Arrest Ciroma, LawalKaita — Clark

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61684

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

BUDGET 2013: KOGI CHURCH ATTACK: Police arrest four FG to spend suspects, traditional rulers N4.929 trn BOKO HARAM: Pg.8

—P.8

Arrest Ciroma, Lawal Kaita — Clark

BY HENRY UMORU

A

•Challenges IBB to debate on his alleged senility •Insists Northern leaders must speak out

BUJA—ELDER statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, stoked his campaign against Northern leaders over the activities of Boko Haram by asking security agencies to go after Continues on Page 5

Why NUC lifts suspension on 3 varsities •P.30

These Olympic games speak to our national condition —P. 17

Mr & Mrs

COLLAPSED BUILDING—Rescue opeartion at a collapsed building in Kubwa Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

More pictures on Page 7

Dana plane crash: List of identified bodies Aisha Abdu DatoruAbikailo KaltumAbubakar Jonathan Abiodun Ike Abugu AdekunbiAdebiyi

C M Y

OluwaDamilare Abraham Adijolola Yinusa Ahmed Ehime Aikhomu Ehi Joel Ailente Levi Ajuonuma

ObinnaAkubueze EliuzabethOmuluzuaAkwueze Martin Alade MamudAliyu Joy Allison

Continues on Page 7

Tragedies in Abuja, Kano, Benue

Pgs.6&7

2—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—3

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4—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012—5 THURSDA AUGUST

POCKET CARTOON

Boko Haram: Arrest Ciroma, Lawal Kaita — Clark Continues from Page 1 former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita.

The former Federal Information commissioner, who challenged former President Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida to a joint public debate on national issues to ascertain who is actually senseless or senile, insisted that northern leaders must speak out on the activities of Boko Haram if they were not backing the group.

Reading a prepared text on behalf of Chief Edwin Clark at a Press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Legal Adviser to the Ijaw leader, Kayode Ajulo, said that Ciroma and Kaita’s comments before the massive killings could serve as substantial evidence against them.

The E.K Clark statement The text read in part: "Chief Clark’s challenge to the leaders of the North is predicated on the misguided statements of some of the Northern opinion leaders since the inception of this administration. For example, in October, 2010 during a build up to the last presidential election, Alhaji Lawal

Kaita, a prominent Northern leader promised to make Nigeria ungovernable if the President did not come from the North.

"And as if on cue from Lawal Kaita, several other leaders of Northern Political Leaders Forum, headed by Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, of which Gen. Babangida is a prominent member, followed suit with similar reckless comments which might not only threaten peace in Nigeria but also Nigeria’s very existence.

“Recently in March this year, Lawal Kaita issued another threat to the effect that the only condition for Nigeria to be one is for the presidency to come to the North in 2015.”

According to Clark, northern leaders must show genuine commitment, be proactive and speak out now towards addressing the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency against the backdrop that precious lives of Nigerians were being wasted daily across the country in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Abuja and Bauchi among others.

On General Babangida’s reaction to his public lecture last Wednesday, particularly where it was alleged

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

This story shared by Rodney Jones, a professor at Julliard’s and Manhattan School of Music, best illustrates Messier Eckhart saying: “If the only prayer you ever said in your life is thank you. It will be enough.”

I

stood holding the door open. I had chosen to delay my own entrance into the building so that several others could enter first. The first person walked by not noticing or acknowledging in any way that I was there. She deliberately looked down and away, even as I stood in the cold rain holding the door. The second person looked at me and then quickly diverted his eyes, quickening his step as though to say, “I am too busy to say thank you. It’s all about me and I am in a hurry”.

The third person walked right by me looking straight ahead. It was as though I was non existent. Each of these people had passed through a doorway held open for love alone. Through lack of gratitude, or awareness, they chose not to express gratitude. They did not receive the gift of love, even as they received the benefit of the opened door.

I asked myself, how many times have I been blessed by God’s Love and believed it was my own actions?

When I walk through any door whether physical or spiritual now, I am reminded that this very life is a gift. And I say thank you, as I hold it for the next person.

that senses had since departed him, Clark said that the public debate or discourse with Babangida must be free of interference and prompting from aides.

He added: "Let it also be noted, for the record, that Chief Clark delivered a one hour, 20 minutes lecture very coherently and articulately without having to refer to a written text. Nigerians stand a better position to judge as to who is senseless or senile as suggested by Gen. Babangida who can only make public utterances through texts prepared by aides and speech writers.”

Insisting that the former military president was side-stepping comments on Boko Haram, Clark urged Nigerians to ask why he had been silent for so long on the issue.

How it all started The exchange of brickbats between Clark and Babangida started last week Wednesday when Clark at the Second State of the Federation Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS in Abuja claimed that some northern leaders were not speaking out against increasing spate of violence in the country.

He had specifically challenged Babangida and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari to condemn the activities of the Boko Haram group that have claimed responsibility for the insurgency campaign in many parts of the country.

But replying the elder statesman on Sunday through his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Babangida slammed Clark for not recognizing the historic role he played in unifying the country, just as he warned Clark not to crucify him, adding that with his age, what should be the cardinal posture of Chief Clark was to proffer solutions to the problem of insecurity in the country.

According to Babangida, "we view

this misguided and senseless statement in very bad taste and we take very strong exceptions to his drooling and implied conclusion.”

Countering yesterday, the elder statesman, who described Babangida’s statement as total insult and total misconceptions, said, "the statements showed nothing but insulting miscomprehension and misconception of Chief E. K. Clark’s innocuous expressed opinions and the challenge thrown down to the leaders of the North on the need to resolve the Boko Haram menace.

"Ordinarily, Gen. Babangida should have joined many other Nigerians who applauded Chief E. K. Clark for crying out over the wanton loss of lives being experienced daily over the senseless killings of Nigeria’s women and children, Christians and Muslims alike.

"Chief E. K. Clark is committed to the unity of Nigeria and peace within its borders. This was aptly demonstrated when some youths in the Niger Delta took arms against the Federal Government of Nigeria, resulting in the near total shut down of oil production; crude oil production which normally stood at 2.5 million barrels per day was reduced to 700, 000 bar rels daily. Chief Clark led a delegation of Niger Delta leaders into the creeks to appeal to the youths to lay down arms and embrace peace.

How Clark ended militancy in Niger Delta "Chief E. K. Clark also went to the creeks with the then Vice President, now President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, particularly to Okerenkoko and Camp 5 (which was the headquarters of the militants), thereby laying the foundation for late President Yar Adua’s amnesty programme.

"Therefore, amnesty did not come on a platter of gold, but through the genuine determina-

tion of the leaders of the Niger Delta, led by Chief E. K. Clark. Today, crude oil production in Nigeria has risen to about 2.7 million barrels per day.

"It is therefore imperative, irrespective of the name calling, to restate what was said at the NIALS lecture on the state of Nigerian Federation that ”Gen. Babangida and other Northern leaders must speak out, be proactive as well as demonstrate genuine commitment to address the challenges posed by the Boko Haram.” This is more so as precious lives of Nigerians are being wasted daily across the country in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Abuja, Bauchi, etc.

"Chief (Clark) is surprised that Gen. Babangida would belatedly suggest that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should use Moslem clerics, when he, by his experience, and position is fully abreast of what to do in the circumstances of Nigeria bearing in mind his exalted membership of the Council of State and his former position as President and Commander-inChief of Armed Forces of Nigeria. After all, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President like Gen. Babangida not only spoke out strongly on this issue but went to Maiduguri in the aim of securing peace for the country.

"The attempt to label Chief Clark as an ethnic jingoist has no basis whatsoever as he has always believed and maintained that no ethnic group should be a second class citizen in Nigeria and that no Nigerian life whether from the North or

South, East or West should be wasted.

"Taking regard of his age and stature, Chief Clark wants to state that he fully forgives Gen. Babangida whom he regards as a younger friend for the unfortunate statement attributed to him. If anything, Chief Clark holds the view that the thoughts and energy exerted by Gen. Babangida against him should urgently be redirected towards finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace in the North.

A call for dialogue "It should be restated that Chef Clark has severally emphasized the need for dialogue with Boko Haram and other aggrieved groups with a view to resolving Nigeria’s current security challenges.

"It is in this vein that Chief Clark speaks to his good friends in the North, including General Babangida once again, irrespective of Gen. Babangida’s threat of litigation, that they should openly condemn Boko Haram and join hands with the Government and good people of Nigeria towards finding a lasting solution to the challenge posed by the Boko Haram menace.

Any laxity on their part would, either wittingly and unwittingly, potentially put them out as accessories to the present security scourge in the Northern part of Nigeria. ‘’If this simple advice above is urgently heeded, it will save Gen. Babangida the need to wear uniform once again at the age of 71 to fight for the unity of Nigeria.”

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Tragedies in Abuja, Kano, z3 die, 9 injured in Abuja building collapse zAnother 12 killed in Benue communal clash zAs 5 teenagers perish in Kano auto crash

inhabitants of the affected communities' who are fleeing from the crisis.

It was also gathered that among those who lost loved ones in the conflict was the Benue State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, whose cousins were reportedly slaughtered in the fighting.

Benue Assembly sues for peace

The two cars hit by the gunmen with hand grenade at Divisional Police Headquarters, Shagari, in Sokoto State, on Monday. Pix: Abdallah el-Kurebe

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMED, FAVOUR NNABUGWU & PETER DURU

A

BUJA—THREE persons yesterday lost their lives with nine others in critical condition when an uncompleted two-storey building collapsed in Abuja The building which used to accommodate over 50 artisans from various walks of life is located at 3 Ademola Adesuga street in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja. The building was said to have been abandoned for many years before it collapsed between 3.30am to 4p.m yesterday.

Mr Ahmed Tijani, a resident of the area confirmed that the building was occupied by more than 50 artisans such as motorcyclists, water vendors, and refuse disposal boys a.k.a ‘Boula boula.’

Tijani explained that many of the occupants quickly ran for their lives as soon as they heard the cracking of the building before it eventually collapsed.

Three of them were,

however, unlucky as they were trapped and killed while nine others sustained injury as they tried to escape .

The National E m e r g e n c y Management Agency, NEMA, Public Relations Officer, Mr Yushau Shuaib, confirmed the incident and the deaths.

NEMA had reported the recovery of two bodies at the beginning of the rescue operations, but a third body was recovered and confirmed dead by rescue operatives as at the time Vanguard visited the scene.

The agency said nine persons, who were critically injured were receiving treatment at the Garki General Hospital, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, Mr Peter Yohanna, said the building located at Ademola Adesuga Road, had been abandoned for many years by its owner after it failed an integrity test for approval.

Yohanna said N200,000 has been approved by the council for immediate treatment of wounded victims.

Mr John Efere, Chief Superintendent Officer, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in the Bwari Area Council, said rescue operation was still on-going for people still suspected to be trapped in the building.

COREN to sanction culpable engineers Also commenting on the incident, Mr Mayas Adoyi, Director of Engineering, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, said investigations into the cause of the collapse would be conducted.

Adoyi said engineers implicated in the construction of the building would be s a n c t i o n e d appropriately.

inhabitants of Ojantele and Ijegwu communities in Otukpo and Obi local government areas of Benue State.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that fighting erupted between the bordering communities on Tuesday following renewed dispute over a piece of land adjoining the warring neighbours.

120,000 people displaced According to our source, houses, huts and economic trees were not spared by the warring communities leading to the displacement of close to 120, 000

Reacting to the renewed conflict at its sitting yesterday, the Benue State House of Assembly, in a motion called on the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Christopher Katso to dispatch officers and men to the crisis zone in order to restore law and order in the communities.

Raising an issue of urgent importance at the floor of the House yesterday, Mr. Baba Ode, representing O t u k p o / A k p a constituency, told the House that he received a phone call from an anonymous caller, intimating him that fighting had erupted between his constituents and the neighbouring Ijegwu community in Obi local government area.

Ode explained that thereafter he further received text messages from relations, who informed him of the escalation of the crisis, leading to the death of his close associates and friends, adding that as at Tuesday, not less than six deaths had been recorded in the crisis.

Ode lamented that the brotherly communities had in the last 10 years

intermittently engaged each other in fracas despite efforts to find lasting solution to the dispute.

He said: “The problem we have in this country is that whenever there is a crisis anywhere and peace is restored, everyone goes home with no efforts put in to ensure that permanent peace is restored in the affected area. That is exactly the situation we have found ourselves in this particular case”.

The lawmaker urged the House to compel the Surveyor General of the state to carry out a proper demarcation of the boundaries of the affected communities as a remedy.

In his contribution, Mr. Nick Eworo representing Obi constituency, called on the state government to dust up the report of the panel of enquiry set up in 1996 to investigate the crisis with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ezeala said he was yet to be briefed on the crisis.

Five students perish in auto crash in Kano In another development, an auto crash within Kano metropolis yesterday claimed the lives of five secondary school students.

The victims identified as Ibrahim Mohammed, 18 years old, Musa Sule, 17, Musa Mohammed, 16, Zakari Adamu 15 and Ismail Mohammed, 12

Communal clash claims 12 lives in Benue Meanwhile, no fewer than 12 persons were feared dead with property worth millions of Naira destroyed in an outbreak of communal crisis between

Divisional Police Headquarters hit by the gunmen at Shagari in Sokoto State.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—7

Benue all died instantly when their Peugeot 406 crashed along the Eastern bye-pass by Dan Hassan junction.

Ibrahim Mohammed was identified as the driver of the ill-fated vehicle and was said to have lost control somewhere along the strategic Eastern byepass while heading towards Hotoro quarters.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the car somersaulted severally and veered off into a ditch, adding that “ rescue effort by good Samaritan was not successful as they were found dead in the ditch.”

Vanguard learnt that three of the five victims were children of a Jigawa-based medical doctor while the other two were kids of his friend and next door neighbour in Dakata quarters, Kano.

Confirming the tragic

incident to newsmen, the Police Public Relation officer, Kano Command, DSP Rilwanu Muhammad Dutse said “the victims are all secondary school students”.

The Kano police image maker explained that, ‘the ill fated vehicle was coming from Naibawa, heading towards Hotoro quarters, when the driver lost control and the car somersaulted several times on the road, as a result Ibrahim Mohammed, Musa Sule, Musa Mohammed, Zakari Adamu and Ismail Mohammed all of Dakata quarters sustained severe injuries and were confirmed dead at the Muritala Mohammed Specialist Hospital.

The victims were all buried at Dakata cemetery in the municipality according to Islamic rites.

NEMA and NSCDC officials bring out one of the victims from the rubble of the collapsed building in Kubwa, Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Rescue operatives search the rubbles of the collapsed building for victims.

Dana plane crash: List of identified bodies Continues from Page 1

Human Rights Watch asks Clinton to prevail on Jonathan to address insecurity

A

HEAD of her visit to Nigeria today, Human Rights Watch, HRW, has urged US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to address increasingly deadly violence in northern and central parts of the country.

In a letter to Clinton on Tuesday, HRW noted that much of the violence had been initiated by the Boko Haram sect and urged that issues like pervasive abuses, corruption and impunity should top agenda during the trip.

Clinton, who is scheduled to meet with Jonathan in Abuja today, should also raise security force abuses, corruption, and lack of accountability, the rights body said.

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“Nigeria is facing a surge of violence and lawlessness that has blighted the lives of thousands of Nigerians,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“Nigeria’s leaders need to confront this violence, whether committed by Boko Haram or the country’s security forces.”

Attacks by Boko Haram have left more than 1,400 people dead in northern and central Nigeria since 2010. The armed group has targeted police and other security agents, Christians and churches, and Muslims who are critical of the group or perceived as collaborating with the government, HRW said.

The rights group urged Clinton to call on the Nigerian authorities to

ensure that civilians at risk of further attacks in northern and central Nigeria are protected, and bring to justice without delay those responsible for the violence; It urged the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute without delay those implicated in human rights abuses.

Give a public account of the status and reasons for delays in the corruption cases against senior political figures.

Independence of the EFCC by passing legislation to provide greater security of tenure for the commission’s chairperson.

“Impunity and corruption are human rights problems, and they need to be at the top of Nigeria’s policy agenda,” Bekele said.

John AhmzaAmadu RaphealAmiaka OluwatosinAnibaba OnyekaChukwumaAnyaene MaimunaAnyaene Roger Aouad TemitopeAriyibi F l o r e n c e OlusolaArokoyu IniobonAsuquo Vivian EfiongAtangakak AnthgoniaAttah Oseni Georgina Awani OluwasanmiAwodogan AdfekolaAyoola AdamuBamiyiEyoBassey Maimunah Noah MaimunaKamisyonna Ayodeji Cole Ngozi Cole Olumide Coker Ibrahim Damacida ChukwuezeEdike Hinwe Dike Mahmud Ahmad Dukawa Jeremiah Edeh Sonny Ehioghae Mecha Eke Chijoke Godwin Eke RijokochukudiEldoe Sunday Enuma EbukaEnuma AdewaleEribake AnjolaFatokun IbukunoluwaFatokun

Xie Zhen Feng Dr. Abdu Garba Li Huzhu Walter Hunner Jennifer Ibe EchenduIbe Jones Ifekawa ObiolaIkpoki FaysalInusa Ibrahim Jagana OchigboChumbo Farida ShehuKaifai Fortune David Kolawole David Kolawole TaiwonLamide NaichaLilian Las AruakobeLawal Ahmed Mbana EventusMbong Esther OnyiyeMgbanwa AdobiMojekwu Faimata Mohammed Sarah Mshelia For Sunday 12th, 2012 IstifanusMutihir Ibrahim Nagidi OgechiNjoku John Nnadi Kim Noris Peter Nosike Charles Ntoku A n t h o n y Nwaokoagbara Chinwe Obi Emmanuel Obot Stamford Obtrutse Ike Ochonogor AmakaOjugbana

Christopher Ojugbana AlvanaOjukwu Anthony Okara ChukwuemekaOkere OlakayodeOkikiolu Christopher Okocha Patrick EzeOkonji EzeogbeneOkor Ike Okoye TunjiOloko BanjiOlukoya Benson Oluwayomi Celina Onemolease CeletineOnwuliri OgechiOnyeagochga ChidinmmaOnyeagocha IjeomaOyuike IfeanyiOrakwe David osunbade SakaOtaru AdisaOtegbeye UgbabioOyosoro RajulieOyosoro Li Rui SheuUsmanSia’ad Samuel Shaibu MemunaShaibu Zhao Shutao Femi Stephen Sobowale OluwaKemiSomolu LauarenceSparagiano Philip Uchegbu Sunday Udoh WidyoUtomo AwyotuWasa Ruth Wasa Wag Yu Ibrahim Yusuf Ali Yusuf

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Kogi church attack: Police nab 4 suspects, traditional rulers zChristians pray harder for Nigeria— Kumuyi

BY SAM EYOBOKA, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, INALEGWU SHAIBU & ISIAKA OYIBO

B

ARELY 48 hours after gunmen attacked Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, leaving 20 worshippers dead and several injured, Kogi State Police Command, yesterday, announced that it had arrested the leader of the gang at Ibillo, Edo State.

Three other suspects and some traditional rulers were also arrested over the incident.

Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina said: “Some of the traditional rulers ar-

rested from the area were already making useful statements and were being sorted out. Whoever is found culpable would be made to face the law.”

A statement by Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, on the breakthrough said: “Acting on intelligence, crack detectives investigating the case stormed a criminal hideout in Idare Hills of Okene, suspected to be a safe haven for the hoodlums wreaking havoc in the state.

“On sighting the Policemen, the hoodlums opened fire on them, prompting a gun duel. In the ensuing battle, the gang leader identified as Yekini Isah of Obehira area of Okene, sus-

tained injury on his head.

“Though he initially escaped from the scene, he was trailed and arrested in a hideout at Ibilo in Edo State, where he was receiving treatment from traditional healers for his gun wounds.

“Two other suspects, including a female, were arrested during the operation. One AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of live ammunition was also recovered from the criminals.”

Kumuyi reacts

General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has expressed deep sadness and sorrow at the attack.

zWe'll help— Canada

He said: “It is hard to reconcile that peace-loving people, sitting in their church, and listening to Bible Study were gunned down in cold blood by people they had done nothing to provoke.”

Pastor Kumuyi described the attack as “not only wicked, but utterly premeditated.”

He urged the government to come to terms with the fact that a large number of people are being sent to their early graves, even as law enforcement agents seem unable to provide the required protection for all law-abiding citizens. All these, he said, have implications for the progress, development and well being

of the nation.

He noted that these killings and destruction have been going on particularly in the northern part of the country for too long. Each time they occurred, he observed, the usual condemnations are made, but thereafter, the people are left without any assurance of their security and safety.

No nation can continue this way, he added.

Kumuyi urged more prayers by Christians across the nation, adding that when Christians pray, the Almighty God answers.

He said: “If the body of Christians would rise up and pray, and the law enforcement agencies would intensify their efforts to combat this creeping instability, the killings and destruction in our country would be stemmed.”

Kumuyi urged all Christians not to despair, adding “in times like these, when there is so much fear across the land, all Christians must see it as an opportunity to serve God more fervently.”

He sent his condolences to the families of all those who were killed in the attack, and prayed for the quick recovery of all those injured by the gunmen. He assured them that he will continue to pray for them.

Canada offers help NGF MEETING: From right—Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF, meeting in Abuja, Tuesday.

2013 Budget: FG to spend N4.929trn zCrude price of $75pb A

BUJA—THE Fed eral Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved the 2013 draft budget proposal with a fiscal framework of annual projected revenue of N3.891 trillion and a expenditure of N4.929 trillion.

The 2013 draft budget proposals contain a deficit of N1.038 trillion. The draft budget proposal is to be submitted to the National Assembly next month.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who addressed state House correspondents after the FEC meeting, C M Y K

said the budget will be ready in September, while the actual laying will be in the first week of October.

Okonjo-Iweala, flanked by the Minister of State, Finance, Yerima Ngama and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, yesterday, said FEC’s meeting also deliberated on the presentation of medium term fiscal framework for the 2013 budget.

Although details of the draft proposals were not made available, the Finance Minister, in giving insight of what is to be expected in the 2013 budget, said the Federal Government had re-

duced the recurrent expenditure component of the draft budget proposal from 71.47 percent of the total budget in 2012 to 68.66 percent.

She said: “We are increasing the Capital Expenditure from 28.53 percent in 2012 to 31.34 percent in 2013.”

Okonjo-Iweala said the resources of the country would be managed prudently and transparently, while ensuring priority was given to the key growth sectors of the economy and national security.

She said: “Fundamentally, the focus of the Federal Government’s proposal on budget 2013

as reflected in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper is that the budget should make practical impact on the areas that matter most to the Nigerian people— job creation, power supply, roads, rail, other infrastructure and of course, agriculture.

“The proposals for the 2013 budget are based on a rigorous review of the performance of the global economy with regard to negative economic developments around the world which have the potential to negatively impact the country’s economy.”

Meanwhile, Canadian government has offered to help Nigeria tackle the menace of terrorism. It condemned the mass murder of worshippers in Otite, Kogi State.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada, Mr. John Baird, in a statement, in Abuja, said: “I am deeply saddened by the cowardly murder by gunmen of parishioners, who were gathered in worship at a church in the town of Otite in Kogi State.

“Canada urges all people in Nigeria to work with the Nigerian government to counter terrorism and bring to justice those responsible for this reprehensible crime.

No one should have to practice his or her faith in fear. Canada will continue to stand up for religious freedom.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I will like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed in these attacks, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

SSS quizzes el-Rufai at MMIA

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

F

ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir ElRufai was, yesterday, quizzed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, by State Security Service, SSS, officers attached to the airport for over an hour.

Vanguard gathered that the former minister, who scheduled to travel to Dubai with Emirates Airlines, had his travel documents, like the international passport and air ticket, seized by the SSS officers on duty.

A source told Vanguard that when el-Rufai was approached at the checkin area of the airport and was politely told he could not travel on that day, he insisted that he had an important meeting in Dubai to attend to.

However, it was gathered that after he was delayed for over an hour, his travel documents were later released to him to continue his journey to the United Arab Emirates.

MWAN, MHS partner on health services workshop

F

OR improvement in provision of healthcare services with consideration for promptness, the Managed Healthcare Services Limited, MHS, in collaboration with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN, will be having a capacitybuilding workshop for all medical services providers.

The event, which is billed for August 14 at the Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, opposite Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, will have eminent scholars such as Professor Akin Oshibogun, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, as resource person to educate participants on health policy.

Speaking at a press briefing, MHS Managing Director, Dr. Chukuemeka Korie, said MHS is renowned for its conduct of routine provider/customer forum to improve on its services to the people.

VANGUARD , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9,

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, handing over an agricultural farm loan to a beneficiary, Miss Akinwande Bukola, during the disbursement of 500 million credit facilities to 150 graduates of the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development programme in AdoEkiti, Monday.

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AGOS—A 28-year-old woman, Mrs. Rachael Raimi, yesterday, pleaded with a Grade A Customary Court in Agege, Lagos, to dissolve her 10year-old marriage on the ground that her husband was threatening her life.

The petitioner, a trader, who lives at 84, Fedeko Street, Alakuko, Lagos, told the court that her husband often beat her and strip her naked.

She said: “My husband did introduction with another lady and rented a house for her whereas he doesn’t give me and the children money for feeding.

“I took it as my destiny; but when he started beating me over every little thing to the extent that I will be bleeding, I felt that it

My hubby stripped me naked in public —Divorce-seeking wife was better I left his house before I die.

“He doesn’t want me to talk any time there is an issue between us; he doesn’t listen to me any time I speak and he treats me like a slave.”

The mother of two children aged between one and five years, told the court that her husband always

“threaten to kill her any time there is a misunderstanding” between them.

“He has left the house and he is not bothered about me and my children; I want the court to dissolve the union and grant me custody of my children.

“Also, I want him to be responsible for my children’s feeding and educa-

tion”.

However, the 33-year-old husband, Aliu Raimi, a commercial driver, who lives at 46, Olayiwola Street, Agege, told the court that he was ready for divorce.

“She doesn’t come home till late in the night, she doesn’t know how to take care of the children. I am ready to divorce her.”

Court remands 32 suspected sex workers

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI

L

AG O S — T H I RTYTWO suspected commercial sex workers arrested by men of the La-

gos State Task-force on Environmental and Special Offences, Enforcement, were, yesterday, sentenced to four months imprisonment by the Special Offences Court,

Alausa, Ikeja, which found them guilty of the offences.The Task-force last week at Toyin Street and Isaac John areas of Ikeja, arrested the 32 suspects at club houses.

FAAN faults NEMA's crowd control method at Dana inquiry

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & ADEOLA ADENUGA

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AGOS—A Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, official, Mr. John Ekpe, yesterday, told a Lagos Coroner probing the ill-fated Dana Airline plane crash on June 3, that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, does not have managerial control of crowd at the disaster spot.

Buttressing his argument, Ekpe, who is an Assistant General Manager of Airports Rescue and Fire Fighting Services of FAAN, told the coroner that NEMA was supposed to have carried out ‘National Emergency Response Test’ to predict and evaluate crowd control of such magnificent tragedy.

This, according to him, would have helped their, NEMA, rescue operations as well as aid their control of crowd at the scene of the crash.

He noted that FAAN had two years ago conducted such test to evaluate how crowd react to such incident, and that this gave them what it

Dana plane crash victims' DNA results out zLevi Ajuonuma's, 106 other bodies identified

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

& CHIOMA OBINNA

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K E J A — T H E Deoxyrebonucleic Acid, DNA, test results for the victims of the Dana plane crash of June 3, 2012 done in the United Kingdom, have arrived the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, with 107 bodies now identified.

Among the identified bodies were those of the former General Manager, Public Relations of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the late Levi Ajuonuma, Hope Okeke, Ehime Aikhomu, and Yu Rui among others.

However, Consultant Forensic Pathologist and Chief Examiner, Prof.

John Obafunwa, said 16 bodies could not be identified probably because of heat, mangled bodies or the samples collected could not match with any of the charred bodies.

This was coming on the heels of a closed-door meeting by the Lagos C M Y K

State Government and relatives of the victims at LASUTH, Ikeja, yesterday.

Confirming the development to newsmen after the meeting, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said: “We have results of the analysis from the UK, and experts are reviewing the results. We felt it is necessary to brief the relatives of the victims.

“Part of the aim is to let them know the processes for collection of the bodies.

“We will start releasing the bodies tomorrow in batches of 20 to prevent chaos. The other important reason for briefing them is to acquaint them with the legal issues involved like the issue of next-of-kin.

“For instance, if the next-of-kin is not available, only the person he or she authorises to collect the body will be attended to.

“Identification documents such as international passport, National

identity card or driver’s licence. ‘’Death certificates will equally be issued for the deceased.”

Idris said the bodies would be released in alphabetical order to ease the process.

Meanwhile, the names of the victims identified have been pasted at the

Lekan Ogunshola Memorial Morgue and relatives were expected to come with appropriate documents to claim the bodies.

He noted that in cases where the next-of-kin is not available to claim the bodies, the hospital would only release bodies to spouses, parents, siblings, half-sisters and nephews

2012 —9

who present legal documents authorised by the next of kin.

He said: “It is only the next-of-kin that we are to release the bodies to by law, but in cases where they cannot come, we will release to the spouse, parents, children, half-sisters and brothers and siblings in that order.''

entails to control crowd in an emergency.

The witness, who said FAAN had an emergency plan and disaster emergency team, also noted that his team raced to the scene of the crash moment when it learnt of the accident, but maintained that functions outside the airport fell under NEMA. Ekpe, who noted that there was no emergency agency that had all the equipment required for such rescue operations, said each agency needed assistance from one and the other.

He said FAAN Rescue Team were there at the crash site with two fire fighter trucks and a water tanker before any other agencies got there, but could not access the site timeously because of the crowd.

He added that they recovered dead bodies from the nose of the plane, which were not completely burnt, while Julius Berger Plc, a construction company, was invited to assist to help to evacuate the affected buildings and wreckages with their equipment.

Another witness, Sanni Enessi, a chief fire fighter station commander / H.O. D. of the airport rescue and fire fighting services of FAAN, also told the court that they had a checklist of agencies they call for emergency plan.

Responding to a question on shortage of water, he said there was no source of water supply from around the venue and that water corporation couldn’t supply them water, hence, they had to return to the airport to get further supply.

Lagos Assembly recognises voodoo in land dispute z Orders charms removal

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

KEJA—THE place of voodoo in dispute resolution may have been given recognition by the Lagos State House of Assembly despite the fact that it is alien to Nigerian law.

This is so as the lawmakers urged the Radelu Family of Ikorodu to remove fetish materials from two plots of land in Aga, Ikorodu area of Lagos State which had hindered development from taken place.

The House also ordered the family to give the two plots of land to its rightful owner, Mrs Ganiat Sadiku, a 52-year-old widow, who bought them from the Radelu Family 17 years ago.

The petitioner, who narrated her ordeal to Vanguard said: “Since 17 years when I bought two plots of land from the Radelu Family, it has been from one problem to another. Though I have all the necessary pictorials to back up my claims, the Radelu Family of

Ikorodu has been making life miserable for me.

There are different violent attempts to dispose me of my property situated at Radelu Family land, Aga ward, Ikorodu.

