RIVERS: APC, PDP flex muscles

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62612

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

CONFERENCE— From left: Snr. Vice President and MD, Addax Petroleum Development (Nigeria), Mr. Cornelius Zegelaar; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Denzil Kentebe; Dep. Gov, Bayelsa State, Gboribiogha John Jonah and MD, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section, Mr. Clay Neff at the Practical Nigerian Content Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Nigeria's crude oil prices dip to two-month low 4

RIVERS: APC, PDP flex muscles

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

•Amaechi, Peterside, Wike rally parties'supporters, pray for victory •Hold separate thanksgiving services, throw jabs at each other •Wike has up to February 21, 2016 to fight for his seat •Delta's Okowa, Emerhor know fate at election tribunal today 13

THE BATTLE FOR RIVERS IN CHURCHES

ORT HARCOURT— THE two dominant political parties in Rivers State, All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were yesterday flexing muscles over the court judgment that annulled the last governorship election in the state, even as they set their sights on a possible rerun.

Erstwhile governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi fresh from his ministerial screening in Abuja, last Thursday, stormed the state, yesterday, to breathe life into the

Continues on Page 5

5 killed as cultists unleash mayhem in Lagos 6

Mr & Mrs THANKSGIVING—From left: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzette Wike; Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Acting National Chairman, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Managment Agency (RIWAMA), Felix Obuah, in a worship mood, during the Solidarity State Thanksgiving Service at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt. Right: Ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi addressing party supporters during the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt

COLUMNISTS:

Intellectual nomadism •P.19

Buhari’s business as usual cabinet •P.20

House NITEL committee: Gbajabiamila's rehabilitation loyalists kick to gulp 14

$1.2bn

8

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 3

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4—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

By Sebastine Obasi, Michael Eboh & Ediri Ejoh

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HE prices of Nigeria’s crude oil grades have recorded significant decline over the last two weeks, fuelling concerns over the ability of the country to meet its revenue target and fund its budget.

This was even as shipping companies have started hiking their price for the lifting of crude oil from Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the call, weekend, by Lamido Sanusi, Emir of Kano and immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the removal of fuel subsidy has continued to draw reactions from stakeholders and industry experts.

Data obtained, weekend, from Platts, a global energy information service, revealed that Nigeria’s crude oil grades had, over the last two weeks, dropped between 60 cents and 40 cents, the lowest in two months.

According to the report, Nigeria’s flagship crude oil grade, Qua Iboe, was assessed at a premium to Dated Brent of $0.65 per barrel, the lowest since July 13, adding that the levels have dropped 60 cents from highs at the start of October, when the grade was assessed at Dated Brent plus $1.25 per barrel.

Brent oil, the benchmark crude, is currently trading at about $47.99 per barrel.

In addition, the report stated that premium Nigerian grades, Bonny Light and Forcados have also dropped 50 cents since the beginning of October, while Bonny Light was assessed at Dated Brent plus $0.60 per barrel and Forcados also at Dated Brent plus $0.60 per barrel, the lowest since midAugust.

The report quoted oil traders as saying that the brief parity of all three grades at the end of last week had since disappeared, with Qua Iboe retaining a small premium over the other two.

Differentials for Bonga grade had also dropped 50 cents since the beginning of October to Dated Brent plus $0.50 per barrel, while Escravos had dipped 40 cents to Dated Brent flat.

Other Nigerian grades assessed by the report, Brass River, Erha, Usan, Agbami and Akpo, also had narrowing differentials.

Reasons for drop The report attributed the drop in price to a number of factors including pressure from high freight rates, dampened European demand due to low refinery margins and competing Mediterranean grades.

“As forward margins are on the way down and freight is holding at strong levels, European buyers are sitting on their hands,” one crude trader said.

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MTN FOUNDATION: From left— Portfolio Manager, Mrs. Foyinsola Oyebola; Director, Mr. Denis Okoro, both of MTN Foundation; MTN Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, during the commissioning of five patrol vechicles to Osun State Government under the MTN Foundation security support projects, at the Governor's Office, Abere, Osogbo.

Nigeria’s crude oil prices dip to two months low Ship owners hike fee to lift Nigeria’s oil ...as reactions trail Sanusi’s call for subsidy removal Trading sources also stated that West African crude could begin to price into Europe this week, but falling differentials for competing light, sweet Mediterranean grades such as CPC and Azeri have made it more difficult.

“The Mediterranean fall makes it even worse for residual light WAF,” said one trader of West African crude.

The report said: “Additionally, in Europe, Urals discounts have grown to their widest in more than 16 months as a prolonged period of stagnant arbitrage and an overly long sour crude market in Europe made it increasingly difficult to clear volumes.

The Indian factor

“As a result, a number of European refineries are switching refining slates to heavier, sourer grades. India, which normally takes numerous monthly Nigerian cargoes, has also finished its buying for November, with the ongoing issue over the required ‘letter of comfort’ for ships loading from Nigeria still deterring some Indian buyers from loading additional crude.

“Despite some talk in the market about the US Gulf Coast and East Coast being potential buyers, traders in Europe said stronger buying interest has yet to be seen from the US. “However, as differentials continue to sink and compete

favourably with domestic light sweet crudes, the US becomes a more likely region for remaining November barrels.”

NNPC's LOC

Meanwhile, another Platts report also stated that at least two ship owners have asked for a premium on freight rates for ships loading crude oil out of Nigeria.

The report, quoting shipping sources, stated that the two ship owners had started charging a premium of up to world scale 10 for ships loading from Nigeria because of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, requirement that ship owners sign a letter of comfort that their vessels would not be used for illegal activities.

Shipping sources disclosed that if a ship owner was signing NNPC’s Letter of Comfort, LOC, he was liable for many risks and, therefore, he will charge a premium.

Sources said the market had now accepted the letter of comfort, but it was causing unnecessary complications to an already oversupplied Nigerian crude market.

According to the report, the SCF Altai, owned by Sovcomflot, was heard placed on subjects earlier this week to Repsol for November 12 loading dates at world scale 87.5 on a West Africa to Spain route, stating that at the time other fixtures for a Suezmax on a West Africa to Mediterranean

route were being done at around Worldscale 77.5 and 80.

A representative of Sovcomflot said the ship was still on subjects at w87.50 but he declined to comment on the letter of comfort obligations it had agreed to.

According to the ship owner, the agreement was still under discussion, and could not set a precedent for ships calling from Nigeria, as there was no fixed rule.

Sources said a premium was also charged on the Suezmax Delta Kanaris chartered by Petrobras at world scale 87.5 on a NigeriaBrazil voyage for November 8 loading.

Sources at Petrobras and Delta Tankers, owner of the tanker, were both unavailable for immediate comment.

Trading and shipping sources said, however, that these cases were very rare so far and that it would not be common as every charterer has a different requirement, and not all ship owners may agree with them.

Subsidy removal

On Sanusi's call for fuel subsidy removal, Mr. Frank Ihekwoaba, Chief Financial Officer, Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited, said that fuel subsidy removal was in consonance with the realities of the time.

He said: “The withdrawal

of fuel subsidy is a shift towards financial markets, infrastructure spending and in conformity with present and future economic realities.

“I support government to scrap subsidy and hopefully channel the freed resource to massive infrastructure programmes.”

Corroborating Ihekwoaba’s position, Managing Director, Petrocarbon Engineering Limited, an oil servicing company, Mr. Olisemeka Ojieh, said: “I support that subsidy should be removed. With this new administration, a lot of issues should be looked at critically. We should try to rethink and do things appropriately.

“More refineries should be built to create more jobs, block loopholes, instil transparency and remove the control of products distribution from the hands of few marketers.”

On his part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Nigeria, Mr. Alex Neyi, said: “We have always maintained that subsidy in Nigeria is not real because we know the mathematics of how it is been calculated.

“There is need for deregulation so as to allow market forces to play out.

“The greatest challenge we have had to contend with is the idealism been passed on to the masses whenever they hear subsidy.

“It is so bad that we allow ourselves to be fooled over what we literally are not enjoying.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal (2nd L); Gov. Muhammadu Bindo of Adamawa State (2nd R); Permanent Secretary Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Haruna Harman (L) and others during a visit of the Federal Government delegation led by the SGF to victims of Yola Mosque bomb blast at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Saturday. Photo: NAN.

RIVERS: APC, PDP flex muscles Continues from Page 1 party ’s structures. His successor and incumbent governor, Nyesom Wike also, yesterday, roused his associates to prepare for another election showdown.

Remarkably, both former political allies now turned arch political foes spoke at different thanksgiving services in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, where they called on the name of God to push their different agenda.

Under the new Electoral Act that makes the Supreme Court the final arbiter of governorship election petitions, the last deadline available to the court to rule on the case is February 21, 2016.

Meanwhile, in another

response to the tribunal judgment annulling the election of Governor Wike, the PDP, yesterday, alerted Nigerians and the international community to what it claimed as the determination of the APCled Federal Government to undermine the nation’s institutions towards achieving its political goals.

The assertion was dismissed by the APC which claimed that despite some spots, that the judiciary remained relatively above board.

Meanwhile, the status quo continued in PortHarcourt, as Governor Wike and his associates continued to vow their determination to prosecute the case to its logical

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO HE change you seek is activated when your life becomes a message. To lead a new age you must become the message. It's up to you.

T

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness is not a goal…it’s a by-product of a life well lived —Eleanor Roosevelt

W

HAT can cause unhappiness? Some passions of the mind which are adverse to a person’s well-being; Anger, hatred, jealousy, arrogance, can contribute to unhappiness. They are like a chain reaction which invades our minds, the more you indulge the more miserable you feel. How do we become more grateful and peaceful?

Try to do something for another without recognition or thoughts of rewards. For love’s sake only. The act of selfless generosity can be given even from the distance, this is love in demonstration, and will bring inner satisfaction and peace.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

A

LL lizards are lying down, who can tell the one with stomach problems?

conclusion at Supreme Court.

Wike rallies supporters

the

Nonetheless, the governor first through a broadcast early yesterday, described the judgment as a minor irritation, and later, at a church thanksgiving pledged to continue to hold fort. But there were indications that the Wike political machinery was also being revived to push for votes in the event the Supreme Court endorses the judgment of the tribunal.

In an appeal to his supporters to keep faith, Wike in his broadcast said: “I appeal to all our supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and go about their legitimate duties in a peaceful manner. There is no cause for alarm.

“By virtue of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, I am still your Governor and will remain your Governor until the exhaustive conclusion of the appeal process at the Supreme Court.

“Therefore, be assured that your mandate, which you freely gave to the Peoples Democratic Party and my humble self, is intact, safe and secure.

God will not allow your mandate to come to naught.”

Also speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Obi Wali International Convention Centre in Port Harcourt, Wike assured that he would complete his four year tenure, assuring that God will protect his

mandate as he urged his supporters to remain calm, saying the tribunal judgment was not an issue to celebrate.

“The nullification of my election by the tribunal sitting in Abuja shows that justice is ours. I am surprised that some people are celebrating over the judgment when they described the judgment against their candidates at the National Assembly as judicial 419.

“It is now that they have confidence with judiciary. In spite of the judgment, we will still have hope in judiciary. I want to beg you, don’t be provoked, I know what happened at the weekend is provoking but I know what their plans are, that is why I am begging you to be calm."

In an apparent dig at his predecessor, Amaechi, Wike said: “I was minister in this country and I was given the highest responsibility and today some people are struggling to be a minster, and they are celebrating to be a minister as if nobody has been a minister in this state.”

Following his remarks, prayers were held for him, the state and the PDP asking God to thwart the alleged plans to throw the state into confusion.

Amaechi storms Rivers, prays for APC's victory

Amaechi on his part at another forum at ATCTEK hall on Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, couched as a thanksgiving service for the Supreme Court judgment that enthroned him as governor in October, 2007 expressed confidence that God will deliver the state to the APC at the rerun election.

He thus charged party members to be prayerful as he evoked the spirit that helped him to come to power to lift his political godson and APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside.

“What has been happening is not new for those who know me. You can pay all the money you want to pay but if God says it is not your turn it is not your turn. It is God that gave the victory at the tribunal.

“Even if we win at the Supreme Court it is still not yet time for celebration. This is not a new path for those of you who know me. We did not know they had fixed Saturday for judgement, here we are to thank God”, he said.

The former governor told the gathering to turn

to Luke chapter 17 reading from verse 11, the story about one of the lepers who came back to express gratitude to God after 10 were healed of leprosy.

While appreciating the grace of God on him, he charged his followers to continue to pray for victory politically.

Peterside also at the service assured supporters that God will deliver the state from those he styled wicked politicians.

What the Constitution says

By Section 285 (5), an Election petition must be filed within twenty-one (21) days after the date of the declaration of the final result of the Election. By Section 285 (6), an Election Tribunal must deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition. By Section 285 (7), an appeal from the decision of an Election Tribunal or Court of Appeal in an election matter must be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of the delivery of judgement of the Tribunal or Court of Appeal. By Section 285 (8), the court in all final appeals from election matters may adopt the practice of first giving its decision and reserving the reasons to a later date.

Of all the polls petitions’ cases, the governorship elections cases have the longest duration of ten (10) months; - six (6) months at the tribunal, two (2) months at the Appeal Court and two (2) months at the Supreme Court Peterside on May 3, 2015 filed a petition against the declaration of Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the winner of the election, which was held on April 11.

With the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal nullifying Wike’s election on October 24, it means the Court of Appeal must deliver its judgment on Wike’s

appeal on or before December 23, 2015 and if it gets to the Supreme Court must be decided on or before February 21, 2016.

We must resist anti-democratic forces —PDP

Meanwhile, the PDP yesterday called on its members, supporters and lovers of democracy across the country to rise up and use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces, now using the judiciary and security agencies in their desperate scheme to subvert the will of the people and destroy the nation’s democracy.

The party said though it seeks peace, it is not ready to accept the peace of a graveyard, neither is it willing to surrender the mandate freely given to it by the people in any part of the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and other states where it won in the last general elections.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh accused the APC-led government of desperation to take over the oil rich states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Delta and vowed to resist the efforts.

“Nigerians have noted APC’s definition of credible elections wherein governorship elections in Imo, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos and Yobe are all credible, while those of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia are rigged and must by all means be annulled.

“We want all to know that this party is able, willing and now ready to call up our members and supporters to use all means within the limits provided by the laws of the land to resist this evil plan to decimate the PDP and opposition. The peace we seek is not that of a graveyard, it is such as guaranteed by a wellrecognized democratic system that treats all as equals before the law, irrespective of partisan and political affiliations."

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Firm petitions Navy, Police, over death of 9 crew members

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By Ebere Aham & Lucky Nwanekwu

AGOS—AN oil trading firm, Twinstomp Energy Limited, has petitioned the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and other relevant authorities over the death of nine of its crew members aboard the company’s vessel in Delta State.

The victims were aboard the company’s vessel, MT Tank (IMO no 8681460), that collided with another vessel, MT Elixir (IMO no 9282510), along Bonga terminal, offshore Warri, Delta State, in the early hours of Monday, October 19, 2010.

The petition, dated October 19, 2010, was signed by Olumide Oyewole of Andrias & Co Legal Practitioners, the solicitors of Twinstomp Energy Limited.

In the petition, Oyewole called for a comprehensive probe into the accident, with a view to unravelling the true cause of the mishap.

He said of his client’s 12 crew members involved in the accident, only three were rescued alive.

“Apart from the loss of the ship, MT Tank, we understand that only one body has so far been recovered, out of the nine dead crew members. ‘’We understand that of the 12 crew members, only three were rescued alive. We seek your assistance by using your good office to cause a thorough investigation to be conducted on the matter,’’ he said.

Oyewole gave the coordinates of the accident site to be 04 degrees 27 degreesNorthand004degreesand 27 degrees East.

He gave the names of the Nigerians on board as Kulo Eddy Osang, Arerebo Arepade Clifford, FinecountryTimipouadeh,Akindele Akinbanjon,OdafeE.Offeh,Magaji Joshua, Isaac Kojo Money and Salami Malcolm. Others are Ejila Philip, Moses Apobowei and Mr. Sambo.

Efforts to speak with the DG of NIMASA failed as he could not be reached.

However, a senior staff in the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed receipt of the petition.

Director of Naval Info, CDRE, KabiruAliyuconfirmedthecollision and said to combat the situation, vessels have been deployed there from the Central Naval Command, Bayelsa.

MURDER OF HUNCHBACK:

Police nab suspected

ritualist in Abia

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By Anayo Okoli

MUAHIA—ABIA State police command has arrested a suspected ritualist, Marshal Nwankwo, of Dikeukwu autonomous community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, for allegedly killing a hunchback, Mr. Ukata Iheme, for money making purposes.

The suspect, who was said to have committed the crime with another suspect, Emeka Okoye, now at large, allegedly killed and buried the victim.

Abia State Police Public

Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Onyeke Udeviotu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was arrested, following information that he was alleged to have been sighted last with the victim before his disappearance.

According to the Police, the suspect on interrogation made useful statements that led to the discovery of the grave where the body of the victim was buried.

Following his confession, the decomposing corpse of the victim was last Tuesday exhumed from the grave.

Udeviotu said the police

investigation was still on-going and appealed for calm.

Sources from the community said the victim was reported missing on Saturday, October 10, 2015.

His disappearance was reported to the Police and public announcements also placed on local radio stations.

The sources said the arrested suspect and his accomplice on the run, claimed to be pastors.

Acting on information, the youths of the community were said to have stormed the residence of the fake pastor who, however, denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing

COW TO THE RESCUE: People making good use of carts in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

hunch- back.

But not satisfied with his answers to questions put to him, the curious youths handed the suspect over to the Police for further interrogations.

According to the youth leader of the community, Mr. Chukwudi Egwu, when the suspect was confronted, he told them that he went to Benin on the day of the said incident, not knowing that his wife had earlier told them that he went to Lagos.

“We got information that the suspect was seen on that fateful day at Dubai market Onuimo, drinking wine with the pastor. ‘’Some people also said they later came to a beer parlour at Dikenta village drinking together. But the pastor denied setting eyes on him that day,” Egwu said.

He said the youths decided to conduct a search at the pastors’ churches where they saw a pair of shoes identified by the victim’s son as his father’s.

“This boosted our morale and as we continued combing the area, we also saw his shorts in a nearby cassava plantation. ‘’It was at that point that we combed the entire place and saw a mount of red soil which we strongly believed must be a grave.

“We, therefore, decided to contact the Police who came and we opened the shallow grave and found his decomposing body inside, with his genitals and hunchback missing”, the youth leader said.

5 killed as cultists unleash mayhem in Lagos L

By Esther Onyegbula

AGOS—SUSPECTED cultist have reportedly killed five persons in different areas of Igbo-Elerin, Lagos State.

The cultist allegedly went on rampage after a rival gang weekend shot their leader, simply identified as Skay, at Aladesanmi Street at 8:00pm last Thursday.

Angered by the death of their leader, members of the gang on Friday at about 7am, stormed a house located at Martins street where they dragged a member of a rival cult gang out of his house and slaughtered him in front of his gate. They also killed a suspected cultist at Idowu Street.

Vanguard gathered that on Friday night, cultist raided several relaxation centres searching for members of a rival gang.

According to a food vendor who resides around Martins street, it was a terrible situation on Friday morning when hoodlums stormed the street and killed a boy.

Another resident in Idowu Street who craved anonymity, said: “The incident started at about 8pm on Thursday evening when I closed my shop.

‘’ I noticed that every where had been deserted. It was as if people had ran away. There were no okada or commercial buses plying the road. So on Friday morning, I heard that the leader of a cult gang had been killed. ‘’I had to close on Friday when they were still shooting sporadically, people were running helter skelter for safety.”

A landlord in the area lamented the mindless manner the hoodlums were snuffing out lives

of people in the area like animals. ‘’We know some of these boys causing trouble in the area, but we can’t give information to the Police because after they are released, they will come after us. ‘’Some of these cultist are children of police officers. The police officers are aware of the cultist activities at Igbo-elerin but you will only see policemen in the area after the cultist had succeeded in killing people,’’ he said.

Since Thursday night, residents have been living in fear of the unknown as the cultist are on rampage.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the incident on Friday, shops in the affected areas were under lock.

Contacted, spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, DSP Joe Offor, said he would get back to Vanguard but didn’t do so at press time.

Man, 30, arrested for defiling 6-year-old girl

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—A 30-year-old businessman, Chinedu Nweke, who was alleged to have defiled a 6-year-old girl (name withheld) at Agboju Amuwo, Lagos, has been arrested by the Police at Festac Zone E. It was gathered that the victim who lost her mother, had left her father in the village who could not take care of her and her two elder siblings, to live with her aunt, a police officer.

Vanguard learned that on the day the incident occurred in February 2015, the suspect, a trader at Ladipo market and a neighbour to the victim, sent the little girl’s elder brother, 7, on an

errand and defiled the girl before her brother returned from the errand. It was also gathered that the victim, a primary one pupil, became physiologically traumatised, ill, had poor appetite, experienced vomiting and poor self-esteem after the defilement. Vanguard gathered that the little girl’s aunt, a law enforcement agent, did not arrest the suspect but rather connived with him and shielded him from punishment, having collected money from him for treatment of the victim.

Residents in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the aunt had been threatening the elder sister of the victim that she would throw them

out of her house if the public got to know about what happened to the little girl.

However, when the Coordinator of Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola VivourAdeniyi, heard about the case, she contacted the DPO of Festac Police Division, and forwarded all the relevant information to get the suspect arrested.

It was later gathered that the suspect who was planning to elope, was eventually arrested on October 18.

DSVRT said its next step was to ensure the victim received all the necessary medical care, while the DPP will call for the duplicate case file to be forwarded to the office for prosecution.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—7

KILLING OF UNDERGRADUATE: How we

murdered my creditor —Gateman I killed him to avoid paying N32,000 debt

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By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—ALLEGED mastermind of last week’s murder of a 32-year-old undergraduate at Oworo area of Lagos, identified simply as Alliu, weekend, gave a startling revelation of how he and four others snuffed the life out of their victim.

Alliu, a gateman in a compound adjacent the victim’s 43/45 Olorunfunmi Street, also disclosed to the shock of all that he killed the undergraduate to avoid paying him the sum of N32,000 debt owed him.

The lifeless body of the deceased, Lawal Afolabi Kunbi, who was a Business Administration student of Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo, was reportedly discovered 12 hours after he was discovered missing.

The deceased, who owned a

provision store on the same street, reportedly sold his motorcycle to Alliu, in order to raise money to pay his school fees, about a month ago.

However , at about 8pm last Thursday, Kunbi reportedly received a telephone call from Alliu, informing him to come for his money. But that was the last time he was seen alive , as his lifeless body was reportedly found at about 9am the next day(Friday) behind Alliu’s compound, with his five fingers chopped off, while marks of violence were all over his body.

There was reportedly also a rope tied round his neck, suggesting that he could have been strangled.

Arrest

Five persons were arrested in connection with the murder,

among them Alliu. Vanguard gathered that the blood from the spot where Kunbi’s body was dumped was trailed to Alliu’s apartment. Further checks on his apartment reportedly led to the discovery of a shirt that was stained with blood and a knife suspected to have been used to stab Kunbi to death.

Vanguard also gathered that Alliu was discovered to be cleaning the blood stain in his apartment.

But for the intervention of a team of policemen, Alliu would have been lynched by a mob.

Why I killed him

Shortly before he was rescued by policemen, Alliu who admitted masterminding Kunbi’s death, narrated how he was murdered.

He said: “ He sold a motorcycle

to me for N40,000 last month and I paid him N8,000 with a promise to pay before the end of October.

But he kept disturbing me to pay him the balance, saying he wanted to use it to pay his school fees. I delayed in paying because the motorcycle developed some faults that gulped the money I was to use to pay him.

"On that fateful day, I invited some of my relatives to my boys quarters because my boss was not around. We planned to kill him so as to stop him from disturbing me.

"I called him on his phone to come and collect his money. When he came, one of my relatives came from behind and tied a rope around his neck. But he started struggling and we over powered him in the process. One of us started stabbing him all over his body. I did not know that his hands were chopped off in the process.

At the end of the day, we overpowered him. But it was not

easy because he shattered the whole louvres. When we discovered he was dead, we wrapped him with a nylon and dumped his body at the back of the building before 4am.

"I woke up late to avoid being linked with the murder.

Immediately, I went to fetch water from Kunbi’s compound to wash the blood stained wall and floor. Before I finished mopping the floor, some people barged into my apartment and started asking me questions about the murder. I denied initially but when they discovered the blood stained knife and his shirt, coupled with his telephone where I was discovered to be the last caller, I had to give up.

"Please do not kill me, I am ready to cooperate by getting others involved in this.”

At this point, the policemen whoarrivedthescene,rescuedhimfrom themobandwhiskedhimtothestation.

When contacted, spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Joe Offor, said investigations were still ongoing.

Police officer arrested for defiling 3year-old girl

A

Spot where his body was dumped

Late Lawal Afolabi Kunbi.

The suspect, Alliu.

6 students rescued from female kidnappers in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman & Ufuoma Tiveruahor

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AGOS—ALLEGED plan by a female kidnap syndicate to abduct some students on their way to school last Friday, in Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos, was botched, following the the arrest of three of its members.

The women were said to have succeeded in cajoling six students who were heading to a public school on the Island and zoomed off towards Orile/Mile Two. There are, however, different accounts as to how they met their waterloo as a version of the account had it that the eldest of the abducted students, a Junior Secondary School 2 girl, raised an alarm on noticing that the route plied was different from the regular route to their school.

The alarm raised reportedly attracted curious commuters at Orile who chased after the vehicle but another version had it that the students were kept inside the boot of the vehicle.

However, on reaching Orile, commercial motorcyclists were said to have been attracted by bangs from the boot of the car and out of curiosity, reportedly stopped the car and demanded that the boot be opened for them to ascertain what was inside.

On noticing that the students were abducted, a mob descended on the three women and attempted to set them ablaze but for the timely intervention of

policemen from Orile division.

The mob, however, succeeded in setting their operational car ablaze.

One of the eyewitnesses at the scene said: “ One of the students said when they noticed this was not the way to their school, they told their abductors to take them back from where they picked them but they didn’t respond. ‘’She said she started crying

and shouting at the same time.

When they got to salvage bus stop at Orile, their cry attracted some area boys who approached the abductors and asked them where they were going."

Efforts to speak with the suspects and the rescued students at Orile Police division failed as Vanguard was asked to go to the spokesman, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joe Offor, for comment.

Sanusi's suit adjourned to Nov 25 FIREARMS' POSSESSION:

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By Onozure Dania

AGOS—THE on going trial of Sulaiman Sanusi, son of late business mogul. Chief Abdul-Rasak Sanusi, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over alleged unlawful possession of firearms, has been adjourned to November 25, due to the absence of the defendant.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, the defendant’s counsel, A. O. Onimole, informed the court that he could not reach the defendant when he got a call from the court on Tuesday that the matter, which was supposed to be heard on October 29, had been adjourned to October 21.

However, Magistrate Omolola Omotosho, after listening to the

defendant's lawyer, adjourned the matter to November 25, for trial.

It will be recalled that at the last adjourned date, the magistrate refused an application seeking to bar journalists from covering the case.

Sanusi’s counsel, Rotimi Seriki, had urged the court to stop journalists from covering the matter, alleging that reports by the newsmen had not been accurate reflection of the court’s proceedings.

By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State police command, weekend, arrested a police officer (name withheld) attached to Ugbodo Police Division in Ebonyi Local Government Area for allegedly defiling a threeyear-old girl.

Addressing newsmen at the command headquarters, the state police spokesperson, Mr. George Okafor, said the suspect lived in the same compound as the parents of the girl at Ugbodo.

Vanguard reports that the command also arrested one Paul Ulegu for alleged murder of his brother who accused him of stealing his chicken.

The rape incident, according to sources, occurred while the victim’s parents were not at home.

Thesuspectwassaidtohavelured the girl into his apartment where he allegedly carried out the act.

When he was confronted with the crime, the policeman offered to pay N50,000 as compensation to the victim but her family turned down the offer and instead dragged him to Family Law Centre.

It was at that point that the matter wasreportedtothecommandwhich prompted his arrest.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. George Okafor, the family of the victim has been contacted for first hand information on the incident, while a medical test conducted on the victim has shown that she was raped.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

By Prince Osuagwu

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HE new owners of the national telecom carrier, NITEL, have revealed plans to pump over $1.2 billion in rehabilitating the moribund first national operator.

The sum, according to the company, would be spread across different operations like fixed, mobile networks, Sat3 and other services.

The company said the face lift, which will begin with the launch of its services soonest, was to reassure Nigerians that it was prepared to make a complete difference from the several buyers who had bought NITEL but faced difficulties of even taking off.

Director External Affairs of the company, Mr. Osondu Nwokoro, who made the revelations exclusively to Vanguard yesterday, also highlighted why former acquisitions of NITEL ran into murky waters.

He said: “In the previous transactions, the major point of dissonance was around the payment of the price that was determined by Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, for the sale of NITEL. “In this instance, the transaction fee was duly paid as prescribed in the governing bid process that was published by the BPE. “Furthermore, the assets sale and purchase agreement that NATCOM signed with BPE, acting on behalf of the National Council on Privatization, NCP, stipulates that the assets acquired must be deployed for the provision of communications services.

