Militants plan fresh bomb attacks

C M Y K

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 63024

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

We're part of on-going investigation of some banks, says CBN•P.21

Fani-Kayode must refund N840m, EFCC insists •P.34

FG set for partial deregulation of downstream oil •P.9 sector

EGBEDA MURDER: I did not kill my wife, she was hypertensive —Husband •P.10

Late Ronke

Militants plan fresh bomb attacks

By Emma Amaize, Soni Daniel & Brisibe Perez

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•Target installations in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar •As soldiers storm Oporoza, Tompolo's home town •Gbaramatu ruler offers to mediate between FG, Tompolo •Yoruba group warns against attack on Lagos •Security agencies will fish out perpetrators — Boroh

A R R I — Rampaging militant group, NigerDelta Avengers,NDA, said, yesterday, it had concluded plans to attack installations in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

This came as soldiers also, yesterday, invaded Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State and home base of ex-militant leader, G o v e r n m e n t Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The troops, who arrived the community in two gunboats, were in search of members of Niger Delta A vengers, the militant

Continues on Page 5

Minimum wage: FG's studying Labour's demand — Ngige •P.7 Mr & Mrs

P.17

YINKA ODUMAKIN

Killer-gang runs wild in Rivers See Inside

Fulani hackmen and Nigeria's clash of civilisations

COLUMNIST:

NORTH-EAST DEV. BILL—From Left: Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari; wife of the Speaker, Mrs Gimbiya Dogara and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees and Initiative on the North-East Zone, Sani Zoro, after the Public Hearing on North-East Development Commission Bill at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

I'll do everything to keep Nigeria one, Buhari vows •Orders EFCC to investigate Global Fund grants

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2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

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crusade for justice and good governance require courage, patriotism and ideological purity.

“The culture of protest that I endorse must be uncompromisingly peaceful and non-violent. It must be based on selflessness and not aided by ambition or corruption.

It must be for the right reasons and procured only by the purest of motives."

On problem of education

PRESENTATION: First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari (left), formally presenting a memorandum to Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, during a public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Establish the North-East Development Commission and for other Related Matters, at the National Assembly, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Nigeria under stranglehold of a generation that overreached itself —Dogara Says resistance to tyranny requires courage Reps set to pass Students Loan Bank Bill

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA — SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, painted a gloomy picture of the political terrain of the country, saying Nigeria had been under the stranglehold of men and women of a generation that had overreached itself.

The Speaker, who stated this during an interactive session with student leaders of Nigerian universities, organised by the National Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS, in Abuja, enjoined the students and Nigerian youths not to despair or feel helpless, despondent or marginalised.

He told the students that in their hands laid the promise of a great nation that would emerge from the ashes of current travails, to create a Nigeria that everybody would be proud of.

Reps set to pass Students Loan Bank Bill

This is just as Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, assured the 8th National Assembly, especially the House, would ensure the passage of Students Loan Bill to access higher education and give every student equal right to complete their education without financial hindrances.

He said education was a right and not privilege and that government should bring it to everybody in the country, adding that the essence of establishing education bank was to enable indigent students have access to loan without interest, which would only be paid back after the student had graduated and C M Y K

started work.

Meantime, Chairman, Nigerian Young Parliamentarian Forum and African representatives on the Board of Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, Rep Nnanna Igbokwe, representing Ahiazu/ Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency of Imo State, said the essence of the interactive forum with students was to enhance better participation of young people on democratic process for them to understand the workings of parliament.

Stranglehold of men and women

The Speaker in his address, said: “This country belongs to you but it’s under the stranglehold of men and women of a generation that have overreached itself.

“The truth is that nothing will

be ceded or conceded to your generation without a fight. In this endeavour, your voices mean nothing if you don’t have the votes.

"Therefore, all students in Nigeria must not only register to vote and cast their votes during elections, they must also ensure that their votes count.

Resistance to tyranny, good governance requires courage

Dogara further said that he held the strong view that the culture of peaceful protest, demonstrations and general activism was not only necessary in a democratic state but also, in fact, a constitutional right.

He added: “This ensures accountability of government to the people. Resistance to tyranny,

On the problem of education in the country, he said: “In Nigeria, it is estimated that young people between the ages of 15 and 25 make up 47 percent of the nation’s population. These numbers are predicted to increase further in the coming years.

“Despite their numbers, relevance and potentials, young people in Nigeria face significant challenges in many facets. First of all, the educational system in Nigeria is dysfunctional.

“This is reflected in the sad fact that only one Nigerian university is ranked among the top 800 universities of the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2015/2016.

“Little wonder, parents have turned to sending their children to universities in other African countries, including Ghana, South Africa, Benin Republic, Uganda and Kenya, among others.

Youth unemployment

Dogara said youth unemployment in Nigeria had reached a crisis situation and that currently, the expansion of employment opportunities was far below the growth in the youth population.

He said: “According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in 2015, Nigeria’s unemployment rate was at 23.9 per cent and 60 per cent of our population are youths, translating to about 80 million Nigerian youths."

NEITI tells FG: Compel companies to disclose real owners Says anonymous coys, threat to Nigeria’s economy, security

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By Michael Eboh

BUJA — THE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to urgently put in place laws and policies mandating the public disclosure of real owners of companies in the country, especially in the extractive industry.

The agency said this was necessary because of the threat these anonymous companies posed to the country’s economy and security.

NEITI, in its maiden policy brief, entitled: "The Need to Know Who Owns What in Nigeria’s Extractive Sector," released in Abuja, stated that the starting place for the

disclosure of beneficial ownership would be the Nigeria’s extractive sector which, despite the slump in oil prices, still accounted for the bulk of government revenues According to NEITI, in Nigeria’s extractive industry, complex ownership structure is often the norm, where some form of ownership disclosure has already been introduced but is in need of both expansion and deepening It maintained that even when not always illegal or misused, secret companies were hardly in the interests of developing countries.

According to NEITI, the shroud of secrecy surrounding the companies is used not only to mask possible corrupt

relationships with government officials but also to obscure probable links to money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorism financing.

NEITI urged the Federal Government to lead the charge of the growing global campaign against the use of secret companies, especially as full ownership disclosure was in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

It stated that full ownership disclosure had practical implication for increasing government revenues, reducing the incidence of corruption and money laundering, and cutting off funding for drug lords and terrorists.

Corruption war: Saraki seeks private-public partnership

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, yesterday, called for closer collaboration of private organizations across the country with the Federal Government for an effective fight against corruption.

Saraki, who gave the charge when he hosted executive members of Institute of Directors, IOD, led by its President and Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Samuel Yemi Akeju, said it was part of the 8th Senate’s Legislative Agenda to contribute maximally towards the elimination of corrupt tendencies in the country.

He told his guests that the executive arm of government was on the same page with the National Assembly in resuscitating the economy, ensuring adequate security and alleviating unemployment across board.

He said: “Our agenda in the Senate and that of the present administration is geared towards improving the economic situation of our dear country, adequate security and fight against corruption.

“The fight against corruption is key to this administration and we are in full support of this task. I want to call on the Institute of Directors of Nigeria to join the fight in every capacity to bring to normalcy ways of doing things and take our nation out of economic doldrums.”

Earlier, President of IOD, Mr. Akeju, said the 8th Senate, since inception, had lived up to the yearnings of the people in terms of professionalism and legislation, adding that it would give room for best practices in all ramifications of governance, if sustained.

Akeju, who unfolded the purpose of the visit to the Senate President, said the institute had agreed to present a draft Bill to the National Assembly on the workings of the institute, saying the bill, when passed into law, would further boost day-to-day activities in the business world.

He said the IOD, as a foremost organization in the country, would continue to play leadership role.

According to him, the institute has, over the last two years, inducted over 800 directors and suggested a mandatory membership for lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 5

POCKET CARTOON aggrieved in one way or the other with the Federal Government should channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters, instead of engaging in such acts of destruction of oil installations.”

They sent a wrong signal —Ijaw leader

MEETING: From left— Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State;

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; state House of Assembly member, Toby Okechukwu, and Senator Gil Nnaji (both behind), during the zonal meeting of South-East PDP at the state's zonal party secretariat, Enugu, yesterday.

Militants plan fresh bombings Continues from Page 1 group that resumed bombing of oil installations in the state.

The military men, who came at 12.30a.m., laid siege to the community until about 5a.m., when they departed.

A source said the Army reportedly acted on intelligence report that the militants had secretly converged on the community.

However, the Pere (traditional ruler) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadaba, who expressed fears over the development, yesterday, offered to mediate in the face-off between the Federal Government and Tompolo, despite his dissatisfaction over neglect of the kingdom by government.

But the Niger-Delta Avengers, which earlier claimed that it had no link with Tompolo and in fact, issued him a three-day ultimatum for denouncing the group, remained unperturbed, as it said it had concluded plans to extend its attacks to Lagos,

Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

A source said leaders of the militant group reviewed their operations, weekend, and expressed satisfaction that it was able to effortlessly cripple oil operations in Delta State and was willing to continue with the bombings, if President Buhari failed to address their demands.

Military'll fish out perpetrators— Boroh

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, BrigGen. Paul Boroh (retd), expressed confidence in the ability of the military and other security agencies to apprehend those behind the recent sabotage of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta.

“None of these elements will go unpunished for their nefarious acts against the interest of the nation,” Boroh warned.

Boroh, who spoke in Abuja, said following the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO HEN you feel discouraged in the pursuit of your vision, think back to why you gave yourself to the cause in the first place, there you shall find the strength to proceed. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Do not get upset with people or situations, both are powerless without your reaction —Take Heart Quotes

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EARN to manage your emotions. You will likely find that your mood and emotions take a turn for the worse when dealing with certain people in your life. Learn about yourself. Why does a particular person drive you crazy? In many cases, you’ll find that the people you dislike possess characteristics that you also have, but dislike. Think about those whom you like the least and see if you can learn something about yourself.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE The Okra tree can never grow beyond its owner.

presidential directive to arrest the situation, he was confident that the perpetrators will be arrested soon.

Yoruba group warns against attack on Lagos

Similarly, Oodua Defenders Union, ODU, described the threat by NDA, to attack Lagos within a matter of days as an insult on the Yoruba race.

In a statement by its President-General, Rabak Anthony, the group warned Ijaw youths against any attack in Lagos or any part of Yorubaland.

Oodua Defenders Union, said: “This Ijaw threat that was published in all the media, both electronic and print, cannot be taken for granted. Therefore, the Yoruba are ready to make the first move against the Ijaws in Lagos before their brothers will storm Lagos.

“We fought the Ijaws here in Lagos before because of this arrogance and they know we are ready for them. They came here about five years ago to attack the Atlas Cove where Naval officers guarding tank farms were killed. So, we are not taking this threat without preparation. We are ready, let them make the move.”

The group said its members, spread across the South-West, could deal with the Ijaw threat, asking security agents to go after the Niger Delta Avengers.

Ijaw leader and Ibibenimowei (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekam, who confirmed the invasion of Oporoza by soldiers, told Vanguard on phone: “No arrest was made and there was no casualty, but they sent a wrong signal to the people. They came in two gunboats and people ran for their lives.

“They were armed and nobody could approach them as they moved about the community, going from one place to the other. After they left this morning (Monday), there was tension everywhere as people did not know what their mission was and what next.

“Gbaramatu people are not part of Niger Delta Avengers, which claimed responsibility for the recent bombing of oil installations in the state and can never be part of them. We condemn their actions and are against pipeline vandalism of any sort. So, we do not see why the army should turn our community to a hunting ground."

Osinbajo in crucial meeting with Gov Dickson, Kachikwu, security chiefs, oil companies

Against the backdrop of current attacks on major oil installations in the Niger Delta, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday evening, met with many stakeholders.

Among them were the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson; the Amanyanabo of Toun Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff in company of the representatives of major oil firms, which included Shell, Total, AGIP, NLNG and Chevron.

Before the meeting with the Bayelsa gover nor, the Vice President had first met with some security chiefs from Navy and Army, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and some other officials of government.

Political solution can’t be ruled out Meanwhile, a former — Monarch

Goodday Smith disowns NDA

militant leader and member of the Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee, Mr. Goodday Smith, yesterday, denied being a member of Niger Delta Avengers.

He said: “Those who are

HRM Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketeke Agadaba, in a statement, said: “Tompolo is one of my illustrious subjects. It is therefore, incumbent on me to set machinery in place to intervene in this matter. In as much as it is

apparently a legal issue, political solution cannot be completely ruled out and so I am desirous to see this matter resolved amicably.

"Mr President will agree with me that this matter has generated so much tension in the Niger Delta in recent times, and in my opinion, such tension is unnecessary at this point in time, as peace is very necessary for this administration to deliver the promised dividends of democracy to the people.

“I wish to state my total abhorrence of pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the region because such would hinder economic progress and development in the region.

“One of my priorities as the Pere of Gbaramatu is to ensure that the area is free of crimes such as illegal crude oil refining as such acts do not only affect the economy of the country, but also destroy the ecology which is very dear to me and my people.”

APC warns NDA against troubling Buhari

Meanwhile, the SouthEast caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to direct its grievances to former President Goodluck Jonathan, if there was anything to avenge or blame the government for.

The party also called on the militants to immediately sheathe their swords and give President Buhari more time to look into their demands.

Mixed reactions trail NDA’s bombings

Findings by Vanguard, however, showed that there are divisions among groups in the region over whether or not to support the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers and the continued hunt for Tompolo by security agents.

Niger Delta Riverine Security slammed NDA, which it described as “a criminal and devilish group, which is interested in turning the Niger Delta into a region where the safety of lives and

property is not guaranteed.”

Commandant-General of the organisation, Commander Oduku, said: “The group (Niger Delta Avengers) is interested in crippling economic activities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria. I advise Niger Delta youths not to fraternize with these criminals."

Spokesperson of nonoperational Niger Delta Liberation Front, NDLF, “Captain” Mark Anthony, said members of Niger Delta Avengers should come out boldly to declare their mission if the group had a good motive for the region and stop behaving like cowards.

“If they have genuine intentions for the region, they should be bold enough to come out and make their demands known. When we were carrying out our activities under the leadership of the late “General” John Togo, we did not hide our identity,” he said.

IYC blames Buhari for attacks Blaming President Buhari for attacks on oil installations, President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Udengs Eradiri, said: “This is what we were avoiding and President Buhari should be blamed for anything that is currently happening in the region.

"He has not come up with an economic plan for the region since his assumption of office. All his plans, including the budget, have no reflection that economic activities would blossom in the region and once you keep these youths idle, they become the devil’s workshop."

Meanwhile, some militant leaders, under the auspices of Concerned Militant Leaders, have thrown their weight behind NDA. A statement by their spokesperson, “General” Ben, said: “We are in total support of the actions of our colleagues, and the Federal Government should know that the attacks on oil installations in the region will continue if it fails to address topical issues affecting the people of the area."

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MAY 10 , 2016

Lagos warns Okobaba settlers against street begging

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—THE Lagos state ministry of youth and social development has paid a welfare visit to Okobaba Resettlement Center, EbuteMetta Lagos State.

The Commissioner for youth and social development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf in company of other directors of the ministry charged the settlers to be law abiding and desist from the act of street begging.

The commissioner in her address said government is ready to assist in whatever areas they need support.

“We don’t want people living with disability to go on the street and be begging. Write to the government when you are in need and we will respond. ‘’We have said this times without number that it is illegal to be begging on the streets of Lagos. If anyone wants to give, they should come here to do any form of giving,” she said.

She donated some food items and cash to the residents through their leaders.

In his response, Secretary, Okobaba Resettlement Center, Muhammad Baba said they had received a directive from the ministry before now to enlighten the people about the need to be in school or learn a trade or skill, a directive which he said they have been adhering to.

Island Club donates N2m, relief materials to IDPs

By Gabriel Olawale

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HE Island Club of Nigeria, yesterday, donated N2 million, asides relief materials ranging from food items, cloths, and medical equipments, among others to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs across the country .

Speaking during the presentation in Lagos, the Club Chairman, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Oladipo Okpeseyi said the traumatic experience and loss of lives and property of the affected people is disheartening.

He said while the Federal Government is recording success in the fight against insurgency, there is need for well-meaning Nigerians to support the process of reintegration of the victims.

IGR: Lagos rakes in N101.69bn in 1st quarter

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Monsuru Olowoopejo, with Agency Reports

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AGOS—The Lagos State government generated a total revenue of N101.69 billion in the first quarter of this year, out of which a surplus of N4.85 billion was realized as against an expected N29.92bn deficit. The

...As N29.92bn expected deficit became N4.85bn surplus Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade revealed this yesterday, at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office.

Ashade said the generated

revenue was above that of 2015, which stood at N97.28 billion in the first quarter, adding that the revenue performance was N4.4bn more than the comparative period in 2015.

According to him; the remarkable feat was achieved despite the diminishing statutory

BIRTHDAY: From left; Mrs Yemisi Olanrewaju, wife of the celebrant; HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos; Mr C K Ranani and former Minister of Communication, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd) during a special prayer and luncheon party to celebrate the 70th birthday of Major General Olanrewaju at his Ikoyi residence on Sunday. Photo by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

OREKOYA KIDS: Court returns housemaid to prisons

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—THE bail application filed by a housemaid, Funmilayo Adeyemi who allegedly kidnapped five children from two families was yesterday dismissed by a Lagos state High Court, sitting at Igbosere. She was therefore returned to Kirikiri prisons.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi dismissed the application based on the fact that the defendant was unable to provide any evidence before the court to prove her alleged health challenges coupled with the fact

that there was a likelihood she could interfere with her trial if she was released on bail.

Adeyemi, 35, who hails from Osun State, was arraigned on May 4, on a seven-count charge of kidnapping preferred against her by Lagos State.

The police had alleged that on April 8, last year, the defendant connived with others who are still at large to kidnap three children of the Orekoya family, identified as Demola, 6, Adedamola, 4, and 11 months’ old Aderomola.

The children, who were abducted by Adeyemi from their

parents’ home in Surulere, were reunited with their parents after N2.5 million ransom was paid.

She however denied the charge preferred against her and urged the court to grant her bail in the same terms as she was granted

by Magistrate Mr. W. B. Balogun of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court where she was first arraigned on September 15.

In her ruling yesterday, Justice Adebiyi upheld the prosecution’s argument that the grant of bail on health grounds was a special circumstance which required proof.

Alile prescribes prayers for nation's economic troubles

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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AGOS—NIGERIANS have been asked to pray for God’s intervention in solving the soco-economic and political logjam in the country as the nation grapples with harsh economic predicament.

Former Director General of Nigerian Stock and Exchange, NSC, Hayford Alile, who made the call weekend in Lagos, said; “There is no gainsaying that we are living in perilous times, and the last report from our dailies, gave no possible hint of an early resolution of our present predicament.”

Apostle Alile, who is also Spiritual Leader

of St Joseph Chosen Church of God, spoke while giving a speech at Lagos/Western Regional Men Fellowship, in Orile, titled “The man called and chosen.”

He said: “Beloved, there is no gainsaying that we are living in perilous times, and the last report from our dailies, gave no possible hint of an early resolution of our

present predicaments.

The cloud hovering over our nation is ominous, having all the trappings of pressure and heightened tension.

O u r economy is in a s o r r y state.''

allocation from the federation account, adding that same was due to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s leadership style.

He expressed optimism that with the implementation of multiple revenue collection channels and broadening of the revenue base,, the government would raise its revenue.

Giving a detailed breakdown of the budget performance, the Commissioner said N76.06 billion was the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first quarter representing 72% of the estimate for the quarter and 75% of the total revenue, as against the N67.21bn generated in first quarter of 2015 representing 74 percent of the estimate and 69% of the total revenue in the corresponding period for last year.

He said the Lagos Internal Revenue Service revenue for the first quarter of 2016 stood at N67.25bn representing 90% estimate for the quarter and 88%t of the total IGR and 66.12% of the total revenue, compared to N60.58bn (87% of the estimate for Q1 Y2015), representing a 90 % of total IGR and 62% of total revenue in 2015.

He, however, expressed optimism that capital expenditure performance would experience significant improvement in the second quarter of 2016 based on the projections and expectations of revenue inflows.

Meantime, the Japanese government was yesterday said to have earmarked the sum of $1 billion about N197 billion for the construction of mono rail project in Lagos, aimed at boosting state government’s effort in sustenance of its megacity status.

The commissioner said the continued rise in the state population has made it imperative to partner other governments in improving the standard of living in the state.

His words, “In a bid to expand its partnership with Lagos State Government in urban mass transportation, Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA will commit $1 billion to development of a mono rail which will connect Marina to Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 7

MINIMUM WAGE: FG studying labour’s demand — NGIGE

By Victor AhiumaYoung & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday said it was carefully studying the recent demand for upward review of the national minimum wage by organized labour.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who stated this when he received the executive members of the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa, OTUWA, in Abuja, described the demand of the organised labour as a legitimate demand.

Recently, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC led by Ayuba Wabba, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, sent a N56, 000 minimum wage demand to the Federal Government, while the Joe Ajaero-led NLC demanded for N90, 000.

Senator Ngige said: “The other day, the labour requested for increased wages for workers and they have only done what they are supposed to do. Therefore, nobody will quarrel with them. At the

appropriate time, we shall all sit down because what labour is asking, is for the re-negotiation of an existing Collective Bargain Agreement, CBA. Every CBA based on an agreement is subject to re-negotiation at any given time that any of the partners requests for it.”

He dismissed insinuation that whenever the Labour made such a demand, it meant that the workforce was at loggerheads with the government, saying:, “It is wrong for people to think that whenever the labour makes such

a demand the nation is boiling.

Labour in Nigeria has for the first time met a labour-friendly government under President Muhammadu Buhari. The government has put machinery in motion as we speak because I have got a letter as the Minister of Labour and Employment for my advice. We shall advise government the way the tripartite negotiation will be handled so that everybody will be satisfied without any industrial unrest.''

He added that Labour was part of the tripartite arrangement of the International Labour Organisation structure which

JUDGMENT LEAKAGES: CJN vows to deal with corrupt judicial workers Secretaries, Protocol Officers, public is that judicial staff solicit

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, described as worrisome, mounting allegations that judicial workers often leak “confidential information” to lawyers and court users.

The CJN, while flagging-off the 2016 refresher course for

Court Registrars, Process Clerks and Bailiffs in Abuja yesterday, said it was equally worrisome that some judicial workers not only destroy or conceal evidence in cases pending in courts, “some have even presented themselves as persons capable of influencing the decisions of the court”.

He said: “A concurrent and overlapping criticism that is also often voiced by members of the

EFCC intensifies prosecution of ex-NIMASA bosses, others ...Agency paid unsolicited N93.93m into my acct – Witness; As

court adjourns N1.5bn fraud case against Omatseye

By Innocent Anaba & Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A Bureaude-Change operator, Wakili Daudu, in the ongoing trial of embattled former Director General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, yesterday, told the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere how N93.39 million was allegedly paid into his account by NIMASA without him bidding for any contract.

Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside six others, Captain Ezekiel

Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Goveror Amechee Jun, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega Olopoeni and a company, Gama Maine Nigeria Ltd. Akpobolokemi, Captain Agaba, Nwakuche, Jun, Udoye, were alleged to have between October 30, 2014 and May 6, 2015 converted N346, 844,680 property of NIMASA released to them for the implementation of Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme, VIMSAS, to their personal use.

