NATIONAL CONFAB: FG in fix over delegates' accommodation

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62097

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

MILE 2-APAPA RD SHUT-DOWN (DAY 4):

FG, Navy, Police, Lagos govt trade blames NATIONAL CONFAB:

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Kerosine subsidy a big scam operated by cabal — SANUSI P.9

FG in fix over delegates' accommodation

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

•Torn between lodging delegates in hotels or paying money in lieu •Option 1: Spend N5.976bn to lodge them in hotels •Option 2: Pay each delegate N4m to make own arrangements JONATHAN FLAGS OFF SECOND NIGER BRIDGE

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BUJA — THERE were indications, yesterday, that the Federal Government is in a fix on how to accommodate the 492 delegates to the National Conference, billed to begin next Monday.

Findings by Vanguard

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

•P.49

Mr & Mrs

SECOND NIGER BRIDGE: President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd right), switching on automated construction equipment to perform the ground breaking for the construction of Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, yesterday. With him are (from 2nd left): Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State; Deputy Senate President, Mr Ike Ekweremadu; Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolomemen and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Rep. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi. PHOTO: NAN. (SEE STORY ON PAGE 14).

Alam's loot: Bayelsa disowns lawyer as EFCC spits fire C M Y K

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2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

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4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON

LECTURE: From left: Pastor Tunde Bakare, chairman of occasion/Convener, Save Nigeria Group; Mr Jeffery Hawkins, guest speaker/United States Consul General to Nigeria and Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise, during the 2014 International Women's Day public lecture, entitled: "Lifting the siege on womankind in Nigeria" organised by Women Arise, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

FG in fix over delegates' accommodation Continues from page 1 showed that the government was torn between putting the 492 delegates and six secretariat officials in choice hotels in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and paying them certain amount per month in lieu of accommodation.

The option of lodging the delegates in first-rate hotels is, however, said to have met stiff resistance from some top government officials and delegates, who argued that they did not want their locations to be easily identified.

Besides, senior government officials and the delegates argued that since most of them had comfortable homes in and around Abuja, they would rather prefer to

live in their houses and commute from there to the conference venue.

It was also learnt that most of the delegates preferred to be paid cash in lieu of accommodation since they could easily make their own arrangements away from prying eyes in public hotels.

Vanguard learnt that the government might have decided to pay each of the delegates a flat sum of N4 million per month for accommodation and other logistics related to the conference.

A top source, who did not want to be named, said the payment of the sum to the delegates was more acceptable to both the government and the delegates and would be pursued.

"It is true that not many

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.

How prepared are you?

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart — Tahereh If you’ve ever seen a rosebud in a blooming process, the feeling is indescribable. When I witnessed this beautiful wonder of creation, I felt a transformation from within with each opening, and as the protective coat sheds off and a beautiful petal peeks out, behold a lovely rose dancing in delight to the sun. I understood and could see more clearly the miracles of divine love and the wonders of its ways.

The significance of this experience for me is being more aware of the limitless potentials in every way that life offers to unfold and be successful in all that we do.

There is a higher force that governs all of life and sometimes things may not be as you want them to be, but in time, with trust and a believe in yourself, the universe will attract your heart desires to uplift your life. But always align your thoughts and desires to be of service to others.

of the delegates accepted to be housed in hotels because of security concerns and other issues. Arguments that most of the delegates also own houses in Abuja swayed the administration towards opting to pay them a flat rate for their own accommodation," the source said.

FG may spend N5.976bn At the rate of N4 million per delegate for the three-month duration of the conference, the Federal Government might end up paying as much as N5.976 billion to the 492 delegates and six secretariat officials.

It will be recalled that the Presidency had set aside N7 billion for the organisation of the conference, which is expected to chart a new path of socio-economic and political development for the nation.

Many have, however, doubted the sincerity of the government in organising the conference with only a few months to the commencement of activities leading to the 2015 general elections.

The Northern Elders' Forum had said that it was not keen on taking part in the conference since the delegates were hand-picked by the President and his associates, unlike the previous ones where most of the delegates emerged through elections.

Following years of agitation for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), President Goodluck Jonathan on October 1, 2013 indicated his readiness to organise a

national conference. He set up a 13-man body led

by Senator Femi Okurounmu to hammer out modalities and template for organising the dialogue.

The Okurounmu panel visited two cities in each

of the six geo-political zones and Abuja to hold sittings, seeking the inputs of Nigerians and stakeholders and submitted its report last November. Based on the report, the Presidency issued modalities for the conference and invited critical stakeholders to nominate delegates on or before February 20 to enable the confab begin early this month.

The president went ahead to appoint retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Idris Leg-

bo Kutigi, as chairman of the conference with Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Foreign Affairs Minister as deputy chairman, and Dr Valerie Azinge as secretary.

Last Thursday, the presidency released the names of 488 delegates leaving nine slots yet to be filled.

Of the 492 delegates, the presidency nominated 25 per cent while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its federal and state organs nominated about 150 delegates.

Commission of Second Niger Bridge belated —Atiku

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, said, yesterday, that the flag off of the construction of the second Niger Bridge by President Goodluck Jonathan was belated "as the project ought to have been completed before now."

Atiku stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 16th annual conference of African Council for Communication Education.

The conference was entitled "Communication, Children and the Youth in the 21st century" and was hosted by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

At the time Atiku was speaking at Nsukka, President Jonathan was in Onitsha, Anambra State, flagging off the construction of the second Niger Bridge.

The former vice president, however, commended the President for eventually flagging off the construction of the second Niger Bridge after long years of wait.

He said that when completed, "the bridge would boost economic activities

and transportation in the South-East zone and environs."

In his address, Atiku urged participants at the ACCE conference to find solutions on how best to ensure that the 10 million out-of-school children returned to school.

He said: "The participants should also seek solution to the high rate of unemployment facing youths in the country."

He tasked the media on content that would promote the Nigerian economy, which, he said, had diverse sources of revenue and employment generation.

He said: "We don't have to depend just on oil, but on agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing and services.

"The media, as an agenda setter, should promote ideas for building the 21st century robust economy.

You also have the responsibility to promote an education system mix of academic and vocational training, so as to cater for diverse needs of the youth and the emerging economy."

Atiku, a presidential hopeful in the All Progressives Congress, APC, advocated that federal schools be handed over to states in which they

were located, saying: "It would help in administration and management of the schools."

He added: "The Federal Government should also focus on setting regulatory standards and insist on implementing these standards. It will save cost as well as make it easier in management if federal schools were handed over to the states."

The Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Prof.

Bartho Okolo, expressed appreciation to the former vice president for honouring the invitation.

Earlier, the Head, Department of Mass Communication in the institution, Dr. Ray Udeaja, explained that the aim of the conference was to continue to advance evolution of communication education in Africa as well as guarantee the dignity of young Africans in the coming days.

He said: "We are aware of the faith our society reposes on those of us who are in the academics. This is why we organise such conferences as these to enable us contribute to sustainable development.

"This conference targets young Africans who are our successors on this planet."

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Couple nabbed for $50,000 theft

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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PERATIVES at the Police Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Lagos, have arrested a Bureau de Change employee and his wife for allegedly stealing $50,000 from his employer.

Mrs Ngozi Isintume Agu, the spokesperson of the Unit said the Commissioner of Police, SFU, got a petition dated January 27, calling for investigation of his employee over theft.

She said: “The complainant claimed the suspect, a 32-year-old mechanical engineering graduate from Abia State University, was sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in company of three other staff to collect $50,000 USD each for foreign exchange business.

