AFTERMATH OF PDP PRIMARIES Senators plot to impeach Mark

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62298

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 , 2014

We're yet to choose Buhari's running mate — APC •P.10

AFTERMATH OF PDP PRIMARIES:

Senators plot to impeach Mark •Consider APC senators, Saraki, Akume as replacements •Vow to mobilize support for Tambuwal •Mark dismisses impeachment plot as rumour •APC Reps' plot to impeach Jonathan thickens •168 Reps endorse notice

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE Senate may witness a change of leadership if the threat by aggrieved senators from the two main political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to impeach Senate President David Mark

Continues on Page 4

OIL PRICE FALL:

Prepare for hard times, FG cautions NDIC, •P.8 others COLUMNISTS:

Victims of devaluation •P.44

A new signpost for disaster •P.20

Mr & Mrs

GAS EXPLOSION VICTIM—Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko ( left) and others during the Governor's visit to victims of the Akure gas explosion, at the Ondo Trauma and Surgical Centre, at the weekend.

Adeboye to minister Pregnant woman, 7 others injured; 20 shops razed in at Vanguard 8 Ondo gas explosion Thursday 6 C M Y K

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 3

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4—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

TRAINING—From right: Group Head, Audit, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Ms. Yosola Popoola; the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Christopher Penninck; Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) representative, Mr. Olumide Osinneye; a resource person, Mr. Essien Udoh, closing the Aviation Security Training Programme for staff of BASL's security department, at MMA2 in Lagos.

PDP PRIMARIES: Senators plot to impeach Mark Continues from Page 1 for not protecting them in the just concluded party primaries is carried out.

If successful, the plot may see the APC producing the Senate President in addition to the House of Representatives speakership. This is

coming as 168 members of the House of Representatives have endorsed the plan to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of the vocal and prominent PDP senators, who had defended the party with every available means whenever the opposition APC senators raised eye-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Joseph took nothing to Egypt, he knew nobody there but he took over the situation of his life. His secret was God’s divine favour in his life, which he used for influence and affluence –Bushell. You can become what you are supposed to become wherever you are

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself —William Faulkner

Y

OU can adopt to fit your goals and aspirations and structure it within your own development principles to actualize your mission statement in life; it varies for everyone but there is a common factor, one most important rule is to always write down a list of things that you want out of life, and all the ways in which you want to live most ideally.

This is where you get to decide and affirm your dreams in life, and actualize them. So how do you want to live? Do you want to be a great business person or relevant sociopolitical or religious figure?

Do you want to be wealthy and live a life of luxury?

Do you want to find love and perhaps start a family?

Do you want to live in some idyllic location? Do you want to travel and go on adventures? Are there amenities you have always dreamed of having? Are there any amazing things you want to “do” (like activities) in life? It is important to know what we want our life to be most ultimately, because as you are engaging in this personal development work and becoming your best self then you can really begin to live a better life and effectuate all of your wildest dreams. So if you have not yet started to dream about them, do so now! Figure out what you want in life, it’s always the first step.

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brow over some of President Jonathan’s policies were surprised that both the Senate leadership and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party could not reciprocate the gesture. Instead the senators were left at the mercy of state governors.

Consequently, the aggrieved senators in both the PDP and APC, who lost return tickets at the various party primaries have decided to move against the Senate leadership for not protecting them during the primaries.

It's a rumour — Mark However, Senate President Mark has dismissed the alleged plot to unseat him, saying the claimed plot existed only in the imagination of those parading the rumour.

The alleged plot to remove Mark came on the heels of the impending plan to commence impeachment of President Jonathan by some senators, which is expected to be presented before the Senate on resumption this week.

In what may look like a change of gear, it was gathered that the aggrieved senators, with some PDP senators now joining their ranks, have decided to rather kickstart the removal of the Senate leadership

instead, starting with Mark.

A senator, who was privy to the deal, yesterday evening, told Vanguard: “The plan has changed. We never expected the party to treat us this way. We stood by the party when there was turbulence occasioned by the emergence of the new PDP. “There was a plot then to impeach the same leadership but we stepped in and stopped it with our sheer number. In fact, we used our personal contacts to talk to the organisers and they backed down.

We prevailed on them not to rock the boat more so as the Seventh Senate had just a few months to go.

“We thought the party would take note of what we did and also note our loyalty to the party and reward us. Rather, we were not even protected in these primaries. Can you imagine the party leaving us at the mercy of state governors?”

Committee on Environment and Ecology, Bukola Saraki (Kwara).

The choice of either Senator Akume or Senator Bukola was to ensure that “the Senate Presidency does not leave the North Central.”

Support for Tambuwal The Senators also vowed to mobilize support for the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to ensure that he is not removed by the PDP and the presidency.

The support for Tambuwal was in line with last week’s judgement by the court that the PDP governors that left the party should not leave their seats.

Although the Senate will resume plenary tomorrow, the aggrieved lawmakers have not fixed a date to execute the planned impeachment plot. They were also mute on whether or not the plot against Jonathan is still on the front burner and if it would be tabled in the chamber this week, contrary to Senator Alkali Jajere’s interview with newsmen two weeks ago.

But reacting to the alleged plot to unseat the Senate President, Mark, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan dismissed the alleged plot, saying, “There’s no such plot.”

Saraki or Akume as Mark’s replacement

50 senators lose return tickets

It was gathered that the aggrieved senators were considering replacing Senator Mark with the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume (Benue) or another staunch member of the APC and Chairman, Senate

About 50 serving senators lost their bid to return to the red chamber following their inability to pick their parties’ tickets.

Only two senators, Mark and the Senate Chief Whip, Bello

Gwarzo, have survived re-election since 1999.

Every election year since 2003, the Senate had witnessed exodus of many of the 109 legislators who fail to return starting with losing re-election tickets and then the election proper.

A similar scenario is expected in 2015 when the Eight National Assembly will be inaugurated.

Why? Official results of the primaries across the 109 senatorial districts in the country show that about 50 of the serving senators failed to pick return tickets due to defeats occasioned by high-wire manoeuvre by state governors and those highly placed in government. It is also not certain whether some of those who picked the tickets would win in the 2015 elections following the outcry that the process was manipulated to favour some.

Old timers to be missed Going by the outcome of the primaries, all the three serving senators from states like Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Cross River, Edo and Kebbi lost out completely by either being defeated by new contenders in the race or schemed out by powerful forces in their respective states.

Old timers whose absence may affect the Senate include the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (PDP Cross River Central) who has been one of the pillars of the Red Chamber; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Solomon Ita Enang (PDP Akwa Ibom North East) and Bello Mohammed Tukur (PDP Adamawa Central).

In states like Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Continues on page 5

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—5

BOOK PRESENTATION—From left: Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun; Author and Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Soyombo Opeyemi; Mrs Funke FowlerAmba, Secretary to Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa; Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu; Commissioner for Health, Dr Olaokun Soyinka; Mrs Oluwaseun Adekunbi; and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bimbo Ashiru; during the public presentation of the book, Ogun State: The Golden Years, at the DLK Events Centre, Abeokuta, weekend.

PDP PRIMARIES: Senators plot to impeach Mark Continues from Page 4 Imo, Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau, two out of the three serving senators lost out in like manner.

For instance, Senators Uche Chukwumerije (PDP Abia North), E m m a n u e l Aguariavwodo (PDP Delta Central), Igwe Paulinus Nwagu (PDP Ebonyi Central), Gilbert Nnaji (PDP Enugu East) and Nenadi Esther Usman (PDP Kaduna South) would be missed in the Senate.

Other senators caught in the web of the impending mass exodus from the Senate next June arising from their failure to get return tickets include Margery Okadigbo (PDP, Anambra North); Nurudeen Abatemi Usman ( PDP, Kogi Central); Boluwaji Kunlere (PDP, Ondo South) and Mudashiru Oyetunde Husain (APC Osun West).

Senators who opted for governorship However, some of the non-returning 50 senators did not seek to return to the National Assembly because they sought for governorship C M Y K

seats of their respective states.

In this category are Senators Aisha Jummai Arhassan (APC, Taraba North), Simeon Ajibola (PDP, Kwara South), Jibrila Mohammed Bindowo (APC, Adamawa North), Benedict Ayade (PDP, Cross River North), Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP, Delta North), Ayogu Eze ( PDP Enugu North), Gyang Pwajok (PDP Plateau North), Umaru Dahiru ( APC Sokoto South) and Bagudu Abubakar Atiku (APC Kebbi Central).

Ndoma Egba who is currently in the category of senators that may not return going by the result of his Cross River Central senatorial primary which he had already appealed against, had in October, admonished stake holders in the polity to do the needful and stop high turnover of senators every election year in the interest of the countr y ’ s developing democracy.

N d o m a - E g b a lamented at a media chat with journalists that not up to 30 of the 109 Senators elected at different times from the 4th Senate in 1999 to the current 7th Senate of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria, got re-elected.

The development according to him, has led to massive haemorrhage and massive erosion of institutionalization in the Senate and by extension, in the National Assembly since similar high turnover of federal lawmakers every election year also happens in the House of Representatives.

He specifically stated that only Senator David Mark representing Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State and Bello Gwarzo from Kano North Senatorial District, have always been returned by their constituents which made them to currently be the reservoir of parliamentary knowledge in the Senate from whom other senators learn from.

High turnover of lawmakers According to him, the high turnover of parliamentarians at both chambers, if not checked

by Nigerian electorate would continue to hamper the needed vibrancy and capacity of

the parliament for good governance through constructive legislative approach in the nation's democracy.

He said: “What constitute the institutional memory of parliament is the aggregate memory of its members. What has been our experience? People say National Assembly is not doing well, why are we not doing well even though I don’t agree with them? From 1999 till date, we have only two senators who had survived. They are Senators David Mark and Bello Gwarzo.

Secondly, Nigeria lost 107 senators and we did not notice. All the institutional memory of the lost 107 senators have been eroded. When memory is eroded, capacity is equally eroded.

“In the United States, if about four or seven senators lose their positions during an election year, it is an upheaval but here in Nigeria, there is no election year that we have up to 30 senators who would return to their position.

This development constitutes massive haemorrhage, massive erosion of institutionalization.

“What have we benefited from the experience of David Mark and Bello Gwarzo? The Senate had achieved stability and peace. Before 2007, during the musical chair era, some days you could even have two senate presidents. One presiding over plenary in the morning and the other emerging before the session.

“However, from 2007, because we have these two very experienced senators who started since 1999 now at the helms of affairs in the Senate, we have stability in the upper chamber.

There has been no scandal from 2007 till date and Nigeria has benefited a lot from that stability. The stability in the Senate also stabilizes the polity.”

APC Reps' plot to impeach Jonathan thickens Meanwhile, 24 hours to the resumption of the House of Representatives, the impeachment plot by members of the opposition APC against President Jonathan is gathering momentum.

There are indications that about 20 PDP members in the House may defect to the APC today.

Lawmakers of other parties in the House, who are aggrieved that they lost out at the recently concluded primaries, are also decamping to APC. One of the arrowheads of the impeachment project who spoke to Vanguard confirmed that the idea is not “dead” as being insinuated in certain quarters. However, the impeachment notice may not be tabled before the House yet as the group has not gotten the required two-third.

The lawmaker said so far, 168 members of the House have appended their signatures to the impeachment notice.

“It is uncharitable for anyone to insinuate that the impeachment plot is over. We are serious and for your information, the president has committed impeachable offences.

Right now, 168 members have signed the paper.

There is impunity and you saw what he used the police to do here at the National Assembly.

There is no going back.

Has the Jonathan admin-

istration stopped corruption? Is the widespread insecurity over? You can see for yourself and we will show him the way out.”

PDP members to boost impeachment process He said the impeachment process is being boosted by the recruitment of more PDP members particularly those who lost out in the just concluded primaries, adding “One thing you must be aware is that even Mr. President’s loyalists who could not secure return tickets to the House have declared intention to join us in the project”.

Asked how many had identified with the impeachment plot, the lawmaker responded “I can tell you that in Bayelsa, the president’s home state, five out of the six lawmakers lost at the primaries and majority of them will append their signatures. There are some of his (Jonathan’s) loyalists who before now could not see any wrongdoing by the president but I’m telling you they have now seen the light and are ready to work with us. This scenario I have painted here is obtainable in virtually every state.

There are many honourable members who were hesitant initially but have bought into the project. I can tell you it is on course.”

Speaking further, the principal officer from North West disclosed that about 20 more members would defect to the APC on Tuesday.

On November 20 when the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba invaded the National Assembly more than 120 lawmakers appended their signatures to the impeachment notice.

Most of the signatories were APC members who felt the Speake r, Aminu Tambuwal was illtreated by the executive arm of government.

Also, the APC Reps had compiled impeachable offences against Mr President which they plan to make public soon.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Pregnant woman, 7 others injured in Ondo gas explosion 20 shops razed

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE — EIGHT persons, including a pregnant woman, were seriously injured while property worth millions of naira were razed in an inferno occasioned by a gas explosion in Akure, the Ondo State capital late on Saturday.

No fewer than 20 shops were burnt.

Also, 12 miscreants were said to have been arrested for allegedly looting shops while the fire raged.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and the state's Police Commissioner, Mr Isaac Eke, visited the scene yesterday and addressed the market women and shop owners affected by the fire.

National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the state police command said nobody died in the incident contrary to some newspaper reports, yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that the incident started around 6.30 p.m., on Saturday at a gas outlet located beside Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church, Arakale area of Akure metropolis.

An eyewitness said after the gas outlet was supplied with gas, his neighbours discovered that one of the cylinders was leaking.

The odour of the leaking gas, according to the eyewitness, became so much, prompting the owner of the outlet to be alerted.

Vanguard gathered that less than 10 minutes after the owner of the outlet was informed, the explosion occurred.

One of the cylinders reportedly burst and the explosion spread to other shops, razing them in quick successions.

It was gathered that immediately the explosion took place, owners of shops and people who came for shopping ran for safety, thinking it was bomb explosion.

It took several hours before men of the Federal Fire Service attached to Akure Airport could arrive the scene, by then property had been consumed.

Irate youths almost lynched the fire officers thinking that they were from the state fire service who failed to show up on time, despite repeated calls to them.

It was learned that sympathisers who trooped to the state fire service were told that they had no fuel in the fire truck and could not go for water.

It was gathered that despite the combined efforts of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Defence Corps and men of the 323 Artillery Brigade, some miscreants still looted wares from the burning shops.

Officials of NEMA, led by Mr Saheed Akiode, who is the Head

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Pipeline vandalism: 17 suspects remanded in prison

By Esther Onyegbula

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From right: Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Bade Omoloja, during the Governor's visit to the victims of the Akure gas explosion, at the Ondo Trauma and Surgical Centre, weekend.

Scene of the explosion. of Operations for Ekiti State covering Ondo and Osun States, told newsmen that

there was no casualty in the inferno.

He said those injured had

been treated while those who were severely burnt were taken to hospital.

Gunmen kill man, 65, injure three in Edo My father was assassinated —Son

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN CITY— SUSPECTED assassins, weekend, invaded the residence of the Odionwere (Community Head) of PowerLine Community in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State Pa John Asemota. He was shot dead while three of his tenants received gunshot injuries.

The 66-year-old community head was shot on his head and back when the gunmen numbering over seven stormed his residence at 9:30p.m, Saturday.

The deceased son, Mr Osemudiamen Asemota, who narrated the tragic incident to newsmen, said that three of his father’s tenants who were also shot by the gunmen are being treated at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. Dismissing insinuations that it may have been robbery operation, Asemota, who stated that he informed the police immediately the incident happened, said his father might have been assassinated over community issues.

He said: “The police actually responded quickly. It was the police that took my father’s body

to the mortuary while they also rushed those shot to hospital for medical attention.

"But one thing that is clear is that it was not a robbery incident, they were sent to kill him. I am appealing to the police to investigate the matter with all seriousness."

Contacted, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Folunso Adebanjo, confirmed the incident, saying: “My men in Ugbowo rushed to the scene immediately when we were informed. Crack team of detectives are investigating the matter. That is all I can tell you now.”

AGOS — SEVENTEEN suspected pipeline vandals have been charged to court by the Inspector-General of Police Anti-pipeline/Illegal Bunkering Unit for tampering with oil pipeline, wilfully and maliciously breaking of oil pipeline and tampering with the freeflow of refined products without lawful authority or appropriate licence.

The suspects include Dennis Tare, 32, Hellen Dennis Tare, 32, Venture Okpako, 38, Josephine Akowe, 55, Akowe Jacob, 41, Emmanuel Akpama Oduburu, 35, Orogbemi Eniola, 23, Micheal Wilson, 26, Yusuf Akorede, 30, Ajele Saveme, 23, Noteyi Lots, 35, Adeyemi Adeiye, 35, Tajudeen Adebayo, 35, Saye Gbemi, 40, Kehinde Alawiye, 41, Ebiye Christopher, 31 and Moibi Azeez, 29.

The unit headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that the suspects did conspire among themselves and committed felony to wit: tampering with oil pipeline thereby committed offence punishable under section 3 (6) of the miscellaneous offence act Cap M17 of the Federation 2004.

The second charge reads: “That you (suspects) and others now at large did wilfully or maliciously break oil pipeline in Arepo for the transportation of refined oil and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 7 (a) of the miscellaneous offence Act Cap M17 laws of the federation 2004,” while the third count reads that they did tamper with the freeflow of refined product through the oil pipeline and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 7 (b) of the miscellaneous offence Act M17 Law of the federation 2004.

After hearing the charges by the prosecuting officer, and the responses by their counsel, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Bubu remanded the suspects in Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos and adjourned further hearing till January 19, 2015.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—7

Police nab suspected Indian hemp dealer in Bakassi

By Ike Uchechukwu

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Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State (left) sympathising with victims of bomb explosion during his visit to Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos, Saturday. Photo: NAN

West-Idahosa’s nephew buried in Benin amid tears, condemnation

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN — TEARS flowed freely, weekend, in Benin, Edo State, as the nephew to Mr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, Mr. Perebowei Ogei, who was killed along with his police orderly while returning from a bank few metres from his house was buried in his family compound on Uwa Street, Benin City.

Family members, friends and

well-wishers could not hold back tears as his body was lowered into the grave at 12.10 p.m., after a graveside funeral ceremony.

Those who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity condemned his killing. They, meanwhile, praised Mr. Idahosa for still taking part in the primaries despite the psychological trauma the killings may

have caused him.

They called on the Edo State Police Command to expedite action in fishing out those responsible for the killings and ensure that they were brought to book.

West-Idahosa was a senatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Edo South senatorial district and was preparing for the party’s primaries to elect

who will represent the zone on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when the incident occurred.

He lost the ticket to Mr. Matthew Urhoghide, who won the primaries.

Late Perebowei Ogei had just returned to the country from abroad where he had his Masters degree when he met his untimely death.

Police nab Fulani herdsmen, recover 3 locally made guns

By Esther Onyegbula & Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS — THE Nigeria Police have arrested two Fulani herdsmen who specialised in attacking travellers on the LagosIbadan expressway.

The two suspects identified as Hassan and Umaru aka DG Dogo, are members of a five-man highway robbery gang that has been terrorising the region.

According to reports, Hassan was arrested on November 14, 2014, by OP-MESA operatives on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway during an unsuccessful operation, while other members of his gang fled. His arrest consequently led to the arrest of Umaru, the leader of the gang and recovery of four locally made guns and cartridges at Abule-Egba abattoir.

Confessing to the crime, 22-yearold Hassan told Vanguard that he was introduced to the gang by Umaru, who promised to assist him secure a job when he came to Lagos.

He said: “I am from Kebbi State.

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I reared cattle in my state. When I came to Lagos sometime last year, I met Umaru, who said he would help me secure a job since I was new in the state.

He led me and the other members of the gang to the scene of the operation on Ibadan highway.

"I was terrified when they brought out four guns and gave me one. Initially, I refused because I have never held a gun before. I do not even know how to operate one either. But I had to take the gun when they threatened to kill me.

“Immediately we launched the operation, the first vehicle we flagged down escaped while the next one was a military vehicle carrying OP MESA soldiers. The other members of the gang fled immediately they sighted the military vehicle and that was how the soldiers arrested me.”

In his defence, 28-years-old Umaru said he steals cows from Oyo State which he sells to

cattle dealers in Lagos State.

He said: “I am not a highway robber, I only steal cows from cattle rearers in Oyo State and sell them in Lagos State. Hassan framed me up because we had a dispute sometimes ago. I work in the abattoir in Abule Egba area.

“Each time I travel to Eruwa in

Oyo State to steal cows I would hide in the bush and watch the cattle rearers closely, when they are asleep, I would steal a cow.

I stole 10 cows through this method. I sold six cows to Alhaji Kajeri for N500,000 while I sold four cows to (one) Alhaji Maru in Agege for N350,000."

ALABAR — THE Cross River State Police Command has nabbed a suspect, Okon, with 104 bags of items suspected to be Indian hemp.

Two drums containing the substance were also confiscated from the suspect at Ikot-Nkese in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The suspect, who is in his late 50s, looked frail when he was paraded at the headquarters of the state Police Command in Calabar.

Okon had claimed that he was not the owner of the seized marijuana, adding that he knew nothing about it.

But speaking to Vanguard while parading the suspect, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, said the suspect was arrested in his house around 5 a.m following a tip-off.

“We acted based on information. The 104 bags and two drums were stocked in his house when we got there around 5 a.m.

He was arrested immediately and brought to the command headquarters.”

Bassey said the command had concluded arrangement to transfer the suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further investigation and eventual prosecution.

“From here, we will move the suspect and all the items recovered from him to the NDLEA office for further investigation after which he will be prosecuted,” he added.

HEALTH ALERT: Roadside food vendors at Oshodi, Lagos State. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Volkswagen, Stallion begin vehicle assembly in Nigeria

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AGOS — AN agreement to establish a vehicle assembly plant in Nigeria has been signed between global automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Group and regional conglomerate, Stallion Group This will mark a historic return of the German car maker after more than 20 years of their departure following the collapse of their joint venture with the Federal Government leading to the closure of their manufacturing facility in Lagos and the subsequent sale of government shares to the Stallion Group.

In line with the new auto policy announced by the Federal Government in October 2013, the collaboration between the Volkswagen Group and Stallion will result in local assembly of prime Volkswagen brands in Nigeria.

Stallion will assemble the Jetta, Volkswagen CC, and Amarok models during the initial phase, followed by the Passat, Tiguan and other models in subsequent phases.

The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest car maker in Europe.

The Group operates 107 production plants in 19 European countries and a further eight countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries.

Stallion Group is already the exclusive distributor for several brands of the Volkswagen Group including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and Porsche.

Stallion Group is a multinational conglomerate with a 45-year history operating in Nigeria and in 18 countries and is engaged in diversified industries.

Commenting on the partnership, Stallion’s Chairman Sunil Vaswani said “This is a proud moment for Stallion in partnering with a world-leading global brand like Volkswagen.

He said further that “Stallion is fully committed to achieving its objectives in establishing assembly operations in Nigeria, and expanding into other aspects of the automotive industry value chain.”

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Adeboye to minister at Vanguard Thursday Mandates RCCG members to register and vote in 2015 L

By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

AGOS — GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, will be a guest of Vanguard newspapers on Thursday as he ministers at Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship end-of year thanksgiving, praise and worship programme.

Pastor Adeboye will be ministering on the topic: “Divine Success and Prophetic Breakthrough”, at Vanguard corporate head office in Kirikiri Canal, Apapa, Lagos by 11:00 am.

Meanwhile, Adeboye has mandated every member of the church resident in the country to ensure that they register for the forthcoming elections scheduled for early next year.

Addressing the mammoth crowd of worshippers at the just concluded 17th Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp, Pastor Adeboye also urged all the parishes of the church within and outside the country to make a special collection to alleviate the suffering of brethren in the North who are victims of terrorist and other violent attacks in the region.

According to the General Overseer, who adopted a more mathematical approach to his ministrations during the congress, it was expedient for every Nigerian of voting age to register and participate fully in next year’s electoral process by electing candidates of their choice, stressing that any Nigerian who desires a change must strive to acquire a voter ’s card and must endeavour to register and vote at the elections.

He also said that RCCG pastors across the country had been mandated to demand members’ voters card on the first Sunday of January 2015 before the usual thanksgiving blessing would be pronounced on members of the church.

He said: “If you have to sleep at the local government office to enable you register and acquire the needed Permanent Voter ’s Card, PVC, do so. It may be inconveniencing but it is imperative for you to get one.

I have two cards here (displaying them) one of them is my own and the other belongs to my wife, and I am sure that my children have gotten their own.

“First Sunday of 2015, you

must come to church with your voter’s card. We will check for compliance before we pronounce the usual blessings on that day.”

On terror victims On the army of displaced persons in different parts of the country, the man of God said: “A lot of persons have been wounded by the series of violent crises in the northern

region of the country. As a church, we have done our little bit by donating relief materials and cash to the victims but I want to give you all a platform for you to contribute your quota to make life a little comfortable for the displaced persons in parts of the country.

“If you want to contribute, please package your materials, money and whatever you want to give and send them to the nearest offices of the Christian

Association of Nigeria, CAN, for onward transmission to the victims,” he appealed to the army of Christian worshippers.

He repeated the announcement on Saturday, apparently to underscore the importance of the issue, noting that Christians should learn to be their brothers keepers by sending all donations to CAN branch offices across the country or the dedicated account of the Association.

LECTURE: From left: Former Managing Director of Champion Newspaper, Mr Emma Agu; Publisher, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Prof. Maurice Iwu and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha during the 25th anniversary and annual lecture of Champion Newspaper in Owerri, Imo State, weekend.

OIL PRICE FALL: Prepare for hard times, FG cautions NDIC, others

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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BUJA— THE Federal Government has urged the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, and other regulatory institutions in the nation’s financial sector to put in place pro-active mechanisms to ensure continued depositor protection and a safe and sound financial system that would minimise the impact of the falling oil prices on the economy.

Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Basir Yuguda, made the call, weekend, in Abuja at the NDIC 25th anniversary gala/ awards night.

The minister said though the accomplishments and successes recorded by NDIC over the years called for celebration, the imminent economic down turn staring the country on the face demanded that the corporation and other sister regulatory institutions should adopt measures to save Nigeria from possible dangers.

He said: “While we celebrate on this auspicious occasion, I want us to spare a moment’s thought to some issues which are starring us in the face, and which may dictate our economic fortunes in time to come, because they will

inevitably determine how well banks supervisors and regulators should prepare, position and pro-actively react to circumstances as they occur.

“Another time for caution is here. Red-flashes have once again appeared on the global horizon, which we must as a nation, take note of, and prepare for. Anyone or nation that does not learn from previous crisis is indeed unwittingly placing him/ itself squarely in the line of fire.

Similar events to those which heralded the most recent recession are once again playing out.”

The minister, who lamented the recent shocking impact of the fall in oil price on the naira and 2015 budget, charged all government agencies to ensure that the current situation is contained with less impact to the economy.

According to him, “it is unfortunate to note that the falling oil prices have already begun to take a toll on us. We have seen in the most recent past, the value of the naira battling to remain at a reasonable level against other foreign currencies. This is already having an effect on our 2015

budget by ways of the announced cuts and belttightening measures.

“I call on NDIC to once again rise up to this challenge as always. You must ensure that you put in place pro-active mechanisms to ensure continued depositor protection and sound economic system.”

Congratulates NDIC over award He, however, congratulated the corporation on the receipt of the international award, IADI, as the best deposit insurance organisation of the year, which he described a testimony to the corporation’s commitment to excellence in the discharge of its mandate and roles as a deposit insurer.

In his goodwill message, Chairman, NDIC Board, Hassan Adamu, said since the establishment of the NDIC 25 years ago, it had remained a strong player in the safety-net mechanism of the Nigerian banking system, thereby ensuring the protection of depositors and continued stability of the Nigerian financial system.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—9

Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers begin nationwide strike

By Victor Ahiumayoung & Jimitota Onoyume

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AGOS—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, will today begin an indefinite nationwide strike, to protest the inability of the government to carry out Turn Around Maintenance, TAM, of the refineries and reduce pump prices of petroleum products in line with the slump in global prices of crude oil.

Other grievances include delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB; non-implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act to reflect Nigerians in management positions and expatriate quota law; appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil depots’ facilities and insecurity in the country that has led to the death of members.

Other complaints are appointments in government agencies in disregards to succession planning, compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund, NHF; casualisation and contract staffing and unfair labour practice by companies and government agencies.

The grievances also include termination of appointment of the Port Harcourt Zonal Secretary of the association by Total Exploration and Production, Total E&P, Nigeria Limited; retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF; nonstandardisation of nomenclature and collective bargaining agreement of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency, NNRA, in line with what is obtained in other agencies in the oil and gas industry and refusal of the management of Addax/ Petrostuff Nigeria Limited and Chevron/Sudelletra to recall sacked staff.

The oil workers issued a 14day ultimatum to government October 31, 2014, threatening that at the expiration they would no longer issue any notice to government because the issues had been protracted and government and other affected companies had not shown any commitment to addressing the workers grievances. .

The unions had issued a statement that all levels of the unions had been fully sensitised and mobilised for the inevitable industrial actions that would affect every value chain in the upstream, midstream and downstream of the oil and gas

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industry.

Vanguard gathered that ahead of the strike, branch leaders of the two unions met at the zonal levels in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna and had set up joint monitoring committees to

ensure the strike is effective.

On crude oil theft

On crude oil theft and acts of vandalism, NUPENG and PENGASSAN alleged high level collaboration of the security agencies, politicians

and highly placed Nigerians in the buccaneering racket of oil and gas installations and the resultant crude oil theft, lamenting that the ugly trend signified a looming extinction of the oil and gas industry with attendant job losses.

