FG probes N3.8trn missing oil funds

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62438

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

BVN DEADLINE: Customers in last minute rush as CBN, banks meet tomorrow 54

FG probes N3.8trn missing oil funds

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Ben Agande

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•AS Presidency, NEC set up four govs probe committee •Probes another $2.1bn withdrawn in last 6 months of Jonathan's govt •Why Jonathan left "empty treasury"— Ex-Special Adviser

•Find money to pay your workers, Buhari tells govs

LAST MINUTE RUSH FOR BVN REGISTRATION

BUJA—A PANEL of four governors was, yesterday, constituted to probe the affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, following revelations that the corporation withheld N3.8 trillion of the N8.1 trillion generated from oil receipts.

The committee comprising governors of Gombe, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states is also to unravel circumstances of the disappearance of another $2.1 billion which was allegedly unilaterally withdrawn by the Goodluck Jonathan

Continues on Page 5

Zenith, FirstBank, GTbank, 6 others make top 1000 Global Banks list 9 BVN RUSH—Bank customers struggle to meet

today's deadline for Bank Verification Number (BVN) nationwide. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida and Bunmi Azeez.

CRUDE OIL BUSINESS:

Soldiers on rampage in Delta C M Y K

See Insid e

COLUMNIST: Now, Mary can marry Maria anywhere in US •P.33

ALLEGED FUNDING

BY OIL BARONS: Saraki, Dogara 55 tackle ex-APC chairman, Akande

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

NEC—President Muhammadu Buhari (M); Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo (7thL); with state governors and other members of the National Economic Council after their inauguration by President Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG probes N3.8trn missing oil funds Continues from page 1 administration in the last six months of its tenure.

The revelations came at the end of the inaugural meeting of the new National Economic Council, NEC, in Abuja, yesterday.

Just before the NEC meeting got underway, a senior official of the Goodluck Jonathan administration gave reasons why it passed over an empty treasury to the new government.

Prof. Sylvester Monye, who served as special adviser on monitoring and evaluation to President Jonathan, in an interview, also cautioned the new administration’s officials against sustaining the language of opposition while in office, saying that their continuing propaganda could negatively impact on the sound economic indicators transferred by Dr. Jonathan.

At the inauguration of the NEC, President Buhari cautioned the state governors to shore up their finances towards ensuring that they do not

lag behind in their obligations. He also disclosed plans to channel G-7 funding for the rehabilitation of three states ravaged by Boko Haram.

President Buhari also pledged to adhere strictly to constitutional provisions on the maintenance of the Federation Account which stipulates that all funds from revenue generating agencies should be paid into the Federation Account.

Following the inaugural meeting of the NEC, Governor Oshiomhole accompanied by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel briefed the press.

He disclosed that based on the reports presented

by NNPC and officials of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to the NEC, it was discovered that a total of N3.8 trillion generated from oil revenues in the last three years was

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

A great relationship is about two things, first find out two things, find out the similarities, second, find out the differences — Take Heart Quotes

T

O have calm feeling doesn’t mean that you always smile and agree with everyone no matter what they say because you regard truth highly but don’t want to annoy anybody with it. This is going to the extreme.

Those who try in this way to please everyone, with the desire of getting praise for their good nature, do not necessarily have control of their feelings.

Whoever has control of his feelings follows truth, shares that truth wherever he can, and avoids annoying unnecessarily anyone who would not be receptive anyway.

He knows when to speak and when to be silent, but he never compromises his own ideals and inner peace. Such a man is a force for great good in this world. Be courteous with your language with others, especially your loved ones, if one can do that, he will habitually be kind to all people.

Real family happiness has its foundation on the altar of understanding and kind words. It is not necessary to agree in everything in order to show kindness. Calm silence, sincerity, and courteous words, whether one is agreeing or disagreeing with others is the key to harmonious living.

withheld by the NNPC. Besides, he said that the Ministry of Finance unilaterally spent $2.1 billion from the Excess Crude Account without recourse to the governors between last November and May, 2015.

He said: “This is the first time we had a National Economic Council meeting in which under the instructions of the President, NNPC and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation were compelled to provide information in black and white on issues as it relates to the total sales of Nigerian crude from 2012 to May 2015.

This has never happened before and for us this is profound.

“What we saw from those figures,which I believe Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned about N8.1 trillion, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account between 2012 and May, 2015 was N4.3 trillion and NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 trillion. We are talking about transparency, we are talking about change.

“What it means is that NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 trillion. The major revelation here is that the entire federation, that is the Federal Government, the states and all the 774 local governments, the amount the NNPC paid into the federation account for distribution to these three tiers of government came to N4.3 trillion and NNPC alone took and spent N3.8 trillion.

“Which means the cost of running NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged, what is stolen. These are huge figures.

“So if you were doing the right thning, you won’t have a situation where the NNPC alone will spend N3.8 trillion and remit to the federal, states and local

governments N4.3 trillion which means NNPC is taking about 47 per cent and that explains all the leakages you are talking about.”

ECA withdrawals

On the withdrawals from the ECA, he said: "We looked at the figures for the Excess Crude Account, ECA, the last time the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, reported to the Council and it is in the minutes. She reported by November 2014, that we had $4.1 billion but today the Accountant-General's Office reported that we have $2.0 billion, which means the Honourable Minister spent $2.1billion without authority of the NEC. “That money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government. This is why the NEC has set up a panel to look at what accrued, what it was spent for, when and by whom, so that Nigerians will have the full picture of all the transactions as regards the much talked about Excess Crude Account.”

Giving the mission of the four-man team to probe the NNPC, he said: “The four-man committee will check the books of NNPC most specially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the Federation Account.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State also speaking at the briefing said: “What we have seen in the last few months or years is that the Excess Crude Account was operated unilaterally by the Federal Government, drawings were made unilaterally without consulting those that actually own the money because the Excess Crude Account is 52 per cent owned by the federal government and 48 per cent by the states and LGAs. “So the decision of the NEC is to set up this committee of four to look

at the operations of the Excess Crude Account and make recommendations to council on its future."

Earlier while inaugurating the NEC, President Buhari said: “The Federal Government will abide by the provisions of Sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution and ensure more accountability, transparency and integrity in the Distribution of the Federation Account. All revenue generating agencies such as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) amongst others shall comply with stipulated Financial Regulations and Administrative Instructions in their remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

The President’s assertion could mean the imminent abrogation of the Excess Crude Account, whose operation is currently the subject of litigation.

The President also unfolded plans to attract funding from the G7 countries for the rehabilitation of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I have directed the frontline states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to articulate realistic assessments, costs, locations on Local Government by-LocalGovernment of affected facilities for submission to the President of the G7 for further verification. In addition, the requirements of the military have been prepared by the service chiefs for the consideration of the G7 Nations“, he said.

Why Jonathan left empty treasury

Meanwhile, Prof.

Sylvester Monye, a former special adviser to the president on monitoring and evaluation in the Jonathan administration yesterday explained reasons why the new administration received what it described as an empty treasury.

Speaking on a live Channels Television interview monitored in Lagos, Monye said government was a going concern involving receipts and debits with incoming funds regularly being channelled for budgeted purposes.

Noting that it was wrong for officials of the new administration to claim that they met an empty treasury, he urged the officials to empty their utterances of the propaganda they spoke while in the opposition.

“They are creating bigger problems for themselves because, from my own position where I stand, it is not true. It is not the issue of meeting empty treasury. The fundamental issue is, was there supposed to be anything in the treasury?

“That is the fundamental thing. Before we begin to look at empty treasury or not, we need to look at the provisions of the constitution. The constitution says that any money that is earned from oil sales, tax, customs collection must go into the Federation Account and once it gets in there, it must be shared according to the revenue sharing formula.

“How can you be talking of empty treasury when there is a court case saying that that little savings you have must be shared.”

He thus called for the amendment of the constitution to allow for savings from receipts into the Federation Account saying that under the current provisions there was no provision for savings, a development he said made it necessary for the treasury to be empty at the end of every sharing.

He said the Jonathan administration left behind $1.5 billion in the Sovereign Wealth Fund and another $2.09 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Policeman kills 2 women at Edo funeral It's accidental discharge —POLICE

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By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—THERE was pandemonium at Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State last Saturday as a police officer attached to a traditional ruler shot two women dead during a burial ceremony.

The deceased were identified as Sandra Imakhu, said to have a two-month-old baby on her back, and Aishitu Aliyu, who came from a neighbouring village to assist her friend who was burying her father.

The tragic incident occurred at the burial of one Chief Etu, said to be a retired headmaster in the community.

Vanguard was told that the incident occurred when the traditional ruler ( names withheld) was leaving the burial premises, the officers said to be from the Auchi Area Command shot in the air.

Unfortunately, one of the officers, identified as Corporal Christopher Aliu, shot in the direction of the women and they both died immediately.

However, the two-month-old baby survived.

The incident caused pandemonium in the area as angry youths attempted to lynch the

policemen but for the quick intervention of chairman of the LGA, Mr Emmanuel Momoh, which saved the situation.

Vanguard learned that the matter has been reported to the state governor, Comrade

Adams Oshiomhole, and Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi.

When contacted, the Police Commissioner described the incident as shocking, attributing it to accidental discharge.

He disclosed that the officer has been arrested, while investigation was ongoing.

Adegbuyi, who had earlier warned police officers in the state against unprofessional conduct, assured that the matter would be dealt with accordingly.

THAT WE GET THERE: An overloaded 911 lorry with goods and passengers on LagosOre Expressway. Photo: Wunmi Akinola.

Motorcyclist crushed, 3 injured in Bauchi auto crash B

By Suzan Edeh

AUCHI—A motorcyclist was yesterday crushed to death at Tambari Housing Estate junction, along Bauchi-Jos road in Bauchi State.

The incident, which occurred around 7.30 pm, happened when the motorcycle rider, identified as Nuhu Musur, 27, collided with a Honda Civic car with number plate AA878JMA. Vanguard learned that the rider was trying to manoeuvre between two speeding trucks when he rammed into the car and died on the spot.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said that four persons were involved in the crash, including the motorcycle rider, the driver of the Honda Civic car and two other passengers.

The PPRO said the driver of the Honda Civic car, identified as Moses John, was trying to overtake another vehicle in front of him and in the process, collided with the Boxer motorcycle.

“The incident happened at about 7.30pm around the Tambari Housing Estate along Bauchi-Jos road. ‘’The rider was trying to manoeuvre between two trucks and in the course of doing that he lost control and collided with the Honda vehicle which was also trying to overtake another vehicle

in front of him.

“The two passengers, along with the driver of the Honda vehicle, sustained injuries but nobody

died in the vehicle,” he said.

DSP Mohammed said the scene of the crash was visited by the police traffic section attached to the GRA Division,

adding that all the victims were rushed toATBUTeachingHospitalformedical attention.

Heavy rainfall sacks homes in Yenagoa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — RRESIDENTS of Bayelsa State were yesterday forced to stay away from their normal haunts as they battled to bail out water from their homes, following last Sunday’s heavy rainfall in Yenagoa and its environs.

At press time, it was still raining in the state capital with several homes submerged.

Vanguard investigation revealed that many homes were sacked by flood caused mainly by blocked drains and near absence of functional

drainages in many parts of the capital city.

It was also observed that most of the canals in Yenagoa which could have eased flooding in the metropolis, have been converted to refuse dump by residents, thereby blocking free flow of water into the rivers.

Some residents who spoke to Vanguard, said they spent the better part of the night baling water from their homes.

The residents also said they spent time creating a passage for the surging water to flow into the natural canals in their neighbourhood.

A resident, who simply gave his name as Doubra, said: “It was a terrifying night for us. My home was submerged by water. ‘’All through the night, we were forced to stay awake baling out water and also clearing the debris from the drainage to create free passage for the water.

“This is a frightening experience, we are yet to reach the peak of the rainy season but see what we are passing through.”

Another resident, Ebi, was seen erecting sand bags around his house to prevent water from flowing in.

Police arraign 31 Okada riders over attack perpetrated the mayhem. on ACOMORAN members They were dragged before the

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By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—OGUN State police command yesterday arraigned 31 commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, for allegedly unleashing terror on some members of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria in the state, which

left three seriously injured.

Pandemonium broke out in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, last Sunday when members of two rival motorcycle associations clashed at Isabo, leaving three members of ACOMORAN hospitalised.

The Police subsequently swung into action and arrested 31 suspects, believed to have

a Magistrate's Court at Isabo on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of public peace and felony.

The prosecuting counsel, Sunday Eigbajiale, told the court that the suspects were members of a rival motorcycle association, AkomodeNigeriaLimited,whoattacked membersofACOMORANonSunday which landed three persons in critical condition.

29-year-old security guard nabbed for rape

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—THE police in Lagos have arrested a 29-year-old security guard, identified as Kayode Simon, for allegedly raping a young lady at Owodunni Street, Oworonshoki.

It was gathered that Kayode reportedly had carnal knowledge of the 27year-old victim (names withheld) without her consent.

Vanguard learned that the victim was returning home from a nearby street after buying candle when she was attacked by Kayode who was on night duty.

Recounting her ordeal, the victim said: “At about 11 pm, I was on my way back from where I had gone to buy candle from the next street because there was power failure when he attacked me. “ Several attempts I made to escape were futile as he attacked me. ‘’It was while I was attempting to escape that he gave me a blow on my forehead. He delayed me till it was very late, later he raped me beside a parked vehicle.”

Man remanded in prison for theft

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By Bartholomew Madukwe

AGOS—AN Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has remanded in prison custody a 32-yearold man, John Chijioke, who during his arraignment pleaded guilty to stealing three bags valued at N16,000.

Chijioke, whose address is unknown, was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of stealing.

He (Chijioke) was said to have committed the offence at Arena Shopping Complex, Bolade Oshodi area of Lagos.

The charge read: “That you John Chijioke ‘M’ on June 17, 2015 at about 7 am at Arena Shopping Complex, Bolade Oshodi, in the Ikeja Magisterial District did steal three bags valued at N16,000 a property of one Stanley Ukachi.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—7

Tension in Anambra as 47 Boko Haram prisoners allegedly arrive Ekwulobia Prisons

By Vincent Ujumadu

PROTEST: Taxi drivers protesting alleged extortion by officials of Vehicles Inspection Office, VIO, on Herbert Macaulay

Way, Berger Junction, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTOS.

We killed former FUTA V-C for his earlier attempt thwarted by tracker SUV —Guard, driver Driver’s Widow asked to spend 5 minutes with suspects

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE two domestic staff of late former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Professor Albert Ilemobade, said yesterday they killed him because they wanted to make good money by stealing and selling his RAV 4 sport utility vehicle, SUV. Parading the suspects, including the night guard, Daniel Ita, 24, and driver Olayemi Bamitale, 36, at Ondo State Police headquarters, ýpolice said they were on the trail of other accomplices.

The parade of the suspects came as the 73-year-old wife of the deceased made a wish to the state police commissioner, Isaac Eke, to allow her have a five-minute chat with the killers of her husband.

The suspects confessed that the late 78-year-old Professor of Veterinary Medicine was nice to them, but that they had to kill him because they needed “good money to survive,” by stealing the RAV 4 SUV. Bamitale said he was sacked after he had earlier stolen the car and attempted to sell it, but could not do so because the car had a tracker.

The suspect said he came back after he was released from detention on the order of the deceased. He said the detention annoyed him, so he connived with the guard to finish what he started.

He said he had to kill the professor to avoid failure for the second time.

The suspect said their plan was to flee to a neighbouring country after successfully selling off the car.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered from a top police chief that three other suspects were reportedly in police custody, but were not paraded alongside the

two killers.

Vanguard learned that the other suspects include a herbalist, Dr. Okon, the housemaid and the woman who helped the deceased recruit the night guard and driver.

‘I jumped on his chest several times’

Giving graphic details of how the heinous crime was hatched, Bamitale said the plan to kill his former boss was perfected on a Saturday, while the killing was carried out on Sunday night.

He said: “After I was released from detention on the order of my master, I went back to make another plan. I asked Daniel the guard if he wanted to make good money and he said yes.

So I informed him of my new plan.

“Daniel was the one giving me information about what is happening in the house after I was sacked. He even paid for my transportation to Akure, because I have not been working since I was sent away.

“Daniel lured out Baba (late professor) by telling him that there was an electrical spark in the house after I had stationed myself near the kitchen entrance.

“Immediately Baba came out, I strangulated him, while Daniel put cloth in his mouth to stop him from shouting.

“After a few minutes, Baba was still struggling. I then jumped on his chest several times and he died. We dragged him into the generator house and locked him inside the store that Sunday night.

“We left the house and locked the gate outside so that no one will suspect us. We went inside his bedroom and took the car key and some other items such as i-Pad, two phones, laptop, two bags and N7,000, which we used to fuel the car.

“We left Akure and headed for

The suspects and the SUV. Lagos. We left with those items so that the car will not be tracked again because Baba used these gadgets to activate the tracking.”

He said they were stopped by some policemen at the entrance of Ijapo Estate, adding that the policemen recognised Daniel as the security man to the deceased and were asked to go without further questioning.

Bamitale said they encountered some challenges after men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, booked them for invalid vehicle particulars and they had to sell the phones and i-Pad for N3,000 to pay for the release of the vehicle.

“We sold off the phones and laptops after being booked by FRSC officials. We sold the phones to retrieve the car from them before heading to Ijebu Ode with the hope of selling the car.”

‘Herbalist warned us against killing him’

Corroborating the driver, Daniel said he had earlier visited a herbalist, who warned against the killing of their boss but said Bamitale insisted that the man must be killed if they really wanted to make money without being caught by the police.

Daniel said Bamitale told him that if the professor was not killed, he would track the car again because he was unable to sell the car in his first attempt because the car was tracked and he had to return it.

Speaking before parading the suspects, the Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said the killers were arrested while trying to sell the car at Iloti, Ogun State, to a buyer who became suspicious because of the ridiculous price tag they put on the SUV. He said the buyer later alerted police, who rounded up the suspects where they were lodged.

Eke said the suspects were arrested with the car, marked GGE589 CF, and brought down to Ondo State Police Command.

He also disclosed that relatives of the deceased had identified the corpse and deposited it in the morgue.

He assured the public that the suspects and their accomplices would be brought to book.

“They will be charged to court for murder, not kidnapping,” he said.

Adeseni Ilemobade, who is the last child, said all they wanted was justice. Adeseni asked the killers what their motive was, despite all the family had done for them.

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WKA—THERE was tension in Anambra State yesterday, following reports that 47 Boko Haram suspects have been relocated to Ekwulobia Prisons in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

When rumours of the alleged relocation broke out weekend, hundreds of youths stormed the streets and all markets in the state were shut in protest.

A visit to Ekwulobia Prisons, however, did not show any sign that new inmates were brought there and the prisons officials said they had not received any signal to that effect.

However, Vanguard gathered last night that the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought to Ekwulobia prisons in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, amid tight security.

Yesterday, agitated people in various parts of the state were seen making telephone calls and Ekwulobia, the fourth largest town in the state, has been getting renewed attention, with those whose relations are serving sentences in the medium security prison expressing worry over the development, which they said would put their relations there at great risk, in view of the antecedents of Boko Haram suspects.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Uju Nwogu, could not confirm the development, even as she said Governor Willie Obiano had gone to Abuja to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.

Following the governor’s absence, the weekly state executive council meeting, which holds every Monday, could not hold yesterday.

Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. James Eze, had in a statement, exonerated the governor from the relocation arrangement.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

PIB: House of Reps passed pseudo bill —Ex-c'ttee chair As stakeholders call for urgent passage

By Clara Nwachukwu

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ORT HARCOURT — THE Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, passed by the 7th House of Representatives at the expiration of its tenure may have been a pseudo bill, as the one approved by the Federal Executive Council under former President Jonathan’s administration was not the one passed over to the National Assembly.

Indications to this effect emerged, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when then Chairman of the extant PIB Committee, Mr. Osten Olorunsola, denied authenticity of the bill.

The revelation came even as participants at the forum reiterated the need for urgent passage of a petroleum reform bill to cushion current challenges occasioned by falling oil prices, dwindling revenues, devaluation of the Naira, high interest rates, and worse still the nose-diving of Nigeria’s reserves for the first time in the history of the economy.

Olorunsola, a former Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, petroleum industry regulator, spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a two-day National Petroleum & Power Policy Forum, NPPPF, which opened at the Emmanuel Egbogah Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt.

PIB doctored to suit political interests

This revelation seems to confirm widespread allegations and criticisms that the PIB drafted by the committee was doctored to suit political interests.

Olorunsola, who broke his silence for the first time since his removal from DPR said: “Although the House of Reps passed the PIB, we do not know the details of what they have passed. But one thing I can say for sure is that PIB was not the one approved by Mr President during the FEC meeting.”

Probed further, he recalled: “The PIB approved by the FEC was not what was submitted to the National Assembly. As at the point of submission to the National Assembly, there were a lot of alterations, and I could see those alterations because I still have the original copy with me and the copy submitted to the Assembly. So there was a lot of alterations and some of the clauses were either reworked or amended by the National Assembly.

“Unfortunately, we have not seen exactly what the House of Reps claimed they had passed, but that is water under the

bridge now anyway, because a new process has to be restarted.”

Against the current economic woes, and the fact that the PIB had stalled in a process that lasted 15 years without being passed, stakeholders warned that if the petroleum industry reform is not concluded urgently, the Nigerian economy is in for even harsher times.

PIB should be passed into segments

The Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Emerald Energy Resources, coorganisers of the forum, Dr. Jude Amaefule, said rather than delaying further in view of the dire consequences on the economy, the PIB should be broken and passed in

segments.

He suggested that since the contentious proposals make up only about 20 per cent of the entire bill, the bill can be segmented along the lines of fiscal management, host community benefits and general industry operations.

He said: “Let's pass the bill in segments since 80 per cent of the provisions are favourable.

Even the remaining 20 per cent were opposed because the people did not understand the provisions.

“When we said host community compensation, they thought we wanted to empower the people of the Niger Delta more, but the provision is that if a pipeline passed through your land, at the end of the month you get a cheque as compensation even if you are not in the

Niger Delta.

“The industry is high capital expenditure and we are losing money daily because no new investment is coming in and it will get worse if we don’t act fast.”

NNPC blamed for confusions in PIB

Prof. Yinka Omoregbe, a member of the former Oil and Gas Industry Committee, OGIC, which started the reform process under former President Olusegun Obansanjo, accused the political leaders of selfishness and lack of will to see the reforms through for the benefit of all.

She said despite the fact that there have been multiple versions of the bill, there have actually been only two PIBs presented to the National Assembly in the 15

year band.

Omoregbe, who was also removed unceremoniously as the Company Secretary, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, also blamed the corporation for most of the confusions that trailed the PIB at the Assembly, as it was the most affected by the reforms, which it resisted.

She said: “Let me clarify that there have only been two PIBs. The first one, which is the original bill, was put in 2008, and the revised one of 2012. All that transpired were still part of that; so there was a Senate bill and a House of Reps bill.

"And the proliferation was because of the openings that were noticed because the fiscals were poor. Dr. Rilwani Lukman said we should go in and ensure that some things were done especially for the PSCs, which created the opening for the whole bill to under redrafting and redrafting and so on."

National Assembly to get its radio station soon As Ndume-led Senate c'ttee rolls out agenda soon

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA — NATIONAL Assembly would soon get its own broadcast station saddled with the responsibility of disseminating to the public its activities if the Senate Ad hoc Committee set up to draft the Legislative Agenda for the 8th Assembly completes the assignment and the report adopted at the end of the day.

Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that members of the committee were of the view that it has become imperative to have such a radio station at the National Assembly as obtained in most parliaments of the world, adding that as an arm of government, it must not rely solely on what other media houses report about the upper and lower chambers.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mohammed Ndume, has assured Nigerians that the Senate ad-hoc committee set up to draft the Legislative Agenda for the 8th Assembly would turn in its report in the next one week.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Abuja at the end of the committee’s meeting on the progress made so far towards actualising its set objectives within the stipulated time frame, Ndume explained that it would be the first time the Senate would be coming up with a legislative agenda since the inception of this democracy, adding that details of the agenda would be made public at the completion of the committee’s assignment.

AWARD: Immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), receiving an award from the Chairman, Lagos NBA Branch 2015 Law Week Dinner, Mr. Ebun Sofunde SAN (2nd left), supported by Mr. Wole Olanipekun SAN (left), Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch 2015 Law Week Committee, Mrs. Tolani Edu-Adeola (2nd right), and the Chairman, Lagos NBA Branch, Mr. Alex Muoka (right), during a dinner, organised by the NBA Lagos Branch in Governor Fashola's honour for excellent performance while in office as part of activities to commemorate the 2015 Law Week, in Lagos.

According to him, the ad-hoc committee met, the intention of the members was to bring out ideas that would form the core part of the legislative agenda, which they would present to Nigerians subsequently, adding that the committee would put into the agenda, what Nigerians should expect from the 8th Senate in the next four years.

Ndume, who noted that the people expect the Senate to make meaningful contributions towards bringing the desired positive change in every facet

of the polity, said: “The main purpose for this press briefing is to give you an insight into the activities of this ad-hoc committee that was set last week by the Senate President, to draw up a legislative agenda for the 8th Senate.

"This is the second meeting; we had an inaugural meeting on the same day that we were inaugurated. As you are aware, we have just one week to complete this assignment, and that is why we decided to hit the ground running immediately in order to achieve the set goal

within the stated time frame.

“The details of the legislative agenda will come out when we finish the job. What we intend to do in this meeting is to bring out ideas that will form the core part of the legislative agenda which we intend to present to Nigerians. I believe that ab initio, this is the first time that the Senate will make public what the 8th Senate intends to do for Nigerians who are expecting this change, and especially with this new government and the situation in which this country finds herself."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—9

Zenith, FirstBank, GTbank, six others make Top 1000 Global Banks list As economic difficulties weigh down Nigerian banks in global ranking

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor & Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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AGOS — NINE Nigerian banks made this year's top 1000 global banks even as some of the banks dropped from their former rankings due to the challenges of significant slump in oil prices and general decline in economic activities in the second half of 2014.

The list of top 1000 global banks was released, yesterday, by The Banker magazine in London. The banks that made the top 1000 global banks, which are the top 25 banks in Africa are Zenith, Ecobank, FirstBank, GTbank and Access Banks, Diamond Bank, UBA, Fidelity and FCMB. None of the banks made the top five in Africa. GTB dropped from 415th to 449th just as Access Bank, Fidelity Bank and UBA all slipped from their positions in the previous year.

Diamond Bank joined the list of top 25 banks in Africa while it also made top fast movers on the list alongside Union Bank and Sterling Bank. Sterling Bank was the only new entrant from Nigeria in the global list in 2014.

Ecobank Nigeria’s parent company, Ecobank Transnational, based in Togo, also made a strong showing amongst fast movers, jumping 90 places to place 306th in the global ranking.

According to The Banker, Zenith Bank placed first among Nigerian top banks in terms of Tier 1 capital but 6th in Africa with a capital of $3.162 billion. It was followed by Eco Transnational which is second in Nigeria and 7th in Africa with a capital base of $3.030 billion.

FirstBank ranked 3rd in Nigeria and 10th in Africa with a capital of $2.327 billion.

Next in the ranking is GTbank which came 4th in Nigeria and 13th in Africa. The Banker report said Access Bank is 5th in Nigeria but 15th in Africa with a capital base of $1.398 billion.

Others are Diamond which is 6th in Nigeria and 17th in Africa, UBA ranked 7th in Nigeria and 17th in Africa while Fidelity ranked 8th in Nigeria and 21 in Africa. FCMB on its part was the 9th bank from Nigeria to make the top 25 banks in Africa.

Banks that slip down the rankings

The Bankers report said: “Nigeria’s banks endured a difficult close to 2014, as the significant slump in oil prices caused havoc with the country’s economy.

"Zenith Bank has held its position as the sixth largest bank in Africa, and FirstBank of Nigeria has risen from 424th to 371st on the global list. However, Nigeria’s

MEETING: From left: Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State during the inauguration of National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Guaranty Trust Bank has dropped from 415th to 449th, with its capital base decreasing from $1.95bn to $1.78bn. Access Bank, Fidelity Bank and United Bank for Africa have also slipped down the rankings, though Diamond Bank joins the African top 25 at 579th in the global rankings.

South Africa

“The difficulties of the South African economy are reflected in its banks’ performances in the 2015 Top 1000 ranking, but elsewhere there is good news for Togo’s Ecobank and FirstBank of Nigeria.

“For South Africa’s banking sector, the largest in Africa, 2014 passed in a similar vein to 2013 – both years were dominated by the weak performance of the national economy and the ensuing volatility of the rand.

"In 2013, the rand lost 13 per cent of its value against the

dollar, and though 2014 did not see another rapid depreciation, rand volatility remained high. This hampered the ability of South Africa’s banks to improve their capital adequacy. Four out of its top five lenders have fallen in the Top 1000 World Banks 2015 ranking, with a sixth, African Bank, dropping out of the table entirely.

“Standard Bank remains the continent’s largest bank, though it has dropped from 116th to 123rd in the overall ranking and its Tier 1 capital has fallen slightly from $10.56bn to $10.18bn. FirstRand has held its regional ranking position and increased its capital slightly, but Nedbank Group has dropped from 195th position to 216th and has seen its capital base drop to $4.76bn, from $5.11bn.

Barclays Africa Group, previously known as Absa Group, would have come third in the African rankings with a Tier 1 capital base of $6.09bn, but is excluded from the main ranking as it is a subsidiary

of the UK’s Barclays.

Ecobank improves significantly

“Elsewhere, Togo-based panAfrican lender, Ecobank, has improved significantly on its 2013 performance, climbing 90 places to 306th and increasing its capital adequacy by “The world’s biggest banks continue to lose ground to Chinese rivals, according to The Banker’s latest ranking of Top 1000 banks.

"This year HSBC – which has restructured significantly and increased its focus on Asia – slipped from fifth place to ninth.

Citigroup – which has also curbed its overseas presence – fell from sixth to seventh place.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) fell to 18th place after the UK government bailout thwarted its international ambitions. Before the financial crisis in 2008, HSBC topped the list, Citi placed second and RBS third, measured by capital strength.

Chinese banks powering ahead in ranking

"Meanwhile, Chinese banks are powering ahead in the ranking. China now has three banks in the top five places, with Bank of China moving from seventh place to fourth, and China Construction Bank staying in second place. Agricultural Bank of China moved up from ninth place to sixth."

The top four Chinese banks are also the world’s most profitable.

Combined profits from all Chinese banks in the ranking are almost double those of US rivals and 10 times bigger than those of UK banks. In 2008, both UK and US banks were more profitable than their Chinese counterparts.

“However, Chinese banks are not taking as much global market share as their predecessors.

ICBC, which tops the ranking for the third year in a row, is aiming to have 10 per cent of its assets outside China in five years’ time.

But this is small in comparison with the global banks in their heyday.

Brian Caplen, editor of The Banker, said: “At one time the ambition of the largest banks was to have operations in all parts of the world and across all business sectors. Now they are focussing on a few areas in a bid to restore profitability. We may have seen the end of the global bank.”

While global banks are cutting back on employees – Citigroup has reduced staff by 12 per cent since 2011 and HSBC by nearly 8 per cent with further losses to come – China’s ICBC and in contrast China Construction Bank have each increased staff by 13% over the same period.

China’s big four banks now employ 1.6 million – 1.5 times more than the number employed by the big four US banks.

In most areas of the world, banks increased their profits.

Suffering heavy losses in 2012 and 2013, eurozone banks have increased their profits by 123 per cent from a low base. African banks increased profits by 18%, Latin American banks by 17 per cent and Asian banks by 7.5 per cent.

N192m land fraud: Ex-FCT minister’s aide remanded in prison

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By Soni Daniel

BUJA—FOR allegedly aiding and abetting land fraud for about two years, a former Chief of Staff to the Federal Territory Minister, Yau Mohammed Gital, has been remanded at the Kuje prisons.

Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court, Gudu issued the order for the remand of the suspect and his accomplices who were alleged to have used their positions to demand and receive various sums of money amounting to N192 million under the pretence of securing land allocations for unsuspecting Nigerians.

Gital was charged along one Shuaibu Yakubu, Jibril Tahir

and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before the judge on a 10count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy and forgery.

The accused persons reportedly swindled unsuspecting land applicants of the huge amount, promising to use their positions to secure easy land allocations from the FCDA for them, a promise that turned out to be false.

However, when the charges were read to the suspects in court, they all pleaded not guilty and asked for speedy trial in the case.

One of the charges slammed on the suspects reads: “That you, Yau Mohammed Gital, being the Chief

of Staff to the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration; Shuaibu Yakubu, being a former Special Assistant to the former Chief of Staff; Jibril M. Tahir, being the Managing Director of Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited sometimes between September 2012 and March 2014 in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, with intent to defraud, conspired to do an illegal act, to wit: obtain monies by false pretences from various unsuspecting persons

under the false pretence that the said monies were for the processing/facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” But counsel to the accused persons, Nura Imam, urged the court to admit them to bail while awaiting trial.

But disagreeing with them, Justice Bello ordered the accused remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till July 2, 2015 for ruling on the bail application.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Airtel unveils special offerings for Ramadan

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AGOS—TELE COMMUNICATIONS service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has unveiled special Ramadan offerings to support and encourage its Muslim customers as they observe the holy month while empowering them to connect to families and loved ones at affordable rates.

The offerings, which are by subscription, are in the form of voice, SMS and Data services with benefits tailored to educate, inspire and enhance bonding among Muslims across the country during Ramadan.

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, customers who subscribe to this package will get access to Quran Arabic recitations, prayer from Mecca and also prayer alerts. This service will also help them strictly adhere to their prayer times during this period.

In addition, subscribers will also receive hajj tips and free inspirational messages, which will enrich their knowledge of Ramadan and Islam as a whole. They can further take advantage of the Airtel Hello Tunes to download or purchase Islamic tunes or prayers as a source of inspiration for themselves or for family and loved ones.

Ghanaian bags 17 years jail for dealing in marijuana

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 29year-old Ghanaian, Patrick Mensah, to 17 years imprisonment for dealing in marijuana.

Mensah’s imprisonment followed his conviction by Justice Okon Abang.

The judge, who pronounced the Ghanaian guilty on the strength of his confessional statement and the evidence tendered by the prosecution, said he was “convinced that the accused committed the offence and he is hereby convicted as charged.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had on April 2, (NDLEA) arraigned Mensah on one count of dealing in 27.6 kg of “vegetable leaves” which tested to be Canabis Sativa.

IKORODU ROBBERY: Lagos Assembly focuses waterways security

By Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—TAKING a cue from the way dare-devil robbers struck in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb last week, especially with their use of the waterways as their escape route, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday focused on how to tighten security on waterways in the state.

Towards achieving this, the Assembly has mapped out strategies including calling on the state government to explain the whereabouts of the six gunboats purchased by the immediate past administration for Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, in May 2014.

Gunboats are vessels with fitted weapons to tackle waterway crimes.

The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, however, said it is better to get clarifications from the state government on the whereabouts of the six gunboats purchased by the state government for Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, instead of setting up an ad-hoc committee to probe the whereabouts of the said gunboats.

The House has also called on

the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian Navy and other relevant agencies to provide adequate security along the waterways in the state.

Lagos State Waterways Authority was formed following the enactment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority Act 2008, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) is the organisation responsible for regulating, develop-

ing and managing all aspects of the waterways of Lagos State and apart from the road, the Lagos waterways transport over two million people.

Moving a motion on the robbery incident, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, during plenary called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to strengthen the Waterways Guard Corps.

He stated that the corps should be supported to properly carry out their functions as enshrined in the Lagos State Waterways Agency decree in 2008, and that the two helicopters purchased for LASWA should be made functional.

The House, on reverting to the plenary, consequently adjourned till July 15, 2015, following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.

HELLISH TIMES RETURN: Fuel tanker drivers sneaked back to park at Kirikiri Bridge yesterday, few days after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's task force drove them away. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Aregbesola, debtor governors chose not to pay – MONYE

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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AGOS—PROFESSOR Sylvester Monye, who served as special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on monitoring and evaluation has distanced the Jonathan administration from the failures of the Osun State government to pay salaries, saying Governor Rauf Aregbesola chose not to pay.

Speaking on a live Channels Television interview monitored in Lagos yesterday, Monye said Governor Aregbesola, like other governors was advised by the Jonathan administration to prior-

itise salary payments but chose not to in preference of payment of contractors and other services.

He said: “When the prices of crude started falling, the then minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called a meeting of commissioners of finance to advice that salaries should be made first line charge, that is, if you do not pay

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AGOS—RESIDENTS of Labora Owode in Ibeju- Lekki yesterday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly, asking the lawmakers to save them from hoodlums who had taken over their land.

According to them, the hoodlums, in spite of court injunctions and several complaints and petitions to the police high command had forced them out of their land and rendered them homeless.

The residents, who were led by

ey from the Federation Account.”

Asked on the allegations raised

by Aregbesola against the Jonathan government of running the economy aground, he said: “Jonathan administration was holding his money? Or he couldn’t pay because he couldn’t prioritise salaries? It was his decision not to pay salaries.''

Court withdraws from entertaining Babalakin’s case

By Innocent Anaba

sitting in Lagos, yesterday, withdrew from the fundamental rights AGOS—JUSTICE John suit by Chairman of Bi-Courtney Tsoho of the Federal High Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, against the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Justice Tsoho withdrew from the Messers. Babatunde Olumegbon, suit following a petition by BaMoshood Lanrewaju Rasaq, balakin to the Chief Judge, JusChief Najeem Fatai, Ismaila tice Ibrahim Auta, praying him to Asimu Fatai, Molikiu Ganiyu, re-assign the case to a different Ademola Samuel, among others, judge. displayed various placards, conBabalakin is seeking an order demning the attitude of the hood- barring them from arraigning him lums. on criminal charges filed at the According to them, the hood- Lagos State High Court, Ikeja. lums, who they could not idenHe had in the petition, said there tify or whose sponsors they was no guarantee he would get knew not, stormed the commu- justice from Justice Tsoho. nity with well over 10,000 setAccording to him, the judge vatlers in January, wielding dan- cated an interim injunction he gerous weapons, including guns made on April 29 barring the and cutlasses, with which they EFCC from going on with the proattacked people indiscriminately. posed arraignment pending the

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Ibeju-Lekki community protest at Assembly over land

By Ebun Sessou

salaries first before you embark on any activity, you will have difficulties because revenue is coming down. That was also communicated to the governors: prioritise salary.”

“Therefore, no state governor has any business talking of non payment of salaries because they have continued to receive mon-

determination of the fundamental rights enforcement suit.

Justice Tsoho in the ruling, held that the ex-parte order granted Babalakin was intended as a brief intervention to prevent injury and not meant to last a long time, noting that the order had outlived its lifespan and is no longer valid.

Before the ruling was delivered, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had prayed the court to discharge the restraining order.

In the petition, Babalakin said that the judge discharged the order “without a formal application from the respondents.” They prayed that the case be re-assigned to another judge.

Babalakin had in April sought to stop the AGF and the EFCC from arraigning him again on an alleged N4.7billion fraud.

A Lagos State High Court had in February this year discharged him from the allegation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 11

PROTEST: Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, protesting yesterday, at the scene of the accident which claimed the lives of about 10 of their colleagues last Friday on Sagamu/Benin expressway in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Policemen keeping watch on the students to ensure the situation did not degenerate

OOU students protest colleagues’ death, block expressway

By Daud Olatunji

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ANDEMONIUM broke out, yesterday, when students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye stormed the premises of the company which they believed owned the truck that killed their colleagues, pouncing on the workers and destroying property.

The grieving students had visited the scene of the accident, a stone's throw from the company to pay their last respects to 11 students of the institution who lost their lives to the accident.

The students became agitated when they observed that the company, whose driver reportedly caused the accident was still working and loading products even when some dead bodies were still lying in the morgue of various hospitals.

