MASS KILLINGS: Tension heightens inPlateau communities

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61662

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

OCEAN SURGE: I 've video evidence of Lawan collecting •P.4 Oil communities bribe, Otedola insists under siege

•Special Report on Page 26

MASS KILLINGS:

Tension heightens in Plateau communities •Jonathan in emergency meeting with security chiefs, NSA •IG deploys 4,000 mobile policemen, APCs, •Time to decide Nigeria's unity — Northern CAN

3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE: TRAFFIC CHAOS

BY TAYE OBATERU, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, BEN AGANDE & LUKA BINNIYAT

J

OS—TENSION re mained high in the troubled areas of Plateau State yesterday despite the curfew imposed by the state government following the killing of Senator Gyang Dantong and Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Gyang Fulani.

Continues on page 5

PINI JASON Legalism and anti- corruption war •P.17

Mr & Mrs

Gridlock caused by closure of Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, yesterday. Inset- Top right: Repair works on the bridge. Below right: Commuters take to ferries from Ebutte -Meta to the Island. Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi/NAN. More pix on P. 8

Aviation disasters: What Paul Dike Report says: Exclusively in Vanguard from Wednesday C M Y K

2—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 10 2012

Corruption: Jonathan, convenes meeting of govt officials

BY BEN AGANDE

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Women residing at Mpape, Abuja protesting proposed demolition of their houses, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

BUDGET 2013:

FG to set up sinking fund to retire domestic debt — Okonjo-Iweala zFG’s wage bill hits N1.6trn z39% of capital expenditure implemented

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE & LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

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AGOS — THE Federal Government will set up a sinking fund to retire some of the nation’s N5.3 trillion domestic debt stock from 2013 fiscal year, with the aim of gradually reducing the huge domestic debt burden.

Meanwhile, the total wage bill of the Federal Government has risen to N1.6 trillion due to the implementation of the new minimum wage, while 39 per cent of capital expenditure for fiscal 2012 has so far been implemented.

Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed this in Lagos, yesterday, at a consultative forum on Budget 2013 for private sector operators and civil society organisations.

Responding to concerns about the nation’s rising debt profile, she said: “It is indeed true that our debt ratio is alright and sustainable at this moment.

That is why the rating agencies upgraded Nigeria when they were downgrading everyone else. Our debt-GDP ratio, if you just take federal debt, it is about 17 per cent—both domestic and foreign. If you add what we have from the states, we could get up to C M Y K

21 per cent as opposed to a standard of 25 to 30 per cent which we have set for the country.

Slow down on borrowing "Now, we have to worry about the debt service to revenue. But even if we are okay internationally, we have to look at the composition. It is true that domestic debt is worrying.

Our problem is not external debt. Our external debt is very low, two per cent of GDP. But we really need to slowdown the rate of borrowing domestically.

"The interest rate at which the Federal Government and states are raising debt at the moment is too high.

We are raising debt at 15 per cent because we need the money to finance our expenditure and finance capital. But if you can raise debt at zero or one per cent somewhere else, which one will you go for?

“So, we need some expertise to manage and balance these. Now, what are we doing? Since I came on board, we have been trying to decelerate the rate of accumulation of domestic debt because since you rammed up expenditure in the past three or four years, you cannot just bring it down overnight, otherwise the country will shut down.

"What we can do is to bring down the trajectory.

And we have done that sharply. For 2011 budget, we borrowed N852 billion, we brought this down to N744 billion in 2012 budget and we are going to take it down in 2013 budget. What we are aiming at is to bring it down to a level of about N500 billion in the medium term.

Sinking Fund "At the same time we already have about N5.9 trillion of domestic debt. The issue is let us deal with the flow, because debt is two things—stock and flow. For the stock, we also begin to retire some so that we don’t continue to keep the debt and making it accumulate.

We are proposing in this budget, opening a sinking fund, where we are going to take a chunk of our money and put it there in the fund and we are going to take money and retire one or two of the bonds. So we begin to be responsible.

We are not going to just keep on refinancing our debt. This budget is going to be tight. We are going to use money upfront, with Mr. President’s permission to pay our debt.”

FG’s wage bill hit N1.6trn Director-General Budget Office, Dr. B. Okogu, said increased wage bill was one of the factors for the huge

domestic debt profile. He said: “In terms of expenditure, personnel cost accounted for a chunk of the recurrent budget.

This includes the 53 per cent increase to civil servant, increase in minimum wage, etc. These contributed to the current wage bill of N1.6 trillion.

For the first time, it ran to N1 trillion in 2004, but today, that budget cannot pay salary.

“The external debt has gone down but the local debt has been rising due to the deficit budget over the years and the wage bill contributed to this. We have to manage the debt particularly now that the oil market is slumping.

"Another challenge on the implementation of the budget is that we also have too many ongoing projects which are more than 6,000.

For instance, education had 1,374 on-going projects or 22 per cent, health has 968 or 15 per cent, works has 400 or 6 per cent and power has 532 projects, among others. We need about N7 trillion to finish all these.

There is not enough money to implement the budget. But so far we have released about N404 billion for capital expenditure this year of which N304 billion was for first quarter and N100 billion for second quarter.

So far, implementation level is about 39 per cent.”

BUJA — WORRIED by the pervasive corruption in almost all sectors of the country, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, convened a meeting of heads of all arms of government to find a common ground to fight corruption The meeting which was presided over by the president had in attendance, Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher and other principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ndoma Egba, who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting noted that the essence of the meeting which was at the instance of the president was to explore how the three arms of government could pool resources together to tackle corruption.

Senator Ndoma Egba who was flanked by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Anticorruption, Senator Victor Lar; Hon. Mulikat Akande,

Majority Leader, House of Represenatives; Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde and Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Ekpo Ntah, said all parties present at the meeting were concerned about the deteriorating corruption index in the country.

According to him, the move by the president to convene a meeting of arms of government to look at the issue of corruption was a novelty.

Responding to a question on the Femi Otedola/ Farouk Lawan corruption saga, the Attorney General of the Federation Mr Mohammed , Adoke said, “the report was not discussed as an issue but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment, which is very soon, that you will begin to see prosecution. Probably in the next one week, we will begin to prosecute because the EFCC has gone very far.”

76 oil wells: S-Court delivers judgment today zAs C-River begs court to suspend verdict

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — BARRING any last minute intervention, the Supreme Court will today settle the dispute between the governments of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states over the ownership of 76 controversial oil wells.

It would be recalled that the Cross River State government went before the apex court, contending that the 76 oil wells, which it said were transferred to Akwa Ibom State by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, legally belonged to it.

Also joined as a party in the appeal before the Supreme Court was the Federal Government.

The appellant, through its

lead counsel, Mr Yusuf Ali, prayed the apex court to compel both the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom State to pay to it, N15.5 billion, being the 13 per cent derivation that ought to have been paid to the state from November 2009 to March 10, 2010.

Meanwhile, even though the apex court has already slated today to deliver its judgment on the matter, the appellant, on Friday, reapproached the court with an application seeking the suspension of the judgment.

In its application, Cross River State alleged that a map that was tendered before the apex court by Akwa Ibom State was doctored, insisting that it did not represent the true position of the NigerianCameroun boundary.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 — 3

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4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

I 've video evidence of Lawan collecting bribe, Otedola insists

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (2nd left) and other security chiefs after a security council meeting chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Combating corruption is all-inclusive war — Osundare, Sagay, Bakare

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS — FOREMOST poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare; constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, have said that combating corruption remains an all-inclusive war which Nigerians must rise up to fight, saying it is time to take action.

The trio, who were unanimous on ways of eradicating corruption in the country, said this in Lagos, yesterday, at the state of the nation lecture entitled: “Why we no longer blush: Corruption as grand commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” organised by the Save Nigeria Group.

Corruption 'll kill Nigeria if...

—Osundare Prof. Osundare, who was the guest speaker, argued that if urgent steps were not taken to tackle corruption, the menace might eventually lead to the collapse of the country.

The Professor of English, who lamented the rate at which corruption thrives in the country, enjoined Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.

His words: “The malaise is massive, the dysfunctionalities are daunting. But we must never allow this situation, grim as it is, to plunge us into cynicism and despair.

Yes, indeed, Nigeria is worth fighting for. And this fight will have to be carried C M Y K

out by the people of this country. The soldiers have shown by their many years of misrule that our national salvation is not in their hands. The present gaggle of civilian rulers is proving to be no different.”

While he expressed disgust at the alarming rate at which corruption has taken over all sectors of the economy, Osundare said: “Corruption has taken over the fabric of Nigeria.

Corruption has taken over the commanding heights of Nigerian society. It is, without doubt, the grand commander of the Federal Republic.

On the need for the civil society to rise up to the challenge to prevent the nation from being plunged into chaos, the scholar said: “At no time, therefore, is the role of civil society more crucial, more imperative than the present. Let there be more of the coalition of civil society organisations that brought Nigeria back from the chaos that ensued from the politicization of President Umar Yar’Adua’s illness; the type that forced the no going back Jonathan to back down on his callous, inequitable fuel price hike. This country has enough to make life comfortable for all of us and generations yet unborn. Let us begin to ask: Why are a few Nigerians so rich and the rest of us so poor?”

Nigeria needs an incorruptible ruler —Sagay Chairman of the event, Prof. Sagay, warned of dire consequences if the present

crop of leaders fail to tackle the high rate of corruption pervading the country.

He stressed that the country needed an incorruptible person to redeem the nation from its present state just as he called on Nigerians to sustain the struggle.

According to him, “we are going to sustain the struggle and ensure that we see it to the end. The only type of person or persons who will change Nigeria are those who are incorruptible.

If the civilians don’t tackle corruption, then the leadership must come from somewhere else. And if it must come from another source, we will not be happy about it. They have always said that the elite are the problems of Nigeria, but I thank God that we have so many elite who can change Nigeria.”

Time for radical reformation —Bakare On his part, Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Pastor Bakare stated the need for radical reformation if Nigeria must move forward.

Bakare said: “All the sordid revelations of the past six months have laid the arguments to rest as to the forces that are bent on freeing our people from the stranglehold of corruption and those who want to keep them in perpetual subjugation.

The shenanigans of the fight back by corruption in Nigeria today has the potential to dampen the morale of the people if we don’t continue to give meaning to the meaningless situation we are in.”

BUJA— THE House of Representatives Committee on Ethics came under further scrutiny, yesterday, after oil magnate, Mr Femi Otedola, accused one of its members of lying in his account of Otedola’s controversial appearance before the committee last Tuesday.

Responding to published comments where Rep. Ibrahim Bello, a member of the committee was quoted as saying that Otedola told the committee that he did not have the video recording of his transaction with Rep. Farouk Lawan, Otedola affirmed that he never told the committee anything as such.

Otedola had in the past insisted that he is in possession of audio and video recording of Lawan negotiating and collecting the bribe money.

The misrepresentation, he said, was another reason why the Ethics Committee must be prevailed upon to

Alleged N5bn fraud: Kalu drags EFCC to S-Court

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — FORMER Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the competence of the 107count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The embattled exgovernor is contending that the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court miscarried justice against him by

S-Court strips RUSAL of ALSCON ownership

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BUJA — THE Supreme Court has ordered that Russia’s RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium producer, be stripped of ownership of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, because the assets should have gone to another bidder.

RUSAL acquired a 75 per cent stake in ALSCON in 2007 for around $205 million and now owns 85 per cent of its assets with the remaining stake belonging to the Nigerian government.

The Russian firm said the judgment would not affect its ownership of ALSCON and that operations continued as normal.

US-based private firm, BFI Group, was the preferred bidder for ALSCON in 2004 after offering $410 million, but was later disqualified by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE. BFI, headed by American-Nigerian Reuben Jaja, took BPE to court, saying the agency breached its contract.

The Supreme Court ruling last week ordered that BPE revert to the original preferred bidder and BFI Group pay the agreed price of $410 million.

“There is no evidence on record that RUSAL has taken possession of ALSCON,” Justice John

hold its investigations into the scam in public.

Responding to the comments by Bello, Otedola speaking through his lawyer, Babajide Koku, SAN said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the statement credited to Hon. Ibrahim Bello is entirely false and calculated to misrepresent and misinform the public as to what transpired during the closed door hearing held by the House Committee on July 3, 2012.”

“We wish to state further, that there are video and audio recordings corroborating our client’s account of what transpired between him and Hon. Farouk Lawan.

“It is pertinent to emphasise that our client at no time during the proceedings of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges denied the authenticity of the audio recordings broadcast by the media but only stated that he was not the one that gave the audio recordings to the media houses."

Fabiyi said in the lead judgment, seen by Reuters on Monday.

“The appellant’s (BFI Group) bid in the sum of $410 million was preferred by the respondent. The appellant was declared winner at the auction sale conducted on 14th June 2004.”

However, RUSAL said, yesterday, the ruling was between BPE and BFI Group and it would retain its shares in ALSCON. It said: “(The) ruling of Nigeria’s Supreme Court neither does change, nor can change the owner of ALSCON shares belonging to UC RUSAL,” a company spokeswoman told Reuters, yesterday.

giving the anti-graft agency the nod to prosecute him over allegations he said were baseless.

The appellate court had dismissed Kalu’s appeal, saying it was satisfied that the EFCC successfully established a prima facie criminal case that would warrant his trial.

Kalu approached the appellate court following the refusal of Justice Adamu Bello to quash any of the substantive charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

However, in-line with an order of the appellate court, the high court, yesterday, resumed hearing on the case, with the accused exgovernor informing the trial judge that he has taken the case before the apex court.

In an oral application he made yesterday, Kalu urged Justice Bello to hands off the case pending the hearing and determination of his appeal before the Supreme Court, a request that was granted.

He had argued that since the apex court was already seized of the facts of the case, the lower court, inline with the principle of judicial hierarchy, ought to stay the proceeding before it.

Consequently, Justice Bello adjourned the matter till December 3 to await the outcome of the appeal before the Supreme Court.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 10, 2012—5 TUESDA JULY

POCKET CARTOON

Tension heightens in Plateau communities Continues from Page 1 In response to the killing and tension it has generated, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of security chiefs even as the Inspector General of Police has deployed 4,000 Mobile policemen, Anti-terrorists, and Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC’s to the affected areas.

The lawmakers were killed on Sunday while attending the mass burial of about 50 victims of Saturday’s attack on villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state.

The curfew which was initially announced to last from 6pm to 7am was later moved to 12 noon apparently to forestall further trouble.

Governor Jang had in a broadcast to the people on Sunday night declared Monday and Tuesday, days of mourning.

Yesterday ’s meeting summoned by President Jonathan was attended by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; the Chief of Defence Staff, Oluseyi Petinrin; Minister of State, Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade; Minister of Interior, Mr.

Abba Moro; Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar; and the Director-General, State Security Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong.

Attempts by State House correspondents to get participants at the meeting to speak to newsmen failed. While the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika directed reporters to the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, he in turn referred journalists to the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.). When the National Security Adviser emerged, he equally referred journalists to Petinrin for comment after which he drove away.

Although such meetings are held on Tuesdays, the fact that it was held yesterday underscored its emergency.

Plateau crisis: IG deploys 4,000 Mopol, Antiterrorists police officers, APC’s Following the violence

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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OBODY knows what the future holds, but de cisions determine destinies.

Today actions are the results of yesterday’s decision and today’s decisions will determine tomorrow’s actions; be careful what you do. It takes only one little turn to make a large mistake.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.

You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it — E . Gilbert

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OM Robbins in his writings surmise beauti fully: “We’re always searching for somebody to complete us. When, after a few years or a few months of a relationship, we find that we’re still unfulfilled, we blame our partners and take up with somebody more promising. This can go on and on until we admit that while a partner can add sweet dimensions to our lives, we, each of us, are responsible for our own fulfilment.” Nobody else can provide it for us, that which we can find within our hearts.

that erupted in Plateau State at the weekend over the killings of over 50 persons, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has directed the deployment of 4,000 Mobile Police Personnel, Antiterrorist personnel and bomb disposal experts in the local government areas of the state.

Also, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 4, Markudi, AIG Michael Zoukumor has been directed to re-locate his office from Makurdi to Jos the Plateau State

capital to take over the security situation and ensure that further attacks and killings were stopped.

Vanguard gathered that the IGP who paid an on the spot assessment visit to Jos yesterday in company of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, gave the directives immediately he received briefings on the level of violence and reprisals on the Jos attacks.

The Anti-Riot and AntiTerrorist Policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC’s) accord-

ing to sources are drawn from all the neighbouring states and were all directed to be in Jos before dawn yesterday.

Time to decide if we can remain as one country —Northern CAN M

EANWHILE, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday in Kaduna condemned the persistent killings of Christians in the North and asked for a Sovereign National Conference. In a statement yesterday reacting to last Sunday's murder of Senator Daylop Dantong representing Plateau North Senatorial District of Plateau State, Hon. Gyang Danfulani, Majority leader in the Plateau State House of Assembly, among estimated 63 people killed in Barkin Ladi Local Government, northern CAN said: “Those people who want to live by the swords and bombs can have their own country and kill themselves.

Those who want to live in peace and catch up with development that is going on in some other parts of the world can have their country and make progress”.

Also the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has condemned the killing, and called for a halt to the violence.

The statement from Northern CAN signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Oibe reads: “We Christians in Northern Nigeria are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate enough political will to bring an end to the activities of terrorist groups in the north.

“The President once declared that there are some Boko Haram members in his government; we can now see the manifestation of this, especially in the activities of the Special Task Force in Plateau State which failed to respond to distress calls during the massacre of rural communities in BarkinLadi Local government Area the state.

“This time around, the President should stop at nothing until he brings the activities of terrorists to an end.

“We will not accept a

situation where only one tribe in Nigeria is trying to bring the entire country to its knees. This is absolutely unacceptable.

“It is activities of some members of this tribe that is undermining the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) which seeks to integrate us as a nation.

“One tribe must not be seen to be lording it over the rest of Nigerians.

Nigeria is bigger than any tribe or religion. We must, as a people with conscience, sense of patriotism and sense of justice and fair play resist

these mindless, barbaric killings. We call on the National Assembly to forget about their personal interests and convoke a National Conference to determine whether we should continue to live together.

“We urge all peace loving Nigerians who want to live freely and make progress to demand the convocation of a National Sovereign Conference so that we will bring an end to these killings and destruction of property."

Mark leads senators on condolence to Plateau, calls for end to killings

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HE Senate Presi dent, David Mark has commiserated with the people of Plateau State and the immediate family of late Senator Gyang Dantong who was killed on Sunday expressing hope that his death and that of the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Gyang Fulani would bring an end to the protracted crisis in the state.

This is even as the state House of Assembly held and emergency session on Monday declaring that the Federal Government has failed the state for failing to stem the tide of violence in the state.

Senator Mark who led other senators on a condolence visit to the state yesterday told Governor Jonah Jang that the killing of the lawmakers and

others was an indication that the crisis had reached a head.

“The deaths of Dantong and Fulani are unfortunate and regrettable and we only hope that with their death, the crisis in the state has reached its peak and must end. I have always said that we can resolve these crises through dialogue and I hope that those concerned will now embrace dialogue so that we can achieve lasting peace”, he said.

Governor Jang while thanking the Senate President and his team for the visit said his repeated cries of the existence of terrorists in the state over the years had not been taken seriously.

He hoped those who felt he was raising a false alarm have now seen the truth.

The delegation later visited Senator Dantong’s residence at Rayfield to commiserate with the family.

Addressing family members which included his (Dantong’s) wife, aged mother and children, Mark said, “ we have come here as colleagues of your husband to condole with you on this unfortunate incident.

We know it is painful, but there is nothing any mortal can do if it is the will of God.” On the entourage were Senators Andy Ubah, Chris Ngige from Anambra State, Emmanuel Bacha from Taraba State and Victor Lar, members of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu from Delta State and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Ochekpe.

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Imo govt, PDP battle for control of LGAs

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State government and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, are now engaged in a battle of wits following last Thursday’s judgment by

the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, in favour of the sacked local council chairmen in the state.

As at the time of going to press, it was not clear who was in charge of the local government areas because while the sacked chairmen

were preparing to take over the offices as directed by the court, loyalists of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, started manning the gates as early as 6.30am.

The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Chinedu Offor, in a state-

From left: Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Aminu Saleh, Minister of State for Education, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed during the 2012 teacher professional development programme in Bauchi, yesterday.

ment, urged Imo people to remain calm in respect of the Appeal Court’s judgment even as he hinted that government had appealed against the ruling of the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the statement, the State Legal Adviser of the PDP, Chief C.O.C. Akaolisa, said there was no reason why the embattled local government chairmen and councillors should not enjoy the fruit of their victory in the court.

“PDP loyalists in the state have been very law abiding. The party expects the state government to reciprocate our gesture by not preventing the elected chairmen and councillors from taking their seats,” Akaolisa said.

Answering another question, the PDP chieftain said he did not expect the police to truncate the order of court, “especially as the wordings of the court judgment on the issue is very clear and unambiguous”.

When reminded that government had filed a notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution, Akaolisa said none of the two steps taken by government had nullified the judgment.

Court acquits suspected robber for lack of merit

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NUGU—AN Enugu High Court Judge, Justice Afamefula Nwobodo, yesterday discharged and acquitted one George Igboke for lack of merit in a case of robbery.

Igboke and others now at large were alleged to have on November 8, 2008, at Plot 9, Market Garden, GRA, Enugu, armed themselves with a gun and machetes to rob three persons of their handsets, football boots valued at N42,000 and N27,000 cash. The vic-

tims of the robbery were Nnamdi Eneh, Obiora Agbo and Chike Iheife.

This was even as the state Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Musa Daura, has urged commercial motorcyclists in the state to be law abiding over the ban on their operation in Enugu metropolis. The commercial motorcyclists were outlawed in three local governments making up the Enugu Capital Territory, ECT, to reduce crime wave in the state.

Alleged poisoning: Imo govt orders autopsy of deceased family members

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Obi Njoku yesterday ordered for autopsies on seven members of a family and their two in-laws, who died in Emekuku, near Owerri, on Sunday.

Njoku said at a briefing that the cause of the deaths of the family members was yet to be determined but stressed that the deaths were not natural. He, however, advised the people to remain calm till the results

of the analyses were released.

The commissioner said he had set up a five-member committee headed by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Johnny Ihebereme, who would liaise with Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, to conduct the autopsies to determine the actual cause of the deaths.

Mr Pascal Njoku, his wife and five children as well as their two in-laws died on Sunday after the burial of Njoku’s mother on Saturday.

Economy devt: FG, private sector seal new pact

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AGOS—FEDERAL Government, yesterday sealed a new partnership with business leaders across sectors of the Nigerian economy with the objective of addressing major challenges militating against industrial growth in the country as part of its Industrial revolution plan.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, who flagged off the maiden edition of the quaterly luncheon with business leaders said it marked a new beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership between the public and private sectors of the economy tow a r d s achieving enhanced and sustainable economic growth and development for the country.

He said, “The luncheon is conceived as a forum for government and business leaders across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy to discuss issues/challenges militating against industrial growth; deliberate on the right synergy for enhanced productivity, sus-

tained economic growth and development; and monitor progress made on a quarterly basis.

The forum will also address issues affecting the ease of doing business in

Nigeria, including other challenges facing local and foreign investors with a view to finding workable/ lasting solutions and building on subsequent gains.

UK-APGA backs suspension of 5 party members

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HE United Kingdom chapter of the All People’s Grand Alliance, APGA, has thrown its weight behind the action of its National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, Secretary, Alhaji Sanni Shinkafi and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, in suspending five of its members allegedly involved in anti-party act i v i t i e s .

A statement by its General Secretary, Sir Onyeka Mbaso, which condemned activities of the Sadiq Massalla group, advised the NWC to expel them with immediate effect as according to him, APGA as a political party, has zero toler-

ance for anti-party activities.

“The anti party activity that took place on June 19, 2012 when five members broke into our National Secretariat with hoodlums to destabilize our great party is highly unacceptable.

“Chief Umeh remains the only recognised APGA National Chairman and we advise APGA members all over the country to ignore the distractions from disgruntled and self centred individuals that have no clear vision about modern politics. We should focus more in making sure that our party captures more states in the next general elections,"the statement a d d e d .

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Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JULY 10, 2012 — 7

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8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

TRAFFIC JAM AS WORK BEGINS ON 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE

Since repair works began on Third Mainland Bridge, motorists have been experiencing tough times. Kehinde Gbadamosi took some photographs, yesterday.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—9

Briefly

Church tasks Fashola

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—LAGOS State Chapter of Good Women Congress of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, has urged Governor Babatunde Fashola not to be swayed by ‘forces of retrogression’, in his pursuit towards the transformation of the state.

Rather, the Congress advised Fashola to be focused in the developmental agenda of the state, if Lagos must remain the reference state on infrastructural development.

Chairperson of the Congress, Prophetess Olatoun Fashola, gave the admonition at a briefing on the church’s maiden general conference organised by the women.

The general conference starting from tomorrow through Friday, she explained, was aimed at praying for the continuous peace and stability of Lagos State and its political

Awori people back out of proposed Lagoon state ...call for creation of more LGAs in Lagos

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

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AGOS—THE people of Awori in Lagos State under the aegis of Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria, AWAN, has dissociated themselves from the call for the crea-

tion of Lagoon state from the present Lagos State.

At a briefing, President of AWAN, Mr. Sakariyau Opeifa, berated the action of those agitating for the creation of Lagoon State for not consulting with the Awori people before in-

cluding them in the map of the proposed state, warning that no part of Aworiland or its people should be included in the proposed state.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a pro-

posal of persons from Ikorodu and Epe divisions of Lagos State clamouring for the creation of Lagoon state from the present Lagos State; the proposed map of which covers some Aworiland.

INVESTITURE: Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (middle) receiving the Emblem of Distinction from Zik Zulu Okafor and Lilian Amah-Aluko, Vice-President, after his investiture as grand patron of Association of Movie Producers, AMP, in Abeokuta.

Atuche: Court rules on veracity of bank documents ...approves Atuche's overseas medical trip

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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KEJA—JUSTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, adjourned ruling till today on a bank document tendered by the defence counsel to contradict a prosecution witness, Nam Nkapa, over the trial of the former managing director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche.

Atuche and one of his aides, Funmi Ademosun, are standing trial on a one count charge of stealing N4.2 billion belonging to Caverton Helicopters by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. This was coming as the court granted Atuche leave to travel abroad for medical attention. This was sequel to an oral application made by Atuche’s counsel.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the defence counsel, Mr. Anthony Idigbe, SAN, had tenC M Y K

dered the bank document which was part of the alleged documents used in buying shares by the bank chief which, according to him, contradicted the earlier evidence given by the prosecution witness.

However, the defence counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the tendering of the document that it cannot be accepted as an exhibit since the witness was not the maker of the document.