“The suspect made away with the money and switched off his phones.

He then changed his phone numbers and was in contact with only his wife and an unnamed girlfriend.

“Police, in collaboration with the communication company, was able to track down the fleeing suspect in neighbouring Republic of Benin where he was hiding.”

23-yr-old docked for phone theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— A 23 year old applicant, Shina Ojo, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, over alleged stealing of a phone.

The defendant, who resides at Agege area of the state, is facing a twocount charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The defendant, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

Magistrate Margaret Dan Oni granted him bail in the sum of N100,000, with one responsible surety in like sum. She adjourned the case to April 14 for mention.

LOADED: A truck on Ojo-Iwo Road, Ibadan, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

OBESERE RAPE SAGA: Save me from untimely death— VICTIM

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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HE 29-year-old businesswoman, Olanike Olaiya, who was allegedly raped by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande, also known as Obesere, has called on police authorities not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet so that she will not die.

According to her, Obesere’s insertion of his ring in her private part, leading to bleeding and pain, may not be unconnected with ritual activities.

The graduate of Ibadan Polytechnic also said she was not impressed by the way the case was being handled at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos. She accused the Investigating Police Officer, simply known as Jacob, of wanting to frustrate the investigation in favour of Obesere.

“We’re not lovers”

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Olaiya also refuted allegations made

by Obesere claiming they were lovers and that she wanted to use the rape saga to blackmail and extort money from him.

She said: “I knew him barely two weeks ago and

we were talking business. But he raped me on our first meeting in his house.

“Like I told you earlier, I met him through a friend who is much older than me — she is over 49 year old— and she told me that Obesere helped her in her business and he could do same for me.

“She was the one who arranged the meeting at Obesere’s house, but Obesere made me wait for at least five hours until it became late for me to go after the meeting.

“Even when I insisted, he refused to let me go claiming his area was not safe and that everybody knew I was in his house.

“I slept over, but not in his room. He raped me and inserted a ring in my private part. I wouldn’t have gone to the Police if it was just the rape because it was my fault.

As an adult, I should have known the danger of passing the night in a stranger ’s house.

“Why I went to Police”

“I went to the police because I was bleeding and when I informed him about it, he didn’t take me seriously.

He asked me to go to a private hospital in Ejigbo.

But when I got there, the doctor did not even touch or examine me in any way.

“He just asked that I go for a scan, which is not done in that hospital. I left the

hospital in pain and I reported the matter to the police.

“I wanted the police to be aware of what happened and prosecute him for forcefully having sex with me against my wish.

“I also have to clarify the issue of wanting to blackmail him. From the beginning, I rejected all the money he offered me as settlement.

“You can ask the DPO at Isolo. He is aware that I rejected all the money he offered me. All I wanted was for him to be prosecuted for taking advantage of me because I slept in his house.

“Also, I wanted him to explain to the Police why he inserted a ring into my private part that made bleed for two weeks and possibly reverse any ritual step he

may have taken.

Alleges conspiracy

“As I speak with you, I am still going through pains.

After the bleeding stopped, I have continued to have problems with my reproductive organs. That was why I went to the police, I wanted them to investigate and prosecute him.

“But what I am getting from the IPO is terrible. He is trying to destroy the case and set Obesere free at the expense of my life and dignity.

“He discarded the medical report from the General Hospital and he upheld that of Obesere’s private hospital, saying their report was the correct one. As I speak with you I am not feeling well at all.”

Lagos Police Commissioner debunk

BY EVELYN USMAN

T

HE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, yesterday, described as baseless, claims that some members of Boko Haram sect attempted to blow up Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOA, located in Ikotun area of Lagos.

He has also charged the newly-promoted 577 officers

in the command to remain dedicated to their constitutional responsibility with a view to justifying their new ranks.

He spoke at the decoration of the newly-promoted officers, saying the command had no fact yet to ascertain the purported confession by a man, simply identified as Mustapha, that he and four others were sent to plant a bomb at SCOA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 —7

Toddler found dead in well, man arrested over rape of lunatic

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI— POLICE in Ekiti State have put machinery in motion to unravel the circumstances behind how a one and half years old boy ended up dead inside a well at Ikere Ekiti.

Subsequently, Police have nabbed one Shomo Owoeye and his wife to explain their roles in the death of the boy on Sunday.

Also, a middle-aged man, whose name was given simply as Kunle, has been

arrested in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly raping a mentallyderanged woman on Saturday night.

Vanguard gathered that the lifeless body of the boy, Ayomide Ojo, was found floating inside a well behind his parents’ residence at Agbado Street, Ikere Ekiti after a search conducted by the neighbours.

According to the police image maker in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the stories to newsmen, the deceased’s

mother, Mrs. Oredola Olakunboye, has accused one Owoeye and his wife as those responsible for the murder of her son.

Vanguard further gathered that Mrs. Olakunboye, said to be a widow and Owoeye were lovers, whose relationship produced the late Ayomide.

According to Babayemi, Owoeye was alleged to have denied the paternity of the deceased boy and vowed to get rid of him.

On the alleged rape, Vanguard gathered that the suspect, who is a socialite, was said to have been a

regular visitor to the mentally-deranged woman until he was caught in the act around Ajebamidele area of Ado Ekiti at night.

Neighbours were said to have laid siege for the alleged rapist, who allegedly came in a Mercedes Benz for yet another round of sex with the woman during which he was caught.

He was later taken to Ologede Police Station from where he was transferred to the headquarters of the command in Ado Ekiti.

Mr. Babayemi, who also confirmed the story, said he did not have the details.

3 dead as fires razes Ibadan church

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN— THREE persons, including a 92-year-old man, were burnt to death yesterday, when fire razed a church Mercyland Prayer Ministries at Idi Aro, Ibadan.

Four others, including a

pregnant woman, escaped death in the fire that started at 1:45am.

When Vanguard got to the scene, bodies of the burnt members of the church and a coffin were seen.

What actually worsened the situation, according to

residents in the area, were power generating sets which were filled with petrol.

Items burnt in the inferno are two power generating sets, two complete drum sets, ceiling fans, many sewing machines, plastic and wooden chairs.

RAZED: Burnt Mercyland Prayer Ministries in Alaro Area of Ibadan, yesterday. INSET: Sympathisers in front of the church. NAN PHOTOS.

ks rumour of Boko Haram attack Manko said it was the first time a large number of policemen were promoted, describing it as a fulfillment of one of the InspectorGeneral of Police’s promises of pursuing the welfare of policemen.

He reminded the officers that the promotion was added responsibility, enjoining them to be loyal and committed to the service.

A total of 16

Superintendents of Police, were promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police; 42 Deputy Superintendents of Police were promoted to Superintendent of Police; 102 Assistant Superintendents of Police were promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, while 417 Inspectors were promoted to Assistant Superintendents.

According to one of the lucky survivors, Mrs. Oyediran, an expectant mother, the fire started when worshipers were sleeping.

She said she tried to crawl outside, when a young man pulled her out. Demola, who rescued the woman, was quoted as saying that it was a herculean task pulling the pregnant woman out of thick smoke.

At the time of filing this report, the three corpses were yet to be evacuated from the church.

The son of the 92 year-old man said he was only interested in retrieving the corpse of his father.

The Police had taken the pastor of the church, Pastor Samuel Oyediran and the man who rescued the pregnant woman to the station for interrogation.

Speaking on the incident, Director, Oyo State Fire Ser vices, Mr. Oyekunle Kareem, confirmed it saying around midnight, a distress call was made to them that “there was a fire incident at Alaro and we rushed there immediately.