Bankers C'ttee to pursue import substitution through MSMEs

By Babajide Komolafe

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From left: Alumni Relations Director, Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Henry Onukwuba; Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority, Ibeju Lekki, Alhaji Olatunde Talemu; IMP1 CSR Project Coordinator, Mr Olufemi Williams and Class President IMP1, Mr Kayode Falowo at the handover ceremony of the block of classroom renovated at Awoyaya Primary School by IMP1 Class, in Lagos.

Falana petitions Coca-Cola over alleged breach of int'l standards

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AGOS — Human rights activist and a member of the inner Bar, Mr Femi Falana SAN, has petitioned the United States-based Coca-Cola Company, over the failure of the company in Nigeria to respect international standards in its manufacturing process and its refusal to subject its products to inspection by the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria, CPC. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Coca-Cola Company, Muhtar Kent, Mr Falana accused CocaCola of exhibiting double standard as it would not breach international standards in its operations in the United States or the United Kingdom as it does in Nigeria and threatens to seek redress in court if CocaCola persists in violating the fundamental right of Nigerians to health by supplying products which are injurious to their health.

Falana in his letter said: “I have confirmed that the refusal to effectively comply with Nigerian laws and regulations is selective on the part of your company because I am fully aware that Coca-Cola will not set out to breach international standards in its operations in the United States or the United

Kingdom without serious consequences and punishment by the appropriate authorities in both countries.

“In the circumstance, the following questions are pertinent: Why has the Coca-Cola company engaged in impunity in its operations in Nigeria? Why would the Coca-Cola Company expect not to be held responsible in Nigeria when its products contain rusty bottle crown corks, rusty cans and foreign particles?

Are the health conditions of Nigerians less important than those of Americans? Why would Coca-Cola Company refuse to establish a Shelf Life Policy for their products in the country which clearly would help to facilitate the removal of expired products from the market?

“I contend that the double standard clearly being exhibited by the Coca-Cola company in Nigeria is not only unethical but also inconsistent with international best practices and standards such as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework. The Guiding Principles were endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011.

“In the light of the foregoing, I

am compelled to urge CocaCola Company to ensure consistency in its practice and operations whether in developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom or developing countries like Nigeria.

"Coca-Cola should show a greater level of responsibility by ensuring that its products are not harmful to the Nigerian consumers and to allow the CPC and other authorities to carry out their mandates in cases where Coca-Cola Company ’s operations or services are found to be directly or indirectly injurious to the health of Nigerians.

“Take notice that if the CocaCola company continues to defy the authority of the Consumer Protection Council and persists in violating the fundamental right of the Nigerian people to health by supplying products which are injurious to their health we shall not hesitate to apply to the appropriate High Court for redress which will include the payment of exemplary and punitive damages and the suspension of the operations of the Coca-cola company in Nigeria until it is prepared to operate within the ambit of the law.”

AGOS — THE Bankers Committee has resolved to channel more funding to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector to boost import substitution and diversification in the economy.

This decision was taken at the 2014 edition of the committee’s annual retreat held in Calabar, Cross River State.

The committee comprises Chief Executives of banks, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

A statement issued after the retreat said: “Following the recent depreciation of the local currency, the committee sees the MSME sector as the next growth area in the economy provided it is given full attention and support.

"At the end of the deliberations, the committee resolved to massively channel resources in agriculture, power and MSME sectors of the economy.

The aim of the renewed drive is to boost the country ’s import substitution and diversification strategies.

"The committee expressed full conviction in the fact that the long term success of the banking sector lies in the growth of these sectors. It was noted that there is a skew in the distribution of credit facilities in the country as about 100 companies in the country account for more than 75 per cent of the loans which the banks offer in the country."

The CBN Governor on assumption of office unveiled an agenda, which included focus and facilitating rapid growth in three key sectors of Power, Agriculture and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

FRSC warns against harmattan driving

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JEBU ODE – THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has warned that convoys found guilty of disregard for traffic laws and reckless driving will henceforth be exposed and prosecuted.

The FRSC Assistant Corps Commander, Isah Seidu, gave the warning in IjebuOde, yesterday, during the flag-off of the ‘Ember ’ months road safety campaign.

Seidu said the action became imperative to curtail the excesses of convoy drivers whose actions endangered the lives of other road users.

He said, Experience has shown that during the festive period, because of the heavy vehicular movement, convoy drivers show their impatience by unjustified blaring of sirens and reckless driving.

Tracking them down has always been very difficult, but this time around, rather than trying to track them down, we will expose them through our new ‘Show of Shame’ directive.

“We have designated cameras on the highways to film convoys violating the law whose video clips would be sent to media houses for the public to judge."

Omotosho promises regular town hall meetings

By Rosemary Onuoha

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R. Anthony Bakare Omotosho who is contesting for the Eti-Osa Federal constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has promised that if elected into office, he will hold regular town hall meetings with his people.

Omotosho said while addressing newsmen in Lagos that the town hall meeting is to enable the people express their needs so that he can translate them into law for them.

He said he was a tested hand and a grassroots person, adding that if voted in and he disappoints his people, it could cause his people not to trust and believe in any person again.

According to him, since the previous occupant of the office has not performed, he doesn’t deserve another term.

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Party yet to choose Buhari’s running mate — APC T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has assured Nigerians that the choice of its presidential running mate will be made within the context of the best democratic ideals, just like that of its presidential candidate.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party urged Nigerians to ignore the widespread and misleading reports in the traditional and social media about the choice of the APC presidential running mate, saying the party has yet to even meet, not to talk of picking a running mate.

It described the reports that a running mate has been picked to run with the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as unnecessarily sensational, downright speculative and totally misleading.

Mohammed said, "We are using this opportunity to tell Nigerians to pray for us as we seek to pick a running mate for our presidential candidate. This is because this choice is not just for us but for all of Nigeria."

The party said each of the candidates that has been speculated as a running mate to Gen. Buhari is unquestionably competent to be a Vice President or even President, adding, however, that no choice has yet been made by the party.

"We are glad with the

feedback we have received from Nigerians on the transparent and rancour-free manner in which our presidential primaries was organized. We are assuring Nigerians that the choice of our presidential running mate will also be guided by best democratic ideals.

"We appreciate the nationwide interest that the choice of our presidential candidate and his running mate has generated. It is a mark of the confidence that Nigerians repose in us. We assure that we will not disappoint our compatriots who have seen our party as the agent of the change they so much crave,"he said.

From Left: Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, WAPCO Operations, Peju Adebajo; Lagos State First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Chairman, Ovie Brume Foundation, Evelyn Oputu; Ogun State First Lady, Olufunso Amosun; Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Guillaume Roux and winners, at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Lafarge Literacy Competition, in Lagos

LASU crisis: Congress suspends ASUU excos

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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RESH crisis is brewing at the Lagos State University, LASU, as the general congress of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, of the institution, weekend, suspended its union’s executive members led by Mr. Adekunle Idris for lack of focus and poor leadership style.

The decision which was arrived after an extensive deliberation by the congress subsequently, announced the establishment of an interim executive led by Asokere Ayodele to take charge of the union’s affairs until a properly constituted executive for the union is put in place.

The congress also directed that a five-man investigative panel be constituted to probe activities of the suspended ASUU-LASU executives.

Asokere, along with two others, Afobuno Sunday and Rasaq Adewale Olowu conveyed the congress’ decisions at a media briefing at the weekend. They said that the union’s emergency congress held on Thursday, December 11, 2014 had in attendance about 150 academic staff out of the 450 staff who are active on campus at the period of the congress.

According to Asokere, the congress was well-attended going by records of the past attendance, adding that available records of members’ attendance at previous congresses showed that the number of attendees was normally between 50 and 100.

The interim chairman said that the notice of the exco’s suspension was being communicated to the various groups affected by the decision including the ASUU Lagos, the ASUU national, the LASU management and the

suspended executives.

“At a well-attended congress meeting of the union, we reviewed the events unfolding within the union in the last 21 months under the regime of Mr. Adekunle Idrisled exco. After extensive deliberations, it was decided that since the Idris–led excos has lost focus and has displayed gross incapability to hold the union as one, leading to its balkanization, the exco is hereby suspended.

Eminent scholars “An investigative panel comprising eminent scholars is hereby constituted to probe the Idris–led excos and report back to the congress within 14 days. Therefore, dear members of the press, the entire public is hereby notified of the suspension of Mr. Adekunle Idris–led excos and should cease to parade

themselves as chairman and excos of the union.

“Finally, an interim exco led by my humble self has been put in place to steer the ship of our union until a properly constituted exco is put in place.”

The interim chairman said.

While fielding questions from journalists, Asokere explained the rationale behind the suspension of the excos, saying members were tired of Idris’ leadership style and lack of unity in the union.

He said: “Generally, apart from trainings, there are individual traits and there is what is called leadership style. Adekunle has grossly displayed that he lacked both the capability and willingness to hold his subjects together. Ability to harmonize various groups is an important ingredient of leadership, but it has been displayed that the suspended chairman of ASUULASU that he lacked this qualities.”

Groups drum support for Clark’s wife

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HE senatorial ambition of Dr. Abisola SodipoClark received a boost, weekend, in Abeokuta, Ogun State following endorsements she received from two nongovernmental organizations,

namely a women advocacy group, Women for Change Vanguard, WCV and a media pressure group, Gateway Media Front, GMF. They are giving her support after she picked the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP senatorial ticket for Ogun Central district.

At separate fora, the two groups championed the cause of the senatorial aspirant describing her as an “epitome of virtue”.

The medical doctor turned politician recently won the ticket of the PDP to contest the senatorial election in a keenly contested exercise. She is a former health commissioner in Ogun State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—11

Oyo 2015: Why we're fielding Alao-Akala —LP

By Dapo Akinrefon

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HE Labour Party has said that there was nothing strange in Alao Akala clinching its governorship ticket in Oyo State.

In a statement by its National Secretary, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, the party said: “It is just a matter of water eventually finding its level. The issues must be put in correct perspective. It is not enough to limit ourselves to mere tooth picking analysis or fixated social media opinion."

Ajulo, however, argued that the LP decided to opt for AlaoAkala due to his achievements while he was governor of Oyo State.

He said: “When we take the case of Akala, for instance, it will be recalled that during his tenure as governor of Oyo State, he carried along the workers in the various unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, teachers, market women, civil societies, etc. While other governors in states controlled by supposedly progressive and pro-people parties placed embargo on employment and were not ready to implement the minimum wage, Akala employed more workers and did not denigrate the position of the working class.

“Equally important is the fact that Akala did not just get the Labour Party ticket in Oyo State on a platter of gold or for the asking. It was not also a matter of giving the ticket to the highest bidder. Akala worked his way rigorously and painstakingly up the ladder. He was endorsed by all those who

matter in the party after a thorough check on his renewed commitment to the cause of the common man. He, indeed, had the support of other aspirants who acknowledged his worth and surrendered everything to him.”

Ajulo added that the leadership of the party is currently “inundated with requests by politicians from the so-called large parties, who have either been betrayed or shortchanged and are seeking a credible platform on which to blossom and achieve their

objective of truly transforming the polity. Some of our leaders have left their usual abode in order to avoid the deluge of politicians. They are coming in slews, seeking succour from injustice, seeking refuge from backstabbing, and seeking hope in a political future free from money mongering and selfish greed.

This is an acknowledgement that the Labour Party is the last hope of the people.”

“Ordinarily, Labour Party should be the ruling party or the main party, as we have in the

United Kingdom, and not just one of the opposition. In Nigeria, most aspiring politicians often find themselves in the parties they consider as the ones with prospect to win in their own locality. Ideally, principles and programmes of a party, its manifesto, should determine its membership. But in Nigeria a lot of primordial considerations come to the fore. Only very few parties indeed have clear-cut ideology. Labour is one of such parties founded on principle,” he added.

COMMISSIONING: From left: Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Mbang; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, during the commissioning and dedication of Mbang's Methodist Church Nigeria, in Eket.

Buhari presidency'll restore investors’ confidence —Amosun

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GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has commended the maturity and statesmanship displayed by aspirants and delegates at the just concluded presidential primaries of All Progressives Congress, APC. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun also congratulated the winner, General Mohammadu Buhari, on his overwhelming victory, and the APC, for conducting free, fair and credible presidential primaries, acceptable to all contestants.

He described the election of Buhari as timely and well deserved, adding that the eventual election of the APC’s presidential flag bearer in the

2015 poll will restore investor confidence in Nigeria and also bring an end to the insurgency in the nation.

“With his experience and track record, I strongly believe that when elected, come 2015, Mohammadu Buhari would tackle the spate of insurgency and restore investors' confidence in our economy and indeed the nation.

“I also commend the statesmanship of the other aspirants and the maturity displayed by all at the primaries.

Other contestants congratulated the winner and that is very worthy of emulation,” the governor said.

Amosun enjoined all party faithful and well meaning Nigerians to vote massively for the APC and its candidates at all

levels, pointing out that the quantum of development across the APC governed states and the peaceful conduct of the presidential primaries are clear demonstration that the party is not only committed to democratic ideals but also passionate about fulfilling its electoral promises.

Amosun has delivered dividends of three terms already —AIDE

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PECIAL Assistant on Media to the Governor of Ogun State, Mr Soyombo Opeyemi, has said that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has delivered democratic dividends of three terms in just three years of his first term.

He noted that the gargantuan investment in social services such as security, education, road, health, employment generation, etc, which was unprecedented in the annals of the state, was a testament to the e x t r a o r d i n a r y commitment of the governor to the welfare of the people of Ogun State.

Soyombo disclosed this yesterday during the public presentation of his book, Ogun State: The Golden Years, at the DLK Events Centre, Abeokuta.

He explained that by virtue of Amosun’s sterling performance in just three years in office, “the much-elusive development is actually within our reach and attainment despite our suffocating unitary system disguised as federalism.”

Soyombo opined that “A journey can be long and uneventful while a journey can be short and full of events. Amosun has proved that one does not need 20 years to make the difference in the lives of your people."

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Why change must come in 2015 —Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said that the 16 years rule of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the country has re-partitioned Nigerians along ethnic and religious divides, adding that the situation had not only weakened the foundation of the country’s unity, “but has also played brothers against brothers, leading to a lot of bloodshed.”

He said that the only solution to the nation’s problems was for Nigerians to vote for change in 2015, adding that the PDP-led Federal Government has shown crass incompetence in fixing the problems despite its 16 years rule so far in the country.

The governor, who addressed newsmen shortly after attending the 22nd convocation and 50th anniversary of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, admonished the PDP to leave the stage and “do soul searching to know why after 16 years in power, they have not fixed power, education, health sector and roads. They have dashed the expectations of the youths and have polluted the political atmosphere and weakened the foundation of our national unity. They have repartitioned the country along

religious and ethnic divide, have played brothers against brothers and sisters against sisters.

“They are buffeting us with primordial sentiments in place of issues of development and the country is weaker today. We need people who fought to keep Nigeria together to come back and fix what PDP had broken and it is all about all of us today.

Nigerians should vote for change. Even PDP needs change. You can see that the internal contradictions within the PDP is like a weak fabric, the more you patch it, the more it gets torn and after 16 years, even PDP will agree that they have not delivered on the promises of democracy.

“Look at the newspapers, they have issues today because the

cost of production is going up because of escalating cost of procuring diesel because you are still not able to print with power despite all the reforms and deforms of the power sector.

Look at the typical newspaper today, you don’t find products adverts, what you find is obituary, birthdays , endless congratulatory messages."

CONVOCATION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Education, at the 50th Anniversary and 22nd convocation of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, weekend.

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YO—GOVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has promised to ensure that the party wins most elective positions at all levels in the forthcoming general elections.

Umana, yesterday, briefed newsmen in Uyo, noted that with the migration of many Akwa Ibom electorate to APC in their desire for change, he has no doubt that all candidates of the party will emerge victorious at the 2015 polls. He thanked the party for allowing a level playing ground for all eligible aspirants in the just concluded primaries.

He said: “As you know very well, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP decided to exclude two senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom State from their contest and for the governorship at the level of the primaries. Certainly that is undemocratic and unconstitutional. I must also add that the primary reason we had to leave the PDP was because of the lack of internal democracy in the party.

“So, I thank the leadership

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of my party at the national, state, local government, and at the ward levels for the very warm way they embraced me and my supporters who left the PDP to join the APC. We are

happy that we have a new platform which is anchored on the tenets of democratic principles and embraces all who are eligible to contest for any position.

“We are done with the primaries and we are back as one united party, and there is no victor, there is no vanquished."

Bayelsa West PDP primaries: Stakeholders divided over Senate flag bearers

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — STAKEHOLDERS in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bayelsa State, appeared divided over the outcome of the parallel party primaries conducted at the West senatorial district of the state, which produced Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Evangelist Foster Ogola, respectively.

While a former aide to the immediate past administration in the state, Prince Lucky Yuobougha, insisted that the primaries conducted by the faction of the party loyal to Senator Lokpobiri was authentic and should be upheld by the National leadership of the party, a socio-political group under the aegis of Bayelsa Youths for National Interest, BYNI, called for the cancellation of primaries, describing same as unacceptable.

Yuobougha, who is from the

senatorial district, said that the decision of party members to support Senator Lokpobiri against the choice of Governor Seriake Dickson was based on the need for pragmatic leadership at the Senate.

He said: “Senator Lokpobiri

was the choice of the people.

Aside the fact that Lokpobiri played a vital role in securing supports for Dickson by convincing aggrieved party men to support the governor, the choice of the people should be upheld."

Delta 2015: Nobody can blackmail Tompolo —Ijaw leader

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OLLOWING the outcome of last week’s governorship primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, politicians and mischief makers have been warned not to blame Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for their failure.

Ijaw leader, Chief Beck Hitler, who gave the warning, yesterday in Warri, said those trying to blackmail Tompolo will certainly fail, noting that nobody should blame Tompolo

By Festus Ahon

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I'll lead APC to victory in A-Ibom —Umana

By Chioma Onuegbu

Patani youths vow to protect Ganagana’s emergence as Delta PDP Assembly flag bearer

for the outcome of the primaries.

Hitler said that since the outcome of the governorship primaries which produced Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the governorship candidate of PDP, there have been malicious and misleading text messages and publications to undermine Tompolo.

“In politics, it is either you lose or win. It is wrong for anybody to attribute his failure in the PDP primaries to Tompolo, who was not even a delegate in any of the primaries," he said.

SABA—YOUTHS of Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, have vowed to resist the rumored attempt to subvert the will of Patani people as reflected in the November 29 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Assembly primaries, which saw the emergence of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Basil Ganagana.

The youths, in a statement, said: “We will not hesitate to mobilise all stakeholders in the area to use legitimate democratic means to protect the outcome of the primaries.”

The statement, by its spokesman, Mr. Timi Preye, frowned at the unconfirmed reports that some politicians in the state were engaging in “clandestine moves to alter the PDP primary election in the area that produced Ganagana as winner with 31 votes as declared by Mr Udju Isaac, the party Returning Officer for that election to defeat Mr. Tonye Timi, immediate past Commissioner Special Duties (DESOPADEC), who polled 18 votes to emerge second."

Army destroys illegal refinery in Sapele

By Godwin Oghre

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A P E L E — SOLDIERS of the 19 Battalion, Sapele Barracks, in conjunction with the Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, have discovered and destroyed an illegal refinery behind Koko Garage, between Sapele Athletic Club and the Sapele Township stadium.

A senior military officer in the team, said that the destroyed illegal refinery, operated by a middle aged Edo woman, currently on the run, was just one of about six sites located in strategic positions across the town, discovered recently through a tip off by the soldiers.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—13

Delta PDP primaries: UPU accuses Ibori of sell out

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—THE leadership of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, yesterday, accused former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, and other Urhobo politicians of masterminding the failure of its endorsed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in the December 8 primaries of the party, Chief David Edevbie.

President General of UPU, Chief Joe Omene, who spoke when Chief Great Ogboru paid him a courtesy visit, alleged that Ibori worked against the interest of the Urhobo by instructing Urhobo delegates to vote against Edevbie.

Disclosing that the UPU was yet to decide on appropriate sanctions against all those “who sold Urhobo” during the PDP governorship primaries, he insisted: “We still stand by the Uvwiamughe declaration.”

On the rumoured endorsement of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief O’tega Emerhor, Omene said that UPU was yet to endorse anybody for the 2015 governorship in the state, adding: “Such rumour should be disregarded.”

He said that the UPU would soon meet to take a position on the governorship poll, adding that the Urhobo would not vote for any political party that does not give its governorship ticket to an

Urhobo.

He said that the Urhobo would stand by the Labour Party and the APC in 2015.

He, added that the UPU would soon take a decision on who to endorse in the 2015 governorship, adding that the decision would be reached af-

ter wide consultation with the youths, women and elders .

He noted that the UPU would support the most popular and marketable governorship candidate irrespective of his political party, adding that the

Urhobo will not vote for those who betrayed them in the PDP governorship primary election.

War ning against name dropping, Omene said that those dropping names were lazy politicians, who do not want to campaign.

Islamic clerics kick against closure of Egyptian consul office

By Babatunde Jimoh

T

HE League of Imams and Alfas in South-West, Edo and Delta States, has expressed dissatisfaction over the move to close down the Lagos consul office of the Egyptian Embassy in Nigeria.

The group, in an open letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, said: “The proximity of SouthWest and South-South to Lagos cannot be compared to Abuja, where the embassy has another consul office. Asking people from these areas to travel to Abuja will amount to putting their lives at risk as a result of bad road networks in some parts of the country.“ The letter by Grand Imam, State/President, League of Imams and Alfa, Sheik Haroon Shuara, also noted that the

proposed shut down of Lagos consul office will affect a vast majority of Nigerian Muslims and also inconvenience many Egyptians living in Lagos and other South-West states.

It urged Shoukry to borrow a leaf from other embassies which, apart from allowing online application, still maintain consul offices in Lagos and Abuja.

Elumelu commends Clark on Delta PDP primaries

T

HE Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has been commended for his determination to ensure equity and fair play in politics of Nigeria, especially in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in Delta State.

A former PDP governorship aspirant and member representing Aniocha/ Oshimili federal constituency, Mr Ndudi Elumelu, while

acknowledging the role the elder statesman played in his bid for the governorship of Delta State, described Clark as a detribalized man, who always supports a just cause and believes in the unity of Delta State.

Acknowledging his fatherly advice during his consultation visit, Elumelu urged Clark to continue to ensure that he plays the role of a bridge builder as posterity will justify his contributions to humanity.

APC, PDP accused of sowing seeds of discord in Owan

T

HE Owan Progressives Youth Solidarity Vanguard has blamed the ruling, All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state of what it described as “a deliberate move towards instituting a long lasting feud and sowing seeds of discord amongst a united Owan people.”

The youths frowned at the fielding of candidates by APC and PDP, who are both from Owan East Local Government Area for the House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency in the state in the 2015 general elections at time it was the turn of Owan West council, saying it “is a deliberate attempt to politically sideline and silent indigenes from Owan West Local Government Area.”

Mr. Braimoh Ofemu, in a statement, weekend in Afuze, said “We appeal to our traditional rulers, leaders, elders, well meaning sons and daughters from both Owan West and East councils to wade into the matter in order to maintain the existing statues quo."

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Apologise to Ndigbo for losing APC presidential primary, Okechukwu tells Okorocha

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU — A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South-East, Osita Okechukwu, has accused Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of allegedly gambling with the chances of the Ndigbo to bargain for Vice President slot in the 2015 general elections.

Okechukwu, who is the spokesman of APC in the South-East, in a statement yesterday, while reacting to Governor Okorocha’s statement after his failed bid to get the presidential ticket of the party, said Governor Okorocha’s “statement is one of self denial, rather than apologising to Ndigbo for his gambit, which made Ndigbo to lose the national chairmanship of the APC, placed us in a weak position to vie for Vice President, he is regrettably justifying the unjustifiable.

“One had thought that as a leader he could had placed the collective interest of Ndigbo above his 'Nollywood' show, since he is quite aware of the position of the party as regards zoning.

"For the avoidance of doubt, in a South East caucus meeting at His Excellency, Dr. Ogboninya Onu’s residence at Abuja in July, 2014, some of us agreed that he is eminently qualified to vie for presidency, but given the prevailing understanding that the presidency is going North, we should vie for chairmanship and vice president slots, waiting for the next eight years when it is coming South.

ENUGU 2015: APC, UPP blast PDP

over multiple parallel primaries

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU — TWO opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC and United Progressives Party, UPP, yesterday, bombed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu State, chapter over the multiple parallel primaries that characterised the House of Representatives, Senate and governorship primaries to elect candidates for the various positions.

The PDP had been enmeshed in crisis over the authentic delegates list used for the conduct of primaries for the House of Representatives, Senate and governorship, forcing aggrieved aspirants to conduct parallel primaries in the state.

Reacting to the ugly development, the Chairman, APC, Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye said: “I announced the demise of PDP in the state a month ago. The evidence is what you are witnessing now. PDP will not field

governorship, and Senate candidates in the forth- coming elections in the state. This is because PDP will be tied down in court trying to seek them out.

They will not come out of it before the February general elections.

The evil they committed have come to track them down.

“Look at the primaries for Enugu-North/Enugu-East senatorial districts. Multiple candidates emerged winners from multiple primaries. The aspirants jostling for these offices are not

MEETING: From left, Mirabel Goodwill Ambassadores for Gender based Violence: Ice Prince, music artiste; Queen Ubah,Nigerian Centenary Queen; Mrs. Itoro Anaba, Managing Partner, Partnership For Justice; Bimbo Akintola, Noolywood actress; Kofi, Comedian, and Wana Udobang, journalist and writer during their meeting, in Lagos.

seeking to serve the people.

Rather, they are seeking their own selfish interest. That is why you see them conduct multiple primaries.

“That is why they have destroyed their own party in their self political pursuit. I raised alarm when the endorsement of governorship candidate was fraudulently conducted by the party. The beneficiary of the exercise went to town thanking Enugu people as if he has been elected governor by Enugu people.

"Now the truth is out. The party has used non-delegates to elect him as the governorship candidate in disregard to subsisting court order and National Working Committee, NWC, stance.

In the same vein, National Chairman, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, bemoaned the development in Enugu State PDP, saying, “it is a clear reflection of the level of internal democracy in the party. It started from the top when the governors and other top party officials gathered and endorsed the President and gave him right of first refusal. The same thing trickled down to the states.

Enugu people should rise to the occasion and jettison PDP’s gambling going on the state.

Maritime workers threaten nationwide strike

By Kelechi Azubuike

M

ARITIME WORKERS Union of Nigeria, MWUN, will shut the nation’s ports' operations nationwide and begin indefinite strike, Wednesday, over lingering disputes with government.

Ahead of the commencement of the strike, the union had, weekend, notified Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the terminal operators on the looming shut-down of

all ports' formations nationwide.

The strike would be to force government through the NPA to address the lingering issue of Tally Clerks/Onboard Security, minimum standard for Dockworkers and NPA staff welfare matters, among others.

It was gathered that despite several ultimatums and agreements, the government had concluded plans to do away with the tally clerks/on-board security despite their importance to ports' operations and national security.

According to the union, the latest ultimatum to government to address the issues of the tally clerk/onboard security, among other pending issues, would expire today, (Monday, December 15) and had decided to put operators on notice so that they would not be caught unawares.

An officer of the union confided with journalists that the strike would commence Wednesday after the President-General and some other leaders of the union would have come back from a foreign trip.

In a letter to NPA by the union dated December 12 and signed by Mr. Edwin Sambo, Deputy Secretary General (Admin), entitled, “Notice to shut down the seaports,” the union wrote: “Please, be informed that the Union will be forced to close down the nation's seaports if the under- listed issues which are affecting our members are not addressed before Monday, December 15, 2014 - Tally Clerks/Onboard Security, minimum standard for Dockworkers and NPA staff welfare matters."

EBONYI MINING LICENCE: Court summons Steel minister, others

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

J

USTICE AHMED Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Jidech Mining Company Nigeria Limited and three others to appear before it, Wednesday, over a suit in relation to a dispute about a mining lease agreement on a site in Agbaja, Ebonyi State.

The judge also directed that hearing notice be served on the defendants, expected to C M Y K

appear before the court on December 17.

A firm, Eze-Chuks Standard Link Limited has instituted a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 957/14, challenging the purported sale of the mining site covered by the Mining Lease Certificate No: ML2280 (formerly ML17228) held by it, to a third party, Greenex Resources Limited.

Joined as respondents in the suit are Jidech Mining Company Nig. Ltd, its Managing Director, Elder E. N. Ezedebego, Greenex

Resources, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

Eze-Chuks Standard said in its statement of claim filed by its lawyer, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) that it entered into Mining Sublease Agreement, SLA, with Jidech Mining in 2011 to mine solid minerals on the site located at Mkpuma/Akpatakpa Village in Agbaja Community, Izzi Local Government, Ebonyi State, covered by the Mining

Lease: ML 2280.

The plaintiff noted that in pursuance of Clause 2(vi) of the SLA, the 1st defendant (Jidech) on December 8, 2012 sold its mining rights over the site to it (the plaintiff) for N30 million.

It exhibited a receipt issued to it by Jidech to that effect and it was surprised to learn in 2013, after expending huge funds in developing the site to a profitable state and settlement of debts and financial commitments made to institutions and the host community by Jidech, that Ezedebego and his company

(Jidech) purportedly sold the site to a third party, Greenex, in violation of the provisions of the SLA of 2011, which allowed it (the plaintiff) the first right of purchase.

