DANA forced ill-fated plane to fly - Staff Alleges

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61637

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

....AND THE PRESIDENT WEEPS

We can't find our parents •P.7

— Children •Fashola takes custody, relocates them to Govt House

DANA forced Ill-fated plane to fly — Staff alleges •DANA should be charged with mass murder — NAMA •Airline blames crash on engine failure, apologises •137 bodies so far recovered from wreckage

DECEASED

Vivien Effiong

Pastor & Mrs Cole

Ajuonuma

The Onita sisters

Ike Abugu

BY HUGO ODIOGOR AND LAWANI MIKAIRU

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AGOS—AN official of Dana Airline, yesterday, made a startling revelation on the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s crash of the airline’s Lagos-bound plane in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, saying the management of the airline knew the ill-fated aircraft was faulty before take-off but still went ahead to fly it.

This was corroborated by two officials of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA),one of the regulatory agencies in the Aviation sector who Continues on page 6

Mr & Mrs

Amaka Ojugbana

Fatokun and daughter

Olusola Arokoya

Kunbi

BAUCHI CHURCH BOMBING:

Ehime Aikhomu

•P.16

We did it, says Boko Haram.... warns media houses

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—5

Aircraft was still operational —DANA Air

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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AGOS — DANA Air line, yesterday, explained that their aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas (MD83) aircraft with registration number 5N-RAM, despite being 22 years old was still serviceable and operational.

Speaking in Lagos, Director of Flight Operations, Captain Oscar Wilson; Director of Ground Operations, Amos Olajide and Communication Manager, Tony Usidamen explained the airline’s position, stating that the aircraft was in good condition.

But reports from aviation officials and stakeholders indicate that the aircraft in question had technical problems recently in flights to Uyo, Port-Harcourt, Calabar and Abuja. This plane was, according to reports, supposed to be brought to Lagos empty but the DANA officials insisted on carrying passengers.

But Captain Wilson, Director of Flight Operations of DANA who explained

the airline’s schedule the day it crashed said the aircraft had flown to Ibadan on Saturday without hitches contrary to rumours that it was undergoing repairs. He said that Sunday was a different story entirely as the aircraft had started operations as early as 7.47 a.m He said: “On Sunday, 5N-RAM flew at 7.47am left Lagos to Abuja on flight 999 and Abuja back to Lagos on Flight 998. The aircraft went back to Abuja flight 993 and was coming back before the fatal flight 992.No aircraft would go if not in perfect condition. We don’t take risks with people’s lives. I did the test flight myself, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, it was okay.”

It is now left for government to establish the veracity of these claims and counter claims as the contentious aircraft on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 3:43pm local time, on flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos declared an emergency with the Lagos control tower at 11 nautical miles to Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Victims' relatives throng crash site z15 families displaced

BY EVELYN USMAN & BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS — RELATIVES of the victims still throng the site, apparently with the hope of seeing their loved ones. But their hope was dashed when they were informed that none of them survived.

One of the relatives who identified himself as Emmanuel Egho, said he lost his cousin, one Stafold Obuche. Effort by this reporter to reach the widow failed as Emannuel hinted that she was devastated by the tragic incident.

According to Emmanuel, “he was the Managing Director of Imoni Eyame Holdings Limited, located in Delta State. He was one of the biggest rubber exporters in Africa. He was 54 years old”

15 families displaced

So far, 15 families, according to LASEMA, had been displaced. Although Governor Babatunde Fashola who earlier visited the site, announced that the displaced families would be relocated to Agbowa. But as at 3pm, there was sign of any relocation .

One of the affected per-

sons who gave his name as Olatunji Lawal, said: “Yes, the governor was here earlier and said we would be relocated to Agbowa. But how do we go? It is not as if I prefer to stay here, no!

Already, this building is shaking because of the vibration from the aircraft.

But so far, nobody has come to take the number of those affected and nobody also has come to inform us on how we will be relocated. I still believe it is a political statement until action is taken. Yesterday, my family slept in a church. We are still waiting to see the outcome of the relocation.”

Lawal who could not hide his gratitude to God for sparing his life, said the plane would have landed on his building but for the mango tree adjacent his building that broke its wing and in the process diverted it to where it landed.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko was seen at the site controlling traffic. Other paramilitary agencies like Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society and those of NEMA, LASEMA and fire service among others were sighted.

From right: President Goodluck Jonathan; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Acting Inspector General Of Police Mohammed Abubakar at the crash site, yesterday. Photo: State House.

Lagos govt to conduct DNA on recovered bodies

zDisplaced people to be relocated to Agbowa zAffected houses to be pulled down

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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AGOS — LAGOS State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, yesterday disclosed that DNA test would be conducted on recovered remains of Dana Airline victims, to enable relatives of the victims identify their loved ones.

Disclosing this at the scene of the crash, Chairman of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke, noted that no fewer than 60 charred remains

were recovered from the scene.

According to him, “we have been recovering bodies of the victims and so far we have about 68 dead bodies. We have deposited them at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital,LUTH, where DNA would later be carried out so that relatives can claim their loved ones after proper identification. Already, we are evacuating the debris for proper clearing of the site. Everybody

is working at the moment, the Ogun State emergency service is also assisting us.”

Oke further disclosed that the affected buildings within the vicinity would be pulled down, adding that displaced residents would be relocated to Agbowa camp.

He said: “After removing the debris all the unstable buildings would be pulled down. The area would also be fumigated to avoid outbreak of epidemic in the

environment. The fumigation would be the last thing that we would do here. Already, Governor Babatunde Fashola has instructed that we move all the displaced persons to Agbowa camp in Ikorodu, where they would be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.”

He stated of the five residents affected by the crash and taken to LASUTH for treatment, four had been discharged and one was still receiving treatment.

Dana air accident, major setback for aviation industry — Jonathan

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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AGOS — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said the Dana air plane crash was a major setback for the aviation industry at a time when the industry was undergoing a massive transformation to meet up with the global aviation standard.

Speaking at the scene of the plane crash in Iju area of Lagos State, Jonathan assured Nigerians that his administration would thoroughly investigate the accident to know the root cause of the air mishap.

He said: “So, this particular incident is a major setback to us as a people and here with me are members of the National Assembly because we are thoroughly going to investigate this accident. The technical people will carry out their responsibility to tell us what went wrong but we will also look at the administrative issues. That is the part the National Assembly will play. The National Assembly will play its part, the government will also play its part. So at the end of the

day, we will make sure that this does not repeat itself in this country.

"It is a sad event for the whole country and all of us feel touched and that is why the Federal Government has declared three days of mourning. You will all agree with me that aviation business is an international business and all the laws that govern aviation are international. So as a nation, it is a very sad event, we have been working very hard to improve the aviation conditions in the country. For those of you who travel a lot, you have noticed some improvement going on in our airports. So the government is totally committed to improving the quality of the aviation in the country.

“We record that only Saturday, we had also a similar incident in Ghana where a Nigerian-based cargo plane had a similar incident but that was not as devastating as this."

“Let me thank the government of Lagos State for what they have been doing since the crash yesterday

because I have been in constant touch with the governor. Let me also thanked all the Federal Government agencies and other private sector operatives like Julius Berger and others who have been working with us voluntarily for this rescue operation."

We 'll continue to struggle with this tragedy—Fashola

While expressing his gratitude to Jonathan, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said: ”There is not enough for me to say as we will continue to struggle with this tragedy except to thank you for the concern and the support that you have provided since this incident happened since yesterday (Sunday) and on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, we thank you again in spite of the fact that I briefed you this morning, you still took the pain to fly down here directly to come and commiserate with us, I thank you your

Excellency very much.”

Oduah lauds evacuation team

Also the Minister of Aviation, Princes Stella Oduah, while expressing her shock over the incident said: “Our hearts go to our brothers and to our sisters and to our children that lost their lives in this accident. Our hearts also go to the families of these victims that their lives were cut short because of this air mishap, we pray that this thing will not happen to us in this country again.”

Oduah commended the efforts of the evacuation team and said “nothing is enough, nothing will ever be enough because once life is gone you can’t do anything to get them back but I plead with Nigerians to be patience, people are working, we do not know what happened but we know that an air plane crashed and lives were lost and also we know that investigation is being conducted that sooner or later the reason for this incident will be made known to the public and I know."

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

POCKET CARTOON

DANA forced ill-fated plane to fly —Staff alleges Continues from Page 1 argued that the airline should be charged with murder because “the particular aircraft McDonnell 83 with Registration Number 5N-RAM had history of technical problems which both the airline and regulatory agencies were aware of ”.

According to the officials, “this particular aircraft had hydraulic problems three weeks ago and had to return to Lagos after take off, thereby aborting the flight.

DANA forced plane to fly —Staff alleges The airline official, who made the revelation in an interview with Channels television,but does not want to be named, confirmed that the ill-fated Dana Air flight 0992, MC Donnell Douglas (MD 83) was faulty shortly after it left Lagos and stopped over in Calabar.

She alleged that the Indian owners of the airline threw caution to the wind and insisted that the plane must fly in a bid to maximise profit, thereby sending the plane over to Abuja to pick passengers, when it should have been returned to Lagos for further repair.

She also claimed the flight has had persistent history of faults with its hydraulics in recent times and it was not

supposed to have flown.

According to the official, “the plane has been faulty for a very long time. There was a case when it was on ground in Uyo for over six hours, because of delayed flight, it had a bolt. And then in Abuja it happened a few days ago, then some people went with the aircraft but they could not come back, because it had a fault there and it couldn't leave Abuja.”

“The same engineers that fixed it and then they sent crew to bring it with passengers to Lagos.”

Confirming that the plane that crashed on Sunday, was not supposed to leave Lagos at all, the Dana official stated that “yesterday, it (Dana Air flight 0992) was not supposed to leave Lagos at all, but it left and then got to Calabar, developed fault and it was fixed and then they took it to Abuja, when they should have returned to Lagos but because they didn’t want to part with the little money they will make, they took it to Abuja, loaded full passengers, and then it couldn’t get to Lagos. ” “It has been having faults over time, continuously, hydraulics or one thing or the other. That aircraft kept having problems and they were not ready to park it” she alleged.

She added that the management of the airline does not return

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Usually, our concept of compassion or love refers to the feeling of closeness we have with our friends and loved ones. Sometimes compassion also carries a sense of pity. This is wrong— any love or compassion which entails looking down on the other is not genuine compassion.

To be genuine, compassion must be based on respect for the other, and on the realization that others have the right to be happy and overcome suffering just as much as you — Dalai Lama.

C

OMPASSION serves as a reminder that people do indeed have the power to impact the lives of those around them, and that concerns larger than each individual exist. This shift in focus to the spiritual is sometimes all that is needed to get people unstuck. Helping others also helps the helper. sense of concern developed on this basis is what we call compassion; it extends to everyone, irrespective of whether the person’s attitude toward you is hostile or friendly.

aircraft with faults back to the station, as it should have, but “they make it complete its normal route to where ever it is supposed to go before they bring it back to Lagos” she said.

Also, the Special Adviser, Technical to Minister of Aviation, Mr. Victor Oche Elias, has revealed that the pilot of the ill-fated plane, had alerted the aviation authority of the airport, on the emergency situation 11 nautical miles to landing.

It was further disclosed that the pilot’s May-Day cry was given priority, but the plane could not make it, as it crashed 4 nautical miles to landing.

MC Donnell Douglas MD 83 was sold to Dana Airline in 2009 by a USbased Alaska Airlines, ahead of the airline commencing its services in Nigeria.

Dana Air blames crash on engine failure -Apologises

Meanwhile, Officials of Dana airline have attributed the cause of the ill fated flight which crashed at Alagbado on Sunday, to engine trouble Oscar Wason, Dana Air ’s director of operations, told CNN the American pilot of the passenger lane had reported engine trouble shortly before the crash.

Sources said the engine of the Aircraft had caught fire and the radioed the control tower to declare an emergency, landing as it was in its final approach to Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport.

The Dana Air flight was from Abuja to Lagos with its six crew members.

The Boeing MD-83 slammed into a twostorey residential building.

This contradicts earlier reports that the ill fated Dana aircraft crashed into high tension electricity tower. The Airline equally apologised to Nigerians and the families of the victims.

Reports said at least 137 bodies have been recovered from the smouldering wreckage, where rescue workers

were still searching for the flight data recorder.

Policemen with cadaver dogs and officials of National Emergency Management Agency are maintaining the search for bodies and valuable items inside the wreckage. Large crane from a local construction company was being used to lift pieces of debris away. They also brought blow torches to cut through what remains of the plane.

Some of the rescue workers wore masks to protect themselves from the stench from the site of the crash. Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola told the surging crowd to make way for the first line responders to do their work because they are in an accident

site, not a tourist site.

Said Governor Fashola: “This is a crash site, it is an investigation site, and we should keep our distance and allow the first responders to do their work.”

Meanwhile families of the deceased are being invited to take a look at

some of the recovered bodies for possible identification. Said source: “It is going to be a tough call for some of the families to see the mangled bodies of their loved ones but in this part of the world it is important for departed ones to be given a proper burial”

NNPC mourns departed colleagues ….Ajuonuma’s family still in shock

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AGOS—THE Management and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have extended their deepest sadness of its staff and other passengers that died in the Dana plane crash on Sunday.

The condolence is coming even as the family of the late Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, is still struggling to come to terms with his death.

In a condolence message to the bereaved families, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Austen Oniwon, described the misfortune as a “trying period,” while urging “the NNPC family to keep faith.”

The message was contained in a statement on Monday and signed by the General Manager, Media Relations Department, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim.

The statement read in part, “The Management and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, received with great shock the news of the air crash involving Dana Airlines Flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos on Sunday, June 3, 2012 in Iju-ishaga area of Lagos.”

However, the statement did not specifically acknowledge the demise of Ajuonuma, but quoted Oniwon as praying “for

the repose of the gentle souls of our departed colleagues, members of their families and other Nigerian and international passengers and crew in the ill-fated aircraft and for God to grant the nation, the nuclear families that lost their beloved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

The NNPC boss, who is said to be in the United States where he is attending an official engagement, further said that “NNPC as a family is united in faith with God who is allknowing; it is only God that can comfort and console us at this dark hour.”

He also extended his “deep condolences to Mr. President, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, members of the NNPC and the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry family that have lost a number of their colleagues in the disaster.”

Meanwhile, the family of the late Ajuonuma is still too shocked to make any public statement on the loss of their dear one.

As at the time Vanguard visited his home located at Omodara Estate, off Opebi Road, Ikeja, one of his daughters, who did not want to be quoted simply said, “We're not saying anything yet, we’re still in shock.”

She also said that their

mother was not in a state to receive sympathizers, as she was still in shock, even as some church members of the deceased were on hand to pray with the family.

While at the house, a family member, who also pleaded for anonymity, promised that “the family will issue a statement on our brother soon, but not later than tomorrow (today).”

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, and the Group Chief Executive of the Ondo Group, Mr. Wale Tinubu, were also at the deceased's house to pay their condolence.

Minister extols Ajuonuma

….DPR announces death of Anthony Nwokoagabra The minister described Ajuonuma “as a unique individual who enjoyed doing his job and did it so well.”

She said Ajuonuma would be missed by generality of Nigerians, who he spoke for.

Also, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the petroleum industry regulator, on Monday announced the death of one of its Assistant Directors/Zonal Operations Manager, Abuja, Mr. Anthony Nwokoagbara, also a passenger in the ill-fated flight.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—7

Gen. Umar still alive — DHQ

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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DANA CRASH—Sympathisers at the disaster site, yesterday, in Lagos. Photo: NAN.

Fashola takes custody of three children at crash site L

A G O S— L A G O S State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday personally took custody of three children - Joel Okwuchukwu (11), Chisom Okwuchukwu (9), and Esther Okwuchukwu (7), at the site of Sunday ’s Dana Airline plane crash.

Governor Fashola, who visited the site early in the morning to monitor the rescue activities at the site of the disaster, took custody of the children who said they were sent on an errand by their parents whose names they gave as Mr. Jeremiah Okwuchukwu and Mrs. Josephine Okwuchukwu.

According to the children, they were resident with their parents at 12 Olaniyi Street, Iju, and had been sent on an errand shortly before the tragic plane crash which affected their home.

The children, who were obviously confused and traumatized and were still unsure of the whereabout of their parents, said they spent the night with neighbours but returned to the site early in the morning hoping to locate them. Governor Fashola, moved by the plight of these children, took them in one of the vehicles in his convoy to the State House, Ikeja,

where they are being cared for.

The children later gave the name of a relative they could recall as Tony Okwuchukwu whom they said was their uncle and who, by their account, lives in Abuja.

A Help Line – 08023414111 – has been

opened at the Lagos State Television (LTV), on Lateef Jakande Road, Ikeja, to enable anybody who knows the children, including their uncle, Tony Okwuchukwu, to contact the Lagos State Government with sufficient proof in order to reunite the children

with their parents and relations.

Sunday afternoon, a Dana Airlines aircraft with 153 passengers on board, crashed at the Iju/Ishaga area of the State killing all the passengers and 10 other people on the ground while the ill-fated aircraft destroyed some houses as it fell to the ground.

BUJA—THE D e f e n c e headquarters yesterday disclosed that contrary to media reports that it lost three Generals in the illfated Dana air crash in Lagos at the weekend, it is not aware of the loss of any such officer noting that Major General Tahir Umar of the Defence HQ Medical Corps rumoured to be on the plane was alive.

According to DHQ, General Umar actually bought the Dana ticket to travel to Lagos but changed his mind about

Ajuonuma: Operators in oil sector commiserate with NNPC Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos

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A G O S – OFFICIALS of some companies in the oil and gas sector on Monday expressed shock over the death of Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, the Group General Manager (Public Affairs) of NNPC. Ajuonuma was one of the 147 passengers and six crew members who lost their lives in the Dana aircraft that crashed into residential buildings at

NLC demands review of all airlines' operating licences ....TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN decry slow response by govt agencies residential area,

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday urged the Federal Government of Nigeria, to review all airlines operating licences including the foreign airlines, saying comprehensive checks “on airworthiness of all the aircraft should be conducted before renewing the licenses of all the airlines.”

This came as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural

Gas Workers, NUPENG, while decrying perceived slow response by emergency and rescue agencies in the country, called on the government to build newer capabilities in the management of airspace to reduce carnage in our Air travels.

The trio NLC, TUC and PENGASSAN while reacting to Sunday afternoon Dana Airline crash in Iju-Shaga, Lagos which claimed over 170 lives, asked government to immediately investigate the immediate and remote causes of the disaster and why hours after the crash in a

coordinated rescue operation was yet to begin.

NLC in a statement by its President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, said Federal Government should also put in place a policy of pegging the age of aircrafts operating in Nigerian airspace, lamenting that the crash could have been averted if the appropriate regulatory agencies were effective in their responsibilities.

The statement read “From reports, it is apparent that the crash could have been averted if the appropriate regulatory agencies were effective in their

travelling following urgent military assignment.

Vanguard gathered that General Umar was reminded of a very important meeting involving medical personnel of the Defence headquarters and services headquarters that was to deliberate on issues bothering on HIV/ AIDS, with officials of the American (MOD) department of health and Nigerian ministry of Defence Health Services department hence he had to forgo the trip to Lagos.

As fate would have it, the decision to stay back and attend the crucial meeting, saved Umar ’s life.

responsibilities. The airplane involved was alleged to have been faulty and this is said to have been to the knowledge of the management of the airline. We urge the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the aviation industry, review the licenses of all airlines operating in Nigeria, including foreign airlines, conduct proper checks on the airworthiness of all the aircrafts before renewing the licenses of all the airlines.

Federal Government should also put in place a policy of pegging the age of aircrafts operating in Nigerian airspace.”

on Sunday.

They paid their condolence in separate phone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

They agreed that the death of Ajuonuma would create a vacuum in the oil and gas industry.

Mr Nigel Cookey-Gam, the Communication Manager of Mobil Producing Nigeria, said “we feel it even more here at Mobil because his daughter works with us.

“We cannot question God, but we grieve with those grieving, trusting and abiding in hope,” he said.

Mr Yemi Fakaiyejo, the Public Affairs Advisor to Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), said that the sudden death of Ajuonuma was shocking.

“I am seriously feeling for the family on the death of their bread winner.

“I am indeed familiar with the family, most especially the daughter, who works with us at Mobil,” he said.

Mr Tony Okenedo of Shell Petroleum Development Company described the incident as tragic.

‘It is difficult to say a word at this period.

“The death of Ajuonuma and that of all the victims is indeed a monumental loss,” he said.

Mr Emeka Ugwuanyi, the Chairman of the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC), also expressed shock on the death of Ajuonuma.

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

DAY 2: DANA AIRCRAFT CRASH IN LAGOS PHOTOS: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor; Abayomi Adeshida, Bunmi Azeez, Lamidi Bamidele & Diran Oshe.

From right— Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity; Mr. Paul Okwulehie, Director of Inspectorate Department of the ministry, and husband of late Mrs. Maria Okwulehie, who was Principal of Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja; their daughter, Uzoma, and Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, during a condolence visit by the Minister.

Mr. Umar Manko, Lagos State Commissioner of Police (right) and Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, Commander, Rapid Reponse Squad, at the site.

Flag flying at half mast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Sympathisers.

Rescuers.

Rubbles of the two-storey building on which the plane crashed.

Dr. Harold Demuren, Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (2nd left), and other officials at the scene.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, ambulance at the scene.

V AN G U ARD , T U E SDAY , J U NE 5 , 201 2— 9

DANA AIRCRAFT CRASH IN LAGOS DAY II PIX: JOE AKINTOLA, PHOTO EDITOR, BUNMI AZEEZ, LAMIDI BAMIDELE & DIRAN OSHE

PENSIVE MOOD: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State at the site of the plane crash, yesterday.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State at the site.

From left: Gov Fashola , Mr. Uchena Okoye, a Gov Fashola [middle] and other Lagos State Government victim, during the Gov's visit to the victims at the hospital. officials watching rescue operations at the site.

Some of the victims on admission at LASUTH, Ikeja.

Soldiers on hand to maintain law and order Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps on rescue operation at the site.

Rescue operators at work.

Parts of the ill-fated plane.

Wreckage of the plane.

DIFFERENT STROKES: A woman breast feeds Another wreckage of the plane. her baby while watching events unfold.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire Service undertaking rescue operation.

Sympathisers at the scene.

C M Y K

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Briefly

Landlord count losses

BY EVELYN USMAN & DANIEL ETEGHE

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AGOS—PASTOR Daniel Omowumi, the owner of the two-storey building where the Dana air plane crashed into, said yesterday that he had lost property running into millions of naira as a result of the crash.

Speaking to newsmen at the scene of the crash, Pastor Omowumi thanked God, saying despite the fact that he lost so much financially, none of his family members was involved in the incident.

He said: “I was in the church when the plane crashed and I was told.

When I came back, I saw that it was beyond repairs.

I first appreciated God that my family was safe.

There was no casualty, I went to church with my wife, three children and aged mother and the two young girls living with us and our househelp. ''The only thing left for me and my family now is the only thing that we put on to the church yesterday. As I am standing before you, this is what I was wearing and my jacket which I left at the place where we ran to.”

Eribake: Relatives keep mum

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—RELA TIONS, friends, sympathisers, yesterday, besieged the residence of one of the victims of the ill-fated Dana aircrash, Mr Wale Eribake, who died alongside other passengers onboard to express their condolences, but the family declined to make any comment, saying, “we are still in grief and shock to make any sensible comment.”

At No. 4, Dapo Solebo Close, Omole Estate Phase I, Ogba, residence of Eribake, efforts to speak with the family members were unsuccessful as they insisted they could not speak on the matter.

However, some sympathisers said the young man was nice to everyone in the neighbourhood,.

115 corpses recovered, deposited at LASUTH, mainland mortuaries zGovt to conduct DNA on corpses

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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KEJA—IT was a gory sight yesterday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,

LASUTH, Ikeja, when no fewer than 115 corpses, some dismembered, others burnt beyond recognition, were brought in from the site of the Dana plane

crash at Iju, Lagos, to be identified by their relations.

By 9 a.m, several bodies both identifiable and unidentifiable were being

carried out of ambulances at the Lekan Ogunsola memorial house of the hospital with many of the family members, relations and friends wailing and

FOR THE HEROINE OF DEMOCRACY: From right, Mr. Abdulmumini Abiola, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, (rtd), Chairman of NADECO; Dr. Joe Odumakin-Okei, President, Women Arise; Mrs Hafsat Abiola; Obi Goodluck, Chairman, Campaign for Democracy (South West) and Popoola Ajayi, at an event commemorating the 16th anniversary of the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, organised by Campaign for Democracy (CD), and Women Arise, at Abiola Cresent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos ,yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

NUJ wants probe, culprits punished

BY LAJA THOMAS

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KEJA—LAGOS State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to investigate the crashed Dana plane and make the report of the probe panel available to Nigerians within the shortest time.

The council, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Deji Elumoye and Secretary, Mr Sylva Okereke, stressed that the Federal Government should ensure that those found culpable in the incident were punished to serve as deterrent to those who cut corners in the aviation sector.

Noting that reports of past air crashes in the country were not implemented due to unexplainable reasons, the Council enjoined President Goodluck Jonathan to

avoid the mistakes of the past by releasing the report of the proposed probe, noting that many Nigerians were waiting anxiously for the report.

It wondered why the country should be witnessing incessant air

KURE—ONDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has condoled with the families of the victims of the crash, even as he pleaded with the aviation managers to en-

that are more than 22 years old are still flying in the country, despite the stipulated international standards, blaming the authorities for not doing enough to ensure that standards were maintained in the industry.

Firemen justify 'slow motion' at crash site

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—LAGOS State Fire Service, yesterday, explained why the raging fire at the site of Sunday ’s Dana plane crash in Iju, Lagos, took long time to put out.

Acting Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, who spoke with Vanguard at the scene of the crash, said some inflammable materials were at a warehouse at the scene of the

Mimiko charges aviation chiefs

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crashes; despite huge investments in the aviation sector, aside from an array of aviation experts in the country.

Describing some aircraft in the country as moving coffins, the Council wondered why some aircraft

sure necessary precautions were taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

Mimiko, in a statement, said “our aviation managers must begin to prevent the preventable.''

crash, which made the fire to rage for a long time before it was put out.

He said: “It took us over three hours before we were able to put out the fire at the scene. We

had to deploy five of our vehicles with 10,000 litre water capacity to the scene. Accessing the place was also a little bit difficult due to the surging crowd.”

Wogu mourns Director's wife

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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BUJA—MINISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, , has described the death of Mrs. Maria Okwulehie, wife of Mr. Paul Okwulehie, Director of Inspectorate Department in the ministry, in the ill-fated Dana plane disaster as untimely and painful.

In a statement by Olowookere Samuel, As-

sistant Director (Press), Minister of Labour, Chief Wogu, said: “I want to sympathize with the Okwulehie family and other Nigerians who lost their loved ones in the Dana plane crash. ''The death of Mrs. Okwulehie is shocking and a big loss to the family, especially at a time when she would have loved to share in the joy of the birth of her grandchild but God knows the best.''

scampering to identify their own.

The corpses, which were recovered from the wreckage, were brought in a fleet of ambulances intermittently from the crash site to the hospital.

Investigation by Vanguard revealed that relations of the crash victims were at the hospital long before dawn, waiting anxiously in grief and tears to identify their loved ones.

Among the corpses were pregnant women, babies, and the elderly who were brought in bags dripping blood all over.

A youngman, who spoke in anonymity, told Vanguard that he had gone to identify his sister, her daughter and his cousin who recently relocated to Nigeria from the United States of America and were coming to visit the family from Abuja.

He said the victims had been very excited to come to Lagos to see their family members whom they had not seen for long only to be involved in the unfortunate accident.

He said: “If only they had known, they would have just stayed back in the United States instead of relocating only to meet their untimely death.”

A Chinese, Mr. Stone Shi, Deputy Managing Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, said about six Chinese were involved and four were from the company.

Shi, who appealed to the government to quickly facilitate recovery of the bodies said: “Whether Nigerian or Chinese, it is necessary to conduct the DNA assessment to enable families bury their own.

“We want to carry our people home because already we have reported to our government and families.

We want to bury their bodies in their home town in China.”

Other relations of the deceased who spoke to Vanguard expressed disappointment that no official from Dana Airline was on ground to give them information regarding the crash.

Alhaji Sambo Tanko, a relation to one of the victims, and a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ibrahim Damchida, said “There’s no government in this country.

I’m just expressing my pain. This moment, I’m feeling too bad.When you want to talk, don’t mention government. Forget it. We have no government in this country. First, we were made to understand that that the German engineer grounded that plane.''

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2012—11

Olashore: Iloko-Ijesa residents declare 7 days mourning

BY GBErNGA OLARI-

NOYE

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Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Allison Madueke (right) during a condolence visit to family of late Dr. Levi Ajuonuma at his residence in Lagos, yesterday

UCH records 800 cancer cases yearly zExperts decry lack of equipment to battle disease

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—ASSOCIA TION of Radiologists of West Africa has expressed worry over the prevalent cases of cancer-related diseases, saying University College Hospital, Ibadan, records between 650 and 800 cases annually.

A member of the association, Dr. Theresa Elumelu, said, however, that the hospital was not supplied with any equipment that could be used for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Elumelu said this at a briefing in Ibadan, yesterday, as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the association.

Earlier, an associate professor and a consultant, Radiology Department, UCH, Dr. Biodun Adeyinka, lamented that many challenges were being encountered in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the hospital.

He listed some of the challenges that members of the association encountered in the discharge of their duties.

The challenges, according to him, included lack of funds to purchase modern radiological and radiotherapy equipment, replacement of obsolete and non-functional equipment, lack of constant

electrical power supply and poor equipment maintenance culture and inadequate training of personnel.

All these, he said, had contributed to increase in morbidity and mortality in most hospitals in the region.

He said: “In Nigeria, the Federal Government 2005 Vamed Health Inter-

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DO-EKITI— TEACHERS in Ekiti State, yesterday, dared the state government, as none of the 16,000 teachers in the employment of the state government showed up for the controversial compulsory test.

The government had issued a statement, via a state-owed radio, warning the teachers not to test its power by refusing to par-

Dana: Aregbesola calls for overhaul of aviation sector

UNILAG to MAULAG: Students sue O President over name-change

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—SOME stu dents of University of Lagos, UNILAG, now, Moshood Abiola University, have asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to declare that the power to change or amend the name of University of Lagos being a body corporate, having perpetual succession with common

seal as provided under the University of Lagos Act 1967(as amended) belongs to the national legislatures.

The students, who had sued President Goodluck Jonathan, also asked the court to declare that UNILAG, being a creation of an act of the National Assembly, the University of Lagos Act, 1967(as amended), cannot be governed except in accord-

Juju scare rocks Ekiti teachers' assessment test

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

vention Project, which was designed to revamp the health facilities in all the teaching hospitals in the country, positively changed the face of radiology and radiotherapy by injecting new and modern equipment into the health system, to replace the obsolete and non-functional equipment.”

SOGBO—THE Iloko-Ijesa community in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State has declared sevenday mourning in honour of the late Owaloko of Iloko- Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore, who died last Friday in London.

Risa of Iloko-Ijesa, also Vice-Chairman, IlokoIjesa Traditional Council, Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, said the late monarch deserved the honour considering his contributions to the development of the town before and during his reign.

He said the death of the monarch has created a vacuum which would be difficult to fill, stressing that the community was devastated by his death.