MARKET UPGRADE: Plank sellers ignore Ajimobi’s order

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—THE battle line seems drawn between Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration and some plank sellers at Temidire Market in Ibadan following the move by the government to upgrade the market.

Governor Ajimobi, as part of his urban renewal programme, has directed all traders in the market to vacate their

Nigeria is signatory to.

The minister commended OTUWA for fulfilling its roles as envisioned by the ILO. Earlier, President of OTUWA, Comrade Mademba Sock, said the organisation in 2015 took far- reaching decisions to revive and re-position OTUWA, which even though it was established over three decades ago still faces a lot of challenges.

Sock said the decision to relocate its headquarters from Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire to Abuja was to enhance its operations since the headquarters of ECOWAS is in Abuja.

shops immediately to allow developers access to the market, but some of the traders are adamant.

The governor gave the directive yesterday through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka.

Before asking the plank traders to leave, the governor said he had made an alternative arrangement for them at Fasade a new site.

The witness, who gave testimony before Justice Raliat Adebiyi, said he was contacted by one Mohammed Darlington that his boss, Captain Ezekiel Agaba wanted some money changed into dollars Daudu, who was led in evidence by the anti graft agency counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo stated that on October 30, 2014, N35, 688,000 was paid into his account by Darlington who claimed to be working for the second defendant.

He stated further that on the same day the sum of N61, 394,680 was also paid into his account, adding that the said money was changed into dollars and handed over to Darlington.

Daudu said; “I don’t know anybody in NIMASA and I have never bidded for any contract in NIMASA but millions of naira was paid into my account” The matter has been adjourned till today for continuation of trial.

Meantime, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till May 20 for judgment in a case against another former Director-General of the NIMASA, Raymond Omatseye, charged with N1.5 billion contract scam.

for funds from lawyers or court users to carry out their duties.

“Corrupt practices such as these should not exist in the judiciary and will not be tolerated where such practices exist. You must shun corruption in all its ramifications as it erodes public confidence in the Judiciary’s ability to impartially dispense justice and bring disrepute to the institution that we hold dear.''

FINANCIAL AUTONOMY: Ondo Judicial workers set for strike

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—THE judiciary workers in Ondo State are set to embark on indefinite strike from today over the alleged failure of the government to honor an agreement reached two years ago on the financial autonomy of the judicial arm of government.

Chairman of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Comrade Ilesanmi Dido, said in Akure that they could no longer allow the government to continue to breach the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which grants financial autonomy to the judiciary.

Dido said that the administration of justice had collapsed in the state judiciary due to poor funding and non payment of over four months salaries of JUSUN members.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—9

Contacted, an executives of one of the oil marketers’ association, who chose not to be named, told Vanguard that he was not aware of such decision, stating, however, that the Federal Government had the right to make whatever decision it deemed fit.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, had last month during a visit to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, disclosed that from May 2016, the price of Premium Motor Spirit would be reviewed to reflect current trends in the global petroleum industry.

INDUCTION: From left, Mr. Kola Ayeye, Executive Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON); Mr. Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/CEO, AMCON and Mr. Funmi Agusto, Managing Director, IBFC Alliance, at the opening of week-long induction ceremony of Asset Management Partners (AMPs) of the corporation in Abuja, yesterday.

FG set for partial deregulation of downstream sector Petrol to sell for N130 per litre No agreement with FG on full deregulation —Labour We'll privatise refineries in 12 months — Kachikwu

By Victor AhiumaYoung & Michael Eboh, with agency reports

A

BUJA— THE Federal Government is set to commence partial deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, allowing major and independent marketers to sell Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, at prices convenient for them.

This came as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said the Federal Government was looking at privatising the nation’s refineries within the next 12 months.

The Federal Government, sources said, will, however, continue to regulate the price at which the product is sold at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s, NNPC, retail outlets due to the ease of accessing foreign exchange by the NNPC. Signs that the Federal Government had opted for partial deregulation of the sector was evident in the last couple of days, as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, had refused to update its Products Pricing Template for May 2016.

The PPPRA template was last updated April 28 and released April 29, 2016. In the template, the Expected Open Market Price for PMS was N98.62 per litre for NNPC retail outlets and N99.38 per litre for independent and major oil marketers.

Subsidy

According to the template, at N98.62 and N99.38 per litre, the Federal Government is paying

subsidy of N12.62 and N12.88 per litre, respectively.

Sources in the PPPRA and office of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who preferred not to be named, denied knowledge of any plan to allow marketers determine the price at which they chose to sell, saying it is only the Presidency that would make such decision.

The sources confirmed that there had been series of meetings between Kachikwu and some oil marketers on ways to end the fuel crisis, stating that they were yet to arrive at a decision.

However, there are reports that the Federal Government had secretly given the independent and major oil marketers the goahead to source dollars outside the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, import PMS and sell at whatever price is convenient for them.

Petrol to sell for N130 per litre

It is projected that at the current exchange rate and current price of crude oil, the marketers could sell as high as between N120 and N130 per litre.

No agreement with FG on full deregulation —Labour

Meanwhile, organised labour, yesterday, dismissed speculations that it had reached agreement with the Federal Government for full deregulation of the downstream oil sector, saying there had never been a meeting on such issue and no such agreement.

Both leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, told Vanguard that government had not invited them or written to them about the intention to deregulate, insisting that there were issues affecting workers and ordinary Nigerians that needed to be addressed before anybody could talk of full deregulation of the downstream sector.

According to Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, “there is no such agreement. We have not even met with government on such issue. Look, there are issues affecting workers and ordinary Nigerians on the issue of full deregulation.

"There are labour issues to be addressed. If they call us, we will make our demands. But I can bet you that we will not accept a situation where you go

into full deregulation without addressing the concerns of workers and other common Nigerians."

Corroborating, TUC's position, Mr. Benson Opia, NLC Head of Information, said there was no agreement with government and that NLC had not met with government, saying: “We have our organs. When government presents its proposal, our organs will meet and give appropriate response and demands.”

We'll privatise refineries in 12 months — Kachikwu

Meanwhile, Dr Kachikwu has said Nigeria was looking at privatising its refineries within 12 months.

The minister, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, said his team was working with oil majors on improving the state-run refineries in Nigeria.

Kachikwu was quoted in the April bulletin of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, report to have said discussions were ongoing on how to partner Chevron, Total and ENI. According to the report, Nigeria has “seen a growing dependency on fuel imports as a result of the under-performance of its refining plants in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.”

Kachikwu was quoted by Reuters as saying that Nigeria wanted to privatise the refineries within 12 months, following the much-need maintenance work.

“We have got commitments from some of the majors. Agip has indicated interest to work with us on Port Harcourt, Chevron on Warri. We are talking to Total on Kaduna,” Kachikwu was quoted to have said.

Kachikwu added that even if the refineries in question performed to their optimum capacity, their production would still not meet local demand for petrol.

Drying Lake Chad, cause of herdsmen/farmers clashes —AuGF Warns River Niger may dry up if...

By Emma Ujah & Emmanuel Elebeke

A

BUJA — THE Auditor General of the Federation, AuGF, Mr. Samuel Ukura, has blamed escalating clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country on the drying up of Lake Chad.

He spoke at the Annual Governing Board meeting of African Organization of EnglishSpeaking Supreme Audit Institutions, AFROSAI-E, in Abuja, yesterday.

According to Ukura, the just concluded Joint Environmental Audit Report carried out by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic, recently, indicated that the drying up of Lake Chad was making life unbearable for herdsmen in the region.

According to him, this has forced them to migrate southwards in

search of grazing fields for their cattle.

His words: “We did an environmental audit on the drying up of Lake Chad. The drying up of Lake Chad is what has resulted in the insurgency in the country because the people there were fishermen, farmers, cattle rearers and there were grazing reserves and today, they are no longer fishermen, farmers and so they have to leave. They have to go to other places.

"It was a Joint Environmental Audit done by Niger, Cameroun Chad and Nigeria and we submitted the report to all the member countries, including the National Assembly and the President as well as ECOWAS.”

River Niger may dry up

The AuGF further warned that the River Niger would dry up if

urgent steps were not taken to conserve water in the river.

He said the country would suffer more if River Niger was allowed to dry up, since it had remained a major source of water supply to Kainji Dam for electricity generation and also as a source of livelihood to people living along the coast.

He said: "I fear that River Niger may dry up. There is a report that says River Niger will dry up in some decades. When it dries up, Nigeria will have a big problem. Substantial part of electricity is generated from Kainji Dam and when it dries up, it means that what happened at Lake Chad will happen in that part of the country as there will be no water to power those turbans.”

He recommended that government should ensure increase in water volume in Lake Chad and River Niger, through dredging and other

ways to bring water into them.

In his address, special guest of honour and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, identified lack of transparency and accountability as major challenges facing African leaders which he said, were the only ways to ensure that citizens enjoyed full benefits of good governance.

He said: “It is for this reason that the present leadership is tackling corruption issues head on, with the active support of the legislature. Government is structuring and strengthening legislations that will eliminate corruption and ensure prudent management of government resources for the benefit of all.

“We are partnering with the international community to achieve this. The era that government sat by and watched our common resources being plundered by those responsible for their custody is gone.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

8 herdsmen arrested over Agatu killings, kidnappings

Egbeda murder: I did not kill my wife, she was hypertensive —Husband ....Threatens to commit suicide ...compelled by father, 90, friends to show up

By Ifeanyi Okolie

E

IGHT SUSPECTED Fulani herdsmen, alleged to have taken part in the recent massacre in Agatu area of Benue State, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT. The suspects, also alleged to have carried out several kidnappings across the country, are currently being detained at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, after being rounded up recently.

A source said they were arrested following credible intelligence reports that linked them to the acts.

Vanguard gathered that the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, acting on the orders of the presidency to fish-out herdsmen behind the Agatu, Enugu and kidnapping across the country, deployed the IRT operatives to Kogi, Enugu and Kaduna states.

Sources disclosed that the IRT operatives, while in Kogi State, raided several hideouts within Lokoja, Okene, Kabba and Obajana areas of the State and arrested the suspects.

By Evelyn Usman

everything you have done. I want to go to the CP office now. You are the only one that advised me not to kill myself. I will respect you till I die."

L

EKAN SHONDE, the man who allegedly killed his wife last Thursday during an argument at their Egbeda abode in Lagos, has denied culpability, insisting rather that his wife was hypertensive.

The Kwara State born suspect turned himself in to the Police, yesterday, four days after going into hiding. He maintained that his wife was his most priced possession, adding that death was his last intention for her.

Vanguard reliably gathered that pressure from Lekan’s 90- yearold father and some friends compelled him to show up at the Ikeja office of the Commander, Rapid Response Squad,RRS, Tunji Disu, at about 1p.m.

Thereafter, he was taken to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja at about 2.10p.m.

Clad in a sky blue shirt and a black pair of trousers, Lekan said immediately he alighted from the RRS van: “I wish death would take me right now.” Thereafter, he called his father on the phone,

Lekan Shonde

Late Ronke

informing him in Yoruba that he had finally shown up at the Police command as instructed.

announcing his intention to commit suicide, in order to end the whole matter.

The conversation dated May 7, 2016 read: “I want to die. Pls help me, I can’t face the Police or cell, they will kill me.”

After much persuasion from the friend, Lekan finally replied same day, saying “ Ok, I will see you tomorrow (Sunday)" But he never showed up.

Lekan, however, sent another text, yesterday morning, to this same friend saying, “Morning, Senior Sunday. Thanks for

Suicide attempt Before he turned himself in, report had it that he attempted to flee to the Benin Republic,where he hoped to proceed to Ghana, but all his moves were reportedly trailed by the Police, until he was forced to make a U-turn from Ondo State .

While in hiding, Lekan sent a message via WhatsApp to one of his friends (names withheld)

Police arrest prophet for abduction in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA—AN acclaimed prophet, Akomolafe Ayinde, said to be the founder of Kingdom of Peace Church, Abeokuta, was yesterday, arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command for alleged abduction, forced labour and sex slavery.

The Prophet’s arrest last Saturday, according to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi , followed a tip off that one Adebanjo Adeyinka, who was declared missing six years ago, was sighted in his premises.

According to the PPRO, when the SARS swooped on the church, apart from Adebanjo, who was in a demented state and engaged in manual labour , seven other women and children, were also found in the church.

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Two men fighting at the Lugbe Bus-stop in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Hoodlums ambush, kill 5 policemen in Rivers

By Davies Iheamnachor & Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—NO fewer than five policemen attached to the 30 Police Mobile Force, PMF, in Bayelsa State, were reportedly killed, yesterday morning, during a gun battle with suspected cultists in Okobe community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was learnt that five of the Policemen killed were en route to their base in Bayelsa from Yobe State where they went on official assignment.

A community source said a conductor attached to a tanker driver also lost his life to stray bullet during the attack by the hoodlums, who, Vanguard

gathered, disappeared with the police service rifles.

“Petrol tankers on long distant journeys stop in our community to pass the night. So the conductor was in the tanker sleeping when he was killed by the stray bullet,” the sources said.

The community sources also said the hoodlums allowed the first Police van conveying a batch of the 30 PMF to pass before opening fire on a salon car conveying the DSP and four other Policemen, who were also attached to the 30 PMF. “The gunmen allowed the first patrol vehicle to pass before opening fire on the second car carrying the other Policemen. I heard they went with the rifles of the Policemen after killing them,” the source said.

He added that no casualty was

recorded on the side of the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has described the killing of the policemen as senseless and barbaric.

Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said the officers were en route to Bayelsa State before they were ambushed by the hoodlums.

Muhammad, who could not confirm the number of police officers involved, noted that the victims were officers attached to 30 Police Mobile Force in Bayelsa State.

“We are deeply pained by the senseless and barbaric killing of our colleagues attached to 30 PMF Yenagoa, who were ambushed in the early hours of today (Monday) at Okobe en route to Yenagoa.

'I never killed my wife' However, during his conversation with his friend, who was present at the command with another friend, Mr. Gbenga Soloki, Lekan denied having any hand in his late wife’s death.

Although he admitted that there was a quarrel between them a day before she died over infidelity on the part of his late wife; he maintained that he had nothing to do with her death.

According to him: “The cause of the quarrel was over infidelity.

I over-heard her discussing on phone with one Kayode, who was her boss and lover.

"I never killed my wife. We had a normal quarrel after she owned up that she had a man friend. We didn’t talk over-night.

"She held my legs begging, as I was leaving the house that morning. And I pushed her away.

As I left the house my son bolted the door behind me.

"Later, our nanny called to alert me of what had happened. I immediately called my landlady’s daughter, who confirmed that my wife was dead. As I was rushing back home, neighbours called to inform me that policemen were there that I should run away. That was why I ran away.

“I loved my wife, all my accounts are in her name. I bought her two cars and would not have wished for a better person as a wife. I did not kill her. She was hypertensive.

“I never spoke with any journalist until now. The media (not Vanguard ) misquoted me.”

He further disclosed that while in hiding, he contacted his late wife’s alleged lover to inform him of the trouble he had put his entire family into .

He said: "I called Kayode and said ‘hope you have succeeded in ruining my marriage,' and he apologized to me” Demands for forensic investigation Friend of the suspect, Gbenga Soloki, said: “When we got the information, as law abiding citizens, we asked him to come out of hiding. I know him as a gentle man . His account proved it, but unfortunately, his wife is not alive to state her side of the story."

Meanwhile, the Manager Public and Government Affair, Mobil Oil, Akin Fatunke, has denied that Lekan Shonde ever worked with the organisation.

“It’s obviously an error, as we don’t have any member of staff by name Lekan Shonde in our Apapa depot.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—11

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12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

I've done nothing to warrant mental torture, Tompolo tells Buhari

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—FORMER militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, yesterday, told President Muhammadu Buhari that he had done nothing to warrant the mental onslaught that had been unleashed on him since the President assumed office.

In an open letter to the President, Tompolo urged the president not to judge him by the wicked things his (Tompolo) accusers say about him, but by his deeds and activities, adding that some persons were desperate to demonize him and give ethnic coloration to Niger Delta issues for flimsy and egotistical reasons.

Tompolo, who recalled his meeting with the President last year and the advice he gave the President on how to maintain the peace in the region, said that ethnopolitical merchants were laying the foundation for crisis in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “There are several All Progressives Congress, APC, elements within and around your government who see anything Ijaw as criminal and anti-Buhari.

Unpretentiously too, certain non-Ijaw ethnic merchants cum

bigots have expressly displayed open hatred for Ijaws in the Niger Delta region.

“Such persons have almost succeeded in manipulating governmental mindset against Ijaws, whether in or outside your government.

Please, Mr President, this very dangerous dimension is avoidable by your

government.

“They will be happy to see a ravaged Gbaramatu Kingdom and by extension, Ijawland under the pretext of looking for me. This is a very dangerous template, such persons are laying and it is only good for Mr President to deploy the inner mind to stratify this unwholesome gimmick.”

On his support for former President Goodluck Jonathan, he said, “Just as your people supported you as of right, throughout the presidential campaigns, I do not think it was criminal for me to openly support one of my own, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for the presidency in 2015. I did so out of conviction not because I hate you or because you are a northerner."

RALLY: Gakem community chiefs, women and youths during a rally in support of the 260km superhighway, yesterday.

Wike swears in new Works Commissioner, 17 LG Caretaker C'ttee Chairmen

By Jimitota Onoyume

R

IVERS State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has sworn in a new Commissioner for Works, Harrison Iheanyichukwu, with a charge that he must work hard to deliver on the new Rivers projects.

The governor also swore in 17 new local government Caretaker Committee Chairmen after they were screened by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Performing the swearing-in of the new Works Commissioner at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Governor Wike said: “I have a covenant with Rivers people to deliver quality projects and no commissioner will drag me back.“ The governor charged the new commissioner to always be on the road supervising projects and reporting progress of work.

He said: “The former works commissioner was intelligent, but he could not meet up with the pace of work at the ministry. Take your work very seriously. There should be no compromise.

“The day you misinform me C M Y K

on the status of projects, will be the day you will be sacked. The day you begin to use your office to form rings will be the day you will lose out.”

In his charge to the

caretaker committee chairmen, Governor Wike directed that they should work with security agencies in their respective councils to fight insecurity.

He added that they should

ensure regular payment of salaries of workers at all times. He said that under no circumstance should caretaker chairmen deduct their security votes before paying salaries.

Edo 2016: APC fixes primary for June 18

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

B U J A — A L L Progressives Congress, APC, has fixed June 18, for the conduct of its governorship primary election in Edo State.

National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, announced this, yesterday, in Abuja, during the inauguration of a five-member fact-finding/reconciliation committee to look into immediate and remote problems affecting the party and stakeholders in Edo State.

The five-member committee is chaired by former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Other members are APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, Sen. Ndoma Egba, Hajiya Fatimah Mohammed and Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi.

“It is important to emphasize

the fact that for us, Edo is a critical state strategically. I hope I will not be misinterpreted if I say it is also a must win state.

So your job in Edo is not just to restore peace and bring

normalcy, but to also come out with suggestions that will restore the party in that state, to be a dependable political fighting force and ready to win the forthcoming election."

New Edo Speaker lifts Edoror’s the oath of allegiance on Ativie suspension after which the Deputy Speaker,

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—SPEAKER of Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, yesterday, performed her first assignment amidst tight security and lifted the three months suspension placed on the ex-Speaker, Victor Edoror.

Both policemen and Department of State Services, DSS, operatives took over the Assenbly premises, following rumour that thugs were going to invade the House.

As proceedings commenced, the Clerk of the House, Mr Lawson Ugiagbe, administered

Mr Justin Okonobo, was sworn in by the Speaker.

Proceedings went on without hitches as the Speaker announced the reconstitution of the Principal Officers Council, POC. The position of the Majority Leader was retained by Mr Foly Ogedengbe (APC Owan East), the Chief Whip went to Mr Kabiru Adjoto (APC Akoko-Edo 1), Deputy House Leader, Mr Henry Okhuorobo (APC Ikpoba Okhai), Minority Leader, Patrick Iluobe (PDP Esan North East 1) while the member representing Egor, Crosby Eribo became a coopted member of the POC.

Edo PDP leaders laud Edebiri’s humility

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—SOME leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State have commended a governorship aspirant of the party, Chief Solomon Edebiri, for his humility and maturity in his campaigns.

The leaders from Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts made the commendation during Edebiri’s separate campaign tours to the areas, yesterday.

At Uzaiure, Etsako West Local Government Area, the senatorial leader, Mr. Anslem Agabi, said: “We are proud that throughout your speech, you neither indicted anybody nor use any disparaging language on any opponent.

We have heard you, we pray that God will support you to realize your aspiration.”

At Irrua, the senatorial chairman, Mr. Caesar Ehigiegbaye, said, “You are eminently qualified to pick the party ticket at the primaries.

We are impressed by your vision and mission statement.

Most of us have all along craved for you to join the PDP. And now that you have joined us, we will help you to work and pray that God will see to the realization of your dreams."

C-River community holds rally in support of superhighway

T

HE people of Gakem community in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, have staged a rally in support of the 260km superhighway earmarked by the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.

Gakem is situated between Cross River and Benue States, while the road is expected to link the northern part of the country.

The rallye attracted elders, women and youths of the community.

The community threatened to march to Abuja to ensure the approval by the Federal Government for commencement of the construction of the road.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Clan Head of Gakem, HRH Ushiekalpa Opah Ushie, commended Governor Ayade for the initiative.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—13

EPZ: Gbaramatu monarch tasks Buhari on project

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—THE traditional ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, HRH Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba, yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite work on the Export Processing Zone, EPZ, projects in the state, comprising the Gas city, Ogidigben and Deep Sea Port, Gbaramatu.

HRH Oboro-Gbaraun II, in a statement, also urged the President to take steps towards the commencement of academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

The monarch also urged the Federal Government to intensify work on the electrification of rural communities in Escravos area of Delta State, reportedly abandoned after some people had collected money.

On the EPZ project, he said: “The idea of locating the twin projects of Gas City, Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port, Gbaramatu, by the immediate past administration, was a laudable one. Information at my disposal indicates that this project, which the groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on March 26, 2015,

will create massive employment opportunities across the country and that 150,000 jobs will be available at the construction stage alone, while 5,000 jobs will be available at the completion of the project.

“The good thing about this project is that it will be funded by private investors coming to Nigeria from all over the world. Going by this information, project of this magnitude should be

embraced since they would contribute greatly to Nigeria’s economy.

“Therefore, I call on Mr. President and other players in the project to start construction work immediately as I am aware that the site is ready for the project to kick off.”

On NMU, the monarch stated: “It is disheartening to note that the present Federal Government has refused to do something about the commencement of academic

activities at Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, since its inauguration on May 10, 2014, with full infrastructure on ground.

“It is no longer news that one of the best things that has ever happened to the people of the coastal area, and indeed the entire Niger Delta region is the establishment of this university.