“We put out the fire, but three bodies were recovered.

Only the doctor can certify them dead.”

CBADP: Jigawa farmers get goats

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URI (JIGAWA)— THE Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme, CBADP, yesterday, distributed goats and water pumps to 65 farmers in Guri Local Government of Jigawa.

The programme, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, is designed to

encourage agriculture and infrastructure development.

It is also to reduce poverty and provide means of livelihood to rural dwellers.

Malam Adamu Isa, IFAD’s Communication Officer, said this at the distribution of the items to Abunabo and Matara Babba farmers’ groups.

Isa explained that 20 water pumping machines, 30 tube wells and 10 work bulls were given to irrigation farmers.

Osun students protest lecturers' strike

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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S O G B O — BUSINESS and economic activities were paralysed for several hours, yesterday, in Osogbo, Osun State capital, as students of the four tertiary institutions owned by the state government barricaded major roads to protest the continued closure of their institutions following the indefinite strike embarked upon by their teachers.

The students, numbering about 100, converged on the Olaiya Junction as early as 8am and marched to Gbongan Road, chanting antigovernment songs.

The protesters, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students’ Joint Campus Committee, NANS/JCC, Osun State, called on the state government to grant the requests of the lecturers in the interest of the future of the state.

3rd Mainland Bridge accident injures 4

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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O fewer than four persons were injured, yesterday, during an auto crash which occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The accident which occurred at 11.28am involved a commercial vehicle with plate number XR634KTU, said to be travelling from Iyana Oworo axis en-route Lagos Island.

According to an eyewitness, the driver of the fully-loaded Mazda bus was on top speed when suddenly the vehicle somersaulted.

A law enforcement agent, who pleaded anonymity, said the prompt intervention of law enforcement and emergencies officials saved the situation.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Local cement producers seek govt protection

BY FRANKLINALLI

C

EMENT producers in the country, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to continue to support and protect the local industry from unfair competition, saying the industry is still at investments stage.”

The Chairman of Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Engr.

Joseph Makoju, who made the call during the launch of 52.5N quality Portland cement grades into the market by Dangote Cement Plc, said “Government should help us to protect this industry; people like Dangote has stuck his neck out and invested heavily in the sector.

“The industry is still at investment stage because many of our plants are still new. As we are talking now, Dangote is building extra lines at Ibese and Obajana. So, when you are in this stage of investment, you need to be protected,” he said.

Makoju, who is also the Honorary Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, described the introduction of the new cement grade by the company as ground breaking, saying “Nigeria is now one of the best quality producers of cement in the world. No matter the sophistication of the structure, this is the best grade for any civil construction. Dangote did not create the standard.

The standard has been there, we have only blazed the trail by starting its production. It is good for lead bearing columns.”

He further noted that with this development, there are no more excuses for cement imports into the country.

Devakumar Edwin, Group Managing Director/CEO, said that with the higher grade of cement quality, the incidence of building collapse in the country could be controlled.

“For the past three months we have test-run the new products and it is now available in the markets.

In the second half of this year, we are coming out with yet another new superior product,” he disclosed.

He explained that the Portland cement is produced in conformity with Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS 444-1-2003 and other relevant standards.

Confab list tears NLC apart …Affiliate unions query delegates' list

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE, VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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IGERIA Labour Con gress, NLC, has been torn apart by the list of delegates to the national conference that will be inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan next Monday in Abuja.

This came as an affiliate of NLC, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP protested its exclusion from the list of delegates representing NLC. NUP in its protest letter to the Federal Government through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, by its President, Dr. Abel Afolayan questioned the rationale behind the nomination of six delegates from the retired Permanent Secretaries to represent the entire retirees across the nation.

Afolayan in the protest letter, which was copied to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the President of NLC claimed he was writing on behalf of over one million pensioners in Nigeria who are members of the union.

The letter read in parts, “We consider it necessary to direct our complaint to the office of the SGF because it is the office charged with the responsibility of compiling the list of the delegates to the national conference. It is on this note that we wish to draw your attention to the Federal government’s release of the list of delegates to the national conference which indicated that retired civil servants were given six slots to the national conference.”

Members of the Central Working Committee of NLC, one of the highest decision making organs of congress were seriously upset that the leadership of NLC did

not consult affiliate unions for input before sending the names of delegates to the Presidency.

Last Thursday, the Central Working Committee of the NLC made up of affiliate unions in a heated debate rejected the list as it is only made of those who constitute the National Administrative Council, NAC. A dependable source at the meeting said the NLC leadership in a bid to pacify the angry CWC members told them that the NLC had protested to the Presidency that the NLC and the TUC should not be allotted 12 delegates each.

Consequently, CWC members were told that the NLC and the Presidency had agreed that TUC’s delegates would be reduced to eight and the remaining four would be NLC delegates.

CWC members were told that the additional four would be taken from affiliate unions.

However, CWC members were taken aback when the list was re-

leased by the Presidency, where both the NLC and the TUC has 12 delegates.

Those representing the NLC are, NLC President, Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar, Ag. General Secretary, Chris Uyot, Kiri Mohammed, Deputy President, Joe Ajaero, Deputy President, Promise Adewusi, Deputy President , Issa Aremu, Vice President, Lucy Offiong, Vice President, Ayuba Wabba, national treasurer, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, Economic Adviser and Head of Research, Emma Ugboaja, Head of Aministration, NLC headquarters, and Michael Olukoya, President, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel.

Except for Ibrahim Khaleel and Michael Olukoya, all others are members of the National Administrative Council of the NLC. On the other hand TUC delegates are President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, Secretary- General,

Barrister Musa Lawal, Mrs. Dinatu Asibi Assani, Olasanye Oyinkan, Sunday Olusoji Salako, President of Association of Senior Staff of Banks and Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI. Others are Olakunle Olanrewaju Olaitan, immediate past President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, immediate past president of TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, Augustine Etafo, Maryam Jummai Bello, Hassan Salihu Anka, Bede Opara, President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEC, and Aliyu Musa.

A source, who attended the NLC’s CWC meeting confided in Vanguard, “you needed to see what happened at the meeting.

Members were very annoyed that we were not consulted in the selection of the delegates representing NLC. We told them that it should not happen again.

Look at the list, besides the fact that most of the delegates are members of the National Administrative Council, NAC, some of them their memberships are just a handful.

AWARDS: Chairperson, African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazama Zuma (3rd left, front row) flanked by Regional Director, Central Africa, All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA,Ernest Ewane (left); CEO/MD, PRM Africa, Mike Dada (2nd left); Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorship, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi (2nd right) and Senior Editorial Officer, Information and Communication Directorate, AUC,Tankou Esther and others during the meeting on AFRIMA 2014 at the African Union Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last Friday.

Yobe school killings: APC insists Jonathan must visit Yobe

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HE All Progressives Con gress, APC, has restated the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to take time off his “premature electioneering campaign” to visit Yobe State to commiserate with the bereaved families of the innocent school children who were brutally murdered by terrorists last month.

In a statement yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it is totally inconceivable that about two weeks after the heart-wrenching killings of more than 29 school children, “the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not deemed it fit to visit the state.”

The party noted that far from being a mere formality, such a visit will provide great succour to the families of the victims, reassure them and other residents of the

state that their government has not abandoned them to their fate, and also serve as a morale booster for our gallant troops who are battling the terrorists, against all odds.

It said, “there is no other democracy in the world in which that number of school children will be killed and the head of government will carry on with business as usual. Since the killings, President Jonathan has made a national broadcast in which he mentioned the killings only as a footnote, instead of making it the central point of the broadcast.”

