented projects and policies for the benefit of all.

He commended the organizers of the event led by the Executive Secretary, Pilgrim Welfare Board, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, for their interest in providing succour to the public through the event.

UNN graduates physiotherapists

By Emeka Mamah

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NUGU —New Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Enugu- Campus, UNEC, Prof Smart Uchegbu, has urged 63 newly graduated physiotherapists from the institution to stick to the ethics of the profession and work with the fear of God. Uchegbu, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof Chukwuma Ozumba, at the induction of the graduates at UNEC weekend, expressed the hope that with the quality training they received during their study, they would excel nationally and internationally.

He said that although, the global economy was currently in bad shape, the graduates should not cut corners and enrich themselves at the expense of patients.

Presenting the grandaunts to the Registrar, Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria, MRTB, for induction, the Head of

Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, UNEC, Dr Anthonius Ezeukwu, stated that despite the numerous achievements recorded by the department in its 24 year history, there were still some teething problems that needed to be addressed by the university administration to enable it consolidate on the gains made so far. Ezeukwu further submitted that the overwhelming and increasing quest for admission into their programme, had served as the major challenge that had recently put an enormous burden on their facilities and personnel.

He continued: “Clinical students are finding it difficult to secure the minimum clinical 2000 hours required to acquire sound clinical training, as they have to go in batches in order to access limited clinical facilities in the various hospitals within our catchment area and this has affected the capacity of our classrooms, library, laboratory and personnel demands.”

Residents lament poor telecom services in Ibagwa-Nike community

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah, Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia

world, adding that any further breakthrough in research by the agency would be showcased locally and internationally.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Centre, Prof Fidelix Opara, noted that the primary aim of the centre was to initiate, foster growth of basic space research and astronomy in the country, in collaboration with other NASRDA, network of international partners, Nigerian Universities as well as other government research institutes.

He further said that the educational projects efforts at outreach for the centre in the region included corporate organisation and schools like, St Cyprian Girls Secondary School, Nsukka, Premier Secondary School, Ukehe, Special Science Secondary School, Nsukka as well as the Department of Physics, UNN, explaining that the programme centred activities of teachers and their students at the instance and mandate of the centre.

Opara, however pointed out breakthroughs can be achieved not only with the collaboration of government owned institutions, but also with private organisations and individuals that have passion for such.

•Ibagwa-Nike Community Primary School and its signpost

South-East Voice checks at Ibagwa community reveal that poor mobile phone services is pronounced between the Ibagwa Community Primary School to Elim Estate axis.

Residents position their cell phones in areas perceived as mobile phone service reception friendly while others run out of their house each time their phone rings to get clearer services.

Further checks showed that one can hardly connect a call in the

area even as fluctuation in services makes it impossible to hear one another during phone conversations.

RESIDENT LAMENTS A resident,Monday Agbo,lamented that the situation has prevailed for ten years,wondering why the mobile telephone service providers would allow such epileptic service in the area.

He said,”this situation has lingered for over ten years now. It is taking a toll on businesses and social life of the people. All the cell phone services providers have refused to look into this problem. No network is working here. We keep our phones on the window edges to see if their will be services.

“If you management to get the services,you will barely hear what the other person is saying during phone conversation.

Yet,we have a senator who chairs senate committee on communication. Its a shame.”

26— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Abia State govt recently demolished some houses allegedly used for kidnap activities. Below are pictures of the exercise.

Traders at the New Auto Spare Parts Dealers Market Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State, Monday took to the roads and streets of Idemili North Local Government Area in protest against an Idemili High Court order restraining the newly elected leadership of the market from piloting the affairs of the market pending the determination of the substantive suit. Photo shows a cross section of the protesting traders with their placards.

Former Gov. Peter Obi (middle), recently paid condolence visit to the Deputy Governor of Anambra state Nkem Okeke over the death of his father Chief Richard Okeke. Photo shows Emeka(left, son of the deceased) and the Deputy Gov. of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke(right), and former Gov Peter Obi at their EnuguUkwu home

The demolition of kidnappers den in Abia

ARINZE NGWOKE: Attacked on Monday, April 11, for passing through the prohibited road at Alor Uno in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State, over allegations that some residents were slaves while others were freeborn.

ZUCHUKWU EZEMA from Achom village, Ndi-Agbor quarters, was the first to be allgedly attacked by Ejuona youths for passing through restricted track road at Amadin Umueze Achom on February 8.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 —

Government is committed to paying all arrears that are properly accrued but because of funds, payments may be made in phases and in some cases, there may be a need to wait for budgets to be passed before the payments are made

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CE & YOU

27

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PenCom to monitor PFAs transactions on FMDQ

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RETREAT: From left, Managing Director, Zenith Pension Fund Custodian (PFC), Mrs. Nkem OniEgbuna; Managing Director, AIICO Pensions and Chairman, Pension Fund Operators of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr. Eguarekhide Longe; Executive Secretary, PenOp, Susan Oranye; Managing Director, AXA Mansard Pensions, Mr. Dapo Akinsanya; Managing Director, FUG Pension, Mr. Usman Suleiman, and Compliance Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pensions, Mrs. Idu Okwuosa at a media retreat organised by PenOp, in Lagos.

payment would no longer be made.

Vanguard investigations revealed the seeming calmness in NAICOM now may be short lived as restiveness is brewing in the commission which stirred the Union to go to the National Assembly recently, where the union met with the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters to intimate the committee of the recent development.

In an interview with Vanguard, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Joe Abah said there is no excuse for any government body not to pay promotion arrears of its staff for as long as the arrears are genuine.

According to him, “What l know is that government is committed to paying all arrears that are properly accrued but because of funds, payments may be made in phases and in some cases, there may be a need to wait for budgets to be passed before the payments are made. Everybody that is

properly due for arrears would be paid arrears.”

In a swift reaction to the decision of the executive management, the Commission’s directors under the umbrella of Top Management Committee (TMC) in a memo dated April 14, 2016 wrote to the union to dissociate themselves from the decision of the executive management.

Appropriate amendment The memo states, “Concerned have been expressed by all the members of the TMC at the meeting of Tuesday, April 12, 2016 that the decision communicated in the said memo (executive management’s) was never discussed nor approved by the management (Directors).

“The members requested the Director Admin & Human Resources to communicate the position to the executive management for the retraction or appropriate amendment to the

memo. It is of concern that the position has remained unchanged.”

It went further, “In view of the general implication of the memo, we the respective members of the TMC are compelled to formally dissociate ourselves from all the decision communicated in the said memo.”

However, the Head, Corporate Affairs NAICOM, Mr Abdulrasaaq Salami in a statement released to the media said that peace has returned to the Commission due to the signed MoU by the union and the executive management

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers to enlighten contributors on retirement planning

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TANBIC IBTC Pension Managers Limited is set to enlighten people approaching retirement on the path to a comfortable retirement while removing the stress of

TOP INSURANCE GAINERS & LOSERS

C M Y K

HE National Pension Commission, (PenCom) can now effectively monitor, through data access and visibility, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) transactions on FMDQ. This was made possible when FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange formalised its partnership with PenCom through the co-signing of a Regulatory Supervision Collaboration Agreement at the Commission’s office in Abuja.

According to Mr. Bola Onadele Koko, MD/CEO of FMDQ, the partnership will also improve transparency of all PFAs’ transactions in the Nigerian fixed income market, as well as the money market through the applicable system(s); capacity building sessions for relevant PenCom Staff on the use of the applicable system(s); and the development of performance benchmarks for fixed income asset classes: bonds (sovereign, sub-national and corporate), money market securities (treasury bills, commercial papers etc.) and fixed deposits.

Present at the ceremony were the Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Chair, Board Regulation and Risk Management Committee, FMDQ, represented by Ms. Daisy Ekineh, FMDQ, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ, Mr. Bola Onadele Koko, key representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria Banking Supervision and Financial Markets Departments and other key representatives from FMDQ and PenCom. In her opening address, the PenCom DG acknowledged and commended FMDQ on its positive impact and giant strides in the development of the Nigerian Financial System, and noted that the regulatory supervision collaboration agreement executed with the Exchange will serve to enable the realisation of PenCom’s investment objectives of safety of pension assets and maintenance of fair returns on investment.

Whilst delivering the special address of FMDQ Chairman, Ms. Daisy Ekineh, Independent Non-Executive Director at FMDQ, stated, “This ceremony marks the formalisation of a partnership expected to be formidable and long-standing, as it will bring about integrity of service, assured investor protection and fair return on investments, serving to fundamentally change the way in which our financial markets operate to the benefit of the nation’s investors, in particular, the pension assets, and ultimately the Nigerian economy”.

pondering what will happen when the individual disengages from active service.

To this end, the company is continuing its nationwide campaign to raise awareness about retirement planning.

About 600 participants are expected at the forum to be held in Lagos, on Thursday April 21, 2016, where participants will gain very valuable tips from seasoned experts and regulators on the imperative of putting in place effective plans to ensure a smooth transition to retirement. This year ’s campaign has the theme, “Life Continues at Retirement – Retire well”.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eric Fajemisin, stated that apart from being an avenue for updating participants on new developments in the pension industry, the forum is also an effort to shape industry

agendas, the ultimate goal being to highlight benefits of the country ’s nascent pension scheme, which will enable Nigerians harness the opportunities.

“Part of our objective in organizing a forum like this is to encourage people to take advantage of the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 to prepare for retirement now, and avoid severe financial difficulties during old age.”

Fajemisin counselled employers of labour who have yet to embrace the new pension scheme as stipulated under the enabling Act to do so, so as to guarantee a secure retirement for their employees. “We believe that people, especially employers of labour who have yet to embrace the new pension scheme as stipulated under PRA 2014, will use this opportunity to come on board and ensure secured retirement for their employees,” he stated.

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Enyimba are ready for Etoile du Sahel – Anyansi

•Gambo

Pillars skipper Gambo discharged from hospital

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ano Pillars skipper Gambo Mohammed, who suffered a head injury in last weekend’s league game at Rivers United, has been discharged from hospital.

Gambo was taken to hospital on Sunday after he suffered a rupture of the tympanic membrane in a Week 12 Nigeria league match against Rivers United.

Gambo clashed in mid-air with United’s Ghanaian striker Wilson Andoh in the eighth minute of the contest decided at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and was promptly taken to the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMH), Port Harcourt.

After preliminary treatment by the two Rivers United doctors, Vincent Wachukwu and Chukwuemeka Agi, the medics at BMH took over and Gambo was back to his feet by Monday evening.

The Pillars captain was eventually discharged yesterday morning and was accompanied to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on Tuesday by the club’s team manager, Salisu Yaro, and team doctor as they made their way back to Kano.

Rivers United secretary Ahmed Abdulrahman said Gambo has fully recovered and was full of gratitude to all who contributed to his rapid recovery.

Abdulrahman visited Gambo at BMH on Monday in the company of the club’s co-ordinator, Bashiru Badawi, and three of the Rivers United players, Andoh, Sunday Rotimi and club captain Festus Austin.

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NYIMBA FC are expecting a tougher challenge when the final qualifying round of the 2016 CAF Champions League ranks the center stage today.

With a team looking so determined before leaving for Tunisia the chairman of the People’s Elephants, Felix Anyansi-Agwu said that seven-time Nigerian champions are prepared and ready for any challenge.

“We are ready for a filled stand at Etoile du Sahel, they will cheer their team and may be unfriendly but we won’t be intimidated,” Anyansi said.

“We are prepared for the task ahead, we have trained under floodlight and on an artificial turf, we hope to continue from where we left it in the first leg.”

With a lucrative group stage slot at stake, Enyimba will be motivated to break a four years jinx where no Nigerian club has played at any CAF club competitions group stage since 2012.

He however said that the main game plan for the People’s Elephants against Etoile du Sahel today is to ensure they work against conceding corners and free kicks around their goal area.

Enyimba beat Etoile 3-0 in a CAF Champions League second round, first leg match in Nigeria, but the top Tunisian club aim to overturn that loss to qualify for

the money-spinning group phase of the competition.

“Enyimba will ensure they do not concede too many corners and free kicks around their box because Etoile are very deadly on set pieces with their giant defenders as well as top striker Ahmed Akaichi great at finishing off any team this way,” he said.

Etoile can score six goals at home, Ikhana warns Enyimba

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•Ikhana

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach, Kadiri Ikhana says Nigerian champions, Enyimba will be knocked out of this season’s CAF Champions League today if they underrate their Tunisian opponents, Etoile Sportive du Sahel.

Enyimba go into today ’s second leg, second round clash with a 3-0 advantage from the first leg which saw the competition’s top scorer, Mfon

Enyimba: We must fight to the finish - Uche John

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•Uche C M Y K

•Anyansi-Agwu

nyimba centre-half Uche John says his team must fight to the finish against Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia to keep their CAF Champions League hopes alive.

The former champions take an emphatic 3-0 lead from the first leg and need to avoid a 4-0 defeat in the return leg fixture in Sousse tonight to advance to the group stage.

“We know they will come out with a lot of pressure but if we keep our heads calm, we will withstand the pressure and even score first, like we did in Burundi (against Vital’O),” he told EnyimbaFC.net.

“The first leg was an interesting game because a lot of people underrated us, a lot of people didn’t give us a chance in that game, but we proved we can beat any team in Africa. I am confident that the same thing will happen again and we will prevail in Tunisia.

“Etoile are a good team, such that if you give them a small space they will hurt you, but we can match them. They are well known in Africa and people respect them a lot, but our boys are ready for them. We want to play in the group stage and we can’t afford to mess up now, not when we are so close,” John said.

Udoh weigh in with a hat-trick.

The Peoples Elephant will progress to the group stage of the competition if they avoid a four-goal margin defeat to the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) at Stade Olympique de Sousse, Sousse tonight.

“It wi ll be dangerous for Enyimba if they think they have qualified for the group stage because they beat Etoile 3-0 in the first leg.

“I spoke to some members of the Enyimba technical crew and explained to them that it is not over (against Etoile).

“North African teams can easily turn around even a fourgoal deficit and as such, 3-0 against Etoile is not really such a big deal,” Ikhana said.

The experienced trainer, who led Enyimba to their first CAF Champions League title in 2003, also warned that the weather conditions in Sousse today could be an important factor in the eventual outcome of the game.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 29

Strong finish is vital – Flores Q

Flores

Ighalo

uique Sanchez Flores is looking for Watford to finish the Premier League season strongly so they can hit the ground running next term.

The Hornets are virtually safe from relegation in their first campaign back in the top-flight with 41 points on the board - 11 points clear of third-bottom Sunderland who only have 15 left to play for. The Golden Boys also have the chance to secure a place in the FA Cup final as they face Crystal Palace at Wembley in the semi-finals this weekend. However, looking ahead to today’s Premier League trip to West Ham and Flores insists it is important for them to finish the league season well so they can take it into their second term in August. He said: “The most important game is the next one. It is impossible to think that it is not a difficult one (against West Ham). We would play at risk if we think about the weekend so it is very important to focus on West Ham. “Our objective was always the points, to go up in the league and try and improve every time but there are a lot of teams trying to do their best. I think we are in a position where we can finish in a really good position in the league. (To get) 41 points is really good in the first year you are promoted and we are happy but we can do more.

“We are not going to change the idea, we are working how we want with our philosophy so we will keep working. “Our confidence is (great) and we are really excited to see how they players do.”

AFCON 2017: Chukwuma blames Eagles’ ouster on coaches/players agents

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ormer Nigeria Football Association first vice chairman and proprietor of the then Gabros FC of Nnewi, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma has said that Nigeria’s greatest problem is that it parades players agents in the name of coaches at the expense of the good coaches who abound in the country and that accounts for the country’s ouster from AFCON 2017.

