Chibok girls plead for release in new video

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62156

Bomb blast kills 7 40 in Adamawa

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Emefiele assumes office today as CBN Governor 13

Chibok girls plead for release in new video •Recount ordeal in terrorists' camp, many ill •40 Boko Haram members killed in Cameroon •Insecurity: Retired generals speak •PGS.48&49

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT AGOS—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly seen a new video released by Boko Haram, Continues on Page 8

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COLUMNIST:

So, who is afraid of a stronger naira?

P.40

North's lovers and deceivers•P.46

Mr & Mrs

CHIBOK—From left: Methodist Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Dr. Sunday Joseph Ajayi; Mrs. Florence Uche; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Uche; Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Rt. Rev. Oluyemisi Ogunlere and Very Rev. Stephen Adegbite, during a peaceful rally in solidarity with the abducted Chibok Girls, yesterday in Lagos.

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Suspected ritualist beheads widow in Lagos community

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS —A WIDOW has been purportedly beheaded by suspected ritualist in Igborosun community, Mowo on the Badagry expressway, Lagos State.

The widow, simply identified as Iya Peter, who sold roasted corn, was allegedly mutilated by unidentified person in a nearby maize farm.

It was gathered that Iya Peter had earlier received a call from a supposedly maize farmer, who invited her to the maize farm ostensibly to purchase corn cobs, a common practice in the hinterland.

Vanguard learnt that Iya Peter got more than she bargained for, as her lifeless and headless body was later found on the farm route the next day.

According to eye witness, the last time people saw her alive was on that fateful morning when she left her home for the farm. When she did not return in the evening, her relations raised alarm.

The next day, a search party comprising the victim’s relatives and some residents in the community discovered her corpse without the head on the road that leads to the farmlands in the area.

It was said that her private parts were also missing.

A relation of the victim, told Vanguard: “Only God knows what the innocent old woman had done to deserve this kind of death. She had been struggling to make ends meet since she lost her husband only for them to deceive and kill her.”

A police source, who confirmed the incident at Mowo Police Division, said the latest incident adds to the several mutilated corpses found in the community in recent times.

Arepo shoot-out: How we survived pipeline vandals —Policemen, canoe paddler •Say our boat capsized during shoot-out •As Police arrest 6 suspects

BY EVELYN USMAN & DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — THE Police in Ondo State, weekend, said six suspected killers of some policemen during the vandalisation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipelines in Arepo/ Abule Oba area of Ogun State, have been arrested.

It would be recalled that about 150 pipeline vandals in 14 boats engaged the team of policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Anti Pipeline Vandalism Unit in a shoot-out in Arepo/Abule Oba area.

Four policemen and a commercial boat paddler, who was conveying the policemen, were said to have escaped during the resultant explosion that led to the inferno.

The survivors were identified as Corporal Abu Danmudi, Corporal Usman John, Corporal Rahimi Morufu and Corporal Abdullahi Sabo and Ibrahim Oguntade (canoe paddler).

The police survivors of the attack told Vanguard that they were ambushed by the armed vandals in the creeks, adding that during the shoot-out, their boats capsized.

Those arrested included Felix Yayu (40), Austin Ebiwei (35), Tamara Dehigbofa (30); Owei Alimili (30), Ijojai Legbei (29) and Yakubu Ebiwei, (40).

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Police spokesman, Mr Wole Ogodo, said the suspected killers, after gunning down nine policemen fled with their rifles.

Ogodo said they were picked up at their hideouts in Ajapa and Mile Two Zion in Eseodo, Ondo State by a team of security operatives.

He said N600,000, suspected to be proceeds of bunkering, was recovered from the suspects.

Oguntade, canoe paddler.

Vanguard gathered that the guns carted away are with one of their members yet to be apprehended as the police have vowed to fish out the fleeing cop killers and bunkerers.

Our boat capsized during shoot-out —Survivors

According to Corporal Sabo, “at 9 a.m., on May 25, 2014, we heard gun shots from the camp at Elepete, where two of our men were stationed to guard. We immediately mobilised and got a paddler to take us to the spot.

But we never knew that there were many of them in the bush.

They opened fire on us . We responded and in the process, our boats capsized. I was lucky to have swum to safety amidst the raging fire.”

On his part, Corporal Rahimi Morufu, who described the scenario as a war zone, said they were outnumbered.

According to him, “we did not know they were many. Our intention was to save our colleagues on guard. But immediately the illegal bunkerers sighted us, they started shooting sporadically. They were heavily armed. I escaped by divine intervention because, as you know, the area is very swampy.”

The commercial canoe paddler, Oguntade, who sustained bullet

Man plucks neighbour's eyes for sleeping with wife

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

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ARRI – A MIDDLE aged man, Mr Blessing Akakporo, is now in police net for almost plucking out the eyes of another man, who reportedly slept with his wife a month ago in Ekiugbo community, Ughelli North Area of Delta State.

The suspect, before landing in Police net, was caught, beaten and stripped by angry community youths, who got wind of his alC M Y K

leged criminal act.

Vanguard gathered that Akakporo, in April, caught his wife in bed with the victim and chopped off the wife’s ear in the spur of the moment, while the suspected man escaped.

A community source said: “A month later, precisely on May 30, Akakporo lured him (yet-tobe-identified victim) to a neighbouring community, where he used an unknown object to pluck off his two eyes after overpowering him.

Fatola camp

“While attempting to escape, the cry from the victim attracted youths, who chased and caught him. They stripped and beat him thoroughly before handing him over to the Police.”

Delta State Police Public Relations Office, Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect almost plucked out one of the victim’s eyes, adding that he also stabbed the victim several times all over his body.

Search and rescue team wounds, said: “The policemen approached some of us to take them to the scene when they heard the gunshots. I almost passed out immediately I sighted the vandals. They were dressed in military camouflage and were chanting war songs. It was like a war zone.

"I can’t tell at what point I jumped into the swampy water.

But I was lucky because I have experience in swimming inside swampy water. It was after I swam to safety that I discovered that some policemen were missing.

It is possible that they killed those policemen and went away with their guns.”

Items recovered at vandals' camp

A search and rescue team, visited the Elepeke scene, weekend, where arms and ammunition used by the vandals were recovered.

A deserted camp believed to have been erected by the vandals as well as boats with blood stains were also recovered. Other item recovered from the camp included military camouflage, phones and makeshift shops littered with different kinds of

drugs.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Onikan, Mr Mamman Tsafe, who visited the scene, advised the search and rescue team not to be discouraged by the incident, reminding them that the war against pipeline vandalism was for the good of the country.

One killed, five arrested as cult groups clash

Meanwhile, five persons were also arrested in Ondo town after one person was killed during a clash by cult groups.

The operation which led to the arrest of cultists in Ondo town, was carried out by men from the anti-crime division of the police station.

The suspects were picked up from their hideouts in the ancient community.

The suspected cult members reportedly fired several shots into the air to scare people away before they fought themselves with various weapons which included gun, axe and knives.

The incident, which reportedly lasted about 30 minutes, led to the death of one person believed to be member of a rival group.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 —7

Civil servants threaten strike over PCC appointments

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

I SUMMIT-AFRICA: From left— Mr. Aloysius Etok, Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service; Mr. Eric Eggink, Co-Chairman, World Pension Summit; Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Acting Director General, National Pension Commission, and Mr. Harry Smorenberg, Chairman, World Pension Summit, during a press briefing on the forthcoming World Pension Summit-Africa Special in Abuja, weekend. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Bomb blast kills 40 in Adamawa

BY UMARU YUSUF

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OLA—A bomb attack targeting fans at a football match in Mubi, Adamawa State, killed no fewer than 40 people yesterday.

“There has been a bomb

explosion at a football field this evening (yesterday) and so far more than 40 people have been killed,” said the officer who requested anonymity, in Mubi, which has seen previous attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

Adamawa Police Command confirmed the bomb blast, but could not confirm the casualty figure.

The Command‘s spokesman, Mallam Othman Abubakar, said the blast occurred at about 6p.m.

last night.

He said the blast occurred at a popular relaxation centre, Kabang.

The 23rd Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yola, equally confirmed the blast.

OKONJO-IWEALA TO NIGERIANS: Ask your govs what they do with allocations z‘Some states get more than budgets of Liberia, Gambia, Benin’

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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HE Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday, tasked Nigerians to challenge their governors to account for the monthly budgetary allocation they get from the federation account.

The minister argued that basic public services such as education, health and agriculture fall under the concurrent list, but wondered why citizens always blame the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the failings of some state governments who get monthly allocation larger than countries like Liberia, Gambia and the Republic of Benin.

Okonjo Iweala spoke yesterday at the 12th convocation of Babcock University, BU, Ilishan Remo, where over 1,544 students graduated.

The minister, who was awarded Doctor of Science in Global Economic Development, Honoris Causa, urged Nigerians to begin to demand improved standards of living from their state governments, rather than accusing the

Federal Government insensitivity all the time.

‘We’re all involved’

of

She said: “The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan alone cannot transform the country.

We need the private sector to work with us and we are optimistic of their immense collaboration in the transformation agenda.

“But in addition, the question all Nigerians must ask is ‘what is the role of state and local governments in supporting our transformation?’.

“We know in the constitution that provision for public services such as health, education and agriculture falls on the concurrent list and so it is the joint responsibility of federal, state and local governments.

“However, it is not often that we hear people asking what their state governments have done? A lot of attention tends to be on the Federal Government. But we have to ask what do our state and local governments do with the resources they get.

“The states are getting the money that is available to be

shared each month, and we publish that in the newspapers every month so that people can know what the federal, state and local governments receive.

‘Ask more questions’

“We need to ask more questions because poverty eradication and building of infrastructure is not for the Federal Government alone.”

The minister stated that in 2013 alone, states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Kaduna and Borno got the highest allocation from the federation account, and that what they got individually is more than the annual budgetary allocation of neighbouring countries such

as Liberia, Gambia and Republic of Benin.

2013 allocations

The minister said: “Akwa Ibom got N260 billion; Rivers, N230 billion; Delta, N209 billion; Bayelsa, N173 billion; Lagos, N168 billion; Kano, N140 billion; Katsina, N103 billion; Oyo N100 billion; Kaduna, N97 billion and Borno, N94 billion.

“These were the allocations these states got last year. So the question is what did they do with it?

“Analysis shows that many Nigerian states receive revenue allocations which are larger than budgetary allocations of neighbouring countries such as Liberia which is $433 million and Gambia, $210 million.”

N D I C AT I O N S emerged weekend of a looming industrial unrest in the Federal civil service as Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, threatened to call members out for a nationwide strike over perceived illegal appointment of the Secretary of Public C o m p l a i n t s Commission, PCC, and other directors.

ASCSN, the umbrella body for senior civil servants in the country, is calling specifically on the Federal Government to immediately reverse the appointment PCC Secretary, Mr. Peter Nwakpa Nwafia, or face an industrial crisis.

The union, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, in Lagos, claimed that the level of impunity in respect of appointment of officers into the higher echelon of the service was becoming unbearable, intolerable, and embarrassing.

ASCSN said in addition to its planned actions, the association would also petition the International Ombudsman in Vienna, Austria, and the African Ombudsman in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to draw their attention to the abnormalities that were taking place in the PCC. The association said it will also bring pressure to bear on the Nigeria’s ombudsman so that succour and relief could come the way of senior employees being d e h u m a n i s e d , traumatised and humiliated by the management of the commission.

Sudan to free woman facing death penalty

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EPORTS say Sudanese authorities are planning to free a woman who was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.

Meriam Ibrahim, who gave birth earlier this week at the clinic at the Omdurman women’s prison near

Khartoum, will be released in a few days.

Ibrahim, 27, had been sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy, or “abandoning her faith.” She was given a period of time to renounce her Christian beliefs, she refused.

In Sudan, conversion of

Muslims to another religion is punishable by death. The court ruled that it would not carry out her execution until she gave birth and will delay it for two years so she can nurse her child, , according to Amnesty International.

Ibrahim was also sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

POCKET CARTOON

CONVOCATION—Mr Olukunle Iyanda, Vice President, Development and Strategy, Babcock University; Dr Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Prof. Kayode Makinde, President/Vice Chancellor Babcock Unversity, after conferment of honourary degree for Vision, Courage and Excellence on the minister during the 12th convocvation of the university, at Ilisan, Ogun State, weekend. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Chibok girls plead for release in new video Continues from page 1 where the abducted school girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, spoke about their ordeal in the hands of the insurgents for the first time and pleaded with him to secure their release.

The girls were reportedly ill and are in camps located in Chad, Niger and Cameroon, with one

of them nursing a broken wrist.

The footage, not released publicly but seen by the London-based The Mail on Sunday was taken in a jungle clearing a month after their abduction.

More than 250 girls were taken in a raid on their school in Chibok on April 14 by Boko Haram terrorists.

However, Cameroon’s

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.... Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand...’

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail — Napoleon Hill

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APOLEON Hill, in one of his famous books made a distinction between people. And he said the difference between people who are able to live a fully functioning life and to attract riches and wellness and happiness and abundance and prosperity into their lives is that the people who do that have something that he called a “burning desire.”

And a burning desire is very different than just, “Oh, I’d really like to do well, I’d like to have my book do well, I’d like to have this music that I’m writing do well, I’d like people to know about it,” and so on.

A burning desire is much deeper, it’s like having an inner candle flame that, no matter what goes before you, it doesn’t even flicker. And this is something that you can experience if you believe in yourself.

There are so many people, who don’t give enough, and maybe just a little more effort would have made a difference – they have a desire but they don’t have the willingness and the fearlessness and the determination to follow through with their dreams.

military reportedly killed about 40 Boko Haram militants in the country ’s northwest last weekend, a government radio reported yesterday, a day after Nigeria labelled the Central African nation the weakest link in its fight against the extremist sect.

The clashes leading to the killing occurred in the town of Kouserri, which borders Nigeria and Chad.

Cameroon, a clog in the wheel The Federal Government regards Cameroun as not cooperative as Niger and Chad in the fight against Boko Haram.

After a security summit in Paris two weeks ago, Cameroon said it deployed 1,000 troops to its border to help contain the increasingly deadly group.

A series of suspected Boko Haram attacks in four villages in Nigeria’s restive North-East killed several people, residents said Sunday, in the latest violence blamed on the Islamist insurgents.

The military was not immediately available to comment on the raids in Borno State, the hardest hit area during Boko Haram’s five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands.

All of the targeted vil-

lages are in the Gamboru Ngala district near the border with Cameroon, where Boko Haram killed hundreds in a gruesome attack earlier last month.

The video, according to The Mail of London, indicated that the girls looked healthy, as eight of them, dressed in their home-made school uniforms of pale blue gingham, pleaded for release while standing courageously in front of the camera.

They were reportedly clearly scared, upset and trying to be brave, with each walking in turn to a spot in front of a white sheet fixed to a crude frame between the trees.

According to The Mail, four of the girls can be heard clearly in Hausa language stating that they were taken by force and that they were hungry.

The video indicated that a tall girl, aged about 18, said tearfully that “My family will be so worried”, even as another spoke softly, saying ‘I never expected to suffer like this in my life."

Similarly, a third girl was captured in the video as saying ‘they have taken us away by force’, while the fourth complained of not getting enough food.

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, reportedly released the new video of the kidnapped girls praying after their conversion to Islam.

The video, taken by an intermediary on May 19, has been shown to President Goodluck Jonathan and was intended to serve as ‘proof of life’ for the girls and to encourage the President to accede to the terrorists’ demands.

Two earlier videos showed the girls seated on the ground, dressed in hijabs, reciting the Koran,with Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, declaring he would sell them into slavery, or marry them off to their kidnappers, if members of his sect were not released from prison.

The Mail said pressure from the international community and criticism of the President’s slow response to the kidnapping have led to a series of contradictory pronouncements from his government.

Ministers have declared

they will not negotiate with Boko Haram, or consider the release of prisoners, while official spokesmen have said ‘the window is always open for dialogue’.

At a Paris peace summit, several West African countries neighbouring Nigeria vowed to join in ‘outright war ’ against the terrorists. Britain, France and America pledged their support and have sent teams of military experts and advisers to the region. Intelligence sources have told The Mail of several rescue attempts, one involving the release of suspected low-level Boko Haram members detained without charges or trial.

Two attempts were aborted at the last minute when the terrorists took fright while delivering a group of girls to a safe location.

Last week, Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh said the government knew the location of the girls and claimed that police and military had been ‘following them’ since the abduction. He refused to divulge details, saying it would put the girls in further danger.

The Mail claimed that Badeh’s announcement may have been the result of government officials seeing the new, unpublished video and may have been able to persuade Boko Haram’s intermediary to provide details of the location. It is believed the hostages have been split into at least four groups.

The report said one Dr Stephen Davis, an Australian who has advised three Nigerian presidents on how to negotiate with the country’s militant groups, has spent the past month trying to help free the girls.

Most Chibok girls not held in Nigeria

‘The vast majority of the Chibok girls are not being held in Nigeria,’ he said.

‘They are in camps across the Nigerian border in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. I say the “ vast majority ” as I know a small group was confirmed to me to be in Nigeria last week when we sought to have them released.’

Saying the Federal Government has been engaged in negotiations with Boko Haram’s spiritual leader Abubakar Shekau in a bid to secure the girls’ release, the report quoted the Australian describing how fraught the negotiation process has been.

‘One of that small group of girls is ill and we had hoped we might convince the commander of the group holding her that she should be released so we could give her medical treatment,’ Dr Davis said.

‘There are other girls who are not well and we have come close to having them released but their captors fear a trap in which they will be captured in the handover process.

‘One girl has what I assume is a broken wrist as they demonstrate to me how she holds her hand. I have been told that others are sick and in need of medical attention.’

A military source said: ‘This has been a race against time from the minute they were captured. As soon as the girls left Nigerian soil, it was always going to be more difficult.

‘The government made no attempt at a rescue until a month after they were taken. Now the situation gets more serious by the day.

‘Any sort of attempt to get to them would have to be cleared by the governments of the other nations.’

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 9

LUTH doctors resume strike today L

AGOS—THE Lagos Uni versity Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos Branch of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, is to resume its strike today, (June 2), the association announced weekend.

The President of the association, Dr Omojowolo Olubunmi, said in a statement that the resolution to resume strike was reached at an emergency general meeting of the association, held on May 28.

“Rising from the emergency general meeting, the association unanimously agreed to resume our suspended industrial action and embark on an indefinite strike, commencing on Monday, June 2, by 8 a.m.” lack of progress in negotiations and deliberations with the hospital’s management on the issues raised in the three-day warning strike in April.

The association had embarked on a three-day warning strike in April, issuing a 21-day ultimatum

to the management of LUTH. “The ultimatum elapsed on April 29, without signs of a strike because doctors and LUTH management were still in talks which have since broken down. We have found ourselves left with no other choice.”

Olubunmi said the doctors had 12-point contention, including: “the astronomical increase in hospital charges, which have increased the number of avoidable deaths and affected the

OBSEQUIES FOR SIR MIKE OTEDOLA: Former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, Senators 'Gbenga Ashafa and Olorunnimbe Mamora, during the Farewell Mass for late Sir Michael Otedola at the Immaculate Conception Church, Ibowon, Epe, on Friday.

training of resident doctors.

“Lack of basic facilities and equipments, chronic shortage of stationeries, epileptic water supply, disorganised and dirty environment and inadequate manpower have led to poor service delivery to Nigerians. ‘Letters stipulating duration of residency training according to the August 2013 circular be issued to both old and new residents individually immediately. The employment list of residents from the outstanding departments be released immediately,” he said.

Olubunmi said that the number of residents being employed in each department was inadequate and that delays in the payment of update, exam and outstanding allowances be paid up front.

He said the management promised but failed to fix the shortage of materials and consumables.

The president said that the hospital lacked a good means of communication and so doctors incurred huge amounts daily in making patients’ care-related phone calls within the hospital.

He said the association was against the fees being charged new resident and house officers for training because the residents had not received any salary.

Olubunmi urged the LUTH management to address the association’s concerns in order to improve the lives of both patients and doctors.

LASU fees: Govt, students to reach agreement soon – FASHOLA

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Ba batunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said the state government and the students of Lagos state University; LASU would soon reach an agreeable tuition for the institution, saying “both parties have started holding talks to end the issue.”

Following agitations by the students on the fees increase, the

State Governor met with leaders of the students severally and agreed that the students should make their independent study and present to Government a position paper on the way forward.

Fashola who disclosed this while fielding questions at a live television interactive session with media executives at the Lagos Television, Ikeja, weekend, said the seven-man Executive Council was currently studying the stu-

dents’ paper to the Government on the tuition.

The governor, who promised that where there was need for adjustment or amendment it would be affected accordingly , said the students had presented the paper now before the Executive Council for consideration and approval.

According to him, “I have passed it out to the Council. We have told the students that we

IPMAN crisis: NUPENG urges CJN to investigate Abuja High court ruling … Union mobilises for strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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IGERIA Union of Pe troleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, weekend in Lagos called on Chief Justice of the Federation and Chairman of the National Judicial Commission, NJC, Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, to investigate the circumstance that led to an Abuja High Court to give a counter ruling to a subsisting Port Harcourt High ruling on the leadership crisis in Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, when an appeal was pending at

the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

NUPENG contended that the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on March 20, 2014, had declared Chief Obasi Lawson as the IPMAN President, which the Aminu Abdukadir’s faction was challenging at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, lamenting while the Appeal was still pending, the Aminu Abdukadir’s faction, allegedly went to an Abuja High court and overturn the ruling of the Port Harcourt High Courton May 28.

The union said it was concerned because as long as the crisis last-

ed, the welfare of members who constituted over 60 percent of IPMAN would be relegated to the back ground.

NUPENG said “We condemn the judgment in its entirety and still stand by the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which declared Chief Obasi Lawson as the IPMAN President, until a superior court of law says otherwise."

NUPENG President, Mr. Igwe Achese, warned that after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum, if the matter was not resolved, the union would direct its members to stop distribution of products.

are not inflexible and where we see the need for adjustment or amendment, we will do it so that they might understand it better.

From the paper presented by the student, they were not against the increase but the parameters used in calculating the fees.”

The governor reiterated that the increase in tuition was one of the recommendations made by a Visitation Panel inaugurated at the instance of the students in a petition to the House of Assembly.

“There were many recommendations made by the panel many of which we accepted. It is the school fees that have become so vexatious as it were. What we have done is that we looked across schools, Federal and State and private schools and tried to stay somewhere in the middle”, the Governor explained.

According to him, government also decided that the new fee was not going to affect returning students, but only new intakes adding that in consideration of qualified but indigent students, Government also increased its budget for scholarships and bursaries from N700 million, to about N1.2 – N1.3 billion “in order to ensure that no child was left behind”.

Robbery rate: Police beef up security around Mile 2

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS—LAGOS State Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Umar Manko, has ordered a security beef up around Mile 2 area, in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government of Lagos, to stem the growing cases of robbery and violent attacks on motorists and other road users by hoodlums.

Vanguard gathered that the police boss gave the directive last week, during a security briefing with some senior officers at the State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

It was learnt hat the directive, would see an increase in the number of policemen patrolling the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway axis of Mile 2.

Sources disclosed that the patrol would be a joint exercise involving six Police Divisions from three area commands, while two teams of policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, would be strategically stationed at a section of the Mile 2 Bridge and also at the descending part of the bridge to prevent any act of criminality.

Guard found dead in Lagos bank

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AGOS—A 32-yearold security guard attached to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba branch of a new generation bank was, weekend found dead in the bank’s premises.

The cause of the death could not be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report but sources at LUTH said that the lifeless body was found about 5.10am, Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Ovate Erimhat.

Sources said: “it was one of his colleagues that raised the alarm that attracted others, he was rushed to the emergency unit of the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

Since non of the bank’s management staff was around ,other security men on ground requested that the body be deposited at the morgue pending when investigations to determine the actual cause of death is determined” he added.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Fayose pledges to pay pension, gratuities arrears within first 3 months

Obasanjo laments rising cases of blindness in Nigeria

...Fayemi not to blame for accummulated arrears — APC

...Ex-President counsels eye patients

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday expressed concern over the increasing level of blindness among Nigerians.

Obasanjo expressed his feelings when he addressed hundreds of eye patients who came for free eye test/surgery organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

The former president, who noted that there had been considerable technological advancement in the area of eye surgery, said that “Nigerians should no longer be living with blindness.

While such situation could be permissible 50 years back, no justifiable reason can be adduced to it in the present day Nigeria.

I was once a victim because I once suffered eye- related ailment and it was the experience that moved me to assist people presently going through similar experience. I will continue to assist the lessprivileged who have eye problems because I myself was once a victim. I had to be operated on before my eyes were restored”.

The former president urged eye patients to abide by whatever instructions the doctors gave them.

Obasanjo’s wife, Bola, also, at the programme, called for concerted effort to assist the physically challenged in the society.

The Programme Coordinator, Dr Lekan Makinde, said that over 1, 000 people had been treated with over 150 cataracts infected.

He said that the lowest cost of the kind of eye surgery being performed for the people ranged between N150, 000 and N200, 000.

Makinde said that the former president insisted that the surgery must be free of charge, stressing that “eye surgery is like a magic or miracle”.

HOLY MASS: From left—Chairman, Church Council, Blessed Michael Tansi, Catholic Church, Chaplaincy, Dr. Fredrick Isife; Rev. Fr. Charles Ude; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Rev. Fr. Adolphus Mbaocha; and Church Cathecist, Bro. Thomas Nnabuife, during a Holy Mass, marking the first Sunday of the month, ahead of the June 21 governorship election in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

APC, PDP, LP tango over Amosun’s achievements

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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HE All Progressive Con gress, APC, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, weekend sang discordant tunes over the achievements of Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in Ogun State for the past three years.

While the APC insisted that Governor Amosun had done greatly, the PDP and LP, scored the administration low in education, health and agriculture among others.

The state PDP and LP, while reacting to Amosun's third year anniversary message, described his government as deceitful.

Governor Amosun, in his third year anniversary message, had said his administration had kept all promises made while being sworn in as governor of the state three years ago.

According to him, “looking back over the last three years, there has been visible and impactful improvement in the daily lives of the good people of Ogun State.

But, in its assessment, the PDP said the Amosun administration failed in all fronts.

The state Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, in a statement said ”there is no gainsaying the fact that the Amosun administration has failed in all fronts. It has dashed the hope of the good people of Ogun State despite of its pretensions to some achievements. What would have been the biggest achievement of the administration – urban renewal – has been blighted by the untold hardship, pain and anguish that have become the lot of the good people of Ogun State whose ancestral homes, shops and property are being destroyed in the name of urban renewal without compensation. "

While corroborating the PDP, LP said as far as it was concerned, Amosun administration scored zeros in education; agriculture and health, noting it could only score the administration 25 per cent in urban development.

The state Secretary of the party, Sunday Ogini, in a statement said, “in every ramification and assessment, this is a government run by deceit."

But Interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, who paid the governor visit, weekend insisted the Amosun’s government had performed very well and was very focused and determined to further develop the state.

The APC spokesman, who inspected various infrastructural and developmental project sites in Abeokuta, the state capital, submitted that the projects were massive, rapid and had impacted on the populace.

D O - E K I T I — FORMER governor of Ekiti State and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the June 21 governorship election in the state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has promised to settle all arrears of pensioners and gratuities within his first three months in office.

He blamed the governor,Dr Kayode Fayemi, who he said had waited till three weeks to election before promising to attend to the problem of the pensioners.

In a statement yesterday, Fayose said; “when PDP was in government in the state, pensioners received their gratuity within 60 days of retirement while pension was paid on the 22nd of the month. We will restore that when we get to government on October 16, 2014by the grace of God. However, the All Progressive Congress, APC, Director of Publicity, Mr. Segun Dipe, absolved Fayemi of blame over the accumulation of the pensions.

According to him, “if some past government has laid priority on the payment of the pension and gratuity the amount would not have accumulated to the present proportion.

Soka ritualists' den: Ajimobi vows to prosecute culprits ...Gov denies being under pressure to shield perpetrators

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN—FOLLOWING insinuations that some prominent individuals in Oyo State are putting pressure on Governor Abiola Ajimobi to cover up the atrocities committed by kidnappers at Soka in Ibadan, where hundreds of people were believed to have been killed, the governor has dismissed the claim saying all those behind the criminal acts in the state would be brought to book.

Residents in the state, who spoke with Vanguard alleged that since the governor gave the order for the demolition of the structures in the den, nothing had been done.

When told the governor said through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo that he was waiting on the police to conclude investigations, they asked for how long would it take the police to investigate the case.

Due to the perceived delay,

some politicians in the state have are claiming the All Progressive Congress, APC, ruling government cannot claim i n n o c e n c e .

Though, some of the victims told Vanguard that they had been kidnapped and held hostage for the past ten years, the former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ayodele Adigun argued that this could not have been true “because a Government agency could not have operated a project generating revenue for government where such a nefarious activity was going on”.

Adigun maintained that “while the government propaganda was very active in distancing government from the bizarre issue the mass media have been lethargic in unearthing the facts.

"More disturbing is the fact that friends and foes alike all over the world have continued to pour scorn and denigrate our proud city of Ibadan as a city meant for cave dwellers”.

Claiming he was privy to all facts relating to the land as the former SSG, he said, “In 1996, a company awarded the contract to construct the Ogunpa Channelisation Scheme took up accommodation at that Soka premises near Ogunpa River as its site office. ”When the company could not perform, another company was brought in to continue with the project.

However, absolving his administration over the incident, Governor Ajimobi said during a chat that Soka had been in existence before this administration.

“We never gave anyone contract to take destitute to the place as claimed by the opposition. We only engaged them to clear the roads of mad people. They engaged three companies to take away mad people and rehabilitate them. Lagos State appreciated what we did and it wrote thanking us for bringing to them their ind i g e n e s .