Eleven students of the institution and a driver had lost their lives during the accident that occurred along Benin-Sagamu expressway in Sagamu Local Government area of the state on Fri-

day when the students were traveling from the school to Sango-Ota. The protesting students, all dressed in black arrived the scene of the crash in a convoy of several long and small buses and carried placards such as: ‘We demand justice for the lost souls’; ‘OOU mourns’; ‘OOU weeps’; ‘OOU cries’; ‘A future lawyer is gone!’; ‘Fresh graduate gone!; ‘We’ve lost our scientists’; ‘OOUITES are not chickens. Stop giving us phobia’; ‘Police, FRSC, TRACE must be probed’.

They wailed and wept profusely, hauled curses on the trailer driver and the manufacturing company that owns the consignment of raw materials in the container.

For about three hours, hundreds of the students barricaded the expressway while the police who were fully on guard controlled traffic.

After leaving the accident scene where they had gone to pray for the departed souls, the students retired to the company and vandalized no fewer than 11 trailers

Ondo implements HIV anti-stigma law

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—THE Ondo State government has announced the commencement of the implementation of its HIV Anti-stigma law which prescribed a 10 year jail term, fine of N500,000 or both for any person who by whatever means transmits HIV to another person .

Giving details of the law, which was signed last year, the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, said stigmatization and discrimination discourages people infected with and affected by HIV from accessing health

and social services.

The law stipulates further that anybody who discriminates against people living with HIV commits an offence and is liable to fine of N100,000.00 or imprisonment of six months or both.

He spoke in Akure while delivering a keynote address at a sensitization programme to facilitate and ensure the enforcement of a law for the prevention of the spread of HIV and AIDS, elimination of discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV and “other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.”

within the premises.

Several pleas by policeman and other security agents to persuade the students not to storm the premises of the company fell on deaf ears.

Upon their arrival at the gate to the company, the students over-powered the men manning the entrance and forced the gates open.

Workers and management of the plastic manufacturing company, along the Sagamu/Benin expressway scampered to safety.

They also vandalized some of the company’s offices and buildings, breaking window panes.

A fully-loaded trailer belonging to Dangote Cement had earlier incurred the wrath of the students when the driver defied diversion order by policemen and was driving towards the already barricaded road.

The trailer with registration number GWW 156 XA was vandalised while the driver and his motor boy ran for their lives as the angry students approached.

Earlier at the scene of the crash, the students formed a ring as they held hands, held prayer sessions and observed a minute silence for the repose of the souls of their dead colleagues.

The prayer sessions were conducted in both Christian and islamic ways.

Meanwhile, the students have appealed to the state government and other public-spirited persons to compensate the families of their colleagues who died in last Friday’s crash.

President of OOU Students’ Union Government, Adenola Adegbesan disclosed this while speaking at the scene of the accident.

Adegbesan said although no amount of money could compensate for the lives of the victims, it would give succour to their depressed relatives.

The OOU SUG president also called on the state government to

assist the victims’ families in the burial of their dead colleagues.

Adegbesan however issued a seven-day ultimatum to the police and the owners of the truck involved in the accident to produce the driver who fled the scene after the tragedy.

He also advised government to regulate the movement of trucks on the highways by restricting their operations to the night times only.

Meanwhile, OOU Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Niyi Oduwole described the accident as unfortunate and sad.

Oduwole however disclosed that in order to commiserate with the students mourning their deceased colleagues, the institution has declared yesterday and today lecture-free.

Customs refutes lifting ban on furniture importation

By Ifeyinwa Obi

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HE Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, refuted media reports that the Federal Government has lifted the ban on the importation of furniture into the country.

Debunking the media report, Assistant Comptroller-General, Zone A of the NCS, Victor Gbemudu, described the report as false, adding that he was quoted out of context.

Gbemudu, however advised importers, their agents and freight forwarders to refer to the import guidelines, which stated that the ban on furniture is still in force, adding that “Please note that primarily, the Nigerian Customs Service statutorily enforces government fiscal policies while also ensuring trade facilitation at no loss of government revenue.”

Monarch lauds Buhari over Adeshina's appointment

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THE traditional ruler of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adedokun Adegoke, Akunraledoye II, has, on behalf of himself and his people in Ife North Local Government area of Osun State, sent a congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing one of their sons, Mr. Femi Adesina, the former Managing Director of The Sun newspapers and the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, as his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President.

In appreciation of the president’s decision, Oba Adegoke said “Ipetumodu is particularly grateful to Mr President noting that competence, rather than politics was the primary motivating factor for Adesina’s appointment, which is a thing of joy to the whole town, and one that encourages our young men and women to always strive for excellence. ‘’ The Oba and people of Ipetumodu then enjoined their Adesina to continue to make his professional colleagues, his townsmen and women as well as his state even more proud by excelling in his new assignment.

According to a statement by Dr. Sunday Oyebowale, President, Ipetumodu Progressives Union, the monarch added that, “You should always keep in focus the saying in the Holy Book, that ‘see’st thou a man diligent in his work, he shall stand before kings and not before mean men”.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

List of N-Assembly's principal officers emerged from govs, not NWC —APC chieftain

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—THERE are strong indications that the list of Principal Officers of the National Assembly that was said to have been compiled by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was after all the product of the governors of the party from each of the six geo-political zones of the country, where the seats were allocated.

A source close to the National Chairman of the APC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Vanguard in Benin, Edo State, that the mission of the eight governors, who visited Chief John Odigie-Oyegun a few days before the uproar that greeted the publication of the names of the Principal Officers was to deliver a prepared list to him.

The governors who, according to the source, were led by Mr Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Chief Oyegun’s

state governor, had assured him that the list of the principal officers as prepared by them was a reflection of the general choice of the party.

Oyegun was said to have suggested that it would have been better to leave out the names of the officers to allow the caucuses from each zone to nominate those that would fill the offices in tandem with what Saraki/Dogara had proposed as a move to solve the problem within the party.

It was further revealed that it was the vision of the state governors to cede the position of Chief Whip of the Senate to the North-West against Oyegun’s earlier stand that it should go to the South-South, so as to win more support for the party in subsequent elections.

This was said to have been turned down by the governors, the source said, adding that Oyegun’s position was embraced by the Senate leadership which saw the emergence of Senator Francis

Aliminkhena from Edo North as the Deputy Chief Whip.

The position taken by the

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SABA—AS part of efforts to shore up the dwindling economic base of Delta State, the state's judiciary has vowed to partner the state Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, in its drive to boost the state’s revenue profile.

Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, when members of the state Board of Internal Revenue paid him a courtesy visit, decried the present

economic situation in state and the country in general.

Umukoro said he will ensure the speedy prosecution of tax defaulters in courts in the state to send strong signal to other tax defaulters that, “henceforth, there will be no hiding place for them.”

Stressing the need for adequate sensitisation for revenue court judges and senior magistrates in the state on the provisions of the law in

that direction, he enjoined the Revenue Board to be fair, objective and credible in the assessment of taxable items.

Earlier, Executive Chairman of DBIR, Mr Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, who led the team, said the essence of the visit was to seek the cooperation of the judiciary in their drive for improved revenue generation in the state through the prosecution of tax defaulters.

My supporters didn’t mastermind disruption of ballot papers inspection —APC candidate

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—HOUSE of A s s e m b l y candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Isoko South constituency II, Delta State, Chief Ferguson Onwo, has said that his party ’s supporters did not mastermind the brawl which stalled the inspection of ballot materials used for the April 11, 2015 state Assembly election in the constituency.

Irate youths, suspected C M Y K

to be supporters of the opposing political parties had, Friday, stormed the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, venue of the inspection, in large numbers, disrupting the exercise in the ensuing fracas.

A stalwart of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the area who sought anonymity had alleged that the commotion was masterminded by thugs

as he had since purged himself of personal interests in order to stabilise the party.

VISIT: From left: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Mr Oma Djebah, former Delta State Commissioner for Information and Chairman of New Diplomat Media Group and Mr Franco Corona, Managing Director of Roma Oil and Gas Construction, during a visit at Government House, Asaba.

Judiciary to support Delta Revenue Board in tax collection

By Festus Ahon

National Chairman, the source said, was to reassure all interests within the party

of the APC. Reacting to the incident, Onwo said: “I am the petitioner, so I could not have told my supporters to disrupt the inspection. If the exercise was disrupted, it is a breach of court order and it means that somebody has something to hide.”

Onwo is challenging the election of the lawmaker representing the constituency, Mr. Johnson Erijo, of PDP, at the tribunal which ordered the inspection of materials used in the poll.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—13

Explosions rock Agip facility in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

of the fire but he suspected it could be traced to mechanical

fault arising from obsolete facilities.

It was gathered that no life was lost in the incident.

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ORT HARCOURT—TWO explosions have rocked a facility belonging to Agip oil company in Ebocha community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Vanguard gathered that the first explosion occurred at 10p.m., on Sunday. While frantic efforts were being made to put out the fire, another blast occured yesterday morning.

At press time, the inferno was still on as fire fighters battled to extinguish it.

Community sources said some residents had relocated to neighbouring areas for fear that the fire might get out of control.

Chairman of Ndoni council, Mr Augustine Ahiamadu, who spoke to our reporter, blamed the explosions on obsolete equipment being used by the oil company, thus dismissing fears of possible sabotage.

He said he had not been formally briefed on the cause

By Festus Ahon

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MEETING: Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Kingsley Otuaro (middle); 2nd Vice Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM, Orhue 1, Orodje of Okpe (left) and HRM, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, Pere of Seimbiri, during a meeting of the deputy governor with Delta traditional rulers in Government House, Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Delta APC carpets Okowa over N636bn burden A LL Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has accused the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of playing to the gallery and being disingenuous in his lamentation over the huge debt of N636 billion he inherited from his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

APC's media adviser, Mr. Martins Mukoro, in a statement, expressed shock over Okowa’s utterances over a rot he was allegedly part of.

His words: “For eight years, Okowa was a commissioner in the James Ibori Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government and became Secretary to the State Government from 2007 in the Uduaghan’s administration.

He only left for the Senate in 2011. Is he saying he was not aware of the huge debt profile in the 11 years he was in the Delta State Government or was the debt accumulated after he left for the Senate?”

He said Okowa was only preparing the minds of Deltans to excuse further borrowing as he has already secured the approval of the state House of Assembly to borrow N10 billion, thus plunging the state into more debt.

Mukoro said Okowa was part of the rot and has nothing to offer Deltans. He challenged the governor to institute a panel to probe the huge debt overhang in order to unearth how it was accumulated and the

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Okowa urged to appoint Odogwu as Special Assistant on youths

beneficiaries.

“Until then, Okowa cannot pull a wool over our eyes.”

He urged Deltans to use the opportunity of the impending re-run which he believes the

tribunal will order, to vote the APC to power and enjoy change.

Ex-militants demand SA on amnesty programme

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HOUSANDS of exmilitants in Phase One, Second Phase and Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, yesterday, marched through major roads in Warri, Delta State, to request President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, fill the vacant position of Special Adviser on amnesty programme in the Presidency.

Some of the placards with inscriptions saying, “We want credible leaders like Mr. Famous Daunemugha to be appointed; We are like sheep without shepherd; Daunemugha is a unifying force; Buhari don’t leave us in disarray,” charged the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, government to make their demand a priority.

The trio of Mr. Preye Ekpebide, Mr. Ayakpo Niekebi and Mr. Founkoro Dia, leaders of exmilitants from Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo states for the three phases of the amnesty programme, endorsed Mr. Daunemugha as their preferred choice to occupy the position of Special Adviser or Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme.

They posited that they decided to embark on the march to inform Nigerians that leaving them without a man that would link them to the presidency for almost

one month was causing mixed feeling amongst them.

They maintained that they had projected Daunemugha whom they described as a youth that has the interest of the region at heart, trust worthy and a bridge builder to fill the vacant position of SA to the President Amnesty

Programme.

They noted that Daunemugha is a strong supporter APC and a youth mobiliser, stressing that if given the opportunity to serve at the federal level, he will bring his experience to bear and make youths of the region cooperate with the Federal Government.

S A B A — D E LT A State chapter of the Third Phase of the amnesty programme has appealed to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to appoint Mr. Tam Odogwu, a House of Assembly aspirant for Burutu constituency II in the last elections, as his Special Assistant on Youth Development.

Chairman of the state chapter of the Third Phase of the amnesty programme, Kingsley Agas, in a statement, said the appeal was necessitated by Odogwu’s “Painstaking mobilisation of all exagitators to work and vote massively for Okowa.”

He added: “Even when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state House of Assembly primaries for Burutu South II, he worked very hard to ensure the victory of the party ’s candidates.”

Agas added that Odogwu, who is the National Secretary of the Third Phase of the amnesty programme, is equipped with the requisite experience and has all that it takes to handle the position effectively.

IYC alleges de-enlistment of 6,000 Amnesty students in foreign institutions

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—IJAW Youth Council, IYC, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged withdrawal of over 6,000 amnesty students by foreign institutions of learning over non-payment of tuition fees, accommodation and scholarship allowances.

In a Save-Our-Souls to President Muhammadu Buhari, president of IYC, Udengs Eradiri, said though investigations showed that the unpaid fees have been domicile in the Amnesty Office account, the non-appointment of a supervising officer to approve the payment of the needed fees had led to the de-enlistment of the amnesty students and left them homeless.

Eradiri, who spoke to

newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said that the youth leaders from the Niger Delta were disturbed by the development and are calling on the state governors from the region to intervene and prevail on President Buhari to appoint an administrator or use his executive powers to direct the Permanent Secretary to effect payment and stop the suffering of the students.

He said: “We are worried about the de-enlistment of amnesty youths in higher institutions in Asia, America and South Africa. These boys are first of all Nigerians before they are Niger Delta indigenes. We have it on good authority that the institutions have started de-enlisting them due to failure of the Nigerian government to pay their fees.

“The Ijaw youth leaders have been under intense pressure due to the cry from the affected amnesty students. We have also been on their neck not to bow to pressure and become unruly.

It is getting to a breaking point.

The non-payment of school fees and the threat of losing their admissions is telling on them,” he said.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Discard PIB, cancel offshore crude processing contract, APC tells Buhari ...Says NNPC owing JV partners N7bn

By Michael Eboh with agency report

regime.

The APC in its recommendation to the President, also stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum HE ALL Progressives Corporation, NNPC, is indebted Congress, APC, has called to its eight joint venture (JV) on President Muhammadu partners to the tune of $3.5 billion, GRADUATE: Mr. Oluwagbeminija Michael Omidiora (middle) and his parents, Engr. Buhari to discard the Petroleum about N7 billion, stating that the Joseph Omidiora and Mrs. Margaret Omidiora, during his graduation from the Department Industry Bill, PIB, cancel ongoing debts have ballooned over the of Business Administration, Covenant University, at the school's 10th graduation ceremony offshore processing agreements years. in Ogun State.

Details of the report obtained and discontinue the fuel subsidy from Bloomberg, quoted the APC as saying that the NNPC paid $6.9 billion out of the $10.4 billion it owed, adding that the difference being of $3.5 billion was covered Christians across the globe who believe God’s original plan for marriage

By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka that marriage should be reserved for one creation and it’s not good,” recommended by Western by loans from international Latona nations is not good for our man and one woman. he maintained. oil companies.

In a telephone interview, the National The CAN scribe therefore families, it’s un-cultural The APC report said, and unwelcome here.

Nigerian MBRELLA BODY of Christians in Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake said enjoined “These debts are costly and The government of the Nigeria, the Christian Association the US decision shows how low human politicians to tread carefully, opaque, and they erode day, he maintained, should of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday condemned beings are trying to avert the original plan stressing that the nation the NNPC’s bargaining close its eyes and it’s ears of God for marriage which is between a had already enacted a law the United States Supreme Court decision criminalizing same-sex to an America that is going power with the oil on Friday to legalize gay marriage across man and a woman. companies. Nigeria’s Asake said it is absurd for anybody to relationships defying down the drain. the 50 states of the United States of America inability to fund its jointAlso responding, which has generated concern among come up today to tell a different thing other pressure from Western venture budgets is chairman of Christian governments to respect gay than that institued by God Association in the South delaying projects, reducing before the foundation of the and lesbian rights.

According to Rev. Asake, South, Archbiship God-do- production, and lowering world.

“Same-sex marriage is “nobody should tamper well Avwomakpa described revenue collection for the un-biblical, it is not right, it with that law which the US Supreme Court’s nation.”

The APC further stated is uncalled for and our prescribed 14 years decision as an error against that the president should politicians must be very imprisonment for anybody humanity.

“He said Nigeria had sell off some subsidiaries of careful so that they don’t engaged in any same-sex made the world to "believe NNPC, discard the PIB amorous relationship.

It is tow the line of the West because if we do we will just not the right part, it’s not that there’s a God that and replace it with a new our culture; it is not good answers prayers. That is Bill that’s based on be destroying ourselves.

MINOR headache for example with no other “There is just no way, you for our religious stance, it’s why people are trying to discussions with conditions may not in many instances constitute a can unite a man and disgusting to even think of pollute our relationship international oil companies with God, so that we can situation where a person can use the flexibility of the another man in marriage. it. to ensure all perspectives injusction of illness to skip Ramadan fast. Scholars agree Where will procreation “I want the government agree that men should are adequately considered. that sickness that doesn’t cause any hardship cannot be come from? If that was the of the day and politicians marry men and women Kayode Fayemi, APC’s used as an excuse for not fasting. Some of the conditions practice those people generally to be very careful should marry women. policy director, confirmed for breaking fast during Ramadan are as follows: advocating the practice not to plunge this country Even the animals in the authenticity of the Intense illness that will further aggravate the illness if would not have been into darkness,” he said, Nigeria forbid it. Also, the document, noting, he or she were to fast, or that recovery will be delayed around today. So it’s against noting that the same-sex ancestors forbid it." however, that the report is because of fasting. not the final position of the Illness that causes great pain in fasting or it becomes government. unbearable with fasting.

The report advised the “The person who is unable to fast because of a sickness

By Lamidi “I was there with the Presidency to cancel, within he was at the Customs which he hopes will go away is not obliged to fast. This Bamidele office on the invitation of correspondent of Tide its first 100 days in office two applies if he encounters obvious difficulty in fasting and O O D L U M S the authority of the Newspaper, thank God a ill-suited and costly is not subject to the condition that he reaches a point friend from Rotary Club offshore processing SUSPECTED to command. when he is unable to fast. Rather our companions said: came to take me away, I agreements that were His words: “I wonder The permission not to fast is subject to the condition that be smugglers on Thursday, would have been dead, signed in the fourth quarter how anybody could have beat journalist, Yomi fasting causes him difficulties that it is hard for him to with Aiteo Eastern E&P Olomofe to coma over been waiting for me there. because I was left there bear.” —– [Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’, 6/261] Company Limited and almost lifeless.

How did they know that I Again, consider this: “With regard to the person who is accusations of covering “These hoodlums are not Sahara Group of 90,000 slightly sick and who does not suffer any obvious hardship, some of their activities at would be there. unknown.

They are known barrels per day each.

“While beating me, they it is not permissible for him to break his fast, and there is the Seme-Badagry area It called on the to everybody, but they are threatened to kill me so as no difference of opinion among us concerning that. —– The victim, Olomofe, who government to sign simpler [Al-Nawawi – Al-Majmoo’, 6/261] is the Executive Director of to serve as deterrent to above the law. They even swap agreements with This means the sick person who is not affected by fasting, Badagry Prime Magazine journalists writing any told me that they have highly competent trading killed many people and such as one who has a slight cold or headache, or a slight and currently receiving stories about them. companies through a toothache and the like, is not permitted to break his fast. treatments after the n o t h i n g tender process.

The injuction in Quran 2 verse 185 is refering to cronic incident, disclosed his happened” The APC report recommillness that causes great pain and difficulty or that is ordeal with thugs to Meanwhile, ended a review of audits unbearable. It depends on the individual and the nature Vanguard.

Olomofe has and corruption allegations of the illness. Almighty allah loves His concessions to be called on the against the NNPC, within He explained; “I was with accepted just as He hates the disobedience of His I n s p e c t o r the first 100 days of the another colleague of mine commandments.

General of administration, adding that Again, Islam provides concessions to the aged or people on a visit to the command, police to come after 18 months, the when some smugglers, who neither can fast nor can make up for the missed fasts to his rescue government should seek to who claimed that journalists later. Any of these people will have to feed one poor person saying his life commercialize the NNPC, a day as equivalent to one day fasting. The Quran states: have been writing negative and that of his possibly partially listing the “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old stories about them, family is no entity and selling off its pounced on me” man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a fuel-retailing and refining longer safe.

He noted that he Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” —– [Surah alYomi Olomofe, after the battery business. suspected a set-up because Baqarah 2:184]

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Nigerian Christians condemn US on same-sex marriage

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Illness and concessions for breaking fast

A

Hoodlums beat journalist to coma

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C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30 2015—15

APGA chieftain kidnapped

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie OWERRI—A chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. Ben Anyanwu, has been kidnapped in his country home at Umuchoko, Egbelu Obube in Owerri North local government area of Imo State.

Vanguard gathered that Anyanwu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Chrisben Nigeria Limited, a Lagos-based clearing and forwarding company, was picked up at about 1.30am last Sunday by some armed hoodlums.

It was also gathered from some villagers, who were at the scene of the incident that the gangsters scaled through the kidnap victim’s perimeter fence with the aid of a ladder.

“The criminals used a ladder to scale through the fence after destroying the spiral security wire their victim mounted on top of the fence,” some villagers were heard as they discussed the incident in groups.

One of the villager recalled that since the hoodlums could not gain entry into the building from the main door, after firing at it severally, they again used the ladder to gain access to the balcony.

“From this point, they shot at

the door key, ripped it open, entered the house and took away their hapless victim to an unknown destination,’’ said a source.

What irked the villagers most

TREASON TRIAL:

was that the man’s four children, who visited from their base in the United States of America, were traumatized as the hoodlums brazenly carried out their nefarious act before them.

It was not clear at press time if the hoodlums had made any contact with the family or friends of the abducted man or what their real intentions are.

Police uncover baby factory in Abia

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

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WERRI—IMO State police command has uncovered a baby factory at Mbutu, Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State, and arrested the proprietor, Chief Emmanuel Eke. The police similarly picked up some young pregnant ladies, including a deaf and dumb, from the filthy Isiala Ngwa South baby factory.

Briefing journalists in Owerri after the successful operation, the Police Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, gave the name of the pregnant deaf and dumb lady as Miss Blessing Nwabeke.

“The pregnant deaf and dumb

lady, who could not mention her age and address was however identified as Miss Blessing Nwabeke,” the PPRO said.

According to Mr. Enwerem, other expectant mothers picked up in the baby factory include 23year-old Miss Nkasiobi Uchenna from Nkwuegwu Umuahia, Miss Oluchi Victor, 25, from Isiala Ngwa, and Miss Ela David, 24, from Isoko in Delta State.

Giving a graphic account of how the police stumbled on the baby factory and child-trafficking syndicate, the PPRO said Chief Eke was arrested following a credible tip off.

“A pregnant 20-year-old Miss Ibuchi Okafor from Ihioma, Orlu local government area of Imo State, disappeared from their family home and after spending

some time in an undisclosed place, she returned without the expected baby.

This development generated a lot of curiosity in the family,” the PPRO recounted.

Suspecting that Ibuchi must have sold her baby, the family reported the matter to the police and on interrogation, the girl told her interrogators that she was successfully delivered of a baby boy at the home of Chief Eke, who later sold the baby to an unknown buyer for N500,000.

“As a follow up, operatives of the Police Command stormed the home of Chief Emmanuel Eke where other pregnant ladies believed to be producing babies for sale were arrested,” the PPRO said.

15-yr-old SSS student commits suicide in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—A 15-year-old senior secondary school student, identified as Paschal Egbosimba, last weekend committed suicide at Uratta

in Owerri North local council area of Imo State.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, who hailed from Ntueke, Ideato South local government area of the state, was living with his mother and siblings around Toronto Junction, Uratta, before the incident.

“Paschal was a senior secondary school student of Passion Model Secondary School, Egbu. He used an electric extension cable to hang himself from a ceiling fan, when his mother was away for a night vigil,” a witness who pleaded anonymity, recounted.

Although the remains of late Paschal had been removed to an unknown morgue when Vanguard arrived the scene, some sympathizers were seen taking turns to console the anguished mother.

The late boy’s mother, who wept uncontrollably, was heard saying she never scolded the deceased, adding that there was no reason for him to have hanged himself.

Another sympathizer reasoned that the incident was as shocking as it had remained a mystery.

“The incident was very shocking. It has remained a mystery till now, especially as the young boy was neither troublesome nor noisy,” a source said.

When Vanguard visited Owerri North Divisional Police Headquarters, Uratta, for enquiries, a police man on duty, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, confirmed the incident, adding that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, had already visited the scene.

Judge bows to pressure, disqualifies self

By Austin Ogwuda ENUGU—THE Federal High Court 2 sitting in Enugu, presided over by Justice D.V. Agishi, yesterday disqualified itself from the continued trial of eleven members of Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, facing treason trial.

When the case was called up yesterday, Justice Agishi said in view of the fact that the accused had accused him of bias, the case file had been transferred to the chief judge of the Federal High Court to re-assign the case to another judge.

The accused persons, led by a legal practitioner, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, had earlier before yesterday’s sitting, addressed a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking a transfer of the case from the court.

In the letter dated June 23, 2015, reference number OAO/1/6/15, which was signed by a lawyer from Omotayo & Associates chambers in Enugu, Mr. B.N. Chukwu gave a vivid account of what led to the demand for the transfer of the case.

The eight-paragraph letter, among other things, read: ‘’We do not have personal grievances with the Learned Judge but where the accused persons alleged bias or lack of confidence on the trial Judge, it is in the interest of justice that the judge disqualifies himself from the trial and transfer the case to the registry for reassignment to another judge. ‘’In view of the forgoing, we humbly urge your Lordship in your wisdom to in the interest of justice urgently transfer this case to another judge for trial.”

Diaspora groups hail Oye’s victory as new APGA chairman

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H I L E COMMENDING the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano for the peaceful conduct of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, national convention recently in Awka, Anambra State, members of the party living in the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively have congratulated the National chairman-elect, Dr. Victor Oye and the General Secretary Labaran Maku for their victories.

In a statement jointly signed by the Diaspora group representatives, Engr.

Henry Onyekumnaru, Chairman, C M Y K

APGA South Africa chapter and Ezenwa Anazodo, Publicity Secretary, APGA United Kingdom respectively said that the peaceful conduction of the convention and transition of office witnessed by Nigerians and across the border have brokered the prospect that lies ahead of the party in political field.

“As APGA in Diaspora and with the mission to help build a party of intellectuals, a party that focuses in supporting our national party to continue the excellent work already on the way for a modern progressive APGA based on fairness, respect,

decency and openness. “ APGA UK and South Africa will support the new leadership. We extend our congratulations to all executive members elected from state to national.

“APGA UK and South Africa have also observed critically the wonderful performances, excellent and tactical leadership style of Governor Willie Obiano.

"The man who turned Anambra around within days and months of assuming office. We, in the United Kingdom have come to understand that they are still people in power who put their citizens first."

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Sent-forth ceremony for Most Revd Josiah Idowu-Fearon

From left, diocesan Secretary Lay, Mr. Clement Atie; Archbishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese and the newly appointed Secretary - General, Anglican Communion Worldwile, Most Revd.

Josiah Idowu-fearon, former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar; Mrs. Comfort Fearon, and Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Chairman of the occasion, at the send-forth ceremony of the Most Revd & Mrs. Fearon, in Kaduna, weekend. Photos: Olu Ajayi

Governor Nasir el-Rufai and Bishop Fearon.

From left, Mr. Ibrahim Idowu-Fearon with the Director, Dialogue Group, Dr. Mahadi .

Former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Makarfi, Clement Atie and Bishop Fearon.

The diocesan Treasurer, Mrs. Comfort Alao (left), and Mrs. Grace Danjunma

Mrs. Olusola Idowu, former deputy governor of Kaduna State (right), and Mrs. Pamela Sadauki

Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and governor Ishiaku Dairus of Taraba State.

Senator Makarfi and General Abubakar.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 —17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 A MAJOR challenge that change faces is the attitude of Nigerians who believe the only government in Nigeria is the federal government. We have at least 812 governments in Nigeria – the Federal Government, 36 States, the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 local government councils. In Nigeria, we have governments, not just the one in Abuja.

If we add the agencies, ministries, and parastatals that these governments control, the numbers increase, since some of the agencies are their own governments, barely allowing their operations to undergo scrutiny of the legislature.

When we speak of change, the enormity of the task is most times under-stated. The Federal Government alone has more than 800 parastatals, some of which are illegal, there are no laws establishing them, yet they get annual budgets. Since many of the parastatals are unknown, Nigerians do not know what they do, and how they do them.

Away from the Federal Government, where the attention is concentrated, each State has replications of the ministries and agencies of

Ho wW e Can R eject Change How We Reject the Federal Government. Many of them have the same defects as their counterparts at the centre. Some of them are even worse, but like Abuja, we chose where to pay attention, and things that we ignore forever.

Then there are the local government councils.

They are the first tier of government, the nearest to the people, and the foundation of the other two tiers. They are non-existent in many States with the attendant challenges they have created for the welfare of Nigerians.

Section 7 (1) of the Constitution emphasises the importance of the local government councils, “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State

shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law, which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils”.

The abuses in local government councils constitute some of the highest incidents of lawlessness in Nigeria. The National Assembly has shown no interest in the violation that non-adherence to Section 7 entails. Since 1999, local governments have existed at the whim of governors who manage the funds allocated to local government councils. Change should run from the local government, through the States to the Federal Government. Do Nigerians think of all arms of governments when they speak of change? Change cannot be complete if we exclude the States and local government councils. Change cannot affect other tiers of governments if we keep excluding them from attention appropriate to their duties to Nigerians.

Unless we think of an inclusive change – and focus less on Abuja – we would have rejected change.

OPINION Religious genocide

extremism and global (2) fighting to assert themselves over the other,

By Bobson Gbinije Continued from yesterday pg. 18 HE “Crusaders” in the middle ages made military expeditions to recover so called Holy Lands and remember the Spanish Inquisition etc.

The propagation of Islam is not the desire of the fundamentalist, it is to use the Koran as a political tool consistent with the words of Mahatma Grandi "Politics divorced from religion is absolutely meaningless, like corpse fit only for cremation.” It’s aggressive, underhand tactics and gains has made it an open-ended omnibus and many unwary countries are jumping in. Nigeria Moslems have been surreptitiously hobnobbing with these fundamentalist.

Given the present political scenario in the world where America has become the only singular superpower and the unilateral policeman of the world festooned with veto powers and great armamentalreservoirs.

The need for Islamic hegemonism has become fundamentally crucial to all Moslems. Moslems and Moslem countries are therefore in a grand alliance in asserting their relevance in the scheme of things through the enforcement of sharia laws. But they should re-tailor their style to take due cognizance of and respect for other interests.

Nigeria as a nation remains a melting-pot sustained by various divergent interests

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the military, the politicians, the religious bodies, traditional institutions etc. and the need for harnessing this pot-purri of multitudinous interest becomes critically crucial. The subterranean and clandestine declaration of Nigeria as a member of Islamic organisations without due recourse to the secular and pluralistic nature of our country, smacks of the wanton betrayal of our ‘NATIONHOOD’. It is an unmistakable confirmation of our suspicion that Nigeria is on the track to becoming an “Islamic fundamentalist” country. As reflected in Boko Haram's massacres.

The calculated stratagem of hob-nobbing with Islamic fundamentalism as a religious cum political ideology calculated to empower Moslems using military and political surrogates as fronts is fraught with baneful consequences. In seeking to fulfil their tall dreams let them heed the words of Thomas Jefferson “The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them require not the aid of many counsellors.

The whole art of government consist in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you

Where is love in Islamism and in Christianity?

fail. No longer persevere in sacrificing the rights of one part of the empire to the inordinate desires of another; but deal out to all equal and impartial right. Let no act, be passed by any one legislature which may infringe on the rights and liberties of another.”

The horrific state of atrocities and the ghoulishly horrendous acts of murder being unlashed on the innocent citizens of “Algeria” by Islamic militants, the nightmarish mayhem into which Christians in Kaduna state, Zamfara state and Niger state are submerged are some examples of the evil manifestations of Islamic fundamentalism. They abound all over the world and they abhor dialogue as a formidable tool of crisis resolution. They have neither the Koran nor any moral Islamic law to back their belligerent proclivities, but just a clear-cut desire to idolise the Islamic religion by superimposing the politics of violence and the Sharia.

In the Sudan, the military-Islamic repressive regime of Omar Bashir has plunged Sudan into over 16 years of civil war. His wanton declaration of Holy war – a Jihad against his own people to enable him impose the “Islamic law” has precipitated a state of political torpsy-turvydom in the Sudan. His “Islamic agenda” was challenged by a pluralistic society which led to the balkanization of Sudan. Karl Marx avers that “Religion is the opium of the people”, but it is best when left as an individual thing. The story is the same everywhere. Wherever there is a belief in the consummate islamisationof a nation there must be a

resistance. In Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Algeria, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia the story is the same. Nigeria is the largest entrant into this macabre and gory religious dance.

Inter and intra Islamic extremism and fanaticism flagshipped by doctrinal differences and fallacies has violence its aftermath. This kind of violence by Islamic militants has become a common feature in Nigeria. Still on palliatives to extremism it goes on to say “so many work is yet to be done to educate the public on the need for tolerance and co-existence in plural and non-secular society such as Nigeria. That we are part and parcel of a changing world and that the process is a continuing one from which fresh challenges will emanate from time to time and must be contained with reason and the laws of the land. It is a monumental disgrace and shame that Christians and Moslems who claim to be children of Allah or the Almighty God are locked in this orgy of violence in Nigeria. Where lies the principles of their faith. They henceforth have no locus standi to assert their holiness. They must in-keeping with their faith reconcile themselves. We are told that both and all religions are foundationed on the on the superstructure of LOVE. Where is love in Islamism and in Christianity? The sociology of religion glaringly shows that religion has lost its original commission and injunction.

Concluded

*Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015— —19

Recovering from catastrophe

By Sunny Ikhioya

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HE moment we become fixated with our past, our ability to move forward positively is handicapped.

Fixation with the past; that has been the Achilles heels of successive Nigerian governments. It began with the military coup plotters of the '60s up until the Sani Abacha regime.

They begin by reeling out the so called rot in the system caused by the outgoing (overthrown) regime and by the time they have stayed two, three, four years, the situation remains the same until another coup takes place, a new government takes over and the whole process is recycled again. Space will not allow me to chronicle the details in this piece but for those interested, they can check out our historical archives for speeches of military coup plotters each time they took over the reins of governance right from the Chukwuma Nzeogwu to the Sani Abacha era.

Unfortunately, our civilian leaders have not been able to extricate themselves from this blame culture. They claim the rot in the system has been there for several decades, therefore the

people should allow them time to settle down and by the time they are leaving after four to eight years, they are still settling down, that is why we have not been able to fix electricity and the rot in the petroleum sector.

When he assumed office in 1999, so much was expected of President Olusegun Obasanjo, all the failures of government were heaped on past military regimes and the whole country united to give him time to fix the situation, by the time he left in 2007, even the condition of the road leading to his Otta farm residence was worse than when he assumed leadership of the nation's affairs for the second time in 1999. By the time he was handing over power to Umar Yar 'Adua in 2007, the condition of power was in a comatose state. Time did not allow us to really assess Yar' Adua because of his health status but it is a known fact that he dismantled the structures Obasanjo had put in place in the power sector within a year of his taking over.

Goodluck Jonathan took over and started the rebuilding process, again, the people were told to be patient and by the time he was leaving, the situation of things did not changed much. We

must begin to discourage the practice of asking for patience whenever a new government assumes office, patience has become an escape valve instead of the virtue it is supposed to be.

President Goodluck Jonathan once said that you do not need more than four years to make an impact in governance if you are a good leader and I very much agree with him. If we adopt the right approach, our challenges can be over in four years time. It does not matter how deep the rot is or how long the decay, what is important is to start immediately with a programme of recovery and stay focused on that path.

When we are fixated with the past, we give room for excuses and excuses do not get projects done, that is why we cannot wait.

It is not beyond the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to achieve the same result if we adopt the model of Chile as a guide

Obajana: When suffering is unnecessary

By Johnson Agada

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HE multinational corporation is a large firm that has operations in more than one country. MNCs have been the main source of a debate which has been waged since the early 1960s. The argument is based around the idea of whether or not multinational corporations, such as Dangote Group have a non-profit role in society. Specifically, this is referring to the notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

There are two clear sides to the debate.

The first suggests that the only social responsibility of business is to increase profits. The second point of view sees businesses as an instrument to create social value. Regardless of the debate multinational corporations are finding themselves been placed under pressure from both internal and external groups to participate in non-profit roles in order to benefit society.

The most avid supporter of the argument against businesses and multinational corporations having nonprofit roles in society is Milton Friedman, who claims that the only social responsibility of a business is to increase its profits.

Examples of MNCs which appear to have adopted the view of Friedman include Dangote Cement, which appears unwilling to carry out any major CSR initiative in Obajana, Kogi State, where it has its largest cement factory.

For many Nigerians, Alhaji Aliko Dangote symbolises the promise of Nigeria.

He has built a conglomerate which is today standing on the world stage. No matter how one tries, it is difficult not to use a Dangote product directly or indirectly. Whether it is noodles, salt, industrial sugar, rice or the biggest of them all, Cement, the Dangote imprint is every where. It is not possible for anyone who has done this not to be the richest man in Africa. And going by the speed with which he opens cement factories across Africa C M Y K

the latest being in Ethiopia - Dangote may soon become the world’s largest individual producer of cement if he has not achieved that yet.

Dangote’s Obajana Cement factory is the largest cement factory in sub-Saharan Africa. Though it was incorporated in 1992, it was in 2012 that it was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Obajana has 13.25mt of capacity across four lines, the newest of which was commissioned in late 2014.

Obajana uses gas for its kilns and power plants and until late 2014, relied on lowpour fuel oil as a back-up fuel for its kilns. In November 2014 the company commissioned a coal mill to serve Line 3 and it is currently installing coal mills to serve Lines 1, 2 and 4.

To ensure that power does not hinder the company’s operations, Dangote Cement generates 1,000mw of electricity. This is well in excess of what the company requires to run operations.

From the foregoing, Obajana should be the envy of all other communities. The people should count themselves lucky that they have limestone in abundance, their own solid gold.

The benefits of corporate social responsibility vastly outweigh the negative impacts of being exposed as socially irresponsible like oil producing companies that are routinely at loggerheads with their host communities in the Niger Delta

I will not like this government to go through that route again; while the various agencies responsible for compliance, enforcement and prosecution are busy bringing those who have committed criminal offenses against the State to justice, the government must concentrate on moving forward.

What I propose here is not new; it has been done in other parts of the world with considerable success. In fact, I picked the title of this piece from the twitter handle of the Wharton Business School.

Several leading professors of the institute collaborated to research on how the Chilean government recovered and rebounded from the catastrophe that befell the country as a result of a devastating earth quake. A quote from their report goes thus: “Although he was urged by members of his cabinet to set aside his plans for Chile’s economic recovery, President Sebastian Pinera insisted that his government stay focused on the long term goals while working to recover from the earth quake.

The strategy worked; by the end of 2011, with restoration goals on track, annual GDP growth had increased to 5.8 percent, and by early 2013 unemployment had dropped from 9.0 to 6.0 percent.

The president insisted that the country’s restoration would proceed apace but also go well beyond a return to what existed prior to the quake…….the

But it doesn’t appear that the people be willing to relive the experience if given a choice. It is an experience that has left a sour taste in their mouths.

The people of Obajana have been quiet hoping that the various meetings they have held with management of the company would yield fruit. But it appears their patience is running out.

As far back as April 1, 2012, indigenes of Obajana resident in Abuja held a meeting and urged the government and the management of Obajana Cement Factory to provide basic ammenities for inhabitants of the community.

The convener of the meeting, Alhaji Tajudeen Bisimilahi, was reported to have said the meeting was convened to address challenges being faced by the people of Obajana. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read: “Dangote Cement Company should respect the term of agreement signed with the state government, which entails the dualisation of the Lokoja— Obajana and Kaba Road. The company should make provision for houses, electricity, water, roads, health facilities for the people of Obajana and also pay adequate compensation and relocate those living close to the production site, to avoid undue health hazards posed by chemical emission and pollution during cement production.