The party, however alleged that “since the killings, the President has presided over a wasteful national celebration, in which the drums were rolled out to mark the country’s centenary even as devastated families were still mourning and those injured were reeling from their pains.”

It also added that “since the kill-

ings, President Jonathan has been gallivanting across the country, surreptitiously kick-starting his electioneering campaign for 2015 under the guise of receiving some inconsequential political jobbers now wearing the tag of defectors.

This junketing has taken the President everywhere, including Sokoto, Minna, Ilorin and Onitsha. But he has pointedly avoided Yobe. To put it mildly, the father of the nation has been practically dancing on the graves of those innocent souls. This is not the stuff of leadership and the President must make amends by visiting Yobe today.”

Besides, the party said it was imperative for the President to take a cue to what obtains in other lands, especially in the US after which Nigeria has modelled its democracy.

According to the APC, “in January 2014, US President Barack Obama flew to Tennessee, where

he spoke at a high school where students were still reeling from the shooting death of just one of their classmates; In 2012, President Obama paid a similar visit to Newtown in Connecticut, where he met relatives of the 20 school children and 8 adults who were shot. These are examples worthy of emulation by President Jonathan.”

While it challenged the President to tell Nigerians why he has not or why he would not visit the scene of the gruesome murders, the party said “whatever his reasons are, thew President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces must not give the impression that there is any part of the country he cannot visit for any reason whatsoever, otherwise he would only have succeeded in handing some sort of victory to the terrorists who have continued to kill and plunder in the North-east.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—9

Kerosine subsidy, a big scam operated by a cabal — SANUSI S

USPENDED Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi has again stirred the hornet’s nest as he declared yesterday that kerosine subsidy is a big scam being operated by a cabal in government. Mallam Sanusi, in an interview with New York Times yesterday also alleged that the money claimed for the subsidy was being used to finance election.

Said he: “It’s (kerosine subsidy) just a big scam, the amount is shared by a cabal. By making NNPC an issue now, the source of money for financing elections is threatened. If this is stopped,

there will be no money to finance the elections.”

Sanusi was suspended on Thursday February 19th based on a report by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) which accused him of various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct. Sanusi however said that he was sacked because he threatened to conduct special examination on the banks to ascertain their involvement in the missing $20 billion fuel money.

He said that at the Bankers

Committee held on February 11, he had threatened to open their books, to trace the missing oil money.

According to him, “Some of them were not giving information about their accounts. I told them I would order a special examination.”

One of the bankers at the meeting told the New York Times that, “he made it clear to the bankers that the CBN would need to unravel what was going on, and they should cooperate.

Many of the bankers became

angry and one of us said, ‘what next?’- Another banker at the meeting said. “There was a general heaviness as he spoke tough.”

Both bankers requested anonymity.

Mallam Sanusi explained that several of the bankers panicked at his threat to open their books and two of the bankers went straight to the government and reported to the petroleum minister. He further said, at that moment, he knew his days were numbered at the CBN.

FG seeks secret trial of Kogi varsity lecturer, other Boko Haram suspects

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, urged a federal high court sitting in Abuja to allow it to conduct the trial of Dr Mohammed Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University and other suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, in secret.

In an application he filed yesterday, government prosecutor, Mr. Tolu Ogunshina, urged presiding Justice Gabriel Kolawole to in line with the provisions of sections 36 (4) (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act and Sections 33 and 34 of Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, bar members of the public from attending the trial of the terror suspects.

Others the government wants to be tried secretly included Alhaji Salami Abdullahi and Umar Musa, who were both accused of belonging to a cell of the Boko Haram sect situated at Igala land in Kogi State.

Dr. Yunus who is a graduate of Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia, was said to be the spiritual leader of the cell.

In its motion, FG prayed the court to order that other than the immediate family members and legal representatives of the accused persons, with the exception of accredited members of the press, no other person should be allowed in court when full-blown trial of the suspects begins on March 18..

LECTURE: From left, Emeritus Professor, Oladipo Akinkugbe; Former Pro-Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN and former jugde, International Court of Justice, The Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola at the Distinguished lecture in honour of Prince Ajibola and Investiture of Chief Ayorinde, SAN, as Patron of the University of Ibadan Law Students' Society in Ibadan on Friday.

UNICEF worries over killing of children in North East ...Seeks partnership with NHRC

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI saying the organization has concluded plans to establish new BUJA—THE United offices in Borno, Katsina and Nations Education and Sokoto States respectively for Scientific Fund, UNICEF, effective implementation of its yesterday, expressed its concern mandate particularly in view of the over the recent killing of children increasing human rights in the North Eastern part of the violations taking place in the country by suspected Boko Haram North-East region of the country. members, saying it intends to The concern of UNICEF is embark on a verification exercise coming a day to the scheduled of the region to access the situation visit of a delegation that will be on ground. led by the United Nations The Country Representative of Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, Jane Gough, who led a Navanethem Pillay, to Nigeria, to delegation to the head office of the appraise the human rights National Human Rights situation in various parts of the Commission, NHRC, in ABUJA country. yesterday, regretted that most In his remarks, the Executive children from the region the Secretary of the NHRC, Professor North-East no longer wish to go Bem Angwe, said the Commission to school for fear of being killed or was committed to lead UNICEF bombed by insurgents. and other critical stakeholders in She said UNICEF was ready to the campaign against child rights partner with the NHRC in violations in Nigeria, particularly gauging the particulars of the in the North where the state of violence in the troubled region, insecurity has grossly affected the

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human rights situation.

Angwe, equally promised to ensure the effective implementation of the Child Rights Act in the various states of the federation where it is yet to be implemented.

He said the Commission had invited stakeholders to access the level of implementation of the Child Rights Act beginning with the North Central with a view to making sure that the law is being fully observed.

Besides, Angwe said the comprehensive audit of prisons across the nation exposed some cases of detention of minors in prisons with adult offenders.

“With the prison audit report and subsequent consultation with relevant authorities the Commission was able to effect the release of some of these children from prison custody even though some are yet to be freed till date,” he added.

Abel Ubeku, ex-Guinness MD, dies in Dubai

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IRST Black Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Dr Abel Ubeku, is dead. He died in a Dubai Hospital on Saturday after a protracted illness. He was 78 years old.

Ubeku retired from Guinness in 1989, after being managing director for nine years, to join politics during the General Ibrahim Babangida transition to civil rule programme.

He aspired to be president of Nigeria on the banner of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of the two political parties of the botched Third Republic. Dr. Ubeku retired to private life after the process was aborted by the same Babangida regime that initiated it.

When the late General Sani Abacha initiated another transition to civil rule programme in 1996, he joined the political fray again after serving as a member of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) of the regime in 1994/95.

Dr. Ubeku became national chairman of the Congress for National Consensus (CNC), one of the five political parties formed during the Abacha regime.

Again, at the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1998, he was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT) until 2002.

Ubeku, who holds a Masters’ degree in Law (London University) and a Doctorate, University of Sussex, also in England, was awarded a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1982 by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari Administration for his contributions to management development.

Dr Ubeku was married to Chief (Mrs) Beatrice Ubeku and the marriage is blessed with children and grandchildren.

Late Dr. Ubeku

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Blackout looms as Egbin residents shut down power plant

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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AGOS—THE general power failure being experienced particularly in Lagos area may worsen as hundreds of Egbin residents in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, yesterday, shut down the popular Egbin power plant protesting what they described as maginalisation on the part of the company.