“The greatest problem we have is that we don’t have coaches. What we parade are players agents in the name of coaches. We need super coaches like we have in other countries of Africa and Europe. We have good coaches in Nigeria but because of the system which is corrupt, we cannot make headway. They are after who you know, how much you can pay etc. They don’t go by merit. We have the best players in Nigeria but if you are not sent by somebody, nobody will recognize you.

We were performing in Gabros because

we had interest in good players and we had good coaches. The players were in the national team and helped Enyimba win CAF Champions League on two occasions like Obinna Nwaneri and Joetex Frimpong”, he said.

He advised the country ’s football stakeholders to go for a super coach starting him first with a two year programme with four year contract to build a super team without sentiments.

Continuing, Chief Chukwuma said, “ I will first of all go for a super coach to have a two year programme, with four year contract to build a super team without sentiments. I will declare total state of emergency in Nigerian football management. The two years is to build the team. I will unveil a new young team which will stand any team in the world.

The players to be selected will be looked at from the angle of skills.

Commenting on the on Nigeria Professional Football League, he

ITF Tombim Futures I: Michael zooms into second round

H

ome boy, Moses Michael yesterday produced a great performance to defeat Aaron Alcaraz of Spain 7-6 , 6-3 to move into the second round of the Tombim Futures 1 holding at the National Tennis Centre in Abuja.

It was the second time that Michael, the only Nigerian player on the ITF ranking in the tournament (1207), was defeating the same opponent after they met last year. After taking the opener, Alcaraz blitzed won the first two games but Michael shrugged off the lethargic start to the second set top break back and help to tie and when it seemed the Spanish player was going to win the set, Michael produced a superb forehand winner.

But Alcaraz, the world no

1078, was resilient winning the next three points.

Thereafter, Michael, surprisingly at his own expense, overruled the umpire’s decision against Alcaraz but he was divinely rewarded for his sportsmanship when a shot by the big-hitting Spaniard bounced on the net only to roll back into his part of the court to take the tie break.

The players failed to break each other in the first set but Michael broke Alcaraz three times in the second set for a 6-3 win.

Michael will now face top seed from Spain, Perez Sanz in the second round. Sanz defeated Egypt’s Issam Taweel 6-3, 6-4. Mohammed Safwat, the second seed from Egypt also advanced with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over Indian Chandril Sood.

•Chukwuma

quipped “We have improved but we need to improve more. In terms of officiating, we need more improvement. I must commend the leadership of the League Management Company (LMC) for the improvement but we need to develop more.

GOtv Boxing Night 7: Anambra Tiger vows to devour opponent

H

eavyweight boxer, Ebenezer “Anambra Tiger ” Okoli, has warned Michael “Emirate” Godwin, his opponent at the GOtv Boxing Night 7, to be very prepared for what may turn out to be the fight of his career. Okoli, who is more experienced than his opponent, was reacting to Godwin’s description of him as an old man, who will fall when confronted by youthful vigour.

“He has called me an old man, who is at the end of his career, but I will prove to him that I have a sound engine.

“Car sellers always advise that the engine is more important than the body. I may look old, but I am not old. Even then, my engine is sound,” he said.

The clash between the two boxers is one of the six lined up for the event holding on 1 May at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

The event will be headlined by the national lightweight title fight between Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai, incumbent champion, and Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph.

Other fights scheduled include the cruiserweight challenge contest between Idowu “Noble” Okusote and Chibuzor ‘Chibunky” Vincent; lightweight clash between Osamudiamen “Shiso” Goodluck and Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu; and a middleweight duel between Chukwuebuka “Wise King” Ezewudo and Ganiyu “Energy” Kolawole.

Sponsored by GOtv, the event is supported by MultiChoice, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, Complete Sports, KSquare Security, Newsbreak.ng, Brila FM, Bond FM and SuperSport.

SuperSport will broadcast it live in 47 African countries.

‘West Ham`s European hopes still alive’

A

s West Ham United prepare to take on Watford, this evening, our hopes of a place in Europe have faltered in recent times.

Fours draws on the bounce have seen the Hammers only take four points out of the last twelve available; hardly form to set the pulses racing.

However, there is still time to make a late push for a European place and if that place isn‘t to be in the Champions League, then a Europa League place will suffice.

After the disappointment of letting a win at high-flying Leicester City slip through our fingers, courtesy of that last gasp penalty, the Hammers will be looking to get the three points available this evening.

Aaron Cresswell, who scored a wonderful goal at the King Power Stadium, has remarked about the Hammers desire to grab a European place, remarking, “We had the defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup, but the draw with Leicester showed that our heads haven`t gone down.

“Our seasons not finished yet. We`re going to keep pushing and finish as high as we can.”

•Victor Moses C M Y K

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Base Station

2.6GHZ SPECTRUM AUCTION: We'll fast track Nigeria to digital economy — NCC •Releases pre-qualification criteria, timetable

By Emeka Aginam

T

HOSE who think that Nigeria will not have broadband penetration across the country in the near future should better have a rethink. Basking on the euphoria of the planned auction of the 2.6GHz spectrum at $16m per slot and the release of auction time table last week in Lagos, the Nigerian Communications Commission, has said that the road to broadband boom in the country is very close.

The Director, Spectrum Administration of the Commission, Engr. Nwaulume Augustine in a press conference in Lagos last week promised that the Commission would fast track the nation to digital economy, adding that the contributions of broadband to Gross Domestic Product would increase considerably.

He however reminded that for Nigeria to be part of the 21st century knowledge economy, there was need to leverage on the potentials of broadband.

According to him, a total of 14 slots are open to interested operators within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

He said that the spectrum could be used to provide any telecommunications services and is offered by the Commission on a technology neutral basis.

Broadband services For roll out of services on the spectrum, he said the commission will follow the international telecommunication Union, ITU, recommendation, setting aside spectrum in the 2.6GHz band for the provision of advanced wireless broadband services.

The spectrum slots won by each bidder during the auction, he said would be assigned on a nationwide basis covering all the states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory.

He warned that operators will be sanctioned for not rolling out services in record time, adding that for the purpose of enforcing the ‘’use it or lose it’’ clause, a license will be issued in each state of the federation as well as for the FCT to each wining bidder. “Each winner who does not currently hold a Unified Access Service License (UASL) which is the operational license

will be issued one at an additional fee of three hundred and seventy four million, six hundred thousand naira, N374,600,000.00)”, he further explained.

It would be recalled that the Commission had on February, 25, 2016 published invitation stage and also published intention to auction last month.

Indicative timetable: Giving details of the indicative timetable, he disclosed that April 29, 2016 will be the end of application and payment of mandatory intention to bid deposit.

Pre-qualification stage: By May 6, 2016, according to him, NCC will notify qualified bidders with notification of mock auction, auction date and publication of mock auction. Auction stage: He

said that by May 16, 2016, the Commission will conduct mock auction while the auction proper will be conducted between 17th and 19th of May, 2016.

According to him, grant stage will hold on May, 20th , 2016 while publication of provisional winners, notification of provisional award of license will be June 10, 2016. By June 13, 2016, winners will be expected to pay for the licence while June 13, 2016 will be the date for the publication of final result, he said.

Pre-qualification criteria: According to him, applicants must be a company registered in Nigeria with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and must be independent from all other applicants under this allocation.

Similarly, he informed that

Oracle promises to leverage Nigerian businesses with cloud technology

applicants must transfer 10 percent of total bid price as intention to bid deposit, adding that licensed operators participating in the auction process scheduled to hold on May, 2016 in Abuja must fulfil all existing obligations to the Commission including payments for annual operating levy, spectrum and national numbering plan fees prior to the pre-qualification auction date which has been fixed for 17th of May, 2016 in Abuja The auction process: “There are total of 14 slots. If the bidders exceed 14, they have to go into auction but when they do not exceed the number, they will be allowed to pay generic reserve price of $16 million”, he explained. He said that the spec-

Cloud

By Prince Osuagwu

A

S Nigeria currently undergoes harsh economic weather where businesses are suffering and business executives, small and medium enterprise (SME) owners eagerly looking for solutions to their present economic predicaments, Oracle has promised to bring an innovative change in the way businesses are run.

Although the country has been part of the evolution of new business methods from the post office mail to the electronic mail; the walkie-talkie to the mobile phone and social media, Oracle says that data usage, storage and retention have also become issues that must be tackled to keep pace.

In providing Oracle Cloud, the technology says it' s offering the world and indeed Nigerians a model for enabling convenient, on-demand natural access to a shared pool of configurable computer process with technologies that enable customers create solutions for their businesses using speed, cost efficiency and security.

Formally launching its products and services recently in Nigeria and the entire sub-saharan Africa, Oracle Cloud, a company that specializes in helping organizations drive

innovations and business transformations says it will help Nigerian businesses increase business agility, lower costs and reduce information technology complexity.

The company says it is poised to affect businesses in Nigeria with their technological innovations by offering a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications, platform services and engineered systems.

Speaking at the launch of oracle products and solutions in Lagos, Oracle country managing director, Adebayo Sanni said that his company was poised to bringing changes in the way businesses are run in the country.

He said that just like some companies have

The bottom line in oracle is to answer the question, how do I use technology and software to do my business and at the same time reduce cost

trum is considered to be valuable national resource for which commercial opportunities exist.

The reserve price for a ten year license, according to him is dependent on the generic reserve price and the number of lots applied for by an applicant determined by the intention to bid deposit, IBD, paid. “The generic reserve price (GR) is the minimum price at which a lot shall be sold, which is the reserve price for one Lot of 2x5MHz and has a value of $16 million .

“Each Lot represents one eligibility point. An applicant that applies for and pays the IBD for six Lots will have a total of six eligibility points.

changed the way they do businesses in the world today, Oracle Cloud, is all about doing the same thing in a new way by offering a cost effective services aimed at improving businesses through the use of cloud data to offer software services, platform as a service and infrastructure as a service all aimed at improving businesses. Mr. Adebayo also noted that among what Oracle Cloud stands for are cost reduction mechanisms as businesses or customers pay for what they consume at their own speed; completeness, choice and flexibility to business forward.

“We have some companies in the world that offer software as a service, infrastructure and software as a service but what Cloud offers you that completeness, choice and flexibility aimed at ensuring your business growth and that is what makes us unique. Oracle offers you the total complete package. You also have choice and flexibility to decide which one of these that is important to your business. Customers also have the choice of deciding whether to go for private cloud(for private businesses) or public(for public businesses like that of the government) cloud. The bottom line in oracle is to answer the question, how do I use technology and software to do my business and at the same time reduce cost, ensure security and have flexibility that is choice”. According to Mr. Sanni, for customers who wish to subscribe to Oracle Cloud in order to ensure efficiency in their businesses, all they need to do is to first all identify Clouds business requirements like cost, mobile interaction between Cloud and its customers and then Cloud’s business strategies.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—31

SOLO smartphones now allow free download of 20 million songs Stories by Prince Osuagwu

A

closer look at smart phone maker Solo phone, would reveal a digital services startup that so happens to sell mobile devices.

For instance, the major proposition of the company is to provide a unique end-toend mobile content delivery experience for its users.

But in doing that it also offers SOLO Music, which gives the user unlimited free

access to stream and download music from a library of over 20-million international and local music tracks.

The songs go directly the device and remains allthrough the lifetime of the device.

No wonder, Solo phones have been competing vigorously in the end to end digital offerings with contents, free music download, movies and allowing devices to download with no data cost.

Global Chief Executive Officer of SOLO Phones, Mr.

•Solos martphone Tayo Ogundipe, said that the free download is one major avenue to connect with consumers as the eco-system.

He described the structure of his offerings as customer

focused offerings to deepen equity for the Solo phone brands in the Nigerian market.

The phone market according to him is fast growing in

iStore announces availability of new Apple device, iPad Pro

A

S Apple debuted with one of its most expansive and productive tablets, iPad Pro recently, one of the questions from the company’s Nigerian consumers was where to get it immediately to keep pace with other gadget lovers in the USA and other parts of the world.

Usually, when products of that nature hitthe market, Nigerians who to all intents and purposes have the wherewithal to grab and enjoy it immediately are left waiting several months after their counterparts abroad have used it.

This gave rise to buying from gray or unauthorized channels as many Nigerians who are obviously frequent travelers get a hold of them in different

parts of the world. However, the implication is that activation and after sales service problems that may arise, leave the user hopeless and most times abandoning the piece of smart gadget bought with huge sums of money.

This problem is what Apple’s Authorised dealers and Africa representatives Core Group Africa, wants to solve with iStore.

Refined MultiTouch technology For instance, less than a week after the new Apple’s product. iPad Pro, the store announced that Nigerians can buy the device in their stores in Ikeja shopping mall. iPad Pro has a

large 12.9-inch Retina display, nearly double the CPU performance of iPad Air 2 and refined MultiTouch technology.

With 5.6 million pixels, iPad Pro features the highestresolution Retina display of any iOS device. The 12.9-inch screen makes everything you do — editing 4K video, designing presentations, running a business — easier, faster and more engaging. iPad Pro has a slim and light design, it’s just 6.9 mm thin and weighs just over 700g. It’s available in silver, gold and space grey from N240 000. iStore will also offer the new

•iPad Pro range of iPad Pro Apple accessories namely the revolutionary Apple Pencil, Apple Smart Keyboard and Smart Covers. The Apple Pencil uses incredibly sensitive pressure and tilt sensors to instantly recognize when you are pressing harder or shifting

spite of the challenges being experienced with the exchange rate.

According to him, “the growth outlook is strong and offers enormous potentials that can be tapped in to by mobile phone brands.

"We are dedicated to the Nigerian market and committed to bringing an unparalleled entertainment experience to Nigerians, on compelling smartphone devices, and at a price anyone can afford.”

Ogundipe added that with the increasing demand and growth rate witnessed in the smartphones market, it has become imperative for phone brands to meet the desired needs of the consumers, saying it was why Solo phones is providing services and multipurpose devices which align with the upwardly mobile lifestyle of consumers.

its angle.

Apple’s iPad Pro S m a r t Keyboard combines an array of new technologies and materials to create a keyboard like no other. It’s a f u l l - s i z e keyboard that’s fully portable, and connects to iPad Pro with the Smart Connector, an innovative new interface that allows for a twoway exchange of power and data.

Finally the Smart Cover, which folds into different positions, creates a versatile stand for reading, typing, or watching videos.

All accessories are sold separately.

Appzone integrates recharge vending solution in microfinance services

T

recharge-card vending machine

IME has gone when apathy ruled the customer base of Microfinance banks (MFBs); but not anymore, as recent trends have seen them embrace technology.

Some of the tech applications now embedded in the service offerings of these MFBs have made them virtually no different from commercial banks that people ordinarily have confidence to operate in.

Recently, one of Africa’s leading providers of home-grown banking and financial technology solutions, Appzone, leveraged its BankOne platform (which serves microfinance banks) to introduce a USSD-based service that enables instant airtime top-up via mobile phones of MFB account holders.

This value added service provides MFB customers with an easier and more efficient way to buy airtime from their mobile phones

even as it allows them to check their account balance.AppZone’s Business Development Group Head for its Retail Banking Cloud division, Mr Adelana Adewusi, said that MFBs signed up to this service are assigned a unique code which can be dialed by their customers to get any denomination of airtime while the MFB, via AppZone’s BankOne platform, facilitates the automated deduction of the purchase amount from the customer’s account He added that for convenience, easy adoption and a seamless customer experience, no registration, app installation or configuration is required for customers to start using this mobile banking service. Rather, the service is available on any smartphone or feature

phone currently in use.