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014—11

Edo youth group backs Jonathan in war against terrorism

Release of Rivers' Bombardier aircraft not surprising —APC

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has said it was not surprised that the state-owned Bombardier aircraft was finally released by the Federal Government because there was no justifiable reason for its seizure in the first place.

A statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Fineborn, said that the issues that would excite people of the state were for the government to return the Soku oil wells and others allegedly ceded to other states to Rivers and for the government to also resume work on Train 7 of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Bonny in Rivers State.

The statement read: “APC Rivers State Chapter, received the news of release of the Rivers State Government-owned Bombardier aircraft by the federal authorities without any excitement whatsoever."

Israel pledges support against insurgency

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—ISRAELI Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti, weekend, condemned the act of terrorism, especially the kidnap of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno State.

Palti, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when he paid a courtesy call on the governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, called for the release of the abutted girls, assuring the state government of the support of the state of Israel at putting to an end the acts of terrorism in the country.

The Israeli envoy lauded Governor Dickson for his developmental strides in the state and expressed the willingness of his home country to collaborate with Bayelsa in the area of security and other sectors of the economy.

He added that the leadership of his country was looking forward to receiving Governor Dickson on a state visit this year.

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CONVOCATION: From left: Visitor to Delta State University, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and Vice Chancellor, Delta State University, Professor Eric Arubayi, at the convocation ceremony for graduating students of Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, weekend.

2015: Uduaghan warns against bloodletting

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, weekend, warned those aspiring to govern the state in 2015 against shedding blood, insisting that no bloodthirsty politician will succeed him.

Speaking at the 8th convocation of over 4,600 students (first degrees, diplomas and postgraduate degrees) of Delta State University, Abraka, Uduaghan admonished those vying for the state governorship to go about it peacefully, adding that it was only God that gives power.

Congratulating the graduands on their convocation and thanking God for seeing them through their programmes in the university, he expressed

hope that the graduands would not have difficulties in getting job with the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative.

Insisting that oil alone could not sustain the economy of the state, necessitating the diversification of the state's economy, he said that the government was doing everything to encourage private investors to invest in the state.

Commending Mr. Tony Elumelu, who is the prochancellor and chairman of the university Governing Council for his investment initiative in the state, Uduaghan said Elumelu was doing a lot to boost power generation in Ughelli Power Station since he took over the power plant.

He assured that the state

government was doing everything possible to deal with the problem of insecurity plaguing the state, adding “ we will not sleep until the challenges are dealt with.”

Thanking the Vice Chancellor for the good management of the university, he announced that the state government will disburse N150 million as car loans to the university workers.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eric Arubayi said that the convocation ceremony afford all stakeholders, particularly the graduands, the opportunity of coming together not only to celebrate, but also to reassess the general performance of the university with a view to re-inventing the policies of the institution.

A-Ibom to release White Paper on disturbances

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KWA Ibom State gover nor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, weekend, said that the state government will soon release White Papers on the crises and disturbances that took place in some parts of the state.

Governor Akpabio, who stated this after receiving the reports of the Commissions of Enquiry set up by the state government, directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to issue white papers on the various reports within three months.

He said: “We will soon issue white papers on these reports.

This will help us to apportion blame where it is needed and arrest all those who perpetuated or triggered the crises and we will do our best to bring peace to those communities. ”Whatever problems occurred,

people should not take the law into the hands. The killing of people and the destruction of property is quite unfortunate. Some of the crises, I believe, were due to boundary disputes. So, if there is no boundary, there is bound to be a boundary issue, and we, as a government, will provide solution for that. We call on the National Boundaries Commission to intervene in the matter, and we believe the solution to this issue will bring peace to the communities.”

Ime Ekam, who was chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi and Amazaba communities in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, attributed the crisis to land disputes and

boundary issues, among others.

Ekam said that the commission inaugurated on October 9, 2008, interviewed persons from the affected communities to determine the remote and immediate causes of the disturbance and visited the villages where it saw massive destruction of lives and property, describing such as man’s inhumanity to man.

The Commission of Enquiry into Ukpatak and Afaha Eduok, Idua Clan against EyoAbasi communities of Oron Local Government Area as well as Obufi and Ube villages in Okobo Local Government Area disturbances was headed by an acting Chairman, Mr. Chris Okorie.

ENIN—ESAN Youth Council, EYC, in Edo Central senatorial district of Edo State, has expressed its support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the war against terrorism in the country, urging him to consolidate his consultations with the relevant stakeholders with a view to finding a peaceful resolution to the security challenges facing the country.

EYC, in a statement at the end of its 2nd Annual Esan Youth Economic Summit, weekend in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, however, expressed regret over government‘s inadequate measures that characterised the rescue operations of the secondary school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State.

The statement by its President, Mr Theophillus Irianan and others, urged the government at all levels to unite in the fight against the scourge.

PDP chieftain tasks EPZ c'ttee on peace building

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ARRI—AN environmentalist and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. David Omaghomi, has tasked members of the newly inaugurated Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Interface Committee to consolidate on the peace building process facilitated by the Federal and Delta State Governments, to ensure the actualisation of the project in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government, Delta State.

The PDP chieftain, who is also the Principal Consultant to Environmental Restoration Foundation of Nigeria, ERFON, said that following the successful inauguration of the 21-member EPZ Interface Committee, comprising of hitherto feuding factions of Ugborodo Community Trust, members should now redirect their energies toward the ground breaking ceremony of the EPZ as well as ensure that their loyalists refrain from publications and comments that will dent the peace process.

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12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Rivers alleges plot by NJC to appoint Okocha as state Chief Judge

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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IVERS State Government, yesterday, raised alarm over what it said was a surreptitious move by the National Judicial Council, NJC, to privately appoint, through the back door, Justice Daisy Okocha as the Chief Judge of the state and then direct judges in the state to accept directives and instructions from the said judge in that capacity.

Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications in a statement, yesterday, said: “This is clearly against the judgment of the Federal High Court which voided NJC’s recommendation of this same judge.

“The NJC, to disguise its disrespect for the law and give the impression that it is acting within the law, has planned to christen the said Justice Okocha as an ‘Administrative Judge’ with powers to perform the functions of the Chief Judge, especially the assignment of cases.

“Rivers State Government

wonders what special interest the Chief Justice in person, and NJC, in general, have in Rivers State and its judiciary as to contemplate such obviously unconstitutional and illegal act against the state judiciary which act is also contemptuous of a Federal

High Court’s judgment, which has voided NJC’s recommendation of Justice Okocha for appointment as Chief Judge of Rivers State.

“The Rivers State Government wishes to state that by the state’s High Court Law, it

BURIAL: Sir Mike Okiro, former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, flanked by his sisters, during the burial of their mother, Mrs. Bessy Okiro, in Egbema, Rivers State, weekend.

Uduaghan meets Ijaw stakeholders on EPZ project

BY EMMA AMAZIE

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S A B A — D E LTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has met with Ijaw stakeholders, who are alleging neglect in the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project in Warri SouthWest Local Government of the state to defuse tension.

It was learnt that he held talks with the protesting Ijaw communities, led by the president of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities, FNDIC, Chief Bello Oboko, in Asaba.

Ijaw communities in Burutu and Warri SouthWest Local Government Areas had threatened fresh crisis in the state if President Goodluck Jonathan performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the EPZ project without addressing their grievances.

A source told Vanguard that the governor was disturbed by the mounting complaints of Ijaw communities on the project and appealed to their leaders to let peace reign.

He was said to have directed the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and

Urban Development, Mr. Patrick Ferife, to engage the Ijaw team on the claim that Kpokpo/Okpeleama land was revoked by the state government for the EPZ/NPA project based on new facts made available to him.

It was gathered that in compliance with the governor ’s directive, Mr. Ferife held a meeting with the people of Ogulagha on the involvement of Sokebuoulou and Yokiri communities in the EPZ project site.

Delta monarch lauds Orubebe

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is the Chief Judge that has powers to distribute the business of courts, otherwise popularly known as assignment of cases, to judges and not any other person whether known as administrative or most senior judge as the NJC wishes to contrive."

HE Ovie of Abraka Oruarivie, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Akpomeyoma Ojeta II, has described the immediate past Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe, as a reliable, courageous and experienced man.

He said his assertion was informed by his previous contact and relationship with the former minister.

He spoke when Orubebe visited his palace to consult with him and people of the community in furtherance of his statewide tour.

He thanked Orubebe for his contributions to the development of the Niger Delta region, par-

ticularly the construction of the East-West Road, which he described as the live wire of the Urhobo nation.

Earlier, Elder Orubebe said he was at the palace to inform the monarch and his people that he desires to become the next governor of Delta State and that his aspiration was anchored on his conviction that only a competent and experienced person can lead Delta State to the next level.

He urged Deltans to realise that it was not where a candidate hails from that mattered, but the quality of service he can provide to take the state to the next level.

Amaechi dissolves 21 local govts

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARC O U R T — G OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has dissolved executives of 21 out of the 23 local government areas in the state and has sworn in caretaker committees for the councils.

He said that the tenure of the affected council executives expired on Saturday, adding that since elections were recently conducted in Ogba Egbema Ndoni and Degema Local Government Areas, they were not affected by the dissolution.

Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly also sat on Saturday and approved the list of nominees for the caretaker committee expected to remain in office for three months.

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Vanguard, MONDAY,JUNE 2, 2014 — 13

Godwin Emefiele assumes leadership of CBN today

BY OMOH GABRIEL

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ODWIN Emefiele assumes office today as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor after the expiration of the tenure of Lamido Sanusi on May 31. Mr. Emefiele was still on duty at Zenith as at last Friday.

A visit to Zenith last Friday showed that some of his personal staff were being mobilised on Friday to leave for Abuja in preparation for his assumption of office today.

Mr. Emefiele, during his confirmation hearing at the Senate said CBN, under him shall vigorously pursue a development banking model, DBM, in addition to working hard to achieve the core mandate of monetary and price stability.

Emefiele had told the senators that DBM is a model that has been tried and tested in different jurisdictions in the world.

He had told the senators that “in fact, in some of the frontiers and emerging markets in the world, we have seen development banking used as a tool for achieving economic growth, development and industrialisation.”

Until last Friday, Emefiele was the Group Managing Director,

Zenith Bank Plc, a position he has held since August 2010.

He was Deputy Managing Director of the bank, having been appointed into that position in 2001. Emefiele had been on the bank’s management team since inception and had held various management

positions in the bank, including serving as the bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning.

Before his appointment as Group Managing Director, Emefiele was directly respon-

sible for all the group’s local subsidiaries, treasury and correspondent banking and multilateral, conglomerates and private banking.

He also had responsibilities for direct supervision of majority of the bank’s branches in Lagos and Northern Nigeria.

Umeh urges wealthy Nigerians to invest in education

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — Factional National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, has urged wealthy individuals to invest in education and human development.

Umeh spoke during the commissioning of a multimillion naira building donated to the General Studies Department of Enugu State University of Science and Technology by a renowned industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group of Companies.

12 indigent students get Rotary scholarship in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

RECEPTION: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, receiving an award as ''The Most Distinguished Alumnus' of Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro Umuahia, from Hon. Justice Okey Nwamuoh, National President, Old Boys Association, during a reception organised in honour of the governor by the old boys of the school, in Umuahia.

Cleric worries over growing strife, war, bloodshed, abductions in Nigeria divides that sow and whip up op Obinna urged Nigerians to The cleric noted that Boko unnecessary hatred and vio- re-evaluate the type of democ- Haram menace and the conracy the nation celebrates, giv- tinued captivity of young lence.

WERRI — THE CathoAddressing the just celebrat- en the current state of the na- school children, the Chibok lic Archbishop of Owerri ed Democracy Day, Archbish- tion. girls, directly held Nigeria Ecclesiastical Province, His and its Democracy Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. ObinDay in captivity. na, has expressed serious con“What kind of cern over the growing tension, people are we Nistrife, war, bloodshed and abgerians? Are we ductions going on in the counit Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Jos, Maidenemies or fellow

BY ANAYO OKOLI try today. uguri, Yobe and Chibok, where 200 humans and fellow Archbishop Obinna, who school girls were abducted. citizens? What made his feelings known, while MUAHIA — THE leadership of The tour would enable the group to kind of democracy addressing the press in OwerOhanaeze Youth Council, OYC, assess how the crisis was affecting Ndi is ours, demonic or ri, also blamed the sad happen- has condemned the abduction of over gbo in the North and also offer them d e m o p h i l i c ? ” ings on mistrust, mutual sus- 200 Chibok school girls and called for opportunity to interact with the youth Obinna queried. picion, lack of friendship and intensified effort to ensure their safe leaders in the area. good neighbourliness. release to re-unite with their families.

The President of OYC, Mazi Oke“The walls which divide us The group also expressed worry over chukwu Isiguzoro, said the tours becan be broken down only if we the escalating heinous activities of the came necessary because of the large are prepared to listen and learn Boko Haram Islamist sect and urged number of Ndigbo residing in all parts from one another, Obinna rea- them to embrace the option of dialogue of the North and the need to broker soned." extended to them by the Federal Gov- peace among the people.

He expressed regret that Ni- ernment.

Isiguzoro said the tour would afford gerians have failed to recognHowever, the group warned Boko OYC opportunity to assess the situaise and treat one another as fel- Haram to take any fate that would be- tion in the North, especially as it affectlow sons and daughters of God. fall them, if they refused to accept the ed the Igbo.

“The consequence is contin- dialogue option offered them by the “We will commence the tour from Jos, uous tension, strife, war, abduc- government.

Plateau State from where we will protions, bloodshed. God is defiMeanwhile, worried by the rising cri- ceed to Mubi Adamawa State, then to nitely not happy about this and sis in the North, the group said it had Maidugri and Chibok, both in Borno we must learn to love and ap- commenced a tour of the troubled North- State. preciate ourselves in all circum- ern states, with a view to assessing the “From Chibok, we will go to Damatustances,” Obinna pleaded. extent of destruction of lives and prop- ru Yobe State, from where we visit TaraHe urged Nigerians to rise erty and feel the pulse of victims, espe- ba and then connect North-Western above primordial, ethnic, reli- cially affected Ndigbo. states of Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto, begious, political, cult and class The group said its leaders would vis- fore concluding with Benue, he said."

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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Ohanaeze youths condemn abduction of Chibok school girls

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NUGU—REPRIEVE has come the way of 12 indigent students of Enugu State as the Rotary Club has awarded them scholarship to complete their secondary school education.

To these students who had had difficulties funding their education, the gesture by the Rotary Club was like a dream come true as many of them had lost their parents and on the verge of dropping out of school.

The scholarship, courtesy of the Rotary Club Enugu Educational Foundation was introduced to assist brilliant, but indigent students for three years from senior secondary school one to three, involving N720,000 per year; with each of the benefiting students receiving a sum of N60,000 a year.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Vandalism: FG seeks consumers’ support to protect power infrastructure

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA — THE Federal Government has appealed to electricity consumers to assist in protecting all power installations and equipment located within their domains from the activities of unscrupulous vandals.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, who made the appeal after commissioning three transmission sub-stations completed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, at Kumbotso, in Kano State, regretted that vandals’ activities had caused interrupted supply of electricity to consumers in the recent times.

The Minister had earlier commissioned two other substations at Tamburawa and Kwanar Dangora, all in Kano State.

Wakil said: “it is our collective responsibility as good citizens of Nigeria to protect all key power installations.”

Consultants kick against JOHESU’s bid to head medical centres

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA — MEDICAL and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has warned the Federal Government against succumbing to the demands of members of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, to be appointed as medical directors of Federal Medical Centres as a recipe for chaos in the health sector.

Membership of JOHESU comprises all health sector workers, with the exception of medical doctors.

It would be recalled that there had been supremacy battle between the health workers and doctors in the country, leading to several strikes to press home their demands .

The National President of MDCAN, Steven Oluwale, gave the warning at a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday.

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Alleged N10bn chartered jets scandal: Our mandate was misread — Reps

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — THE House of Representatives, weekend, said the mandate given to its Committee on Public Accounts, PAC, to investigate the alleged expenditure of N10 billion on chattered jets by Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was misread.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Victor Ogene, APGA, Anambra, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja.

He said: “We are sorry for that slip, wherever it came from.”

He said the House was thankful to Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the High Court sitting in Abuja “for standing on the side of jus-

tice” by clearing the air on an injunction purportedly issued by him.

Ogene, however, blamed those opposing the proposed probe of reading some sections of the 1999 Constitution in isolation of section 88 and 89.

He explained: “The House will not at any time shirk its responsibilities. Acting in personal capacity is different from acting as an agent of government, so it is baffling to attempt to prevent agents of government from being answerable to Nigerians. ”Any life not worthy of examination is not worth living, because the essence of democracy is to ensure that we examine ourselves. The position of the law is unchanged, and no man or woman is above the law of our land.”

On the Minister’s alleged resistance to the effect that only the President could endorse her appearance before the probe panel, Ogene said the House would not go into issues which the Minister was in court for, dismissing the perceived witch-hunt suggestions in the public domain. ”When the current National Assembly was inaugurated in 2011, I don’t think any member had any particular Minister in mind. The House does not prosecute anybody because reports of our investigations are still passed on to the executive arm to implement. ”The tendency in Nigeria is that when people are summoned, they are seen to be guilty abinitio, which is not correct,” he noted

CONFERENCE: Managing Director/CEO, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar; Media Relationship Manager, Dana Air, Mr. Samuel Ogbogoro; Sales Manager, Ashmina Limited, Mr. Anshuman Bakshi, and Founder, Nisa Premier Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Wada, during 2nd FCT Entrepreneurship Conference and Merit Awards, in Abuja, co-sponsored

by Dana Air and Aquadana

According to Ogene, the mandate of the House to the Public Accounts Committee over the alleged expenditure had never at any time been withdrawn.

He added that investigations of this nature should not start and end with the physical appearance of the persons concerned, as Constitution permitted either written or oral submissions and both, as might be required to obtain the needed information.

He said the House commended Nigerians for their steadfastness and as important stakeholders.

“Yes, we sometimes have our differences but at any time, we must realise that we are one government. So we expect the smooth administration of the nation,” he said.

Vanguard recalls that the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, had, on April 29, directed the House to appear before him to explain the origin of the restraining order it said stopped its Public Accounts Committee, PAC, from investigating allegation that the Minister spent N10 billion on chartered private jets.

Members of the committee, led by its Chairman, Solomon Olamilekan, had at a press briefing on April 28, said they were served with a restraining order from the court, stopping further investigation into the allegation against the Minister.

They had accused the judiciary of attempting to usurp their oversight function, saying they would suspend the investigation to study the said restraining order, with a view to responding accordingly.

Consequently, Justice Mohammed, on the last adjourned date, summoned the House to “come and clear the air” on whether it was actually restrained from going ahead with the probe.

Government should negotiate with Boko Haram — Chief Mike Ozekhome

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA — HUMAN rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to immediately negotiate with the Boko Haram Islamist sect to bring back the abducted school girls from Chibok, Borno State.

But the Federal Government in a surprised move on Saturday, said it did not offer amnesty to Boko Haram members.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, Ozekhome, who is also a delegate to the ongoing National Conference in Abuja, said Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution mandated the Federal Government to ensure the security and welfare of the citizenry.

He said: “The controversy over whether or not the Federal Gov-

ernment should negotiate with Boko Haram with a view to releasing the abducted Chibok Secondary School girls, is nauseating and demeaning of our humanity, to say the least.

"Let it be made clear that the security and welfare of Nigerians are the primary purpose of government (Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution). ”It is unthinkable that some people would want the lives of these innocent future leaders of Nigeria to be wasted on the altar of government grand-standing and engagement niceties. There are times when a government stoops to conquer.

Recalling that former US President, Mr. J.F. Kennedy, once promulgated the concept of negotiation, Ozekhome said Nigeria could not continue to experience the orgy of bloodletting which had

claimed over 12, 000 lives amid wanton destruction of schools, churches and mosques. ”It was J.F. Kennedy, former American President, who once declared that we should never fail to negotiate, just as we should never negotiate out of fear. Negotiating with Boko Haram will not amount to negotiating out of fear.

“It is simply an irritating sacrifice to be made to justify the sanctity of the lives of these young, innocent souls. I dare say that the Federal Government should negotiate even with Satan, if that would bring back our girls. Even Satan would be humbled and diminished by such an unprecedented strategy. ”Recall that part of the main brief of the Turaki Committee was to negotiate with the Boko Haram group, an offer it had imperious-

ly rejected. Now that the same Boko Haram has thrown up the “Olive branch,” for that is what it clearly is, the Federal Government should seize it, and make gains out of it. ”It affords a golden opportunity, not only to negotiate the release of the Chibok girls, but to holistically negotiate amnesty and halting of the horrific insurgency and bloodletting that have claimed over 12, 000 lives and wanton destruction of houses, Schools, Churches, Mosques, public buildings, bus stops, etc. ”The Federal Government should, for once, think of the trepidation, unease, cries, tension, suspense, psychological trauma and mental torture, that the abduction of these children is causing their parents, teachers, siblings, friends and loved ones."

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014—15

2015: Southern group accuses North of plot to frustrate Jonathan

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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BUJA—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, Northern political elite are planning another round of violence, with the sole aim of frustrating President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition, the Southern Mandate, a coalition of socio-political groups alerted, in Abuja, yesterday.

It was reacting to the resolutions at a meeting of some northern organisations including the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Northern Union, NU, Arewa Reawakening Forum, ARF, and Middle Belt Forum, MBF, held in Kaduna, last Friday.

Northern political elite at the meeting had blamed the current insecurity and disunity in the region on the second term ambition of President Jonathan and vowed to ensure that a Northerner must take over the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in 2015.

“Our position is very clear on this renewed demand.

There was an agreement on rotating the presidency and now, we want to warn that if the parties to the pact fail to adhere to it, the North will use its numerical strength to ensure that power returns to it in 2015.

That is the position arrived at the meeting”, one of the participants was quoted as saying.

However, the National Coordinator of the Southern Mandate, Mr. Tito Zuokumor, said the South rejected the renewed move by the North as it was aimed at setting the nation on fire and stampeding President Jonathan out of office by next year.

According to the group, the division and insecurity in the North, including the Boko Haram insurgency predated the Jonathan presidency, and that rather than seeking for a culprit, northern leaders should bury their heads in shame for their failure to provide purposeful leadership while they held on to political power for over three decades.

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Fear of Boko Haram: Eminent persons shun late Gwoza monarch's burial zAs sect attacks 4 villages in Borno, kills 15

BY NDAHIMARAMA

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AIDUGURI—THE fear of Boko Haram Islamic sect, which has unleashed a reign of terror in the north eastern part of the country weekend kept away lawmakers, traditional rulers and other important dignitaries from the burial of the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Shehu Mustapha Idrisa Timta. The Islamic terrorists have also attacked four villages in Borno State killing several people.

The late emir in company of emirs of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammed and emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila was killed

by Boko Haram terrorists on Friday with two police escorts during an ambush by the sect members.

The burial of late Timta was conducted amid tight security with 150 soldiers and 70 policemen on hand. At the burial however, no emir or their representatives were in attendance, even as the House of Assembly member representing Gwoza, Mohammed Jaha Babawo and Hon. Peter Biye, a House of Representative member, representing Gwoza, Damboa and Chibok were absent throughout the interment.

Our Correspondent observed that throughout the ceremony which ended at about 2pm on Saturday, military choppers were busy hovering around Gwoza town, particularly the palace to prevent further attacks and killing by the unrepentant terrorists group.

Though the First Class Monarch was killed while on his way to attend the burial of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, none of his colleagues from within and outside the state was able attend his interment due to unpredictable security around Gwoza town.

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, who was accompanied by his deputy governor, Zanna Mustapha and Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume who is from Gwoza were the highest public officers that led other state government functionaries to attend the burial.

Also, the Borno First Lady, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima attended the burial in company of some women Commissioners including Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir who hails from Gwoza.

Following the destruction of Limankara and Pulka bridges that link Gwoza with Maiduguri and Adamawa State and the ongoing ambush on the highway by Boko Haram almost on daily basis, Alhaji Haruna Idrisa Timta, the former Head of Service, Borno State, Alhaji Adamu Idrisa Timta, a Permanent Secretary with the Borno State Government who are

among the eldest sons of the slain emir, but reside in Maiduguri with their families had to join the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima to attend their father’s interment.

Governor Shettima who also battled to control his tears as he delivered his tribute and condolences described late Shehu Idrissa Timta as “a man who spent better part of his reign preaching peace and tolerance.”

Meanwhile, a series of suspected Boko Haram attacks in four villages in Borno State killed several people, residents said

Sunday. The military was, however, not immediately available to comment on the raids.

All of the targeted villages are in the Gamboru Ngala district near the border with Cameroon, where Boko Haram killed hundreds in a gruesome attack earlier this month.

The latest unrest hit the villages of Nuwari, Musari, Walori on Saturday, where gunmen, some dressed as soldiers and riding in 4x4 trucks, opened fire on civilians and razed much of the area,

according to multiple witness accounts.

“They burnt all the villages and took away all our livestock,” said Nuwari resident, Bunu Kaloma.

He said 15 people were killed in the spate of attacks but there were conflicting reports and it was not possible to establish a concrete death toll.

“They came in after dark while a wedding party was going on and went on shooting and tossing explosives into homes,” said a resident, Bukar Mustapha.

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar (left), Ciroman Gombe, Abdulkadir Abubakar (right) and others, during a condolence visit to the Government and people of Gombe State over the death of Emir of Gombe in Gombe, yesterday.

Christian group faults Sultan on marginalisation

BY SAM EYOBOKA

A

BUJA—A GROUP of Christians in the North under the aegis of TEKAN/ ECWA has disagreed with the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III who recently alleged that Muslims in the country are being marginalised, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore the call which the group described as inflammatory.

The Sultan was reported as saying during a national prayer session organised by the NSCIA where eminent Islamic scholars gathered to pray for peace and security in

the nation that if the government can address injustice against Muslims, the seemingly intractable security challenges will be surmounted, adding that Muslims are not happy, but willing to support the government in its efforts towards peace and stability.

The Christian group also described the Sultan’s claim of marginalisation which was widely reported, as inciting because a close look at the statement could be interpreted to mean that unless the perceived injustices against Muslims are addressed there will be no end to the current insecurity in the country.

Reacting to the statement, the national head of TEKAN/

ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau urged Nigerians to ignore the claim, arguing that if the head of NSCIA was serious, he should identify those marginalising Muslims in the country.

“We are yet to overcome similar statements by an eminent Muslim politician who vowed to make the nation ungovernable if he was not pronounced winner of the 2011 presidential election.

When the CAN leadership called for his arrest for making such imflammatory statement, many Muslims accused him of heating up the polity, but today Nigerians know those who are heating up the polity,” the statement said.

16— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 EFFORTS to establish applicability of the Freedom of Information Act nationally indicate ineptitude of the National Assembly in stopping the illegalities State Assemblies are perpetrating. They erode powers of the National Assembly.

Cases across the country prove the unwillingness of States to abide by a federal law that they contested during the legislative process, which was why its passage took more than 10 years. The same treatment has been applied to the 2003 Child Rights Act. The National Assembly makes laws for the entire federation.

According to Section 4 (5), “If any law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National Assembly shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void".

States do not have Child Rights

FOIA: Will The Illegality Stop? and Freedom of Information laws.

There is no conflict between state and federal laws, which the Constitution still resolves in favour of federal laws. We have States un-making federal laws with abandon, calling it domestication.

Domestication, according to Section 12 (1) of the Constitution, applies to treaties between Nigeria and other countries. The States are desecrating the Constitution, the National Assembly watches askance.

Snippets of the FOIA battles: • Justice S. O Itodo of Makurdi High Court has ruled that the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 is applicable to all the States of

the Federation. His decision was on the objection the Benue State Commissioner of Finance raised that the State had not domesticated the FOIA. MajGen India Garba (rtd) sued after the State refused to provide him information on federal allocations to Vandekiya Local Government Area Council.

•Last February, the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, told a Federal High Court the FOIA was a federal law and therefore not binding on the State.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, sued after Lagos State did not give it information on a $90m World

Bank facility the State procured for improvement of its schools.

•A Federal High Court in Benin City awarded N20,000 against the National Assembly for unnecessary argument and delay of application in a suit between the National Assembly and Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor, who wanted information on allowances, salaries, emoluments and constituency allowances of two federal legislators from his constituency.

It is ironic that the National Assembly is among parties diminishing the law it made.

Attempts by different States to weaken the FOIA by rejecting aspects they consider unpleasant are unacceptable, illegal and should stop. The National Assembly has a major responsibility to protect the Constitution from fragrant abuses of state legislatures that are assuming the place of the National Assembly.

OPINION

BY ELIZABETH UWAIFO

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HEN I arrived in London from Nigeria in 1982, one of the major challenges I had to deal with was the feeling of isolation - not seeing people who look like you.

While I did not let that feeling derail my plans to study and pursue my legal career, I became very appreciative of the sight of others of my colour, I developed a bond with Africans and a special bond with Nigerians, I felt we were kindred spirit. The recent unfortunate events in Chibok, Borno State has forced us as Nigerians to hold a mirror to ourselves, look in it and decide whether we like what we see. If we do not like what we see, what do we do?

Stories abound of atrocious killings inflicted by Nigerians on Nigerians by Boko Haram, ritual killings and otherwise. Why would we as Nigerians inflict such pain and suffering on other Nigerians? We will not ordinarily inflict such atrocities on our own children or those we love and care about. Perhaps a rediscovery of our consciousness of our bond as Nigerians will facilitate respect and love for one another.

I feel strongly about our finding what unites us as I believe that this spirit will help us pull together to greater success as a nation. I wish to hear the thoughts of fellow Nigerians on this subject and I will start the discourse by sharing my personal perspective.

I really became appreciative of my

What does it mean to be Nigerian?

Nigerian heritage when I came to England. I am Ishan from Edo State and left Nigeria for England at the age of 21. Before leaving Nigeria I was not particularly conscious of my Nigerian heritage. My nationality was what it was. I had no reason to think about it whether positively or negatively. I had issues and challenges to address and my nationality did not feature among my concerns.

