Shekau feared killed in Konduga attack

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62236

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Boko Haram terrorists surrender to troops in Konduga, beg for mercy— DHQTRS 8

Shekau feared killed in Konduga attack

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

The process of confirming that the dead body we have is the same as that character who has been posing as Shekau is ongoing

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BUJA — INDICATIONS emerged last night that Nigerian troops might have scored a strategic victory in the current battle against terrorists operating in the North East on September 17.

Military sources said yesterday that during a desperate attempt to capture Konduga in their delusion to eventually marching on and capturing Maiduguri, the man who had been mimicking late Abubakar Shekau in recent Continues on Page 6

COLUMNISTS:

$1bn for BH: Loan or...? P.40

Col. Adekunle: We remember differently •P.48

Mr & Mrs From Left. Mr. Fred Odueme, AGM, Brand Vanguard Media Limited, Mrs Helen Ajayi, winner of Allure Style Icon Award, 2014, Engr, Tele Ikuru, Deputy Governor, Rivers State and Mrs. Remi Diagbare, Editor, Vanguard Allure at the Native and Vogue, Port Harcourt International Fashion Week. Pix by Oscar Ochiogu.

Systemic crisis looms in banking sector •P.17 C M Y

N400m mortgage scam tears NLC apart•P.8

EBOLA: Confusion over schools' resumption

•P.6

Govs glad with confab report on states' creation in •P.13 S-East

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POCKET CARTOON

MEETING —Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State flanked on his right

by Chief Dubem Onyia; Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and on his left by Senator Ben-Collins Ndu, shortly after the meeting of the South East Governors and Leaders of the zone, at the Governor's Lodge, Enugu, yesterday.

EBOLA: Confusion over schools' resumption L

AGOS—AS both primary and secondary schools nationwide are expected to resume today in compliance with the directive by the Federal Government, parents and teachers have, however, been

thrown into confusion following counterdirectives by some state governments which have fixed different dates for schools to resume.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, on its part had earlier directed its members to ignore the directive of the government until they have been sufficiently trained and their schools provided with the necessary preventive and protective equipment against the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. States where schools

are scheduled to resume today include, Abia, Kano, Bayelsa, Imo, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue and Kaduna.

However, states that have directed their schools to resume on various dates in October include Lagos, Osun, Ogun, and Niger.

The Abia State Government, while directing all schools to re-open said it has made necessary arrangements for the safety of returning pupils and teachers.

The state commissioner of Education, Mrs. Monica Philips said the teachers have been given enough training to handle and prevent Ebola outbreak, assuring that infra-red thermometers and sanitizers would be provided to the public schools.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Life is about sacrifice. The only way to live long is to give up all the things that make you think you want to live long.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Part of being a man is learning to take responsibility for your successes and for your failures. You can’t go blaming others or being negative . Seeing somebody else’s success as your failure is a cancerous way to live — Kevin Bacon Each time you find yourself pointing out your faults, or questioning a decision, simply STOP. Take a moment to remember what you love about you, and even write it down. Show that negative devil whose boss, and regain control of your mind. Each negative thought should be replaced by a positive one. Positive thinking is a strong tool and plays a major role in the way we see ourselves.

It is important that we surround ourselves with positive people while we are rebuilding our selfesteem. Find a friend or a family member that you feel comfortable talking openly with. Talking to someone about how you feel is a big part of building self-confidence. People are social by nature, and talking to someone will also help you work through the issues that have dragged you down in the past.

Lagos schools now resume Oct 8 In Lagos State, however, Governor Babatunde Fashola directed that all learning and teaching activities for the next academic session in Lagos schools be suspended until Wednesday, October 8, rather than today, September 22.

Speaking at an interactive session with principals, vice-principals, head-teachers and assistant head-teachers of public primary and secondary schools in the state, Governor Fashola said the additional two weeks would allow for more time to further put in place all necessary precautionary measures against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos State schools.

The latest directive from Governor Fashola is a dramatic U-turn from his earlier stance in a statewide broadcast.

The postponement is already causing confusion among private boarding schools whose pupils have already reported back to their respective institutions for resumption of fresh academic session.

Parents and guardians at the weekend had made frantic efforts to return their children and wards to schools before the state’s government shift in date was announced.

Among the schools which have started receiving pupils include: Agbowa Baptist Grammar School, Light House School, Ikorodu; Caleb International School, among others.

At press time, parents and guardians were confused on whether to withdraw their children/ wards from school.

In NIGER STATE, schools have been di-

rected to resume on Monday October 13 for the new session while those in the Boarding schools are expected to resume on Friday, October 10.

Governor Babangida Aliyu, who disclosed this when a delegation of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, those of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC and National Examination Council, NECO paid him a courtesy visit said it was an agreement reached between him, the state Commissioner of Basic Education, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid and other stakeholders last week to shift the resumption date till middle of October to allow students enjoy the Eid-el Kabir which is fixed for early next month.

All Federal Government Colleges in IMO STATE, as well as schools owned by missionaries and individuals will, in full compliance with the directives of the Federal Government, re-open today.

On the contrary, all schools run by Imo State Government will open their doors to pupils on September 29, 2014.

A school principal, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, explained that state schools were not scheduled to re-open today.

“We ended the last academic year a bit late. Mission and private schools closed for the long vacation earlier than public schools. The originally scheduled date for our resumption is September 29”, the school principal said.

At the time of this interview, school principals have not been invited for any meeting by either the Secondary Education Management Board or the Ministry of Education.

According to her, “if and when government invites us for the meeting, we may be told what to do, especially with the advent of Ebola Virus Disease”.

Anambra ready Anambra State government on its part said it has put in place meas-

ures to ensure that pupils and their teachers do not have health issues to contend with when they resume today Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenugha said all schools have been provided with test kits and sanitizers, while those who would handle them in schools have been trained.

She explained that schools that have no regular water supply have been provided with water in readiness for resumption.

In BAUCHI STATE however, NUT said teachers will not resume classes without Ebola prevention materials and kits in schools.

Chairman of the union, Danjuma Sale in an interview with Vanguard said that teachers in the state will comply with the Federal Government's directive to resume classes on Sept. 22 (today) but will not teach until the right facilities are put in place in schools.

He said the state government had promised that two teachers from each school in the state would be trained on the prevention of the disease, but has not commenced yet.

Ogun announces October 8 The Ogun State Government on its part announced Wednesday, October 8, as the new resumption date for both public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.

Secretary to the State

Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa said the new date was arrived at after series of evaluation meetings with stakeholders on measures put in place to prevent outbreak of EVD when the pupils resume.

He said: “Since the Ebola scourge broke out in Lagos, the Ogun State government has put a lot of preventive measures in place.

“So, we have agreed that the new date for resumption be shifted to Wednesday October 8.”

In BENUE STATE, Governor Gabriel Suswam urged schools and parents to abide by the directive of the Federal Government that schools resume today.

The Governor, who spoke, weekend, at the flag off of the Suswam Free Medical Services Initiative, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state assured that adequate measures had been put in place to check any outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the state.

According to him: “At the moment, the government has also started training teachers on how to tackle the disease if any outbreak is recorded in any school in any part of the state.

“We have also taken measures to ensure that medical personnel and facilities are on 24 hours standby to adequately respond to any outbreak in any part of the state.

We, therefore, have no reasons not to resume classes on the specified date.

Shekau feared killed in Konduga attack Continues from page 1 videos might have been finally killed.

According to senior military and intelligence sources, “it is getting more certain that the terrorists’ Commander who has been mimicking Shekau in those videos is the one killed in Konduga on September 17, 2014.”

Affirming the development, PRNigeria sources said the suspected demise of the Boko Haram leader is responsible for the scattering of the

sect members in different independent locations in the neighbouring countries, especially in Cameroon, noticed in recent days.

The security sources noted further that “the process of confirming that the dead body we have is the same as that character who has been posing as Shekau is ongoing”, adding: “He is definitely a prominent terrorist commander. I don’t want to say anything about this yet please.”

Another high ranking military source insisted that the resemblance is too striking to be a coincidence. They cited his facial marks, beards and teeth apart from the recovery by the Nigerian troops of some of the Armoured Vehicles and Hilux jeeps that had featured in previous videos of the prime suspect.

The officers assured that the Defence Headquarters will soon address the nation after full investigation of their latest discovery.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 —7

Court stops Ogun monarch from parading self

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—AN Ogun State High Court sitting in Isabo has restrained a traditional ruler, Oba Najeem Aromaye from parading himself as the Oniro of Iro in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State pending the determination of a substantive suit.

The embattled monarch was reportedly installed by the state government on September 16, despite the order of interlocutory injunction restraining the government from doing so.

The Presiding judge, justice Oluwagbenga Ogunfowora, who granted the request of the claimants on the interlocutory injunction, ordered that the first defendant to stop parading himself as the new Oniro of Iro pending the final determination of the suit.

The claimants Sikiru Adebari and Kamoru Adebari who claimed to be the head and secretary of the ruling family respectively disowned the embattled monarch, saying he is not a member of Oleyo family.

The judge while granting the request for an order for interlocutory injunction, restrained the state government , the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the regency and council Chiefs from recognising the first defendant as the new Oniro of Iro. He also granted an order for interlocutory injunction restraining the first defendant from parading himself as Oniro of Iro pending the final determination of the suit.

The court also ordered that the king-makers, the regency council and council of Chiefs should not perform the formalities that would lead to the defendant’s installation as Oniro of Iro.

Granny, 2 others nabbed for using boy for pepper-soup

By Wole Mosadomi

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INNA—THREE people including the paternal grandmother have been arrested by the Niger State police command for slaughtering a 9-year-old boy and using the body to prepare peper soup delicacy.

The incidence happened in Koso village in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.

Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Mr. Olusola Amore, told newsmen that the family of the late boy had reported Liman Doo Mohammed’s mysterious disappearance to the police on the 9th of last month.

However, another report hinted the police that they should beam their search light on the paternal grandmother of the deceased, because he was last seen in her company.

He said based on this vital information, detectives were put on red alert to closely monitor the grandmother called Fatima Sarki's movement.

Also arrested with her were other relations suspected to be her collaborators.

Amore said on interrogation, the grandmother confessed to have been involved in the dastardly act and mentioned one Zhitsu Aliyu whom she said actually slaughtered the boy.

Another accomplice mentioned was one Amina Musa, who was accused of

helping to cook the boy ’s remains.

All the suspects have been charged to court on a three count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and cannibalism.

According to the Commissioner, ”The pots and plates the suspects used in cooking and serving themselves with the said cooked human flesh were recovered

and are now exhibits.”

The Commissioner revealed that between the months of August and September this year, a total of 65 raids were carried out within the state and a total of 182 suspects were arrested.

According to him, 39 of them were released after interrogation while 143 have already been charged to court for various offences.

He called on people of the state to join hands with him in waging total war against crime and criminals in the state.

60-yr-old mad man kills two girls, injure others in Bauchi

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ARAZO–BAUCHI State Police Command has arrested one Musa Sale for stabbing two girls to death in Sabon Garin Sade village of Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The command, in statement yesterday, said the culprit, aged 6o and suspected to be insane, went berserk on Saturday evening, killing the girls and injuring others, using a sharp knife.

The statement, signed by the

command’s spokesperson, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said one of the injured, six-monthold baby girl, Maryam Disu, narrowly escaped death after the culprit slit her throat.

It gave the names of the two girls killed as Ilawisa Abdullahi and Ummi Saidu, aged two and 12, while two other persons, Ilu Masani and Hassan Garba, were also injured, along with the baby.

“The suspect killed two girls Ilawisa Abdullahi and Ummi

Saidu aged 2 and 12 years respectively.

“Two other persons Ilu Masani and Hassan Garba were also attacked and injured

by Sale,” it said.

The command said that the corpses of the deceased had been released to their parents after an autopsy was carried out, while the injured had been admitted at the General Hospital, Darazo.

It said investigations into the matter had commenced.

Police arrest woman for supplying arms to robbers

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—OPERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS Ikeja Lagos, have arrested a woman said to be wife of a dare devil armed robber. She was arrested for selling guns to armed robbers.

The 34-year-old suspect identified as Sarah Emmanuel, an indigene of Ogun State used to hawk wares before she went into illegal arms supply.

According to reports, the mother of two was apprehended after some SARS operatives apprehended some armed robbery suspects, who revealed during interrogation that they bought their guns from her.

It was gathered that the suspect and her friend, one Modinat, who is currently at large used to buy locally made guns from a border town between Benin Republic and Nigeria and re-sell same to armed robbers.

collected N25, 000. I only accompanied her to Ifonyin once.

"I am widow and my husband a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic where we bought the gun for N15, 000. ‘’It was after Ismaila’s arrest by operatives of SARS that he confessed that he bought the guns from Modinat and I. ‘’When the officers went to arrest her she escaped and I

was arrested her she escaped and I was arrested instead. I only accompanied her to Ifonyin once. ‘’I am a widow and my husband, who was an armed robber was killed by police, we were married for ten years but I didn’t know he was an armed robber before he was killed. ‘’My husband was actually killed two years ago during a robbery operation at Ilasa. Before I

Suspects account

’’I live in Sango Otta, I have two children; the first is 10years old while the other is six. I am a trained hair dresser.

"I was arrested because my friend Modinat escaped. We have been friends for six years.

"She asked me to accompany her to Idiroko where she told me of her plan to purchase a gun for one Ismaila, her armed robber lover from whom she

.The nabbed moll, Sarah, with her weapons of death.

was arrested I was involved in street trading. ‘’If the police release me I will assist them to arrest my friend Modinat.''

Delta community protests marginalisation

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HE People of Okpaka, Opete Communities, Urhuegwior, in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday cried out to the Delta State government, demanding to be recognised in the scheme of things before the expiration of governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration.

Speaking through the Presidentgeneral of Okpaka Community, Olorogun Godwin Edoja, at his country home in Okpaka, the community lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the community since 2011.

He said; “The entire people of Okpaka/Opete, Urhiegwior, have never benefited anything from the time till date. There has been no recognition from the local council either.

We want stakeholders and indigenes of the communities to be recognized because we gave over 80percent votes to the governor in the 2011 election.”

“We have been voting for PDP at the local, state and federal levels so we deserve to raise alarm when not being recognized in the system, he said.

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

KONDUGA: Overwhelmed Boko Haram terrorists surrender to Nigerian troops ...As another attack is foiled

By Kingsley Omonobi

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B U J A — FOLLOWING the several defeats Boko Haram terrorists suffered in the hands of Special Forces of the Nigerian military, some of the insurgents have surrendered to the Nigerian armed forces even as some of them who were captured during encounters were said to be giving useful information to the troops.

The Defence headquarters which disclosed this yesterday also said the fresh attempt

by Boko Haram to attack Konduga town was frustrated by the troops that inflicted a heavy defeat on them.

The terrorists were said to have attempted to infiltrate the town to avenge the deaths of hundreds of their members and to also retrieve their bodies.

Vanguard gathered that the renewed determination with which troops of the Nigerian military were now confronting the terrorists, had so much taken many of the insurgents aback that they now prefer to surrender when they are overwhelmed rather than get killed.

As at the early hours of Sunday, about 11 terrorists were said to have surrendered while many of those arrested, are now cooperating with the military and volunteering information about their plans and activities.

Several dangerous weapons including AntiAircraft guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), AK 47 and ammunitions, were recovered during the confrontation.

Confirming the incident in its twitter handle, Defence Headquarters said, “An attempt by another set of terrorists to gain entry to Konduga was yesterday foiled by troops.

It is believed that the terrorists’ move was aimed at recovering the bodies of their prominent fighters who had died in previous encounters in the area”.

N400m mortgage scam tears NLC apart

By Funmi Komolafe & Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE leadership of Niger ia Labour Congress, NLC, is enmeshed in crisis over an alleged disappearance of not less than N400 million being contributions of Nigerian workers to a housing scheme.

The money, which allegedly grew wings from one of the accounts of the NLC in a new generation bank in Abuja was meant for a mortgage scheme for Nigerian workers initiated by a private company (names withheld); alongside a Greek national( name withheld) as a principal partners in collaboration with the leadership of the NLC. The N400 million allegedly looted is part cost of a housing project estimated to cost $6 billion,or N960 billion.

According to the NLC and the company, “NLC land in various state capitals would be used for the project”.

The agreement which was said to be aimed at providing houses for workers in the 36 states was signed by then NLC Acting President, Mr. Promise Adewusi, and the private firm in Abuja.

Following disclosure of this missing money, the NLC summoned an emergency National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting on Wednesday, September 18 at Labour House in Abuja.

It was gathered that subscribers to the scheme had protested at Labour House before the NAC meeting commenced.

The developer has no land which was confirmed by FCT minister hence the ground breaking could not take place on May Day as scheduled.

An involved suspect said to be on the run, according to a top official of the NLC was apprehended and handed over to the Directorate of State Service, DSS, in Abuja and was later released. An authoritative source at the meeting, quoted the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar as saying that the suspect “forged “his signature twice.

Other sources said the sus-

VISIT: National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left) with the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II during the monarch's visit to his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, yesterday. pect in his statement named four officials of the NLC with whom he allegedly shared the money, two of whom are elected officers while the other two are secretariat staff.

A NAC member who was at the meeting said other members asked why an NLC account should have one signatory instead of at least two — national president and treasurer — in line with the norms in the trade union movement.

In most trade unions, any two of either the president, treasurer or trustee are signatories to a trade union’s account.

It was learnt that the issue of

the looted money generated heated argument at the meeting as other members queried how anyone could have stolen so much money from the Congress account.

Sources said the issue came up during last Month meeting of NLC’s National Executive Council, NEC, in Enugu, but was glossed over.

According to impeccable sources, a key leader of the NLC who allegedly introduced the suspect to the Congress said unknown to the NLC, the suspect opened another account besides the one in which NLC leaders and rep-

resentatives of the private company are signatories.

The plan was to build affordable houses for all willing NLC members, whose figure is put at eight million. The labour movement is worried about the 40 million housing deficit that exists in the country as revealed by a United Nations study.

Speaking to Vanguard, NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Esan, denied knowledge of the of fraud, but admitted that NLC had issues with one of the three companies it was partnering with in the housing scheme for workers.

Helen Ajayi wins Style Icon Award

By Jemi Ekunkunbor

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ORMER Miss Nigeria and Lifestyle Consultant, Mrs. Helen Ajayi has emerged Allure Style Icon 2014. Nominated along with her in this category are Nkiru Anumudu and proprietor of Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu.

The formal presentation of the award plaques took place yesterday in Port Harcourt during the closing ceremony of the three day long Native

and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week. The award was presented to her by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru.

Also announced last night was the winner of the Young Designers Competition won by Ibiteim Thompson.

Other winners in the different categories of the Allure Style Awards include, Lexy Mojo Eyes, Fashion Promoter of the Year, Bimpe Onakoya as Make up Artist of the Year, Zhalima Grazioni as Young

Designer of the Year.

Also on the winners line up are, Amaka Chirah who emerged Model of the Year and Recare for Beauty Brand of the Year.

The annual Allure Style Awards, was instituted to recognise and applaud stakeholders in the fashion and beauty industry who have excelled in their fields.

The event was spiced with performances by music icon Tu Baba.

2015: Balewa's son steps out to challenge Jonathan ...As PDP warns party members to respect NEC decision

By Emmanuel Aziken, &

Henry Umoru

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son of Nigeria’s first and only prime minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, Dr. Abdul Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, has formally thrown his hat into the ring to contest the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The development came despite a warning by the party yesterday to all party members to refrain from seeking the presidency following the decision of the major

organs of the party to adopt the incumbent president as sole candidate of the party. The PDP, also yesterday, played down doubts on the position of the incumbent vice-president, Architect Namadi Sambo on the 2015 presidential ticket as it said that only the president could determine Sambo’s fate.

Meanwhile, the PDP has scheduled a nationwide tour of flagship projects of the federal administration as it said yesterday that opposition parties were taking credit for the achievements of the

administration. The tour, it was learnt was aimed at showcasing the achievements of the administration and rebuffing critics of last week’s unanimous adoption of Dr. Jonathan for a second term.

Abdul Jhalil, who holds a doctorate in nuclear chemistry and was a rabid supporter of Dr. Jonathan’s alleged 2015 ambition only a year ago, based his challenge on what he described as the transformation of the PDP into a fiefdom. He particularly frowned at what he claimed as the determination of the leadership of

the party to railroad the president for a second term despite what he described as the difficult living conditions of Nigerians.

The aspirant confirmed his ambition in a telephone interview with Vanguard yesterday following speculations about his ambition on social media and SMS platforms at the weekend.

Taken up on the development yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, asked, “Is he in PDP?” Told that he had in the past campaigned for Dr. Jonathan, he said “I didn’t know.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014—9

Sanusi, Emir of Kano, visits Awujale

By Daud Olatunji

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WORKSHOP: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (3rd right); Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello (3rd left); Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya (2nd left); Managing Director, Sterling Bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola (left), with winners of the Best Street Sweepers of the Year, during the 6th Street Sweepers’ Workshop with the theme, 'Let’s keep Our Environment Clean at all Times,' organized by LAWMA, at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, weekend.

Strike cripples activities at unity schools

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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AGOS — THE indefinite nationwide strike embarked upon since Friday by workers of the 104 Federal Government Colleges, FGCs, otherwise known as Unity Schools, has crippled activities at the colleges throughout the country, making a mess of the resumption of academic and other activities from today.

Also affected by the strike called by Association of Senior

Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, are the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, FME, as well as the Inspectorate Departments of the Ministry throughout the country expected to be shut from today.

The workers are protesting among others, non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears for 2007-2010 and the balance of 2011 promotion arrears; promotion arrears for 20122013; unpaid salaries to some staff for July, August,

September, and October 2013; end-of-year incentives; nonpayment of 1st 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation; 2010 Head of Service organised mandatory training allowance, repatriation allowance, duty tour allowance and non-placement of promoted officers.

Confirming the development in Lagos, Secretary General of ASCSN, Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal, claimed the FME admitted that N1.8 billion was released to it this year by the Federal Government to settle all outstanding liabilities

Boko Haram kills 9, injures 10 in Borno

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI — SUSPECTED members of dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, yesterday, attacked a market in Monguno village killing nine persons, while 10 others

sustained various degrees of gun-shot wounds.

Monguno is about 100 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital that had witnessed relative peace for almost a year ago after failed attempt by the terrorists to destroy

Lawyers want quick dispensation of justice

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AGOS — SOME prominent lawyers in Lagos, weekend, called for quick dispensation of justice in Lagos State in the 2014/2015 Legal Year.

The lawyers spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos.

Mr. Alex Mouka, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Lagos branch, said the Lagos State Judiciary had put various reforms in place to accelerate access to justice.

Mouka, however, noted that lawyers had pivotal roles to play in ensuring that such reforms achieved the desired objectives.

“The NBA has been sensitizing lawyers on how to improve the justice sector. It

has been told to abide by the ethics of the legal profession in their practices. So in this new legal year, we are a expecting more robust interaction between the Bench and the Bar to fast track justice delivery,” he added.

On his part, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, a former Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, said the judiciary must be more vibrant in the new legal year.

Ubani said: “ we expect a vibrant judiciary where cases will be disposed of in a timely manner as well as the enthronement of justice and equity to every litigant irrespective of status or condition.”

“Lawyers and other stakeholders must all brace up to ensure the respect of our laws and upliftment of due process in our legal system.”

the military barracks in the area.

Sources told Vanguard that the insurgents who disguised as customers stormed the market at about 3p.m., weekend, and opened fire on the traders before fleeing the scene of the incident.

A trader, Mallam Abubakar Ali Monguno, said, the insurgents were suspected to be on a target mission as they shot at selected traders before escaping, saying, “when they stormed the market, they shot at my neighbour, before proceeding to other shops as they were much selective in their operations.”

The source noted that, many petty traders abandoned their wares during the shooting and only resurfaced, yesterday, morning to take their wares.

Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gidoen Jubrin, proved abortive, but a senior security personnel confirmed the attack and killings.

He said: “Yes, some suspected members of Boko Haram sect launched an attack on Monguno village market killing nine persons and injuring about 10 others currently receiving treatment in one of the treatment centres in the state.

"Already security operatives have been drafted to the scene and normalcy has since been restored in the area."

including salaries and allowances and wondered if the money had entered into ‘’voice mail” as usual.

According to him: ‘’On Wednesday, August 20, 2014, the National Leadership of the Union met with the Permanent Secretary and other top officials of the Ministry where the Ministry gave its words that all the outstanding arrears of promotion would be paid on or before August 31, 2014.

"However, the Leadership of the Union gave the Ministry an extension up to Friday, September 12, 2014 to effect all the payment.”

He noted that when it became apparent that the Ministry had not commenced payment of promotion arrears and outstanding salaries as agreed with the union, the national leadership of the Association wrote a letter including a reminder to the FME on what was agreed at the last meeting.

Mr. Lawal argued that the management of the FME consequently fixed a meeting with the leadership of the Association for Wednesday, September 17, 2014, saying, ‘’on Wednesday , September 17, 2010, when the national leadership of the union turned up for the meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry at the scheduled time, neither the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary nor any top official of the Ministry was available for the parley.”

He recalled that all agreements entered into by the union with the management of the FME over the years to pay these outstanding salaries and allowances had always been breached with impunity, lamenting that “since the management of the FME has refused to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances, the teeming members of the union in the Ministry including those in the 104 Federal Unity Colleges have embarked on indefinite strike till the outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and other entitlements are paid in full.”

BEOKUTA — THE Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, called for good governance and peace in the country.

The Emir who was accompanied by Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu and other dignitaries during a courtesy call on Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land, said no nation could develop if the people were not united, insisting that there must be peace and love across all multiethnic divides.

He, however, tasked political leaders to discharge their duties with honesty while upholding their integrity to retain the confidence of the electorate, saying, “people who don’t appreciate our diversity and uniqueness as a people are those who don’t have knowledge. At the end of the day, we are all one.

"My prayer is that as leaders, we will strengthen the bonds between our people because whether we like it or not, we are a multi-ethnic and multireligious country."

“My hope is that together we would strengthen the unity of this country by upholding the tenets of our traditions. We need more progress with peace and love. Strife and killings are totally unnecessary.”

The Awujale in his remarks charged the Emir to use his wealth of experience in the banking industry for the benefit of his people, saying leaders must always be truthful to society.

“I discovered over the years that some politicians who were called to serve did not really represent their people but themselves. We must have the courage to tell our leaders the truth at all times. Even when they refuse to heed our cry, leave them to their maker. We must be very honest with what we do as most of us shall give account of our stewardship before God,” Adetona said.

In his own remark, Akiolu said that the ability to surmount the nation’s challenges was everyone’s responsibility adding that Nigerians must continually pray for unity, saying We must all unite together and pray for the corporate existence of this country.

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10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

APC, PDP bicker over alleged plan to cause mayhem in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SUN STATE chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend, traded words over alleged plan to cause mayhem and make the state ungovernable.

While the APC accused PDP of planning to cause “sustained mayhem” across the state to make the state ungovernable for governor Rauf Aregbesola, the PDP said

it knew nothing about such plans, but only interested in reclaiming alleged mandate given to its candidate in the August 9 governorship election.

The APC in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi in Osogbo, claimed that the party got the intelligence reports through insider sources within the PDP. According to APC, “the PDP leadership in the state is

already arranging for hundreds of youths to be transported to Abuja to protest the victory of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 governorship election.

This protest will be based on the yet-to-be- substantiated allegation by the PDP that the Independent National Electoral Commission colluded with the governor and the APC to “rig” the August 9 election.

