Lagos sacks 788striking doctors

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61618

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

NSE spent N1.3bn on travel expenses in 2009 — Oteh •P.6

Akpu-na-ogwu patriot

Lagos sacks 788 striking doctors •373 newly appointed doctors to assume duties •No regrets, says Medical Guild •NMA gives govt 24-hr ultimatum to reverse order

•P.17

BY CHIOMA OBINNA, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & GBENGA ARIYIBI

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday 788 doctors in its employment following what it described as illegal strike embarked upon by the doctors since April 16 2012. The state government in a statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe also announced the employment of 373 doctors for immediate deployment in the public hospitals while recruitment continues.

According to the statement the striking doctors were sacked

Continues on page 5

FG secretly indulges in oil block awards — Operators —P.26 Mr & Mrs

WORKSHOP ON POWER—From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke; President Goodluck Jonathan, and Minister of Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji, at a Presidential Workshop on Power in Abuja yesterday. Photo: NAN

Task Force impounds 60 tankers on Oshodi Apapa Road —P.7

Jonathan asks IG to find Oyerinde's killers •P.6

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Vanguard Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Vanguard Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 —

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4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

L-r: Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi; Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and Chairman, Transition Committee, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Raimi Adisa Saromi; during Amosun’s working visit to Ijebu-Ode Local Government yesterday.

From Left: Consultant Surgeon, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Dr. Rufai Mahmoud; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Emeritus Umaru Shehu; and Brand Manager (Dettol), Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Ms Grace Imaga at the 52nd Annual General Conference & Delegates’ Meeting of the association in Abuja

Avuru seeks indigenous participation in oil industry

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ANAGING Direc tor of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Austin Avuru, has stressed the need for more indigenous participation in the oil industry.

Avuru who was speaking during the PETAN event at the just concluded annual Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Conference in Houston, USA, traced the history of indigenous participation in oil and gas to the emergence of Dubri oil, which he cited as Nigeria’s oldest Independent producer, in 1987.

He, however, noted that the landmark takeoff of the indigenous programme did not occur until 1990/1991 stressing that from that period to 2007, some 52 indigenous companies have been licensed to operate leases in the Niger Delta and Anambra Basin.

Avuru noted that in 2004 alone, 24 Nigerian companies were licensed to operate 24 marginal fields, adding that production from Nigerian Independents peaked at about 100kbd in 2005 with Conoil and Moni Pulo accounting for 70 per cent of the volume.

The Seplat chief noted that at present seven marginal field operators currently produced about 22,000 bopd with just two of them accounting for 60 per cent of the figure.

Avuru also noted that apart from Conoil, most Independents operations were single block/single field developments with little or no prospects for sustainable growth in reserves and production. He also put the average life cycle from First Oil to Peak Production to Rapid Decline at less than 10years for Independents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Lagos sacks 788 striking doctors Continues from Page 1 following their refusal to answer to queries to explain why they were absent from work without leave and without the due observance of the rules and regulations guiding strikes and industrial actions in the State’s Public Service According to the statement, 316 doctors were working with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital while the remaining 472 were from other hospitals in the State.

Explaining the acts leading to the sack of the doctors, the statement declared, “Resulting from the contemptible act of the Medical Doctors LASUTH Board and HSC, the two bodies that appointed them in line with subsisting statutes, served those who were ‘Absent without Leave’ (AWOL) with queries”, adding that while a handful of them responded, majority of the doctors shunned the query.

The Statement maintained that the strike came as a rude

shock to the State Government “since the leadership of the Medical Guild still met during the week preceding the illegal strike with top Government officials in charge of Health and establishment sectors”.

The Statement explained further that in order to ensure that the healthcare delivery service of the State continues to function for the benefit of the people, the State Government has placed advertisement in some national dailies seeking applications from suitably qualified Medical Doctors and Consultants/Specialists desirous of working with the Government adding that the response has been overwhelming.

On what made the strike illegal, the statement noted, among other things, that the doctors only gave the State Government 24 hours notice “as against the time-tested and statutebound processes and procedures for declaration of industrial disputes”.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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HERE is a popular saying that whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with the wind, and a fool will be servant to the wise. Life is a delicate thing that needs to be delicately managed.

You need to exercise due care and pay attention to the things that you do.

A lot of us have bitten our noses to spite our faces and we end up being servants to those who should serve us. We should be careful as we move along the path of life. He who rides the tiger will end up in his belly. He who throws a stone in the market may just end up hitting his relative.

Be careful what you do.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The great successful men of the world have used their imagination. They think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building - steadily building — Robert Collier.

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CCORDING to Dr Jane Bolton, a Psychologist/ Counsellor, how you determine a successful life is connected with your attitudes and actions to the following: Where you expend your energy, it should become clear what your highest values are.

How do you fill your space(s), what do you think about most. How do you spend your time? How do you spend your money? What do you envision or visualize most. What do you set goals towards the most?

True heroes, past and present, are not defined by the circumstances in which they find themselves.

They are heroes because of what they do in spite of their circumstances —because of how they improve, build, and lift themselves and others. They refuse to be simply swept along with the tide of pessimism.

Instead, they see opportunities, bolster hope, and provide vision.

NMA threatens to shut down health services But in swift reaction to the development, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has threatened to shut down health services in Lagos if government fails to retract its decision after a proposed meeting with the State government within 24 hours.

Sack letter It was gathered that each doctor was served a dismissal letter dated Friday, May 4, 2012. In the letter signed by the various Chief Medical Directors, the state government declared that the doctors were sacked based on the recommendation of the P e r s o n n e l Management Board, PMB, (Disciplinary committee) following the failure of the striking doctors to respond to the queries as well as their failure to appear before the Board.

One of the letters Tagged: "Dismissal from Services” and signed by the Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor David Oke, reads: This is to inform you that at the Board’s PMB (disciplinary committee) meetings which held between Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26 April 2012, a case of misconduct to wit absence from duty without leave or reasonable cause between Wednesday 11th and Friday, 13th April 2012, was established against you.

Insubordination "You are also found guilty of insubordination for failure to respond to lawful queries issued to you. The committee t h e r e f o r e recommended your dismissal from service.

In accordance with the provisions of the civil service rule, Nos: 04502,04507 & 04508, the board has approved your dismissal.

Therefore, I hereby convey your dismissal

from Lagos State service with effect from Friday 4th may 2012.? You are by this letter advised to hand over all government properties in your possessions to the office of Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University.”

Doctors’ reaction In swift reaction to the sack letter, Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote described it as a confirmation of the g o v e r n m e n t ’ s insensitivity and insincerity to resolve the issue on ground.

Odusote, while explaining that the Guild had handed the case to the Nigerian Medical Association NMA for further action, condemned the state government action, describing it as “insincerity on the part of the state government.”

Odusote, who disclosed that about 90 per cent of the doctors who participated in the on going indefinite strike have been sacked said they have no regret.

Medical Guild takes case to NMA “We have handed over the matter to the Nigeria Medical Association. They will decide on what to do.

We met with them on Saturday at the instance of the House of Assembly. At the end of that meeting, the Commissioner told us that they are not changing their minds on what they want to pay that it is a government policy. And he kept to that. Both the House of Assembly and the Commissioner of Health kept quiet on the issues of queries and that became a soft point.

“I became disappointed with the House of Assembly, because they called us to a meeting to mediate and we reported to them that these are the immediate cause of the indefinite strike and then in their discussion, they just kept quiet that is to say that the meeting was called in bad faith.

“And that is why we are declaring lack of confidence in the house of Assembly to resolve this issue because they have demonstrated partisanship. So they are not confident to wade into the matter.??

Our actions were justified. These letters were signed before we even held that meeting.

New doctors On the appointment of new doctors, He said: “I cannot rule that out .

I wouldn’t do that.

Because a Yor uba culture said that the same whip that was used on the senior wife is also hanging on some where and it will also be used for the second wife.

“Everybody who knows that should consider that before taking up jobs at this material time. But the NMA is going to address that. I can assure you that the medical profession will never die because it has been in existence before any of these politicians were born.

Medical profession came about because there was a need and that will continue to drive the profession.

“The patient should ask the government of their fate because government knew that the patients are dying and they sacked over 1,000 doctors at a sweep. The same patients pay heavy tax to the government to protect their lives and their properties that is the first call of any government. If this government cannot do that, people should hold them responsible for that.

Describing the actions of government, he said: “How will describe their action, to me I think is a wrong step at the wrong time

for the wrong reasons.?

Any Government that has the interest of its people at heart wouldn’t do what they have done?

Reacting to the Minister ’s advise on strike, he said. “People should know when to generalize issues.????

We were forced into this strike and anybody who look from afar is either oblivious of the fact or just want to play to the gallery.

Government has published what they say they are paying, how much is N800,000 for a person who has served for 35 years? I can tell you there are over 1200 doctors involved in this issue.

If they are going to live to their words, we might just say that they have sacked over 1200 doctors. Those left can’t be more than 60 – 80, these are doctors that were on leave.

“This just confirms what we have been saying that our government is insincere. This just goes to say that our government is shedding crocodile tears by saying people are dying,should doctors go back to work.

Meanwhile they have already sacked the doctors since Friday last week. That doctors should leave the hospitals."

We are not deceived “So who are they deceiving? Doctors, I don’t think so. No, because since we declared indefinite strike, we had already known that this was what they were going to do. We are not being deceived but the masses.? It is left for the masses to decide on what they will do.”

He added that the Continues on page 46

6—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

CJN vows to punish judges over lateness to court

BY IKECHUKWU NNCHIRI

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From Left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the opening of presidential workshop on power, in Abuja, yesterday.

CAPITAL MARKET PROBE:

NSE spent N1.3bn on travel expenses in 2009, Oteh alleges zSays N37m was used to buy a yatch zN186m spent on 165 Rolex wrist watches

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BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA — DIRECTOR General of the Securities Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, has alleged that the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, spent N1.3 billion on travel expenses alone in 2009.

Speaking at the on-going public hearing on near collapse of the Capital Market being conducted by the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee, yesterday, Oteh said: ”One of the notable fraudulent transactions include the reclassification of N1.3 billion originally expended on business travels."

Oteh explained that N953 million was reclassified under “Software Upgrade” and subsequently expended as against being capitalised, adding: “There were other cases of such unethical accounting practices. Given the foregoing, it was important to me that we engage the NSE to address these weaknesses.

Unfortunately the former CEO of the NSE did not attend most of the meetings we scheduled. ”It was also brought to our attention that there were incidences of financial skimming, misappropriation, false accounting, misrepresentation, and questionable transactions. For instance, the NSE bought a yacht for N37 million and wrote

down the book value within one year by recognising it in the books as a gift presented during its 2008 Long Service Award, yet there are no records of the beneficiary.

Rolex watches as gifts

"The Exchange also spent N186 million on 165 Rolex wrist watches as gifts for awardees of which only 73 were actually presented to the awardees. The outstanding 92 Rolex watches valued at N99.5 million remain unaccounted for.

These were the kinds of financial imprudence that were perpetrated at the NSE. These transactions were routed through companies owned by some senior officers of the Exchange.

Capital market shoddy performance

On the shoddy performance of the Capital Market, the DG noted: ”The total market capitalisation of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange declined from N12..6 trillion at the end of March 2008 to a bottom of N3.99 trillion in February of 2009. Also significant to highlight is that at the peak, banking sector stock made up more than 60 per cent of market cap, essentially implying that where the banking sector went, the stock market would go.

"By January 2010, when

I arrived, market cap had risen to N4.99 trillion. However, investor apathy remained for a number of reasons including the problems at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, insufficient attention to market abuses that had been prevalent from 2006 to 2009, margin loan overhang, unresolved

banking challenges. These concerns were accentuated by the findings of the Central Bank/NDIC/SEC audit of the banks which were released in August 2009.

"One of these findings was that some key problems with the banks came from their activities in the capital markets."

BUJA — THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, yesterday, vowed to okay full fledged disciplinary action against some judges whose conduct he said exposes the judiciary to public opprobrium.

The CJN who made the declaration at the opening of a workshop organised for judicial officers in Abuja maintained that the “judiciary today is under intense and sustained public scrutiny more than ever in the history of this country.”

He maintained that “in the face of this increasing public scrutiny, judicial officers, ''like Caesar’s wife,' must ensure that their judicial activities are irreproachable and their character unimpeachable,” saying “judges are expected not simply to apply the law but to exemplify it.”

Meanwhile, Judges across the federation who attended the workshop organised by the National Judicial Institute, NJI, got a shocker after the CJN announced his decision to forthwith, punish any of them that fail to commence

Shell reports two new leaks on Nigerian pipeline

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AGOS— OIL giant, Shell, yesterday, said two new leaks had occurred on one of its pipelines in Rivers State after similar incidents in

Jonathan orders IG to find Oyerinde's killers ...Urges BPE to follow best practices in privatisation of power sector

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to find the killers of Mr. Oyerinde Olaitan, the Principal Private Secretary of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

President Jonathan who gave the order when he condoled with the governor in Abuja shortly before the Presidential workshop on power went underway at the Presidential Villa also revealed that he had ordered the Police boss to reopen all cases of murder for thorough investigations.

He said: “I have directed that cases of murder must be properly investigated in this country. At the end of

the day, we must know what happened, not just in Edo State but other challenges that are facing us on a daily basis.”

On power sector privatisation Meanwhile, President Jonathan has also directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises to follow international best practices in the privatisation of the power sector saying that no excuse would be tolerated from the Bureau.

Speaking at the workshop on the power sector at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan said a definite date must be set for the privatisation of the power sector.

“We do not want to hear any story again, they must follow issues to the letter

court proceeding by 9:00 a.m.

According to the CJN, “we should effectively utilise judicial time by promptly disposing off the business of court and expeditiously bring to conclusion and determination matters under submission. Except for good reason, judicial officers must be punctual in court attendance, must maintain official hours of the court and commence the business of the court by 9:00am.

"Thus, a situation where some judges, habitually do not sit by 9:00am will no longer be overlooked. This is an unethical conduct which is unbecoming of serving judges. There cannot be any defence of this terrible conduct. In order to be in good position to manage case, the judge must sit promptly every sitting day.

“Consequently, the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the National Judicial Council will be established and directed to promptly take administrative notice of such judges and forward their names to the council for appropriate disciplinary action. On our part as Heads of Court, we shall not hesitate to bring these erring judges to book."

and strictly with the dates.

We agreed that it is only through privatisation that we would get to where we want to go and in doing that, let me use this opportunity to warn that I do not want to hear that they have been influenced by any politician.

"At least I am the number one politician. Whether the person is my mother or my uncle, I do not want to hear that somebody is from the president or vice president or that. If you make mistakes, you are on your own and we will deal with you decisively. We must give the best.”

According to the president, “the Economic Management Team will meet Tuesday (today) to fine-tune and restructure what we discussed here and give time lines to follow."

recent days blamed on crude theft.

“Two new leaks were reported today (yesterday)on the Trans Niger pipeline at Akpajo and K-Dere in Ogoniland, after a similar number of leaks caused by hacksaw cuts were repaired at the weekend,” Precious Okolobo, spokesman for Shell’s Nigerian joint venture, said in a statement.

He did not disclose the extent of the leaks and when repairs would begin, but said later that the affected line “has been isolated and production switched to an alternative line."

“A joint investigation team will determine the cause and extent of the leaks preparatory to repair work,” the statement said.

The Anglo-Dutch firm announced on Friday a significant cut in its Nigerian oil production due to pipeline damage caused by theft, and warned that it might not meet contractual obligations as a result.

A shutdown of the damaged line for repairs will cut output by 60,000 barrels per day, it said. Nigeria has been producing between 2.0 and 2.4 million barrels per day in recent months.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—7

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, GODWIN ORITSE,KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE, BOSE ADELAJA & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

gos State government has provided us with a crushing site to crush any vehicle parked on the road. If they decide to go on strike, it is their business; they cannot hold other road users to ransom because they are doing their businesses. Everybody has a right to the road and we do not want to condone any indiscipline.

Any vehicle lost by its owner is lost forever because such vehicle will be crushed.”

Professor Monye stated that the Lagos State Government has directed its traffic management agency to monitor the road on a 24hour basis.

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AGOS — A combined team of law enforcement agencies, led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, yesterday, removed over 60 trucks indiscriminately parked along Oshodi -Apapa Expressway, following the expiration of ultimatum issued by the state government to remove them.

Two persons were also arrested by the Lagos State Task Force on Environment and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, during the evacuation exercise of abandoned vehicles and demolition of all illegal structures in Apapa area of the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State had, last week, after leading a delegation on an inspection tour of the area, directed the Ministry of Transportation to issue a four-day ultimatum to owners of trucks and other vehicles parked along the expressway to remove them or have such impounded.

The exercise began around midnight when the Police Commissioner led Task Force officials comprising the police, military officers and officials of LASTMA and Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI to dislodge the truckers.

TaskForce officials removing abandoned vehicles at Berger under bridge, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY:

Task Force impounds over 60 vehicles, arrests two suspects zLagos govt pledges to sustain operation ment of humans and vehicles in and out of the environment and to also be on ground before any of the occupiers of the area arrive to forestall any restriction.”

On what would happen to the recovered space, Sulaimon said: “This effort is to make this place look the way it was 20 years ago. Apart from the environmental

plied with the directive of the state government to remove their vehicles.

There were arrests in the early hours of the day when some occupiers of the shanties attacked our men during the evacuation of the vehicles and the demolition of illegal structures. We had no option than to arrest the men because they wanted to halt the exer-

eral Manager of L ASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, confirmed that about 60 trucks had been towed so far, saying the exercise would continue He said: ”We have removed all the recalcitrant vehicles on the Apapa road in order to ensure that traffic gridlock along this road becomes a thing of the past. We

The evacuation The evacuation exercise, which lasted over 13 hours, commenced from Tincan to Creek Road, Liverpool and Marine Beach before it was suspended at about 2 p.m.

As a result of the enforcement, the usual traffic gridlock disappeared with motorists driving unhindered to their destinations.

Over 10 trucks were impounded at Marine Beach at 11.30 a.m. According to the Chairman of the Task Force, Superintendent Bayo Sulaimon, “the action was based on the ultimatum given by Governor Babatunde Fashola that all vehicles parked indiscriminately and shanties constructed under the bridge should be removed.”

“We commenced the operation at midnight in order to have easy move-

Vehicles being towed by men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at Marine Beach under bridge, Apapa, yesterday. Photo: Monsur Olowoopejo.

benefit, there will be security within this area.”

On how long the enforcement would last, he said the enforcement just commenced today (yesterday) and would last until the entire area is recovered.

Said he: “The operation was very smooth because few owners of the vehicles and shanties com-

cise.

“We made a lot of vehicular arrests and they have all been parked at LASTMA yard, Oshodi.

We met them right on the road flouting the law of the state. We know where we are going and until we get there, we will not relent until we get to our destination.”

Speaking earlier, Gen-

expect and urge the tank farm owners to provide available space for their trucks to park pending loading turns.”

We 'll crush any truck impounded henceforth Also speaking to newsmen after the operation,

Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof.

Sylvester Monye explained that it took them six months to work out strategies on how to clear the tankers off the road, noting that the activities of tanker drivers had denied other Nigerians the use the road.

He explained that before the road was finally cleared of tankers and other vehicles, the committee met with several stakeholders in the maritime industry such as ship owners, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA; Customs terminal operators, Lagos State government and the truck owners and drivers.

Monye also disclosed that the committee would crush any truck that is parked henceforth on the road at a crushing site already provided by the Lagos State government.

He, therefore, warned truck and tanker owners to provide parking space for their vehicles since they have offices and homes.

His words: “We have been meeting and discussing with stakeholders. As a result, we have been able to clear the road without any force. Any tanker owner that does business in Apapa should provide parking space for his or her vehicle outside the port access road. The La-

Residents hail evacuation In his reaction to the exercise, the Grand Patron of a group which goes by the name, Elders’ Forum Kirikiri and Apapa, Chief Babalola Shabi, described the removal of obstructions along the road as a big relief to residents of the area and motorists plying the road.

According to him, the gridlock along the expressway is the cause of numerous armed robbery attacks on motorists and residents of the neighbourhood.

Said he: “People who close at places of work around 5 p.m., usually don’t get home until midnight. I have been a victim of robbery attack as a result of the persistent gridlock especially around Mile 2."

Shabi told Vanguard of the efforts by the Kirikiri community to rid the expressway of abandoned trucks, adding: “At the community development level, KiriKiri Joint Elders’ Forum had issued a warning to abandoned vehicles owners to remove them or pay a fine of N100,000.

Initially, we were faced with the task of where to take the impounded vehicles to but we have liaised with the Chairman of OriAde Local Council Development Area who has given us a towing vehicle and a parcel of land at Abule-Oshun where all impounded vehicles are taken to.”

Similarly, Secretary, Lagos Zonal Council of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, Comrade Adebayo Atanda, said the exercise was a welcome development, noting: “We all know the importance of the exercise; this issue needs some proactive measures and we have directed our men to remove all abandoned tankers from the expressway.”

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

2011 SILVERBIRD MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD. PIX BY BIODUN OGUNLEYE

From left: Bishop Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, Secretary of Conference; Bishop Sunday Olu Ogunlere, Bishop of Tinubu; and Bishop Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, Bishop of Lagos West, all of Methodist Church Nigeria.

From left: Chief Ernest Shonekan; Mr Michael Murray-Bruce; Mrs Sangeeta Gwalani; Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman, Silverbird Group and Gen Yakubu Gowon (Rtd). at the Silverbird awards at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria-Island, Lagos.

From right: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Senator Daisy Danjuma and Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido.

From left: Gen Yakubu Gowon (Rtd); Chief Ernest Shonekan and Mrs Margaret Murray-Bruce.

From left: Gen Yakubu Gowon receiving Lifetime Gen Muhamadu Buhari (middle) receiving a Life- Achivement Award from Minister of Culture and From left: Odien Ajumogobein and wife Awuneba time Award from Chief Ernest Shonekan and Mr Tourism, Edem Dukeand Yevonne Okoro. with Chief Segun Osoba and wife Derin.

Ben Murray Bruce

Chief Ben Obi (left) and Pastor Tunde Bakare.

From left: Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/ GM Publications, Vanguard Newspaper, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Chief Tony Ndah.

Amb Tokunbo Dosumu-Awolowo (left) receiving a posthumous award from Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman, Silverbird Group.

From left: Mrs Bose Clarke; Mrs Remi Diagbare, Editor Allure, Vanguard Newspaper; and Sen Florence Ita-Giwa.

From left: Dr & Dr Mrs Ben Obaze and Mr Kanayo O Kanayo.

Mr and Mrs Victor Gotevbe, Admin Manager, Vanguard Newspaper.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 9

From left, retired Supreme Court Justice, Justice George Oguntade; G o v e r n o r Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, Bishop of Lagos Anglican Diocese and his wife, Oluranti, during the third Session of the 31st Synod of the Diocese of Lagos A n g l i c a n Communion at Our Saviour's Church, Lagos Photo: Island.

Bunmi Azeez.

Briefly

Apapa Container Terminal rated among world best

BY IFEYINWA OBI

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AGOS—THE largest container terminal in sub-Saharan Africa, the Apapa Container Terminal, operated by APM Terminals, can now measure with the best container terminal in Europe and America, Chief Executive Officer of the terminal, Mr. Kim Fejfer, has said.

Speaking in Lagos, during a working visit to Nigeria, he said: “We now have a modern container terminal performing at par with the best in Europe and this has important impact on trade in and out of Nigeria.”

He also met with top management staff of APM Terminals Apapa Limited.

New Exco for Apapa PCRC

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EMBERS of the Police Community Relations Committee, Apapa Division, have elected new officers to run their affairs for the next two years.

Those elected are Mrs. Stella Obi, Chairman; Mr J. Uba, Vice-Chairman; Olayemi Vincent, Secretary with Inspector Linus as Police Representative.

Others are Matthew Oko-Obuh, Financial Secretary; Francis OputaOji, Public Relations Officer; Chief Okey Dillion, Treasurer; and Mrs Edna Jeremiah, Welfare Officer.

ALLEGED N36M FRAUD:

Court cautions EFCC for delay in Deji Abiola's trial

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

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KEJA—AN Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, said it would not hesitate to strike out the N35.5 million theft charge against Deji Abiola, son of the late politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its failure to produce its witness in court.

Trial judge, Justice

Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who gave the warning at the resumed hearing in the matter, following EFCC’s request for an adjournment, said it will only grant an adjournment on the condition that EFCC will produce its witness in court at the next adjourned date.

EFCC had sought for a short adjournment instead of calling its witness, a move that infuriated the judge.

The court had on March

...restrains Ikoyi Club over member's expulsion

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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KEJA—EFFORTS by the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, to expel one of its members, Prince Mordi Aigbedion, from the club has suffered a setback, as an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, has declared his expulsion as wrongful and illegal.

Aigbedion had dragged the Registered Trustees of the club to court over his expulsion based on a report of inquiry by the club.

Trial judge, Justice Ayo Philips, held that the decision of the club to expel the applicant was incompetent, null and void.

Not satisfied with the judgment, the club asked the court to stay its judgment.

Dismissing the application of the registered trustees of the club, Justice Phillips held the judgment sought to be stayed was a declaratory one and not

executory and refused to stay same.

The court noted that since an administrative panel of inquiry had found Aigbedion liable for an offence allegedly bordering on criminal activity, the club ought to have referred same to the police for further investigation.

Aigbedon had sued Mr. Richard L. Kramer, Mr. Alaba Okupe, Akin Laguda and Mr. Dele Adetiba as the registered trustees of Ikoyi Club 1938, over his expulsion as a member, contending that he was not allowed to make any representation to the purported disciplinary committee that recommended his expulsion.

He had asked the court for an order of certiorari to quash the report of the investigative panel which he pointed out was not a court of competent jurisdiction.

12, adjourned till, yesterday, for the commencement of the trial, after it dismissed an application by Deji, seeking to quash the one count charge of stealing about N35.5m against him.

Reacting to the request for adjournment, the court said: “The date of adjournment is sacrosanct in this court. You cannot ask for an adjournment without cogent reason. If you are not going to continue with the case today (yesterday), I am going to discharge the accused person and when you are ready to prosecute him, you can bring him back.”

EFCC’s counsel, Mr. A. Adebola, had earlier told the court that the prosecution would not be able to continue with the case on the grounds that its first witness, the investigating officer in the case, had been transferred to Enugu.

He had also asked the court to further adjourn an earlier date of May 16, as he would be away for an appeal case on the said date.

The judge warned that he would no longer tolerate such request for adjournment because, “it will mess up the court’s diary. You cannot make me have this matter on my list when you know you are not ready to prosecute. If you are not ready to prosecute, I will discharge the defendant for you to go and re-file your case. “ The court, meanwhile, adjourned the matter till May 16.

Fashola blames terrorists' attacks on Malians, Chadians ...shuts Ikeja Central Mosque

BY EVELYN USMAN

I

KEJA—LAGOS State Government, yesterday, said terrorists attacks in the country, which had led to the deaths of several Nigerians were orchestrated by Malians and Chadians, blaming the porosity of the borders for the infiltration of mischievous foreigners into the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has called on Nigerians to join hands in the fight against terrorism, saying that security agencies alone cannot win the war.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, at a five-day seminar/training workshop on Democracy, Peace Building and Conflict Management for the Military, at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics, NACOL, noted that the security and checks at the nation’s borders was nothing, compared to what was obtained in Cameroun and other neighbouring countries' borders.

He called for proper policing of the borders to check the influx of terrorists into the country.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Politics and Legislative Matters, Mr. Muslim Folami, Fashola stressed the need for state police, noting that it was only under such a situation that a state governor indeed, be called the chief security officer of his state.

As part of security measures to check threat of likely attack on the state, Fashola said the central mosque in Ikeja had been shut down temporarily, while proper checks on vehicles going in and out of Alausa had been intensified.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major-General Kenneth Minima, said the seminar could not have come at a better time than now, following the current security challenges facing the country.

Man docked over alleged N.39m ATM fraud

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS—A 26-year-old man, Ayedun Adelaja, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court, Lagos, for allegedly using an ATM card belonging to one Mr. Akinreti Saheed to steal N380,000 from his account.

The accused was said to have committed the alleged offence on February 15,at an old generation bank in the Lagos Magisterial

District and conspired with others to commit felony to wit; stealing, an offence punishable under section 409 (1) of Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate O.Martins, however, admitted him to bail in the sum of N150, 000 with one surety in like sum, while the matter was adjourned till May 14 for hearing.

Lawmakers probes LASWA

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

KEJA—LAGOS State House of Assembly Committee on Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , Commerce and Industry, yesterday, begun investigation into allegations levelled at the management of Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, over non-payment of salaries and mal-administration by the agency’s workers.

According to Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Bisi Yusuf, the committee

would ensure that justice prevails as relevant documents on the issues had been provided to the committee.

Responding to the allegations against him, the managing director of the agency, Mr. Yinka Marinho, said the management had concluded regularisation of staff on casual to permanent staff, adding that since his assumption of office last year, the take home pay of each worker had been over N25,000 per month.

10— Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Alleged rape: Osun may depose Ijesa monarch

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—MORE troubles may soon come the way of the embattled traditional ruler of Ilowa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state, Oba Adebukola Alli, as the Osun State Government plans to withdraw his certificate and instrument of office over alleged child abuse.

It was gathered from an impeccable government source, yesterday, that the certificate and instrument of office of the Alowa of Ilowa may be withdrawn pending the time Alli would be arraigned before the court for alleged child abuse.

Alli, who is standing trial in a case of alleged rape of a 23-year- old ex-corps member, Miss Helen Okpara, who served in his domain between 2010 and 2011, allegedly sponsored protesters who almost disrupted the last hearing of his case at the state High Court, Osogbo.

It was gathered that officials of the State Ministry of Justice are already preparing papers for Alli's arraignment over allegation of child abuse.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola was said to be particularly interested in the matter as he had reportedly instructed his Special Adviser on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Funmilayo Eso Willaims, to take appropriate action against Alli for allegedly mobilising and sponsoring school children to protest during the last hearing of his case.

Similar directive was said to have been given to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Afolabi, who was on the court premises when the school children staged the protest.

Alli was alleged to have sponsored students of Kiloru Community High School, Ilowa, to protest on the premises of the State High Court on Wednesday May 2,2012 over the case of alleged rape levelled at him.

It was learnt that Alli conveyed the pupils to Osogbo from Ilowa in hired commercial buses along with some of his subjects and traditional chiefs, a development which did not go down well with the government.

Witness shows court how N200m was deposited into Daniel's firm's account

z Says ex-gov did not make personal deposit

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & DAWUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—TRIAL of the former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, formally began yesterday at the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, showing how cash were allegedly deposited into one of his company's, Blue Chapel’s, account.

This came as the trial judge, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje,

reserved ruling on the admissibility of a bank statement tendered by Daniel’s counsel, Professor Taiwo Osipintan, SAN, to deflate the evidence of the prosecution witness, Mr. Ade Babatunde.

Babatunde, a Business Development Manager with Skye Bank Plc, was the one that gave a purported graphic account of how fund was deposited in Daniel company’s account.

Daniel was re-arraigned on April 15, 2012 by EFCC on a 38-count

charge bordering on breach of trust, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use and failure to declare his assets truthfully and stealing over N211 million.

When the matter came up, counsel for EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, led Babatunde in evidence over the alleged illegal lodgments of some money by some individuals into Blue Chapel company account belonging to the ex-governor .

Babatunde, in his evidence, who said

Daniel’s company opened its account with Skye Bank in 2004 before he joined the bank in 2007, said over N200 million was transferred into the company's account, stressing Daniel was the sole signatory to the account, but, did not lodge any money himself either in cash or in cheque into the account.

Jacobs had tendered a certified true copy of Blue Chapel statement of account which was not objected to by Daniel’s lead counsel and was admitted as Exhibit 1 by

From left, Mr. Samuel Nwankwo, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, ManisGlobal Investment Limited; Mr Ademola Lawal, Assistant Corps Commander, Zonal Commanding Officer, RS2, Lagos; Mr. Chudi Obiora, Managing Director, Minds Share Media Nigeria Limited, and Mr. Jonas Agwu, Corps Commander, Sector Commander, Lagos State, at the launch of FRSC Zone 2 Magazine, and award ceremony by the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

KIdnappers demand N50m for OOUTH lecturer

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — ABDUCTORS of Dr. (Mrs) Olusola Otulana, a lecturer at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, who was kidnapped last Friday, have allegedly insisted on collecting a N50 million ransom before releasing her.

Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that her husband, Dr. Biodun Otulana, pleaded with his wife’s abductors to show mercy as he reportedly told them he could not raise such money being demanded.

It was gathered that Otulana, who owns a private hospital in IjebuOde, spoke with his wife on the phone.

She was said to have wailed throughout the phone conversation,

pleading with him to do whatever he could to rescue her from the ordeal.

Olusola, an opthalmologist with the Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Sagamu Campus, was kidnapped between Imota and Ijebu-Ode while returning from Ikorodu in Lagos State and has since been

in their custody in an unknown location.

It was gathered that the kidnappers trailed her from Ikorodu to the relatively lonely Imota stretch of the IkoroduIjebu-Ode road before they took her away.

The abductors were said to have initially demanded N100 million ransom but later reduced it to N50 million on

Sunday.

When contacted on phone, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police were not aware of the incident.

Adejobi added that when he contacted the Divisional Police Officer in Ago-Iwoye, he was told that no such incident had been reported to the division.

the court.

However, attempt by Osipitan to tender from the Bar a copy of the statement of same account extracted from the proof of evidence, which he was said contradicted the one tendered by EFCC was resisted by EFCC’s counsel saying, it was not admissible in law.

Osipitan, while crossexamining the witness, asked Babatunde to compare a statement of account in the proof evidence and Exhibit 1, insisting that there were contradictions in the statements of account.

He also argued before the court that most of the money allegedly deposited were probably paid into the company’s account by customers.

Babatunde, however, confirmed that the two statements of account were genuine, prompting Osipitan to seek to tender it but the EFCC counsel objected to it on the ground that he did not follow due process in tendering documents.

According to Osiptan, ''the document emanated from the prosecution and it was the basis with which he sought the leave of court.

So, if the prosecution counsel now comes around and said, it is not genuine, it means he forged the document.

Osipitan, in his submission, urged the court to allow the document, describing it as public document.''

In his objection, Jacobs, who quoted several authorities including sections 84 and 89 of the Evidence Act, described it as computer- generated document, which, according to him, could not be admissible.

After listening to the parties, the judge reserved ruling till June 5, while fixing June 7, 2012 for continuation of trial.

Obasanjo now movie producers' grand patron

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B E O K U TA — F O R M E R President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is now the Grand Patron of Nollywood’s Association of Movie Producers, AMP. The former President gave the nod to the wish of AMP to make him their Grand Patron when members led by the National President, Zik

Zulu Okafor, visited him at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

During the visit, Obasanjo told the producers that he was very proud of Nollywood and the industry in concise terms, represented the resilient and innovative spirit of the real Nigerian.

The former president said his late wife, Stella, loved Nigerian films very much and was making plans to do something special to support the growth of Nollywood.

He said: “But unfortunately, she passed on. I am, therefore, very happy to accept this offer to be your grand patron. It is

an honour for me that you singled me out for this purpose. I promise to do my best to help the cause of your industry because you people have demonstrated tenacity of purpose and you, in fact, defied all odds to create what is today one of Nigeria’s most popular and visible exports.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—11

Urhobo youths eulogise Okumagba

BY FESTUS AHON

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INAUGURATION: From left: Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere; State Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Paul Ekpo; PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-South Zone), Dr. Stephen Oru and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Samuel Ikon, during the inauguration of the new State Executive Committee of the PDP, in Uyo.

Employment scam in Delta: Kingpins go into hiding

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—FOLLOW ING the marching order handed down to security agencies in Delta State to investigate and bring to book, those fingered in the reported employment scam in the state, some of the officers, it was gathered are already jittery.

It was gathered that some of the fingered kingpins, have not been reporting for duty regularly, for fear of being picked up for interrogation since Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan gave the order during the May Day celebration in Asaba, last week Tuesday.

Angered by the employment scandal, the governor, while putting on hold the issue of employment in the state, charged those who alleg-

edly bribed government officials, to come up with evidence to assist in the investigation.

Many Deltans had complained that they were ripped off during employment exercises in the state, citing the employment exercise carried out by the state Civil Service Commission and recruitment exercise at the Asaba Internation-

al Airport, among others.

It was also gathered that security agents were foot dragging in carrying out the directive of the governor.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, told our reporter yesterday: “I have not got anything about that (investigation) yet.”

Aside from the employment racketing, it was gathered that the incidence of ghost workers is

Imoke decries HIV/AIDS prevalence status of C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR — W I F E of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, has decried the alleged high rate of HIV/AIDS in the state, saying that the

state being adjudged as such was unacceptable.

Mrs. Imoke, who declared open a three-day workshop on capacity building for wives of local government council chairmen and Local Action Committee on AIDS,

FG urged to track down Oyerinde's killers

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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MBRELLA body for pro-labour civil society organisations, Joint Action Front, JAF, weekend, asked the Federal Government to track down the murderers of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who was killed in his bedroom in Edo State on Friday.

JAF, in a statement, la-

worrisome and yet to be properly addressed. Recently, a bank official in Asaba was whisked away to Abuja by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, officials, over manipulation of Delta State pay roll.

Also the sate Head of Service, Mr. Okechukwu Ofili, had on November 19, last year, confirmed the existence of ghost workers on the state payroll, adding that investigation was already in progress.

mented that until his assassination, Olaitan who was on leave of absence in Governor Oshiomhole’s administration, was the Deputy General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. The statement by Dr. Oladipo Fashina and Mr Abiodun Aremu, Chairperson and JAF Secretary, condemned the murder and commiserated with his family, Edo State Government, NLC, and the entire Nigerian labour movement.

JAF recalled that killing of Olaitan in his bedroom came a few days after a truck rammed into Oshiomhole's convoy and left three journalists in the press crew dead.

According the JAF, Olaitan lived a life of struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian masses right from his student days at the University of Lagos and in the glorious era of the National Association of Nigerian Students.

LACA, officials in Calabar, said the state believed in zero transmission, stigmatisation and HIV/AIDS related deaths.

She said: “Cross River State has indeed been adjudged one of the states in Nigeria considered to have a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. This is totally unacceptable to us.”

The governor ’s wife noted that in December 2011, the state celebrated the World HIV/AIDS day with a sensitisation/ advocacy walk and a gala night with the hope having zero transmission, stigmatisation, and HIV/ AIDS related deaths.

“We vowed that Cross River State being the trail blazer in all things, including health care provision would ensure that we do all that we can do to meet the goal of the ‘three zeros."

GHELLI—LEAD ERSHIP of Urhobo Youth Council, UPC, weekend, paid a condolence visit to the Okumagba family over the demise of their father and Orusuen of OkereUrhobo Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Okumagba, who died, recently.

Speaking during the visit, Deputy National President of the group, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, described the late Okumagba as a father to all, adding that he was selfless during his reign as President General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU. Egbo noted that Urhobo nation witnessed great transformation during the reign of HRM Okumagba as President General of UPU, adding “there was so much love and unity amongst the Urhobo at the time.”

He said the late Okumagba stood for the greatness of the Urhobo nation, promising that as Urhobo youths, they would stand by his leadership and principles which every Urhobo son and daughter was proud of.

Egbo said: “HRM Okumagba stood firmly for the greatness of the Urhobo nation. He weathered all storms to give the Urhobo a clear identity, an identity that we the younger generation are proud to adhere to.”

Chief Wilson Eboh thanked the group for the visit, saying that the traditional council and the entire kingdom were consoled by it.

He said: “Your presence has added a lot of colours to the preparation for the passage rites for the final home call of the Orosuen due to begin on June 4, 2012.”

Edo ANPP guber primary: Edebiri emerges consensus candidate

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—CHIEF Solomon Edebiri has emerged the consensus governorship candidate of All Nigeria Peoples party, ANPP, at a delegate governorship primary election conducted by the party in Benin City, Edo State, weekend.

Meanwhile, the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, yesterday, received Chief Ebebiri at his palace and warned politicians to eschew violence ahead the election.

Ebebiri said his mission at the palace was to receive the royal blessing before kicking off his campaign in the state.

The Oba who responded after one of his chiefs prayed for the candidate, stressed the need for politicians to base their campaigns on issues rather than resorting to violence, which he said was unacceptable.

Edebiri, who spoke to newsmen at the palace, expressed gratitude to the Oba, saying “the royal father gave us his blessing and he prayed for us. Having come to

take the royal blessing, we can now move the campaign to the streets, and villages, and like the Oba advised, we will do ours with decorum and peace. We will eschew violence and ensure that we play politics of issues and not of personalities.”

Chief Edebiri insisted on his promise to deliver purposeful governance to the people of the state, adding that when elected, he would focus on human and infrastructural development of the state.

On the ANPP primaries, Edo Chairman of the party, Mr. Stephen Aimufia, who addressed the 449 delegates after Edebiri was adopted as the consensus candidate for the July 14 governorship election in the state, spoke on the sterling qualities of the governorship hopeful, adding that he was certain the candidate would win the election.

He said Edebiri was contesting on the platform of a coalition of ten political parties with the ANPP as the party platform to formerly seek the governorship seat, adding that the other parties in the coalition were observers at the delegate primary election.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Stop campaigning with Oba's name, BTC tells politicians

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—BENIN Traditional Council, BTC, has warned politicians to stop using the name, pictures and image of the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, in their campaigns.

Secretary of BTC, Mr. Frank Irabor, in a statement, yesterday, expressed regret that the name of the Oba and his effigy were being used freely by political parties, adding that it was a taboo to do so, in view of the fact that the Oba is not a politician.

From left: Chief E. Idhalama, the Okpohor I of Aviaza; Prince Uzuazororo Emaviwe, who represented his father, HRH Emaviwe I, Ovie of Aviara and Chief M. C. Ofiemu,the Arure of Aviara, during the presentation of a post-humous award to HRH Emaviwe I , Ovie of Aviara. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

PDP cautioned against verbal attacks on Azazi

How ex-militants averted fresh Ijaw, P Itsekiri clash—Ebiotu

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—AN exmilitant commander in Delta State, Mark Ebiotu, alias Single Bullet, yesterday, said what could have been a bloodbath between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups during last weekend’s regatta by the Itsekiri to honour the Olu of Warri, was warded off by ex-militants, who rebuffed sponsors of the aborted war.

Ebiotu, who spoke to Vanguard, said: “We were approached by leaders of an Ijaw community (name withheld) to support them to fight against the Itsekiri as we did in those years foolishly. We told them no,

and that we were ex-militants and could not take up arms against our Itsekiri brothers.

“We told them that we have a common enemy, from the North, who we will team up to confront.

After the Warri crisis of 2003, the Ogbe-Ijoh and Gbaramatu Kingdom criminalised us by giving

us all sorts of names.

Never again will we be used as robots.

“There was a serious division among the Ijaw in Warri and environs over last week’s Itsekiri national festival. Majority of the ex-militants opposed the call for war.

“What happened is a warning to all ex-mili-

ELTA State Coun cil of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has conferred distinguished labour awards on Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama and other Deltans, as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Workers Day. Uduaghan, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Utuama, received awards in two categories, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor

UBLISHER of U n i q u e International Magazine, Mr. Tony Nweka, has appealed to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to desist from berating the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Owoye Azazi (rtd) over his recent remark but rather map out ways of salvaging the nation from the brink of collapse.

In a statement entitled: Azazi’s comment: A challenge to the new PDP national working committee, Mr. Nweka argued that the NSA’s statement should not be taken as an offence add-

ing, “it is obvious that he (Azazi) wanted to level up with people in order to solicit necessary assistance in curbing the national menace.”

It will be recalled that the NSA had argued that part of the security challenges stalling the nation’s progress was traceable to the political and presidential zoning system of the ruling PDP. He maintained that “there is no problem that cannot be solved. It will only take time and gradual process which will include negotiations as well as honesty from our polluted ruling cabal.”

SSS boss parades kidnapers of Delta Speaker’s brother Ondo guber poll: Group

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA cracking the die-hard mother of the member endorses ACN candidate kidnap syndicate that representing Aniocha/

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S A B A — D E LT A State Director of Security Service, SSS, Mrs. Florence Ikanone, yesterday, said the command had recorded a major breakthrough in

had terrorised the state.

She also paraded the suspected kidnapers of the younger brother to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei and also the

NLC honours Uduaghan, Utuama, others

D

tants in Warri never to be deceived again by an individual, group or Ijaw communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area to be used as robots to fight their Itsekiri opponents. We need peace in Warri and nobody will use us to fight to negotiate political positions in Delta.”

The statement said: “BTC wishes to stress that it is unacceptable for the political inclinations of any group of persons to be ascribed to the Oba of Benin. In particular, we reiterate that the Oba of Benin’s desire and prayers as father to all is for the individual or party, which is expressly committed to the continued unity of Edo people, infrastructural development of Edo State, creation of jobs for the people, reduction in poverty and above all, respect for the traditional institutions. We hereby restate the non-partisan position of the Oba and the palace.”

in Nigeria and Chief Patron of NLC, Delta State Council, while Prof. Utuama was honoured with the Distinguished Comrade Award.

NLC honours roll call included Mr. Ovuzorie Macauley, Secretary to Delta State Government, who received the Most Distinguished Comrade Award.

Conferring the awards at a Gala/Award night in Asaba, by NLC to round off activities to mark the May Day, Mr. William

Akporeha, state Chairman, said the award was to recognise and encourage leadership in society.

He said: “The aim of this award is to promote all forms of good leadership and integrity.”

Akporeha expressed optimism that the awards would further encourage the awardees to sustain their interests in social sustainable development for the overall benefit of the country.

Oshimili Federal constituency, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu at different times.

She warned those involved in kidnapping to leave the state as the command had spread its dragnet.

She paraded the suspects at the state SSS headquarters in Asaba.

According to her, "The suspects were arrested by the Service in Edo State in connection with the kidnap of Susan Elumelu, mother of Mr Ndudi Elumelu, member, representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

She added that “in their separate confessional statements, the arrested suspects owned up to participating in the kidnap of Ochei for pecuniary gains.”

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GROUP, the Ondo New Initiative Group, ONIG, has endorsed a governorship aspirant on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ondo State, Dr. Segun Abraham. The group, which gave the endorsement at a gala night in Abuja, said it believed “Dr. Abraham is a man of integrity with an impressive record of transparency in the private sector where

he has clearly distinguished himself overtime.”

A statement by the group’s secretary Mr. Ade Akerele, described the aspirant as a reliable investor with a knack for probity and public good, adding,t “he has developed a track record of integrity with a focus good enough to steer the ship of a state begging for true leadership, like Ondo State.”

Ukwuani union holds award night

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S part of the activ ities to mark the 75th anniversary of Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU, the group has slated May 18, 2012 for the inauguration of the Board of Trustees and award night in Lagos.

A statement by Chief

Joseph Olise and Mr. Godwin Onwusa, President and Secretary General respectively, said the award night scheduled to take place at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, was to appreciate some illustrious Ukwuani natives.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 —13

Health workers begin strike nationwidezAs meeting with FG deadlocks

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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B U J A — HEALTH workers and other professionals in the health sector, under the auspices of Joint Heath Sector Unions, JOHESU, yesterday declared an indefinite nationwide strike after their meeting with the Federal Government ended in a deadlock in Abuja.

Addressing newsmen after rising from the failed meeting, the National Coordinator of JOHESU, Comrade Faniran Felix Olukayode, who is also the National President of NUPMTPAM, directed members of the unions to begin immediate strike.

Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, JOHESU and Federal Government representatives, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatimo Bamidele, could not reach an agreement during the meeting Those proceeding on strike include members of MHWUN, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions , SSAUTHRAI; Nigeria Union of Pharmacist, Medical Technologists and Professions Allied to Medicine, NUPMTPAM, and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU. Speaking on behalf of the unions, Olukayode declared that after the meeting with the Federal Government yesterday, there is need to go ahead with the strike having earlier issued a 15-day ultimatum before the meeting.

According to him, “We are hereby informing the good people of Nigeria that having presented our demands to the Federal Government through various Health Ministers since 1980 and especially the past three years without any serious commitment to meet them, we have no other option other than to embark on an indefinite strike to press home our demands as a last resort.

“However, we sincerely apologize to the members of the public who are likely to be hurt by this action. It is due to circumstances beyond our control.”

The issues in contention according to the JOHESU National Coordinator are non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10; National Health Bill; Presidential Committee report on harmony in the health sector; promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15;

consultancy and specialist allowance and call/shift and other professional allowances.

Others are request for implementation of 2008 job evaluation committee report; re-constitution of board of managements of teaching and other tertiary hospitals; need for review

of retirement ages and appointment of ministers of health.

Comrade Olukayode however, stated that the unions are still open to dialogue, adding that if the Federal Government invites them and consider their demands they are ready to meet them.

Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi (right), delivering President Goodluck Jonathan's condolence message to Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on the death of his father.

Igbo mus oduce president mustt pr produce in 20 15 — Ezeif Ezeifee 201 zSays Jonathan free to seek second term

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—FIRST civilian governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, insisted yesterday Igbo nation must produce the president of Nigeria in 2015 in the interest of justice and equity.

Ezeife, who spoke at a workshop organised by Orient Communications Limited and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, said, however, that the Igbo presidency project would not pitch the South East against President Goodluck Jonathan if he eventually decided to vie, adding that Jonathan was free to seek for another term for the exalted office.

Ezeife said: “There are six pieces of meat on the table. There are six people on the table. Every person has taken a piece of meat, except one person and the

meat remains one piece and the question is who takes it?

“We are talking of law of equity. We are talking of law of fairness in Nigeria.

Every zone in Nigeria has supplied the Chief executive of this country except the South East, so in 2015, the zone should be allowed to take its own.

“Let us not destroy what has taken us years to build.

The North is saying it wants it in 2015. Ndigbo are saying the same thing too.

The incumbent President, they say, wants a second term. In all these, let justice p r e v a i l .

“We do not have any conflict with Jonathan. We are equally not going to fight him. He is also free to seek for second term. We will play only a game of cooperation and not a game of violence.

“But Igbo must be there.

Jonathan should equally campaign if he wishes

because the constitution made provision for that.

Igbo people will not hound him, but the project is a must for Ndigbo.”

Though, the former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, was present at the event, he failed to speak on the issue, stressing that the occasion was not a forum for politics but c u l t u r e .

He commended the organizers of the event, hoping that it would help to bring back Igbo culture and values to life.

Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Maja Umeh, disagreed with the insinuation that Ndigbo was not united.

According to him, the South East governors have done great things together in making sure that there is unity in the zone.

Insecurity: Obasanjo blames negative external influence zFG tasks monarchs on Nigeria's unity

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—FORMER Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said acculturation and negative external influences have largely contributed to the spate of violent crimes and general insecurity, the country is presently facing.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan tasked traditional rulers and local government authorities to pay more attention to promotion and preservation of cultural values and heritage, for cultural diversity of the country should be the source of her strength not strife.

The duo was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day National conference on ‘Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen’ in Abuja.

The Ex-Chairman of Board of Trusty of the People Democratic Party, PDP, who was represented by the National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola felt strongly that the issue of national security should be accorded top priority as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos and persistent violence.

He however, noted that poverty, unemployment, religion intolerance, ethnic rivalry, growing acculturation and resource control agitations and ignorance are most critical factors that lead to suspicion and mistrust, adding that there is need for peace be constructed in the minds of men and women.

“We need to sensitize the youths, community leaders, village heads, religious leaders, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and politicians to appreciate that building the Nigeria of our dream is a collective responsibility, and therefore we must take active interest in ensuring peace and security ”.

Obasanjo stressed.

Represented by his Special Adviser on special duties Mrs Serah Pane, the president said “it so sad to note that the level of destructions of lives and

property caused by ethnic and religious violence in the country.

“We should learn to exhibit mutual respect forour various cultural and religious affiliations in the interest of our collective peace and development.

There have been great distortions and dislocations in our cultural values, heritage, peace and communal security. Let us go back to our root and rediscover our cherished core-cultural values that guaranteed mutual respect, justice and co-existence.

“Let me assure Nigerians that our present security is not insurmountable. Our security agencies are being empowered with enhanced modern equipment and technical gadgets in crime prevention”, just as he continued to “call on aggrieved persons, or group of persons to consider dialogue as best option in addressing grievances”.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said failure of social institutions including religion bodies is a major reason for increase in crimes in the country, therefore, they must live to their responsibilities of instilling morality in the society.

His words, “there is no denying the fact the breakdown of our cherished cultural values and the failure of critical institutions such as the family, community, educational system and religion bodies to live up to their responsibilities of laying a solid moral foundation for the younger generation have contributed largely to the incidences of crime and violence in Nigeria.

“I wish to emphasize that the maintenance of peace and security is of paramount importance to this administration. No country can satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of its p0eople in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.

While government and security agencies are working round the clock to deal with the current security challenges, it is important to appreciate that the citizens also have a role to play in assisting the security agencies with relevant information.

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Insecurity: Imo people express concern

Elechi blames disloyalty in PDP on indiscipline

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State yesterday said one of the factors responsible for disloyalty within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was high level indiscipline demonstrated by some members of the party.

Elechi made the assertion while declaring open a four-day workshop for elected and appointed members of the party at local council, development centre and ward levels.

The governor noted that the functionaries of the party needed to be more knowledgeable on the policies, ideals and

manifesto of the party than those elected into various positions, adding that PDP must see itself as the element of change if it was to achieve maximum benefits for the citizenry.

He stressed that a balanced knowledge of the party’s ideals by members was paramount to the maintenance of unity and cohesion, even as he pointed out that loyalty to the party meant obedience to party ’s directives, whether pleasant or unpleasant.

The governor said: “I commend the wisdom of the organisers of this sensitization workshop; though belated but very timely. I give my 100 percent to you for party loyalty".

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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CONFAB—From left: Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria and Mallam Garba Mohammed, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, during a conference organised by Anambra State Council of NUJ and Orient Magazine/Newspaper in Awka. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

Imo Palm Plantation: Okorocha threatens to invite EFCC

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has threatened to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to quiz and prosecute those found to have defrauded government-owned Imo Palm Plantation.

Governor Okorocha, who read the riot act when he paid a visit to the establishment, also expressed anger over what he described as massive fraud perpetrated by the last administration.

“The last administration left the establishment in a

debt profile of over N1 billion. This includes about N450 million deposited for palm products that were not supplied and N750 million owed as salaries and allowances,” Okorocha said.

He reassured the citizenry that government would make the alleged culprits face the full weight of the law, adding that he was resolute in reviving and repositioning Imo Palm Plantation.

He directed the new management of the plantation to give five percent of the profit to the host communities, adding that the policy was in line with his proposed fourthtier government.

Ihedioha gets awards

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EPUTY SPEAKER, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has been conferred with the Best of Africa international legislative leadership award by USAfrica multimedia networks.

In a similar vein, the Deputy Speaker has been honoured for his contributions to media development by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ South-East Zone C. The prestigious trophy was handed to the Deputy Speaker on behalf of USAfrica by a United States Congressman, Al Green at the special 2012 USAfrica Best of Africa awards in Houston, Texas.

In his speech, Al Green, named among Ebony magazine’s 100 most influential black people, in 2006, commended Ihedioha for his contributions towards a better Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker was weekend, at Gregory University, Uturu, honoured with an award for oustanding contributions to media development by the NUJ South-East Zone C. The Deputy Speaker who was represented by his media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, " described the media as “indispensable in our march towards fostering greater unity and peaceful co existence.”

From left: Mr. Babatunde Adetula, Director, Ibadan Zonal Office, Nigeria Communication Commission; Ugochi Agoreyo, Anti-Piracy Conversion Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa; and Serge Ntamack, Anti-Piracy Lead, Microsoft WECA during a roundtable on 2012 World Intellectual Property day in Nigeria.

WERRI—ANGRY reactions have continued to trail spate of insecurity in Imo State, especially from among the elite and business communities.

Respondents, who spoke to Vanguard yesterday, affirmed that insecurity in the land was on the high side.

While a plumbing materials merchant, Mazi Damian Nze, expressed shock at the way armed robbery and kidnapping take place with ease in the state, an industrialist, Dr. Frank Jacobs, lamented that everywhere was unsafe.

His words: “Everywhere is unsafe in the state.

Kidnapping and armed robbery remains top on the criminal chart. Honestly, security is seriously in bad shape.”

Noting that armed robbery and kidnapping were disincentives to industry, Jacobs also reasoned that security had compounded the unfriendly business climate in the state.

In his own contribution, Mazi Nze was not happy that people don’t volunteer information to security agencies, stressing this was not helpful in fighting crime and criminals in the state.

Mob kills policeman in Nsukka

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

N in

SUKKA— TENSION mounted at Ogbede Igbo-Etiti Local

Government Area of Enugu State weekend as irate mob attacked and allegedly killed one police officer and left another unconscious Vanguard gathered that the two victims of the mob

OAUTH produces 3,350 medical personnel in 40 years

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—THE College of Health Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, OAU, has produced 3,350 medical personnel comprising 2,900 medical doctors and 450 dental surgeons in the last 40 years.

At a briefing to mark the 40th year’s anniversary of the college in Ile- Ife yesterday, the Provost of the college, Prof Solomon Ogunniyi, said during the period, the college had equally recorded some landmark achievements in the medical field.

Some of these medical feats, according to him, included the first university to successfully carry out separation of Siamese twins, kidney transplant among others.

According to him, “we have performed surgical feat, successful separation of conjoined twins, wholly indigenous kidney transplant surgery and cochlear transplant.”

He said the college in his efforts to improve on teaching, research and service delivery had increased significantly staff strength, while academic programmes had also been sustained and improved upon for better output.

attack, attached to Igbo Etiti police division, were on mission to arrest an alleged suspect in a fight between two people at Ogbede junction along EnuguMakurdi expressway around 6:30pm last Sunday.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that Igbo-Etiti police division was contacted to intervene and arrest the two people engaged in a serious fight, especially as one of them was badly injured.

On arrival at the scene, one of the two involved in a brawl lay helpless due to the wounds he sustained during the fight.

The two policemen, whose identities were not immediately known, made effort to arrest the other person that wounded the other, but he refused on the grounds that no police could arrest him.

His resistance attracted a larger crowd to the scene who supported him to ensure he was not taken away by the policemen.

The crowd allegedly closed in on the policemen,

prompting one of the cops to fire into the air to scare away the crowd.

Unfortunately, the stray bullet killed one of the people who gathered at the scene of the incident.

This infuriated the crowd who pounced on the two policemen and gave them the beating of their lives, which left one of them dead and the other unconscious.

At the time of filing this report, the corpse of the deceased had been deposited at Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, while the other laid unconscious at the private ward of the hospital under the guard of two other police officers.

Contacted for comment, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who spoke on phone, said the command would brief the press on the issue.

Amaraizu also said he could not give details of what happened at Igbo Etiti division as he was yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—15

Diaspora tasks NASS on disabilities bill

BY UDUMA KALU

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HE bill on full integration of people with disabilities must be world-class, Nigerians in the diaspora have told members of the House of Representatives.

Hon. Abike Dabiri, House Committee Chairman on the Diaspora, sponsored the bill. It seeks the rights and equality of people with disabilities and to legally eliminate discrimination of all kinds both in social and formal circles and accord them a status in accordance with the United Nations convention.

However, a Nigerian US-based advocacy group, Rights for People with Disabilities, led by Chief Eric Ufom, said the bill was rail-roaded in the House without their contributions, thereby removing the essential ingredient— instituting a commission to see to the affairs and protection of the group.

Ex-Director in prison custody over N439m pension funds scam

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, remanded a former Director of the Pensions Department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Shuaibu, in prison for allegedly diverting N439 million from pension funds.

Shuaibu was sent to prison shortly after he pleaded not guilty to an amended four-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday.

The anti-graft agency told the court that the expension boss connived with four separate companies and diverted funds meant for retired pensioners in the country, saying it had successfully traced how some of the looted funds were spent by the

accused person.

The firms, the accusation

EFCC further gave names of the conniving companies, which it also joined as accused persons in the matter, as Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millenium Motors Limited and Riba-ile Petroleum Limited.

The companies were said to have provided their bank accounts for the illicit transfer of monies from the pension funds, sequel to an agreed sharing formula between them and the former pensions department boss.

The prosecuting agency said it had garnered sufficient evidence to prove that the 1st accused person, Dr. Shaibu, used proceeds of the uncanny deal to purchase a hotel in Abuja, adding that the said fraud was perpetuated at various times between April 2009 and March 15, 2010.

Specifically, the expension boss was accused

of conspiring with the accused companies to purchase Brifina Hotels Limited, situated at Plot 1106 Cadastral Zone BO2 Durumi District Area 1, Abuja, with Certificate of Occupancy No: 1807w1cc4z-6723r-cf4eu-20, property of one A. E. Bright Future Motors Nig. Ltd, to the tune of N399 million, and used another N40 million to renovate the hotel.

EFCC noted that the reason the 1st accused person embraced the rigorous process of first transferring the pension funds to the accounts of the companies before withdrawing same through proxies, was to conceal the illicit origin of the resources, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 14 (1) (b) of the same Act.

No bail

Meanwhile, shortly after the accused person took his plea yesterday, trial Justice Adamu Bello declined to allow him on bail, saying he should remain in prison

till tomorrow when the merit of his bail application would be considered.

His bail request was turned down by the trial judge, following a vehement objection raised by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla.

Though the defence counsel, Mr. Sunday I. Ameh, SAN, pleaded the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition, noting that not only had the court seized the international passport of the accused person ab-initio, but also in view of the fact that the said hotel was a fixed asset that could be confiscated, should he jump bail.

said letter as an exhibit before the court.

Obla further drew attention of the court to the fact that the erstwhile pension boss was equally facing a similar trial over his alleged involvement in another N12 billion pension scam.

Alleged threat to witnesses’ lives

Also accused...

EFCC, however, persuaded the trial judge to refuse the plea, alleging that the pension boss threatened to kill four of its principal witnesses.

EFCC lawyer, Obla, told the court that the affected witnesses had already written a “Save Our Soul” letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in Abuja, even as he tendered the

Bogus contracts

He noted that the accused person was also facing trial alongside five others for allegedly swindling the Federal Government through over 130 bogus contracts purportedly awarded to 25 different companies between 2008 and 2010.

Others also on trial are the Deputy Director, Pensions Finance and Account at the Office of the Head of Service, who was a signatory to pension accounts, Mrs Phina Ukamaka Chidi; an ex-Assistant Director inCharge of Variation, Mr Mohammed Ahmed; the cash officer of pensions accounts, Mr. Garba Abdullahi Tahir, and the Head Final Accounts at the OHCSF, Mr. Emmanuel Olanipekun.

FG raises alarm over cultism in primary, secondary schools

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—FEDERAL Government has expressed deep concern over the spread of cult activities in primary and secondary schools across the nation.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, government has indicated its interest to review existing laws in the education sector in order to clip the wings of cultists in learning institutions.

President Goodluck Jonathan raised the alarm at the 3rd national conference on Strategies for Eradicating Cultism in Nigerian Educational Institutions in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “Over the years, the seed of cultism has

grown into a very big tree with many branches that pose a big threat to learning, lives and property in our educational institutions.

This ugly development is unacceptable not only to government but also all lovers of education. ”It is painful to realise that cultism and its twin monster, examination malpractices, have dangerously infected the psyche of some of our expected leaders of tomorrow.

“Gender, age and level of education are no longer inhibitions to membership of school cults or engagement in examination malpractice.”

The President, who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator

Anyim Pius Anyim, lamented that school campuses had also been turned into breeding grounds for other forms of immoral behaviour, such as sexual harassment, terrorism and the likes.

He said: “This administration is prepared to work with National Assembly to review existing legislation relating to cultism and examination malpractices in order to further discourage the resort to impunity in our educational institutions.”

Corroborating President Jonathan, Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquyat Rufa’i, said gone were the days when cultism was an exclusive right of male students, adding that female students were fast taking after the male.

‘Success of cashless society depends on data'

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—NATIONAL Po p u l a t i o n Commission, NPC, has said the success of the introduction of a cashless

society by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will depend heavily on a strong and virile national data base.

Director-General of NPC, Mr. Jamin Zubema, who

stated this while receiving the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, in his office in Abuja, regretted that there was very low utilisation of data in the country.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

WORKSHOP: From left— Mr. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Dr. Titi Anibaba, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment; Mr. Dieter Steinbach, Chairman, AT-Association Germany, and Mr. Gboyega Adepitan, President Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, during the closing ceremony of a 4-day workshop on the Theory of Constraints Workshop for the Lagos State Waste Characterisation Study, organised by Lagos State Ministry of Environment and AT- Association Germany Federal Ministry of Education & Research, Germany, in Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Protest in Yobe over killings

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OTISKUM—OVER 1,000 protesters took to the streets in Potiskum, Yobe State, yesterday, over a deadly market attack last week, with a church and classrooms burnt and police firing tear gas.