“I have been battling strange things in my house, my family has been devastated because of what is happening and for those 17 years, I have been moving around like a mad woman on the street until I encountered someone who advised me to approach the Lagos State House of Assembly for

help and I forwarded my petition.”

In its intervention, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Mr. Sanai Agunbiade, noted that the petitioner purchased the land in 1995.

The House then urged the Radelu Family to accept ratification instead of outright repossession of the land in dispute which is part of the subject-matter of litigation that produced the judgment suit number IKD/1179/82.

10—VANGUARD , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Akande denigrates Yoruba culture — Agunloye

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

From left, the Managing Director, LASACO Assurance Plc, Mr Olusola LadipoAjayi , receiving the distinguished alumni award from Dr. Sonny Kuku while the National President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Professor Olayide Abass (second left) and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan, looked on at the event.

INEC insists Ondo guber poll holds Oct 20

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, dashed the hopes of those asking it to shift the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State because of the Holy Pilgrimage.

It said there would not be any fresh registration of voters as clamoured for by political parties in the state.

Addressing a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Ondo State INEC and the state Police Command in Akure, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said the date will not be shifted.

Some politicians and the Muslim community in the state had written to the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, to consider the number of muslims that would be

Briefly

Fayemi re-appoints LG bosses

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KURE—GOVER NOR of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, approved the reappointment of the 16 local government caretaker chairmen.

In a statement from the Governor’s Office, “the move is sequel to a resolution of the State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, reconstituting the caretaker committee in the 16 councils. The date for the swearing in will be announced later.”

C M Y K

disenfranchised if the election held on that date since they would be performing the Holy Pilgrimage.

Orebiyi told the stakeholders, who were expecting the verdict of the commission, that after” a thorough deliberation, it has been decided that the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State stays.''

However, on the decision not to allow for fresh registration, the state Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Adegboyega Adedipe, said the party would challenge INEC's position in court.

Adedipe argued that INEC had no right to change the rule at this critical stage, especially when there was a provision in the electoral law that allowed such exercise. But Orebiyi attributed the commission’s decision to the need to prevent a recurrence of the conflict that arose in Edo State recently when INEC attempted to conduct a similar exercise.

He said INEC will conduct a nationwide continuous registration of voter after the governorship election in Ondo State.

Orebiyi said: “The implication of this is that those who did not register during the voter-registration last year would still not be able to do so this year.

“We, therefore, wish to advise all those so affected to stay in their respective homes on Saturday, October 20 and not to come near any polling unit on that day.”

The occasion was attended by Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mr.

Orubebe Ebiekimi; the Commander, 32 Artilery Brigade, Akure, Brig.Gen. Mohammed Ali; and the Commissioner of Police in Ondo, Mr. Danladi Mshebwala.

Fourteen political parties were represented at the meeting and they appealed to INEC to create a level playing ground for all the parties.

KURE—FORMER Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, yesterday, chided the National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, for disparaging Afenifere leaders for their support for the second-term ambition of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

He said the ACN chairman was economical with the truth on the party ’s primaries that produced Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as the party's candidate.

Akande had described the leaders of Afenifere, who supported Mimiko for a second term as political beggars who feed from the tables of politicians in power.

He also said they were liabilities to any political party having lost political relevance.

Agunloye said Akande had gone too far by throwing the

Aregbesola blames security lapses in Osun on NCC

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE

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SOGBO—OSUN State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has blammed the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for the security lapses in the state due to its failure to make available security lines to aid swift response to combat crime.

He, however, said his administration would not be discouraged in its effort at providing adequate security to the people of the state despite the difficulty his administration is encountering in the hands of the commission.

Gov. Aregbesola said this in Osogbo, yesterday, at the launch of newly- formed Joint army-police security outfit code-named Swift Action Squad,SAS. The governor lamented that all attempts to secure a three-digit telephone line from the nation’s telecommunication regulatory agency had met brick wall because of its lack of cooperation.

Aregbesola said the administration’s determination to combat crimes

in all ramifications using modern telecommunication gadgets had been subtly frustrated by the foot- dragging attitude of NCC, resulting in nonissuance of the security telephone number at the inauguration of the security outfit.

Meantime, the governor has called on the engineers in the country to rise up and assist in the total overhauling of the nation’s social and infrastructure needs, which are currently in terrible condition.

The governor, who lamented that 50 years after the nation’s independence, it could not boast of four hours uninterrupted power supply, tasked engineers to intervene in the system and bring the situation back optimum functional height.

Aregbesola made this call yesterday in Osogbo at the 2012 Business Luncheon and Investiture of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Osun State Chapter, where he was also conferred with the patron honour of the society.

Omoluwabi’s culture overboard on the altar of politics.

Speaking through the spokesperson of the Omoluabi Foundation, Mr. Wemi Ajegbemiga, in a statement in Akure,

Agunloye said the statement of ”Chief Akande disparaging Afenifere leaders showed he has thrown the Omoluwabi’s culture overboard on the altar of politics.

Ijebu artisan hangs self over N750,000 debt

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JEBU-ODE—A 42year-old artisan was reported to have committed suicide on Monday night in Erigo, a suburb of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, over a N750,000 debt.

According to reports, the self-employed artisan and father of two, hanged himself in his residence when his wife and children were out of the house.

It was also gathered that the artisan's earlier attempts to kill himself were aborted because people intervened.

During a visit at the late artisan’s residence in Odutola Ogunleye Street in Erigo, hundreds of sympathisers were seen discussing the tragedy.

The artisan was said to have taken the loan from a new generation bank in Ijebu-Ode, where his wife worked before her sack.

It was also learnt that it was the shame of his inability to repay the loan, which he used to complete his house, that moved him

to commit suicide.

His relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the artisan, who was a glass cutter, left home with his family on Monday morning to his shop.

The late craftsman was said to have later returned to take his life.

The relative explained that it was when the wife returned home from her shop in the night that she found the body of her husband dangling from the rope.

He said: ‘’It was a terrible and unfortunate experience. He went to drop his wife and his two children in her shop with a promise to come and pick them later. ‘’He also went to his shop at Degun in IjebuOde, but later came back home in the evening to hang himself. It was when the wife returned from her shop that she found the deceased body hanged, which made her to alert the people. ‘’

Akeredolu promises to turn Ore to economic hub of S-West

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KURE—IN continua tion of his campaign tour of wards in Ondo State, the Action Congress of Nigeria’s governorship candidate for the October 20 poll in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has promised to turn Ore to the economic hub of the South West.

This, Akeredolu said, he would do by partnering with investors to build a multimillion mega plaza that will serve travellers and merchants.

In a statement by ACN Campaign Organisation’s Director of Media Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, he said: “It would be necessary to note that Ore is a cosmopolitan city with potential to compete with Lagos and Ibadan if well developed. It is the gateway to Lagos and the East. This is what Akeredolu promised to do.

“He observed with much concern, the deplor-

able state of the roads in Ore, Kajola and Odigbo and promised massive construction of these road networks to alleviate the suffering of the people in the area. ''He repeated his earlier promise of job employment for the teeming youth of the state, stating that he was very much aware of the anger of the youth due to unemployment in the state which has reached a critical point and deserves urgent attention.

“Indeed, it was a great day for Akeredolu as traditional rulers, market women, youths and party faithful trooped out in a large number to welcome him to the area with pomp and pageantry and promised to vote for ACN.'' In response, Akeredolu promised not to disappoint the people of Ondo State if elected as he would not abandon any project in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 —11

Gunmen kill retired DCP in Lagos

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

L

BRIEFING: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, fielding questions from newsmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on arrival from Akwa Ibom State Economic Summit and Investment Expo 2012, in Houston, Texas, USA.

Rights group carpets minister over UN report on Ogoni

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AN envi ronmental nongovernmental organization, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/ FoEN, has described as unacceptable and misleading, a recent statement credited to Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafiya, blaming the delay in implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, assessment report on Ogoniland on the January 2012 protests over fuel subsidy removal.

It will be recalled that the minister, while speaking on her Ministry ’s budget performance, had said the unrest due to the fuel subsidy issue was responsible for the delay, and added that the government would commence implementation soon.

Mr. Philip Jakpor, Head of Media, ERA/FoEN, said: “The deferment in implementation of the report defended by the Minister was a disappointing turn in the quest

by Ogoni communities and indeed all impacted communities in the Niger Delta to get justice.”

He noted that the UNEP report, submitted to the Federal Government on August 4, 2011, documented hydrocarbon pollution in surface water throughout the

creeks of Ogoniland and up to 8cm in groundwater that feed drinking wells.

Jakpor added: “Polluted soils with hydrocarbons up to a depth of five metres in 49 observed sites and benzene, a known cancer-causing chemical in drinking water at a level 900 times above World Health Organization, WHO, acceptable levels, among others. The UNEP recommended a $1 billion restoration fund for

Oshiomhole laments blood letting, The governor, meansues for peace while, pledged to surBY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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OVERNOR Ad ams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, in Benin City, called on Nigerians to do all that was necessary to end the orgy of violence in parts

of the country and restore peace to the trouble spots.

He noted that what was happening in Okene, Kogi State and other parts of the North should be of serious concern to all peace loving Nigerians.

Ex-militants threaten reporters in Warri

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—SOME ex-militants stormed the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Correspondents’ Chapel, in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, with a container of fuel, threatening to raze the building.

Officials of NUJ reported the matter to the army,

cleanup.

“No rhetoric justifies Federal Government’s attempt to shield Shell Petroleum Development Company from justice through delayed implementation of the report or any other actions aimed at pulling the wool over the eyes of the Ogoni people. The Ogoni and other impacted communities of the Niger Delta reject the minister ’s excuse and demand the immediate implementation of UNEP recommendations.”

B-Division Police station and State Security Service, SSS in Warri, which led to the arrest of two of the ex-militants by soldiers from the 3 Battalion, Effurun, Warri.

The Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Ifeanyi Otu, deployed his men as soon as he received distress call from reporters.

The ex-militants openly said that they wanted to do something ‘crazy’

to draw the attention of the Federal Government to their plight.

Most of them, however, scaled the fence and fled when they sighted soldiers.

In a protest letter, which they dropped, they said, “We made several complaints to the Amnesty Office, they are not responding simply because they have embezzled the money."

pass his first term achievements that endeared him to the people of the state and Nigerians in general.

Oshiomhole, who declared open the National Executive Council, NEC, of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Benin City, commended labour movements and the entire workers in the country for their support and commitment despite the challenges culminating in his victory in Edo State gubernatorial election of July 14, 2012.

Represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Abdul Oroh, Governor Oshiomhole lamented the unnecessary blood letting and destruction of lives and property in parts of the country and called on labour movement to play a greater role in efforts to restore peace in the country.

AGOS—A retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pauline Agbonifo, was on Tuesday night killed in his apartment by some gunmen who stormed his apartment at Unity Estate, Egbeda and shot him.

Sources told Vanguard that they gained entry into Agbonifo’s compound when they accosted his driver who was driving into the compound.

It was gathered that the gunmen, on entering the compound, held the driver at gun point and ordered him into Agbonifo’s home where they found the retired police officer in his living room with his wife and shot him.

A source who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the gunmen made away with their mobile phones and a briefcase whose content is yet to be known.

Meanwhile, one of

Agbonifo’s sons who was not at home at the time of the incident was reportedly contacted and he rushed to Idimu station and reported the incident.

The Divisional Police Officer, Mr Ochuko Michael and some policemen swiftly accompanied him to their house. But on getting there the gunmen had left the scene, and Agbonifo was found in the pool of his own blood. The DPO and Agbonifo’s son made concerted effort to save his life as they rushed him to Idimu General Hospital, but doctors and nurses at the hospital were said to have responded nonchalantly, forcing them to rush him to a nearby private hospital where he was confirmed dead.

A family source who craved anonymity said Agbonifo’s driver who was injured when the gunmen beat him seriously is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital. The source added that Agbonifo’s corpse has been deposited in a mortuary. When contacted, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the killing.,

Uduaghan tasks political parties on democratic values

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GHELLI—DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has charged political parties in the state to show greater commitment to the enthronement of democratic values in the polity of the state.

Uduaghan, while declaring open a three-day seminar on peaceful coexistence of political par-

ties for meaningful development organised by the Office of his Special Assistant on Inter-Party Relations, said political parties were meant to serve as instruments for the delivery of democratic dividends to the people through well articulated policies and programmes.

NNPC, NGC urged to repair roads in Ubeji mum level of social cor-

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ARRI—ITSEKIRI Development Council, IDC, has called on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Nigeria Gas Company, NGC, to repair the roads leading to and in Ubeji, Ifie, Ifie-Kporo and Aja-Etan as their social corporate responsibility to the community.

IDC, in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Solomon Iwetan, yesterday, said: “We are constrained to call on NNPC and NGC to, as a matter of urgency, repair the roads leading to and inside Ubeji town.”

He explained that since Ubeji played host to the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, NGC and NNPC, it was expected that there should be a mini-

porate responsibility by companies to their hosts, Ubeji communities.

Capt Itima passes on

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APTAIN Romeo Iti ma, Managing Director of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited is dead. He died on August 7, 2012.

A statement by Captain Winfred Itima on behalf of the family, said Itima died during an operation against theft of crude oil and piracy around the Warri pilotage district.

Late Capt. Itima

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Bayelsa approves state emblem, anthem, coat of arms

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INAUGURATION: From left: Chief Patrick Keku, Chairman, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter; Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group and Mr. Asu Beks, at the inauguration of INC Lagos Exco in Lagos.

Sea pirates kill MD of Tompolo’s firm

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—SUS PECTED sea pirates have killed Captain Romeo Itima, Managing Director of Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, an oil bunkering surveillance company owned by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The company was contracted by the Federal Government to provide security and monitor the nation’s coastal waters against oil thieves.

It was gathered that master mariner, Itima, who was in pursuit of oil thieves in Escravos , area of Warri Pilotage District, was killed by suspected sea pirates on Tuesday.

A source told Vanguard, “The team from Global West Vessel Specialist did not know that they were sea pirates in the ship and were approaching the vessel in the course of their duty, when the pirates opened fire on them.

“Itima did not die immediately, as the company ’s boat was bullet proof, but the pirates shattered the windscreen of the boat, which forced them to make a detour and crashed into stone breaker. Unfortunately, there was rough tide at that time, which swept away the boat and caused his death,” the source said.

The family in a statement by Captain Winifred Itima, said, “His

death occurred during an operation against theft of crude oil and criminal

sea robbery activities in the Warri Pilotage District.”

AYELSA State Gov ernment has approved a state emblem, anthem and coat of arms to mark and strengthen a sense of identity for the people of the state in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the state.

It said the decision was informed by the administration’s stand on Ijaw mobilisation, Ijaw integration and the need to promote Ijaw fundamental interests.

Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Daniel IworisoMarkson, in a statement, yesterday, said: “The decision was taken at the end of the 7th meeting of the State Executive Council. The State Executive Council approved a flag, state anthem and coat of arms for Bayelsa State, which will reflect the colours and symbols of the Ijaw nation and it will be put to use as soon as Governor Seriake Dickson, gives his accent to the law, which had just been passed by the state House of Assembly.

“This decision also underscores government’s belief that this state, like

any other state, is where the Ijaw, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its home. Bayelsa is home to all Ijaw both at home and abroad. The emblem, therefore, will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people.

“It says a lot about the preservation of our culture, our essential values as a people and as a race. These are the qualities that distinguished us and makes us who we are – proud, great people of the Ijaw Nation."

Missing car

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black Toyota Cam ry car, with registration number DP 361 Ben, belonging to Mr. Michael Ukuyon, is missing. Its Engine Number is 554339140; Chassis Number, 4tibg 22k wu 386224.

It was stolen at Sanubi in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on August 4, 2012.

If found, please report to the nearest police station or call 08035409484, 08034923295.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 —13

FG considers Bill on compulsory breast-feeding

BY PETEROKUTU

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SERVICE OF SONGS: From left: Miss Ijeoma Abugu, daughter; Mr. Emmanuel Abugu, brother, Mrs Uzoamaka Abugu, widow and Miss Chinaemerem Abugu, daughter during the Service of Songs for late Dr Ike Abugu who died in the Dana plane disaster on June 3, at his Ogudu GRA residence in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Court bars Okorocha from interfering with rights of reinstated LG bosses

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA,

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WERRI—AN Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, yesterday, restrained Governor Rochas Okorocha, from interfering with the rights and privileges of the elected 27 local government chairmen and councillors.

Trial judge, Justice Ngozi Opara, also restrained the defendants from dissolving or declaring their offices vacant and appointing other persons to take over their offices.

Also joined as defendants in the suit are the state Attorney General; state House of Assembly and the state Independent Electoral Commission.

The orders followed an ex-parte application by the elected council chairmen, who had challenged plans by the state government to remove them from office.

Chairman of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Chief Enyinnaya Onuegbu, in an affidavit in support of the application, had urged the court to restrain the defendants, servants, privies or agents from interfering with the rights of the claimants as demo-

cratically elected chairmen of the 27 councils of the state.

Justice Opara, after listening to argument of the plaintiffs, restrained the defendants from endorsing or affirming anything that would interfere with the duties of the chairmen, in-

cluding the appointment of transition committees by the governor.

The court also stopped the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting local government elections, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in

the matter, while further hearing was adjourned till August 9.

The plaintiffs were, however, ordered to enter an undertaking to pay N3 million, should it turn out that the orders ought not to have been made.

27 Imo LG chairmen 're seeking for tenure elongation —Okorocha

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha disclosed yesterday that the twenty-seven Local Government Area Chairmen whose tenure expire today, went to court as part of moves to perpetuate their stay in office having been sworn in August 9, 2010.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, yesterday, the governor noted that with the declaration of the Court of Appeal, the tenure of the 27 council chairmen in the state is democratically guaranteed in view of their inauguration on August 9 2010.

According to him, “their grouse by going to court is

that they want tenure elongation, they want their tenure extended. Their prayer in the case abinitio was that they should be given their two years guarantee which expires August 8, 2012 but they want tenure extension for one reason, that within the period they were not in office because of dissolution, they want to recover it back and they got an experte now stopping the governor from dissolving what has dissolved itself.

“It is something that requires a serious legal mind to look at whether what has stood dissolved can be reaccepted or can be extended or whether I have the power to extend it or dis-

solve it. I cannot dissolve what the law has dissolved.”

When asked if he had sought any legal opinion on the matter, Okorocha said, “Yes, every legal opinion suggested that once a tenure is expired, it is expired, it cannot be changed, while accusing them of causing trouble.

“You can see these people wanttocreateproblemandwhoever is sponsoring them should desist because it will take them nowhere.

“The State House of Assembly have said that their tenure expired on August 9, being today. So, if their tenure expired on August 8, you cannot go into another person’s tenure."

Abia govt denies funding Ochendo Youth Foundation

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government has denied funding Ochendo Youth Foundation, OYF, contrary to impression created in the media.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Ugochukwu Emezue, in a statement, yesterday, said: “OYF is a non-governmental organisation that derives its funding from well mean-

ing individuals, corporate bodies and even Faithbased organisation.”

Mr. Emezue said this clarification became necessary following a write up in the media by one Odimegwu Onwumere who allegedly wanted to create doubt in the minds of the people over the good intention of OYF being coordinated by Mr. Chinedum Orji.

Mr. Emezue explained that such personalities like Senator Uche Chukwumereije, House of Representatives member, Arua Arunsi and Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Udo Okochukwu among others are notable Abia sons who have contributed immensely to the success of the foundation.

He said: “The reason for the establishment of OYF is

to act as a platform upon which Abia youths are being empowered for future challenges. In the past months, the foundation has given succour to those considered the “never do well” in Abia, by providing them with tricycle, buses, and even cash incentives, which have changed their lives for the better.Ratherthanbegging,they have turned to employers of labour”

BAKALIKI—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it was considering sending a bill to the National Assembly, which would promote and make breast feeding compulsory for all nursing mothers in the country.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, at the grand finale of the World Breast Feeding week in Ugbodo, Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state, said that the bill, when passed into law will stipulate appropriate sanctions for defaulting mothers.

He said the bill, which

was still under consideration would seek to increase the number of months for maternity leave for lactating mothers as well as encourage husbands to fulfill their obligations to their wives during the period of lactation in the family.

“I agree with you that legislation can help in the area of stipulating that an employer, whether government or private give more time for maternity leave and we are thinking along that line. Another thing is for us to have a period, when the husbands, who have wives who are lactating can have time to assist their wives because it is important."

Be agents of change, Obi advises youths He said there was no jusBY VINCENTUJUMADU

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WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi, yesterday, in Onitsha, urged Nigerian youths to see themselves as agents of change, insisting that they could change the country through positive living and readiness to challenge the ills of the society and the excesses of those in power.

The governor at the 3rd National Catholic Youth Day celebration at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, frowned at the tendency of the youths to see those not worthy to live in decent society as role models.

tification for any youth to associate himself with people without decent and verifiable jobs, but have fleet of cars from questionable sources.

Obi, who listed many youth-friendly programmes being executed by his administration, promised that he will continue to ensure that Nigerian youths had a better future.

He explained that the return of schools to the original missionary owners was because of his desire to see that such schools mould the youths to become responsible and disciplined adults.

Orji congratulates Sambo @ 58

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has congratulated the Vice President Namadi Sambo on his 58th birthday.

Orji, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ugochukwu Emezue, thanked God for sparing the life of the Vice-President and his family as he works tirelessly with the President to transform the nation.

Describing Sambo as highly enterprising, humble and compassionate, Governor Orji said that the Vice President had proved himself a loyal leader, who

was ready to support his boss to achieve success at all times.

He charged the VicePresident to remain focused, committed and unwaivering in his avowed vision to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration succeeds.

He prayed God to protect Sambo, who was the former governor of Kaduna State.

The governor has also commended the elevation of Mr Bala Hasan, Commissioner of Police in Bornu State to the position of Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

Flood: Nobody committed suicide in my constituency —Lawmaker

BY VINCENTUJUMADU

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WKA—THE member representing Anambra West constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Okoye, has denied media reports that two people committed suicide as a result of flooding in his constituency, following the surge of River Niger and its tributaries into farmlands and houses in the area.

Addressing newsmen in Awka, the state capital, yesterday, Okoye said although the flood swept away many farmlands and houses, forcing people to relocate to safer areas, there was no incident of suicide.

He said there were rumours that some people were feared dead as a result of the flood, which had become a yearly occurrence in the area.

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

From left: Mr. Viv Oates, Africa Leader, Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Executive Director, CII&T, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Mr.Kunle Salau, Partner, Advisory Services for West Africa, Ernst & Young during the courtesy visit to Union Bank Corporate Head Office in lagos, yesterday.

Vigilance group arrests 2 kidnap suspects, rescue two victims in Anambra

BY VINCENT UJU-

MADU WKA—A vigilante group in Ihembosi community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, has stormed the hideout of suspected kidnappers in the area, arresting two suspects and rescued two victims.

One of the victims was said to be from Amiri in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, while the other is from Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

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Vanguard gathered that the two suspects and their victims were handed over to the state Anti-robbery Squad, SARS, at Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area.

It was also gathered that the discovery of the hideout was made by the owner of the house residing in Onitsha, who came home only to find two persons tied together in one of the rooms.

According to the source, the owner of the house immediately reported to the Ihembosi vigilante group,

which quickly mobilised and laid ambush for the suspects and apprehended them.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Raphael Uzoigwe confirmed the development, adding that the state Police Command was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the state was free of kidnappers and other criminals.

Uzoigwe said that the suspects were already being interrogated with a view of getting to the root of the matter.

FG approves contract for 2nd Niger users on the route, adding private partnership initiaBridge that government was desir- tive.

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE con tract for design, build, finance and operate of the proposed Second Niger Bridge was, yesterday, approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, who addressed State House Correspondents after the meeting, said the contract to cost N325m has a 16month completion period.

He said the project approval underlines government concern about the challenges posed to road

ous of taking immediate action to construct the bridge that would allow for easy movement of people and goods between the South West and South East.

He said: “The Federal Government, in furtherance to its transformation agenda of addressing infrastructural deficit and improving the quality of public infrastructural services, has recognised leveraging on private sector investment and capacity to complement the drive towards bridging the country’s enormous infrastructure gap through public-

“In view of this, the second Niger Bridge, which is a critical national infrastructure and forms an essential link between the South West and South East connecting the two large cities of Onitsha and Asaba, was tabled for consideration for transactional advisory services for design, build, finance and operate under PPP scheme.”

OnolememenaddedthatFEC also approved the contract for the design, build, finance and operate on Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos to the same contractor.

Suspension of operating licence: A & G Insurance denies allegations of wrong doings

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LLIANCE and Gen eral Insurance Plc has denied allegations of wrong doings leading to the suspension of its operating licence by the National Insurance Corporation, NAICOM, on the pages of newspapers and electronic media, insisting that its operations are fully in line with good corporate governance and the interest of its clients and shareholders.

The company, in a C M Y K

statement said it still wondered how the allegation of insolvency came up given that it had paid out more than N20 million for claims in the last two weeks, citing CBN Dana Air crash victims group accident claim and over N1 billion to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria among others.

The company's Divisional Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Mr. Dotun Onipede,

said the Financial Reporting Council was not thorough enough in recommending to NAICOM to suspend the management teams of Alliance & General Insurance Limited and Alliance & General Life Assurance Plc, from operation and also impose a panelty of over N100 million, because they no longer exist and the account in question had been withdrawn by the board.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—15

Police foil bomb attack on Sokoto Road, Sokoto State. contained explosives, the PDP hqtrs Akilu The unidentified assail- police officer refused to colBY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

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OKOTO—TWO suspected bombers, yesterday, attempted to attack Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state secretariat on

ants, who rode on a motorcycle, tried to hand over a black polythene bag, suspected to contain a bomb, to a police officer on duty at the party's office, saying Ga kayan Gwari, meaning “Here is a perishable item.”

Suspecting that the bag

... as Akpabio prophesies: Boko Haram 'll fizzle out

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA—GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has assured Nigerians and the international community that the current insecurity in the country, created by the activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, will soon fizzle out since the current administration led by President Goodluck Jonathan had taken the right measures to address the problem.

Akpabio gave the assurance while speaking with journalists, Tuesday night, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his arrival from investments trip to the United States of America.

He said the willingness of the government to dialogue

with Boko Haram was a step in right direction towards dousing tension in the country. He added that notwithstanding the insecurity, the internationalcommunitywas eager to invest in Nigeria because they have confidence in the ability of President Jonathan to turn around the economy.

On the call by Boko Haram forthe IslamisationofNigeria and insistence on President Jonathan converting to Islam or resign from office, he said: “Who are the members of the Boko Haram?

“When we see Boko Haram members, we will discuss with them because as far as I am concerned, we have a lot of people masquerading as Boko Haram and sending mischievous messages.”

lect same and drew the attention of police anti-bomb squad, which moved in and defused the bomb.

Eyewitnesses said the man dropped the item in front of the PDP secretariat and sped off. Vanguard gathered that when men of the anti-bomb squad arrived, they ordered an evacuation of all persons in the nearby offices and houses.

State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, told newsmen at the scene that their attention was drawn to the incident.

He said: “Our attention was drawn to the ugly development, but we are grateful to God that it did not explode.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Aliyu, said the Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit of the Command saved the situation.

He called on members of the public to complement the efforts of the Police by providing information at all times.

“On our part, we will continue to do our best to sustain the peaceful nature the state,” he added.

Observing I’tikaf

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E have read from different scholars that Ramadan is divided into three parts of 10 days. The most important part of Ramadan is said to be the last 10 days. The revelation of the Qur ’an, the night of majesty, the blessings, among others, had been perfected in it.

The last 10 days of Ramadan should be spent in prayer, seeking His mercy and asking for forgiveness, doing I’itikaf, searching for Layalat-ulQadr, good deeds, reflecting on your actions and reading of Holy Qur’an.

One of the greatest traditions of Islam, the spark of which has become a popular issue at this period of Ramadan, is I’tikaf. This is a tradition which has been in Islam from the first days of the revelation and is also something known and

recognised as the practice of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) as ordained by Allah (SWT).

He said: “And when We made the House a pilgrimage for mankind and a (place of) security, and said ‘Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim (MaqamaIbrahim).’ And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: ‘Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion, those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.’ Q 2:125 I’tikaf means to stay in the Mosque with the intention of abiding in it for the sake of Allah (SWT).

The purpose of such stay in the Mosque is ibadat and to get closer to Allah.

What is important in this period is to obey the commandments of Allah

(SWT), to refrain from the things which He has prohibited and to be in His service. (Continues tomorrow).

Prayer of the day Allahuma ihidni fihi lisaalihi-l- amaal, waqdi li fihi-lawahiji wal maali, yaa man la yahtaju ila tafseer wa swuwali, yaa halimanbimaa fiswuduri,alameen. swali ala Muhammadin wa alihi Atahireen.

Amin.

O Allah, on this day, guide me towards righteous actions, fulfill my needs and hopes, O one who does not need explanations nor questions, O one who knows what is in the chest of the people of the world.

Bless Muhammad and his family, The Pure. Amen.

16 — Vanguard ,THURSDAY ,THURSDAY,, AUGUST 9, 2012

si battles milit ants; fires Go Sanai: Mor Morsi militants; Govv, intelligence boss

Ouattara blames Gbagbo for attacks

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GYPT’S President Mohamed Morsi yesterday appointed a new national intelligence chief and sacked the governor of the north Sinai region after gunmen killed 16 border guards there. This came as Egyptian aircraft struck at targets near the border with Israel yesterday and troops raided villages as a crackdown began on Islamic militants blamed for a deadly attack on Egyptian border police, army officials and witnesses said.

Israel, urging Egypt to deal with a growing threat on its southern flank, voiced approval of the security sweep, the biggest military assault in the area since their 1973 war. A presidency spokesman Yasser Ali said Mohamed Shehata was appointed as acting head of intelligence,

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while Mourad Mwafi was sent on retirement.

Ali said Mursi also asked the head of Egypt’s armed forces, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, to name a new head of military police, and named a new head of the presidential guard.But he made the changes after

holding a national security meeting that brought together Tantawi as well as the prime minister and interior minister.

Explaining the changes, spokesman Ali said Egypt was going through a critical phase and it was necessary to protect “the Egyptian revolution and the Egyptian will”.

•President Morsi

Obama extends lead over Romney

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•President Obama

MERICANS are in creasingly pessimistic about the future but voters do not seem to be holding it against Democratic President Barack Obama, who slightly expanded his lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney this month, a new Reuters/ Ipsos poll says.

Three months before the November 6 presidential election, nearly two-thirds of Americans

think the country is moving in the wrong direction. Only 31 percent say it is moving in the right direction - the lowest number since December 2011.

But Obama’s lead over Romney among registered voters was 49 percent to 42 percent, up slightly from the 6-point advantage the president held a month earlier over the former Massachusetts governor.

The results of the monthly poll - in which a majority of voters agreed that the economy is the most important problem facing the United States - suggest that the Obama campaign’s efforts to paint Romney as being out of touch with the concerns of middle-class Americans could be preventing the Republican from gaining momentum in the race.

BRIEFS

VORY Coast has accused fighters loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, the former president, of being behind a series of attacks that have killed 10 soldiers in the commercial capital, Abidjan, since Sunday.