According to Adewusi, “To enjoy the service and for security reasons, customers must use phone lines that have been registered to receive debit and credit alerts for transactions on their account.

All a customer has to do is simply dial the specified code and key in the value of airtime required. The BankOne platform validates the customer’s account number and verifies that the customer has sufficient balance. After verification, the customer’s account is debited for the requested amount while his/her phone line is topped up instantly” he said.

The USSD mobile Banking service is also said to support other basic Banking functions like balance enquiry and interbank funds transfers

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: IT’S important you don’t allow your thought for and/or about the future derail your plans for the present so that success will not elude you. Romantic attractions along your career/business lines may become stronger sooner than you think.

GEMINI: EARLY morning blues will affect many people around you meaning that not everybody-morning period especially along your career/business lines.

CANCER: MAKE sure you perfectly understand what you are doing within your working arena before midmorning period or else costly mistakes would be made.

Be tolerant.

LEO: TOMORROW is your day. Therefore you are advised to leave some important decisions and/or action till tomorrow when the heaven will smile at you. Your love life is favoured.

VIRGO: TOMORROW will prove more challenging.

Thus, if there are things you should do now, you better don’t contemplate procrastination as you are likely to be stretched full lenght tomorrow. Watch with you tell others early in the morning.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

God is watching

R

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

sins etc.

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

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

TERROR MUDA

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

We live a life. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act;

in “Never say goodbye”

the sun by our shadow takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

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

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: AS the moon fluctuates early in the morning some people may promise more than they can actually deliver. And if you take them for granted, you would be disappointed.

SCORPIO: CERTAINLY some people will get on your nerves yet you must not over-react at least because of the immediate future. Truly thus is the wrong time to gamble with love.

SAGITTARIUS: THE Moon fluctuates as it moves out of your star . That is why you will need to guard against confusion likely to be caused by others.

CAPRICORN: THE Moon makes an ingress into your star sign INFLUECES YOU TO BE COME AGGRESSIVE which is capable of bringing unnecessary argument and avoidable confusion. To before warned is to be fore armed.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: EARLY morning blues will affect many people today (yourself inclusive) but luckily for you, things will go according to your plans. And you will need to be more careful with money.

PISCES: THE moon fluctuates early in the morning.

And if care is not taken you would promise more than you can actually deliver to the resentment of others. Yet, you’ll win.

ARIES: BEHIND-the-scene-activities are sources of avoidable trouble especially before mid-morning period when influence of the moon’s fluctuation will last. Avoid inordinate ambition.

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

What are my chances?

Dear Joshua, KINDLY analyse my star and tell me about myself especially my luck.

I want to know about my love life, social life and how to become successful in life. I have seen people who are close to me became big success without much struggle from them.

Would my own be like them too?

Israel, Ibadan.

Dear Israel, You are different to those you said came by success: in your own case you will need to work hard and earn success. It is important you watch and take practical precaution about inability to hold on to your gains for long. Some times unexpected assistance use to come your way at 11th hour.

Your being friendly with the influential personalities especially WOMEN will help your finance greatly speculative (and) venture is not the best for you.

Your magnetic personality makes it difficult for members of your opposite sex to the betterment of your love life.

Luckily for you, you know how not to allow your rugged/ rigid personality to harm your love life; you are a sweet lover, although can be argumentative some times. Love happiness indicated for you. If you can analyse both your environment and social situation, you will have more to gain from social activities more than it’s attendant pressure.

You will need to drop unnecessary rebellious approach when dealing with your social life; although what looks like radical approach can earn you a few number of friends who may not be in position to assist you.

Many people love your gentle approach and will be willing to assist you especially the more influential personalities. Once again women can be helpful here If you expect easy success, you would be frustrated because Saturn-the planet of delay, frustration but greater reward after much struggles, was with the sun (basic-self-hood) when you were born. Thus it will not allow easy success. And at the same time will not deny you whatever you deserve. The same Saturn will reward you with RECOGNITION WOMEN, children and younger people can enhance your prospects. Colours RED, WHITE and pink are good for you. Sleeping North/ South axes with your head to the North is good for you.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—33

Edo 2016: Aspirant urges Christians to pray for good govt

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Edebiri, has called on Christian leaders to be fully involved in the enthronement of the next governor of the state.

Edebiri, who made the call at a forum organised by the state Apostolic Network for Christian Leaders in Benin, enjoined Christians and their leaders to earnestly pray for a peaceful transition leading to the election of the next governor of the state, adding that it was not right for Christians to be docile when people in government derailed from governance.

He said: “The only time to disobey government as Christians is when they do what is not scriptural. When government is doing wrong, what do you as Christians do? Fold your hands?

No, we need men and women of God who will speak the truth when it is required.

“Men and women of God who can at all times stand on the path of truth should not tolerate evil, otherwise, we as a people will never get it right. Already, as we prepare for the party primaries and the election proper, I hear people are preaching war. But the greatest task before great men and

women of God is for them to begin to pray that in this 2016 governorship election, no aspirant or candidate should emerge on the blood of children of this land to Government House.

“I hear people say it is a do or die affair. I hear them say that 'gentleman no dey'; that it is

Okporoko for Okporoko, axe for axe and dagger for dagger. But I do not wish for any of these. It is the responsibility of the church not just to pray but to also get involved in the electoral process by voting for a better candidate.

“Prayer does two things: It either opens doors or it closes

doors. Let us, therefore, pray to God to close doors to evildoers and evil thinkers and open doors of peace. It depends on what we ask of God. This land has experienced evil but the Bible makes us to understand that Christians can play key roles in whoever governs the state."

VISIT: From left: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Chairman, North China Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wu Guo Qi and Director, North China Construction Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bob Lin, during a courtesy visit to the governor by a delegation of the construction company, in Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake.

EU pledges support for Nigerian exports

T

By Daniel Gumm

HE European Union, EU, has promised to see Nigeria through the process of having its banned export food items readmitted into EU market, if the requisite guidelines for export into EU are met.

Mr Michael Arrion, the EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, disclosed this in Abuja during a working visit to Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC. Ambassador Arrion noted that Nigeria was in a good position to benefit from global trade through the exportation of commodities and products such as cashew, cotton and others given its comparative and competitive advantages.

He observed that there was need for Nigeria to increase trade in ECOWAS as the country contributes 70 per cent Gross Domestic Product to ECOWAS. Awolowo agreed that the need to increase trade with other ECOWAS member countries was imperative given the volume of informal trade across the ECOWAS corridor.

He maintained that it was for this reason that NEPC was working with other relevant government agencies to address the situation.

Presenting the Council’s Zero

Oil Plan initiative to the Head of Delegation, who was accompanied on the visit by the Head of Trade and Economic Section, Filippo Amato, he explained that the objective of

the “Zero Oil Plan is to create a road-map that will reposition the Nigerian economy from an oil dependent to non-oil economy.”

Describing the Zero Oil Plan

initiative as being ‘nicely provocative,’ Ambassador Arrion noted that Nigeria needs such bold strategy to increase its contribution from the non-oil sector.

Iara Oshiomhole trains 160 IDPs on ICT, others were doing extremely well. training, I know for sure that

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—WIFE of Edo State governor, Mrs Iara Oshiomhole, has concluded the training of 160 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, on Information and Communications Technology, ICT, food processing, creative arts and fisheries.

The training was undertaken under Mrs Oshiomhole’s pet project, “We Care Trust” to prepare the IDPs for productive life after camp.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, where certificates were issued to participants of the programme, Mrs. Oshiomhole said she was impressed by the performance and speedy learning of the participants.

According to her, “We came here 10 days ago to do the flagoff, and we returned a few days after to catch up with the students to see how they were doing. To my surprise, they

“Of course, when you have a wonderful training, you cannot do anything less than extremely well. So, I thank the facilitators for the training and I thank the students for dedicating time to the training and giving their best, because from what they were able to produce after the

the best was given. I am extremely proud.”

On her part, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Hajia Mamunat Momodu, thanked the Edo Governor’s wife for putting up a training programme for the IDPs.

Cleric warns against greedy acquisitions Government Area, Delta

A

By Festus Ahon

S A B A — ARCHBISHOP of Bendel Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Friday Imaehai, has warned Nigerians against greedy acquisition of worldly things to the detriment of their heavenly race.

Giving the warning during the dedication of the altar built and donated to St John's Anglican Church, OkpareOlomu, Ughelli South Local

State, by Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Imaehai stressed the importance of giving to God. He said it was important for Christians to use their wealth to work for God, adding that the act of giving promotes the work of God on earth and makes away for them in heaven.

Addressing journalists after the service, Olorogun Tebite said that the decision to build the altar was informed by the need to appreciate God for His blessings upon his life and family.

Host communities urged to assist in devt of tertiary institutions

By Perez Brisibe & Ochuko Akuopha

U

G H E L L I — CHAIRMAN, Governing Council, Delta State College of Health T e c h n o l o g y , DELSCOHTECH, OfuomaUghelli, Dr. Nelson Ejakpovi, has urged host communities to assist in the development of institutions of higher learning in their domains.

Speaking when he led members of the Governing Council and management of DELSCOHTECH on a courtesy visit to the OfuomaUghelli community, Ejakpovi said: “For the speedy development of institutions of higher learning, there must be collaboration of all stakeholders.

“Development of institutions calls for strident efforts from everybody. We will need the community to provide the enabling environment. Let us not discourage the efforts to develop the college because, our governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured us that he will support whatever it will take to lift the college to enviable heights."

PDP chieftains laud Okowa’s aide

L

EADERS and members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Aladja Community (Ward 10), Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, have lauded the Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Community and Peace Development, Chief Jite Brown, for his leadership skills.

They gave the commendation when Chief Brown hosted them at his residence in Aladja town.

The PDP chieftains in Aladja Ward 10, who noted that they have been working for the party over the years, thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for appointing their son as one of his Senior Special Assistants, describing Brown’s appointment as a square peg in a square hole.

In his response, Brown who is equally in charge of the ongoing government projects in Udu, including the Udu Harbour Market, and also a Liaison Assistant to the Governor’s Office in Udu and Uvwie, expressed gratitude to the party chieftains for the honour, disclosing that the governor had resolved to bring development to all parts of the state.

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 , 2016

NAFDAC bans unregistered herbal products

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

N E W I — N AT I O N A L Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, warned that it would not tolerate u n a u t h o r i z e d manufacture, sale and advertisement of unregistered herbal products.

The agency disclosed this while sealing up of herbal manufacturing companies, clinics and offices involved in illegal manufacturing and unauthorized advertisement.

It also impounded unregistered herbal products of some companies, and others that were involved in unauthorized sales and advertisement with public address systems.

Addressing newsmen after the exercise in Onitsha, Nkpor and Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, NAFDAC Deputy Director, Special Zonal Office, Onitsha, Dr. Christiana Esenwah said, that the clamp-down on illegal herbal practitioners, herbal companies and clinics had become very imperative to save the lives of those who patronize them.

“Before any herbal company goes on air with its products, they have to first get them registered cleared for any kind of advertisement, and after registration, they are given certification to sell or offer clinical services," he said.

Alleged slavery: Enugu govt sets up panel of inquiry

By Emeka Mamah

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NUGU—ENUGU State Government is to set up an administrative panel to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the on-going skirmishes between Ugbene and Ejuona people at Alor Uno, in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state over alleged slavery.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi made this known when he addressed leaders of Alor Uno at Government House.

The factional leaders, who attended the meeting include Nkechi Omeje, Nelson Ogbonna, Sunday Onah, Linus Ogbuisi, Raphael Nnadi, Calistus Anichi, Godfrey Ezeh, Gilbert Omeje, Dr Ejike Ozioko and Caleb Omeke, among others.

At a meeting between the state Police Commissioner, Ekechukwu Nwodibo and Alor Uno factional leaders in his office, he asked the people to live in peace as the government would soon set up a panel of enquiry to get to the root of the matter.

Meanwhile, the Ugbene people, yesterday, accused the Enugu State police command of taking sides with their oppressors.

They claimed that the police were arresting their people only leaving the alleged perpetrators of the crisis, pointing out that those who were detained and branded robbers, arsonists and attempted murderers were parents and old men who were picked up from their homes and not from the scenes of any crime.

There had been crises between the Ugbene and Ejuona of Alor Uno following reports that the constitution of the town was clandestinely altered to deprive the Ugbene people of their rights in the belief that they were slaves.

Apart from stipulating that an Ugbene man or woman cannot take any chieftaincy title or become the traditional ruler of the town “in view of the fact that they were slaves,” the people were also barred from passing through some track roads in the town and as such were reserved for the true

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INISTER OF Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said Nigeria will generate huge revenue through its investment in the creative industry and tourism.

Speaking on the imperative of diversifying the country's economy from oil in Lagos, Lai Muhammed said the country needed to diversify to arts, culture and tourism.

According to him: “We must not neglect the creative industry: arts and culture, as it is the spring-board that we need to reach the goldmine we are sitting on. It just needs to be fine-tuned to fetch us huge revenue.

"We cannot depend on the oil sector alone.

We need to diversify the economy to arts, culture and tourism. This administration is diversifying the economy away from oil, which for many years has been the main-

attacks by another group of Ugbene youths.

This is even as investigations had shown that secret killings were going on just as arms were being allegedly stock-piled by indigenes of the town, who had been taxing both those at home and in Diaspora over the issue.

Solution to Africa’s security challenges lies within —Obasanjo

By Bartholomew Madukwe with agency report

F

ORMER PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said the solution to security challenges across Africa lay within the continent because it was well placed to provide innovative solutions.

Obasanjo, who chaired the 5th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, in Addis AbabaEthiopia, noted that though Africa faced increasing security challenges, so did the rest of the world.

In his words: “As Africa faces increasing security challenges, so does the rest of the world. The continent is well placed to provide innovative solutions to these security challenges.”

The forum, which was organised by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies,

Nigeria'll generate huge revenue from creative industry, tourism —Information Minister

By Jimoh Babatunde

sons and daughters of Alor Uno. The latest crisis began when a young man from Ugbene was chased by some youths and given a machete cut on the head on April 11, for allegedly passing through a track road reserved for alleged true sons and daughters of the town, triggering reprisal

stay of our economy.

“We are working hard to move these sectors from the margins to the mainstream, and ensure that the rural poor in particular are factored into the sector’s architecture.”

Mohammed explained that special attention would be paid to capacity building of culture and tourism managers to revive the nation’s creative arts, boost tourism and create employment, particularly for the rural dwellers.

“We believe this will not only create thousands of jobs, thus keeping our people meaningfully engaged, it will also become a money spinner for the economy and stem rural-urban migration,” he said.

Mohammed identified the non-involvement of local communities in the tourism and culture architecture as one of the banes of the sector.

IPSS, of Addis Ababa University, was inspired by the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Former UN Secretary-General and Nobel laureate, Kofi Annan, on his part, urged African leaders to leave when their mandated time was up and to avoid excluding opposing voices if elections were to cease contributing to conflicts on the continent.

He opined that while unconstitutional changes to government on the continent had reduced, exclusionary politics threatened to reverse the gains

made.

“I think Africa has done well, by and large the coups have more or less ended, generals are remaining in their barracks, but we are creating situations which may bring them back.