The protesters, including traders and clerics, took part in the demonstration in the north-eastern city hit by a bomb and gun attack last Wednesday night at a busy cattle market that killed about 56 people.

Bonfires were set as youths vandalised military checkpoints, while heckling soldiers in apparent anger over troops’ failure to foil the attack.

GRADUATION: From left— Mr. Afolabi Aiyela, Dr. Femi Ogunsanya, Managing Director, Oxbridge Tutorial College, and Mrs Yinka Ogunde, Chairman of the ocassion, during the graduation of the Oxbridge Tutorial College in Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

2 killed, 1 abducted, others injured as gunmen raid Kaduna communities

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

A D U N A — UNKNOWN gunmen, yesterday, killed two persons including a Lebanese and a Nigerian before abducting another Lebanese during a robbery operation at Kakeyi village in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Another source said a group of armed men carried out attacks on households around 1am in Boro village in Zangon Kataf Local Government

Area of Southern Kaduna, seriously injuring a father and his son.

The source said: “The villagers initially repelled the attackers and sent distress calls for help as the unidentified gunmen fled through the bush.”

However, the hoodlums in Zaria, according to natives of Kakeyi, had mounted a road block early in the morning and were allegedly robbing people when they met the Lebanese, Mr. Padi Ibrahim and killed him before abducting his colleague, Amir Drek. The gunmen also killed a Nigerian, one Mallam Aliyu Nuruddeen.

The two people killed and the one abducted worked for Mother Cat Construction Company and were said to be on their way to inspect the much-delayed Zaria Water Works rehabilitation project.

One of the eyewitnesses, who identified himself as Sani Ado of Kakeyi Village said: “They blocked the road

leading to the project site in the village and robbed passers-by before killing two people and kidnapping an Arab.

“The victims were well known as workers here.

When they saw the road block at the end of the bend,

they made a sudden Uturn. But the armed robbers pursued them and shot two of them dead.

“One of the Arabs was forced into their car, and they escaped with him.”

Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State

Police Command’s Spokesman, Deputy Superintendent Aminu Lawan, described the incident as a case of armed robbery and not kidnap-ping, adding that the Police have commenced investi-gation into the incident.

... as JTF nabs 6 suspected robbers in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— MEN of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State have arrested six suspected armed robbers that specialised in snatching vehicles in Maiduguri metropolis.

Those arrested include four of the gang members and two alleged receivers of stolen vehicles.

In a statement, yesterday, spokesman of the task force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said the

suspected robbers were arrested at Airport Road, Maiduguri, adding that three stolen vehicles were also recovered.

According to Musa, p r e l i m i n a r y investigations revealed that the two suspected accomplices willingly receive the stolen vehicles, which they later sell off to other buyers.

He said: ‘’The accomplices often give the robbers advance payment before the vehicles are delivered to

them. They have so far confessed to having received 10 stolen vehicles from the robbers.”

The JTF spokesman further said that the dealers were arrested when a search was conducted in their premises, during which three stolen vehicles including a Carina, Honda and VW Golf cars were recovered.

He said the six suspects had already been handed over to the police.

First Lady calls for prayers, dialogue on security challenges Patience Jonathan, has Speaking, yesterday, at Lady said: “The time has

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—FIRST Lady, Dame

said the current security challenges facing the country called for both prayers and dialogue.

the flag-off of her peace and advocacy rally in Makurdi, capital of Benue State, the First

come for us all to save our country from the agonies of avoidable conflicts and the brink of war; the time is now.”

According to her, the security of the nation was the collective responsibility of all just as the time had come for all Nigerians to eschew violence that threatens the corporate existence of the country.

She said: “We all have significant roles to play in our quest for peace and development.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—17

T

Enough cassava for an award

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ften, we neither had the luxury of reducing the sheer quantity of the fermented cassava by removing the chaff, nor the patience (which was another luxury) to embark of making ayoro-ayo. So you simply removed the skin of the fermented cassava, boiled and pounded it, chaff and all! This is akpu-na-ogwu, so called because as you ate the fufu with all the stumps! If you had too many mouths to feed, akpu-naogwu was your best bet! And often there were many mouths to feed! Any one who could swallow akpu-na-ogwu everyday needs no lesson in patriotism. He or she is a gallant patriot, my friend!

Some of us have done enough cassava eating to earn us the GCON award. After all, we have not been a drain on our foreign exchange and we did not get any waiver for our patriotism. During the civil war, we, on our own, discovered the specie of cassava we could cook and roast like yam! It may not have tasted like yam or sweet potato, but it tasted like food! We even prepared soup with the leaves of this specie of cassava. And if you were constantly on the run from the vandals,

Akpu-na-Ogwu patriot

Cassava

wanted to enjoy this cassava “cereal” is to add sugar.

Then when we wanted to play rich students we a d d e d condensed milk!

Tell me, what could be more patriotic than garri and milk, sweetened with sugar and refreshed with a cold soft drink when other kids were being cajoled and even forced to eat roasted chicken, rice, cake and drink champagne? I remember one son of a minister in my class in primary school who was asked by the teacher to name one animal he knew and the chap sprang to his feet with effervescent confidence and said: “Roasted chicken!” Of course, no prize for guessing, the class erupted into laughter. The teacher hushed us: “Why are you fools laughing? He has named the animal he sees!” In another instance, a child was asked to make a sentence with “mother” and he said, in Igbo of course, “my mother is a thief!” Again the teacher could not allow us to laugh as he sharply

,

HERE is this story about an era in the forties when an epidemic hit my village. People were dying in great numbers. Medical science was very rudimentary and people were simply bewildered. The church was so concerned and decided to offer special prayers. A man who would today pass as the Zeburudaya of the village was called out to pray for the village. The man reminded God that He commanded the folks to pay otu uzo na uzo iri (one tenth, I assume, tithe). They have paid one tenth, he reminded God. Then he queried: God, why do you still allow our people to die, after we have paid one tenth?

The President challenged us to demonstrate our patriotism by eating cassava bread and confectionaries. He threw the challenge on Saturday 28 April 2012 when he launched the cassava bread at the Aso Villa. He said he has kept his promise of eating cassava bread ever since the presentation of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITAmade bread to him. “Let me assure you that I still keep faith with that pledge of eating only cassava bread in the State House”. Mind you, the President eats the cassava bread in the State House, and may be eating whole wheat bread when he is in Otueke!

In the manner of our mendicant uniformed people who would say: “Oga am loyal!” I want to say to the President that I have been a patriot all my life. If eating cassava bread and its confectionaries is the mark of patriotism, I can beat my chest and say that I have given otu uzu na uzo iri! The President has a lot of catching up to do! I grew up in the village knowing no other staple food than akpu, which is fufu made from cassava! There was yam alright, but that, like rice, was a special delicacy that you did not trifle with on daily basis. So akpu was it. And if you think eating cassava bread was such a sacrifice as to qualify one as patriotic, like dying for your country, you try akpu-na-ogwu, which translates as fufu-with-stumps!

Okay, let me explain. Fufu is made from fermented cassava. Fermenting it around the house meant that neighbourhood was assailed by the pungency of the smell of the deteriorating (in fact rotten) cassava.

Or you could ferment it by the river side.

Many women who carried it home from the river were not the most delectable sight. The water from the fermented cassava dripped over their heads and faces and made them smell like wet dead rats! You could choose to further process the fermented cassava by using a sieve in water to separate the chaff from the starchy remains. This reduced the pungency of the smell. The fufu from this was called ayoro-ayo.

President Goodluck Jonathan as we were, you stuffed the cassava in the pockets of your fatigue and ate them raw!

The President also enjoined us to eat confectionaries from cassava. Oh! Okay.

We ate akara (cakes) made of cassava and fried with palm oil! What else is that if not the most prominent confectionary from cassava? Graduating form akpu-na-ogwu did not catapult us out of the orbit of patriotism. We kept faith with our patriotic bond with cassava by “smoking” garri. I guess the President knows what “smoking” garri means. I think before Quaker Oats, Weetabix and Cornflex, there was garri! In secondary school, garri was the most popular “cereal”. Nothing reminds me of the competitiveness of garri as cereal than a few years ago when my townsman, a professor of many years in the United States of America, came home with his children for Christmas. It was the first time the children, all grown up university (college) undergraduates, were coming home to Africa. One of the daughters saw garri and “smoked” the “damn good cuureeel” with sugar, milk and bananas till her stomach ached!

I am sure the President, as a man who had no shoes like me, knows many ways to “smoke” garri. You could use palm kernels the ever faithful dry pack of poor kids. You could use coconut. You could use bananas. You could use groundnuts.

But the most popular combination if you

producers is why previous cassava and cocoa “ revolutions” could not be sustained. I want to believe that this cassava bread patriotism is part of the campaign to patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods. It is therefore a far too serious economic step to be reduced to some token favour done to our toiling farmers. Looking inwards is already too late for us to treat it with any condescension. Once we make it look like the problem of the farmers or producers, before we know it, those who can afford it will be eating bread smuggled through Benin Republic, and that will be the end of the cassava transformation! And when that happens, we the patriots who kept faith with cassava all our lives will be shortchanged.

The Chinese example

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ust a few years ago, we all saw every Chinese wearing the Chairman Mao tunic. The Chinese ignored the West and World Trade Organisation, worked and ate what they produced. They produced cheap goods through the copy economy. Because there were no alternative goods coming from outside the borders, what China produced was what the Chinese patronised, before they started exporting. Today, China is the most competitive economy in the world and the West is romancing China, Tianamen Square notwithstanding.

China has discarded the tunic and rebranded. Chinese now strut on global fashion runways. China sent millions of their citizens abroad to learn to speak perfect French, English and German as part of its global export drive. As I write there are no less than 10 Chinese channels on the platform of DStv. Unfortunately for us, we did not see the need to start to build a Nigerian economy at the exit of the British. That is why our Railway lines are still the way the British left them. We aped the British, ate their food, wore their clothes and drank their watery gin and declared our own gin as “illicit”! With a population estimated at 160 Nigerians we have the market to produce and eat our rice,

If we are going to go back to Made-inNigeria goods, there has to be a complete economic transformation backed by a total cultural revolution that gets rid of all the corrupt elements in our society. It should not be token cassava transformation aimed at making cassava farmers feel good

rebuked us: “Do you know if he is right?”

That was the first time I heard that a sentence could be right while the sense is wrong! I was digressing.

Anyway, the President should rest assured that we the akpu-na-ogwu patriots are still keeping faith with our cassava products and confectionaries. For as long as Nigerians can afford their garri, they will continue to wait and hope that, one day, our champagne and petroleum subsidy fund, PSF, patriots will see the wisdom to join us to redeem our economy.

The President said, “The importance of cassava bread is that our cassava farmers and processors, most of whom toil endlessly and earn little for their efforts now have cause to dream again as government has begun the implementation of a cassava transformation plan”.

The above statement is exactly what is going to torpedo the “cassava transformation plan” I don’t think the cassava patriotism should be some humanitarian overture to “our cassava farmers and processors”. Once we see it that way, the transformation in that area will patter away. This presumed tokenism to our farmers, local manufacturers or

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produce and use our own soap, assemble and drive our own Beetles and Peugeot cars. Nigeria would have been a happier place if more Nigerians drove a Beetle instead of a few parking 10 exotic SUVs in their garage! With a population of 160 people, we did not need to do the utmost stupid thing like importing petrol and dashing our commonwealth to a few people for importing what we can produce!

Nigerian elite like to show off with anything foreign, even if they acquired it with stolen money. That is why I say that the Made-in Nigeria experiment we just started is rather half-hearted and late. But that is not to say that it cannot be done. If we are going to go back to Made-inNigeria goods, there has to be a complete economic transformation backed by a total cultural revolution that gets rid of all the corrupt elements in our society. It should not be token cassava transformation aimed at making cassava farmers feel good. Let me ask the President as the man in my village asked God, if we pay our one tenth by eating cassava bread, what will you give us? Will we still be wallowing in poverty?

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,MAY 8, 2012 TWO years ago, more than 400 children died in Zamfara State from lead poisoning. The deaths continue as half-hearted measures governments took have warranted more deaths and guaranteed a wrecked future for those who survive.

An international conference, in Abuja, commencing tomorrow, will drum attention to the epidemic. Foreigners are pushing for funds to treat Zamfara children the mass lead poisoning affected. Though international agencies describe the case as “one of the worst such crises in modern history,” our governments, with their robust health policies, maintain a lethargic posture. They have no plans for thousands of affected children who are ill and in danger of long term disability or death.

It is more baffling that the authorities ignore the illegal gold mining activities that cause the deaths. Doctors Without Borders have tested more than 2,500 children whose blood samples indicated lead poisoning. The number of poisoned children should be higher; some of them do not have access to the test.

Deaths result from lead ore leakage through illegal gold mining pits. Children are more at

Zamfara – The Children Still Dying risk because their systems are not fully developed. They contact the lead by inhaling, eating compromised food, drinking water from poisoned sources or putting hands in their mouths after touching mining equipment.

Some older children work in the mines.

Exposure to high levels of lead can damage the brain and nervous system. It causes reproductive problems and high blood pressure. Over exposure to lead causes seizures, comas and death, if not detected on time. The lead, separated from the gold during mining, contaminate the local water supplies

too. The deaths continue because the illegal mining continues and the villagers do not have alternative water supplies.

Governments’ poor response to its responsibilities to the people is at the centre of this case. No efforts are being made to arrest the illegal miners who carry on without any compunction about the consequences of their criminality.

If government cared, these illegal miners would not get away with their crime. More are joining in the looting of the solid minerals that government has refused to mine, apparently satisfied with its earnings from oil and gas. The attractions for the criminals are lucre and impunity the operations confer.

Responses to these tragedies were token, even insulting. The deaths were enough reasons to go after the illegal miners and prosecute them, but governments have no such interest, nor have they kept promises to clean the environment of lead, an effort that would bear no result since the illegal mining continues.

The shame of the Zamfara tragedy is the ease with which our governments abdicate their responsibilities, even where children, the future, are involved.

OPINION

BY DANIEL IWORISO-MARKSON

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HE salient contents in the inaugural speech of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson as the fourth civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, no doubt, have kept the hope of building a new Bayelsa alive, with the sole objective of achieving rapid transformation.The Governor,who took the oath of office on February 14 this year made it clear that there would be a paradigm shift in the culture of governance with the promise to make the people benefit from the developmental agenda of the new government.

He also told the mammoth gathering at the swearing-in ceremony that the new administration was poised to entrenching a regime of transparency where no one conducts government business in the dark. Governor Dickson had given the assurance that his administration willrestore the confidence of the people in government and hence use the state's resources to fund such critical projects as the construction of good roads, education, health facilities, promote tourism, generate wealth and develop agriculture than funding corruption and greed.

It may be too early to assess the government but considering all the actions taken so far since inauguration, it is reassuring that the Governor is a focused and compassionate leader, one who has a clear vision and determination to change the face of development in Bayelsa State.Interestingly,the support-base of the ‘Contriman’ Governor has continued to swell by the day because he is matching words with action towards realising a truly united, virile and prosperous state.

The declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector and announcement of free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels is one policy that has raised the consciousness of the people that a

Bayelsa: Building a united and prosperous state new order of hope and possibilities is emerging in the state.

The government is very interested in building the capacity of the people which is expected to rub off on the development agenda in diverse ways because government appreciates education as a critical tool for development.

Another major decision of the Governor was the bold step to announce that he would on a monthly basis make public the allocation from the Federation Account and a breakdown of income and expenditures. Pronto, two separate strategic bank accounts were created with one for monthly savings and another for projects. This rare step has made it very clear and more convincing to the generality of Bayelsans that truly, the culture of governance has changed with the display of transparency and accountability by Governor Dickson.

And when the Governor hosted the first transparency briefing, key stakeholders, including top government functionaries, politicians, permanent secretaries, directors in the civil service, senior citizens of the state and the media, the message was clear that indeed it is a new beginning.

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midst the good news, however, is the government’s worry about the huge wage bill of the state civil service described as unsustainable and unrealistic.

Curiously, Bayelsa State with a population of barely over one million people remains the second highest salary paying civil service after Lagos State. And one begins to wonder how this came about, necessitating a closer look at the authenticity of such wage bill to ensure the incidence of ghost workers is effectively checked.

Consequently, new measures had been put in place to reduce the over-bloated salary structure with the permanent secretaries and heads of other agencies directly involved in staff verification and preparation of the monthly salary vouchers.

Efforts are also being intensified to rebuild, re-organise and re-train the civil service for top performance and efficiency, so that it will become a trusted and reliable instrument for service delivery.

The Governor whose agenda covers all the key areas of development, including the three senatorial roads, new general hospitals in each of the eight local government headquarters, model schools and key infrastructure is emphasising the need to cut costs and eliminate wastages in the system so as to save enough money for projects.

In this direction, salaries and allowances of all appointees beginning with the Governor himself had been cut by 15 per cent to show example.

It is also important to highlight that the Governor had set up several committees to draw up blue prints for the development of some key sectors as well as new policies to fast track development in the state, with most of the reports already turned in.

With all of these background work done, the Governor no doubt requires a competent State Executive Council in place to drive the Restoration agenda. The people of the state had waited eagerly for the names of those to serve as commissioners in the cabinet until the 26 names forwarded to the State House of Assembly were screened and confirmed. Then came the swearing-in of the new commissioners, whom the Governor prided were carefully selected for the daunting task ahead of his administration.

*Mr. Iworiso-Markson is SSA, Media & Publicity, to Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012— 19

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WO approaches to the present security and governance crises have been floated. The one, a Northern approach, was presented to the public by Professor Ango Abdullahi, former VC of ABU and former Adviser to President Obasanjo. Professor Abdullahi says the North has organised itself both for selfsufficiency if that be the outcome of national conference with the South or for negotiated accommodation with the South.

This option we will call the Northern Option and its intent is to declare the Northern readiness to contemplate the possible dissolution of Nigeria while holding out the prospects of a new Nigeria with a reformed Federation. Professor Soyinka presents an alternative that addresses the issues at stake in terms of a discourse that changes the basic premise of the move for a national conference. His proposition is as summarised in the following report: “Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has urged Nigerians to drop… clamour for national conference, saying it is no longer necessary in view of emerging democratic liberties. In place of the conference, he called for regional groupings, which

would, rather than summon it, begin to “act the national conference” by taking their destines in their hands. Soyinka spoke in Asaba, yesterday (Thursday, April 26, 2012) while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two day South-South Economic Summit. He said it was time for the region to engage in policies and strategies of development that would progressively reduce the central government’s power to determine the “fate” of the people. He said the Federal Government was impeding the pace of development of the constituent parts and noted that only vibrant regional groupings could moderate its overbearing disposition”.

The above is one of the most economic arguments made for the reform of government within the present constitutional framework. I recognise the proposal that regional groupings “act the national conference” because they have already created their own autonomy of actions and initiative. This idea is buttressed by the argument premised upon their very existence as regional groupings. If you can convene a South-South Economic Summit you can convene a SouthSouth Summit on development or

on reform of the structures and functions of government; this is to extend the proposition of Professor Soyinka. In so doing, the Professor argues that the victim-complex can be jettisoned and a process of reform instituted that “would progressively reduce the central government’s power to determine the 'fate' of the people".

The conclusion is established that the future of a reformed federation “sans” the National Conference requires the activities of vibrant regional groupings “that can moderate the over-bearing disposition of the Federal Government that presently impedes the “development of the constituent as parts” of the federation. The work carved for such groupings as the SouthSouth entails a statecraft that is yet to be developed. The policy thrust of Professor Soyinka is in the shift of the locale of reform from the Federal to regional groupings. Their capacity to effectively shoulder this responsibility assigned them is not to be assumed. It is to be developed. Is it not interesting that Professor Soyinka’s exhortation to the South-South groupings was assumed by Sir Ahmadu Bello?

Have we spent 50 years travelling to the starting point of our nation building race? Nothing learnt from our history as administrators of the Nigerian polity? I quote from Ahmadu

Boko Haram: Go tell it to Mr. President

BY LEXZY OCHIBEJIVWIE

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HEN the Niger Delta region was teetering towards the brink of great turmoil, it appeared as though this Nigeria, because of her stark dependence on the region’s ‘black gold’ to run the engine of governance, was heading towards the much-dreaded secession of component units. Put commonly, it appeared as if the much-theorised dream of this Nigeria, as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign entity, was about to be subjected to the pounding of the pestle in the waiting mortar.

But this was not the original intent of those insurgents during those heyday of ceaseless, yet needful agitations for a secured future.

As it was evident in their display of doggedness tempered by great resolve and strength of purpose. Those Niger Delta insurgents, it has to be said, exhibited courage and tactfulness in the struggle for improvement in the dwindling fortunes of their lives and their fast degraded region.

They, to use the catchwords of the highly perspicacious Professor of English, Agwonorobo Eruvbetine, in his Intellectualized Emotions and the Art of James Joyce, at the very most, understand that their cause must be ‘ rationally controlled’ and ‘non-impulsive’. They never a time butchered innocent citizens, neither did they flagrantly damaged public utilities, or punctured the safety of citizenry, but approached, systematically, their demands with a high sense of human selfenlightenment. To articulate these, they

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cursively scripted their needs, often too neglected by successive governments of this Nigeria, which, in clear terms, spelt out their grouses. Most famous are the Ogoni Bill of Rights of 1990 and the Kaiama Declaration of 1998 which asserted the will of the people to political selfdetermination. These essential documents, I so suppose, formally provided a lead to the way forward by the government and brought to the foreground the piteous conditions of the region to the international community. In a manner, these documents acted as a speaking voice in their agitation for fiscal federalism and real rule of law.

I do not intend to complicate the already terrifying and obviously blood-curdling scenarios that have, in recent times, haunted the citizens of this Nigeria by engaging in rhetoric which focus on the origin of these extremists who have dubbed themselves Boko Haram, and have remained leechlike enigma to Nigerians. This 'invincible' sect has not only inflicted emotional and psychological pains on Nigerians, but has vivified the human capacity in a manner akin to the voice of emotion rather than reason. By their repulsive endeavours, they have turned into societal asphyxiants by asphyxiating the Nigerian government’s intent and will. Yet, I do very well think that they have their demands, yet to be known, when, if subjected to the furnace of constructive dialogue, portends good, not only to them, but our Nigeria. Up till this moment, everyone seems lost as to the purpose of the Boko Haram which continues to hover in thin air, yet appears

Bello’s intervention during the 1956 Action Group motion for independence by 1956. In his amendment to the AG’s motion substituting “as soon as practicable” for the date 1956, Ahmadu Bello said inter alia: “We from the Northern Region never intended to retard the progress of any region. Nor do we say that those who demand selfgovernment, if it is for their own region alone, are wrong. Far from it, for, after all, every community is the best judge of its own situation. In this regard, Mr. President, the people of the North are the best judges of their own situation and we feel that in our present situation we cannot commit ourselves to fixing a date for the attainment of selfgovernment… Before we commit the people we represent in such matters we must, I repeat, we must seek the mandate of the country.

As representatives of the people, we from the North feel that in all major issues such as this one, we are duty-bound to consult those we represent, so that when we speak we know we are voicing the views of the nation.

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f the Honorable Members from the West and East speak to this motion... for their people, I must say here and now, Sir, we from the North have been given no such mandate by our people.

No Honorable Member can therefore criticize the Northern legislators for refusing to associate themselves with such an arbitrary motion fixing, as it does, a definite date for the attainment of national self-government. We in the North are working very hard towards (regional) selfgovernment, although we were late in assimilating Western education… It is our resolute intention to build our development on sound and lasting foundations so that they will be lasting”.

Ahmadu’s regional confederal policy for the political

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Soyinka, Azazi and Jonathan: Moments from the South-South Summit

What needs to be examined is how political parties have addressed the twin challenges of state making and nation building

The only message from this nonmainstream group is that they have sworn to make this country ‘ungovernable’ for the reigning administration of Goodluck Jonathan

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to be cavassing the same ideology as other known international terrorist outfits around the world which always keep their activities clandestine.

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he only message we can gather from this non-mainstream group is that, they, with other enemies of the state and of the people, have sworn to make this country ‘ungovernable’ for the reigning administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

Evidences of this vow are mindless killings of innocent citizens in an orgy of bombings, destruction of hitherto flourishing public and private utilities as well as institutions, thus leading to a forced disruption of the public peace. These acts of terror are premised on purely mistaken belief of love for Allah. But they may be oblivious of the fact that no free being has ever defied the laws of creation by wantonly destroying in order to create. That no agitation, however necessary, remains known when it only thrives in the hiding; perhaps, that they may well know that the triumph of evil over good, following the logic of existence, can only, but be temporary. Boko Haram, may

development of the North assumes that regional groupings should “act the national conference” in order to free themselves from the impact of the Federal Government whose policies can only cause the retardation of these groupings. The contemporary North has been organised into committees to prepare the North’s submission at a national conference if such be the consensus: and as it was declared recently by Professor Ango Abdullahi, the preparation for a national conference is also an indication of the North’s readiness to go it alone if need be. That the strategies for the management and resolution of our political conflicts have remained for over 60 years within the spectrum of regionalist confederal union and break-up of a self-governing British colonial Nigeria defines our contemporary the challenge of state making and nation building. If uncoordinated separatist regionalism is currently proposed, surely such a proposal cannot be more than a tactical ploy. Separatist regionalism is not an adequate agenda of political reform of British colonial Nigeria. INEC’s political parties cannot play the ostrich or follow Emperor’s Nero piping as he beholds Rome Burn! A connection has been made between Nigeria’s security situation and the political behaviour of these parties.

Whatever are the ways the NSA’s pronouncements on the PDP’s zoning policies are read, what needs to be examined is how INEC political parties have addressed the twin challenges of state making and nation building. These two task cannot be out-sourced to the Federal Government. Everywhere they are the tasks defining the decolonising rationale of political parties in the reconstruction of empires.

also consider that the sacrosanct declaration: ‘Allah is Great’, which they consistently use to reinforce their conviction for their bestial acts, is in tandem with long lasting positive fulfilments. Out of self-conviction, these misguided fellows have continued to brand their ill-actions as great. But in what ways have members of the Boko Haram sect exhibited greatness?

At the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech in Oslo, Norway, President Barack Obama very well painted the true picture of greatness. To him: “Greatness is never a gift, it must be earned”.

Concretely, I will greatly be remiss if I condemn the nefarious activities of this sect.

For one of the logics of existence, ‘live and let’s live’, has done so; neither do I want to appeal to their impenitent conscience; but I do know that taking concerted steps tailored towards opening up their demands to a listening president like Goodluck Jonathan who has so far reticently matched commitment to principles with a concern for civility ’, will go a long way in engendering a gradual and progressive change in the country. This will, in no small measure, heal the wounds of failed dreams of some ambitious individuals and reposition the country to a secured path, rather than engaging in unjustified war against innocent citizens. Unclench your fist, go tell it to Mr. President! If otherwise, they cleave to their terroristic turves, I leave them to ponder over the cautionary words of President Obama, on his inauguration address on January 20, 2009, thus: “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s woes on the West: know that your people will judge you on what you build, not what you destroy”. *Mr. Ochibejivwie, a doctoral student of UNILAG, wrote from Lagos.

20

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, MA Y 8, 2012 TUESDA MAY

Police, EBSU students face-off: Tension grips Abakaliki

BY PETER OKUTU, ABAKALIKI

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*The protesting students on the march to press home their demands

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T was a scene of confusion in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital penultimate week when officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Police Command and students of Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki clashed at the gate of the College of Health Sciences, CHS, Presco campus during what initially began as a peaceful protest by the students of the institution.

The students who before 7 am two days earlier converged at the campus gate carrying placards with varied inscriptions: “VC we need water and light”, “We don’t have water and light for three months”, “Government come to our rescue”, chanted songs that aroused both the pity and curiosity of those who cared to listen to them.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the students used the protest to press home their demand for adequate power and water supply to the university community after failed promises by the authorities. However, the peaceful protest suddenly turned violent when a combined team of men and officers of the State Police Command and State Security Services, SSS, stormed the scene, shooting sporadically into the air as well as releasing canisters of tear gas on the students.

The students had reacted violently even as some of them ran away for safety. But they later regrouped, hurling stones and using other dangerous weapons to attack the security operatives.

Consequently, 14 students were arrested and detained by the police on April 20 and later charged to court on Monday, April 23, while an SSS officer of the State Command, Mr. Joseph Okechi sustained injuries on the head and hand. An Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, despatched to the troubled zone was smashed by the angry students.

While the protest and the attendant fracas lasted, academic and administrative activities were paralysed at the College of Health Science Campus of the university.

An eyewitness who preferred anonymity condemned the shooting by the security agents.

She said: “What happened here is terrible. I have to run away from that area through the bush with my family.

“The Police fired tear gas

What happened here is terrible; I have to run away through the bush with my family; the Police fired tear gas everywhere and the whole place is no longer safe for anybody

everywhere and the whole environment is no longer safe for anybody. They have to bring Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, to the area. This is unbelievable. Some residents are in their house while some have run away. It is not funny what had happened here. Two policemen were injured..., while they arrested and beat up these students”.

Police deny protest

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eanwhile, in a tele phone conversation with VM, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, ASP John Eluu, denied knowledge of the protest.

Reacting to the development, the Dean, Students Affairs of the University, Dr Hilary Eze dismissed the claims of the students, stressing that the school authorities had done what it was supposed to do by providing adequate facilities for them.

Following the protest and the

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violence that resulted, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Francis Idike, gave the directive for the closure of the Campus, explaining that the action was necessary so as to forestall further breakdown of law and order and prevent other nearby campuses from joining the protest.

Following the detention and prosecution of the 14 accused students at Magistrate Court I at the premises of the state judiciary, there was palpable tension in Abakaliki as students of the university held journalists, judiciary workers, and men and officers of the Nigeria Police hostage for three hours. They claimed that their action was necessitated by the refusal of the trial Magistrate, Mr. Job Orude to grant bail to the 14 accused students. Orude who argued that releasing the students would lead to further break down of law and order in the state, directed that the affected students be remanded in prison until the matter came up for hearing on April 25.

The 14 accused persons,

which include 13 males and one female, were, however, arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, partaking in a riot, assault occasioning harm and unlawful assault to one Joseph Okechi by hitting him with stones on the head and hands, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 71 of the criminal code cap 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

Protesters block roads to Government House

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he protesters who were said to have blocked Ogoja, Town Planning, part of the popular water works roads and other adjourning roads leading to the Government House and the state Judiciary, also blocked all the entrance and exits of the State Judiciary with a plea that the 14 accused students be released to them unconditionally. Speaking with journalists, the President, National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Ebonyi State chapter, Mr. Malaki Nnaji stated thus: “We the student leaders will not tolerate such and that is why we are working with his Excellency, the Governor, to ensure that there is peace in this state. But some people deem it right not to bring

peace to this state...; we have promised the Governor one thing: We are going to ensure peace within our jurisdiction.

“We are asking the court one thing and that is: our students should be granted bail. They maltreated us. Our students were stripped naked and raped by police men. We will not take it lightly. We are not afraid and that is why we are here. The reason for our protest is because there is no water and light in our hostels despite the huge amount of money we pay each year to the school management”.

However, with the barricading of the State Judiciary by the students over the refusal of the court to grant bail to the arraigned 14 students and palpable tension within the state capital, the court after an hour reconvened for another sitting which is quite usual in judicial system.

During the sitting, however, the Police prosecutor, Inspector Chibuzo Okechukwu, after informing the court that he was withdrawing the case against the 14 accused persons, the trial Judge, Orude, discharged the accused persons without any form of condition.

VM gathered that the students on receiving their colleagues outside the court premises, immediately left the scene with wild jubilation, chanting: “We don win o, we don win”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 21

F

EDERAL Mortgage Bank of Ni geria (FMBN) is set to pay up the pension arrears of its pensioners totaling N363,585,854.28.

This amount was arrived at after a pensioners’ verification exercise conducted in April by the FMBN Man-

FMBN set to clear pension arrears of N364m agement and series of consultations between the Bank and its pensioners as well as with National Pension

Commission (PENCOM) officials and independent pension consultants.

From left: Executive Director, Corporate Banking, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Kehinde Lawanson (left); Vice President, Association of Nigerian Petroleum Professionals Abroad (ANNPA), Dr. Solomon Inikori and Executive Director, (Gas & Power), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. David Oluseyi Ige at the Technical Workshop on ‘’Leveraging Nigerian Content for Greater Opportunities in the Offshore Sector” hosted by FirstBank at the Offshore Technology Conference 2012, Houston, Texas, USA.