Last week, the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after hearing Professor AkinseyeGeorde moved an ex-parte application for interim injunctions, ordered the defendants to appear in court on December 17 to “show cause why the interim orders of injunction being sought by the plaintiff vide the motion ex-parte filed on December 5 should not be made by the court.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—15

RECAPTURED ADAMAWA TOWNS: Emir

of Mubi returns to palace ...advancing troops destroy Boko Haram's Armoured Personnel Carrier

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — FOLLOWING sustained air and land assault by troops of the Nigerian Military to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from Adamawa State and the various successes recorded, the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Ahmadu and his emirate council have returned to Mubi.

It will be recalled that in the wake of Boko Haram’s attack on the second largest town in Adamawa State more than a month ago, hundreds of residents of Mubi, including the emir, fled the town to Yola while the terrorists renamed the town Madinatul Islam.

But with the re-invigoration of the security forces with new weaponry and specially trained soldiers, Nigerian troops have been advancing steadily and clearing the towns of the terrorists.

At the weekend, Vanguard gathered that there was serious exchange of gunfire between troops and the insurgents.

The fierce encounter resulted in substantial casualties including loss of lives and equipment on both sides.

Confirming the bloody encounter, the Defence headquarters said an Armoured Personnel Carrier

used by the terrorists was destroyed, while General Purpose Machine Guns, Rocket Propelled Grenades, IED, Rifles, ammunition as well as, bows, arrows, locally made pistols and guns captured from them have been taken into custody.

Meanwhile, troops have

continued their advance backed by highly coordinated air strikes against the terrorists.

Communities and locations such as Garkida, Vimtim, Kumare-Uba, Mararaba, Mubi and others are also under regular patrols and surveillance while Vanguard gathered that other towns like Gulak,

Michika, and Madagali will soon be recaptured.

Already, security sources disclosed that following the recapture of Mubi and Kumare Uba, Boko Haram terrorists in adjourning towns have started moving away towards Madagali and Gwoza.

DECLARATION: APC Chieftain, Chief Lanre Rasaq; Alhaji Shakirudeen Seriki, Epe Constituency aspirant for House of Reps,Hon. Wale Raji; Lagos East senatorial aspirant, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and APC Chietain,Hon. Wasiu Odeyemi, after the declaration of Senator Ashafa as the sole winner, during APC Lagos East senatorial district primaries, in Epe, Lagos.

Jonathan hosts ECOWAS Heads of State over regional security challenges today

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will, today, host the 46th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government which will, among other things, deliberate on the current political and security situation in the sub-region.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Sunday, said President Jonathan and other participating Heads of State and Government of the regional body will also receive a briefing on recent developments in Burkina Faso and review the report of the 33rd Meeting of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council.

He added that also on the agenda of the summit are the consideration and adoption of the 2014 annual report of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the consideration and adoption of the report of the 73rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers

and the election of the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for next year.

President Jonathan, the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President John Mahama of Ghana, the Chairperson of the African Union

Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas will present statements to the one-day summit before it goes into a closed-door session.

Some of the participating

ALLEGED N15BN LOOT: Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

I

NDICATIONS EMERGED last night that the sacked Taraba Acting Governor, Garba Umar, would soon be dragged before a special probe panel to account for the alleged looting of the state’s N14.9 billion within two years.

A top-ranking official close to Governor Dandali told Vanguard in Abuja that the panel would be named within the shortest possible time to take on Umar along with those who connived with him to allegedly siphon the huge

Heads of State and Government have already arrived in Abuja ahead of the opening of the summit tomorrow.

A communiqué on the summit’s decisions is expected at the conclusion of their deliberations tomorrow, the statement concluded.

Umar to face probe

amount.

The official said that governor Dandali was shocked at the level of monumental looting which was perpetrated by the administration of Garba Umar before he was sacked from office last month by the Supreme Court.

The source, a commissioner, pointed out that the governor was really saddened by the discovery of the huge amount stolen with impunity by a few persons under the sacked governor while the disgraced administration failed to pay contractors for clearing refuse in Jalingo.

It was learnt that beyond the

panel being raised by the governor, the state was also exploring the possibility of dragging Umar before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with a view to recovering the amount.

But a media aide to Umar told our correspondent that the former governor was studying the amount said to have been spent by him before making appropriate response to the allegation.

“My boss has been in Abuja since the document was released by the governor and he will study it and react to it when he returns to Jalingo,” the aide said.

Emefiele flags off issuance of commemorative banknote Dec. 19

T

By Babajide Komolafe

HE COMMEMORATIVE N100 banknote unveiled recently by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is to be officially issued into circulation by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Friday, December 19, 2014.

The ceremony billed for the Abuja Branch of the CBN will be immediately followed by a simultaneous issuance of the currency across the branches of the Bank.

The commemorative note, which is embedded with features to assist the visually impaired recognise genuine notes, also has other security features easily identifiable through look, feel and tilt of the currency note.

It will be recalled that the CBN Governor, at the unveiling of the new banknote, explained that the new note was designed with enhanced security to offer robust resistance against counterfeiting.

Authentication features of the note include window micro-optics, showing the national flag and numeral 100 indicating the value of the denomination and the attainment of the centenary period.

The new design retains the portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo both in the ink, that is the interglow level, as a portrait and also in a paper as a shadow image. In addition, there is a spark feature of a rolling manila bar, which was the instrument of transaction during the slave trade era.

At the back side of the currency is the introduced Quick Response Code, QRC, a digital communication feature that highlights and sources all the information about the centenary.

With the QRC application, the barcode on the banknote can be scanned by users to read a brief history of Nigeria.

According to the Bank, the commemorative note will circulate alongside the existing N 100 note.

It will be recalled that the Bank, in 2010, issued commemorative N50 polymer note to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration.

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Senator calls for divine intervention in Nigeria's political problems

By Tina Akannam

A

SENATOR representing Jigawa East senatorial Zone, Senator Abdulazeez Usman, has said Nigeria is in a political dilemma and misdirection, and called for constant prayers from believers to seek for divine intervention.

The senator who spoke weekend in an interview with newsmen in Jigawa State, said only fervent prayers could save the nation from political chaos.

According to him, “Only consistent prayers from all religious men and women and even non believers can take this "country out of its present political, economic and security woes. Nigeria is relatively tensed up political and socially due to the insecurity in the country and others. We need collective collaboration to tackle the insurgency and others problems."

Bagudu HIrse emerges LP gov candidate in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS — FORMER Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, has emerged the sole governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Plateau State.

He emerged the Party’s flag bearer after his nomination had been endorsed by the State leadership of the party and his name forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The state chairman of the party, Bulus Ibrahim, said the choice of the former Ambassador was arrived at because the LP was hopeful that its candidate would stand a good chance to clinching the position, especially when “the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stakeholders are accusing governor Jonah Jang of imposing Pwajok against the wish of the people.”

C M Y K

SHETTIMA TO NGE: Set up fund for

fallen editors’ families

... donates N10m for take-off

B

ORNO STATE Governor, Kashim Shettima has made a strong appeal to the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, to set up an endowment fund to provide financial and other support to families of deceased editors with a take-off of N10million which the Governor

announced as donation for the fund.

Shettima made the appeal weekend, during an interactive session with editors in Lagos.

The governor was in Lagos for the All Progressive Congress, APC National Convention .

Shettima’s suggestion was

based on a story he narrated regarding his experience with the family of a late editor, whom he said, happened to be his friend years before he (Shettima) assumed the office of governor in 2011.

Shettima begged to conceal the identity of the deceased

COCKTAIL: From left, Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Retention, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mrs. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, and Mr. Yibo Koko, Head of Production, M-Net West Africa, at the AMVCA 2015 Nominees Announcement Cocktail, in Lagos.

editor while making his narration, a step the governor explained, was meant to respect the memory of the dead.

“Before I go into this interactive session, there is something that has been troubling my mind for a very long time. I don’t know if this is the right moment to say my mind, but I crave your indulgence to tolerate me so I can pour out my mind.

"I had a friend that died years ago, he was an editor of a Newspaper in this country, sorry, I want to conceal the identity of that person, I won’t tell you the number of years or give you clear clues, you editors are extremely smart with analytical minds, you can guess the person if I give too much clue and I want to respect the memory of that friend of mine.

"Like I said that my friend was an editor of a Newspaper in one part of this country. We were close while I was in banking sector. He worked with extraordinary devotion to duties, he was always passionate about work, he took his Newspaper like an only child, very protective and very competitive and promotional before he retired and died."

We'll form the next govt in Kwara — PDP gov candidate

By Demola Akinyemi

T

HE GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State, Senator Simeon Ajibola, has boasted that the party will form the next government in 2015, dedicating his victory at primaries to God.

Ajibola in a statement yesterday, through his personal Assistant, Ganiyu Abolarin, said the PDP government would usher in a new direction that would bring a new lease of life to the people of the state.

He said “Words are not enough to express our heartfelt

appreciation to all people who directly or indirectly contributed to the success recorded so far in our journey to our desired freedom. I am short of adequate words to express the depth of my gratitude to all aspirants. We fought for the enthronement of democracy in Kwara PDP. We

APC senatorial aspirant rejects result of primaries in Ogun East

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

N ALL Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial aspirant in Ogun East, Otunba Oluseyi Oduntan, has rejected the result of last week ‘s primaries at the IjebuOde township Stadium, alleging rigging, manipulations and multiple voting.

Already, Oduntan, has petitioned both the state and the national secretariat of the party, claiming that the election was characterised by massive rigging, intimidation, coercion and manipulation.

Otunba Tai Bela, an ally of Oduntan, who was a member of the House of Representatives in a chat with Vanguard, confirmed the development, saying that Oduntan had

forwarded a petition to the party secretariat.

Bela stated, “There was nothing free or fair about the primary election. It was such a disgraceful primary in Ogun East Senatorial district. How can we have an election on the auspices of the APC conducted in such a shameful manner?

There was nothing progressive about it.

Government officials, including Commissioners, Chairmen of Local Governments, party Chairmen, state party executives, government liaison officers, among others, intimidated, and coerced delegates like sheep and personally wrote ballot papers.

We challenged them and they said they were acting on ‘instructions and orders from above’. It is unfortunate that the

government decided to act in this manner.

“There was no primary election, but a thoroughly teleguided arrangement towards a predetermined outcome, because they knew that Seyi Oduntan was going to win landslide. I personally saw serving commissioners, council chairmen, policemen and government officials writing on ballot papers several times. When we spoke to them, they said it was ‘order from above’. The election was a sham. Our people, particularly the Ijebu people, have protested and promised that there would be a backlash at the general election. The perfidious action of the government against thousands of faithful party members shall receive its just rewards in the coming election.”

did not receive it on a platter of gold. The struggle has brought unity among us all. The PDP mandate was to replace the APC led government white elephant projects with people oriented programmes, ensure even development and redistribution of wealth in favour of the masses.”

Ajibola said all hands must be on deck to achieve PDP’s goal and mission of bringing prosperity to bear on the lives of the people in the state.

According to him, there was the need to put smiles on the faces of the civil servants and small and medium scale entrepreneurs that were the engines of growth and development of the State.

He commended the electoral committee from the national headquarters of the PDP headed by Gabriel Suswan, Governor of Benue State for conducting a transparent and hitch free primaries.

He also commended the conduct of the security agencies especially the state commissioner of Police, the Director of State Services, the commandant of the Civil Defence Corps, the commander of the Airforce the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and others.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 BETWEEN November 2 and December 6, criminals struck at prisons in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State and Minna, Niger State, leading to escape of 695 convicted criminals. A similar break in Akure last year, freed 175 criminals.

Before Akure there have been jail breaks in Ibadan, Warri, Bauchi, Kano, Abuja (at the anti-robbery detention centre), and Port Harcourt. We had stated then that the warning Akure signaled should not be ignore. It was ignored.

The latest break let loose various calibres of convicts and those still waiting trial, ranging from armed robbers, kidnappers, murderers, terrorists, ritualists, rapists and members of secrets cults booked for a date with justice into open society at a time of high security concerns. Gallant efforts at maintaining law and order and huge public resources expended to control crime went to waste within hours.

A jail break is at one of the highest points of organised criminality. Its consequences depend on the criminals involved and their motives. These indicate the failure of the authorities to realise the importance of securing convicts. There is still a high tendency of dismissing the schemes

By Eze Onyekepere

M

ODERN economies, institutions, families and day to day life require power, particularly electricity. From a review of high level national standards, the goal of the Nigerian electric power sector reforms is to build a power sector that is self reliant, environmentally friendly, sustainable, promoting universal access to affordable and quality electricity to support national development. This raises several questions including the criteria electric power needs to meet to be compliant with this goal. How can we secure the present day needs while taking care of future generations? Indeed, the challenge of sustainability has become part of everyday discourse that electric power generation, transmission and distribution cannot be exempted from its dictates. We have been so slow in making the required gas collection and utilization investments including policy and legislative change; that we prefer to flare than to use gas and indeed, we are second on list of countries that flare gas after Russia.

It will be recalled that the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS 2002007) had made elaborate provisions C M Y K

Rashes Of Jail Breaks criminals plot even while in jail. The reactions after jail breaks had been to descend on the prison authorities for embarrassing government, though prisons are at the lowest rungs for budgetary allocations. Security at prisons reflects the unimportance accorded prisons.

Poorly armed warders, who can easily be over powered, manage prison security. The alertness of warders, the numbers deployed to secure the facilities, and the equipment at their disposal make jail breaks easier.

The authorities who know these do nothing about them, except regurgitating practised rage after each break.

However, criminals cannot make

successful prison breaks without insider information, and other assistance. How did they know the type of equipment they required to blast the walls? They were obviously aware of types of arms warders bore, and possibly how many warders were on duty.

Armed with such information, the criminals knew what to do. The fact that they could operate without interruption should bother the authorities. When will we improve security at prisons? When would modern security gargets that could foil attacks be installed?

When would intelligence be at heights that conniving prison officials can be fished out before they do more harm?

The Federal Government must arrest the situation by fortifying prisons.

Compromised officials should be prosecuted, and dedicated ones rewarded.

Government must also explore modern options for effective prison management, including state and local government prisons, as well as privately-managed correctional services.

Criminals should never be in doubt about society ’s ability to put them where they rightly belong and keep our people safe.

OPINION Sustainability in power reforms for the improvement of electric power supply. The provisions include massive investments through the value chain of generation, transmission, and distribution and the gas and pipelines component. This was reinforced by the 7- Point Agenda of the Yar’Adua administration and the Power Sector Roadmap of the Goodluck Jonathan era.

The provisions also made reference to exploring alternative and renewable energy sources, a veritable means of accessing sustainable power.

Recommendations coming from initial studies have urged the government to target renewable energy contribution to the national energy mix at 15% by 2011; and new investments in renewable should be encouraged by fiscal incentives. It also urged for environmental standards in the industry limiting emissions and green house gases.

Since then, Nigeria has spent an indeterminate sum of money to reform the electric power sector. There have been heavy investments especially in generation during the Obasanjo years and the figures that came out of the National Assembly probe kept shifting from $20billion to less than that. The

Yar’Adua and Jonathan governments have also spent massively on power sector reforms. The estimate is that from the Obasanjo government to the present day, more than $30billion in investments has gone into the sector with little or no results. New challenges keep emerging in the sector to the extent that improvements in power supply to homes, offices and industries have not kept pace with investments. If it is not about the lack of transmission capacity to wheel the available generated megawatts; it is about lack of gas to fire the generating plants. Thus, procurement planning for the sector was poor and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. It can therefore be affirmed that the more the investment in the sector, the less energy and more darkness available to the population. However, the government did not explore and invest in alternative energy platforms or provide the enabling environment to enable private sector operatives to do so. If we have invested so much in traditional energy platforms and it is not working; is it not time while continuing to see to the logical conclusion of those investments to try something new? Despite our

abundant solar, hydro and wind energy resources, they have remained promises that may not materialise.

Instead of increasing investments in renewable energy, there are promises of investments in dirty coal and even talks of nuclear plants. This is coming at a time advanced countries like Japan and Russia found it difficult to manage nuclear power stations and accidents in those countries were a massive disaster.

Unless we are determined to commit mass suicide, then we can go for a nuclear power generating plant.

It is time to look up to renewable energy especially in their small off-grid forms which can take care of the small energy needs of distant and far flung locations, not necessarily connected to the national grid which looses 40 percent of wheeled energy. The advantages of this approach are legion including reduced carbon emission, employment generation, electricity that is sustainable and does not take long to develop and use; local control and participation in generation and management of electricity, etc. The time to act is now. * Mr. Onyekepere, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014— —19

Changing tide for the Niger Delta

By Eric Teniola

ALMOST every Nigerian leader, has attempted to solve the problems of the Niger Delta region. Some did by establishing bodies to ameliorate the problems of the region while some created more states for the region.

These attempts may not have been satisfactory to the people of the region though, but that is not to say that the leaders did not tried at all.

In 1960, for example a body known as the Niger Delta Development Board was established. The establishment of that board formed part of the 1963 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to section 159 of that constitution, it clearly states that “There shall be a board for the Niger Delta which shall be styled the Niger Delta Development Board. The members of the Board shall be- a person appointed by the President, who shall be chairman; a person appointed by the Governor of Eastern Nigeria; a person appointed by the Governor of Mid-Western Nigeria; and such other persons as may be appointed in such manner as may be described by Parliament to represent the inhabitants of the Niger Delta. A member of the Board shall vacate his office in such circumstances as may be prescribed by Parliament. The Board shall be

responsible for advising the Government of the Federation and the Governments of Eastern Nigeria and Mid-Western Nigeria with respect to the physical development of the Niger Delta, and in order to discharge that responsibility the Board shall- cause the Niger Delta to be surveyed in order to ascertain what measures are required to promote its physical development; prepare schemes designed to promote the physical of the Niger Delta, together with estimates of the costs of putting the schemes into effect; submit to the Government of the Federation and the Governments of Eastern Nigeria and the Mid-Western Nigeria annual reports describing the work of the Board and the measures taken in pursuance of its advice.

Parliament may make such provision as it considers expedient for enabling the Board to discharge its function under this section. In this section, “the Niger Delta” means the area specified in the Proclamation relating to the Board which was made on the twenty-six day of August, 1959. This section shall cease to have effect on the first day of July 1969".

At the time the board was established, the Mid-Western region has not been created from Western region but its creation at that time was forgone conclusion.

On August 9, 1963 under the tenure of Sir Abubakar Tafawa

These attempts may not have been satisfactory to the people of the region though, but that is not to say that the leaders did not tried at all Balewa(1912-1966) as Prime Minister, the Mid-Western Region was created and the first Premier of that region was Chief Dennis Chukadebe Osadebe (1911-1994) from Asaba with Chief James Ekpre Otobo (19252011) from Uzere, Isako South in the present Delta state as deputy Premier while Chief Jerriton Samuel Marriere (1907-1971) from Enweren in Urhobo kingdom was appointed Governor and Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie (1896-1977), the Iyasere of Benin Kingdom became deputy leader of the new region. At that time Asaba was part of the Benin province.

On May 1 1967, Chief ObafemiAwolowo (1909-1987) from Ikenne in Ogun state in his historic speech in Ibadan

advocated for the creation of two states in the Eastern Region of Nigeria as a way of solving the then political crises in the country “It would be perfectly in order to create a Calabar state or a Rivers state by decree and without a plebiscite”, he pleaded on that day.

On May 27 1967 the then Head of state General Yakubu DanYumma Gowon (80), an Angas from Plateau state split Nigeria into twelve states and created South Eastern states and Rivers state out of Eastern region.

General Gowon named Calabar the new capital of South Eastern state and appointed Brigadier Udoakaha Jacob Esuene (19361993), an Ibibio from Eket in the present Akwa- Ibom as Governor.

He also named Port-Harcourt as the new capital of Rivers state and appointed the then Lt. Commander Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff (72), an Ijaw now the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass in the present Bayelsa state, as pioneer Military Governor. Through Government notice 955 as published in Federal Government gazette volume 46, General Gowon appointed Justice Darnley Arthur Raymond Alexander from West Indies Island of St. Lucia as Chief Justice of South- Eastern state. He later became Chief Justice of the Federation 1975-1979.

General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (74), from Minna in Niger state created Akwa Ibom state on September 28, 1987 and

appointed Major General Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha (67) from Lokoja in Kogi state as pioneer Military Governor. On August 27 1991, General Babangida created Delta state with Asaba as the state capital and named Group Captain Luke Chiji Uba Ochulor from Okpofe Ezinihitte Local Government in Mbaise in Imo state as the pioneer Military Governor.

In 1992, General Badamosi Babangida through decree 23 created OIL MINERALS PRODUCING AREAS D E V E L O P M E N T COMMISSION (OMPADEC) and named Chief Albert Korumbu Horsfall(73) from Degema in the present Rivers state as the pioneer chairman of the commission.

It was the commission that gave the first job to the present President as assistant Director, a position he held before he became deputy Governor of Bayelsa state in 1999.

On October 1 1996, General Sanni Abacha (1943-1998) created Bayelsa state with Yenogoa as the state capital and appointed Captain Phillip Oladipo Ayeni from Oke-Imesi in the present Ekiti state as Military Governor. Captain Ayeni has been bedridden with stroke since February 28 1997, and is presently at a dilapidated house in Apapa in Lagos state.

Continues tomorrow on pg. 18 •Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Boko Haram: The West and Francophone WA conspiracy

By Abubakar Galadima

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ONG before the Boko Haram crisis reached the present crescendo, a former American Marine combatant, believed to be an accredited diplomat, managing one of the world’s largest private intelligence organisations, Gordon Duff; writing in an American publication, Veterans Today, had weaved a plot of how western powers, some Francophone West African countries, and some powerful Nigerians were involved in an insidious conspiracy to undermine Nigeria.

Not many took that publication serious until it was reposted last year, but recent curious happenings are proving that if Duff was not right on some scores, he definitely was in many aspects.

Today, it is public knowledge that the Americans who activated their weapons of psychological warfare through the international media and their local allies, just to have a foothold in the search for the missing 200 Chibok girls, have suggested that Nigeria moves her weapons of war from the battle field against the terrorist Boko Haram group, to a training ground in Jaji, Kaduna State.

Happily, the Nigerians have called the bluff of the meddlesome Americans, and even sent them packing by backing out of a

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training arrangement for Nigerian soldiers, because, though the Nigerian government officials did not say so, the commitment of the Americans to Nigeria to flush away the terrorists had become doubtful. Before this time, the Yankees had refused to sell to the Nigerian government needed weapons to fight Boko Haram. As if that was not enough, the US government stopped other countries from selling to Nigeria, because of , wait for it, the human rights records of the Nigerians.

What a laugh! There are so many other countries the Americans wine and dine with that make Nigeria a saint in the matter of human rights abuses.

Meantime, there is popular talk of a western lackey in the name of Amnesty International planning to release damning reports of the country’s human rights atrocities just before the February elections, all designed to further give the country a bad name in order to hang it in the diplomatic world. Interestingly, the main opposition political party in the country is enjoying the bad press and name the present government is getting because it hopes to garner political capital from it. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has in its fold a prominent Nigerian who is ever willing to do the bidding of the Americans, because they caught

him in a web of criminal activities that are drug and scam-related.

While all of these play out, the French got their fingers burnt in a terribly embarrassing situation of weapons of war on their way to Chad, a West African Francophone country, getting stuck right on Nigerian soil, because a Russian Antonov plane carrying them was forced to land in the northern Nigerian city of Kano. The French are in a frenzy to explain what the weapons were meant for, just as a senior member of Nigeria’s executive cabinet confirmed what most Nigerians had feared: that France had its hands and legs in the terrorist problem plaguing

The terrorism we have in Nigeria has internal and external dimensions to it

Nigeria.

The Nigerian minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, blamed the continued onslaught of Boko Haram terrorists on Nigeria on alleged animosity the country shares with Francophone West African countries. Suleiman said, “First, the issue of terrorism is global, regional and sub-regional.

Second, the terrorism we have in Nigeria has internal and external dimensions to it. Some of the terrorists are not just Nigerians; they are not operating from Nigeria; they are operating from Nigerian borders and they have some back up from neighbouring countries.

“When you look at Nigeria’s history, we have been consistent in the kind of animosity we share with the Francophone West African countries. Nigeria should revisit, for instance, its francophone policy. We should look at the French policy on Nigeria. We should look at the position of France to Nigeria security. We should look at what has been, over the years, the strategy in the area of politics.

What have been the relation, attitude, orientation, conduct and posture of France to Nigeria?

Again, we need to go back to what had been the attitude of France and French government to the Boko Haram issue in our effort to

fight terrorism.”

But in reaction to the less than convincing explanation by France that its army owned the choppers and other equipment stuck in Kano, the Nigerian intelligence services caused to be released comments that it was not in a hurry to release the plane.

The French had suggested that the plane was to be released. An unnamed top security official, through the intelligence services recent regular channel of communication, an agency known as PR Nigeria, said “Nigeria has no reason to release the aircraft and its cargo until investigation is concluded.”

PR Nigeria further quoted the official to have said, “In view of the evidence of active collaboration with Boko Haram terrorists by some French speaking neighbouring countries, it has become pertinent for Nigeria to be conscious and be more careful in these matters.”

The agency said while Nigerian officials have agreed to release crew members of the aircraft to the Russian Embassy in Abuja, the plane would remain detained because “the explanations so far given by the French Embassy concerning the source and destination of the cargo were less than convincing.”

•Mr. Galadima, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Bauchi, Bauchi State.

20—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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HE ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the “wanna rule” All Progressives Congress (APC) have chosen their flag-bearers for the presidential election of February 2015. The PDP, through a ratification convention on Wednesday, December 10th, affirmed President Goodluck Jonathan at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The APC took their act to Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos where Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari dusted four other contenders to the presidential ticket.

The PDP event was dull as ditchwater, since there was no contest. It is normal for an incumbent president seeking a second term in the presidential system to enjoy this political free-ride. Those who are badmouthing the president and the PDP for this are either ignorant or mischievous. If APC wins the presidency in 2015 it will stage an affirmation convention when Buhari goes for a second term in 2019.

There will only be a contest if he, in an unlikely event, owns up to his promise to do only one term.

The real thrill was with the APC primaries. Three of the aspirants – Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor Rochas Okorocha – are serial presidential contenders.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah were the only newcomers to the game. Kwankwaso surprised many by edging past Atiku into the distant second place with 974 votes leaving Atiku third with 954 votes. Buhari, as widely expected, scored a landslide win with 3,430 votes.

It was a well-organised primary and it ended in success for the party. Why not?

After all, it was based on the open-secret ballot system and a voting template which the PDP has perfected since their 1999 Jos primaries. Winners and losers watch events unfold before their eyes, and winners and losers are known long before the exercise is over.

At the end of it, former Vice President Atiku, who was

A new signpost for disaster losing the presidential bid for the fourth time, conceded defeat and congratulated Buhari. This was also a PDP innovation in Nigerian politics pioneered under the regime of the late President Umar Yar’ Adua and extended to the present under President Goodluck Jonathan. PDP lost governorship elections in Ondo, Edo and Anambra and congratulated the winners.

Atiku was the second APC politician who lost an election and congratulated the winner.

The first was former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who initially congratulated Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the winner of the June 21 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State and pledged a smooth handover. He was later overruled by his APC party, an act that set the stage for the current do-or-die power struggle, which has crippled activities in the Legislature and Judiciary in the state. The nobility of Fayemi’s concession of defeat was thus defeated and APC came out as a bad election loser. On this score, PDP is holding the higher moral ground.

Questions have arisen as to whether Atiku’s concession of defeat will result in a wholehearted support of Buhari in the campaigns ahead. Will Kwankwaso offer his support?

Will Okorocha do so? Only time will tell. But one thing is almost sure. Atiku, Kwankwaso and Okorocha are unlikely to leave

the APC or return to PDP. They are likely to stay in the party.

But will they bring out their resources and abundant energies to campaign for Buhari’s election as president?

That is something we watch to see. Politicians are selfish people. My guess is that Atiku will pipe down and roll in his tent, with minimal intervention. He will like to run

I see a contest where the margin of victory will be thin. Whoever wins will not have a landslide. It will be by a couple of millions, or even thousands of votes. A close call will be a recipe for disaster. Such a close contest, given the prevailing atmosphere and threats of forming parallel governments, could set Nigeria on fire

again in 2019 when both PDP and APC are likely to source their presidential candidates from the North. Atiku knows that if Buhari wins, his own burning presidential ambition is buried forever. He is unlikely to vie for president at 77 in 2023. In any case, the Southern elements in the party may feel it is their turn. I, therefore, see Atiku and perhaps Kwankwaso fancying another opportunity to vie in 2019.

However, whether Atiku, Kwankwaso and Okorocha will throw their weights behind Buhari or not, Buhari is going to run his most successful presidential race ever in the next two months. Those who are saying the PDP has perfected ways of defeating him should take note that this time is different. In the past, Buhari failed because he relied on regional political parties, such as the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Even though the APC started off as a regional gang-up between Arewa North and the South West mainstream, it has become more of a broad-based national political party today. It has grown beyond the original North West, North East and South West alliance. Right now, it has albeit tentative footholds in the South East (Imo) SouthSouth (Rivers and Edo) North Central (Nasarawa and Kwara).

It has strong candidates in Akwa Ibom, Benue and Kogi.

It has made inroads into the Minorities’ heartlands. If APC wins the presidential election it will take over dominance from PDP. I see a contest where the margin of victory will be thin.

Whoever wins will not have a landslide. It will be by a couple of millions, or even thousands of votes. A close call will be a recipe for disaster. Such a close contest, given the prevailing atmosphere and threats of forming parallel governments, could set Nigeria on fire. It might spell doom for our democracy.

Nigerian democracy has survived for

sixteen years because there was a dominant ruling party.

But with two parties of almost equal strength going for broke in a do-or-die manner, it might be a different story after February 2015.