“If a leader doesn’t want to leave office, if a leader stays on for too long, and elections are seen as being gamed to suit a leader and he stays term after term, the tendency may be that the only way to get him out is through a coup or people taking to the streets," he said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 35

Gov Bello tears APC apart in Kogi ...As SEC passes vote of no confidence; youths, wards exco root for gov

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—THE frosty relationship in the Kogi State All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Yahaya Bello, has deepened the crisis in the party as leaders now work as at cross purposes, passing a vote of no confidence and a vote of confidence on the governor.

While the State Executive Council, SEC passed ‘vote of no confidence’ on the governor; and some aggrieved stakeholders asked the governor to resign; wards executives across the 21 local government councils and the youths wing of the party threw their weight behind the governor.

It will be recalled that the SEC after a meeting weekend, passed a vote of no confidence on the governor, worsening the frosty relationship between the governor and the state leaders of the party.

The SEC also wrote a letter to the party's national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, claiming that since the governor assumed office, he had not related with the party, alleging that Bello had completely ignored the party in the scheme of things, particularly in the appointments made so far.

The party also urged the national secretariat not to allow the governor nominate replacement for the late Minister of State for Labour, Chief James Ocholi, to avoid a repeat of appointing a non-party member as a minister representing the state in the Federal Executive Council.

Similarly, party stakeholders after a meeting on Sunday, asked the governor to resigned from his office.

But in a swift reaction, the party youths and wards leaders passed vote of confidence on the governor, dissociating themselves from the purported crisis rocking the party in the state.

The youths and wards leaders while reacting to the vote of no confidence by state leaders of the party , claimed the SEC members were sponsored by the deputy governorship candidate of the party in last year governorship election, James Faleke.

State APC youth leader, Emmanuel Ayobami and spokesperson of the wards leaders, Deborah Oyiza in a separate briefing yesterday, also insisted that the decision of the state leaders were at variance with the reality on ground.

According to them: “Certain individuals and interest groups within the rank and file of APC in Kogi State are making public a dishonourable intent to subvert

the APC government of Governor Yahaya Bello. As governor of Kogi, Bello remains the APC leader in the state. The agents of confusion have sworn to put all manners of impediment in the path of the new administration in order to derail the New Direction to peace, unity and progress in which the governor has started moving Kogi State after many years of ruin by previous administrations.”

The Governor, through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik berated members of the SEC, declaring that he had a right to pick his appointees from any party he wished.

He said “It is my constitutional responsibility to appoint my personal aides without any recourse to the party or group of people, provided the person meets the requirement as stipulated by law of the land”.

The governor who said he was yet to be informed by the National Secretariat of the party about the petition insisted he was running an all inclusive government and that the APC leadership was free to recommend any body for any appointment provided the person met criteria for such position, Also reacting, Faleke in a statement by the Chairman, Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Duro Meseko asked the governor and the party to leave him alone and face their trouble.

He added, “For the umpteenth time , am constrained to respond to the very hollow and ridiculous allegation by a negligible faction of ward and local government executives of the APC in Kogi State that Hon James Faleke was behind the vote of no confidence passed on Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the State Exco of the party last week.

VISIT: Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (middle) welcoming the President, Kwara Baptist Conference (KBC), Rev. Dr. Victor Adebayo Dada (right) and Chairman, Central Working Committee, (KBC) Mr. Tunde Oyawoye to Government House, Ilorin, during a courtesy visit.

INSURGENCY: GOC 7 Div escapes death in Boko Haram ambush

By Kingsley Omonobi & Ndahi Marama

T

HE Acting General Officer, Commanding Division 7 of the Nigeria Army, Victor Ezugwu, escaped a Boko Haram ambush yesterday morning, a statement from the Army Headquarters, signed by Col Sani Usman, said.

However, three soldiers were not so fortunate, as one died and two others were injured in the ambush.

According to the statement: “The leading elements of the acting general officer commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu’s leading convoy was about 8.30am this morning ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists en route to visit troops in Bama. Although one soldier lost his life and two others were injured, they were able to clear the ambush, killing some of the terrorists and recovered vehicle and weapons

from them. The recovered items include a Toyota Hilux vehicle, 2 AK-47 rifles and several ammunition.

“The acting GOC has continued his operational visit to

Bama, while the body of the late soldier and the two wounded have been evacuated to Maiduguri. The chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has also spoken

with the GOC. The Nigeria army wishes to reiterate its unalloyed commitment and determination to continue to clear the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding.”

EFCC, NLRC move against illegal operators in lottery industry

By Funmi Olasupo

strengthen the commission’s regulatory functions.

Ekpe explained that the NLRC BUJA—AS part of the had developed an action plan for efforts to rid the lottery industry of illegal operators, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, are

By Suzan Edeh collaborating to flush out illegal operators from the industry.

AUCHI—THE FAHIMTA At a joint briefing by the NLRC Women and Youth and the EFCC yesterday in Abuja, Development initiative in the Director-General of the NLRC, collaboration with ActionAid Adolphus Loe Ekpe, said the Nigeria, with support from DFID, commission would not fold its arms has trained 40 community and watch illegal operators hijack stakeholders in Bauchi on the lottery industry. advocacy skills and resource He said the collaboration would mobilization for development. eliminate illegal operators and The programme is on a four year

A

the development of the sector, to ensure transparency, accountability and propriety as required by law.

Nasarawa 1st Lady laments high level of malnutrition

By Chioma Obinna

L

AFIA—WIFE of Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, Hajiaya Salamatu Tanko Almakura, has decried the high level of malnutrition in the state, with 37 percent of Nigerian children stunted.

Speaking during a one-day sensitisation meeting on malnutrition for Nasarawa State policy makers, organised by Civil Society Scalling-up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, on the platform of Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health, PACFaH, in Lafia, Mrs Almakura said: “Even though Nigeria has in recent years made progress in local food, the poor nutrition status of Nigerian children has been a major concern. 37 percent of children under five in Nigeria are classified as stunted. This rate is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and second in the world.

“To address this, the government through Federal Ministry of Health working with key stakeholders came up with the 2014-2018 National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) — a costed plan that targets priority intervention areas that will drastically reduce stunting rate by 20 percent , a 15 percent reduction in low birth weight, and 50 percent increase in exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life.''

Mrs Maria Agba is dead

M

RS Maria Agba (Nee Onyemaobi) is dead, aged 105 years. She passed on on March 7, 2016 after a brief illness.

Christian wake keep holds tomorrow at her home town, Ihuowere, Ngo, Igboukwu in Aguata LGA, Anambra State.

Her remains will be laid to rest on Friday, April 22 in her home town.

She is survived by five children, 27 grand children and 17 great grand children.

40 stakeholders get advocacy skills training in Bauchi project known as Strengthening

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Citizens Engagement in Electoral Process, SCEEP. The Bauchi State Programme Officer for SCEEP project, Mustapha Idris, who spoke at the two-day training workshop, said the participants were drawn from the SCEEP 18 communities of the state, including women leaders, youth leaders, traditional leaders and Parent Teachers Association chairmen.

.Late Madam Agba

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

AWARD: The oldest journalist in Nigeria, Chief Ajos Otunba, of Network Int'l Ltd. (left), presenting an award as Best DPO in Lagos State to Superintendent Robinson Eregare of Lagos State CID, Panti.

HYDRO-POWER: From left— Dir., Centre for Renewable Energy Tech, Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Professor Olurinde Lafe; FUTA’s VC, Professor Adebiyi Daramola; Managing Dir., Engineering Materials Devt Institute, Dr Gbenga Olusunle, and Mr. Hannes Bauer, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, at the training in small hydro-power systems for experts, at FUTA.

TASTE THE FEELING: From left— Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Ltd., Ben Langat; music star, Adekunle Gold, and Patricia Jemibewon, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd., during the launch of the new Coca-Cola Global Campaign, TASTE THE FEELING, in Lagos.

IMAGINE CUP:

From left— Developer Experience and Evangelism Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho; Team Leader, Team Humane, Ayodele Obasegun; team member, Otaru Babatunde and Chief Information Officer, Sterling Bank, Olayinka Oni, at the Nfinal of the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition in Lagos.

SURVEYOR'S CONFAB: From left— President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Dr. B. J. Patunola-Ajayi; Ministry of Lands and Surveys, Delta State, Mr. Moses Ojor; immediate past President, Olorogun James Omeru; first Vice President, Mr. Rowland Abonta, and National Secretary, Pastor V. Ayeye, at the 46th annual conference of the Institute in Abuja.

UEFA: From left— Co-Founder, African Media & Production Network, Arjan Pomper; Olisa Adibua; Dami Elebe; Corporate Media/Brand PR Mgr, NB Plc, Edem Vindah; Gbenga Adeyinka and Brand Mgr, Heineken, Obabiyi Fagade, at Heineken House, Lagos, during a UEFA Champions’ League match.

C M Y K

PHARMACISTS' CONFAB: From left— Chairman, National Association of Industrial Pharmacists, Mr. Gbenga Talabi; Chairman of the occassion, Dr. Christopher Kolade, and Director, Industrial Development and Inspectorate, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Francis Alaleme, representing the Minister, during the 19th annual national conference of the association in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—37

Re: ‘The amnesty programme benefits all’ RIGHT OF REPLY

PMB’s foreign trips — My takeaway (2) This is the concluding part of this piece which was firsty published yesterday.

Dangote Group, to meet with and

By Babatunde Fashola, SAN address their Chinese partners.

During the meeting with the MB’s mandate was for us Chinese President, Six to explore collaboration for collaboration agreements were the manufacture of solar panels signed including for agriculture in Nigeria to bring down the price and food production improvement and deploy it to the sunlit areas techniques, rail and power of Nigeria, especially the North infrastructure development, for that is most prolific for irradiation. funding the Dangote group to We are currently working on the continue to expand and create jobs Energy Mix for Nigeria which is at home and keeping some of our the implementation process of the reserves in the currency of the energy policy that will take us richest nation in the world. This there. Hopefully we will soon last mentioned agreement was a be signing the first set of solar legitimate coup by PMB because deployment agreements for the intelligence was that some West Nigeria.

African countries were going to In this way, more solar and sign before us. hydro will be used in the North, more coal and hydro in the PMB seized Middle Belt, and more gas in the the moment South; so that we take power generation closest to the most Of course he had to apologize prolific source of fuel to bring for our previous failures on our down the cost and make it more agreement made to part-fund four affordable. On the trip to China airport projects in Lagos, Kano, (which I will comment on) we met Abuja and Port Harcourt and a few Chinese solar Abuja-Kaduna rail project. The manufacturers (who recognized Chinese had provided their us from Abu Dhabi) who want to agreed part of 85% but the set up business of manufacturing remaining 15% Nigeria did not solar panels in Nigeria. honour during the last China Investment Forum and administration. Some of the recent State Visit: This is the visit that revelations about financial provoked this write up, because scandals estimated at $2.1 billion I had bottled what I knew. But it in the office of the National was time, I believe, to share some Security Adviser alone during the of it. China is the second largest last administration suggest how economy in the world with a per impactful such funds would have capita income of $8,000 which been in delivering these critical infrastructure; but we all know what happened.

This is why PMB is traveling.

To repair our reputation severely damaged by the last government, and to assure our partners that Nigeria has CHANGED. And from there to re-negotiate an existing funding agreement to complete critical Transport BABATUNDE FASHOLA infrastructure. Because of his they are planning to raise to reputation, President Xi Jinping $12,000 by 2020. By her own believed him, and to quote him, assessment, according to he said: “It is better late than President Xi Jinping, they are never. “ Through him China still a developing nation seeking literally opened the door to Nigeria to achieve what he described as in areas of infrastructure (power, “initial prosperity” by 2020. railways and roads), agriculture, If you look at the back of your education and manufacturing phone, your TV, your watch, your especially in our Free Trade Zones.

I-Pad, your Mobile Charger, To paraphrase the Chinese many other accessories that you President, “ask us for whatever use, you are likely to find these support or partnership and we will three words “Made in China” be happy to respond.” “We wish printed somewhere. For such a to see you take your rightful place nation, (with trillions of dollars in reserves, that plans to spend $2 trillion on imports in the next five years and earn $100 billion PMB has annually) who still sees itself as a developing nation, such earned their modesty in the face of success, trust for all of us assiduous hard work and productivity is a destination to and I am proud seek cooperation in the pursuit to carry my of economic development. green passport This is where PMB led an array of Nigerian investors including Erisco Foods, (who now makes our tomato paste at home and and we are happy that you are employs people locally the first African president visiting including farmers who supply China, after my visit to Africa last the tomatoes), Power operators year to pledge a $60 billion support (DisCos and GenCos), and the for the Development of the

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continent.” If this was not initiative I doubt what is?

As for the trips to Paris, COP 21 and the USA, Nuclear Security Summit, I will only say this: a) The threat of climate change, global warming, desertification in the north of Nigeria and coastal erosion in the Atlantic (Bar beach in Lagos) and in the south, affecting Rivers, Bayelsa and other coastal states, the clear scientific evidence lays the blame at the door of the world’s most industrialized nation for their pollution. b) Since the Kyoto protocol they have paid lip service to remedying the situation, which unfortunately affects developing nations more adversely. c) COP 21 was the first serious commitment that these leaders made to ensure that global temperatures do not rise above 2°C and indeed are reduced to 1.5°C. I am proud that Nigeria was not missing at this historic moment. When the planet is saved, the next and future generations of Nigerians will recall that PMB was present, when all of the world leaders were present to save the planet.

Deployment of nuclear energy d) In the aftermath of COP 21, the commitment of these nations is to increase production and technology for renewable energy and to reduce the use of carbon fuels. One way they plan to achieve this is increased deployment of nuclear energy. e) These nations are at the cusp of sharing safe nuclear technology for peaceful uses with developing nations for power generation. This for me was reason enough and a good one at that for PMB to be in the USA because Nigeria has been pursuing a nuclear power program for about 17 years, not as an alternative to gas or Hydro, but as additions to them.

The world leaders must trust you for you to partake. At that summit, in the group photograph, PMB stood on the second row along side Britain and Turkey. In the past, we used to be on the last row. This is CHANGE. As he meets with world leaders outside Africa, he has not forgotten the home front. He is regularly visiting and receiving his sister and brother presidents on the African continent. PMB has earned their trust for all of us and I am proud to carry my green passport.

Yes, some results are not yet manifest, and may take a little while to do so, but a solid foundation for a sustainable, respectable and prosperous future is being laid, block by block.

Fashola, SAN, is minister of works, power and housing

By Daniel Reyenieju

Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (retd).

DEALLY, I would not have wished to engage in exchange of mails with you, but for the fact that your letter in paragraph two claimed that its purpose ‘is not to engage in polemics with you (sic); rather, it is to explain and present facts’; is indeed not explaining facts as they are, but turning facts upside down, and sadly concocting non-existing ones.

Along this trajectory you claimed in the last paragraph of the letter that ‘... the Amnesty Office under my (sic) watch operates an open door policy, so that it is open to enquiry from any Nigerian on its activities’.

Let’s for example take your claimed espoused ‘open door policy’. You will recall that on your appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, I enthusiastically sent you a mail dated June 29, 2015 and titled Congratulatory Message’ in which I congratulated you, and expressed my desire to meet with you. In addition, I made my telephone number available to you so as to facilitate communication and build the much-desired synergy between your office and myself, as the member representing the Warri Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives. The same letter was received and signed for in your office on July 3, 2015.

As at the point of writing this letter, you have not extended to me the simple courtesy of acknowledging my letter, yet you claim to espouse open door policy.

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Concurrent reciprocity The reason for such attitude, which to me is contemptuous of my person and office, could be that I am not among those to benefit from your claimed espoused ‘open door policy’.

The reason for such exclusion is best known to you.