“NATCOM is committed to meeting these legal and social obligations towards the government and people of Nigeria.

“To this end, highly experienced staff are being recruited, network roll out plans developed and being implemented, while supply agreements with reputable partners executed.”

After about four failed attempts at privatizing the national carrier, NCP, on February 27, 2012, approved the privatization of NITEL and Mtel through what it described as guided liquidation.

The exercise saw a consortium of Nigerian companies known as NATCOM emerging preferred bidder to own NITEL and its mobile arm Mtel, at $252 million.

Having completed payment April 2, NATCOM Consortium, legally became new owners of NITEL and its assets.

Questions of integrity

However, not even a day has passed without one question or the other raised on the integrity of that sale and the rationale for giving it out at that price.

Many engineers, particularly those who worked in the

ROUNDTABLE: From left— Partner and Secretary, Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration, ACC, Ms Uche Nwokocha; Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Assistant Comptroller-General Victor Gbemudu; Head of Regulation and Litigation, British American Tobacco Nigeria, BATN, Sola Dosunmu, and Senior Brand Protection Manager, Africa, Unilever and Chairman of ACC, Desmond Adeola, at the 7th ACC/International Trademark Association, INTA, policy roundtable on combating counterfeiting and piracy, held in Lagos.

NITEL rehabilitation to gulp $1.2bn company when it was a monopoly in the telecoms sector, have queried why the company, with so many assets could be sold at $252 million, when the GSM licence that gave birth to MTel alone was worth $285 million in February 2001.

In their argument, the licence was supposed to have appreciated rather than depreciating significantly because other entrants, like Etisalat, who came after Mtel, had to cough out $400 million in 2007 During the recent guided liquidation of NITEL, a former engineer with NITEL, Engr Titi Omo-Ettu, told Vanguard: “I have since 2009 switched off all thoughts about NITEL when I considered that the final end came for the company.

“I went into the exercise of valuating the license that NITEL was holding and came up with a figure which hovered around $2.2 billion.

The only contribution I have now is to advise whoever is implementing the guided liquidation that the company they are liquidating is still in custody of our First National Operator Licence.”

Buhari demands report

It was also recently reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had insisted that reports of the NITEL sale must be made available to him.

This latest development is sequel to his demands in August this year, that the Ministry of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology and the Buruea for Public Privatization, made details of the sale of the national carrier available for him to ensure there were no

under hand dealings in the process leading to the sale.

Buhari, however, said this was to express his concern towards the continuing protests by former NITEL/Mtel employees and other Nigerians over the manner in which assets of the company were sold.

However, Nwokoro debunked those claims, saying they were without other considerations that NCP may have considered before fixing the reserve price.

He said: “The fee that was paid met the base reserve price requirements of BPE, which had pre-computed same as an agency that has the special skills required to make such assessments.

“Furthermore, there is need

to note that a further $1.2 billion will be required to rebuild the various networks including fixed, mobile, SAT 3, among others, which had been non-functional for upwards of eight years before service can be provided.

“So, in addressing this issue of the real value of the assets, we need to also consider the financial requirements for reviving the said assets. BPE must have factored this into determining the sale price of the assets.”

SAT-3 potential

Another area Nwokoro said NATCOM’s acquisition of NITEL assets would benefit Nigerians is on SAT-3 services because of its

potential to boosting the country’s broadband plan.

He said: “The National Broadband Plan of 2013 advances the cause for a five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2018.

“SAT-3 will play a very key role in this regard as it has been boosted from 420Gbps in the northern segments to 920 Gbps, and from 340Gbps to 800Gbps in the southern segments.

“By this, SAT-3 boasts one of the lowest latency routes between Africa and Europe.

Further, with 16 landing points spread between Europe, Africa and Asia, the cable provides access to global data market hubs, thereby availing customers of seamless and diverse connectivity to the rest of the world.”

New design of Lagos-Ibadan express road ready

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HE tempo of construction works on the LagosIbadan express road is soon to increase with the completion of the “ new enhanced design” of the road and re-dedication of all stakeholders to its completion on schedule.

Giving this assurance while speaking with newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Mr. Hakeem Olopade, a director of Motorways Asset Limited, the project company partnering the Ministry of Works for the delivery of a fully enhanced Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, said the need for due process, enhancements to earlier design had largely been responsible for the slow pace of work on “the novel PPPstructured road.”

Mr. Olopade, who is also

the Executive Director, Projects, at The Infrastructure Bank, TIB, Federal Government’s fund arrangers for the N167 billion road project, said the road remained the most crucial highway in the transport sector and could not be abandoned by the government.

The executive director said that TIB had successfully raised the Tranche I of the financing of the project in line with the expectations of the Federal Government and other stakeholders, while the Tranche II was being arranged.

He added that the stakeholders would maximize efficiency gains in the construction phases of the project to ensure its

timely completion.

The executive director disclosed that financial obligations and commitments were being kept to keep the contractors on site, while the stakeholders finalize the new designs and geometric drawings and necessary development studies were also being finalized in good time ahead of full construction work resumption soon.

He, however, admitted that arrangement of funds for the project was “slightly slowed down by legal conundrum” occasioned by the 2012 termination of the former concessionaire agreements on the road.

Mr. Olopade also said that “the rains have also recently affected full blown construction activities as some asphalt works have to be suspended till the dry season.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—9

December deadline to flush out Boko Haram feasible —BURATAI

By Kingsley Omonobi

J

OS—THE Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said that the December deadline given

by Federal Government to end activities of insurgents in the NorthEast region of the country was realizable as there had been improved measure of operations in the region, even as the Military has recaptured all territories previously occupied by the Boko Haram members.

Lieutenant General Buratai, who was on a familiarization visit to Officers and Soldiers of the 3rd Armoured Division at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment at Rukuba, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Saturday, also disclosed that the number of troops and the equipments available to attain the feat have increased and the military had stepped up the fight against Boko Haram sect.

He insisted that the Military had recovered all territories formerly occupied by the insurgents despite the recent spate of bombings in the region because “our strategy and operational plans have continued to evolve with the daily challenges that we have.”

His words: “It is not true that Boko Haram is still controlling territories in the North-East, no Boko Haram is holding any territory. Have you heard them (Boko Haram) making any claim of recent?

“We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground.

We have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenges posed by them.

“We will make sure that we meet up with the deadline. We still have November and December.”

He commended the soldiers in the battle front for doing very well and urged Nigerians to support the fight by providing useful information to security agencies.

Troops destroy 20 Boko Haram camps

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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AKURDI—TROOPS of 5 Brigade Nigerian Army, weekend, destroyed all Boko Haram camps and enclaves at the border towns of Kerenowa and Chikun Gudu as well as their contiguous villages in Borno State.

Giving details of the operation, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman said: “During the operation which is ongoing, troops discovered and destroyed over 20 wellfortified terrorist camps in the general area of Kerenowa.

“The camps include some at the gateway to Kerenowa, Gumada and Dogon Gida. In addition, the troops have also

discovered that to evade aerial reconnaissance and bombardment, the terrorists have dug twin tunnels to conceal their facilities and routes in and out of the camp.

“Among facilities discovered were training areas equipped with instructional and training materials that include wooden guns, among others.

“The troops have also cleared Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, along the road linking Marte, New Marte and Kerenowa.

“It is apparent that Boko Haram terrorists lacked the will to fight as they are in obvious disarray, abandoning their camps fleeing and leaving behind vehicles, solar panels used to power devices, food and other logistics, beddings, various IEDs-

making devices, cables and cords.

“The advancing troops’ morale remains very high and they exude confidence and zeal to destroy all known Boko Haram camps along their axis of advance.

“We still reiterate our call for citizens to remain confident in the ability of our troops to eliminate all remaining vestiges of the terrorists before the year runs out in line with Presidential directives.

“Citizens are also requested to kindly provide useful and credible information to the military about any known terrorists or sympathizers.”

Blast kills 5

In a related development, Borno Police Command,

yesterday, confirmed the killing of five persons in Saturday’s suspected suicide attack near Maiduguri.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, made this known at a news conference in Maiduguri He said:“There was explosion on Saturday, when four suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives at Dala Yazaraye village, near Molai on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

“Five persons, including the four suicide bombers died in the explosion.“ Opadokun said security agents had cordoned off the scene.

He said: “Four people sustained injury and were taken to hospital. The area has been rendered safe by EOD personnel at the scene.“

UNILEVER:From left— Marketing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Mr. David Okeme; Professor Pat Utomi; Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh; HR Director, Mrs. Tolu Agiri, and Lagos State Commissioner for Employment and Wealth Creation, Mr. Babatunde Etti, during Unilever IdeaTrophy grand finale in Lagos.

Global unemployment to increase by 3m—ILO

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

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HE International Labour Organization, ILO, in its report on employment trends, has predicted that global unemployment is expected to increase by three million and a further further million in the next four years.

Mr. Dennis Zulu, Officer-inCharge, ILO Country Office, Abuja, revealed this while delivering a lecture on Youth Unemployment and Job Creation in Nigeria: Challenges & Policy Options at University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.

He said: “Unemployment, particularly youth

unemployment, continues to be a widespread global phenomenon. There is no single country in the world that can claim not to have this problem.

“The global employment outlook will deteriorate in the coming five years. The report estimate that over 201 million people were unemployed in 2014 around the world. This figure is 31 million more than was the case before the start of the global financial and economic crisis in 2008.

“In the report, youths are specifically identified as being particularly vulnerable to unemployment. It further points out that youths, especially young women,

continue to be disproportionally affected by unemployment.

“Almost 74 million young people (aged 15-24) were looking for work in 2014. In this regard, the youth unemployment rate is practically three times higher than is the case for their adult counterparts.”

Zulu stated that despite the improvement in educational attainment, youth unemployment was still common to all regions, thereby fuelling social discontent, adding that concerted actions need to be taken immediately if Nigeria and indeed the world was going to stand

any chance of surmounting this challenge.

He listed “jobless growth, a growing youth population, unfavourable environment for private sector growth, lack of skills, job creation challenges and bad policy options as the challenges behind Nigeria’s youth unemployment problem.”

Emphasising more on government providing favourable environment for the private sector to invest, which would enable them employ people in Nigeria, he said: “Nigeria’s private sector, including its informal sector, employs more than 80 percent of the country’s workforce and is the primary generator of exports.”

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

APC chieftain hails Ambode’s S-Court victory

By Charles Kumolu

A

CHIEFTIAN of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Mr. Segun Idris, has urged the people of the state to see Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s victory at the Supreme Court as a call to support all efforts at making Lagos a model state.

Speaking in Lagos, Idris noted that the decision of the apex court to uphold Ambode’s victory did not come as a surprise, adding that the judiciary acted in accordance with popular expectations.

His words: “Having been part of the processes that resulted in our victory at the governorship poll, I am not surprised that the Supreme Court, in its wisdom, affirmed the mandate that was freely given to our able governor.”

Chinese firm donates drugs to aged

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—DRUGS worth N1 million were donated to occupants of the Holy Family Home for the Elderly at Agege motor Road in Mushin area of Lagos by a Chinese Pharmaceutical Organisation, Tasly International Ltd. The organization’s Managing Director in Nigeria, Vincent Zeng, at the occasion, said it was part of their corporate social responsibility to mark their 10th year anniversary in Nigeria.

The organization’s International Vice President, Mr. Wu Dan Yong, also said it was in a bid to appreciate the good business environment that the Nigerian government provided for Tasly International that made the company donate the drugs, as elderly people need more care.

He said the company had helped to alleviate poverty to some extent with the provision of jobs.

C M Y K

INAUGURATION: From left— Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Augustine University project initiator, and Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, during the inauguration of the university at Ilara-Epe, Lagos State. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Nigeria airspace won't close over labour dispute— NCAA

By Lawani Mikairu

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AGOS—THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has denied allegations that the country is closing its airspace to flight operations with effect from Sunday midnight.

Denying the allegation, the Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said the issue NCAA had with its workers’ union is being resolved with a peace meeting slated for today, adding that there was no basis for airspace closure.

He said there was no time the closure of the airspace was contemplated, adding that the union had suspended actions that could warrant closure.

Responding to insinuation that some nations had concluded plan to restrict movement of their citizens to Nigeria over closure of her airspace, Adurogboye said: “It is not true.”

He further revealed that the aviation regulatory body was investigating the source of emails being used to circulate the rumour.

His words: “We learned that the union has circulated an email, alleging a travel ban to Nigeria with effect from Sunday (yesterday) midnight.

“It is not true. Nigeria’s airspace is open to flight operations. NCAA cannot be closing airspace it is meant to guard.”

Labour's ultimatum

Early this month, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, gave NCAA a 14-day ultimatum to promote their members, who were eligible, or risk industrial action.

The unions accused NCAA management of nonchalance to the promotion of their members which they claimed had been due since January.

They urged NCAA to respect the terms and conditions of employment as contained in the condition of service entered into by all parties.

Unions set agenda for Transport Commissioner

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AGOS—TWO major transport unions, yesterday, urged the newlysworn in Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Dayo Mobereola, to ensure that roads were repaired to tackle traffic congestion.

The unions, Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, RTEAN and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, made the appeal in Lagos.

They also called on the commissioner to involve them while embarking on the task and demanded for the formulation of policies that would enhance the operations of transport workers.

The unions said programmes targeted at promoting transportation would aid businesses in the state.

Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the state Chairman of RTEAN said that many roads were in poor state due to erosion.

He said the situation had worsened traffic gridlock, adding that it posed danger to transport operators and commuters.

For Alhaji Tajudeeen Agbede, Chairman of NURTW, the commissioner must focus on policies that would facilitate the operations of commercial vehicles.

Agbede said that road transport remained the major means of transportation in the

state, stressing that it should not be neglected.

He said: “It is not easy to engage in transport business in Lagos, so the new commissioner should come up with programmes that will help us.

“Many of our roads are bad and this has been causing traffic congestion and accidents; we need good roads.”

RTEAN

According to Muhammed: “What the government, especially the Ministry of Transportation should do now is repair the bad roads across the state.

“In many cases, whenever it rains, our roads will be flooded and this causes huge traffic; this situation is not good for both drivers and passengers.

“I want the commissioner for transport to look into massive construction of access roads to decongest traffic jams.”

He advised members of the union to be law abiding and respect traffic laws and officers.

The RTEAN boss urged the government to check the excesses of traffic officers to reduce clashes.

He restated the call for the provision of more bus stops to aid the operations of commercial buses.

Lagos reads riot act to cattle rearers, others

By Chioma Obinna

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AGOS State Government will soon dispatch agriculture marshals to the 57 local governments and Local Council Development areas, LCDAs, to enforce her stray animal control policy.

Disclosing this, weekend, while addressing Oko-Oba Animal Market Cattle dealers in Agege area of Lagos, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Toyin Suarau, said the state government will no longer tolerate the attitude.

He said: “The state government is concerned and would no longer tolerate the habit of releasing herds of cattle at night along major roads and highways in the metropolis.

“Apart from causing accidents on our roads, these stray animals could also spread contagious diseases such as anthrax, rabies, tuberculosis and other ailments that could lead to death.”

The Commissioner said despite the state’s awareness campaign on the danger posed by these stray animals, the menace was still on the rise He urged residents not to panic but move to a safe place when they come across stray animals such as cows, horses, dogs, pigs, rams, goats, monkeys among others.

Suarau said owners of domestic animals and pets that stray would be prosecuted.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 , 2015—11

FULANI HERDSMEN: Kwankwaso punctures

Yoruba leaders' stance I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN —FORMER Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso has taken exception to a call by some leaders from the South West for the exit of Fulani herdsmen from the zone saying the call was not in tandem with the spirit of unity that binds the nation together.

The ex-governor said this in Ibadan at the official handing over of two newly-completed buildings to Government College, Ibadan, as part of activities marking the reunion of the Old Boys Association and jubilee celebration of the 1965 set of the school which held at the weekend.

To him, the call was not well thought out and will be counterproductive.

Some Yoruba leaders, a fortnight ago, had warned that if the hostility by the herdsmen was not checked, it would not be out of place to ask them to look elsewhere for the grazing of their cattle.

Kwakwanso, who said lack of education, was the main reason why the herdsmen chose the option of cattle rearing, said: “We just have to have a lot of understanding of the situation.

peculiar to the South West, or Nigeria but all over the regions.

Education is very important here. If all Fulanis are given the opportunity to go to school, I don’t think they will waste their lives on their cattle going into the bush fighting themselves and even animals in so many places.

I think the key thing is education.

“If these Fulanis can be educated, things won’t be the same again. I am one of them, I am a Fulani and I hope you know that my parents settled over the years. My parents sent me to school and my children are going to school, I don’t think if I get some cattle, I will go into forest to rear them. That is education for you. ‘’The key thing here is that whether in the South or the

North or Africa in general, we are all over, it is only that we call them Fulanis in this part of the world but in other places they call them different names, but we are all over the continent. These Fulanis should be educated and be settled, by that they will develop the modern way of keeping livestock.

Animals roaming the streets

“If you go to Britain, America and other developed countries, you don’t see animals roaming the streets. They have developed modern ways of doing this. But if you go to Niger, Cameroun, Nigeria, you will see Fulanis roaming about, endangering their lives. It is not good for anybody, the economy, not even security.

That is for the future,” he stated.

According to him; “It is important for government to provide reasonable facilities like grazing areas and other facilities so that we’ll be able to manage the situation.

“In the North, we used to have lots of grazing areas, cattle parks, where they used to go without going into farms, but probably because of the population now and other issues, all these places are being taken over by farmers. ‘’Therefore, it becomes very difficult for anybody to go to those places without entering farms. ‘’This problem is not, however, peculiar to the South West, but let me say that we just have to have a lot of understanding of the situation."

Sacking the Fulani

‘’Some of the issues being raised by the people, especially politicians, will not help anybody.

If you sack the Fulani from here or you fight them, maybe it is because you are here. If you are a Yoruba man based in Kano, I don’t think you can contemplate sacking the Fulani.

“I am from Kano, but right now I am in Ibadan. Where you are is your home. Today, Ibadan is my home. God forbids, if something bad happens here, it will affect me. If it happens in my village, so far I am not there, they won’t see me,” he said.

He further stated that the problem of Fulani herdsmen was not peculiar to the South West and even Nigeria.

“The issue of conflict between farmers and Fulanis is not

ANNIVERSARY: From left: PTA Chairman, Christ the King Catholic College, CKCC, Odolewu- Ijebu, Hon. Nnamdi Nwangwu; a one-time principal of the school, Otunba Kola Onasanya; Proprietor of the school, Most Reverend Albert Fasina, and Mrs Doja Otedola, during the 20th anniversary celebration of CKCC at Odolewu-Ijebu, Ogun State.

ECONOMY: No existing bank'll collapse

—CBN

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, weekend allayed the fears of Nigerians on possible collapse of some commercial banks in t h e country.

I t declared that none of the existing banks in t h e country c a n collapse.

T h e Banks' Director, Corporate

Communications Department, Ibrahim Mu’azu said the CBN has put machinery in motion for the sustenance of all the commercial banks in the country.

Mu’azu spoke through Mr. Babatunde Ogunlaja, an Assistant Director in the Bank.

He spoke at a sensitization forum organized for bankers and bank customers in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

He said all the existing banks in the country are reliable and they can stand the test of time, hence the need for Nigerians to have confidence and trust in them.

The Apex bank also advocated for the adoption of a cashless policy in the country as it operates in advanced nations of the world.

Muazu cautioned people against keeping money at home, said there are lots of dangers in keeping money at home and urged Nigerians to patronize the commercial banks for the safety

of their money.

He said that the CBN has embarked on intensive enlightenment campaign on the newly introduced cashless policy and advised all Nigerians to embrace the policy in their own interest, saying the policy would guarantee their convenience.

The CBN boss noted that many advanced countries of the world have adopted the cashless policy.

“It is in the interest of Nigerians that the new policy was introduced, because this will allow foster confidence in their financial transactions.”

Mu’azu noted that the CBN has earmarked huge sums of money to be given as loans to small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the country and advised Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Obasanjo recounts burst tyre experience

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — F O R M E R President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, recounted how his vehicle had a burst tyre along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, saying he is hale and hearty.

Obasanjo in a release by his assistant, Vitalis Ortese, said it was true he had an accident, but, he was as at yesterday, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where he was observing the Presidential election, which started yesterday.

It was gathered that the former President, left for the French speaking West African country after attending the 80th birthday anniversary of Chief Kessington Adebutu in Lagos and was in high spirits preparing for the elections, until he started receiving calls from family members, friends and associates expressing concern about his welfare.

The statement reads in part: “He was indeed involved in an incident on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, after Sagamu roundabout, while he was on his way to join in the celebrations of the 80th birthday anniversary of Chief Kessington Adebutu in Tinubu Methodist Church, Lagos.

“The vehicle, he was travelling in suffered a burst left tyre at the rear and swerved several times but did not hit any carb or any car in front or behind until it did a 180 degree turn and faced where it was coming from and he had to change vehicles.

“President Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to convey his deep appreciation to all those, who by way of calls, personal messages and prayers, and indeed members of the general public, who have shown overwhelming concern about his welfare.”

The incident occurred few hours after attending a memorial service to mark the 10th year death of his late wife and First Lady, Chief Stella Obasanjo.

The memorial service, held at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, drew attendance across the length and breath of the country.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

BAYELSA POLLS: N-Delta coalition warns against rigging

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—THE Niger Delta Patriotic Coalition has called on the newly appointed Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure that the December 5, governorship election in Bayelsa State is free and fair.

This came as the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, called on the newly constituted INEC to fine tune the use of card reader machines ahead of 2019 general elections.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday in Abuja, Pastor Godknows Okauru, on behalf of the coalition, claimed that the criticism which greeted Yakubu's appointment was a cause for worry having heard from several quarters that some stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had vowed to reclaim the oil rich Niger Delta region.

He urged Buhari to provide a level playing field for all citizens to exercise their franchise according to existing rules and regulations guiding the conduct of transparent, credible, free and fair elections anywhere in the world.

He said: “President Buhari, who is the greatest beneficiary of his predecessor’s democratic credentials, has many lessons to learn and to prove to Nigerians that he is now a born again democrat. This is expected to play out in both his official and private conduct during the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The stories that plans have been made to reclaim the oil rich South-South region into the gold of the All Progressives Congress through the

collaboration of state apparatus is very worrisome, and it is left to the newly appointed Chairman of INEC to emulate his predecessor and shun such anti-democratic activities by conducting himself in a manner that will be acceptable to all parties involved irrespective of political affiliations.

“Let it be known to those highly placed individuals that are perfecting plans to subvert the will of the people that both local and international observers have signified interest to monitor the elections and any attempt to perpetuate electoral fraud shall be met with a strong opposition from

the electorate and men of goodwill. We, therefore, encourage them to jettison such thoughts and return to the grassroots to sell their manifesto to the electorate before it is too late.”

TMG tasks INEC on card readers

Similarly, the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, while commending the appointment of Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman, called on the electoral empire to fine tune the use of card reader machines ahead of 2019 general elections.

Chairman of TMG, Ibrahim

Zikirullahi, in a statement in Abuja said: “For TMG, the emergence of Professor Yakubu is a veritable opportunity to consolidate on the gains made by INEC under the previous leadership. The introduction of technology as was seen in the use of the card readers during the 2015 general elections is one area that requires fine tuning ahead of the next general elections.

TMG, therefore, calls on the new INEC helmsman to meticulously look at the extant challenges facing the commission and take decisive steps towards addressing them.”

RECEPTION: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, receiving a souvenir from the Chairperson, Women Association of Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria (WAQSN), Gloria Ene, during the Seminar/New Patron Reception in Port Harcourt.

Oshiomhole commissions market in Esan North-East

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commissioned an ultra-modern 160-shop market in Uromi, built by the Esan North East Local Government Area Chairman, Mr Sam Oboh.

The governor said, weekend, that it was a thing of joy that at a time some local government chairmen were giving excuses on why they could not pay salaries, the Esan North-East Local Government Chairman was able to pay salaries and also execute projects which had direct impact on the lives of the people.

Speaking at the project commissioning, Oshiomhole said: “I feel we should all

C M Y K

salute the chairman for a very competent, honest and resourceful leadership. As they say, sometimes, good things don’t make the headlines, bad things do.

Across the country, North and South, East and West, many local governments and state governments are not able even to pay the salaries of their workers and here today, we are commissioning an ultra-modern market built from the resources of a local government by the visionary leadership of the local government chairman. I want your applauds for the chairman to be loud enough so that the people in Oredo in Benin can hear the sound of what is happening here in Uromi, that while some of Sam’s colleagues are busy explaining why they cannot

perform, Sam is here celebrating the outcome of his resourcefulness.

“There is no government anywhere in the world that has all the money it needs to do all the things it desires.

There is poverty everywhere, but the real dangerous poverty is the poverty of the brain. When you are afflicted with the poverty of the brain, you cannot think, you are not resourceful, you are not imaginative, you are not creative. You will be there lamenting why you are not moving. For men and women with ideas, that are not afflicted with the poverty of the brain, the poverty of the pocket can be compensated with the creativity of the brain and the outcome is this kind of edifice that we are commissioning this

afternoon.

“So, Sam Oboh I am very proud of you, you are an example of what is possible and you confirmed my philosophy that leadership is not and must not be about lamenting. If the people are lamenting, the leadership should inspire them to have hope because life is driven and sustained by hope.

When the led and the leaders are united in lamentation, then there is no hope. So, I am extremely happy to be here and I want to congratulate His Royal Highness, the Onogie of Uromi because as they say, ‘ when the righteous reign, the people rejoice’. I believe sir that you should be proud that it is under your reign that all of these good things are happening."

PDP, Edo govt bicker over retreat

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted the recent retreat by Edo State Government for its Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, claiming it was wasteful in the midst of scare resources.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the “three days at the luxurious Transcorp Hotel with members of cabinet, permanent secretaries and other government officials is not a way to finish well; it is a way of ending badly.”

However, responding to PDP's criticism, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media Affairs,Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said: “For those who possess deficient intellect, they might not understand the essence of retreat. For those who understand the gravity of governance, a retreat creates an intellectual platform to run through challenges and issues of governance to make service delivery much more focused, based on needs, not frivolities.

“We are not going to be bugged down by PDP's meddlesome and psychedelic politicians who think the only way to be relevant is to be irrelevant critics. We are doing the needful to ensure we sustain our ongoing legacies by judicious application of funds for the benefit of Edo people. I don’t want to glorify Dan Orbih with a response. PDP lacks the depth to understand governance and it is the reason they will continue to remain in opposition in Edo State” Chief Orbih, who spoke weekend, in Benin, during the opening of a new state headquarters of the party located on First East Circular Road, in Benin, claimed that millions of naira that would have been used to bring development to the state was wasted during the three days retreat.

He said: “Financial bailout

by Buhari is a way of encouraging corruption. The president should ask why the councils could not meet their financial obligations.

The proper thing is a probe of the councils' allocations, not giving them money. In Edo, the reason is known to everyone that Governor Oshiomhole collects what is due the councils and he is responsible for the problem the councils are facing."

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—13

Delta Tribunal: Okowa, Emerhor to know fate today

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—THE Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Asaba, will today deliver judgment on the petition by Olorogun O’tegha Emerhor, challenging the declaration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the winner of the 2015 governorship poll in the state, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Emerhor contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while Okowa ran on the plank of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. At the last sitting on October 13 where both parties adopted written addresses, Justice Nasir Gunmi, who heads the three-man tribunal, promised to communicate the judgment date, which must be before October 28, to the parties through the tribunal secretary.

In petitions number EPT/DT/ GOV/32/2015 and EPT/DT/GOV/ 23/2015, Emerhor and APC approached the tribunal to nullify Okowa’s election on the ground of non-compliance with relevant sections of the Electoral Act. Counsel to the 1st Respondent

(Okowa), Alex Iziyon (SAN); 2nd Respondent (PDP), Timothy Kehinde (SAN); and 3rd respondent (INEC), Damian Dodo (SAN), urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions with substantial cost against the petitioners, citing relevant sections of the law and previously decided cases.

The respondents’ counsel also urged the tribunal to strike out the petitions on grounds of lack

of merit and incompetence.

The petitioners who anchored their respective cases on compulsory use of card readers for accreditation, argued that they had been able to prove the cases of over voting and electoral irregularities during the election to justify nullifying the election and ordering a re-run.

Counsel to Emerhor and the APC, Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN) contended that Section

153 of the Electoral Act confers on INEC the power to make regulations for the conduct of elections based on which the INEC issued guidelines and press release informing Nigerians that card readers would be used.

Will the tribunal uphold Okowa’s election or nullify it and order a re-run as prayed for by Emerhor? The question will be answered today.

Navy confirms abduction of four foreigners in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIAN Navy has confirmed the abduction of two Ukrainians and two Lithuanians in a vessel, MV Solarte, on Bonny waterways by suspected pirates.