He said the community had commenced consultations with the immediate family of the late monarch, the state Council of Traditional Rulers and the state government on the funeral rites of Oba

ticipate in the test otherwise tagged as Teachers’ Development Needs Assessment, TDNA. In an attempt to frustrate the conduct of the test and scare away their colleagues from examination centres, the teachers allegedly threatened to lace all the 39 designated centres with juju.

But the state government said the non- compliance with the directive would not deter it from implementing the pro-

gramme.

Commissioner for Information, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, who spoke at Ikere-Ekiti, while monitoring the exercise, faulted Nigerian Union of Teachers, the umbrella body for teachers, for allegedly allowing the matter to assume a trade union dimension, saying it was a purely government’s policy that required no intervention from any of the trade unions.

ance with the provisions of the University of Lagos Act, 1967.

The students are also praying the court to declare that the announcement contained in the President’s May 29, 2012, broadcast, changing the name of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, is unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The students want the court to resolve whether the President, in his capacity as the Visitor to University of Lagos has the power under the University of Lagos Act, 1967, to unilaterally change the name of the institution to Moshood Abiola University.

They also want the court to determine whether the President, in the exercise of the executive powers of the federation vested in him in Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, can unilaterally change the name of University of Lagos without recourse to the National Assembly.

Olashore, noting that details of his final funeral would be made public after the consultations.

The Ijesa chief hinted that the authorities of Oriade Local Government were also making consultations with the community to give the late traditional ruler a befitting burial.

Ogunsanya described the late Oba Olashore as a lover of his community who dedicated his life to the development of his town throughout his life, saying “his love for the community was unusual.

He had many of his investments here in Iloko.

He gave a great name to Iloko even at international level with the establishment of Olashore International College in IlokoIjesa. We shall forever miss him.”

The late Oba Olashore, who died last Friday in a London hospital at the age of 77, was a former Minister of Finance and a former managing director of First Bank Nigeria Plc.

SOGBO—GOVER NOR Rauf Aresgbesola of Osun State has described the Dana plane crash as another sad event in the nation's aviation history.

Aregbesola, in a statement, said the crash, coming barely hours after another cargo plane from Nigeria crashed in Ghana, called for serious concern.

The governor, while commiserating with Nigerians, said the tragedy called for a serious overhaul of the aviation sector

just as many of the other sectors of the economy which had been crying for an overhaul.

He said: “It is another sad day in the history of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

The crash in the Iju area of Lagos should remind us of the urgent need for a total overhaul of that sector.

“Our hearts go out to the families of those who died in the crash. May the Almighty God give them the strength to bear these irreparable losses.”

Fund decries project award to incompetent contractors

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—THE Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETF, put in place as an intervention body in the nation's universities has raised the alarm over the award of projects to incompetent contractors who deliver substandard jobs.

A delegation of the Fund which visited TETF projects at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State said such jobs were of great concern to the body.

Head of the delegation, Mr Enoch Aumade, an engineer, said because TETF

was not directly involved in awarding contracts, many institutions were used to awarding TETF projects to incompetent contractors, thus making contractors to deliver sub-standard jobs.

Aumade pointed out that report of universities where such were noticed would be conveyed to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.

He, however, commended the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, AAUA, for ensuring that all the projects sponsored by the intervention body at AAUA were of high quality.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Ikimi cautions PDP over councils' invasion

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN CITY— FORMER Foreign Affairs Minister and national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Tom Ikimi, weekend, described as barbaric attempt by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to forcefully take over the 18 local government headquarters in the state.

Youths loyal to PDP had last week, stormed the council headquarters in Edo Central, demanding that the Transition

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CONFERENCE: From left: Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro; Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, President, Nigeria Bar Association,NBA; Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Chief Justice of Nigeria; Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, Deputy Governor, Delta State; Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN and Prof. Deji Adekunle, at the NBA conference in Asaba, yesterday.

Photo: Nath Onojake.

Anxiety mounts over LG caretaker c'ttees in Delta, Edo

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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A R R I — OPPOSITION mounted in Edo and Delta States, weekend, over the administration of local governments areas in the two states by caretaker committees and Heads of Personnel Managements, HPMs. In Edo State, some groups expressed anger at the alleged refusal of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to obey the judgment of the state high court, which declared the 18 caretaker committees constituted by him in the various local government areas as illegal.

Leader of an Ijaw group in Edo State, Mr. Andrew Igiri, told Vanguard in a chat that: “The 18 local government area caretaker

chairmen in the state should with immediate effect pack their belongings and leave the various councils, failing to do so, there will be a mass protest across the state because they are occupying the offices illegally.

Igiri warned that if the governor and his 18 chairmen refused to obey the court order, “we will have no option than to drag them before the law give account of how they spent our monthly allocation and excess crude fund.”

In Delta State, the opposition parties are asking a state high court to declare that the running and administration of the 25 councils in the state by HPMs is illegal and unconstitutional.

Army parades 58 suspected oil thieves, robbers in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— OFFICIALS of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, paraded 58 suspected criminals, including unrepentant militants and those allegedly involved in the operation of illegal

refineries and Edo and Delta States.

The Commander, 4 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Abel Umahi, told newsmen that men of the Anti-Crime Joint Patrol, code named, “Operation Thunderstorm,” had last week, destroyed more than 2,000 illegal refineries in Edo and Delta States.

Some of the suspects also paraded were alleged to be involved in armed robbery, illegal oil theft and kidnappings. They were paraded before Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at the Brigade headquarter in Benin City. Umahi said majority of illegal refineries

destroyed by his men were located in Delta State.

He said that they were able to achieve success in battling the criminals due to intelligence reports and the assistance of both the Edo and Delta State Governments.

According to him, the sophistication of some of the weapons captured from the criminals, including an anti-aircraft missile, machine gun bullets, dynamite and electricity cable wires, five AK 47 rifles, six magazines, one Mark 4 rifle, live cartridges, hammers and cutters, was shocking to law enforcement agents.

Committee Chairmen of the councils vacate their offices, following the state high court judgment, which declared the transition chairmen as illegal.

Chief Ikimi, in his reaction, noted that the law, which legalised the use of Transition Chairmen in the state was passed into law during the PDP led administration in the state, and called on Chief Tony

Akpabio hails S'Court's judgment

BY TONY NYONG YO—AKWA Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, weekend, hailed the Supreme Court judgment, which upheld his reelection.

The governor, who thanked the people for standing by him and God for giving him victory, said: “I thank all of you and I give glory to God that each time they stand to challenge the will of God, God uses the court to make sure that His will was maintained. ‘’I give glory to God that

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ensure that all primary school children in the country have books in core subjects to improve their learning.

The Minister, spoke at Model Primary School, Maitama, Abuja, yesterday, while inspecting facilities in readiness for the flag off of the 2012 nationwide distribution of books to pupils of primary school

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that Federal Government was determined to ensure

you are celebrating the judgment of the Supreme Court and finally God had brought the issue of the 2011 governorship election to an end. The election of 2011 was lost and won. That means that Godswill is done again in Akwa Ibom State.’’

Akpabiowhodismissedasmere distractions, some cases pending inothercourtsbysomeaggrieved governorship candidates, said ‘’sometimes, I tend to forget that there is a case in court because I do not want to lose focus. I know the number of years I have used to change Akwa Ibom."

Shun sycophants, Okpe union scribe advises Orodje

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A G O S — S E C R E TA R Y General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Mr. Henry Ebireri, weekend, advised the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM, General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) and members of the ruling council to urgently attend to development issues in the kingdom.

He also appealed to them to embrace constructive suggestions and shun sycophants, who are

misleading them.

Ebireri, who spoke in Lagos after a meeting of the union, alleged that report available to them indicated that there was a plot to destroy the leadership of Okpe Union Worldwide.

He cautioned some members of Udogun Okpe and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Okpe Kingdom to desist from acts that could mar the growth of the union and the kingdom.

ACN chieftain laid to rest Action Congress of in Delta Nigeria, ACN, in the

BY FESTUS AHON G H E L L I — CHAIRMAN of

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FG to supply pupils with books in core subjects Federal Government will that no Nigerian child, BUJA—MINISTER of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Wike, has said that the

Anenih to call his party members to order to avoid anarchy.

He warned that ACN has all it takes to protect the councils and ensure that the law takes its course.

He condemned the invasion of the councils by what he called “hired thugs with dangerous weapons sponsored by PDP leaders.”

who attends a public primary school was denied access to books, adding “President had directed that all children in the country must have access to basic books. We had put in place, measures to ensure that the books got to the children. It will not be the case in the past, when the books did not get to the children.”

Wike added that anyone discovered to have diverted books meant for the children will be prosecuted.

Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Patrick Atsiange, who died last month, was weekend, buried in his home town, Okpare-Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, amid tears.

Chief Atsiangbe, was described as selfless and dedicated politician.

Speaking to newsmen, chairman of the party in the state, Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh, said the late Chief Atsiangbe was a committed politician and party man.

According to OkotieEboh, Chief Atsiangbe will be greatly missed by the party at all levels, adding that he (Atsiange) impacted on the party tremendously.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 —13

Bayelsa Speaker impeached Y

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—THREE months after his emergence as the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr Friday Benson, yesterday, lost the position, as he was impeached by 16 members of the 24member House.

Mr. Fini Angaye, a former Deputy Speaker during former Governor Timipre Sylva tenure, representing KolokumaOpokuma constituency 1, was elected the new Speaker.

But the media aide to the ousted Speaker told Vanguard that the change was effected by 11 members of the House

at a closed door sitting.

Media men were barred from the sitting except for AIT and NTA correspondents, who were allowed access to floor of the House.

Two people rescued from collapsed Benin hospital building

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—TWO persons, including an expatriate working at the hospital project in Benin Central hospital, Edo State were rescued, yesterday, after a section of the building collapsed.

A section of the west wing of the new Accident

Ex-lawmaker lauds Uduaghan on economy, infrastructural devt

BY FESTUS AHON G H E L L I — FORMER Delta State House of Assembly member, representing Ughelli North Constituency II, Mr. Abel Oshevire, yesterday, said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, had laid foundation for economic and infrastructural development of the state.

Oshevire in a chat with newsmen, during activities to mark 13 years of democratic rule in the country, said: “13 years of democracy in Nigeria can be said to be a huge success in that, in the 50 yours of independence in Nigeria,

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Proceedings took less than 30 minutes, as the members convened for that singular purpose with the Deputy Speaker, Mr Sam Ateki and the deposed Speaker absent.

this is the first time we had unbroken democracy for this long.

“In Delta State, we have a lot to celebrate, as a solid foundation had been laid for the economic and infrastructural development of the state. The state of infrastructure, particularly roads, water supply, schools, hospitals, tourism, had positioned the state to take a great leap to the next level.”

On the country generally, he said: “This relative stability and continuity in governance had resulted in the laying of the requisite foundation for the growth of a sustainable economy."

and Emergency Ward being constructed by Edo State Government collapsed inside the 102year old Central Hospital complex on Sapele Road, around 5pm, while workers were still at work.

The engineers at the site explained to newsmen that the accident was caused by a rope cut on one of the cranes conveying concrete from the base of the four-storey building, smashing into the third, second and ground floors of the building.

Vanguard witnessed one of the rescued victims, being conveyed to the hospital in a Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, vehicle. He was admitted at the intensive care unit of the hospital and is responding to treatment.

The site engineer, who was still trapped at press time, was communicating with the rescuers while frantic efforts were being made by other expatriates attached to the RCC and Setraco Construction companies to rescue him.

DONATION: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (2nd right); Chairman, Zinox Technologies Limited, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh (middle); Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right) and others during the presentation of patrol vehicles to the State Government by Mr. Ekeh, at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

Plane crash: Ughelli, Uwheru thrown into mourning over Obrutse's death

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—PEOPLE of UGHELLI and Uwheru towns in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, were, yesterday, thrown into mourning, when the news of the death of Mr. Stanford Obrutse, owner of Imoniyame Holdings, Ughelli filtered in.

Mr. Obrutse, Sunday, died in the ill-fated Dana aircraft, that crashed at Iju,Ishaga area of Lagos.

When our correspondent visited the factory, yesterday, the atmosphere was dull as

the staffs were in mourning mood, following the news of the death of their chairman.

Efforts to speak to some of the workers were fruitless, as they were still grappling with news of the sudden death of their boss. One of the management staff of the company, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, confirmed the

Late Stanford Obrutse

death.

Describing Mr. Obrutse as a wonderful boss, the staff who does not want his name in print, said the entire staff of the company were grieving over his death.

Saying that the late Mr. Obrutse had so much passion for the company, he decried that the vacuum created by his death would be difficult to fill.

At Uwheru, Mr Igho Aragba, a former leader of Ughelli North Legislative Arm, described the death of Mr. Obrutse as a monumental loss to the people of Uwheru Kingdom, lamenting that the vacuum created by his death cannot be filled by any measure.

....As Oshiomhole mourns death

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the death of over 150 people in a plane crash at Iju, Lagos, as a great loss to the nation.

Oshiomhole in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, said: “I received with great shock news of the plane crash at Iju area of in Lagos, in which over 150 people

lost their lives.

“I wish to convey the deepest condolence of the people and Government of Edo State as well as my personal commiseration to the families of the victims.

The death of the victims, is not only a sad loss to their families but also a great loss to the nation.

“While we cannot question God, we pray He lays His consoling hand on the families left behind and grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.”

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Gunmen kidnap medical doctor as robbers shot dead tailor

Angry reactions in Imo over Dana air crash

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BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—ANGRY re actions have started trailing Sunday’s Dana Air plane crash that claimed over 170 lives, as Governor Rochas Okorocha appealed to Nigerians to pray for the repose of their souls.

Imo people were particularly irked that a number of their prominent sons and daughters, including the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, Prof Celestine Onwuliri, and the Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Livy Ajonuma.

While the respondents feared that some of the aircrafts operating the nation’s airspace may not be air worthy, others appealed to the Federal Government to compel operators to fully comply with maintenance schedules of aircrafts.

Speaking through his Senior Special Adviser, SSA, (Media), Mr. Chinedu Offor, the Governor prayed God to grant the nation the fortitude the bear the loss.

“I passionately call on Nigerians to pray for the repose of the souls of those, who lost their lives on board the ill-fated Abuja-Lagos bound Dana Air”, Okorocha said.

....Cleric calls for ban of airline

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— FORMER Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ebonyi State chapter, Rt. Rev Godfrey Agupusi yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ban Dana Air lines which one of its aircrafts crashed on Sunday killing 170 Niger i a n s .

Speaking with Vanguard, the bishop described the crash painful and condoled with the families of the deceased, praying God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

He said: "It is true that the Federal Government has not concluded its investigation to determine whether it was carelessness on the side of the air craft managers that led to the crash but if yes, they should be sanctioned'.

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

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VISIT—Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo (left); and Prof. Chigozie Cyril Asiabaka, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, during a visit to Government House, Owerri.

DANA PLANE CRASH 115 bodies recovered

BY UDUMA KALU

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BOUT 115 bodies were yesterday recovered, comprising 68 males, 33 females and seven children, from of the DANA plane crash site in Iju area of Lagos on Sunday. However, as at 2. 30 pm yesterday, about 114 bodies were pulled out from the rubble.

Among some of the items recovered from deceased were wallets, money in several denominations, ear phones, ATMs, recharge cards, phones, among others. The items were listed against the deceased names and put away by the different rescue officials made up of FRSC, police and others.

As each body was recovered, it was put in a blue sack with the deceased name written on it and put into an ambulance by a team of the fire service, FRSC, Red Cross among others.

Vanguard was able to count over eight bodies dumped in the ambulance by the rescue team.

This put paid to the earlier information that all the bodies were burnt beyond recognition and only their bones remained.

However, the Acting Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Razak Fadipe, told newsmen that his men were able to control the spread of fire from the rear end of the plane, which made it possible for them

to recover some of the bodies that were intact. He said his men used over five tanker load of water, which is 10, 000 liters.

Lagos fire service director lied—Residents The residents said the director lied. To prove the director wrong, an eye witness, Peter Adinini, said he was at the junction leading to the crash scene at 3. 45 pm with some of his friends when he heard a loud noise. I and four others were the first to get to the scene. If I had equipment to go there, I would have become a national hero today. As we were going to the scene, I asked some people to call the some of the emergency numbers and they did, at least five confirmed to me that they did.

The first rescue team that came were the police, and they came in a helicopter. there was a fire, but it was not much. We saw a man struggling to come out. We were at the tail end of the plane. You know it crashed on a warehouse. So cartons of books blocked passage to the plane. We brought down the cartons but before we could finish bringing down the cartons the fire had spread.

An hour later, the rescue came. And that was FAAN. By then, the plane had crumbled and there was no way anyone could be rescued. If the rescue teams

had come earlier, there would have been survivors.

The plane did not come with fire from the sky. The fire came two minutes later after the crash. People were also afraid the plane would blow up but some of us were brave.

The pilot’s hand was outside the window of the plane.

But most of the neighbours were scampering to safety from the crashed houses.

I thank God—Driver In Olaniyi street, a fair thick set man stood in the now evacuated street with his 6- year-old daughter. He was looking at the clearing site which used to be a three storey building but now a level ground He told Vanguard that he was away doing his job as a driver when his wife called that there was a plane crash just houses away from his house. He had rushed back only to see the fire service and others there. His bungalow was safe and his children and wife who were in the house were safe. But another family in the middle flat was wiped out. Another family had sent out their kids for an errand when the crash occurred killing the parents.

Dr. Ike Abugu Dr. Ike Abugu, had a PHD in Engineering and was

chairman of Council, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, NASME, and Managing Director, The Skyward Group. He hailed from Umuida in Enugu- Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government of Enugu State.

Abugu left a wife, three children and an aged mother to mourn him.

Streets evacuated, schools closed Afraid that more planes would crash and that a chemical would be spread in the area to prevent epidemic, the residents of the streets where the crash occurred have abandoned their homes. A walk round the streets showed that the houses are locked up.

Some of their cloths left to dry were hanging about showing a hurried exit. tensed situation.

Crowd hamper o p e r a t i o n s — Re d Cross boss Too many volunteers trying to help at the crash scene hampered the rescue operations of the Red Cross and other teams. Advising Nigerian to always give way to rescue teams, the Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society Lagos State Branch, Engr. Mobolaji Ola Onibudo, said he mobilised volunteers with other agencies but there was no survivors.

SUKKA—A promi nent medical doctor in the university town of Nsukka, Enugu State has been abducted by a six-man gang even as armed robbers shot dead a tailor at Ofulonu R o a d .

Vanguard gathered that the medical doctor who was identified as Dr. M.A Sadiq, a staff of the University of Nigeria, UNN, Medical Centre, was kidnapped in front of his private hospital, Mount Arafat Hospital, 59 Aku Road Nsukka on S a t u r d a y .

Vanguard gathered that the six men waited in front of the hospital for hours for the doctor to finish attending to his patients before abducting him.

The kidnappers reportedly gave the medical doctor the beating of his life before he was hand-cuffed and dragged into his own private car with which they took him away.

Vanguard learnt that the kidnappers came to the hospital on foot and that the security man, Mr Sani who tried to save his master from being taken away was beaten black and blue by the hoodlums who shot sporadically into the air to scar away people from the s c e n e .

Okereke, 92, for burial

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HIEF Christian Okore Okereke, 92, has died.

He will be buried at his resident, Eziohuru Compound Ukwu-akwu Ututu, Aro Chukwu L.G.A of Abia State, on June 9, 2012, after a commendation service at the Presbyterian Church, Umuiwe Parish. He is survived children, gand children and great grand children, among whom is Charity Chie Ottah of Vanguard Newspaper, Apapa, Lagos.

z Late Chief Okereke

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—15

UK, Russia, Canada commiserate with Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—THE United Kingdom, President Vladmir Putin of Russia and the government of Canada, yesterday, commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan, following the loss of 153 passengers in a Dana airplane crash in Lagos, Sunday.

A statement by the Press/ Political Secretary in the British High Commission, Mr. Hooman Nounzi, quoted United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, as saying: “I wish to express my extreme sadness at the news of the airplane crash in Lagos.

“My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the bereaved and those injured.

My thoughts are with the Nigerian people at this tragic time.”

A statement made available to journalists in Abuja by the Embassy of Russia quoted Putin in a letter of condolence to President

Jonathan as saying, “I would like to express my sincere sympathy in connection with a severe tragedy— the passenger aircraft crash in Lagos.

“While sharing your grief over numerous victims, I would be grateful to you for conveying condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes for the soonest recovery to the injured.”

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Minister of State (Consular and the Americas), the Diane Ablonczy, said the government of Canada is working to ascertain whether its nationals were involved in the crash.

“On behalf of all Canadians, we extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of the victims of the tragic airplane crash. All 153 people aboard the plane are likely to have perished.

Many more people on the ground are also dead or injured.”

Dana crash: Senate probes airlines

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA—SENATE is set to carry out a full scale investigation of all the airliners operating in the country following the Sunday crash of a Dana airplane in Lagos.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Enyinnaya Abaribe, while lamenting the Dana airplane crash in which close to 200 people lost their lives, said the fleet of all airliners operating in Nigeria, including Dana Airlines, will be fully investigated to ascertain the airworthiness of aircraft plying the nation’s airspace.

He added that the move is to ensure that Nigeria does not return to the dark days of frequent air mishaps resulting from the use of faulty and old aircraft.

Abaribe said: “Senate demands nothing but a holis-

tic investigation of the remote and immediate causes of the Sunday crash devoid of rhetoric.

“Senate would also insist that the probe this time should not be limited to Dana Airlines and their fleet, but all the aircraft being operated in Nigeria. We thought Nigeria had landed in the golden era of

safe aviation industry where all the standard codes that conform to international best practices are complied with.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that the latest incident suggest ominously that we may be headed to the aviation dark ages.

The Senate is, therefore, prepared to support every

effort that would strengthen the industry, keep our sky safer and prevent the industry from retrogressing.”

Abaribe also sympathised with the families of passengers in the ill-fated plane, adding that the Senate was deeply touched by their unfortunate deaths.

Ibrahim Damcida, Dana crash victim

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN & NDAHI MARAMA

B

ILLIONAIRE businessman and northern power broker, Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida who died in the ill-fated Dana air crash, Sunday, was one man whose influence cut across the country’s traditional, political and business sectors.

Though he was never a politician, the Biu, Borno State-born former super permanent secretary wielded the kind of power that could only have been

envied by many politicians.

Damcida a prince of Biu was also one of the kingmakers in the Biu emirate council and an elder brother to the present Emir of Biu, Alhaji Umaru Mustapha.

He was among the handful of senior civil servants from the north who rose through the ranks to the peak of the civil service emerging as one of a handful of Super Permanent Secretaries during the Yakubu Gowon regime.

Damcida originally trained as an accountant

and following his switch from the Northern civil service to the federal civil service in 1962, he served as Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Industries from 1962 to 1965.

During that time he also did an attachment with the World Bank offices in Washington, D.C, USA. He was later to serve as Deputy Permanent Secretary and subsequently as Permanent Secretary at the Ministries of Industries, Finance, Trade and Defence.

Lagos doctors collect recall letters

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HE 788 doctors that were recalled by the Lagos State government, yesterday, have started collecting their individual official letters of re-instatement from the Health Service Commission.

However, the recalled doctors have vowed not to resume work until all the788 doctors that were sacked have got their recall letters, saying some of them might be intentionally exempted from the recall exercise.

The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, who spoke in Lagos, yesterday, confirmed that Lagos State government had written to the doctors to go to the Health Service Commission in Lagos Island to collect the letters.

Odusote, however, said not all the doctors had collected their official letters as

they were being distributed in batches according to a roaster posted at the commission.

According to him, doctors working with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja were to collect their letters yesterday and today, while others in general hospitals were slated for tomorrow and Thursday.

He said: “I work at the Gbagada General Hospital, so I have not yet collected my letter. Those in LASUTH have started collecting their letters. We are not going to resume work until all the 788 doctors have been recalled officially.”

Odusote, however, said the Guild would constitute another meeting after the dates of collection of the letters had elapsed to access and collate the figures of doctors that were recalled.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Bauchi suicide attack killed 21 dead, injured 45— CAN

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—FOLLOWING Sunday’s suicide bomb attack at the Living Faith and the Harvest Field Churches in Yelwa area of Bauchi State, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has confirmed that 21 people were killed, while 45 others sustained injuries during the bomb attack.

The state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Lawi Pokti, who spoke at a news conference on the issue yesterday at the COCCIN headquarters in Bauchi, also accused the Nigerian Army of extra-judicial killings of unarmed and aggrieved relations of the victims, describing the action as evil and satanic.

Pokti also said illegal executions were carried out by devilish terrorists who parade themselves under the canopy of a religious group.

He said: “As at press time, 21 people have been confirmed dead, out of which 12 died as a result of the

bomb blast while eight were shot dead by the military who went to the blast site to maintain law and order. A total number of 45 persons have been confirmed wounded out of which 25 were wounded by bomb blast and 20 sustained various degrees of injuries from gun shots from the military.”

He said as much as the Christian community appreciates the efforts of the state government in responding to the bomb incident by taking the wounded persons to the teaching hospital for emergency help, it utterly condemned the extra-judicial killings of innocent civilians, mostly women and children.

He said: “We declare that the security has no moral, ethical and empirical justification to open fire on the women, youths and children who came out to mourn their loved ones. We see this act as extra-judicial killing and worthy of remorse by the Nigerian Army.”

Soldier kills one student over girlfriend in Gombe

BY JOHN BULUS

T

HERE was tension, yesterday, in Gombe State following the killing of three students of the Federal College of Education (Technical) by a soldier attached to the state’s antikalere (political thugs) squad in the state.

Sources said a female student of the institution was allegedly having problems with her boyfriend in the school and reported the matter to her soldier-friend who forced his way into the college and killed the boy, de-

spite pleadings by other students.

The soldier was alleged to have fatally wounded two other students in the process. It led to thousands of students demonstrating along the major streets. The students later barricaded the main gate of Gombe Government House.

For about two hours, the road leading to the Government House was closed by the students who demanded to see Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo to register their anger.

BAUCHI CHURCH BOMBING: We did it, says Boko Haram zWarns media houses over bias reportage zSays JTF hides casualties, feeds public with wrong info

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— ISLAMIST sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide attack in Bauchi State where a Church was bombed, killing about 21 worshipers with 45 others sustaining various degrees of injuries, even as it also re-emphasised its earlier warning to the media to desist from under-reporting its activities or face devastating attacks.

These were contained in a statement by its spokesman, Abu Qaqa in Hausa language and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri.

Qaga further expressed surprise with the way security agencies were misleading President Goodluck Jonathan by giving him false information on their confrontation with them, pointing out that the security agencies usually concealed the truth about the damages inflicted on them by Boko Haram.

He said: “Take for example, the attack they launched on our brethren in Ja’in area in Kano State weeks back.

The fact is that only three men were inside the house together with their wives and then their weapons.

“Unfortunately, the soldiers stormed the area with over 40 vehicles, including armoured tanks and sur-

rounded the house in the dead of the night.

“There was endless gun duel between our men and the soldiers but none of our men was killed or arrested. They only succeeded in arresting women because our warriors had escaped after killing many security operatives. But the media, which we believed connived with the security agencies and the government, went ahead to publish the opposite which ended up misleading the public.”

‘We have eyewitnesses' He noted that residents of the area can attest to the fact that what JTF and the media are saying in that regard was nothing but gimmicks, even as he stated that the people in the area are also aware of the fact that the soldiers killed a resident of the area, and not a single member of the sect.

The sect’s spokesman said: “However, the military later turned around and said they succeeded in killing one of our members. The fact is if troops would surround our people at night but could not succeed in subduing them even while asleep, how possible is it that they killed four members of our Supreme Council (Shura) in their latest attack as they claimed?

“Is it really true that our leaders were holding meeting? Is it possible for just four members of the high command to sit and take decision? Can members of the high command watch over a foreign hostage whose corpse was found in the area?

‘JTF killed civilians’ “One thing that is obvious is that the soldiers had only succeeded in killing over 10 innocent people in the neighborhood. We challenge journalists to go to the area and verify our claims whether our warriors have killed soldiers during the confrontation or not. Why are they (soldiers) hiding away their victims from the press?

“The media should also verify whether the military had extra-judicially killed civilians or not. We are carefully watching what everybody is saying about us. Let everybody, including individuals and groups continue to say whatever they want to say. The obvious fact is that as soon as we complete our preparations and start launching attacks, nobody should persuade us to stop.

Warning for media houses “This is a special warning to media houses and journalists who are now

Demands fair representation “Henceforth, nobody should talk to us when we attack any media organisation. The least we expect is that if any media organisation is not willing to give us true and fair representation, it is better not to report at all no matter what is said or who said it on the side of the government.

Any media that refuses to adhere to this wise counsel should have itself to blame.

“Finally, as it pleases Allah, we have successfully launched attack at a Church in Yelwa area of Bauchi metropolis in Bauchi State,” the statement added.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

fond of exaggerating and giving prominence to stories given to them by our enemies even when such press releases and stories given to them are not true.

“It is so unfortunate that the media carries such report word by word without removing or altering anything. But when we issue statements and press releases, the media always look the other way, pretending as if they didn’t get the message.

“More worrisome, perhaps, is that even when the media carries the report, they distort what we said just because they want to massage the ego of our enemies.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

How has it been with democracy, Jonathan?

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UR 13 years of democracy has not been easy. Really, I can’t say we are practising democracy yet compared to what is happening in other countries.

President Jonathan came in as a good person but what we are seeing now is far from good.— Mrs Stella Ugoji, Trader.

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HERE has really been no improvement on infrastructures over the 13 years of civilian rule. Nothing has changed compared to the military era. This administration is one of the worst administrations I have ever seen.—Mr. Adedoyin Odukoya, Lawyer.

H

OW can we be talking of 13 years of democracy when within the last 12 months killings and explosions have claimed many lives? For 13 years we are still struggling with basic infrastructures.

President Jonathan's administration is a flop.—Mr. Emmanuel Olajorin.

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HERE has been so much corruption in the country. One year of President Goodluck Jonathan is not too bad. Only that his advisers or those around him are not advising him well. They contributed to his low performance actually.— Mr. Macklere Emmanuel, Civil Servant.

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HIRTEEN years of democracy is some thing to celebrate.

However, how has the masses been affected? It has been issues of embezzlement,looting,kidnapping,insecurity, and so on. Anyway, Jonathan’s one year in office hasbeenfair.—Mr.Chinweoda Chinedu, Student.

U

NEMPLOYMENT has increased over the last 13 years.

Yes, security has to be tackled but the government still needs to produce jobs for the youths. President Jonathan has not made any remarkable mark.— Mr. Chinonso Phillip, Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—17

T

Temperament that makes politics non- developmental

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e are no doubt experiencing a national trauma. But reading through the Democracy Day criticisms, it seemed to me that we ignored the constraint which the structure of the country imposes on our development.

Truth is that in a properly structured polity, most of the house-keeping items reeled out by the President are the responsibilities of states and local governments. I also noticed that there was no effort to separate what we could blame on President Jonathan from what we could attribute to 52 years of leadership failure. Some of the problems we decried have their origins in 1914; some are products of the military era; others are failures of the last 13 years of democracy. But the most problematic is a temperament that makes our politics non-developmental.

Only a few of our present trauma can rightly be put on Jonathan’s desk. And honestly, what miracle could anybody expect in one year of Jonathan’s administration given the circumstances of his emergence as President and the dicey environment we all have created for him in the last one year, in a country as diverse as Nigeria? Yes, he could have made some symbolic gestures which we would have applauded, but they could only have remained mere symbolic gestures and nothing more!