Back to my earlier assertion that your letter to me hardly explains any fact; but is largely strewn with deliberate turning facts upside down, and even concocting non-existing ones.

Please be informed that your claim in paragraph three that ‘the fact is that when in October, 2889 ex-Itsekiri agitators disarmed in Koko ... stated categorically that they do not want to be part of the Amnesty Program’ is not only unfair, incorrect, but a robust concoction of a non-existing ‘fact’ sorely for a demonizing mission, deliberately put in place to justify your present alienating policy of the amnesty beneficiaries, specifically those of Itsekiri extraction. BrigadierGeneral Boroh (retd.), I hereby in good conscience challenge

you to provide any iota of evidence to this spurious claim.

About 31 of the 70 that you now take credit for was made possible by myself and the leadership of INYC by providing Funds running into millions of Naira to cover tickets, accommodation, intraining allowances and warm clothing. It may interest you to know that it took the Amnesty office more than a year of aggressive and persistent demand before reimbursement was finally made to us.

Please check your records and you will see these facts.

As at today, over 150 of such post-amnesty beneficiaries of Itsekiri extraction are still awaiting deployment for their respective university postgraduate programs. I hope you will note this for action.

I am most sad that you asserted in your letter that’ ... all Itsekiri Amnesty beneficiaries have been paid the same monthly stipends as other beneficiaries’, as if payments of stipends are all that beneficiaries of Itsekiri extraction are entitled to. Let me inform here that you have no option than to pay them their stipends like others. It is the aspect of training and

How many of post-Amnesty beneficiaries are of Itsekiri extraction? skilling/re-skilling that you can exercise discretion; discretion you have so far exercised by not sending any of them to learn any trade.

Let me congratulate you for this effort! The inescapable question is ‘out of the reported 200 post-Amnesty beneficiaries now sent out for this laudable training and skills acquisition, how many of them are of Itsekiri extraction? I hope you will in good conscience be honest and gentlemanly enough to give answer to this nagging question.

In recent times, reports of starter-packs being given to post -amnesty beneficiaries have been agog in the media, As you can attest, postamnesty beneficiaries of Itsekiri extraction are excluded from among such receivers of starter-packs because your office have deliberately refused to send them for skills acquisition and training, as you seem to have espoused the position that receipt of monthly stipends should be enough for them.

Hon. Reyenieju is Member for Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives

38—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

•The Toyota Land Cruiser 2016 model being given to Senators at tax payers' expense foreign branded Congress equally consider it a vehicles in the willful and grievous criminal act face of local the inflation of the unit cost of each alternatives is a of the cars by over a 100 percent, p i t i a b l e as each car supposedly cost indication of the N35.1 million instead of N17 low patriotism of million.

“Aside from this, Nigerians are our elected l a w m a k e r s keen to know from where they feeding fat on got money for the purchase of cars without our common these heritage. The appropriation.”

Pooh-poohing the arguments Nigerian Labour projected by the Senate Congress, NLC IN a period in which the reputation of the Nigerian legislature was faulted the spokesman, the NLC said: “The diving towards record lows, then came revelation that the Senate purchase of the defence offered by the Senate had against popular opinion commenced the receipt of 108 brand vehicles on three spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi new Toyota Land Cruisers. grounds: cost, Abdullahi, is laughable and corruption, and childish. According to him, Special Advisers use jeeps, why conscience.

By Emmanuel Aziken, The NLC in a statement issued not Senators or do Nigerians in the purchases. Senator Sabi’s Political Editor seemingly preposterous by its national president. expect them to trek to work? And Describing the decision to forge in any case, cars are capital HE 2016 model SUVs were justification was that senators ahead with the purchases in the projects! were entitled to the vehicles ordered by the Senate “Couldn’t this have been put face of excruciating financial given the fact that special purportedly for the purpose of pains in the country, the NLC to better uses such as the advisers to the president were carrying out their committee president, Ayuba Wabba, in the constituency projects of these activities. The excuse of using the also cruising around in SUVs. same Senators? At a time with statement said: Given the circumstances of the vehicles for committee work was “We consider appalling, severe economic challenges and Nigerian nation the decision of ostensibly to cover the fact that insensitive and greedy the deepening poverty in the land, each of the 109 senators had the Senate to go ahead with the decision of the Senate to acquire can the Senate afford this level earlier received 300% of their purchase of the vehicles was seen 108 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps of reckless luxury and arrogance? as particularly revolting given salaries as car loans.

“The answer is “no”. (one for each member less the the state of the economy with The decision of the Senate has “Their multiple acts of Senate President) after collecting workers in many states not been slammed by a cross section criminality, ranging from car “loans” in August last year of Nigerians with labour taking having received their salaries for for the same purpose,” Mr. acquiring these cars after months. the initiative. Even before the previously taking loans for the Wabba said. vehicles started arriving, when “It is equally morally despicable same purpose; spending money Cost of Vehicles news of the purchase first came and shameful that they are doing without appropriation and over to public attention, Former The vehicles which cost N35.1 this after publicly admitting that inflating costs constitute not just President Olusegun Obasanjo million each would at the end of the standing committees of the corruption but a crime against the had blasted the lawmakers the day cost the Nigerian tax Senate are unable to perform Nigerian people whom they saying that the excuse of using their statutory functions due to claim to represent,” Mr. Wabba the vehicles for committee work payers N3.79 billion, almost all said. paucity of funds.” was not sufficient. Obasanjo in a of which will be flowing out of “Accordingly, we demand they “We at the Nigeria Labour the country to sustain job growth concession to them had in other countries.

This suggested that they should rather have purchased fewer utility inclination of senators for exotic ISSUES foreign vehicles is despite the vehicles or buses.

However, as everyone knows fact of a growing automobile •How does the Senate justify these new vehicles after the vehicles are for the senators industry in the country. last year’s car loans?

If they had chosen to buy and not for the committees as the •Why is the Senate bent on shipping jobs abroad? committee clerks who run the Innoson brand of SUVs, it could well have been imagined how •Was the cost of each vehicle inflated by N10 million? committees are not in charge of they would have promoted local the vehicles.

•How many car producing countries do their Only the senators with their vehicles and the number of jobs spokesman, Senator Abdullahi that they would have created and legislators drive foreign branded vehicles?

Sabi have seen the justification helped to sustain. The choice of •When will the Senate start putting Nigeria first?

SENATE SUVs:

The casualty of corruption, conscience

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return those cars to whoever supplied them, or the appropriate agencies prosecute them for corruption.

“In the event none of this happens, they should be prepared to keep a date with Nigerian workers and their civil society allies including market women and students.

“No one is above the law,” the NLC declared.

Will the different?

House

be

The situation is almost similar in the House of Representatives where the legislators have also been reported to have ordered for committee vehicles. However, apparently learning from the angst of Nigerians with senators, the members have ordered for lower branded vehicles and have chosen Peugeot 508. The Peugeot vehicles it was learnt are to cost the tax payers N3.8 billion.

The choice of Peugeot it was learned was to empower the Nigerian agents of Peugeot of France. Just as the senators, the members of the House have overlooked the country’s economic priorities.

House spokesman, Abdulrazaq Namdas told a national daily that the House decided to go for a local supplier in order to increase the company’s revenue base. But how far increasing the particular vendor’s revenue base at the cost of the general economy of increasing job opportunities using a locally made vehicle is another thing.

Each of the Peugeot 508 vehicles is expected to cost N10 million, a good amount of money that in ordinary times should have been well utilised towards boosting the economy in each of the 360 federal constituencies.

But for legislators inclined to luxury, self precedes collective interest.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—39

‘Igbo not factored into Buhari’s devt agenda’ Miss Biafra LET me also add that the people who should be making case for Igbos are not doing it. The Governors of South East never do anything to demand that their people are represented in sharing the wealth that their region creates.

How many prominent Igbo leaders contributed anything positive to Igbo land while in office? Look at the North, it is all about them and their people.

Femosilla The Igbos are the most hated tribes in Nigeria due to their attitude towards every successive Nigerian government. The Igbos have always been at loggerhead with every Nigerian government except former President, Good-luck Jonathan who they regarded as one of them.

Unfortunately, Jonathan did absolute nothing for them in terms of social and infrastructural development throughout his six years reign.

•Chibok-girls-protest

Chibok girls: Still alive, pregnant or even dead?

Evidence HIBOK girls abduction is a scam. The latest video released on them is an attestation.

Is it Boko haram that the army told us is surrendering because of hunger, lack of funds and weapons, that are taking care of those girls that are looking robust and trying hard not to laugh?

C

emilosky303 Many girls have been kidnapped. Many c have been

killed. The Nigeria Army has rescued many. It is time we ask Borno state Governor to please bring chibok girls out. .Bola Tinubu, President, Buhary, Shettima, please do something .Thank you.

Lukeson What chibok girls? These girls are on scholarship now,. Look at how beautiful and healthy they looked on that video? Why was the video even revealed on the exact

day of the second anniversary of the abduction?

Does it not puzzle anybody that CNN had enough time to even meet the parents of these girls, meet their classmates, even had time to edit the video and interview lots of people before publishing the proof of life video?

Why did boko haram chose CNN instead of the normal site they usually upload videos? Every smart Nigerian knows the Chibok drama was a game of throne.

BUDGET IMPASSE: Buhari returns from China, to deal with saboteurs Coded Y brother, budget padding has been going on in Nigeria for years with the executive tolerating them because they are corrupt as well.

This time around, with the firm stance of Mr President on zero tolerance for corruption, they are being exposed, the national assembly and budget office and civil servants have been padding the budget for their selfish gains every year just as you have seen, all the super rich civil servants and legislators buying super houses in Abuja,Dubai,London and all the super cities around the world. Where do you think they got the money from?

M

Keu4Success My Friend, you have spoken well. You see, not that all these politicians crying foul over how Buhari is determined in his fight against graft, such as budget padding, do not know who Buhari really is as a person.

They all know who President Buhari is and that is the reason they are trying all they could to see that a large number of unsuspecting Nigerians are incited against President Buhari by portraying him not only as a tyrant but also as a man who is not fit to be a President, using the media as a C M Y

Nigeria not sick, even if we are, we have our own local remedy — Adeosun

weapon.

Babalawo Stop blaming someone else for your misfortune.

What stops President Buhari from attending to the budget before hand ? Was it not the Executive that started the “padding” At what point will President Buhari and his followers accept responsibility?

Jim Nwachuku HIS is the first positive statement from the present APC Government.

This is a true statement that Nigeria is not sick and deviation from the blame game of countless accusations of how PDP destroyed Nigeria. Now that the truth has started coming out. The economic downturn we are passing through is but a phase and happens in all nations irrespective of the party.

T

jasper123 This administration told us they inherited an economy that was in comatose, in less than one year with people groaning. Suddenly, the economy is not sick! What a group of miracle workers! No matter how hard you pamper lies and falsehood, truth will always be on top!

18keslerGeorge6 If Nigeria is not sick why begging china? Nigeria is supposed to be competing with china and not borrowing from her.

During President Jonathan administration, Nigeria was competing for space within the first 10 economies of the world. To borrow from china simply means subjecting our country to slavery.

The DSS and slain Fulani in Igbo mass grave: The lesson from Yugoslavia Shibal lengs HIS is unprofessional. How many times have they talked about the killings in Agatu and the middle belt? How many times have they talked about the killings in the South, Edo, Ebonyi. The DSS is now on Fulani. Do they know what this portends for national security and crisis escalation? Very unprofessional.

Nigerian problem still remains lack of panNigerian leaders. Meanwhile, we have ethnic,

T

regional and religious leaders all over the place.

Okaa Obi What has a cattle rearer got to do with a Riffle , AK47 if not war.? The Fulanis have finished killing the Kanuris in the North East and taking over their land. They are moving to other areas . It will surprise you to know that it is only the traditional home of the Fulani that is not boiling in Nigeria.

40 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

*Sikiru Akinbanjo

*Corneal transplant surgery in progress

We were blind, now we see •Eye Bank restores sight to the blind through cornea transplant

By Sola Ogundipe

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ESSRS Emma Akana, Sikiru Akinbanjo and Friday Akagbue are not relatives but were once united by a common destiny. They were not born blind, but each of them once lived in the world of the blind. But they can now see. Their sight was not miraculously or divinely restored, but through a time-tested scientific process known as cornea transplant.

Recountingtheirodysseyfromthe land of the sightless back to that of the sighted, the trio gave testimonies of hope to others with similar predicament.

For Akana, a septuagenarian and retired engineer who completely lost his sight previously, being able to see again is like a rebirth. “My life has changed,” he remarked.

“Nothingcanbecomparedtobeing able to move around freely without being assisted or led by someone because you cannot see.”

Speaking in Lagos recently at the Metropolitan Hotel, Victoria Island, during a special breakfast/fund raisingmeetingwiththeVicePresident, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Akana recalled that after the successful cornea transplant, his sight was fully restored, and he has became active again in every sense.

“It is my personal miracle. After six years of living in darkness, I can see light again. I no longer have to lean on anyone to move around. I even drive myself,” he said with confidence, noting that gradually, hiseyeshavebecomeclearer.“Since the day my sight was restored, I have not had any problem with my eyes. Five of us went for the operation, and none has had any serious complication.”.

At the event put together by the Eye Bank for Restoring Sight,

EBRSN, to assist cornea-blind Nigerians restore their sight, Akana narrated how one eye specialist after the other told him that his condition could only be corrected abroad.

“Every doctor that examined me told me the same thing, which was that the treatment I needed was not available in Nigeria, but they were soon proved wrong, because it was here in Nigeria that I had my sight restored, and the operation was carried out by Nigerians.”

Expressing gratitude for the restoration of his sight, he urged Nigerianstoseektherightinformation in order to have more confidence thatmorecouldbedonefortheoverall benefit of Nigerians.

Failing eyesight In his own account, Akinbanjo, a 75-year-old retired military officer, said in the search for restoration of his failing eyesight, he went endlessly from pillar to post, consulting one eye expert after the other, all to no avail.

“I had the first surgery, then the second, but there was no improvement. Then, it was discovered that my main challenge was a cornea problem and I was referred to a doctor at the Eye Bank for Restoration of Sight in Lagos. I had a successful cornea transplant surgery in 2013. I now see well.”

One of the greatest joys of the pensioner is seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren. “I am so happy nobody got tired of coming to my aid to assist, or complained about my need to be led around. As a pensioner, it was not easy going about getting my money with somebody having to follow me and do all the running around.

But now, with my sight back, I do it all myself,” he noted.

As for Akhabue, the youngest of the trio, a successful cornea transplant was just the second chance he had been searching for. “It is a long story. I just woke up one day and could no longer see,” said Akhabue who is now employed as a cashier/front desk officer with an airline. He informed that he was having eye problems previously and the complications made him lose his sight eventually.

“It was a very traumatic period for me and my family, but when I heard about the ESRBN and its cornea transplant initiative, I became hopeful again. What is significant is that the cornea transplant gave me a second chance. I signed up for the surgery and it was successful. My friends were initially sceptical and joked that I would be given cow’s eyes, but I did not relent and remained hopeful. And it paid off in the end. I advise anybody with eye problems to go to the hospital and see the eye experts and no one else,” he admonished.

Restoring sight to damaged eyes The trio is just a handful of Nigerians that have benefited from cornea transplant in the country.

Statistics from a recent study conducted at the Pacelli School for the Blind, showed that up to 60 per cent of the blind people at the facility would have benefited from corneal transplants.

To restore sight to damaged eyes, doctors often need to transplant the cornea from a donor’s dead body.

