Ocholi: How ankle injury saved surviving son

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62709

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: Court remands ex-CDS, Badeh in prison >17

Abducted Lagos school girls:

BACK TO SCHOOL

It was traumatic for us >37

— PROPRIETORS

RESUMPTION—The three rescued Lagos school girls arriving their school on resumption, yesterday.

Ocholi: How ankle injury saved surviving son

More victims still in hospital, says FRSC official PDP consoles Buhari, FG; Yobe deputy gov in another crash FG'll immortalize him as he died in active service — Ngige

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief, Luka Binniyat, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abdulsalam Muhammad, Henry Umoru & Ben Agande BUJA—THE only surviving son of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister Aaron Ocholi, has promised to retain all the legacies of his father.

Aaron Ocholi who is 25 years, according to family sources, was saved from following his father to attend the Church service in Kaduna due to an ankle injury he sustained while training on a football pitch. He was on crutches at the time the father and some members of the Continues on Page 5

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Ese Oruru: Police ready to arraign Yunusa >13 CONDOLENCE—Daughter of late James Ocholi, Ale and son, Aaron Ocholi at the residence of the late Minister of State at Kado Estate, Abuja, yesterday. Top Right: Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige signing the condolence register for Late Ocholi. Below right: Sympathisers at the residence. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

CJN backs Frivolous Petition Bill COLUMNIST:

Ese, Yunusa and the emirate:

The trouble with Nigeria •P.20 C M Y K

Edo communal clash: Erhunrhun youths lay siege to Ogute-Okpella See Inside

>17

Fall in oil prices won't spell doom for Nigeria — Dangote >8

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

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POCKET CARTOON

BADEH IN COURT—Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh, arraigned for alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Ocholi: How ankle injury saved surviving son Continues from Page 1

family embarked on the fatal trip.

Also yesterday, Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Abubakar Ali, was involved in an auto accident along the K a d u n a - K a n o expressway but escaped unhurt.

Already, the Ocholi family house at 4 Daggash Street, Kado Estate, Abuja, was a beehive of activities, yesterday, as ministers, lawmakers and heads of agencies trooped to the residence to commiserate with the family.

This resulted in a traffic gridlock on all the roads leading to the family house at Kado.

Speaking to the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, that visited the house, Aaron said he would not tamper with the legacy of his father and will never sell his books and law firm, assuring the SANs that with them, he would not derail.

Speaking to Vanguard,

a close friend of the late minister, who was always regarded as his ‘twin’ brother by relatives, Tokunbo Obayan, a.k.a.

Toks, described Ocholi’s death as a rude shock.

He said: “It was so sudden that it was certainly unreal in the fact that, yesterday morning, we did not feel that something like this was on the cards. I actually was flying from Kaduna to Lagos, I live in Lagos. I had no idea that it was even between Kaduna and Abuja, only for me to get to Lagos and my phone rang from everywhere in Nigeria, confirming the ugly incident.

“So, you can imagine the shock and now for me to also find out that it wasn’t just him but his wife and Joshua, that was like the world had crumbled on us because our families were like twin families.

"My wife got the first text and she replied that it was not possible. My wife is the ViceChancellor of Landmark

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO

I

F for any reason you have doubted your capacity to succeed, repent now and give it all it takes. nothing can stop you now. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Why are you trying to fit in when you were born to stand out? —Ian Wallace

T

O embark on a love journey with yourself is a beautiful experience. It brings an awareness that exudes confidence and calm which enables one to be compassionate towards others.

This sort of love is not self-absorbed. In a love journey with self, you learn to say your truth and allow others their beingness. The ego is balanced and absolutely embracing the awakening of your divine connection as a conscious being.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE When a corpse is being carried past another man's house, it is as if they are carrying a log of wood.

University and former Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University.

“Her first reaction was that it was not possible, then the person now called her back and said it was all over the social media, it was devastating to imagine. Two weeks ago, I was here in this house, two days, four days we talked and we planned and to suddenly hear that it was like someone just shut the door, everything we have been planning, everybody calls him my twin brother, even when I am in Lagos, people in Abuja phoned me to find out where he is.

“When we sat down there and we were discussing, the plans for the future, the fact is that as minister, he had to pull off from anything that will give any look of impropriety which Ocholi was particular about. Even his businesses and things that he was committed to, we were discussing how to handle them to make sure that there was no conflict of interest.

“That was our last conversation. We were sitting here when he was about to travel to Kogi for the run-off election. He had five children, two sons and three daughters.

Ojoni is the first daughter, Aaron is the second son, he was called to bar the day his father was screened in the Senate.

“He went for a church service in Kaduna; he has been involved in Christian activities for a very long time and that was actually how we met. There is a bond between the two of us because of our love for God. “Even his coming into politics was to bring a dimension of cleanliness and most people will not understand if I tell you that Ocholi entered into politics because he had a call. I was the first person that he told. I was sitting beside him when he told me and said Toks, I heard God saying I should go and serve him in politics but I like legal practice.

"I said if God said you should go and serve him

that is where you should go. This is so devastating.”

Also speaking, a cousin to the late minister, Isaac Agbanwu, a surveyor said: “We were not expecting this.

“We were together on Thursday, our discussion was about a trip he was going to make officially and I was to meet him and then discuss with him before he travelled and I went, we discussed and I left his office on Thursday.

“I was expecting that by Saturday, he would have travelled; I was not expecting him around, let alone hearing of his death. I also travelled to the village, it was on my way to the village that I was informed about his death, I had no option than to turn back immediately. It is bad news to us.

“He has a son who is already a graduate, called to the bar. We are making him to understand that he should see it as a reality and not a drama.

“He was a humble man, an accessible man, a man that has the comfort of people as his agenda before himself.

He wouldn’t want to hurt anybody, he was always focused on heaven and did not want to be derailed."

7 more still hospitalised — FRSC Kaduna State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Francis Udoma, confirmed to Vanguard in Kaduna, yesterday, that 10 persons were in the two SUVs, a Prado and a Lexus, involved in the accident that claimed the lives of the minister, his wife and son, adding that seven others who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

His words: “A total of 10 persons were involved in that sad accident. You have already written about those that died – the minister,, his wife and son.

There are seven other victims, but they have all been taken to the Abuja National Hospital, yesterday. ‘’They were in two cars – a Prado and a Lexus. All I can tell you is that at the time we took them there, they were given prompt medical attention. Since I am not the one treating them, I cannot tell you precisely how they are responding. But, I am told that they are responding well”, he said.

He'll be immortalised — Ngige Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday, said the Federal Government might immortalise the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, SAN. Senator Ngige stated this after signing the condolence register opened in honour of the late minister in Abuja.

He also disclosed that

he had declared a one day mourning and a work-free day for the staff in the ministry yesterday, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had been duly notified and that Ocholi might be immortalized by the Federal Government because he died in active service.

His words: “Yes! The Federal Government will work out something. I have written officially to notify Mr. President about his transition and I believe the Federal Government will work out something because he died in active service. This is the second time the country is losing a minister of state, I think in 1982, the country lost a minister of state who went to São Tomé.”

He said the Ministry will take care of the remaining members of Ocholi’s family and the staff of the ministry who sustained various degrees of injury in the accident.

In a condolence message signed by the minister, he said: “My brother and comrade in the struggle for a better Nigeria, you left us suddenly and without a word. I’m still shocked.

We are consoled that in the brief period we worked as compatriots, you have shown you are a true Nigerian and one who desires the maximum good for the common man. Adieu.”

Yobe deputy Gov in auto crash Also yesterday, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Abubakar Ali, was involved in an auto accident along the K a d u n a - K a n o Expressway.

An eyewitness, Sanusi Abdul, said the incident occurred at Daka-Tsalle town, along the expressway. “The SUV he was travelling in had a head-on collision with a Toyota Avensis.

Fortunately, the deputy governor’s vehicle did not somersault, but the Toyota car was badly damaged and some of its occupants injured,” he said.

Abdul, who said the accident occurred around 9:30 am, added that he also narrowly missed hitting the deputy governor ’s car, adding that the deputy governor’s

convoy later continued its trip to Kano.

Efforts to speak with the deputy governor was unsuccessful as he neither answered nor returned calls.

A source at Government House, Damaturu, however, said the deputy governor travelled to Kano on a condolence visit to Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who lost his mother on Friday.

Confirming the accident, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Kano State, Mr. Aminu Umar Jaba, said: “It was a minor accident blown out of proportion by an unnamed aide to the deputy governor. The commander, however, declined further details on the number of vehicles involved in the accident but blamed social media for exaggerating the accident.

“As for the fact we have at our disposal, it was a minor accident. The deputy governor escaped unhurt and he is now at Ganduje village on a condolence visit."

PDP Consoles Buhari, FG Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condoled President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government of Nigeria over the death of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi.

The party in a statement signed by the National Publicity, Olisa Metuh, said the death of Mr Ocholi came to “the PDP as a huge shock and prayed God to grant eternal repose to their souls”.

Part of the statement read: “The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, on behalf of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party condoles with the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari on the tragic death of the Minister of State for Labour, Barr.

James Ocholi SAN, his wife and son in a car crash on Sunday ”.

The party also commiserated with the minister ’s family and prayed God to grant

Continues on Page 15

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MARCH 8 , 2016

Awujale institutes N250m professorial chair at OOU

By Amaka Abayomi & Princewill Ekwujuru

T

HE Awujale of Ijebuland, HRH Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, has instituted a professorial chair of N250 million at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state.

Oba Adetona, who made the announcement in Ijebu-Ode, said he wants to see Nigeria take a giant stride in the area of good governance stemming from quality education, research, mentorship and community engagement with a boost.

He said “Education has a pivotal role to play in the quality of governance, and being a royal father, I decided to lend my little support in this area. I make this move with hopes that it will help the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye start a productionline of leaders who will be molded for good governance.”

While thanking the Awujale for the kind gesture, the Vice Chancellor of OOU, Prof.

Saburi Adesanya, expressed the view that the endowment is in sync with the institution’s philosophy of seeking to “give useful learning to its students who will be encouraged to cultivate a worldview that facilitates not only the continuous pursuit of academic and moral excellence but also developing competence in reducing the society’s disease.”

Former Lagos deputy gov, Orelope-Adefulire now Buhari’s SSA

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire served as Deputy-Governor of Lagos State in the last administration and is an accomplished politician with many years of experience in public service.

She has also served as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State.

Labour shut Ikeja DISCO over sack of 400 workers

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Ediri Ejoh

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AGOS—ORGANISED labour in the nation’s power sector yesterday made good its threat to cripple the operations of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja DISCO, over the alleged sack of 400 workers, including a deputy president of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, among other grievances.

On the platform of NUEE and its Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC counterpart, the workers arrived at the premises of the distribution company around 7am and cordoned it off, preventing going and coming into the company.

However, the management of the company claimed only 229 employees were affected in the disengagement exercise after they failed to meet the required parameters for the company’s performance assessment.

In a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ofulue, the company also claimed it had, between January 2015 and February 2016, employed 603 new hands, and at the same time promoted 74 others.

“We will like to state that the number of employees that were disengaged was 229 and not 400 as earlier reported. In accordance with best practice, employees in the organization went through a thorough, transparent and

objective performance assessment exercise and those that were deemed to be performing below the required performance objectives were exited from the organization. This is also to ensure that Ikeja Electric maintains an assemblage of the right staff in the right roles that are equipped to perform optimally’, he said.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, NUEE and SSAEAC, last week issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management to recall the affected workers unconditionally or risk unprecedented industrial action.

Speaking, General Secretary, NUEE, Joseph Ajaero, explained that the management of IKEDC had refused to negotiate the conditions of service with the union since the privatisation in 2013, following which the company allegedly subjected the workers to anti-labour treatment and redundancy at will.

Similarly, President, NUEE, Martin Ozugwu said: “We are here on protest against the victimisation of 400 workers that were sacked last week. We are here against the anti-labour practices being perpetrated by IKEDC. They have been violating

the Act which stipulated that every condition must be stipulated before you sack any workers. That means condition of service must be put in place.

Corroborating, General Secretary, SSAEAC, Umar Abubakar, said, “By the time IKEDC gets away with this, other companies will follow suit. The earlier we stop them the better.

We want them to call the workers back, provide conditions of service that will seal the relationship between workers and their employers. People are dying.

You cannot sack anybody without justification.”

RETREAT: From left: Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Dr. Idiat Adebule unveiling the new logo of State Treasury Office; Special adviser to Governor on Education, Mr. Bankole Bank-Olemoh; Perm Sec, Min of Finance/Accountant General, Commissioner of Establishments and Pension, Dr. Akintola Benson, Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola and Commissioner of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, during the 8th Annual Accountants' Retreat "Tag" Public Sector Accountants as Agent of Change, at Lekki Peninsula Resort, Ajah, Lagos. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

I didn’t compromise Justice Nganjiwa — TARFA

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—EMBAT TLED Lagos lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, SAN, yesterday, denied any under counter dealing with Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of a Federal High Court, Lagos as alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In a statement by his law firm, Rickey Tarfa and Co, by the Head of Chambers, Mr. John Odubela, in reaction to the new 27-count charge, which was even yet to be served on Tarfa, noted that “The Chambers have cause to once more react to the malicious trial by media of Rickey Tarfa by the EFCC. “Trial are never won on the pages of newspapers, the airwaves and on online platforms.

The recent 27-count charge allegedly filed against Tarfa, by EFCC is not only laughable because as at the time of issuing this press statement, Tarfa, is yet to be served with the charge.

“The media is however, abashed with details of the said charge.”

Explaining the relationship between Tarfa and Justice Nganjiwa, Odubela said, “Mr. Nganjiwa was absorbed into the firm in 1995 immediately after

leaving the service of the National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, where he rose to the position of Deputy Agency (Prosecution) and was with us until he was appointed to the beach of the Federal High Court in 2012.

“During these period, Nganjiwa, who specialized in criminal trials attracted many briefs/clients because of his

expertise in that branch of the law.

Upon his appointment as a judge, we continued with the cases he brought to the Chambers.

“In the light of the above, we have continued to discharge the firm’ s financial obligations to him in respect of cases he has handled for the firm as a practicing legal practitioner in our law firm and those he

brought to the Chambers.”

On the allegation of falsification of age, he said, “Celebration of milestone of birthday of Mr Tarfa, have always been in the public domain. Clearly, the content of the alleged statement showed there was no reliance on 43 years as age its body. The position relating to the alleged issue would be determined by the court of law.''

Why we want to boost tourism, entertainment – FG

By Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE Federal Government yesterday explained the reason behind the drive to boost tourism and entertainment in the country, saying “both sector are labour intensive.”

Meantime, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said the state would collaborate with the Federal Government to boost tourism and entertainment in the state in order to take youths off the streets.

They spoke during an inspection tour to the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, to examine the state of the facility and how it could be used boost tourism and entertainment

industry in the state.

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Lai Muhammed who disclosed this in an interview with pressmen after the inspection, said that both sector (tourism and entertainment) employs larger number of persons and bring out the talent in them (employees).

According to him, “What we are aiming here is another hub for entertainment and tourism. What we are looking at is not four years but we are aiming to leave a legacy for the country.”

The minister noted that part of the projects aimed at boosting employment was the National Museum which goes beyond Lagos State, adding “It is about Nigeria. And we should not forget

that this (Lagos State) is where the history of the country started.”

Muhammed assured Nigerians that the expansion of the National Museum at the Onikan, Lagos Island, would be devoid of bureaucracy, saying “We will spare nothing to ensure that this project is achieved.”

His words “This is one of the biggest collaboration between the State government and the federal ministry of information and culture. The coming here today is an eloquent confirmation that the governor is ready to work his talk.”

Ambode who lamented the poor state of the facility said “We have enough space that we can create a modern Museum here while the old one will function side by side with the new facility.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 7

MILE 12 MAYHEM: Lagos Assembly calls for relocation of markets

By Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—FOLLOWING the recent mayhem at Mile 12 where some people lost their lives and properties destroyed, Lagos State House of Assembly

yesterday, during plenary, called for the relocation of both Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets from their current locations.

The House under matter of urgent public importance moved by a member, Jude Idimogu, that

the incident was unfortunate also called for the investigation of military men that were permanently positioned in Mile 12 market since 1999.

Calling on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to relocate Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets after conducting necessary feasibility studies and

INAUGURATION: From left; Perm Sec, Cabinet and Special Services, Oyo State, Mr. David Oyewole; Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ibadan North Local Govt, Mr. Yinka Akinbode; and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, during the inauguration of transition committee chairmen for the 33 LGs of the state, at the Executive Chambers of the Governor's Office, Ibadan yesterday.

when accompanying infrastructures, the House is of the opinion that if the markets are relocated, there would be peace in the state. It also urged the governor to conduct a highpowered enquiry into the crisis and punish the perpetrators.

While commiserating with the family of those who lost their lives in the incident, the House condemned the killings and the attitude of soldiers stationed at the market, who could not prevent the crisis.

Speaking on the issue, speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa had earlier said that the incident was a result of disagreement amongst brothers, adding that the state government should summon courage and come up with a political will on the issue.

“Soldiers have been stationed at the market since 1999, yet they have not been able to solve the problem. There is a police station there, what did the DPO do, when the incident occurred.

“It is a market without structure, we can move the market to another place if we can provide an alternative. We should look at a new planning, we cannot have such a market at the centre of a megacity,” he lamented.

Bristow Helicopters pays crash victims initial $30,000

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

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AGOS—BRISTOW Helicopters yesterday said it has paid the initial payment of

$30, 000 to those involved in its August 2015 helicopter crash into the Lagos Lagoon.

This is in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, directive on

Ajimobi inaugurates LG caretaker chairmen

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BADAN—GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has told the newly-inaugurated local government transition committee chairmen not to contemplate staying in office beyond four months, immediately after which, he said, election into the LGs will be held.

The governor said this in his address after the oath of office was administered on the 33 council chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, in Ibadan, on Monday.

He admonished them to shun

extravagant lifestyle, insisting that their four-month tenure was not to commit resources to naming, burial and marriage ceremonies at the expense of grassroots development.

Ajimobi said common sense dictates that the lean resources accruable to the state and local governments should be committed to people-oriented and legacy projects.

He said: “Your appointment is an opportunity for you to dare and endure; not for ease and comfort. I enjoin you to be guided by the oath of office

compensation for crash victims.

The Senior Legal Director (African Region) Bristow Group, Tolu Olubajo said this yesterday where he also confirmed the return of Sikorsky S-76S to revenue service at the weekend by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Although Olubajo did not disclose the amount the carrier paid to the victim’s families, he stated that they have paid initial amount to them which is in line with ICAO recommendation of payment of 30 per cent within the first 30 days of the crash, out of the $100,

P

is to acquaint doctors and related health workers on trends and procedures in the treatment and management of various indications of kidney diseases.

The statement reads: ‘’The yearly conference series is in commemoration of world kidney day. Professor Kadiri’s lecture will be on ‘’Screening for Kidney Disease”. The conference will hold at the

T

HE six Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives members from Ekiti State have condemned last Friday's invasion of the State House of Assembly by armed men of the Department of State Service, DSS, describing the invasion as “criminal desecration of the hallowed chamber which must be condemned by all lovers of democracy in the world.”

The House of Representatives members also admonished the DSS to stick to its constitutional roles of protecting Nigeria against domestic threats by assisting other security agencies with enough intelligence, adding that the DSS under President Mohammadu Buhari has taken over the duties of the police, military, civil defence, immigration and other security agencies.

In a statement yesterday by the House of Representatives members, Kehinde Agboola (Ekiti North I), Thaddeus Aina (Ekiti North II), Ayo Oladimeji (Ekiti Central I), Olamide Oni (Ekiti Central II), Segun Adekola (Ekiti South I) and Akin Awodumila (Ekiti South II), and made available to journalists, they reiterated their support for the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, describing him as “the emerging face of opposition politics in Nigeria.”

They accused the Presidency of the DSS to torment the government and people of Ekiti State because of Governor Fayose’s critical stance on the Buhari’s government, saying; “Any attempt to muscle opposition in a democracy is a direct invitation to anarchy.”

Traditional ruler dismisses sex scandal allegation

By Dapo Akinrefon

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traditional ruler, the Olofin of Ilisan Remo in

WORLD KIDNEY DAY: Prof Kadiri to speak on screening, early diagnosis today Rockview Hotel, Festac Town, ROFESSOR S. Kadiri, Consultant Nephrologist at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, would deliver the lead lecture at this year’s annual Cedar Kidney Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos today.

A statement by the Spokespersons of the Cedar Group and AGPMPN, Dr. Akinsiku Adedamola and Dr. Anameje Chima, the conference

000 total compensation money for each of the dead victims.

The aviation regulatory body had lifted the temporary suspension on the operation of the Bristow Helicopter Sirkorsky S-76 aircrafts in the country.

The NCAA had on February 4, 2016 suspended Bristow Helicopter’s Sikorsky S-76C from further operations in Nigeria after two air accidents. The return of the Sikorsky S-76 aircraft to flight operations followed completion of the NCAA’s comprehensive operational audit. And the company said, in addition, it has carried out an extensive return to service safety activities.

Ekiti Reps condemn DSS invasion of State Assembly

Lagos, on March 8, 2016. ‘’The annual conference is organized by the Cedar Group Hospital in collaboration with the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Amuwo-Ojo Lagos zone. The annual conference is a part of the reach-out and community engagement services to improve on the health of the nation, especially on kidney related issues.

Ikenne Local Government area of Ogun State, Oba Mojeed Olufemi Sonuga has dismissed a sex scandal allegation against him saying it is aimed at blackmailing him.

The Oba was reported to have had carnal knowledge of a disabled female indigene of the town and aborted the pregnancy that resulted.

But Oba Sonuga, according to a statement signed by the chairman, Ilisan Development Association (IDA), Dr. Waheed Osinowo, distanced himself from the allegation.

Sonuga said: “Ordinarily, I would not have reacted to the allegation but for the fact that my silence may be misconstrued by those who may not know what I

stand for. “In all my years as a lawyer, even in the United Kingdom, I have always stood up for all that is good and lawful and this remains an integral part of me till date.”

Tracing the genesis of the issue, the monarch said though he knew the lady allegedly involved but his relationship with her never went beyond the level of occasional financial assistance.

According to him, when the rumour initially started flying around, a powerful delegation of Ilisan sons and daughters met the mother of the lady who declared that her daughter was not even pregnant.

According to him, Ilisan like every other part of Nigeria needs peace at this time to move forward.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SUMMIT: From left, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Adewale Tinubu; President and Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah and Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, at The Economist Nigeria Summit, in Lagos.

Fall in oil prices won't spell doom for Nigerian economy —Dangote Says investors underestimating the economy

By Babajide Komolafe

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AGOS — AFRICA’Srichest man and President, Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday, dismissed fears about the impact of the fall in crude oil prices on the Nigerian economy, saying the decline would not translate to doom for the economy.

Speaking in Lagos at The Economist Summit on Nigeria, Dangote said despite the fall in oil price, a lot of sectors were doing well in Nigeria, adding that the problem was that people were under estimating the resilience of the Nigerian economy.

Entitled: ‘Nigeria: The Dawn of a New Era?’ the summit was organised by The Economist Events, a subsidiary of The Economist International magazine.

Those in attendance were economic experts and top government officials, including Managing Director/Chief Executive, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Mr. Adewale Tinubu; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismarck Rewane; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Vero Capital Management Company, Danladi Verheijen and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah.

According to him, while the fall in oil prices portends dangers to some businesses, it, however, presents a good opportunity to diversify the Nigerian economy.

He said “If we don’t diversify the economy now, then we would never do it.”

He said Nigerian companies should learn to export, advising that they should leverage on the 320 million population of the West African sub region to grow their businesses through export.

People are under

estimating the economy

He said: “I think people are under estimating the economy of Nigeria. They just go and look at foreign exchange, because price of oil has gone down, it means that everything has gone out of the window. That is not correct, in some areas, yes, depending on your business."

Citing the example of growth recorded by Dangote in cement and sugar sales, he said: “If you look at it, right from October to November, our sales of cement have actually been going down, even though at a cost because we took the price down by 35 per cent, but this has given us over 50 per cent market growth up to January, February.

"January, you know is a very slow month, but in February, we had 47 per cent growth in terms of volume. And our own estimate is that in the next three months we would have over 60 per cent growth. We could not go beyond this 50 per cent because we have been having serious issues in terms of gas.

“On our sugar too, we have seen growth of about 80 per cent.

When you take a company like Coca-Cola, it has actually exhausted its capacity. They delisted about three years ago, and they doubled their capacity within these three years, and now their major problem is that they cannot meet up with their capacity, and now they have a plan to double their capacity in the next two and half years.

"So it is not that there is dullness all over the economy, no. In some areas things are even moving up. But it does not mean that people should sit back and say there is crisis.

Sometimes, crisis is also an opportunity, so you use it very well so that the crisis should not happen to you.

"You just had to have faith, and keep pushing to make sure you are where you are and that is

what we are doing. That is why we are not stopping in all our projects, we know the market, and we know the dynamics of the markets.”

Time to diversify economy

“I think the one quick policy, which is what we have been talking about is diversification of the economy. This is the right moment. I know in Nigeria, once the oil price goes up to $80, nobody will diversify, we would go back to our misbehaviour.

"Government should be very specific and come out with clear policy that we would support.

And the implementation has to be monitored. If we don’t do it now, we would never do it.

Nigerian firms should learn to export

“Nigerian goods can be very competitive. We don’t have to export goods from here to East Africa. We have 15 countries in the ECOWAS region, which are duty free. At the moment, most

of the companies are not geared up for export which I think is a big mistake because when you have more volume, you can make more money and become more competitive.

“The scenario of export is that if I meet up with my domestic market, I can actually take the excess and dump it in another country. It will give me much more profit. The issue is about capacity. If you have it fine.

“But for countries in Nigeria, they don’t have to export to East Africa.

First of all, there is population of about 320 million people to feed.

So the market is big, great and profitable.

“Also, from Lagos to Accra is 450 kilometres, but to Abuja is about 650 kilometres. That means your real market is this West African market. So your real market is Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and even up to Ivory Coast.

"So we have a big market and the export will not be difficult. I think what we need now, especially with this foreign exchange freeze, is that our people should learn to export.

“And government too should find out how to correct this export credit scheme if it is going to continue.

Because it is good to export and also to have support for export but what the government should say is 'if I give you export credit support, you don’t go and use it to pay duties and co. If you are in business, you use the export credit against your taxes.'

On forex subsidy

“There is nothing like subsidy. It is about giving incentives to people to set up industries. And that is happening almost everywhere and Nigeria is not even the highest.

“If somebody has a business, he is more interested in running his business than in round tripping.

Those people doing round tripping, no matter what you do, they would still do round tripping, they would not stop doing round tripping.

"Give them what you want to give them, their own business is how to make money from the differential in foreign exchange rate. But there are ways government can block them, by making sure that the goods to be imported are here.

They would not be able to take dollars without you bringing in the goods.”

FG to address ease of doing business —Industry minister

T

HE Federal Government will take steps to address the ease of doing business in Nigeria as well as support small and medium enterprises, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, stated this at the Economist Summit, adding that the challenge before the country was how to be competitive.

He said the Federal Government was giving attention to ease of doing business, creating enabling environment to attract investment, industrialization and supporting SMEs. He said: “The key is to create right incentive, regulation and policy so that people can work with them and do more locally than just importing.

“Nigeria’s great asset is its people, diversity, and dynamism. When you listen to Dangote you have to be inspired. Nigeria is fortunate to have industrialists that are committed to long term industrialization of the country. My wish is that we need more.

“We need to look beyond the rhetoric and actually implement what we are talking about because I believe that if we implement them, we get better result."

He said government had prioritized employment, local production, inclusive economy, emphasizing on those things that will create revenue.

"If we decide on a kind of policy, let us pursue it logically and get the benefit and these policies need to be dynamic.

Ultimately, we have to be competitive” because there is a journey to go from zero to hero," he said.

...Wigwe, Tinubu call for reforms in forex, oil sector

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EANWHILE, corroborating Dangote’s position on the need for policy articulation on economic diversification, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Oando Plc, Mr. Adewale Tinubu, emphasised the need for reforms in the foreign exchange market and in the financing of the oil industry.

Wigwe noted that there was need to adjust the current foreign exchange policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to encourage inflow of foreign exchange into the country. He

said currently, many businesses found it difficult to source foreign exchange, adding that this could lead to severe impact on the economy.