Commanding Officer, Forward Base Operation, Bonny, FOB, Captain Yah Cashalla Kirpu, who disclosed this to newsmen, weekend, in Bonny, said the MV Solarte,

was rescued by the Navy last week when the abduction occurred.

He said the Commanding Officer, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir, deployed men from the FOB, Bonny and the NNS Centenary, for the rescue, adding that efforts were on to rescue the hostages.

According to the Commanding Officer, FOB, Bonny, Captain Kirpu , they

got a distress alert that the vessel was being attacked by the pirates and quickly they got in touch with the Commanding Officer, Eastern Naval command, Rear Admiral Abdukadir who acted swiftly.

He said eight suspected oil thieves in a barge loaded with 3,000 metric tonnes of illegal crude around Ogubolo creek in Rivers State have also been arrested.

DESOPADEC charges communities to protect oil installations

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

LEH—DELTA State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, weekend, charged host communities across the state to protect oil installations in their domains to increase production quantum in their areas.

Speaking during a meeting with the Host Communities of Nigeria, Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Ndokwa nation chapter, at Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Executive Director of DESOPADEC, Socials, Mr. Ochor Ochor, reiterated the determination of the commission to deliver on its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the oil bearing communities in the state.

14 —Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Launch of book,Walking out of Servitude

From left, Rev. Friday Obende, Pastor Olufunke Obende, Guest of Honour; General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Chief Launcher; Pastor Olubunmi Oyelami, Author's wife, and Rev Aderemi Oyelami, Aauthor of the book, during the launch of the book, entitled, 'Walking out of servitude,' at Foursquare Gospel Church, Abaranje Zonal Headquarters, Lagos, yesterday.

Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Rev. Aderemi Oyelami, Pastor Olubunmi Oyelami, and Rev. Abaimu Abel.

B-HARAM: Gen Danjuma’s c'ttee develops marshal plan for N-East rehabilitation

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—THE G e n e r a l Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, (retd), led Presidential Committee on the North East Interventions, PCNI, has developed a Marshal Plan to address humanitarian

issues of Boko Haram victims and rapid redevelopment of the zone.

To this end, the committee will tomorrow, (Tuesday) present its brief on the North East Marshall Plan at the a stakeholders' forum being organised by the National Emergency Management

HOUSE C'TTEE LIST: We’re still in shock —Gbajabiamila loyalists Dogara was fair, House spokesman insists

By Emman leadership.

Ovuakporie & The Speaker, Dogara Johnbosco had announced Agbakwuru chairmen and deputy chairmen for the 96 B U J A — standing committees of APPARENTLY the House, with members shocked by the list of considered to be his committees announced loyalists getting some of by the Speaker of the the ‘juicy’ committees.

But the new House of spokesman of the House, Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, last Thursday, Abdulrazak Namdas in members, who a statement last Friday, supported the All debunked the claims that Progressives Congress, Dogara’s men got more APC, candidate for lucrative committees.

According to some speakership, Femi members of the Loyalists Gbajabiamila have Group, who spoke to e x p r e s s e d it was disappointment over Vanguard, what they described as a surprising that out of the lopsided appointments 96 committees, only nine of committee chairmen of them were appointed by the House as chairmen.

A

Agency, NEMA, and the Vice President’s Office in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The PCNI will also present the master plan at a Global Conference scheduled for the first week of December.

Among others, the “committee is to ensure all stakeholders in humanitarian emergency relief and socio-economic assistance in the North East key into the plan which had been designed to ensure streamlined and well mapped interventions,” a statement by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE, spokesman Odutayo Oluseyi said.

The statement quoted the Vice Chair of PCNI and Chairman, PINE, Prof. Soji Adelaja as saying that a web-based data management system has been developed by PINE (www.pinedata.org.ng).

According to the statement, “this online dashboard will serve the purpose of mapping all activities of our stakeholders through a GIS display system which displays real time data of interventions.

All stakeholders will be required to upload their activities. This will ensure comprehensive coordination of humanitarian emergency relief.

15 —Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Youths condemn alleged persecution of Ijaw leaders

By Tare Youdeowei

I

JAW YOUTH Leaders Forum, IYLF, Lagos, has condemned, what they described as the “selective victimization and persecution,” of Ijaw public office holders, who served in former president, Goodluck J o n a t h a n ’ s administration, especially in Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. This was made known in a statement by the Forum’s Chairman, Ebimobowei Jeremiah and Public Relations Officer, Tuborke-ere Moni which further read: “The orchestrated attempts to malign Ijaw leaders with corruption charges while leaving out other directors particularly on whose table financial records passed through simply because they are from a particular ethnic group in the country, is a flagrant display of nepotism by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari."

Enugu sex hawker dies after marathon with customers

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE Enugu State Police command through operatives of the Udenu Division has commenced investigations into an alleged incident of murder in which a commercial sex worker was allegedly killed in a brothel after a marathon sex with customers.

It was gathered that around midnight on October 24, the customer, identified as Ikechukwu Oga had gone to a brothel at Obolloafor, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State where he met with the sex hawker, Roseline and had a sex deal.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen, explaining that the suspect after a bargain with the deceased, agreed to sleep together for a fee.

According to the suspect's confession, ”we bargained and agreed. She told me to come back later as she was already servicing someone. But when I came back, I also discovered that she was still having sex with another customer. Roseline told me to exercise patience as both

of us were going to sleep till day break.

“After concluding with the customer, she now invited me into the room for my turn, but was unable to conclude the deal as she complained of being tired which forced me to come down.

yesterday. I had to discontinue and that was the last thing I know.

I cannot say what killed her.”

Meantime, the corpse has been recovered and deposited in a nearby hospital while the suspect is helping the police in their investigation.

John Cardinal Onaiyekan (middle), Bishops Raymond Goedert (2nd right), John Paprocki (1st right), and Joseph Perry (1st left), the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (2nd left) at the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love, American Region, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, yesterday.

Governorship: Why PDP’s plot to take Lagos by force failed — Igbokwe

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HE Lagos chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has said that the resilience of Nigerians during the March 28 presidential poll to free themselves from 16 years of oppression frustrated the plans of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to take Lagos state by force.

The party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Joe Igbokwe said the PDP would have deployed everything in its arsenal, including security agencies and ethnic groups, to dislodge the APC government in Lagos if Nigerians had renewed the mandate of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The statement, was reacting to the triumph of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court in appeal filed by his PDP challenger, Mr Jimi Agbaje.

The statement said, “Had the PDP succeeded in stealing the presidency on March 28, 2015, it would have used the Army, Police, DSS (Department of C M Y K

At that juncture, she slept off. I was woken by sympathizers who complained that Roseline has died.

“I did not conclude my first round of the deal before she complained that she was tired and that was in the midnight of

Security Service), Civil Defence (National Security and Civil Defence Corps), OPC (Oodua Peoples Congress), a section of Afenifere and anything it could lay its hands on to ‘steal’ Lagos by force,” The statement reads: “The

apex court’s verdict has proved at once and beyond reasonable doubt that our candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode won the governorship election fair and square, defeating Mr. Jimi Agbaje of PDP with more 160, 000 votes.

“We thank God Almighty for giving us victory both at the national and state levels in spite of brazen impunity and injustice, intimidation, harassment, oppression, suppression, repression, political recklessness and abuse of power.”

Families bemoan murder of children in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

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W E R R I — FAMILIES of three young men from Mgbala Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area, who were allegedly murdered in connection with the tussle for traditional rulership, have cried out for justice.

The deceased persons, who were murdered last year, included Sunday

Nnodim, 23, Ekenna Onanwa, 28, and Ndukaku Egbuluwa, 23.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the father of one of the deceased, Pa Theophilus Nnodim, narrated how his son, Sunday Nnodim, was shot in his presence, on November 8, 2014.

While recalling that his son died as a result of the gunshot wound, Pa Nnodim also recalled that he would have also been killed by the alleged

assailant.

“The remains of my son had been lying in the mortuary at Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, since he was murdered last year,” Pa Nnodim said.

Speaking also, the mother of one of the victims, Mrs. Rachel Onanwa, said that her son, Ekenna Onanwa, a furniture maker was shot dead by a man (names withheld), while on his way to work, on May 17, 2014.

16 —Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Abia tribunal annuls election, bars APGA from re-run

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE National and State Assemblies Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has barred the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, from participating in a fresh election it ordered in Aba North State Constituency.

The tribunal has nullified the election of Mr. Emeka Nnamani of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, representing Aba North State Constituency on the ground that he was ab initio not qualified to contest the election held on April 11, 2015.

Delivering judgment in the petition filed by Dr. Blessing Nwagba of PDP challenging the election of Nnamani, the tribunal nullified his election and ordered a fresh election in the constituency but said that APGA would not participate in the fresh election.

According to the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sabiu Yahuza, "the petitioner, Dr. Nwagba proved the allegation of non-qualification leveled against the respondent as his name was not in the register of his Eziama Ward of his party, APGA, and ought not to have participated in the said election."

The panel however exempted

APGA from participating in the re-run of the election, saying that it would be between the petitioner’s party, PDP, and the other candidates from the other parties that participated in the April election.

On the allegation that Nnamani forged the certificate of University of Port Harcourt, the tribunal directed the police to investigate the matter and prosecute the respondent if found culpable.

It would be recalled that during the trial, the tribunal admitted in evidence a letter from the Registrar of the University of Port Harcourt disowning Nnamani as a graduate of the University.

COMMISSIONING: From left, President/CEO, Tristate Cardio-vascular Associate, Prof. Kamar Adeleke; Chairman, Tristate Heart Foundation/former interim chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande; the Sarkin Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, and President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Prof. James Makinde, during the commissioning of Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

YULETIDE INSECURITY:

Forum tasks police on proactive policing

By Francis Igata

E

N U G U — PARTICIPANTS at the Enugu State Police Command Youths Forum over the weekend,tasked security agencies to be more proactive in policing as a better way to ensure security of life and property in the urban and rural areas to keep miscreants at bay towards a safer society.

The forum, basically comprising of youth- based groups and organizations met at the police command headquarters to evolve ways to tackle emerging crimes in the state especially as the yuletide season approaches.

Commissioner of Police, Enugu command, Mr. Abubakar Adamu while welcoming the participants, vowed to implement recommendations of the forum with a view of bringing crime rate to the barest minimum.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 17

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 THE motion raised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the floor of the Senate recently about the need for the Federal Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway must be seen as a national priority.

The Apapa Express conundrum has been compounded by the collapsed sections of the expressway at the Isolo area, which has led to the fall of many containers and trucks. That road has become a favourite den of traffic snarl robbers and hoodlums who seize the opportunity of the chaotic atmosphere and lack of law enforcement to dispossess road users of their belongings.

The importance of the expressway, the main land transport corridor into the Apapa Ports, cannot be over-emphasised.

This is an area that hosts so many

Making Apapa traffic gridlock a priority industrial estates, military/security installations and barracks, media establishments, petroleum tank farms and depots.

More importantly, Apapa is the nation’s number one economic theatre in which the bulk of the nation’s nonoil revenue is derived through port operations and activities.

It is the importance of this zone to the economy of the nation that draws all manner of tankers, trucks, trailers and lorries from all over Nigeria for evacuation of goods for onward delivery to all sections of

the country. The poor state of the roads and bridges, which have been neglected over the past two decades, creates a nightmarish experience for those who visit, live or work in Apapa and its adjoining districts.

Nigeria is, perhaps, the only country that toys with a goose that lays the golden egg that feeds the nation through non-oil revenue.

We, therefore, call on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure that the section of the expressway covering

OPINION process. They are not expected to Of Senate confirmation and tenure of public similar assume office until their appointments are confirmed by the Senate.

This is why I found media reports officers suggesting that the tenure of the

By Alabi Evonney

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N the last three weeks, Nigeria and Nigerians have been held spell-bound by the spectacle at the National Assembly, as the Upper legislative chamber, the Senate, screens eminent citizens nominated as ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari. The media frenzy centred around the politics of the screening and the chances of the nominees to scale the hurdles have been captivating.

Yet, in all the fuss about the confirmation hearing, one issue appears to have escaped the attention of the media. And that is the issue of the tenure of the ministers being screened by the Senate. When can we say their tenure starts? Is it from the date their nomination was officially announced, or the date their names were sent to the Senate, or the date they were confirmed by the Senate, or the day they would be sworn in as ministers by the president and their portfolios announced?

These questions are germane especially for a society such as ours which is highly sentimental about the tenure of public office holders. I am almost certain that the clock started ticking for the ministers, in the minds of some analysts or commentators, the very moment it was announced that their names had been sent to the Senate. Others would probably say

it started from the minute Bukola Saraki, Senate president, hit the gavel, to pronounce them ministers of the Federal republic. Yet, many will also insist that they are not ministers until they are sworn in by Buhari.

Truth be told, no one can consider himself a minister, until he is invested with the power to exercise the function of the office.

Such power can only come after confirmations by the Senate and more importantly, after swearing in by the appointing authority, in this case the president. This swearing in is also expected to be backed by an official letter of appointment, without which a public officer will have no locus to exercise the power and authority of his office.

This pattern is not peculiar to ministers only. Indeed, all heads of federal agencies and departments whose appointment requires legislative approval go through

Nigerians should cultivate the culture of not stampeding public office holders out of office, especially those who have diligently served the nation

incumbent chair of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, ends in November 2015, really shocking. I say so because, as the National Assembly correspondent of a leading national newspaper, I was privileged to have witnessed the confirmation screening of Lamorde by the Senate on February 15, 2012. Even though he had been occupying the office of chairman of the EFCC, albeit in acting capacity before the confirmation, he became the substantive chairman of the EFCC on February 15, 2012, which invariably means that his four-year tenure terminates on February 15, 2016. Except, President Buhari renews his appointment for another term of four years, Lamorde should by February 15, 2016, be returning to the Nigeria Police to continue with his career as a senior police office.

Until that happens, it does a section of the media no good to twist facts and confuse the people. I have never met the EFCC boss and have no incentive to speak for him but truth be told, the recent spate of media attacks on his person clearly indicate that there are people who are no comfortable with him as chairman of EFCC and have launched a media campaign to discredit and run him out of the place.

A certain George Uboh, a felon convicted for wire fraud in the United States, and who is also being prosecuted by the EFCC

the Tin Can Island Ports, the internal roads within the ports as well as the stretch from Cele Bus Stop to Oworonshoki are reconstructed immediately.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government must also play its part, by enforcing traffic regulations and ensuring that the trucks, tankers and trailers that invade the state daily have enough space in waiting bays from where they can move to load their products in an orderly manner.

The Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), which went to sleep when it was asked to stop impounding vehicles illegally, must wake up. The federal and Lagos State governments are now under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and must combine efforts to resolve the Apapa traffic nightmare.

for allegedly defrauding the police equipment foundation, is living off the campaign to discredit the EFCC boss with the Nigerian Senate according him unusual attention. I shuddered when I hear two leading journalists with a major Independent Television, describing the convict as the “nemesis of the EFCC”! In law, not much importance is attached to the testimony of a convict. As it is, Uboh is a tainted witness and those promoting him are equally tainted.

But it is important that persons with tenure appointments are accorded protection from mischief makers, with a clear statement regarding their tenure, Of course, not many people bother when it comes to obscure agencies. In this country we have had not a few cases where public officers outstayed their tenure because public attention is not turned to such agencies. But when you head the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the EFCC, Nigeria Communications Commission or Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, people count every minute you spend and aspirants are let on the loose once they sense that a vacancy is imminent.

It should not be so. Nigerians should cultivate the culture of not stampeding public office holders out of office, especially those who have diligently served the nation. *Mr. Evonney, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Intellectual

nomadism

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same, a traitor. Therefore, when the massacres were carried out, ‘moderate’ Hutus with any affiliation with Tutsis were also eliminated.

You can then imagine my horror when I read an article “The Herdsmen from hell” by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode. This was his reaction to the abduction of Chief Olu Falae. He concluded that the abduction was by Fulani herdsmen who are working with the Boko Haram. He showed no proof whatsoever. Even if the perpetrators of this heinous crime were some herdsmen, how could this have amounted to a collective guilt of all Fulani herdsmen in the country? Also, he ought to know that only courts can pronounce guilt.

To compound my horror, contrary to the Fundamental Human Rights Charter and the Nigerian constitution, he argued that millions of Fulani herdsmen should be denied their fundamental right of movement by being banned from the southern part of the country.

But the most disturbing for me was his characterisation of all Fulani herdsmen “These herdsmen have become the pests of our nation. They are like the

HENEVER I go to Rwanda, I visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

A monument to the bestial level, human beings can descend, and a reminder that we must do everything possible to ensure that the massacre of over 850,000 people in 1994 in a hate rage, is never repeated.

Apart from the display of skulls, many of them babies and children with brains blown or knocked out, there is the ‘Burial Place’ in the memorial where the remains of 250,000 individual victims of the genocide are interred.

This tragedy is the harvest of hate speech and actions, where Hutu elite saw their Tutsi fellow citizens, not as human beings, but “cockroaches”. What do you do to cockroaches but to eliminate them. In so doing, the perpetuators did not feel or think that they were killing humans.

To be sure, it did not just happen overnight, it took years of brainwashing. In 1990, the Hutu elite had produced what was called “The Hutu Ten Commandments.” It forbid Hutus inter marrying, employing, doing business or being friends with Tutsis declaring anyone who violated

East African tsetse fly: wherever they go they suck the life blood out of their hosts and, like the locust, they destroy everything in their path. They are like leeches: they indulge in a parasitic mode of nutrition and they suck the blood of the carcass until their victim is left for dead. Like the Arab Janjaweed, they are only known for the most hideous of things. This includes terror, intimidation, theft, murder, rape, abduction, mutilation, the violation of the rights of others, the destruction of the land and crops of farmers and the destruction of property” As we know, the tsetse fly is about two or three dozen species of an African bloodsucking fly which feast on humans and animals, and transmits the sleeping sickness disease and nagana, the disease that weakens and kills animals.

What are humans expected to do

The greater challenge we face are not the herdsmen who have been left in the state of nature by an uncaring system, but our nomadic elite who like herd, roam through various political parties, crushing ministerial gardens and eating or destroying our national harvests

Who is the next Ooni of Ile-Ife?

By Lawrence Omidiora

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INCE the transition to eternal glory of the late Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the entire world and in particular, the Yorubas at home and in Diaspora have been patiently and eagerly awaiting the proclamation by the traditional kingmakers of the ancient town of the next Ooni of Ife. The interest of the people in the selection of a candidate is due to the revered position of the Ooni stool and roles as the foremost traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

There is no doubt that all past Oonis specifically from the time of Oranmiyan, 6th Ooni of Ife have been men of means, glamour and commanding personality.

Oranmiyan was a warrior and reputed to be a great administrator with tremendous influence across Yorubaland. Oranmiyan strengthened the Benin Kingdom traditional institution and is still being honoured in that kingdom till date. He established the traditional institution in Oyo Kingdom and his descendants still rule the kingdom to date. In appreciation of the role of Oranmiyan in the founding and establishment of the Kingship of Oko Land (modern day Osile Oke-Ona , Egba) the incumbent King, Alayeluwa Oba Adedapo Tejuoso bears the appellation ORANMIYAN. I once asked him why the appellation, Oba Tejuoso elucidated on the type of person Oranmiyan was and why he should be emulated. He was described as a fearless, upright and inimitable leader with tremendous wisdom which enabled him to rule with fairness and earned the respect and love of his people.

Since the time of the Olubuse the first in

the early 20th century, the leadership position of the Ooni of Ife among traditional rulers in Yorubaland is indubitable. In fact, all other Yoruba Obas were said to have stayed outside their various palaces when, for the first time, the first Ooni Olubuse travelled outside his domain to Lagos to meet the colonial Governor General at that time.

Oba Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi who became 49th Ooni in 1930 was a king to be reckoned with. He commanded respect and was seen as the leader of all Yoruba Obas. He was the permanent Chairman of the Western Region’s House of Chiefs until the creation of three states from the old western Region. In the old Oyo State, he was the first Chairman House of Chiefs and remained so without any objection from other Yoruba Obas until his transition in 1980.

I witnessed the coronation of late Oba Okunade as a form 3 pupil in Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife sent among several others to represent the school during the coronation. We were to line the routes to the coronation venue in our school uniforms. It was the first time I would

As the world expects the next Ooni to sit on the throne of his forefathers, nobody is interested in the royal house that will produce him as that is the issue limited to Ife

with tsetse flies, but to eliminate them? So what does the former Minister intend to achieve, invoking such powerful imagery to describe fellow citizens?

All over history, those who carry out genocide, first convince themselves that their victims are not human beings. When the Adolf Hitler administration decided to eliminate blacks and Jews, it first claimed a sense of superiority by the Aryan race; the same sense of ethnic superiority Fani-Kayode is claiming. Secondly, it categorised the victims as sub human beings.

So gassing and eliminating them was not killing humans. Same was the case when Germans carried out genocide against Namibians, Turks against Armenians, British against indigenous Australians, Americans against indigenous Indians, whites against South African blacks, and of course, the on-going genocide by Israel against Palestinians.

To me, the ex-minister misfired, and I thought he ought to be forgiven for his slip. The vigilant chair of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu did the nation some good by calling attention to the implications of Fani-Kayode’s piece. He argued logically and intelligently that “Chief Olu Falae’s abduction is a crime, but to make that the basis of a campaign against a race as Femi Fani-Kayode did is hate speech.

It is hate speech to leave individual responsibility and describe a race as tse-tse fly, locust, leeches, etc.”

The ex-minister ought to have apologised, rather, he flew into a rage: “I have no regrets for describing those murderous Fulani herdsmen as tsetse flies.

Actually they are worse than that because, like Satan, they only come to kill, steal and destroy.” Such

witness a coronation and be part of the crowd that witnessed the installation. It was a memorable occasion as for the first time as well, I saw the then Oyo State governor, Late Chief Bola Ige, my idol, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the array of personalities that stormed Ile-Ife for the coronation. The reputation of Late Oba Okunade as a wealthy and influential person was proven on that date and I prayed that I would one day be as rich and reputable like him. Six years on the throne, I became a regular visitor to the palace and through my mentor, Mr. Funmiloila Olorunnisola, the Press Manager then and my active and rewarding involvement in the affairs of the town, I became very close to Oba Sijuade.

He was indeed an Oba of Obas, wealthy, gracious, sartorial, and resplendent. He was golden in appearance, carriage and personality. The palace became a mecca of sort to Yoruba leaders and was in fact the Headquarter of the Yoruba nation.

Every Ife indigene was proud to be an Ife. He lifted Ife and projected the image of the town to the extent that Yorubas, wherever they may be, saw Ile-Ife as their own.

This is a position where we need a man to fill. Will he just be a man? He must be an original man imbued with the leadership trait of Oranmiyan, possess the charisma and wisdom of Oba Aderemi and have acquired the panache, sagacity and wealth of Oba Sijuade.

The process to select that original man started immediately the transition of the late Oba was announced. All manners of people from all over the world who have a link with the royal houses in Ife returned home. Some solicited for funds from their friends and associates in their locations to be in Ife and contest for the Ooni of the Source. Many have forgotten that Ile-Ife

comments are outrageous. The Fulani of whatever class; herdsmen, milk ladies, politicians or middle class are an integral part of our country and continent.

No Nigerian has a greater stake or say than the other. We are all born free and equal.

The scourge of kidnapping has been with us for some years, and going by reportage, criminals from the southern part dominate this crime. The fact is that Chief Falae was kidnapped.

Whether the kidnappers were Fulani herdsmen, Yoruba cocoa farmers, Igbo traders, Berom miners or Ijaw fishermen is immaterial. To then find millions of people guilty of a crime that might have been committed by three or four persons, is extreme.

Rather than continue digging into the quicksand he has chosen to walk, Fani-Kayode needs to get out fast. Also, given his education and exposure, he ought to know that words can be like a broken egg which cannot be retrieved.

Ordinarily, Fani-Kayode writes and speaks well, so what is responsible for the ellipsis in his thought process which suffers such seizures and makes him as unpredictable as the British weather?

The greater challenge we face are not the herdsmen who have been left in the state of nature by an uncaring system, but our nomadic elite who like herds, roam through various political parties, crushing ministerial gardens and eating or destroying our national harvests. The political elite ought to have basic code of conduct under which they can call to order, members of their class whose messages or actions endanger the very existence of the people.

is the cradle of the Yorubas and thought that becoming the Ooni is a childsplay.

Emerging configuration have started to show that the stool is for the well bred, matured, God fearing and influential personality who must stand out from the crowd to be seen and recognised not just as an Oba but as the Ooni in Yorubaland.

Several names have been posted and I wish to state as a stakeholder, that Ife and the position of its kingship is owned by the entire Yoruba people as they would always look up to the occupier of that throne as the father and leader. Far beyond the confine of Ile-Ife is the authority of the Ooni. Therefore, the throne requires a decent , charismatic, receptive personality with tremendous wisdom and quality sense of judgement.

The selectors of the occupier of the throne must realise the importance of the stool as traditional kingmakers. They must not succumb to pettiness and should be fair and objective. They must realise that they are writing history and should be conscious that their tomorrow is bigger than today. It is also pertinent for them to know that the contemporary demands regarding their assignment is for them to be all ears and show responsibility attached to their call.

They must give us the Ooni the people deserve. The Kingmakers should not be self serving and be seen as incorruptible representatives of the people. They must be aware that the entire Yoruba race have greater expectations from them.

As the world expects the next Ooni to sit on the throne of his forefathers, nobody is interested in the royal house that will produce him as that is the issue limited to Ife, the original man being awaited is expected to start from where Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse ii stopped. *Mr. Omidiora, GM , Ikeja Golf Club, wrote from Lagos.

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20—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

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OW do you describe incompetence? Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as “1, not legally qualified; 2, inadequate to, or unsuitable for a particular purpose; 3, (a) lacking the qualities for effective action; (b) unable to function properly”.

For me, when a president says he is taking his time to look for a crop of qualified and incorruptible Nigerians to serve in his cabinet and, after wasting five months, comes out with a group that could easily have been assembled within four days of assuming power, I consider such a person as betraying signs of incompetence.

Let us ask ourselves: does the ministerial list of President Muhammadu Buhari justify the five months he squandered? In his Independence Day broadcast, Buhari discarded the notion that the lengthy time it took owed to any search for “Nigerian angels and saints”, which was the fib his spin doctors and party megaphones sold to the populace. He said he was assessing the ministries to determine how many of them to prune before appointing ministers. That was a sound alibi, if you ask me. But why did he not say so in the beginning? Why the deception? When you create an air of false expectations by the time the game is exposed for what it is, you get people disappointed, angry and disillusioned. They will begin to distrust you.

Ministerial nominees, such as Chibuike Amaechi (the man who does not like money, or the man who has never given or taken bribe), Babatunde Fashola (the man who does not sign cheques) and a few other “marked” nominees would never have attracted the level of furore they did if Buhari had not campaigned on the platforms of anti-corruption and “change”.

Unquestionable character Our constitution does not debar an accused person, even if he is undergoing trial, from being appointed minister or public officer unless he or she has been convicted in a competent court. That Buhari did no wrong in naming them for his cabinet is not in doubt under our constitution. That the Senate did no wrong in giving them easy passage is constitutionally supported.

What was lacking, however, was that special, extra bait that Buhari dangled and grabbed the fancy of majority of the voters: securing the services of people of unquestionable character to serve as his ministers as part of his anti-corruption policy. That was the ingredient that mirrored the “change” we were promised.

And with those ingredients now totally lacking, we ask Buhari and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC): WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NOMINATION AND SCREENING OF MINISTERS UNDER BUHARI’S APC FEDERALGOVERNMENTANDTHOSEOF PDP IN THE LAST SIXTEEN YEARS? Buhari’s APC Federal Government simply copied and pasted the template defined by the PDP Federal Government.

This is why I call it a “business as usual” cabinet. If you nominate former governors accused (with a deluge of petitions) of large-scale graft, what moral right do you still have to call former President Jonathan’s ministers, such as Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke and Senator Stella Oduah dirty names when they, too, have not yet been convicted?

That’s the pot calling the kettle black!

For five good months, Buhari – and the C M Y K

Buhari’s business as usual cabinet nation – have groped in the dark, not knowing in which direction we are going.

Is this not the same “cluelessness” of which the President Goodluck Jonathan regime was accused by APC during the campaigns? The organised private sector,

through the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, has cried itself hoarse about the woes this grope in the dark has imposed on the same people Buhari hopes to use to create jobs. Even the United States

Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle; a Buhari enthusiast whose country helped to oil the wheels of the much touted “change revolution” complained bitterly to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State last week saying: “we are waiting”.

I am afraid we must wait for at least, two more months before we know where we are going. That is the time it will take for the cabinet and the economic team to be fully installed and come out with a roadmap. That is the time it will take for the 2016 budget to be designed and tabled before the National Assembly for consideration, though we don’t know when it will be passed and signed into law.

Who knows, by the time they are through, one year would be over, with three more to go!

Mahmood Yakubu – from the backdoor!

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OMPARE and contrast the ways former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega and his newbie successor, Professor Mahmood Yakubu emerged and decide for yourself what manner of change the Buhari administration has brought to Nigeria.