Apart from incessant power supply, the residents agitated for return of their unused recently acquired and fenced 7.345 hectares (18.148 Acres) of land by the Thermal station.

Also, residents accused the management of the power plant for failure to embark on corporate social responsibilities in the community since 1981.

As early as 7am, the residents converged in front of the power station, with various placards, singing solidarity songs thereby preventing the workers from gaining access to their offices.

The aggrieved residents told Vanguard that their plight was worsened by the fact that their rivers were polluted by the chemicals from the power plant

and their vocation as fishermen could no longer be carried out.

According to them, various steps were taken to register their plight both at state and federal levels which yielded no positive

result. A resident, Razaq Oduniyi, said the development also brought water scarcity into the community forcing residents to trek a number of kilometres in search of potable water.

Reacting to the development, management of Egbin Power Plc, led by its Chief Executive Officer

Mike Uzoikwe, said the distribution company was initially serving few communities until lately when it was asked to serve an additional 50 communities without provision to that effect. He, however, promised to channel residents’ plight to appropriate authorities.

SWEARING IN: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle), Mr. Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Chairman, Public Procurement Agency (4th right), Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, Head of Service (2nd right), Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, Secretary to the State Government (3rd left) and other members of Public Procurement Agency, during the swearing in ceremony in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Lagos moves against substandard goods, poor services zSets up consumer protection agency

BY MONSURU

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OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, signed into law a bill establishing Consumer Protection Agency, aimed at tackling the influx of substandard or hazardous goods and services from the market.

Fashola who signed the bill into law at the state House Alausa, Ikeja, said: “The new agency will make consumers king and strengthen their commercial and purchasing power.

“In every economy, the customer is king. And Lagos cannot be different. The purpose

is to protect consumers and to ensure that they get value for their money. And to ensure the goods that are presented to them fit for the purpose for which they are set to do.

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AGOS—THE Iyaloja General of Nigeria and President of association of commodity market women and men of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has rejected the list of delegates to represent market women to the national conference, saying the representatives are unknown as market women leaders.

She said: “It is dead on arrival!

We call on the Federal Government to quickly adjust this anomaly before the conference commences.”

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by Iyaloja-general on

Speaking earlier, the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye said that the objective of the law is to establish an agency to protect the rights of consumers.

N25.7bn: Court refuses Atuche’s application

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS—AN Ikeja High court presided over by Justice Lateefat Okunnu yesterday refused an application seeking a stay of proceedings of the N25.7 billion theft charge pressed against former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.

Iyaloja-General rejects market women's confab list

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

“With the law, manufacturers would raise their service level and compliance level and it will help improve the quality and standard of goods that are put in the market.

behalf of all market women and men across the country, she wondered where the presidency got the names of the purported representatives of the market women from, considering the fact that only one among the six delegates, Mrs. Felicia Sanni is the only known and recognised market women leader.

According to her: “With the exception of the earlier mentioned market leader, the under listed women according to the delegates list just released by the Presidency, none of the women is known within the market women associations across the country."

The ex-bank chief, his wife, Elizabeth were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu for allegedly stealing the money from defunct Bank PHB while Atuche held sway as its Chief Executive Officer.

Arguing their application, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, who represented Atuches prayed the court to stay proceedings of the trial pending the determination of the various appeals filed by both the defence and prosecution at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

The appellate Court had struck out the theft charges preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Mr. Okey Nwosu, who was standing related charges like Atuches.

Opposing the application, EFCC counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said the application should be dismissed for being an abuse of court processes.

Justice Okunnu in her ruling held that Section 273 of the

Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL, prohibited her from entertaining the application.

Okunnu said Section 40 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Act also compelled her not to determine the application.

According to her, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria providesthatacriminalchargeshould be concluded in a timely manner.

Kumuyi, Ezekwesili to address youths on empowerment

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AGOS—GENERAL Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi and erstwhile Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili are expected to address over 100,000 youths on empowerment in a programme tagged: Youth Empowerment Summit, YES. The youths drawn from public and private schools and young school leavers in Lagos State will gather at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, DLCC, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, on Saturday, March 22, for the oneday empowerment programme.

The event is being packaged by the Deeper Life Students’ Outreach, DLSO.

Group lauds APC on summit

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AGOS—NIGERIA’S main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, had been commended for hosting a National Summit during which it presented its manifesto, programmes as well as code of ethics to the electorate ahead of the 2015 general elections.

This was contained in a statement issued at the close of the bi-weekly meeting of the New Lagos Movement, NLM, held at the White House, GRA Ikeja.

The NLM described the event as the first of its kind by any political party in our recent political history and a right step towards truly living up its “Change” slogan.

Bankruptcy: Court adjourns firm, bank's suit till April 29

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BY INNOCENT ANABA

A G O S — T H E Managing Director of A.O.S International (Oil and Gas) Ltd and an oil well construction engineer, Mr. Femi Omotayo, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that he was willing to settle his indebtedness to Sterling Bank Plc out of court.

Meanwhile, trial judge, Justice James Tsoho, yesterday, adjourned till April 29 for a report of settlement.

It was learnt that Omotayo has offered to pay N250 million out of the total sum owed.

The bank’s counsel, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, SAN, said he was not aware of the offer to his client.

He, however, urged the court to adjourn so that parties can explore an out of court settlement, saying: “I am not against the case being adjourned so that we can continue to interrogate the settlement.”

Sterlinghadaskedthecourttodeclare Omotayo bankrupt for allegedly owing it about N584 million.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 11

Osun PDP suspends scribe

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BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO—THE Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has suspended the state secretary of the party, Major Ralph Tewogbola (rtd) for alleged anti party activities.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Prince Bola Ajao, Tewogbola was alleged to have attended various political meetings outside the PDP fold.

The statement added that the suspension, which had been ratified by the State Working Committee, SWC, of the party would subsist until the disciplinary committee of the party submits its reports on the matter.

Ajao stated that the party has zero tolerance for anti party activities and would ensure that right people hold right position in the party.

He said members of the party in Tewogbola’s ward had passed a vote of no confidence in him and the party was left with no other option than to suspend him.

Confab: Ijaws in Ondo kick against exclusion

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—IJAW Communities in Ondo State yesterday rejected the list of delegates that will represent the state at the proposed National Conference.

They argued that there was an error in the compilation of the list of delegates from the state for the conference as the Ijaws of the state in the South West were excluded.

Spokesman of the Ijaws in the State, High Chief Francis Williams, said: “The Ijaws are a distinct nationality that should be accorded their right in that capacity.

“It was wrong for the Ijaws in Ondo state and by extension in the Southwest not to be represented at the conference having participated in the preconference activities."

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Ekiti Guber: PDP disqualifies Olowoporoku, 2 others z13 to take part in primary A

BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—AHEAD of Saturday’s primary election for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to get its standard bearer for the June 21 Ekiti State gubernatorial election, the screening committee yesterday submitted its report to the National leadership of the party, with Senator Bode Olowoporoku disqualified because of no Tax Clearance certificate to show that he paid as at when due.

According to the Chairman of the Screening Committee and Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba while submitting the report of the committee to the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus at Legacy House, PDP Campaign Office, Abuja, yesterday, Olowoporoku was disqualified from participating in the primary election because of no evidence of court judgement overturning his previous expulsion from the party, adding that he was disqualified because of a petition that he was earlier expelled from the party and has not been readmitted.

Caleb Olubolade, Adedayo Adeyeye, Ayodele Fayose, Adeyanju Bodunde, Ogundipe Modupe Margaret, Abiodun Aluko, Oladeji Omoyeni, Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Oluropo Ogunbolude, Omolara Adubiaro, Ajayi Ayodeji and Adewale Aribisala.