He said while the current situation presented opportunity for diversifying the economy, it would take some time before companies could begin to source raw materials locally.

He said: “I believe things can be done differently. There is need for policy articulation and proper communication to the private sector."

Wigwe, however, dismissed fears that the decline in crude oil price might lead to a banking crisis in Nigeria, saying: “We

are not seeing any crisis in the banking sector. The economy may be threatened but the Nigerian banking industry is healthy.

Tinubu, on his part, called for a second tier foreign exchange market for transactions like payment of school fees and medical bills. He said the current situation where businesses could not source dollars from the CBN at the current official price was discouraging to business and had created a wait and see attitude among investors.

He also called on the Federal Government to replace the joint venture method with the production sharing method to stimulate inflow of private investment into the oil sector.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—9

VISIT: From left, Globacom’s Head of Finance & Regulatory, Mr. Michael Toluhi; Head of Operations, Mr. Bisi Koleosho; Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr Adebayo Shittu, and Mr. Adewale Sangowawa, leader of Globacom delegation welcoming the minister to the company’s head office, in Lagos, yesterday.

Forex demand overshoots foreign reserves Banks fret over unmet LCs obligations As manufacturers want reduction in imports

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor & Emmanuel Elebeke

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AGOS — REPORTS from the banking system have indicated that over $30 billion worth of unmet demand for foreign exchange have been piled up at the official window of the foreign exchange market maintained by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in the last six months.

This came as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, challenged Federal Government to implement policies that would ensure a drastic reduction in the use of foreign raw materials, if the nation must achieve its manufacturing needs.

This $30 billion represents bids submitted by importers through their various banks to CBN for foreign exchange allocation for which naira equivalent has been provided and Letters of Credit, LCs, opened but the apex bank has not been able to meet the demand due to scarcity of the foreign exchange resources over the last one year.

The total demand, if met by the apex bank, would have wiped out Nigeria’s foreign reserves which stood at $27.1 billion as at last weekend.

At 2016 Manufacturers Outlook held last week in Lagos, bankers and manufacturers, who confirmed the development, told Vanguard that almost every bank in the country has a minimum of $1.0 billion demand for foreign exchange from their customers but lamented that the apex bank could not meet the demands consistently for over one year now, adding that in the last six months alone the total demand would be in the region of $30 billion.

The convener of the meeting, Dr.

Biodun Adedipe, had scarcely told the audience made up of mainly bankers that the foreign reserves had gone down dangeriuosly to a low level which could only fund 6.9 months import.

But the bankers quickly informed that his figures and calculations represented only the official allocation by CBN which leaves the balance of $27billion, adding that when the total demand representing total matured obligations including Letters of Credit (LCs) and cash backed demands for sundry uses are put in consideration there will be no money in reserves for any import at all not to talk of covering some months.

Constraints in LCs obligations

Most of the bankers lamented that the situation was becoming a major threat to the reputation

of the banks and Nigerian importers before their international partners, suppliers and lenders as they could not meet up with matured obligations to them.

In a chat with Vanguard, weekend, Managing Director of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Lanre Jaiyeola, said due to inability of the apex bank to meet its foreign exchange demands, companies in the sector had to scale down their production volume while still struggling to meet outstanding LC obligations.

Bankers now fears that the huge backlogs of unmet foreign exchange may lead to major defaults by Nigerian banks to their international financial communities.

Banks disagree over CBN allocation strategy

An official of the CBN had told Vanguard that the apex bank was equally worried about the huge unmet demand for foreign exchange but explained that there was little the apex bank could do in the circumstance.

He said the bulk of the demand was speculative and it was difficult to isolate the speculative demands from the real demands, hence the several controls being imposed including selective allocation of the scarce resources.

The banks were divided over CBN’s response to the situation with some of them expecting the apex bank to liberalize the supply while devaluing the currency to starve off demand pressure.

Others said any attempt to do so will push Nigeria into bankruptcy in a matter of weeks.

But almost all agreed that some of the demands were speculative as both the banks and the end users were doing what they call front-loading of demand, meaning that the end users would bid for forex they would need in the future rather than presently since they are not sure of availability when they would be needed.

Manufacturers want reduction in imports

Meanwhile, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has challenged the Federal Government to implement policies that would ensure a drastic reduction in the use of foreign raw materials, if the nation must achieve its manufacturing needs.

MAN president, Mr. Frank Jacobs, threw the challenge when he led a high powered delegation of the association on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja, weekend.

He regretted that Nigerian manufacturing sector utilized an average of 54 per cent of foreign raw materials in their production processes, a development he said must be stopped to save the local manufacturers and the economy from the negative impact.

For the country ’s manufacturing sector to take deep root into the economy, the MAN President said: “There is need for purposeful collaboration between the ministry and the various research institutions under its purview and MAN.”

NBC scam: Zinox denies receiving money from NBC

By Prince Osuagwu

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AGOS — ZINOX Te c h n o l o g i e s Limited, weekend, denied reports that the company was one of the companies that received part of the funds under investigation at the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC. Reports in the papers, including Vanguard newspaper of last Thursday had linked the company to the illegal lodgment of proceeds of the sale of broadband spectrum to telecommunication giants, MTN, by the NBC. However, in a swift reaction, company Secretary and Legal Adviser, Zinox Technologies Ltd., Chris Eze Ozims, said: “We wish to make it clear that till date, we are yet to receive a kobo from the NBC for duly approved contracts which we executed.

"We had participated in a bid process for the NBC licence for supply of SetTop boxes for the digital rollover and successfully pre-qualified and had paid N50 million to the NBC for the license.

Thereafter, we were invited to bid alongside other companies and we won and were awarded a contract to supply 150,000 units of the boxes.

"Till date, a single kobo has not been released to us for the supply of the items. The Federal Government of Nigeria, the NBC and even the EFCC are fully aware of this.”

Oil prices now $39, ahead budget benchmark of $38 As experts caution FG on oil price increase

By Sebastine Obasi

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AGOS— GLOBAL crude oil prices finally surpassed Nigeria’s budgetary benchmark, yesterday, trading above $39 per barrels.

This came as experts on the economy have cautioned the Federal Government to be frugal with the revenue accruing from the rise in oil price, so as to steer the country from the current economic downturn.

The price of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose to an

all-year high of $39.50 on yesterday, from $27.10 on January 20, the lowest for Brent in 2016.

The price of Nigeria’s crude has not been quoted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but sources say the price may surge to the budget benchmark region of $38.

Nigeria’s 2016 budget was benchmarked at $38 per barrel against major criticism across the nation, following December 2015 prices of about $34 per barrel.

Experts caution

Wilifred Iyiegbuniwe, professor of finance at the University of Lagos, said though the increase will have a positive impact because the inflow of foreign currency will improve, the benchmark should not be reviewed.

He said: “Any recovery of the oil proceeds should go to a special fund. The economic team and the Federal Government should determine what should be done with it.

“Such excess revenue

should be used to diversify the economy into such areas as agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing. However, the benchmark should not be reviewed.”

Also, Henry Boyo, an economist, said: “What happened every time the price was high above the benchmark? Was there greater employment? Was there relief in exchange rate? Was there improved productivity? We should think collectively as Nigerians, who are stakeholders in the polity.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Blind man, four others divert trailer load of 2,400 tyres

By Evelyn Usman

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HE Lagos State Police Command has arrested five members of a robbery gang that attacked a truck, diverted the goods and sold them at give-away prices.

Among the suspects was a 52-year-old blind man, who confessed to have provided a fake way bill to beat security operatives on the road.

The suspects, who were paraded alongside other robbery suspects arrested between February 19 and March 3 in the state, reportedly intercepted a container loaded with 2,400 new tyres at Kirikiri terminal last week.

Surprisingly, they confessed to have carried out the operation with the assistance of serving military personnel. One of the military personnel, whose name they simply gave as Peter, according to them, lives around Alakija.

The suspects, alongside their military counterparts, as gathered, operated in two vehicles: a pick-up van and an SUV with amber light. They reportedly intercepted the truck and ordered the truck conductor to come down, pretending to be security operatives.

Thereafter, two of them joined the truck driver whom they later dropped on the way, while they zoomed off towards the eastern part of the country.

Luck, however, ran out on them at Ogere, Ogun State, after one of them sold 20 tyres for N16,000, an action that aroused the suspicion of some Mobile policemen, who subsequently arrested them.

18 die in Bauchi road accident

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—EIGHTEEN people were, Sunday night, roasted to death when a commercial bus they were travelling in, Yankari Mass Transit, had an accident near Buzaye village along BauchiJos Expressway.

The accident occurred when a truck, with number plates XC -675-BAU, heading towards Jos, had a head-on

Come and identify relatives, Police urge public collision with the Yankari transport's Toyota Hiace bus, number plates BAU-148-XR. It was learned that the collision led to a fire outbreak that consumed the passengers in the fully-loaded 18-seater bus coming from Abuja.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna

PROTEST: Members of Campaign for Democracy and Women Arise for Change Initiative, demanding justice over the killing of Mrs Comfort Udom by bribe-seeking policeman in Lagos, yesteday. NAN PHOTO.

Police detain 14 goats in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—POLICE in Osun State, yesterday, intercepted a vehicle loaded with 14 goats in Ede, headquarters of Ede South Local Government Area, detained the goats, while the driver escaped.

A police source said a team of policemen patrolling Sekona/ Nigerian Army Regiment

Construction Company Highway saw a speeding red Mitsubishi car, with number plates XF 467 NND at Sekona junction around 1a.m. They ordered him to stop. The driver refused.

It was gathered that the police team, led by one Inspector Ajayi Sunday, chased the driver from Sekona junction to Cemetery Area in Edun-Abon, where the driver parked the vehicle and

escaped before the police arrived. The vehicle and the goats were taken to the station.

Confirming the arrest of the goats, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folasade Odoro, said the goats had been detained.

She said the goats would remain in the police custody until the owner(s) showed up, adding that investigation had begun.

Pastor rapes 23-yr-old girl in Ebonyi I've spent so much on her, yet...—SUSPECT

By Peter Okutu

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BAKALIKI—A 29-year-old Pastor, David Ibe, of Christ Command Mission, Onicha Igboeze in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was, weekend, alleged to

have raped one Nnennaya Okute, 23, in an uncompleted building in the area.

The victim hails from Amaokwe community, the same local government with the suspect, who is currently at the headquarters of the state Police

Man allegedly kidnaps policeman

By Onozure Dania

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The suspects

Mohammed, said a police patrol team attached to GRA Division, Bauchi, and men of fire service from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, rushed to the scene of the crash, put out the fire and rushed the victims to ATBU Teaching Hospital Bauchi for medical attention.

He said: “Eighteen victims

AGOS—A 32-year-old man, Chidi Igwe, who allegedly kidnapped a police officer and detained him in his car for hours was, yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting at Igbosere.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant unlawfully

captured and detained one Sergeant Babashola Afolayan inside his car, number plates EKY 282 BK, and drove to Alagbon Close without the officer’s consent.

Magistrate A. G. Omoyele granted him N20,000 bail with one surety, who must be gainfully-employed and tax compliant, in like sum, and adjourned the case till April 5.

Command in Abakaliki.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP George Okafor, stated that the suspect lured his victim into an uncompleted building at Oruagha Umuobunna Uburu, where he raped her at about 9:30p.m.

According to the PPRO, “he is an impostor. He is among those who claim to be pastors, but dent the image of God. “They are the horrible type that pretends to be human beings and you will never know that you are actually dinning with the devil.”

Okafor said during interrogation the suspect confessed to the crime, claiming that the girl refused to marry him after he had invested so much money on her.

were certified dead and burnt beyond recognition and the corpses deposited at the mortuary for post-mortem examinations.

“Two of the dead were identified as Alhaji Adamu Maijama’a, 45, of Jahum, the bus driver, and Yahaya Umar, 41, a passenger, of Unguwan Dawaki, Bauchi.”

The PPRO, who said that the case was under investigation and efforts were ongoing to ascertain the cause of the accident, called on members of the public, whose relatives travelled from Abuja to Bauchi, to go to the motor parks in Abuja and check the passengers’ manifest or report at the ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for corpse identification.

Kano lawmaker's step-mum kidnapped

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

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ANO—UNKNOWN gunmen have kidnapped the aged stepmother of a member of Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, demanding N50 million ransom.

Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kano yesterday, said that the hoodlums abducted the woman on Sunday in Ririwai town, near the notorious Falgore Forest.

The Doguwa constituency representative said: “My step-mother, Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar, was in her room when they invaded the house and they had since opened communication with the family requested for N50 million ransom.”

Confirming the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Muhammad Katsina, said that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

He said: “We have arrested four persons in connection with the issue and they are helping our investigation.

Their intention was to kidnap the member.”

He said that the command’s anti-kidnapping squad was already combing the Falgore forest to rescue the elderly woman, adding that the kidnappers were Fulani men engaged in cattle rustling.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—11

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Man hacked, burnt as thugs clash in Rivers  APC, PDP trade words over murder of three in Omoku Banks shut in Omoku as gunmen kidnap UBA staff ....Saraki calls for probe

By Jimitota Onoyume, Gbenga Oke & Davies Iheamnachor

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HE orgy of killings continued in Rivers State, yesterday, with a middle-aged man, hacked and burnt in Buguma Town, in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state by suspected political thugs.

Meanwhile, police in the state, yesterday, said investigation was continuing in the murder of the Ward 4 Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Omoku, late Mr Frankline Obi, his wife and son on Saturday night by gunmen.

Also, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has called on security agencies to unravel the masterminds of the dastardly killing of Franklin Obi and members of his immediate family.

Saraki described the avoidable bloodletting as callous and called on security agencies to ensure adequate protection of lives and property across the country.

Also, a staff of a first generation bank, Mrs Olowu, has been allegedly kidnapped in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema / Ndoni Local Government Area, of the state.

A community source who hinted Vanguard of the development said that the victim was taken hostage Sunday night, adding that the incident forced banks to shut their doors, yesterday against customers in protest.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed the incident, adding that the Police was only informed 24 hours later.

Similarly, the mother of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr Sobomabo Jackrich aka Egberipapa has been kidnapped. She was reportedly abducted on her way from church service on Sunday.

When contacted, yesterday, for an update on Saturday's killings in Omoku, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmad Muhammad, said that investigation was ongoing, adding that the Police will come out with its findings at the appropriate time.

Buguma killing

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Buguma victim, identified as Ofinjite Amachree, was killed by hoodlums, before setting him ablaze.

The development led to a violent clash between supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the APC in the area.

State PPRO, Mr Muhammad, when contacted confirmed that there was a breach of the peace in Buguma yesterday.

He added that normalcy had returned to the area due to the swift response of security operatives who forestalled further C M Y K

breakdown of law and order.

At press time, the actual cause of the clash was still unknown, but a source in the community who spoke to Vanguard from hiding, disclosed that the middle-aged man, popularly called Kpom Kpom, whom he alleged was a member of the APC, was tortured half dead at the community sand-field area close to Buguma Hospital.

The source said that the victim was later brought out close to the road and set ablaze. The source said it was this development that triggered the clash as friends of the victim tried to revenge the killing.

The source who pleaded anonymity said: “We don’t really know what caused the fight but what we know is that it was a clash between APC and PDP thugs.

“There were series of gun shots so we had to take cover in our houses. One guy popularly known as Kpom-Kpom, who I think is an APC member, was killed and burnt. As I speak with you, there is tension in Bama.”

Also, the governorship

candidate of APC in the 2015 elections in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has condemned what he termed the gruesome and callous murder of Ofinijite Amachree, an APC stalwart in Buguma.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Peterside described the on-going killings in the state as frightening and unprecedented.

Omoku killings

On the Omoku killings, the APC spokesman in the state, Mr Chris Finebone, accused the PDP of being behind the murders, saying that it was part of a ploy by the party to intimidate the APC ahead of the re-run elections.

But deputy spokesman of the PDP in the state, Mr Sam Wonosike, called on the Police to look at the direction of the APC. Wonosike said it was part of an alleged plot to rope in PDP members in the state with trumped up charges so they could be arrested ahead of the March 19 re-run elections.

He recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike had raised an alarm over an alleged plot to arrest members of the PDP and his political appointees over trumped up charges, saying that the killing could be part of the alleged plot the governor spoke about.

Meanwhile, Senator Magnus Abe, the senatorial candidate of the APC for Rivers South-East, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of maintaining a private army of hoodlums ahead of the March 17 National Assembly elections.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcout, he said: “There are two armies in Rivers State as we speak.

There is the Nigerian Army that is under the command of President Muhammadu Buhari and there is also an army of gangsters and criminals that is commanded by Wike. So, this noise you are hearing is a blackmail against the Nigerian Army. It is designed to blackmail the Army into withdrawing from the March 19 elections so that their own army can operate the way they operated the last time. There is nothing else the army has done to deserve the blackmail that is going on.”

Sheriff’s tenure to end May 21 —PDP NEC

By Ben Agande

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HE National Executive Committee, NEC, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, resolved to bring the term of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led executive of the party to an end on May 21.

The party’s NEC, at the end of its 69th regular meeting also took umbrage at what it described as the large-scale human rights abuses in the country and resolved to stand with all those the party claimed were being oppressed.

The party in furtherance of that goal called for the immediate release of the four PDP members of Ekiti State House of Assembly who the party alleged are unjustly being held by security agencies of the Federal Government.

The party's assertions came as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, vowed that the party would mobilise all its resources to ensure that it stops the country from drifting towards totalitarianism.

Ekweremadu, in his welcome remarks at the NEC meeting, yesterday, also lauded the party on its string of successes in recent re-run elections.

A-Ibom youths task Gov Emmanuel on industrialization

A VISIT: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo (right) and His Royal Majesty, King Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple, Perekule XI of Grand Bonny, during a courtesy visit to the monarch's palace in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

Customer drags Access Bank to court over alleged breach of contract

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—A customer of Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Patricia Odiase, has instituted an action against the bank demanding the payment of N20 million as special and general damages she suffered due to the loss of her business as a result of a breach of contract by the bank.

Also joined in the suit as a defendant is one Mrs. Uvieme Oserogho.

In the suit before an Edo State High Court, the claimant,

through her counsel, Mr. P. Eromosele, is praying the court to declare that the unauthorized withdrawal of the sum of N60, 000 from her account No. 017100100000190 without her consent was illegal and fraudulent.

The case is before Justice Esther Edigin.

The claimant is contending further that the payment of the sum of N6,000 demanded by the bank before her statement of account could be given to her, which in fact was not given to her despite the said payment,

was illegal and amounted to fraud.

The claimant wants the court to order that the sum of N300,000 which was not reflected in her account, amounted to fraud, adding that the demand by the bank of the sum of N1,4712,611.91 on August 31, 2010 was irregular and suspicious having regard to the defendant’s negligent way of running her account.

When the case came up for hearing, Justice Edigin adjourned till March 16, 2016 to enable counsel to the claimant file his amendment to his brief before the court.

KWA Ibom State youths in Lagos, under the aegis of Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim and Obot Akara Youths Vanguard, IKOVAN, have urged the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to explore available economic and social opportunities in making industrialization the main thrust of his administration.

IKOVAN President, Prince Cletus Usseh, who spoke in Lagos, thanked the governor for his efforts so far in reviving the moribund industries in the state, empowerment of some youths and more plans to make life better for the people.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—13

Ese Oruru: Police Special Prosecutor arrives Bayelsa for Yunusa’s arraignment

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—YUNUSA Dahiru, alias Yellow, who allegedly abducted 14-year-old Ese Oruru, and took her to Kano where she was forcibly converted to Islam and married without the consent of her parents, is to be arraigned in court this week.

It was gathered that a special prosecutor from the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, had arrived Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, ahead of preparations for the arraignment of the suspect.

The special prosecutor, who arrived Bayelsa on Saturday, is reported to have met with the suspect and the victim to obtain their statements.

Ese Oruru statement, it was gathered, was obtained in the presence of the police and her parents while that of Yunusa was taken in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department with the help of an officer of Hausa extraction.

Also expected to work with the special prosecutor from the Force Headquarters is the Bayelsa State government legal team led by the Solicitor-General of the state and the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, who is a senior member of International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA. While some members of the civil society groups said that the arraignment of Yinusa Dahiru would be done within the week,

others said the proper documentation needed for criminal prosecution of the suspect had been prepared.

It was also gathered that the Legal Department of the Bayelsa Police Command had contacted the State Office of the Legal Aid Council to provide legal services and an interpreter for the suspect.

“He may be arraigned in court this week. But I suspect it may be today,” said a source, who pleaded

anonymity.

Though the spokesman of the state police command could not be reached for comment, sources told Vanguard that the planned arraignment of the suspect might be conducted in secret to protect the victim, who is a minor.

Ese Oruru still under police protection

Meanwhile, the 14-year- old Ese is still under protection at

the police officers mess, where she is sheltered in one of the guest rooms upstairs.

Only her parents, the prosecution team, representatives of the NGOs handling her case and medical personnel have access to her.

According to security sources, the measure was to save her from the spotlight being a minor so as not to jeopardize her rehabilitation process.

VISIT: The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli (middle); Chairman, Warri North Local Government Area, Mr. Francis Maku (left); the TLG, Warri North LGA, Mr Monday Agbeyi and the Secretary to the Local Government Council, Mr Emmanuel Ikolo, during a courtesy visit by Warri North LGA leaders to the Olu.

Melaye’s comment on Oshiomhole’s wife, abuse of parliamentary privileges —APC chieftain

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—A former member of the National Assembly in the Second Republic and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr. Sunny Uyigue, has described the statement credited to Senator Dino Melaye on the floor of the Senate on Governor Adams Oshiomhole’ s marriage to a foreign wife as unfortunate and an abuse of parliamentary privileges.

He demanded for an unreserved apology from Senator Melaye for insulting the governor and Edo people.

Uyigue, who spoke to Vanguard in Benin while reacting to the comment, said that Melaye should have first and foremost purged himself of sitting with Senator Sani Yerima from Zamfara State in the Senate who had married a 14year-old Egyptian in a controversial manner before taking on Oshiomhole.

He said: “His conduct is very unparliamentarily, inhuman and uncivilized. Even during the

primitive age, people did not make such comments not to talk of this 21st century. If such a comment came from a tout in the motor park, it would be an affirmation that touts should not represent us in the National Assembly.

“This shows that we have so many misfits and unqualified persons in the National Assembly and I am calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to first, before anybody is cleared to contest election into

the National Assembly, such a person should be sent to the hospital and be examined by psychiatric experts.

“This is because no sane person would dabble into the private affairs of an individual because everybody has his or her private life to live."

Edo PDP ward congress: Esemuede lays curse on traducers

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and chieftain of the party in Edo State, Chief Samson Esemuede, yesterday, placed a curse on all those who allegedly attacked him and some leaders of the party, including former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, at a stakeholders meeting of the party last week.

Other top leaders of the party who were attacked included Chief Clement Edo-Osagie, a former member of the

constitutional conference and former deputy chairman of PDP in the state, former House of Representatives member, Ifaluyi Isibor, and former Publicity Secretary of the party, Osaze Jesurobo.

The incident occurred when the South-South Vice Chairman of the party, Mr. Cairo Ojougboh, called a stakeholders meeting to herald last Saturday's ward congress of the party in the state.

Senator Owie, who entered the venue of the meeting, after loyalists of one of the

governorship aspirants, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, resisted the thugs, accused one of the top party governorship aspirants of masterminding the attack on him and others at the meeting.

However, the governorship aspirant told the former Owie that he had no hand in their travail.

Esemuede and Jesurob who spoke to Vanguard, described the incident as shocking, saying that those who plotted the attack on the elderly leaders of the party will never grow old.

N-Delta ex-militants not behind Lagos robberies, abductions — Amnesty Office

By Soni Daniel

N

IGER Delta exmilitants are not behind recent robberies and other forms of criminal acts in Lagos, the Presidential Amnesty Office said yesterday.

The PAO position followed media reports that the former militants were behind recent abductions, armed robberies and oil theft.

The Amnesty Office said that it was wrong to associate the ex-militants, who were actively being trained and reintegrated, with criminal activities since they were too busy to be distracted.

In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Coordinator of the PAO, Mr. Ebitimi George, the office explained that all efforts had been made to ensure that the over 30,000 ex-militants captured under the amnesty package were gainfully engaged to prevent them from engaging in criminality.

Bayelsa re-run poll: My re-election is divine —Ex-Speaker

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

E N A G O A — FORMER Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, has said that his re-election into the state House of Assembly for the fourth term to represent Southern Ijaw Constituency IV was divine.

Benson, who spoke on his victory, said that the nullification of his earlier election was regrettable and that the victory in last Saturday ’s re-run was a confirmation of his acceptance by the people.

He vacated his position following the nullification of his election by the Court of Appeal as challenged by Mr. Ebifighe Orunimighe of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He thanked the people of his constituency for their mandate with a promise to continue to give them effective representation.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8 , 2016

SYMPATHISERS CONDOLE WITH THE FAMILY OF LATE MINISTER JAMES OCHOLI IN ABUJA.

Minister for Works Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola (2nd right) and Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed condoling with Late Minister of State James Ocholi's son, Aaron (2nd left) and daughter, Ale. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida.

ABOVE AND BELOW: Groups of sympathisers.

(LEFT) From left; Fashola; former Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada and his successor, Governor Yahaya Bello.

Governor Yahaya Bello, with Aaron Ocholi.

AFRICAN MAGIC NOLLYWOOD AWARD BY MULTICHOICE IN LAGOS.

Multichoice MD, John Ugbe and Rita Dominic.

From left: Adesuwa Etomi, Daniel K Daniel, Stephanie Linus, M-NET Managing Director, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, an M-net official and Kemi Lala Akindoju at the event.

Nollywood Actor, Bob Manuel and wife.

C M Y K

Ramson Nouah.

Veteran actress, Bukky Ajayi displaying her award.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—15

BIAFRA: Court declines to quash charges against Kanu, others •Allows FG to shield identity of witnesses •As DSS alleges plot to abduct defenders

As Senate summons him to appear March 10

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, declined to quash the six-count treason charge the federal government entered against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

In a ruling yesterday, trial Justice John Tsoho equally permitted the prosecution to shield the identity of eight witnesses that are scheduled to testify against Kanu and two other pro-Biafra supporters, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

The court refused to discharge and acquit the trio as it was prayed to do by the defence lawyer, Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN.

Plot to invade court

The ruling came on a day the Department of State Service, DSS, told the court that it “uncovered plot by some proBiafra agitators to invade the court and forcefully free the defendants."

The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, told trial Justice Tsoho that the DSS has already commenced investigation on the planned invasion.

Even though the allegation forced the court to stand-down the matter for three hours, Justice Tsoho subsequently waved it off, even as he resumed sitting on the case around 12pm yesterday.

The DPP had tendered a paper that was signed by the DSS, alleging subterranean plot to free the defendants.

The court upheld objection that was raised by the defence lawyer, noting that the allegation could not be traced to the DSS since it was contained in a piece of paper without the letter head of the security agency.

Meanwhile, following the inability of the Federal Government to produce any of the witnesses in court yesterday as it was earlier directed, Chief Muoma, SAN, applied for his clients to be discharged and acquitted of the charge against them.

He predicated the application on the provision of section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.“The DPP had informed the court that the witnesses said they would not appear to testify against the defendants unless they are allowed to wear masks or their identities shielded from C M Y K

Why FG accepted N50bn down payment from MTN —AGF

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (3rd left); Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, Deputy governor (5th left), Chief Judge of Abia state, Justice Theresa Uzokwe; President, Abia State Customary Court, Justice Anyalewechi Onwuchekwa and the four newly sworn in judges as the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (with mic), presents cars to the new judges in Umuahia.

both lawyers and people observing the proceeding.

"My lord this is because they are already receiving threats from associates of the defendants that they will be dealt with. The witnesses said they love their lives and requested that their identities be shielded from people who are coming to witness the proceeding," Diri said.

He said DSS operatives also billed to testify in the matter, made similar request on the basis that they are investigating terrorism cases and would not want their identities exposed.

Justice Tsoho had on February 19, refused an application by the Federal Government which sought leave to mask the witnesses.“The application was vehemently opposed by counsel to the defendants who urged the court not to allow "masquerades" to testify before it."

Witnesses to testify behind a screen

Meantime, owing to the fresh application by the Federal Government, trial Justice Tsoho, yesterday, permitted the

witnesses to testify behind a screen.