On getting to England and realising for the first time that those in my new community did not look like me or speak like me, it became heartwarming to see faces like mine and comforting to hear an accent or a name that I recognised as Nigerian.

I came across very few Nigerians less than five that I was aware of at my university, none at my block of residence and only a handful known to me socially. I felt a sense of solidarity with the Nigerians I got to know.

In my loneliness I yearned for home; for the Nigeria I left behind. I had a sense of pride about where I was from. There were times when I would be frustrated by the fact that I was not communicating effectively with those around me. When others expressed difficulty in understanding me I would say to myself - I come from a country where

people all speak like me and they are fine. As I struggled to get through the cold weather, rain and snow to get to my lectures, I picked up on the negative images that were portrayed in the Western media about Nigeria and I felt protective of my country.

They did not know Nigeria like I did, I said to myself. They did not know the hardworking, resourceful, brilliant, kind-hearted and empathetic Nigerians that I knew. I was driven to show that I had received quality education in Nigeria which placed me in a position to compete with the best in England.

My Nigerian heritage gave me a sense of identity, a comfort and a feeling that there was a group of people to whom my success mattered. During that period, I would request traditional Nigerian music - music by Sir Victor Uwaifo, Osayomore Joseph, Sunny Okosun, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, IK Dairo, Rex Lawson and OnyekaOwenu, to name a few. My friends and siblings in Nigeria were at the time into Western pop and soul music and thought I was crazy. I loved to collect carved wooden ornaments and pictures of people in Nigerian traditional clothes. They not only reminded me of home but they also represented my identity which I guarded jealously.

Would I have felt so passionate about Nigeria if I had not left Nigeria?

Or if my environment in England had not included so few Nigerians?

Whatever the answer to those questions may be, the fact remains that my being Nigerian meant something to me and was a positive influence on me.

Nigerians have been through a difficult period. Many families have experienced worsening economic conditions, poor infrastructure has made it difficult for average Nigerians to work their way out of the poverty trap and poor living conditions make daily life a constant struggle. Faced with challenges that compel us to focus on our needs we risk losing touch with our common bond as Nigerians. Furthermore, does our familiarity with one another put us at risk of losing our appreciation of one another?

So what is it that connects you with other Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic origin, sex, religion, political affiliation or social status? Your thoughts are as good as mine.

*Mrs. Uwaifo, a lawyer, wrote from London.

JUNE 2, 2014

Hard times ahead for tobacco industry, smokers •Fines, imprisonment await makers, users of tobacco •We won’t accept gifts from tobacco firms — Minister •BAT, other stakeholders react

By FRANKLIN ALLI HARD times loom ahead for the tobacco industry in Nigeria, including users of its products — smokers — as the Tobacco Control Bill 2014 becomes law soon.

When passed, the law comes with

stiff penalties for companies and individuals who violate the regulations in the country.

In 2004, Nigeria along with other nations of the world signed the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC.

The objectives were to ensure tobacco free environment for their citizens, promote healthy lifestyle and productivity.

According to WHO, smoking kills six million people globally every year and if this trend persist, by 2030, the annual death toll from smoking will

climb to more than eight million.

WHO also predicted that smoking will have taken 1,000,000,000 lives by the end of the 21st century.

In order to address this problem, over 190 countries have so far domesticated the 2004 FCTC and banned smoking in public places.

Brazil is one of them. Since 15 December 2011, Brazil Federal Law 12546 (Article 49) forbids smoking in public spaces in the entire country,

Continues on page 18

177.50

-4.5

3,059.00

+13.00

17.37

0.11

109.54 -0.43 102.85 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

FINANCIAL LITERACY: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun (second left), presenting a computer to the Principal of Community Secondary School, AkaOffot in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Jones Obobikpe, as part of the bank’s support for financial literacy among students. They are flanked, left, by the Senior Prefect of the school, Master Joshua Tom and another student, Miss.

Rachael Dickson.

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.73 259.049 210.6494 172.5357 1.5219 0.3021 237.6395 24.7611 41.2547 28.2158 238.3616

155.23 259.8861 211.3301 173.0932 1.5268 0.3121 238.4074 24.8415 41.388 28.307 239.1318

-0.73 SELLING 155.73 260.7232 212.0108 173.6508 1.5317 0.3221 239.1753 24.922 41.5214 28.3982 239.9021

CBN Exchange rate as at 30/05/2014

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Cover Story

Developing Entrepreneurial Spirit in Nigeria - Part 2

Hard times ahead for tobacco industry, smokers including restaurants and bars.

Similarly in Bulgaria, a comprehensive smoking ban has been introduced prohibiting smoking in all public places including bars, restaurants, clubs, workplaces, stadiums, etc. It came into effect on 1 June 2012.

However, ten years after Nigeria signed the FCTC, government couldn’t pass the law due to several amendments to the Bill by National Assembly.

The Federal Government is however ensuring the Bill is passed into law.

Investigations conducted

by Financial Vanguard , showed that when the Bill is eventually passed into law, the operating environment might not be easy for tobacco companies in the country, let alone smokers.

Financial Vanguard gathered that for defaulting companies, the fine varies from N1 million to as much as N5 million while imprisonment of the Chief Executives of offending companies vary from one year to two years if they break the law.

Whereas for individual, that is a smoker who goes to a place clearly designated nonsmoking area, the fine is N50, 000 or imprisonment of up to six months.

A

ddressing newsmen in Abuja, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, said, “We want to produce hundred per cent tobacco free environment for people who do not want anything to do with tobacco.

So places will be clearly designated as non smoking area. If a smoker breaks the law, he will be liable for

prosecution.”

“The Bill also proposes to ban advertisement and corporate sponsorship by tobacco companies of any public event such as sports, seminar and so on. “We will not accept gift from any tobacco company. Gifts such as school building, etc, will not be accepted. Some states like Lagos and Cross River have passed their own tobacco Bill into law. Now we want to make it national,” said the Minister.

Financial Vanguard interviewed stakeholders in

,

Continued from page 17

We will not accept gifts from any tobacco company; gifts such as school building, etc, will not be accepted

,

the industry on the issue.

Here are their comments: Freddy Messanvi (Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco West Africa), said “We remain committed to the passage of a tobacco control law that is balanced and workable. We believe that regulation is key for the industry and as such we support the passage of a workable bill that will achieve the intended objectives of the health advocates and not promote illegal trade in the sector, to the detriment of the legal industry.”

Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director, Corporate Campaigns, Environmental

Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), noted, “We see the Executive Bill as a welcome development; it shows that the Federal Government is beginning to take the issue of tobacco in its entirety very seriously and that domesticating the FCTC is now paramount on government’s agenda.

“Our take is that the National Assembly should fast-track the passage of the Bill into law so that Nigerians can have the enabling environment to live a healthy life style.

“We are optimistic that the Bill will be passed this year.

The Bill had been delayed for so long. We can’t afford to delay it again. So we believe that with the commitment we have been seeing from the Executive arm of government, the Bill will sail through this time and that President Goodluck Jonathan will also append his signature to it since it is coming from the Federal Executive Council, FEC.”

C

orroborating this, Gbenga Adejuwon, Alliance Manager, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, noted that the law when passed will not only reduce demand and supply of tobacco products in the economy, it will also encourage smokers to quit,” he said.

Philip Jakpor, Head of Media, ERA/FoEN, also pointed out that the law will drastically reduce governments’ spending on healthcare, especially tobacco related diseases.

“It may interest you to know that Lagos state alone said it was expending over N2billion on tobacco

Continues on page 19

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frustrated is the huge difference between policy and execution, a problem of developing nations in general. In Nigeria, it is a key concern area because of its close relation to another national catastrophe: rampant bureaucratic corruption. The state of Nigerian corruption is so insidious that it comes with its own name – prebendalism, essentially defined as mass misappropriation of public assets by bureaucratic and political agents. International aid agencies owe much of the

,

LAUNCH: From left: Head, Corporate Communications Division, Diamond Bank PLC, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell; Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank PLC, Uzoma Dozie; Chief Executive Officer, Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie; and Executive Director, Diamond Bank PLC, Victor Ezenwoko at the launch of the Wakanow Prepaid and Corporate card in Lagos.

t the administrative level, Nigeria needs radical changes in fiscal, monetary and industrial policies to both promote new enterprises and aid existing ones. The bulk of the problem is the impaired access for small and medium enterprises to capital markets. To improve this situation, lawmakers have made it mandatory for commercial banks operating in Nigeria to keep aside 10 per cent of pre-tax profits for equity investment in small businesses.

While it was a reasonably sensible move, it failed to meet avowed targets because the rate of actual disbursement was significantly lower than expected. In the context of cultivating a wholesome entrepreneurial spirit, policy changes can often be superficial unless followed through with flexible implementation and constant monitoring. An effective revamp of Nigerian financial policy initiatives must focus on three key objectives: *Enhanced regulatory mechanisms to oversee microfinancing operations. *Increased capacity and motivation for financial aid to small businesses. *Improved coordination between various government, private sector and donor agencies.

Engineering a country-wide entrepreneurial spirit also calls for simultaneous and massive social restructuring in a way that correctly reflects Nigeria’s historical imperatives and the poverty that blights both its urban and rural landscapes.

Even though the country earned an estimated $600 billion in oil revenue in the last half century, it’s GDP per capita of $1,501.72 ranks among the lowest in the world. Added to that are deep-set symptoms of rural illiteracy and gender inequality, both of which are proving acutely detrimental to sustainable enterprise development.

The Nigerian Economic Policy for 1999-2003 envisaged far reaching promises on universal basic education, adult literacy and a slew of related programmes aimed at leap-flogging in order to short circuit the longer span of development. Part of the reason these and other objectives have since been

In the context of cultivating a wholesome entrepreneurial spirit, policy changes can often be superficial unless followed through with flexible implementation and constant monitoring

,

failure of Nigeria’s economic and poverty alleviation initiatives to an intractable bureaucracy that has steadily resisted efficient and fair practices.

Creating an aggregate socio-economic environment that is conducive to enterprise development in the fullest sense, through fiscal, monetary and industrial policy changes. *Removing conditions that create high business costs by addressing systemic deficiencies in terms of infrastructure, policy and implementation. *Attracting local private sector finance and equity with the specific objective of creating a mass base of viable small businesses. *Revamping the education sector to provide vocational, administrative and skills development training to rural and urban youths. *Maintaining political stability and building social consensus to ensure broadbased success of macroeconomic policies.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 19

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cent years, the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprise Association, NASSI came into existence. This is aside the numerous bilateral chambers of commerce that dot the nation's economic landscape.

The great challenge facing the Nigerian economy is the discordant voices coming out of the so-called organised private sector.

Every so often, instead of the operators in the sector to pool their resources together to foster the growth and development of the sector, sectors that are looking to government for a particular favour team up under some name to approach government. Once the need is met, the leader ditches the organisation.

In the heydays of the Babangida administration, in the name of promoting economic diplomacy, several private sector organs sprang up. The one that is worth mentioning is the G15 council. That body was the eyes and ears of the military administration. Today, the socalled South-South Economic Cooperation Nigerians were told the council was out to promote, got nowhere. The bilateral chambers that the diplomacy encouraged to spring up are as good as dead.

Nigerians are good at answering president and leader but not in service delivery. he 31 business leaders agreed on the establishment of a common platform that will enable them to jointly promote sustainable development initiatives and programmes across the country. At the roundtable in Lagos, the CEOs decided to set up a council for sustainable development which will be affiliated to the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Are these 31 leaders not

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Re-organising Nigeria's unorganised private sector members of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry or MAN? Why in the world do they need a new platform if they have a genuine interest of the private sector at heart?

Were these same people not the promoters of the Nigeri-

,

T

WO weeks ago, some 31 Nigerian company chief executives and business owners got together to form a council that will enable them jointly promote sustainable development across the country. This was the outcome of a round table discussion held in Lagos. Ordinarily, this would have been a welcome development. However, the claim by members that they lack the platform through which they could intervene in the economy is spurious, suspicious and very dubious. The fact that it was championed by Shell Managing Director makes it worse.

Shell operations globally are known to have adverse spillover effect on the community it operates and in almost every situation, it required litigation for it to respond to the cries of those affected adversely by its operations. he leaders of these com panies — Accenture, Coca-Cola, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Etisalat, First Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Heirs Holdings, Intel Corporation and Interswitch, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, the First Bank CSR Centre, BusinessDay Newspapers, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, MTN Nigeria, Guinness, Oando Gas and Power, UBA Group, Seplat Petroleum, Chevron, Stanbic IBTC, Afren Nigeria, Access Bank and Nigerian Breweries, are well aware of the existence of the three arms of the organised private sector. For years, Nigerian organised private sector had operated through Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, and Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly, NECA. In re-

In other countries where the private sector is taken seriously, they have one body that speaks for the organised private sector. These bodies elsewhere have well funded institutions that provide alternative source of data on the

Today, the so-called SouthSouth Economic Cooperation Nigerians were told the council was out to promote, got no where; the bilateral chambers that the diplomacy encouraged to spring up are as good as dead

an Economic Summit? Are they tired of the various bodies that they are part of?

The proposed council as they claim will work to arouse the interest of the Nigerian business community towards taking collective action for a sustainable future for society. hat has been the role of the various chambers of commerce and industry in the country? Will it not have been better for these men to join and strengthen the existing bodies and reduce the discordant voices in the private sector?

W

,

economy. They can generate reliable data from members across board and can authoritatively challenge government data. This is the situation in the US where the US Chamber of Commerce and Industry can authoritatively challenge government on trends in the economy. It is the same in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands to mention a few.

Why is the Nigerian private sector so fragmented that nothing serious can come out of it? The only reason is because almost all the successful businesses in Nigeria enjoy government patronage and

the advantages it confers on them through waivers and concessions.

The Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, had hosted the roundtable to introduce the idea to the CEOs. He said: "There is no doubt that Nigerian companies support sustainability programmes in their respective areas of influence quite adequately, however, no platform currently exists for businesses across all industries to share experiences, best practices, and advocate for business positions that transform lives and communities from what they are today to the greatness they can be, tomorrow. If there is one area we do not need to compete as businesses, it is in the goodness of our heart to our society and environment." his coming from Shell ex ecutive should be taken with a pinch of salt. The Nigerian private sector operators should hide their faces in shame, come down from their high horses and come under a single private sector umbrella that will have the capacity to affect Nigerians positively.

This they can do by pooling resources together to set up structures that can generate accurate data on the progress made in the economy.

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Cover Story Hard times ahead for tobacco industry, smokers Continued from page 18 patients. The state government carried out the survey in 11 state-owned hospitals and that there were over 9,000 patients and each was gulping N222, 000 from tax payers’ money plus another N70, 000 that the patients themselves must expend. That was 2006 and that is only Lagos State. If we replicate this across the federation then you can imagine the trillions of naira this country is spending on patients with tobacco related sickness,” he said.

A smoker, Obinna Mbamalu,

however dismissed the proposed Bill. He said he has been smoking two packets of cigarette daily for ten years and he will continue to smoke because, he said “Passing the law is not the issue but making it work.

Since Governor Fashola passed the law in Lagos, how many people have been arrested for violation? Go to Oshodi under-bridge, go to Ojuelegba or Ojota Garage and see things for yourself. How many of them have been arrested by government? The law can work in other countries, but not here.”

DRAW: From left, Kachikwu Kandozie, Principal Accountant Consumer Protection Council (CPC); Tunde Kuponiyi, Head, Cards and E-banking Business, Ecobank Nigeria; Mayowa Okuyiga, Senior Executive Officer, Legal, Lagos State Lotteries Board; and Nike Kolawole, Regional Head, Mainland, Ecobank, at the Ecobank Card 4 Prizes Promo Grand Draw held in Lagos.

C M Y K

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Business & Economy

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

South-East MAN laments power supply challenges in Nigeria

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he Manufactures Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the South-East zone has expressed displeasure over the nation’s increasing electricity generation and supply challenges in spite of the Federal Government promises. MAN expressed its displeasure in Awka at its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) attended by Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

The association also identified multiple taxation and levies by the Local, States and Federal Government as another major obstacle facing its members.

Earlier, Gov. Willie Obiano of anambra said that the state was reviewing its entire revenue base. Obiano represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Commerce, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme, said trade and commerce would boom again in the state.

Fitch affirms Afren at B+, stable outlook

F

itch Ratings has affirmed Afren plc’s Longterm Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’. The Outlook is Stable.

A full list of rating actions is at the end of this release. Afren continues to generate solid operating cash flows, which are sufficient to finance its ambitious exploration and development programme.

In the past the company has demonstrated its ability to meet ambitious production targets as it significantly boosted oil output in Nigeria in 2012 and 2013.

Afren’s profitability is supported by the tax holiday in place at Ebok, its largest producing field.

However, Afren’s production remains highly concentrated, which gives rise to elevated geological, country and tax risk, and its scale of operations is small.

We view the possible oil industry reform in Nigeria as a risk, as its timing and key parameters, including tax implications, are unclear. These factors constrain Afren to the ‘B’ rating category.

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he Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have resolved to work together to make Nigerian products meet domestic, regional and international standards. The resolution was reached during a meeting on ‘Quality Infrastructure’ in Lagos organised

by UNIDO. UNIDO Representative, Dr. Patrick Komawa, said that the private sector has recognised the problems and has shown willingness to work with UNIDO, EU and the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, so as to increase the competitiveness of locally made products in the international market place.

Komawa said that they have agreed to use five mechanisms which are: Quality Policy, establishment of National Accreditation Body and National Metrology Institute for products certification which does not exist at the moment.

He said that the other mechanisms are to build the capacity of the Consumer Protection Council so that it can create awareness for the consumer to ask for quality products.

“It is one thing to produce quality product but if the consumers themselves do not know the difference between high quality and low quality products they will not demand for it.

“The consultation with the OPS within the national quality infrastructure project is an EU funded project but implemented

AWARD: From left: Mr. Joseph Okomah, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter; Chief Keith Richards, Chairman, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; and Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole, Chairman of the Panel of Judges of the Promasidor 2014 Quill Awards; at the Promasidor Quill Awards presentation ceremony held in Lagos.

OPS, UNIDO work on competitiveness of Nigerian products

by UNIDO with the support of the FMITI. The project has the objective of improving on the quality of products made in Nigeria so that they can be sold internally and in international market.

“The time frame for this project is four years and we have already started, we are now half a year into the programme and a lot of consultations have been taking

place both within the public and private sector, “You cannot improve on your GDP if we do not produce products in Nigeria and sell them in the international market. We also will not provide the needed job in this country if we are not able to manufacture products here and trade them in the international or regional market.

“But for us to be able to trade

we need to at least meet basic quality requirement, most of the products that are made in this country are rejected because they do not meet certain basic quality requirement,” he said.

Also, Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, added,”The markets are used to standards and there is no way you can export in particular, if you do not adhere to international standards or international best practice.

Sterling Bank unveils plan to deepen market penetration

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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terling Bank Plc has unveiled strategic plan to deepen its market penetration and expand its retail foot print in the remaining part of the year.

The bank revealed that it will commence massive roll out of conventional and alternative in order to increase it products offering, as well as rolling out of agency banking model to drive financial inclusion.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Yemi Adeola, said efforts would be geared at upgrading the physical infrastructure of the bank to reflect the retail look and feel, while private banking business targeted at the high net worth individuals will be commenced during the period.

According to him, Sterling Bank

will deploy a new core banking application to fully enhance service delivery to the bank’s customers. Already, he said the bank has one million active customer base with 168 branches, 300 ATMs and 5,000 Point of Sales (PoS) machines spread across its branches nationwide.

He explained that the bank is in a strong growth phase and controls three percent market share by assets, adding that it has been delivering shareholders’ value having consistently paid dividend since 2011. To improve staff productivity, Adeola said the bank will concentrate on strengthening its performance management system for sales and back-office workforce.

On the bank’s financial performance, he explained that its loan book grew by five percent to N344.785 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, 2014

driven by growth in lending to the corporate and commercial segments of the economy.

Corporate lending, according to him, accounted for 68.2 percent of total loans, while retail and commercial lending accounted for 12.6 percent and 13.1 percent respectively.

Decline in institutional loans, which accounted for meager 6.1 percent as against 8.6 percent was due to pay-down of existing facilities,” he said. Sector-bysector breakdown of the loan structure showed significant exposure in oil and gas industry, which accounted for N111.119 billion of the bank’s total loan and advances for the period, 11.4 percent growth over N99.733 billion accruing to the sector in the same period in 2013.

This was followed by real estate and construction, which accounted for N79.550 billion of the bank’s total loan within the

period. “Gross earnings rose by 24 to N24.6 billion in the first quarter of 2014 from N19.8 billion in the first three months of 2013, driven by interest income, which rose by 31 percent and accounted for 76 percent on the back of increase in lending activities.

“Net interest margin improved by 240 basis points from 5.2 per cent in first quarter of 2013 to 7.6 per cent driven mainly by increase yield on earning assets”.

Despite a high interest rate environment, funding costs moderated by 30 basis points to 5.6 percent,” he said.

He further explained that deposits declined marginally by five percent year-to-date to N540.0 billion reflecting management’s focus on balance sheet efficiency, saying that retail deposits accounted for 66 percent of deposits, while wholesale funds accounted for 34 percent.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 21

Business & Economy

Africa must tackle poverty to share benefits of strong growth —IMF

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frica is “taking off ” with strong, steady growth but poverty is unacceptably high. As such, governments need to build infrastructure and institutions and educate people to share the benefits more widely, so says the head of the International Monetary Fund, IMF. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow by around 5.5 percent this year - well above the global average with some of its poorest countries expanding by closer to 7 percent, Christine Lagarde, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director, told an IMF conference in the Mozambican capital Maputo.

But the IMF chief said although the region had become a growing investment destination for both advanced and emerging economies, with a record $80 billion of inflows expected this year, the economic benefits of the growth surge had yet to be widely distributed across the region’s population.

“Poverty remains stuck at unacceptably high levels still afflicting about 45 percent of the region’s households,” Lagarde told the meeting of African finance ministers and development experts.

Despite forecasts of continuing strong expansion for the region, its positive outlook has been darkened this year with flare-ups of conflict, insurgency and violence. This has ranged from civil war in the world’s newest state, South Sudan, an insurgency waged by radical Islamist Boko Haram group in Africa’s largest economy Nigeria and attacks by Islamist militants hurting tourism and business in Kenya. As African countries tap new sources of funds through natural resource discoveries and international dollar bonds, questions have also arisen about how governments are managing this money in fast-growing economies like Ghana and Zambia. Lagarde said that with the international recovery still looking weak and uneven, Africa’s positive outlook also faced risks from slower growth in the world’s advanced economies and in emerging markets, which are the region’s main trade partners.

Other risks included lower prices for some commodities, tighter external financial conditions and market volatility.

The IMF head

recommended three priorities to ensure the region’s growth can be wide, inclusive and sustained: “Build infrastructure, build institutions, and build people.”

Infratructure, jobs Lagarde said Africa still had big infrastructure gaps, which represented huge costs to businesses and to people.

She cited as an example the fact that over the past three decades, per capita output of electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa remained virtually flat. Only 16 percent of all roads were paved, compared with 58 percent in South Asia. The investment needs to address this in the region were estimated at about

$93 billion annually, she said.

The IMF chief said Africa also needed to improve governance, transparency and create sound economic frameworks for growth - she called this “building institutions.”

This would ensure that revenues and benefits from the continent’s mineral riches Africa has more than 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves - could be better captured for national budgets and generating more jobs.

Lagarde said Africa needed to “build people” to reap the dividends of its rapid population growth. She cited estimates that a one percentage point increase in the working age population could boost GDP

growth by half a percentage point.

“For this to happen, however, ‘good’ jobs need to be created in the private sector. Today, only one in five people in Africa finds work in the formal sector,” Lagarde said. “This must change. With wider access to quality education, healthcare and infrastructure services, it can change.”

Technology could extend access to financial services to millions, and this was already happening in several countries, such as Kenya.

“Africa Rising will benefit the lives of people on the continent.

Beyond that, Africa Rising will benefit the world,” Lagarde said.

Nigeria endowed to benefit from global economic trends —Institute

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he McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), an international economic and business concern, said that Nigeria was endowed and strategically positioned to benefit from global economic trends. The institute made the disclosure in its report titled “Nigeria’s Renewal: Delivering Inclusive Growth in Africa’s Largest Economy” released in Abuja.

The report said Nigeria had an estimated 17 million citizens living overseas, whose remittances back home accounted for about 10 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It said that the country, with an ocean port, had a strategic location which allowed it access other developing economies of the world.

StarTimes to deepen digital television penetration

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TARTIMES has an nounced plans to further deepen the penetration of digital television in Nigeria, making it affordable to a vast maTOUR - From left:Danny Gunsham, Operation Manager, Chicken Republic; Mrs Susan jority of Nigerians within the Rotimi, Head Marketing & PR; Gloria Negbenebor, Head Quality & Central Kitchen; Abiodun shortest possible time.

Ayorinde, Human Resources Manager,Chicken Republic, at the Official tour of Central To this end, the company is Kitchen of Food Concept PLC, owner of Chicken Republic in Lagos. rewarding customers for their patronage, with the Extra Time Promotion, where 50 individuals won 32 inch LED TV, while one customer, Mr. David Abayomi won the star prize of a brand new Toyota Yaris 2014 car.

Speaking at the May edition still not here. So we considered how best we of the promotion, Mr. Anetor

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU can bring these services and products into Irete, Public Relations ManagAulic Nigeria Limited, the promoter of this country, and then we decided that the er, NTA-Star TV Network Limitspecialised trade fair Fair, has said that its best way to do it is to try to match the ed, said the decision of the cominternational trade exhibition coming up next Nigerian business community and the pany to deepen digital television penetration in Nigeria is commonth is intended to bring local and foreign producers of these products and services.

“I am very happy that when we introduced ing on the heels of the planned businesses together and inspire a mutual partnership that would make for Nigeria’s this concept to our business partners and digital migration which is schedassociates overseas, they were very happy uled to commence by 2015. economic growth.

He said the company currentThe Managing Director of the company, Dr. about it. Some of them even went ahead to ly has 1.8 million subscribers and Chika Eze made this known during a press source more companies in their various countries to come in and pick up partners in is presently in 32 cities across briefing to announce the exhibition in Lagos.

She said that about 148 firms from Europe have Nigeria. We have informed the small and the country, with plans to expand indicated interests in taking part in the third medium scale business people in Nigeria to 16 more cities within the next specialised trade exhibitions kicking off by 6th and they are also excited about the idea and couple of months.

According to him, Startimes is have indicated interest en masse to attend of June. working to ensure that digital She said that out of the 148 firms, 129 will be the exhibition.”

She further explained that, “It is an television is not seen as a luxusending representatives while twenty-nine will opportunity for businesses to meet ry item, but as a necessity and be present on their own.

According to her, “The exhibition is basically themselves and establish partnerships that for the pleasure of every one.

Irete noted that the company organised to match upcoming businesses with will not only help individuals but will also suppliers. It’s an exhibition where we plan to assist Nigeria in her development is committed to offering the very bring into this country, services and products, endeavour. It’s an exhibition where we expect best to its customers and is rewhich have not been here. Some who travel to see new products and services. It’s also warding them with various gifts overseas will know that there are a lot of beautiful an opportunity for our businesses to learn to make them bond with the company. products and services that we need which are new ways of doing important things."

Aulic drives local, foreign business partnerships through trade exhibition

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22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Banking & Finance

Ecobank rewards customers in card promo

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he grand draw of the Ecobank’s Card 4 Prizes promo has produced additional winners, including three customers that went home with the grand prizes of Honda Cars.

The winners are Awoyera Peter, Lagos/south-west region, Asoanya Jerry, south-south/ south east region, and Aliyu Yelwa, Federal Capital Territory/ North region grand prize winners. Others won Trip to Brazil, 300 thousand Naira worth of scholarship, smart phones, LCD TVs, air conditioners, home theatres and generators The Card 4 Prizes Promo which was based on the customers’ use of all the electronic channels of banking that range from the use of: cards, debit cards, credit cards, pre-paid cards, Point of Sale transactions, Online shopping, purchase of recharge cards with the ATM machine and withdrawals with the ATM machine, has made many customers of Ecobank to be beneficiaries of the promo.

One of the grand prize winners, Asoanya Jerry, from south-south/south east region, said “I used the Point of Sale machines, made online payments of staff salaries.

Diamond Bank upgrades mobile banking application

By EMEKA AGINAM

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ommitted to proving cutting edge banking services to its customers, one of the leading retail bank, Diamond Bank PLC has upgraded of its mobile-based banking application, the Diamond Mobile app.

With this development, subscribers to the mobile app can carry out more banking transactions beyond funds transfers and bills payment in a secured environment at any time of the day.

Some of the unique features recently added to the App, according to the Bank will include flight bookings, credit card repayments, account statement generation and debit card activation or deactivation.

These are in addition to previously available services like funds transfer to Diamond and non-Diamond Bank accounts, payment for BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), bills payment, airtime purchase, Diamond Bank branch and ATM locators, etc.

UNVEILING - From left: Former Chairman, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Morounkeji Onasanya; Chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayeni; Former Chairman, Princess Agnes Adeniran and Managing Director/CEO designate, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, at the unveiling of Skye Plus Software by Skye Bank in Lagos.

Shareholders endorse Wema Bank’s fresh capital bid

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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hareholders of Wema Bank Plc have approved the bank’s quest to raise fresh capital to support its growth plan.

The shareholders also commended the bank for steering the bank back to profitability despite the difficult operating environment.

At the 2013 Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lagos, the shareholders authorised the Board and management to raise the capital through the issuance of tenured bonds, notes, debt instruments or loans in any currency.

They also authorised the bank to raise the money by way of a private placement, bond issuance, notes issuance, or book building in one or more tranches, while the pricing and terms of the issuance will be determined by the Board.