The attacks on military and police targets have heightened fears of renewed instability in the West African nation as it emerges from a decade of political turmoil that ended last year in a brief civil war.

Burkina Faso’s FM meets Malian rebels

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URKINA Faso’s foreign minister has met al-Qaeda-linked fighters who control the northern half of the country. Djibrill Bassole - the highest-ranking diplomat to travel to Mali’s Islamist-held north- flewintothedesertcity of Gao on Tuesday as part of a trip to assess the chances of a peaceful solution to the crisis that has seen Islamist fighters seize control of more than half the country.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,AUGUST 9, 2012—17

W

HEN Blessing Okagbare lined up for the ladies’ 100 meters final, inside the Olympic Stadium in East London, last weekend, she carried the hopes of millions of Nigerians.

She was the athlete most likely to win a medal of any colour for Nigeria. Her build up to the Olympics was phenomenal; in the international athletics circuit she was making a habit of dusting the most-reknowned athletes from around the world.

In the preliminary round as well as the semi-final, she posted times, which showed consistency.

Nigerians therefore dared to dream and believe; this was our rich. So in the context of the moment in the sun, and Blessing corruption associated with military Okagbare would help ignite the dictatorship from the mid-1980s, feel-good factor that Nigerians a new set of sports administrators can rally around, in a season emerged and the emblematic when there was so little going representative is Amos Adamu. good in our country. When the Adamu bestrode our sports like a starter’s gun sounded, our dear colossus, planting his cronies in Blessing got out of her starting the sports federations, while the block slower than the rest of the essence of our sports turned to the field and she couldn’t cope with entrenchment of a corrupt the blistering pace of her fellow oligarchy, which became richer athletes. Poor Blessing came last than the sports associations and ended up as stunned as all themselves. No more the her compatriots. development of our Yet, this is not a youth in a well-run piece to blame the process; they gorgeous and substituted with absolutely cheating, by courageous lady. fielding over-aged On the contrary! I players in agethink her story grade tournaments. typifies the For as long as hardworking and Things are so Nigeria won committed dubiously, the desperately individual who nation strutted in strives and bad we cannot delusion about its a c h i e v e s sustain the sporting prowess. recognition, not The corrupt sports because Nigeria ambience administrators created ambience which made smiled to the bank, for talent. The just as the leading raised hope that even the Mafiosi, created a became dashed, Americans whole career in has stalked our WAFU, CAF and respect sports in the past FIFA. The man had twenty years or so. Nigerian the ambition to I recall that in the takeover from Issa 100meters men sprinters, up Hayatou at CAF finals at the to a few years while his place in B a r c e l o n a the corruptionago Olympics of 1992, infested world of there were three FIFA was assured, Nigerians on the block, yet not one entered the until he fell for a sting operation medal zone. Our athletes were set up by a London newspaper.

As they pursued personal posting phenomenal times in the athletics circuit in the lead to the enrichment (Amos Adamu Olympics, because through that, became arguably, one of Nigeria’s they earned a livelihood, so by the time the Games came, and we all looked up to them to win medals for the country, they were IGERIA’S greatest already burned out! But who musician, Fela could blame them?

Anikulapo-Kuti, called it The sports bureaucracy is “Government Magic”; that is the hopelessly corrupt; the systematic programme of development, practiced tradition in government which the late Chief Isaac Akioye circles to obfuscate basic issues of elaborately prepared for our the governance process. Those sports in the early 1970s, saw who rule have long held a belief young athletes from all over that we are too stupid to be told Nigeria go through phases of the truth about how we are conscious development, along governed.

When consciousness began to with their education. That process laid the basis for Nigeria’s heighten, they turned to experts, continental dominance in track such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and field; table tennis; lawn trained by imperialism to serve tennis and several other sports. the interests of the global capitalist system, to use statistics to Undermining the system Chief Akioye’s system, compound the process of emphasised the deliberate obscurantism. This has played out development of a national sports in the current brouhaha over infrastructure,but it was Nigerian budget implementation; undermined by those determined it is the basis of the threat by the to manipulate the Nigerian love House of Representatives to for sports, to become fabulously impeach President Goodluck

These Olympic games speak to our national condition

When Segun Odegbami wrote recently that all the great sprinters are from West Africa, he was referring to the genetic pool that links us with the Tyson Gays, Usain Bolts or AsafaPowells. It was a statement for the potentials locked away in our young people,but not allowed to flower.

The Olympics Games speak to the state of our country. Things are so desperately bad we cannot sustain the ambience which made even the Americans respect Nigerian sprinters, up to a few years ago. It is a reflection of how bad things are today, that we now go around the world collecting children born by Nigerians in other climes to represent us in tournaments.

Training with public funds

London bridge with the Olympic symbol in full view

richest civil servants!), Nigerian sportsmen and women became increasingly frustrated and many of our best talents shipped out to represent other countries around the world. Francis Obikwelu was perhaps the most famous of them all, becoming a representative of Portugal and European sprint champion. Others like Gloria Alozie, followed. Sports is one of the greatest expressions of modernity and a veritable platform of creating a patriotic ethos among young people; but in Nigeria, it was hijacked by conmen and crooks and in the process, the nation lost the opportunity which wellorganised sporting platforms can give a country: we couldn’t give our young people the avenue to strive or create dreams and achieve them; the business side of sports was underdeveloped, because the individuals creaming off our sports hold almost a monopoly control of the avenues of sports business. It was head, Nigeria lost; tail, they won! This is the broad ambience within

which our Olympics outing must be appreciated. It was a recipe for disaster!

Ngeria’s refusal to do the right thing or plan systematically within the cycles of sports ensures our regular failure in these major tournaments. Take one example.

The young South African swimmer that defeated Michael Phelps in the 200meters Butterfly event was in a 6year development programme. That was how long it took him to defeat the greatest Olympian of all time!

Unless a miracle occurs, and we still have a few days to see such a miracle (and it will be most fitting for a country that feeds on religious frenzy; metaphysical mumbo-jumbo and other mindbending, anti-science and irrational surrenders to superstition!), this might very well turn out to be our worst Olympics outing ever! Such failure will be fitting epitaph to the state of our nation; its tragic deterioration in every field of human endeavor and the unacceptable propensity to kill dreams and lofty ambitions.

The entire starting line up of our Basketball team was born in the USA! Many of the parents of those young athletes were trained with public funds when Nigeria worked reasonably in the recent past, but out of frustration, many joined the Brain Drain!

Corruption, irresponsibility; inability to sustain practices of excellence; shortsightedness; personal greed and a hopeless ruling class conspired to destroy the sporting architecture of Nigeria.

If we win anything at the London Olympics, then miracle has triumphed over systematic planning. Whichever way we look at it, it is still a national disaster. Of course, the poor athletes will return to despair and try to pick up the pieces of their ambitions. As for the officials, they will unpack huge suitcases from weeks of shopping in London, as they await the next international sporting event through which they can fleece Nigeria, for the umpteenth time.Some noise will be made about the need to begin early preparations for the next Olympics, but not much will be done until the eve, when huge sums will be taken out for ‘preparation’. It is a vicious cycle left to fester, like gangrene, for so long!

Jonathan, National Asembly and the budget brouhaha

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C M Y K

Jonathan.

The House is clearly unhappy about the apparently shoddy manner of implementation of the 2012 budget; the House cried out that only 12.6 percent of the budget had so far been implemented! But based on official figures from the Ministry of Finance, only 34 percent of the budgeted sum has so far been implemented. This means that out of a total appropriation of N1.5trillion appropriated for capital expenditure, government has only implemented 56 percent of the N400billion released to MDAs and has become usual with the government of the day, only ‘favoured’ MDAs got significant sums, and these were often those implementing budget items in the Niger Delta and even they were not adequately financed! As Shakespeare would

have put it, there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark, except here we are dealing with Nigeria. It has become standard practice in recent years, to go through the rituals of budgeting when Nigerians know they will be honoured more in the breach than in implementation.

T

he country seems to be broke, from a layman’s perspective; so much money went into protecting the privileges of the oil-importing cabal, who in turn donated humungous sums to the April 2011 PDP’s electioneering finances. So there is a tie up between the political process and the ‘growth without development’ economy which imperialism’s agents tout as ‘ working’. The worrisome element is the ‘Supreme Military

Council’ mentality of the Executive, which the House of Representatives warned about and the disdain with which unelected ‘experts’ like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have continued to treat the House. No matter what, parliament is the tribune of the Nigerian people, and those in the Executive arm to represent imperialism through the implementation of unpatriotic economic policies must not be allowed to denigrate parliament.

Budgets should be made to work for the Nigerian people and a tradition of full disclosure should be an irreducible minimum. If that ends up the best achievement of the threat to impeach our bumbling president, we would have secured some advancement; and that is better than the insult they hurl at all of us, all the time!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , AUGUST 9, 2012 THE announcement by the Federal Government of rising interest of investors in the rapidly privatising power sector is, indeed, a matter of interest to those concerned for improved power supply in Nigeria. According to the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku (whose submission has been backed up by facts from the Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji and the Head of Public Communications of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Mr Chukwuma Nwokoh) 54 companies have shown interest in the distribution while 25 firms have sent in bids for the generation sectors of the industry.

It is normal for Nigerians to wave off this apparently upbeat news about the nation’s number one headache – the power sector. After all, during the Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Yar’Adua regimes, government officials made grandiose projections and raised the hopes of Nigerians only to be forced to eat their words when results could not be achieved after huge sums were expended.

But we want to encourage the government to press home President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise that by the end of this year there would

Rising Investor Interest In Power Sector be dramatic improvement in power supply. We are somewhat encouraged, not just by the large number of interested investors but also the timeline for action laid out for the actualisation of passing control of the power sector from government to the business community.

We are made to understand that by October 9th 2012 the preferred bidders would have emerged along with the initial financial plans for procurement of equipment. Perhaps the influx of interested investors owes to the recently adjusted

tariff regime?

We urge the government to live up to its responsibility of clearing all outstanding Labour issues as we move into this new dispensation of privatised power supply. Having implemented the tariff adjustment, the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) should also ensure that the rights of electricity consumers are protected. This is going to be a major bone of contention in a new era where privatised electricity will be primarily in the hands of foreign investors.

We look forward to a future where the power sector experiences the kind of boom we have enjoyed in the telecommunications sector over the past eleven years. If, and when that comes, the telecom success story will be a child’s play.

Government officers charged with the job of actualising our power sector dreams should be buoyed by the reward that will come from grateful Nigerians if they are able to break the jinx and put Nigeria on the path to economic emergence.

All eyes are on Prof Nnaji and his team to prove their worth and give power - electric power – to the people.

I beg no cause WAHALA for here o!

OPINION

BY TONY ODIADI

Continued from Wednesday

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EITHER in India, United States, Australia, South Africa, etc, do you have one centralised police force as we do have today in Nigeria. Not even in Britain, Nigeria’s erstwhile colonial master do you have such a police structure. The examples are there and same reasons of diversity, spatial extent, national configuration makes state policing the proper way to achieve effective policing. India, for example, has the central police known as the India Police Service but essential policing is done by state police officers in the states with a complete and separate command as in states like Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, etc.

The foregoing explains why even a unitary state like Britain has several local and regional police forces under separate and independent Chief Constables such as the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, Thames Valley Police, Northumbria Police, etc.

Added to those are the Welsh and Scottish police forces. In USA, the arrangement is even more diffused and decentralised going from the community/city police, to the county, state and the FBI. In fact, the government axis or arenas have their own police forces known as the Capitol Police all of which are independent from one another.

The secret of multi-forces policing of any nation-state is jurisdiction. Once, each services jurisdiction is clearly defined, a well-policed community follows.

States with resources can give its police force the kind of training and facilities it can afford, necessary for securing its states against criminal elements. The C M Y K

State police and effective policing in Nigeria (2) Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra states police services in India, for example, train their officers and men at the Atlanta City Police Academy in the USA, while the Tamil Nadu State Police Academy is even pursuing a degree awarding university status in the state.

The arrangements above have nothing to do with the Indian Central Police Services. Even one, two or three states can pool resources jointly to establish one academy to train its local police offices. Nothing stops Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states or Borno, Yobe and Gombe states from collaborating and establishing joint police academies. States that are interested can proceed to set up, while those safer with federal police can remain in that state for a given period.

In amending sections 214, 215 & 216 of the Constitution relating to the Police Force, the National ThinkTank recommended the following: (3) (a) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions (214,215 & 216), a State of the Federation shall be free to establish and maintain a Police Service for the maintenance and securing of public safety within the State and enforcement of all relevant laws of the state” (b)For the purpose of subsection(1) above such a State shall establish a Police Training School regulated and compliant to standards in force in police forces

in terms of discipline, schedule of duty, weaponry, ranks and promotions amongst other issues”. (c)The Head of the State Police shall be designated by the title Chief of Police who shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the State Police Service Commission”; (d)Notwithstanding, the provisions in this section, a State of the Federation shall be free to retain at all times the existence and services of the Nigerian Police for the purpose of maintenance and securing public safety”; (e)Where the act of the Nigeria Police Force conflicts with that of State Police Service, that of the Nigeria Police Force shall prevail”; (f) “It shall be lawful for any person who feels that his right has been infringed upon by the State Police Service to apply to a Federal High Court to have his matter transferred to the offices of the Nigeria Police Force immediately within jurisdiction”.

Finally, It must be stated that mindful of abuses which state authorities can deploy state police officers to, several control systems were recommended by both committees. The federal police must exist across the country to check all abuses and violations of rights as its first original mandate. And so a state governor who imagines himself empowered to intimidate or oppress political opponents will face legal and constitutional restrains and controls. Only criminals would really be afraid when states begin to have their police forces.

Concluded

*Mr. Odiadi, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—19

, IBB, OBJ should go and hide (1) G ENERAL Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida are birds of a feather in Nigeria’s political history. They are like father and son to each other. Obasanjo is both a predecessor and successor to Babangida on the presidential seat. But he is senior to Babangida as a General of the Nigerian Army, while Babangida is his political mentor.

It was only a year ago that these former presidents of Nigeria openly traded insults at each other.

Babangida opened the face-off when he scored Obasanjo low as a two-time president of Nigeria.

Obasanjo, whose ability to exchange insults with anyone willing to take him on even in the marketplace, called Babangida “a fool at seventy who should be pitied because he is living a life full of regrets”. When Obasanjo was in office as an elected president he elevated insults to a high office by employing the services of Femi Fani-Kayode as a Senior Special Assistant. And for satisfying Obasanjo’s

expectations, Fani-Kayode was appointed Minister of Aviation!

Right now, Babangida has in his employ a certain Qassim Afegbua, whom he deploys to mouth off his feelings. Afegbua was the one mandated to answer Obasanjo back and he had this to say: “Only Nigerians can tell who the biggest fool is between (Babangida) and Obasanjo after a good assessment of their pedigrees”.

Babangida was to later on tender a public apology to Obasanjo over the repartee, reiterating the fact that Obasanjo was still his “boss”.

There are many things you can say about Babangida’s gross inadequacies. Insulting people is certainly not one of them. That is Obasanjo’s trade mark. Even when Babangida intended to do away with the services of people during his eight-year reign, he still managed to maintain a deceptively polite, even smiling mien.

Those who had followed this episode must have been stunned when on Monday, July 30, 2012, the media were saturated with an

Babangida and Obasanjo are birds of a feather; if you are looking for three Nigerians who put this country where we are today, they are Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo and Babangida

,

alarm jointly raised by these septuagenarian Generals over what they described as growing fear, insecurity and uncertainty among Nigerians, cautioning that Nigeria must not be allowed to break up. If you were surprised, I was not.

A

s I said, Babangida and Obasanjo are birds of a feather. If you are looking for three Nigerians who put this country where we are today I will tell you their names. They are: General Yakubu Gowon, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida. These are the longestserving leaders Nigeria has ever produced. In fact, at a point it became something of a contest.

Gowon, the man who led the federal side to prevent the secession of Biafra, ruled the country for nine years and was toppled on July 29, 1975.

Obasanjo was deputy to General

Murtala Mohammed, who succeeded Gowon. And when Murtala was assassinated on February 13, 1976, Obasanjo took over power, ran the government exactly as the North had intended it and faithfully handed over to a Northerner, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, just as the North wanted. Obasanjo became a darling of the North and a villain of his native West.

Meanwhile, Babangida shot his way to power on August 28, 1985.

He ruled the country for exactly eight years and fled from power on August 27, 1993 after failing several self-succession bids.

During his time, he reconstructed the political infrastructure of the country, invented a new, mafia style of politics which popularised the politics of godfatherism. By the time the military under General Abdulsalami Abubakar was conducting a hurried transition to civil rule, Babangida persuaded the North to rein in their political ambition and pacify the West, whose son, Chief Moshood Abiola, was not only prevented from mounting the presidential throne after winning the June 12, 1993 presidential election but also killed in detention. The West seemed set to secede from Nigeria and the North, alarmed at the looming break-up of the country, panickly conceded the presidency to the West.

But they arrogated to themselves the choice of which Yoruba man should be allowed to be president.

Babangida was the man who recommended Obasanjo (who was then in jail for plotting to overthrow the government of the late General Sani Abacha) to Abdulsalami. Once he was adopted, Atiku Abubakar, ever the political opportunist, went to Ota to inform Obasanjo that he would

be the next president. Imagine the irony! Babangida, who had told Nigerians that he was keen to give the “new-breed” a chance to come to power and change the way the game of politics was played (after discrediting the “old-breed”) championed the unearthing of a political fossil, Obasanjo, from prison to the presidency!

And so, after spending another eight years in power, Obasanjo finally beat the nine-year record set by Yakubu Gowon by chalking in eleven and a half years.

Babangida’s major motive to return to the Presidential Villa is probably to beat Obasanjo’s record; and the latter would have none of that!

On Monday, I will justify my reasons for telling Obasanjo and Babangida to go and hide themselves in shame and leave Nigerians to weather through the legacy of disunity, violence, sectional, ethnic and religious strife, centralised federalism, sectional domination, corruption, and other indices of a failing nation. Their continued display on the stage of our public affairs is distracting and irritating us. Let us conclude on Monday.

CORRIGENDUM

M

Y article of Thursday, August 2nd 2012, entitled: Northern Governors’ Poor-mind Syndrome refers. In the second to the last paragraph, the printed edition reflected: “there is no justification for power would be entrusted in their hands again”. But the Online edition had: “there is no justification for power to be entrusted in their hands again”.

The printed edition was wrong and it did not come from these quarters.

Thank you.

This patch- patch Constitution (2) T is not the intention of this column to water.

Isenators return to what was said last week. Since Advocates of states creation hardly give are already bent on the ludicrous thought to the fact that the oil on which we

C M Y K

all depend is a depleting asset and it will dry up one day. Besides, there could come an administration that would drastically change the present revenue allocation formula, which really encourages indolence on the part of states. When that time comes, what are you going to do with the carcass of the idle states that you are now creating?

We shall now move to a more difficult area.

Any attempt to explain the real import of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, which speaks of immunity for certain government functionaries, would sound like defending fraud and its perpetrators. For instance, the dubious practices of some past governors make it difficult for anyone offering an explanation to have a listening ear. The issue has become one of “Here I stand” from where there is no further shift.

Retention of immunity clause The other day, the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, was almost at a kneeling point, trying to impress on members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review who gathered in Asaba for a three-day retreat, on the desirability of retaining the immunity clause in the Constitution.

The immunity clause is not, strictly speaking, about the present stock of governors. The Constitution is supposed to be an instrument for all time. The immunity clause provides a good protection for serious governance. It presupposes that every governor is in the business of serious governance. With time, we shall get there!

,

exercise of patching the already patched Constitution, this column shall only attempt to x-ray some of the proposed amendments.

Why would anyone who has the interest of this nation at heart be seeking to create more states at this time? After the last Minimum Wage Act, which some states have implemented under excruciating pains; and up till now, some states have not been able to pay the minimum wage to their workers – it became crystal clear that many states as currently constituted have flunked the viability test, which is one of the strong criteria for state creation. By now, we should be talking of acquisitions, mergers and consolidation of some states, as happened recently with the commercial banks, not creating mushroom states, just to satisfy the gubernatorial desire of some individuals.

What does anyone profit from the creation of many states that will barely exist to pay salaries – sans growth, sans development?

As it were, the people are asking for rain and you are giving them rainbow. They are crying for development and you are carving out empty empires for yourself!

It is convenient for our legislators to point to the fact that America has 50 states but what they do not readily tell you is that some of those 50 states are bigger than the entire continent of Africa by every known standard of measurement – viability, land mass, population, etc. They also do not tell you that America and the rest of the advanced democracies are busy developing alternative sources of energy. While their universities are empowered to research into how to render your oil less useful, our universities are only sparsely funded to research into the packaging and sale of pure

The legislature is no longer able to assert its authority; it has, therefore, rendered itself impotent and unable to perform; where there is a serious legislature, the executive cannot misbehave

,

The clause is not intended to protect thieves.

Evidently, there are already signs of good governance in some of our states.

Without prejudice to others, we can easily point at Edo, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Imo, Rivers, etc., where frivolous court actions should not be allowed to impede the serious business of quality governance. Again, given the Nigerian factor, a party that has been trashed at an election is likely to resort to the institution of frivolous court actions, just to distract the serious governor from his quality service delivery. This is what Section 308 seeks to prevent.

The fault is not in our stars but in us.

Government is a chain and this chain can only be as strong as its weakest link.

Somewhere along the line, the legislature, which by original design, was supposed to be the most senior partner in the government family, has reduced itself to an errand boy

of the executive, all because the executive holds the power of the purse.

That explains why the legislature is no longer able to assert its authority. It has, therefore, rendered itself impotent and unable to perform. Where there is a serious legislature, the executive cannot misbehave.

An upright legislature that knows its onions should hold the executive in check.

The import of the immunity clause is that the moment the chief executive ceases to perform his functions, the legislators have a duty to impeach him and as soon as he is impeached and removed from office, he becomes an ordinary citizen and can therefore be dragged to court to answer for his crimes. Essentially, impeachment is not a ploy for coercing the executive into giving the legislators more pocket money. It is a serious affair.

Look at the folly in our present system: Year after year, the legislature approves an annual budget for the president or the governor. The approval of this year’s budget is predicated on the fact that the legislators are satisfied with what the executive did with the previous year’s budget. Between the budget approval and the legislative oversights, an erring executive must be found out. But because somebody somewhere is not performing his functions, at the end of four years, a governor is able to steal billions of Naira. While the governor heads for prison, the legislators who gave him his annual budget are walking our streets in full freedom. There is something wrong. The system is simply bizarre!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 21

FSDH Securities forecasts decline in Nigeria’s GDP to 7%

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

SDH Securities Limited, an investment banking firm in Nigeria, has reviewed its upper limit of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast downward to 7 per cent in 2012 from 7.5 per cent.

With this, its GDP growth rate forecast range was put at between 6.5 per cent and 7 per cent.

In its half year ‘Economic and Financial Market Review and Outlook for the remaining part of 2012, the company stated that inflation in the remaining part of the year would be influenced by the anticipated increase in import duties in wheat and rice, the prices of food in the international market, fiscal expansion, and supply shortages in the country due to low production, amongst others.

“However, the expected moderation in global commodities prices will lower the impact of imported inflation. Thus we expect inflation rate to hover around 12.5 per cent – 13.20 per cent to end the year,” the report said.

“With the price of Bonny Light at about US$100/b, we expect Nigeria’s foreign reserves to increase by about 17.10 per cent to US$38.55billion which should be sufficient to finance about five months of imports cover. Also, given the price of oil at about US$100/b there may not be need for the FGN to grow its debt portfolio excessively, but may grow it aggressively if oil price falls sharply.

“We expect oil price to remain somewhat high, thus we think public debt will only grow by about 6.53 per cent in 2012 to about N7.34 trillion. The growth in debt will partly be driven by the current high interest rate that government is paying on its domestic debt. The debt to GDP is expected to be in the region of 18.03 per cent.

“Nigeria should maintain a relatively stable exchange rate in 2012. The possibility of marginal depreciation cannot be ruled out. We expect the exchange rate in the region of N158.50/ US$1 to end the year,” it added.

From left: Mrs Juliet Anammah ,Director, Real Sector, Accenture and guest speaker; Mr Martins Akinrimisi , Business Manager, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Mr. Olumide Akindele, Head Propositions & Liabillities Group, Diamond Bank Plc at the 2012 Annual Retail Business Day Conference, titled, ‘The Future of Retail Business in Nigeria,’ inLagos. Photo By Diran Oshe

‘Nigeria risks falling back to pre-2006 external debt position’

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HERE is a strong possibility that Nigeria may revert to the high level of international debt that saw the country paying out significant portion of the annual national budget in debt servicing, prior to the debt forgiveness programme executed by the Obasanjo administration between 2004 and 2006, says Dunn Loren Merrifield, an investment banking institution.

Raising this alarm while reviewing activities in the bonds market, Tola Odukoya and Jide Nwaogwugwu, both financial analysts with the firm, affirmed that continuous issue of eurobond in order to keep domestic debt profile down was counterproductive.

They said, “In view of its drive to reduce domestic borrowing, the Debt Management Office, DMO, on behalf of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, may issue a second eurobond of US$600 million (N96 billion).

“At present, Nigeria seeks to reduce domestic borrowing to N500 billion in the medium term from N744 billion in 2012. In addition, the eurobond is expected to significantly reduce the country’s high debt service payments in view of the prevailing high interest rates in Nigeria,” they noted in the report.

They noted that instead, there should be a concerted approach to economic management by both fiscal and monetary authorities.

“On the fiscal side, we would like to

see a wider tax net with a view to raising more revenues and significantly diluting the contribution from the oil sector to total revenues to government.

“This is in addition to the current widespread knowledge of the need to diversify the domestic economy from being a mono-product economy.

“We would equally like to see an aggressive drive for Nigeria to have a budget surplus in the medium term as a result of the current fiscal consolidation effort. These should then be complemented with singledigit interest rate levels on the monetary side with the preoccupation being to stimulate domestic production, output and real growth with a positive impact on individuals, households and firms,” they said.

Osun to tap into Lagos N3.5bn food market 173.35

-2.15

2,349.00 21.41

+41.00

111.89 93.45

-0.27 +2.34 +1.25

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA

0.27

KRONER 25.7748 EURO 191.887 POUNDS 241.2099 RIYAL 41.2916 SDR 233.7921 FRANC 159.6166 DOLLAR 154.86 WAUA 232.6825 YEN 1.9758 RENMINBI 24.2928

0.28 25.858 192.5066 241.9887 41.4249 234.547 160.1319 155.36 233.4337 1.9821 24.3717

0.29 25.9412 193.1261 242.7675 41.5582 235.3018 160.6473 155.86 234.185 1.9885 24.4505

CBN Exchange rate as at 08/08/2012

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

HE Government of Osun State has said that it is prepared to take advantage of the Lagos State’s N3.5 billion daily food commodities that exchange hands in markets to be facilitated through free rail transportation.

Meanwhile, to open up Osun for investments, Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said that lands would be given out free to investors who are ready to tap into the huge agricultural opportunity in the state “Lands would be made available through an initiative called ‘land-bank.’

Land-bank is a situation whereby traditional owners of lands in the state, bank their lands with the state government to manage it for them.”

Aregbesola said this while Presenting a paper titled; ‘Transformation and Investment Opportunities in Osun

State’ at the bi-monthly business luncheon of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES) Excellence Club in Lagos, saying “farming is not just about feeding, it is also big business. We are fully aware that agriculture in the 21st century must transform from subsistence to commercial farming where the farmers will not only feed themselves but have surplus for the market by applying appropriate terms, such as modern implement and improved seedling.

His words, “Our goal is to develop our agriculture with a view to creating agro allied industry that will add value to our agricultural prowess and this is where the real money is.

“Food commodities worth N3.5 billion exchange hands in Lagos. It looks artificial but it is well calculated and statistically gathered and we are plunging into that, to make this possible. We are building a regional

market in Dagbolu, Ife, where agricultural food will converge for onward transportation through rail free of charge to Lagos.

“I have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), whoever wants this advantage, is free, we don’t charge a kobo.

“To reposition our state for an urgently needed lib into development, we have identified our areas of strength and comparative advantage, the two areas in this regards are agriculture and tourism.

“Am happy to announce that in less than two years of our administration, we have made giant stride in these areas, we are just inviting and encouraging individuals and corporate investors to come and see what we have done and still doing to make Osun an investors choice estate in Nigeria investment landscape.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

FDI at risk over impeachment threat — Analysts

BY LAZARUS IBEABUCHI & WILLIAM JIMOH

T

HE impeachment threat on President Goodluck Jonathan over the poor budget implementation is causing uncertainty and may negatively affect the posture of the country as an attractive investment destination, analysts at Partnership Investment Company said.

“While the outrage

continues over the poor implementation of the 2012 budget, the challenges confronting the economy have not abated,” the company said in its weekly report, adding that corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructure and the asymmetry between the level of growth and actual development remain the issues confronting Nigeria.

It stated further, “While GDP is growing at about

6 per cent, the impact on the citizens in terms of quality of life is not so obvious. Electricity power supply remains the major infrastructure deficit currently confronting the country. Last week, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) received 54 bids from potential investors in the 11 electricity distribution companies in the ongoing privatization of the Nigerian power sector.

“A fortnight ago, the BPE received bids from 25 investors for the six generation companies while the Transmission Company of Nigeria has already been handed over to Manitoba Hydro International of Canada.”

The analysts said this exercise marked the first concrete effort by government to tackle the power shortfall. “We expect that if this process is conducted in a transparent manner, the

Mr. Moses Ogbodo, Regional Business Manager Lagos, Nigeria Breweries Plc (left), with trade partners at the trade briefing session of the company, held in Lagos.

country may finally be on its way to solving the power conundrum,” it said.

Taking a cursory look at the nation’s apex bank activities, the company said the recent Central Bank policy to reduce the net open position of banks from three per cent to one per cent of shareholders fund, increase the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) from eight per cent to twelve per cent and restriction of cash movement between repo window and interbank lending and foreign exchange auction has tightened liquidity.

“This has raised the cost of funds in the system with the attendant implication for the economy. We expect this trend to persist until release of funds to the tiers of government, which will also be followed with funds mopup of the Central Bank.

The restriction of funds movement in the money market may actually be pushing funds to the stock market as seen by the rise in market performance indicators during the week.”

On its sectoral analysis of the Conglomerates

Nigerian Eurobond yields reach record low

SEC’s dematerialisation deadline Y unrealistic — ICMR T

HE Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) said on Tuesday that the Jan.1, 2013 deadline for dematerialisation of all share certificates was not realistic.

Dr David Ogogo, the Chief Executive of the institute, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He explained that their stance was as a result of the inability of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enlighten shareholders and other stakeholders on the cost implication of dematerialisation.

Dematerialisationis the elimination of physical certificates or documents on ownership of

securities through conversion to an electronic ownership mode domiciled with the Central Securities Clearing System Limited(CSCS).

According to Ogogo,the deadline is not achievable as stakeholders must resolve the issue of cost in the interest of the market.

He stressed that investors were not a g a i n s t dematerialisation but could not bear the financial burden of verification.