Labour threatens to shut down Food, Beverage sector

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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RGANISED Labour in the na tion’s Food and Beverage industry has threatened to shut down the entire industry over unfair labour practices by some employers in the sector.

Under the umbrella of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, named Dangote group and Summar group of companies as major culprits.

At its 10th National Delegates Conference, NDC, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, President of the union, Comrade Lateef Oyelekan also tasked the Federal Government on unfavourable business environment in the country and called on government at all levels to provide conducive business environment for manufacturing companies and other businesses to operate.

According to him, “A lingering challenge facing us as a union is unonisation. In this regard, Dangote group has been our greatest headache. Although the issue is being addressed by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Federal Ministry of Labour, but we need to put members and Nigerians on notice in case you are called upon for an industrial action. Similarly, since 1978 that we have been relating with our employers’ body, this is the first we have issue with the implementation of an agreement.”

“It is sad and disappointing that an

agreement signed with the employers on Pension and Gratuity in line with the procedural agreement Appendix “N”, Summar group of companies, has refused to honour it by victimizing our branch officer. We have reported the matter to the employers’ body. We are using this occasion to call on the employers’ body to call Summar group to order and avert a confrontation with our union. This is not the only branch we have and we are hesitating to shut down the sector because of the offence of one group. But we may be forced to do so if the employers’ federation does not address the matter as soon as possible because an injury to one is an injury to all.”

On the industry’s National Joint Negotiating Council, NJIC, He said “We want appeal to leaders of the employers’ body to ensure that the incoming NJIC is done with utmost sincerity and maturity to be the guiding principle so that it will not halt the peace and cordial relationship existing between us. We want to use this occasion to alert members of our great union about the latest antics by our employers’ body. They have said they want to henceforth, base negotiation on performance.”

Oyelekan said though the leadership of the union had rejected the proposal and communicated so to the employers’ federation over the matter, it was also necessary to restate that the

union would not accept such proposal under any circumstances.

Speaking on the state of the nation, NUFBTE’s President said “The conditions of Nigerians are getting worse since the general elections. While few elected officials have shown signs of good governance, many others especially at the central level where policies such as the January hike in the pump price of petrol, have worsened the living conditions of Nigerians. The level of insecurity and poverty has been on rise, unemployment crisis has remained alarming, retrenchments and redundancies are still very high in the country. Public sector corruption is being on the increase and the anti-graft agencies appear to have given up while politicians and government officers display stolen wealth without fear.” Our road networks have completely collapsed and the infrastructures have totally gone worse.

In the manufacturing sector, there is no doubt that our industry like other sectors of the economy is finding the environment very harsh to operate. We want to call on both the federal and the state governments to provide conducive environments for business to operate. The issue of power has remained a big problem and once again, we appeal to the government to do more on power situation because electricity is the key to any sustainable industrial growth.

FMBN Managing Director, Mr. Gimba Ya’u Kumo, who disclosed this, said the Bank had paid N145,434,341.71 in April, 2011 while the balance of N218,151,512.57 would be paid in two installments of N109,075,756.28 in May 2012 and N109,075,756.28 in August this year.

The FMBN had on February 20, 2012 advertised in two national newspapers (Daily Trust and ThisDay), a verification exercise for its pensioners, in a bid to ascertain the true number of its pensioners and how much the pensioners were being owed. This exercise lasted for eight days starting from March 5 to 12, 2012, in FMBN head office, Abuja and all FMBN state offices nationwide.

After the exercise and wide-ranging consultations with the pensioners and their stakeholders, the N363,585,854.28 was arrived at.

The FMBN Management as well increased the pensioners’ monthly pay by 25 per cent, and this became effective since April 2011 when the first batch of pension arrears of N145,434,341.71 was paid.

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umo enjoined FMBN Pension ers to use this gesture as a platform for joining hands with the Bank’s Management in its drive to provide affordable shelter for the generality of Nigerians who are contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme.

He further advised FMBN pensioners to liaise with the leaders of their union to collect their pension arrears as from this May. The FMBN had under the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme and through capital market operations, financed the delivery of more than 61,000 housing units to NHF contributors in various parts of the country.

It recently witnessed the laying of foundation stone for the construction of a housing estate consisting of 450 housing units in Gombe State by Gombe State Property Investment and Development Company. FMBN is funding the estate which will be delivered to NHF contributors.

182.55

-1.60

2,342.00

+23.00

20.54

-0.41

118.21

-1.45

105.28

-0.88

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA 0.2926 EURO 204.5134 POUNDS 251.4958 RIYAL 41.2478 SDR 239.8778 SWISS 170.2245 DOLLAR 154.7 WAUA 238.6343 YEN 1.9296 RENMINBI 24.5142

0.3026 205.1744 252.3087 41.3812 240.6531 170.7747 155.2 239.4056 1.9359 24.5939

0.3126 205.8354 253.1215 41.5145 241.4284 171.3248 155.7 240.1769 1.9421 24.6736

CBN Exchange rate as at 03/05/2012

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Market collapse: Stockbrokers lament CBN’s unfriendly policies

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HARTERED Insti tute of Stockbrokers, CIS, has lamented the negative impact of some of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, policies on the growth and revival of the Nigerian capital market, calling on the apex bank to begin to play a more positive role to revitalise the market.

The President of CIS,

Mr. Mike Itegboje, speaking to Vanguard, stated that the CBN’s directive to banks to discontinue the use of share certificate as collateral for banks’ loan has further tightened liquidity in the market, adding that the constant hike in lending rate has been a major hiccup in the attempt to return the capital market to its past glory.

According to him, there was need for the

CBN and the managers of monetary policies to begin to look at how to twist their policies to positively impact the market.

He said, “The only people that can build and stand by our domestic market are the local investors. If we don’t have local investors that are willing to invest in our market, foreigners will not. We have seen the case of Nigerian Bottling Company. To that

extent, we must make our market attractive to domestic investors.”

“How do you encourage domestic investors to be interested in the market, if we have Nigerians who have the financial muscle and they are not investing in our market,” he queried.

KYE Bank Group has recorded a total gross earnings of N27.8 billion during the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The performance shows an increase of 12.6 per cent over the N24.7 billion grossed during the corresponding period in 2 0 1 1 .

Similarly, the group’s total assets during the review period grew moderately to N996.7 billion from N939 recorded in 2011.

Other positive growth indices include the deposit portfolio which rose from N651.3 at the end of the first quarter in March 2011 to N725 billion at the end of

Forte Oil set to improve operational efficiency

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ORTE Oil Plc (formerly African Petroleum Plc) is set to improve operational efficiency through the adoption of world Class Enterprise Business solution- SAP across its business.

This announcement comes on the heel of the Ag. Group Chief Executive Officer; Akin Akinfemiwa’s promise to its stakeholders in January that the new management is focused on increasing stakeholder value through operational efficiency.

SAP, is the market leader in enterprise application software which works with businesses to improve their productivity. SAP works with companies by integrating and standardising business processes in order to help them achieve their growth strategies.

Having been in existence for up to four decades, SAP is used internationally across various sectors of the economy.

The SAP solution adopted by Forte Oil Plc covers its sales and d i s t r i b u t i o n , manufacturing operations, materials management, financial systems and Human capital management.

Speaking at the formal introduction of the solution, at the weekend, the Ag. Group Chief Financial Officer- Julius Omodayo-Owotuga said ‘‘Integrating business operations and Financial Management processes is best practice for any forward looking business, SAP allows us achieve this process of modernisation’’. ‘‘We are pleased to be improving our systems, controls and structures and we are confident that this will ultimately deliver shareholder value”

Having themed the year 2012 ‘ a year of recovery’, Forte Oil Plc recently carried out a complete restructure of its business with the objective of transforming it into a lean, talent based and technology driven organisation that will be more responsive to the needs of our customers.

Forte Oil also recently announced its first quarter operating results with a profit of NGN370m (40% higher than 2011). The half year profit is projected to hit a new high of about N1billion. The adoption of SAP is a major tool to

would not materialise without fund injection, adding that banks are still reluctant to advance loans to the stockbrokers despite the directive on channeling of up to 10 per cent of their loan portfolio to the capital market.

Skye Bank records N27bn first quarter gross earnings

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BY PETER EGWUATU

“Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has critical role to play in ensuring favourable environment for investors to participate in our market,” he added.

Itegboje maintained that efforts to put the market back on its feet

support the achievement of this target.

March 2012.

The group’s profit before tax was also impressive, falling marginally to N4.08 billion as against N4.2 recorded during the same period in 2011.

Also, the group’s IFRS compliant result sent to the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange showed that its loan portfolio increased from N518 billion in 2011 to N520 billion during the review period. The Net Interest Income after loan impairment charges grew by 18.1% to N12.4 billion as against N10.4 billion recorded in the previous y e a r .

Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, stated that “the bottom line in the first quarter, which stood at N4.1

billion, was partly impeded by the elevated cost in deposits arising from the significant increase in interest rates in the second half of 2011. Notwithstanding, the Bank grew its corporate and commercial banking business moderately, capitalizing on profitable relationships made during the period.”

Durosinmi-Etti also stated that “the cost of funds have moderated and would soon start trending downwards as the Bank continues to reprice and shed existing costly deposits. We also anticipate a reduction in cost to income ratio as the Bank continues to pursue its cost containment initiative as well as witness increased contribution from the corporate business.”

Access Bank’s boss, Aig- Imoukhuede joins CBC Board

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HE Board of Directors of Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), an international organization committed to fostering the business interest of individuals and corporate organizations among commonwealth nations, has announced the appointment of Access Bank’s Group Managing Director/

Chief Executive Officer, Aigboje AigImoukhuede to its Board.

His appointment was formally announced at the Board meeting of the Commonwealth Business Council held recently. In response to this appointment, Aigboje said “I am glad to accept this new responsibility to serve.

Given the extensive work and impact being made by the CBC globally, I look forward to the privileged opportunity the CBC provides to collaborate with other global leaders to advance our common economic interests”.

Aigboje’s appointment is in recognition of his sterling qualities as one

of Africa’s leading business leaders and change agents committed to the socioeconomic transformation of the continent. He is also on the judging panel of the G-20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation which comprises of 12 renowned experts selected from the private sector, academia, i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizations and the G20. The G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation is a global search for businesses with innovative, scalable, and commercially viable ways of working with low-income people in developing countries across the globe.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—23

Golden Penny to make Nigeria complete business hub …Rewards distributors

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From left: Mr Thabo Mabe, Managing Director; Mrs Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, Cathegory Manager, Salvoury and Mr David Arome Okeme, Brand Building Director all of Unilever Nigeria Plc at the formal launch of KNORR by Unilever Nigeria Plcin Lagos, the weekend.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Multichoice includes 8 African Magic channels to DST V STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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OURTESY of M-Net, Eight African Magic contents have been developed and already running on the African Magic (AM) channels of the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV), a Multichoice Nigeria platform.

The channels, AM Entertainment, Movies, Movies 1, World, Hausa, Yoruba and Swahili are stationed on channels 128, 115, 145, 112, 117, 118, 127 respectively.

Biola Alabi, Managing Director Multichoice Africa, said, the idea of the channels was borne out of increased demand to meet its viewers rising demand on African developed contents This innovation by M-Net, she said, is to develop the AfricaMagic channels further to ensure that audiences get the best possible selection of African programming available under one brand.

Thus, all M-Net productions in East, West and Central Africa will now be found on an expanded line-up of AfricaMagic channels.

“Big Brother, Jacob’s Cross, Tinsel, Changes, 53 Extra, Mashariki Mix and Naija Sings are just some of the shows that audiences have rated highly, she said.

According to her, although these programmes were on MNet channel but we are increasing our range of AfricaMagic channels and moving these programs to an exciting new AfricaMagic branded channel. This is in fact the ideal home for them,

where they will become part of a homegrown brand that viewers have themselves made one of the biggest names in Africa.”

She continues that the focus for the M-Net channel will be to showcase the best of international movies and series while the AfricaMagic channels are the ultimate destination for anyone eager to view African programming.

“We made this decision for a variety of reasons not least the fact that research indicates that these programs are widely viewed when scheduled on the AfricaMagic channels.”

“We’re taking all the African content available to us and packaging it into new

specifically designed channels which together will form a comprehensive African TV viewing line-up, she added.

Her words: “We’re revising and increasing our current catalogue of channels in East, West and Central Africa into five dynamic channels, each with their own clear identity.

And DStv will feature AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Family, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic Movies 1 and AfricaMagic World. In addition, we will continue to offer the African language channels AfricaMagic Hausa, Swahili and Yoruba in the relevant regions.”

OLDEN Pasta and Golden Noodles Nigeria Limited has expressed willingness to further strengthen their partnership with distributors towards making Nigeria and the West African sub-region hub a complete business that meets the needs of families.

Yiannis Katsichtis, General Manager/Director Golden Pasta, speaking during 2012 customer forum in Abuja tagged; ‘The Food Basket’, said the company was willing to further strengthen her partnership with the distributors towards achieving the vision of the company which is providing Nigeria and the West African hub a complete food basket that meets all the needs of a family from breakfast to dinner including healthy snacks.

The event which brought together, company officials and its distributors all over Nigeria saw the customers go home with cash and cars gifts.

In his keynote address, Mr. Ed Jackson, Chief Operating Officer Flour Mills of Nig. Plc (the parent Company of both companies), lauded the customers for their unequalled support for the brands and their business. He expressed delight and gratitude at the loyalty of customers over the years and assured them of more innovative products in the coming years that will ensure growth in the consumer base.

Highlights of the forum include the unveiling amidst Fireworks of three new pasta

products which are Bambini, Bucatini and Piccolini by the Chief Marketing Officer OF Flour Mills Of Nigeria PLC Mr. Clive Cottrell assisted by all the Directors present at the event; Messrs. Ed Jackson Chief Operating Officer Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC, Yiannis Katsichtis, GM/Director Golden Pasta, Paul Gbededo Executive Director Golden Pasta.

CEPEJ inaugurates LOC for 2012 summit

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enter for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has inaugurated a Local Organising Committee expected to co-ordinate the centre’s 2012 summit tagged; National Environment Tours and Summit, “Lagos 2012” as Lagos State has been picked to host the summit which starts September.

“It has become very instructive to propagate the Lagos State government’s modest example beyond the boundaries of Lagos State to other parts of the country for benchmarking, said CEPEJ b o s s .

The National Coordinator, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, made this statement at the inauguration of Local Organizing Committee for the National Environment Tours and Summit, “Lagos 2012” which will hold in S e p t e m b e r .

MarketingWorld concludes plan to honour female marketing professionals P

REPARATION for the 2012 annual women in Marketing and Communication dinner, created to honour top female professionals in marketing and communications is in top gear.

This inspiring dinner event fosters a positive environment, in which women in marketing and related fields have the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues, to advance relationship at a fantastic evening of fine dining and entertainment.

According to the organiser, Mr Akin Naphtal, Group Publisher of MarketingWorld Magazine, said this year ’s

celebration will attract more honourees, and will feature enhanced entertainment like raffle draws and documentaries.

“We believe women are working so hard to get to the top, and so we need to celebrate them. Being a

mother and a successful career woman is not an easy task, especially in the marketing and communication field which has its peculiar challenges” he said.

Already, new honourees , have started sending their profiles and pictures to the

organisers for proper profiling.

The event which is a platform for networking and business talks will also attract top female speakerswho will addressthe women at the event.

CSR conference: Norway PM, Gro Brundtland others to speak

BY EBUN SESSOU

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rime Minister of Norway and Chairman, UN World Commission on the Environment and Development and UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, Dr. Gro Brundtland has been billed to speaker at the 2012 Africa

CEO Roundtable and Conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (AR-CSR) which is to take place in June in Cross River State.

Also, Graham Sinclair, President, Africa Sustainable Investment Forum and Principal, Sinclair Consult,

South Africa will lead discussions at the CEO Round-table this year.

In a statement by the conveners, ThistlePraxis Consulting, the 2012 Africa CEO Round-table and Conference on CSR (ARCSR), with the theme:

24 —

Vanguard Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

BRIEF

Spain to present bank clean-up measures Friday

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PAIN will present new measures Friday to clean up its ailing banks, including guidelines to remove toxic real estate assets from their balance sheets, a senior Finance Ministry official said Monday.

Authorities have already forced Spanish banks to set aside a big chunk of their earnings to cover potential losses on loans to developers and foreclosed properties. The segregation of toxic assets is seen as key to completing an overhaul of Spain’s banks and calming investors. Concerns about the health of Spain’s economy and its financial sector have pushed the country ’s financing costs sharply higher in recent weeks.

The official said Spain’s Finance Ministry and the country’s central bank are also studying a clean up plan for lender Bankia SA (BKIA.MC) and parent company Banco Financiero y de Ahorros SA. Bankia’s parent, considered one of the weakest banks in the Spanish financial sector, recently carried out a EUR2.75 billion write-down of the group’s assets by lowering the value of its real-estate holdings.

Australian bank to cut 100 jobs

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O M M O N W E A LT H Bank of Australia has become the latest of Australia’s banks to cut jobs as it deals with a slowdown in lending growth.

Australia’s largest bank by market value said on Monday around 100 positions will be lost as part of a realignment of its Victoria-based operations that will see its mortgage services processing site in Melbourne closed by the end of the year.

Most staff will be redeployed as CBA opens a new mortgages services retail office and boosts numbers in its mortgage services call centre, the bank said in a statement. Fluctuating customer demands and the low industry growth in home loan volumes, however, mean the bank will be forced to cut its overall headcount.

“Our priority remains to redeploy the majority of the staff who work in that centre and we have been successful in identifying alternative opportunities for many of our staff,” said the statement. “We will continue to work with our staff over the next six months.”

Where the other three major Australian banks have looked to outsource many of their backoffice jobs abroad, CBA has committed to keep all call centre and operations functions onshore.

Inflation: CBN has limited options —Rewane

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has limited options to forestall further increase in the inflation rate, said Bismarck Rewane, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company.

Inflation rate measures rate of increase in prices of goods and services, known as inflation rate. In March, rose to 12.1 per cent from 11.9 per cent in February. Rewane however predicted that the rate will rise further to 13 per cent this month.

“Inflationary threats still persist in the medium term Impending electricity tariff hike, and impact of fiscal 2012 disbursement. On the downside, we expect inflation may rise to 13% in April/ May”, he said in a presentation on Monthly Economic News and Views at Lagos Business School Executive Breakfast Meeting held last week.

Last year, in order to curb inflation the CBN tightened money supply by raising its benchmark interest rate, the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) six times from 6.25 per cent to 12 per cent in November. It also raised the banks’ Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) three times from 1.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent; and their liquidity ratio (LR) once from 25.0 per cent to 30.0 per cent.

This resulted to steady in-

crease in interest rate in the money markets from the region of six per cent to 15 per cent.

Rewane however said that with money supply at very low levels and interest rate already high, any attempt to further tighten money supply would hurt businesses.

He said, ‘Consumer prices increased by 0.20 per cent in March to 12.1 per cent. The food basket witnessed an increase of 2.1 per cent to 11.8

per cent. The planting season effect and a delayed impact of fuel prices have kicked in but exchange rate stability and relative appreciation of the naira to the dollar helped keep imported inflation muted.

Money supply growth deceleration also contributed towards inflation containment in March.

“Money supply growth is now annualized at -0.06 per cent and this is still far below

the five years average growth in broad money of 30 per cent.

Meanwhile the inflation gap i.e. difference between M2 growth and real GDP growth is at its narrowest in 5 years.

“The challenge is how to manage the impending impact of the AMCON bonds maturity date of December 2013 CBN has very limited options. It cannot push rates up without hurting business.

From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Alhaja Nafisat Arogundade, Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Lagos State, representing Minister of Labour and Productivity and Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duties, during the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, 2012 Workers Day in Lagos.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

AfDB governor calls for stronger ties with Saudi DFIs

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FRICA Development Bank’s Governor for Saudi Arabia, Engineer Yousef I. Al-Bassam has called on the Bank to forge a strong working relationship with the two of the country’s key development finance institutions (DFIs) namely Saudi Fund for Development and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

Meanwhile the AFDB has received approval from the Government of Uganda to issue bonds denominated in Uganda Shillings on the Ugandan capital market.

Al-Bassam made the call recently while in Lusaka to sign a $12 million loan for the Kalabo, Sikongo-Angola Border Road Project. The Governor signed the loan with the Zambian Minister of Finance and AfDB Governor, Honorable Alexander Chikwanda. It was during his mission to Lusaka, that Engineer Al-Basaam met with AfDB Resident Representative, Dr. Freddie Kwesiga and in their discussions called on the Bank

to develop a longer term pipeline of projects for co-financing with, the Saudi Fund for Development, BADEA and the Islamic Bank for Development, of which he is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director.

He revealed that the Saudi Fund for Development, BADEA and the Islamic Bank for Development will be interested in supporting projects in agriculture; infrastructure; rural electrification; higher education, including technical and vocational training and the health sector. “The Saudi Fund for Development is keen to work with the Zambian government and the AfDB in microfinance initiatives to support SME’s for job creation in Zambia.” Governor AlBassam noted. Already a proposal in this area from the Zambian government is said to have been welcome, including ideas on establishing an SME Bank in Zambia.

Meanwhile AfDB has received approval from the

Government of Uganda to issue bonds denominated in Uganda Shillings on the Ugandan capital market.

Pierre Van Peteghem, Treasurer of the African Development Bank Group, said that following the Government’s authorization, the multilateral bank is currently processing all regulatory steps required for the launch of a Note Program.

“The Note Program will allow the Bank the flexibility to issue bonds on a routine basis, in various tranches, rather than as standalone transactions.

Capital market regulators are considering our Note Program proposal, which would put the Bank in a position where we can swiftly meet our clients’ local currency funding requirements as and when they arise and market conditions allow,” Mr Van Peteghem said. He added that, “Subject to approval by regulators and market conditions allowing, the first tranche under the Uganda Shilling Note Program will be issued in the coming weeks.”

According to Olivier Eweck, Manager, African Currencies Funding in the Treasury department, the bonds will be structured to suit the funding requirements and repayment profiles of underlying project loans. He also mentioned that African Alliance Uganda had been appointed Sponsoring Broker for the Note Program.

“We believe that bond issuances in local currency not only contribute to capital market development and domestic resource mobilization efforts but also enable borrowers to match debt repayment currency with the currency in which revenues are generated thereby minimizing foreign exchange risk,” Mr Eweck said.

As part of its Local Currency Initiative, the AfDB has issued, since 2005, a series of bonds denominated in or linked to the Botswana Pula, Ghana Cedi, Kenya Shilling, Tanzania Shilling, Uganda Shilling, Zambian Kwacha and the Nigerian Naira.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 25

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

FG secretly indulges in discretionary oil block awards •Operators complain of unfair treatment

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BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

political connection, including service chiefs, relations, friends and allies of the ruling class, and even hairdressers got oil blocks, which they simply traded offshore for huge profits since they had no competence whatsoever to operate an oil block.

The incidence of oil block award for political patronage was reduced upon the return of democracy, with the holding of three oil licensing rounds during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime in 2005, 2006, and 2007, which were executed under equally controversial competitive bid processes.

Constitutional powers However, defending the legality of the awards, the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Osten Olorunsola, told journalists in Houston Texas, USA, on the sidelines of the just-concluded Offshore

Technology Conference, OTC, that there was nothing illegal about the awards.

He said, “Those were discretionary awards by Mr President, and he has the constitutional powers to do that.

If you look at the reasons for every discretionary award has been made, there were strong reasons.”

Petroleum Act Part of the Petroleum Act “Marginal field means such field as the President may, from time to time, identify as a marginal field.”

But he could not cite any of the good reasons except to recall that discretionary awards had been done in the past for specific reasons.

“If you look at Oldwok and Ebok, why were they discretionarily awarded?

Because the companies that owned those blocks when Nigeria did boundary

readjustment with Equatorial Guinea, those blocks went to Equatorial Guinea. So, it made sense for the President of the day to say, No, it is not fair and had to do something about it and that is what happened. Same thing happened with Agip in the Oyo block,” the DPR boss offered.

New bid round Nigeria has for a while been planning to hold another bid round after the 2007 licensing rounds for marginal field production, which offers indigenous operators the opportunities to acquire licences for oil production.

But Olorunsola had spoken of “ensuring fairness” and promised that “Going forward, things would be properly planned, which is what we are going to do right now, everything will be openly tendered, openly bided, and openly awarded.”

HE Federal Government has again, secretly indulged in the discretionary award of oil blocks in Nigeria, a development that contravenes global practice of open bidding and a negation of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, EITI, of which Nigeria is signatory.

Without following due process, government recently awarded the Otakikpo field in Oil Mining Lease, OML 11, and the Ubima Creek field in OML 17 to Green Energy, and All Grace Energy; respectively.

The circumstances and reasons for these discretionary awards, which were approved

by President Goodluck Jonathan, are not too clear; a development industry watchers criticised as being unfair to other indigenous The two companies are relatively unknown, as there is no information regarding their capacities and or abilities to handle the fields.

Also, nothing is known of how much government realised from these discretionary awards, as in the 2006 bid round, government earned about $292 million in signature bonuses from the auction of 18 oil blocks, and $266 million in the 2007 rounds.

Discretionary awards was the norm in the days of the From left: Chairman, Airtel Nigeria, Dr. Oba Otudeko; Council Director/Chairman, Science, Technology military regime, and Energy Group, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Joana Maduka; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mrs. DereAwosika, and Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, during where all and sundry a press conference in Lagos. with any kind of

Fashola calls for support for states participation in distribution

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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OVERNOR of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola has argued that the call by the Federal government urging state governments to get involved in electricity distribution might come to nothing unless immediate and positive actions were taken to support to the move.

Fashola said that “No state has the institutional framework

to set up a distribution facility, but the success of the ideal depends on the state’s ability to partner with the organised private sector.

“The state can only operate in a limited area that is not covered by the national grid and those areas cannot be said to attract investments.”

He noted that the Federal government must have green field operation for new distribution companies to

compete with the existing 11 distribution companies.

Stressing the importance of power to the country's economy, the Governor said, “As far as power supply is concerned, it remains for me the quickest way to galvanize our economy.

“While I identify with the underlying philosophy of the power reform plan, I think we must pursue its implementation more aggressively.”

He noted that the power

reform should have been completed last year with the privatisation of the generation and distribution companies.

“But we are now five months into a new year without a definite date for its conclusion.”

Speaking at the commissioning of the Island Power Plant last year, Fashola noted that Lagos state has always considered the provision of stable power supply is of utmost priority.

BRIEF

Total bores relief wells to tackle Nigeria gas leak

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RENCH oil company, Total, has begun drilling two relief wells at a gas plant in Nigeria that was shut down last month because of a leak caused by a technical incident, it said on Sunday.

The leak occurred on a block that also contains crude oil in Rivers state, one of the three states that make up the Niger Delta, a vast oil-rich wetlands region in the southeast.

"Total E&P Nigeria Limited's (TEPNG) teams continue to actively focus on the well control operations of the IBW 16 on the Ibewa gas field in Rivers State ... which was affected during the incident of March 20," a statement from the oil major said.

“Simultaneously, as a precautionary measure, relief wells are proceeding on two selected locations," it added.

Oil Mining Lease, OML 58 also produced around 76,000 barrels per day of oil in 2004 and this increased in 2008, the company said on its website.

Total Nigeria spokesman, Mr. Fred Ohwahwa told Reuters by phone that oil production at the site had not been affected by the leak, only associated gas.

"No crude oil is leaking, only gas, mixed with water, which has a muddy consistency," he said. He added that it was too early to say when Total might be able to get the gas plant up and running again. Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and holds the world's seventh-largest gas reserves. Its light oil is popular with U.S. and Asian buyers, but it remains a small player in the gas business.

Total said it was "pumping heavy fluid into the well to stop the flow of reservoir fluids."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—27

BRIEF Kaztec showcases semi-automatic welding at OTC

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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•Kaztec Operation Manager, Mr. Charles Gallagher and Kaztec consultant, Dr. Njideka Kelley, addressing journalists during the OTC 2012 Conference in Houston Texas.

OTC 2012 ends with record participation •89,400 in attendance, third-highest in event history

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HE 2012 edition of the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, ended in Houston, Texas, USA, last week with a record 89,400 attendees in its 30-year history.

According to the organisers, the feat, which represents 14 percent increase over 2011 figures, makes it the third highest in history.

“Attendance surpassed the 2011 total of 78,645, and the sold-out exhibition was the largest in event history at 641,350 ft² with the addition of the outdoor pavilion, up from 603,000 ft² in 2011,” they proudly said in a statement issued to journalists.

The exhibition had 2,500 companies representing 46 countries, including 200 new exhibitors that included exhibitors from Bahrain, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, and Twain, they added.

The statement quoted the Chairman of OTC, Mr. Steve Balint, as saying, “OTC 2012 was the most

successful event we have had since the early 80s. In terms of strength of the technical sessions and technology on display, OTC reached a record-breaking number of people and offered the most ways to connect, educate, and conduct business. The industry is on the rise and challenges are ahead, making it more important than ever to collaborate and share best practices with colleagues all over the world. OTC is the place to do that.”

This year ’s event featured eight panel sessions, 29 executive keynote presentations at luncheons and breakfasts, and 300 technical papers. Speakers from major, independent, and national operators; global government officials; and academia presented their views on the current challenges and future directions of the industry.

Technology, which is the hallmark of the OTC, saw some 13 technologies winning the OTC Spotlight

on New Technology awards.

The recipients were recognised for their innovation in allowing the industry to produce offshore resources.

OTC also introduced new technical topics and ways to connect through two focused networking events one on health, safety, and environment professionals and the other on women working in the industry.

“What we hoped to accomplish in this session was to bring women together to network and talk about what’s on their minds and how the industry can help,” said Ms. Cindy Yielding, a member of the OTC Board of Directors.

The Annual OTC Dinner was attended by approximately 900 industry leaders and conference attendees, and raised about $225,000 for Engineers Without Borders USA. “Engineers Without Borders works to achieve a vision of a world in which all communities have the capacity to meet their basic

human needs. The financial support from OTC will be put to use in communities around the world by the exact same engineers and employees who work for the corporations attending this year ’s event,” said Cathy Leslie, Executive Director EWB-USA. OTC also presented its 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award to Joe Burkhardt, and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organisations, or Institutions to Shell’s Perdido Development project.

Founded in 1969, the OTC, which rakes in between $3 and 5 billion annually, is the world's foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection.

The next edition of the conference will take place from May 6-9, 2013, at the Reliant Park, where it is hosted annually.

NE of the technologies that Kaztec Engineering Limited, took to the justconcluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC in Houston Texas, is its semi automatic welding system, the first of its kind by a Nigerian company.

Kaztec, a wholly indigenous oil and gas service is a member of the Chrome Group, owned by business mogul, Sir Emeka Offor.

Speaking with journalists at the Kaztec’s stand in the Reliant Park, venue of the OTC, the company ’s Operation’s Manager, Mr. Charles Gallagher, said his company is very proud of achieving this feat.

He said that the new welding technology is a big boost for the company’s pipeline projects, through which it has been able to install hundreds of kilometers of pipelines in Calabar, Cross River State.

He added that developing the new technology is was part of Kaztec’s effort to support Federal Government’s Nigerian content development programme aimed at to empowering more indigenous companies to come into the sector.

According to Gallagher, “We are here in the market place to showcase our capability and capacity and we are ready to compete not only locally, but also, internationally. So we are moving into higher quality welding, which is semiautomatic welding, the first to be done by any local company and we are very proud of it.”

He noted that some companies have had to abandon some of the engineering, procurement, installation and construction, EPIC projects due to lack of capacity, while Kaztec is breaking new grounds.

“We are currently in the third campaign, some companies have had to stop their works, but Kaztec Engineering is delivering on these projects. So we pride our self on the quality of our projects in the market place,” he added.

As a result, he said the OTC offered the company an opportunity to showcase itself to the world, and demonstrate its ability to deliver quality services in line with global best practices.

He listed some of the projects being handled by the company to include the 106km Adangba/ Caalabar gas pipeline project, which will transport gas to some independent power plants, IPPs in the Niger Delta.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Experts canvass deregulation of Nigeria’s power

BRIEF

FG blames blackout on water, gas challenges

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STORIES BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

•Power Station

BY NNENNA EZEAH

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OWER sector deregulation has been identified as one of the major means of attracting investors and new investments into Nigeria’s power sector.

Experts, who favoured deregulation, argued that it will also improve the economic base of the nation while ensuring a synergy between the consumers and producers, adding that this will result in a win-win solution and translate into profit for all.