Speaking on behalf of other shareholders, the trio of Boniface Okezie, Odoemena Demian and Sola Abodurin, commended the bank for turning the fortune of the bank around.

Speaking, Boniface Okezie lauded the bank for escaping nationalistion, saying, ‘I wonder what would have been our fate if the bank had gone the way of the other banks that were nationalised.’

“Every case that we had in 2013 was peacefully resolved; that is why we have this type of result. This shows that the management is top of their game,” he added.

“Non-payment of dividend notwithstanding, the good thing is that the bank has been turned around. Having done that, we implore the management not to rest on its oars, but to continue to steer the bank forward,” said Mr. Odoemena. He added, “Despite the challenges, Wema

Bank has not embarked on share reconstruction. We enjoin the bank not to consider that option because it will dilute our shareholding.”

Adding his voice, Abodurin said, “Our total assets grew by 35 percent, deposit grew by 25 percent, while our profit before tax rose by 139 percent. This is commendable, but I hope that our ‘Project LEAP’ will move the bank forward because we need dividend going forward.”

In his response, the managing director/CEO, Mr.

Segun Oloketuyi, explained that raising fresh capital will help the bank to not only increase its lending capacity, but to also pursue its growth plan.

He said, “We are raising money because of our growth plan. Some shareholders are asking for dividend, we can only do this if we grow and we have enough capacity.

“Most of the business we do requires lending and we need more money to be able to do this. Also, any asset we acquire or any branch we open takes away from our capital, so we need additional capital to be able to do this.”

“To lend, we need capacity and this entails having enough capital adequacy ratio. The CBN also recommends that we have a buffer; that means having capital adequacy ratio above the 10 percent industry requirement.”

On the bank migration to national bank status, he said that application has been made to the CBN and its approval is being awaited.

Speaking earlier, the chairman, Adeyinka Asekun, attributed the 2013 performance to the success of the management’s turnaround plan. He added that despite the challenging operating environment, Wema Bank achieved a significant milestone as it returned to full profitability following concerted effort at implementing the first phase of the bank’s turnaround project.

Asekun also assured all stakeholders that Wema Bank was confident of achieving its growth targets whilst remaining nimble, efficient and responsive.

Forex volatility drops to seven year low

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oreign exchange volatility slowed to the lowest level in almost seven years as central-bank polices of monetary stimulus and forward guidance restrain price swings.

The dollar was little changed against the yen after a report showed business activity in the Chicago area unexpectedly increased to a seven-month high in May. The Japanese currency strengthened earlier as a government report showed inflation accelerated to the fastest in more than two decades in April, reducing the prospect of additional stimulus by the Bank of Japan.

The krona declined versus most of its 16 major peers after Sweden’s economy unexpectedly contracted and amid speculation the Riksbank will cut rates. The Canadian dollar fell as first-quarter economic growth slowed.

“The forward-guidance policy by the central banks is keeping a lid on rate expectations,” said Peter Kinsella, a senior foreign-exchange strategist at Commerzbank AG in London. “We’re increasingly going to see very flat volatility.

It doesn’t seem at present that there’s going to be any catalyst to shake us from the malaise.”

JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s volatility index for the currencies of the Group of Seven nations fell to 5.94 percent at Friday, reaching the lowest level since June 2007. A separate JPMorgan index measuring global foreign exchange volatility also reached a 2007 low.

The dollar was little changed at 101.77 per yen, after dropping as much as 0.3 percent.

The euro gained 0.2 percent to $1.3635. The shared currency added 0.3 percent to 138.79 yen. The Russian ruble and Chile’s peso have gained 2.4 percent against the dollar this month, leading winners among 31 major currencies, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Swedish krona dropped 2.6 percent, while the Czech koruna slipped 1.9 percent, the biggest losers.

Canada’s dollar dropped 0.2 percent to C$1.0858 against its U.S. counterpart after data showed gross domestic product grew at a 1.2 percent annualized pace in January through March, compared with a downwardly revised 2.7 percent in the prior three months. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted growth would slow to a 1.8 percent pace.The krona slid as much as 0.6 percent to 9.0894 per euro, the weakest level since May 6.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 23

Banking & Finance

External reserves fall by $995m •As CBN sells $2.63bn at RDAS

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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he nation’s external reserves fell by $995 million last month even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold $2.63 billion at the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) sessions during the month.

Data from the CBN website showed that the external reserves fell to $37.147 billion

by May 27th from $38.142 billion on April 28th. This implies a reversal of the modest increase in external reserves recorded in April. It will be recalled that the external reserves fell persistently from $48.85 billion in April 2013 to $37.83 billion in March 2014, before rising to $38.1 billion in April.

The persistent decline in the reserves is driven by huge foreign exchange sales by the CBN in order to defend the naira.

This is reflected in the dollar sales by the apex bank at the RDAS sessions held in May, which showed a marginal increase in the amount of dollar sold by the CBN. From $2.62 billion in April, dollar sales rose to $2.63 billion in May. Cumulatively, the apex bank sold $14.83 billion through the RDAS sessions from

January to May. In January, dollar sales rose by 48 per cent to $2.94 billion from $1.99 billion in December 2013. It rose by another five percent in February to $3.1 billion, and in March it rose by 14 per cent to $3.54 billion.

The amount of dollar sold in the first five months of this

year represents 58.45 percent of the $25.37 billion sold by the apex bank in 2013.

Meanwhile the naira depreciated by 213 kobo at the interbank foreign exchange market in May. Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) showed that the interbank exchange rate opened the month at N160.67

per dollar, but declined to N162.8 per dollar at the close of business on May 30th.

The naira however remained stable at the official market with the official exchange rate remaining at N155.73 throughout the month.

CHILDREN'S DAY - Enterprise Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos and South-West Banks, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, a customer of the bank; Mrs. Nonny Rosemary Nwajei with her child, Chukwudiebube Obiora John, and the Divisional Head, E-Business & Retail Segments, Mrs. Ori Ogba, at the annual Children’s Day Party that the bank organised for children in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Banks need real time reporting to comply with Basel 2-SAP Africa

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AP Africa has said that banks need to embrace real time reporting in order to become Basel 2 complaints.

“As the Nigerian banking sector races to become Basel 2 compliant, innovation becomes critical in helping banks establish more efficient processes, increase transparency and become more customer-centric,” the company stated in a statement.

SAP Africa strives to provide the banking sector with agile financial solutions designed to deliver detailed regulatory reporting on a single data platform with the ability to handle mass analysis within seconds.

Countries all over Africa – including Nigeria which is the largest economy - are making every effort to increase their levels of regulatory compliance to keep up with legislative and economic requirements for analysing financial data, including threats and risks.

“SAP Africa, in partnership with EY (Ernst and Young), are committed to transforming the banking sector in Nigeria to become Basel 2 compliant

and take advantage of the Big Data analytics solution for real-time reporting,” says Darrel Orsmond, Head of Financial Services for SAP Africa. Through this technology, the banking sector will be in a competitive position to provide rapid assessment of capital, reporting to the Regulator for compliance and delivering of reports in real time, according to Orsmond.

Orsmond adds, “The average timeframe for banks to become Basel 2 compliant can be as much as 18 months, and banks should start preparing well in advance for Basel implementations.

These preparations should include technology investments in risk management, real-time reporting, data analysis and cleansing capabilities.”

“By identifying and eliminating risks in advance through the use of real-time reporting, banks can satisfy the needs and demands of stakeholders thereby reducing risk and increasing regulatory compliance.” Orsmond commented,”

Banks that are not Basel 2 compliant could run the risk of not pricing their loans correctly, thereby not holding the appropriate levels of capital.” He further added that accurate bank data is vital to reach Basel 2 compliance and often the biggest challenge and cost of implementation is not the software itself, but rather the time it takes to implement, caused by inaccurate bank data and a shortage of the required mathematical and modelling skills.

Precise records of losses and the legal processes involved, are essential inputs to ensure the accurate prediction of potential losses. Banks need to hold just the right level of capital, and poor data usually leads to Banks having to carry excess levels of capital.

Darrel Orsmond addressed the issue of regulatory compliance at the SAP Basel 2 – Regulatory and Reporting Demands for Big Data event being held in Lagos, Nigeria on 27 May 2014 and is available for comment.

US seeks more than $10bn penalty from BNP Paribas BNP Paribas SA fell the most in 15 months in Paris trading after a person familiar with the matter said U.S authorities are seeking more than $10 billion to settle federal and state investigations into dealings with sanctioned countries including Sudan and Iran.

BNP Paribas S A (BNP) fell in Paris trading after a person familiar with the matter said U.S. authorities are seeking more than $10 billion to settle federal and state investigations into dealings with sanctioned countries.

The shares declined as much as 6.1 percent, the largest intraday drop since February 2013, and closed 2.4 percent lower at 51.37 euros. BNP Paribas, the largest French bank, has fallen 9.3 percent this year, compared with a 3.8 percent increase in the Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index.

A final deal between BNP and the U.S. is probably weeks away, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks aren’t public. The amount to settle has escalated: the bank said in April that it might need to pay far more than the

Central banks outline ways to boost ABS market

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he European Central Bank and Bank of England on Friday outlined options to reinvigorate the market for bundled bank loans, which was “tarnished” by the global financial crisis, saying a better-functioning market for asset-backed securities can help boost lending to the private sector, particularly small businesses.

Improved harmonization of the rules applied to such packaged loans, the creation of principles to improve transparency and enhanced data on loans would help develop a deeper market for these types of securities, the banks said in a joint paper.

“Looking ahead, the banking system is likely to need access to a wider range of funding sources,” the ECB and BOE said. “The revival of the ABS market can therefore play a useful role in ensuring that there is not a renewed buildup of systemic risk, including from excessive reliance upon any single source of financing,” they said.

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24 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Corporate Finance

Flour Mills invests N220b in agro-allied businesses

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lour Mills of Nigeria Plc has emerged as one of the biggest food companies in the country with over N220 billion investments in agro-allied businesses.

The company has also rewarded the distributors of Golden Penny Products, for their loyalty to the brands.

Speaking during the customers forum in Lagos, Mr. Paul Gbededo, Group Managing Director, said, “As one of the largest agro-allied initiatives in Nigeria, Flour Mills has invested over N220 billion in agro-allied businesses which extend to large scale cultivation of soybean, maize, palm, rice, and cassava.

“From cultivation, we are also processing these raw materials into animal and fish feed, edible oils, rice, sugar and high quality cassava flour in different parts of the country.”

Shares near alltime high; bond yields slip to 11month lows

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lobal equity markets hovered just off alltime highs last week as investors brushed off a weaker-than-expected reading on the U.S. economy, while benchmark U.S. Treasury yields fell to 11-month lows. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 hit another intraday high early in the session despite first-quarter GDP data showing the U.S. economy contracted one percent. Better-than-expected jobless claims pointing to a strengthening labour market and merger and acquisition activity also boosted sentiment.

The dollar trimmed early losses against major currencies as traders focused on signs of the U.S. economy strengthening “Once you get beyond the headline number and look under the hood, things don’t really look so bad,” said Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BMO Capital Markets in New York.

“Inventories were to blame for a lot of it and that bodes well for the future.”

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Low domestic participation threatens Nigeria emergence as African market leader

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM & WILLIAM JIMOH

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perators in the Nigerian capital market have identified the relative absence and insignificance of indigenous companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, as a major threat to the countr y ’s attainment of African market leader status. The operators th said this at the 10 Annual PEARL Awards public lecture for capital market development in Lagos, adding that it is important Nigeria develops the size and liquidity of her market by ensuring additional domestic participation against current domination by multinational companies which account for more than 50 percent of the market capitalisation.

Delivering this year ’s lecture, tagged, “Actualising Nigerian Capital Market Quest for Leadership in Africa: Issues, Challenges and Options,” Chairman, National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Limited, Mr. Tola Mobolurin, said the domination of the market by foreign investors underscores the weakness of the domestic market, adding that Nigeria cannot attain leadership without a significant contribution of the domestic institutional, high networth and retail investors.

He said, “Indeed foreign investors have accounted for as high as 70 percent of the transactions in the market since 2009 to date without hindrance. The significant volatility that attended this has been largely looked on benignly by the regulators whose gaze have been fixed on the stability the inflow have accorded the local currency; Naira.

“There is no gainsaying that Nigeria is far from being the African leader. Focusing on the current African leader (South Africa) may not provide the vision that can propel the quantum leap needed to overtake it. It is best to set the vision against the benchmark of the world leading light while breaking down the achievement into steps and milestone to sustain the desire for its attainment.

“By the world bank benchmark for a developed market, our market needs to have a minimum of five companies, whose market capitalisation is at least $ 2.065 million each and have

a free float in the market of 50 percent of its capitalisation ($ 1.032 million) with liquidity measurement Annualized Traded Value Ration, ATVR, of 20 percent.”

He explained that the quest for leadership cannot be achieved without active commitment of the government. “What is however expected of the government does not go beyond the ambit of good governance and sound economic management to which government should ordinarily be committed,” he enthused.

Speaking further, he said the only demand on the government is to pay a little

more attention to the element that could accelerate the growth of the capital market because the rapid economic growth is also hinged on such effort.

Also speaking, Alihaji Kasimu Garba Kurfi, council member, NSE and Managing Director, APT Securities & Fund Ltd, noted that for the Nigerian capital market to attain leadership position, there is need for everybody concerned, including operators, regulators and the shareholders to change their perception towards the market.

According to him, while Nigeria local investors holding on to their shares, their foreign counterparts,

who understand the market work round the clock and reap all the capital appreciation from their shares.

He lamented that some shares have gained as much as 30-35 percent in the few months, but the local investors were not part of the gain due to their attitude to the market.

“The government also is not helping matter. When they licensed the telecommunicatin companies, nobody made mention of listing in the stock exchange. When they renewed their licences, again, the stock market was not mentioned.

They have just issued licences for private ownership of power but nobody mentioned the capital market.

APPRECIATION - From left: Mr. Solomon Oyetunji, Delaer, Total Alapere Service Station; Mr. Alex Vovks, Managing Director, Total Nig. Plc; with Mrs. Emilly ShakaMomodu, Retail Safety and Training Manager attending to a customer at the Total top Service Customer appreciation week 2014 at the Ketu Alapere Service station

NSE: Local investors’ participation satisfactory —Onyema

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has said that local investors’ participation in the stock market year-to-date outweighs foreign participation.

He said this in his opening remarks at the 2014 ‘Putting Investors First’ day organised in conjunction with CFA Society in Lagos.

He observed that local investors’ participation accounted for close to 60 percent of transactions in the market as at the end of first quarter, 2013, while

foreign investors were responsible for about 40 percent.

“This turn of events contrasted sharply with the circumstances between 2009 and the first half of 2012 when local investors eschewed the market on account of losses they sustained in the aftermath of the meltdown of 2008 with transaction values being controlled by foreign investors to the tune of 80 percent in certain instances,” he affirmed.

Represented by Haruna Jalo -Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Onyema pointed out that the Exchange in 2012

commenced financial literacy programme as a first step in protecting investors.

“This programme aims to enhance investors’ understanding of the basics of investing around portfolio construction, asset allocation and risk diversification. The “Investor Clinic” aspect of the program, which is a flag ship product for our financial literacy efforts, has been delivered in partnership with stellar organisations such as Morgan Stanley, Stanbic IBTC, Greenwich Trust and FBN Capital, just to name a few.

“These have primarily been focused on particular segments of the investing community to discuss the finer details of investing and to shed more light on the capital market ecosystem,” he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 25

Corporate Finance

CSCS targets 15% annual revenue growth DFID partners states governments to boost IGR

Stories By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS Plc, said it is enhancing its capacity to grow its revenue by 15 percent on annual basis.

Consequently, the company said it has started investing in new product creation as well as diversifying into other business areas, adding that it is positioning itself to sustain the continuous patronage of key stakeholders through active engagement with the market with the aim of increasing revenue growth.

Furthermore, CSCS noted that it will engage in aggressive marketing of existing and potential services and re-sourcing the business development center for effective customer service delivery.

In his address to the members of the company at the 38 th annual general meeting in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mr. Kyari Bukar, said in order to increase annual contribution of new and ancillary products, the company will embark on huge investment in research and development to determine the market needs, saying that this formed the foundation for development of new products

By KAYODE AMOLEGBE

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LAUNCH - From left: Ms Deola Oyegbade, Divisional Head, SME, Mainland, GTbank; Mr. Ayodele Adewumi, Divisional Head, SME, Lagos Island and Lola Odedina, Head, External Communications and Public Affairs during the GTBank SME Markethub launch in Lagos. Photo Lamidi Bamidele. that offer value added Central Security Depository (CSD) and clearing house services to market participants.

On information technology upgrade, he said, “As a CSD, technology is very instrumental to the success of our business as it allows for the secure transmission and management of large amounts of information. It is therefore imperative that we implement

the best technologies to achieve business growth.” “In a bid to improve post trade services to market participants and the recent evolving trends in the Nigerian capital market, CSCS has commissioned the “CSCS new CSD. Platform Project”. This project is geared towards providing the organisation with a world class platform that will provide efficient clearing, settlement

GTBank empowers SMEs, launches e-commerce portal

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n a bid to empower small and medium scale enterprises operating in the country and improve their visibility in the e-commerce space, Guaranty Trust Bank, weekend launched e-commerce portal for local SMEs – The SME Market Hub. The GTB SME Market Hub, the first of its kind, is a free, secure e-commerce and business directory platform where businesses can list, promote and sell their products and services online.

On the SME MarketHub platform, customers receive free web page with ecommerce tools, unique SME Market Hub website address, personalised online storefront, shopping cart with no consignment fee, inventory payment gateway, as well as order and enquiry notifications.

Addressing the newsmen at the formal launch in Lagos, Lola Odedina, Head, External Communication and Public Affairs, said the platform is open to small to medium business owners from every sector of the economy that have registered business in Nigeria and operate GT Business Account, Corporate Current Account or GT Max Account.

She noted that the e-commerce and business directory portal is part of GTBank’s strategy to empower and support Nigerian SMEs and also contribute to the growth and

development of the Nigerian economy.

She said the portal is designed to enable Nigerian entrepreneurs migrate their businesses online and take advantage of the vast international and local sales opportunities within the e-commerce space.

“SME owners will also have access to a wide variety of business tools that will enhance profitability as well as a community that will allow them forge relationships with other business owners,” she said. She noted that GTB has registered a total of 5,200 (five thousand, two hundred merchants) todate, saying that the Ghana and East African versions will be launched before the end of the years as both countries have critical mass of small businesses.

“There is no getting away from the fact that economic conditions remain challenging for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. It is however vital that this integral sector of the economy gets all the support it needs to drive growth and development.

“With the introduction of the SME Market Hub, GTBank has provided SMEs an e-commerce platform that allows small and medium business owners create and maintain an online presence and expand their business frontiers to new markets and millions of buyers that are online.

and depository services to the Nigerian capital market.

“To improve our services and efficiently manage the positive growth experienced by the capital market with the introduction of new products, services and market participants, the new CSD application will provide seamless communication among market participants. It would also have the ability to support real-time processing, support e l e c t r o n i c dematerialisation, interaccount transfers, corporate actions and account closures. This project has been commissioned with its estimated completion date scheduled for the third quarter of 2015,” he added.

He also pointed out that the volume of dematrialised shares within the year dropped to 44.3 billion in contrast to 44.5 billion recorded in the previous year. In his address, the chairman, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said that in terms of expansion of its operation, CSCS had in 2013 commenced the clearing and settlement of transactions on the Overthe-Counter platforms to the NASD and the Financial Markets Dealers Quotations (FMDQ) platforms, adding that the company has been engaged to provide clearing, settlement and warehousing services for transactions that will take place on the floor of the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX).

United Kingdom Department for International Development, DFID, programme - Growth and Employment in States (GEMS3), is working closely with the states in Nigeria to improve tax payment options and to reduce nuisance taxes to make life easier for all Local Government Areas, LGAs and taxpayers.

To this end, GEMS3 has entered into partnership with the Kogi State government to deploy advanced systems in the state’s payment system.

According to a statement by Victoria Ndoh, spokesperson for the programme, the project, which is funded by United Kingdom Department For International Development, DFID, is aimed at promoting growth and employment as it focuses on areas of tax administration and harmonisation, land administration and investment promotion at both state and local government levels.

‘Fidelity Bank adjudged most outstanding Family Friendly bank

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idelity Bank has been adjudged the bank with the most outstanding family friendly policies in Nigeria.

In a survey conducted amongst corporate organisations in Nigeria by the Institute for Work and Family Integration (IWFI) in collaboration with the Lagos Business School and the Great Place to Work Institute, the institute said that Fidelity Bank emerged tops in all the measuring indices.

Specifically, the IWFI, which has consistently promoted work family balance and good work ethics, through policy research, seminars, conferences, and training; working with major organisations and institutions in the last eight years with its principal objective of building better family, better business and better society said that they were impressed with Fidelity Bank’s efforts at improving the welfare of its staff members.

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26 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 27

Micro-Finance

Commodity index May 23 -May 29, 2014

UPMfB kicks off cashless policy, extend operation to Abuja Stories by PROVIDENCE OBUH

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he Enugu based Umuchinemere Pro-credit Micro Finance Bank (UPMfB) will commence Cashless policy initiative as established by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on July 1, 2014, while extending its operation to Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

As a CBN approved State MFB, the bank is authorized to have a branch at the capital city of the country, hence its decision to extend its operations to Abuja, which is the country’s capital territory.

Speaking at a joint session of the bank’s Investors and Customers Forum cum Extraordinary General Meeting at Enugu, Managing Director, UPMFB, Mrs. Nnenna Ekete, said that it is not going to be taken unawares by the deadline of the apex bank, as it is set to implement and

integrate the new cashless policy into its banking operations.

She said, “the bank has plans to embark on the acquisition, installation and operation of software application that will enable our customers to access their funds easily and transact other financial businesses with their accounts with our bank at any point in the country, through access

Children's Day: AMfB donates items to pupils

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s part of Corporate S o c i a l Responsibility (CSR) cum Children’s Day celebration, Accion Microfinance Bank (AMfB) donated writing materials, bags, others to pupils of Agidingbi Primary School and Olomu Primary School Ajah.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Bank, Ms Bunmi Lawson, said,

ICAN captures 58 schools from Lagos Mainland

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he Lagos Mainland and District Society (LMDS) of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has captured about 58 schools for its annual Catch Them Young and Quiz Competition for students of Secondary Schools in its catchment area.

Out of the 58 schools, only 15 qualified for the grand finale competition and some of the areas covered by the LMDS includes Apapa, Surulere, Shomolu, Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Ido, Iganmu, Akoka, Fadeyi, Obanikoro, Anthony, Jibowu, Ijora, Palmgrove, Onipanu, Oworoshoki, Bariga, Gbagada, Alagomeji and its environs.

President of ICAN, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, said that the initiative has taken place in almost all parts of the country and so far observed in about 15 district societies such as: Abakaliki, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ikorodu, Ijebu Ode, Kanu, Jigawa, Sokoto and Katsina.

Mohammed revealed that the two best qualifying students who did outstandingly in Ijebu Ode was given scholarship to any tertiary institution of their choice in Nigeria to study accountancy.

to Point of Sale (PoS), ATM, mobile banking, mobile money, epayments, debit/credit cards and e-banking services.”

She assured customers of the bank that the necessary software technological applications for easy cashless banking will be in place by the bank at its various branches by July.

“The Lagos Mainland District Society of ICAN is following the foot step of the council to the extent that we need to grow attention of bearing in mind that we have in this country values and ethics of our profession, integrity and accuracy and for them to be able to do that they need to be a member, that is why we think that we should start from the grass root and choose the best minds and encourage them.

“We are happy to celebrate Children’s Day with the children and motivate them to bring out their best by believing the future is bright. We also use this opportunity to encourage the authorities to bring back our girls as we believe it is the responsibility of everyone to protect children.”

She said that the bank is committed to enriching the lives of young Nigerians through education focused corporate citizen initiatives and has continued to demonstrate this in a variety of projects which include the presentation of educational material to schools. “There are also plans for employees of the bank to donate their time and resources to volunteer in their host communities. ” In his remarks, Education Secretary, EtiOsa Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Taiwo Lukman, expressed gratitude to the bank, encouraging the children to focus on their studies so as to have a bright future.

Honeywell celebrates with SOS village, little saints orphanage, others

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oneywell Flour Mills Plc has reiterated its commitment to positively impacting on humanity by giving back to the society as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

The company paid courtesy visit to some orphanage homes in Lagos, including; SOS Village, Isolo, Little Saints Orphanage and Bethesda Home for the Blind, where it donated products, equipment, cash, and also sponsored a jolly train ride with children of selected schools in Lagos, as part of the Children’s Day celebration. The train ride, took off from Ebute Metta Station went through Oshodi, Ikeja, Abule Egba to Ijoko and back to Ebute Metta.

Managing Director, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, said that the company will continue to support good cause in the society especially those that have direct impact on human development. He added that it will continue to seize opportunity to make its impact felt in the society, listing such opportunities to include: support for sporting events, entrepreneurship programs, vulnerable groups, and others. Jaiyeola said, “It is our own way of adding value to the people that we believe should have needs within the society, and our own way to alleviate poverty, suffering in the land.”

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28 —Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Interview

Where We Stand—Africa’s Take-off Let me start with where we stand. SubSaharan Africa is clearly taking off— growing strongly and steadily for nearly two decades and showing a remarkable resilience in the face of the global financial crisis.

Economic stability has paid off. More than two-thirds of the countries in the region have enjoyed 10 or more years of uninterrupted growth.

This growth has delivered a more educated population, with significant declines in infant mortality. In Benin and Madagascar, for example, primary

Transparency can help increase accountability and help ensure that these resources are harnessed for the benefit of all

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school enrolment has increased by more than 50 percentage points. This may be from low levels, but it is still a huge improvement.

And for good reasons, Africa is now a growing investment destination for both advanced and emerging economies— with a record $80 billion inflow expected this year. Indeed, it is no surprise that ‘frontier economies’ such as Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana are challenging old stereotypes and roaring loud as Africa’s lions. And yet, the tide of growth has not lifted all boats. Poverty remains stuck at unacceptably high levels—still afflicting about 45 per cent of the region’s households. Inequality remains high. And some countries, still facing recurring internal conflict, are struggling to exit from fragility.

Africa’s success journey has been truly remarkable. But if the global crisis has taught us anything, it is the importance of making the benefits of growth more broadly shared. When everyone benefits, growth is more durable. Over the years, the IMF has been a close partner in Africa’s journey—including during the crisis.

We have listened, we have learned, and we have responded.

We have reformed our lending instruments to increase access and flexibility to countries in need; extended our zero-interest policy; and streamlined conditionality.

We have tailored our policy advice to better address the very specific challenges facing the region. And we have supported this advice with five regional technical assistance centres—in Gabon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius and Tanzania. Today, the largest share of IMF’s capacity development services is devoted to Africa. We look forward to continuing and strengthening this fruitful partnership.

Challenges ahead—Nearterm worries and longerterm challenges Africa’s future lies with itself and its people. True, the outlook for the region is very positive. Africa is expected to grow by about 5.5 per cent this year and next, and the poorest countries even faster, close to 7 per cent.

But it must keep a firm eye on what’s going on beyond its horizons. Globally, even as the world turns the corner of the Great Recession, the recovery remains weak and uneven. What does this mean for Africa?

•Christine Lagarde

Africa Rising: Building to the

By CHRISTINE LARGADE

Near- term worries In the near term, the region’s outlook could be clouded by three main worries: slower growth in advanced economies, and in particular emerging market economies which are major trading partners for Africa; lower prices for some commodities; and tightening external financial conditions and potentially increased market volatility as monetary policy is normalized.

Policymakers will no doubt have their hands full. But they know what to do.

The IMF stands ready to help with its policy advice, its technical assistance, and if needed, financial support.

Longer-term challenges eyond these more immediate worries, there are a number of longer-term challenges that can dramatically affect the outlook for Africa; some for the better; others not so much.

Demographic challenges: Africa is the youngest continent in the world. By 2040, the continent is projected to boast the largest labour force in the world one billion workers strong - more than China and India combined. Channeling this increasing reservoir of human

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HILE Nigeria celebrated the 15th anniversary of the return to civil rule Thursday May 29, ore than 300 leading policymakers from Africa converged in Maputo, capital of Mozambique to take stock of the continent’s economic performance.

The two-day meeting, tagged Africa Rising will assess Africa’s increased resilience to shocks and ongoing economic policy challenges.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde in a keynote address charted a roadmap for the summit, which, IMF's Senior Communications Officer in charge of Africa, Ismaila Dieng, said will also focus on how best the continent can sustain the current growth.

Excerpts from Lagarde's address: This conference offers a unique opportunity to reflect—together—on the lessons learned from Africa’s success and the challenges ahead. There is still much to be done. The continent is very diverse, and some countries risk being left behind, especially those faced with recurring conflict. In others, the rapid growth is yet to be widely shared across the population, with many Africans failing to see the fruits of economic success. In that spirit, I would like to share with you three perspectives: Where we stand— taking stock of Africa’s achievements; What near-term and longer-term challenges are emerging; and What are the key policy priorities to address these challenges and help deliver on the promise of Africa’s future.

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Africa must keep a firm eye on what’s going on beyond its horizons

capital to productive sectors offers unrivalled economic and social opportunities. To take full advantage of them will require skillful management and vision.

Technological challenges: Technological innovation offers great possibilities. It can help support global integration, improve productivity, and foster inclusion. Harnessing its power effectively and efficiently is the challenge.

Environmental challenges: Climate change and sustained demand growth press on the sustainability of natural resources - further exacerbating inequality and exclusion. The challenge is to implement policies to foster growth that is, in turn, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 29

Interview

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Today, only one in five people in Africa finds work in the formal sector. This must change. With wider access to quality education, healthcare and infrastructure services, it must change

resource flows. Côte d’Ivoire has also implemented a new legal framework for the mining sector that would help attract higher foreign direct investment.