Kappa, an investigator with the anti-graft commission, had told the court she could not recall all the documents they reviewed during investigations, adding that she never came across the term ‘Project TREASURE’ during their investigations when asked of what she knew about it.

Justice Onigbanjo held that the issues raised were very cogent and, therefore, he had to critically examine them, ruling out a bench ruling. He consequently adjourned the matter till today to give a ruling on the matter and for further cross-examination of the witness.

''We vehemently deny ever being consulted, whereas many important Awori settlements are included in the proposed Lagoon state.

“For the purpose of informing and educating the general public, the Awori are opposed to the creation of Lagoon state as it is presently constituted and presented to the National Assembly. Awori people cannot allow another batch of her people to be carved out and made minority, the way they did to the Awori in Ado-Odo/Ota and Ifo local government areas.

Awori are balkanised in Ogun State. Rather our kinsmen and women in Ogun State will be glad to be merged with Lagos State.

“It is instructive to state that despite the fact that we had pushed for Awori state in the 80s, the leadership of all Awori under the aegis of AWAN and all Awori obas and chiefs have resolved to unite in one state, Lagos State.

Woman docked for alleged theft

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AGOS—THE police, yesterday, arraigned a 30-year-old woman, Folasade Osikomaya, before an Oshodi Senior Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing her employer’s printing machines worth N10 million.

Osikomaya is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing. The prosecutor, Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused conspired with her husband, still at large, to burgle their employer‘s printing shop.

“The accused and her husband were managers of the printing office belonging to one Mr Osita Onyeama who lives abroad. The complainant asked the accused to close down the office when he discovered that they no longer remit money to his account,” Olatunde said.

He said the accused and her husband stole two Helderberg Kord printing machines, a cutting machine, a printer, a set of computer, disc copying machine and a disc duplicator, valued at N10 million.

The prosecutor said that the complainant returned home to discover that the machines were gone and reported the matter to the police.

He explained that the husband escaped arrest and was still in hiding.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

SERVICEBriefly OF SONGS...

It was a sombre occasion as children, sisters , brothers and relations gathered at the service of song for the late Mr. Daniel Amajuoritse and Mrs. Georgina Oseri Awani, who died in the Dana Airline plane crash of Sunday, June 3, at Catholic Church of the Presentation, Oba Akinjobi, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, weekend. Pix: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE REPAIR (DAY 2)

Govt to motorists: Leave your cars at home zTraffic chaotic throughout Lagos zGovt advises Lagosians on ferry services

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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From right; Mrs. Roseline Rewane -Dafinone, Mrs. Evelyn Rewane- Fabian, Mrs. Jolayemi Awani Aideyan, Miss Tsema Awani, Miss Jite Awani and others at the service.

AGOS—MOTOR ISTS and commuters without compelling reasons to move between the Island and Mainland have been advised to stay off the roads for the next few months as repair on the 3rd Mainland Bridge entered its second day.

Motorists groan over gridlock

From right; Mr. Utieyin Dudu, Olorogun Moses Taiga and Mr Omogbemi Anthony.

Court remands man for stealing gov's handset

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SOGBO—AN Osogbo Senior Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, ordered that a 32-yearold man, Kelvin Ighodalo, be remanded in prison, for allegedly stealing the mo-

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bile telephone handset of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.

The Osun State Government had arraigned the suspect on a six-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, steal-

ing and impersonation.

The charge sheet, signed by a Principal State Counsel, Mr Biodun Badeora, for the Attorney-General, stated that the accused and others at large, committed the offence between November 2010 and June 2011 in Osogbo.

It also stated that Ighodalo conspired with some people at Technical College Sports field on November 27, 2010 and stole a Sony Erickson telephone handset with GSM number 08039404966 from Aregbesola.

The charge sheet said that the suspect did falsely represent himself to be Aregbesola and used the telephone number on June 3, 2011, to defraud Ijesa monarch, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran of N500,000.

The advice became necessary as motorists and commuters in Lagos, yesterday, had hectic time getting to their destinations as they were locked up in gridlock caused by the ongoing repair on the bridge.

Despite efforts of hundreds of traffic managers, comprising Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and policemen stationed at strategic points to ensure free flow of traffic, motorists, commuters and residents of the state lamented the traffic situation, urging government to work out modalities that could reduce the traffic logjam, apart from the alternative routes provided.

The partial closure slowed down business activities on the Island and Mainland due to the attendant chaotic traffic situation.

The traffic logjam became noticeable about 5a.m. as the outward portion of the bridge from the Island was partially closed while inward was opened for motorists who struggled to drive through the terrible traffic situation.

Commuters going towards and out of Ikeja were stranded at the busstop for hours due to non-availability of commercial buses plying the routes while the few buses available increased their fares astronomically.

When Vanguard visited CMS garage on the Island commercial bus drivers parked their vehicles,

unwilling to face the terrible traffic situation.

A commuter, who spoke at Sangrouse Bus-Stop, said he had been at the bus-stop for over two hours without any clue about how to get to his destination.

Advice to motorists: Leave your cars at home Meantime, the state government said it had put adequate arrangements in place to reduce the gridlocks.

The government, it was learnt, rolled out new water transportation services to provide alternative routes.

The government also said it had increased the number of ferries from 60 to 64 while 60 new 200-seater ferries would arrive next month.

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, on Lagos Traffic Radio, urged motorists to make use of OshodiApapa Expressway to decongest traffic build up on Oworonsoki- Ikorodu and Funsho Williams roads.

Urging motorists to exercise restraint on the roads, Opeifa, advised vehicle owners, to use the ferry services provided, as adequate arrangement had been provided for their comfort.

Opeifa said the government had invested in the water transportation to provide alternative means to road-users, hence, the establishment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA. Managing Director of LASWA, Mr. Yinka Morinho, told Vanguard that the initiative was part of measures to provide an inter-modal travel time within the state as well as provide alternative routes to road transportation aimed at decongesting road traffic.

The Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed this year on the acquisition of ferries with a public, private partnership,PPP, initiative between the state government, Eko Water Buses limited and the Aluminium boat company that will manufacture the ferries.

On the ferry routes, commuters on Oworonshoki Road will have the opportunity of avoiding the resultant heavy traffic of the bridge, if they make use of the ferry service at the Oworonsoki axis to the Lagos Island.

“At Ojo jetties, passengers have two options. They can decide to make use of the Ebute-Ojo Jetty or the Ijegun-Egba Jetty. These two jetties are also wellequipped to convey commuters to their destinations on the Island.

“In Ikorodu alone, we have six jetties namely: Ipakodo, Ijede, Baiyeku, Majidun, Origin and metro ferry. All these jetties including the ones at Ojo and Oworonshoki will transport passengers from these jetties through Addax, Falomo, CMS/Marina and Ebute-Ero.”

Passage

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HE late Madam Abigael Ajakaiye, 65, who died on May 18, will be buried on July 13 in her widower's house, at Ita-Oluwo, Ogijo.

There would be service of songs at her 3, Oladunni Johnson Close, off Igbogbo-Bayeiku Road, Ikorodu, Lagos on July 12 and funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Power Assembly Parish, Saidu Busari Street, Awesu Estate, on Igbogbo-Bayeiku Road, Ikorodu.

Ferry routes across the city He said: “Before now, the state government has put in place infrastructure to make navigation on the waterways safer for passengers.”

Late Madam Ajakaiye

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—11

Tension in Delta community over DESOPADEC funds

BY EMMAAMAIZE &

EMMAARUBI

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From right; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, Dr. Bright Okogu, DG, Budget Office, Dr Frank Nweke Jr, DG, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, DG, Debt Management Office, at the consultative meeting on the 2013 Federal Budget with private sector and civil society organisations, on the issues that will guide the preparation of next year's budget in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

ARRI—THERE is tension in OgbeIjoh in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, following allegation that some youth leaders and politicians have hijacked funds meant for the development of the community.

The traditional ruler of Ogbe-Ijoh, Pere Amakosu Oduwor III, regretted that some persons had diverted funds from Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, for their selfcentered purpose.

He called on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to

Dickson threatens to jail corrupt public servants

BY SAMUEL OYADONG-

HA E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has vowed to send a bill to the state House of Assembly for a law to punish state public servants involved in any form of fraud.

He warned that any government official found culpable of financialandothersharppractices, riskedaminimumof10yearsimprisonment without an option of fine by the new law, if it scales through.

The governor also announced an endowment of a professorial chair at the Faculty of Arts of Niger Delta University in honour of the renowned poet and novelist, Gabriel Okara, as he clocked 91 years.

GovernorDickson,weekendat the fifth edition of the state transparencybriefinginYenagoa,said though the state had witnessed a drop in its inflated wage bill, the proposed bill to the state House of Assembly will check fraud, which had over the years stunted

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the state's development.

The proposed bill on Wage Fraud in the civil service, he said was expected to be a special legal power outside the criminal

code for the quick prosecution of those indicted.

He said: “The bill to the House ofAssemblyistocriminalisefraud in the state. While we are doing

Delta PDP factions reconcile

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark,confirmed,weekend, that peace and unity had been restored to the factionalised Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Uduaghan and Clark spoke, separatelyatthebirthdaythanksgiving service and reception in honour of the state deputy governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, at Otu-Jeremi.

Uduaghannotedthatthepresence of Clark, who he described as his father, at the event was a clear demonstration that the reconciliation between the two factions of the party was not a fluke.

He observed that there had been skepticisms about the reconciliationinthepartyinthestate but stressed that “the presence of Clark makes a lot of statement

that what is happening is positive.”

He described his deputy as a, “very hardworking man. At very short notice, I had asked him to dothisorthat,andhenevergrumbled. We all need to imbibe the virtue of hard work because hard work pays. There is gain in hard work.”

Clarkonhispartsaid:“Thegovernor said my presence in the church makes a lot of statement.

ARRI—NIGER Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC,hasdeclareditsintentiontojoinforceswiththefounder of Movement for Emancipation oftheNigerDelta,MEND,Chief GovernmentEkpemupolo,popularly known as Tompolo, to break the oil cabal operating in the Niger Delta region.

Tompolo is currently providing security on Nigeria’s territorial waters through Global West Vessel Specialist Agency, GWVSL. The award of the contract by Nigerian Maritime Administra-

tion and Safety Agency, NIMASAtoGWVSLhadgenerated controversy from certain quarters.

Tompolo in a recent media report, had assured that he would break the oil cabal in the country, adding that some members ofthecabalhadbeenintercepted since he swung into action and that in no distant time, Nigerianswillseethebenefitofthecontract.

NDIMRCinastatementbyits President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro

For very many years, PDP had been broken into faction and I have been heading one side.

“Sometimeago,wedecidedto reconcile so that we can all be part of one government. Today it has happened. All the while, the newspapershavebeenguessing.

Today, on the 65th birthday of the deputygovernor,Iannouncethat we have reconciled. We are no more going to fight on the pages of newspapers."

Obasanjo now Movie Producers' Grand Patron

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AGOS—ASSOCIA TION of Movie Producers, Nigeria, AMP, has chosen former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Grand Patron of the association.

A 12-man delegation of the association which in-

Group declears support for Tompolo over N-Delta security promised to support Tompolo to

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well to stabilise the state, we believe the state should be regularisedbylaw.Ifthebillagainstwage fraudispassed,thoseindictedwill serve 10 years imprisonment.”

stop the cabal from stealing Nigeria’s resources.

The group said: “Members of the cabal in this country are collecting all the money to the detriment of the masses and this is why we have declared our interest to join forces with Tompolo to stop the oil thieves. They have stolen enough.

“We know the capability of Tompolo to stop people from carrying crude oil out of this country everyday through the sea and this was why we are supporting him., so that we can win this national war against the oil thieves."

cluded six members of AMP executive led by the National President, Zik Zulu Okafor, conducted the investiture of Obasanjo as the Grand Patron of AMP and presented him with a gold plated Plaque with the inscription, “Emblem of Distinction" and a crystal laurel.

At the investiture, the AMP president said that Obasanjo was chosen to be the Grand Patron of AMP for his manifest contributions towards the development and growth of the movie industry in the country.

Okafor recalled that Obasanjo set up the Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, duringhistenureasmilitaryhead of state and also set up committees with a mandate to initiate programmestowardsthegrowth of Nollywood during his tenure as civilian president.

look into the allegation and save the community from another round of crisis, adding that government should probe all contracts awarded for the development of the community.

He said: “I implore Governor Uduaghan and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, to investigate the allegation to save my com-

munity from plunging into another round of crisis.

“Can you imagine, as the traditional ruler, I don’t know what is going on in DESOPADEC as regard contracts awarded for the development of my kingdom? I had written several times to the Commission but no response. I only hear that they had awarded one contract or the other in my community.”

Kidnapped youth corps member reappears

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member serving in Delta State, Mr. Uchenna Abueme, who was abducted last Saturday in Asaba and taken to a hideout in a neighbouring town, Okpanam, has been found, after spending 28 hours in the bush.

Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard, yesterday, that the

corps member “has been found in good health.”

He was reported to have been kidnapped on Saturday at 7.30am by three armed men along with one Chinonso Chris, while driving in a Camry car on Ekeobi Nwandu Street, Asaba.

The kidnappers, according to Muka abandoned their victims, when they found that police were after them, which eventually led their victims escaping into the bush.

Group backs Oshiomhole's 2nd-term bid

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY— AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, a sociocultural group in the state, Osokpikan Society of Nigeria has backed Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s second term bid.

The group, during a rally organised for the governor at the residence of the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, yesterday, said its decision to endorse Oshiomhole was based on the “unparalleled achievements of the

governor in the areas of infrastructural development, education, health, agricultural development and fiscal discipline of the government since the assumption of office of the governor.”

The group in a statement endorsing Oshiomhole by its General-Secretary, Mr. A. Idukpaye; Secretary Oredo branch, Mr Napoleon Enigiomwan; Chief Samuel Okunhon, trustee and Mr A.I Uwadia, Oredo Local Government Area branch, called on its members to to vote for Oshiomhole for him to continue his good works.

Landlords appeal to Delta govt on roads rehabilitation

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

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G B O R —

LANDLORDS in Agbor, headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, particularly those on Obi Road and its adjoining streets, have appealed to the state government to come to their aid by rehabilitating the deplorable Obi Road.

Chairman of the landlords association in the area, Mr. Gabriel Ekwuazom, who spoke during a road main-

tenance exercise by residents in the area, said the appeal had become necessary as it would go a long way to rescue them (residents in the area) from the menace of gully erosion now ravaging the area.

He said: “Residents on Obi Road, also known as Dein Motor way and its adjoining streets are now living in perpetual fear because of the intensity of the gully erosion, which had adversely affected our socio-economic well being.”

12—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

NMA mourns Sen Dantong

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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IGERIAN Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, condemned what it described as ‘brutal, mindless, invidious and absolutely reprehensible' the murder of Senator Gyang Dantong, who was Chairman, Senate Committee on Health.

Also, the Minister of Health Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi, expressed shock at the news of sudden demise of the Senator.

In a statement by the National President of the association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, made available to Vanguard, said the death of the senator was an irreparable loss to the medical profession.

He said: “Since hearing of this disastrous loss and unmitigated evil, members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, have been unable to hold back tears. Senator Gyang Dantong was not only a very dear and humble colleague; he was a very significant member of the Medical and Dental Elders Forum of NMA. “He was a truly committed patriot, statesman, parliamentarian and a de-tribalised Nigerian with extra-ordinary abilities and potentials.

“While we totally deprecate this unfortunate villainous act of mur-

der, we nonetheless note that the way and manner of Senator Dantong’s murder is one further reminder of Nigeria’s abysmal state of insecurity, social dislocation and depravity occasioned by cumulative years of bad governance, unbridled corruption and ultra-capitalist tendencies, negative political character, evident class oppression and brazen violations of the fundamental rights of existence of a pauperised people, with the ultimate emergence of a ravenous appetite for class violence.”

Enabulele further charged governments at

all levels to re-dedicate themselves to their constitutional responsibilities, especially as it concerns good democratic governance, the protection of the lives and property and the creation of appropriate and adequate conditions for the peace, security, welfare and fundamental human rights and sacredness of all Nigerians.

Prof. Chukwu, in a press statement, said the late senator had great plans to advance the health sector under the National Strategic Health Development plan and was a passionate member of the presidential task force on polio eradication.

... as NANS condemns lawmakers' killing

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

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ATIONAL Associa tion of Nigerian Students, NANS, has condemned the killing of Senator Gyang Dantong and Mr. Gyang Fulani, a member of Plateau State House of Assembly,

by Fulani herdsmen.

Calling on the Federal Government to take drastic measures to avoid a reoccurrence, NANS President, Mr. Dauda Mohammed, said: “The attack on Sen. Dantong and Mr. Fulani by suspected Fulani herdsmen is condemnable in all ramifica-

tions, especially coming soon after over 20 people were killed in the state.

“We see this re-occurring incidence as barbaric and we demand for an immediate end to it because it is worrisome to see the unwarranted loss of innocent lives continue unabated.”

Expressing their condolence to families of the victims of the attacks, NANS called on the Federal Government to take drastic steps, especially by implementing the reports of various panels of inquiry, in addressing the unending crisis.

FG disburses loans to young entrepreneurs

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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EDERAL Government has started disbursing funds to young Nigerian entrepreneurs, who were successful in the inaugural edition of the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria, YouWiN. YouWiN was launched

by President Jonathan, October11, 2011, and designed to create thousands of jobs within the first three years.

On June 29, 2012, Vanguard gathered that 539 awardees out of 1,200 winners from the first cycle of YouWiN, who had completed all the necessary validation requirements and bank account opening processes, were paid their first tranche by the participating banks.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke on the development in Abuja, said: “The Jonathan administration recognises that unemployment rate in Nigeria is unacceptable, and must be addressed as a matter of national priority, and had made job creation central to the transformation agenda.”

Project Coordinator of YouWiN, Dr. Supo Olusi, in a statement, said that in addition to the provision of funds, which would be paid in tranches over a period of 18 months, “ we have commenced the second round of trainings for the 1,200 winners.

“The Boot Camps, as

the trainings are called, are being facilitated by the School for Start-ups in the United Kingdom and had taken place in two geopolitical zones, with the remaining scheduled to take place in the next few weeks.”

The 1,200 winners of YouWiN were selected based on their submissions at the Business Plans Competition, organised by Enterprise Development Centre of the Lagos Business School, the World Bank, DFID and other institutions.

They emerged from a pool of about 24,000 initial applicants, who were guaranteed grants ranging from N1 million to N10 million, depending on requirements of their businesses.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 10, 2012 — 13 TUESDA JULY

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14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 — 15

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RIGHT OF REPLY Is Simon Ebegbulem a journalist or ACN’s mouthpiece?

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HIS has nothing to do with politics. It is saddening that a journalist could deliberately distort facts in a manner that could reduce the significance of one of the most respected traditional stool in Africa, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediawa.

Simon Ebegbulem, of Vanguard newspapers, has shown with all clear convictions that he is an interested party in the politics of Edo State.

He does not even bother if his report triggers off crisis and conflict in Edo State as long as he serves the interest of his master.

The Benin Traditional Council, in an advertorial in the Vanguard of Wednesday May 9, 2012, page 34, warned that the stool of our revered monarch should not in any sense or way be dragged into partisan politics.

The said advertorial, signed by Frank Irabo, Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, read: “It has come to the notice of the Benin Traditional Council and the Palace that the name, pictures, imprimatur and effigy of Omo N’Oba, N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediawa, are being freely used as signs of campaign by political parties.

“The Traditional Council wishes to stress that it is unacceptable for the political inclinations of any group of persons to be ascribed to the Oba of Benin. In particular, the Benin Traditional Council wishes to reiterate that the Oba of Benin’s desire and

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16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Ebegbulem demonstrated his passion when he alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan maintains what could be interpreted as a warm relationship with Governor Oshiomhole for which reason he wanted to shun the last PDP rally in Edo State

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prayers as father to all is for the individual or party, who is expressly committed to the continued unity of the Edo people, the infrastructural development of Edo State, creation of jobs for the people, reduction of poverty and, above all, respect for the traditional institution.

“The Benin traditional council hereby restates the non-partisan position of the Palace.”

In spite of this press statement, it is shocking that a staff of Vanguard, a correspondent assigned to cover Edo State, could be so partisan to report in a piece on Page 43 of Saturday Vanguard with the headline: Jonathan’s visit to Edo: How the gods of Benin Kingdom stood for Oshiomhole.

The said piece is clearly an effort

to want to mislead Edo people, drag our revered traditional ruler, Omo N’Oba, N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediawa, into partisan politics, create the false picture that our revered Oba had endorsed Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN’s candidate, Adams Oshiomhole, as the one to be voted as governor in the July 14 election.

His piece in the said Vanguard read in part: “It will be recalled that the Oba had not hidden his support for Oshiomhole’s second term bid after he, on several occasions, appreciated his....”

He further pushed what could simply pass as a personal opinion in the same piece when he said: “A top Bini Chief told Saturday Vanguard that the oracle does not speak twice and you know the oracle has spoken. The day Oshiomhole came to the palace, the gods accepted him and he received their blessings and you remember that the Esogban of Benin warned that anyone who wants to doubt the oracle should wait for the consequence.”

It is evident that the said Simon Ebegbulem, Edo State correspondent of Vanguard, does not fit into the character of a journalist who is expected to report issues dispassionately.

In the same piece, the said Ebegbulem demonstrated his passion when he alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan maintains what could be interpreted as a warm relationship with Governor Oshiomhole for which reason he wanted to shun the last PDP rally in Edo State.

He wrote: “... prior to the arrival of President Jonathan, there were insinuations that he may shun the state rally due to his relationship with Governor Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole stuck out his neck defending the economic policies of President Jonathan, particularly during the fuel subsidy removal debate.”

Obviously, the said correspondent has carried on as a mouthpiece of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, standing truth on its head.

Vanguard is a paper of public trust and the likes of Ebegbulem diminishes the value and significance of the paper.

This is not the first time he has written more as a mouthpiece of ACN than as a journalist. We wish to urge the management of Vanguard, the widest read newspaper in Edo State, to call this journalist to order. He should not destroy our dear state with his brand of journalism.

The Oba’s stool is one of the most revered in Africa and all Bini sons and daughters cherish the value of the stool so much that we cannot be silent when glaring efforts are being made to rubbish one of the outstanding values of the Benin kingdom by a mercantile journalist.

The Oba has spoken, and very clearly, that he should not be dragged into partisan politics, but Ebegbulem, for whatever reasons, want to rubbish the name of our revered Oba. God forbid that he succeeds.

The Management of Vanguard newspaper should urgently act to save the reputation of the paper in our state.

Director-General, Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Campaign Directorate.

Annan visits Iran, hails parley with Assad I

N T E R N AT I O N A L envoy Kofi Annan has said he agreed with Syrian President Bashar alAssad on an “approach” to end Syria’s conflict that would be put to the rebels.

Annan said talks with Assad in the Damascus yesterday were “constructive and candid”, echoing Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi who described the meeting as “constructive and good”.

“We discussed the need to end the violence and ways and means of doing so. We agreed on an approach which I will share with the armed opposition,” Annan told reporters after the meeting.

Annan arrived in Iran later in the day for talks with officials.

“I am here to discuss the situation in Syria - as you know, there was an Action Group for Syria meeting in Geneva at the end of last month - and to see how we can work together to help settle the situation in Syria,” he

Assad said in remarks to the media upon arrival.

Tehran is a staunch ally of Damascus and has been accused by the Syrian opposition of aiding the regime in its crackdown.

Annan, visiting Da-

Egypt’s court chides Morsi

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GYPT’S Supreme Constitutional Court said yesterday that all of its rulings were “binding,” in response to a presidential decree reinstating parliament after the court ruled the house invalid.

“All the rulings and decisions of the Supreme Constitutional

South Sudan marks first anniversary

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ORLD leaders yester-day greeted the people of South Sudan as they celebrated their first independence anniversary, despite the challenges war, poverty and difficult relations with Sudan.

US President Barack Obama, UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, were among the numerous global citizens that sent messages of good will to the people of South Sudan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “Your work to provide security, accountability and systemic respect for human rights is admirable”.

But “conflict and unresolved issues with Sudan and domestic inter-ethnic tensions have led to increased fighting and economic hardship, which threat-ens to compromise the very foundation on which South Sudan’s future will be built.”

The South African former archbishop was speaking to political, military and re-

mascus for the third time since the uprising began 16 months ago, is the architect of the most prominent international plan aimed at ending violence which has left thousands of people dead.

The six-point plan was to begin with a ceasefire in mid-April between government forces and rebels seeking to topple Assad, but the truce never took hold.

Almost 300 UN observers sent to monitor the cease-fire are now confined to their hotels because of the escalating violence.

ligious leaders when he stated “God wants to make South Sudan prosperous and pea-ceful.”

South Sudan marks its first year of independence yesterday, but the celebrations are marked by continued conflict with Sudan and domestic inter-ethnic tensions.

Court are final and not subject to appeal... and are binding for all state institutions,” the court said in a statement.

Several people have gone to court to challenge President Mohamed Morsi’s decision ordering the return of parliament, and the Supreme Constitutional Court said it would look into these cases.

The Supreme Constitutional Court had said certain articles in the law governing parliamentary elections were invalid, annulling the Islamist-led house.

On Sunday, Morsi in turn annulled the court’s decision, putting himself on a collision course with the judiciary and the military that enforced the ruling when it was in power.

Libya’s PM calls for unity

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IBYA’S wartime rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril called for the some 150 political parties in the North African nation to back the creation of a grand coalition government as election results were expected yesterday.

Joyful Libyans turned out in large numbers on Saturday for a largely peaceful national assembly election, their first free national poll after 42 years of Muammar Gaddafi which went ahead despite widespread fears of violence.

First official results were due yesterday and

Jibril declined comment on speculation his own National Forces Alliance (NFA) of around 60 parties was leading Islamic groups including the political wing of Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood.

“We extend an honest call for a national dialogue to come altogether in one coalition, under one banner ... This is an honest and sincere call for all political parties operating today in Libya,” Jibril said.

“In yesterday’s election there was no loser or winner ... Whoever wins, Libya is the real winner,” he told a late-night news conference on Sunday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—17

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Naive Nigerians

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igerians naively believe that all it takes to win the corruption war is for President Jonathan to declare his assets publicly. I get the point about leadership by example, but let each of us purge ourselves of corruption and

case knew it. But Ibori’s billions messed up the case in his favour! Lawyers were said to have made a fortune out of Ibori’s cases! Those who criticised the judiciary after the London court jailed him forgot the role of Nigerian lawyers in getting him free from the courts in Nigeria; they forgot the number of SANs that fell over themselves to “handle” Ibori’s case! They also forgot the role of Ibori’s London lawyer in getting the conviction, in contrast to the Nigerian lawyers. By the way, what is the position of Nigerian lawyers on the anticorruption war?