They opined that government alone cannot tackle the challenges of power, in view of the heterogeneous nature of the country, which called for private intervention.

According to them, power deregulation will not only provide the Nigerians with uninterrupted and quality electricity, but also attract Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, create employment and business opportunities, enhance the living standards of workers and ultimately change Nigeria's socio-economic landscape, beyond what was witnessed in the telecommunications sector after it was liberalised.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Bart Nnaji, argued that deregulation will fast track development and snowball into better management of the power sector.

“Deregulation will ensure the generation of adequate electricity for residents and other end-users in the country.”

He told journalists recently in Lagos that part of the medium term plan for the sector is to allow the privatisation of the

generating and distribution companies, which is aimed at making them more efficient and profitable, such that they are able to increase power supply to the people.

“The ongoing strengthening of the operations of the regulatory agency and the corporisation of the bulk trader will fast track the medium term plans. However, key to the citizens of Nigeria is the fact that the divestment plan by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, will be conducted in a transparent manner in order to give Nigeria and Nigerians the best investors in the sector.”

“The impact of the labour force in the power sector will be more positive and sustainable while Nigerians will benefit with

a sustained power service delivery,” he added.

The minister also said that the Power Sector Roadmap included a long term plan of 2015 to 2020, for an increased diversification into renewable energy that will include small and medium hydropower, solar, bio-waste to energy, coal and a host of others to tackle power supply problem in Nigeria.

Growth targets Prof. Frank Okafor, of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, University of Lagos, while delivering an inaugural lecture titled: Power System Control and Automation; the Challenge of Reliable Power Supply, argued that deregulation of the

power sector would help improve electricity supply in the country.

Okafor insisted that for the country to join the league of world leading countries, there was an urgent need to raise the electricity generating and distributing capacity to 25,000 mega watts, mw.

He also said that “Deregulating the power system required greater considerations than were proposed for other networks in developed economies,” pointing out that the country’s available installed electricity generating capacity was a little more than 4000MW, and with the country’s population at more than 140 million, translated to about 27watts per person.

Oil community protests power cut from Shell facility

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

I

NDIGENES of Opuama in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, have protested their continued cut off from power from a Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC generator.

The community alleged that the town had been thrown into darkness for over four years, following the replacement of an indigent contractor (names withheld) with a Shell preferred one.

Some community leaders of the community who were accompanied by some aggrieved youths claimed that

the community was cut off from an electricity generating plant provided by Shell in 2007.

According to a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the community, Chief Johnbull Adaun, a representative of the Elders Council, Chief EgwareL Oboh, and a representative of the youths, Mr. OkotieTunemi, "since the contractor took over the job of providing the town with electricity, he failed to meet the electricity need of the community.”

They further alleged that “In a giving month, he barely provides electricity in two days, and whereas SPDC has been meeting all her financial obligations. The contractor is

deliberately denying the community of her rights to enjoy this single benefit from SPDC.” The community therefore demanded that Shell quickly replaced the contractor, while offering his possible successor.

"If this call is ignored by SPDC, the community will take the next step of blocking her Kosini and Edjeba offices to push through her demand.

Also the community will ensure that the Opuama Flow station is closed down. As at the time of compiling this reports, the youths were in an uncontrollable situation, as the elders were battling to calm them down," the statement warned.

HE Minister of Power, Prof.

Bart Nnaji, has blamed the dip in electricity supply across the country in the last one month on low water level in the dams supplying water to the three hydro power stations in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro.

He also blamed the situation on the shortage of gas supply to the thermal stations.

Nnaji said in a statement, “It is our tough luck that we are experiencing our worst water levels in 10 years because of the poor rainy season last year in neighbouring countries from which we derive black flood for the hydro plants.

“The white flood refers to flood derived during the rainy season in Nigeria, which gets to its climax in July of every year, unlike the black flood, which gets to its peak in November.”

The minister explained that thermal power plants were built in the past without proper arrangements for either gas pipelines or gas supply.

“There was little coordination between the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the agencies under them for the provision of gas,” he said.

He added that a bi-ministerial committee was established in February, which has been meeting monthly to review developments in gas supply to the power sector, and promised that Nigerians would soon notice a gradual and steady improvement in power availability.

He said, “A minimum of 1,000 Megawatts will be added this year to the quantum of 4,400MW, which we achieved in January, and all will be put on the national grid because of the immense work done on the transmission network.

“The future of Nigeria’s power sector is quite rosy, in spite of the temporary setback we are facing. This is why global companies like General Electric, Siemens and Daewoo are keenly participating in the ongoing power reform programme.”

Nnaji also urged contractors involved in the execution of projects to speak up on their challenges in meeting their respective deadlines.

Nnaji said, “I paid an unscheduled visit to the facility to see things for myself, rather than being satisfied with mere assurances from contractors and other stakeholders. From the look of things, the switchyard will be ready in May and the transmission infrastructure through which power generated from the NIPP Lot 19 will be evacuated will be ready in June.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—29

BRIEF

NUPENG calls for speedy passage of PIB

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & KUNLE KALEJAYE

T

•Oil rig

US Justice, SEC close probes on ERHC Energy E

RHC Energy Inc., a pub licly traded American company with oil and gas assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, has announced the closure of probes into its activities by the United States Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. The closure of the probe frees the company to resume business activities with its partners, while seeking other interests.

In a statement issued in Houston and made available to journalists, the company said it received a formal con-

firmation on April 27, from the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that proceedings on subpoenas served on the company several years ago were closed.

“The announcement follows ERHC’s receipt of letters from the Department of Justice and the SEC confirming that they have closed action related to the subpoenas served on ERHC between 2006 and 2007. ERHC had earlier sought and obtained confirmation that it had fully satisfied the subpoenas of the Senate

Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and that the Subcommittee is undertaking no further action on the subpoenas,” the statement added.

Contrary to popular beliefs of wrong doing, which led to the probe, ERHC clarified that subpoenas are merely requests for information on the company’s activities, adding that “it did not necessarily mean that any further proceedings were intended or would result with respect to the Company.”

ERHC President/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter

NGA to ensure active participation in Nigeria gas

BY NNENNA EZEAH & KUNLE KALEJAYE

T

HE Nigerian Gas Associa tion, NGA, has promised to use its learning programme to boost the development of home grown talents that will guarantee active participation of Nigeria’s gas sector without compromising international best practices.

This was part of the association’s mission during its maiden learning programme, titled , “Understanding the Global and Nigeria Gas Business and its Potential Sectors” which held recently in Lagos.

The NGA in a stament said the programme was designed to provide delegates the opportunity to examines the commercial and technical aspects of the gas business in Nigeria and globally, and also to explore the growing importance of gas in the world today.

According to the NGA Learning Solutions Course Coordi-

nator, Mr. Shaba Hassan, the learning programme is key to the quality of delivery from the NGA’s subject matter experts (SMEs).

“Participants were able to achieve their objectives by understanding the natural gas treatment and processing methods, evaluation of gas retailing, wholesale, transportation and distribution business including analysis of new opportunities in today’s dynamic gas business and also the appreciation of Gas Master Plan (GMP) and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Other areas covered include Gas to Liquid (GTL) overview, Gas for Power (IPP),” he said.

He recalled that the introduction of local content points to a deep desire by the Nigerian government for greater indigenous participation to transform the oil and gas industry into the economic engine for job creation and national growth by developing in-country capacity and indigenous capabilities.

“To meet the set goal and furthering government aspiration, the NGA introduced its learning solutions, which has excellent affiliation/ business relationship with the major players and stakeholders in the gas sector,” he added.

Also, the President of NGA, Dr. Chima Ibeneche, said the benefits of the learning solutions to the Nigeria economy is immeasurable as it will inspire indigenous expertise and create a forward looking leadership experience to meet Nigerian and global gas industry challenges, while serving as a platform for the creation of an enduring knowledge network among the stakeholders in the gas industry including the building of industry competence and capacity.

“Young experts will be able to leverage the competence and exposure gained from the critical issues facing the industry by interacting with experts in the business and public sectors”.

Ntephe was quoted in the statement s saying, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of six long years of work aimed at protecting ERHC’s oil and gas interests and advancing the interests of our shareholders.”

W

ith the closure of the probe, he added, “Now that the cloud of suspicion resulting from the subpoenas has been formally removed, we expect that many of the challenges of selling the ERHC proposition to prospective partners and the larger investment community may be significantly diminished.”

ERHC holds oil and gas exploration interests in the Republic of Chad, the Sao Tome and Principe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone (JDZ).

In the Republic of Chad, ERHC holds 100 percent interest in BDS 2008 and Manga.

The Company has a 50 percent interest in Chari-Ouest Block 3. In the EEZ, ERHC holds 100 percent working interests in Blocks 4 and 11, with an option to acquire up to 15 percent working interests in two more blocks. In the JDZ, the company holds working interests in Blocks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9.

ERHC Energy is a Houstonbased independent oil and gas company focused on growth through high impact exploration in Africa, and the development of undeveloped and marginal oil and gas fields.

The company said it is committed to creating and delivering significant value for its shareholders, investors and employees with sustainable and profitable growth through risk balanced smart exploration, cost efficient development and high margin production.

HE Nigerian Union of Pe troleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called on the Federal government to speed up the process of the promulgation of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to save the nation's oil and gas sector from total collapse.

The President of NUPENG, Mr. Aches Igwe, said in Lagos that the union was worried about the many versions of the PIB in circulation, which he said, posed a great challenge to the oil and gas sector.

He said, “PIB is also posing a big challenge because there are various versions of the bill in the National Assembly. The PIB will save the industry from collapse because the industry has practically stopped growing and there is no development, the only thing we can do to tame this issue is to make sure that the PIB is passed.”

He faulted the slow pace by which the committee set up to review the various versions of the PIB and come up with a document that will be acceptable to Nigerians is doing its work and urged members to respond to the yearnings of Nigerians and do the right thing.

Criticising the attitude of the special committee set up to look into the PIB, Igwe said, “They are not coming out publicly to tell Nigerians what they are doing and I believe that the job of the committee is not to do their job in secrecy to the detriment of Nigerians, the oil and gas sector, the nation and the workers of the sector as well.

If the committee is do its job effectively, we will see transparency in the issue of the PIB and it will be brought to the public for us to look at the document, criticize it where we need to, and within a short period, the PIB will be passed."

Lamenting the increasing job insecurity in the sector, he said that redundancy and other forms of job losses in the sector now occur on regular basis.

He said, “In other countries of the world, they make sure that their jobs are well protected, but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case, where we see investors come into this country and one morning they will say that they want to sack everyone in the company. It is our responsibility to protect our jobs, but if the government cannot come and protect our jobs for us then we must rise and protect these jobs ourselves."

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Poor perception, bane of property insurance •Experts call for transparency in claims settlement T

HAT many Nigerians spend several millions of Naira to build and furnish their exotic homes is not in doubt.

But the irony is that these Nigerians would not spend a Kobo to insure such properties.

The reasons are not far-fetched: While many see insurance as an additional form of taxation, others say they do not have confidence in the insurance industry.

But what is property insurance?

Property insurance according to experts, provides protection against most risks to property. These risks include fire, theft and some weather damage. There are specialised forms of insurance such as fire insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, home insurance or boiler insurance.

The experts stated that property is insured in two main ways - open perils and named perils. Open perils cover all the causes of loss not specifically excluded in the policy.

Common exclusions on open peril policies include damage resulting from earthquakes, floods, nuclear incidents, acts of terrorism and war. Named perils require the actual cause of loss to be listed in the policy for insurance to be provided.

The more common named perils include such damagecausing events as fire, lightning, explosion and theft.

A peril, as referred to in an insurance policy, is a cause of loss, such as fire or theft.

Named perils policies list exactly what is covered by the policy, while open perils (or all perils) policies will list what is excluded from coverage.

Named perils policies are generally more restrictive Need for property insurance valuation A Lagos-based estate surveyor and valuer, Pastor Stephen Jagun faulted the procedure adopted by many insurers who just assume value for properties without doing proper valuation of such properties. Stressing the need to do valuation for insurance purposes before any property is eventually insured, Jagun who is a former Secretary of the Lagos state branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers NIESV, said such valuation is necessary to ensure that the

owner of the property is not shortchanged.

Jagun explained further that the professional input of the estate surveyor and valuer is required to get the actual value of the property to be insured contending that the rule of thumb approach employed by some insurance companies in fixing the value of the property is not in the overall interest of the owner of the property.

Noting that the essence of property insurance is to enable the insurer put his property in its former state, Jagun said: “Assuming the value of the property is N10 million and because you do not want to offend the man, you insure the property for N5 million, if anything happens, the money that the insurance company will pay him will no longer be enough to put his property in its former state”.

Another estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Olawande Oni insisted that estate surveyors and valuers must carry out valuation of a property before it is insured. Oni who is a past publicity secretary of the Lagos branch of NIESV, the valuation would provide pieces of advice to property owners and insurance companies about the

,

BY JUDE NJOKU, KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE & ROSEMARY ONUOHA

•Is this property insured? insurance companies are not transparent in dealing with their clients. “Insurance marketers are always desperate and sweet-tongue you into taking a policy with them but will not explain some of the hidden clauses in the policy. They should always be transparent and explain all hidden clauses from the beginning. Some of them will

We will do our best to tap into it. So we are working on it. We also need to work harder and we are trying to do so

open market value of the property and serve as a guide to getting adequate insurance cover.

Oni who decried the apathy of Nigerians to property insurance, noted “many of the property owners believe that God is their protection and always ascribe everything to God. Some of them complain of the antics of the insurance companies when the issue of claims arise”.

Asked the best policy to take, Jagun said it depends on the property owner. He is the one to decide whether the building and its contents would be insured or not.

Credibility problems hinder people from insuring properties On why many Nigerians find it difficult to insure their properties, the former IFMA Nigeria President said it many people do not have confidence in the insurance industry.

According to him, many

,

tell you that the policy does not take care of natural disasters but many of the problems that property owners face these days are due to natural occurrences.

Take the example of the flooding of July last year or the rainstorm that destroyed many houses recently. Insurance covers should take care of such disasters; the holder of the policy may be required to pay higher premium to cover such.

But it is only when problems occur that they will start to explain the hidden clauses.

Meanwhile, the marketer who sweet-tongued you into taking the risk would not be around,” he said.

Oni supported this view.

According to him, many insurance companies often hide behind hidden clauses to evade bearing loss in case of damage to properties. This, according to him, discourages many property owners from insuring their properties.

Poor public perception issue

Key points •Apathy to property insurance caused by poor perception by members of they public •Most Nigerian property owners see insurance as additional form of taxation •They allege that insurance companies use hidden clauses to evade payment for losses •That insurance companies do not use the services of experts to determine the value of the insured property •That they use rule of the thumb approach to fix the value •Allegations were denied by insurance experts uncalled for -NIA boss The Nigerian insurance industry has been battling to nip in the bud, the poor public perception that insurers don’t pay claims. Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, that the perception that insurance companies use hidden clauses to evade payment for losses does not hold water anymore because insurers now pay claims.

Ladipo-Ajayi said that the service which the insurance industry renders to the economy and Nigerians in recent times is not just about making money for insurers but also preventing losses in the economy and the country at large.

Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel said that more Nigerians should buy insurance because deepening the insurance culture among Nigerians will lead to financial security for them.

However, Mr. Yemi Soladoye, an insurance expert said that with the enforcement of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI,

by NAICOM, property owners who don’t have insurance covers for such property are already guilty of the law.

Soladoye said “Property insurance has been on for some time now despite the fact that most property owners don’t consider buying insurance.

However, with the enforcement of the five compulsory insurance products under the MDRI, if you are a property owner and have not complied now, you have already violated the rule.”

For Ladipo-Ajayi most Nigerians are averse to insurance because they don’t see any value in insurance adding that had some of those properties destroyed by flood last year been covered under any household policies, their owners would have received adequate compensation from the insurance industry.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—31

New Cs of O to Lagos title holders

BY JUDE NJOKU

T

HE Lagos State Govern ment has unveiled plans to issue new Certificates of Occupancy, Cs of O to title holders in the state. Governor Babatunde Fashola who disclosed this at a press briefing to mark his 1,800 days in office, said the new Cs of O would be a more secure document, said the transition from the old certificate to the new one, would be seamless.

“Because we understand very clearly the importance of proper land documentation to our collective prosperity and economic growth, we are finalizing the plans for the issuance a new certificate of occupancy, different from the yellow certificate that you are accustomed to. The new certificate will be a much more secure, tamper and forgeproof document that is barcoded and electronically readable,” he said.

The Governor who disclosed that the state’s Geographic Information System GIS is now fully accessible online, said it has made property searches less cumbersome.

“From this site you can view properties and get information about their ownership. What remains to be done is to match all the properties and their owners with their title documents online, and to conclude the electronic payment regime that will allow you to download certified true copies and maps and pay for them online,” he said.

•Newly completed estate in Lagos.

On housing, Fashola gave reasons why the construction of a 660-units housing estate at Agbowa has not taken off.

According to him, “ one of the communities in Agbowa has decided to take the state government to court over the land which government had acquired many years ago. The implication of this is that the 660 housing units meant for people in that community cannot start until the case is resolved”.

Speaking on his government’s urban renewal program, Gov. Fashola said:”Those of you who ply the Ijora and Costain axis of Lagos would have noticed the regeneration that is going on

in that area as well as in Obalende, the area that straddles Lagos and Ikoyi Islands. Whilst we are making progress with 14 out of the 15 inner roads we promised to rehabilitate in Agege, the 16 local roads in Badiya, the two schools in Bariga and the one in Gbagada, we have completed eight out of 11 drainage channels in Lekki, while the ones we committed to repairing in Agege, Shomolu and other parts of Lagos after last year ’s heavy rainfall, are being worked on and considerable progress is being made”.

He used the forum to highlight the problems his

Do It Yourself

Instal your jacuzzi unaided J

ACUZZI tubs require fram ing support and each tub has its own requirements.

Before you start installation, you should ensure that you have adequate clearance for the final connections. You should also ensure that access is easy in case of servicing. You should have an access panel of approximatly18 x 18 and space around the pump for future servicing and inspections.

Your floor should support 150 pounds per square foot or 733 kilograms per square meter.

This is the basic requirements to ensure the tub is properly supported.

Remember that your hydro tub will need to drain correctly and this is accomplished from a platform that self levels. It is therefore very important that your tub is installed as level as possible.

Once you’ve got the basic

installation completed, you need to do some wiring. You may need to hire the services of an electrician to do this for you assuming you are not capable of doing it. Normally, the tub comes with a wiring diagram which you should follow. It is critical that you install a proper ground otherwise serious electrical shock can occur.

Ensure you don’t make any modifications or changes to the pump that comes with your tub.

Before you close the bath unit you will need to: * Remove all the construction materials that are left over. * Check the pump to ensure it has adequate cooling. *Check all your connections and fittings.

Fill the tub four inches or to just above the highest jet and watch for leaks. Then turn on the jet system for 20 minutes

and again watch for leaks.

Make sure everything is operating properly and that there are no warranty issues.

A good Jacuzzi installation means you can safely use your tub and enjoy the relaxation it has to provide for years to come.

•Jacuzzi tub

government is facing in the construction of the bridge and roads in Ijegun, Isheri-Oshun and Isolo Jakande.

“For the people of Ijegun, Isheri Oshun and Isolo Jakande, let me confess that we have had problems with your bridge and connecting roads. The project is enormous. It is a 5.5 kilometre road with a bridge of 500 metres that will require 1,018 piles driven to a depth of 19.5 metres. This project will cost the government not less than N10 billion which we are working assiduously to provide so that work can c o n t i n u e . We have reevaluated the project in a bid to get the contractors back on site and I promise and assure you that as long as we have the funds we will complete the project,” he assured.

Fashola who said his government has awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of a total of 177 inner roads in the state, explained that the contract for the N30 billion 13.19 kilometres Ikorodu road (with several bridges) would soon be awarded.

Building materials watch Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,900.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,900.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,850.00 Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block--N120 9 inches vibrated per block--N140 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90 Sand Soft per tipper load ---N12,000 Sharp double tipper load--N22,000 Gravel double tipper load--N25,000 Gravel single tipper load--N18,000 Granite per tipper load---N165,000 Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton --N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton--N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton--N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton--N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton--N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12--N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12--N800750 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece--N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece--N1,500 Building materials watch Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre-------------------------------------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre-------------------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------------------------------N170 25 mm diameter------------------------------------------N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length ----------------------------N120 25 mm diameter per length-----------------------------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Why houses are unaffordable —Architect The new challenges for Rio + 20

BY JUDE NJOKU

T

HE greatest challenge for the management of Lagos and similar cities is how to make its running costs affordable and compatible with the earning capacity of its citizens.

This view was expressed last weekend in Lagos by a veteran architect and retired university don, Prof John Godwin at the launch of the maiden edition of Property Digest, a bi-annual journal of CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Limited, CMB. Prof Godwin who is the Principal Partner of GHKArchitects, lauded CMB for looking at under developed areas near the Central Business District CBD, such as Ebute Metta and Yaba to provide less costly solutions to accommodation, particularly suited to the middle-classes. With this in mind, he faulted “the costly reclamation of Eko Atlantic City, with all its access and infrastructural problem”.

Prof Godwin who was the guest speaker at the launch of the Digest, also faulted the pattern of development in the Lekki corridor.

His words: “Many shiny new developments which you see today, particularly on Lekki Peninsula (presently the preferred location) are badly built “cheek by jowl” estates set in concrete deserts without any vegetation to relieve the harsh environment which man has created”. He charged property developers to the environment, adding that “this starts with a commitment to excellence on the part of those responsible for creating it”.

The veteran architect who decried the lack of maintenance culture in Nigeria, recalled that Lagos Island was a clean, pleasant and sustainable neighbourhood where open spaces existed and the water front was not bastardized. He praised CMB for being one of the private developers who have resolved to encourage good design and importance of maintaining it.

“Lagos has to redevelop a pride in its buildings and the environment around them in conso-

BY DON DE SILVA

T

•Professor John Godwin flanked by the CMB boss , Mr. Kelechukwu Mbagwu and Rotimi Aladesanmi at the launch nance with the efforts which the State government is initiating in terms of planning for the future to cope with the predicted population figures now being attained. These are expected to reach 24.5 million by the year 2015.

Obviously, growth will not stop there and all infrastructures must be

planned to meet the challenges in transport, roads, drainage and refuse disposal as well as the power consumption and water supply,” he said.

Also speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of CMB Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu said Property Digest is

aimed at informing the general public of the happenings within the property industry, offer an insight into major stakeholders’ opinion on the industry as well as provide a road map into investing in real estate.

APBN boss, artisans differ on use of foreign artisans

BY JUDE NJOKU & KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

A

RTISANS in the building industry last week in Lagos, called on the Federal and State Governments as well as corporate organisations and individuals to desist from hiring the services of foreign artisans to work on construction projects in the country.

The artisans who spoke through through their leaders at the just concluded 12 th Lagos Housing Fair organised

by Beachland Resources and Eko FM Radio in Lagos, decried the influx of Chinese, Togolese and Ghanian artisans into the construction industry.

But the President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, Mr Segun Ajanlekoko who described most Nigerian artisans as lazy, tasked them to improve their skills to justify their clamour for patronage.

“Today, most buildings in Nigeria have fundamental faults

because our artisans are either half-baked or not baked at-all,” he said, adding that Nigeria cannot grow until we begin to utilize the services of people who are trained and properly skilled in technical things.

The former Association of African Quantity Surveyors AAQS President who was the chairman of the Fair ’s Professional Services Day, used the forum to renew his campaign for the establishment of a National Construction Industry Board. to regulate the sector and ensure proper training of Nigerians to work on construction sites.

Ajanlekoko’s remarks that many indigenous artisans are either lazy or incompetent did not go down well with members of the Association of Building Artisans of Nigeria present at the event.

Trying to justify the large number of Chinese

artisans in the country, the APBN president noted that the technical agreement on some projects which are bankrolled by the Chinese companies may have made provision for the utilization of artisans from China.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association of Building Artisans, Mr. Segun Olutade decried the perception that artisans are dropouts. Mr. Olutade who noted that good works must be paid for, described poor remuneration as one of the key factors affecting their performance.

He was particularly disturbed by the influx of foreign artisans from China and neigbbouring West African countries into the country to take up jobs that should have been done by indigenous artisans. According to him, over 5,000 Chinese artisans are working in Nigeria. He further lamented that the country spends about N980 Continued on page 33

HE month before the London 2012 Olympics, another event will take place which will deal with more urgent issues, concerning the present and the future of the Earth. Unfortunately, this event has been by-passed by the information super highway.

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, called Rio+20, will be held in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 22 June. The conference aims to assess the implementation of the resolutions of the Earth Summit of 1992.

The Cinderella treatment given by most governments and the media to the preparations for Rio+20 give pause for concern. The banking and economic crisis has sapped the will to act on environmental issues. Governments have by and large, failed to deliver the commitments made at the 1992 Earth Summit.

Rio+20 does not promise to be a challenging event as the first Earth Summit was. It is presidential election year in the US. It is unlikely that the event will be attended by many Heads of State. The political fiascos of the Copenhagen Climate Conference are still raw in the minds of environmental decision-makers.

However, there is clear scientific evidence that time is running out in our ability to wisely use the Earth’s natural resources and biodiversity, upon which our livelihood depends. This scenario challenges all of us to rise above our differences and narrow concerns and respond to the reality that the future of human life on Earth depends on what we do, or fail to do.

Throughout the world, conflict over scare resources is escalating rapidly. Rio+20 as a unique opportunity to make the fundamental transformational change in the way we think and live. This will require a degree of common action, beyond anything we have yet experienced or imagined.

The decisions and policies, which determine our impacts on sustainability, are mainly motivated by economic and financial considerations. The environmental challenges at Rio + 20 will have to be rooted in our deepest moral and ethical values.

The United Nations cannot do it alone. Nor can the plethora of environmental nongovernmental organisations dotted across the world. The environmental movement requires a seismic mind-shift. The same old, same old approaches of strategies, actions plans, projects and programmes have not fully worked. The movement is bogged down in a mire of bureaucracy. It has to re-discover the sparks of commitment that led to the globalisation of the environmental movement.

We must realise that the environment depends on the “in-vironment”, the inner values, which determine the way humankind uses the fragile resources of this planet.

If Rio+20 is to have any impact, spiritual and faith-based organisation will have get into the act. They will have to work together and lead in facilitating changes in life-styles and human behaviour to put the world on a path to sustainable living. The time for such organisations and movements has come. They will have to take on the root causes of the environmental and climate change crises. These are the same as those of the economic and financial crises, the inadequacies of our economic system and the profligate values, which govern the system.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—33

PROPERTY BRIEFS Confab on alternative road construction materials for Thursday

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•US property

US property market set for bottom in 2012, says forecast

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ROPERTY values in the United States are expected to stay the same over most of this year, suggesting that the hard hit residential real estate market has reached bottom, it is claimed.

Home values in the United States increased 0.5 percent from February to March, the largest monthly increase since May 2006, according to Zillow’s first quarter Real Estate Market Reports.

Over the next 12 months, it is likely that many months will show no change or slight appreciation late this year, the Zillow Home Value Forecast suggests, with overall home values falling 0.4 percent.

Nineteen of the 30 metro areas covered by the Zillow Home Value Forecast will reach a bottom in 2012, or have already reached a bottom, it predicts.

Several of those are expected to see

significant home value increases in the next 12 months, including Phoenix up 6.5 percent, Miami_Fort Lauderdale up 5.6 percent and Tampa up 2.5percent.

Twelve of the markets covered by the forecast will experience home value declines in the next 12 months, although some of those are likely to reach a bottom in late 2012. Some metros, however, are anticipated to experience significant home value declines in the next 12 months, including the Atlanta metro, with home values falling 4.1 percent and the Chicago metro, where values are expected to

perspective, the latter part of the first quarter is full of positive news as the spring selling season gets underway. While it is unlikely that national home values continue to rise at this rate through the rest of the spring and summer, it is undeniable that we are seeing sparks of life in the housing market,’ he added.

The report also shows that in the first quarter, the rate of homes foreclosed fell to 2009 levels, with 7.4 out of every 10,000 homes foreclosed, which is significantly down from 8.3 out of every 10,000 homes foreclosed in February.

FCTA partners private developers on houses for workers

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

I

N line with the trans formation agenda of the

APBN boss, artisans differ on use of foreign artisans Continues from pg 32 billion annually to import artisans to work in the country.

“In a country of 68 million unemployed youths, we are still justifying the influx of foreign artisans into the country, he lamented.

Also speaking at the forum, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr Ade Omopeloye stated that Nigeria cannot continue to depend on foreign technology in the construction industry.

decline 3.8 percent.

‘For people who have been waiting to time their home purchase close to market bottom, it’s time to start shopping. When the bottom will hit will vary by market, and it’s nearly impossible to time a purchase exactly right,’ said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries.

‘But home prices are not the only part of the equation. Buyers also should take into account the possibility that rising mortgage rates could offset any further home value declines that may occur,’ he explained.

‘From an economic

Meanwhile, To ease land titling in the country, the nation must continue with land reforms as being championed by the federal government. The president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, Mr. Goddie Ibru has called for the liberalization of the procedure for obtaining title documents on land.

The LCCI boss who stated this in a goodwill message to the fair, said housing needs all attention it requires as a veritable platform to grow the economy.

Federal Government and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, the FCT Administration said last week that it has mapped out strategies to tackle the housing needs of all residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed stated this during a discourse on ‘Housing and Urban Renewal: Developing a Model for a Sustainable Lagos, maintained that housing should be the concern of both those in the public and private sectors, hence they should work hard to find solutions to the dearth of housing in the country.

The Minister pointed out that the new LandInfrastructure Swap Model was initiated by the FCT Administration

to holistically deal with the housing problems in the city.

Meanwhile, the FCT Administration in conjunction with private developers has concluded plans to come up with an affordable mass housing scheme for FCTA staff in Karshi, a suburb of Abuja.

Senator Bala said the project is in line with the transformation agenda of of the present administration which places premium on workers’ welfare.

‘This is a project we hope to achieve as soon as all the details are worked out with the developers to ensure that workers are given opportunity to own a decent and affordable house,” he said.

one-day National conference on sustainable al ternative material to road construction will hold in Lagos on Thursday. The conference is being organised by the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria CMAN in partnership with Business Day Media Limited, publishers of Business Day Newspapers, and Prize Communications Limited.

The conference with the theme ‘exploring sustainable cement-based option for road construction in Nigeria’ also aims at facilitating the sharing and exchange of knowledge on the innovative solutions of concrete pavement as an alternative for road construction projects in the country.

A statement signed by Amadi Iheukwumere, Business Day’s Conference Manager, notes that currently, roads are constructed using asphalt based technology with the attendant challenges bordering on longevity, durability, maintenance and sustainability.

“Over the decades, there has not been any debate about the technology and methods used in constructing roads in Nigeria. Yet, across the world, the alternative provided by cement-based concrete pavement technology is helping to solve the problems posed by the use of other methods such as Asphalt”, he stated.

LSPWC won’t stop work on roads during rainy season

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AGOSIANS have been assured that the unusual heavy downpour being awaited this year will not have much devastating effect on Lagos roads.

This assurance was given last week by the Chairman of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Gbenga Akintola while fielding questions from journalists during a tour of night operations being carried out on selected Lagos roads.

According to Akintola, the Corporation is prepared for the havoc that torrential rainfall predicted for 2012 might wreck on Lagos roads due to the high water table of Lagos terrain.

As a result, he said the corporation is sticking to its all-year round maintenance policy which will ensure that routine road repair work continues even during the rainy season via the use of stabilised concrete materials and interlocking paving stone methods.

Speaking on the challenges being faced by his men while on night operations, the Executive Chairman lamented the lack of full co-operation from motorists and residents and occasional resistance from miscreants who sometimes go to the extent of attacking maintenance operatives while on night duty.

Grand finale for Lagos Green Schools Essay Competition

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LANS have been concluded by Nigerite Limited to organize the grand finale of the Lagos Green Schools essay competition. The essay competition tagged “Embracing Renewable Energy for All” involving all schools in Lagos State is scheduled to hold at NECA House in the Central Business District area of Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday.

The company’s Marketing Director, Mr. Toyin Gbede said the essay competition is an initiative of the company’s “The Youth, Our Future” campaign programme which is also aimed at commemorating the Earth Day 2012 Celebration.

Gbede revealed that “the objective of the competition is to engage the youth and to generate awareness on the need to protect the earth and to elicit public action.