The underlying theme of the Abuja protest by the PDP will be that INEC gave the election

VISIT: From left, Alhaji Ismaila Zakari, 2nd Dep VP; Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, President, both of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie, Managing Partner, and Mr. Felix Obadan, Partner, both of Giwa-Osagie DFK & Co, during the visit of ICAN President and his team to Giwa-Osagie & Co. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Fayemi goes on 'thank-you' tour today

By Gbenga Ariyibi

ADO EKITI — GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, will today embark on thank-you-tour of all the 35 council areas in the state, even as the government has scored itself passmark in the administration of the state in the last four years.

Specifically, the government scored itself high in youth empowerment, social security scheme, urban renewal, improvement in the standard of education and peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.

Fayemi is expected to commission no fewer than 60 projects including the legacy projects in all the 35 council areas during the two week tour to mark

the end of his tenure in office At a briefing, weekend, to herald the tour, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, said the present government had surpassed the preceding governments in all the areas earlier highlighted.

Adaramodu said “Fayemi gave core subjects and Rural

Allowances to teachers and this had never happened in the history of this state. As part of our efforts to encourage teachers, we distributed about 18,000 set of computers to them to boost their knowledge of ICT , aside the 30,000 distributed to students. So , Fayemi is not an enemy to our teachers

OPC suspends Ekiti co-ordinator

By Dapo Akinrefon

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HE NATIONAL Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams has suspended the co-ordinator for Ekiti State, Prince Niyi Ogundipe, for activities deemed as anticongress.

In a letter entitled, “Your suspension as Ekiti State Coordinator,” the OPC explained that despite several warnings by the elders of the congress to ensure that Ogundipe followed the line of responsibility as a state coordinator, “you have continued to behave in a manner that is capable of dragging the name of the congress in the mud.

“It has come to the notice of the organization that you have consistently involved yourself in activities deemed as anti-congress. It is also noted that you have consistently absented yourself from all activities of the congress, including absenting yourself from the meeting of National Coordinating Council, NCC, which is the highest decision-making arm of the congress."

“Therefore, after a meeting of the NCC, during which your matter came up for discussion, it was unanimously agreed that you should embark on an immediate suspension from all activities of the congress.”

to the APC to prevent President Goodluck Jonathan from winning the 2015 presidential election. So the protest will be effectively against INEC and APC.” PDP in its reaction through the publicity secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, described the allegation as ridiculous and out of tune with reality, saying, “as a matter of fact, we are civilised people who are always in tandem with due process and rule of law. We are at the election petition tribunal and we are sure that with all the unassailable and incontrovertible evidences on ground, we would retrieve the mandate given to our candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore by the people.

"Unfortunately, this mandate is being held on to by Aregbesola because of the large-scale electoral fraud and anomalies that characterized August 9, 2014 governorship election. This cork and bull story is not own portion. We would do everything legally possible within the ambit of law to retrieve this mandate.

“The APC and its leadership are pathological liars. If they are sure that their illegitimate mandate is genuine, they would not be cooking up unfounded allegation that lacks basis. Let them continue.

It is clear and evident that APC are hand in gloves with INEC to thwart the desire of Osun people. Even, from the ongoing inspection of election materials, it is obvious that they are collaborating to perfect sinister agenda.”

Meanwhile, APC is to call 600 witnesses in the petition by the PDP, governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the August 9 governorship election, won by the APC. The statements of the witnesses were filed along with the reply of the APC, which is the second respondent in the petition.

Senator Omisore is challenging the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, claiming the election was marred with irregularities.

The lead counsel to the APC, Mr. Kunle Adegoke who filed the reply on behalf of the party and Governor Aregbesola, said clients were asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition of PDP and its candidate for “it is baseless, frivolous and contentious.”

He disclosed that the reply of APC contained 257 pages where explanations were offered in the local governments being challenged by the PDP. According to him, “in our reply to the petition we have about 600 witnesses that we have prepared their statements to counter the allegations of the petitioners. Our reply is to the effect that the allegations raised by the petitioners are completely frivolous, baseless, vexatious and constitute abuse of court process.

IBEDC reassures consumers of improved power supply

By Sebastine Obasi

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B A D A N ELECTRICITY Distribution Company, IBEDC, has assured its customers in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara states and parts of Kogi, Ekiti, Niger states of improved electricity supply.

Managing Director, Mr. Fortunato Leynes, weekend, also said that IBEDC planned to raise its electricity distribution capacity through embedded power generation.

Embedded generation is a source where the generator is directly connected to the distribution networks.

It consists of smaller or modular generators that use a variety of generation technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, diesel, and crude oil and small hydro.

Speaking on g o v e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to increase the country’s generating capacity, Leynes said, “ we are entertaining proposals on how to increase power generation and we hope to reach 3,000 to 3,500mw.

APC CRISIS:

Amosun's ally, 2,500 others dump APC for PDP

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA — THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State deepened, yesterday, as no fewer than 2,500 members of the party including a prominent politician believed to be an ally of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Dapo Abiodun defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Also a former Commissioner for Youth and Sports under former Governor Gbenga Daniel, Otunba Fatai Sowemimo defected with hundreds of others from Labour Party, LP. Others who defected with their supporters were the APC Secretary for Remo North Local Government Area, Ope Olateju, and the chairman of LP in Ijebu East Local Government, Ganiyu Ishola.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014—11

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12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Songhai farm commences training on male Tilapia production

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APELE— TO realise part of the objectives of the Delta Beyond Oil initiative, the state government owned Songhai Delta Farm, Amukpe, in Sapele Local Government Area, will commence the training of male tilapia production.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who recently inspected the farm, said the farm was revamped not only to engage in the production of food stuff for Nigerians, but also to engage in training and retraining of all classes of people and students of academic and trade/skill acquisition institutions from within and outside Nigeria.

Chief Consultant of the farm, Dr Theophilus Okpidi, said in a statement that the training workshop will take place between October 3 – 6, adding that participants shall include public and private fish farmers.

2015: Respect existing Rivers guber rotation, Harry warns

By Soni Daniel

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POLITICAL bigwig in Rivers State, Dr. Pax Harry, has warned against attempts by any of the political parties to tamper with the existing political formula that rotates its governorship between the upland and riverine parts of the state.

Harry who spsoke with journalists in Abuja, weekend, said that it was the turn of the Kalabari-speaking people of the state to produce the next governor in 2015, having not produced one since the creation of the state in 1967.

Harry, who was a member of the Justice Kayode Esholed Rivers Truth and Reconciliation Commission, pointed out that it would be wrong for the upland part of the state to attempt to preside over the affairs of the state after Dr. Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi might have held sway for 16 years.

He said any move by any upland politician to rule the state in 2015 would have sidelined the Kalabari people and other riverine natives for over 24 years, thereby

marginalising them for no just cause.

Harry warned that those who were trying to abolish the existing rotation of governorship between the upland and riverine parts of the

state, were doing so for selfish reasons as same was capable of plunging the state into avoidable political upheaval.

According to Harry, the struggle by some upland politicians to take a shot at the

THANKSGIVING: from left; PDP Governorship aspirant, Sir Anthony Obuh, his wife, Esther , and wife of the governor of Delta State, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, during the thanksgiving service marking the voluntary retirement of the guber aspirant at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Agbor yesterday.

Photo: Henry Unini

Amaechi seeks proper funding of education

By Jimitota Onoyume & Davies Iheamnachor

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H A R C O U R T — GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has called for proper funding of education in the country.

Speaking at the 18-20th convocation of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of the state, he said that there was a drop in the quality of education in the country, stressing that urgent steps should be taken to address the situation.

Governor Amaechi who noted that some of the graduates coming out of the nation’s higher institutions were not fit, said “Our country, Nigeria must have the capacity to create the human capital needed for economic development. There are serious concerns that our higher institutions of learning at all levels are producing graduates not fit. In other words, our children are leaving school without the knowledge to sustain them or contribute to the development of the national economy.”

He said his government will continue to invest in C M Y

Government House shortly after Governor Amaechi, was borne out of disrespect and insensitivity to the yearnings and aspirations of the riverine people, of which the Kalabari are an integral part.

education because of its value for the sector, stressing, “Early, in the life of this administration, we declared a state of emergency in the education sector to make Rivers State the hub of education, not only in Nigeria, but also in subSahara Africa. Our commitment is to improve services and the quality of education and make it more relevant to productive activities, including value reorientation, employment and wealth creation.

“We shall continue to

pursue that dream vigorously and also confront the challenges bedeviling the education sector. Even as we strive to revitalize the sector, I am delighted to say that our efforts are bearing fruitful results. The naming of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital 2014 earlier in the year and other achievements gave eloquent testimony of the recognition. It is an unprecedented achievement as we put Rivers State and Nigeria in the global map.”

Oil spill ravages Olomu community

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI — ECONOMIC activities in oil rich OviriOlomu have been disrupted following the oil spill from pipelines from a facility operated by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, under OML 34 and 65. Mr. Peter Edariense, President General, OviriOlomu community, who confirmed the spill, said it started more than a month ago with no response from NPDC. He said,“The spill was discovered and reported by some fishermen. The

community leadership promptly contacted NPDC Surveillance Contractor in the area, who later visited the spot but no action has been taken.”

Edariense who blamed the spill on the alleged poor maintenance of oil facilities laid over 36 hectares of the community land by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, lamented that the recurring spillage has brought untold hardship on the people of the area. He appealed to the Delta State Government to prevail on the polluter to clean-up the area and pay compensation to the people.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014—13

Govs glad with confab report on states creation in S-E .... Pass vote of confidence on delegates

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis Igata

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NUGU — GOVERNORS, traditional rulers and political leaders from the SouthEast geo-political zone met in Enugu, weekend, with a resolve to pursue the proposed creation of additional states in the region as recommended by the just concluded National Conference.

They also passed a vote of confidence on the delegates from the zone for a good performance at the conference.

Rising from the meeting, chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Chief Theodore Orji of Abia State, said: “We met to review the outcome of the just concluded confab. We summoned the meeting to find out whether the delegates performed according to our mandate.

“Those delegates did very well in articulating our points. Those points are contained in a document that had been presented to the President, prominent among them is the issue of creation of states. It is sensitive to the zone and they were in a position to argue for additional state for the south-east zone.

“Topmost is to give us, one additional state, to bring us at par with other zones in the country.

So, we are happy with them and that is why we have come to get briefs from them. They have told us and we are satisfied. If there are amendments, it will come later.”

On the issue of security, Governor Orji said: “We are doing our best to ensure that every state in the Eouth-East is putting everything in place to make sure that lives and property are protected. You can attest that there is a decrease in the incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery in this zone.

“It is as a result of efforts, the

South-East governors are making.

The last time we met here, we told you that we are making efforts jointly to purchase a tracking equipment that will boost security in the region. The effort is still on.

When it comes on board, it will help us.”

Governors in attendance were host, Sullivan Chime,Enugu State; Martin Elechi, Ebonyi; Deputy Governor, Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, and Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Other dignitaries include Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Ayogu Eze, Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi, National Vice

Chairman, PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu and Minister for Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu.

The creation of new states was one of the decisions taken by the delegates at their plenary while considering the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government, while Aba State is to be carved out of the present Abia State, according to the recommendation.

Apart from the 18 new states proposed, the Conference said a separate state, yet-to-be named, should be carved out of the SouthEast to bring the number of the states in the zone to six.

Police kill 2 kidnap kingpins on wanted list in Enugu

By Austin Ogwuda & Francis Igata

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NUGU — TWO members of a notorious robbery/kidnap gang on the wanted list of Enugu State police command for allegedly terrorizing residents of Trans-Ekulu and its environs have been killed, following a fierce gun battle with the police team.

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, stated this in a statement at the weekend.

According to him, “a joint operation on September 19 led to the arrest of two notorious armed robbery suspects who had been terrorizing the lives and property of the good people of Trans-Ekulu and its environs “Our operatives swooped on them, following intelligence report as they were about to carry out their nefarious activities on that fateful night while operating in a Golf, Volkswagen car with Enugu taxi-cab colour along Enugu-Onitsha expressway by TransEkulu axis of the state.

“The hoodlums who were four in number, on sighting the operatives

who already had taken their positions, opened fire on them and in the ensuing gun duel,two of the suspects were fatally injured, leaving them dead, while the rest believed to have sustained bullet wounds escaped into the bush.

“Among the deceased suspects is the leader of the gang, simply called Udochukwu, and his cohort also identified as Onyebuchi. They had been on the wanted list of the operatives over some killings in Trans-Ekulu and Abakpa, including the last two weeks incident of killings at a filling station in Trans-Ekulu, among others.

“Manhunt on the escapee gang members have been intensified by the operatives. The state command is also appealing to hospital operators and good people of the state with information about anyone with injury/injuries suspected to be that of bullet, to report promptly to any nearby Police Division or contact the state command.”

Imo to partner WAEC, JAMB to improve quality of education

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MO STATE Government has reiterated its readiness to partner West African Examination Council, WAEC, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, respectively for a continuous sustenance of quality education in the state.

The government made this promise recently while receiving management of the two examination bodies at Government House, Owerri.

Governor Rochas Okorocha represented by Chief of Staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu, disclosed that one of the primary objectives of his rescue mission administration was to take education to its enviable height, adding that the governor’s idea for making it free at all levels was to give children of the poor access to quality education.

Ebola: Owerri Catholic province sensitizes teachers, others

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — THE C a t h o l i c Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri has concluded its sensitization seminar on Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, for its school teachers and managements, ahead of the resumption of institutions today for the new academic year.

This came as Imo State government commended the Rotary Club for its commitment to the eradication of the polio virus.

The training was organized in Owerri by the Archdiocesan Education Commission, in collaboration with the Archdiocesan Health Advisory Board, for teachers in both the primary and secondary schools.

Addressing the participants, Owerri Archdiocesan Director of Education, Rev. Fr. Victor Eleba, explained that the training was to properly arm the teachers and school managements on how to check the EVD from getting into any of the Archdiocesan schools.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Don't postpone 2015 general elections, APC warns

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned those nursing the plan to postpone the 2015 general elections to perish the thought, saying Nigerians would not accept any scheme by desperate elected officials to get tenure elongation by subterfuge In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those flying the kite of pushing forward the election for the claim that the nation was at war were trying to imperil the nation’s democracy. ‘’Election is the lifeblood of democracy, the mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates. It is the only way for the citizenry to renew and refresh the governing process so they

can get the most benefits out of democracy.

“Therefore, anyone that tries to sabotage this mechanism is aiming a dagger straight at the heart of democracy,’’ it said.

APC said the statement credited to Senate President David Mark, that the question of election was currently not on the table, in view of the fact that the nation was at war, reflected the thinking in government circles.

The party noted that the Senate President, having run into a wall of opposition over his unfortunate statement, had tried to step back from the comments. ‘’We in the APC saw this coming, and we have said it at several fora: That the Jonathan Administration has deliberately allowed the insurgency in the Northeast, an opposition stronghold, to fester so he can cash in on it to get reelected. Simply put, the

administration has been playing dirty politics with Boko Haram, at the expense of the lives and property of the citizenry and the wellbeing of the nation. ‘’However, the Administration is being too clever by half to think that Nigerians will reward it for its failure in its main reason for existence, which is the protection of the welfare and security of the citizens.

“There is just no way this government will be allowed to profit from its ineptness and its conspiracy to prolong an insurgency that should have ended a long time ago,’’ the party said.

It said the statement by INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, that the commission had started preparing for elections, even in the North-East, presented a ray of hope but warned the electoral body to remain steadfast and not to cave in to what will be massive pressure from the Jonathan administration and its gong beaters to scuttle the 2105 elections.

IGP orders withdrawal of road blocks nationwide

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered the immediate dismantling of all new police roadblocks nationwide.

He also stated unequivocally that the order banning the setting up of Police road-blocks nationwide was still strictly in force.

In a directive issued to all commands and formations of the Force, the IGP warned that “all semblances

of Police road-blocks and permanent check-points reportedly re-emerging in some parts of the country, especially in the SouthEast, South-South and South-West geo-political zones of Nigeria should immediately be dismantled.”

Force headquarters, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, said: “The IGP, who described the trend as a serious violation of subsisting order on roadblocks, warned that

Eshoppaz unveils Buchi as brand ambassador

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IGERIA’S fastest growing online retail store, Eshoppaz, which launched its platform on March 2014, has been making tremendous progress in its efforts at making e-commerce in Nigeria healthy and riskfree.

The retail store recently announced charismatic gospel singer, Buchi as its first brand ambassador. The stylish singer is set to be made the face of Eshoppaz.

The Chief Executive Officer, Darlington Onokerhor, who has been part of e-commerce since its inception in Nigeria at the

unveiling said, Buchi is one of the most respected celebrities in the country, for the quality of his music, his message, and his charitable work. ''We are tremendously excited to have him on our team, and he represents all that we stand for at eshopppaz - excellence, passion and people. ''Buchi ambassadorship has officially kicked off, as we are so pleased to announce his charitable gesture to be the face of eshoppaz.com just as eshoppaz prepares to commence nationwide cash on delivery of products.''

severe sanctions await any police commands, formations and personnel who violate the order.

APC chieftain tasks rich Nigerians on poverty reduction

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Adekunle Olayinka, has urged the rich in the society to plough back part of their wealth to assist the country reduce the level of poverty and engender development.

He also lauded Rotary Club International for its commitment to develop communities across the world through philanthropic gestures.

Speaking at an award/ fund raising ceremony of the Rotary Club of Omole Golden and installation ceremony of Rotarian Chris Alabi, in Ikeja, Olayinka, who bagged an award of excellence from the club, also called on governments at all levels to see such organisations as partners in progress in the task of developing the country.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 —15

Lawyer cautions Edo govt over PDP Chairman

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Benin-based lawyer, Olushola Iyogun, has advised Edo State Government to exercise patience on recent statements credited to the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and urged him to prove that the documents he is parading are original documents and approved by the state government.

In a statement, Iyogun said “If Edo State Government is considering legal options against Dan Orbih, it should soft-pedal because Orbih has a duty to go the extra mile to convince the public that his claims against the state government are genuine, and that the documents were not forged otherwise, one would advise the state government to invoke the law and prosecute Orbih for false information, forgery/ perjury, incitement, unlawful possession and acquisition of confidential documents, among other considerable legal options.

“Except to say that the state government and in this case, the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole does not want to invoke the powers of his office, and the law or that those approvals made by him as an Executive Governor were duly sought and obtained according to the Freedom of Information Act by Orbih since they are classified as secret or confidential documents.

“However, I want to note here that the alarm and the intentions which the approvals were meant to achieve by Dan Orbih can best be described as malicious and outlandish because, if without conceding, the authenticity of the documents, the approvals were not only legitimate, they are also in line with world best practices. Was the event in Chicago a priority? Yes. Is Oshiomhole the first Governor to have attended similar events by Edo Nationals in the United States of America? No. Was money approved above the conventional and statutory allowances for oversea trips for top government officials?

No. When these delegates including traditional rulers got these monies, did they embark on the trip? Yes. Was money embezzled? No."

North won't vote for PDP in 2015 — ATIKU

By Charles Kumolu

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AGOS—FORMER VicePresident and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, weekend in Lagos said the North would not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 presidential election, claiming PDP had done nothing to attract votes from Nigerians.

At an interactive session with selected youths, he insisted that he would support whoever

emerged presidential candidate of APC if he did not get the ticket, but expressed doubts on the ability of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, to conduct a free and fair election.

According to him, ‘’Asking me to not contest is asking me to give up on Nigeria. The North will not vote for the PDP because the party has failed everybody. This period presents an opportunity for change. Before now, the PDP was big and the absence of a viable opposition then allowed the party to become monstrous. But now

with the APC there is choice.

There is no way Nigerians can vote for the PDP in 2015. PDP has failed everybody. We all yearn for this change. We have got an opportunity to change but nothing came out of it because we had one big monster party. Today we have two equal parties. One good thing about it is that the APC provides an opportunity.’’

Continuing, Atiku said “a number of reasons have been adduced as responsible for insurgency. Some said the region was the most backward region in

WEDDING: From left; Chief Sunny Odogwu; Mrs Evelyn Obioha, groom's mother; Mr Ehimaobi Obioha, groom, his wife, Kokoeka; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, bride's mother and Chief Abah Folawiyo during the solemnisation of matrimony between Kokoeka and Ehimaobi at the Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos on Saturday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

the country, with widespread poverty and illiteracy. But these are not reasons why people should take arms and start killing innocent Nigerians. There is poverty everywhere in this country. There is unemployment everywhere. I want to recall that a similar situation arose in Yobe State while we were in office. It did not take us more than a month to crush that insurgency. I think the mistake we made after crushing the insurgency, was not going back to the people to know why they took up arms against the country. We failed to listen to them and provide solution to whichever grievance they had. Today, there is a recurrence. There is failure of leadership in the war against terrorism in terms of capacity.’

“I also believe that the armed forces should be well provided for.

I come from that region and know that our armed forces are not well equipped. If you watch their encounter with the insurgents on YouTube, you will agree that the insurgents are better equipped.

There is also failure of intelligence gathering among our neighbouring countries. ''The President visited Chad and Cameroon recently, what I expected was a meeting with the service chiefs of the countries and their military commanders.

I think we have a number of factors that have contributed to the growth of insurgency. That is why we believe that there must be a change.’’

‘Jonathan's adoption, best thing to happen to Nigeria'

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN—SPECIAL Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, weekend said the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 presidential election, was the best thing to happen to Nigeria as a country.

He spoke in an interview with journalists in Ilorin and claimed no party could defeat the PDP in the state, saying Kwarans would vote massively for President Jonathan.

According to him, “There is nobody who can defeat PDP in 2015 election. If it happens, do not call me Senator again, remove Senator from my name because it would not happen. Tell me who are the people remaining in Kwara APC in Kwara State?”

Explaining the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan by PDP as its sole candidate, Senator Ajadi said,” the norms all over the world is that a sitting President has the first option of refusal, in fact other political parties should emulate PDP in the future.

Anywhere, a serving president is always given the first option of

refusal. It is only when that President refuses that alternative would now be looked into. It is one of the best things that has ever happened in the political development of Nigeria.

Everybody knows all over the

world that sitting Presidents are always given the first option of refusal to re-contest. Are we saying, we are still blind and we cannot see what is going on all over the world? This is a lesson for all other political parties in

Nigeria to emulate in future. If anybody is on seat and he is performing well and he is willing to go for second term, it should be automatic ticket as it happened to President Jonathan.”

Lack of internal democracy, bane of PDP, APC — MANTU

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA—FORMER Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu has admitted that both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC lack internal democracy.

According to him, it is sad that party members are forced to wait in the sun without food to express their voting rights, only to discover at the end of the day that their votes do not count.

Mantu in a chat with journalists weekend, said he was now a born again politician who had left the past behind.

He however went down memory lane, explaining that he was refused the position of National Chairman of the defunct National Relublican Convention, NRC, because he insisted that power must shift from the north

to the south.

Speaking during the special media interactive session orgsnised by the Save Democracy Group, Senator Mantu warned that the country would not get it right until she started doing things right and putting democracy in its right perspective.

According to him, the international community abandoned the country especially the President of the United States of America, President Barack Obama who refused to come to Nigeria, but went to Ghana.

Mantu noted that his heart bleeds like every other politician that things were not in their rightful perspective, saying, “today, all the parties are guilty of lack of internal democracy, they are all suffering of lack of internal democracy. You ask people to sit all day, no food, no drink and their vows not taken as leaders sit at the party secretatiat to send names

to INEC, all the parties are guilty of this. When you have a fraudulent person presented to INEC, it will affect the system.

“Until we start doing things right, that is when we will get democracy right, once we get it right, we then achieve all. Nigeria is not flowing with milk and honey because we have abandoned the right things.

Speaking earlier, national coordinator of Save Democracy Group, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna explained that the group believes that by creating strong institutions, appropriate checks and monitoring would be brought to bear on the nation’s political actors to ensure that they imbibe consciously the democratic culture and norms; value of tolerance for another viewpoint; playing the games by the rules and in the propagation and promotion of the principle of internal democracy among political parties.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 AS schools are officially scheduled to resume nationwide today, we hasten to draw attention to an obnoxious policy that, if not immediately addressed, could do irreparable harm not only to the educational system but to the knowledge industry as a whole.

The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) has introduced a 50% tariff and duty on imported printed books. In the first place, this is a gross negation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Florence Convention which the United Nations enunciated in 1954 guaranteeing free flow of educational, scientific and cultural materials. It was aimed at the free sharing of knowledge and ideas for the development of mankind. Nigeria is a signatory to that convention.

Back home, President Goodluck Jonathan launched the Bring Back the Book campaign to illustrate his concern for the fallen fortunes of books in Nigeria and his determination to transform the educational sector. This increase in tariff runs totally counter to the chosen direction of the nation. It is obvious that the policy was

Stop The W ar On War Books not properly thought through.

Parents and guardians have been groaning under the heavy weight of high school fees in an era when the public school system is in ruins. The high tariff and duty will increase their pains and drive books – and quality education – beyond the reach of the struggling masses. It will impact negatively on authors, publishers and writers in the long run because book piracy and stealing of intellectual property will be on the increase.

The paucity of quality books will force more parents to send their children to schools abroad and increase capital flight.

A fact sheet released during the Nigerian

Economic Summit indicates that between 2007 and 2010 Nigerian students enrolled in foreign universities increased from 22,712 to 38,851, draining the nation of 1.5 trillion naira annually. It was a fallout from poor quality public policy, such as this one.

It is alarming that Nigeria currently ranks 117 out of 148 countries in quality of mathematics and science education, yet we are competing with other rapidly advancing countries such as Singapore: 1 st out of 148; Tunisia, 31st out of 148 and Cote D’Ivoire: 60 out of 148.

It is such a shame that those superintending this policy benefited from free availability of books and got solid grounding from the Nigerian educational system when it was still very competitive.

It is like using the ladder to climb to the top and kicking it away.

Nigeria only this month joined other countries of the world to reaffirm our commitment to education for all and other universal goals by 2015. As we welcome our children back to school, government must remove this tariff and give room to quality education.

OPINION

By Tunji Ayandele

W

HILE it is generally agreed that no medium exists without its own bias, the greater truth is that the media is a public trust and its hallmark is integrity established by truth. When a medium publishes falsehood, either deliberately or inadvertently, it undermines the basis of its credibility.

This is the trap that the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore, set for the Nigerian media before, during and after the August 9, governorship election in Osun State.

Senator Omisore asked for the removal of the State Resident Electoral Commission, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, alleging that Akeju is a card-carrying member of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which later metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress, APC. He did not offer any evidence. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Akeju’s employer, asked him to substantiate his claim, since he who asserts must prove.

Almost four years down the line, he is yet to come up with anything. But the media, regrettably, has been amplifying this false allegation for him.

Again, he has been fulminating that

The media, Omisore and Osun elections INEC conducted the 2011 general elections against a subsisting court order. He trumpeted this lie with a demonic frenzy, regrettably with the help of the media.

The truth, however, is that the PDP went to court asking for an interlocutory injunction preventing Akeju from conducting the 2011 election. INEC agreed and was preparing to replace Akeju when PDP went back to the same court and asked for a ‘stay of execution’.

The judge, Babs Kuewumi, was scandalised. He told them that their demand defied logic since it is the loser that asks for an injunction against an injunction, not the winner, who should be savouring the fruits of his victory.

He then granted the stay of execution of the injunction he had earlier granted.