We pray that the “blood of the monkey and baboon” will not mix, as a weeping Muhammadu Buhari had vowed before his ardent supporters shortly before he re-entered the race for the presidency some three years ago. Nigerian politicians threatened to make the country ungovernable if Jonathan won the 2011 polls.

He went on to win, and the Boko Haram insurgency blew out of control, losing us more than 15,000 citizens. We also hope that ex-militants of the Niger Delta, particularly Mujahid Asri Dokubo, will not unleash the arms and ammunition they have been stockpiling on the oil installations and cripple the economy if Jonathan loses.

Nigerian politicians know how to make good their threats of violence.

They have abundantly demonstrated their capacity to carry out their threats.

The only hope – a very distant one at that – is for Professor Attahiru Jega’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to eschew its regional bias, which was evident in the botched creation of additional 30,000 polling units, and give us a credible election. Only a credible election – seen to be so by the contestants and independent observers – will save Nigeria from the calamity that the strong two-party system may have foisted on us.

I congratulate APC for scaling all the hurdles to emerge as a strong national political party.

Fears had been expressed that it would not get this far. But let its coming of age, its emergence into virile manhood, be a blessing to Nigeria and not a curse. Let it fertilise our democracy rather than bring on a scorched earth.

Let the PDP and APC remember that if they destroy Nigeria there will be no country for them to govern.

OPINION

By Nnenna Ihebuzor

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ACED with the enormous challenge of overcoming Ebola earlier this year, Nigeria now has cause to celebrate. In October, the World Health Organization officially announced Nigeria as free from Ebola. Our nation applied the lessons and resources from our extremely effective polio programme to respond to Ebola. And our successful approach to stopping Ebola is now a model for other countries. Nigeria has the chance to lead again to save lives. For every mother-to-be and her newborn child in Africa, this could be a turning point.

Globally, and in Nigeria, we have made significant progress in saving the lives of women and children— more women are surviving childbirth and more children are living beyond age five than ever before. But progress on newborn survival and health has lagged.

Nigeria accounts for nearly one-quarter of Africa’s maternal and newborn deaths. In 2013, 260,000 babies died in our country in their first month of life, and an additional 295,000 were

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Time for New borns stillborn. Newborns currently account for more than 33 percent of all of our deaths of children under age 5.

We must respond to this crisis. In October, the Ministry of Health, with encouragement and support from our President, First Lady, State Governors and parliamentarians, convened the Nigerian Newborn Health Conference, a high-level advocacy event. At the convening, we addressed the newborn crises and set in place a plan that will drastically improve newborn survival in Nigeria.

Evidence that was presented from the The Lancet Every Newborn Series showed that by 2025, Nigeria could save the lives of as many as 375,000 mothers and babies each year through proven, cost-effective solutions, quality care delivered at the right time, and focused investments. These interventions can turn the tide for newborns and continue to advance progress for women and children in Nigeria.

Our government responded by making a

commitment to newborns and their mothers by signing the Call to Action to Save Newborn Lives, initiating the drafting of the Nigerian Every Newborn Action Plan (NENAP). The NENAP has the potential to be the nation’s most ambitious plan to date to save the lives of mothers and babies who are currently dying at alarming rates. The rest of Africa will be watching. If significant progress in maternal and newborn survival around the time of birth can be achieved in Nigeria, it very likely can be done in their country as well.

Nigeria has proved a leader on health challenges like Ebola, and it is time for Nigeria to lead once more. We have the evidence and we know the strategies needed to create a change that will forever shape the lives of mothers and newborns across our continent. The time to act is now. Let us not miss this moment.

*Dr. Ihebuzor, is Director, Health Systems, National Primary Health Development Agency.

DECEMBER 15, 2014

INDUCTION: From left, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) representative, Mr. Abubakar Ambursa; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar N. Onyema (OON), and Executive Director, Market Operations & Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo at the induction ceremony for newly qualified authorized dealing clerks of the exchange in Lagos.

CBN begins mop-up of N1.2trn to curb inflation

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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eginning from this week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will commence the withdrawal of N1.2 trillion from the economy in its bid to maintain single digit inflation and reduce demand for foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, the Financial Derivatives Company has predicted 200 basis points drop in inflation to 7.9 percent for November, from 8.1 percent in October.

In order to achieve its objective of single digit interest rate, the CBN has persistently pursued a tight money supply policy, through aggressive mop up of idle cash (excess liquidity) in the banking system, by selling treasury

bills.

Treasury bills (TBs) are short term government debt instruments. They are usually issued by central banks to borrow money on behalf of the government from the public. They are also used to control the amount of money in the economy.

In continuation of its tight money supply policy, the CBN announced that from this week till first week in March of 2015, it would sell N1.22 trillion worth of treasury bills. The TBs come in three variant of 91 days, 182 days and 365 days. This week the CBN intends to sell N248 billion worth of TBs comprising N55.41 billion worth of 91 days TBs, N83.13 worth of 182 days TBs and N110.4 billion worth of 365 days TBs.

In January 2015 the apex bank intends to sell N385 billion worth of TBs comprising N80 billion worth of 91 days TBs, N98 billion worth of 182 days TBs and N205 billion worth of 365 days TBs. In February, the apex bank will sell N77.62 billion worth of 91 days TBs, N60 billion worth of 182 days TBs and N197 billion worth of 365 days TBs, totalling N334 billion worth of TBs to be sold in February. In the first week of March, the CBN will sell N254.95 billion worth of TBs comprising N17.85 billion worth of 91 days TBs, N50 billion worth of 182 days TBs and N187 billion worth of TBs. Investigation however reveals that the treasury bills are being issued to withdraw cash injection from TBs that

would mature within this period.

Analysis show that payment for the matured TBs would have resulted into cash injection of N1.22 trillion and hence undermine the decision of the CBN to rid the banking system of idle cash (excess liquidity).

The apex bank at its last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting had blamed the recent upsurge in foreign exchange demand on the excess liquidity in the banking system. The Committee in its communiqué stated, “Available data indicates that banking system liquidity has been lavishly deployed in pursuit of speculative foreign exchange trading at the shortend of the market.” As a result, it increased the cash reserve requirement (CRR) of banks on private sector deposit to 20 percent from 15 percent, while it increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 13 percent from 12 percent.

Defending the decision of the apex bank during an oversight visit by the House Committee on Banking Currency, CBN Deputy Governor, (Corporate Services), Mr. Bayo Adelabu, said, “We believe that the pressure on the naira, apart from the declining oil prices is also as a result of liquidity in the banking industry whereby a lot of frivolous demands for foreign exchange are being made by customers of banks, because the banks are able to extend credits to them. We are saying no. We want you to lend to the critical and productive sectors of the economy not trading, not to import toothpicks. So we are saying that the only thing we can do to reduce the capacity of the banks to grant loans to these customers for trading is to mop up more of the monies available to the banks, which is why we increased the CRR on private sector deposits to 20 percent from 15 percent, which will amount to about N500 billion withdrawal from the banking industry.

We believe it will reduce the pressure on the foreign reserves. If we don’t do that, the impact on the common man is going to be increased cost of production.”

Inflation falls to 7.9% in November

Meanwhile, analysts at Financial Derivative Company (FDC) have predicted 7.9 percent inflation. They Continues on page 22 C M Y K

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Cover Story

Vocation & technical education: Key to improving Nigeria’s development (1)

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DISCOURSE: From left, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and guest lecturer, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro; Former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof.

Placid Njoku; Registrar/CEO, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Dr. Godwin Oyediji; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin), University of Ibadan, Prof. Emilolorun Ayelari; and Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan , Prof. Isaac Adewole at the Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan, 62nd Interdisciplinary Research Discourse, held at the University in Ibadan, Oyo State.

CBN begins mop-up of N1.2trn to curb inflation Continues from page 21 however warn that increased political spending ahead of the general election and increased demand for foreign exchange might exert upward pressure on the inflation rate.

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ccording to the FDC Economic Bulletin released on Friday, “FDC’s projection of Nigeria’s headline inflation in November is 7.9 percent yearon-year (y-o-y), a moderation from the level in October of 8.1%. The marginal decline in money supply, slight increase in agricultural and the continuous fall in global commodity prices (index declined by 11.74 percent year-to-date are major factors contributing to the projected decline in the headline inflation” “If the rate comes in at 7.9 percent, it will be within the CBN target range for 2014.

The CBN will not be swayed by this decline considering the impact of the devaluation of the currency on prices.

Therefore, the hawkish stance of the CBN is not expected to change.

Furthermore, the rate of change in consumer prices will be within the CBN 6 percent -9 percent band. This is partly due to the contractionary monetary policy and low global commodity prices. “Our November 2014 Lagos urban inflation survey revealed a decline in consumer prices from the previous month’s C M Y K

level. FDC’s Lagos urban inflation declined to 7.66 percent y-o-y compared to the 8.11 percent y-o-y recorded in October. This is the fifth consecutive month that the Lagos urban index has decreased. The non-food index declined to 8.45 per cent from 9.09 per cent in November while the harvest dependent food index also rose to 6.33 per cent from 6.09 per cent in the previous month as market inventories decline.” On inflation outlook for December and January, the company said, “The pressure

on the naira is expected to be sustained at the interbank market in the near term as foreign investors take out their funds to mitigate possible political risks as the elections draw near. Increased fiscal overdrive and political spending will increase money supply. In addition, the psychological and artificial scarcity of petroleum products at the end of every year is likely to have negative implication on transportation costs. These are major concerns for consumer prices in December 2014 through January 2015.”

Absence of export logistics makes trade expensive — NEPC

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

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igerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has said that the absence of export logistics in the African region has made trade expensive. Executive Director/CEO NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, stated this during an interactive forum on “Export Logistics: Bridging the Gap,” held in Lagos.

“The absence of vessels of African origin has made trade across the region not only cumbersome but expensive," he said. Awolowo who was represented by his Director, NEPC, Abuja, Mr. Olajide Ibrahim, said that the capacity to connect to international markets using effective trade logistics is critical for developing countries to improve

their competitiveness, reap the benefits of globalization and fight poverty more effectively in an increasingly integrated world.

“Therefore, we must work together to identify the gaps in the export logistics processes and address it appropriately.

“The market leadership in global economy requires global supply chain-suppliers, carriers, agents, customs and government agencies and distribution network that can react quickly to changes in the global environment and adapt to long unforeseen developments. “To be a world class player and a game changer in the global economy requires supply networks that are efficient, streamlined and are able to move quickly to balance three variables."

echnical education is a the banking sector. Without planned programme of security, development is courses and learning impossible in a society; no experiences that begins with nation can sustain its exploration of career options, democracy if the citizens lack supports basic academic and confidence in the police. The life skills, and enables police violate the citizens’ achievement of high academic human and civil rights and standards, leadership, lack forensic laboratory and preparation for industryfingerprint technicians to defined work, and advanced conduct criminal and continuing education. investigations. And due to Vocational education and poor training, military officers training prepares learners for are known to beat up the careers that are based in citizens who challenge their manual or practical activities, powers and go scot free for traditionally non-academic their inhumane actions. and totally related to a specific The danger posed by trade, occupation or vocation. environmental pollution and In other words, it is an fake drugs is alarming. The “education designed to less educated in the society develop occupational skills.” lack the skill to manage AIDS, Vocational and technical cancer and diabetes among education gives individuals other serious health problems. the skills to “live, learn and One wonders what the work as a productive citizen nation’s health minister and in a global society.” the 36 state health Technical and vocational commissioners are doing to education has been an integral tackle these issues. Every part of national development good citizen is aware that the strategies in many societies neglect of technical and because of its impact on vocational education is productivity and economic socially and economically development. Despite its injurious, because it is robbing contributions the leaders of the nation of the contributions Nigeria have not given this the graduates would make on aspect of education the national development. For attention it deserves, and this that Nigeria is today wearing is one of the reasons for the the toga of a poor state. nation’s underdevelopment.

Although technical and This article focuses on the vocational education seem dearth of skilled technical and deficient in ‘citizenship or vocational manpower in leadership training’ (Friedman Nigeria and argues that 1982). It provides students technical and with “life skills to vocational b e c o m e education productive holds the key entrepreneurs as to national it engenders development. creative and Technical and innovative ideas, Every facet of the enlarge the vocational economy has economic pie, and education has increase personal been affected by lack of been an freedom. Most of s k i l l e d so-called integral part the technicians. “expatriate of national The financial engineers” who sector lacks are being paid development technicians to millions of dollars strategies in to build Nigeria’s regulate the banks and to many societies roads and bridges d e v e l o p graduates of because of its are financial technical and software to vocational impact on properly Yet the productivity colleges. tackle the leaders do not r i s i n g and economic take technical fraudulent nstitutions development iseriously. activities in

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 23

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resident Goodluck Jonathan in his June 2012 Democracy day broadcast stirred the hornet’s nest. He raised fundamental issues of the economy, some of which with the benefit of hindsight were wishes as usual with Nigerian leaders. He said during the broadcast: “We must use our population to create markets for what we produce. We must grow local, buy local and eat local.

To promote this, I have directed that all official functions of government serve local foods, especially our local rice and cassava bread and other foods. In the State House, I am faithfully keeping to my promise of eating cassava bread and local rice.”

This is December 2014; Mr. President, is cassava bread still being served in State House Abuja? Is the President being served local rice? How has the President kept his promise to ensure that all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies buy locally made goods? How many hotels in Nigeria serve local rice and cassava bread? Does the yearly Christmas package from Mr. President, governors, ministers and others contain made in Nigeria items? The key to Nigeria's survival, economically, is local production. at reduced Nigerians must buy Nigerian price, what products to encourage further happens to production and generate the byemployment opportunities. products The need to promote locally associated made goods is more pressing w i t h now that government has petroleum introduced austerity measures refining? to conserve the nation’s Who keeps foreign reserves.

The t h e President and his team must proceeds? return to the basics. They must W h a t lead by example. They must business show the nation that they mean has Nigeria business to carry all along in importing the bid to rebuild the Nigerian fuel? Is it economy. Ministers and other not a functionaries must take a cue shame that from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala we have who wears Nigerian attire used up anywhere she is in the world. the nation’s It is not about slogans but •President Goodluck Jonathan foreign matching words with reserve measurable actions. importing products we should Yes, Nigeria has a huge as well as the traditional be producing locally? When population that could technology applied to farming.

President Barack Obama came Besides, the land tenure constitute a big market, but out on the American political system and its availability of the 160 million Nigerians scene, he invented a slogan: make commercial farming a alive today, official figures put "Yes America, Yes we can." He mirage.

112 million as poor. It is the promised Americans that Has this President asked purchasing power in the hands during his tenure, he will himself the question why in of the individual, the ensure that America depends the world Nigeria should be disposable income that less on imported crude oil. exporting crude oil and constitutes a market. A large Five years down the line, importing finished petroleum proportion of the adult and America is about becoming a products?

This President is youth population are net exporter of crude. That has well aware that about 445,000 unemployed; yes, the market dented Nigeria's foreign barrels of crude oil meant for potential is here but not earnings. That is a man who local refining are sent to realistically the way the is a president indeed. Mr. foreign refineries by NNPC for President wants us to see it.

President, Nigeria has to refining and brought back to Rice and cassava farming in produce local. Industries have the country as finished Nigeria today is constrained by to source local raw materials. imported products for which access to finance and the small By now, the expectation is that subsidy is paid.

Apart from the holding nature of the farmers fact that the crude was sourced Nigeria would have built up

Rebuilding Nigeria's economy is a task that must be done facilities to process all its exportable produce and sell in the international market at higher price. Why is Nigeria still exporting raw cocoa?

Cocoa should have been turned into semi-finished product so that those who can not sleep without tasting chocolate will come asking for it. Why should Nigeria be importing cotton and its seeds when there is an expanse of uncultivated lands lying fallow all over the cotton belt?

Nigerians' expectation of Jonathan’s transformation agenda is identifying out-ofthe-box innovative technology options that would add significant value for smallholder farmers in agriculture, encourage mass local manufacturing and processing of raw materials by reducing inefficiencies in the value chains, especially the harvest and post-harvest value chain elements. The roadmap to transforming the economy is massive investment, local and foreign.

While it is important to seek to attract foreign direct investment into the country, creating the ministry and Presidential directives to buy Nigerian and eat Nigerian menus are no baits for foreign investors to want to come to Nigeria. Globally, investors are interested in places where their return on investments is high. Nigeria certainly qualifies as investors have

found out that they reap higher benefits if they invest in Nigeria. The few that have done so, despite the challenges of infrastructure, have found this to be true. Yet, Nigeria is not a haven to foreign investors. Many investors who speak privately to Nigerians at investment fora are quick to point out that in Nigeria, there is no sanctity of contract and property rights are not clearly defined.

Most foreign investors see this as the most inhibiting factor that scares away wouldbe investors. They are not worried about the lack of infrastructure as is always claimed by those who explain away the Nigerian situation.

Shell, Mobil, Chevron, MTN, UACN and others know too well the infrastructural deficiency in the country, yet they invested and are reaping the benefits.

The truth is that both local and foreign investors are wary of investing in Nigeria because the state and its agents have no respect for property rights and sanctity of contract. They are worried that if they invest in Nigeria, their investment can be taken over by the state. Contracts have been breached with impunity by federal and state agents and servants who have outright disregard for court orders. Mr. President, it is time to match your words with action so that others can learn and fall in line.

Business & Economy FG to save N128bn through cassava inclusion in bread —FIIRO The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) in Oshodi has said that proper application of five per cent cassava inclusion in bread baking will save the nation about N128 billion in foreign exchange. Dr. Gloria Elemo, the Director General of FIIRO, said this at a capacity building seminar of the Commerce and Industry Association of Nigeria in Lagos. The theme of the seminar was: “Industrial Infrastructure Development: The Private and Public Initiatives”.

Elemo said that Nigeria would be saving N128 billion that ought to be used for wheat importation.

She also said the initiative was capable of generating three million jobs in the cassava value chain. ‘’l believe it is a policy that should be given a serious and speedy consideration by the National Assembly to ensure proper implementation,” Elemo said.

She said over 1,200 graduates were trained in 2013 on various skills such as machine fabrication and

commodity processing, among others. She rated Nigeria very low in Research and Development (R&D).

“The R & D investment in Nigeria only accounts for 0.01 per cent of global expenditure and consequently ranked 94 out of 134 nations in global competitiveness in 2010,” she said.

She called for huge investments in research, technology and innovation to achieve the nation’s aspiration to become a developed economy in the near future.

WORKSHOP - From left:Mr.Rotimi Omotoso, the Registrar, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN);Mr.Ayo Oni, Past President of ICAN; Mr.Chidi Ajaegbu, President of ICAN, and Alhaji Razaak Jaiyeola, Council Member of ICAN at a one-day workshop for Not-for-Profit Organisations organised by ICAN in Lagos.

24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Economy

Nigerian fiscal austerity is a moral armament

By ROBERTS ORYA

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f all the policy options at the disposal of the Federal Government in response to the recent slump in the price of crude oil, fiscal austerity is the most morally justified. It is also the least risky option. But as with all economic policies, there are countervailing arguments. So, we can decide to maintain fiscal deficit at the same level. Or find some reasons to widen the gap between Government’s revenue and expenditure. This would be in the hope of financing the fiscal deficit by issuing bonds (debt capital) or increasing money supply through quantitative easing (printing money).

Raising the level of debt at a time of dwindling revenue is both unrealistic and problematic. The debt finance would be more expensive.

Investors would be swayed to buy the bonds only if they offer higher risk premiums. But then the higher cost of raising the financing also comes with two additional problems. One involves the reputational damage to the Government as the market would perceive the pricey issuances as junk bonds.

The other problem is that such bonds, being sovereign issuances, would invariably set very high benchmarks for corporate bonds. Nigerian banks and other private sector issuers would have to pay higher costs for raising debt capital in the international capital market. In the end, this option would be too costly; not only for Government, but also for the private sector.

If the Government therefore ditches debt capital financing for quantitative easing, as has been suggested in some quarters, the implications would also be dire. There would be no escape from the consequences; the inflationary expectations that would greet the policy would be self-fulfilling. Out through the window would go price stability which has been achieved by this Administration through monetary policy. Not only would this affect affordability by the citizens, the ensuing inflationary outlook would deter private capital flows and investment in the country.

Quantitative easing might have become very appealing because of its effect in stimulating the U.S. economy to growth since the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009. But there C M Y K

is a fundamental difference in the structural composition of the Nigerian economy and that of the United States. Besides, while the U.S. Federal Reserve’s QE diffused volatility risks around the world, similar policy in Nigeria would mainly localize the risks as we don’t have the reach of the U.S. economy. To underscore the fact that the success of quantitative easing is not beyond question, the policy has produced in Japan the very opposite of its accomplishment in the United States. The Japanese economy has returned into a recession, making a monkey out of the Abenomics mantra.

The reason why Nigeria would pursue either of the two policies of raising debt capital or printing money, as opposed to fiscal retrenchment, is to create a false impression that no serious adjustment is necessary in response to lower revenue by the Government on account of the fallen oil prices. This is completely out of nature with the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. In the past five years, the Government has been very pragmatic and honest in implementing needed reforms in the country. The Administration has backed the necessary tough choices that policymakers have made in maintaining healthy macroeconomic variables.

Examples include tight monetary policy, reforms in the banking industry and tighter regulation of the capital market.

The Administration has also made a shift with regard to public debt. At the time of above-$100-a-barrel oil price, the fiscal regime had opted for consolidation, to slow down the rate of growth of public debt.

External borrowing was tied to infrastructural projects, an example being the $1 billion Eurobond that was successfully issued in 2013. While the Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME) and Honourable Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has assured of government’s commitments to development of infrastructure, the strategy is not and cannot be to fuel public debt at an inauspicious time as we are in. Instead of that, and rightly so, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has announced spending cuts in the areas that will not hurt the economy – international travels and consolidation of some government agencies whose functions seem to overlap

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. as recommended by the Stephen Oronsaye Report. This will be complemented by raising more tax revenue.

The best scenario of raising public debt to fund infrastructural projects under the ensuing fiscal head wind is that future generation of Nigerians will have the benefits of the infrastructure and also the burden of repayment of the loans.

However, a different proposition that is morally unassailable is to fund infrastructure without also bequeathing a debt overhang on the future generation.

Yes, whereas the response of the U.S. economy to quantitative easing has been positive so far, fiscal austerity in much of the Eurozone has perpetuated weak economic performance. While the U.S. economy is now growing at above 3 per cent annualized, Europe continues to have a combination of mediocre growth and economic contraction. Italy has just fallen into triple-deep recession. As a result of these, fiscal austerity has become an orphan. But the jury is out on what the outcome of QE in the Eurozone would be, and whether the U.S. will face a painful adjustment with the end of QE3.

Raising the level of debt at a time of dwindling revenue is both unrealistic and problematic.

The debt finance would be more expensive

Even then, there are fundamental differences between Europe — where austerity measures have proved to make matters worse before possible improvement — and Nigeria — where austerity measures are expected to help in managing external shock and also help intensify structural transformation of the economy.

Europe introduced fiscal austerity when and where public debt had reached unsustainable levels, almost equal to or exceeding the GDP. But the level of Nigeria’s public debt is sustainable, well under 40 percent of GDP ceiling. As a result of the financial crisis and the public debt crisis, southern Europe especially had plunged into a recession. But GDP growth has been very solid in Nigeria. Even with the cuts in the GDP growth projections as a result of the fallen oil prices, Nigeria will grow at above 5 per cent this 2014 and in 2015.

Again, because austerity measures in troubled Southern European countries were imposed by their senior partners in the Eurozone and the IMF, the standard conditionalities for the financing left policymakers in the countries no legroom for manoeuver. But the austerity measures that have recently been declared in Nigeria are not an external imposition. The Government has a lot of headroom in applying the policy. Therefore, spending cuts have been applied to areas that are in the least likely to constrain growth.

Nigeria’s austerity measures are not just a belt-tightening framework. It is an opportunity to improve fiscal management and widen the tax net.

Following the recent rebasing of the Nigerian GDP, the economy became 89 per cent bigger than the previous size.

But as a result, Nigeria’s taxto-GDP ratio became much smaller, magnifying the

problem of low tax base. Right away, tax on luxury goods has been announced. In that one stroke, the tax will help government to generate additional revenue and at the same time help in redistributing income. When the new tax on luxury properties are viewed alongside the areas that the Government wants to cut expenditures, it becomes apparent that the initial responses of the Administration are decidedly pro-poor; the cuts are unlikely to hurt the middle class and less fortunate Nigerians. These initial steps should assure the generality of Nigerians that the Government is very mindful of protecting our economic interests if and when additional measures touch areas that are likely to have wider reach.

As has been acknowledged, every crisis presents an opportunity. Lower oil prices may not change in a hurry.

Indeed, the CME, Dr. OkonjoIweala, has said the Government takes the view that lower oil prices are most likely to remain permanent. In that case, the structural transformation that has gained pace under this Administration, as attested by the GDP rebasing, will now intensify.

The main reason why very adverse conditions are not immediately expected in Nigeria (and may never become a reality) is because the Nigerian GDP growth is led by the non-oil sectors. Oil revenue will hurt government revenue.

But the economy can adjust and cope with that. Growth in services, agriculture and manufacturing will remain on track and will help create jobs.

Even within the oil and gas sector, we are seeing a structural transformation at play.

The implementation of the power sector reform has suddenly increased domestic demand for gas. The thermal power stations – existing and those coming on stream – have made gas a local commodity.

Similarly, I foresee the situation whereby the Nigerian oil will essentially serve the domestic market. Industrial activities have begun to grow and will likely reach a tipping point in a few years, transforming Nigeria into an industrial hub.

At that time, the price of oil will matter very little for Nigeria.

Indeed, higher oil price at that time would hurt us because most of Nigeria’s oil would be sold locally. The country would be more concerned about increasing the oil reserves so that Nigeria’s oil would continue to be available to fuel its economic growth. At such a time, we would look back to this Administration and appreciate the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as being well-appointed.

Implementation of non-oil growth dimension of the Transformation Agenda has been the pre-occupation of NEXIM Bank in the last five years. It will remain so. zRoberts Orya is MD/CEO, Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 25

Business & Economy

Nigeria requires $113bn to revamp 3 critical sectors of economy —BPE BOSS

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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he Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki says Nigeria requires fresh injection of about $113 billion in six years for the development of three critical sectors of the nation’s economy, namely Oil and Gas, Power and Transport.

He made this known in a paper presented at the Annual General Meeting of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN entitled: Making Nigeria Work – A dialogue between the Real Sector and the Reformer.

To modernize the Nigerian transport system, he said investments of about $33 billion will be required in six years for Roads and Rails development to undertake rehabilitation and modernisation of the Nigerian Railway and the construction of new Road networks across the country.

He also stated that in the next six years, Nigeria will require about $18 - $20 billion of investment in the power sector. He posited that the current reforms in the sector has enabled the private sector to invest in the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and in new projects.

Dikki further noted that Nigeria will require about $60 billion investments in Oil & Gas sector in the next six years, to unleash the potentials in the Sector.

According to him, “government was not in a

position to finance all these investment requirements, thus the private sector needs to participate in investing in the various sectors of Oil and Gas, roads, railways, inland water ways and so on.

“It is in order to attract these needed private sector investments that government through the transformation agenda is fine-tuning policies and legal and regulatory frameworks to give confidence to the private sector to invest.

He emphasised that the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and transport bills midwifed by BPE will be critical.”

The BPE boss added that without the passage of the bills, the country is estimated to be losing for example additional revenue of about US

$287 million in accruals to government from the three Production Sharing Contracts every month the PIB is not passed On the impact of reform and privatisation on the nation’s economy, the Director General said the BPE has concluded reforms in eight sectors of the economy namely Telecommunications, Power, Banking and Finance, Marine, Mining, Industrial, Steel, and Oil and Gas, Government has also so far Privatized 123 enterprises including the recently concluded Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN successor companies and realised over N564.3 billion.

Dikki further noted that the reform of the telecommunications and

banking sectors remain so far the most successful in terms of their impact on the Nigerian economy. He added that Nigeria’s tele-density has been raised from about 450,000 telephone lines in 2001 to over 134.5 million as at September 2014.

He also disclosed that access to telecommunication facilities has greatly improved the ease of doing business and especially improved ease of communications between business partners thereby reducing costs; increased the number of employees in the telecom sector, GSM phone sellers, repairers and recharge card sellers. On the volume of investment in the sector, he said the telecom sector ’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP is now 8.53 per cent, compared to less than three per cent in 2001.

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Unilever Nigeria Plc, under the instance of its NESCAFE youth entrepreneurship empowerment program has rewarded the winner with $20, 000 (N3.36million).

The winner Adamu Muazu, from Kogi state, developed what he called power optimizer, which was designed to help increase the output performance of generating sets, helping it to power more appliances without causing damage.

To arrive at the winner, the NESCAFE #GetstartedAfrica toured cities in central and West Africa to collect works of young Africans for the competition.

The Managing Director, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, represented by Head, Human Resources, Marie Owoniyi, said that because NESCAFE believes in the young people of Central and West Africa, who are full of dreams and are changing the status quo, overturning conventions and creating new things with every shift, twist and turn and because they rewriting the rules and setting a new agenda moved the company to embark on the competition.

NBC restates commitment to environmental sustainability

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UNVEILING - From left Mr Anselm Alokha, Business Manager, Nigerian Breweries PLC ; Mr Moses Ogbodo, Regional Business Manager, Lagos; Mr Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, and Mr Steve Onu, Yaw, Radio Presenter at the unveiling of Ace Passion Apple Spark drink by Nigerian Breweries PLC in Lagos.

Experts call for review of investment channels in Insurance Act ome capital market o p e r a t o r s have called for review of investment channels in the insurance industry as contained in the Insurance Act 2003 .