There is no doubt that this university will greatly bridge the educational and infrastructural development gap that has existed over the years. "

MEETING: From left: Bilateral Bonding: CEO, CEPIG, Essis Emmanuel; Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Toure Toure nee KONE Maman; CEO, Skye Bank/Consul Honorary of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in Lagos, Dr. Olatunde Ayeni; Special Assistant to Dr. Olatunde Ayeni, Mr. John Darlington at a meeting which held at Dr. Ayeni’s office, preparatory to the Cote d’Ivoire-Nigeria Economic Forum which holds in Lagos this week.

Emir of Borgu charges monarchs to preach unity As Olu of Warri stresses need for peace, unity

W

ARRI—AT a time when some prophets have predicted the disintegration of Nigeria, the Emir of Borgu Emirate, Alhaji Mohammed Dantoro, Kitoro IV, has charged traditional rulers in the country to ensure that Nigeria remains united, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

The monarch gave the charge, yesterday, when he visited the palaces of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I, the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, HRM Lucky Ararile and others, in continuation of his nation-wide visit to traditional rulers and governors.

The Emir said he embarked on the visit to the traditional rulers to discuss issues affecting the citizenry as well as appreciate the royal fathers for the roles they played during the demise of his late father, Sen. Haliru Kitoro III. The Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Ikenwoli in his remark during the visit, stressed the need for traditional rulers to love and see themselves as one in the interest of peace and unity of Nigeria.

“The earlier we begin to see C M Y K

ourselves as one, the better for us in this country. We have no choice but to live in peace with each other. God did not make a mistake bringing us together.

He is wiser than us,” the Olu of Warri said.

Ogiame Ikenwoli described as “unfortunate,” the ethnic and religious hatred that exists

among Nigerians, saying: “The earlier we begin to see ourselves as one, the better for us in this country. We have no choice but to live in peace with each other..”

My desire to serve Edo'll propel me to victory —Obaseki

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plot to frustrate his campaign by persons he described as ‘cowards,’ saying that his desire to serve the people of the state will propel him to victory.

Meanwhile, the police in the state have arrested three persons in connection with the attack on Obaseki, while two locally made pistols were recovered from them.

Police spokesman in the state, Abiodun Osifo, said: “The suspects are with us and the intelligence unit of the Command is investigating the incident to ascertain the true picture of the attack. Until after the investigation, I cannot tell you more.”

A statement by the Obaseki Campaign Organisation, described the attack on its

campaign train at Sobe, Sunday, as a sad event, urging all aspirants of the party to join hands with security agents in checking thuggery and attempt to create unnecessary tension in the state.

Health Minister urges IG to probe death of UUTH staff

By Tom Moses

U

YO—MINISTER of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mr Solomon Arase, to order full-scale investigation into the alleged murder of the Head, Pathology Department, of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, Dr. Ivy Umana.

Adewole, who addressed the management and staff of UUTH during his visit to the hospital, also pledged Federal Government's assistance to the health institution to meet its obligations especially in the completion of projects and recruitment of personnel.

Calling for a minute silence in honour of the late Umana, the minister bemoaned the fact that more than two weeks after Dr. Umana's murder, the culprits have not been arrested to face the law.

He said: “I will take it up with the IG when I get back to Abuja so that they can appreciate the seriousness and urgency of the matter.

“I will also raise it with the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, because unless we apprehend those who committed that terrible act, nobody is secure and that is why it is important to do justice and build trust and confidence in our people.

“We can only develop in an atmosphere of peace and no one can make progress if there is no peace.”

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Buhari hails Shonekan at 80

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated elder statesman and former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, on his 80th birthday.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday, President Buhari hailed Shonekan’s contributions to national development and unity of the country, saying he would sustain same.

The statement read in part: “On this special occasion, President Buhari commends his immense contribution to national peace and development, which he has exemplified as an a c c o m p l i s h e d administrator, astute businessman and patriot.

“He assured that his administration would continue to look forward to his fatherly counsel and advice on how to move the nation forward.”

... as wife endorses creation of North-East Devt Commission

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—WIFE of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, and Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, yesterday, declared their support for the establishment of NorthEast Development Commission.

Mrs Buhari’s position was contained in a memorandum she submitted at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on IDPs, Refugees and North East Initiatives.

Gaidam, represented by his Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Lamin, advised that the c o m m i s s i o n ' s headquarters be cited in the state capital, Damaturu, which he said was more central for administrative purposes than Maiduguri.

THANKSGIVING FOR SHONEKAN @ 80: From left— Former Head, Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; his wife, Victoria; children and in-laws at the Holy Communion and thanksgiving service for Chief Shonekan's 80th birthday at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Buhari orders EFCC to investigate Global Fund grants $31.65m unaccounted for

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Sola Ogundipe

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate how billions of Naira in grants donated by Global Fund to Nigeria disappeared and bring the culprits to book with immediate effect.

The probe covers spending between 2010 and 2014.

Global Fund, which gives funds for health and medical interventions in Nigeria, has reported a huge discrepancy between the funds it donated to the health sector and the amount actually spent on drugs and has expressed

worry over the trend.

“The auditors found discrepancies of over US$4 million between drugs ordered and delivered; US$20 million paid to suppliers without confirmation of delivery; stockouts of eight months for critical medicines; and a total of US$7.65 million in unsupported expenditures,” the funds auditors reported.

Confirming the probe, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive as part of government’s effort to fight corruption in the country. The President has also directed the Secretary to the Government of Federation to review earlier audit reports from the Office of Inspector General.”

Acting on the presidential directive, the Secretary to the Federal Government has setup two investigative panels to look into the affected programmes and the financial transactions.

The first panel, which is headed by Mr. Adewole, will conduct in-depth review of all programmes carried out with the funds, while the second panel to be chaired by the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr Samuel Ukura, will review all financial transactions during the period.

The minister said the two committees were expected to submit their reports within four weeks, adding that all those indicted would be severely dealt with to serve

Dariye still wanted in UK, London Police tells court

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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B U J A — T H E Metropolitan Police Service, London, UK, yesterday, told an Abuja High Court sitting at Gudu that the former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, who is now a serving senator, was still wanted in the United Kingdom over his alleged involvement in money laundering.

It told the court that a 2004 warrant of arrest issued against Dariye, who represents Plateau Central, after he jumped bail in London and escaped to Nigeria to avoid prosecution, was still valid.

The Met, made the disclosure at the resumed hearing on a 23-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against the

former governor before the high court.

The detective that led a team of Met police officers that arrested Dariye on September 28, 2004, Mr. Peter Clerk, testified before the court yesterday as the ninth prosecution witness.

Clerk, who is now retired, narrated how his team arrested the defendant and his personal assistant, Christabel Bentu, in a hotel in London.

He said Dariye’s arrest and subsequent detention was a fallout of an investigation into a credit card fraud involving one Christopher McQuiney, who he said was caught with 11,500 Pounds concealed in a briefcase.

The witness told the court that McQuiney, who was arrested and taken to a police station in North East London, confessed that the money belonged to his boss, Dariye.

Clerk said he had also testified before an investigating committee in Jos, saying his evidence was what eventually led to Dariye’s impeachment.

While being crossexamined by Dariye’s lawyer, Mr. Garba Pwul (SAN), the witness insisted that Dariye would be arrested anytime he visits UK. Besides, the witness, yesterday, produced before trial Justice Adebukola Banjoko, seven boxes which he said contained printouts of all financial transactions, account opening packages and other exhibits that would establish Dariye’s involvement in the illicit transfer of funds to the UK. Dariye, who was the governor of Plateau State between 1999 and 2007, had since pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

as a deterrent to others.

It will be recalled that Global Fund announced last week that that its Inspector General audit of grants in Nigeria discovered significant problems in procurement, supply chain, financial and programme management.

Civil servant testifying against Badeh owns houses across 3 states

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, with Agency Reports

S

ALISU Yushau, a former director of finance of the Nigeria Air Force, yesterday, admitted to owning property across three states.

Abdullahi, who had testified against Alex Badeh, former Chief of Defence, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also admitted that some of his property had been marked for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. However, Abdullahi, a principal witness of EFCC, while being crossed examined by Samuel Zibiri, one of Badeh’s lawyers, claimed that he bought some of the property with “housing” loans.

Previously in his testimony, Abdullahi, had claimed that Badeh instructed him to buy some choice property for himself and his children in Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—15

We're going nowhere, Ariaria traders dare Abia govt

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—TRADERS at the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State, have rejected the order directing them to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall and accused the State Market Development Committee of planning to take over their shops in the planned reconstruction of the market.

Vanguard gathered that the agency had directed traders at the Park 1 and 2 sections to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall, to make way for the reconstruction of shops. But the traders have vowed not to move, describing it as a ploy to deprive

them of their shops.

Even the repeated assurances by the Chairman of the Market Development Committee, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe, that no trader will lose his shop, could not sway them.

Addressing journalists in Aba, Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS, Deacon Michael Aniorji, accused the market development committee of planning to sack traders from the market under the guise of rebuilding it, adding that the distortion of the original plan of the market was done by government

officials and its agencies who encouraged erection of shops on drainage channels.

The traders union insisted that they fully support the demolition of structures built on drainage and walkways, but are against the plan to relocate them to the Aba Mega Mall which they described as a private facility.

According to Aniorji, “we are 100 percent against the planned reconstruction and demolition of already existing structures not built on drainage. They now want us to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall. This is a ploy to rob us of our shops. No trader is

relocating.

“Why can’t the government partner with us in the development of the market?

Ariaria International Market is enjoying international status only by the sweat of the traders.

“These shops are our only investment. It is from these shops that we pay our rent and train our children; it will be inhuman to take it away from us.

“We, therefore, call on Abia State government to resist the temptation from selfish politicians and gold digging businessmen.”

UNVEILING:

From left— Head, Policy and Research, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu; the author, Olabisi Olaleye; Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph, Funke Egbemode; Group Executive Director, Zinox Group, Stanley Okpalaeke; representative of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Kolawole Taiwo, and representative of Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Babafemi, during the unveiling of a book, Our Nigerian Story , held in Lagos, yesterday.

Enugu plans 2,500 units housing scheme

By Emeka Mamah

E

NUGU—THE Enugu State government is set to build 2,500 houses for low and high income earners, the state Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Solomon Onah, has said.

Onah spoke, yesterday, during a ceremony to unveil the commencement of the sale of forms for plots of land at the New Independence Layout along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu, yesterday evening.

About 500 plots of land are said to be available in the new layout at the cost of between N9. 5 million and N10 million per plot.

First 100 buyers would, however, pay N8 million each.

Onah said that another batch of 2,000 low cost houses would be built along the Ugwogo-Nike Road in the state.

Why there's stalemate in Anambra Central polls—APGA's spokesman

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE battle for Anambra State 2017 governorship election is the major reason for the stalemated Anambra Central senatorial re-run, National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Ifeatu ObiOkoye, has said.

Speaking in an interview in Awka, Obi-Okoye said the opposition parties in the state were determined to stop the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and they felt that the first step to achieving it was by creating a stalemate in Anambra Central by applying all intrigues to stop Chief Victor Umeh from going to the Senate.

He said his party was aware of the situation and was, therefore, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success of the party in both the re-run and the 2017 governorship poll, assuring that Obiano would be re-elected, just as Umeh would emerge the Senator for Anambra Central.

According to him, APGA

was aware that part of the strategy of the main opposition PDP in the state was to use the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, to make inroad in Anambra Central before the 2017 governorship election by

pressurising him to become PDP senatorial candidate for the zone in the rerun.

He described Anambra Central senatorial election as a stepping stone to next year’s governorship election.

Abia CJ frees 7 inmates

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—SEVEN persons, who have been on the awaiting trial list at the Federal Prisons, Aba, have been granted bail by the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe.

The inmates, six males and a female, were released during a jail delivery exercise at the facility by Uzokwe, last Friday.

Vanguard gathered that the inmates have spent about four years on the awaiting trial list and would have served out their jail terms if they had been tried and convicted of the offences for which they were remanded in prison.

A source at the Aba Prisons told Vanguard that one of the inmates, believed to be in his

late 60s, was freed on health ground as he has been very sick.

According to the source, all the released inmates, who could not hide their emotions, thanked the CJ for the visit.

He hinted that the CJ would be back to the facility in June for another round of delivery.

Meanwhile, Civil Liberties Organisation, Aba Unit, in a statement by its Chairman, Professor Charles Chinekezi, has called for the speedy trial of suspects charged to court for various offences and lamented that judicial bottle necks have caused many suspects to languish on the awaiting list, making them to spend more time than the term for their crimes if sentenced.

Enugu East APC suspends its Chairman

By Emeka Mamah

E

NUGU—THE Enugu East zonal chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended its Chairman, Chief Anike Nwoga, over alleged anti-party activities.

Nwoga’s suspension was announced yesterday by the party ’s zonal Secretary, Chuks Owo, during the zonal executive committee meeting of the party.

The motion for his suspension was moved by the zonal Legal Adviser, Jones Anigbogu, while Enugu East council chairman of the party, Michael Onyeka, seconded it.

Meanwhile, the party has set up a three-man committee to investigate all the allegations levelled against the party chieftain.

At press time, efforts to reach Nwoga for his reaction was unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off.

... as PDP members protest in Owerri

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE l i n g e r i n g discontent among Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithful in Imo State further degenerated yesterday, as some aggrieved members of the party took to the streets in Owerri to decry the alleged irregularities in the last congresses.

The party loyalists from the 27 local council areas of the state, who acted under the platform of “Coalition of True Imo PDP Democrats,” stormed the party secretariat along Okigwe Road, Owerri, in buses, chanted solidarity songs, and heaped unprintable invectives on those they accused of hijacking the party machinery to achieve their political ambitions in 2019.

Already, the protesters have filed a petition to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, which they captioned Flawed PDP Congresses in Imo State.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10 10, 2016—17

Fulani hackmen and Nigeria's clash of civilisations M

Y good brother Otoks Princewill was lost as to why many of our fellow Nigerians from the far North have taken sides with cows as against humans whose lives are being wasted in Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt since Fulani hackmen unleashed a reign of terror on their host communities in a frightening dimension especially in the last one year.

From Falae's farm in Akure, through Agatu down to Enugu and many more communities it had been what Fela AnikulapoKuti called "sorrow, tears and blood."

I asked Otoks that in all the years he has been reading newspapers in Nigeria, he should tell me the number of "In Memoriam" he has seen in print from the far North people . That the number he can come up with would tell him how different sections of the country see human life.While a section places so much premium on human life and would still remember their loved ones 50 years after they are gone ,another sees a dead man no more than a piece of trash to be wrapped and thrown under the earth without much rite of passage.

It is like the case of an elder in a church who quarreled with his wife over toothpaste before leaving for service.When church service was over, a fellow elder asked after his wife and in frustration he responded "she is there, always quarreling over everything and behaving like a child".

Horrific images The other man was of fuller understanding and told him "Elder John,women don't behave like children but rather they behave like women.The problem is with we men who want women to behave like men."

All citizens of Nigeria who belong to the civilisation that puts premium on human lives were shocked at the horrific images coming out of Enugu after the recent killings that took place there.There was the gory picture of a young 19-year old lady who was said to be on holiday from Canada who was hacked to death. I recall Emmanuel Ibeshi, the founding National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who called me after the picture went viral.

He was badly shaken from the tone of his voice and I could 'see' C M Y K

tears flowing down his cheeks even though we're not communicating via video calls. I found it difficult to eat meat throughout that day.

Then the news came that the 19 northern governors were going to hold an emergency meeting.

They met and issued a communique that read more like the resolutions of Meyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association .

Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said it was an insult to consider criminals as Fulani. Shettima said: “We want to unequivocally condemn the recent killings in Enugu and other parts of the country. But we equally condemn the politicisation or permit me, the ‘ethinicisation’ of the whole crisis.

It goes beyond Fulani. If anything happens, they say

We need a federal constitution in deed that would allow each group to develop according to its civilisation so we can live in peace.I want to remain in the same country with Col. Dangiwa Umar,though he is Fulani. Let the terms be right Fulani herdsmen; to me it is an insult.

“Kidnapping in this country originated in the South-east, were they called Igbo kidnappers?"

Heresy.When the militants in the Niger Delta ravaged the pipelines we called them Niger Delta Miltants.If traders from South East decide to misbehave in Kano would they be called any other thing than Igbo traders?If farmers from Oyo behave the way the cattle breeders are behaving in any part of the country what would be wrong in saying Yoruba farmers?

As if the comments of the Northern governors was not annoying enough, their Senators also decided to pour some gasoline into a burning cauldron . After their meeting in Abuja they promised to review the existing laws and make new ones

If you see a Fulani man handling AK-47, that is because cattle rustling has become so much that one wonders if there is security in the country. With the coming of this administration, we are seeing a lot of improvement. No peace-loving Fulani man would be carrying AK-47 and moving about."

Now who is issuing licenses to these Fulani herdsmen to weed Ak-47?I recall in our days as children how we used to see Fulani herdsmen going about with cattle and all they had were sticks. We used to run after them making fun with expression like "the husband of Sikira with horns,

an end was the issue of grazing routes for herdsmen.The Fulani people at the conference argued as if cows were citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria. They didn't show the kind of interest they displayed over the issue of cows when matters concerning Almajiris or the rights of women came up for discussion. After several meetings, committee sessions and trouble shootings that conference resolved on establishment of ranches for cattle breeding in states that want them.

The implementation of that report will resolve the menace of the hackmen which today poses the greatest threat to the corporate existence of the country.

And this is the imperative of functional federalism. Like men who want women to behave like men are those who want the Fulani herdsmen to put value on human lives more than their cow.I am definitely not asking for such.

Transporting cattle in vehicles

Fulani herdsmen going about with cattle to protect the interest of the north in particular and Nigeria in general.They also said there would be no country called Nigeria, if other parts of the country asked Fulani herdsmen to leave their communities and states. Reading a communique issued at the end of the meeting to journalists, Chairman, Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) said “We appreciate the steps the Federal Government had taken so far to contain the problems of herdsmen/farmers clashes and call on community leaders to be careful when making statements on these ugly incidences.”

Asked whether the forum’s call on community leaders to be mindful of what they say was also applicable to governors of respective states, Senator Adamu said: “It is for all Nigerians. A governor is a community leader.

The only difference is that he has a label called governor. If you don’t mind, in recent times, it started with the West when elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, had some very nasty experience. It was attributed at the time to Fulani herdsmen. At the end, those people were apprehended and they were not Fulanis. This thing has been going on in virtually all parts of the country today. If we now say that everybody should rise and say herdsmen should leave, we will not have a country.”

Of course these grown-ups were lying through their teeth.

Chief Olu Falae identified his kidnappers and they were Fulani.

They are currently in court. Baba Othman Ngezarlma, the Secretary of Meyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association while speaking on Channels Television admitted that the Fulani herdsmen carry AK-47. "That is one issue I would like to correct.

the wife is wearing sandals and the husband is bare footed". The worst they ever did was chasing us with their sticks. What does AK-47 has to do with cattle rearing if some other agenda is not in the mix?

He also betrayed the mindset that gave the Fulani herdsmen the gut to trample over people's land "What we discovered was that when they go to graze in the forest, an area that doesn’t belong to anybody, people would come and demand money from them before they can graze. And even after settling, another group would come and demand for money again and, if they refuse to pay, they shoot the cows."

All these shenanigans would not be new to anybody who was a delegate to the 2014 National Conference. One issue that almost brought that conference to

All I am asking is that there should be ranches in their areas and transport their cattle in vehicles to designated points where buyers can meet them.

Argentina is the largest supplier of corn beef in the world today but they don't come and graze cattle on BRT lane in Lagos or in front of the Central Bank of Nigeria. If Nigeria were to have borders with the United Kingdom or the USA, I don't think our Fulani herdsmen would go and graze cattle on Bristol or around the Capitol.

And if the owners of these cows who are the big men love their people ,would they ask them to be trekking from Kano to Enugu when they could stay in ranches?

What nutrition is left in a cow that has trekked all that distance?

Nigeria is under stress today because we want a melting pot "though tribes and tongues differ".

It is not going to work. We need a federal constitution in deed that would allow each group to develop according to its civilisation so we can live in peace. I want to remain in the same country with Col. Dangiwa Umar,though he is Fulani. Let the terms be right !

All hail Fasoranti @ 90

T

HE Akure home of the Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti will play host to guests tomorrow (May11,2016) as the jolly good old man turns 90. His family, friends and associates will cling glasses to toast to the taciturn but steely grand old man for achieving a rare feat in a clime where life expectancy is 53.7 years for male.

Pa Fasoranti has seen a great deal of sunny side of life with a few low moments here and there but God has been very gracious to him.

A great disciplinarian and the typical teacher of old, he has led a disciplined life based on the sound values of the ancient landmarks set by the fathers.

He was the Commissioner for Finance in Ondo state in the days the great Pa Adekunle

Ajasin held sway as Ondo state Governor. He discharged his duty creditably.

The renowned teacher has taught so many pupils who had gone on to be very great in life among whom were the late Cicero,Chief Bola Ige and Prof.

Akin Mabogunje who were his students at the Ibadan Grammar school .

His political family in Afenifere will honour him on May 28 in Akure as one of his Comrades in the UPN days, Prof. Banji Akintoye would be speaking at The Dome Akure on "The Welfare Ideology and The Future of Yoruba Nation" under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state as Chief Host. Happy birthday,Papa!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 ON Wednesday, 27th April, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari finally broke his silence over the bloody rampage of armed herdsmen around the country. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that the President had directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, and the heads of other security agencies to “take all necessary measures” to end the attacks and bring their perpetrators to book.

This was the directive that victims of these attacks, community leaders, the media and many concerned Nigerians had pleaded with the President to make, long before the invasions and massacre of defenceless Nigerians in Agatu community in Benue State and Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, but to no avail.

It took the distress call that the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi paid to the

Presidential order on herdsmen rampage Presidential Villa in Abuja, before the Commander - in - Chief acted.

Since the President issued the directive, things appear to be moving in a positive direction.

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have already paid a solidarity visit to Ugwuanyi, and the security agencies that had all along played deaf and dumb to the distress calls of victims have roused themselves.

It is sad that the Federal Government’s decisive actions against the Boko Haram insurgents, Biafra agitators, the Shiite Islamic sect in Zaria,

pipeline vandals and Niger Delta militants, were not extended to the herdsmen who killed, raped, kidnapped, and harassed innocent citizens while also driving people from their lands and leading their animals to devour the products of farmers’ sweat and toil.

The failure of the Federal Government and its security agencies to respond with despatch to this menace worsened the already tense atmosphere among Nigeria’s diverse ethnoreligious groups. It has fuelled anger and suspicion against nomadic Fulani pastoralists who

have over the years grazed their animals through indigenous communities unmolested because they never threatened anyone as they now do.

We hope the President will match his words with decisive action and ensure the disarming of the militias and their treatment according to our laws. He should also explore all available modern options to ensure that herdsmen are settled in their own self financed ranches, as that is the only way both the herdsmen and their animals can experience better life.

Let us also remind the President that his administration’s pledge to diversify the economy through farming will not succeed if the Fulani herdsmen continue to disturb the farmers. Apart from possible reprisal actions, we cannot expect more people to take to farming when farmers and their farm products are not safe from the insurgents.