Let us take the classic case of electricity power. I am NOT making an excuse here for Jonathan’s administration. I am only trying to remind us of a few things we, as usual, conveniently forgot. We

What President Jonathan must do now

President Goodluck Jonathan seem to blame the President for not providing power instantly. We cry about the billions of US dollars spent on Independent Power Project without results. The old adage is that it is easier to destroy than to build. In 1997, a consultant with Afri-Projects Consortium, the Managing Consultants to PTF, told us in Abuja that “in the last 20 years, there has been no investment in NEPA”. If you count back 20 years from 1997, you will appreciate how far back the damage in the sector went. I think Uncle Bola Ige did not reckon with the level of rot in the power sector when he rather enthusiastically promised us uninterrupted power in six months on assumption of office as Minister of power in 1999! Have we forgotten that promise and the result?

In the 20 years of neglect the gentleman talked about, all the infrastructure of power were dilapidated while, for political reasons, rural areas were being connected to the national grid without appropriate infrastructure to support the scheme. Meanwhile, some of the funds ostensibly meant for NEPA ended up in the pockets of organisers of million-man march for the maximum ruler. We must not forget the past whenever we criticise the pace in revamping the power sector. The rot of 34 years, including the rot of human beings in the sector, is so much that I do not expect a miracle to happen in one year of an administration! We do not like it. I do not like it, but we must be realistic about the situation. In many states, consumers are not metered and do not pay. In many states, power is wasted by people who believe they are enjoying their resources! We must brace up to a methodical solution to the problem, not compound it by stampeding ourselves in order to ward off political criticism.

Another issue confronting us today is security. My suspicion is that people expected Jonathan to trip on the terrorism problem, take precipitate action that could either trigger off impeachment or military coup to “kick him out of the place”. I also recall the uproar when President Olusegun Obasanjo was presented with a similar security minefield with the declaration

of Sharia in some Northern states. We wanted him to declare a state of emergency in the affected states for violating the constitution. We wanted him to crack the whip on the behind of the errant governors. But you see, what a President or Governor ought to do appear very easy when you do not have all the facts or the security reports he has. Nigeria’s culture of crisis did not start in the last one year. We all are contributory to what our country is today because many of us want Nigeria governed according to our dictates.

That is not to suggest that the President is completely blameless. He said in his address to the nation: “As President, it is my solemn duty to defend and protect the Constitution of this country. That includes the obligation to protect life and property”.

Therefore he should raise his game and reduce indiscipline in our country and let’s hope Nigerians will not complain!

The “beauty of democracy ” is not

,

HE Democracy Day observed last week offered many Nigerians another opportunity for a promiscuous criticism of the system. Well, what a better way to celebrate democracy than to exercise our freedom of speech? I am reminded of what an actor once said: “opinion is like an a….h; everybody has got one!” An American writer once said that when Americans have a liberal president, they want a dictator; when they have a dictator they want a moralistic president; and when they have a moralistic president they want a rogue! The writer said this during the severe criticism of Jimmy Carter. Carter was elected president after the traumatic Nixon Watergate scandal! Carter the grinning, mild mannered, Bible thumbing Georgian had flopped in the rescue of American diplomats seized by Iranian Islamists and bungled the rescue of the fishing trawler, Mayagueze, seized by the Cambodians. Carter ’s answer to these apparent signs of the waning of America’s global power was to diagnose “a national malaise”! After Carter, Americans elected a cowboy, Ronald Reagan!

During the US presidential debate in 2008, Barrack Obama pledged to pull out American troops from Iraq, to close Guantanamo Bay and refocus the hunt for the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The Republicans led by their candidate John McCain, a war veteran, cried havoc. They criticised Obama as inexperienced and weak on the defence of America and might jeopardise America’s global power. Obama has since taken out terrorist Bin Laden and the top leadership of Al Qaeda but the Republicans are not impressed. They are now waving human rights flag and criticising Obama for using drones to target Al Qaeda leaders instead of putting American troops in harm’s way. Obama’s critics include Bruce Fein, who was Deputy Assistant Attorney General under Reagan who planned to assassinate Ghadaffi.

Obama has not closed Guantanamo Bay; the Republicans are savaging him for that! That is the nature of party politics.

A country of law and order

T

his country can take a quantum leap to progress in four years of Jonathan’s administration if he becomes a law and order President.

This will also include holding those who heat up the polity by purveying hoax accountable for their actions. It will not amount to infringement of human rights. Even in the United

This country can take a quantum leap to progress in four years of Jonathan’s administration if he becomes a law and order President. This will also include holding those who heat up the polity by purveying hoax accountable for their actions. It will not amount to infringement of human rights

lawlessness! As I said in this column last week, we are very ambivalent about solving our problems. That is why Jonathan should embrace a crosscutting policy and approach our problem from there. Law and order is the only cross-cutting policy that can sanitise this country.

Subjected to the same law

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thrived simply because criminals get celebrity treatment instead of languishing in jail. In China such crime carries death sentence. In Japan, they disgrace you so that you commit hara-kiri! Mr. President, enforce the laws, then we shall know those who are stumbling blocks to our progress!

Let me use an example we are very familiar with in Nigeria. What is the difference between the Nigerian Premier League and the English Premier League? Why is it difficult to fill our stadia on match days? Why is it difficult to win away matches in Nigerian Premier League? Whereas in Nigeria you can steal public fund, bribe or beat up a referee and nothing happens, in Premier League, if you as much as criticise a referee, be you Sir Alex Ferguson, you answer for it.

If you make a racist remark against anybody, you are charged to court because racism is a serious matter in a multicultural Britain. If a fan is unruly, he or she is charged to court and may be banned from entering a football arena for life. It is the strict application of the rules that has made the Premier League and other European Leagues so exciting that some Nigerians earn a living parroting the names of the players on television while others stab one another to death in defence of their favourite clubs!

he President said: “This nation exists because we are one”. On the contrary, Nigeria does not exist because we are not yet one. Nigeria cannot exist until we work to be one.

Religion cannot hold this country together because we are people of different faiths. Culture cannot hold us together because we are a multicultural society. Politics cannot hold us together because we are a people of excesses and our politics is rooted in ethnicity and religion.

Nigeria can only exist on condition that we are ALL subjected to the same law! Many Nigerians would easily say that corruption is the bane of our development.

I view things differently. The problem of Nigeria is that we are terribly weak in LAW and ORDER. You can trace virtually all our ills to lawlessness. Corruption has

,

States where we rush to for examples, the First Amendment only guarantees you pre-publication freedom. It is unlawful to abridge your right to say or publish anything. But once you say or publish, you are held accountable if you offend the law. The nation is often set on edge by volatile but unsubstantiated statements by politicians. He who alleges must be prepared to prove it.

Like the symbol of justice, President Jonathan should wear a blindfold and enforce the existing laws. I believe that that could help Nigeria even with our military constitution. He should lead by example. For instance, free and fair election must not begin and end with the election of the president. President Jonathan must see to it that every aspirant for an elective position in his party, the PDP, is given the chance to contest for the post, unimpeded, in an election devoid of violence, coercion, bribery or manipulation. Other political parties critical of the President and his party will surely follow. That way he would have left Nigeria a great legacy of deepening democracy through the enthronement of internal democracy.

And this is the quickest and surest route for Jonathan to chuck up incredible record of achievement in four years!

Seek ye a law and order society and all other great things will be added unto Nigeria!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 TEARS are running. Anger is mounting and experts and pseudo experts are filling every available space with what should be done, what should have been done and what must be done. How long would these last? What would change?

Would the Dana crash that took 163 lives only add to the list of our aviation disasters? What changed after these crashes? · 22 September 2005, Bellview flight 210 killed 117 in Lisa, Ogun State. · December 2005, 107 perished in a Sosoliso crash, in Port Harcourt, many of them school children. · 7 November 2005, 96 lives, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, his son and a grandson, lost in an ADC air disaster in Abuja. · 17 September 2006 an Air Force Dornier 228 aircraft (with 18 people on board) crashed in Mbakunu in Sangev-Ya, Benue State; 13 people (including 10 army generals) died. · 9 May 2010 black out at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. It lasted four hours. The Senate considered it an embarrassment.

Air Marshall Paul Dike, former Chief of De-

Another Crash, Another Cant fence Staff led the government committee that went round the country and produced a 2005 report that covered all critical issues on aviation. Government then setup a N20 billion intervention fund. The use of the money is a subject of litigation, with allegations that it was misused, stolen.

A recurring issue around crashes is inoperative emergency services. When the crashes are in remote locations, the terrain is the perfect excuse for the services not working. What is the excuse for poor rescue operations for a crash in a Lagos suburb?

The loss of lives that non-availability of prompt emergency services causes was a ma-

jor concern in previous crashes. The situation is so bad that though the Sosoliso flight crashed in the airport, there was no water to quench the flames. Little has changed since then.

The other month, the Senate Committee on Aviation pranced about the premises of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, over a power failure at the airport. The fast-tracked provisions to improve electricity at the airport ignored the importance of electricity for other Nigerians.

We cannot make the point enough that infrastructure is critical to improving Nigeria.

It is deceitful for anyone to expect emergency services that would race to site of air crashes, while emergency services are absent in everyday life.

The most recent crash calls attention again to the importance of establishing structures for the security of lives. Crashes demand better regulation of aviation safety, but they also challenge our emergency services, electricity supply and general infrastructure.

A lasting tribute to the victims would be measures to minimise future losses. Our hearts are with their families.

OPINION

BY SAMUEL NWAOBIA

M

Y belief has always been ... that wherever in this land any individual’s constitutional rights are being unjustly denied, it is the obligation of the Federal Government—at point of bayonet if necessary—to restore that individual’s constitutional rights (Ronald Reagan, 1983).

Do Nigerians have constitutional rights at all? Has these rights been violated and by who? Has there been any attempt by previous and present governments at all levels to restore these rights?

Prior to May 1999, Nigerians were hoping for the introduction of an institution called democracy which has transformed many countries into stronger world economies, only to be met with an institution with similar name but opposite in meaning, built on an ideology that is against the will and aspiration of the people of Nigeria. Nigerians were made to believe that the present dishonest, insane and intolerable democratic institution is the shortest way to improving our lives and the lives of the unborn, whereas it is the shortest path to bringing untold hardship upon ourselves, while providing exit route and enriching the few.

We have been deceived into signing up to an institution which defines our constitutional rights on paper but violates it in reality. An institution which allows the oppressor to fight and protect themselves at the expense of the oppressed, yet the oppressed are made to believe everything is being done to restore the non-existing rights.

After listening to President Goodluck Jonathan’s democracy day speech on May 29, 2012 and the reactions that followed it, one could not stop asking if Nigerians really know what they want individually and collectively as a nation. So many issues were raised in the speech ranging from security

Nigeria’s democracy: Institution founded on anti-Nigerian ideology to economy and from infrastructural development to job creation then followed by the renaming of Unilag to MAU. Among the issues mentioned in the speech, the most unpopular was the renaming of the University of Lagos which some Nigerians believe is inappropriate and I ask why? After all, previous administrations, which includes but not limited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, renamed Federal University of Agriculture Umudike Umuahia to Michael Okpara University and no protest was made. This brings the question: What difference would the renaming of Unilag have on our individual, state and national economy, health sector, decaying infrastructures, corruption-infected blood running in our veins, astronomical growth in unemployment and the ever-growing insecurity, etc?

The answer clearly tells you that both the oppressor and the oppressed are clueless as to what democracy is all about, how it should be run, and what effect it should have on the masses. Rather, we have been made to envisage what never existed: “Democracy”.

I

do share the sentiment of those who believe not in the Nigeria’s democratic institution which has taken the government away from the people and entrusted it into the hands of few anti-Nigerians, but in the democratic institution which transformed the United States of America,

the United Kingdom, Germany, France, etc, into what they are today, giving hope to their citizens.

In our own case, we have countless number of political cabals and conspirators called parties, formed under false pretence, having dubious individuals as governors, presidents, and presidential aspirants. These men have devised various means of defrauding Nigerians, jumping from one political platform to another, and when they run out of luck they become overnight political reformers and activists, using Twitter and Facebook to sow seeds of discord among Nigerian youths by criticising any administration they felt have not done enough to protect their selfish interest, whereas they have contributed to Nigeria’s downfall.

While many people believe the year 2015 is the time to get it right, I do have my reservations because it is and will remain the known faces who have failed in the past that will be masquerading again with so many broken promises as usual. Every political minded Nigerian can name within ten seconds, five potential presidential candidates for at least three major political cabal come 2015 and that tells you as to why our dear country have remained stagnant.

We must never violate principles. We must never initiate violence. And we should never harm the innocent. But at some point, unless governments back off, we have to stop being nice (Claire Wolfe,1998).

The message is clear!

Previous presidents, ministers, senators, governors, etc, are waste products!

We have to stop recycling waste products!

Nigeria needs to be rediscovered and redefined! *Mr. Nwaobia, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012— 19

, R

EPRESENTATIVE elector al democracies are opposite of direct rule democracies. In the latter, every member of the rulership participates directly and with equal voice in the government of their society. Representative electoral democracy is a government where the rulership constitutes itself into an electorate for the purpose of electing some of the rulership as their representative in government. The whole govern through their representativesthe elected are elected because they are deemed by their peers to be faithful steward of a democratic system and process and ones who know that their duty is to do the will of the electorate who they represent. Representative electoral democracy cannot produce representatives with prebendal attitude to office holding. We in Nigeria seem to have invented such a system. Elections give rise to government and office holders who treat government and the

office they hold as prebends.

We can call the Nigerian scheme a prebendal democracy but for the fact that there cannot be such a representative democracy given that a democracy is a rulership of equals.

The dictionary defines a prebend as (a) the part of the revenues of a cathedral paid as a clergyman’s salary (b) the property or tax yielding such a revenue. A vulgar illustration of a prebend is the wage system of waiters who are paid next to nothing but expected to earn more than a living wage from tips. A waiter or waitress knows that the job is a prebend that must yield a living wage. A prebendal attitude to office- holding is orientation of the office-holder to the office- the office being seen as a property or tax yielding a revenue.

The political culture of a representative electoral democracy is, therefore, different from

the political culture of a prebendal government. In a prebendal government, the offices are prebends in some cases actually purchased. Each prebend is run as a business organised for the private profit of the office holders. In a prebendal government all offices are for sale by the political party that owns the government.

An effective prebendal government is the diametrical opposite of an effective representative electoral democracy. The political culture of the first is that of “self-service” and that of the second is that of “representative stewardship”; the office-holder in the first pays the price asked by the “party entrepreneurs”, the owners of the government, the political investors; the second renders account to the electing principals; the elected democratic representative is an agent of

Farm animals: Vital to secure Nigeria's food future

BY PETER DEDE

N

IGERIA has a good climate for farming and vast areas of farmland, yet it has a problem with food security. There are about 14 million farmers in Nigeria, mostly smallholders, producing about 80 percent of the country’s food supply.

Smallholder farmers in Nigeria face many challenges. They need agricultural inputs such as fertilizer to improve productivity of their crops, but if roads are bad, delivery can be late, if at all. They often don’t have proper storage for the crops they harvest and experience post-harvest losses that in some cases go up to 40 percent of the crop yield. One of their cows may get bitten by a tsetse fly and get infected with a disease called Nagana (Animal Trypanosomiasis). The fly may transmit the disease to other animals. During some months of the year, some farm families may not have enough food to meet not only their nutritional demands, but also the market demand.

Hunger and malnutrition is a significant problem in Nigeria. Twentynine percent of children in the country are undernourished and underweight, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Particularly alarming is that annual food crop production has been progressively declining, while the population continues to grow.

According to the United Nations Population Division, Nigeria’s population is expected to reach 390 million by 2050, up from 158 million

,

today.

For a country that is predominantly agrarian, that type of growth presents a huge challenge to food security.

The United Nations established eight international development goals in 2000 to improve global health and well being.

The first goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. It is clear that the Nigerian government must move swiftly with an effective strategic plan to help its smallholder farmers contribute to this goal.

But growing viable crops in Nigeria can be difficult, putting the food supply in jeopardy and decreasing the nutritional value of the crops. Poorly maintained roads and inadequate financial services have the potential to negatively influence delivery of requisite input supplies (seeds, fertilizers, etc) and transportation of outputs; and environmental issues such as droughts create further obstacles.

One of the smartest things the Nigerian government can do is to help farmers take advantage of their greatest asset—livestock. Most small farmers own a few cows, some pigs or goats, and chickens.

But many don’t understand the many roles these animals can play toward boosting a farm’s productivity, so the animals are underutilized. In fact, some farmers may even sell their livestock when they need money. This is short-sighted when you consider that livestock can make a significant contribution to food security—for the farmer and for the country.

the electorate, the principal that conducts stewardship audits, rewarding the faithful steward with re-elections and punishing the rebellious with recall or with defeat at the next elections.

P

rebendal governments, cannot be evaluated with the same code of ethics and morality applicable to representative electoral democratic governments. A good prebendal government is government of investors for investors and run by investors. A good populist representative electoral democracy is government of the people for the people and run by the people. The good of prebendal governance is not the good of the populist representative electoral governance.

The prebendal is run for the good and benefit of political investors; the populist representative electoral democracy is run for the good and benefit of the people. These two political systems are constructed as logical systems, as contrasting ideal types sufficient for analysis of the problems guiding their constructions. For this essayist, the purpose to be served is to point out the mistake, in this case, the category mistake, made in treating prebendal governments and governance as if they are corrupt versions of representative electoral democracy. Prebendal governments are not corrupt or imperfect versions of representative electoral governments of democracies. What are judged as corruption by the government of the people organising themselves as self-accounting democracy are considered in prebendal societies as moral

,

Corruption, representative electoral democracy and prebendal governance

There is no problem of corruption for the prebendalists; the good prebend is that which returns the capital and multiples of the capital invested in the purchase of offices

Nigerian farmers can succeed in overcoming the challenges of food insecurity, and livestock can be one of their greatest assets; but first, we must empower our farmers with the right resources and skills

,

Milk, meat, eggs and cheese from animals provide a much-needed source of animal protein for a more balanced, healthy diet. The demand for animal protein is reported to be on the increase worldwide. When compared to crops, animals provide food year-round, and aren’t susceptible to the climate the way crops are. Cattle are a source of draft power; they pull plows but can also be used for weeding and other jobs. Cow dung can be used as a source of fuel, and manure can be used as fertilizer to improve soil quality without the environmental side effects from chemical fertilizers.

H

ealthy, productive livestock can ensure that the farmer has a regular stream of income through milk and eggs sold in the marketplace.

Farmers can also use livestock to sell services such as providing cattle to pull plows for neighbouring farms.

Livestock also helps close the gender gap that is biased toward men in Nigeria

pursuits of the profit of prebends, of offices purchased and run as a for-profit business. It is illogical to expect prebendal political parties to condemn their attitude to government and to sale of offices because it pays them to wear the mask of elected populist democratic office-holders in order to obtain international approval.

Thus we come to the crux of the matter of good government, good governance, and good leadership in Nigeria. The good is relative. The good prebendal government is not the same as the best or worst representative electoral democracy. There is no problem of corruption for the prebendalists; the good prebend is that which returns the capital and multiples of the capital invested in the purchase of offices. In a prebendal electoral polity, all is for sale, the parties, the elections, public offices and the government.

If Nigeria is a prebendal political system and the people of Nigeria excluded in the political market place from democratic rulership will, to replace that system with a representative electoral democracy, the people must not confuse a system replacement task with a system conversion or system adjustment task. A system replacement challenge is very different from a system reform task. Corruption, representative electoral democracy, security, good governance, all these issues have to be structurally contextualized. The question must always be asked: What is the context of policy, is it system replacement or system reform?

. By tending to chickens and milking dairy cows, women are valued for the role they play in feeding their families while their husbands focus on farming outputs for income generation.

The Nigerian government is working to give farmers the resources and training they need to maximize the impact of the livestock they own. A critical part of this involves educating farmers about the valuable role livestock plays toward reducing food insecurity and teaching farmers how to market their livestock outputs.

Farmers must be trained on how to keep livestock healthy and productive with nutritious food, fresh water, clean stalls and sufficient natural light. They must learn how to recognise symptoms that mean livestock is ill, and when it is important to seek veterinary services.

Events can be organised to demonstrate ways to calm animals irritated by biting and nuisance flies and how to protect them from diseases such as Nagana, caused by tsetse flies, which can be deadly to animals and their owners.

At a more advanced level, farmers can be taught about more effective farming practices such as how to crossbreed their cows to produce higher-yielding animals which will result in increased milk to consume and sell. Government can initiate policies that provide reasonable financing options to support farming production and effective marketing of farming outputs.

Nigerian farmers can succeed in overcoming the challenges of food insecurity, and livestock can be one of their greatest assets. But first we must empower our farmers with the right resources and skills. Then they’ll be able to create a brighter future—for themselves and for the country. *Dr. Dede is a researcher director at the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomias Research .

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 21

More companies closing down, laments CANMPEF

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

C

HEMICAL and Non Metallic P r o d u c t s Employers’Federation, CANMPEF, has lamented that more manufacturing companies are closing down in Nigeria due to unfavourable operating environment.

At its 33rd Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lagos, CANMPEF lamented that the closures were specifically engineered by collapsing pubic infrastructure, inconsistent government policies and insecurity of life and property in some parts of the country.

Addressing members, Acting President of the Federation, Mrs Peju Adebanjo, called on the Federal Government to make concerted efforts to resolve the Boko Haram issue and to ensure that the matter is not allowed to escalate further, saying “all efforts should be focused on finding solutions to the issue of insecurity, poverty reduction, infrastructure, energy and employment generation.”

According to her, “In view of the difficult operating environment, our membership declined and we continued to record a fall in membership during the year under review. We are now 90 from the 145 names at the Federation’s inception.

This is a reflection of the prevailing

Dependence on foreign investors ’ll lead to another meltdown — Unegbu

F

ORMER President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, has predicted another meltdown in the capital market with continuous dependence on foreign investors. He said that the market, and the general economy, would be at risk of another crash if the only or major players were foreign investors.

Unegbu said that local investors must be encouraged to ensure full participation for the recovery and growth of the Nigerian capital market.

Unegbu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Maxifund Investments and Securities Ltd., advised regulators to place less emphasis on foreign investors.

“Restoration of local investors’ confidence is paramount to the growth of the nation’s capital market.’’ According to him, local investors should be encouraged to come into the market “because if we are strong internally, no external enemy can defeat us. If the investment climate is very strong and we are making profit, people from outside, who really want to invest and develop will come.’’

Unegbu said that the nation’s capital market was made up of 80 per cent foreign direct investments, pointing out that those foreigners did not bring the best into the country.

harsh economic climate. Some manufacturing industries had closed down as a result of worsening high cost of production occasioned by collapsing pubic infrastructure, inconsistent government policies and insecurity of life and property in some parts of the countr y. This development has also impacted negatively on our finances but more importantly indicated the inability of our sector to generate much needed employment at this critical time.”

She added that “the Federal Government should make concerted efforts to resolve the Boko Haram issue and it should not be allowed to escalate further. All efforts should be focused on finding solutions to the issue of insecurity, poverty reduction, infrastructure, energy and employment generation.”

Corroborating, the Executive Secretary of CANMPEF, E.F Ali, said “no doubt, the success of any economy is dependent on the success of its

industrial activities among others. But unfortunately, there has not been much significant improvement in the country’s economy and the problem is hinged on the negative business environment in which industries operate. Nigeria’s growth has been hampered by a range of problems including inadequate electricity provision, poor infrastructure, an unwieldy tax regime, corruption, smuggling and lack of continuity in government policies.”

From left: Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; Secretary, Area Councils Service Secretariat (ACSS), Mr. Yahaya Alhassan Ibrahim, and Director of Special Duties in the Office of Minister of State, FCT, Alhaji Sagir Hamidu, during the FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, in Abuja.

Committee urges FG to reserve 10% of budget for agriculture

C

HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP-Taraba), says the agriculture sector will thrive better if the Federal Government dedicates 10 per cent of the national budget to it. Bwacha, who made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, lamented that not up to four per cent of Nigeria’s budget was committed to agriculture.

“For us as a government, to commit a substantial sum of money to the agriculture sector to make it different has become a problem. Countries across Africa which are far smaller than Nigeria are achieving results but for Nigeria, it has become a tremendous challenge.’’ He said that the committee had had course to disagree with the executive on agriculture’s budget, adding the committee was thinking differently on how the sector should be funded.

According to Bwacha, the sector has a key role in the transformation agenda, particularly the value chain programme introduced by the current minister. “We in the National Assembly believe that they should be given time to see how they are going to succeed.

Our responsibility is to make sure we provide sufficient funds for them.’’ The committee chairman emphasised the need to empower agricultural research institutes which, he said, were warehouses for ideas and policy formulation.

The lawmaker said strengthening of research institutes would go a long in boosting the sector inputs to national development. He expressed regrets that this was another area of disagreement between the committee and the executive since the transformation agenda seemed to be isolating the institutes. Bwacha was, however, hopeful that the executive would see the need to ensure that research institutes were strengthened to achieve the transformation agenda.

On the recently introduced E-wallet system of fertiliser distribution, Bwacha said it was a laudable initiative that if allowed to succeed, would bring succour to local farmers. “I know it is part of the programmes that are meant to give us a direction in curtailing the roles of middle men in the distribution of fertiliser. We are trying to see and encourage farmers to key into this process because we want to make

fertiliser available as much as possible just as you walk into a shop and see coca cola to buy.’’

158.40

-2.25

2,067.00 -16.00 19.15

-0.27

98.54

-3.33

83.61

-2.92

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA KRONER EURO POUNDS RIYAL SDR FRANC DOLLAR WAUA YEN RENMINBI

0.2744 25.6468 190.6365 236.8604 41.2623 233.0845 158.7179 154.75 233.1661 1.9809 24.2927

0.2844 25.7297 191.2525 237.6257 41.3956 233.8376 159.2308 155.25 233.9195 1.9873 24.3716

0.2944 25.8125 191.8684 238.391 41.5289 234.5907 159.7436 155.75 234.6728 1.9937 24.4505

CBN Exchange rate as at 04/06/2012

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Trading in FGN bonds dips by 0.34%

By MICHAEL EBOH

A

DECLINE was re corded in transactions in the O v e r -T h e - C o u n t e r, OTC, market for Federal Government of Niger-

ia, FGN, bonds last week, as the volume of bonds traded depreciated by 0.34.

However, despite the decline in turnover, the value of the bonds appreciated in the week

under review by 1.98 per cent.

Particularly, a turnover of 100.19 million units valued at N91.388 billion in 435 deals, in contrast to a turnover of 100.532 million units

valued at N89.61billion in 672 deals recorded in the preceding week ended May 25th, 2012.

Federal Government bond Series 2 with a maturity date of 2015, tagged FG7B2015S2,

recorded the highest transaction in the sector, accounting for 35.5 per cent of the total transaction with 35.565 million units valued at N28.015 billion.

FG9B2022S1 followed, accounting for 25.55 per cent of the market tur nover, with 25.6 million units valued at N28.173 billion, while FG8B2014S1 accounted for 11.98 per cent of the market turnover with 12 million units valued at N11.44 billion.

FG9B2017S2 traded 6.49 million units valued at N6.979 billion; FG5B2018S2 recorded a turnover of 5.583 million units valued at N4.924 billion and FG7B2030S3 traded

5.2 million units valued at N4.333 billion.

Others are: FG7B2013S1 with a turnover of 5.1 million units valued at N4.816 billion and FG6B2019S4, recording a turnover of 4.2 million units valued at N2.707 billion.

Also, NewGold Exchange Traded Fund, ETF, recorded a turnover of 1,920 units valued at N4.665 million in six deals.

However, there were no transactions in the Federal Government Development Stocks, S t a t e / L o c a l Government Bonds and Corporate Bonds/ Debentures Stocks sectors.

Funds pull out of commodities, most bearish since end-2011

H From left: Eng (Mrs) Mayen Adetiba, Director, Mobil Oil Nigeria PLC; Mr. Emmanuel Amade, Secretary; Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, Managing Director and Mr. Alastair Macnaughton, Director at the Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc Annual General Meeting held in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

NAHCO to leverage on N3.9bn facility to boost profitability

BY MICHAEL EBOH

N

I G E R I A N Av i a t i o n Handling Company Plc, NAHCO Aviance, has declared its preparedness to leverage on the opportunities presented by its N3.925 billion ($25 million) ultra m o d e r n warehouse facility to deliver improved returns on investment to shareholders and further strengthen its position in the aviation industry in the years ahead.

Speaking in Lagos during a visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Kayode OluwasegunOjo, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the company, said the warehouse project which has many benefits to the Nigerian economy, will not only help boost the fortunes of the company but would also bring about an increase in revenue accruable to the Federal

Government.

He added that the facility would provide a better and conducive working environment for the Nigerian Customs Services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja where the warehouse is located.

Oluwasegun-Ojo disclosed that the company has started to enjoy the benefits of its transformation programme, which has started to yield the desired results and helped in no small measure in transforming the face of the aviation industry.

According to him, the project has placed Nahco Aviance at the vantage position of sustaining its leadership position for the coming years.

He added that the installation of modern cold-room equipment had increased the revenue generation capacities of the import and export warehouses.

He emphasized that the company had

stepped up efforts in bringing satisfying travel experience to Nigerians and the international community.

Oluwasegun-Ojo said, “The new warehouse has an increased capacity of approximately 21,000 square metres, an increase of over 50 per cent in storage space when compared with the old structure. The huge facility gives our company the needed platform to develop a regional cargo hub at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

“Crowd control and security of the warehouse have already been addressed by the installation of computerised access control system and intelligent Closed Circuit Television, CCTV. “This will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of pilferages and missing cargoes while eliminating associated consignee claims.

“In the last one year,

we have invested about N2 billion in the procurement of about four hundred state-ofthe-art Ground Support Equipment. This is in addition to the N68 million export cargo screening system commissioned recently by the Director-General of Nig e r i a n C i v i l Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, the first of its kind in West Africa.”

In his remark, Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief E xe c u t i v e O f f i c e r, NSE, commended the efforts of Nahco Aviance and solicited the cooperation of the company in the bid to transform the NSE. He said that the NSE was going t h r o u g h transformation and he needed the cooperation of quoted companies like Nahco Aviance to succeed.

Onyema said the e x c h a n g e was introducing value added services to serve the listed companies.

EDGE funds and other money managers withdrew more than $2.3 billion from commodities markets in the final week of May, taking their most bearish stance since the end of December, trade data on Friday showed.

Data showing speculators took cash off the table for a fourth consecutive week in the week to May 29 came as the commodity market was on the brink of bear territory.

The Thomson ReutersJefferies CRB index .CRB is down 18 percent from its late February highs after Friday ’s sharp sell-off, with

below $100 per barrel, triggered by weakerthan-expected monthly U.S. jobs data. Many investors consider a 20percent decline to be a bear market.

Disappointing unemployment numbers compounded an alreadygloomy global economic picture following poor manufacturing data from and dismal European reports on factory activity.

“All commodities are pretty much in a bear market right now,” said Shawn Hackett Shawn Hackett of Hackett Advisors, Boynton Beach, Florida, focusing in particular on corn and soybeans.