Shortly after being sworn-in as full President on 6th May 2010, former President Goodluck Jonathan publicly launched the search for a new INEC Chairman as he saw that the occupant of that office, Professor Maurice Iwu, no longer enjoyed the confidence of the generality of the Nigerian people. Iwu’s five-year term was nearing an end, and Jonathan bowed to the wishes of Nigerians and replaced him.

Nigerians hotly debated and asked the Federal Government to implement the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Report on Electoral Reform.

The late President Umaru Yar’ Adua had set up the 22-man Uwais Panel on August 28th 2007 with a view to correcting the perceived anomalies of the electoral process that brought him to office. The committee pored through 1,466 memoranda, listened to 907 presentations during its tour of the country and consulted with experts on electoral systems of such countries as Botswana, South Africa, France, India and Ghana. It

submitted its report in December 2008.

Parts of its core recommendations were that (A) the Constitution should be amended to transfer the power of appointment of the members of the INEC Board from the President to the National Judicial Council (NJC), which will recommend nominees to the Senate for approval. The President would merely append his signature. (B) The people to be appointed must be men and women of integrity. This was to ensure the independence of the electoral umpire and guarantee credible elections.

Jonathan had no time to start a constitution amendment, so he simply appointed one of the names widely applauded by the public, Professor Jega; a man the president said he had never met before. We saw the subsequent credibility of elections Jega’s team

Buhari broke the established convention of appointing the National Chairman of the INEC from outside the ethnogeopolitical crucible of the sitting president

OPINION Fela: The noise of advancing ideas

By Tochukwu Ezukanma

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HE first time I watched Fela perform was in the mid-1970s at the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Then, he was lusty and nimble.

He sprang across the stage, as he danced, sang and played both the piano and tenor saxophone. Every move he made was mirrored in the sound of the music, as the drummer and the other percussionists followed his every move with their beat.

His band members were decked out in pink “Crepelin” outfits.

His dancers were scantily clad, and they seductively swirled and swayed their hips to the rhythmical throbbing of the Africa 70 (the name of Fela’s band in the 1970s).

Over all, his music was of unequalled excellence and his stage work, extraordinary. It was obvious that this maestro had taken music and

entertainment in Nigeria to new heights.

The last time I watched him was in the early-1990s in Washington, DC, at the Kilimanjaro Night Club. By then, his years of struggle against the evil oligarchy that ran Nigeria had taken a toll on him. As such, he was not as gorgeously attired and his band was not as splendidly arrayed.

But he remained his defiant and indefatigable self, his band, unflappably first-rate, his dancers, vivacious and matchless, and his music, exquisite. In his Yabis (verbal He was a interlude), he nonconformist; winded from everything current affairs to about him international economics, and deviated then, to African from history. A man, standards o b v i o u s l y of •. impressed, like orthodoxy everyone else in the

conducted both at state and federal levels, which enabled opposition parties to win elections, often defeating the ruling PDP. The biggest of these was the ouster of Jonathan himself and the enthronement of Buhari’s APC in 2015. It made Nigeria’s democracy a worldwide model.

But what has happened under Buhari?

Prof. Yakubu was sneaked in through the backdoor and presented straight to the National Council of State, which as usual, swiftly rubberstamped his nomination. The public was never allowed to examine and debate this nomination. Buhari broke the established convention of appointing the National Chairman of the INEC from outside the ethno-geopolitical crucible of the sitting president. He appointed a fellow Fulani from Bauchi. It NEVER happened before! Buhari has, thus, further NORTHERNISED the federal government under his watch.

Questions: How INDEPENDENT will INEC be under Yakubu? Can opposition parties stand a fair chance as they did under Yar’ Adua and Jonathan? Why did Buhari totally ignore the Uwais Report? If the president does not have a hidden agenda, why sneak Yakubu upon us?

Will the Presidency ever leave the North in our lifetime?

What a tragic setback for our democracy which made such giant leaps in the Yar’ Adua/Jonathan years! The Senate must STOP Yakubu!

audience, by his extensive knowledge and incisive mind shouted: Fela vacancy dey for Howard O. Make you go dey teach for Howard University O. It was these qualities made evident on these two occasions that distinguished the phenomenon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti: a trailblazing musician and entertainer with the learning and versatility of a teacher, oratorical flourishes of a preacher, and the deep insight of a philosopher. He was a nonconformist; everything about him deviated from standards of orthodoxy. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nigerian popular music was under the powerful influence of Western, especially American, music. Nigerian musicians desperately needed to sound like James Brown, Otis Redding, the Rolling Stones, etc.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Ezukanma, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

OCTOBER 26, 2015

High interest rates frustrate delivery of affordable housing Developers groan as rates average 28% Experts proffer solution

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

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igh interest rates charged by banks on mortgage and real estate have continued to hamper the delivery of affordable housing in the country, further compounding the nation’s housing deficit, estimated to be about 17 million units.

Records show that interest rates charged by banks on real estate/ construction, and mortgages range between 20 and 30 percent. But in reality, property developers lament that they can hardly access any loan from banks for less than 28 percent.

Lending rates for Real Estate and Construction obtainable in deposit

money banks as published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, shows that Access Bank’s maximum lending rate to the sector was 25 per cent; CitiBank, 21 per cent; Diamond Bank 25 per cent; Ecobank, 28 per cent; FCMB, 25 per cent; Fidelity, 28 per cent; FBN 22 per cent; and Heritage Bank, 28 per cent. Others are: GTB, 27 per cent; Keystone Bank, 30 per cent; Skye Bank, 31 per cent; Stanbic IBTC, 26 per cent; Standard Chartered, 16 per cent; Sterling Bank, 28 per cent; Union Bank, 28.50 per cent; UBA, 29 per cent; Unity Bank 30 per cent; Wema Bank 28 per cent; and Zenith Bank, 24 perc ent.

On the other hand, the rates charged on Mortgage by the banks are: Access 28 percent; CitiBank, not available;

Diamond Bank 25 percent; Ecobank 26.50 percent; FCMB 19.95 percent; Fidelity 28 percent; FBN 22 percent; and Heritage Bank 28 percent. Others include GTB 27 percent; Keystone Bank 30 percent; Skye Bank 31 percent; Stanbic IBTC 26 percent; Standard Chartered 18 percent; Sterling Bank 30 percent; Union Bank 28.50 percent; UBA 29 percent; Unity Bank 30 percent; Wema Bank 27 percent; and Zenith Bank 23 percent.

Developers lament Vice President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, Dr. Aliyu Oroji Wamako, said developers cannot deliver affordable housing on these kinds of rates. “If you collect loans from the banks at

SUMMIT: From left, Umar A. Mustapha, CEO, Momar Energy Trading Limited, Mr. Ahonsi Unuigbe, CEO, Petralon Energy, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, Executive Director, Heritage Bank Limited; and Mr. Ele Peters, CEO, Clovers Nigeria Limited at the Opening Dinner sponsored by the bank during the just concluded 21st Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), which held in Abuja recently.

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these rates, you will end up working for the banks. We cannot take loans from commercial banks at 28 per cent interest rate and provide affordable housing. That is why we are seeking for government’s intervention on counter-funding so that we can move the position of building industry forward and reduce housing deficit.

The building industry is capital intensive and private initiative is not enough to bridge the housing deficit.

“The way forward is for the federal government to relax some of the land acquisition procedures and make it accessible to developers. If they want to give counterpart funding, they should give it to the existing institutions that provided the funds earlier at 10 per cent which is the FMBN." Wamako further noted that “Without government’s support, there will be hiccups within the industry in terms of government’s regulations towards taxation, land acquisition and funds. A developer cannot obtain a loan from the bank with an interest rate of 28 per cent and expect to build a house and sell it for N5 million,” he added.

In the same vein, Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of Nigeria Bar Association, decried the reluctance of banks to offer mortgage facilities to low-income earners. “There is a shortage of housing for low-income earners and constantly growing housing demands that are not met.

Unfortunately, banks are reluctant to provide mortgage facilities to lowincome earners.”

He said that the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) which was meant to promote home ownership and increase the availability and affordability of mortgage loans to Nigerians has not helped much. “In spite of the incorporation of NMRC in June 24, 2013, not much has changed.

The apathy of banks towards mortgage transactions still lingers, understandably, because of the risk of default. To buttress this, 66,402 Nigerians applied for mortgages during the recent Nigerian Housing Finance Programme but only 10,000 Nigerians were selected. However, the interest rates by primary mortgage

Continues on page 22

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Cover

The Basic Guide to Starting Your Business (3) What is not business?

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VISIT - Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa and Divisional Head, Large Scale Enterprises, Mr Joseph Babatunde, listening to explanation of the Founder/ CEO, Ruff 'n Tumble, Mrs Nike Ogunlesi (right), during Mr Olaoluwa's visit to the clothier.

High interest rates frustrate delivery of affordable housing Continued from page 21 institutions that participated in the programme were alarming, ranging from 14.5 to 19 percent. It is suggested that a cue be taken from other countries where the cost of mortgage for first time home buyers are low, with small down payments and easy terms especially, a single digit interest rate,” he stated.

Microfinancing approach Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Managing Director, LAPO Microfinance Bank, said government needs to adopt the principles of microfinancing in its quest to provide affordable housing for low-income earners in the country.

Microfinance basically entails the provision of financial services to microentrepreneurs and small businesses, which lack access to banking and related services due to the high transaction costs associated with serving these client categories. The two main mechanisms for the delivery of financial services to such clients are: relationship-based banking for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses; and group-based models, where several entrepreneurs come together to apply for loans and other services as a group.

Ehigiamusoe asserted that much like microfinance, affordable housing is about liberalising access to mortgage and also the possibility to use flexible structures and processes to achieve mass housing targets on a sustainable basis. “Like microfinance, affordable housing is about liberalising

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access. Traditional mortgage practices leave out low-income people. And like microfinance, it is possible to use flexible structures and processes to achieve mass housing targets on a sustainable basis. Like microfinance, housing is required by poor for a number of reasons: It is a basic human need. Among the poor, there is strong connection between the home as a place of shelter and/or house as a means for engaging in income generating activities.

Ownership is, irrespective of gender, a symbol of maturity and fulfillment for everybody.”

He noted that the targets of affordable housing are ready clients, customers and members of Microfinance institutions (MfBs, Coops and NGOs). These people organisations have developed flexible and responsive structures and procedures that could be useful for providing mass housing facility. MFIs are already active in provision of houses to low-

Among the poor, there is strong connection between the home as a place of shelter and/or house as a means for engaging in income generating activities

income people across developing nations such as Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Bolivia and Mexico

Challenges of housing microfinance A major constraint is the regulatory definition of micro-loans in terms of volume and tenor. Housing loans are usually of larger sizes and of longer tenor.

Another challenge is lack of funding, in two dimensions.

First, is that the volume of funds required for housing is not available to microfinance banks, that have limited options for deposit mobilisation.

Second, is the problem of asset-liability mismatch that will arise when housing microfinance is provided by MfBs. Inadequate capacity is yet another challenge Lack of awareness on and technical skills required for providing housing microfinance.

Like microfinance, affordable housing for the poor will require flexible and responsive strategies which differ from the formal mortgage practices. It takes time and resources to build the required competences.

In order to address the challenges, Ehigiamusoe called for a review of the microfinance supervisory guidelines - recognise roles that microfinance banks can play in provision of mass housing; and review size and tenor of micro-loans.

On funding, he recommended the establishment of funding linkages between microfinance banks and cooperatives on the one hand, and commercial

Continues on page 23

ften time people engage in all sort of shady deals and call it business. This should not be, because any act/trade that is not genuine and is to the detriment of others cannot be called a business, especially if it doesn’t fall within the confines of the law or is aimed at getting profit wrongly.

Some of these wrong businesses include, money laundering (government officials), abuse of office, stealing, defrauding, internet scam otherwise known as yahoo-yahoo, 419 and a host of others. If you are involved in any of the above, then you cannot say that you are in a business as the above named are prohibited by the laws of the land and they do not create opportunities. Rather they ruin or cripple the country, portraying it in a very bad light to the rest of the world. It is only a lazy man that looks for an easy way out all the time, not wanting to go through the right process and procedures.

The mentality of a business man: We have discussed what a business is in the previous chapter and what business is not; we have also looked at the importance of self analysis in starting a business as well as the disadvantages and advantages. Now it’s time to talk about the mentality a business man should possess.

We cannot underestimate the power of the mind and I make bold to say that that is where every idea and dream is born.

The good book also emphasizes this by saying “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is”.

When starting a business, you would need to ask yourself if you possess what it takes to run it efficiently and get the desired results. Every successful business man has a mentality and should possess a strong sense of character. That is why it is important to carry out a self analysis before commencing a business.

The business man does not see failure as a reason to quit; to him failure is a stepping stone that launches him to his next level. He is not afraid but is a risk taker, possessing the utmost desire to succeed; he

is not just out to make money, but rather to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

He is a sharp thinker and very witty, seizing every available opportunity to meet the demands of consumers. The following make up the mindset of successful business men.

Optimism Optimism continues to be a primary factor in whether or not an individual will stay focused on goals rather than be thwarted by the negative events that would impede progress. It is the absolute ideal that leads to achievement as nothing can be done without hope.

Therefore, it is the very essence of success.

If you want to have a successful business, it is important that you start out as an optimist, refusing to see impossibilities and obstacles.

An optimist is not discouraged, but rather looks for other ways to make things better. A good business man will always diligently search for answers that will work. He possesses the “yes I can” aura and mentality which will endear him to clients and friends alike.

Before you start a business it is very important that you have a very optimistic mentality, one that is not easily swayed by various obstacles you will encounter in the course of carrying out your business. This is because nobody wants to do business with a pessimist.

Creativity A creative ability is a very vital tool in the hands of a person who intends to start a business, although sometimes even as a business owner there is a risk with being creative; it is not possible to do something the same way and expect a different outcome. You have to be very dynamic in your choice and approach to the business you intend to start.

Brainstorm a list of possibilities no matter how wild it seems. Look for the unusual but plausible.

Enhanced creativity when looking at possible business solutions increases the flow of ideas within the framework of a set of desired goals.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 23

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n the late 1980s and early 90s, one Frank Olize, now late, of NTA Newsline on Sunday set out in search of the common man in Nigeria. The search took him to several towns across the country in search of that one man who is a common man. But to his dismay, every Nigerian on the street saw himself as a common man. In the end, Frank returned to his base with the conclusion that the search will continue. He never found the Nigerian common man.

The same seems to be the issue with who is poor in Nigeria. Nearly every man on the street today claims to be poor and would need one form of assistance or the other. In 2012 when the National poverty by 2030. It said that In the new report released Bureau of Statistics conducted the concentration of poverty in Lima, Peru, the bank said: a survey on poverty in in Sub-Saharan Africa is of “For the last several decades, Nigeria, nearly all those concern. three regions, East Asia and The bank said it used an Pacific, South Asia, and Subspoken to in the survey international Saharan claimed they were poor. The updated Africa, have Bureau came out with a figure poverty line of $1.90 a day, of 112 million Nigerians in the poverty line out of a population of 170 million.

Nations also claim they are poor. When in 1961 Frantz Fanon wrote The Wretched of the Earth, it was received

by Africans as an epic masterpiece reflecting the poverty inflicted on the continent by colonists. It was a psychiatric and psychoanalysis of the dehumanising effects of colonisation upon the individual, and the nation, from which derived the broader social, cultural, and political implications inherent to establishing a social movement for the decolonisation of a person and of a people.

In his introduction to the 1961 edition of The Wretched which incorporates new accounted for some 95 per cent of the Earth, the philosopher, information on differences in of global poverty. Yet, the Jean-Paul Sartre supported the cost of living across composition of poverty across Frantz Fanon’s advocacy of countries. The new line these three regions has shifted justified violence by the preserves the real purchasing dramatically. In 1990, East colonised people against the power of the previous line of Asia accounted for half of the foreign coloniser, as $1.25 a day in 2005 prices in global poor, whereas some 15 necessary for their mental the world’s poorest per cent lived in Sub-Saharan health and political countries. Using this new line Africa; by 2015 forecasts, this liberation. as well as new country-level is almost exactly reversed: The World Bank in its 2015 data on living standards, the Sub-Saharan Africa accounts report on global poverty said World Bank projects that for half of the global poor, with that poverty remains global poverty will have fallen some 12 per cent living in East concentrated in Sub-Saharan from 902 million people or Asia. Poverty is declining in Africa and South Asia. Last 12.8 per cent of the global all regions but it is becoming year, the bank said that population in 2012 to 702 deeper and more entrenched Nigeria will be one of the million people, or 9.6 per cent in countries that are either countries that will be of the global population, this conflict-ridden or overly contributing to the growth of year. dependent on commodity

Who is poor in Nigeria?

Cover Story

exports.

“The growing concentration of global poverty in SubSaharan Africa is of great concern. While some African countries have seen

significant successes in reducing poverty, the region as a whole lags behind the rest of the world in the pace of lessening poverty. SubSaharan Africa poverty fell from an estimated 56 per cent in 1990 to a projected 35 per cent in 2015. Rapid population growth remains a key factor blunting progress in many countries—as this year’s Global Monitoring Report launched on October 8 shows.

In its regional forecasts for 2015, the bank said that poverty in East Asia and the Pacific would fall to 4.1 per cent of its population, down

from 7.2 per cent in 2012; Latin America and the Caribbean would fall to 5.6 per cent from 6.2 in 2012; South Asia would fall to 13.5 per cent in 2015, compared to 18.8 per cent in 2012; Sub-Saharan Africa declines to 35.2 per cent in 2015, compared to 42.6 per cent in 2012." Development has been robust over the last two decades but the protracted global slowdown since the financial crisis of 2008, is beginning to cast its shadow on emerging economies. The economic growth outlook is less impressive for emerging economies in the near future, which will create new challenges in the fight to end poverty and attend to the needs of the vulnerable, especially those living at the bottom 40 per cent of their societies.

Using the new poverty line data of $1.9 a day, that is living on about N374 per day, how many Nigerians can be said to be poor? The thing is that there are many things people do have access to that have not been valued in monetary terms. The farmer who eats from the labour of his farm does not cost the food, the meat, fish, vegetable, the house and the labour of his wife, children who work with him in his farm.

But when poverty is being discussed, they will gladly come out as poor people.

The same with the average market woman, who makes daily sales and keeps a garden from where she harvests lots of food. Under normal circumstances, these men and women live above the N374 per day bench mark for the poor. Like Frank Olize, the search for the Nigerian poor man may not be conclusive after all.

High interest rates frustrate delivery of affordable housing Continued from page 22 banks on the other; and the inclusion of mass housing loans into CBN’s micro and small enterprise development fund.

On capacity building, he emphasised the need for technical support for microfinance banks and cooperatives. “The soft technology of mass housing is reaching maturity in other countries and regulatory jurisdictions, and Nigerian microfinance banks can learn from the experiences.

Technical assistance focus should be on mobilisation of

potential beneficiaries; -need assessment; and structuring of loans and repayment schedule On his part, Isoken Omo, MD, ASO Investment and Development Company (AIDC), noted that, on the average, about 2,000 houses are being delivered annually nationwide using traditional methods, adding that new technologies are not getting the acceptability to encourage increased production.

“Housing development without some form of subsidy in land acquisition and infrastructure provision in major cities will be expensive.

All stakeholders in the housing value chain must be engaged in order to start dealing with the Nigerian housing problem. The average threebedroom house built by a developer without subsidy or intervention from government or otherwise, will cost a home buyer about N8 million.

Assuming availability of mortgage on NHF terms (15 percent down payment, 6 percent interest, 25 years), a buyer will require a monthly payment of N44,000 to cover interest and principal. With only about 20 percent of Nigerian households earning

a household income of N260,000 per annum and following the 33.33 percent rule for housing, it is clear to see that the vast majority cannot afford the average 3 bedroom built by a developer without special intervention,” he stated.

Government intervention Omo called on the Federal Government to spur financial innovation in housing through: establishing the right conditions to launch securitization; putting measures to provide consumer protection and

enhance underwriting capabilities by primary mortgage originators; creating special housing grants, payable monthly, to public and civil servants allowing them to better afford houses; supporting innovative home ownership schemes like shared ownership, secure tenures, Right-to-Buy, Rentto-Own; guaranteeing purchase of modular houses to encourage new technology and innovations; and encouraging the training of artisans on best practice by giving incentives to developers that use the certified artisans.

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24— Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Business & Economy

Nigerian govt must key into SME philosophy, says Gowon

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

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ormer Head of State General Yakubu Gowon said Nigerian Government need to holistically key into the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), philosophy in order to help the country diversify it's economy.

Speaking at this year ’s 22 nd Annual Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Development Forum in Abuja, General Gowon maintained that for the country to diversify it's economy SME calls for deliberate and calculated efforts by governments at all levels and precipitate value chain reaction in the economy.

According to him, the timing of the topic: “Women Entrepreneurship Development: Issues, Opportunities and Approaches.” is quite auspicious at this point of our national development, particularly because it has become imperative for the Nigeria economy to embrace diversification.

LafargeAfrica plans 310mw IPP completion by 2017

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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afargeHolcim, parent company of LafargeAfrica says it’s going to provide additional 220 mega watts of its Independent Power project, IPP, to existing 90 mega watts in South Western Nigeria to bring its planned 310mega watts to completion by 2017.

General Manager, Independent Power Projects, Lanre Opakunle, who was speaking during the Build Safe, Live Safe’ media engagement in Lagos, stated that the company has eyes on long term investment in Nigeria that is why it is involved in the construction of an IPP in the South Western and other parts of Nigeria.

He stated that the company has already delivered 90 megawatts of which 50megawatts is already added to the national grid, with plans to upgrade it to 310 megawatts by 2017, while plans are in top gear to up the regions production capacity to 4.5 metric tonnes.

Aside from South Western Nigeria, the company is also increasing and expanding the capacity of its operations and power supply to it plants in various parts of the country, Opakunle said.

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Shipowners express concern over IMO’s 2016 climate deadline

BY GODWIN ORITSE with agency report

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U R O P E A N shipowners have expressed concern over the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) effort to eliminate the emission of carbon dioxide from vessels by 2016.

This is coming ahead of the European delegation to the Paris COP 21 meeting in December, and issued a warning for all Parties to work through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop a global policy framework to enable an effective response, and to take measures to set adequate targets before the end of 2016 for achieving the necessary reductions in the light of the 2 °C target.

Commenting on the resolution, Patrick Verhoeven ECSA Secretary General said: “We are happy to see that the European Parliament recognises the importance of a global solution for international shipping and gives a vote of confidence to the IMO, which should be allowed to pursue its efforts.

“We are however also concerned by the deadline adopted by MEPs. 2016 is right around the corner and as such it is rather unrealistic to expect the IMO to come up with a solution in a matter of months. A unilateral European push for a hard deadline may be counterproductive.” continued Patrick Verhoeven, referring to the need for global rules for the shipping, an industry as international as few others.

The IMO’s track record in developing technical CO2 energy efficiency measures for the maritime sector is impressive.

Following the adoption of the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, which came into force worldwide in 2011 and which now apply to about 95% of the global merchant fleet, international shipping is the only industrial sector already covered by mandatory and binding global measures.

The IMO also recently adopted the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which requires all ships constructed after 2025 to be 30 percent more efficient than those built in the 2000s, with further efficiency improvements going forward. Finally, the

CEREMONY - From left, President, Boeing International, Mr. Bertrand-Marc Allen presenting “Higher 100years of Boeing” historic Catalogue to the former Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren with them is Vice President, Africa International, Mr. Joao Miguel Santos the ceremony held in Lagos. shipping industry itself, prompted by an increase in bunker prices, has made strides in increasing its energy efficiency and curbing its CO2 emissions.

As a result of recent efforts, the contribution of shipping to global CO2 emissions has in fact dropped. According to the latest IMO Green House Gas study, published in 2014, international shipping (while transporting about 90% of world trade) produces about 2.2% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. This figure was

2.8% in 2007, and the total CO2 emissions from shipping reduced by over 10% between 2007 and 2012. This was despite continuing growth in maritime trade which means that shipping is already delivering carbon neutral growth.

“The 2016 deadline is not consistent with the steps already taken at EU level” commented Benoit Loicq, ECSA Safety and Environment Director. “By pushing for an extremely tight deadline, the EU would

essentially undermine the IMO procedure. If the EU would then focus on regional measures, it would be backtracking on its own policy.”

Indeed the EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Regulation is intended to be the first phase of a stepwise approach geared towards a global solution by allowing it to determine the real contribution of shipping to global CO2 emissions.

Crown Flour Mills parleys distributors, customers on expansion drive

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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uided by the fact that it’s customers play a major role in the growth of the company, Crown Flour Mills parlayed its distributors and customers along in its expansion drive through inputs from them to strengthen the company further.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Anurag Shuklaid said that there are a lot of exciting plans for the company, Crown Flour Mills in the coming year when it plans to create employment through expansion into new areas such as animal feed sector, as well as creation of new brands for the flour milling subsidiary.

Shuklaid informed that the

company has also concluded plans to expand milling capacity in the coming year thereby creating employment.

While speaking at the Crown Flour Customers’ Forum in Abuja, he explained that the forum was held every year to celebrate customers and dealers of the company products as well as get feedback on areas of improvement for the company which has been in Nigeria for over 25 years.

“Come what may, we will operate this business very strongly. We will double our milling capacity. There are a lot of exciting plans.

CrownFlour Mills is growing.

We started with a very small team but we have grown”.

In an interview with Vanguard, The Commercial Director of Crown Flour Mills,

Mr. Bolaji Anifowose said the company has introduced new products as well as improved existing ones. “We are going into a serous expansion programme in the new year and we have to discuss this with our customers, hence we are holding this forum”.

We are going into a serous expansion programme in the new year and we have to discuss this with our customers, hence we are holding this forum”. He noted that the company has developed variants within the flour sector to meet the needs of Nigerians. “We have 17 different kinds of flour for different purposes across Nigeria. We have also been able to identify the needs of the different regions of the country to meet them.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 25

Corporate Finance NSE reverses losing trend, market capitalisation, ASI up 0.60%

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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n line with analysts’ prediction that the stock market will witness a rebound in activity, the key indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the market capitalisation and All Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.60 per cent at the end of the week.

Specifically, the market capitalisation rose by N61 billion to close at N10.314 trillion from N10.253 trillion, while the ASI went up to 30,011.89 points from 29,834.21 points in the preceding week.

Analysts in the market had said that owing to release of quarter three earning reports by quoted companies, activities in the market would assume a positive dimension in the week.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher during the week with exception of NSE Insurance, NSE Consumer Goods and NSE Lotus Islamic indices that declined by 0.81 per cent, 0.49 per cent and 0.42 per cent respectively. The NSE ASeM Index closed flat just like in the preceding week.

26 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 29 equities of the preceding week, while 37 equities depreciated in price, lower than 39 equities of the preceding week. However, 127 equities remained unchanged, higher than 122 equities recorded in the preceding week.

At the end of transaction last week, investors exchanged 992.719 million shares worth N13.121 billion in 14,252 deals in contrast to a total of 949.675 million shares valued at N10.280 billion that exchanged hands last week in 14,833 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 712.270 million shares valued at N4.989 billion traded in 7,921 deals; thus contributing 71.75 per cent and 38.02 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Oil and Gas Industry followed with a turnover of 124.811 million shares worth N1.959 billion in 1,695 deals. The third place was occupied by the Industrial Goods Industry with 47.275 million shares worth N2.754 million in 606 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely – Oando Plc, Access Bank Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 290.740 million shares worth N3.073 billion in 2,941 deals, contributing 29.29 per cent and 23.42 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 1.378 million units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N11.573 million executed in 121 deals compared with a total of 3,740 units valued at N2.035 million transacted last week in 19 deals.

Conoil assures shareholders of improved earnings

BY NNENNA JOSEPH

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espite the difficulties confronting the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, shareholders of Conoil Plc have been assured of improved future earnings from their investments. Speaking at Conoil’s 45th annual general meeting held at the weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Chairman of Conoil, Dr. Mike Adenuga, assured that the future of the company was bright and secure, while also predicting a brighter future for the nation’s economy.

He asserted: “Our company’s long term future is assured beyond any doubt,” adding, “conscious efforts will be directed at achieving better execution, especially in the areas of marketing and customer management.

Greater attention would be devoted to cutting costs of operations in the different segments of the company’s business, while maintaining and improving on the quality of its products and services.”

According to Adenuga, the operating environment in 2014 was a very difficult one for operators in the downstream sector as they relied mostly on importation of petroleum products to meet domestic demands due to lower output from the local refineries. This, he stated, came at a high cost due to depreciation value of the Naira and high bank charges.

Reiterating the challenges all major

marketers are battling with, Adenuga highlighted N264 billion, as at the end of 2014, outstanding subsidy claims, also comprising of foreign exchange differentials and bank interests.

As part of the strategy to shore up its bottom-line, the Chairman revealed that the company would consolidate its leadership position in the lubricant market by offering bouquet of quality lubricants to consumers as well as building new production lines to increase capacity.

Continuing, he stated that: “As the leader in the aviation jet fuel market, we are boosting our fuel dispensing capacity by acquiring additional stateof-the-art bowsers to meet the growing list of our local and international clientele of airlines.”