The cornea is the clear front part of the eye, which lets in light and helps focus images on the retina. When

it is damaged, as a result of injury or disease, a person’s sight deteriorates, sometimes to the point of blindness.

The first successful corneal transplant surgery in Lagos took place in 2010 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, when two unidentified patients, benefited from the cornea

Indeed the gift of sight is precious and thousands of people the world over are having their sight restored through cornea transplants every year. However, since the first successful cornea transplant was reported in Olmütz, Moravia, (Czech Republic) in December 1905, the demand for corneas has increased drastically and even though thousands of people donate their corneas after their death, there is currently a chronic shortage in countries like Nigeria where there is significant number of visual impairment cases due to corneal blindness – a condition that is reversible through cornea transplantation also known as keratoplasty.

Sight-saving transplants

It is my personal miracle; after six years of living in darkness, I can see light again; I no longer have to lean on anyone to move around; I even drive myself of Mr Kola Shodipo, a 47-year-old man who died August 18, 2010.

Shodipo was the first Nigerian to donate his eyes for a cornea transplant. Prior to his death, Shodipo had pledged his eyes, which were removed hours afterwards, and the corneas used to restore sight to two individuals who had cornea blindness in one eye each.

Prior to this, all cornea transplants in Nigeria were done with corneas obtained from other countries, mostly from China. But since the ESRBN came into existence in 2004, not a single cornea had been harvested locally until very recently.

“Cornea transplants are successful sight-saving operations, with about 95 percent of grafts functioning after one year. More people could benefit from sightsaving transplants if more corneas were available,” said the Managing Director, The Eye Bank for Restoring Sight, Dr Mosunmade Faderin-Omotosho.

A Consultant Ophthalmologist, Faderin-Omotosho, said corneal blindness can be cured through corneal transplant by removing the damaged cornea and replacing it with a healthy one. However, she remarked that the challenge is getting a suitable system for collection of the corneas, processing it and distributing to the doctors. She called for enforcement of legislation while lamenting that majority of those that really need corneas cannot afford to pay.

She said those who suffer from corneal blindness can have their sight restored if they can receive a healthy cornea from donors. “As individuals, we can sign written permissionforourcorneastobeharvested at death, in order to restore the sight of a living blind person.”

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 41

We were blind, now we see Continues from page 40 Explaining that cornea transplant is very safe and effective, she noted that because there are no blood vessels in the cornea, rejection rate is very low. “Cornea blindness is reversible because it is just the front part of the eye that is damaged.

When that part is damaged, the person cannot see, but with a successful surgery, which involves the replacementofthedamagedcornea with a good one gotten from a dead person, sight can be restored.

“Those who suffer from corneal blindness can have their sight restored if they can receive a healthy cornea from donors. But for the cornea to be useful for a transplant, it must be removed within 12 hours after death with the consent of either the deceased, given before death, or the family members.

“You just want to be sure that the cornea is from a healthy person. The recipient must also be in good health. He or she can also donate because later on the cornea heals and all that is left is just see a line.”

However, persons blind from such conditions as glaucoma, complication of diabetes and hypertension on the eye cannot benefit from cornea transplant. Already, in view of the myriad of challenges confronting restoration of sight through corneal grafting, Nigerians need to embrace the practice of leaving a legacy of sight by pledging their eyes (corneas) before death.

Available of donor corneas Calling for counsellors to talk to people to donate their corneas, she said cornea transplants were first carried out in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s in Nigeria with corneas obtained from abroad, but such transplants are rarely done nowadays because donor corneas are not readily available.

“When the ESRBN was to be registered, we had to get permission from Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.I have gone to see the Comptroller of Prisons in Nigeria, to see what we can do to harvest corneas, because I have been told that when a prisoner is condemned to death and executed, the body belongs to the government and not the family.

“However, since 1999, after the military era has passed, no civilian governor has confirmed death penalties, so now there are now several prisoners waiting on death row because no Governor is ready to confirm their sentences.”

In a presentation themed: “Cornea Donation, A brighter World”, Chairman, Board of Trustees, of the Bank, Dr Olaseinde Akinsete, said with a blindness rate of 1 percent, 30 percent of the estimated 1.5 million Nigerians that are blind, have cornea problems

and can benefit from cornea transplants.

Lamenting the non-effectiveness of the Cornea Grafting Decree 23 of 1973, Akinsete, who set up the ESRBN on his 75th birthday, said cultural beliefs, religion and taboos are major hindrances to the take off of the cornea donation culture in the country. He said even though corneal transplant is lawful in Nigeria under Decree No.23, titled Cornea Grafting Decree 1973, not many corneal grafting operations have been carried out in the country.

“As individuals, we can sign written permission for our corneas to be harvested at death, in order to restore the sight of a living blind person. Under the Decree, any person can, either by writing or orally in the presence of two or more witnesses, authorise the excision of his or her eyes after death. “The law stipulates that the person lawfully in custody of the body after

*Friday Akagbue (left), Emma Akana death may, unless he has reason to believe that the request was subsequently withdrawn, authorise removal of eyes. Notwithstanding the promulgation of the above mentioned decree, not many corneal grafting operations were carried out in Nigeria.

“Among factors responsible for

the appalling situation in which we find ourselves in regard to restoration of sight through corneal grafting are lack of donor of eyes and corneas, scarcity of Ophthalmologistsinterestedincornealgrafting, remedial legislation, etc. The biggest challenge is the unbelief by the public that they should donate

any part of their body after death and also that it is not possible to restore sight to a ‘blind’ person.”

Nigeria has about 1,170,000 blind people, based on a blindness rate of 0.78 percent.

Cornea blindness is about 7.9 percent (92,430), that may benefit from corneal grafting. Between December 2015 and the second week in January 2015, four babiesaged8-11months with bilateral cornea infections, were referred to the Eye Bank.

As summed up by ESRBN Ambassador, Mrs. Dakore Akande, more Nigerians should resolve to pledge their corneas. “It is necessary to help somebody who is blind to see. To be able to donate your cornea is really a great legacy.

I know it is tough, but we just have to be our brothers’ keeper and not just think about preserving ourselves,” she appealed.

Royal solidarity: When Crown Prince of Issele-Uku visits Benin Kingdom prior to his enthronement

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HE Crown Prince of Issele-Uku (Oligbo Kingdom), in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, HRH NdukaEzeagwuna,hasindicatedhisintention to ascend the throne of the ancient kingdom and fulfill the age-long rites of his people by assuming his rightful position as the Monarch of Issele-Uku. Nduka Ezeagwuna gave this assurance during a royal visit to the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, HRH Eheneden Erediauwa, EdaikenN’Uselu, where he had gone to pay homage and to inform him of his intention to ascend the throne of his fathers.

The production engineering graduate from the University of Ibadan told the Edaiken that he is aware of the age-long relationship between Oligbo kingdom and the ancient Benin kingdom, saying this had motivated him to pay the royal visit and assure the Crown Prince of Bini Kingdom of his desire to continue that relationship, even as he emphasised the historical fact that Benin remains the ancestral root of the Isei people.

Welcoming the Issele-Uku Crown Prince to his Palace, the Edaiken equally affirmed the brotherly link that connects Benin Kingdom and We have that of Issele-Uku, adding that it was in no keeping with the problems ancient traditions of kingship rites that with this such a royal visit was visit and the undertaken to fully endorse the emer- intention gence and recogni- and tion of a new Obi in purpose for Issele-Uku. “We have no which it has problems with this visit and the been intention and undertaken purpose for which it

of Media Committee, Comrade Patrick Ochei; as well as other members, including Prince Chuks, Mr. Emma Ojei, Mr. D.D. Mordi, Mr. Nwaba and others too numerous to mention.

It would be recalled that 20-year-old Nduka Ezeagwuna had been crowned the new Monarch of Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, replacing his late father who had been the Obi of the town. Crown Prince Ezeagwuna was a 300-level undergraduate at the time of his coronation by the community’s kingmakers, to fulfill the transition and ascension of kingship rites in the kingdom, pending the date for the performance of the full ritual of his formal ascension to the throne of his fore fathers.

Sitting: Eheneden Erediauwa, (middle): Nduka Ezeagwuna and the Regent of Issele-Uku, Mr. Domnic Egbune

has been undertaken. It is in keeping with our ancient traditions and I fully endorse and give you our royal consent. Let me also thank and commend you very much for recognising the value of our tradition and culture and for deciding to ascend the royal stool of your fathers,” the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom assured Crown Prince Nduka Ezeagwuna.

The delegation that accompanied the Crown Prince of IsseleUku Kingdom on the royal visit to the Palace in Benin included the Regent, Prince Dominic Egbune; the Oji Oba of Issele-Uku, Chief Ike Odoe; the Odogwu, Chief G.C. Okwumabua; the Ogbelani of Issele-Uku, Elder Isichei; Chairman of Coronation Committee, Frank Mordi; Chairman of House of Assembly Service Commission, Chief (Mrs.) Ada Josephine Kachikwu.

Others were Chairman of Media Committee, Prof. Mrs. Mokwunyei; Secretary

Ascension to the throne The coronation had been carried out by the Onishe of Issele-Uku, retired Justice Azomani, who had performed the traditional rites of seating the young monarch on the throne, while awaiting the full coronation ceremony.

The new king, as at the time of his coronation, can be said to be the second youngest king to be crowned in the state, following in the heels of the record holder, the Dein of Agbor, His Royal Majesty, Benjamin IkenchukuKeagborekuzi 1, who was crowned in 1979 at the age of two years and four months.

His late father, King Henry Ezeagwuna, had passed away in a fatal auto crash at the Otulu junction on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway, which also claimed the life of Mr. Sunny Ofili, a journalist and Special Adviser on Information and Communication Technology to the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Udughan, on the weekend of August 9, 2014.

42 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Clinton, Trump tipped to win as New York votes

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OTERS in New York went to the polls Tuesday in a pivotal presidential primary with frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the favorites as they seek to clinch the Democratic and Republican nominations.

Polls show that Clinton -- the former secretary of state, first lady and New York senator -- has a double-digit lead over her Brooklyn-born challenger, Bernie Sanders, even if nationwide surveys put them neck-and-neck.

Trump, the brash Manhattan billionaire whose controversial campaign has appalled the Republican establishment, is well ahead of his evangelical rival Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Ka-

Riot erupts in Cairo after policeman kills man over cup of tea

A

riot erupted in a Cairo suburb on Tuesday after a policeman shot three people after an argument over the price of a cup of tea, killing one of them, the Interior Ministry and witnesses said.

Public anger over allegations of police brutality has been bubbling over the past months, with several incidents spilling Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (c) and her husband Bill Clinton greet voters be- over into skirmishes and fore casting their ballots yesterday in Chappaqua, protests, five years after the ministry's officers were New York a major focus of the 2011 sich. polling stations visited by uprising.

One of the onlookers The tycoon is banking on AFP in Manhattan and a big home state victory in Brooklyn, where New held up a bullet casing his quest to sew up the Yorkers cast their ballots and accused the police of nomination before Repub- on the way to work. Poll- killing "poor" Egyptians.

A crowd quickly gathlican grandees can anoint ing stations remain open another candidate at the until 9:00 pm (0100 GMT ered, overturning a police vehicle and beating up party convention in July. Wednesday). another policeman at the Turnout was steady at scene, said a witness, who did not see the shoot-

London to ban drones during Obama’s visit

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RONES will be banned from flying in large parts of London during the visit of US President Barack Obama, aviation officials have announced.

The restrictions on drones, which are remotely-controlled, unmanned aircraft, will apply between 09:00 BST on Thursday and 22:30 on Sunday.

The ban also extends between London and Windsor, where Mr Obama will have lunch with the Queen on Friday.

Authorities said it was a

routine ban, similar to those used at sports events.

It comes after a Londonbound flight is believed to have hit a drone on Sunday.

Detectives launched an investigation after the pilot of the British Airways flight approaching Heathrow reported his aircraft being hit by a drone.

Police say the drone was being flown near the area of Richmond Park in south-west London.

Announcing the restrictions, the UK's National Air Traffic Service said they were

part of an "overarching security plan" for the visit of Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Drones will be banned from flying over a large part of the capital, extending from Purley in the south to Haringey in the north.

Restrictions are in place between Windsor and London on Friday - when the Obamas will have lunch at Windsor Castle. The ban also extends between Stansted Airport and the capital on Thursday night and Sunday morning.

Assad’s future not negotiable — Govt Negotiator

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HE Syrian govern ment's chief negotiator has said his side is pushing for an expanded administration led by President Bashar al-Assad, and that Assad's own future was not up for negotiation.

The Western-backed Syrian opposition said on Monday that it was

taking what it called a pause from UN-sponsored talks in Geneva aimed at ending the five-year-old conflict.

The oppositon wants some form af transitional governing body with full executive powers - but without Assad.

But Bashar Jaafari told Lebanese TV news channel al-Maydeen on Tues-

day that a bigger government was needed to preserve the country's existing institutions.

"In Geneva, we have one mandate only: to arrive at an expanded national government. This is our mandate this is the goal we strive to achieve," Jaafari said on Tuesday.

Brazil's Rousseff defiant after impeachment vote

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RAZIL's President Dilma Rousseff has said that she is "outraged" by a vote in Congress to authorise impeachment proceedings against her.““In an emotional first public response on Monday, Rousseff said that she would "continue to fight" for her political survival and that there was no legal basis for any impeachment.

Rousseff is accused of making illegal accounting moves to mask gov-

ernment shortfalls during her 2014 re-election, but she has not been accused of corruption.

German far-right leader in race trial

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HE founder of Germa ny's anti-Islamist Pegida movement has gone on trial in Dresden on hate speech charges.

Lutz Bachmann, 43, is accused of inciting racial hatred in Facebook posts, in which he called refugees "cattle", "scumbags"

and "filth".

Pegida's rallies have attracted thousands of supporters in Germany.

Separately, police arrested five suspects near Dresden accused of attacking migrant hostels and plotting far-right, anti-immigrant terror.

ing but said he arrived at the scene in the wellto-do neighbourhood of Rehab shortly afterwards.

"The Interior Ministry

are thugs," chanted the crowd in a video sent to Reuters by the witness.

Around 200 people were in the crowd, according to a Reuters estimate from the footage.

Uganda's only cancer treatment machine breaks, patients left waiting

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HOUSANDS of can cer patients in Uganda will be left untreated for months after the nation's only radiotherapy machine broke down, triggering public criticism about underfunding in the health system weeks after the president's re-election.

The device, bought in 1995 and sited at the main Mulago referral hospital, stopped working early in April, Christine Namulindwa, the cancer unit spokeswom-

an told Reuters.

A new machine was bought in 2013 but the government delayed allocating 30 billion shillings ($8.97 million) for a special building, called a bunker, to house it, she said.

About three quarters of the 44,000 new cancer patients seen last year needed treatment, Namulindwa said. "In the next six months, we expect ... the new radiotherapy machine to be installed."

Policemen stand guard in a Cairo street to maintain law and order during a riot that broke out yesterday following the killing of a tea seller by a cop

Soaring maize prices add pressure on South Africa's ANC lamb, beef have all got

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ROUGHT has pushed up the cost of white maize and other food staples of poor South Africans and faster price rises will squeeze budgets further, potentially hurting the ruling African National Congress (ANC) before

local elections in August.

The lowest rainfall on record in 2015 has led to parched lands and soaring feed costs. When combined with a weak rand currency that makes imported goods more expensive this has meant maize products, bread,

more expensive.

Of particular concern is the rising price of white maize that poor and lower-income households use to make the calorierich porridge known as "pap" and of sunflower oil that they use for cooking.