It is inconceivable that Omisore will now turn round to accuse INEC of flouting court order. The media reported this falsehood with reckless abandon, without cross-checking the facts.

Then again, the media on September 2 were awash with an interesting news item – a report that INEC had suspended two Electoral Officers, EOs,

for Obokun and Osogbo local governments. The report gleefully and recklessly claimed they were suspended for helping APC to rig the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State.

The next day INEC came out to rebut the story. INEC was categorical in denying that the two EOs were suspended for helping APC rig the election. Indeed, the EO for Obokun was suspended for diverting election materials and arrested by the police while doing so. What INEC did not mention was that the news actually broke on the eve of the election, how vigilant youths in Otan-Ile had apprehended the EO while taking the materials to the residence of a PDP chief in Ilase and how he was released by police to a PDP national officer from the state.

The second EO for Osogbo was actually suspended following the petition written against him for attempting to manipulate the election against APC. He hid the accreditation tags of APC party agents and did not release them until after accreditation had taken place. He also hid form EC8C in a waste bin and caused the delay in compiling the result for Osogbo until

about 2.00 am the next day.

How then could the two EOs have rigged for APC? Interestingly, the same media had reported these events when they occurred. All they needed to do was crosscheck with their own record.

However, the report was written by the media handlers of Omisore and handed to the media with a little inducement. The public had been badly served.

The irony is that each time the public read a report in the media that is patently false, instead of Omisore, it is the media that gets discredited.

There is no amount of money that can compensate for the loss of credibility for the media. Believability is the media’s daily bread and once it is lost, nothing is left.

Omisore is a mere bird of passage, he should not be allowed to destroy the media that have been built over time with the sweat and blood of our patriots and heroes of the profession.

*Mr. Ayandele, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Osogbo, Osun State.

Market Data

/P28

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

INTERACTION - General manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency LASBCA), Abimbola Animashaun flanked

by Director and Head Inspectorate and Quality Control Departmenty, Ayo Sodeinde (left), and Assistant Chief Builder Officer, Divisional Head, Lagos, Adeoye Adeyemi, during the Agency's media interaction at its Ikeja Office in Lagos .

Systemic crisis looms in banking sector

zAs banks' non-performing loans mount zWe won't buy bad debts again — AMCON

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

here are indications that some banks are not making adequate provisions for bad and doubtful loans in their books as mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. This, it is feared, may trigger another systemic crisis in the banking sector if not checked. It will be recalled that it was as a result of huge non-performing loans in the Nigerian banking sector that led to the

CBN intervention in five banks in 2009.

Banks are supposed to make adequate provisions for nonperforming loans from their shareholders' funds in order to avert the kind of situation which led to financial crisis in 2009. Investigations have shown that banks’ bad debts are beginning to grow again in the banking sector following the outcry from the recently privatised firms in the Power sector of their inability to service the loans they obtained from

the financial institutions which have grown to over N250 billion Meanwhile, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON has said that it will no longer buy any bad debt from any bank.

According AMCON spokesman, Mr. Kayode Lambo, "AMCON is no longer buying NPLs and we have been repeating that. The CBN is the only institution that can say we should buy.” Commenting further, he said: “If it is true that some banks' nonperforming loans are accumulating,

then they should make provisions for such or sell such NPLs to someone else, not AMCON.” Reacting on the development, some operators in the Nigerian capital market who preferred to remain anonymous said: “It is time for the regulators to beam their searchlights on these banks. The financial statement of banks should be thoroughly examined. How can operators in the recently privatised power sector not be able to pay the loan they took from the banks, given the arbitrary charges and huge returns they make from low power supply?

The banks that gave loans to these companies should ensure that appropriate provisions are made as mandated by the CBN, otherwise, we shall begin to see another sign of distress in the sector."

It will be recalled that the Bankers

Continues on page 19

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Cover Story

Why people fail in their business

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - Dr. Jibril Aku, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria presenting his signed Code of Conduct in Nigerian Banking Industry Form, to Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN while Dr. Uche Olowu, 2nd Vice President, CIBN looks on during the stakeholders engagement with the Bank in Lagos.

Systemic crisis looms in banking sector

A

ccording to him: “If there is a problem in the power sector and they are not able to service these loans, there is essentially going to be a problem in the banking sector. And if there is a problem, the balance sheet of CBN may not be able to accommodate another bailout.”

The report stated: “The highly applauded power sector privatisation programme of the Federal Government in 2013 may begin to reveal structural and financial challenges in the near term if not well managed. Approximately $2.5 billion was raised by the BPE in 2013 from the privatisation of PHCN’s generating (GENCOs) and distribution (DISCOs) companies. Another $5.7 billion is expected to be raised by the Federal Government from this year’s C M Y K

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Continues from page 17 Committee recently said it would help the privatised power firms clear N25 billion PHCN legacy debts to gasproducing companies.

Also speaking on the development, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Afrinvest Plc, Mr. Ike Chioke during his presentation of the Afrinvest Nigeria Banking Sector Report in Lagos, noted that there is a growing pile of troubling power assets in the banking industry, while the capacity of the CBN to pursue another bailout in the event of a banking crisis is doubtful.

The highly applauded Power sector privatisation programme of the Federal Government in 2013 may begin to reveal structural and financial challenges in the near term if not well managed

,

sale of the NIPP plants.

A significant portion of the funding for the acquisition of these assets by private sector investors was provided by Nigerian banks with minimal equity contributions. This has absorbed an enormous level of funds from banks. This investment is, however, supposedly yet to yield returns and has in part led to the rush for Eurobonds by banks in 2014 in an attempt to restructure credit to the Power sector.

A major apprehension is the currency mismatch as cash flows from power assets are generated in naira. More worrisome, however, is that many of the GENCOS and DISCOS earn significantly less than their projected cash flows prior to acquisition due to government’s inability to

resolve tariff and gas supply challenges. Cumulatively, the apex bank should keep a close watch on banks' risk assets to the power space in order to avoid the emergence of another era of toxic assets.

“Our review of the CBN’s balance sheet as at November 2013 raises crucial questions that require urgent attention.

The CBN’s proactive response to the 2008/2009 banking crisis was arguably the right move although this has, in itself, magnified CBN’s level of indebtedness.

Over 40.0 per cent of CBN’s asset portfolio is unmarketable, comprising principally of AMCON bonds, intervention funds and development finance loans.

These are long-term investments without a discernible exit time frame other than the eventual performance of the loan portfolio. For instance, the 190.5 per cent surge in other liabilities from N2.1 trillion in December 2009 to N6.1 trillion in November 2013, traceable to the acquisition of AMCON’s debt by the CBN, is alarming.

In the event of another crisis in the banking space, the CBN may not have the capacity to bail out the banks without avoiding the option of printing money, which will have significant consequences on price stability. As such, we believe the CBN may be forced to raise the AMCON levy on banks from the current 0.5 per cent of total assets plus 0.5 per cent of 33.0 per cent of offbalance sheet items in the coming years,” Chioke emphasised.

successful in anything including a business. It is like getting in shape or going to college. You will not make it through the college if you only study one day in each semester. Once you know what is required daily, learn to discipline yourself and be consistent.

Amazingly, consistency and discipline not only elevate you to higher levels of success, they also make your work so much easier! · LACK OF PERSONAL GROWTH - Most people have it backwards. They think that one becomes a millionaire and then starts thinking like one. But it is the other way round. Before you can be successful, you have to think like a successful person. Your thoughts, words, and your imagination will affect

,

S

tarting your own business can yield amazing rewards but at the same time it’s a pretty big risk. One of the biggest reasons why people fail is they enter into a business and doesn’t have profitable market. They may like what they are doing but they are not making money. It is one of the keys to do something you are passionate about, but if you can’t monetize it, then it is not something you may want to go into business in. It is necessary to carry out research before you build up a business to find if there is a demand for your products.

At one time to another, we have all fantasized about creating our own business and being a successful entrepreneur. It is exciting to consider the possibilities but then the fears creep in. We have all heard stories about people who started their own business full of hope and faith, only to unwind shortly thereafter and fail miserably while losing some good hard earned cash in the meantime.

Let us take a look at some of the underlying causes that are not always discussed. You might be surprised to hear that the lack of money is not the main reason for failure; there are several reasons why people fail in business: · THE “COPY CAT” FACTOR - Many people go into business or make a business choice because they also think they can be successful in it. Many people fail because of this reason.

You have to put into consideration that what works for “MR. A” may not be applicable to “MR. B” and it is better to go along with your own idea and instinct instead of trying to be like someone else. This is wrong. · LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND CONSISTENCY - Most people get the idea that they can make millions by simply starting their own business.

Developing the discipline and consistency necessary to be successful in any endeavour is part of what makes success so sweet. There are not many accidental success stories. It takes tremendous discipline to be

Once you know what is required daily, learn to discipline yourself and be consistent.

Amazingly, consistency and discipline not only elevate you to higher levels of success, they also make your work so much easier!

,

whether you succeed or fail.

Personal developments of your attitude and communication skills are a must. It is hard work and it takes discipline. You will have a hard time succeeding without protecting and working on your attitude.

This is especially true after some failures. This is a learned skill. It is also applicable in business. · Lacks of direction/plan Most people that start a business have a little or no idea how to succeed.

Therefore, it is extremely inportant to find a consultant who has the time and experience to guide you through the maze, step by step. Be sure this person will actually have (or make) the time for you.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 19

S

ignals emerging from the global economy can best be described as complex considering the trends in macroeconomic and socio-political sphere. As of now, the international financial market has not fully recovered from the 2008 financial crisis. Economies are still weighed down by the aftermath of the crisis. The global oil market on which Nigeria depends so much, is precariously oscillating and prices are heading south. The story is not different in other sectors.

The sharing by the three tiers of government from the federation account is dwindling.

Many socio-political commentators would quickly subsidiary of the Nigerian say that the global economy, National Petroleum Corporation With Asset fueled by monetary stimuli in (NNPC), is posing a big Management Europe and the U.S, appears challenge to banks' loan Company of to have reached a point of portfolio. The debt owed by the inflection based on the generating companies and the Nigeria moderate rebound of over N200 billion borrowed foreclosing any economic activities in Africa, from banks by the new investors further purchase USA, Asia and parts of to purchase the power assets Europe. Yes, the financial have slowed down the postof bad and nonindustry has succeeded in privatisation growth of the performing loans leveraging the modest power sector. As a result, these from banks, they recovery amidst regulatory power generating companies (banks) may adjustments. A critical are not able to sell enough analysis of the Time series power to recover cost and soon have data of the global economy service banks loans. Some of the another round of would show that policy huge loans will soon become huge nonadjustments to combat the non-performing assets in the performing impact of the 2008 financial books of banks. crisis have revealed loans With Asset Management loopholes and weaknesses in Company of Nigeria foreclosing the system, particularly the any further purchase of bad and central bank also recently complexity in design and non-performing loans from changed the way banks calculate abnormal levels of illicit banks, they (banks) may soon capital buffers to align with transactions by banks, which have another round of huge global standards and increase has come to indicate a high non-performing loans. By the their ability to withstand losses. level of governance CBN regulations, banks will The CBN action is in line with indiscipline especially in have to make provisions for the G-20 proposal that will Nigeria. these assets sooner or later. require top banks in every As a result, regulators have This will eat up the existing country to issue special bonds as introduced new policies capital structure of most Nigerian capital that can assist them in designed to further tighten banks and will jeopardize the profit times of crises. the noose on banks. The potential of these banks and may Government leaders are critical question now is: how subsequently result in systemic expected to agree in November profitable are Nigerian distress. The CBN last year that the world’s top banks must banks? perhaps in anticipation of this issue special bonds to increase The inability of the development, released a draft the amount of capital which can recently privatized Power document in which it designated be tapped in a crisis instead of sector operators to pay up the eight banks as too big to fail due to calling on taxpayers to come to over N30 billion owed the the risk their failure could pose to their rescue. The bonds, to be Nigeria Gas Company, a the entire financial system. The known as Gone Concern Loss

Tough times ahead for Nigerian bank investors

,

,

Absorption capacity or GLAC, are seen by regulators as essential to stopping the world’s biggest banks from being “too big to fail.

The plans are being drafted by the Financial Stability Board, the regulatory task force of the Group of 20 economies, and G20 leaders will discuss the reform before it is put out to public consultation in November. The reform would put in place the final major piece of G20 regulation on banking as the global body turns to a “postcrisis” agenda of fostering economic growth and bedding down the rules it has approved.

The CBN ordered Nigerian banks it considered too big to fail to boost minimum capital ratios to 16 per cent last year, compared with 10.5 per cent for South African banks, which control most of the continent’s banking assets.

The central bank removed some assets banks can count as capital in preparation for the implementation of Basel II and III, while limiting Tier 2 capital to 33 per cent of Tier 1 capital, according to its August 5th circular.

The banks designated as “too big to fail” or Systematically Important Banks (SIBs) in the CBN draft paper include: First Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Skye Bank and Diamond Bank.

The top eight banks currently account for over 70 percent of the industry’s total assets.

The CBN's move seems to be following developments in the developed capital markets, where regulators have sought to name systemically important banks as too big to fail and have proposed higher capital requirements for them. As is the case abroad, a big impact of being named as a SIB by the CBN is that some of banks would require additional capital.

The current capital adequacy ratio (CAR) in Nigeria is 10 percent for local banks and 15 percent for banks with international operations.

Of the eight banks named by the CBN, Zenith Bank has the highest liquidity ratio at 63.1 per cent, followed by First Bank at 62.7 percent. At the other end of the spectrum are Skye at 31.5 percent and Diamond at 36.7 percent. Already some of these banks are out in both local and international capital market to raise new funds. The local capital market is still struggling to be on its proper footing. This leaves the bank no option than to look out side or raise the desired fund through rights issue. As it is, with the current spate of tough regulations and with the wind of dwindling economic fortune across the country, Nigerian banks are in for a tough and rough weather this time around. How they will whether the storm will be a matter of strong management capability. Bank shareholders will once again be on the receiving end of this financial game.

Business & Economy

TTCS wins SAP Top Partner Awards in Africa I

n what is testament to the company’s meteoric rise over the years, Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS), the Pan African business solutions provider, has received top international awards.

The company won four top awards, making it the technology winner across the whole African continent at the just-concluded 2014 SAP Africa Partner of the Year Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This followed an awards haul of Innovation in Sales category (Cloud and Line Of Business), Regional MD Award (Partner of the Year – for Southern Africa including South Africa) as well other accolades such as

Public Services Partner of the Year Award and SAP Business One Partner of the Year (which went to DBS, a Twenty Third Century Systems subsidiary).

The Pan Africa Group, which has been successfully implementing SAP across Africa and the Middle East since 1996, won these

accolades ahead of all other SAP partners in Africa.

The awards haul was the most by any SAP partner and confirms TTCS as a leading

SAP partner on the African continent. TTCS is present in more than 10 African countries which include Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, Botswana and French speaking West Africa out of Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Lucky Fibre introduces AAFREEN to Nigeria

I

n a bid to entrench its leadership role in the textile floor coverings industry, Lucky Fibres, makers of Nobel Carpets & Rugs has introduced a new range of Centre rugs known as AAFREEN. into the Nigerian market.

The new product will be available in Nigeria starting this September.

AAFREEN is a premium brand with unsurpassed beauty and quality at an affordable price.

Commenting on the product quality and durability, Kunal Malhotra, the

General Manager, Lucky Fibres, said AAFREEN is rich in texture and is produced in unique, trendy, modern and vibrant colours to meet the growing demands of consumers in every socio economic class. AAFREEN gives consumers a wider range of design/colour options to choose from.

According to him, “As the leading manufacturer of rugs and carpets in Nigeria, the introduction of AAFREEN becomes imperative in order to meet the growing needs and changing

tastes of consumers. We have produced this as a valuable addition to the range of centre rugs that already exist in the market”.

“We will continually ensure each of our rug designs remain a beautiful and unique artwork, a matchless piece of craftsmanship.

Further guaranteeing to provide consumers a beautiful and rich experience they have always clamoured for in a rug” Malhotra assured.

C M Y K

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Business & Economy

NIPC moves to enforce mandate on foreign equity companies

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

he Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC is set to enforce its mandate to register all companies in the country that have foreign equities, aside registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs Saratu Umar who disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo on Thursday, said it is mandatory for all companies with foreign stake to register with NIPC. Umar said the Commission is now ready to enforce that session of its mandate, adding that the agency has began sentisation Programme to that effect so as to make the companies understand the need to also register with NIPC. Session E of the basic functions and powers of NIPC As Prescribed by Act 16 of 1995 states that the commission should ‘register and keep records of all enterprises to which the NIPC Act legislation applies’ Also, under the provisions relating to investments, the law further states that ‘An enterprise, in which foreign participation is permitted, shall after its incorporation or registration, be registered with the NIPC, Speaking on the visit of Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo, the NIPC scribe the commission will collaborate with states to stimulate both foreign and domestic direct investments to enable them realize their full economic potentials.

Chief Adeyemo’s visit to NIPC is part of measures to ensure the development of the state into one of the top investment destinations in Nigeria Umar, commended the state for the move adding that the development is coming at a time when the country is witnessing an increase in foreign direct investment inflow owing to the reforms by the federal government.

She said six states-Ogun, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross Rivers, Niger and Rivers have successfully established their Investment Promotion Agencies.

C M Y K

MEETING - From left, Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Trade & Commerce, Ifeatu Onejeme; Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and President, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Tim Anosike on a courtesy visit to the Governor during the Association's 3rd Quarterly Council Meeting held in Onitsha recently.

Heads of State, ministers to attend 2nd Africa Business Forum

T

he Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda and Senegal Heads of State, as well as several ministers and dignitaries have confirmed their presence at the 2nd Africa Global Business Forum, due to take place in Dubai in October.

The forum is to be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Its objective is to facilitate a high-level dialogue and advice on key strategic directives related to Africa’s economic outlook.

With Dubai becoming a significant investor across Africa and a base for fastgrowing bilateral trade, the Forum will exemplify why the Emirate is growing as a hub for African entrepreneurs to access global markets. It will also define why it forms an international investor base for African operations.

This exclusive, invitationonly event will bring together over 500 high-level decision makers including: African Heads of State: HE Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President, Federal Republic of Ethiopia, HE John Dramani Mahama, President, Republic of Ghana, HE Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda, HE Macky Sall, President, Republic of Senegal.

Ministers and dignitaries

that have signified interests in participating include HE Patrick Achi, Minister of Economic Infrastructure, Republic of Ivory Coast, HE Amama Mbabazi, Prime Minister, Republic of Uganda, HE Osman Omer Ali Alshareef, Minister of Commerce, Republic of the Sudan, HE Cheick Mobido

Diarra, Transitional Prime Minister of Mali, HE Festus Mogae, the Former President of the Republic of Botswana, HE Admiral Mohab Mohammad Hussein Mameesh, Chairman of Egypt’s General Authority for Economic Zone, North-West Gulf of Suez, Hon. Dr Richard Sezibera, Secretary General,

East African Community (EAC), HE Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS).

Prominent CEOs and Directors operating globally 50 countries, including 22 based in Sub-Saharan Africa and 30 industry sectors currently represented.

Organisations include: Abax Corporate Services, Jones Lang Lasalle, Agility, Astral Aviation, Emerald Energy, Chellarams, Mohamed Hareb Al Otaiba Group Of Companies, Siemens, Ernst & Young, Microsoft, Sunbird Group, Jagal, The Carlyle Group, Ericsson, Haco Industries, Mastercard, Habiboil Limited. Heads of private banks, sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms, including: Unibank Ghana Ltd, HSBC Africa, London Stock Exchange Group, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Deutsche Bank, Wendel, Enko Capital Management, Africa Finance Corporation, Rwanda Stock Exchange.

Local presence will be led by HE Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai Expo 2020, HE Sultan Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy and HE Mohammed I. Al Shaibani, Executive Director and CEO of the Investment Corporation

Africa offers high rate of ROI —Dangote ... Sponsors Market place Africa on CNN

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

he President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said that Africa offers one of the highest rates of return on investment in the world, a fact that discerning foreign investors have since acknowledged.

In his remark on his Group’s involvement in the concluded arrangements for the sponsorship of the prestigious ‘Facetime’ segment on CNN Marketplace Africa, a CNN International’s show that offers a unique window into African business, Aliko Dangote said Africa has made tremendous progress on the economic front in the last decade and has become one of the fastest growing regions in the world – home to six of the top ten fastest growing economies in the world.

“Africa also offers one of the highest rates of return on investment in the world, a fact that discerning foreign investors have since acknowledged. Indeed, Africa has turned the corner and is now catching up with the rest of the world in the race for development.

Dangote Industries Limited is delighted to sponsor the ‘Facetime’ segment in CNN’s Marketplace Africa because it tells compelling success stories about Africa. Such content can ultimately position Africa as an attractive investment destination and foster development that lift communities and nations into prosperity. This is Africa’s time” he noted.

In a statement signed by the Media relations corporate comm., Mr Frances AwowoleBrowne, he said, starting tomorrow, a bespoke multimedia Dangote Industries Limited advertising campaign

will include sponsorship of CNN Marketplace’s ‘Facetime’ segment and exclusive branding on the show’s microsite and the advertising campaign will showcase Dangote’s expansion drive across the continent and outside of Africa by raising its profile among business and economic audience.

“Facetime’ is a high-profile segment within CNN Marketplace Africa, where each week a major player from the continent’s business community is interviewed.

CNN Marketplace Africa is the destination for access to movers and shakers at the forefront of African business.

The show goes beyond the numbers to bring viewers the new business solutions and industry trends redefining African business. On-air content is complemented by distinctive online editorial at a CNN Marketplace Africa microsite, where popular and innovative content is shared across a range of social channels” he disclosed.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 21

Business & Economy

How loan applicants can access N5bn CAP Fund — BoI

By FRANKLIN ALLI & PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

he Bank of Industry, BOI, weekend, launched N5 billion Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) Fund.

Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, the Managing Director of the bank, said that existing operators in the sector as well as prospective young Nigerians who want to go into farming can take advantage of the fund to establish mini mills for processing agro products such as cassava, cashew, oil palm, rice paddy, groundnut, yam, maize and sorghum, etc.

According to him, for

applicants to qualify for the loan, they must meet both the generic and specific requirements as stipulated by the bank. “For me I think for any applicant to access the loan, let me first of all mention the generic requirements before the specific ones. The generic requirements are that when you are applying for loans at BOI, you must clearly articulate your business model. The business model should answer the following four questions: what is the product you are offering, what is your target market; who are you going to sell this product to and why should anybody buy your product because there are a lot of such

products in the market, so why should anybody buy it? How are you going to create the product to ensure that it actually comes out? For me, if you can articulate those issues, I think we have a basis for very interesting discussion. So, that is generic.

“The general requirements are that this particular fund is for agro products; that means you must have a processing factory that processes crop into food products or intermediate raw materials for industries.

The agreed product must be available in sufficient quantity; we are not looking at a massive transport cost, so we expect that you locate your factory very close

PRESENTATION: Mrs Oluwakula Taibat a beneficiary, MR. Michael Ola Dawodu Permanent Secretary Deputy Governor’s Office Alausa Ikeja, Prince Gbolahon Lawal Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-Operatives, H.R.M Oba Akeem Adesanya, Mr Kayode Opeifa, Hon. Commissioner for Transport Lagos State, H.R.M Oba Aderibigbe Asunmon, Alayandelu of Odo Adandolu and Chief M.K Oduyebo the Regent of Agbowa- Ikosi During the 2014 Artisans fishing inputs service delivery programme, at the Local Government Primary School, Ikosi-Agbowa. Photo by Ovadje Elliot.

to where the raw materials are available so that your transport cost is minimal.

“We expect that you identify an equipment supplier that is accredited by BOI and we expect that you articulate personnel requirements that are within the limit of your budget; we expect that you identify some market for the product you want to sell. These are basic elements of business model that we expect you to do.

“For people who may not be able to do this, we are appointing business services development firms to help.

They will provide the services that are almost next to nothing to the applicants. It will ensure their chance of success at the BOI. Right now a lot of applications that come to BOI don’t meet standard. What we want to do is to increase the success rate of loan applications that come to us, especially from the SMEs.” He further explained that it is a direct intervention fund by BOI, adding , “the only involvement by commercial banks will be limited to what we called the SMEs friendly banks to able to participate in the working capital components of the loan. The working capital component is only 10 percent.

We have a list of commercial banks that we have identified; we had meetings with them and they have agreed to. The SMEs stakeholders like NASME, have agreed with the list of the banks and if those banks are interested in providing the 10 percent working capita we will go ahead with them but if they are not, BOI is prepared to do that directly.

Apple planning new iPads in mid-October

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pple Inc will unveil the next generation of iPad tablets around mid-October even as the company bolsters its product lineup ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is working to shake up the iPad line as sales of the tablets, Apple’s secondbiggest product by revenue, have declined for two straight quarters. The company hasn’t introduced a new iPad since last October, and consumers have instead been shifting to smartphones with bigger screens.

The Cupertino, Californiabased company begins selling its new, larger-screen iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in stores in the U.S. last week. The phones were unveiled last week along with a smartwatch and new mobile-payment system as Cook seeks to build out the company’s key products and move into new categories.

Apple’s suppliers recently started manufacturing an updated 9.7-inch screen iPad, and were also set to enter production of a new version of the iPad mini, people familiar with the plans said last month.

Suppliers are also preparing to manufacture Apple’s largest-ever iPad, with a 12.9inch screen, with production slated to begin by the first quarter of next year, people with crude.

Eshoppaz unveils Buchi as Brand Ambassador

Relocate tank farms to reduce convergence of N fuel tankers, LCCI urges FG

BY NAOMI UZOR

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he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has urged the Federal Government to relocate the tank farms to reduce the convergence of fuel tankers on the Apapa corridor. The President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, made this call at the Corporate Assembly with Governor Babatunde Fashola, at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, adding that, there is need to fix the rail system to facilitate the evacuation of

cargo from Lagos ports in order to reduce the use of the articulated vehicles and indirectly reduce carnage on Lagos roads.

“The Lagos ports have gained a reputation as one of the most expensive in the world, from the point of view of turn-around time of cargo to cost of clearing cargo.

There are issues with internal processes within the port; there are even bigger issues with the logistics of cargo movement outside the ports and to various destinations.

All these have profound implications for the cost of

doing business.

We appreciate your intervention in respect of the recent traffic gridlock along the Mile 2 Apapa corridor and more importantly your concern with rate of accident of articulated vehicles in the state” he said.

He noted that the Ebola virus has already it has taken its toll on business in a number of ways and has created a perception problem which has made many foreign investors to be wary of coming into the country; some projects have been put on hold because the foreign partners were no longer forthcoming, adding

that, the hospitality industry witnessed some decline; the aviation sector also recorded a drop in Nigeria bound passengers.

“The good news is that the EVD is being effectively contained and the Lagos State government, working in conjunction with federal government did a salutary job. All cases of the EVD were narrowed to the index case of the Liberian that brought the virus into the country. The containment strategies and efforts give us a lot of comfort and restored our people’s confidence that we have a government at work.

igeria’s recently launched online retail store, Eshoppaz, in a move to boost its presence in the market has unveiled Nigeria’s gospel reggae singer, Buchi as its brand ambassador.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eshoppaz, Darlington Onokerhor at the unveiling said, the e-retailer settled for Buchi as a brand ambassador because he is one of the most respected celebrities in the country, for the quality of his music, his message, and his charitable work.