Group seeking to buy EFG Hermes to appeal to regulator

S

HAREHOLDERS of Egyptian investment bank EFGHermes (HRHO.CA) voted on Saturday against a group of investors seeking to buy the bank, but the investors will appeal to Egypt’s regulator to suspend the decision, the group targeting the bank said.

The group, called Planet IB, said it intended to offer 13.50 Egyptian pounds ($2.23) per share to buy the Cairo-based investment bank, Egypt’s biggest.

Shares in EFG closed at 10.99 pounds on Thursday, the last day of

Egypt’s trading week.

EFG shareholders voted to go ahead with an earlier plan to form a joint venture with Qatar ’s QInvest that would give the Qatari firm control over EFG’s main business, Planet’s chairman, Mahmoud Abdel Latif, told Reuters.

Alongside Abdel Latif, until recently chairman of Cairo-based AlexBank, Planet’s investors include Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris and the son of the ruler of the Gulf emirate of Sharjah, Tariq bin Faisal alQassimi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 23

Firm invests N775m in QSR

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

A

NIGERIAN based firm, Eat n Go is to invest N775 million (about $5 million) in a franchise agreement to bring in Domino’s Pizza, a popular United States (US) based eatery outfit to the country, as it plans to established about 500 stores in the next three years.

Disclosing this to Vanguard in Maimi, Florida,US, Senior Partner of Eat n Go, Mr. Jean Claude Meyer, said that the amount will be spent on real estate, staff training, provision of electricity and acquisition of the needed equipments.

According to him, “We are investing about$5million (N775m) into the project because here in Nigeria, the real estate is very expensive.

In Nigeria, an investor has to pay rent for several years and that is not the case in other countries.”

Continuing, he said, “We have to train our staff and of course, electricity is a big factor where we needs a generator and another one as a backup, buy diesel and because we are dealing with food, it is very important for us to ensure that all necessary

equipment that would make us have 24 hours electricity for our cold rooms must be put in place so that the food we are going to give to the people of Nigeria is very safe and will not be of any risk to their health.” Meyer who has been in Nigerian for over 12 years, said that Eat n Go is expecting to open about 500 Domino’s Pizza stores in the next three years. He explained that the

company apart from brining in the US brand, they are working on bring in other brands.

In his words, “The EAT N’ Go Company in Nigeria is the operator for DOINO PIZZA in the country and we are working on the other brands.

As a take off of the brand in the Nigeria market, we are kicking off with one store and by 2015 we are looking up to over 5,000 stores.

“The people of Nigeria, by our survey are so excited and impatient for our take off to come, and when we launched our facebook page, we had over 3, 500 fans calling for our immediate take off, even when the stores have not opened and we have not advertised “The expectations of Nigerians are on the rise on daily basis, we believe that there is a great potential in our projections to capture the Nigeria market because it is peoples’ business as we are investing in the people, since we sent some of our employee to Dubai and USA to learn and execute their talents in the Nigeria market.”

From left: Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa; Managing Director, Chini Productions and representative of Leuzers Archive in Nigeria,Mr. Nnamdi Ndu and Creative Director, Noah’s Ark Communications, Mr Abolaji Alausa at a media parley to announce the listing of the agency in the global advertising archive, Luezer’s Archive, in Lagos.

Skysat, KIS Photo-Me launch DKS4 Minilab photo printing machine

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

S

KYSAT Technologies Limited, in conjunction with KIS Photo-Me Group, a photo printing machine manufacturers, has launched the new DKS Wet Minilab Generation 4 into the market.

The new photo printing machine produces formats up to 12” x 18” or 12” x 36”, prints in HD quality and features perfectly an exclusive automated enhancement technology for digital pictures.

Some of the features and specifications of the new machine include compact design, new version of eyetech digital science operating software and optional film scanner. Others include 340dpi resolution, 800 prints per hour and internal 500GB archiving capacity (equivalent of 250,000 photos).

Speaking in Lagos during an interactive session with key photo printing dealers drawn from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, the International Sales Manager, KIS Photo-Me Group, Mr. Pierre Buendia, said the need

to match consumers’ dynamic expectations was responsible for the new product that was launched last year in France.

“Photo-Me recognises that today ’s consumers are expecting more from their photos and that is why the new DKS4 delivers a full range of high value-added services, in a simple operation. The machine, which is a new generation of professional wet digital minilabs, is fully compatible with the Photo-Me Photobook Builder,” he said.

Buendia further said

consumers and photo equipment enterpreneurs can take full advantage of the machine to print photobooks, greeting cards, frames and collage prints, among others.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Skysat Technologies, Mr. Izzat Debs, said his company as the authorized distributor of KIS Photo-Me Group in Nigeria and West Africa, was glad to partner with the France-based company to bring modern photographic solutions to the door step of Nigerians

through innovative products.

“Skysat is in the forefront of a revolution in the photo printing business in Nigeria. We have sold close to 100 KIS printing machines in Nigeria and we have helped various enterpreneurs set up about 170 photo labs across the country.

We are happy to partner with KIS once again as they introduce this new product into the Nigerian market. We have no doubt that it will bring great benefit to both consumers and investors.

Nigeria strategic to our businesses —Interfact beverages

BY ANAYO OKOLI

I

NTERFACT Beverage Limited, a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, has described Nigeria as a strategic country to do business. The company also said that they chose Onitsha to build its third brewery in the Nigeria on the account of its potentials as the biggest commercial city in West Africa.

Following their successful turn-around of two ailing breweries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Ilesha in Ogun State, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state approached them and convinced them to come and invest in the state.

According to the Business Development Manager of the company, Mr. Peter Stuttard, the level of work so far done since 2011 the company came to Anambra State has been tremendous, even as he promised that the company will open for production before September this year.

“Nigeria is a strategic country for any serious minded company that wants to achieve success in its business, If you have not come to Nigeria to establish your business you have not come to Africa, and if you want to expand your market in your business you cannot afford to neglect Onitsha the biggest market in West Africa.

Noah’s Ark creative enters Luezer’s Archive ... clinches new accounts

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

I

N what could be described as a remarkable milestone by a Nigerian advertising Agency, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited has placed Ni geria’s creative industry on the world map by emerging the first Agency in Nigeria to have its work published in the Luezer ’s Archive.

Luezer ’s Archive is a worldwide advertising archive that is globally regarded as the ‘Bible’ of advertising. The Archive is a bimonthly publication that showcases the best of advertising from around the world. Out of the thousands of entries received, only 200 of the best get published.

Briefing the media during a media open house event held at the Agency ’s office, Maryland Lagos on this enviable milestone achievement recorded by his company, the Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Advertising Limited, Mr Lanre Adisa described the feat as a bold statement and great achievement not only for Noah’s Ark’s team but also a triumph for Nigeria’s creative advertising industry.

Mimee 120g SKU hits market

I

N the midst of competition in the noodles market, the Food Division of May & Baker Nigeria Plc has introduced a 120g Store Keeping Unit (SKU) pack enhanced to deliver more taste and value.

Renowned for its sing-along television commercial (TVC) and radio campaign tagged BOOM SHA SHA, Mimee introduced the largest SKU in its portfolio to deliver more value to the Nigerian noodle consumers in terms of size and taste. Little wonder it is called Mimee Heavy Duty the king of taste.

Explaining the introduction, General Manager/Head Food Division of May & Baker Nigeria, Mr. Valentine Okelu said, “the introduction of 120g SKU is coming in response to the ever growing demand of a higher gram pack size by our consumers, who cannot stop asking for a more boom sha sha experience.”

“Mimee ‘heavy duty’ spicy chicken flavour is Mimee’s 12og SKU, specially engineered and enhanced to deliver taste and satisfaction.

It has far better taste as confirmed by several blind taste tests. It seasoning is locally blended and packed, keeping it fresher than most competitors,” he said.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Growing puzzle on why plane crashed

BY MIKE EBONUGWO & JUDE NJOKU

... As Lagos plans evacuation of residents from crash area

A

*Children waiting to be evacuated with their parents to Agbowa camp

*Charred carcase of the aircraft after the crash They sent another set of crew members to go there and bring it back and it carried passengers.

“There was another instance when it went to Uyo and developed a fault there. It took about six hours to fix it and by the time they fixed it,

,

S Nigerians await experts analysis of the black box recovered from the ill-fated Dana Air Mcdonnell Douglas MD-83 plane that crashed at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, speculations remain high as to why it crashed. But an eyewitness, Leke Busari, who spoke with Vanguard Metro was convinced that a possible technical fault with the aircraft notwithstanding, the pilot erred in his judgement for failing to take advantage available to him in making a safe emergency landing at the nearby Oke Arin airstrip at Makogun Road, Ishaga.

“I’m sure that the plane would not have crashed and killed everybody on board if the pilot had landed at Oke Arin Emergency airstrip. In fact, when I saw the plane hovering over the area, I realised immediately it had a problem, believing that the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing there. But instead of doing so, I saw the plane heading towards the direction of the airport.

Maybe the pilot thought he could still manage to land there.

Unfortunately, the plane could not make it and crashed into that building,” he said with a sad shake of his head.

On her own part, a female staff of the airline who spoke to a local television station said the ill-fated plane was not supposed to fly in the first instance because the station manager had earlier certified it unfit to fly. But the management of the company allegedly insisted that the pilot must take off.

“That aircraft has always been giving problems. Actually, a colleague flew with the aircraft sometime ago to Abuja and when the aircraft got there, it developed a fault, so they could not bring it back.

in that journey at all.

The Station Manager also said they shouldn’t go on that journey but the management said they should fly,” she narrated

A

day after the crash of the aircraft, the Lagos State government

I’m sure that the plane would not have crashed and killed everybody on board if the pilot had landed at Oke Arin Emergency airstrip

they still used it on a complete trip. When I say complete trip, I mean that they didn’t come back straight to Lagos. They took it from Uyo to Abuja, Abuja back to Uyo and back to Abuja before coming back to Lagos.

“Yesterday, before the thing crashed, it was not supposed to leave Lagos at-all. There is this regulation that aircraft should be checked and engineers should certify that it is fit to fly. That day(Sunday), it was checked and proved that it was not fit to take off

fumigate the area to ensure that residents do not contact communicable diseases.

It would be recalled that the Agbowa relief camp in Ikorodu provided temporary shelter for over 1019 Inter-

has ordered residents of the affected areas to vacate and relocate to its Relief Camp at Agbowa.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who gave the directive, explained that buildings in the area which were impacted by the crash have become unhabitable. But the order did not go down well with the residents who insisted on remaining in their homes instead of moving in a camp for refugees. The State Government, the Governor explained, would pull down all the distressed buildings and

M

eanwhile, s e c u r i t y operatives had a hectic time controlling the milling crowd of curious on-lookers surging

towards the scene of the crash. But determined to enforce the restriction order of movement to the crash site, the sternlooking police men had erected emergency, makeshift barriers to keep the crowd at bay, sometimes brandishing guns and batons to scare away the more daring of the onlookers.

Day of joy for 14,120 people, thanks to foundation

BY EBUN SESSOU

,

nal Displaced Person (IDP) from Ajegunle in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA during last year ’s flooding in the area.

O

VER 14,000 individ uals are loudly singing the praises of one Lawrence Ayeni who represents Oshodi/Isolo 1 constituency at the Lagos state House of Assembly.

They are all beneficiaries of the 15th edition of the graduation and empowerment programme of the L. B. Ayeni Foundation held recently at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government secretariat, after having graduated from a computer engineering desk top publishing training programme organised by the foundation set up by the law maker.

According to Ayeni: “The aims and objectives of the foundation is to empower the people of Oshodi 1 constituency through vocational training and skill acquisition as a way of complement-

ing government’s effort in creating job opportunities as well as reducing the poverty level in the state and country as a whole”.

Continuing, he said: “I can tell you, with this development, things are changing at Oshodi; the menace of area boys has drastically reduced because they are being trained and engaged in productive ventures”, adding that the foundation also equips those trained with the tools to practice their trade, “because if I empower them they will be able to do something in life instead of coming to demand for money”.

At the event, 970 of his constituents graduated with different skills after undergoing training, whilse another 570 matriculated to commence training. Of this number, 750 graduated in desktop publishing and comput-

er engineering; 120 were trained in hairdressing and fashion designing, while the remaining 100 are women trained in tie and dye. He gave out dryers, sewing machines and some computers to the graduating students Those who matriculated include 500 in both desktop publishing and computer engineering and another 70 for fashion designing and hairdressing.

Ayeni, who is doing a second term at the Assembly, said he started the foundation in year 2000 as a humanitarian gesture, before he was elected a lawmaker. He promised that the foundation will not die prematurely.

“I am giving you assurance that the foundation will be run throughout my life time. And I implore the beneficiaries not to sell these items given to them”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 25

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Abia: Working hard for a re-sit

BY ANAYO OKOLI, UMUAHIA.

Held down in a web of intrigues that clouded governance, the people of Abia State glimpse the prospects of a government for the first time in years.

Is it for real?

THE administration in Umuahia says it is the beginning of a new dawn. The opposition, however, disagrees noting that nothing has significantly changed.

Even where there are changes some say that Governor Theodore Orji could only be doing what he was elected to do.

Governor Orji nevertheless agrees even with his worst critics that his performance in his first term was nothing to write home about. It is as such not surprising that administration officials are proclaiming a new dawn in the infrastructure landscape of the state in his second term. In his first term the state was comatose, security was virtually absent. Criminal elements, particularly, kidnappers almost over ran the state. Besides, his first term was embroiled in controversy and crisis.

Litigation against his victory in the 2007 elections lingered for close to three years of the four year tenure. Again, Orji confessed that he and the wealth of the state were held in complete bondage allegedly by his estranged political mentors. For this, he said that funds meant for the development of the state were allegedly diverted to other areas to serve personal and family problems, to the neglect of the state issues and problems.

In his second lap Orji, however, has

shown some momentum which according to his associates is aimed at laying the foundation of the state.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. Among the key projects now underway that Governor Orji envisages to lay a new foundation for the state are a new Government House, a new secretariat complex, a conference centre among others. Aba, neglected in the last 20 years with its infrastructure decaying by the day, is presently receiving a facelift.

As a first step, the government collaborated with the Federal Government and moved troops led by Major General Sylvester Audu to restore security by fighting and subduing the kidnappers and other criminal elements that molested residents. The troops returned life to Aba. Residents who fled the city returned. Today, Aba is secured.

Business and investment confidence is returning. The troops have come to stay in the state. They have their main barracks at Ohafia and a large Camp in Asa, less than 20 minutes drive from the Aba city.

WOOING INVESTORS. Expectedly, the Government has cashed in it to woo investors. Among the foreign investors that have shown interest in the state is Alkamali Petroleum, a Dubai based oil and gas company which has shown interest in the oil and gas rich area of Ukwa West.

The company has promised to build a refinery in the Ukwa area of the state, rich in oil and gas. There is also an investor that have declared interest in building a cement factory in Arochukwu

*Map of Abia state while a Malaysian company has shown interest in the palm oil palm plantation which the state is also very rich in. The Government has also opened negotiations with a South African Brewery to revive the moribund Golden Guinea Breweries in Umuahia, the state capital. An Irish company has expressed interest to invest in the abundant quarry industry in Abia state.

Already, officials of the company, Quarry, Roads and Mining Unique Services Limited (QRM), have visited the state and held business talks with the Governor.

GOVERNEMNT’S DRASTIC ACTIONS.

Last August the Government took a decision to return all non-indigenes in its employment to their various states.

This action was not well received by some of the states whose citizens were involved, but the administration was unwavering. The government also suspended some senior officers of the Local Government system, mainly the treasurers, for their alleged plan to sabotage Government’s biometric programme aimed at checking the infiltration of ghost workers into its payroll. The government, however, later recalled them after over one month with a stern warning to sin no more.

In February, about 8 commissioners, the 17 Local Government Transition Chairmen and some other senior aides were also sent on suspension for allegedly playing a role in the embarrassment of the governor during the lying-in-state of late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba. Though some of the chairmen were recalled, few of them lost their positions, while in the case of commissioners; it led to cabinet reshuffle which saw some them swapping ministries and few new ones joining them.

OPPOSITION Abia state in the real sense of it has no strong opposition. However, two political parties, personified in their 2011 governorship candidates, Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba for All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA and Prince Paul Ikonne for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN have been criticizing the government, insisting that the government has not done anything, especially in Aba. Orji has time to maybe disprove them!

I laid a fresh foundation for Abia — Gov.Orji W

HAT are the challengesin governing Abia State and carrying out the projects credited to you?

Our revenue profile is not palatable. But a lot of things have happened in our state before now. People collected revenue and pocketed it. It is now that we are getting consultants to improve the IGR to N500 million. Before, it used to be N250 million.

When I came, I met only N150 million which I raised to N200 million. I never surpassed N250 million a month since I came on board. So, with this revenue profile that has not changed, I want you to judge us from that angle.

Now, since I came and with all these projects ongoing, I‘ve never obtained a dime from the bank; you can check this out from any bank. Neither have I taken any bond; the only loan I have taken is the N1 billion agric loan from the Central Bank. And the Central Bank has its conditions for giving these loans and how to expend it. It is tied to agric and these are facts.

So, when the N3.5 billion (monthly allocation) comes, they first of all take their loan and what remains is what we use.

So, it is not even N3.5billion that we get, it could be less. Now compare this with what we are doing. You went round, I’m C M Y K

sure you have not seen half of what we are doing because you went to Aba and Umuahia; you have not gone to Arochukwu, Isikwuato and many others where work is going on in the area of roads, public buildings which are springing up everywhere.

This is the first puzzle I’m giving you; go and think, how is this man managing?

And how can you compare this man with this type of situation to confront security.

The security situation that we have here is scaring away investors.

You don’t send a policeman to go and pursue kidnappers without arming him, without giving him money; you have to buy vehicles for him, for the police, for the army, for the SSS because if you don’t, they won’t work.

People at times they go to Akwa Ibom

,

BY MIKE EBONUGWO, DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR

•Orji: It is a new era in Abia Compare us with them. Check it out, all the governors, military and civilians who have been working in Lagos, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, they’ve been doing well. It is because they have the money. So, I want people to judge us based on what we have. We don’t have money, we can’t manufacture money.

I challenge anybody to go and point out

Why we are concentrating on roads is because our people are passionate about roads. To them, road is all and all, they use it to assess governments; if you are building roads, they say you are a performing governor

State and come back to say ‘Ah, look at what is happening in Akwa Ibom’, same with Rivers State.

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one building and say this was the building that was built within the eight years in the state capital, Umuahia.

None! Today, I can confidently count what we’re doing: the Secretariat Complex is there, the International Conference Centre is there, we are building a Government House, we are adding more quarters to the Commissioners’ Quarters, we have a new Diagnostic Centre, a new Dialysis Centre, a new Children Hospital, Housing Estate at Amaokwe, a new Broadcasting Complex, the new marketall within my second tenure. All I could

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—27

I laid a fresh foundation for Abia — Gov.Orji

,

If you look back, you will realise the wonders that are happening in Abia State. I mean, I met no foundation here, I’m starting afresh

•Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji

Continued from page 26 not do during my first tenure because of circumstances which many of you know about. I don’t want to re-echo them. But if you look back, you will realise the wonders that are happening in Abia State. I mean, I met no foundation here, I’m starting afresh.

If I had had a Government House, I won’t be thinking of constructing another one. All my colleagues surrounding me have foundation laid for them. Rivers State, is he talking of building a Government House? No. Akwa Ibom, Imo have secretariats. So, you see, mine is just bare, nothing is there. And you can’t compare

a person who is starting afresh with someone who has gone far.

So that is the problem.

So, how were you able to do these projects in spite of the challenges you have enumerated and even without borrowing?

You have to cut your coat according to your size. First, it’s not true that I’m not going to borrow money, I will, if I have to in order to complete all the ongoing projects. I don’t want to leave any abandoned projects. I will. The banks are coming, giving us offers, but let me manage first; I don’t want to infect our state because we have suffered enough.

I inherited a bill of N29 billion

even though my predecessor said he left a clean bill of health for me. I went to the Ministry of Finance to get details which include the sum of N26 million which we are owing The Sun newspapers. The chairmen that were on boards then left a bill of N2.9 billion for me as unpaid salaries. I’m still paying for all these debts; I’ve paid off most of them.

So, I don’t want to do this for anyone coming after me. If I’m going to leave any debt at all, it will be a manageable debt which can be cleared quickly. If I didn’t inherit this N29 billion debt, it would have solved a lot of problem for us. But I had to pay it; I had to start paying debts before doing other things.

On the bond issue, I attended one seminar where the then CBN governor, Soludo advised state governors to go to the bond market, I went. But that was the time I had a tough time in the state with allegations flying about that I wanted to transfer money out of the country; for this, I left it; it became a challenge to me.

I said let me show them that

,

I’m not only a manager of human beings, I could also manage resources, I could also manage money and that is what I have done.

Besides what you have done so far, what else do you have in the pipeline for the people of the state?

Yes, I will tell you the projects I’ve not done. Why we are concentrating on roads is because our people are passionate about roads. To them, road is all and all, they use it to assess governments; if you are building roads, they say you are a performing governor, they don’t look at other sectors but the other sectors are very, very essential.

If you go to Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), you see the auditorium we are building for capacity building for our students. We want to train them as number one health institution.

And in terms of programmes on HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes which we partner with foreigners; they come here and meet our people.

We are fighting polio; Abia is one of the states that don’t have

polio. So, we make sure our people are healthy. That is on the health sector.

On education, that is where we excel really.

Of course, you know Abia people are intelligent; we have institutions of higher learning and we are funding them handsomely and paying their salary; the new salary, not the old one but the new university scale.

And as of May, we have repaired more than 400 primary schools that were dilapidated since the war. We have repaired them, we have furnished them, we have equipped them. The scheme is ASOPADEC. You know we are an oil producing state. When we get our 13 percent derivation, there is a law we made; we have shifted some money to ASOPADEC to carry out rural development.

We are also repairing schools, repairing roads, providing water, providing electricity. So, while the state government is doing its own part, ASOPADEC is also doing its own.

Our students, when you get to Nigerian Law School, check out, at least from 2007 when I came on board, the best graduating students, at least an Abia daughter or son will be among them. The same thing with Medical School , an Abia daughter or son must be among the best graduating students.

28 — V anguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 5, 2012 TUESDA Vanguard,

Road to Esuk Mba Slave Market…

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

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IGERIAN poet, Odia Ofeimun, in the second stanza of one of his poems titled Lagoon captures the enduring memory vault of the sea when he writes: The lagoon speaks Like fetus remembering future Listening from the depths of formless song For the Words that break Against the voyages of discovery In the discovery of voyages.

However, one may not easily come to terms with the truth encapsulated in this beautiful stanza that conveys the image of the lagoon as the "collective unconscious” from which all human and environmental memories are buried except one is confronted with the coming and going of sea tide. It is this kind of reality that one experiences as one takes time off to see and inhale from timeless experience at the Marina Resort home of Museum of Slave History in the paradise city of Calabar.

Nestling at the bank of the Atlantic ocean through her route through thousands of slaves were shipped away to work in the new world of America and the Caribbean, the eternal wave of the sea that splashes at sea banks continues to come memory of time past: to the visitor, the sea reminds of the howling cries and drowning noises of the unfortunate slaves.

It reincarnates the years of barbarism. As one walks into the reception hall of the Museum, the first thing that opens one’s floodgate of memory is the unsettling lyrics of Elton John’s Abide with Me: Abide with me, fast falls, the even tide The darkness deepens, Lord with me, Abide When other helpers fail, and comfort flee Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me…

As this painful song reels out from the background of large screen mounted on the wall for the screening of images from the obnoxious human trade, one is taken on a journey that traverses through time, pain and suffering.

One source had it that John’s song, Abide with Me, was shaped by the type of songs sang by slaves while on board being shipped away to America. This claim may be credible when viewed from the fact that the popular hymn toes the pattern of songs sang in American plantations by the over laboured slaves; songs that became popular as Negro spirituals.

Like Ofemun’s poetic claim in

his lagoon, the Calabar Sea makes the visitor to begin afresh like a fetus to remember of the day of copulation, pregnancy and birth. He begins to remember even as distorted images, the years of teething and growing up and in fact, the story of the enslaved which can be rightly be described as a story that begins from the middle, and a story that eventually may end up being told without beginning or end.

At the museum this story starts with a visit to a section with an artistic recreation of large ship used by the slave merchants to ship the captured slaves to the new world where they were sold off. In the ship, sculptural human figure impressions done by an artist are tightly packed like sardines with their heads arranged with some tucked into the boot of the ship while other heads are turned to face the sea even as they are tied to iron bars with their mouths gagged.

Atop the ship are neatly stacked kegs of palm oil and different varieties of spices. According to the museum’s tour guide, Fidelis Uzor, who conducted us round the museum, “the slaves were packed in such a manner that made it impossible for them to converse or talk to one another.

Also the palm oil and spices were sold when they got to America to make up for the cost some slaves who died in the course of the journey to the new world.”

The ship, he further explains "was big enough to carry between 150 and 200 slaves at a time on each trip.” The infamous human trade, which prevailed from the

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Depictions of the trans-Atlantic slave trade at Esuk Mba in Akpabuyo near Calabar, CRS admiration the artistic recreation of this sorrowful candour, he is also immediately drawn into the cathartic field following the animation of characters which brings to reality the pains of anguish, wickedness, torture, abandonment and hate oozing out of the slave drivers.

Beside the slaves captured around Calabar and its environs, other slavers, according to our sources, were captured by the raiders from the hinterland and from there marched through strenuous bush paths down to the coast where they were shipped away. However, there is a notorious slave route, called the Akpabuyo Slave Route.

According to the book, A Guide to the Slave History Museum: “the Akpabuyo’s slave project is drawn from the spectacular blood men slave revolts on the Akpabuyo plantation in the 1840s and 50s. The plantation harboured slaves for sale and produced food that would be

Today, some of the inhabitants of Akpabuyo are the descendants of slaves that were not sold after the abolition of the slave trade and were rather sent to Akpabuyo plantations as labourers.

Also, the market that was used for the sale of slaves in Akpabuyo known locally as Esuk Mba market still practices trade by barter

15th century and lasted to early part of the 19th century according to a source: From the Atlantic Slave trade census. P.Curtin, resulted in the enslavement of 776,400 people from the Bight of Biafra, which constituted 30.1 per cent of the entire, 2, 579, 500 volume of English slave trade in Africa between 1690 to 1807.

According to our guide, about 40 per cent of the entire number of slaves shipped away from the coast of Calabar to the new world were taken from Calabar and its environs and hence, the location of the museum in the city. What further makes the experience of slavery more real and sorrowful at this museum is the audio animation provided by the management of the museum. As one watches with wonder and

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used to feed slaves en route to America and those in the American plantation.

“Today, some of the inhabitants of Akpabuyo are the descendants of slaves that were not sold after the abolition of the slave trade and were rather sent to Akpabuyo plantations as labourers. Also, the market that was used for the sale of slaves in Akpabuyo known locally as Esuk Mba market still practices trade by barter.” Another pathetic section of the museum is the room that houses relics of the slave trade.

In this section, one is shown the items used by the Portuguese slave dealers in exchange of slaves. The items include manila, cowries, ceramic jars, bells, swords and dane guns.

Also shown in this section are

shackles used to tie the slaves on their feet and necks. In retrospect, when one considers the import of these items of exchange, especially with regards to those of swords and dane guns, one is left with no conclusion than that the charade called trade was an exercise in power domination.

Images of local kings A power to perpetuate the trade as well as a power to continue to make the dominant kingdoms and their kings to continue to lord it over the marginal states.

Another revelation clearly made on this visit is the fact that the human trade survived and thrived that long because the invading slave merchants had their collaborators from the local communities. At one section of the museum, there are images of some local kings, who are alleged to have collaborated with the Portuguese merchants in prosecuting the inglorious trade.

Some of these local facilitators were so rich that some of them bought fabricated houses from England for themselves.

However, the most pathetic site of the museum is the section titled, Final Destination. In this section of the museum, the worn out slaves are seen brought out and auctioned off like discarded commodities. What awakens one from a stream of unconsciousness as the slave goes through this emotional journey is the voice of a white auctioneer, who declares amid high throated laughter: “Here is a fine piece of African working machine. He is strong and can be used for domestic as well as plantation work. Who goes for him? And one would hear some body reply: “I will pay $10." “$10 dollar going" the auctioneer retorts. Another buyer would price “$11.” One of the public notices for sale of slaves issued on March 15, 1883 at 10 pm at Potters Hart in Charleston, S.C. reads: “A valuable Negro woman, accustomed to all kinds of house work. Is a good plain cook, and excellent dairy maid, washes, irons. She has four children, a girl about 13 years of age and another, seven; a boy about five and an infant 11 months old. Two of the children

will be sold with mother, the other separately, it best suits the purchaser.”

The travails of the slave do not end with his being sold off. No, it is rather after being auctioned off that he undergoes more strenuous, serious and humiliating baptism of fire. There are images that show even as they re-enact through animation instances when the slave’s new master brands his back with smoking hot iron to make for easier identification of his slaves.

There are also images of hanged slaves, beaten slaves, slaves put to all forms of dehumanizing punishments as well as infants and adults, who work in the tobacco and cotton plantations over the watch of dogs and stern looking task masters.

Soul stirring phase of traumatic journey The only soul stirring phase of this traumatic journey in time is that section of the museum aptly tagged Reintegration. This section shows how the slaves in their new world tried to adjust.

This reflects in their new found dress sense, social communion and religion. Here there are images of new converts, who have adopted the western form of religion as well as efforts by some slaves to retain the traditional African culture. It is soul stirring to see and explain how the museum uses the popular Ekpe dance to explain the birth of such famous Abakua in Cuba.

With the end of slavery and slave trade, the question becomes: how does the world take advantage of the hybidity of civilization that the process of slavery created to advance human civilization. Already in Nigeria, there exists a pan African body called Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, which pioneers effort towards the harnessing of developmental and creative potentials of Africans at home and Africans in the Diaspora for the development of blacks all over the world. This is an important task. And it is time world governments took advantage of the reintegration spirit in furthering peace, progress and development.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,JUNE 5, 2012—29

How we planned to rob our bank of N120m —bank staff

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

B

USINESS activities at the Gbagada branch of one of the new generation banks was going on as usual, Thursday, May 10, 2012, with customers going about their respective transactions. But the seeming serene atmosphere was punctured by a command of “stop there”! Time was approximately 3.30 pm. And immediately, three persons were rounded up by plain clothes police detectives later discovered to be from the MOPOL 2, Keffi and Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja.

The brisk action which lasted about ten minutes was later discovered to be a foiled robbery attempt, with the suspects whisked into a police waiting police van. While the staff and customers were still smarting from the shock, the policemen stormed the bank again. And this time around, demanded for four staff of the bank, discovered to the bewilderment of all to be members of the gang.

A staff of the bank who spoke on condition of anonymity narrated how it all happened to Crime Alert. He said: “The branch normally closes by 5pm and everyone was about wrapping up their work for the day when some policemen in mufti came in. They allegedly went straight to Davidson Eboigbe, a Cashier, George Alabi, a Marketer, Toye Oke also a Cashier and Alex Sule, a security guard. They were all

dragged out of the bank and taken away. I didn’t know where they were taken to and none could really tell what was actually going on then because you know bankers often get arrested these days for fraud. So, I thought it was one of those deals. Soon, news of the foiled robbery operation spread and we were told that our colleagues had contracted some robbers to steal a huge sum of money from the bank, an operation that would have turned bloody if it was successful because the robbers planned to invade the bank with dangerous weapons.”