The judge maintained that the decision did not amount to a variation of the previous ruling that prohibited the witnesses from appearing in mask.

Stressing that section 351(1) of the ACJA, 2015, was not applicable to the case, Justice Tsoho said there would be a prior demonstration of the screen before the commencement of the trial on Wednesday.

Procedure 'very strange'

However, Muoma, SAN, who described the procedure as "very strange", said he would appeal against it.

"I will say that the defendants are not comfortable with this kind of arrangement, it is novel to me. I have never witnessed such procedure in my 45 years of practice", Muoma, SAN, submitted.

He contended that the court, having earlier rejected FG's application to shield identities of the witnesses, had become functus-officio on the matter, saying only the appellate court could vary the order.

It was his argument that FG ought to have appealed against that ruling instead of reapproaching the same court with a similar application.

Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.The Federal Government alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as "an unlawful society.

Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts" encouraging the secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison in Abuja.

ALLEGED ATTACK ON APC CHIEFTAIN:

DSS to appear before it

A

By Vincent Ujumadu

WKA—AN Anambra State High Court presided over by Justice R.O Onunkwo yesterday ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, to appear before it on March 10 without fail to defend itself over alleged attack on Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwokoye, the former Anambra State campaign coordinator of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nwokoye and his wife, Jessica, were in April last year, allegedly brutalized by the men of DSS in his hotel in Awka, a development that affected Nwokoye’s sight.

He was beaten to stupor following his alleged refusal to release information about 22 expatriate medical doctors invited by Anambra State government for free medical mission in the state who were, at the time of the incident, accommodated in his hotel.

Court orders

He later dragged the security operatives to court for infringing on his fundamental rights.

He said: “I was handcuffed with my wife like common criminals. I have never seen such a thing in my life. The retina of my eyes has been damaged and I was humiliated for no offence committed."

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, counsel to the DSS, Mr. S.T Oneh sought the leave of court to discontinue with the matter.

BUJA— THE Federal Government, yesterday, cleared the air on why it accepted N50 billion down payment of the N780 billion fine the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, slammed on MTN. The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, told our correspondent that the money was accepted from MTN as a demonstration of good faith and willingness to enter into discussion with the government on the payment of the fine imposed on the firm.

The minister, who confirmed that the telecoms company had withdrawn the case it instituted against the Federal Government, further affirmed that the two sides were ready for dialogue.

Malami said that unknown to many, the government had insisted that the company paid a reasonable part of the fine before it could open discussion with it.

“It was after we had confirmed that the company had deposited the N50 billion in a Federal Government recovery account that we granted them audience over the matter. I can also confirm that the case the company instituted against us has been withdrawn.

“The meaning of what has been done is that we have agreed to grant them audience. The matter is being considered and whatever is to be done will be made known to Nigerians and will be done in the overall interest of the country and nothing more,” Malami said.

The minister spoke just as the Senate summoned him to explain the decision to allow MTN to pay what it considered ‘a paltry sum’ of the huge fine slammed on it into a Federal Government recovery account, thereby sidelining the NCC. But Malami made it clear that there was no underhand deal in relation to the ongoing discussion between the Federal Government and MTN. The minister said whatever was to be done would be guided by public policy and public interest.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8 , 2016—17

CJN backs Frivolous Petition Bill •As Minister of Justice, stakeholders reject bill at Senate public hearing

A

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

BUJA—CHIEF Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, threw his weight behind the proposed frivolous petition bill 2015, saying when finally passed into law, it would help protect everyone in the country.

The CJN, who urged all Nigerians to support the bill, said it was not designed to gag the media or infringe on the rights and privileges of Nigerians, adding that the bill would bring the constitutional provision of freedom of opinion within bounds and not at large.

Speaking yesterday at a oneday public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on Frivolous Petitions Bill, 2015, the Chief Justice of Nigeria noted that the reason behind the proposed bill was very laudable and auspicious.

He said: “This is because by the very use of the word frivolous, it connotes unseriousness, ill-motivation and suggestive of bad faith which is not within the contemplation of the constitutional provision of freedom of expression.

“The measure to curb the excesses is, however, not meant to serve the purpose of denial of access to information, nor is it meant to do away with checks on the executive, legislative and judicial recklessness as well as accountability of stewardship in all facets of public office.

“The aim of the bill should be for the purpose of ensuring that whatever information is disseminated to the public, must come from a legitimate, genuine and a known source which is identifiable and meant to safeguard the best interest of the general public for purpose of good administration and governance. ‘’In other words, it is to check against information given in bad faith, with the intention to serve ulterior motives. I wish to add quickly that the most difficult war to fight is where it is waged against a faceless opponent.”

Represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, Justice Mohammed said the bill when passed, would saveguard the rights and privileges provided under the constitution against all forms of frivolous abuse for whatever reason and from wherever direction whatsoever.

He said: “For purpose of ensuring that only genuine and profitable complaints/petitions are lodged against individuals, corporate entities and the

Why S-Africa's Zuma is visiting —Minister

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

PDP NEC MEETING: From right: Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo, shortly after 69th PDP NEC meeting held in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. government. It will serve the purpose of verifying the origin, and authenticity of the complaint and the complainant; serve to bring out the merits or demerits of the petition; serve to reveal the relationship of the parties and also the duration of association. ‘’It spells out the benefit and what interest are to derive from the petition. It serves as a caveat/ notice to the 3rd party users of information.”

The CJN, who noted that frivolous petitions had been the order of the day across board in all tiers of government, said although freedom of speech and, freedom of expression all exist within its ambit of the constitution as laudable as it might seem, stressed, however, that there must be limits to adhere to them, especially with the exuberant, frivolous and unguarded write-ups in the print media, social media platform, such as Facebook and Twitter.

According to him, the right to freedom in Nigeria has been

overlooked, while many established democracies across the world have enacted freedom of information regime.

“Before now, Nigerians regarded freedom of information as a luxury which was only practicable in the Western world.

Citizens must rely on confirmed reports. In a country where freedom of information act is in operation, anyone can make a request for information.” he said.

It will be recalled that since the bill was presented before the Senate by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South, the bill has attracted a lot of opposition and angst from Nigerians.

Stakeholders reject bill

Besides the CJN who backed the controversial bill, stakeholders at the public hearing, including legal practitioners in private and public practice, media practitioners, civil society groups and the academia, were unanimous in rejecting the bill, describing it as an act to

frustrate the current anticorruption war in the country.

In his presentation, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who disagreed with the Chief Justice of Nigeria by rejecting the bill, said the bill was not qualified to be used in a democratically justified society, explaining that “Section 39 of Nigerian Constitution and section 157 of Nigeria Communication Act which is closer to the bill is the one regulating the telephone, sound among others. ‘’So those issues sort to be checked by this bill have been taken care of,’’ the AGF said.

Represented by Assistant Director Legal Drafting Department, Ministry of Justice, Patrick Etta Oyong, the minister noted that what the bill sought to prohibit was being regulated by the law of defamation in 375 section of the Criminal Code.

Hen said: “If as the law stands, if the penalty in the criminal code there are passed then there may be need for an amendment rather than pass the bill.”

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: Court remands

ex-CDS, Badeh, in prison

A

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA — A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded in prison custody former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was accused of diverting over N3.9 billion from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

Justice Okon Abang remanded the ex-CDS at Kuje prison, Abuja, after he pleaded

not guilty to an 11-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The court said Badeh should remain in prison till Thursday when his bail application will be heard, even as it slated March 14 to commence full-blown hearing on the matter.

The former military chief was in the charge, marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/46/2016, alleged to have used the looted funds to

purchase choice property within the highbrow areas in Abuja.

The commission equally cited a firm, Iyalikam Nigerian Limited, as the second defendant in the charge bordering on money laundering, corruption and criminal breach of trust.

The charge, dated February 26, was signed by the Deputy Director of Legal & Prosecution Department at the EFCC, Mr. Aliyu M. Yusuf.

BUJA—AS South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, visits Nigeria today, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema, has said the visit was not meant to resolve any outstanding diplomatic row between the two countries.

Instead, the minister stated that it was meant to boost the economic ties between both countries.

He stated that there had been a long standing relationship between South Africa and Nigeria, stressing that the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari and Zuma was expected to give birth to deliberate continental policies that would move Africa forward.

Onyema spoke with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “There is really no fence to be mended. The relationship with South Africa is very good one. Nigeria was considered one of the front line states in the the battle against apartheid, though we were not geographically located in that part of Africa, but just to show our commitment. So many South Africans were educated in Nigeria.

“Our past Presidents have been at the forefronts for the liberation of South Africa and this has continued. Now as we all know, even from our own history, here in Nigeria, when a country is doing well economically, what tends to happen is that people from other countries which is not doing as well economically would gravitate to them. We see that happening all over the world. People go to where they see the best economic well being.

“The meeting between the two Presidents is very timely.

Nigeria and South Africa are the pillars of this continent and moving forward, the two countries have to work together. The two Presidents have to be close, and so this meeting is going to help to increase the trade between the two countries and they are both facing challenges and so it is absolutely important that President Zuma is coming with a large entourage of business people and so we are going to be looking at areas of cooperation in the trade sector."

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 THE saddening story of 14-yearold Miss Ese Oruru who has just been returned to her family after being abducted for nearly seven months is another sickening reflection of the society we live in.

Ese was taken away by one Yunusa Dahiru from her home in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to Kano in August 2015 while she was still 13 years old and without the knowledge of her parents. While in Kano she was forced into marriage, converted to Islam and her name changed to Aisha. Dahiru had claimed to traditional leaders in Kano that Ese willingly followed him to Kano.

For months, efforts by the young girl’s parents to get their child back from Yunusa and the Kano Hisbah Commission proved abortive. Even after the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had asked the Police to return her to her parents, no action was taken until media attention was drawn to

Justice for Ese Oruru it.

In an immorally escapist assertion, the police in Bayelsa to the chagrin of many Nigerians initially claimed that the case was more of elopement than abduction.

This sordid Ese saga is another demonstration of the gross failure of the government to uphold its responsibility to its citizens which appears to have become the norm these days.

The Police statement that this was “more of elopement” ignored the fact that Ese is still a minor under

the law, and the Police had a duty to immediately swing into action to retrieve her, return her to her parents and bring Yunusa and all who conspired to hold her captive to book.

Rather than doing so, the Nigerian Police seemed afraid to act, thus giving the impression that some individuals and organisations are above the law.

We deplore the violation of the civil rights of Ese and her family by the Hisbah Commission in Kano and hold them accountable for the psychological and health

consequences of their conspiracy to detain Ese, who is now confirmed to be heavily pregnant.

Everyone found culpable in this matter must face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Ese has been returned to her parents, but her psyche and status as an innocent young girl may have been altered for life.

It is lamentable that this riveting story of Ese is not unique. All around Nigeria innocent children, especially girls, are being snatched by criminals.

We c a l l o n t h e a g e n c i e s o f government, especially the Police, to wake up and act with dispatch in protecting the citizenry from hoodlums.

The Police must make good its pledge to discipline its errant officers and prosecute Yunusa and his cohorts without fear or favour.

That is the least justice for Ese Oruru.

OPINION Are

Nigeria’s

By Aduroja David

T

HIS is a heart breaking question that all Nigeria's parents, guardians and teachers need to brain storm upon decently and thoroughly.

A successful nation without a well intellectually, morally, socially and psychologically oriented children as future leaders, is nothing but a ruling King without a crown prince or a successor.

Historically, since two decades ago, history has significantly indicated the low level of Nigeria's children academic performances in comparison with other countries future leaders academic performances. The most disastrous aspect of it was the previous West Africa Examination Academic result (W.A.E.C) between year 2014/2015 where almost all the students that sat for the examination had poor academic results.

Yes, of course!!! "Distinctive academic lifestyle leads to succeeding and prominent academic limelight".

Nigeria's children have got to the point where they must begin to cultivate good reading skills in order to meet up with the academic tasks and

children

productive

competitions ahead of them. Candid speaking, I strongly believe that all great readers can become great leaders only if they can successfully practice the positive ideas, techniques and distinctive skills they acquired while reading. Just as the common saying of the wise men "Charity Begins At Home". Parents and guardians at home are the care takers and managers of the children bestowed to them by God. Therefore, parents and guardians need to encourage their children to start reading at early stage in other to catch them young academically and imbibe the habit of reading.

Parents and guardians should educate their children concerning the concrete positive purpose of reading just the way they have great positive reasons for doing their assignments brought from school at the right time

bookworms?

The parents and guardians should provide mini library or a book shelf within the home for the children.

Parents and guardians should educate their children concerning the concrete positive purpose of reading just the way they have great positive reasons for doing their assignments brought from school at the right time.

Substantially, the parents and guardians must make children understand and believe in the academic quote of the late African legend "Nelson Mandela- " Education is the most powerful weapon which can be utilised to change the world positively". Therefore, positive changes in this world can't be easily done without becoming a learned individual. That is, acquisition of wisdom, knowledge and distinctive skills through effective reading is paramount.

Sincerely speaking, if parents and guardians keep encouraging their children to be more devoted with their studies, the children will be progressive and excellent ambassadors of their families, schools and nation. The children should always make proper preparation by reading effectively before they

commence their tests and examinations because proper preparation prevent poor performance in every area of life.

Children shouldn't wait for teacher's instructions before reading books for examination. Examination period is meant for revising their books and assessing their intellectual quotient (IQ). The period the children use to play games on phones and laptops downloading unjustifiable things should be judiciously utilise to study at adequate proportion.

Additionally, the teachers in schools should upgrade their teaching skills in more advanced platform that will develop the children effectively.

Group reading should be encouraged among the children in the class. While doing this, teachers should have close monitor on the children.

Conclusively, teachers should also create competition like spellings drills,quiz and debate that will enhance the readiness of reading among the students on daily bases.

While doing this, Nigeria's children will not only become distinctive bookworms but also become excellent and succeeding ambassadors of Nigeria. *Mr. David, wrote adurojaolamond@yahoo.com

from

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016— —19

A must experience for public officer holders

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

DO not know how many of our senior government officials who take their time to go by road transportation in this country. If they do and are allowed to face the experience it will be of tremendous benefit to this nation. I mean truly travelling round this country once in a while by road, without the over bearing presence of the paraphernalia of offices, including sirens and escorts.

As they say “seeing is believing” and “experience is the best teacher”.

It is highly recommended that they do this, if not they will continue to sit down in Abuja and talk theories whilst the main challenges confronting this nation remain unresolved. It is very clear that many public officer holders are very far removed from the realities of the average Nigerian. For instance, they do not have to depend on public power supply, they do not patronise our various government hospitals - at slightest notice they go abroad for medication - they do not have to depend on public water supply, everyone of them have bore holes installed in their various houses, and all of these

at government expense. Little wonder our economy is so challenged? They take the led in the craze for foreign goods; from cars, clothes, jewelry, to consumables, etc. If our senior officials do not experience what the ordinary folks go through, how can they to proffer solutions to the multiple problems confronting the nation? Why for example do we have to wait for small pot holes to become a crater or gully before attention is given to them? What happens to the money budgeted annually for the routine maintenance of our roads? Who ensures that such maintenance work is carried out? What are the functions of the zonal or regional FERMA engineers? Do we schedule road check functions to certain officials? If yes, who are these officials?

How is the maintenance done?

What role does the public works departments play on our roads? These questions are very relevant because the state our roads at all levels, speak to the type of maintenance engineersor whatever title they bear, we have. Why is it that Nigerians do not have value for what belong to Nigeria? I give a few examples here; at the Warri end of the Benin Warri dual carriage express way, the road is about dividing into two, in

RIGHT OF REPLY:

By Michael Omorege

I

HAVE no doubt that the people of Edo state, will reward the philanthropy of their noble son, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon with victory in his contest for the governor of Edo state in this year.

Edo people are enlightened, rational and their political behaviour has a clear index of a people that are appreciative of good gesture.This is validated by the outcome of previous elections in Edo state where the electorate voted for verifiable positive antecedents,as against sentiments,bogus claims and other parochial considerations.The expected victory of Ken Imansuangbon in Edo state APC governorship primaries and the general election in 2016 is anchored on this background.

It is only an evil mind that will grudge generosity. These evil minds that are unhappy with the kindness of man to humanity are found in all soce ities.

Blessedly for the human race, God, was perfect in ensuring that these evil minds are always in insignificant minority in all societies.

In the Vanguard of Wednesday, 24th February, 2016, page 18, an article,titled:Edo Politics and the Perennial pretenders, Nosakhare Osahon,the author of the article expressed his grudge for the distribution of rice by Ken Imansuangbon to the people of Edo state.

The philosophy of government is ultimately connected to generous and compassionate minds. At a time in human evolvement,there was no government.It was a life of everyone to his or her self without a consideration for the feelings or survival of the other person.It was the survival of the fittest.The famous Thomas Hobbes 'State of Nature' was a philisophy that explains the evil of insolated individual self interest.The spirit to give or to extend a C M Y K

fact, some motorists have started driving against traffic, which is very dangerous for such a busy road. Not quite a year ago, it was a few pot holes that could have been fixed for less than ten thousand naira, even with concrete/asphalt works, but now the repair will cost a couple of hundred millions naira and by the time the rains come, it will be go into the multi billion naira range.

That is the type they love to execute in Nigeria. Even when

Our senior government officials must begin to set the right examples by ensuring that they travel the Nigerian road routes, patronise our public utilities power and water- and visit our public health centres regularly

public spirited persons volunteer to fix these roads very early stages, they are discouraged from doing so by officials of government, unless they get special permissions that are not shun of inducements.

I want to suggest that any road supervising engineer who allows the road under his/her jurisdiction to get to such deteriorating levels before taking necessary action must be sanctioned for negligence. It must be someone’s responsibility not to allow things to get out of hand before taking action. It is clear negligence to allow a grade A expressway to deteriorate to that level. If you are going towards Bbadagry from Lagos end, the same scenario is playing out, little potholes graduating to craters at the centre of an international expressway, no one is concerned. Soon, government would have a trying time trying to raise the multi billion naira funds required to fix this international road that has become an embarrassment not only to us but also to our international neighbours. The same thing is happening to the Ondo and Ogun states stretch of the Ore -Shagamu expressway. There are so many of such roads that littered the

The reward of Imansuangbon philanthropy and Edo 2016 helping hands to those in need is the beginning of civilisation and a responsible government.

Osahon failed to mention to mention the better or preferred person for Edo governorship in 2016. It is unfortunate and unpatriotic to devote an article to begrudge the kindness of Ken Imansuangbon without suggesting an alternative personality that is preferred. If Osahon had a better choice,the name would have been mentioned without hestiation.

The sermon of my church Bishop will continue to be my reference point and a reply to all envious persons of good gesture.In his sermon,he challenged all other aspirants to show evidence of their past kindness to their neighbours.He added,"if you say Ken Imansuangbon has be throwing 1 kg of rice to the people,show us where you threw 1 cup of rice to the beggars on the street".

According to the Bishop,those who will use their personal resources to assist the needy in the society are doing the work of God. It is only the evil mind that will castigate the generous minds.The children of God always pray for generous minds.

The annual rice sharing by

The rice gift is targeted at the low class and some vital institutions and organisations in the state

Imansuangbon has no direct link with his gunernatorial ambition. He has repeatedly told the story behind his rice sharing. It is an appreciation of a woman who gave his widow mother and his siblings rice to eat during a christmas celebration many years ago when his family was not in a financial position to afford a cup of rice. He made a vow to God that if he is blessed in future, he would give rice to Edo people.

Imansuangbon is a man who keeps to his vows and promises. Edo people have been appreciative and they have been praying for him.It is obvious that he will keep to his promise to serve Edo state creditably if elected as the governor of Edo state.

Osahon did not make any point by the false assesment of the quantity of the rice,the mode of distribution and the number of beneficiaries. Let it be made clear that Imansuangbon has never assumed that he can feed the entire people of Edo state with rice.The rice gift is targeted at the low class and some vital institutions and organisations in the state.

In December 2015, seven churches were visited in Benin city with many bags of rice gift ranging from 10kg, 25kg and 50kg. Several orphanage homes in Benin City and the home for Internally Displaced Persons arising from the Boko Haram crisis were visited with many bags of rice.The University of Benin teaching hospital UBTH got many bags of rice in addition to one million Naira in appreciation of the good works UBTH was doing in Edo state. Security agencies and Benin prison equally received the Christmas rice gift. Major motor parks across the eighteen local government areas of Edo state were visited with the Christmas gift to target some members of Edo public.This brief statistics is not meant to exaggerate the good gestures of Imansuangbon, but to

length and breadth of the country.

When we talk of change, we refer to doing things differently in order to get a better outcome.

It is not just to mouth it as a slogan. People must begin to take responsibility for their actions. It is time we change the performance indices we use to assess our public officials, no excuse should be allowed. How do you tolerate a system that allows a small pot hole to develop into a crater? It is only a crazy system that permit such. Instead of thinking of ways to do things more effectively and at cheaper cost, everyone is going cap in hand for the national cake with no commensurate value added.

That is why the 2016 budget was inflated so ridiculously. It is time for all to be realistic in our thinking and cultural habits. Nigeria belongs to everyone and its economic demise will affect every single Nigerian individual and family. That is why our senior government officials must begin to set the right examples by ensuring that they travel the Nigerian road routes, patronise our public utilities power and water- and visit our public health centres regularly. That way the system can be kept alive.

*Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

expose the evil in Osahon's article.

In July 2015,Imansuangbon gave scholarships and different awards to the winners of the annual Ken Imansuangbon essay competition. Edo children in their hundreds in Junior secondary school, Senior secondary school and all tertiary institutions, both public and private in Edo state benefitted. The award ceremony was held at the University of Benin main auditorium. The Deputy ViceChancellor, who represented the VC acknowledge the annual rice generosity of Imansuangbon to Edo people and advised that the generosity should be expanded by establishing rice farms.

The advise of the DVC was taken and the programmes of Ken Imansuagbon when elected as governor of Edo state that is already in circulation has agricultural development,with the cultivation of rice farms as a cardinal objective.

It is important to emphasise that the aim here is not to present the score card of this noble Edo son and philanthropist, but to advise Osahon not to be unkind to God and begrudge a son that is doing good. In addition, it is clear that Edo people and the APC delegates will not vote for sentiment,bogus claims and parochial considerations.

Imansuangbon is undisputedly the most qualified of all the aspirants who are asking to be elected as the next governor of Edo state.He has the academic qualifications.He has the the experience and clear evidence of a job creator and a man who can generate income for Edo state,and not to rely on allocation from Abuja.It is heart warming that Osahon mentioned the capacity of schools owned by Imansuangbon in Abuja. He is a regular tax payer with known means of income and his credidibility is not in doubt and had no previous or current issues with security agencies on financial matter or any other bothering on crime. *Mr. Omorege, a teacher, wrote from Okada, Edo State.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8 8, 2016

Ese, Yunusa and the emirate:

The trouble with Nigeria I

T is said in the Yoruba country that when your relation feeds on insects and you think it is not your business, just wait until his itchy throat begins rumbling in the dead of the night . So it is with our compatriots in Arewaland who have sired millions of untrained and uneducated children despite being in power for four decades out of Nigeria's 55 years of Nigeria's independence.

That army of lumpen youth whom they have denied opportunities over the years have now become a problem not to the North alone but the entire country at large. If they are not Boko Haram bombing anything in sight, they are Fulani herdsmen kidnapping Chief Olu Falae, inflicting machete cuts on him. As they are routing Agatu people in Benue, they are inflicting maximum damage on Lagosians in Mile 12 market in Lagos.

I cannot forget when Pastor Bakare mounted the podium in 2011 in the heart of the North and was declaring " Almajiris are human beings.

Special gift of the garb They deserve education. They should be given opportunities to maximise their potentials as God's creation..." He went on with his special gift of the garb but he found no echo. Rather it was sneer looks that he gor for his effort.

There is hardly any community you go in southern Nigeria today that you don't see these scruffy youth in droves. By the time you see five Okada riders, chances are that three out them are from up north.

So it was that Yunusa Dahiru went to Bayelsa state to do Okada business until sometime in August 2015 when he decided to steal 13-year old Ese Oruru and took her to Kano. He left enough trails for the parents to trace their daughter to Kano where they saw their daughter but were not allowed to move near her because they were "Kafir".

Before the media could bring Ese's matter to national consciousness, she has been converted to Islam and put in the family way at 14.

C M Y K

A lot have been written about the Ese saga that I don't have to repeat.Suffice to say that in this sordid tale is wrapped in all that is wrong with Nigeria and why we may not know real peace until we address our foundational issues.

All accounts so far showed that the Emir of Kano was in the full knowledge of the presence of this minor but appeared to be more interested in a soul coerced. The letter he authorised the emirate council to write to the police says it all: "Sequel to our earlier letter captioned as above, reference no. KEC/ADM/5/V/ dated 26/ 8/2015, I am further directed to introduce to you a representative of Kano State Sharia’a Commission as well as A’isha Chuwas and her relatives for proper handing over of the said A’isha to the A.I.G Bayelsa State based on Law and Order, purposely to protect her dignity/religion."

To the Emir the captive was no longer Ese but "Aisha" and the purpose of directing the girl's return was " purposely to protect her dignity/ religion"(Islam).

More about religion: He went further to allude to the duality of ideology in Nigeria after the issue got to the public domain. In a bid to save himself

Let us hope her ordeal makes us realise that we just have to make Nigeria a proper federation where the various civilisations within it can have their full expression without one civilisation operating as superior to others and imposing its ways on the rest with impunity

the possible embarrassment that the issue was going to cause, the Emir said: "I ordered Ese'(she is now Ese!) since

September 2015 through the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 1(I hope the Oonirisa will one day be giving "orders" to AIG!) but to my surprise,the issue is still hanging in between the Sharia Commission , Hisbah and the police" See,see!There is a clash between the Nigeria law enforcement(the police) and the Sharia commission and its police(Hisbah) for seven months latter being null and void.Yet ,these folks say we can't have state police around here!

Notice also it was after the public outrage that Emir Sanusi now acknowledged that Ese("Aisha") is a minor. Her religion was what mattered all along. Well, Senator Sani Yerima already blackmailed the Senate to reverse itself the day it voted that the age of consent should be 18.The former Zamfara governor who is renowned for marrying minors insisted it was a vote against Islam and he got the Senate to take another vote to say any girl that is married is an adult .

Ese as metaphor: Perhaps the most worrying aspect in the whole saga is the prospect of Ese as a metaphor for the shape of the expansionist project

whose seed is already being sewn. An elder statesman in Yorubaland told me six out of 10 children born in a certain flank in Yorubaland have Fulani blood as their mothers were rape victims.

It was amazing that Ese in eight months is already speaking fluent Hausa as if she was born in Kano.This I confirmed from Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa who has interacted with her.

If Ese could be that indoctrinated in eight months,what would be the fate of Chibok girls by now? I hope the girls are found some day but they will definitely be a sorry site to behold given the degeneration in Ese within the period she was abducted from Bayelsa and her rescue.

The children of the north have been unleashed on the rest of us and no one can predict when they will be done .

They have ruined Ese but let us hope her ordeal makes us realise that we just have to make Nigeria a proper federation where the various civilisations within it can have their full expression without one civilisation operating as superior to others and imposing its ways on the rest with impunity.

...Constant (24/7) electricity supply for the whole country, first, before we talk of agricultural revolution and every other thing

By Olarinre Salako

E

VERYBODY is talking about the need for Nigeria to return to Agriculture business, but how much of such business can we do now, without 24/7 electricity supply, especially in our agrarian communities?

How could we preserve our fruits and crops, and dairy products in the farms, before they are transported to the markets? We need electricity to process and keep them fresh, especially when we are talking of mass production for revenue generation. Otherwise, much of the products will perished before they get to the market.

Such electricity supply should be at an economically cost effective price.

I wonderwhy it has been difficult for us to have 24/7 electricity supply in Nigeria. Are we that daft? Even if Nigeria is a thick jungle, that has never used electricity before, it should not be that difficult to put one in place! It is unimaginable that Obasanjo spent multi-billion naira on the power project with nothing to show for it. Yet, the Obasanjo Farm has 24/7 electricity supply!

I know of one state in America, among numerous examples, that has coal which can last them for 800 years at the rate they are firing it to generate electricity.