“We are excited to have him on our team, and he represents all that we stand for at eshopppaz - excellence, passion and people. Buchi's ambassadorship has officially kicked off, as we announce his gesture to be the face of eshoppaz.com.

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Banking & Finance

UBA, Verve to reward cardholders

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nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in partnership with Verve International has launched an offer tagged “UBA Verve Rewards” in which cardholders could win e-cash, free airtime, Nokia mobile phones and up to N35,000 cash back Cardholders who use their UBA issued Verve cards to initiate a minimum of five POS or VAS (value added service) transactions on the ATM worth N1, 000 or more will stand a chance to win N1,000 airtime.

Cardholders who do transactions worth N2,000 or more on these channels stand a chance to win N3, 000 airtime plus mobile phones.

Value added Services (VAS) on an ATM is when UBA customers use the ATM to pay for transactions like phone bills, cable TV bills or transfer funds from their UBA bank account to another.

Also a minimum of 40 customers, who on a monthly basis, initiate a minimum of five POS transactions or Web transactions valued at a minimum of N10, 000 or more would win N5, 000 top up on their e-Cash account.

FXTM become fastest growing ECN Broker Asia 2014

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nternational forex broker, Forex Time (FXTM) has once again been recognized as an influential player in the forex industry, winning two awards from Global Banking & Finance Review: “Fastest Growing ECN Broker Asia” and “Best Partner Program Asia”. These two awards acknowledge the rapid growth of Forex Time in Asia and are testimony to the company’s commitment to provide outstanding customer service and support to traders.

Global Banking & Finance Review is one of the banking and finance industry’s most trusted resources, providing a balanced view of information and independent news for the financial community. Since its launch in 2011, the Global Banking & Finance Review Awards program has grown to encompass the entire banking and financial spectrum, placing it among the world’s top industry honors.

IMF’s 2014 financial access survey debuts, considers mobile money indicators

BY PETER EGWUATU

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he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced the release of its financial access survey which included global financial inclusion and introduction of data on mobile money indicators.

The fund stated that its fifth annual Financial Access Survey (FAS), is the most comprehensive global source of data on access to, and use of, basic consumer financial services by households and non financial corporations.

For the first time, the survey includes data on mobile money indicators. The 2014 FAS round was again conducted with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided funding to capture data on the use of mobile money services.

According to IMF “The FAS provides geographic and demographic data worldwide, offering a strong quantitative underpinning to the theoretical literature linking financial inclusion and economic growth. The positive correlation between the increase in the use of commercial banks services (a measure of financial inclusion) and the increase in GDP per capita (a measure of economic growth) is especially noteworthy when comparing financial inclusion trends. Among African countries reporting data on commercial bank depositors, for instance, depositors per

1,000 adults experienced a five-fold increase from 2004 to 2013, while simultaneously achieving a 40-percent growth in real GDP per capita.”

“Financial inclusion has gained prominence in the global discussion on growth and poverty reduction,” IMF Statistics Department Director Louis Marc Ducharme said.

“We welcome the opportunity to be a global leader in providing much-needed data on an increasingly critical theme.”

The newly-expanded FAS is also capturing indicators on access to and use of mobile money services. Over the past

decade, the emergence of ‘mobile money’–the practice of sending, receiving, and storing money using mobile phones–has improved the lives of populations that generally do not use commercial banks, even when access to more conventional banking models remained difficult.

The enhanced 2014 FAS provides a quantitative foundation to assess the transformational role of mobile money in financial inclusion. For example, the results of the 2014 FAS round for Kenya show a dramatic increase in the number of active mobile money accounts

in recent years. In 2007, mobile money accounts represented just 30 percent of deposit accounts in commercial banks, but by 2009, they surpassed the number of commercial bank deposit accounts. At the same time, the number of mobile money transactions increased by more than 130 times, from close to 5.5 million in 2007 to more than 700 million in 2013.

The FAS is also an officially recognized data source for the G-20 Basic Set of Financial Inclusion Indicators endorsed by the G-20 Leaders at the Los Cabos Summit in June 2012.

SEMINAR/AWARDS - From left: Representative of D-G, NCAA, Engr. Kayode Isiaka Ajiboye, Permanent Secretary, Delta State Liaison office Lagos, Mrs. Augustina O. Onokpise receiving an award on behalf of Governor of Delta State, while MD/CEO, Aeroconsult, Engr. Babatunde Obadofin looks on during the Aeroconsult Aviation Safety Seminar & Awards on Sustaining Safety in the Nigerian Aviation Sector, in Lagos.

Qatar National Bank acquires more stakes in Ecobank

BY PETER EGWUATU

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atar National Bank (QNB) has acquired additional 11 per cent stake (common) sharers in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI. This deal came after it acquired an initial 12.4 per cent stake (common and preferential shares) in ETI recently.

“That QNB could acquire a bigger stake in ETI was a possibility, as observed from its acquisitions in other markets. What was somewhat surprising, however, was the pace at which the bank concluded the acquisition of its recent stake, announcing

deals valued at $573mn in total within less than two weeks” Vetiva Research staged.

Continue Vetiva stated “We estimate the first deal was priced at 1.2x FY13 P/B, an 18% premium to the market; while the recent deal of $283mn for 2.05billion shares was priced at 1.3x FY13 P/B, a 16 per cent premium. We believe the arrival of an institutional shareholder such as QNB provides ETI with deep pockets should it need to raise more capital in future, which we think remains a possibility.

What we understand from ETI management is that its ideal scenario is not to have any person or institution control

more than 20 per cent of the group’s capital, and this has been made clear to both QNB and Nedbank (Hold, TP ZAR248, CP ZAR228), which holds convertible debt. That said, we do not think this precludes either of these parties, or indeed an external party, from exceeding this threshold. Looking at ETI’s articles of association, we note that a mandatory offer to all other shareholders for more than a 50 per cent controlling interest would be triggered once a consolidated direct and indirect shareholding of 24.99 per cent is reached by any shareholder. While there has been no official confirmation of the exact sellers to QNB in the recent deal, we doubt PIC and the

IFC were involved, based on our discussions with management. We estimate three key shareholders now control c. 57 per cent of ETI’s common shares pre Nedbank conversion and top-up.”

According to Vetiva analysis, “We estimate that post Nedbank’s conversion and top-up to a 20 per cent shareholding, QNB’s common shareholding drops to 17 per cent from 21 per cent but rises to 19 per cent after it converts its preferred shares to common shares.

With QNB now raising its stake in ETI further, our original assumption that the endgame for Nedbank is eventually to take a majority stake in the SSA banking group is fading.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 23

Banking & Finance

Interswitch acquires majority stake in Paynet

BY PRINCVEWILL EKWUJURU

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nterswitch Transnational Holding, a panAfrican integrated payments company has acquired a majority shareholding in Paynet Group, an East African multiinstitutional payments provider. The partnership will enable Paynet Group combine businesses with Interswitch, as the existing shareholders of Paynet Group will become shareholders of Interswitch.

Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe said: “To build a successful payments business, customers are looking for trust, scale, efficiency and a proven track record of execution. This partnership will significantly expand our footprint in East Africa and uniquely position Interswitch in the market. The new business will provide comprehensive solutions for regional and international businesses looking to take advantage of growth opportunities in Africa.”

“Paynet have done a great job at building an innovative and trusted payments company in East Africa and we are confident that between us we can drive growth by continuing to provide payment solutions that are highly tailored to the African market. Bernard Matthewman will remain as Chief Executive of the Paynet business and we intend to leverage the strength of Paynet’s existing management team. “ Also speaking, Bernard Matthewman, CEO of Paynet, who stays on as the CEO of the company noted that payments market in East Africa is moving rapidly into an era where specific products are required for sectors like transport, health, government and county payments as well as the move towards secure Internet based payments. Paynet has been looking for a partner that has both products and experience in these areas so we can rapidly deliver them in the most efficient manner.

Interswitch has the most comprehensive range of products of any provider we have seen in an emerging market and this alongside their existing presence in Uganda provides us with additional strength as we continue to grow in East Africa.”

He went to say that the transaction creates an unriva

led payment infrastructure across East and West Africa.

The new combined network will connect over 100 financial institutions, Paynet’s existing shareholders will become shareholders of Interswitch The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, comes at a time when both governments and private institutions across Africa are looking to cashless solutions

and financial inclusion to accelerate economic growth and drive business efficiency.

Both companies had emphasised that the deal will enable both companies to take advantage of fast-growing East-West Africa trade and continue to provide their customers, both businesses and government, with a trusted partner. The new company will create an unrivalled payment

infrastructure across East and West Africa, uniting financial institutions on a single network, integrating transaction solutions seamlessly into businesses, and creating a secure and convenient way to make cross-border transactions. The new combined network will connect over 100 financial institutions in West and East Africa.

SEMINAR - From left : Managing Director/CEO, Greenwhich Securities Limited, Mr. Kayode Falowo; Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; Managing Director/CEO, Partnership Investment Company Plc, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi and President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike at the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) and Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN) “Mergers and Acquisition as an option for Recapitalizing the Stockbroking Industry” seminar in Lagos.

CBN releases N2bn to MSMEs

BY PETER DURU

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has made available the sum of N2billion to be accessed by small scale entrepreneurs in Benue state, under the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, MSMSEs, development scheme.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, who is a member of the National Council on MSMSEs made this known shortly after inspecting the state’s swine artificial insemination breeding project, at the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, AOCAY, Gboko.

“I urge small scale entrepreneurs to take advantage of the facility to

enhance their businesses and also boost economic activities in the state.” Suswam advised.

The Governor said, “When I started the swine project, many persons mocked my government, but see what we have here today, we have recorded a major breakthrough in the area of artificial insemination and breeding of high grade swine for sales across the country.

“The breakthrough has made the institution the first in the West African subregion to embark on the artificial means of collecting semen from swine and mass producing it for sale to swine farmers.”

Suswam said that government would sustain the programme and work

towards making the project the best in Africa. In her speech, the Benue Swine Project Manager, Mrs. Iveren Aku said some organisations in Nigeria and abroad had indicated interest to partner the institution in the area of processing and exportation.

She disclosed that the pigs could grow to a size of 150 to 250 kg in size making it almost four times the size of the common breed found in the country. Mrs. Aku said the feat was made possible

by Governor Gabriel Suswam who in 2011 approved the purchase of 18 pure breed swine made up of stocks of Land race, Large white and the Duroc for the college.

CBN mulls tighter monetary policy, retains interest rate

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he Central bank of Nigeria, CBN kept the benchmark unchanged at a record high, while considering it may tighten further, the monetary policy to control inflation.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele told reporters in Abuja on Friday that the interest rate was held at 12 percent.

He said that, “Half of the twelve members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise commercial banks’ cash reserve ratios.”

The direction for policy in the short to medium term would be either to retain the current tight stance of monetary policy or further tighten, he said. “The key risks include the possibility of capital reversals as the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing in the U.S. finally ends in October 2014 amidst dwindling oil output and declining oil prices, domestic security challenges, and upward-trending headline inflation.”

Five MPC members voted to increase the cash reserve ratio on private-sector funds from 15 percent, while one wanted to increase the public-sector rate from 75 percent. The MPC concluded by agreeing to retain both rates.

However, the Naira rose 0.2 percent to 163.29 against the dollar on the interbank market as of the close of business on Friday, paring its decline in the past month to 0.7 percent.

Alibaba in talks with Snapdeal to enter India

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hinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is in talks with online retailer, Snapdeal to enter India, the Economic Times reported last week.

Alibaba, whose shares are set to debut on the U.S. market on Friday this week in what could be the world’s largest ever initial public offering, has discussed with Snapdeal a possible investment in the Indian company, but a decision has not been reached yet, the daily reported.

Snapdeal, in which Ratan Tata, the former chairman of India’s salt-to-steel Tata conglomerate, holds a stake, is also attracting attention from Japan’s largest ecommerce company Rakuten Inc and telecommunications firm SoftBank Corp.

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24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Corporate Finance

Fidelity Bank introduces instant airtime recharge

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idelity Bank Plc’s customers can bid goodbye to scratching of recharge cards and the use of internet connection to top up phone airtime as the bank has redefined convenience with the introduction of Instant Recharge.

Known for keeping its commitment which is further exemplified by its “ we keep our word” mantra, Instant Recharge is testament to the bank’s resolve to make innovative services available to its customers regardless of time and location. A customer using this service can top up airtime anywhere, anytime on the phone number registered with the bank simply by dialling *322*070*<Amount>#.

The top up amount is debited directly from the customer ’s account. Top up is instant, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and compatible with all mobile networks in the country.

Sunlight detergent engages consumers through community wash

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nilever Plc has engaged various communities across the country with the Sunlight Community Wash Campaign even as it promises consumers a clean and fresh wash experience with its 2in-1 Sunlight Detergent.

The Community Wash Train started at Ehanlen community in UheleEkpoma, Edo State and then moved to Udoko community, Ondo Town, Ondo State; Oba-Oke communty in Olorunda, Osun State; O keho community, Kajola Oyo State and, Owu Community in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

These communities were full of life as residents thronged out to have a feel of the event which had in attendance key personalities from the communities.

Having used different detergents, they acknowledged Sunlight detergent’s attribute of sensational cleaning and all day fragrance.

In Udoko community, Ondo South West LGA, the playground of Saint Peters Primary School played host to many residents of the area who participated in the community wash.

LAUNCH - From left: Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprise, Bank of Industry; Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, MD/CEO; Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, Executive Director, Large Scale Enterprises and Mr. Kenneth Effah, Executive Director, Corporate Services, at the launch of the Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) Fund by BoI, in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

‘Fringe players render brokerage firms unattractive for foreign partnership’ Stories by NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has said that high number of fringe players among stockbroking firms in Nigeria has continually rendered the brokerage firms unattractive for foreign partnership.

Delivering a paper on ‘Benefits of a Consolidated Stockbroking Industry’, at the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, AIHN’s workshop in Lagos, Onyema said that high number of very small members also renders the broker business model economically non-viable for most players, which leads to several issues regarding professionalisation of the market.

At the present, he said that each of the top 10 players (which constitute 60 percent of both volume and value traded in the market) accounts for $1.7 million of the revenue distribution among the brokers, while the remaining 297 (40 percent) account for paltry $39k per broker.

He said that the Exchange in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has adopted a two pronged approach to maintain the

stability of the Nigerian capital market and to strengthen the operator.

These, according to him, include introduction of minimum operating standards (MOS) by the NSE and minimum capital requirements by the SEC, saying that enforcement of these two standards are

imperative for the success of the Exchange in meeting its strategic objective to be the leading exchange in Africa.

With the new minimum standard to be rolled out, Onyema said that the stockbroking firms would be better equipped to play on the global sphere and would encourage high retail

penetration and institutional flows.

It would engender broker capabilities through introduction of innovative products and services, as well as professional and responsible research, he added.

“The new standards will cater for all three classes of dealing members (broker dealers, brokers and dealers) and address five broad areas of concentration and the objective is to transform market operators now with minimum operating standards in a concise manner that is both easy to comprehend and implement,” he said.

“In addition to a consolidated brokerage industry, it is imperative to consider other factors that will drive efficiency in the Nigerian capital market. Such factors include expanding investor reach, both internationally and domestically, elevating broker capabilities, strengthening the regulatory framework and ensuring clear vision and economic viability of the brokerage industry,” Onyema added.

He stated that going forward, the target is reduce the number of stockbroking firms to around 100 to 50 members and to also achieve a competitive broker market with large players providing value added services (e.g. analysis, coverage, road shows ) as the NSE’s distribution channel locally and internationally.

SIAML woos investors over Stanbic IBTC ETF 30

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tanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, SIAML, has called on domestic investors to take advantage of its on-going N1 billion initial public offer for the Stanbic IBTC Exchange Traded Fund (Stanbic IBTC ETF 30) to invest in a low cost instrument that will deliver the required market return from the NSE 30 Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 is designed to track the performance of the NSE 30 index which comprises the top 30 companies listed on the NSE in terms of market capitalisation and liquidity. The index serves as the flagship benchmark for the stock market as it represents 92 per cent of the NSE’s market capitalisation and the will replicate the price and yield performance of the index.

SIAML is currently offering 10 million units of the Fund at N100 each at par to investors. Application for the offer opened on Monday, 15 September 2014, and is scheduled to close on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

Investors can make a minimum subscription of 10,000 units and multiples of 5,000 units thereafter.

Speaking at the Investors Forum in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer,

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, said that application has been made to the NSE to admit the Fund in its Daily Official List and would be listed for secondary market transactions as soon as the necessary regulatory approvals are secured.

He explained that investors could invest or dispose of units of the Fund by buying or selling in the secondary market or through creation and redemption of the units in the primary market, adding that creation and redemption of the Fund could only be done by the Fund Manager when it is in excess of 500,000 units and could be redeemed either in kind or cash or combination of both.

He noted that the Fund is expected to earn dividends from securities held and would pay out substantially all of its net earnings to its unit holders. Also, all the unit holders would be entitled to a share of the Fund’s distribution, he said.

He assured that working together with the stockbrokers, SIAML would ensure that there is enough liquidity on the Fund, while assuring that the company would up do all within its power to publicise the Fund and achieve improved activities on ETFs on the Exchange.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 25

26 —Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Corporate Finance

Access Bank emerges best local bank in 2014

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ccess Bank Plc, has further consolidated its position as a service focused bank in Nigeria by been adjudged the “Best Local Bank in Nigeria 2014” by EMEA Finance Magazine.

The award recognizes the impressive achievements made

by Access Bank over the past year. The Bank recorded a successful bond offering in June which raised $400million of additional capital to finance growth of the loan book, as well as impressive financial results which demonstrate strong progress made in earnings and deposit growth. Access Bank’s Chief Executive, Herbert Wigwe, said “We are honoured to receive this award. It is a formal recognition of the talents, expertise and hard work of all our staff and I want to take this opportunity to thank them”.

“In the last ten years Access Bank has grown from a start-up to being the fourth largest bank in Nigeria but we have always remained true to our guiding principle of serving the customer first and foremost. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do,” he added.

NEPAD business group opens GEIDI to address unemployment

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

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he NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NGBN), weekend, unveiled Graduates’ Employability Improvement and Development Initiative (GEIDI) to address the problem of unemployment among young graduate’s.

GEIDI is an intervention from NBGN that intends to equip unemployed Nigeria graduates with both technical and entrepreneurial skills to address the observed mismatch in graduate training and those skills required in industries for enhanced employability and self reliability.

The six months programme designed to be an annual event is being organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (NOIC), Bank of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and other partners.

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Transcorp Hotels approves NSE listing, IPO Stories By PETER EGWUATU

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he Board of Directors of Transcorp Hotels Plc(formerly Transnational Hotels and Tourism Services Limited)

THP has endorsed plans to conduct an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and list the company ’s shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. The decision was taken weekend at the company’s Completion Board Meeting

held in Abuja. It was agreed that the company will offer 800,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N10.00 per share for subscription. The proceeds of the offer will be used to part-finance its expansion projects specifically the construction of

AWARDS - From left: Dapo Otunla, General Counsel, Notore Chemicals Industries Limited; Gbenga Oyebode, MFR, Managing Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Winner of ESQ 2014 Law Firm of the year award, Nankunda Katangaza, Head of International Policy, Law Society of England and Wales; and Lere Fashola, Chief Executive Officer, Legal Blitz and ESQ Legal Practice Magazine at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2014 organized by Legal Blitz at Civic Centre, Lagos.

First Bank leverages innovation to boost performance

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irst Bank Nigeria has stated that it will continue to innovate and modernise in order to retain its leading position in the banking sector.

The bank, which recently marked its 120 years of establishment has retained its position as the number 1 Bank in total gross earnings, total assets, total loans and total deposits in Nigeria’s financial services industry while maintaining unparalled reputation for leadership, strength, and stability.

Since 2009, when the present Group Managing Director, GMD/CEO, Mr. Bisi Onasanya took over the leadership of First Bank, the institution has won several awards.

Onasanya was recently recognised in the BusinessDay Banking Awards 2014, as the Bank CEO of the Year for the second consecutive time. At the BusinessDay Awards 2014, First Bank also won the Best Bank in Retail Banking and Best Bank in Private Banking Awards. For two consecutive years, 2011 and 2012, he won the Ai SRI 50 CEO of the Year by African Investor Capital Markets Index Series Awards. He was the 2011 Pearl Outstanding CEO of the Year in the Pearl Awards, CEO of the year in the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards 2012 and

the Nigeria Elite Business Awards 2013.

Under Mr. Onasanya’s leadership, First Bank became the first organisation to implement and obtain certification in September 2010 and recertification on the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 standard in May 2013. The bank is also the first organisation to implement and obtain certification on Business Continuity Management in BS 25999 standards.

Onasanya has established a solid reputation for solid performance and sound judgment in First Bank and is committed to driving the Bank’s ongoing transformation, growth and modernisation plans. He has championed several initiatives to position First Bank as a leading financial services group in Sub-Saharan Africa whilst promoting the growth of the African financial services industry as a whole.

The bank has spread its tentacles all over Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa and in the international business climate to ensure a synergy that would foster development in all its business communities. First listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange in 1971, Nigerians were allowed to buy into its huge financial potential and has since remained the people’s bank driving its interactions with a high level of corporate governance and responsiveness to stakeholders.

two new flagship hotels in Ikoyi, Lagos and Port Harcourt, as part of its broader expansion plans.

Transcorp Hotels is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (“Transcorp Plc”) and owns and operates the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the Transcorp Hotels Calabar.

The company’s vision is to be the premier hospitality company in Africa, creating maximum and sustainable value for stakeholders, as well as to build Africa’s choice hospitality assets underpinned by excellence entrepreneurship and execution.

Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, the Managing Director and CEO of THP, noted “Nigeria’s hospitality industry is experiencing significant growth, with major demand for expanded capacity and enhanced quality and service.

THP is ideally positioned, as the existing owner of the largest number of hotel rooms in Nigeria, and partnered with one of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands, Hilton Worldwide, to leverage this demand. The proceeds of this offer will be used to fund the development of two new Transcorp Hilton hotels, one in Ikoyi, Lagos, and the second in Port Harcourt, with both due for completion in 2017. We are delighted to be able to offer the Nigerian public the opportunity to participate in our future success. This offer reiterates our commitment to creating sustainable value for all stakeholders. “ THP will leverage its unique partnership with the Hilton brand and strong customer base to provide an excellent guest experience and achieve superior returns from the new assets.

Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, the President and CEO of Transcorp Plc, the parent company, remarked that the existing shareholders and members of the public should be excited by this positive development to open up ownership of what is widely regarded as the most strategic piece of real estate in Nigeria and share in the fortunes of the company that is already known for its impeccable track record, healthy financials and strong corporate governance.

The offer for subscription will open on September 24th and close on September 30th 2014.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 27

Commodity Index

Micro-Finance

Sept. 12 - Sept. 18, 2014

ITF hinges SMEs development on capacity building Stories by PROVIDENCE OBUH

I

n order to drive the process of development for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sub sector, a lot of works need to be done in terms of building capacity, said Industrial Training Fund.

In a paper presentation, titled; “Prospects and Challenges of SME Training in Nigeria,” Director General/Chief Executive, ITF, Mrs.

Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, said that in spite of the possible contributions of SMEs to economic growth, there are still challenges facing training for them, due to the interrelationship between inadequate education and training; national insecurity; absence of infrastructural facilities; high cost of training, among others.

According to ChukkasOnaeko, “21st Century Nigeria has numerous economic development challenges, but it is poised for greater

Indian bank introduces software to facilitate lending in Africa

I

ndian banking and financial services software powerhouse, Nucleus Software Exports has rolled out a new credit and loan system to enable banks in Africa improve its lending capabilities and implement a robust and effective processes and procedures.

The company is working with Johannesburg based, Ubank, the community banking and loan provider to implement FinnOne, a market ready lending technology solution product.

Nucleus Software provides IT products and software solutions to global banking and financial services industry, while FinnOne is the flagship product of Nucleus Software, an integrated applications, designed to provide operational support, risk management and decision-making support to banks and financial services companies.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer, Nucleus Software, Mr.Vishnu Dusad, said that with more than 22 customers in eight countries, the company has a long term focus on the vibrant growing African banking market.

“It will increase Ubank’s lending e f f i c i e n c i e s exponentially, and grow its current portfolio to 1.5 million accounts by 2017.

“The FinnOne lending solution will enhance and improve any credit process, including portfolio management and collections that will ensure achievement of operational efficiencies and a reduction of operational losses,” Dusad said.

achievements in not so long future. It is not just about Vision 20:2020.

More than that; it is because of the sheer quantum of resource potential Nigeria is endowed with! Nigeria indeed is the next development and investment destination.

“With the right policies and the commitment to implement them, which is evident in the present administration’s intentions and pronouncements, Nigeria’s SMEs development will not take long to be realised.

Yet, a lot of work needs to be done, especially in terms of building the capacity to drive the process of SME development.”

For the unemployed graduates, she said, “With the high unemployment rate in the nation, it is clear to graduates that they must not wait for Government to provide jobs for them.

They have to develop their own capacity to become self-employed and even employ others,” she said.

Visa, Apple introduces product to enhance payment

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isa in collaboration with Apple has introduced “Visa Toke n S e rvice” to facilitate and secure consumer payments with new Apple devices.

The product works by replacing sensitive p a y m e n t account information found on plastic cards with a digital account number or “token” that can be safely stored on mobile devices and used in stores and in app purchases.

Chief Executive Officer, Visa Inc. Mr. Charlie Scharf said, “Combining the trust, scale and security of Visa payments with Apple Pay will accelerate adoption of mobile payments.

“The combination of new digital experiences from Apple with new network capabilities from Visa provides for great payment experiences and enhanced security for

millions of Visa account holders, merchants a n d f i n a n c i a l institutions.”

He said that participating financial institutions will be able to add Visa debit and credit cards to Apple Pay, Apple’s new payment service, enabling their customers to make easy and secure purchases.

He added that Visa will roll out the service to financial institutions in phases, initially supporting early participants in the Apple Pay launch, and then extending the service availability to all its clients.

Apple Pay helps you make purchases in some highly visited stores and with just the touch of a finger, using the new iPhone 6 and other Apple devices. “Visa account holders will continue to receive all of the rewards, benefits and security offered by Visa credit and debit cards.

28 —Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 29

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 31

Homes & Housing Finance

FESTAC Phase II concession to earn FG N30bn, deliver 50,000 houses •Mixed reactions as residents fear infrastructure breakdown Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE

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he agreement to concession the reclamation and infrastructure development of the second phase of FESTAC Town in Lagos to a consortium of private developers is expected to lead to the delivery of 50,000 housing units and earn the Federal Government N30 billion over a 30-year period.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, disclosed this at the signing of the public-private partnership (PPP) deal between Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Messrs New FESTAC Property Development Company Limited (NFPDCL) for the development of 1,126 hectares of land in the largely swampy area to produce 7,000 serviced plots complete with standard infrastructure and all essential services. The concession is to run for a period of 30 years, after which the concessionaire will transfer ownership to the Federal Housing Authority.

NFPDCL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) made of four companies - Fung Tai Engineering Limited, PW Nigeria Limited, SCC (Nigeria) Limited and Energo Nigeria Limited.

But the concessioning agreement has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders, with some professionals in the built environment saying it will lead to proper planning while some residents are wary of the additional pressure on the already overstretched infrastructure.