However, Ogogo said: “SEC should intensify its enlightenment campaign for investors on the advantages of dematerialisation for dealers, the investing

public and quoted companies.”

Mr Boniface Okezie, the President of the P r o g r e s s i v e S h a r e h o l d e r s Association of Nigeria, said that SEC had not done enough to educate the investing public.

Okezie said that investors would not dematerialise until the commission ensured proper enlightenment, noting that many investors had yet to understand the meaning of dematerialisation and how to go about it.

He also said that SEC had failed to meet the expectations of investors, especially in the area of sensitisation in a troubled Nigerian bourse.

“It is not realistic; let

us be frank because there is nothing on ground that is mobilising and wooing the investors on the benefits of dematerialisation,” he said.

It would recalled that SEC in a public notice dated March 13, set Jan.1, 2013 as deadline for the dematerialisation of all share certificates The notice said that all share certificates dematerialised on or before Jan. 1, 2013, would be at no cost to the shareholder, but that there would be a penalty for those done after that date.It also said that the allotment of shares of public offerings would from now be by electronic processes that would transfer shares directly to the CSCS.

Sector of the Nigeria Stock exchange, the company said that the market downturn took its toll on the sector shedding 1.5 per cent in market capitalisation in the last two months.

From N94.44 billion or 0.74%, the total market capitalisation of the six equities listed in the sector have dropped to N93.02 billion or 0.72%.

“As the most diversified sector on the bourse, firms listed face the same challenge as other manufacturing and trading concerns in the country. The challenge of poor infrastructure, volatile exchange rate and inconsistent government policies all combine to create a hostile operating environment.

“However, many firms have adopted backward integration, relying more on local raw materials and less on importation in order to leverage on economies of scale and develop local competences. This has become strength for such firms.

For instance, Transcorp has delved into agricul-ture while also developing

IELDS on Nigeria’s $500 million of dollar bonds fell for a seventh day, reaching a record low, after gains in crude prices and as investors favored the nation’s lower debt burden.

Borrowing costs on Eurobonds due 2021 declined five basis points, or 0.05 percentage point, to 5.2 percent as of 3:32 p.m. in London, the lowest since their issue in January 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Oil, the key export of Africa’s biggest producer, climbed to the highest level in more than two months in New York after better-than-estimated corporate earnings bolstered optimism that the economy will expand. Brent surpassed $110 a barrel for the first time since May. While Nigeria’s total domestic debt rose 17 per cent to $38 billion at the end of June, from a year earlier, the burden is still light, amounting to 16.5 per cent of 2011 gross domestic product, said Gregory Kronsten, the head of economic research at FBN Capital Ltd. The oil price is supportive and “people want something where there’s a good external balance sheet,” Kronsten said in a phone interview from London today. “There’s a shortage value,” as they’ve only done one Eurobond offer, he said.

Nigeria’s total external debt was $6.04 billion as of June 30, according to the country ’s Debt Management Office.

The naira was little changed at 161.65 a dollar in Lagos, the commercial capital. Yields on the West African nation’s four percent domestic debt due 2015 fell 11 basis points to 15.68 percent, according to Tuesday’s prices on the Financial Markets Dealers Association website.

Vanguard,THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 23

CBN mandates banks to establish code of conduct

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has directed banks in the country to set up codes of conduct, guiding their practices and detailing their compliance to highest ethical and professional standards, while it also announced plans to review its code of corporate governance and issued new guidelines for whistle-blowing in banks..

The CBN, in a document posted on its website,titled, ‘Exposure Drafts of the Revised Code of Corporate Governance for Bank in Nigeria and the Guidelines for Whistle-Blowing in the Nigerian Banking Industry,’ signed by Chris Chukwu, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, said the code shall commit the bank, its Board and management (and employees) to the highest standards of professional behaviour, business conduct and sustainable business practices.

In the proposed code, the CBN is also seeking to ensure that banks put in place a proper succession plan for its Chief Executive Officer, executive directors and top management staff.

The CBN is also planning, through the revised code which is scheduled to come into effect soon, to ensure that no two members of the same extended family occupy sensitive position in any bank in the country.

According to the document, no two members of the same extended family shall occupy the positions of Chairman and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director of the bank and Chairman or MD/CEO of a bank’s subsidiary at the same time.

CBN further barred Board Chairmen from being members of

Board committees of the various banks and their subsidiaries, except for the Governance and Nominations Committee, the various Board committees shall be headed by non-executive directors.

The apex bank further made it mandatory for all directors of banks to attend all meetings of the Board, saying that in order to qualify for re-election, a director must have attended at least two-thirds of all board meetings.

As a means to regulate this, the revised code requires that, “The Board shall disclose, in the Corporate Governance section of the annual report,

the total number of board meetings held in the financial year and attendance by each director.

The CBN further reiterated its position on government’s ownership of banks, pegging government’s maximum direct and indirect equity holding in any bank at 10 per cent.

On banks establishing code of conduct, the CBN said, “Banks shall establish a code of conduct and disclose the code or a summary of the code as to: the practices necessary to maintain confidence in the bank’s integrity; the practices necessary to take into account their legal obligations and the reasonable expectations of their stakeholders; the responsibility and accountability of

individuals for reporting and investigating reports of unethical practices.

“The code shall commit the bank, its Board and management (and employees) to the highest standards of professional behaviour, business conduct and sustainable business practices.

“Be developed in association with management and employees; receive commitment for its implementation from the Board and the managing director/ chief executive officer and individual directors of the company.

“Be sufficiently detailed as to give clear guidance to users including advisers, consultants and contractors.”

From left, Vice Chairman, International Cement Company Limited, Elder Babasola Aiyegbusi left in a handshake with the Aro of Makun, Sagamu, Chief Ezekiel Oluwale Mayungbo, with them is Director, International Cement Company Limited, Chief (Mrs) Henrietta Vanni (middle) during the official presentation of a brand new Hilux security patrol van by International Cement Company Limited to Makun Community, Sagamu, in Ogun State.

IFC, Africa Fund provide N11bn loan to Diamond Bank

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

HE International Finance Corporation, IFC and the Africa Capitalization Fund, yesterday, announced plans to provide a convertible loan facility, worth about N11.2 billion ($70 million) to Diamond Bank Plc. The loans, according to a statement by the IFC, will help support the growth of the economy and increase access to finance for Small and Medium scale Enterprises in the country.

The IFC said the fund will allow Diamond Bank expand its lending program and its ability to offer financial services to underserved market segments, including micro, small, and medium enterprises and C M Y K

agricultural firms.

It further stated that one of its subsidiaries, the IFC Advisory Services will provide further assistance to help Diamond Bank enhance its range of financial services for agricultural sector clients.

Commenting on the development, Alex Otti, Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank, said, “This investment will help Diamond Bank better serve our clients in Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises and agribusiness sector. It also will strengthen our capital base, supporting our growth.”

Speaking in the same vein,

Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Nigeria Country Manager, said, “Our strategy in Nigeria is to support banks in reaching smaller businesses, which form the backbone of the economy.

By working with a long-term partner like Diamond Bank we can increase access to finance for those critical sectors, supporting sustainable economic growth and job c r e a t i o n . ” Marcos Brujis, Head of the Africa Capitalization Fund, said, “The investment provides a unique opportunity for the Africa Capitalization Fund to support Diamond Bank’s expansion into key economic sectors that have relatively low banking

penetration and, therefore, offer significant growth potential for investors.”

IFC is a member of the World Bank Group, while the Africa Capitalization Fund, is a private equity fund managed

by IFC Asset Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of IFC. The statement explained that IFC’s partnership with Diamond Bank began in 2005, with an initial investment to help it expand lending to small and medium enterprises, adding that IFC has worked with Diamond Bank since 2001 in various areas, including providing long-term financing and advisory services to support its business.

B-R-I-E-F Regulators irate at NY action against Standard Chartered

T

HE Treasury Department and Federal Reserve were blindsided and angered

by New York’s banking regulator’s decision to launch an explosive attack on Standard Chartered Plc over $250 billion in alleged money laundering transactions tied to Iran, sources familiar with the situation said.

By going it alone through the order he issued on Monday, Benjamin Lawsky, head of the recently created New York State Department of Financial Services, also complicates talks between the Treasury and London-based Standard Chartered to settle claims over the transactions, several of the sources said.

Lawsky’s stunning move, which included releasing embarrassing communications and details of the bank’s alleged defiance of U.S. sanctions against Iran, is rewriting the playbook on how foreign banks settle cases involving the processing of shadowy funds tied to sanctioned countries. In the past, such cases have usually been settled through negotiation - with public shaming kept to a minimum.

In his order, Lawsky said Standard Chartered’s dealings exposed the U.S. banking system to terrorists, drug traffickers and corrupt states.

But the upset expressed by some federal officials, who were given virtually no notice of the New York move, may provide ammunition for Standard Chartered to portray the allegations as coming from a relatively new and overzealous regulator.

But, given the content of the order - which described Standard Chartered as a “rogue institution” that “schemed” with the Iranian government and hid from law enforcement officials some 60,000 secret transactions over nearly 10 years - the bank may need to come up with a strong defense.

Lawsky did not respond to several requests for comment on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Federal Reserve said it had been working closely with various prosecutorial offices on matters involving Iran and other sanctioned entities, but could not comment on ongoing investigations.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the government takes alleged violations of sanctions “extremely seriously” and the Treasury remains in close contact with federal and state authorities on the matter.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Lekki FTZ targets 500 million consumers in West Africa STORIES BY FRANKLIN ALLI

L

EKKI Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) has said it’s targeting over 500 million consumers in West Africa as the primary consumers of its products and services. This is even as the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, says the zone needs infrastructures to succeed.

The Deputy Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone Development Company, Mr. Adeyemo Thompson, said that the zone aims to provide the largest consumer market in Africa with over 500 million potential consumers in both Nigeria and the neighbouring countries.

Of this figure, Nigeria would account for 150 million consumers while the rest countries in the region are expected to acount for 350 million consumers.

“The zone provides a favourable geological location from where to export products to the rest of Africa, the Middle East, Europe and America,” Thompson said.

However, the Minister who spoke during the LFTZ Investment Forum and this year’s edition of Eko Expo held at the Zone, challenges Lagos

State government and the consortium of Chinese investors to connect a direct gas pipe line into the zone for the generation of power, noting that this was a major requirement for the sustainability of the zone.

He commended the management for having attracted a total of $1.1 billion (N170.5 billion) investment commitment from 48 investors into the

zone; the technology it had brought and the jobs that had been created tilldates.

He assured that the Federal Government would support (through sound and viable trade and investment policies) the joint venture stakeholders in ensuring that the project is developed and attain its full potential.

“In today’s world, busi-

ness relationships are symbiotic in nature.

While we are expected to provide a friendly environment for investors, we also expect that investments coming to the zones will create jobs for Nigerians. And to enhance the contribution of FTZs to the growth of the Nigerian economy, my ministry will work with the African Free Trade Zone Association,

F

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ditional jobs are created through a multiplier process.”

The Managing Director of the zone, Mr. Chen Xiaoxing, noted that the LFTZ had all the features to make it one of the most successful Free Trade Zones in Africa.

B-R-I-E-F-S

5 new cement plants to berth in Ogun State

F

IVE new cement plants will soon commence production in Ogun State. This is in addition to WAPCO, Dangote and Purechem cement factories already producing cement in the state.

A statement from the State’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said based on data collected by the Geological Services Department on the occurrence and level of utilisation of limestone (a major raw material for cement production), more than five new investors have expressed interest to come and commence production of cement.

RMRDC decries 0.34% mining sector’s contribution to GDP

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From left: Mr. Kwaku Boateng,Customer Director, Mr Thabo Mabe,MD both of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Abiose Taiwo,representative of Commissioner for Cormerce & Industry Lagos state and Mr. David Ukeme, Marketing Director Unilever during the launch of Sunlight 2 in 1 Detergent by Unilever Nigeria Plc , recently in Lagos. Pix: Biodun Ogunleye

FIIRO refutes IITA’s claim on cassava bread initiative EDERAL Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi(FIIRO) has flayed International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) over its claim to have initiated cassava bread production.

Reacting to recent media reports on cassava/ wheat flour by IITA, the Director General of FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo, said: “It is worthy of note that at no time was the Ministry of Agriculture/ IITA involved in Cassava Flour Project, though they have been present at stakeholders meeting as crop producers and crop researchers.

“It is not right for an Institution with no history of conducting research on the topic to spring a surprise on the nation and lays claim to an innovation which another Institution has devoted considerable time and resources to work on,” she told Commerce and In-

through NEPZA, to provide the necessary facilities to support the operational efficiency of FTZs in the Nigeria.

“Globally, F TZs are known to have one of the largest job creation capacities. Record has shown that for every job created in FTZs, two ad-

dustry journalists in Lagos.

“FIIRO has been in the forefront of the use of Cassava for various food products such as gari, fufu, lafun, chips, pellets starch and composite flour as far back as the 60’s.

“It is FIIRO’s considered opinion that before going public: The technology needs to be demonstrated to stakeholders like Master Bakers, Flour Millers etc and subjected to tests by NAFDAC and SON, economic feasibility of the innovation need to be done to ensure

adoption.

It is hoped that this information will assist the Honourable Minister to address the current claim by the Minister of Agriculture that IITA has produced 40 percent Cassava/Wheat Bread. FIIRO made Cassava the Golden crop it is today,” she said.

Pfizer settles foreign bribery case with U.S. government

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FIZER Inc has agreed to pay $60.2 million to settle a U.S. government probe of the drug maker ’s use of illegal payments to win business overseas, government officials said on Tuesday.

The settlement is part of a broad crackdown on bribery by multinational companies in foreign countries that has hit several of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies.

Pfizer in 2004 became the first pharmaceutical company to volunteer information about past wrongdoing to the Justice Department, but the case has taken years to be resolved.

Last year, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $70 million to settle U.S. charges that it paid bribes and kickbacks to win business in Greece, Iraq, Poland and Romania, the first such settlement by a big drug com-

pany.

The 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it illegal for U.S. companies and foreign firms whose stock is traded in the United States to bribe government officials in foreign countries.

Eight of the world’s top 10 drug makers have warned of potential costs related to charges of corruption in overseas markets.

AW Material Research and Development Coun cil (RMRDC) has decried the low contribution of the Solidminerals sector to the the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to the National Bureau of Statistics 2012 figure showed that the solidminerals sector currently contributes 0.34 percent to the GDP compared with telecom/postal service 5.6 percent, manufacturing 7.07 percent, building and construction, 1.99 percent; crude petroleum and natural gas 13.54 percent, real estate 1.64 percent, finance and insurance 2.92 percent while agricutlture contributes the lion’s share of 39.49 percent to the GDP. Prof. Peter Onwualu, the Director General of RMRDC, said that economic potentials of the sector is great but the resources remain largely untapped.

Coca-Cola starts a horse race for next CEO

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OCA-COLA is greatly expanding the respon sibilities of Steve Cahillane and Ahmet Bozer, turning the two senior executives into early frontrunners to succeed Muhtar Kent at the helm of the world’s largest beverage company. Kent has been Coke’s chairman since April 2009.

The Atlanta-based company said Monday it will streamline its management structure by making the 47-year-old Mr. Cahillane responsible for Coke’s operations in the Americas and putting the 52-yearold Mr. Bozer in charge of operations in all other parts of the world.

Banks gear up for Agrikexpo

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ANKS in the country have started warming up to showcase their products for agric financing in the forthcoming Agricultural exhibition, tagged ‘Agrikexpo’.

The expo is being organisd by the Federal Ministry of agriculture, Federal Ministry of Water resources, and the National Agency for Food Drugs and Control (NAFDAC).

Uzo Nwankwo, CEO, AiQ, Capital Limited, said the expo will attract the best of stakeholders in agric businesses, and urged participating banks to rise to the challenge of harnessing window of opportunities that have been created by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. According to him, the desire of the CBN to see to a deepening of the agric finance value chain must be complimented by banks as they seek business relationships with farmers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 25

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26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

government about job insecurity in our industry. We will also hold a peaceful protest rally in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where all the construction sites would shut down on that day. Thereafter, our two labour centers will take up the issue and it could lead to a national strike where other industrial unions will join us on sympathy strike."

Local content

Comrade Babatunde Liadi, General Secretary, NUCECFWW, Dr. Augustine Etafo, President, CCESSA and Comrade Musa Lawal, General Secretary, CCESSA, at the briefing in Lagos over massive job loses in the construction industry.

Construction industry faces imminent collapse —Labour •Laments massive job loses

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HE two unions in the nation’s construction industry; National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, NUCECFWW, and Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, CCESSA, few days ago raised alarm over jobs insecurity, lamenting that no fewer than 100,000 workers had been sacked by MultiNational Corporations, MNCs, and indigenous contractors over government refusal to pay for completed and certified projects.

At the joint briefing, the unions claimed not less than N100billion debt remained unpaid to these contractors by Federal, state and local governments.

Plight of the workers Briefing on behalf of the two, President of CCESA, Dr. Augustine Etafo, said as part of the plans to draw the attention of government to the plight of the workers and the companies, they would hold a peaceful protest rally in Abuja, where all the construction sites would be shut down for a day.

They appealed to government at all levels to pay the contractors and save the industry from the looming collapse.

Speaking to Labour Vanguard, on the pathetic situation of the industry, General Secretary of NUCECFWW, Comrade Babatude Liadi, named some of the road projects that have been

abandoned because of the unpaid debts to include Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Abeokuta, Lagos road, Lagos, Ibadan Express road, Kano, Maiduguri road, Abuja, Lokoja road, East west road, Kaduna eastern bypass among others.

Comrade Liadi lamented that to compound the situation, "there are situations in some states where executed and certified contracts, because the government or governors that awarded the contract are no longer in power, the new governors or governments would say they do not know anything about the contracts.

W

e have cases like that everywhere. Lokoja, Abuja road has been on since Obasanjo regime. Every year, they budget for it without money being released. The road today, is in a sorry state; the contractor has abandoned the it and disengaged all the workers.

In the first week of this month Dantata construction company laid off almost all its workers on Kano, Maiduguri road. Another construction company on the same road, laid off almost 80 percent of its workers because of unpaid money to contractors.

The Chinese company, CGC; which is also on the same road, did the same thing. So, we have serious problem in the industry and the industry is under grave threat. We need to draw the attention of the government at all levels to the crisis. We call on well meaning Nigerians who can prevail on the government to pay the contractors and save the industry from imminent collapse.

"The worst part of it is that most

of these companies borrowed money from the banks with high interest rate and they are spending millions to serve the loan monthly. Workers have been on the receiving end and they are being laid off massively.

In other climes, we see government pulling down old structures to build new structures to create jobs in construction industry, you see government deliberately redesigning roads, public buildings and create infrastructures where they never existed to sustain jobs and

,

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

We call on well meaning Nigerians who can prevail on the government to pay the contractors and save the industry from imminent collapse

,

create more jobs in the construction sector. But in our country, we are only not doing that, but we are also deliberately killing existing jobs. We cannot continue like this."

"We have planned our industrial activities or actions in segments. We started with a press briefing to alert the

Speaking on expatriate quota abuse, NUCECFWW's General Secretary argued that "as unions, we have done a lot to draw the attention of government to the issue of expatriate quota abuse in the industry to no avail. We have even contemplated a private bill to the National Assembly on this issue. It is disheartening to see that carpenters, painters and even laborers and brought into the country in the name of experts or expatriates."

"The problem is not in our hands but government and it’s agencies especially immigration and our embassies that give visas to foreigners to come into our country without doing a little check whether they are qualified and actually needed or not. They do not check and cross check because of gratification and inducement.

They just collect money and sign papers to allow them in.

So, we are helpless.

Cutting corners "However, the National Assembly is probing into it and has invited the companies involved in these abuses. It may interest you to know that because of our cry and gravity of the issue, before a contract is signed now in Nigeria, you must let the authorities know how many expatriates you are bringing in and how many local staff are you engaging. But some are still cutting corners and so, the fight is still on because it is a big fight that we must all join hands to fight including the press.

On deforestation, he said "we are worried at the rate at which loggers go into our bushes and forests to cut trees, including the premature ones, with impunity. This has exposed our environment to more degradation and other hazards.

Trees are natural prevention to erosion and when the trees are cut, the land will be exposed to erosion and flood.

Deforestation is also a threat to our wild life and ecosystem."

"One of the core issues of climate change being discussed all over the world is deforestation. We should be on the same page with the world by managing our climate so as not to suffer the effects of climate change or global warming."

BITS

Labour must remain on exclusive list, says TUC

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RADE Union Con gress of Nigeria, TUC, has kicked against perceived clandestine moves by the State Governors to ensure that labour is removed from the exclusive list of constitution.

At its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Lagos, the umbrella body for senior staff associations in the country, vowed to resist all attempts at removing it arguing that the minimum wage is the fulcrum that holds the society together, otherwise there can be total anarchy.

A communiqu? by the congress at the end of the meeting read 'The session also noted the growing campaign amongst the governors to ensure that minimum wage is removed from the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 constitution. It resolves to resist all such attempts as the minimum wage is the fulcrum that holds the society together, otherwise there can be total anarchy. It further noted that not only should it remain a constitutional issue, it should remain in the exclusive legislative list.

Satanic intentions Nigerian workers will resist any further attempt by the lawless governors and their supporters who have failed to comply with the relevant laws of the land especially as it concerns the Minimum wage, to muzzle and impoverish Nigerian workers more by trying to implement these satanic intentions.

TUC NEC also noted that the nation's unemployment index was worsening and called on the federal government to create an enabling environment for business and Industry to thrive, saying This will create new workplaces thus greater opportunities for employment.

NEC also notes the huge debt owed Construction Companies that has caused mass layoffs thus saturating the Labour market. This session of NEC calls on the federal government to arrest the situation by paying its huge debt to deserving contractors.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 27

RECAPITALISATION:

PenCom assures enrollees of failed PFAs STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ATIONAL Pension Commission, PenCom, has assured contributors of the Contributory Pension Scheme, whose Pension Administrators, PFAs, failed to meet the N1billion new N1billion minimum capital base of their safety of their fund.

The Commission had earlier in the week, released names of 18 PFAs that met the new N1billion minimum capital base and threatened to revoke the licences of those that failed within the next 28 days.

In statement issued in Abuja, the commission announced that while two PFAs failed to meet the new capital requirement, four had been acquired by oth-

er PFAs, restating that First Guarantee Pension Limited, FGPL, is still under regulatory intervention.

PenCom’s statement by its Head of Communication Unit, Mr.Emeka Onuora, however said that ARM Pension Managers (PFA) Limited, Leadway Pensure PFA Limited, Premium Pension Limited, Sigma Pensions Limited (Sigma), Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited and Trustfund Pensions Plc, met had met the N1billion requirement before the circular.

It will be recalled that the commission had on May 31, 2011, issued a circular giving the PFAs up to June 30, 2012 to meet the new requirement.

According to the statement other PFAs that met the requirement are “Aiico Pension Man-

Mr Ahmed, Director-General Pension Commission (left) and Dr Musa Ibrahim, Inspector/ Comissioner, National Pensions Commission during a briefing agers Limited, APT Pension Fund Managers Limited, Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited, Fidelity Pension Managers Limited, Future Unity Glanvills Pensions Limited, IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited, NLPC Pension Fund Administrators Limited, Legacy Pension Managers Limited, Oak Pensions Limited (Oak), Pensions Alliance Limited, Penman Pensions Limited and Royal Trust

Labour seeks maximum sanction for pension fund looters

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IGERIA Labour Con gress, NLC, has called for capital punishment for perpetrators of pension fund fraud, saying “Pension is the life line of the pensioner and any assault on this is clearly a capital offence that equals the taking of the pensioners’ life.”

President NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, At a one-day interactive session between NLC and PenCom to appraise the state of pension administration in Nigeria, said it was alarmed and concerned with the level of fraud uncovered in the management of pension unit in the Office of Head of Service of the Federation and para-military agencies including the Police and customs.

Level of fraud uncovered According to Omar, “the Nigeria Labour Congress is worried by the level of fraud so far uncovered in the management of pensions of some military and paramilitary Agencies including police, coming on the heels of earlier efforts to draw the members of staff of these organizations away from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

This issue of the several billions of naira pension scam perpetrated by government officials involved in the administration of C M Y K

Comrade Omar pension in these organizations, and the subsequent counter allegation from the Nigerian senate is a scenario that is most unacceptable. Pension is the life line of the pensioners and any assault on this is clearly capital offence that equals the taking of the pensioners’ life, and must be taken very seriously in treating such infraction.” ”It is like sentencing those pensioners to death or life punishment.

Therefore, their punishment should be a maximum one. What we are saying is that the matter should not be treated with kid’s gloves. It is something very serious. How a few people can contrive and connived and removed billions of Naira of pensioners’ money, not even government oil money? Today, it is like they are

being allowed to roam the streets without any problem. Anyway, we will continue to watch and even though some of the cases are in the courts, but we will continue to monitor that and will make sure that a very resounding example is made of the culprits because if nothing is done to them and their cases go the same way other cases go, nobody should blame workers and particularly pensioners, when they react, the way they would react.”

Omar said NLC would encourage its affiliate unions to appoint pension desk officers, while providing Group Life Assurance policies for their employees in continuation of efforts designed to ensure greater social protection for Nigerian workers.

He said “It is one of the key issues in this interactive session.

We are going to fashion out ways of approaching employers who have refused to remit the deductions of employees to get them to see reason to remit appropriately, but if they don’t, of course they have to bear the brunt. The laws must be visited on them and they must bear it. It is my hope that through the instrumentality of this interaction, we shall be enriched with the perspective that will ensure that the thrust of pension administration in our country is able to flow with current thinking in service delivery.”

Pension Fund Administrator Limited.”

While Citi Trust Pension Managers Limited and IGI Pension Fund Managers Limited, failed to meet the requirement, Amana Capital Pension Limited acquired by Sigma Pensions Limited (Sigma), Crib Pension Fund Managers Limited acquired by Oak Pension Limited (Oak) and Evergreen Pensions Limited acquired by Oak Pension Limited (Oak).

The statement added that “the Commission has issued Twenty Eight (28) days Notice of its intention to revoke their oper-

ating licences of the two (2) PFAs in category D pursuant to the provisions of Section 54 of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004. The Commission would like to assure the public, particularly the contributors of the two affected PFAs of the safety of their pension fund assets even in the event of the revocation of the licences of the PFAs. This is due to the fact that the pension fund assets are securely in the custody of Pension Fund Custodians licensed and strictly supervised by the Commission in accordance with the PRA 2004.”

Lagos remits N45bn into workers’ RSAs

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS State Government has in the last two years remitted the sum of N45 billion into the state Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, even as 464 retirees of the state public service, received retirement bond certificates worth N2.8 billion.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while presenting the certificates to the retirees; the sixth of such ceremony since commencement of CPS in October 2010, said the government had continued to ensure that retirees under the old Payas-you go pension received their pension entitlements as at when due.

According to the governor represented by the Head of Service, HOS, Adesegun Ogunlewe, “The state had established a fully automated pension commission and the only state to issue retirement benefit bond redemption certificates and the only state that has committed almost N45 billion to the contributory pension scheme

administration. In fact, the accrued pension rights of N2,788,368,394.27 under the pay-as-you-go scheme, have been paid into the accounts of today’s 464 retirees. You may now choose whether you want a programmed withdrawal provided by your pension fund administrators or an annuity for life provided by licensed insurance companies selected by the Lagos State Government after rigorous screening.”

Fashola, recalled that in October 2010, the government commenced the payment of accrued pension rights into the retirement savings accounts, RSA, opened by public servants with their chosen Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, saying “Since then, we have credited the RSAs of 1,471 retirees with accrued pension rights of N7, 544,922,856.70. We have also consistently ensured the regular payment of monthly contributions and as at June 2012, N33.5 billion had been paid into the public servants’ retirement savings accounts.”

28 — V anguard , THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012 Vanguard THURSDA AUGUST

Threatened by erosion, flood •Lagos community cries for govt intervention •As flood cuts off link bridges

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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ESIDENTS of Egbiri community in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area have cried out to the Lagos State Government to extend its infrastructural redevelopment plans to the area, just as they complained about the “continuous neglect” by the state government. They attributed the environmental challenges confronting them to climate

effects of flooding, an indication that the state governments should take the prediction seriously by curbing it”.

However, when the state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, led other state officials at the last monthly environmental sanitation monitoring in the local government, Mr. Olu Omoshaye, one of the leaders in the area, appealed on behalf of the residents for urgent

We don‘t have roads, we don‘t have water, we don‘t have anything. The little projects you see around were done by residents themselves. And they are not just enough to address our sufferings change which is taking its toll on the community through excessive rainfalls, heavy flooding, erosion and destruction of property.

The two bridges, Soyinka and Egbiri, constructed over Egbiri River in the area for over 20 years and which serves as link to two adjoining communities, were washed away by heavy flooding during the last rain, thereby crippling commercial activities and vehicular movement in the area. Most of the roads are also not motor able. The bridges were constructed by the community to ease transportation, but since it was washed away they find it difficult to move in and out the area.

It would be recalled that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, through its Zonal Coordinator, South-West, Mr. Iyiola Akande, recently predicted that heavier rains are imminent in the SouthWest which may result in heavy flooding. Akande, warned governments of states in the zone, which include Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, to put in place measures to combat flooding.

He said: “The rains are now coming in torrents with resultant

intervention from government.

He said the neglect of the area by successive governments had led to serious developmental challenges, and left the area in a sorry and perilous state, saying that they have not witnessed any form of developmental construction in decades.

Omoshaye, explained that little efforts by the residents and landlord association to ensure the roads in the area remained

OUR ERROR WE erroneously captioned the picture of Reverend David Ugolor on our Features page, yesterday, as that of the late Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde. We sincerely regret the mix-up and apologise to Rev Ugolor and the family of the late Oyerinde for the embarrassment the error must have caused them —Editor C M Y K

*One of the two bridges damaged by flood motorable, had been frustrated by their recent plight, saying that the recent flood witnessed in the state led to serious erosion in major streets that sacked residents from their homes.

The octogenarian noted thus in respect of the neglect of the area by successive governments: “We don‘t have roads, we don‘t have water, we don‘t have anything.

The little projects you see around were done by residents themselves. And they are not just enough to address our sufferings.

We have a right to development just like other developed areas of the state because we pay our taxes. We have suffered enough and we appeal to the government to urgently respond to our needs.

“We can`t afford all of these any more. We want the government to build a good drainage system here fast as well as a standard bridge across Soyinka Street to

enable residents move safely during the rains. The flood often leads to avoidable loss of lives and property. We have lost uncountable number of children and adults to flood in the area, hence, the need for an urgent intervention”.

Responding, Bello appealed to the residents to remain calm, saying that government would intervene soon to address their challenges. He said: “They have erosion problem, we were also directed to come and visit the roads that are very bad, and we have noted them, we have asked the chairman to compile them and when we get back we would hand them over to the Commissioner for Works who will also come and visit with his engineers and then assess and then give a time line on when to fix them.”

Chairman of Ojokoro LCDA,

Mr. Adeyemi Olabinjo, in his remarks, appealed to the state government on the need to intervene to check the perennial flooding in the area as it had continually posed serious threat to lives and property of residents.