Legalism and anti- corruption war we will make progress. Let every Nigerian, no matter what he or she does, publicly declare his or her assets and how he or she acquired them!

Unless we are all on the same page on this, we will continue to pretend that corruption is confined to Aso Villa or Government Houses. We will continue to hypocritically point fingers and rail at others while ignoring our own complicity. It is even so sad that today nobody loses face about anything odious. Just do it, and do it in a grand scale; you can get all the Senior Advocates of Nigeria lining up at your door to “defend” you (meaning to ensure you never spend a night in jail!).

You can afford aso ebi-clad and ululating women, banner-carrying

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Y people say abomination in the community is good business for the diviner. Every time there is an abomination the diviner demands consultation fee of a goat, a chicken, kola nuts and gin to propitiate the gods.

But we all know that the gods do not munch grilled goat meat and roasted chicken and wash them down with the gin! The diviner has reasons to smack his lips once there is crisis. In Nigerian we have the verisimilitude of the village diviner. The worst crisis Nigeria has on its hand today is corruption. And ironically some people, especially lawyers, are making fortunes out of our misery while we groan, and they, some times hypocritically, join us in groaning about the pandemic corruption in the land!

We are really caught in a bind on the corruption issue. My reading of the situation is that we are never likely to overcome the cancer of corruption until it kills this country. And it will kill this country unless we adopt the strategy of the Chinese Cultural Revolution which was a peoples’ total war against the decadent corrupt elite. Nigerians are either ignorant of how pervasive and deeply entrenched corruption is in our land or lack a common definition of corruption! For example, the woman who sells Indian hemp and local gin at the motor park really believes she is simply doing business; the importer who evades customs duty does not believe that he is part of the problem; the university teacher who sells handouts or extorts sex to “sort” results does not believe that he is corrupt; the seventy year old civil servant who mutilated his or her records to stay in service does not believe he or she is corrupt; the preacher who hawks fake miracles and phantom prosperity does not see his nefarious acts as corruption; the man who imports fake drugs and sub-standard goods does not believe that he is corrupt; the bombastic lawyer who dashes in and out of judges’ chambers to fix cases does not count that as corruption; the judge who gives crazy injunctions does not see himself as corrupt! Corruption is not only calibrated in billions!

Indecent haste and jostling

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Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC chairman

The assumption is that a lawyer is first and foremost an officer in the temple of justice and his primary role is to assist the court to administer justice. But is it what our lawyers do, especially in matters of corruption which has become a deadly disease in Nigeria? Or are they just playing the village diviner?

youths and drummers to herald you at the court. And once your posse of SANs get you bail, you can bet your last stolen Naira that the case is over and the matter will eventually slip out of our minds, and you continue to be celebrated by society.

I was incensed when Nigerians, including lawyers, began to rubbish

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Nigerian judiciary after a London court sentenced James Ibori on multiple counts of stealing Delta State blind. By the way, there are still Nigerians, including lawyers, who believe that Ibori was a victim of politics! Ibori was an ex-convict when he contested the Governorship of Delta state. The lawyers who fixed his Abuja conviction

uch as I want to puke because of the indecent haste with which prominent and vocal lawyers jostle for high profile corruption cases, I concede that it is their professional calling to defend an accused. But would Gani Fawehinmi have followed such cases like moth after light? The assumption is that a lawyer is first and foremost an officer in the temple of justice and his primary role is to assist the court to administer justice. But is it what our lawyers do, especially in matters of corruption which has become a deadly disease in Nigeria? Or are they just playing the village diviner?

In London, Ibori’s lawyer played the role a true judicial officer. He advised him not to waste the time of the court and the resources of Her Majesty ’s government in prosecuting a case that could last for six months. Ibori, knowing that he was not dealing with a Nigerian lawyer, therefore, pleaded guilty to the charges and got a lighter sentence of ten years! In Nigeria, unfortunately, you find some of the lawyers who shout loudest against corruption quickly turn round to corner high profile corruption cases, not to act as judicial officers but ostensibly to play on our intelligence with technicalities, compromise the judges, obfuscate, confuse and make nonsense of the case.

You are always warned not to say anything, for whatever you say may be used as evidence against you. Rep. Farouk admitted accepting money which Otedola insists was bribe.

Somebody somewhere is withholding the exhibit in order to obstruct justice.

My prediction is that at the end of the day, this case will become another Ibori case. Rep. Farouk Lawan will walk away free and the nation may need to apologise to him!

OPINION

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BY JOHNSON OMOREGIE

HROUGHOUT his campaign for the July 14 (this Saturday) Edo State governorship election, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has concentrated his focus on issues that have very little bearing on his performance as governor of Edo State in the last four years. He has devoted considerable attention to the issue of godfathers who were supposedly scheming to wrest power from him. As the whole world knows, the target of his godfather campaign has been Chief Tony Anenih.

Anenih has been vilified at every opportunity and projected as a bogey man standing in the way of democracy and development in the State. Although Oshiomhole has hardly ever attempted to show how Anenih has hindered his ability to perform as governor in the last four years, he has nonetheless found it convenient to stomp this godfather platform.It is, of course, a convenient platform for a governor whose performance can hardly stand up to scrutiny.

Oshiomhole has deliberately diverted attention from his record as governor because there is not a lot that he can be proud of. There is no relationship between the resources that have come into the State (including statutory allocations, IGR, funds from Excess Crude Oil, the massive loan of N18 billion from the bond market, etc.) and the physical development of the State.

The common characteristic of Oshiomhole’s governance is the inflation of contracts and concentration of cosmetic and made-for-propaganda projects. In Benin City, for example, the planting of flowers, shrubs, curbs and beautification of the Ring Road and Akpakpava Road and dualisation of the Airport Road are his trophies of performance. What the world now knows is that even these

Edo guber race: Oshiomhole and his oracles projects were done at costs that were prohibitive, if not scandalous. The Ring Road/Akpakpava Road project was initiated by Oshiomhole’s predecessor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor at the modest cost of N150 million.

More important, however, is the sad fact that the preponderance of roads in Benin City is impassible. Most Benin dwellers go through harrowing experience to get in and out of their homes every day. The same is true of all the local governments in the State where the renovation of a primary school or health centre is about the only dividend of Oshiomhole’s rule.

Having seen the failure of his godfather propaganda and the exposure of the falsehood of his claims of performance, Oshiomhole has become increasingly desperate and he is willing to use any and everything, no matter how odious, to get an advantage in the election of Saturday. First, he attempted to play politics with incidents in the State in which some people died. The idea was to blame these accidents on the PDP and, by so doing, alienate Edo people from the party.

That ploy has failed. Fortunately, police report on the Governor’s convoy accident totally exonerated the PDP from any involvement. Indeed, the report showed that both the owner and the driver of the lorry that rammed into the convoy are card-carrying members of the ACN. In addition, Oshiomhole has tried the strategy of blackmailing INEC and the President of the Federal Republic. He intimidated INEC into suspending the update of the Voter’s Register, by leading a protest march (in which,

at least, one person died) to its (INEC) office in Benin City.

He has also, repeatedly, attempted to drag the President’s name into some imaginary plot to rig the election.

From all of Oshiomhole’s antics and activities, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that he is a desperado who is prepared to do anything and step on anybody to retain his hold on the governorship position. Nowhere is this more evident than his readiness to drag the revered Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, into his campaign platform. By so doing, he is attempting to appeal to the primordial sentiments of the Benin people who are generally known to hold the Omo N’Oba in great awe.

As every Edo person knows, it is sacrilegious to drag the name of the Omo N’Oba into situations of conflict. The attempt to use the name of the Benin monarch started with some palace chiefs who claimed to be speaking the mind of the Omo N’Oba, expressing support for Oshiomhole. It was followed by orchestrated propaganda that the Omo N’Oba did not bless the PDP candidate and, as recently claimed by Oshiomhole propagandists, that the President was snubbed by the Omo N’Oba. When all these falsehoods were exposed for what they were, with the Oba’s palace issuing a statement to the effect that the Omo N’Oba did not snub the President and that he was not supporting any candidate, the Oshiomhole camp became more desperate, and started to attach the name of the Omo N’Oba to its campaign. It was evident in a video clip on television, showing a palace chief claiming that the Omo N’Oba had “expressed support for Oshiomhole as prescribed by the oracles”.

*Mr. Omoregie , a lawyer, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 MORE than 100 people were killed in two days in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State. We may be paying attention to the killings – which are routine – because Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Gyang Fulani were killed on Sunday.

Significantly, the newly appointed National security Adviser Col Sambo Dasuki, was in Jos three days before the latest killings that have further exposed the inability of governments to provide security for the people. Dasuki met stakeholders and promised peace was in sight.

How could ordinary Fulani herdsmen unleash this level of mayhem and all the famous Joint Task Force, JTF, could say was that the attackers had sophisticated arms and wore bullet-proof vests? Where is the assurance that Dasuki gave days earlier?

Sunday ’s attack is more saddening against the background that government seems to have run out of solutions to the

What If They Die? killing of Nigerians in the North. Senator Dantong, 55, a medical doctor, one of a few politicians committed to their people, was attending the mass burial of 63 people killed a day earlier. The same attackers killed him and others at the event.

We are wondering what gave the Fulani herdsmen the effrontery to continue the killing. After an attack of such dimension, we expected JTF to protect the villagers from their attackers who would not allow them bury their dead. What we get are excuses that denote JTF’s poor capacities.

The discovery of 50 bodies burnt in a Riyom church adds to the agonies of those who bemoan the absence of government when they need it. Who would protect ordinary Nigerians? When will the killings stop? Can government do more than

bandying words?

"The Federal Government is working hard to ensure that there is a check on impunity. That much was demonstrated with the recent changes made in the top echelon of our security architecture especially with the appointment of the new National Security Adviser. We shall continue to re-invigorate our fight against terrorism and impunity and we are already taking concrete steps. The President assures citizens of their safety wherever they live,” the Presidency said in a statement.

Senate President David Bonaventure Mark was assuring, “We must do everything within the ambit of our laws to ensure that this type of murderous act is stopped. As a nation, we must just rise against those who are determined to return us to a state of nature where life had little or no value.”

When a nation loses its citizens and is afraid to condemn – and act decisively against - the enemy, it prepares itself for further assaults.

OPINION

BY LOUIS OKECHUCKWU

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OES the Green Tree agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon which ceded the Bakassi Peninsula to the to the latter have the force of law if it has not been ratified by the National Assembly as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution?

If this question is answered in the negative, it implies that Bakassi legally remains a part of Nigeria despite the treaty that was signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This is because Section 12 of the amended 1999 Constitution stipulates that: “No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly.” The section further stipulates that:“ The National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part thereof with respect to matters not included in the Exclusive Legislative List for the purpose of implementing a treaty.” It further states that: “A bill for an Act of the National Assembly passed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall not be presented to the President for assent, and shall not be enacted unless it is ratified by a majority of all the House of Assembly in the Federation.”

Another obstacle the treaty faces is the manner in which the legal action preceding the treaty was leap-frogged to the global level. A pertinent question that needs to be answered is this: “Why did the two countries sidetrack or ignore other arbitration mechanisms in sequential order before going to the ICJ? Other questions are: Granted that Cameroon initiated the decision to put the issue before ICJ for arbitration, why did Nigeria comply?

Was Nigeria under pressure from Cameroon and the international community to take the issue to ICJ for arbitration?

Is any nation obliged to bring a dispute before the ICJ? Is the ICJ’s decision binding on a nation state, especially if such a decision adversely affects a state’s core national interests?

The truth of the matter is that the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision usually has no binding effect on a sovereign state, except if the state is willing to accept such a decision. This is because a state is a territorial entity controlled

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Bakassi: Why behave like a big blind nation? by a government and inhabited by a population. The multilateral agreement which involved the U.N., Nigerian and Cameroonian officials under which Nigeria was asked to cede Bakassi to Cameroon should not be accepted because the agreement adversely affect Nigeria’s political, economic and strategic interests. The agreement did not take into consideration the overwhelming sentiments of the Bakassi people to remain Nigerian citizens in the Nigerian political entity.

The people of Bakassi have on several occasions vehemently opposed the idea of incorporation into the Cameroon Republic in Central Africa, but wish to remain as Nigerian citizens in West Africa. The Bakassi inhabitants speak languages similar to the languages spoken in certain Eastern states of Nigeria, and they are culturally homogenous. Another issue that needs to considered is the indisputable fact that the issue in the Bakassi territorial dispute is not over the immense natural resources in the Bakassi Peninsula. The primary issue is that of right to selfdetermination for Bakassi inhabitants. The right to selfdetermination is a universal right enshrined in United Nations (UN) Charter as well as in the Charter of the African Union. The ultimate solution to this problem lies in the right to selfdetermination for Bakassi people through an internationally supervised and recognized plebiscite or referendum.

Cameroon never expressed its readiness for the resolution of this dispute along this line. Instead it resorted to intermittent aggression against Nigerians in Bakassi. This informed the decision of General Abacha’s government in Nigeria to send Nigerian troops into Bakassi in 1994. Before then, Nigeria had maintained long, effective, and peaceful control over Bakassi.

Under internationally recognized criteria for acquisition and recognition, Nigeria fulfilled the essential conditions under which it can legitimately claim ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula.

There is historical antecedent to the Nigeria-Cameroon crisis over Bakassi. In 1913, Britain and France demarcated the 1,056mile border between Nigeria and Cameroon from Lake Chad in the north to the Gulf of Guinea in the south. This colonial

exercise in arbitrary African boundary demarcation did not satisfy the territorial aspirations of Nigeria and Cameroon, consequently, there were border skirmishes between Nigeria and Cameroon. Between 1913 and 1960 Nigeria could not pay proper attention to Bakassi problem because it was still under the British-colonial rule. As if the blunder committed by past federal administrations over Bakassi wasn’t enough, the activities of some federal agencies have tended to convey the impression that they are hell-bent on sabotaging our national interest. How else could the decision of the National Boundaries Commission which unilaterally shifted the nation’s maritime boundaries inwards??

This is because the ICJ judgment that cedes Bakassi to Cameroun clearly established the baseline for the demarcation of internal waters from the territorial sea at the mouth of the Calabar estuary using the outermost southern tips of the landmass on both sides of the estuary as co-ordinates. But the National Boundaries Commission in a bid to show that Cross River is not a littoral state, has moved this baseline inwards to the mouth of the Calabar river. As a result, areas like the Moni Pulo and Adax oil platforms which until recently held to be the internal waters of Nigeria and part of Cross River, are in the current and controversial delineation by NBC no longer internal waters of Nigeria but part of the territorial sea.

Under international law Nigeria has greater control over its internal waters than the territorial sea; the internal waters are considered part of the nation’s land territory but the territorial waters are not. Other countries have some navigational rights over the Nigeria’s territorial waters without prior permission but cannot enter the internal waters unless with the prior approval of the country. So moving the baseline inward as the NBC has done is actually ceding a vital part of Nigerian territory; changing the status of this strategic estuary from internal waters to territorial sea. This greatly compromises the security of the country beyond the economic implications. *Mr. Okechukwu, a politicl analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012— 19

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HE notion of Diaspora attained public policy relevance during the Obasanjo Presidency. Nigerians who had emigrated to the United States were engaged by President Obasanjo to become partners with Government in the promotion of the nation’s development.

Recently in South Africa the African Union celebrated the Diaspora in America much as Nigeria in 1977 celebrated the cultural achievements of the Diaspora in the Festival of Arts and culture. The Guardian of Tuesday June 26, 2012 in its editorial on the new ambassadors and their postings highlighted care for the well-being of Nigerians living abroad as the focus of their commitment to “citizen diplomacy” introduced into the Foreign Affairs Diplomacy Discourse by Chief

Ojo Maduekwe, himself on his way to Canada as Nigeria’s Ambassador. The Guardian editorial addressed the issue thusly: “the displeasure of Nigerian in Diaspora over the seeming nonchalant attitude of many foreign embassies to their plight is legendary. Often, this is occasioned by undue zealousness on the part of the Nigerians, many of who get into avoidable problems. But the embassies also appear to give priority of service only to the privileged officials and their families”.

Honourable Abike Dabiri’s yeowoman effort in highlighting the significance of Nigerians in Diaspora is underscored in this Guardian admonition. Laudable as this foreign policy development is in itself, there is need to appreciate what is denoted by the word Diaspora. Its origin is to be

found in the history of the Jewish Nation. From that historically specific description of a national condition the word Diaspora has been extended to cover many other conditions where the notion may promise and imply more than the reality can deliver. It has been used to describe the emigration of Europeans to the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc. It has been co-opted by African American affirming cultural origins in Africa to cover their forced relocation through the Slave Trade for enslavement in the Americas. In this particular usage the enslaved in the Americas and the Caribbean have described themselves as Africans in Diaspora. The Nigerian usage is the latest appropriation of the notion to describe what is still emergent, namely the full blossoming of an American ethnicity, viz of Nigerian American ethnicity. In this particular usage all the problems

Place of private initiatives in educational development in Nigeria

BY P.S.ASIODU

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HAVE enjoyed seeing and feeling the warmth of joyful re-union amongst old friends. How wonderful to recall when we all were thrown together in the innocence of early youth, coming from different parts of the country, and from different family backgrounds, how through empathy and chemistry we quickly bonded together to establish strong abiding life-long friendships.

I congratulate Government College Ughelli for its great number of outstanding old boys, who are leaders in various sectors of the government, the military, the civil service, academia, the professions, the press and in business. Since starting my civil service career in 1957, I have had the opportunity of working with and interacting with many of your members.

Your Executive Council has asked me to speak this evening on “The Place of Private Initiatives in Educational Development of Nigeria”. This is a rather grave subject in such an evening of good food and wine.

But when else can we have the opportunity to exchange views and arrive at conclusions on a matter so critical for the future of our country, conclusions which might catch the attention of those in charge of our national affairs and hopefully influence their policies and programmes.

All of us gathered here this evening owe our positions in life, the successes we have achieved and the positive contributions we may have made in our working life, to the very good education we received in our days in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, but perhaps, most important, in the secondary schools.

We were able to go from our secondary schools with our Higher School Certificates or GCE Advanced Level

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Certificates straight to Oxford or Cambridge or other leading universities in Britain and the Commonwealth, and to Ivy League universities in the United States of America, and to perform competitively and creditably with the home students and students from other parts of the world.

In the Colonial and immediate postIndependence period, the secondary schools were few but they were well funded and equipped and strictly monitored for standards by the government. As you all remember there were the schools like King’s College, Lagos and the Government colleges in Ibadan, Umuahia, Zaria (Barewa), Ughelli, Edo College, Queen’s College, Lagos. In the same league as regards quality were a few leading mission schools like St. Gregory’s College, Igbobi College, CMC Grammar School, Methodist Boys High School, Baptist Boys High School, Methodist Girls High School, Holy Child College in Lagos. They were a few others in towns such as Onitsha, Calabar, Abeokuta, Asaba, Port-Harcourt, Jos, Ibadan, Kaduna, etc.

There was a rapid increase in the number of secondary schools after 1951.

Communities would levy themselves to build and support secondary schools often inviting the missions to staff and run the schools. Apart from Christian missions, the Ahmadiyya nd Ansar-ud-Deen Muslim Movements also established secondary schools. The government approved the syllabus of what the schools taught, regulated the minimum facilities and standards which must be met, and enforced the regulations by an efficient Inspectorate Department.

The government also operated a grantsin-aid system through which they partfunded non-government institutions to be able to pay the salaries of graduate and other qualified staff needed by the schools to meet the stipulated standards. The government of the Western and Eastern

in the non-Jewish adoption of the notion of Diaspora are evident as will be seen in the dictionary explication of the word Diaspora.

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he word Diaspora denotes a historical event namely, the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian exile. Stemming from that event the word describes the Jews thus dispersed. In the time of the apostles, it was applied to Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine. The dispersion was contextualised by facts. i.There was a Jewish Nation formed in Pre-Exodus Egypt; ii.There was a land of promised conquered and settled clan by clan under Joshua. iii.In exile through Assyrian and Babylonian captivity, the Jews retained their nationality and consciousness of their peoplehood rooted in the priestly institutions of the Mosaic Law and the Land Promised. Their homesickness is recorded in the following Psalm: “1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, we wept, when we remember Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carries us away captive required of us a song: and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy” (Psalm 137:1-6).

All the pains of exile, of forced

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Dispersals and emigration: The notion of Diaspora in the Nigerian Usage

The African American nationalist’s adoption of Africa as the Zion and of themselves as the Dispersed is only marginally historical

Our Constitution prescribes education as a basic human right; are we all, therefore, not morally obliged to ensure that every child is given good quality education up to the age of 18?

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regions were spending about 40 per cent and 50per cent of their budgets, respectively, on education. Although, pressures for secondary school space were building up as a consequence of the free primary education programmes of the Western and Eastern regions and the increased drive for education by the Northern Region government, the situation which I have just described endured until the end of the Civil War of 1967 – 1970.

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ne may mention briefly the concept of Unity Secondary Schools built and run by the Federal Government, drawing students from all over the country, as nurseries for national integration. The First Republic leaders started the first three one in each region. After the Civil War and with multiplication of states each demanding its own unity schools, the whole concept became very grossly mismanaged.

They grew in number to 102, were poorly funded in tandem with the deteriorating quality of governance. Many today are certainly not centres of excellence and the Federal Government must take up the challenge of regrouping them into two or three categories of : (a) wholly government owned institutions, (b) those to be run by public-private partnerships, and (c) those to be transferred to completely able and competent private operators.

In considering our subject of this evening, the first question that arises is what should be the role and place of education in a developing country like Nigeria. We can

relocation from home to a “strange land”; of joy of home rudely shattered are expressed in this Home Song. There is a Homeland of a people, a patriotism impossible to severe; a home longing that nothing of the “strange land” could destroy.

It is the Home longing that defines the Diaspora as the homesick people dispersed. The Diaspora looks forward backward to home coming and to a reunion.

The African American nationalist’s adoption of Africa as the Zion and of themselves as the Dispersed is only marginally historical. Prisoner-Taking-Wars were waged with the help of African middlemen and prisoners in chains were transported to be enslaved to strange lands by strange peoples. The slavemaking transaction determined where brothers captured and transported together would be auctioned to their buyers. One brother is bought for labour in Spanish Cuba, another for labour in Dutch Surinam, another for labour in British Jamaica and another for labour in English Virginia. Slave women bore slave children for their European captors-owner. Cross-breeding under condition force labour produced the rainbow race of the New World Americans.

A new kind emerged in the context of plantations; in these plantations and conditions of enslavement a new culture and new humanity was produced by the enslaved as they adopted the land of their captivity as their land.

attempt to answer this question from two angles. We can consider it a basic moral issue or we can approach it as a political and economic infrastructure question.

I observed earlier that we all are here this evening in this company because of the education we received. We belong to a very small minority of our country’s population, less than five per cent, are so very much better off in standard of living and quality of life than the vast majority of our citizens.

Our Constitution prescribes education as a basic human right. Are we all, therefore, and the government, in particular, not morally obliged to ensure that every child is given good quality education up to the age of 18?

If we approach the question from the economic and political angle, we are reminded immediately of the enormous natural resource endowments of Nigeria which properly exploited will make it one of the richest countries in the world. As has been demonstrated by all nations which have achieved rapid growth and development, education is the key to unlock our enormous potentials.

Fifty two years after Independence which was welcomed with such great hopes and expectations, Nigeria is yet to begin to deliver on the promise.

There is indeed a “Place for Private Initiatives in Educational Development of Nigeria” but how significant ought it to be and can it be?

You will all recall that soon after the end of the Civil War in 1970, the Federal Government was persuaded, the initiative was not from the Civil Service, that it should take over all schools from the Missions and voluntary agencies.

The Government, Federal and State now took over all responsibility for the capital and recurrent costs of the entire school system except for one or two expensive private kindergarten and primary schools.

Continues tomorrow on the Viewpoint page

*Being a speech delivered by Chief Asiodu at the Association Dinner Party of National Government College Ughelli Old Boys recently.

20 — Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JULY 10, 2012

In Niger, it’s futile war against filth, as flood threatens

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, MINNA

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NE of the first major steps taken by the administration of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu when he took over the mantle of leadership of Niger State in 2007 was the clearing of heaps of refuse that have taken over most of the major streets of the towns and cities. As a follow up, the Chief-Servant, as the Governor is fondly called, launched what was tagged, “Operation Green and Clean- A Must”, at the main entrance of the then Central Market which is also located at the centre of Minna, the state capital(Mobil roundabout).

,

It is unfortunate that the drainage channels have been turned into refuse dumping sites. It is an eye sore, especially during the dry season as they are always almost filled to the brim with refuse

,

In may 2010, the Governor reminded people of the state of their responsibilities not only to clean their surroundings but also by planting trees and flowers to beautify their environments. All the commissioners, heads of parastatals and politicians were also assigned duty posts for routine inspections on the day of the launching as further steps to keep Minna clean.

Also, the last Saturday of every month was re-introduced as the environmental sanitation day as another step to involve residents of Minna in keeping the state capital clean. But all these moves have failed as Minna and indeed major cities in the state, are still battling to keep the state capital very clean.

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Though the state Environmental Protection Agency, NISEPA, has not relented in its responsibility of keeping the major streets very clean by engaging manual sweepers, the people of the town are yet to depart from their old dirty habit of dumping refuse on the main roads even as the sweepers continue to sweep.

Reacting to this development during an interview, the General Manger of NISEPA, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Bello, declared that he is not satisfied with the general sanitation in the state but added that steps have already been taken to deal with the situation.

“I am not satisfied with the attitude of the people towards sanitation. In fact, my idea of sanitation is not just sweeping or evacuating the waste. Sanitation to me starts with an individual observing personal hygiene which includes keeping yourself, your bedroom, toilet, sitting room and surroundings very clean on a daily basis,” the GM explained.

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r. Bello, however, dis closed that the Agency has raised an enforcement department-Environmental Health Department- with a mobile court which is empowered to go out daily to carry out the enforcement of sanitation laws and also arrest and prosecute defaulters.

According to him: “Things are changing. It is going to be gradual. As I speak with you, we have a proposal before the Chief-Servant on tanker sweepers. If it is approved, it will make it easier for these imported tankers to clean the major roads and thereby allowing the manual sweepers to be deployed to the inner streets for sweeping”.

DRAINAGE:-Minna has one of the best drainage channels constructed by Julius Berger during the Babangida regime and it runs across major streets of the town, thereby making the free flow of stagnated water and flood during heavy downpour. It is, however, unfortunate that the drainage

*A drainage channel clogged by refuse. INSET: General Manger of NISEPA, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Bello channels have been turned into refuse dumping sites. It is an eye sore, especially during the dry season as they are always almost filled to the brim with refuse waiting for the raining season to be washed away.