A property developer who pleaded anonymity said the development would be hijacked by money bags, noting that the land should have been used for mass development of affordable housing using the instrumentality of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company. He added that going by the over-subscription for the 10,000 mortgages that the Federal Government recently launched, more Nigerians would have benefitted if the land had been tailored towards such purpose. However, an estate surveyor, who also does not want to be named, hailed the concessioning. According to

him, it will lead to proper planning and monitoring of the development of the town and thereby eliminate incidence of illegal occupancy and the ‘Omo onile’ syndrome. He however cautioned that necessary checks must be put in place to curb land speculation.

Most residents who spoke on the matter expressed fear that the development will put further strain on the inadequate infrastructure in FESTAC town. They noted that currently, the road

network in and out of the town are few leading to traffic build up during rush hours, adding that with the new development the situation is bound to be worse if more outlets are not created. This, according to them, is in addition to lack of public water and incessant power supply.

“Amazing, 7,000 plots to be sold in FESTAC area? Very soon, everyone will either have to walk to the office or ride bicycles. As FESTAC is at the moment, more connecting roads are needed as urgent as

yesterday. Now I can’t see any plans to fix that here,” a respondent noted.

The minister has however allayed the fear of infrastructure breakdown, assuring that the money to be generated from the deal would be ploughed back into the rehabilitation of the first phase of the town.

“Government earnings from the project are estimated at N25.765 billion as premium for 30 years of concession and an additional N150 million ground rent annually.

ALTERNATIVE HOUSING - Two storey building with 11 rooms made up of offices, crèche, reception, training areas and toilet units constructed with containers by Tempohousing Nigeria (THN) for a church in Lagos, delivered in 7 weeks.

Mortgage: NMRC mandates new payroll compliance for workers

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he Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company has mandated full implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for civil servants to make them eligible for mortgage refinancing.

Chief Exective Officer, Mr. Sonnie Ayere, said full implementation of the IPPIS by civil servants are additional requirements under the company ’s unifor m underwriting criteria for mortgage Loans to comply with the eligibility criteria for NMRC refinancing.

NMRC, in a statement, said that it was in furtherance of its role to develop the mortgage market by standardising mortgage practice in Nigeria that the company recently published a revised draft of its Uniform Underwriting Criteria for Mortgage Loans.

The statement titled, “Access to Housing Finance: IPPIS Compliance Mandatory for

NMRC’s Refinancing of Public Servant Mortgage Loans”, issued by Ayere stated: “As part of its role to develop the mortgage market by standardising mortgage practice, NMRC recently published a revised draft of its Uniform Underwriting Criteria for Mortgage Loans advising that primary lending institutions must conform before any mortgage loan is granted to a borrower eligible for NMRC refinancing.

“Some of the additional requirements are that mortgage repayments must be made by deduction from income at source to help reduce credit risk and improve investor confidence in the mortgage sector. This requires the implementation of electronic payment systems for salary remittances.

Accordingly, as part of the minimum criteria, public service organisations must enrol civil servants on the IPPIS platform in line with the eligibility criteria for NMRC refinancing.”

UK mortgage banks spark price war with rate cuts

A

fresh mortgage price war has broken out, with a string of big lenders slashing their rates in recent days.

Metro Bank, Halifax, Barclays, Nationwide Building Society, HSBC, Virgin Money, Skipton Building Society and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society are among those to change their rates.

Meanwhile, Virgin Money has launched a new range that allows people to fix in for one year longer than the usual five-year deals and protect themselves against the prospect of interest rates rising for a prolonged period.

The mortgage battle comes despite expectations that the Bank of England will soon move its base rate off its historic low of 0.5 percent, pushing up costs for borrowers.

But David Hollingworth, Head of communications at London and Country Mortgages, said that swap rates, the interest rates which lenders use to price loans, have been on a downward path.

“Swap rates have been falling back and it seems the markets feel it’s going to be too soon for the base rate to rise before the end of this year now.

US mortgage rate hits 4.23%

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verage long-term U.S. mortgage rates surged last week to at its highest level since the week ended May 1, though it is still at a historically low level. Mortgage company, Freddie Mac, said the nationwide average for a 30year loan jumped to 4.23 percent from 4.12 percent the previous week. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, rose to 3.37 percent from 3.26 percent.

Mortgage rates often follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year note traded at 2.62 percent on Wednesday, up sharply from 2.54 percent a week earlier. It was trading at 2.63 percent Thursday morning. Bond yields rise when bond prices fall. The increase in the yield on the benchmark Treasury bond was stoked by speculation in financial markets that the Federal Reserve might abandon its nearly 6-year-old policy of keeping short-term rates at record lows.

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32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

E-Commerce

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ith all of online m a r k e t i n g complexities, all marketers are really chasing one goal - to increase conversions. The challenge of chasing conversions, however, is that every consumer is different and requires a different approach.

For instance, one consumer may conduct a search for an LED television and purchase the first item that appears in Google’s Product Listing Ads, while another consumer could conduct the same search but continue to do more research like checking out consumer reviews or promo codes before making their final purchasing decision. Analysts believe that this is why it is essential for marketers to approach conversion from different steps during their acquisition efforts, four of which are highlighted below.

The first step is attention. In this stage, it is believed that marketers should aim to create awareness around their brand and attract the attention of their audience.

There are a variety of ways brands can generate awareness in the attention

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Strategies that drive conversion for online retailers Stories By JONAH NWOKPOKU stage. This could be in form of incentive. Research has shown that incentive leads many consumers to proceed beyond window shopping.

However, it is also important that brands that are trying to garner more attention for their

brand, only promote their company to like-minded audiences.

Secondly, to successfully push consumers through the sales cycle, marketers need to maintain consumer attention with interesting, helpful or informative content.

This is as important as making effort to convince

consumers that they desire a particular product. In this stage, marketers are aiming to convince consumers that they want or desire a specific product or service. For example, it is likely that a retailer knows that a consumer loves a particular product because of his browser history and online

behaviour. Because of this info, the retailer delivers a video ad in a Twitter feed of the customer which is relevant to the kind of product the customer loves. In this case, the retailer is certain that, not only is the ad relevant, but it also fits into the desire stage because the video offers reasons why that retailer ’s brand is better than others.

The last but not the least is action.

To increase conversions, marketers must lead consumers toward taking action during this stage.

Kaymu intensifies marketing with mobile app N

igeria’s online marketplace, Kaymu.com.ng has further expanded to mobile marketing with the launch of its mobile app last week.

Kaymu said the mobile app is designed to make online shopping in Nigeria even easier and more convenient, with features that enable sellers to list products and buyers to select from a wide variety of products at a glance.

According to the marketplace, the app will offer a wider product assortment, fast and intuitive navigation, and easier

buyer and seller account management.

Kaymu Nigeria’s Managing Director, Evangeline Wiles said, “Mobile marketing is very quickly, revolutionizing the buying and selling process in Nigeria. With people conducting transactions via messaging apps like Blackberry Messenger and WhatsApp, the launch of the Kaymu.com.ng mobile application on different platforms will provide an even more structured platform for sales to be conducted on the go”.

This move is to tap into the

astronomic growth in mobile in Nigeria. It will be recalled that the Nigeria Communications Commission recorded over 65 million mobile internet subscribers in Nigeria as at beginning of the second quarter of this year. Also, according to a 2013 report

by McKinsey Global Institute, 58 percent of Nigerians living in cities have access to an internet-enabled mobile phone, and urban Nigerians are more than twice as likely as the average African internet user to conduct transactions online.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 33

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34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Men in Business with CHIOMA GABRIEL

I threw away SIM cards worth millions of Naira

sold for N10,000, N5,000, N2,000 then but now, they are sold for N100. Some of us were hoping that there was going to be an official scarcity sort of so that we could sell and recover our money because in those days when there was an official scarcity of goods, you could rocket your prize. But this thing kept crashing until it was sold for N100. This affected 100% of all the former agents and that was why they all crashed.

— TOBI-WILLIAMS DIMOJI

Including your business?

Yes, we had to pull out because the thing affected everybody. Just like I said, the network providers were as at that time trying to streamline themselves and have a good framework under which the agencies could work. So, those who are really surviving now are those who were never part of the former NITEL era.

By CHIOMA GABRIEL

H

e has never done anything else but business.

His experience traversed from tel ecommunications to shipping and now publishing, properties and computers.

Okey Tobi-Williams Dimoji is popular in his line of business with headquarters in Anthony Village , Lagos where a street is named after him.

The graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka is currently undergoing his P.hd programme in the same University after an eight year sojourn in the United Kingdom where he ran a shipping business. Here, he talks about his business experience.

Excerpts.

Explain how you ushered in the GSM business?

Before the GSM came into Nigeria , there were a lot of noise about its coming and a lot of people look forward to its coming. Apart from MTEL, which was a major player, there were nothing like, MTN, ETISALET, AIRTEL and others. MTEL then had something they called agents and you must be accredited before you can play a role then. We were one of those agents and then at that point, we had almost about 15 branches in the country. And before the advent of GSM, we had serious seminars where we invited most of those network providers. But then, somewhere along the line, most of those agents who were accredited by MTEL at that time were already used to a certain regime in which the network provider for instance was not a player in the retailership of their services. A lot of people thought it was going to be the thing. But then, when the GSM network came, the game was quite different. They became marketers. A lot of agents as well because of their C M Y K

anticipation of what GSM was going to be went to borrow money from the banks to support their business.

Unfortunately for them, these banks were supporting the networks. Until CBN sanctioned them, the banks were selling GSM inside their banking halls. So, you go around to borrow money from a bank to do business and you go back there next time to discover that the bank was doing the same business that you are doing. At the end of the day, the networks did not play the roles the way they were being played under the MTEL era. The resultant effect was that you found yourself competing with the network providers who have not as at that time streamlined what their operations was going to look like. It is only now that they have found their level and of course, have streamlined everything.

For someone like me at a time, one of these network providers did what they called, “Buy One, Get One Free, BOGOF”. What we did was that we bought a bundle of mobile phones with SIM cards and paid like N20,000 and before you know what was happening, the prices of SIM cards were crashing.

Sometimes, you got stuck with the ones you have. And if you notice, when GSM came for the first time, SIM cards were

Why did you not sell them at give-away prizes then?

There was this constant hope that things would change but they didn’t. They kept crashing and you didn’t know what the next day would look like. It was only recently that anybody who wants to enter into the business knows what he or she is going in for. Even at that time, the networks were finding it difficult to operate. That was why networks like ECONET has undergone so many changes. Afterward, we moved on to

,

What is your business story?

Really, I have a media background.

Both my first and second degree were in Mass Communication. I started my business with telecommunications.

Before the advent of GSM, we were a leading telecommunication company in Nigeria. The company then was called, ROYAL STRIDE Nigeria LTD. I would say that we laid the foundation for the take off of GSM in the country.

Of course, this is an age of public relations and every one will like to be recognized, so, we are also into public relations and publishing and we handle events for people. We were deep in telecommunication in Nigeria and ushered in the GSM business.

How much did you lose during this period?

We lost a lot of money.

I remember throwing away over N2 million worth of SIM cards because, we bought these phones and SIM cards and before you know what was happening, the prices crashed.

that required my presence, so I was there for eight years. But then, Nigeria is our country and we cannot be in another man’s land for ever. That is why I have decided to come back.

The business is still there and we are running that with a good management but I have decided to invest in some other things too.

What other things are you into now?

I am into publishing. Now, that is my course of study in the University.

We are also into public relations and advertising under the company name, Wesley & Bryan Limited. Publishing is something I studied for seven years. I have a BA and an MSC in Mass Communication. I have also, enrolled to do a PHD programme in University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

I saw a copy of Computer Village Weekly published by you? What is the inspiration for it?

I noticed that a lot of things goes into the market which the major newspapers in the country would not be able to capture. The market is a billion dollar market and I discovered that the main stream media might not be able to cover a lot of their activities.

That was why we decided to float that.

It is meant to capture what goes there since that is where major telecommunication companies in the country comes to market their products. So, we feel that as long as you use a mobile phone or a computer, you cannot do without the computer village. So, the paper is sort of a community paper.

How would you compare running a business in Nigeria to running a business abroad?

Of course, there are a lot of advantages about being in Nigeria to do your own thing, whether you like it or not. Here you meet your old school mates, your acquaintances, you also, meet people who are very connected to people. And don’t forget that Nigeria is a developing country and this means that you have a chance to be part of that development. So, when you are in a country like Nigeria that is developing, you should know that we are not just a developing

What we did was that we bought a bundle of mobile phones with SIM cards and paid like N20,000 and before you know what was happening, the prices of SIM cards were crashing.

so many things. I was in UK for eight years and I ran a very successful shipping company. The business is still there in the UK. Why did you decide to leave a very lucrative business like shipping in UK in the hands of other people to come back to Nigeria?

Nigeria is my country and they say home is haven. Shipping is a very vast area and it all depends on the branch of shipping you’ re doing. I am doing international shipping. The branch of shipping I wanted to do was the one

,

country but we have resources. There are lots of developing countries that do not have resources but Nigeria is a developing country with resources.

The important thing is for you to simply sit down, analyze the country and ask yourself, where you can key in. It is not going to be that easy because the country is not just an easy place. But by the time you are able to understand the place and key in properly, every other thing will fall into place.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 35

People in Business

Nigeria needs better enforcement against fake, unregistered products — EMEKA AJOIYI

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

M

r. Emeka Ajoiyi is the Country Manager, Inbisco Nigeria Limited, the commercial arm of Mayora Group.

Noted for his remarkable business inclinations which came to light at a very young age, Ajoiyi was determined to reach the skies.

Shortly after his university education, he ventured into entrepreneurship, then manufacturing of a good number of food products in the country.

His voyage into manufacturing of quality food products in Nigeria endeared him to many other notable food products manufacturers across the world.

In this chat with Vanguard, he opens up on his journey into manufacturing, what he thinks about the sector, why he became Country Manager, Inbisco Nigeria Limited, and lots more.

Excerpts:

What we do According to Mr. Ajoiyi, Inbisco Nigeria Limitedprovides Nigerians with “safe, delicious and affordable food products such as candies, chocolate, wafers, biscuits, cookies etc., mostly to the delight of Nigerian children as well as children all over

the world.”

Job creation He said the business which is less than three years old, currently employs about 40 qualified Nigerians.

“It is also providing secondary employment to almost 1000 citizens of this country. This is apart from the quality and affordable food brands that Nigerians enjoy from the stables of Inbisco.

Challenges Speaking on the challenges facing the business, Ajoiyi regretted that despite being a good corporate citizen that complies with all regulations especially declaration and remittance of taxes, Inbisco Nigeria, like every business has its own challenges.

“Every business comes with its own start-up challenges. In our own case, we had enormous challenges starting up the business in Nigeria.

First was cost of funds.

It is unattractive to borrow from within Nigeria when compared to other parts of the world and this puts the business under a lot of pressure.

Another issue is startup regulatory bureaucracies that force one to skip timelines more than once; there is lack of credible data to

•Emeka Ajoiyi

,

Background After obtaining his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu in 1997, Ajoiyi went on to the University of Calabar where he obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management.

Not done yet, Ajoiyi who is a member of the Chattered Institute of Marketing (CIM) United Kingdom, member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) etc., proceeded to ESUT Business School in Enugu where he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing all in his bid to sharpen his entrepreneurial skill and be on top of his game.

He worked with Cadbury Nigeria PLC so many years before moving to Inbisco Nigeria Limited

For the food industry in particular, there is need for better enforcement against fake and unregistered product entry and distribution in Nigeria

,

aid commercial planning.

Finding the right people to employ is always challenging although our business is more of an equal opportunity type of business and does not discriminate against any set of individuals. Once an individual is qualified in his/her field, he/she has the chance of becoming relevant to his society.

“There is also the market challenge or the challenge of competition.

It is rather funny that you never get to meet these challenges the way you left them the day

before. Thankfully, our products are of mass appeal for all ages and social economic classes,” he said.

Sourcing raw materials “We never had much constraints in this regard and on many occasions, we source abroad as we are looking forward to consistent supplies here in the country.

Business regulatory requirements “Being a food company, all our products go through NAFDAC

registration.

This forms part of the initial regulatory requirements we comply with before bringing any brand to the market.”

While appealing to government to assist businesses by providing basic infrastructure, Ajoiyi said: “In general, I think we need to emulate some countries in infrastructure development especially power. We also need to form strong institutions that can confront our national challenges as they occur.

The importance of security to investment cannot be overemphasized.

For the food industry in particular, there is need for better enforcement against fake and unregistered product entry and distribution in Nigeria. The market is currently flooded with food products that no one can attest to their safety and unsuspecting consumers are mostly at risk,” he stated.

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36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Tax Matters

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isk profiling can be defined as an evaluation of an individual or organization’s willingness to take risks, as well as the threats to which a company or organization is exposed. The risk profile will outline the number of risks, type of risks, and potential effect of the risks. This outline allows a business to anticipate additional costs or disruptions to operations. It also describes how those risks will affect the operational strategy of a company.

TAX RISK MANAGEMENT Risk has been defined in the European Commission’s guide on risk management for tax administration (fiscal guide) as: “Anything negative that can affect the organization’s ability to achieve its objectives.” On this basis, ascertaining the objectives of the organization in question is critical to the question of risk management.

The objectives of taxpayers and the tax administration will not be identical and will sometimes conflict, although at other times they may overlap.

Corporate taxpayers may have a range of tax strategies depending on their tax philosophy. Most large corporations will want to balance profit maximization with other objectives, which include the reduction of risks such as unsatisfactory compliance which might retain reputation and the cost of dispute to the revenue authorities. They will also want to steer clear of too much volatility a reported profit, since this is disliked by the market. What they consider to be the correct balance between these factors will depend on the overall business and risk philosophy of the board of directors as filtered through to the tax department. The risk outlined will be dealt with by internal risk management and control of decision making within the context of broader controls exercised by the company.

From the perspective of tax administrators, the relevant risk is the institutional risk of the revenue authority not achieving its objective of tax collection. Four broad categories of risk for the revenue authorities and government have been identified.

These are unrelated to the risk that the expected level of revenue will not be collected. They have been identified as: i. Register risk the risk that tax yield is reduced by inaccuracies in tax registration; ii. Filling risk the risk that the tax yield will be reduced by failure of taxpayers to file their returns; iii. Payment risk - failure to C M Y K

Effective strategies and techniques of risk profiling of a company pay amount due; and iv.

Declaration risk - where returns are incorrect due to errors or a deliberate act. All these risks have to be tackled with limited resources so those resources must be allocated efficiently to where they will have the b e s t impact.

It is the last of t h e s e r i s k s which is of greatest importance in relation to large corporate taxpayers. The vast majority of corporations will wish to ensure that they have good systems in place for reporting and paying the tax which they believe is properly due within the law. The key risk for the tax authority lies in system failures and also in the areas of uncertainty and lack of agreement in relation to the amount tax payable. In this context, the risk borne by the tax authorities may be considered by them to include the risk of what the fiscal guides calls “barely legitimate tax avoidance.”

T

here will be grey areas where the corporate taxpayer may believe that its actions are within the law but where the revenue authority takes a different view. There is a risk to revenue authorities of collecting less tax than they expected on their interpretation of the law, even if their interpretation comes out to be incorrect according to the court. It may be seen by the tax authority as creating a tax gap.

COMPONENT OF RISK PROFILING FOR A COMPANY TO BE OBSERVED BY THE TAX OFFICER. 1.0 Background information; This is the basic information considered by the tax officer.

Tin Number e.g.

00000001-00 Name of Company e.g International Nigeria Limited Turnover e.g N42,373,115,000

Phone 234 (1) 22222222 Email khrrrrrrrrr@yahoo.com Change of tax consultant No. Old Tax Consultant No.

Registered Address e.g.

K m 16, Yasmin road/ Halifa Express Way, Dutse, JIgawa.

Date of Incorporation th e.g.

29 August 1995 Date of commencement st e.g.

1 November 1995 Nature of Business e.g.

Provision of oil field transit and supply base facilities to the oil and gas Industry.

Accounting Date st e.g.

31 December Accounting Year e.g.

1 st January – 31 st December Share Capital (Authorized and Issued) YOA e.g.

2012 2011 Director’s Report Attached Yes Auditors Report Attached Yes Last Tax Audit e.g.

2008 – 2010 YOA (Criminal Investigation) 1.1 Auditor & Tax Consultants Auditor Khairat Muhd & Co. Address 6th Floor, Sadiq House, 15b Muhd Abubakar Street, Gwarmai.

Phone 234 (1) 22222222 Email khrrrrrrrrr@yahoo.com Change of Auditor No Old Auditor No Date of Change No Tax Consultant Khairat Muhd & Co. Address th 6 Floor, Sadiq House, 15b Muhd Abubakar Street, Gwarmai.

Risk Items: Date of commencement of business:- This means, the date the company started operations Size of business:- This means the capacity of the business in terms of turnover, level of tax assessed, number of staff, number of branches and or subsidiaries Change in tax consultant: - This means whether a company has changed the existing tax consultant to another one e.g. from Muhd & Co. to Abba & Co. Change in auditors: - This means whether a company has changed the existing auditor to another one e.g.

From Zarewa & Co. To Yesmin & Co. Qualification in audit report: - Any report called qualified audit report means that the report is not acceptable for tax return purposes. Therefore, the analysis should indicate the qualification or otherwise of the report.

Accounting system computerized:- This is to indicate whether the company is using of computerized system of accounting records or not Accounting system manual:- This is to indicate whether the accounting system of the company is manually computed or not Taxpayer ’s compliance submission of returns (timeliness):- this is to indicate whether the taxpayer is complying with submission of tax returns as and when due. Result of previous tax audit exercise (additional taxes):- this means to indicate whether a tax audit exercise was taken in previous years or not.

(I) Cost of sales =opening stock + purchase – closing stock or cost of sales = purchases. Therefore, cost of sale turnover= Cost of sales/turnover x 100/1 = % (II) Tax assessed Turnover = Tax assessed/Turnover x 100/1 = %

(III) Equity Debt Ratio = equity/debt X 100/1 = % Equity: - means anything belonging to owners of the business Total Debt: - long time liability + current liability (IV) Net profit Turnover = net profit/turnover x 100/1 = % (v) Current asset/Current liability = current assets/ current liabilities X 100/1 = % (VI) Liquid Assets ratio or acid test ratio = current assets-stock/ current liabilities x 100 /1 = % (VII) Gearing Ratio = Equity Ratio. Therefore, Gearing Ratio = Equity/ Assets x 100/1 = % Turnover: This is to ascertain whether there is a change in the level of turnover between the last year and the year under review; and to determine the level of changes thereon in percentages. Also compare the business turnover with the industrial average.

Cost of Sales/Direct Cost: This is to ascertain whether there is a change in the level of cost of sales between the previous year and the current year and the level of changes thereon. Also to compare the business cost of sales and that of industrial average.

Admin/ Operating Expenses: This is to identify the changes in the admin/ operating expenses of the years and make comparism between the current year and industrial average.

Operating expenses:Total operating expenses to line of industry average: This is to make comprises with that of industry average.

Salary and wages to line of industry average: - This is to make comprises with that of industry average.

Interest on loan/Bank charges to line of industry average: - This is to make comprises with that of industry average.

Repairs and maintenance to line of industry average: This is to make comprises with that of industry average.

Debtors & Creditors Does the company have high amounts of debtors and creditors in it accounts for the period under review? The gross amounts may increased by some % of the previous years’ figure.

Related Party Transaction Does the company have huge amounts stated in the debtor and creditors figure as amounts owing and due to associated company. If yes the figures should be critically reviewed as this might be a means to transfer fund to associated companies.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 37

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Interview

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hina LOREMIKAN is a seasoned human and workers’ rights activist who has struggled on social-based issues, including democratic and constitutional processes, for over two decades alongside prominent civil rights activists such as Barrister Femi Falana and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, etc. The Coordinator of the Campaign Against Impunity, he has also worked as the Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR), and is with the Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria. In this interview, he tackles one of the important concerns of the consumer in Nigeria…

You have been on a campaign against pirate marketing in the alcoholic beverages industry, which involves two of the biggest players in the sector. What is your concern with this?

Thank you very much. It’s good that you observed that this act of pirate marketing involves two heavyweights in the alcoholic beverage industry, with one seeking to gain an edge over the other through unfair practices.

Naturally, in marketing there is competition, particularly between or among those who offer a similar range of products and services, which cater to about the same needs or wants.

Every company is struggling to gain a larger market share and hence profits, but one should not

•Shina LOREMIKAN

Regulators must protect consumers by firm and fair regulations — LOREMIKAN affected competitor as the ‘assaulted brewery,’ because of the perceived underhand method by which the aggressor brewery goes into meeting with major retail outlets across the country and inducing them with juicy incentives not to stock, display or sell the products of the assaulted brewery.

We reliably gathered that some of the incentives offered i n c l u d e branded promotional materials like refrigerators, coolers, seating sets, l a r g e r

seek to gain advantage over the competition through unscrupulous or underhand means.

That definitely violates certain codes, principles and legislation that protect the marketing of goods and services in the country. All cannot be said to be fair in war, as even the Geneva Convention has clauses that seek to protect groups like prisoners and the weak during the physical acts of combat between •Shina LOREMIKAN nations. That is basically our discounts on sales and concern. regular supply of crates of We have a situation in free products. This becomes a which one of the two major concern for us because breweries you referred to has consumers are being embarked on a conscious and manipulated and coerced into deliberate programme of de- switching allegiance, out of marketing the other, which is necessity or availability, and its close competitor in the made to patronise brands of alcoholic beverages sector. beer and malt drinks that This situation leaves me with might not have ordinarily no option but to describe the been their first choice. This is

an unfair creation of artificial scarcity.

How did you get to know about this?

The Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria (CRANN) is a coalition of NGOs and civil society groups who have come together to monitor and intervene in trends relating to how consumers in Nigeria perceive or are satisfied with the goods/services being offered across board by corporate organisations and other levels of entrepreneurs.

We came about as a result of a general climate of dissatisfaction with a lot of goods and services in Nigeria, and due to the observation that there is a general weakness in regulation that makes several organisations or entrepreneurs get away with the provision of bad products/services.

We operate through support for the activities of our different member organisations on consumer-based issues, and we also have an office where people can report incidences that infringe their rights as consumers. Once we receive genuine complaints, we take these up with the relevant organisations involved and seek redress.

We became aware of this issue of pirate marketing in the alcoholic beverages industry because many people complained to us in their

capacity as consumers and potential consumers. Equally, a number of complaints came through our member organisations from various parts of Nigeria.

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an you expatiate on how this has become an issue for consumer rights advocacy?

Essentially, within most marketing spaces, the sanctity of the consumer ’s ability to choose from a range or variety of products is usually guaranteed and protected by legislation. The consumers’ space for choice should ordinarily be expansive and protected, and most organisations offering goods and services are generally aware of this, which is why we have fair competition and anti-competitiveness laws in our legal books in Nigeria.

However, it becomes insidious when a corporate organisation endeavours at de-marketing its competition by offering those manning the distribution channels incentives as a way of monopolising the market and earning more revenue at the expense of competition.

It is like turning marketing into a crude war strategy, instead of a refined strategy that promotes products, grows their brand identity, and ensures their success within a context of fairness. Our position is that even if our hardworking marketers of products have hard-pressing

targets, they must still strive to win by fair means.

We strongly believe this to be highly unethical, as it narrows the space for choice in what ought to be an open and free market place. Why should the consumer be forced to compromise his or her choice and patronise only what is available? For us at CRANN, unethical marketing practices leaves the consumer unsatisfied and shortchanged, and is a corporate crime that needs to be addressed in very strong terms. It must be stopped to allow for the growth and development of the alcoholic beverages sector and the Nigerian economy, and as a way of ensuring investor confidence in our country.