Plan to steal N120m from bank Crime Alert was reliably informed that the suspects confessed during interrogation that they had planned to steal over N120m from the bank vault.

It was also gathered that some of the bank staff sold themselves out by providing information that led to the arrest of their colleagues who fled from the scene on sighting the police.

Police sources said: “They all confessed their roles in the operation and said they wanted to steal N120m from the bank, which is basically the amount the bank usually leaves behind in the vault. They also agreed to strike by 5pm because by then, security at the bank would have lessened as some mobile policemen attached to the bank would have

closed for the day. But unknown to them, the police had got wind of the plot.

The Squadron Commander, Mopol 2, Keffi, Patrick Ewejare who got information about the robbery strategically positioned his men at various points within the banking premises, waiting for the robbers to strike. The robbers had planned to smuggle their weapons into the bank using a computer processing unit, which the security guard involved was expected to carry into the bank hall. Thereafter, the the robbers would walk in as genuine customers wanting to do business.

But on getting inside, they would walk straight to the CPU, retrieve their weapons and then ask everyone to lie down. That same security guard who brought in the CPU was expected to lead them to where the money was.”

It was also gathered that the Police effort would have been thwarted, as a policeman attached to another bank close to that which was to be attacked approached the MOPOL 2 commander, to find out if all was well, only to be told to man his own duty post.

Unsure of what their mission was, the policeman was said to have put a call across to the security guard at the affected bank, informing him of the police presence. But unknown to him, the security guard was an accomplice in the abortive bank robbery.

A police source said: “The

,

•The suspects

robbers who were waiting for signal to strike, got the bad news and made quick efforts to leave the bank.

But unfortunately, their leader, Sadiq Yinusa, was apprehended and was brought to us. On interrogation, he gave us clue on how to arrest others. He confessed that one of the bank staff had given N50, 000 to the robbers to get two AK 47 rifles. Since the operation has been foiled, we decided to contact the other fleeing robbers and pretended as if we had the AK 47 riffles and when they showed up, we arrested Sunday and Arnold, including Timi, who was supposed to convey the money out of the bank in his truck.

In this interview with Crime Alert, one of the bank staff, who simply gave his name as Davidson, admitted to have initiated the whole plan. He said: “To tell you the truth, I initiated the whole idea.

I was relaxing in a restaurant with my colleagues when I initiated the plan. Initially they thought it was a joke. But when they discovered that I was serious, they became interested, especially when they heard of the amount. Then, we felt there was need to invite outsiders who were robbers. I called in Toye and we deliberated on the day we would carry out the operation and the number of people required.

“Unfortunately, the day we planned to carry out the operation, Alex (the private

arrested, as his name was mentioned during interrogation.

His culpability according to Police sources would be ascertained at the end of investigation.

Asked if he regretted his action, Davidson said: “It was greed that pushed me into this. At least I was earning over N90, 000 but my salary is not up to what they pay their staff. I have spent more than five years with the bank and I have not been promoted. I joined the bank with a National Diploma, ND, as a contract staff, but we are not being treated like staff. For instance, they give staff car loan but those of us who are not staff are not entitled to such benefits.

And we do almost 90 percent of the work in the bank. I have nursed thi grudge against the bank for a long time and was tempted to rob the bank in order to leave the country with my share of the loot.”

Vandalization of ATM machines Commander, Mopol 2 Keffi, SP Patrick Ejedawe said the some hoodlums who specialize in vandalization of automated teller machines, ATM, had concluded plans to rob Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB, Ifako-Gbagada Branch at a yet to be fixed date and that the hoodlums embarked on recruiting some staff of the Branch to achieve their aim. In a swift response, Commander Mopol 2 Keffi on Commissioner of Police approval went into action with a team of Policemen to trail and apprehend the hoodlums with the assistance of a staff of the bank who was co-opted into the deal but leaked the plan to the

The robbers had planned to smuggle their weapons into the bank using a computer Processing Unit, which the security guard involved was expected to carry into the bank hall. Thereafter , the the robbers would walk in as genuine customers wanting to do business

guard) came and told us that policemen had cordoned off the bank premises. We immediately called Sadiq, Bamidele, Sunny and Arnold on the phone and told them not to come into the bank premises because policemen had surrounded the place. I was later arrested in the office by one of the policemen and was brought to SARS. That was how we were all rounded off.

But Bamidele managed to escape and we do not know where he is.” He however, exonerated one of his colleagues whose identity he gave as Kehinde Adeshida. Although he admitted that the decision to rob the bank was sold to Kehinde, he, however, claimed he objected to it, on the ground that he would be travelling out of the country by then. Kehinde was among those

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bank’s management. He was later prevailed upon to serve as a role.

On May 10 at about 1700hrs, one Sodiq Yinusa ‘m’ was arrested at the vicinity of the bank while waiting for the other members of his gang to attack the bank. Based on the confession of the arrested robber, O’C SARS, SP Abba Kyari was drafted to join Commander Mopol 2 Keffi to arrest other members of the gang in their respective hideouts. Their combined efforts lead to the arrest of one Arnold Dokpesi ‘m’, Sunday Orukpe ‘m’, Timi Bozime ‘m’, Matanmi Oladipupo ‘m’ and Adesida Kehinde ‘m’. Two locally made pistols recovered and 11 nmumbers of 99mm live ammunition were recovered from Arnold Dokpesi and Sunday Orukpe.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Why property is a hedge against inflation — Experts

BY JUDE NJOKU & KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

N

IGERIA’S inflation rate according to statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, rose to 12.9 percent in April 2012. Because inflation marches forward every year, the fear is that people’s buying power will diminish if their investments do not appreciate as quickly as the cost of what they buy. There is also the fear that the Naira and major world currencies could become worthless someday apparently due to hyperinflation. In a related development, Nigerians who invested in the stock market during the bullish era, are today counting their loses while those who fixed their money with banks or invested in bonds, have also witnessed a depreciation in the value of such funds.

Against this backdrop, many Nigerians who had before now, shied away from investing in real estate, have suddenly discovered that it is the best form of investment because it serves as a hedge against inflation. The shift is seen by real estate professionals as a welcome development because real assets like property hold their value better than paper assets which have their value easily eroded by inflation. Like gold, real estate tends to retain its intrinsic value even during periods of inflation. But unlike gold, it is possible to earn a regular income on real estate.

Depending upon various economic factors, a property owner can increase rent in times of high inflation.

A Lagos-based Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Mr. Kunle Awolaja noted that even

if the real estate sector experiences a crash as is presently the case in the United States and Europe, the properties will still be there and will later appreciate. Awolaja who is the General Secretary of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, however warned those intending to invest in real estate not to buy blindly. According to him, they should take into consideration, the physical and land use administration/ planning of the area they intend to invest in. “If you don’t do this, you may buy land in a place that has been zoned for a dump site; what that means is that your property may not appreciate. Look at what is happening along the Mowe -Ibafon axis, (Lagos Ibadan expressway) people didn’t wait for the planning of the area before buying land because they have this notion that land will appreciate, no matter where it is. This is creating a lot of problems and the area is being turned into slums from the onset,” he said.

A former Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation LSDPC, Mr John Bede Anthony, an Architect, corroborated this view. He described real estate as the best form of investment because of the possibility of capital appreciation. “If one decides to put for instance, N1 million in the bank today, after one year, the money becomes less than the N1 million; it is only land and houses that appreciate. ‘The best form of of investment all over the world today is property investment’’, the former LSDPC boss said. He urged investors to make their decisions based on their own income, existing financial

Buildings like this serve as hedge against inflation. health and risk appetite.

Mr John Bede who is now a developer said property investment is different from other forms of investments because real estate is a multidimensional asset while other forms of investments are limited to one dimension with intrinsic differences. ‘’For example, your stock investments are one dimensional. You buy low and hope to sell high. Maybe it pays you a small dividend once in a while. You pay taxes on them, then sell them and get hit with the capital gains tax.

But over the years, real estate has proven itself time and again to be the premium asset if you want to create lifechanging wealth. The multidimensional nature has a lot to do with that. ‘’With real estate it is all about buying low and selling high.

Hazard Dangers of unsanitary waste disposal

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HE disposal of waste in unsanitary or unhygienic conditions can lead to great health and environment problems. Food waste can be unsightly, unsanitary and smelly, and it can lead to diseases and epidemics if not disposed off properly.

Infections and diseases •Solid and fluid waste, if left in unsanitary conditions without proper disposal management, can cause diseases and lead to infections, even epidemics. Open dumpsters and uncontrolled garbage become breeding grounds for insects, pests, snakes and rats that can infect children who play near these

areas or carry them into houses they frequent. Skin diseases, eye problems, diarrhea, typhoid, scabies, cholera, intestinal parasites are only some health risks that are created by the unsanitary disposal of waste.

•Environmental hazards •Unsanitary waste disposal causes environmental pollution. On a small scale, food waste and other garbage from homes will litter a neighborhood waste disposal unit. On a large scale, industrial waste will choke up the oceans and destroy or degrade the environment. Water and air contamination and pollution is a direct result of unsanitary waste disposal. Waste dumping

and incineration with no proper attempt to sanitize or consider the health risks of such disposal methods does not lead to solutions — only to greater problems.

•Unsightly and unpleasant •In urban areas, with the greater density of population and constant business activity, there is a greater risk of unsanitary waste disposal and its effects. Inappropriate disposal methods by people living in homes or working in offices or industries creates an environment that is concentrated filth. Waste is not just unhealthy — it is unsightly, it ruins the visual beauty of a natural or manmade environment.

HIGH POINTS •Real assets like property hold their value better than paper assets which have their value easily eroded by inflation •You can earn a regular income on real estate •Even when the is a crash in the market, the property will still be there and will appreciate over time •Ensure that you don’t invest blindly; consider the physical and land use administration/ planning of the area you intend to invest in •Real estate it is all about buying low and selling high Other dimensions include mortgage and cash flow in the rental market. Your mortgage is a major asset in real estate business. The mortgage you hold can never be duplicated due to the ravaging effects of inflation. In case of cash flow in the rental market, rents from your property investment can be increased each and every year to keep pace with inflation. But no one can stop you from increasing rents at a reasonable rate in comparison to the inflation rate. This is important for any investor focused on long term positive cash flow properties,” he said.

Continuing, the former LSDPC boss said: ‘’Rent increases are treated the same as the salary you earn from your job.

Employers increase your salary at a nominal rate, based on inflation. This is because your salary should increase based on the rate of inflation in the country you live in. Cash flow pays your expenses, most notably your mortgage, the biggest expense you will have over the life of the mortgage.

Once the mortgage is paid off, your cash flow increases exponentially. Cash will increase based on the rate of in-

flation , giving you more purchasing power. ‘Most importantly, cash flow puts money in your pocket at the end of the month, each and every month, for the entire time you hold that property investment. In addition, if investors focus on investing in properties that have six or more units, the banks will solely look at the positive cash flow property and provide financing based on the properties ability to support themselves without the need of the investor’s personal financial status. That is to say, as long as the property has enough positive cash flow to sustain itself, banks would not require personal financial information from clients, such as your income, net worth and any other financial information deemed necessary for applying for a mortgage. ‘’One cannot deny that your expense will go up, also based on the rate of inflation. It is natural that inflation exists, just as it is natural that expense for products and services go up over time, and so too does your rents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—31

Lagos generates N3.8bn from land use charge

BY JUDE NJOKU

Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00

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HE Lagos State government generated about 3.8 billion from the Land Use Charge last year. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Adetokunbo Abiru who disclosed this at the ministerial press briefing to mark the first year of Governor Babatunde Fasola’s second term in office, explained that figures released by the Lands Records Company Nigeria Limited, the company charged with administering the Land Use Charge collection, showed the proceeds from the unified property tax increased from N250 million in 2008 to N3.8 billion in 2011.

Abiru disclosed further that in a bid to increase the level of compliance and expected revenue from the Land Use Charge, focus has shifted from property enumeration to comprehensive billing of all enumerated properties.

“The adoption of this approach positively reflected on the revenue,” he said adding that out of the total of 637,569 properties so far enumerated, 583,458 have been billed. This represents about 91 percent of the enumerated properties.

Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block--N130 9 inches vibrated per block--N150 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90

LSDPC Estate, Lekki Phase II “The outstanding balance of 26,819 billable records which mainly are raw records yet to be processed and exempted properties will be processed through enforcement which will include prosecution for non-compliance, if necessary.

Besides, a total of 560,000 demand notices were delivered across the 20 local government areas,” Mr Abiru said.

The commissioner was elated because some of the teething problems encountered on the scheme have subsided and people are now paying the charges voluntarily.

The controversial Land Use Charge which has been widely criticized by Estate Surveyors and Valuers and other built environment professionals because the parameters used in determining the charges to be paid were arbitrarily decided by the Ministry, merged the Tenement Rate, Development Charges, Ground Rent and Neighbourhood Improvement Rent into one single tax.

Speaking on the financial strategy adopted by the Fashola administration, Mr. Abiru said the government will maintain a funding preference for capital expenditure. His words: “ The

present administration is resolute in its stride to maintain financial strategy which is premised on sustaining funding priorities more to capital projects than overhead expenditure in the staunch belief that economic growth is better accelerated by adequate funding of physical and ensuring qualitative capital projects in line with international best practices”. He maintained that the state government will only borrow money to finance capital projects.

Lekki Scheme 2: Develop plots now or forfeit them — Fashola

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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PECULATIVE land holders at Lekki Peninsula Scheme 11 may have their plots confiscated by the Lagos State Government. Already, government is set to carry out verification of plot owners in the scheme to determine true allottees from speculators with a view to confiscating plots of speculative land holders.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who dropped this hint last week during the commissioning of nine roads at the Lekki phase 11 scheme said: ”those who are just speculative holders will have their plots taken from them and sold to genuine prospective home owners”. He therefore appealed to plots owners in the scheme to immediately commence the development of their plots to justify the state's huge infrastructure investment in terms of road network,drainage system, street lighting and others in the upcoming residential estate.

The scheme which was designed in 1996 with a land area of 514.53 hectares, has 3,095 residential plots, 64 commercial plots, 47 mixed development plots, 26 institutional plots and 17 recreational plots.

Fashola noted that Lekki Peninsula Scheme II is one of such schemes designed to satisfy the yearning of the people for plots of land to build personal houses and that all the

Building materials watch

plots have been fully allocated more than a decade ago. The Governor who observed that some allottees are gradually moving into the scheme, implored others to move in quickly to commence development of their plots according to the terms spelt out in their allocation letters or risk revocation of the allocation.

Fashola who disclosed that the Oba Elegushi Housing Estate was deliberately sited in the scheme as part of government’s efforts to attract people to the area, however wondered whether someone who had allocation for about twenty years and did nothing

to take physical possession should be seen as one who required it for development or as a land speculator.

According to him, the microwater work that will supply potable water to the scheme had been completed and commissioned in 2002 while substantial work has been done on the electrification project of the scheme. Specifically, he mentioned the erection and reticulation of the electric poles, the street lights and the installation of transformers have been done.

Speaking earlier, the General Manager, New Towns Development Authority, Dr. Adeyemi

Isiba commended the governor for his passion and aggressive pursuit of the development of the scheme which he opined will act as catalyst for the movement of allottees into the scheme to develop their plots.

Isiba noted that, the ever increasing population of Lagos State has continuously put pressure on the state government to provide land for people to build houses and hinted that the Lagos State Government through the New Towns Development Authority will soon open new schemes in the state.

Jerk up FMBN’s capital base, estate developer tells FG

BY CHRIS OCHAYI, Abuja

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N estate magnet and Chief Executive of First Rotech Group, Chief Austin Oguejifor has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the N100 billion recapitalization required by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, to enable the bank tackle the issue of acute shortage of housing accommodation facing the country.

Chief Oguejifor, who made the remarks during the flagging off of construction of 850 housing units at the Luxury Place Estate being

handled by the firm in Abuja, said that housing delivery in the country would remain a mirage if there is no vibrant and robust mortgage system to drive the sector.

Oguejifo argued that with the nation’s current deficit of over 16 million houses, the FMBN’s current N2.5 billion capital base was insufficient and cannot make any reasonable impact in tackling the housing challenges confronting Nigeria.

First Rotech Group has being into real estate development, infrastructure development and Private Public Partnership, PPP, scheme in the country over the last few years. The group which has foreign partners, is

investing in affordable low-cost housing estates, planned to be executed in phases within the federal capital.

Oguejiofor further challenged the management of the bank to ensure that it commences the process of integration of the informal sector into its National Housing Fund, NHF, using Cooperative Societies’ structures as is in practice in the other parts of the world.

“It is expected that under this scheme, Nigerians in the informal sector like the akara seller, bricklayers, commercial drivers as well as the road side motor mechanic will have the opportunity to own their residential houses,” he said.

Sand Soft per tipper load ---N13,000 Sharp double tipper load--N23,000 Gravel double tipper load--N25,000 Gravel single tipper load--N18,000 Granite per tipper load---N120,000 Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton --N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton--N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton--N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton--N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton--N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12--N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12---N800 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece--N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece--N1,500 Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre-------------------------------------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre-------------------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------------------------------N170 25 mm diameter------------------------------------------N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length ----------------------------N120 25 mm diameter per length-----------------------------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Abia in a frenzy of projects execution to address infrastructure challenges

BY MIKE EBONUGWO

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LTHOUGH the administration of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State is in its second term in office, the government has in recent time been displaying a sense of urgency, as if to make up for lost time, in providing the much talked-about democracy dividends to the people of the state. While it has many completed projects to its credit and will readily flaunt same to back up its claim to having succeeded in meeting the expectations of the people, there are presently several ongoing major projects which ordinarily should have been in place long before now, at least years after the creation of the state. The projects are being speedily executed and most of them are due for completion this year or at least before the expiration of Governor Orji’s second term tenure.

These projects include the construction of an ultra-modern State secretariat reputed to be the first of its kind in the South East, a new High Court complex with six courts, a permanent head office for the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, a 3000 capacity international conference centre which will come with first class facilities as well as the renovation of the Customary Court of

Appeal. Work is said to have started on the threebuilding secretariat complex six months ago and the project is due for completion hopefully by December this year.

According to state government officials, on completion, it is expected to accommodate all the ministries in the state with the structures housing the ministries presently converted into estates or other such accommodation.

In addition to building a new state secretariat, the government is also renovating the nearby Federal Government secretariat in order to upgrade it to meet envisaged standard for workers in the state.

But the timing of these projects has raised questions among observers. It is a question the State Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo readily provided an answer to.

Speaking with Vanguard in Umuahia, he had this to say: “You have to understand that in Abia State, this administration is starting from the beginning because it did not inherit any foundation on which to build on.

Whereas in our sister states and indeed other states in the country, the governors that came into office about the same time as Governor Orji had something to build on in

Abia State secretariat. terms of foundations laid by their predecessors, that sadly was not the case here. Instead what we inherited was crisis, what we inherited was bad politics that led to constant friction with the Federal Government and

consequently deprived us of our entitlements. So, this governor is the father and founder of the new Abia State because he is laying a solid foundation for the state, a foundation his successor can conveniently build on.

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development model has proven to be inefficient and unsustainable, not only for the environment, but for economies and societies as well”, said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. “We urgently need to move to a sustainable development path with a coherent set of policies with people and the planet at the centre”.

“The forthcoming “Rio+20” United Nations conference will be a crucial moment to make sure decent work and social inclusion are integral parts of any future development strategy”, he added.

The Executive Director

previous administration; not one. But right now, we have not less than 70 public building projects going on at the same time.

This is beside the roads we’re constructing across different parts of the state.

•Continues on Page 33

Eko Atlantic City: Lagos, developers allay fears of coastal erosion

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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GAINST the backdrop of criticisms that have trailed the ongoing development of Eko Atlantic City on an expansive parcel of land reclaimed from the Lagos Bar-Beach, the Lagos State Government and

South Energyx Limited, developers of the nine million square metres city, recently rose in stout defence of the scheme, saying the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, shows that the envisaged dangers have been taken care of. The duo told newsmen that the EIA for the multi-billion

Climate Watch Transition to green economy could yield up to 60 million jobs — Report S Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark the World Environment Day WED today, a new report led by the Green Jobs Initiative, says the transformation to a greener economy could generate 15 to 60 million additional jobs globally over the next two decades and lift tens of millions of workers out of poverty.

The study titled “Working towards sustainable development: Opportunities for decent work and social inclusion in a green economy “ however stated that these gains will depend on whether the right set of policies are put in place.

“The current

Not only is he trying to restore the years that the cankerworm has eaten, but he is building a solid foundation for tomorrow.

“If you move around Umuahia today, you’re not likely to see any storey building left by the

of the UN Environment Programme UNEP, Achim Steiner said: “This report comes on the eve of World Environment Day on 5 June under the theme Green Economy: Does it Include You?”.

“The findings underline that it can include millions more people in terms of overcoming poverty and delivering improved livelihoods for this and future generations. It is a positive message of opportunity in a troubled world of challenges that we are relaying to capital cities across the globe as leaders prepare and plan for the Rio+20 Summit,” he added.

The report - published almost four years after the first study by the Green Jobs Initiative - looks at the impact that the greening of the economy can have on employment, incomes and sustainable development in general.

At least half of the global workforce - the equivalent of 1.5 billion people - will be affected by the transition to a greener economy. While changes will be felt throughout the economy, eight key sectors are expected to play a central role and be mostly affected: agriculture, forestry, fishing, energy, resource-intensive manufacturing, recycling, building and transport.

dollars project is in compliance with regulations.

When completed, Eko Atlantic City which construction started in 2006, would be three times the size of Victoria Island Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Development and Infrastructure, Prince Adesegun Oniru told newsmen that all the tests carried out on the strength of the protective wall showed that the great wall of Lagos as it is called, will last even longer than 100 years.

Prince Oniru who noted that when the wall was tested against Tsunami only splashes of water were observed, meaning that it can withstand Tsunamis. He added that when completed, the high wall will adequately protect the sprawling city.

Prospective residents are expected to start living in the next three years.

Mr. Dirk Heigboer of Royal Haskoning, the Dutch marine firm that carried out the EIA stated a project of that magnitude must have an EIA. He pointed out that both the Federal Ministry of Environment and Lagos State Ministry of the Environment were involved in doing the

EIA, explaining that there is a monitoring team in place to monitor the project,.

He disclosed that the report of the EIA was discussed extensively at a forum in Lagos last year.

He maintained that the construction of the city will not add to the coastal problems of the beach or the Lagos coast line. He said with the ongoing construction of the city, the shoreline at the beach is better than it was before. According to him, his firm carried out marine engineering activities on the city ’s reclamation project, stressing that in view of the scale of the project, it was concluded that the project will have major positive effects in restoring and protecting the shoreline with minimal side effects. ‘’A scoping exercise was carried out to identify the main issues that needed to be addressed as part of the EIA. Following this, a report was prepared and the terms of reference for the EIA were agreed with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the body with national regulatory authority over the project.

Extensive consultations were carried out through

•Continues on Page 33

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012—33

US housing market on recovery path N

EW U.S. singlefamily home sales rose solidly in April and prices pushed higher, offering further evidence the housing market was turning the corner.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday sales increased 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted 343,000-unit annual rate after a 332,000-unit pace in March.

The report, whose details were fairly bullish, came on the heels of news on Tuesday that home resales hit a twoyear high in April and suggested the housing market recovery was gaining traction.

It also highlighted the economy’s underlying strength, even though job growth has slowed in recent months. The weak housing market had been the Achilles heel of the economy’s recovery from the 2007-09 recession.

“It’s encouraging.

These are signs that we might be forming a bottom

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A residential property in US in housing,” said Omer Esiner, chief analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington.

“We’ll need to see housing shore up before we can talk about a meaningful recovery in the U.S.” U.S. stocks opened lower on worries about Greece’s debt problems, while U.S. Treasury debt prices rose. The dollar extended gains against

the euro after the home sales data. Compared to April last year, new home sales were up 9.9 percent. Signs of life in the housing market were also bolstered by a 4.9 percent rise in the median price of a new home last month to $235,700 from a year ago.

A separate report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency showed

house prices rose 1.8 percent in March after gaining 0.3 percent in February. Prices were up 2.7 percent from year ago.

The improving housing market picture helped Toll Brothers Inc, the largest luxury home builder, report a higherthan-expected quarterly profit and a strong jump in new orders.

Abia in a frenzy of projects execution to address infrastructure challenges Continues from pg 32 And these projects are being funded through prudence; good management of scarce resources”.

This is a position shared by a publisher and former Information Commissioner in the State, Prince Emeka Obasi, who averred that development in the state was kept in abeyance until Governor Orji came into office, a situation which forced him to start from the basics in building befitting operational offices for the executive and legislative arms of government, civil servants and judiciary workers in the state.

Speaking on this situation, Governor Orji said he could not do much of what he is doing presently during his first term “because of circumstances which many of you know about”. He did not stop there. “But if you look back, you will realise the wonders that are happening in Abia State . I mean, I met no foundation here, I’m starting afresh. If I had a Government House I won’t be thinking of constructing another one.

All my colleagues surrounding me have

PROPERTY BRIEFS AEPB hikes waste disposal charges

foundations laid for them.

Rivers State , is he talking of building a Government House? No. Akwa Ibom, Imo have secretariats. So, you see, mine is just bare, nothing is there. And you can’t compare a person who is starting afresh with someone who has gone far,” he submitted.

But remarkably, the Governor claims that in spite of the enormous challenges confronting his administration, he has done very well in other areas of infrastructure development, especially in road construction and rehabilitation in Umuahia, Aba,

Arochukwu, Isikwuato and indeed across the length and breadth of the state. In fact, he was to confess that “ why we are concentrating on roads is because our people are passionate about roads. To them, road is all and all, they used it to assess governments; if you are building roads, they say you are a performing governor, they don’t look at other sectors”.

Among the roads so rehabilitated are the Federal Governmentowned Bende road, the Ama-Ogbenna-Okigwe road, the Osusu-

Omuma road and the Amaeke road. Others included the World BankAgbama Road, the Umuafai-Lodu-Ahiaeke road, the Okwuta-Isieke and Okwoyi-Iyienyi roads as well as the NkataAlike Umukabia-Ohuhu road.

Equally rehabilitated by the state government was the AbaOwerri road which was complemented with the construction of a pedestrian bridge opposite the Abia State Polytechnic Aba to forestall accidents involving students of the school and other road users.

Lagos, developers allay fears Continues from pg 32 out the EIA process.

They started during the scoping phase with meetings with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA. ‘’Following these sessions, further consultations were expanded to cover a wider range of stakeholders and local community leaders.

Consultations and liaison with relevant parties will continue,’ he said.

Continuing, he said:

‘The Eko Atlantic project has completed a full and comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment on the entire land reclamation works and its sea wall protection as required under the Nigerian Environmental Impact Assessment Act N0. 86 of 1992. The EIA has been carried out in accordance with these regulations.

‘The EIA was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment and underwent public consultation in November. In January 2012, the

Federal Ministry of Environment gave EIA approval for Eko Atlantic reclamation works and sea wall protection in combination with established procedures for ongoing compliance’’, he said.

The new land mass that will eventually spread across 10 square kilometres is protected by a sea revetment known as The Great Wall of Lagos.

It will be seven kilometres long when completed.

new waste-fee will soon be introduced by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB to enable the agency provide efficient service delivery to the residents and business facilities in the city.

Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Isa Shuaibu who disclosed this at a media briefing described the fee to be charged as Polluter Pay Principle on multi-tenanted apartments and other similar facility.

He said the cost of managing all categories of wastes in the FCT has been very expensive thus requiring the agency to review its operation so as to respond to the yearning of the residents for a clean city through efficient waste disposal system.

“The Polluter Pay Principle would explore all the uncharged facilities in commercial areas such as hospitality facilities and business plazas across the city,” he said.

“The decision to increase charges is not limited to hospitality facilities alone but all commercial business operations. Those who enjoy public patronage must pay as they have continued to enjoy economic benefits from the individuals, corporate organization and government agencies”.

FERMA’s Ijora asphalt plant ready this month

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HE Executive Director in charge of Engineering Services at the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency FERMA, Mr Hassan Mohammed has assured that the multi-million Naira 80 tonne per hour asphalt plant being constructed by the agency at its Ijora, Lagos office would be ready by the end of June, 2012.

He dropped the hint while conducting media executives on a facility tour of the plant.

Mohammed, an engineer pointed out, that the contractor has assured that the installation of the plant would be completed on schedule, adding that as of now; only a few items are left fore the plant to come on stream.

The ED said that some electrical items such as cables which have to be manufactured by a foreign firm to specification, are some of the things delaying the completion of the plant.

He said that the waiting period would not be long, noting that within the next one month, FERMA should be able to put the plant into full service.

According to him, when the plant fully comes on stream, it would assist tremendously in the maintenance job of the agency. He added that road construction and maintenance depend largely on the availability of asphalt and with the completion of the plant it would go a long way in making the job of FERMA much easier.

Greenhouse gas emissions project

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HE pilot version of a global protocol for community-scale greenhouse gas emissions designed to harmonise emissions measurement and reporting process for the world’s cities has been launched by two United Nation’s agencies and the World Bank. The protocol was released at the UNFCCC climate meeting in Bonn by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and ICLEI -Local Governments for Sustainability with input from the World Resources Institute.

UNEP, UN-Habitat and the World Bank supported development of the protocol via the Joint Work programme of the Cities Alliance and after close consultation with local governments around the world.

For all these organisations, the fact that the source of as much as 70 percent of global GHG emissions can be attributed to urban areas is a compelling call to action. Soraya Smaoun, Acting Head of the Built Environment Unit of the UN Environment Programme said that “cities are critical in meeting the world’s climate objectives. Having clear and standardized metrics to measure progress is an important first-step in recognizing the considerable actions already underway by cities. We are hopeful that cities across the world will adopt this Global Protocol as they expand their climate mitigation efforts.”

34—V anguard, TUESD AY, JUNE 5, 2012 TUESDA 34—Vanguard

Range Rover Sport recharges for 2012 Vehicle Engineering Manager, Nick Veale said. “These new features enhance the outstanding ability of the Range Rover Sport off-road while continuing to deliver an intoxicating driving experience on road. They also deliver an added Layer of safety and support to drivers who want to discover what their vehicle is really capable of.

Inside the Range Rover Sport, Land Rover raised the equipment to the next level. For the first time the next generation seveninch touch-screen comes with optional dual view technology, allowing the driver to view the navigation display while the passenger watches a DVD. Also the rear seat entertainment package has been enhanced with the availability of white fire wireless technology.

Significant specification and performance improvement have been

BY THEODORE OPARA

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AND Rover has continued to improve its Range Rover Sport model with array of changes and amenities aimed at retaining its reputation as the leading Sports Utility Vehicle in the world.

According to Nigel Clarke, Land Rover Operations Director, Sub Sahara Africa, who hosted selected members of the press from the region recently in Sabi-Sabi game resort in South Africa, “the enhancements on the 2012 Range Rover Sport will ensure this car retains its position as one of the most economical and dynamic high performance sport utility vehicles on the market today with exciting new features.”

The Range Rover Sport comes in four distinct models, including the HSE SDV6, HSE luxury, HSE Super charged and HSE Autobiography. Also three engine variants are available in the Range Rover Sport line up including the 3.0 litre V6 diesel, the 5.0 V8 petrol (naturally aspirated) and the top of the range 5.0 litre V8 Supercharged C M Y K

petrol.