And electricity in this state is as cheap as $5 to $10 per month for a three bedroom flat (depending on usage - summer

versus winter). Yet, we don't know how much coal reserve we have in Nigeria, not to talk of how to utilize it. And coal remains one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the world, especially now that we have clean coal technology, with other supplementary usage. The US generates 45% of her electricity from coal, and this will remain so for many years to come, even with the campaign by environmentalists against the usage of coal and other fossil fuel.

Yet when you tell Nigerian government about how to solve problems like this, you only get discouraging answers (if you even get one, after many attempts to get their attention through emails, phone calls and text messages). They are too busy doing NOTHING!

Pursuing common good One is tempted to ask if our politicians are that foolish? But then the likes of late legendary Awo were thinkers, and they aggressively pursuing common good, tapping inputs from various experts! How come we are now in this mess? Can we say God gave us the likes of Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Zik that are now in short supply? The other time, one Babatunde Raji Fasola, whom we thought is a little bit different, came out to suggest a process of extorting his people, to raise fund for the power investors! Who has bewitched

us as a country?

The few good ones among our leaders need to be more aggressive in their thoughts and actions. And they must push the limits to achieve success for the common good. Some of us will keep them on their toes by reminding them about how things are done better in other societies. And we are ready to leave our comfort zone to help out our fatherland, for there is nothing nobler than that! Some people paid the price for a more orderly society we enjoy here!

But then, those at the helm of affairs need to wake up from their slumber! Only Nigerians can truly help Nigeria. Someone needs to tell Pa Buhari to think inwardly too, enough of oneway traffic outward thinking, seeking help only from outsiders!

Also, it is good to fight corruption. Indeed, the singular act of fighting corruption is an encouragement for some of us to be ready to assist our country.

But, fighting corruption alone is not enough! Other areas of national rescue mission must NOT be left unattended to.

*Salako, PhD, is a Research Geophysicist at the Energy and Environmental Research Center, North Dakota, USA. He has made several efforts to get the attention of Nigerian Government to what could be done to solve power generation problem in Nigeria, but without luck yet.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

— 21

OPS needs N5.4trn to diversify economy— Iweta Devaluation: Nigerian stocks drop 16% since December — Control Risks

By Franklin Alli

T

HE Federal Government has been called upon to inject N5.4 trillion(about$27billion)everyyear for the next three years to the private sector in the country.

This is to enable them to meaningfully diversify the economy.

Inastatement,PriceDavidIweta, President of Sapele Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, who made the call in Lagos, stated that the federal government should borrow the money from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) an arm of the World Bank andchanneledittotheprivatesector to salvage the country’s collapsing economy.

“It is a known fact that the three arms of government namely Federal, State and Local governments budget annually about N10 trillion without accounting for any industrial and economic growth to our nation. The private sector which is considered to be the driver of any economy has no access to cash injection of fresh investments in areas of long term capital to grow the Real Sector of our economy to providingtheneededemployment that has gotten to its unacceptable height.

“It is time for the Federal and State Governments to deliberately, as a matter of urgency summon courage to create investment windows by attracting capital flow of minimum of N150 billion ($750 million) as loan-able funds for the privatesectorofeachofthe36states of the Federation through external borrowing annually for 3 three years consecutively for on lending to private sector operators at 6 percent per annum targeted to gen-

By Peter Egwuatu

C

From left: Managing Director, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, Dr. Layi Fatona; Group Chief Executive, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, Mr. Deji West and Managing Director/CEO, NASD Plc, Mr. Bola Ajomale, during the NASD OTC Market Analyst Forum in Lagos erate500,000jobsbyeachstatewith a total of 18 million jobs in the country in one year. This fresh venture capital shall be targeted towards the developments of Agriculture, Mining and manufacturing activities,” he said According to him, the proposed borrowed fund should be secured by act of parliament empowering the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

“This initiative with committed, sustainable political will running for three years being the remaining part of the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari attracting total fresh Venture capital investment of N16.2 trillion and employment opportunity for 54 million Nigerians will print his name on GOLD,” he stated.

Zenith Bank partners Virgin Atlantic on enterprise challenge ENITH Bank Plc, one of ZNigeria’s Financial Power

Houses has, for the second year, thrown its weight behind the global carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways on the promotion of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths with the launch of ‘The Enterprise Challenge’, a competition to promote entrepreneurship among $117.20 -1.60 young Nigerians.

Speaking yesterday $2,878.00 -61.00 in Lagos, at a press briefing which coin$14. 71 -0. 12 cided with the opening of a 3-day Boot camp to horn the entrepreneurship skills $39. 63 0.91 of the 20 shortlisted $36. 86 0.94 participants of the competition, Virgin CURRENCY BUYING SELLING Atlantic spokesperson said the competition US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 was organized to test POUNDS 277. 3988 278.1065 278. 8141 the business skills of EURO 215. 816 215. 816 216. 3651 FRANC 197. 2228 197. 7259 198. 229 young Nigerians YEN 1.7225 1.7269 1.7313 aged 18 - 35 years.

CFA 0.3066 0.3166 0. 3266 She disclosed that WAUA 270.2666 270.956 271.6455 the 20 participants RENMINBI 30.0757 30.1528 30.23 RIYAL 52. 2402 52.3735 52.5067 were drawn from over KRONA 28.8452 28.9187 28.9923 11,000 entries from the SDR 272. 048 272.742 273.436 heavily advertised competition across 22 CBN Exchange rate as at 07/03/2016 states of the federa-

C M Y K

to borrow at 2 percent and lend at 6 percent by sharing and spreading 4 percent among Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI)NigeriaExportImportBank (NEXIM) and CBN at 1 percent each as supervision and monitoring fees/charges. The loan shall berepaidover5-10yearsformainly plant & machinery, infrastructure and working capital.

tion. The shortlisted candidates are partaking in a 3-day Boot Camp under the mentorship of trainers/resource persons from the Richard Branson Centre in South Africa, with the first three finalists to be sent to London where they will meet with the maverick Richard Branson for further mentorship.

Explaining Zenith Bank’s involvement in the competition, the Executive Director of the Bank, Sola Oladipo said it was part of the bank’s strategic vision to partner with any initia-

It was part of the bank’s strategic vision to partner with any initiative that is targeted at developing the Nigerian youths

tive that is targeted at developing the Nigerian youths.

Throwing more light, the Executive Director said that the bank already has a number of initiatives targeting the Nigerian youths and as such they, at Zenith Bank, were only too happy to sponsor the competition since it was aimed at positively channeling the energies and talents of the Nigerian youths towards nation building.

Worsening unemployment He said further that for a country like Nigeria that is struggling with worsening unemployment, The Enterprise Challenge is an initiative that should be encouraged as it has the potential to address graduate unemployment.

Besides gaining through the mentorship programmes, the first three winners will go home with a seed grant of N2m, N1.5m & N1m being first, second and third place prizes respectively, courtesy Zenith Bank Plc. This year’s competition, the second in the series, received further boost from The British Council and Samsung Electronics. Winners are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

ONTROLRisksServicesWest Africa has revealed that stocks quoted on the Nigerian stock market has fallen by 16 per cent since December 2015, even as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN says that weakening the naira would raise inflation,alreadycloseto10percent.

Commenting the impact of devaluationonbusinessenvironment, Control Risk stated “Uncertainty about the timing and extent of any devaluation will remain a significant risk, particularly those whose operations rely on large quantities of imported goods, as well as to investors and prospective investors.

Many potential investors are likely to stay shy of Nigeria until the fears surrounding the possible devaluation of the currency have been alleviated.

Continuing, it said “ As assets in Nigeria continue to slide in value, investors who are prepared to take a longer term perspective will find there are buying opportunities.”

DanielMagnowski,SeniorAnalyst, Control Risks said: “A lot more clarity is needed about Nigeria’s Fiscalandmonetarypoliciesbefore people regain the confidence to invest.”

According to him “Meanwhile, the central bank says that weakening the naira would raise the inflation rate, already close to 10%. Nigerianstockshavefallen16%since the end of December 2015, the biggest drop in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Commentingfurtherondevaluation,hesaid“Afterfallingtoarecord low of N390 to the US dollar on 18 February the naira (currency)’s gained value on the black market this week to trade at around 364 to the dollar. The demand for dollars inthemarketisstillhighastheprice of oil – the foundation of Nigeria’s economy–remainsaroundUSD33 perbarrelandthecentralbankconsidersfurtherrestrictingforeign-currency allocations by placing overseas medical and education on the list of activities for which banks will not provide dollars.

“Whileexchangeratesontheblack market – where most Nigerians sourceforeigncurrency–havefallen from around 270 naira to the US dollaratthestartof2016,thecentral bankhasheldtheofficialrateat197199 for almost a year, in contrast to other oil-dependent countries including Venezuela and Angola, which have devalued their currencies.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Honeywell recorded a currency devaluation provisional cost of N438 million in Q3 2015

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

,

,

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc:

Good results amidst harsh operating environment

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

F

INANCIAL results across industries since third quarter 2015 have been showing a crystallization of the huge impact of Nigeria’s macroeconomic headwinds on corporate performance.

But it appears it would not be all reds as a few companies would be demonstrating resilience and turning out good results. Some of the companies in the club of the resilient includes Dangote Cement which has been the biggest excitement in the stock market in recent times following its impressive full year results. The other likely one may be Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. Honeywell had earlier announced a cheering third quarter results for the period ended December 2015.

The company had announced a 5.7 per cent increase in turnover to N39.78 billion in Q3 2015, compared with N37.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

State to somewhere in Ibafon, Ogun State, at additional cost to the business.

The expenses also include the cost of further deepening the company’s market share and client base through increased branding and sales promotion activities as a means of reaching out to customers nationwide.

While the company was able to protect its market share in most categories, the weakening of the Naira against the US dollar had posed a significant challenge in the cost of foreign inputs especially wheat and engineering spares.

Consequently, Honeywell recorded a currency devaluation provisional cost of N438 million in Q3 2015.

Though this figure is significantly lower than N903 million in the corresponding period in 2014, there are indications that there will be further provisional cost in the last quarter of the current financial year given the worsening foreign exchange situation in the economy.

Finance costs reduced by

Pressing against cost pressures Amidst cost-push inflationary pressure and other cost pressures especially the one coming from foreign exchange related transactions the company managed to control the rise in cost of sales.

Cost of sales as a percentage of turnover in Q3, 2015, was managed down by 1.89 percentage point to 79.64 per cent from 81.53 per cent recorded in Q3 2014.

Some observers say these expenses are attributable to the traffic gridlock in the Apapa area as 82.89 per cent of selling and administrative expenses were from the Apapa plant.

The infrastructure problems in this area have created logistics problems for Honeywell resulting in longer turnaround times for loading products and reduced stock turnover.

Eventually the company was forced to set up a temporally warehouse completely outside Lagos

Despite the challenging operating environment Honeywell is still operating at capacity utilization higher than industry average

20.36 per cent to N939 million in Q3 2015 from N1.18 billion in Q3 2014.

But despite these challenging environment Honeywell recorded a 57.2 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax at N1.93 billion from N1.23 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

•Oba Otudeko, Chairman Honeywell In a show of efficiency the Investment value of company operates with a gross profit margins of over 21 Honeywell stock: The weak per cent, significantly higher line is the finance mix. The than industry average of 16 working capital stood at a per cent. negative N14.9 billion along with a funding mismatch where the current ratio also Asset is recording fell to 0.57x as the company further expansion uses a lot of short-term The company’s total assets borrowings to f und its increased to N72.06 billion in operations.

Investment analysts at FSDH Q3 2015, from N67.94 billion Securities estimate a Profit After recorded in full year 2015.

Asset growth was largely Tax of N2.06 billion for the full driven by the company’s on- year March 2016. This, going capacity expansion according to them, will generate an Earning Per Share of N0.26 projects.

Having recognized that and a final Dividend Per Share competition is continuously of N0.11 based on a dividend on the rise in the flour milling pay-out of 41.15 per cent.

In overall Honeywell is in good and noodles and pasta industry, the management of investment grade. Consequently Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has FSDH stated, ‘’looking at responded through large the performance, we investments in capacity maintain our previous ‘BUY’ rating on the stock of upgrade and expansion.

Honeywell’s main Honeywell Flour Mills at expansion project is the the current price”.

Honeywell leadership Honeywell Food and AgroAllied Industrial Complex in pulse: Chairman of the Dr. Oba Sagamu, Ogun State. This company, complex will see the company Otudeko, said last year that diversify into agro allied there is a plan on ground products as well as a wider now to commission the array of food products. Its goal third power plant, which is is to operate across the entire 98 percent ready and the food value chain from farm to organization has so far spent about N1.0 billion on fork.

the project. He said, “This is a plan we have over the next 18 months; because Pasta products lend themselves to a lot of consumer marketing, Honeywell wants to take the product outside the country and all-across Africa. And to some extent, this is already happening due to the free movement of goods and people, but we want to actively promote this so that we can spread the value of our brands beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Benefits of the investments “The future of our Company is indeed very bright as we are poised to reap the benefits of the investments we are currently undertaking. As we continue to position our business to deliver returns to our shareholders, we have also taken strategic measures to enhance our competitive positions”.

The managing director, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, told Vanguard Investor’s Forum that despite the challenging operating environment, Honeywell is still operating at capacity utilization higher than industry average.

According to him the company is devising other ways of sustaining its output with local substitutes without compromising quality.

“We are now embracing high quality cassava flour. We have mastered the process. We also have other backward integration, including local wheat. We are increasing our capacities with a target growth of 20 per cent in turnover in the next two years with the Sagamu project”.

Icelanders cult holds back decapitated human heads

PAGE 24

Gesila Khan, INEC commissioner discovers Gesila community in C-River

PAGE 25

EDO… HEART BEAT OF THE NATION

VOL. 1: No. 84

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

LATEST ON EDO COMMUNAL CLASH:

Erhunrhun youths lay siege to OguteOkpella •Allegedly assault indigenes, destroy cocoa farms, crops •Erhunrhun clan head making matters difficult — HRM Yesufu Dirisu, Okpella monarch •It’s all lies- HRH Moses Braimoh

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

O

GUTE-OKPELLA— YOUTHS of Erhunrhun –Uneme community, Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, have reportedly cordoned the access road leading to OguteOkpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, as tension mounts between the two border towns, which clashed over land, last month.

One person reportedly died, five proclaimed missing, while over100 persons fled their homes in the February 21 fracas that witnessed the destruction and burning of several houses and vehicles.

High Chief Andrew Osheku, who oversees Ogute-Okpella community for the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRM (Dr.) A. Y. Dirisu, told Niger Delta Voice that, “They, the youths of Erhunrun have blocked other routes leading to our farmlands and circumvent the joint military/police checkpoints, beat up our people, destroy our farms and crops. They still go and meet our people in their farms.”

His words: “They are still attacking our people, only few days ago, they attacked our people who were on their way to the farm and the victims were taking to Okpella Police Station, Okpella. They have remained the aggressors but our leaders have appealed to our youths to heed the advice of our royal father, HRM Dirisu, not to attack them since government is intervening in the crisis.”

He wondered why, in spite of the deployment of soldiers and policemen, Erhurhun C M Y K

people took the laws into their hands, setting the cocoa farms of Ogute Okpella people ablaze.

My subjects under attack— Okuokpellagbe of Okpella

The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRM, Dr. A.Y Dirisu,

confirmed to Niger Delta Voice at his palace that the aggressors attacked one of his subjects resident in Igarra on his way home, while another, Mr. Adamu, a father of six children, was still missing, about two weeks after the incident.

On the immediate cause of

the crisis, the royal father asserted: “At about 8.30 am on Sunday, February 21, 2016, I got information that there was a clash between my people in Ogute and Uneme- Erhunrhun.

I called my Personal Assistant to go to the place and get first hand information.”

“I was informed that an Ogute man fell some trees and cut the wood in the bush. He took two lorries to carry the planks back, but when he was returning, people from Erhunrhun attacked him and others with them. We are still looking for one of my subjects by the name, Adamu.

“Also another member of my subjects, living in Igarra, was also attacked on his way home.

The root cause of the matter is about the ownership of this forest they are talking about; the Uneme people have no common boundary with the Ogutes.

The Uneme Erhunrhun people are on Okpella land and now saying that the land belongs to them,” he claimed.

His words: “One of my predecessors, Prince Malik Afegbua, who was the District Head of Okpella during the amalgamation of the North and South was the one that allowed Uneme-Erhunrhun people to stay on that portion of our land.”

HRM Dirisu added: “As the traditional ruler, whatever he wants to do on any land in Okpella, he has the power. He allowed them to stay. Our land tenure system is the type that confers ownership of land on the kindred , but whoever is the traditional ruler holds it in trust for the entire people and takes decision on the land in consultation with the kindred.”

Okpella has no boundary with Uneme — Erhunrhun

•Mrs. Mariam Adamu

•High Chief Ojo

“They are claiming that it is their own land. This was what brought a clash in 1981 during the administration of late Ambrose Alli. The White Paper issued by the then government clearly stated that Okpella has no boundary with Uneme Erhunrhun but with Dangbala at River Orle.

“That they are saying that I am the one causing problem is bad, they should be grateful that somebody like me is the traditional ruler of Okpella today. I am a peaceful person, but I do not like violence. All they are doing is to provoke our people. Their traditional ruler is not helping issues; I have called him several times that if there must be peace there; let us look for ways to resolve any arising issue. The forest in dispute is very big,” he said.

Nothing to do with mineral deposits •HRM Yesufu Dirisu

•HRH Moses Braimoh

The Okuokpellagbe denied that the crisis was over mineral deposits in the disputed area, Continues on page 25

24 —

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

RIVERS… TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR MOKU — MORE than two weeks after members of the Icelanders cult group butchered four brothers at Omoku community, Ogba/Ndoni/ Egbema Local Government Area, ONELGA, Rivers State, the group has refused to release the heads of Felix Phillip and Daniel, who they beheaded in the bloody invasion.

The four brothers, 15-year-old Senior Secondary School, SSS 2 student, Chisom Udoh, 23-yearold Christian, Felix Philip, a second year NCE student at Federal Government College, Omoku, aspiring to be an education administrator and Daniel, preparing to write WAEC and UTME examinations, were all killed in the same room.

The cultists vanished with their heads after the gory incident and until date, there is no news on the whereabouts of the two heads.

Tears have not ceased dropping in the family Area since the rampaging cultists ruptured the peace in the home and community.

Narrating the ordeal of the family, Victor Kelvin, who the deceased persons were residing in his apartment before the agonizing incident, said, “They killed Felix and Daniel, beheaded them and made away with their heads. That is wickedness on little innocent boys.”

“I was just lucky enough that I went for a vigil that night when these boys broke into our room, but they killed my four brothers, they killed them.”

“The family has been in sorrow because it is a strange occurrence, the cultists are such heartless to want to clear a family even when the family did not commit anything,” he lamented.

Going spiritual, he asserted, “There is God, I believe that the people, who are behind this will

O

C M Y K

•Daniel...Beheaded

2 WKS AFTER OMOKU INVASION:

Icelanders cult holds back decapitated human heads •4 brothers killed in one swoop, family mourns •Army seizes 7 suspects not go unpunished. My brothers do not belong to any political party or cult group.”

“I was in the church praying and I never knew that gunmen have entered our house and killed my four cousins.

“They usually follow me to church for vigil because our church holds vigil every Friday.

However, that Friday, they did not follow me. If I knew that gunmen would kill them, I would have forced them to follow me,” Kelvin said despondently.

His words: “The four boys aspired to be great in their lives , but did not know that they will not make it to old age.”

“Posterity will surely be the judge. The killers of my four brothers should enjoy now, but soon God will punish them for taken the life of my innocent relatives. Their blood is crying seriously to God for judgment.

He stated: “Since the dastard

LAND OF PROMISE

Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

•Felix Philip...Beheaded

AKWA IBOM…

THE TEAM

•The compound where the four relatives were killed.

killings, things have not really gone well with the family, we are in deep pain and it is only God that is our help and solace.”

Last week, the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, visited the troubled ONELGA, where he regretted the killings, and urged residents to be calm, as security agents hunt for the culprits.

Two days later, the military paraded seven suspects arrested in connection with killings in Omoku.

Commander of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, told reporters that the culprits in the recent killings in Omoku community have been arrested.

Olabanji disclosed that soldiers have recovered the car used by the suspects during the crime, saying they have provided useful information to security agents.

•Two of the brothers killed in the compound.

RIVERS… TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

Rescind decision withdrawing corps members — Rivers community

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

E

BUBU — THE people of Ebubu community, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, have appealed to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in the state, to call off its resolution not to post corps members to the area.

A community leader from the area, Chief Ambrose Yaya, said that NYSC authorities in the state, alleging insecurity and threat to life of corps members,

Ikot Akpan Udo protests exclusion from C-River littoral communities

By Tom Moses

I

KOT AKPAN UDO—ELDERS, chiefs and leaders of Ukpum Ete Clan, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have raised the alarm over alleged clandestine removal of Ikot Abasi Local government area from the list of littoral communities in the state.

They said in a communiqué issued after their meeting at Ikot Akpan Udo community, February 27, 2016, and made available to Niger Delta Voice that they were surprised to find out that “the map of Akwa Ibom State has been surreptitiously redrawn to deny Ikot Akpan Udo community and

Ikot Abasi local government area of their littoral status through their total exclusion from access to the sea.”

Secretary of Mboho Ukpum Ete, Mr. Nkanta Nkanta and the village head of Ikot Akpan Udo, Eteidung Oscar Abel, endorsed the communiqué.

The leaders advised oilprospecting companies operating in Ikot Abasi territory to desist from paying royalty accruing to Ikot Abasi to another local government. The community also urged Ukpum Ete clan and Ikot Abasi local government area to rise, defend and protect their patrimony.

According to the communiqué, Ikot Akpan Udo community had faced incessant attacks from

Amazaba of Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom state from August 2008 till date, but Ukpum Ete clan and Ikot Abasi local government area have not shown appropriate concern towards the plights of Ikot Akpan Udo people.

Accordingly, the meeting affirmed the determination of Ikot Akpan Udo people that the Amazaba, who had vacated Ikot Akpan Udo community’s territory voluntarily after their massacre and destruction of Ikot Akpan Udo people and property, shall no longer live on the said territory.

They also affirmed that Ikot Akpan Udo community shall not sign any MoU with the Akwa Ibom State government to cede any part of its territory to Amazaba.

withdrew those posted to the community because criminals robbed them thrice, last year.

Chief Yaya, however, pleaded with NYSC to resume posting of corps members to the community, saying the people had set up a security committee to protect the Corpers’ Lodge and would guarantee their safety.

“We assure them that corps members will be safe, but we, as the community leaders have made efforts, written letters to the NYSC authorities appealing to them to return the NYSC members,” he said.

A senior official informed Niger Delta Voice that the state Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Ngozi Nwantareli, was away on official assignment when our reporter visited the Port Harcourt office for comment, adding.

The officer said that NYSC also took similar decision on Omuma community after some unknown persons took five female corps members hostage in 2010.

“The safety of corps members is of importance to NYSC. Therefore, when communities cannot stop their people from kidnapping and robbing them, we have no choice but to withdraw them until when they promise to secure their lives before we can post corps members to them,” he asserted.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 25

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

ON ELECTION SENSITIZATION DUTY:

Gesila Khan, INEC commissioner discovers Gesila community in C-River *Villagers roll out drums to welcome her *I’ll build a house and live among you if…Gesila Khan *Gesila means brave people in Ijaw and first in Cross River

By EMMANUEL UNA

G

ESILA — BAYELSA State-born Resident Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Cross River State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, until recently, Resident Commissioner in Rivers State, has traversed all the states of South-South region and other parts of the country in the course of her career, but she did not prepare for the bolt from the blue she encountered in her new station.

Gesila, an Ijaw from Bayesla state, who resumed duties in Cross River state in the last week of February, faced the task of conducting a rerun election in Yakurr II State House Constituency into the Cross River State House of Assembly, March 12. The election was subsequent to the sack of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Eteng Williams, who the Appeal Court, Calabar, declared winner in

•Gesila Khan in the midst of Asiga women

•Mrs Gesila Khan 2015.

In her accustomed elements as field Resident Electoral

Commissioner, she embarked on tour of the wards that form Yakurr 11 state constituency to

sensitize the voters on the need for peaceful conduct of the election.

Gesila polling unit in Gesila community

That was where she got a pleasant surprise. One of the polling units in the village of Gesila in Ashiga community bears the same name with her Ijaw name, Gesila.

She said: “I have served in the other South- South states and Cross River state is the last of them and I have travelled all over the country and had never come across the name Gesila anywhere and so I feel honoured that there is a village called Gesila and a polling unit by the same name in Cross River. I have

So there is the possibility that somehow one brave man from Bayelsa might have come to form this community several decades ago, which none of us here might remember

Erhunrhun youths lay siege to Ogute-Okpella Continues from page 23 saying: “That place is OguteOkpella land and not for Uneme-Erhunrhun people in Akoko-Edo. It is not true that the dispute was caused by mineral deposits.”

He disclosed: “My people reported to me that there are traces of limestone deposit in that area. I contacted BUA Cement Company and Dangote to go there and do exploration to see if the deposits are of commercial value so that they can come back for us to discuss. As soon as they saw the people working, they did a petition that BUA came to their land of do exploration without their permit.”

Wife of missing Adamu cries for help When Niger Delta Voice visited the family of the alleged missing person from OguteOkpella, Adamu, his 35 years old wife, Mrs. Mariam Adamu, lapping one of six children, was in tears. She said that her husband never told her where he was going and when he would return, adding. “My greatest problem is how to C M Y K

explain his whereabouts to the children, who have been asking of their father.”

An Okpella leader, High Chief Joe Ojo, said he was at a loss over the sharp disagreement between the two communities, as after the 1981 crisis, the Okuokpellagbe set up a committee that enabled people from both sides to meet regularly, pointing out that up to 1950, The Erhunrun – Uneme paid royalty to the Okpella.

Erhunrun clan head punctures allegations Clan Head of ErhunrunUneme, HRM Moses Braimoh, community leader, Prince Joel Itemoagbo and others, who maintained that Erhunrun people own the disputed land, debunked the several allegations against them by Okpella people.

HRM Braimoh said the White Paper of the Justice S. Ajuyah Commission of Inquiry that looked into the 1981 disturbances blamed Okpella people for entering into their land. He, therefore, called on the Edo State government to define the boundary between

both communities for peace to reign.

Prince Itemoagbo said OguteOkpella people were the aggressors and that it was wrong to describe them as tenants in their homeland. He said Okpella people keep talking about the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, but they do not talk about the government White Paper on the report.

What the White Paper said Findings showed that crisis first erupted between Ehrurun and Ogute-Okpella on 4th February 1981, in the defunct Bendel State over the extraction of timber from Unufi forest for the building of a Grammar School.

It resulted in arson and wanton destruction of properties worth thousands of naira in Erhurun following an alleged attack by the people of Ogute – Okpella. Following the clash between both communities, the then civilian government of late Prof.

Ambrose Alli set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by late Justice S.A. Ajuya, to look into the remote and

immediate cause of the disturbance.

The Commission of Inquiry in the said White Paper issued by the then Bendel State government in 1985, held: “That although, administratively, Unufi forest is in Akoko-Edo Division, it is the property of Ogute- Okpella, which owns the land in Erhunrun and beyond” It stated: “Dangbala and Okpella has a common boundary and it is River Orle, Dangbala has no boundary with Ehrunrun-Uneme , the Erhunrun- Uneme have no traditional boundary with Okpella, the ErhunrunUnemes are tenants on the land they occupy.”

The commission, however, blamed the Ogute- Okpella for the attack on the ErhunrunUneme and described them as the aggressors and perpetrators of the arson and destruction of properties that took place during the crisis.

Govt should take the bull by the horn— High Chief Hanson Aimofumeh High Chief Hanson

no choice than to identify with this place and when I retire, if I have money, I will build a house here and live among this brave people, which Gesila means in Ijaw.”

An enchanted Gesila disclosed she was yet to come across any other person bearing the name Gesila, apart from the person her parents named her after and as such, she would do anything to keep memories of the place alive.

Pledge

Her words: “One child was named after me by a colleague but she died and since then, I have not seen anyone bearing Gesila, talk much of a whole village bearing that name and so from today, I am from Gesila in Asiga in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State”.

Community rolls out cultural displays

On their part, the people of Gesila came out in large numbers when they heard the electoral commissioner bears the name Gesila. Within minutes, dances, choreography, songs and mimes took the centre stage as both the men and women of the area displayed their culture in her honour.