Does this sort of marketing portend negative consequence for the national economy in any way?

Certainly, Anti-competitive marketing always has very negative consequences for any economy that fall victim to it because it kills competition and entrenches monopoly. This is bad for sectoral growth and development, while also jeopardising the livelihoods, incomes and tax-paying capacities of the numerous people who are part of the income-chain tied to the other levels of the competition, which is the alcoholic beverage industry in this case. Sadly, it is this sector today, but it might be another one tomorrow, as people, including marketers are always looking out to replicate models that appear to work, whether it is ethical or not.

So, how do you think that this situation can be resolved and justice granted to the organisation you refer to as the ‘assaulted brewery’?

This is clearly a case for regulation, signifying a playing ground that is not level, where the underhand practices of certain organisations are not sanctioned or penalised.

There is need for fairness in marketing practices, predicated on allowing industry players in the sector freedom to operate on a level ground, according to the same rules and on equal terms, while guaranteeing appropriate and unbiased regulation by concerned agencies.

This necessitates firm, fair, acceptable and impartial regulation as a way of checking the tendency of corporate bodies to act in unethical and unscrupulous ways.

Only efficient institutions promote growth and development in the economy, and the country as a whole.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 39

Advertising

Our reduced rates attracted compliance — LASAA boss

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n a chat with the Chief Executive of the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency, LASAA, Mr. George Noah, he discussed several issues in the signage industry and the effort of the agency at making sure practitioners in the Out-ofHome, OOH industry and signage users are not strangled by its regulation, thereby providing a level playing ground for the parties Princewill Ekwujuru records.

Compliance level In compliance when you feel that perhaps things are too expensive then it is always very difficult for people to comply on their own. Secondly, our rates are now competitive with those of the states around us. I think we are even cheaper than Ogun State. Before now, people used to go to Ogun State and other neighbouring states to register their vehicles.

And you know for vehicle branding, the law states that if you brand in any state, you are allowed to drive your car anywhere in the federation.

So we have to be competitive.

So there was no need for anybody to go Oyo State or to Delta State to go and register their vehicles. When in actual fact we are as competitive as any other.

And so, we reduced and at the same time there was a lot of compliance, and so we were able to increase our revenue by 300 per cent.

Mobile ad revenue growth I think it’s explanatory enough. If I tell you that we increase our revenues by 300 per cent, and if you take just the average value of what our rates are, about N3000, I think you can compute that. We increased our revenues by 300 per cent by even dropping our rates.

Political era and posters removal We are working on a project now where we would have designated areas where you can paste posters and nobody would remove them. It is something that has been tried in Holland, some parts of China and so on, where you designate specific areas and you are allowed to do that, and beyond that the enforcement will come after you. So that’s one of the things we are working on. In the 57 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, we are going to deploy in all the local councils now, anybody that wants to paste posters, you are allowed to do that in that place. We did the pilot scheme in Surulere. So we

*George Noah are going to deploy I all the local governments now.

Review and compliance What we’ve decided is that we would have people that will manage those things themselves. And there would be a token, remove and paint and all sorts, but there will be no special fees for pasting posters in those areas other than what the group decides is enough to maintain that particular place. We don’t want to make any revenue from that.

It is just for us to make sure we have sanity within the environment. But with politics it becomes quite very difficult.

We have posters and things like that everywhere, but we are hoping to have a meeting with all the political parties and brief them on how we want this to be done, and I hope they will comply.

Regulator and operator e have about 25 billboards from a total of about 950 in the state. These we use mainly to propagate what the state government does. Once in a while you might find a few things here and there, it is those who have helped the state in one form or the other, and I don’t see how

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that can be competition. If you go and look at all the billboards that we have 99 percent of them are mainly state government stuff.

Dedicated billboards When people do projects with the state, and the need to create awareness or they are partnering with the state, we have a dedicated billboards they can use for such purposes.

I’ve had this said many times that we are not competing with practitioners, the fact remains that we don’t charge, we don’t take money from anybody for using the boards. So I don’t know where the competition comes from. It is the practitioners that tend to use this word as if we are taking business away from them. And that is not true.

Relationship with OAAN We have a very good relationship with the Outdoor Advertising Agency of Nigeria, OAAN. I work very closely with the President of OAAN, when we have things that we need to discuss, we sit down and discuss. As a result of the conference and exhibiton that we did, I had the opportunity of visiting different stakeholders, Advetisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, Media Independent Association of Nigewria MIPAN, CIPON all those who have something to do with outdoor, I went out and for the first time, made contact with each and every one of them, and my refrain was we need to work together to ensure that we do our jobs very well.

The Rush: A display of Art in redefined Amstel Malta Showtime

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he final leg of the completely redefined Amstel Malta Showtime event series, which took place at the Unilag Indoor Sports Hall, Lagos, is undoubtedly the most brilliant display of art to be seen in this part of the world in recent times.

The first of its kind concert tagged “The Rush” which premiered in Enugu last month, was a magnificent expression of a young man’s journey to success with artistic displays by ballerinas, singers, actors, dancers, rappers, fire eaters, jugglers, instrumentalists, comedians e.t.c put together to deliver an outstanding theatrical performance.

The drama piece featured renowned Nigerian entertainers: Sound Sultan, Phyno, Gordons, Art director, Ice Nweke, celebrated dancer, Ukalina, lead actor, Bobby and a host of others and also five young talents selected via auditions which includes: Singing duo (male and

female); Instrumentalist duo (a violinist and a guitarist), a dance team of four, a comedian and a rapper.

One of the talents, an 20 year-old violinist who entered for the audition as part of a duo but made it through without his partner, was filled with so much excitement when he spoke about his experience. According to him, “ All of these still seems like a dream to me. Initially when I was selected and my partner wasn’t, I felt very downcast but I still wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I can’t even begin to say exactly how I feel because I’m still short of words but I’m so thankful to Amstel Malta for this great opportunity and for believing in my talent” he said.

Just as was seen in Enugu, a few other young talents who also impressed the judges but didn’t make it to the top five slots, got the chance to perform during the show.

AAAN, NIPR, PBG, want confab every 10 years

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resh from the just concluded 2014 National Conference in Abuja, delegates from advertising and public relations sub-sector of the economy and fourteen other Professional Bodies Group PBG, have called on the Federal Government to formulate a document that would ensure the country holds national conference at 10 years intervals. In a proposal sent to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and signed by the Chairman, Professional Bodies Group 2014 National Conference, Segun Aina, the Group said in order to establish a framework for continually striving to evolve better and more inclusive Nigerian society in which every citizen is a proud and committed stakeholder, an institutionalized National Conference Process is imperative.

According to Aina “This will remove the “now-or-never” syndrome that characterizes discussions at conferences as issues not resolved at a particular conference can be reconsidered at a future conference.

Happy Hour refreshes with 3 new variants

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n

order to satisfy consumers’ demand beyond the existing offerings, Chi Limited has introduced three new variants of Chi Happy Hour into the marketplace. The new variants are Apple Peach Pear, Guava and Kiwi Mint Lime. According to the company, the new variants, just like the existing ones (Tropical, Peach, etc), are specially blended fruit drinks that are guaranteed to excite and offer choices to its consumers.

Unveiling the new variants at their head office in Lagos recently, Chi Limited assured consumers that each pack of Chi Happy Hour is full of tasty fruitiness that is guaranteed to keep the consumer refreshed and satisfied. The new variants are sure to offer consumers more choice for refreshment from an engaging brand.

Several studies conducted have revealed consumer ’s preference for a healthy and refreshing alternative to carbonated soft drinks and the introduction of these new variants is clearly based on understanding of this current reality.

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

would like to bring to your attention, the urgent need to upgrade the equipment, training and logistics of our Armed Forces and Security Services to enable them more forcefully to confront this (Boko Haram) threat”. “For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1bn, including government to government arrangements for this upgrade”.

The above is an excerpt from a letter dated July 15, 2014 to the National Assembly from President Goodluck Jonathan on the urgent need to contain the Boko Haram insurgency, which has allegedly claimed over 13,000 lives since the insurgency began in 2009, and which according to the ‘Human Rights Watch’ has also led to about 2500 deaths this year.

Inspite of President Jonathan’s anxiety, the National Assembly delayed consideration of the content of the letter until Parliament resumed from its extended recess almost two months after receipt of the President’s URGENT loan request; this lacuna may be indicative of the National Assembly’s own perception of the Boko Haram threat as probably less urgent than was connoted in the th Executive’s letter of July 15 .

Nonetheless, Boko Haram has, meanwhile, stepped up their assault from the regular pillage and reckless killings of innocent civilians to the open declaration of Islamic Caliphates in seemingly “conquered territories”!

Evidently “there have been widespread criticisms of the President’s proposal as Nigerians across political divides have questioned the expenditure of trillions of Naira to contain Boko Haram in recent years”.

$1bn for ‘BH’: Loan or supplementary appropriation?

Conversely, in defence of the $1bn loan, Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, noted that “it is not out of place for a country to re-enforce its military capabilities,” and “the loan being sought” according to Omeri “is not just to prosecute Boko Haram war, it is to re-enforce the Armed Forces”. That the Armed Forces are poorly motivated and ill equipped may not be untrue, if we consider media reports of grievances of our troops and combatants; indeed, the recent assault by some soldiers on their commanding officer, was apparently triggered by the sight of the rifled corpses of their comrades who were slaughtered by an unexpectedly better equipped rag tag army of insurgents.

Nonetheless, some critics of the $1bn loan request have urged the National Assembly to reject the proposal; for example, the Chairman of Lagos State House Committee on Strategy, Security and Publicity, noted that “as long as corruption thrives, any money borrowed would be squandered by few individuals.” The Human Rights Writers’ Association, is also equally concerned that the proceeds of the loan may go the same way as the allocation of N76bn for the failed CCTV project for Abuja.

Notable Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana has also demanded for a comprehensive audit of the expenditure of over N3000bn allocated for security between 2010 and 2013. Other loan critics have also suggested

rightly or wrongly that the proceeds of the $1bn loan would be deployed to foot the expenses of the electioneering campaigns of Mr. President and the PDP for 2015 elections!

Conversely, the Arewa Consultative Forum has expressed through its Secretary, Anthony Sanni that “the Group was in support of any measures by the government to end the insurgency, because the issue of security of lives and property is the primary

,

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”

In reality, our Excess Crude Account and CBN reserves are as perfect for immediate f u n d i n g requirements as an Automatic cash dispenser if your account is already funded

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responsibility of any government”.

Furthermore, a human right activist and Chairman of Coliation Against Corrupt Leaders Comrade Debo Adeniran also noted that “with the present security situation in the country, any right thinking person should support any measure that will curb the insurgency.”

However, since the resumption of the National Assembly from recess last week,

the debate on the $1bn loan request is yet to commence in earnest; evidently, if early release of the sum of $1bn will actually be pivotal to tip the war against Boko Haram, then the National Assembly cannot firmly insist that the President should first justify the judicious application of 2014 defence budget of N960bn and over N3tn also appropriated between 2010-2013, as the process of a thorough audit and investigation may become protracted and give room for further murderous pillage and consolidation of Boko Haram’s expansion in the North-East, with dire consequences for our economy and our country.

In such event, the situation may have gone beyond redemption or may indeed require much more than the $1bn currently sought by President Jonathan to ultimately checkmate Boko Haram. In any case, some analysts may argue that it is inconsistent to quibble about a mere $1bn when we gleefully expend over $12bn to subsidise petrol prices in place of the widely canvassed realistic possibility of earning billions of dollars annually from a sales tax on petrol.

Thus, in view of the present expansionary threat of Boko Haram, it would be useful if President Jonathan could immediately access the $1bn funding, with an assurance that tangible success would be achieved against the insurgence, while the National Assembly simultaneously commences thorough investigations on the application of the defence spending in 2014 and the N3tn

budgeted for security between 2010-2013.

Instructively, however, the provision of the $1bn funding need not be in accord with President Jonathan’s request for an externally denominated loan; there is in fact no valid or defensible reason why we must seek for such loan which will come at a cost and further deepen our already oppressive debt burden, when in fact, we have over $5bn currently domiciled, idly, in an Excess Crude Account, which is ironically unknown to our Constitution; furthermore, it seems reckless and uncaring to pursue a $1bn loan at any cost when we currently celebrate an idle foreign reserves base of over $40bn with the CBN. Indeed, if we adopted the debt option for the requested $1bn, we may inadvertently borrow at a cost from those same institutions in which our “Excess” crude deposits and CBN reserves are domiciled with minimal yield! Besides, the process of acquiring external loans is not akin to a dumb and ready ATM, with immediate cash provision, as the application process for loans is traditionally more extended.

In reality, our Excess Crude Account and CBN reserves are as perfect for immediate funding requirements as an Automatic cash dispenser if your account is already funded.

So why go through the humiliation of borrowing when you own relatively healthy reserves? The National Assembly must not be befuddled to approve the request for $1bn external loan to combat insecurity; instead, it would certainly be more appropriate to enact a supplementary appropriation bill to debit our ECA or CBN reserves accordingly.

•Save the Naira, Save Nigerians.

Business & Economy Regulatory framework for Shippers' Council ready soon — Bello

By GODFREY BIVBERE

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xecutive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, has said that the Council is working with relevant government agencies to put in place the legal regulatory framework for it to function effectively as port economic regulator.

Bello who disclosed this in his office in Lagos, said that the Council recently met with the

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Attorney General of the Federation and others to work out the modalities for the framework. He explained that the Council has been engaging in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders in the industry to ensure that all of them are in agreement when full enforcement commences by the NSC. Bello said that the

consultation has taken them to the NCS, NPA, CBN, Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, on the side of the government and all the other critical stakeholders in the sector including terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, truckers, etc.

The Shippers’ Council boss said the consultation was necessary because they want to be as transparent as possible when the enforcement commences.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ebele Orakpo Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Energy Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Nkiruka Nnorom Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Media/Marketing Capital Market E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 41

BRIEFS

Climate change summit: Thousands join global protests

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ROTESTS in many countries to demand urgent action on climate change have kicked off, with over 2,000 marches taking place around the world.

The People’s Climate March has been organised to call for action to curb carbon emissions ahead of the UN climate summit in New York next week.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Australia while protests are also getting under way in Europe.

The climax will be a march in New York, attended

by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

He will join thousands of people on the streets of Manhattan, including business leaders, environmentalists and celebrities.

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio will also attend, having been appointed as a UN representative on climate change last week.

In Australia, organisers said up to 20,000 people had turned out in Melbourne to call on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to do more to tackle climate change.

Pope Francis decries ‘perverted’ extremists on Albania visit P OPE Francis has denounced extremists around the world for “perverting” religion to justify violence during a visit to Albania.

Tens of thousands of Albanians attended an open air Mass celebrated by the pontiff in the capital, Tirana.

He praised the “peaceful coexistence” of religions in the country, where a Muslim majority lives alongside Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Meanwhile, security was tight for the visit amid rumors of a jihadist plot against him.

During a meeting with top Albanian government officials, Pope Francis hailed as a “precious gift” the mutual respect between Muslims and Christians in the country.

“This is especially the case in these times where an authentic religious spirit is being perverted by

Kenya marks anniversary of deadly Westgate mall attack

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•Pope Francis said he had wanted to visit the Balkan nation because it had “suffered very, very much” extremist groups and where religious differences are being distorted,” he said.

“Let no-one consider themselves to be the ‘armour’ of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression!” This is seen as an apparent reference to

Islamic State militants who have seized large swathes of Syria and Iraq, persecuting different religious groups there.

In a speech to the leaders of Albania’s religious communities, Pope Francis continued the theme, saying: “No one must use the name of God to com-

mit violence.”

“To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman,” he added.

Security was stepped up for the visit amid amid reports that extremists might pose a threat but the Vatican played down fears of a plot against the Pope.

This is the Pope’s first trip to a European country outside Italy since he took office in 2013.

Ukraine crisis: Thousands march in Moscow anti-war rally

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ENS of thousands of people marched in Moscow in protest against Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

People were chanting “No to war!” and “Stop lying!” Similar rallies are taking place in St Petersburg and other Russian cities.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming rebels in the east and sending Russian troops across the border.

Moscow denies this.

It would be recalled that more than 3,000 people have died in fighting since April. A truce was agreed on 5 September but there have been repeated violations since then.

The fighting began after Russia annexed Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula in March - a move condemned by Ukraine and the West.

Demonstrators - with both Russian and Ukrainian flags - are marching from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Boulevard in central Moscow.

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ENYA is marking a year since the attack on a Nairobi shopping centre, in which at least 67 people were killed.

A memorial plaque with names of the victims was unveiled ahead of a candle-lit vigil being held later yesterday..

The siege at Westgate lasted four days, with CCTV footage showing terrified shoppers fleeing the gunmen and cowering behind counters.

Somali Islamist group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack in response to Kenya’s military operations in Somalia.

Relatives of the victims laid wreaths at a garden in the forest where 67 trees were planted after the attack.

Interfaith prayers were held at the site as a memorial plaque with names of the victims on was unveiled.

Nationalist leader says Scots tricked out of independence

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EFEATED Scottish nationalist chief Alex Salmond accused Britain’s political leaders on Sunday of tricking Scots out of independence after a dispute about how and when to give them more powers.

Salmond, who is stepping down as leader of the proindependence Scottish National Party (SNP) after failing to persuade Scots to leave the United Kingdom, accused Britain’s three main political parties of winning last Thursday’s referendum by 55-45 percent by making a false promise of new powers.

“I think the vow was something cooked up in desperation for the last few days of the campaign and I think everyone in Scotland now realizes that,” said Salmond, referring to a pledge by Prime Minister David Cameron and other leaders before the vote to rapidly expand Scottish autonomy in the event of a “No”.

“It is the people who were persuaded to vote no who were misled, who were gulled, who were tricked effectively,” Salmond told BBC TV, saying he thought the last-minute promise had swayed the referendum’s outcome.

Kurds issue new call to arms against Islamic State in Syria

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URDISH militants in Turkey have issued a new call to arms to defend a border town in northern Syria from advancing Islamic State fighters, and the Turkish authorities and United Nations prepared yesterday for a surge in refugees.

About 70,000 Syrian Kurds have fled into Turkey since Friday as Islamic State fighters seized dozens of villages close to the border and advanced on the frontier town of Ayn al-Arab, known as Kobani in Kurdish.

Carol Batchelor, the United Nations refugee agency’s (UNHCR) representative in Turkey said the real figure may be more than 100,000 as Turkey faces one of the biggest influxes of refugees from Syria since the war there began more than three years ago.

“I don’t think in the last three and a half years we have seen 100,000 cross in two days. So this is a bit of a measure of how this situation is unfolding and the very deep fear people have about the circumstances inside Syria, and for that matter Iraq.”

A Kurdish commander on the ground said Islamic State had advanced to within 15 km (9 miles) of Kobani, whose strategic location has been blocking the radical Sunni Muslim militants from consolidating their gains across northern Syria.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

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44—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

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ECHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojeka Lydia Echa, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ojeka Lydia Lehi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SHOLANKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Sholanke Rhoda Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Adeoba Rhoda Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anene Amarachukwu Echezona, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mobi Amarachukwu Echezona. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

N WA K A N M A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss B r i d g e t Ifeanyichukwu Nwakanma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. B r i d g e t Ifeanyichukwu Muo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMEKENYI—I, formerly known and addressed as Desmond Oluebube Omekenyi, now wish to be known and addressed as D e s m o n d Oluebubechukwu Omekenyi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name I, Elimian Christopher wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person known and addressed as Elimian Christopher and Idebaneria Destiny as appeared in some of my valuable documents. I now wish to be known and addressed as Christopher Idebaneria Destiny.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UZOMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoma Vivian Chinemerem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwaogu Vivian Chinemerem. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okom Maria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogar Maria Akor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZUBUIKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ozioma Azubuike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Ozioma Odunna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOCHI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okochi Ethel Nkeiruka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igbokwe Ethel Nkeiruka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name EHILEN—This is to confirm that the names Ehilen Ehimemen Grace, Ehilenboadiaye .E. Grace, Ehilenboadiaye Ehimemen Grace are one and the same person but from now on I wish to be known and addressed as Ehilenboadiaye Ehimemen Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MAJEKODUNMI— I, formerly known and addressed as Ayodele Olajumoke P a t r i c i a Majekodunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Ayodele Olajumoke Patricia Edalere-Lukula. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Correction of Name My name was wrongly written as Uzoma Omelebere Okafor Udah, instead of Okafor Uzoamaka Joyce. I now wish to be known and addressed as Okafor Uzoamaka Joyce. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EJUMEDIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebunmi Olusola Oduyoye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebunmi Olusola Oduyoye Ejumedia.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name EKUYATSEMI—This is to confirm that the names Felix Obanigheren Ekuyatsemi and Mr. F.O Ekuyatsemi are one and the same person but from now on I wish to be known and addressed as Felix Obanigheren Ekuyatsemi. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OSANYINTOLU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osanyintolu Maria Bose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajing Maria Bose. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKOLADE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akolade Victoria Funmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abiodun Victoria Funmi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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9 arrested over fake FIRS jobs, promotion

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ECURITY officials working with Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS have arrested nine suspects in connection with a fake recruitment exercise into the service.

The suspects are being investigated for alleged forgery of documents, impersonation of officials of FIRS and other federal ministries, agencies and banks officials, deceit of members of the public and for soliciting for money for promotion of FIRS officials.

The suspects were alleged to have employed a vast network of websites, email addresses, computers, telephone lines and bank accounts spread over different parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and received money from members of the public on a non existent recruitment into the FIRS. Some of the suspects promised they will facilitate the promotion of several FIRS officials and sent text messages to spouses, relatives and persons connected to FIRS staff.

Luck, however, ran out of the suspects when a member of the gang sent an SMS soliciting payments from a very senior FIRS staff to facilitate the official’s promotion.

Sources close to the investigation confirmed that suspects’ operational items: telephone lines, several SMS cards and communication equipment were retrieved from the suspects’ residences in the course of the investigation.

Other items reportedly retrieved from the suspects include bags containing assorted documents, including FIRS staff records, a Toyota Carina 11, assorted complimentary cards, polythene bag containing bank deposit slips and album of photographs as well as documents from several ministries and Federal Government agencies.

The FIRS recently conducted an online promotion examination, which ran simultaneously in several locations across the country. More than 2000 staff participated.

Participants knew their results immediately they finished answering the questions.

FIRS announced in several newspaper publications and on its website, www.firs.gov.ng, that it is not recruiting into the service for now.

A statement published on the FIRS website and which is still running on the FIRS website as at yesterday reads in part:”This is to inform the general public that FIRS is neither recruiting nor replacing unfilled positions within its workforce. Please note that employment into the FIRS, will be advertised in national newspapers as well as on the FIRS website www.firs.gov.ng. Members of the public are hereby strongly advised to avoid being deceived or defrauded by unscrupulous and dubious characters”.

1,000 Nigerian professionals for New York summit

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O fewer than 1,000 young Nigerian professionals are expected to attend an international summit organised by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, NYPF, September 27 in New York. The NYPF chairman, Mr. Moses Siasia, who disclosed this in Abuja, said that the essence of the summit was to pool ideas on how to foster sustainable sociopolitical and economic development of the country.

He said that the summit was taken to New York because of the large number of young Nigerian professionals resident in the US, noting, “The agenda of the summit is to bring together well selected Nigerian young professionals residing the US to brainstorm on how to engender accelerated

development in Nigeria.

“The summit will be a strategic platform on how young people can objectively network in using our wealth of experience and knowledge to foster growth and development in Nigeria. “We all know that a lot of young Nigerians are making waves in the US in various aspects of human endeavour. It is sad to note that while Nigeria struggle to grow many of its best brains are being utilised in the diaspora.”

The NYPF boss further explained that summit was geared toward motivating Nigerian young professionals in US to return home and country. According to Siasia, the theme of the summit is, “Harnessing the Potential of Young Nigerian Professionals towards Accelerated Development in Nigeria.”

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

THE nation’s commercial capital, Lagos was the focus of 2015 presidential politics last weekend as two of the major contenders from the country’s two leading political parties descended on the megalopolis

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Dapo Akinrefon and Charles Kumolu

T

Campaign officials Why and at what point Atiku scheduled his meeting with the youths and online bloggers was a matter that Vanguard was unable to draw from campaign officials of the former vicepresident at the weekend. But whether Team Atiku scheduled the intellectually stimulating meeting of last Saturday as a counterpoise to Team Jonathan’s boisterous affair remains in the realm of speculations.

The aura of invincibility was almost around the president last Saturday as the president deplaned in Lagos, which is at the moment the engine of the opposition.

Remarkably, the opposition leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chieftain of the APC had returned to his Lagos base last week following a cantankerous exchange between his surrogates and his mortal enemies in the

•From Left; Chief Olabode George, Arc Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Dr Adamu Mu'azu, National Chairman of Peoples Democatic Party, [left] during the South West rally

2015: How Jonathan, Atiku wooed Lagos state chapter of the PDP over his state of health. The PDP in Lagos had accused the APC in Lagos of collaborating with the Lagos state administration of twisting what it claimed to be facts on the state of health of the former governor alleging that Tinubu was gravely sick of an unknown ailment. It was an accusation that was seriously rebutted by the Tinubu camp which released last week released a picture of the opposition leader in a hearty and healthy state deplaning on his return.

Tinubu’s return and Atiku’s extended stay in Lagos raised issues among some concerned sections in the polity over the alleged rapprochement between the two political gladiators who fell out more than six years ago.

Party sources claim that Atiku made up with Asiwaju once he entered into the party and had also played crucial roles in the provision of logistics in the running of the opposition party.

The prospects of the two political heavyweights knitting to barricade the Jonathan bandwagon was of little bother to Jonathan and his associates at the Tafawa Balewa Square last

Saturday as Jonathan expressed a confidence that betrayed the troubles the country is presently facing in some sections.

Jonathan in Lagos The rally themed ‘South West sensitization and unity rally’ was flooded by serving Ministers from the South west, party leaders, elders, members and supporters, who defied the rain to show presence.

It was especially an opportunity for the many gubernatorial in Lagos State to sell themselves to supporters ahead of the party’s primaries.

They took turns hounding the opposition and throwing support for the adoption of the president as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

Aspirants from other states in the Southwest were also represented but were not as vocal as the agents of the 15 gubernatorial aspirants in Lagos.

Firing the first salvo, the minister of State for the FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, who spoke on behalf of the body of Southwest ministers, assured Jonathan of their unalloyed loyalty and further promised to mobilise for him (Jonathan)

when the campaign gathers steam.

Akinjide, accompanied by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina, Mrs Omobola Johnson and Alhaji Jeilili Adesiyan, said “ your ministers are here to testify because we work with you

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HE presumptive nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan fresh from his adoption by the leadership of his party, last Thursday, moved out from the comfort and cheers of the elitist hangers on in Abuja to meet real Nigerians in a campaign rally that was couched in the form of a sensitisation rally of the party.

Two hours after the rally and six kilometres away from the PDP rally which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square, an enduring political foe of the president and the leading presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar was himself ensconced in a strategic meeting with youths drawn from different sectors of the society.

Atiku had drawn attention to the meeting on his facebook page last Thursday when he invited youths not selected for the meeting to post questions to him through facebook on issues facing the society.

bane of the party in the region was now over. That assurance was delivered by a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George who said “we want to reassure you that all is well in the South west PDP.” We’ll deliver for Jonathan — Fayose Speaking on behalf of the South

Party sources claim that Atiku made up with Asiwaju once he entered into the party and had also played crucial roles in the provision of logistics in the running of the opposition party

everyday. We are here to say that you have shown love to the Southwest.”