In line with our corporate social responsibility objectives, Nigerite Ltd, in partnership with Nigeria Conservation Foundation NCF is sponsoring this competition to mark the Earth Day 2012”.

Besides, he said the company’s initiative is aimed at boosting Lagos State government’s great and exemplary leadership role in raising awareness on the importance of sustainable living.

34—V anguard, TUESD AY, MA Y 8, 2012 34—Vanguard, TUESDA MAY

Parenting: where did we go wrong?

Readers’ responses (2)

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couple of weeks back, we tried to examine one of the current burning issues in our society, parenting. In recent times, parenting is taking centre stage in most discourse, reasons being linked to the increase in youth restiveness and anti-social behaviours.

The poor quality of good citizenship, leadership skills; as well as low moral and societal values of young people have called for questioning, the type of parenting we are providing to the future leaders of this country. While we spoke to some respondents, we also asked for your contribution to enrich our discourse. Some of your responses have been coming in and you will be reading a couple of them today. Please note that you can still send in your views/opinions and contribution on this issue.

Our address remains: The Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or humananglepage@yahoo.com Cheers!

Dear Yetunde, After reading your article on parenting and some of what the contributors had to say, I could not help but remember a message that someone sent to me a while back on our expe-

riences as children growing up, especially in the 70s. It is important for us to know that what is happening all around us is a fall out of what technology, education and social integration has brought about. Though the fact remains that culture is re-

,

Hi,

teachers inspect our nails and uniform and then we march to our classrooms (these days, all manners of funky dressings are allowed in schools) • The days of Computer Socks! You remember now?

• The days of Nasco Bis-

The horrible part of it is that, the children have perfected how to manipulate these gadgets even more than their parents who bought them

volving and everything must succumb to change.

We as a people must learn how to receive and apply culture to suit our environment and ultimately our nation.

W

hen we import everything good and bad into our society without thinking of its implications and how we will adequately address the negatives side of it, then we are responsible for whatever happens to us. So, what we as parents are seeing now is a result of what we exposed and are still exposing our children to. The children therefore have little blame in this matter. The message goes thus; I miss those days • The days when we went to school, lined up and the headmistress and

,

cuit, Trebor, Okin Round and Okin Four Corner.

(Most of these companies have closed down and the list above have been replaced with exotic imported chocolates and biscuits to the detriment of our economy) • The days of GoodyGoody and Kpako Biscuit.

• The days of Sakobi the snake girl, Nneka the pretty serpent, Igodo, Living in B o n d a g e .

• Chei, I remember those days when one naira coin was good money...a loaf of bread was N10……

• Days of Karashika, who is in the garden, police and t h i e f , • The days of Papa and Mama play • The days when we used to build houses with sand, play Suwe game, Tinco tinco, who is in the garden,

Mr. Marcaroni, Change your style, Pio pio o and T e n - t e n .

• Days when we used to fly kites on streets. (Those were the days when children were allowed to play outside their houses in the evenings before bedtime; when they were allowed to benefit from their innocence and that of other children. Today, children are locked up in flats and houses with only the Television for entertainment.

M

ost times they are unsupervised and they go on to educate themselves with whatever they see on these channels. Access to internet has made the whole thing even more dangerous.

On the internet, you can learn how to manufacture anything in your sitting room, including bombs, guns, all sorts of dangerous weapons and poisons.

Cultism, prostitution, pervert sexual behaviours are all available on the internet. The horrible part of it is that, the children have perfected how to manipulate these gadgets even more than their parents who bought them).

• Days when rubber band was stock exchange •Days when Voltron, Jumbo, Power Rangers, Spider man were our favourite cartoons (now most cartons come with a sexual twist to them, check out Boonducks, South park, even the kiddies on Disney channels are all talking about relationships and sex) •Days of Limca soft drinks advert on black and white tv, Sunday rendevous by1:30pm.

•When we sang ‘leke leke give me white fingers’ •Those days when Eleganza pen was the best.

(Locally made products which boost our economy are no longer rated best.

To be recognized as “best”, it must be expensive and imported) •Days when we sang

Friends Searching Males •Steve, 24, 5ft tall, from Delta state, needs a girl, aged 18-22, that will love him, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.08063727058 Ken, 45, lonely but romantic and generous, needs a la d y, f or a r e lationship.

08187600777 •Rolly, 23, cute, jovial, loving, caring, strong, from Delta state, needs a romantic and sexy girl, for a r e l a t i o n s h i p . 0 8 0 6 5 2 5 5 4 3 9 •Daniel, 26, an orphan, needs urgent employment as a house help to a single mother around Sagamu lishan town. 08126044302,08164627192 •Felix, from Benin, needs a girl, who is caring, honest, loyal and romantic, for a serious r e l a t i o n s h i p . 0 8 1 6 2 9 3 4 2 0 6 •Lionel, tall and good looking, needs an extremely beautiful girl, aged 20-28,for a r e l a t i o n s h i p . 0 8 0 8 5 8 3 7 7 7 2 •Godswill,34, employed, from Delta state, needs a God fearing lady, who is caring, for m a r r i a g e . 0 8 0 6 6 4 4 2 7 8 2 •Darlington,27, dark in complexion, from Sapele Delta state, needs a caring and matured lady, for

a serious relationship, that cud lead to marriage.08038091538 •Andy, 48,tall, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a serious lady, aged 35 -40 to be his w i f e . 0 8 1 7 8 5 9 0 3 5 4 •Faith,36, dark in complexion, good looking and a legal practitioner, needs a beautiful, lady, who is a graduate, fair or chocolate in complexion, for a •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08056180122. Cheers!

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Sex and the brain

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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O you know what goes on in your brain, during sex? Let’s look at what goes on in the brain during sex and orgasm.

Although you may think everything happens between your legs, the experience of orgasm actually occurs between your ears.

All thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations you have correlate to specific nerve cells being activated.

Orgasm, like all experiences, is brought about by electric impulses flowing along paths of connected nerve cells.

Orgasm happens when specific pleasure pathways are turned on, while your defense pathways are turned off.

All this happens by means of chemical messengers and the nerve cell receptors they bind to. These neurochemical changes take place primarily in the limbic system, a very old part of the brain with circuitry that is common to all mammals. These ancient limbic circuits control almost all bodily functions.

The limbic system's job is to keep you alive and reproducing. It does this by avoiding pain and repeating what is pleasurable. The limbic system is the seat of emotions, drives, impulses and desires, including sexual ones, it’s where you fall in and out of love or lust.

Due to the nature of the limbic system, you cannot will your feelings, emotions, falling in love, or staying in love, anymore than you can will your heart to beat, or yourself to digest a meal or sleep. The limbic system has been around for well over 100,000,000 years, lurking right beneath your large, rational neo-cortex.

Humans, apes and rats, use the same neurochemicals to operate the same functions in this

part of the brain.

Keep in mind that scientists aren't studying rodent brains to help them with their addictions and erections.

Studying animals and humans, scientists have begun to unravel the neurochemistry of lust, attachment and falling in love. Falling in love involves simultaneous activation and deactivation of discrete parts of the limbic system. For every biological event in your body, there is a biological cause. In this case, the cause is neurochemicals and the pathways they turn on and off.

Men and women are different in many ways, but one that gets plenty of attention is our differing approaches to sex and attraction. It's not all in our heads or is it? For instance, there is a proverb that says men think about sex every seven seconds.

Based on research, however, men don't actually think about sex nearly that often. According to a study, which says that more than 50 percent of men have thoughts about sex on a daily basis and more than 40 percent of men think about sex only a few times each month. The research also found that roughly four percent of men have gone an entire month without thinking about sex at all.

Men often turn their heads when they spot a woman with an hourglass shape for reasons they can't explain. According to some studies, seeing a woman who has an hourglass shape stimulates the part of the male brain's reward center that's associated with alcohol and drugs.

One possible explanation for this reaction is that the male brain associates a curvaceous female figure with fertility, meaning that it's preferable to mate with a woman who has an hourglass figure.

relationship that can lead to marriage.

0 8 1 5 4 7 0 5 3 9 0 , 0 8 0 3 8 4 4 8 7 4 4 •Chibuike, 51, needs a financially stable lady, for a relationship.08037910977 •Nk, 6ft tall and a graduate, needs an Enugu girl, who is 5.5ft tall, aged 35 and above, for marriage.

0 8 0 3 3 2 9 8 3 2 8 •Leo, needs a female pastor, who is a Yoruba lady, by tribe, for marriage. 08062573986, 07085340545, 0 8 0 7 8 0 5 6 5 0 7 •Henry, from Delta state, needs a girl, aged 18-22, for a serious relationship, in Delta state.

0 8 0 6 5 6 6 5 9 3 4 •Meshach, 30, needs a lady, for a relationship.

08161836410,08133134112 •Okey, 24, needs a girl, who can show him true love, for a serious relationship, that will lead to m a r r i a g e . 0 8 0 9 3 7 9 1 7 6 2 •Wale, 27, needs a lady, for a relat5ionship, that will lead to marriage.08059845420 •Jodan, 45, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 50-55, for a relationship. 08056310057 Iso, 42, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, for a relationship.08053524753

Vanguard, TUESD AY, MA Y 8, 2012—35 TUESDA MAY

Raising the class beyond limit with S-Class L

UXURY all the way or did you say luxury unlimited.

Whichever way you put it, that is the best way to describe the Mercedes Benz S-Class, the benchmark for measuring top-end luxury cars.

According to Mercedes Benz, the S-Class has become a role model and a showcase car for the entire automotive industry.

Outstanding comfort, innovative technology and comprehensive safety feature have been characteristic traits of the luxury saloon ever since the first generation was born.

Even after many decades, Mercedes Benz has not lowered the standard of this car.

Rather, many trailblazing innovations in the history of automotive development such as crumple zones, airbags, Electronic Stability Control Program (ESP), Anti-lock brake system (ABS) and many others, first began their life in the S-Class.

Also, the S-Class is forging unique path when it comes to sustainability and environmental protection: with enhanced efficiency and a hybrid vehicle featuring lithium-ion technology.

The S-Class features C M Y K

clean and efficient engines as well as sustainable technology – and not just under the bonnet. Aerodynamic measures tyres with optimised rolling resistance and an intelligent energy management system help to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Energy is used efficiently, saved wherever possible and in the case of the S-Hybrid – stored and fed back into the system at another point. According to Mercedes-Benz the S350 BlueTEC model boasts one of the cleanest diesel technologies in the world while the S400 hybrid achieves emission figures that comply with the levels demanded by the world’s most stringent standards,” according to MercedesBenz.

The S-Class also comes in diesel and petrol engines. The diesel version of the S-Class comes in four and six cylinders, characterised by power, refinement and efficiency while the petrol version are available in six, eight and twelve cylinder. The petrol engine combine intense driving pleasure with low environmental impact more effectively than ever.

The V6 and V8 engine

with direct injection set the standard in terms of efficiency and performance.

The flagship model, the 12-cylinder S600 offers refinement, spontaneous power delivery and sublime sound. This engine achieves its peak torque of 830Nm before reaching 200rpm and it takes it just 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h. The 8-cylinder version is very economical with fuel having achieve fuel reduction by 15 per cent when compared to the predecessor model. It accelerates from 0 to

100km/h in just 5.0 seconds while the 6cylinder power unit has an output 225kw with a peak torque of 370Nm at 350rpm.

The S-Class transmissions have been optimised with your needs firmly in mind, whatever your driving need. The 7G-Tronic and 7G-Tronic Plus is available with the V6, V8 engines as well as the 4cylinder engine. These transmission systems are controlled by means of direct select lever on the steering column.

The 12 cylinder engine version of the S-Class

however comes with 5speed automatic transmission, delivering the right amount of power for every situation.

The luxury in the SClass is complete. The seat in the S-Class meet the very latest requirements in terms of ergonomic design, comfort and safety. The active multicontour seats with massage and dynamic handling function as well as NECK-PRO luxury head restraint offer the drive and front passenger an exceptional degree of comfort, even on longer trip. The rear seat comes

with a massage function too (optional).

Safety is further enhanced by the luxury head restraints for outer seats. For instance, if the system registers a critical driving situation, the intergrated pre-safe positioning function can move the seats into a more favourable crash position. The rear seat has a memory package that allows you save your preferred seat setting and call them up again at the touch of a botton.

Comfort in the S-Class is further enhanced by chassis and suspension, as well as powerful allwheel drive.

Coscharis launches Ford Service Drive Sales Event

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ETERMINED to give its Ford customers a world class service Coscharis Motors, a leading auto company in Nigeria has launched a Service, scheme – The Ford Service 2012 1 st Service Drive Sales Event.

The comprehensive maintenance repair package, titled ‘The Works Car Care Package which started at the beginning of May would run till the end of June, 2012.

According to the company ’s head of marketing, Mr Ifeanyi Nihe, the scheme is a vehicle check-up created

exclusively to offer oil and filter change, fluid topoff, AC System check, and 27 point inspection that attracts 20% discount on the Works Car Care package.

“The promotions targets existing Customers, Lapse Customers, and Prospective customers as well. The objectives are to improve customer relationships, increase parts and labour sales, increase service drive traffic, educate customers on needed service and build customers confidence on its service delivery,” Mr. Nihe said.

To further promote the scheme, the company

through Ford SSA has created a website; www.fordconsumer.com, which would be available for mobile and PC compatible throughout the duration of the promo.

Once a customer enters the website, he would need to register specific information (Name, Year, Make & Model, email address and optional mobile number) Upon submission, he would receive a coupon code.

When a customer presents the coupon code, Coscharis Motors would validate the 20% discount code by

matching what is on the system, mobile phone or printed and once validated, repair could be performed, and the discount honoured.

Mr Nihe is asking the company ’s Ford customers to avail themselves of this opportunity by visiting any of its offices nationwide to benefit from this offer which is the first of its kind.

Apart from Ford, Coscharis Motors is the sole importer of BMW, MINI, Land Rover, Range Rover, Jaguar, MG, Joylong, Hongyan, Yuejin and Wuling.

36—V anguard , TUESD AY, MA Y 8, 2012 36—Vanguard TUESDA MAY

The Nigeria Auto Awards make case for auto sector T

HE Nigerian public has been advised to pay serious attention to happenings in the country ’s automobile industry so as to be able to contribute their quota to the development of the sector.

This was disclosed recently in Lagos by Mr. Jabez Aina-Scott, publisher of On Wheels magazine and convener of “The Nigerian Auto Awards” (TNAA) while announcing the commencement of nominations for participants at this year’s Seventh Edition of the event. The publisher said that the need for full participation of the public in the country ’s automobile affairs is important to the extent that they could constitute a pressure group to influence developments in the sector, especially in relation to expansion as it affects job creation.

Mr. Aina-Scott disclosed that this, to a large extent is one of the cardinal objectives of the TNAA, noting that the event is annually choreographed to take care of varied interests that will galvanise the public to pay desired attention. “Last year ’s ovation at the TNAA, where a beauty queen, in

the name of Miss Automobile was crowned, still reverberates one year after and has kept the public interest in the event on high tempo. It will be a good advantage therefore if other important issues on the industry can sustain such public interest”, he said.

The Convener revealed that the Board of Awards Committee, which includes carefully selected men and women of integrity with knowledge and experience in the auto industry have been saddled with the onerous task of picking eventual winners from the numerous nominations received from the public.

He noted that the award is in three main categories: The auto support services awards, Tyre awards and Auto awards.

“Like previous editions, the award will recognize astute managers of men who have distinguished themselves in all aspects of the industry. Their individual and collective roles towards resuscitation of manufacturing and job creation, ensuring product penetration, diversification and versatility, innovation

Camry ... Toyota flagship sedan in Nigeria and after-sales services, not forgetting brand building shall be considered” Aina-Scott

declared.

According to him, the award is designed to encourage and reward

good corporate governance, creativity, customer satisfaction, innovations, market

leadership and management integrity in the Nigerian auto industry.

NURTW: Elders Forum back committee

BY INNOCENT ANABA

E

LDERS Forum of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has called for the confirmation of the Tajudeen Agbede-led management committee as the authentic representative in the state. It also appealed to

the national leadership of the union to extend the tenure of the committee.

In a statement by Alhaji Mojeed Bakare, Chairman of the forum, the union stressed that this had become expedient to further cement peace and industrial harmony in the transport union.

According to him, since the Tajudeen Agbede -led committee took charge of

the once crisis-ridden union, the management committee had worked assiduously towards delivering on the mandate given to it, to the acclaim of union members and the public.

“The hitherto chaos, thuggery and lawlessness, which was the order of the day before the advent of the Tajudeen Agbede Management Committee

is now a thing of the past as sanity and perpetual decorum has now returned to the state,” he said.

The union leader called on the Najeem Yasin-led administration to ensure that NURTW national leadership keeps to the consensus agreement of bringing the factions in the Lagos NURTW together and be guided by the spirit and letters of the union’s constitution.

Auto warranty in Nigeria: Any guarantee? (2) I

F the average price of a new vehicle in Nigeria is N3m and N240billion is reportedly spent on new vehicles annually, it follows that N22.8 billion is the worth of manufacturers’ warranty in the Nigerian automobile industry annually.

Used (tokunbo) vehicle warranty should be more! The question is: how much of this is actually disbursed in terms of parts and labour? Where does this huge amount of money in warranty value go to?

Many new vehicles find their way into the country without warranty regulation or check and many Nigerians buy them without the full peace of mind that should normally come with them. Yet, some people nurture many wrong assumptions that are far from the truth. There are 12 of such assumptions

that solicit for correction here and now: ASSUMPTION 1 – Your car automatically comes with a genuine warranty in Nigeria.

TRUTH - You have many choices of cars in Nigeria, there is no guarantee that all come with genuine warranty.

ASSUMPTION 2 – There is extended auto warranty for used imported vehicles in Nigeria.

TRUTH – Automobile warranty in Nigeria is not extended (does not cover used vehicles) and the industry is begging for genuine extended warranty sellers for 200,000 used imported vehicles.

ASSUMPTION 3 – Automobile sales people know the full extent of their manufacturer ’s warranty.

TRUTH – Auto sales people are yet to exhibit full knowledge of their products’ warranty packages. Many know the

duration but lack the knowledge of the content and composition of their warranty offers.

ASSUMPTION 4 – Bank financing covers your car’s warranty and you don’t have to worry.

TRUTH – Banks may finance the purchase of your car, you are the one to ensure that you are not robbed of your rightful manufacturer’s warranty.

ASSUMPTION 5 - A “mechanical breakdown” warranty offers the same coverage as a “wear and tear” warranty.

TRUTH - The best warranty takes care of wear and tear but we are yet to get it in Nigeria.

Even a mechanical breakdown warranty could be denied the car owner by blaming it on “bad fuel,” “bad road”, “harmattan,” “flood” etc.

This is in spite of the claim by many automobile distributors that their “ vehicles were

made for Nigerian roads and condition.”

ASSUMPTION 6 – Auto warranty means you never have to worry about your vehicle.

TRUTH - Whether it’s a manufacturer warranty or a vehicle service contract (extended auto warranty), you’re still expected to care for your vehicle and provide proper maintenance like regular oil changes and others. If you haven’t been caring for your vehicle as outlined in the owner ’s manual, your vehicle may end up with a lot of problems that may not be guaranteed by the warranty. Ensure to do the routine service of your vehicle and keep accurate maintenance records and receipts.

ASSUMPTION 7 – I don’t have to pay for labour in effecting my warranty rights in Nigeria.

TRUTH – Many automobile companies in

Nigeria, in an unprofessional breach of trust, charge for labour against manufacturer’s instructions.

ASSUMPTION 8 – If new cars come with warranty, tokunbo cars should too, even if it is for a shorter period.

TRUTH – Once your tokunbo vehicle crosses any border to Nigeria, it automatically loses its warranty, whether manufacturer ’s or extended service warranty. Thus, it is better to invest in brand new cars with warranty that is guaranteed by tested and trusted automobile distributors in Nigeria.

ASSUMPTION 9 – Insurance covers warranty outside the spheres of accident.

TRUTH – No insurance fully guarantees auto warranty in Nigeria.

ASSUMPTION 10 – There should be a law in Nigeria which

guarantees genuine automobile warranty.

TRUTH – No law guarantees auto warranty in Nigeria.

Every vehicle owner is at the mercy and discretion of auto distributors and marketers; Consumer Rights Protection advocates would make some noise and keep quiet after some time.

ASSUMPTION 11 – War ranty is easy to understand to the educated Nigerian.

TRUTH – Warranty is easily automated by some unscrupulous auto distributors and marketers in Nigeria to be complicated, reengineered to confuse, revved up to cause dissonance and ultimately extract b u y e r s ’ disinterestedness in the same warranty he seeks to understand.

•To be continues next week

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—37

SPEAKERS’ CONFERENCE:

A new era begins The 36 member exclusive club of Speakers of State legislative houses has retooled its leadership. After years of quietness a refreshing sense of purposefulness is now in the air.

F

This will be the third executive council of the conference. In 2007, the first leader, Amaechi, was succeeded by the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Istifanus Gbana, who led the second executive council of the body.

But at the expiration of his tenure late last year, Gbana played the Oliver Twist, asking for a second term. His ambition however got thwarted when three other Speakers from Kwara, Delta and Gombe indicated interest in the position.

And when eventually the election was held on April 12, 2012, the young Inwa Garba of Gombe State emerged the Speaker of Speakers.

Oath of office: On their inauguration last weekend, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who administered the oath of office on the new leaders and as well served as the Chairman of the ceremony that was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja said: “to those of you, who were elected and are being inaugurated into the executive committee today, I extend my hand of fellowship and charge you to remember at all times that public office is public trust.

Consider your own as an important platform for mutual understanding and partnership with the federal structure”.

Tambuwal explained that the National Assembly, especially t h e

*The new exco members taking their oath of office House of Representatives is ready to give a hand of fellowship to the state houses of Assembly to help them realize the political independence as well as their financial autonomy.

The event which was well attended by dignitaries from around the country became further interesting when it turned out to be a forum that featured goodwill messages from eminent Nigerians both in and outside the political firmament.

For instance, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur; former Governor of Gombe State and serving Senator, Alhaji Mohammad Danjuma Goje; Minister of Transport, Alhaji Abdulahi Umar; Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Mallam Bayero Usman Nafada and a host of other personalities graced the occasion.

The FCT Minister, who was represented at the occasion, in his goodwill message, described the Speakers’ conference as the pillar, which “strengthens the foundation of our democracy” and advised the new executive to be of good conduct as their offices have now further come under public scrutiny.

Dankwambo, who spoke at the ceremony said, “our joy is full to

witness one of our own sworn-in as chairman of the speakers’ forum.” Noting that leadership could be very complicated, he urged the new leaders especially the chairman, Graba, to employ fairness, equity and justice as his hallmark. Bamanga Turkur, who was visibly elated with the development in the legislative arm of government, said “I am very happy. I could see democracy in action. Our country has hope”.

The PDP chairman also said

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BY JOHN BULUS OR the 36 state houses of assembly in Nigeria, it is a new dawn with the emergence of a new leadership to direct the affairs of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN). The seven newly elected executive members of the conference were inaugurated last weekend.

The Speakers’ forum came on stream at the return of civil rule in 1999 with former Speaker and now Governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi as pioneer leader. Since then, the body has had a topsy-turvy march, which the new exco led by Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Inuwa Garba, is expected to straighten.

The new members and their portfolios are: Rt. Hon. Inuwa Garba (Chairman); Hajiya Munsurat Simo, Speaker, Oyo State (Deputy Chairman); Eugene Odo, Speaker, Enugu State (Financial Secretary), Lawal Zanaya, Speaker, Sokoto State (Treasurer); Oko Ude Chukwu, Speaker, Abia State, (Vice Chairman , South East); Adamu Ahmed, Speaker Jigawa State (Vice Chairman, North West); Otelemahaba Amachree, Speaker, Rivers State (Vice Chairman, South-South); Odewale Omiree (Vice Chairman, South-West) and Mohammed Ahmed, Speaker, Nasarawa (Vice Chairman, North Central).

On the issue of financial autonomy for state legislative houses, the Speaker said: “In fact, I must take it up because it is part of the yearnings and aspirations of the state legislatures in Nigeria for us to have our own financial autonomy so that democracy will be strengthened. When state legislators, who are in the equilibrium point of Nigerian democracy have their own autonomy, even the executive in the state and in the local

The conference of speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria stands out as a value-creating forum in Nigeria's democracy

the forum could be used to promote peace, security and harmony in the country and charged the Speakers to use their offices to speak for the people.

“Speakers are to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves”, he stated Osun State Speaker, who was the Acting chairman of the conference prior to the election, in his speech, harped on the need to make the legislature, especially the states’ assemblies truly independent and free from executive interferences.

On his part, Inuwa Garba, in his inauguration speech, said that “the conference of speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria stands out as a valuecreating forum in N i g e r i a ' s democracy”.

He emphasized that the instrument of dialogue would be duly employed to engage all arms of the government and other stakeholders on issues that would move the country forward, adding that the security challenges facing the country would be overcome.

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government will be more comfortable in the discharge of their responsibilities as the executive arm of government.

A situation where the legislature is always running cap in hand for fund is very bad and due to the fact now that there is serious awareness on the part of the electorate, they think the executives are conniving with the legislatures to do what they think, whether it is good for the populace or not. By God’s grace, we will pursue it and we hope to succeed.”

Indeed, like the Governors’ Forum, the Speakers’ Conference is yet another political pressure group which seeks not only the progress of individual state houses of assembly but also, the entrenchment of virtues and values that make democratic governance people-oriented.

By its responsibility, too, the conference acts as a veritable platform for members, who are all lawmakers to appraise government policies as well as the implementation of laws both at the state and federal levels.

As the new regime kicks off, many a member of the conference are optimistic that the legislative arm of government will experience better days just as the cause of democracy will be deepened.

38—Vanguard,

TUESDAY , MAY 8, 2012

INSECURITY:

We can only shout on Jonathan — Sen Ojodu SENATOR Babafemi Ojudu, vice chairman, Senate Committee on Public Service and Establishment told Vanguard in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja that efforts so far made by the authorities to address the insecurity situation in the country have only touched the surface of the problems. The opposition he claims have been shut out: Excerpts:

W

HAT is the National Assembly doing to address the worsening insecurity of lives and property in the country?

It is one of the issues we have discussed. Now, I have come to see that there are a lot of limitations or, may be, selfcreated limitations by legislators themselves. For quite some time, you move motions on pressing issues, you come up with bills, committees are set up to investigate matters and you come up with reports. It doesn’t seem as if the executive is taking the legislators seriously. And we all have to come together and say, “No! We cannot be here without having any impact on governance!”

We are representing our people. People voted for us and we are here representing them.

If we feel that things are going wrong or not being done in the way they should be done and we express our opinions; come up with motions and bills and the Senate passes such reports to the executive, they should do something about it.

Right to blame the legislature So for me, it would not be right to blame the legislature.

There is a separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. If the legislature does what it is supposed to do under the law and the executive fails to carry on the baton from there, it is so bad. That is what we are experiencing and it has become a major issue on the floor of the House.

So the legislature has become a toothless bull dog in the matter….

The actions we can take are specified under the law. There

is a limit to which you can go; we are not the executive and so, you can’t execute laws.

As lawmakers, we make laws and p e r f o r m oversight functions.

In the course of performing oversight functions you call in those *Senator Babafemi Ojudu who are in the executive that are responsible and we had to start shouting. for some actions and when you We were practically shouting write your report, you send it and raising our voices. All to the plenary session and the through the sitting I raised up plenary session approves what my hand but I was not called you have written and send it to to speak.

Why did they prevent you the executive to implement!

If they fail to implement, may from talking?

Well, the reason, I don’t be we need to take action and that is why we now have to call know. But again, nobody can on our leadership to get up keep me down. If I’m not and take action where the allowed to talk on the floor, I executive fails to take action on can always talk after the some of the issues we are plenary session. If you are in the opposition, it becomes a big looking at now.

Would you explore the problem. You have to shout and impeachment option if the shout and complain and complain. It is left for them to trend continues?

The party in power has the accept what you are saying but majority and so it is as if you we are all here to bear the now want to sharpen their consequences. knives for them to start killing themselves. We in the Increasing vote opposition cannot but continue of the security to shout and continue to make it known to them that the Now look at the issue of people of this country are not security for example, happy generally with the everybody was talking about situation of things in Nigeria. increasing the vote of the Don’t you think that the security, this and that. That is inability of the National the cause of the problem! You Assembly to carry out its role leave the disease and you are of checks and balances with taking care of the symptoms. regard to the executive’s Go back to the last 25 years actions and inactions justifies we have neglected the young the call for a Sovereign people in Nigeria. We sowed National Conference (SNC)? the wind and we are now Yes. You saw what we did on reaping the whirlwind! Young April 18 when the motion was people have been neglected. almost killed and people were If 20,000 Nigerians graduate not going to be allowed to talk out of universities in a year, less

Problems at the national level

than 1000 of them get employed and 19,000 others will be roaming the streets.

These are people who are educated in Physics, Nuclear Engineering and all kinds of scientific studies; many brilliant

,

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

pinpoint that, you can then have a long term plan on how to solve the problem. Not this fire brigade approach to solving problems.

You see, the more we produce people who are not employed, the more we produce people who have no hope belief in this country and the more problems we are going to have with our young people.

What is your own take on the ongoing South-West integration project?

If you are within an arrangement and that arrangement is not working and people are suffering, why don’t you look within and find internal solution to the problems?

Most of us who are in the opposition in the House (Senate) today are senators from the South-West. We are not having our way.

Most often we are not even having our say and there is a tendency for you to recoil to where you come from and say, “ well, if we know that we understand what the problems are and how to solve the problems and we are not allowed to make contributions or to be part of solving the problems at the national level, let’s solve the problems at our locality.’ That is why we are having this idea called integration.

Let us integrate: how can we solve our energy problem as a people? How can we solve infrastructure problem as a people? How can we solve our

We need to work out a system that will get our young people employed, give them hope and the feeling that there will be better things in the future

and imaginative young people.

Where do you expect them to deploy their energy?

We need to work out a system that will get our young people employed, give them hope and the feeling that there will be better things in the future.

When they know that there is hope for them, they won’t go into the kind of things they are doing now.

We have seen how things are done in all parts of the world.

We have heard of the Red Brigade in Italy and so on and the way we are handling things here is not the way they handle them over there. You have to first of all understand the root cause of these problems, which is unemployment; poverty!

And when you are able to

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education, employment problems as a people? You know, in a smaller enclave, maybe we will able to show some seriousness and show understanding to all the other people.

A senator from the SouthWest, for instance stood up today – Senator Kaka – got up and said, “Look, I have an addition to this motion. Let us declare a state of emergency on unemployment in Nigeria.”

Somebody shouted him down. If he does that in a meeting of South-West, nobody will shout him down. He will be hailed and will be taken seriously because, genuinely, they really know that he knows what the problem is and how to get it solved.

C M Y K

Vanguard Vanguard,,

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS; This is not the right time to rely on promises made by others. Continue to take matters-of-theheart seriously. Reason with your reliable associates.

GEMINI; Tension within the domestic scene will start to ease off. Yet you will need to watch what you do within your base till after 10.15pm tonight.

CANCER; Both yourself and other important personalities to you are beginning to see things from same point of view making it easy for you to eliminate unnecessary rift.

LEO; Venus moves into a positive angle to your Star and encourages peaceful settlement. Exhibition of maturity on your part will favour you better.

VIRGO; Gradually you are dropping aggressive approach you have adopted in the last few days to the betterment of your cause. Remain practical till after 10.15 p.m.

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MAY 8 8,, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

— 39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

N

OW you will like to ask me, are there no committed, dedicated and disciplined men and women in the university? My answer to that is in form of ques-

The best education — 2 tion: What is the news if a dog bites a man?

One of the greatest problems besetting our country today is the nature and quality of graduates churned

TERROR MUDA

out of our universities.

Many of such graduates are simply not qualified to man the commanding sectors of the nation. Let us agree the facilities are

in “Never say goodbye”

not there, but the greatest problem is un-seriousness on the part of students. Now tell me, of what use is knowledge that cannot be applied?

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

LIBRA; Better than yesterday; however that is not to say you should throw caution to the wind. Improvement on your love life indicated. Try to comport yourself.

SCORPIO; After a few days of fun you may need to settle down to serious business. Those of you working till very late evening will need to be more careful till after 10.15pm. Reason with your tried and trusted old hands(friends).