OPINION Nigeria,MTN

&

Continued from yesterday

By Gabriel Zowam

B

ANK of America Merrill Lynch: “… government is under pressure to fill the revenue gap from lower oil prices by any means necessary; this outsize fine represents 20% of forecast expenditure and over 60% of forecast revenues … this year.” Mark Bohlund, of London’s Bloomberg Intelligence: “it reinforces the impression that the Buhari administration does not have the political clout to cut back spending nor any creative ideas to take the country forward and stimulate other sectors of the economy”. Pete Guest: “it has added volume to an already noisy chorus of negative views on the country”!

Who then can now come to invest? Is NCC not killing Nigeria?

Worsening all these are reports suggesting that NCC might have even decoyed MTN into defaulting. For example, if NCC continued to hold discussions on compliance with ALL the operators almost right until its hammer fell on MTN, when then exactly did the other operators (Glo, Etisalat and Airtell) achieve full compliance that saved them from attracting any fines whatsoever! By how many days did they beat MTN to

bungled

regulation

compliance, to justify such a whopping fine on MTN alone, without any fine whatsoever on any of them? Again by not responsibly clearing all such insinuations, NCC has created the impression of playing God! Playing God Indeed, worsening this worldwide bafflement has been NCC’s arrogant

I am simply alarmed by what appears as our spiralling catalogue of regulatory blunders silence, as if Nigeria owes nobody any explanations for what it does to foreign investors! What has NCC been waiting for, before explaining to a bewildered global investing public, the logic behind its N200,000 rate, 35% discount, the change to 25% discount, and its real goal?

Even if NCC realises that what it has done is an indefensible global embarrassment, its loud silence has had the effect of flaunting just how defenceless foreign investors can be in our country – which is further flamed by screaming headlines such as “Reps Want MTN Fine Doubled To $10 billion”, “Governors Insist MTN Must Pay $5b Fine”, and so on!

(2) But perhaps the greatest harm of all was our national reaction to MTN’s decision to go to court. One of the most important essentials of foreign investors is the protection of their investments in a country. They want to know that they will be able to enforce their rights. But when MTN decided to go to court, perhaps to challenge the unreasonableness of the fine, we seemed to have unleashed state institutions on the hapless firm, which perhaps caused MTN to hurriedly withdraw the case! According to the respected Segun Adeniyi of Thisday, who seemed to write with inside knowledge of the thinking at NCC, “Now that the company has decided to go to court after admitting its guilt in writing to the presidency … I have it on good authority that so many other things have come up about MTN operations in Nigeria and the manner in which the company might actually have been breaking our laws, especially on remittances and taxation.

These are issues that the relevant authorities are now looking into since the company wants to fight. But far more significant is that the South African authorities may need to wade in before MTN commits suicide in Nigeria…I hope the authorities at MTN, especially the top Nigerian shareholders, are aware of the implications of what they are doing.”

Incredible! Is NCC making Nigeria a nation where it is “suicidal” for foreign investors to seek judicial protection?

Segun’s warning is all over the internet, and investors worldwide are perusing it (over and over) up to this moment! What damage!

How can President Buhari be pushing so hard, criss-crossing the globe for foreign investors, while an agency of his government appears at the same time to be telling the investors that the worst of fate awaits them if they come? If NCC single-handedly extinguishes the nation’s investment prospects, what are its plans for the millions of Nigerian youths, who are very angry because there are no jobs – as well as the hundreds of thousands more that are graduating every year to join them?

Our urgent national interests demand that the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and even Mr. President himself promptly step in and halt the mounting damage, before it becomes irremediable!

Finally, let me emphasise that I have no relationship whatsoever with MTN, nor with anybody representing them. I am simply alarmed by what appears as our spiralling catalogue of regulatory blunders.

Concluded *Mr. Zowam , a reform & governance expert, wrote from zowam@yahoo.com

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016— —19

Nigeria and rail lines of commerce

By Olubunmi Aboderin It is a truth universally acknowledged that a developing nation in possession of a large population must be in want of a robust transport system. (Forgive me Jane Austen).

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HERE is at least one concerted-effort activity that every free, hale and hearty Nigerian does every day and that is, move. From home to school, to the market, to the office; from neighbourhood to neighbourhood; from one state to another; from city to village and vice versa; from one country to another, and so on. We are always on the move and the largest chunk of this movement is by road, whether on foot, bicycle, tricycle, “okada”, by car, bus, “molue”, you name it. Not surprisingly, the roads are usually congested. Given that many destinations are landlocked, the road appears to be the most convenient and economical way for the majority of people to complete their journey. But there has to be a more efficient, landbased, affordable mode for mass transit and there is: rail. The railway is a somewhat unexpected solution provider for seemingly unrelated social and economic issues, and it could well be instrumental in fomenting a much needed industrial revolution here, as it has done in other countries.

A fully-functioning railway network is not only useful for moving an assemblage of people

from Point A to Point B, it’s also effective for transporting cargo, improving distribution logistics, decongesting traffic, boosting trade nationally and internationally, enhancing tourism and even improving intertribal understanding. When compared to the bulk goods movement capacity of road vehicles, rail ranks higher in safety, speed, size of cargo hold, scalability (extra train carriages can be added to a locomotive manned by one driver with one attendant), and strength in terms of durability.

One way to improve the competitiveness of our exports is to have a full-bodied nationwide railway system that can be efficiently operated on lean margins. An intercontinental rail network would be even better. It doesn’t hurt to dream, but let’s walk before we run. According to the 2016 Economic Outlook published

by Economic Associates, approximately 58% of our non-oil income is generated from four industries: trade, crop production, real estate and telecoms & info services. The revenue generated by these sectors could grow exponentially if we had a robust railway system. (Assuming there is stable power supply that would complement production efforts rather than a convulsive one that frustrates the best of intentions).

While new rail tracks are laid and existing ones are expanded, gas pipes and cabling for telecoms or electricity transmission, can be

laid at the same time. Yes, such infrastructural undertakings are expensive, but then so are the mental, physical, social, economic and environmental costs of sitting in traffic for 12 hours because of an overturned trailer. And besides, such mammoth infrastructural projects are excellent opportunities to attract

As a developing nation with a large population, we are in a sincere need of a robust, nationwide transport system

irreversible capital input from abroad.

Since the first construction of a railway in Nigeria just before the 1900s, we have built rail lines that go from Lagos to Kano; Port Harcourt to Kano; Port Harcourt to Aba; Abuja to Kaduna, and so on. Lagos also has an intra-state rail system. Unfortunately not enough attention was given to rail transport from the mid-1960s till recent years. Now however, there

is a move to modernise existing railroads and build new ones to international standards, so much so that we are likely to have standard gauge rail, at least, from Lagos to Kano; Lagos to Calabar; Kaduna to Abuja; and Itape to Ajaokuta to Port Harcourt. But ideally, we should have railway service to every city, town, or hamlet with a population in excess of 500 people. Allowing the private sector to take over the railways will help achieve this goal. Privatising the railways will raise the muchneeded revenue for governance, improve our time to market and increase the fiscal competitiveness of our locally made goods. It makes one wonder why the 1957 Railway Act, slated for amendment since 1999 has not been attended to by members of the National Assembly.

On the website, corridorsofcommerce.com, the US-based transport network, BNSF Railway, highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits of using trains to move “agriculture, raw materials and finished goods”, over a distance of 3,422 route miles within an area covering parts of the USA and Canada, which it refers to as the Great Northern corridor. “In 2009, the Great Northern moved over 124 million tons of freight. It would take over 4.9 million long-haul trucks on highways to move that much freight. The Great Northern saved over 570 million gallons of fuel and over 6 million tons of greenhouse gases.” Now fast forward to Nigeria and imagine what it would mean for our GDP if we could do the same here.

PDP national convention, the morning after

By Dan Osi Orbih

I

NDEED the momentous phone call by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan conceding victory to President Muhammad Buhari after the last general elections will indelibly remain a significant milestone in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. The ethos of this rare gesture humbles the persuasions of the doomsday advocates and prophesies that had predicted the disintegration of Nigeria based on the aftermath of the 2015 elections . President George Walker Bush whilst referring to the American Political transitions said ‘’The Peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country’’. A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government relinquished power without bloodletting or even throwing the country into anarchy. The election has been won and lost depending on which divide one’s political allegiance situates.

Meanwhile, The APC led government is presently preoccupied with its convoluted style of governance. The keenly contested elections produced a political debacle of profound dimensions, Political historians, analysts and ardent followers of events in Nigeria and the international community suffice to say will hold convictions which sway to objectivity, sentiments, ethnic or religious regarding the outcome of the April 28,2015 general elections.

A new helmsman emerged in our political horizon and the expectations of a new political order was rife, As well as the trump of an economic nirvana. The envisaged miracle of transformation orchestrated by their change mantra is fast receding as Nigerians brace up to the stark economic realities of an All Progressive Congress, APC 'one chance promises'. It is not my quest at this point to examine or ventilate on the immediate or remote causes which led to our great party’s misfortunes at the 2015 polls. It is instructive to recognise the fundamentals of some underlying factors that converged critically to work against the backdrop of meaningful C M Y K

intent to ensure the party’s ascendancy in the political affairs of our beloved country. Be that as it may, we must applaud the singular resolve of former President Jonathan in striving to validate a political culture that thrives on free and fair electioneering process. But more so equally, repudiating every possibility that would have consigned our electoral gains to the trash can of history under the watch of a PDP led government as against the spate of '’inconclusive elections'’ been witnessed so far under an APC government.

The magnanimity of former President Jonathan’s statesmanship belies the magnitude and horrendous upheaval which would have

It is PDP's profound responsibility as the opposition party to proffer credible and decent position in matters concerning the nation engulfed the nation if he had succumbed to the primordial instincts and allure of power, knowing fully well the glaring shortcomings that provided grounds to challenge the outcome of the elections. It is noteworthy, the inestimable value of Dr. Jonathan's enviable patriotic act.

It is also pertinent to ask if an APC leadership under the same circumstance will exhibit such equanimity in the interest and wellbeing of Nigeria. We may recall that prior to the 2015 elections some APC stalwarts had orchestrated the threat of forming a parallel government in the event of an unfavourable outcome at the polls. The PDP remains a great party though we may seem bruised ,bloodied and battered .

We are resolutely rising from the despair of the electoral defeat to a far more formidable party.

We have exhibited courage, equanimity, maturity and a clear zeal at resurgence. it is

worthy of mention the sportsmanship exhibited

by PDP candidates at the 2015 general elections by taking the gauntlet to congratulate opponents who defeated them at the polls.

Taking a cue from former President Jonathan, erstwhile governor of Niger state Dr. Babangida Aliyu called his opponent at the senatorial elections but he was unfortunately rebuffed by his APC opponent. This same gesture further played out with former governor of Kaduna state and Mallam El-Rufai as well Mr. Ribadu in Adamawa state. It is ironic to note that this considerations never plays out with the APC whenever they lose at the Polls.

The outcome of PDP’s marginal performance at the 2015 general elections derived seemingly from intractable political subterfuge which germinated in-house and subsequently led to an implosion within the party. It is not ostensibly the handiwork of any clear political dexterity on the part of APC. The PDP members in all intent and purpose were the architect of our misfortune. As a committed party member, I will never flagellate my party in the public domain. Our misdeeds in the past sixteen years at the helm of affairs can not be wished away just as the landmark achievements prides itself in the corridors of our nation's history. The expectations of leadership and governance no doubt goes with commensurate measure of responsibility and attendant burden. As I rightly proffered earlier it is not yet an appropriate time to digress fully the propriety or otherwise of actions and events that coalesced to the loss of PDP's hold on the reins of government at the centre and beyond.

However the onus of my essay is the forthcoming PDP national convention slated for the 21st May 2016 which I strongly believe will provide the fulcrum for our party’s overhaul and re-engineering.

To our great party faithfuls,it is a time and a season for stock-taking, sober reflections and reappraisals. My humble submissions is the crucial enterprise of a total re-jig, we must accept the cliché that '’ there is no comfort in

Currently, Lafarge uses the railways to move cement from Ogun State to other parts of the country. As our national rail infrastructure is built up, other companies will be able to embark on a similar modal shift away from transporting industrial-capacity or wholesale goods by roads, to moving those same items by rail instead. When trains become the primary method for moving cattle, tomatoes, coal, petrol, sand, boulders and other such bulk inputs, confrontations between bovine drovers and agrarian homesteaders can perhaps be minimised, less agricultural produce would perish on the way to market, there would likely be fewer car crashes, and the roads would be a lot less crammed.

Developers would benefit from an increase in the value of the land around the rail stations; entrepreneurs would benefit from a drop in the cost of doing business; young adults would benefit from an increase in employment opportunities; and government would benefit from an increase in the number of people able to pay tax, amongst other things.

As a developing nation with a large population, we are in a sincere need of a robust, nationwide transport system.

Perpetuating the delay in reviewing the 1957 Railway Act is ultimately self-defeating. As part of our strategy for sustainable economic growth, we need to give active, urgent, methodological attention to building up our railways. *Ms. Aboderin is a member of the Institute of Directors.

the truth but pain is what we find and advertently acknowledge Bryant McGwill 's word that "Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are .'’ Yes let us look at the past and ourselves , not merely to fantasize about the glorious days nor become diminished by the present situation. Let us all as worthy ambassadors of our great party look on to the future bearing in mind that we need to put our house in order. We can never be discouraged rather we will forge the strong bonds of resilience and renew our commitment to the service of our country and the PDP . In the light of contemporary events and with the exigencies of power having relocated to the APC as the governing party. It is our profound responsibility as the opposition party to proffer credible and decent position in matters concerning the nation. Mindful of our commendable performances in recent elections, it is obvious that we have risen from the embers of defeat which had almost brought us to the nadir of Nigeria's politics. No gainsaying, events of the 2015 elections was an '’Eye-opener'’ which reinforces the fact that challenges and vicissitudes we encounter in life are tests to our WILL,RESOLVE and COURAGE. Let us from '’THE MORNING AFTER'’ the national convention acknowledge that the debacle of the 2015 elections MEASURED and MIRRORED our 16 years of running the affairs of Nigeria. Our abilities as a party is to come out VICTORIOUS when the vagaries of politics besets us. Indeed, we have accepted the outcome of the 2015 general elections as a forerunner to our re-emergence and greatness come 2019 and beyond.

As a party with illustrious founding fathers that heralded the fourth Republic, we have journeyed far from 1998 to this present day.

Our odyssey in the annals of Nigeria Political history remains momentous, come 21st of May 2016 the choices we make and how well we fare lies with us. My clarion wish is that we will rebound and emerge more formidable from then onward.

Mr. Orbih is state chairman, PDP, Edo State.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

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Govt meets banks on intervention fund for steel, mines

By Peter Egwuatu

T

HE Federal Government said it has met with banks to fine tune how to provide intervention fund to revive the ailing steel and mining sector Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who disclosed this in Lagos at a breakfast meeting with operators organised by Stanbic IBTC Plc said the Federal Government will not sell Ajaokuta Steel but will concession it to private investors.

He stressed that government is committedtocreating 2,000jobsannually as the sector would help absorb such talent over the coming decade, adding that mining can be an important part of the solution sector when the intervention fund kicks off as a way of assisting operators to making the business viable and profitable.”

He further disclosed that the Ministry of Steel has begun to revalidate licences issued in the past years that had not been put to use.

His words: “There have been people with mineral titles without being utilised, so we will revoke such licences when those people are not serious about doing the business and give to those who are committed to investing in the sector.”

Fayemi added: “Our govern-

ment came into office at a time when many people had abandoned the country’s manufacturing, agricultural and mining sectors. We are doing our utmost best to encourage diversification into these sectors which can employ a lot of people.”

Speaking on the need for an intervention fund , the minister said government “would provide intervention fund in order to develop the sector. Already, I have discussed with the Bankers Committee and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to determine how we can develop the fund. I have advised banks to set up Steel and Mining Desks and it is our hope that this fund will help the private sector to grow solid minerals.”

According to him “Steel is the world’s most important engineering material and it is crucial to any country’s industrialisation objectives. In Nigeria most steel operations are focused on using imported scrap metal, and hot/cold rolled steel and wire coils to produce finished products such as steel roofing sheets, nails, pipes and reinforced steel bars. Nigeria imports an estimated $3.3 billion of processed steel and associated Derivatives representing 80% of the $4.2 billion total metal products imported per year (25MT/annum).

We’re part of ongoing investigation of some banks — CBN

By Jonah Nwokpoku

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has said it is indeed part of the ongoing investigations of certain financial transactions in some banks by law enforcement agencies, adding that it would never allow banks to be used as con-

duits for illicit transactions.

This was contained in a statement issued by the apex on Monday as part of measures to assuage the fears of the general public especially some customers and stakeholders of some money deposit banks who are being investigated for alleged involvement in financial corruption.

$ 119.15 0.55 $3,158.00 -20.00 $ 16.76

0.11

$46.29

1.67

$45.72

1.94

CURRENCY

BUYING

US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA

196 284.494 225.5764 205.0424 1.838 0.3266 278.986 30.1344 52.2583 30.3124 278.3004

SELLING

196.5 285.2198 226.1519 205.5654 1.8426 0.3366 279.6977 30.2117 52. 3916 30.3897 279.0104

197 285.9455 226.7273 206.0885 1.8473 0.3466 280.4094 30.2891 52.5249 30.4671 279.7203

CBN Exchange rate as at 08/05/2016

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According to the statement signed by the bank’s Acting Director,Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, “The CBN is also carrying out its own special examinations and investigations to ascertain the veracity of some allegations, as well as the extent and persons that may be involved in such activities.”

The statement further noted that, “The bank would like to reiterate that financial system stability remains a priority and therefore assures customers and stakeholders that it would not allow the banking system to be used as a conduit for any illicit transactions.”

HANDOVER: Dr. Nurudeen Imam, out-going chairman, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (left), and in-coming chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, during the formal handover to the new chairman, in Abuja.

Ex-Shell boss, Sunmonu, is new Julius Berger chairman

J

ULIUS Berger Nigeria Plc, the country’s foremost engineering construction company, has for mally announced Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu as its new chairman.

The company’s spokesman, Mr. Moses Duku, had earlier in March of this year announced Mr. Sunmonu’s appointment as the new Chairman of the company with effect from 1st April, 2016.

At the change-of-baton eventwhich held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the out-going chairman, Dr.

Nurudeen Imam who had served on the Board of the company for more than sixteen years thanked the company for the opportunity given to him to serve.

He stated that in his considerable military, administrative and business management experience, “I can assure you that nothing brightens the heart of a retiring officer than the knowledge that he has a worthy, competent, capable and ready-to-step-up successor. I believe that in my successor, our company is in capable and safe hands”. He de-

scribed Mr. Sunmonu as “an energetic member of a younger generation whose trajectory looks good and set to improve upon the achievements of generations of past leadership of (the) Company”.

The new Chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, at the occasion also thanked the former chairman for his great service to the “strategic signature brand” and pledged to deployhiswealthofexperiencetowork and build upon the worthy foundations and entrepreneurial legacy of his predecessors and take Julius Berger Plc in the right direction during his tenure in office.

Julius Berger appoints Sunmonu as new chairman

FG, World Bank partner fabricator in bid to cut post-harvest waste

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

T

HE Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank is partnering with an indigenous agro-allied food processing equipment fabricator to launch a multi-purpose fruits processor machine aimed at boosting preservationofagriculturalproduceandthus reduce post harvest wastage in the country.

The processor is being handled by a local Lagos based company, Nobex Technology Limited, in collaboration with the Federal Government and World Bank, under West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, WAAPP, Nigeria.

The equipment is a multi-purpose fruits dryer processor used for preserving excess produce such as mangoes, banana, plantain and tomatoes.

A delegation led by Mr. Sheu

Salau,WorldBankAgriculturalEconomicsTaskTeamLeaderforWAAP Nigeria, and Mr. James Apochi, Ag. NationalProjectCoordinator,WAAPNigeria, of the Federal Ministry of Finance, disclosed this to newsmen during implementation supervision mission to the factory of the technology company at Idimu/Ikotun Road, Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos.

Theequipment, at95percentcompletion, adopted from Burkina Faso, is set to be launched in the country within the next three weeks.

Mr. Idowu Adeoya, Managing Director of Nobex Technologies Ltd, a frontline fabricator of agro-allied equipment especially, flash dryers in Nigeria and manufacturer of the equipment, explained that “the minimum and maximum capacity the processor can produce daily varies according to type of the machine and quantity of the produce available for processing.

“Majorly, the aim is to reduce post harvest wastes by adding value to agriculture as well as boosting income to farmers and investors.”

Adeoya added that the company also specializes in design and fabrication of post-harvest crops processing equipment like multicassava processing, oil seed processing, animal feed,s drying, cleaning and storage.

“The company supplies machineryandcompletefactoryequipment needed to convert almost every crop grown in Africa to human and animal feed.”

“We produce other equipment other than flash dryers, but we have realised that the major problem of food processing and processors in Nigeria is drying. Drying reduces the moisture content and this is the technique to preserve food, eradicate wastage and ensure food security. That is why I decided to stick to fabricating mainly dryers.”

VOL. 1: No. 90

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

By Jimitota Onoyume

U

LA UPATA: GUNMEN have gone out of control at Ula Upata, Edioha, Ogoni and Yeghe communities in Rivers State, slaying a native doctor, senior lecturer, female student and four villagers in the last few weeks.

Worried by the spate of attacks, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has ordered deployment of a special homicide team to PortHarcourt, capital of Rivers state, to assist the Rivers State Police Command crack down on the killer-gang.

How 30 gunmen went berserk: Niger Delta Voice learned that about 30 armed men, penultimate Saturday, stormed Ula Upata and neighboring Edioha communities in Ahoada East local government area of the state and wreaked havoc penultimate Saturday.

A source said the gangsters practically descended on the Zion Nwoka family and snuffed life out of 62-year-old Mrs. Monica Zion, Gospel Nwoka, 45, Mrs. Patricia Ziko, 42 and Rogers Nwoka, 28.

Even as police confirmed the worrisome deaths, nobody could say the reason for the bloodletting, as the killers extended their offensive to Edioha community, where they allegedly clubbed a native doctor to death.

A similar occurred in Ula Upata about two months ago when suspected cultists invaded the area, killing about eight persons.

Tailed from Bori to Yeghe Besides the Ula Upata and Edioha invasion, the gunmen trailed a senior lecturer of Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Polytechnic, Dr. Vincent Eebee on his way to Port-Harcourt and shot him dead.

NDV learned that they trailed him from the Polytechnic in Bori and started shooting at his vehicle after he drove past Birabi Memorial Grammer School, BMGS, on the BoriYeghe road.

A female passenger in his C M Y K

•Suspected cultists nabbed in Rivers state

Killer-gang runs wild in Rivers •Late Dr. Vincent Eebee

•Massacre native doctor, lecturer, 5 others •IGP deploys special homicide squad, vows to ‘amputate gang’ vehicle identified as a student of the Polytechnic also died in the sad incident.

Eyewitnesses said the late Dr Eebee managed to drive to Yeghe community and bolted from his car, but the assailants allegedly caught up with him and ensured he was dead before they sped off in a black SUV. Why I deployed homicide squad - IGP Meanwhile, the police have

deployed special homicide detectives to fish out the rampaging killer- gangs in Rivers.