This end up blocking the free flow of water and thereby causing flooding and also as a threat to the health of those living close to such drainage areas even though they are also culprits in the indiscriminate dumping of dirts there.

Worse still is that houses are built either very close to the drainage channels.

Surprisingly more of such structures have been erected to join those there which have already been marked for demolition . he General Manger, said the Agency is aware of the development as he decried the attitude of people towards the misuse of the drainage channels.

“We are sensitizing the people on the dangers inherent in

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blocking the water ways. We also have a memo to clean the drainage before the commencement of the rains, and in fact, it is going to be almost a daily routine if approved. The attitude of the people on this issue will still come to play because they abuse the drainage channels, especially during rainfall as they dump heaps of refuse in them which is very dangerous,” he explained.

The Agency received about N17million monthly to keep Minna, the state capital, clean.

N10 million is from the Chanchaga Local Government Council which has its headquarters in the state capital, while the state government also doles out almost N7 million monthly for the same purpose.

Though not sufficient to keep the work going, the General Manager said every household will also be involved towards contributing to the cleanliness of the town.

In order to keep everybody on

his/her toes, a committee will soon be inaugurated to identify and handsomely reward the cleanest Ministry and parastatals in the state. This is in an effort to get individuals, corporate organisations and others involved in keeping the state clean. Dr. Bello assured that the next few months will transform Minna into one of the cleanest places to visit and restore its former glory as one of the cleanest state capitals in the country.

Other major cities like Suleja, Kontagora, Bida, among others, will also be transformed as work has also commenced on the gradual evacuation of heaps of refuse, especially along the highways. But it is not Uhuru yet as Minna has been listed by the meteorological agency as one of the cities that will experience not only heavy down pour this year but may also experience serious flooding.

For Bakassi residents, a lifeline of fishing boats from NEMA that the 15th regular observ-

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CTING in concert with the expressed commitment of the Federal Government to the Nigerians living in Bakassi Peninsula, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, says it has delivered motorised boats to help in their fishing activities.

The boats were given to the Cross River government to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Nigerians living in the Bakassi area and affected by the ceding of the peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun.

NEMA’s Deputy Director Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Eze Udemezue, who made

the presentation on behalf of Director General, said the agency had recently distributed relief materials to the people who had also requested for government’s assistance through the provision of the boats. He then delivered the boats to the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the 15th Session of the NigerianCameroun Mixed Observer Mission to Bakassi, Major General Panebi Ikumoinein who distributed the items to the beneficiaries.

General Ikumoinnein, while distributing the items, advised the beneficiaries to remain calm and abide by the laws of the land. He told them

er mission of the mixed commission were in the area under the auspices of the United Nations to monitor the implementation of the agreement reached between Nigeria and Cameroun.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chief Etim Etim of Idabato said they were excited with the kind gesture and thanked the Federal Government for the concern over their plights.

The items distributed were six boats, 12 engines and 24 paddles given to the Nigerians living in Abana, Kumbo Abedimu and Idabato areas of the Bakassi Peninsula.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 — 21

Planned privatisation of PHCN will fail, unless… — Labour

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ENIOR Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSEAC, has insisted that all efforts to privatise the assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, will come to nothing unless all labour issues that would likely arise are settled.

In an interview with PresidentGeneral of SSEAC, Mr Bede Opara, warned against the under-valuation of PHCN’s assets, saying it would be a great disservice to the nation.

He faulted the recent hike in electricity tariff, stating, “We are saying make the product available and then put your price. In the spirit of reform, Labour is not saying no to reform. But what labour said earlier was complete no to Privatisation.

“But since government is saying that they must privatize, then they have to pay us. “Investors are asking if there is any future in this business. But it is left for the government to assure them that there is future in the business. We are expecting government to make the product available and it is like the same condition that investors are giving the government and they are agreeing to the investors’ terms.

“But for saying that the tariff must be increased before investor to come, is what we do not agree to. When government makes the market conducive for investors to come in, they should be able to recoup the amount of money they have pumped into the system.

“That is why we are saying there should be proper assessment of the infrastructure. What is on ground should be valued properly. For instance, if PHCN in the past is worth

Eni blames sabotage for Nigeria oil spillage

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE, with agency report

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TALIAN oil major, Eni, has blamed an oil spill on its NembeObama pipeline in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta on sabotage.

“Repair work has started. The wells of Nembe South have been closed with minimal impact on production,“ a spokesman for the company said.

Continuing, the spokesperson, “It is indeed sad and most unfortunate that in spite of the huge consequences occasioned by the oil spill, Eni has failed to discuss development,“ Nengi James, chairman of an oil community committee in the Nembe region, said. „They (oil firms) allow oil spills to spread to rivers and mangrove forests before coming for inspection and cleanup.“ The environmental damage caused by oil spills in the Niger Delta has destroyed fishing livelihoods and means some communities drink water containing deadly levels of toxins, the United Nations said in a report last year.

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N20 billion, now that a lot of investments have been made, it should now be N20 bilion plus X value. The X represents the investments that have been made in the sector.”

“Labour position all along has been that privatization will not give us the answer. Why? Our reason then was that we have looked at all companies privatized by BPE, they have failed.

Even if BPE is claiming that about ten of them are doing well. Ten out of 100 is not a pass mark.

“An organization like PHCN is what they want to take into that same market where things don’t go well, we are afraid that things will not go well.

That has been our position in the past and it still remains our position. If the government wants to privatize, we have told them to go ahead, but they have to settle us.

“Let me give you the example of Daily Times. I don’t think that company has produced any paper for people to read since privatisation.”

Continuing, he stated, “The whole edifice has become a warehouse where empty cartons by a soft drinks manufacturing company are stored.

The workers that left that place what is their position, what has happened to them? The privatization of Daily Times, has it made that place better? What is

the guarantee that such a thing that happen there will not happen to PHCN? “These are our arguments and we want to see that the kind of privatisation that will be done in PHCN will not be that type.

“The power sector is such a critical sector that you cannot afford to say ‘alright, let us close it down, let us say one year we will pick it up again.’ It is not possible but for other companies you can close it for one year or two before picking it up again. But we cannot afford to do such a thing in the power sector.”

From left: Mr. Lateef Dauda Abari, Perm. Secretary, Public Service, Office of the Head of Service, Lagos State; Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Dr. Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/CEO, CIBN and Senator Ibrahim Ida, former Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Servce at the 2012 Graduates Induction and Prize Awards Day of the CIBN, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Power supply dips, as PHCN equipment suffers damage

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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drop is expected in power supply in Nigeria, as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, distribution equipment in Lagos, suffered huge damage.

The damage was caused by a truck driver who crashed into an 11KV distribution pole at the junction of the new Oko-Oba Road, Abule-Egba, Lagos.

The damage affected the Otta-Ogba 132KV Transmission Line cutting the line and rupturing the cross arm of Transmission Tower NO 19, located at Abule -Taylor which is about 2.5 kilometer from where the incident occurred.

Mrs. Celestina Osin, the Public Affair Officer of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, said a team of engineers have already been mobilized to the site to commence repair works, “The repair work is expected to last

for weeks and it will cost some millions of Naira as the damaged cross arm on the tower will be repaired and five spans of aluminum conductor (line) will be replaced from Transmission Tower 16 to Transmission Tower 19 and the aluminum conductor that sagged on Transmission Towers 19-21 will be retensioned properly.”

She said areas affected by the damage include: Ikeja Industrial Estate and Agege, adding that they are already been back fed from another source.

According to her “TCN therefore use this medium to advise drivers to be careful, in order to reduce incidence such as this, as the money that will be spent on repairs of damaged electricity equipment due to their carelessness could be used to further improve electricity supply to the esteemed PHCN customers.

It also pleads for understanding by customers of the organisation for the period the repair works will last.

176.70

-3.65

2,256.00

-72.00

22.19

+0.27

98.13 84.75

-2.57 -2.47

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

0.2779 25.7566 191.7662 240.6991 41.3034 233.5272 159.6084 154.9 234.3423 1.9389 24.3357

0.2879 25.8397 192.3852 241.4761 41.4367 234.281 160.1236 155.4 235.0988 1.9452 24.4147

0.2979 25.9228 193.0042 242.253 41.57 235.0348 160.6388 155.9 235.8552 1.9514 24.4937

CBN Exchange rate as at 09/07/2012

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Onasanya, Abdullahi, Orekoya advocate holistic capital market reforms

By PETER EGWUATU

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PERATORS in the capital market have called for holistic reforms in order to boost confidence in the capital market.

They also advised regulators to make the market attractive to domestic investors by coming out with various products that will meet the needs of the people.

The Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Plc,Mr. Bisi

Onasanya, while delivering a public lecture for capital market development/public presentation of a book titled “Winning Strategies of Nigeria’s Corporate Giants” over the weekend in Lagos said, “Our new challenge is to build a capital market on the basis of best international practice with a wide range of assets for the investor base. In more concrete terms, the priority is to make the exchange more

attractive to domestic investors.”

He disclosed that industry data for first quarter, 2012 suggest that foreign investors accounted for 81 per cent of all transactions.

According to him, “Bona fide market making will help this transformation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), but the essentials are a far larger regulated domestic pension industry with an investment mindset more

active than hold-tomaturity.”

While proffering solution for the comatose capital market, Onasanya said, “It is important also that we bear in mind that capital markets are built around strong fundamentals with respect for public trust and morality on the part of market players/ stakeholders. An investor who decides to invest in the capital market does so based on what can be interpreted from the

audited report made public. Given our present balance of the sectors in the capital market that attract the interest of investors, a skew towards the services sector is immediately obvious with financial services dominating.

It is expected that a market should reflect the fundamentals of an economy and its competitiveness. In this regard, the mega-listing of Dangote Cement is cheerful news and hopefully portends greater participation of the real sector in the capital markets in years to come.”

Collaborating, the Chairman of Pearl Award Nigeria, Alhaji U.F. Abdullahi, President, Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, President, PEARL Awards Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Orekoya, also called for holistic reforms in capital

market.

Speaking at the event, Addullahi, said, “In the light of recent low level of activities in the Nigerian Capital Market and the identified need to return the market to the path of growth, we are convinced that the theme for this year’s lecture is apt to reinforce the call for holistic reforms that will revitalize the capital market towards s u s t a i n a b l e development.”

He noted that the public lecture series was instituted primarily to provide a high level intellectual forum for meaningful and pragmatic discourse on germane and contemporary issues in national and global capital market, with the aim of enhancing market stability, growth and development and promoting investors’ confidence.

Dangote Group disburses N59bn dividends to shareholders

By PETER EGWUATU

From left: Mr. Ademola Abere, Product Manager, POS/WEB, First Bank Plc; Mrs Lola Ogunbambo, CEO, Citiserve and Mr. Jubril Salaudeen, Business Head, Citiserve during the Citiserve Merchant Congress' shareholders forum in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

NSE may continue to record low investors’ participation — Rewane

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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OW investors’ participation that is currently being witnessed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with regards to equity trading is not expected to abate soon, says Mr. Bismark Rewane, Managing Director/CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC).

Rewane made the remark in his monthly Economic News and Views at Lagos Business School Executive Breakfast Meeting for June, 2012.

He stated that policy paralysis among other things is still keeping out retail investors from active participation in the market, adding that the downward

trend would continue in July but at a reduced rate.

The FDC boss, however, noted that investors have started reacting favourably to strong earnings release from most companies, while noting that a trend reversal would begin from mid July.

Rewane said, “Results from the banking sector will stimulate a short bullish run. Naira depreciation and persistent inflationary pressure means interest rate will remain high. We expect a positive return between two to three per cent for July.”

“Looking out the next 612 months, we see the market as being higher than it is now. In the short run, it is a bad environment with 50/50 odds of breaking out below

the 200 day moving average of 20,952.61,” he added.

Rewane added that valuations, especially that of local lenders were compelling and are beginning to strengthen market activities, affirming, “Banks balance sheet are now at a level that can be considered clean.”

He further stated that stocks in the consumer sector have equally performed favourably, saying that they are not lagging behind.

He observed that activities in the stock market dipped by 2.84 per cent in June, but is witnessing a bubble in July He further explained that the lull in the primary segment of the Nigeria capital market, where the

market has recorded limited Initial Public Offering (IPO) since downturn in 2008 was not peculiar to Nigeria, saying that it is a global trend.

Rewane stated that following the economic recession that hit stock markets around the world, global IPOs have fallen from 2008 high, adding that equity investments by the Pension Fund Administrators have also fallen sharply, while bonds investments are on the increase.

He observed that while there was 88 IPOs between 2006 and 2008 in the Nigerian Capital Market, there have been no new listings from 2009 to 2011.

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ANGOTE Group companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has continued to reward its shareholders as Dangote Flour Mills last week, paid out a dividend of N500 million for financial year ended December 31, 2011 during the company ’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

By this development, the total dividend paid out by the companies in the Dangote Group in 2011 financial year alone have climbed to N59.12 billion, with its Cement subsidiary leading the way.

It would be recalled that the Dangote Cement Plc with three plants across the country and presence in 14 African countries earlier this year paid out N19.36 billion as dividend to its shareholders as well as a bonus of one share for every ten shares held previously.

The cement company had also paid out N34.86 billion as the final dividend approved

for the 2010 financial year.

Another of its subsidiar y, Dangote Sugar Refinery rewarded shareholders with N3.60 billion dividend, while its Salt manufacturing company, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON) equally paid over N1.8 billion as dividend.

Speaking on the d e v e l o p m e n t , Chairman of Dangote Flour Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote disclosed that the Flour Group recorded a turnover of N66.28 billion and gross profit of N9.70 billion.

He added that the plan to commence direct and indirect export into neighbouring states of Chad, Cameroun, Senegal and Liberia was already yielding fruits, pointing out that “We intended to intensify efforts to deepen and strengthen the business relationship already established along the West Africa Coast.”

Dangote noted that the Noodles subsidiary of the company had been able to improve its market acceptability in the past financial year.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 — 23

Etisalat passionate about equipping youths educationally—Evans STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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ANAGING Director of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans has said that the company is committed to driving educational development and equipping youths with the educational skills and knowledge required to advance the future of the nation through the different programs currently embarked upon by the company.

Speaking at the Africa CEO Roundtable & Conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility organized by Thistle Praxis Consulting in Calabar, the telecoms chief said that the company has focused much of its Corporate Social Responsibility interventions on education, one of the major Millennium Development Goals.

“At Etisalat Nigeria, we believe that education is the bedrock of development, and is an essential pre-requisite to the development of the economy and its growth, along with access to food and health care”.

He listed some of the projects currently in place and supported by the company to include the Adopt-A-School Initiative, Career Counseling and Mentoring scheme, Etisalat Teacher Training Programme and establishment of the Etisalat CSR Centre in Partnership with the Lagos Business School.

Evans who was part of the session tagged ‘Social dimensions of sustainable development’ chaired by Dr. Deogratias Barakamfitiye, Director, Institute of Security Studies, Senegal further highlighted the fact that successive Nigerian governments have demonstrated their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals especially with regards to education, and urged other corporate organizations to partner with the government in helping to facilitate a revival of the educational sector.

The 2012 Africa CEO Round-table and Conference on CSR (AR-CSR™), with the theme: ‘Sustainable Development: Expanding Economic Opportunities through Public-Private Synergy ’ is an industry flagship, all-inclusive CSR & Sustainability management event of the year and the first of its kind in Africa organised

by Thistle Praxis Consulting Limited.

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BRIEFs

LG unveils first multi V III Solo commercial AC

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Mr. Charles Asinugo, Marketing Director, LG Electronics West Africa; Mr. Junhwa Jeong, General Manger, Air Conditioning & Energy Solution Unit, LG West Africa; Mr. Niyi Kolawole, Managing Director, Tecnicool Nigeria Ltd and Mr. Hongeol Kim, General Manager, Technical Services, LG Electronics at the launch of the new first multi V III solo commercial AC into the Northern market.

Lucky Fibres introduces high traffic carpets

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ucky Fibres Plc, makers of Nobel Carpets and Rugs, has introduced a new range of high quality high traffic carpets specially and specifically designed for places with constant human traffic like Offices, Lobbies and Receptions, into the market.

Made with special quality yarn that endowed them with the strength to withstand the

rigours of the routine daily and constant use, the high traffic carpets are also able to retain their colour and design despite the intense pressure being mounted on them by the regular flow of persons.

According to the General Manager of Lucky Fibres, Plc, Mr. Neeraj Kalaskar, the introduction of the high traffic range of quality Carpets and Rugs is in line with the

Nokia sponsors inaugural DEMO Africa

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OKIA has confirmed its participation and support as the platinum sponsor for the first ever DEMO Africa to be hosted in Nairobi, Kenya in October this year.

The newest addition to DEMO’s Global Launch Program, DEMO Africa 2012 will provide the most innovative new and established companies from across Africa the opportunity to launch their products on stage at this high profile event.

It is also a platform for companies from outside the region to launch into the African marketplace.

“Nokia has a long and rich history on the African continent,” says Gerard Brandjes, Vice President for Nokia South and East Africa.

“Our core strength comes from our local presence, deep consumer understanding and the ability to ignite and enable the local innovation ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the perfect showcase for this innovation, and we are extremely proud of our association with this flagship event”.

Forty of Africa’s most innovative technology products will be launched at Demo Africa. The product categories include consumer electronics, web applications, mobile technology, social media, life sciences, sustainable and renewable energy. Only companies that exhibit innovation, impact and the ability to scale their ideas will be considered for this prestigious launch platform.

philosophy of the company to continue to invent and reinvent products to meet specific need of our customs.

“At Nobel Carpets and Rugs, we believe that every place has a unique requirement and the kind of flooring needed depends on the place. This is why we have introduced our dynamic new range of High Traffic Carpets to meet the special needs of our corporate customers to cover places like offices as well as the Lobby and Reception areas of Hotels and other large organisations. We pride ourselves on providing the right sort of floor covering for whatever job at hand and we are confident that our high traffic range will be a big hit in the market.” he said.

Mr. Kalaskar revealed that the Indication of this success was received at the Architects’ Colloquium organised by the Architects’ Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) recently where the High Traffic Range was showcased to wide acclaim from some Architects and senior members of ARCON. Mr. Kalaskar described the introduction of this new product as a further affirmation that the Carpets will find a home at companies and organisations that value quality and durability.”The applause that greeted the Carpets was a justification of the research and technology that were invested in their production.

O penetrate the Northern market, LG Electronics has unveiled its new Multi V III Solo commercial air conditioner into the Nigerian market.

The move came as LG looks to place more emphasis on its business-to-business in Nigeria, where the demand for energy-saving technology is growing rapidly.

The launch of the Multi V III Solo, which is LG Electronics’ newest Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solution, is an evidence of the electronic company’s drive to always ensuring that consumers’ satisfaction and comfort is a key concern when manufacturing products.

Combining this innovation with higher efficiency, the Multi V III Solo delivers fast response cooling and spacesaving smaller footprint.

The company in a statement said the product has three benefits which the consumer stands to enjoy. These are the higher energy efficiency, ecofriendly and longer piping design.

Always gives 50 female students scholarship

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TOTAL of 50 Secondary School female students across the country were given a cheque of N100, 000 each at the ‘Always Care Scholarship Programme’ award presentation held recently at Agidingbi Junior Secondary School in Lagos.

Always Care Scholarship Programme is a social responsibility initiative of Always Sanitary Pad, a brand of Procter & Gamble. The program is in its 2nd edition and it is designed to sponsor 50 girls in secondary schools across Nigeria, with N100, 000 scholarships each, to enable them fulfill their educational pursuits.

Speaking at the event, Associate Brand Manager (Always & Vicks), Mr. Olumide Aruleba, affirmed that the 1st edition was held in 2009 with N20, 000 scholarships given to 200 female students, adding that, the programme connects with Always Sanitary Pad vision of “advocating and empowering girls to fulfill their dreams to the fullest.”

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Ukraine vies for Ajaokuta Steel with $2.65bn

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

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KRAINIAN government has expressed interest to take over the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex under the Federal Government privatisation programme.

This development came as the Federal Government said it was doing everything possible to tackle all critical issues impeding the successful privatisation of the nation’s steel industry.

The Ukranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Serhii Khanenko, recently submitted a request to that effect when he led a delegation of investors from his country on a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in Abuja.

A Ukrainian firm, Reprom Company Limited, which is to handle the project, said it planned to utilise a total of $2.65billion to execute the project with the production capacity of 3.9 metric tonnes per annum.

The Ambassador said Ukrain was interested in exploring areas of partnership with Nigeria in the development of its solid mineral resources as well as the reactivation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, and expressed the hope that the project would be given to his government.

Speaking, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Mohammed Sada, said the federal government was poised to remove any bottleneck in the privatisation of the steel industry to ensure the sustainable growth of the sector.

He described the visit as not only timely but also important considering that President Goodluck Jonathan had given timelines on all outstanding issues affecting the nation’s steel industries in order to move forward.

“Government is working proactively towards ensuring that the interests of various stakeholders are brought on board for the development of Nigeria’s steel industries,” he disclosed.

He emphasised that “the present administration is determined to tackle all critical issues impeding the successful privatization of the nation’s steel industries. We have reiterated the need to come up with clearer business model for the project including cash flow, and source of funds for this, C M Y K

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Nigeria, South K orea Korea sign MoU for 10,000MW

By OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI and YEMIE ADEOYE

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From left: Chairman, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, NNPC Chapter, Comrade Richard Otoweiwuere; Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade Francis Johnson, and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, after a meeting between the management and the unions at the NNPC Towers, in Abuja.

because we made it critically clear that government is not likely to invest but it is relying on the existing assets of the place to do business “We have also talked about issues of technical capability and the type of privatisation arrangement that you would like government to have with you, how you intend to tackle the issue of infrastructure, transportation and raw materials.”

The minister noted that government was handling the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron

Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), as two integrated plants that must work together for the optimum benefits of the steel industry.

He directed the ministry to set up a technical committee with the Director, Steel and Non-ferrous metals as the chairman, to study the document submitted by the delegation and come up with a “ working paper that we shall use to brief the authorities to know how far we are going and what agreement we are able to have together.”

“Because the time frame is

not much, this committee will have to work in one week to make sure they put up a paper and give it to me for an onward transmission to the President,” he added.

The minister regretted that previous attempts by the government to privatise the nation’s steel industry failed, “as a result of lack of proper inputs from line ministries and other relevant stakeholders who have the professional skills to develop the sector.”

He said government was determined to ensure that things were done in proper ways in the mines and steel industry.

Oando, Integrated Oil deny subsidy claim report

BY KUNLE KALEJEYE

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ANDO Group, has denied a committee’s report alleging that its subsidiaries, Oando Plc and Onado Supply and Trading Ltd, indulged in some misdemeanors in its subsidy claims.

Similarly, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited also said it is not true that it received subsidy payment without auditor ’s signature as indicated by the report of the Federal Government Technical Committee on payment of

subsidy headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

In separate reactions to some of the findings of the committee, the two companies insisted on their innocence, and instead, accused the committee of deliberately misinforming the public.

Explaining specific issues observed by the committee, Oando in a statement said, “We have documents duly witnessed by all government agencies including PPPRA, DPR and independent inspectors for all discharges including the stated transactions,” for which the

committee said were not verified before claims were paid.

It also said that Oando has never made subsidy claims without evidence of Bill of Lading, as indicated by the report, adding that it was ready to “present these documents to the committee so that they can appropriately conclude their report.” . Indeed, it is obvious that a company cannot import without a Bill of Lading. All Bills of Lading and shipment documents are available for inspection as we had earlier provided them to other authorities upon request.

IGERIA, last week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a South Korean Company, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Ltd, for the generation of another 10,000 mega watts, MW, of electricity projects in the country.

Under the terms of the agreements, the company will provide 20 per cent equity in the various projects identified under the scheme, in addition to providing expert advice and guidance on electrical, production and construction of power projects to companies wishing to do business in Nigeria.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, signed on behalf of the federal government, while the President and CEO of Daewoo E&C, Mr. SangReal Kim, signed on behalf of his company at the event which took place in the Power Ministry in Abuja.

Nnaji said, “Today is a very important day for the relationship we want to create, ourselves and Daewoo and the people of Korea. The president was in South Korea, and he gave us the opportunity to reach your company and we agreed with your CEO that we would enter into a memorandum of understanding on how to work together and how your company would work with us to improve power supply in Nigeria.”

Nnaji further said that the MoU would change the old system of contractors coming to the country simply to work and get paid and then go.

“We are now making the power sector attractive for investment for international investors,” he said, adding that they are expected not only execute contracts but also invest in the power sector under the MoU. In his remarks, the Chairman of Daewoo E&C, Chief Joseph Penawou, expressed delight at entering into the MoU with the Federal Government.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—25

SUBSIDY PROBE:

One committee too many L

AST Thursday, President Goodluck Jonathan surprised Nigerians by setting up yet another committee to verify fuel subsidy payments in the recent times.

The surprise is not in the setting up of the committee, but more in the fact that Mr President is seen to be taking an action at least on the numerous probes into the subsidy payments, albeit, belated, but also setting up a committee to look into its own report.

For almost two months the Technical Committee on Payment of Fuel Subsidies, took a microscopic view of what transpired in the downstream petroleum sector with regard to fuel importation (petrol and kerosene), between 2009 and 2011. After 10 sittings beginning from its inaugural meeting on April 23, the committee submitted its report of findings in three large volumes.

The Report identified numerous ways in which laxities in the management of the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, created avenues for some oil marketers and traders to reap where they did not sow, which ultimately led to the biggest financial scam in the history of the downstream sector.

These regulatory hiccups as identified in the Report include: The amendment of the PSF Guidelines for participation by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, managers of the fund· .The lack of adequate provisions for dealing with violations (including criminal activities) and of a deterrent to prevent oil marketing and trading companies from making false subsidy claims in the PSF guidelines and the inclusion by PPPRA of oil marketing and trading companies that did not meet the eligibility criteria (even after the above changes) in the PSF guidelines created significant opportunities for abuse of the subsidy process. ·Abuse of the due diligence process for applicants to the PSF scheme, lack of transparency in the process for import allocations, payment of subsidies to oil marketing and trading companies in spite of lapses in presented documentation and the inability of PPPRA to use effective vessel tracking C M Y K

tools to verify the status and location of the vessels supposedly used to import petroleum products and to compare such information with the details on presented bills of lading contributed to the creation of opportunities for abuse of the subsidy payment process. ·The inability of PPPRA to use a transparent basis for the conversion factor from metric tonnes to litres used in the PPPRA template created opportunities for abuse in the determination of the volume of imported products for which subsidy should be paid. ·Nigeria does not have a verifiable statistical basis for computing its daily consumption of petroleum products and the absence of this data opened up the determination of the nation’s

,

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

President Goodluck Jonathan,

The surprise is not in the setting up of the committee, but more in the fact that Mr President is seen to be taking an action at least on the numerous probes into the subsidy payments, albeit, belated, but also setting up a committee to look into its own report

requirement for imported petroleum products to abuse.