They told newsmen in Lagos that the review was necessary to win the confidence of majority of Nigerians to the sector.

They said that the people’s apathy to insurance products was responsible for its poor performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and economic development.

Mr Adebayo Adeleke, National Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said the 2003 Act should be reviewed to

Entrepreneurial skill: Unilever gives winner N3.3m

accommodate investment in other sectors.

Adeleke said that the concentration of the sector on money and capital markets instruments would retard its growth. According to him, voluntary mergers and acquisitions with incentives should be encouraged for insurance companies to transact into big businesses.

He said that the industry had yet to take its pride of place as an engine room for development and capital formation due to lack of trust.

“The directors and shareholders should scrutinise expenses to control excesses of managerial capitalists who are feeding fat at the expense of seed providers.

“There remains a pervasive negative impression about the industry. It bothers on trust.

Captains of the industry are not ready to roll up their sleeves and penetrate the mass market. So, insurance remains very elitist,” Adeleke said. He stated that the poor operational results, occasioned by bloated expenses and non-payment of dividends contributed to dismal performance of the stocks on NSE. Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, a former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) should introduce stiffer sanctions for illegal operators to create sanity in the industry.

Unegbu said that operators in the industry should come together and review their code of conduct to ensure integrity and transparency.

“The insurance industry has failed to contribute its quota to economic growth and development due to investors’ apathy to insurance products due to non-payment of claims by some firms. Investors will continue to shun insurance stocks on the NSE if erring and illegal operators are not sanctioned,” he said.

Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., said that many insurance companies on the NSE had yet to improve after the financial meltdown.

he Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC Limited, one of the companies promoting sustainable packaging by light –weighting and recycling beverage containers within the beverage industry has once again demonstrated its commitment to conducting its business activities responsibly with due regard to environmental impact and sustainable performance.

As part of its Extended Producers Responsibility initiative, NBC has recently donated a bailer, (a machine used to compress Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, cans, etc.) to Wecyclers Nigeria Limited, a beverage packaging waste collector to support the organisation’s expansion of its current waste collection capacity, leading to packaging recycling.

Over the years, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited has implemented laudable programmes on energy efficiency, water conservation and promoting sustainable packaging focusing on the reduction of carbon footprint by engaging with business partners to actively explore solutions to a “green” culture that supports sustainability.

26 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 27

Banking & Finance

CBN’s stabilization cash boost for power sector players

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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H

opes of stable power supply in the country have received another boost with the introduction of the N213 billion Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (NEMSF) designed to address obstacles to increasing power generation.

The successful privatization of the PHCN successor companies last year had raised hopes that Nigerians would soon begin to experience significant improvement in power supply. But almost a year after new owners took over the five generating companies and 10 distribution companies, power generation has remained below the 4000 megawatts, and most times dropping below 2000 megawatts.

Breaking the Gas barrier A major factor for this below expectation performance was the issue of gas supply, as most of the power generating plants are gas based and their output depends on gas supply.

Though the generating companies were willing to increase power output, they are however constrained by inadequate gas supply.

Standing between them and adequate gas supply was ….debt. The debt was for gas supplied to the power companies while they were owned and managed by the PHCN successor companies.

The gas companies insisted that the new owners have to pay this debt before they can increase and guarantee gas supply. Their argument was that they needed the money to increase production capacity required to raise gas supply.

But because the power companies could not increase power generation, they had challenge generating enough revenue to be able to repay the debt to the gas companies.

Realising the potential danger of this vicious circle to the possibility of recouping the loans they had extended to fund the power sector reform, and also to the nation’s objective of adequate and stable power supply, banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the aegis of Bankers Committee in September decided to step into the matter by helping the power companies to repay the debt to the gas companies.

Briefing Journalists at the end of the Committee’s meeting in September, Managing Director, Ecobank

Ecobank donates malaria prevention kits

MEETING - From left, Executive Director, Corporate Banking Group, FirstBank, Adetokunbo Abiru; Managing Director and Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, Group Executive, Institutional Banking Group, FirstBank, Basirat Odunewu; and Chief Treasurer, FirstBank, Ini Ebong at the FirstBank Business Breakfast Meeting in Lagos.

Nigeria, Jibril Aku, said the Committee resolved to service the debt, to enhance gas supply and boost power output in the country. Aku said the banks will recover the fund from the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) deductions.

He said the Bankers’ Committee is willing to support the initiative with government, where a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be set up to provide loans to clear the debt, and overtime, the loan would be recovered through MYTO tariff deduction.

Aku said the essence of the power transformation programme is to achieve efficiency and improve power supply, which was constrained by gas shortage.

He said: “Obviously, gas coming into the power stations would affect the revenue.

Many of the operators have not raised their production capacity because of shortage of gas. The gas companies have always been agitating that this debt be paid; otherwise, they will not produce and will begin to accumulate new debts. The Committee believes that most of the problems associated with gas-to-power would be resolved and Nigeria will begin to see a generating company that is inspired to increase power generation.”

That decision materialised into the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilsation Facility (NEMSF) which became effective last month following the signing of the Definitive Agreements by the CBN, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Power and Nigeria Electricity Commission.

Features of the Facility

According to the guidelines, the NEMSF is aimed at settling certain outstanding debts in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) amounting to 213 billion and guarantee the take-off of the Transitional Electricity Market (“TEM”). In specific terms, the proposed facility will cover legacy gas debts and the shortfall in revenue during the Interim Rule Period (IRP). The facility will be administered through deposit money banks. The Facility will be disbursed at the rate of 10 percent per annum.

The tenure shall not be more than 10 years. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that complies with section 31 of CBN Act 2007 will serve as an intermediary between the banks and the Electricity market players. Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shall reset the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) to ensure that it provides for the loan

Today’s commitment will bring to the grid an additional 2.5 billion cubic feet per day of gas over the period from now till 2017

repayment including the costs of setting up and operating the NEMSF. The other power sector value chain players must also agree to specific service related commitments which include the following: Gas Suppliers to commit to assured gas supply at higher volumes; Generating companies (GENCOs) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to commit to utilizing the funds for equipment/infrastructure acquisition, refurbishment and/or upgrade; All parties that are licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to operate in the electricity market to accept to be immediately bound by performance agreements signed with the relevant authorities including the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

All parties will also be subject to additional oversight mechanism to be developed by NERC and CBN to ensure business continuity and that all power sector players meet obligations that are critical for continued electricity supply.

A New Gas Market Speaking at the signing of the Definitive Agreement in Abuja, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the intervention would reset the economics of the power sector and address liquidity challenges.

cobank has donated malaria prevention kits worth several millions of naira to various schools and healthcare Centers in rural communities across Nigeria being part of activities to mark “Ecobank Day ”, observed simultaneously in 36 African countries where Ecobank is present. Ecobank Day which is an annual event is a community action day set aside for the bank staff to directly engage with and render service to the community.

The 2014 edition with the theme: Malaria Prevention & Control in Sub-Saharan Africa saw Ecobank Nigeria staff offering the malaria prevention supplies that includes easy to use SD Malaria Testing Kits, Mosquito Treated Nets and Mosquito Repellant Creams to pupils and officials in 9 schools and 9 basic healthcare centers across the geo-political zones of the country.

Some of the healthcare centres and schools visited include St Kizito Clinic, Jakande Estate Lekki Lagos; Cherubim & Seraphim Primary School, Majidun, Ikorodu Lagos; Community Basic Primary School, Ladogan, Iseyin, Oyo State; Government Secondary School, Jos; Queen Amina College in Kaduna and Eastern Academy Onitsha, among others.

Six Winners Emerge in Sterling Bank’s Promo

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ix lucky winners with Sterling Bank Arsenal accounts will have the privilege of an all- expenses paid trip to watch home matches involving Arsenal Football Club and other top clubs in the English Premier League at the Emirates in the first Sterling Bank Gunners Promo.

The six lucky winners who were picked at the promo draw held at the Sterling Towers, the Bank’s corporate head office in Lagos to watch the Arsenal versus Aston Villa match are Olaiya Joseph Rotimi; Oduntan Femi Abimbola; Oseni Adekunle; Segun John; Tamunokubie Tamunobarao and Obi Blessing Uwachukwu.

An excited Rotimi, when called during the draw expressed his gratitude to the Bank for fulfilling its promise to reward owners of Arsenal Accounts. Although he stated that the account was not opened for the purpose of the draw, “but to identify with a bank supporting the darling team of millions of Nigerians."

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28 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Corporate Finance

Economy exposed to geopolitical, currency risks — EXPERT We are impressed with Access Bank capital markets activities – EMEA Finance

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he publisher and CEO of EMEA Finance M a g a z i n e , Christopher Moore has commended Access Bank Plc for its impressive dealings in the capital market. This was done at the EMEA Finance award ceremony which was held recently in London. At the ceremony, Access Bank, which was nominated in a keenly contested category, emerged victorious as the Best Local Bank in Africa.

While presenting the award to the Bank, Christopher Moore said “Access Bank’s interim results show impressive growth not just in income and profit, but also in the bank’s loan portfolio and deposit base.

These accomplishments are testament to a strong management team and business. Additionally, we are impressed with the bank’s capital markets activity, which includes the bank’s second international bond issuance raising US$400mn and its upcoming rights issue”, says Tim Burke, editor of EMEA Finance Magazine”.

12 finalists emerge in UBA Foundation National Essay Competition

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welve finalists have been announced in UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition.

UBA Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR arm of the UBA Group.

The competition, which is open to all students of Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria, is a follow up on the Foundation’s Read Africa Initiative and aims at providing a competitive platform to develop the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students in Nigeria.

The competition has been held annually since 2011 with students being challenged to write on different engaging topics. This year, students were asked to write on the topic “Is Social Media a safe place to make friends?” The 12 finalists emerged from the nearly 2,000 entries received from students who wrote the essay.

By PETER EGWUATU

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he recent decline in the trading activities at the Nigerian stock market has been attributed to exposure of the geo-political and currency risks facing the country.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc , Oluwatoyin Sanni, who disclosed this during a workshop for capital market correspondents held recently in Lagos said, ”Nigerian Economy is greatly exposed to geopolitical, geo- economic and currency risks which are forcing foreign investors to withdraw their funds from the stock market."

She stated that the Nigerian capital market is currently facing some challenges that must be addressed in order to sustain the market recovery and prevent another crash and adverse effect on the economy.

Sanni, who delivered a paper titled 'Sustaining Capital Market Recovery' at the workshop said, “The recent decline in the stock market activities is partly caused by the upcoming general election in 2015 as most of the foreign and local investors are being apprehensive of the likely outcome of the election. They are being cautious and thus are selling their stocks.”

According to her, “some international and local investors have withdrawn their investments in anticipation of the outcome of the election.”

Sanni further noted that the drop in oil price and perceived policy inadequacies also affected the international investors' confidence, adding that relatively low daily traded values and low turnover are being recorded at the stock market.

She added that the insecurity in the country is also a challenge to the Nigerian stock market recovery.

According to Sanni, the low financial literacy and low financial inclusion are also part of the hindrances to the growth of the capital market, adding that the lack of diversification options is a challenge in the market as few products are available to investors.

She noted that the financial sector still dominates the trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange , which invariably affects the growth of the market

She also said that the Nigeria’s Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs currently have limited exposure to equity market

adding that PFAs have the opportunity to greatly increase their equity exposure as this will increase long term returns to contributors,

encourage the Initial Public Offering, IPO market as this will lead to an increased absorption capacity and improved liquidity in the market.

AWARD - From left: Publisher/CEO, EMEA Finance, Christopher Moore; Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank UK Limited, Jamie Simmonds; Head, Strategic Brand Management, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi; and Editor, EMEA Finance, Tim Burke, at the EMEA African Banking Awards 2014 held in London where Access Bank was named the Best Local Bank.

FG names Forte Oil one of Nigeria’s top 100 companies *Emerges overall winner of the 2014 Pearl Awards

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orte Oil Plc (formerly AP Plc) Nigeria’s foremost indigenous integrated energy solutions provider has been awarded one of Nigeria’s top 100 companies by the Federal Government of Nigeria in a ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The top 100 Businesses Initiative, according to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, was set up to celebrate major investors and companies that are contributing to the development of the economy, whilst creating a platform for public-private sector interactions on Nigerian economic policies.

This achievement followed the company’s emergence as the overall winner of the Pearl Awards set aside for companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange at award ceremony in Lagos on Sunday, November 30, 2014. The award which is the overall honour of the PEARL awards, is instituted to recognize achievers, performers and drivers in the capital market. Forte Oil also clinched two other awards; the ‘market excellence in share price appreciation’ and ‘sectoral leader in the Oil & Gas sector’ to emerge the star attraction of the glamorous event.

Chief Molade Okoya Thomas who presented to Pearl Award to Forte Oil described the feat by the company as a testament of hardwork, diligence and commitment to providing valuable service to

customers and value to its shareholders.

Mr Tayo Orekoya, the President of the ‘PEARL Awards’ commended Forte Oil for winning the 2014 edition and urged them not to rest on their oars, but strive to sustain the drive for excellence.

Commenting, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil PLC said: ‘We are very pleased to be recipient of these awards, which are testament of our commitment to excellence in performance and an unflinching quest for value creation of our shareholders. We remain dedicated to sustaining the trust of the general public and our stakeholders as we continue firmly in our drive to build a long-term successful company; making Forte Oil PLC the investment of choice through positive actions that boost investor confidence at all times”.

Other companies that bagged awards at the prestigious event include; Julius Berger (Sectoral leader construction), Custodian & Allied Insurance (Sectoral leader Insurance), Stanbic IBTC (Sectoral leader Banking), Dangote Cement (Sectoral leader Industrial Goods-Building material), UAC Nigeria (Sectoral leader, Conglomerates), Nestle (Sectoral leader, Consumer Goods-Food & Beverage), Nigerian Breweries (Sectoral leader, Consumer Goods- Breweries).

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E- Commerce

Carmudi Nigeria marks one year anniversary with website re-launch Stories by JONAH NWOKPOKU

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o mark its one year anniversar y, Carmudi.com, Nigeria’s online car classified, unveiled its redesigned website with a new online user experience on multiple devices.

Hosting over 43,000 vehicles online in Nigeria and 230,000 globally, Carmudi said its new website has made online car shopping simpler and faster.

The new website comes with various new features including a compare feature which allows users to effectively view and compare two or more cars. As you click on the ‘park and compare’ option below your shortlisted car, your car is automatically saved in ‘My Garage’. The new feature would show your findings with car specifications such as make, model, transmission, engine type, fuel, etc. on a single page giving you a bird’s eye view before you toss your choices.

The website users can now experience a highly personalized experience which allows car buyers to choose their wheels based on

not just the conventional choices of price, mileage, colour or brand type, but also lifestyle in three steps.

Global Managing Director of Carmudi, Stefan Haubold said, “The idea is to make the users feel as if they were interacting with a salesman who shows them around as

per their specific needs and desires.” He said, “Save the fact that there is no constant pestering to make the purchase instantly, you can relax in your living room as you cruise through different car showrooms virtually on Carmudi. The sharing option is also one of my favorite as it

allows you share your searches and also allows your friends comment on your potential purchase.”

Also speaking, Managing Director of Carmudi Nigeria, Christian Keller, said, “We are dedicated to ensuring that users have a great Carmudi experience. With the new website, I can say we have been able to do that as users now enjoy an easier and faster experience.”

VISIT - Managing Director, May & Baker, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor flanked by MD\CEO Bank of Industry, BOI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa and General Manager, Large Scale Enterprises, Mr. Joseph Babatunde, (right) during the visit of the management of BOI to May & Baker pharmaceutical industry, Ikeja industrial estate in Lagos.

CWG empowers merchants with IT skills at e-commerce training

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ow best to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owners was the focus of a workshop organized recently in Lagos by the Computer Warehouse Group plc (CWG).

The workshop with the Theme: ‘Learn how to set-up, operate and advertise your own store online,’ was aimed

at equipping business owners with the skills they require to take their business to the online community by operating an online store and selling to people other than those in their immediate physical community.

Welcoming the participants, Success Nmerife, the Head Marketing Communications, CWG, informed the

participants that the workshop was designed to introduce them to solutions and methods they can employ to maximize the benefits that the internet affords in growing their business.

She observed that the shift in the global focus from traditional business model to online commerce has made the utilization of the electronic

Scandal, Revenge, others debut in Aflix as ABC contents unveil

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frica’s mobile streaming service, Aflix has unveiled its ABC studios in a move that will see it providing some of ABC’s best contents to Aflix users within the continent.

This is coming on the heels of partnership between the television production division of Disney – ABC Television Group, that saw Afix acquiring licences to show some of its popular contents through its streaming service.

Some of the titles will include The River, Missing, Samantha Who? Melissa and Joey, Happy Endings and Once Upon a Time. The licence period for these titles will extend to May, 2015. In a bid to boost access to its content, Aflix also went into partnership with the Electronic giant, Samsung to preinstall the Aflix app in all Samsung Smart TVs within these

regions of operation, excluding South Africa.

Speaking on the unveiling of the ABC studio, Chief Executive Officer of Vonetize, Noam Josephides whose company, Aflix is based on its SmartVOD offering, said, “The unveiling of the ABC studio heralds the premium quality brand in terms of content which Aflix is building. We are happy that this partnership with ABC pulled through and that we are helping Aflix live up to expectation and their resolve to provide Hollywood premium contents to the African audience.”

According to him, Aflix users should expect more premium contents from ABC studios through licensing of more titles even as talk is in progress to partner with other Hollywood studios to bring to Aflix users the best of Hollywood entertainment.

media in business promotion and sales an indispensable tool for merchants.

Similarly, Adriana De la Cruz Duffo, Business Manager, Openshopen told the participants that ‘Openshopen’ has been designed to respond to the challenges of online trading encountered by SMEs in the Nigerian business environment.

According to her, “Openshopen is easy to use, cheap and profitable. It addresses the fears of payment gateway security. It also takes care of the logistics of delivery. It is a platform you as merchants can adopt, if you want your business to grow”.

According to him, “CWG’s partnership with Openshopen to introduce the e-commerce platform is in line with our vision to enable Nigerian merchants acquire business enabling technology without incurring business killing own-infrastructure costs.”

Jovago revamps site, creates more accessible hotel booking engine

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otel booking portal, Jovago.com has unveiled a more user-friendly website in order to make hotel booking more accessible to travellers in Nigeria and around the world.

In a statement, Jovago said, with the opening up of over 5,000 hotels online in Nigeria and 200,000 around the world, Jovago.com has eased the stress of the booking process.

“Now holiday makers do not have to visit several hotels by themselves or waste time on long waiting loops in order to secure bookings, Jovago has created a cheaper and more secure means of searching for and booking hotels online. With the filter system, customers can easily choose what hotel amenities they prefer during their stay and make their selection easily,” the statement said.

Jumia, Foundation partner to boost child literacy in Nigeria

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umia Nigeria in partnership with ‘1 Child 1 Book’ Foundation has launched a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to help improve the literacy rate of thousands of children in Nigeria, by providing books every month to schools across the country.

The partnership was nominated in the Best CSR Initiative of the Year in the recent World retail Awards 2014 and has seen thousands of children reached since inception.

Speaking about the collaboration, Tosin Jegede of the 1 Child 1 Book said, “Our Mission is to provide sustainable tools that will further the educational development of Nigerians, starting with primary school education and we, in collaboration with Jumia Nigeria, will stop at nothing to ensure this becomes a reality” To further promote literacy this Christmas, Jumia said, together with the foundation, it will be embarking on building a state-of-the-art Library with up-to-date tools such as computers, game sections and many other learning tools for the Nigerian children across Lagos state.

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Corporate Finance

Stakeholders express divergent views on Bill compelling coys to list Stories By Nkiruka Nnorom

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TAKEHOLDERS in the Nigerian capital market have continued to express divergent views on the “Private Companies Conversion and Listing Bill, 2013” which seeks to enforce listing by companies with certain turnover on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. The Bill, which has passed through second reading at the National Assembly, seeks to compel private companies to convert to public companies by becoming listed on the NSE. The thresholds for the mandatory conversion are: shareholders fund in excess of N40 billion (around USD 250 million) and turnover or total assets of N80 billion (about USD 500 million). A private company that meets any of the thresholds must be converted to a public company and be listed on the NSE within 12 months of passing the Bill into law.

In his own submission, Mr. Bola Ajomale, Managing Director/CEO, NASD Plc, said that passing such Bill into law will not reduce Nigeria’s jeopardize the country’s rating in te ease of doing business, but will also amount to punishing success.

He said that companies that wish to escape the listing may simply decide to split their business thereby making it possible for them to reach the required threshold.

He said, “I think it might be a bit difficult for us to really argue that you must share your company once you are successful. In addition, keep in mind as well that a company can avoid being a certain size if it wants to, simply by splitting its business. Instead of having one company, it will have 10 different companies that are doing different things; it will incorporate them into 10 different companies and it will be one tenth of the size and it will be below your threshold, whatever threshold that you come up with.

“Imagine a bank with 200

branches, each state is a different bank because they want to avoid being that size, it’s possible to do. I think we should be careful in setting those thresholds of saying once you hit a certain level of profitability or once anything happens, you must share. I think it will penalize success and therefore, we need to really rethink that module.”

“If we create that kind of legislation, we may be making Nigeria seem to be a difficult country. Remember, there is assessment worldwide as to ease of doing business and one of the key criteria that they use in determining ease of

doing business in any country is the ability to hold contracts and the contract to be defendable,” he added.

Agreeing with him, Mr. Nnaemeka Onyeka Obiaraeri, MD/CEO, Taurus Capital and Advisory Limited, stated that it will be very counterproductive to force a company to list in a free market economy. “It does not make sense to me, because you are simply telling somebody whether you like it or not, you must list. If they succeed in the Bill they will end up driving away those foreign investors that will want to play in this market,.”

PIX: Corporate Finance page 2 pix (Financial Vanguard folder) Caption:

From left: Team Lead, Sponsorship and Events, Frst City Monument Bank Limited, Mr Matthew Obiazikwor; Retail Cluster Head, FCMB, Mrs Bukky Akintade; Corporate Affairs/Media Relations Officer, Mr Rafiu Mohammed; and Branch Manager, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, Mrs Adedayo Sobajo during a road show on 2014 Edition of COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament in Lagos.

PHOTO;BY AKEEM SALAU

Stanbic IBTC, SURE-PMCH Project partner on cash transfer services

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TANBIC IBTC Bank, in partnership with the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Project, have launched the mobile conditional cash transfer programme tagged ‘Moni for my Phone,’ in a move designed to enhance financial inclusion and boost the cashless policy in Nigeria.

The SURE-P MCH mobile conditional cash transfer programme is part of a scheme being implemented in the Federal Capital Territory and 17 other states in support of SURE-P MCH’s demandside interventions in the health sector.

The service, now rolling out in selected primary healthcare centres across the country, will enable Nigerian women living C M Y K

in the rural and hard-to-reach locations in the country to receive cash through Stanbic IBTC’s mobile money service as incentive for their increased accessibility and utilization of maternal and child health services.

Speaking at the launch at Dobi Primary Health Care Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue, said the partnership represents another major way to leverage evolving technologies and partnerships to enhance value propositions and bring affordable financial services closer to Nigerians.

He said the service will leverage on Stanbic IBTC Bank’s unique bulk payment solutions to transfer money

seamlessly and instantly into mobile money accounts.

“We are very pleased to partner with SURE-PMCH Project on this strategic initiative. The partnership will help in actualizing our goal of enhancing access to mobile money services by more Nigerians through the Stanbic IBTC mobile money platform. This collaboration provides another entry point for fast and convenient means of sending and receiving money, and further demonstrates our commitment to continuously deliver innovative products and solutions, part of which includes enhancing the robustness of our mobile banking and mobile payments systems,” Abajue stated.

He said it was in recognition of the need for

market-driven partnerships and alliances with the different stakeholders in the mobile money value chain that Stanbic IBTC Bank went into partnerships with the four major telecom operators in Nigeria, enabling mobile payment services to take root, proliferate, and scale up across the country.

On his part, Dr. Ado J.G. Muhammed, Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the SURE-P MCH Project is an initiative that builds on the gains of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) and is utilizing a combination of supply and demand-side interventions to provide health services to more Nigerian women and children.

Flour Mills plans increased investment in manpower, technology

By Michael Eboh

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LOUR Mills Nigeria Plc has commended its employees for their commitment to the growth of the company over the years, promising to increase its investment in its manpower resources.

Speaking at its 2014 Employee Awards Day in Lagos, Mr. John Coumantaros, Chairman, Flour Mills, said the investment will be in the area of recruitment, training, development and recognition.

In addition, he further stated that to further develop its world class systems and processes, it will also focus the investment in its strong brands, in the right products or marketing strategies and in the most technologically advanced equipment.

He said, “Our success is even most critically dependent on our people: On how we all work together on common goals. With over 12,000 people and multifaceted operations in food, agro-allied and supporting businesses, we can only be as strong as the weakest link in our chain.

“Our success depends on our collective commitment to our vision and to our working together in achieving it. We must pull together, shoulder to shoulder, with our colleagues towards our common purpose. Our success depends as much on the ‘we’ as the ‘me’.”

For their contribution to the success of the company, Coumantaros assured the employees of commensurate benefits when the company begins to reap from its strategies.

“We will invest in your job satisfaction, training, career development and career recognition.

More importantly, we will all be proud of our varied contributions to creating the new Flour Mills, the premier food and agro-allied company on the continent,” he explained.

Continuing, he said the company will leverage on some of its critical infrastructure, the Apapa Bulk Terminals, its power and technical division and its packaging and transport companies, to help it reach its goals.

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Economy

ICPC, Ministry of Aviation sign MoU

By Lawani Mikairu

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HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission , ICPC, and the Ministry of Aviation on Tuesday in Lagos signed a Memorandum of Understanding , MoU, to eliminate “ low level corruption at the nation’s airports.”

According to the chairman of ICPC, Mr Ekpo Nta, some of the ways to check this “low corruption” will include mandatory training on ethics and integrity at the anti - graft agency ’s academy for personnel of all stakeholders deployed to work at the airports .

He added that the agreement “ would also involve a comprehensive systems study of the Federal Ministry of Aviation , its parastatals as well as continuous sensitisation of the travelling public and foreigners who use the airports not to compromise with offers of tips or bribes and report unwholesome acts to the ICPC.” Speaking while signing the memorandum, Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka described corruption as a roadblock to national economic development .He ordered the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria , FAAN ,

and the Nigerian Air Force to within two weeks flush out touts loitering around the arrival hall of the Lagos International Airport.

Chidoka also urged FAAN to cancel concessions involving the use of trolleys at the international airport. He added that the Federal Government will install new close circuit television

cameras at major international airports to provide surveillance to check corrupt practices.

He said the installation of brand new close circuit television cameras In strategic places around the airport would deter airport workers from either soliciting for bribes or tips, a development he said has become one of the sore

points in the travel experience of many Nigerians using international airports .

Chidoka said “ We need to stamp out corruption at our airports because its practice has become a roadblock to economic prosperity .Corruption destroys processes and truncate outcomes. It does not create a level playing field .”

The Registrar Institute of Entrepreneurs, (IOE) Dr Rotimi Oladele, (R) decorating Mr Waheed Olagunju Executive Director,Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry as Fellow, Institute of Entrepreneurs in Lagos, assisted by Director of Marketing IOE, Dr Folu Olagunju left at the 14th Annual Entrepreneurship conference and 4th Quarterly Induction ceremony in Lagos.

187 staff were sacked over irregularity — NCAA

By Lawani Mikairu

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IGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has said that the 187 workers of the agency sacked last week were sacked over irregular employment by the past management. Most of the effected staff were employed by the former Acting Director-General, NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka Engr Benedict Adeyileka, now Director of Airworthiness and the Human Resources Director of the agency, Mr Austin Amadi, have since also been placed on suspension by the current NCAA DG, Dr. Mukhtar Usman and this has received the approval of the Minister of Aviation, Chief.

Osita Chidoka.

A letter with reference NCAA/DG/GEN/Vol.11/2014 signed by Mr A.M Yamsikit , General Manager, Human Resources, and distributed to the affected staff said “I refer to your appointment and subsequent resumption to duty and to inform you that the

Ministry of Aviation directed that your appointment be suspended with immediate effect, pending the completion of an investigation being conducted by the Ministry” “In the meantime, you are directed to hand over all

NCAA property, including your identity card to your Head of Department while further developments on the matter will be communicated to you in due course, please” The management further said that the engagement of

the employees did not follow due process and receive approval from higher authorities. The salaries of the affected workers, a source in NCAA said, had since been suspended by the management.

NCAA warns pilots on hamattan haze

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HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has issued a weather alert to all Pilots indicating hazards associated with Harmattan dust haze in flight operations at this period of the year.

According to Mr Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, “This warning is important as Harmattan is known to pose an obvious threat to aircraft particularly in areas of challenging terrains due to low visibility.”

“This alert is in line with the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the cessation of rainy season in 2014.The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind that blows southwards from the Sahara across the country between the end of November to March, the following year.”

“On its passage over the desert, it picks up

large amount of fine dust particles (0.5 to 10 micrometers) which are transported hundreds of kilometres over the south. The effect of the dust and sand stirred by the wind is known as Harmattan Dust Haze.”

“In addition, the consequence of the Harmattan is a heavy fog hence air – to – ground visibility is considerably reduced. Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions; dust haze can blot out runways, the markers and airfield lightings over wide areas. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.”

“Resultantly, where visibility falls below the prescribed weather minima, flight operations are likely to be delayed, diverted or outrightly cancelled.Therefore, all Pilots shall obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET prior to flight operations at all the airports.”