“The people of Kogi State are faced with same scenario that brought about the Niger Delta agitations. The peaceful nature of Kogi people should not be taken for granted. If the situation persists, the youths of Kogi State may resort to violence which may pose another security challenge in addition to the existing Boko Haram crisis. We ask that meaningful measure be urgently implored to avert an uproar of youth restiveness in the area.”

It is important to quote a report by Business World newspaper of June 15, 2015: “A visit to the community revealed that contrary to what most people outside the community have been made to believe, the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative has failed to address the basic needs and key demands of the people of Obajana.

government adopted a metric based strategy, public ministries applied dozens of specific metrics to both track and administer their rebuilding initiatives for housing, education, health, construction and transportation.

Tracking goals in detail allowed for proactive intervention when specific timetables were not being reached, focusing leadership attention on underperforming areas. The government compiled detailed statistics……..President Pinera made a public commitment to restore everything within four years, asserting the importance of determination, speed, and readiness to cut through slow bureaucratic processes”.

Are we seeing the possibilities for Nigeria here? Let me quote the president of Chile again: “many people thought that it was absolutely impossible and therefore we put together this emergency plan to move very fast. This is what we are going to do, this is the timetable and this is the amount of resources that we need to fund it”. The key was to establish a programme, a plan.

It is not beyond the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to achieve the same result if we adopt the model of Chile as a guide.

Let us free ourselves from the ghosts of the past. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

“According to the youth leader of Obajana community, Comrade Bamidele Adeyanju, it is painful that after about nine years of operation, the community is still languishing in poverty.

“He said in an interview with our correspondent, ‘Regrettably we donated our land free of charge to set up the cement factory with the hope that we would benefit immensely from the project but our hope has been dashed as the company failed to meet our expectations.

‘As far as I know, if any company is investing in any community, it is duty bound to at least provide the basic social amenities that are lacking in such a community. These amenities include good roads, portable water, electricity, hospitals, schools, youth and women empowerment etc. The non-provision of these basic amenities has caused as so much pain and distress to us.

‘We have suffered so much deprivation and environmental degradation since this factory was established in our community. We are extremely sad with the turnout of events in Obajana, our community especially the way the management of the Cement Factory is treating our case.’”

It is important for the Dangote Group to realise that CSR is not just the business of the future but the business of today. A socially irresponsible company will soon find out that when the bubble bursts, it will begin to spend huge sums of money trying to buy or achieve peace and tranquillity necessary for it to be in business.

That may be costlier than the token required to give a host community electricity, education for their children, water, jobs, etc.

Whether the aim is to improve the standards of living, fight hunger, cure diseases or even just to increase long-run profits through company image, the benefits of corporate social responsibility vastly outweigh the negative impacts of being exposed as socially irresponsible like oil producing companies that are routinely at loggerheads with their host communities in the Niger Delta. Whenever the company becomes socially responsible, Obajana, where it makes the most money is where to begin.

•Mr. Agada, a business devlopment executive, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

In Itsekiri land, a new dawn in commercial fishing, courtesy FG

By Egufe Yafugborhi, Warri

W

HEN in October last year, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture promised to significantly boost commercial agriculture among Itsekiri communities in Delta State, skeptics had taken it as empty political statement. Last week Tuesday, however, that promise was partly fulfilled in no small measures as the Ministry boosted commercial fishing among Itsekiri communities with provision of fishing boats, nets and other gears to fishermen in the area.

The gesture was facilitated by activist and Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor who had made a case for empowerment of her people on the strength of the viable agriculture potentials in Itsekiri land, a challenge that was confirmed by the Ministry during a fact finding visit to the area.

The Items distributed at the Warri Club jetty, Warri South council area, of the state include ten 40hp, four 25hp, ten 15hp and one 30 hp Yamaha outboard engines to power 25 boats usable for various fishing activities as well as nets and floaters.

Address the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, palace chiefs and other dignitaries present on the occasion, Chief Lori-Ogbebor said the fulfillment of the agricultural support meant history repeat-

The boats on display C M Y K

ing itself in the Itsekiri nation. She said: “Twenty five years ago under the leadership of the Olu, we identified fishing as an area of comparative advantage for the Itsekiri nation to create gainful jobs to as many of our sons as possible as a measure for strengthening Itsekiri economically and peacefully too.

“For a start, Ogiame bought some fishing boats and engines while I took charge of the day-to- day running and management of the project.

Some of the graduates of the school proceeded for further capacity building at the Lagos Sea School.”

She said the full dream of that project was, however, not satisfactorily realised be-

We will ensure that only real fishermen benefit and beneficiaries will pay back the cost of the tools interest-free to enable us recover funds to benefit others in waiting

(R-L) Felix Kehis, Delta State Director, Fed. Min. of Agric; activist and Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri and Chief Brown Mene as the Olu cuts the tape to commission the boats and other items distributed. cause politicians and the local government saw it as threat to their authority and were indifferent to support the project which she felt could have put Itsekiri nation in the forefront of the fishing industry.

“Today history is repeating itself as the Federal Agric Ministry has granted this support for us to start the journey for growing a real fishing industry... having done fact finding and got convinced that fishing is our first love as Itsekiri. Consciously we shall not make the mistakes of yesterday. Let me sound it clear that this is not APC or

PDP affair. This is not politics.

It is a clear concern to make life meaningful to our people and so we will ensure that only real fishermen benefit and beneficiaries will pay back the cost of the tools interest-free to enable us recover funds to benefit others in waiting,” she stated.

Felix Kehis, Delta State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, who represented the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said the intention of the Ministry is to ensure that beneficiaries fully develop competence in management of the fishing chain which involves catching the fish,

transporting, processing and marketing(it).”

The high point of the event was the Olu’s presentation of the key of one of the fishing boat to Pa Dennis Olubami, the Olare-Aja of OgheyeDimighun community to kickstart the distribution of the materials to the people.

The Olu prayed profusely for God’s blessing upon the project and to the facilitator and hoping that it creates a lasting impression that would grow beyond imaginations in the interest of his subjects and the Itsekiri nation.

Pa Olubami, while expressing the people’s appreciation on behalf of beneficiaries said: “Today is a great day.

Lack of basic tools, especially boats, have been a big limitation against developing the fishing trade among our people many of whom have had to contend with small dug-out canoes which can hardly go into deep water.

“We appreciate the Ministry and Chief Lori-Ogbebo, believing that the gesture will sure boost our daily catches which will translate to increased sales and better life for majority of the locals who depend on this business for survival. Through this development we can now empower as many persons as possible and in the long run evolve a truly enduring fishery industry in Itsekiri nation.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

— 21

Nigeria loses N532bn annually to smuggling of poultry products

By Godwin Oritse

N

IGERIA is losing about $2.7 billion (about N532 billion) annually in revenue to smuggling of poultry products, the Poultry Association of Nigeria has said.

President of the association, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, stated this while speaking during the 2015 Nigeria poultry summit, adding that smuggling of frozen chicken into Nigeria was a major challenge facing the sector.

According to Oduntan “ While the local demand for frozen chicken is above two million metric tonnes annually, Nigerian farmers are only able to produce 300,000 metric tonnes, leaving a wide gap of more than 1.7 million metric tonnes.

“Out of this figure, smuggled chicken accounts for 1.2 million metric tonnes annually.”

He also quoted the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as saying, based on researches, poultry products smuggled into the country were partly responsible for several cases of digestive and intestinal health issues among consumers.

The PAN President said, “It has been discovered that smuggled poultry products contain high level of bacteria.

Also, toxic chemicals and solvents are used in preserving them so that their owners can get them into our country to be sold at prices cheaper than we are selling.

“NAFDAC, in realising this, has agreed to embark on a nationwide campaign to inform all Nigerians that smuggled chicken is not acceptable for their good health; they should consume Nigeria-produced chicken.”

$128. 75

-2. 95

$3,326.00

-2. 00

$11.82

0.15

$62. 14 -1.12

58 .64 CURRENCY BUYING

-099

CENTRAL

DOLLAR

195.9 196.4 196.9 POUNDS 219.408 219.968 220.528 EURO 222.229 222.7962 223.3634 FRANC 212. 2197 213.7613 213.303 YEN 1.5889 1.593 1.597 CFA 0.3183 0.3283 0.3383 WAUA 274. 7184 275. 4196 276.1207 RENMINBI 31.545 31.626 31.7069 RIYAL 52.2316 52.365 52.4983 KRONA 29.4051 29.4802 29.5552 SDR 275. 4158 276.1188 276.8217

CBN Exchange Rate as at 29/ 06 /15

C M Y K

According to a newspaper report, a recent study carried out by Nigerian scientists in various markets in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt has confirmed fears that smuggled chicken contains substances dangerous to health.

The researchers found out that imported processed chicken and turkey were preserved with high level formalin, a chemical that could be injurious to health when consumed in high quantities.

One of the researchers, a nutritional enzymologist, Dr. Okhiomah Abu, reportedly said that poultry products

imported into the country contain toxic and heavy metals that could worsen the occurrence of food-borne diseases.

Abu said, “Most of the feeds given to these poultry animals are usually contaminated and they contain metals. The heavy metals are concentrated in the kidney and livers of the chicken.

“They also find it difficult to excrete; so, they are passed along to humans who eat these imported metals. We also found out that poor handling of these imported meat increases the risk of contamination.”

Another researcher, Prof. C.I Alarima, said some studies have also showed that processed poultry products, especially chicken and turkey, were loaded with harmful microbes such as Salmonella, which had been linked with life-threatening food-borne diseases.

He said Salmonella infection had been the leading cause of food related deaths among those eating processed meat.

Stakeholders across the poultry value chain advised the Federal Government to take far reaching measures that could end the menace of smuggling as it was killing local industries.

From left: Wole Oshin, president, Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA); Dr.Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communication & Technology, and Dr.Enase Okonedo, Dean, LBS, at the 2015 Lagos Business School Alumni Association President’s Dinner in Lagos.

‘Free internet access needed to drive knowledge economy’

By Jonah Nwokpoku

C

hief Executive Officer of Hotels.ng, Mark Essien has said that until basic access to the internet is guaranteed for all Nigerians, it will be difficult for Nigeria to reap the full benefits of the knowledge economy.

Mark who stated this during an interview with Vanguard said the government has a huge role to play in making internet access free.

He said: “One of the roles of government is to provide the necessary infrastructure for businesses to thrive.

There are several policies that government can explore to drive sustainable businesses in the country, but one policy, which I think is key to the growth of online business in Nigeria, is for government to make 2G and EDGE internet access free of charge for all Nigerians. “The 3G and 4G/LTE technology could still be paid for, but 2G

and EDGE internet should be made free.

By the time government mandates all telecoms providers to make 2G and EDGE internet free, it will enable every Nigerian have internet access, even when the speed is slow, compared with 3G and 4G speed. When this is done, service providers will optimise their websites to adjust to the speed of 2G and

One of the roles of government is to provide the necessary infrastr ucture for businesses to thrive

EDGE and this will further deepen internet penetration in the country.

Making 2G and EDGE internet access free, will create equal opportunities for Nigerians to seek information online without restrictions, irrespective of their station in life.”

He added: “The truth is that economies vary and environmental situations also vary. In most developed countries, they have unlimited access to the internet and they have social security policy in place where people who are not working, are paid monthly salaries for their upkeep.

Those that work are well paid, so in such jurisdiction, the government do not need to make 2G and EDGE technology free of charge, but in Nigeria, where there is no social security policy in place and where monthly salaries are very poor for those who work, there should be ways of ameliorating the sufferings of the people, hence my candid opinion of making 2G and EDGE technology free for every Nigerian.”

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

We have Financial Reporting Council (FRC). For me, they have to collapse it with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC because they operate similar thing with SEC. If you are talking of corporate governance, we don’t see any other body that enforce scorporate governance than SEC

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

BY PETER EGWUATU

N

eimeth Plc, led the cream of price gainers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE last week as it appreciated by 11.72 per cent or N0.15 per share to close at N1.43 per share from N1.28 per share it closed penultimate week.

The company led the top gainers as twenty two equities appreciated in price during the week under review, lower than twenty eight equities of the penultimate week.

The difficult economic challenges bedevilling Nigeria has stunted the growth of Neimeth. Analysis of the financial statement shows for the period ended December 2014, the company’s net income dipped by 190 percent to N68.09 million from N75.76 million the same period of the corresponding year (Q1) December 2013, while sales fell by 43 percent to N269.26 million. Gross profits margin reduced to 38.74 percent compared with 54.95 percent the last year, while gross profit fell by 59.48 percent to N104.31 million.

The falling gross profits mean Neimeth is not able to produce at relatively lower costs.

Operating expenses margin increased to 53.53 percent in 2014 as against 34.50 percent in the preceding year, while operating expenses fell by 12 percent to N144.14 million. Net margin, a measure of profitability and efficiency, increased to 25.28 percent from 16.17 percent the preceding year. Neimeth’s total assets rose slightly by 1.43 percent to N2.82 billion compared with N2.78 billion the preceding year.

The company’s share price closed at N0.74 on the floor of the exchange while market capitalisation was N1.16 billion.

Trailing Neimeth Plc was Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc which surged by 6.61 per cent or N9.85 per share to close at N158.85 per share from N149.00 per share it close penultimate week.

For the financial year ended 31st December, 2014, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc grew after tax profit in 2014 by 84 per cent to N6.392 billion from N3.480 billion reported in 2013. Top line growth was however flat as revenue increased by a marginal 1% from N78.744 billion in 2013 to N79.583 billion in 2014. Direct cost remains flat at N68.846 billion so also is Admin expenses at N7.342 billion.

Finance cost however rose significantly by over 200% from N50.592 million in 2013 to N158 million in 2014. Gain on noncurrent asset held for sale in the sum of N2.851 billion in the year under review was largely responsible for the jump in profit.

The board of directors of the company did recommend payment of final dividend of N6.60k to share holders, a marginal difference from the N6.00 per share the company paid in dividend in 2013.

AIICO Insurance Plc occupied the third position on the gainers chart rising by 5.43 per cent or N0.05 to close last week at N0.97 per share from N0.92 per share it close penultimate week. AIICO Insurance financial statement for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 shows that revenue declined by 9.9 per cent to N7.940 billion

from N8.811 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014; Profit after tax dropped by 51.6 per cent to N443.047 million from N914.933 million in 2014.

Trailing behind AIICO was Askaka Cement Plc which rose by 5.12 per cent or N1.10 per share to close at N22.60 per share from N21.50 per share penultimate week.

The NSE recently published Ashaka Cement’s (Ashaka) first quarter, Q1 2015 result showed that Profit Before Tax, PBT fell by 59 per cent Year on Year, y/y to N1.2billion. The y/y decline in PBT was driven by a combination of factors including a 30 per cent y/y reduction in sales to N4.6bn, a 1,319bp contraction in gross margin to 35.7 per cent and N211million in other operating expense (compared with a nil charge on the same line in Q1 2014). To a lesser extent, a 48 per cent y/y reduction in net interest income also contributed to the y/y decline in PBT. These negatives completely offset a 39 per cent y/y decrease in Operating Expenses, opex. The company recorded a lower tax rate of 23.4 per cent compared with 31.9 per cent in Q1 2014, the decline on the PAT line narrowed slightly relative to that on the Profit Before Tax, PBT line to 54 per cent y/y.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc occupied the fifth position on the price gainers chart to close at N331.25 per share from N315.80 per share, representing a rise of 4.89 per cent or N15.45 per share. The company’s Gross revenue for the first three months ended March 31, 2015 was US$ 131 million (N25.6 billion) as against US146 million (N22.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

Crude revenue (after adjusting for changes in lifting) was US$ 120 million (N23.4 billion) in the period under review, a 16 per cent decrease or US 142 million (N22.1 billion ) in the corresponding period in 2014 . This according to its management was mainly due to the significantly lower oil price, partially offset by increased sales volumes; Gas revenue was US$ 11.0 million (N2.2 billion), a 170 per cent increase from the same period in 2014 mainly due to increased production capacity resulting from wells and workovers completed by the company in the latter parts of 2014 and higher offtake from the gas buyers.

Meanwhile, Nestle Food Nigeria Plc, Portland Paints and Products Nigeria Plc, Presco Plc, Learn Africa and Trans Nationwide Express Plc were among the top ten gainers.

Specifically, Nestle rose by 4.88 per cent to close at N891.45 per share from N850.00 per share followed by Portland Paints which went up b y 4.71 per cent to close at N4.45 per share. Presco garnered N1.50 per share to close at N33.50 per share, followed by Learn Africa which went up by N0.05 per share to close at N1.26 per share from N1.21 per share, while Trans National Express inched up N0.05 per share to close at N1.27 per share from N1.22 per share.

INVESTOR' ,

Banks and blood money

By Babajide Komolafe

I

t happened in one of the Abuja branches of one of N i g e r i a ' s t o p five banks. That Saturday morning, a male staff had entered the ATM room to load money into the machine and locked himself as required by standard operational procedure. But when minutes rolled into hours, and the staff refused to emerge from the room,

colleagues began to suspect something was wrong. This was confirmed when there was no response to persistent knocking and banging on the door of the ATM room. By the time the door was forced open they found the lifeless body of their colleague on the floor of the ATM room.

The deceased bank staff was an “ATM Custodian”.

ATM custodian have responsibility to monitor

ATMs in their branch or branches in the same locality. They must replenish cash into the ATMs, and address any incidence of ATM breakdown. Their jobs are very critical at ensuring that customers have access to their cash seven days every week.

But this bank, like some other banks took things to the extreme. As at the time the deceased staff was

INTERACTION : From left, Mr. Tayo Shenbanjo (Guest Speaker and a member of CIS), Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, Acting President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS and Maigboje Higo, Managing Director, Capital Bancorp Limited and a member of CIS during an interactive session organised by CIS and Capital Bancorp in Lagos.

MARKET NEWS

Stockbrokers liable for advice to clients —Shebanjo

By Peter Egwuatu

A

United States of America based stockbroker, Mr. Tayo Shebanjo has identified the critical success factors for stockbrokers in Nigeria who desire to operate at global best practices, saying in abroad stock broker will be held liable if he gives wrong advice to his clients.

Shebanjo who traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange before migrating to the United States where he obtained certification and continued operation as a stockbroker was the guest speaker at an Interactive session organised by the Chartered Institute Stockbrokers (CIS) and Capital Bancorp Plc at the weekend He identified the following attributes of a global stockbroker as imperative for

his colleagues in Nigeria: Investment in knowledge, staying in touch with the market, ensuring value proposition for clients, operating at the highest level of integrity and being organised at all time.

He spoke passionately about his formative years as a Dealing Clerk here in Nigeria. Indeed he confessed that this market gave him the grounding to be who he is

The institute had been making serious efforts to attract young people into the securities and investment profession.

wrong

today. According to him “The Nigerian stock market was currently not doing badly and that the future is bright. He emphasised the need for continuous professional education, which in the US is taken very seriously. In the US, a broker has to start the certification process all over if he is out of the market Also, in addition to the House, a broker will be held personally liable if he gives wrong advice to his client. The broker ’s supervisor will equally not be spared. While lamenting the mess that was ‘margin trading’ here in the past, Tayo was pleased to state that he does not see any other potential ‘time bomb’ in the market for now. He however warned that due care should be taken when creating and handling derivatives.”

Several members of the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 23

working, ATM custodians in the bank worked round the clock, from Monday to Sunday.

On weekends, they had to resume by 6.30am in the morning and closed around 7pm. As a result, there was virtually no day to rest . But the management of the banks were either oblivious of this fact or they chose to ignore it.

By the time another ATM custodian slumped and died in a Lagos branch of the same bank, there were increasing reports of serious health breakdown among ATM custodians in the bank. The bank was compelled to review the working schedule of its

We would assist depositors of the bank to seek the support of agencies or groups in the economy that could facilitate their engagement with the CBN and owners of the bank

audience took him up on the various issues raised and he answered in a very clear and concise manner. For instance, he pointed out that in the US, minimum share capital is imposed on each firm in accordance with the job it does and that when a firm is appointed as market maker it has an obligation to mop up every available unit of the stock on offer. Mr. T. Agusto was of the view that the regulators in Nigeria should be more flexible in the certification requirements and process, because the country urgently needs to increase the number of young skilled professionals available Commenting on the efforts of the CIS to ensure standard, one of the institute’s senior staff, Mr Chukwudi explained that the institute, had been making serious efforts to attract young people into the securities and investment profession. He mentioned that the institute has introduced a Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment for

ATM custodians. Now they rotate weekend shifts, meaning each custodian works two weekends (Saturday-Sunday) in a month.

This however reveals how banks in Nigeria sacrifice human lives in order to generate income. It is the same principle that drives people who shed human blood to make money.

Apart from the wicked work schedule for ATM custodians operated by some banks, others have working hours that is hostile to women, especially their God given role as mothers.

In order to maintain the high paying banking jobs, some female bank staff abandon one month old babies to the uncertain care of house-helps/ nannies and unregulated day cares. There was the case of a female bank staff that lost her one year old second child, who accidentally, drowned herself in a bowl of water, while the househelp was busy watching television with the first child in the living room. However, it must be noted that not all the banks operate a system that demands sacrifice of human lives to generate income. For example most of the banks have stopped weekend banking, or reduced it to the barest minimum, due to recognition of its impact of families and long term productivity of staff. Also some banks have created crèches in their offices that allow nursing mothers to keep their babies within reach and under day care.

secondary school leavers and the successful acquisition of this diploma qualifies the holder to write the final part of the institute’s professional examination.

The examinations are fully computer – based.

According to Nga, CIS, is a member of the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts (ACIIA), and CIS graduates are qualified to write the final examination of the globally recognised institute. Mr. Nga disclosed to the admiration of the audience that CIS has also introduced a recertification examination for the institute’s graduates who have not converted to Associate status three years after graduation. Some of the speakers noted that the CIS needs substantially increased funding to enable it carry out its capacity building and other roles with optimal effectiveness. At the end of the interactions Shebanjo was honoured with the Family Song and wished him a safe journey back to his base.

,

S FORUM

AMCON is a temporary thing that will operate for some time, and eventually be terminated. That was the plan when it was established some years back

,

INVESTORS SPEAK

Okezie

Abodunrin

Shareholders throw weight behind agencies’ merger The Buhari led administration, has unveiled plans to merge some government agencies perceived to be duplicating functions, example is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC, shareholders have expressed support over the move, attributing it to waste of resources. services. However, if you split groups and you say you are creating job and at the end you render them ineffective and unable r. Boniface Okezie, Chairman, Progressive to perform up to the optimal expectation shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN: The of the populace, then you are wasting Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would remain money without value. This is the way I as an entity because in the past SEC use to be a department look as some of these institutions with of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, So you cannot merge SEC duplicating functions.

Chief Sola Abodunrin, Chairman, with EFCC or ICPC. When we have so many agencies doing the same regulatory framework, is duplication of functions. Ibadan Zone Shareholders’ Association: Why should we have ICPC and EFCC, they should collapse The economy of Nigeria is currently in the them in one and that would make them more effective. The doldrum, things are reducing and many way they are now, they are not performing, they are playing functions are being duplicated. I am in at a gallery, bringing people in today and discharge them support of agencies being merged, tomorrow, we have not seen anybody being convicted, particularly agencies that are performing except harassing the banks that Sanusi distorted in 2009 the same role. The EFCC is managing the when he came on board and alleging that the loan given affairs of people who are corrupt, ICPC is was stolen, but this was the facilities given to customers. doing the same thing, we can’t have two Instead of building a strong financial institution, the man agencies doing the same job, and they came and destroyed the whole system in collaboration with should be merged. Chief Orosanye’s the EFCC, which gave birth to Asset Management Committee has recommended the Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. The foreign regulators merging of agencies; they should look at like International Monetary Fund, IMF and World Bank that report and adopt it totally. The have sounded warning to previous government that government spends almost 72 percent of AMCON should windup its operation but I don’t know why its resources paying for wages and AMCON still exists at the expense of the investors. We have salaries, it is too much. They should look Financial Reporting Council (FRC), for me, they have to for ways of reducing the expenses of collapse with SEC because they operate similar thing with governance and except they do that they SEC. If you are talking of corporate governance, we don’t can never achieve any success. They see any other body that enforce corporate governance than should reduce the recurrent expenses and SEC, so why we should we have FRC, in the past we use to devote a lot of money to capital expenses, have Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) from the Institute in a situation where we spend a lot of of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), but they don’t money on recurrent, it will not sustain the 72 percent of government resources to pay exist as a regulatory body. We salaries of people, thereby have National Insurance noting for capital Commission (NAICOM) why AMCON is a temporary leaving expenditure and without do we have duplication of all capital expenditure there these things; we have the thing that will operate can never be development.

Central Bank of Nigeria If we look at agencies (CBN). We have NDIC, what for some time and like NDIC, it is they are doing; I think performing a different eventually be NAICOM and NDIC should role, example when banks even be collapsed into one, terminated collapse they are the since they are serving undertaker. If we look at depositors. NAICOM is them and see the roles regulating insurance and I think they should collapse it so that it can be able to have they are performing, if we know that they oversight function for the insurance companies and a are performing some specific roles for the department created from the merger to oversee the economy let them perform those roles. customers in banking industry. That is the only way we can AMCON is a temporary thing that will save revenue and cut cost otherwise our cost will be operate for some time and eventually be enormous and we will continue to duplicate one agency terminated. That is what government has with another agencies. As it is today, most of agencies are planned for it. They are to last for 10 years doing similar jobs and even if you merge them, there will and they are not supposed to last more than not be job lose as such because you will enhance their 10 years. After recovery of all the loans they have given, they should be wind up.

By Providence Obuh

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24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Stanbic IBTC grants N159bn loans to energy firms …Records N31bn NPL, N19.5bn impairments

By Michael Eboh

D

espite its rising nonperforming loans portfolio, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc extended about N158.874 billion loans to energy firms in Nigeria in two years, in 2013 and 2014.

This notwithstanding rising concerns by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other financial analysts, over rising NonPerforming Loans, NPL, in the banks due to their high level of exposure to energy firms.

The bank, in its Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2014, extended a total of N136.089 billion to oil, gas and mining companies while electricity and other utilities companies received N22.785 billion in two years, in 2013 and 2014.

Specifically, the bank granted N55.569 billion and N80.52 billion loans to oil, gas and mining companies in 2013 and 2014 respectively. electricity and other utilities companies received N10.671 loans in 2013 and N12.112 billion in 2014.

The bank recorded total gross loans and advances of N819.74 billion in 2013 and 2014, broken down into N397.486 billion in 2013 and N422.254 billion in 2014.

NNPC

President Muhammadu Buhari

The increase in its gross loans and advances was in spite of the bank’s rising non-performing loans portfolio. The bank’s NPL rose by 33.9 per cent from N13.407 billion in 2013 to N17.951 billion in 2014.

The bank also recorded specific impairments of N8.972 billion in 2013, rising to N10.534 billion in 2014.

Of the total NPLs, electricity, gas and water supply companies accounted for N3.214 billion or 17.9 per cent of the bank’s total NPL in 2014, while it accounted for 11.55 per cent or N1.217 billion

of the bank’s specific impairment in 2014.

Financial infractions In addition to the risk of losing a large chunk of the loans it granted energy firms, Stanbic IBTC was fined N28 million by the CBN for various infractions in the course of its operations in 2014, as indicated below:  Contravening regulation on the scope of Banking Activities and Ancillary Matters and Minimum Standards for Commercial Banking - N2 million.  Failure to obtain the CBN’s

approval before employing two staff members at senior management level in 2009 N8 million  Contravening regulation on the Assessment Criteria for Approved Person’s Regime for Financial Institutions - N8 million.  Under-reporting public sector deposits as at August 29, 2014 in contravention to official circulars - N10 million.

Over-exposure concerns The CBN, bank executives and analysts had expressed worries over the ability of energy firms to repay their indebtedness to the banks, especially in the face of low oil price in the international market.

Analysts argued that of the loans might be impaired as the oil firms might be unable to repay.

Former Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. AigbojieAig-Imoukhuede, had expressed concern over the viability of the recently privatised power sector. He had warned that a number of the banks that financed the acquisition of the privatised assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, risk losing their funds.

Stakeholders attribute NNPC Board dissolution to infractions

By Michael Eboh

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resident Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to dissolve the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has been applauded as a major step towards sanitising the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the NNPC in particular.

Many see the Corporation as lacking in transparency, amid allegations of corruption which the Board and management made no effort to check.

Some respondents who spoke to Vanguard, argued that the NNPC is deliberately designed to continually deceive and keep Nigerians in the dark about the true state of things in the petroleum sector.

They also believed that the NNPC had over the years been able to get away with almost everything because it enjoyed the patronage of both the executive and the legislative arms of government.

In particular, the Convener, Good Governance Group, Mr. GamboSeyi, lamented that the lack of transparency of the NNPC has helped in stunting the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Seyi said: “What we needed is total transparency of all the activities of the NNPC, even as we are still waiting for the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to come so that the NNPC could be broken down into a more effective entity.

“Before that happens, it should be that if we want information from the NNPC, by the push of a button, we should be able to see it. Information like the number and state of our oil blocks and people operating the oil blocks;

NNPC had over the years been able to get away with almost everything because it enjoyed the patronage of both the executive and the legislative arms of government.

everything should be open.”

On his expectations from the NNPC, Seyi, a former image maker of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, said: “The NNPC that we want should not be a presidential reservoir whereby if they want toothpick in the Presidency, they go to the NNPC. That was what has killed this economy. That is why they cannot have a proper account system in the NNPC. We have a lot of politicians in the NNPC, and as long as the politicians do not allow them to do their work has kept us where we are today.”

Also speaking, the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, commended the Federal Government for taking steps towards entrenching sanity in the petroleum sector.

He said: “The dissolution of the board is a step in the right direction, especially if you remember all the controversy and intrigues about the mismanagement of resources due to the Federation Account by that Corporation.

“This is just a preliminary thing

because the idea is that the extant management should not be in charge as at the time they are being investigated and probed, so that they would not obstruct the course of justice and change.

“Also, it is imperative that government takes the longdistance approach which is the passage of the PIB, which will overhaul the whole oil and gas industry, not just changing the management of the NNPC. It is a step in the right direction.”

Similarly, Mr. Peter Esele, accused the NNPC Board of not being effective and had over the years, failed to promote transparency, checks and balances within the system.

Esele, a former PENGASSAN and Trade Unions Congress, TUC, president said: “No matter how good a man is, if the system that produces him is corrupt, the person would be corrupt. What we now need to do is to look at the system and ask: Why is NNPC financials so opaque? Why is it so difficult to understand what they do there? If the management is going off line, how would the board check the management?

Genesis Energy, Norwegian firm partner for hydropower

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enesis Energy Corporation,and Norway’s SHP MaltheWinje, have agreed to provide a platform for the multiple deployment of Modular Mini Hydro Power solutions.This is expected to efficiently and effectively meet the energy needs of Nigeria and the entire African continent within a short period of time.

A statement from Genesis Chief Executive Officer, Mr. AkinwoleOmoboriowo, said that the partnership is a reflection of its vision to light up Africa, one community at a time, in a bid to resolve the power puzzle in Africa starting with Nigeria.

Omoboriowo, who spoke in London during the launch of the modular mini hydro power solution for Africa, claimed the modular hydro power engines can be deployed on fast-track basis within six months without the prohibitive costs of diesel oil or natural gas.

He said the modular units can be connected to small mini grid at 415 voltage levels for direct consumption by targeted communities, or connected to the distribution network within the area of the modular hydro unit installation.

He added that the units also have advantages of increased generated Kilo Watt per hour and in addition have zero negative environmental impact, given the passthrough water from streams or rivers used to feed the modular hydro units.

He was quoted as saying: “In line with the vision of Genesis to light up Africa one community at a time, we have embarked on innovative means of generating power using alternative and renewable sources of fuel with particular interest in Mini Hydro and Off-grid Solar Power Solutions.

“SHP MaltheWinjeare technology market leaders in the manufacturing and supply of prefabricated and standardisedmini hydro plants.The Group being one of the global technical specialists in this field has brought on board significant positive upside in collaborating with Genesis to light up Africa one community at a time, and starting from Nigeria.

“This strategic initiative to provide fast track sustainable mini hydro solutions to African countries will engender realistic optimism that stronger and more enlightened renewable policies will emerge in and throughout Africa.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Genesis, Mr Marc Eeckhout, who led the team to the SHP headquarters in Norway, said that the mini hydro plants can be set up in virtually all parts of Nigeria where qualifying streams and or rivers exist.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 25

EU offers Nigeria 150m euro grants for power sector

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA: The European Union, EU, has offered a grant of €150 million to Nigeria towards the improvement of electricity supply.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in a statement in Abuja, said a three-man delegation from the European Union announced the gesture while on a visit to the Commission.

The leader of the delegation, Mr. Peter Cameron, was quoted as saying that they were in the country to assess possible areas the EU could be of assistance in solving the country ’s power challenge.

Cameron said that the delegation was rounding off its visit to Nigeria with a consultation with the Commission so that it would be properly guided on possible areas of assistance.

The Commission has, however, requested for the details of the grant for it to study and arrive at a well-informed position on how best the offer could be accessed and optimally utilised.

The NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, and other members of the C o m m i s s i o n , appreciated the EU’s gesture, and identified three major areas of possible intervention.

These include bridging the huge metering gap; t r a n s m i s s i o n bottlenecks; and the need for embedded generation to improve shortage in power supply.

Embedded generation entails consumption of power generated from a plant within a distribution network without passing it through the transmission network.

Amadi was quoted: “It is a vicious circle; they (electricity firms) cannot get funds if they cannot deliver quality service and the customer will not be willing to pay without quality service.

Without quality service there will be no public acceptability.”

Manufacturers decry huge losses over Shell gas cuts

By Michael Eboh

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a n u f a c t u r i n g establishments across the country have lamented Shell Nigeria Gas, SNG’s excessive disruption of gas supply to industries, saying that they are losing billions of naira daily due to the constant interruptions in gas supply.

Shell supplies gas to industries in Agbara, Ogun State, Lagos, and also to manufacturers in Port Harcourt, Rivers, and Aba, Abia states.

Some of the manufacturers told Vanguard that during one of the supply cuts last November, they lost about N22 billion, excluding the huge losses to the Nigerian economy.

They noted that due to the fact that factories in the belts rely on Shell for fuel power, whenever there is gas cut, those manufacturing outfits stop work and incur losses.

One of the manufacturers, who spoke in confidence for fear of being victimised, disclosed that long before the manufacturers recovered from the November energy crises,Shell struck again with another gas cut.

According to him, the situation is more devastating as Shell’s memos to the affected manufacturers indicate that they won’t restore gas supplies untilJuly 10.

He said: “The first notice for the cut now came to the manufacturers announcing that a gas supply cut would start on June 11, and end on June 18.

Before the expiry of that cut when the manufacturers were hoping to return to production, Shell again brought a notice of indefinite gas cut.

“It was after a news report on Wednesday, June 24ththat the

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Power plant

company sent another notice saying that although they had said the date for the restoration of supply was indefinite, it would be July 10. If that comes true, that means the factories and their workers must have been out of business for one full month.”

A biscuit manufacturer decried that the constant gas cuts have plunged them into huge losses.

“Our plant of five production lines turns out an average of 7,000 cartons of biscuits everyday.In a month that Shell would keep us out of work, we would lose a production volume of about 210,000 cartons and at the market rate of N570 for a carton, our financial loss will be a minimum of N119.7 million.Added to our normal wage bill since the workers must be paid, we can’t fully quantify our losses,” he said.

To cushion the effect of the constant interruptions, the biscuit manufacturer said the company is currently handling a project to build a gas storage

plant to enable it avoid the constant pains inflicted by the Shell cuts.

He said: “The project costs about N645 million or $3 million. The irony is that since we need to run operations to be able to fund the project, this one month cut has stopped the project, and we keep incurring costs because the company handling it, Atlas Copco, is a foreign firm flew in their experts from abroad. Today, it is stalled for a month and our bills in keeping the experts a month longer than we budgeted keep rising.

“The gas storage facility is part of our efforts to create a world class factory with efficient and effective operations. In 2014, we awarded a $3 million contract to the Anglo-Swedish Atlas Copco, to design, install and commission the most advanced and integrated compressed natural gas, CNG station for our factory. This will completely eliminate the

incessant and inefficient gas supply operation by Shell.

“The installation state of the project had been moving smoothly as planned before this latest disruption by Shell.

We had hoped that in the next five weeks, we would have been through and sure of producing without unnecessary interruptions.

But here we are again, in Shell’s mess,” he decried.

Shell, in one of its correspondence to the manufacturers, said: “We refer to SNG’s notice of shutdown via our letter dated 09/06/ 2015. This is to inform you that mobilisation to the site has been done, and shutdown is to commence from tomorrow 12/ 06/2015.”

The letter which was signed by Shell’s Commercial Adviser, Mr.Bola GeorgeEpebifie, wrote again to counter his earlier directive, saying: “This is to inform you that repair works on the impacted pipeline have not been completed due to some challenges encountered. We are working assiduously to resolve the challenges. Our latest estimate for completion of the repair work is now end of next week. We will provide new updates as they become available.”

Last week, Shell sent the latest memo announcing that gas is expected back on July 10, pleading force majeure for its inability to meet its gas supply obligations.

The memo read in part: “This is to inform you that repair works on the impacted pipeline have not been completed due to some challenges encountered. We are working assiduously to resolve the challenges.”

Shell’s Afam VI delivers 20million MWh electricity S

hell Nigeria’s Afam VI Power Plant in Rivers State, has delivered over 20million megawatt-hour,MWh, of electricity into the national grid between its inauguration in 2008 and June 2015, thereby consolidating its position as a leading contributor to the country’s grid generation.

The operations at Afam VI plant have also led to subcontract opportunities and employment for over 150 Nigerians from the 16 host communities.

Shell in a statement claimed the 20million MWh of electricity milestone is equivalent to 24-hour power supply to over one million residential consumers or nearly 180,000 medium-sized commercial enterprises for six years. It is also worth six years of 24-hour power supply to Port Harcourt city alone.

The power plant was built by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC Ltd Joint Venture, and achieved first power in August 2008, about three years after the contract was awarded.

“The SPDC JV is pleased to be a reliable partner in the quest for stable power supply in Nigeria,” said SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. OsagieOkunbor. “What

long before the manufacturers recovered from the November energy crises,Shell struck again with another gas cut.

… Creates over 150 jobs is most exciting is that the plant has achieved this milestone while also touching the lives of community people and helping youths to acquire key engineering skills.”

Located at Okoloma village in Oyigbo Local Government, the plant has an installed capacity of 650 megawatts, MW, and consists of three gas turbines each rated at 150MW, and one steam turbine rated at 200MW. The gas turbines were inaugurated in July 2009, while the steam turbine came on stream in December 2010.

The plant receives gas from SPDC’s gas plant, also at Okoloma.

Built on the best technology in the industry and utilising waste heat energy in the gas turbine exhaust gas, the additional 200MW from the

steam turbine considerably reduces the plant’s carbon footprint.

As a Clean Development Mechanism, CDM project under the United Nations Executive Board for Climate Change, the Afam VI Power Plant eliminated over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, while also maintaining excellent safety standards. The plant could not, however, deliver nearly 5 million MWh due to gas supply disruptions from crude theft and pipeline vandalism.

Furthermore, Shell also claimed the integrated energy giant has provided hands-on and offshore training for 15 youths in Electrical, Mechanical and Instrumentation engineering on Combined Cycle Power Plant operations and maintenance.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

JUNE 30, 2015

Why Nigerian oil producers are constrained

By Sebastine Obasi Experts in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have identified key major issues confronting indigenous producers in their quest to have a stake in the industry that provides more than 80 percent of the revenue.

The Group Energy Head, Institutional Banking Group, First Bank Plc,Mr. OlalekanAdelekan, said that increased awareness has resulted in too many people wanting to have a stake in the industry thereby denying genuine investors from having access to the blocks.

Adelekan, who spoke at the Nigerian Producers Forum, held last week in Lagos, said: “Due to increased awareness, everybody wants to own one oil asset or the other. Because of this, there is an increased focus on Nigerian producers and one of the things that have happened is that from the government side, government has also seen that it can increase the stake since everybody wants it.