“I want the state government to come to our aid immediately because with the present problem of climate change, the rains could come anytime and with what we have seen before, that indicates that there is going to be serious problem. But with the promise of the state government, I believe we would see intervention soon”.

He, therefore, called on the residents of the area to cooperate with the state government to make this possible. It was learnt that the Egbiri Bridge was reconstructed about five years ago by the community after it was damaged by flood.

Motorists decry state of Badagry-Seme express way

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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HE worrisome deplorable condition of the Lagos-Badagry-Seme express way, which has been made worse by the rains, has in no small measure, subjected commuters and motorists to the worst of nightmares any time they ply the road they have now termed “the valley of the shadow of death”.

They accuse government of deliberately neglecting the rehabilitation of the road, thereby making life miserable for the road users.

A Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, official who spoke to Vanguard Metro on grounds of anonymity, could not hold back his anger over the state of the road, saying: “Although the rains are here, but that is not enough to keep motorists and commuters stranded to the point that most of them now dread plying this route for fear of possible vehicle break down or serious accident which may result from the alarming number of potholes and ditches on the road.

LASTMA will always try its best to keep traffic moving on the roads, but the greatest challenge is dealing with the Naval and Army officers, who drive against traffic in a bid to beat traffic jams. These officers are the ones who make it seem as if we are not effective in discharging our duty in terms of ensuring free movement of vehicles. If those officers could as much as obey traffic regulations, it will go a long way in checking motorists who take one way”.

Traffic control The LASTMA officer added: “majority of these erring officers resort to intimidation when they are confronted for breaking traffic rules. And to avoid undue friction or even a clash, we let them go, and in that process, other road users will follow suit, thereby making traffic control unbearable”.

A cosmetic merchant at Trade Fair Complex, ASPANDA, who gave his name as Mr. Joseph, said he cannot help but weep for Nigeria, having been

to other countries where things are better organised. He described Nigeria leaders as rogues who are only interested in filling their purses at the expense of majority of Nigerians. He further lamented that “the worst case here is that there are no alternative routes to get to Agbara, Badagry and beyond. For those of us who live in Badagry and trade in the Trade Fair, we leave home as early as 6a.m., and will not get to our shops until noon. In this case, how do we survive with family demands and other necessary needs for our upkeep. Very shortly Nigeria may become short of men as the condition of these roads can trigger high blood pressure, which may result to different level of stroke”.

Another businessman, Mr. Emeka said: “The condition of the road is bad to the extent that an ambulance, for instance, which has need to convey individuals in critical conditions to the hospital, has no easy passage to do so resulting in the person dying before he or she gets to the hospital.

The supposed alternative routes are also not predictable. The situation is so frustrating as we are left at the mercy of robbers and dangerous potholes which could lead to fatal accidents or death”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 29

MultiChoice announces price increase •Offer 10% discount before subscription expires Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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ULTICHOICE, Nigeria, a pay-TV provider, has announced an offer for DStv subscribers following an upward review of its subscription fees with effect from October 1, 2012, whilst saying that subscribers who renew their subscription before it expires stand to pay 10 percent less on the old tariffs.

MultiChoice, said the price increase has been necessitated by ongoing increases in the company’s

operational and ancillary costs which include, content acquisition and development, technical infrastructure, satellite lease, facilities and maintenance.

The company emphasized that while it is committed to keeping subscription prices low, it is forced to implement an increase in order to continue to provide quality programming, improved customer service and deliver on its promise to remain the choice pay entertainment destination on the African continent.

Empathetic to the impact

this increase may have on its subscribers, the pay-TV provider will be offering a 10 percent special off the new subscription rates to interested subscribers who make payments before their subscription expires as part of a special offer which comes into effect from October 1. This implies that each month a subscriber pays ahead of the service expiration, they get a 10 percent rebate on the subsequent month’s payment and this continues as long as the circle is unbroken.

“We are mindful of the current economic challenges and the impact on the purchasing power given the myriad of competing needs. As a family-oriented company, we have proposed this deal aimed at creating a Win-Win situation that ensures that this increase has no negative impact on our subscribers who take up our offer. Our esteemed subscribers will have an opportunity to pay less than they were previously paying,” said Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria.

Ugbe added that with the

new price regime, subscribers may pay less than the current subscription rate if they keep their subscription running without interruption. He also emphasized that DStv will continue to avail its subscriber’s quality programming and more value.

For subscribers who take advantage of the special offer, the 10 percent discount translates to N1,350

from N1,500 (N150 less than the new rate) for DStv Access; N2,700 from N3, 000 (N300 less than the new rate) for DStv Family; N4, 500 from N5, 000 (N500 less than the new rate) for DStv Compact; N6,750 from N7, 500 (N750 less than new rate) for DStv Compact Plus; and N9, 900 from N11, 000 (N1,100 less than the new rate) for the DStv

Bacchus Forever one radio show is back

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ACCHUS Tonic Wine Forever One a 15 minute radio show sponsored by Grand Oak limited which ran on radio stations across Nigeria last

year, took a break off the airwaves is back on radio stations across the country.

Speaking about the new show recently, Aare Fatai Odesile the Marketing Director of Grand Oak Limited explained that, “we took a break on Bacchus Tonic Wine Forever One so as to reinforce the positioning of the brand which is to celebrate love every day.

Based on our teeming audience feedback, we also took time to repackage the programme and add more zest to the celebration of love on radio”. arrows of love from one heart to the other has gone a step further in the celebration of love in this newly repackaged show.

Redstar commences anniversary celebration

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ED Star Express, the franchisee of Federal Express, popularly known as FedEx, has commenced its twentieth anniversary with the unveiling of a logo.

The company which opened office in Nigeria in 1992 with sixty operational outlets and barely 100 staff members has grown to become a multibillion naira business, serving the entire nation and beyond with over one thousand five hundred direct employees and 158 offices.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Red Star Express anniversary logo and program, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Sule Bichi said, “We are truly humbled by our growth as a company over the past twenty years. We attribute the growth to our resolve as a logistics company to remain customer focused at all times, offering not just logistics services but also peace of mind through quality and innovative services that deliver real solutions to our customers.

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30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Keeping kids busy during this vacation

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

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HE long holiday is here again with children jumping for joy while parents cringe with the thought of entertaining their children during this period.

The holiday is a relaxation time, but for parents of young

BY DAYO ADESULU

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XECUTIVE Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie has explained the reasons for the restoration of operational licences of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State and Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State. According to Okojie, the restoration was sequel to the actions taken by the affected universities to rectify the infrastructure that led to the suspension of their operational licences.

JABU’s suspension, he noted, was lifted, following its withdrawal of the advertised postgraduate programmes, as well as the stoppage of both the part-time and Bridge programmes, as directed

by NUC, among other issues.

A letter from the NUC Management to the university, dated 16th July, 2012, reads in part: “The Commission is satisfied with the actions so far taken by the university, as well as the assurances of the Vice-Chancellor and the Board of Trustees during our interactions and verification of documents."

He added: “The suspension of operational licence of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, IkejiArakeji, Osun State has been lifted with effect from 16th July, 2012. The Commission, however, stressed that it would continue to monitor the university’s implementation of the agreed actions, including full compli-

300 children, youths for ICT training, 30 for South Africa ——

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children, without school, preschool and activities, it can seem like a chore instead of relaxation time.

To help children have a sense of fulfillment, parents can offer them many opportunities to become involved everyday in one activity or the other during the summer months by coming up

•Kids and their teacher in a library

with great ideas that will keep them occupied.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning on measures taken to keep her active three-year-old Lucile busy, Mrs. Gina Karuwi said aside learning pronunciations and educative songs, there are games, story-telling, swimming, arts and crafts and skipping. “All these help keep her Continues on page 30

Why NUC lifts suspension on 3 varsities

•Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, NUC. ance with other regulatory guidelines."

On Achievers University licence restoration, Okojie explained that NUC lifted the suspension on 17th July, 2012 because the commission was satisfied with the conditions that led to the earlier suspension.

Before the suspension was lifted, he said, Achievers University made representation to the Commis-

•Prof. Fajana, VC, JABU.

sion by the Board of Trustees and principal officers of the university, pledging to respect the functions of the different organs of the university as enshrined in the university's laws and stoppage of the Bridge programme pending clearance with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

In the same vein, Okojie reiterated that Tansian University's suspension was lifted

Our natural resources are Nigeria and the grossly quest to attain under-utilised 2015 MDGs for — Victor Enemor education ——

Page 37

——

Page 32

with effect from 2nd August, 2012 having taken actions that include compliance with the Commission’s directive not to graduate students enrolled illegally in part- time programmes before the university was licensed in 2007 as evident in the convocation brochure.

According to the NUC boss, other actions taken by Tansian include reconstituting the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the

institution in line with the Commission’s directive which stipulates that an old member of the BOT be appointed acting chairman, while the names of the two persons replacing the two erstwhile members be forwarded to the State Security Service for security clearance.

Moreover, the proprietor of the institution, Very Rev. Msgr.

J.B. Akam who has been ProChancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, has been mandated to leave and be replaced by Professor Pete Uzoegbu as the new ProChancellor and Chairman of Council. ”An old member of the BOT be appointed acting chairman, while the names of the two persons replacing the two erstwhile members be forwarded to the State Security Service for security clearance and removal of the proprietor (Very Rev. Msgr. J.B.Akam) as Pro-Chancellor; Chairman of Council and the reconstitution of the university’s Governing Council with the appointment of Professor Pete Uzoegbu as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.”

In a letter conveying the decision, the Commission said it shall soon send a team to conduct a forensic audit covering all ramifications of the university’s operations and shall

Continues on page 31

Our natural resources are grossly under-utilised

— Dr. Victor Enemor ——

Page 36

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—31

300 children, youths for ICT training, 30 for South Africa

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

O

VER 300 children and youths from across the country are presently assembled in Abuja for detailed training in information and communication technology out of which 30 would be selected to join their peers from across the world on ICT training in South Africa.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of Digital Peers International, DPI, organisers of the annual Digitest, Engr. Adeolu Odusote at the opening ceremony of the Digitest 2012, titled: Digital Solutions to Youths Unemployment in Abuja, said the children would be taken through ICT training that will help them to be selfemployed and better appreciate life.

Odusote affirmed that the youths were always at the receiving end whenever there was system failure in any country. He noted that the retreat/ training for the children and youths between eight and18 years, will see participants receiving thorough training on ICT from August 6 to 16, 2012 that will help them to be focused and self-employed in the near future.

Digitest is the brainchild of Digital Peers International, DPI which on annual basis takes children and youths to camp with all the ICT facilities and comfort during long vacation so as to keep them busy as they learn and enhance their knowledge in ICT and at the same time, learn some morals and values that will keep them

...As Perm Sec laments high rate of unemployment focused in life.

DPI also seeks to empower them to acquire information and the application of such acquired information to national development.

Odusote though regretted that 90 per cent of the youths were unemployed as many of them wait on government jobs which more often than not, are not forthcoming. He stated that there must be a solution to the menace that would help to absorb the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

“When ICT first came, it was like it would take jobs from people but people then began to realise that ICT creates more jobs than taking the jobs from them.

“We have over 300 children and youths for this year’s Digitest for the 10 days training out of which 30 would be selected to meet other children from

around the world in South Africa on the 20th of this month.

It will broaden their horizon, redirect their focus to better appreciate what the future holds for them.” arlier, Mr. John Osai, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs bemoaned the increasing rate of unemployment in the country.

Osai lamented over the escalating number of unemployed youths which he said has continued to be on the increase as more graduates were being churned out from tertiary institutions in the country without employment.

He said: “The high rate of unemployment in the country has brought frustration to the lives of many to the extent that life no more has meaning to them. The skyrocketing rate of poverty can also be tied to the high rate

E

of unemployment which has risen to a crescendo.

“This, in itself, is a threat to national development because it makes many to take to criminal activities which hinders developmental moves in the country.”

He said that statistics had proven that "there is a steady increase in the number of unemployed youths in the country such that the escalating cacophony of unemployed youths has been identified as one of the potential threats to the security and survival of the Nigerian nation” The Permanent Secretary said that the annual Digitest retreat for children and youths would contribute immensely to curbing unemployment in the country as the youths would have learnt some skills that will help them to be self-employed in the near future.

*Cross section of graduating students of Trinity International School, Ofada, Ogun State.

Keeping kids busy during this vacation Continues from page 30 occupied, broaden her knowledge and also gives me time to do my business,” Karuwi said.

For Mrs. Titi Saidu, keeping four-year-old Tireni busy means summer lessons and buying legos for her to build and rebuild.

Still not sure of how to keep your children busy all through the holidays, below are some guides on how parents can keep their children gainfully occupied, energized and mentally prepared for the new school session.

Book-a-thon

Aside the summer lessons, one of the simplest ways to keep kids busy is to take them C M Y K

to the local library, most of

which have free reading programmes that will allow them earn prizes for books they read. If you make a weekly trip to the library, then you will have one less day to worry about.

Outdoor activities Be it swimming, camping or movies, outdoor activities help children develop their social skills. Swimming is a great activity for kids to stay busy during the holidays as they get to exercise, have fun and stay cool. The good thing about a camping trip is that it will get your family out of the house for a few days though it will need some planning.

To keep your kids busy during this period, it will take more

than just the swimming pool and the library. Movies are great because your children can simply rest a bit and most local movie theatres will have a summer deal for kids.

Arts and crafts can be as simple as coloring a page in a coloring book , sewing a new outfit or building a play house. You can also get a lot of ideas from your local arts and craft store. Some crafts can take a few minutes to a few hours, or it could be a major project that will take most of the holiday to complete. Either way, your kids are sure to stay busy during the break with arts and crafts!

Sports and memberships Exercise is great for kids of

all ages and you may find a sport your child is interested in. Participation in a sports team can vary from lessons to competitive and can last from a week to the whole summer.

Gardening Take time this holiday to allow your children cultivate a garden either in your backyard or containers on your balconies. Watching plants grow - and watering and feeding plants - give children a sense of purpose and something to look forward to everyday.

Remember, because it is holiday period doesn’t mean that parents cannot help their children keep up to speed on learning so they don’t lose valuable knowledge.

CAREER GUIDANCE

Want ttoo be an architect?

A

N architect is a licensed professional who organises space.

Architects design houses, office buildings, skyscrapers, landscapes, ships, and even entire cities. The services of a licensed architect depend on the type of project; and fees may range from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the total construction costs.

Architects are trained in many areas, from historic preservation, to structural engineering. This training can lead to a wide variety of careers.

Architecture is an art and a science that involves many talents and skills.

Students who study architecture in college may go on to become licensed architects, or they can apply their learning to a related profession. Career paths include Architectural engineer, architectural historian, architectural writer, building designer, among others.

While still in high school, you should plan a strong college preparatory programme with courses in English, humanities subjects, mathematics, including geometry, trigonometry, algebra and pre-calculus, and physics.

Art courses - drawing, painting, sculpture or photography - will be helpful in developing your ability to visualize and conceptualize, both important skills to an architect.

Why NUC lifts suspension on 3 varsities Continues from page 30 continue to monitor the university’s implementation of the agreed actions and continuous compliance with the Commission’s extant guidelines and regulations The forensic audit, which begins next week, he noted, will cover all the universities that had their licences suspended. These include Madonna University, Okija; Achiever’s University, Owo; Tansian University, Umunya; Caritas University, AmorjiNike, Lead City University, Ibadan; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji and Obong University.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

I

N less than two years, precisely 2015, the duration set by the United Nations (UN) for member-countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in the area of education, will elapse.

Considering what many have termed the tottering nature of Nigeria’s education sector over the years, the pertinent questions on the lips of stakeholders in the sector have been; can the nation attain the set MDGs and targets on or before the stipulated period? What measures have been put in place in the last 12 years towards achieving this enviable feat?

Recall, it was on September 8, 2000, that no fewer than 189 heads of State and Government gathered at United Nations headquarters in New York, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm their faith in the organisation and its charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world.

On this day, the member-states adopted for themselves the UN Millennium *President Goodluck Jonathan Declaration. This adoption of the Millennium Declaration by all 189 member-states of the United Nations General Assembly was a defining moment for global cooperation in the 21st Century.

The Declaration outlined within a single framework the key challenges facing humanity at the threshold of the new millennium, Achieve universal primary females and males.

Even though successive while also outlining a response education; Promote gender administrations in the nation equality and empower to these challenges. Thus, establishing concrete measures women; Reduce child mortality have worked their noses to the for judging performance through rates; Improve maternal grindstone towards ensuring a set of interrelated commitments, health; combat HIV/AIDS, that compulsory Universal goals and targets on malaria, and other diseases; Basic Primary Education environmental becomes the right of every development, government, Ensure peace, security and human rights. sustainability and Develop a Nigerian child, achievements In recognition of the need to global partnership for so far in the sector leave much to be desired. The Executive translate this commitment into development.

Secretary of the National action, a broad inter-agency s Nigeria was part of the Commission for Mass Literacy, consultation arrived at what is conference, the target Adult and Non-Formal universally known today as the for education was that by 2015, Education (NMEC), Mr Jibrin Millennium Development Goals all Nigerian children (boys Paiko in a recent chat with (MDGs).

Rising from the conference, and girls) can complete a full journalists, disclosed that 35 eight key Goals and 21 Targets course of primary schooling; per cent of Nigeria’s 160 population is were set to be attained on or before enrollment in primary million 2015. Succinctly, the goals education; completion of considered to be illiterate. By included— To eradicate primary education and the estimation, this is about 56 extreme poverty and hunger; literacy of 15-24 years old million illiterates.

people.

H

*Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa'i

Nigeria and the quest to attain 2015 MDGs for education

A

A critical look at the sector over the years, shows that it has been bedeviled by a lot of sordid forces. This has been proven by the high number of Nigerians who leave the country for other countries, including neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Togo, South Africa and Kenya, for what could best be described as the urge to get quality education. Another contending issue staring the country in the face is the menace of insecurity.

Stakeholders are of the view that reducing illiteracy statistics would go a long way to reduce the increasing wave of violence and insecurity currently facing us as a

Invincible – Invisible Invincible and Invisible are two different words with different meanings. Invincible means ‘unconquerable i.e. that cannot be conquered’ while invisible means ‘that cannot be seen i.e. not visible to the eye’. Don’t use them interchangeably.

Examples Only God is invincible.

Spiritual enemies are invisible.

Frequently Confused Words Stationary – Stationery Stationary is an adjective meaning ‘remaining in one place; standing still, unmoving’ stationery is a noun meaning ‘ writing paper or materials.’ Don’t confuse them. Please pay attention to ‘er’ in stationery and ‘ar ’ in stationary.

Examples The bus was stationary when a car ran into it.

Adun went to a stationery store to buy a notebook.

C M Y K

Loose – Lose It is easy to confuse loose, (two o’s) with lose (one o). Lose is a verb meaning ‘misplace; become unable to find, follow or understand (lose one’s way); be deprived of or cease to have, esp. by negligence; be deprived of (a person) by death; mislay.’ It is also the opposite of ‘ win’. Loose, as an adjective, means ‘not securely attached; not tight; free from bonds or restraint; not compact or dense (loose soil)’. Loose can also be a verb. The verb ‘loose means ‘release, to let free, undo’.

Examples His belt is loose.

The upper end of her wrapper is loose.

owever, major avoidable factors that have remained a clog in the wheel of success to the nation’s education sector include but not limited to; poor budgeting, poor implementation of budgets, examination malpractice, poor performances recorded in national examinations, a large chunk of school age children that are out of school, poor remuneration and welfare packages for teachers, usually leading to industrial strikes, poor quality of teachers, poor quality of graduates, nonconducive learning terrain, unnecessary but complex school curricula, the quest and over-consciousness for certificate acquisition instead of quest for knowledge, developmental skills and technical-know-how amongst others.

Even though the Federal Government and other concerned stakeholders have claimed to have been working their noses to the grindstone towards the attainment of the UN’s 2015 set goals, stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard Learning are of the view that the goals and targets are no way attainable by 2015 in what they attributed to government’s complacency.

According to them, burdening issues such as the non-indigenization of the MDGs to suit the Nigerian environment, quota system/ federal character, complacency on the part of government, putting square pegs in round holes, endemic corruption, misplacement of priorities on budgets and needs amongst others, immensely contribute to the tottering nature of the nation’s education sector.

Don’t lose your head when others are keeping theirs.

You can lose your keys if you don’t put them in your pocket.

OFF-HEAD - BY HEART OFFHAND Off-head is not an English word (though it is common among Nigerian users of English) but offhand is.

Offhand is an adverb which means ‘spontaneous, without needing to think very hard, without preparation or research’; as in ‘Offhand, I can think of five examples of criminals in government.’ Do not say off-head, when you want to express that you can remember something perfectly. By heart is the expression to use. By heart implies ‘from memory, by rote.’

Example: ‘Some teachers encourage learning poetry by heart’.

zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—33

BY MOHAMMED MAIMUNA T was a clean sweep for the University of Benin (UNIBEN), as three of its students won all the top prizes at the recently concluded Amstel Malta Showtime 2012 which was held at the Best Western Hotel, Benin City.

The activation was targeted at students of higher institutions in Edo and neighbouring states. It was designed to provide a platform for undergraduates to unleash their creative potentials in singing, dancing and comedy.

The unique variety show, which comes from the Nigerian Breweries PLC., makers of Amstel Malta, saw the students of various universities and polytechnics in the catchment area slugging it out for mouth-watering prizes in the three categories: singing, dancing and comedy competitions.

The winners of the competitions were decided by the audience, via voice votes. The winners in all the categories went home with the whopping sum of N500, 000, a brand new iPad and an all-expense paid weekend getaway for two to Lagos. While the first and second runners-up each went home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.

After intense competition, petite dancer, Emuobosan Orogun, Victor Chidiere Ijeoma and Chibueze Madu Daniel, all went home with the fantastic prizes after emerging winners in the singing, dancing and comedy categories

I

UNIBEN dominates as Amstel Malta Showtime thrills students can do,” he stated.

The last winner of the night, Chibueze Madu Daniel who goes by the stage name, MC Medical, described the night as the best moment of his life.

“This is a special night for me.

It is the best moment of my life. I can say that my career in comedy has truly taken off with my victory in this competition,” the 300 level Law student said.

H

*Stage performance of UNIBEN students at Amstel Malta Showtime 2012 held at Best Western Hotel, Benin City. show started. I am sure that respectively.

Speaking after her victory, my victory will open the gate Emuobosan Orogun, a 400 for more female winners,” she Level Science and Laboratory said.

Victor Chidiere Ijeoma, a 25Technology student of the Unimechanical versity of Benin expressed year-old gratitude to Nigerian Brewer- engineering student who was ies. “I am very happy to have voted the best singer of the also expressed won this competition. I put in night, so much in preparing for it so gratitude to Nigerian BrewerI am glad that all the hard ies Plc., for giving him a platform to showcase his work paid off,” she stated. talent. “I think the most nterestingly, Orogun is important thing here is the only the second female to opportunity to show the world have won in any category in what I can do. I am proud that all the six editions of Amstel I emerged as the winner but I Malta Showtime. “I feel great am also happy at having a to be the second lady to have unique opportunity like this for won the top position since the me to show the world what I

I

owever, it wasn’t just a night for the students as raves of the moment, Davido and Naeto C both put up exciting performances before the audience. The event also featured rib-cracking jokes from comedian Buchi while the dance group, Corporate Dancers, completed the lineup of entertainers on the night.

The show was anchored by Dare ‘Art” Alade.

Speaking on the event, Adedoyin Owotomo, the Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, stated that the event was conceived to give students of tertiary institutions an opportunity to express themselves.

“The whole idea behind Amstel Malta Showtime is to give students a chance for them to display their talents and express themselves."

After Benin, the ancient city of Ibadan is next for the Amstel Malta Showtime experience, with 9ice and Tiwa Savage billed to perform at the event on August 31, 2012.

Edo students, NANS task Oshiomhole on infrastructure, bursary

BY NOSAKHARE UWADIAE, BENIN

L

EADERSHIP of the National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS) has joined other well meaning Nigerians to congratulate Governor Adams Oshiomhole on his overwhelming victory and re-election at the July 14 governorship poll.

The National President of the association, Comrade Gerald Asekhameh said Oshiomhole’s re-election as governor of Edo State was a testimony to the fact that his exemplary style of governance has impacted positively on the good people of Edo State, saying that “it’s a reflection of the desires of people not to go back from the promised land which he has taken us as the Joshua of our time to the days of Egypt.”

He added that “Oshiomhole has given light to those who have been left in darkness, roads to those left in the wilderness, water to those left in the desert. Those who have C M Y K

*Gov. Adams Oshiomhole

*Vice-President of NANS, Comrade Joseph Ehimenmen

been condemned to death, you have brought back to life through your provision of hospitals, you have given us Comrade buses to ease our transport challenges, you have turned our public schools into paradise and given us free and qualitative education and so many other good things.”

Gerald, who also called on the governor to consolidate on the good works which he has started, said there was need for

the governor to improve the welfare of Edo State students especially in the areas of scholarship, bursary grants and infrastructure development in institutions of higher learning in the state.

Similarly, students of the state-owned tertiary institutions – Ambrose Ali University (AAU) Ekpoma, Colleges of Education- Ekiadolor and Igueben and the Institute of Management and Technology,

Usen had repeatedly lamented the lack of infrastructure across the schools.

Students of AAU have charged Governor Oshiomhole to constitute credible management staff strictly on competence, integrity, and sound academic acumen. They faulted the continued acting capacity of the Vice-Chancellor of the school.

Just as they also called on the management to commence the process of SUG election to pave the way for a substantive executive to pilot affairs of their union against the backdrop of care-taker-committee running students affairs of the institution.

Also among their demand is the downward review of the tuition fees of tertiary institutions in the state from N65,000 (AAU) and 35,000 (Colleges of Education) to considerable amount.

The Secretary-General of NANS (Zone B), Comrade Ekutu Richard said if this is done, many students and parents/guardians would have a breath of fresh air.

Examination malpractice spells doom for education sector

BY ADEYEMI MOSES & WALE OSHIKOYA, LASU

D

EEPLY saddened by the steep fall in the standard of education in the country leading to the continuous churning out of half-baked graduates into the labour industry, respondents who spoke to Quadlife have attributed this to the high rate of examination malpractice perpetrated at all levels of the education system.

According to them, this trend that has bedeviled the country’s education sector, if left unchecked, will continue to spell doom for the country, especially as certificates issued by any of its schools would not be regarded as more valuable than the piece of paper on which it is printed upon in the international scene.

Even though the Senate has last February placed a ban on miracle centres across the country, perpetrators of this crime to education and sound morals seem to have proliferated in our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

A major reason why examination malpractice has become a common trend in our generation is laziness on the part of students. A large percentage of students now find it difficult to sit down and study at a stretch for two hours or more. They (students) occupy themselves with unnecessary activities. Some students prefer to stay awake all night chatting on social networks rather than reading their books.

Although students should be blamed for not being diligent in the place of study, parents should also take part of the blame. A large number of parents are so much involved with their business activities that they fail to perform some of their duties to their children, like checking their home work to see how well the child is faring and how much effort still needs to be put in by the child. Parents are meant to help their children develop a good reading habit right from childhood so that when he grows, he will not depart from it.

Furthermore, the increase in numbers of sub-standard schools in our society also is a factor. The end products of such are students who cannot spell their names correctly.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

T

By BETTY INEGBENEBOR

HE quest for foreign education is on the increase despite the huge cost of financing such ventures.

This quest has made the United Kingdom, USA, Ghana and Benin Republic choice destinations for Nigerians who desire to school abroad.

According to a recently published research by the British Council, it was predicted that the number of Nigerian students in the UK would have risen from just 2,800 in 2007, to 30,000 by 2015, while it is on record that 246 billion naira fuels the UK education sector.

But despite all the difficulties encountered in acquiring foreign education, many Nigerians still don’t have it easy as they are faced with numerous challenges, chief of which is racism.

Quadlife sought to know from Nigerian students schooling abroad what they have to endure in pursuit of their education as most foreign study agencies don’t place on their advert pages the ugly stories of racism, stomach churning bills and tax.

Recounting his most unforgettable racism encounter, Donald Tombia, a student in the UK, said: “I was out with my friend and we were in a bus when an elderly white woman that I was seated beside suddenly shifted. I was baffled because the way she did it made it look like I was smelling, a thief or suicide bomber. I ignored her and started speaking pidgin with my friend when, to my surprise, she sighed and asked us to speak English.

“I still ignored her and continued talking with my friend in pidgin, then she blurted: ‘you think you blacks are smart, you come into my country to further your education and plant yourselves in here.’ She said a lot of humiliating stuff, to the extent of insulting my forefathers. It took the intervention of a Ghanaian lady to pacify me.”

How to avoid sleeping in class

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

Y

•Students of Scott Johnson North Hennepin Community College

Experience of Nigerian students studying abroad Referring to the high taxes that one has to pay, Tombia said he would prefer to come back to Nigeria rather than stay back and work in the UK. “This is because of the wealth creation opportunities as when you work in the UK, you have the tax, health bills, accommodation bills, light, gas, transport and all sorts of bills to pay. It gets to a point where you are just able to afford your clothes and food.”

F

or Ken, the racism encounter almost cost him his life as the traffic warden on duty didn’t care that he hadn’t yet crossed the road.

“I had to go get something and I think there was an accident on the road and there was this warden controlling the traffic. Two white guys were in front of me and we wanted to cross the road. The warden signaled the cars to stop, and immediately those boys crossed, he signaled for the cars to move while I was half way crossing the road. I thought I was going to get

crushed but still this man didn’t care.

He made me stand in the middle of the road for a long while and it was by the grace of God I managed to cross.”

In the words of Moslin Edden Saudi, ‘a traveller without observation is like a bird without wings.’ Despite the bitter encounters of some students, there are still others that are full of praises for foreign education systems.

Inemesit Okodi said: “Schooling in the UK is the best opportunity anyone can have. Reasons are; the certificates are recognised worldwide depending on your level of accomplishment.

There are more competent teachers, more facilities, I’m talking as a science student so emphasizing on the facilities. Yes, I have been given the greatest opportunity in life."

Olaitan Laniya, an ex-resident and student in the UK said: “My experience studying in the UK was okay because everything is at your disposal. But back in Nigeria, the environment is not conducive for learning and most students don’t know about plagiarism as it’s all about copy and paste. In Nigeria, you pay for your handouts whereas, over there, you get it free from your lecturers or you can as well go online and download it.”

Experts seek continental body for library scientists

L

IBRARY and Information Scientists (LIS) across Africa are seeking a unified body that will enable it fasttrack the development of the sector within the continent.

The body to be known as the African Library Information Association (AfLIA) will support the library and information profession that anticipates and responds to the needs of communities in Africa and drive high standards in library C M Y K

and information services and professional practices.

It will equally consider ways to encourage widespread understanding of the value and importance of high quality library and information services in the public, private and voluntary sectors and promote libraries and information centres as vital institutions that enhance people’s lives through equitable access to knowledge and information.