We will always give our best to Nigerian passengers says Nair

By Daniel Eteghe REGIONAL Manager of Emirates Airline, West Africa, Mr. Manoj Nair has assured Nigerian passengers that the airline would continue to give its best to them in terms of comfort and affordable fares with the overall aim of giving them value for their money.

Speaking to newsmen in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nair affirmed that Emirates airline has a lot of packages for it teaming consumers which is classified into various categories for both leisure and business trips.

Enumerating some of the packages to include Emirates holidays, Travel on your own, Dubai stopover amongst others Nair said that all the packages entails hotel a c c o m m o d a t i o n , transportation, feeding stressing that all the packages guarantees passengers comfort as it overall aim.

He added that to facilitate the seamless travel experience of Emirates passengers across the world, the airline has decided to use it’s best aircraft like the Airbus A380’s and Boeing 777 with adequate facilities onboard to ease and bring comfort to the passengers.

According to him, Emirates flies to over 140 destinations in the world with a crew of 130 nationals who speaks over 60 languages stressing that the airline has 232 aircraft in its fleet as that would accommodate the growth of it passengers’ traffic.

He also pointed out that as a way of giving back to the community and Nigerians at large, the airline is planning to embark on a massive corporate social responsibility project that would bring development to the country.

According to him, the Public Relations agency of the airline had already swong into action and soonest a proposal on the corporate social responsibility project would be made known to the public.

“We have our PR agency which is currently evaluating as to a particular corporate social responsibility project that we can be dedicated to, so we are waiting for their proposals but having said that, any event that we sponsor in this part of the world is linked to our corporate social responsibility to the community and to the country at large” Nair said.

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People in Business

PSC Solar commences N5b solar panel manufacturing plant ...to create over 1,000 jobs

BY EBELE ORAKPO

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s the price of crude oil plummets globally, Nigeria is in for a hard time because most of her revenues come from crude oil sale. Unfortunately, not only is the price decreasing but also sales as many of Nigeria’s customers have now either discovered crude oil in their country or are more dependent on renewable energy.

Nigeria, blessed with abundant sunlight and wind, has no excuse not to make the most of these resources to generate enough power for domestic use and export the excess. It is in this light that PSC Solar Industries, solar PV panel manufacturers and total solar electricity power integrator, decided to set up a 10-mega watt solar panel manufacturing plant in Nigeria, to not only make solar electricity more affordable, but also create jobs for Nigerians.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PSC Solar Industries, Dr. Patrick Owelle and the Site Engineer, Mr. Ntogo Bakor Alex Alee speak on this laudable project. Excerpts: What inspired the project: Speaking at the official groundbreaking ceremony at the project site, a 100-acre property in Warewa, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, the Site Engineer who is also the Senior Project Engineer, PSC Solar UK Ltd, Mr. Ntogo Bakor Alex Alee said the idea behind the project is the company ’s desire to further reduce the cost of distributed solar electricity power by this local manufacturing initiative thereby making alternative electricity affordable in Nigeria and the West Africa subcontinent.

The project which he described as first of its kind in Africa, already has over 20 earth-moving equipment and over 100 construction site engineers on ground, underlining the local content commitment of the company in this endeavour.

Also, he stated that over “N3 billion worth of solar panel PV manufacturing equipment procured from Rimas BV in the Netherlands, are on ground in Nigeria including sun simulators, stringers, larmators, automatic framers etc.”

Training local engineers: “Twenty local engineers are already cleared and

•All-In-One streetlight

•The site

registered for advanced Solar, Electronics & Electrical Engineering training at the prestigious German Academy for Renewable Energy & Environmental Technology in Berlin, Germany for January to February 2015. The company is committed to training an additional 20 engineers yearly for the next five years at the German Academy,” said Alee.

Expected products: “Solar panels to be produced in Nigeria include 12V/ 80Watts, 12V/160Watts, 24V/ 200Watts, 24V/250Watts, and all super efficiency mono crystalline solar PV panels with efficiencies in excess of over 35 per cent, way above industry average efficiency of 15 per cent,” stated Engr.

Alee, adding that “Africa now has a reliable manufacturer of superior quality Inverters, Solar PV Panels, Solar Charge Controllers- PWM, Hybrid &

Power blackouts in Nigeria are a smokescreen and can be completely eradicated if government has the will to do so

MPPT Versions from 12V – 440V.” Expressing their joy at the event, two of the many PSC Solar Industries distributors from Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroun, Niger, Chad and Mali, Mr. Etienne T. Dazan from Benin Republic and Monsieur Ayuba Ibrahim from Niger Republic both expressed deep optimism and joy that they can henceforth purchase inverters, solar panels, charge controllers, solar streetlights etc in Lagos and have them delivered to their respective countries by road same day or next day without paying extra Customs duties or exorbitant shipping charges. Mr. Dazan who normally imports solar renewable electricity components from France was extremely pleased at this new development and reaffirmed his support for this initiative and attendant economic benefits for the West Africa sub-region.

The Site Engineer invited the public to visit the Complete Solar-powered Project Mini Display Home at the project site in Warewa, Ogun State along Lagos – Ibadan Expressway to get a free noholds barred free guided tour of the 3KWp solar-powered model home already functioning at the site.

“This goes to confirm that the power blackouts in Nigeria are a smokescreen and can be completely eradicated if the government has the will to do so.

Nobody in Nigeria should ever be without electricity 24

hours, seven days a week,” he said.

Looking ahead: Speaking on their plans for 2015-2016, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PSC Solar UK Ltd., Dr. Patrick Owelle said that the planned expansion of PSC Solar UK Limited is now underway with offices and warehouses in Abuja, Benin and Kano, and additional locations in Port Harcourt, Calabar and Sokoto are planned for late 2015.

He indicated that plans are underway to develop a 100unit, total solar power luxury estate at the 100-acre project site which is slated for takeoff in June 2016.

Dr. Owelle stressed the huge research and development capabilities of the firm and announced the introduction of the new All-In-One Solar LED Streetlights with integrated motion sensors. He declared that gone are the days when solar streetlights were not bright and powered by cumbersome and heavy deep cycle batteries, large solar panels and controllers and it took over four – five hours to install just one streetlight.

“The All-In-One Solar LED Streetlights are a compact light weight unit with integrated nano solar panel and credit card sized Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries. The streetlight weighs less than 8kgs and can be installed within five minutes. They are extremely bright (7,500Lms) and cost far less than the traditional solar streetlights,” Owelle said.

The ceremony attracted various international and local dignitaries.

DMO to sell N65bn worth of bonds Dec. 17

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he Debt Management Office (DMO) says it plans to sell N65 billion worth of sovereign bonds on Dec. 17. In a circular posted on its Website on Thursday, the Debt Management Office said that the bonds’ maturity dates would range from three, 10 to 20 years.

According to the DMO, the three-year bonds will be for N10 billion, the 10-year tenor bond would be for N30 billion, while the 20-year tenor bond will be for N25 billion.

The bonds will mature on August 2016, March 2024 and July 2034, respectively The DMO said that the bonds would have 13.05 per cent, 14.20 per cent and 11.15 per cent yield rates, respectively.

Customs boss promises higher revenue drive at PTML

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rs Tallatu Isa, the new Comptroller, Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Ltd., (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Thursday said she would be committed to higher revenue drive. Isa, who made the pledge in Lagos on assumption of duty, said she hoped to surpass the revenue figures she inherited from her predecessor.

Isa took over from Comptroller Folorunsho Adegoke who has been transferred to the Murtala M uhammed International Airport Customs Command in Lagos.

“I promise to surpass the figure I inherited from my predecessor. I don’t joke with my revenue,” she said.

SMEDAN starts new survey on MSMEs

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he Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Thursday said the agency had commenced a new national survey of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. The agency’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Muhammad, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. According to him, the survey is meant to update the 2010 report which showed that there are over 17million MSME’s with a cumulative employment of over 32 million nationwide. “I am very confident that this figure would have significantly increased and that explains why the agency is conducting another survey,” he said. He said that the need to assess the contributions of MSME subsector to the nation’s economy partially inspired the 2010 national MSME survey.

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Tax Matters

Taxation of contract and direct labour procurement of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS) of government in Nigeria (3)

BY ANUYA, F. O. (PH.D)

DIRECT LABOUR PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES AND CONTRACT IMPLICATIONS padiran (1987) defined Direct Labour Procurement as a process by which a project is executed by the workers of an organization instead of the project being contracted out. It can simply be described as a ‘do it yourself ’ approach to project procurement.

Direct Labour could also be defined as a method of procurement whereby a client otherwise known as “the owner” uses his or her own in-house resources for the design and execution of a project.

The in-house resources here will include both supervisory staff, skilled and unskilled labour force besides Equipment. Worthy of note in this system is the elimination of the contractor, which makes the direct labour method distinct from other procurement methods.

According to Iyagba and Idoro (1995), Direct Labour method of procurement can take various forms among which are; Fully In-House Direct Labour Here the organization has the human resources in place for all the phases of the project. The organization pays the monthly wages or otherwise of the Human resources.

Partially In-House Direct Labour Here the design and production information could be prepared by practicing consultants, while construction is handled by permanent personnel.

Hire-Labour Direct Labour Here the project owners do hire of labour, machinery, purchase material and coordinate the construction work, possibly engaging a qualified professional for the management of the construction process.

Self-help Type of Direct Labour Self-help construction where the inhabitants of a community are organized and mobilized with the direct labour establishments of a Government Ministry.

Others are:The developer provides the necessary recources, buys the necessary materials, hires the men and the machinery required, and mobilizes the resources on his own.

Communal construction with the use of voluntary labour drawn from family members and friends.

A self-help construction whereby the inhabitants of a community organize and mobilize themselves to execute a project.

These arrangements were seen to originally represent the true context of direct labour construction. Based on the definition, the following comments are made on the different forms of Direct Labour presented above:FORMS C O N T R A C T IMPLICATION Fully In-house Direct Labour No contract Partially In-house Direct Labour Design and production of information by third parties are contracts.

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L-R: 1st Runner-Up, Business Day Risk Manager of the Year, Mr. Omokayode Oluwole of Mansard Insurance; CEO, Mansard Insurance, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori; Winner, Business Day Risk Manager of the Year, Mr. Adewale Akinwale; of NAHCO; Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Skye Bank, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi; Group Head, Enterprise Risk Management, Skye Bank, Mr. Femi Aribaloye and Mrs Ona. Peters of NAHCO at the 2014 Nigerian Risk Awards held in Lagos.

Hire-Labour Direct Labour Hire procurement and within approved limit. of labour,machinery, qualified DIRECT LABOUR PROCUREMENT professionals and contract purchase of AND THE NIGERIAN TAX LAWS materials will not qualify as Direct The schedule to the Companies labour. Cash purchase of materials may Income Tax {Rate, etc of Tax deducted qualify. at source (Withholding Tax)} Self-help type of Direct Labour Regulations 1995 exempts those Direct Labour of the Direct Labour transactions which are, and indeed Establishment of the Government constitute “Outright sale or purchase of Ministry Goods and Property” and which take Others May qualify as Direct place “in the ordinary course of that Labour when executed through cash particular kind of business”, from Tax advance to a staff of the MDA within deduction at source. Where a sale or approval limit. They may not qualify purchase transaction becomes repetitive when managed by a third party. or habitual, it will not qualify for Contract can be inferred from the basis exemption. The sale of goods on a oncefor payment by the project owner. for –all basis will qualify for the a.

Cash advance to staff to be exemption in so far as it meets the retired after the procurement – No second condition. A sale takes place in contract the ordinary course of business when it b.

Payments for staff invoices – takes place in the course of that Contract (staff should not invoice his/ particular business. Where, for instance, her employer) a trader sells goods directly to third c.

Payment to staff for third party parties, he will be seen as acting in the invoices - Contract ordinary course of his business, that is, d.

Payment based on certificate of trading. However, where the trader job completed - Contract enters into contract for the sale of the Any Direct Labour goods, he is no longer acting within his ordinary course of Procurement must business, that is, trading, but possess these characteristics to has made an adventure into another business, that is, qualify as non contract contracts.

Further, a procurementThe pertinent a.

Ownership of manufacturer who makes questions would contractual sale or purchase is procurement facilities be: no longer acting within his - The Ministries, - Why are the ordinary course of business Department and MDAs interested that is manufacturing, but has Agencies of Government must use in Direct Labour gone into another business, only the in-house that is, contract. Although the Procurement may use the resources for the method? Could it manufacturer items purchased or sold in his design and execution be for better of the project. manufacturing business, the quality delivery, contractual arrangement for b.

Absence of the sale or purchase will be c o n t r a c t u a l availability of relationship with both more competent subject to 5% withholding tax. staff and non staff, in In-house staff, cost CONCLUSION the procurement. saving, non c.

Payment It is the Public Procurement availability of should be through Bureau’s Policy that Procuring competent cash advance to staff.

Entities outsource those The cash advance contractors or Tax services that are either not part must be retired at the of their core business activity planning etc end of the or for which there is a

fluctuation requirement in the terms of specialist skills or equipment , or where the open market provides a more efficient and commercial alternative. It is also its policy that Services, Materials and Equipment shall be acquired by Procuring Entities at the most favourable terms compatible with the desired quality and delivery requirements, taking account of total life cycle costs and in a manner that safeguards and preserves the reputation of the procuring entity; and to support the development of an indigenous contractor base in Nigeria and particularly in the area in which the various Procuring Entities operate.

Despite these comprehensive provisions in the Procurement Act and the Financial Regulations, many Government Agencies deliberately set aside contract award procedures in favour of Direct Labour Procurement option.

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he pertinent questions would be: - why are the MDAs interested in Direct Labour Procurement method?

Could it be for better quality delivery, availability of more competent In-house staff, cost saving, non availability of competent contractors or Tax planning etc? Whatever the reasons, their actions should be guided by relevant Laws.

They should be sure and ready to prove a case for Direct Labour in the Public Procurement Act, that they have ascertained:- that a schedule of rates, cost – plus or target contract would not be feasible, as quantities of work to be carried out cannot be defined in advance; that works are small and scattered or in remote locations with no local contractors and demobilization costs for outside contractors would be too high; that works must be carried out without disrupting existing operations; that the risk of unavailable work interruptions is better borne by procuring entity than by a contractor; that no contractor is interested in conducting the work at a reasonable price; that it has been demonstrated that Force Account (Direct Labour) is the only practical method for constructing and maintaining works under special circumstances; or that national security would be compromised if any other method was used. Any Tax planning that violates the provisions of the Tax laws is illegal.

Some Government Accounting Officers are quick to argue that the reason for Direct Labour Procurement option is the absence of budgetary provision for the payment of VAT which are invoiced to them by the contractors.

It is advisable that Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government should include the VAT payable in the budget estimate for approval instead of violating the provisions of the relevant laws. From the content of the Financial Regulations and the Accountant General Circular of 2009, it is instructive to note that any payment for public procurement above Two Hundred Thousand Naira may not be accepted as a payment for Direct Labour, and could be deemed as Taxable Government Expenditure.

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40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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lso, most market watchers and economists now believe that the current situation in the oil market may not be transitory, but, seemingly permanent. Godwin Emefiele, CBN, Governor, at Chartered Institute of Bankers Dinner, in Lagos, December, 2014.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is charged with formulating monetary policy which is expected to be complimentary to the fiscal policy for which the Minister of Finance is responsible. Unlike the Minister, the CBN Governor, once appointed and confirmed by the Senate, cannot be removed by the President for five years unless proved guilty of an indictable offense.

That was why President Jonathan's suspension of former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, would have established a legal precedent if Sanusi had not been made Emir of Kano. Generally, the autonomy of the Central Bank, in most countries is sacrosanct and cannot be intruded upon by elected officials.

For the sake of those who might not know, as well as those who already know, the CBN Governor, in setting monetary policy aims to achieve three main objectives: exchange rate stability, interest

The age of oil is over for Nigeria — 1 rate and full, or near full employment. Full employment, however, does not mean all those needing jobs will be employed. The term full employment allows for about four per cent unemployment.

Nobody needs to be told that Nigeria had achieved relatively stable exchange rate, about N155-158/US$1 for several years; — until last month when the CBN was forced to devalue. Even now, nobody can predict where it will settle. The safe bet is that this is only the first in a series of devaluations. Interest rates, although high by global standards, had also remained fairly stable. Inflation, which is a reflection of how those two rates had been managed, had been below ten per cent for almost three years — until now.

Only the jobless rate had been way off the mark; and is now set to get worse.

Those remarkable achievements, until now, had been made possible by the price of crude oil which had

stayed above $100 per barrel for more than three years. But, unfortunately, while the price of crude had stayed high, the volume officially sold had declined in the last two years for several reasons, chiefly, stolen crude, vandalisation of pipelines, loss of market share, and, lately, global economic slump. Until this year, most Nigerians had been spared the nightmare of the day the Age of Oil might be over. Now, the

Obviously, until something else comes along to replace it, crude oil has become the second god we worship

dreaded day has arrived and the CBN Governor's warning to the bankers, as well as all Nigerians, comes years after Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, of Delta State, had attempted, in vain, one should add, to get the people of the state to start thinking of Delta Without Oil. But, even Uduaghan's prescient warning came a few years after I had been preaching, like the lone voice in the wilderness, that Nigerians should start planning and working SERIOUSLY for the end of the Age of Oil. The CBN Governor deserves commendation for this revelation. It is the first sign that somebody at the topmost levels of government, in Abuja is, at last, taking the handwriting on the wall of time seriously. For one top official to be half-awake in a government full of sleepwalkers is a sign that all is not lost.

Decades ago, when Alvin Toffler wrote his best selling book, FUTURE SHOCK, as a

subscriber to a book club in America, I was one of the first recipients. The book was in many respects an eye-opener for me because it drew my attention to the need for nations, states or regions, corporate entities, and, even individuals, to undertake serious studies to determine the future of those things that define their existence. For Nigeria, since the mid-1970s, that has been crude oil. For all the talk about our agricultural output, including the phantom 80% self-sufficiency in rice production and cassava bread, the Federal and state governments still gather, in Abuja, every month, to share crude oil proceeds. Obviously, until something else comes along to replace it, crude oil has become the second god we worship. That second god is threatening to let us down the moment at a time when government must choose between guns and garri. We need to pray.

But, prayers are never enough.

Nigerian governments, Federal and State, should have officers who know the crude oil market in and out; or ask for help.

Granted, futurism is not an exact science, and forecasting five, ten years into the future is fraught with dangers.

Micro-Finance

2.6m adults have micro finance bank accounts – EFInA survey Stories by PROVIDENCE OBUH

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survey carried out by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) Access to Financial Services in Nigeria in 2014 revealed that 2.6 million Nigerian adults representing 2.8 percent, currently have a microfinance bank account.

Further findings showed that an additional 31.5 million adults said that they would like to have a microfinance bank account, EFInA revealed at a Financial Inclusion Conference in Lagos.

The survey finds that the number of Nigerian adults who are banked increased from 28.6 million (32.5 percent) in 2012 to 33.9 million (36.3 percent) in 2014.

However, 36.9 million adults, representing 39.5 percent of the adult population, are financially excluded, C M Y K

meaning that they have no access to financial services.

Also, mobile money awareness and usage remains low; 11.9 million adults (12.7 percent of the adult population) are aware of mobile money, and only 800,000 Nigerian adults (0.8 percent of the adult population) currently use mobile money, while uptake of insurance is also low, with one million adults (1.1 percent

ICAN canvasses mergers for small & medium accounting firms

of the adult population) using insurance, although 14.3 million adults said that they would be interested in microinsurance products.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer, EFInA, Ms. Modupe Ladipo, said, “Since EFInA started measuring financial access in 2008, the number of Nigerian adults with access to formal financial services has increased by 25 million.”

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he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) canvasses the need for mergers and acquisition of Small and Medium-sized Accounting Practices (SMPs).

The practicing firms were brought together to discuss the benefits and impacts of coming together to build a strong firm at a one day Forum of Firms Workshop organized by the institute in Lagos.

Speaking in an interview,

IoD engages about 500 directors, award 4 others

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he Institute of Directors (IoD) penultimate week, engaged about 500 director s from different sectors, who have made significant contributions to business, finance and the economy even as it conferred its fellowship award on four eminent Nigerians. The fellows were honoured at the IoD annual directors’ dinner held in Lagos, as part of their contributions to the growth of the Nigerian economy, Those awarded include: Chairman, Heirs

Holding/United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, for his entrepreneurial endeavors; Ex-Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Felix Omoikhoje, for leadership and excellent; former President, Nigeria Institute of Management, Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, was honoured for director development and former Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru for good governance.

President of ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, said that the idea behind the workshop was to bridge the perceived knowledge gap among sole practitioners with the audit market. According to him, “the objective of this workshop is to bring both the big and small practicing firms to come together in the interest of complementing each others strength.

“We have knowledge gap among the sole practitioners within the Nigerian audit market, the whole idea is to encourage the big ones to stretch a hand of fellowship and see what they can do to upscale the competences of the smaller firms.

“The audit quality in Nigeria will improve and flow into a more reinforced financial reporting chain to give more integrity and confidence to financial statements that are published about the companies,” he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 41

Homes & Housing Finance

•Beach house with thatched roof

Housing corporations seek social housing regulatory role for FHA

By YINKA KOLAWOLE

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ssociation of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) has called on the Federal Government to initiate steps to re-desgnate the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) as National Social Housing Regulatory Authority with a mandate to drive social housing programme in Nigeria.

The association, which is the umbrella body of state housing corporations in Nigeria, made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day national workshop on Social Housing

as Agent of Poverty Alleviation and its 92nd council meeting held recently, in Minna, Niger State. It also called for the provision of special funding to the authority to enable it pursue government’s social housing programme.

AHCN lamented the exclusion of FHA from budgetary allocation, noting that the action had limited the ability of the agency to deliver on its mandate. Members of the association also counselled against government’s plan to commercialise or privatise FHA, noting that commercialising or

privatising the authority will defeat the purpose for which it was established. While commending government for its efforts towards developing a viable social housing programme for low and noincome earners in the country, participants urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of a law to promote the implementation of the programme. They also called for the development of well articulated and comprehensive strategies such as subsidy, tenure options and eligibility criteria to enhance the production of social housing for the most

vulnerable income groups.

The association noted that by setting aside 5 percent of the accruals to the Ecological Fund as capital grant for the provision of social housing, the federal government could address inadequate finance which is a major challenge to housing delivery in the country. It also called on state and local governments to allocate at least five percent of their receipts from the federation account for the same purpose.

The workshop participants recognized the potentials of social housing as the most effective and sustainable poverty alleviation programme. They urged local governments to be proactive in their approach to social housing as enumerated in the national housing policy and embark on profitable ventures through partnership and collaborative efforts with housing agencies in providing social housing for the people. The participants identified availability of trillions of naira lying idle in pension and insurance funds, unclaimed dividends and other related instruments that could be harnessed to the real estate sector. They implored government to urgently put in place necessary parameters for effective collaboration of FMBN, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) and PenCom to channel funds from pension funds to real estate sector.

The communiqué acknowledged the efforts of Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) for its breakthrough in material development aimed at reducing the cost of housing production through the use of local building materials. It called on government to create awareness, sensitize and encourage people to embrace NBRRI technology in housing production by patronizing local building materials in most of the national housing programs and schemes.

Homeowners’ charter: Ogun distributes 5,000 Cs-of-O

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gun State government has distributed 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy (Cof-O) and other land title documents to property owners across the state, under its Homeowners’ Charter programme which is aimed at deepening the property market in the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun said that government initiated the scheme to assist property owners in the state through the regularisation of title document and building plan approvals.

He noted that without proper documentation of land titles, it would be impossible for government to make proper plans for the development of

the state. He added that property owners who are able to secure their title document could use same to apply to financial institutions for loans to boost their businesses.

In his remarks, Director General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Adewale Oshinowo, pointed out that the Homeowners’ Charter programme was intended to assist numerous property owners in who had lost hope of titling their properties. He said that government was well positioned with investment in technology to issue up to 1,000 C-of-O per day until all genuine applications have been processed.

Property experts noted at the

event, in Abeokuta, that the move by government to ease and fast-track the processing of land, property and land title documents would deepen the property market in the state.

According to them, the action is bound to attract more real estate investors to the state.

Chairman of Ogun State Chapter of Nigerian Institution of Town Planners, Ranti Oshoko, said the programme marked a unique significance in creating access to land, property and land title documents. He noted that it would provide a unique platform that boost land and property market in the state since access to land titles has been simplified by government.

According to him, the policy which ensured the distribution of C of O to 5,000 home and property owners is uncommon in the country. He asserted that the materialisation of the Homeowners’ Charter would definitely bring investors and, in the long run, boost the state’s economy.

On his part, Isaiah Olatokunbo, state chairman, Community Development Council, commended the state government for the presentation of the 5,000 C of O, adding that simplifying access to land in the state would deepen property business in the state .

‘4,000 benefit from Lafarge housing scheme’

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afarge Nigeria Plc said 4, 000 Nigerians have so far benefited from its affordable housing scheme. The scheme tagged, “Ile Irorun”, was initiated by the company in response to the challenges of urbanisation in the country, with a housing gap estimated at about 17 million units.

General Manager, Industrial Performance, Lafarge Nigeria, Mr Lanre Opakunle, who disclosed this in Lagos, said that the project is a step towards the realisation of the company’s ambition to help build better cities in Nigeria. “Lafarge’s commitment to building better cities is unwavering, hence we initiated this project to help provide access to affordable housing for Nigerians”.

According to Opakunle, with the development of the real estate, the mortgage system is beginning to come up that is the way we can have a good growth in cement consumption. In Nigeria, 70 per cent of cement consumption is for individual homes builders with 17 million housing deficiency. He said that the company has been working with LAPO Microfinance Bank, adding “we provided the professional expertise and LAPO provides the finance as this would bring a sustainable solutions to the needs of local population in terms of housing”.

US mortgage applications rise

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pplications for US home mortgages rose last week as both purchase and refinancing applications increased, Mortgage Bankers Association has said.

MBA said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, which includes both refinancing and home purchase demand, rose 7.3 percent in the week ended Dec. 5. The MBA’s seasonally adjusted index of refinancing applications rose 13.2 percent, while the gauge of loan requests for home purchases, a leading indicator of home sales, rose 1.3 percent.

Fixed 30-year mortgage rates averaged 4.11 percent in the week, up 3 basis points from 4.08 percent the week before. The survey covers over 75 percent of US retail residential mortgage applications, according to MBA. C M Y K

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 43

Advertising

TRAINING - From Left: Pastor Tope Dada, Head, Technical Training, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC); Mr Ben Langat, Managing Director, NBC; and Best Graduating Trainee, Miss Sylvia Ofiani, during the commemorative event at the completion of a 15-month NBC’s Graduate Training Certification in Beverage Bottling Operations for 19 engineers held at the NBC Plant, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos recently..

BJAN Conference: Stakeholders call for diversification of economy Stories By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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ollowing the communiqué after the 2014 annual Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN conference,, stakeholders in the Nigerian project have called for diversification of the economy from its mono-product nature to tourism to avoid immediate insolvency.

The conference titled, ‘ Tourism Marketing as Catalyst for Economic Development,’ which was held in Oshogbo, the State of Osun capital, had in attendance Media and Public Relations professionals, government officials, students of tertiary institutions and stakeholders in various sectors of the economy.

As a result of this, the

conference which assessed the current crude oil price situation in the world market, called on governments at all levels to immediately consider tourism as another major source of revenue.

It cited countries in Europe, Asia and Africa which have used tourism as a major source of revenue, and recommended that Nigeria should borrow a leaf from

those countries.

The forum also recommended that Government should assess the poor infrastructure nature, insecurity and take urgent steps to address these challenges to boost tourism, a sector which had a global earning of $1.03 trillion in 2011.

The conference called on the media to help in setting an

New Hollandia yoghurt TVC preaches ‘goodness’ Chi Limited, manufacturer of Hollandia yoghurt said the newly introduced television commercial, TVC titled ‘It’s All Good,’ promotes goodness.The new TVC tends to stimulate yet an entertaining and vibrant advertising campaigns on the

company’s brands, features one of Nigeria’s female singers, Seyi Shay, promotes ‘goodness’ while highlighting the benefits of taking the brand.

On why she loves Hollandia yoghurt, Shay said: ‘I love drinking Hollandia

Thermocool reward trade partners, introduces new products

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agenda for tourism repositioning by highlighting the importance of tourism and economic consequences of continuously relying on oil (‘Abuja feeding bottle’) as major revenue earner.

The media should highlight tourist attractions in the country, and should be constructive in their reports about the country as damaging reports have the tendency to discourage tourists to Nigeria, the forum recommended.

The Nigerian media should always make efforts to project the positive sides of Nigeria without necessarily compromising on facts.

The conference urged the federal government to support states in every necessary areas and states should also carry the federal government along in spotting tourism sites The forum in furtherance advised governments at all levels to provide good health care system so that tourists can have access to good health care when they visit respective tourist sites in Nigeria.

The federal government/ States should engage brand analysts and marketing communication professionals to help in marketing tourism in Nigeria.

That Nigeria should in other hand constantly innovate and improve on existing tourism platforms to keep them globally relevant.

hermocool, household appliances company has rewarded its trade partners, as it introduces new products.

Speaking, Managing Director, Thermocool, Mr. Panos Katsis, expressed delight at the continuous support the company has enjoyed from its trade partners and Nigerians as a whole.

“We are very honoured to be here to celebrate, recognizing and rewarding our esteemed partners who have consistently demonstrated great loyalty to our company with their unflinching support to our growth and aspirations over the past 40 years. Your immense efforts have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the company, and we are indeed proud and thankful to be associated with you” Katsis said further, “when we started business in Nigeria in 1974, we were aware of the potentials in the Nigerian market. We recognised the need, the desire of Nigerians to enjoy life; run their businesses and personal chores with relative ease and as an innovative company, we sought to fulfill these needs by providing world

class products that were technology relevant in that era and even surpassing it”.