One of Gesila chiefs, Ogar Ekpe, told her: “You are from Bayelsa State, which is a riverine area and we also live by the riverside, so there is the possibility that somehow one brave man from Bayelsa might have come to form this community several decades ago, which none of us here might remember.”

“But suffice it to say that we feel proud that you, Gesila, which means first in our dialect, is the resident electoral commissioner in our state. Please find time and come again and let us talk more about our common ancestry,” he said.

She used the occasion to sensitize the people on the need for peace during the election coming up on Saturday, saying that no one should push them to violence or use their youths to cause trouble during the election.

“Election is matter of choice because just like we are wearing different dresses bought from the market based on our preferences, electing someone to represent us should be a matter of choice.

A father could have different choice from the son and a mother could prefer someone else from the daughter, so let everyone make his choice on that day,” Gesila told her people.

According to her, “INEC will ensure that the one who has the most support will be the one announced as the winner because we are a neutral umpire.”

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

FINGER OF GOD

DELTA…

DESOPADEC SHARING FORMULA:

You’re not working, business tycoon slams Delta LG chairs A SABA— ANAGING Director of Vinefon Oil and Gas Company, Delta State, Mr. Frank

Efole, has accused chairs of local government councils in the state of laziness, saying they should stop depending solely on allocation from the Federal Government to develop their areas.

Efole, who spoke in an interview with reporters, said the chairs, especially those from Delta Central (Urhobo) Senatorial district were sleeping and not working, and asked them to look inward to generate revenue internally.

His words: “Go to Udu and Uvwie local government councils, nothing is happening.

Look at our roads, everywhere is dirty, if you look at the state; no local government council chairman is working.”

He advised council the chairs to employ the services of maintenance, financial and management experts to generate fund for their councils, saying, “You should not wait for state money, if Okowa does not release money, everything stand still, it should not be like

that.”

“I want Governor Okowa to call the Delta State House of Assembly members, chairs of local government council and councilors to order, they should be called to develop their communities, wards and constituencies. They can create jobs and generate revenue without being financed by the state.” “If they do not have the skills to do it, they should look for those who can do it, these

people are sleeping. My company can handle the maintenance job if given. We have sent a proposal and we are waiting for the respond of the state government and his approval,” he asserted.

Efole said the state government could complement the efforts of the council if they are working and urged the chairs, in the interim, to clean up the councils, which were too dirty.

Okwagbe decries suspected plot to undercut Urhobo

W

ARRI — BUSINESS mogul, Olorogun Okiemute Okwagbe, has complained about what an alleged “calculated attempt” by some powers in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Delta State, to shortchange the Urhobo ethnic nationality in the state.

Speaking to journalists in Warri, he said though somewhat belated, the recent complaint by Urhobo commissioners on DESOPADEC board “is germane because their argument is based on the use of the quantum of production in the calculation of the revenue sharing

Kidnappers, bandits turn our land to hideout — Delta community •Gives state govt 1-week ultimatum to relinquish land

By GODWIN OGHRE

O

VWORE — YOUTHS of Ovwore community, Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, say kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals have turned their land on one of Sapele-Eku Road, the people gave the State Government in 1988 into a hiding place because of lack of development government.

They, therefore, gave the government a seven-day

ultimatum to surrender the parcel of land measuring 411 hectares, adding, “The land has become a thick forest on one side of the Sapele/Eku road and now serves as hide out for criminals.”

President General of the community, Mr Harrison Ekeleme, who conveyed their stand, said: “We have investigated the continuous kidnapping and robbery incidents along the Sapele/Eku/ Agbor road that cuts across our

community. We found that the culprits take cover under the thick forest on one side of the road, which the government has long acquired without developing it to carry out crime in this area.”

“We do not want again after our emergency meeting. We have written severally to the state government on this matter to no avail. We have had several peaceful protests to no avail.

Now, we want to take our destiny in on our hands.

formula.”

He said their contention was in line with the edict that established the new DESOPADEC as amended by the administration of Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, adding that until the existing lopsided status quo put in place by previous government was changed, the Urhobos would continue to cry foul.

Calling for an urgent roundtable discussion on the thorny issue, he said the agitation must move from the realm of speculative imagination to the level of pragmatic implementation of the fiscal policy that governs the board as amended by Delta state House of Assembly based on the quantum of production per ethnic nationality.

Okwagbe also urged relevant authorities, the state government in particular in partnership with the state House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya to use their good offices in a collaborative effort to bring lasting solution to DESOPADEC by adjusting the anomalies in the interest of justice.

Since anyone who comes to equity should come with clean hands, he said that the quantum quota released by NNPC, obtained by the Office of the Governor alone, should be used for the sharing formula so that every stakeholder would be assured that they received their fair share of what actually accrued to them in any period under reviews.

NIGER DELTA PHOTO PANORAMA

C M Y K

GBARAMATU MONARCH ELECTION/PRESENTATION: Pere- elect of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Prince Naira Williams Ogoba (middle) flanked by chiefs at the election/presentation ceremony of the new Gbaramatu monarch in Oporoza, Delta State.

Pere-elect, Prince Ogoba receiving staff of office from Chief Alfred Bubor.

DUTY TOUR: Delta State Health Commissioner, Dr Nicholas Azinge (left) Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr Mordi Ononye (middle) and Medical Director, General Hospital, Patani, Dr Samson Ahorituwere, during a need assessment visit by the commissioner to the hospital recently.

BURIAL: Delta State PDP chair, Chief Edwin Uzor (left) his wife, Mrs. Comfort Uzor, and Barrister Tony Uzor at the burial of the PDP cchairman's mother, late Mrs. Christiana Uzor at Oko, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 27

,

'S S FORUM

Frigoglass was determined to leave Beta Glass while no replacement is yet in place making the fate of the investment value uncertain

,

New acquisition may improve investment value of Oando — Stockbrokers T

Stories by Nkiruka Nnorom

HE planned take-over of all issued and outstanding shares of Oando Energy Resources (OER) by Oando Plc and Oando Exploration & Production Holdings Limited will impact positively on Oando’s earnings, thereby improving investors’ fortune, said stockbrokers.

Chinenye Anyanwu, Managing Director, Dependable Securities Limited, expressed satisfaction with the arrangement, saying that whatever could be done to improve Oando’s fortune is a welcome development.

Financial results Oando had turned out bad financial results in the past two years just before this plan to acquire OER. “The holding structure will be affected reflecting the new core investor in Oando’s name and it is expected that their coming in will improve the fortune of the company and Oando needs it badly. “Oando needs everything anybody can do; as I speak to you, Oando shares lost maximally today (Monday February 29, 2016), trading below N3.00, which is very big

loss to people who had invested at higher price. So, anything that will be done to help Oando is welcome,” he said.

He added, “If you ask me about Oando, I will tell you that they spread so thin in their investment decisions. They find themselves in everything; ‘jack

of all trades is a master of none.’

So, the earlier they gather themselves and hone their investment decisions, the better for investors.

“The management must have a rethink if they will sustain that company. Big in investments in everything, but still not showing

in the bottom-line for investors to benefit from, that is the problem of Oando.”

Corroborating his views, Mr. Charles Fakrogha of Foresight Securities & Investment Limited, said: “This is a welcome development. Oando is an integrated energy firm the

acquisition of Oando Energy Recourses will help diversify the product portfolio of Oando thereby improving its revenue.

However, good corporate governance needs to be observed.”

Beta Glass sale failure: Nigerian investors’ fortune still uncertain

O

PERATORS in the Nigerian capital market have said that termination of agreement by Frigoglass, the majority shareholder in Beta Glass Nigeria Plc, to sale its 70 per cent stake in Beta Glass to GZ Industries, Dubai-based firm, is in the best interest of Nigeria investors.

They argued that since the sale was never consummated, shareholders of Beta Glass Plc have nothing to lose.

Frigoglass had last year entered into agreement with GZI to sale its 70 per cent equity stake in Beta Glass to the company for USD225 million.

However, last week, Frigoglass revealed that the agreement with GZI has been terminated, citing inability of GZI to meet certain conditions specified as well as offer right valuation for the shares.

Reacting, Charles Fakrogha,

Chief Relationship Officer, Foresight Securities & Investment Limited, said the termination is good for Nigeria investors because GZI needed to prove that it is capable of adding value to Beta Glass after taking over majority holding in the company.

He said: “You will recall that Frigoglass had an arrangement with GZI sometime may last year and certain conditions were agreed for the sale to take place. If those conditions were not met then the sales shouldn’t take place. In my opinion, the termination is in the best interest of the Nigerian investors.”

“A company like GZI needed to show that after acquiring 70 per cent of Beta Glass it must be seen to be adding value to the company (Beta glass).

These values can be capacity building and technical

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC. FY: 2015 Result - Financial Highlights (NGN Billion)

expertise.

“Frigoglass in their press release indicated that GZ is not paying the correct valuation for the said shares (Frigoglass) holdings. Therefore, the cancellation is good for the Nigerian shareholders in Beta Glass,” Fakrogha insisted.

Core investor’s arrangement Also in his contribution, Mr. Chinenye Anyanwu, Managing Director, Dependable Securities Limited, said the cancellation would not affect the fortune of Nigeria investors.

“It was a core investor’s arrangement that never worked. There was hope that their coming in was going to bring in new life into the place (Beta Glass), so it is like a hope dashed for investors who had hoped that their fortune will improve.

“Due to this termination, we will continue to see Beta Glass

at the level it was before, the expectation will not be anything different, the expectation will be matched to the level it was before because there is no new person coming; there is no addition, except if they are telling us something new.

“To me, there is nothing to lose because there was actually no gain coming from the proposed take-over. It shouldn’t affect the fortune of Nigerian shareholders because it wasn’t consummated in the first place,” he opined.

But it appears Frigoglass was determined to leave Beta Glass while no replacement is yet in place making the fate of the investment value uncertain.

Frigoglass has noted that it is working with its key stakeholders and a team of highly reputable advisors to determine its next strategic steps, identify initiatives to preserve the value of the business for all stakeholders and achieve an optimal capital structure.

Stock Market Outlook (March 08 – March 15)

P

ERFORMANCE of the market in recent times remain largely driven by corporate releases as well as bargain hunting in blue-chip stocks.

Afrinvest Group stock analysts said the improved performance of the market last week is in line with their expectation of bargain hunting in blue chips with dividend payment history.

They expect performance would be swayed by earnings releases next week with a positive bias to sentiment. They expect more corporate announcements to drive activities this week as more players in the banking and consumer goods sectors submit their scorecards for full year 2015.

Against this backdrop, they advise investors to overweigh on stock with consistent dividend paying history.

Analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited said this week, they anticipate sustained bargain hunting in expectation of likely corporate actions from some blue chip companies.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS

Source: Afrinvest West Africa

Send complaints or enquiries about any quoted company, issues, products and services of any capital market operator or agency to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com. We investigate and publish with feedback

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

FG to end $7.4bn JV cash call this year

By Michael Eboh

T

HE Federal Government said it will terminate the funding of a $7.39 billion, about N1.478 trillion per annum Joint Venture, JV cash call obligation before year end.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this at the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE Nigeria Council, last week in Abuja.

He said the discontinuation of the cash call obligation, will give the oil majors a free hand to source for funding from financial institutions or other sources to execute their projects.

Specifically, the Nigerian National Petroleum, NNPC, had said that JV cash call is a first line charge on the Federation Account, adding that the 2015 approved budget required monthly funding of about $615.8 million, which translates to $7.39 billion in 12 months.

Kachikwu also told participants at the Oloibiri forum that the government is concentrating on bringing in production sharing contract, PSC-type elements into the JV structures, to enable them get them back to work.

Making the system work According to him, the target that had been set within its systems was to see whether they can get to a point where by the end of this year, they will be able to transit completely away from cash calls. This will ensure that oil companies are freed up to go to banks and raise the money that is required to make the system work.

Kachikwu maintained that a lot of committees had been set up to work on the issue, between NNPC and the oil companies, and expressed the hope that some solutions would be arrived at quickly.

He also disclosed that Government planned to undertake a revision of certain contractual terms in the petroleum industry, in order to cut cost and ensure the growth and development of the sector.

He said: “We are having a lot of conversations with oil companies; that is going to continue; but the essence is that we have to begin to define the contractual terms in this industry.

Production Sharing Contract (PSC) terms have not been revised for quite a while; we will be looking at those. “ For the first time I think we are moving faster probably than the oil companies. We have C M Y K

CONFERENCE: Mr. George Kalu, Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council (left) and Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Petroleum Resources, at the 25th Annual Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum organized

by SPE Nigeria Council in Abuja. continued to push them because it is so critical for me that by June or July of this year, some agreements are reached; some agreements are concluded and some level of financing would begin to come into the sector in such a way that I could get them, at least for 2016 to 100 per cent activity type environment. “ Furthermore, he said the government had put machinery in motion to ensure the reduction of the contract approval cycle from two years to six months by the year end.

JV cash call is a first line charge on the Federation Account, approved budget required monthly funding of about $615.8 million

He said: “Another major issue that is of concern to us is that of bureaucracy. I am sure those of you who are dealing with most of our systems are beginning to notice a very drastic reduction in the time it takes for us to get back to you and deal with transactions.

“I am committed to cutting these down and my commitment has been to try and move from an average of a two-year timetable for contract approvals to not more than six months. It is struggling right now, but quite frankly, by the end of the year we should be able to achieve those objectives.

“And that comes from a good relationship. As long as we are both talking to ourselves and understand that we have the same common problem, we would be able to move faster.”

Continuing, he said: “The National Petroleum Investment Management Services, ( NAPIMS), for example, would be moved from being a sector hidden under the Exploration and Production (E&P) group down straight away to the Group Managing Director’s (GMD) office and maybe, potentially, after the PIB, back to the minister’s desk. That way we are having the deals with the oil companies very direct and very timely, then we can reach the conclusions that we want.“

Production cut may not resolve oil glut — IEA

By Sebastine Obasi

D

ESPITE Nigeria’s lobbying of some members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, to cut production, to shore up global crude oil prices, the International Energy Agency, IEA has said that cutting production may not resolve the current oil glut.

Moreover, production outstrips consumption by around 2 million barrels a day, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD’s energy arm of the IEA. However, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, believes all hope is not lost as oil producing countries are beginning to find solution to the low price.

He said: “I don’t need to tell you about the price of oil despite the shuttle diplomacy here and there. It is still very challenging but at least we are inching up and for the first time, we are beginning to have both the Saudis and the Russians come back to the table.

“When I started that whole move, I was criticised and told that it would not hold but I am happy that over the last few weeks, we see that everybody has bought into that and we are beginning to see prices inch up very slowly.

“But hopefully, if the meeting that we are scheduling to happen in Russia between the

OPEC and non-OPEC members happens on the 20th of March, we should see some dramatic movements, though we are not likely going to see the prices of many years ago.

“I think we are very humbled today to accept that if we hit the price of $50 we will be celebrating and that is the target that we have.”

But the IEA forecast that “stockpiles will continue to build until the end of 2017, even if demand rises. Once the market rebalances supply and demand, there is still going to be more than 3 billion barrels of oil in storage tanks that will take years to clear.” The Agency also expects non-OPEC production to fall by 600,000 barrels a day in 2016, and global demand to rise by about twice that amount.

The IEA further noted: “On the assumption, perhaps optimistic, that OPEC crude production is flat at 32.7 million barrels per day, mb/d in the first quarter of the year, Q1 16, there is an implied stock build of 2 mb/d followed by a 1.5 mb/d build in Q2 16. Supply and demand data for the second half of the year suggests more stock building, this time by 0.3 mb/d. If these numbers prove to be accurate, and with the market already awash in oil, it is very hard to see how oil prices can rise significantly in the short term. In these conditions the short term risk to the downside has increased.

Self-dispensing filling station debuts in Lagos

By Sebastine Obasi

L

AGOSIANS may no longer need the services of petrol station attendants to buy fuel, as a 24-hour, selfdispensing filling station debuts. The station, owned by Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, has 28 nozzles, with each dispensing pump having POS receipts.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle, Mr. Peter Mbah, said the company has zero tolerance for disparity. He said: “We have zero tolerance for disparity. If you are buying 10 litres of fuel, you are sure of it. You are not going to get anything less. This means that a customer should be able to generate receipts from the dispensing pumps, as the receipts will not be handwritten.

“We intend to offer excellence services to the public. We intend to offer 24-hour fuel to the public. We are tired of having fuel scarcity every now and then. We felt that with 28 nozzles and with the 24-hour service we are offering, 365 days in the year, we are always going to have fuel.

“The strategic position we are in as depot owners we are able to provide services constantly to customers. Essentially, we are driven by excellence. That is why we did a petrol station of this size with all the key features in any modern station.

You are able to attend to yourself without the help of a third party. You are not going to buy more than the regulated price.”

Mbah explained that Pinnacle has 10 other stations, and intends to open more in all states of the federation. “This is not our first station. We have stations in other parts of the country. However, this is our first station in Lagos. We have 10 stations in all and hope to be in all the states of the federation. For now, we have in all the states in the SouthEast.

“Beyond being a priority customer of NNPC, which ensures we get regular supply, we also have our depot from where we bring in products.

This will certainly guarantee that we have products 365 days. Presently, we have our depot in Warri. We are doing another one in Lagos,” he said.

He also said that another mega station is being built along the Apapa – Oshodi Expressway.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

C M Y K

— 29

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Nigerian engineers partner UK counterparts on economic diversification

By Evelyn Usman

T

O proffer solution to the dwindling oil prices and expand the country’s revenue base, the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE, has advised the Federal Government to diversify to other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.

The group gave the admonition at the First Public Lecture of the NSChE and the International Chemical Engineers, IchemE, United Kingdom, held at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos.

They argued that the dwindling oil prices and revenue could be a turning point in the nation’s economy if managed optimally.

Addressing journalists, the Chairman, International Affairs Committee, NSChE, Dr John Erinne, explained that the lecture “is geared towards professional development and fostering cooperation between Institution of Chemical Engineering UK and NSChE. It provides a platform for exchange of ideas and views in areas concerning

COMMISSIONING: From left, Rev. Father. Michael Onwughale; Team Leader, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mrs. Tessy Oghieakhe; Chairman/CEO, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Peter Mbah and Regional Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Bukola Smith, during the official commissioning of ultra modern Pinnacle mega service station, in Lekki, Lagos. chemical engineering and the realities of the world’s energy situation as it affects chemical engineers and Nigeria.

“We are talking about the challenges Nigeria is facing as regards the dwindling oil prices and oil returns and what chemical engineers can

provide in terms of value to help Nigeria get out of this.

“There is no quick fix. The dwindling oil returns could be a blessing to this country as this will spur us decisively to move in the area of diversifying and reducing the reliance on oil as a source of revenue. Chemical

Cummins Power unveils plans for Sapele gas plant

C

UMMINS Power Generation Nigeria Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading independent power providers, IPP, has unveiled plans for the construction of the 300 megawatts, MW. Cummins said in a statement in Lagos, that under the Power Purchase Agreement, PPA, signed with Sapele Power, Cummins will invest in the construction, operation and maintenance of the plant to ensure continuous power supply, while Sapele will evacuate the power through the national grid.

The plant will operate on natural gas and utilise cogeneration waste heat recovery technology of Cummins gas engines, designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, UK, making the project both economically viable and environmentally friendly. Sapele Power Plc, SPP, operates Nigeria’s second largest power plant with installed capacity of 1020MW, capable of meeting the energy needs of around 750,000 homes at full capacity.

Detailed business plan Since its acquisition by Eurafric Power Limited in February 2014, SPP has come under new management with a mandate to transform the plant into a power hub over the next five years.

Outlining some of the strategies to achieve set targets, the Chairman, Sapele Power, Mr Anthony Onoh, was quoted as saying, “We have put together a detailed business plan for the phased and sustainable actualisation of this goal. The first phase of this plan focusing on capacity recovery is billed to bring plant output to 250MW by Q2 2016, with the return to service of a third Steam Turbine Unit. The second phase of the plan will triple plant output in the short-midterm through a mix of projects such as the present project with Cummins.

“Sapele Power, leveraging its parent company’s pedigree in the energy and oil & gas industry, is poised to facilitate the timely implementation of this project. Our growth plan is driven by strong transaction economics, a robust and expanding sector supported by favourable government and fiscal terms, and strong potential financial results.”

He added that satisfactory contractual framework for gas supply, transport, and power purchase coupled with the plants comparative advantage of ample land and water-front real estate are also contributing drivers.

“We need to understand that the Buhari’ government’s effort to boost power production is imperative to long term growth and improving the standard of living in Nigeria. Projects such as the Cummins-Sapele deal are strong indicators that the private sector is investing in power generation,” he said.

The Chairman, Cummins Cogeneration, Mr. Deepak Khilnani, was said to have reaffirmed Cummins Power commitment to lighting up Nigeria, guaranteeing up to 99% power availability at all times, and building gas fired power plants across Nigeria.

According to him, “With the gas fired plants across Nigeria, the development of the power industry will significantly boost local jobs. The most significant medium term employment driver for these plants will also be to enhance industrial growth. “As the country moves away from private diesel generation towards a reliable national grid, domestic manufacturing is likely to increase, reducing the nation’s dependence on imports and foreign currency.

“We have significantly invested in our aftermarket and maintenance capability as well as our sister company, Powergas, which is Nigeria’s largest compressed natural gas (CNG) operator.

This is so that we can deliver CNG when piped gas is not available.”

engineering is not all about oil and gas. It’s a broad profession in any area that involves transformation and processing of materials from one form to the other.

“We are all for the diversification of the economy and chemical engineers are at the forefront. We have a lot of skills to contribute towards improving agriculture and agricultural produce and solid

minerals. We are strongly committed to a Nigeria beyond oil and we are strongly urging the government to do all that is necessary in promoting other sectors of the economy and not sole reliance on oil and gas.”

Corroborating his position, the guest lecturer, Mr. Neil Atkinson, who also doubles as the Director, Qualifications and International Development, IChemE, extolled the importance of chemical engineers, whom he described as agents of solution to the technical problem in any given society.

Atkinson said: “There are lots of major needs that we all need to address in terms of sustainable energy, water and food, which are all interconnected. The message is that chemical engineers need to develop and create solutions as technical people for the benefit of the society. Solutions like carbon capture and encouraging the move of bringing in new technologies like harnessing the power of sunlight to interact with energy to make fuel.”

He however noted that “We can’t step away from oil because hydrocarbons will remain a major player in the energy mix for the foreseeable future and we need technologies to transit from hydrocarbons overtime but that will take an enormous investment.”

MOMAN elects Forte Oil boss as new chairman

G

ROUP Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, has been elected as the new Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN. A statement from Forte Oil, said the election of Akinfemiwa ensures the continuity of the Association’s policy to actively engage the Federal Government on its policies, as it relates to the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

It also said that MOMAN under his leadership will wholly support the federal government’s policies by ensuring compliance in the effective distribution and marketing of petroleum products.

It added that MOMAN will continue to foster partnerships with the Federal Government in exploiting the opportunities prevalent in the downstream petroleum sector.

Akinfemiwa was quoted as saying: “Our main focus at MOMAN is to continue to work closely with all the regulatory bodies to finding lasting solutions to the problems faced

in the downstream petroleum sector. Also, to assist the Federal Government by ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products to Nigerians.

“Our commitment is to continue to work towards reviving the Nigerian economy by championing polices that promote the development of our industry which is a driver of the Nigerian economy.”

Akinfemiwa is said to be an experienced and seasoned International oil trader with special focus on oil and petroleum products, futures, swaps and derivatives trading.

He holds a B.Sc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and MBA Degree in Information Technology. He was appointed the GCEO of Forte Oil Plc in December 2011, having held several roles within the petroleum industry.

Akinfemiwa takes over from the founding Chairman of the Association, Mr Wale Tinubu, whose tenure saw the emergence of MOMAN as a powerful voice for the major marketers and promoting best practices within the industry.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—31

Nigeria: The economic upside

By Kemi Adeosun

N

IGERIANS voted for change and to attain that change there is a need to do things differently, in the recognition that doing what we have always done will only result in more of the same. That change has started with the vital offensive against corruption, which has had a huge and adverse effect on our economy.

Much of the debilitating underinvestment in our infrastructure that has handicapped our economic growth, has arisen because funds were diverted to enrich a few at the expense of the wider populace.

At the lower levels, the waste, inefficiency and culture of nonperformance have, like a financial cancer, eaten away at our core institutions. We are already beginning to see change.

The slide towards self-destruction has slowed down but we must now work collectively to ensure that we exploit the upside from our situation.

Globally the downturn has hit all nations, rich and poor alike.

The manner in which governments have intervened to protect their economies have been diverse and innovative. What is abundantly clear is the fact that the previous consensus about what is best for the global economy is rapidly changing.

Global economy There is a concerted move towards individualism rather than collectivism. The new normal for the global economy is that there is no normal, each nation must painstakingly work out the best path to follow.

For Nigeria, we believe that the best path to follow is to invest in infrastructure that will unlock the potential in the non oil sectors. We can transition from being a commodity economy to an industrialised, regionally dominant one.

Oil is important but clearly, oil it not enough. Iran is a very recent and relevant example of living without oil. The sanctions that embargoed Iran’s oil led to the development of robust petrochemical and other export industries that enabled the country to survive.

Iran survived without oil, made tough decisions and is now being feted by investors as the next growth story.

The focus of our economic policy is to redress the infrastructure deficit, unlock the rich diversity in the economy with a determined and focussed turnaround programme. For us it would be a tragedy to have endured so much pain and not emerge better and stronger.

The provision of a spending

stimulus to the economy is critical to releasing the upside in the economy. Investing specifically in Power and Transportation will release the opportunities in solid minerals, manufacturing and agriculture.

However, government spending alone is insufficient to bridge the infrastructure gap and there is a need to embrace private capital to provide additional impact.

We are at an advanced stage of reforming the process for Public Private Partnerships to provide a seamless pathway to attracting much needed private, financial and operational input to service delivery. Private capital brings more than financial resources; it also brings discipline and best practice, creating a benchmark against which the utilisation of public money can be measured.

It is important to link the fiscal housekeeping initiatives that we have started with the wider economic strategy. Specifically, questions around the focus on corruption and the elimination of ghost workers, controlling inefficient spending and preventing revenue leakages, need to be evaluated in the con-

However, government spending alone is insufficient to bridge the infrastructure gap and there is a need to embrace private capital to provide additional impact

text of how it impacts our ability to stimulate the economy. We have been increasing our level of borrowing annually, and much of that is used to fund recurrent spending. Indeed in 2015 just 10% of spending went to capital items. We spent more on travel, training and stationery than on roads. No nation has ever developed with such consistent underinvestment in capital. Growing the economy at a rate that will address the employment needs of our huge population requires a fundamental change in how government collects its revenues and spends.

The 2016 budget is deficit financed; and the fiscal housekeeping which is aggressively blocking revenue leakages and reducing costs is firmly aimed at ensuring that the borrowed funds are channelled into capital projects, rather than seeping through an inefficient financial management system. This is not only prudent economics but it is a moral n e c e s s i t y, since these borrowings will be re-

paid by future generations. Therefore, while we focus fully on the macroeconomic indicators; we must and will continue to focus on the micro factors which collectively shape and determine the larger picture.

The road map to attaining our objectives is a tough one, and we may endure the financial pain for longer than we would prefer, but the upside is that we have actually already endured the worst part of the adjustment cycle. The outlook for oil prices is looking more positive but we are fundamentally determined to ignore oil. One word that will resonate across all that we do in government is ‘Discipline’. Financial discipline is going to be a game changer in shaping the future of Nigeria’s economy.

Our focus will make sure that ‘every naira counts’ irrespec-

Send your reactions to: news@vanguardngr.com

tive of its source. The government is ready and determined to lead this crusade of financial responsibility. The big questions are: •Is the populace ready to do the right thing in their respective areas of operations?

•Are we willing to be frugal and conservative in expenditure?

•Are we as custodians of the nation’s wealth willing to manage the resources entrusted to us with care, knowing that someday we will be called to account?

•Are we willing to confront those who mismanage our collective wealth regardless of the consequences?

Dare we look at what worked successfully in the 50s and 60s, and then modernise and re-enact them?

Dare we look at global trends, and courageously invest in our forecasted choices?