That assurance follows earlier trepidation from the ministers and Team Jonathan of the hostility from the Southwest PDP on account of what party members had in the past complained as the failure of the president to appoint party members in the region to high positions in the administration.

Besides, the rally was also an opportunity to reassure the president that the historical internal battles that had been the

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west, Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose assured the president of the region’s commitment in securing their votes in next year’s polls.

Fayose said “your adoption is all you need to win a second term and it will come with ease. We expect your name to bring good luck to Nigeria. We want to assure you we will deliver the south west the help of our people. I also want to assure you that results from the South west will be shocking in 2015 “.

Jonathan deserves second Continues on page 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014—47

2015: How Jonathan, Atiku wooed Lagos

•Atiku: In warm handsakes with bloggers in Lagos two years back echoed in pushing for his unanimous adoption.

"There are no dictators in the PDP. There is no one that is so powerful to determine who becomes councillor, local government chairman, State House of Assembly member, House of Representatives member, senator, governor, and even president, in the PDP. The decision is by the people, for the people, and that is why the PDP will continue to do new things and give right leadership”, he said.

Atiku storms Lagos The scene at Eko Hotel and Suites, a few kilometres away, was a far cry from the shovelling and screaming that attended the PDP rally.

Looking energetic, Atiku walked into the African-Asian Hall of the hotel at 7:28 pm amid standing ovation from guests.

Deviating from the pattern in the country, where VIPs walk majestically to their seats, the former Vice President, who appeared spirited on a black short sleeves native attire, had a hand shake with every one present as he walked to the podium. The gesture signalled that the interaction would take place in an atmosphere of simplicity and unpretentiousness.

Originally scheduled to commence at 7: pm, the event kicked off 35 minutes behind schedule as a result of the late arrival of Atiku. With an audience of predominantly

youths, the host, Miss Mercy Abang of the Nigeria Newsdesk, introduced the former number two man to the House.

Sounding apologetic Atiku regretted his late arrival, attributing it to the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos.

"I have to apologise to you and everyone in the society for coming in late. You all know the traffic situation in Lagos. I promise to make it up to you,’’ he said amid approval from the audience.

On that note, what turned out to be a robust intellectual parley

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Continues from page 46 term — Obanikoro Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro explained that the President has done well and therefore deserves a second term to continue with his Transformation Agenda.

Obanikoro said the party in the west has resolved to “work for the re-election of President Jonathan and we are committed in working for him so that he can continue with the good works he has started not only in the south west but in the country. With all the good things he has done, he deserves a second term.”

We’ll recapture South west — Mu’azu In his remarks, the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu expressed the party’s readiness to take over the South west.

I won’t disappoint you — Jonathan But Jonathan expressed gratitude to the members of the PDP in the region for giving him the right of first refusal to as the party’s sole candidate for next year’s presidential polls.

Jonathan said “Let me sincerely thank the leaders of our party; from the chairman, committee members, our governors, our National Assembly members, our Board of Trustees members, and all members of the party for giving me the right of first refusal of the presidential ticket.”

“When the party leaders endorsed me, by that endorsement I have the right of first refusal. That is what is done in advanced democracies,” the president said as he mouthed the same words that his agents had

school. I was freely educated from primary up to the university level. In fact I was paid to go to school then. That is the greatest thing this country has done for me. And I don’t think I will ever pay back enough. There is the urge to continue to serve until I can serve no more. There is the urge to continue to pay back until I can pay back no more. So I am not driven by naked ambition, I am driven by the urge to give back to the nation.’’

Dismissing doubts that his defection to the APC was propelled by the relentless desire for the party’s presidential ticket, Atiku said, the APC remains the only viable alternative for the country.

Expatiating he said, "APC for me is the last bus stop. I have always believed in a two party system for this country. You need to understand how we came about to establish the PDP. When we fought the military to quit governance and democracy was allowed to return, most politicians from both sides of the divide decided to form a very big party.’’

My last bust stop "The intention was to form a big party that would withstand the military in the event they decided to come back, because we were not convinced that they would not come back. I knew it was going to be a matter of time before our various political inclinations begin to divide us. PDP was not respecting internal democracy while impunity was the order of the day. Of course you knew my legal battles in the PDP. I was pushed out.’’ ‘’We now established the AC. The PDP came back to me that they were going to ensure internal democracy, I came back

Tinubu’s return and Atiku’s extended stay in Lagos raised issues among some concerned sections in the polity over the alleged rapprochement between the two political gladiators who fell out more than six years ago

commenced with rapt attention from everyone around.

The session which was very participatory and engaging, saw the presidential aspirant, being drilled by Abang on probing issues.

The questions which came in a no holds barred manner, centred on politics/governance, economy, security, education among others.

The audience also had opportunity of quizzing Atiku, who appeared at peace with every question.

Perennial aspirant Asked why he appears to have become a perennial presidential aspirant, Atiku said: “There is so much fixing to be done in this country. Essentially I think I owe this country service. Unlike all of you, no one paid for me to go to

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only to discover that it was the same PDP. Then came the formation of APC. They visited me in my house and I went round consulting with my political associates whether joining the APC was something we should do. The result was an overwhelming decision to join the APC. My return to APC is final."

From Abang, came another poser, suggesting that Atiku ought to have concentrated on creating wealth than contesting for the presidency again.

But an Atiku, who seemed at home with the question, responded thus: ‘’I don’t think forgetting about the presidency and focusing on my business alone is right. The right attitude is to create more businesses and

more jobs for Nigerians. My businesses are being run without me. I have created no fewer than 50, 000 jobs in Nigeria. And we have also created jobs in Angola.

Recently we have also done same in Mozambique. So, we are also doing very well continentally.’’

Asked what would happen if he does not get his party’s ticket, given speculations that APC had concluded on fielding Gen Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), he said, "I will definitely support whoever emerges as the APC candidate if I don’t emerge. I want to see APC succeed."

North will not vote for PDP Specifically, he said it would be disservice to Nigerians for anyone to advocate an automatic ticket for Buhari.

"Asking me to not contest is asking me to give up on Nigeria.

The North will not vote for the PDP because the party has failed everybody. This period presents an opportunity for change. Before now the PDP was big and the absence of a viable opposition then allowed the party to become monstrous. But now with the APC there is choice. There is no way Nigerians can vote for the PDP in 2015," he added.

Continuing, he expressed doubt at the ability of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, to conduct a free and fair election.

On why he has allegedly avoided visiting the United States said: ‘’I used to visit the United States when my family was there. My family is no longer there. I visit any country if there is reason for it. Last year I was given a visa to visit the US but I did not make the trip.”

We 'll crush insecurity in one month Queried on the manner the war on terror is being persecuted, the former Vice-President gave a vote of no confidence on the presidency. He said: "A number of reasons have been adduced as responsible for insurgency.

Some said the region was the most backward region in the country, with widespread poverty and illiteracy. But these are not reasons why people should take arms and start killing innocent Nigerians. There is poverty everywhere in this country. There is unemployment everywhere. I want to recall that a similar situation arose in Yobe State while we where in office. And it did not take us more than a month to crush that insurgency. I think the mistake we made after crushing the insurgency, was not going back to the people to know why they took up arms against the country. We failed to listen to them and provide solution to whichever grievance they had.

Today, there is a recurrence.

There is failure of leadership in the war against terrorism in terms of capacity."

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

I

NEVER met retired Col. Benjamin Adekunle. But I had an encounter with him, which I will narrate, to give you an insight into the strange man he was.

On March 17th 2006, Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the 2003 election was sworn-in as the duly elected governor of Anambra State. It was a remarkable triumph of good over evil.

The Uba family, who were the appointed political agents of then President Olusegun Obasanjo in Anambra State, had failed conclusively to hijack Anambra, even though Obasanjo used every abominable trick, including the abduction of their non-conformist flunkey, Governor Chris Ngige; and the use of Nigerian security forces to burn down the government house and other public buildings.

I wrote an article celebrating the shaming of the devil. I described Obasanjo as a man given to cowardly behaviour. He ordered the flattening of Odi in Bayelsa State, the destruction of Zaki-Biam in Benue State and sent an Assistant Inspector General of Police,

Col. Adekunle: we remember dif diffferently introduced himself: "I am Benjamin Adekunle" (no Colonel or General or any military title).

"The Black Scorpion?" I asked.

"By the grace of God", he answered back.

He went on to tell me that what I wrote Obasanjo was a watered-down "gospel

What happened in the House of Reps was unfortunate, but I fully understood it. When it comes to the events that culminated in the civil war and their aftermath, we can never feel the same when we remember

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Raphael Ige, to supervise the abduction of Governor Ngige in Anambra State.

But when Alhaji Sani Yerima, the Governor of Zamfara State, forcefully and illegally declared full sharia and riots swept through Arewa North like a natural disaster, Obasanjo went to Kaduna and decided to weep instead of taking his usual strong arm measures.

He made his famous prediction that sharia would "fizzle out". Obasanjo fears and respects the North but whenever there is a drop of the pin in any part of the South and Middle Belt, he becomes a ten-star army general. That is my own idea of cowardice.

I said so in my write-up. It was a Monday. Later that day, at around 4.00pm, my phone rang. I answered: "Good afternoon. Whose is on the line?"

"Ezigbo nwanne m. Kedu kwa nu?"(my dear brother, how are you) came a deep, clear voice from the other end. For every word I uttered in English, he answered back in impeccable Anambra dialect of Igbo, which he spoke smoothly without an accent. He

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truth". He used a lot of unprintable words to describe the man who took over from him as the head of the 3rd Marine Commandos that did much to stop the actualisation of the breakaway Republic of Biafra during the civil war. He accused Obasanjo of lying with his biographical stories of the civil war. He went on and on. The journalist in me took over, and I persuaded him to give me a date for a full interview.

"With all pleasure", he boomed.

He gave me his address in Surulere, Lagos and asked to come three days later, a Thursday. On the appointed day, I was at his gate on schedule. I knocked and no one answered. I called his line.

He did not pick it. I waited at the gate for about thirty minutes. Just when I was about to get into my car and go, a rather young man of about 20 years old came out of the gate and introduced himself as Col Adekunle's son. He told me his dad wanted me to leave. That he did not talk to the Press!

When the news of Adekunle's passing at 78 was announced recently, it barely

gathered traction as a piece of news.

However, on resumption of the National Assembly from vacation, the Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande, who represents Ogbomosho, Adekunle's hometown in Oyo State, officially brought the news to the Green Chamber. Since Adekunle fought for the federal side during the war, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, asked his colleagues to stand and honour him with a one-minute silence. As the House rose, some Igbo Reps members refused to comply. Their grouse was that Adekunle was a "war criminal" who allegedly killed a lot of defenceless civilians. In fact, he was quoted in some written works of boasting he would "kill everything that moves" in "Iboland".

F

ollowing this event, a big fight (predictably) ensued across the social media forums between Igbo and Yoruba commentators. These fights are always breaking out whenever a historic figure dies on both sides. It happened when Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Professor Chinua Achebe joined their Creator. When Obasanjo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Theophilus Danjuma eventually go, you can be sure of more fights among these, mainly young people, most of who do not properly understand the full underpinnings of our history and why people played the roles they had to.

What happened in the House of Reps was unfortunate, but I fully understood it. When it comes to the events that culminated in the civil war and their aftermath, we can never feel the same when we remember. Nigeria won independence in 1960, but in 1966, the

crises that followed the independence overflowed after the January 1966 military coup. A civil war was fought when the East (Igbos) declared secession. The war was a gang-up of the rest of the country and their foreign backers to force the Igbos back to Nigeria. Those, like Adekunle, who played prominent roles at the war front towards "keeping Nigeria One" qualify as heroes of the Nigerian civil war.

The Igbos who felt the heat of the war will, naturally, not be amused when such people are being celebrated because, for them, one man's war hero is another man's war criminal. It is an interplay of democracy that while one side is celebrating their war hero the other side chooses to abstain.

The Benjamin Adekunle story is free for all. If he was your hero, celebrate (or mourn). If he was not, put him where he belongs. Personally, as far as events of those days were concerned, I would rather honour Col. Adekunle Fajuyi as a true hero and man of great example (who chose to go down with his visiting boss, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, rather than join his murderers) than an Benjamin Adekunle who derived demonic pleasure from killing defenceless people.

In any case, look at the One Nigeria they fought for, where everyone is crying tears, sorrow and blood, irrespective of which side they belonged. More than forty years after the war, Nigeria is yet to recover from the rapacity of those who fought to keep it one. They waged a mindless war on its resources and condemned its future. Was this what Adekunle, who returned from the war front to a life of recluse, fought and joyfully killed for?

And I am wondering: if Adekunle hated Igbos so much that he was ready to kill everything that moved during the war, why did he so gleefully go out of his way to impress me with his excellent mastery of the Igbo language, even when he did not know me personally?

Why did he call me ezigbo nwanne m (my dear brother)? Perhaps, the devil is not as black as he is painted? Or perhaps, for Adekunle, bygones were bygones? Or normal hypocrisy?

So, if Adekunle was willing to call me a brother in spite of everything, where does that leave those of you killing one another over the social media?Most of you are the youth of this country. Is this how you are going to live in Nigeria after the Ojukwus, Gowons, Obasanjos, Murtalas, Danjumas, Joe Achuzias, Alex Madiebos and the other protagonists of the war, are phased out?

OPINION

By Kayode ojo

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HAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has landed himself in hot water. Coming off the remarkable successes of the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections, Jega misjudged the mood in the country and proposed the creation of 30,027 additional polling units, with a lopsided distribution of 21,615 in the North and a mere 8,412 in the South of the country. Of course, many Nigerians of Southern extraction are rightly enraged as they suspect that, in proposing the new polling units, Jega is acting out a Northern script to rig the 2015 general elections.

One of the more coherent objectors to Jega’s new polling units is the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA). In a number of public publications, the group is demanding Jega’s resignation for “obvious inclination to ethnic chauvinism and protectionism.” The SNPA also say they are opposed to the process of creating the new polling units “as it lacks any fundamental basis.”

Considering that Jega hitherto enjoyed widespread respect and significant goodwill, the call for his resignation by a group whose chieftains include former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and South-South Leader Chief Edwin Clark deserves careful scrutiny. This is more so as Jega, if rather belatedly, has defended himself, saying: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet created the additional polling units. It has simply approved the framework and guidelines to facilitate the creation of these additional polling units by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the state officers of INEC.” Be that as it may, the SNPA is still insisting on Jega’s resignation. According to the group, Jega’s explanations are “Characteristic of an unrepentant, arrogant, insensitive

Jega and the conundrum of new Polling Units and impervious dictator.” The SNPA further argues that: “Contrary to the averment of Prof. Jega that no polling unit has been created and allocated, it is reported (Nigerian Pilot of Wednesday, September 10, 2014, pp.16) that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Zamfara State, a state whose registered voters has been grossly depleted by half as a result of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) [emphasis by SNPA] has already inaugurated a Committee to distribute Jega’s additional 1,163 polling units for the state.”

What is most striking in this issue is that Jega himself has conceded that, following the use of AFIS, the total number of registered voters in the country has actually reduced. In his words: “At the end of the general registration of voters in 2011, the Commission announced that the data of 73. 5 million eligible voters had been captured – warts and all; that is, including the records of multiple (Emphasis: not “ghost”) registrants. At the conclusion of data de-duplication with the Automated Fingerprint Identification Software (AFIS), by which cases of multiple registrations were eliminated, the figure came down to 70,383,427 registered voters.”

In view of Jega’s own submission, it is only logical to question the need for additional polling units when the total number of registered voters in the country is now actually lower than it was before AFIS. This is where the whole matter takes a befuddling and somewhat sinister turn. The post-AFIS reduction of registered voters is at the heart of the commonsensical and ethical conundrum which Jega faces in his irrational yearning to create new polling units.

At this juncture, any discerning mind begins to wonder if in reality Jega is not guilty of the “ethnic chauvinism and protectionism” he has been accused of. For, on the face of it, Jega’s desire to increase polling units in the country — and disproportionately favour the North by an alarming margin while doing so — flies in the face of sound reasoning and shows a shocking disconnection with reality when the INEC chairman himself reports a lower number of registered voters after the AFIS cleanup.

Furthermore, it is pertinent to once more recall that Jega recently received kudos from the majority of Nigerians for holding credible gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states. In both instances, no single complaint was reported about overcrowding at the polling units, one of the spurious reasons Jega has tardily advanced for proposing additional polling units. Considering his stature and position, Jega would have fared better if he had simply owned up to his error rather than offer such an untenable explanation for his gaffe.

The question now is: what needs to be done? With only a few months to go before the electioneering season of 2015 is well under way, it is simply not realistic or prudent to go shopping for a new INEC chairman now. For that reason, the best cause of action is for Jega to apologise to the Nigerian people for his misguided attempt to compromise the 2015 elections before a single vote has been cast. More importantly, he should jettison the idea of new polling units while the status quo ante must be retained.

*Mr. Ojo, public affairs commentator , wrote from Lagos.

—49 Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014—

T

RULY, before any settlement, town or community could be termed developed, such must have a surfeit of infrastructural facilities in place. Putting the same issue in different words, a city devoid of infrastructure is like an Oba (king) without a crown. This explains why experts have identified infrastructure deficit as a major constraint to Nigeria’s development. So, to address this problem, successive governments had introduced various policies aimed at bridging the gap.

That is the case with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, where the administration of Senator Bala Mohammed has been working assiduously since 2010 to provide basic infrastructure for the territory. And boy! He is making a huge success of it. These projects have in turn created employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians.

The world over, infrastructure projects are by their nature, social investments, especially in developing climes like ours. That is why the World Bank’s estimate that African governments face infrastructure investment deficit of $93billion annually calls for serious concern from all and sundry.

To resolve this issue, some stakeholders have canvassed for a speedy passage of the “Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill”

currently before the National Assembly, which would make it mandatory for every government in Nigeria to continue the implementation of projects initiated by the past administration(s).

When passed into law, the Bill would also make development planning compulsory for all tiers of government in Nigeria as a means of creating coherence and measurable targets in developmental initiatives by all governments to facilitate the expeditious achievement of the goals set out by government.

In the FCT, in order to make life meaningful for the citizenry, the Bala Mohammed-led administration has been working round-the-clock to provide roads, bridges, sewages, potable water, housing, schools and hospitals for both indigenes and residents of the nation’s capital city. In this regard, the entire FCT has been divided into districts, which have also been grouped into development phases to wit: phases 1 to 4. These are to make provision of these essential facilities easier, orderly and faster.

Phase 1 district has all the districts with the exception of Guzape fully developed with infrastructure. The districts include Asokoro district (Cadastral Zone A04); Central Business (Cadastral A04); Garki 1 District (Cadastral Zone A03), Guzape Cadastral Zone A09); Maitama District (Cadastral Zone A05 and AO6); Wuse District (Cadastral Zone AO3) and Wuse

No doubt, if the current efforts are sustained, Abuja will certainly become one of the most developed capital cities in the world in the foreseeable future

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11 District (Cadastral Zone AO3).

Similarly, Phase 2, which has most of the districts developed include: Durumi, Utako, Jabi, Wuye, Kado, Mabuchi, Katampe (& Katampe Ext), Jahi, Dakibiya, Kaura, Duboyi, Gaduwa and Dutse.

Phase 3 has Gwarimpa, Galadima, Dakwo, Lokogoma, Wumba, Saraji, Kabusa, Okanji, Pyakasa, Nbora and Karma.

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hase 4 district, which is still being developed include Karsana, Sabon gida, Idu, Idogwari, Kaba, Kajini, Ketti, Shertti Cheche, Waru-Pouma, Gwari, Bude, Chafe, Jaite, Mamusa, Burum and Purfun.

Above all, there are suburban districts. These are districts that are not within the Federal Capital City, FCC, but because of their proximity to the FCC, have attracted some development, with thousands of those who work in the FCC residing there. These include Kubwa, Gwagawalada, Karu, Jikwoyi, Lugbe, Chika, Kuchigworo, Mpape and Dei-Dei. Apart from tackling the problematic issue of land racketeering, the Abuja light rail and the Abuja-Kaduna railway

Comrade Macaulay's 2015 bid

By Gab Ejuwa

A

CURSORY glance at the power equation in Delta State reveal a startlingly remarkable political puzzle; and this is the glaring inequality in the distribution of the most juicy political appointments in the littoral state. As a matter of historical fact and figure, from the Western Region through the Midwestern Region, Midwestern State (later Bendel State) to Delta State, the Delta South Senatorial District has not had a taste of the office of Governor or Deputy Governor. The Pioneer Governor of Midwestern Region, Chief Jereton Mariere, hailed from Delta Central (1963 - 1966). The Premier of Midwestern Region (1963 - 66), Chief Dennis Osadebe was from Delta North. The Military Governor of Midwestern Region (1966 - 68) Maj – Gen David Ejoor was also from Delta Central.

The Deputy Governor of Bendel State (1979 - 83), Chief Demas Akpore also had the same roots (Delta Central). And so did the Deputy Governors of 1983, Chief Patrick Odiete and Chief Ray Inije. The man who doubled as the Deputy Governor of both Bendel State and the state when it changed to Delta State, Chief John Dike Edozien, hailed from Delta North (1987 - 91). The First Executive Governor (1992 - 93), Chief Felix Ibru is from Delta Central, while his Deputy Chief Simeon Ebonka is from Delta North.

Both the Second Executive Governor (1999 - 2007) Chief James Onanefe Ibori and His Deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue, are from Delta Central and Delta North, respectively. Thus, the conspicuous absence of the citation of Delta South happens to be a circumstantial evidence of the much– touted marginalisation of the Isokos Itsekiri and Ijaws of the Southern enclave, made all

the more so as the southern communities allege to be the economic mainstay of the largely coastal state, allegedly contributing as much as 97.3% of the revenue accruable to the state.

Deriving mainly from the foregoing, and perhaps naturally too, is the sentiment from the southern communities that, come 2015, there should be a distinct power shift from the Central and North towards the long – suffering South. Although despite the fact that this marginalisation seems to have been acknowledged and ventilated most unemphatically by politicians of the favoured divide, there seems to be no generalised assert to the methodology, or even the desirability of addressing the screaming anomaly in the forthcoming election year, especially considering the conflict interplayed by the great imperative bridging the yawning gap between the North, the Central and the South on the one hand and the greater need to ensure credibility of candidacy, on the other, thrown up by these convergent and divergent forces.

As if all these were not enough, the issue of zoning, which the PDP through Chief Nwaobosi seen to have installed, but which even party members seem to continually bicker over, happens to be the last straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back, fuelling speculation as to who qualifies to occupy Government House Asaba next year.

Yet, at the last count, as many as political titans of the state extraction, Mr. Tony Abah, Professor Sylvester Monye, Dr Festus Okubor, Chief Peter Okocha, Ambassador Gabriel Oyibode, Victor Ochei, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the Amazon, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, all of the PDP, seemed to have primed their political guns in shooting for the coveted post. Even rumour has it that Comrade Onuozourie Macaulay, the articulate SSG, is expected to stake his claim

,

By Rogers Ochela

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Abuja and challenges of infrastructure

projects (Lots 1A and 3) embarked upon by the incumbent FCT administration is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2015, which will transport a total of 700,000 passengers daily. While these projects are equally expected to create thousands of business opportunities, plans for mono-rail project have reached an advanced stage.

Provision of engineering infrastructure worth N61,194,747,645.00 through Public-Private-Partnership, PPP, for Katampe District is currently ongoing, while that of Kagini 1 District is estimated at N52,609,879,284.47 and Maitama Extension District expected to gulp N23,650,000,000.

These massive projects will provide 70,000kilometres of road network of diverse categories, including bridges, culverts, drainage systems, water, sewage, electricity and communication facilities.

To actualise this noble vision, the FCTA has entered into series of agreements with Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC, which is a special agency of the Federal Government set up to boost investment in infrastructure by the private sector through PPP. It is a well known fact that the concept of PPP in the provision of social infrastructure is all about leveraging the capacity and the skill, nay efficiency, of the ‘’private sector to enhance delivery of social services such as education, health, shelter and security.’’

A lot has equally been achieved in the area of provision of potable water with the recent commissioning of completed work on Tanks 1 and 6 with 40,000 cubic centimeters

Now Delta South not only has a justified claim of being marginalised, it presently has a man who adequately fits the bill as a gubernatorial imperative for redress

,

in the make-or mar 2015 governorship election, possibly to be the incumbent's Man Friday of continuity, or following in the foot step of his boss who was in government for long before becoming governor, first as a Commissioner for Conflict Resolution and later as SSG. t is actually in respect of this that I would love to ponder on the need to redress the injustice meted out to Delta South over the years.

In a related development, it would certainly be interesting to explore the Macaulay option as a disquisition of the zoning formula of his party, especially on whether or not it ties in with the Uduaghan's dynamics of visionary post-oil conceptualization of gubernatorial imagination and its adroit execution with a view to shoring up the state’s fortune in a potentially non-oil setting.

To start with, the prospect of Comrade Macaulay emerging as Governor in 2015 is an inherently seductive and simultaneously logical one. It is pertinent, in principle, especially given the fact that the other contenders are relatively inexperienced.

To start with, Macaulay has demonstrated that he is more of a brilliant, philosophical, issue-based administrator and political

I

storage capacity; reconstruction and expansion of the country’s most modern 10-lane multiple carriage way super-highways: the Umaru Musa Yar’adua (Airport Road) expressway; the Outer Northern (Murtala Mohammed) Expressway otherwise known as the Zuba/ Kubwa/City Centre highway as well as the dualization of the Nyanya-Abuja Expressway.

In the same vein several major inter-changes at AYA; BanexJahi/Mabushi link; Gwarimpa 11 Junction-Kado/Life Camp Junction; Karmo/Utako have been completed and commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

To extend development to satellite towns, the administration, following the approval of the President, has reestablished the FCT Satellite Towns Development Agency, STDA. With this agency as a handmaiden, the administration has extended its Midas touch to the satellite towns as epitomized in facelifts given to rural roads.

Above all, the most audacious policy of the FCT administration is the land swap policy premised at ceding lands to private investors in lieu of provision of critical infrastructure for Abuja city centre and adjoining districts and satellite towns. No doubt, if the current efforts are sustained, Abuja will certainly become one of the most developed capital cities in the world in the foreseeable future such as Kuje-Gwagwalada expansion road project; Gitata Bypass; Karshi-Apo Bypass; Gwagwalada-Dobi connection and Bwari Township roads and Sunrise- Guzape Bypass, etc. *Mr. Ochela, Abuja.

wrote from

conceptualist, rather than a sentimental zoning – card – carrying demagogue expounding ethnic chauvinism and sectional jingoist rabble rousing. How do I mean?

Had this brilliant ex-journalist been made of stuff other than the rational and the common-sensible, he would have been the one to latch up to the marginalisation and by that fact, zoning gambit offering a gubernatorial option foregrounded on extraneous and obtrusive geographical factors rather than on brilliant imagination tempered by proven capability. Others in his shoes would have demonstrated their desire by flying the sentimental kite sky – high.

However, in expressing his position on zoning, published in the dailies, Macaulay exhibited the cognitive ability of the avant garde philosopher king, as he lambasted the primordial mindset, prefering effective statesmanship above all else, thus enlightening his older and more experienced party patriarchs in the process.