The chairman also assured shareholders that the company would remain committed to its goal to be in the forefront of refined petroleum products marketing with double-digit growth. He promised that the company will leverage on its wellestablished distribution strength, bringing delightful innovations into marketing and distribution of its products by giving greater value to its teeming customers and shareholders.

Adenuga also paid glowing tribute to its workforce noting that a performance driven culture, engendered by improved and structured management system has been established by the company in all areas of its business.

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26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Corporate Report

Conoil may lose profit for the second year

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onoil has not maintained a stable record earnings growth in the past five years and a sustaining drop in profit looks likely for the oil marketing company this year.

The company closed last year with the lowest sales revenue figure in four years and profit fell to less than one-third of the preceding year ’s figure.

This year, sales revenue is headed for another sharp drop based on the second quarter performance and profit could drop for the second year as well. Turnover may drop to the lowest level in many years and profit may be lower than any time in the past five years.

This is clearly a difficult year for petroleum marketers when none of them is likely to improve sales revenue and most of them are likely to close the year with profit drops.

The company closed the second quarter operations with sales revenue of N43.03 billion, which is a drop of 45.2% year-on-year. The full year outlook shows a turnover in the region of N89 billion, which would be a drop of 30.6% from the N128.35 billion sales revenue the company posted at the end of 2014. Its sales revenue had also dropped by 19.5% in 2014 from the peak figure of N159.54 billion in 2013.

The company ’s sales revenue figures have shown

TRAINING - From Left;Femi Akinde,Founder/CEO Slimtrader;Nnenna Onyewuchi,Board Member,West African Vocational Education[WAVE] and Mitchell Elegbe,Founder/Group Managing Director,Interswitch.At the Inaugural Slimtrader Property Management system training for aspiring hotel employees in Lagos. PHOTO:AKEEM SALAU a pattern of rise and fall over the past five years and the figure for 2014 is only slightly ahead of the figure in 2011.

The full year projection for 2015 will be the lowest revenue figure for the company in six years.

After tax profit amounted to N359 million at the end of the second quarter, which is a sharp drop of 64.5% year-onyear. If the second quarter growth rate is maintained to full year, after tax profit may come to N73 million for Conoil at the end of 2015. The company could not maintain the second quarter profit growth rate last year and the prospects for closing the current year with a lower profit figure than projected appears high.

Last year, the company suffered a sharp drop of 73% in after tax profit from the N3.07 billion it posted in 2013 to N834 million. That is one of the lowest profit figures it has reported in the last five years during which its profit has risen two times and fallen two times.

Apart from the drop in sales revenue, two major cost items accounted for the sharp fall in profit in the second quarter.

One is administrative cost, which increased by 9% against the sharp drop in sales revenue. It therefore claimed an increased share of sales revenue during the period at 8.5% compared to 4.3% in the same period last year.

Administrative expenses also undermined the company’s

profit performance last year.

Finance cost is the second major expenditure that is hurting profit performance this year. It more than doubled at 116.4% during the review period and equally claimed an increased proportion of revenue. In 2014, the company also devoted an increased proportion of sales revenue to interest expenses.

However the company ’s borrowings, which doubled last year, dropped by 22% to N17.67 billion at the end of the second quarter.

Cost of sales dropped slightly ahead of sales revenue at 46%, which improved gross profit margin slightly at 11.1%. Another favourable development was

a high growth in other operating income from about N62 million in the same period last year to N2.64 billion at the end of the second quarter.

These were however more than countered by the cost increases, thereby slashing the company’s profit margin from 1.3% at the end of the second quarter last year to 0.8% this year – one of the lowest profit margins in the petroleum marketing group.

It closed 2014 operations with a net profit margin of 0.6%, down from 1.9% at the end of 2013.

The company earned 52 kobo per share at the end of the second quarter, a drop from N1.46 in the same period last year. Its earnings per share equally dropped from N4.42 in 2013 to N1.20 in the 2014 full year. Its dividend per share is equally down from N4.0 to N1.0 over the same period.

Forte Oil: Losing revenue, gaining profit

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orte Oil is likely to close the current financial year with the lowest sales revenue in three years but it could attain a new peak in profit. The oil marketing company lost profit growth momentum last year but it may register the only strong profit improvement in the petroleum marketing sector in 2015. The company closed third quarter operations with accelerated growth in profit from N2.53 billion at the end of the second quarter to N4.28 billion.

Unlike in the preceding two years, strong revenue growth, which provided the strength for profit recovery, is missing this year. Third quarter operations ended with sales revenue of N91.62 billion, which is a drop of 25.3% yearon-year. Based on the third quarter growth rate, full year turnover is projected at C M Y K

N124.2 billion for Forte Oil in 2015 - the lowest in three years. This will represent a drop of 27% from the peak sales revenue of N170.13 billion in 2014.

The company returned to profit in 2012 and a strong growth followed in 2013. It failed to sustain profit recovery in 2014 but a new strength in profit performance has been seen so far in 2015.

The company stepped up profit growth from N2.53 billion in the second quarter to N4.28 billion in the third.

It therefore shifted from a profit drop of 19.3% year-onyear in the second quarter to a year-on-year increase of 6.7% in the third quarter. The full year profit outlook for the company has improved with after tax profit already standing at 97% of the full year profit last year.

The company has not maintained a track record in

earnings performance in the past but a new trend appears to be taking hold. After tax profit declined by about 11% to N4.45 billion in 2014 after a major advance of 432% in 2013. It posted huge losses in the preceding three years to 2011 before a virtual breakeven was achieved in 2012.

Its peak profit record is the N5.10 billion attained in 2008, which looks likely to be exceeded at the end of this year.

A big leap in other income is a key factor in the company ’s ability to grow profit in a declining revenue situation. Other income rose by 216.3% year-on-year to N2.66 billion at the end of the third quarter. Another favourable development is a drop of over 74% in net finance cost during the same period. This is a reversal of the development last year when net interest cost

multiplied more than eight times to N2.13 billion.

The high rise in interest expenses was a major factor in the profit drop the company suffered in 2014.

Net profit margin has improved further from 4.1% in the second quarter to 4.7% at the end of the third quarter compared to 2.6% at the end of 2014. Forte Oil remains one of the highest on profit margin within its market segment.

The company earned N2.59 per share at the end of the third quarter, improving from N2.04 in the same period last year.

It is expected to earn N3.50 per share at full year. Earnings per share had declined from N4.32 in 2013 to N2.20 in 2014.

Top Earnings Projections 2015 Company Seplat Pet Nestle Mobil Oil Dangote Cem Total Nig 7‐up Lafarge Africa NB Forte Oil GTB Julius Berger Zenith Bank ETI

EPS N ‐ Full year

30.72 23.58 16.34 14.39 13.23 13.10 12.20 5.40 5.37 3.66 3.64 3.41 3.08

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 27

Corporate Report

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28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

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Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 29

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30—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Homes & Housing

Modern mini bungalow

Smart ways to invest in real estate Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

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eal estate investment is considered to be one of the safest, due to the appreciating values of property around the world.

Interestingly, when compared to other forms of investments, the real estate depreciation rate is very low. This is ideal for prospective investors to generate profit through rents or leases of varying lengths.

As an attractive investment opportunity, not everyone can invest in real estate.

However, if you want to venture into property, there are simple ways to approach your investment.

Starting small If you do not have large purchasing power, you can start with buying property in the suburbs and work your way up to purchasing in the city. Buy land for low rates in suburbs and wait until the demand rises and the p r i c e appreciates before you

sell. This involves a lot of patience. Also you can buy a property and put it up for rent or lease, thus obtaining a fixed monthly income. Ask a professional, who has a keen eye for satellite towns and areas with development potential, for help. This expertise will go a long way in ensuring the amount of profit you can make from reselling land to new owners.

Join a cooperative Cooperatives are a good way of getting affordable land, as members contribute small amounts to buy large portions of land in semideveloped locations. You can resell your plot of land once it has been allocated or gradually develop it, before it is put on the market for sale or lease. Buying as a collective is also a good idea as the purchased plots can be developed at a similar pace.

Build a small house Sometimes, it is more viable to sell a property than just a piece of land, as the margins are higher. If you have a plot of land, erect a structure on it before putting it on the market. It could be just the foundation of a house, but this increases your bargaining power and property value when transferring ownership.

Cooperate with a trusted property developer Property developers have an eye for developing properties. Usually, the developer holds the property for an agreed period of time to recoup his investment before ownership reverts to the owner of the property. If you have a landed property, it can be put on the market to earn some extra cash.

Ogun to collaborate with WAPCO on affordable housing

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gun State government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the West Africa Portland Cement Company (WAPCO) operations, a subsidiary of Lafarge Africa Plc to ensure provision of more affordable houses in the state. General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Arch. Jumoke Akinwunmi stated this when she hosted a delegation of the company in Abeokuta.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Waliyat Odemakin, the Corporation’s Press Officer, Akinwunmi noted that more remarkable improvements were being recorded through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the housing sector in the state.

She asserted that the Corporation’s collaborative efforts with private organisations had contributed immensely to tackling the challenges of housing deficit in the country through the construction of affordable housing units for the low and medium income earners in the state.

Akinwunmi affirmed that her agency had put necessary opportunities in place for individuals, groups of people and organisations to acquire genuine lands for residential and industrial purposes, saying that estates with quality housing facilities also abound in the State.

The Housing Corporation boss assured of the Corporation’s readiness to work with the WAPCO to ensure adequate delivery of housing programmes to the people, pledging that the State Government would always create enabling environment for effective PPP collaboration on housing development.

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Anambra seals MoU for 10,000 housing units A

nambra State government has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with a private company for the construction of 10,000 housing units in the state.

The project, which is in partnership with Affordable Building Concepts International Ltd., is valued at 476 million dollars (N95.2 billion).

The project will be executed on 200 hectares of land spread across five different locations in the state.

Gov. Willie Obiano, while Signing the MoU in Awka, expressed optimism that the project would bring relief to some citizens who come to work from Enugu and Asaba.

“This is the third MoU we are signing on housing. We hope that all these will go a long way in ameliorating the challenges we are having in the housing sector, especially for civil servants.

Now that we have provided security, people who are living in Asaba or Enugu will begin to relocate to Anambra State,” he said.

Earlier, Igwe Cyril Enweze, the Chairman, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), said that the project would promote urban development and modernisation. “Our aim is to provide relatively affordable housing for the people as well as attract revenue through the state’s share of the profit.”

Enweze expressed optimism that the project would provide a facelift to the capital city and drive urbanization of its host communities.

“The project will generate 1,500 direct jobs during the construction phase and about 6,500 indirect employment opportunities, of which 75 per cent will be dedicated to Anambra people. Thus, local artisans and people in the host communities will be engaged as labour and in other capacities, especially during the construction phase of the project,” he said.

Mr Tony Duncan, the Director, Sales for Middle East and West Africa of the company, expressed optimism that it would have a long-term relationship with the state. “I am going to be the man on the ground here.

I’m coming to live in Nigeria.

I’ll work hand in hand with your engineers and architects,” he said. (NAN)

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 31

Insurance Royal Exchange partners Foundation to train students on leadership Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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oyal Exchange Plc has

partenred with Foundation for Youth Education, a nongovernmental organisation to organise a leadership training conference for secondary school prefects in Lagos State.

The conference, which held last week at the Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos brought together over 800 secondary school prefects from 40 schools across Lagos State. Speaking to journalists on his company’s decision to partner with the NGO, Group Managing Director of Royal Exchange, Mr. Chike Mokwunye, said that the company is motivated by an abiding sense of duty and patriotism to contribute to nurturing the Nigerian youth to be productive and responsible citizens.

“The students attending the conference are already in positions of authority in their respective schools, and we want a situation where they continue to be seen as examples for others to follow. At the end of the training, we expect the prefects to be role models, ready to lead, direct and positively influence others around them,”, Mokwunye added.

Speaking further, he added, “The Royal Exchange brand is well known for its empathy and high sense of patriotism.

This partnership reflects our belief in the potential of the Nigerian spirit and the ability of the Nigerian youth to soar and excel in their chosen field when given the opportunity.

“As the theme “The Nigerian Youth in an Entrepreneurship focused economy ” suggests, all of you gathered here today, are potential entrepreneurs, business leaders and the hope for a better tomorrow. You are all potential leaders of this great nation, Nigeria, who must be ready to step into the shoes of

those leading today. The leaders ruling today will not be here tomorrow and as prefects in your respective schools, you are being thrust into the limelight, with a hope of a better Nigeria, resting on your shoulders. The question remains – how prepared are you for leadership?

“Royal Exchange Plc is Nigeria’s first insurance company, founded in 1921. After 94 years, we have since diversified into providing a wide spectrum of financial services which include general and healthcare insurance, life assurance, finance and asset management as well as microfinance banking. We are here today to identify with your aspiration as future leaders of this great nation because we believe in the potential of Nigerian youths to be

the best in their chosen field of endeavour, be it sports, music, engineering or medicine. So whatever you do, remember that you all have a friend in Royal Exchange because we shall continue to support you in order to raise “Today ’s youths as tomorrows leaders.”

The Co-ordinator of the Foundation for Youth Education, Mr Patrick Ajogwu said the NGO was founded with the aim of instilling academic excellence, promoting qualitative education and leadership attitude development.

Ajogwu said the aim of the conference, which is in its eight edition, is to enable students start early by developing the necessary leadership skills."

Old Mutual gets top employer awards

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ld Mutual Nigeria has been awarded top employers Nigeria 2016 certification and top employers Africa 2016 certification by the Top Employers Institute.

In a statement by Old Mutual, the company said that the Institute awarded it on the company’s dedication to the development of its people.

The annual international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognises leading employers around the world: those that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation, and which strive to continuously optimise employment practices.

The Top Employers Institute globally certifies excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. The Institute has just announced the results of this year’s research into the employee conditions of significant employers in Africa.

Old Mutual Nigeria’s employee offerings were assessed on compensation and benefits, talent strategy, workforce planning, learning and development, performance management and leadership development, culture among other criteria. Samantha Crous, Regional Director Africa and Benelux for the Top Employers Institute said, “Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally. Our comprehensive research concluded that Old Mutual Nigeria provides an outstanding employment environment and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performancemanagement programmes that are well thought out and truly aligned with the culture of their company.”

Old Mutual Nigeria’s Group Chief Executive, Zomunoda Chizura said that the Top Employers Certification was an attestation to the fact that Old Mutual Nigeria is committed to investing in its talent and developing inclusive leaders who are key to providing exceptional service to clients and making a positive impact in local communities.

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32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Who is baking the Nigerian cake ?

“World Bank predicts slower growth for Nigeria, others.”

PUNCH, October 12, 2015, p 36.

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n a report written by Oyetunji Abioye, readers were told that “the bank stated that a more challenging e c o n o m i c environment would make growth in the region to come down to 3.7 per cent from 4.6 per cent in 2014”. Readers, familiar with this page, surely know that we have not needed to wait for the World Bank to tell us the bad news about the Nigerian economy in 2016. So far in 2015, the economy had managed to grow only about 2.4 per cent; and is heading lower!! Every economic indicator known to forecasters points to a dreadful 2016. The situation can only be made worse if we continue to delay taking necessary action.

Incidentally, one of the unintended consequences of the delay in presenting the list of Ministers is that the comprehensive economic programme which might reduce the negative impacts of recession will also be delayed indefinitely.

One of the saddest aspects of governance in Nigeria is the time wasting that occurs even in the face of inevitable calamity.

When President Buhari announced that the list of Ministers would be ready in September , his spokespersons and party supporters certainly could not have envisaged that only the first batch would be released on the last day of September. Along the way the over-dramatisation of the integrity of those to be appointed has now raised the bar for approval by the Senate. Suddenly, documents which were not required in the past must now be produced. In addition, petitions, almost unknown in the past, have flooded the Senate against virtually every prospective Minister.

Consequently, we face the real prospect of not having the full slate of Ministers before the National Assembly, NASS, closes for its Christmas break. Generally, the NASS does not resume until the second week in January.

Ultimately, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, might not be ready for business until February.

Meanwhile the economy continues to deteriorate.

As we all know, we are not a productive economy. Unlike, China, India, Germany, Japan, among others, our consumption does not depend on what we produce as much as what we don’t – and that is crude oil exports; and to some extent, natural gas. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, recently released the monthly revenue from January to August this year. The report is shown below. “{FIND REPORT ATTACHMENT}”.

AS

Two facts stare us in the face

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One of the saddest aspects of governance in Nigeria is the time wasting that occurs even in the face of inevitable calamity

immediately. First, the trend is downwards. The average for the first four months is about N154bn; for the second four months, it is N139bn; almost ten per cent lower.

In no single month in 2015 was revenue near what it was in the corresponding month in 2014; which itself was worse than the revenue in 2013.

“The economist, like anyone else, must concern himself with the ultimate aims of man.” (Alfred Marshall, 1842-1924).

The fear here is that while we have been busy with other matters, which are very important, (fighting corruption, Boko Haram, CCB etc) we forget that just as “an army marches on its stomach” (Napoleon, 1769-1821), a nation also moves on its stomach. Every human being is a digestive tube with two exhaust pipes at the end.

Any government which fails to fill those digestive tubes is already a failure – irrespective of how many thieves it jails.

Since, we have organized our economy to “share” the cake, the least we can do is to recognize early when the size of the cake is about to shrink and to introduce measures to bake additional cake – otherwise millions of our people face famine next year. One of the unintended tragedies of waiting so long to appoint Ministers is the possibility that we might not get the cooks into the kitchen fast enough. The truth is: “Love and business and family and religion and art and patriotism are nothing but shadows of words when a man is starving.” (O. Henry, 18621910).

We will get nowhere unless people have jobs and can fill their digestive tubes regularly. And that means some government officials must be charged with the responsibilities of baking the cake.

Unlike the Ministry of Petroleum, which the President intends to head, Finance, Agriculture, Commerce, Power and Transport need full time Ministers. They will determine the final outcome of our efforts aimed at baking a larger piece of cake – which will not occur by itself.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 33

Corporate Finance

SEC moves to deepen market via Islamic finance

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he need to expand the depth of the Nigerian capital market through introduction of more products has been at the heart of the repositioning efforts of the regulators of the market led by the apex regulatory body, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since the 2008 crash.

In line with this, the Commission is considering developing the non-interest capital market to ensure that the market fulfils its role of financing infrastructure development in the country.

The erstwhile director general of SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh, had argued in different fora that the federal government cannot finance the huge infrastructure gap in the country alone. According to her, bridging the gap and revolutionising the economy requires leveraging instruments offered by the capital market, of which noninterest Islamic products is one.

Explaining the reason for the renewed interest in Islamic finance, DG SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said the development of Islamic capital markets has been a key concern of global securities regulators since the turn of the 21st century. “In 2002, the International Organizations of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) set up a Committee on Islamic Capital Market in which Nigeria actively participated.

Since then, the SEC has implemented a number of reforms aimed at deepening the non-interest capital market” he said.

Accordingly, the SEC in 2013 set up an industry-wide committee of experts to develop a strategic blueprint for the growth and development of Nigeria’s non-interest capital market.

Their recommendations have been incorporated in the 10year Capital Market Master Plan which is currently being implemented by the SEC. Why non-interest products Non Interest (Islamic) Finance, despite its name, is not a religious product/service restricted to Muslims alone but a series of financial products developed to meet the requirements of specific group of investors. NonInterest (Islamic) Finance is built on principles that uphold

Mounir Gwarzo, SEC, DG a positive ethical message derived from the holy Quran and the Sunnah, moral considerations, fair and just trading practices. This includes the avoidance of ribah (interest and gharar), contractual and legal uncertainty, as well as leniency to debtors where the borrower can prove mitigating circumstances. Also avoided are investments in forbidden commodities such as alcohol, tobacco and companies whose debt exceeds one – third of their assets. Islamic Finance therefore broadly refers to financial market transactions, operations and services that comply with Islamic rules, principles, philosophy and code of practices.

As part of principles of Islamic Finance, wealth must be generated from legitimate trade and asset based, while risk should be shared between the capital provider and the expertise.

Efforts by SEC The SEC has in the last two weeks organised two major events in an effort to boost the non-interest capital market. In the first meeting with Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow, recently, the SEC’s Director General, Mounir Gwazor, pledged the readiness of his management to ensure that size of noninterest capital market is grown to a quarter of the entire market capitalisation.

He said the SEC plans to

The global sukuk market continues to witness remarkable growth since after the 2008 global financial crisis as annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014 build a strong regulatory regime for non-interest products, encourage stakeholders in the noninterest capital market and ensure the emergence of Nigeria as a prominent noninterest capital market hub both at the regional level and globally.

He further stated that modalities for setting up a Sharia Advisory Council as a body of experts to advice on non-interest product applications is being considered by the Commission.

Only last week, it also organised a roundtable at Kano State, where the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to deepening the capital market through issuance of ethical products, especially the sukuk.

Speaking at the event, Gwarzo called on the state governors to leverage Islamic sukuk to finance projects in their various states.

For him, the success rate of Islamic products is high in Nigeria on account of huge Muslim population in the country, which he put at over 80 million.

He said”The global sukuk market continues to witness remarkable growth since after the 2008 global financial crisis as annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014.

“In fact, last year is widely considered a landmark year for Islamic finance, especially with landmark debut sukuk issuances by countries such as the UK, Hong Kong, Senegal, South Africa, and Luxemburg. Of course, the year witnessed continued strong interest from key markets of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and emerging markets like Turkey and Indonesia.

There is no doubt that the sukuk market is emerging on a global scale as a viable alternative source of funding”.

While describing Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar as the top five largest Islamic finance markets in the world as they account for the highest sukuk issuances and contribute more than half of the total assets under management in the industry, Gwarzo said that with Nigeria’s population which is far more than all five countries put together, the country should be a major market for global Islamic finance market.

“With over 80 million Muslims, Nigeria is home to far more Muslims than all the five countries put together.

Additionally, Nigeria has a larger economy than them, with the exception of Saudi Arabia. There is therefore no reason why Nigeria should not be a major global Islamic finance market” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, described non-interest banking as the only panacea for the dwindling global economy as it will impact positively on many developing economies.

Sanusi said non-interest banking was conceived to serve as a force of mediation in circumstances where the need for bridging the deficit of infrastructure was most needed, adding that non-interest capital market could only flourish with the Islamic banking becoming fully operational.

Ernst & Young tackles fragmented supply chain to boost retail market

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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n a bid to boost the consumer products and retail market, professional services firm, Ernst & Young (EY) has held a one-day capacity building forum to strengthen capacity of its clients to improve supply chain efficiency.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos at the forum, Executive Director, Advisory Services, EY Olayinka Situ, said the forum was a response to increasing demand for advisory services around consumer products and retail sector.

He said: “One of the reasons is that we are responding to an increasing demand for advisory around these issues from our clients. The supply chains are fragmented and as they look to increase their investments, especially the multinationals or even the indigenous consumer products, businesses that are looking to expand across West Africa, they are saying that this fragmented supply chain are hampering their growth.

"Recognising that, we have solutions that we have used successfully across the globe and have lessons that we can bring that are applicable to our environment. We think that we have very strong things to say in this area."

Also speaking, Partner & Dirctor, Advisory Africa SC&O Leader, Wim Hoogedeure, said: “Ernst & Young has a number of industry sectors that are priority sectors for the firm.

Consumer products and retailing is one of those sectors. So, as part of our vision to create a better working environment for our clients, we are going to key markets, Nigeria being one of them, to have conversations with our clients and other interested parties. So, today is one of the examples where we create a forum for people to kind of share their own insights and learning and debate some of those questions that are at times really difficult to do because we are busy and there is no time for these kinds of conversations.”

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34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Banking & Finance STORIES BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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i g e r i a Interbank

Settlement System (NIBSS) said that about 21 million bank customers have enrolled for the Biometric Verification Number (BVN), five days to the October 31st deadline for enrolment.

Meanwhile, the Company said it paid N234 million as electronic payment incentives to 1,497,970 cardholders through 21 banks between November last year and June 30th this year.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive, NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi disclosed this while addressing journalists at the sidelines of the company’s 21st annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos on Friday.

He disclosed that 12,000 bank customers in Diaspora have so far been enrolled for the BVN. He said, “We have

about 21 million people enrolled for the BVN; we have over 12,000 enrolled in the Diaspora as at today. “We are beginning to see the queues building up as people are rushing to beat the deadline. We are hopeful that at least 80 percent of the banking industry would have complied by the end of October. We have about 45 million active accounts, some people obviously have more than one account, so it is not likely we would have 45 million people enrolled on BVN.” Speaking further on the enrolment of customers in Diaspora, he said, “As at now we have about 12 centers that have been opened around the world. We expect in the next few days another five or six centers will be opened in places like Australia, Malasia etc.

“After the October 31st deadline, their (Diaspora customers) account would not be closed, but they would

AGM - From left, Mr. Ade Shonubi – MD/CEO, Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems(NIBSS), Alhaji Suleiman Barau – Deputy Governor Operations, CBN/Chairman of NIBSS, and Mr. Oladele Agboola – Company Secretary, NIBSS, at the 22nd annual general meeting of the company in Lagos.

COUNT DOWN TO BVN DEADLINE

Banks enrol 21m customers —NIBSS *Pay N234m as epayment incentives

not be allowed to operate it, and once they do the enrolment and have a BVN, the account will be then activated”.

A d d r e s s i n g

shareholders at the company ’s AGM, Chairman of NIBSS and Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Suleiman Barau, provided update on the various efforts of the company to boost adoption of electronic payment.

He said, “As part of strategies to drive epayment transaction volume and further reduce transaction cost for banks, the Company commenced NIP/NEFT transaction volume discount regime for all banks who apart from

being major customers are also esteemed shareholders of the Company. Consequently a total sum of Nl64.89million was paid to 21 banks as NIP/ NEFT transaction volume discount during the financial year.

“To further encourage the use of POS as an epayment channel, the CBN introduced the bank driven Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) Refund in November 2014 with NIBSS assigned the responsibility of implementation. A total sum of N234.02million

was paid to 1,497,970 unique card holders through 21 banks as at June 30, 2015. “Gross earnings for the year were N6.20billion, representing 21% growth over the N5.13billion recorded in prior year. Operating expenses increased by 19% to N3.39billion in 2015 (2014: N2.84billion), while the related Profit Before Taxation (PBT) witnessed 23% growth to close the year at N2.81billion from N2.29billion (excluding Express Discount House recovery of N529million) recorded in the prior year.”

ABCON faults use of BVN for forex correspondents banks; transactions Increased mistrust

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ssociation of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has faulted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make the biometric verification number mandatory requirement for foreign exchange transactions.

Recall that the CBN on Wednesday issued a circular which stipulated the use of BVN for all foreign exchange transactions st from November 1 , 2015.

The apex bank also said that it would discontinue the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs that fail to provide BVN of its directors by same date.

In a statement issued on Friday, ABCON C M Y K

faulted the November st 1 deadline, saying it is too close. It also said that making BVN mandatory for foreign exchange transactions, so soon, without adequate publicity, training and other measures, will enhance activities of the parallel market operators and widen that gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market exchange rate.

According to the statement, “The return of the CBN directives on the use of BVN on sales of forex to BDC clients will lead to the following: Confusion and delay in the use of applicable HS Code for processing of ‘Form M’; Cancellation of foreign credit lines by

between regulators and operators; Increasing misery level of majority of Nigerians already in a significant poverty level; Decline in public confidence in CBN’s ability to sustain its macroeconomic objectives; Set the pace for growing foreign interference in Nigeria’s monetary policies; loss of jobs; Increased fraud and other related financial crimes.

The Association noted that while it is not totally opposed to the use of the BVN for foreign transactions, it believes st that the November 1 date is too early for such policy, in view of the preparations required for smooth implementation.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 35

Advertising & Promotions

LG, DOBOX: Rewarding competition through intellectual contest STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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n this season of rewards, various companies are deploying new ways to retain existing and prospective customers as well as remaining top brands. This has resulted in strategic marketing as a bait for increased patronage.

A close look at the various brand market, competition in terms of who outwits the other to amass a greater chunk of the market has been high. Brands like Nexus, Panasonic, Chigo Sony, Samsung have deployed one reward system or the other to consolidate on their stronghold.

Today, new reward style has emerged, testing consumers’ intellect across all intellectual platforms, now it is imperative to be conversant with affairs around the globe.

LG electronics is not left out in this foray. The online competition embarked upon

by LG and DOBOX media, an Online and Mobile Entertainment content provider to test consumers’ intellect is a new method of rewarding loyalty, using the LG Body Guard Home Theatre as a reference brand.

Announcing winners in the #LGdoboxgiveaway

Campaign. Participants from both Social Media platforms of LG & Dobox had opportunities of providing answers to questions asked across all platforms in which the first 5 correct answers were awarded 20 points each. The winners carted away LG

Bodyguard Home Theatre Systems as well as the recently introduced LG Music Flow Bluetooth Speakers alongside over N100, 000 worth of Dobox music and movie wallet top up.