These engines have been fine-tuned to deliver class-leading performances in their different segments. For instance the 3.0 V6 180Kw diesel powerplant accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 9.3 second while the V8 petrol (naturally aspirated) hits the same speed in just 7.6 seconds.

The top-of-the-range engine version, the 5.0 litre V8 Supercharged petrol version which is the most powerful engine, does the same in mere 6.2 seconds. The Supercharged version develops 375kw and 625Nm of torque while the naturally aspirated version develops 276km and 510Nm of torque. All the Range Rover engines are matched with sixspeed automatic transmission.

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he Range Rover Sports owes its off road and on-road prowess to its full time four-wheel drive with Std locking centre differential and terrain response. Optional locking rear axle differential is also available. The air sprung independent double wishbone at the front and

rear adds to the superb ride of the Range Rover Sport models, with slight modifications on the different models.

Without changing the iconic design of the Range Rover Sport, Land Rover effected some changes both internally and externally on the car, aimed at enhancing its looks and comfort.

Externally, the Range Rover Sport looks more aggressive than before.

The changes starts from the tailgate graphic which has created new look and a gloss black treatment to the headlight inner and grille surround. The SE derivative now sports a dark atlas grille while the HSE takes on the light atlas. The Supercharged model can now be fitted with a new 20'’ alloy wheel option finished in sparkle silver with high gloss lacquer and adopts the atlas grille surround.

However, the interior colour ways on the top of the range, the Autobiography Sport has been refreshed further for the year with heading option of ebony Morzine joining the interior lineup while subtly revised colour schemes to the grille and fender vents, bonnet badges and twoeye, as well as body

colour door handles, have been made across the range.

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lso, added to the 2012 Range are two additional features to enhance its off road capability. The Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control stand the Range Rover Sports out.

For instance the Hill Start Assist retains the initial driver-generated brake pressure, long enough for the foot to

move from brake to pedal to throttle without the car rolling backwards. The brake is released after sufficient time has elapsed or when the engine is supplying enough torque to move the car up the hill. The gradient acceleration control however is designed to provide safety cover on severe gradients when the driver does not have hill decent control engaged. The two new features were quite exciting that Land Rover

made to the Hi-ICE and premium audio systems which have been upgraded to the most Gen 2.1 electrical architecture, offering a staggering 825Kw of power through 17 speakers on premium Harmon Kardon Logic 7.

The new “say what you see” voice command on premium systems helps the driver learn commands with useful step-by-step screen prompts and allows the use of spoken short codes too.

Vanguard , TUESD AY, JUNE 5, 2012—35 TUESDA

Dodge SXT Caliber redefines hatchback segment W

ESTSTAR Associates Limited, authorized general distributor of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and MercedesBenz in Nigeria is not relenting in its efforts at introducing the latest models from the stable of these leading car makers into the Nigerian market.

The company, which few months ago introduced the jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Patriot, Compass and Dodge Durango into the market has added the allnew Dodge Caliber SXT to its line-up.

The elegant five-door hatchback is powered by 2.0 litre four cylinder engine which delivers 158 horse power. The front wheel drive Dodge Caliber SXT according to Mr. Mirko Plath, Managing Director Weststars Associates is a fun to drive and offers customers wellrounded package, combining the versatility of a sport utility vehicle with the value and fuel efficiency of a compact car.

The Dodge caliber SXT is equipped with a CVT2 automatic transmission and handles the road excellently with its finetuned suspensions. Its comfort amenities are comparable to premium cars as air-conditioning system, cruise control, CD player with MP3 capability comes as standard features. The interior is finished with leather, while its 17 inch alloy aluminum wheels and fog lights stands it out as a car in a different class.

The Dodge Caliber proves it can handle whatever life dishes out with versatile features like a rear liftgate and an available fold-flat frontpassenger seat, so drivers can easily accommodate changing cargo and passenger requirements at a moment’s notice.

Safety features for the Dodge Caliber SXT include anti-lock brakes, active anti-whiplash front head restraints, front airbags, an inflatable driver knee blocker and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants; an electronic stability control system, including traction control and brake assist all of which come as standard equipment. The car comes with standard Electronic Stability Control which steps in when it detects that a driver is veering off his intended

GM Sub-Saharan Africa records remarkable growth

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path.

“The 2012 Dodge Caliber SXT offer what the technological features entry-level customers look for at an affordable

price. Whether you are looking for attentiongrabbing style, an energetic ride, flexibility, a little added luxury or all of the above, our

customers will find it in the Dodge Caliber SXT” – says the Managing Director.

The Dodge Caliber SXT is already on sale at

Weststar Associates Limited and its authorized dealer M-B Automobile Services Limited, showrooms across the country.

Auto firms endorse 2012 Nigeria Auto Awards

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LL is now set for the hosting of the seventh edition of The Nigeria Auto Awards by Onwheels magazine.

Speaking to journalists at a press briefing in Lagos to announce the date, Mr. Jabez Aina-Scott, Publisher, Onwheel Magazine said that a sizeable number of top icons in the auto franchise business in the country have endorsed this year’s edition of the auto industry awards billed to showcase outstanding products and practitioners in the industry.

According to the convener, “It’s been a harvest of confidence building in the award event as

the who-is-who in the industry have declared commitment to the event.

They include Toyota Nig Ltd, Stallion Motors, Mandilas, CFAO Motors, Lanre Shittu Motors, Tata, Elizade, Boulus Enterprises, and Kia Motors, as well as Coscharis and Viramsum.

Others in related businesses are Boulos Enterprises, Mobil, Milan Group and Stanbic IBTC and First Bank Plc, which is well known for its automobile financing products”.

Mr; Aina-Scott said that public voting has started to determine the car that will cart home the prestigious ‘Car of the Year’

award’ whose nominees include Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Avensis, Kia Optima, Land Rover HSE and Audi A6. Also the public voting card is the ‘Best Designed Car of the year’ in which seven cars have been nominated. They are Volkswagen Passat CC, Honda Crosstour, Kia Optima, Toyota Avensis, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Sonata and Range Rover Evoque The publisher noted that “Altogether, the categories listed for awards, which cuts across all segments, are more than twenty and they include for cars, trucks, tyres, organizations, services, individuals and other auto

related enterprises”. According to him “The Evergreen and recognition awards for innovation, sustenance, and strategic policy implementation aimed at moving the industry forward are also on the billing for this year’s extravaganza. “Like previous editions, the award will recognize astute managers of men who have distinguished themselves in all aspects of the industry. Their individual and collective roles towards ensuring product sales, diversification and versatility, innovation and after sales services not forgetting brand building shall be considered” Aina-Scott said.

HE General Motors Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) market showed amazing growth rates in the first four months of the year, reaffirming the company’s commitment to expanding their footprint in the region.

According to a statement from the regional headquarters, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the latest figures show that the General Motors SSA region, excluding South Africa, has shown a remarkable 48 percent increase in wholesale vehicle sales, year-on-year, when compared to the first four months of 2011. ”General Motors has committed itself to aggressively grow its business in Sub-Saharan Africa this year and, based on these figures, we are succeeding,” said Rita Kavashe, Exports Director for General Motors Sub-Saharan Africa and Managing Director of General Motors East Africa Operations.

The Sub Saharan Africa Left Hand Drive market, which includes countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, among others, showed an astronomical 117% growth for the first four months, year on year, while the South East Africa Right Hand Drive markets, which include Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others, showed a modest 10% year on year growth rate.

East Africa, which includes countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, showed a 12% growth in the first four months, compared to 2011.

The top five performing countries, Angola, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Zambia, had year on year volume increases varying from 22% to a staggering 180%.

Kavashe said GM would continue to leverage their operations in the region to capitalise on the long term growth opportunities that the region offered. ”Our efforts have been focused on strengthening our logistics and dealer distribution footprint, ensuring that we have the right product portfolio in place and providing enhanced support to our customers,” she said.

Kavashe said GM also planned on launching eight new products into the Sub-Saharan Africa markets.

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5,

2012

•A typical Lagos slum begging for regeneration.

ETERMINED to enhance its status as African modern mega city, the Lagos State Government has rolled up its sleeves for more work. It is now focussing the transformation agenda on slums to boost economic prosperity of the state.

Inspecting some World Bank- assisted projects in Badia, Ijora and Agege areas of the state, Governor Babatunde Fashola, stressed that the ongoing infrastructure development and slums renewal by Lagos Metropolitan Development Governance Project (LMDGP) was designed to open up such areas for economic activities.

While addressing residents of the area, Fashola stressed the need to protect public infrastructure, which he said would help improve their lives and boost the environmental status of the communities.

Fashola lamented indiscriminate dumping of wastes into canals that he noted was still the practice of many residents and warned that the govern-

BRIEF Lagos warns developers on contravening layout plans

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AGOS State government has warned that henceforth, contractors found developing areas contravened by the state’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010 and the State’s Model City Development Law of 2009 would be punished. It also said that those found guilty of flouting the provisions of the Law would be prosecuted and consequently reported to their professional bodies for revocation of their operating licenses.

With $200m World Bank fund, Lagos begins slums renewal

BY OLASUNKAANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO ment would not condone any act of lawlessness from individuals.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress made on the projects, he said the development was a response to the government’s promise to ensure good governance to residents.

He said, “What you are seeing here is your tax money in action, government is developing your area with the taxes that you have paid and it will not be good for you to keep patronizing cart pushers, who will dump wastes in this canal and create problem for you in your environment.”

Fashola charged them to patronize the state waste management authority to cart away refuse from their residence and dispose them properly

rather than patronising the cart pushers whose operation has been banned in the state.

Acting Project Director, LMDGP, Mr. Adewale Ashimi, said the projects were at various stages of completion and commended the contractors for delivering on time.

Ashimi stated that 42 slums in the state were identified by the United Nations Habitat study in 1995, adding that work was currently ongoing in

,

D

•One of the regenerated areas of Lagos.

the redevelopment and renewal of infrastructure in nine of the slums. The LMDG boss explained that emphasis was placed on the nine areas because they account for more than half of the population of the entire 42 identified slums, stressing that the project was being assisted with 200 million US dollars.

“We realize that displacing to redevelop the slums was not solving the challenges as

We realise that displacing to redevelop the slums was not solving the challenges as these people will move out and create other slums.

That was why we decided to build infrastructure in place to help address the environmental challenges and improve their standard of living

,

Lagos to use CNG buses soon — Govt

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

N a few months, Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, an alternative fuel for vehicles, would be introduced, Lagos State Government has said.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr.

Taofiq Tijani, who disclosed this during the ministry ’s press briefing in Ikeja to commemorate the first year of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s second term, said that CNG would initially be piped underground to the various yards of

Lagos Bus Service, LAGBUS for all the buses before it would be introduced to other public vehicles.

According to Tijani, “The investors have also told officials of the state government that CNG can also be used as alternative fuel for generators to engender a greener and cleaner environment.”

He explained that Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, has been adopted as preferred fuel for cooking in Lagos instead of kerosene, adding that kerosene is aviation fuel which ought not to be used for cooking in homes.

The commissioner said that Lagos State had already produced prototype cylinders for use in homes adding that the location of Lagos State along the coast makes it very suitable since the product can be brought in through the sea.

He revealed that investors in the LPG project were already installing facilities that would enable the project take off and that as soon as it commences it will become easier for consumers to purchase gas on the basis of cash at hand unlike the current requirement of filling up a cylinder.

these people will move out and create other slums. That was why we decided to build infrastructure in place to help address the environmental challenges and improve their standard of living.”

Projects inspected included; the 1.1km road and system five canal, 24 blocks of modern class rooms each in Ireti and Badia primary schools and 16 network of 1.6 kilometer roads in Agege and Orile Agege axis of the state. In furtherance of the plan, the state government has called for proposals from private investors for the upgrading of the Apapa Amusement Park and the refurbishment of Eko Tourist Cruise Boat. According to the state Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, the government intended to embark on the upgrading of the park into a modern facility to make it a proper relaxation destination. The ministry, therefore called on all interested companies to submit proposals along with other relevant details to the office of the Commissioner in Alausa, Ikeja.

On the refurbishment of the Eko Tourist Cruise Boat, the government intended to rehabilitate the vessel with the aim of converting it into a stationary floating lounge for leisure, relaxation and social engagements. Reiterating its determination to make Lagos the preferred destination for business and leisure, the ministry assured that it would continue to operate within the framework of a private-public partnership arrangement in its drive to develop the tourism potentials that abound in the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5,

2012 — 37

Lekki-Epe Intl Airport : Pros and cons

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Senapon Oworu, recently, while giving the score sheet of her ministry in the last one year, said work would soon commence on the the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport aimed at complementing and providing an alternative to the existing airports in the state.

Oworu said the state government had obtained the site approval for the airport from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

The airport, to be done under Public Private Partnership, PPP, initiative, is to be developed on a modular basis at an estimated cost of N71.64 billion in its first phase. It is expected to commence operations with a conservative capacity of two million passengers per annum, reaching five million passengers by 2015.

It is a scalable airport that will be designed to cater for the Airbus 380 super-jumbo, making it a Code F compliant airport.

Located at about 10km from the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, the proposed airport is designed to boost economic activities in the zone. It will also drive urban development and tourism in the Lekki-Epe axis of the state and check rural-urban drift.

According to Oworu, the master plan for the 3,500 hectares of land earmarked for the project had been completed with provision for a modular terminal for future expansion.

The commissioner who revealed that preliminary work on the project had commenced with the clearing of 4.5 km of the access road and 9km of pe-

rimeter road added that the project was in furtherance of plans to make the LFTZ a fully functional investment haven.

The state had earmarked 1,500 hectares of land for this purpose out of which 550 hectares will be released for the development of a refinery and power plant.

Lekki master plan The Lekki Peninsular is regarded as the fastest real estate market in the whole of Africa, although like most Nigerian cities, the area is riddled with haphazard structures erected by individual and corporate developers without any planned linkage among the estates and service infrastructure. The Lekki distribution comprises a naturally formed peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean, East of the Central Business District in Lagos Island and on Lagos Lagoon.

The peninsula is approximately 70 to 80 km long, stretching from Victoria Island in the West to Refugee Island in the East with an average width of 10 km.

Lekki includes several estates, such as Lekki Phase 1 & 2, Goshen City and Royal Gardens Estate among others.

Residents react For Captain Sunday William, a resident of Ajah, having another airport is a good development especially in a situation where there is only one airport.

Currently, air passengers from the Lekki axis face a lot of problems while trying to access the existing airport. There is also the problem of traffic congestion along the routes to the airports.

The new airport will ease transportation. And in a situation where a particular airport fails to operate, the other will be on ground.

•A prototype airport “It is advantageous because it will boost foreign investment, reduce massive unemployment in the state. Another advantage is that people who live in this part of Lagos do not have to travel too far to access the airport.”

Another resident, simply identified as Mrs Paul also backed the project. “Such gestures is a welcome idea but the only thing we do not want right now in this area is toll gate. The toll gate is a killer. I don't know why the government of this state should build three toll gates in a built up area like Lekki. Nigerians are suffering and it will be disastrous to compound their problems.

“However, the airport idea is for business and it will help in solving unemployment issues in the state. There will be opportunities in terms of employment, business and more private businesses will be encouraged. It will create room for employment for the youths in the area. “The only problem in it is that there will be a lot of noise in the community and building

an high-rise structures will not be encouraged anymore.

Mr. Emmanuel Kenneth, a business man, who lives in OkoAdo area of Lekki said the airport “will reduce stress and congestion. The fact that there is an influx of people into this area means that they should

also enjoy good infrastructure.

There are more advantages than disadvantages. The only thing is that there might be some adjustment on building plans as regards high buildings, which are not allowed around airports.”

Fashola approves construction of Oke-Afa link Bridge

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has approved the construction of Oke:Afa-Ajao link bridge, which is already on-going.

Determined to address the deteriorating state of roads, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA inaugurated the road trust fund board, with a charge to members to use their wealth of experience to solve the problem of bad roads in the area.

Fashola recently, gave the management of Ejigbo LCDA an approval to obtain N220 million bank loan to execute major road rehabilitation projects in the council.

They can also raise money for the trust fund through voluntary donations from agencies, private organizations and individuals.

At a ceremony to inaugurate the trust fund, the Ejigbo LCDA Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, charged the seven member of board of trustees to

see their appointment as an opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the council, particularly on the issue of bad roads, which has become a major challenge to his administration.

The council boss said setting up the board was necessary to ensure that the money raised through the trust fund was judiciously used to improve the condition of roads in the local government.

“It is my hope that after six months of your inauguration, the board will be in a position to present a scorecard of roads it has been able to rehabilitate in the LCDA,” he said. Chairman of the board, Mr Dotun Oriowo thanking the council boss for giving them the opportunity to serve, admitted that the task before them was an herculean one but stated that with the support of residents, the local government and the traditional institution, the board will achieve its goal.

BRIEF BUILDING COLLAPSE:: Lagos pulls down 129 buildings, seals 620

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•PHOTO SPEAK: Work in progress at Abule Egba Canal to prevent flooding.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

S part of efforts to avert frequent cases of collapsed buildings that often result in loss of lives and property, the Lagos State Government has demolished 129 defective buildings and sealed off 620 others across the state in the last one year.

Confirming the development, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban De-

velopment, Ayinde Olutoyin , said the buildings betrayed their structural integrity and had to be demolished to avert imminent disaster.

According to him, “The Lagos State Planning Permit Authority received 289 applications for vetting of Technical Reports. Out of this number, 226 applications were cleared.

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Tenant’s tales: ‘My landlord killed my wife’

My sojourn in his house finally cost me the life of my wife. I had moved in as a young bachelor. The apartment, a two bedroom was the closest to the landlord’s. He was quite nice to me and his wife and children were always at hand to assist with any little chore or errand.

In fact, he took me like a son, and I, a father. His first two children were girls, the eldest then was about 16 years and in Secondary School.

The girls were very nice to me. They would come to watch video films and sometimes would help themselves to anything they find in the kitchen, or even cook for me. I was the only bachelor in the house, the other five tenants were all married with children. I had assumed that the relationship was just

mutual, convenient and platonic, they were just nice people.

They were nice to me and I was generous to them whenever the need arose.

Being a bachelor working in an oil company with very little commitments and family pressure, I could afford to give out a little from time to time,

it was not his first time of seeing her throw away left over food in the dust bin.

He demanded to know if that was how she was helping me to spend my money, adding that the food in the dustbin was enough to feed two or three extra mouths.

I did not take it as anything serious. I laughed

He asked me if I did not see a befitting wife among his two daughters. I had assumed it was a joke and I smiled, telling him that they were too young and that I also regard them as my younger sisters and could never think of doing such a thing with them

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i, the problems associated with landlord versus tenant relationship are innumerable.

From indiscriminate hikes in rent to molestations over how occupants manage the premises. In extreme cases, landlords and tenants have had to trade punches or taken their grieviances to the courts of law.

Almost every tenant has a story or another to tell about their landlords, from the bizzare to the hillarious. Stories of greed, jealousy and hatred and of course, kindness and love.

Our first respondent, Amune,(42), Manager with an oil firm, shares a perculiar story. He claims his first wife was murdered by his landlord. Why? Follow us as he begins his story b e l o w .

which to me was not even m u c h .

It was in this house that I finally got married three years later.

My wife was already expecting our first child.

Though she had never particularly liked the old man and his wife, their relationship became really strained after she moved in as my wife.

She would complain that they didn’t like her and treated her like a stranger compared to how they related with me. To the extent that she complained about the way they greeted her.

When these complaints became too much for me, I had to tell her off, asking her not to greet them again if it bothered her so much, after all, they were not members of our family.

A perculiar incident happened one day while I was out at work.

My wife said she caught the landlord searching through our dustbin. She said she watched him for a few minutes before coming out to confront him. To her surprise, the old man asked her why she was so wasteful, that

,

it off and told her to be more careful with the man. That it was only natural for him to express such a thing because of his age.

My parents would probably say the same thing too if they feel that way.

In fact, most of the things we take for granted will be greatly frowned at if my mother especially were to see them. Besides, his life style may not permit so much wastage. But a few days later, baba landlord called me to discuss the same issue.

That was where I started getting his drift. He asked if my wife had told me what transpired between them a few days ago which I denied.

He concluded that her not telling me meant she was either doing it deliberately or she was just a bad housekeeper.

He revealed that he had been watching Carol ever since she came to the house and has concluded that she was too wasteful and not competent enough to manage my finances.

She was fond of throw-

ing away left over food and a high taste for foreign foods.

He noted how fat she grown in less than one year and advised that I should be cautious with how I give her money. I could only thank him but he could see that I did not really like his comments.

To me there was nothing Carol was doing that was out of place.

The foreign foods he was talking about were probably the disposed cans of baked beans, sardines, hotdogs and sussages and stuff.

Occasionally, he might have seen disposed packs of take away food, that was all.

My memory flagged back to a remark he made when I first told him about my decision to get married.

He asked me if I did not see a befitting wife among his two daughters. I had assumed it was a joke and I smiled, telling him that they were too young and that I also regard them as my younger sisters and could never think of doing such a thing with them.

He had smile too and told me that it was friends who make the best couples and that there was always room for a man to take on more wives later in life.

Everything had been a joke to me then and even though the development brought back the memory, I still didn’t take it serious enough to inform my wife.

In fact, telling her would only make matters worse as there was no love lost between them already.

Though the girls were not rude to my wife in any way, their visits to my apartment had decreased significantly. Even when the baby came and the initial euphoria had died down, they kept their distance, as opposed to what I’d expected would happen because of my relationship with them.

I reported the dustbin incident to a colleague at the office and the only thing he said was that I should expect an increase in rent because it was obvious that the man realised that we had a little change on us, besides, the rent was very cheap compared to what obtained in the area.

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Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08056180122. Cheers!

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Invest in children says ACRCI

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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S part of activities to commemorate Children’s Day, a non profit making and Non Governmental Organization, African Child Rights Care Initiative, (ACRCI), in collaboration with Blue Band, a brand of Unilever Nigeria PLC, held its 14th annual Children of Africa and Blue Band Children’s Day Fiesta.

Speaking during the event, the national coordinator, of Children of Africa, Mr Kunle Alaba, said that the government needs to do more for Nigerian children and youths by giving them the utmost attention they need to showcase their creativity as potential leaders of the future.

He added that children need to be developed in order to avoid a major problem in the country.

He said the need to focus more on education and safety to eradicate child labour is key for national development.

Alaba further added that though education is key to development, it must be quality as well as qualitative education, adding that because we are now in technology period, methods used ten years ago in teaching children, would no longer be relevant.

He urged teachers to adopt the new and modern methods of teaching such that a child of four to five years old should be able to read and write.

Going further, Alaba said, “lets invest, lets train our teachers, so that they can train the children properly.”

According to Alaba, who is the coordinator of Children of Africa, “it’s a great privilege and joy to host over 6,000 children,

marking this years Children Day, as they have been known to always attract and receive large crowd”. Alaba said that they believe that the children of Nigeria are the future of the country and so they need to know their rights and thatis why they decided to celebrate the children’s day because they are special, unique and they have hope.

He added that the programme, gifts and food that the children received, were all fully sponsored by Unilever Nigeria Plc. Alaba said “am so impressed with what Blue Band has done because all the children that came, all came for free, they didn’t pay any money for the event, unlike other organizations where they would ask the children to pay.

He said the event usually takes place in all the regions of the country, but that the only problem they are having now is the issue of insecurity.

He stressed that not withstanding. they will still get to the Eastern part of the country and make the Children’s Day celebration a memorable one for the children of Nigeria.

Alaba disclosed that over 6,000 children as well are expected to attend the party there too.

Children of Africa is an organization that is exclusively committed and single mindedly focused on the welfare of children and the family.

Since it was established, nearly two decades ago, Children of Africa have continually striven to create a world where the Rights of children are preserved, respected and protected.

African child’s right initiative, (ACRCI), is a non governmental organization that was established out of a burning desire to eradicate child labour and promote good health care and qualitative education.

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Vanguard Vanguard,,

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Opposition between the Moon and Pluto may induce personality clashes you don’t need at lest for now.

What can help you now is love and your being persuasive.

Think of the future.

GEMINI: Positive events that started yesterday will continue today. Rely more on your ability to be as bold as necessary so that you can get things done your own way at work.

CANCER: Good luck will smile at you. Romantic interlude that started last yesterday may become excitingly louder and melodious to the satisfaction of your soul.

LEO: If you allow domestic pressure to affect your working pattern, your senior colleagues may not understand and make things a bit more difficult. IF you’re stable, you will have more to gain financially.

VIRGO: After snappy aggressive approach exhibited by you yesterday ,you are back at your being pleasant self to the admiration of others. This is the wrong time to take law and it’s agents for granted. Youngs-at-heart are favoured so also commercial activities.

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JUNE 5, 2012 — 39

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

So, you have our education f inished yyour

I

do not know the level of your education today, but one thing I know is that, education is a continuum, it has no end. Even if you are a professor, you still need to learn every-

day.

There is no end to learning. Therefore, it is wrong to say, I have finished my

TERROR MUDA

education. Which education? Granted you’ve rounded up your degree programme, but

in “Never say goodbye”

what about the University of Life?

Education is life time process. Learning begets more learning. The more you know, the more you want to know.

Believe, your education has just begun.

By Kola Fayemi

LIBRA: Some of you will wake up from slumber and realise mistakes about your finances early enough and make amendment but those who are reckless will commit more blunder.

Beware of joint venture.

SCORPIO: Although erratic people from unexpected quarters may oppose you openly, your being self assertive will earn you both victory and financial success. Then tomorrow will prove more successful.

SAGITTARIUS: The more ambitious you are the better for you. Then you will need to ignore those with queer characteristics within your working arena.

CAPRICORN: Mixed trends are indicated. If you take good advice from your cool headed friends, you will benefit more than you imagine, but if you take to unpredictable attitude, you will today start fire that will burn with great intensity tomorrow.

AQUARIUS: If you take the veterans within your base for granted, they will fail you painfully. Yet here is a lucky day for you when your being secretive and self reliant will earn you success. Be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

PISCES: Some of the people around you may get on your nerve via careless remarks, you must not allow them to disorganise your plans. The closer you are to the influential people the better for you.

ARIES: “Money is the root of all evils” says an adage. And if care is not taken, money may set you and some other people fiercely against each other to the detriment of your cause. Be cautious.

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,

What is my luck?

Dear Joshua, I am deeply interested in Astrology: and the way you analyse people is great, keep it up. Kindly tell me whatever you think I should know about my life together with my luck, social life and my lucky number.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Kingsley, Abia.

Dear Kingsley, Thank you for your words of encouragement. Too many things are important but I think what both your immediate and far future have for you must be revealed to you so that you will be prepared.

Mars in Aquarius together with Uranus are pointers to an active social life. The more influential social circle you belong to, the better for you. You’re the cool-headed type beloved by many but once your anger manages to fly off, it can be very difficult if not dangerous; it’s because of your natal Pluto. Yet they keep coming your way.

Saturn can not help forcing challenges on your way, luckily for you however, you have what it takes to live up to the challenges. And as Saturn will never deny it’s worthy native the deserved success, it also gives recognition.

Saturn or no Saturn, good relationship bet Mars and lucky Jupiter when you were born, are green tumb for WEALTH; you will be wealthier more than having liquid cash; nobody can stop your becoming wealthy.

Best colours for you include YELLOW, golden, black but not coconut white. Your sleeping posture should be on East/ West axis with your head to the West.

5 is your destiny number, 9 is your ambition, 8 is your expression, your other numbers are 1, 6, 7 & 11. Thus, they are as superior as listed. Between now and your 45th year on earth (three and half years) women, money, youngster will greatly feature in your life and a few publicity cum commercial success equally indicated for you.

However come your 46th year (around that period) tough challenges which will border on stiff competition, avoidable accident, treachery and money will come your way.

Although it sounds somehow, it’s the needed tonic for and or pillar for an endless cycle of success that will follow.

Therefore whatever can be shaken to the foundation or be uprooted by that time should not be initiated now.

The future is truly brilliant for you.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Ondo guber: Akoko monarchs endorse Mimiko, Olanusi for second term

T

RADITIONAL rulers in the Akoko area of Ondo State have endorsed the second term ambition of the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.

The traditional rulers unanimously took the decision after a meeting presided over by the Olukare of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, saying that their support for the governor ad his deputy’s was based on their performance in the last three years.

The monarchs further explained that Akokoland would support Mimiko because of the infrastructural development his administration had initiated in the various communities in the area.

According to them, such

achievements included the construction of Awara Dam and the rehabilitation of Akungba-Ikare road.

Momoh added that the state government had also commenced the reconstruction of the Ikare-ArigidiAjowa road that had remained completely impassable for years.

The motion for the adoption of Mimiko and his deputy, Alhaji Alli Olanusi was moved by the Oluboropa of Iboropa-Akoko, Oba Emmanuel Babalola and was unanimoiusly adopted.

Oba Babalola said the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Olanusi, who is from Supare-Akoko had proved to be a worthy deputy that had helped the governor in his quest to develop the s t a t e .

Gunmen kill 25-yr-old man in Maiduguri M

AIDUGURI—UN KNOWN assailants in Maiduguri have killed one Mustapha Kalli, a 25year-old, barely three weeks after he got married.

The assailants murdered Kalli on Sunday at his residence in Lawan Bukar

ward in Maiduguri met r o p o l i s .

“He was sleeping with his wife when the killers struck.

They actually scaled over the fence of the house before killing him in front of his wife,” narrated Malam Modu Malla, a neighbour.

Malla said he was woken up by a noise coming out of the deceased’s resident late in the night. “We heard noise coming from the house but nobody could come out because of the curfew. “It was later in the morning that we discov-

Rep awards 16 scholarships to SSS students

I

N furtherance of empow ering his constituents through scholarship scheme for sciences in the Senior Secondary Schools in the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, Mr Nicholas Mutu is to offer 16 successful candidates scholarship in the 2011/ 2012 academic session.

The beneficiaries from schools in Bomadi Local Government Area, include Ogori Abednego, Didekemien Goodluck, David Bright, Okubo-Arere Ke-

memo, Mamadu Anthony, Peter Eyerinmene, Kofa Calistus and Demeyeibo Tamarau-miemene.

Beneficiaries from Patani Local Government Area are Derioteide Augustine, Alfred Blessing Michael Victory, Onyoh Vincent, Simeon Gabriel, Oghenekevwe Bruno, Abi John and Asigo Ekankumor.

Coordinator of the scholarship scheme, Mr. Barbar Timilaemi, said the beneficiaries would be presented a cash of N50,000.

DPP boss tasks judiciary

T

HE caretaker chairman of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Prince Owei, has called on the judiciary to live up to its responsibilities.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Prince Owei, said since the peoples' votes cannot produce automatic winners due to manipulations, it was therefore of necessi-

ty that the judiciary should dispense justice fairly.

He said, “since 1999 till date, the judiciary had been the decider of faith of contestants in our elections, which we believed is not healthy for the nation's democracy.” He added, “if judiciary is the last hope of the losers in an election, integrity should be the watch word.”

Mrs Jimmy, 102, for burial

T

HE death has occurred of Mrs Umukoro Tinu Jimmy, 102 years. Burial rites begin on Friday, June 8, 2012 with a service of songs at her residence No, 12 Egbahe street, Ofagbe, Isoko North Local Council of Delta State.

There will be a lying-instate on Saturday followed by burial to be conducted

by Extensive Salvation and Evangelical Ministry International Church and then interment also at the same venue. Reception holds at

Oria-Ovo Primary School, Ofagbe.

z Late Mrs Umukoro Jinmmy

REPORT—From left: Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen; Vice Chairman, Road Sector Reform Committee, Engr. Isa Emoabino; and Committee member, Mr Mike Osime during submission of report to the minister in Abuja.