Though Olowoporoku told the committee that a court of competent jurisdiction has upturned his expulsion from the party, Ndoma-Egba, however, said as at the time the committee concluded its works, the court

judgment was not made available to the committee by Olowoporoku.

Ndoma-Egba on court judgment

Speaking after the session with party leaders, Ndoma-Egba said a copy of the court judgement was sent to the committee yesterday by Olowoporoku, but added that the committee had already finished writing its report and was only waiting to present it to the party ’s National Working Committee, NWC,

before the correspondence from the senator arrived, adding that screening committee could no longer accept it, but that Olowoporoku was free to present it to the Appeal Committee.

Ndoma-Egba also said that all the disqualified aspirants were free to approach the Appeal Committee to seek clearance The Appeal Committee headed

by Senator Mohammed Magoro, with Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Saidu Komo, Yusuf Ayitogu, among others as members, has Col. Austin Akobundu as Secretary will sit today.

Aspirants disqualified

Also not cleared alongside the former Minister of Agriculture were Bosede Cecilia Dada and Peter Obafemi.

Peter Obafemi, the committee said, was disqualified for his inability to present his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate while Bosede Cecilia Dada was unable to present evidence of payment of membership dues, unable to show evidence of WAEC certificate and also unable to show evidence that she paid her taxes as at when due.

Of the 16 aspirants screened by the committee, 13 were cleared to take part in the party primary which, however, closes room for the emergence of a consensus candidate.

Cleared

The 13 cleared were Ambassador Bejide Oluwadare,

BRIEFING: From left: Dr. Gilbert Wari , President, West-Central Africa Divison, SeventhDay Adventist Church and Chairman, Babcock University Brand Trustees, Dr. Ted N. C. Wilson, President, World Church of Seventh-Day Adventist and Visitor, Babcock Universary, Dr. Oyeleke Owolabi, President, Western Nigeria Union Conference, and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Babcock University Governing Council and Professor Kayode Makinde, President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, during the briefing on the Centenary Anniversary of SeventhDay Advestist Church Nigeria, at Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State.

Osun bomb blast: court fixes March 21 for hearing

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, SOGBO—AN Osun State high court sitting in Osogbo yesterday fixed Friday, March 21, 2014 for further hearing on the trial of Richard Abayomi Adesanmi, the star witness in the case of bomb explosion at the premises of the Osun State Ministry of Water Resources in

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June 2007.

At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe of the state High Court, Osogbo yesterday, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Adewale Afolabi insisted that the accused person and the Police should produce a diary said to be found

APC, LP members defect to PDP in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI B E O K U TA — AT least 2,650 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Labour Party in Ogun State have dumped their parties for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

The defectors who were received by the state chairman of the party, Bayo Dayo during a reception, at the Ogun Waterside Local Government Secretariat of the party in Abigi, described the PDP as the only party that could protect their interest.

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While receiving the defectors, the party chairman in the state said that they had made the best decision in joining the PDP, adding that, “there shall be no discrimination of any sort against you. From today henceforth, we are all one and the same.”

The defectors were made up of 1,950 people from the Labour Party, LP, and APC while the remaining 700 were from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s group who defied his directive to join the APC. Meanwhile, the leaders of the PDP in the State have reiterated

the need for them to win all elective positions in the state in the 2015 general elections.

The leaders, comprising former Deputy Governor Rafiu Ogunleye and his wife, Bose; Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Prince Buruji Kashamu; former acting Zonal Secretary, Chief ‘Pegba Otemolu; State Chairman, PDP, Mr. Adebayo Dayo among others bemoaned the condition of civil servants, market men and women as well as the artisans under the APC government in the state.

inside the Peugeot 505 car which exploded with the bomb.

Afolabi in his submission before the court said it was on the strength of the contents of the diary that notable chieftains of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which metamorphosed to the All Progressives Congress APC were arrested and detained by the Police.

He said members of the opposition APC at the time of the incident suffered seriously in the hands of the Police owing to the content of the diary which purportedly contained names of some APC chieftains.

However, counsel to the accused person, Mr. Wilson Atirene told the court that his client did not mention the name of any individual in statement made to the Police, adding that the accused person did not make mention of any diary in both the Police statement and affidavit he deposed to.

The trial Judge, Justice Aderibigbe adjourned the case till March 21, 2014 for further hearing.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Police dismiss rumour on Jonathan’s cousin's death in kidnappers' den

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Police in Bayelsa State have described as untrue, claims that the abducted 70-year-old Chief Inengite Nitabai, cousin to President Goodluck Jonathan, has been killed in the kidnappers' den.

The news of the alleged death of the septuagenarian hit Yenagoa, the state capital, on Sunday.

According to the Police authorities, the rumour was a mischievous attempt to throw off track, investigation into the kidnap and the arrest of those involved.

A police source, however, confirmed the arrest of a 57 years old man said to be the father of the leader of the kidnappers’ gang and five others, over the abduction of the former university lecturer.

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested in Odioma community, off the Atlantic coast of Brass, in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

The septuagenarian was abducted penultimate Sunday at his Otuoke country home by

10 gunmen, who later established contact with his family demanding N500 million ransom to set him free.

The family, it was, however, learnt, agreed to pay N30 million, which was reportedly re-

jected by the kidnappers.

It was reliably learnt from a security source that a crack team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the state police command was close to wrapping up the investiga-

tion and securing the release of the septuagenarian.

The security source also confirmed the arrest of a chief from Odioma over his alleged involvement in the abduction.

TOWN HALL MEETING: From left: Interim Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Oba Abdul-Fatai Aromire, Ojora of Ijoraland; Alhaji R. F. Balogun; Dame Emmauella Abimbola-Fashola and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during the 10th Town Hall Meeting, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.

Sale of OMLs: Brittania-U frustrating suit against Chevron —Seplat

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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NIGERIAN oil company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Limited, yesterday, accused another indigenous oil exploration and production company, Brittania-U Limited, of employing delay tactics to frustrate the suit against Chevron Group before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Brittania-U had sued Chevron Group over its planned sale of Oil Mining Leases, OMLs, 52, 53 and 54.

Other defendants in the suit are Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Chevron USA Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corporation, Mr. Hermant Patel and Seplat.

Brittania-U is alleging in the suit that CNL and Chevron USA Incorporated were making secret moves to ignore the result of the competitive bid conducted for the sale of Chevron’s 40 per cent interest in the three oil blocs.

It is arguing that it emerged as the highest bidder, offering $1.015 bil-

lion, while Seplat and its partners came second with about $900 million offer.

Trial judge in the matter is Justice Mohammed Yunusa.

At the resumed hearing in the case, yesterday, Brittania-U’s counsel told the court that at the last adjourned date, the matter was fixed for hearing

of the preliminary objections filed by the respondents, and also to enable parties file their processes in respect of the objections.

Counsel informed the court that Seplat had already served him with an appeal filed at the Appeal Court against the interim order of the court, noting

Police withdraw child trafficking charge against woman in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONIYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—THE Police, yesterday, withdrew the charge of child trafficking and child theft against Dr Chinyere Precious before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court, Rivers State, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar.

It will be recalled that Dr. Chinyere was paraded by the Police last year, for allegedly running a centre where she sold stolen babies to women, an allegation she denied then.

Meantime, yesterday at the Magistrate court, Inspector Wilson Isaiah, said that the IG, Mr Abubakar had directed in writing that the charge against the accused be withdrawn.

that in view of same, it might not be expedient to proceed with the hearing of the objections as scheduled.