Nigeria stands on the threshold, daring to move into previously uncharted territory through identifying and embracing novel economic and fiscal policy stratagems that will release our considerable upside. We are for innovation to create a new workable path, courage, and discipline to implement and build a resilient economy that is not controlled by the oil price. *Kemi Adeosun is Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

ARIES: AS the saying goes “time waits for nobody” it’s important you guard against unnecessary procrastination capable of putting you at tight corner soonest. Be loving.

TAURUS: IT’S better you conclude what you’ve been doing for a while rather than starting something new you don’t know when to finish it. Be more family minded.

GEMINI: IF careless remarks are made by you today, it would back-fire at resumption of work tomorrow morning. Those who are eager for romantic attention will have their dream coming true. Be more loving CANCER: IF you wait too long before an important (financial) decision is taken, you may find yourself keeping date with what you don’t bargain for.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

H

ISTORY is defined as the study of past events.In order words, history is simply the study of actions and

About History inactions of some individuals.It is the study of what some men and women do in other to shape the world.It is the

TERROR MUDA

story of men and women who dared.History is the narrative of the exploit and conquest of men

in “Scavenger Elite”

and women who are led by their convic-tions.Some people make history, some write it and some read it.If the history of the world is to be w r i t t e n today,where will you be placed?

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO: Placement of the Moon influences your associates to become more self-assertive. If you take good advice you’ll fare better. However, it’s important you don’t forget your tomorrow with others.

VIRGO: BETTER than yesterday and luckily for you, opportunity to rectify mistakes made yesterday may come today to the betterment of your finances.

Don’t try to buy love with money.

LIBRA: BETTER than yesterday as you will be at a more comfortable place today and suddenly discover that your hope is alive. Venus bring you money SCORPIO: ROMANTIC Venus at positive angle may bring matters-of-the heart related temptation through friends. But your best bet now is moderate ambition.

SAGITTARIUS: The best bet for you is to consolidate on progress you made yesterday and look for best way to pacify your new friends.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: EVERYBODY needs other people’s co-operation just like you today but you will not be compelled by situation to dance to others’ tune; meaning that you can do things your own way and rightly expect success.

AQUARIUS: THOSE of you willing to give others the needed co-operation will be in better position to consolidate on progress you have made recently.

Don’t allow sex to distract you.

PISCES: WATCHOUT for minor and avoidable but costly mistake within your working arena, especially if you are in charge of other people’s money. If you develop new romantic liaison today, it may not last.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What Abut me?

Dear Joshua, You have done many people’s horoscope; what about me?

I want you to kindly analyse my star and tell me everything about my self. Please take note that I value my health and career than any other thing.

Ndubuisi,

Lagos.

Dear Ndubuisi, What space can take will be given to you here-under. Star Signs that hosted both your natal sun and moon are members of very strong star signs-health wise. Scorpio, in particular, has unusual survival ability. That is to say, even when health related challenges come, your survival endowment will always see you through.

Your major challenge is from your constant worries about too many things, especially on career related issues. Business miscalculation can be another source of health related challenge. You will agree with the fact that both constant worries and business miscalculation can affect one’s circulatory system.

Other things to watch-out for include: Urine-genital-organs, minor accident (fire), bones dislocations, a few other times, skin infections and, of-course, fever. Always take care of the stomach. Please take note that all these are mere warnings as there is nothing fatalistic about them; a good guard, though.

Oil related Neptune was the closet heavenly body to the sun when you were born at positive angle to Pluto in Leo. Thus, having things to do with oil along your career/business lines is not by accident.

Then preponderance of water element and fixed quality in the distribution of the planets when you were born are favourable to commercial involvement with anything liquid.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—33

Sack Budget Minister over errors, Rep urges Buhari

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, over what he described as the numerous errors in the 2016 budget.

The lawmaker representing Egor/Ikpoba Okhai federal constituency of Edo State, however, assured that the National Assembly will give the Presidency the needed support to ensure that the budget was passed this month so as to boost the economy of the country.

He spoke to newsmen after participating in the ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in his ward, in the state.

He said: “Where you are using almost N800 million to update a website of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, to me, that is a monumental fraud and I told my colleagues in the House, though that has been rectified now and many other areas where we found so many errors.

“President Buhari has already sacked some people who were involved in this and he has also promised to sack more people.

But the question is, what about

the Minister who is supposed to be the one to do the right thing? You can’t be sacking junior officers when the head is still there. You must talk to the head who coordinated the budget for the President.

“It is a disgrace to the Head of the Ministry and it is a disappointment for the nation and I am happy that the

president has done the right thing by correcting them. We must join hands with the president because if everything goes well in Nigeria, all of us will celebrate and rejoice. The president alone can’t solve the problems of Nigeria, it will require the effort of every good citizen of the country to move the nation

forward. So, we must join Mr. President to see that Nigeria succeeds.

“I think the budget will see the light of day soon and Nigerians will celebrate. Many errors were discovered in the budget, I don’t think the president was responsible.

The people he trusted disappointed him.”

VISIT: From leftt: Prof. Seth Huseyin, Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish Nile University; Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kamil Kemanci, president of UGUK Dialogue Foundation, presenting a gift to the minister during a courtesy visit by president of UGUK Dialogue Foundation to the minister.

Okerenkoko hospital funded by Tompolo shuts down

O

By Emma Amaize

KERENKOKO—THE Delta State Governmentowned Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, renovated and furnished with state-of-the-art facilities by former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, after the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, abandoned it in 2009, has again been closed down.

Sources said that the hospital was locked up due to lack of funding following the current travails of Tompolo, who provided free health services to people of the area in the hospital.

Security agents are hunting for Tompolo following a bench warrant by a Federal High Court in Lagos for his arrest.

At press time, all the medical personnel at the hospital, the only government health institution in Gbaramatu Kingdom, whose salaries were paid by Tompolo since 2014, have deserted the hospital.

Among them were four doctors, four laboratory scientists, four pharmacists, eight nurses, four health recorders and other health workers, whom he personally employed to provide free health services to residents of Gbaramatu

Kingdom, as a way of complementing government healthcare delivery.

Besides Gbaramatu Kingdom, the hospital also serves the riverine dwellers that troop from other parts of the state, Edo, Ondo and Bayelsa. The Tompolo Foundation established by the ex-militant leader took over both the Okerenkoko and Ogulagha cottage hospitals and

had extended a helping hand to other government hospitals in Warri, Ekpan and Patani.

DESOPADEC, which initially ran the health facility, abandoned it in 2009 after the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, bombed and destroyed some facilities in the hospital while hunting for militants that allegedly killed some soldiers.

National President of Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, Austin Ozobo, who spoke, yesterday, on the development, said: “The witch-hunt of Tompolo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has crumbled medical services in Gbaramatu Kingdom, as the cottage hospital is the only health facility in the riverine area."

Delta LG boss commends Okowa's agro policy

K

OKO—CHAIRMAN of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for making agriculture the cardinal policy thrust of his administration.

He said that the governor’s agricultural revolution will create massive skilled and unskilled employment opportunities for jobless Deltans.

He lauded Governor Okowa’s agricultural programmes of YAGEP and STEP, which he noted, were already impacting positively on the lives of youths in the state.

Maku-Eyituoyor described the governor as a purpose-driven governor who is committed to exploring alternative sources of revenue for the state since

federal allocation to the state from crude oil sales can no longer sustain the state’s

economic and development programmes.

Okubor slams Scottish attire of presidential guards Affirming laxity on the part of

By Emmanuel Aziken

F

ORMER Chief of Staff to the governor of Delta State, Dr. Festus Okubor, has raised alarm over the importation of foreign culture in presidential protocol, describing the development as a slap on the country’s cultural heritage.

Okubor expressed outrage that President Muhammadu Buhari on his return from his recent trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar was welcomed by soldiers garbed in Scottish attire.

the presidential minders, Okubor said that it was a disgrace to use soldiers dressed in the attire of the nation’s colonial powers to welcome the president of Nigeria back to his country.

Asserting Nigeria's rich culture from Kano, Borno to Benin, Okubor said: “I really feel that there are people bent on embarrassing the president and the people of Nigeria after watching that clip of the president being welcomed by soldiers dressed in Scottish attire.”

UBTH engaging private firm to perform lab tests for patients —AMLSN

By Onozure Dania

T

HE Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, chapter, has accused the management of the teaching hospital of allegedly engaging the services of a private firm to carry out laboratory analysis for patients in a Federal Government owned institution.

Olumoye Abdulazeez, AMLSN UBTH chapter chairman, who briefed newsmen, yesterday, on the allegation, said that the action by the UBTH management conflicts with the statutory role of the teaching hospital to serve as a referral government institution that provides essential and cost effective health care delivery services to patients in the region.

Olumoye said, “What is observed is connivance between the management and this so called private firm with office in Benin city, a pointer to the fact that the present management of UBTH has failed to comply with President Muhammadu Buhari administration's policy on treasury single account."

Edo 2016: PDP’ll sweep out APC's dirt —Rep

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru BUJA—AS the governorship election in Edo State draws nearer, a member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozwa Johnson Agbonayinma, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will take over the governance of the state from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Agbonayinma, who represents Egor Ikpoba Okha federal constituency of Edo State on the platform of the PDP, in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, said that the PDP will not only use the APC's broom to sweep away the dirt gathered by the ruling party in the state, but will use wisdom and people with excellent credentials to flush out the APC. He said that his constituency was the most marginalised in the country because there was no government presence like roads, industry, and health system.

A

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8 , 2016

ORDOBN shuts substandard eye clinics in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—MANY eye clinics that fell below the ethics and standards, guiding the practice of eye care in the country, have been closed down in Owerri, Orlu, Mbaise and Okigwe, by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, ORDOBN. The Board also prohibited the conduct of eye care outreaches by individuals or organizations in the state without its authorization.

Similarly, the sledgehammer equally fell on quack opticians operating along the streets, markets and schools, while optical shop owners were restrained from refracting, dispensing and fitting lenses.

Some of the charges leveled against the sanctioned clinics included not operating in unhealthy environments, nonengagement of unqualified personnel, deficiency in modern practice methods and failure to fulfill their mandatory obligations to the Board.

Explaining their action to newsmen, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of ORDOBN, Professor Ebele Uzodike, said that the Federal Ministry of Health set up the task force to check the activities of quacks in the profession.

“The unethical practices of these quacks have sadly resulted in increasing rate of blindness in the country. The Board is out to eliminate the activities of quacks, whose unethical practices had resulted in the increasing rate pf blindness in the country,” Prof. Uzodike said.

Continuing, the ORDOBN boss called for synergy in the campaign to push quakes out of eye care delivery in the nation’s health sector.

Speaking also, the Imo State

chapter Chairman of Nigerian Optometrists Association, Dr. Martin Ohiri, wondered why

Nigerians still patronize quacks, despite the regular sensitization of the citizenry

on the dangers posed by these quacks.

....As NAFDAC threatens bakers in Aba over fumigation certificates from non- Director, Environmental Health

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—THE Chief Regulatory Officer, NAFDAC, Abia office, Mr Udoekpo Ekpo has warned bakers in Aba, Abia State to desist from fumigating their bakeries with quacks or risk sanctions.

Ekpo who gave the warning during an interview in Aba on NAFDAC’s meeting with members of Association of Master Bakers, Aba chapter said that "from now on, fumigation

professionals in fumigation will not be accepted from the bakers."

He said that the move was necessary to reduce the risk of contamination of food in the factories which could endanger the lives of bread consumers.

“We can no longer accept certificates for fumigation from quacks because only the professionals know how to do the fumigation without contaminating the bakery,” he said.

Addressing the bakers, the

Services, Aba South Local Government Area, Mr Nkechi Ocho said using professionals collectively would reduce cost for them.

Ocho warned against allowing rats and other pests to inhabit their factories, saying that rats have been implicated in the outbreak of diseases like Lassa fever.

She urged them to keep their environment clean always in order not to transmit diseases to the public through their products.

Students excited as ex-Gov Obi rehabilitates burnt hostel people who ordinarily would not schools’ laboratories, libraries,

A

DA N I — S T U D E N T S of Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Adani, in Enugu State danced and celebrated mass with joy and excitement over the handover of their rehabilitated hostel that was last year razed completely by fire.

Speaking during the event, Rev. Fr. Fredrick Omekoha who presided over the thanksgiving mass, said he was thrilled by Obi’s brand of philanthropy of trying to touch lives among rural

have anybody to assist them.

The Principal of the School, Rev. Sister. Jane Onuorah thanked God for the gift of Mr. Peter Obi. Describing his love for education as legendary. She said that what he did as the governor of Anambra State has lifted Anambra to a frontline state in education.

“During his tenure, he rehabilitated schools massively, provided boreholes, generators, Internet facilities, sports equipment, and upgraded

among others. Even as a private person, he has continued the good work,” she said.

Obi who commissioned the building as well as the school’s new library, promised to assist them to equip the library as well as set up a computer class.

Speaking on what drives him, Obi said that he believed that people should give back to the society through assisting in the execution of projects that would contribute in the rebuilding of human society.

Smiles takes network expansion to Onitsha, Asaba, Kaduna said, adding that, “Our goal is to

L

By Emeka Aginam

AGOS—COMMITTED to expanding its internet services across the nation, Smile Nigeria has launched its broadband services in Kaduna, Onitsha and Asaba respectively.

With this development, the broadband service provider will make available 4th Generation

Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) broadband service for the inhabitants of these three cities.

“The network expansion that saw us in three major Nigerian cities almost at a go reaffirms our belief in Nigeria and our determination to serve Nigerians,” Smile Chief Marketing Officer, Alero Ladipo,

provide Nigerian broadband internet users with speed, quality, reliability and simplicity. Our vision of becoming the broadband internet provider of choice in Nigeria has guided us in everything from selecting our people and partners to choosing the best technologies and creating innovative and relevant products and services.”

W

ell, my view on the issue is that Ese is a Deltan, I am a Deltan. We do not marry 13 or 14-year-old girls here, we educate them. Whoever that is behind this should be arrested and prosecuted now. Mr Carpe Diem, Self Employed.

C M Y K

G

abduction

od bless all those Muslims that have condemned this act.

Whatever is wrong is wrong. Which corruption could be worse than the kidnap and forceful marriage of a 14-year-old without her parent’s consent? Mr Onugbu Andy, Worker.

T

of

14-year-old

he truth is that the girl was a product of baby factory, she doesn’t know her biological father and fed up with religion or homosexual from Vatican City, therefore she left them for Kano to revert to Islam. Mr Abdullahi Yusuf, Businessman

W

Ese

for

e are in a dangerous time. I expected the few educated Hausa people to condemn this evil act of child molestation, but unfortunately they are the greater beneficiary of it. Miss Ogochukwu Onwuatuegwu, Student

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chinonso Alozie

O

WERRI—THE National Judicial Council, NJC, has finally come to the aid of Imo State Judiciary, following the release of the names of eight new judges to serve in the state High Court and the state Customary Court of Appeal, CCA..

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who disclosed this over the weekend while addressing journalists in Owerri, also said that the new judges would be sworn in today.

While saying that the appointment may have come a bit late, Governor Okorocha, however, reasoned that with the injection of fresh hands into the system, the administration of justice would be faster.

Although he stopped short of mentioning the names of the new judges, Vanguard, however, gathered from credible judicial sources that the eight new judges that made the list included a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. S. I. Opara, B. C. Iheka, Nnodum P. U, and Mr. Eze F. Njemanze.

Other lawyers that were named in the fresh appointment were M. E. Nwagboso, I. M. Nwaka and Mrs. C. Oni-Egbunine, while Mrs. Sophia Ogwuegbu beefs up the number of serving judges in the state Customary Court of Appeal.

With the appointment of seven new judges, the number of serving judges in the state High Court has risen to 19 instead of about 30, while that of the CCA will now be manned by six judges instead of about seven.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On

New judges appointed in Imo

marriage

W

hy is Aisha Buhari silent on this matter? I thought she pledged to fight for the rights of the girl-child? Is Islam superior to our Constitution? It is a critical issue that our lawmakers should start looking at now.

Mr Jesukri Imoni, Self Employed.

A

14-year-old Christian girl from Bayelsa State is abducted from her home, compelled to become a Muslim, forced into marriage, hidden from her parents and held captive against her wish.

This is evil! Miss Brenda Olanma, Worker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 35

Bello explains reasons for staff audit

MOMAN elects Forte Oil Plc GCEO, Akin Akinfemiwa as Chairman

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O K O J A — GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said the ongoing staff verification exercise is in the interest of workers and the state government, stressing that it is mainly to ascertain the integrity of the government payrolls.

The governor, who stated this in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, commended the workers for their patience and cooperation with the screening committee, promising that better days were ahead.

He said: “I want to commend labour for its patience and steadfastness in ensuring that the staff verification exercise is successful. This has shown that both the government and organised labour are on the same page in ensuring that we reposition public service and discourage corruption which has deprived our esteemed workers from getting their due pay. My government will stop at nothing in enthroning a well motivated workforce that will be ready to work with our government to take Kogi to a new pedestal.”

The Governor also reiterated his determination to improve the standards of living of the people in line with his electioneering promises and called for continued support, prayers and collaboration to enable his administration achieve its dreams for the people of the state.

G

TOUR: From left; Commissioner of Agriculture, Rivers State, Mrs. Onimim Jacks; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri; and Group Managing Director, Notore Chemicals Plc, Mr. Onajite Okoloko, during a tour of the Notore fertiliser plant in Onne, Rivers State on Saturday

Benue saves N2.6bn from ghost workers syndicate

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI— GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday said his administration had saved over N2.6 billion from ghost workers syndicate at the state and local government levels.

He stated that the sum was saved from the N26 billion bailout funds recently accessed from the Federal Government after the screening that preceded the disbursement of the funds.

Ortom made this known while receiving the report of the

Administrative Commission of Inquiry into the Sale/Lease of Government Assets from June 2007 to May 2015.

The governor explained that N1billion was saved from the N12.5 billion accessed for state workers while N1.6 billion was saved from the N15.5billion accessed for workers at the third tier of government.

According to him: “The over N1 billion was saved from the N12.5 billion bailout funds to the state while N1.6 billion was saved from the N15.5 bailout funds accruing to the local government areas. The N2.6 billion that was

saved has been injected into the treasury because it is a loan that must be paid back.”

Ortom said that many fictitious names were discovered in the payment vouchers during the disbursement of the funds, noting that two committees had been set up to address complaints from genuine workers who were yet to be paid.

He added: “We discovered that fake names were included in the payment vouchers. Those involved will be handed to security agencies for prosecution. We have already set up two committees for those who have issues with payments but up till now, we are yet to see anybody with complaints.”

NUPENG, PENGASSAN talk tough over moves to unbundle NNPC

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

N

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN counterpart, have said moves to unbundle Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, into 30 companies without following due process by the Federal government, is illegal.

NUPENG and PENGASSAN in separate statements yesterday, said the moves was an attempt to provoke the Oil and Gas workers and cause industrial unrest in the country In the statement by its Acting General Secretary, Joseph Ogbebor, NUPENG said: “We condemn the unilateral action of the Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, as the decision is not in consonance with the laws establishing the NNPC. The

unbundling and rebranding of NNPC as announced by the Minister of State is another public policy change which is not consistent with the Act and Laws establishing NNPC and will be resisted by Oil and Gas workers in the country. ''NUPENG will not tolerate a situation whereby the unbundled companies will now hide under the cover to start disengaging its workers. Job creation and job security has

Ahmed flags off 1,000 Maigida Housing units in Ilorin

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, yesterday flagged off building of phase one of the 1,000 Maigida Housing Units at BudoOsho, in Ilorin, as part of efforts at solving the state’s housing problems.

Speaking at the ground breaking, Governor Ahmed said with a population of 3.5 million, the state had 486,000 households C M Y K

“with an estimated 6 people per household. Therefore, Kwara State has a housing deficit of 584,000 affordable and quality units.”

The governor, who said the programme was expected to cover the 16 local government areas of the state, described the 1,000 units as government’s recognition of the critical need to provide affordable, quality housing to meet the need of Kwarans for shelter.

“At present, we are experiencing high population growth due to the huge influx of people and businesses to our state, based on our reputation as the gateway to the north and south as well as the relative peace we enjoy.

Therefore, it has become crucial that we, as a welfare-oriented government, provide affordable and quality housing such as the 1,000 units being flagged-off today to accommodate the state’s growing population”, he said.

been the change mantra of the current administration. The move is to kill the NNPC by all means but that government officials should know that the Corporation is a creation of law and that it will take the repealing of the original Act to effect the changes that they are planning to do.

On its part, PENGASSAN in a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, said the government's move is tantamount to a summersault.

He said, “There is an existing NNPC Act of 1977 that set up the NNPC. This Act has many provisions that deal with structure and operations of the corporation.

There are many issues such as pensions and transfer of the employees, which are provided for in the NNPC Act of 1977. What will happen to all these provisions of the law? ''For the government to do anything with the current NNPC, the Act must either be repealed or amended to accommodate the planned restructuring. If not done, it will equal to lack of respect for the rule of law on the part of the government.''

ROUP Chief Executive Officer of Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, has been elected chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN. MOMAN is the the umbrella body of the major oil marketing companies in the country.

The election of Akinfemiwa as the Chairman ensures the continuity of the association’s policy to engage the Federal Government on its policies as it relates to the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

MOMAN under his leadership will wholly support the federal government’s policies by ensuring compliance in the effective distribution and marketing of petroleum products.

In addition, MOMAN will continue to foster partnerships with the Federal Government in exploiting the opportunities prevalent in the downstream petroleum sector.

“Our main focus at MOMAN is to continue to work closely with all the regulatory bodies to finding lasting solutions to the problems faced in the downstream petroleum sector and to also assist the Federal Government by ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products to Nigerians. Our commitment is to continue to work towards reviving the Nigerian economy by championing polices that promote the development of our industry which is a driver of the Nigerian economy.” said Mr. Akinfemiwa.

Mr. Akinfemiwa is an experienced and seasoned International oil trader with special focus on oil and petroleum products, futures, swaps and derivatives trading.

He holds a B.Sc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and MBA Degree in Information Technology. He was appointed the GCEO of Forte Oil Plc in December 2011 having held several roles within the petroleum industry.

Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

KWARA HOUSING SCHEME:

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (2nd right), laying foundation for 1,000 Housing Unit Maigida Estate at Budo Osho, New GRA, Ilorin, yesterday.

MERIT: Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State presenting a Certificate of Merit to Miss Zainab Mohammed Salisu Daura, who represented the state at the just-concluded National Koranic Recitation Competition in Lafiya, Nasarawa State, where she emerged 4th.

W E M A S T A F F DONATE S A L A R Y:

VLISCO'S WOMEN: From left— Mrs. Ayotunde Bisiriyu; Vlisco Ambassadore 2015/2016, Mrs. Dotun Akande, and Marketing Manager, Vlisco Nigeria, Adaeze Alilonu, during the firm's women celebration in Lagos.

PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

AIRTEL TRACE MUSIC: From left— Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Ahmad Mokhles; Managing Director, Trace Music Star, Nigeria and Anglo-African countries, Sam Onyemelukwe, and Manager, Youth Segment, Airtel, Emeka Adigwe, at the launch of Airtel Trace Music Star Season 2 in Lagos.

From left— Mr. O y e s o l a Oyetunde of Wema Bank, Otta Branch; Purple N e c t a r Beneficiary, Helen Idehai, and Zonal Manager, Wema Bank, Ikeja, Mrs. Morenike Nasiru, as the bank's staff donate their day's salary for love.

NCC/BPP: From left— Chief of Staff to Executive Vice Chairman, Usman Malah; Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojob; Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Danbatta, all of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Engr. Ahmed Abdu; Director, Finance and Management Services, BPP, Dr. Chris Iwuagwu, and Director, Human Capital and Infrastructure Group, NCC, Mrs. Maryam Bayi, during a courtesy visit to BPP, yesterday.

CHARITY:

Mr. Kazeem Obayemi distributing exercise books to pupils of Anglican P r i m a r y School, Ijede, as part of an outreach to help the lessprivileged pupils in schools.

TRUTH ASSEMBLY: From left— Senior Pastor, Dami; Founder, Foundation of Truth Assembly, Reverend Abayomi Kasali, and Pastor Ogedengbe at a briefing on the forthcoming Cross Campaign programmes, slated for March 27 to 29 in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 37

ABDUCTION:

It was a most traumatic moment for us – Proprietors •As parents of rescued girls, school’s governing council visit Ambode •Affected students resume classes •Abducted students returning to school in uniform yesterday. Photo: Bose Adelaja

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Bose Adelaja

P

ARENTS of the three rescued female students, Mr. Toyin Olaniyan, Mrs. Akinayo Ayorinde, Mrs. Funmi Olusa accompanied by the governing council of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu including the Anglican Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Mainland Diocese, Most Rev. Adebayo Dada Akinde, Executive Secretary, Lagos Anglican School Management Board, Venerable Victor Olusa; School Principal, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi yesterday paid a “thank you” visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking, Most Rev. Akinde, said his team deemed it fit to appreciate the role played by the state government in the wake of the abduction of the students from the school on February 29 and particularly the role of Governor Ambode.

According to him; “The success story of the rescue of the girls cannot be complete without the laudable efforts of the Lagos State Government.

Custody of their parents “It was a most traumatic moment and sad for us as proprietors. Today we are thanking God for his intervention that a most unfortunate and traumatic event ended on a joyous note. All three pupils are now safe in the custody of their parents, they have been reunited.

You acted and responded. Your response was prompt, your response was positive, your response was practical.

“So when we talk about this success story of the return of the three female students, your Excellency, your contribution is most overwhelming, you have shown yourself to be a passionate leader, a leader that is interested in the well being of the citizens of the state that God has placed you as the Chief Executive Officer .

“So the main objective of our mission here is to express immense thanks to your C M Y K

Parents of the abducted students: *Mrs. Funmi Olusa, *Mrs. Akinayo Ayorinde and Mr. Toyin Olaniyan

Excellency for the support you gave us. We are saying thank you, we are indeed grateful, you have started well as the Governor of the state, God will grant you the grace to continue and improve in the name of Jesus.

We sincerely appreciate you and are immensely grateful,” Bishop Akinde said.

Also speaking, Principal of the school, Ven. Adeyemi said they were indeed grateful for the support, encouragement and prayers they received from several quarters while the ordeal lasted.

He said with the security apparatus put in place by the state government, the game is over for those who have taken to crime in Lagos.

“What happened has shown that there is no hiding place for criminals in Lagos. We are happy because God in his infinite mercy helped us and the security agencies did their work well and the girls are with us now. They

All three pupils are now safe in the custody of their parents, they have been reunited. You acted and responded

are back in school and have reunited with their parents. I believe that God is working in Lagos,” he said.

One of the parents of the rescued girls, Ven. Ayo Olusan said they were relieved with the return of their girls, saying the prayers offered by Nigerians and the prompt effort of the state government played a huge role towards the rescue of the girls.

Rescue of the girls Responding, Ambode said the incident was a test of the government’s commitment to the security of lives and property in the state.

“Seven days ago, the unthinkable happened, but again, we give all the glory to God that seven days after we are able to pride ourselves that one of those principal duties that you have charged this administration with is what we have just proved.

“We took it personal, not because it was a private school, not because it was far away from the metropolis, but because we all decided to say that if it were our own child or children, are we going to sit down? That is the real focus of what this administration is all about. For everything that happens we put ourselves to imagine that if it were us, what would be said about our actions and inactions.

“We are very grateful to God for giving us that opportunity to prove that the welfare and well being and the security of the people of Lagos is what is

paramount to us as an administration.

“It’s just for me to reiterate that the security of lives and property is of paramount interest to this administration, we will do anything to make sure that the security of lives and property is sustained, is enhanced, because at the end of the day that is the only way we can grow the economy of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

Governor Ambode also sent a strong warning to criminals to desist from their nefarious activities, warning that his administration is poised to spread its security searchlight to every nook and cranny of the state.

“We know that Lagos is safe, we are reiterating once again and sending a final warning signal to all the criminals and miscreants that have been disturbing the peace of Lagos, that this time, we would be in every nook and cranny of Lagos to secure the lives of everyone,” he said.

Academic activities resume Meantime, academic activities resumed at the school, yesterday, after the three abducted students were reunited with the school.

Olusa Timilehin, PopoOlaniyan Tofunmi and Akinayo Deborah resumed their studies after six days in the kidnappers’ den.

They were rescued on Sunday in Imota, another town on the outskirt of Ikorodu but resumed to their various classes yesterday.