SAGITTARIUS; Venus moves into a positive angle and boost your sparkling personality to the betterment of your cause. Could be a nice day for the-youngat-heart CAPRICORN; It is important you don’t allow your mind to wander unnecessarily so that minor but costly mistakes would be averted. Avoid late evening confusion.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS; Recent tension generated by controversy over money will start to ease off. Be more vigilant if you are working late in the evening.

PISCES;. Other people will continue to have their says and if you try to indoctrinate them tensed atmosphere will be aggravated. Be patient ARIES; Entrance of romantic Venus into your Star Sign will enhance your prospects. Both financial and love related success are possible.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my financial standing?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Joshua, I want to know about my future, especially what I should expect from my love life both in the immediate and far future. However that is not to say I am not interested in good financial standing.

Sola, Jos.

Dear Sola, The challenge here is inability to hold on to your gains (profits) partially, by the contact made between your natal Saturn and Venus as stated under your career and some other times by your love of easy life. Although the Saturn influence can be mitigated as I said under your career, the love of luxury comes from your stallion Taurus which must not be totally discouraged but should not be allowed to go beyond your control. Yes envy and jealousy can creep in as indicated by the oppositions between your natal Venus/Saturn in Taurus and Jupiter in Scorpio, but that is not enough excuse for either failure or manipulation of occult powers against you. Whatever anybody says and/or does GREAT FINANCIAL SUCCESS is your portion.

The most influential planet during your birth hour is Venus-the planet of MONEY and LOVE. You are the romantic type whose magnetic personality and open handedness are sources of big trap to his members of opposite sex. As handsome as you are you truly crave stability in your love life/home. The happiness you desired will be yours.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

AWARD: From left— Mr. Olumide Ojelade, National Co-ordinator of the First Eminent Associates; Mrs. Nike Edeaghe, Vice President, and Chief Olufemi Ajeniya, Chairman, DE-JOFAS Nig. Ltd, at the conferment of Eminent International Gold Award, EMIGA, on the company in Lagos.

FIDAU: From left— Sir. Peter Edoghon, past President, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM; Dr. Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, immediate past President; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM; Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, and Chief Makole Azugbene, National Treasuer, at the final Fidau prayer/ reception of late Madam Animota Olawale-Cole, mother of Michael Olawale-Cole, in Lagos. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

Almajirai: Education sector endangered unless...— Sambo V

ICE President Namadi Sambo has said the nation cannot achieve its

objective in the education sector unless the plight of the teeming population of

Almajirai in the country was addressed.

Sambo spoke when he

Court dismisses GSK's objection to N404m suit

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

Federal High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, has dismissed the preliminary objection by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited in a N404 million suit by Mr. Charles Oben, a Burkina-Fasobased staff of United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, who allegedly suffered health complications after taking ‘ZYLORIC’ drug, a product of the pharmaceutical company.

Trial judge, Justice Stephen Adah, held that the

court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit and consequently dismissed the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear same.

The judge cited section 251(1) (m) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which confers exclusive jurisdiction for drugs and poisons matters on the court, adding that what determines jurisdiction is the claim of the plaintiff and that the focal claim of the plaintiff deals with manufacturing and

distribution of the drug called ‘ZYLORIC’ produced by the defendants.

He said: “The plaintiff is seeking the intervention of the court to stop the defendants from producing this drug. There is no other court allowed to do this other than this court. So it is obvious that this court is seized of the jurisdiction for this case.”

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Nigeria and its UK parent company have appealed the ruling before the Court of Appeal, Lagos.

Opposition accused of plot to factionalise LASBA

BY LAJA THOMAS

L

AGOS Sate Butchers’ Association, LASBA, has raised an alarm over alleged moves by opposition parties in the state to hijack the association through some discredited members to achieve their political interests.

This was made known by a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT, Alhaji Sufianu Akinrinola, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said: “The attacks on our association in recent times by a faction of our union are aimed at causing disaffection and tearing apart the association for their selfish interest. The various attacks are not only politically motivated, but

are being fuelled and funded by opposition parties in Lagos State.

“These actions are politically-motivated to hijack the association and use it as platform for their selfish political aggrandisement come 2015 general elections.

“We are unequivocally saying that LASBA has no executive and in the

absence of executive, the 10-member of BoT has taken over the affairs of the association, pending when a credible election will be held.

“This factional group hijacked the statutory responsibilities of the BoT and listed names of some people as their own caretaker committee members,” he added.

commissioned the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Almajirai Bilingual (Model Boarding) Primary School in Sabon-Gari Zaria, Kaduna State, weekend.

While commissioning the project, which was initiated when he was governor of the state, Sambo said: “The spectre of young people and vulnerable school-age children, bowl in hand, roaming the streets of our towns and villages, begging for the means of their daily sustenance, does not only place a moral burden on our national psyche, but portends a dangerous problem.”

He, however, condemned the incessant cases of security breach in some parts of the country adding, “I am seizing this singular opportunity to call on all Nigerians to live in peace and harmony in accordance with Islamic teachings.

“There cannot be any meaningful development without peace.”

He expressed delight at the commissioning of the first Almajirai Boarding School in Kaduna State, noting that since the inception of this democratic dispensation, the three tiers of government had been giving the education sector priority attention.

He said it explained why the government launched the Universal Basic Education, UBE, in 1999.

Protect Nigerians, CNPP tasks FG

C

ONFERENCE of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, South-West, has urged the Federal Government to brace up to its responsibility of providing adequate security for Nigerians.

CNPP, in a communiqué issued after its executive meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, weekend, condemned the terrorist activities in the country, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to take proactive measures to stop

... as cleric urges Christians to unite

T

HE Archbishop West, African Church Mission Incorporated, Lagos, Rt. Revd. Paul Onanuga, has urged Christians to unite and confront the vices preventing the country from achieving God’s expectation of a better and secured future.

He spoke at the 5th annual convention of the United African Methodist Evangelical Church, Abule-Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos.

The cleric charged leaders to be focused and avoid religious or ethnic

L

OKOJA—ABOUT 20,000 people have so far benefited from the free medical treatment initiated

by Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State in collaboration with a Non-Governmental

Organisation, CEDIO Outreach Ministry.

Coordinator of the free medical programme and Director of Medical Services in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Celestine Ejeh, made this known to newsmen in Lokoja, yesterday.

Ejeh said they had been able to treat 20,000 people, especially those in rural areas who were finding it difficult to access health care for various ailments.

He said about 2,000 of the cases involved surgeries.

He said: “During the treatment we discovered

sentiments if they must achieve “a democracy we can all be proud of.”

Also speaking on the occasion, a seasoned politician and elder statesman, Senator Anthony Adefuye, challenged President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to promptly address the dilapidated socio-economic and political infrastructure, especially the power sector with a view to arresting the growing unemployment in the country as well as insecurity that has enveloped the economy.

Delta council service commission lauds LGs

C

HAIRMAN, Delta State Local Government Service

20,000 get free medical treatment in Kogi

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

the insurgency and killing of Nigerians.

In the communiqué signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Yinka Olana; Secretary-General, Oloye Gboyega Adeniyi, with other executive members, the body urged the President to implement recommendations of the House of Representatives adhoc committee on fuel subsidy probe, stressing that it could kick-start the greatest protest against his government in Nigeria.

that diseases patterns vary with geographical locations.

“In some area, hypertension, diabetics and malaria are prevalent, while in others, you have hynea, appendicitis and sexually transmitted diseases.”

Commission, Chief Patience Okwuofu, has commended the 25 local government areas in the state for their cooperation with the commission.

She also commended staff of the commission for their loyalty and dedication to duties and restated the commitment of the commission to the wellbeing of its staffers.

Okwuofu said this at a ceremony marking her second year anniversary as chairman of the commission.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012— 41

• When assessed in 10 shematic areas of development, Nigerian women and girls have significantly worse life chances than men and other women and girls in comparable societies.

Nigerian women worse off in life than men — REPORT

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

R

EGARDLESS of h e i r educational qualifications,Nigerian women not only occupy fewer positions in the public sector, but earn consistently less income than their t

male counterparts.

For instance, women occupy fewer than 30 percent of all posts in the public sector and only 17 percent of senior positions. In addition, nearly five times as many judges and permanent secretaries are men rather than women.

While income equality in the formal sector has grown over the years, only one in every three employees in the privileged nonagricultural formal sector is a woman.

Worse still, only 15 percent of Nigeria’s 80.2 million women operate bank

accounts and a woman is three times less likely than a man to recieve a bank loan.

There are 54 million women who live and work in rural areas and even though women constitute 60-79 percent of the rural workforce, a woman is five

times less likely to own land than a man.

And despite being better educated than their male peers in the micro-enterprise sector, women are less likely to secure loans and three times less likely to be employed.

These and other outcomes are part of key findings of a brand new report entitled Gender in Nigeria Report 2012, which shows that Nigerian women and girls have significantly worse life chances than men and other women and girls in comparable societies.

Put together by the British Council, Nigeria, The Report, scheduled for launch in Abuja on Thursday, May 10, 2012, showcases how Nigerian women and girls are disadvantaged by gender disparities in the most important aspects of livelihood and wellbeing. It identifies Nigerian women as the nation’s hidden resource, stressing that “Investing in women and girls now will increase productivity in this generation and will promote sustainable growth, peace and better health for the next generation.”

In a statement, Project Manager, British Council, Mr. Roy Chikwem, the Report is research that highlights realities of women in Nigeria and makes recommendations

30m malaria treatment courses from AMFm in 2012

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

A

T least 30 million treatment courses of affordable malaria treatment drugs are being expected in the country before the end of the year.

The Global Fund, Programme Officer of the National Malaria Control Programme, NMCP, Dr Omede Ogu who dropped the hint in Lagos, said the huge consignment of malaria treatment courses is being brought in to boost control and prevention efforts, ensuring

•Prof Chukwu

sustainability as well as making the products available for more Nigerians.

Ogu who spke during the 2012 Malaria Day dinner organised by the Federal Ministry of Health said the first line buyers should the pilot facility could not go beyond three years.

His words: "The country is currently looking at a way where the National Programme will collaborate with other states that have benefited so far under the AMFM to work with their government, provide money under their regular annual budget that could contribute for the procurement of these drugs and distribute to beneficiaries at point of service for use."

Expressing optimism that the strategy would ensure sustainability as well as reduce prices of drugs he further debunked claims in some quarters that the AMFM facility has not done well, declaring that the programme has achieved enough in Nigeria.

Describing the pilot programme as "Child of circumstance", Ogu said:"Right from the implementation stage, they have been confronted with persistent intervention challenges that the facility came about to address in order to bring about smooth running of the malaria control activities. "That is why it came as an appendix to a grant that Nigeria is enjoying under the global fund to fight Nigeria."

Conference Reeling out major challenges, he said: "At the very inception meeting where the PMG-MAN where invited to participate in an encounter conference, where manufacturers of anti malaria came to present their idea on how the facility could be an added strength in our efforts to fight malaria. They came up with the idea that it may possibly kill the encountre companies because it is

bringing an idea of a subsidised medicine which will put off the encountre marketers of these medicines at a very high risk."

He noted that one of the outstanding achievements of the programme was the recent prequalification of five Nigerian companies to produce these anti malaria drugs in the country.

"When it started two years ago, the issue of prequalification where not taken seriously but currently, we are talking about five companies."

Explaining that the programme was not mainly to reduce prices, he added that: "The essence of producing the drugs does not really translate making the drugs free. Part of the successes of the facility is that we have been able to initiate an effort which has led to prequalification of some of these companies, which is great deal to Nigeria in terms of procurement procedure s that lead to procuring these drugs at a very high amount of money. Instead of this money being

carried outside the country it will now be spend encountre and it will add value to the economy."

Earlier, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by Mrs Fatima Bamidele, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, affirmed that the country had been making efforts to contain malaria through measures such as massive distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets, saying 46.8 million nets had been distributed so far in 30 states of the country.

He reeled out other measures taken to combat malaria, according to him, included scaling up in the use of indoor residual spraying (IRS) and larviciding; massive distribution of antimalarial medicines and commodities; capacity building for health workers at both national and states' levels and the establishment of effective coordination structures at national and states level.

on policies that can improve their lives. “It is a statistically robust, but accessible, user friendly document to be produced for dissemination among influential actors, augmented by media and communications effort that will give life and mass circulation to key messages,” he noted.

Classifying Nigeria to be among the 30 most unequal countries in the world with respect to income distribution with the poorest half of the population holding just 10 percent of the national income, the Report warns that except the challenge of rising income inequality between Nigerian men and women is adequately and urgently addressed, significant rural-urban differences in income distribution would continue to impact negatively on women.

Different geopolitical zones Other findings of the Report which draws on testimonies by real girls and women from the different geo-political zones of the Federation, is that Nigeria ranks 118 out of 134 countries in the Gender Equity Index, and that Nigerian girls who enroll in school, leave earlier that their male counterparts.

Recognising that only 9 percent of those who stood for election in Nigeria’s April 2011 National Assembly elections were women, (of 360 House of Representatives members, only 25 are women), the Report said it was below the global average and well behind South Africa and Rwanda.

“The lack of women in decision-making positions may be one explanation for Nigeria’s low investment in sectors that are crucial to human development outcomes, such as health and education. Women are

Continues on Page 42

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Cardiovascular disease is big threat to MDGs — AKINROYE CARDIOVASCULAR disease, CVD, is the number one cause of death globally, claiming 17.3 million lives each year. and Nigeria is having its fair share. Chioma Obinna spoke to President ,African Heart Network & Member Executive Board of World Heart Federation, Geneva, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye.

The Executive Director of Nigeria Heart Foundation, NHF spoke at the just- concluded World Congress of Cardiology, WCC in Dubai. Akinroye who is also President/Chairman, International Epidemiology of Africa and Regional Counselor for World Epidemiology Federation in Africa notes that the state of CVD in Nigeria and other African countries is devastating in the face of poor healthcare system. Excerpts:

S

TATE of heart disease in Nigeria and Africa Cardiovascular Disease, CVD, is the number one killer disease anywhere in the world even in the developing countries. Particularly, hypertension is the number one cardiovascular disease in Nigeria, central, southern and West Africa.

The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria and most of the African countries is rising every year.

Looking back at 20 years when we had a prevalence of less than 15 per cent and compare it with the upsurge of about 25 percent and even as far up as 40 per cent now, this is not just peculiar to Nigeria as we have same in most of the West African countries. In adults too, we find that there is also an up rise in heart disease (heart attack) which used to be as low as 5 per cent now rising to about 7- 10 per cent in the population of Nigeria.

Stroke is also on the rise as a consequence of hypertension. We do know that some countries in Africa have a very high rate of stroke like Cameroon. From all indications, cardiovascular disease is now coming up as a number one killer disease in Africa which is becoming very interesting.

T

hreat to MDGs: Of course, it is a threat to attaining MDGs. We do not have to wait till 2015 to see that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of disease in Africa because we do know that hypertension is the Number one killer disease. I can tell you the prevalence of hypertension in the last 20 years has skyrocketed. The bulk of countries in Africa, have the prevalence of hypertension between 12 percent and 40 per cent which is quite high in the adult population. What is the consequence of that? That means stroke has gone up in countries like Cameroon, Mozambique, Kenya and Nigeria.

When you are talking about threat to MDGs, don't forget that these people affected are the bread winners of the families. If you deplete the population, who are the people going to ensure that the goal is attain? In Nigeria today, younger executives are dying suddenly these days as a result of heart attack. So all these

we need to put together to let us look at 2015. We might as well said that there is a threat of achieving MDGs 2015 and when we are doing our plan, in 2015, cardiovascular disease should actually be on the top.

The '25 by 25' target in Nigeria We have started by recognising the disease. The outcome of World Congress of Cardiology, WCC, and in the last one year, before the UN summit, in Brazzaville, African countries got

• Dr. Kingsley Akinroye when you focus on the risk factors that we know are really the things to tackle to be able to conquer cardiovascular disease by 25 per cent come 2025. Even if we do not reach that 25 per cent, minimally 10-15 per cent in Africa is a huge number.

Imagine in Nigeria, with a population of 160 million people, 10 per cent reduction would be

We must re-orientate our health system to go beyond building hospitals. Heart diseases affect the women a lot and even the children are also involved together to look at the situation and we are also working with WHO to be able to see what is the trend of cardiovascular disease and even NCDs in Africa.

It was agreed at that meeting that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer disease in Africa even at the WHO level.

However, it is nice to work with a figure. The target '25 by 25' and it is true that there are a lot of challenges and when we say that we have been going by what has been in the past, it may seem difficult to achieve but it's not impossible to achieve because

really felt in the population and there would be a lot of positive action in the society.

We are planning a lot of awareness because if we take it as a challenge and reduce the amount of salt in the diet, tobacco smoking, weight reduction, promote drug use especially the ones that can be manufactured in Africa in the treatment of heart disease, improve physical activity, exercise regularly and access to friendly environment, with the control of all these risk factors, I believe we are going to be there by 2025.

How Nigeria can achieve this goal: We don't need to create a vertical system when we can use the horizontal systems. Primary Healthcare is there, Secondary hospitals are there and the Tertiary system. We should be able to use them. For example, make sure that the primary health care centres get the information to know that cardiovascular disease is now a killer disease, make sure that the nurses in the hospitals are trained on how to measure blood pressure.

We must re-orientate our health system to go beyond building hospitals. Heart diseases affect the women a lot and even the children are also involved. So when we say we need a primary health care system where there is access to maternal and child care, we should also put into place that their blood pressures are checked regularly and they are given dietary and nutritional advice; given information on their health status especially if they are found to have any history of hypertension in their family and how to manage their health, this way, it is certain that the system would be improved.

To achieve this goal is a collective effort. The people need to be involved, awareness created, people educated, we also need

to go along with the stakeholders, the NGOs to get involved in disseminating the message. The media is also very important but more importantly, we need to involve the policy makers.

Policy: There is need to put policy in place, for example,the policy on tobacco, promote a development of heart disease and hypertension, if it is reduced in the environment then there would be a way forward. It is the same with the policy on salt, vegetable, high cholesterol and lipids in the diet, promote physical and healthy diet.

Simple ways to prevent heart disease: Heart disease is a disease of lifestyle. You have to put yourself on the good side to prevent heart disease. If you are having heart disease, to live a better life depends on your diet.

We do know that hypertension is salt dependent. Simple things like eating a healthy, low fat diet and getting plenty of exercise help. Bad habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol overburdens our already busy hearts and causes break down.

You should be able to look at the amount of salt available in your diet and make sure that the salt is reduced and this should be done within the population not only in a patient. The amount of fat in your diet becomes a control. In Nigeria, we have started looking at that, we are promoting vegetable oil that is low in cholesterol. We are also trying to improve people to engage in physical activities, people have accessibility to drugs in controlling their hypertension.

Way forward It is the health system. Nigeria needs to look at our health system.We need to do more on our Primary and Secondary levesl. The programmes are there horizontally at the Primary level. The Primary Centres are looking at malaria, they have opportunity to look for Tuberculosis, HIV& AIDS but what we need to do is to make sure we bring control of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, risk factors of heart diseases in terms of physical activity.

Nigerian women worse off in life than men — REPORT Continued fromPage 41 under represented in all political decision-making bodies and their representation has not increased since the inception of democratic rule,” it observed.

Observing that girls and women have the potential to transform Nigeria, the Report argues that investing in girls today will improve productivity and growth and also lead to a more peaceful, healthy and skilled work force tomorrow.Looking at livelihood and productivity obstacles for women, the Report describes economic independence as an essential dimension of women’s empowerment and improving a woman’s access to and control over resources increases investment in human

capital which in turn improves children’s health, nutrition, education and future growth. Noting that business has overtaken subsistence farming and formal employment as the main source of income, the Report states: “Women compose the majority of informal sector workers.

Though many women are involved in subsistence agriculture and off farm activities, men are five times more likely than women to own land. Women own 4 percent of land in the NorthEast, and just over 10 percent in the South-East and South-South.

Land ownership and land tenure give women security and provide a key to access other resources and opportunities.

The Report says: “Operationalising the Nigeria

Land Administration Act could help expand women’s productivity and that women with dependants pay more tax than men, who are automatically defined as bread winners.

If Nigeria is to invest more in human development and address growing inequalities, it needs a progressive and fair tax system.” The report recommends a review and amendment of the taxation system to be more equitable to women-headed households in accordance with government’s commitment to gender equity.

Among its recommendations are promotion of women’s livelihood, keeping girls in school, and improving women’s health and reducing maternal mortality. Others are making politicians

more accountable to women and tackling gender violence and conflict.

In an assessment of pronounced regional gender disparities, the Report indicates worse Human Development outcomes for girls and women in the North, where poverty levels are sometimes twice as high as parts of the South (72 percent in the North-East compared with 26 percent in the South-East and a national average of 54 percent).

“The impact of inequality on the lives of girls and women is reflected starkly in health and education outcomes, nationally and between North and South. Levels of gender violence are also high, notably in the South where inequality is greatest.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 43

Worry over strange growth in my mouth Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I have a growth inside my mouth my cheek. What should I do?

Benson, Edo Answer, SEE a doctor for its removal and send it for histology.

I’m not pregnant but there is milk in my breasts Dear doctor, OCTOR, I have milk coming out from my

Dbreast and the doctor said I can only get pregnant if the milk dries up.

He has been given me parlodel which I have used three packs and is still coming out I went again yesterday and the doctor wrote another parlodel, what should I do?

Rose,Lagos

Can’t get pregnant Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I had a miscarriage about five months ago. Since then I have been trying to get pregnant but no way.

I did scan which confirmed that I am ok, but pregnancy is notforthcoming.

Janet, Owerri Answer EVEN when you are too anxious you are not going to get pregnant. Take it easy and calm down. It will come naturally.

Answer, WHEN milk is coming out from the breast, it means that the level of prolactin is higher than normal, hyperprolactineamia.

This is known to inhibit ovulation and no ovulation no pregnancy.

What to do is to do hormonal profile on day 21 of your menstrual cycle. This will explain whether you are ovulating or not, and whether you need to continue on parlodel or not. The level of prolactin will reflect as well.

I smoked 3 sticks of cigarette, now will I die?

Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am 14 years old. I decided to taste cigarette recently and I ended up taking three sticks with alcohol. Since then I have been having heart pain. I hope I am not going to die young.

Etop, Akwa – Ibom State Answer, YOU are not supposed to die young of a smoking related ailment if you stop now. You see it is too early to indulge in such vices. You are supposed to be facing your studies squarely. Concerning the heart pain, see a doctor in earnest.

What is severe spondylosis?

Dear doctor, OCTOR, please help me. I have a severe waist and I met a doctor who ordered for x- ray. This revealed severe spondylosis. What is severe spondylosis and any cure?

I am a road side vulcaniser.

Azeez, Ondo

D

Answer SPONDYLOSIS or spondylitis is degenerative changes of the spine.

The incidence increases with age. It can be mild, moderate and severe.

When it is severe, it needs a more aggressive approach.

Mostly conservative approach is applied. Analgesic/ anti-inflammatory and physiotherapy are applied. Operation is the least option.

Also, your nature of job involves bending down all the time. This has to be reviewed as it has tendency to worsen it.

Abnormal discharge from her privates Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, My wife used to see sperm on her private part three to four times a day, sometimes, when she’s urinating. Please, what is the prob-

lem?

Justus, Ewu Answer,

I DON’T think what you are describing is even sperm because is not possible for a woman to be discharging sperm like that, except immediately after intercourse. I think what we should think about is probably an abnormal vaginal discharge. Let her see a doctor.

Spondylitis is degenerative changes of the spine. The incidence increases with age. It can be mild, moderate and severe.

My mother chose him but he is not caring Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR, I married a man chosen for me by my mother when I was 16. He is 50 plus. I have had two kids for him. Last December, I planned to leave him not knowing that I was pregnant for him again. I still

intend to leave him because he is not caring. What should I do?

Grace, Ikorodu

Answer I THINK you are considering the circumstances surrounding your coming together.

You are already carrying the third pregnancy, I would not advise you to leave him. If being not caring is a problem, tell your mum but I find it difficult to believe that such a Dear doctor, man would not be responsible and you will be making youram married with a baby and have been trying for a self available on demand to the extent of even allowing second child for almost a year now and ever since then pregnancy. my husband has been having premature ejaculation, weak Where do you want to go? To re-marry or what? erection, and he can hardly go more than one round.

I think you should be more realistic.

Also when he urinates it divides in the middle. A short, fat and whitish worm came out of a swelling in his upper thigh about four months ago and he went to clinic for treatment, but since then no improvement.

Doctor, I sense there is something wrong even as he is refusing to admit.

Please what do we do?

Dear Doctor, Edith, Abeokuta OCTOR, I am 51 and I have stopped menstruat Answer ing. Can I still continue with lovemaking with my BASICALLY, the man should do seminal fluid analysis and man? Is there any danger in it? mcs. It is not unusual for a man to deny. You just need to Bola, Delta State persuade him.

Again, if you are putting too much pressure on him, that Answer might affect his sexual life. Don‘t nag and be more romantic.

THERE is no danger please, since is for pleasure.

He has weak erection, premature ejaculation

I

I’m menopausal, can I continue making love?

D

Concern over fibroid size Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR, I have a huge fibroid up to the size of six months old pregnancy.

This has been there for two years now.

The doctor has advised me to remove it since but I am afraid of surgery.

Please I want you to assure me of the safety.

Evelyn, Benin city Answer MY sister, we are all in the hands of God. My prayer is God Almighty to direct us to the right place in a situation like this.

There is no two way about it. You need surgery; otherwise you will be at risk of kidney failure later which is more deadly.

To get started, ask God for divine favour. Do all that the doctor might request for in terms of tests.

Let the doctor be happy with the bill.

Then, summon courage and go ahead.

Please identify the right place to go.

All the best.

C M Y K

44 —

Vanguard Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 45

Formula range, milk supplement debut from Pfizer Nutrition

A

• From left: Chairman, Association of Occupational Therapists, Chief Nwegwu; Registrar, Mr. Peters Akeredolu; Medical Director, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Rahman Lawal; Director of Administration, FNPH, Mr. Rasak Oyetola; Principal, School of Post-Basic Nursing, Mrs. Clegg; and Assistant Director of Examinations and Records, Mrs. Adesola Amosu, at the 7th convocation ceremony of FSOT in Lagos.

NEW advanced formula range and a nutritious milk supplement, Promise PE Gold, that is developed to support the nutritional needs of picky eating children, are to be launched into the Nigerian market from the stable of Pfizer Nutrition.

Dr. Mohamed Salah, Medical Director – Compliance and R&D, Pfizer Nutrition, Africa & Middle East, noted in a statement that the reformulated versions of the existing brands are being launched concurrently in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt as part of Pfizer Nutrition’s constant improvement and meeting with the changing nutritional needs of growing children.

“The new reformulated range provides the right balance and amount of nutrients according to

Tertiary health institutions tasked on occupational therapy

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

CALL has gone to tertiary health institutions in the country to encourage the development of occupational therapy as a medical profession by introducing courses and programmes that would enable affiliation with the School of Occupational Therapy, Oshodi, Lagos.

Making the call during the convocation ceremony of the 7th graduating set of students from the School, Medical Director, Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba,

Lagos, Dr. Rahman Lawal, advocated for development of the sub-specialty of occupational therapy was not accorded its rightful position.

Lawal, who noted that since its establishment, the School of Occupational Therapy had increased professionalism, however called for the training of more occupational therapists to meet the demand locally and abroad.

His words: “The occupational therapy that was almost in extinction has been revived.

There were only three practicing occupational therapists in

Nigeria when we began, now there are over 12. We started from less than six students and only one department and yet these are professionals required all over the country, but I make bold to say the foundation has been laid.

Our school is going to produce future professors. Many of our students have travelled abroad, while some of them are on the path to becoming lectures in Nigerian universities in the near future.”

Lawal said the institution was not currently running a degree programme because of the requirement for affiliation with a

university. “We are still running a diploma because there are rules governing degree programmes.

We wanted to be affiliated with the University of Lagos, but the rule is that we can only affiliate with a university that is running the programme. Currently, the UNILAG is not running the programme, but we have a MOU with some universities abroad as well as a collaboration with the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. We have written to the university Senate and the institution is now admitting our students. Two of them have graduated.

the recent international recommendations. These highquality nutrients are needed to support ideal health, growth and development for growing children,” Saleh stated.

The new Promise PE Gold, result of commitment to healthy advancement of the Nigerian child, is a high quality nutritious milk supplement for children with picky eating habits. The brand contains 40 nutritional ingredients, including 25 essential ingredients specifically formulated to supplement nutrients picky eating young children may lack.”

Topical discussion and lectures on nutrition are lined up as an integral part of the launch with key experts and resource persons including Prof. Mohamed Barbary, Professor of Gastroenterology at the Ain Shams University Cairo, Egypt; Prof. Philip Abiodun, a professor of Pediatrics & Child Health, at the University of Benin, Nigeria, and Prof. Emily Flores, a professor of Nutrition from the University of Manila who will deliver various lectures on recent findings of the impact of early childhood nutrition on long term growth and development, address nutrients at risk and micronutrient deficiencies in young children’s diet as well as address the picky eating behaviour, its consequences and how to manage it.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

HAVE been married for 12 years now but I am in love with someone else. He is my co-worker and just seeing him in the morning makes me tremble with joy. No man has ever made me feel this way and I am beginning to wonder that perhaps he is my real soul mate. We have not had an affair yet but I am afraid that I cannot resist any longer. What do I do? Jennifer Dear Jennifer, you are married now. This means that no matter how any other man makes you feel, you are just not available for another relationship. Infatuation occurs regularly for both married and unmarried people. But that does not make the new object of one’s desire his or her soul mate and we shouldn’t act on it.

But let me ask….what if this man is your soul mate?

Are you going to abandon your children and husband so you can be with this so called soul mate? And then what happens after you leave your husband for this man only to fall deeply in love with a third man who feels more like your soul mate than all the other men?

Is that how you will be jumping from one marriage to another?

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Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

WAR AGAINST CULTISM—From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Ben Ibe; Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije; Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rafa'i; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, and Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the 3rd National Workshop on Eradication of Campus Cultism in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Lagos sacks 788 striking doctors Continues from page 5 state government called the doctors for a meeting on Saturday whereas they had signed their sack letter a day before. He also flayed the House of Assembly passing a vote of no confidence in the bid to resolve the issue.

“The meeting held on Saturday at the House of Assembly and they House members showed partisan on the issue.”

Also reacting to the sack shortly after an emergency congress in Lagos, the State Chairman of NMA, Dr Temiye Edamisan described the government action as draconian and undemocratic and most obscene by any government.

“We are not in a military regime we understand it but share the toga of military.

They are still behaving as if they are in military.

If they do this to the doctors and they survive, they will do it to the other workers in the health team. They have turned everybody as their slaves because they think they are so big now that people should become their slaves. Go and see the taxi drivers who have become their slaves “ He explained that the NMA last week, in

Abuja during their 52nd Annual General Conference and Delegate Meeting, the ?decision taking body of NMA had reviewed what is happening in Lagos State and were very disturbed and arrived at the decision to set up an elders’ committee that will meet with the state government.

“The National Officers Committee set up is to meet with the state government within the next 24 hours. The reaction or outcome of the state government to that meeting will definitely determine the next line of action to take.”

Asked the next line of action, he said: “We are going to wait. Forget about the sack letter. We have gone this road before. This is déjà vu.

We know this has happened before we are not moved. The person who wrote the sack letters will find reason to withdraw them later.

What is most important is that Lagos state wants to casualise medical profession which is an insult to the profession. We hope that no doctor will fall prey to that. If they fall prey they will regret it.

One, the Lagos State government will turn them to cleaners in the

hospital.”

On issue of recruitment of new doctors, he said: “Lagos State is behaving like a 17th century Emperor and such an Emperor in the 21st century cannot survive. The system in the 21st century will choke that Emperor to death. So the state should withdraw to where we are. It has abandoned democracy and good governance.

They may think their popularity will see them through but the most popular government has found itself in very terrible situation when they go against the wish of the people. And they should know that.” He said it is wrong to employ doctors as locum doctor. We are going to fight it legally against the doctors and against the government.”

How it all began It will be recalled that NMA, Lagos state chapter, a week ago, had urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN to revoke the practicing license of doctors who may wish to take up locum or other appointments with the state government in the event of sacking the striking doctors.

The Lagos State Government in a swift reaction described the threat as baseless. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris who made the remark,, faulted the statement, saying it has no right to revoke any doctor ’ s license.