But Seplat’s counsel said that Brittania-U’s counsel was not interested in going on with the case simply because he already had an interim order in his favour.

Seplat insisted that the appeal referred to had nothing to do with the issue of objection which the

court originally adjourned for hearing.

In a short ruling, the court adjourned till March 20 for hearing of pending applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

It will be recalled that the judge had earlier extended the interim junction he made restraining Chevron Corporation of the United States and its Nigerian subsidiary, Chevron Nigeria Limited and their agents from negotiating the sale of the said Oil Mining Leases with Seplat or any other bidder, apart from Brittania-U Limited.

Navy razes 16 illegal refineries in Delta ...as suspected oil thieves flee

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI— SUSPECTED oil thieves fled, abandoning their bunkering equipment, including boats and electricity generators, weekend, as the Nigerian Navy razed 16 illegal crude oil refineries in Burutu and Warri SouthWest Local Government Areas of Delta State.

The operation was led by the new Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Captain Musa Gemu, who ordered his men to destroy the illegally refined diesel, petrol and kerosene found at the bunkering depots.

Vanguard observed that many of the bunkering sites had been burnt previously by security agents, but the bunkerers usually returned for business after two to three weeks interval.

One of the razed illegal refineries was apparently run by a man and his family members. A mini-hut they built at the illegal refinery where they slept and cooked food with bottles of local gin, cooking utensils and ingredients, axe and foam were destroyed.

Captain Gemu told newsmen at the end of the operation that the raid was in compliance with the zero tolerance for oil bunkering directive by the Chief of Naval Staff, adding: “This is just the beginning.

We will continue to strike and ensure that the waterways are safe for the people to go about their business without fear.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 13

MONITORING: Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Petroleum Minister. (left) during an unscheduled visit to about 15 filling stations to monitor the lingering fuel scarcity in Lagos.

Confab: Lori-Ogbebor petitions SGF over exclusion of Itsekiri ....As Reyenieju calls for calm

BY DANIEL GUMM

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ARRI—AS reactions continue to trail the non-inclusion of Itsekiri among delegates to the proposed national conference as recently published, Warri chief and women activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has petitioned the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Pius Anyim, urging him to intervene and ensure that Itsekiri have delegates in the confab.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has appealed to Itsekiri people to be calm over the development.

Meanwhile, the AlphaMay Club has also faulted the non-inclusion of Itsekiri in the national confab.

Reyenieju, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, noted that while the criticisms and anger against the absence of an Itsekiri among the names recently published, it should be noted that both the federal and state governments that were involved in drawing up the lists, are no doubt now aware of the serious and intolerable omission.

He explained that the fact that the Delta State Government had “even made public its role in the nomination of delegates from the state, including that an Itsekiri, Chief Isaac Jemide, as being among the names it sent to the Office of the SGF, that is indicative of the fact that the omission did not emanate from the Delta State Govern-

ment, and that the state is equally concerned over the omission.

“It is unthinkable that Itsekiri ethnic group which occupies parts of both Delta and Edo states, and most importantly, that it occupies the second position among ethnic groups that are oil-bearing nationally, should be excluded from such an all-important conference that will determine the future of oil-bearing ethnic groups vis-a-vis the ownership and control of crude oil in Nigeria.”

He called on the authorities to make quick amend, adding, “the real issue now is the number of Itsekiri persons that will form part of the delegates to the proposed conference, as the robust and tall positions of the Itsekiri ethnic group in terms of contribution to the daily national wealth is more important for the sustenance of the Nigerian State than claimed population status of the big ethnic groups.”

Lori-Ogbebor petitions SGF Lori-Ogbebor in her petition, said: “There are 15 delegates and none of these is an Itsekiri man or woman. It is needless to emphasise the position of the Itsekiri people in the region. Apart from the huge economic contributions of the Itsekiri people, is the fact that the Itsekiri people have been crying for many years about their marginalisation and subjugation.

“Itsekiri people are very important minorities being suffo-

....Itsekiri club faults non-inclusion cated by majority ethnic groups. Before now, it is on record that we have prayed Nigeria and God for a review of Nigeria’s political structure. Our case as a minority is not a new source of nationality challenge. It has always been a serious matter in restructuring Nigeria in a way beneficial to all as historical records dating back to colonial era abundantly demonstrate.

“The Itsekiri, therefore, welcomed with joy and gratitude to God that this administration, thought it fit to encourage or bring about this national conference. That we are therefore, excluded from the SouthSouth political zone cannot be imagined.

“What is more painful is that in the 15 delegates chosen specifically for the South-South geopolitical zone (for socio political/cultural and ethnic nationality groups), one can count about four to six Efik/Ibibio, two to three Ijaw, two or three Ikwerre - but no Itsekiri, and no Ogoni? I seek your urgent intervention in this matter to bring about peace and confidence in this confab and Nigeria,” she added.

Alpha-May Club faults non-inclusion Meanwhile, the Alpha-May Club, faulting the non-inclusion of Itsekiri in the national confab, said: “We express our great concern and embarrassment over the ab-

sence of the Itsekiri on the list of delegates so far published in the news media by the Office of the Secretary of the Federal Government, SGF." The club, in statement by Mr. Robinson Eyoyibo and Isaac Sobotie, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, yesterday, said: "We now note the assurance given by the Government of Delta State, that the name of Chief Isaac Jemide was on the list submitted to the Federal Government, and that his nomination would be regularised before the inauguration of the conference. We hold them to this and hope that their word is their bond.

“We, hereby, confirm our confidence in Chief Jemide as a fit and proper person to represent us at the conference, and that he is capable of presenting to the conference, Itsekiri core interests,

the most significant of which, is the protection of our people as an ethnic minority in Nigeria, by way of special provisions that are enshrined in any constitution or other arrangement that might result from the conference.

“In this connection, we respectfully urge that the conference should examine the analogous examples of the American federation and that of the Indian nation. The USA with a population of about 300, million people, has 50 states, the largest being California with a population of 37 million, while Wyoming, the smallest state of the Union has just about 600, thousand people. As for India, its largest state is Utter Pradesh with a population of over 167, 000, 000 persons, while its smallest state is Sikkim, having a population of just over 500, 000 persons; yet, Wyoming and Sikkim, small as they are, are recognised state and union within their respective federations.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Traffic snarl continues on Mile 2 - Apapa Expressway

From Berger Cement to TinCan traffic snarl continues on Mile 2 - Apapa Expressway, as a result of indiscriminate parking of fuel tankers - Day 2, yesterday, Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

At last, Jonathan kicks off construction of 2nd Niger Bridge

BY VINCENT UJUMADU & NWABUEZE OKONKWO

A

WKA — AFTER many years of waiting and agitation by the people of South East, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, laid the foundation stone for the construction of second Niger Bridge linking Asaba in Del-

Ezekwesili, others task Nigeria on girl-child development

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

AGOS — FORMER Vice President of the World Bank, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has tasked Nigeria to invest strategically in the educational development of the girl-child.

Ezekwesili said this at the official unveiling of 100 unsung heroines commemorated on the International Women’s Day in Lagos.

In her keynote address, Ezekwesili said: “Investing in girl-child education ensures the productivity of the girl-child. Ensuring that girls have access to quality education transforms them into human capital and equips them to make decisions that will be favourable to many others. ”When the girl-child is educated effectively, it has collateral positive effect on her immediate community, society and the next generation.