“As we celebrate these past four decades, we are glad to make a bold re-commitment to an enduring partnership and relationship, and also a renewed pledge to our Nigerian customers that we will not waver in our resolve to constantly ensure that through all of family best moments “we will always be there” providing support through our world class innovative range of household appliances for an enhanced lifestyle” Katsis added.

According to the Marketing Director; Mr. Vikramjeet Singh, “At Thermocool, our agelong tradition of bringing peace of mind to Nigerian households remains our resolve; today that tradition is resplendent in our extensive product range including; refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioners, washing machines, microwaves, television sets, generator and sound systems.

Yoghurt, because it bursts with goodness. It makes me feel real good on the inside that I can’t just stop flaunting it on the outside. I have had some of my fans say that I have great skin, healthy nails and hair. And for me, it doesn’t just stop at that.

Hollandia Yoghurt gives me improved energy levels for non-stop performance.”

Essentially, the TVC highlights the connection between consumption of Hollandia Yoghurt that is nutritionally fulfilling and a refreshingly radiating personality which Shay represents in her person and music. It draws attention to the success that is within the reach of those who dare to dream big. In the TVC, Seyi Shay achieved her dream of becoming a star in the same way that every customer experience is a brand moment of truth.

Shay, who prefers Hollandia yoghurt, opined that the partnership was a nobrainer and a flawless match for brand Hollandia and my brand. She stated.

‘Shake & Share’ promo Tic Tac rewards winners

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ic Tac, a mint brand, from the Ferrero company, a subsidiary of CFAO Group has rewarded three winners who emerged at the just concluded pan Nigerian Tic Tac brand activation project tagged “Shake and Share” promo.

Tic Tac, a brand from the stable of Ferrero is one of the leaders in the confectionary segment of the market.

Winners of the promotion’s grand prizes of iPhone 6 include Buoyant Ikor- Lagos Ejimole Loveth ChiamakaPort Harcourt and Ita OkokonLagos.

During the roadshow, orchestrated by Route 712 Agency, Tic Tac promoted special promo picture contest “shake and share” that offer consumers the opportunity to win 3 Apple iPhone 6 and other numerous consolation prizes such as Samsung Smart Phones, Limited edition Tic Tac T-Shirt, Face cap, Key holders, Flash drives, Pen and Free Tic Tac product.

Announcing the winners at a prize presentation ceremony in Lagos, the Country Representative of Ferrero company, Adewale Adediran, said the mint confectionary brand was embarking on the initiative as a mark of respect for its teeming consumers and as a way of showing deep appreciation for their consistency toward the brand since inception.

Worldcom PR Group adds PFCAfrica to roster

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orldcom Public Relations Group has announced new capabilities in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia via the addition of four leading firms to its worldwide roster. The new Partner agencies were elected during the recent Worldcom Americas Region Meeting in Chicago and EMEA/Asia Pacific Region meeting in Dubai, where partners from the U.S., Canada, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific convened for strategic planning and best practices sessions on overall Group business growth and initiatives.

“These firms are a reflection of Worldcom Public Relations Group – diverse, expert, focused and deeply embedded in respective geographies and sectors,” said Todd Lynch, managing director, Worldcom Public Relations Group.

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44— Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

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egrettably, inspite of the earlier assurance to maintain the stability of the Naira in his inaugural address, Emefiele, the CBN Governor’s, policy summersault with Naira devaluation shortly afterwards, has since led to the National Currency trading above N173=$1, thus establishing Naira depreciation of about 13%; alarmingly, the pressure remains unabating and there are real fears that sooner than later, the Naira exchange rate may tumble below N200/$1 with the attendant severe social and economic consequences.

It will indeed be difficult to exempt any stakeholder or economic sector from the ravages of the ill wind of the recent Naira devaluation.

Indeed, some reports already suggest that the Naira may have begun a suicidal slide into ignominy a la the experiences of Ghana and Zimbabwe, where the local currencies became virtually worthless until redenomination temporarily rescued the Ghanaian Cedi, while the adoption of US dollars for transactions eventually stabilised Zimbabwe’s money market. Predictably, wherever a currency looses significant fractions of its exchange value, deepening poverty and disenabling economic distortions will prevail and the public will increasingly reject holding such currency as a store of value!

Hereafter, we will look a bit more closely at the most vulnerable victims of the current Naira devaluation.

The extent of price increases on all imported goods and services, as a result of devaluation, may still be difficult to determine, but what is quite clear, is that the minimum increase on shelf/ retail prices of goods may exceed 20% since payments for most of such imports will be

Victims of devaluation sourced at the interbank exchange rate, which is destined under present pressure to approach N200=$1 in the short term. The resultant steep rise in prices will not be restricted to Retail outlets like Shoprite, where, well over 90% of goods (including fruits & vegetables) on offer are imported! Sadly, the prices of those goods sold in our traditional markets and side shops may not also fare any better, as imports have increasingly also taken up shelf spaces in these markets.

Nigerians must, however, immediately dismiss any hope that increases in the prices of imports will ultimately spur local production; evidently, so long as industries struggle with the huge cost of energy and the excessive cost of borrowing (with interest rates above 20%), our industries may never be able to successfully compete with imported goods, (which include processed foods and beverages). Besides, the absence of sustainable local sources of raw materials will continue to make it necessary to source such industrial inputs as imports for many years to come.

Indeed, if industrial raw materials costs increase by over 20%, inevitably, finished goods from local production will similarly carry higher production cost which will restrain their competitiveness against cheaper imported equivalents.

Ultimately, cheaper, oftentimes subsidized imports will prevail and additional factory space may become available for transformation to event centers or churches and mosques; ultimately factory closures will only compound our already

oppressive yoke of a high rate of unemployment and its abiding collateral of insecurity and violence.

Similarly, loan default will become increasingly rampant for both private and corporate debtors who had thought it was smart to accept (5-7%) cheaper foreign denominated loans offered by banks as substitute for the much more expensive (17-25%) Naira denominated loans. Thus, beneficiaries of foreign loans will, unexpectedly, have to find over 20% more Naira to service and or repay their debts. Some Nigerians may recall the misfortunes of the beneficiaries of government’s NERFUND (Nigerian Economic Reconstruction Fund) dollar denominated loans over 20 years ago! Sadly, most of the businesses funded with those dollar loans became grounded and many erstwhile successful

It will indeed be difficult to exempt any stakeholder or economic sector from the ravages of the ill wind of the recent Naira devaluation

and diligent entrepreneurs lost their ‘shirts’ while some others paid the ultimate price from stress and hypertension as a result of pressures to repay their rapidly bloating debts as the Naira rate plunged abysmally to a small fraction of its previous values. Sadly, It may be difficult to identify any surviving industrial beneficiary of the NERFUND scheme today!

As it is with the private sector, so also with public sector external loans. Indeed, Okonjo Iweala, the Finance Minister assured Nigerians, that relatively cheaper external loans would be sourced to supplement revenue shortfall as a result of contracting crude oil prices; on the surface, this might sound sensible, however, the Minister failed to also warn that even if such foreign loans are cheaper we may ultimately still require over 15% more Naira to service or repay these external debts if the Naira continues to weaken. Indeed if the Naira exchange rate tumbles further, the cost of servicing our external debt will eat deeper and deeper into our annual budgets and we may ultimately expend over 20% of the federation’s projected revenue for debt services and repayments annually; undoubtedly, infrastructural enhancement and poverty alleviation will consequently remain a challenge to fund with annual budgets.

Furthermore, parents and sponsors of children and wards in overseas educational institutions are also victims of the recent Naira devaluation.

Indeed if school fees are paid at the current interbank rates, the Naira burden may increase by almost 20% for most sponsors. The cost of air ticketing for overseas travel will

also go North in deference to the current devaluation of the Naira, consequently travel expenses (whether for education, holiday or business) for both private and government passengers will increase and may ultimately lead to curtailment of travel plans and manpower development programmes; alternatively, distasteful tradeoffs in the capital and expenditure budgets may become imperative for all concerned.

Foreign Portfolios Investors who were erstwhile eager patrons of Naira denominated equities and government’s bonds and bills are presently quickly making a beeline to exit the Nigerian market, as Naira devaluation continues to wipe off, the once exceptional yields from such instruments. The resultant capital flight has also instigated over a N2000bn fall in equity values in the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the last 6 weeks, the trend remains unyielding, with destabilising economic consequences that would shake the confidence of the investing public in the stock market for some time. Nigerians are of course concerned that inspite of almost 40% drop in crude oil prices, domestic fuel prices have remained resistant.

The reality of course is that the fall in crude prices will largely be compensated by Naira depreciation and may just reduce the element of subsidy in fuel pricing from 50% to between 10-15% if the Naira exchange rate rises above N190=$1.

In conclusion, devaluation will instigate a general price rise which will push inflation into double digits and deepen poverty as all incomes will ultimately lose over 50% of purchasing value every 5 years!

Save the Naira, Save Nigerians!!

Business & Economy CBC to deliver N10bn worth of housing unit in WIBP

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

C

entre Base Consult (CBC) Limited has unveiled plans to deliver a N10 billion worth of housing units in the residential area of the Warri Industrial Business Park (WIBP) known as “Park Garden”.

The project proposes about 400 units of houses on six hectares of land space incorporating different types of structures with adequate touch of luxury, comfort and style.

CBC is a property development company set up with the aim of providing C M Y K

quality and efficient support services within the building and civil engineering industry which is basically general contracting, sourcing and supply of component materials.

Speaking at a one day Inaugural Customer Forum organised by CBC with the theme: “Seasoned & Stylish” in Lagos, Managing Director, CBC, Mr. Sesan Obe, said that the project would be delivered in phases of 100 units each, adding that the first phase will commence by January 2015 and that the average rate for each unit will cost about N2.5 billion.

According to Obe, “It is a joint venture project. WIBP is trying to stimulate the Warri economy in such a way as to provide infrastructure in the park, while we are coming to take part in the building aspect of the park. N10 billion is for the entire project and an average unit of each phase is about N2.5 billion.

“In the building we have terrace apartment, detached and semi detached apartments and blocks of flat with different price range.”

On affordability, he said that the houses are of different types and that the choice will determine the cost.

Omoh Gabriel Babajide Komolafe Clara Nwachukwu Peter Egwuatu Yinka Kolawole Favour Nnabugwu Godwin Oritse Godfrey Bivbere Michael Eboh Franklin Alli Ebele Orakpo Ifeyinwa Obi Rosemary Onuoha

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Group Business Editor Deputy Business Editor Energy Editor Asst. Business Editor Snr Bus. Correspondent Insurance Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Maritime Correspondent Energy Reporter Industry/Agric. Reporter Energy Reporter Maritime Reporter Insurance Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS Princewill Ekwujuru Nkiruka Nnorom Jonah Nwokpoku Naomi Uzor Providence Obuh LAYOUT

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Media/Marketing Capital Market E-Commerce Industry Micro Finance Graphics Department

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—45

L-r: Founder of the Ajesola Solarin Majekodunmi Foundation, Prof. Ajesola Majekodunmi, chairman of the occasion, Sir Teju Ogunjimi and the foundation's chairman, Prof Soga Sofola at the launching of the foundation in Lagos

Rev. Fr. John Damain Adizie flanked by Sam Ajufo, cordinator of the event and Ezinne Charity Onuoha with other participants during the International Conference on Religion & Politics in Lagos

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Breast cancer: New vaccine’s clinical trial shows promise

By Chioma Obinna

S

CIENTISTS have recorded a breakthrough in cancer management as a breast cancer vaccine designed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is safe in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Preliminary evidence of the small clinical trial suggested that the vaccine primed the patients’ immune systems to attack tumour cells and helped slow the cancer’s progression.

The study was published in the December 1, 2014 edition of the Clinical Cancer Research.

According to the researchers the new vaccine causes the body’s immune system to home in on a protein called mammaglobin-A, found almost exclusively in breast tissue. The protein’s role in healthy tissue is unclear, but breast tumours express it at abnormally high levels, past research has shown.

The leader of the team, William Gillanders, a Professor of Surgery said: “Being able to target mammaglobin is exciting because it is expressed broadly

in up to 80 percent of breast cancers, but not at meaningful levels in other tissues.” The breast cancer surgeon also stated that in theory, it means they could treat a large number of breast cancer patients with potentially fewer side effects.

“It’s also exciting to see this work progress from identifying the importance of mammaglobin-A, to designing a therapeutic agent, manufacturing it and giving it to patients, all by investigators at Washington University,” he added. The vaccine primes a type of white blood cell, part of the body’s adaptive immune system, to seek out and destroy cells with the mammaglobin-A protein.

Vaccine’s safety

In the smaller proportion of breast cancer patients whose tumors do not produce mammaglobin-A, this vaccine would not be effective.

In the new study, 14 patients with metastatic breast cancer that expressed mammaglobinA were vaccinated. No severe

Rotary Club of Palmgroove walks against polio

T

O further raise awareness in communities on the need to eradicate polio in Nigeria, Rotary club of Lagos PalmGrove Estate weekend staged yet another community service project aimed at creating awareness on the devastating effects of polio in children.

The walk took off from the premises of the Indian community in Lagos through its neighbouring areas.

According to the President of the Club, Ramesh Biswal, polio is a deadly disease that leads to permanent disability in affected children.

Biswal who explained that a timely preventive care can be taken through the administration of two drops of oral polio vaccine during immunisation days mentained that “Only a timely two drops of Polio vaccination can keep the disease away from a child for life.”Unfortunately, Nigeria is amongst the only three countries apart from Pakistan and Afghanistan that is yet to eradicate polio.

He stated that the club is dedicating its year 2014- 2015 as Polio-Eradication Year adding that many programmes and events have been organised both at the State and Federal levels.

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“In the last eight years, the Club has been working rigorously for such social causes and intends to continue its work. Rotary Club of Lagos Palm-Grove Estate didn’t want to lag behind towards the Club’s determination to ensuring the end of polio in Nigeria. The walk is part of our contributions to that process. “During the walk we enlightened people about Polio – its causes, its effects and how it can be prevented.”

The walk was flagged-off by Mrs Cecilia Ibru, the Rotary Ambassador for Polio-eradication Project. Participants at the walk include; members of the Club, teachers and students of Ajenifua school, medical doctors from Mushin Health Centres amongst others.

or life-threatening side effects occurred. Although the trial was designed to test vaccine safety, preliminary evidence indicated the vaccine slowed the cancer’s progression, even in patients who tend to have less potent immune systems because of their advanced disease and exposure to chemotherapy.

“Despite the weakened immune systems in these patients, we did observe a biologic response to the vaccine while analysing immune cells in their blood samples,” said Gillanders. Of the 14 patients who received the vaccine, about half showed no progression of their cancer one year after.

• Breast cancer patient

Place hospital food services under dietitians — EXPERTS

By Gabriel Olawale

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ROFESSOR of Dietetics in Nigeria, Prof. Oluremi Keshinro has called for the placement of food and catering services in the hospitals under the supervision of a qualified dietitian.

Making the call at the 42nd Annual General Meeting/ Scientific Conference of the Association of Dieticians in Nigeria held in Kogi State, Keshinro explained that such action would promote quick recovery of the patient as well as general healthy living among Nigerians.

According to him, healthy food cooked in a hygienic environment would also help shorten the period of admission in the hospital. “The knowledge

acquired as a dietician will help transfer nutrition experience into diet which will in turn facilitate in curing of diseases and help to shorten the days of admission in the hospital, even prevent diseases.”

“Currently, people are getting diabetes because they are eating the wrong foods but with a dietician, when they are properly counselled, the individuals will know the kind of foods to eat.

Exercising and dieting are required for somebody to stay fit and maintain desirable way of living.”

Keshinro regretted that more children are suffering from malnutrition due to the nature of the foods they consume.

“Malnutrition is eating less of the nutrients because no single food can give you all the nutrients;

you require coordination of different foods to help provide nutritious diets.”

Corroborating his views, Professor of Community Health and Nutrition, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola, University of Technology, LAUTEC, Ebenezer Ojofeitimi said that increasing rates of childhood obesity is alarming and this can produce a generation of less healthy adult with shorter life.

“The health risks caused by obesity in children of this generation are more than ever before. If care is not taken, parents would begin to outlive their children. Obesity is as a result of our lifestyle.”

In the past we were eating our natural foods, combined with physical activity but globilisation has changed the trend.

Alomo Bitters bags Medicinal Herbal Drink award

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HE Institute for Govern ment Research Leadership Technology has awarded Alomo Bitters, a flagship brand of Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited the Medicinal Herbal Drink of the year 2014 in its Africa Product Forum, ‘Abuja’ 2014 with the theme, “Building Brands, Handing Competition”.

• Members of Rotary Club of Lagos PalmGroove Estate during a walk on polio recently in Lagos.

Receiving the award, the Marketing Director Kasapreko Nigeria, Mr. Kojo Nunoo said Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited is pursuing a vision to build a world class brand using authentic traditional herbal blends and world class technology in an environmentally responsible manner to satisfy customers. “it is with great delight and humility that we at Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited receive this award, recognitions like this further give a lift to our dreams and encourage us to do more research and ultimately produce innovative products for our consumers’ satisfaction” he said.

He added that “this award means a lot to us, because Alomo Bitters is the only product in its category that is produced with hundred percent natural ingredients, we are happy that our effort is been

recognised in this regards”.

Kojo said since the introduction of Alomo Bitters into the Nigerian market about 4 years ago, its growth has been driven largely by consumer demand.”Nigerians love the drink because it is the only drink in its category that is produced with hundred percent natural ingredients which makes it good for health. We get testimonies for the medicinal potency of Alomo Bitters from consumers” Also speaking at the award ceremony the Sales Director, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sam Osafo said “as a reputable company we are focused on the quality of our product that is why from the point of extraction to mixing and distilling, careful scientific processes have been put in place to ensure that we maintain the high standard we have been known for”.

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

POST APC PRIMARIES:

The reasons we went for Buhari — Gov Ahmed •Nigerians 'll judge Buhari and Jonathan by their antecedents •Why the Saraki structure 'll remain viable in Kwara GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed, a former banker turned politician was before his nomination as governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the Kwara 2011 election, the commissioner for finance in the state. An integral member of the Bukola Saraki political structure, he followed Senator Saraki into the All Progressives Congress, APC and was recently nominated as the governorship candidate of the party for the forthcoming governorship election.

On the fringes of the recently concluded convention of the party in Lagos, Governor Ahmed spoke with some newsmen on the issues that shadowed the convention, the nature and norms of the political structure in Kwara and his achievements in office.

Excerpts:

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

W

ERE you expecting anything different from the result that was posted at the end of your national convention?

No, because I have looked at APC as having come at a time that Nigeria needs to be rescued and the disposition of those who formed the APC has shown one clear thing: that we are all putting collective interest over and above self interest. So, to that extent, I saw everybody’s disposition for a free and fair election.

I knew that with the way things were going and with the kind of feelers that we were getting across the country, we were going to end up in a free and fair election where people are very conscious of the problem that Nigeria is facing today and the most critical ones being insecurity and corruption. And truly, looking back into history, we judge people by what they have done.

Of those people who came out to contest, Buhari had the highest credential in the areas of anti-corruption and to a large extent in managing security. So, to a very large extent, I knew these would play a critical role in who was going to win and they were indeed critical.

The emergence of Buhari is just in tandem with our mindsets.

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It was predicted as a two horse race between Atiku and Buhari. So, what happened?

Those predictions were not premised on anything one would say as empirical. They were largely suggestive, I would say by the followers of each of these contenders and as it were, it was just a media perception.

The reality on ground was that people came in and voted what their conscience directed them to do. In fact, even as governors when we sat down to review the issue it was largely about taking opinions from one another on the feelers on ground and this was what came out at the convention.

Buhari and Jonathan is that not a serious gamble for the APC? We may not be taking a gamble to the extent that we allow critical issues that are bothering Nigerians to come to the fore because we are at the point where the issue of insecurity is getting to frightening dimensions.

Unfortunately the progress made by the current leadership has not suggested any serious sense of comfort for an average Nigerian. We are all witnesses to different bombings in various parts of the country.

Insurgency is not new to Nigeria and we are all witnesses as to how it was

•Ahmed: We think Nigerians will vote according to their conscience handled in the past. We saw how it was handled by Buhari and how he was able to manage the Chadians and we are all witnesses to his anticorruption fight which unfortunately was not allowed to stay.

So, for us, we think Nigerians will vote according to their conscience and unfortunately, we think that the economy is not doing much as it should.

Yes, there is growth but there is no development.

The areas that have propelled the current growth that we are talking about are the service sectors but it is not touching the lives of the majority of Nigerians. Unfortunately, it has not been able to rejuvenate the middle class that the Obasanjo administration attempted to bring back.

So, the disappearance of the middle class has put much more pressure on the current system such that more Nigerians feel the pain of deprivation now, social deprivation, economic deprivation and security deprivation is truly felt now.

I am sure that Nigerians will look at now that if we truly want to have a difference from the way things are going that we need to do it differently from the way we are doing it now.

We try to judge people by antecedence. He (Buhari) has done it before, he can do it again. And why we feel convinced about his desire and capacity to do it, at his age, I don’t think he has any wealth he wants to accumulate now.

He said it clearly that he doesn’t have money to give to anybody other than making himself available for service.

How are you preparing to defend yourself given the president’s assertion that they would recover their stolen mandate?

The political system in Kwara had been hinged on a structure which has allowed us to play an inclusive system. The structure is largely built on contributions from every nook and corner of the state from the 16 local governments.

The choice of who gets nominated, the way and manner in which people get nominated and most importantly in driving the need of the people into an encapsulated desire for growth and development. I want to let you know that as a state in Kwara, we have that structure in APC and that structure has always delivered.

So, the next election is not going to be an exception because the same structure has

Of those people who came out to contest, Buhari had the highest credential in the areas of anticorruption and to a large extent in managing security

delivered goods and services to the people, the same structure has allowed for inclusiveness, the same structure has allowed people who ordinarily would never have thought of ascending to levels of position, myself inclusive, so this structure has allowed a democratised process of ascending into political offices.

So for us, this same structure is still at play and will continue to get itself running the affairs of Kwara and we are happy that the structure has a leadership in Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has strengthened the inclusive process of arriving at decisions that are generally acceptable to the majority of the people.

So, we are using that structure alongside with our developmental programmes which we have outlined, especially taking the most critical area of Nigeria’s problems today which is youth unemployment. We have recorded a lot of milestones in reducing youth unemployment.

We have created programmes despite our lean resources to let youths see that they are the leaders of tomorrow and they require to be managed accordingly. That has led us to for instance, setting up one of the best international vocational centres.

We have also supported the health systems. We have not only raised infrastructure, we have also widened access through the community health insurance. I am happy to let you know that we received an award just recently in Paris, France of having one of the

Continues on page 53

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 53

Nigerians 'll judge Buhari and Jonathan by their antecedents — Gov Ahmed Continues from page 52 most successful community health insurance schemes in the world, not just in Africa or Nigeria because the award was designed to be looked at from a broad perspective, not just a Kwara perspective.

So with all these on ground and with our understanding of our peoples’ needs having been very close to them, we are truly positioned to carry on to the next level in terms of growth and development.

So for us, the 2015 election will usher us into a second term, God willing to broaden what we have been doing since 2011 in terms of infrastructure, human capital development and the economy.

So you don’t see the president’s assertion as a threat?

We have never seen them as a threat because it is all about platforms and ability to deliver goods and services to the people which we have demonstrated. Those are just mere pronouncements. What really matters is the issue of being able to articulate resources and to meet the needs of the people which we are currently doing and which we hope to upscale God willing in the second term.

What are the issues that will shape the emergence of Buhari’s running mate?

One key issue that will shape it is where the person is coming from. If the president comes from the north, obviously the vice will come from the south. Also, capacity to support the president in set goals and targets will be a key area and this will largely be driven by the antecedents of the person who will be chosen. For religion, people who are bringing religion into the politics of Nigeria are those who stand to benefit from it.

Not for balance of faith?

Faith on its own does not play any role in Nigeria’s economic system. So for us, religion should have no role in the multi-religious environment, religion should have no role in a multi-ethnic environment.

What has brought us together has no religious implication.

So, on no grounds should we look at religion as a basis for choice of those who will carry on our social contract to desirable levels that will suit the interest of Nigerians

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Can we have an insight into how you have been able to manage the successor – predecessor crisis in Kwara that you and Bukola Saraki have co-existed cordially? And is it good that the structure is established around a family?

It is an inclusive process which allows for inputs from all stakeholders. It is not taken as a family affair as if restricted to a single family. The family is as Kwarans in 16 local governments. So when we refer to the structure as a family thing, it is for stakeholders.

Bukola Saraki is an exceptional leader who has defined his leadership through inclusiveness, through strategic and methodical design of how he wants to see everybody’s inputs galvanised into a working process for the common interest. To that extent, he has approached governance from the normal way you expect to see good business run. Strategically, you look at your strengths, your weaknesses, your opportunities and your threats.

Also, in getting any system to run it has to be given an inclusive outlook. Governance can be successful anywhere in the world if you allow for inclusive process, if you allow for stakeholders’ input. It is the same structure that Bukola Saraki ran his eight year government, which I was part and parcel of and I was positioned as the commissioner for finance and got the understanding of how resources are collated and they are methodically and optimally allocated to areas of need.

Having been well positioned in that administration, it was

Bukola Saraki is an exceptional leader who has defined his leadership through inclusiveness, through strategic and methodical design

compensatory programme within the structure and that is why you don’t see rancour and disagreements.

You see the way and manner they have carried on their activities. The only slogan is that they are looking for freedom. Freedom from where?

From who? You cannot be freer from a process that allows inclusiveness.

Is political amity still possible between Bukola and Gbemi?

Why not? In politics you don’t overrule anything.

•Ahmed: Religion should have no role in a multi-ethnic envi-

ronment only sensible for me to use that process to develop an upscale of service delivery to the people. And that is exactly what we are doing. We have never driven the system from an individual’s angle, we have always driven the system from a collective inclusive process.

People don’t know that that is where the success of our relationship is. He is not a dictator, he is an inclusive person and he has allowed everybody to create inputs into evolving the process that will be suitable to everybody and on account of that, I have also imbibed that system to drive governance in Kwara.

So, rather than seeing differences we are seeing strength, we are seeing understanding in driving good governance, we are seeing understanding in delivering goods and services and we are seeing understanding in carrying everybody along as stakeholders in driving the process for the common good and that is where the secret of the success in Kwara politics lies.

Some say that the structure you are talking about is dead and buried.

It cannot be dead and buried if it is still delivering goods and services. It cannot be dead and buried if it has one of the most successful electoral processes being carried on at the local government level and state level.

Of course if you see the way and manner our people have approached all electoral processes, you will see the discipline largely induced by leadership that encapsulates common interest into its strength. It cannot die because the interest is collective, the one that will die is the one that has individual interest. It dies because self interest overrides collective interest and that is the kind of thing you are seeing in PDP. What has brought them together cannot be harmonised into a congruence to drive them into a common goal. Self interest of wanting that position of governorship is what brought them together and if they are not getting it they have no option to not getting it. Unlike us where we have a

Still on the issue of stolen mandate. When the president said it did you feel like the bearer of a stolen mandate or as a thief? (laughter) No, I didn’t feel that way. You need to understand that there are categories of people in politics.

There are seasonal politicians who come in once every four years when elections are about to start and there are those of us who are regularly sitting down with the people. Those who felt that their mandate has been taken away are those who live in Abuja and are regularly feeding the presidency with what they want the presidency to hear, but those of us at home we sit with the people day in day out, 365 days a year we are with them. So when you talk about stolen mandate, I don’t know whose mandate has been stolen, but as far as I am concerned we have the mandate of the people to deliver goods and services with respect to the resources that are available from them on an optimal level that will allow for inclusive processes.

Are you frightened by the nomination of Senator Simon Ajibola as your challenger by the PDP? No I am not because Senator Ajibola has been made by this structure. Every success he has recorded has been on the platform of this structure from nomination to campaigns to also even getting to do things for the people have been by this structure.

Now that he has moved out of the structure that has supported him and I am still in the structure, why should I be frightened? For example, the only major thing he has done for his people, which is the major road leading to his place, I personally did it for him as governor to make him enjoy a political mileage.

54—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

L-r: Ms Erica Chiusano of the United States Consulate in Nigeria, Mrs Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Centre for Democracy, and Mrs Rhoda Robinson, Director, Gender Development Programme/ Hacey Coordinator Youth Square Project, during the one day Dialogue Session on promoting the active participation of women in elections and local governance in Nigeria, organised by Hacey Health Initiative and the United States Consulate in Nigeria in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Commissioner on Rural Development, with his team on inspection of ongoing grading of inner roads at Lanre Mabawonku Street, Iba LCDA, Lagos

Ugwu tasks manufacturers on branding

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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ORMER Minister of Commerce, Charles Ugwu, has tasked Nigerian manufacturers not to depend on marketing of foreign brands but show more commitment in developing their brands locally for enduring economic benefits and job creation.

Ugwu made the call at the formal launch of three ISONEM products, ISONEM Sin-Out; ISONEM ISOMIX and ISONEM in Abuja.

He said Nigerian manufacturers and marketers of foreign brands would be better off, when they start building and branding their products locally as that would position them to set good records of market penetration.

He commended the chairman of Divine Reward Services Limited, DRS, for carving a niche for himself

by introducing the innovative products into the Nigerian market and urged him to be upward looking in marketing ABS paints and other allied produts.