Arase told reporters in Port Harcourt: “Criminal gangs cannot overwhelm a state or a country, it is never done. I can assure the people of the country that we will clamp down on these gangs; we will amputate them from our society. ” “They are being investigated at the state by the state Police

command, but I have also dispatched a team of homicide investigators from Abuja. When things like this happen, there are always different accounts to it. I have said the police will always be apolitical and professional at all times with our operations and investigations,” he asserted.

Police‘ll fish out killers – Commissioner On his part, the state Police

Commissioner, Mr. Musa Kimo, who visited Ula Upata community, said armed police officers were still on ground at Ula Upata and Edioha communities, Ahoada East local government area, maintaining peace He assured the families of those who lost loved ones that the police were doing everything possible to bring the killers to book.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 —23

USA-Ijaw pays tuition fees of 60-yr-old JSS II student

By Chancel Sunday

B

OMADI- IJAW community in the United States of America, USA, under the umbrella of Ijaw Brothers in USA has finally fulfilled its pledge to shoulder the tuition fees of 60-year- old Junior Secondary School, JSS II student of Izon College, BomadiOverside, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr Adelabu Seribo.

The group paid his tuition fees for JSS II and III, covering two academic session as well as his textbooks for the period.

Mr Seribo’s educational pursuit in Izon College generated attention when Niger Delta Voice visited the school and published his laudable educational pursuit.

Presenting cheques for Seribo’s tuition fees and text books to the principal of Izon College at the school premises in Bomadi-Overside, a representative of Ijaw Brothers, USA, Mr Eden Ogula, said the Ijaw brotherhood in the USA was impressed by Seribo’s decision to acquire education even at an advanced age.

He urged the younger generation in the riverine enclave to be more

dedicated on issues regarding education, noting the gesture was an incentive to encourage Mr Seribo to achieve his aim.

First time in Ijaw land-Mr. Bakpor receiving the cheques, the principal of Izon College, Mr Samson A. Bakpor, said: “This is the first time in Mr. Eden Ogula (2nd left), presenting a cheques for Mr. Seribo’s school. Fees to history in Ijawland where a group of Izon indigenes living in foreign land the principal of Izon College, Mr. Samson Bakpor, while Mr. Seribo and students look on came to help their brother like this.”

“Their intervention in Seribo’s educational pursuit has also promoted Izon College to a level. We are very grateful and our main challenge as a school is to acquire a considerable land to build a permanent site to make the school has its pride of place in Ijawland,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Seribo said: “I’m very happy today and I give thanks to God that this thing has come to reality.

I have been fasting and praying since the first day these people sent somebody to the school to see me.”

“I thank my brothers in America for what they have done for me and God will continue to bless them. I also want From left, staff of the college: Mr. Shell Mubogha, and Dr. Fidelix Nemibofa to thank Vanguard newspaper for Okubo (members of the governing council of Izon College); Mr. Adelabu Seribo, bringing me to limelight in my decision to pursue education at this age. I pray Mr. Eden Ogula Mr. Samson Baqkpor, and some teachers of Izor College.

God to bless you (the reporter) as well.”

LATEST ON SUSPECTED KIDNAP OF EX-MOBIL STAFF:

A-Ibom monarch, family raise the wind 100-year-old victim’s father threatens to protest naked *We’ll unravel mystery – ASP Delia Nwawe, PPRO

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

By Tom Moses

U

YO- PARAMOUNT ruler of Eket, Akwa-Ibom State, HRM Obong E.C.D. Abia and the family of a former contract staff with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPN, 34-year-old Eunice Udo, kidnapped February 4, by a business associate in Uyo , Akwa Ibom State, have raised

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

questions over her whereabouts and alleged complicity of security agents, two months after the incident.

The suspect is currently undergoing interrogation at the Zone 6 Headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, where the case had been transferred, but her family worried by an alleged slow pace of police investigation into the matter, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, demanding justice.

Abduction The family said that the suspect

Chief Eno Udo Unanaowo... threatens to protest naked

abducted Eunice in the process of transacting a business with her.

The monarch, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said he was distressed because the suspect visited the residence of the victim, along Idoro Road, Uyo and they went out together to meet a prospective buyer of a vehicle that she wanted to sell. He said the suspect came back and parked Eunice vehicle without her.

His words: “On the second day, he came back disguised as a naval officer to ransack Eunice’s house and took away money and other documents. Even though they have arrested him, he has not been

HRM Obong E.C.D. Abia

Eno Udo charged to court till date by the police to account for the whereabouts of Eunice.”

“It is a very unfortunate and sad incident but it does appear that the authorities are helpless because since February 4, even though the man at the centre of the incident is in custody, nothing seems to be happening. I do not know why.

“In a situation like this, there is a tendency for people to think that the people in authority are being compromised because one would have expected that the man at the centre of this incident should be charged to court in the first instance. Now, there is uncertainty whether the young woman had been murdered or not, but there is no doubt that she has been kidnapped. Somebody must account for her. So, the government should rise up to the issue,” he said.

Father threatens to protest naked The 100- year-old father of Eunice, Chief Eno Udo Unanaowo, who threatened invoke the gods against the kidnapper of her daughter by protesting naked, expressed fear that the abductors might have killed her daughter.

She hails from Atibe community, Afaha Eket in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Suspicious move Elder brother to Eunice, Akpan Eno Udo, also suspect that they have killed her sister and urged the IGP to “use his good offices to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of our bread winner and possibly cause her killers to return her corpse so that she could be given a befitting burial.”

He said: “After the agreement to sell the bus had been reached by both parties, my sister parked her car at the stand and was driven in the bus by the suspect to pick the vehicle documents in her house.

After fetching the particulars, the suspect drove my sister in the bus to an unknown destination.”

Appeal to Police “We, therefore, appeal to you sir to use your good offices and prevail on the AIG Zone 6, to carry out a thorough investigation that can lead to the discovering of the whereabouts of Ms. Eunice Udo, as the whole family is in turmoil since her abduction. We sincerely believe that with your zero tolerance for criminals of this kind, justice will surely prevail,” he said.

The Akwa-Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Delia Nwawe, said investigation into the matter was on and that with the prime suspect in police custody, the police would get to the root of the matter.

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10, 24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10

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2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10 10, 2016—25

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26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

PANORAMA

•HRM Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Kiagborekuzi I of Agbor Kingdom poses with Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Obuh at the holy solemnization of their marriage at the Saint Anthony Chaplaincy, Anwai- Asaba.

Hon. Omoregie Ihama, paying tribute to the late Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Abuja, yesterday.

Okowa, Uduaghan, Melaye at Nwaoboshi's dad's burial

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (sitting right) representing Delta South Senatorial district in the National Assembly welcomes Senator Ovie OmoAgege (Delta Central) (standing left) to the burial ceremony of his father, late Obi Francis Nwaoboshi, at Ibusa, Delta State. Photos: Nath Onajoke

From left, Senator Nwaoboshi, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; former governor of Delta,

State,Dr Uduaghan, and Senator Dino Melaye at the event.

From left, Mr. Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Council; Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, and Mr. Sampson Fiberisima, Chairman of the Occasion, during the celebration of the 2016 World Press Freedom Day by the Rivers State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists, at the Council's Secretariat in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

* Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, arriving for the event. With him is the incumbent Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Patrick Ukah.

AKEES signs Memorandum of Understanding with SMEDAN

•The project manager, AKEES signing part of the MOU between AKEES and SMEDAN C M Y K

•Some of the staff of Akwa Ibom Enterprise And Employment Scheme, AKEES, and some of the staff of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SMEDAN and AKEES.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 —27

Low oil prices cost Nigeria, others $200bn deepwater CAPEX —Wood Mackenzie

By Sebastine Obasi, Houston, Texas

T

HE rampaging global low oil prices may have cost Nigeria, West African countries, the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil about $200 billion in capital expenditure due to deferred investments in the deepwater projects, Julie Wilson, Analyst with Wood Mackenzie, a global energy research and consulting Group, said.

Wilson stated this at a technical session of the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, held in Houston, Texas.

While emphasising the need for exploration investments to continue despite the low-priced environment, he explained that, “Deepwater projects have been deferred around the world, but the “Golden Triangle” of West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, GoM and Brazil have been particularly hard hit.

“A total of 20 of the 29 deferred projects are in those three regions, including high profile proposed developments such as Mad Dog Phase 2, Canada and Bonga South West (Operated by Shell Nigeria Exploration AND Production Company, SNEPCO).

“Frontier gas developments also have been affected. The Browse project in Australia and Golfinho in Mozambique, with a combined 6.6 billions of barrels of oil equivalent, Bboe of resources, have been held back from the beleaguered liquefied natural gas, LNG, market due to the high predicted breakevens.”

High predicted breakevens Wilson further explained that between the years 2005 and 2014, deepwater exploration spend increased more than threefold, from less than $15 billion to more than $45 billion, while well numbers increased by less than 50 percent over the same period. According to him, 10 years ago, most deepwater fields were discovered in the giant tertiary deltas of West Africa and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

“As these well understood basins matured, explorers ventured into more frontier areas in deeper waters. Targets were in increasingly complex and deep reservoirs and as a result, costs rose, while success rates fell,” he said.

Outlining the effects of low oil prices on exploration budgets, Wilson said that the fall in oil prices has led to the devastating cuts in exploration budgets, such that deep water exploration and appraisal spend is expected to C M Y K

be slashed from a 2014 peak of $45 billion to about $18 billion in 2016. According to him, “While the cut in exploration is dramatic, it is small in comparison with the cuts in future deepwater CAPEX

as operators defer final investments decisions, FIDs, on the previously mentioned 29 major projects. “These deferrals leave close to 16 Bboe of prospective resources in the

ground and push back $125 billion of forecast CAPEX beyond 2020. Oil production also is forecast to be impacted by about 1 million barrels daily, MMbbl/ d in 2021 and 1.7 MMbbl/d in 2024.” He however said that

despite the misfortune of low oil prices, difficult market conditions and the complexity of many projects, some projects are still moving ahead. As a way forward, Wilson said that companies must employ various strategies to improve project economies at low prices, cost reductions through the supply chain, simplified project designs, standardized equipment and optimised project scope. “While operators target reservoir sweet spots, they will leave marginal barrels in the ground, but this will improve commerciality at low oil prices,” he said.

According to him, “Exploration needs existing discoveries to move ahead to demonstrate that the pursuit of deepwater is economically viable. The current process of prospect high-grading should improve success rates and returns from exploration.

“As the Exploration and Production industry emerges from this part of the oil price cycle and company budgets increase, the backlog of deferred projects will compete with exploration for scarce capital. “But for the longterm health of the entire oil and gas sector, deepwater exploration investment needs to continue through the downcycle and into the recovery.

•Platform

NNPC frustrating development of inland oil basins — APIBONN

By Michael Eboh

T

he Association of Inland Basin States of Northern Nigeria (APIBONN) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, of frustrating the development and exploration of oil in the inland basins across the country, specifically in the Northern part of the country.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Mr. Yabagi Sani , Interim Executive Secretary, APIBONN, stated that efforts of the NNPC towards the development of the inland basins, had over the years yielded no meaningful result.

According to him, the perceived exploration activities of the Frontier Exploration Services (FES) Department in the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) Division of the NNPC, remained very opaque, while many attempts by critical stakeholders to make inputs have been severally and severely rebuffed. He said, “On the other hand, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, had been cooperative with the efforts of other stakeholders, NNPC, like in all its activities keeps everybody in the dark on her actions with no motion.

“NNPC-FES gets billions of dollars budgetary allocations for exploration of the inland basins with no results and continuous

budgetary allocations year-inyear-out. NNPC is not known to have made any significant success in her exploration programs throughout the history of her establishment, even in the prolific Niger Delta.”

He further stated that the off hand attitude towards explora-

There is no reason why there should not be continuous collaboration and interface between NNPC and critical stakeholders for technical audit of generated data on both sides and designing the way forward

tion in the inland basins in the North, had given governments in the region cause for concern, with the governments of Sokoto, Niger, Plateau and Gombe States making significant investments on the

exploration of some of these frontier basins in their domain.

As a result of the involvement of the northern states governments, Sani disclosed that significant data have been generated on the basis of which these basins have been hugely derisked. “Knowing full well that petroleum matters come under the Exclusive Legislative List, these state governments have tried to interface with NNPC through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on the data generated but as aforementioned, rebuffed,” he noted.

He maintained that for over 25 years, it had been a well-known fact that the potential for commercial occurrence of oil and gas exists in the inland frontier basins of Northern Nigeria, comprising the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin, Benue Trough, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin and the Northern Anambra Basin.

He lamented that while Nigeria continues to play politics and employ lukewarm attitude to exploration of oil and gas in Nigeria’s frontier basins in the North, other countries’ frontier basins with similar characteristics had been successfully explored and presently producing.

He listed such successes as the Jubilee field in Ghana, even though offshore; Anza in Kenya; Termit in Niger; Bogor and Doba

in Chad; Muglad in Sudan, and virtually all over Africa, such as Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritania, among others. He also advocated that the rapid development of the frontier basins in the North should be part of the Federal Government’s outlined ‘34 priority projects’ in 2016.

To this end, he called on the National Assembly to quickly pass this bill into law to replace the FES Department in the NAPIMS Division of the NNPC and which sought to provide for the establishment of a standalone agency to explore new hydrocarbon deposits (oil and gas finds) in the Frontier Basins in northern Nigeria.

He said: “In the interim, before the passage of the proposed National Frontiers Basins Exploration Agency Bill, any further budgetary allocation to frontier basins exploration this year and subsequently must take into account refund of the cost incurred so far by some state governments in exchange for valuable data generated.

“Nigerians are all stakeholders in the oil and gas enterprise; there is therefore no reason why there should not be continuous collaboration and interface between NNPC and critical stakeholders such as APIBONN, at the minimum for technical audit of generated data on both sides and designing the way forward.”

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

How Nigerians circumvent local content policy

By Sebastine Obasi, Houston, Texas

F

OR some Nigerians who are worried about the perceived non committal implementation of the local content policy, fellow citizens have been sabotaging the efforts of the government, said Mr. Emmanuel Ekon, Chairman, House Committee on Local Content.

Speaking at the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, IN Houston, Texas, Ekon, who represents Abak Federal Constituency, said that some Nigerian professionals, align with their foreign clients to circumvent the local content policy of the federal government.

He said, “Nigerians are impeding the implementation of the local content law. A situation where Nigerian employees of the International Oil Companies, IOCs would tell the House Committee all sorts of lies is worrisome.

Local content “A situation where lawyers who are supposed to defend the integrity of their country Nigeria, but instead take sides with the IOCs and work against Nigeria, is a very serious issue that should be looked into.”

The House of Representatives member explained that local content in its entirety should be beneficial to all Nigerians if implemented appropriately.

“Local content has the capacity to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria for good. It has the capacity of transforming our economy to any level that we want to, but again the implementation lies with us all. We must realise that Nigeria is our country. We do not have any other country to call our own.

D

Oil vessel

“Local content implementation is something every Nigerian must vigorously pursue. If it works, it will be good for all us. It will be good for our children and even the yet unborn,” he said.

He however said that local content should be extended to other sectors of the economy, in order to achieve maximum benefits.

“With the activities of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, as well as other indigenous companies, we must have it in our psyche that local content has come to stay. Since we have come to this realisation, we have to do everything within our power to make sure that local content is driving to a logical conclusion.

Local content should not be restricted to the oil sector. It should be implemented in other sectors of the economy as well, such as construction,

aviation, telecommunications etc. We need to diversify local content so that Nigeria and Nigerians will benefit from it,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Raymond Wilcox, General Manager, Local Content, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Chairman, Local Content, Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, LCCI, said that though local content is working, the focus should be more on spending in-country.

He said, “Local content is working very well. We must caution ourselves about local content issues. In 2010, local content participation in the oil and gas sector was targeted at $15 billion. Six years after, we should be challenged to see that local target should move beyond $15 billion. The earnings from oil and gas are a lot more than that. The

spending from oil and gas are a lot more than that.

Our local content policy should focus also on the whole spending in Nigeria. We need to look at everything we are spending money on.”

According to him, Nigerian manufacturers should be patronised instead of foreigners. “Recently people were talking about the National Assembly buying cars, but nobody talked about buying those cars from Nigerian auto manufacturers. Imaging if N94 billion is pumped into Innoson, Anammco, the kind of impact it would have made on our economy.

“The challenge in our local content issue is, how can we truly do competitive business so that we attract the investment? Let us develop capacity and sustain it,” he added.

NNPC records 3,153 vandalized points on pipelines over 12 months

N

IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it recorded 3,153 punctured points on its oil pipelines in the 12 months to end March, adding that continued crude and oil products losses were draining it financially.

“Incessant vandalism and products theft have continued to destroy value and put NNPC at [a] disadvantaged competitive position,” the NNPC said.

NNPC recorded an operating deficit of Naira 24.23 billion ($123 million) in February and Naira 18.89 in March, it said, on the back of attacks on the Forcados crude export line that resulted in

Saudi Arabia to maintain its global oil exports

the loss of the entire oil export revenues of its subsidiary, NPDC.

Incessant vandalism and products theft have continued to destroy value and put NNPC at [a] disadvantaged competitive position

NNPC said the crippling of the 48-inch Forcados export line resulted in the shut-in exports of 300,000 b/d of the Forcados crude grade since February.

NNPC manages the government’s average 57% interest in joint ventures with foreign oil firms including Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and Total.

It said that due to dwindling revenue, it used $4.3 billion, or 95.9% of total export earnings between April 2015 and March 2016, to fund joint venture cash calls, thus transferring little into the socalled Federation Account.

“NNPC is currently engaging the JV operators for alternative ways to defray the

current upstream [joint venture] funding gap and cash call arrears,” it said.

Attacks on pipeline and other production facilities have risen in Nigeria’s southern oil patch after the government terminated pipeline protection contracts for former militants in the Niger Delta and also began probing a former militant leader on corruption charges.

While President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed military to crack down on the militants, a new rebel group claiming responsibility for the new violence in the oil region, the Niger Delta Avengers, has threatened more attacks on oil installations.

epite leaving his position as the Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali alNaimi, who happens to be the architect of the 2014 switch in OPEC policy that’s since roiled the energy market, companies and entire economies from Mexico to Nigeria, the country remain firm that it will maintain role as the largest oil exporter.

This is coming in as the country is looking to develop other energy sources in the face of falling global oil prices.

New energy minister, Khalid al-Falih, said Saudi Arabia will maintain its stable petroleum policies and maintain its role in international energy markets as "the world's most reliable supplier of energy."

He said Saudi Arabia is "committed to meeting existing and additional hydrocarbons demand" with its "maximum sustainable capacity."

Reshaping the economy In a government shake-up Saturday, Falih, the chief executive of the state-owned Saudi Aramco oil giant, was named head of a new Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources in an effort to reshape the kingdom's oildependent economy. He replaces long-time oil minister, Ali al-Naimi, who was fired from the position he held since 1995.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries says that Saudi Arabia exports more than seven million barrels of oil daily and has 18 percent of the world's proven petroleum reserves.

But its oil and gas revenues, which account for half of Saudi Arabia's economy and 85 percent of its export earnings, have been flagging because of declining world oil prices caused by the glut of oil on the global market.

Saudi Arabia has been responsible for some of the excess crude oil on the world market, refusing to cut its production even as the United States has produced more of the oil it needs through use of fracking technology to tap underground oil deposits that previously were unreachable.

With declining oil revenues since mid-2014, Saudi Arabia had a $100 billion budget deficit last year and projects another $87 billion shortfall for 2016.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10 10, 2016—29

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 Whilst our major valuation assumptions remain largely the same, we revised our 12-Month target price to N894.99 from N847.16 and retain our “BUY” recommendation on the stock

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

,

,

Nestle Nig. Plc: 2016 investment horizon brightens … As weak consumer demand persists

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

N

ESTLE’ Nigeria Plc, one of the leading multinational corporations in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods segment, quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has had its fair share of the challenges of the downturn in Nigeria’s economy in the past 18 months. This has been reflected in both audited and interim results reported by the blue chip company for 2015.

But there appears to be a silver lining already in the first quarter 2016 results despite the fact the economy is still in the doldrums.

Good first quarter, Q1,2016 performance is largely attributable to Nestlé’s rich product portfolio which cuts across major value segments (nutrition, health and wellness) despite macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending.

Analysts believe that the company’s strategy of retail product packaging, notwithstanding consumer spending constraints, has helped in further driving

revenue growth, adding that sales volume has been largely supported by the recent foreign exchange challenges in the country which have significantly reduced the consumption of majority of imported substitutes to Nestlé’s retinue of products, hence driving revenue growth.

Nestle’s Q1’16 result showed impressive performances across key line items with a 31 per cent year-on-year, y-o-y, growth in revenue at N36 billion.

Though some analysts noted that this strong growth was supported by the low base of the corresponding period of 2015 the top line performance was the highest first quarter revenue figure recorded in the last decade. It is important to note that this growth appeared to have been volume driven rather than as a result of price increases in its products which did not happen during the period.

Cost efficiency improves bottomline: Nestlé’s direct cost of production moderated in Q1:2016 as the cost of sales increased 19.4 per cent despite the higher increase of

31.1 per cent in revenue. This translated into a lower cost to sales ratio of 50.8 per cent as against 55.8 per cent in Q1:2015.

Investment analysts see this as laudable as the Company continues to push for efficiency in its direct cost of production.

However, Nestlé recorded higher operating cost in the period as the selling, distribution and administrative expenses jumped by 33.9 per cent, faster than the revenue growth recorded.

Although Cost of Sales rose 18 per cent y-o-y, there was a drop in its percentage to revenue from 56 per cent to 51

We are of the view that the company is well positioned to further tap into industry growth potentials notwithstanding the stiff competition

Nestlé’s Current Investment Profile

per cent, indicating that the company’s cost reduction drive has continued to pay off.

The Company recorded a marked reduction by 66.6 per cent in finance charges (down from N2.3 billion in Q1:2015 to N780.3 million in Q1:2016) against the backdrop of lower stock of Bank borrowings. This bolstered profitability ratios as the company grew Profit Before Tax, PBT, and Profit After Tax, PAT by 150.2 per cent and 126.2 per cent while margins improved respectively to 24.1 per cent and 18.5 per cent from 12.7 per cent and 10.7 per cent in the corresponding period.

The company had reported a significant rise in finance cost at N2.3 billion in the Q1’15 on the back of the impact of devaluation on the company’s dollar loans, but it appears stability in the currency at the official market kept net finance cost 86 per cent lower y-o-y.

While leveraging on its rich product portfolio and its cost cutting measures, which led to moderation in cost to sales ratio and drop in finance charges, Nestlé’s profitability metrics improved significantly in Q1:2016.

While operating profit margins rose to 25.0 per cent from 20.5 per cent in the corresponding period of 2015, Profit Before Tax margin rose to 24.1 per cent from 12.7 per cent and Profit After Tax margin rose to 18.5 per cent from 10.7 per cent.

Performance forecast and Investment ecommendations Many investment analysts are favourably disposed to buying Nestle shares.