These are areas where the IMF has helped bring a wide range of crosscountry experience to bear. And we look forward to helping even more.

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These investments are critical for growth to be sustained and broadened.

High quality infrastructure can be a magnet for foreign investment. It can accelerate diversification and employment creation, and support further regional integration.

Yet the costs of closing this infrastructure gap can be daunting. The investment needs for the region are estimated at about $93 billion annually.

In most cases, the investments are large and upfront. They need to be carefully selected, managed and implemented within a medium- to long-term budget perspective. Here, the Fund can help.

We are working with many of our member-countries through our capacity building centres and on-the-ground technical assistance to strengthen public investment and debt management capacity. This helps to put these countries in a much better position to take advantage of increasing financing options.

Future Building to the future—Three policy priorities So what are the policy priorities to ensure that these challenges become opportunities? I see three: build infrastructure, build institutions, and build people.

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Build infrastructure irst, build infrastructure—energy, roads, and technology grids.

These are the foundations of any strong and durable edifice. What does this mean in practice? Closing Africa’s infrastructure gap.

Over the past three decades, per capita output of electricity in SubSaharan Africa remained virtually flat.

Only 16 per cent of all roads are paved, compared with 58 per cent in South Asia.

These shortfalls represent huge costs to businesses - and to people. Many countries in the region are taking encouraging steps to close this infrastructure gap. In Ethiopia and Mozambique, for example, investments in the energy sector are being scaled up, including through projects that promote cross-border trade in electricity.

Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire are also initiating regional infrastructure projects in electricity, and road and railroad networks.

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Build institutions et me turn to the second policy priority: build institutions. This means governance, transparency and sound economic frameworks. We talked about the foundations for the building; now think of institutions as the systems that ensure that the building functions properly and lasts a long time - like the heating, cooling and water systems.

We all know that Africa has tremendous potential. It is home to more than 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves. Properly managed, these endowments offer unparalleled opportunity for economic growth and development. Moreover, these resources can be instrumental in relieving the large constraints in infrastructure that I just talked about.

Yet, and let me be frank, in too many countries, the rents from extractive industries are captured by just a few.

Mining can account for an important share of output and export earnings, but often contributes relatively little to budget revenues and job creation. This corrodes the fabric of the economy and its social cohesion.

What can be done? Strengthening the institutional and governance frameworks that manage these resources is a good place to start.

Transparency can help increase accountability and help ensure that these resources are harnessed for the benefit of all.

Many countries have taken steps in this direction. For example, Sierra Leone and Uganda are setting new fiscal rules in anticipation of large

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Build people So, we have the foundations of our building (infrastructure); we have set up the systems to ensure that it functions effectively and efficiently (institutions); now we need to let the people in. This brings me to my third priority: build people - children, youth, workers, and in particular, women.

Let me be clear: Africa’s greatest potential is its people. They are the key for the region to fully capture the dividends from population growth. By some estimates, a one percentage point increase in the working age population can boost GDP growth by 0.5 percentage points. This is huge.

For this to happen, however, ‘good’ jobs need to be created in the private sector. Today, only one in five people in Africa finds work in the formal sector.

This must change. With wider access to quality education, healthcare and infrastructure services, it change.

Similarly, technology can be tapped to extend the reach and access of financial services to millions of people.

Here, Kenya’s experience offers valuable lessons to the rest of the world on how to empower the poor through financial access.

By combining mobile banking with financial services provision, 75 per cent of Kenya’s population now has access to financial services. Crucially, it is the poor that have benefited the most from this expansion.

Which brings me to a topic that is close to my heart: women. I know that most of the women in Africa cannot afford not to work. But when they do, they are mostly employed in informal activities.

We all know what this means: low

productivity, low incomes, low prospects. We also know the constraints: access to education, credit, and markets.

The gains to be made by overcoming these constraints are immense— particularly through girls’ education. By some estimates, the economic loss in developing countries from the education gap between girls and boys could be as high as $90 billion a year almost as much as the infrastructure gap for the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa!

As the old African adage goes: “If you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you train a village.”

My bottom line: invest in women. It has a great rate of return—economically and socially for the future.

Let me conclude: e are all witnessing a momentous transformation in Africa. Five years ago in Tanzania, Africa’s economies were under challenge as the global economy faced its most severe crisis since the Great Depression. We meet now in Mozambique with an outlook of optimism and high hopes.

The opportunities are vast and the challenges, while significant, can be overcome through sustained strong policies, both economic and social. Now is the time to go further, to work together towards an inclusive, job-rich and sustainable growth strategy. Now is the time to extend the gains that many countries have enjoyed to those that have been left behind by helping them overcome fragility and build strong institutions. I want to end by quoting from the words of Mozambique’s national anthem: “Pedra a pedra construindo um novo dia. “Stone by stone, building a new tomorrow,” that is what Africa Rising is all about.

Africa Rising will benefit the lives of people on the continent. Beyond that, Africa Rising will benefit the world. An Africa ever more integrated in the world and the world learning from Africa.

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30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Homes & Housing Finance

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Anambra sets up committee on housing

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nambra State government has inaugurated an interministerial committee on delivery of housing estates in the state.

Governor Willie Obiano inaugurated the committee to be chaired by Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Lawrence Chinwuba, in Akwa, the state capital. He charged members to provide first class housing estates, noting that was why persons with experience in the delivery of homes were selected to constitute the committee.

The governor listed the terms of reference for the committee to include: identifying suitable and strategic locations for the construction of housing estates; to resume the provision of infrastructure in existing government land slated for housing construction and to enter into partnership with willing developers on Public-PrivatePartnership initiative with a view to providing decent and affordable houses in wellplanned environment.

Ogun to focus on affordable housing

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gun State government is set to focus more on affordable housing and urban renewal to meet the yearnings of the people.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun nd stated this at the 2 Ogun State Investors’ Forum held in Abeokuta recently.

According to him, the state government is committed to the provision of housing for all; hence, it has evolved creative and participatory processes between the public and the private sectors to achieve affordable housing for the people.

“The ultimate goal is to intervene in the housing delivery process and ensure that citizens own and have access to decent, safe and affordable housing,” Amosun declared.

The governor said the government had put in place varieties of two-, three- and four-bedroom housing units at Plainfields Estate; a 170hectare site-and-services residential scheme at Kobape; and MITROS City and New Town in Isheri.

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he National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme was established by Act 3 of 1992 to enable Nigerians in all sectors of the economy, particularly those within the low and medium income levels who cannot afford commercial housing loans, such as civil servants, traders, artisans, and commercial drivers etc., to own houses.

The Act stipulates that funding of the scheme will come from mandatory contribution of 2.5 percent of monthly income of Nigerians earning N3000 and above per annum, in both public and private sectors; commercial and merchant banks to invest 10 percent of their loans and advances portfolio; insurance companies to invest 20 percent of non-life and 40 percent life funds in the housing sector, with 50 percent of these directly in NHF and; financial contributions of the Federal Government. The pool of funds created by these becomes available to any contributor to borrow from, after contributing for a minimum of six months.

Purpose The aims and objectives of the fund include: Mobilisation of fund for the provision of houses for Nigerians at affordable prices; Ensuring constant supply of loan to Nigerians for the purpose of building, purchasing and improving of residential houses; Providing incentives for the capital market to invest in property development and; Encouraging the development of specific programs that would ensure effective financing of housing development, in particular low cost housing for low income workers.

Others are: Providing proper policy control over the allocation of resources and fund between the housing sector and other sectors of the Nigerian economy and; Providing long term loan to mortgage institutions for on-lending to contributions to the fund.

Any intending beneficiary must be registered contributor and up to date with his/her contributions.

Benefits Benefits available to contributors include: Housing loan of up to 90 percent of the cost of the house; Interest on loans remains fixed throughout the life of the mortgage at 6 percent per annum; Long period of repayment of up to 30 years; Contributions

Easy – to – construct prefabricated housing

How to access the National Housing Fund Stories by YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report can serve as additional old age security; Refunds with 2 percent interest on retirement and; Maximum loan of N15 million can be borrowed.

Eligibility To be eligible for the NHF loan, a contributor interested in obtaining NHF loan must apply through a registered and duly accredited mortgage loan originator, e.g. a Primary Mortgage Bank (PMB), who packages and forwards the application to FMBN. Applicants are required to provide satisfactory evidence

of regular income. Deducted monthly contributions must be remitted to FMBN promptly, and at least 6 months contributions should be made.

Documents required to process NHF loan include: Completed application form; Photocopy of title documents; Current valuation report on the proposed house to buy or bills of quantities (BOQ) for the house to build and; Three years tax clearance certificate.

Others are: Evidence of NHF participation; Copy of pay slips for the previous three months and; Equity contribution or personal stake of 30 percent, 20 percent or 10 percent depending on the

loan amount applied for.

NHF loan cannot be used to purchase piece of land to build a house. A prospective applicant who wishes to obtain a loan to build a house is expected to have his/her land as well as an acceptance title to the land prior to the application for NHF loan.

Contributors can apply as an individual for NHF loan to develop a land or buy directly from government consort estate or private estate developer. A contributor can only obtain NHF loan facility once in a life time. The only collateral needed for NHF loan is the property in question. No other collateral is required to secure the loan.

FG removes Gemade as FHA boss T

HE Federal Government has announced the removal of Mr. Terver Gemade as the Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) following the dissolution of its interim management team.

A statement by Tunde Ipinmisho, Head, C o r p o r a t e Communications, FHA, said Engr. David Kpue has been appointed as acting Managing Director of the organisation. He was deputy general manager in the Authority. An Assistant General Manager, Mr. Jonah Saidu, has also been

directed to take charge of the Finance department of the Authority.

In their letters of appointment, they were directed to take charge pending the appointment of a substantive management.

The statement noted that Gemade became Managing Director of FHA in May 1989.

After he had completed his first tenure of four years, government last year reappointed him with a new team to drive the commercialization of the Authority for an interim term of 12 months which was renewable subject to good performance.

While handing over, Gemade said he did his best to fulfill the mandate of FHA during his tenure.

Responding, Kpue thanked him for his service to the Authority and wished him well in his future endeavors. Kpue urged him not to hesitate to make his experience available whenever it was needed.

He urged the staff of the Authority to brace up to the challenge of meeting the housing needs of Nigerians.

He said he was satisfied that the Authority’s staff had the expertise, experience and will power required to turn the Authority around.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 31

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32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Insurance

China to cut reserve requirement ration for some banks

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hina said it will cut the reserve requirement ratio for some of the nation’s banks, the government’s latest step to support growth in the world’s second-biggest economy.

Policy makers will “appropriately lower the reserve requirement for banks that have extended a certain amount of loans to rural borrowers and smaller companies, the cabinet said yesterday after a regular meeting led by Premier Li Keqiang. It didn’t give more details about the reduction.

The State Council also pledged to fine-tune policy when needed, while reiterating it will maintain a prudent monetary stance.

China’s economy is forecast to expand 7.3 percent this year, which would be the weakest pace since 1990, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts this month. Premier Li called last week on regional authorities to help stabilize expansion as he seeks to ensure that the government meets its goal of about 7.5 percent growth for 2014.

UBS probed over money laundering, organised crime

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BS AG, Switzerland’s biggest bank, is being probed by Belgian authorities over allegations of money laundering and organised crime. Judge Michel Claise is leading the investigation, Anja Bijnens, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor, said by telephone yesterday.

UBS employees approached wealthy Belgian taxpayers including chief executive officers and sportsmen over a 10-year period, encouraging them to open undeclared accounts in Switzerland, M... Belgique magazine reported, without saying where it got the information.

UBS Belgium, the bank’s local arm, helped to organize the transfer of large amounts of money to Switzerland, the magazine said.

Prosecutors began the probe at the end of last year and it is based on “very detailed testimony, the magazine said.

UNVEILING - From left: Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher; Etisalat customers, Mr. Soni Irabor, Mr. Obi Somto, Mr. Mai Atafo and Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Oluwole Rawa, at the unveiling of Etisalat Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Testimonial Campaign, held at Eko Hotel & Suites on 28th May, 2014.

Associated Airlines plane not insured in Nigeria — NAICOM Stories by ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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he National I n s u r a n c e Commission (NAICOM) has said that the Associated Airline aircraft that crashed last October was not insured by any insurance company in Nigeria.

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, who disclosed this, denied knowledge of payment of claims to families of victims of Associated Airline.

He refuted claim by the company that the Commission was contacted for the presentation of cheques to the families of the victim.

He insisted that the Commission was not invited for the presentation, adding that the claim by the airline was untrue.

It will be recalled that early this month Associated Airline said it had paid $480,000 (about N77m) as compensation to the families of those who died on October 3, 2013, when its aircraft crashed.

The aircraft, which was taking the corpse of a former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, to Akure for burial, came down shortly after take-off and killed 13 out of the 20 people on board instantly.

The airline in a statement said that each of the relations of the 16 victims was paid $30,000 as the first tranche of compensation in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

International flights are governed by the Montreal

Convention, a global air carrier treaty adopted in 1999

by ICAO, a United Nations agency.

The Montreal Convention of 1999 states that airlines wishing to operate on domestic routes shall adopt the approved liability limits in line with the requirement of

ICAO, which states that the airline shall pay compensation, in the case of death, or injury of passengers, of $100,000 per person; destruction, loss or delay of baggage shall be $1,000; and destruction, loss damage or delay of cargo shall be $20.per kilo.

The carrier said in the statement that the balance of $70,000 per victim would be paid as quickly as possible when other matters pertaining to documentation would have been resolved. The statement said the compensation was paid to the relatives at the airline’s Lagos office, adding that they were individually presented with a “certificate of release and discharge”.

The Chief Operating Officer, Associated Airlines, Mr. Taiwo Raji, stated that there had been lots of insinuations that the carrier was shirking its responsibility to the victims’ families.

He, however, said that the airline had to do a lot of paperwork and had been putting things in place to ensure that the relatives were settled as quickly as possible.

“We have been meeting with our insurers but it has been very slow. We are working with them to resolve the whole issue. The insurers and the airline have resolved to pay 30 per cent of what should be paid now, while the 70 per cent balance will also be paid as quickly as possible,” he said.

NAICOM targets improved service delivery

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he National Pension Commission, PenCom, said a number of measures have been adopted in the pension industry to improve service delivery.

Acting Director General of PenCom, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, made the assertion th at the 8 annual business law conference in Lagos while delivering a paper titled “Contributory pension scheme as a catalyst for economic development,” in Lagos last week.

Anohu-Amazu said that part of the measures on the part of PenCom is the establishment of zonal offices in the six geopolitical zones of the country to among others attend to complaints, enquiries and the provision of other customer services to all stakeholders as well as the establishment of contact centre to centralize, track and resolve stakeholder complaints.

On the part of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Anohu-Amazu said that the measures adopted include Know Your Customer (KYC) techniques for proper monitoring of client needs and client feedback mechanism.

The PFAs also adopted the development of follow-up models for settlement of outstanding client issues as well as establishment of contact centres.

According to the Acting DG, pension assets have grown to N4.13 trillion while the proportion of the assets to Nigeria’s GDP grew from 1.4% in 2006 to 9.5% in 2013, which represents an average yearly growth of 30%.

She said that the most significant proportion, about 63% of the assets (equivalent to N2.64 trillion) was invested in FGN securities and the asset invested in authorized markets with portfolio limits.

On the role of pensions in an emerging economy, Anohu-Amazu said that it provides social security by alleviating old age poverty; ensures that every pensioner receives pension as and when due; stems further growth of pension liabilities; fully funded towards future pension obligations as well as curtailment of the burgeoning pension liabilities of federal and state governments.

She said that the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, supports economic development; is an efficient avenue for infrastructure and economic development; as well as provides availability of investible funds to support the development of the real sector.

According to her, the CPS stimulates job creation through employment generation both directly and through third party service providers to the pension industry.

She said that the number of registered contributors is over 5,980,415 as at February 2014 even as there are 95,840 retirees currently receiving pensions as and when due under the CPS as at March 2014.

“Total pension fund assets had grown to over N4.13 trillion as at March 2014. Nigerian CPS has become a model for other African countries: Study visitations from Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania,” she said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 33

People in Business

More Northern women are becoming entrepreneurs — Jelena Zivkovic

Africa's biggest fund manager CEO resigns

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lias Masilela resigned as the chief executive officer of South Africa’s Public Investment Corp., Africa’s biggest fund manager and the largest shareholder on the Johannesburg stock exchange. Masilela, 50, will take outstanding leave immediately and officially step down on June 30 after more than three years in the job, the Pretoria-based PIC, which manages 1.6 trillion rand ($153 billion) in assets.

Chief Financial Officer Matshepo More will be acting head of the manager of the pension funds of South African state workers. The PIC has used its shareholding to prevent foreign takeovers of South African companies including pharmaceuticals maker Adcock Ingram Holdings Ltd. (AIP) and to force the departure of the chief executive officer of Togo’s Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI).

By EBELE ORAKPO

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anadian-born Jelena Zivkovic is the Acting Director, Academic Advising & Retention at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State. In this chat with Vanguard, Jelena whose real interest is entrepreneurship, especially women entrepreneurs, says northern women who were hitherto very conservative, are beginning to enter the workplace or business place so she decided to find out why.

Excerpts:

What do you think could have led them into smallscale businesses?

It could be a cultural shift, a mindset or as a result of financial need. I only have 60 women at this stage and I am hoping to get up to 100. I am noticing that these women are obviously getting support from their family members.

They see it as an economic need and contributing to their families’ economies.

What kind of businesses are they into?

They are into informal businesses.

Some are hair dressers, tomato sellers, wholesalers for clothing, baby clothes, retailers, I even met a lawyer who has her own practice; you know, going against the norm.

All the women I met agreed that they are seeing more women entrepreneurs.

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ow easy was it getting the support of their husbands?

They said they needed the permission of the men otherwise it would not have been possible. I know of families with 20 children and none has the shoes, and they are not in school but the male family members just refuse that their women go to work.

This would have been enough reason for the men to encourage the women to work so they can contribute to the upkeep of the children. So I don’t know at what point we are going to see what the men really need to encourage their sisters, mothers and wives.

Remember that if society accepts it, then it is a lot easier but if society does not accept it, it will be very difficult. So this is what I am finding fascinating and trying to understand. I noticed that when I asked the women why

•Jelena Zivkovic

,

What led to the study?

We know the northern region is generally conservative and there are certain stereotypes and expectations on women and women in business is not one of them. It’s more like women have their role at home but we are seeing a trend, where more and more women are entering the workplace or business place so I was kind of curious why they are doing that. What is going on in their lives and family structure that is supporting them to do that because surely, they cannot just go on their own, there must be support from the husbands. I met with about 60 women entrepreneurs in three states – Abuja, Adamawa and Kano over the last couple of years and I wanted to understand and try to get a better picture of how they became entrepreneurs.

The northern region is generally conservative and there are certain stereotypes and expectations on women and women in business is not one of them

,

they went into business, most of them said they were doing it to be able to send their children to school - but I rarely heard any of them saying she did it for her personal development or satisfaction.

So they don’t see being an entrepreneur or getting into the business world as fulfilling their own desires.

While women in other parts of the world see it as something for personal development; to make them better people, something that will make them fulfilled, but here, the women are driven by external influences – children’s education and provision for the family.

I asked a woman why she is selling soft drinks and she said: “Because I will have extra money to make a really good meal for my husband.”

She said her husband compliments her on the wonderful meals without asking her where she gets the money from. Then she said that more and more women in their society now come out with make-up and dress differently so she is worried that they may take her husband away from her so she has to work to make more money to make good food because she feels that will make the husband stay with her. Meanwhile, she doesn’t tell him where she gets the money from neither does he ask. And I said: “ Wow! That’s a very different perspective.”

Online banking thefts in Japan prompts compesation rethink

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ackers stole nearly $2 million from the online bank accounts of Japanese businesses in April, a surge in theft that has prompted some banks to curtail online services and rethink compensation policies, executives and regulators say.

In April there were 50 cases of theft from online accounts held by Japanese businesses with nearly 200 million yen stolen, according to a person with knowledge of the industrywide tally, which has not been made public. That was more than the entire previous year. Japanese businesses reported 34 cases of online banking theft for the year ended March with a total of 182 million yen ($1.8 million) stolen, according to data released by the Japanese Bankers Association.

Earlier this month, a senior official with Japan’s Financial Services Agency told regional bank executives that regulators were concerned that online theft could cause a chain of small business failures and bankruptcies, according to participants who attended the closed-door meeting.

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34 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Aviation

Technology major setback to travel agencies says Okezie

By DANIEL ETEGHE

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anaging Director of Wakanow Travels and Tour Agency, Mr. Obinna Okezie weekend identified technological problems as one of the major setbacks in the travel and tour agencies stressing that one of it component was transparency.

Disclosing this development to newsmen during the official launching of the Wakanow Corporate credit card in partnership with Diamond Bank in Lekki, Lagos, Mr. Okezie stressed that the company was introducing new technology so that they could improve on the technology with the aim of doing well in the travel market and on the web.

He said “We are bringing in technology so that we can improve in order to be enabled to do well on the web and on the mobile but like I said leakages has been one of the major challenges and MD’s of most of these corporations, transparency has been an issue and we have been able to tackle it to some extent, on the retail space customers can go on our website and see the prices even if you don’t book with us, you have an idea what the prices are so that is where transparency comes in.”

NAHCO FTZ to attract $500 Million investment

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

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hairman of the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) PLC, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, has revealed that the establishment of Free Trade Zone at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos by the company would attract nothing less than $500 Million investment to the nation’s economy within five years .

Speaking at the national executive council meeting of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Yahyah said when the Free Trade Zone is fully operational, it would create employment opportunities for quite a number of Nigerians and the economy would surely feel the impact of the operation of the FTZ. C M Y K

DRAW - From left: Vice President, Flight Operation, Arik Air, Capt Ado Sanusi, Arik Air Ambassador, Tobi Sanni-Daniel (Ice Prince) Senior Vice President, Commercial, Arik Air, Mr. Siva Ramachadran and Director, Consumer Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Adamu Abdullahi, during Arik Air Brazil 2014 promo draw, held at Arik Corporate Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.

Why we queried Aviation Ministry over 174bn debt — UZODINMA

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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hairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has said the Senate Committee on Aviation demanded explanations from the supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom, on the N174 billion debt incurred by the ministry since 2011 because the expenditure was not within the ministry’s budgetary framework. And the National Assembly, especially the Senate Committee on Aviation was not informed about the debt.

According to Senator Uzodinma: “When we say we are not carried along it is because they didn’t allow the National Assembly to play their own role.” Uzodinma gave this explanation while

fielding questions from Aviation reporters at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos after an oversight visit to the airport by the Senate Committee on Aviation.

Explaining further, the chairman said: “Yesterday, ( Monday), while we were at the ministry., we discovered and it was confirmed by the

ministry that under the phase three remodelling that FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation are indebted to the tune of over N174bn, these are funds not within the budget.”

“You will agree with me, they didn’t carry us along and that is why it is not in the budget so we now queried how they over-committed government without prior

AON kicks against inspection of aircraft in Nigeria

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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irline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has condemned the call for the inspection of aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in Nigeria after it has been flown into the country from abroad.

The chairman of AON, Captain Nogie Meggison who made the condemnation said such proposal could make Nigeria a dumping ground for bad aircraft if, after bringing the aircraft into the country, it was discovered that the aircraft had a major fault which could not be repaired.

Captain Meggison stressed that such proposal may affect

ATSSSAN shelves warning strike, as Presidency backs down on merger

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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approval. Now the only way to go because some of those projects are also as critical as important, we now said that there will be a committee by the Federal Ministry of Aviation to look at those projects and then reprioritise them and see what the ministry will be able to shoulder given the lean resources under their envelop for 2014.” “ And then talk with us and see how we can work together to now look for money to pay because there is already a commitment on the side of government. So you see when we say we were not carried along it is not because we didn’t share money but it is because they didn’t allow the national assembly to play their own role. “ Commenting on the Airfield lighting hitherto handled by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Senator Uzodinma said “ now that the air fielding light has been transferred back to Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, we now know that FAAN has the technical and financial capacity to rise up to the challenges and ensure that we have all the runways light up for night navigation, it is something that we must do because we must get value to every expenditure that we have done.”

embers of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, have shelved its planned two days warning strike to protest the proposed merger of aviation parastatals as feelers from the Presidency indicate that government has backed down on the planned merger.

After a two day National Executive Council Meeting at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, ATSSSAN said the information at its disposal shows that the federal government will not go ahead with the planned merger. The union said in a communique that “ the planned strike was suspended due to the credible and

authoritative overtures from the Presidency which indicate that President Good luck Jonathan has listened to the cries of the aviation workers.”

It will be recalled that aviation unions and stakeholders have been kicking against the federal government acceptance of the Chief Steve Oronsanye panel which recommended the merger of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, who is the regulator of the aviation industry with service providers like Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and NIMET who forecast weather.

ATSSSAN also explained that it considered the “ country’s keeping of global standards, procedures and practices in order to sustain safety and security of the airspace and general operations.”

the safety and development of the aviation sector as aircraft that do not fit into the Nigerian NCAA’s specifications in terms of airworthiness could be flown into Nigeria.

He said the usual practice where, aircraft safety inspectors from the NCAA, travel to the maintenance facility or the manufacturers facility or country of sale to carry out the necessary check on the aircraft before being flown into Nigeria is better and safer.

He said defects or faults found by NCAA inspectors on any aircraft requiring rectification could be carried out at the seller’s C Check Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO), before such planes are flown into Nigeria.

According to him “If you say the aircraft should be flown into Nigeria first , before NCAA inspectors carry out technical checks on arrival in Nigeria and it is discovered that there is a major defect or the aircraft does not comply with Nigerian specification, what do you do “?

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 35

So you want to be governor in 2015?

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“

ooking from the fact that the funds from the Federation Account are not judiciously utilised by the states and they are not accountable to the people and the state legislature, our concern is that even if they get money from bonds and it is not invested, the state will be left with a huge debt burden which will hurt in the long term.” Dr Usman Muttaka, Head of Department of Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

That statement credited to Dr Muttaka was quoted in the PUNCH of May 25, 2014, in a report titled States raise N514bn through bonds in five years, written by Simeon Ejembi. The report could not have come at a better time as elections are about to be held in Osun and Ekiti states in a few weeks; and the rest of the country next April. For too long, elected governors in all the states of Nigeria had taken it upon themselves to get their states into long-term debts, mortgage the future stream of state revenue long after they have left office – with hardly anybody asking questions.

And all these in a democracy.

League Table of Bond Debts by states: Below are the current levels of bond debts owed by some states. Those are not the only

heavily indebted states, however. How much Akwa Ibom and Rivers as well as Ogun and Oyo states owe is not included yet. Naturally, the State of Excellence should set the pace and Lagos State has not disappointed in this respect. But, some of the other states should give their people a lot to worry about given their ranking, see below, on the revenue from the Federation Account – which still constitutes the bulk of their revenue. The figures and the capacity of some of the states to carry the debt burden, in the event of a drastic downturn in crude oil prices, should frighten those wanting to take over from outgoing governors. · Osun has drawn only N30b out of the N60b it planned to eventually borrow under the state government’s debt issuance programme; which means that the figure could rise any time from now.

The first thing which strikes a casual observer is the penchant for states with low revenue ranking to borrow comparatively more than those with high revenue profile.

Lagos is unique among all the states on account of its relatively high Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, as a percentage of total revenue collected. But, most other

League Table of Bond Debts by states:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

STATE Lagos Bayelsa Delta Osun* Ondo Edo Ekiti Gombe Imo Kwara Ebonyi Niger

states depend almost exclusively on the allocations from the Federation Account.

Most spend virtually every kobo collected now and they still experience difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. With federally allocated revenue on the decline, the states will experience increasing difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. Debt defaults loom as distinct possibilities.

Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with governments borrowing to finance capital projects. But bond financing is supposed to be used for projects which will generate the funds with which the loan will be repaid. That means that funds meant for a project

DEBT N187b N50b N50b N30b N27b N25b N25b N20b N18.5b N17b N16.5b N15.6b

RANK 5th 4th 3rd 18th 11th 23rd 34th 36th 13th 32nd 33rd 12th

cannot be diverted to any other purpose –however urgent or meritorious. In mature democracies, the legislature ensures that this is done. But, there is probably no single independent State House of Assembly in Nigeria today. All without exception have become appendages or rubber stamps of the state governors.

It is, therefore, most likely that some, if not most of the funds collected for some specific projects have been diverted to other end uses. It would have been bad enough if those projects are also yielding revenue to help repay the debt. It is worse when they go into drain pipes leading inexorably to private pockets.

The lame duck governors, who can keep their lawmakers at bay, have had the benefit of enjoying a free hand to disburse public funds as they chose. They have enjoyed the benefits of exercising power unchecked and they can depart while passing the bill to their successors to pay.

That explains why, with the exception of Osun and Ekiti, as well as Anambra and Edo, whose governors are not departing in 2015, every governor is eager to select his own successor. None wants to pass the baton of office to a hostile or uncooperative new governor who might expose any shady deals that might have been associated with those projects.

The would-be successors are warned to be wary of the booby traps awaiting them in the Governor’s office. Once you have been imposed on the people by the outgoing governor, you will be expected to live with the problems which a mortgaged future will mean for the state.

And, if it means sacking a lot of state workers, then the burden will be yours not that of the man who got the state into the mess in the first place.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/ biolasobowale

Business & Economy

Al Grain enters noodles market with N7bn investment

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU & NAOMI UZOR

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he N7 billion green field manufacturing plant investment of Al Grain Foods Limited has delivered a new entrant into the noodles market with Al Grain noodles.

With the entrant consumers of noodles now have more

choices to make with the formal entry of the new product, positioned as a healthy choice.

Al Grain is a whole grain noodles product manufactured in the N7b green field plant of Al Grain Foods Limited, Isolo, Lagos.