This situation in conjunction with the absence of regulation of the amount of petroleum products imported by NNPC led to uncontrolled importation beyond the country’s requirement. ·There has been no consensus among the 3 tiers of Government (Federal, State and Local) to support the funding of the PSF since its creation in 2006. Funding from the States and Local Governments has not been forth-coming hence the PSF has remained under-funded.

This was never sustainable and has led to a convoluted accounting process for cost recovery, with significant arrears of payment due to NNPC. ·While the creation of Sovereign Debt Notes (SDNs) partially addressed this challenge for private importers, it did not address NNPC’s subsidy claims. This led to a situation where the Federal Government agreed with NNPC to deduct its approved subsidy claims from its crude cost obligations.

NNPC was therefore deducting the approved subsidy amounts for any

,

given month before transferring the net amount to the Federation Account. ·There was no documentary evidence that this process was duly authorised by law, by the PSF guidelines or by any duly designated Government agency and there is therefore no legitimate backing for the current practice. ·There is an obvious need to regulate the roles of NNPC in the downstream sector in the import, refining, storage, supply, distribution and retailing of petroleum products. ·The current lack of regulation has led to NNPC’s introduction of practices that are not permitted or recognised by the current PSF guidelines that if unchecked

by NNPC’s internal control mechanisms may allow for significant leakages.

More importantly, in each case of corruption identified, the Report was explicit in its conclusions such that oil marketing and trading companies were recommended to refund in excess of N422.54 billion in 17 identified cases of malfeasance.

Indeed, if the whole amount is recovered, the government

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

need not worry about the outstanding over N384.45billion claims owed marketers, as the refund is more than enough to offset the bills and even leave substantial amount to fund part of the 2012 claims since government has expressed unwillingness to ask for more money for this purpose.

Taking action Nigerians expectations upon the submission of the Technical Committee’s Report, as was the case with the Legislative probe, was for the Presidency to take immediate action even as oil marketing and trading companies struggle to defend their roles in the huge subsidy scam.

The civil society groups have continued to urge government to make good its promise to tackle corruption at the highest level, and especially to leave no sacred cows.

Also, some analysts have also noted the culpability of the banking industry in the huge subsidy scam, as they “issued” the Letters of Credit and sold the foreign exchange used by the companies to “import” the petroleum products for which subsidies were paid.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, had previously hinted that the Federal Government would follow the rule of law in prosecuting any marketer indicted in the subsidy probe.

He had also noted that “No fact-finding committee can indict a person except the

police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),” adding that his office will follow due process in taking any action.

But government’s reluctance to take a decisive stand on this high level of corruption, in itself, contributed in heating up the economy especially as it became apparent that the findings of the 10-man Technical Committee was more authentic than the House probe, in view of the quality of its discoveries.

Also, the calibre of its membership also instills some confidence in view of their pedigrees as men and women of repute.

The new committee Apparently buoyed by this public confidence, President Jonathan once again invited the committee to take a second look at its report, but this time, with the assistance of five new members after which he promised a thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution.

The members include: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, chief executive officer, Access Bank Plc as Chairman; the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu; Director General, Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo; Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla; Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley.

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire

Mr. Richard Fregene explaining a point to Vanguard at Ogheye

Ocean surge: Oil communities under siege

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

O

GHEYE threatened by sea incursion: OGHEGHE, a riverside oil community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State used to be a burstling neighborhood, some years ago, with a large population of Itsekiris and Ilajes from Ondo State, engaged principally in fishing business, but in the present day, it is a silhouette of itself.

Raison d’être: Ocean surge had swept hundreds of villagers from their ancestral homes. What is more important to the villagers is how to protect their lives and property from sea incursion. The once popular Ogheghe market, which attracted traders from many parts of the state, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa and Edo states submerged long ago and the pledge by government to build a new market for the people has not materialized.

Niger-Delta activist and chairman of the Itsekiri Development Association, IDA, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, who hails from Ogheye told Vanguard: “We used to have a very big market here, it is no more. That place you are seeing now is the location, but what are you seeing there now is river. That is what it has been turned into and we are still waiting for government to build a standard market that can withstand ocean surge”.

The community is half its former size now and the people live everyday of their life with the mortal fear of rising to find themselves homeless. Due to the long years of thumping by sea wave, many people have also relocated from C M Y K

the area, while more than 200 residential houses, school and graves had, allegedly been washed away, in the last few years.

Tears of a victim: Newuwumi, who is also a chair aspirant in Warri North under the platform of the People Democratic Party, PDP, tried severally to hold back his emotion, as he spoke on the travails of his people when Vanguard visited.

Location of father's house Tried as he did, the reporter observed he could not bottle it to any further extent. His eyes soon reddened while he showed Vanguard a particular spot right in the middle of the the sea, which he said, used to be the location of his father’s house.

Newuwumi wept as he recalled that his father’s house where he grew up as a child and many others had all been sunken by the ocean.

Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi

Huge spread: Ogheye is not at Azamabiri. the only Itsekiri community seriHe said: “Following the exploously threatened by sea surge. ration of oil in our area by Shell There are at least 21 other Itsekiri Petroleum Development Compacommunities suffering the same ny, we are threatened every time fate in Warri North and Warri by sea incursion. This place South-West local government (present location of Azamabiri) areas. Among them are Mol- was not our our first homeland, ume, Ugbege, Ewoleba, Ebokiti, our town used to be bigger than Ekekporo, Eke- this, but as they drill oil, it affects Igharo, Ototo, Eke-titon, Ogh- the structure of the place and lead eye-uton Ogbeye –Dimigun. Oth- to environmental problems for us. ers are Ogheye-Eghoroke, Ogh- They do not care; all they are afeye, Zion, Ajadogo, Ugogo- ter is to collect our oil. egin, Oboghoro, Atankpo“As I speak to you, this is our ki, Utonlila, Jakpatie, Aja-eye, fifth dwelling place, as the shores Orere-yanagho, Atsuran, Orie- are shifting due to attack by ocean bu, Orubu, Bobi, Olobe, Bater- waves, we follow, the oil company and government do en-tie and Bateren. In not think that there is other parts of Nigerneed to protect our Delta, more than 80 othshores because of sea er communities, inincursion.” cluding Azamabiri, Vanguard gathered Agge, Ogbeintu, OroiWe expect that over 100 houses biri, Aghoro 1, Aghoro 2 in Bayelsa State are the govern- belonging to Azamabiri people had been subfacing sea invasion. merged in the last 10 Omolubi, who is also ment and years and the people the national president the oil wandered from one loof the Itsekiri Developcompany cation to another once ment Association, IDA, there was a sea incursaid, exploration activ- to carry sion. His words: “Go to ities by the oil compa- out shore Azamabiri Primary nies were the major reaSchool, Azamabiri, it is sons for ocean surge. protection over there, there are no We shift as the ocean project in teachers. No teacher shifts us – Azamabiri our comcan stay here, it is a locommunity cal place, there is no That was the same munity to health centre, no water explanation His Highborehole, we only have ness, Emmanuel Edi of save us Azamabiri, the nearest from death, hand-dug wells, which are producing guinea community to Bonga oil worms. You know what field, operated by Shell but they it costs you to come Nigeria Exploration are not here and I know that if and Production Compabothered not for the interest that ny, SNEPCo, in BayelVanguard has for the sa State gave Vanguard

people of Niger-Delta, they will not send you here. I thank you people”.

Niger state governor should visit N-Delta –Newuwumi IDA president, Newuwumi, said after overcoming his emotion 10 minutes after: “I will like to use your media (Vanguard) to invite the governor of Niger State, Dr Aliyu Babangida, to visit us. Yes, we want him to come and see things for himself and we will also tell him what we feel about his statement that oil wells over 200 kilometers away from the shore should belong to the entire country and not the oil states.

“I must tell you that as I speak to you, that area you are seeing (a location in the sea where there are oil platforms) owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, used to be an ordinary playground in my community when I was growing up. They are exploring oil there now and somebody who does not know the landscape of the place that stays in Niger state or Abuja and say that oil wells, 200 kilometers away from the shore belongs to the whole country.

Oil platforms You can see the oil platforms, how many kilometers are they from Ogheye, yet, somebody who does not know how we were displaced from our community is saying it belongs to him, it is maddening.”

Fear of sea incursion now beginning of wisdom In the Bible, it is written that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but across several riverside communities in the NigerDelta region, the fear of the sea incursion is arguably the beginning of life. Except for the communities that were fortunate to have the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and other agencies carry out shore protection projects in their domains, the people have their hearts in their mouths.

Koluama tragedy: Vanguard gathered that Koluama 1 and Koluama 2 communities in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, affected by the Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, gas rig explosion in January, less than six months ago, used to be one large entity under the ancient Koluama kingdom, made up of several villages. However, the arrangement was scattered in the fifties when an oil company carried out seismic operation with explosives.

Community leaders said that the explosives that were used, which the oil company denied till date, was what split the old Koluama kingdom and subsequently prepared it for the sea waves that swept away the ancient Koluama kingdom with more than 250 houses at that time. The tragedy, which disjointed what God

Continues on page 27

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—27

Oil communities under siege Continues frompage 26 put together, gave birth to present day Koluama 1 and Koluama 2 communities.

Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Koluama 1, Chief Christian Munghan Bofa-akpele asserted: “Where Chevron calls offshore today is where our community use to be. We were swept away by ocean surge many years ago, you can see our village, there is no development. The little land you are seeing there, less than 25 meters from here is the only land covering us from the sea that is fast encroaching on us. That is why we are calling on the Federal Government and Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to come and do shore protection in our community before the ocean sweeps us away.”

Tamazo sacked in 1993 Chief Matthew Sylvanus told Vanguard at Tamazo community that the present location of the community was a new settlement inhabited by the people, as sea waves destroyed their homes and drove them from their original homeland in 1993. His words: “Tamazo used to be a satellite community, but there was no shore protection. It was bigger than Koluama 1, but today, you can see our size. Even as we are living in the place now, we do not know what will happen to us tomorrow. The oil companies do everything to our God-given land to drill oil, but our government does not check them to know how what they are doing is affecting us, that is our problem. When will our government rescue us, when will the fight for us?

Ebidouama community wiped out: Vanguard learnt that in one of such incursions, some years ago, Ebidouama community in Bayelsa state was wiped out by a rampaging ocean. This reporter was showed the former location of the community on the high seas on his way from Tamazo to Koluama 2. There is no single house in the place, as the whole area is now

Riverine community

water. Of course, there is no way you can know that a community once existed in the place except somebody tells you.

Ogheye shrinks yearly: Back to Oghehe community in Delta State, what we saw at Ogheghe community was disquieting. One of the community elders, Mr. Richard Fregene who spoke to Vanguard in his house said: “Life here has been very difficult because of the threat by the ocean.

This is our homeland, (gave a description with his hand), but part of it is what people now refer to as ocean because we have been sacked from there. In this place, we relocate from our homes every year depending on how the wave comes, mostly early in February. It reduces in April and comes back big again around August.

Typical riverine residence “For the avoidance of doubt, what you are seeing today as pens to it. This is our plight here, Ogheghe is not the mass of our take a look at that house that is community, it shrinks every year down, it was pulled down by sea because of ocean surge and we waves, the owner is building in don’t know when the entire town another location now - that is how will be washed we live here” away. Sea incursion He said the community became very worrihad reported its plight to Oil is some in our comthe oil company, but notmunity with the ex- destroying withstanding, it has conploration of oil by tinued with its operations Chevron. As the us, it is not without bothering to carry ocean waves pulled building out shore protection to save down our houses, the people from destrucwe move and build us. Chevtion. “I am not happy as I new ones, it comes ron is speak to you because I am again and we move thinking of where to run again. This house exploring to when the surge gets to (his residence) we oil from my house”, he added. are in now, only God The eldest man in the our land can help me, I don’t community, Mr. O. know what will hap- and just Dimighan, said: “We expen, next year.” pect the government and giving us Prayers of a riverthe oil company to carry side dweller: His desolation out shore protection project words: “I pray that in return in our community to save God keep me alive us from death, but they are till next year, I want from for not bothered. We may be you to come back more sleeping one day and next year, which is what you will hear is that 2013 to come and more than ocean surge has killed find out if my house 15 years people in Delta State and will still be standing. destroyed their houses.

By the grace of God, now May be, it is after people I will celebrate with have been killed that they you if nothing hapwill do shore protection for us”.

No resting place for the dead: On graves that had been washed away by ocean surge, he said: “We have lost count of the graves that have been washed away, we don’t bury our people here again because we know that the graves will be uprooted, we look for burial grounds elsewhere”.

Daydream: Newuwumi said the severe rampage of the ocean in the community appears as a delusion to him, knowing that what separated Orere, a neighbouring community from Ogheghe before now, was land, but now, it is sea.

“People from Orere used to trek from their community to Ogheye before and vice versa, but now, it is by boat”.

From Ogheye, the reporter was showed Orere community on the other side of the ocean. The effect of sea waves on the community was indescribable as I took a look when our speedboat driver inched closer. At the fringe of Ogheye from the Atlantic Ocean, during our visit, Vanguard saw the wonder of sea storming. Trees are excavated from the roots just as a bulldozer and thrown metres backwards to the community No human being or building can stand such hurricane.

Reprisal undertaking It is as if the ocean was on a reprisal undertaking, tagged: “Operation destroy anything on the way” and that is what the people pass through all their lives. Despite the assurances of safety, the reporter had in his mouth when he saw the ferocious way the ocean was bulldozing trees and pushing furiously to the community. Only a timely intervention from government will save them from extinction.

Oil is destroying us In Newuwumi’s words: “Oil is destroying us, it is not building us. Chevron is exploring oil from our land and just giving us desolation in return from for more more than 15 years now. They are piping our wealth away from Kito I,

Kito II , Jacket 10, Tapa, Delta Power production facilities in the area extending towards Bonga oil field in Bayelsa State, yet we are not catered for. The place that is Kito II now with water was ordinary ground in 1990; it is inside the sea now. Tapa was ordinary ground too in 1970 and same for Delta power platform in 1968.

I have been complaining, but nobody seems to bother about us”.

We are homeless — Odeli, Nunu

A fisherman, Mr. Johnbull Odeli, said he recently lost his house to ocean surge and has not been able to build a new one at the time Vanguard visited. He said: “My family is facing accommodation problem now, so as it is, I am homeless. Many people have relocated from Ogheye community because of ocean surge and when they leave, they never come back”.

Another villager, who lost his house to sea incursion, Edwin Nunu, said: “The river destroyed my house. Since then, I am finding it difficult to eat”.

He also complained of the December 2011 Bonga crude oil spill, which he said was affecting fishing occupation in Ogheye, adding, “They sprayed dispersants and the chemicals there are poisonous to us. They have also killed our fishes and affected fishing nets.”

Maurice Okorodudu asserted: “The truth is that oil is worrying us. We and our neighbours, Orere people see ourselves before the coming of the oil company, now, we don’t see ourselves anymore because ocean surge has caused a division. Government should embark on a shoreline project to save us, we don’t have water, there is no health institution and before you get to Koko, the headquarters of Warri North local government area with the sick person you are rushing to the hospital, the person would die on the road.”

To be continued

28— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

HIGH POINTS

A residential property for in Lekki

Tips on how to get the best buy *Do thorough searches at the Lands Bureau to verify genuineness of the title document *It is cheaper and better to buy government-owned land but such lands are very difficult to come by. *Don’t ever neglect the indigenes(Omonile) when buying a Family land *Ensure that your budget is fat enough to buy the property in question *Always endeavour to take immediate occupation of purchased land; erecting a mini-fence may suffice *Location is a paramount consideration in the choice of property to buy

Buying property without tears: The way out

By JUDE NJOKU

T

WENTY years ago, acquiring landed property in Lagos was relatively cheap and easy.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Patrick Okafor (not real names), an accountant with a Lagos-based IT firm, decided to buy a parcel of land from a prominent Family to build his residential house. But ran out of him as he fell into the hands of fake persons masquerading as agents of the Family. After paying the ‘ necessary ” fees and obtaining their receipts, Patrick decided to take possession of the land. But he was ruthlessly beaten and handed over to the law enforcement agents for daring to take possession of another person’s property.

All efforts he made, even going to the law courts, to recover the money or take possession of the disputed land failed. Twenty years after the ugly incident, Patrick is still living in a rented apartment and has vowed never to buy land again in Lagos.

The plight of Mr. Patrick is synonymous with what many residents of Lagos and other Nigerian cities go through on daily basis. Many prospective property buyers have fallen into the hands of swindlers who readily disappear in thin air, shortly after collecting huge sums of money from their victims who are usually desperate to have their own property in a bid to escape the high rental charged by Shylock landlords.

How then can one buy landed property in Nigeria

without burning his fingers in the process? An Abuja-based estate surveyor and valuer, Mr Victor Alonge stated that the first key element individuals or corporate organisations intending to buy properties should consider is their budget. Do they have the capacity or financial wherewithal to buy such a property? he asked.

The location of the property is a factor that would determine the size of the budget as properties in highbrow neighbourhoods attract higher prices.

He advised intending buyers to do proper title verification to determine the true owners of the property they intend to buy. “You should verify the genuineness of the title and the true ownership of the title.

Ho w tto o deal with Omonile How during pr oper ty transaction proper operty W

HEN buying a family land in Lagos and other states in the South-West, you must be prepared to contend with the activities of the indigenes, usually called Omonile or sons of the soil of the community where the property is located. Dealing with Omonile when buying a property could be described as the most irritating and unforgettable experience that you (property buyer) will necessarily contend with.

Whether you intend to buy or develop an already purchased property, you cannot do without the ubiquitous Omonile. Trying to do so is not advisable and is even at your own risk.

According to Messrs Lekki Property Consultants, “any agent that is trying to prevent you from having any dealings with the Omonile when you want to purchase a property is likely to be a scam because apart from the negative side

Parcel of land

This is where thorough searches at the Land Bureau or Registry become very imperative,” he said. Aside finding out the real owners of the property, Alonge advised property buyers to also ensure that the property falls into the approved land use for the area. “Check to find out possible alterations in the land use. Nowadays, it is important for those buying already developed buildings to ask for the approved drawings. If there are alterations in the drawings that require planning approval, you should ensure that they have been got or you will be buying problems with your money,” he advised.

Mr. Alonge enjoined property buyers to also look at the environmental implications of the location where they intend to buy properties. For instance, if it is a flood-prone, area, you would know in advance and make plans to cushion the effects.

Finally, he advised those buying already built houses to consider the structural soundness of the building.

According to him, such buyers should do a home buyer ’s survey to determine among others, the structural soundness and current value of the property.

Another estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Samuel Ukpong, identified title and location of

the property as the two main issues a buyer should consider. “What title does the owner of the property have?

Is it a family land or government -owned land; is the title freehold or leasehold?

What is the number of unspent years in the leasehold? On location, Mr. Ukpong who is the General Manager of NIC Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Niger Insurance Plc, said location is a function of the resources at the disposal of the property buyer.

Other key elements that a buyer should consider include : kind of property (land or building) and purpose for buying the property. While some buy property for investment purposes, others buy for personal occupation or prestige.

The experts also advised buyers not to go for properties that are ridiculously low because they may end up in the hands of fraudsters.

“Most dubious deals are always unbelievably very cheap when compared to the real market value of the property. So, in order not to get caught up in a dangerous situation, just don’t go for a property because it is very cheap. If the price of a property is too cheap when comparedÿþ to it’s real market value, please avoid going for it because is likely to be a scam.”

of Omonile they play the role of regulating the property market in their community.”

The property consultancy outfit offered the following tips on how to outsmart the Omonile. * Pay them their dues: When purchasing a property or developing the property, it’s imperative for you to find out first what the Omonile’s charges will be and make sure you settle them and they won’t come

close to your property. Follow this principles and you won’t have any problems with the Omonile. Make them your friends: Occasionally give the youths some tips and they will worship you and even fight for you if need be. *Make sure that the property you bought is not under dispute by the family members of the community (Omonile’s families) conflicts arising from the dispute of land by the rival family members often results in deaths and serious injuries to the the rival Omonile groups, land agents, surveyors, passers by and even to the person who wants to buy the property.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—29

Engineers unveil plans to build skills acquisition centre in Lagos P

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

ISSED by the dearth of qualified artisans in the nation’s construction industry, the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, NICE, has announced plans to build a skills acquisition centre in Lagos.

National Chairman of the Institution, Mr. Ade Omopeloye, an engineer, who disclosed this at the 2012 distinguished public lecture of the group in Lagos, decried the takeover of the construction industry by artisans from neighbouring ECOWAS countries.

“Ironically, Nigeria now relies on neighbouring countries for good masons, bricklayers, carpenters, iron benders and others,” he said.

Omopeloye said the

institution is aware of the basic menace facing the engineering profession especially in the area of development of the support skills, craftsmen, artisans and tradesmen. He added that there can be no sufficient synergy if attention is not given to the development of these lower cadres of the civil engineering practice.

The president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Mustapha Balarebe Shehu represented by Mr. Akintola Akintayo, both engineers, said roads and bridges cannot be ignored in a country craving for s u s t a i n a b l e development. The NSE President who lauded the appreciable efforts made by the Lagos state government in the provision of

BY JUDE NJOKU

infrastructure, however called for its sustainability. He also decried non-absorption of engineering students by concerned authorities during industrial attachment.

Delivering the lecture titled “Roads and Bridges as Infrastructure: Economic Impact in Lagos State,’’ the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, an engineer described roads and bridges as the greatest public works projects that states can use to drive their

economy.

Hamzat noted that Lagos has improved its infrastructure stock to a level that it should be taken seriously as a destination for business and investment.

The commissioner who pointed out that the extensive development is already yielding fruits, said the benefits are immense both for economic,

T development and planning purposes.

According to him, the ongoing expansion of the Lagos/Badagry expressway will boost tourism in and around the axis.

Continuing, he stated that the growth of the state GDP in real terms is the evidence of the improved environment and reduction in travel time.

Ondo launches urban renewal initiative

BY JUDE NJOKU

T

HE Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko will today, launch the state’s urban renewal strategies programme. He will also commission the Lands Records Bureau. A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the urban renewal initiatives were designed to make the State’s towns and cities serene for living, as well as create a decent environment for leisure that would be attractive to investors.

“In practice, the programme is a pragmatic initiative of the Mimiko administration designed to address the decaying urban

C M Y K

Nigeria’s infrastructure does not support economic development — QSRBN Registrar

On-going construction project in Lagos

infrastructure and services, and respond to the yearnings of the people for improved quality of life,” he said.

He stated that along with the Community Development initiative, the vision encompasses the three levels of human settlements in the state, namely the village, town and city. Part of the objectives of the initiative according to Akinmade include, harnessing potentials of the towns and cities as engines of social and economic growth and development, creating orderliness and ensuring that components of the towns and cities function efficiently as well as improving and promoting healthy living, tourism and enhancement of the urban economy.

HE state of infrastructure in Nigeria does not meet the requirement for e c o n o m i c development. This view was canvassed by the Registrar of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, QSRBN, Mr Godson Moneke at a workshop organised by the Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS. Moneke who spoke on Infrastructure and Economic Development, premised his views on fact that “our infrastructure deficit gap is very wide” and in most cases in very deplorable conditions.. “ Electricity generation in Nigeria which currently stand as at 4,000MW is far below the current demand of over 10,000 MW. Most roads in Nigeria are unmotorable and in various states of disrepair. Yet huge sums have been budgeted and said to have been spent on both electricity provision and road development with nothing to show for it due to corruption. Yet development of infrastructure is a categorical imperative for economic development and socioeconomic empowerment of the citizenry,” he lamented.

The QSRBN Registrar adduced reasons for the slow rate of economic development in the country. “A system that accommodates horde of “economic vampires” will find it difficult to witness economic development.

Corruption is the biggest threat to economic development because it encourages the personalisation and wrongful appropriation of the commonwealth by a few rent seekers who now become the wealthy class while majority of the citizens live in misery, want and poverty.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By JUDE NJOKU

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HE Nigerian Climate Action Network NigeriaCAN, has called on the government to kick-start the process of recommitting itself to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development by ensuring sustainable energy access to all Nigerians, especially the rural poor. The Network which coordinates climate change activities of NGOs in Nigeria, stated that speedy implementation of the power sector reforms, enhancing the consumption of gas in households, transport and power sectors, removal of subsidies from fossil fuel, the provision of renewable energy in rural areas -are some of the vital steps that will spread the benefits of cleaner energy to Nigerians. The coalition which made this recommendation in the recent edition of its Newsletter, declared”an inclusive economic growth free of poverty and environmental degradation is the future we want in Nigeria; that will be Nigeria’s best Rio outcome”.

In his own reaction, a Lagosbased environmentalist, Mr. Chike Chikwendu an Engineer, noted that Rio+20 was intended as a follow up on the 1992 Earth Summit, which put in place landmark conventions on climate change and biodiversity, as well as commitments on poverty eradication and social justice. “However, between 1992 and 2012, global emissions have risen by 48 percent, 300m hectares of forest have been cleared and the population has increased by 1.6bn people. So we can see that the problems have grown instead of diminishing despite the commitments of nations to the Rio Declaration,” the Friends of the Environment FOTE helsman said.

A strong Nigerian delegation led by President Goodluck Jonathan attended the Rio+20 summit. The Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gave a broad outline of Nigeria’s plan for green growth at the G20 meeting. She reiterated Nigeria’s desire to pursue green growth as a way to address market failures by phasing out inefficient subsidies and raising productivity through structural reform of infrastructure, especially in the power and agricultural sectors.

Environmentalists have held divergent views about the outcome of the Rio Summit.

While developing countries and civil society groups, felt that the commitments by rich countries did not go far enough, developed countries made voluntary pledges to ease the burden of the transition to green economy.

Fallout of Rio+20 summit: NigeriaCAN seeks sustainable energy access By the close of the conference, almost 700 pledges totaling $513 billion had been received from governments, the private sector, civil society and other groups.

Other highlights of the United Nations sponsored summit include the

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

F

ESTIVAL Town, popularly called “small London” when it was built over 30 years ago due its its beautiful layout and alluring scenery, is now a shadow of its old self, as filth is gradually taking over the sprawling town. Worried by the decay, the chairman of AmuwoOdofin Local Government Area in Lagos State, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, has called on the residents and stakeholders to join hands with the Council to restore lost glory of the Town. fAdewale who made the plea last week at a Town Hall Meeting comprising the residents and other stakeholders in the Festac project ,decried environmental pollution and degradation as well as defacing of the residential community. According to him, the Town is fast becoming a slum following actions and in-actions of the residents.