The multi-stage competition put together by

LG Electronics in conjunction with Dobox was aimed at celebrating consumers’ knowledge and savoir faire of LG Bodyguard Home Theatre System (LHD 675) as well as LG Music Flow Bluetooth Speaker NP7550.

Etranzact, eight banks partner to reward mobile banking customers

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obile banking and payment services provider, eTranzact International Plc, has launched a promotion in collaboration with its mobile banking partners, FCMB, Skye Bank, Heritage Bank, Union Bank, Unity Bank, Access Bank, Standard Chartered, and Jaiz Bank to reward its loyal customers and to encourage more people to adopt mobile banking. The reward promo tagged: ‘Cow, Turkey, Everything Goes Mobile Promo’ will see thousands of customers of eTranzactpowered mobile banking applications win millions of items including live cows, turkeys, chickens, Cable TV Starter Packs, movie tickets, hampers and bags of rice.

To win, all the new users have to do is download the mobile

banking application of the partner banks and activate the mobile banking application by signing up and changing pin. To qualify to win any of these prizes, a user must conduct at least one of these transactions: Airtime Topup, Funds transfer and Bill Payments.

Leaders in any of these transactions will be selected weekly through a wellconducted and transparent process. There will also be a grand prize winner to emerge at the end of the promo. The first 100 winners of different items have already emerged in Week 1 of the promotion.

Speaking about the promotion, Mr Valentine Obi, Group CEO, eTranzact International PLC said; “Mobile banking has changed not just the process of

banking, but the very idea of what a bank is and can be. Before we introduced the first mobile banking application in partnership with our banking partners in 2003, a bank was limited to a physical place, an edifice that created some form of security of money within.

“Today, with mobile banking and other evolutions in technology, the idea of a digital bank has come to the fore, and every time we introduce a new feature, improve the user experience or take an otherwise offline feature of banking online through an eTranzact powered mobile banking application, we are helping the banks form new and maintain existing relationships with customers.”

MTN boss to discuss social marketing issues at ADVAN Awards

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he Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki would be speaking at the 2015 Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN Marketing Excellence Award on the theme ‘Unlocking Growth through Sustainability/Social Impact Marketing,” come October 31, 2015.

The event, which is expected to be attended by Chief Executive Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, heads of government/regulatory bodies, CEOs of Top Media Organisations and heads of advertising agencies in Nigeria would hold in Lagos.

Highlighting the essence of the awards in the marketing industry, ADVAN’s Executive Secretary, Ediri Ose-Ediale said, “The objective of the ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence is to recognize organisations that have achieved outstanding results through initiatives that demonstrate innovative marketing strategies and execution.”

Micro -Finance

MFIs decry regulatory bottleneck STORIES BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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icrofinance Institutions (MFIs) in the country have said that the sub-sector is bedeviled by regulatory bottleneck and as a result, non-governmental organisations intending to engage in providing micro finance credit are unable to do so. They also said that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Funds (MSMEDF) set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase financial access for micro and small enterprises is encumbered with collateral requirements making it inaccessible.

Meanwhile over 100,000 Nigerians have benefited from the MFIs through linkage to finances, sensitisation, capacity building and networking, said President, Association of Non-Bank Microfinance Institutions of Nigeria (ANMFIN) Mr. Hamid Afolabi, who also stated that the association is currently

working with over 3,000 informal savings to be linked to microfinance banks in the North West.

He explained that plans are underway to initiate same

across the country.

Recall, the ANMFI Nigeria emerged as a major player in the microfinance sub-sector, uniting independent MFIs under a common umbrella to

build credibility and promote development of the microfinance sub-sector with a special focus on the informal sector in order to achieve financial inclusion.

According to him, “as we march towards expanding outreach to rural areas, the subsector is still bedeviled with regulatory bottlenecks; many of our non-governmental organisations that want to engage in providing microfinance credit to their target audience cannot because of legal impediments.

Etisalat reiterates commitment to SMEs growth in Nigeria

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elecommunications services provider, Etisalat Nigeria, has retated its commitment to growing Nigeria's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as the engine of economic growth.

The firm said that it has continued to engage in implementing solutions that stimulate the growth of SMEs in the country.

Regional Manager, Enterprise Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Victoria Ibeji gave the highlight at a Market Access Nigeria: a quarterly business networking and empowerment session for Small and Medium Enterprises, organised by the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, in partnership with Etisalat.

She said, “At Etisalat, we have been consistent in implementing solutions that stimulate the growth of SMEs

in Nigeria. One of these numerous solutions is this partnership with the Enterprise Development

Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University for meeting the global entrepreneurship need of small and growing businesses.

Cold Stone rewards customers with discounts

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old Stone Creamery, Nigeria’s ice cream brand, has announced plans to reward its customers for continued patronage with discounts at its Ikeja City Mall and FESTAC stores.

Cold Stone Creamery is an international Ice Cream franchise operated in Nigeria by Eat ‘N’ Go Africa Limited, offering a variety of dairy and non-dairy products ranging from ice cream, shakes, cakes, smoothies and yoghurt.

The company said in a statement that the first part of the promotion will kick off at the Ikeja City Mall with a “Sales Week” promotion which offers customers a 50 per cent discount on every ice cream purchase made from today October 26 to 29, 2015.

Followed by a treat for the people of Festac is

the promotion tagged Tuesdays Specials which offers old and new customers of the store a 50 per cent discount every Tuesday from October 27 to November 17, 2015.

Marketing Coordinator, Cold Stone Ice Cream, Timilehin Lajubutu, said, “this is Cold Stone Creamery Nigeria’s way of showing appreciation to esteemed customers of our ice cream brand and an open invitation to those who are yet to enjoy the experience.”

Timilehin further said that this promotion is one of many to come, stating, “We are just starting out with Ikeja City Mall and Festac but we intend to continue with similar promotions in a number of our stores before the year runs out.”

C M Y K

36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

mindset of some operatives in the NCS still persists; such self serving operatives still arbitrarily intercept consignments already designated for the green lane without any valid reason. Such subjective disruptions lead to extended delays before the release of goods, and the importer is usually at the mercy of a valuation officer who is determined to impose his own judgment in place of the laid down protocol for unfettered passage for goods on the green lane.

Such unnecessary clearance delays have the downside, of oppressive demurrage payments for the importer as well as the disruption of the production programme for industrialists who require the imported items as raw material inputs for production.

Ultimately, extended delays prior to customs’ release could lead to production lines or total factory shut down and the possibility of temporary layoff of staff.

The implication of such human impediments to the clearing process is increasing cost of production, uncompetitive made in Nigeria goods, low capacity utilisation and gross inefficiency in the management of resources.

Those companies which are victims of the high-handedness of aberrant customs officers may also ultimately have little or no profit to declare and would therefore pay much less tax than was possible to government. Consequently, the victim company, the government treasury and the Nigerian economy at large become distressed and uncompetitive simply because of the possible greed of some bad eggs in the service.

SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS!

Making 48-hours port clearance possible

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he desire for an expedited and fluid process of clearing goods from our ports has been consistently canvassed by all administrations in our recent past. Admittedly, the situation is not near as chaotic as the ‘ship jam’ of the cement armada on Nigerian waters in the early 70s, but the promises of successive governments’ of a 48hr clearance process is clearly yet to manifest, even after several reforms were designed to this end.

Although, the concession of port facilities, may remain controversial, but to be fair, this arrangement has brought some measure of sanity into the delivery process, even though there are still concerns about the alleged current high cost of services provided by the ‘lucky ’ Concessionaries.

Furthermore, the erstwhile Preinspection regime which constituted an unnecessary drain on scarce foreign reserves has thankfully also been terminated, and the myriad paraphernalia of self seeking regulatory agencies at the ports has been reduced to the most critical five departments.

Nevertheless, the usual customer distress and excessive delay associated with the erstwhile, port delivery protocol was largely the result of poor co-ordination of the delivery process and the arbitrary stacking of consignments which expectedly created huge problems for later identification and extraction of those containers for examination and clearance.

Expectedly, the protracted

turnaround time for vessels, soon instigated inordinately high freight rates to Nigeria and therefore compounded the cost of all imports, including the cost of those raw materials required to feed Nigeria’s industrial establishments; consequently, domestic production costs and made-in-Nigeria goods, become less competitive against goods from low cost production exports of finished goods.

Regrettably, the high cost of clearing translated to an economic bonanza for the seaports and the economies of neighboring countries, where Port Management was relatively much more civil; ironically, the gains of these nations further compounded our woes and seriously challenged the integrity and the capacity of our security services, particularly the customs, in their efforts to arrest the huge potential revenue lost to government from the inward smuggling of goods shipped to foreign ports but, with Nigeria as destination.

Fortunately, the adoption of the Common External Tariff (CET) for ECOWAS countries has largely eliminated the attraction of lower tariffs as an incentive for importers’ preference for neighboring ports; but, we are clearly still some distance from satisfactorily fast tracking our port delivery process, so that clearance of consignments can be completed between 48hrs and a week after discharge from the vessel.

Nonetheless, we must give credit to the Customs Service’s dogged efforts in driving a robust set of reforms to facilitate clearing at our ports in recent

years. For example, the successful domestication of pre-shipment inspections and the related foreign exchange savings are clearly dividends from empowering the customs service.

However, the PAAR or PreArrival Assessment report is probably the arrowhead of the drive for best practice port clearance since the introduction of the manual ‘M’ or “Import Form” decades ago.

The ‘M’ form serves as the approved formal registration required for all imports; its content includes related information on the identity and details of the importer and the bank through which payment for the order will be made. The supplier ’s identity, their bankers and details relating to prices, quality, quantity and shipment instructions would also be stated on the ‘M’ form.

The consolidated data captured from all import forms established nationwide would guide the Central Bank’s management of the Nations total foreign exchange commitments, so that appropriate action could be taken to restrain inflation and also avoid forex shortages which could destabilse the Naira’s exchange rate.

The new PAAR imports protocol also accommodates the ‘M’ form, but in a e-format, so that import applications can be completed online and simultaneously made available to all concerned parties on real time basis. According to the Customs Service, the PAAR “was designed and developed

by NCS officers in line with international best practice, essentially to enhance Trade

facilitation, economic competitive revenue collection and border security”.

Thus, the PAAR regime conducts documentary examination before the arrival of goods and provides “timely multi-dimensional risk analysis at every stage of the clearing processes; thus, adoption of PAAR is therefore expected to facilitate release of goods for those not requiring examinations/inspections on arrival.

Under the PAAR protocol, the Customs Processing Centre (CPC) is the central command for goods clearance; the CPC would automatically flag up high risk commodities for special scrutiny, so that the clearing process for such consignments would be directed into a designated red lane, which attracts more diligent evaluation and scrutiny before release is effected.

Similarly, the consignment of trusted traders or importers with long standing history of similar imports would be designated to the Green lane which would fast track the clearing of such consignments without any subjective intervention to stop the process. Indeed, this is as it should be and if everyone plays their role, it will definitely be possible to easily clear goods within 48 hours, particularly those goods which are consigned to the green clearance lane by the CPC. Unfortunately, there are indications that all is not well, and there are reasons to suggest that even though a carefully woven structure has been put in place, the old

Business & Economy Quickteller process over $2.4bn transactions in 2014

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH, DAVID OKPE AND NNENA JOSEPH

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n

2014 alone, Q u i c k t e l l e r, processed over $2.4 billion transactions in Nigeria with about three million active users on the platform, said Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe Quickteller is a multichannel payments platform in Nigeria with over 3 million subscribers that allow customers to settle their utility bills instantly, pay for flight tickets or purchase mobile phone airtime without leaving their homes, funds transfer via web, mobile, ATMs, PoS and Agents.

Meanwhile, quickteller and Visa have entered into

partnership in order to offer cardholders access to quick and easy payments.

With this integration, quickteller can now accept all Visa transactions via its platform even as cardholders would be enabled to use their cards for easy transaction across quickteller channels.

Speaking at the partnership flagoff ceremony tagged: “Better together,” Elegbe said that the integration represents an exciting step forward for the quickteller platform, already the most popular online payments platform in Nigeria, saying, “Quickteller has 3 million active users in Nigeria, over $2.4 billion was processed in transaction in 2014.

“Visa cardholders will be able to use their cards for full range of payment services

Business & Economy

C M Y K

offered. We are proud to partner with a globally recognised brand such as Visa as we continue to make everyday payment easy for our customers,” he said.

On the other hand, Country Manger, Visa West Africa, Mr. Ade Ashaye, added that the partnership further demonstrates visa’s commitment to working closely with financial institutions, mobile network operators, governments and non-governmental organisations in developing countries to extend access to financial services and electronic payments, helping to drive economic growth and financial inclusion by migrating cash spend to electronic payments.

According to Ashaye, “one of the primary goals of visa in Nigeria is opening up the benefits of electronic

bid to drive the government agenda of a cashless economy.”

payments through a number of different platforms in the

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha Nkiruka Nnorom CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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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 Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter Capital Market Reporter

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Media/Marketing E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—37

South East monarchs get new chairman

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE Chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick has emerged as the new Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council with a promise to work with South East Governors’ Forum to tackle problems confronting the zone.

Dick replaced the former

Chairman, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, who had been having a running battle with the Council as well as his state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

The traditional rulers accused Ilomuanya of refusing to step down in contravention of their agreed convention of rotating the chairmanship after every three years, saying he had served for about eight years.

Besides, the monarchs argued that Ilomunaya was no longer a traditional ruler, having been dethroned and replaced by the Imo State government.

Following his emergence, the traditional rulers converged in Umuahia, weekend, to present the new Chairman to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Receiving the monarchs, Governor Ikpeazu urged them to remain united so as to assist

Private investors write Buhari, CBN, for intervention fund for tourism sector

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—PRIVATE sector operators in the Nigerian tourism industry, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to provide intervention fund to the tourism sector in the bid to spur development and contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN, Tomi Akingbogun, who disclosed in Abuja during the Annual General Meeting of the association disclosed that the association has sent letters to the Presidency, National Assembly, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

C M Y K

as well as Federal Ministry of Tourism with the view to fasttrack the process.

According to him, “We have highlighted the need for government to come with intervention fund as done for few sectors, like the Nollywood was given the intervention fund. The access to affordable fund is not there because the banks are not giving loans even people who want to invest.

“So how do you improve your facility when there’s no fund? Even Central Bank and Bank of Industry programme whereby you can get some

funds at 9 percent is very difficult, they are not even giving to the hospitality business even though we are major players in the industry.

It’s only when the ministry work with us that our voice would be louder.”

Akingbogun who expressed the concern on the multiplier effect of the incessant hike in the electricity tariff on the multi-billion naira worth of investment in the tourism sector, said that the Federation is already interfacing with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) with the view to review the policy.

the governors of the zone in meeting the aspirations of their people.

According to Ikpeazu, the governors of the zone are united in their quest to get what is due to the Igbo despite their political leanings.

Governor Ikpeazu noted that Ndigbo were confronted with a lot of problems including insecurity and urged the traditional rulers to come together as one in addressing their problems and assured them that the South East governors would not disappoint them and the people of the zone.

Ikpeazu promised to liaise with his colleagues to push for a constitutional role for traditional rulers.

Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation and Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu said they were in the state for their annual meeting during which they elected new executives of the council.

Prominent traditional rulers from the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, including Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe attended the meeting.

REPS C'TTEES:

Okorie lauds Dogara’s leadership qualities

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—THE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Hon. Linus Okorie, weekend, extolled the leadership qualities of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, particularly on the successful constitution of the 96 standing committees of the House.

In a statement in Abakaliki, Okorie commended the political maturity of the Speaker, his accommodation and sensitivity in the distribution of the committees' leadership, particularly in the spread to reflect federal character that cut across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and accommodated all the political parties represented in the House.

38—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

SCORPIO: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

SAGITTARIUS: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

CAPRICORN: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

AQUARIUS: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Rsted

ECENTLY, a journalist acme and co wanted to know from me what my expectation is concerning the new government. My answer simply is:

Limiting Your Expectation I expect nothing special. Before you crucify me, let me ask you. Haven’t we been having new governments

TERROR MUDA

in Nigeria? Government come and go but our problems don’t just remain, they get bigger and bigger.

in “Scavenger Elite”

Over the years, I have learned not to expect much from government as well as individuals. My policy is: blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed.

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

ARIES: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

TAURUS: Promise made to genuine personalities should be kept if not because of today but for better tomorrow. Be reasonable and clean.

GEMINI: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

CANCER: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others. Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

LEO: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

VIRGO: Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING,L;MKL Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my horoscope?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth..

Please tell me my full horoscope

Anonymous, Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, You were born on a Sunday.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day of Birth = Sunday Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon (your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person and partly in Libran. And that is to say basic characteristics of both Scorpio and Libra are highly pronounced in you.

Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop it is another thing.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY , OCTOBER 26, 2015—39

Buhari’s Election/ Buhari’s Mandate Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya IGERIA is both a bad joke and a huge scam. That's why we prefer old Muhammadu Buhari to a young, Goodluck Jonathan as president.

N

Nuhu Keita Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya You are a well known impersonator and a fraudster. All the three Yoruba names you claim are not your real names because you write with the modus operandi of an Igbo man. Call President Buhari anything you want, he is now the President of Nigeria. And you are stuck with him for the next four years.

Sweet victory for Buhari over election riggers and looters. How is Jonathan doing in Otu-Oke? Ha ha ha!

Nuhu Keita Do you mean Otu-oke in Tanzania?

The rejected stone is now the strong pillar of the house, see how the world is acknowledging the shining light that gullible people like you could not see in Nigeria.

Did any country or organisation outside Nigeria associate with your messiah Buhari when he lost previous elections - no, because his behaviour ( vengeance utterances) was not worth sharing with the outside world.

The creed share Idea Keep deceiving yourself, GEJ can contest and become the life president of Tanzania for all I care. As for Nigeria, we say " Never Again", good riddance to cluelessness. Glad power changed hands!

Ugo The creed Power changed to wrong hands and I pray it will not swallow you Silvermagnum ugo That part can remain your problem we voted for change we got our change and we are happy with it.

Ufoma The creed How much does APC you and those like you? Who is more clueless than APC and Buhari, who didn't know the constitutional requirements to conduct elections in Kogi and Bayelsa, last minute socio-economic and sociopolitical decisions, Boko Haram bombings everyday, no economic direction,etc.

GEJ didn't do that. That's where APC governors held sway, political vendetta and witch hunting, setting our democratic nation backward. All they are after is oil money, no economic diversification! And a jobless rascal like you dare to talk! This change you people wanted, na one chance bus una don enter. The nation is at a standstill! At this rate you and yours would soon begin to eat yourselves.

Fruitful Delta Ufoma Wow, Ufoma my brother, please tell them. So proud to have guys like you in this forum who are not afraid to call spade a spade, irrespective of whose ox is gored. How can an old man who does not know how to make use of a computer and is now leading us into oblivion and sychophants are singing sai Baba.

Akure monarch forbids Eze-Ndigbo from wearing crown Ewyzsam Henry F the Igbos leave Nigeria, they will feel it and you too... they might end up killing themselves... but you? if you don't kill yourselves, you'll end up smelling the north's ass for eternity. Just get your act together bro... Igbo this , Igbo that... has any Igbo dude killed

I

Buhari to Boko Haram:: TTo o negotiate, show us proof Chibok girls are alive!

Pcejirika UHARI is negotiating with murderers, rapists, and arsonists but chose to place into custody Nnamdi Kanu who was merely exercising his freedom of speech.

B

Ben Osunwo When Buhari came in, he relocated the Defence headquarters from Abuja to Maidugiri, still Borno is still a no-go area. He appointed a new Army chief (Buratai) who flaunting his picture while he was having some press-ups and told us that he’s ready for Boko Haram, yet they burnt his house in his home town.

Buhari was expected to lead the army (as a general) in a bid to wipe out Boko Haram, yet we’ve not heard any meaningful outcome. Today they are begging Boko Haram to show them proof that the girls are still alive. These are the same girls the army told us have been spotted in Sambisa. Tinubu has finally changed the old man’s name from Buhari to propaganda.

ewton Ikire Hahahah! But the army told us they were sighted somewhere in Sambisa.

Confused people.

your people in the name of religion?

Have they kidnapped your elders... do they destroy your farm land with their cattle? Do they threaten your people?

Do they insult your leaders? Well, if you missed it, were they the ones who called your VP a mere commissioner and an unofficial VP? Time will tell whether all the decisions we made were good... just time... for now all this blabbing you guys are doing here is rubbish... only time will tell and I wish all the best.

Know_the_truth de_wale Your insecurity shouldn't be transferred to others. Is Eze Ndigbo ruling over the people of Akure. Even amongst Igbos, ` just a figure head that he is not a ruler would be monumental in settling internal disputes.

I think even within the laws of Nigeria, the Deji can't depose him because he wasn't installed by him and Eze Ndigbo has no constitutional powers in Akure.

This is a case of insecurity being transferred to other people. You can't stop a people electing their leader and calling him "EZE" de_wale Know_the_truth No wahala let your Kinsmen go against the order of the Deji. We would see who is secured or insecure.

Corinthian de_wale Giving their antecedents, one would have expected them to threaten thunder and brimstone as usual. The "insult" to the Deji must have been so grave that Governor Mimiko, having intervened, acceded to the terms and conditions of the king before an amicable resolution could be reached.

Know_the_truth de_wale Just understand that Yorubas are not only found in Akure. Don't start what you can't finish.

Orubebe’s comments on Oshiomhole

T

HE war of words between the former Minister of NDDC, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, is a good one.

Soon, they will tell us what they have been hiding from Nigerians. So please let the war of words continue. But the fact remains that there is nothing the former minister has to tell us.

The other time, he almost truncated our beautiful transition by holding our amiable Professor Jega to ransom.

Thanks to the maturity of the Prof. and unbiased security agents present on that occasion. Elder Orubebe, that show of shame at the International Conference Centre was out of order, and disgraceful enough for you to take the back seat in the political affairs in this country.

Okey Brown-Ajaegbo. Onitsha. +2348181167166

Abduction of Donu Kogbara

The abduction of journalism pearl Donu Kogbara is indeed a senseless act of horrendous beastiality. Whither goeth Nigeria?We pray God Almighty to save Nigeria from these senseless act.

Chief Bobson Gbinije, Mandate Against Poverty +2347068621168

Oshiomhole’s $78m loan

According to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the said loan is for development and employment. Three months ago the Governor sacked ten thousand workers in Edo State. And he promised to regularise them into civil service, till now nothing has been done.

A responsible goverment should identify the common need of his people!

The disengaged graduates and their families are walloping in agony and penury.

Okojie Linus. +2348055515843

NASS’s leadership

The national leadership of the APC is to be blamed for the mess in the National Assembly for failing to act at the appropriate time. Its failure to zone the office in the National Assembly and the President’s nonchalant attitude to who becomes what in the two chambers gave Bukola Saraki and Dogara the effrontery to rubbish not only the party but also the presidency. Too bad.

Since the duo are the architects of their own misfortune, they should continue to live with the misfortune and let the country move forward. After all, there is nothing they can do to remove Saraki and Dogara as Senate President and Speaker respectively because the party does not have a two- thirds majority to

spring any surprise.

Sadly what has happened will be a bitter and painful lesson both the presidency and APC will continue to rue.

Anonymous writes in from Lagos state

NASS’s leadership and Saraki unholy alliance Lawyers have kept arguing on the legitimacy of Dr. Bukola Saraki’s election as Senate President. Whatever the argument is, it was not in contention that the Saraki coup was brazenly executed in a manner capable of disintegrating the All Progressive Congress, the party whose elections he helped to win at the state and national levels.

Come to think of it, how on earth will a man if he is truly committed to a party, enter into an unholy alliance with an opposition party for personal gains and power?

APC should keep close tabs on Saraki to ensure that he doesn’t wreck the party many Nigerians have put so much hope and trust.

Solo Aoba 2347052624455

President Buhari should improve the economy It is high time we discussed the state of our economy and what to do to improve it in the new democratic dispensation. To change the living condition of our people, we must have enterprenueurs of different interests and for this to happen, the importance of conducive environment of our businesses cannot be overemphasised.

I really want to seize this opportunity to implore President Buhari to embark on the journey of positive change in all aspects of his administration in order to improve the economic conditions of Nigerians and eradicate extreme hunger and poverty in the land.

Dozie Orji, 08034944060

Still on NASS

I cannot blame Dr.Bukola Saraki for plotting his way into the seat of the Senate President. I can only blame the APC which allowed him to take advantage of their disunity and shoddy arrangements concerning such an important decision that could make or mar the progress of the party.

These things that give the APC a bad name should be avoided by these stalwarts who are in control of the party’s activities.

Anonymous +2348181167166

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS A leader is not a person who can perform better than his people, but someone who can inspire his people to perform better than him.

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable.

Address your sayings to: editor@vanguardngr.com

40—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Delta community gives oil firms 72-hr ultimatum over GMOUs

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

N

IGERIA’S crude oil revenue faces a fresh challenge as the Ojobo Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has given Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, a 72-hour ultimatum to implement various agreements reached with the community or have its oil field in the area shut down.

A similar 72-hour ultimatum was handed down to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited and E. A. Temile Development Company, to shut down all operations at the Beniside Flow Station or risk the consequences.

Speaking to Vanguard, in Abuja, weekend, the Youth President of Ojobo Community (which hosts the Beniside Oil Field), Mr. Sergeant Cinema and a spokesperson of the community, Mr. Cletus Zuokumor, explained that the ultimatum became necessary in view of oil companies' alleged refusal to implement various agreements reached with the community, despite several peaceful attempts at resolving the issues.

According to him, “We have given the oil companies operating at the Beniside Oil Field 72 hours to close shop and vacate the area to avoid any

confrontation or likely showdown with us. What they are doing is because of the heavy military presence in the Flow Station which they have been using to intimidate and harass members of the community. This time around, if they are not prepared to effect the FTOs (Freedom to Operate) or Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOUs) which were established almost three years ago, they should shut down and pack

out from our community before the expiration of this ultimatum.

“The oil firms feel that they can ignore us. In fact, they have been boasting that as far as there is military presence at Beniside Flow Station, the community cannot do anything or dare the Flow Station. We want to make it abundantly clear that with or without the military, we will mobilize to the Flow Station to effect compliance with the quit order.”

Name Abuja Stock Exchange after Onosode —IMG

T

HE Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the late Boardroom Guru, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, as global icon by all standards.

A tribute by Comrade Joseph Evah, on behalf of the Ijaw, stated that Deacon Onosode’s death was “shocking and painful because he was one of the few stars that gave hope to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria at large.”

“We are proud that the Urhobo gave us a son that no president or head of state in Africa ever ignored in his lifetime.

“The history of Africa’s industrial growth cannot be complete without mentioning the name of

Gamalie Onosode. H, as a world-class citizen, further proved to the world that Niger Delta is blessed with both oil and human resources.

“We urge the Delta State government to name the Industrial Park, War ri, after the late business icon, and also demand that the Federal Government names Abuja Stock Exchange Building after the Urhobo born Mr. Integrity in Business.

“For his selfless service to the nation, Lagos State where Onosode's contributions influenced the growth of business of the state to the highest level, should also accord him special landmark recognition.”

BAYELSA 2015: Dickson tasks opposition on credible poll

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva and other members of the opposition, to work with his administration in delivering a credible, free and fair election in the December 5 poll.

Dickson, who described the election as an isolated one, called on Bayelsans not to be intimidated by anybody or group, assuring that their votes would count.

Speaking on a wide range of issues in a live radio and television programme, he noted that the state government had received assurances from the

Federal Government that the coming election would be free and fair as a combined team of special Police mobile squad and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would be deployed in the state to conduct the election.

He said: “There will be no molestation. I like to use this opportunity to assure you that you will be safe.

Don’t allow the criminals and the ungodly to intimidate you from doing what is right. Feel free to vote according to your conscience. You will not only vote, your votes will count. This election is a single election and the whole nation and international observers will be here and voting will take place in your communities.

You are the masters of your communities. Vote, stay there until the results are

declared in every unit. I am willing to abide by your verdict. I have spent the past couple of years providing service and leadership in the circumstances that we have found ourselves.

“I believe that this election is a referendum on what we have done and it is also a referendum on who you are. The whole world is also waiting to see, with all these developments where you will stand as a proud Ijaw man or woman.

This election is beyond me.

It is essentially about you.

It is about your honour, respect and dignity and most importantly, it is about your future. We have an election ahead. The time has come to exercise your mandate freely. I will endeavor with my team to convince you so that you can see the need for us to consolidate development."

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 , 2015—41

Northern Govs meet again to tackle cattle rustling, banditry K

By Luka Binniyat

A D U N A — I N continuation with the battle against banditry and cattle rusting in parts of their states, the governors of Kastina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger States met again in Kaduna over the weekend to endorse another round of cooperation.

The meeting which started around 2pm on Saturday lasted till 7pm, and was rescheduled for yesterday.

Addressing the press at Government House, Kaduna, after the meeting, the governor of Kastina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari, who chaired the meeting, said the meeting was convened to

review progress made so far and to renew the initiative, which would end on October 26, 2015.

He said: “As you know, we are have a joint agreement to fight cattle rustling and some acts of criminality in our states.