Economist and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership Prof Pat Utomi led a star cast of guests from banking, industry, government

as well as Nollywood at the unveiling of the product in Lagos.

Speaking at the launch, Utomi called for greater focus by both Government and private sector players on agriculture and manufacturing, remarking that a synergy between both sectors would be the surest route to creating jobs to reduce unemployment amongst Nigerian youth.

Utomi said he had tasted the product before the formal presentation and confessed his love for its formulation and presentation. Professor Utomi

who was the guest of honour, disclosed: “I do not have a particular food I crave for, but sincerely Al Grain noodle has become part of my menu.”

Utomi confessed that he has become a convert of the noodle and enjoined consumers to enjoy it and make Al Grain part of the items in their hampers always. “I’m a convert to Al Grain.

Director says skills acquisition will reduce unemployment, security challenges

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irector, Jobs Creation, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties Mrs Bisi Onayemi has urged government at all levels to use skills-based education to manage the nation’s unemployment and security challenges. Onayemi said in Lagos that unemployment was

a major driver of kidnapping, armed robbery and the current insurgency. She said the state’s 18 skill acquisition centres trained about 18, 000 people annually in various needs based crafts to make them selfemployed and self-sufficient.

“We have skill acquisition centres started

about 10 years ago where youths learn various trades such as fashion designing, catering, metal fabrication, welding and carpentry. Anybody can register to learn. It is for all categories of people. School leavers, drop outs, graduates, school certificate holders and illiterates,” she said.

LAUNCH - From left: Managing Director, Nokia West and Central Africa, Nick Imudia; Marketing Campaign Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, Yetunde Ogeroju; Director, Consumer Channels Group, Microsoft Nigeria, Mark Ihimoyan and Retail Customer Marketing Manager, Nokia West and Central Africa, Olajide Adeyemi during the launch of the first Windows Dual SIM smartphone, Nokia Lumia 630, held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja.Photo byAkeem Salau.

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36 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Business & Economy

SUMMIT - From left, Christian Louboutin, John Obayuwana and Burak Celet during the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit in Mexico.

Luxury industry in Lagos worth $3bn — Polo MD

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ohn Obayuwana, the Founder and Managing Director of Polo Luxury Group, has projected that Lagos alone could generate $2-3billion in luxury sales.

He made this projection while addressing delegates at the just concluded Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit in Mexico.

In a presentation on ‘The challenges and opportunities that exist for international luxury brands in Africa particularly in Nigeria,’ Obayuwana, said that the current consumption of luxury goods by Nigerians in shopping destinations such as Paris, Dubai, UK etc. show the spending power of Nigerians in the luxury sector.

“Wealthy Nigerians have a huge appetite for luxury shopping abroad.

In Nigeria, customers are not just looking for logos; they are looking for quality and great service.” In addition, he spoke about the challenges that have inhibited the luxury industry in Nigeria such as lack of power supply, high cost of operation, lack of human capital, and the lack of retail infrastructure.”

He stressed the importance of paying attention to the middle class in order to ensure the sustainable development of the luxury industry.

Mr. Obayuwana has played a significant role in shaping and defining the landscape of the luxury industry in Africa. He continues to do so with his ongoing effort to ensure the application of international standards in the retail luxury industry in Nigeria, which is evident at Polo

Limited and Polo Avenue.

The Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit this year attracted senior executives, industry leaders, brand experts, executives and decision

makers of the luxury industry. Theses include the likes of Stella McCartney; Christian Louboutin; Caroline Brown; LapoElkann; William Lauder; Marco Bizzarri and Vanessa Friedman.

Firm plans sustainable corporate governance practice in Nigeria

By NAOMI UZOR

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CSL Corporate Services Limited said it is set to enthrone sustainable corporate governance practices with the establishment of an academy to properly equip those who have responsibilities within the governance framework.

In a parley with pressmen, the Managing Director, DCSL Corporate Services Limited, Mrs Bisi Adeyemi, said they are of the opinion that corporate governance serves as a tool for ensuring accountability, transparency,responsible and ethical management of resources, adding that, good corporate governance impacts positively on a company’s operations and acts as a panacea for corporate failure.

She disclosed that the academy is designed to be a governance and corporate secretarial training & resource centre of specialized learning for company secretaries, In-House legal counsel, compliance officers, interns and all those seeking training in these areas and that the academy would assist participants to have a better understanding of

the principles of good corporate governance and equip them with the knowledge required to assist their respective organizations to imbibe these principles for the overall benefit of all stakeholders.

“DCSL is a private limited liability company which provides company secretarial, g o v e r n a n c e , immigration and training services to diverse governmental, corporate and individual clients across several business sectors in Nigeria and over the past few years, has through its corporate governance series of open enrolment seminars, roundtables and publications contributed to thought leadership on the subject matter “ she stated.

Furthermore, she said in continuation of their corporate governance series, they have a few seminars and training programmes slated for later in the year for Directors, company secretaries, risk officers and members of the audit committees and in conjunction with the Hawkamah institute of corporate governance in Dubai, they are cohosting a corporate governance training for directors in Dubai in the 12th and 13th of November 2014.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 37

Tax Matters (43,000)

The CGT – An Untapped Revenue Goldmine

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axation is arguably as old as mankind. In his book, Income Tax Law and Practice in Nigeria, Ola, C. S. said apart from revenue to the government, taxation is important to everyone and taxes collected come back to the taxpayers in the form of social amenities.

Almost everything we own and use for personal or investment purposes is a capital asset. Examples include a home, personal-use items like household furnishings, and stocks or bonds held as investments. Capital gains are the profits realized from the sale of assets at a price that is higher than the purchase price. When a capital asset is sold, the difference between the cost sale and the sales price is a capital gain or a capital loss. You have a capital gain if sales price is higher than cost of sale. The reverse is the case for a capital loss.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a type of tax levied on capital gains accruing to individuals and corporations. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and State Boards of Internal Revenue are responsible for the administration of the CGT in Nigeria. It is a tax applicable to capital gains accruing to any person (company or individual) on the disposal of a chargeable asset.

Capital gains taxes are triggered when an asset is realized, not while it is held by an investor. An investor can own shares that appreciate every year, but the investor does not incur capital gains tax on the shares until they are sold.

Not all disposals are subject to CGT; only chargeable assets are. Chargeable assets are all forms of property, including options, debts and any form of property created or acquired by the person disposing it, or otherwise coming to be owned without being acquired.

Landed properties and buildings are the main income yielding assets in Nigeria.

Most countries’ tax laws provide for some form of capital gains taxes on investors’ and individuals’ capital gains, although CGT laws vary from country to country. In Nigeria, CGT was originally introduced by the Capital Gains Tax Act of 1967 with a rate of 20% but effective from 1998, the CGT rate was revised down wards to 10%. The legislation currently governing taxation of capital gains is the Capital Gains Tax Act CAP C1 LFN 2004.

Capital gains are excluded from taxation under the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) to avoid double taxation since such gains are subject to tax under the CGT Act. Assets situated outside Nigeria are chargeable to CGT on the amount received in or brought into Nigeria. In the case of a non-resident, CGT is charged on any part of the gains received or brought into Nigeria.

Disposal to a Connected Person When a taxpayer transfers his capital asset to say, his wife, this is seen as a

,

By EMBUKA ANNA

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a type of tax levied on capital gains accruing to individuals and corporations

transaction between ‘connected persons’. In this case, the chargeable gains will be calculated on the basis of the market value of the asset at the date of transfer. Section 24 of the CGT Act, 2004 provides that a person is ‘connected’ if: a. That person is the individual’s spouse. b. A trustee of a settlement with any individual who in relation of the settlement is a settler. c. A person is connected with any person with whom he is in partnership and with any person the spouse or relative of any person with whom he is in partnership.

A company is connected with another company if: a. The same person has control of both or he and persons connected with him has control of the other. b. Where a group of two or more person has control of each company and the group either consists of the same persons or could be regarded as consisting of the same persons by treating a member of either group as replaced by a person with whom he is connected. c. A company is connected with another person if that person has control of it or if it and that person connected with it together have control of it. d. Any two or more persons acting together to secure or exercise control of a company shall be treated in relation to that company as connected with another and so will any person on the directions of any of them to secure or exercise control of the company.

Capital gains is the net consideration accruing to a person on the disposal of capital assets after the sum of the total consideration and expenses for acquiring the asset has been deducted.

It is arrived at by deducting from the proceeds accruing to any person on disposal the following: a) The amount or value of the consideration (in money or money’s worth) given wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in providing the asset. b) Expenses wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred on the asset for the purposes of enhancing its value being expenditure reflected in the state or nature of the asset at the time of disposal. c) Expenses wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred on the asset

Net sales proceeds: 107,000 Less cost of acquisition: (60,000)

,

in establishing, preserving or defending the title or right over the asset. d) T h e incidental cost of making the d i s p o s a l , incidental costs of the acquisition of the asset or of its disposal includes

fees, commissions or remuneration paid for professional services of any surveyor or valuer or auctioneer or accountant or agent or legal adviser and cost of transfer or conveyance including cost of advertising.

Expenses Allowable and Computation of CGT Expenses allowable as a deduction in computing the gains or losses of a trade, business, profession or vocation for income tax purposes are not to be deducted in the course of determining the applicable CGT. So also are premiums or other payments made under a policy of insurance against the risk of any kind of damage or injury to lose or depreciation of any asset. This does not prevent the deduction of expenses allowable in the computation of capital gains under the CGT if the assets have qualified for capital allowances.

According to Ayua, I. A. in his book, The Nigerian Tax Law, the above position on deductions is to the effect that capital gains are liberally calculated for the purpose of the CGT law. In practice, capital gains are calculated by deducting the total cost of acquisition from net sales proceeds.

Example: Ola sold his property for nd N150,000 on the 2 of June, 2005. He incurred the following expenses in the course of the sale: Adverts (online and print): N 8,000 Legal service charge: N15,000 He bought the property on 13th December, 1981 at N60,000 and incurred the following expenses: Agency: 000 Renovation

N10, :

N 10, 000

Here is a computation of the amount of CGT due from Ola: N Proceeds from sale:

N 150,000

Less expense: Adverts: 8,000 Legal service charge: 15,000 Agency: 10,000 Renovation: 10,000

Gains

47,000

Capital Gains Tax = 10% of N 47,000 = N 4,700 Exemptions The CGT Act exempts gains accruing to the following: a) Ecclesiastical, charitable or educational institutions of public character. b) Any statutory or registered friendly society. c) Any co-operative society registered under the Trade Union Act, in so far as the gain is not derived from any disposal of any asset acquired in connection with any trade or business carried on by the institution or society and the gain is applied purely for the purpose of the institution or society as the case may be. d) Gains accruing from any local government council. e) Companies being purchasing authorities established under any law in Nigeria empowered to acquire any commodity in Nigeria for export. f) Superannuation funds (pension provident or other retirement benefits fund, society or scheme approved by the Joint Tax Board under Section 20 (1) (f) of the Personal Income Tax). g) Decorations, stocks and shares (the Act provides that where a person disposes a decoration awarded for valour or gallant conduct which he acquires otherwise than for consideration in money or money’s worth, such is not a chargeable gain.

The Act also recognizes disposal of Nigerian government securities, stocks and shares as non-chargeable gains).

Reliefs To prevent double tax relief on disposed assets, the Act provides that relief would be given in respect of replacement of business assets, compensation for assets lost and destroyed and in respect of delayed remittances from abroad. The relief would be in the form of tax deferred.

Offences and Penalties With regards to the FIRS’ jurisdiction, offences and penalties under CGT is as provided for by Part VI of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007. On failure to deduct or remit taxes, Section 40 of the FIRSEA 2007 provides that “any person who being obliged to deduct any tax under this Act or the laws listed in the First Schedule of this Act but fails to deduct or having deducted fails to pay to the Service within 30 days from the date the amount was deducted or the time the duty to pay arose, commits an offence and shall upon conviction be liable to pay the tax withheld or not remitted in addition to a penalty of 10% of the tax deducted or not remitted per annum and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria minimum rediscount rate and imprisonment for a period not more than three years”.

On general penalty, Section 49 (1)

38 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

E-Commerce

FG unveils ‘Mara Mentor’ to support young entreprenuers

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N a move to show re newed focus on entrepreneurship, federal government has rolled out ‘Mara Mentor ’ a mentoring technology application designed to ‘enable, empower and inspire’ young business leaders across the country.

The app, launched in partnership with the Mara Foundation, a social enterprise set up to support budding young entrepreneurs in Africa, is used by the government to bolster the SME sector and boost job creation and further develop and diversify the region’s economy.

President Jonathan made the announcement the Democracy Day celebrations in Abuja last week.

President Jonathan said: “I am a firm believer in youth empowerment and support any efforts to drive our youth agenda forwards. The Mara Mentor app is a fantastic initiative, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mara Foundation and its Founder, Ashish J Thakkar, for choosing Nigeria for the pilot launch in Africa.”

Airtel Nigeria introduces free access to Wikipedia

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IRTEL Nigeria has part nered with the Wikimedia Foundation to launch Wikipedia Zero to its subscribers in a move that will see 21 million users access free knowledge and information via their mobile phones minus data charges.

Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Commercial Officer, Maurice Newa, said the new service will empower Nigerians with relevant knowledge and information so that they succeed in their daily personal and professional endeavors.

“We are excited with our partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation and we will continue to provide innovative solutions that will uplift Nigerians in line with our brand promise of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians,” he said.

Newa added that Airtel is passionate and committed to creating solid educational and youth empowerment platforms that will enrich and transform the lives of telecoms consumers across the country.

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Offline retail is e-commerce’s greatest competition - Fashpa CEO Stories By JONAH NWOKPOKU

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HE founder/Chief Exec utive Officer of Fashpa.com, an exclusive online fashion merchant, Honey Ogundeyi has said that online retailers’ greatest competition is the offline market.

She stated this during an exclusively interview with Vanguard on the operations of Fashpa.com and the state and future of e-commerce in Nigeria.

“In terms of competition there is lot of sites still coming up online, offering fashion but our real competition is in the offline market where we see a lot of people going to buy from.

So offline market can be considered a strong competition,” she said.

She noted that for Fashpa.com, as far as competition is concerned, “We basically benchmark ourselves against what our customers want. And I think the opportunity lies in serving real fashion conscious customers; and we are lucky that we are the first to offer fashion, the way that we do and mix both fashion e-commerce and fashion content.”

Explaining the offerings of Fashpa.com, she said: “Fashpa is an online fashion retailer. We are one of the leading fashion retailers in Nigeria and Africa. And basically, we are dedicated to providing our users with access to fashion and lifestyle brands. If you know Nigerians, and Africans in general, we love fashion, and lifestyle and what we are trying to do at Fashpa is give

people better access to that.

“Our online platform sells clothes, footwear, and other accessories. We ship to all states in Nigeria. We also ship worldwide. What we do is we look at fashion trends, and we sell international high street brands that people are looking for. We also sell African brands. We also have our labels which is Fashpa.com.

Apart from that, we also know that our customers are also interested in fashion contents, so we also give them fashion and lifestyle tips.”

She explained that Fashpa has been making significant

efforts to blend the offline and online experiences just to serve and adapt the online shopping culture to the Nigerian market, through unique payment channels and prompt delivery systems.

“People still like the feeling of seeing and touching goods before purchase. So what we do is we try to understand and we allow our customers to get the item and we offer them cash on delivery. So you can send you up to three items in different sizes and you try them on and we will wait for you to try it on and then take it. So what we are trying to do is to bring

a lot of things that people like from shopping offline to the online experience,” she said.

“And I think what is interesting about developing online platform is that you can’t just apply what happens in Europe and America to this market. So, you have to adapt it and make it relevant to our Nigerian and African customer,” she added.

Ogundeyi further explained that Fashpa’s idea of worldwide delivery was inspired by the need to get Nigerians and other Africans in the Diaspora, to stay connected with their culture through fashion.

AGM: From left; Chief Emmanuel Ukpabi, former president; Mr. Sunil Sawhney, immediate Past Vice President; Mr. Paul Gbededo, newly elected President and Mr. Aderemi Adegboyega, Executive Secretary at the 35th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers.

Kaymu empowers youths with entrepreneurship training T

O celebrate this year ’s Children’s Day, Nigeria’s online marketplace Kaymu.com.ng treated students of Kiddie Quest Montessori to a workshop titled Kaymu Future Entrepreneurs Training.

The company said it unveiled the initiative because it is committed to driving the development of entrepreneurship, especially small and medium enterprises in the country.

This,it said, has led to the

brand putting strategic measures in place to drive entrepreneurship in youths, like the Kaymu Entrepreneurial Workshop conducted in universities and the KaymuVarsity initiative for SMEs. ” We believe that children are future leaders, with unique passions and aspirations and will like to give entrepreneurial children the ability to observe first-hand the work space and engage them in practical activities that the work environment

presents,” stated Massimiliano Spalazzi, Managing Director of Kaymu.com.ng To this end, Kaymu hosted ten children from Kiddie Quest Montessori School to work a half day in Kaymu office on Tuesday, May 27th for an educative, interactive and engaging training and practical session.

Speaking on the opportunity, the Deputy Head Girl of the school, Olubukola Falayajo expressed her gratitude at the opportunity pre-

sented through the Kaymu Future Entreprenueur Training.

“It was a great experience and we learned a lot about being an entrepreneur and the qualities of a successful entrepreneur,” she said.

Also speaking, Head Teacher of the school, Rotimi Akapo said,”It is an insightful initiative by Kaymu and a very educative and captivating experience for primary school children.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 39

Advertising, Media & Marketing

Three events hinder Nigeria’s brand building efforts — Bruce Stories By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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hree historical events have hindered Nigeria’s brand building effort, said Mr. Ben Bruce, Chairman of Silverbird Group.

He highlighted the Nigerian Civil War, the 2001 Miss World Beauty Pageants and the current Boko Haram insurgency as bane to positioning Nigeria as a global brand.

Bruce disclosed this during the second edition of Marketer’s Evening organised by the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) while delivering a speech titled, “From local to global, Building the Nigerian Brand.

He stated that these events became a point of bad global reputation for Nigeria as a result of the government’s inability to effectively use the media to manage some of these crises.

He said that over the years the Nigerian state has made effort to become a global brand, but such effort had met brick walls due to governments inability to explore the media to win some of the wars that rattled its global brand valuation, hence the events turned out to be a bad press that undermined Nigeria’s crave for a global brand status.

According to him, “What is happening today in Nigeria on the Boko Haram and the

negative publicity it generated for us has happened three times in Nigeria without appropriate way to manage the crisis through the media,” he said.

According to him, the three events denied Nigeria the opportunity to market its potential to the world. He narrated that the civil war which was the first of the three events showed how Nigeria failed in the use of the media to douse the effect of propaganda on its reputation.

He said the Biafra warlord, Late Gen. Odimegwu Ojukwu used the media effectively as

a propaganda tool to dent Nigeria’s image and got the French Government backing.

“Nigerian won the war but Biafran won the battle using the media, the Radio Biafra. The attack on Nigeria by the French and those who believe what Nigerian did against Igbos was genocide really prevented the country from being accepted across the world. Ojukwu used the media very well and Nigeria image was dented. That prolonged war got him support from Ivory Coast, Mali, Gabon and others who supplied weapons for the Biafra,” he said.

Bruce also cited the Miss World Beauty Pageant in 2001 which was stopped when the whole world had gathered to experience Nigeria as a destination brand, that event

PARTY - From Left: Beat FM On-Air Personality, Olisa Adibua; Marketing Director, Sola Oke and Brand Manager, Absolut Vodka, Akintayo Akinseloyin, both of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, during the Absolut Art Party 2014 at the Lagoon Crest in Lekki, Lagos recently.

Chivita bags Africa’s Best Quality Juice Award 2014

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n recognition of its ability to deliver authentic consumer experience, Chivita Premium Fruit juice, has emerged as Africa’s Best Quality Juice Brand at the 2014 Africa Quality Achievement Award.

The Award initiated by the Africa Quality Institute, AQI in collaboration with IBMN Integrated Services, the Africa Quality Achievement Award is organised with the support of South Africa Quality Institute (SAQI) and the Chartered Quality Institute (UK).

Chivita Premium Fruit juice with 100 percent fruit juice content from the stable of Chi Limited was adjudged the winner because of its consistency in the market, creativity and value as well as the bespoke packaging of the juice that allows for the best delivery. Speaking after receiving the award in Lagos recently, Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Roy Deepanjan, said the award did not come to him as a surprise.

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“We are happy to receive this accolade for Chivita Premium from Africa Quality Institute (AQI), as it validates our core values as a responsible and ethical organisation.”

The award not only underscores Chi Limited’s

commitment to and passion for creating the highest quality juice available on the market today, but also to successfully growing an ethical business dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier lives through the consumption of natural, organic fruits.

Euro Global introduces 25cl red wine pack

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uro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, maker of Sabrina Gin has expanded the Amphora wine range with the 25cl Amphora Tempranillo wine pack.

The wine was originally available in 75cl and 35clbottles, the new product will allow Euro Global the opportunity to reach masses who has the desire to consume wine.

Speaking on the new wine, Mr. Felix Aighobahi, Sales Director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited said, “AmphoraTempranillo wine is a beautiful wine that pairs well with all kind of foods. It is produced to emphasize the vintage lifestyle.The new 25cl packaging makes it lightweight, easy-to-use wine that also travels easily and doesn’t require a corkscrew. It will definitely make a hit with party-goers and picnickers want to avoid the hassles of using a corkscrew.

Amphora Tempranillo is a full bodied Spanish red wine with the flavor of leather along with cherries, the finish is mild, smooth and lingers with tannin on both side of the mouth. Its taste is quite close to Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Amphora range comes in red and white wine. Red wines variants are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Tempranillo while the white wine is Chardonnay from France.

Things Customers Hate – Part 5 Continued from last week

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f we go on discussing those things customers hate, we would have enough material for one whole year, and we would still not be done. What’s more? Going by the feedback I have received, many readers are interested in this topic. It appears that there are, indeed, many things that irritate customers. Today, we will discuss a few more customer peeves and rest the series for now.

Appearing busy but unhelpful For some unknown reasons, some people look perpetually busy, doing nothing. At least, that’s the way they appear to customers. And as a customer, I see quite a lot of such people in our banking halls. Some tellers leave their seats (ostensibly) to attend to the needs of some customers, but they never seem in a hurry to get back to their seat to conclude the service process. Their slow, slouching movement says it all. In situations like this, customers make some snide comments: Where is he going again? Wetin she dey do sef?

Rushing customers on the phone This may not always be the fault of the service employee. It happens often in organisations that cherish unhelpful data such as the length of time spent on the phone with a customer. In such situations, the customer feels rushed. Some poorly trained employees may even suggest that the customer hang up as they have other customers waiting on the line. Now the question arises: how long should a customer spend with a frontline employee, considering that some customers are rather garrulous? I’d say: as long as is necessary to resolve the customer ’s issues and leave them with a good impression about the company.

Outdated website information Some organisations see having a corporate website as an end on its own. Once the website is up and running, (they believe) their job is done. The product of such a mindset is that the website is never updated with current information. Examples of outdated information that features on some company websites: phone numbers that don’t work or that belong to former employees, office addresses that have changed, products that have been phased out, etc. Customers are never happy when they come up with outdated information on a company website.

Dead website links For more information, please click here. To download the catalogue, please click here. You click. But nothing happens! The links are simply dead! And you wonder whether the company is dead as well. The company may be healthy. It’s just that the people who run it don’t care enough to check these little details. I think it’s better not to have a website than to have one that doesn’t work.

“No warranty” Why would anybody sell products that have no warranty of any sort? Insisting that there is no warranty on your products is another way of saying “buyer beware” or “goods bought at buyer’s risk.” If you have ever bought electronic products from Alaba International Market or computer products from the Computer Village in Ikeja, you’ll understand what we are talking about.

Of course, there are many professional business people in those markets who give customers warranty on their products, which builds trust and gives assurance. If you’re sure of the quality of your products, why not offer some form of warranty or even money-back guarantee?

•CONCLUDED

40 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Email:lesleba@lesleba.com, lesleba@gmail.com Blog page:www.lesleba.com/blog2 Website: www.lesleba.com Tel:0805 220 1997

So, who is afraid of a stronger naira? dollar certificates for their allocations of dollar-derived revenue; however, these certificates must first be converted to naira at a properly designated commercial bank, before spending.

What is the difference between naira substituted by the Central Bank and naira exchanged for dollar certificates from the banks?

The naira substituted by CBN is actually additional fresh naira supply, which the banks may leverage on to instigate over tenfold increase in money supply. Thus, the process of substitution continuously promotes the presence of surplus naira and induces the disenabling environment of high inflation and interest rates, weaker exchange rate, increasing national debt, severely constrained industrial subsector, high rate of unemployment, increasing fuel subsidy, and widening gap between the rich and poor.

Conversely, the exchange of dollar certificates directly through commercials banks by beneficiaries will not increase money supply to induce the disenabling encumbrances listed above. In fact, the banks will become more protective of their naira stock, so that their cash positions are not unduly jeopardized, whenever depositors want access to their funds.

Ultimately, in such ambience, the naira exchange rate will become stronger, as more dollar certificates chase the relatively stable existing stock of naira in the system.

What will be the economic

,

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n last week’s article, we identified the advantages of a stronger naira exchange rate to include much lower inflation and interest rates, increasing industrial expansion, with rapidly rising employment opportunities.

We also explained how a stronger naira will eliminate fuel subsidy and also reduce the size and cost of our national debt. ( S e e “Advantages of a Stronger Naira” at www.lesleba.com).

This week, we will examine why the Central Bank of Nigeria still consciously promotes a monetary strategy that deliberately weakens the naira; we will also, in the following interrogative narrative, identify the major beneficiaries of a weak naira exchange rate.

Why does CBN consciously promote a weaker naira with its substitution of naira allocations for dollar-derived revenue?

The CBN hinges its defence of this economic buccaneering on Section 162(1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that all financial accruals must be consolidated in a federation account before sharing, in line with current provisions on revenue allocation.

Unfortunately, the CBN has wrongly interpreted Section 162 to also imply that all non-nairadenominated revenue must first be converted to naira before sharing.

Nonetheless, it is evident that CBN’s substitution of naira allocations for dollar-derived revenue instigates the unyielding dark clouds of excess naira, and the collateral burden of a weaker exchange rate, with its diabolical train of economic distortions.

If the CBN does not substitute naira for dollar revenue, how can beneficiaries spend their allocations, since dollar is not legal tender in Nigeria?

The constitutional beneficiaries of dollar revenue would receive

The process of substitution continuously promotes the presence of surplus naira and induces the disenabling environment of high inflation and interest rates, weaker exchange rate

,

implication of a stronger naira exchange rate?

Quite simply, the result will be the direct opposite of the adverse consequences listed above, for a weaker naira. Thus, perceived systemic surplus naira will be exorcised from our monetary system, with the welcome development of sustainable singledigit cost of funds across the board to the real sector, with inflation rate (closer to best practice inflation rates elsewhere), at well below 4%.

Consequently, with subsisting low cost of funds and the absence of excess liquidity, the size and cost of servicing our national debt will also fall remarkably.

Such an enabling environment with a stronger naira purchasing power will rapidly create millions of jobs nationwide, while the increase in the number of paid workers would further stimulate consumer demand, which will in turn, instigate further industrial

expansion, with still more job opportunities. Ultimately, with a much stronger naira below N80:$1, fuel prices will fall below N97/litre, and we will save the princely sum of about $12bn (N2tn) annually from the total elimination of fuel subsidy; fuel smuggling into neighbouring countries will also become unprofitable.

So, if it’s all so simple, who are those afraid of dollar certificates and a stronger naira, and why?

Those who are fervently patriotic about the sovereignty of the national currency, but are ignorant of the process, which determines the naira/dollar exchange rate are misguidedly opposed to a stronger naira. The other bastion of opposition expectedly comes from the major beneficiaries of the current economically poisoning process of CBN’s substitution of naira for dollar revenue.

For example, CBN’s recent unbridled unconstitutional interventions and the reckless spending, which characterized Lamido Sanusi’s term as governor, were funded from the apex bank’s self-styled buoyant ‘own’ forex reserves, which were ironically consolidated simultaneously with deepening poverty induced by CBN’s substitution of naira allocations for dollar revenue.

How does CBN’s substitution of naira for dollar-derived revenue fund corruption?

The liberal latitude for corruption in public service is facilitated by the ‘eternal’ presence of surplus naira in an economy, without requisite accountability; for

example, the church rat will expectedly be lean and trimmed of excess fat, when compared to its close cousins, who live in holes and crevices in an active bakery, replete with surplus food.

Is the public sector the only beneficiary of the substitution of naira allocations for dollar-derived revenue?

No, the banks are also major beneficiaries of this skewed system. For example, the banks earn over N300bn annually from the simple business of receiving government deposits at zero per cent and lending such funds back to government at double-digit interest rates. Indeed, with such high returns, it is not surprising that banks show little interest in supporting the real sector.

Curiously, government has become heavy debtor to the same banks that have custody of its free funds. Furthermore, banks also promote capital flight, and make huge gains from round tripping and speculative consolidation of foreign exchange, despite the adverse consequences on the economy.

The Bureaux De Change (BDCs) are also proxy beneficiaries of the current system, and they nonchalantly fund the millions of dollars couriered across our borders daily. The BDCs evidently also fund the activities of smugglers who do considerable damage to our local industries, and constrain employment opportunities.

It is curious that CBN is reluctant to relinquish dollar revenue to constitutional beneficiaries, but the apex bank willfully allocates dollars to BDC operators, who may, in turn sell at a profit to any customer, including the original owners of the dollars; i.e. government and MDAs. SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS

Cover Story Africa loses $242bn to tax exemption yearly — Oxfam

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he Executive Director, Oxfam International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Ms Winnie Byanyima says Africa loses $242 billion to corporate income tax exemption and unpaid taxes by companies annually. Byanyima disclosed this at the Africa Rising Conference in Maputo.