“This high level environmental degradation is a common sight in this local government. This is so much that, our once beautiful community that we are trying to reposition is now put in reversal by the careless act of a few. It is now common to see people doing their businesses on walkways, median, and recreational parks. They are involved in improper waste management, unsanitary practices and cause noise pollution with impunity. ‘’I wish to use this medium to appeal to all genuine stakeholders of Amuwo-Odofin project that all your civic actions must be complimentary to government’s effort if our society must move forward. As a government, we will not relent in discharging our constitutional responsibility to protect our environment, and the only way is to use the mighty arm of the law against

announcement by the US Secretary of State of a partnership between the US and African nations totaling $20 million. This will unlock private financing for clean energy projects in Africa and beyond. The Brazilian

President pledged $6 million to the UNEP’s fund targeting developing countries and $10 million towards climate change challenges in Africa, least developing countries and small Island States.

Lagos council unfolds plans ffor or FFestac’s estac’s rest oration restoration Decay Of Festac

any offender, without fear or favour’’, he said.

Adewale who stated that the Council has concluded plans to embark on some lofty programmes that will improve on the lives of the resident of the area by creating job opportunities for the teeming youths in the community and enhancing the environment, called on the residents and corporate bodies doing business in the local government to ensure they pay their taxes promptly. ‘’I have always said that no government can succeed relying on statutory allocation from the state government. ‘’We have, and we are still working hard to create an enabling environment for corporate excellence in the local government area so that in turn, everybody will pay their taxes, levies and rates as applicable. Our lofty programmes demand huge fund for actualization and that is where you all come in as responsible citizens of our community.

For instance, we intend to embark on huge projects that will bring positive bearing on our people. One of these is the new water transport scheme.

‘’We are planning the council flat housing project that has 24 flats, and to be equipped with a mini mart, swimming pool and other amenities. There are also the 206 and 204 recreation parks, the Amuwo-Odofin Bus Transit Scheme, the ultra-modern civic centre at 1st Gate, the proposed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Freedom House legislative building, the construction of town hall, renovation of schools and boreholes at the riverine communities. ‘’We have embarked on a series of journey overseas to discuss with international partners on investment opportunities in our community in the areas of environmental sustainability, safe energy production, youth empowerment, transportation and a whole lot more. In all of these, which have been projected to create over 6,000 jobs, we cannot play down your support if we are to achieve these goals. It is on this note I would like to sue for the patience and understanding of all. These two virtues are required for a government to succeed,” he said.

NGOs decr decryy slow pace of mer cur mercur curyy phase out

BY JUDE NJOKU

A

HEAD of the anticipated Mercury Convention, projected to be finalized in January 2013 at the 5 th negotiation in Geneva, a group of non-governmental organisations NGOs, have expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace in addressing mercury pollution globally.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that contaminates fish supplies around the world and poses particular risks to women and young children.

Over 500 representatives, including delegates from 128 governments and representatives from intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders, last week, converged in Punta del Este, Uruguay, for further negotiations towards a global treaty on mercury.

The meeting was the fourth of five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee INC4 After INC4, there is only one remaining session before the diplomatic conference that will convene in Japan in 2013.

But Zero Mercury Working Group, ZMWG, a global coalition of NGOs, in a statement, expressed concern over the lack of progress at this late stage. The coalition contended that negotiations are running out of time to meaningfully address key issues before finalizing a legally binding treaty on mercury. “There has been no substantial progress with respect to the biggest sources of mercury pollution, emissions to air, nor in reconciling the different positions of governments. This issue is critical to diffuse the ticking mercury time bomb,” the coordinator of ZMWG, Mr. Michael Bender, said.In his own reaction, the Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria – a member of zero mercury working group, Mr. Leslie Adogame regretted that issues as straightforward as the phase out of mercury in products and processes and supply and trade did not progress any better. “This is particularly worrisome to African countries like Nigeria who depend solely on imported “second-rated” low quality products containing mercury like thermometers, cosmetics, fluorescent lamps, e-wastes, batteries and these products are causing serious health problems to our people,” he noted.

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40—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

16 years after, Honda CR-V gets bigger, better

BY THEODORE OPARA

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HERE is something very unique about the Honda CR-V models right from its debut 16 years ago. You could hardly find a rickettylooking CR-V on the road, no matter the year of production. Even when some of them are over 16 years old, you hardly could tell their age. Only Honda knew the secret behind the built-quality of the CR-V which is now in its fourth generation.

The CR-V was Honda’s first attempt to solely build a Sport Utility Vehicle.

The automobile world thought Honda would make mistakes on the CRV but it turned out to be a masterpiece and ever since then, every successive CR-V model has become a trend setter.

It was not surprising, however, the kind of huge crowd that witnessed the launch of the fourth generation Honda CR-V at the Ocean View Restaurant Lagos recently.

The turnout was quite impressive as THP took the wrap off the 4th generation Honda CR-V utility car. The demand right there was unprecedented in the history of Honda launch in Nigeria forcing The Honda Place management to plead with reporters to hold the story (embargo) until the nex consignment arrived to prevent more people from placing orders.

Making a spectacular showing 16 years after the CR-V was introduced, THP, says the re-launch of the crossover SUV couldn’t have been lowkeyed.

Mr. Deepak Daryanani, Sales and Marketing Director, The Honda Place who made this remark in his presentation said the sedan-like ride with stunning economical four-cylinder engine spectrum and a remarkable handling are rare features that distinguished the CR-V in its class.

He said the CR-V has continued to enjoy customer loyalty and increasing sales year-onyear due to its uniqueness, ample passenger room, cargo capacity and competitive pricing.

Little wonder, he added, more than a dozen C M Y K

different models from rival automakers have continued to make their way into the mid-sized SUV category.

“While some models offer V6 engines, Honda CR-V has remained focused on its practical aspirations and true-toform design, becoming the best choice available in the all-important compact, small-SUV segment,” the sales and marketing director affirmed.

Redesigned for 2012, the new Honda CR-V still maintains its previous size, with minimal hardware changes, enough style and feature modification to keep Honda’s top selling crossover fully competitive.

And like its predecessor, the remodeled CR-V is offered in familiar LX and EX-L trim levels.

While the LX comes pretty well equipped, the EX-L gets additional convenience and luxury features, but without navigation systems for the local market, Mr. Daryanani said.

The all-new CR-V is powered by standard 2.4-litre inline four cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque’ mated to Honda’s fashionable five-speed transmission, just as all

models come in the traditional front wheel drive safe for the all-wheel drive that is optional.

The CR-V comes with a long list of features that are hardly found in competing models from other brands. First is the intelligently thought-out interior with high quality

materials; comfortable ride, quieter engine (than before), better road handling and remarkable steering high points.

Other technical features on the new CRV focuses on the next generation mini-utilities, which come as standard,

e.g. two info screens, a rear view camera, Bluetooth, and a function that reads incoming text messages from paired phones–provided the phone is a BlackBerry.

Honda has also improved on the CR-V’s fuel management system,

improving from 21/ 28mpg city/highway to 23/31mpg and the allwheel-drive models go from 21/27mpg to 22/ 30mpg.

Mr. Daryanani said the main goal of the 2012 Honda CR-V is to be an excellent family vehicle as affirmed by test drivers. Its handling is unimaginable for a car in its class, thereby setting a new benchmark for the Compact Sports Utility Vehicle segment.

Safety, however, remains a strong selling point for the CR-V: With top five-star government safety ratings, Mr. Daryanani said the CRV ranks best amongst safety conscious cars in its class, just like its predecessor.

Other standard safety features include stability control, braking assist, and front-side and headprotecting side curtain air bags.

VON Automobiles plans big for Sub-Sahara Africa

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HE management of VON Automobiles Limited has said it would make Nigeria a hub of automobile production in sub-Saharan Africa, as it announces fresh initiative to launch Phase II of the resuscitated vehicle assembly plant by December 2012.

Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, managing director, VON

Automobiles Limited made this remark in a presentation when the House Committee on Privatization visited the revived plant in Lagos recently.

He told the visiting legislatures who were on oversight mission that Stallion Group had acquired controlling interest in the plant to demonstrate her

commitment to the local automotive sector – where it had over the years played significant role.

“The acquisition of controlling interest in VON Automobiles is in furtherance of Stallion Group’s corporate vision to create value segments in the local automotive industry, where we have played significant role.”

The retooling of the first

phase of the moribund Volkswagen plant began in May/June 2011 and by November 2011, the plant had rolled out the first locally assembled AshokLeyland commuter bus.

Mr. Aromolaran said VON Automobiles had so far invested more than N2 billion through direct

•Continued on page 41

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012—41

Elizade to reward customers with 4 Toyota Avensis F

OREMOST Toyota dealer, Elizade Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s has concluded plans to reward its customers with four brand new Toyota Avensis cars during her 40+1 Anniversary celebrations.

Speaking at a Conference to announce the bonanza, Mr Demola Ade-Ojo, Managing Director, Elizade Nigeria Limited, said “the 40+1 Anniversary celebrations offers the company a chance to appreciate customer loyalty, re-focus and look ahead to a greater tomorrow.” Ade Ojo noted that “one could count at the tips of one’s fingers Nigerian companies that have survived for over two decades, not to talk of four. Really, in this tough business terrain with its peculiar instability and uncertainties, the chances of a business outliving a decade is as slim as the chances of finding a penguin in the tropics.

But here we are, exactly forty one years after my parents founded this business, we are still strong, viable and very alive. This is not just a result of our acclaimed good works neither is it about our excellent offerings. This definitely goes beyond the entrepreneurial sagacity of the Founder and the succeeding Boards. This is simply, with all sense of gratitude, all about grace.”

To commemorate Elizade Nigeria Limited’s 41 years of doing business in Nigeria, the company will between July and September, 2012, give out a brand new Toyota Avensis car to her top volume buyers in each month. That makes a total

•Nissan Almera C M Y K

of three brand new Toyota Avensis cars for the duration of the promo.

Also, unique instant gifts would go out with every vehicle purchased over the same period.

Also speaking at the occasion, Mr Olu Tikolo, Marketing Director, Elizade Motors explained that the Anniversary promo “is all about the Elizade customer and loyalists.”

The Marketing Director also stated that a Customer Appreciation Night would be held later in the year to appreciate and reward loyal customers over the past six years. At the Customer Appreciation Night, Elizade Nigeria Limited’s top forty-one customers over the past six years would be appreciated with various mouth-watering gifts.

The highest volume buyer over the past six years, being the last time the company celebrated her

•Toyota Avensis anniversary, would also go home with a brand new Toyota Avensis. This makes a total of four brand new Toyota Avensis cars, in addition to several goodies, the

premier auto-dealer would be giving out during the period.

According to information obtained from the Elizade Nigeria Limited website, Elizade

Nigeria Limited started business as an automobile marketing company in 1971. Over the years, the company has consistently been marketing, selling and servicing Toyota

vehicles in Nigeria.

Today, they are ranked the number one Toyota dealer in Nigeria and are the only surviving auto dealer from amongst her contemporaries.

Alliance Autos, Sun Motors present all-new Nissan Almera

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ISSAN customers, friends of Alliance Autos and Sun Motors last Thursday gathered at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island to witness the unveiling of the allnew Almera sedan. The all-new Almera is powered by a 1.5 litre engine and available with either a five speed manual or four speed automatic transmission.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Alliance Autos, Mr. Ian Middleton x-rayed the qualities of the sedan which he described as new benchmark in the B auto segment, especially with its interior space, safety features, road handling and comfort.

"Though the new Almera is designed to compete in the B-Class segment, it has features that are comparable to cars in the C and D-Class segments, “With beautiful interior and design, the all-new Almera handles like a typical big sedan,” he said, adding that the Almera has no rival in its class.

Also speaking on the occasion, the General Manager, Sun Motors Limited, Mr. Pankaj Arora, a Nissan dealer thumbed up for Nissan for coming up with a Compact Sedan that meets customers demands in every ramifications.

He said: “Its styling is definitely a case of ‘form follows function’. This means that you will only appreciate the Almera’s funky, unconventional lines only after you take a look at the amount of legroom the rear passengers get, and the huge, almost 500 litre boot. To put things into perspective, the Almera probably has more rear legroom and a larger boot than a full-sized executive sa-

loon such as a MercedesBenz E-Class.

“What’s more, the Almera stretches its boot further back than other cars in its class-allowing it to have such a luxury look with stylistical cues taken from the Nissan Teana, though this does little to disguise the Almera’s unusual proportions.

“And true to its Japanese heritage and

mechanical efficiency, the Almera has proved to be very economical to run, and low in fuel consumption. So, despite being larger and more spacious than its rivals, the Almera weighs between 15 to 55kg lighter than its rivals! Sometimes it is the simple solutions like reducing weight and improving efficiency that work best as they are tried and tested”

VON plans big for Sub-Sahara Africa •Continues from page 40

foreign investment, spearheaded by her parent company and has further made a projection of over N20billion, provided the economic landscape enhances industrial sector growth.

“The policy direction of the government with regards to port reforms, tariff structure and economic policies will determine the pace at which these ideals are realised,” he said.

Also adding that the assemblage of potent economic team by the present administration is unprecedented in the country ’s history, Mr. Aromolaran said, government’s initiative

towards stimulating commercial activities and investment inflow has been encouraging.

VON Automobiles who recently secured assembly arrangements with Ashok Leyland of India, Hyundai of Korea, Volkswagen of Germany and FOTON of China employs about 300 Nigerians directly and indirectly. This by implication means that the plant could assemble various models from the select brands’ stables.

Mr. Aromalaran is however convinced that the first phase of the plant is in full swing, refurbished and installed with new production machines for efficient operation.

“We reiterate that the core activity of VON Automobile Nigeria Limited is the assembly of automobiles and manufacture of automobile components required to economically facilitate local production.

This implies substantial local value added, gradual substitution of locally manufactured components for goods hitherto wholly imported,” he affirmed.

The legislatures who were led by the chairman, House Committee on Privatization, Hon. Khadijia Bukar Abba Ibrahim said the visit was to ascertain the level of compliance with Federal Government’s directives on privatized companies.

42— Vanguard, TUESDAY,JULY 10, 2012

By RUTH CHUKWUEMEKA

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HE Police at Kirikiri, Lagos, last Thursday created a rare record for the force after it descended on hoodlums that have been terrorizing motorists along Mile 2, Otto Warf-Berger Yard axis on the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway.

In an operation that resulted into pandemonium following staccato sounds of gunshots, motorists and passers-by who were going home after the day’s hectic struggle, scampered for safety in different directions as the battle-ready policemen engaged the hoodlums in a fierce fight for supremacy.

At the end of the exchange of fire, three persons said to be leaders of the criminal gang that have been terrorizing motorists on the highway were arrested. Rumpled wads of naira notes in different denominations which they allegedly snatched from their unsuspecting victims and assorted makes of telephone sets were recovered from the criminals.

Swift operation

The Suspects

Police swoop on highway robbers at Oshodi/Apapa Expressway

The highlight of the swift operation which lasted for barely one hour was the uproarious response of members of the public after the police men succeeded in arresting some of the hoodlums. Eye witness accounts said as soon as cars popularly called ‘Tokunbo’ the policemen pounced on the and extort money from them. criminals, the crowd that gathered Truck drivers are not left out as went wild with jubilation, pour- these criminals always extort varing encomiums on the police for, ious sums of money from them. at last saving them from the con- They only spare those of them that stant attacks by the are with uniformed hoodlums. Crime escorts.”

Alert gathered that Another female victhe jubilant crowd foltim who identified lowed the police men herself as Madam to their Kirikiri station Patience, an adminwhere the three susistrative staff of the pects were detained.

Customs said she Police sources said had been having harthe operation was as rowing and bitter ena result of complaints counters with the of incessant attacks ‘hungry-looking by people that make boys’ that waylay use of the ever-busy motorists especially highway daily. A moat the Otto-Wharf torist who refused to Truck drivAxis of the highway. disclose his identity intimated that he had ers are not hey have at suffered several at- left out as tacked me intacks on the highway side my car severally especially from 7pm these crimi- and I have lost huge till 9pm while in the nals always sums of money and traffic gridlock that alcostly trinkets. Their ways take place on extort varistyle is to besiege that particular portion ous sums of your car and start of the highway. pounding heavily, According to him, money from demanding for monthis group of hag- them. They ey from the occugard-looking boys alpants. Woe betide ways occupied a only spare you if your car was space on the median not wound up, they those of at the highway and as would simply bransoon as the traffic them that dish any of the danstarts building up, gerous weapons they they would attack ev- are with carry with them and ery motorist at sight. uniformed after that, dispossess They also pounce on you of all your bedrivers of fairly used escorts longings. Many peo-

••arrest three kingpins, recover loot

T

CP Lagos State, Umar Manko

the hoodlums started again. We were also told that in most cases, some of them that were arrested always ended up being set free after the intervention of their military accomplices from the nearby army formation where they live.

Traffic along Apapa-Oshodi Road

ple that resisted them have been shot or harmed with different weapons. Some have even been killed.”

Some journalists working with the media houses that surround the area also narrated their daily plight in the hands of these hoodlums. One of them said some of their editors have fallen victims to the terror being unleashed by these criminals. It was also gathered that a prominent Editor in one of the newspapers narrowly missed being attacked after he brandished some of the security weapons he used to carry inside his car when they accosted him.

They said they are being forced to leave their offices for their respective homes daily around midnight to avoid being attacked at the hold-up.

However, a car dealer at Berger yard, Mazi Osondu told Crime Alert that the agonizing aspect of

the ugly development is that the criminals always attack motorists in the full glare of some policemen including those in Rapid Response vehicles who are stationed on top of Mile 2 bridge.

“It is a well known fact that these criminals operate without caring that policemen were there and the policemen look the other way while they terrorize people brazenly.

Extortion of motorists “Those policemen concentrate their efforts in extorting money from motorists that ply one-way only while armed robbers are allowed to freely attack and maim innocent people. There was a time we took up the issue with police authorities at Festac, they came and raided them for some days and as soon as they stopped,

W

hat we think will put a final stop to this is for the police authorities to station an APC at Otto-Wharf with mobile policemen on stand-by permanently. By so doing, these bad boys would stop killing and maiming people. This prevailing ugly situation accounted for the response of the crowd after some policemen from Kirirkiri raided there last Thursday. Let us hope it will continue.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that after the suspects were thrown into a cell at Kirikiri Police station, another suspect inside the cell quickly identified one of them as the person that robbed him few weeks back at the same area. Police sources said the arrested suspects will be handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Ikeja for further investigation and prosecution while assuring that the police raid will continue.

When contacted, Lagos State Police image maker, Ngozi Braide, confirmed that some suspects were arrested but assured that she would give details later.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY10, 2012 —43

BY OGBONNA AMADI Entertainment Editor amadi_o@yahoo.com

Tu Face goes full time 'Clubbing' T

HE Guv'nor of Niteshift Coliseum, Ken Caleb Olumese may soon have a good competitor breathing down his neck sooner than he knows. And the competitor is none other than the ace musician Tuface Idibia who has decided to go headlong into the nightclubbing business.

Already the ace musician and multi-awards winning crooner is said to have recently acquired La Cachette Club located at 15 Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja and has renamed it Club Rumours.

The word running wild now is that the romantic dad is just cleaning up talks to wrap up owning another club, in his own hood of Festac Town. And if words are anything worth a dime the Club on the shooting range of the musician may very well be the Comfort Suites where he and most of his pals hang out whenever they are in the hood (Festac).

Even long before now it is known that Tuface's favourite hang-out is Comfort Suites.

•Tu Face

•Spiderman

The Amazing Spider-Man climbs to No 1

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There, him, Faze and others meet. Most Friday nights, it is a kind of wild orgy of partying for the music makers at this

Comfort Suites.

The reasonable question is: if they love the spot so bad why not own it

HE Amazing Spider-Man caught more than a few flies in its web over the weekend. About $65 million worth of flies, in fact, as audiences flocked to Marvel’s latest superhero flick, making it the No. 1 movie at the box office over the weekend.

Peter Parker knocked Seth McFarlane’s Ted down a notch, as the raunchy comedy took in $32.5 million for second place.

Oliver Stone’s crime drama, Savages, debuted over the weekend to the tune of $16.1 million, landing in fourth place behind Brave, which pulling in $20.1 million.

Don Jazzy splashes cash on Twitter M

ICHAEL ‘Don Jazzy ’ Ajereh is a man who has come a long way to where he is today. In fact he is a made man who knows how to spend money but not just on the good things of life and on himself the former Mo Hits Records boss has shown he has the large heart to reach out to people a little less fortunate than himself as he did on Twitter last week.

On Tuesday, he caused mother luck to shine on some of his followers when he asked for their account details after they complained that they were broke. A few hours later, five lucky fans who had received deposit alerts tweeted back at him in appreciation.

One of the beneficiaries, identified as Mr. Adeyemi, claimed that the star producer sent N100, 000 to him. Another f a n , @tweetlawunmi, expressed her gratitude in a tweet saying, “Thank You. Thank you!

Thank You! God bless y o u abundantly.

The gesture has spurred frenzy on Twitter, as

numerous persons have been asking Jazzy for money, giving various reasons.

Although some may see this as a publicity drama, Jazzy says he is only trying to put smiles on the faces of his fans.

He says, “I do not want this to be perceived as a public relations stunt. I prefer to do my things in a quiet manner.

I have sent money before but because this was on timeline it got public. It just so happened that some of them requested for money. It was on the spur of the moment and not planned at all.

Many others have asked for advice, record deals and many different things, I just try and do the little I can.”

•Don Jazzy

In the last few years, Don Jazzy has wormed his way into the hearts of many fans, giving out recharge cards and shopping vouchers. Such gestures may be responsible for his having almost 300,000 followers. This makes him the

Nigerian celebrity with the highest number of Twitter fans, more than Asa, Genevieve, Dbanj and Wizkid.

But he hints that he is not stopping yet as he already has a few account details in his Twitter message box.

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes divorce saga I

T has been exactly one week since Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, five years after their fairy tale wedding in an Italian castle. Now their divorce saga is being played out in the media like a fairy tale, with Holmes the fair princess escaping the evil villain, her Scientologist husband Cruise.

Over the past seven days, international headlines have included “Katie Holmes Escapes Camp Cuckoo,” “Katie Protecting Suri From ‘Spy’ Training,” and “Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Divorce: What Makes Clever Women Stick By Creeps For So Long?”

So why is it that Cruise, who is known, particularly in reporter circles, for being consistently kind, gracious and accommodating (qualities not always found among the A-list),

being portrayed as an evil, controlling figure?

“Tom Cruise will be painted as the bad guy in the narrative about his divorce from Katie Holmes irrespective of any facts that may emerge.

His comments about mental well-being and his connection with the Church of Scientology all combine to make him appear to be kooky to many people and that image now fits into any storyline that involves his name,” PR guru Gene Grabowski told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column.

Human behavior guru Dr. Patrick Wanis concurred that regardless of what happens as the custody battle goes down, Holmes will always have the advantage of public opinion on her side.

•Tom Cruise

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

Public sector employees complain of increased tax deductions

Govt gets even with Okada riders through number plates scarcity •Tri-cycles too, as registration goes for N11,000

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BY BOSE ADELAJA

‘I

HAVE combed the nooks and crannies of Lagos State in search of a number plate for my newly purchased motorcycle but luck was not on my side,” lamented Mr. Rilwan Elugbaju, an intending Okada rider in Lagos Island.

He has just lost his job as a cashier in a new generation bank and was eager to offset some bills.

However, all his effort to get his vehicle registered with Lagos State government has proved abortive for the past three months.

This is the plight of an average motorcyclist and tricycle operator in Lagos as scarcity of number plates for both motorcycle and tricycle has been witnessed for the past six months. Operators are bothered that this might be another ploy by the State government to get them off the streets of Lagos since the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday May 4, 2012 did not favour the State government.

Some of the riders who spoke

•Okada riders in Lagos...government deliberately hoarding number plates?

ment was denied by some top officials in the government and the State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Ibrahim Opeifa, did not attend to several calls by Van-

,

Sources in some vehicle registration units said the officials were directed by the State government to stop issuing the number plates in order to get the bikes off the roads

on the development said the situation was capable of crippling their business if it continues unabated. Although the develop-

,

guard, investigations revealed that the number plates for Okada and tricycles are almost out of circulation in the State.

FRSC marshal docked for alleged assault of LASTMA official

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

41 YEAR old Dafe Attuah of 33, Lekki Epe Express Way, Olokola Ajah has been arraigned on a 10-count charge at Magistrate Court 11, Tinubu, Lagos Island over alleged assault of a Lagos State Traffc Management Authority, LASTMA, official and a police officer at Ajah area of the state.

The accused, Attuah, who claimed to be a Federal Road Safety special marshal, a Delta State indigene, at about 6:30am last Thursday, July 5, 2012, drove a Toyota Camry Saloon car with number plate RH 435 AAA in a direction prohibited by law (one way) from Abraham Adesanya junction to Ajah Uturn, and when stopped by LASTMA officials for contravening road traffic law, he became C M Y K

violent and also resisted arrest.

Attuah, who had his FRSC marshal wrist band stripped on, subsequently mobilized area boys numbering about 15 on motorbikes to the scene of the incident and unleashed mayhem on LASTMA official, Gbenga Elewuro and a police officer, Seyi Adeniran. In the pandemonium that ensued, Elewuro was flogged with objects suspected to be charms, inflicted with bodily injuries with cuts on his hand and leg.

The offender, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Kusamo, thereby admitted his bail request on criminal and traffic charges and granted him bail . However, Attuah who could not immediately meet his bail terms was remanded in custody.

Meantime, the cost of procuring the number plates are no longer uniform at the vehicle registration centres as the product is said to be hoarded by some unscrupulous government officials.

Also, it has gone beyond its official price of N4,500 (Four Thousand Five Hundred Naira) to between N11,500 (Eleven Thousand Five Hundred) and N17,000 (Seventeen Thousand Naira) depending on the location.

Sources in some vehicle registration units said the officials were directed by the State government to stop issuing the number plates in order to get the bikes off the roads. The scarcity has forced many intending riders and operators to travel to neighbouring states like Ogun, Osun and Oyo to get their vehicles registered but such effort have been thwart-

ed as Lagos State government has now placed a ban on such registration.

For the past one month, vehicle registration officials in the State have been arresting motorcycles and tricycles with number plates outside Lagos while they are liable to a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) or face the risk of being grounded.

Wole Adetokunbo who has just registered his Okada said he registered his vehicle last Monday though he has been on the ‘queue’ since March. Apart from the fact that he got the vehicle registered at the rate of N17, 300, the Lagos number plate was issued at Ogijo in Ogun State. “I was surprised when a government official at Ogijo promised to get me a Lagos number plate which he fulfilled on June 27,” he said.

OME public sector em ployees in Lagos have lamented an increase in the tax deductions from their monthly salaries, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports. Some of the workers told NAN in Lagos that since the announcement of a new tax regime by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, their monthly tax deductions have gone up.