“Therefore the minimum to be paid for an inland basin, for example is about $5 million.

Before now, some companies paid $150,000, while some did not even pay at all. The demand has increased. And because of the demand, definitely price will go up.”

He also identified the delay in having relevant legislation as another major constraint.

According to him, the legislation to support the oil and gas industry is over delayed.PIB has not been passed because the stakeholders’ interestsare enormous. Everybody wants to ensure that his interest is protected.”

..

By EdiriEjoh & Mildred Ibrahim

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AWARD CERMONY: From left: Daniel Daniel of NLNG; Dr Kudo Eresia—Eke, General

Manager External Relations; Professor Joseph Ajienka, outgoing Vice-Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt; Prof. Godwin Igwe, NLNG Chair of gas engineering at UNIPORT; Philip Afolami of NLNG and a guest during an award ceremony for NLNG at the University’s 40th anniversary and convocation dinner in Port Harcourt.

“Therefore the minimum to be paid for an inland basin, for example is about $5 million. Before now, some companies paid $150,000, while some did not even pay at all.

Explaining the challenge of technical issues, Adelekan said that most of the technical service agreements, TSAs, that were put in place were mostly skewed in favour of the service providers.

As regards funding, he said that equity sourcing is critical.

“There is need to put in place contingencies. Accessibility of fund is the main hindrance.

Why are Nigerian producers unable to access funds? It is all about the risk acceptance criteria of banks. It differs from bank to bank. For banks, due diligence is very critical. Most Nigerian banks are going offshore and have to be bound by foreign regulations.

Therefore Nigerian producers need to have credible partners.

Oando’s Tinubu named ‘Africa Executive of the Year’

By Sebastine Obasi

T

he Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Oando Group, Mr Wale Tinubu, has been conferred with the Africa Executive of the Year award.

The recognition came at the 3rd edition of the Oil & Gas Council’s 2015 Africa Assembly Award dinner, which held at the InterContinental Le Grand, Paris, France last weekend.

The award recognises the contribution of individuals in leadership positions and excellence in the African oil and gas industry.

In a statement issues in Lagos, Tinubu was said to have been unanimously chosen as the “African

Prepare for electricity tariff hike, EKEDC tells customers

Business Executive of the Year ” in recognition of his pioneering leadership within Africa’s oil & gas sector.

The Council was quoted to have said that under his direction, Oando has steadily increased its operational activities. This followed its strategic and much-lauded landmark $1.56 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigeria, creating Nigeria’ first indigenous major thereby crystallising the emergence of local homegrown companies in the upstream sector.

Accepting the award, Tinubuwas quoted: “This accolade is a testament to our

collective organisational belief at Oando in the tenets of entrepreneurship, innovation, and perseverance. I am extremely humbled by this achievement, and it serves as further motivation to keep evolving, whilst creating opportunities, surpassing our milestones, and strengthening Africa’s active participation in the global marketplace.”

The award is said to be the second received by Tinubu this month. On June 6th, he was recognised for his entrepreneurial achievements and inducted into the Ernst& Young’s World Entrepreneur of the Year Academy in Monte Carlo, Monaco, France.

“Also, the business plan needs to be clear. Nigerian producers need to get financial advisers to help them prepare information memo and all other forms of information that a bank will need to be able to access the funding requirements.

“For example a bank will like to know how a producer wants to implement his field development plan. It is very important, as well as how he wants to hit the first oil. That has to be properly highlighted.

A Nigerian bank will like to see the consistency in production,” he added.

Also speaking, the Founding Partner, Execution Edge Limited and immediate past Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, Mr. ChimaIbeneche, called for the reduction of government’s involvement in the industry.

He said: “I will like to see NNPC unbundled. I will like to see NPDC run like a business enterprise.

Deregulation will enhance free market enterprise; as many people will be involved in the process of supply of petroleum products and that will be good for the economy.

Ibenechealso warned that exploration and production of petroleum will suffer unless companies concerned take into consideration the welfare their host communities.

According to him: “Those who live near well-heads must benefit from the resources in their land, otherwise, they will continue to disrupt production activities of both Nigerian producers and their International Oil Companies’ counterparts.”

he management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC,has urged consumers within its franchise network to prepare for adjustment in electricity tariffs.

The Chief Executive Officer, EKEDC, Mr Oladele Amoda, stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting with electricity consumers from the 11 Business Units under its jurisdiction in Lagos.

The meeting followed a directive by the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, who mandated distribution companies, DISCOs, to consult with their consumers in establishing a new tariff regime.

The NERC boss had noted that whatever tariff the companies proposed would still be subjected to the approval of the Commission.

Meanwhile, Amoda disclosed that EKEDC has embarked on several activities to mitigate the challenges and improve the quality of service to consumers.

According to him, “We are working assiduously to explore other sources of power supply. Presently, the only source of bulk power is from the National Grid, which is grossly inadequate, inefficient and unreliable.

“We understand the plight of our consumers and commenced a process which will augment the power we are currently allocated from the National Grid.

“EKEDC targets about700 Megawatts through our Embedded Independent Power Projects, EIPPs, and bilateral agreement with existing merchant generators,” he said.

Amodaadded that the company had earmarked a CAPEX investment of $250 million, about N50 billion, in the next five years to deal with all the issues, even as more than N10 billion was expended on projects on network and system improvement.

He disclosed that the company had developed a robust metering plan, which if approved by NERC would enable them to step-up installation activities in the next few years.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 27

Investors urged to embrace modular refineries

Subsidy: ‘Focus on inflation, high interest, exchange rates’

By EdiriEjoh & Mildred Ibrahim o rid the country of bad debts T over subsidy claims, the Department of Petroleum

Resources, DPR, has tasked investors in the oil and gas sector to seize the opportunity to invest in modular refinery.

This, according to the regulator will bring to an end fuel scarcity in the country and other related challenges associated with petroleum products supply and distribution in the industry.

The DPR made the call during the NewsDirect Quarterly Roundtable Conference, tagged: “Setting Agenda For the New Government On Private Refineries, Power Supply, Indigenous Participation and Financing.”

The Deputy Director Downstream Sector, DPR, MrAlphonsusMudi, argued that modular refinery is cheaper and capable of being moved from one place to another, adding that a modular refinery has the capacity of refining between 10,000 and 35,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

According to him, such investment will discourage importation of petroleum products. “Out of the 18 investors given license to operate refinery in 2007, only the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, NDPR, which refines diesel with a total capacity of 1,000 barrels per day is on stream.

“However, the rest 17 investors had tied it to challenges to funding, inability to secure crude for use and low incentives from the government.”

Also speaking, the former Executive-Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, DrOluwoleOluleye, urged the government to ensure that the country’s refineries are working in their full capacities.

He noted that there is a need for more refineries in the country, adding that refining should be done within the country so as to avert its dependence on marketers for products.

He said: “The refineries must be given the latitude and capacity to function which would yield minimal importation of petroleum product.

“With the president move, we understand that the refineries would be working by next month. So by the time he brings out his policies, the refineries will be on full production and whatever is brought product imported will be very minimal.”

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Naira and Dollar note

By Ediri Ejoh

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he Federal Government has been urged to exercise caution in thecall for the removal of petroleum subsidy, and instead focus onaddressing all the economic bottlenecks sabotagingNigeria’s common wealth.

An economist,Mr. Henry Boyo, argued that the direct removal of subsidy will serve as a great disincentive to the economic wellbeing of all Nigerians.

He spoke on the theme: Petroleum Pricing, Economic Realities and the Future of the Petroleum Downstream Sector,at the 2015 Business Clinic organised by the Petroleum Downstream Group of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI. However, Boyo’s views contradicted sharply with the

LCCI’s, which insisted on the abrupt removal of the subsidy scheme to give way for the proper and efficient function of the downstream sector to boost the economy.

Boyoargued that there is a correlation between exchange rate and the pump price of petroleum product, adding that subsidy should be removed in a manner that is realisable.

He also said the rate of corruption being highlighted as the crux of the subsidy programme is a function of surplus Naira.

“The means of processing dollar is a cesspool of corruption which should be tackled …‘Save Naira, Save Nigeria’. Once you remove the element that encourage subsidy, the oil marketers who have benefited from the subsidy scam would be cut off from the system,” he cautioned.

He warned the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefele, not to submit himself to the pressure by international investors to further devalue the Naira.

According to him, if the Naira is allowed to be further devalued, pump price of petrol will be sold for N400 per liter in 12 months even after subsidy removal. He said that without subsidy the price of fuel will increase beyond what Nigerians can accommodate.

“An economic process must be denominated on economic principle. Eight per cent inflation rate means 50 percent drop in the purchasing power. The fact is that the investors that are mounting pressure on CBN are not interested in the growth of the economy. They are only concerned about consumer demands which cannot be superfluous when

inflation is low.

“Nigerians must be aware of the collateral damage subsidy removal of PMS, would do to the economy before yanking it off. The reality is that every six month, the government will have to be increase the pump price. This is because the exchange rate is a function of excess liquidity. This is responsible for high cost of funds, which is responsible for high interest rate and inflation.

“It is falsehood to believe that subsidy will solve a critical aspect of the country ’s problem. To address this, Nigerians must be willing to stop CBN from making dollar available at the parallel market.” he said.

According to him, it is out of place to believe that Nigerians will benefit when the price of crude oil falls, asthe pump price cannot go down if the cost of Dollar remains high.

“By the time the CBN substitutes the Naira allocations issued to the three tiers of the government and the MDAs, the liquidity blot would have been so much that interest rate will be impossible to reach. We would have to accommodate a situation where interest rate would revolve around 23 and 26 per cent.

“Since 2009 when the prices of Diesel and Low Pour Fuel Oil, LPFO, were deregulated, the products have not been sold at cheaper rates, due to the weakness of Naira against Dollar.

“It is amazing that despite the licenses given to 20 corporate organisations, private refineries have not seen the light of the day. This is because of the issue with the foreign exchange that is weighing down on investment in the sector. There is no way that the removal of subsidy will ensure transparency in the activities of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. If the foreign exchange issue is addressed, corruption in the system would go.”

NERC urges Presidency to intervene in NEMSA, EMS crisis

By Chris Ochayi

A

BUJA: The crisis rocking the power sector over the establishment of the Electricity Management Service Limited, EMS, and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority, NEMSA, has taken a new dimension with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, calling on the Presidency to intervene.

The NERC, which had already endorsed the creation of NEMSA as a legitimate Federal Government institute, however queried the creation ofthe Electricity Management Service.

The Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, speaking on the vexed issue in Abuja,

requested the Federal Government to advise it on the relevance of the creation of another electricity regulatory body, which according to him is a duplication of the functions of the Commission.

Embattled Amadi told

if the Naira is allowed to be further devalued, pump price of petrol will be sold for N400 per liter in 12 months even after subsidy removal.

newsmen that, “The Act is clear on what we should do and that is what we are doing.

A new government is in power and they have to advise us on what to do. We are an independent commission under government. So at the end of the day, I expect that government will look at the law and take a position.”

The NERC however ignored the existence of EMS to appoint 14 new inspectors for the technical sector, which is an overlap with the roles of the EMS. But Amadiargued that even if the new government eventually allow EMS to function, it would not hinder NERC from performing its technical and commercial regulatory roles as enshrined

in the Act. He noted that not only did the Commission write a letter to the immediate past President to oppose the creation of EMS; it also opposed it vehemently in the National Assembly.

Now that a new government is in power, he said the Commission will adhere to whatever directive it receives on the issue.

According to him, “It is on record that NERC opposed it at the National Assembly in a heated debate.

“We wrote to the President, and we stated clearly and I believe till today, there is no justification for that. But it is a law, so we will wait for the new government to tell us what to do. Whatever the government tells us, we will do.”

28— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

BY JUDE NJOKU

A

gainst the backdrop of several litigations which hamper the speedy execution of construction contracts in Nigeria, built environment last week, canvassed the use of arbitration as an alternative means of resolving disputes in the construction industry. The experts th who brainstormed at the 5 Building & Construction Economic Round Table, BCERT 5, organised by the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, QSRBN in Abuja, made a strong case for arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution because it provides for technical matters to be handled by those with the requisite technical knowledge of the subject matter of the dispute.

Setting the tone for the brainstorming session, the QSRBN President, Mallam Hussani Adamu Dikko explained that disputes and disagreements are common features of all human relationships and their occurrence contracts are not out of place.

“Arbitration as a means of settling disputes in the construction industry is increasingly becoming popular.

All construction contracts have provision for Arbitration as one of the conditions that govern the contract. Arbitration has been very effective in all jurisdictions around the world hence its increasing prominence,”Dikko explained.

He further noted that “construction arbitration is a very technical area and only those who have sound and technical knowledge of construction processes and technology can successfully practise construction arbitration either as Arbitrators or expert witnesses in an arbitration proceeding. The major reason for arbitration is that it provides for technical matters to be handled by those with the requisite technical knowledge of the subject matter of the dispute.

It is therefore important to let you know that the practice of arbitration by construction professionals is a litmus test of their knowledge and grasp of issues in construction processes and practice”.

Sharp practices The QSRBN President noted that although lawyers are becoming increasingly interested in construction arbitration, they (lawyers) should acquire knowledge and good grasp of construction processes and practice. “Without this, the

Experts explore arbitration as alternative dispute resolution in construction industry

A road under construction...

Experts prefer arbitration to litigation in settling disputes that may arise on such projects

Whenever there is an arbitration provision in construction contract, the process must be exhausted before any party can opt for litigation

temptation is there for the Lawyer to confuse arbitration processes with judicial processes as if they are the same or interchangeable whereas they are miles apart.

The rules in litigation are drastically different from the rules in arbitration,” he said.

Mallam Dikko decried the trend “whereby parties who sign up for arbitration at inception of contract use all kinds of intrigues and subterfuge to frustrate arbitration whenever disputes arises”. “Whenever there is an arbitration provision in construction contract, the process must be exhausted before any party can opt for litigation. Therefore submission to arbitration is a condition precedent to litigation. But parties often try to frustrate arbitration using all forms of

technicalities. This should be frowned at. Whilst it is possible to obtain favourable judgement in the courts based on technicalities, it is almost impossible to obtain favourable awards in arbitration based on technicalities. In arbitration, matters are treated on their merit and facts are sacrosanct in arbitration. These realities account in part to the increasing popularity which arbitration enjoys today in the construction industry,” he said.

Defects of Arbitration Act Mr Augustine Uchechukwu Kalu who did an overview of Arbitration & Conciliation Act of 2004, posited that “disputes are likely in the world of complex and complicated construction industry”. “ This is because a typical

Mallam Hussaini Adamu Dikko

construction project may involve several parties performing diverse roles. When and where such disputes arise, the traditional mechanism for resolving same is litigation. The enormous expense, delay and the coercive character of litigation resulted to a strong need for an alternative means of resolving disputes that not only preserves the relationship of the disputants, but equally ensures the progress of the project while the resolution lasts. This need finds fulfilment in arbitration,”he said.

Kalu stated that although the Act has laid a fairly good

Continues on Page 30

FG teams up with NIESV to grow real estate sector

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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he Federal Government will collaborate with the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers NIESV, to enhance growth in the real estate sector of the economy through an implementable policy framework.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Lands Housing, and Urban Development, Mr George Ossi, who stated this at the NIESV National Day of prayer and thanksgiving, in Abuja, added that the government and the professional body would partner to formulate policies that would help to develop the real estate sector. The event provided a platform for members of the profession as well as other government officials to pray for the peace, security and progress of the country.

Ossi, represented by the Deputy Director, Lands, Mrs Great Edereka, noted that the role played by the Institution in deepening the practice, has helped to check quackery and establish high standards among members.

“We appreciate the NIESV for identifying with the ministry, especially your contribution towards the progress recorded in the nation’s housing development agenda over the years.

The ministry remains keenly interested in partnering with you in the continuous development of the housing sub-sector The Ministry remains ever ready to lend support to the Institution by making good polices that will enhance growth in the real estate and related sectors and ensuring that they are faithfully

implemented to achieve the desired result,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Second Vice President of the Institution, Mr. Rowland Abonta stated that the prayer session was organised to put their members on the path of honesty.

According to him, the Institution which is statutorily in charge of land resources in the country, needs to be true to the professional callings.

Abonta added that estate surveyors and valuers would find their feet even at the moment of economic downturn, if they put God first. He said,”We organised the National Day of Prayer for our members to set our feet on the part of integrity and honesty. Our jobs require that we operate in honesty and we realised we cannot achieve this without God.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 —29

A road in Surulere, Lagos being rehabilitated by officials of Lagos Public Works.

Lagos Public Works earnmarks 90 roads for immediate rehabilitation

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

D

etermined to address the devastating effects of heavy downpour on its roads, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC has earmarked about 90 roads for maintenance and rehabilitation. The roads are mainly those that take high vehicular movement, including commercial vehicles used by large number of commuters.

The new LSPWC boss, Ayotunde Shodeinde, an engineer who made this disclosure in his office last week, explained that the present poor state of roads which he claimed is common with rainy seasons, has

become a source of concern to Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. The roads which are located in Lagos metropolis, he said, would be fixed within the next two weeks inspite of the rains.

“We cannot continue to blame weather condition for the hardship being caused our people by potholes. The Corporation will take advantage of any dry period to quickly move to site and carry out maintenance operations be it during the day or night time,” he said.

While appealing for more patience from Lagos residents, Shodeinde stated that in the days ahead, the Corporation’s operations will assume a more robust dimension which will

enable a greater number of Lagosians to feel its impact, especially when the rains wind up. He noted that already, road maintenance work has commenced on some of the roads earmarked for repairs.

They which Dopemu Road, Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Old Abeokuta Road, Iyana IpajaEgbeda Road, Alimosho, Shasha Road, Alimosho, Old Ojo Road, Kuye and AmuwoOdofin. Others are MowoIkoga Road, Badagry, Osho Road, Olubote Street in Epe, Lagos-Abeokuta Express Way, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja and Oyemekun Road, IfakoIjaye. Also, listed for maintenance are Ipaja Road, AP-Alagba, Kikrikiri Road, Olodi, Apapa, Ikotun-Igando

Road, Ikotun-Egbe Road, Liverpool Road, KetuEjinrin Road, Epe, Ogunnusi Road, OjoduOgba, Ikeja, Alausa Roads network, Allen Avenue/ Opebi Road, LagosAbeokuta Expressway (Cement-Ile Zik Axis) and Owolegbon Street, Atunrase Estate, Gbagada Phase1, Kosofe. Others to be fixed are AradagunAjido-Iworo Road, Badagry, Ajah-Ado-Badore Road, Eti-Osa, Ahamadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Ojo-Igbede Road, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Herbert Macaulary Way, Lagos Mainland, Bush/ Ajike Faromobi/Thomas Laniyan/Anthony Village Road, Kosofe, Itire-Mushin Road, Surulere, Tokunbo Street, Lagos-Island, Apapa Road, Ebute-Meta, Lagos Mainland, LagosAbeokuta Expressway (Abule Egba-Toll Gate Axis) and Agege Motor Road, Ladipo-Cappa Axis.

According to Shodeinde, the maintenance activities will be carried out using either asphalt premix or paving stones and other palliative measures, all in an attempt to improve the motoring experience of Lagos motorists.

He therefore enjoined motorists and other road users to use alternative routes whenever the corporation’s men are seen at the mentioned locations, in order to reduce the logistic challenges usually associated with road maintenance operations.

Don’t appoint retired judges, lawyers into arbitration panels —El-Rufai

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

T

he Kaduna StateGovernor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has warned the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, QSRBN not to appoint retired judges and lawyers into its Arbitration panel. el-Rufai who gave the warning at the just concluded 5th Building and Construction Economic Roundtable in Abuja, noted that this is he only way to avoid prolonging proceedings unnecessarily.

He stated that judges and lawyers have a penchant to delay and prolong court proceedings, noting that they may carry over this habit, if appointed into the QSRBN arbitration panel. The former Minister of Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, who observed that the nation’s judicial system is broken, regretted that it takes at least seven years to resolve

legal cases.

He advised QSRBN to move from dispute resolution to dispute avoidance by providing quality leadership to the profession. El-Rufai who is also a quantity surveyor, boasted that “there is no profession that is more qualified for public service than quantity surveyors because they know a little of everything”.

“The judicial system is broken and it takes at least seven years to get judgment in any case. We must not appoint retired judges and lawyers as arbitrators because they would delay the proceedings as if they were still in court. I remember a case that was taken to court and the matter dragged on for about seven years. I lost interest in the case when I left the profession and joined the public service. Construction professionals have the

•El-Rufai

technical knowledge and are best qualified as arbitrators,”the Governor said.

Also speaking at the forum, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. George Ossi stated that arbitration, instead of litigations, should be handy in resolution of construction

industry disputes.

The government, he said, was recommending arbitration out of conviction that it has developed into a preferable alternative dispute resolution method in the construction sector as a result of the increasing costs and delays associated with litigation processes.

Engineers want Nigeria to embrace renewable energy

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

I

mporting foreign technologies without situating them within the socio, economic, political reality of the country may not advance the course of technological breakthrough in Nigeria. This view was canvassed by engineers at the 2015 Annual Lecture, Life Achievement Awards and Induction of New Fellows, organised by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, NAE in Lagos. The theme of the lecture was ‘Distributed Renewable Energy Resources for Transport Electrification and Premium for Industrial Development in Nigeria’ Speaking on the ‘Imperative of Research to Developmental Projects’, Professor Joseph Ojo, of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, USA, said the renewable energy resources for the generation of electric power in Nigeria are relatively vast, comprising of hydro power plants, solar and wind spread across the different parts of the country.

He noted that hydro resources are found in almost all the parts of the country. Similarly, high solar radiations are predominant in the northern parts while strong winds are found in the coastal and offshore states as well as several parts of northern Nigeria. While insisting that over dependence on gas and dam for power generation in Nigeria is not be sustainable, he called on Nigeria to embrace solar and renewable energy which environmentalists are rooting for.

“We must understand our society to know the kind of technologies that can suit our environment.

People become change agents and gain political and administrative skills through broad-based education, especially, in the subject of humanity and social sciences. A nation without a sense of history is bound not to unravel insights into an appropriate developmental process”, he stated.

He advised Nigerians to imbibe reading habits to understand emerging ideas and paradigm to meet the challenges in their environment. According to Prof Ojo, over-dependency on gas and dams for power supply may not bring the necessary change needed in Nigeria’s energy sector.

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

BYKINGSLEYADEGBOYE

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S part of its efforts to ensure high quality work in construction of buildings, the Yaba Cell of Building Collapse Prevention Guild, BCPG and artisans in the building industry, last week, brainstormed on ways of putting an end to the recurring incidents of building collapse in the country.

At the forum, built environment experts charged the artisans to always insist on quality materials from developers and their right usage.

The Coordinator of BCPG in Yaba Cell, Mr. Friday Chukwu, an engineer, said the main objective of the forum was to make the artisans know that they play a critical role in the housing industry and as stakeholders, they must become change agents in order to build right and reduce the incidents of building collapse.

Chukwu noted that the idea behind the Time Out with Artisans was to let them know the importance of showing professionalism in their work. By so doing, he said, they would positively assist engineers, architects and manufacturers of genuine building products in the quest for a well built up environment. Chukwu noted that the session became more imperative now than ever before in the light of frequent incidents of building collapse in Nigeria.

He regretted that majority of

BCPG, artisans seek measures to reduce building collapse artisans have not undergone any form of training at all, except for the haphazard apprenticeship they passed through under halfbaked masters. He contended that if artisans had been trained to build right, the ugly incidents of building collapse across the

country would have been avoided.

Also speaking at the forum, an architect, and former Federal Controller of Housing in Lagos, Mr. Solomon Ogunseye, enjoined the artisans to distinguish between quality

•Scene of a recent building collapse in Lagos... Artisans to the rescue?

Experts explore arbitration as alternative dispute resolution in construction industry Continues from Page 28 fulfilment in arbitration,”he said.

Kalu stated that although the Act has laid a fairly good foundation for the growth of the law and practice of arbitration in Nigeria, he posited that the dynamism of the society has exposed the fundamental defects of the law. These defects, he argued, require urgent surgical operation if Nigeria were to join the league of best international practitioners in arbitration. Buttressing this point, he said, “Sections 1-5 of the Act which deal with the agreement to arbitrate do not define the term (arbitration) and equally fail to recognise electronic data as a form of writing.

In default of agreement by the parties on the number of arbitrators, the Act imposes three arbitrators with the heavy financial burdens that go with such a high number of arbitrators.

The position of an umpire recognised by certain jurisdictions has no place in the Act. The Construction

blocks and bad ones. Ogunseye who spoke on how to achieve good workmanship posited that hand made blocks will easily break compared with vibrated blocks.

He called for quality control to ensure good quality projects,

industry probably suffers most from some of the provisions of the Act because the industry requires a certain measure of protection by way of peculiar provisions relating to consolidation and or concurrent proceedings, the right of parties to continue construction even while arbitration progresses.

Again, the applicability of the Statute of limitation to arbitration is silent under the Act”.

Pros and cons of arbitration Speaking on the Nature of Construction Arbitration and its Uniqueness, Dr Rotimi Joseph of the University of West England, Bristol, identied both the pros and cons of using arbitration to resolve dispuetes in the construction industry.

“The advantages of arbitration include: flexibility, economy, expedition, privacy, freedom of choice of arbitrator, and finality. On the other hand, the disadvantages of arbitration appear to have been on the increase. In comparison to litigation, where the judge

and court facilities are provided at public expense, the parties to arbitration will ultimately have to bear the costs of the arbitrator and the facilities. Where, as is often the case in construction, more than two parties are involved in a dispute there is relatively little statutory power to consolidate the actions in one arbitration,” he said.

Speaking on “Flash points for disputes in construction contracts in Nigeria- A review of the Standard Form of Contract,” Mr. Jude Uzoma Anyanwu noted that although disputes and claims are common in construction projects, he contended that they should be minimised through clear identification of requirements, team formation, good communication channels, good bidding practices and complete construction documents.

Anyanwu who the Principal Partner of CostBenefit Consultants, a firm of quantity surveyors, noted that disputes also occur over variations and poor drawings and documentation.

adding that artisans must be well trained or skilled to be able to deliver quality projects.

Another engineer, Mr. Victor Akpan spoke against cutting corners. “All artisans must be trained to be able to interpret drawings. If an artisan cannot interpret drawings, how can he know what to do on site? There should be good supervision of the use of building materials.

Quality building materials must be used in housing projects and no bad ones. Right ratio cement mix must be applied, Artisans must advise prospective home owners to make use of quality materials from starting to finish, and they must work with building professionals,” he advised.

A builder with the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade charged artisans to do their work well because engineers, architects and other building professionals on site cannot do their work.

The Country Marketing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Michael Abhulimen noted that there are incidents of building collapse everywhere because artisans in a bid to maximise profit, no longer follow building regulation.

He regretted that developers raise bungalows to storey buildings instead of the bungalow approved for them by planning authorities.

Global commitment to sustainable urban development for relaunch at Habitat 111

BY JUDE NJOKU

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HE United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development, Habitat (111) slated for the city of Quito, Ecuador in October 2016, will be used to relaunch the global commitment to sustainable urban development focusing on New Urban Agenda.

The Executive Director of UNHabitat and the Secretary General of Habitat 111, Dr. Joan Clos who disclosed this after a recent meeting with President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa and the Country ’s Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Maria de los Angeles Duarte.

Habitat 111 will be the first World Summit of the United Nations after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and will serve to review and evaluate the commitments made at Habitat II, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1996.

The Forum would be attended by about ,40, 000 people, including mayors, ministers, academics, researchers, planners and experts on habitat drawn from the 193 UN

member states.

The visit of Dr. Clos marked the beginning of an agenda and shaping the organising team led by UN-Habitat and the government of Ecuador. Both parties have been holding meetings and are now focused on the realisation of preparatory conferences in Guayaquil and Cuenca.

Vanguard Homes & Property recalls that Habitat II, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey between 3-14 June 1999, produced a global plan of action for dealing with a specific set of world problems - in this case the lack of adequate housing and the steady deterioration of modern urban life.

The Conference’s final document, the Habitat Agenda, fortified international principles on such issues as the right to adequate housing, the need for long-term sustainability in human settlements, and the importance of international cooperation in addressing problems like urban inmigration and finance. The Habitat Agenda also addressed topics like traffic congestion, safety in the workplace and land tenure.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—31

Now, Mary can marry Maria anywhere in US

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AME-SEX marriages in the US are not a novelty. What is new is that last week, the U.S. Supreme Court affixed a stamp of legitimacy on such marriages anywhere in the country. Now, Mary can marry Maria, from New York to California, and from Arizona to Montana. In the same vein, James can take his lovely Jeremiah to a marriage registry anywhere in the United States and have a marriage official pronounce both men husband and wife, and they will be so recognized in the eyes of the law.

The 5-4 Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage amplified the ideological divided in the highest court in the United States. Quite expectedly, the more liberal justices concurred with the majority opinion. Chief Justice John Roberts led the conservative judges in their dissenting opinion.

Interestingly, all three female justices, two of whom were nominated to the highest bench by President Barack Obama, cast their net with the decision to allow same-sex marriage.

In his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy who had on previous occasions ruled in favour of gay couples being entitled to marry, wrote this: “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”

He then examined the status of children of such couples and concluded that “Without the recognition, stability and predictability marriage offers, their children suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser. They also suffer the significant material costs of being raised by unmarried parents, relegated through no fault of their own to a more difficult and uncertain family life. The marriage laws at issue here thus harm and humiliate the children of same-sex couples.”

Justice Kennedy was not done with his advocacy for same-sex couples. He confronted the huge constitutional question about same-sex marriages by arguing that “the issue before the court here is the legal question whether the Constitution protects the right of same-sex couples to marry.”

And his candid and unequivocal answer was that the U.S. constitution

C M Y K

“grants them that right.”

Chief Justice Roberts did not mask his disagreement with Justice Kennedy over the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.

According to the boss of the judicial arm of the U.S. government, “If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favour expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision.

Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits.

But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.”

The other dissenting opinions equally had an adversarial tone. For instance, Justice Antonin Scalia was unimpressed with Justice Kennedy’s linguistic style in the decision and observed that “the opinion is couched in a style that is as pretentious as its content is egotistic…Of course the opinion’s showy profundities are often profoundly incoherent.”

Outside the court, President Obama, a selfacknowledged convert to the idea of the humaneness and propriety of same-sex marriage, added his voice to the chorus of “amen” to the majority decision that gay people had the right to marry. The president said that “Today, we can say, in no uncertain terms, that we have made our union a little more perfect.”

But where the president saw an inch toward perfection, his political opponents saw the trashing of the moral fibre of the U.S. Former governor of Arkansas and Republican Party’s presidential aspirant, Mike Huckabee, called the decision “one of the court’s most disastrous

James can take his lovely Jeremiah to a marriage registry anywhere in the United States and have a marriage official pronounce both men husband and wife, and they will be so recognized in the eyes of the law

opinions” and vowed that “I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.”

But among some of the Republican presidential candidates, the reality of the Supreme Court’s decision has sunk in. In his reaction to the ruling, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in an interview that “Given the quickly changing tide of public opinion on this issue, I do not believe that an attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution could possibly gain the support of three-fourths of the states or a supermajority in the U.S. Congress.”

Senator Graham is realistic about this issue.

Polls after polls in the U.S. show that one in every six Americans now believes that gay people have the right to marry one another.

Before the Supreme Court last week, same-sex marriage was legitimate in 36 out of 50 U.S. states, either by judicial mandate or by law passed by the legislature.

That situation came a long way since Massachusetts became the first state to legalize samesex marriage in 2004.

Advocacy groups for gay rights are now commonplace in the U.S. But perhaps it is the coming out of the closet by several prominent people in the U.S. that has given the gay movement its greatest boost. In 2014, Apple’s CEO, Time Cook, openly declared his gay status and became the first top CEO do to so in the U.S. He boldly declared that “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

Earlier in 2012, CNN’s prominent news anchor, Anderson Cooper, came out and publicly wrote that “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, is also gay.

Why do gay and lesbian couples want to get married? The web site “Freedom to Marry” simply says this about people of different sexual orientation: “Marriage matters to gay people in similar ways that it matters to everyone. Gay and lesbian couples want to get married to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love and to protect their families.” But to people like the governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, who is an avowed opponent of same-sex marriage, “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”

That was his response to the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage.

Folks like Jindal also believe that marriage is an issue that is best left to the states to handle. Last week, the Supreme Court made it a federal issue and endorsed it.

Kukah’s take on what Buhari was elected to do

By Jesutega Onokpasa

I

N the Monday, June 15, edition of the Vanguard, an interview granted the Vanguard by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, was published in which, unlike the beloved bishop I know him to be, he astonishingly claimed that “ we elected a President not to look for scapegoats. We elected the President to get a job done.”

As a Catholic who understands his faith very deeply, I am quite happy to completely disagree with Bishop Kukah and indeed I go so far as to condemn his submission as not only shamefully inappropriate but indeed entirely out of tune with the blessed theology of the Holy Roman Catholic Church of God. In the first place, I was quite taken aback by my beloved Bishop’s choice of language which unmistakably resembles that of a politician than that of a reverend man of the cloth. I wonder how Bishop Kukah constructed what President Buhari was elected to do. I very much doubt that Bishop Kukah voted for Buhari and I therefore find his pretension as one of those who voted for him utterly shameful.

At any rate even if he did, he is not the only one who voted for Buhari and the vast majority of those of us who made him our President certainly voted him to amongst other things fight corruption, something Bishop Kukah, against Catholic theology, is determined must not happen!

Clearly, like many ridiculously clueless individuals with a laughably poor conceptualization of proper governance, Bishop Kukah’s understanding of what it will take to reform Nigeria is faulty. That is the best I can do for my bishop; otherwise, I would accuse him of knowing the truth and for reason’s best known to him, he has chosen to embrace falsehood.

I am simply sick and tired of the enemies of Buhari’s government who keep insisting on lecturing our President and the rest of us what we elected him to do. What

are our President’s main credentials anyway? If Buhari will not fight corruption, what else is he supposed to do?

Any President who refuses to fight corruption is a failure, a nitwit and a bastard and by shamelessly trying to sell this dummy, Bishop Kukah is obviously trying to hoodwink our President into failing so that in 2019, he, Kukah, can turn back and scold us for not returning former President Jonathan as President.

I am not fooled by my beloved Bishop’s pretensions. He is obviously a Jonathan supporter unable to key into seeing the hand of God in even the least likely place. If ever Kukah voted, he would not have voted for Buhari and I have many such friends who proved unable to grow up and maturely eschew sentiments to vote for change. That of course is their right. What no one is entitled to do is to pontificate from a position of prejudice pretending to be an unbiased friend.

If there is a particular thing President Buhari was elected to do, it is to fight corruption. That is why we voted him. We know that if no one else will tackle this national cancer, Buhari will certainly not shy away from that divine duty.

How will he make himself popular with the common people if he does not catch them the thieves who robbed them blind, deaf, dumb and speechless? What will be

As for those of us who insisted he must be our President when it mattered most, it is certainly our forte to lecture the likes of Bishop Kukah, exactly what we elected our beloved President to do

left of Buhari’s credibility if he behaves like the very comical Obasanjo, the unfortunately lackluster Yar ’Adua or the utterly clueless Jonathan? How might change be effected in Nigeria if corruption, the number one impediment to change, is not removed?

What in the world does my beloved Bishop, Kukah mean by insisting the President must deliver without fighting corruption? Who can deliver in Nigeria without tackling corruption? Fighting corruption to the barest minimum equates to delivering in this corruption ravaged land and it is a bizarre shame that anyone, much more a bishop will appoint himself a public defender of corruption!

I insist that Bishop Kukah did not vote for President Buhari. As for those of us who insisted he must be our President when it mattered most, it is certainly our forte to lecture the likes of Bishop Kukah, exactly what we elected our beloved President to do.

We made him President to fight corruption and by so doing to plug the garish loopholes in the system that makes it impossible for our people to have light, education, healthcare, food, security and sundry other fundamental human rights. It is not for Bishop Kukah of all persons to tell us what we elected our own President to do. We are the ones to tell him.

For your information, dear Bishop, we elected President Buhari to seek ye first the defeat of corruption that all other things may be added unto us by sweet Jesus our Lord and God. By dissuading him from this heavenly duty, Bishop Kukah has merely exposed himself as a religious bigot uncomfortable with a Muslim as his President.

If nothing else, rising above such prejudice against others is the test of being a Catholic and I am quite proud to be such a Catholic whether Bishop Kukah likes it or not.

Mr Onokpasa wrote from Sapele, Delta State.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

All-new BMW X6 SAV Coupe hits market C

OSCHARIS Motors has unveiled the all new BMW X6 Sport Activity vehicle SAV into the market. The BMW X6, the world’s first Sport Activity Coupe was unveiled to the admiration of BMW customers in Nigeria at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Sunday.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Deputy Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Mr. Okey Nwoke who represented the Coscharis president, Dr. Cosmas Maduka at the occasion described the new BMW X6 as the latest in the X series and updates the X5 in terms of performance, driver ’s involvement and stability which puts the BMW in its rightful place as a car that gives you the desired sheer driving pleasure. In his words, ‘’the introduction of this new BMW X6 into the Nigerian market at this period will avail lovers of premium automobiles, a wider option of choice’’.

Mr. Nwoke noted that the X6 is a car any autombile lover would like to drive by himself no matter his standing in the society.

According to him, Cosharis Group has a lot of products to showcase to Nigerians hence they have continued to introduce premium

products to Nigerians since the beginning of the year.

The BMW X6 is available in two engine variants: the xDrive 50i (4.4 V8 engine, 400 hp, 450lb.-ft torque) and the xDrive 35i (3.0 inline six-cylinder engine, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft torque), both with Twin Turbo and direct injection.

Coscharis Motors holds sole franchise for BMW brands in Nigeria and consequently, boasts first class showrooms and wellequipped after-sales facilities nationwide for all BMW models. The new X6 will be x-ray on this page next week.

Mr. Okey Nwoke, Deputy Managing Director, Coscharis Group, in native attire (centre) with some of the guests at the launch of the BMW X6 at Oriental Hotel, on Sunday

Chevrolet’s best selling car cruze reincarnates C

HEVROLET today introduced the allnew, 2016 Cruze - a larger and lighter, more efficient and more sophisticated evolution of the brand’s best-

selling global car.

Packed with new technologies such as available Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and new active safety features, as well as a more spacious

interior and an athletic, aerodynamically optimised design, the 2016 Cruze elevates the compact car segment from San Francisco to Shanghai and from

Boston to Buenos Aeries.

It will be offered in more than 40 global markets and goes on

The 2016 Cruze builds on a very successful program that introduced Chevrolet to new customers the world over

sale first in North America in early 2016, where a new, standard 1.4L turbocharged engine with direct injection and an SAEcertified 113 kW will contribute to a General Motors-estimated 5.9 L/ 100km* on the highway with the available sixspeed automatic transmission. Stop/start technology contributes to the Cruze’s efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

The new turbo engine and a leaner architecture that contributes up to a 113 kg overall weight reduction also

contribute to the new Cruze offering stronger performance, with expected 0-100 km/h acceleration of eight seconds.

“The 2016 Cruze builds on a very successful program that introduced Chevrolet to new customers the world over,” said Alan Batey, president, General Motors North America. “We retained all the attributes that made the original Cruze a hit around the globe and built on them to make this car more sophisticated, more fun and more Chevrolet.”

CELEBRIT Y CELEBRITY Akwa Ibom monarch blasts NDDC over shoddy road project PAGES 6

Malaria injection crippled me — Solomon Umudi PAGE 8

VOL. 1: NO. 56

TUESD AY, JUNE 30, 20 15 TUESDA 201 •Car in which Ogedegbe was shot

CRUDE OIL BUSINESS:

Soldiers on rampage in Delta •I saw soldiers kill my husband—Widow •HRM Ogharanamen Orefe III fingers soldiers of 19 Battalion, Koko •HRM Orefe III, Ovie of Oghara

By EMMA AMAIZE AND GODWIN OGHRE

O

C M Y K

•Mrs Endurance Ogedegbe and some of her children military uniform, purported to be soldiers of the 19 Battalion, Nigeria Army, Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, trailed and shot dead the chairman of Oghara Vigilante Group, Oghara, Ethiope – West Local Government Area, Mr. Benson Ogedegbe, for allegedly getting in the way of their crude oil business in the town.