Registrar of Librarians’ Regis-

tration Council of Nigeria and Chair of the Africa Section of the International Federation of Library Institutions and Associations (IFLA), Dr Victoria Okojie disclosed this while making a proposal for the establishment of AfLIA at the just concluded 20th Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Information and Library Associations (SCECSAL) in Nairobi, Kenya.

ou know when you get to that point. The lecturer’s soothing voice turns into a lullaby and then fades into oblivion. Whatever is being written on the board turns into a slurred mirage on a journey that never ends. Your handwriting begins to have the same DNA, with chickens scratching the surface for their daily bread.

Whether it’s the subtle hand in face, face in book or head on the table at the back of the class routine. Or the shameless closing eyelids right before your lecturer’s eyes, you’ve been at that point; when a mixture of boring lecturers, combined with late nights and a pretty slow clock bring your eyes to their knees and cause you to sleep.

There are some steps you can take to avoid sleeping in class…or at least avoid being caught: 1.Get enough rest the night before There are times when you can’t help it. But when you can, substitute gossiping with your roommates, playing games and watching movies with a few more hours of sleep.

2. Prepare to ask questions Mentally preparing yourself to ask questions will save you a world of snoring. The added adrenaline keeps you on your toes and makes you more attentive.

3. Surround yourself with the right people Every class has a particular set of people who always take their nap in class. You might want to choose your friends wisely if you want to stay awake. Sit around the efikos who ask questions, and won’t be shy to wake you up when you’re nodding away.

4. Chewing gum, sweets and all kinds of food It seems terrible to break a bad habit with another bad one, but if your lecturer won’t complain, who’s to judge? Because many lecturers hate people chewing away in their classes, a bottle of water is the safest bet.

5. Take a restroom break This works most of the time. A stroll to the restroom will give a jab to your senses. You can also wash your face when you get there, and make funny faces at yourself in the mirror.

6. Watch other people sleep You’d be surprised at what you’ll find and how awake it will keep you. Be careful so you don’t disrupt the class with an outburst of laughter.

7. Try listening As hard as it may be to believe, your lecturer might just have something to say, and it might be worth your while to listen. That is why you applied for higher education in the first place right?

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 35

Fastrack Int’l Schools to open day sec. sch

By CECILIA EFFIOM

M

ANAGEMENT of Fastrack International Schools comprising Kindergarten, Nursery, Primary, Junior & Senior High schools, is set to

C M Y K

open a co-educational secondary school in Festac Town, Lagos to be known as Fastrack International College (FIC) starting with a day school, to be followed by “a full boarding coeducational school with world

class state-of-the-art infrastructure and learning aids within the next three years.”

According to a press release from the school, “FIC, Festac will have two arms of classes with a maximum of 20 stu-

dents per class.”

This, they said, is to enable them offer personalized services to the students so that their vision of producing responsible citizens with great abilities and potentials to be leaders in

their generation, will be actualized.

The release further stated that the school will partner with parents and the community to inspire each student to reach his/ her full academic, emotional, physical and spiritual potential.

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

N

IGERIA may be having all she needs in terms of pharmaceuticals within the rich vegetations scattered throughout the nation. This much was said by Dr. Victor Enemor, a lecturer in the Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in this chat with Vanguard Learning in his office. He spoke on his research work on a local shrub, Sarcocephalus latifolius (Nauclea latifolia) whose edible fruit is known as African peach, Guinea peach, Sierra Leone peach or Country fig in English and ubulu inu (bitter apple) in Igbo. Excerpts: Area of research: According to Enemor, his research was initially in the branch of biochemistry called enzymology, but along the line, he discovered that it was not what Nigerians need at this time because “I realised that we do not have adequate technology to utilise or carry out appropriate research in enzymology,” he said. As a result, he decided to look into local plants that have medicinal values.

Said Enemor: “Essentially, my area of research now is pharmacology. We have an environment that is largely untapped. The natural resources around us are grossly underutilised. All the plant species around us have one potential or another. Unfortunately, due to our limitations, many of the plants have great potentials that have not been recognised.

God has given us an environment that supports the growth of a large number of plant species with different chemical components.”

Phytochemical/secondary metabolites: “We know that the quarrel between traditional and orthodox medicine is on products’ refining. Usually, when a herbal medicine practitioner gets leaves or roots, he either applies decoction (boil or soak it in water) or sometimes uses other solvents like ethanol and methanol to extract. He lacks the necessary facilities to actually separate or identify components of the extract so he administers it the way it is. One danger is that plant extracts contain a lot of chemicals.

There are up to 30,000 plant chemicals known as phytochemical or secondary metabolites which have potentials to improve human health, protect the body from free radicals, kill pathogens etc. The problem is identifying them and then finding out what exactly their functions are individually,” he said.

Uses of the African peach: C M Y K

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

*Dr. Victor Enemor..The African peach might provide a lead for many useful drugs

*Sarcocephalus latifolius or African peach

Our natural resources are grossly under-utilised — VICTOR ENEMOR “Sarcocephalus latifolius, also called African peach, is a very common evergreen shrub.

Local people recognise its medicinal potentials and use it for varieties of health interests.

Many have reported diverse usage, notably, for malaria. I have seen evidence that it has anti-malarial properties. It is said to also have effect on diabetes, hypertension, diarrhoea, dysentery, dental, cardiovascular problems, pathogens, sleeping sickness, depression, measles, piles, menstrual disorders, a myorelaxant etc. Reports also said that the extract can be used to arrest pre-term contraction in pregnancy; so many exciting claims. People have even mentioned leprosy and gonorrhoea. Interestingly, one school of thought has said that the fruit extract has the potential of curing HIV. If it is true, that alone is a pointer to the fact that we may be having at least if not wholly, part of the answer to the HIV scourge. In Cameroon, it is a first line treatment for pains and fever. There are also certain things that point to me that this plant might be useful in treating arthritis,” he stated.

Toxicity: Continued Enemor: “Science pays great attention to the issue of toxicity. Although a plant species may contain useful secondary metabolites or chemical substances that are pharmacologically active, we must pay attention to whether this plant also has

,

By EBELE ORAKPO

With all the parameters I tested using experimental animals, I can say that the extract is relatively safe

,

any substance that may have any level of toxicity. So in drug discovery, when you want to

screen a substance for pharmacological values, the toxicity testing is a major factor. A plant extract may contain so many useful substances but if it contains one that can have serious negative effect on the subject, then it becomes a very big concern because you cannot derive benefit of 10 components and then suffer the loss of your life and all the benefits because of the presence of one. This is why research is important as it seeks to isolate different components, identify and purify the useful ones. Again, toxicity is a relative term because in pharmacology, before a substance can induce toxicity, it must first of all accumulate to a particular dose level, it is not all levels that can actually induce toxici-

ty. From my research, this plant is relatively safe. It is believed that every part of it is medicinal but one single report said that the plant is carcinogenic, that humans should have nothing to do with it. It cited one compound, 1hydroxyanthraquinone known to be carcinogenic. My worry is that the report is not fully referenced, it does not give me that confidence to actually quote it but I have asked around laboratories to find out those that have reagents and equipment that would detect that compound and confirm whether or not it is present in the plant.

“With all the parameters I tested using experimental animals, I can say that the extract is relatively safe. I cannot outrightly say that what those people have pointed out is wrong, it may be wrong at the end of the day because I have seen a report that said the plant does not contain alkaloids but when we looked into it, we found that alkaloid is a major component.“ Chemical lead: Dr. Enemor believes that this plant can be a chemical lead.

“A chemical lead is an original substance from which a drug or drugs may be produced. So in drug research, we look for chemical leads. If it is certified that this plant has so much potentials and it is relatively safe, it might provide a lead for many useful drugs.”

He regretted that most people will prefer to build skyscrapers than plant trees because of ignorance. “One thing we don’t appreciate is that the vegetation around us is a cleaner. They clean up our environment and when we talk about photosynthesis, it sounds like Greek, but actually, it is an indispensable property of life.

When we have enough vegetation, they mop up the carbon dioxide that our activities push out and use them to produce food for us and give us oxygen.

It is an act of ignorance when people want to see sky scrapers instead of trees.”

You-Nik Academy rewards teachers

BY IDORENYIN INYANG

A

teacher’s reward is in heaven, goes a popular saying but the management of YOU-NIK Academy Nursery/Primary School, Lafia Nasarawa State, thought otherwise as they decided to honour four teaching staff and one nonteaching staff at the Best teacher award ceremony and end of session party/graduation ceremony held on July 28, 2012.

Out of 18 academic staff, four ICT and eight support staff, Mrs. Rita Lawal Okeme came tops, and was rewarded with an Opel saloon car. Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Brown Ekanem

while presenting the keys to the winner said the award was to motivate teachers to give their best.

According to him, the school will soon introduce other good packages like pension and housing scheme aimed at attracting and retaining best brains.

The first runner-up, Mrs. Mercy Abraham was awarded a brand new deep freezer. Mr. Usman Abdullahi and Miss Olubunmi Salami tied as second runners-up and got one HP laptop each.

In the non-academic staff category, Mr. Gabriel Matter came tops and was given a motorcycle.

In a speech read by the Propri-

etress/Head teacher, Mrs. ImaAbasi Brown, she congratulated the graduating Primary five pupils who have gained admission into various secondary schools.

“I feel like the session started yesterday as I can see the flashing image of our first term when the children were younger. I look at them today and the transformation is amazing. I notice that as they progress in age, they are equally progressing in acquiring the required knowledge and mind-set to make their tomorrow better,” she said.

She thanked the executive and entire members of the PTA for their co-operation and contributions.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—37

C M Y K

38 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

Is it draconian?

Counsel Corner

— Pg 39

— Pg 40

And now, a female Chief Justice of Nigeria: Will she be blindfolded (2) — Pg 41

New Lagos State road traffic law

A guide to all, nemesis of few—Attorney-General MR. Ade Ipaye is the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for justice. In this interview, he spoke on the new Lagos State Road Traffic law, which seems to be generating controversies, saying the ultimate intention of the law is to ensure compliance. Excerpts:

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

T

HE new Lagos State road traffic law, unlike the repealed traffic law has substantially criminalized traffic offences, unlike what operate in most country. What informed this decision by the government?

That is incorrect. Criminalisation is a process whereby certain behaviours are transformed into offences. Offences are prohibited acts or omissions the doing of which attracts a penalty, maybe in form of a fine or a term of imprisonment. In all the States of Nigeria, negligent or reckless practices that constitute a danger to other road users have always been criminal offences. The difference in the new Law is that, rather than keep only to those generalisations, it has gone further to identify, describe and prohibit particular practices under the pain of penalty. Things like smoking while driving, not using your seat belt, driving against the normal flow of traffic, disobeying traffic lights and directives or driving under the influence of alcohol. I daresay that what we are doing is

•Ade Ipaye, Lagos AG already established practice in most countries of the world. Some of these have even been in our laws, even though attracting negligible penalties.

Looking at the law, some analysts are saying it is only in this part of the world that traffic laws, especially those affecting perennial issues are being criminalized. How do you react to this?

I have already explained that. Perhaps the contention is that the law prescribes jail terms where we expect to pay a small fine and move on. If that be the case, it is abundantly justifiable. We cannot keep doing things as we used to

Excerpts from the law T

HE Law as presented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye includes: Section 1 empowers Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to: Apply breath testing, blood and urine specimen testing devices on any driver to detect drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs.

2. Demand psychiatric evaluation of any person who drives against normal flow of traffic or fails to comply with any provisions of this law (at his own cost), if in the opinion of any officer of the authority such is necessary for the purpose of determining the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.

S. 3 No person shall operate a motorcycle or tricycle -without a rider ’s card issue by C M Y K

MVAA -without wearing a standard protective crash helmet -Carrying more than one passenger at a time (provided a pregnant woman, a child below the age of 12 years or an adult with a baby or heavy/large load placed on his head shall not be carried as passenger) -Imprisonment for three years or community service and forfeiture of vehicle. Passenger shall also be liable if not a child.

3-No person shall ride, drive or proper a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in schedule 11 to this law.

-Including Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu road, Agege motor road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Continues on page 41

and expect a change. Is it not madness for someone to drive on the left side of the road when our law says we should all drive on the right? Is it not a wanton disregard for life when a commercial motorcyclist carries two adult passengers with a baby onto an expressway, none wearing a protective helmet? Take driving against traffic, it became so rampant that we started building medians or road dividers. Still these reckless drivers break them down and climb over. Can a responsible government look on and keep pouring millions into median construction when we don’t even have enough to keep all the roads in good repair?

Considering the traffic situation Lagosians face on daily basis, especially the issue of bad roads across the state, and the view that laws are made for man not man make for law.

Do you think the law will be effective as envisaged by the government?

This Road Traffic Law is indeed made for man. It is clearly the road to a better life in Lagos State. We need not leave our homes at 4 am and get back at 10pm if we all behave rationally in traffic.

Voluntary compliance This law will serve as a guide to all and the nemesis of the few who want to persist in bad practices. I therefore think we will get voluntary compliance in the majority of cases. Where roads are bad, we shall continue to repair them. Where there is no bus service or any viable alternative, we shall continue to allow okadas and tricycles. But for those that refuse to obey the Law, all the enforcement agencies, including the Police, LASTMA, FRSC and KAI are all primed to go. Every citizen is also a policeman for this law. For example, pictures taken on your phone and send to LASTMA will enable us bring offenders to book. I believe it won’t be long before we all start seeing the benefits.

Do you think the state judiciary will be able to cope with the volume of cases that may arise from the number of likely offenders?

The judiciary is well sensitised and ready for this assignment. With the aid of cameras and witnesses, these offences are not difficult to prove. There will be a lot of voluntary compliance and, depending on the offence committed, a lot of offenders will own

up and pay a fine, so it is not every incident that will end up in court. Where they do, the judiciary will continue to do its best, as usual.

The state government has been making efforts over the years to reduce congestion of prisons. How do you think the prison facilities will take care of the influx of offenders found guilty and cannot defray penalty impose after judgment is passed on them?

The beauty of this law is its flexibility.

The judicial officer has a series of sentencing options, including community service, forfeiture of the vehicle, payment of fine and order to undergo training at the Drivers’ Institute, all of which can be used instead of a jail term. So I won’t worry about prison congestion at all. Whoever cannot pay a fine can cut grass or work in a hospital for the prescribed period of time.

Some have also raised concern that the state government may be in coalition course in the implementation of the law as affects federal highways.

What is your take on this?

Nothing of the sort. FRSC and the Police were at the public hearing and at the signing ceremony of the law. They made a pledge to work with us in implementing this law. The objective of this Law is also the objective of the Federal Agencies. I foresee no problem there at all.

Generally, what would you say the state government and the people will achieve at the long run by implementing the new laws?

A better life. A safer, more orderly and healthier Lagos. Cleaner air for Lagosians and less aggressive behaviour in our homes, offices and public places.

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST9, 2012 — 39

New Lagos State road traffic law

Is it draconian? Yes it is: No, its not — Lawyers LAST Friday, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), signed into law the new Lagos road traffic law which is to be one of the several measures taken by the state government to address, among other things, the security challenge and perennial gridlocks on the Lagos roads.

However, the new traffic legislation has been attracting critical comments from motorists, even before it was signed, with some describing as a draconian law. Vanguard Law and human rights sought the views of lawyers in the state on the issue.

Excerpts:

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

P

ROF. Itse Sagay Just my initial reaction is that some aspects are too hard. For example, the aspect on whether you can drink or eat on the road because we know Lagos traffic. You can be in the traffic for five hours, going home after work, people get hungry, I don’t see why they won’t be able to buy snacks on the way or have a drink. I think that part is too harsh, if I am correct.

Those of it that I think are very good, for instance, driving against traffic. I think anyone doing that, it is not only the height of indiscipline, it could be murderous. So those people need to be discouraged. I am not against that at all.

If a person’s driving license has expired, I don’t think he should go to prison for that. Such person just needs to be given a fine. I think they need to take another look at the law and make it less draconian for those areas that don’t involve gross indiscipline and evil orientation. You know, if a man is drinking or eating when he is in traffic or his license has expired, I don’t see the big deal in that. But I must add that I have not read the law, I only heard about it from the media. I am waiting to get a copy.

Chief Morah Ekwunoh Though the new Traffic Law, unlike others, appears intent on using microscope to view faults of motorists; I do not share in the public frenzy of seeing it as too harsh. This is because beneath the pains of its apparent hardship lies the gains of addressing more squarely the chaotic transportation challenges and band violent crimes, particularly armed robbery, which are mostly executed with Okada. My fears, upon solemn examination of its flip side, border on hybrid of factors which will combine to herald its death-knell, soon after takeoff.

First, if the law is truly viewed as very harsh and therefore unpopular, its enforcement steam will go cold, soon after the initial hype. Legislators which suffered similar faith include bigamy law, which sought to criminalize polygamous marriage, only to record one prosecution in nearly a century of its enactment.

Second, dearth or poor commitment of workforce to execute its intendment may also render it a lame duck. Furthermore, avalanche of litigations from human right and public interest lawyers and organizations that may derive impetus C M Y K

•Prof Itse Sagay from its apparent harshness and unpopularity, may add to its quick demise.

This weapon was successfully deployed late last year when Justice E. O. Abang of Federal High Court barred, till date, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASMA) from imposing or collecting fines from motorists, for the reason of it not being a court of law so empowered under section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Do not forget that corruption, which has eaten deep into the Nigerian fabric, particularly within its law enforcement institutions, will also deny the law dyein-the wool enforcement. With interplay of forces, as explained above, morbid fears of its harshness or aggravation of prison congestion can only be smokescreen, which will clear like morning dew.

Bamidele Aturu There is nothing wrong with making laws to ease traffic situation in the state, it is for the benefit of everybody, which is supposed to be beneficial. But the problem lies in the conception and the design of that law.

I think that Lagos State government suffers an understanding of the cause of traffic in the state. In other words, the law does not show that government understands the root cause of traffic crises.

•Bamidele Aturu Lagos State government does not seem to understand the root cause of the problem of traffic crises. In the first sense, when there are too many people out of job, it is nearly wrong to be preaching to them that they should not do street trading.

How would people not do street trading when jobs have not been created for them; you want them to go out of existence? It is not going to happen. So this law in itself has a lack of understanding of economic crises that hits our people.

Second, there are pot-holes on the road and that on its own is a problem, and people are going to stay in this traffic for hours unend. And then, with our weather that can be very harsh sometimes, very sunny, and then you expect that they cannot even buy something and to drink?

For me, I believe that what government needs to do is to try everything possible to enlighten the people. And then, those who drive against one-way, I can understand. You have no right to drive against one-way, if you do that the law can deal with you.

But to also ban Okada from almost all the roads in Lagos State, I do not subscribe to such. I have said it before and I will say it again, there is a time all these able bodied young men who ride Okada are thrown out of job, by the time

•Morah Ekwunoh those who engage in street trading are driven out of the roads, the society should expect more arm-robbers knocking on their doors.

I will look at the law, though I am yet to get a copy. I will look at the judgment in favour of Okada riders against the Lagos State government; I will see if they can stand side by side and then I will take a decision. Our own argument is that, I believe that all Nigerian has equal right. So for me, this law that they have made is against the Constitution which says the government cannot be discriminated in the application of any law or administrative action. So we can look at all of that.

I know they want to create order in Lagos State, they want to avoid kiosk but you must do these by ensuring that nobody’s right is denied. It may be wrong, though Nigerians may disagree with me, but I think this law is targeted to remove people out of Lagos roads and it is targeted at the poor. They are not creating jobs and they expect to take away Okada, setting away criminals from major roads. How are the Okada people going to earn a living? And they are not providing alternative jobs for them.

So I think this may not work out and they must do something about this law.

They may need to amend it before they start executing it.

40—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 41

And now, a female Chief Justice of Nigeria: Will she be blindfolded (2) cases in the country as a way of tackling corruption”. She further provides the THE book itself is ingredients for the success of appropriately titled “Judicial such courts and these Reform And Transformation include Government in Nigeria”. In dealing with commitment and political fast tracking justice delivery will, adequate legal in economic and financial framework, impartiality and crimes litigation, Dr. Waziri independence from political examines the now familiar influences, transparency and issue of Special Courts. In effective accountability her view, “the unduly slow mechanisms, credibility and pace of Justice in Nigeria public trust, appropriate offers a safety valve to expertise and specialization, corruption”. “It is against this high level of ethics and code background”, she opines, of conduct and adequate “that I am proposing the resources and funding. As an establishment of special aside, the protagonists of courts to handle the multiple special courts need to be economic and financial crime

BY AWA KALU, SAN

•Awa Kalu, SAN reminded about a malaise called “the Nigerian factor”, a euphemism for that unidentified monster which tends to frustrate all well intentioned projects in this republic.

Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher whose recent

retirement yielded the powerful stool of Chief Justice to our new pacesetter identified judicial reform and transformation as his mantra.

His legacy in that office will crystallize when the National Assembly endorses the items listed in the Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the related matters.

Each of the past chief Justices had career defining choices. There is no doubt that as a woman of many firsts, the new Chief Justice of Nigeria will also define her tenure with yet another first. The office of Chief Justice is heavy and wellloaded. The Lady on the hot seat can carry the load, no

doubt, by shunning and avoiding the elements that may remove her blindfold.

Will Her Lordship’s tenure as Chief Justice be defined by a tinkering with the current system of appointment and promotion of Judges? Will she enlarge the pool from which appellate Judges are drawn? Can she strengthen the procedure for the discipline and removal of Judges so as to make it impossible for elephants to pass through the eye of a needle? Can she improve the quality of justice delivery so as to win back the confidence of the litigating public and even of innocent bystanders?

Yes, she can!

Concluded.

A Socio-Legal Analysis of Gani Fawehinmi’s Human Rights Praxis (4)

BY PROF OBIORA OKAFOR

of his sustained program of technical legal advocacy.

Public Protests and Campaigns As was suggested at the beginning of this section of the paper, Gani deployed

I

N Tony Momoh v. Senate and Others, he challenged, on his client’s behalf, the attempt by the then Senate of Nigeria’s National Assembly to force the editor of a national daily to reveal his sources. In Fawehinmi v. IGP and Others, he challenged the decision of the Nigerian Police Force not to launch criminal investigations against the then Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, because the interpreted the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as having granted the governor immunity from such investigations. In Fawehinmi v. The President, he challenged the restrictive locus standi requirements in constitutional cases that had for a very long time functioned to hobble human rights litigation in Nigeria. In Fawehinmi v. JubrilAminu and Four Others, Gani urged a Federal High Court to strike down the pre-conditions for suing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company as unconstitutional and sought a public account of the windfall profits Nigeria had realized from the sale of its crude oil during the Gulf crisis of 1990.

In Fawehinmi v. Head of State and Another, he sued in defense of the rights of equality as between the peoples or ethnic groups which constitute Nigeria. In Abacha v. Fawehinmi, he doggedly fought for the supremacy, or at least the applicability, of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights within Nigeria’s domestic legal order. In Garba v. University of Maiduguri, he sued to enforce the fundamental rights of student activists who had been disciplined and expelled for participating in a

C M Y K

much more than technical legal advocacy to advance his human rights praxis. One of the methods of human rights struggle that he also employed, albeit in combination with other

approaches, is his leadership and participation in public protests and campaigns against perceived human rights abuses and violations.

To be continued

Excerpts from the law Continues from page 38 •Gani Fawehinmi violent demonstrationwithout fair hearing. In Fawehinmi v.The State, he challenged the procedure adopted by a Lagos High Court in trying and convicting him for contempt for its lack of observance of fair hearing/ due process. And lastly, inLegal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee v.

Fawehinmi, he sued to enforce his own human rights to fair hearing when he was brought before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for professional misconduct (for describing himself in the advertisement for a book he had written as a “famous, reputable, controversial Nigerian lawyer).”

While these are just a tip of the iceberg of the body of law suits filed and litigated by Gani, with varying degrees of success, they suffice here to expose the nature of the kinds of technical legal advocacy that Ganiresorted to as part of his broader integrated and transdisciplinary efforts to advance the cause of human rights in Nigeria. They are also sufficient to indicate the impressive extent of his courage, tenacity, and commitment in the execution

Eko bridge, Third mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, LagosBadagry Expressway, Victoria Island-Lekki-Epe Expressway and all the Bridges not earlier mentioned where permitted, motorcycle can only operate between the hours 6: 00 am and 8:00 pm.

Motorcycle below 200 cc engine capacity shall not be used or operated on bridges and carriage roads with two or more lanes in opposite directions.

Motorcycle for mail distribution or other courier service may be exempted by the ministry from route restriction provided it has.

-minimum engine capacity of 200cc -carry prescribed number plates and identification -befitted with proper mail cabin -does not carry a passenger S. 7-penalities for neglect of traffic sign, traffic light and traffic directions or driving against oncoming traffic.

-forfeiture and imprisonment for 1 (one) year for first offender and 3 years and forfeiture for subsequent data or biometric captured.

S. 24-Offences relating to Bus Rapid Transit, Siren etc -driving on BRT lane -parking within 15 metres of a road intersection -using sirens and other noisy

devices in a vehicle (including motorcycle and tricycle) -driver or conductor on duty failing to wear prescribed uniform or identification tag -driving or being driven on authorised routes -Herding or allowing cattle sheep, goat or other animals on the road.

S. 8-where vehicle is stationary or abandoned on a highway or near private premises, police or taskforce authorised to remove to a park.

Owners of adjoining properties should report to the nearest police station. May be (25, 000) for failure to report.

No commercial vehicle shall stand or ply for hire on any route other than those for which it is authorised.

No person shall drive commercials vehicles without having obtained from the ministry of transportation, a driver’s or rider’s badge.

S. 25-Use of unregistered of unmarked vehicles -any person who drives or being the owner, permits any other person to drive on the highway a motor vehicle which is not registered or licensed or does not have affixed thereto an identification marked in the prescribed manner shall be guilty of any offence.

S. 36 where no specific penalty is prescribed -N20, 000 for first offender -N30, 000 or imprisonment for three (3) years or both for subsequent

Forfeiture is discretion of the court, in addition to any penalty prescribed.

Court may also, in addition to or in lieu of the prescribed sentence.

-direct the suspension or renovation of the driver ’s license AND -order the convict to render community service -Enrol for and attend courses at the Lagos State Driver ’s Institute for less than seven (7) days and at his own cost.

-community service and driver institute may be combined -all offender shall have their data and biometric captured Making or receiving phone calls when driving (N20, 000 or N30, 000) Same for eating, driving, counting money or engaging in other dangerous activities when driving Not using a seat belt Conditions for use of trailer -Time within which trailer are prohibited from entering into travelling within the Lagos metropolis is now 6am to 9 pm (fuel tanker and long vehicle for carrying passenger exempted) - Vehicle shall be impounded and N50, 000 fine or imprisonment for 6 months.

Prohibition of sale of liquor, trading, begging etc -it is an offence to sell alcoholic drink, herbal or pharmaceutical drugs within 100 metres of a bus stop, terminus or motor park.

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

Some of the Nok sculptures officially returned to Nigeria

Illegal export of Nok sculptures from Nigeria A

ccording to Ekpo Eyo, “It is indeed unfortunate that so much Nok material has been looted over time to supply the international market. Properly excavated, such pieces might have shed valuable light on the Nok culture.

Recent report in the home page of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) and Live Science, that Nigerian Nok sculptures, illegally exported from the country and seized by the US authorities (Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, has raised a lot of questions.

The said works , allegedly stolen from the National Museum was said to have been handed over to the Nigerian Consul-General, Habib Baba Habu, in a repatriation ceremony.

The works numbering about ten Nok sculptures with life span of over 2000 years old and an ivory tusk were given to the Nigerian official.

In his response at the repatriation ceremony, the Nigerian Consul General is reported to have said with respect to the many Nok sculptures that are abroad that: “Many of them are at museums all over the world, some were taken out legally.”

The Diplomat also said that C M Y K

the items were stolen from the national museum in Nigeria, but that, “There is no report of the items being stolen so now the director-general of the Nigerian museum and antiquities is now being subjected to an investigation.”

This recent recurrence of the illegal trafficking of Nigerian and in fact African artefacts has again called for action on the part of government to evolve a more legitimate platform with which illegal trafficking of the country ’s heritage can be checked.

We have commented several times elsewhere about the manifold issues involved in the illegal exportation of these sculptures which are considered to be very important for the history of Nigeria and therefore are on ICOM’s Red List of artefacts that should under no circumstances leave Nigeria. There have been persistent allegations that some Nigerian officials may have been involved in the illegal export of Nok terracotta and the Nigerian ConsulGeneral has stated that some officials are under investigation in connection with the export of the artefacts handed over in New York.

Stakeholders now expect of the Nigerian authorities, a full independent investigation of this matter and a public presentation of a report thereon. Also necessary would be the publication of a complete

list of import authorizations given by the National Commission for Museums and Monument.

These steps will help in determining which of the Nok pieces in the West have been

,

By KWAME OPOKU

This recent recurrence of the illegal trafficking of Nigerian and in fact African artefacts has again called for action on the part of government to evolve a more legitimate platform

,

legally or illegally exported.

In this connection, it is clear that after the ban on exportation of Nok pieces and their inclusion on ICOM’s Red List, there could be no legal exportation of the objects.

There may be cases of legal exportation, with the permission of the National

Commission on Museums and Monument, before the ban.

This is very difficult to determine in the absence of a list of permission issued to date by the Commission.

There has been a ban on export of antiquities from Nigeria without permission from the authorities as far back as the 1953 Antiquities Ordinance. The relevant laws, ordinances, and decrees issued in 1969, 1974 and 1979 have been consolidated in the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Act, Chapter 242, Laws of Nigeria, 1990. Section 25 (1) of the Act provides that “no antiquity shall be exported from Nigeria without a permit issued in that behalf by the Commission.”

In view of the many Nigerian artefacts outside the country, it is remarkable that one seldom reads about list of items declared missing from the Nigerian National Museum.

We also do not hear about attempts made to recover lost items through Interpol or bodies such as Art Loss Register or similar agencies. Cultural objects get lost/stolen in Nigeria but no one seems to report regularly such losses.

Also to be avoided by the Nigerian authorities is the situation where a high official from Nigeria opens an exhibition in which looted/ stolen Nigerian artefacts are among the objects displayed without an indication that they are looted artefacts.

A firm, clear and full statement from the Nigerian government on restitution matters and an indication of a determination to recover artefacts illegally exported from Nigeria would be a useful contribution to the fight against illicit traffic in artefacts from Nigeria.

Nnabuife strikes balance in Memoirs of a Generation 2

A

SOLO art exhibition by painter, author and journalist, Chuka Nnabuife, titled Memoirs of a Generation 2(an exhibition of paintings, prints and drawings) opened last Saturday at the Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos. It will run till August 11, 2012.

In the Memoirs of a Generation 2, the second edition in a series, after the first in 2008, Nnabuife, using his memoirs series chronicles the challenges of current

generation within the context of culture, social, economy and politics over the past two decades.

Featuring about 32 works of paintings and drawings, Nnabuife who is presently the Deputy Editor of The Compass Newspaper also explains his thought on the difficult task of managing his visual practice and journalism. According to him, "the series is a concept, a way of explaining some trends I had spotted in Nigeria in the past two decades."