So far, the result has been very encouraging and we want to renew the cooperation because this phase will end on the

Stop playing politics with Kogi bailout fund

WADA TO FG:

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O K O J A — GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government not to play politics with the issue of bail-out that is yet to be released to the state, months after fulfilling the necessary documentation.

The state government’s position is coming as a

reaction to statements credited to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, and his running mate, Abiodun Falake, that they had prevailed on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the stoppage of the release of the bailout funds to Kogi State until the November 21 governorship election in the state.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief

Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, however, said the state government will not compromise its rights in the country even in the face of persecution by the APC governorship candidate.

Wada said: “We (government) called on President Buhari, as leader for all, not to be swayed by the antics of this desperate politician who is nothing but the author and finisher of the woes of civil servants in Kogi State."

October 26, 2015. ‘’That has been the main reason for the meeting. We have adjourned for today (Saturday) and will c o n t i n u e tomorrow (Sunday).”

Asked about what the states were doing to ensure that fleeing Boko Haram members did not escape to the states in question, Masari said: “We are very aware of that possibility and we have put our security agencies on alert.”

Asked what went wrong when rustlers last month in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State killed scores of villagers and left with their cattle, he said: “The Kamaku/Kuyanbana Forests reserves are very large bodies of forests. They extend up to Senegal. ‘’It is not easy to patrol every space there. And you know these dangerous thieves have foreign elements. Many of them that have been caught are not Nigerians. So, it was an unfortunate incident and we going to help ensure that the operation covers as many areas as possible this time.”

We've recovered all Boko Haram territories —Army chief

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—THE Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said he was hopeful that the December deadline given by the Federal Government to end activities of insurgents in the North East of the country was realizable.

According to him, there has been improved measure of operations in the region and the military has recaptured all territories occupied by Boko Haram sect’s members.

Lieutenant General Buratai, who gave the assurance while on a familiarization visit to officers and soldiers of the 3rd Armoured Division at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment at Rukuba, Bassa local government area of Plateau State weekend, also disclosed that the number of troops and the equipment available to attain the feat had all increased.

CELEBRATION: Pastor Andy Okpe and Prophetess Victoria Okpe, cutting the cake, during 10th anniversary celebration of Women of Favour Christian Intercessory Prayer Ministry in Lagos.

Commissioner counsels CBD personnel

L

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A G O S — PERSONNEL of Lagos State Central Business Districts, CBD, have been urged to brace up for the daunting task of

turning CBD around for the benefit of shoppers and investors.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Agboola Dabiri, who gave the advice at an inaugural

meeting with the members of staff in his office at Alausa, expressed his determination to leave a lasting and indelible legacy at CBD which residents and stakeholders would be proud of at the end of his tenure”

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

NIGERIA AT 55!

The making of a truly great black African nation-state (2) This is the second part of this piece. In the first edition which was published last Friday, Koinyan argued the nation's leaders should make the right choices, take the right decisions and follow the right path to take the nation's rightful place in the front seats in the commity of nations

By Larry Koinyan

W

E also need to warn, with the greatest sense of responsibility, that the levels of poverty, underemployment and outright unemployment, particularly of youth, are dangerously high and still rising.

•We also need to state, with the greatest sense of responsibility that as a people and as a nation we have not given agriculture the very well-coordinated seriousness it deserves to make our country, major staple foods, self-sufficient and overall food secure and accessible.

• A lot has been said and written about corruption. It is still very much with us. It is said that it has moved from its alleged 10% days in the 1960s to its current unimaginable levels, multiplied exponentially by very high levels of greed and selfishness. The fight on corruption must be truly all embracing, all-encompassing and truly national. It should not and must not be a Buhari war. A President who is determined and has the will power to lead the war is an excellent rallying point for what should be an unrelenting, sustained, all-out, no holds barred war and irrespective of whose ox is gored. Unless we do this, corruption can easily bring to naught all our efforts to strive for greatness.

Striving for greatness •At the organizational level it has been said by most serious minded Nigerians that a large member of our State (Government) institutions are weak and not resilient, often times operating outside laid down rules and regulations and at times unwilling or unable to implement policies effectively and efficiently and that transparency and accountability are mere buzz words in most government institutions. Striving for greatness on the layer of weak and unreliable state and private sector institutions will amount to trying to build on shifting sand.

•At the social level, we need to emphasize what we all know, namely, that among other things that the human person is very much a social being. Therefore that at the primary social level a strong and harmonious family and community life is very important. That we must therefore defend with all we have the

current virulent attack on the family as a natural institution, and including its very fundamental core of marriage between male and female only.

We should unite against intra and inter community unrest and community conflicts. At higher levels we should emphasize inclusiveness, participation, cooperation, cohesion, mutual trust, not discrimination, division and distrust.

•At the political sphere, we need a truly free, fair and transparent electoral process. We are not there yet. While commending the immediate past Administration for creating and allowing the enabling environment for bring us this far, the current Administration should not do anything to draw the hands of the clock back.

Political parties It will also be very useful to have two truly strong, national, well focused, political parties whose primary purpose for being is to offer real, well thought out alternatives for the development of the nation, not opposition for the sake of opposition. We must therefore welcome the emergence of APC even as we help the PDP reinvent its formidable self to give APC a run for its money for the good of our nation, an enabler the PDP did not have.

•At the spiritual level, whether we believe it or not there is an Almighty God and the human person is as much a spiritual being as a political being, an economic being, a social being, a cultural being and an environmental being. So a people, a society and a nation who do not genuinely put the Almighty God in the centre of all their endeavors will not go very far.

The reason? That God, the only One True Eternal God, the Almighty Creator is Love, is the most Gracious, is the most Merciful. That God created the visible world in all its richness, diversity and order. That each creature possesses its own particular goodness and perfection. That there is a Divine Purpose for each and everything that is created. That there is solidarity among all creatures because they are created by the only One True Eternal Almighty God.

Map of Nigeria That God wills the interdependence of all creatures.

That man is the summit of God’s creative work. That man alone has the knowledge of God, thus uniting the spiritual and material worlds. That God created everything for man but man in turn was created to know, love and serve God and offer all creation back to God. These and many more we are told.

In sum, love God, love Neighbour. Be gracious. Be merciful. Savour our richness and diversity. Create order, not chaos.

Look for the goodness in each created thing. Emphasize our solidarity, our interdependence, including our physical environment, our communitarainism not destructive individualism, greed, selfishness and selfcenteredness.

Seek enlightenment to pursue the divine purpose for which each and every one of us is created.

In effect be the best each can be: as individuals, family and community members and as a people, as a society and as a nation. Seek the best at all times, with God’s guidance, for each Local Government Area, each State, including the FCT, each Geopolitical Region and our dear Nigeria, Nation-State.

Now we come to the sucker punch. It is said that about 70% of our country’s population lives in the rural area which incidentally also holds the bulk of the nation’s natural and mineral resources. This is also where the bulk of the nation’s food and agricultural raw materials can be produced and poverty and unemployment more effectively tackled. Most of the nation’s over 100,000

A people, a society and a nation who do not genuinely put the Almighty God in the centre of all their endeavors will not go very far

President Buhari grassroots communities are also in the rural areas. These grassroots communities are also where most Nigerians trace their ancestry to and to which a majority also has a great sense of affinity with and for. If we are really serious as a people and as a nation this is where we should learn how to horn our skills to begin not only to solve our problems of hunger, poverty and unemployment but also among other things to learn how to harness that huge rural population and the over 100,000 grassroots communities and the massive rural landmass and the enormous natural and mineral resources therein to begin to lay a very solid foundation for transforming our country into a truly great Black African NationState.

Grassroots communities Two manuscripts, ‘The Case For Rural Development’ with the subtitle, ‘The Foundation For National Development’ and ‘Arise Grassroots Communities’, when completed and published will provide very good background not only on the “why” but also on the “how” of grassroots community and rural development. Hopefully before the end of this year a book on what the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure was all about and what it did will be published to serve as a further background for rural development. Sponsorship for these publications will be most highly appreciated.

Sponsorship or no sponsorship, what will emerge

by Jan/Feb, 2016, drawing from the above manuscripts and all the background work of about three decades on development matters

(from 7 Feb,1986) will be a very detailed national road map for grassroots community and rural area transformation, growth and development. Some of the features of this very comprehensive grassroots development package include highly recommended development objectives for virtually all areas of development action listed in earlier paragraphs as well as suggested broad outlines of how communities can drawn up for themselves a simple 30-Year Community Perspective Development Plan, a 3 year Community Development Rolling Plan and an Annual Community Development (1 year Budget) Plan, after conducting a simple Comprehensive Community Development Benchmark Survey.

There will also be simple tips on how community members can re-orientate and motivate, organize and mobilize themselves and effectively execute their development plans.

Development plans It is strongly recommended that all States and Local Governments working effectively with community members, this time, take full advantage of this effort to develop all their constituent grassroots communities and rural areas in a more holistic, well-planned, logicallysequenced, time-framed, all hands on deck, all systems go, all-inclusive manner with clear milestones as against the usual knee jerk, ad hoc, personality influenced selective manner and even at that, only equating rural development with just agricultural development and/ or rural infrastructure provision alone. Remember the primary aim here is not just to develop the grassroots communities and rural areas as an end by itself but also to use it as a strategy to lay a solid foundation at that level for Local Government Area, State, Geopolitical Zone and National Transformation.

Meanwhile a Centre for Grassroots Community and Rural Development (CCRD) is being set up in one of the leading universities in our country as a part of this effort to transform our country into a truly great Black African Nation-State. As a pilot project, this Centre will attempt to position the knowledge industry, using its current Nigerian leading edge, the university system, to effectively contribute to the laying of a very solid foundation for this transformative effort, starting from the grassroots communities and rural area levels.

To be concluded tomorrow

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—43

Why we're showcasing Finnish firms —Amb. Suomela-Chowdhury The Finnish Embassy in Nigeria and the Finland Trade Centre have concluded plans to showcase Finnish firms and their products in Lagos, in the first week of November with a view to strengthening the business relationships between Nigerian and Finnish companies. In this interview, the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Pirjo Soumela-Chowdhury explains the idea behind exhibition. Excerpts:

By Victoria Ojeme OUR Excellency, how would you describe bilateral the relationship between Finland and Nigeria?

The relations are good and strong, and actually very long, too. Finland established its first sub-Saharan Embassy in Nigeria – in Lagos in 1963, then later on we moved to Abuja. At the same time, the relations could be more intensive – and that is the core of what I am aiming at during my tenure as Ambassador of Finland in Nigeria. There is still potential for more in the relations.

What aspect of these relations are you focusing on specifically?

The most central focus of our work is in promoting trade and economic relations. There are already several Finnish companies doing business in Nigeria. Nokia in the communications field and Wärtsilä in the power sector are both big global players that are present all over the world, and also in Nigeria. Many other companies work in Nigeria through a local representative.

Y

Meteorological technology In infrastructure development a very important area in Nigeria one could mention KONE which produces escalators and lifts - or Vaisala that makes very specialized meteorological technology, present in many Nigerian airports. I recognize, however, that the relations between Finland and Nigeria could be much more active than is presently the case. My aim is that the still rather modest trade volumes between our two countries will grow significantly in the future. I am very hopeful in this respect, as interest in Finland towards Nigeria is definitely growing.

One area that we are closely looking at is health and wellbeing, and how to promote trade relations in this area that clearly is now very topical both in Finland and in Nigeria. There are some Finnish companies already working in the health sector in Nigeria, and I can see that there is a good deal of interests among other Finnish businesses. In fact, we are organising a business event on health and wellbeing in rd Lagos on the 3 of November. There will be some Finnish businesses present there.

C M Y K

At the same time, it will be a more general discussion and exchange of views on issues of health and wellbeing. Along with trade and economic relations, of course it is also important for Finland to foster good political relations with Nigeria - which is an important regional and global player, and for instance very active in the United Nations. Over the last few years, there have been several high-level visits between our countries, and I am confident we will continue on this path.

Nigeria is yet to achieve its universal health basic needs and services. How does the health care system work in Finland?

Health is indeed a very essential and important aspect of every society, and also a very important issue personally to all of us.

Challenges and solutions may vary from country to country. My knowledge and experience is on how we do things in my country.

In Finland, the system is based on publicly funded universal health care. Municipalities are responsible for providing healthcare services, for instance running the local health care centres. These services are financed with tax money, along with some small and very affordable user fees. In health, there is also a private sector, but its role is much smaller than that of the public sector. General health policy in Finland is decided at national level, with the ministry of health and social affairs as the highest authority.

Obviously, we have a very comprehensive taxation system that ensures revenue for public expenses like health services.

What are the details of the health and wellbeing event that Finland will soon be organizing in Lagos. What are your expectations?

The Embassy of Finland is organizing this event, November

The most central focus of our work is in promoting trade and economic relations. There are already several Finnish companies doing business in Nigeria

•Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Pirjo Soumela-Chowdhury 3, together with Finland Trade Centre in Lagos. We have been planning it already for some time now, and it is one of the highlights of our activities in Nigeria this year. In Nigeria, we have a special focus on health and wellbeing, which is something that we have identified as an area with a lot of potential and interest in Nigeria as well as in Finland.

There are already Finnish companies working here in this sector, and many others have interest in entering the Nigerian market.

Special focus on health In the event, there will be Finnish companies present, so that participants will be able to take a first-hand look at their expertise and products, and to get an idea of the kind of things Finland has to offer. But perhaps even more importantly, the event will provide a platform for a more general discussion and exchange of ideas on health and wellbeing.

There will be a Professor from Finland who is an expert in the so called non-communicable diseases – conditions such as heart and coronary diseases, diabetes and cancer. These illnesses are more and more prevalent in Nigeria, too. In Finland we have a lot of experience and expertise in this area. Some decades ago heart and coronary diseases used to be a very big problem in my country, and we put a lot of effort and research into looking at the causes as well as prevention. It was found that diet and other lifestyle

issues played a big role, and that by making changes in them you could prevent a lot of these diseases. In the Lagos event, we will also have a prominent Nigerian expert - Dr Kingsley Akinroye who is the Executive Director of the Nigerian Heart Foundation – and also Honorary Consul of Finland. I look forward to a very fruitful meeting, with lots of networking, and a lively discussion on issues of health and wellbeing.

What is Finland doing to support efforts to promote healthcare outside Finland?

As a member country of the European Union, Finland is supporting development efforts worldwide, including in Nigeria.

We are also strong supporters of the United Nations system, and channel development finance through many UN organizations, including the UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and WHO, as well as through the International Financial Institutions. In Nigeria we have also supported some NGO projects in the area of health - for instance in Ibadan in Oyo State a school health project. Finland is also active in, and chairs this year, the so called Global Health Security Agenda initiative which aims at preventing infectious diseases and responding to them effectively.

Nokia is the most famous Finnish brand in Nigeria. What is their presence in Nigeria and how many Nigerians do they employ?

Nokia is indeed a very successful Finnish company, and one could say even very much part of the Finnish identity. They now

focus on the network business where they are important players in Nigeria, too. I have visited the Nokia office in Lagos and have met their Nigerian staff. In addition, there must be lots of Nigerians who in one way or another, more or less directly, have been involved or employed in different Nokia projects. For exact numbers of course you would have to ask Nokia themselves.

Let’s talk about education: the Finnish education system is known for its high quality - how does it work?

It is true that the Finnish education system has been quite a success. The international fame that it has acquired in recent years happened without us advertising it. What happened is that our schools produced high quality results, according to international rankings, which then became highly publicized. Perhaps the most important one of those where Finland has done well over several years has been the PISA ranking that measures the skills of 16-year-olds in areas such as literacy and mathematics. The two things I always bring up as success factors of the Finnish education system are: firstly, equality of opportunity - high quality education is available free of charge for everybody in Finland, no matter what your social status or where you live in the country.

Teacher training Secondly, I always mention teacher training. In Finland teaching is actually a very popular profession, so you have very good students applying to universities to study to become teachers. Entrance to universities is in fact quite competitive, and some prospective students might apply many times before being admitted, this also goes for teacher training. Another important thing is vocational education which does not always get enough appreciation. In Finland vocational education is actually quite popular, and often students with good grades choose to study in vocational institutions.

For a labour market to function well, it is very important also to have enough people with vocational skills – not just university graduates.

What lessons can Nigeria learn from the Finnish education system?

One has to recognize that situations and challenges are different in different parts of the world, and that therefore solutions might have to be different, too.

The things that have worked in Finland are free high quality education available for all, good teacher training, recognizing the importance of vocational education, and also life-long learning. In Finland, there is also a very strong appreciation for education and learning in general - as of course there is in many other countries, too, including in Nigeria I understand.

44—VANGUARD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

The myth and meat of the quarrels between Duke, Imoke and I — Sen. Gershom Bassey SENATOR Gershom Bassey represents Cross River South Senatorial district in the Senate.

Bassey was one leg of the famed tripod that also had former Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke that formed the power matrix in Cross River State between 1999 and 2007. The tale until few years ago was that the trio had an accord to rotate the governorship among them from 1999 to 2023.

However, following Duke and Imoke ,the script reportedly went awry just as the two former governors went into an open combat. In this interview, Senator Bassey gives an insider view of the relationship between Duke and Imoke among other issues. Excerpts:

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

W

HAT is the relationship now between you, Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke?

We have had our ups and down but generally we have told ourselves that we are in this thing together. So far, so good. You recall that His Excellency Governor Donald Duke left the party briefly some time ago but he came back and since then we have all worked together and he supported the party and we have been working together.

What particular effort did you make to reconcile Duke and Imoke when they quarrelled?

Well, you know that in all relationships from time to time you will have agreements and you have disagreements.

Those are private and personal issues. You here, can you tell me the things you disagree with your closed friends, it is just a normal relationship.

But the disagreement affected power rotation among three of you?

You are very interested in this relationship (laughs).

Those are not the type of things we even discuss, we don’t discuss those types of

Nature of relationships Sometimes the relationship is hot and sometimes it slightly cools off. We have had our ups and downs I think that we are mature enough to know that that is the nature of relationships.

Presently, how cordial is the relationship between Duke and Imoke presently?

I think it is okay, I saw them at the reception for President Muhammadu Buhari few days ago and they looked very warm to me.

What was the specific cause or causes of the disagreements?

C M Y K

Sometimes the relationship is hot and sometimes it slightly cools off. We have had our ups and downs I think that we are mature enough to know that that is the nature of relationships

Senator Gershom Bassey

things. When we discuss, we go to fundamentals as opposed to personal ambitions, we discus fundamentals and not personal issues.

The fundamentals were about the direction we want to move our state and the things that will take us to get there, those were the type of fundamentals we were discussing and not who has ambition and who doesn’t have ambition and all those as far as I am concerned are mundane things. It was after we had spelt out the fundamentals that we now decided to look at who could be the best to project the fundamentals because we realised that we needed power to get those things done and then we said look who among us is best suited to realise what we had set out to achieve at this particular time and so on.

But like I said those things are secondary, the most important thing is the basic things and the fundamentals and those are the type of things we usually discussed when we met.

But was there an agreement for the three of you to govern the state in turn?

(Cuts) No, there was no such agreement. Like I said those things are really secondary, whether it is me or you or the other, these were not the type of things we discussed.

I know people discus such type of things but we didn’t approach it like that at anytime.

In fact, Donald never had the ambition, Liyel never had the ambition and of course I never had the ambition. It was just a question of who was the best suited at the particular time to project our agenda and we all decided in 1999 that Donald was the best suited and we rallied around him for the governorship and then in 2007, we all agreed that Liyel was the best suited even though Liyel was a minister and had already committed himself to Obasanjo government, we had to drag him out of there to come and project the course, so that is the way it has always been.

So, the triumvirate how often do they meet now Like a secret society (laughs). Though it is not a secret society please we are just friends, we are not like some secret societies that have their meetings at specific time and period, we don’t do that.

Secret societies We are friends and we meet whenever we see ourselves.

You know we have a new governor now and all of us are committed to ensuring that Ben Ayade succeeds as the governor. I think that is what we need to do and when we talk that is what we talk about.

When did three of you sit down together last?

Ah ah, we don’t have a secretary that takes those things but I am sure when President Buhari visited Cross

River we were together, I think it was on Tuesday, we were together.

Are you happy that when it was your turn to be governor according to your plan that you were denied?

No, no, no. There wasn’t an issue of turn by turn. We are not running a feudal system, Cross River operates democracy just as Nigeria operates democracy.

Interest of social justice It was the turn of the North and we believe in the interest of social justice and fundamental fairness, every senatorial district should have a shot at the governorship and also in line with the constitution.

After the South where Donald and I come from had had its turn, the Central had its turn under Liyel and now the North is having its turn under Ayade. After the North we expect it come back to the south, I think we have got it right in Cross River.

So, will you be vying?

Governorship is not the only job in Nigeria if I want to remain in the public sector, there are many jobs.

Our hope is that after Ben Ayade, first of all we have to make sure that Ben Ayade has a successful eight years in office and after that we hope we will find a quality governor that can also improve on what Ben Ayade has done from the South.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015—45

2015: KOGI DECIDES

First explain utilisation of N20 billion bond — Audu

By Boluwaji Obahopo

A

•Wada

Wada accuses Buhari of playing politics with bailout fund

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to play politics with the issue of bail out fund earmarked for states saying that Kogi is yet to get its portion months after fulfilling the necessary documentation.

The claim was upon statements credited to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu and his running mate, Abiodun Falake, at a campaign rally where they said they had prevailed on President Buhari to order the stoppage of the release of the bailout funds to Kogi State until after the November 21 governorship election.

Speaking through his Chief Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Wada said the state government will not compromise its rights even in the face of persecution by the APC governorship candidate.

“We (government) called on

President Buhari as leader for all, not to be swayed by the antics of this desperate politician who is nothing but the author and finisher of the woes of civil servants in Kogi State.

“What kind of desperation will make a man to callously and viciously wage war against the release of resources meant for the people of his state? The Kogi State Government is of the firm view that the bailout fund is only a loan and not a presidential benevolence.

Wada who called on President Buhari to as a matter of urgency order the release of the said funds so that the state could meet its obligations to its workers, stressed that the eyes of the world are on Nigeria as far as the case is concerned.

“For one, the President has consistently stressed the role of morality in governance and there can be nothing more immoral than the wilful deprivation of the right of our civil servants whose allowances and emoluments have remained unpaid owing to the economic downturn.”

PC candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu has tasked Governor Idris Wada to explain how he utilised the N20 billion bond and statutory allocations before collecting another bailout fund just as he promised to address all concerns of workers if elected.

Audu spoke in Kabba weekend, while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of ceremonies marking the 70th birthday and 30 years anniversary ceremony of the reign of Obaro of Kabba, HRM, Oba Michael Olobayo.

Audu also questioned the Wada led PDP administration in the state to explain how the N20 billion bond fund and other monies collected from the federation account as statutory allocations in the last three years were spent. “Despite the huge allocations accrued to the state under this period, the incumbent leadership still decided not to pay salaries and other emoluments as at when due, owing civil servants salaries up to 20 months.”

Audu also berated the PDP for peddling ‘rumour and insinuations’ that it is the APC in the state that caused

•Audu

PDP will win November polls — KGHA Majority Leader

M

By Kingsley Fanwo

AJORITY Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole has expressed confidence in PDP securing victory in the guber poll slated for next month in Kogi State.

Prince Kolawole stated this in an exclusive chat with Vanguard shortly after the Appellate Tribunal sitting in Abuja upheld his election as member representing Kabba/Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly.

Kolawole said the APC has no concrete structure in the state, arguing that the “pyrrhic victory” recorded by the party during the presidential and national assembly elections in March was made possible by the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his words: “The March poll was won by President Muhammadu Buhari and his change mantra. That really helped the National Assembly candidates of the All Progressives

Congress. The failure of APC to re-enact their March 28 feat on April 11 is

an indication of the superiority of PDP over APC in the state.”

APC group faults Audu for party’s losses at tribunal

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By Kingsley Fanwo

USTICE Forum, a group within the APC has carpeted the governorship candidate of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu for being behind the gale of losses recorded by the party at the Election Petitions Tribunal. In a communiqué issued at the weekend, the forum alleged the failure of the party to organize free and fair primary election as the main reason behind the gradual decimation of the party at the national and state assemblies.

They called on the National Working Committee of APC to order a probe into the activities which surrounded nomination of candidates prior to the 2015 general elections. “As a forum that promotes fairness, equity and justice, we called the attention of the National Working Committee of our great party to the high-

handedness orchestrated by Prince Abubakar Audu in connivance with the State Executive Committee of the party.

“Instead of organizing primaries to nominate credible candidates for the elections, figures were merely awarded in private residences to favoured candidates. Apart from losing at the tribunal, we want to sound a note of warning that we are at the risk of losing the next governorship election as many aggrieved aspirants who were denied the opportunity of going through free and fair primaries are now openly canvassing for our opponents.

“Anyone giving an impression that all is well with our party in the state is merely showing insincerity. As far as we are concerned, Audu has destroyed the party in Kogi State.

the delay in the release of the N50.8 billion bailout funds being requested by the state, “We (APC) are not behind the

Will the governor or his cabinet members and political appointees take it if their allocation is being paid in percentage like they are doing to the civil servants, which is expected to take his or her monthly due in full? non -release of the fund but no serous government in the world would release such funds to an incumbent that is going into an election; it is a known fact that such money will certainly be misused. “I also faced such situation in 2003 when all monies accrued to the state from the federal government prior to the election time were not released until after I left office. I am even surprised they are still releasing the monthly allocation to them at this time, in my own time in 2003, it was not like that.

“The question should be what have they (State government) being doing with the allocations released to the state, that they owe civil servants up to 20 months salary arrears? It is obvious the current administration is only out to impoverish the people of the state by their attitude.”

“Will the governor or his cabinet members and political appointees take it if their allocation is being paid in percentage like they are doing to the civil servants, which is expected to take his or her monthly due in full?. I challenged the government to come out and explain to Kogites what they have use all money accrued to the state in thirteen years of the PDP led government in the state” The APC standard bearer who urged people of the state especially the civil servants to keep faith with his team by voting the APC in the forthcoming governorship election, promised that all salary arrears would be paid immediately he resume office.

C M Y K

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

PRESENTATION: From Left: CEO, Fyodor Biotechnologies Corps, Eddy Agbo; MD, Geneith Pharm Ltd., Emmanuel Umenwa and Director, Fyodor Biotechnologies Ltd, Emeka Ugwu-Oju during a media parley last week, prior to unveiling of the UMT in Nigeria.

Nigerians can now test for malaria parasite in urine

By Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

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ILLIONS of Nigerians are diagnosed with malaria at least once every year and experts say one of the biggest challenges of malaria management is obtaining a correct diagnosis before treatment.

Thanks to scientific research, Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief from the inconveniencies of existing laboratory malaria confirmatory tests because all that may be required to test for malaria parasite in the convenience of your own home, could be just a few drops of urine.

Malaria proteins The revolutionary new process, dubbed Urine Malaria Tests, UMT, is a 25-minute simpole dipstick test introduced

by Fyodor Biotechnologies Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of Fyodor Biotechnologies Corp, in the US. UMT is a simple dipstick test that uses immunochromatographic technology to detect malaria proteins shed in the urine of persons with fever due to malaria.

The product, which would be marketed in Nigeria by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Ltd is the first ever non-blood malaria test that would tell in 25 minutes or less if a fever was due to malaria or not. At a media launch in Lagos, Chief Executive C M Y K

Officer, Fyodor Biotechnologies Corps, Mr. Eddy Agbo noted that approximately half a million people die of malaria every year in which most malaria deaths occur within 48 hours of fever onset and children under 5 years are particularly vulnerable, “fever is a sign of malaria, but many other disease causes fever. So, prompt accurate diagnosis is critical in point of care setting.”

“The test process is simple: add patient’s urine into sample cup provided in kit; dip and leave UMT strip in the sample for 25 minutes; read result: one line indicates no malaria and two lines indicate malaria.”

Agbo explained that UMT empowers healthcare providers to be able to follow national and international guidelines of test before you treat for malaria case management in all cases of fever,

and suitable for us in both public and private healthcare setting.

“Fyodor has worked closely with many collaborators and partners to ensure that the UMT undergo full-scale pivotal clinical trial. Pre-clinical and clinical validation studies were conducted in partner with College of Medicine, University of Lagos; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital; Johns Hopkins University USA; Duke University USA; the Federal Ministry of Health and National Malaria Elimination Programme; Lagos State Ministry of Health and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control,” The product will be officially launched into the market on the 11th of November at the National Hospital, Abuja, and a follow up launch in Lagos on the 18th, said Managing Director Geneith Pharm Limited, Emmanuel Umenwa: “In the cause of marketing, sales and distribution of UMT, mPedigree, (Mobile Authentication Service, MAS) is on each pack for consumers to scratch and text to ensure product integrity, so that consumers can confirm product authenticity,” he noted.

UMT is a simple dipstick test that uses immunochromatographic technology to detect malaria proteins shed in the urine of persons with fever due to malaria

NAPharm honours Jega

By Chioma Obinna

T

HE immediate past Chair man of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, NAPharm.

The event holds tomorrow during the investiture of 22 new Fellows of the Academy, in recognition of Jega’s selfless service and contribution to the stability and progress of Nigeria.