It would be recalled that the amended Personal Income Tax Act, PITA, which mandates the President, the vice president, governors, their deputies and other political office holders to pay taxes on their allowances, took effect from April 1. President Goodluck Jonathan on June 14 signed the Act into law, making it the first major amendment to the income tax law since 1979.

Mr. Abiodun Elegushi, a midcareer civil servant, said that instead of a reduction in his tax, as stated in the regime, the tax deducted from his monthly pay has continued to go up every month. He said: “Since the announcement of a new tax regime by the Federal Government, what was being deducted from my salary has doubled. This is affecting the little that I earn.

We were glad that the PITA (Amendment Bill) will provide some succour to Nigerian workers who have been over-burdened as a result of the obsolete tax regime that was in operation.”

Elegushi said that the signing into law of the Bill was a positive development for the welfare of Nigerian workers, but regrettably, it was not making the expected impact.

Lagos starts real mortgage administration soon

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

P

ROSPECTIVE home owners in the cadre of low income earners in Lagos may soon have cause to smile, as the Lagos State Government is set to evolve the first ever real mortgage administration patterned in line with what obtains in advanced countries of the world to drive the mass housing delivery scheme of the government.

State Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje, who made this known in a chat with media men in his office, weekend, noted that what obtained in the country’s real estate finance before now could at best be described as flexible payment of housing loan as against mortgage in its real sense. Jeje said the state government was con-

vinced that apart from challenges that land availability and funding pose to mass housing delivery, the financial capability of the masses to acquire the houses of their dreams was another major challenge.

He said it was in this regard that the government has resolved to apply the principles of real mortgage which would enable allottees spread the payment of their mortgage over a period of 10 to 15 years as a lasting solution.

On public private partnership in housing delivery, the commissioner said the private sector is being carried along on the journey aimed at bridging the estimated five million deficit in housing provision in the state. He cited the example of the Elegant Court, Ikota with 72 housing units of three- bedroom flats commissioned last year as evidence of the private sector participation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012— 45

Ex-army General killed in Lagos

S

•Lekki toll plaza...unending traffic jam for residents of the Lekki-Epe road

7 months after tolling, traffic jam still cripples Lekki

BY EBUN SESSOU

B

ARELY seven months after commencement of tolling on Lekki-Epe Road, residents in the area have continued to groan under the traumatic traffic logjam on the route daily.

This is due largely to traffic jam to and from the area as a result of the bureaucratic process that makes it compulsory for users to obey all the rules and regulations while passing the road.

Users of the road including business men and women, corporate bodies, traders, students face the same rigour everyday just to make use of the road, resulting in loss of long man-hours.

Juliana, a resident of Epe area of Lagos, like any other trader who shuttles from a far distance to the Lagos Island for her daily bread pays on a daily basis. Because of this particular problem, the fares that used to be N400

BRIEFS 500 FRSC men for 3rd Mainland Bridge

N

O fewer than 500 offic ers of the FRSC have been drafted to assist in the management of traffic during the five months repair work on the third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The officers would be complementing the efforts of 700 men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. According to Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC the men would be at the diversion, repair site and alternative roads to ensure smooth traffic operations. Akpabio re-assured Lagos residents maximum security and urged people to bear with the situation.

C M Y K

from Epe to CMS is now N800 no thanks to the Lekki toll gate that was constructed by Lagos State Government and Lekki Concession Company, LCC, just as the new no-subsidy regime on Petrol exacerbated the problem.

Speaking with Vanguard, Juliana didn’t mince words as she shares her ugly experiences especially since the commencement of the toll. She said: “this hardship is becoming unbearable for residents of this area because the road that was meant to be a service oriented project has suddenly

become a thorn in the flesh. For a man to go for proper shopping, he needs to get to Obalende, Sura, Apongbon, Balogun areas of Lagos Island.”

Another terrible scene is the traffic jam that occurs between Ikota first gate and Ajah round about. Vanguard gathered that individuals who ply that road spend more than three hours in the traffic.

Mrs. Augusta Idris, a resident in Ajah area who shared her experience, said: “I leave my house as early as 4.30am just to escape

the traffic, unfortunately, I still encounter it whenever I am coming back from my office.”

Also, a commercial driver, Mr. Ramoni Mufutau told Vanguard that people go through the stress everyday because the state government has refused to provide alternative routes to ease off stress.

He said that most of the existing routes are within Abraham Adesanya area but are now death traps thereby forcing people to go through traffic rigour on a daily basis.

YLVESTER K. Iruh, a retired Brigadier-General of the Army was on Saturday July 7, reportedly killed at the popular Berger Bridge on the outskirts of Lagos by those suspected to be hoodlums as he attempted to attend to his car.

He was said to be returning from Ilorin when his car had a flat tyre.

According to an eyewitness account, the slain Army General, a devout Baptist was returning from a burial ceremony of a member of his church when the incident happened at about 7pm.

According to the account, BrigGeneral Sylvester Iruh suddenly had a flat tyre as he approached the Long Berger Bridge near the cattle market. As he attempted to attend to the tyre with the help of three of his church members in the vehicle, he was alerted by a concerned motorist, an owner of a towing van who plies the road regularly to quickly hop into his car and leave the area as it is a “black spot”, a notorious den of criminal gangs who rob, stab,and kill their victims in cold blood.”

The witness further narrated that on getting the alert from concerned motorists, the retired Army General who hails from Boji-Boji Owa, near Agbor, in Ika North-East of Delta State, and retired in January 2009, immediately asked other occupants hop into the car so the manage the faulty car out of the “danger zone.”

You and the land use charge •Lawmakers, landlords say more enlightenment campaigns needed

BY EBUN SESSOU

I

NCREASING demand for provision of urban and rural infrastructures and other expenditures have dictated that governments at all levels and world over to raise funds through taxation. In Nigeria, Lagos State Government passed into law land use charge on property within its territory to increase internally generated funds.

However, Lagosians are of the opinion that the theories surrounding the land use charge are ambiguous and, therefore, it should be reviewed.

A landlord in Lekki area of Lagos State laments that the exorbitant charges of the land use charge he pays yearly is crippling his business. He said: “Lagos State government is tormenting people in the state with its different laws. If such continues, it might cripple the affairs of the state”.

In an interview, a Lagos lawmaker and Chairman House committee on physical planning and urban development representing Apapa 1 constituency, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, said it is important that Lagosians know what the law says concerning land use charge so as to support the government of the land to achieve its desired goals.

Egberongbe said: “The land use charge is put in place as a composite of all cases related to land use in the state including the tenement rate, capital gains, neighbourhood development charge amongst others. Such are collected in a pool and disbursed between the State and the Local government”.

Swift and prompt payment He explained that the land use charge came following the opinion of the state that the local government does not have the manpower to collect monies coming from the land related cases and instead of replicating this cost across the twenty local government and fifty-seven LCDAs, the State government took up the responsibility in a way to allow for conveniences and administrative purposes.

However, he noted that, the essence of the land use charge allows for swift and prompt payment as against the rigorous exercise of wanting to pay for various land activities across the local government in the state. Such that a particular region will not be underdeveloped compared to other areas of the state”.

Therefore, landowners are saddled with the responsibility of paying the land use charge because it allows for relationship between the landowners and the government. Adding that it is an annual payment guided by law.

Hon. Alimi Kazeem Ademola member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa 1 is of the opinion that the land use charge is guided by law regardless of either it is a first or second tier government, which must be collected on properties adding that the charge is based on the values of the property.

His words: “Land owners should be enlightened and informed on the use of the law. The fact is that Lagos is growing everyday and it is that population that determines the infrastructural growth, and looking at the federal government statutory allocation in the state, there is little the state can do. The law permits the State to collect a certain rate as either tenement or land use charge and since the law permits, then people should be ready to pay whether it is convenient or not. The important thing is that Lagosians want to see the effect of the money they are paying in the State and in Lagos state the effect on taxes charge are use for obvious reasons.”

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

The unbreakable cord (3) about three weeks.

He told me his father had been hospitalised and wanted him around as everybody had assumed that he would not survive the illness.

I had gone to Awka then to see my parents as there was nothing much to do in school.

However, I didn’t remember him giving

,

H

i, The story you are reading reminds me of one of the best home movies I ever saw, Unfinished Business, featuring Genevieve and Desmond Eliot.

Today, it has become a trend among the rich, famous or powerful to pair off their children in marriage in order to consolidate a relationship or to ensure that they remain within a certain circle in s o c i e t y .

Dear reader, your views/ reaction/or contribution to this story and trend is very much welcome.

Please write and share it with us. Send your contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007 Apapa, Lagos, or our email address: humananglepage@yahoo.com Please stay glued to this page. Happy reading!

Ekanem, (29), shares her classic love story: Later in the evening when Akin returned from work, I took him into the room and showed him the things. At first, he denied knowledge about them. He pretended that he was thinking for a few moments then told me that they belonged to one of his friend’s girlfriend.

According to him, he had borrowed them the flat when he was visiting Lagos for a few weeks some months back. He had discovered them on his return and informed the guy who had promised to pick them up. He added that his house boy must have kept them there as he had handed them over to him for safekeeping on the guy’s behalf.

It was true that he had gone to Lagos and spent

registered in my brains.

I just continued to stare at the Naira notes in my hands. It was N2000.

I called the houseboy who had been washing clothes at the back of the house and took him into confidence. He told me that the wedding was billed for the following month.

It is true that they had

He explained that he was being forced to marry Tosin by his parents, it was like a political arrangement of sort, Tosin’s father and his, were political and business associates

the flat to a friend. It was also funny that his house boy did not remember anything about the owners or the circumstances surrounding its being there. I had to accept his explanation, though I wasn’t satisfied.The suspension however wasn’t to last for too long as series of events unfolded before me, over the next two weeks.

The reality of Tosin and their coming wedding, hit me in the face.

The next Saturday, someone came calling.

As fate would have it, Akin was not at home. I received the message on his behalf. The guy did not know me and I guess he didn’t care to know.

He just told me carelessly that he wanted to drop his money for the ‘Aso Ebi’ and wanted to know if he could drop it with me. I had to demand for more explanation. Though he looked a bit taken aback, he told me it was for THE wedding, Akin’s wedding!

I was shocked to my bones as the meaning

,

taken Aso ebi. It was taking place in Lagos, which is also where the bride and her family reside. He said that he had been itching to tell me but had not been able to summon up courage. He asked me not to mention him when discussing the matter with Akin or, he could be sacked.

I was so numb I couldn’t cry as I waited for Akin to return home. Deep down in me, I wished he would come and dismiss all I’d heard with a wave of the hand, telling me was all lies. But he didn’t, when he returned and I confronted him with the facts.

He only fell on his knees with his face in his hands. I asked him why he had not told me about it all these while.

And why he had to wait until I found him out by myself. He said he just couldn’t bring himself to tell me because he was scared of how I might take the news. He confessed that even when I started getting signals and I confronted

him, he wished he could admit it, but he just couldn’t simply because he did not want to end our relationship.

He explained that he was being forced to marry Tosin by his parents. It was like a political arrangement of sort, he said. Tosin’s father and his were political and business associates. He had met Tosin a few years back at a social gathering and they had fixed a date as they seemed to have got along very well at the time. He swore he genuinely liked her at the time.

Soon, they started dating with their parents’ knowledge more or less. However, what he assumed would be a normal boy meet girl thing, turned out to mean so much to his father. It generated so much interest from unexpected quarters too and everybody seemed very excited about it.

Unfortunately, the more people assumed the relationship was heading for the alter, the more resentful he became about it. Tosin herself did not help matters as she just went about town with the assumption that they were already a couple.

The more he wanted to call the relationship off, the more impossible it became.

Before he knew it, there were talks about their wedding all over the place. The story was on all lips that cared to listen to his parents.

Sometimes, relatives and friends would just call him and ask if they had fixed a date for the wedding yet. And even when he tried to explain to them that he did not think Tosin and himself could have a successful marriage as he did not love her, the more determined their parents were to pair them off.

They informed him that love had nothing to do with marriage, but tolerance. All women are the same.

To be continued Asisted by Onozure Dania

Friends Searching Males •Success, 23, resides in Lagos, needs a responsible and God fearing Christian girl, aged 18- 21, for a serious relationship.07035418770, 08189042202 •Ahmed, 18, tall, slim, chocolate in complexion, God fearing, a Muslim and resides in Abuja, needs a lady that is God fearing for a serious relationship, aged 18-20. 08188729917, 08068956240 •Hukwdi, 28, good looking and active, needs a good looking lady, that is comfortable for a relationship, aged 25-45, in Lagos.08168339184 •Abolaji, a graduate, Muslim and self employed in printing, married with kids, but needs a practicing Muslim Yoruba woman, aged 30-35, be his second wife.08058254389 •Dickson, 27, from Delta state, needs a rich and caring lady, for a relationship. 08160626301, 0 8 0 8 1 5 2 4 5 8 8 , 0 8 1 6 0 6 2 6 3 0 1 •Dominic, 21, handsome and resides in Onitsha, needs a lady, who will love him. 08130058388 •Charles, from Delta state, needs a lady, who

C M Y K

Creating attraction with men

BY ONOZURE DANIA

D

O you know that there are secrets about men that lots of women don’t know?

And that is, when a man is not attracted to a woman and all her efforts or attempts to share a connection, to convince him to like her and to feel and share love with her, are useless.

They don’t only do not work, but they can actually make things worse and this can be a very painful and frustrating situation in a relationship.

Women develop certain strategies that they think are going to work to get a man’s interest and attention.

One of the strategies is bribery. Often times you see women trying to be nice, by buying gifts, clothes and shoes for the guy. Doing his laundering, cooking or doing something to show a man how much she loves and thinks about him. Such as helping him solve some personal problem without him asking or running errands for him.

If you have a man that you like in a romantic way and he does not feel the same for you and you continue to do nice things for him, he is not likely to like you more but will most likely distance himself from you.

Another weak strategy is trying to convince him.

This is when you tell a man how you really feel about him and how much you want to be with him and hopes that he will see the light and pro-

claim his feelings for you too.

As if that’s part of the necessary process of getting a guy. Men know when they are getting vibes that a woman is into them.

And for the most part, they feel it’s harmless and maybe even mildly flattering. But when you start pursuing him and talking about how you feel, you create negative tension. He will get thatyike feeling and withdraw. And finally, that is where free sex comes in.

Another name for this is friends with benefits. You are using sex to try to make a man have feelings for you.

After all, the more you are with him that way, the deeper your feelings get for him. So why should it not work the same way for him?

The reality is that men can often be physically intimate with a woman and not even be thinking of relationship at all. To him, it’s just sex, its fun and feels nice and if he’s NOT feeling real emotional attraction for you, he will disappear as soon as you start asking for anything deeper or real. Worst still, when they say something about you that you never intended, that you are desperate or needy, even if you never considered yourself that way.

On the other hand, there are certain mindsets that women who are naturally successful in love have that attraction that draws men’s attention and interest.

These beliefs or mindsets trigger a very powerful response in a man. It tells him that this is a woman who is self assured and knows what she wants and how to get it.

r e l a t i o n s h i p . 0 8 1 5 8 3 2 8 5 2 7

•Kelvin, 24, handsome, fair in complexion and

resides in Abuja, for a serious relationship.

0 8 0 6 4 4 7 0 7 8 9 •Augustine, from Asaba, needs a lady, to take care of his needs.08064310579 •Maxwell, 24,handsome, needs a sexy, caring and employed lady, aged 27-35, for a •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

resides in Benin, needs a caring lady, for a r e l a t i o n s h i p . 0 8 0 6 1 6 7 2 4 2 7 •Berry, resides in Enugu, needs a caring and loving lady, that will take ver y good care of him 0 7 0 6 1 1 7 6 8 6 1 •Mike, 6ft tall, chocolate in complexion, energetic, humble, hardworking, gentle and God fearing, needs a rich and well connected , nice, lovely , romantic and neat lady, who can take care of him financially, aged 30-40, for a serious relationship.

08037457650 •Kunle, 34, resides in Lagos, needs a sexy, caring, beautiful and employed lady, aged 40- 45, for a serious relationship.08159610847 •Emeka, 27, from Enugn state, needs a caring, loving and sexy lady.08094495766 •Felix, 27, a student from Delta state, needs a lady, from, eastern state, aged 38-48, for a relationship.

08176416241,07052432313

C M Y K

Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

GEMINI; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

CANCER; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

LEO; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

VIRGO; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money. Try to be more diplomatic.

LIBRA; If care is not taken you would mislead others while you are close to minor but costly mistakes. The more practical you are the better.

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JULY 10, 2012—47

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

E

VERYONE of us has talent(s) given to us by God, our maker. And God expects us to apply the talent He gave us. He wants us to trade with it and make profit. He expects us to bless humanity with what He

The sin of laziness has blessed us with.

When we refuse to use the talent given us by God, we are not better than that child that refused the employment given him after all the investment on him by his father.

TERROR MUDA

Remember the parable of the talent?

One of the lessons of that parable is that God abhors laziness.

And that is why He took the only talent he gave one for refusing to trade with his one

in “Never say goodbye”

talent and added it to that of five.

Laziness is a sin.

Come to think of it: what could be more sinful than someone refusing to bless humanity with God’s blessing on him?

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

SCORPIO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly.

SAGITTARIUS ;It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you no matter how genuine their intention.

Watch what you do with your, career/business lines and health.

CAPRICORN; Take it easy along your career/business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for. Take your social life seriously.

AQUARIUS; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

PISCES; Miscalculation is possible that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

ARIES; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money. Watch what you tell others.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you’re more practical .

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

Analyse my health please!!!

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

Abbey, Benin.

Dear Abbey, According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit.

Thanks for your commendation Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic self-hood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache . Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age. While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously. Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

48—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

INSTALLATION—From left: Rotn Kennedy Ejakpomewhe, Immediate Past District Governor; new District Governor, Rotn Kamoru Omotosho, his wife, Susan during installation of Rotn Kamoru Omotosho as the new District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria for 2012-2013 in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Rotn Femi Fadipe and his wife, Wemimo, during handling over of the 2012/13 Presidency of the Rotary Club of Egbe District 9110, Nigeria to Fadipe.

Subsidy: Reactions trail report as marketers canvass full deregulation

Rights activists want Jonathan to recognize MKO as elected president

BY INNOCENT ANABA

R

EACTIONS have con tinued to trail report of the technical committee on payment of fuel subsidy, set up by the Minister of Finance, to verify the 2011 fuel subsidy payments to oil marketers, led by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

While the report, which indicted 88 firms had been faulted, oil marketers have called for full deregulation of the oil sector as the solution to the subsidy infractions.

The report had indicted the firms for allegedly collecting subsidies without auditors’ signature, evidence of Bill of Lading documents, evidence of bank sales and transaction disclaimed by banks.

Some of the marketers, alleged to have imported petrol using what the committee termed “dead ships” were Valviza Petroleum Limited, Alminnur Resources Limited, Eurafric Coastal Services Limited, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, Sifax Oil and Gas Company Limited, Pinnacle Contractors Limited and Top Oil and Gas Development Company Limited.

The committee said subsidies paid on the seven transactions amounted to N8.138 billion.

The committee had said, “unless the affected companies are unable to prove otherwise and show evidence of the existence of the mother vessels, they should refund subsidies received'.

Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agency’s, PPPRA, role in approving the

subsidy payments for the transactions should also be investigated.”

Meanwhile, oil market-

ers, have faulted the report, describing it as shoddy and hasty. They claimed that the Aig-Imoukhuede commit-

tee did not invite them for clarifications on some conclusions reached by the committee.

Communal clash: Enugu closes schools

BY CYRIL OZOR

N

SUKKA—ENUGU State government has closed down about 16 primary and one secondary schools, as well government offices, including the local government secretarait in Ette, a border community with Kogi and Benue States following disturbances by some of the indigenes agitating to be merged with Kogi State.

According to sources, the area which is in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state was populated by Igbo, Idoma and Igalla communities who had been inter-marrying for ages.

An indigene of Etteh, Mr Tony Ogidi is cuurently representing the Igboeze North 11 Constituency in the Enugu State House of A s s e m b l y .

However, the agitation by a section of the community to be merged with Kogi State started sometime in 1980, during the administration of Chief Jim Nwobodo as governor of old Anambra State, just as the Igbo speaking part of the area had been opposing them, insisting that merging them with Kogi State would put them in minorit y .

Sources told Vanguard that the matter which had

defied political solution was thrown out by the Supreme Court on February 8, 2007 for lack of jurisdiction.

The court in its ruling read by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu stated that it was the duty of the National Boundary Commission to delieanate boundary between Enugu and Kogi States, prompting the commission to the visit the disputed areas about two years ago.

Other members of the panel which sat on the case at

the Supreme Court included Justices Umaru Kalgo, Mahmood Mohammed, Walter Samuel Onnoghen, Francis Talba and Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed.

It was not known if the boundary commission had made the demacartion but the matter was alleged to have degenerated during the last national census when some youths prevented officials of the National Population Commission, NPC, from coming to the area throughout the exercise.

Clearing agent asks FG to hand over containers' scanning to Customs

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— FORMER Chairman of the Port Harcourt Seaport, Onne chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents, ANLCA, Chief Obi Chima has asked the Federal Government to hand over the scanning of containers at the seaports to the Nigeria Customs and Excise.

Chima who spoke in an interview with Vanguard said it was unpatriotic to ask the firm, SGS, to handle a job which Customs could

execute perfectly, adding that the decision should be rescinded by the Federal G o v e r n m e n t .

According to him, “government can not be talking of 24 hour clearing at the Nigerian ports to avoid congestion when we are experiencing this problem of delay.

'We fear that if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the ugly trend there will another problem of congestion.”

He added, ‘’what SGS is doing can be handled by the Customs and leaving it for Customs will enhance efficiency".

BY EBELE ONUORAH A G O S—H U M A N rights activists have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to recognise the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O Abiola as Nigerian elected President, posthumously. They made the call, weekend, at the laying of wreath on the tomb of late business mogul in commemoration of the 14th year anniversary of his death.

Prof. Wole Soyinka, whose speech was read by Dr. Joe-Odumakin, said it had become expedient to recognize Abiola because of the tribulations he was subjected to in an attempt to reclaim his mandate.

“Let that fact be enshrined in the nation’s record. Chained, immobi-

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lised, isolated and beset by uncertainties, Moshood Abiola proved himself the personification of rare political courage,” Soyinka noted.

President, Women Arise and Coalition for Democracy, CD, Dr Okei-Odumakin listed five conditions the present administration must meet in honouring Abiola for his sacrifice to Nigeria.

According to Odumakin, the conditions include the gazette of June 12 election, post-humously recognise Abiola as democratically elected President with his portrait hang alongside that of ex-head of states, as well as the need for President Jonathan to give effect to the resolution of the past senate that Abuja national stadium be named after him.

Church condemns attacks on Christians

BY ETOP EKANEM & OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS—QUA IBOE (United Evangelical) Church has condemned the incessant attacks on Christians, saying this act is alien to our nature and culture.

Addressing newsmen to mark the commencement of a three-month celebration of the golden jubilee of the church, with the theme: “Repositioning for greater Exploit,” Rev Daniel Akwatang, the Superintendent Pastor, Lagos Superintendency said the act “is a disgrace to humanity and a threat to our corporate existence as a nation.

"We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to make effort to improve se-

curity situation in the country, especially in the north as the country will find it difficult to move forward with the current state of insecurity. It is only in a secured environment that development can take place.”

He said the three-month celebration which kicked off July 9, 2012 will run till October 14, 2012 when the grand finale of the event shall take place at the headquarters church in Surulere, Lagos.

According to Rev Akwatang, activities lined up include: laying the foundation for the multipurpose convention ground; raising funds for the development of the project and giving awards to outstanding contributors to the growth of the church in Lagos.

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Oshiomhole’s forces line up against the ‘godfathers'

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ARELY five days to DDay, the new force in Edo politics as represented by Adams Oshiomhole is putting pressure on the political patriarchs who had until now dictated the political direction of Edo State since creation.

The three pillars of Edo politics - Chief Anthony Anenih, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia – among whom it was was once reported there is no love lost, have recently reconciled to the purpose of checking the new force as posed by Oshiomhole.

Chief Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom and

father of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, it was learnt has been holding marathon meetings with his loyalists in the two Ovia Local Government Councils, at least to ensure that he wins them for the PDP. He is, however, facing serious challenge from the Oshiomhole forces in the ACN marshaled by Elder Sunny Uyigue, a former factional leader of the PDP and former Women Leader of the PDP, Mrs Lucy Omagbon.

The two are believed to be holding the area solidly for the ACN. Oshiomhole’s loyalists in the area say they are ready for the challenge, come July 14,

*Anenih, Igbinedion, Ogbemudia: Oshiomhole in final battle with the godfathers ‘at least to inform Baba that the days of god fatherism are over.'

Anenih’s boys meanwhile, are also fighting all through the state in a desperate battle to prevent the abominable scenario where the Leader

would become a mere spectator in the politics of the state.

The Oshiomhole forces are also contending with the emerging force of Ken Immasuagbon. Immasuagbon who won popular acclaim in

the state through his outspokenness and is hailed as the Rice Man, has reportedly instructed his boys to marshal support for the PDP candidate.

Oshiomhole’s uses helicopter because of bad roads — group

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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OMRADE Adams Oshiomhole’s famed achievement in road

development came under scathing criticism yesterday after a group, the Edo Agenda Movement described his use of helicopter for campaign as a way of avoiding the bad roads in the state.

Oshiomhole is driving Edo with side mirror — Aziegbemi

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RSTWHILE member of the House of Representatives and PDP chieftain, Dr. Aziegbemi says Governor Adams Oshiomhole's repeated denunciation of the years of PDP rule is the attitude of a man driving a car forward but looking at the side mirror.

“Oshiomhole is looking at the side mirror but we in the new PDP are looking at the windscreen of the car. He can keep on looking back but we will keep looking forward,” Aziegbemi said yesterday as he again restated the PDP’s determination to get the victory this weekend.

Challenged on the base of his optimism given the reported infrastructure and development landmarks of the Oshiomhole administration, Aziegbemi retorted: “What has he done, he has touched only about 20 per cent of the landscape, what of the remaining 80 per cent of the state,” the former lawmaker piqued.

Reminded that the PDP administrations before Oshiomhole have been accused of doing nothing, he retorted that he would not like Oshiomhole look at the side mirror. Aziegbemi was nevertheless very hopeful saying: “The last days of C M Y K

Oshiomhole are at hand and we are set to drive him out,” the former lawmaker said.

“Going to Uromi in a chopper that reportedly landed at Ebhoiyi Primary School has questioned the claim by the governor that he has rehabilitated all roads in Edo Central Senatorial District and brought succor to the people,” the group said yesterday in a statement issued in Benin by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Magnus Omohinmi.