Vanguard, THURSDAY,AUGUST 9, 2012— 43 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

Utese community presents Enogie to Oba Erediauwa for blessing

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

I

T was singing, dancing and rejoicing at the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo Oba Erediauwa, on Tuesday when the people of Utese community in Uhen Ward, Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State went to the palace of the revered monarch to present before him their newly crowned Enogie (Duke) in consonance with the culture, mores and tradition of the Benin people.

According to the culture of the Benin people, a newly crowned Enogie (Duke) who oversees a dukedom on behalf of the Oba has to be presented to him by his people for his royal blessings and advise on how he should administer the dukedom and the people.

Mr. Michael Asemota, Utese community secretary, said: "By our tradition, we are at the Palace of the Oba of Benin because we now have a new Enogie. It is our tradition that after crowning the Enogie, we bring him to the Oba of Benin and present him as the Enogie of Utese. That is what we have come to do here today."

It was against this backdrop that His Royal Highness, Idahosa Agidigbi, the Enogie of Utese visited the Palace of the Oba of Benin. Agidigbi was crowned as the 35th Enogie of Utese on May 20, 2012 to succeed his father, HRH Eghianruwa who joined his ancestors in 1986.

At his presentation before the Benin monarch, the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe who spoke on the occasion for the Oba, congratulated him for successfully ascending to the throne of his fa-

Book presentation

T

HE public presentation of The Learned (350 pages circa) a new genre in writing and narration written by Dr. Ikejezie Kaius is scheduled to hold on August 11, 2012 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 12.00 noon.

The event which is expected to be graced by notable dignitaries will have the governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi as the special guest of honour while Prof. Pat Utomi will be the guest speaker. Also expected are Dr. ABC Orjiakor, who will be the chief launcher, and Eze Hycinth Ohalulik, the father of the day and others.

,

A newly crowned Enogie (Duke) who oversees a dukedom on behalf of the Oba has to be presented to him by his people for his royal blessings

,

thers without any dispute.

He also appealed to the elders, leaders and people of Utese to cooperate with the Enogie to make his task of administering his people easier.

The new monarch, after his primary and secondary education, attended the University of Benin where he had Diploma in Law before proceeding to the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma for a Degree in History and International Studies and grad-

uated in 2011.

The Uteses, according to Mr. Michael Asemota, the community secretary are relations to the Palace of Benin and was founded in the Eleventh Century when Irado, the younger brother to Oronmiyan stopped over there on their way to Benin and was made the first Enogie. He disclosed that since then, the Enogieship of the community is primogeniture, from father to son, has never witnessed any dispute as to who succeeds a depart-

Idahosa Agidigbi, the Enogie of Utese ing Enogie.

It would be recalled that Prince Oronmiyan who the Benin people called Omonoyan was sent by Oduduwa to Benin where there was problem in the kingdom following the exile of a Bini Prince, Ekaladeran.

Vanguard learnt that Utese,

which is the boundary town between Edo and Ondo State, speaks Bini dialect and Yoruba and is only separated by Ogbese River from their neigbour, Okelusen,who history had it also accompanied the young Prince from Ife, Oronmiyan, but decided to settle on the other side of the River.

The Small Print rocks Amazon UK best seller list A

BIMBOLA Dare’s debut Christian novel, The Small Print has enjoyed a privileged spot in the top best selling e-books on amazon.co.uk in the romantic Christian fiction category for over three months in a row. The novel continues to fly off the shelves in bookstores across Nigeria. Christian fiction is not a popular category amongst Africans, yet Abimbola Dare’s seems to resonate with many. This is hardly surprising as the novel is a cleverly written, inspirational page turner. The book introduces us to Wale Ademola, an ambitious illegal immigrant who marries an attractive stranger (next door neighbour to his friend) for her British passport. It was supposed to be a simple contract. No strings attached.

However, things start to go a bit sour when Jennifer makes a demand that rocks Wale’s perfectly planned future. And so he makes a run for it - with his residence permit secure, he thinks all is well and good - that is until Jennifer turns up a year later

get out of this web, Sade Williams makes a grand entry into his partially disrupted life.

The stunning but sheltered Christian housewife is secretly working behind her husband, Bode’s back. What happens when Sade and Wale meet? No don’t try to figure it out. It won’t lead where you think. As Wale and Sade struggle with everything going on with them, Eniola Rhodes is thrown into the scene. Chubby faced, Pepsi addict Eniola is Sade’s best friend. She is also very serious about her Christian life and has never dated a man in her life.

at his office. At the most important interview of his adult life. Here’s a sneak peak from the opening chapter: The moment he stepped into room 415 and saw Jennifer Lennox sitting behind the polished mahogany table, Wale Ademola knew he was a dead man. He shut the glass paneled door behind him with a click and glared. It had to be an illusion. He checked again. Nope.

This was for real. What on earth was his ex-wife doing in his office?

While Wale ponders how to

Web of infidelity So why is she the target of a stalker/ murderer? Does Sade have anything to do with it?

The characters' lives are twisted in a web of infidelity, deceit and lies, and they must battle insurmountable challenges - on a journey across two continents - to discover that it is in the midst of despair, confusion and desperation that God’s unconditional; all-consuming love shines the brightest.

Abimbola has cleverly worn

enough twists in this book to keep you guessing till the end.

The characters are very true to life and yet, the message of salvation, divine grace and redemption remains strong through out the novel. The novel has won the hearts of many, has climbed the much coveted best seller list on Amazon UK and continues to be passed on from friend to friend.

If you have been desperate for Christian Fiction that is able to tug your heart toward God, without a loud preachy voice, Abimbola Dare’s The Small Print is a must read.

Abimbola Dare started writing Christian Fiction after a deep conviction to use her writing for God’s glory. She attended Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Nigeria, and then relocated to the UK for her first degree and masters degree programs. She wrote as bimbyladsblog, a hilarious online account of her challenges in the UK before venturing into writing.

She has been featured in True Love MagaZine, Genevieve Magazine and Ladybrille Magazine Nigeria as well as many online platforms. She lives in the UK with her husband and daughter.

44— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

IOC boss sings Olympics praise I

nternational Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge says the London Olympics are “really very good games.”

Rogge says a successful British team has been “very important” in lifting the mood of the home fans. Britain has 22 gold medals through early Wednesday, its best since London hosted the 1908 Games. Only China and the U.S. have more overall medals.

Rogge tells reporters: “All in all, I would say these are really very good games, and a I’m a very happy man.”

The IOC chief says he has attended 22 sports and will go to the four remaining on his list before the Olympics end Sunday.

P

hillips Idowu believes he needs surgery after a performance at London 2012 he described as the worst he could remember producing.

The British triple jumper failed to qualify for the final of his event on Tuesday, as he could not manage to jump above 16.53m, 4cm less than he needed to progress.

LUCKY ESCAPE: Matthias Steiner drops barbell on his neck but was unhurt

Weightlifter survives barbell scare D

•Jacques Rogge

efending weightlifting gold medallist Matthias Steiner walked away from a terrifying incident on Tuesday when he dropped a barbell weighing 432 pounds on his

neck during the Olympic 105+ kg competition.

The German was attempting to snatch 196 kg when his knees and arms buckled, causing the massive weight to

Idowu opts for surgery Idowu’s preparations for the Olympics were disrupted by concerns over his fitness and his failure to keep in contact with UK Athletics. And after his leap, he lifted the lid on the problems that have dogged him.

“I felt okay. I saw my physio and went in pain free.

Conditions were not difficult but that was not me out there today. I have competed for 12 years and I can’t remember when I have performed that badly.

“I am guessing I will most likely need surgery at the end of the season. So I will probably wrap up the season.

The goal was to come here and fight for the Olympic gold medal. It was not to be so I will go home and reassess and try not to be so down. It is over now and it is a shame. The crowd have been great and I am upset I have let them down.

fall on top of his head. Steiner collapsed under the barbell and instantaneously flopped while its mass bent his neck and head.

He was immediately tended to by medical officials and somehow got to his feet, saluted the crowd and walked off under his own power.

He didn’t return to the competition. Steiner went to the hospital for precautionary X-rays.

Steiner knew it was going wrong early in the lift. He tried to snatch anyway.

Organizers brought out a shade to block the crowd from seeing physicians and trainers attend to Steiner.

Nigerians, Austrians unite in agony N

igeria is not the only country that is still medal less after 13 days of Olympics contest in London.

While Nigerians sports fans here continue to lament the country ’s plight, Austrians are also bracing for their worst Olympics outing.

Austria is used to raking in winter Olympic golds in Alpine skiing, its traditional strength, but still has not failed to win a summer medal since 1964.

“With no medals, Austria faces the biggest Olympics bust in history. Embarrassing: at the moment we are limping behind the washout of Tokyo in 1964,” the Oesterreich tabloid moaned, resorting to comparing the number of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place finishes the country produced C M Y K

nearly half a century ago.

After the men’s 49er sailors won the medal race but narrowly missed overall bronze on Wednesday, Austrian hopes boiled down to the final of the women’s pair canoe sprint on Thursday, which features world champions Yvonne Schuring and Viktoria Schwarz.

It has been a star-crossed Games from the outset for Austria, with a population of 8.4 million, similar to that of neighboring Switzerland, which has a gold and a silver so far.

First Heinz Jungwirth, head of the national Olympic committee for 26 years, was sentenced to five years in jail in July for embezzling more than 3 million euros ($3.7 million) from the organization.

Then swimmer Markus Rogan seemed to question the intelligence of national skiing star Hermann Maier - winner of two Olympic golds.

LOOSE BALL: D'Tiger's players struggle for the ball with a French player

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 — 45

Isinba 16 gold Isinbayyeva eeyyes Rio 20 201 R

ussian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva will try to regain her Olympic title at the Rio 2016 Olympics after only winning a bronze medal in London.

“I decided to go to Rio 2016,” she declared on Wednesday.

Isinbayeva, who had set world records winning gold in Beijing and Athens, never looked comfortable in Monday ’s final of the women’s pole vault on a chilly, rainy evening.

“I will compete at the world championships in Moscow in

2013. I will then have a break, I don’t know how long, and then I will be back to go to Rio and get my gold medal back,” the 30-year-old said.

The world record holder had previously maintained that

she would quit the sport after the 2013 world championships in her native Russia.

She said this week, however, that she did not want to retire with a bronze medal so might think about competing in Rio.

GOLDEN RETIREMENT: Isinbayeva guns for gold in Rio

Chukwumerije, other otherss get new kicking rules A

OH DEAR: Borges with his snapped pole at the Olympic Stadium

s Nigerian taekwondo players get their turn to pursue gold officials have introduced new rules that will take the sting out of the sport’s deadliest kicks.

To make the sport safer, officials recently announced that any head kicks will be awarded points even if there is no force behind the kick; athletes only need to touch their opponent’s head with their foot to score.

The London Olympics will be the first games to use the

Help us find our athletes, Cameroon beg British police C ameroon Olympic officials have asked for help in tracking down seven of their athletes who have

gone missing during the London Olympics, organisers said on Wednesday.

The seven, including five

MISSING: Drusille Ngako, Paul Ekane Edingue, Thomas Essomba, Serge Ambomo, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo, Abdon Mewoli and Christian Donfack Adjoufac

boxers, a swimmer and a football player, have disappeared from the Olympic village in east London and are suspected of having left to stay in Europe for economic reasons.

The London Olympic organising committee (LOCOG) has notified British police, but there is nothing that can be done until their visas run out in November or there is an infringement, it said. “They (the Cameroon National Olympic Committee) have written to us to say these athletes have left the village, and left their accommodation, and can we help,” a LOCOG spokeswoman told reporters.

“I think we are in quite a difficult position at the moment because they are able to be in this country. They are able to do what they like in

this country, obviously within reason, but until that changes it is quite difficult.”

It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.

new rule. Previously, players had to use some power to demonstrate a proper kicking technique, and kicks that just grazed or touched the opponent’s head didn’t count. That’s now history.

The change has met with criticism from some of the sport’s top athletes, who say it undermines the spirit of the martial art, originally developed by ancient Korean warriors.

“Personally, I think it’s a little silly,” said American Steven Lopez, a double gold Olympic medallist and record five-time world champion.

“Taekwondo is a full-contact combat sport and I think a good head kick should still be a good head kick.”

Lopez said he would work with the new rule, “but this doesn’t change the fact that I want to kick (my opponent’s) head as hard and as fast as possible,” he added.

NEW RULES: Deadly kicks C M Y K

46 — V anguard , THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012 Vanguard THURSDA AUGUST

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Vanguard , THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012 — 47 THURSDA AUGUST

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48 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

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Vanguard , THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012—49 THURSDA AUGUST

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50— Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Why can’t I have her?(2) I, Though I have not been able to really establish any reason why sexual relationships between in-laws are frowned at, I have been able to establish that it is not entirely a taboo in the society. I can count a couple of people who have done this and the heavens have not fallen down.

However, no matter how much argument you want to put up, getting most people to consent to such a relationship is almost like talking to a brick wall. This was exactly what happened to the young man in the story you will be reading today.

Kenny, (30) a banker, narrates his escapade as a young undergraduate.

He insists several years after that he still does not understand why everyone was against his affair with his sister-in-law.

Dear readers, please your views/opinion and contribution to this story is very much welcome.

Our address remain: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Happy reading!

Girls! They are so good at pretending! I could never have guessed that Lande was that mature sexually.

When my brother and her sister returned from work, she treated me just like before, as if nothing ever happened between us in the afternoon.

That was how we spent most of the holidays. I had planned to go to Ibadan for a few days but I had to abandon the idea as I was now enjoying myself. We graduated from the living room floor to her bed in the

visitor’s room.

As time went by, in the dead of the night while everyone was asleep, I will steal into her bed to return to my post before anyone woke up. It was our little secret game and we were enjoying it. The idea of her becoming pregnant never occurred to me.

,

H

confronted me. I was happy because I did not know what my explanation would have been. That afternoon, Lande and I discussed the matter.

She said that her sister already suspected that something was going on between us but did not

Number one, it is not as if I am married to her, I mean my brother’s wife

She was a big girl, and I was sure she could take care of herself. She was also a student Nurse and not a virgin. So, it was not possible that she would say she did not know what to do to take care of herself.

Then, one day, the cat w as let out of the bag. We had over slept in her room and only woke up when we heard the call for the early morning prayers from the Mosque across the street.

I quickly dashed to my post and I thought we had made it. I didn’t know that she had fallen asleep immediately after we had sex without bothering to dispose of the used tissue papers. As fate would have it, her sister walked into the room and found the tell-tale signs. Of course, she could not explain how they got there.

Her sister, perhaps suspecting her husband might be responsible, called my brother to see what was going on. She thought his presence would force Lande to confess, but she refused to budge.

There was tension in the house that morning, though neither of them

,

want to believe it until that morning. At a point, they even thought someone was creeping into the house when everyone was asleep and that I knew about it and was covering up for her. However, that morning’s discovery confirmed to them that I was the lover boy.

Lande said her sister had informed her that morning that she could no longer stay in their house and would have to return to Ibadan. Her sister had been so angry about the whole thing that she’d bursted into tears, calling her all sorts of unprintable abusive names. She had insisted it was a taboo for such a thing to have happened between us adding that she had brought shame and ridicule to the family.

Lande’s sister insisted that our action has made her the butt of jokes in the family circle.

In what way, I asked.

Number one, it is not as if I am married to her, I mean my brother’s wife. If it were my brother that was dating her, maybe they could right to call it an abomination.

Even at that, is it really an abomination? Are they saying that if Lande and I had met elsewhere apart from their house, we cannot date each other because we are in-laws? We are merely related by marriage and not by blood, so what is really the problem? If they say we cannot carry on in their house, that is understandable. But that we cannot see each other at all, I didn’t think it was right.

Lande too could not explain the mystery behind all the noise that her sister was making. Up till today, I still can’t think of a reasonable answer to why everyone was so uptight about our relationship.

That afternoon, Lande and I could not make love as we used to do. I wasn’t happy because I was now so used to that it that it had become a routine. She was not happy and cried most part of the day and I tried to console her. She went about packing her belonging as her sister had insisted before she left for work in the morning. She had told Lande that she would leave for Ibadan as soon as she returned, no matter what time it was. I promised to check her up there as soon as possible. I had no idea what my brother’s verdict would be on my own case. He had not said a word before he left for work that morning.

When my brother came back home that evening, he called me into his room and asked about my affair with Lande. I told him it was true because there was no reason to lie about it any longer. To my surprise, he started laughing. He laughed so hard that I started wondering if something was wrong with him. When he finally took hold of himself, he started making little jokes with me, calling me a dog and buddy stuff like that. He said he could never have guessed that I was as dangerous as that. Then he suddenly became serious.

To be continued Asisted by Onozure Dania

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08079054031, 08098524042 •Ola, 50, handsome, needs a beautiful, decent, faithful and respectable Yoruba lady, aged 26•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 08026651636. Cheers!

Gossip and rumour: why people do it

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

USED to think that it is only women that gossips. Recently, a man came up to me and was asking me about relationship stuff and I answered him as best as I could, only for him to say that he heard something about someone dating someone in the office and what happened to the relationship.

I was like where did he get that rumor from, because the person in question is really not that kind of person, never really had such a thing.

Well, let’s say you have just heard a really juicy rumor about someone you know. It may not be true, but it’s too good to keep to yourself and your first instinct is to tell all your friends. We have all had that kind of urge but why do people like gossip? One of the reasons why people gossip is to feel superior.

When people are feeling bad about themselves, they sometimes think they will feel better if there were someone worse off than they are. It’s like, its okay being near the bottom, as long as they are not actually on the bottom. The easiest way for them to make sure someone else is on the bottom is to make up a rumor that puts him or her there.

Another reason is to feel like part of the gossiping group. If everybody else is gossiping or spreading rumors, you might feel you have to do the same thing in order to fit in. When you are in on the secret, you are in the group.Unfortunately, the person who the gossip or rumor is about is usually left out of the group for the same reason that you are let into it. People also gossip because of attention. When you know a secret that nobody knows or are the first person in your group

to hear a rumor, it can make you the center of attention.

A rumor or piece of gossip is sometimes like money; telling it to people is like buying their attention, if only for a few minutes. You might even save up a really scandalous rumor, waiting for the right moment to blab so you get the maximum amount of attention for it.

Certain people always want to be in control and at the top of the ladder. You probably know at least one person who wants to be the leader, say what goes and make all the decisions.

When people are at the top of the popularity scale or are determined to climb higher, one of the ways they do this is by reducing the status of another person. Spreading rumors and gossip is one of the main ways people reduce another person’s status, especially among girls.

It’s like one caveman beating up another caveman for control of the tribe, only it’s done with cruel whispers and petty remarks instead of fists.

People can also gossip out of jealousy or a need for revenge. If you are jealous of someone’s looks, popularity or money, you might gossip about that person in order to hurt him or her. If you feel that someone’s done something bad to you or deserves to be hurt, making up a rumor might satisfy your sense of justice. Do you know why young people say they spread rumors is sometimes because they are bored? Sometimes, a period where everyone is happy and getting along will just seem kind of dull.

So spreading juicy dish might shake things up a bit or get two people to start a fight and that would make life a little more exciting.

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V anguard Vanguard anguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

LIBRA; Your being enterprising will go a long way to further enhance your prospects and if financial advancement is your priority you will fare better. Be more loving.

SCORPIO; Prepare to take the lead and exhibit your special talent. Advice from younger people may look good but not practical enough thus if you must take advice today take it from matured personality who may appear authoritative.

SAGITTARIUS; Element of luck will work in your favour, however that is not to say you can not back your reasonable plans with practical action. Keep your secrets.

CAPRICORN; You will have your ways; much will depend on how ambitious you are, the bigger your aspiration the better. Take your tried and trusted friends seriously.

9, 2012 — 51

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Success is within your reach but you must do away with mental arrogance and take good and practical advice from the professionals. Work harder.

THURSD Y, AUGUST THURSDY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

UR elders say ‘a man does not wake up in the morning and start pursuing rabbit’. In other words a man does not start the day with some level of unseriousness.

For a good morning portends a good day.

How is your morning?

If I may ask you, how is your morning like? What are your programme for the day? Or do you just wake up as a matter of course without a well laid out goals for the

TERROR MUDA

day? No objective, no direction, wherever the wind blows you, there you go? Haba!

You can’t afford to live your life this way. You can’t be a victim of anything goes.

in “Never say goodbye”

Define your day. You can do this by charting a programme of action for your day, daily. This you can do a day before the day of execution. Some even plan weeks and months ahead. You can.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Here is an ambitious day for many of you and with moderation things will go according to your plans. Financial success is actually close to you than you think.

PISCES; Make sure your plans for both immediate and far future are legal friendly. This is day of success you will need to savour with your partners/spouse.

ARIES; Even if you think your health is ok you better make sure you confirm your fitness from your doctor before giving in to strenuous activities. Success at work indicated for those of you who are truly healthy. Be practical please.

TAURUS; It will not be a bad idea trying to consolidate on progress made recently. And the more co-operative you are today the better it will be for you..

GEMINI; You will be in good position to take good advantage within your working arena.. Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make important future plans.

CANCER; Tomorrow may bring more challenges than anticipated that is why you will need to prosecute your plans now. Lovers are fairly favoured.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Those of you who are moderate and practical with their financial plans are in for a good day. Live up to expectation within your family circle.

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,

Why all these?

Dear Joshua, I am not having any terminal disease but some times am afraid of life. Bluntly ‘am I meant for early death? What are my weak points health-wise? Please tell me about my career line.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Joseph - Abeokuta

Dear Joseph, You are not meant for sudden death but that should not be a license for reckless life style .Although Cancer is said to be one of weak Star signs, with potent and positive aspects the Sun and Mercury got from planets in Virgo and more powerful Scorpio yours is a strong constitution meant for good health. .

Certainly you must have gone through rough times when you were younger, once you are out of it your health path is clearer. And nothing is pointing to early death.

Naturally Cancer born people must be more careful about their tummy (stomach related ailments) and you are not an exception. Other thing you will need to watch carefully include the circulatory system (because of Aquarius influence). Your sense of taste is distinctive and capable of making you a little bit stout as a result of little enlargement of liver because of your sugar intake, which you can control perfectly. As a tropical man fever can come and go, but nothing fatalistic here please.. If you notice toothache symptom do not ignore it.

But yours is a sound and good health, astrologically.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world. Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why?

Because Aquarius is equally political.

C M Y K

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Edo South PDP leaders back Airhiavbere’s decision to challenge guber result

Work on Warri canal berths to begin soon

J

ULIUS Berger Ni geria Plc is set to commence work on the rehabilitation of three canal berths in Warri, Delta State, to ensure effective service delivery on freight handling to customers.

This was made known to newsmen in Warri by the Operations Manager of Julius Berger Services, Mr. Samuel Atiwe, during the company ’s celebration of one-million-man-hour safety and quarterly awards to staff.

He said the canal berths acquired by the company during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, would create jobs for Nigerians, just as he eulogised the management of the company for having high regards for health and safety of staff.

The safety moment man of Julius Berger, Mr. Nwachulwu Smith, attributed the one-millionman-hour safety achievement to teamwork and adherence to health and safety standards.

National president of Nigeria Institute of Safety Professionals, Mr. Shaw Fregene, said he was impressed by the company's safety precautions.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

RECEPTION: From left: Director General, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Ify Ananzon-Akerele; President, South-East South-South Professionals (SESSP), Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Nebo Emodi and Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority, Abeeb Abdulahi, during a reception in honour of Emodi by SESSP in Lagos.

Delta NGO awards scholarships to indigent pupils

U Founder/President, Asabe Shehu Yar'Adua Foundation, ASYARF, (middle); Mrs Adaego, official of the Foundation (left) and Mrs Bamidele Saka, during donation of items to a physically challenged home in Arepo, Ogun State.

Reps accuse Presidency of slowing down passage of PIB

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

H

OUSE of Repre sentatives, has accused the Presidency of frustrating timely passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The bill was tabled before the House when members held last plenary before proceeding on vacation.

The leadership of the House had indicated before going on recess that it would start consideration of the PIB when it resumed from the long break.

However, the decision drew mixed feelings and condemnation from a cross section of Nigerians. Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr Albert Sam-Tsokwa, said it was disturbing that it took the executive over one year to re-work the bill.

C M Y K

ENIN—THE crisis rocking Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took a new dimension, yesterday, as the leadership of the party in Edo South Senatorial district, threw their support behind Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, who is at the election tribunal, challenging the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. It will be recalled that the leadership of the party in the state, Monday, said the party would not go to court over the out come of the election.

Rising from a meeting, yesterday, Edo South Senatorial leaders and party chairmen said they were in full support and

behind Gen. Airhiavbere’s decision to challenge the outcome at the tribunal They said: “Being very conscious that a child deprived of his constitutional rights has a right to seek justice, we are fully in support and behind our candidate’s resolve to challenge the election results and the eligibility and authenticity of the qualification of his main opponent at the tribunal.”

In a statement, one of the Edo South leaders, Owere Imansogie, thanked the people of the state and party leaders, like Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Esama of Benin and Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, but condemned the decision of the party not to contest the election results at the tribunal.

He said the delay in consideration of the bill was occasioned by the inexplicable delay by the executive in drafting the new bill.

He said: “The House reintroduced the PIB as soon as the Assembly was inaugurated and we took the first reading. But the executive said the House should not do so because it was working on a better version.

“We waited for one full year but the executive could not bring their version. Then on the very day the House was going on recess, they brought the bill. The impression now is that the bill was brought in July and the first reading would wait till September.

“This is an attempt to blackmail the House and we will not succumb to

such a cheap blackmail.”

He said that if the executive was genuinely committed to the PIB, it would have been more proactive in handling the bill, arguing that the House had proved several times that it placed national interest above other issues.

He asked: “If the executive was committed to the bill, why wait for more than one year to submit a bill that had been presented to the previous Assembly?"

GHELLI—A nongovernment organisation, Emo-Efer’ Otu Foundation, will today award scholarship to 47 indigent pupils of select rural primary schools in Delta State.

The ceremony to be chaired by Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ovouzourie Macaulay, is slated for Orhia-Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

President/Coordinator of the foundation, Ms Pamela Esiri, noted said the ceremony is part of activities lined up for the forthcoming Annual Lecture/Scholarship Award of the group. She said the 47 beneficiaries were carefully selected after intensive oral and writ-

ten examinations to determine their suitability for the award.

She said the recipients were selected from the rural areas while girls were more considered because of what she described as the inherent disadvantage faced by pupils of such areas, especially the girl child.

She explained that the goal of the foundation was to facilitate child education and youth development aimed at promoting hard work, competition and academic excellence in the state, adding that fostering of entrepreneurial development for rural women by engaging them in economic empowerment projects was one of the foundation’s objectives.

Uduaghan’s mother-in-law, Impeachment threat against Jonathan, matriarch of Delta State—NUJ

BY FESTUS AHON

catalyst for crisis —Group

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—A GROUP, under the aegis of Nigerian Youth Coalition for Transformation, NYCT, has warned that the current threat by the National Assembly to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan was a catalyst for crisis in the country.

In a statement by Mr Okpokwu Ogenyi, North Central Coordinator of the coalition and Secretary, Mr Idoko Momoh, yesterday, at the end of it’s three-day consultative assembly in Makurdi, Benue State, they urged the House of Representatives to retract from it’s action in the interest of the nation.

Expressing surprise at

the move by the House, the coalition warned that the action of the lawmakers was tantamount to scuttling the nation’s budding democracy.

They urged the House to dedicate it’s energy into resolving the lingering security challenges bedeviling the nation rather than opting to heat up the polity further with the impeachment threat.

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has said that the late Madam Rebecca Ayomike, mother of state governor ’s wife, Mrs Roli Uduaghan, was the matriarch of the state, describing her death as a glorious exit.

Chairman of the council, Mr Norbet Chiazor, when he led other mem-

bers of the union on a condolence visit to the governor ’s wife, said Madam Ayomike lived a remarkable life and urged the family and people of the state to emulate the worthy life of the late Madam Ayomike.

He noted that Roli Uduaghan had a privileged birth, adding that her father was a governor and she is married to a governor. Chiazor described the governor ’s wife as a woman of virtue.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—53

DAY 3: RCCG CONVENTION

Graduands collecting their certificates

Porters' House

Akowonjo Campus

Photos: Lamidi Bamidele

RCCG officially opens 60th convention

By SAM EYOBOKA &

OLAYINKA LATONA

T

Some of the graduands including Vanguard Media staff, Ben Okpere (2nd right)

Free transportation for participants

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HE Transport and Mechan ical Department of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday, offered free transportation for people attending the 60th annual convention at the Redemption Camp. A statement by the department urged persons coming to the camp within this period to take advantage of the buses stationed at different parts of Lagos and other surrounding towns to reduce the number of cars coming into the camp.

Also speaking on the traffic situation in the camp, the Camp manager, Pastor A.F. Elufowoju, urged participants who were yet to come to the camp, to park their cars in

More babies arrive

Lagos and take a ride in any of the official buses, stressing that facilities at the camp were already overstretched.

12 seminars held

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WELVE special seminars held simultaneously yesterday at different points at the auditorium. They were titled: Expanding vision; Greater level of faith; Higher level of prayer; Enlarged coasts; Meant for the top.

Others included walking, running and flying; ever increasing greatness; developing your spiritual muscles;’ developing your spiritual muscles; exercising dominion; from glory to glory; and go up at once.

A

DDITIONAL 13 children were delivered at the Redemption Camp, Tuesday. The new arrivals include nine boys and four girls. This brings to 31 the number of babies delivered during the convention.

According to the nurses in charge of the Redeemer’s Maternity, 10 babies were born during the three days of the church’s ministers conference, adding that all the babies and their mothers are doing well even as some have already been discharged.

Pastor (Mrs) Gloria Ike dancing after collecting her certificate

HE official opening of the 60th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, took place Tuesday evening with a superlative callisthenic display by a multitude of children drawn from across the country. The theme of the weeklong programme is “Come Up Higher.”

The welcome service which started at 8.30 p.m. featured a performance by a group of uniformed elders known as the Redemption Chaplaincy International. They rendered the Nigerian National Anthem and a classic titled Ancient of Days in an excellent manner that would make the original composer, Ron Kenoly, grin with envy.

Crowd of worshippers The crowd of worshippers rose in salutation when the children were ushered into the empty space in front of the altar from different parts of the auditorium for the flag parade as the kids carried the flags of more than 150 countries where the church has a presence.

Christ the Redeemer’s Band supplied the medley music while the young lads dressed in different colours danced around the parade ground, showcased their versatility in callisthenic display forming all manner of shapes depicting the celebration mood of the church at this particular moment.

After the performance by the children, the matriarch of the mission, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye announced the presentation of a giant plaque showing the logo of the church celebrating its 60th anni-

versary - RCCG @ 60. Six thousand balloons were also released to mark the 60th anniversary of the church When the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, was ushered to the altar by the sax wizard, Pastor Kunle Ajayi, at 10.50 p.m., he particularly acknowledged the young lad that portrayed the G.O. in a drama sketch, saying “we have to meet later after the programme.”

Acknowledging the wonderful performance of the children, the G.O., said this year’s convention would go down in history as one convention that participants would never forget for the rest of their lives. He preached a short sermon entitled “Out of the miry clay", and outlined seven pathways in the Christian race.