Authorities of the 19 Battalion have not formally reacted to the allegation, but a military source claimed that criminals disguised as soldiers killed Ogedegbe.

Soldiers killed Ogedegbe-

Oghara monarch, widow The traditional ruler of Oghara Kingdom, HRM U. K. Ogharanamen Orefe III, who addressed journalists, June 24, in his palace on the matter, was, however, categorical that soldiers viciously murdered Ogedegbe.

Late Ogedegbe’s wife, Mrs. Endurance Ogedegbe, who witnessed the killing of her husband, told Niger Delta Voice that soldiers of the 19 Battalion, Koko, working with a gang of crude oil syndicate in Oghara eliminated her spouse.

Orefe III asserted, “We, the people

of Oghara Kingdom condemn in its entirety the dastardly act of soldiers of 19 Batalion Nigeria Army

,,

GHARA – IN several oil communities in Niger Delta, it is not startling to hear that military men deployed to stop oil bunkering and protect oil pipelines are the ones aiding and abetting oil thieves.

However, military bigwigs had constantly dismissed the allegation, saying some persons were calling the kettle black despite the risk the military personnel take to fight oil thieves.

That was exactly the scenario, last year, at the 2nd edition of the Delta State Oil and Gas Industry Stakeholders’ Conference at Effurun, near Warri, where some community leaders accused the army and navy of colluding with oil bandits. Tempers rose as the military officials at the conference defended their men.

The former governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who confessed that oil bandits threatened his life, urged the people to appreciate, rather condemn the patriotic efforts of military personnel, who had put their lives on the line to fight oil thieves.

Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayirimi Emami, was, however, fearless at the summit, as he insisted that oil companies, security agencies and host communities were involved in crude oil theft.

Tuesday, last week, men in

It is quite saddening that those, who ordinarily should protect the lives of innocent civilians, are now the ones wasting same

stationed at Koko, Warri North local government area, who took it upon themselves to brutally murder Mr. Benson Ogedegbe, the Chairman of the Oghara Vigilante Group. This killing is a real life example of extra-judicial killing and impunity in the country.”

“It is quite saddening that those, who ordinarily should protect the lives of innocent civilians, are now the ones wasting same.

“Whatever the motive of these killers, one thing is sure; they can be rest assured that the good people of Oghara Kingdom will not rest until justice is done in this case.

The people of Oghara Kingdom will not rest until justice is done in this case. The people of Oghara Kingdom will not be cowed, intimidated, or harassed into allowing the kingdom to be used as a domain for criminals or ground for criminal activities,” he asserted.

The monarch said, “Oghara is a peaceful and law abiding community, we do not condone criminals, the community vigilante group is known for its good work of community policing and even won an award from the State Police Command, last year. We condemn the action of the soldiers of 19 Battalion Nigeria Army, Koko in killing our son without the due process of law.”

Continues on page 7

2 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

AKWA IBOM...LAND OF PROMISE

NDDC road project: Eket communities flare up over one-side drainage

By CHIOMA ONUEGBU

E

S I T Y I R I D UARESIDENTS of Esityiridua, Ikot Ibiok and Afaha Atai communities in Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to reassess its position on construction of only one side drainage system on the newly awarded 3.5 km EsityiriduaIko Ekwa- Afaha Atai road project.

Villagers, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, complained that they were not satisfied with the scope of work, insisting on construction of two-side drainage to sustain the road for a longer period before it would need maintenance.

one side drainage system was provided.

“This is an old existing road that has posed serious problem to our people; it is a 3.5 kilometre road that had been abandoned by past governments for more than 20 years.

Today, through the effort of the NDDC, we are now seeing some seriousness in those that have come to develop it and we were happy over the development at the outset.

But when the work started some weeks ago, we saw that it was only one -side drainage that was provided, our people even protested about it. What we are saying is that the scope

of work is not what we expected. One side drainage system is not proper on that road because of the volume of water that flows in this area. All the water from other five villages of Ikotabasi Akpan, Nta Nsip, and Nungudo Atara gather here at Esityiridua, which is the major village of the construction point,” he said.

His words, “And that is why we are appealing to the management of the NDDC to provide two side drainage in order to avert overflow after the road must have been completed because if it is only one side drainage, the road will not last up to three years.

So we are not satisfied with what is going on there now. ” The village head further disclosed that the people of the communities had protested when the work was started, few weeks ago, insisting that proper construction should be done because they were not satisfied with the work scope, but that contractors handling the project road , AWACON Limited, told them that the road had already been designed.

Why we are protesting Eyire The village head of Esityiridua, Chief Solomon Eyire, explained that his people were happy initially when the road was awarded by the NDDC and had appreciated the commission for the gesture, but presently, they regret the fact that only

Gov Dickson battles to rescue Ijaw language

By SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, is living up to his vow to save the language of the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the country from going extinct.

The Ijaw are found at Arigbo, western coast of Ondo state, Delta South senatorial district in Delta state, parts of Edo state, Bayelsa state, Rivers state and Ibeno in the Eastern coast of Akwa Ibom state and other areas of Niger Delta region.

Dickson, a product of the Ijaw struggle and former legal adviser to the apex Ijaw sociocultural organization, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), went into action following a UNESCO report, which listed Ijaw language among the 3,000 indigenous languages in the world that could be lost before the end of the century.

He prosecuted his governorship campaign in 2012 as a C M Y K

•Cross section of Ijaw language graduands candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on a threepoint agenda of transparency, Ijaw renaissance and preservation of the fast -dying Ijaw language.

Repositioning True to his word, he established the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs to actualize his dream to reposition the culture sector of the state and uphold the potential arts and cultural sector

as a vehicle.

The ministry with Dr. Felix Tuodolo, the pioneer President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide as its first commissioner initiated the process of public servants appearing in indigenous Ijaw attire to the office on Fridays, being the last working day of the week.

The reason for this, Niger Delta Voice learnt, is to help create the much-needed cultural identity of the Ijaws.

Petroleum Products recovered and destroyed by NAVY at Ikot Abasi NDDC should do the proper thing- Etti Chairman of Afaha Atai community council, Chief Samuel Etti, who also spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said, “A child returning from school almost drowned there few years ago. You need to visit the area when it rains heavily and see the volume of water on the road, then you will understand why we are insisting that there must be twoside drainage systems.”

He said, “Our community leaders and youths are grateful to the management of NDDC for coming to our rescue by awarding the road and making sure that work commenced on it immediately because the Cross River Basin Development Authority awarded the first contract three years ago and abandoned the project until now that the NDDC came in and re-awarded it.

“We, the community leaders of the affected communities had written several letters to the management of the NDDC, especially after the Cross River Basin Development abandoned it, and we are happy that the commission finally

BAYELSA…GLORY OF ALL LANDS Also, the ministry, aside actualizing the idea of the state having its flag and coat of arms, set out modalities for developing the Ijaw language and gave scholarship to 100 students to study Ijaw language at Niger Delta University, NDU. Ijaw Bebe Tolumo Recently, the state launched the formal teaching and studying of the Ijaw dialect christened Ijaw Bebe Tolumo, a pilot project for the teaching and learning of Ijaw language in selected schools across the state.

The state government offered automatic employment to 28 graduates of Ijaw language turned out by the state- owned NDU with another batch of 50 in the wings.

At a reception held for the 28 Ijaw language graduates in Yenagoa, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, explained that the gesture was part of the government deliberate effort to preserve Ijaw language from extinction and make the state the Jerusalem

awarded the contract for the road to be done.

“But our concern is that with only one side drain, the road will be washed off, which is why we want the commission to ensure that the proper thing is done,” he added.

NDDC couldn’t‘ve approved one-side drainage – Youth leader Also speaking, a youth leader of Afaha Atai community, Mr. Samuel Udobong, expressed reservation that the NDDC approved just one side drainage for the road construction, stressing that he does not believe that the commission would approve a one-side drainage system for such a road, having observed that all the roads constructed within the area have two- side drainage.

Site engineer declines comment The site engineer, who simply identified himself as Mr. Steven, refused to respond to questions on the road construction when contacted on two different occasions on cell phone.

of Ijaw nation.

Receiving the graduands, an elated Tuodolo said, “Today is an important day for us because we as Ijaw people from Arigbo in Ondo Western Delta to Ibeno, Akwa Ibom in Eastern Delta have a problem of diminishing speakers of our mother tongue, the Ijaw language which is going into extinction.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel nogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 3

CROSS-RIVER…

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE erosion sites in the state and had penciled down some others for construction. Work on the sites, which started in January 2015 are at various levels of completion. At Edim Otop, the site engineer, Patrick Ochui, said the job was 90 per cent completed and at the Ikot Ekpo site, Engineer Chike Oleka, who is overseeing the construction work, said the level of work was 42 per cent, while at the Atakpa site, Engineer Nicholas Agumuo said it was 56 per cent done.

In Atakpa, N655 million was earmarked, N853 million in Edim Otop, N408 million in Nyahasang, N1.5 billion in Ikot Awatin and N852 million in Ikot Ekpo.

By EMMANUEL UNAH

C

ALABAR- WITH over 200 erosionravaged sites, cavernous gullies and craters recurrently sweeping away houses, human beings and properties, Cross River is straightforwardly one of the most erosion-devastated states in the country.

Though, the erosion sites are scattered all over the state, the most terrible affected sites are found in Calabar, the state capital, the southern part of the state owing to the high rainfall and the famous Obudu Ranch Resort, because of undulating topography.

In Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Local Government Areas, erosion sites like Nyahasang, Ikot Awatin, Edim Otop, Atapa, Ikot Ekpo and Ikot Uduak have become frightening, as over 50 houses had submerged in mudslides and 13 persons, mostly children swallowed in the past two years.

Vice chairman of Ikot Ekpo community, Chief Okon Nyong Eti, said that between 2012 and 2014, over 26 houses were swept away in Ikot Ekpo and he personally suffered a loss in 2014 which has left him impoverished since then.

His words, “In the night of July 12, 2014, I was sleeping with my family when rain started and without any prior indication that the land on which our house was built would cave in, at about 2.00 am, there was a loud sound and the house along everything was carried away. ”

•Erosion devastation

•Chiief of Ikot Ekpo

EROSION: Cross-River under siege •13 kids swept away by erosion, 50 houses submerged •World Bank, FG intervene with N4 billion lifeline The 73- year- old man said luckily, none of his children was affected, as he rescued them with the help of neighbours , but his poultry farm with 3500 birds, which was his source of livelihood was swept away.

World Bank, FG intervene

The woes of the people seem to worsen each rainy season as the erosion sites kept widening with little or no assistance coming from the state government, which prompted the World Bank and Federal Government to join forces to bailout the state.

The World Bank through the

How youths fleece property developers in Delta •We’ve banned all land committees – OVIE OF UGHELLI PALACE

By PEREZ BRISIBE

U

GHELLI - FROM Uvwie to Sapele, Ughelli North, South and Udu Local Government Areas in Delta State, youths have continued to put screws to property developers, especially non-indigenes with the ridiculous collection of large sums of money under the guise of development levies, popularly known as “deve.”

‘I paid N600, 000 deve in Ekpan’ Some non-indigenes, who could not afford the exorbitant charges had to get rid of their property at cheaper rate and abandoned further development, while some spent through their noses to complete their buildings in the affected communities.

A landowner at Ekpan New Layout in Uvwie local government area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that while building a block of two three- bedroom flats, the youths constrained him against his will to pay

a total of N600, 000 from foundation level to completion.

“At the foundation level, I was made to pay a particular fee and this was also the case at the lintel, roofing and fencing levels. The land owner next to my property told me that he paid a ‘cutoff ’ of N450, 000 as against the installments I paid at different levels and any developer, who fails to comply with these payments would have his or herself to blame,” he asserted.

Investigation by Niger Delta Voice revealed that the cutoff is a once bulk payment, which is cheaper compared to the installments.

In parts of Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, property developers now pay ‘deve’, to a group, identified as the Indigenous Excavation Committee, IEC, which also requires them to employ the services of a cabal of labourers, mostly indigenes of the communities.

I paid two times on same plot of land

Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Project set up to address some of the worse sites has invested close to N4 billion in construction work in some of the erosion sites, which has brought relief to residents of communities in the devastated areas.

It picked the worst -hit five

DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD – Developer Another landowner at Upper Agbarho, said he made series of payment totaling N200, 000 when he built his present 3-bedroom flat, but when he wanted to build a 2-bedroom flat on the same plot of land, he had to make a fresh payment.

He said the group of boys under the canopy of EIC constrained him to use their services at an exorbitant amount for digging of the foundation.

His words, “They extorted N10, 000 and five white chairs with a receipt for payment. The fee for the building of the 2-bedroom was lower compared to the previous payment,

Our two-prong approachEngr Anukwa The Cross River State Project supervisor of NEWMAP, Engineer Fidelis Anukwa, told our reporter that the project incorporates a two-prong approach of using building materials and flexible structure in a robust manner to ensure a comprehensive and long lasting solution to the perennial erosion problems in the state.

‘The construction models adopted in addressing these erosion sites are designed by experts and underwent several tests and processes before being put on ground and many of the models are new engineering innovations,” he added.

He said, “To safeguard the land and homes in the community, we ensured that the construction work is designed in such a way that water is channeled in a way that it would not cause more havoc”.

these same boys who claim to be working from the office of a king collected N11, 000 on each trip of tipper of sand or gravel brought to site for the building.”

We‘ve banned ‘deve’ – Otovwodo However, Otovowodo, one of such communities in Ughelli, said it had abolished all forms of ‘deve’ and operations of IEC. Presidentgeneral of the community, Comrade Umuago Akpubi and five others in a statement, said, “If anybody wants to develop a plot in the community, the site engineer should be allowed to do his work without negotiation of any kind.

Nobody must dictate any development price to him/her.

Anybody parading himself as ‘deve’ collector should be apprehended and prosecuted.

When Niger Delta Voice reporter acting as a land developer called the number on the receipt, the person on the other end, who gave his name as Prosper Okudaje, said: “Before you start developing your land, the king will sign the agreement for the purchase of the land after which you would pay N20, 000 to the community.

C M Y K

4 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

Delta family, Fed Lands /Housing ministry at war over land •Ministry demolishes structures; Uvwie LG orders probe

By EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI - THE land dispute between the Ovwere family of Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta state and the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing went violent, Wednesday, as a bulldozer mobilized by the ministry, demolished shops hosting an abattoir and other businesses in the disputed land.

The ministry, shielded by soldiers of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, ran bulldozer over the land, situated opposite the NNPC Housing Complex, Ekpan, destroying properties on their paths.

Why we took over our landFamily Famous Ovwere, who expressed the Ovwere family’s shock at the development, disclosed that the federal government in 1975 acquired the land for purpose of developing extended housing units for the NNPC. He said, “Since then, NNPC never built on it. Instead, the family found out two years ago that some persons claiming to be officials of NNPC and Federal Ministry of Lands were selling plots of the land to private developers.

“Our family summoned the NNPC, the ministry and those, who had bought the plots and made clear our position to prevent any buyer from entering our land, which we naturally reclaimed following the failure of the ministry to put to public use since 40 years ago,” he added.

Ministry contacts army Unsettled by the family stance, the ministry in a letter, dated February 17, signed by its Controller in Asaba, Victor Uduokhai, wrote the Nigerian Army, asking for protection of the said buyers of land, claiming that masked youths were denying them entry.

The battalion reported the case to the Uvwie council chairman, Mr. Henry Baro, who in turn instructed the Unuevworo of Ekpan, Chief Newton Agboforoh, to investigate the matter and report back to him.

Following its investigation, the Ekpan community in a letter, dated March 3, 2015, notified the Uvwie council that the said land was a subject of litigation in court, explaining that the community was consequently constrained to do anything further.

C M Y K

June 24 invasion Ovwere said, “We were, therefore, surprised when on June 24, 2015, armed soldiers in three trucks came with a bulldozer and started demolishing structures and properties valued at over N40 million.

“Our intention now is to take the Nigerian Army and whoever sent them there to court to pay damages on properties destroyed. It is a civil matter and the army has responsibility in this case,” he said.

•Bulldozed land No commentsCommanding officer When contacted, Commanding Officer of 3 Battalion, Effurun barracks, Lt. Col. Ise Bassey, said he was not in position to make media comments, but a military source told Vanguard that the

army did not go there to destroy property.

“The ministry wrote the army to come in to forestall bloodbath.

We were told masked men were terrorizing land owners and there was looming bloodbath. We did not send anybody to destroy

property and not informed there was a case in court.

“If somebody used the presence of soldiers, who went there to forestall bloodbath to employ bulldozer in destruction, then that it another matter entirely,” the source added.

Police storm Rivers community, ignore monarch •One of the houses invaded by the security operative

RIVERS…THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

R

UMUEKINI— POLICE OFFICERS invaded Rumuekini community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, last Sunday, in search of the town’s chief security officer, CSO, Mr.

•Hunts for chief security officer; arrest scores of youths for alleged cultism Nnamta Jonah, accused of training cultists under the guise of raising a security team.

The police team did not disclose their mission, which infuriated the paramount ruler of the community, HRH Eze Jerome Ogwu Akandu, and the villagers, who said Mr. Jonah is a lawabiding citizen.

Niger Delta Voice gathered the security operatives stormed the office of the CSO, who was away at the time they visited, ransacked his house and arrested scores of youths, including females.They allegedly shot some of the boys and recovered weapons.

However, the surprising raid of the community by the security personnel did not go down well with the com-

Delta communities lament as construction firm abandons Patani-Oduophori road project *Over kidnap of 2 expatriates, Nigerian *How gunmen stormed village meeting and abducted workers

By PEREZ BRISIBE

P

ATANI - WHEN the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, awarded the PataniOduophori road project in 2012, residents of Patani, Agoloma, Toru-Apelebiri, Toru-Angiama and Oduophori communities in Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, heaved a sigh of relief. However, the recent desertion of the project by the construction company in charge, Okmas Nigeria Limited, has left a bitter taste in the mouths of villagers.

The abandonment of the road by the contractor was consequent upon the abduction of three of its staff at the Agoloma axis of the road, last month. Kidnapped were Sari Naser Karin, 28, from

Syria; Tarek Maroun, 38, Lebanese; and Sahara, from Edo State.

Their abductors released them after 25 days in captivity, but it is obvious that the company was not in a hurry to return to the site. Public Relations Manager of Okmas Nig. Ltd, Mr. Owhondah Ebere, said, “I would not want to go into details on how they were released. All I can say is that we would not be mobilizing back to site until adequate security of our staff and properties are guaranteed.”

Communities worried –Youth leader Farmers and anglers in the communities, who are relying on the completion of the road to ease conveyance of agri-

Continues on page 5

munity, which described it as a violation of the customs of the people.

Taboo HRH Akandu, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, through his son, Hon Prince Patrick Akandu, said the police officers that besieged the community refused to listen to him as he called them to know reason for the offensive.

Akandu, who described the incursion as taboo, said it was against the tradition of the land for anybody to disrespect the stool of Nyewe Eli Rumuekini autonomous community.

He said it was shocking the security personnel, who passed his house did not bother to stop over at his palace to tell him the cause of the sudden foray. He said the seized youths taken away to an unknown station are all citizens and residents of the community.

Akandu distanced the CSO from cult- related activities, saying the action of the police was politically motivated, as the attack on him started when he threw his weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the area. Akandu said his father has been in poor health since the incident and advised politicians to desist from such reckless act in the community.

I’m not training cultists- Jonah The CSO, Mr. Jonah, who confirmed the manhunt for him by the police, expressed disappointment at the manner they invaded the community, saying he neither was training cultists nor involved in kidnapping.

He said his people appointed him to ensure security in the area and he had been discharging the duty within the ambit of the law.

Jonah called on the state government to intervene in the matter, saying the police have tampered the existing peace in the community.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 5

•Mrs Caroline Ekpeyong, a female butcher

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

E

TAY AYIP – UNTIL date, Etay Ayip community, Kasuk II Qua clan in Calabar Municipality Local Government, Cross River State, remains the only place in Calabar metropolis where you can get unadulterated raffia palm wine and in large volume to boot.

The palm wine from Etay Ayip serves not only people in Calabar, but also other communities in neighboring Akpabuyo and Calabar South local government areas.Palm wine is a huge money-spinner in Etap Ayip predominantly occupied by farmers, palm wine tappers and artisans, who make cane rack and other items.

But things are turning even better in the community since the current clan head, HRH Chief Ededem Okon Ayito, who mounted the throne in 1999, came with innovations to create employment for the youths.

Community secretary, Mr. Innocent Agbor, said, “This is the only place that you cannot bring in police no matter the issue, except the person is a novice or he just entered the community, if it cannot be settled at the palace, then it would be impossible to settle elsewhere.”

Palm wine as medication Speaking with Niger Delta Voice, HRH Ayito said,”For centuries, my ancestors believed that palm wine is medicinal and can cure any eye problem, which was why they drank it first thing in the morning at that time. I came to meet the trade but I decided to do things differently to help improve the standard of living of my subjects.”

My vision- HRH Ayito According to him, “Before now, I had always wanted KasukII to become more developed by opening new vista through creating employment for young people, then allow the older ones to continue the palm wine trade, except for those who have passion for

•Abattoir

C-River monarch’s unique method of empowering his subjects palm wine tapping, which was why I put an abattoir that currently employs 45 young men and women.”

Ayito told Niger Delta Voice that he had empowered over 400 young people in the area through farming and other meaningful entrepreneurial ventures like catfish farming, plantain and cocoa plantations of which he is an executive of the national Body.

He, however, called on government to build industries in the clan, establish health centres and build another school, as flood was causing havoc in the existing institution.

On his new status as the clan head of Kasuk II Qua, he said, “My recognition and certification by the Cross River state government is a clarion call, a

call to duty and more responsibility and I pray to meet up with the expectations and the demands of my people as fast as I can.

“I do not want Etap Ayip to be known only for palm wine, let other landmarks be made in my time and that is the legacy I want to be remembered for,” Ayito asserted.

We’ ve profited immeasurably- Youths One of the youths working at the abattoir (Etap Ayip Cooperative Slaughter Slab Mini Market), Mr. Kingsley Okpo, said, “I was working in a bank before I was downsized with others, I thought all hope was lost until Chief Ayito opened this place, I have benefited immensely from it.”

According to Okpo, many people in Etap Ayip and the entire Kasuk II Qua clan earn their livelihood from this slaughterhouse established by Chief Ayito because we all cannot be palm wine tappers.

“I can boldly say that over 45 persons are working in this place (slaughter) alone and it has reduced unemployment, which has in no small way reduced crime and violence,” he added.

Another youth, Mr. Okokon Ita, said, “If an individual can do so much for the people, I think that if he is given the needed support and encouragement by the government, he would do more and people will be employed and development will definitely come to the area.”

•HRH Chief Ededem Okon Ayito I, Clan Head, Kasuk II Qua Clan, Calabar Municipality of Cross River State,

Delta communities lament as construction firm abandons Patani-Oduophori road project Continued from page 4 cultural produce to other towns in the state and neighboring Bayelsa state, are getting agitated by the day.

Bemoaning the plight of the communities, a youth leader of Agoloma community, Mr. Doutimi Fiepre, said, “We were happy with NDDC and Okmas at the pace of work on the road, which would assist in opening up of these communities to other towns, but the recent desertion of the project by the company calls for concern.”

Our safety not guaranteed –COMPANY Mr. Ebere, however, asserted, “While our staff were in the captivity of their abductors, we wrote to the Police, SSS, NDDC and the federal government, they refused doing anything to assist in facilitating their release. For now, we cannot work for Nigeria because the government cannot guarantee our security. ” Curiously, gunmen abducted the workers while they were holding meeting with leaders of the host community.

The company had completed two major bridges and 13km of the roughly 20km Patani-Oduophori road project before the sad incident.

How they were abducted- CSO According to the company’s chief security officer, CSO, Ezonbudor Biu, the gunmen struck when the community’s chairman, vice chairman and secretary were dialoguing with the site supervisor, Tariq, on the need to give them an excavator to open up a water channel for water to flow out of the community.

The community was under threat of submerging following a heavy downpour the previous night.

He said: “On that day, the abducted staff unaccompanied by their military security that escorted them to Angoloma, had gone to the project site to preside over the day’s activity when representatives of the community came to the site to liaise with them on the need for the company to provide them with an excavator.

“When the executives made up of the

community’s chairman, vice chairman and secretary met the staff, they specifically told Mr. Tariq, who is the supervisor that if he fails to provide them with the excavator, he (company) would not embark on any construction work for the day.

“It was while they were haggling over how to go about the situation that the kidnappers, who seemingly had laid ambush in the area, came out of hiding and started shooting sporadically into the air. They immediately went for our staff with everyone, including the community executives taking to their heels.”

Debunking insinuation that the community had a hand in the incident, Ezonbudor said: “That is totally ruled out because the community chairman himself narrowly escaped being shot as there were bullet holes at the spot where he was made to lie down. When he recovered from the incident, according to him, he was even examining his body to see if he sustained any injury as a result of the gunshots.”

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6 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

PODIUM....DEMOCRA CY IN ACTION PODIUM....DEMOCRACY

By CHIOMA ONUEGBU

UKPUM ETTE- THE clan head of Ukpum Ete, an oil community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Etobom (Barr) Clement Idemudo, is angry that government and its agencies have abandoned the community. In this interview with Niger Delta Voice, he expresses the grievances of his people. Excerpt.

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•300 hectares of land, Donated to Govt. for building ceramic industry, Ette Community, Ikot Abasi

•Clan Head of Ette, Ikot Abasi

What other challenges is the community facing?

We were fortunate by dint of hard work of one of our illustrious sons, a former commissioner in NDDC, Honourable Udo Marcus Akpan, of blessed memory. By his efforts and cooperation of his colleagues, he was able to give us a road, which you now see in the community, but he died before the contract started. The commission awarded the contract to a wrong contractor, who has ill performed.

The roads are peeling off; a road that was commissioned, last year, if you enter it, you will see potholes all over.

,,

What are the areas of need in your community?

Now the entity called government has quite a host of problems to take care of and sometimes, I as an individual wonder how government is able to cope with all the challenges. Government at every level- local, state and national have a host of problems.

They do not call them problems, they call them challenges and we call them problems.

Ette community is centrally placed in Ikot Abasi, it is an area very rich in oil and other mineral resources. By the survey carried out in 1991, we have all sorts of mineral deposits apart from the crude oil in our estuaries. Incidentally, Ette is the only community around us that gives the state government and the local government the oil proceeds.

All the oil wells extracted from Rivers state are within our territorial waters. I made certain of this because of the judgment of the Supreme Court in 1943 that acceded the coastal water from that place to Ette.

However, the sad thing about this is that Ette, which you may call the golden egg, has not had the opportunity to enjoy even the covering of the shell. It cannot even take the shell of the egg not to talk about the egg yolk and other contents. We have not benefited from government anywhere. I am saying this with every respect to succeeding governments in the state, Ette has no government school, the former governor, Akpabio's free and compulsory education programme is not here in Ette.

This is because all the primary schools and secondary schools functioning here in Ette belong to missionaries, so government has withdrawn its presence and as far as education is concerned, there is no public school here. We have constantly reminded the government about this fact and because of that, we have embarked on establishing our public school but then there is no assistance, it is by individual contributions. The school is located along this road and we call it Ukpum Ete Secondary Technical School.

We have enough land to cater for any number of industries the government would want and we are very liberal concerning land.

About a forth night ago, His Excellency, Emmanuel Udom, invited all the clan heads and solicited land from communities that have

Akwa Ibom monarch blasts NDDC over shoddy road project •ALSCON sold to a family in Ogun; Ikot Abasi turns ghost town Moreover, during the construction period, we complained bitterly to the contractor and the consultant attached to the job by NDDC to no avail. They did a shoddy job and despite the dirty job, NDDC came to commission it.

During the commissioning, I told the managing director of NDDC (I call him chairman) that this job was bad, but since you are still hustling to commission it, I cannot stop you, but let me remind you that we do not have any agreement. I urged the contractor to come back to maintain the road because there should be a period given to him to maintain the road before it is finally given out.

They did not listen to me and the contractor is gone, the road is now peeling off, what do we do?

So recently, I happened to run into the chairman in one of the meetings and I told him of the state of the road, he told us to write. Writing means the end of things because no person is going to look into it. I have also drawn his attention to the fact that such a road constructed in a hurry should have good drainage but no dice. I am still calling on them to provide drainage to sustain that road for some time.

Apart from that challenge, obviously, it is not peculiar to our own community alone, the issue of non engagement of the teeming graduate population of young people constitutes in itself a menace and a serious social challenge.

You see because of idleness the children are now going into all sorts of vices coupled with the fact that most of these children during the period in school had got themselves entangled in cultism, so you find young men with guns all over, they can fight over a girl friend and kill so many people at a time.

It is a serious menace to us; we think that government can tackle the situation by establishing an industry, agriculturally oriented or otherwise, to absorb the teeming population.

In 2009, Akwa Ibom state government acquired more than 300 hectares of land from us to build what they purportedly call Ceramic industry and we were very happy with the idea. However, before we knew it, government said the investors were worried by the situation in the countryBoko Haram and cannot come in.

We wondered how many cases of Boko Haram have occurred here, none. Therefore, we are asking the gov-

ernment to come and utilize that land so that we can have the social benefit of it. The land here in Ette is very massive, it is very fertile, can be used for agriculture or any other industry.

Now that the present government is talking about industrializing the state, what is your take?

We have enough land to cater for any number of industries the government would want and we are very liberal concerning land. About a forth night ago, His Excellency, Emmanuel Udom, invited all the clan heads and solicited land from communities that have, those of us who have land raised our feet and our hands to surrender everything to him.

However, we want whatever he said to be real; we cannot afford to take falsehood to the people, let there be concerted effort to get things to run well. I think I have to praise Akpabio the former governor. He did quite a lot for Akwa Ibom state in terms of infrastructure and I hope Udom should go into establishing of meaningful companies that will absorb the population of idle youths. I think he should do so, Ette is facContinues on page 7

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 7

Akwa Ibom monarch blasts NDDC over shoddy road project Continues on page 6 ing myriad of problems and youth unemployment is one of them.

Ikot Abasi communities have been calling for the revival of the defunct Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON here in Ikot Abasi, why was it grounded and how did it benefit your people when it was functional?

ALSCON is a product of corruption, it was not in the strict sense sold to RUSAL, a big master in government manipulated things and they sold it to him. ALSCON is just a manager, it does not have full hand in it and the BPE knows about it, that is why the thing is like that. You know power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, anything born out of corruption will be corrupt, so ALSCON is suffering the nemesis of that corruption.

The Russians are not interested in production of aluminum; they complained that the market price of aluminum products has gone down and if they produce now, they will be losing, so they stopped producing. They decided to divert to generating power and selling it out to the national grid. That is what they are doing now.

In any case, that in itself does not help the people.

When ALSCON came in, the population of employees was 1,500, but now the population of employees is not more than 80. It is now a ghost company, it is dead, May I say it is dead in soul, it is not working and we are very sad about it because that is the only industry that Babangida gave to Ikot Abasi.

However, that a government would decide to sell the company to an individual in the name of privatization is too bad and very selfish. However, if after the sale, whoever acquired it maintained the tempo of production, nobody would have grumbled, but that is the plight now because with the death of ALSCON, Ikot Abasi has become a ghost town, the workers have gone.

Now that the company is producing power, how is it benefiting the community?Now Ette is a big town in Ikot Abasi, if you count towns in Ikot Abasi, Ette should be the foremost. However, since you came here, you are here basking in the sun, I should have asked you to come inside, but because there is no light, we are not benefiting. I must not dis-

credit ALSCON. When it was well with ALSCON, the company gave us light free for almost a year, but when the economy crashed completely, it could

not buy gas and, therefore, it could not send out current.

It is more than 8 months now we do not have light. I took it up myself to find out why they have stopped producing

even half-current and the management was kind enough to say that the national gas company cut off supply to them.

I called one of the officers

in charge of the national gas company in Rivers, who told me that they cut off the gas by the superior order from Abuja. I asked further and the ALSCON man was kind enough to tell me that they were admitted into the country not to produce electricity, but to produce aluminum and that if now they wanted to go into electricity, there must be a fresh understanding between the company and the federal government, so that was it.. ALSCON is a federal government project government has privatized it.

That is what I am saying, it ceased to be government project in 2007 and given to a family in Ogun state.

Soldiers on rampage in Delta Continued from Page 1

One murder too many His words, “We call on the Federal Government and all concerned authorities to investigate this killing, which has become one too many in our community.”

He called on President Muhmmadu Buhari to constitute an independent panel to investigate the extra-judicial murder of Ogedegbe by soldiers of 19 Battalion, Koko, under the command of Lt Col Aminu Umar and strengthen the local security system to deal with oil related crimes within the community.

Furthermore, the monarch called on the President “to take decisive action in the fight against impunity of all sorts in order to engender the much needed change in our country.”

Military, oil bandits’ cartel Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that soldiers deployed to protect crude oil pipelines between Ovade and Otumara belonging to Pan Ocean and SPDC, which is the hot spot for crude oil thieves in the area, are in a syndicate with oil thieves in Oghara, headed by a notorious criminal, who acts as an informant to the military.

It is a multimillion-naira business, which has been beneficial to both sides over the years and the unwarranted protection given the Oghara gang by their soldier accomplices has been a source of friction between the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Oghara and men of the 19 Battalion.

A dependable source said, “The police and army relationship in Oghara is like cat and dog using the gang leaders to advance the war to control the oil theft business.

Benson Ogedegbe, the chairman of Oghara vigilante group became a big threat to a crude oil kingpin, who the army also rely on to source for resource to sustain their glitzy lifestyle."

“The soldiers vowed that any attempt to disrupt oil syndicate will attract death, which is why Ogedegbe was shot dead. The killing of Benson Ogedegbe was orchestrated by military to cow the police and their audacity to put searchlight on the oil theft in the

area,” he added.

A villager said, “We all know that there is a crude oil bunkering syndicate in Oghara involving soldiers and a group led by a notorious criminal, but efforts to stamp out the syndicate has been largely unsuccessful.”

How kingpin set up Ogedegbe, son A security official familiar with the case, asserted, “Benson Ogedegbe was killed by a group of soldiers working with the leader of a known criminal gang in Oghara. They killed his father in the course of his fight for justice in Oghara and he took after him.”

“What happened was that an oil bunkering kingpin reported him to his military accomplices on grounds that the deceased implicated him in a matter with the police. He concocted an allegation against Ogedegbe following which a manhunt for him started.

Ogedegbe fled his house, but to weaken his resolve, soldiers arrested his son.

“This was after they ransacked his house, seized his vehicle, generator and other property and even declared him wanted. Following pressure mounted on the military, the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Police Headquarters, Asaba, where one of the criminals primed to testify against him, confessed that he had never met him in his life,” the source disclosed.

Based on the confessional statement exonerating Ogedegbe,

•Late Benson Ogedegbe

•Ogedegbe being rushed to the hospital the police released him and granted his son bail.

His freedom did not, however, last, as the soldiers tracked him down on June 23 and snuffed life out of him.

Okemena Igho dispatched like Ogedegbe “It has cost out two lives now, both members of the community’s vigilante. First was Okemena Igho and the second is Ogedegbe.

Soldiers near Rain Oil, along the Oghara dual carriageway, cut down Igho about six weeks ago, while Ogedegbe was killed very close to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, where they dumped his remains soon as they saw he had breathed his last.

“Igho’s offence was that he saw the soldiers undergoing one of their successive bunkering operations and became curious with a view to reporting them to the monarch. The soldiers were said to have intercepted him and demanded to know why he was looking at them. They were yet to receive answers from him when they shot severally at him and killed him on the spot,” he added.

According to him, “The soldiers claimed that Okemena was a thief and attempted to disarm one of them but was killed by a stray bullet in the process.”

Niger Delta Voice learned the community was grappling with the

circumstances surrounding Okemena’s death when soldiers shot dead Ogedegbe, also labelled a thief.

Why they killed them – Family source A member of the Igho family said, “Both Okemena and Benson were threat to the soldiers,” adding, “Take a look at the two separate days that they died. The weather was very dull in the early hours of the day and as soon as they gave up the ghost, the rain fell heavily, which traditionally means that they were good people in the society.”

“Both of them have vital illegal bunkering information to tell, but the soldiers, who knew it do not want them to live so that they (soldiers) secret will not be known by anybody.

They killed them about the same time, around 10.30 am on each of the two separate days. They are innocent people, I know them very well, they do not even smoke or take alcoholic drinks, they are very simple people, and that is why the community made them members of the vigilante team,” he stated.

I saw soldiers kill my husband Ogedegbe’s widow, Mrs. Endurance Ogedegbe, who sobbed uncontrollably when Niger Delta Voice visited their home, said she saw the soldiers shoot her husband to death.

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8—Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Malaria injection crippled me — Solomon Umudi •The father of four runs upholstery firm •I don’t see myself as physically-challenged, says the 38-yr-old

B

ENIN—DESPITE be ing a physically chal lenged, 38-year-old Solomon Umudi, aka Golden Boy, who unluckily became a cripple at the age of seven years, is doing what many able-bodied cannot do. Presently, he sits atop a cushioning firm, Golden Boy and Sons Upholstery Company, Benin City, Edo State founded by him. The self-confident employer of labour spoke to Niger Delta Voice on his resolve about life and what he would want Governor Adams Oshimohole of Edo State to do for the physically challenged in the state.

wanted to further my education but the money was not there so I looked for an alternative.

Were you born this way?

No, injection caused this problem for me when I was seven years old. I had malaria, I went to hospital and they

How I came into car upholstery business I learnt car upholstery from my master before I opened mine. In life, everybody has his or her own challenge, but for me I have a future ahead of me, so I decided that I must make myself relevant in the society and I started my own business. My father could not pay for my education after my Primary school, so I learned handiwork. My dad knows I

,,

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

Injection caused this problem for me when I was seven years old. I had malaria, I went to hospital and they gave me injection. Suddenly I developed serious problem with it, my mother tried to help me but to no avail

gave me injection. Suddenly I developed serious problem with it, my mother tried to help me but to no avail. However, I started sitting down, after a while I went back to school but it was not easy. Life is not easy, even for one who has both legs, not to talk of me that do not have legs. I still compete with people that have legs to ensure that I am useful to the society and by the special grace of God; I am doing very well now.

Meeting my wife I am married with four kids.

I am somebody that does not hide my feelings, I saw her and walked up to her straight and told her what I want. I normally tell people my mind, I do not care if am physically challenged, if you want to follow me, fine, but if you do not want I will move on. Therefore, that was what happened when I met my wife.

I met my wife with a friend, I stopped her and I told her that I admire her so much. She said okay, that she would think about it. Nevertheless, you know that women always discriminate against men with disability.

Sometimes, their friends ask

them what they are doing with the man that has no future.

However, everybody has a future because God takes care of everything; nobody knows your future except God. I will advise women not to see anybody as physically challenged because everybody is able unless you see yourself as physically challenged.

Personally, I do not see myself as physically challenged, I do not wait for people to assist me, I will work hard first before I ask for help. I have a girlfriend before I married and she was very nice to me.

May be I would have married her, but that was when traveling abroad was the main thing in the state, she told me she does not want to marry in Nigeria but abroad. Therefore, I told her that if that is her dream, she should pursue it.

Right now, she is abroad.

My wife is a businessperson, she is a good woman, I married her when I was nothing, just a cripple, but she accepted me. I was using a wheel chair when I met my

CROSS RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

NDDC handicapped, says commissioner

By IKE UCHECHUKWU

C

A L A B A R COMMISSIONER representing Cross River State on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Hon Paul Adah, has attributed financial constraint for the delay in completing some of the commission’s projects in the state.

Mr. Adah, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice at the inauguration of six projects valued at over N20 billion in three local governments of the state, recently, said, “We are calling on the federal government to look into the predicament of the commission with a view to properly funding it.”