She said about $138 billion were lost to corporate income tax exemption while $104 billion was lost to unpaid taxes by companies operating in the continent yearly.

“This is double what Africa needs to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) C M Y K

needs on Health and Education put together. It will equally solve the $93 billion requirement to close infrastructure gap,” the official said.

According to her, a balance of $30 billion will still remain out of the money to be used for other development issues.

Byanyima attributed the loss of the revenue to absence of legal framework in financial system in Africa, and called for a change of policy. She said some of the gaps which allowed tax exemption in doing business in Africa should be removed and made illegal.

“This will help Africa to get adequate revenue through effective tax system,” the NGO official said. She said additional tax officials would be needed in the region in order to have effective tax collection, and efforts must be geared towards capacity building.

Byanyima called for companies which are willing to do the right things to invest in the growth and development of the region.

Mr Bob Collymore, Chief Executive Officer of Safricom, also urged government to put the right policies in place to tackle the corporate income tax exemption.

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

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V anguard, MOND AY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 45 Vanguard, MONDA

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46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

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S a writer I get all sorts of feedbacks through text messages, emails and phone calls.

Some say nice thing, others go the other way. Some are truly educative while the others can give you a headache trying to reason them through. Some praise you unnecessarily, while others are unbecoming, implacable and bitter. That is how it should be. That is what makes the work of a columnist or communicator worthwhile. It does not matter what the reader says in reaction to what he reads. I find it rewarding getting these feedbacks. One thing I have realised, long ago, is that Nigerians find it difficult to discuss across the various divides of our diversity: ethnic, religious, regional or geopolitical. Because of our long history of bitter relationship, which is often punctuated by violence, bloodshed and conspiracies to undo one another in the struggle

Nor th’s lo er North’s lovver erss and deceiv deceiver erss married and am raising my family. I am as urbane as they come.

Most of my valuable friends are not even Igbos. We argue, agree and disagree, sometimes hotly.

That is understandable because we come from different corners of our diversity. Our experiences of Nigeria differ. One of my top

,

Let people stop playing the ostrich and start telling themselves the truth; even in its glory days of political domination of Nigeria, the North still worked very hard to bring other people, especially the East and today’s Niger Delta, into alliances, accords and intra-party partnerships

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for the pole position at the buffet table where the National Cake is on display, dialogue is difficult among Nigerians. Many are not willing to say things that are reasonable about what they want in the system. Many are unwilling to give a listening ear or reason through what the others are saying. Even when they tell us, “Good morning”, we suspect what they really men to say is “God punish you”. I want to return to this hackneyed notion that we, on this column, write to demonstrate our “hatred” of the North (Arewa) or any other part of the country.

Nothing can be more amusing than that. In the first place, I was born, raised and educated in the East, served Nigeria and got my first employment in the North, and have spent 24 years, the prime of my life here in the West where I

friends from Arewa called me and expressed “dismay” at what he termed “the things you are writing about Northern people”. I checked through my recent outings, and identified my common drift. For instance, I have been very critical of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and some Northern governors because, while some of them have been conspiratorially mum over the bloody exploits of Boko Haram in their home region, some have actually quietly (financially) or openly (at least in the media) supported the insurgents. When Boko Harm was driven out of Maiduguri and major towns in the North East they had almost gone under, especially with the gallant efforts of the “Civilian JTF”. There were even reports of the insurgents starving and resorting to food raids to survive. Suddenly, they took on

a wildfire mode, with reports of ”helicopter drops” and possession of conventional war machines like armoured personnel carriers.

These things are getting to them from someone somewhere. Those of us who are genuinely desirous of a speedy end to the insurgency to enable the North return to normalcy and give political aspirants the opportunity to prepare for the 2015 transitional elections cannot be said to hate the North. It is those who are supplying the nation’s enemies with funds and logistics to continue killing innocent Nigerians in their villages and destroying their homes and means of lives that are the enemies of the North and Nigeria. I have also commented a lot about the “born-torule” mentality, which many Northern politicians and the ACF have been bandying. I understand that Sokoto State actually has “Born To Rule” as its state slogan, just as we have “Centre of Excellence” as the motto of Lagos State.

If it is true that Sokoto or any other state has such an offensive and annoying slogan, it should be changed immediately. The question is: who are you born to rule?

Who is born to be ruled by you?

Here in Nigeria that won her independence from colonialist Britain 54 years ago, whereby we became a democratic, federal republic? It is this mentality that is troubling the North, creating pockets and centres of violence and stymying the economy of a region that was once the most prosperous in the country to become the poorest and most backward. It is this mentality that pitches the North against the rest of the country and gets

Northerners to feel that they are not liked by others. When a Northern politician, especially ACF loudmouths, boastfully say the North will snatch “power back” it becomes a challenge to others to ensure they

will never get it again since no region can produce a president without the votes and support of other parts. We are not against a Northerner becoming president of Nigeria. In fact, I am not against a Northerner becoming the president of Nigeria after the 2015 elections, much as I believe that President Jonathan has the constitutional right to run for a second term in office. When the abducted girls in Chibok have been recovered from Boko Haram and the war on terror has been won, the whistle for the various elective posts will be blown. When that happens, I do not expect that in the ruling party (PDP) only President Jonathan will be on the ballot. Those who feel they stand a fighting chance should throw their hats into the ring. Who knows? A new presidential candidate might emerge from the ruling party. The All Progressives Congress, APC, is also there, as well as other political parties.

Let interested candidates go and run. It will be in their best interest to go into the race not as regional candidates out to snatch power back for their region because that will ensure their failure. Let them come out and sell their candidacy to all Nigerians who will choose.

A person who gives this kind of advice cannot be a hater. It is the regional braggart, the born-toruler who cannot pull his weight outside his zone of origin that is actually working against the interests of the North and Nigeria at large. Let people stop playing the ostrich and start telling themselves the truth. Let people be re-

alistic about their abilities and expectations. Even in its glory days of political domination of Nigeria, the North still worked very hard to bring other people, especially the East and today’s Niger Delta, into alliances, accords and intra-party partnerships. Northerners must start to live and let live in politics.

Take your share and let me have mine. Everything else will flow.

Ogboru: lessons for bad losers I was very delighted when the Supreme Court last week ordered the lawyer representing Chief Great Ogboru, Dickson Osuala, to pay the sum of N8million (N2 million each to Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation) for “abuse of court processes”. Osuala and his client, Ogboru, had approached the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier verdict upholding the election of Governor Uduaghan on the ground that Section 285 (7) of the 1999 Constitution based on which the Court entered its verdict was “fraudulently inserted by the National Assembly”. While giving the order, Justice Walter Onoghen, who read the judgement, advised the plaintiff ’s counsel to “go to heaven” if he was not satisfied with the Supreme Court verdict. The importance of this decision is to rein in the excesses of those who like to toy with the judiciary and use it to commit atrocities against our democracy.

Lawyers are very fond of misadvising their clients, giving them false hopes, ripping them off financially and making a mockery of the temple of justice. We must imbibe the true spirit of democracy, whereby winners are magnanimous in victory, while losers are gallant in defeat, knowing that there is always another day to try again. This verdict will check the do-or-die attitude of our politicians and force them to play it the way it is done in more civilised democracies.

OPINION

BY LABARAN SALEH

ITH no intention of trivialising the W ongoing war against terror elements and their faceless backers, I can boldly

affirm that we are just inches away from ending the ugly reign of Ababukar Shekau and his team of criminals. These criminals are daily losing several of their men to brutal, coordinated and sustained offensive launched by our military and other security officers in different encounters. The recent call on the Federal government for a prisoner swap deal as condition for freeing the abducted Chibok school girls suggested

by Boko Haram is to get more men to replace its men killed by military operatives.

Unfortunately for these confused and depraved minds, Nigerians rose in one voice to urge government not to give such evil thought attention at all. These guys are only marking time. They have lost everythingtheir peace, consciousness, mind, men and other valuables- to dangerous offensive launched by our military men.

Nigerians have since come to terms with the obvious but often manipulated fact that terrorists are our common enemies that we must all fight against. You cannot be romancing someone who doesn't mean well for you. Why support, endure or tolerate people whose stock in trade is to visit terror on innocent citizens? Shekau and his men have since overstepped their bounds.

Nigerians are not only sick and tired of these

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Terrorism: A must win battle rascals, but can't wait to completely get them banished from wherever they are operating from. Cowards they are, and cowards they'll remain until our military men end their inglorious reign in Nigeria. We need not surf the internet or search too far to get information on the number of men the Boko Haram group has so far lost.

Our military men have since taken the battle to their domain. Hardly a day passes that Shekau doesn't get to lose key of his men during shootouts with our troops. This daily victory against these beasts in human clothing won't cease until they lay down their arms. The little success Shekau and his men recorded has since faded away. Their resolve to take their evil activities to other parts of the country is an indication that the north east which used to be their base was no longer safe for them. They just couldn't stand the fire-power of our military men in the north east. These guys try daily, though unsuccessfully to plant spurious information in the media just to announce their presence or seek for undue attention.

That cheap ploy or dummy always falls flat on its face. It couldn't achieve much. Even the once-in-a while videos purportedly released by this group hasn't achieved its evil aim of heating up the system or causing tension in the country.

This group made several largely unsuccessful efforts to use a few mainstream media and social network platforms to spread lies, rumours and falsehood just to cause tension in the land. Thankfully, that has since changed, as media managers and practitioners have rather chosen to pitch their tenth with the people. Expectedly, Shekau and his men are good at going the extra mile to announce their ugly presence, but unfortunately for them, all their game plans keep failing by the day.

Beyond realising that these guys are not our friends, it is instructive that we use everything within our reach to chase them out forever. They definitely have no reason occupying a space on our land. Nigerians are not terrorists. We are very humane, loving, hospitable, accommodating and amazing people. An average Nigerian dreads danger. So, I cannot imagine a Nigerian wrapping himself with IEDs to take his own life and those of others. These elements are not our products. Let us all rise in defence of our people and country. Our sovereignty is too precious an asset to be toyed with or surrendered to illiterates, rascals and sick minds.

We need to support our security men in whatever way possible for them to discharge their duties effectively. They really need our

encouragement daily. They have sacrificed everything for the sake of Nigeria and Nigerians. Many of these soldiers have literarily parted ways with their respective families since the war against insurgency took a frightening dimension recently. Some have died in the process while others are nursing life-threatening injuries. We recently received shocking news of a number of soldiers ambushed and killed on their way to the Sambisa forest in Borno. These guys cannot win the battle all alone. Apart from feeding them with useful information on clandestine activities of troublemakers in their communities, we must also remember them in our prayers daily.

We all have distinct roles to play in the war against insurgency. While our military men are doing their best in the battle field to chase away our enemies, we are also expected to volunteer useful information to aid their work. We shouldn't condemn them.

Rather we should learn to celebrate and broadcast their daily achievements. Let's give them that moral support. The media should make efforts to refrain from casting sensational headlines. These rogues celebrate each time the media promotes or highlights their attacks or activities.

It is no doubt a must-win battle. We have gone a long way to surrender to these animals. *Mr. Saleh, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014— —47

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companies from mineral water production to a football club and meat imports from Brazil.

There are many defendants that were also convicted on the same case. Four received death sentences, two got life sentences and the rest received sentences of up to 25 years in prison.

The trial and execution raised questions about corruption at high levels in various countries.

Surprisingly many comments on the story on social media, especially in Yahoo platforms were from Americans, Britons and other Europeans who wished such harsh punishment could be applied in their nations to deter corrupt politicians and businessmen.

The comments show complicity of political and judicial systems for the rot in the financial system where many CEOs became overnight millionaire and billionaire, not by dint of hard work but by acting above the law.

Some of the suggestions that received thousands of likes include a remark by a Briton that the CEOs of leading companies in their country "should be sent to

If executions should be carried out on the basis of corruption in high places, we may end up not having officials at Federal, state and local government levels

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Iran for what they lied about...

Frauds like theirs would stop overnight... instead, they get bonuses.”

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nother post states that: “This is how we, in the USA, should have handled all of the scams that the banks did that caused our recession. Instead, Congress voted for a bill to bail those criminals out, and ‘We the People’ have to pay that bill (along with our children and grandchildren), all the while the top brass in those companies got bonuses, while a handful of them chose 'patsie' to serve a little time in some golf resort community prison (not too bad since they all know that their big money awaits them upon their release for ‘good behaviour’). Yup, if we could do the right thing and hang all of those criminals and the ones who

Presidential system of govt

BY ERIC TENIOLA

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N Saturday October 18, 1975, the then Head of State, General MurtalaMuhammed told the opening session of the 50-man Constitution Drafting Committee at the Institute of International Affairs in Victoria Island, Lagos that the "Supreme Military Council has carefully discussed and agreed on an executive Presidential system of Government".

He said, among other things on that day, that his council "has agreed on an executive presidential system of government in which the President and Vice President are elected, with clearly defined powers and are accountable to the people. We feel that there should be legal provisions to ensure that they are brought into office in such a manner so as to reflect the Federal Character of the country". I was present at the event.

Of course, when the Supreme Military Council has "decided" at that time, who could undecide? That was the origin of our adopting the Presidential System of Government which has so far been operated by four presidents: Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Okikiolu Aremu Obasanjo, AlhajiUmaru Yar'Adua and the incumbent Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Judging by current media reports, it looks as if most Nigerians today view the presidential system of government as defective. I say, most not all Nigerians for the executives, the legislators and their aides will not agree with this view. Even within the government, both in the centre and in the states, there are some top officials who have since discovered that this presidential system of government will lead us to nowhere.

Yet, it was not so 38 years ago when the presidential system of government was first introduced. Like a groom eager to have a bride, most Nigerians at that time applauded the presidential system of government. At that time we were so enthusiastic that at last a major solution to our national problem has been found.

The military decreed the presidential

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system of government, the CDC recommended it and the Constituent Assembly approved it. It became operative on October 1, 1979. As a matter of fact when the then Head of State, the late General Murtala Mohammed announced the adoption of presidential of government in 1975 there was jubilation. He then announced the setting-up of a 50-man CDC headed by Chief Rotimi Williams, former Attorney General of Western Region and President of the Nigeria Bar Association (1958-1968).

He then announced Mrs. O.O. Onajide, the former head of news and current affairs Mid-west Television and Mr. R.C.O. Owokedi, senior assistant secretary Cabinet Office Lagos to assist AlhajiGidadoIdris as secretary to the committee. Those who served in the secretariat of the CDC at that time included Mr. A. Obilade, Dr. O. A. Obozuwa, Mr. E. Omofuma, Mrs. A. T. Kole, Mrs. J.O. Adeyemi Wilson, Mrs. V.O. Odunuga, Mr. J. A. Adesanwo, Miss A. E. Anwana, Mrs. J.T. Okechukwu, Mrs. M.M. Albert, Mr. A.O. Iyiola, Mrs. P.C. Adele, Mrs. M. M. Wuraola, Mr. R.O. Akpabio and Mr. E. Ojogwu.

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he late Chief Obafemi Awolowo declined to serve in the committee after he was appointed. Only two members of the committee objected to the presidential system of government. They were Mr.Kanmi Isola-Osobu and Dr. Segun Osoba, then Senior Lecturer in History at the then University of Ife, now renamed ObafemiAwolowo University. The two of them wrote a minority report and recommended a socialist kind of government which was in operation at that time in Cuba and the old Soviet Union.

The rest 47 members endorsed presidential system of government. For the records, they are: Dr. C. Abashiya, Dr.Kole Abayomi, Alhaji Abdul-Razaq, Dr. I. D. Ahmed, Mr. R.O.A. Akinjide, Dr. S.C. Aleyideno, Mr.Al-Hakim Ali,Dr. A.Y. Aliyu, Dr. S.A. Aluko, Mr. Michael S. Angulu, Alhaji Ardo Buba, AlhajiNuhu Bamali, Mr. Paul

support them (Congress), I bet we could get the USA back on track and out of debt. For once, I’m actually a fan of Iran.”

Another American wrote that: “Too bad we do not do that in the USA. In the USA the crooks are in with the politicians and a lot of the times they are the politicians.

I think a death penalty for fraud is a just penalty. I wish they would have executed the Wall Street scammers and the pyramid schemers and the heads of companies that cook the books to defraud their employees of rightful retirement. ...(They) should be hung along with any other convicted of fraud. The banking system in the USA defrauds innocent people every day and the government overlooks it. I do not agree with Iran’s politics but I do believe in the justice carried out in this instance.”

Back home in Nigeria. Few years ago, crooked bankers and capital market operators in connivance with some regulatory bodies destroyed thousands of people’s lives when they crashed the capital market. They ruined the entire investments of growing up companies, pensioners, retirees and entrepreneurs. Many of their victims are yet to recover from the shock while thousand others who were reluctant to commit suicide died of heart attacks.

Those that survived the

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BY YUSHAU SHUAIB ONESTLY and sincerely I never believed there is endemic corruption in developed countries, including the United States of America, especially in politics and corporate world, until I read thousands of comments after the execution of Iranian billionaire, Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, over N2.6bn bank fraud. The execution came after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld death sentence on the billionaire based on Sharia Law. The media had reported that Khosravi, the billionaire businessman, was executed at Evin Prison, North of Tehran for being involved in a $2.6 billion state bank scam, the largest fraud case since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Also known as Amir Mansour Aria, the billionaire’s fraud entailed using forged documents to get credit at one of Iran’s top financial institutions, Bank Saderat, to purchase assets, including state-owned companies like major steel producer Khuzestan Steel Co. His business empire included more than 40

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Sharia trial of Iranian billionaire: Case for America and Nigeria

Most of us are of the view that the presidential form of government is a liability in our quest for development; the system has given the key of the treasury to the executives, legislators and their aides to loot the treasury as they wish

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R.V. Belabo, Alhaji MammanDaura,Dr. T.S. David-West, Dr. V.P. Diejomah, Mr. David D. Dimka, Professor B.J. Dudley, Dr. E.C. Edozien, Chief I. Ekanem-Ita, Dr. U.O. Eleazu, Professor E.U. Emovon, Alhaji Sule Gaya and Mr.Rasheed Gbadamosi.

Others are Dr.Tajudeen Olawale Idris, Bola Ige, Professor Obaro Ikime, Mr. S.G. Ikoku, Alhaji Ibrahim Imam, AlhajiAminu Kano, Alhaji S.M. Liberty, Mamman Ali Makele, Col. Pedro Martins, Alhaji Shehu Malami, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe,Chief I. I. Murphy, Professor B. O. Nwabueze, Professor G. A. Odenigwe, Dr. P. Okigbo, Alhaji Femi Okunnu,Dr. O. Oyediran, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, Alhaji Ahmed Talib, Dr. M. Tukur, Mr. G. Unongo Paul, Dr. Y. B. Usman and Dr. Obi Wali.

After the setting-up of the CDC, the committee called for memoranda nationwide and 346 memoranda were presented to the committee. Among those who sent memoranda at that time were former President, Dr.Nnamdi Azikwe, who wrote on the Proposals For Reviewing the Nigeria Constitution; Chief Victor Attah wrote from Kaduna at that time defending a non-party system, Chief Ebenezer Babatope wrote as Secretary of the Social Reformance Movement of Nigeria and Dr. G.G. Darah wrote as the Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Arts, Science and Technology.

devastating effect of the market have to start their businesses all over again from exorbitant interests on loans from Shylock and corrupt financiers.

The Iranian Sharia-law system that has harsh punishment that could serve as major deterrent to corruption, cannot succeed in many countries because politicians and judges in existing political and legal systems are deeply entrenched in the illicit practices and could therefore not make such system see the light of the day.

If executions should be carried out on the basis of corruption in high places, we may end up not having officials at Federal, state and local government levels. In fact traditional rulers, religious leaders, human rights activists and even some school operators would have gone to heaven not to talk of contractors and politicians.

I believe white collar crimes that ruin others’ lives require, at least, strict prison time and not any monetary fine that the perpetrators can easily offer and return to the old habit. This should also include locals and international collaborators who deliberately trigger conflicts to benefit from the crises.

*Mr. Shuaib, a public affairs analyst,wrote from Abuja.

Other notables who submitted memoranda included Chief N.U. Akpan, Chief Alade Lamuye, Professor Eme Awa, Chief Olu Akinfosile, Professor S.J. Cookey, Chief T.A. Fagbola, Chief F. J. Elah, Justice Salidu Kawu, Justice Kayode Eso, Justice V.E. Ovie-Whiskey, Chief D.K. Olumofin, Chief Kunle Oyero, Chief Dennis Osadebe, Alhaji Yahaya Sanni.

After the CDC submitted its report, a Constituent Assembly was then inaugurated.

Of the 248 members of the assembly only 32 were nominated by government while the rest were elected. The assembly approved the presidential system of government.

Notable members of the assembly were Alhaji Shehu Shagari who became the first President under the presidential system of government. Other notable members of that assembly were Dr.Chuba Okadigbo, Mr. C.C Onoh, Alhaji Uba Ahmed, Alhaji Tatari Ali, Dr.Mudiaga Odje, Mr. Frank Alegbe, Professor A.F. Ali, Dr. Emmanuel Atanu, Mr. Paul Unongo, Mr.Mvenda Jibo, Alhaji Ciroma, Alhaji Kaloma Ali, Dr. Joseph Wayas, Mr. D. D. Etiebett, Professor Iyi Abubakar, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Dr. J.O.J. Okezie, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh, Alhaji Lawan Keita, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, Mr.Bisi Akinbobola, Alhaji Bello Maitama Yusuf, Alhaji Adamu Attah, Dr. Sola Saraki, Mr. S.A. Onitiri, Alhaji Suleman Takuwo, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaji Shehu Malami and Mr. Solomon Lar. Now almost 38 years after and with four Presidents who have operated the presidential system of government, most of us are of the view that the presidential form of government is a liability in our quest for development.

The system has given the key of the treasury to the executives, legislators and their aides to loot the treasury as they wish. The poor of yesterday have become instant billionaires all in the name of democracy. The people, I mean the people, are getting poorer every day and are being made to be beggars in their own land. Our type of democracy has made mockery of hardwork, honesty and procedure. *Mr. Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Insecurity: Retired generals speak ONCE flayed at home for their devotion to pepper soup and expertise in coup making, the Nigerian military was, however, revered abroad for its professionalism. It was such professional distinction that brought accolades to the Nigerian military and police in their various peace keeping and peace making activities abroad. Most Africans that have been affected by the scourge of internecine disputes readily give account of the professionalism of the Nigerian military and police.

The point has been repeatedly made of how the Nigerian military led by one Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, helped to cover the tracks of the United States military as the military machine of the world’s lone super power beat a retreat in the troubled Somalia in the early nineties. That was not an exception given the avalanche of awards and commendations won by Nigerian contingents in their several peace keeping duties across the world.

At home, the military, however, remained largely invisible since the civil war except when its might was tested with the now and again

I weep for Nigeria — Gen. Abdullahi Mammah

BY HENRY UMORU, ASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR

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ENERAL Abdullahi Bagudu Mammah rtd was Commander, Artillery in 1987, member, Armed Forces Ruling Council during Military President Ibrahim Babangida; former Ministries of Internal Affairs, Industry and Technology. He was a member International Observer Team to Zimbabwe; member, United Nation’s Interim Force in Lebanon and member, 1993 Constitutional Conference. He is presently a member of the 2014 on - going National Conference on the platform of Elder Statesmen category and Chairman, Land Tenure and National Boundaries Committee.

I weep for Nigeria for asking for foreign troops to come into our land to help us solve a situation

should be able to pass a comment positively.

But in general terms as a Nigerian, I feel let down that we now have to bring foreign troops from outside to come and help us solve a domestic issue.

Nigerian is in the forefront of contributing to peace keeping, now we have troops keeping peace in Nigeria. Our crisis has not gotten to that state yet, that is my personal view.

But if what the rumour that is making the round is anything to go by, if you have not provided the necessary environment to ask somebody to perform, it is asking for the impossible because you have not given him the necessary tools with which to fight or to carry out the assignment given to him.

Take for instance “the issue of Boko Haram being superior to our military forces on the ground. If that is true and I have every cause to believe that there is some iota of truth in what they are saying.

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I am against America physically deploying troops or any other foreign troops whatsoever physically deploying troops on our ground

that we can conveniently solve if all the logistics are on the ground.

So before you pass a condemnation, you must look at the military of today. What is their state of readiness in terms of personnel and in terms of equipment? If you now understand that aspect, then you

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Our troops at best they carry AK7 and a magazine of 20rounds or if they have met the requirements, a magazine of 30rounds, one magazine and you are going for a battle. Once you shoot it out, you are finished. You are left to the mercy of the Almighty Creator.

religious skirmishes. In most cases, the military responded with professional dispatch, though, sometimes with an overkill as in Odi in 2000 when seven soldiers were killed during a military surveillance.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was president at that time had said that it was sacrilegious for seven soldiers to be killed in their own country. Given the context above it is as such bewildering to many that the Nigerian Army with its tradition of gallantry at home and abroad is today taking the brunt of the insurgency instigated by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Reports of soldiers and officers falling in the midst of battle have turned from fiction to fact, and have today almost become a common day event. How did the Nigerian military come to this stage, that Nigeria that was not too long ago a net exporter of peace keepers is now begging for peacekeepers from all countries. Retired officers of the Nigerian military spoke on the issue in separate encounters.

Excerpts:

will be on your own.

Therefore it behooves that we exchange ideas with our neighbours. Come oh, this issue has become global.

What is happening to us today can happen to you tomorrow, Can we have some strategies common to us.

And then within you have a house divided against •Mammah: Against US troops in Nigeria itself, the air force is not sharing You are going against an enemy information with the land forces who is more equipped in terms and vice visa. The Department of personnel, more equipped in of State Services is not sharing terms of weaponry because if what information. The police is not is coming out from that war zone sharing information. So these are is anything to go by, the least in some of the things we must addition to their small arm rifle, consider. If what happened to a they have rocket propelled guns, unit in Maiduguri last two weeks they have semi-hard skinned is anything to go by, then we are vehicles. Ours are just fighting in serious trouble. with Hilux. That is not a military vehicle.

Serious From my view, we still don’t trouble understand the enemy we are fighting and if you don’t know your enemy, you cannot fight him For troops to revolt against their effectively. What do I mean by superior officer, it spells disaster. that? This enemy, who is he? Who And I am not diplomatic about it is behind him? Both within and at all. And if their claim and outside this country. What are his reasons for doing what they did characteristics? How does he that they have be made to fight operate? How does he get his on empty stomach, if that is true, weaponry? Because rumour has then it is serious. it that they are supplied by air We talked about logistics, their and if that is true, then you have equipment, if that were to be true, more than you have bargained then unfortunately we are for on your hands. heading for a disaster if we are There is a dearth of information. not already in it.

Where we hoard information, you

As for personnel, what is our greatest undoing is that we have involved the military in what was hitherto alien to us. What do I mean by that? The military has no business in going for road blocks, check points within the town and I make this with reference to the unit in Bama in Maiduguri. They may tell you that they have a brigade on ground, but I disagree.

These so called Boko Haram will come to you in waves, 400, 500 up to 800 against 150, 200, it is against the norms of warfare.

If we are to attack an enemy, we should have a superiority of 3-1.

The reverse is the case. They are coming to attack us. They have 4-1 maybe and they ask you to go and attack him and you are going with 150 men against 800 men, who is deceiving who. I said we should look at issues.

So the long and short of your answer is that, personally I am against America physically deploying troops or any other foreign troops whatsoever physically deploying troops on our ground, I agree they are more advanced in the issue of intelligence gathering.

I was told before that we have even purchased drones in this country. I could not confirm the veracity or otherwise of that story.

But if it were true, we have not put it to use. From that view point, you can now ask America or Britain to help you gather information. And having been armed with that information, you can carry out the land operation to secure the release of the girls and not them physically helping you fight to release the girls. I am against that.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014—49

Insecurity: Retired generals speak Our military is not stagnant — Col. Bala Mande

It's no shame —Jeremiah Useni

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OL. Bala Mande, rtd, who hails from Zamfara State was Military Administrator of Nasarawa State, former Minister of Environment, now a delegate at the on- going National Conference representing North West geopolitical zone of the country and he served on the Public Finance and Revenue Committee.

Some people say our security forces are not well equipped, are not well trained to handle the insurgency in Nigeria, but I will reason differently even though I left the army so many years back, but I believe the military profession and •Col. Mande professionalism is dynamic and our military is not stagnant. They evolve technically and in tactical doctrines, they keep on reviewing and updating their doctrines.

And also equipment and weaponry system acquired because I know in Africa, the Nigeria military is the leading military because we have more records of handling crisis, insurgencies, rebellion all over the world than any other country in Africa and in the process, we acquired more experience because we operate on a unilateral, multilateral basis with other countries in the world and so we are not left behind. But even myself, I trained in America, I acquired some knowledge which I was designed to acquire and some other Nigeria military officers serving and retired have trained in America and have acquired a variety

•Useni of high level professional training, handling of equipment, analytical procedures and capacity.

So since we have some form of understanding and cooperation with Americans, and the world is interdependent, I want to say that it was on that basis the US decided to give us some important support and also to give us the support in the struggle against this Boko Haram.

Is the support not an indication that our Military is not competent ?

We are competent to address the issue of Boko Haram very squarely. But we need our friends also to identify with us and America is a friend to Nigeria. You don’t refuse such gestures from your friends.

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T. General Jeremiah Tim but Useni, rtd, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is a delegate at the on - going National Conference on the platform of North Central geo- political zone and a member, National Security Committee.

We are not fighting a war, this is an insurgency, guerrilla warfare is full of tactics; you don’t know where they will hit next. They don’t present their target like inn normal war. No matter how prepared, no matter how secure you are, thieves

Nothing wrong, they have come to help us — Commodore Olabode George

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AVY Commodore Olabode George rtd was one time military governor of the old Ondo State, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he is presently a delegate at the on - going National Conference on the platform of the PDP. The world has become a global village and no nation can do anything all by itself, it needs international cooperation. We as a nation too, we have been in Liberia, in Sierra Leone, we have served even in the North of Africa. So if they come to our aid, nothing is wrong Is it not a slap on our military?