Syria sympathises with Nigeria over Chibok girls

By Victoria Ojeme

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YRIAN Charge d' Af faires/Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr. Shafik Daiyob has sympathised with Nigerians, especially the relatives of abducted Chibok girls over the abduction of the girls.“He also said terrorism that had been hitting Syria and Nigeria and other countries of the world, was not Islamic“His words: “We in Syria are living and have been living in these situations and these pains so we comprehend it

completely.“"It is painful that terrorists are killing, beheading, kidnapping innocent people. We hope the Chibok girls will be released as soon as possible and we hope that Nigeria will successfully defeat terrorism in the shortest time. “"I want to assure you that terrorism that has been hitting Syria and Nigeria and other countries of the world is not Islamic, it is anti-Islamic and it has no relationship with Islam and it tarnishes the image of Is-

lam and Muslims and most of the victims are Muslims.“"Although some of these terrorist organisations hide behind the name of Islam or label themselves Islamic but Islam is completely the opposite, Islam completely denounces their activities.“"The ideology which terrorism is based on is an extreme wahadism ideology and which the terrorist organisations of al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram practice."

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016—43

I’m scared of leaving after 16 years together Dear Bunmi, Y PARTNER and I have been together for 16 years, but we’ve achieved nothing in that time. We still don’t live together and to be honest, I don’t trust him. I know he’s cheating on me as he often gets sexy texts from girls. I no longer want to stay with him, but I’m scared to go. I don’t know if l have the strength to leave.

Michelle, by e-mail

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Does my wife still want her ex?

Dear Bunmi, Y WIFE and I met some nine years ago when I was going through a bad divorce.

She had a partner she said she was in love with but he suddenly left her to get involved with someone else. She was devastated and I told her I was in love with her and would see her through. For years, she agreed that we should be lovers but refused to get married, maybe hoping that her ex would come back. We eventually got married last December when she discovered that she was pregnant. I love and hate her for all the emotional trauma she made me go through. We have a lovely son, but that hasn’t stopped me from wondering what would happen if her ex showed up in future. She’s caused me so much anguish by making me wait all this while and I believe that she still carries a torch for her ex.

Yusuf by e-mail

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Dear Yusuf, You obviously felt rejected by your first wife, and then by your current when at first she felt unable to give you all her love.

You therefore wanted to patch the wound left by your ex-wife by quickly finding another partner.

It's quite natural for her too, to mourn the loss of the man she loved, so neither of you behaved badly. What you suffer from is a

deep sense of inferiority complex and of being unlovable. In spite of your belief that your remarrying would make you feel loved, it fuelled your resentment.

Your new wife has reassured you she loves you by getting married and giving you a child. She could

have had an abortion and moved on. You need to work hard at saving your marriage by improving your self-image.

You’re obviously unhappy by your present state of mind and by allowing your wife to share your fears, you’ll both be able to overcome them.

I no longer feel loved and wanted Dear Bunmi, Y PARTNER has been separated from his wife for the six years we’ve been together. He has two children with her and their son lives with him. We also have two children together and I’d like two to live together. Every time I mention this, he refuses and arguments follow. I don’t feel loved and wanted any more. Lately, when I see him, he either ignores me and plays with the kids or makes nasty comments about me letting myself go and being too fat. We’ve split up a few times but always make up. All I want is a happy, loving family under one roof.

We’ve discussed having another baby, but I just can’t see that happening under the circumstances. What can I do?

Theresa, by e-mail

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Dear Theresa, The more you pester a man who’s not confident about making another commitment to

a woman, the more he’ll back away. It looks as if your partner is not yet fully disengaged from a marriage that went wrong. He feels a need to protect himself and his kids from his broken marriage from further hurt. This, along with anger he sometimes feels towards women, expresses itself in attacks on you that are designed to ward off any danger.

Yet it’s obvious he cares for you in his own way. You’ve allowed him to enjoy the fulfilment of having a partner and children again without what he thinks of as the risks of co-habitation.

While you let him have his space, he will adore you, but will resist you demand more. You already have a sort of marriage with him anyway. The problem is, you cannot force this to translate into a sort of domestic bliss. Let him know your needs, but understand his too. Until, or unless you establish emotional trust and mutual respect, don’t dream of moving in together.

My hubby finds it hard to call it quits with our neighbour Dear Bunmi, Y HUSBAND and I have been married for 19 years and have three children. We’ve lived in this friendly neighbourhood throughout our married life and my husband is an extrovert. He goes out in the evening with friends and he sits in their homes drinking beer and this is how our problem started.

There is this single woman, who moved into her house a few years ago with her two kids. Recently, my husband has been constantly visiting her house, not just with other neighbours, but alone with her.

Some of our neighbours warned me about the implication of these visits and I got angry. I asked my husband what was going on. At first he denied but later admitted that they had feelings for each other, but had not slept together. I warned him if he didn’t stop visiting her, I would leave. He promised to stop, but he still visits her under the guise of visiting our neighbours.

I feel hurt and jealous, I keep thinking he’ll renew the affair and I don’t think I can handle him

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being in the same room with her.

He can talk to her in the street, but not at her home.

Samanta, by e-mail Dear Samanta, The process of forgiving infidelity and rebuilding trust begins with your understanding of exactly what took place between your husband and this woman - and why. As painful as the subject is, you need to ask him why he had made such a careless decision to flirt with a

neighbour, how she responded and how far it went.

And if what he told you is really the truth, why didn’t they have sex when they had the opportunity? Openness and the ability to discuss even the most painful subjects is the basis of a couple’s belief in one another’s loyalty and affection. If after your talk he’s really contrite and willing to change you might no longer care where and when he sees this other woman. With time, she’ll again be just one of the neighbours.

If what he told you is really the truth, why didn’t they have sex when they had the opportunity? Openness and the ability to discuss even the most painful subjects is the basis of a couple’s belief in each other’s loyalty and affection. If after your talk he’s really contrite and willing to change, you might no longer care where and when he sees this other woman. With time, she’ll again be just one of the neighbours.

Dear Michelle, Believe me, you have the strength to leave your partner. If you didn’t, you’d still be finding reasons to stay and making excuses why you shouldn’t

leave. But you’ve finally made your decision - you know you need to go and that means you’re ready to take action.

Of course, you’re scared, leaving a long relationship is a terrifying thing to do. But know deep in your heart it’s right. sixteen years are far too long to be marking time. Plus, you know this guy is bad for you, and you could do a lot better. No doubt, it’ll be hard, but you can do it.

Get your family and friends on your side and, if necessary, seek counselling to help boost your confidence. In a year from now, you’ll be wondering why on earth it took you so long to make a move.

Of course, you’re scared, leaving a long relationship is a terrifying thing to do. But know deep in your heart it’s right. Plus, you know this guy is bad for you... No doubt, it’ll be hard, but you can do it... In a year from now, you’ll be wondering why on earth it took you so long to make a move.

She earns more, but I pay all the time Dear Bunmi, Y GIRLFRIEND holds a managerial position in a fairly big company and earns more than I do, but she never puts her hand in her pocket to pay for anything we share together - either a meal or drinks.

She goes on and on about equal rights for women, but expects me to pay for everything! Most of the time, she doesn’t even say 'thank you.' How can I get her to stop being such a free loader?

Yusuf, by e-mail

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Dear Yusuf, I totally sympathise with you as there are lots of women these

days who insist on buying rounds even when they’re out with male friends. They also pay their way in a relationship. Your girlfriend is setting a bad example for the rest of us. It’s a bit annoying when women say they want gender equality then pick and choose the bits they want to adopt. It’s especially not fair if she earns more than you do.

Speak up now. Tell her if she’s a true feminist, it’s ridiculous to assume the man should always foot the bill. When next you go out, agree on what to spend and how much she will contribute towards the expense.

She shows me too much consideration Dear Bunmi, OR FOUR years, I’ve had a rewarding relationship with my partner and care for her a lot. But one thing really confuses me, she doesn’t get jealous at all. She lets me go out with my mates, go to late night parties alone but never worries I might go offwith another woman. Is this normal? I’m beginning to wonder whether she really loves me.

Lekan, by e-mail

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you. In fact, she does more than that - she trusts you. She’s secure in the relationship and she knows you’re not going to astray.

It’s a bit unusual this days and age where men and women change partners at the drop of a hat-but I wouldn’t worry ifI were you. Only, don’t abuse her loyalty. Don’t be tempted to have a fling, just to show you can, or to get her going. A relationship without any jealou,at all is rare and wonderful - so, count your blessings.

Dear Lekan, I’m sure your partner loves

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL

20, 2016

How Imo police rescued kidnapped reporter •No hiding place for criminals — CP Lakanu

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

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R. Temitope Kutiyi, the Imo State Correspondent of Channels Television, woke up on Sunday, April 11, 2016, and carried out his usual official duties for the day, before retiring to his residence at the Federal Housing Estate, along Umuguma road, New Owerri.

He would have cursed anybody that told him that danger was lurking same day at the corner. He was lonely in the house, as his wife travelled to see her bereaved sister. Naturally, he securely locked the house, played some of his favourite music, watched the news from Channels Television and quietly retired to his bed. He had a good sleep until the early hours of Monday, April 11, 2016, when hoodlums struck.

My story Mr. Kutiyi tells the rest of the story. “The rampaging kidnappers neatly cut the electrified wires on top of the fence, scaled through the perimeter fence and stormed the gate house, where our two Hausa security men were obviously having a sound sleep.

The hoodlums dispossessed them of their phones and some other personal effects at gun point, before smashing the front door of my house.

“The deafening noise was what jolted me from my sleep.

On getting up, I saw myself standing face to face with the hoodlums. They asked for money, which I didn’t have at the time. From the way they acted, it was clear they did not know who I was and what I do for a living. I can also say they did not know I am a journalist.

It was after they had taken me away that they got to know, through their informants.

C M Y K

Police swings into action Narrating what the Imo State Police Command did on receipt of the news of the reporter’s abduction, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu said the control room immediately despatched a rescue team to Kutiyi’s residence, adding that before their arrival, the hoodlums had taken their victim away.

•Police move into action distance. My captors kept moving me deeper and away from the direction of the firing.

Not too long after, they blindfolded me again and led me to a road, which they claimed was Port Harcourt road. I trekked for about five kilometres before help came my way. A motorcyclist carried me to Avu before I knew where I was. I was not treated badly but I must also say that I didn’t fancy eating anything throughout the period of my captivity,” Kutiyi said.

Inside the forest “They blindfolded me and took me away. I found myself in a thick forest, which was their rendezvous. When they asked for the telephone number of somebody they could contact, I gave them the name of Nnamdi (surname withheld). My captors contacted Nnamdi and he did exactly what I expected him to do. Let me put it on record that Nnamdi quickly made relevant contacts and clinically executed what I expected him to do.

Sounds of gun fire “At a point, we started hearing the sound of firing from a

•CP Lakanu giving ultimatum to the traditional ruler

•The final onslaught

I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the contributions of friends of the victim and other wellmeaning individuals who were in solidarity with the police as the rescue operation lasted.

Receives credible information “The Command spread its dragnet through which credible information revealed that the victim was in captivity and taken to the kidnapper’s den within Ohaji/Egbema local council area of the state.

Further information revealed that the victim was being held in captivity at Ohoba, Ohaji.

Armed with this information, I put together a rescue team of over 100 operatives which I personally commanded. The team carefully and methodically proceeded to the identified location of the hoodlums and their captive. We commenced operation cordon and search which lasted over

three hours.

Three-hour heated search “In the heated search which lasted for more than three hours, the hoodlums were put under serious pressure. While inside the forest with their victim, the hoodlums who noticed that the police was closing in on them, continued relocating their victim from one place to the other until they finally, possibly out of fear, released their captive. I also put it on record that in the course of the rescue operation, the vehicle used by the kidnappers, but abandoned along the way, was recovered by the police. The Command also recovered a locally- made short gun, which was abandoned by the kidnappers at Tope’s residence.

Ultimatum to traditional ruler “I also led the team to the royal father of Ohoba and gave him 24 hours within which to ask his subjects to release the Channels reporter or the police would come after him. The notorious kidnap suspects involved in the abduction of the Channels reporter have been identified and are on the run.

Intensive investigation is in progress to ensure the arrest of the suspects and subsequent prosecution.

No hiding place for criminals “I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the contributions of friends of the victim and other well-meaning individuals who were in solidarity with the police as the rescue operation lasted.

However, I must warn that as long as I remain the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, there will be no hiding place for men of the underworld in this state. I advise all those involved in criminal activities to quietly leave the state in their own interest”, Mr. Lakanu warned.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2016—45

Eat avocado pear to beat cancer, improve digestion

By Chioma Obinna

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VOCADO is a rather unique type of fruit. This is because most fruit consists primarily of carbohydrate but avocado is high in healthy fats.

A number of studies show that it has powerful beneficial effects on health.

According to nutritionists, avocados are one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

What you may not know, however, is that these super fruits also have cancer-fighting properties.

Avocado is widely available in Nigeria where it is often simply known as pear.

Eating avocados can help to decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy and overall lower weight.

Natural sterol A dietitian confirmed that avocados contain 25 milligrams per ounce of a natural plant sterol called beta-sitosterol.

Regular consumption of betasitosterol and other plant sterols has been seen to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.1 Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that are especially concentrated in the tissues in the eyes, where they provide antioxidant protection to help minimize damage, including from ultraviolet light.

As the monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados also supports the absorption of other

FG, UNICEF hold child feeding summit

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• Avacado is delicious and nutritious beneficial fat-soluble antioxidants such as betacarotene, including avocados as part of a healthy diet may help to reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

Improved digestion Despite its creamy texture, an avocado is actually high in fiber, with approximately 6-7 grams per half fruit. Eating foods with natural fiber can help to prevent constipation, maintain a healthy digestive tract and lower the risk of colon cancer.

Natural detoxification Adequate fibre promotes regular

bowel movements, which are crucial for the daily excretion of toxins through the bile and stool. Recent studies have

Avocado helps decrease the risk of breast cancer in women, shows promise in protecting against colon, stomach, pancreatic and cervical cancers

shown that dietary fibre may also play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation.

Cancer prevention Avocado helps decrease the risk of breast cancer in women.

Adequate intake of folate from food has also shown promise in protecting against colon, stomach, pancreatic and cervical cancers.

Although the mechanism behind this apparent reduction in risk is currently unknown, researchers believe that folate protects against undesirable mutations in DNA and RNA during cell division.

HE Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with United Nations International Children Fund, UNICEF is set to hold its 3-day National Summit on Infant and Young Child Feeding.

The summit which slated to run through 26-28th April, aimed at accelerates responses to improve complementary feeding practices of children 623 months old.

The event which will be declared opened by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole tagged; "Complementary feeding for Growth & Development'' with a slogan 'Promoting healthy feeding for healthy baby'.

In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola said that summit aimed at reducing malnutrition and promoting national development.

"The summit is predicated on Nigeria being a signatory to the global recommendations for optimal infant and young child feeding by adopting early initiation of breastfeeding within half an hour of giving birth, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and introduction of adequate and safe, solid, semisolid and soft complementary feeding from six months until 23 months and continue breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.

Men-all-pause

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HIS article is for men only. But if you have a brother, uncle, friend, father or husband.....of any age, you may want to read as well.

Somethings like adolescence, puberty, menarche, and menopause are predetermined, natural and unavoidable.

Grown men undergo hormonal turmoil too.

When that super male hormone testosterone starts to take a tumble it produces symptoms that some men, and their spouses, can find bewildering. Testosterone is produced in the testicles primarily for stimulating sperm production and sex drive, but it also builds muscles and strengthens bone mass.