Some of the projects commissioned included 1.15km road at C M Y K

St. Patrick College, Calabar Municipality solar powered streetlights at Edem Street in Calabar South, Government Secondary School road, Usung Esuk in Odukpani local government area, among others.

“It is unfortunate that NDDC can have N300 billion for a year in the budget and get only about N100 billion , yet the people still want us to perform wonders, “Adah bemoaned.

He said since inception of the commission, the federal government has not released penny to it from the ecological funds and this has seriously affected the objective of establishing the commission, which is to develop rural communities in the region, as well as improve the living standard of the people.

According to him, many lives have changed with the infrastructures provided by the commission, while youth restiveness has also reduced

because most young people, who are entrepreneurs in the localities, now have good access roads to take their farm produce and other finished products to the market.

He, however, assured contractors owed in the state that the commission would pay them after streamlining modalities for payment.

On his part, NDDC director in the state, Sir Frank Isaiah urged the communities to ensure that they protect projects provided by the commission in their areas to get maximum benefits, “NDDC is not mandated to service the project because it is now their own to mange and protect.”

Isaiah lauded the communities for providing an enabling environment for contractors to carry out the projects, noting that peaceful atmosphere in their domains made completion of the projects possible.

wife; she knows I am a very bold person.

Does she see you as physically challenged?

We had that challenges initially. You know that in this our society, if you are a physically challenged person, you hardly get anything easy. People will discriminate against you, but how you face those discrimination will determine your success. For me, I do not see myself as physically challenged even when you regard me so, I try to move on and I will prove to you that I can do better than you can.

Setting up my business After my apprenticeship, I had to go and set up my own with the little money that I have. It is not easy to set up business, but you have to start from somewhere. Though, I had a little challenge where I got my shop, it belongs to government because it is close to a school. However, I have pleaded with them to understand my situation and allow me remain there. I know the Comrade Governor has passion for the poor, so he will help me.

I have been training people in the business, I have four boys left, they have finished training but I have four people I employed working for me. It has not been easy but I thank God. I do not have anybody close to government and I believe that is why government is not looking my direction. Nevertheless, since the Comrade Governor came to office, we have been making efforts to see him. There was a time we gave him award at Idia College, that was three years ago. I want to appeal to the Comrade Governor to give us a loan to start our own businesses.

For instance, there was a day I walked into the bank I told them I have a project, but they told me I have no solid collateral. So that is the aspect we need help from government so that physically challenged persons will have concession in things like this. I can assure the Comrade Governor that we will utilize the funds properly. I believe that if government invests in you, you have to show seriousness so that next time they will have that confidence in you and others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015— 33

By Theodore Opara

Two-millionth Defender, one-of-a-kind A

unique vehicle has been built to commemorate the UK production of the twomillionth Series Land Rover and Defender. With a bespoke design and an all-star cast of special guests helping to complete the momentous build, ‘Defender 2 000 000’ has been created to be a fitting tribute to almost seven decades of Land Rover production in the Solihull plant, UK. Those who were part of the build now have a very special Defender moment they can celebrate for years to come.

In December 2015, collectors and Defender fans will be given the opportunity to own this unique piece of Land Rover’s history when it is auctioned by prestigious and globally renowned auction house, Bonhams.

Reflecting Defender ’s heritage, all proceeds will be donated to Land Rover ’s humanitarian and conservation partners – the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation.

Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Over 67 years, the Series Land Rover and in turn Defender has been the transport of choice for explorers, charity organisations, farmers and even royalty. Throughout history it has helped pioneers to reach the unreachable. What started life as an agricultural workhorse has transcended the automotive world to become a worldwide design icon. I was honoured to join the production line team in

Solihull to help build this unique vehicle. It was a special experience which will no doubt become a fond memory.

“The auction of this milestone vehicle is an opportunity to own a piece of Land Rover’s history, as Defender enters its final phase of manufacturing in Solihull. Giving people the chance to buy this truly distinctive Defender to raise funds for the IFRC and Born Free Foundation is a suitable way to celebrate the role that Defender has

The auction of this milestone vehicle is an opportunity to own a piece of Land Rover’s history

played in supporting our humanitarian aid and conservation partners over the decades.”

During May 2015, a team of life-long Defender fans were invited to join the Solihull production

for me more times than I care to remember. They are so often the unsung heroes of our TV shows, working hard in the toughest conditions to get crew in and out of exceptionally challenging terrains.

Known and respected by me and many other adventurers for their rugged reliability – it was an honour to be asked to take part in the build of this very special car.”

Ford returns to Le Mans with all-new Ford GT F

ORD has announced that it is returning to one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world with its new Ford GT race car, based on the allnew ultra-highperformance supercar that goes on sale next year.

The Ford GT race car will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans referred to by many as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency - starting next

year. Revealed today at the famous circuit in Le Mans, France, Ford GT will compete in the Le

Mans GT Endurance class for professional teams and drivers (LM GTE Pro).

The new race car - a

further proof point of Ford innovation - is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar unveiled in January. Both the production car and race car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

“When the GT40 competed at Le Mans in

the 1960s, Henry Ford II sought to prove Ford could beat endurance racing’s most legendary manufacturers,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.

“We are still extremely proud of having won this iconic race four times in a row, and that same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us today.”

Nissan, Access Bank unveil smart vehicle finance P ROSPECTIVE automobile customers can now take

advantage of yet another finance initiative by Access Bank PLC to purchase

From left: Victor Etuokwu, ED, Personal Banking, Access Bank PLC, Parvir Singh, MD, Nissan Nigeria Ltd with Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Strategic Brand Management, Access Bank Plc at the signing of MoU for NissanAccess ‘Big Deal’ auto finance at the Stallion NMN showroom Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

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line in May to help build this one-of-a-kind vehicle, including adventurer Bear Grylls.

Commenting while on the production line, Grylls said: “The Land Rover Defender has been there

elegant Nissan vehicles from Stallion NMN, the Nissan authorised sales company and its accredited dealerships countrywide.

Both establishments endorsed this treaty at a brief ceremony in Lagos to unveil the mutual finance mechanism tagged ‘Big deal’ aimed at stimulating local demand for functional Japanese engineered Nissan vehicles at liberalised interest rate of 18%.

Access Bank PLC Executive DirectorPersonal Banking Victor Etuokwu said: “We are

bringing together two Nigeria most powerful brands; Access Bank - a tier one banking group and Stallion NMN, a member of Stallion Group to give Nigerians opportunity to own brand new Nissan vehicles at affordable rates.”

He described the Nissan-Access finance pact as seamless apparatus of purchase that promises only 2.5% insurance premium with free vehicle registration, no upfront fee, 48 months tenor, free labour charge for the first three services, three-year or 100, 000km warranty and free

Samsung Galaxy tap for every vehicle purchased. Etuokwu said: “these alluring incentives are intended to encourage patrons to buy functional brand new vehicles instead of used cars known as ‘tokunbo that are far too exorbitant to contend with.”

Also adding that “brand new car isn’t a luxury but a part of your tool to work efficiently,” Etuokwu advised patrons to embrace the scheme and drive fashionable Nissan cars that reassure on value and quality.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

THIS WEEK June 29-July 2, 2015 Childhood Obesity Conference 2015San Diego, USA. .

This year’s conference theme is, “Collective Impact: Developing a Shared Vision to Achieve Greater Success”.

June 30- July 2, 2015 36th International Anxiety and Stress (STAR) Conference, Tel Aviv, Israel Conference Themes: Resilience & striving in the Personal, Interpersonal and the Communal Levels, Cross-Cultural Perspective on Stress, Anxiety and wellbeing, Occupational StressStress, anxiety and Coping in the Work setting, etc.

June 29 -30, 2015 2nd Annual Southeast Asia Healthcare Summit 2015 Bali, Indonesia. To bring together Ministries of Health, Distributors, Investors, Hospital CEOs & Directors, and other key stakeholders

Science World Going to bed naked is good for you

G

OING to bed without any clothes has a lot more benefits than most people realise.

Researchers have discovered that apart from being rather sexy, sleeping naked helps to destress the body because it lowers cortisol — known as the "stress hormone". Cortisol secretion is activated when you're feeling under pressure, but is much reduced when the body is truly resting. Sleep experts agree it’s important to keep cool at night as the body temperature needs to drop by about half a degree for you to fall asleep.

However, bed clothes such as pyjamas and night gowns, tend to prevent the required decline in body temperature, causing the brain to remain awake. The advantage of sleeping naked enables the body to cool and maintain the lower temperature the brain seeks to achieve for deeper and more refreshing sleep.

For those who share a bed with a partner, going nude will generate a generous boost of oxytocin, a hormone which production is triggered particularly by skin-to-skin contact.

Oxytocin has protective effect on the heart, because it lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system and reduces

Continues on Page 37 C M Y K

•Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis) is a mosquito-transmitted disease caused by parasitic worms that damage the human lymph system. Despite significant progress, the rate of scale up remains below the target.

Nigeria, others unite to combat NTDs • Expect $623b in increased productivity by 2030

By Sola Ogundipe

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IGERIA’S progress to end the burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), among others, could generate productivity gains to the tune of $11.4 billion between now and 2030.

But this will only be achievable if the country invests in efforts and strategies that would enable it scale up and achieve the World Health Organisation’s 2020 targets for NTDs. A new report that demonstrates the dramatic health and economic benefits of investing in NTDs, entitled “Country Leadership and Collaboration on Neglected Tropical Diseases,” shows that if Nigeria and other endemic countries achieve the World Health Organisation’s 2020 targets for the 10 most debilitating NTDs, healthier citizens would generate an estimated US$623 billion in increased productivity between 2015 and 2030.

Further, it was revealed that for each $US1 invested in NTD scaleup in affected countries, productivity gains to the tune of US$51 from 2015-2020 and US$184 for 2021-2030, stand to be achieved.

It is the third progress report since a diverse public-private coalition of partners endorsed the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs, committing to achieve the WHO’s 2020 targets for 10 NTDs: diseases of poverty that that affect one in six people worldwide.

Launch of the new report, came on the heels of the landmark Addis Ababa Commitment on NTDs,

endorsed by Nigeria’s Minister of Health along with 25 other Ministers of Health of NTD-endemic countries.

It also follows the increased attention to NTDs at the World Health Assembly and inclusion in the recent G7 Leaders’ Declaration. The report finds that countries are increasingly taking ownership of NTD programmes, have started providing new funding and are pursuing innovative approaches to combat these devastating diseases.

versal coverage against NTDs with less than 0.1 percent of domestic spending on health.

WHO Director of the Department of Control of NTDs, Dr. Dirk Engels noted that “It is encouraging to see increased state-level engagement and strong leadership towards ownership of national control programmes.

“Sustained political commitment, innovative domestic financing and greater coordination can bring about game-

Uniting to combat NTDs

Through this commitment, leaders of NTD-endemic countries promised to increase domestic investment, promote multi-sector approaches, encourage adoption of long-term strategic plans and ensure mutual support of NTD programmes.

While recognising significant progress made, the report warns that the world is yet to be in line to reach the WHO targets, in part due to an annual $200-$300 million funding gap.

The WHO estimates that lowand middle-income countries could fully fund their share of uni-

Nigeria is one of 10 countries where 70 percent of people affected by schistosomiasis reside, even as 261 million people worldwide need treatment

PRATHAP REDDY:

My dream has been to heal the sick Page 35

changing treatments and care to millions of people and improve the prospects of achieving WHO’s goal of universal health coverage against NTDs,” he noted.

Building on the momentum of its private citizens and foundations, in December 2011, at a meeting of the APOC governing body (JAF) in Kuwait City, the Federal government of Nigeria pledged US$5 million to the APOC Trust Fund.

Nigeria was designated Guinea worm disease-free in May 2014, but remains largely endemic to a number of other debilitating bacterial and parasitic infections.

As one of the countries hit hardest by schistosomiasis, Nigeria is expanding programmes to dramatically scale up treatments, particularly to school-age children.

Nigeria is one of 10 countries where 70 percent of people affected by schistosomiasis reside, even as 261 million people worldwide need treatment.

Nigeria is also among the 10 countries home to 80 percent of people at risk for lymphatic filariasis (1.23 million people in 58 countries are at risk).

The country is expected to complete mapping for disease prevalence – a crucial step for achieving the WHO Roadmap target – in 2015.

Background NTDs are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affect over 1.4 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 875 million children.

The 17 NTDs prioritised by WHO are endemic in 149 countries. One in six people suffer from at least one NTD. The diseases affect the poorest countries and communities in the world, keeping children out of school, parents out of work, and cause stunting and impaired brain development, locking societies into endless cycles of poverty.

The diseases can cause severe pain and long-term disability, and are the cause of death for over 500,000 people per year.

The report also shows for the first time the full burden of illness, disability, and deaths caused by NTDs, finding it at the same order of magnitude as the “Big Three” diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Endemic countries are increas Continues on Page 36

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—35

My dream has always been to heal the sick — Prathap Reddy, Founder, Apollo Group of Hospitals

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T the age of 50, when his contemporaries were getting set for retirement, renowned cardiologist, entrepreneur and founder, Apollo Group of Hospitals, India, Dr. Prathap Chandra Reddy, was already revolutionising the healthcare industry in his country. His singular goal was to prevent unneccessary death from preventable and treatable diseases.

Widely acknowleged for his exploits and the main player behind the business model that fostered the emergence of the healthcare sector in India, today. Reddy’s vision, acumen and ideal of uncompromised quality motivated numerous individuals in India and across the world to emulate the model and take care closer to their patients. His pioneering success in telemedicine and innovative insurance in Aragonda, the world’s first V-SAT enabled village in remote Seemandhra, India and others, validates the concept of ‘Healthcare for All’ In an encounter, Reddy tells Chioma Obinna of his role in the revolution of India’s healthcare and development of world- class healthcare within the economic and geographic reach of millions worldwide.Excerpts: Healthcare revolution I have been blessed with the love and respect that the people of India have given me. The person I have to thank the most for being a vital beacon in my life is my father. We were very happy and settled abroad, when a letter from him changed my life.

He told me that while they were extremely proud of my success in the USA, it was time to think about my responsibility to my motherland. It was time to use my experience and clinical skills to help my fellow Indians.

That was the genesis of the dream. I returned to India, and most immediately felt the dire need for a world-class hospital.

We started Apollo Hospitals with the simple mission to ensure top quality healthcare came to India, rather than Indians having to travel to distant corners of the world to get it.

Thanks to my tireless team, today we have touched the lives of over 45 million patients. Others

have been inspired too; India now has over 750 corporate hospitals.

Today people from across the globe travel to India to get treated.

Having received my premedical degree from the prestigious Madras Christian College and medical degree from Stanley Medical College, Chennai, I trained as a cardiologist in the UK and later USA. After receiving my Fellowship from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, I went on to head research programmes at the Missouri State Chest Hospital USA whereby I worked for several years before returning to India in 1978. With this back ground, Apollo Hospital opened in Chennai in 1983 amidst much scepticism.

I did what I had to do India, in the early 80’s was not the easiest place for private enterprise. The best of intentions could get lost in the quagmire of

•Dr Prathap Reddy licensing and bureaucracy. The concept of private healthcare was completely alien.

Back in the 1980s healthcare institutions other than small

My dream was always to heal, and I knew that books would be my path to achieving that. I have to thank my family for their broad mindedness, and their total support for me to nurture my dreams

physician-owned nursing homes were unknown and they were not doing cutting edge work.

Thankfully a few pioneering leaders grasped the vision we had for Indian healthcare, and helped facilitate matters. Thirty two years later, Apollo Hospitals has become one of the world’s largest providers of hightechnology healthcare. With speciality in the areas of heart, liver and solid organ transplants, and also in knee and hip replacement surgery and robotic surgery, Apollo is an industry pioneer and a world leader.

Heroic roles in healthcare Beyond this, at age 50, Reddy was involved in revolutionising healthcare, the visionary, he has harnessed in technology and insurance has brought healthcare to the masses. The pioneering

Nigeria, others unite to combat NTDs

•Trachoma (left) and leprosy patients.

Continued from Page 37 ing domestic funding for NTDs and innovating to find new ways to deliver critical drugs. In doing so, they are improving coverage rates and making strides toward eliminating these diseases, with many already achieving elimination goals for individual diseases.

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From the key statistics, the global coverage is increasing: approximately 785 million people (43 percent of at-risk populations) were reached with at least one drug, compared to around 35 percent in 2008.

While 126 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in 2014, a staggering 99.99 percent drop since 1986. Only five cases have

been reported so far in 2015.

Of the 81 countries endemic for Lymphatic filariasis , 25 countries (31 percent) are no longer in need of mass drug administration including 10 which have successfully eliminated transmission.

Fewer than 4,000 new cases of human African trypanosomiasis (also known as sleeping sickness) were reported to WHO last year,

the lowest level in at least 75 years.

SinceDecember 2014, 27 Ministers of Health pledged to take ownership and increase local investment in NTD efforts as part of theAddis Ababa NTD Commitment. Several countries have already taken on primary responsibility for financing their NTD programs: Bangladesh and the Philippines pay for 85 percent and 94 percent of their NTD programs, respectively, and Honduras recently became the first Latin American country to launch a national NTD programme fully financed by the government.

"We have known for some time that investing in NTDs is a best buy in development,” said Lisa Rotondo,Project Director at RTI International. “There are still challenges ahead, but the NGO community is committed to reaching the targets established by WHO, and we welcome additional collaborators in support of endemic countries."

success of telemedicine and innovative insurance in Aragonda, the world’s first V-SAT enabled village in remote Seemandhra validates the concept of ‘Healthcare for All’.

The huge gap in quality healthcare in our country was painfully obvious. This idea became an imperative for me when I lost a patient who could not make it to Texas for an open heart surgery.

I can still recall the devastated faces of his wife and young children. It was then I decided that the situation had become completely unacceptable, and something had to be done immediately so that more people don’t die just because they couldn’t afford expensive foreign treatment.

I aspired to create world-class medical infrastructure in India and make it more accessible and affordable to common people.

These efforts bore fruit when we succeeded in setting up the first centre of the Apollo Hospitals Group in Chennai in 1983.

A dream to heal My dream was always to heal, and I knew that books would be my path to achieving that. I was a serious student and the first person from my village to leave for a higher education. I have to thank my family for their broad mindedness, and their total support for me to nurture my dreams.

My early years in Aragonda instilled in me the belief that wonderful things can happen if you don’t let go of your dreams.

This lesson has been invaluable in every stage of my life since then.

As a group we have been part of various activities, the Apollo group has undertaken philanthropic work through 'Save a Child's Heart Initiative' (SACHI), the CURE Foundation for cancer care, the Indian Head Injury Foundation (IHIF), 'Distance Healthcare Advancement' (DISHA) and many others that have touched the lives of several thousands of children, differently-abled people, cancer and brain trauma patients.

Perspective towards preventive healthcare Each generation presents its unique healthcare challenges.

This generation is plagued with the menace of Non Communicable Diseases, NCDS. The incidence of diabetes, cancer, hypertension and cardiac ailments are causing havoc to national health and economic wellbeing. In this situation the role of preventive healthcare is critical.

“It is our mission to continuously evolve preventive healthcare services. The latest development in this front is our personalised preventive health check. In a personalised check factors like a person’s genetic make-up, lifestyle, and family medical history are important parameters during the testing and diagnostic stages.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Oceanic Health, PMAN march against piracy

By Gabriel Olawale

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S part of its commitment to provision of good health to the community, Oceanic Health Management Limited, a Health Maintenance Organisation, HMO, recently offered free medical services to members of the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria, PMAN, during their industry coalition anti-piracy walk held in Lagos.

The exercise examined the fitness levels of participants who also benefitted from free blood pressure checks, Body Mass Index measurement and sugar level measurment, among others.

Speaking prior to the walk from Maryland to the Governor’s office at Alausa, Ikeja, Head of Medical Operations, Oceanic Health, Dr. Emegha Emohare said the activity was to support PMAN in their campaign against piracy.

"When they began to think about the implication or side effects of piracy on their work, it can affect their health and pose a great risk.

"As a HMO, aside the medical check, we have ambulances in case of any emergency and there are doctors to give advise to the people on their weight relative to their height," he added Further, Emohare remarked: "Access remains the major challenge in healthcare delivery, what we are doing is to strike a

•Free medical check being conducted for members of the PMAN, during their industry coalition anti-piracy walk held in partnership with Oceanic Health Management Limited recently. Photo: Gabriel Olawale.

balance between cost of care and quality of care. There is this wrong impression that whatever is expensive is of quality and whatever is cheap is inferior, that shouldn't be the case for health.

“So what we do basically is to ensure balance in quality and cost, healthcare supposes to be a social thing not a matter of class. Our commitment is to ensure that everybody, irrespective of status, have access to quality healthcare."

The President, PMAN, Pretty Okafor, said that the engagement in the peaceful walk was to curb piracy. "Our plan is to manage piracy with latest technology and we intend to enlighten government on resources this industry can generate for the country if managed properly," he added.

Firms partner on US Residency programme for Nigerian doctors

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N a bid to ensure that more Nigerian doctors have access to the United State, US, Residency programme, Pocket Presents, a Media events company in collaboration with BusinessDay Newspapers will next month hold seminar in Lagos aimed at helping Nigerian doctors and other medical students gain access to US Residency programme.

Over the years, the number of applicants for the US residency programme has continued to grow,

but unfortunately, not many Nigerians have access to the programme.

The quest to “become a doctor” in the US has been driven by several things such as the quality of the residency programme, access to better funding for research, access to better medical facilities, and the importance the US government and private organisations have placed on ensuring the US is at the forefront of medical research and development in the world.

Several students have given up their quests to become doctors in the US after multiple attempts and pursue alternative careers in healthcare such as nursing or returned home.

The event which is billed to hold in Lagos, July 4, 2015, will be anchored by a renowned, USbased medical practitioner, Dr. Ngozike Orjioke, who has helped many foreign applicants become medical doctors in the US through the US medical residency programme.

Go to bed naked Continues from Page 34 anxiety. Research also shows that people who sleep naked have happier love lives, according to a survey of 1,000 adults by a bedsheet company, found 57 per cent of nude sleepers were happy with their relationship, compared with 48 per cent of pyjama wearers and 43 per cent of nightie wearers.

The term “beauty rest,” is not just a myth because sleeping in the buff keeps you looking good, looking younger for longer.

Maintaining a cool room temperature allows the antiaging hormones — melatonin and the growth hormone — to function properly.

A sleep environment that is too hot will not allow the body to naturally cool itself and disrupts the release of these hormones.

Sleeping in complete darkness stimulates release of melatonin, which cools the body, and then the growth hormone is released.

Hormones will work better at lower temperatures and will allow the body to regenerate resulting better hair and skin.

A good night’s sleep is the best way to fight stress. At night, the production of the growth hormone increases while cortisol — the stress hormone — is lowest during 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. when the body is resting. In the morning, cortisol levels reach their highest levels.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—37

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38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Why Reps had to fight --- SARAKI THE president of the Senate, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki in this interview with Senate correspondents at the weekend spoke on intrigues around his emergence as the presiding officer of the National Assembly among other topical issues. Excerpts:

By Henry Umoru

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FTER your victory against the desire of your party one would have expected you to show some hand of conciliation towards the party by accepting the list of principal officers sent by the party?

Let me take the first question where you say that my emergence was not the party’s position. We have it on record that at no time did the party say it has zoned this position to a particular zone. Soon after the election, the Party held a meeting at the caucus level.

At the caucus level, there was a working document that the Party presented, which showed that it has zoned the Senate Presidency to North Central but at the meeting, it was rejected and thus, the Party needed to go back and work on the paper. We waited for the Party but there was no follow up.

Then, we started hearing rumour that the party was thinking that it might consider not holding on to that proposal from the National Working Committee that the Senate Presidency should be zoned to the North Central and may be, it will be given to the North East.

Then, the governors got involved, held their own meeting and also recommended North Central.

All we were waiting for was for the party to announce that the position has been zoned to North Central but all of a sudden, the leaders of the party categorically came and said there was no zoning. If the party had said it has zoned this position to the North East, Abubakar Bukola Saraki would not have contested.

Why did you not read the letter from the South West Caucus?

Because I have not received their letter but they communicated to me later that day that their letter should be ready by the end of the business last Friday. I do not know whether they would have submitted it. I did not want to do anything that was not strictly official.

I knew that they had no objection to a particular candidate but I wanted to be sure I got a letter from their caucus like others did and that was the reason I did not announce any name. Their letter has not arrived but they have conveyed to me that they have got nine or 10 signatures and are waiting for two or three remaining to sign but some of them were not around and that was the reason their letter was delayed.

The impression is that you do not want to concede anything to your rivals and it is that the winner takes it all.

If you check, you will find out that I made a plea. There was only one particular zone that had issue and that was North East zone. In

I am a fair minded person and I will be fair to everybody because everybody has contributed for us to get here. Things have happened unfortunately but it cannot be a winner takes all

the other zones, there was a general consensus on the direction they were going.

But in a scenario where you have over 75 per cent of the Senators holding on to a very strong position, it makes things very difficult and I appealed to them to review it. I also had the opportunity to sit with Senator Ahmed Lawan as part of my reconciliation efforts.

Although some of the good news that have come out of the reconciliation is not in the public domain or reported because I am confident that this matter will fizzle out and blow away because we are making effort to begin to engage ourselves because these are two groups that never had problems. I did say to Lawan when we sat down to talk that he should try and reach out to his members in the North East so that they can come together to begin to engage themselves.

The idea is that beyond the issue of leadership, they must work together as a caucus because there will be many issues that would be sent to the caucuses to go and discuss and there must be unity there. I must say that on Lawan’s own part too, I could see that efforts are being made.

I want you also to understand that it is just two weeks after election. It is normal that after election for this kind of position that was fiercely contested for, there would be

sentiments and emotions. If you can remember, after Presidential primaries, for weeks, there were people today who are now pretending to love President Buhari more than us, they did not attend rallies.

They sat in their houses and we were begging them. What I am saying is that two weeks to me is short in a healing process and I am sure that if you look at the mood the first day we resumed and the mood today, you will see that peace will come. As someone who has taken this position, I will not stop until I see a full healing process, a full reconciliation.

I am a fair minded person and I will be fair to everybody because everybody has contributed for us to get here. Things have happened unfortunately but it cannot be a winner takes all. Everybody must be part of that process and we will get there.

We are not entirely there but I believe that in the few weeks within this period of recess, by the time we come back, we would be able to get closer and closer as a united APC family. I am sure that by the time we come back with full leadership in place, we will be better off than where we are now and that responsibility is mine. I will prefer my actions to speak more than what I say. Just come back in two months time, I am confident that this will be a thing of the past.

We will unite because we are all responsible and we know the issue before us are greater than this.

Even in states where people contest for elections and lose out, it takes time for full reconciliation to take place and I believe we will get there in ensuring there is full reconciliation.

Since your emergence, have you met with President Buhari, Senator Bola Tinubu? What did they tell you?

First, it has been the view of some of us Senators that what Mr. President wants to see as a father is a reconciliation among us as a group and his position is that he will like us to unite so that he is not seen to be on one side or the other.

I think those steps are going on.

As regards Asiwaju Tinubu, as you know, he is one of the leaders of the party and I have great respect for him.

Two of us have worked very closely together on major issues at different stages in the development of our party.

Unfortunately, in this matter, as much as one wants to win a support of all forces within, it happened like that and I think at the end of the day, we will look at the things we have done together that have gone well.

Yes, it is a setback but I do not think that that in any way was what will dictate the kind of relationship that we have. We are both responsible and committed to the project of the party and Nigeria.

We will overcome this and move forward. It is our intention, as part of the healing process to be able to do that and

Continues on page 39

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—39

•Road inspection: L-R: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State addressing the Site Engineer of the Greylines company, Engr.George skayrak and residents of Emene, as his Deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo looks on, when he inspected the old Emene road..yesterday

UGWUANYI: One month after

By Austin Ogwuda

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T is about one month ago that the new governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi took over the reins of power from the immediate past governor Sullivan Chime at Lion Building.

Although one month is certainly not enough to assess his performance but it is clear that he is in the right track as expressed by the residents about his developmental strides within the short time he came into the saddle, describing him as a visionary leader with the interest of the people at heart.

And the verdict was near unanimous by a a cross-section of residents in Enugu interviewed who noted with satisfaction the actions taken so far in administering the ‘Coal City State, saying that he has proved that he is poised to deliver on his campaign promises, in a bid to move the State to the next level.

A trader, Mr. Oguejifor Udeh based at Ogbete main market particularly praised the governor for ensuring the completion of the mind-boggling Ogbete main market entrance road within one month of his administration.

According to him, the progress made on the popular market road was due to the personal intervention of the governor on the very first day he officially resumed office.

“When he visited the site that very day he prevailed on the contractor handling the project to complete the work within one month time.

“To me the importance and the

urgency is a clear display of leadership by the governor that should be applauded and emulated.

“As you can see, I am happy that our governor has made us proud today. My goods can now enter from Onitsha, Aba or Lagos direct to the door-step of my shop, because this road has been completed. He was here on his first day in office and told us that the contractor has assured him that this then dilapidated road under reconstruction will be completed within one month”.

Continuing, he said “our able governor has achieved this for us and my customers can now drive to and inside this market with ease to patronize me. What else do I want from him other than this selfless service? Governor Ugwuanyi has shown that he is a true leader who has the interest of the masses at heart.

“This one month experience of his government is a pleasant one and I pray that God will continue to guide and protect him for us, because he will do more to develop this State”, he added.

On his part, another Enugu resident, who resides in Emene, Mr. Okey Nzeobi said “surprisingly, our governor visited us here in Emene, the other day, to inspect our roads.

He told us that he wants action here, that he was in a hurry to deliver and that he came with the contactor that will do our roads.

As you can see, the contractor has mobilized his men and equipment to the site and construction work has started here immediately.

“He also told us to stop dumping refuse on the road side and gutter; he said that what concerns Emene was bordering his administration. So I don’t know what you want me to say again about his new administration.

“I heard he also went to Nsukka, 9th Mile Corner, Abakpa-Nike, and other places to identify areas he will commence work immediately. All I know is that our governor has started well and we only pray that our economy gets better so that he will fully actualize his vision for.”

A cross section of other residents told our reporter that the governor ’s positive intervention during his unscheduled inspection visits to schools, markets, hospitals, satellite towns etc immediately

Ugwuanyi said he was not prepared to embark on any witch-hunting expedition but to settle down to business of governing the state

he assumed office yielded the needed results.

“The impromptu visits to those areas”, according to them, “was actually aimed at identifying areas that require urgent attention and ensuring that all on-going projects in the State which were completed within a space of time, have started yielding positive results in the state and should be highly commended”.

Another remarkable feature during the first one month in office is his spirit of love not matter the political divide or disagreements.

Speaking at a media parley on the second week after resumption Ugwuanyi said he was not prepared to embark on any witchhunting expedition but to settle down to business of governing the state by not engaging in unnecessary fight against his predecessors in office.

His words, “I am sure you listened to my inaugural address, all former governors were recognized. We are getting in touch with all of them to formally talk to each and every member of the council of elders we are reconstituting. We cannot in a State like this ignore the experience of these former leaders. Everybody is our friend.

The era of politics is over. The peace we enjoy here (Enugu) we have to maintain that peace . Is peace enmeshed in agape love, covered by the Holy Spirit. We have fully taken over, we are in charge.

“The tradition I don’t know the tradition but in the past you find a situation where once there is change of baton the new guy will start fighting the old guy.

The experience of Boko Haram and experiences in the States where there is no peace is enough to teach us some lessons.

Is not worth it instead we will move from strength to strength”, he added.

Why Reps had to fight --- SARAKI Continues from page 30 it will happen.

Nomination of Ministers and Mr. President’s position to select them against party’s plea to be carried along. What is your view?

We have elected Mr. President as a leader of the party. I believe he will find his candidates he believes are fit and good for the offices.

I am sure in most cases too, it will be with the consultation with party leaders. There cannot be rigid position. There will be a hybrid. There would be the candidates that he wants and also, in taking those decision, you know that it is not possible for one man to know the entire 36 states. He might have a good knowledge of people in certain states but in some states too, I am sure he will ask people about candidates he wants to appoint

as ministers.

What is key is for us to have a right team that will support him because he is heading that team and at the end of the day, he can be happy with who he works with. So, we can say that the prerogative in that process would be his. The process of getting there is ongoing.

What is your reaction to the brawl on the floor of the House of Representatives last Thursday?

Honestly, it was unfortunate but if we have taken certain necessary steps, I do not think these will happen. We must respect the wishes of the members of the National Assembly. Yes, as part of the party, you must work with them but working with them is different from directing the senators and there must be a kind of dialogue because the rules in both the Senate and the House of Reps

are very clear.

At the end of the day, party’s role must be seen as guideline or advisory. It must be seen as advisory, not as something that must and shall be implemented.

I believe that what we saw in the House of Reps was a fallout of that and that is what I will appeal for, that members of the House sit down together among themselves, not with outside forces.

I am sure they will resolve all the issues and get down to business. As I said, it is not the best but I am hopeful that everything will be alright. This is just two weeks after the election that is due to no fault of anybody, there were events that happened that created a lot of controversies here and there. I believe that within a few weeks, these matters would be resolved and those of us in our party will unite. We have no alternative but to unite and I am confident that

the Speaker also feels very strongly that we would be fair to all, try and unite with everybody and move on. I just want to appeal to the media and the public to give us some time to do that.

If you read some of the publications, you will find that majority of the legislators are not the ones pushing these disunity issues. They should leave us in the National Assembly.

Among ourselves, we will find a solution and we will move forward because at the end of the day, once the Ministerial list comes, everybody will leave Senate and be reporting about ministers and appointments. It is we people that have to go and work with ourselves. We should be left to find a course that will enable us to do it. People are asking if we are actually serious but I believe it will come to pass.

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Senator Pius Ewherido (1963-2013)

By Francis Ewherido

H

IS death reverberated like a thunder storm round Nigeria. Today, two years after, the political void his death created still looms large, especially in the opposition camp of Delta State.

Senator Akporokena Pius Ewherido was the senator who represented Delta Central Senatorial District from June 6, 2011, when the seventh senate was inaugurated, until his death on June 30, 2013.

Shortly after Sen. Ewherido got to the senate, he noticed how restrictive belonging to a small party and being a lone ranger (He was the only senator from his party) could be. His party then, the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) started discussions on joining the coalition of parties (CPC, ACN, ANPP and a faction of APGA) that later merged into the All Progressives Congress, APC. Eventually some DPP leaders decided to stay back in DPP, some went to PDP while Sen. Ewherido, Olisaemeka Akamukale and others opted to join the emerging mega party.

His actions drew the ire of some DPP leaders who sponsored vicious and relentless attacks on him in the mass and social media.

He was called a usurper, a traitor and other unimaginable names.

But Ewherido was undeterred; he was well schooled in politics

Today, Ewherido is no more, but his vision of an APCled federal government has come to fruition.

Death could not stop that. Soon his vision for a better Nigeria will start manifesting

and could see what his traducers could not imagine. To those with myopic political vision the emerging party (it had not been christened APC then) was like Dubai of the early 70s. Today, it is gratifying to know that what Ewherido saw long ago, some are now seeing it post 2015 presidential election and angling to join the train.

APC has become today ’s Dubai, attracting all manner of people, including some of its hitherto most vicious detractors.

But that is okay, it is politics and all is fair and square.

Ewherido started his political career in 1997, when he joined the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). In 1999, he was elected a member of the Delta

State House of Assembly to represent Ughelli South Constituency on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.

His colleagues who noticed his sterling and visionary leadership qualities made him deputy speaker, a position he held for much of the eight years he was in the house. He was also acting speaker for over a year.

He was a legislator per excellence; he sponsored and cosponsored eight bills that were passed in to law and also moved numerous motions that were adopted.

In 2010, he switched political camp to the little known DPP from where he contested and won the 2011 senatorial election. In addition, the DPP, which had never won any election in Delta State, also won two House of Representatives seats and 11 seats in the Delta State House of Assembly ( this was before some of the candidates lost their seats at the tribunal). While the impact of Ewherido in DPP is and has been a matter of opinion, the fact that his entrance into DPP coincided with when the party won elections for the first time is not in dispute.

It is also note worthy that since the 2003 elections, the party Ewherido belonged to never lost elections in Ughelli South Constituency, Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South Federal Constituency and Delta Central Senatorial District.

Igodomigodo's punch on Buhari’s pace

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R. Patrick Obahiagbon, erstwhile member of the House of Representatives and present Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, responded to the perception of stagnation in the affairs of the Federal Government.

He said thus: Whilst appreciating the tenterhooks of political ventriloquists, carpetbaggers, economic chichidodos and a vaudeville of pundits as to what they perceive as the phlegmatic predilection of President Buhari in the constitution of his cabinet, I would rather deposit in their objurgatory piazza, the Chinese apophthegm which urges that sofily sofily catchee monkey.

President Buhari must not be bludgeoned into precipitate, frenetic, fatuous and kamikazeic gambits that’s obliviscence of the twelve years of political anomie and economic marshmallow occasioned by economic

•Obahiagbon: Igodomogodo vampires and political pachucos.

I am sanguine that a little more patience from Nigerians will prove that in Buhari they have found both a political

palladium and an economic palisade and this is in spite of the ossifying and sissyfying sciamachy enveloping the National Assembly just now.

•Ewherido: His vision for a better Delta State will come.

Today these three seats are in the hands of the opposition PDP. Is it a coincidence? Those who belittled Ewherido’s political relevance should do the political mathematics and explain to humanity.

Ewherido never believed in going to the tribunal to reclaim “stolen” mandates. His philosophy was: excel in office, campaign vigorously with your achievements, win your elections, protect your votes and ensure you are declared winner.

Let your opponent go the tribunal.

Ewherido’s two years in the red chambers though brief were momentous. He sponsored four bills: Welding Standard Regulatory Council of Nigeria Bill 2012; Bill for the Devolution of Powers and More Responsibilities to the States in Order for Nigeria to Manifest True Federalism; Bill to Provide for the Offence of Corporate Manslaughter which proposes penalties and criminal responsibility against corporate bodies as a result of negligence leading to loss of lives and a bill for an act to alter provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) to Streamline the Jurisdiction of the Appellate Courts for Quick Dispensation of Justice and Matters Incidental Thereto.

The bill on Corporate Manslaughter was passed into law by the seventh assembly and is awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.

About two weeks after the senate passed the Corporate Manslaughter bill into law, the

senate also passed another bill, The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (Establishment, etc.), 2014 Bill, into law. Presenting the bill on the floor of the senate, Ewherido’s former colleague, Sen. Shola Adeyeye “disclosed that the Bill was one of the Bills sponsored by the late Sen. Pius Ewherido which sought to confer on the newly established Petroleum Resources University the constitutional legal backing for its degree programmes.”

His bill for devolution of powers was incorporated into the constitution amendment process of the seventh assembly.

Ewherido was working on four new bills before his sudden death.

One common denominator in all bills sponsored by Ewherido since his days in the Delta Assembly is that they are all people-oriented.

Today, Ewherido is no more, but his vision of an APC-led federal government has come to fruition.

Death could not stop that. Soon his vision for a better Nigeria will start manifesting.

Whatever initial hiccups the APC is experiencing now are normal internal contradictions and resistance to change expected when people are used to doing things in a certain way.

It will blow over soon.

Hopefully his vision for a much better Delta State will also come.

Change is the only constant thing in life; it is inevitable, it will come.

Continue to rest in peace, Gogorogo.

•Francis Ewherido is a brother to Sen. Ewherido

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 —41

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42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Edo 2016: Guber choice'll be based on personality, not political party —Owie

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, has said that the 2016 governorship election in Edo State will be based on personality of the candidate and not the political party.

Hinting that he will join other “genuine” leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in ensuring the emergence of a credible governorship candidate for the party, he warned that anybody who was part of the destruction of the PDP and the alleged poor performance of the Lucky Igbinedion administration in the state (1999-2007) will not be fielded by the PDP. He said: “The 2016 governorship election will not be based on political platform, it is going to be on who the candidate is. For us in the PDP, I am going to ensure that I join

Stakeholders want Adesina’s feat in agric sustained

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the agriculture sector, under the aegis of Nigerian Agricultural Watch Network, NAWN, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sustain the legacies of the former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in the sector.