“If he had done so, why did he choose to travel in a chopper rather than on the roads he claimed to have rehabilitated? We call on Edo

people to challenge the governor to account between now and Saturday for public funds expended on chartering the chopper; otherwise, they should punish him by denying him their votes during the election on Saturday,” The group which is apparently aligned to the PDP questioned the source of funding for the helicopter saying that it amounted to an undue advantage for the governor over his rivals in the gubernatorial contest.

*Imasuagbon: Rice man

We're not a ‘goat and robber university’, AAU Alumni reply Airhiavbere

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

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ESPITE Gen. Charles Airhiavbere’s assertions that he did not mean to demean the Ambrose Alli University, AAU as a training ground for armed robbers and goats during the final debate, the flaks continue to fly.

In the latest upbraid against the PDP candidate, the alumni association of the university has not only given Airhiavbere a five day deadline to produce a written apology, the body has listed some of the products of the university naming some of the country’s leading lights.

Remarkably, one of the famous products of the university is Airhiavbere’s political soul mate, leading PDP chieftain and Minister of

Works, Arch.

Mike Onolemhemhen.

In the debate last Thursday, Airhiavbere was quoted as saying: “If you train children like goats, they come like goats, if you train them like armed robbers, they come out like armed robbers.”

Comity of tertiary institutions The response of the alumni articulated by Dr. Moses Ujadughe, the Secretary General of the Alumni body said in part: "Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has taken its place of pride in the comity of tertiary institutions in the world and has not at any time become a breeding ground for goats and armed robbers.

“Products of the University

are doing very well in their chosen endeavours. Many are managers of men and materials, captains of industries, seasoned technocrats and worthy public servants. Students and products of the University have won laurels within and outside the country.

For example, our students of Modern Languages have always distinguished themselves in the French villages of Badagry and Port Novo.

“Our law graduates have set unassailable records in the Nigeria law school, our medical students came first in the last medical schools’ competition”, he said, adding: “ what other barometer is needed for the measurement of progress?”

The body listed products of

the university to include among others as Arch. Mike Onolemhemhen, the Minister of Works, renowned lawyer, Festus Keyamo, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome among others.

“These and many others attest to the fact that graduates of our state-owned Ivory Tower are not robbers as claimed by Airhiavbere Charles”, he pointed out.

“This very derogatory statement is capable of eroding the credibility of degrees obtained from this prestigious university, not affecting only those that are currently in pursuit of degrees in this university but the past and future graduates”.

The alumni association also disclosed that the Oshiomhole administration has increased the funding of the university.

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Detoxing: Going green (Part 2) L

AST week we discussed detoxing the body by using green tea as a starting point to flush out toxins and increase liver function. This week we are turning to green foods to continue the cleaning and elimination process. I’m not talking about salad, although from a health standpoint salad is an awesome dish.

There are five green leafy vegetables commonly consumed in different parts of the country and they are:Talinum triangulare (Waterleaf), Corchorus olitorius (Ewedu), Celosia argentea (Soko), Amaranthus hybridus (Ukazi) and Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf).

Another detoxifier offering one of the most potent sources of dark green leafy vegetables is Wheatgrass, and besides having antioxidant and detoxing qualities, contains cancer fighting qualities as well.

Other green foods such as spinach, kale, spirulina (blue-green algae) powder, chard, and arugula, substitutes are other green leafy vegetables, they are rich in vitamins (including vitamin A and vitamin C) and minerals (including iron and calcium) give a boost to your digestive tract because they are filled with Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll also rids the

Drug vans

Julia Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

body of environmental toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, and household cleaning products.

The advantage to eating these kinds of greens is that while they are effective detoxifiers, they also contain essential vitamins and nutrients which will help your body and brain get into and stay in shape.

Most leafy greens can be cooked several ways including stir frying, quick steaming, or boiling. It is important to remember that any kind of steaming or boiling cooks off the vegetable’s ability to perform in your body so quick steaming, or flash steaming, for a few minutes can preserve a lot of the detoxing abilities. They are also good in soups as long as you consume the broth as well as the plant. One of our favorite soups is Pho-, a Vietnamese dish made of

rice noodles and leafy greens steeped in a vegetable broth with added fresh herbs like coriander, hot peppers, and bean sprouts. Another tasty recipe is stir frying greens in olive oil (no substitute) adding in rice and peppers.

Enjoy these recipes or experiment with some of your own. Just remember not to throw out any liquid that you use to steam, steep, or boil your greens in. Furthermore, what we ought to remember and inculcate in ourselves and in our children is that eating green leafy vegetables is important.

While we do not necessarily need to be vegetarians; we just have to eat some vegetables.

Next week we will discuss a very versatile bean, until then stay healthy. nly from eating but from your surroundings.

Continued from Page 43 “Our intention is to see these vans are used to distribute drugs properly. The vans are meant to transport medicines below room temperature about 16-24 degrees centigrade. It is to become an industry standard, but may probably take two decades to catch on.

“NAFDAC would need to mandate and enforce this trend in drug distribution because if it (NAFDAC) requires stability data to approve the drugs and this stability data so it would be logical that at the same time NAFDAC would require whoever is handling the drugs to allow the drugs to be stored at the right temperature before the approval was granted, because if we allow the drugs to be transported above temperatures in the stability data, how do we know that the medicine is good? “ Nigeria is a growing economy and would be a country that would no longer be depending on cheap drugs. It would be a country where people would age, have more money, require and demand more sophisticated medicines which are increasingly dependent on temperature controlled technology,” he asserted

LGAs in Enugu on recruitment drive for health workers

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ETERMINED to improve the quality of life in the thirdtier of government, local councils in Enugu State have recently commenced recruitment of more health workers.

The renewed drive for more staffing came on the heels of the human resource for health workload analysis conducted in January 2012 by the United Kingdom Department for

International Development (DFID) Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS2) project.

Baseline assessments conducted in PATHS2-supported states revealed a skewed distribution of health workers in favour of tertiary and secondary levels of care as well as in favour of urban health facilities.

In Enugu State for example, 50 per cent of the skilled medical and

nursing workforce are in tertiary hospitals. The rest are split between the secondary and primary healthcare facilities, despite their large numbers.

As part of systems strengthening effort, States Ministries of Health and Local Governments are expected to undertake strategic and systematic approaches to ensure an equitable distribution and deployment of the health

personnel based on evidence such as through an analysis of workload in health facilities.

Results from this analysis showed that some LGAs in the State require more health workers, but others need to strengthen their monitoring and supervision systems especially in the primary health centres.

At a stakeholders’ meeting facilitated by the State Ministry of Health to disseminate findings

and recommendations from the analysis, Heads of Department of Health for Uzouwani, Nsukka and Igbo- Etiti LGAs observed that so far in 2012, total number of new health workers recruited for each LGA is : Uzouwani- 57, Igbo-Etiti 75, and Nsukka- 168.

Chairman Nkanu East LGA, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe, during an advocacy meeting by PATHS2 to the council reiterated commitment to tackling the lopsidedness in staffing .

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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O you really believe in marriage? I am divorced now and I find it hard to move on. All the men I know cheat and my husband started cheating on me from the day of his bachelor party with three prostitutes that his friends hired for strip tease. He begged me and I gave him another chance. He has since cheated on me with the house help, my best friend and many others – Felicia Dear Felicia, I am sorry to hear this. Cheating is so common. I always say that the luckiest people in the world are those who do not know that they have been cheated on. When you find out, it can be the worst feeling in the world and this has made a lot of people lose faith in marriage and relationships.

Marriage is tough, but it does have its advantages. It provides the most balanced environment under which children can be raised.

Married people are also statistically happier than single people and live longer. Besides, it enables men and women grow up and start thinking more like adults.

The truth is that anybody can be cheated on, married or not. My advice to you is to start dating again but don’t be in a hurry to get married.

Long term courtships are advisable because they give you adequate time to study your partner and figure out the kind of people they are. So don’t give up. Being loved is a wonderful and healthy feeling that everybody should experience – Uche Last year I bought Size Rx penis enlarger from you and I really liked it. Do you still have it? I have also been hearing about your dating service. Do you set people up? Edwin Yes Edwin, we still have Size Rx. As for our dating service, it is an online service and it is free. We don’t set people up. If you are interested, go to www.zeevirtualmedia.com , click on dating and register. And then you upload a nice picture of yourself with brief information on who you are and the things you

like. Interested members will contact you and you just might meet someone. That is how it works – Uche Good day sir. Thanks for the other time. The Virillis you recommended for me worked very well. My erections are stronger now and I can go multiple rounds without being tired. I want to ask about your penile extensions. How does it work? Can couples who are having sex for the first time use it? Also what kind of product can a virgin use to reduce the pain of first time sex?

Thank you. Oghene Dear Oghene, I am glad you liked Virillis. It is very good. A Penile Extension is an artificial penis that a man with erection problems can wear to have better sex. It is realistic and erect like a real penis with a hole in the middle and anybody can use it. Men who want to have sex for a longer time can use it too. And for the lady who wants to minimise sexual pain, let her use lots of lubricant during intercourse and the man must be gentle. Mood Water Based Lubricant or Smooth and Slick Lubricant are recommended – Uche

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 10, 2012 — 53 TUESDA JULY

Pregnant 3 days after rape Dear doctor,

M

Y girl friend was raped by her cousin. Now, she is pregnant, can one be pregnant three days after sexual intercourse?

Tony, Lagos

Do HIV positive couples need to use condom?

Dear doctor, OCTOR, Is it necessary for a

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couple to use condom if they are both HIV positive?

Emma, Abeokuta

Answer, CONDOM is a protective form of contraceptive being used not only against sexually transmitted infections but also pregnancy.

My private part itches always

HIV couple can use it to prevent pregnancy if they choose to. It can also be used occassionally in relation to the CD4 cells count. Transmission rate is

higher when the CD4 cells count is low thus making a partner more vulnerable to HIV infection. During this time condom can be used.

Does Andrews Liver Salt and stout prevent pregnancy?

Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR I am 22 years old. I was a virgin until about two weeks ago when I was disvirgined.

Unfortunately, my partner ejaculated inside me. I have taken Andrews liver Salt and stout to prevent pregnancy but I am afraid. What else can I do?

Clara, Ijebu-Ode

Answer, ANDREW liver salt and stout that you took would not do anything. Well, it has happened and no need to panic.

Panic and anxiety would even worsen the matter. I advise that you wait until when your next menses returns. If it doesn’t, worry not. Just see your doctor. Not every sex leads to pregnancy.

Dear doctor,

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EAR DOCTOR, my private part is always itching and sometimes I get injured while scratching it. What can I do?

Jennifer, Delta Answer, WHAT you have is vulva excoriations probably due to candidiasis. Try to apply Canesten vaginal pessaries and cream.

Is masturbation evil?

evil D or a causeIs masturbation of infertility?

OCTOR,

Joel, Benue State Answer,

MASTURBATION is the production of sexual excitement through friction of the genitals. I don’t think it is evil neither is it a cause of infertility.

Could my lack of energy be due to poor diet?

Dear doctor, find I can regularly sit down in the evening and fall asleep. My eyes will suddenly feel really heavy and I struggle to keep them open (even when I go socialising. I get a decent amount of sleep most nights but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. Also some days I feel I have very little energy. I don’t do any sports only a little walking and I work in a shop. Could my symptoms be caused by a poor diet, possibly a lack of iron?

John, Edo, State

I

Answer, GENERAL tiredness like this is rarely due to only one factor. The first question I would ask you to think about is what was happening in your life two years ago. There may be a reason for this change of energy and the reason might be found in something you found challenging before this began. The kinds of things I’m thinking about are anything which was a demand on you – infections, operations, accidents, emotional traumas, etc. If you can identify something there, you may have something to work with to get over whatever it was which impacted on you. The most likely dietary factor is the dreaded carbohydrates. You may need to concentrate on foodstuffs which stimulate sugar levels.

I am HIV negative, my girl friend tested positive Dear doctor octor, Why would an adult take insulin injection to treat diabetes?

Jacob, Yola

D

Answer THERE are three major types of diabetes.Type 1, type 2 and Gestational diabetes..Type 1 requires insulin for treatment. The common knowledge is that Type 2 requires oral drugs. Gestational diabetes is the type you see during Pregnancy.It is Pregnancy induced.

This type for example requires insulin because most oral antidiabetic agents are teratogenic.i.e can cause malformations in the developing foetus.This is an example of adult that

requires insulin. Also in Type 2, you use insulin when oral drugs have failed to achieve the required control

and sometimes when there is an intercurrent infection.

Worried about elavated blood pressure Dear doctor HAT could be happening to a 27 year old boy with a Blood Pressure of 210/ 120mmHg? Godwin, Yenaguoa

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see a Nephrologist.

General tiredness like this is rarely due to only one factor

Answer THE most likely cause of this is a kidney related problem and most likely Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS). He should

Answer, PREGNANCY occurs on the day a sexual act happens. That is, when the sperm fuses with the egg(fertilisation).

It only becomes real when menses is missed. I think she should wait until she misses her next menses before one can conclude.

Diet and constipation Dear doctor,

I

HAVE suffered constipation for at least the last 20 years. I try to eat high fibre food (although I hate fruit) and drink lots of water. I need to know if there is any food I should avoid that will make it worse. I have been told that cheese and chocolate will make it worse, is this true?

Samuel, Abia Answer

THIS was a query that had me checking my books carefully as this was not a problem that I was aware was linked to the eating of either cheese or chocolate and I have been unable to confirm the link between those foods and constipation.

You mention that you drink lots of water and this is certainly a very good thing to do if you suffer from either hard motions or some irregularity of your bowels (both problems are often put under the same symptom of ‘constipation’).

Recommendations for fluid consumption of an adult vary between one and a half and three litres of water a day and it is best taken in a form that does not contain caffeine Eating a high fibre diet is also helpful in preventing constipation but too much insoluble fibre, such as raw bran, can actually make the problem worse as it tends to get all gummed up inside the bowels.

A more digestible and palatable option is dried fruit. These can either be taken as a snack or chopped and added to your favourite breakfast cereal. Regular exercise will also help prevent constipation. One of the most common medicines that can cause constipation are pain-killers containing codeine but this would not appear to be a factor with your particular problem.

High PSA and age Dear doctor OCTOR,I am 77 years old. Idid PSA test which was high, about 10ng/dl. I just did it as check up. No problem with my urination. What does it mean?

Justin, Delta

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Answer IT is actually high but still acceptable for your age.I suggest you do Prostate scan and possibly prostate biopsy. See a urologist for further examination.

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Eagles

Abdullahi congratulates D’Tigers

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HE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has congratulated the Nigerian male basketball team, D’Tigers for qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics by grabbing the third spot at the FIBA Olympics Qual-

ifier which took place in Caracas, Venezuela.

Abdullahi said the team showed unusual passion, discipline and commitment, which are hallmarks of the Nigerian spirit. In a letter to Tijani Umar, the President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, Abdullahi wrote: “With the

kind of overwhelming joy that followed this historic achievement across our country where people stayed awake to follow the match, one cannot but feel that perhaps, a revolution is about to happen in Nigerian sports and this may ultimately be a triumph for basketball.”

D'Tigers Continues from BP confining his Dominican counterpart Al Horford of NBA’s Atlanta Hawks to just 12 points and shooting only five of 11 from the field.

With the Dominicans cutting the deficit to just two points at the end of the third quarter, Diogu nailed 10 successive points in the closing stages to send his team mates and a small band of Nigerian supporters into raptures.

“If you are a big-time player you have to relish those moments and that’s what I did, having decided to carry my team at crunch time,” Diogu told the world

basketball governing body’s (FIBA) television in a courtside interview.

Forward Derrick Obasohan added: “We had the toughest schedule in the tournament but nothing was going to stop us tonight because we were on a mission.”

Diogu, a 10-year NBA veteran who was with the San Antonio Spurs last season before a spell with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers, led with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’m very happy. We did what had to be done,” Diogu said. “We knew we were going to face teams that are

heavyweights, and we did what we needed to do – win.”

Ranked 21st in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) world rankings, Nigeria had 14 points from AlFarouq Aminu, who plays for the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA. Yack Martinez led the Dominican Republic, coached by University of Kentucky coach John Calipari, with 16 points.

Nigeria and Lithuania will play in group A in the preliminary round in London, along with the 2008 gold medallists the United States, Argentina, France and Tunisia.

Continues from BP match on August 15. ”We are making arrangements to ensure that the Eagles play a friendly next month to help us prepare for the match against Liberia,”

•Abdullahi

Team Nigeria Continues from BP NOC, Engr Sani M. Ndanusa described the D’Tigers as a pride to Nigerians and deserved plaudits for their commitment and high performance. Ndanusa who is currently in London said that Nigerian athletes were ecstatic after following D’Tiger’s progress on Television.

“We’re all proud of their performance. The rest of the team here erupted in joy after they dismissed Dominican Republic. I am particularly overjoyed not only by their qualification but by their sportsmanship.

They displayed uncommon artistry in Basketball and showed the undying spirit of Nigerians. We are very proud of them and we congratulate them for this sweet

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Nigeria and the Liberian challenge

,

HERE was drama on Thursday as I sent a text to Barrister Green to enquire the ambience in the hall as CAF got set to draw for the Nations Cup last qualifying matches.

Barrister Green said everything was fine but that we needed prayers to be able to get a favourable draw.

I chorused Amen.

As the draw was going on we held our breath as Senegal refused to come out of the pot.

Of all the teams in Pot B, Senegal was the most dreaded and there were a lot of prayers to avoid the Teranga Lions whose pedigree needed to be respected were as good as any team in pot A if not better.

As Senegal refused to come out of the pot, Nigeria was drawn and the lot fell on our own Daniel Amokachi, Assistant coach of the Super Eagles to pick our opponent.

He dipped his hands, came out with Liberia and there were shouts of joy and relief!

Later, we have had to be involved in series of discussions, how there are no minnows in football, how we should be wary of Liberia and so on.

I agree, but if there should be no difference between Spain in Greece in European football, then even the law equality will need a different interpretation.

I was to encounter the big Boss himself in Ijebu Ode during the Sunshine Stars CAF Champions League match against Esperance and as usual the journalist present had a field day seeking his opinion on the task ahead.

The coach was quick to point at the Egyptian example. How there are no minnows in football, how they will work hard until qualification is in the bag etc etc.

Well spoken. I still believe in my innermost of minds that the Liberia challenge will be surmounted, that it is the same team that Keshi and his boys beat at home and although the stake has been raised, home and away, we will conquer.

I do not want to lose sleep over Liberia. My problem has to do with using the Liberia match to prepare for the battle of South Africa. We have less than

We are condemned to beating Liberia, there are no two ways about it

,

seven months to the next Nations Cup and by October when we will be in a position to know who our final group opponents will be, it will be less two months to kick off time.

So, between now and September when we play our first leg match against Liberia, between now and the return leg in October, the bigger picture is definitely the Nations Cup with Liberia as a stepping stone.

We are condemned to beating Liberia, there are no two ways about it. I know how the Egyptians feel, I know how we felt when we could not make it to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and we cannot thread that path again, never.

However, I repeat that qualifying for the Nations Cup is one thing, doing well at the Nations Cup is another. We cannot afford to qualify only to go and return early, that is why there is no room for relaxation.

I believe that by now Coach Stephen Keshi is ready with his programme for prosecuting the Na-

victory. More gladdening is the fact that they beat former European powerhouse, Greece before getting this ticket”, an emotional NOC President said, congratulating Basketball President, Tijani Umar for this great feat By this victory, Nigeria joins Russia and Lithuania who also booked their London berths in Caracas, Venezuela for the Olympics.

United States, Argentina, Spain, France, Tunisia, Brazil, Australia, China and hosts Great Britain are the other qualifiers for the Olympics.

Nigeria and Lithuania will play in group A in the preliminary round in London, along with the 2008 gold medallists the United States of America, Argentina, France and Tunisia.

Keshi disclosed. ”It’s a FIFA-free window so I expect some of my foreign based players to be available for the game.”

The former Togo coach further added: “I cannot confirm to you who our opponents would be, but I do know that the NFF technical department have opened talks with some West Africa countries who play similar football like Liberia.”

On the strength of his next opponents in the AFCON qualifiers, Keshi warned,” The Liberian side we are going to face would be different from the one we defeated 2-0 the last time we met.

“That was a friendly and this is a competitive game, so we need to prepare very well for the encounter. We must not under rate them.”

Nigeria will be guests to Liberia in the first leg in Monrovia on September 8, while the return leg match will be played on October 14 in Calabar.

The overall winners will qualify for next year ’s Nations Cup, which kicks off in South Africa on January 19.

tions Cup, one that has to do with camping, friendly matches, and strategies for the herculean task at hand.

Sunshine’s shaky Start It was pathetic being a Nigerian on Sunday, as Sunshine Stars surrendered all their football knowledge to visiting Esperance of Tunis, defending Champions of the CAF Champions League.

In the first half the Nigerians had nothing to offer. They over respected their opponents and surrendered the midfield to them. For forty five minutes, the defenders and midfielders were busy lobbing the ball to their forward line advantage the taller Tunisian defenders .

Two goals down in the first half, no thanks to skilful Ghanaian playmaker Afful Harrison,it was all gloom in Ijebu Ode. In the second half we saw more of the Nigerian champions we saw a fight, we saw determination, we saw them making onslaughts at the Tunisian goal line, and but for hard luck and the expertise of agile Tunisian goalkeeper Ben Cherifia Moez the Nigerians would have leveled up.

It is that second half that gives me hope that all is not yet over. Last year in the Confederation Cup, Sunshine posted some incredible results at away in Algeria and in Congo and this year came back from the dead to oust their Angolan foes.

It is that same resilient and never say die Sunshine that we expect to take their next trip away to Etoile in Sousse, Tunisia and rekindle their cup chances.

Happy Birthday To all July people. My son Johnson the “special one”, my daughter Eky she calls herself Annabel. Chief Oyuki Obaseki who was 69 on July 7 and Super Perm Sec Emma who shares the same birth day with me today. Not forgetting NFF President Aminu Maigari who on 26th June had one more year added to his life by the Almighty.

Long life, good health and God’s bountiful blessings IJN See you next week

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012

D’Tigers make Olympic history Team Nigeria erupts as Ndanusa N salutes D’Tigers

IGERIA will make their Olympic basketball debut in London after beating the Dominican Republic 8873 in the decisive qualifier in Venezuela.

Having arrived in Venezuela as complete underdogs in the 12-team tournament offering three London berths, Nigeria completed their memorable campaign with a resounding victory over the Dominicans - another surprise package.

Apart from the west African nation, who stunned former European champions Greece to reach the last four, Russia and Lithuania have also booked their London berths from this qualifier on Saturday.

The trio will join United States, Argentina, Spain, France, Tunisia, Brazil, Australia and China who had qualified earlier alongside hosts Great Britain.

Nigeria forward Ike Diogu capped an outstanding individual tournament with 25 points and 10 rebounds,

Continues on Page 63 TODAY'S

T

EAM Nigeria’s Sur rey camp in London erupted in celebration yesterday following the qualification of D’Tigers(Nigeria’s male Basketball team) for the London 2012 Olympics.

D’Tigers in an amaz-

ing Basketball display beat the Dominican Republic 88-73 in the decisive qualifier in Venezuela to be part of the Olympics.

And a jubilant President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Continues on Page 63

LET’S GO DANCING: Nigerian players celebrate after defeating Dominican Republic during their 2012 FIBA Olympic qualifying basketball tournament in Caracas July 8, 2012. Nigeria secured a spot at the 2012 London Olympics. PHOTO: REUTERS

Chaos as athletes storm Embassy •Spain deny Nigerian athletes visa

BY BEN EFE

N

IGERIA may not participate in the IAAF World Junior Championships as the Spanish Embassy in Lagos denied her athletes visas yesterday.

Tempers rose as the athletes who were at the Embassy early yesterday morning, protested the attitude of the Consular officials by blocking the entrance to the Embassy with their cars, requesting that they be attended to. But the officials remained adamant.

The applications for the visas had been submitted

PUZZLES

two weeks ago, but officials of the Embassy kept dribbling the athletes and officials. The team was scheduled to travel last night to catch up with the event, which starts this morning, but traveling is most unlikely as a result of the denial of issuing them visas.

Officials of the Embassy insisted that visas couldn’t be issued because the officers who were supposed to stamp the passports were not on seat. They asked the team to report on Tuesday morning(today).

“We gave them our passports two weeks ago. We YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

were supposed to travel on Saturday, but they assured us that visas will be issued on Monday.

“By 2.30pm yesterday it dawned on us that there wasn’t going to be any visa for us to travel. From the look of things we may not be going to the championships, because it is late for us now,” said Jide Josiah, Athletics Federation of Nigeria vice president.

“What kind of injustice is this? After all our training we are being told we can’t travel,” said Maria Osifo, one of the coaches

on the trip Solomon Ogba, the AFN President, said they met all the conditions set by the Spanish embassy.

•Ogba

Eagles shop for West African friendly

N

IGERIA plan a friendly against a team from West Africa next month as part of their build-up for a 2013 AFCON qualifier against Liberia.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi said that discussions have already begun with some West African countries for a warm-up

Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Unjust (6) 5 Anew (6) 9 Coppice (5) 10 Survey (6) 11 Hurry (6) 12 Dissuade (5) 14 Fruit (4) 17 Managed (5) 18 Jetty (4) 20 Weird (5) 22 Inanity (5) 23 Gulp (7) 24 Glue (5) 26 Rod (5) 29 Friend (40 30 Encountered (3) 32 Roster (4) 33 Radio-location (5) 35 Hawker (6) 36 Result (6) 37 Angry (5) 38 Stable (6) 39 Revised.

DOWN 1 Immediately (6) 2 Prefer (6) 3 Frozen (4) 4 Oarsman (5) 5 Wan (5) 6 Dread (4) 7 Necessitate (6) 8 Famished (6) 13 Agreed (7) 15 Lawful (5) 16 Foggy (5) 18 Might (5) 19 Choose (5) 21 Sheep (3) 22 Dandy (3) 24 Grasslands (6) 25 Mire (6) 27 Sturdy (6) 28 Greeted (6) 30 Wed (5) 31 Flavour (5) 33 Attack (4) 34 Rush (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 4, Crude 7, Reeled 9, Woe 10, Tea 12, Abide 13, Sour 15, Amble 17, Subdue 19, Lack 20, Sheer 22, Saw 24, Demerit 27 Dim 28, Naked 31, Firm 33, Meagre 35, Event 37, Tear 38, Aisle 39, Top 41, Eel 42, Modern 43, Lever.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Crisis 2, Refuse 3, Wet 4, Coal 5, Rebel 6, Dedicate 8, Dead 11, Amusement 14, Rued 16, Bear 18, Bred 21, Homicide 23, Wing 25, Mime 26, Tart 29, Keeper 30, During 32, Melee 34, Atom 36, Veer 40, Pot.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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