Unlike the past days when the students, parents and teachers wore a mournful look, it was a different atmosphere entirely, yesterday, as they go about the day’s activities. All effort to speak to the school authorities proved abortive. The broken rear fence through which the kidnappers gained access to the school has been re-erected.

Also, the security consciousness of the school has increased as visitors and strangers are put under close monitoring. Unlike last week when the school gate was usually left open, things have taken a different shape as visitors now pass through interrogation before gaining access to the premises.

A source in the school said, the school has been inundated with phone calls and congratulatory messages since the girls were freed while visitors have been paying visits to the school. Effort to speak to the students also proved abortive as access to the classrooms was restricted.

Snacks and soft drinks Vanguard gathered that the school shop where snacks and soft drinks are sold has recorded a boom as students and staff thronged it in celebration of the student’s return.

APC lauds LASG, security operatives: The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, also commended The Lagos state government and security agencies for the speedy rescue of the kidnapped students describing it as “commendable”.

The party said the rescue efforts proved the competence of the present government in governing a huge and complex state as Lagos as well as the massive investment the Ambode administration has made in security of lives and property in the state.

Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, in a statement lauded the quick rescue of the girls and the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime has shown that the state was ready and prepared to deal with criminality .

38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

By Theodore Opara

fuel economy rating is a onempg improvement over the previous model.

Tucson has resultantly become quieter with less road noise in the cabin especially when cruising on the highway and the body roll has been improved to eliminate unpleasant leaning through fast corners – thanks to the excellent body control.

How does the Tucson perform?

The Tucson’s power is quick from standstill with smooth changes that transmit fast signals to the gearbox to drop a gear when you call for some immediate pace and despite this the Tucson is a delight to drive in busy traffic.

Hyundai ix35 returns as Tucson with attractive features H

YUNDAI Motors Nigeria, manufacturers and distributors of Hyundai automobiles has joined world renowned Hyundai dealerships as it unveiled the all new third-generation 2016 Tucson SUV that successfully mixes value and practicality.

The visually striking 4WD Tucson replaces iX35 and has been positioned to rival strong models like Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, Nissan X-Trail.

Redesigned from ground up with a brand new chassis, the Tucson is another step up from its predecessor and it offers distinctive styling and tremendous features that make a distinction from competitors in the mid-size SUV crowd.

The Tucson is no doubt an inspiringly beautiful SUV with attractive features, fantastic build quality, efficient engines and a strong suite of safety kits backed

by Hyundai ambitious five years or 100,000km warranty.

Available in Elegance and Evolution variants, the Evolution has optional features including auto defrog system, ECM+rear view camera, leather seats, power seats, parking assist, cruise control, privacy glass, button start (smart key) among others.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria Head of Sales and Marketing

Premium shine plastics

Jatin Nadkarni who said this much in the product presentation affirmed that the new Tucson has plenty of cabin space for five adults and ample boot capacity than most rivals in the midsized SUV segment.

Suffice it to say the 2016 Hyundai Tucson has made noticeably gains in overall comfort, but the most appreciated is its wellinsulated cabin that keeps outside sounds at bay and a new suspension setup that can easily soak bumps and nasty road im-

perfections. Among the most attractive lures is Tucson’s new suite treated to the automaker’s latest ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ design which gives the car sporty forward stance and sharp creases like the Santa-Fe. This semblance is noticeable in the Tucson’s large trapezoidal grille and the new chassis, which now uses 50% high-strength steel compared to its predecessor’s 18%.

Under the hood, Hyundai Tucson’s powertrain offerings is enhanced with top efficient Nu en-

gine family 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder engine with 164 brake horsepower (bph) and 151 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The six-speed automatic offers SHIFTRONIC™ manual shifting mode and includes an overdrive lock-up torque converter for higher fuel economy at highway speeds. EPA fuel economy for the 2.0L 4WD model is rated at 23 (city), 31 (highway), 26 (combined). The 26-mpg combined

The design progress inside the new Tucson for example is evidently glaring with a mix of sophisticated, cohesive, premium shine plastics with splashes of chrome and smooth rolling dials that gives high-end feels.

Even so, the eight-inch touch screen is home to audio, and a raft of in-car information displays with intuitive pathways.

There’s also good storage pockets with 12-volt, auxiliary and USB points that are sensibly positioned forward of the gear change, allowing ease of access.

Tucson’s second row offers comfort and space for three with two directional air vents; two back of seat pockets, partial reclining seats and indoor storage stow.

Road Traffic accidents: Why speed limiter is inevitable I

N its efforts at ensuring safety standards for road users, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, restated commitment towards the introduction of speed limit device.

The move, it was gathered, became imperative given the increase in road traffic accidents and the need to conform to global practices.

Though controversies had trailed the introduction of the device, which FRSC said would ensure sanity on the highways, the ever rising rate of road crashes seems to make its enforcement inevitable.

Since the underpinning reason for the furore of its planned introduction was discovered to be ignorance on the part of most drivers, the commission recently outlined its advantages and why it should be supported.

Findings by Motoring Vanguard, showed that the regulation on compulsory use of speed limiting device on vehicles in Nigeria has been in the FRSC Establishment Act and the National Road Traffic Regulation since 2004 and retained in the subsequent amendments.

Indeed, speed is a key risk facC M Y K

tor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries and deaths.

Specifically, speed was found to increase driver’s response time to objects and risk of collision, reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely and around curves and objects on the roads, extend the distance necessary to stop a vehicle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.

Speed limiter prevent the vehi-

In the present scenario, its becomes pertinent to state that Nigerian drivers hardly keep to approved speed limits

cle from reaching certain speed.

Apart from these primary functions, investigations indicated that the policy if successfully implemented would provide socioeconomic advantages for the nation. Notably, lower speed results in less fuel consumption by vehicles and also cut down vehicle maintenance cost in addition to the slowing down of the depreciation value making vehicle last longer.

Significantly, it would impact positively in changing the individual driving behaviour which has been hard to achieve over the years.

The pre-set limit of vehicle, is not left out, as it would reduce the speed of vehicle to pre-set limit thus reducing overall crash risk and likely to lessen severity of crash.

In addition, vehicle owners and fleet operators stand to gain from the good monitoring mechanism.

However, on a larger scale, it was found to be capable of engendering compliance to the ECOWAS mandate, fulfilment of the Corps statutory functions through good practice.

To a large extent, losses associated with speed related crashes are expected to reduce or

possibly eliminated.

When that is achieved, the young virile members of the society would be saved from deaths and maiming associated with speed induced crashes.

On the sidelines, it would enable more relaxed driving and lower insurance premium as consequence of fewer crashes.

Drivers’ speed behaviour Indeed, some may still be wondering what could have informed this with the presence of conventional methods of limiting.

In this regard, the most widely used strategies to mitigate drivers’ speed behaviour through education, training and retraining, provision of speed limiting signs and of speed calming measures in the design and construction of highways, introduction of speed radar guns and enforcement, are readily referenced.

Checks, however, found these traditional methods to be ineffective, necessitating the Speed Limiter. For instance, it had long been established that lower speed variance can be linked to

fewer crashes and compliance with speed limits reduces the chances of vehicles getting involved in frequent of crashes and severity of bodily injuries.

In fact, Section 99 of the National Road Traffic Regulation further buttressed the import of limiting speed rate. ‘’The minimum speed of any motor vehicle shall be 45km/hr and maximum speed 100km/hr, except where otherwise indicted by a sign as prescribed in Section 9 of this regulation,” it stated.

In the present scenario, its becomes pertinent to state that Nigerian drivers hardly keep to approved speed limits which is the major cause of road traffic accidents. Apart from the death of the Minster of State for Labour, Mr. James Ocholi and some members of his family in a road crash, similar accidents had claimed the lives of eminent Nigerians in the past.

Not many of the drivers know the approved speed limit on various roads, hence the loss of lives and property.

In most developed countries, speed limit device has been instrumental to sanity on the highways,as offenders are often lawfully punished.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 39

By Theodore Opara

Ben Bruce makes case for made in Nigeria vehicles a

•Takes delivery of localy assembled Kia Soul

I

N a move to institutionalise and strengthen the industrialisation of Nigeria by being on the vanguard of the true change in political will amidst the cloudy future of Nigeria’s major export, crude oil which has continued to plummetatanimpactfullowrecord, the revolution advocate, Senator Ben Murray Bruce has undoubtedly broken different frontiers by not just postulating but walking the talk to revitalise Nigeria’s economy through the made-in-Nigeria crusade.

Weaved into the rejuvenation of Nigeria’seconomyforaguaranteed turnaroundaimedatcombating the continued weakening of the naira which is currently at the epi-centre of the wobbling economy, is the made-in-Nigeria products. The government had in more than one occasion reaffirmed its commitment to encourage a selfsustaining country that is tilted towards locally manufactured products than an import-oriented economy to help strengthen the local currency and stabilise the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria.

Keying into this policy thrust, Senator Ben Bruce has brought to the fore different practical economic strides to shore up the

local industry. The auto industry as one of the major sectors with potentials of rescuing the nation’s economy in its current comatose, cannot be left untapped and this has made the senator to encourage the government to patronise the locally-assembled vehicles.

The senator took delivery of the made-in-Nigeria Kia Soul, one of the locally produced Kia model range and applauded the commitment and determination of Kia in partnering with the federal government to advance the country’s economy.

Commitment to industrialisation As one of the leading automobile brands in Nigeria with an enviable record of offering best-in-class and top of the segment vehicles at an affordable cost to the Nigerian market, Kia Motors Nigeria has again reinforced its unwavering commitment to the industrialisation of Nigerian economy and its indeliblecontributionstothesuccess of the auto industry by investing heavily in an assembly plant. It's state of the art technologies are

•Senator Ben Bruce (inside) inspecting the newly acquired Kia Soul. arguably at par with any renowned andinternationalplantintheworld.

The plant launched at the wake of the year 2015, prides itself on the production of nine tropicalized and made-for-Nigeriamodelswiththeir respective trims in the country with over 2500 units rolled out since its launch.

The Chief Commercial Officer, Sandeep Malhotra, alluded to the fact that the success of the plant is premised on Nigerian government’s favourable disposition to empowering local industry. In his submission, he stated that Kia MotorsNigeria

Auto Industry: BKG boss urges FG to emulate US govt •Announces date for 2016 Lagos Motor Fair

T

HE Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, organisers of the Lagos Motor show, Auto parts Expo and Abuja Motor show, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu has advised the Federal Government to pay more attention to the nation’s auto sector, saying that the sector was too important to be ignored.

Mr. Agwu, who made this appeal while announcing the date for this year’s Lagos Motor show and Auto parts Expo, noted that in America, the auto sector was among the first things the Obama’s government addressed because of its importance to the country’s economy.

“The auto sector is very key to any country’s economy, generating revenue to the government and employment to the teaming youths,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “no serious government ignores the auto sector, rather it finds a way to revive it in the interest of the citizenry.

He added that the sector is a major artry in the life of any administration.

To this end, he urged the Federal Government to talk to the stakeholders in the sector to enable the nation reap the benefits of the sectors, adding their determination to go ahead with this year’s Motor show was to bring players together under one arena.

He however, submitted that if the players fail to come together using the avenue created by the Lagos Motor show, it means that they have surrendered to tough time.

C M Y K

“We are asking every stakeholder in the sector to show up at the event because it would demonstrate their collective strength and doggedness to survive at a trying time.

Given details of the 2016 Lagos Motor show, which hold from April 28 to May 4, 2016 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, the BKG boss noted that they would have given up to the tough time but for their determination.

“People thought we won’t host it this year due to economic downturn but we have since discovered that people are still driving their cars on the road and no car shop has closed down. But we have decided to take a new approach to it.

The new approach he stated is developing new option for marketing, customer relationship and the future of the industry because things are not going to remain like this forever. “Because of this, we have new opportunities to educate people and the government to enable us keep business in the auto sector alive.

The BKG boss noted that his company was committed to the growth of the auto sector of the country and appealed to all concerned to not to let the sector die.

“The sector should not give up. It should not die, as its major contributor to the economy it is too big to be swept under the carpet. “How can you take your goods from one point to the other without land transportation which accounts for 80 percent of our movement in Nigeria?

remained resolute and committed to the long term investment in the auto industry despite the short term challenges currently faced. The plant has the capacity to produce 27,000 vehicles annually and there is a provision to increase the production lines depending on the demand.

The assembly line has been built to the high standard of KIA Motors Corporation. After several months of construction, installation of technologically advanced

equipment and the training of its staff have snowballed into its first assembly lines that assembles Kia models, such as its best-selling Kia Rio, Cerato, Optima, Sportage and the all-new 2015 Kia Sorento recently unveiled globally amongst others are all products from the plant. With the quality of the vehicles produced locally in the company’s Lagos plant, it’s apparently lucid that there was no compromise on the high standard of the plant and it remains one of the best in the country.

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

•Buhari

Noting that he had expected a crackdown during an encounter with some state elders on account of his criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said: “I expect them to ask me what are my grievances and what do I want and we would lay everything on the table”.

But Governor Fayose, who condemned the invasion of the Assembly and the arrest of the four lawmakers, is blowing hot as he on Sunday vowed not to succumb even if 1 million agents of the DSS invade the state.

The governor, who said the DSS under President Buhari was operating beyond its constitutional mandate, added that “the government of Ekiti State may have to reconsider the usefulness of men of the DSS in the government house and other institutions of the State government.”

“If Buhari likes, let him relocate all DSS men in Nigeria with the entire ammunitions in their armoury to Ekiti, the will of Ekiti people can never be broken.

They will only try, and like they have always done, they will fail because dictatorship has never triumphed over the people.

Even Buhari’s dictatorship between 1984 and 1985 ended one day and Nigerians will also outlive his present dictatorship.”

“I make bold to state that in the overall interest of democracy and well-being of Nigerians, I will continue to speak my mind on issues bordering on governance in Nigeria. I will not be intimidated!”

•Fayose

DSS INVASION: Looming storm in Ekiti

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

T

HIS is definitely not the best of time for the Apostle of Stomach Infrastructure and the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, as there seem to have been a complete crackdown on the state by operatives of the Department of State Security, close allies of the Governor were reportedly being picked for yet to be disclosed crimes.

As at last count, seven close allies of the Governor have been picked and among those that are currently cooling their heels at the facilities of the DSS are four Members of the state House of Assembly, namely, Hon Musa Arogundade, Ado-Ekiti Constituency 1, Afolabi Akanni, Efon Constituency, names of the other two members are yet to be known.

Others are, Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Matters and the Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Ropo Ogunjobi, Mr Demola Bello, Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Kayode Oso, Commissioner for Works and Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo. Others said to be on the focus of the security agencies and could be picked up anytime are C M Y K

the Speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole and the Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo.

Vanguard gathered that the arrest of these people may not be unconnected with the role they played during the June 21, 2014, Governorship election and face off between Governor Fayose and the 19 APC Lawmakers.

The latest wave of arrest of prominent members of the state executive council and legislatures by the DSS despite assertions to the contrary is believed to be unsettling the governor and his lieutenants as the state seems set for another round of political crisis.

While it is still very early in the day to predict where the current travail of Governor Fayose would lead to, it is noteworthy that he has been trudging the path which he followed in his first term about ten years ago

While it is still very early in the day to predict where the current travail of Governor Fayose would lead to, it is noteworthy that he has been trudging the path which he followed in his first term about ten years ago.

Since his emergence as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the June 21, 2014, Governorship election in the state, he singlehandedly picked those that would sit in the State House of Assembly.

Invasion of the court One of the dramatis personae in the unfolding drama had told Vanguard that the tell tale of signs of what to expect would start unfolding this month, saying it would be interesting to see how Governor Fayose would wriggle out of the seemingly intricate web of booby traps.

Digging deeper, Vanguard gathered that the legislators who were whisked away by operatives of the Department of State Security last Friday were found culpable in the invasion of the court and the beating up of judges and the Commissioner for Finance was being allegedly held to explain the state’s finances.

Fayose’s allegation

•Daura While some political watchers in the state attributed the clampdown to the fall out of the alleged rigged election of June 21 Governorship election, which some believed was indeed rigged going by the revelation of the alleged whistle blower, one Captain Koli of the Nigerian Army who claimed to have in his possession, an audio tape of a meeting between the incumbent governor, Mr Fayose, former Police Affairs Minister, Alhaji Jelil Adesiyan, Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, PDP candidate in Osun Governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the army Officer who supervised the security arrangement for the election, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh.

Ever since the dust raised by the leakage of the audio tape, neither the governor nor the state has experienced enduring peace.

It was even more critical after the military panel that investigated the issued turned its report that indicted its officers involved in the alleged rigging.

Dismissing Fayose’s allegation with a wave of the hand, Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, said the claim that DSS invaded the House of Assembly was a blatant lie, “even though I’m not DSS, what we know and what we have confirmed is that nobody invaded the House, some of the people that were arrested were not picked within the premises of the House and the staffers of the Assembly have confirmed that there was no invasion of the house of Assembly by any security agents” “What we know is that Fayose is actually acting s script, there is no way Fayose and his army of marauders would go scot free with the plethora of anomalies and illegality and unconstitutionalities of his government and we should all know that it is only in Banana Republic that all these are possible.

“If Fayose can invade the temple of justice, tear the records of the judiciary and attack and beat judges, if Fayose can rule the House of Assembly and administer Ekiti State with a seven-man House of Assembly, if Fayose can impeach a substantive Speaker with a seven Continues on page 41

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 —41

Gov Udom is on course — Umanah AKWA Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, in this interview, speaks on the milestones so far achieved by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel among other issues. Excerpts:

By Udo Ibuot

G

OVERNOR Emmanuel promised that industrialisation would be the focus of his administration but not much has been seen?

The Governor started by inviting investors and performed ground breaking ceremonies, which is a starting point in industrial process. I have often said that industrialization or developing an industry takes a lot of time. It involves various levels of approvals, authentication and licensing. For instance, he performed the ground breaking ceremony for the Automobile Assembly plant in July last year, today the firm is on site with container loads of equipment. They had to go through licensing and other registration processes, ditto for several others.

Pre-fabricated steel structures The Electric Meter Manufacturing Plant is on course and will roll out meters in about six months. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the take-off of the Coconut Plantation and Processing Refinery. Same goes for the LED Manufacturing Plant.

With tonnes of containers of appliances and pre-fabricated steel structures on ground, a smooth process is assured. Also, the Fertilizer Blending Group that came to Abak has started work on site. Investors are coming from all over the world to invest in Akwa Ibom.

In furtherance of the governor’s noble agenda of developing the state into a strong economy with abundance of business and employment opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea, over 1000 youths have been engaged for ORACLE training and certification, while

200 others were sent to Israel for training in agriculture, with another 200 trained in the power sector. Gladly, the state now has a license to produce additional 540 megawatts electricity, thus the critical need for trained personnel to man the power sector. The governor is also developing the aviation sector. Work is ongoing to complete the second runway in record time, while efforts are also in top gear for the development of the main terminal building and the cargo terminals. And, the newest project is Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurial and Employment Scheme, AKEES, which will engage and empower about 10,000 youths to work for themselves. Clearly, the industrialisation promise of the governor is in on.

But an advertorial was published, not long ago, criticizing the publicised achievements of the governor.

Are the criticisms justified?

They are certainly not justified.

Their publication was false and meant to put the administration in bad light. Government is constructing over 150 kilometers of road. Work is ongoing on EketIbeno Road, Eket-Etinan Road, Ikot Udom Road in Ibiono, Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road and Mkpat Enin axis. Also Eket urban remodelling is on course and so on. People must realise that you cannot start and complete projects in one week.

Government is carrying out the projects through a very

The people are happy with the government and are expectant of the full realization of ongoing projects

•Umana methodical and scientific process to ensure success. The people are happy with the government and are expectant of the full realization of ongoing projects.

Some citizens were employed as teachers and others into the Civil Service. There are rumours that since their employment over one year ago, they have not been paid salaries.

Is this true? And if true, why?

For the Civil Service employment, government found out that there was racketeering, where some people gave out f a k e appointment papers to unqualified candidates. So government had to set up a committee to verify and ensure that only qualified persons were employed. That process is over and those genuinely employed have been payrolled and they are now getting their salaries.

In the teaching service, a c e r t a i n syndicate also s o l d appointment letters to unqualified candidates, who neither had National Certificates of

DSS INVASION: Looming storm in Ekiti Continues from page 40 member House of Assembly, if Fayose can attack and destroy property of opposition in Ekiti State and if Fayose can house killers’ squad in Government House for so many months. If Fayose in concert with his political thugs thumbprint election ballot papers, then he should expect that the law will take its course.

He said it was not out of place for security agencies to invite anybody in this country for questioning, Fayose or

any of his cohorts should not be an exception, adding that If the Speaker is saying anything contrary, it means he has a moral burden, it means he is actually out to continue to support the position of his boss that he can not be call to question.

While analysts in the state described the invasion of the House by DSS operatives as a brazen act of impunity taking too far and they seemed to have aligned with Fayose’s that it was a the plot to intimidate him over his criticism of Buhari.

Education nor degrees in Education. You cannot allow people who are not qualified to go into the classrooms as teachers. The seeming delay is not intended to hurt anybody.

Since government has started with the civil service you can be sure that issues in the teaching service employment will also be sorted out.

10months since taking over the mantle of leadership, what specific achievements would you say Gov Udom Emmanuel has recorded?

I have mentioned some of the achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel in this interview.

However, let me reiterate that as a meticulous administrator, Governor Udom Emmanuel has taken time to encapsulate his vision for the State in a five point agenda of Job Creation; Poverty Alleviation; Wealth Creation; Economic and Political inclusion; Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion. To achieve his vision, therefore, he inaugurated a Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investment, Technical Committee on Ibaka Deep seaport project, Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, and rehabilitated and recommissioned the Peacock Paint factory in Etinan.

Also, to consolidate the infrastructural edge of the State, the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel has ensured the clearing of 85 hectares of land in Eket for 100,000 barrels per day petroleum refinery, and another 15 hectares along Eastern Obolo - Mkpat Enin axis for coconut plantation and refinery. As I speak, over 50 foreign investors have indicated interest in coming to setup shops in Akwa Ibom State, while ground breaking ceremonies have been performed for the takeoff of a number of industrial concerns.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SDGs: African govts must prioritise investments in research THE 2016 Grand Challenges Africa meeting, flagship of the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) held in Nairobi, Kenya was a unique one. It featured 300 young promising innovators in Africa and renowned innovators and guest speakers. It also featured 475 participants from 43 countries.

The meeting was to guide the scientific research and innovation agenda for reaching the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. One of the speakers was an Active scientist with the Africa Academy of Sciences and Programme Manager, Grand Challenges Africa, Evelyn Gitau. Driven by an uncommon belief in research and innovations, she is convinced that if Africa is self sustained in the area of research and development as well as pump enough funding in scalable innovations the continent will attain the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, by 2030.

She spoke to Chioma Obinna at the sideline of the event on how to achieve sustainable development through impactful innovations by Africans and for Africans.

Excerpts:

I

S Africa on the right path in terms of research and development?

Africa has not fared well in this regard. Funding remains a big challenge and there is a big gap in Africa between the knowledge being created and commercialisation. This is one of the major reasons why Grand Challenges Africa, GCA, was created 10 years ago. It was set up to bridge the gap between industry and innovators and to bring together innovators and potential funders including governments.

It is sad that all the funding for innovations do not come from the domestic markets, it comes from foreign funders.

But with Grand Challenges Africa, we can build a programme that we can fund ourselves.

Key global health problems That means we can actually guide the agenda on what we should innovate and it has given us the ability to now partner with governments on the various problems.

What does Grand Challenges Africa stands for?

It is a family of grant programmes that fosters innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Ten years ago, the Gate Foundation thought about how to tackle the problems in the world and they came up with grand challenges of global health. We give seed money to potential innovators to come up with most innovative idea for a challenge.

In Africa, three partners including Melinda Gate foundation, NEPAD, and Grand Challenges Canada have collectively funded 360 grantees, potential innovations that could make an impact one day.

Grand Challenges partners have invested $120 million in 360 projects in 29 African countries since 2010.

Nigeria received around $8.6 million of this investment for 28 projects.

Unfortunately, unlike the rest of the world, only 5 percent have managed to transition to scale and there are many issues why they haven't. Some of them need just a bit more money. Some funders require you come with partners and to scale up of innovation is a challenge.

We are trying to look at the 360 innovations and see the ones that may succeed, give the little money we have, build partnership for them or enable them build those skills they need to go to the next level.

What is the place of innovations in the attainment of SDGs, research and Development?

Access to healthcare is a very big issue in Africa. In some parts of Africa, they have the highest number of maternal mortality rate globally. Do we need innovation to reduce that?

The answer may be yes or no but actually with ordinary mobile phone that pregnant mother's life who has no access to health facility through SMS alert can be saved, For instance, in Malawi we have innovations which had improved how women deliver preterm births. There are many things that come into play for preterm births. In Brazil, they found out that the factor that was driving preterm birth is actually violence towards the women. It is something we can change by changing our laws and policies.

Innovations don't necessarily mean innovations that you can

Grand Challenges partners have invested $120 million in 360 projects in 29 African countries since 2010 and Nigeria received around $8.6 million of this investment for 28 projects

see.

Like where female doctors are not many, we trained more f e m a l e midwives and doctors. That is s o c i a l innovation to tackle cultures •Dr. Evelyn Gitau, Programme Manager, Grand Challenges Africa that refuses to allow women to see male doctors. Look at the health in Liberia because of the tracked it earlier, many people facebook today, if it had come stress from the war. He is would not have died from the from Africa nobody would have piloting innovative ways of diseases. As Grand Challenges thought about where we are reaching people with their Africa, we are advocating that mental health status. In Liberia, governments should invest going in future.

This is why governments must the effect is enormous on the more resources on research. prioritise investments in group he is looking at. The Government always said they have too many priorities but research and innovations. suicide rate is going down. research and In Uganda, the researcher funding There is need for us to innovate development will actually there has piloted the same type on health issues that can cause deaths, promote good health of group therapy and using increase job opportunities and and reduce disease burden. We more cultural ways of improve lives. We need to do had a boat camp during this supporting mothers with HIV the research in Africa. If you meeting where we saw who don't leave their houses create a research culture that and suddenly they have means you will be creating revolution of ideas. changed their ways and their innovations that are scalable. quality of life has improved.

Treating and The various innovations Grand purifying of water targeted on mental health is challenges We took some young already helping Africa to In five years to come, we are innovators, we asked them to address mental health issue apply and we selected a few. which is a big problem here but hoping to have more Within three days we were able we don't talk about it. In Africa investments in African research to show that the impact can go it is not right to talk about and because without research we cannot develop. A lot of it is largely link to witch craft. a long way.

Impact of innovations on researchers have dropped Do you have projects in along the way because of lack Women and Girls Nigeria? of funding. There is need to Also, innovations can also Yes. We have had a few build enabling environment help address issues innovators from Nigeria. One of the young scientists in surrounding child marriages and to create funds within Nigeria has taken the Moringa which usually lead to ourselves.

The 2016 GCA meeting has plant which is an old crop that depression. Now innovators given us opportunity to discuss are thinking of ways to tackle has been tested for many things but have issues of toxicity. From depression. When you look at with other grand challenges what he has found so far, it is women development ultimately from other continents. The an effective drug for treating it will turn into curbing issues value chain of innovations, one and purifying water but it has of malnutrition. If you reduce thing Africa has to recognise is the number of maternal deaths that to make it equitable we toxicity.

But he found out that if you you will find out that the number don't need to look beyond our separate the liquid from other of orphaned children would markets but work as one . GCA can play a key role in nurturing part of the protein, you removed reduce.

There are new innovations to an innovation ecosystem in the toxic part. So he has now developed the seed to purify tackle issues of malaria. Areas Africa.

The meeting has helped set water. He is at that pilot phase. where mosquitoes are, a scientific and innovation innovators are now coming up Now we are trying to think with agenda for Africa I believe we him on how to transition to with repellent houses.

Why African Governments have achieved. The aim of GCA scale. should increase investments in which is help address the issue Another innovator is also of low investment in African research. looking at how to support There is need to priorities the research and drive the mental health for people who have HIV. There is another health system because if we had innovation necessary to achieve innovator looking at mental paid attention to Ebola and the continent's long-term SDGs.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016—43

Elevation Schools sensitises Iba Community on Lassa fever, immunisation

By Gabriel Olawale

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WALK: Participants during the Endo Walk 2016 that took place weekend from the City Mall, Onikan, to Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos. The walk, themed “End The Silence”, was organised by the Endometriosis Support Group of Nigeria, ESGN, to create public awareness and enlightenment about Endometriosis, a health condition that affects women in their reproductive years, causing severe and chronic pain. Photo by Sola Ogundipe.