Mr. Emmanuel OkotieEboh, Chairman of NAWN, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, said that the former Agriculture Minister performed exceptionally well in the agriculture sector under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and harped on the need to sustain the enviable legacies left behind by Adesina.

According to him, “Agriculture is definitely the brightest star of the Jonathan administration.

Under the watch of Adesina, agriculture was transformed to a viable business. Dr. Adesina used agriculture to diversify the Nigerian economy. He succeeded in this regard because of his crack team which shared his vision and they succeeded at the end of the day."

other well meaning leaders of the PDP to bring out a credible candidate who does not have any connection with a failed government.

“We will field a candidate who does not have any connection with a previously failed PDP government in Edo State. For PDP to be seen to have broken links with irresponsibility, we have to be

sure that our candidate for 2016 has no relationship with previous failures of PDP government in Edo State.

“Today, Chief Lucky Igbinedion is being blamed, whereas 75 per cent of those failures were attributed to those that surrounded him.

Take a cue from the last PDP primaries in Edo State, look at how most of the giants failed

in the primaries. It is not that those aspirants were bad, but the PDP members who voted during the primaries were mirroring the aspirants against the background of what happened before.

“People were very watchful about where those aspirants are coming from. You can no longer fool anybody in Edo State,” he said.

EVENING OF TRIBUTES: Chairman Body of Fellows, National Institute of Merketing of Nigeria, NIMN, Dr Ify Uraih; President and Chairman of Governing Council, NIMN, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye (right) and Ist Vice President NIMN, Mr. Rotimi Olaniyan, during the Evening of Tributes for late former NIMN President, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, in Lagos.

Maritime workers cripple Saipem operations in Warri

By Onozure Dania

H

UNDREDS of workers under the umbrella of Dock Workers and Seafarers of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Delta Port, Warri, have crippled the operations of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited at NPA Warri Port premises.

The workers, led by their union executives, barricaded the entrance to the company's premisis as early as 7a.m., thereby obstructing operations of the company.

Speaking to newsmen, Austine Okpas, Chairman, Dock Workers District, condemned the management of Saipem Contracting Company, whom they accused of not engaging their members as stipulated by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, rules, but rather engaged casual workers who are not dock workers nor seafarers.

Also speaking, Gabriel Koma and Clement Ukutaira, both officers of the union, said that

all efforts to resolve the issue with the management of Saipem had not yielded any positive result.

They expressed regret that they had tried all peaceful means to resolve the impasse, but Saipem Contracting has not met its obligations

regarding the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, reached in 2012.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source in the company said that the management was working around the clock to resolve the issue amicably.

S-South women congratulate Saraki, Dogara, Ben Bruce, Akpabio

By Tare Youdeowei

S

OUTH-South Women Organisation, an association of women of the South-South region, resident in Lagos, have congratulated Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara on their emergence as the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.

In a statement by Chief Vickie Djevwudu, president and Mrs. Esther Ileleji, secretary, the group said that Saraki had distinguished himself in his political career as a great leader with robust experience in public

and private sectors, adding that his emergence as Senate President will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

In the same vein, the group also congratulated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Chairman Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, on their emergence as senators from Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.

“Akpabio and Bruce have impacted the South-South region, distinguished themselves in their political careers and leadership by building large followership both in the South-South region and Nigeria in general,” the group said.

DTHA: Atakpo urged to contest Isoko North Constituency 1 seat

By Etop Ekanem

I

SOKO people, under the aegis of New Era Forum, NEF, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, have called on Mr. Sunny Atakpo to contest for the Isoko North constituency 1 to represent them in Delta State House of Assembly.

Speaking with newsmen at Ozoro, NEF president, Mr. Gabriel Akpotareno, said the meeting was convened to determine who can best represent the interest of the constituency at the state Assembly, adding that the choice of Atakpo was based on his personality and leadership skill.

He described Atakpo as a man of the people, who is hard working, transparent and reliable following his antecedents in his private life and relationship with people, adding: “He is a philanthropist, Godfearing and all embracing,” and urged him to accept the call, assuring him of the group’s support.

“We are the people calling on him, we consider him worthy.

Machinery is in place to work for his victory and we have set up a committee to that effect,” he dded.

Pa Arubi passes on

P

A Stephen Arubi is dead, aged 91. He died in Sapele, Delta State, after brief illness.

Until his death, he was a community leader and a businessman. He is survived by a widow, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Burial arrangements will be announced later.

Late Pa Arubi

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015— 43

Our beauty pageant based on merit— MOG

APGA accuses PDP of using thugs to stop inspection of election materials

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—DR. Alex Otti, Abia State All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in the last election, has alleged

that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hired thugs to prevent his lawyers from inspecting election materials in Obingwa Local Government Area.

Otti also accused INEC of conniving with PDP to frustrate his legal team from having access to the materials used for

the election.

Otti spoke weekend through one of his lawyers, Ndionyenma Nkwankwo, shortly after the governorship tribunal adjourned sitting to Thursday.

According to Nwankwo, when the legal team went to

South-East APC worked for Buhari’s victory —Akomas party was steadily witnessing

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 5 million votes.

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BA—FORMER Abia State deputy governor, Comrade Chris Akomas, has faulted claims that the South East zone of All Progressives Congress, APC, contributed nothing to the party’s victory at the presidential election.

In an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, Akomas, who is now a chieftain of the APC, called on the national leadership of the party not to deny the South East its fair share in the allocation of political offices in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“I differ when people say that the South East zone contributed a little to the success of the APC in the presidential elections. ‘’The issue is that in any election, it is either you get votes or block from opponents from rigging. This is what the APC in the South East did at the 2015 presidential elections. ‘’We contributed a lot to Buhari’s victory and should be compensated as other geopolitical zones. In 2011, the South East gave PDP more than 10 million votes, but in 2015, we discounted by over

‘’How can anybody turn around to say that the South East contributed nothing to Buhari’s victory? This is unfair.”

The former deputy governor said the South East deserved every position it could get in the APC, stressing that the

an influx of former senators, ministers and other political heavyweights.

He added that with the calibre of people in Abia State chapter of the APC, there was no doubt that the party had been repositioned to take over power in the state in the next general elections in 2019.

Obingwa to inspect the materials, they were refused and almost got attacked by thugs allegedly hired by the PDP. But Nwankwo’s allegation was swiftly denied by one of PDP lawyers, Hagler Okorie, who said no thugs were hired by their client.

Okorie also said nobody was hindering APGA from inspecting election materials, adding that what happened was that they raised certain legal issues which the tribunal would resolve.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has directed all the parties in the petition to bring whatever applications they wished to file on next adjourned date of Thursday.

It warned that that no other motion would be entertained on the adjourned date.

T

HE FOUNDER and Officer of MOG entertainment, Mr. Mogbejule Esun has debunked the rumour that the industry influenced judges during beauty pageants.

Esun made the clarification in Sapele, Delta State, during a press briefing on the activities of the entertainment industry.

Esun, while fielding questions from journalists, said MOG had never in any way deprived any contestant of her rights, noting that the winner of any beauty pageant was based on merit.

He also added that those spreading such rumour were enemies of progress and maintained that the industry believed in the philosophy of ‘let he who the cap fits wear it.’

Meanwhile, the secretary of the group, Mr. Tega Akivie and media officer, Charles Bassey, all drummed support for the industry.

They maintained: "MOG has a standard punctuated by transpa- rency, accountability, fairness and objectivity."

Maple Travels creates worldwide online booking portal for 670,000 hotels

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NE OF Nigeria’s leading travels solutions company, Maple Travels Limited, has created an online booking portal that would give travellers access to over 670,000 hotels worldwide.

The booking portal, which was developed in collaboration with a leading Global Distribution System, GDS, company, SABRE Travel Network, is available on all mobile devices, making it easier for users to access with a variety of devices.

Head, Business Development of the company, Tiwalolu Adesemowo, who disclosed this in Lagos, last weekend, said the next phase of the product would be the mobile application due to be available before the end of the year.

He said: ‘’The online booking engine is very robust in finding the best fares for your trip, it has functionality of multi-destination trips, plus/minus three days search facility as well as fares for all classes of travel.

‘’With this, solution users have the option of making a flight reservation and placing it on hold or making payment instantly for their booking, using a debit or credit card. However, payments for book and hold reservations can be made into one of our various bank accounts either by bank transfer or directly at any branch of the bank. ‘’Maple Travels Limited recently launched its online booking portal where travellers can access and get real time fares and travel information. Visitors to the website can check travel fares, hotel rates, cruise packages, destination wedding deals and much more. ‘’This new offering is in line with the corporate goals for summer 2015 of increasing product offering and providing clients with a more enjoyable customer experience ‘’So, when you search for hotels on our website, you have access to over 670,000 hotels worldwide

at the most competitive rates.

There is no booking fees, agency fees, hidden fee or service charge using this facility.’’

He said the company had also been chosen as the official representative of Norwegian Cruise Line as well as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Ikpeazu calls for sacrifice from Aba residents

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—ABIA State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has called for sacrifices from residents of Aba on the ongoing rehabilitation of roads and desilting of drainages in the city.

The governor, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, said the ongoing exercises might affect easy movement and called on the

people to be patient with the government.

He said: “Like the governor has always emphasized that to ‘make an omelet, eggs must be broken,’ every endeavour in life requires sacrifices. ‘’We are aware of the difficulty the people of Aba are experiencing, but it would be for a while. We are appealing for their understanding as the situation would return to normalcy soon when the roads are fixed and the drainages de-silted.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On President Buhari’s delay in naming ministers y not appointing the ministers immediately help save some money. The permanent secretaries and departmental directors are the pillars of the ministries.

Pressure should be on worthwhile things like Electricity, Security and Corruption etc. -Miss Chioma Ani, Model

B

he excuse about not naming ministers till ‘ war ’ on corruption is fought to a standstill is lame. There are Nigerians within and outside our shores whose hands are clean. My humble advice is that President Buhari should go through records of those appointed before.

-Mr. Fos Fem, DJ

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hough not much has been done anyway, I am sure things will go well.

Mr. President should focus more on national activities and reduce his travels abroad. There could be confusion and mistrust everywhere over who he should appoint. -Emma Martins, HR Practitioner

T

e do not care how long President Buhari takes to appoint his ministers; he has the support of the majority of the population that voted for him. The most important thing at the end of the day is good result because he made good choices. Mr Okechukwu Nene- Banker

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resident Buhari should forget about appointing any minister if he will have to appoint people like the ex-governors. Honesty, integrity and ascetic life style, may be good personal life choices for PMB, and should be applauded. -Mr. Ikenna Adikwu, Worker

P

ere PMB is taking his time to select the best.

With all the distractions from APC, lawmakers, Boko Haram, among others, this man is trying at his age. As slow as he is, he had travelled to many countries in a few days for the sake of security. -Miss Promise Matina, Businesswoman

H

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Don asks tertiary institutions to introduce dress code to stop rape, adultery

By Suzan Edeh

Ortom urges Tribunal to dismiss suit challenging his victory

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, asked the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, to dismiss the

petition challenging his emergence as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate at the last election.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate at the election, Terhemen Tarzoor is seeking the nullification of the

election of Governor Ortom on the ground that he did not meet the condition precedent to being nominated as candidate of his party, the APC. Counsel to Ortom, Chief Adeniyi Akintola , SAN, at the pre-hearing session in the suit drew the

B

AUCHI—AU THORITIES of tertiary institutions in the country have been called upon, to as a matter of urgency, introduce a dress code to stop the increasing rate of adultery and rape cases in their campuses.

A lecturer at the department of Science and Science Technology at Islamic University Medina, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Isa Pantami, gave the advice at a lecture organized by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.

Dr. Pantami said the measure will curtail fornication in the campuses and bring sanity and progress in such institutions.

“When a woman dresses in a provocative manner, what she does not know is that she is passing a wrong signal to the wrong men, particularly those with bad intentions.

Majority of rape cases are connected with indecent dressing. So, women should avoid exposing themselves to danger by the way they dress. Parents and guardians have a role to play in this regard by ensuring that their children, especially the girls dress decently.

“We are not happy when our women and girls are raped because they are the future of this nation. When a woman or girl is raped, she is stripped of her dignity and exposed to infections,” he said.

AFRICA CODE WEEK: From left; President, SAP, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Mr. Franck Cohen; Principal, Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Kolawole and Managing Director, SAP Africa: West Africa, Mr. Kudzai Dhana during the second Africa Code Week pilot project for children between 8 - 17 years old in Africa, held at Ojodu Grammar School.

El-Rufai appoints Chief of Staff

By Luka Binniyat

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ADUNA—KADUNA State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday, appointed Hadiza Bala Usman of Katsina State and co-founder of #BringBackOurGirls, which campaigned for the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, as his Chief of Staff.

According to a statement by the spokesman to the governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan in Kaduna , “In April 2014,

Hadiza, co-founded the global movement #BringBackOurGirls, which has been demanding for the rescue of the 219 young girls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok Secondary School in Borno State, North East Nigeria.

“In August 2014, she gave a touching speech on Chibok Girls at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during a United Nations Department of Public Information, UN DPI, conference as a guest speaker.

“She is a well-known figure in

the All Progressives Congress, APC, where she served in a number of committees and capacities, key amongst which are: the Administrative Secretary of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation; Secretary, APC Elections Planning Committee and member APC Strategy Committee.

She was also Director of Finance in the Nasir El-Rufai Campaign Organization, and later the Kaduna State APC Campaign Council.”

Osun, Anambra, Kebbi to get dry ports

By Godfrey Bivbere

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AGOS—THREE state governments have applied to the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, for the establishment of Inland Container Depots, ICDs. The states are Osun, Anambra and Kebbi.

Disclosing this in Lagos, Executive Secretary of NSC, Hassan Bello, said the application for the establishment of ICDs in the above states may be due to the benefits of such projects.

According to Bello, “We have applications from Osun, Onitsha and Kebbi and so many people

have seen the beauty of it. It is bringing shipping to the doorsteps of shippers. It is the panacea for port congestion.”

The shippers’ council boss noted that the one in Kaduna will soon come on stream, adding that the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, was presently taking a lot of containers to Kaduna from the port in Lagos.

He pointed out that the ICD in Kaduna was a port in every sense because it has everything required for a port to function.

Bello explained that the traffic jam recently witnessed on the access road to and from the ports

will be reduced as consignments would be moved by train to the ICDs, in addition to other means such inland waterways to carry cargoes to the ICDs, adding that cargoes could be examined at the ICDs after payment duties.

Bello said an ICD “is a port in every sense of the word and I think one has been cleared now, the Kaduna port, and it’s becoming operational and we will be meeting with officials of Kaduna State Government to discuss because there was an agreement between the operators and Kaduna State Government. Kaduna State Government has really made much

commitment in providing infrastructure to the place.

“So now, it’s a port in every sense and that is what we want replicated in Isiala Ngwa (Abia), Ibadan (Oyo), Jos (Plateau), Funtua (Kaduna), Kano, Osun, Onitsha (Anambra) , Kebbi and other places.”

He said the Council was also collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, on trade facilitation, stressing that all of government agencies operating at the port would be trade facilitators.

He noted that trade facilitation was automation, an electronic platform that would enable things to be done easier and in accordance with the world standards.

attention of the court to a motion, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the suit.

Chief Akintola insisted that it would amount to an abuse of court process if the tribunal went ahead to hear the substantive suit without hearing the motion.

However, counsel to Tarzor, Mrs. Joy Adesina, argued that the motion by the respondent was intended to prolong the suit and by so doing, frustrate the process. She insisted that all motions should be heard alongside the substantive suit.

Citing Paragraph 12(5) of the First Schedule of the 2014 Electoral Act, as amended and other authorities, Mrs. Adesina argued that the provision was intended to checkmate “acts of mischief” in the adjudication of cases before the tribunal.

Earlier at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, the presiding judge, Justice Elizabeth Karatu, had cautioned litigants and their counsel to desist from unnecessary delays and subterranean actions to influence the outcome of the court.

According to her, “We are here to perform our duties professionally and diligently and to further ensure that the case before us is prosecuted speedily.”

Consolidate on MDGs projects, Group urges Buhari

By Caleb Ayansina

A

BUJA—THE Africa Youth Patriotic and Development Mission, AYPDM, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the development of various community projects under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) across the country.

Executive Director, AYPDM, Mr Adefila Kamal, who addressed newsmen to draw support for the laudable achievement of the MDGs, in Abuja, said the government of President Buhari should help to safeguard the achievement of the MDGs by offering adequate protection to projects executed by the MDGs in the various localities across the country.

He maintained that the government should provide fund for conditional grants to realise the MDGS, in order to help facilitate the mandate given to the MDGs. The group also commended the effort of Mrs Precious Gbeneol and development partners such as USAID, DFID, UNDP, UKAID among others who contributed to the achievement of MDGS in the country.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 45

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AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION: Meljenstin Youth Empowerment Initiative-organised walk against drug addiction on the theme Say No to Drug Addiction and Abuse, Regect It, to mark 2015 World Drug Day in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

ORDINATION: From left— Rt. Revd. Jacob Olasipe, Bishop of Oyo; Rt. Rev. Isaac Oluyamo, Bishop of Ijesa North, Osun State; Adeleke Ojo, newlyordained priest; Bishop James Olusola Odedeji, Bishop of Lagos West, Anglican Communion; his wife, Lydia; Oluwadimite Olakunle, newly-ordained priest, and Rt. Revd Akinyemi Odejide, Bishop of Ifo, Ogun State, during the ordination of deacon and priest of Lagos West Anglican Communion at Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Ikaja, Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

LITERARY EVENING: Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie, Creative Director, Farafina Trust and writer (6th left); to her left is Mr. Nico Vervelde, Managing Director /CEO, Nigerian Breweries Plc; and members of Creative Writing Workshop, during 2015 Literary Evening Workshop of Nigerian Brweries in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

PARTNERSHIP: From left— Mr. Yao Wenjun, Consulate General, People’s Republic of China Consulate in Nigeria; Deaconess Modupe AjibolaOjodu, Executive Secretary, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, and Mr. Segun Ajayi, Council Manager, during Yao’s working visit to Amuwo Odofin council on youth development, in FESTAC Town, Lagos.

RCCG WOMEN: From left— Mrs. Adejoke Taiwo, Assistant Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Chapel, Magodo, Lagos; Pastor Aderonke Olowoyo, host; Mrs. Tope Alabi, gospel singer, and Deaconess Doyin Odumirin, President, Women of Honour, during the Chapel’s Women of Honour Convention in Lagos.

CHILDVILLE: Mrs Jola Alokolaro, Head of Schools, Childville Schools (right) presenting the Most Outstanding Student Award to Miss Oluwatoyin Meghoma, during Childville Schools 2015 graduation in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

WORKSHOP: From left— Dr. Okechukwu Itanyi, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Justice Rosaline Bozimo, Administrator, National Judiciary Institute, NJI; Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Chairman Board of Governors, NJI; Zainab Bulkachuwa, President, Court of Appeal, and Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, Head, Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC, at a workshop for judges organised by NCC in collaboration with NJI in Abuja.

CHARITY: Mr. Uche Ahubelem, Founder, Uche Ahubelem Centre for Human Development, UACHD, and Mrs Laja Adedoyin, Founder, Hearts of Gold Children's Hospice (middle), and others during UACHD's presentation of gift items to the home.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY: Tanker drivers bow, as Lagos task-force moves into action

The Oshodi-Apapa expressway free from Sunday, after the task force swooped on them

By Ikenna Asomba

I

f the recent enforcement strategy put in place by the Lagos State Government, to proffer solution to the unending traffic gridlock on major roads in the Apapa area of the state, is anything to go by, Lagosians may now heave a sigh of relief.

Last Thursday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode paid an unscheduled visit to major traffic points in the Apapa area of the state, to get a first-hand experience of the gridlock, which has defied solutions in recent times.

Accompanied on the visit by top officials of the state government and security agencies, Ambode said he was particularly perturbed by the nightmares commuters and motorists were condemned to on a daily basis, noting that the traffic problem on the roads in Apapa was largely due to the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles attempting to access the port and tank farms located in the areas.

As a palliative measure towards ensuring a free flow of traffic, the governor said a task force, comprising most of the security agencies, including the police would be immediately set up to ensure 24 hours surveillance of traffic flow, stressing, however, that the Lagos Road Traffic Law would be enforced to the letter.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, Ambode said: “We would pay more attention to enforcement.

From this evening (Thursday), you will see that there would be more attention on enforcement and we will also fund that enforcement. We are going to give incentives to our law enforcement officers to ensure that the Lagos Traffic Law is obeyed.”

Operation steer-clear Lagos roads True to his words, Vanguard gathered on Sunday, that the task-force set-up by Governor Ambode moved in, forcing the recalcitrant articulated vehicles drivers who had in the last few weeks indiscriminately parked along the Berger Yard-Sanya BusStop of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, to steer clear the ever-busy highway.

Vanguard learnt that following the impounding of some of the articulated vehicles by the task-force team which stormed the axis on Saturday and Sunday, the drivers were said to have scampered for safety.

Eyewitness account said beginning from Saturday afternoon, the recalcitrant trucks and tanker drivers had started exiting the ever-busy highways for fear of having their vehicles impounded.

How Lagos lawmaker intervened

Meanwhile, during a recent plenary session, lawmaker representing the Lagos-East in the Senate, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, had affirmed that only legislative action can bring to an end the endless traffic gridlock in Lagos, as well as fuel tanker tragedies on the nation’s highways.

Recall that within a short space of one month, about six fuel tanker spills and explosions occurred in four major Nigerian cities with attendant catastrophic results in the destruction of lives and

As a driver who plies the Mile2Kirikiri axis of this road, the hardship these trucks and tankers cause us and our passengers is unquantifiable

properties. Statistics on the incidents in Lagos and Onitsha alone, show that a total of 114 shops, 34 buildings, 21 vehicles, tricycles and trucks were affected, not excluding loss and injury to human lives.

Worried by this avoidable incidents, Ashafa in a motion expressed serious concerns over the frequency and negative economic impact of fuel-laden tankers explosions, even as he raised serious posers why the rail-line projects as an alternative route to the carriage of such dangerous cargo has not been effectively put in place by successive administrations.

The lawmaker also placed the nation’s ailing refineries under the radar, arguing that if the four refineries were functional, tankers in the country would have no business coming to Lagos to lift fuel.

“The refineries in PortHarcourt, Warri and Kaduna would have taken care of that, because it has become apparent that the current road network in Nigeria is seemingly inadequate for the operations of trucks and tankers,” he said.

Meanwhile, against these backdrop, the Senate resolved to call on the Federal Government to continue the process of revamping the rail system to ease the pressure on Nigerian roads, to revamp

existing refineries and create room for the establishment of private refineries. It was also resolved that the matter would be referred to the relevant senate standing committees when established.

Residents react However, reacting to the new development on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway on Sunday, an Okada rider, Thompson Eke told Vanguard that the task-force also moved against drivers of the articulated vehicles who parked indiscriminately on the bridges along the Ijora-Marine Beach-Apapa highway.

Eke, who expressed optimism that the days of impunity by the tanker drivers who flood the axis to load petroleum products from the 57 tank farms in the Apapa area was over said: “I feel so happy today (Sunday), seen the taskforce team set-up by the Lagos State Government, storming the Oshodi-Apapa expressway and the Ijora-Marine Beach bridge linking Apapa to chase these tanker drivers away.

Over the last few years, they have formed the habit of parking indiscriminately on these highways, believing they are untouchable. But with this recent move, I hope an end has come to their impunity.”

A commercial bus driver, who plies the Mile 2-Kirikiri axis, Christopher Michael, was full of thanks to the Lagos State government, pointing that the move to get the truck and tanker drivers off the way was long over-due.

Michael said: “As a driver who plies the Mile2-Kirikiri axis of this road, the hardship these trucks and tankers cause us and our passengers is unquantifiable. We have just been struggling in our business with little or no profit, because passengers don’t patronise us again. They rather chose to patronise the Okada riders to take them to Kirikiri. Even when we manage to ply this route, we drive against the traffic (oneway), which is very dangerous. Our colleagues who have been involved in auto-crashes over these years owing to this unfortunate situation are countless. We can do nothing but to pray that this directive by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, will put an end to our years of sufferings.”

Similarly, Adeleke Akanni, a bus driver who plies the Mile 2-Apapa Wharf, expressed optimism that the days of hardship over the perennial traffic log-jam on the Oshodi-Apapa highway are over. “We witnessed today (Sunday) that the state governor lived to his promise, that’s why the tankers and trucks are no longer parking indiscriminately on this road.

However, this recent development, for me, can only last if the promise by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, that the nation’s refineries will be functional as from this month comes to pass,” said Akanni.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 47

23 lives lost to disaster in 3 months – NEMA

By Bose Adelaja & Monsur Olowoopejo

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o fewer than 23 persons were lost while 10 persons suffered various degrees of injuries to various disasters which occurred in the South-west zone in the past three months.

Also, about 200 fire incidents were jointly handled by fire fighters both at the states and federal level during this period.

The National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, South West zone who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, said out of the figure, seven children including a six months old baby were lost to an inferno.

The Zonal Office which was reviewing its activities from March to June, 2015 made the disclosure saying two suicide attempts were also recorded during this period.

NEMA South-west Information Officer, Ibrahim Farinloye said out of the suicide attempts, one person who climbed a television mast was rescued alive while the other one had died before help could reach him.

He gave kudos to Lagos State Fire Service for effective use of the State-ofthe Art fire appliances acquired by the state government, to attend to about five fire calls daily.

The emergency management lamented that in the period under review, a fire fighter was lost in active service while trying to rescue a victim in a local well.

This incident according to NEMA, really dampened the morale, passion and spirits of the fire fighters being the first calamity among them.

The present administration of Ambode would not fold its arms and allow lawlessness, indiscipline, flagrant disobedience to law and order, loss of lives

A recent fire disaster scene The zone called on government to further equip the fire fighters, “The state government, which has always applauded the diligence of the service personnel, is passionately implored to kindly look into further welfare of the fire fighters.”

In furtherance, NEMA said a total of 1,675 houses and 317 shops were affected by fire and windstorm across the zone. “Out of these, about 989 houses and 219

shops were affected in Lagos while about 430 houses were recorded in Oyo state and 280 houses and 85 shops were affected by fire and windstorm in Ogun.”

Based on the development, NEMA has provided relief materials to victims of various disasters in 15 communitiesnamely Odofin, Agboju and Alakija in Amuwo Odofin LGA, Epe, Ogunmodede, Epetedo, Odo Iragbusi, Iraye, Poka and Ketu communities in Epe Local Government Area,

Ijede, Imota and Ikorodu in Ikorodu Local Government Area; Ajara, Ibereko and Kakoa in Badagry Local Government Area; while Iba, Obadore, Abule Ado, Ije Ododo and Okokomaiko in Ojo Local Government areas, relief materials were delivered to Lagos State Emergency Management Agency L ASEMA, for distribution to the victims.

The victims of the windstorms and fire disasters in seven communities of

Igboho in Oorelope Local Government Area; Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area; several communities in Afijio, Atiba and Oyo West Local Government Area have received through the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency.

In Ogun State, the victims of market fire at Igbo Aje market in Yewa South; Abeokuta South; Abeokuta North; Ayetoro and Topolo communities of Yewa North have received relief materials by NEMA through the Ogun State Emergency Management Agency.

“NEMA is hereby appealing to Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest more in disaster risk reduction measures to secure their lives and property. Also, there is need for Nigerians to be more fire safety conscious in their course of their daily activities We should avoid leaving children alone in a locked-up apartment without neighbours having knowledge or access to the area in case of emergency. If we must use candle at any time, the elders must ensure that it is put off before leaving the place for children.”

Why we’re repairing 90 roads in Lagos —LASG

By Dotun Ibiwoye

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iting high vehicular movement on major roads in the metropolis, the Lagos State Government said it has commenced the maintenance and rehabilitation work on 90 roads across the state.

The Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, weekend said the need to fix the roads became necessary following their devastating state due to the heavy rains witnessed recently in the state.

The corporation’s chairman, Mr. Ayotunde Shodeinde, affirmed that the maintenance work has already begun.

According to Shodeinde, road maintenance work has already commenced on some of the roads earmarked for repairs, they include Dopemu Road, Agege, Ojo road, AjeromiIfelodun, Old Abeokuta road, Agege, Iyana Ipaja-Egbeda Road, Alimosho, Shasha Road, Alimosho, Old Ojo Road, Kuye Amuwo-Odofin, Mowo-Ikoga Road, Badagry, Osho Road and

Men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation on duty.

Olubote Street in Epe, LagosAbeokuta Express way (AbuleToll gate axis), Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja and Oyemekun road, Ifako-Ijaye.

Also, listed for maintenance are Ipaja Road, AP-Alagba, Agege, Kikrikiri Road, Olodi, Apapa, Ikotun-Igando Road, Alimosho, Ikotun-Egbe Road, Alimosho, Liverpool Road, Apapa, Badagry, Ketu-Ejinrin Road, Epe, Ogunnusi Road, Ojodu-Ogba, Ikeja, Alausa roads Network, Ikeja, Allen Avenue/Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Cement-Ile Zik Axis) and Owolegbon Street, Atunrase Estate, Gbagada Ph1, Kosofe.

Others to be fixed include Aradagun-Ajido-Iworo road, Badagry, Ajah-Ado-Badore Road, Eti-Osa, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, OjoIgbede Road, Ojo, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Herbert Macaulay Way, Lagos Mainland, Bush/Ajike Faromobi/Thomas Laniyan/ Anthony Village Road, Kosofe, Itire-Mushin Road, Surulere, Tokunbo Street, Lagos-Island, Apapa Road, Ebute-Meta, Lagos Mainland, LagosAbeokuta Expressway (Abule

Egba-Toll Gate Axis) and Agege Motor Road, Ladipo-Cappa Axis.

Shodeinde who stated that the roads earmarked for repair are those with high vehicular movement, including commercial vehicles used by large number of commuters said: “We cannot continue to blame weather condition for the hardship being caused our people by potholes. The corporation will take advantage of any dry period to quickly move to site and carry out maintenance operations be it during the day or night time.”

While appealing to Lagosians for more patience on their road maintenance needs, he said the Corporation’s operations will assume a more robust dimension which will enable a greater number of Lagosians to feel its impact, especially when the rains wind up.

He noted that the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was concerned about the state of the roads and has directed the corporation to commence work immediately.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 49

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50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Ifeanyi Ubah: Fulfilling a divine mission

By Ndubuisi Okpala, a political analyst

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VERY so often, God throws up certain persons to help salvage the situation of their people. Shakespeare puts it succinctly when he wrote that some people are born great, some achieve greatness whilst others have greatness thrust upon them.

The Biblical Joseph was a divine instrument through which God saved and brought the Israelites to Egypt. God also raised Moses to lead his people to Egypt the promised land.

History is replete with the stories about the great role played by certain persons in the lives of their compatriots. The story of Chief (Dr.) Ifeanyi Ubah is a classic case of one achieving greatness through perseverance, hard work and a burning desire to excel.

It is not an exaggeration to say that today Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah is one of the leading lights in the oil and gas industry. His steady but meteoric rise to the apogee of his career is not by sheer happenstance, it is a divine and heavenly tale. His rise and rise in the political, socio-economic and sports spheres is not a fluke.

It is a process which has the hand of God in its design, formation, actualization and maturation.

Little wonder, then, that Chief Ubah has not relented in giving back to God and the society a substantial portion of his immense wealth.

A case in point is the Cathedral Church which he is building single handedly in Nnewi. Chief Ubah embarked on this great venture in the way and manner David built a temple for God. The wonderful architecture and the great masterpiece which the Cathedral represents is proof of Chief Ubah’s closeness and presence to God and his desire to build a befitting place of worship for God. It is on record that apart from this Cathedral project, Dr. Ubah has done various things for churches of different denominations in Anambra State.

He has contributed to building mosques for Muslim counterparts in a show of rare spirit of accommodating religious tolerance and brotherly spirit.

Dr. Ubah’s philanthropy and altruism is indeed from God, the fact that he has in his employ millions of people from across all the ethnic and geopolitical division in the country.

Even as a major player in the downstream sector of the oil economy and with losses staring him in the face, Dr. Ubah braved it and rolled out his trucks to supply fuel, gas and other products to Nigerians all over the country to the chagrin of his striking colleagues.

This bold decision by Chief Ubah in his capacity as a major player in the downstream sector broke the Carmel’s back and forced the oil and gas workers to call off the strike. By aligning himself with the people and calling the bluff of his colleagues,

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Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah Dr. Ubah made a bold stride about his patriotism altruism, nationalism and sense of humanity.

In all this, Dr. Ubah is only fulfilling his divine mission and mandate to serve God through his resources and wealth. At every point in time, his ambition has been how to serve the people, alleviate their plight and help in God’s vineyard. This is a brilliant combination of philanthropy and spirituality. Any wonder, then, that this upwardly mobile business baron has continued to rise and rise and rise. Nobody who invests in the vineyard of God goes empty handed. On the contrary, not even the sky can be the limit for such child of God. God has lifted Ifeanyi Ubah and catapulted him to the pinnacle of his chosen field of endeavour. His detractors and traducers must appreciate the hand of God upon this business mogul. Therefore, no weapon fashioned against him can prosper for if God be for him, who can be against him?

It is also worth stating here that Ubah has engaged in his business with the fear of God. For him, there are no short-cuts, no gang up against the people and the customers. The needless conspiracy of every profession against the laity is not for him instead, he is always in the side of the laity against his professional colleagues. The reason for Ubah’s meteoric rise is not far to fetch. It is the outcome

Even as a major player in the downstream sector of the oil economy and with losses staring him in the face, Dr. Ubah braved it and rolled out his trucks to supply fuel, gas and other products to Nigerians

of his trust in God, doing his will, loving his neighbor as himself and pleasing others first before himself.

On the whole, in the life and business of Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, we see the fulfillment of Abraham’s blessings which were triggered off by the singular act of faith in God. Dr. Ubah is indeed a metaphor for faith in God. After all, those who trust in God according to the bible, are like Mount Zion which shall not be removed, touched, countless lives in many unique ways. His trucks supply fuel, gas and kerosene to all parts of Nigeria.

His scholarship scheme is second to none in the country.

By this scheme, many Nigerians have been aggraded the opportunity of western education without tears. Dr. Ubah has personally constructed many kilometers of roads as part of his company’s social responsibility to the people. Chief Ubah has built houses, made cash donations and helped many Nigerian in diverse ways.

His filling stations in Nnewi at times sell fuel free of charge to motorcyclists every Friday. His contribution to development projects throughout the length and breadth of the country is unsurpassed and unparalleled.

His mind as touch light has been extended to sports. His F.C Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. which was formally known as Gabros Football Club has taken the Nigerian professional soccer league by storm as it has announced his arrival in elite division with a bang by posting many victories. It is expected that this football club will soon be a key player in the continent having won the Anambra State Challenge Cup. Mention must, once more be made of Dr. Ubah’s key role in ending the recent strike reform of the oil and gas industry which resulted in the near cripple of the nation’s economy. In the course of the industrial action, Nigerians were subjected to massive suffering there was no fuel, no kerosene, no gas, no aviation oil and the like. Many Nigerian could not go to work.

Others were stranded at the filling stations for many days.

The national economy was virtually brought to her toes.

Nigerians firm all walk of life and from every strata of the society were subjected to untold hardship, suffering and deprivation.

As a patriot and a true Nigerian, Chief Ubah could not stand the plight of Nigeria. Whereas his colleagues were unmoved by the complete breakdown of socioeconomic activities in the country on account of the strike, Chief Ubah took a different view of the situation, in fact, he identified with Nigerians.

There is a divine hand in Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah’s activities. It is obvious that he has been set apart by God to accomplish certain mission in this corner of the earth. Therefore, no weapon formed against him will prosper as not even the sky will be his limit.

Sen Pius Akpor Ewherido: Two years after

By Daniel Okeme

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O live in the hearts of confronted the challenges of our men, is to live eternally. Ife days with a very strong Yet there must come a point determination to make a success in life, that all who are alive of the privilege of attending today will be dead, we may “Great Ife”. During our years in be, yet remembered we will, Ife, Pius was never heard to utter if and only if, we live the life a foul, unkind or derisive word.

He appeared content to be in his that touches lives.

When the news of the own world, never demanding passing on of Sen. Pius from anybody and never Ewherido filtered into Warri contending. He had a mind as on Sunday, June 30, 2013, my tough as steel, backed with great head swirled and the world courage, and expressed with appeared to have ended uncommon candour. He was unwavering, temporarily. How was it principled, patriotic, possible? Is this how people intensely die? Are you people sure? Has compassionate and diligent.

I vividly remember the last day his family confirmed the rumour? What kind of joke I saw him at his mother ’s was this? Is this another April residence along Jakpa Road in fool? Shock, anger, fear, Effurun. Mr. Ovie Oghenekaro disbelief, horror, gripped and I had visited him to solicit many of us in Warri. And for his financial support for finally acceptance of what we oversea treatment for our late cannot change... our hearts friend, Mr. Mudia Asaboro. He bled. I wept like never before. promptly granted our request Warri and the whole of Delta and doubled the amount we State was thrown into asked for. In his words “my mourning and wailing albeit brother no one knows who is next. So lets us do all we can to deafening.

The late Senator Pius assist our fellow man”, he Ewherido was born to the admonished.

Pius Ewherido was an idea, a family of Mr. Joseph Ewherido, a College Principal profound image of what is and Paulina Ewherido. He possible, even in a nation like attended St. Paul’s Primary ours with distrust and lack of self School, Ughelli and RCM esteem. Ewherido loved Nigeria Primary School, Ozoro both and was ready to die for this in Delta State. For his nation. He was a deadly serious Secondary Education, he man and massively gifted figure attended fit to be a folk hero Notre Dame in a more serious College, society.

Pius Ewherido Ozoro, As the then Delta State.

President of the was an idea, a He then Nigerian Senate, proceeded profound image David Mark said to the “you were dearly of what is University loved and will be of Ife where possible, even in so dearly missed. he emerged Your memories will a nation like as the all remain with us round best forever, for your ours with graduating persuasive, student in distrust and lack objectives, truthful t h e and vibrant of self esteem department contributions to o f nation building Philosophy remains indelible. in 1988.

We were yet to see P i u s the best of you Ewherido went into business before death’s cold hand struck”.

Pius Ewherido was a devout for some years before joining politics in 1998. He contested Catholic, he was a Knight of St. and won the Ughelli South Mulumba. He was seriously into Constituency seat to the Delta charity and philanthropy. There State House of Assembly in was hardly any weekend that he 1999. He was elected Deputy did not sponsor at least one Speaker of the House for over marriage or burial ceremony, ina year thereafter, thereafter law greetings, child dedication acted as Speaker of the House. etc. He paid salaries to and paid His distinguished, vibrant and school fees for numerous people. robust leadership is still a He was possibly spending 75% reference point till today. of all his income on charity at the Ewherido was in 2011 elected time of his death.

Today we remember a very into the Senate under the good man who packed so much platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). His achievement into 50years. For achievement in his two years me the name Pius Akpor in the Senate has been told Ewherido will forever come and retold. The record of forth… for to live in the heart of acheivements he left behind men, is to live forever. Pius was will be difficult for any Senator a rare gift to our generation. He representing Delta Central to was no ordinary man. match in a very long time to Mr Daniel Okeme is the Editorcome. in-Chief of the Freelance Eleven I first met Pius Ewherido in mid 1980’s in the University and Warri-based Social of Ife. Together, we Commentator.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015—51

Anglican Church laments protracted judicial strike in Nigeria

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—ENUGU Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has decried the protracted strike embarked upon by judiciary workers in most states of the federation, saying it had worsened the already congested prisons in affected states.

Rising from the first session of its 16th Synod that held at St John’s Church, Ikerike, Enugu South Local Government Area last Sunday, the church lamented the hardship which workers in the affected states were going through and several undischarged cases as a result of the strike.

Explaining that the development was regrettable, the Synod urged the affected state governments to resolve the embarrassing impasse and ensure that the strike was called off without further delay.