Furthermore, Delta South needs to be compensated at last for the litany of errors of omission or commission that seemed to have deliberately passed up its nationals for the exalted posts of Governor and Deputy Governor. This expediency does not, however, have to sacrifice personality and merit on the altar of mere political equity and justice, which would have amounted to good cause without corresponding merit and situational relevance. However, where good cause meets merit, the ground is laid for a spectacular performance matrix.

Now Delta South not only has a justified claim of being marginalised, it presently has a man who adequately fits the bill as a gubernatorial imperative for redress.

Finally, and certainly most instructively, the much-publicized post-oil political engineering canvassed by Governor Uduaghan finds ready objectification in the cerebral personality of Comrade Macaulay who has over the years imbibed its essence and necessity from his boss.

Mr. Ejuwa, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

2015: Okudolor guns for Warri South Constituency

W

ARRI — AS the 2015 general elections draws closer, a former aspirant for Warri South Constituency II seat in Delta State House of Assembly and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Okudolor has indicated interest in re-contesting the constituency seat in the coming polls.

Okudolor, who came second in the polls during the PDP primaries in 2011, made his intention known at the PDP Secretariat, Warri, before a large crowd of his supporters.

Describing himself as a serious Warri boy, Okudolor, promised that if given the mandate to represent Warri South Constituency II come 2015, he will not disappoint his constituents.

He added that his support “base cuts across the entire 12 electoral wards in Warri South Local Government.”

In his response, Warri South PDP Chairman, Mr. Amah Agbajoh, said that it was the right of Chief Okudolor to contest the Warri South constituency II seat, noting that “there will be big surprises in constituency II very soon.”

Group lauds PDP chieftain over good governance

D

IRECTOR General of the Ithihikpebe Campaign organisation, Mr Ambby Okuhor, who also is the national coordinator of Delta Renaissance Movement, has been lauded for his selfless efforts to ensure that good governance was enthroned in Delta State and the country at large.

Secretary General of Delta Renaissance Movement, Mr Elohor Edivri in a statement, said that Okuhor has done so much to install the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state and contributed substantially to the success recorded by the government of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in the state.

In a goodwill message to mark Okuhor birthday celebraion, DRM noted that without the input of great minds like Okuhor, square pegs could and would have been in round hole in government.

Delta low cost housing to alleviate workers sufferings, says Akpeki

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, has said that the 150 housing units being built by the state government for low cadre civil servants in the state was part of government effort to solve the accommodation problems of

workers.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had last year approved N614.9 million for the construction of phase 1 of the project, comprising 150 housing units for workers.

Conducting a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Housing led by the Assistant Director

Assembly crisis: PDP lawmakers wanted state of emergency in Edo —Ogienwonyi

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY-FORMER Minister of State for Works, Chief Chris Ogienwonyi, weekend, said that the intention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers in the state House of Assembly was to plunge the state into crisis that would lead to the declaration of a state of emergency by the Federal Government.

He said that the plot had failed, commending the 15 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in the House for what he described as the maturity with which they handled the crisis. Ogienwonyi said, “If not, our state would have been at war today but thank God the evil plot failed.”

He stressed that rather than “continue in reckless and frivolous allegations, the PDP should support the governor’s developmental strides because we are all in this state and for 10 years flood was washing away our houses because the PDP never did anything about it. Let us be mature when we

see a good thing rather than play rubbish politics that will not help our people.”

(Architectural Science), Akinola Saura, round the project site in Asaba, the state capital, Akpeki said the houses were being subsidized for low cadre civil servants in the state.

He said “At the time we conceptualized the project, many in the government of Governor Uduaghan, had thought it was going to be one of those failed projects. Initially, we placed it on Owner-Occupier Basis (OOB) but now that we have developed it right to this level, we have worked out a system that will make it Owner-Occupier Mortgage

(OOM).” He added that the state government will not make above N200,000 on each unit after commissioning.

Speaking after the inspection, Akinola Saura commended Governor Uduaghan for embarking on the project, which according to him, will provide low cost houses for civil servants in the state.

Akinola expressed hope that the project comprising onebedroom, two bedrooms and three bedrooms flats, which are at roofing stages would soon be completed.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, flanked by Mallam Mohammed Garba, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (right) and Mr. Desmond Agbama, Chairman, NUJ Edo State (left) during a courtesy visit by the National Executive Council of the NUJ to the Governor

I was posted to Rivers for Police duties—Rivers Police Commissioner

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Dan Bature, has described as untrue, allegation by the state government that he was posted to the state to plant a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as governor in the 2015 general elections.

Bature said, weekend at the Police headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, that his posting to the state was strictly for police business.

Appealing for the cooperation of residents in the fight against crime in the state, the police commissioner said he will continue to take steps to rid the state of criminal elements.

Bature who also spoke on his success in rescuing a lady, who was abducted in AkukuToru Local Government Area of the state recently, added that three of the kidnappers were apprehended by his men.

He said,“I have deliberately decided not to respond to Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s insinuation that I was posted to

the Rivers State Police Command on the behest of Mrs. Jonathan to enthrone Amaechi’s successor at the 2015 gubernatorial election at all cost. I don’t think there is any reason for me to respond to comments made by the governor as regards my postings. For the records, I came to Rivers State on a normal mandate. I came to Rivers State on a clear mandate. I came

because there was a vacuum created by the promotion of my boss, Assistant Inspector General, AIG, Tunde Ogunsakin.

“The comment about my posting to Rivers State is highly embarrassing because police posting should not be matter that should be discussed on the pages of newspapers. My posting is essentially a national duty.

Comments about my posting to

Rivers State are very embarrassing. Comments about my posting are misleading. I came to answer national duty and I intend to be very professional and provide level ground for all. Whatever information about my posting, whatever you have read was to provoke me. My posting was normal and I insist it was normal.”

Opusunju joins Rivers guber race, outlines vision

By Hugo Odiogor

A

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant in Rivers State, Dr. Silva Opusunju, has outlined his vision to harness the abundant economic resources of the state to create more opportunities for the sustainable development of the state.

The former House of Representatives member said that his experiences in private and public sector institutions, domestic and international spheres of human endeavours

had equipped him with the capacity as change agent in his determination to transform Rivers State. Opusunju who is the latest aspirant to join the race, said he wants to bring public sector experience into governance, adding that he will re-industrialise the state and make it a safe place to live.

Other key components of the vision espoused by Opusunju include the reintroduction of policies to drive reindustrialisation and entrepreneurship programmes consistent with the experiences in

the 70s and 80s. He said “No nation-state or people have achieved any modicum of greatness without excellence in industrialisation, science, technology and innovation.”

He said his team believes that technological advancement was not the exclusive preserve of the West and its filial cousins, stressing that he will reindustrialise the key sectors of the economy of the state and increase its manufacturing base to create jobs and opportunities as part of an effort to secure a sustainable future and growth.

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 51 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO: Romantic attractions through your career/ business lines may become a little stronger than before.

But your best bet now is to utilize your closeness to influential people to better your career line.

LIBRA: Although others may try to oppose your brilliant ideas it indicated that you will laugh last today, especially if you refuse to be intimidated. Love and listen to your spouse.

SCORPIO: The language that will appeal to you more today is hard work, and whoever is coming with idea of joining the band wagon of merry making may be talking to the wrong channel. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS:Young-at-heart among you are in for an exciting day when both excitement and satisfaction can go together. Enterprising business personalities among you will smile. Take your health seriously.

CAPRICORN: Naturally you are the ambitious type and good opportunity to exhibit your innate ability will come your way. Please try not to neglect your domestic responsibilities; be more family minded.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

guess you know what the word ‘Retrieve’ mean.

This simply means to get back something from the place it is now, especially a place it ought not to have

Retrieve Yourself been.

Many of us have lost it all – our identity, our values, our self esteem, our personality, our vision, self worth

TERROR MUDA

etc. If you have lost all of this what can you do? Get back your personality.

Get back your selfesteem. Be the man or woman you are destined to be. Be

in “Never say goodbye”

the person you are created to be and unleash yourself on the world.

Be the best God destined you to be.

Retrieve yourself from whoever you have subsumed it before.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS:Opportunity to consolidate on progress made yesterday will come. This is a good day to make practical your new ideas at work. Lovers will smile. New attractions while on the move indicated.

PISCES:Although tomorrow will prove more successful for you, here is a day you can enhance your financial prospects through practical and ambitious approach from you. Be more family minded.

ARIES:If you are already committed emotionally, it is better you discourage new romantic attractions while on the move or else you find yourself at cross roads sooner than you can imagine.

TAURUS:Whatever happens success will crown your efforts today. Yet you will need to keep both yours and other people secrets because of another day. Utilize your new ideas and take good advice.

GEMINI: Your close friends and other influential personalities are willing to assist you to make it a successful day. You are becoming more irresistible to the members of your opposite sex. Be more loving.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

CANCER:Conjunction between the Sun and Mercury in your Star Sign will enhance your brilliance to the betterment of your cause. Back your hopes and wishes along your career line with practical approach.

LEO: This is a good day to seek good advice from professionals, especially if what at hand is legal related.

Both your present and immediate future should be taken more seriously.

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,

Basic Characterisitics of Capricon RULER = AMBITIOUS SATURN-THE LAW. QUALITY = CARDINAL. ELEMENT = EARTH. SYMBOL = THE GLORIOUS MONTAIN GOAT. GROUP = FEMININE. ZODIACAL POSITION = THE 10TH. Because they rarely day dream, Capricorns are set of practical people. This is because Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - the planet of Career, material things and sceptics. Although, the spirit of pessimism often times tempt the Capricorns, to succeed they will need to develop strong will that is indispensable to achievements of higher order because, series of challenges will come his/her way before he/she finally makes it to the top. Most Capricorns are forced to shoulder many responsibilities early in life. Career building comes first in Capricorn’s priority lists which often leads to enviable Career achievements that guarantee recognition. And another name for Capricorn is PATIENCE. Yet, Capricorn can appear mean in the business circle. And He/She will tell you that seriousness and business are synonymous. Above all, Capricorn is endowed with leadership capacity.

Capricorn ‘s quality is Cardinal, element is the Earth. The Cardinal aspect makes a natural leader with strong ability for hard work. Natives of Cardinal signs crave for action and strongly desire prominence and often times make success of their love of action and desire for importance through relentless efforts.

The earthly connection with Capricorn further confirms innate ability for hard work and practicality in your nature. Saturn is the planet of hard task, delay, depression, frustration but reward after so much struggles.

Being a difficult teacher, Saturn usually takes its natives through many different tasks, challenges and delay. All these are meant to teach Capricorn born person the virtues of patience and hard work. However, Saturn usually brings its natives recognition and reward. However, the cautious side of Saturn always manifest in all Capricorns and it is needless to say that they are usually cautious type of people but it is necessary for them to watch that side of their characteristics as they often push their cautious side too far and most of the time it results to black mood.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 53

I

Who are these court jesters, for God’s sake!

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NCIDENTALLY, the expression “court jester” has no relationship with a court of law. Rather it is a term used in the Middle Ages to describe a professional CLOWN (capitals mine ) employed to entertain kings and queens and noble men…..

Today, I find no term apt enough to describe a group of men who are hell bent to have their way to the detriment of the collective good of this country.

There are millions of Nigerians out there who will insist that this is not a laughing matter, given the seriousness of their actions, despite their laughable actions.

When on September 9,World Football Governing body FIFA dispatched what could be termed a FINAL warning to Nigeria, they wrote: “…we would also inform you that should the electoral process be affected by any interference or mishap, the case will be referred again, and without prior notice or warning to the appropriate FIFA bodies for immediate suspension of the NFF until the next FIFA congress…………” how delighted we were to witness some fresh breadth return to the football house after it had been fouled again and again by individuals oblivious of the statutes governing football administration world wide.

As you are reading this, no one has come forward with the agenda, list of attendance, motions moved and names of individuals that allegedly voted Mr Giwa into office that is why I am always sickened when a section of the media confer on him the sacred appellation of “president” To cut a long story short, at FIFA’s instruction he duly vacated office, the NFF executive Committee under Maigari met, fixed an extraordinary meeting of the congress for September 20 in Warri, and off we went, determined to restore sanity to our embattled football house.

I must confess that I was expecting a stormy session, a couple of absentees and protests……yet I arrived Warri to meet “real” members of the Nigerian football family, a congress that was 44 members strong, chairmen and delegates that back slapped, laughed heartily and exchanged banters as if nothing had gone amiss.

Surprisingly, Friday night, rumours filtered in that certain individuals had gone to a Jos court ( Jos Again?) to obtain an injunction stopping the congress from holding. Unbelievable!

In Warri we had the who’s who in Nigeria’s football, stake holders all. Who , for God’s sake were these court jesters? I exclaimed.

The football family met and considered it for the rumour that it was, after all no one had been served any court notice. The Congress day was a Saturday, and no one expected the court to work on a week end.

Even the electronic delivery of the so called court order was done by counsel of the plaintiff and not an authorized court bailiff, I was briefed.

Congress venue, the entrance of NFF President

In Warri we had the who’s who in Nigeria’s football, stake holders all. Who , for God’s sake were these court jesters?

,

Aminu Maigari was loudly applauded, the speech of the honourable Minister delivered by Dr Bolaji Ojo Oba calling for “…..everything possible be done to protect the sanctity of football as it will be criminal for anybody to tamper with it ………” was given a standing ovation while that of the DG National Sports Commission delivered by Mallam Alhasan Yakmut was received with resounding acclaim.

Then came an unbelievably well organized, orderly and meticulously delivered Congress where all the delegates spoke with one voice, Elected members of the Electoral and Electoral Appeal Committee, agreed on date and venue of the Elective Congress, promised to move forward from now on and pledged their service to the country’s football development.

This is for those who believe “FIFA should ban us”.

Those who have failed to realize that should FIFA ban us, anytime we want to come back, we will always return to status quo in terms of congresses to set a road map and hold elections.

Those who say FIFA should ban us for us to reorganize our football have failed to mention those and how football will be reorganized in a vacuum.

Those who say FIFA should ban us do not know that if they do, CAF will pull us out of the Nations Cup Qualifiers, bar the Falcons from Namibia, stop the progress of the Golden Eaglets and the Flying Eagles from their qualifying matches and ground our referees and match commissioners, cancel our developmental seminars and courses for organization, referees and sports medicine…..

Those who say FIFA should ban us, dogs in a manger,

selfishness personified ready to plunge this country to a pariah status for their own selfish ends “if we cannot get what we want, then let FIFA ban us”……court jesters.

Between now and September 30 when the election will hold, they are advised to keep clear of our football.

On behalf of the youths of this country we warn them to desist from doing anything that will impact negatively on the football fortunes of this country, because not only will history be harsh on them, it will haunt them for life. A stigma they will not appreciate.

These are the same people we advised to desist from taking football matters to regular courts as it HAS NEVER WORKED .The same people that saw reason and went to the Court of Arbitration For Sports (CAS) only to have their case thrown out for lack of merit.

In Warri, Nigeria’s supreme soccer ruling organ, the Congress spoke. In ten days time we are expected to return to Warri to elect our next set of leaders and I rest convinced that in the same peaceful manner with which the extraordinary congress was delivered, so shall the Elective congress be concluded, with football as the overall winner. AMEN.

THOSE NATIONAL HONOURS

Last Friday, the Federal Government release a list of those approved for National honours among them 39 sportsmen and women including the Golden Eaglets and their coaches.

It is curious and sad that whereas some staff of the NFF, who are backroom staff of the team will be national honours recipients yet Alhaji Aminu Maigari, chairman of the NFF and his board have been neglected in this consideration.

I can tell the story of the Golden Eaglets, how, from scratch, this team was nurtured to stardom by the NFF and today that same NFF has been shoved aside.

Am I surprised? When Nigeria won the Nations Cup in South Africa I arrived Aso Rock to discover that no seat had been reserved for the NFF board, no wonder then that when members of the team were honoured by various honours and cash prizes Alhaji Maigari and his board were denied their due. Maigari stands tall as one of the most successful, if not the most successful football federation President ever.

After winning the Nations Cup, the World U17 Cup, playing to the final of the World U20 Women World Cup twice…..with other continental diadems over a short period of four years,he watches in amazement as all his teams are honoured but not him!

For how long will this injustice continue? Not for long.

I believe that sooner than later, the Maigari executive, its management and committees will be appreciated and rewarded.

The Good Book tells me that no matter how hard detractors try, what belongs to you, though it linger, wait for it, it will surely come. Habakkuk 2:3 See you next week…

Musa thrilled with Akpabio Scrabble Classics: Trophies arrive Uyo Ahmed Moscow derby winner A O S the minutes tick towards the kick off of the highest ranked Scrabble Competition in the world, the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics, the host Association has confirmed the arrival in Uyo of the 24 custom-made trophies and medals in all the categories even as the Five Star Le meridian Hotel venue of the Classics has been confirmed.

Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association Mr Ufot Ebong said weekend that this being the Eight edition, quality and standards cannot be compromised.

“In association with the national body, do not forget that this is the eight time we are hosting this event and it keeps on

improving by the year.

This year will definitely be better. ‘’We have taken delivery of the 24 trophies and medals that will be presented to the different categories of winners and are set to roll….”

He also spoke on the 7 committees set up by his Association and expressed satisfaction with what they have achieved so far. “ it boils down to what I said earlier. The men and women working with us come to the table with lots of experience garnered over the years.

“We have committees to handle accommodation, equipment, protocol, entertainment, transportation, and so on, while the national body is responsible for Prizes, publicity, technical and WESPA rep-

resentation. This is an international tourney and nothing will be left to chance “ he said.

On his part, Board member and chairman of the Technical sub committee, Mr Umar Faruk Baba-Inna has confirmed the closure of registration. “ Yes it ended last Friday.

We are in the process of collation and by Monday ( today ) we will give you the number of entries in all the categories and the total number. Some registered on line, others by mail, while some still, did through the state body, so we will put all together.

We are good to go…” he confirmed.

The 8th Godswill Akapbio International Scrabble Classics will be declared open by His Excellency Governor Godswill Akpa-

bio on Thursday, September 24, 2014. The Governor, a versatile scrabble player has the tradition of taking on the World Champions and beating them on opening day.

N-FORM striker Ahmed Musa is thrilled to have scored the winner for CSKA Moscow in 1-0 win over city rivals Locomotiv Moscow yesterday.

CELEBRATION... CSKA, Moscow Nigerian star Ahmed Musa celebrates with his coach Igor Cherevechenko after scoring.

Russian champions CSKA Moscow are now second on the league table with 18 points after eight games.

The former VVV Venlo forward scored the only goal of the match in the 33rd minute when he fired in a shot from outside the box to send the home fans into celebration.

“I am so happy and delighted to have scored the goal that gave us victory in the match. It was a derby and it was tough,” Musa said.

He dedicated the goal to his mother for her support.

“The goal is for my sweet mother. She has always been there for me.

She encouraged me a lot in my choice of career,” he said.

54—Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 — 55

NFF fire report ready next week

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

U

Striker Costa looks to get his foot on the ball in mid-air as City’s Fernandinho and Mangala look on in the opening stages

NLESS there is a sudden change of plan, the much expected report of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) on the fire incident that ravaged the accounts section and the office of the general secretary last month will be out this week.

A source at the NFF secretariat told Sports Vanguard that earlier last week; most of the top management staff of the football house were at the office of the FFS

I want to improve on our achievements – Umeh

BY JACOB AJOM

A

S the September 30 election into the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation draws near, outgoing First Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh sees himself in a pole position ahead of other contestants for the NFF presidency.

Umeh has the uphill

task of warding off what is expected to be stiff contests from the likes of Amanze Uchegbulam, Amaju Pinnick, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Shehu Dikko and Dominic Irofa to the NFF hot seat. But the Anambra FA Chairman said he is not cowed by the calibre of the other contestants, pointing out that he had the advantage of being the incumbent Vice President. “As the

Man U Continues from BP Ryan Giggs and Louis van Gaal, right, look dejected after Manchester United crumble to a 5-3 defeat.

Football, bloody hell.

It was difficult to think of anything other than that famous Sir Alex Ferguson quote to sum up a truly remarkable match. From being 2-0 ahead early and 3-1 up with less than half an hour remaining, Manchester United conceded five times on a chastening day when they were run ragged by Jamie Vardy a striker who, almost three years ago to the day, was sent off for Fleetwood Town in a Conference game against Kidderminster Harriers.

By the time the fourth official signalled that there would be six min-

utes of added time, Leicester ’s supporters were chanting “ we want six” and Louis van Gaal was wearing the haunted expression of man who could not believe what had unfolded in front of him.

A £150m summer spending spree has delivered a galáctico forward line for United but somebody forget to mention the defence could do with a helping hand. United were a shambles at the back.

Leicester, to their immense credit, took full advantage.

A humiliating defeat finished with United playing out the final seven minutes with 10 men after Tyler Blackett brought down Vardy just as the Leicester striker prepared to pull the trigger.

incumbent Vice President, I should be the number one candidate then others will follow,” Umeh said in Lagos yesterday.

He hopes to ride on the back of the achievements of the Aminu Maigari-led board to the secure victory at the poll, pointing out that “we as a board were very lucky because we surpassed the achievements of all the boards before us.”

Continuing, the former Chairman of Rangers

International Football Club of Enugu said, “I hope to dwell on our achievements because they were areas we did

Greensprings, others get nomination for Nigerian Sports Award

F

•Umeh

Uchegbulam Continues from BP Vanguard that the attitude and voting pattern of the delegates must not be like the typical Nigerian politicians who are usually swayed by considerations other than merit.

He justified his stance.

“The quality of the FA will determine the quality of football in the country. It is pertinent to also know that the growth of Nigerian football is in the hands of the delegates. That is why I am urging them to do a good job.”

He admitted that he is one of the candidates for the NFF Presidency but was quick to add that he was not in anyway going out of his way to achieve victory at the poll.

very well and certainly there were others that needed improvements.

SoI hope to improve on our achievements.”

in continuation of the investigation to unravel the real cause of the fire incident.

The source further explained that throughout last week, most of the junior and intermediate staff also visited fire service office to make further explanations on all they knew of the development.

“Most people think that the fire incident has been swept under the carpet as usual but I want to tell you that investigations have been ongoing and in fact throughout last week, many people including the management, senior and even junior staff have been visiting the fire service and by the end of this week they will come out with their report” our source added.

“If they feel I not good for the job, let the best carry the day,” Uchegbulam said, adding, “it is not a do or die affair.”

He insisted that delegates must consider the candidates’ quality and knowledge of the game before casting their votes.

He said after all they have have passed through in recent times, delegates must vote for an FA that will fight for the game and for the autonomy of the FA. “We have the opportunity to reposition the game in the country and indeed, we must usher in a new era that wil truly see the FA independent even while recognising the role of government in the affairs of football.”

OR its genuine commitment to grassroots sports development coupled with robust sporting calendar, Greensprings School has once again being nominated second time for the school sports award category of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Award.

Announcing the nominees for this year’s award, General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu noted that the panel received overwhelming nominations for the 2014 editions of the award from members of the public adding that it was a tough job collating before the selection of the top 3 nominees for each category.

Greensprings has been nominated alongside, Toybat international School, Lagos and St. Barnabas, Ilorin for the school sports award.

Since winning the maiden edition of the award last year, Greensprings has remained committed to sports development with its annual school sports forum .

Lampard Continues from BP down Diego Costa.

Costa then struck a post before Lampard, on as a second-half substitute, volleyed James Milner’s cross beyond Thibaut Courtois with five minutes left to give the Premier League champions an unlikely equaliser.

Manuel Pellegrini took the surprise step of handing Eliaquim Mangala something of a baptism of fire. The Frenchman made his debut in place of Martin Demichelis as one of four changes from

Wednesday’s defeat to Bayern Munich.

Diego Costa’s hamstrings held up enough to see him lead Chelsea’s line, bumping Didier Drogba back to the bench after a lacklustre show in their Champions League draw with Schalke.

The Spain striker’s first contribution to the contest was a full-blooded 50-50 with Vincent Kompany that saw him come off second best after Yaya Toure had forced the first save of the game out of Joe Hart.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Man U stunned by Leicester City in 8-goal thriller W

AYNE Rooney was powerless to prevent Manchester United throwing away a 3-1 lead at Leicester City.

Continues on Page 55

DEJECTION - Ryan Giggs and Louis van Gaal, right, look dejected after Manchester United crumbled to a 5-3 defeat against Leicester City yesterday

Let the best run Nigerian football – Uchegbulam

O

NE of the candidates in the September 30 NFF elections, Amanze Uchegbulam has

challenged delegates to the forthcoming elective congress to eschew sentiments and elect the best leaders for

Nigerian football as that was the only pointer to the growth of the game in the country.

Uchegbulam who is

Chairman of the Imo State Football Association told Sports

Continues on Page 55

Lampard shocks Chelsea

F

applied a clinical finish to Eden Hazard’s superb cross to give the Blues the lead on 71 minutes, shortly after Pablo Zabaleta had received a second booking for bringing Continues on Page 55

RANK Lampard came back to haunt Chelsea as 10man Manchester City rallied to earn a share of the spoils after a dramatic encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Andre Schurrle Kaduna Utd Enyimba Sunshine Pillars Dolphins El Kanemi Giwa FC Nembe Rangers Nasarawa

NPFL Results 4 Crown 4 Bayelsa 3 Abia Warriors 1 Akwa United 2 Gombe 2 Heartland 3 Taraba 2 Lobi 1 Wolves 2 Sharks

Everton Leicester Man City Tottenham Aston Villa Burnley Newcastle QPR Swansea West Ham

2 5 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 3

Milan Cesena Chievo Genoa Sessuolo

0 2 2 1 0

EPL

Crystal Palace Man Utd Chelsea West Brom Arsenal Sunderland Hull City Stoke Southampton Liverpool

SERIE A Juventus Empoli Parma Lazio Sampdoria

0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 3 0 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 0 0

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Platform (5) 7 Shrivel (6) 9 Container (3) 10 Performed (3) 12 Chief (5) 13 Cheese (4) 15 Cabled (5) 17 Death (6) 19 Sea-eagle (4) 20 Instrument (5) 22 Cushion (3) 24 Feared (7) 27 Stray (3) 28 Banquet (5) 31 Minus (4) 33 Sibling (6) 35 Cogs (5) 37 Prod (4) 38 Started (5) 39 Longing (3) 41 Creeper (3) 42 Meal (6) 43 Tale (5)

DOWN 1 Slumbering (6) 2 Fleet (6) 3 Finish (3) 4 Identical (4) 5 Deal (5) 6 Righteousness (8) 8 Bird (4) 11 Inequality (9) 14 Repair (4) 16 Peruse (4) 18 Additional (4) 21 Concern (8) 23 Adroit (4) 25 Gaelic (4) 26 Intense (4) 29 About (6) 30 Supposition (6) 32 Step (5) 34 Hut (4) 36 Jealousy (4) 40 Pinch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Fast 4, Out 6, Grid 9, Lid 10, Diseased 11, Apex 14, Ore 16, Dealt 19, Deserved 21, Beret 23, Rigorous 24, Tutor 27, Err 31, Wild 33, Indicate 34, Tee 35, Beer 36, Lad 37, Numb.

DOWN: 2, Arid 3, Tier 4, Observer 5, Tidy 6, Glare 7, Rip 8, Ideal 12, Adept 13, Asset 14, Orb 15, Eerie 17, Abhor 18, Tress 20, Degraded 22, Tor 25, Unite 26, Order 28, Pill Scan 30, Stem 32, Lee.

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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