Even America as powerful and global as their operation is, they can’t say they can do it alone.

Each time they are heading into anywhere, don’t you see them begging the European forces?

They may be more than others, but they require the services and cooperation of others, it is an international cooperation.

•Bode George Look at what is going on in Ukraine now, would they head in to fight the Russians on their own? No. Nobody wants to conflagrate the whole world now with another third world war.

That is the cogent reason why their presence is necessary. We don’t want to end up like Somalia. And this Boko Haram issue, if you look at Central Africa from Mali coming back

to Chad, to Cameroon and the north eastern part of our country, Congo they have their own issue. Do we have this m a s s i v e problem in that area and allow it to spread? If it does, like somebody said if something happens to Nigeria and if we head on into all the various countries in West Africa, we will turn them into mini Nigeria. One, we have an international interest in this country, which is our crude oil, it must flow. Also, we have elections next year and they wouldn’t like any destruction of their economic activities in their country. Therefore, there must be peace in Nigeria.

What is your take on some

military men who revolted against their leader on the ground that things are not going well.

I believe the military hierarchy must be investigating it because it is alien, I have never seen such, I spent well over a quarter of a century in the military. I was shell shocked, and if it is true, I believe by now they are back in their board room investigating it because soldiers are trained to kill. Police can arrest because it is a civil force, but if the military get out of hand, it is a national disaster. Whatever those boys require, be it ammunition, training, support, logistics, must be provided. I am not in the defence, I am not in the military, but we have very experienced people who must investigate who is in the chain of command that has held back what should reach the boys, put them in harms way.

It is criminal. But I believe that the higher command has investigated this, they must have done something, they must have stemmed it because it is a bad signal.

come into your room, thieves will still steal; so that is what is happening.

So whether we like it or not, these people, I mean, the United States military have more experience than us. So this insurgency is a different type of war, there should be no shame about it; we need expertise. We are now after our children, two hundred children not two hundred goats and even for a man to lose two hundred goats is thug of war. But here we are talking of two hundred souls, over the years and these Boko Haram have developed their equipment and everything that will help us become successful, so I think we should do that.

Is the foreign military intervention an indication that the Nigerian military has deteriorated?

No, that was why I said it’s not a normal war where you face your enemies and defeat them.

So Nigerians should cooperate and work with the US personnel?

If they want, we don’t know their plans, the situation is called insurgency, the US military may want to do their own way, but all we want is to get these children.

So what will you tell President Goodluck Jonathan?

The best choice, the best decision he has taken is to invite these people. So he should carry on. Maybe there are more people outside who may believe they have experience and are ready to render this assistance, let them come in. They are not coming to take over the country, they are not coming to take over the Nigerian Army. They are coming to help us where we feel inadequate as far as experience is concerned in this type of war.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

V anguard, MOND AY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 51 Vanguard, MONDA

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Why Nigeria's democracy not thriving —Movement

T

HE Movement for Fundamental Change, MFC,weekend, said that the present system operational in the country was anything but democratic. The MFC comprising members of various social groups and high networth social crusaders which passed the verdict in a statement entitled: “Our Scorecard on Nigeria’s Democracy 15 years on 19992014” in Lagos said democracy did not thrive yet in the country because of leadership indiscipline.

It said the present system lacked the most basic ingredients of democracy which include broad participation of the people in governance processes, rather their exclusion and alienation which the present system fosters.

Chairman steering committee of the group, Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji, in the statement listed other reasons to include accountable public institutions rather than opaque systems prevalent now, credible elections rather than the violent, heavily monetized and predatory electoral processes we currently endure which thrive on patronage and cronyism; the enthronement of criminality as an act of governance, and an absolute incapacity for public service delivery.

MFC said it had resolved to launch a national protest against this state of affairs in due course to drive home its point.

Urhobo youth leaders laud Jonathan, Uduaghan

U

RHOBO Youth Leaders Association has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the establishment of the Federal University of Maritime Technology in Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area.

It also lauded the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for setting up security committee to monitor activities of Fulani-herdsmen in the State.

In a statement issued in Warri, the association's president, Comrade Francis Arhiyor, said he was against the call for the creation of grazing reserves for the Fulani-herdsmen in Delta State and other Southern States, stressing that ranches should be created for them in their zones as it is in other parts of the world. The group also commended the Vice Chancellor Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun for his magnanimity towards local contractors.

52—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

How we'll shame riggers, trouble makers — Candidates, INEC, Police

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

I

N SPITE of series of violence characterizing the June 21 governorship election campaigns, there will be no hiding place for election riggers and trouble makers on the Election Day. This was one of the resolutions of stakeholders including governorship candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police, who have vowed to ensure that the polls were free and fair. Governorship flag bearers, who thrust out the necks for free and fairs polls were Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Bankole Ajayi of Accord, Opeyemi Akinyemi of Action Alliance (AA) and Adekola Adeleke Ayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party flag bearer, Opeyemi Bamidele and 12 other standard bearers were not at the workshop.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop organised by the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi in Ado-Ekiti, the candidates promised to play according to the rules and shun acts of violence; the INEC said it would ensure a level playing field; and the Police said in collaboration with other security agencies, they will ensure that there will be no rigging and violence during the polls.

Credible polls They spoke after General David Jemibewon (rtd), who chaired the event and other speakers such as Ben Obi, Mr. Ayokunle Fagbemi, Dr Eddie Iroh, Robina Namusisi (Country Director, IRI), Dr Mourtada Deme (Project Director, UNDP-DGD), and US Consul-General, Jeff Hopkins among others challenged them to make the polls the best election ever and pave the way for credible polls in 2015.

We must guarantee sanctity of votes –Ben Obi Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, said the workshop was the fourth in the series after those in Edo, Ondo and Anambra elections, and added that the main thrust of the Ekiti workshop was to replicate the success achieved in Edo,

C M Y K

•Jega

Ondo and Anambra states governorship elections through deliberations and exchange of ideas.

Obi expressed the hope that all political parties would join hands together to provide an environment appropriate for economic development and growth in the country, leading to sustained wealth creation and poverty reduction.

"We all know that since independence in 1960, elections have been constant threats to Nigerian unity and survival.

These trends need to be changed and it is the responsibility of the political leaders, executives and all stakeholders to ensure we bring sanity to our electoral processes by ensuring that the people's mandate is actualised. We must also importantly, respect electorate choice and guarantee sanctity of people's votes.

The will of the people must prevail —Jemibewon Jemibewon, in his opening remarks said: Election is a formal decision –making process by which people select an individual to be their leader in public office...since the office is constitutionally to be occupied by a person, only one contestant must win in any given office. It is the responsibility of all contetsants to ensure that any one of them that is chosen by the majority of the people should be accepted and the rest should rally round the successful one in the interest of the populace and the development of the nation.

Let your literacy superiority count on the ballot –Iroh In his keynote address entitled: 'Democracy and the Politics of Elections,' Dr Eddie Iroh urged the stakeholders to ensure that the polls were peaceful, free, credible and

successful. He said: "I would like to see Ekiti State, the Progressive State, which is reputed to have produced more professors and PhD holders than any other state in Nigeria become the Pacesetter State in a new politics of inclusion, tolerance and maturity. I would like us to invoke the spirit of the late Waziri and his philosophy of Politics without Bitterness, and discard once and for all President Obasanjo's Politics of do-or die, and Ahmadu Alli's Garrison Politics."

We must avoid a repeat of wildwild-West –Fagbemi Speaking on the topic, Democratic sustenance for development through peaceful partisan politics, the Guest Speaker, Mr Ayokunle Fagbemi, who lamented that electoral violence had made many Ekiti people to abandon their homes in the state, urged the stakeholders to avert a repeat of wild-wild-

West."

His words: Ekiti kete O! It is most unfortunate that some of the indicators and incidences of violence ahead of this 2014 governorship election point in the same direction. It is now very clear that unless as stakeholders, we all make concerted efforts towards peaceful conduct by political actors across board by ensuring that peaceful conducts characterise electioneering campaigns during the remaining three critical weeks, the actual Election Day and postdeclaration of governorship election results, we may end up with Wild-wild-West. God forbid!"

He reviewed the economic endowments and potentials of Ekiti and tied the realisation of the dream of economic development and growth of the state to a peaceful political environment.

We 'll provide level-playing field –INEC Responding to the challenge, INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who was represented by Professor Lai Olorode, described the spate of violence trailing campaigns as frightening, assuring that the commission would conduct credible polls.

His words: "There will be a level-playing ground on June 21. We are afraid of reversal of the gains we achieved in 2011.

We are after what we can do to make Ekiti 2014 and 2015 better than 2011. We want your trust in INEC to be unadulterated. We will do our best to ensure

credible elections."

Jail any of the supporters caught rigging –Fayose Also speaking, Fayose said he is out for rancour-free and credible elections, saying that any of his supporters caught cheating or causing trouble should be prosecuted. He accused the APCled government of putting the state under siege and planning to rig the polls by booking in advance most hotels in the state.

He said the police were not serious about curbing the excesses of politicians and were orchestrating the violence in the state.

Fayose urged the police to invite leaders of the various political parties to mention some of the flash points where there are likely to be crisis in the state so that the areas would be adequately monitored and policed.

It should not be a do-or-die affair –Akinyemi, Ajayi, Ayo The Accord and SDP candidates promised to play by the rules.

Akinyemi said: "On behalf of AA, this is a collective effort, mission and vision to develop Ekiti. It should not be a do-or-die affair.

We promise and say that it shall be well with Ekiti State.

On his part, Ajayi said: Ekiti has been in turmoil in the last few days. The workshop has brought a forum for us politicians to jawjaw instead of war-war. Some candidates are not here but some of us believe in tranquility and peaceful election.

Ayo said: We in SDP want justice, peace and progress. We will play the game the way it should be played. We will never participate in violence."

Disregard smearing SMS:

Fayemi tells Ekiti workers T

HE Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has told workers in the State to ignore rumours making the rounds and being circulated through text messages and the social media that he is planning to sack workers and cancel payment of leave bonus on re-election.

The Governor gave the advice in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during a quarterly interactive forum held with civil servants in the State.

Governor Fayemi said the masterminds of the text messages often take Ekiti people as fools who could be tossed around by lies and baseless claims; describing them as enemies of Ekiti progress.

The Governor said it is ridiculous that some could peddle lies that government is planning to cancel leave bonus which is part of the emolument of the workers as well as retrench workers.

He stressed that no worker has been sent parking since his government came on board except those who have retired or ghost workers.

Fayemi added that government would not have responded to the rumours because this is a season of lies as the State is in electioneering period but decided to set the record straight so that the unsuspecting citizens won't buy

into the lies.

“Even within the civil service, they found the sms ridiculous and having puerile claims but this is the season of lies, and you should expect as many lies as possible. I get these lies myself on my phone.

"Some have decided that they have no other way to conduct themselves in this electioneering period than to engage in bear face lies. Frankly some of the lies are not worthy of response from government because we will like to think that Ekiti people are intelligent enough and are not as gullible as these enemies of progress want them to appear”.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 — 53

YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your nerve tomorrow when effects of fullmoon’ll come to play.

GEMINI: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, either at home or along your career/ business lines, should be well taken care of today.

Be very open.

CANCER: YOUR best bet today is to seek important co-operation of influential people and that of your spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for you.

LEO: IF others want you to conclude an important financial transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as conducive as today.

By Richard Eromosele

I

am sure you know what it means to be kind. But if you do not know, let me simply say, it is being generous being caring about other people.

For everything we do, there is a reward for us. Being kind is

Be Kind no exception. If you are one of those that believe that being kind no longer pays, you need to read this: We all know how difficult it is to obtain American visa these days, so it was on this

TERROR MUDA

fateful day a young man went to the United States Embassy to obtain a visa. He got there early and sat down on a chair. It happened that an elderly man came and the young

in “Never say goodbye”

man rose from his chair for the elder to sit down, unknown to him an embassy official was watching him. That was how he was called inside and giving visa.

No interview, no checking of documents.

Be kind, kindness has its own reward.

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO: IT’S important you don’t take things and people for granted now because they may not be as co-operative tomorrow as they are now. Be more loving.

LIBRA: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding within your working arena today, tomorrow’s full-moon may turn the whole thing the other way.

SCORPIO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please.

SAGITTARIUS: IF your desire is to make money today, you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life.

CAPRICORN: GOOD relationship between the moon in Capricorn and lucky Jupiter in your star sign will bring you good opportunities. Be less argumentative.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: THIS is your day when things will go according to your plans. Financial success indicated but if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment.

PISCES: THE moon in your star sign that encourages you to be as assertive are likely to oppose you tomorrow. Try to be more friendly.

ARIES: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more practical about your health. Be more loving.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What’s my immediate future?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in what you are doing. Please tell me what I should expect concerning my immediate future. Would I succeed travelling abroad for business ?

Akindina. Mushin.

Dear Akindina, Few years back you have started a very longer (years) great cycle of success and happiness, and this year you will be moving closer to the peak of the said cycle; meaning that your 40nd year on earth will be much more better than all your previous ones on earth.

Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of travelling and distant affairs you can be successful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful foreign travels.

However that is not to say that there will not be any challenge during the year. Actually like it happened about six/seven months ago when work and accident related issues were the major challenges.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

S

Nigeria, match-fixing and the Austin Ejide video

,

o much has been written on the Nigeria-Scotland match that I rather move on.

The plans to write on Coach Keshi’s final list of 23 was not helped by the fact that by the time this column was sent in, the list had not left the coach’s head.

Susan Eshett is a manager with Mobil Producing Nigeria, a Man U supporter, a rabid believer in Nigeria who last Saturday said to me that she was sure Nigeria, this time around was going as far as the semi finals.

I tried to punctuate her enthusiasm by pointing out the victory of Bosnia and Herzegovina over Cote Divoire, the weapon called Edin Dzeko and how we do not seem to worry about them. Susan was not impressed. She is not alone.

So many Nigerians are confident that this time around, we are most likely going to progress farther than we have ever done in our four previous qualifications. On further investigation I found out that it does not have anything to do with the quality of the players, the pedigree of the coach or the potency of the team. It is just a belief.

Based on this feeling and unique conviction, I will want to address an issue that should not be allowed to overshadow whatever achievements we are likely to chalk up in Brazil.

Just before the match against Scotland, news broke that Britain’s National Crime Agency ( NCA ) had launched a match fixing inquiry and asked FIFA to issue an alert over attempts to manipulate the match.

Member of the NFF Technical Committee and revered captain and coach of the national team, Chairman Christian Chukwu in a radio interview said it was "….Rubbish. Tell me why would you fix a friendly match? Why ?“ in the same interview he said how in his days footballers played for country and love of the game and that money was not a factor. Yes sir, things have changed.

What, is match fixing? The complex and international syndicate can be simply explained as “….the arranging in advance of the outcome of a match or events within that match, usually for the purpose of making money, often from betting” In doing this, players and referees are compromised, usually by notorious match fixing syndicates that operate mainly from Asia.

In 2013, Sam Sodje came out in Britain to confess how he has been involved in fixing matches.

Deliberate receipt of yellow or red cards, own goals etc . Sodje’s brother Akpo was also quoted as allegedly saying that he would be prepared to be

Yes, the Nigerian authorities have muscularly come out to deny this position, though I have not ceased to ask myself, why Nigeria?

,

paid to be booked, and as a Nigerian, I felt ashamed.

Immediately after the Scotland match, a video of Austin Ejide “consciously throwing the ball into his own net” went viral. The London Mirror newspaper asked why the goal was disallowed. Nigerians wonder why despite the presence of four goalkeepers in camp, Ejide was allowed to go the whole hog....

I have looked at that video again and again and every time I look, I get confused.

Back to the beginning. Three years ago, Nigeria’s name was linked to the Niger referee Ibrahim Chaibou who was fingered in the match fixing allegation involving South Africa and Guatemala and other matches leading to the World Cup in South Africa. Caught with over $100,000 which he lodged in a South African Bank, accusations led to the suspension of top South African football authorities including FA President Kirsten Nemantadani.

Chaibou who worked for Wilson Perumal, refereed our 4-1 victory over Argentina in a friendly and the result was suspect.

Last April, the same Singaporean match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal in his book, came out to allege

Milo Africa Championship: Nigeria A dethrones Ghana

N

I G E R I A reclaimed the Milo U-13 Africa Championship trophy after beating Ghana 5-4 on penalties at the 3rd edition which ended in Lagos on Saturday. But the Ghanaians showed champion’s mettle when they came from 3-1 to level scores with just about five minutes to the end.

Nigeria opened scoring on the captain, Olusegun Olakunle four minutes into the game watched by illustrious e x - N i g e r i a n internationals, Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Rufai and Ogbonna Kanu. Mustapha Adam

Agba’a doubled the lead on 20th minute but Ishahaku Fatawu pulled one back for the Ghanains, restoring hope they might still keep the trophy.

But a determined Team Nigeria represented by pupils of St. Barnabas LGEA, Kwara State increased the lead when Agba’a completed a brace on 20th minute of the first half. Fatawu was on hand again for Ghana when he struck a second on the day and his third of the tournament to reduce the tally to 3-2 before the interval.

Ghana represented by

Zogbeli Block A Primary School dominated the proceedings against an obviously fatigued Nigerian side but they were kept at bay by Ayodeji Otoola in goal for Nigeria. But with five minutes of play left, Abdulahi Haruna Rasheed restored parity for Ghana at 3-3 to drag the game into penalties.

CCESS Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tour nament’2014 took to a blistering start Tuesday, with defending champions, Kano RTC galloping off their campaign for the coveted Access Bank Cup and the UNICEF Cup on positive notes.

The opening game of the tournament which was decided after a brief but colourful opening

that he influenced the qualification of Honduras and Nigeria for the 2010 World Cup. How he used three players in our team, how he bribed Mozambique to stop Tunisia etc. in his words “……..My plan has worked and I was the unsung hero of Nigeria’s qualification to the final rounds of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Ferrying Nigeria and Honduras to the World Cup was a personal achievement…..I got two teams to qualify for the World Cup but I cannot tell anyone……”

Yes, the Nigerian authorities have muscularly come out to deny this position, though I have not ceased to ask myself, why Nigeria? Why did he not mention any other country? This proverb of there being no fire without a smoke should guide us as we fly to Brazil.

FIFA’s head of security Ralf Mutschke has confirmed that the Brazil World Cup is vulnerable. That there will be a conscious effort to track match fixing. News has it that there will be twelve (12) Security Officers in each stadium with the monitoring of potential match fixing among their duties.

Nigeria stands accused. The Nigeria Football Federation should consider this as very serious and draw the attention of its players and officials to this anomaly that is capable of dragging the name of this country to the mud. All those loafers, scouts, agents, journalists, relatives and fans who hang around players hotels, who sneak into lifts, should be adequately monitored and screened.

Chief Jonathan Ogufere, former West African Football Union President and President Association Of Sports Veterans Nigeria considers this as “….disgusting. We should not allow our flag to be stained in Brazil. This country is passing through a lot already and the last thing we need at international level is to be highlighted negatively” He said.

Chief Ogufere said when he heard that our friendly match was under watch, he was not too comfortable and nearly dismissed it as one of those distractions that we can ill afford.

Rejecting injuries May I implore Nigerians to be united in a prayer point that has to do with the rejection of injuries?

Italy’s Ricardo Montolivo, Luis Montes of Mexico and Ecuador’s Segundo Castillo will not be going to the World Cup due to injuries sustained during friendly matches on Saturday. May that not be our portion, we pray.

See you next week

Access Bank UNICEF Charity Polo: RTC, Lead in Access Bank Cup Race ceremony, saw RTC out pacing debutant, Huwaei 10-7 in the opening game of the medium-goal cup series.

The prestigious Access Bank powered polo fiesta which is reputed for its high profile competitions lived up to its billings as Kano RTC made good their pre -

GTB-Lagos Principals Cup: Dairy Farm retains title

D

EFENDING champions of the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB)-Lagos Principals Cup, Dairy Farm High School have successfully defended their title in this year ’s edition of the

championship after defeating Oriwu Senior College by 2-0 in an epic final played Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

In the girl’s category

Government Senior College, Agege defeated Ikotun High School 2-1 to cart away the coveted trophy. Yetunde Fajobi and Sunday Elizabeth got the goals for the winning side.

tournament rating with an emphatic performance that puts them in good stead to defend the title for the second year running.

RTC quartet that boost tested hands like Khalifa Ibrahim, Diego White and Johan Duploy both from Argentina and team patron, Musty Sherief took the lead right from the first chukka of the hotly contested game and remain in front all the way to the final bell.

The Sadig Wali led Huwaei who were playing their first Access Bank Charity Shield tournament, had arrived with high hopes of clinching their first title.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE, 2014 — 55

Social unrest threatens World Cup T

HERE is little doubt that the watching world will be in awe when England take to the field against Italy in Manaus in less than two weeks.

The Amazon Arena is an architectural gem in the modern style of football stadia, a design which creates the illusion that an elegant spaceship has landed in the jungle town.

Rainwater is collected in the roof to irrigate the pitch; the over- arching structure is specially built to ventilate the crowd. The 44,500, allseater stadium will be a

fitting venue for Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli and for three further World Cup fixtures.

And then it will cease to have a sensible purpose. Three workers died constructing a stadium that is essentially a vanity project for local politicians and which cost £171milion - some £40m over budget.

When England depart and the World Cup circus moves on, the stadium will be taken over by local club side Nacional. Their average attendance is 1,963.

Carnival or chaos? Social unrest could rear it’s head should Brazilians become unsettled during the World Cup

Adidas brings WC fever to Nigeria

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IFA partners, Adidas have launched their newest World Cup awareness programme tagged all in Nigeria Radio Show on the Super-Cool sport show in conjunction with Africa’s pre-eminent c o n t e n t s y n d i c a t o r,

TransAfrica Radio on Cool FM. All in Nigeria brings Nigerian fans the exciting build up to the greatest shows on earth with breathtaking analysis and weekly chances to win spectacular prizes, including the official

Brazuca match ball, Nigeria’s Super Eagles jersey and the latest football boots courtesy of adidas and Mopheth Sport Nigeria Ltd. The syndicated sport show is a seven part series running for 15 minutes every week.

D'day

Continues from BP

Cup tournament.

Keshi, like all other coaches going to the World Cup, is expected to be ready with his final list to be submitted to FIFA today.

With thirty players currently in Philadelphia,USA competing for places in the final squad, no doubt, the tension in camp is high and hearts will surely be broken over those who will miss out.

Last Wednesday, the Eagles played out a 2-2 draw against Scotland in London, a game that didn’t really show all we needed to know about some players.

It was a game that some players, possibly up for an auditioning over their World Cup place, failed to impress.

Barring Uche Nwofor who scored a late equaliser in that game,other players under trial were just average and need to up their game in subsequent friendlies before the World Cup. “Yes, I have an idea of

those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list,” Keshi said over his probable team list to be released today.

Keshi sounded as if he could change his mind at the eleventh hour over players who could gatecrash into the team.

The players themselves believe they are all good enough to be in Brazil as explained by skipper Joseph Yobo after the Scotland friendly. “Nigeria is blessed with talents and that is why I think all the players here merit to be in Brazil, even when we have some other very good ones still hanging out.”

He added, “If you watch the game against Scotland, you will know that the ‘Big boss’ needs to be pitied over dropping players and picking those who will make the final 23. It will be tough.”

But there are people who are skeptical about the choice of players Keshi will be selecting for the World Cup.

Assistant technical director of Nigeria’s national teams Kashimawo Laloko, expressed concern that Keshi will be beclouded by sentiments and select players, not based on merit.

“With the calibre of players we have in Nigeria today, the Super Eagles are capable of doing well at the World Cup in Brazil but that will depend on absolute objectivity in the selection of our final squad,” he once said..

“I believe that in the provisional list of 30, there are players good enough to represent this country but I know that some players who have no business at the World Cup may find themselves on the final list which should not be so because of sentiments.”

It is an arduous task selecting a team without eyebrows raised over the inclusion of one or two players.

Whichever part of the divide one might belong, Keshi is saddled with that task of selecting his team and whatever comes out of it, will rest on his shoulders.

Pele's son Continues from BP club Santos, was accused of using his father’s name to provide an air of legitimacy to businesses which handled money made through trafficking.

Tried under his full name of Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, the 43-yearold was given an identical sentence to four other members of the alleged gang, including the fugitive cartel boss Ronaldo Duarte Barsotti, known as Naldinho.

Naldinho was accused of controlling a large

proportion of the drugs moving through the country ’s south-east region, including the supply of cocaine to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, but has been on the run from police for more than five years.

The gang was based in Santos, where Edinho is currently employed at his former club as a goalkeeping coach, and prosecutors said he acted as a “link between the armed and the financial parts of the cartel”, reports said.

Danger in Brazil Continues from BP teams, including England and Italy, and confiscated expired food such as shrimp and salmon from their kitchens.

“The checks were carried out as part of our drive to see food safety codes enforced as part of a round of inspections being undertaken given the close proximity of the World Cup,” Fabio Domingos, head of inspections at Rio de Janeiro state consumer protection agency Procon said.

Teams are arriving for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12. About 600,000 foreign fans and 3.1 million Brazilians are also expected to descend on the 12 host cities.

Procon said its inspectors had found 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of expired shrimp,

salmon, margarine and pasta at the Hotel Portobello, which will house the Italian delegation in Mangaratiba just west of Rio. Domingos said the shrimp had expired in early April.

The inspectors also removed another 24 kilos of food that had no date labeling.

An inspection at the Royal Tulip Hotel in Rio, where England will stay, uncovered some two kilos of outof-date salmon, butter and ham.

Procon said other hotels would be checked as “teams and fans are all consumers, and we are acting for their benefit.”

It said hotels must tell government officials why they have out of date food on the premises within 10 days or face a fine.

England Continues from BP departing for Miami as they move their preparation for this month’s World Cup across the Atlantic before heading to Brazil.

The debate is on over how ready England are for the World Cup, but there’s no doubting that the Three Lions looked sharp before heading for Brazil.

Roy Hodgson’s side suited up for a final team photo before departing for Miami as they move their preparation for this month’s World Cup across the Atlantic for two friendlies before a final stop in South America.

The squad along with manager Roy Hodgson all wore matching grey suits before flying out from Luton.

Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were among the squad who relished swapping shooting boots for smart shoes, taking selfies showing off their teamwear along with Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck as well as Liverpool pair Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.

Nigerian agent Continues from BP have been linked with the country over some shoddy deals done with its name.

Reports on Sunday said that Nigeria’s games at the World Cup could be under the microscope yet again for the wrong reasons with an agent claiming he can influence matches involving the Super Eagles.

Police are currently investigating a video which was brought to their attention by The Sun, in which the tabloid appeared to have trapped a Nigerian football agent Henry Chukwuma Okoroji who said he can influence outcome of matches at the World Cup. In the video,the agent suggested he could arrange a yellow card during a World Cup game for more than £41,000 and a penalty for £81,000.

Nigerian midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was roped into the web,with the agent inviting him to the meeting, however there is no suggestion that the Lazio player was involved in any fixing plot.

VANGUARD, MONDAY,JUNE 2, 2014

Pele’s sonmatches sentenced Today’s to 33 years in jail

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World Cup team: Today is D’day 10 days to go E

AGLES coach Stephen Keshi already knows the twenty three players he will be taking to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World

HE son of Brazilian football legend Pele has been sentenced to 33 years in prison after being found guilty of laundering money for an alleged drugs cartel.

Edinho, himself a former professional footballer for Pele’s old Continues on Page 55

•Pele

Brazil suits us! England fly out to Miami

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OY Hodgson’s England side suited up for a final team photo before departing for Miami as they move their preparation for this month’s World Cup across the Atlantic before Continues on Page 55

Match fixing: Nigerian agent 'caught'

Continues on Page 55

Danger in Brazil! Expired food everywhere

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B

RAZILIAN health officials have raided hotels that will host visiting World Cup Continues on Page 55

Social unrest threatens World Cup — Pg55

ITH the dust yet to settle over investigations that Nigeria’s friendly game with Scotland could have been a target of a betting syndicate,more unsavoury connections

Continues on Page 55

SUITED: England team

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 4 Month (5) 7 Save (6) 9 Pass (3) 10 Cot (3) 12 Refute (5) 13 Spiral (4) 15 Fresher (5) 17 Decline (6) 19 Duct (4) 20 Javelin (5) 22 Sailor (3) 24 Wished (7) 27 Child (3) 28 Shabby (5) 31 Dagger (4) 33 Gather (6) 35 Cogs (5) 37 Turn (4) 38 Under (5) 39 Fish (3) 41 Entrap (3) 42 Erase (6) 43 Flower (5)

Down 1 Summary (6) 2 Respect (6) 3 Network (3) 4 Additional (4) 5 Warning (5) 6 Broke up (8) 8 Food-list (4) 11 Penniless (9) 14 Guide (4) 16 Sport (4) 18 Worry (4) 21 Matchless (8) 23 Repose (4) 25 Any (4) 26 Caribou (4) 29 Worn (6) 30 Shouted (6) 32 Boulder (5) 34 Hut (4) 36 Pitcher (4) 40 Limb (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

Across: 1, Slip 4, Raw 6, Mope 9, Awe 10, Stripped 11, Near 14, Rim 16, Eased 19, Appeared 21, Meter 23, Damaging 24, Catch 27, Let 31, Iron 33, Interval 34, Era 35, Reel 36, Lad 37, Gasp.

Down: 2, Late 3, Paid 4, Repaired 5, Wide 6, Mania 7, Owe 8, Peace 12, Panic 13, Spout 14, Ram 15, Metal 17, Sonic 18, Deign 20, Demented 22, Rut 25, Agree 26, Canal 28, Kill 29, Brag 30, Pass 32, Ore.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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