In a 6-page communiqué issued at the end of the Synod, the church further condemned what it described as disreputable attitude exhibited on the floor of the House of Representatives by the members last week, and

charged the law makers to apply decorum and show maturity in thWhile commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his election and inauguration, the Synod called on his government to translate his stand on his inaugural speech that he belonged to everybody into reality.

The communiqué, signed by Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Synod Secretary, Ven. Augustine Orah, and Registrar, HBC Ogboko, tasked the President and the National Assembly to see to the actualization of resolutions of the National Conference to enable it serve the purpose for which it was convened.

The Synod viewed as sad the level of debts incurred in some states of the federation by the immediate past administration..

It particularly expressed displeasure over the huge salaries and allowances owed workers by some state governments across the country and called on the affected governments to alleviate the sufferings of the workers by paying their arrears of salaries.

On the debate over fuel subsidy, the Synod urged the federal

government to ensure that national refineries were made to function optimally before any decision on the matter.

It also condemned the recent fuel scarcity which resulted in indiscriminate hike of prices of petroleum products.

The Synod, which further deplored the recent upsurge in petrol tanker fire incidents in the

country, while commiserating with the affected families, called on governments and corporate organizations to come to the aid of victims.

It tasked the government to put in place measures to forestall future occurrences, bearing in mind that the situation might be explored by unscrupulous elements to cause mayhem in the

already fragile security situation in the country.

The Synod also decried the increasing level of corruption in the country and reiterated its call to strengthen anti-corruption agencies, and charged Nigerians to have a change of attitude towards corruption and corrupt practices.

CONFERENCE: From left, Dr. Sonya Armstrong, Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, West Virginia State, USA; Dr. Anna Lamikanra, Executive Director, Blazing Trails International Centre; Mrs.Oyinade Adegite, Senior Manager, Communications and External Affairs, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and Dr. Marcus Tillery, School of Divinity, Princeton University, USA, at the press conference on the GTBank 5th Annual Autism Programme, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Don’t marginalize S/East in your govt, Ndigbo urges Buhari

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA—A group, Izu Ndigbo, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider South East in the appointment of key

government officials in his administration.

The group noted that since the inception of the new administration, a South Easterner had not been appointed into any key government position.

The group’s position is

We're 1st to introduce speed limit device —Onyishi

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—THE management of Peace Mass Transit,PMT, a leading land transport company in West Africa, has tasked other transport firms in the country to adhere to the September deadline for the introduction of Speed Limit Devices, SLD, in their fleets.

The Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC, had issued a September ultimatum to commercial vehicle owners, especially transport companies, to install speed control devices to curb increasing rate of auto crashes.

While fielding questions from newsmen yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr. Samuel Onyishi, revealed that his company was the first to install SLD in its fleets in 2009.

Onyishi said:“As a businessman,you should be proactive in reasoning.

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has over 4,000 vehicles,you will certainly agree with me that the propensity for accidents will be higher than those companies with fewer number of vehicles in their fleet.

“So, we introduced SLD in 2009 to reduce incidents of over-speeding. Today, you cannot hear of accidents occasioned by over speeding in my company."

contained in a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator and the National Secretary, Sir Paschal Ahizih and Benjamin Anyanwu respectively in Abuja.

It noted that currently, the South East had lost out the post of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, President of the Court of Appeal, Accountant General of the Federation and other key positions.

“Call it federal character, balance of power, equality among the federating units or no victor no vanquished, all are aimed at trusting each other through fair allocation of means of governance in the Nigerian nation state,” the group said.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 53

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

By Babajide Komolafe, Favour Nnabugwu, Jonah Nwokpoku, Mildred Ibrahim, Ojo Babatunde, Usuwa Olachi & Efughi Favour

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will tomorrow meet with chief executives of banks to review the ongoing enrolment of bank customers for the Biometric Verification Number, BVN, and decide whether to extend the deadline, which expires today.

Meanwhile, customers that failed to enrol for BVN by the end of today will not be allowed to operate their accounts until they enrol for the scheme.

A top official of CBN, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed this to Vanguard, saying the Bankers Committee will meet tomorrow and review the exercise.

He said: “The official position is that after tomorrow (today) customers will not be able to operate their account until they enrol for BVN. The enrolment is continuous and does not end tomorrow (today).”

On the possibility of extending the deadline, he said the Bankers Committee will meet on Wednesday to review the situation and decide whether to extend the deadline or not.

The CBN official said: “So let us wait till July 1 to know whether or not there would be an extension.

“This is because once you extend it, people will relax and not take the BVN serious. So I can tell you there might not be an extension of the deadline.”

Complaints over non-issuance of BVN

Meanwhile, the exercise has been trailed by complaints over non-issuance of BVN to customers months after their biometrics had been captured.

A customer, Mr. Bright Peterside, said: “It has been two months since I did mine and was given a seven digit temporary number. But till date, I have not received my BVN as promised. What should do?”

Similar, Prince Adekola Abdullah Opeyemi said he had registered for three weeks and is yet to receive alert for BVN. Another bank customer, Mr.

CBN, banks meet over BVN tomorrow As customers besiege banks, call for deadline extension Some knew about BVN scheme weekend Atado Obunike’m, said: “It is now more than five weeks that I registered for the ongoing BVN exercise. But I have not received any confirmation alert.”

When contacted over these complaints, an official of Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, Mr. Akinwa Tunde, said: “It maybe that the banks have technical challenges. The customers should try and complete the process.”

He added that NIBSS will, however, act on the complaints.

Customers besiege Lagos banks

Banks across the country witnessed unprecedented crowds, as customers tried to beat the deadline.

When Vanguard visited some banks in Lagos, there were huge turnouts of bank customers for the exercise.

At Coconut branch of Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank, for instance, many customers turned out for the exercise as indicated by the long queue at the branch.

Speaking to Vanguard, one of the bank’s staff, Mr. Bidemi Kadri said: “The BVN exercise is definitely going to end on Tuesday (today). I do not think there would be an extension.”

One of the bank’s customers, Friday Awhotu, who had spent about two hours on the queue, said with the number of people yet to register, it was unlikely that all customers would be enrolled before the deadline.

At Ibafon branch of Access Bank, there was a low turnout of customers for the exercise.

Meanwhile, at the Union Bank branch in the same area, there was a mammoth crowd and a very long queue.

One of the customers on the queue, Mr. Idoko Napoleon, told Vanguard: “I hope this exercise does not end tomorrow (today), because most people might not be able to get enrolled. More so, what

RUSH HOUR: Customers besieged First Bank, Iyana-Ipaja branch, Lagos, to beat the deadline for Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, registration, yesterday. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. is the fate of those who have travelled out of the country?”

When Vanguard visited Keystone Bank at Second Avenue, Amuwo Odofin, there was a long queue of customers.

A customer care attendant, who did not want her name in print, told Vanguard that the bank will comply with CBN’s directive to end the exercise today irrespective of the number of defaulters.

At Kirikiri branch of Ecobank, a customer care representative, who preferred anonymity, confirmed that the bank will end the exercise today.

He said: “The BVN exercise is going to end at the last day of June and I do not know if CBN will extend the exercise.”

A customer, Mrs Victoria Ibe, lamented the long queue at the branch, saying “I have been here with my kids since 2:30p.m.,” she said.

Time was 4p.m. when Vanguard visited.

She added: “After filling the form, nothing has happened and the queue is discouraging.

I might end up not doing the exercise on Tuesday (today) again because I have to go to work, pick my kids from school and with the number of people yet to do this BVN, the queue might even be longer on Tuesday (today).”

For those who travelled

At UBA Kirikiri branch, there was a very long queue.

A customer, Mr. Lucky Nwakolobia, said it would be necessary to extend the exercise, especially to allow those who have travelled out of the country to still be part it.

He said alternatively, CBN could make provisions for registration by proxy to enable those who are unavoidably out of the country to enrol.

He said: “I came to the bank to ask if I could help my older

brother, who travelled abroad last week, to register.

“I do not know if the bank will allow me to help him because he is a businessman and he needs the bank for his transactions over there.

“I pray that they extend the exercise till December so that people who are abroad can come back and participate.”

In Abuja

A chaotic situation was recorded in the premises of most banks in Abuja, yesterday, as hundreds of customers besieged their banks in a bid to beat the deadline for the BVN enrolment.

Customers that have more than one bank account, were seen with pieces of white paper that has their BVN. In most banking halls, including Zenith, UBA, Diamond, GTB, First Bank, Union Bank, EcoBank in Area 3, 7 and 8, Garki, Wuse and Kubwa, bank workers had difficulty controlling the crowd, as most customers expressed fears that they might not be able to access their accounts after the expiration of the deadline.

A customer, Hamza Lawal, who spoke to Vanguard on why he waited long to register, said he was busy with his business and kept postponing it until he was told that the registration expires today.

He said: “I was told that I will not only be unable to access my account, I will also lose the money in the account.

“If the deadline is extended, I am sure I will leave the registration for another day because even today is not convenient for me. But I had no choice.”

An official of a bank in Area

3 told Vanguard that it was the usual practice of Nigerians to wait until the last minute to do anything.

She said throughout last week, only few people were walking in and out of the banks to register, adding that tomorrow (today) will be worse as more people will troop into banks.

NIBSS recently revealed that 14 million customers had registered for BVN and the number had been projected to increase to 20 million by the end of today.

Customers call for deadline extension

Bank customers in Pankshin, Plateau, have called for the extension of the deadline.

The only two functional banks in Pankshin, UBA Plc and Unity Bank Plc, were crowded with customers jostling to beat the deadline.

Some of the customers, who spoke with newsmen appealed to CBN to extend the deadline.

Hajiya Hadiza Yusuf, a housewife, said she was not aware of the ongoing verification exercise till last weekend.

She said: “My friend and I left our children at home in Dengi, Kanam Local Government Area, to Pankshin for the exercise. But we are afraid we might not be able to register.”

Mr. Litpan Ezra, a student of the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, appealed to CBN to consider those yet to register.

Ezra said: “The authorities should extend the deadline and equally go on massive enlightenment campaign to enable those in the remote places register.”

Mr. Jacob Guwong, a farmer, said it was a friend who intimated him of the ongoing exercise, adding “I would not have known let alone be at the bank to verify my account.”

CBN introduced the exercise in 2014 to enable banks check fraudulent practices.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 55

Saraki, Dogara tackle ex-APC chair, Akande Say their election not facilitated by oil barons

By Gbenga Oke & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, debunked claims by the former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande that their election as Senate President and Speaker was facilitated by oil barons describing the allegation as baseless, false and unbecoming of a respected statesman.

The duo also said the allegation levelled against them was lacking in substance and merit and could best be described as figment of Chief Akande‘s imagination.

Chief Bisi Akande had on Sunday fingered fuel subsidy thieves and corrupt businessmen as being behind the current crisis in the APC which culminated in the emergence of Bukola Saraki as senate president and Yakubu Dogara as speaker of the House of Representatives.

Saraki reacts

The Senate President in his reaction to the allegation said: “Ordinarily, we would have ignored the report credited to Chief Akande but for the sole reason that some undiscerning readers might mistake the fiction for the facts.

We wish to state unequivocally that it was wrong and mischievous for the statement by Chief Akande to link what happened on the floor of both chambers to some unnamed oil barons. We dare say that the entire story was the figment of the imagination of the author and we make bold to state that in the 7th Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki was Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee which exposed the fraud and mismanagement in the oil sector.”

A statement from the office of the Senate President reads: “Until Saraki’s motion on the floor

of the senate, no one was in the picture of the rot in the sector or took any action.

Therefore, Senator Saraki will be the last person the oil barons will want to see as Senate President. In that position, Saraki did not only lead his colleagues in exposing the rot in the scheme but made very strong recommendations on how the system could be reformed and made corrupt- free. It is on record that through his motion on the floor of the Senate, the House of Representatives followed in what is to be known as Oil Subsidy probe which the Ministers of Finance and Petroleum summoned and at last over N500 billion was saved.

“Further to this, during the Senate hearing on the missing $20 billion, Senator Saraki led the onslaught to both the Minister of Finance, Minister of Petroleum and other federal agencies despite being in the ruling party then. To this effect, Senator Saraki refused to sign the final copy of the committee’s report but rather put forward a minority report with a press statement and went further to oppose the inclusion of kerosene subsidy in the 2015 budget as well as his opposition to Petroleum swap deal by NNPC. “The 8th Senate under Senator Saraki would give all necessary legislative support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight and reduce corruption against the so called oil barons and for avoidance of doubt, we want to make it abundantly clear that it is totally false, untrue and calculated mischief to suggest that Senator Saraki’s emergence as Senate President was facilitated by oil barons.”

Akande’s allegations baseless —Dogara

Also speaking on the issue, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said that his election and acceptance was as a result of his capacity, experience, spirit of team player, incorruptibility and his progressive mind and which endeared him to his colleagues.

In his reaction signed by his Special Adviser, Media

and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, Dogara said: “The allegation by Chief Akande is unbecoming of a well-respected elderstateman and a former Interim National Chairman of the APC. “We challenge Chief Akande to name the socalled oil barons whom he alleged sponsored the election of the Speaker and in case Chief Akande does not know, the first investigative motion adopted by the 8th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker was to investigate the allegation of fraud in the oil-swap contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. “A resolution instituting investigation into the allegation was passed with a resolve to constitute an Ad-hoc committee to investigate the NNPC, as well as its subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company over the swap contracts. How then can the House under the leadership of Mr. Speaker order investigation into activities of those who allegedly sponsored his election. So, Chief Akande`s allegation is unfortunate and uncharitable.”

NIIT scholarship test for July 11

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AGOS—NIIT's 16th annual scholarship test will hold on July, 11, 2015 across the country.

Introduced in 2000, the national scholarship by NIIT has become a much anticipated annual event in the country and has been availed by 1.6 million students since inception.

Prospective students are advised to visit www.niitnigeria.com The scholarship provides assistance to students across various disciplinesschool leavers, under graduates, graduates unemployed, and individuals keen to enhance their technical skill-sets, who aspire to know about IT and careers in IT.

56— VANGUARD, MONDAY, JUNE 30 , 2015

U.S. denies soft pedalling on talks

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Iran, world powers, begin crucial last minute talks N

EGOTIATIONS be tween the six world powers and Iran on its controversial nuclear program began yesterday and are due to continue until late today.

Diplomatic watchers said reaching a deal on Iran’s nuclear program is a matter of political will, and the “security of the world is at

stake,” the European Union’s top diplomat said Sunday.

European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini made the comments in Vienna, Austria, ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

The U.S. and its negotiating partners Britain,

France, Germany, Russia and China — known as the P5+1 — as well as the European Union hope to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran before June 30.

The negotiations are aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program and keeping it from building a nuclear bomb, though Iran insists

Delegates of the six plus one during one of the negotiation process

that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Kerry met again with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Vienna on Sunday, posting a photo of the meeting on the social media network Twitter, followed by another image showing him with Mogherini.

US President Barack Obama reportedly sent a private message to Iran’s leadership via Iraq’s prime minister, on the eve of a deadline for a nuclear deal.

Hamshahri, Iran’s highest-circulation daily, citing a lawmaker, said “one of the leaders of a neighbouring country” took the message from Obama to officials in Tehran.

The subject discussed was the nuclear talks between Iran and world powers led by the United States it said, without giving further details on its content.

Greece shuts banks to prevent collapse

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ANKS in Greece were shut yesterday as officials scrambled to prevent the country’s financial system from collapsing in panic. Account holders were also facing tough limits on what they can withdraw from ATMs, and trading in Greek stocks and bonds was also halted.

The measures were announced Sunday as Greece slid rapidly toward default and exit from the eurozone.

European leaders are now facing one of the worst moments in the history of the euro. President Obama called German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday, and the two agreed to take all steps to try to resolve the crisis.

The trigger for the rapid escalation in the crisis was the Greek government’s decision late Friday to pull its negotiators out of bailout talks.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras slammed a draft proposal from Europe and the International Monetary Fund, and said he would put it to the Greek people in a referendum on July 5.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said he feels betrayed by

HE United States on Monday rejected criticism that world powers negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran have been making too many compromises, saying it hoped to get a good deal but was not certain that was achievable.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Vienna talks would continue past Tuesday’s deadline for a comprehensive agreement intended to open the door to ending sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s most sensitive nuclear activities for at least a decade.

The West suspects Iran may be secretly developing technology that would allow it to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its program is

•Obama for peaceful purposes only.

The U.S. official was asked to respond to public criticism of the U.S. delegation in the talks and suggestions that the administration of President Barack Obama had been making too many concessions out of desperation to do a deal.

“We still do not know yet whether we will be able to get there,” he said. “We want to, we hope to, but we do not know.”

Cameron warns of ISIS attack on British soil

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RITISH Prime Min ister David Cameron has warned that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters based in Syria and Iraq are planning specific attacks against the UK. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Cameron said the group posed an existential threat to the West, but added that teaming up with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight the organisation was “absolutely the wrong approach.”

“There are people in Iraq and Syria who are plotting to carry out terrible acts in Britain and elsewhere and as long as Islamic State exists in

those two countries we are at threat,” he said.

Cameron was speaking after a gunman killed at least 30 UK tourists in an attack on Friday that British politicians have described as the single worst assault on their nationals since the bombing of the London underground in 2005.

The attacker has been identified as Seifeddine Rezgui, a 23-year-old aviation student from Tunisia’s Kairouan University, where he had been living with other students.

The attack was claimed by ISIL, but the Tunisian government has disputed this.

France pushes new Quartet-plus for Mideast peace

F Anixious Greek bank customers queue to get their money Alexis Tsipras’, the Greek prime minister, suprise call for a referendum last weekend and said that “playing one democracy against 18 others is not an attitude worthy of the great

Greek nation”.

After months of good relations with Tsipras as the bailout negotiations dragged on, Juncker turned against the Greek

leader yesterday, complaining that “egotism, tactical games, populist games” took over from cool-headed economic analysis.

Ki-Moon condemns airstrike on UN mission in Yemen

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NITED Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored yesterday an Arab coalition air strike in Yemen that seriously damaged a U.N. Development Programme office and injured a guard, calling

for a full investigation into the incident.

Ban’s spokesman Farhan Haq said the air strike happened in the southern city of Aden on Sunday.

“The Secretary-General strongly believes that this

incident only underscores the imperative that all the parties to the conflict must end the fighting and return to the negotiation table as the only possible way to achieve a durable peace in Yemen,” Haq told reporters.

RANCE wants a new international group made up of the United States, European powers and Arab countries to be set up to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said yesterday.

“It could be a sort of Quartet-plus,” Fabius told reporters, referring to the foursome led by former British prime minister Tony Blair that included the United States, Russia, the European Union.

Fabius said including Arab states “makes sense” because they have a role to play in the peace process and have put forward a plan in 2002 that the foreign minister described as “interesting.”

The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative calls for an Israeli withdrawal from the Pales-

tinian territories in exchange for full normalization of ties between Israel and the Arab world.

“It will be necessary to have an international accompanying body,” Fabius told reporters in New York where he was to attend a UN meeting on climate change.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been comatose since a failed US diplomatic effort in April last year, and a war in the Gaza Strip last summer left 2,200 Palestinians dead.

- Resolution may not be necessary Fabius appeared to step back from France’s proposal to present a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would set a timetable for reaching a final IsraeliPalestinian deal.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 57

Mozambique scraps colonial anti gay law

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Burundians vote amid grenade attacks V

oters have been trickling in to polling booths across Burundi for legislative elections, amid a tense climate after two months of protests sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.

Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote in the polls, which the opposition and civil society groups are boycotting, claiming they will not be free and fair.

Burundian authorities have refused to delay the elections despite calls from the international community.

Reports from a polling station in the capital Bujumbura, said the atmosphere was filled with fear and tension yesterday morning, with many fearing a continuation of the violence that has marred the lead-up to the elections. She said there were delays reported at several polling stations across the country, following violence.

“There aren’t many people here, I would say around 50. Several polling stations were

A Burundian casts her vote in Bjumburu, yesterday attacked and there was gunfire overnight,” she said, adding extra police had been brought in to conduct searches on those voting. “Polls will open late in many places because some people have thrown grenades and police are sorting things out.

“When asked, people say all they want is politics out of the way and out of their lives, they fear there could be potential for a lot of violence after the elections. Many people

are crossing the border out of the country as we speak.

“Some people who support the president are saying they want to come and vote but they ’re scared... They say some opposition members could victimise them because they vote.”

The African Union (AU) will not observe the elections , Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the commission of the AU, has said.

Police in Burundi said

that several polling centres were attacked overnight, with no damage caused to electoral materials. In a communique released on Sunday, DlaminiZuma said the “AU reiterates the imperative need for dialogue and consensus for a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi”. “[The AU] will not observe the elections scheduled for 29 June 2015,” Dlamini-Zuma said.

S/Sudan’s rival leaders meet amid fighting

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RESIDENT Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar met in Nairobi as part of the latest peace push led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, after previous efforts in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Arusha, Tanzania, failed.

“My two brothers held five hours of face-to-face talks,” Kenyatta said in a statement, adding it was an important step to “build confidence and trust between them.”

Kenyatta sought to put a positive spin on the direct meeting, the first in more than four months.

He said “important issues” had been “identified and isolated” and that Kiir and Machar “reaffirmed their commitment to security peace for their people”.

At least seven ceasefires have been signed and broken during successive rounds of bad-faith talks that began soon after the new civil war started in

•Kirr December 2013.

There were no concrete outcomes or commitments from the weekend’s talks, and rebel spokesman Mabior Garang said the talks “failed to bear any tangible results”.

•Machar Even as the Nairobi talks were underway, a key regional capital in South Sudan reportedly changed hands once again as a renegade tribal warlord attacked the town of Malakal and

declared his allegiance to Machar’s rebels.

A rebel statement said that ex-government general Johnson Olony — accused by aid agencies of forcibly recruiting hundreds of child soldiers — was in “full control” of the ruined town of Malakal, the state capital of Upper Nile, but the army dismissed the claim.

Aid workers in the town confirmed heavy fighting began on Saturday.

Tunisia doubts ISIL claims on massacre

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UNISIA yesterday raised doubts to claims by ISIL that it was behind the deadly weekend attack by Seifeddine Rezgui, a university student who is a fan of breakdancing and part-time worker.

The 23-year-old Rezgui was identified as the jihadist gunman who was behind the massacre of 38 people at a seaside

resort, many of his countrymen were left in shock.

In his hometown of Gaafour, a small city in northwestern Tunisia, friends and family painted a picture of a law-abiding young man who seemed far removed from a jihadist fanatic.

His cousin Nizar told AFP that just the day before the attack he had seen Rezgui in Gaafour,

where the young man would return to work as a waiter to finance his studies for a master ’s degree at a technical institute in central Tunisia.

“He was normal. He came here, he worked in the cafe, he went home, he went to pray and he hung out with the guys at the cafe,” said Nizar, 32.

OZAMBIQUE decriminalised homosexuality yesterday when a new penal code came into force that swept away old Portuguese colonial laws, in a victory for campaigners for gay rights in Africa.

The old code, dating back to 1886, targeted anyone “who habitually engages in vices against nature” — but no known prosecutions took place after Mozambique became independent in 1975.

Breaking the law was theoretically punishable by up to three years of hard labour.

“It’s a symbolic victory, as social inclusion remains the main challenge,”

Frank, a student gay rights activist who declined to give his full name, told AFP. The new penal code, which was announced last December by then president Armando Guebuza, also decriminalises abortion after lobbying by civil rights organisations.

The code came into force on Monday, though no official events or celebrations were scheduled to mark the occasion.

The majority of African countries outlaw homosexuality, but Mozambique has seen little anti-gay violence or social friction over the issue.

U.S. worried over death of former Lesotho army chief

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HE United States said yesterday it was “deeply concerned” after Lesotho’s former army chief was shot dead last week, an incident that risks sparking instability in a small mountainous kingdom of strategic importance to South Africa.

Former Lesotho Defence Force commander Maaparankoe Mahao was shot dead by soldiers in his village home on June 25, according to local media reports.

Lesotho’s government and military spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment.

Mahao, an ally of Lesotho’s former leader Thomas Thabane, is a bitter rival of current army chief

Tlali Kamoli.

It was Thabane’s decision in August last year to sack Kamoli and replace him with Mahao that led to an attempted coup, forcing Thabane to flee to South Africa.

Thabane then lost a tight election in March to current Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who promptly reinstated Kamoli as leader of the armed forces.

Western diplomats and security analysts are concerned Mahao’s death could spark a security crisis in a country of 2 million people which has been hit by several coups since independence from Britain in 1966.

Egypt’s state prosecutor killed in Cairo bomb attack

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GYPT’s state pros ecutor Hisham Barakat has been killed after his motorcade was hit by a bomb blast in the capital Cairo.

“He has passed away,” Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zind told the AFP news agency at the hospital where Barakat had been taken following the bombing yesterday.

As Egypt’s top prosecutor, Barakat oversaw the acquittal of former president Hosni Mubarak [EPA] Medical sources have confirmed the report.

An earlier report said that Barakat had suffered from “internal bleeding” and that he had undergone surgery at al-Nozha hospital in the Egyptian capital.

Two civilians and two police officers were also reportedly injured in the

•Barakat attack, which took place in the Heliopolis district of Cairo, outside a military college.

Witnesses said the bombing was strong enough to shatter glasses in nearby storefronts and homes. A large plume of black smoke and several smouldering cars were seen near a row of apartment buildings. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The now outlawed group Muslim Brotherhood has condemned the killing.

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

All Africa Games: Falcons, U-23 Eagles to know opponents July 9 C ONFEDERA TION of African Football will hold the draws for the 11th All Africa Games soccer event on July 9. Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the national under-23 team are top contenders in the Games billed for Brazzaville, Congo September 4-19.

The qualified teams for the men tournament are Congo (hosts), Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The women will feature Congo (hosts), Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.

The Super Falcons are reigning African women champions and are making a return to the All Africa Games as they failed to make it to the 2011 edition. Based on current team form, the Super Falcons are expected to face tough test mostly from Cameroon who are defending the

title they won at the 2011 games in Maputo, Mozambique. The Cameroonian women reached the second round of the 2015 FIFA women world cup on

going in Canada, while the Super Falcons crashed out after falling to win a single game in group D. The national under-23 team coached by Sam-

son Siasisa is also staging a comeback to the games. They failed to qualify for Maputo 2011.

Boosted by players from the Flying Eagles, they are expected to make an impact.

HE Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF),Ibrahim Zango has commended the federation President,

•Gen. Minimah

WRAP UP ... Taiwo Awoniyi in action for U-23 Eagles. He is going to Congo to dig gold.

Kenneth Minimah for his genuine interest in developing boxing in Nigeria.

Zango who has been in Lagos since last week ahead of the first edition of the Kenneth Minimah National men and women Open Boxing Championship/2015 All Africa Games trials which began in Lagos yesterday, said he was overwhelmed by the large turn out of boxers for the Championship even at the shortest notice. “This has been our prayer for Nigerian Boxing. Somebody that has the interest to develop the Sport. And with just two years in of-

fice as president of Nigeria Boxing, Minimah has raised the standard of the Nigeria Boxing to greater heights. He used his personal fund to sponsor Team Nigeria to Cameroun where the country won 2 gold and 1 bronze medal.

He also sponsored Nigeria team to the African Boxing congress held in Togo. All in an effort to reposition boxing in the country”.

“For instance, in 2010, Nigerian Boxing team went to 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India without winning

a single medal but four years later, our boxers under the leadership of Minimah went to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and won 3 medals which was a great improvement when compared with their 2010 outing in India.

And now, the same Minimah is sponsoring another National Championship from where boxers that will represent Nigeria at the forthcoming 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazaville in September will be selected”,

Gatlin sets the tone for Beijing 2015

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IVE years after com pleting a four-year doping ban that would have ended the career of most sprinters, the controversial American unloaded an eye-popping 19.57 seconds in the 200 metres at the US world championships trials late last night.

Only four men, including world record holder Usain Bolt (19.19), have ever run faster.

Gatlin’s coach, Dennis Mitchell, had told him to just go out and make the American team for Beijing

Continues from BP national teams from the age groups to the Super Eagles.

“My target will be to work for the development of Nigeria football vis-à-vis all the national teams from the U-17 to the top.

Whatever input we can give directly or indirectly in terms of technical expertise we will do to ensure that all the coaches get all what they deserve to get in terms of technical support that will bring the best out of their responsibilities.

“Talking about the relationship between me

and the coaches with reference to the selection of players, I want to state that it is not in my purview to select players for national team coaches, it is their responsibilities and all I think I need to do is to work with them to ensure that the best is always available to play for Nigeria.”

Amodu further declined to comment on some issues that relates with the coaches especially the removal of Super Falcons Coach, Edwin Okon insisting he must have to study the situation before that.

Messi

Boxing: Zango lauds Minimah T

Amodu

by finishing in the top three.

But Gatlin, 33, had other ideas.

“I wanted to go out and make a statement, and that’s what I did,” he said.

A fast start and a solid run around the bend, and he was gone.

“I would say it’s the most complete technically 200 I ever ran,” said the 2004 Olympic 100m champion who claimed gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2005 world championships before his 2006 positive test

for the banned steroid testosterone.

“It hurt,” he said of Sunday’s race, but “I hope I can do better than that.”

Ordinarily Gatlin, the year’s fastest at 100m and 200m, would be looked at with awe for his accomplishments.

But his two doping suspensions - he was banned for a year in 2001 after testing positive for an amphetamine - have left some calling for his banishment from the sport.

•Cech

Continues from BP and he was eventually able to calm down his aggressors with repeated cries of “Messi, Messi, Messi.”

Held captive for three days, the engineer was eventually released after the company who employs him paid an undisclosed ransom to

the kidnappers.

Back in Argentina, his brother Jorge spoke to Clarin and said: “‘Tell them I am grateful to Messi,’ he told me.

‘Naming him is what saved me.’”

Menendez is now safe and will return to his homeland in the next few hours.

Petr Cech’s farewell letter to Chelsea fans

I

THOUGHT this would never happen but it is time for me to say goodbye to Chelsea Football Club.

The club I have lived every single minute for since joining in July 2004, the club in which I thought I’d hang my gloves and boots one day and finish my career.

But life doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will.

Since 2004 it has been an incredible journey with so many highs and not many lows. We have managed to win every single English trophy as well as the Europa League and the biggest of all - Champions League.

Looking back at all the achievements, including our first ever league double in 2010, back to back titles in 2005 and 2006, and multiple EPL and FA cup wins, I couldn’t be more proud!! As a team we made history together!!

Last summer, things changed and I understood I was no longer the 1st choice keeper but I felt it was not the right time for me to go.

During the season it became clear that my situation would not improve and as I know I am not at the stage of my career where I want

to be on the bench, I made my decision to move on and look for new challenges.

The limited playing time gave me the chance to refresh and rest mentally as well as make me realise just how much I enjoy playing football at the highest level, because I missed it badly and every game day I was not involved.

I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation, and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing the Premier League - simply the best and the most challenging league in the world.

That’s why I spoke to Mr Abramovich about me staying in the Premier League and I’d like to thank him from the bottom of my heart for his support in this matter. It means so much to me because without him Chelsea Football Club would not be where it is now. He deserves huge credit for what he has done for the club and for all of us.

I would like to personally thank everybody involved with Chelsea Football Club for their support.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 — 59

Transfer market.... Transfer market....

Cech finally joins Arsenal P

ETR Cech has com pleted his protracted move to Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee following 11 seasons and nearly 500 appearances with London rivals Chelsea.

The 33-year-old has been one of the mainstays of the Roman Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge, winning nearly every club honour with the Blues along the way.

Having been a regular for 10 years, he found his playing time limited last season, losing his first-team spot to Thibaut Courtois and had been expected to move on this summer, with Arsenal leading the chase for a couple of months.

The Czech Republic international said: “I’m really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can’t wait to join up for pre-season.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and will be a great addition to the Gunners squad.

He told the club’s website: “Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us.

“He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding ‘keepers in the world and he will add great strength to our squad.”

S

OUTHAMPTON defender Nathaniel Clyne is undergoing a medical on Merseyside ahead of his £12.5million move to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old England right-back has returned from holiday and is in the city to complete the final stages of his transfer.

If everything goes to plan then Clyne is likely to be announced as the club’s sixth summer signing tomorrow, when the transfer window officially opens.

Arrangements are still being made to complete the deal for Brazil international Roberto Firmino as his participation in the Copa America ended with exit to Paraguay on Saturday.

•Clyne But come July 1 the club will confirm the arrivals of Manchester City midfielder James Milner, Burnley striker Danny Ings, Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan and, most likely, that of Clyne also.

A/Madrid eye Arsenal midfielder League-bound Arda Tu-

MY SHIRT .... Arsenal's goalkeeper, Petr Cech displays his shirt after completing his move to the Emirates.

A

TLETICO MADRID are said to be eyeing Santi Cazorla as a replacement for Premier

Man United to bid £15m for Coleman U NITED boss Lou is van Gaal is keen to sign a right-back this summer as he looks to strengthen his defensive options.

Van Gaal has missed out on Dani Alves, who

has signed a new and improved deal at Barcelona, while Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne is poised to join Liverpool in a £12.5m deal to become their sixth summer signing.

Milan swoop for Romagnoli M

•Romagnoli

Clyne close to Liverpool move

ILAN are tracking the tense situation between Alessio Romagnoli and Roma after his Sampdoria loan spell ended.

Over the last few days there have been reports of a row between the 20year-old and his club, based around an extra three days of summer vacation following the European Under-21 Championships.

The Rossoneri are eager to take advantage, especially as Romagnoli worked under ex-Sampdoria Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic this term.

That loan spell has now concluded and Romagno-

li wants regular playing time to continue his development.

He grew up in the Roma youth academy and is tipped for a step up to the senior Italy squad.

Milan and Roma already have a good rapport on the market, as today Andrea Bertolacci completed his €20m transfer to San Siro.

Clyne’s decision to snub a move to Old Trafford has left Van Gaal fuming - and back to square one in his search for a full back.

The Dutchman has turned his attentions to Coleman and is an admirer of his attacking play.

Starsport understands United are considering a £15m bid in the hope of luring him to Old Trafford.

But the Toffees insist Coleman is not for sale and that United will be wasting their time making an offer.

Boss Roberto Martinez regards Coleman as integral to his future plans and will refuse to cash in on the Republic of Ireland international.

•Coleman

ran.

Turan has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, meaning the La Liga side must find a replacement.

And according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Santi Cazorla tops the bill to fill the Turkish international’s shoes.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone is said to be a huge fan of Cazorla and told radio stationCadena Cope of his interest in the 30-year-old in February.

However, Cazorla confirmed he was happy at Arsenal despite the rumours linking him with a return to La Liga.

He said: “I’m very happy here at Arsenal and I’ve got two more years on my contract.

“I only think about getting better at this club. I’m very happy here and I don’t think about leaving right now.”

Castaignos to sign for Eintracht Frankfurt

F

C Twente forward Luc Castaignos is set to sign for Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The 22-year-old was absent from FC Twente’s first training session on Mon-

day, with Voetbal International reporting that the striker was in Germany to complete a move to Eintracht Frankfurt. The Bundesliga side have agreed a fee of €2.5 million for the former Feyenoord and In-

ter Milan attacker, who will become the latest casualty of FC Twente’s money problems after Kasper Kusk, Bilal Ould-Chikh and Darryl Lachman were all sold.

•Cazorla

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

Serena drops Margarita

WIMBLEDON 2015

N

Djokovic too strong for Philipp

Djokovic ... Looming large at Wimbledon

N

OVAK Djokovic was far from his fluent best but the defending champion did enough to beat Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in straights sets and move safely into the second round at Wimbledon.

Djokovic was playing his first competitive match since his shock French

Open final defeat to Stan Wawrinka just over three weeks ago and there were certainly signs of rust from the world No 1.

Kohlschreiber, however, was too generous at the crucial moments on Centre Court and Djokovic was able to seal a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory.

There will certainly be

tougher tests to come if he is to claim a third Wimbledon title, but Djokovic will be relieved to overcome a potentially tricky opponent in Kohlschreiber, who took Roger Federer to a final set tie-break before losing in Halle earlier this month.

The world No 33 caused Djokovic problems with his devilish slice backhand and he had three break points in the seventh game of the first set but was unable to capitalise, with the first drifting away after a close review.

Djokovic was more clinical, as two Kohlschreiber double faults allowed him to break in the 10th game and sneak the first set.

There were plenty of loose shots from the Australian Open champion, with a number of backhands flying long and simple forehands finding the net, but again Djokovic raised his level just when he needed to.

O meltdown but no sense of invincibility either. A year on from one of the most peculiar episodes in Serena Williams’s career, she returned to Court One and exorcised a bad memory but not without a wobble.

This was expected to be a routine demolition of a 20-year-old in Margarita Gasparyan, who had never won a Grand Slam match and is yet to beat a player ranked higher than 96.

Instead it was more of a slog than it needed to be, a match which required her to fight back from a break down to win the first set 6-4 before strolling through the

second 6-1.

The bare numbers suggest a procession; the reality is that Williams was way off her usual pace, certainly until she sniffed danger and then battered the Russian.

Perhaps that is to be expected – her preparations since winning the French Open last month have been spent practising on a grass court in Jack Nicklaus’s back garden.

And what is the worry of a rusty start when it ends in a win that could yet lead to a third Grand Slam out of three in 2015 for this remarkable 33year-old?

At the very least, this win addressed the demon

of this venue. This, of course, was the arena where, a shade more than a year ago, she could barely bounce a ball in a doubles match that last three games before being scrapped. It was chalked up to a virus, but the effects of a relationship heartbreak have also been suggested.

For half an hour of this first-round tie on Monday, Williams appeared to be struggling, if not nearly so dramatically. She went 0-40 down in her first service game and was ultimately broken. Facing serve at 2-3, she was then handed a court violation for an audible obscenity.

Copa America: Paraguay put Argentina to test again

A

RGENTINA meets surprise team Paraguay for the second time in the 2015 Copa America but this time the stakes are higher as the two teams clash on today for the right to enter the final July 4.

This match is expected to

be as close as the first one as both teams are starting to hit their peak forms in the competitions. The two sides played out a 2-2 draw in their first outing in the group stage.

Both Argentina and Paraguay made it to the last

four after defeating Colombia and Brazil respectively in the penalty shootout. If the scores are tied after 90 minutes, the course of the match will be decided via penalty shootout in the quarterand semi-final clashes.

Only in the final match, the game will go to extra time and then penalties, if the scores are on level.

Argentina and Paraguay have met in the group stage of this edition of the Copa America and the clash ended in a 2-2 draw.

Meanwhile, Raúl Bobadilla is hoping to take the field with Carlos Tevez.

“I like Tevez a lot. He’s my idol and I think that I play in a similar way, such as in the use of the body to defend the ball,” Bobadilla told La Nacion."

Serena Williams recovered from being 3-1 down in the first set to convincingly beat qualifier Margarita

FIFA Women World Cup: NFF dumps the NFF as an interim dubbed the toughest in the coach Okon bycoach.

By Ben Efe

N

IGERIA Football Federation yesterday refused to renew the contract of Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon. His assistant, Christopher Danjuma was appointed

Okon was hoping to retain his job, but his performance at the ongoing FIFA Women World Cup put a halt to his wishes.

The Super Falcons made an early exit after finishing as the weeping girls of group D, which though was

Germans are tough, says US coach Tevez

U

S women national team coach Jill Ellis said her team will not enjoy any advantage over their German counterparts as they play in today’s FIFA Women World Cup semi-final.

The world’s top two

squads will cross paths in Montreal. It is a match worthy of a title game.

But because FIFA predetermined the groups for the seeded nations, No. 1 Germany and the second-ranked Americans are in one semifinal

USA beat China 1-0 in their quarter-final game last Friday, While Germany battled France for 120 minutes to book a spot.

“They’re Germans,” coach Ellis said. “It won’t be a disadvantage for them.”

tournament. Okon also displayed uncivilised conduct by refusing to shake hands with coaches whose tactics proved superior. NFF technical committee chairman, Felix Anyansi explained that a more capable coach will be employed to make the team more competitive at the world level.

“The contract given to the crew has elapsed with the Women’s World Cup in Canada. Mr. Christopher Danjuma will now take over the team in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive coaching crew, the process of selecting a capable replacement has began.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 —61

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