“Branding is a very key element in the purchase of any product. This young guy has started very well, and have carved a niche for himself. I am encouraging them to make sure they brand their products to get real value, because down the line, they will be involved in manufacturing and in manufacturing, you do not only manufacture products but create employment for the people.

Only your own brand is important.

“When Nigerians get involved in manufacturing, they will get a continuing return on their investment and efforts they have made in the past. That is why I urged them to brand their products in their name and have exclusive right acrued on that products."

Isoko youths endorse Leo Ogor

By Emman Ovuakporie

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SOKO-YOUTHS un der the aegis of Aviara Interest Group, weekend, endorsed Hon. Leo Ogor for another term in the Federal House of Representatives.

The youths who applauded Ogor for his qualitative representation in the Green House said the lawmaker had properly represented the Isoko nation and should be given another chance to continue.

Speaking at a rally in Aviara, ‘Governor’ youth President of Aviara Mr. Oreri Cornelius, declared that Ogor has performed well in office to merit another term and will be supported to realize the ambition. He called on Aviara electorate to support a man who has C M Y K

brought massive development to Isoko federal constituency, stressing that “Isoko people are honourable and won’t take nonsense".

The group which began the day with a special prayers at Aviara Town Hall called on all aspirants to brace up for issue-based campaigns in pursuit of their ambition as they prepare for next year general election.

Ogor who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said after his emergence as PDP flag bearer that he will take Isoko Federal constituency to the realms of amazing grace if given the opportunity to continue to serve his people.

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UN members agree deal at Lima climate talks U

NITED Nations members have reached an agreement on how countries should tackle climate change.

Delegates have approved a framework for setting national pledges to be submitted to a summit next year.

Differences over the draft text caused the two-week talks in Lima, Peru, to overrun by two days.

Environmental groups said the deal was an ineffectual compromise, but the EU said it was a step towards achieving a global climate deal next year in Paris.

The talks proved difficult because of divisions between rich and poor countries over how to spread the burden of pledges to cut carbon emissions.

Peru’s environment minister, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, who chaired the summit, told reporters: “As a text it’s not perfect, but it includes the positions of the parties.”

Miguel Arias Canete, EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said the EU had

wanted a more ambitious outcome but he still believed that “ we are on track to agree a global deal” at a summit in Paris, France, next year.

The agreement was adopted hours after a previous draft was rejected by developing countries, who accused rich nations of shirking their responsibilities to fight global warming and pay for its impacts.

There was a good deal of optimism at the start of these talks as the recent emissions agreement between the US and China was seen as an historic breakthrough. But that good spirit seemed to evaporate in two weeks of intense wrangling between rich and poor here in Lima.

Delegates listen as COP 20 President and Peru’s Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal makes an announcement during a plenary session of the U.N. Climate Change Conference COP 20 in Lima December 12, 2014

Abe’s coalition secures big Japan election win with record low turnout

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APANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s coalition cruised to a big election win yesterday , ensuring he will stick to reflationary economic policies and a muscular security stance, but record low turnout pointed to broad dissatisfaction with his

performance.

NHK public TV said Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and junior partner the Komeito party were assured more than the 317 seats in the 475-member lower house required to maintain a two-thirds “super-majority ” that smoothes parliamentary

Turkey police raid opposition media with Gulen links Turkish police have made at least 23 arrests during raids on a newspaper and TV station with close ties to USbased Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Those detained are accused of forming an illegal organisation and trying to seize control of the state.

Mr Gulen, the spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement, is a rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The raids come days after Mr Erdogan pledged a fresh campaign against Mr Gulen’s supporters.

Among those arrested

are journalists, producers, scriptwriters and a police chief in eastern Turkey.

Police attempted to raid the offices of the Zaman newspaper, one of Turkey’s biggest, early on Sunday morning, but a crowd of protesters forced police to turn back before they could make arrests.

Staff at the paper also reported on the incident as it happened.

The paper’s editor-inchief, Ekrem Dumanli, tweeted a picture of himself at his desk, saying: “Officers [forced] back because of democratic reaction of my friends. I

am at my place and wait.”

But they returned and arrested him in a second raid in the afternoon.

Staff and supporters of the paper held placards and chanted “free press cannot be silenced” as police raided the building.

Mr Dumanli smiled and studied police documents before being led through the newspaper ’s headquarters to applause from staff crowded onto balconies.

“Let those who have committed a crime be scared,” Mr Dumanli said as he was led away, according to Reuters.

business.

But the LDP was set to fall slightly short of the 295 it held before the poll, NHK figures showed.

“I believe the public approved of two years of our ‘Abenomics’ policies,” Abe said in a televised interview. “But that doesn’t mean we can be complacent.”

Many voters, doubtful of both the premier’s “Abenomics” strategy to end deflation and generate growth and the opposition’s ability to do any better, stayed at home.

Final turnout will be a record low of 52.4 percent, media forecast, below 59.3 percent in a 2012 poll that returned Abe to power for a rare second term on pledges to reboot an economy plagued by deflation and an aging, shrinking population.

Market analysts said the widely expected outcome would be positive for shares and negative for the yen in the near term given expectations Abe will stick to a “Three Arrows” strategy of hypereasy monetary policy, government spending and reforms.

“Since the Abe administration puts emphasis on share prices, short-term, this will be a tailwind for higher stocks and a weaker yen,” said Tsuyoshi Ueno, senior economist at NLI Research Institute.

“But medium-term, investors will be watching to see if Japan is changed structurally.”

Doubts persist over whether Abe will knuckle down on his “Third Arrow” of reforms in politically sensitive areas such as labor market deregulation and an overhaul of the highly protected farm sector.

Families of Newtown, Connecticut, massacre victims plan lawsuits

P

ARENTS of almost half the young children killed by a gunman at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, two years ago on Sunday have taken initial steps toward filing lawsuits tied to one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

For a second straight year the leafy suburb has planned no public events to commemorate the massacre, which left 20 first graders and six educators

dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School, an incident that inflamed the U.S. debate over gun control.

The parents of eight of the children killed in the Dec. 14, 2012, carnage, which 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza ended by shooting himself dead as he heard police sirens approach, have notified Connecticut courts that they may file wrongful death lawsuits in state or federal court.

Their initial court filings, related to legal entities cre-

ated in memory of their children, do not indicate who the families could target in their lawsuits, according to a chief court clerk for North Fairfield County Probate Court.

While the parents could not be reached for comment, a spokesman for Bridgeport law firm Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder said that a lawyer at the firm had recently met with some of the Newtown parents about potential suits.

56—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Lagos Police Command parleys on human trafficking, child labour

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HE Human Rights Department of Lagos Police Command holds workshop on Human Trafficking and Child Labour with a focus on the problem facing the society and the country as a whole. Guest speakers from all sectors that have to do with human relations matter such as the United Nations, Nigeria Bar Association, Crime Victims Foundation, NAPTIP, e.t.c. are expected to attend the workshop.

Mr Famakin Joseph, who spoke on human trafficking as a modern day slavery, said it involves forceful and deceitful acquisition, sales and resale of persons especially children and women. He said this was rampant in the country now, adding that it is the duty of the law enforcement agents to investigate, arrest and successfully prosecute traffickers without relying solely on the cooperation and testimony of the victims.

He said that intelligence gathering is also necessary, stressing that human and technical surveillance are some of the tools in curbing these.

Joseph said that undercover deployments is essential in upholding justice and ensuring social justice and social equality.

According to the officer in charge of human rights at the Lagos State Police Command, Asst.

Superintendent Olu Falomo, the idea of human trafficking and child labour are vices that should not be tolerated.

Osagie in landslide win to Senate

B

ARR. Osagie, the minority chief whip of the House of Representatives has been chosen by his people to represent them in the Senate in the just concluded Senate APC primaries.

He scored l, l20 votes against a formidable fellow APC contestant, Igodomigodo, the current chief of staff to Governor Oshiomhole, who also was a former member of the House of Representatives. Igodomigodo scored 894 votes. Other contestants for the Edo South district include Jim with l62 and Emokpae who scored 28.

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OGUNGBEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Folake Temitope Ogungbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Folake Temitope Adebisi. All former documents remain valid. Four Point By Sheraton and general public please take note.

ADEMOLA—I, formerly known and addressed as Joyce Tosin Ademola, now wish to be known and addressed as Oritsemisan Popo Salami. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGAGBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogagbe Vivian Oghenemine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O n o r i e d e Vivian Oghenemine.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALAKPA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alakpa Mavis Edesiri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okene Thomas Mavis Edesiri. All former documents remain valid. Delta state University Abaraka, NYSC and general public please take note.

Confirmation of name This to certify that Oso Kaigho Favour and Oso Kaigho is the same and one person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Oso Favour Kaigho.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOLI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Christiana Okoli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Christiana Obiorah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKODUGHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Temitope Mariam Okodugha, now wish to be known and addressed as Temitope Mariam Jaja. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS. OMOWAYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Omowaye Frances Nkem, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Nwukor Frances Nkem. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FOR ENQUIRIES, CALL ADVRT HOTLINE: 01-8737025, OR 08025781478, 08035449960

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Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—57

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58 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014—59

Siasia: I’m not depending on foreign based stars

RVP: Mata was offside against Liverpool

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ITH only a hand ful of the invited overseas based players showing up to the team’s camp for screening, Dream Team VI coach Samson Siasia has said that he will not be overly dependent on overseas based players as he bids to raise another Olympic team for Nigeria.

“You have to learn from other people’s mistakes and I know I have to focus on the players based here in Nigeria and that’s why we have a lot of them now. These guys (overseas based players) will come and go and in the long run they may not come because it’s not a FIFA free period so we have to focus more on the home based players, especially those we feel can help us through the qualifying period,” Siasia said.

•Siasia

JUBILATION: Wayne Rooney slides in to join his fellow goalscorers Juan Mata and Robin van Persie after the latter finished off their third against Liverpool

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OBIN VAN PERSIE has admitted Juan Mata was offside when he put Manchester United 2-0 ahead against Liverpool this afternoon.

Mata appeared to be in an offside position when he headed past Brad Jones just before halftime.

And speaking after the

•Iheanacho

BET9JA to honour agents, others

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our 12th man. And again, David (De Gea) was outstanding. He was brilliant - it’s not often a team wins 3-0 and the goalkeeper is man of the match. “I think Michael Carrick made the difference today, he is so confident on the ball. All of the defenders were calm today.”

Balogun ready for Dream Team

I

N appreciation of their role in positioning Bet9ja to occupy a prime place in the sports betting business in the last one year, the management of KC Gaming Network Ltd is rolling out the drums in honour of its agents and workers with outstanding performance during the year.

According to The CEO of Bet9ja Ayo Ojuroye ‘ We have decided to roll out the drums to celebrate our agents and other workers that played key role in ensuring that Bet9ja becomes the number one sports betting company in Nigeria. Through the efforts of our agents and committed workers, we not only delivered on our promise of prompt payments of winnings, but empowered them by providing a good ambience for betting.

Ojuroye disclosed that the event which is slated for Tuesday December 16th at the Time Square event center in Ikeja , Lagos will be a celebration of excellence.

game, Van Persie admitted he got a touch on Ashley Young’s cross from the right, meaning Mata was definitely offside.

“I have to be honest,” Van Persie said. “But you can put that down as an assist!”

“The fans were brilliant today. Again, they were

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ARCELONA starlet Boluwatife Balogun has made his services available to the Olympic National Team and Flying Eagles after committing his international future to Nigeria, despite being eligible to represent Holland and France. ‘’I have been called up once for Nigeria’s national under 17 team but I didn’t come to camp due

to injuries. If I get any call now, I will honour it because I want to serve my fatherland, if I’m invited,’’ Boluwatife Balogun said to SL10.ng. ”’I was born in Nigeria. My mom is French and I have a Dutch passport, so I’m also eligible to play for Holland and France. ‘’I don’t have any special reason why I am

Tennis teens break into senior top 8 •Set For N.25m Ikoyi Masters

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HREE top teenage tennis stars who recently graduated from the junior tennis circuit have broken into the top 8 ranking as of right.

They could easily have been four if Moses Michael, winner of the Lagos Governor’s Cup, did not quit the NPA Senior championships to go abroad in search of ATP points. Joseph Imeh, Emmanuel Idoko

and Sylvester Emmanuel will feature at the inaugural Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters which kicks of on Tuesday December 16 to Saturday December 20 from 4.30 pm each day.

Angel McCleod, national 16 and under champion and quarterfinalist at the Governor ’s Cup will also feature in the ladies category

thanks to a ‘ wild card’ from the organisers. The other ladies in the Masters event are: Christy Agugbom, Sarah Adegoke, Blessing Samuel, Osaremien Airhunwunde, Ronke Akingbade, Aanu Aiyegbusi and Loveth Donatus.

The rest in the of the Men’s version are: Clifford Enosoregbe, Mumuni Babalola, Shehu Lawal, Henry Atseye and Candi Idoko., Speaking over the

weekend, tournament director, Mr Thomas Olorundare said, “this is an inaugural tournament which we plan to host every year. This is the first ever Masters tournament based on the cumulative performance of the players through the year. We hope that this event will help raise the standard of the players by motivating them to work hard from the beginning of the year to qualify”

picking Nigeria ahead of these countries, that’s what my dad wants.’’

Boluwatife Balogun has admitted that he models his game after Barcelona superstar Andres Iniesta, and he believes he will bring more quality to Nigeria’s age - grade teams. ‘’Andres Iniesta is my role model, he is a great passer of the ball. He has good dribbling skills, he thinks what to do with the ball before it gets to him. ‘’There are good players there that has some good qualities in the Nigeria team. But with what I possess we will be spectacular,’’ he concluded.

•sBalogun

60 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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ARLY last week, the latest addition to the vibrant list of national teams media officers Timi Ebikagboro, called to enquire about FIFA and the Appeal Committee imbroglio. I told Timi to go to sleep and dream, soundly. “Oga if you say so” I told him I am saying so, that nothing will come out of it, that FIFA will throw out the case and allow our football some breathing space.

Last week I said in this column that there is hardly anything to write about our sports, especially football.

The same distractions, from the same quarters, men who don’t sleep at night, plotting, looking for loop holes, spanners to throw into the works of our sports.

Men who rabidly believe they have been neglected and the only way to be noticed is to throw up confusion to the detriment of the common good.

Will we ever get to rein them? Not likely. Even the good book says temptations we will endure just as our master was subjected to same, but that there is no temptation that will befall us that we will not be able to surmount. The Appeal drama has been put behind us, but let us not sleep with two eyes closed, they will rake up something soon, just wait.

Waiting for Godot was about the past that remains relevant in the present. Last week I also told you about a book I will recommend to all sports enthusiasts, Sports Spectacular by Chukah Momah.

Before I continue let me borrow the Momah literary style by telling you an interesting story.

When I arrived Barcelona for the Olympics in 1992 I discovered that my accreditation limited me to only four sports ( track and field, boxing, basketball and swimming). Quickly I ran to the IOC office to protest.

That I needed to cover more sports, that I was the only one sent by my Newspaper Champion, to cover the Olympics and I needed to be as mobile as possible.

The short of this story is that the IOC people were convinced I was a lunatic. They told me it was not possible to cover all the sports in the Olympics. That reporters come specialized, that even in track and field there are those who come to cover only the sprints.

In the company of my colleague Sam John then of the Guardian, I begged and pleaded. No show. They insisted I could not cover three or four sports that I lacked the capacity.....

Sports Spectacular is about a sports writer, a columnist who has capacity in as many sports as he chose to write on and in this case Athletics, boxing, Cricket, football, golf, basketball and tennis. Yes. Not only write on, but an authority in them. Here I quote the versatile Bisi Lawrence “ The attractiveness of this book is compounded of the best elements of sports writing,

Sports spectacular "Sports spectacular is laced with facts and tell tale pictures, quotable quotes presented as “afficionados pugilistica" the knowledge of an expert, the exposition of factual detail enamoured of historians; the unpretentious delivery of a master story teller creating excitement with deadpan dexterity” Sports spectacular is a compilation of what I will call the classics of Chuka Momah over time. The relevance of this book today cannot be over emphasized.

In “ Of saints and sinners, a new morality” written as far back as 1983, Chuka talked about the concept of punishment and it’s impact on the overall interest of the team as related to Tarila Okorowanta, Henry Nwosu and Wilfred Agbonavbare. That discipline can never be compromised, but that such should be placed in the context of morality. If we had read that piece before and after the World Cup as related to the so called “ Keshi bad boys” perhaps we would have gone farther in the World Cup, and in the running to defend our Nations Cup diadem.

In a piece written in April 1984 he talked about the feud between NFA and NSC that “ has tormented football for so long.....”

When he wrote “ A tale of two cities” he was evoking emotions of the state of Nigerian football that have lived with us even till this day.

Do you read and hear of lesser sports? How they are starved and neglected advantage football? Chuka makes us realize it did not start today. In a piece entitled “ beg we must if we must beg” he lamented the humiliation that the Cricket Association, gentlemen

all, have to undergo in sourcing for funds due to their neglect by the National Sports Commission but quickly adds that “ authorities must make it easier for us to beg successfully” in today’s jargon we call it “ enabling environment” This book is therefore an historical tool a reference material in the hand of a sports enthusiast as attested to by Dan Agbese.......” Few sports columnists or reporters in the world can match the range of his authoritative ness in boxing, golf, athletics, tennis, cricket, soccer and basketball. Every piece bears that unmistakable mark, the touch of the master as a reporter and columnist. He does the younger generation of sports reporters a favour by publishing this collection.

May they follow the footsteps of the master” Dele Adetiba concurs “ Facts and statistics- those have been the hall mark of Chuka Momah over the years. He thrived on them - he laced his writing with such details, making a collection of his columns a researcher’s dream- a sweet blend of facts and flavour” Follow they should. If they do not, how will they know that World Boxing Champion Hogan Kid Bassey who picked up the job of National coach after retirement was promoted only thrice in twenty years as a national boxing coach once stood up to Isaac Akioye, then dreaded boss of the National Sports Commission?

If they don’t, how will they know that Our own Jay Jay Okocha made Ruud Gullit’s list of world’s best number 10 ?

Sports Spectacular is about flowery prose, detailed history and command of the English language, mixed, blended to form a unique and refreshing style......”

Olajuwon makes a basket of money”......”Only Cassius Clay could have beaten Mohammad Ali”......

For me the highlight of this book perhaps lies in two pieces. “ Reporting Sports with Passion” which was written to commemorate 25 years of Newswatch Magazine and “Sports Development in Nigeria” A lecture he delivered to a group of sports enthusiasts in 1984.

Total packages all, unmistakable clairvoyancy.........lack of adequate sports infrastructure, blackmail by sports men and women, fraud and corruption by sports officials, neglect of youth development.

Sports spectacular is laced with facts and tell tale pictures, quotable quotes presented as “afficionados pugilistica” Another wordsmith, Mitchell Obi sums it up when he wrote “ Chuka talks of his subject with a command that is bewitching and I think that is what makes this collection so special. Boy oh boy open the pages” At dour times like this, one needs a cheering companion. See you next week.

Khan shuts down Alexander, eyes Mayweather

Olam wins football tourney

MIR KHAN threw down the gauntlet to Floyd Mayweather after beating Devon Alexander in Las Vegas.

The Bolton fighter claimed the WBC Silver welterweight title with a unanimous points victory after dominating for much of the fight at the MGM Grand.

The fight was scored 119-109, 118-110, 120108 and Khan was quick to reiterate his desire to fight Mayweather.

“Floyd’s one of the best fighters in the world, don’t get me wrong, but I want my chance now, let’s see what happens,” Khan said.

“I really believe that I’ve earned my shot

LAM Nigeria Limit ed has emerged the champions of the OlamAll football tournament,

A

against the best fighter in the world.

“I believe Khan v Mayweather will be huge,

the UK fans will come to watch and come to support and we’re going to take the belt off him."

O

R-L: Director, Pepsi Football Academy, Chief Kashimawo Laloko(1st right), Head Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston(3rd left) and Brand Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Segun Ogunleye(2nd left) pose with Pepsi Football Academy and Barcelona F.C players after their match Copa Lagos at the weekend.

which ended weekend at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Lagos. They defeated Crown Floor Mills 5-3 after the game ended 11 after extra time.

The game started on a cautious note with both teams trying to establish dominance, but it was a ding dong affair in the first half, which ended without a goal. At the resumption of the second half, both teams became more business-like as they made incursion into the vital area.

The winners had more scoring chances, but it was Crown who scored the opening goal in the

dying moments of the game which sent their fans into wild jubilation. However, Olam equalized in added time through a penalty after an opposing player handled the ball in the 18 yard box.

The match went into extra time and both team failed to register more goals and it took penalty kick to settle the tie.

In the third place game, Olam Sanyo Foods defeated Ok Foods 2-0 to pick the bronze medal.

David Omotosho, who scored three goals emerged the highest goal scorer, while Babatunde Aremu was adjudged the MVP of the competition.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 61

3 Zambian players stable after fatal accident

Victor Moses to return in New Year S

UPER Eagles f o r w a r d Vi c t o r Moses, could make a return to action for Stoke City in about three weeks.

According to the Stoke Sentinel, the Po t t e r s m a n a g e r, Mark Hughes, expressed optimism that the winger looks set to make a return before or after the N e w Ye a r s i n c e h e turned up at the club’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Hughes is encouraged by the 24year-old’s recovery from the thigh injury that has sidelined him

since late last month.

Moses had been projected to be out for at least six to eight weeks, but Hughes now appears optimistic that the former Wigan Athletic could even return before the New Year.

“It was good to see him. The (medical) lads had a quick look at him and were happy with how he is.

“Hopefully, we will get him back before the New Year. Or if not, soon after. It’s probably another three weeks before he comes back,” said Hughes.

T

HREE Zambia nation al team players involved in a road accident on Sunday are said to be in a stable condition.

Nyambe Mulenga, who plays for Zesco United, Changwe Kalale of Power Dynamos and Satchmo Chakawa from Green Eagles were reportedly travelling to Lusaka on a Zesco

A

HEAD of the 2015 African Cadet championship coming up in Niger Republic, chief coach of the national U-17 team, Emmanuel Amuneke has declared that his team is still work in progress for every good Nigerian player within the age bracket.

He added that to make sure that the team was

adequately prepared for the continental championship which will equally serve as qualifying series for the next edition of the FIFA world cadet championship, the camp of the team will reopen today in Abuja for the continuation of the screening of players.

Amuneke told

•Moses

Vanguard Sports in a chat in Abuja that due to the fact that the Golden Eaglets are the world defending champions makes the task of qualifying for the 2015 edition or the world championship more difficult because everybody will be interested in beating the team.

from

It was just a matter of time for top striker, Adekunle Adegboyega to open the flood gate of goals. Midfielder Sheriff Alashe made it 2-0 while two more goals came off the boots of Nelson Kenedinum and Adegboyega to give his team a 4-0 lead after 45minutes.

Adegboyega continued from where he stopped in the first half to complete his hat trick, elastic winger, Sikiru Olatunbosun found the back of the net twice while midfielder Nelson Kenedinum completed the rout. MFM FC ended the competition without conceding a goal and scored a whopping

T

HE 2014 edition of the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer tournament, sponsored by First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, came to a colourful and impressive end lastnight with the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun, assuring of the Bank’s commitment to continuously support initiatives that will promote the well-being of Nigerians and the country at large.

Cote D’ivoire won the trophy this year. The tournament, which kicked-off on Friday at the

Eko Atlantic Beach Soccer stadium, featured the Beach Soccer teams of Cote D’ivoire, Ghana, Switzerland and Nigeria.

The Beach soccer teams of Barcelona Football Club of Spain, Enyimba Football Club, Stationery Stores Football Club and Pepsi Academy; all of Nigeria.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Balogun explained that, ‘’FCMB’s involvement in this tournament is part of our contributions to sports development. It also provided us an avenue to bring our customers, Nigerians, soccer fans, families, players and other

stakeholders together in an atmosphere of relaxation, excitement and bonding which is very important to healthy living and nation building. He added that, ‘’Beach Soccer is becoming more popular in Nigeria. We believe that our sponsorship of the tournament in the last four years has helped to raise the profile of the game going by the large turnout of spectators and other dignitaries that have watched the matches. This tournament has become one of the most exciting events not just this festive season but during the year”.

Red Devils rout Liverpool

MFM wins Church World Cup! Continued backpage

driver of the Zesco United bus died at the scene, as did three others on the other vehicle,” said Faz on its website.

Zesco United FC have since released more details about the condition of the players involved and other club officials who were on their minibus.

FCMB commits to youths, as COPA Lagos ends

My team is work in progress —Amuneke

By Jude Opara, Abuja

United Football Club minibus.

The minibus collided with another vehicle in Kabwe.

The Football Association of Zambia (Faz) said there have been fatalities and that Mulenga has broken a leg.

“Sources at the accident scene reported that the

twenty goals in five games.

Meanwhile, It was a clean sweep for MFM FC as striker, Adegboyega won the top scorer award with eight goals and diminutive midfielder, Onuwa Emmanuel was voted the Most Valuable Player of the competition.

MFM FC’s road to making history at the Church World Cup in India started with a 3-0 win over Colombia, next to fall was Egypt who lost 2-0 while Uzbekistan were hammered 7-0 and the host, India conceded a goal in the semi final which catapulted the Olukoya Boys to the final of the competition.

The participating teams were host India, Colom-

bia, Egypt, Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, Uzbekistan and Portugal.

An elated MFM General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya was full of praise for the boys and has promised a befitting welcome for them on return to Nigeria this Tuesday.

“Wow! This is wonderful”, exclaimed the sport loving clergy.

“The boys have made Nigeria and Africa very proud. I’m really happy that this feat was achieved by footballers who are ambassadors from MFM, they ’ve made us proud in far away India.

“As a church, we will appreciate them,” concluded the first class microbiologist turned preacher of the gospel.

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ANCHESTER UNITED increased the pressure on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers with a thumping victory at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal’s men gained revenge on the Reds for last season’s double with a clinical performance to stretch their winning run to six games.

Goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie settled the contest, although the Red Devils were once again thankful for another inspired performance from David De Gea. The Spaniard denied both Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli on three occassions as the Rodgers’ side failed to make the most of their

chances.

At the other end, Brad Jones endured a day to forget on his return to the side in place of the axed Simon Mignolet.

His first touch was to pick the ball out of the back of the net after being wrong-footed by Wayne Rooney ’s first time shot from the edge of the box after 12 minutes.

discussing buying a house in that country.

“Yobo fell in love with South Africa after leading Nigeria to both the 2010 World Cup and 2013 AFCON there. He even now wants to buy a house there and has already begun discussions in this regard,” the source informed.

“He has not played again since the World Cup in Brazil in the

summer, but he still believes he still has something to offer in the game.

“His likely destination will be one of the top three clubs in South Africa.”

Yobo, who is one of only seven players to play every minute of every game in the EPL for Everton in the 2006/ 07 season, is currently back in Nigeria.

Yobo Continued backpage

from

disposed to rounding up a career that has spanned over 17 years and taken him to England, France, Belgium and Turkey.

The defender, who won a record 100th cap for Nigeria at the World Cup in Brazil earlier this year, is so serious about a move to South Africa that he is already

62—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

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Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 — 63

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Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

MFM wins Church World Cup! It’s official. The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos have been declared the best football playing church in the world.

The Nigeria representatives achieved this feat after defeating the United Church of Colombia 7-0 in the final of the maiden edition of The Church World Cup on

Siasia: I’m not depending on foreign based stars Pg 59 Top stories inside

•Victor Moses to return in New Year

sunday afternoon in Goa, India. MFM FC which plays in the Nigeria National Division One League dominated the encounter from the outset in what would turn out to be a miss match.

Continues on page 61

Yobo returns to S/Africa Former Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo is believed to be considering a sensational move to one of the top clubs in South Africa in January.

Yobo, 34, is a free agent after he was released by Turkish champions Fenerbache and a top source has informed the highly experienced central defender is favourably

Continues on page 61

•3 Zambian players stable after fatal accident •Paul Bassey writes on Sports spectacular JAW BREAKER — Amir Khan won in a unanimous decision over Devon Alexander in Las Vegas.

•Yobo

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 4 Rescued (5) 7 Bully (6) 9 Evil (3) 10 Performed (3) 12 Madness (5) 13 Ooze (4) 15 Dissuade (5) 17 Calm (6) 19 Nobleman (4) 20 Lariat (5) 22 Sick (3) 24 Twisted (7) 27 Spoil (3) 28 Penniless (5) 31 Overlook (4) 33 Conquer (6) 35 Cogs (5) 37 Chessman (4) 38 Bird (5) 39 Fish (3) 41 Consume (3) 42 Erase (6) 43 Long (5)

Down 1 Tool (6) 2 Entry (6) 3 Deity (3) 4 Secure (4) 5 Worship (5) 6 Amplified (8) 8 Travel (4) 11 Defame (9) 14 Plague (4) 16 Inform (4) 18 Wander 4) 21 Height (8) 23 Loaned (4) 25 Title (4) 26 Intense (4) 29 Rubber (6) 30 Pulled (6) 32 Guide (5) 34 Cast (4) 36 Dash (4) 40 Meadow (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1, Stop 4, Rig 6, Slap 9, Cad 10, Collapse 11, Opal 14, Mad 16, Inter 19, Embrased 21, Rebel 23, Diligent 24, Harsh 27, Tip 31, Mute 33, Presence 34, Ton 35, Mere 36, Ray 37, Tied.

DOWN 2, Tool 3, Pale 4, Replaced 5, Grew 6, Scorn 7, Lap 8, Adage 12, Berth 13, Abhor 14, Mar 15, Debit 17, Tried 18, Route 20, Delivery 22, Lip 25, Acute 26, Scene 28, Spar 29, Feat 30, Ache 32, Tor.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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