Commenting of the Q1’ 16, analysts at Vetiva Capital, a Lagos based investment house, said: “With revenue only slightly ahead of our estimate (1% deviation), we have chosen to maintain our N162 billion full year 2016 estimate as we remain guarded about consumer spending in 2016 following the quickening in general price levels.

“Nonetheless, we remain positive about Nestle’s ability to maintain lower costs given its drive to increase domestic sourcing by accelerating several backward integration plans.

“We note the N15 billion expansion plan recently announced by management (due 2017) and the newly commissioned N5.6 billion water factory in Abuja as a

show of faith in driving growth”.

Consequently, Vetiva has revised full year 2016 Earnings Per Share, EPS, estimate for Nestle to N36.03 as against previous estimate of N32.03) and the 12-month target price to N876.52 as against previous N863.69.

Also analysts at Afrinvest West Africa, another Lagos based investment house said: “Whilst our major valuation assumptions remain largely the same, we revised our 12-Month target price to N894.99 from N847.16 and retain our “BUY” recommendation on the stock.

“We believe Nestlé would sustain the efficiency momentum for the rest of the financial year while also maintaining its working capital management drive in reducing the level of borrowing and saving financing cost.

Conservative projections “Our PBT and PAT growth projections of 18.5 per cent and 17.1 per cent for full year 2016 implying a PBT and PAT margin of 21.3 per cent and 17.0 per cent respectively reflect our conservative projections.

“We believe Nestlé would sustain the efficiency momentum for the rest of the financial year while also maintaining its working capital management drive in reducing the level of borrowing and saving financing cost.

“Whilst we note the impressive performance of Nestlé in the first quarter of 2016 financial year, we are of the view that the company is well positioned to further tap into industry growth potentials notwithstanding the stiff competition.

“Nestlé’s rich product portfolio, massive distribution channels/route to market and the value product brands, amidst constrained consumer spending, remain our long term view projection of future growth for the Company.

“Although our valuation assumptions remain largely the same as our previous update on Nestlé, with slight changes in some ratio projections, our blend of relative and absolute valuation shows a 12-Month target price of N894.99 as against our previous target price of N847.16 reflecting a 31.6 per cent upside potential compared to market price of N680.00 as at 04/05/2016.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

A

S

part of a comprehensive restructuring process needed to reposition First Bank group efficiently, management has begun a complete overhaul of its risk management framework.

The focus is to transform the risk culture of its commercial banking entity which is the cash-cow of the group. This will be done through improved customer selection process, transaction structuring, monitoring, and aggressive remediation.

To drive these changes, FBN is currently seeking a new chief risk officer who will transform the risk management culture of the group.

By reducing approval limits across grids, limiting its Oil & Gas exposure and further diversifying its loan portfolio, management is aiming to improve on asset quality and reduce non-performing loans (NPL) in 2016.

Despite the expectation of improved asset quality, management’s target for NPL in

,

S FORUM

This week, we anticipate a mixture of profit taking and bargain hunting activities as confidence levels in the local bourse appear to risen

— 31

,

FirstBank’s investors’ conference call: Key takeaways 2016 remains very elevated at 18%.

The documentation process with all stakeholders in the

FBN made significant progress in cost efficiency in the first quarter of 2016 as its cost to income ratio declined to 59.4% from 65.1% in the corresponding period of 2015 remediation of the Atlantic Energy exposure is ongoing.

The bank’s management mentioned that the process has been slow and further explained that the group’s low coverage

ratio (40.2%) is caused by little impairment provisioning on the Atlantic Energy loan (and some other major exposures) despite forming part of the huge NPL, since progress is being made on the remediation process.

They expect coverage ratio to return to 100% when the remediation process is completed.

Also, the management intends to tweak its business model to become more transaction and services focused than being credit led.

This suggests that FBN plans

to drive its gross earnings through non-interest income.

Given FBN’s wide and large retail network, the management hopes to gain competitive advantage in the digital and transaction banking space which will significantly boost income from e-banking.

FBN made significant progress in cost efficiency in the first quarter of 2016 as its cost to income ratio declined to 59.4% from 65.1% in the corresponding period of 2015.

The management has started tightening control around

procurement and has also reduced other operating expenses.

Also, the management intends scaling down donations by as much as 40% and will right-size as processes become more technologically driven, all in a bid to drive down costs and deliver better returns to shareholders.

FBN targets a cost to income ratio of 57% - 58% in 2016 as against 61% in 2015.

Diamond Bank hosts investors’ conference call today

D

IAMOND Bank Plc will host a teleconference call for analysts and investors on today by 2pm Lagos time (2 pm London / 9am New York/ 3pm Johannesburg & Cape

SOME 2016 DIVIDENDS (PART 1)

Town) with its senior management to discuss the bank’s unaudited results for the full year ended December 31, 2015 and first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

There will be an opportunity at the end of the call for management to take questions from investors and analysts. The teleconference call facility can be accessed in Nigeria by dialing: 012775820.

Participants are expected to register for the call at least five minutes before the start of the presentation. The presentation highlight is posted to the Bank’s website. The bank’s 2015 results was not impressive as major performance indicators went into stress. But the first half 2016 results indicated that the bank was now on a recovery path.

Commenting on the results,

the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Uzoma Dozie said: “Although the economic challenges witnessed in 2015 did not abate in the first quarter of 2016, our streams of income remained resilient and considerable growth was recorded in noninterest revenue, which provides comfort about the sustainability of planned growth from this stream.

“Our projections of the macro conditions and other external factors for the rest of the year is that these will remain challenging, and it has led to higher impairment charges than for the same period in 2015. This very conservative approach to managing our loan book assures of its quality in the long run and in general should deliver the numbers that are consistent with our long term plans.”

Stock Market Outlook (May 10 -16)

O

N the back of strengthening market sentiment, Afrinvest weekly sentiment increased to 3.4 from 3.3x last week.

Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa, a Lagos based investment house said that with the completion of earnings season and the “oneoff ” surge on Tuesday driven by the MSCI announcement, the only trigger that may drive market performance going forward would be the implementation of the recently signed 2016 budget.

However, they stated “ we maintain that the expected impulse from the budget may

be constrained if supply side challenges such as currency market concerns and the fuel scarcity crisis in the country remain unaddressed, even as many State governments continue to struggle with their monthly wage bills. “We expect market performance to remain soft in the week as dynamics of profit taking and bargain hunting drive activity”.

Analysts at Cowry Asset Management, another Lagos based investment house, said “this week, we anticipate a mixture of profit taking and bargain hunting activities as confidence levels in the local bourse appear to risen”.

32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SCORPIO: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those of you who are ambitious (career-wise) will succeed after few struggles.

SAGITTARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument. Been your lucky day you are expected to take good advantage today.

CAPRICORN: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

AQUARIUS: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

PISCES: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

The Weather

A

lady recently said to me - This weather is just not friendly. The sun is too much. Let the sun subside before I do it.

And I looked at her and said, supposing it starts raining now what will you do? The

truth is that the weather has never been friendly. Of course, it is not the business of the weather to be friendly to you. But

TERROR MUDA

rain or sun, people have always complained. Yet, some people are making your duty is to do ev- fortune from it, rain erything within your or sunshine. You too power to be able to must do the same. use the weather as it For he that must sucis. Tell me, have you ceed does not need ever seen a perfect to look at the weather? Whether weather.

in “Never say goodbye”

By Lanre Kehinde

ARIES: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

TAURUS: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

GEMINI: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

CANCER: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

LEO: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

VIRGO: Planets at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already on-board of merry making train. Watch your health.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA: Minor financial success you record today can lead to something bigger and good in the near future; as good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury, merry, making and romantic association. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my horoscope ?

Dear Joshua, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is. Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Alade, Oyo.

Dear Alade, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day Of Birth: Thursday Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

One moment, you can be very emotional, exhibiting temper with stinging tongue but a few hour later you are amiable, easy going, friendly and compassionate. You are the adaptable type who will see changes as sources of good opportunities.

LEADERSHIP quality is one of your greatest gifts from God. placement of your natal sun (basic-selfhood) and moon (your emotional being) in Virgo and Pisces respectively mean that characteristics of both Virgo and Pisces are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—33

Edo 2016: PDP chieftains warn against hate campaigns

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—WORRIED by the hate campaigns of governorship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against each other, past PDP political office holders from Edo Central senatorial district have appealed to the aspirants to stop forthwith the campaign of calumny, character assassination and cannibalism in the overall interest of the party.

The group in a communiqué, yesterday, at the end of their meeting in Irrua, the administrative headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area of the state, also urged the aspirants to stop maligning each other, either by themselves, their agents or supporters, adding that they should uphold their pledges to their leaders and party faithful to work and support the eventual candidate that will emerge from the party's primaries.

The communique by its Chairman, Mr. Friday Itulah and Mr. Zuberious Edeoghon, Secretary, however, resolved that they will not hesitate to exercise their inalienable right as a people to support any aspirant of their choice with the capacity to match words with actions in the task of

restoring PDP to power come November 2016.

The communique said, “We are of the opinion that the deliberate marginalisation and neglect of Edo Central senatorial district by the current All Progressives Congress, APCled administration of Adams Oshiomhole is regrettable and

condemnable.

“The Edo Central people are politically informed, economically endowed, sufficiently and educationally advanced to successfully pursue, achieve, defend and protect any political project that seeks to advance and acknowledge the socio-

economic, political and developmental needs of the Esan people.

“Therefore, we have decided to work for any candidate who has the political and administrative prowess to right the wrong that was done to Esan people by the current APC-led administration in Edo State."

OATH OF OFFICE: New Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie (left) taking her oath of office administered by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Abiemwense Ugiagbe, in the Assembly Complex, Benin City, yesterday.

Minister’s policies killing education sector —CCED

A

non-governmental organisation, Concerned Citizens for Educational Development, CCED, has decried some of the recent actions and policies of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, which it claimed were impacting negatively on the education sector.

The group expressed worry that unless urgent steps were taken to reverse the trend, the nation’s education sector would be heading for implosion.

In a letter to the minister, the group’s National Convener, Mr Solomon Adodo, expressed concern that since the former Vice Chancellors of the 13 Federal universities were wrongfully sacked by the minister, several of the succeeding Vice Chancellors have unfortunately borrowed a leaf from that wrongful action and have continued to flout the relevant universities rules by sidelining the universities Governing Councils in most academic appointments.

The unfortunate implication of this, the group said, is that merit is unwittingly being replaced by mediocrity, while ineptitude and intimidation prevails, even as academic excellence and scholarship continues to take the back seat in the institutions of higher learning.

Using the case of the Federal University of Lokoja as a case in point, the group alleged that the new Vice Chancellor of the institution, being a product of the C M Y K

unilateral appointment by the Education Minister, has continued to make other appointments in the school, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor, without recourse to the university’s Governing Council as provided for by the Act setting up the institution.

The group also mentioned the appointment by the minister, of the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Oye, Ekiti State, who is a retiree professor, noting that the extant laws setting up the Federal Universities do not permit such an appointment.

The group regretted that, “The flagrant attitude of the newly appointed VCs are bolstered by the fact that they are not answerable to any other body within or outside the universities, since their appointments were friendly compensation from the Minister of Education.”

NUPENG tasks FG on proposed Pipelines Protection Agency

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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ARRI—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called on the Federal Government to hasten the establishment of the proposed Pipelines Protection Agency, PPA, that will be equipped with modern technology to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism.

The union, which stated this while condemning the recent attack on Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North Local Government Area in Delta State by militants, noted that the effects of such criminal acts on the ecosystem through the destruction of aquaculture, farmlands, water, and river pollution arising from the spillage, was very huge.

NUPENG, in a statement by its president, Igwe Achese, contended that the attack on

Chevron Valve Platform by suspected militants was not in good taste and must not be allowed to continue, urging the suspected militants to sheathe their sword and stop the destruction of oil installations and pipelines in the country.

According to the statement, “We call on those responsible

to embrace peace. We equally implore the Federal Government to intensify effort at setting up the proposed Pipelines Protection Agency as said by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, that will be equipped with modern technology to stem the tide of vandalism.”

Defunct Delta ACN members regrouping to revitalise APC

By Godwin Oghre

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APELE—AHEAD of the 2019 general election, former members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Delta State have begun to regroup in what they described as a move to revitalise the state All Progressives Congress, APC, with a view to sweeping the elections in the state.

Spokesman of the Chief

Adolor Okotie-Eboh-led faction of the state APC, Mr Alex Eyengho, who made the disclosure in Sapele, said: “We the original members of the defunct ACN in the state are now regrouping across the state, in our current political party, APC, with a view to repositioning the party at all levels, towards the forth coming general election in the state, and we have agreed to bury our differences, to achieve our objective."

Otuaro mobilizes for peaceful PDP congress in Delta South

By Etop Ekanem

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ARRI—POLITICAL leader of Delta South senatorial district and deputy governor of Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, weekend, mobilized leaders of the district towards achieving hitch-free Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress coming up today.

At the meeting in Warri attended by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator James Manager, Sir Simeon Efenudu, among other party bigwigs, Otuaro read out the zoning of positions to be vied for by each of the four federal constituencies in the senatorial district.

Otuaro, who called for the emergence of credible candidates, emphasised that the zoning arrangement which he said was a product of painstaking critical stakeholders deliberations was to enhance rancourfree congresses and sustain the peace and harmony that characterized the earlier ward and local government congresses of the party in the state.

Mob sets suspected robber ablaze in Warri

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—A middleaged man suspected to be an armed robber was, yesterday, set ablaze by angry mob after an unsuccessful attempt to rob a pregnant woman.

The deceased identified as Emma Blue, was burnt to death at the First Marine Gate Junction on Warri/ Sapel Road, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The alleged robber was said to have robbed in another area of Warri on Sunday.

The incident caused traffic gridlock on the Warri/ Sapele as a crowd watched the incident.

Divisional Police Officer, Warri B Division, Anniette Eyoh, when contacted said that before he mobilised to the scene, the suspected armed robber had been set ablaze.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

N4bn cash: Fani-Kayode must refund N840m, EFCC insists •Arrests ex-Akwa Ibom MILAD, Idongesit Nkanga over N450m of Deziani's $115m sleaze

By Omeiza Ajayi

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, questioned the spokesman of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation for hours, asking him to return the N840 million he allegedly received for the prosecution of the Presidential election last year.

Raphael Okolo emerges Oshimili South PDP Chairman

By Tare Youdeowei

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HE PEOPLES Democratic Party, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State has elected Mr. Raphael Dada Okolo (a.k.a Omenife) as its chairman.

The peaceful exercise was conducted at the Umuaji community hall with a total of 100 delegates from the various wards of the local government.

The position of the chairman was keenly contested by Mr. Raphael Dada Okolo (aka Omenife), and Hon. Uche Nwokobia.

At the end of the voting, the returning officer, Mr. John Azike declared Mr. Raphael Dada Okolo, who scored a total of 97 votes the winner. Hon. Uche Nwokobia bagged three votes.

The delegates and party chieftains expressed satisfaction at the emergence of Mr. Okolo through an unprecedented peaceful congress.

Although the former minister had insisted that he got the money to do specific assignments given him by the former President, Vanguard learned that the EFCC asked him to produce the cash or nothing else.

The agency is said to have produced evidence that the former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, who was also received N2.5 billion out of the N4 billion that was shared to them, had refunded N140 million, in addition to surrendering two palatial homes in Abuja, to secure her freedom.

The former minister, who was confronted with evidence of how he collected the huge sum drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria, did not, however, deny receiving the money. A source close to him argued that the money was properly utilised for the intended purpose and that he did not see any justification for asking the former minister to refund the money already utilised. The former minister, who arrived the EFCC headquarters on Formella Street, Wuse 2, at 9:45 am, was still being quizzed at 9 pm yesterday, although sources said he would be granted administrative bail on condition that he returned the money.

Some of the conditions already set for the proposed bail included producing two sureties who must be serving directors in the federal

civil service and who must be landlords in Abuja. But there was no indication at the time of filing the report that any of the conditions had been met. It was likely that the commission would keep the former minister in its custody for sometime, going by similar cases in recent time.

The former minister had decried the attempt by the agency to take him in earlier than Monday and had defied moves by its operatives to arrest him last weekend. The agency was yet to release any information on the former minister last night.

Idongesit Nkanga arrested Meanwhile, a former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd) was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, for allegedly collecting N450 million from the sleazy $115million deposited by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke with Fidelity Bank, Plc. He was arrested in Port- Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ekweremadu slams FG over anti-graft fight

By Emeka Mamah

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NUGU—THE Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, condenmed what he described as the indiscriminate approach to the war against corruption in the country saying that strict adherence to the rule of law and respect of provisions of the constitution were the sure ways to prevent tyranny and oppression in a democracy.

Ekweremadu said the war was “ being pursued according to the whims and caprices of those in power who persecute people according to the party they belong to.” Ekweremadu who spoke on the topic: “Strengthening the

Foundations of Rule of Law in Nigeria," at a public lecture in honour of late Prof. Godwin Amadi, a renowned professor of Law from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, UNEC, added that anything short of respecting the rule of law would lead to anarchy. According to him, flagrant disobedience of judicial pronouncements remains a major threat to rule of law and survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The efficacy of the rule of law is hinged on the compliance by governmental bodies and agencies with decisions of courts of law and other judicial or adjudicatory bodies. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, disobedience to court orders appears to be the norm rather than

Okorocha inaugurates Education Trust Fund C'ttee

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By Fintan Ibegwam

O ENSURE that the free education programme of his administration stays after he left office, Governor Rochas Okorocha has inaugurated a 13man State Education Trust Fund Committee with a renowned Engineer, Emma Ezeonyasi as chairman.

Inaugurating the committee,

Nkanga was alleged to have collected the money in two tranches, from a staff of Fidelity Bank in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State: Mr. Saint-Anthony Ejiowu. The first tranch of the money, a sum of N350 million was collected on March 27, 2015 while the second tranch of N100 million was collected on March 31, 2015.

Nkanga signed for the two tranches. An EFCC source said last night that Nkanga was in their custody and would be charged to court soon.

yesterday, Governor Okorocha said the essence of setting up the state Education Trust Fund Committee was for the sustainability of the free education programme beyond 2019 when he will be leaving as the governor of the state, adding that there should be a cause to institutionalize the policy in the overall interest of the state.

His words: “As governor, I am

poised to see that the free education programme is sustained in the state beyond 2019. There is no greater gift you can give to a child than education. Education remains the pivot upon which the wheel of every success in life rotates. "We must do everything as a people and government to keep the free education programme alive.”

the exception in many facets of our national life,” he added.

The lecture was jointly organized by the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria and Prof. G. O. S Amadi Foundation at the Moot Court Complex, UNEC. However, Ekweremadu stressed that the rule of law was indispensable in any society that craved for justice, equity, and fairness even as the foundation of the rule of law in the country was the 1999 constitution, as amended.

Ekweremadu, who is an alumnus and former lecturer at the Faculty of Law, stressed that to make the foundation strong, all Nigerians should play their roles well.

His words: “Those who think the strengthening of the rule of law is not their business are only playing the dangerous game of the cockerel, which refused to attend a meeting in the animal kingdom, claiming it was not his business. But, sadly for him, it was agreed at the meeting that his lineage would be used as sacrifice to the gods. The cock and his kindred are yet to recover from that I-don’t-care attitude.He maintained the rule of law is everybody's business."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What is yyour our vie w on the signing of 20 16 Budge o la w? view 201 Budgett int into law?

I

t is long overdue; I just hope it affects the life of the people positively.

Infact, it is extremely wrong for anyone to put his hope on this one chance budget. I think it is high time we must learn how to lean on God. Mr Simon Itumo, Entrepreneur

G

lory be to God for the signing of the budget.

The signing today has brought joy to Nigerians and I believe that greater joy shall be manisfested daily, as we progress in to the year. God bless your family. God bless our leaders. Mr Yakubu Jibril, Businessman

N

ow, let the change begin. And, no more excuses, no more blame games, and please no more talk of Jonathan. Take full responsibility for your successes and your failures too. We shall meet you at the polls in 2019.

Miss Brenda Okereke, Self Employed

K

udos Mr President, the journey to greater Nigeria has started. Wailers will not be happy to hear this news, though who cares they can wail to hell. This is the change we all waiting for May God bless PMB. Mr Hassan Bature, Worker

I

s it oil money or cattle money that will fund the budget? If it is still the same oil money as usual, why the noise about herdsmen and cattle? We are all hoping to see the change now after Buhari has signed the 2016 budget. Mr Onyebuenyi Uche, Worker

I

f finally the padded budget has been signed

by President Buhari, I believe that the best thing for all the ministries to do is to ensure that the money is used for what it is meant for. Ministries should be accountable to the public.

Mrs Elile Enu, Entrepreneur

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 35

I'l do everything to keep Nigeria one — BUHARI

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

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ATSINA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday vowed to do everything possible to keep Nigeria one.

President Buhari, who spoke at Emir’s Palace, Katsina State, as he began a two-day official visit to the state, recalled with sadness the colossal lives that were lost during the Nigerian civil war in a bid to keep the country one.

According to him: “I always say the civil war was fought for the unity of Nigeria because as at the time we did not even discover oil let alone enjoy it. We must not also forget that about two million lives were lost to the war.”

He lamented that it was unfortunate that “recently some people who were not even born then are saying they want to divide Nigeria. With the way Sahara is advancing, with Boko Haram insurgency, growing number of people and uncertainty over rainfall, in a land where we fought civil war leading to the death of about two million lives, it would be foolhardy for someone to just say he would chase us away.”

Buhari assured that his administration would do all that was within his powers to ensure Nigeria remained a peaceful and united entity.

The President, who admitted that he knew the difficulties Nigerians were passing through, said government was doing everything possible to change the country for better.

He appealed to Nigerians to

return to the farm as it remained the best option out of the nation’s current economic quagmire, adding that “those who don’t have the necessary

wherewithal should learn trade.”

Earlier, the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir, accused the immediate past administration of Goodluck

Jonathan of abandoning the contract for the dredging of River Niger, saying “inland water way is the wealth of the nation and these people don’t want it here.”

3 ex-Kogi council officials jailed for stealing N160m

By Soni Daniel

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OKOJA—JUSTICE J.J. Majebi of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State has convicted and sentenced three former officials of Bassa Local Government Council, Kogi State to 12 years imprisonment over a N160 million theft.

The convicts: Joseph Y. Agbo, Director, Local Government and Head of Service; John Ekele, Treasurer and Financial Adviser to the Executive Chairman and

Abubakar Adamu, Chief Environmental Health Officer were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 13, 2012 on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N160 million They were alleged to have converted the loan they obtained on behalf of the Bassa Local Government Council for specific projects to their personal use, thereby violating Section 97(1) and 315 of the Penal Code Law

of Kogi State.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, T.N. Ndifon, presented a number of witnesses and tendered various documents to prove his case against the accused.

Delivering his judgment on the matter, Justice Majebi convicted and sentenced both Agbo and Ekele to two years imprisonment each on count one and two years imprisonment on counts two and three. Adamu was also convicted and sentenced to two years

VISIT: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State welcoming Pope Francis’ representative, A r c h B i s h o p Vincenzo Pagilla, President Pontifical Council for the Family, to the Government House, Owerri while the Catholic ArchBishop of Owerri Archdiocese, His Grace Most Rev. Anthony Obinna (left) looks on.