LAUNCH—From left: GLO Ambassador, Ini Edo; Roger Woodbridge, ED, Mainstream Bank and Mr Adewale Sagowawa, ED GLO during the launch of new product in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Delta SSG, VC, others bag leadtimes award

C

OMRADE Ovuozou rie Macaulay, S.S.G, Delta State and Prof H.O Edeogen, Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University, Umudike are among the recipients of this year’s Leadtimes Africa Magazine’s Award.

According to Prof. Mshelia, board chairman of Leadtimes Africa Magazine and convener of the event, “These personalities have demonstrated high sense of accountability, transparency, and integrity in their leadership disposition within the short period of their assumption to their respective offices. It is in this regard that Leadtimes Africa Magazine has recognized them for others to emulate”.

The governor of Oyo State, Chief Abiola Ajimobi; his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema and Imo State

Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha are also expected to grace the occasion as special guests of honour.

Prof Mshelia stressed that “in this year’s 6th edition of the African Leadership Summit titled: 'African Leadership and the War Against Corruption,' billed forthis month in Abuja, “these governors have singled themselves out as symbol of excellence in service delivery in their respective states, they are seen as ideal instrument of transformation agenda of president Goodluck Jonathan, hence the magazines will confer on them the prestigious Leadtimes Africa Grand Star Award for Excellence in Quality Service Delivery in recognition for their selfless service”.

The programme will also host Chief Edward K. Clark, elderstateman, Nationalist and Niger Delta

leader who will serve as special guest, as well as former Executive Secretary, Borno State Education Endowment Fund, Hajiya Aishatu Ngulde.

His Royal Highness, Alhaji Audu Nizazo III, Etsu of Kwali, FCT, will serve as Fathers of the Day as the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, will serve as the Mother of the day at this epic occasion.

ered that Kalli had been murdered by unknown persons,” he said.

Malla said the killers had escaped without any trace.

He recalled that two other persons were murdered in the same area in their homes on Friday night in the same manner.

"Two other young men were killed in the same fashion on Friday. The killers also scaled over the fence to get to the house before killing them,” Malla said.

Mr Gideon Jibrin, the Borno Police Command’s spokesman, confirmed the k i l l i n g s .

He added that the police had already launched an investigation into the matter.

Chime mourns plane crash victims

G

OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has described Sunday’s plane crash in Lagos that claimed 153 lives, as a monumental tragedy which has cast pain and anguish over the country.

The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, said he was saddened that so many innocent and resourceful lives could be lost in one swoop, causing much sorrow among families across the c o u n t r y .

Expressing his condolences to families of the deceased and residents at the site of the crash, Chime urged the authorities to ensure that they were adequately compensated.

He also urged the Nigerian aviation industry to take necessary steps, especially strict enforcement of standards, to ensure that such disasters do not recur.

He said: “I am very much saddened by this development; it is a monumental tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of all those who lost their lives in this disaster".

Apology

O

N page 55 of the Van guard of May 7, 2012, we published a news story titled “NAFDAC Impounds Fake Sugar”. The publication had a photograph beside it showing impounded articles. The photograph erroneously included cartons of Chikki Food Noodles which NAFDAC later

clarified had nothing to do with the fake sugar.

We retract the said photograph as it affects Chikki Foods and apologise most profoundly to its management for any embarrassment the publication of the photograph may have occasioned it.—Editor

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 41

NMA, Reckitt Bekinser partner for a healthy society BYCHIOMA OBINNA

T

HE new global reality that government alone cannot provide all the basic needs of the people has made collaboration, partnership, cooperation and alliance building across public and private sectors compelling. The strategy is no doubt working and gaining momentum especially in the Nigerian health sector.

A quick example that readily comes to mind is the more than a decade partnership between the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited that has resulted in the implementation of some laudable public

health initiatives.

These include the school hand hygiene in which Reckitt Benckiser through its antiseptic brand, Dettol, is propagating the gospel of personal hygiene among school children in Nigeria. Another area of collaboration is the public education campaign on the prevention of malaria driven by Mortein insect killer.

Recently at the 52nd Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting of NMA in Abuja, the invaluable benefits that a formidable partnership can impact on public health were not lost as a cross section of doctors took time to appraise the symbiotic relationship that

Idoko elected IAS Governing Council member

D

IRECTOR General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Professor John Idoko, has been elected a member of the International AIDS Society, IAS, Governing Council.

He was elected along with 12 other members from the five continents of the world and will serve for four years after t aking office on July 27, 2012..

Idoko, played a major role in setting up of the antiretroviral clinic (ART) at JUTH and Plateau State of Nigeria, which cares for about 20,000 patients with HIV, representing one of the largest clinics in Nigeria.

On his aspirations for the IAS, Idoko remarked that he was focused on employing scientific evidence and best practices to reduce new infections and put more people on life saving drugs. “We need to get down to zero new infections (particularly elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child), zero AIDS related deaths and zero discrimination by intensifying prevention, making treatment cheaper, strengthening domestic funding and making investment in AIDS work smarter.”

exists between the two partners.

Immediate past National President of the NMA, Dr. Omede Idris, said the alliance between the two parties has really been a boon to good public health cause.

On the same premise, the Resident Pathologist, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Henry Ewunonu, lauded the company’s community engagement initiatives such as new Mum Programme, School Hand Hygiene and Health on wheel.

While underscoring the essence of personal hygiene for new mothers and newborn babies, he said mothers must maintain cleanliness of the body and environment in order to protect themselves, their babies and the whole family against germs and infectious diseases. ‘‘The body of the new born baby is like an empty factory, so to speak - anything can enter. The human body generally can be likened to the borders of any country that need to be guarded meaning that, if you improve the cleanliness around the surrounding, the possibility that germs will enter to cause disease for the new born will be minimised very drastically’’, he stated.

According to him, mothercraft is a vocation, therefore many ‘‘emergency mothers’’ being produced in our

• From left: Mr. Isaac Thompson Amos, Managing Director/CEO Thompson & Grace Pharmaceutical Ltd, Mrs. Taiwo Lasisi, Superintendent Pharmacist, Thompson & Grace Pharmaceutical Ltd and Mr. Michael Vatter, Area Sales Manager, Sebapharma, Germany at a media product launch in Lagos recently

• From left Oba (Dr) Sanni Asade, Ologba of Ogba; Mr. Bob Steetskau, MD/CEO, Friedsland Campina PLC; Dr. Mani Rabe, rep Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO Representative in Nigeria and Professor Ignatius Onimowo, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria at the FrieslandCampina WAMCO World Milk Day Campaign held in Lagos. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor days should be taught the basic things they need to know about care of the babies.

Ewunonu pointed out that hand hygiene education for mothers and children in particular would go a long way in reducing infant mortality because a number of child killer-diseases get into the body through the hands. ‘‘First of all the hand is a very important portal for entry of germs into the body.

If you don’t touch, you don’t access meaning that, if you can reduce contact with disease-causing germs, you are more or less reducing the incidence of new born babies falling sick. ‘‘We are talking of new born mortality because it has been proven that hand washing alone can reduce the incidence of respiratory and diarrhea disease by 70 per cent. This single public health intervention which is capable of reducing the incidence of a major reason new born babies die by 70 per cent from any organisation should be commended.

The medic bemoaned low awareness about the benefits of hand hygiene while urging the residents to embrace it due to the humidity of our environment in particular this rainy season.

Dr. Henry Okodasa Okomama, said washing of hands is one of the most important things we ought to do. Okomama, who is the Medical Officer, Department of Paediatrics, Hospitals Management Board, Delta State , appealed to mothers in

particular to always keep their children neat and ensure they (mothers) wash their hands and children’s properly all the time. His words: “Most diseases common among children and even some adults are contracted through the hand to the mouth. Children in particular pick and put whatever they find into their mouth. That is why you see many healthy children not looking healthy after sometime because the

mothers don’t take care of them. ‘‘Personal hygiene in every form is something that we really want to encourage. This is because; basic personal hygiene is a sure way of preventing one from germs and diseases. The company has an antiseptic that has stood the test of time in hand washing and even in disinfecting water that one uses to bath and things like that.’’

Tribute to motherhood

BY JOKE SILVA & SHABARA AZMI

T

Continued from last week

HIS no doubt plays a role in the fact that Somali mothers are bearing the pain of having the highest child mortality rate in the world with no improvement over the past 20 years. Malawi meanwhile has reduced the number of child deaths by almost 60% since 1990.

Mothers worldwide need the support of their governments to educate and promote crucial simple solutions like breastfeeding that could be preventing so much heartache. Left as it is, malnutrition is growing as a hidden crisis. Taking lives every hour of every day, malnutrition contributes to more than a third of the almost 8 million children dying every year. It contributes to more than a fifth of maternal deaths too. For a mother in Somalia, without the knowledge and support to know how to help, this has meant having to watch as the number of malnourished children in their country increased more than 10 percentage points from 20002006.

As mothers from different corners of the world, we are lending our voice to this Tribute to Motherhood with Save the Children. It is abominable that more is not being done to prevent maternal and child deaths. We think it’s time Motherhood was respected, protected and improved.

Unless we tackle malnutrition now, it will frustrate the progress being made to reduce child deaths. It will continue to devastate mothers; breaking hearts each and every day.

Every mother deserves a healthy outcome for her and her child in bringing a new life into the world.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Strong nutritional foundation best for infants — EXPERTS

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

HREE professors, all experts in infant nutrition recently expressed concer about the poor nutritional status of Nigerian infants below two years of age.

They spoke during the scientific symposium and official launch of the advanced formula range and Promise PE

GOLD brand from the stable of Pfizer Nutrition, held in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt as a means to ensure priorityfor growing children to have the right amount and balance of nutrients to promote proper growth and development.

Prof.essor Emily Flores worried that children who are picky eaters should be

recognized and addressed immediately, because inadequate nutrients consumed in the early stages of childhood will have a long lasting effect.

Prof.essor Emmanuel Ekanem, highlighted the impact of nutrition deficiencies on long term growth and development of growing children in

Nigeria, while Prof.essor Philip Abiodun, spoke on the essence of early nutritional programming, the importance of early nutrition.

The three experts later spoke to Good Health Weekly on the major recommendations of there presentations.

Excerpts are presented below:

Fortified nutrition helps tackle picky eating habits

P

• Prof Emile Flores

ROFESSOR Emilie Flores, a renowned nutritionist and research specialist in Nutritional Epidemiology and Child Nutrition, and professor of nutrition, College of Public Health, University of Philippines, Manila, describes picky eating as “an aspect of sensory food aversion exhibited by toddlers up to 84 months. “The picky eaters are children who exhibit strong sensory and experiential aversive sensitivity behaviour to specific type of food, food taste, aroma, temperature, visual forms, shape and colour,” she asserts.

Emile adds that picky eating is most common when young children are in transitional period to self feeding which is at about two years old. “At birth, infants are univores, with a well developed sensitivity to sweetness. As the child grows older certain transition from univores to multiple food sources sensitivity exposure occurs as various food tastes, texture or

aroma are introduce. These learnt skills of eating multiple foods based on parental knowledge, attitude, practices and behaviour about foods and nutrient functions allows the child to have postingestion or experiential concept of what is edible or not, palatable and acceptable for individualized self-regulation of internal cues for hunger and satiety cues.

She explains that implications of picky eating include nutritional imbalance that may lead to undernutrition or overnutrition and anaemia. It could also affect mental and physical developmental performance.

“You need to worry about picky eating when food aversion or selectivity or food fussiness leads to nutritional imbalance, either deficits or excess that results to growth and development faltering, anemia, altered mental and physical developmental scores and development of nutrition-related diseases.

“My advice to new parents on how to

deal with picky eaters includes learning the functional role of foods and nutrients; development of healthy eating habits prior to, during and after pregnancy; exertion of parental role modeling on healthy food choices, preferences and healthy eating habits.”

Emile adds that managing picky eating should include provision of comprehensive nutrition counselling on aspects of optimal growth, development and self-regulation, as well as promotion of information and constructive advice to parents or caregivers on calorie-nutrient dense foods for infants and the role of socio-cultural environment in feeding the child . “There is need to emphasise on provision of fortified nutrition supplement to fill-in the gaps of the cereal-based foods or carbohydrate-rich foods being provided to Nigerian children considering the nutritional composition of the food sources; that they may have low levels of amino acids and at-risk nutrients.

‘At risk’ nutrients are key to infant wellbeing

N

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

• Prof Emmanuel Ekanem

UTRIENTS are substances required for growth and development of the child, but there are specific nutrients children may not be likely to take in adequate quantities to support their development and immunity. Such nutrients are known as “nutrients at risk”, explains Professor Emmanuel Ekanem , Head of Paediatric Gastronterology and Nutrition Unit, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.

According to Ekanem, malnutrition means to be poorly nourished. “There could be undernutrition and overnutrition.

Both have important consequences for longevity, heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic processes. In the standard chart of growth, for WHO, 41 percent of Nigerian children are stunted, because their height-for-age is lower than it should

be, while 23 percent are severely stunted and that is a major problem.

“When there is such stunting, you can be sure those children also have micronutrient deficiency. Their physique and cognitive development is compromised. Intervention with adequate nutrition support and environmental and educational stimulation, can to some extent, reverse the effects, if done in early childhood and infancy.”

He recalls that the World Health Organisation, Food & Agricultural Organisation and the American Academy of Paediatrics identify five nutrients, or micronutrients, as being at risk.”They are vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, iodine and zinc. Thesre are nutrients children are prone not to take in adequate quantities while they are growing up.

“Vitamin A is important for immunity,

growth and cell division. A lack could have consequences ranging from being prone to infections, difficulty seeing, dryness of lips and blurred vision.

“Zinc is important for immunity, brain, development and metabolic activities, deficiency causes intellectectual underdevelopment and predisposition to infections. Iron is important for blood and intellectual development. A child that is deficient in iron, will have difficulty learning and would become lethargic.

“Iodine is important for development of thyroxine and brain development. Vitamin D is essential for the bones and to fight infection. So consequences of micronutrient deficiency are reduction in intellectual development, physical growth and resistance to infections. That is why these nutrientsmust be supplied in ample quantity at the right time.”

Nutritional programming starts from the womb

T

• Prof Philip Abiodun.

C M Y K

HE bigger your belt, the shorter your lifespan. Grow fat today, die youn tomorrow. These statements, in the view of Professor Philip Abiodun, a professor of Paediatrics and Consultant in Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, supports the essence of nutrition programming.

Abiodun, who points out that research has shown that giving too much protein at the beginning of life tends to make a child grow faster than that child would have grown if fed breast milk, argues that such children who grow too fast, are likely to become overweight and obese as adolescents and later as adults.

“Obese children are likely to witness changes in their body fat content leading to diabetes, hypertension,heart disease and stroke. A child could be programmed from the womb to become an obese adult.

When in the womb, an infant learns to store food, because the food was not

coming when they were not being well fed by their mother, so they have low birth weight. When they are born and are overfed with protein, since they have been used to storing the food, they continue storing and get fatter and fatter.

So it is like programming them to die young. ” Supporting the argument for breast milk, Abiodun notes: “The protein content of cow milk from which infant milk formulais made, is not just different in quantity, but quality. There are more of whey proteins in human (breast) milk while there is casein in cow milk that causes fat cells to be built up and stored. The whey proteins contain essential amino acids that are easily digested and absorbed by the body.

“In order to match the protein content of human milk, infant formula makers started increasing the protein content in the cow milk and they now became so much the children are getting too fat. The future

consequences of such early nutrition practices is what is known as programming, that is, the way you feed your child while in the womb and immediately after birth up till about two years of life.

Increasing the protein in the cow milk causes increases the amino acids , but now to some extent there has been moves to decrease the proteins while increasing the quantity of essential amino acids. It is all in the bid to mimic breast milk. The incidence of obesity is decreased with formulae enriched with essential amino acids, better than the old formula, however, breast milk is still the best. It is natural, creates bonding betweem mother and child, contains more immune factors, and we continue to recommend it exclusively for the first six months, “ Infant formula is not supposed to compete with breast milk, but if you must, pick those enriched with essential amino acids.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 43

Can fibroids affect my pregnancy?

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am pregnant and ave fibroid associated with it.

Can it affect my pregnancy?

Answer

NO. A coexisting fibroid with pregnancy can only cause some discomfort, otherwise no cause for alarm

My guy is always asking for sex Answer YOU know I would not subscribe to that. At 19, you should either be in the University or about to gain admission. I think you should face your studies and your future and stop loving him. What do you even understand by love?

Dear doctor, OCTOR,

D

I am into a relationship at 19. My guy always demands for sex but I do tell him it is not right that should come after marriage.

I love him but he keeps on disturb me. I need your advice.

Henrietta, Abuja

Worry over ear pain and irritation

Help! I am stooling blood Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I have been stooling blood. I am 69 years old. I saw a doctor who asked me to do a Colonoscopy. Since all the hospitals are on strike, where do you think I can do it in Lagos?

Solomon, Ikorodu

Answer I KNOW of Cornell Health services at 14, Fred Anyiam Street, off Adelabu Street, Surulere, Lagos.

How can I gain weight?

D

OCTOR, What can I do to gain weight apart from drug and

food?

Akure, Abia

Answer WHAT is your present BMI (Body Mass Index). Know that and let us know whether you are underweight first.

Someone forcefully made love to me, can I be pregnant?

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, someone forcefully made love to me a day to my period, that was 29th of April, and the next day I saw my period.

I did a pregnancy test on 28th of May and it came out negative, but up till now, I have not seen my period, am I pregnant?

Angela, Sokoto

Answer IF you have not had any sex between 30th of April and now, don’t worry you can’t be pregnant.

Stop being anxious as that on its own can delay your menses.

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, Sometimes in January, I had pain and irritation in my ear. I saw a specialist who assured me that it will go away. He placed me on an antibiotic and cataflam.

The pain subsided but still feels the irritation. What should I do?

Michael, Abeokuta

What fruits can prevent constipation?

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, which of the fruits are okay for one to prevent constipation?

Olasukanmi, Kwara State Answer, YOU can eat more of oranges and pineapples, they are rich in fibres.

Constipation may be due to various physiological and psychological conditions. Most people experience constipation that may be due to dietary changes, but this is temporary and corrects by itself

Answer

SINCE you have seen the specialist, you have taken the right step. However, if the irritation becomes unbearable, you have to go back but I hope you saw the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

Concern over reduction in sperm quantity Dear doctor, OCTOR, I discovered lately that the quantity of sperm I produce is small. It used to be much. Sometimes it doesn’t even come. We are yet to have children, what is the way out?

Innocent, Owerri

D

Answer

THE way out is to confirm what you are saying by doing seminal fluid Analysis test. This will further direct us.

Her mother does not want me around her anymore Dear doctor, OCTOR, hello, Good day sir. I have been dating a girl for four years now. She is my neighbour. We both love each other.

But we got hooked up in school. When I went for my National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, last year, her mother got to know that she is no longer a virgin and since then she had vowed not to see me around her again.

She is very angry with me, but we promised to marry each other as soon as I get a job. She is the type that listens and fears her mum.

We both love each other. Please advise me on what can be done.

Kenneth, Jos

D

Answer THAT she listens and fears her mum means she has good home training. The reaction of her mum is expected.

All mothers would do that. Having said this, I would like you to keep your mind at rest and pray to get employed in earnest. Since there is love from the both sides you can still marry her. In fact this kind of mother would even prefer her to marry the guy that disvirgined her. Just cool down and secure your future first. But again pray to God to make it work out if that is your real wife. All that glitters is not gold. I beg you.

A coexisting fibroid with pregnancy can only cause some discomfort, otherwise no cause for alarm

Why did my fibroid recur 7 years after?

Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR, I did a fibroid opera tion seven years ago. Recently I started experiencing heavy flow. I went for scan and they saw another fibroid.

Does that mean it was messed up the first time?

Osahon, Edo State Answer WHAT does that mean? Nothing was messed up. This is just an incidence of recurrent fibroid. It happens once in a while and of course is not the doctor’s fault. After all, you were shown the fibroid when it was removed I guess.

On what next to do, if you have completed your family, do Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (Remove the whole womb).

If not, your gynaecologist will advise you better.

Frurits and vegetables that can prevent constipation

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 45

Group offers access to free healthcare for indigent women ••Unveils rural help maternity project in Lagos

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

O

OOPS I’m pregnant, 37 years- old Mrs. Angelina Okoh retorted. It was seven years after she married her heartthrob, Ogu Okoh, who was filled with joy at the news. But few months after, the worst happened. Ogu lost his shop and everything in

it to a fire. Hardship set in. Ogu could no longer support his pregnant wife. The couple was thrown out of their rented apartment and the journey back to the village started.

In the village, Angelina decided to patronise one a traditional birth attendant, but almost lost her life in the process.

She developed complications

during labour and only the quick intervention of a skilled birth attendant at a General Hospital in the area, saved her from becoming one of the 52, 000 Nigerian women who die of pregnancy related problems annually.

Today, reports show that every day, 145 women die in Nigeria giving birth to a child.

• Executive Director, Rural Help Maternity Project, Dr. Uchendu Alaefula making a presentation to one of the beneficiaries of the project in Lagos last week.

In recognition of the role of poverty in fueling maternal deaths in the country, a non governmental organization, Dr. Nothing dey Happen, initiated a save live today programme tagged, “Rural Help Maternity Project.”

Unveiling the project in Lagos, the Executive Director of the programme, Dr. Uchendu Alaefula who decried the incidences of maternal mortality in the country regretted that maternal mortality rate has not improved in Nigeria in the last decade.

Alaefula explained that the project aimed at helping poor rural pregnant women have access to quality medical care from their antenatal days till delivery.

According to him, “The project visualizes a community where women deliver their baby safe and healthy, thereby reducing the rate of maternal mortality and child death.”

Stating that the project would reduce the

death of women dying while given birth to another life said 80 per cent out of the 52,000 women that die in Nigeria are from the rural communities blamed the cause on poverty.

“Poverty is the baseline of everything”.

“It is only poverty that will make a woman patronize unregistered TBAs amongst others. Many of these women come down array of disabilities and illnesses that result from complications of pregnancy, labour/delivery and up to the immediate six weeks after delivery” Lamenting that Nigeria falls among the worst country with high maternal deaths, he said the Rural Help maternity project would ensure that women have access to free antenatal registration, drugs, treatment, laboratory tests, pelvic scan ,

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO sir, I know a guy whom I love so much.

He likes me too but doesn’t show any sign that he wants me. He normally says that he likes me but he is not taking any step to ask me out.

Should I go ahead and approach him myself?

Esther Dear Esther, as an adult woman, you should be able to ask him out. The only problem with women making the first move is that men tend to interpret it as the woman being ‘cheap’. But if you are willing to risk rejection, then you can ask him if he wants to go out with you. You never know. It might work.

Start by asking him if he has a girlfriend. If he says no, then ask him what he means when he says that he likes you. Your goal here is to put words in his mouth and make him say it without seeming as if you asked him out. Do this with style and do not appear desperate. A desperate woman is not attractive to men. Just drop a hint and see what he says. If he says nothing concrete, then he is not serious. You should be in a relationship with a man who knows what he wants and knows that he wants you. Take care – Uche Please sir I need your help. I gave birth in 2007 before I got married. Now that I am married, no child since 2010. We have gone to many hospitals and they say that we are okay. Please help – Eugenia Dear Eugenia, don’t give up. Eat right, stay healthy and you can start taking Repro Aid supplement that boosts fertility. There is Repro Aid for Women and Repro Aid for Men. Repro Aid has worked for some people who could not have children. It is either that or you can consider adoption. There are a lot of beautiful children out there without mothers and fathers and you can adopt one, two or three of them.

But don’t lose hope. Take care - Uche Dear Sir, good day and well done. My friend told me that he took Enzyte for his erection problems

and it worked for him. Do you think it will work for me? I am 49 years old with weak erection. Also, I don’t have hypertension or diabetes – Chuma Dear Chuma, yes Enzyte will work for you. It is a daily natural supplement for weak erection or no erection and also gives stamina and multiple rounds.

You will like it. It is very good – Uche I am really concerned about vaginal odour and it makes me uncomfortable sometimes during intercourse. What can I do to stop it? Julia Dear Julia, for a start, always wear lacy underwear that will allow air circulation within that region.

Secondly, try to trim your pubic hair regularly.

Thirdly, shower or clean up with wipes before intercourse and you don’t always need to wear underwear especially when you are at home. If you must, then wear Crotchless underwear. It gives the ultimate air circulation for that freshness. And finally, use a flavoured lubricant during sex such as the Clit Sensitizer Gel (straw berry flavour) or the 69 Lick me Cherry Enhancer (cherry flavour). They smell really nice and get rid of odour – Uche I am always tired when I come home and it is affecting my relationship with my husband – Mrs Egbo Dear Mrs Egbo, it is normal to be tired after a long day. Try taking a bath after work. You will feel a bit better. You can also ask your husband to give you a massage afterwards. Anti Stress Massage oil is very good and will give you just enough energy for a brief intercourse – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

46 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Israeli arsonists attack African migrants I SRAELI arsonists yes terday set fire to an apartment housing Eritrean migrants, spraypainting “get out of the neighborhood” over the entrance in the latest violence against African migrants.

Fleeing poverty, fighting and authoritarian rule, some 60,000 Africans have crossed illegally into Israel through the relatively porous desert border with Egypt in recent years. Israel says most come seeking work rather than refuge, but this has been challenged by U.N. humanitarian agencies and civil rights groups, making deportation legally problematic.

The influx has jarred the Jewish state, with its already ethnically fraught population of 7.8 million. Some Israelis warn of a gathering demographic and economic crisis while others say a country born after the Holocaust has a special

responsibility to offer foreigners sanctuary.

“Two people were lightly injured from smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said, calling the blaze in a Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem deliberate.

Israel’s Foreign Minis-

try issued a statement condemning the arson attack, saying “there is no justification for such a heinous crime that endangers people’s lives”.

Street violence has surged in recent months against Africans, including a rampage 10 days ago in a low-income Tel Aviv neighborhood

which is home to many migrants, from Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan. Israeli residents accuse the newcomers of being responsible for rising crime in their areas.

Last week, 11 minors were charged with a string of racially-motivated attacks against Africans in Tel Aviv.

Egyptians continue anti-Mubarak protests ak could now be acquit-

E

GYPTIANS demon strated throughout the night in Cairo’s cen-

•Mubarak

tral Tahrir Square and other cities, enraged that a court had spared deposed leader Hosni Mubarak his life over the killing of protesters in the uprising that ended his three-decade rule. Many wanted death for Mubarak, who was handed a life prison sentence on Saturday. They saw the sentence and the acquittal of senior police officers as proof that the old regime still wields influence and feared Mubar-

ted on appeal.

Some demanded that the country’s presidential election be cancelled.Thousands of people poured onto the streets on Saturday after the verdict. By Sunday morning, a few hundred were still gathered in Tahrir Square — focal point of the January 2011 uprising that brought down the longtime U.S. ally - and said they would stay until those killed in the uprising were avenged.

Obama, Romney campaigners trade words over jobs

A

DVISERS to Presi dent Barack Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney squared off on Sunday over job creation in a debate which, following Friday’s weak jobs report, promises to be a deciding factor in the November vote.

Ed Gillespie, a senior adviser to Romney, citing Obama’s healthcare reform law and a decision to put a major oil pipeline on hold, said on “Fox News Sunday” that Obama’s policies have put a damper on job creation.

“The problem is this administration and this president’s policies are hostile to job creators,” Gillespie said.

He pointed to the president’s decision to put an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas on hold to study its environmental impact. “The Keystone pipeline decision ... would have had an immediate impact on job creation,” Gillespie said.

Friday’s news that the unemployment rate had notched up to 8.2 percent in May, from 8.1 percent in April, and

that job creation, at 69,000 in May, was weaker than expected was the result of weak presidential leadership, Gillespie said.

Senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod noted in an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that “Governor Romney offers himself as a job creator, a kind of economic oracle and he’s saying the same exact thing as he said 10 years ago when he ran for governor of Massachusetts.”

“What happened?,” Axelrod asked. “Massachusetts plunged to 47th

•Netanyahu

Pope faces more Vati-leakages

P

OPE Benedict got no rest on Sunday from a leaks scandal when an Italian newspaper published documents showing that his butler was not the only person in possession of confidential correspondence indicating a Vatican in disarray.

Benedict, 85, ended a weekend trip to Italy’s industrial and financial capital Milan with a closing mass for an international gathering in which he praised traditional Catholic family values and re-stated his opposition to gay marriage.

But in its Sunday edition, the Rome newspaper La Repubblica pub-

NIIA cancels lecture

T •Obama

•Romney

in job creation. They lost manufacturing jobs at twice the rate of the

country and created jobs at one-fifth the rate of the rest of the country.

HE Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has announced the cancellation of the Public Lecture on New Africa-Sweden and EU’s Collaboration with Africa which was scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 6th June

Syria: Russia, China adamant as rebels renew fighting “free of any commitment” raised questions about

S

YRIAN rebels killed at least 80 army soldiers at the weekend, an opposition watchdog said on Monday, in a surge of attacks that followed their threat to resume fighting if President Bashar al-Assad failed to observe a U.N.backed ceasefire.

The latest violence and Assad’s defiant speech to parliament on Sunday

lished documents it said it had received anonymously after the arrest of the pope’s butler on May 23. A note received by the newspaper said there were “hundreds more” documents and that the butler, Paolo Gabriele, was just a scapegoat.

The furore over the leaked correspondence, which shows power-hungry cardinals and scheming within the walls of the city state, has gripped the Vatican just as it was recovering from a long-running scandal over sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the United States, Ireland and other countries.

how long U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan can realistically pursue his threadbare peace plan.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said local doctors had confirmed the names of 80 dead government soldiers.

Insurgents told the British-based group they had killed more than 100 sol-

diers and destroyed some tanks in clashes across Syria, including Damascus and Idlib province in the northwest.

Syria’s state news agency reported the burial on Monday of 30 members of the security forces killed by rebels.

Some commanders in the rebel Free Syrian Army had announced last week they would be

to Annan’s peace plan if Assad did not end violence by Friday.

The May 25 massacre of at least 108 people, nearly half of them children, in the Houla area of Homs province dealt a possibly fatal blow to Annan’s proposed ceasefire, which was supposed to take effect on April 12 but never did.

2012.

The lecture was to be delivered by the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Carl Bildt, who has . Postponed his visit to Nigeria. A statement fron the Head of Public Affairs Mr. Alex Ekeanyanwu said the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs regrets any inconvenience caused by the cancellation.

Prince Philips hospitalised

P

RINCE Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s 90-year-old husband, was hospitalised yesterday with a bladder infection and will miss the rest of the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations, Buckingham Palace said. “Prince Philip will remain in hospital under observation for a few days,” the palace said in a statement.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 47

We ran UNIBEN Council as a family— Gabriel Toby Sir Gabriel Toby was the Chairman of the Governor Council of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, before the dissolution of the Board by the Federal Government. In this interview, he reacted to the recent call to the Federal Government by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, UNIBEN chapter, that he should not be re-appointed as chairman of the university’s council after they accused him of running the university as a personal estate. Excerpts:

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the University of Benin, chapter, recently accused you of running the university as a personal estate during your tenure as Prochancellor and Chairman of University of Benin Governing Council and have asked the Federal Government not to reappoint you. What is your response to the allegations?