They include: Gathering, Salvation, Sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Fruits of the Spirit and perfection, pointing out that many Christians today very often displayed un-

Christianly characters which are not fit for the Kingdom.

He, therefore, warned that the teachings during this year’s convention may not be palatable to many but he had been instructed

by God to call people to come up higher, noting that nobody can come up to higher ground without being set apart for the King’s use.

Adeboye also warned ministers of the gospel who have perfected the art of merchandising the gifts of the Holy Spirit, saying that people must wary of those who teach people to speak in tongues, noting that spiritual gifts only come from God and not taught.

“When you become truly born again, the power comes and you begin to speak in tongues. I am talking of the tongues that comes from Him and not the one the pastor teaches you…Don’t mind those who are pretending to be operating under the power of God and their behaviour is not portraying Christ. If you want the real power of God, you must be sanctified.”

7,600 graduate from Redeemed Bible College

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WO staff of Vanguard Me dia Limited were among the 7,600 persons who graduated from the Christ the Redeemer’s Bible College, CRBC, yesterday, as part of the ongoing 60th annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG. They are Brothers Ben Okpere and Nicholas Esekhile both of whom collected their scrolls alongside the multitude of graduands at the ceremony.

The graduands, made up of men and women, are drawn from different parishes of the church all over the nation and in neighbouring countries including Benin Re-

public and other West African nations.

They are in two different categories: post graduate diploma and ordinary diploma.

The General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, prayed for them while his wife and other senior officials of the church distributed the certificates to the graduands.

Principal of the Redeemed Christian Bible College, RCBC, Pastor J.A. Bolarinwa in a 10-paragraph speech to the graduands outlined the vision of the college which included the expansion of the kingdom of God on earth, noting that that testimony of King David in Psalm 34:1-3 succinctly describe “our experience in the college this year.”

OUR ERROR••

RCCG ordains 2,654 pastors

Cross sections of participants in a special seminar tagged From Glory to Glory anchored by Rev El-Samaila C M Y K

Congregation during one of the special seminars tagged Developing your spiritual muscles anchored by Pastor Adeniyi Daniel

IN our lead story on this page, yesterday, we inadvertently wrote RCCG ordains 5,000 pastors instead of 2654 pastors. We deeply apologize for this error.

—Editor

54—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

*Obasanjo

*Buruji

OGUN PDP: Fighting over spilt milk INTERNAL bickering by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State contributed to their loss of the 2011 elections in the state. A move to patch the discord of the past through a fresh congress last weekend does not seem to have yielded the elusive peace.

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

D

ETERMINED to find an enduring peace, which has eluded it for a while and caused it electoral misfortunes in recent times, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, has returned to the drawing board. To start on a clean slate, the party held a congress where about 29 party officials including the state chairman were elected in an open secret ballot.

Abeokuta, the state capital, played host to the party’s big-wigs such as national auditor, Senator Bode Mustapha; Senator Kola Bajomo; a member of Board of Trustees of the party, Tunde Osunrinde and former chairman of the party in the state, Joju Fadairo. Others were party chieftain, Okanlawon Soboyede; current and former PDP lawmakers in the state, chairmen and secretaries of the party in all the 236 wards.

Although, the congress was not given wide publicity, the venue which is a few kilometres to the Governor’s office at OkeMosan, Abeokuta, was fully packed. The heavy presence of security operatives, both the police and the State Security Service, SSS, showed that, all was not well with the party in the state.

Supervision of the exercise A three-man Congress committee reportedly sent from the party’s National Headquarters, Abuja, led by Ibrahim Sidi Bala (Kaduna) with Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Samaila Dankaisai (Kebbi) as members, was present to validate and supervise the exercise.

Announcing the results of the election, Bamodi said,the election which according to him was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere produced Chief Oladipo Odunjirin as new Chairman and 28 others as officers of the party in C M Y K

the state. Others who were elected unopposed include Dapo Adeyemi as secretary, Bidemi Osunbiyi as publicity secretary while Dayo Fowosere and Yaya Ahmed were elected as organising secretary and deputy chairman respectively.

Addressing the gathering shortly after he was sworn-in Odujinrin noted that factionalization would not help the party attain greatness as he pleaded for unity from all. In his farewell message, the former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ireti Oniyide declared that, the congress marked the end of factionalisation in the party. He said: "No more Ireti group, Salako group but one PDP. Enough of balkanisation of the party, there are no factions anymore. If anyone outside wants to join our party, he or she is welcome. There should be no more disunity. And when they come we don’t want them to come and destabilise our party.”

The controversies: The initial crisis first arose as a quarrel between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the immediate-past governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel prior to the 2011 election. The dimension of the conflict, however, changed after a major financier of the party, Buruji Kashamu, moved to take over the party structure from the faction believed to be loyal to Obasanjo.

Several court cases and numerous injunctions against members and officers of the party including the national officers contributed to the confusion in the identity of the party in the state. Before the recent congress by Obasanjo’s faction, the party had been a regular caller at various courts in different places in; Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. Kashamu had during the March congresses successfully installed his loyalists as party state officers during the elections reportedly supervised by national officers and witnessed by officials of Independent National Electoral

*Daniel Commission.

Remarkably, last weekend’s election of a new set of officers came exactly 24 hours after an Ogun State High Court in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state presided over by Justice Mosun Dipeolu ruled that Dayo remained the authentic chairman of the party. Reacting to the allegation of contempt in the decision to hold the congress last weekend, the National Auditor Chief Mustapha said the judgment had nothing to do with the congress.Mustapha who represented Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the congress

told journalists that although the party would appeal the judgment even as he insisted that the judgment did not bar the party from conducting congress.

The trouble: However, last Saturday’s congress may not have ended the crisis as Kashumu, is insisting that his faction of the party remains the authentic structure of the PDP in the state. Moves by the new executive of the party to take over the party secretariat secured by Kashamu are being resisted by the later who has alerted security agencies of a possible break down of law and order should the new executive try to secure the secretariat.

In a statement issued in Kashamu appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; the Director-General of the State Security Service, Ita Ekpeyong; the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Ikemefuna Okoye and the Director of SSS, Joseph Okpo, on the need to urgently intervene in order to ensure that the state remained secure and safe. He further said that, the security agencies were duty bound to implement the various court judgments, which he said affirmed the Dayo-led exco as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.

He noted that should the security agencies fail to live up to their constitutional responsibility of upholding the rule of law, members of his faction party would resist any attempt to forcefully take over the party secretariat.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—55

Anambra’s next governor 'll not emerge through sentiments — Rep. Odedo REP. Charles Odedo representing Idemili North and South in the House of Representatives on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in this interview speaks on the review of the 1999 Constitution, a number of national issues, including the on-going constitutional review, the controversies in the legislature, the 2014 gubernatorial election in Anambra State among others. An Estate Surveyor and Valuer turned politician, Odedo is a two–time member of the House of Representatives.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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HERE do you stand in the review of the constitution?

We in the Southeast geo-political zone are talking of fair treatment.

Remember that the presidential committee on the amendment of the constitution recommended one additional state to be carved out of the South East zone and I must thank the former Chief Justice of Nigeria who chaired the committee for that recommendation.

The issue is not where the new state will be created from, but to ensure that the zone gets a state to ensure some level of balance among the six geo-political zones.

The additional state from the South East will go a long way to address years of imbalance. I am happy that stakeholders from the South East, including the fives governors in the zone, the deputy senate president, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and others are united in the demand for the new state. Another issue of importance is the creation of

additional federal constituencies.

Anambra Central senatorial zone where I belong needs an additional federal constituency to address the imbalance where Anambra North and South have four federal constituencies, while Anambra Central has three.

The additional federal constituency should be created out of Idemili North and South federal constituency because the area has the highest population and the highest number of voters among federal constituencies in the state.

I have already met with the chairman of the house committee on electoral matters, Hon Jerry Manwe and presented the demand to him.

Are you worried about the frequency with which scandals such as that from the fuel subsidy probe emit from the House of Representatives?

The 7th assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been on the side of the Nigerian people. We resisted the January 1, 2012 fuel hike and conducted investigation into the subsidy regime. I believe

*Odedo: Nobody should be given the governor based on sentiments that the report still has merit and I am glad the executive arm of government is implementing the recommendations of the committee.

Already many suspects have been charged to court in a bid to recover the subsidy money. This is a step in the right direction and I must commend Mr. President for acting on the report.

I am also in total agreement with the actions taken by the House that Hon Farouk Lawan be suspended as chairman of Ad Hoc committee on fuel subsidy regime

and as chairman of House committee on education, pending the final outcome of the police investigation and court decision.

Do you think the opposition is trying to use the budget face-off against the PDP? The 2012 Appropriation Act has not been fully implemented and we consider the 30% level of implementation very low, though the minister of finance said the implementation has gone up to 56 per cent.

Apart from low implementation of the budget, the executive has

Many of our politicians should be in jail — Ikpa CHIEF Tony Ikpa is the Eteidung of Ifiayong Esuk and before his ascent to the stool had varied experiences working in several parts of the world including Cameroon, Karachi, Belgium, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, Canada, and the United States of America . In this interview with he bares his mind on his experiences abroad and in Nigeria. Excerpts:

BY TONY NYONG

H

OW do you cope as ruler of yourcommunity?

I am not here to dance to the tune of the bandwagon, but to do what I think is right, believe and know with demonstrable passion. Unfortunately that is not the traditional style of the typical politician who most of the time, speaks with forked tongue. I intend to combine respect for my people with earnestness, and honesty, and nobody should be in doubt about that. I have put together a compact team of very brilliant persons like the chairman of the village council and others, who will collaborate with me to familiarize ourselves with the

peculiar problems of the entire community, take a holistic look at their needs and challenges, and thereafter draw up a master plan that will proffer solutions to the problems.

What is your dream for your people?

I want to establish a foundation in the name of my wife to care for all the underprivileged children, women and the aged in the world. I would start with N15million, and will continue to expand and increase the money as the foundation grows. I would later on establish another foundation to cater for the children that are abandoned by the mothers after unwanted pregnancy. It is appalling that

*Ikpa in Nigeria you have all these politicians entice under aged girls and sleep with them in the name of taking multivite. If it was in the US, most of the presidents, governors, senators, House of Representative members, State Assembly men, commissioners and chairmen would have been in jail, for enticing innocent and

under-aged girls to sleep with them for money and other enticing gift items. I would facilitate, and insist that the culprits are brought to book for such dehumanizing acts. I know they wont be happy to read this, but the truth must be told because sooner or later, they will realize what I am saying.

What are your regrets in life?

Not doing the things I should do in life for the benefit of mankind.

I am begging God to forgive me. I told God if he will give me money I will build a church for him, and he blessed me with the money and that is why I am building a church in my village. I am not a member of the church, but I am building that to the glory of God. What would you want to be involved in later in life?

In my later years in life, I will simply sit back, relax and enjoy from the goodwill of my people and I pray God to give them the love to show appreciation for what I have done for them at that time.

not been implementing constituency projects and the executive should, as a matter of urgency, start implementing National Assembly constituency projects as the selective implementation of the budget is robbing members of the National Assembly the benefits their constituents will derive from the projects.

However, I do not support that impeachment process should be started against the president because of the budget.

The fact that there was a suggestion by the House minority leader, that the House will draft article of impeachment if by September, the budget implementation does not improve, does not amount to impeachment process against the president.

As far as the House is concerned, the final motion that was adopted by the House did not contain impeachment threat. The president himself seems to be as concerned as the House on this budget implementation and I therefore urge him to take action against any minister or head of parastatal found wanting on budget implementation.

Does the House really have power to summon the president to appear before it as it did recently?

Section 89(C) of the 1999 constitution as amended gives power to the national assembly to summon any person to appear before it.

Summoning the president However, when taken together with Section 308 that deals with immunity clause for the president, it seems to me that the national assembly cannot summon the president because it cannot issue a warrant on any person that is protected by immunity.

Given the differences in political parties, have federal lawmakers from Anambra State found reason to cooperate for the good of the state?

I want to commend members of Anambra State in this 7th Assembly of the House of Representatives. We are united under our able leader, Hon Uche Ekwunife. This is a clear departure from the 6th Assembly that had factions among our members.

Do you support the calls for the governorship of the state to be ceded to Anambra North as it is the only zone yet to produce a governor for the state?

Nobody should be given the governor based on sentiments.

You fight for power and our bothers from Anambra North should come out and tell our people in strong terms that they mean to govern the state.

They should come out with their programmes and sell them to other parts of the state and convince them to vote for candidate from the area.

C M Y K

56—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Vanguard , THURSD AY, A UGUST 9, 2012—57 THURSDA AUGUST

C M Y K

58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

Eagles in Police Machine test …Egwueke Wants Victory In Niamey

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HE Super Eagles will continue their preparations for the August 15 friendly against Niger Republic with a testy duel against FCT Federation Cup champions, Police Machine FC. The game will be played at the FIFA Goal Project site, where the team has since relocated to, following the poor state of the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.

Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, is expected to blood the old and the new players, to find a perfect blend ahead of the team’s friendly in Niamey next Wednesday and the September 8, Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia.

Police Machine team described as very robust and power playing is expected to stretch the national team to the limit

according to team’s Coordinator Emmanuel Atta.Meanwhile, gangling Super Eagles defender, Azubuike Egwueke, who has been improving with every game the national team plays, has said the Eagles will go for nothing less than victory in the game against the Menas of Niger Republic.

“We know they are a very good side but I think we are a better side.

Falconets beat K orea bo ys 2-0 Korea boys •••Dedicate goals to House Committee

N

IGERIA’S U-20 Women National Team fondly referred to as The Falconets on Wednesday evening defeated Gwanghou High School boys 2-0 in a friendly match played at the Namhae Sports Park in Korea.

Striker, Desire Oparanozie got both goals for the Nigeria girls in the 50th and 52nd minutes.

It was a balanced and tackle free match with both sides sizing each

other in the first half but more forceful in the second period.

Yesterday ’s friendly was Falconets first since arriving Korea last Thursday for its final preparations towards the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup which kicks off on August 19 in Japan.

The match was watched by members of the House Committee on Sports.

“We are dedicating our goals and victory to the committee,” remarked

Captain, Gloria Ofoegbu.

Chairman, Honourable Godfrey Gaiya led the committee comprising Deputy Chairman, Ayo Omidiran, Kareem Bisodun and Ebbo Abdul Ibrahim.

“I am very happy that my colleagues watched you girls win today because l have boasted to them that you are a good side. I want you to take this wining spirit to Japan,” said an excited Omidiran.

Saudi w oman mak es trac k his woman makes track histtor oryy

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IDDLE distance runner Sarah Attar made history yesterday, becoming the first female athlete to represent Saudi Arabia in Olympics track and field, but limped home a distant last in her heat.

Attar, one of two women sent to the London Games by Saudi Arabia, timed 2 minutes 44.95sec in heat six of round one of the 800m, nearly 44sec behind Kenya’s Janeth Busienei (2:01.04).

Wearing a white hood, long-sleeved green top and black leggings, the 19-year-old student described appearing in the Olympics as “an incredible experience.”

“It is the hugest honour to be here to represent the women of

Saudi Arabia,” said Attar, born and raised in the United States.

MILO Basketball: Four schools through to semis

F

OUR schools, Queen of the Rosary Girls College Benue, Ajigbeda Girls School Lagos, Ahmadiya College Kano and International School Lagos have qualified for the semi finals of the14th Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship holding at the Indoors Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.

Female defending champions, Queen of the Rosary had to go

through extra time to beat Yejide Girls Grammar School Oyo 30-21 after tying 21 points apiece at the end of the fourth quarter.

Lagos’ Ajigbeda Girls School booked their semi final ticket after beating Taraba Government Secondary School 36-26 in the second group match.

The Lagos girls had earlier beaten Delta’s Anglican Girls Grammar School 27-25 in their

Otu laments state of tennis in CRS

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ENNIS buff, Alfred Otu has lamented the neglect the sport has suffered under successive governments in Cross River State but was confident that things would change under the the present government of Senator Liyel Imoke.

Speaking in Lagos Wednesday, the chief executive of Otu Tennis C M Y K

Company said he was sad that Cross River State that had produced the likes of the Okonas brothers in the 1970s, Gabriel out, a former national and ITF junior champion would today not be known to have a single tennis player of note.

“It is sad indeed and my heart bleeds when I see the state of tennis in

my home state,” he said, adding that he believed the present government which had shown interest in the development of sports would give a look in on tennis alongside other sports.

He continued, “Governor Imoke has demonstrated his love for sports in so many ways.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, AUGUST 9, 2012 —59 THURSDA

is necessary for the creation of amines, a type of messaging molecule or neurotransmitter that the nervous system relies on to transmit messages from one nerve to the next. Hormones serotonin, a lack of which is linked to depression and melatonin, which is the hormone needed for a good night’s sleep, epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that help us respond to stress all rely on vitamin B6 for their production.

Vitamin B6 plays another critically important role in methylation, a chemical process in which methyl groups are transferred from one molecule to another. This is particularly important in cancer prevention since one of the genes that can be switched on and off is the tumour suppressor gene, p53. Another way that methylation helps prevent cancer is by attaching methyl groups to toxic substances to make them less toxic and encourage their elimination from the body. This B vitamin is also necessary for the breakdown of glycogen, the form in which sugar is stored in our muscle cells and liver, so it is a

Potato aids cardiovascular health eatrightconsult@yahoo.com M 08091276796

OST people eat the Irish potato in the form of greasy fries or chips, and even when we decide to eat baked potatoes, most often than not we typically load it down with fats such as butter, sour cream and melted cheese! And I begin to wonder........all these for potatoes? Such treatment can make even baked potatoes a potential contributor to a heart attack!

Cut out the extra fat and deep frying, and a baked or boiled potato will make an exceptionally healthful low calorie, high fibre food that offers significant protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Potatoes are rich in vitamin B6. Just a cup of baked potato contains 21.0 per cent of the daily value for this important nutrient. Vitamin B6 is involved in a lot of enzymatic reactions, so vitamin B6 is active virtually everywhere in the body.

Many of the building blocks of protein, amino acids, require vitamin B6 for their synthesis, as do the nucleic acids used in the creation of our DNA.

with Funke Oshifuye Because amino and nucleic acids are such critical parts of new cell formation, vitamin B6 is essential for the formation of virtually all new cells in the body. Vitamin B6 also plays numerous roles in our nervous system, many of which involve brain cell activity. B6

key player in athletic performance and endurance.

A single baked potato will also provide you with 11.7 per cent of the daily value for fibre, but remember the fibre in potatoes is mostly in their skin. If you want the cholesterol-lowering, colon cancer preventing, and bowel supportive effects of fibre, you had better eat the potato’s skin as well as its creamy centre. All you need to do is scrub the potato under cold running water right before cooking and then remove any deep eyes or bruises with a paring knife. If you must peel it, do so carefully with a vegetable peeler, only removing a thin layer of the skin and therefore retaining the nutrients that lie just below the skin. So potatoes for fibre, cancer prevention, enzymatic reactions, athletic performance, mood enhancement........Waoh! The potato is so loaded.

NAFDAC tasks pharmaceutical coys on ADRs

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TAKEHOLDERS in the pharmaceutical sector have been urged to pay more attention to Adverse Drug Reactions, (ADRs) by reporting cases observed in their medicines to the National Agency and Food Administration’s Pharmacovigilance Centres across the country.

“Pharmacovigilance means to monitor the use of drugs in order to ascertain its reactions.

Director General of the Agency, Dr.Paul Orhii who made the call at a two -day Pharmacovigillance Capacity Building Workshop for Marketing Authorisation Holders, MAH, explained that no mat-

ter how beneficial modern medicines appear to be and no matter how skillfully used, they still cause adverse drug reactions which if not adequately addressed could further worsen the health of the patients.

Orhii, who noted that reporting ADRs was part of the strategies employed by the Agency to ensuring that all medicines used in Nigeria are safe, efficacious and of good quality, said the workshop was designed to alert the stakeholders comprising of manufacturers,importers and distributors of medicines on how to monitor the drugs they

sold to the public.

“The chance of occurrence of several adverse drug reactions can often been reduced by sufficient knowledge of the condition under which they are most likely to occur.

The need for preventing adverse drug reactions underscores the essence of a pharmacovigilance system to monitor ADRs and other drug induced problems, which need to be effectively implemented”.

Orhii who bemoaned

the gap in the report of ADRs among stakeholders in the health sector said the Agency through its Pharmacovigilance Centre established in 2004, has successfully trained over 10,000 healthcare workers cutting across the public and private healthcare delivery levels.

Calling for Post Marketing Surveillance among the stakeholders, he said, every medicinal product, no matter how good its quality, poses a safety challenge.

Hence, the need for proper monitoring of medicines used, to ascertain the kind of reaction they have on the consumers for necessary action by the agency.

“This training is apt and timely considering the fact that it creates an interactive forum for actors in the pharmaceutical industry to improve their knowledge, attitude and practice of medicine safety

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody and welcome. It is that time of the year again when we introduce new love and sex products for this summer and beyond. We have new products that cover a variety of areas such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low feminine arousal, sex positions, sex toy guide etc. Here are some of what is new below. We will discuss more new products in the coming weeks.

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Throbbin Robin Rabbit Vibrator: This is an incredible triple action vibrator with a rabbit head for clitoral stimulation, a reversible rotating head for internal G Spot stimulation and a shaft that pulsates and thrusts up and down for intense pleasure. And that’s it for today. We will be discussing more new products in the coming weeks. Men and women in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621or 08051924159 or other number here to order or they can also order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

60 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

London Olympic Games Notebook

BY TONY NEZIANYA, London

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GET WELL ......Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi (middle) with Dr.Abdulkadir Mua’zu, (left) Leader, Nigeria Medical team at the Olympics, during a visit to Anthony Slim, the basketball player who sustained injury at the London Games. Photo: SYLVA ELEANYA IN LONDON.

Transfer Update••• Transfer Update

Agger could be sold – Rogers L IVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers has opened the door to defender Daniel Agger moving to Manchester City if the price is right.

The 27-year-old is valued close to £30million and has been the subject of an offer of around £14m.

And Rodgers said: ‘Daniel is a top player and you do not want to lose your best players.

‘He has been here seven years. He loves the club and its supporters. But every player has his price and we will see where it goes.’

Rodgers has also confirmed the club are in talks with Cardiff to let Craig Bellamy return to south Wales.

The 33-year-old has just completed his Olympic Games duty with Great Britain but is now keen to return home for the final years of his career.

• Agger

Jol targets new signings F

ULHAM manag er Martin Jol has admitted he is looking to strengthen his midfield as well as his striking department.

“If everything stays as it is I am pretty

satisfied,and we are still working to get two or three players in,” Jol told Sky Sports News.

“We need at least a midfield player, in the midfield area.”

Ali

•Jol

Continues from BP was determined to do well. Unfortunately, injury did not allow her to do so. Oh, very painful, very painful indeed, no no no ... I feel terrible.”

Nigeria’s performance in the ongoing Olympics has been awful. Only athletics presented athletes that reached the finals of

their events. Nigerian boxers were pummeled out, weightlifters wobbled out, table tennis players spun out with ease. Nigeria simply did not prepare well and they lack world class athletes due to the failure of the authorities to develop sports. They are reaping what they sowed.

HE ongoing Lon don Olympic Games have become a test of fitness for participants, including spectators, volunteers, the organisers and journalists, who have to walk long distances daily.

Trekking and jogging long distances to catch trains, buses and meeting Games schedules, are the order of the day as the loss of a minute could ruin one’s plan.

After two days of complaints, newcomers joined the fray.

“I am physically much fitter than when I arrived in London,” said Onochie Anibeze, Group Sports Editor of Vanguard Newspapers.

The exceptions are some VIPs like Habu Ahmed Gumel, Nigeria’s member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who are chauffeur-driven to virtually the doorsteps of either their hotels or competition venues.

“I also drop the cars occasionally so as to trek in order keep fit,” Gumel told NAN. “Trekking has been helpful in improving the cardiovascular system,” Austin Edeze, President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), said.

He said that he had to endure the trekking as it had become his daily physical exercise.

“Since arriving here, there has not been any need to engage in jogging because I virtually cover more than 10 kilometres daily,” Pius Ayinor, Group Sports Editor of the Punch Newspapers said. .................................

J

ONATHAN Nnaji, the first Vice-President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), arrived in London on Aug. 7, just a day to the start of the Taekwondo event of the ongoing Games.

He has been held up in Lagos, trying to receive supplies of NOC souvenirs – kits and Olympic pins – from the contractor who delayed in supplying the items.

It is ironic, however, that he arrived after some of the

“Team Nigeria” athletes had crashed out the Games.

“This is sad. The NOC may have to take the items back to Nigeria as these are the items that the athletes and officials needed to exchange while at competition venues,” a ministry of sports official said.

However, some of items, including kits, were seen with some favoured officials and journalists only on Wednesday at the Olympic Park. .................................

F

OR some Nigeri ans who are not used to map reading, being in London for the ongoing Games has made it inevitable for them to learn. The maps are the first item that visitors are given free of charge on entering Britain.

Those who are Information Technology (IT) savvy are easily encouraged to use the GPS, if the applications were in their telephones.

They are encouraged to download such navigational applications, ei ther in Blackberry phones or the I-Phones or indeed phones that could take such applications, to aid their movement.

These are daily companions that assist people to destinations in London and virtually to all parts of the U.K. ................................

W

ITH Team Nige ria’s unimpressive performance at the Games, members of the Nigeria Football and other Supporters Club, led by Rafiu Ladipo, that had been visible in London spotting their uniforms, have fizzled out.

They were at the London Games to lend support to the Nigerian contingent to the Games, whose gradual ouster was led by the table tennis players, closely followed by canoeing (Slalom), then boxing, basketball and weightlifting.

However, Takwondo, wrestling and athletics are still on.

.................................

S

POKESMAN of the NOC and Team Nigeria, Tony Ubani, is facing a barrage of attacks from some members of the Executive Committee of NOC for using words like “pummeling ferocious, soccer punch” in describing the manner in which the Nigerian lady boxer, Edith Ogoke, was defeated at the quarterfinal of the boxing event.

An official of NOC, Pat Ukah, queried why Ubani had to use such a language, asking: “Who is he working for?”

But Ubani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “as far as I am concerned, I did my job as a professional. I could not have lied”.

The Nigerian had lost the fight 18-8 to Russian Nadezda Torlopova after Ogoke took mandatory counts. In apostmatch interview, Ogoke admitted that the Russian deserved the win.

“I feel good. I am ok.

It is one of those things.

She is one of the best in the world. The decision was right but the scoring was a bit generous, I thought.

“I am very sad to have, lost but the crowd (support) gave me courage,” she said.

On boxing for consecutive days, the Games organisers quoted her as saying: “I lacked a bit of energy and there was no time at all to recover”.

Some journalists covering the Games have warned that Ubani should not be blamed for the poor run of events.

“What was contained in the report was a true reflection of what transpired at the boxing venue,” said Mitchell Obi of Masters Sports International.

Ben Memuletiwon, Managing Editor of Sports Day Newspapers, corroborated Obi’s statement.

“When we have not performed well, officials are looking for those to blame for their woes,” Memuletiwon added.

•Nezianya writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012—61

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012 FINAL CRASH: Blessing Okagbare lands painfully after a disappointing jump of 6.34m to crash out of the event at the Olympics. Photo: AFP.

Ali weeps for Okagbare Y

USUF Ali was al most in tears for Blessing Okagbare Tuesday night, few minutes after she could not qualify for the final of the event that won her respect in Beijing Olympics where she won Bronze.

After a disappointing race in the 100m final, Nigerians hoped that Okagbare could pull off something good in the Long Jump. But the injury that affected her race in the 100m final was still hurting her badly and Ali, a great jumper in his time and one of the coaches here, described her performance as “painful.” ”I really felt for her and the country,” Ali said, adding “she could not even run, the leg was hurting her badly. I looked at her each time TODAY'S

she made to jump and you could see her in pain. It was bad. I commend her for even try-

ing. Some other person could have withdrawn from the event but she Continues on Page 60

Eagles drop out of African top ten

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IGERIA’s rating on the FIFA world rankings remained unchanged in the August release. Nigeria maintained the 58th position from the month of July. But Sierra Leone, took a giant leap from the 65th position to 57th in the world and pushed Nigeria out of the Africa top ten.

Cote’d Ivoire remained the top team in Africa.

Odumosu places last, awards herself a medal

NIGERIA’s big hope of saving face in track and field crashed here last night after Joke Odumosu placed last in the 400m Hurdles final. She followed the footsteps of Blessing Okagbare who gave so much hope in the heats

More stories on Pages 38, 39, 55 & 60

but placed last in the 100m final following injury.

Joke was also sensational in the semifinal, setting a national record with a 54.40 seconds outing. She enjoyed good rating here after the semi-final, but like Blessing, rather than improve on her semi final time she dropped, running

55.38 to place last.

Antyukh Natalilya of Russia won the gold in 52.70 while Demus Lashinda of USA earned the silver medal with 52.77 seconds. Hejnova Zuzana of Czech Republic was the bronze winner in 53.38.

She said: “I hit the hurdle the first hurdle and lost bal-

ance. I’m not disappointed. I wanted to win but it didn’t happen. I ran in the final of an event in the Olympics. I was the only African in that event. For me that’s a medal. Hurdles is very technical and the moment I hit the first hurdle it was over for me although I fought hard to recover."

PUZZLES YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 3 Fewest (5) 9 Fused (6) 10 Impede (6) 11 Loft (5) 12 Demonstrate (4) 15 Yield (4) 17 Noncomformist (7) 20 Free (3) 21 Nearby (5) 23 Attendant (4) 25 Contract (4) 26 Wished (5) 28 Breaker (3) 30 Day-dream (7) 33 Unfortunately (4) 35 Peel (4) 36 Poison (5) 38 Callous (6) 39 Alleviation (6) 40 Wigwam (5)

DOWN: 1 Shatter (5) 2 Storey (5) 3 Meadow (3) 4 Involve (6) 5 Vessel (4) 6 Spasm (3) 7 Viper (5) 8 Rear (5) 13 Useful (7) 14 Balance (5) 16 Scorn (7) 18 Lid (5) 19 Taxi (3) 22 Debase (5) 24 Epoch (3) 27 Coy (6) 28 Perhaps (5) 29 Range (5) 31 Stiff (5) 32 Uplift (5) 34 Dossier (4) 36 Tank (3) 37 Observe (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Adjust 5, Spigot 9, Wheel 10, Mirror 11, Wander 12, Token 14, Smog 17, Bid 18, Mere 20, Tunic 22, Voted 23, Purloin 24, Feast 26, Medal 29, Edgy 30, Bob 32, Yule 33, Buyer 35, Travel 36, Rancid 37, Sleek 38, Entity 39, Teeter.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Almost 2, Jargon 3, Swot 4, Throb 5, Sewed 6, Plan 7, Gadget 8, Turned 13 Killjoy 15, Mused 16, Gipsy 18, Money 19, Regal 21, Cut 22, Vim 24, Fettle 25, Aghast 27, Dulcet 28, Leader 30, Bully 31, Beret 33, Best 34, Rake.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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