Military rehabilitating 800 Boko Haram members in N/East, says NEMA As Senate move to pass NEDC Bill May 25

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE military is rehabilitating no fewer than 800 members of Boko Haram, who voluntarily laid down arms to embrace peace in

the North East.

This came as the Senate fixed May 25, to pass the North East Development Commission, NEDC, Bill, pending before it.

The repentant Boko Haram insurgents, according to the National Emergency

Gov Bello's wife gives succour to pregnant women, orphans, others

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—WIFE of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mrs. Rashida Bello, has distributed not less than 500 delivery kits to pregnant women in the state in a bid to reduce maternal mortality.

The governor wife’s gesture which was part of the activities marking her birthday also shared some gifts item and donated financial assistance to some schools, health centre

and orphanage home.

Those who benefited from the governor ’s wife gesture were the ARQAM Orphanage and widows home; Ideal Health Centre; Ideal Nursery and Primary School and the General Hospital, all in Okene, Okene local government area of the state.

Speaking at the ARQAM orphanage and widows' home, Mrs Bello promised that she would use her position to assist the orphans and the lest privileged in the society.

Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday, were undergoing vocational skills training under the supervision of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

Alhaji Sani Sidi, Director General, DG, of NEMA, who disclosed this at a public hearing of a Bill on the NEDC in Abuja, said the ex-Boko Haram members were registered in a programme he referred to as ‘’Safe Corridor initiative.”

The NEMA DG, who was responding to a question on the preparedness of the government towards rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram insurgents, said the programme was conceived to provide a leeway for repentant members of the sect to turn a new leaf.

According to him: “It is not correct that the Federal Government does not have a plan for repentant sect members. The Federal Government has set up the safe corridor programme. I do

know that over 800 sect members have been registered in it. They have exited the Boko Haram through the programme in line with the international best practice. They are at present receiving various skills acquisitions programme, which is being handled by the military. It is being handled by the Chief of Defence Staff.”

Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, disclosed that it had fixed May 25,to pass the NEDC Bill, pending before it.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki confirmed this after the Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako disclosed the bill.

Saraki who spoke while declaring open the public hearing, organised by the committee, said for seven years, the people of North East had suffered untold destruction of both private and public properties worth billions of Naira.

ZARIA KILLINGS:

26 minors, others accused must be produced in court — JUDGE

By Luka Binniyat

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A D U N A — JUSTICE Hanatu Balogun of Kaduna High Court, yesterday insisted that eight women and 26 monors must be produced in court on July 20, to enable her take a decision on their matter.

The accused were charged before the Court on March 22, in absentia by Kaduna State Government on fivecount charge.

Among others, their charges read: “On December 12, 2015, at Zaria, while armed with dangerous weapons to wit: pistols, guns, dane guns, cutlasses, knives, catapults, axes, clubs and sticks caused the death of one Cpl Yakubu Dankaduna of the Nigeria Army by shooting him with guns when the said soldier alighted from the entourage of the Chief of Army Staff in order to disperse and clear the road which you unlawfully blocked, knowing that death is likely the consequence of your actions and you thereby committed the offence of culpable homicide under the section 221 of the Penal Code.''

The other four charges deal with blocking of major roads in zaria and disturbances of the peace of the ancient city.

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the Prosecuting counsel, Dari Bayero complained to the Judge, that the sureties to the 34 accused had refused to produce them in court and pleaded with the court to decide on whether to withdraw the bail or not.

The judge asked the sureties, Musa Usman, Muhktar M. Sherrif and Khalid Isah why the accused were not in court.

Musa Usman, who spoke in Hausa, stunned the court when denied standing surety for anybody, saying “I did not get bail for anyone. I was on my own on December 18, 2015 when I got a call from Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to appear in his office.

I obliged. The Commissioner said to me, ‘look, I have been instructed by the governor to get your detatined women and children out of our cells and send them home with immediate effect, before the Army find them and kill them.''

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—37

The poor will rejoice under Imasuagbon — Osifo

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•Oshiomhole: Pleads for calm

•Edoror: His removal stirs rebellion

SPEAKER: Crisis as APC Esan leaders protest

By Simon Ebegbulem

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AST Tuesday’s removal of Mr. Victor Edoror as Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly is brewing a fresh crisis in the APC with the potential of damaging the party’s focus in the Edo Central Senatorial district ahead of the election.

Indeed, some leaders of the party in the district have threatened to pull out of the

party to the PDP if Edoror is not reinstated.

Meanwhile, the impeached Speaker has been begging his colleagues to forgive him with the plea that he is ready to turn a new leaf if reinstated.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole also has been pleading with the lawmakers who elected Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie as new Speaker, to sheathe their sword and give the ex-speaker another chance.

The anger of the Esan APC leaders is that the office of speaker was zoned to the district and Edoror’s removal has denied them a form of identity in government.

The only other position of reckoning available to them is the position of party chairman held by Anslem Ojezua which they claim cannot be compared to the post of Speaker.

Anenih stops adoption of PDP aspirant

By Gabriel Enogholase

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HE intervention of the former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih, dramatically stopped the Edo Central district of the PDP from adopting one of the leading governorship aspirants of the party and sending a wrong message, Vanguard has learnt.

Top PDP leaders in the zone had settled for the aspirant and had invited journalists to the occasion billed for Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, last Tuesday until Chief Anenih asked them to stop the plan.

The former Works Minister was said to have warned the conveners of the meeting not to adopt any aspirant, saying the action could create division within the party. He advised those behind the move to go and vote for the aspirant of their choice on the day of the primaries as long as they are qualified delegates.

for all the aspirants and would support any of them that emerged as the candidate of the party.

T h e intervention of Chief Anenih may go on to b u t t r e s s assertions that the party hierarchy may have pulled back from their earlier plans of adopting a former close associate of •Anenih: Warns that adoption would give Governor wrong signal Oshiomhole as the PDP It was also gathered that candidate. The earlier plan another PDP governorship was based on what observers aspirant complained bitterly had believed was the aspirant’s over the planned adoption and robust structure and capacity to asked party leaders in the state fight the comrade governor to call the conveners to order. with whom he bitterly fell apart Chief Anenih, it was learnt with about three years ago. wants a level playing ground

DO South APC chieftain Dr. Isaiah Osifo has projected Kenneth Imasuagbon as the aspirant best qualified to cater to the needs of the masses in Edo State.

Osifo, who served as chief of staff in the Oserhienmen Osunbor administration and was before then, chairman of Uhenmnwonde local council in an interview, said a candidate for the office of governor must show himself as one able to manage the interest of the masses within the framework of a capitalist society.

He said, “The essence of government is to care for those who are not able to care for themselves.

The man has that vision to care for the weak, to care for the vulnerable in the society, orphanage children, the poor and the low class in the society.

“He has been spending his

•Imasuagbon: Pro-masses time and his resources to pay attention to this kind of people and I believe that this is the main philosophy of government and stands to represent a modern administration that cares for those who are deprived by the dynamics of a competitive and neo-capitalist society.”Even in America, a capitalist society, they still care for the welfare of the weak.

EDO 2016: Uduaghan meets with PDP aspirants

By Simon Ebegbulem

AHEAD the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan penultimate Sunday, interacted with governorship aspirants of the party, charging them to be good ambassadors of the party ahead of the party primaries.

The PDP aspirants included former state representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Osaro Onaiwu and Chief Solomon Edebiri.

The aspirants were meant to answer questions from Uduaghan and the 15-man committee set up by the state leadership of the party. The interactive session held at the residence of the former chairman Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, who it was learned declared that integrity and not money will be considered when picking the governorship candidate of the party.

The aspirants were warned against embarking on campaign of calumny, just as Dr Uduaghan speaking from experience told them to work harder as a governorship project is not a tea party.

Oshiomhole-Odubu conflict damaging APC

By Gabriel Enogholase

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HE prospect of the crisis between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Pius Odubu worsening the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election is bringing concern to leading stakeholders in the party.

The crisis is being compounded with alleged plans to suspend the Edo South leader of the party, Gentleman Amengor, and Mr. Matthew Ehigie, APC chairman, Orhiomwom Local Government Area, against the decision of the state executive of the party.

Amengor has been alleged by those close to the governor to be supporting Odubu against the governor ’s alleged

•Odubu: Embattled preference for Mr. Godwin Obaseki in the party primaries.

Party insiders assert that suspending or expelling the two men would inevitably open the underbelly of the party in the Edo South and cause incalculable damage to the chances of the party winning the election.

38— VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Panama Papers database goes online

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HE Panama Papers affair has widened, with a huge database of documents relating to more than 200,000 offshore accounts posted online.

The database became accessible from 18:00 G M T atoffshoreleaks.icij.org.

The Panama Papers have shown how some wealthy people use offshore firms to evade tax and avoid sanctions.

The papers belonged to Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca and were leaked by a source simply known as “John Doe”. The company denies any wrongdoing.

Last week it issued a “cease and desist “ order to prevent the database being made public but the organisation that has the d o c u m e n t s , the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), appears to be going ahead.

On Monday, 300 econ-

omists signed a letter urging world leaders to end tax havens, saying they only benefited rich individuals and multinational corporations, while boosting inequality.

“The existence of tax havens does not add to overall global wealth or well-being; they serve no useful economic purpose,” the letter says.

Last week, “John Doe” issued an 1,800-word statement, citing “income equality” as his motive.

He said: “Banks, financial regulators and tax authorities have failed.

Decisions have been made that have spared the wealthy while focusing instead on reining in middle- and low-income citizens.”

Twitter cuts spy agencies off from services

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WITTER has barred US intelligence agencies from accessing a service that sorts through posts on the social media platform in real time and has proved useful in the fight against terrorism, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper, in its report Sunday evening, cited a senior US intelligence official as saying

that Twitter seemed worried about appearing too cozy with intelligence services.

Twitter owns about a five percent stake in Dataminr, which uses algorithms and location tools to reveal patterns among tweets. It is a powerful tool for gleaning useful information from the unending stream of chatter on Twitter.

Impeachment of Brazil’s Rousseff suspended

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HE impeachment process against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been thrown into doubt.

The acting speaker of Brazil’s lower house, Waldir Maranhao, has annulled a vote in the lower house on 17 April that allowed the proceedings to go on to the Senate.

The Senate was scheduled to vote on whether to start an impeachment trial on Wednesday.

•Rouseff: Urges supporters to exercise caution.

It is not currently clear if that vote will now happen.

BBC team expelled from North Korea

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BC correspondent Rupert WingfieldHayes and his team have been expelled from North Korea after being detained over their reporting.

Our correspondent, producer Maria Byrne and cameraman Matthew Goddard were stopped by officials on Friday as they were about to leave North Korea.

Wingfield-Hayes was questioned for eight hours

by North Korean officials and made to sign a statement.

All three remained in Pyongyang before flying to Beijing on Monday.

After arriving in Beijing, Byrne tweeted that they were “very happy” to be back but were not doing

any interviews.

The BBC team was in North Korea ahead of the Workers’ Party Congress, accompanying a delegation of Nobel prize laureates conducting a research trip.

But the president of the Senate impeachment commission (in Portuguese) said the vote would take place as scheduled.

In his decision, Mr Maranhao said there had been irregularities during the lower house session in which its members overwhelmingly voted in favour of the impeachment process going ahead.

Zimbabwe will need food aid by next March — UN

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HE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on Monday up to 4.5 million people, half of Zimbabwe’s drought-stricken rural population, will need aid by next March as the agency seeks to plug a funding gap of $290 million for assistance.

An El Nino-induced drought has hit southern Africa and cut the output of the staple maize crop.

In March, the government said 4 million Zimbabweans required food aid, almost 30 percent of the national population.

UNDP resident coordinator Bishow Parajuli told reporters the agency had raised $70 million since President Robert Mugabe’s government’s government made a plea for aid in February, leav-

•Mugabe ing a $290 million funding gap.

“We project the people in need will increase ... to approximately 4.5 million or 49 percent of the rural population during the peak of the lean season from January to March 2017,” said Parajuli.

U.N. World Food Programme country director Eddie Rowe said Zimba-

bwe’s 2016 maize production forecast would fall below 60 percent of the five-year average.

Zimbabwe’s average harvest in the last five years has been between 700,000 and 1 million tonnes, against annual consumption of between 1.6 million and 1.8 million tonnes, he said.

S/Africa’s top anti-corruption official faces death threats

S

OUTH Africa’s lead anticorruption official Thuli Madonsela has been warned by an informant that hit men may be targeting her.

The public protector is known for issuing a 2014 instruction to President Jacob Zuma to repay some of the state funds he spent on private home renovations. South Africa’s top court upheld Madonsela’s demand on March 31, Reuters reports, and ruled that Zuma had breached the constitution by ignoring her earlier request.

Her spokesperson said Madonsela received a text message alerting her to the alleged death threat on April 1. ”She is concerned about her safety and security, ” t h e spokesperson said.

Madonsela was included in the 2014 Time 100 list for investigating

corruption at the highest levels of government. At the time, she was described by former governor of the Central Bank of

Nigeria Lamido Sanusi as being “among the tiny but growing band of African public servants giving us hope for the future of our continent.”

Mali says Islamist militant arms supplier arrested

M

ALI’S security forces said they arrested a senior member of Islamist militant group Ansar Dine who trafficked weapons for attacks in Mali and over the border in Burkina Faso.

Yacouba Toure is suspected of supplying the arms, grenades and ammunition used in an attack near Burkina Faso’s second largest city, BoboDioulasso, in October that killed three gendarmes, Mali’s Head Office of State Security said.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast have all been targeted by Islamist at-

tacks blamed on militant networks that extend beyond national borders.

Ansar Dine has claimed numerous strikes in Mali against military and U.N. targets, including a suicide and rocket attack on a U.N. base that killed six peacekeepers in February.

Mali’s state security said Toure, who was arrested on the outskirts of Bamako on Thursday, had joined Islamist groups in northern Mali in 2010, where he received military weapons training and became the main arms supplier for militants operating in the south.

ing Dadaab camp, home to 350,000 mostly Somalis, and Kakuma camp, which has expanded during more than two years of conflict in nearby South Sudan.

Kenya has made similar remarks before, even setting a three-month deadline last year for Dadaab to be closed, although it has backed away from

such threats.

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement it viewed with “profound concern” the latest Kenyan government comments.

“UNHCR is calling on the government of Kenya to reconsider its decision and to avoid taking any action that might be at odds with its international obligations,” it said.

Mercury makes rare transit between Earth and the Sun UN concerned by Kenya’s threat to close refugee camps

T

HE planet Mercury is passing directly across the face of the Sun for the first time in 10 years, as it casts a shadow across South America, Africa, Western Europe and the east of North America.

Mercury, which is slightly larger than the Earth’s moon, is too small to see without binoculars

or a telescope, and experts warn that looking directly at the Sun during Monday’s event could damage eyes.

“On no account should anyone try to look directly at the Sun to see Mercury, as this is incredibly dangerous,” Robert Massey of the UK-based Royal Astronomical Society told Al Jazeera.

T

HE U.N. refugee agency on Monday called on Kenya to reconsider its plans to close camps that host Somali and South Sudanese refugees and that the government has long said pose a security threat.

Kenya’s Interior Ministry said on Friday it aimed to close in the “shortest time possible” the sprawl-

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 39

By Theodore Opara

CFAO expands Fuso truck range in Nigeria F

OLLOWING the success of the Fuso Canter trucks in Nigeria over the years, CFAO Equipment, sole distributors of the Fuso Brand in Nigeria, recently unveiled the medium and heavy duty models of the Fuso trucks into the market. The unveiling was witnessed by stakeholders in the industry, Fuso representatives and members of the Nigerian automotive media, who thumbed up for the new Fuso vehicle range.

The Fuso trucks launched into the market include the FA and F1 (medium trucks) and the FJ heavy duty trucks.

Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director CFAO Motors Nigeria Ltd, Mr Thomas Pelletier described the launch as a milestone in the history of his company.

He said: “Today’s milestone represents another successful launch for the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, MFTBC, one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, under its continual growth in Africa following the recent launches in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique.”

Fuso brand is one of the leading truck brand in the world built to European standard.

The Fuso is a joint venture between Daimler AG and Mitsubishi, which made their range of trucks one of the most sought after in the markets. It is economical to run with a

strong backup from CFAO Nigeria, which boasts many service centres across the country.

He further stated that the

organisation was determined to offer customers best quality by introducing outstanding products which would give

Genuine parts, technical support, bane of nation’s auto industry — Chisco boss

R

ENOWNED transporter and Chairman of Chisco Group of Companies, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, has disclosed that the bane of the nation’s automobile industry over the years is the unavailability of genuine spare parts and technical support for the

maintenance of vehicles.

Chief Anyaegbu stated this at the just concluded 11th edition of the Lagos Motor Fair and 5th Auto Part Expo at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos on Thursday.

He advised entrepreneurs and business owners in Nigeria to always insist, while dealing with

Stallion wins Ashok-Leyland Performance Award

T

HE Commercial Vehicle Division of Stallion Motors Nigeria has received the Overall Business Performance Award – West Africa Region for 2015 at the just concluded Ashok Leyland conference held in Hyderabad, India from April 18 – 20.

Stallion Commercial Vehicle Division has consequently enlisted Nigeria among Ashok Leyland prominent markets and fledging commercial vehicle manufacturing concerns worldwide.

The award also standardises uniform experience for customers and alleviates dealership apprehensions while enhancing the identical feel of every dealer outlet and processes across all touch points, Ashok Leyland remarked.

A promising manufacturing concern, Stallion Motors Commercial Vehicle Division is reputable for quality commercial

value to buyers’ investment, adding that CFAO is not only interested in selling vehicles but offers robust after-sales services

that would assist customers in maintaining their vehicles.

“These new range of Fuso trucks will help to further strengthen our portfolio and offer more choice for our customers in Nigeria,” he said.

At present, the Fuso Canter truck is the bestselling product on the Light Duty Truck segmentdue to its reliability, ruggedness and low maintenance cost. These trucks have been taken through series of thorough testing on the Nigerian roads and the durability and efficiency cannot be over emphasised.

The Fuso Representative, Mr Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Head of Regional Centre Africa, said, “Fuso sees Nigeria as a strategic market with considerable growth opportunities and we intend to significantly increase market share for our Fuso brand while ensuring close relationship and cooperation with our local distributor, CFAO Equipment.

vehicles such as transport solutions, haulage trucks, garbage compactors and military hardware.

Stallion Motors has lately focused on strategically positioning Ashok Leyland models on the front burner with the introduction of multiple units of Ashok Leyland Falcon commuter buses in the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, Abuja Municipal Transport and a host of other independent waste disposal companies and construction firms nationwide.

Total transport solution Stallion Motors Head of Commercial Vehicle Division, Anurag Alagh, who received the award on behalf of the company said: “Our way forward is total transport solution to customer and end-to-end support

to improve the operating economics of Ashok Leyland vehicles during its life cycle.”

According to him, modern technological advancement in vehicles, including new engine and fuel systems’ design, have raised the consciousness of customers and demand for Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs, service with effective aftermarket support.

Alagh summed it up: “Our workshops are now stocked with sufficient spare parts and special tools to ensure best service delivery to customers with comfortable customers’ lounges to align with standard practices across dealerships worldwide and we will continue to provide-intensive customerprogramme-based train the trainer programmes and fleet management training for increased operational efficiency and fleet uptime.”

•Chief Anyaegbu their partners from abroad, that aftersales technical support and genuine spare parts must be provided to maintain the vehicles supplied.

Accoring to the Chisco boss, ‘’access to genuine and affordable spare parts should be standard practice in the country, otherwise Nigeria will remain a dumping ground for all manner of vehicles.”

Chief Anyaegbu, who called for the legislation and enforcement of laws that would ensure that these important requirements were met for sale and after sales of vehicles in the country, also called for more investments in the automobile industry so as to make transportation affordable for the common man.

“If the economy must move forward, we must invest heavily in the automobile industry and make transportation within the reach of the people,”he said.

To this end, Chief Anyaegbu

advised the Federal Government to encourage Nigerians, “especially engineers, mechanics, technicians to manufacture home-made auto parts and automobiles, as Egypt is presently doing."

He recalled that in the past, the Nigerian economy absorbed over 65 per cent of the labour force in the agricultural sector, but noted that the trend had changed as transportation was fast becoming the largest employer of labour, urging the Federal Government to follow the Egypt example, which has invested so much in the auto sector.

He disclosed that the MCV Luxurious bus models are presently being manufactured in Egypt, an African country using Mercedes-Benz engines. To this end, he called on government to put up policies that would promote and encourage Nigerians to replicate similar actions on exportations, particularly to other African countries.

For this to come to fruition,Chief Anyaegbu advised that government must play vital role in revamping the steel, energy, and other sectors of the economy, which will in turn pave the way for private participation in the nation’s economic growth and development.

“It is for this reason that we must pay more attention to the steel sector and support researchers into motorising the nation’s economy,”he said.

40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 41

Forex restrictions: Call for building industry operators to patronise local building materials Stories by Kingsley Adegboye UILDING materials constitute a key element in housing construction. Building materials account for between 60 – 80 percent of the entire cost of housing construction. Infact, the buildingmaterialssectorisregarded as a major contributor to the construction industry in any nation.

This is because materials constitute thesinglelargestpartinconstruction which accounts for over fifty per cent of the total cost of construction.

Also, building materials have in fact been known to constitute as much as 40-80 per cent of the total input of building construction, turning its input into low cost housing, which constitutes the bulk of Nigeria's housing needs.

Inotherwords,theproductionand use of building material are not only relevant in housing provision and other construction projects, they also contribute to the economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability of Nigeria.

However, rather than the built

B

Crown tile roofing, a product of Nigerite industry professionals to patronise Nigeria's local building material manufacturers, they instead prefer to import into the country foreign buildingproducts,andtheyattribute this to the low quality of indigenous building materials.

Building material dealers and

marketers have in turn followed this trend and have flooded the building materials market with imported materials to meet the growing demand of consumers. This has also stagnated and led to the underdevelopment of the building materials market in Nigeria.

It is ironical that 52 years after Nigeria's independence, Nigerians can still be talking of importing building materials from abroad without encouraging indigenous manufacturersof building materials who are usually thrown out of business by the influx of substandard

materials imported from China and other Asian countries.

Most of these materials, according to experts in the construction industry,aremadeto European standard and are therefore unsuitable for the tropical climate in sub-Saharan Africa.

In most cases, “C” grade materials which are very close to their expiry dates, are imported by unscrupulous N i g e r i a n businessmenwhoarereadytomake huge profits at the expense of the lives of Nigerian users.

The preference and taste for foreign building materials in Nigeria has been a major concern and worry to local manufacturers of the products. But with the restriction of Forex by the Central Bank of Nigeria and its impact the nation's economy, the need to patronise local manufacturers of building materials now cannot be over emphasised.

Meanwhile, it is not true that imported products are better than their counterparts produced in Nigeria by notable building materials manufacturers such Nigerite Limited, a leading complete building solutions company with innovative products thatmeetcontemporaryneedsofthe average Nigerian home owner, Eternit, Sapele-based building manufacturing company, West Africa Royal Ceramics Ltd, manufacturers of high quality tiles and many others.