The experience at UNIBEN was pleasant until recently when I started seeing something in the media that jolted me. I was prochancellor and chairman of Governing Council in the University of Port-Harcourt up to October 2009 and was moved from University of Port-Harcourt to University of Benin on a rescue mission and in fact the day they were inaugurating the University of Benin Council, I was just returning from Seychelles where I went on training as a district governor of Rotary. It was on arrival in Lagos that I was told that they were inaugurating the Council in Abuja and that I should come. I said no, because first I was not in a pool where you just shift up and down and I was a bit hesitant but I was persuaded

Sir Gabriel Toby ...experience at UNIBEN was pleasant

left there was relative peace.

What was the relationship between the Governing Council and Unions in the university especially with the recent agitation against your Council?

We do not have any singular problem with the unions. The unions appeared before the Visitation panel and they were full of praises for the Council. They complained that they were owed salary arrears of N593 million and this council came and cleared it and ensure that by the 23rd of every month they received their

,

I am surprised about all that is happening because throughout the period I was there we never had any disagreement or any division on issues. We ran the Council as a family

because of national service.

I heard then that late President Yar’Adua, had already approved that I should move there, so we had to go. Anybody who is familiar with what was happening at the University of Benin then knew that there was so much division, so many ethnic groups and everybody was fighting everybody else and there was no progress in the place. What was the problem? They had taken nine months in trying to appoint a vice chancellor and it couldn’t happen until the Federal Government had to dissolve the Council and decided to draft me there to resolve the matter. In two weeks I appointed a Vice Chancellor, Professor Osayuki Oshodin. We never knew him and he can attest to the kind of situation that was on but he knew we appointed him under two weeks and from that time that we

,

salaries. Within one year we had put in 60 professors, 61 readers and a good numbers of senior lecturers were promoted. We allowed them to appoint over 200 new staff and over 500 on contract.

To hear that we are not welfare friendly is something amazing.

On the relationship with the VC, he came to the panel and said the relationship with the chairman of the Council was cordial but I am surprised about all that is happening because throughout the period I was there we never had any disagreement or any division on issues. We ran the Council as a family.

How about allegations by the ASUU that you awarded contracts to your company, encouraging divisions and lobbying to come back as chairman of the Governing Council?

First, I have no company that

is doing any contract in the university. I am not a director or shareholder, it is unfortunate that such kind frivolous allegations are been made. There is Procurement Act. Awarding contract and everything starts and ends with the vice chancellor and his team and most of the contracts we did are ETF contracts and they have a procedure because ETF representative is always there on the tenders board. The Federal Ministry of Education are also there and after that it goes to the Council. They get the list of contracts to be awarded and they know what contracts to award and they asked for pre-qualification, I don’t see any of these things and after that they do the tender and when it comes according to them they put it in the box and lock it up and they call for a meeting and invite the press and everything is done in the presence of everybody.

The papers are sent to the VC and his team to do what is called thinker analysis and they write a report and based on that they make recommendation to council, so in each of all these processes they are in charge. So, it is all lies and again the white papers confirmed that all contracts awarded in Rivers State under my tenure followed the due process of procurement act and ASUU made recommendation to the panel and all this things they never mentioned. You see, the relative peace they are enjoying today was achieved during my tenure. It is a contradiction in terms of what the ASUU people are saying. We came to rescue and it was confirmed in the white paper and the panel noted that the chairman observed due process of law and that he see that everybody should do so, these are all in the panel report.

Swedish Residency Permit for students

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAMDURU

S

TUDENTS who desire to be resident in Sweden, in applying for residency permit are advised by the Migration Board to follow the stipulated rules relating to their reason for intended migration.

The prerequisites which are expected to be fully packaged with copies from authentic issuing Nigeria authorities must be sent in on time to avoid incurring any processing delay, which may affect the prospective transition of the application.

An applicant who follows the laid down rule of acquiring the above must be certain that his application is not void of two recently taken photographs which must be in colour, a passport that must be valid for the whole period he intends to remain in Sweden, and two copies of the laminated ID-page of the passport.

In addition to the above, the applicant shall provide two completed application forms, signed and must be filled in block letters, and if married, must provide an original marriage certificate, birth certificate, as well as a copy of admission letter from the intended place of study in Sweden.

Besides all other requirements, the applicant also is expected to include in his application package as a proof of payment of the study fee, the blue bank slip, certificate of own banking assets, tax clearance certificate from previous University or other High school studies.

Applicant’s West Africa Senior School Certificate, WASSCE, or National Examination Council, NECO, and one scratch card, including applicant’s National Youth Service Certificate, a print out of confirmation known as ‘appointment details’ and two copies of each original copies must be packaged along side other mandatory documentations required for the intended reason of migration.

Note that all the above mentioned requirements are compulsory and when one item is left out, the whole package is rendered invalid and such shall not be processed. In other words, applicants are promptly advised to make sure all documentation are valid and from authentic issuing Nigeria authorities, as the embassy will not be held responsible for applicants mis-management of information, and or responsible for denied visa. All applications are submitted to the Swedish Migration Board to decide on, the embassy or consulate cannot affecmmthe processing time or decision over an application

UK removes full right of appeal for family visitors

F

OR intending immigrants in the family visitor category, the removal of full right of appeal by the United Kingdom, is bad news as individuals who have been denied visa may never have another opportunity of seeking redress.

This is coming on the hills of a recently published clause in the Crime and Courts Bill, which removes the full right of appeal for those applying to enter the UK as a family visitor. The change which is expected to take effect by 2014 is subject to Parliamentary approval and the Royal Assent It is also expected that in June 2012, there will be an introduction of a secondary legislation which will tighten the family and sponsor definitions in family visit visa appeals. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these changes which are expected to come into full force in July 2012, will only affect applicants who have been refused a visa to visit family members.

No changes however are being made to the rules governing who can qualify for entry to the UK as a visitor.

Canada extends internship to private businesses

T

HE Canadian government has partnered with two leading private Canadian businesses to develop and expand the Federal Internship for Newcomers Programme (FIN).

The partnership with CGI Group Inc, a leading information technology company, and CIBC, a top financial services business, according to agency report is intended to employ foreign workers through the FIN programme and as expected, will assist new immigrants to Canada in finding temporary or permanent work in their fields of study.

The Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, who commented on the

development said: “Lack of Canadian work experience can prevent many newcomers from successfully integrating into the labour market. This programme is an excellent example of the Federal Government’s leadership role in helping immigrants enter the Canadian workforce.

“Through the programme, CIBC and CGI Group Inc will be able to review the profiles of newcomers whose work readiness has already been assessed by the government. It is hoped that this partnership will allow the companies to gain key employees, and help immigrants gain valuable Canadian work experience as they continue to establish themselves in their new home.”

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 49

Neglect of Urhobos and need for unity Dear Editor,

I

FIND it difficult to understand why the Urhobos which constitute the fifth largest ethnic group in the country and largest in Delta State have been relegated to the background in the scheme of things in the Nigerian project. How else can one explain a situation where in spite of the Urhobos numerical strength and the fact that they are home to a sizable chunk of the country’s vast oil reserve, none of her sons or daughters is in the present cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan?

It is indeed a bitter pill to swallow or rather get over.

Many have attributed the neglect of the Urhobos to their almost docile nature and the fact that they have not found expression in arms struggle which is fast becoming a past time to be heard and taken seriously by the Nigerian State. In the midst of all these, if there is one lesson to be learnt, it is the fact that the Urhobos needs to be more

united and assertive irrespective of their political affiliation and ideologies.

There is a common phrase which says: ‘’together we stand, divided we fall’’.

Urhobos must key in into this commonly used phrase because in it lies their liberation. They must be more united than ever before lest they would be left behind in the Nigerian project. Is it not derogatory and ridiculous that twice, the Urhobos have had

Dear sir, AM not an indigene of Edo state but a very regular visitor to the state and Benin city in particular. Few years back, you will wonder if anything is happening in Edo state at all, rustic and prostrate in all facets. Roads were lacking and the few present in state of disrepair.

Infrastructural decay and hopelessness pervaded the air all around the State. Today, under the leadership of

I

HY fighting corruption with the lips? Fuel subsidy report is a test to Mr. President, it is left for him to pass the report and regain the peoples’ love President Jonathan should act now.

Kelly 07057006736

on

Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, Minister of Petroleum promised several months ago to flood the country with kerosene but up till date, it is still a scare commodity selling at N150 instead of N50 per litre. She should explain to Nigerians why she is failing in her promise. Or is she waiting for the rains so that the flood will be a tsunami of kerosene? Her failure in this area is making life more difficult for the masses.

Amabus Afighi 08037114660

Insecurity in Nigeria

The level of insecurity in Nigeria is caused by injustice and unemployment.

The federal government should look into those areas .

J a c o b O g b o y e 08030992682

FG and dialogue with the Boko

Adams Oshiomole, there is certainly a new lease of life.

The Ring Road that used to be very rowdy and uncoordinated today reflects how a city should look.

Comparatively, Edo state has taken a giant stride in development. My point is that people will always get the type of leadership they want.

There is no gainsaying that within a short space, Adams has made remarkable progress in enhancing living in Edo

Haram

W

promise

the shores of the country are Urhobo sons and daughters who are doing excellently well in their chosen fields. So one cannot understand why present and past administrations in the country have not deemed it fit to appoint Urhobos into sensitive positions and offices.

Oshiomhole deserves commendation

Fuel subsidy reports

Madueke's kerosene

the privilege and opportunity of being in the Federal cabinet but they were drafted to inconsequential ministries. As if that was not bad enough, they were appointed junior ministers.

Why this bias if I must ask?

Across the length and breadth of the country and even outside

The truth remains that there is a limit to which you can push a people and they become confrontational. The Nigerian State must be wary of the practice of allowing people to be confrontational before listening to their plight. The quiet nature and disposition of the Urhobos should not be mistaken for cowardice or stupidity. I want to believe that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. All ethnic nationalities in the country have the right to be treated equally, fairly and justly!

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene ohwevwoufuoma@ymail.com 08127029122.

Can somebody explained the rationale behind incessant bombing, killings, maiming and arson by the Boko Haram sect? You cannot use force to intimidate and convert Christian to Islam.

Bodia Ariavie 08076942991

Mark's call for dialogue with Boko Haram

To Senator David Mark, there is no government that will fold her arms and watch innocent citizens being murdered in schools, markets, churches and even mosques..... No Sir! Delete mosques from the list because hardly would the sect attack or bomb mosques.

Ugonwanne 08064091428

FG's suspension of Perm Secs

The Federal Government has suspended Perm Secs and four others over the pension scam, even Hafiz Ringim. FG should equally suspend Minister of Petroleum over fuel subsidy scam.

Kelly 07057006736

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.The stream may dry up but the water course retains its name.

2. Silence is also a statement.

Osagie Joshua O. (08036986103), 29B, Agbonrofo Street, Off Etefe Road, GRA Benin City, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard

sate. The evidences are there and he deserves commendation. It will be foolhardy for people to fall prey again to the antics of the godfathers whose interests were their pockets leaving the entire masses to groan in pain. The Edo people must be wise and take their destiny in their hands by voting credibly using integrity, performance and service as indices for electing leaders in all elections.

Well meaning Nigerians should engage in public advocacy for governments that are doing well so that our people out of poverty and short term gains will not mortgage their common destiny again. Regardless of where you come from, we should all raise our voice to support efforts to better peoples life by any government.

Alexander Ighoro Warri, Delta State.

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

L

WC: Feast of football, tournament of surprises

,

AST Saturday, football faithful all over the world were joined by their African colleagues to celebrate the feast of football as the 2014 FIFA World Cup Preliminary competition kicked off.

If the feast is for spectators and fans, the teams are at war, feeling the heat as football once more lays claim to surprises galore.

I am writing this piece, Sunday morning from Bangui in Central African Republic where FIFA had sent me as Match Commissioner in the clash between Central African Republic and Botswana.

On paper, we all gave it to Botswana, surprise Gabon- Equatorial Guinea Africa Nations Cup finalist who had jetted out to Turkey to perfect their strategy and flew into Bangui beaming with confidence. On the other side, tiny Central African Republic, yet to win a world cup match.

By the time referee Bernard Camille from Seychelles blew the final whistle, pandemonium was nearly let loose as the over 20,000 packed stadium broke into ecstacy. A convincing 2-0 victory, both goals coming from the booths of 26 year old Foxi Kethevoama who plies his trade in Kazakhstan!

As I am writing this I wish I could include Nigeria’s result in the write up, being one of the results that the world is looking out for, as the sleeping giants of African football struggle use this competition to rise to their feet.

Fellow giant Cameroun left the stadium in Yaoude 1-0 victors against Congo DR convinced that there is still a lot of work to be done to get back on top French coach Denis Lavagne had to suffer a goalless first half before the slim victory that left the adorable fans of the erstwhile Indomitable Lions cheerless.

What about Tunisia, four time Africa world cup finalist who forty five minutes into the game in Tunis, were one goal down against Equatorial Guinea? The Nations Cup co host were set to prove their showing in January was not a fluke, yet the Tunisians had to rally back in the second half to score three goals to save their blush-

As you are reading this, half of the teams who were away are on their way back home while those who were at home are making arrangement to travel out for the second matches this week end

,

es.

Let us move over to Dakar, Senegal where the star studded Teranga Lions were hosting Liberia. Those who expected a massacre going by current football rankings were shocked when Liberia shot ahead in the second minute through Francis Doe and Senegal struggled.

By the 59 th minute the match was still 1-1 until the Lions finally gave their fans something to cheer about, scoring two goals in quick succession.

Egypt, another sleeping giant shed no sweat last Friday as Mozambique were turned back 2-0 in Cairo. The Pharaohs wished they had converted all the chances that came their way.

Where were the African champions Zambia?

They had arrived Sudan in all majesty only to be slaughtered twice on the hot slabs of Khartoum by the host, in what many consider as one of the upsets of last Saturday ’s matches.

Gabon –Equatorial Guinea Nations Cup finalist Cote D’ivoire on the other hand made sure of their hosting position when they hammered Tanzania 2-0. Salomon Kalou opened scores and it took the king himself, the most popular player on planet earth today, Didier Drogba to make matters certain with the second goal in the 85 th minute.

If we consider Algeria’s 4-0 drubbing of Rwanda as an easy match, how do we describe the 70 whitewash Ghana handed to Lesotho? By half time the Ghanaians were already 3-0 up in Kumasi and the technical bench contemplated throwing in all the reserves to give as many players as possible quality playing time as victory was already guaranteed, yet they were wise enough to realize that in the league format, the more goals you score the greater your chances of qualification ( ……Ask Manchester United) Nigeria must have been happy that not only were goals not scored in Nairobi but that there were no victors in the match Kenya –Malawi. What this translates to is that as Nigeria beats Namibia on Sunday, to top the table, there will be no good second.

If we do not consider the 1-1 draw between Gambia and Morocco in Banjoul as an African football surprise, I wonder what will be. It is always expected that Morocco could beat Gambia any day, anywhere, yet on Saturday the Moroccans had to struggle from one goal down in the first half to level up before full time. General Dominic Oneya who was there as Match Commissioner can tell the story better.

Similar experience in Freetown where despite a 2-0 lead in the first half, Cape Verde rallied back in the second to reduce the tally by one.

As you are reading this, half of the teams who were away are on their way back home while those who were at home are making arrangement to travel out for the second matches this week end, (…Including our very own Linus Mba who goes to Congo DR and Austin Akosa expected in Lesotho) a week end that will be key in defining and shaping the group tables that will not see any action till late March next year.

Can’t wait.

See you next week.

French Open Watch....French Open Watch.... French Open Watch

Defending champ falls •LI Na loses to qualifier

L

I NA’s French Open title defense ended Monday with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 fourth-round loss to 142nd-ranked qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan on a blustery day at Roland Garros.

Shvedova, a doubles specialist who teamed with Vania King to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2010, became only the ninth qualifier to make it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

This matches the furthest

she’s ever gone in a Grand Slam singles draw.

The seventh-seeded Li’s loss leaves no former French Open champions left in the women’s draw.

Last year at Roland Garros, she became the first player from China to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Shvedova, a doubles specialist who teamed with Vania King to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2010, became only the ninth qualifier to

•Li Na make it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

This matches the furthest she’s ever gone in a Grand Slam singles draw.

Djokovic positive after close win

W

•Djokovic

ORLD number one Novak Djokovic remained upbeat despite suffering a scare in his fourth round victory over Andreas Seppi at the French Open.

The Serb bounced back from losing the first two

sets to win 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3 in a match that lasted over four hours.

Afterwards Djokovic gave credit to Seppi and claimed no-one should have been surprised by the 28-year-old Italian’s performance.

M

ARIA Sharapova fought Klara Zakopalova as well as swirling winds for more than three hours to book her place in the French Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-7 6-2 win over the unheralded Czech on Monday.

The Russian second seed, looking to complete her collection of grand slam titles, spent more time on court on Monday than she had in total over her three previous matches.

The windswept conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier made it almost impossible for the players to throw the ball and a total of 21 games, 17 of them in the first two sets, went against serve.

Sharapova, who will take over as world number one if she reaches the final, eventually stamped her authority on the match in the final set to set up a last-eight meeting with either Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus or Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi.

Sharapova labours through

•Sharapova

Ferrer eases into quarters

•Ferrer

D

AVID Ferrer booked his place in the quarter-finals at Roland

Garros on Monday with a comfortable victory over Marcel Granollers.

Ferrer has won the last three times he has played his fellow Spaniard and in truth looked at ease throughout their match, eventually triumphing 6-3 6-2 6-0.

The 30-year-old has impressed so far in the tournament and will now meet either Andy Murray or Richard Gasquet in the last eight.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2012 — 51

My boys wasted lots of opportunities — Keshi

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar

S

UPER Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has said that the Eagles did not utilize the opportunities they had in their 2014 FIFA World up Brazil qualifier match against the Brave Warriors of Namibia.

The Nigerian Super Eagles on Sunday struggled to defeat the Namibia team at the U.J. Esuene stadium, Calabar, Cross River State.

Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory through Ike Uche in the 81st minute at the U.J. Esuene stadium, Calabar, Cross River State.

Speaking during the post match press briefing, Keshi said, “You all saw the game, we wasted a lot of opportunities in the first half, but you should note that these days you don’t have small team especially when it comes to Nigeria every country to play against Nigeria will double their efforts.

“We knew this was going to happen, we have been working on it. We worked on how we would move at a fast pace with the ball and get result. All along we worked more on attacking because we wanted plenty of goals.

Man proposes, God disposes but we have to continue.

Keshi Continues from BP Azubuike of Warri Wolves and Ejike Uzoenyi of Enugu Rangers started the match. And they stood their ground with Oshanuwa proving with his performance that Taiye Taiwo is history in the national team.

Ruben showed good stuff in the defensive midfield while Uzoenyi was, as usual mesmerising Namibians. But there were times he needed to pass out the ball faster than he did. It was as if he must dribble before he could release the ball. He overdid his dribbling otherwise he was good. Ekwuekwe won aerial battles and marked well too.

Itama was better than he was in Rwanda. The local boys held their heads high. Except Efe Ambrose, the rest players in the defence were local players. Obiora Nwankwo, in the midfield, showed promise in the first half but tired out early. Victor Moses, John Utaka and Ike Uche in the attack had problems and the situation was compounded by the many misses Eagles recorded.

Henry Uche came in for Obiora and Kalu Uche substituted Victor Moses who should have been changed earlier than was done. The two are Enyimba players made impact. Ahmed Musa came in for John Utaka but didn’t prove a better player.

Godfrey Gaiya, chairman of Sports Committee in the House of Repre-

sentatives, sports and marketing consultant Mike Itemuagbor were among the lot that commended Keshi for the building process in Eagles which has focused attention on local players who are distinguishing themselves.

Keshi played down the encomiums on the local players apparently not to create disaffection. Relaxed in his hotel with his his assistants he rather spoke on totality of the game this way: “The Namibians were a good side. The days they spent training in Germany showed. But what delighted me was our possession. We had it and passed the ball around better. We also created chances but missed them.

The same match that ended 1-0 could have ended 4-0 going by the chances we created. It could also have ended in a draw going by the chances we were missing. So, the important thing was victory and we got the three points. But we have seen that we need to continue working hard especially on our striking options. We need to be faster than we were.

It was a difficult match but confidence is coming back to our football and I know that it can only be better. We are going to Malawi for victory and we will be better in that match because the understanding is gradually showing but we need goals to make it complete .”

Hulk paves way for Chelsea switch P

ORTO star Hulk has opened the door for a move to Chelsea by admitting he is ready to quit the Portuguese champions.

“I have won many titles in the past four years at Porto, and I think that I have a great relationship

with everyone.

“If the time has come to move on, I’ll do so with a good feeling. I have enjoyed a great time here.

“I’m sure that they will understand the motives behind my decision if I leave.”

Ike Uche eyes improvement PUNCH•••Namibian goalie Vries Virgill (R) punches the ball away from Nigerian attackers during the tie in Calabar. Photo: Sylva Eleanya “This is the first time the players are coming to know one another. We have seen what we saw today, we would go back and analyse it ourselves. We would work on the team as a whole towards the Malawi.

Commenting on the officiating, Keshi said, “This is uncalled for because we are playing home. This is out home. Now we had a referee that was against us this way and nobody is going to say anything, I don’t understand. These are

the things we need to talk about.

Also speaking in an interview, the scorer of the lone goal in the encounter, Ike Uche who was voted the most valuable player of the match said, “When playing, you have the belief that you would spring up surprises any moment. I had so many chances in the first half, I did not relent. I kept on trying until it came. I just had to be there to keep trying and there was nothing wrong in it.”

Muamba Continues from BP for 78 minutes after he collapsed during his side’s FA Cup tie at Tottenham on March 17.

But the 24-year-old’s amazing recovery saw him discharged from hospital a month later and he harbours hopes of turning out for the Trotters again.

Muamba said: “I continue to feel fine. I am improving slowly but

surely.

“I have to co-ordinate with my doctor and see what he says but I’ll never say never.”

He added: “At the moment I am not doing exercise, I am just enjoying life and travelling.

“It is a great privilege to be able to live with the assistance of a respiratory machine or something like that. It is fantastic."

Falconets Continues from BP which kicks off from August 19 to September 8.Yesterday’s draw which was staged at the prestigious Conrad Hotel kicks off the countdown to the junior women championship that will attract 16 participating teams battling for the ultimate trophy currently in the hands of Germany.

Representatives from each of the qualifying team that included Nigeria’s Head Coach, Edwin Okon and team secretary, Faith Ben-Anuge were among those that closely followed proceedings presided over by FIFA Head of women’s competitions, Tatjana Haenini.

Okon after watching the draws said the battle had

just started. ’Now we know who our opponents are. Great teams with excellent records in the women’s game. So it is an indication that we would need to step up our preparations, technically, professionally and otherwise,” he said.

Maradona Continues from BP ported to be preparing an offer to lure the 34 year-old to the Middle East instead of China.

“If we had a large budget, yes it is possible to attract someone like Drogba. But I don’t think the budget in mind is available here.'"

BY PATRICK OMORODION, Calabar.

S

UPER Eagles for ward, Ikechukwu Uche has promised to be more clinical in front of goal when Nigeria confront Malawi in this weekend’s 2014 World Cup qualifier in Blantyre.

Speaking to reporters at the mixed zone, Uche, who was awarded the Man of the Match award, said that Nigerians should be happy with the slim victory.

“Nigerians should be happy with this victory.

Even though we wanted to score many goals, we found it hard and had to settle with this 10 win and our fans should be happy because we have three points and are now top of the table”.

He admitted that the players were still trying to understand each other in the new regime of Coach Stephen Keshi, noting that it somehow affected their performance on the day.

I’m alive, says Yusuf Ali •Advises Keshi

F

ORMER Nigeria Football Association Chairman,Yusuf Ali, said yesterday that he was still alive and thanked well wishers who feared that he was the Yusuf Ali on the manifest of the Dana plane that crashed in Lagos on Sunday, killing over 153 passengers on board.

“I pray for the bereaved families and also thank those who thought I was on that plane. I’m alive.”

On the 1-0 victory against Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday, Ali, whose knowledge of the game is well respected, said “Keshi needs force in the attack and he needs one or two solid strikers to show

that force.”

He commended Keshi for using up to seven local players in the match and noted that they did not disappoint.

But Ali was not totally impressed by what he saw of the match on Sunday.

“I commend Keshi for trying to build a new team but he lacks a striker. He should get a point man even if he is adopting formations that do not necessarily call for a point man. From what I saw in the match the Eagles need a player or two whose presence in the attack will be felt by opponents. We don’t have them yet. Football is all about scoring and if we don’t have force in our attack the building process that he is supervising now will not have meaning.”

GTBank Principals’ Cup champs emerge

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

D

AIRY Farm Senior Secondary School Agege and Kuje Senior Secondary School Ikotun have emerged the Male and Female champions respectively of the Guaranty Trust Bank Lagos Principals’ Cup, which ended weekend at Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos, Despite the heavy downpour, the players were able to show their soccer skill in their bid to pick a ticket for the GTBank Su-

per Cup Championship coming up later this month.

In the boys final match, it took the beautiful strike from the skipper of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Stephen Odeh to convert a 78th minute free kick to send the hard fighting Sango Senior Secondary School packing with a 1-0 defeat. Earlier in the day, last year’s third placed, Kuje Senior Secondary School Ikotun defeated CMS Girls Grammar School by 2-1 to win the female title.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5,

2012

Dana: Rescuers used pure water to douse plane's fire

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS—RESIDENTS of Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State, where the illfated DANA aircraft crashed, yesterday, blamed the deaths of passengers in the crash on poor and delayed rescue operation, noting that the people resorted to using sachets of pure water to put out the fire before the plane exploded.

Speaking with Vanguard, some of the residents who were accused of looting the dead, said the aircraft exploded 20 minutes after it crashed, commending the pilot of the aircraft for being brave with the handling of the aircraft that was wobbling before it crashed.

A resident said: “Had it been that fire fighters were on ground earlier and prepared, all the passengers die would not have died”, adding that the fire fighters came with a leaking pipe, which made it difficult for them to confront the situation.

Another resident, who arrived the scene minutes after the crash and gave his name as Yinka, said “I was with my wife when the aircraft crashlanded on a newly constructed storey building. When the plane was moving around in a random direction initially, we were confused, but when it was getting unusually close to the rooftop of the houses around, we stood up and traced it to where it eventually landed.

“When we got to the scene, we saw the plane on the building but it had not exploded then. The only fire from the aircraft was from the cockpit, which was not much. Only about 10 of us first got to the scene. That little fire was quenchable if there was immediate emergency response from fire fighters.

We were even using sachets of pure water to put out the fire before we heard a loud explosion after 20 minutes.”

L-r: Mr. Jimi Solanke of Storyland Fame; Mr. Adebayo Hezekiah, Director, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); Mr. Wale Goodluck, Corporate Service Executive (CSE) MTN and Mrs Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Winds Against My Soul at the opening of the 21 day Y'ello ceremony in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

••SERAP, CLO urge investigation

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS—SOCIOECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP and Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, have called on the Federal Government to order an investigation into the Dana plane crash in Lagos.

While SERAP wants the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission,

ICPC, to investigate allegations that the Ministry of Aviation may have allowed the registration of the Dana plane, despite reports that it was purchased with known pre-existing safety issues and past safety concerns record, CLO wants government to adopt serious measures that will ensure the resolve of the intractable crises in the aviation sector that had caused

the huge loss of human lives and material resources.

SERAP, in a petition by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, to ICPC, said: “We are seriously concerned that this is not the first time an air mishap has claimed a large number of people primarily because of the systemic corruption in the aviation sector and the lack of due diligence or complicity of

the regulatory authorities in allowing the registration and operation of aircraft with safety concerns.”

It expressed “concern that pervasive corruption was also responsible for the failure to provide immediate emergency response system that could have helped to reduce the casualties of the Dana airline crash, as our information reveals that the aircraft exploded about 20 minutes

after the crash."

CLO, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr Ibuchukwu Ezike, said: “While awaiting the official reports on the crash, we call on the Federal Government to undertake very urgent and serious measures that will ensure the resolve of the intractable crisis in the Aviation sector in Nigeria that has caused the huge loss of human lives and material resources."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 53

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 — 55

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

— P.55

Maradona calms Drogba talk •Ike Uche fights for the ball against a Namibian player.

A

L Wasl manager Diego Maradona has revealed that the Dubai-based club are unlikely to beat Shanghai Shenhua to Didier Drogba’s signature.

UEFA Champions League winner Drogba is currently considering a big-money contract to join Shenhua.

But Al Wasl were re

Keshi dissects Calabar victory •Identifies weak and strong points

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

CContinues on Page 55

B

The Draw

Y the time the Nige ria-Namibia match ended on Sunday in Calabar, seven local players were on the field as part of the victory party.

It took a great courage on the side of Stephen Keshi and his technical crew to do so.

And the performance

Group A: Japan, Mexico, New Zealnd and Switzerland Group B: Brazil, Italy, Nigeria, South Korea Group C: North Korea, Norway, Canada and Argentina Group D: Ghana, USA, Germany and China

Godfrey Itama, Juwon of the local players reasOshanuwa of Sunshine sured them that they Stars, Gabriel Ruben of were on the right track Kano Pillars, Egwukwe the difficult match notwithstanding.

CContinues on Page 55

Muamba to play for Bolton, again

F

A B R I C E MUAMBA is refusing to rule out playing professional football again — just three months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Doctors battled to save the Bolton star ’s life rea Republic and 2012 forthcoming 2012 FIFA when his heart stopped European semifinalist, Women’s World Cup Italy in Group B of the CContinues on Page 55 CContinues on Page 55

2012 FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Falconets to face Brazil, Korea N

IGERIA’s U-20 Women National Team were drawn TODAY'S

against South American heavyweights, Brazil, Asian powerhouse Ko-

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

•Muamba

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Rough (6) 5 Rise (6) 8 Naughty (8) 9 Vessel (4) 10 Vitality (3) 12 Fear (5) 15 Fixed (3) 17 Tune (3) 18 Skill (3) 19 Pale (3) 20 Precise (5) 21 Sicken (3) 22 Spring (3) 23 Spike (3) 24 Beam (3) 26 Quietened (5) 29 Plaything (3) 33 Cease (4) 34 Personality (8) 35 Spirit (6) 36 Showy (6)

DOWN 2 Fat (5) 3 Wander (4) 4 Mistake (5) 5 Stadium (5) 6 Throw (4) 7 Innocent (5) 10 Might (5) 11 Flower (5) 12 Vision (5) 13 Praise (5) 14 Old-fashioned (5) 15 Begin (5) 16 Agree (5) 25 Following (5) 27 Unite (5) 28 Happening (5) 30 Exterior (5) 31 Bridge (4) 32 Store (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Mist 4, Mug 6, Wipe 8, Occult 9, Furore 10, Hal 12, Crypt 14, Adder 15, Eider 18, Gutter 20, Opaque 24, Yield 26, Witty 28, Yokel 30, Old 32, Moving 33, Unison 34, Omit 35, Eft 36, Crew.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Incur 3, Trumpet 4, Myth 5, Gift 6, Wired 7, Parvenu 11, Ape 12, Cog 13, Tie 16, Dry 17, Roe 19, Uniform 21, Ply 22, Adoring 23, Eel 25, Ill 27, Twist 29, Evoke 30, Ogre 31, Duct.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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