He said, “It has come to the attention of government that certain persons, purporting to speak for the Nigerian Medical Association, have been circulating the claim that they are in a position to get the MDCN revoke the practising license of doctors who may wish to take up locum or other appointments with the Lagos State government. “”The MDCN is a professional regulatory body for doctors and dentists in Nigeria. It is not a trade union, and would not take decisions on eligibility for registration on criteria other than p r o f e s s i o n a l qualification, payment of subscription fees, and standards of professional conduct.”

Idris noted that the MDCN itself has in the recent past expressed its displeasure at the frequent recourse to strike actions by doctors, and pronounced that it is wrong for doctors, as

emergency workers, to abandon the care of their patients under any circumstances.

He stressed that the Lagos State chapter of NMA must have been aware of this state of affairs, and yet put out the falsehood, apparently to create fears in the minds of the public about the possibility of the state government continuing to provide health services to the people of the state, despite the efforts of certain people to grind those services to a halt and expose the people to risk of unattended illness and even death.

“The whole exercise is a deliberate effort at cheap blackmail. It is a matter that should cause great concern to all doctors, and the public at large, that an Association which is supposed to represent the best interests of the medical profession, and to push for their loftiest goals, such as the need to take the quality of outputs of Nigerian doctors to international standards, has become a platform for pursuing base interests and peddling disgraceful, unconscionable falsehood,” Idris stated.

He therefore, advised the doctors then who had already applied to work for government and the general public to disregard the campaign of blackmail by the NMA assuring that government will do everything within its power to ensure that there is no protracted disruption of health services in the state.

The HOS circular The state government carried out the sack in accordance with the Trade Dispute Act. In a circular issued by the State Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe with Ref No. CIR/HOS/12/037 during the three day warning strike made reference to the provision of Section 43(1) of the Trade Dispute Act which he said will henceforth be enforced in the state.

According to Section 43(1) of the Act, it states that “Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law where any worker takes part in the strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the

period of the strike and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent of continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly”.

He assured staff of g o v e r n m e n t ’ s continuous commitment to their welfare, particularly those providing essential services while stressing the need for them to respect their contract of employment, trade dispute act as well as ethics, oaths and code of their profession while in the employment of the state government.

Meanwhile, five doctors and 15 nurses have resigned their appointments with Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, in the last one month over perceived poor condition of service.

The Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the hospital, Dr. Patrick Adegun, disclosed to newsmen in Ado Ekiti that some of the medical personnel resigned to pursue greener pastures.

“Most of our medical personnel have decided to leave here to another place for many reasons, some of them may have leaved due to certain condition of service which are quite deferential between the state and federal establishments.

Provost of the College of Health Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, OAU, Professor Solomon Ogunniyi has frowned at medical doctors going on strike thereby paralyzing health delivery system in the countr y, but blamed the government for its failure to meet the demands of the doctors. ?He said “Ordinarily doctors should not embark on total strike because of the consequences on the society, but unfortunately, in Nigeria, everything has been turned upside down.”

The provost regretted that after over 50 years of nationhood, Nigeria had no standard health policy, decrying that despite the fact that the bill had been before the National Assembly for the past six years, yet nothing reasonable had come out of it.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 — 47

Hollande to redefine Franco-Africa relationship F

ROM a relative back ground of political obscurity to Elysee Palace, Social Pparty leader, Francois Hollande, 57, has outlined his vision that will redefine FrancoEuro and Afraca relationship and put Europe on its feet.

Faced with mirade of domestic and continental distractions on social and economic fronts, Hollande gave a signal on Monday of where he is taking France in global politics when he said his country was not prepared to subjugate its sovereignty in European and global affairs. He was specific on the role of France in Euro-debt, immigration and economic regeneration of France and thec withdrawal of his country from NATO operations in Afghanistan.

Apart from the issue of debt crisis in Europe, Hollande’s administration, which will take over power on May 15, 2012 will face crisis with managing immigration in France political crisis in its former African colonies.

The influx of African from North and West African countries has become a major source of concern to Fraance which

is battling with multi-culturalism, a Euphemism for increasing interaction and management of relations between the Christian Europe and Muslim Arab world. There is a growing discontent with Islam and the culture of violence which is represented by the political face of Islam.

France has also become a hot bed of political tension between African migrants from West Africa namely, Guinea, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire where there is wide spread of terrorism and drought and eco-

and continental debt crisis.

Hollande told his cheering supporters yesterday that “this is France, we are not just any country in Europe, we are not just any country in the world.

“This is a signal that France, like Britain will take some independent cause of action in its foreign policies. France will not whole-heartedly adopt the European Union imposed austerity measures and economic globalisation while Sarkozy supported those measures, Hollande has indicated

,

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

France, we are not just any country in Europe, we are not just any country in the world.

nomic strangulation.

Most European countries especially Germany would have loved Sarkozy to retain his seat especially as Sarkozy shared the vision of countries like Germany which has been in support of tough fiscal measures especially imposition of cost-cutting and austerity measures to deal with their domestic

,

that he will do something different. The European country will not continue with the imposition of higher taxes on the wealthy. Hollande wants to give employment prosperity.

Hollande become the first President since Francois Mitterrand who left office in 1995. He said agenda will be Europe’s debt crisis, where he is on

•Hollande and his wife driving to Paris. a collision course with fellow European Union leaders over his plan to renegotiate the bloc’s fiscal pact that many credit with saving the eurozone from meltdown.

Hollande said he would focus on growth rather than simply imposing deficit-cutting austerity rules. This is an dea opposed by Berlin. He said his mission is to give the European project a dimension of growth, employment, prosperity - in short, a future,” he said.

“This is what I will say as soon as possible to our European partners and

first of all to Germany,” he declared. “We are not just any country on the planet, just any nation in the world, we are France.”

The election was marked by fears over European Union-imposed austerity and economic globalisation, and Hollande has said his first foreign meeting will be with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor and the key driver of EU budget policy. Hollande plans to replace some of Sarkozy’s cost-cutting with higher taxes on the wealthy while balancing the budget by 2017, despite a hiring spree in

education and a return to retirement at 60 for some workers. He wants to renegotiate a European treaty on trimming budgets to avoid more debt crises of the kind facing Greece. Under Sarkozy, France pledged to rein in its spending while the rest of the 17 countries that use the euro embark on a strict period of belttightening.

In comments made in Berlin on Monday, however, Merkel said that the European Union’s fiscal pact, which Hollande has criticised, “is not negotiable”.

S/African envoy seeks improved trade with Greece fails to form govt were $3 billion. The figNigeria IRST attempts to cides, deserted mainures for January 2012

By HUGO ODIOGOR & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

S

OUTH Africa’s Con sul-General, Mokgethi Monaisa, has called on Nigeria to explore opportunities created by the volume of trade and investment that keeps rising between Nigeria and South Africa.

In his words: “There exists opportunities which could be of benefit to both our countries, that remain under-exploited; and that need to be explored, especially in the areas of trade and investment, as well as in the area of exchange of technical expertise.”

Speaking during the Freedom Day Celebration, Lagos, Monaisa

noted that the relations between South Africa and Nigeria endorses the evident need for both countries to foster closer economic co-operation, and to that effect, a need for improved trade relations.

Monaisa said that South Africa is also committed to enhancing and strengthening cooperation between the business communities of the two countries so as to achieve increased trade and investment, adding that Nigeria has a positive balance of trade with South Africa.

“In this regard, rather than exporting raw materials alone, Nigeria needs to begin the exportation of finished products to South Africa as well. In 2011, South Africa exports to

•Mokgethi Monaisa Nigeria topped $747 million, while Nigeria exports to South Africa

were $29.2 million and $226 million respectively” he added.

The South Africa’s ambassador to Gabon (Monaisa) urged both countries to work towards the relief of the heavy debt burden, which continue to deny many Africa countries the opportunity to construct a sustainable future.

F

form a new Greek government hit a wall on Monday after a shock election which left gaping questions over the country’s ability to avert bankruptcy and stay in the euro.

Greeks enraged by the terms of international bailouts which have cut wages, sent unemployment to one of the highest levels in Europe and caused a spate of sui-

Protests greet Putin’s presidency

V

LADIMIR Putin has been sworn in as Russia’s president at a glittering ceremony, hours after clashes between police and protesters laid bare the deep divisions over his return to the Kremlin for six more years.

The former KGB

spy took his oath on Monday before nearly 2,000 guests in the Kremlin’s St Andrew Hall, the former throne room with sparkling chandeliers, gilded pillars and high Gothic vaults.

Placing his hand on a copy of the constitution, he swore to “respect and

protect the rights and freedoms of the people” and defend Russia’s security as he officially took over from outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin was blessed by Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill before he delivered a brief speech at the inaugural hall.

stream parties in droves in Sunday’s poll, plunging their country into turmoil. President Karolos Papoulias gave a threeday mandate to try to form a coalition to Antonis Samaras, leader of the conservative New Democracy party, which won the biggest share of the vote.

But Samaras quickly met a series of rebuffs from other leaders who have benefited from an electoral earthquake, which sent tremors across the euro zone, by opposing austerity.

Both New Democracy and Socialist PASOK were devastated by the election, in which Greeks voted against the two traditional ruling parties who had imposed economic hardship in exchange for an EU/IMF bailout to avert a sovereign default.

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 8, 2012

•Governor Peter Obi inspecting the station

•The damaged Police station

How gunmen terrorized two police stations in Anambra •Kill three officers

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

I

T was a terrible experience for officers and men of the Anambra State police command penultimate week when daredevil gunmen attacked two police stations at Amichi and Ukpor, both in Nnewi South local government area of the state, killing three police men and wounding several others.

During the attack which lasted several hours and in which the hoodlums freely used AK47 rifles, about 10 vehicles parked within and around the police premises were also riddled with bullets.

The gunmen allegedly made away with 14 AK-47 riffles belonging to the police.

station also in Nnewi South local government area where they killed three mobile police men attached to the station. Their bodies were later deposited at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi mortuary.

The three policemen who were killed were posted to the Ukpor station only three weeks earlier.

The hoodlums who operated, this time, in a white Hummer bus and a Hilux Jeep, fired sporadically on their arrival and their bullets razed down the station. In the process, the three mobile police officers were hit.

A senior police officer attached to the station told Crime Alert that the hoodlums, who were about 20

with registration number NPF 9589 B and a Nissan Terra with number plate GG 323 LND, were still lying there. All the offices at the station were also ransacked and the police men on duty, whose offices were destroyed, were merely operating from outside the station.

Worried by the attack on the stations, the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Dr. Andy Uba, visited the two police stations and called for total demolition and reconstruction of

the Ukpor Divisional police station as he felt it would not be enough to embark on reconstruction of the station in view of the extent of the damage.

Besides, he argued that there is need to put in place, adequate security measures that would not expose security operatives to unnecessary danger. He observed, for instance, that the Ukpor police station was too close to the road and therefore was not conducive for the police men to operate from.

The senator, who was accompanied by the Anambra State Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bash Makama, said it was improper to expose police men to an unfriendly working environment. He promised to take up the matter with the Inspector General of Police, IG, to ensure that work on the damaged stations begin immediately, while he would also make a case for the facilities in the stations to be upgraded.

PHOTOSPEAK

,

The hoodlums who operated, this time, in a white Hummer bus and a Hilux Jeep, fired sporadically on their arrival and their bullets razed down the station.

In the process, the three mobile police officers were hit.

The first place the hoodlums stormed at about 2.30 am on that fateful day was the Ochi police station in Amichi where they forced open the cell and released two suspects believed to be their members. It was gathered that they stormed the police station in a black coloured SUV Toyota Pajero car and began firing on the walls of the station. When they met little or no resistance, as only three police men were said to be on duty, they rushed to the cell and released their colleagues who were in detention.

Barely 24 hours after the Amichi attack, another gang of gunmen struck at Ukpor Divisional police

,

in number, wore mobile police uniforms and on arrival at the station, started calling the names of some officers at the station to come out and challenge them.

Even without much resistance, they still used locally made grenades to damage parts of the police station and flung open the cell as they did at Amichi. The policemen at the station were said to have taken to their heels on hearing the sound of the guns and it was at that point that the three victims were hit.

When Crime Alert visited the Ukpor police station, some of the damaged cars, including a Ford Ranger belonging to the police

Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Amen Ikioda, present a souvenir to Joseph Stafford, Us Consul General during his visit to the Western Naval Command.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012—49

Don Jazzy grabs Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, others, launches Mavin Records BENJAMIN NJOKU & OPELUWANI AKINTAYO

Jazzy.

Other acts in Mavin Records include; Dr Sid, Wande Coal and DaPrince.

One would recall that Don Jazzy and D’Banj ended their nine years relationship as Mohits Record co-owners this year.

F

ORMER Mohits co-own er, Don Jazzy on Monday, surprised his fans all over the world as he launched his new record label, Mavin Records after his publicised split with D’Banj.

Don Jazzy came out with his record label few weeks after D’banj signed on to another record label in the United States.

The 30 years old top producer announced this through a micro-blogging site, Twitter.

He tweeted, “MAVIN ACTIV A T E D ” Don Jazzy also told his fans that Mavin Records drops an album on Monday titled “Solar Plexus.”

The album, he said would be free for download for fans that join his MavinLeague.

Don Jazzy further tweeted, “the Solar Plexus album drops tomorrow May 8. ”You would be able to download the album for Free as long as you ‘ve joined the MavinLeague. The album was done in 3 weeks. We thank God. No time to sleep.” he t w e e t e d .

However, the label has had its first female signing. Tiwa Savage, who Don Jazzy did a song with in 2011, became the first female act of the label. She also becomes the first act not in the Mohits Record artistes that went with Don

•As D’banj congratulates him F

OLLOWING the launching of his new record label, Don Jazzy has continued to receive congratulatory messages from far and wide on his latest venture and even from his former label mate D’banj.

‘Congrats to my brother and the best producer in Africa Don jazzy on the launch of his new Record Label, MAVIN RECORDS. Wish u all the best‘, @iamdbanj tweeted.

Don Jazzy immediately replied D’banj. ‘Thanks bro. God bless you.’.

Don Jazzy then added ‘After Solar Plexus tomorrow. Tweeps next stop is #Olivertwist UK Release May 14th. your support is needed always. RepNaija, RepAfrica. Oshee’.

D’banj in a recently interview was quoted as saying that Don Jazzy ‘is still my brother ’. ‘We’ll still work together in future, same with my boys‘.

D’banj is currently signed to a joint venture deal with Mecury Records/ G.O.O.D Music and will be releasing his ‘Oliver ’ single in the UK on May 14.

•Don Jazzy

•D’ banj

Bimbo Oshin returns with Igboya

O

NE of the leading Yoruba actresses, Bimbo Oshin-Ibironke who has been off the screen for some time now, has stagedacome-backtoherfirstloveacting, with the releasing of her much talked about new flick “Igboya’ into the market on Monday.

Oshin-Ibironke, the producer of the movie, said the new work, an A-list cast Yoruba contemporary movie, is a true life story that will touch the lives of every viewer.

Speaking at a press screening of the movie in Lagos , last week, the actress explained that “Igboya”, meaning boldness, will help men and women who procrastinate on how to get out of the problem.

In the movie, Muyiwa Ademola lost the power to be bold. He was disgraced, insulted and went through serious emotional trauma simply because of lack of confidence to face Bimbo OshinIbironke who he truly loves.

OwolabiIbrahim,sonofabusiness mogulbecameanobstaclebetween MuyiwaandBimbo.Heoppresses and humiliates Muyiwa, who after averylongtimemanagedtoregain hisconfidenceandmovetoconquer his fear.

Kazeem Afolayan, CEO, Epsalum Productions and executive producer of the movie described the movie project as one of the best he has ever marketed.

He noted that the movie stands out in terms of storyline, technical output and the quality of cast.

Directed by Muhydeen Ayinde (director of Jenifa), the movie parades stars like Muyiwa Ademola, Bimbo Oshin, Demola Olatunji, Aisha Abimbola, Anthar Laniyan, Jide Kosoko and Richard Olaniyi-Oshin, among others.

Isabella Ayuk wins MBGN 2012

BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

T

•Isabella-Ayuk

HE search for the next Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria ended last Saturday in Benin, Edo State capital, with the emerging of Cross River ’s born Isabella Agbor Ayuk as the winner of the crown.

She also won the MBGN 2012 Best Traditional Costume.

25 year old Isabella who was also the 2004 Miss Nigeria, Ex Beauty Queen Of The South-South Nigeria(2007/2008),Miss Global Nigeria (2009/2010), and delegate Miss Global international (World) in Jamaica ( 2010), walked away with the coveted prize.

She was also said to have contested for the MBGN more than once where she lost out, only to now come the overall winner in this year ’s competition.

She’s a native of Etung LGA, Cross River State, and a graduate of University of Calabar. Being the winner of 2012 MBGN, Isabella will be representing Nigeria in the Miss World contest in Ordos, China,

on August 15.

Ay u k d e f e a t e d M i s s Rivers, Miss Abuja and Miss Kaduna (Universe), M i s s To u r i s m a n d M i s s ECOWAS respectively to emerge the winner.

Also Miss Gombe, Antonnette Igebu was crowned Miss La Casera, Miss Kwara, Tmi Salami got the Miss Select Pro crown, Edo State born Omobhude Omoye got Miss Photogenic, while Onuoha Grace from Taraba won Miss Amity.

Winner MBGN 2012, Isabella, walked away with a brand new Toyota Corolla from the Edo State Government, a N1M Cartier Wrist watch courtesy Polo and a free trip to Monogolia

by Lufthansa airline.

•Bimbo Oshin

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Keshi leads Eagles coaches, officials to sign Yekini’s condolence register

S

UPER Eagles techni cal crew and backroom staff on Monday evening took time off their schedule and on behalf of the players signed the condolence register of legendary striker, Rashidi Yekini, who died in Ibadan last Friday and has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

National team Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi led the team to the NFF Glass House in Abuja and was accompanied by assistant, Dan ‘the bull’ Amokachi, Sylvanus Okpala, Houandonou Valere and goalkeeper’s trainer, Ike Shorunmi.

Other officials who were there are Team Psychologist Robinson Okosun, Scribe of the team, Dayo Enebi Achor, Equipment Manager, Chidi Ngoka, Team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, Physiotherapist, Wale Oladejo and Media Officer, Ben Alaiya.

The team was received

•Yekini by the NFF Scribe, Barrister Musa Amadu and afterwards headed back to camp to start preparation for training on Tuesday morning. Below is what the coaches wrote on the condolence register.

Stephen Keshi: A wonderful person, a great player that our youths need to emulate. Sweet Sleep Yekini.

Dan Amokachi:A great loss to the football world. You would be missed the legendary goalscorer.

Sylvanus Okpala: A hero is gone, may his sould rest in Peace.

Houadonou Valere: A wonderful person, a great football titan.

Ike Shorunmu: Gangling, Rest In Peace

Yekini is irreplaceable — Chukwu

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER national team coach, Christian Chukwu said he was still in shock over the news.

“It is a terrible one. I heard it last(Friday) night and it was a shock to me. I never expected to hear that type of news about Yekini. I was his coach to the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia and we also went to the World Cup. Rashidi was the greatest striker in the ’90s. Once he was in the team you could be sure of getting goals.

“Rashidi Yekini is irreplaceable. Very jovial and very disciplined.

He withdrew from public view after his active days and all efforts to revive him proved abortive. We can never have an attacker like him for a very long time to come. I am short of words. All I can say is May God grant him eternal rest.

Chukwu debunked the rumour that some members of the 1994 Super Eagles squad conspired against Yekini and denied him the opportunity of scoring more goals at the World

Cup. “It never happened.

Look back at the video of the World Cup match against Bulgaria and you will see how the entire squad celebrated with him. It was a collective effort so credit never went to any particular person. We had a wonderful squad.

“There was no iota of truth about a conspiracy. It never happened.

We were a team.

A huge loss – Enitan Oshodi (Lagos State Commissioner for Sports) Yekini’s death is a huge loss to Nigeria.

He was the greatest striker of our time.

Great scorer, very patriotic, loyal and hardworking. Yekini was a rare gem. Our coaches have a lot to do with the younger players if we must produce another Yekini in Nigeria. Talents are abound He was exemplary – Sylvanus Okpala (Super Eagles assistant coach and former team mate of late Rashidi Yekini) “News about Yekini’s

death got to me as a surprise. That is not the type of news one expect to hear. As a player, I remember Yekin as a very good and deadly striker. He remains the best striker Nigeria has ever produced.

His conduct was exemplary. Very disciplined and hardworking. I am not sure if Yekini got a yellow card in his playing career.

We played together in the national team and at the Olympics. He was always a good player and clinical finisher.

We’ve lost a star – Erico (Former assistant national team coach) “We have lost a star, indeed. Once a star grows up, the next thing is that you see him going down. Stars rise and fall.

Yekini is gone. I had the opportunity of coaching him in the national team.

He keeps your ribs cracking all the time. He was more of a comedian.

A man of the people. It is unfortunate he went into his shell after his playing career. May his soul rest in perfect peace

51 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Nigerians Abroad......Nigerians Abroad.....Nigerians Abroad....Nigerians Abroad

Emenike sparkles, Uchebo impresses E

MMANUEL Emeni ke was the outstanding Nigerian performer in Europe at the weekend as his 83rd minute strike helped Spartak Moscow defeat champions, Zenith St. Petersburg at Petroksky.

In the Netherlands, Michael Uchebo has been impressive for VVV Venlo this season and the former Enugu Rangers forward scored again at the weekend as the ‘Good old’ defeated FC Twente 4-2 at the Seacon Stadion.

SuperSport now runs the rules on the performances in Europe last weekend.

England (Barclays English Premier League) Shola Ameobi came on as a late substitute for Newcastle United in the big game against Manchester City at the Sports Direct Arena. The striker ’s contributions

•Emenike

•Uchebo

were infinitesimal as the Geordies capitulated to a 0-2 defeat to the Citizens.

At the Reebok Stadi-

Ameobi

um, Peter Odemwingie was not listed as West Bromwich Albion drew 22 against Bolton Wanderers.

Taye Taiwo was part of the Queen’s Park Rangers’ side that edged out Stoke City 1-0 at Loftus Road thanks to a late Djibril Cisse goal.

Dickson Etuhu was left out by the Fulham Manager, Martin Jol as the Cottagers won 2-1 against Sunderland at Craven Cottage.

Belgium (Belgian Pro League) Joseph Akpala was in-

troduced as an 88th minute substitute for Club Brugge in their 11 draw against Anderlecht at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

Germany (Bundesliga)

•Taiwo

Chinedu Obasi was not listed for Schalke 04 as his team won 3-2 at Werder Bremen to seal UEFA Champions’ League qualification for next season.

Anthony Ujah was on the FSV Mainz bench for all 90 minutes in the club’s 0-3 loss at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Italy (Serie A) Christian Obodo spent all 90 minutes on the Lecce bench as the club went down at home, 0-1 to Fiorentina.

Joel Obi was part of the Inter team that recorded a thrilling 4-2 victory that over AC Milan tat San Siro hat effectively ended the titledefece of the Rossonerri.

The Netherlands (Eredivisie) Michael Uchebo scored in the 90th minute as VVV Venlo defeated FC Twente 4-2 at the Seacon Stadion -

•Echiejile De Koel -, Venlo.

Portugal (Super Liga) Uwa Echiejile was on for all 90 minutes for SC Braga in their 1-0 win over SC Beira-Mar at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga.

•Ighalo

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Eagles open camp with tears for Yekini T

HE Super Eagles camp opened on Sunday at the Bolton White Apartment in Abuja, with the passage of former national team striker Rashidi Yekini dominating nearly every discourse in camp. Yekini, who is Super Eagles all-time highest goalscorer died on Friday and was buried on Saturday in his ancestral home of Iraa, in Kwara state.

National team Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, said he has not recovered from the news of the death of one of the most relaible players in the national team, while he was captain. “Yekini, to some of us was a phenomenon, a dedicated patriot and a team player. Many people will not understand because they never had the opportunity of interracting with him like most of us did.

I’m still struggling to come to terms with his death.

Eagles keeper’s trainer and former national team’s number one goalie, Ike Shorunmi, who played alongside Yekini at FC Zurich in Switzerland, described Yekini, as one of the most humble and generous people he ever met in his career.

“At FC Zurich, he was always making people laugh with jokes and when he offends you, he’s always the first to come back to tell you sorry. I recall an incident in Zurich when we had a disagreement over an off ball situation in training that got me angry.

After one week, he was still the first person to walk up to me to say, “are you still unhappy with me?”.

Shorunmi said Yekini’s last days were very unfortunate but gave God thanks because he lived

Oyo floats N5m endowment for Yekini’s children

T

•Keshi quite well, while alive.

Eagles defender and Sunshine skipper, Godfrey Oboabona, was simply lost for words over the death of the legend and hopes those concerned will take care of the family left behind by the late national team icon.

T

HE pilot edition of Greensprings/Kanu Football Camp will be open to Nigerian youths from all nooks and crannies of the country, the school authorities have said.

At a media briefing held at the school’s premises in Lekki yesterday, the director of Greensprings Schools Mrs Lai-Koiki said the football camp was “open to all Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 15. Interested students are expected to enroll online,” adding that the camp which holds between July 1 and 7 at the Lekki campus of the school was designed as a “further demonstration of Greensprings’ commit-

ment to the total development of the Nigerian youth.”

Former Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu who is working in partnership with the school on the project said he was impressed by the facilities put in place for the programme, pleading his unalloyed commitment to its success.

“This is the first grassroots development project I am identifying with in Nigeria and I can assure you that we will succeed.

This is a Greensprings project and we have identified with it because we want to see to the evolution of a football culture in Nigeria.

Eaglets land in Calabar T

HE U-17 National Team, also known as Golden Eaglets, opened camp in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, on Monday.

Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme said 40 players were invited for the second camping exercise following the one-week screening programme in Abuja that ended some weeks ago.

“We are indeed very grateful to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke (CON), for the grace granted the NFF for all-expenses-paid, one month camping exercise in Calabar for the Golden Eaglets.

“The Cross River State government of Governor Imoke and his

Yekini Continues from BP orphan. Today, everybody is lamenting over his death.

Nobody cared for him while he was alive and suffering,” Kanu who has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee as one of the 2012 Olympic torch bearers in London said he was sad at the death of Yekini whom he said was their source of inspiration as young players in the national team.

Izu Azuka, Papa Idris and Barnabas Imenger all wished the ex-star’s family the fortitude to bear the great lose, as most of them were very young when Yekini reigned supreme in the national team striking role.

HE Oyo State government has established an endowment fund for children of the late Nigerian ex-international, Rashidi Yekini.

This was made known yesterday after the State’s Executive Council meeting by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dapo LamAdesina.

According to him, the endowment fund, which will be strictly for the children of the late football star, would be managed in conjunction with the family of the deceased.

The government, said it was mobilizing all segments of the society, beginning with members of the state executive council.

Greensprings/Kanu Football Camp open to all — Director

“Although one does not pray for such things to happen. The question is, today it is Yekini, who’ll be next?”

Mr Spokesman or S p o k e s p e r s o n , Is the parley mean for Abuja journalists or is it open to those of us in the diaspora?

What of Lagos Journalists?

Any chartered aircraft for us? Are you sending tickets online? Ewu parley. Olo buku!

administration have always been there for the NFF and N i g e r i a football. The administration hosted the African Nations Championship qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana in 2009 as well as the African Nations Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Madagascar in September 2010.

Calabar was also one of the best centres during the FIFA U17 WorldCupNigeria2009.

“Governor Imoke has under-

scored his love for the development of the Nigeria game by now accepting the Golden Eaglets, as they prepare for the qualifying series for the 2013 African Junior Championshipin Morocco,” said Ikpeme.

The Golden Eaglets have been drawn to play Niger in September, in the first leg of a three-round qualifying series for the African Junior Championship Morocco 2013.

Toure Continues from BP powerhouse sank Newcastle after a private pep talk from boss Roberto Mancini.

Now a City home win over QPR on Sunday — Toure’s 29th birthday — will seal their first title since 1968.

Ivory Coast ace Toure said: “It’s not finished but I think we have one hand on the trophy.

“We’ve only one game left at home and have to be careful as QPR are fighting to stay in the Premier League.

“It will be tough but we have one step to go. We have to continue to work hard and believe until the last game.”

Toure’s star man display was sparked after Mancini pulled him aside before the match.

Toure said: “He said I had to deliver as it was an important game.

“I always thought I came to this club to make a story — we are not there yet at the moment but it’s important to keep going and try to help our teammates.”

Mancini changed the course of the game when he brought on Nigel de Jong in the second half and pushed Toure further forward.

The tactical switch worked as the Ivorian first curled a beauty past Tim Krul before sealing the deal from close range at the death.

Both strikes sparked wild celebrations on the City bench and Toure said: “The boss was brilliant when he brought Nigel de Jong on."

•Toure

Ferguson Continues from BP unethical way and he will remember that.

“Mark Hughes’ teams always fight but QPR players are fighting for survival. The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish Sparky was playing.”

QPR boss Hughes, sacked by City in December 2009, said: “It would be a fantastic story if we can go there and get something.”

First-half goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young gave United three points.

Now they are relying on QPR – whose away form has been dismal with only three wins and two draws on their travels — to become only the second team this season to take something off City.

Ferguson said: “Football is a funny game. You never know.

“Mark going back to the Etihad is a great incentive for him. The biggest incentive is that his team need a result to stay up.

“The only place you want to stay is the Premier League, everything else isn’t the same.”

Fergie’s side must now go to Sunderland and win to have any chance.

He added: “We’ve won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don’t mind doing it again. But they are red-hot favourites.

“The expectation of Manchester United players is to win the match. We’ll go there optimistic. It won’t be easy but we’ll have a go.

“We did what we had to do today, we won the match.

“There was optimism about scoring a lot of goals but it was over-optimism.”

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

Ferguson begs for help to upstage City A

LEX FERGUSON has called on Mark Hughes to kill off

Manchester City’s title bid — and avenge his “unethical” sacking.

Why are we shedding tears for Yekini? — Kanu F

BY JACOB AJOM

ORMER Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu

UNSTOPPABLE: Yekini breaks away during one of his memorable outings for Nigeria

has tasked Nigerians to strive to honour their heroes when they are still alive instead of c r y i n g ‘o u t their eyes’ and making eulogies at their death.

Nwankwo who said he was still in shock over the death of f o r m e r N i g e r i a international, Rashidi Yekini. asked, “ where was everybody when the man needed help?

Those who g a v e everything in the service of their country must be accorded the d e s i r e d attention at all times. Yekini suffered and died like an

The desperate United boss knows only an upset by Sparky’s QPR next Sunday could let the Red Devils retain their crown.

Fergie’s side took the title race to the final day with a win over Swansea.

And he said: “Mark knows his job. He was sacked by City in a very

Continues on page 52

We’ve one hand on the trophy —Toure

Y

AYA TOURE hit a double for titlechasing Manchester City, then roared: We’ve got one hand on the trophy.

The midfield Continues on page 52

Continues on page 52 TODAY'S

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACRISS 1 Lariat (5) 5 Obtain (6) 8 Confuse (5) 10 Scorn (6) 11 Cupid (4) 14 Wish (6) 15 Regain (7) 18 Through (3) 19 Bath (3) 21 Require (4) 23 Skirmish (5) 24 Oaf (4) 27 Lair (3) 29 Enclosure (3) 31 Dedicated (7) 32 Entertainment (6) 34 Prophet (4) 35 Longing (6) 38 Pale (5) 39 Tidily (6) 40 Regal (5)

Special on Nigerians playing abroad P.51

QUICK CROSSWORD DOWN 2 Imitate (3) 3 Seaman (6) 4 Unusual (3) 5 Pip (4) 6 Picked (6) 7 Stretch (6) 9 Erased (7) 12 Material (3) 13 Father (4) 16 Therefore (4) 17 Reigned (5) 20 Under (7) 22 Border (4) 24 Audacious (6) 25 Music-work (4) 26 Dislike (6) 28 Eye-mask (6) 30 Born (3) 33 Cart (4) 36 Girl’s (3) 37 Ocean (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Script 5, Scab 8, Torch 9, Rub 10, Lion 11, Rite 12, Often 13, Unfair 16, Dear 1B, Emit 20, Set 22, Dim 23, Dip 24, Wide 25, Eden 2B, Divide 30, Strip 32, Lieu 33, Numb 34, Tor 35, Creep 36, Note 37, Jeered.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Shroud 2, Rebuffed 3, Pallid 4, Confirmed 5, Screwed 6, Chin 7, Beer B, Too 14, Redefined 15, Rip 17, Aid 19, Minister 20, Sip 21, Texture 26, Nibble 27, Feared 29, Plan 30, Sect

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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