Infact, Nigeria has, quality building materials needed in the construction of building and construction projects such as blocks, concrete, roofing materials, ceiling, electrical wires and cables, wood works, tiles, and interior design systems for finishing as well as reinforcing iron rods.

There are various companies in thecountrythatmanufactureroofing materials such as aluminium long spansheetsandothercement-based products that Nigerians, but Nigerians still import them.

In particular, Nigerite has become a reference point for analysts because it has maintained the leadership of the building materials manufacturing sector for decades.

Two things are unique about the legendary nature of Nigerite. It responds promptly to the consumer’s changing needs and lifestyles no matter your level of income.

Nigerite Limited, established in April 1959 by three shareholders such as Etex Group, worldwide leader of the fibre-cement industry, the then five States of Western Nigeria now represented by Odu’a Investment and PZ Cussons, the well-known FMCG group, the companyhasbeenabletobuilditself to an enviable height with a high profile equity rating.

According to the Marketing Communications / Research Manager of Nigerite, Mr. Victor Jolaoso, the company has a variety of products that make it a complete building solutions company. Some of these products include Kalsi boards (cement boards, Siniat boards (plaster boards), kalsi ceil embossed ceilings, kalsi ceil plain ceilings, allur shingles, fascia board, gemstone, crown tile and fibre cement corrugate sheets.

Jolaoso added that in the products port folio of Nigerite arefibre cement roofing and ceiling sheets made from polyvinyl Fibre (a derivative of crude oil), cement and cellulose only, compressed sand crete roofing tiles, drywall integrated building solutions, pointing out that Nigerite has been involved in the production and manufacturing of many quality products through research and innovation bringing about the new Kalsi and Solo extra which make the company a complete building solutions company.

Meantime, considering the current restrictions of Forex by the Central Bank of Nigeria and its impact on the national economy, which has made Nigeria to witness recession across all sectors including the real estate sector, it has become imperative that builders, property developers and government contractors patroniselocalmanufacturers of building materials in order toboostthesub-sectorthereby creating employment opportunities for the sector.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

FISTULA: How child spacing saves lives of women

By Chioma Obinna

F

OR 63- year- old Mrs Lucia Ofoegbu, life took an ugly twist 50 years ago when she had her twins. Ofoegbu could not celebrate the birth of her twins because moments after they were delivered after a prolonged labour, she began to leak urine uncontrollably. She had developed Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF. Married at 13, Lucia had no idea of what life held in store for her until she fell into labour.

Like every pregnant woman, she was happy that the journey of nine months was coming to an end but it turned out to be the beginning of her woes.

“I was in labour for three days.

Getting to the hospital my bladder burst, and that was the beginning of my problem I have managed for almost 50 years now.”

As it is usually the case for all women with VVF, Lucia lost her babies. Medical personnel describe Fistula an abnormal hole between the bladder or rectum and the vagina characterised by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces following childbirth.

Patient’s experience According to these experts, the disorder has a profound effect on the patients’ emotional well-being. Lucia experienced all of it.

First, she was thrown out of her matrimonial home by her husband because she was leaking urine and faeces. As if that was not enough, her husband married another woman a year after.

Teary eyed, Lucia said the decision was taken without her consent.

Lucia who betrayed emotion several times during the interview at the National Fistula Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, said: “My husband and his new wife have been treating me so badly.

They threw me out of the house.

It was due to the intervention of other women that I am back to the house but since then, I do not have a child of my own” Happy, she is no longing leaking urine or feaces after a successfully surgery at the hospital, she says she does not know what life will be like when she returns home..

“Now I have been discharged today. I am actually waiting for the priest to come and take me back. All the time I have been here, my husband never asked after me and my co-wife never asked of me. It has been hell for me all these years”.

The priest Lucia is talking about is her parish priest in Akwuzu in Anambra state who introduced

her to the fistula hospital.

“I am fine and no longer leaking. I will go back to the house and continue life the way God has designed it.”

Family planning experts say if Lucia had adopted a family planning method, that is available

Recounting her story on an afternoon that can be described as “afternoon of tears and testimonies’, Grace said: “My greatest happiness today is that I am now on family planning.” This Warri born 37-year-old mother of three said: “the last three years have

Mrs. Lucia Ofoegbu in hospitals, her children would be alive today.

Modupe Adekogba, a family planning advisor with Fistula Care Plus, a fistula project in Nigeria funded by USAID and managed by Engenderhealth, family planning exposes women

A woman in subSaharan Africa has 1 in 16 chances of dying in pregnancy or child birth compared to 1 in 4,000 risks in developed countries to general safety information on what to do when pregnant.

Grace Ossai, is also fistula survivor who spoke with journalists at the Centre. She says though she is learning of family planning after her sad story with obstetric fistula, she is happy to known of its benefits now.

been hell for me.”

According to her, it all began when she was pregnant with her third child. Lucia said she laboured for many hours before being delivered of an already dead baby. The outcome of the long labour is uncontrolled leaking of urine.

“Although, my family supported me but it has been hell. I have been to so many hospitals without solution. After the surgery in this centre, I became okay.” Grace said.

Explaining her decision to embrace family planning, she said: “Before I came here, I did not know about family planning but today, I have the knowledge and I did it because I don’t want to get pregnant again. I am 36 years old. With this family planning I am sure I will not have fistula. This is because it will enable me to space my children.

The stories of Lucia and Grace are only two out of the backlog of about 150,000 cases of fistula in the country.

Health experts agree that fistula has become a major public health concern in the country According to Clinical Associate, FistulaCare Plus, Dr Suleiman Zakariya in addition to

the backlog, 12,000 new cases recorded annually.

According to Zakariya, only 5000 of these new cases can be repaired every year collectively by the 12 fistula centres supported by Engenderhealth.

Blaming the high burden on the country’s poor health system he said: “Obstetric Fistula is a manifestation of a sub-optimal healthcare system.

“Most vulnerable group is the young, poor, rural women who are economically disadvantaged.

There is need for government to provide needed policies to reduce chances of women coming down with fistula.

Calling for increase in political will to programmes on prevention of fistula, he said: “There is need to improve the health seeking behaviour of Nigerian women and access to family planning. ”Worldwide, two million women live with untreated obstetric fistula. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has 1 in 16 chances of dying in pregnancy or child birth compared to 1 in 4,000 risks in developed countries” he added.

However, hope is on the horizon as findings by Alalade and group on "Integrating Family Planning into Fistula Services” have shown that proper child spacing will help to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the condition.

It has also be proven that when women have too many children over a short period of time they are exposed to life threatening complications. Fistula is one of them. But when women adopt family planning they will have as many children as they want at minimal risk.”

Cases at Abakaliki Centre For a Consultant Fistula Surgeon, National Centre for Obstetric Fistula, Abakaliki, Dr. Yakubu Emmanuel, obstetric fistula is one of the various challenges women face in the process of child birth.

Emmanuel attributed the growing incidence of fistula to poverty and ignorance. The condition is prevalent among women who have many children over a short period of time. Since most pregnancies are not planned there is need to introduce compulsory family planning to prevent obstetric fistula.

He blamed most of the cases treated at the Centre on undesired or unplanned pregnancies.

Before now, the Centre operated 20 fistula patients in a week.

“Only this year we have done over 40 surgeries. But we cannot make any conclusive statement.”

A Matron at the Centre, Mrs. Nwaofe Veronica narrated how the Centre is using family planning to tackle fistula, said: “Family planning is a preventive measure. It helps repaired fistula patients to keep away from intercourse and pregnancy for at least one year.”

LUTH unveils laser machine for eye care

By Gabriel Olawale

T

OWARDS improving eyecare among Nigerians, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, has unveiled its newly acquired laser machine for the treatment of eye- related problems.

Unveiling the equipment last week, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Professor Chris Bode, said many cases of blindness in the country are preventable and treatable.

Bode said that with the new laser machine, LUTH would be able to offer advanced eye care services. “With this technology, some treatments that take the patient two weeks to complete, will be done in a day.”

He however appreciated Guinness Nigeria and Vision 2020 for their support in the procurement of the machine.

Vision 2020 “We presented our challenges in service delivery to Guinness Nigeria who built the Eye Centre, and donated N7.5 million for the machine, while Vision 2020 and the hospital management teamed up to raise the balance of N5 million to acquire this laser machine.”

“Aside from this newly acquired technology, the institution is also expecting another laser machine worth about N54 million. This equipment will be accessible to various departments and will help us reconfigure our out-patient surgery.”

Earlier, the Head of Department, Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, Prof Folasade Akinsola said that the new eye surgery machine will enable LUTH treat more for patients with eye problems.

“A lot of diabetic patients are being diagnosed with eye related problems and some of them need laser treatment. Glaucoma patients, cataract patients and also children with eye related problems are being referred to private hospitals in the past, but with this new technology, their hope is restored,” she remarked.

Laser eye machine

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016—43

Asthma: Omron Academy seeks better treatment for patients

By Chioma Obinna

W

ITH over 15 million people suffering from asthma in Nigeria, health professionals and stakeholders under the Omron Academy have disclosed that strict adherence to asthma medications and proper control of the disorder would prevent severe asthma attacks that can lead to death.

To this end, the Academy has trained pharmacists in Lagos on proper monitoring of patients. Speaking in Lagos, a Consultant Chest Physician, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Gregory Erhabor said when a patient admitted for asthma is not properly treated, such a person stands a higher risk of developing severe asthmatic attacks.

According to him, when asthma triggers like dust, dust mite, pollens, and environmental changes as well as thunder storm easily aggravate asthma attack that shows that the condition is not controlled.

Erhabor, a Co-Founder of Omron Academy and founder of the Asthma and Chest Care Foundation at the one-day training for Nigerian community pharmacists and other health professionals on "Modern Management of Asthma and Hypertension in Local Communities organised by Omron healthcare and New Height Pharmaceutical advised patients to ensure they have an instrument called a Peak Flow Meter used to monitor asthma control with a view to determine the severity of their asthma.

This meter, he said, is to the asthmatic what the sphygmomanometer is to the hypertensive or the glucometer to the diabetic.

"In addition, working together with the doctor, the asthmatic needs to have a written health management plan to know

when asthma is not controlled and what to do in that instance. All these would help avert problems that may arise when asthma is not controlled," he added.

On his part, the Country Manager, Omron Healthcare Nigeria and Ghana, Mr Olugbenga Abiodun who lamented that millions of Nigerians are suffering from asthma, said the need to check the trend informed their decision to train the health professionals.

Noting that the initiative was in line with Omron's mission, he said the programme was an investment into medical education to help healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge and skills in the treatment of hypertension as well as respiratory

diseases, such as Asthma, Pneumonia, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) amongst others.

Olugbenga who explained that the Omron Academy was developed together with the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and Nigeria's Asthma and Chest Care Foundation (ACCF) said the curriculum is purely scientific and evidence-based.

A renowned Community Pharmacists, Dr Folashade Lawal while speaking on drug therapy and resistant to hypertension reiterated the importance of ''out of the office measurement'' and challenged pharmacists to meticulously monitor their patients to know what exactly they are doing.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: From left: Marketing Director, Rb, West Africa, Mr Oguzhan Silivrili, Manager, National Stadium, Surulere, Engr. Alanamu Abolore and General Manager, RB West Africa, Mr Rahul Murgai, during the Grand Finale of Dettol Clean Naija Campaign in Lagos recently. Photo: By Akeem Salau

Cancer: FCMB supports NSE’s Corporate Challenge

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RKED by rising cases of cancer in the country, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, is supporting this year’s edition of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE) Corporate Challenge billed to hold this Saturday in Lagos.

The programme themed “Erase Cancer” is a call to action for Nigerians, especially corporate bodies, including over 100 listed companies and broker dealer firms in the Nigerian Stock Exchange whose representatives and staff are expected to participate in the five kilometre walk, jog and run competition to stand against the menace of cancer.

The main objective of the Corporate Challenge Competition is to raise funds and all proceeds from the competition are expected to be donated towards providing mobile cancer screening centres in Nigeria.

Speaking on the rationale behind FCMB’S support for the project, the Group Head of Corporate Affairs for FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo said: “Our concern for cancer patients and their painful experiences drives FCMB’s support for this laudable project and in Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer related deaths are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly. This is quite painful to imagine.

FCMB as a socially responsible and conscious corporate body is keenly interested in this fight.”

This year’s edition will kick-off at 7.00 am on May 14, 2016 from the Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, through Ozumba Mbadiwe Road to Akin Adesola Street. and end at the same take-off venue.

The previous edition had about 500 participants and was held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island.

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44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

TTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open: Egypt’s Lashin hopeful of title in Lagos

I

N 2014, he came close to c l i n c h i n g t h e I T TF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open but it was his compatriot, Omar Assar that dented his ambition. But with the absence of Omar Assar this year, Egypt’s ElSayed Lashin is optimistic that the title is within his reach.

Despite the presence of more European players including starstudded local players from Nigeria, El-Sayed Lashin may be using the title to pacify himself after missing out of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

A confident ElSayed Lashin said:

Nigeria's Aruna Quadri is expected to give Lashin a tough time.

Female goalkeeper Continues from BP reports suggest she died of a heart attack but it is now awaiting formal medical report.

The news comes less than 48 hours after the death of Cameroon international Patrick Ekeng in Romania.

Djomnang complained of chest pains as she prepared to take on Louves MINPROFF Yaounde in the Cameroon elite league and died on her way to hospital.

Cameroon’s African

Women Footballer of the Year Gaelle Enganamouit, who now plays in Sweden, was one if the first to react to the news.

“It’s with sadness that I have learnt of the death of my team-mate Djomnang Jeanine Christelle of Femina Stars Ebolowa, may her soul rest in peace,” she wrote on social media.

A book of condolence has been opened at the federation headquarters for both Ekeng and Djomanang.

Oshiomhole Continues from BP verbal venom.

Speaking shortly after th the 4 edition of the Okpekpe 10km Road Race held in Okpekpe, Edo State last Saturday, Governor Oshiomhole told his listeners at the event that it was “shameful” that the Sports Minister is not showing much commitment to the development of sports in the country.

Governor Oshiomhole could not understand why a Minister superintending sports would be absent at a grass-roots event such as the 4th Okpekpe 10km Road Race when he was duly invited.

The Comrade Governor, known for calling a spade by its name, could not hide his feelings that the Sports Minister was conspicuously absent.

He said, “Today we don’t have the privilege of hosting the Minister and I think that was a shame.

Nigerians in rural areas are the forgotten majority, the minister must not sit in the comfort of an office and sermonise sports.

“We must live by example, that’s why I came to show that when those young men are running, we elders can run too.”

“My target in Lagos this year is to ensure I can improve my ranking as well as try to win the men’s singles title as much as I can.”

Being his second visit to Nigeria’s populous city, Lashin is seeing Lagos as a good ground for him to claim his first IT TF Wo r l d To u r t i t l e .

“During my first time in Lagos, I finished second in the men’s singles behind Omar Assar and I also settled for second place in the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in 2014 but I hope and believe I can do better this y e a r, ” the Egyptian veteran said.

The Egyptian warlord admitted that all players taking part in the tournament have equal chance to win the title while they are all his rivals. “I believe everybody playing in the competition is my rival,” he said.

N

IGERIA U-23 coach Samson Siasia is expected to include at least six foreign-based players when they travel to the South Korea 4 Nation Tournament that will serve as a preparatory ground for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Hosts South Korea, Denmark and Honduras all teams that have qualified for the Men’s Football Tournament of Rio 2016 will play in the tournament.

T

Siasia has invited Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is on loan at FSV Frankfurt in Germany, Anderlecht’s Imoh Ezekiel, FC Sfaxien’s Oluwafemi Ajayi Junior, Sodiq Popoola of Belgian second side Seraing United, Clube Desportivo Nacional

HE Nigeria O l y m p i c Committee, NOC, has expressed deep shock over the death of former Lagos State Sports Commissioner, Prince Ademola AdenijiAdele.

Prince Adeniji-Adele died in an Indian Hospital.

President of NOC, Engr.

Habu Gumel who was informed of the sad news

described his death as a painful loss to Nigerian sports. “What?”, he exclaimed!“Thisisaverysad loss to Nigerian sports. He was passionate on sports and demonstrated his love with lofty achievements when he supervised Lagos State sports as Commissioner. And unlike others, he remained in sports even after his stewardship. The Olympic

being together for nearly two years.

The British No 1, who is flying into Rome on Monday after Sunday’s Madrid Open final, issued a statement saying that they had decided to go their separate ways.

Both parties made warm enough comments about each other, with Mauresmo – who gave birth to son Aaron last summer – hinting that she was finding the commitment

family will miss him”, Gumel said in a long call across the Atlantic. Before his death, Prince Adeniji-Adele was a one-time member of NOC’S Marketing Commission and also a key member of the Project Management team of the Olympic Africa at Amuwo Odofin.

SecretaryGeneralofNOC, HonTundePopoolacouldnot hold his shock. And he wept.

Zenith Bank WBL: First Bank set up s/ final clash against IGP Queens

BY JACOB AJOM

F

IRST Bank Basketball Club of Lagos yesterday

We started off just trying to avoid relegation and you saw what happened.’

The award was founded in 2011 to honor Bearzot, the 1982 World Cupwinning coach who died in 2010.

The Premier League winning manager spoke of his his pride at being named the 2016 winner.

‘I never met Bearzot but I’ve been told by people that they see his spirit in me and that fills me with pride,’ he added.

Rumours are still strife of Italy being interested in talking to Ranieri, once Antonio Conte leaves to take over at Chelsea.

•Wallop AHIP Queens 106-39 trounced AHIP Queens of Kano 106-39 in Day 3 of the ongoing Zenith Bank Women Basketball League Final 8 play-off at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos. The Elephant Girls will now face IGP Queens who defeated Delta Force 60-58 yesterday.

With their wealth of experience and good technique, the Lagos team pinned the AHIP Queens to their own half of the court for long spells. Their swift play and mobility on the court did a lot to stifle whatever plans AHIP Queens had as the second quarter ended 18-39 In the final score, First Bank out dunked Ahip

Murray Continues from BP

midfielder Usman Muhammed and team captain Azubuike Okechukwu of Malatyaspor in Turkey.

The six players have already confirmed their availability for the tournament that would commence on May 28 in South Korea.

NOC mourns Adeniji-Adele

Ranieri Continues from BP Premier League and now the charismatic 64year-old has collected the Enzo Bearzot Award.

The highly-coveted accolade is awarded to the Italian manager of the year, as voted for by a jury composed of representatives of major Italian sports newspapers.

Ranieri returned home to Rome to accept the award Monday following Leicester’s title-winning celebrations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ranieri said: ‘Honestly, I still haven’t realised what we’ve done.

Siasia includes six foreign pros for Korea tournament

of travelling hard to fulfil in her present circumstances.

All had not appeared entirely well at the Miami Open in late March when she was seated away from the official support box during his matches as Murray went through one of his periodic patches of on-court angst.

Yet only last week she was still due to meet up with him at this week’s Italian Open, so it appears that the

decision has only been made in the last few days.

‘Working with Andy over the last two years has been a fantastic experience for me’, said Mauresmo.

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the great team of people he has around him.

Dedicating enough time along with the travel has been a challenge for me. I wish him and team well and I hope he goes on to win many more titles.’

Queens by 106 – 38 to maintain their unbeaten run at the ongoing Final 8 of the 12th edition of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League.

Without a win after three games, Ahip Queens of Kano therefore became the first team to crash out of the play off.

In Group A Dolphins defeated Plateau Rocks 74-57 to emerge top of the group after three matches.

They are to meet winner between Benue Princess and Customs.

The match was still on at press time.

Meanwhile, basketball fans have condemned the poor visibility that always disrupt games and call for better visibility.

CAF fine Nigeria Continues from BP handed down the fine, while threatening further sanctions if there was a similar incident.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Mohammed Salah scoring a late equaliser for the Pharaohs.

The return leg in Alexandria ended in a 10 defeat for Nigeria, which ended their hopes of a place at the next Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 45

C M Y K

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 — 47

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

CAF fine Nigeria for overcrowding at Egypt AFCON clash inOnMarch.

March 29, the NFF,

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HE Confederation of African Football (CAF) have fined Nigeria $5,000 for

overcrowding and lack of security during an AFCON 2017 qualifier against Egypt in Kaduna

Oshiomhole blasts Dalung T

HE nonchalant attitude of the Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung to sports development in the country has been noticed

by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who did not spare the Plateau-born administrator in his Continues on Page 44

Ranieri wins another award I

T’s been a season to remember for Claudio Ranieri after helping Leicester lift the Continues on Page 44

in conjunction with the Kaduna State Government, had thrown the gates to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna open causing over 50,000 spectators to cram into the 15,000-capacity stadium.

Rising from their disciplinary board meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, the African football governing body

Continues on Page 44

Murray splits with Mauresmo

A

•Oshiomhole

NDY Murray has ended his groundbreaking coaching relationship with former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo after Continues on Page 44

•Dalung

Female goalkeeper dies during warm-up T

HE Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) has announced the death of Jeanine Christelle

Djomnang on Sunday.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper collapsed during her warm-up before a Femina Stars

Ebolowa match in southern Cameroon, and was rushed to hospital.

Fecafoot says initial Continues on Page 44

GOOD BYE: Murray (r) in parting handshake with his former coach Amelia Mauresmo.

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Careless (6) 5 Small (6) 9 Garret (5) 10 Farm Animals (6) 11 Poll (6) 12 Consumed (5) 14 Peddled (4) 17 Insane (3) 18 Intend (4) 20 Rate (5) 22 Shelf (5) 23 Botched (7) 24 Sensational (5) 26 Implicit (5) 25 Discharge (4) 30 Cot (3) 32 Only (4) 33 Pattern (5) 35 Soaked (6) 36 Diverse (6) 37 Send (5) 38 Required (6) 36 Accounts-book (6)

DOWN 1 Niche (6) 2 Spirit (6) 3 Auction (4) 4 Vapour (5) 5 Dwelt (5) 6 Image (4) 7 Followed (6) 8 Motor (6) 13 Twisted (7) 15 Drug (5) 16 Liability (5) 18 Decoration (5) 19 Anew (5) 21 Defective (3) 22 Permit (3) 24 Lecture (6) 25 Sieve (6 27 Managing (6) 28 Offer (6) 30 Filleted (5) 31 Satan (5) 33 Lake (4) 34 Tardy (4

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Spear 9, Avenue 10, Poster 11, Ended 12, Eros 15, Clan 17, Demoted 20, Lid 21, Dover 23, Emit 25, Teem 26, Deter 28, Ave 30, Descend 33, Pert 35, Hate 36, Atlas 38, Repose 39, Teller 40, Sweet.

DOWN: 1, Famed 2, Besom 3, Sue 4, Penned 5, Apex 6, Rod 7, Tall 8, Grand 13, Receive 14, Solid 16, Ailment 18, Duped 19, Bet 22, Teach 24, Tea 27, Relate 28, Apart 29, Erupt 31, Early 32, Decry 34, Stew 36, Ass 37, Set.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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