EACHERS and students of Elevation Schools have urged residents of Iba community in Ojo area of Lagos State to ensure good personal and environmental hygiene as a sure way of staying healthy while calling on parents to make their children available for routine immunisation.

Making the call at an awareness campaign tagged: “Elevation kicks out lassa fever and polio”, the Headmaster, Comrade Olaoti Ademola said the call had become imperative due to the effects of Lassa fever on human health and the socioeconomic development in the

country.

Ademola who advised residents to keep their house and environment clean urged them to avoid contact with rat and sick persons with cases of bleeding.

He explained that putting food away in rodent-proof containers and keeping the home clean to discourage rodents from entering homes. On her part, the Health attendance, Iba Local Council Development Area, Mrs Florence Agbawi, advised parents to make their children available for routine immunisation.

“We only plead with parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign to boost the immunity of their children by patronising designated centres across the state.”

GPs provide free health services to the indigent

S

ERIES of free surgeries on health issues such as a swollen appendix, hernia, male circumcision, cleft lip and cleft palate among others are to be conducted for indigent patients as no less than 1,000 General Practitioners gather in Abuja.

The activity is being facilitated under the aegis of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, that is collaborating with the Association of Rural Surgeons and the Rotary Club to facilitate free operations as part of their 38th AGM and Scientific Conference which opens today.

Themed “Communicable Diseases” will dwell encompasses topics such as malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, cancer screening, as well as Medical missions to Nigeria, as sub-themes.

Spokesperson for the Association, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, stated that the the Public Health department of the Federal Ministry of Health as well as Teaching Hospitals, cutting edge pharmaceutical companies, research centres and non-governmental organisations are billed to partake in providing the educational content and health advocacy of benefit to the Nigerian public.

“The GPs would be in Abuja to

listen to information of relevance to the health of the nation. We are all ears waiting for the delivery of pertinent health advocacy through highly trained and well placed lecturers in health research, economics and clinical practice.

He said vital information that would help reduce misdiagnosis and delays in treatment of illnesses such as malaria, typhoid will be discussed while messages and information on the importance of encouraging young people to check their HIV status will be relayed. Ogungbo said the role of medical missions would also be examined towards assuring sustainability through partnership with the AGPMPN.

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44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Land dispute: Ajagungbale, others, encroaching on our land, royal family raises alarm

Enthusiasts await completion of World Trade Centre, Abuja

By Kingsley Adegboye N spite of the downturn in the Nigerian economy and the falling Nigerian currency, real estate enthusiasts are optimistic that the phase one of the World Trade Centre (WTC), Abuja, an upper strata of luxury real estate, will be delivered this year as projected by the developers.

The World Trade Centre, Abuja, is a mixed-use development consisting of luxury residences, AAA offices, 5-star hotel and shopping malls. The phase one of the ambitious project is among the other high profile real estate developments expected to be completed by 2016.

At an exclusive chat with a host of estate valuers and agents in Abuja last week, the Group Managing Director of Churchgate Group, developers and promoters of the multibillion naira centre, Mr. Vinay Mahtani, stated that customers’ interest has been overwhelming and affirmed that his organization remains committed to delivering of the phase one of the WTC, Abuja project this year.

I

Surveyors and valuers According to Mahtani, there has been a growing demand for quality real estate, both residential and commercial.

“Many people share our dream of building world-class projects in Nigeria and Nigerians, living both locally and in the diaspora, have shown their confidence in us through investments made already”.

Speaking on behalf of the estate surveyors and valuers in attendance, Olusola Akinsola who expressed his satisfaction at the level of completion of the project, stated that the ripple effect of completing the WTC, Abuja project will be good for the real estate sector and the Nigerian economy at large.

According to him, “Housing is no more about shelter. It is about employment, economic inclusiveness and multiplier effect on the local economy”. He opined that the World Trade Centre Abuja, being the first of its kind in West Africa will bring

all of these to the Nigerian economy.

Commenting on the potentials of the WTC, Abuja when completed, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications, Churchgate Group, Mr. Femi Awopetu said that the WTC, Abuja will be an economy driver in itself, bringing together corporations and individuals and providing a platform on which they can conduct businesses.

Awopetu added that the project will also impact the economy and improve the welfare of lives. “We have already created employment for thousands of people during the construction of Phase One and this will continue throughout all subsequent phases of the project”, Awopetu said.

Construction of Phase One of the massive project is now at the final stage. This consists of a residential tower that will offer luxury apartments with modern amenities and a AAA commercial tower that will accommodate businesses of all

By Wahab Abdullah

T

Residential tower, World Trade Centre Abuja sizes.

The buildings, comprising 24storeys each, are set to define Abuja’s skyline.

The commercial tower is the tallest

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, may have begun investigations into alleged fraudulent falsification of documents and subsequent elongation of service by the Director of Architectural Services in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Sani Gidado, an architect.

The investigation followed a petition submitted to the anti-graft agency and the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government as well as the Federal Civil Service Commission by the National AntiCorruption Volunteer Corps, NACVC, an Abuja-based anti-corruption group , alleging that Sani Gidado falsified the date of his first appointment from July th th 30 , 1979 to December 30 , 1982, thereby increasing his length of service by three years.

The original petition which was signed by one Nuhu Adamu was modified by the anti-corruption volunteer corps. The group further alleged efforts by the labour unions in the ministry to compel the Ministry’s management to “set the example they have been preaching to the junior staff about honesty, integrity and diligence by taking disciplinary action

office building in the nation’s capital, while the residential tower is the tallest residential building in Nigeria.

HE

Otasanya royal family, Alawun village, Sagamu, Ogun State, has alleged, that some Ajagungbales, and one Chief Asiwaju Dauda Ayinla are allegedly encroaching on their family land.

The royal family therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, and the Obas in Ogun State, to come to their rescue.

According to a statement dated March 5, 2016, and issued on behalf of the aggrieved royal family by Prince Jimi Olatunji, “The entire sons, daughters, chiefs, Baale, ijoye’s, omojas, and head of family of the Otasanya royal family of Alawun village, Sagamu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State, hereby cry to the incumbent president of the federal republic of Nigeria, governor of Ogun State, Ogun State House of Assembly, National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Obas in Ogun State to rescue us".

Group petitions ICPC over alleged fraudulent elongation of service against Sani Gidado,” has failed to yield positive results.

“Instead, Gidado has been bragging that he cannot be touched as he has settled the schedule officers to panel beat his fraud,” the group alleged, adding that the purpose of the petition is to seek ICPC’s intervention in order to discourage persons who may want to falsify their records in a bid to defraud the government.

Falsification of documents According to the petitioners, the seniority of Gidado who transferred his service from the Bauchi State Civil Service, was based on the use of 1979 as the date of his first appointment. Buttressing claims of falsification of documents by the Director, the petitioner alleged that “you will find no single record of the numerous documents hand-filled by Gidado before 2009 (Emolument forms, Aper forms, promotion forms . A.B &C, HOS Manpower development forms etc) which everyone completes severally every year.

While you will readily find anybody else’s, Gidado with the aid of his collaborators, has methodically removed all his. Neither will you find any record of his gazetted first appointment or confirmation as these will reveal his date of first appointment dated 30/7/1979".

Forwarding the petition to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Civil Service Commission in a letter dated 16th February 2016, stated that in its efforts to find out the truth of the matter, the Commission “ stumbled over the Head of Civil Service of the Federation Senior Staff list which confirms the bio-data of the officer in question”.

The letter which was signed on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission by Mr. R. B. Tinubu, explained that the document will be of assistance in finding out the authenticity or otherwise of the petition.

The anti-graft agency could not comment on the petition because it is not allowed to discuss petitions submitted to it on the pages of the newspaper.

The man in the eye of the storm, Arc. Gidado did not pick his calls when our correspondent tried to get his comments.

Salvaging the pride of womanhood

By Ada Cummings

I

GET all aswoon in our perennial gridlock, which of course, may have become a phobia for me. As I got cut up in it one good evening and couldn't deal with its nettlesome taunt, I alighted from our car and loathly walked into a shop to get a cold drink, but the snag was, it took the shop owner, a man of about fifty close to a minute to realise that someone was actually in the shop.

He was so engrossed with what he was ogling at that it took a sharp clap of my hands to drag him back to reality. What was he doing? You might want to know.

One of our famous Nigerian pop music was on air. A young girl was vigorously wiggling her near naked butt and breasts and shamelessly displaying her wares with reckless abandon. It was a show of shame. The middle aged shop owner was entranced.

He was practically drooling. I noticed that his mouth was agape, his left hand was in his crouch and his tongue moved gently in his mouth. The sharp sound made by my clap startled him and he yelled furiously at me.

"What is it, why will you barge into my shop like that with such noise, are you mad?”

"I'm not sir, I'm sorry for startling you”. I answered gently. "I've been here for a while and I’ve been saying hello but your attention was on the screen. I decided to clap to draw your attention”."What do you mean by that? Yes, I was listening to an important news, yes, the pastor was preaching..."

Musical performance I directed my gaze to the television. The musical performance was just coming to an end. My gaze attracted his and then he realised that I knew what he was doing and his heckles went up."Get out of this place, I don't have what you came for." He growled harshly at me.

"But I've not said what I want yet." "Just get out. Stupid woman."

I quickly retreated before he gets physical.

I felt ashamed. The little girl he was drooling over would be about his daughter's age and most definitely, he will not want to see his daughter in such an awkward appearance. Yet, he would gladly ogle and even masturbate by just watching his daughter’s age mate displaying her nudity indecently. What a shame!

It is said, "Madmen and doofuses are good to be in a town but the knot is, which family will love to produce such?"

Womanhood is a treasure most precious to behold, a pearl of great price and the heart of every nation. Disrespecting and molesting her physically or in our

Women fish traders

lecherous thoughts will be the biggest mistake of man.

She was given the power to create alongside the Great Spirit.

She is a jeweled emporium of values and morals. She nurtures, transforms and gives life.

We have a nation today because of the woman. There won't have been a world today if God had exempted the female spirit called “Woman” from creation. It would have been, most definitely, a meaningless world.

Every woman should be accorded her due respect. She shouldn't be seen or treated as a plaything or an underling. She should not be rubbished by word, acts or deeds; she should be respected in all ramifications.

It is an empirical truth that any nation that subjugates the female gender finds it hard to develop.

The formation of life takes place in a woman's body. The active spirits in her evolve strategies and processes that makes the blood to develop to embryo then to foetus and then to a human being-such active force, such creative potential in her is a divine gift meant to develop the human race also. The female gender is the only active spirit empowered to participate in the creative process. She is deserving of honour and respect.

The heart of every woman hankers for respect and honour, but most are faced with the daunting challenges of poverty and deprivation.

Educating the girl-child: The truth is, in all the talk on

Womanhood needs to be redefined by the society. If we do not redefine womanhood, the value we place on ourselves as women will be completely eroded

educating the girl child, poverty is the major problem debilitating the human brain and making reasonable thinking almost impossible. I do not think that parents don't really like sending their girl children to school. I do not want to agree that parents truly love giving out their female children early into marriage.

Believe me, this lack of education and early marriage thing is common mostly among the poor.

Statistically, 70% of uneducated girls originate from poor homes; 5% are attributable to religion/ culture, another 5% are the children of some wealthy men who only wishes to gallivant and squander their parent's wealth.

The remaining 20% are those who do not have the head to understand the conventional teaching, but are creative with their hands and understands only things in that direction.

Conventional teaching Poverty is as it is, taking the lead in inhibiting education for the girl child in Nigeria, Africa and in some other nations of the world.

Given the nature of the traditions of some nations, bride price has already placed the girl child from a poor home in a disadvantaged position. Her parents, mostly the father grooms her for a potential suitor who will pay good money, at least for him to start a little business and carter for the ‘boy child’. With the boy child, money is expended, but with the girl child, as tradition will have it, money is expected.

So, in trying to educate the girl child, government should do

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8 , 2016—45 their best in eradicating poverty at all; all I want is cash and fun". or bring it down to a minimal I hope I quoted him correctly, but percentage. Making primary and that’s about what he meant. secondary education free, is but These are two contrasting views a step, and bringing poverty to in different times, but the truth still its lowest level or eradicating it, remains that womanhood if possible is the most important deserves the greatest respect.

Poverty is also responsible in step, because as the girl child goes to school, her father sees in making many a young girl get her a potential source of pregnant outside wedlock for the rich and the famous, married or livelihood.

Poverty is also the cause of unmarried, just to be in constant accepting demeaning and contact with, not necessarily the man, but with money. It's clear; humiliating jobs.

Sometime ago, I asked a female no rich man will abandon his dancer why she was almost naked child to suffer or refuse to carter in a musical video. Her for the mother of his child. It is unabashed reply filled me with just a survival instinct, not really pity and shame. She said, "Ah, true love. The painful irony in it na that one dey bring better is that some get pregnant, some money. My own na make I collect get AIDS and some lose their better money, if they wont make I wombs in this line of business.

Prostitution is booming today necked dance, I go necked. No body dey help me, na me dey because of poverty. I do not think help myself. This body, na the that any lady/girl is comfortable only thing wey I get. I dey use with reckless thumping every now and then, no, not all. But due am to get watin I want".

Well, I don't know how truthful to the fact that money is earned her statement is, but, I appeal to at the end of the day for survival, debase womanhood. our musicians not to continue to they close their eyes to the ride, I know they respect the pain and manage the shame. their mothers, sisters Prostitution can't be stopped by and wives; they pursuing the girls off the roads should extend the or by arresting them. It can be same to womanhood reduced to a reasonable extent if in general. They poverty is dealt with decisively. should stop this naked butt and boob Erosion of thing and pay their morality dancers well enough for the job they do.

Some of them prostitute their Have you not noticed bodies just to carter for their that in these musical families and you cannot stop such videos, the men get girls unless you provide other dressed up properly, means of livelihood for them. but the ladies are I remembered some time ago in meant to expose and ridicule the my native home- Amukwe Abba pride of their womanhood. I in Nwangele LGA, immorality wonder! and prostitution reared its ugly Defining womanhood: What head into our rural communal life. does it mean to be a woman? Is The elders were alarmed by the womanhood defined by our ugly trend and decided to take a breasts and butts upon which decisive step against it. My late society is so fixated? Womanhood dear father was one of the people needs to be redefined by the who made frantic effort to stymie society. If we do not redefine the gradual erosion of morality womanhood, the value we place and female value in my land. He on ourselves as women will be and the other elders appealed to completely eroded. We must the conscience of the girls and uphold the values of femaleness asked them to mention what they which cannot be solely defined wish to do and they would be by our female looks - our breasts, provided with the means to do curves and butts. them, just to put a stop to their wanton acts. The young ladies Physical complied and they were graciously provided with all that attributes they asked for. However, a few We need a new definition of who refused to change and womanhood that includes all continued in their evil ways were aspects of being human, not just banished from my place till date. the physical attributes of the This action by the elders put the female or her ability to create life. fear of man and God in the mind In the course of my work, I have of the younger ones.

Poverty and prostitution: had cause to pose questions to a couple of men, prodding them to Prostitution became an institution explore the concept of gender. I because of poverty. If you really ask them to consider that our wish to stop a girl from engaging biological sex is only a small part in a bad trade, provide her with a of our gender and identity. But better one and see if she will not this can be a hard lesson for most change.

Our government can begin to men to understand, particularly when contemplating the woman. change all these by providing The most common visuals of the welfare for the less privilege girl woman in our society focuses on child who has concluded her her body - big, bouncy breasts and secondary education, it will be butts. But a woman has to be more more like a Girl-Child Support than her most observable body Programme where she will be parts or that which makes her paid stipend monthly for her personal care just to save her from physically able to be a mother.

My mother once said to me that these humiliating situation and a girl, who sacrifices self respect for womanhood to be respected and worth for popularity or and honoured. money, debases womanhood.

But then again a musician once *Ada Chinyere Cummings, wrote sang that "Personality no matter from cummingsada@ymail.com

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Maria Sharapova fails drug test ARIA Sharapova announced M she failed a drug test at the Australian Open in a press conference Monday in Los Angeles.

Sharapova was informed by the International Tennis Federation that she tested positive for Meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances on Jan. 1, 2016. Sharapova said she has legally been taking the drug for 10 years.

Sharapova did not disclose what penalty she will face for the positive test. “I made a huge mistake,” Sharapova said. “I don’t want to end my career this way.”

The drug was added to WADA’s banned list as it showed “evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance.” Melodonium is a drug used clinically to treat angina, myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure.

Her parents were also in attendance.

*Sharapova

Bale keen to end goal drought tonight

G

ARETH Bale is back. He has had quite a wait, but he has done it, as Zinedine Zidane wanted, and come back on top form. On Saturday he showed what a powerful player he is and took up his rightful place in the affections of the Bernabéu faithful, which he had achieved before his double injury.

And he got a goal on top of that, too.

Goals, however, are something Bale has not very many of when it comes to the current Champions League. In fact, he has yet to score in the big European

•Bale competition this term. He has notched up just two assists, though it must be remembered that he has

played for a total of only 103 minutes over two games.

Actually his finest season in Europe since joining ‘Los Blancos’ was 2013-2014, when Real Madrid won ‘La Décima’.

He scored six in that triumphant campaign, including one in the final.

Now Bale is hoping to transfer his good scoring run in the Spanish league over to the Champions League. In spite of his injuries he has netted 14 goals domestically, just one less than his highest total in Spain, the 15 he chalked up in his first season at the club.

Wolfsburg confident of success against Gent

V

fL Wolfsburg are confident their recent good form can carry them past Gent today and into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

The Wolves, who won the first leg 3-2 in Belgium after leading 30 and conceding two late goals, are fuelled up on confidence following a 21 victory over in-form Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

It was their second

league win in five days and moved them back into seventh place in the table.

“When you win against such a top team like Gladbach then you are allowed to be confident,” said Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs. “We are back in the game.”

Wolfsburg, last season’s runners-up and German Cup winners, seem to have recovered from their slump earlier in the campaign in time for the biggest European game in the club’s history.

Allegri backs Juve to defeat Bayern

J

•Allegri

uventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri insists “it’s not impossible” to beat Bayern Munich and progress in the Champions League.

The Bianconeri were 2-0 down in the first leg in Turin, but fought back for a 2-2 draw, meaning they will progress with any sort of win in Bavaria.

“Against Bayern it’s not impossible, but they’ve always been one of the favourites to win the whole thing,” Allegri told assembled media after winning the Golden Bench award.

“For us the Champions League has to remain a dream, we have to try and do the business in Munich.

It’ll be a beautiful game, we’ll do everything possible to qualify, but it won’t be easy."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 — 47

Nigerian kills Nigerian over Messi, Ronaldo row I

NDIAN Police confirmed on Monday that a Nigerian has been charged with murdering his compatriot after a heated argument over whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s best footballer.

Police said the Nigerian national stabbed one of his countrymen to death after the two of them argued over who was better; Barcelona star Messi or Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo.

Police Inspector Kiran Kabadi said an offence of murder had been registered against Michael Chukwuma, 21, over the death of 34-year-old Obina Durumchukwu on Sunday in the northern Mumbai suburb of Nallasopara.

The friends had apparently got together on Saturday night to celebrate Durumchukwu’s birthday.

The following morning an argument over football turned to tragedy.

‘The two Nigerian youngsters were discussing football players.

One is a fan of Messi and the other was for Ronaldo,’ the inspector said.

‘During the conversation a quarrel has taken place. The deceased threw a glass into the face of the accused person. The glass broke and caused small injuries.

*Action recorded during a basketball match.

Continued from Back Page

tant match that will determine Nigeria’s qualification for the AFCON 2017 after missing out the last edition. Nigeria need a win and a draw at least to overhaul the Egyptians who are topping the group G pairings. The Egyptians have also stepped up their preparations.

“Egypt will be coming with their best players and I strongly feel Mikel and Moses’ wealth of experience will come in handy if we are to pick three points against Egypt in Kaduna.

“I am really impressed with Mikel’s attitude towards this important C M Y K

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria has released the list of athletes for the IAAF World Indoors billed for March 17-20 in Portland Oregon, USA. The list of 12 include O g h o - O g h e n e Egwero,Tosin Oke and inform shot putter Stephen Mozia. Others are Eriyokan Orukpe, Patience Okon, Regina George and Tameka Jameson.

Egwero, who is yet to make a mark on the boards stated that he was hopeful of posting a podium appearance in the 60m dash where Olusoji Fasuba reigned supreme, winning the gold in the 2006 edition.

“Sure my aim is to do

NBBF declares African Basketball League illegal

By Jacob Ajom

T

HE Nigeria Bas ketball Federation has, through a statement issued from the Media office yesterday, declared the African Basketball League which kicked off in Lagos at the weekend illegal.

The statement which was made available to Sports Vanguard reads, “The attention of the Ni-

*HORSE MEN... It was excitement all the way as Southern Sun Ikoyi sponsored 2016 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament saw Lagos Fifth Chukker/ Access beating Lagos Ironclad/Trojan 15-7.

Siasia

A

game, he has called in to confirm his readiness for the clash” Siasia explained.

“Victor Moses has pledged to return too and this is quite encouraging at a time we need our top players against Egypt.

The Pharaohs will head to Kaduna for the first leg of the qualifier, while the second leg will be held in Alexandria, on March 29.

“I want to passionately appeal to Nigerians, everybody, to show belief in the team and give us total support. It will not be easy, but if we stick together and present a united force to fight this battle, I believe we will triumph,” Siasia said.

geria Basketball Federation, NBBF, the sole competent governing body of basketball in Nigeria has been drawn to the unauthorised takeoff of an unapproved basketball league in Lagos going by the name “African Basketball League” organised by a group calling itself Africa Sports and Entertainment Management Company Limited (ASEMC).”

The NBBF distanced itself from ABL, adding, “only the NBBF has the competence and authority to approve such a league in Nigeria and only FIBA Africa, the governing body of the game in Africa is competent to approve any type of African league and no such approval has been granted by either of the two bodies.”

Explaining its position on the matter, the NBBF said conditions set before organisers of the league by the two authorising bodies had not

Liverpool Continued from Back Page

Arsenal Ladies’ bid was “reluctantly accepted” by their fellow Women’s Super League One side in January.

The Gunners activated a release clause in Oshoala’s contract, subject to her gaining a work permit for 2016. Oshoala, 21, was named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015.

She is presently in Zurich as a panellist at the Fifa Women’s Football and Leadership Conference 2016 and is expected in London on Wednesday to finalise her switch to the two-

been met and insisted that ASEMC must follow the “path of honour by observing due process and obtaining approval from the competent bodies before floating the league.”

In its firm disapproval of the ABL, the NBBF advised participating clubs to desist forthwith from taking part in the competition or face ban

from the DStv Premier League because “the ABL as presently constituted and presented to the unsuspecting public is unauthorised and illegal.”

The federation clamped down on technical commissioners, statisticians and the referees who officiated in the ABL matches with indefinite suspensions.

IAAF world indoors: AFN unveils list well and get a good performance. I have worked for the championships and I am looking forward to it.”

The full list: MEN Ogho-Oghene Egwero-60m Eraoyan Orukpe400m,4x400m Adekunle Rilwan Fasasi-400m,4x400m Isah Salihu-4x400m okezie chidi400m,4x400m Nathaniel Samson4x400m Henry Okorie-4x400m Oke Tosin-Triple Jump Mozia Stephens-Shot Put WOMEN Patience Okon 400m,4x400m Tameka Jameson4x400m Ehigie Josephine4x400m Regina George4x400m

Siasia axes Mohammed, Oduduwa, Dimgba *40 Players now in contention

C

OACH Samson Siasia has barred defender Segun Oduduwa and midfielders Stanley Dimgba and Usman Mohammed from showing up at the Bolton White Apartments camp of the Super Eagles, after they reported late to the camp of the U-23 team without an earlier permission.

“We cannot have those three in camp anymore.

This is very serious business, and only serious–minded persons can

be involved. They reported late to the camp of the U-23 team, so they cannot be tolerated in the camp of the senior team.

“I have said it over the past few days that the right mentality would count big among the traits we are looking for in the players to feature against Egypt.”

Oduduwa and Mohammed were in the U23 squad that won the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in De-

time FA Women’s Super League champions.

Oshoala joined Liverpool ahead of the 2015 WSL campaign but injury blighted her time at the club and she only scored three goals in 12 league outings last season.

The first player from Africa to compete in the Women’s Super League, Oshoala burst into the limelight when she emerged as the leading scorer at the 2014 Under20 World Cup in Canada and was voted the tournament’s best player.

Her performances led Nigeria to the final, where they were narrowly beaten by Germa-

ny, and she was also a major influence in the senior Nigeria team, who won a record seventh African Women’s Championship in October 2014.

That ensured their qualification for last summer ’s Women’s World Cup in Canada, where Oshoala scored her only goal of the competition in a thrilling 33 opening match against Sweden.

But the first player to win the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award, voted for by football fans around the world, could not stop the African champions from exiting the tournament in the group stage.

*Siasia cember 2015, while Dimgba has trained with the team and the Eagles B previously.

The Super Eagles’ new boss is known to be a disciplinarian. He threw out star midfielder Kingsley Sokari and talented forward Daniel Etor from his squad to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations after the duo opted to play for their club, Enyimba FC, in a final NPFL season game in Lagos in November 2015, against his instructions.

The exclusion of the trio means only 40 players are now in contention for shirts in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations double date against Egypt, with 19 home boys to train for two weeks before the arrival of 21 overseas –based players on the week of the first game in Kaduna.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Maria Sharapova fails drug test --P.46

Ronaldo’s fan stabs Messi’s fan to death *Nigerian kills Nigerian in India

*Ronaldo

47 .

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*Messi

Liverpool free Oshoala to join Arsenal

N

IGERIA international striker Asisat Oshoala has been granted a UK work permit, clearing the path for her to complete a switch to Arsenal Ladies from rivals Liverpool Ladies.

*Late Obinna

*Chukwuma, the accused

Continues on Page 47

Siasia banks on Mikel, Moses to stop Egypt C

OACH Samson Siasia believes that the experience of players like Victor Moses and

John Obi Mikel will count, when the Super Eagles clash with the Pharaohs of Egypt in the

Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie home and away later in the month.

Today’s matches Champions League

The Super Eagles camp opened on Sunday ahead of the all impor

R/Madrid v Roma 8:45pm Wolfsburg v Gent 8:45pm FA Cup Hull City v Arsenal 8pm

Continues on Page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Avarice (5) 5 Method (6) 8 Elbow (5 10 Sofa (6) 11 Parched (4) 14 Tell (6) 15 Shortage (7) 18 Tankard (3) 19 Fish (3) 21 Remainder (4) 23 Skirmish (5) 24 Minus (4) 27 Fellow (3) 29 Gratuity (3) 31 Denied (7) 32 Staggered (6) 34 Fruit (4) 35 Coma (6) 38 Yearned (5) 39 Aristocracy (6) 40 God (5)

DOWN 2 Regret (3 3 Involve (6 4 Owing (3) 5 Scorch (4) 6 Seaman (6) 7 Demure (6) 9 Determined (7) 12 Material (3) 13 Fruit (4) 16 Relax (4) 17 Claw (5) 20 Under (7) 22 Secure (4) 24 Enticing (6) 25 Pace (4) 26 Noiseless (6) 28 Show (6) 30 Vegetable (3) 33 Cart (4) 36 Colour (3) 37 Sever (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Aviary 5, Beat 8, Piled 9, Rid 10, Dial 11, Life 12, Limit 13, Locker 16, Mere 18, Vast 20, End 22, Van 23, Elk 24, Late 25, Once 28, Enrage 30, Tooth 32, Emit 33, Iota 34, Ice 35, Meant 36, Seed 37, Penned.

DOWN: 1, Airily 2, Indecent 3, Redeem 4, Diligent 5, Believe 6, Editor 7, Teem 8, Pal 14, Revolting 15, Ask 17, Ran 19, Alsatian 20, Eat 21, Devoted 26, Engage 27, Defend 29, Mess 30, Time 31, Hot.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K