Signs of low levels are very subtle.

Low sex drive, difficulty in achieving erection, and low semen volume, loss of muscle and hair Fatigue and loss of energy, increase in body fat and decrease in bone mass, depression, irritability and a lack of focus.

Unlike in women where the menopausal drop in estrogen hormone is sudden and drastic, men lose testosterone very slowly starting from their late twenties.

By the late forties and beyond, the drop is significant.

At this time, coupled with general degenerative changes, many present to us in the Chronic Pain Clinic.

The symptoms listed above can accentuate complaints of, or emotive reactions to, pain.

"Low T" can be confirmed by a simple blood test.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often the first request or first line of treatment by the Doctor to increase energy levels, muscle mass and sex drive.

CAUTION.....

High testosterone levels have been linked to prostate cancer! If you have a family history you may want to stay away from HRT. Studies have also shown other serious risks. Men over 65yrs. old and younger men with undiagnosed heart disease double their risk of a heart attack after 3 months of testosterone therapy.

Men on testosterone were also 30% more likely to suffer from strokes, mini strokes and transient ischemic attacks. Breast enlargement, skin irritations, acne, oily skin and changes in hair pattern and growth, and testicular shrinkage may also occur.

When testosterone gel is applied to exposed areas and comes into contact with women, children, or even pets, they may develop side effects too.

Women can get acne, hair growth or harm an unborn baby. Enlarged, abnormal genitalia and aggressive behaviour may occur in children, and in pets.

Doctors are now pushing for guidelines to use HRT only when it's medically needed, not as a pharmaceutical fountain of youth. Aside from HRT, smart exercise and smart nutrition also boosts testosterone.

Smart Exercise

Increased testosterone is associated with short, high intensity exercise (no more than 60 minutes)-not with long endurance work. So, to increase your testosterone levels, you want to work the largest muscles in the body to the highest tolerable levels of intensity. Work several and large muscle groups especially waist downwards.

Exercise to intensity and add a burst of intense cardiovascular exercise.

doctor@lagospainclinic.com

Smart Nutrition

The objective is to reduce estrogen (female) and thereby boost testosterone (male) hormones in the body.

Zinc-most concentrated in oysters, red meat (, chicken, turkey and other fowl , beans, dairy products, onions, and garlic.

Lower-fat protein - boneless/skinless breasts of chicken; red meats with the "loin" suffix; filet mignon; and seafood.

Smart (unprocessed) carbs-wild and brown rice, whole grain pastas and breads, sweet potatoes, corn or fruit.

Nuts, fish, and eggs: Limit saturated fats, but don't cut out the fat completely. "Fats without feet"-from coldwater fish , avocados, olive and canola oil, and certain nuts -are monounsaturated and heart-healthy, and they contain Omega 9 fatty acids that support the production of testosterone. And the cholesterol in egg yolks-yes, the fatty yolk-also contributes to testosterone levels.

Finally lose body fat and cut down alcohol.

Diminishing testosterone happens to every man eventually, but there are non medicinal steps that can slow that decline and even reverse it.

46 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 — 47

I’d be respected if I was white F —Amuneke F

LYING Eagles coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has said Nigerian and African coaches need to start demanding their due respect by delivering ground breaking results that would tell a lot about their capabilities.

The coach , who is one of the participants at the CAF Coaching A license course in Abuja said that the real problem is not the question of ability because Nigerian coaches have mystified that.

He insists the major problem is with African coaches being looked down on and snubbed for certain positions in favour of foreign handlers.

“We shouldn’t allow people create a certain belief about black coaches, that we are not good.

If I was a white man I would probably be respected for what we have achieved. “Guardiola (Pep) and Enrinque

*Amuneke (Luis) played for Spain and now coach big teams.

I remember when Guardiola was lined up for the Barcelona job, there was much protest and Yohan Cruyff; of blessed memory asked them,who was

born with experience?’

“So we need Nigerian coaches to believe in themselves and if they don’t get the respect, earn it and that is why courses like this can be helpful,’ the coach said.

OUR more top players from Europe including William Gallas, Louis Saha, Tim Howard and Steven Pienaar have been booked on the flight to Port Harcourt for the Joseph Yobo Centenary Game, the befitting testimonial match planed to mark the retirement of the former Super Eagles captain from football on May 27.

Yobo’s associate and former Super Eagles player, Waidi Akanni, confirmed yesterday that plans for a befitting testimonial was on course with the quality of players who have confirmed their presence in Port Harcourt.

“It is becoming very exciting the number of top players who have confirmed their readiness to be in Nigeria for the Yobo testimonial. I can assure you that before that date in May, more top players are going to be unveiled,” stressed Akanni.

Gallas is a former Chelsea and France defender, who helped the Blues win back-to-back the

CAF Cup: Etoile abandon Enyimba in Tunisia

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FFICIALS of Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia have abandoned Enyimba FC of Aba as the Nigerian team arrived Tunisia for the CAF Champions League

Pinnick

Continues from B/Page

players of Enyimba FC to dig their feet into the ground and throw out Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel from this year’s CAF Champions League competition when both teams clash in Tunisia tomorrow.

A potentially –explosive contest of end-toend action is at hand when Nigerian champions Enyimba FC tackle Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in a third round, second leg encounter in Sousse on Wednesday.

Both teams are likely to recreate their ‘final battle’ of 2004, in which the People’s Elephant edged the Mediterranean Stars on penalties at the National Stadium, Abuja for their second successive title.

“We have immense confidence in Enyimba to go all the way. They have won the title twice before and are by far the most experienced Nigeria club in Africa. The NFF is giving them the support they need to triumph,” Pinnick told thenff.com.

The Nigerian champions overwhelmed their visitors 3-0 in the first leg at the Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium

second leg against them in Sousse, Tunisia on Wednesday.

Enyimba won the first leg in Port Harcourt, Nigeria by 3 – 0, but the Peoples Elephants, who in Port Harcourt penultimate weekend, but they would be the first to agree that they have a mountain to surmount at the Stade Olympique in Tunisia’s second city on Wednesday evening.

“We know what North African teams are capable of. They are usually very strong and determined at home and also throw a lot of antics into the arrangements. But we are very, very ready.

We expect hostility on and off the field. We have trained under floodlights and on artificial turf, and we will give as much as we get,” said Felix AnyansiAgwu, chairman of Enyimba FC. Anyansi-Agwu, a Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, is one of the most experienced football administrators in Africa.

He steered Enyimba to their successive CAF Champions League triumphs in 2003 and 2004 and has scooped a boardroom of trophies in his 16 –year stint with the Elephants.

On Monday, the NFF dispatched its Acting Director of Competitions, the bilingual Bola Oyeyode, to Tunisia to help the cause of Enyimba FC. Oyeyode flew through Istanbul to get to Tunis.

arrived Tunisia on Monday ready for the return leg are going through torrid times in Tunisia.

Enyimba Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, who disclosed this exclusively, said Etoile officials picked them up at the airport several hours after they had arrived the country.

He said the bus provided for them deliberately

detoured from the normal route to their hotel just to wear out the Enyimba players and ensure they did not train later as they had planned.

He said, shortly after the bus dropped them off at their hotel, the vehicle was withdrawn; which forced the Nigerian team to hire taxis before they could go out to train.

Sports Minister

illegal league they are running. After I showed him the letter from FIBA, he said he was told a different thing entirely and promised to have another meeting with me any time I’m in Nigeria,” Oyedeji said.

It would be recalled that on assumption of office, Dalung’s first major pronouncement was that he would see to the resolution of the crisis in football. Shortly after that, he invited NFF president, Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, who is laying claim to be the authentic president of the NFF to a ‘truce’ meeting in Abuja..

It took the effort of the minister himself to prevent an exchange of fisticuffs between Pinnick and Giwa at the minister’s office after both men used unprintable words against each other.

Stakeholders have however, blamed the minister for exhuming the NFF election crisis which had be forgotten after Giwa withdrew his case from the regular court and lost same at the Court of Arbitration in Sports, CAS, sports highest adjudicating body.

Continues from B/Page

closed, met with one of the organisers of the illegal basketball league at an undisclosed place in London recently, ostensibly on the prodding of some disgruntled stakeholders of basketball who have been trying to throw spanners into the works of the NBBF. “I was told the minister was in London to discuss with one of the organisers of the ABL and I made efforts to see him too but my calls were ignored by one of his aides.

I eventually got across to him and he told me he was told the ABL was going to benefit Nigeria and wondered why they should be stopped.

I then knew the minister has been ill-advised on the true situation of the suspension of the ABL by Nigeria Basketball Federation which was endorsed by the African and world bodies, FIBA Africa and FIBA respectively.

From what the minister told me, it was clear he was wrongly advised on the true position of the ABL and the NBBF on the

Gallas, Saha, others confirm for Yobo Centenary Game English Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho in 2005 and 2006. He is also a former Arsenal, Tottenham and Perth Glory (Australia) player who called time on a glittering career after 84 caps for France. He retired from the game two years ago.

Saha, Yobo’s former teammate at Everton is also a French former professional footballer. Saha was capped 20 times for the French national team.

He moved over to Goodison Park after four and half years at Old Trafford.

Also, Everton and United States of America goalkeeper, Tim Howard is also listed for the Garden City football fiesta.

Howard is an iconic figure in U.S. soccer, espe-

cially after his epic performance in the 2014 World Cup, when he delivered a 15-save effort in the round-of-16 defeat against Belgium.

He has also been a mainstay for the Toffees, logging more than 400 appearances in all competitions.

Foreign coach

government will not pay for such a coach.

The draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers will be staged on June 24 with the series beginning in October.

Five teams will represent Africa at Russia 2018.

Continues from B/Page

is next week.

The minister has said he will approve the engagement of a foreign coach should the NFF convince him, but at the same time warned the

Giwa Continues from B/Page

breaches of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules and accordingly sanctioned the club on each count while the club’s Media Officer, David King was fined N100, 000 for breach of Clauses 1.1 and 1.5 of the code of conduct for club officials.

Some supporters of the club disrupted the fixture severally by hauling dangerous objects on the field aimed at the Second Assistant Referee forcing the Referee to finally call off the match on the 74th minute.

The LMC in a statement on yesterday said after careful study of the match report and assessment of video evidence, charged Giwa FC for breaches of Rule B13.18, B13.21, B13.52, C9, C12 and C1.

For the discontinuation of the match due to the unruly conduct of the supporters, Giwa FC was fined N5, 000, 000 in line with B13.18 while the match will be concluded behind closed doors from the 74th minute on Wednesday, April 27 at the Abuja National Stadium with scores at 1-0 in favour of Rangers.

Giwa FC was ordered to play their next three home games at the Ilorin Township Stadium for

Top 10 most profitable clubs for 2014-15 1 Man United $190m 2 Real Madrid $162m 3 Man City $131m 4 Arsenal $122m 5 Liverpool $115m 6 Barcelona $108m 7 Juventus $81m 8 Tottenham $73m 9 Schalke $67m 10 Bayern $60m

the unruly conduct of their supporters which included throwing of objects towards the field of play and to the Second Assistant Referee and causing disturbances in the course of the match which was in breach of Rules B13.21.

The LMC further ordered that “due to the persistent nature of such disturbances by supporters of Giwa FC, the club shall play its remaining home matches behind closed doors and supporters of the Club are banned from all League match venues for the remainder of the season; provided that the LMC reserves the right to lift the ban at any time on the condition of receipt of firm and satisfactory assurance and commitment (including training and orientation seminar for supporters of the Club under the supervision of the LMC) guaranteeing the responsible behaviour and orderly conduct of supporters of the Club”.

For failing to ensure adequate security, crowd control and preventing access by unauthorised persons to restricted areas, Giwa FC was found to be in breach of Rule B13.52 and the club was accordingly fined the sum of N500, 000 while for failure to control their players and officials, the club was fined the sum of N750, 000 in line with the provisions of Rules C9.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Pinnick charges Enyimba to eliminate Etoile

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RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has called on Continues on page 47

S-H-O-C-K-E-R!

Sports Minister stirs another crisis in B’ball

By Patrick Omorodion

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couple of weeks after Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung exhumed an already dead crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, election, he may be stirring another crisis in basketball with his secret meeting with a body declared illigal by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF. Nigeria’s longest serving captain of any Nigerian sports team, Olumide Oyedeji is not happy that the minister is meeting secretly with members of the Africa Basketball League, ABL declared illegal by the Nigeria, African and world governing bodies of basketball.

Dalung, Oyedeji dis Continues on page 47

*Enyimba players

TODAY’S FIXTURES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TP Mazembe v Wydad Athletic Club Ahly Tripoli v Asec Mimosas Étoile du Sahel v Enyimba Sundowns v AS V.Club Al Ahly v Young Africans

3:30pm 4pm 7pm 7:30pm 7:30pm

EPL West Ham Liverpool Man Utd

7:45pm 8pm 8pm

v Watford v Everton v Crystal Palace

Foreign coach: NFF technical committee meets

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*Danlung

I’d be respected if I was white — Amuneke –P.47

TODAY'S PUZZLE

*Oyedeji

HE technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will meet today in Abuja to put together a

*Pinnick

LMC fines Giwa N6.75m ...banishes club to Ilorin

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IWA FC have been fined N5 million and ordered to play their next three home matches at the Ilorin Township Stadium amongst other sanctions placed on the

club and it’s Media Officer by the League Management Company (LMC) following investigations into the circumstances that led to the abandoning of the Match

Day 12 fixture between the club and Rangers last Sunday.

The LMC issued Giwa FC with a Summary Jurisdiction Notice containing six separate Continues on page 47

tight case on why the country need to hire a foreign coach for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Sports minister Solomon Dalung has demanded for a technical report from the NFF in support of a foreign coach for the Super Eagles after the country failed to qualify for a second straight AFCON. The deadline for the submission of this report Continues on page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS DOWN 1 Handle (5) 2 Managed (3) 5 Immersed (6) 3 Plant (6) 8 Oath (5) 4 Pull (3) 10 Infuriate (6) 5 Clergyman (4) 11 Declare (4) 6 Lyric (6) 14 Race (6) 7 Meal (6) 15 Caretaker (7) 9 Rescinded (7) 18 Twitch (3) 12 Tank (3) 19 Clef (3) 13 Wealthy (4) 21 Scorch (4) 16 Competent (4) 23 Satan (5) 17 Entertainment (5) 24 Ooze (4) 20 Ceded (7) 27 Owing (3) 22 Too (4) 29 Promise (3) 24 Sofa (6) 31 Joy (7) 25 Wicked (4) 32 Laboured (6) 26 Courteous (6) 34 Swimming-pool (4) 28 Stocked (6) 35 Deserved (6 30 Mary (3) 38 Spoon (5) 33 Dunce (4) 39 Anticipate (6) 36 Beer (3) 40 Enlighten (5) 37 Sprite (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Attack 5, Gear 8, Hoard 9, Rum 10, Mean 11, Aide 12, Stunt 13, Pallid 16, Tem 18, Eden 20, One 22, Nut 23, Dip 24, Sign 25, Item 28, Darted 30, Heart 32, Door 33, Arid 34, Arc 35, Petty 36, Eyed 37, United.

DOWN: 1, Abrupt 2, Tumbling 3, Commit 4, Contented 5, Granted 6, Edit 7, Reek 8, Has 14, Denigrate 15, Cap 17, Rut 19, Distract 20, Oil 21, Entered 26, Madden 27, Educed 29, Edge 30, Hope 31, Try.

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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