NAPharm Vice President, Ifeanyi Atueyi, on behalf of NAPharm President, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said the first set of Fellows was inauguratedwith 48 foundation Fellows in 2014.

“NAPharm, a strategic organ of Pharmacy in Nigeria, is made up of successful pharmacists, who have distinguished themselves in the corporate world, in the academia and public service and have contributed to nation building.

“It provides expert opinion and thought leadership in the education and practice of pharmacy.

Also, NAPharm promotes harmony and team spirit among members of health team and other relevant professionals. It also networks with similar Academies within and outside Nigeria and partners with relevant regulatory bodies and associations to ensure high ethical standards in practice of the profession,” Adelusi-Adeluyi said.

DRASA: Stella Adadevoh’s lasting legacy debuts

By Sola Ogundipe

‘C

ARVE your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”

This quote by Shannon Alder came to mind Tuesday last week at the Civic Centre, Lagos, during the inauguration of the Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, DRASA, Health Trust.

It was October 20, 2015, exactly one year after Nigeria was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation, and the event was in remembrance of the nation’s Ebola heroes and heroines.

A public health awareness campaign known as #ItStartsWithMe was launched along with the Health Trust.

At the unveiling of the initiative, glowing tribute was paid to the memory of the late Lead Consultant of First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, and others whose gallant

efforts ensured that the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, was defeated in the country.

Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was the doctor who correctly diagnosed and contained the first Ebola patient in Nigeria in 2014.

Her keen perception, courage, and steadfastness, led to the subsequent tracing of all Ebola cases in Nigeria to one path of transmission originating with the index case - Patrick Sawyer.

DRASA is a nonprofit organisation working with partners and collaborators to improve and advance healthcare in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of infectious diseases and ethics, both of which the late Adadevoh lived and died for.

The initiative strives to connect funding and resources, implementing organizations and associations, and the areas of greatest need in the health system.

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal

Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute; Governor Abimbola Ambode of Lagos State, represented by Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga and the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.

Donations from the event go towards implementing DRASA’s vision to support the healthcare system through simulation training in ethics, infectious diseases and outbreak preparedness/response.

INAUGURATION: The Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Executive Team, Board of Trustees, and a member of the Board of Advisors, during the unveiling of the DRASA Health Trust in Lagos last week.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 47

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 49

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

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Ezi community in Aniocha appeals to Gov Ok owa Oko

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HE people of Ezi community in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State have appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to redress the long issue of political marginalization of its people by appointing their sons and daughters into some positions in his administration in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

Rising from a meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the community leaders who met under the auspices of Ezi Patriots said the community has suffered long and serious neglect in the hands of previous administrations in the state as none of their sons or daughters had ever manned any political office be it elective or appointive at the state level.

A statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Emeka Oshuoha and Comrade Nnamdi Ofonye respectively, said the people decided to make the call as one of the many but peaceful options adopted to draw the attention of the government and other well meaning stakeholders across the state to their plight.

Apart from political appointments, the community noted that they have again been schemed out of the present e m p o w e r m e n t programme of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration as none of their sons or daughters was shortlisted in the more than 1500 beneficiaries so far released while also lamenting the lack of government’s presence in the area of provision of infrastructures and basic amenities in the community.

The statement read in part, “it is a pity that a community that prides itself to have produced the first catholic reverend father in West Africa, the late Rev. Fr. Paul Emecheta, will be allowed to face such level of neglect and marginalization.

There is no light, no road and no water as even the very foundation of the community has continuously been threatened by perennial gully erosion. This is traceable to the fact that there has never been any body from this community in any position of authority at the state or federal level to speak or draw government’s attention to these ills facing its people."

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 51

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

Endorsements for Obiano

By Ejike Anyaduba

N

OT long after the results of the 2013 governorship election in Anambra State were declared, a friend of mine visited. She came amidst worries over the turn of events. Exuding no geniality and completely void of her characteristic warmth, she expressed fears that the incoming government might not deliver.

She was skeptical the administration does not have the experience and political will to contend with peculiar challenges of leadership in the state. Every effort to convince her otherwise failed as she kept muttering the fear of possible relapse into the era when nothing positive worked in the state and everything untoward happened to it.

Eighteen months on, and with her fear far from materializing, she has since recanted her opinion. She did not do so while on another visit. The renunciation came at a ceremony in the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka when the school hosted a team of researchers from McDonald Institute of Archeology, Cambridge University. The team had earlier visited Anambra State and was at the University to fraternize with the academia. Just before the close of the session, my friend sidled up to me in greeting.

Good governance As the team made to leave for the Institute’s gallery at the base of the building, she pulled me by the cloak and almost with a blush said: “You were right that guy (the governor) is bespoke for the job. I am afraid I misread his breezy nature for lack of will to weather political storm in Anambra and still deliver on good governance”. Surprised, I asked her what has changed since our last discussion. As she was set to shrive herself of the “sin of presumption” I hurled myself out of doors - in time - to catch up with the team.

At that point she yelled out greetings to the governor. I was flushed with joy.

It may be difficult to keep track of the frequency of this type of endorsements. Suffice it to say that it comes nonetheless, and does not do so by persuasion and or inducement. The endorsers seem well convinced of the effort of the government to make Anambra first choice destination for investors and tourists. Even skeptics, those who did not support the governor out of political

security, investment, infrastructural development, health, agriculture, commerce, welfare etc, under two years, to earn it support across party lines. To the discomfiture of detractors, Obiano’s government has effectively combined holistic development with welfare - an uncommon development witnessed only in a few states. But more than that, it has also maintained a certain level of fidelity in keeping promise.

Dwindling federal allocation

Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State differences, have since denied their positions. Until very recently, the Willie is working and ndi Anambra are happy slogan was thought to be a perfunctory chant. Or that the sloganeers do so just to keep up with the Jonesses. Truth is that it is not a rhythmic phrase sung by the crowd alone; others not as common also chorus it with a lot of conviction.

The stakeholders’ meeting the governor had recently where he presented his scorecard to ndi Anambra gave a bird’s-eye view of his widening support base. His achievements as well as efforts at uniting and building bridges among contending interests in the state were roundly appreciated by the people on that day.

Notwithstanding obvious gains from the meeting, detractors have since imputed other meanings to it. I read somewhere on the net where the picture taken by the governor and ex-governor Chris Ngige at the event was subject to a lot of interpretation.

They seem disturbed by possible closeness between both men. But they forgot that

Obiano’s government has effectively combined holistic development with welfare - an uncommon development witnessed only in a few states

Obiano earned the support of virtually every Anambra person, including Ngige, just few months into office. Prompt security of lives and properties was all the government needed to do to endear itself to the people. I recall a lot of people, pleased by the governor ’s effort, who had offered to work for him to be in power even for a third term. Such is the acceptance of the administration w h i c h successfully brought sanity to the state. Ngige on his part had earlier s h o w n support to t h e government through discussions and in writing. A reporter and his friend once told me how the exgovernor asked him to visit Obiano if he has not done so and experience the man’s honesty. The ex-governor had also written in defense of Obiano in the Guardian newspaper when the governor w a s erroneously blamed for the Oyolu Oze/Church dispute.

It is fair to argue that t h e government has done so much in

Such promise would probably suffer redemption under another governor. But Obiano has proved he is of different hue politically. He has kept the promise not to sack any of the civil servants employed almost at the dawn of the administration. He has also kept the promise to increase salaries of workers once the state IGR improves.

Finally, he has kept the promise not to owe salaries of workers no matter the dwindling federal allocation to states, and to do so promptly.

He has done all of these and more.

Unfortunately, the effort is yet

to deter detractors from casting slur and cyber-bullying the administration on the net. On occasion, the governor ’s unstinting hospitality has been called intemperance while his strict adherence to quality is branded a waste. Hardly, have his critics faulted him on point of governance.

They rely on misinformation, especially on the net because of the permissive nature of that organ of information dissemination, to defame him.

Fortunately for the government the flurry of endorsement has been hard and fast. And it (government) has continued to improve on existing achievements to bequeath a better Anambra for posterity.

Already there is a constellation of star investors in the state and they have effectively invested over $2.4 billion in almost all the sectors of the economy, especially agriculture. The projection is that over 50% of unemployed youths will be taken out of the street in the next two years.

This will undoubtedly improve life in the state, attract more endorsements and widen the support base of the government.

•Anyaduba writes from Abatete

To be concluded tomorrow

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015 — 53

Siasia calls Ekpolo, Oduwa for Senegal 2015 H

•Barcelona kid star, Ekpolo

EAD Coach of the U23 National Team, Samson Siasia has invited FC Barcelona B team defender Godwin Elohor Ekpolo and Nathan Oduwa of Glasgow Rangers to camp for the secondAfrica U-23 Nations Cup taking place in Senegal 28 November - 12 December this year.

Coach Siasia explained he is inviting both players to come and fight for jerseys in the team as he intends to build to strong team that will do the nation proud not only in Senegal but at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year.

“After the All Africa Games in Congo, I noticed some departments of the team that needed to be worked on, so I decided to extend my dragnet in search of players who have shown interest in playing for Nigeria in a bid to building a solid team that will be the pride of all

Granada to stop Success from Africa U-23 Cup be heading off to Senegal Federation experienced of Nations with the Olympic Team in difficulties before securing

D

REAM Team coach, Samson Siasia may have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Granada forward, Isaac Success who was among the foreignbased professionals called to the U-23 camp ahead of the Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal, next month.

Reports say the Nigeria youth international will not

November as his Spanish club Granada want to capitalise on the fact that the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations falls outside of Fifa’s international match calender.

A representative of Success pointed out how very important the player is to the Andalusian outfit.

He recalled that the Nigeria Football

FIFA Continues from B/P me. But I find the Businessman from Nigeria Kalu very qualified and interesting because he is not only a businessman, but a politician with lots of contacts and corporate experience. He can bring his great experiences to bear in the running of world football.

He is passionate about the game. I remember how he sponsored one of Nigerian clubs to win the CAF championship twice. He is a man that can take world football to the next level’’, Blatter told the Swiss Radio monitored on Sunday.

Blatter said though Kalu had not formally declared his interest, it was in the best interest of Africa to nominate C M Y K

him because of his deep passion for the game. “If Africa hopes to win the support of other federations, then they must queue behind the Nigerian business man.

Football has developed beyond just anybody taking over. I sacked Jerome Champgne in 2010 so how can he come back to lead an Association he tried to destroy. You need a man who can command respect and win friends for football. With Kalu Africa stands a better chance, he concluded.

CAF is expected to meet next week to decide on a candidate for the election scheduled for next year. Orji Kalu and Segun Odegbami are the two candidates vying for the post from Africa,

his release for the Fifa Under 20s, a tournament sanctioned by football’s governing body for that matter.

“Success will not come, he will not be released. It is a problem, he is one of their top strikers and the coaches should look for alternatives, “ Success’s rep told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“If the competition was held during their break, he would have had no problem honouring the call - up. He is doing well now.

Nigerians,” Siasia said.

Siasia however appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him and his technical team as they go about building a solid U-23 squad for Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Coach Siasia has directed all clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League requesting for the release of their players for league games to send their request to the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, as he (Siasia) has no power to release any player.

Expressing displeasure at the requests being made by these clubs for the release of their players, Coach Siasia said: “While I understand with them that they need their players for club engagements, I also want to remind them that they need to co-operate with us to qualify for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games, and the only way we can achieve this objective is by having all the players in camp to train so we can pick only the best legs.”

The U-23 supremo disclosed that for now, no player will be released from the camp, and that aside those in the Super Eagles B that are in Ouagadougou for Sunday ’s CHAN qualifier against Etalons of Burkina Faso, all other players must report to camp and be part of the team’s training session on Monday, October 26, or forget about reporting to camp altogether.

Eagles Continues from B/P struggled to find their bearing and did not create chances.

And so the boast of Burkina Faso coach Idrissa Traore that his team will cancel out Nigeria’s two goals within 30 minutes of the second leg was therefore just what it was - a boast.

The Eagles starting strike force led by Sunshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji, which also had Ezekiel Bassey and Osas Okoro, was again ineffective as was the case in the first leg in Nigeria.

Gbolahan Salami and Chisom Chikatara were introduced in the second

half in an effort to pep up the Nigeria attack.

The highlight of the match was recorded in the 21st minute, when the home team Burkina Faso failed to go ahead from the penalty spot after Austin Oboroakpo handled the ball inside his own 18-yard box.

Abia Warriors defender Oboroakpo was booked for the hand ball.

Oboroakpo, who has been compared to ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche Okechukwu, was outstanding in the heart of the Eagles defence as he kept out everything Les Etalons threw at them.

It also showed where the pressure was.

Edo FA wants Falode in women’s football revolution •Mama Sports hails Falconets SA win administrator, Felix

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HE Edo State Football Association led by highly experienced sports journalist, Frank Ilaboya, has added fillip to the questions being raised by administrators of the game and said that Edo Queens Chairperson’s, formerly known as Inneh Queens, Aisha Falode has the capacity to turn things around.

Ilaboya, who spoke at the weekend after the burial of top sports journalist, coach and

Osagie Okugbe, declared that going by the antecedents of the widely travelled sportscaster and administrator of note there cannot be a better person to reposition Nigeria Women’s football for regeneration than Falode.

“We have heard all the noise they have made about moving the game forward but the NFF under Alhaji Aminu Maigari, made a strong statement by appointing Falode, the Coordinator of all the Women’s national teams and I think its about time we ask her to lead the body proper for better direction, sponsorship and to return our women’s football to where it rightly belong not only in Africa but globally.

The national teams’ Coordinator has on her own refused to make a statement on her next move even as she agreed that Women’s football in the country requires urgent repositioning.

•Falode

NFF Continues from B/P over host Chile earlier in the tournament.

“With my over 40 years experience in football as a player and coach, I can categorically tell you that your technical crew led by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has done remarkably well in training and preparing you for this tournament,” he noted .

“I commend them for being able to impact to you the spirit of hard work and discipline, but whatever you achieve at this tournament would be down to your personal and collective attitude as players.”

The former Nigerian international reminded the Eaglets about the huge responsibility in the defence of the trophy and graphically explained that hard work and discipline without positive attitude, could lead to failure.

“We lost to Croatia on Friday because of poor attitude,” he insisted.”We had a brilliant attitude before we played USA and Chile. Unfortunately, we lost the same attitude and composure against Croatia. We can’t afford to display such attitude as we go into the knockout stages and we believe you can excel with strong mental attitude starting with the Round of 16 match on Wednesday,” noted Lagunju, a gifted winger who played for defunct Leventis United, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Bendel Insurance in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have since arrived Vina del Mar with preparations already on for the Round of 16 match on Wednesday, starting with a training session yesterday. They will also train twice today and once on Tuesday.

54 – Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

City back on top after goalless draw at Manchester Villa sack United manager Sherwood T Kane nets A hat-trick HIS was the first goalless draw in this famous fixture since November 2010 and given the disappointing quality on show the fair result. Yet Manchester Unitedcame close to claiming the 170th derby as the end neared.

Anthony Martial was about the best player on show from either team and on 84 minutes he illustrated why. Stepping inside from the left wing position Louis van Gaal again asked him to play, he flipped over a precise pass into Jesse Lingard. The second-half substitute stuck out a leg to instinctively volley this and was unlucky to see the ball rebound from Joe Hart’s bar.

Moments later Chris Smalling struck a knockdown from Marouane Fellaini – another replacement – at Hart and he saved well.

This late action made the preceding dour stuff the more disappointing.

Martial seems wasted by Van Gaal when not operating as the No9.

Wayne Rooney again played there and was as ineffective as he has been for a long while.

Yet Manuel Pellegrini was also culpable of not seizing the initiative. With David Silva injured Kevin De Bruyne is the natural No10 for City yet he was stuck out on the right and Yaya Touré, who is no quick-minded reader of games, played there.

Eleven minutes had passed when a first shot was sighted. This came from Raheem Sterling and the manner of the pausethen-shoulder drop inside United’s area was reminiscent of the composure that netted him a hat-trick against Bournemouth the previous weekend.

No goal followed but Van Gaal’s side had been given a first warning.

Moments later, City received the same. This time it was Martial. He mirrored Sterling’s youthful zest by skipping past Fernandinho and drawing the foul and the latter’s entry into Mark Clattenburg’s book for the opening yellow card.

When the 19-year-old was felled again moments later Rooney sent in a dipping free-kick that was awkward for the City rearguard who did enough to stymie the danger.

STON Villa fired manager Tim Sherwood on Sunday after eight months in charge of the English Premier League club.

Villa lost 2-1 at home to Swansea on Saturday, a sixth straight defeat in the league, having not won since the opening day of the season in August against Bournemouth.

The club, owned by American Randy Lerner, is rock bottom of the Premier League with only four points from 10 matches.

H

ARRY Kane rediscovered his goalscoring touch as he scored a hat-trick in Tottenham’s 5-1 Premier League win at AFC Bournemouth on a difficult day for Artur Brouc.

Bournemouth, who went into Sunday’s game at the Vitality Stadium bidding to avoid a fourth straight game without a win, broke the deadlock inside the first minute.

Matt Ritchie’s vicious close-range finish put the hosts ahead, only for Tottenham - aided by an error-strewn performance from Bournemouth goalkeeper Boruc - to take control with three goals in 20 minutes.

SANDWICHED . . . Manchester United’s striker Wayne Rooney (L) is sandwiched by Manchester City’s defenders Vincent Kompany (C) and Bacary Sagna (R) during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester. Photo: AFP

Mourinho’s future hangs in balance

J

OSE Mourinho’s future at Chelsea looks ever more precarious after an extraordinary 2-1 defeat at London rivals West Ham on Saturday, where he was sent to the stands for confronting referee Jon Moss at half-time.

Mourinho faces a hugely important week, with Saturday ’s game against Liverpool assuming enormous significance after the club suffered a disciplinary meltdown at Upton Park.

•Mourinho

FIFA: Sexwale joins race A N apartheid-era political prisoner turned multimillionaire mining tycoon has joined the race to be Fifa president. The South African Tokyo

Sexwale announced his intention to run in next year ’s emergency election to replace Sepp Blatter after receiving the endorsement of the South African Football Association.

Sexwale said at a

news conference in Johannesburg that he would submit his candidature papers to Fifa to meet Monday’s deadline after receiving the unanimous backing of his national federation.

Nemanja Matic was sent off, while assistant coach Silvino Louro was also banished to the stands as Chelsea slumped to their fifth league defeat this season.

Mourinho confronted Moss in the tunnel after a disputed offside goal was disallowed and Matic had been sent off just before half-time.

The Chelsea manager was then invited into the referee’s room to be dismissed. He spent the rest of the match in the directors’ box and both he and the club face another raft of disciplinary charges.

The club will face an automatic FA fine for their players receiving seven yellow cards in the game, in addition to the red cards shown to Mourinho and Louro.

They will also be fined by the Premier League after Mourinho failed to fulfil post-match media requirements.

Adriano spares hosts´ blushes

L •Sexwale

UIZ Adriano’s late header salvaged a vital Serie A victory for AC Milan as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men overcame 10-man Sassuolo 2-1 at San Siro.

The pressure has

mounted on Milan coach Mihajlovic over recent weeks, with his side having only won three of their opening eight league fixtures prior to Sunday’s game.That poor form looked set to continue

when Domenico Berardi’s outstanding free-kick levelled proceedings shortly after the interval, with Carlos Bacca’s penalty having given Milan the lead on the halfhour mark.

•Sherwood

Coloccini sees red as Sunderland hammer Newcastle

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UNDERLAND made it six derby wins in a row as they hammered 10-man Newcastle 3-0 at The Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Newcastle bossed the first 45 minutes until firsthalf stoppage time when their skipper Fabricio Coloccini was controversially sent off for a shoulder barge on Steven Fletcher. The referee Robert Madley awarded the penalty, which Adam Johnson converted, and sent Coloccini off to compound matters for the visitors and the raging Steve McClaren.

And from there on in the Geordies were chasing the game as Billy Jones (65) added a second – hammering home from close range from a corner – while Fletcher (86) capped off the win with a volley from a second-half breakaway.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015–55

Ethiopia qualify for Chan 2016 E

THIOPIA quali fied for Chan 2016 in style after whitewashing visitors Burundi 3-0 in a one sided match return leg clash played on Sunday in Addis Ababa.

Walia Ibex came into the game needing to score three goals after they were beaten 2-0 last weekend in Bujumbura and they responded with a fine display to qualify for next year ’s tourney.

Gatoch Panom was the hero with two goals Walia to the massive victory to qualify for their second Chan after their 2014 debut.

Seyoum Tesfaye broke the deadlock with a brilliant header in the 38th minute as he gave Ethiopia the much needed opener.

Ethiopia continued from where they had left off in the second half as their relentless pressure

paid off when the referee awarded them a penalty after infringement.

Panom stepped up to calmly slot in the penalty and he completed his brace ten minutes later with another brilliant header to seal victory and passage to Rwanda in January next year.

Walia Ibex coach Yohannes Sahle who had been severely criticized after the first leg loss was over the moon after the win.

“It is a great victory that has assured our place in the 2016 Chan in Rwanda. I want to congratulate my players for their relentless effort and great team work despite the fact that most pundits had written us off. I want to also thank the federation and the fans for standing by us its a great moment,” Sahle told supersport.com.

Robben is mind-blowing – Guardiola

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•Ethiopian players in yellow jersey on their way to qualifying for CHAN 2016 finals.

CHAN 2016: Guinea beat Senegal •As Angola eliminate S/Africa

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UINEA and Angola caused the biggest shocks of the weekend so far as they qualified for the finals of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

Guinea qualified for the tournament for locally based players for the first time after three failed attempts by eliminating Senegal.

Angola lost at home to South Africa in the second leg of their qualifier, but still managed to progress thanks to an aggregate victory.

Hosts Senegal came from behind against Guinea on Saturday to triumph 3-1, but went out on away goals after losing the first leg 2-0 last weekend.

Zambia, Gabon and Mali also booked places at the biennial tournament, which Rwanda hosts from 16

January to 7 February next year.

Goals from Aboubacar Mouctar Sylla and Aboubacar Iyanga Sylla gave Guinea a 2-0 firstleg advantage over Senegal a week ago in a game switched to Mali because of the Ebola epidemic.

That advantage stretched to three goals just three minutes into the return match on an artificial surface at Stade Demba Diop in Dakar when Aboubacar Bangoura scored.

Sylvain Badji triggered a Senegalese recovery with a 13th minute goal and a late second-half brace from Ibrahima Sory Keita set up a tense climax.

AYERN Munich coach Pep Guardiola has taken the time to praise Arjen Robben in the wake of his sublime performance in the 4-0 Bundesliga win over Cologne.

The Netherlands international made his comeback after a sevenweek spell on the sidelines due to injury and capped a fine outing with a goal to set the ball rolling for Bayern.

“He’s got this nose for goal, the right mentality, professionalism, charisma. And he has mind-blowing quality in one-on-ones,” Guardiola told the official Bayern website, before warning that the Dutchman still needs match rhythm.

“He was injured for the last three months of the previous campaign.

He’s just made his fourth [Bundesliga] appearance of this season.

He needs more time.”

Robben himself, meanwhile, was delighted with his return to action after several weeks of inactivity.

“I’m so happy about returning to the pitch. I even played from the start, which was a surprise,” he commented.

“It’s a nice reward for the hard work."

Zambia through to Chan finals

Z

AERIAL BATTLE.... Chipolopo of Zambia player (r) goes for a header against Namibian opponent.

Female Super 6 begins October 30 in Umuahia

By Jude Opara, Abuja

A

LL is now set for the kickoff of the 2014/ 2015 Super Six competition of the Nigeria Female Football League billed to take place at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Chairman of the league, Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma told Sports Vanguard over the weekend that the mini tournament is expected to produce the overall winner of the season.

She said the teams that will do battle at the championship include; Delta Queens, C M Y K

Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarrawa Queens, Confluence Queens of Kogi and Sunshine Queens of Akure.

Speaking on the format of the play-off, Onyedinma said to make the best out of the one week granted by the Abia State government, the six teams will be grouped into two, and the winners of each of the groups will play to determine the overall champion.

She also used the opportunity to express her gratitude to the government and people of Abia State for ac-

cepting to host the championship despite other demanding projects on their hand.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Female League board, I wish to once more thank Governor Okezie Ipkeazu and the good people of Abia State for accepting to host this championship. In fact Abia ranks number one in the area of youth development because apart from sponsoring a female team, it has two clubs in the Nigeria Premier League and one in the Nigeria National League.”

AMBIA booked their place in the finals tournament of the 2016 African Nations Championship on Sunday courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate win over Mozambique.

The Chipolopolo defeated the Mambas 3 - 0 in the first leg played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium a week ago thanks to goals by Winston Kalengo, Conlyde Luchanga and Spencer Sautu.

Lwandamina’s men secured qualification following a 1 - 1 draw in the second leg played at Machava Stadium on Sunday.

Festus Mbewe’s headed the Chipolopolo in front on 20 minutes while Mozambique scored their goal in the 85th minute through Momed Hagi who converted from the penalty spot following a hand

ball inside the area by Christopher Munthali.

Zambia join already qualified teams Rwanda (hosts), Angola, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, DR Congo, Morocco and Tunisia, with seven more teams expected to qualify on Sunday evening.

The draw for the finals tournament will be held in Kigali on November 18.

Rwanda will host the fourth edition of the African Nations Championship (Chan) from January 16 to February 7.

2016 CHAN qualifiers Mauritania 1-1 Mali (Mali win 3-2 on aggregate) Senegal 3-1 Guinea (agg: 3-3, Guinea win on away goals) Gabon 0-1 Chad (Gabon win 2-1 on aggregate) Mozambique 1-1 Zambia (Zambia win 4-1 on aggregate) Angola 1-2 South Africa (Angola win 3-2 on aggregate) Burkina Faso 0 v Nigeria 0 (agg: 0-2) (Ties played over two legs, home and away, except in Northern Zone)

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015

FIFA: Blatter backs Kalu S

CHAN 2016:

USPENDED FIFA president Sepp Joseph Blatter has openly declared his support for former Abia state Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu to occupy the

Eagles qualify

exalted position of FIFA President, even as he has faulted the candidature of former Secretary General Jerome Champagne and Prince Alli of Jordan.

Speaking in Zurich, Blatter said “ The position of the FIFA president is too important to be left to just anybody. I have heard of some candidates who want to take over from

•Kalu

Continues on Page 53

N

IGERIA Sunday did enough to qualify for their second CHAN after they held hosts Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw to advance 2-0 on aggregate.

The first leg in Port Harcourt a week ago ended 2-0 in favour of the home-based Eagles.

Hosts Burkina Faso dominated the return leg game, but just could not translate this dominance into goals as the Eagles

NFF tells Eaglets to forget Croatia loss

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) has strongly advised the Golden Eaglets to put behind Friday’s 2-1 loss to Croatia in Coquimbo and refocus their mind on greater performance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Addressing the team shortly before their departure from Coquimbo to Vina del Mar on Saturday, NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Siji Lagunju said the Golden Eaglets can be back to winning ways if they discover the same strong mental attitude that saw them to an impressive 2-0 win against USA and 5-1 win

Continues on Page 53

Mourinho’s future uncertain •Page 54

•Salami

Continues on Page 53

•Amuneke

Results

EPL

Sunderland Bournemouth Man United Liverpool

3 1 0 1

Newcastle United Tottenham Man City Southampton

Levante Las Palmas Barcelona

0 Real Sociedad 0 Villarreal 3 Eibar

La Liga

0 5 0 1 4 0 1

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Rescind (6) 5 Fiery (6) 8 Killer (8) 9 Intend (4) 10 Vitality (3) 12 Staid (5) 15 Damp (3) 17 Serpent (3) 18 Consumed (3) 19 Devil (3) 20 Eject (5) 21 Cur (3) 22 Epoch (3) 23 Ovum (3) 24 Spike (3) 26 Stormed (5) 29 Stray (3) 33 Leer (4) 34 Pervade (8) 35 Drive (6) 36 Liniment (6)

DOWN 2 Follow (5) 3 Cheese (4) 4 Lariat (5) 5 Taut (5) 6 Incline (4) 7 Angry (5) 10 Cost (5) 11 Examination (5) 12 Javelin (5) 13 Fetch (5) 14 Assessed (5) 15 Jam (5) 16 Animal (5) 25 Boring-tool (5) 27 Horrify (5) 28 Enlist (5) 30 Proportion (5) 31 Ooze (4) 32 Trial (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chic 4, Art 6, Spar 8, Delete 9, Advice 10, War 12, Habit 14, Great 15, Caged 18, Severe 20, Idiocy 24, Tepid 26, Stand 28, Genus 30, Ode 32, Senior 33, Salute 34, Here 35, Lay 36, Yell.

DOWN: 2, Hyena 3, Crevice 4, Anew 5, Tear 6, Sever 7, Achaic 11, Ape 12, Has 13, Tar 16, Get 17, Dip 19, Extreme 21, Dig 22, Ideally 23, Yes 25, End 27, Noise 29, Until 30, Oral 31, Espy.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Ag.Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K