“Countries that have understood this have optimised the use of their female human capital as both strategic and competitive means."

ta State with Onitsha in Anambra State.

At an impressive ceremony attended by people from all walks of life, including Governors Peter Obi of Anambra, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Theodore Orji of Abia and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, as well as ministers and members of the National Assembly, President Jonathan gave an assurance that the project would be completed on schedule and according to specifications.

The project is to be constructed

by Julius Berger Plc. In a speech punctuated by ovations and clapping from the mammoth crowd that witnessed the ceremony, President Jonathan said the second Niger Bridge was critical to his administration’s resolve to improve the economic fortunes of the country, describing it as a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises.

According to him, he chose to perform the ground-breaking ceremony before the exit of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State whose eight-year tenure would end next week because of the governor’s unrelenting efforts to ensure the project was realised.

He said: “It is my resolve and that of my administration to en-

CEREMONY: From left President Goodluck Jonathan; Govs. Peter Obi of Anambra, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Theodore Orji of Abia, and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi states, at the ground- breaking ceremony for Second Niger Bridge, in Onitsha, yesterday. sure that this unity bridge is built to connect Asaba and Onitsha. I want to urge the governors of Anambra and Delta states to ensure that the project is built on time and according to specification."

Minister for Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenen, said the project, as part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President, was to improve the infrastructural and socio-economic activities of the nation.

The minister explained that the Federal Government would exe-

cute the project under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years through Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer, DPFOT, model.

The Second Niger Bridge, he explained, was 1,590 metres long and forms part of the 11.90 km length project which construction cost was put at N117, 860, 700, 741. 82 vat inclusive.

According to him, the construction will be completed within 48 months.

Also speaking, chairman of

Attackers of Enugu Govt House were MASSOB members — ENUGU CP

.No, they are not our members, says Uwazurike

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — THE Enugu State Police Command said, yesterday, that its investigations into last Saturday’s invasion of the Enugu Government House was carried out by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, a group canvassing for the re-declaration of Biafran republic.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, who disclosed this while briefing

newsmen on the incident, said four persons were arrested, including one that was seriously wounded and hospitalised, explaining that no death was recorded.

He gave their names as Ifeanyi Chukwuma, Francis Nwaemeka, Sunday Okafor and Shedrack Obi, all from Anambra State.

He said items recovered from the MASSOB members, who stormed Government House to forcefully take over Enugu State seat of power at about 4.30a.m., were two big banners bearing

symbol of the Republic of Biafra, 34 assorted flags, including those belonging to the defunct Republic of Biafra, Britain, United States, and Israel, one big bag containing charms, eight matchetes and a saw, but said no gun was recovered from them.

However, the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, denied the police claim that his members were involved in the attack on the Government House, saying the names of the arrested suspects indicated that they were not his members.

South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, said that with the latest development, President Jonathan had shown that the South East was of great importance in the Nigerian project.

Orji observed that the bridge, which will serve as a gate-way to the southern part of Nigeria, would also boost economic activities of the people and solve the problem of loss of man-hours being spent on the existing Niger Bridge which often experienced excruciating traffic.

Describing the project as a dream come true, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, extolled the leadership qualities of President Jonathan, adding that he had demonstrated an uncommon love for Ndigbo and Nigeria at large by the commencement of the construction of the bridge.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, said the Senate would ensure proper oversight function to ensure that the project was delivered according to specifications.

He noted that Igbo had fully been re-integrated into the nation with the emergence of President Jonathan, who appointed Igbo people into very sensitive positions which they never occupied since the end of the Nigerian civil war.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 15

National Confab: NASS‘ll support outcome —EKWEREMADU .Says if well handled, this can reposition Nigeria

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — DEPUTY Senate President,Ike Ekweremadu, has assured that the National Assembly will give legislative support to the outcome of the National Conference,noting that it will be the wish of Nigerians.

Ekweremadu, who said if well handled by delegates, the conference could reposition the country, appealed to participants to approach it from the point of view of patriots, not just as individuals representing their various states or pressure groups.

He spoke, Monday, at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on his way to the ground-breaking ceremony for the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The Deputy Senate President reassured that the National Assembly would accord the conference delegates all the legislative support to deliberate and come up with their decisions.

He said: “Ultimately, their decisions will come to the National Assembly for legislation and I have no doubt that the National Assembly will support the final outcome because it is the wish of Nigerians.

"The National Conference is

something that I believe will reposition this country if handled well.

“I want to appeal to participants to approach it from the point of view of patriots, not just as individuals representing their various states, ethnic groups, political parties, or professional bodies.

“They should think as Nigerians and about what we have to do to ensure the stability

and progress of the nation and ensure that we bequeath a nation that our children will be proud of.”

Ekweremadu, while commenting on the Second Niger Bridge, lauded the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan at ensuring that the project was completed in record time.

“For me, this is a very cheering news; it is a good music to my ears. Not just to me as a

person, but to the people of the South East, Nigeria, and indeed the entire West Africa.

We are excited that at last, this bridge will be constructed.

“We have been working on it. We have been hoping that a day like this would come when there would be true commitment to constructing the Second Niger Bridge."

CELEBRATION: From left, Director of UAC, Mr. Joe Dada; Managing Director of Softskills Management Consultants, Mrs. Wonu Adetayo; Group Managing Director/CEO of UAC, Mr. Larry Ettah; Director of UAC, Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia, and Director of UAC, Mr. Abdul Bello, at the company’s International Women’s Day celebration for 2014, in Lagos.

....Pensioners protest exclusion

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA — NIGERIAN Union of Pensioners, NUP, has protested the alleged exclusion of retired civil servants on the list of delegates to participate in the forthcoming national conference.

The union in its protest letter to the Federal Government, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, and signed by its National President, Dr. Abel Afolayan, questioned the rationale behind the nomination of six delegates from retired

permanent secretaries to represent the entire retirees across the nation.

Afolayan in the protest letter, which was copied to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, claimed that he was writing on behalf of over one million pen-

sioners in Nigeria who were members of the union.

The letter read in part: “We consider it necessary to direct our complaint to the office of the SGF because it is the office charged with the responsibility of compiling the list of the delegates to the national conference."

N3bn research grant: Poor proposals by varsities hinder access —NUC

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA — EXECUTIVE Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okojie, yesterday, said many universities were unable to access the Federal Government’s N3 billion research grant because of poorly written proposals.

Okojie stated this in Abuja, while declaring open a workshop on research grants for universities in Nigeria, organised

by NUC, in collaboration with Moorhouse College, Atlanta,

USA, and the Gregory University, Uturu.

He said the Federal Government, through Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, about three years ago, launched the N3 billion Research Grant to aid tertiary institutions in conducting cuttingedge researches that could propel national development.

He regretted that till date, only N266 million of the amount had so far been disbursed to beneficiaries who submitted "good proposals."

Prof. Okojie said that apart from the TETFund grant, there were

lots of other research grants globally available that could be of tremendous help to researchers in Nigeria.

He said: “Everyday, we lose out in competition for grants. And as we sit here today, we are amazed at the poor draw-down of funds for research in the university system.

“I listened to one Pro-chancellor, not too long ago, from a university in North-Western Nigeria that a university could not spend N10 million for research because even the in-house research proposals are poorly written. This has implication for research and pub-

lication.”

Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the event, Prof.

Adebisi Balogun, said the workshop was organised to assist the system to build capacity of Nigerian academics for a sustainable research culture and rekindle the spirit of “grantmanship.”

He noted that World Development Report and indices of human development had indicated that Nigeria was gradually losing grip of that culture of research that brought glory and recognition to higher education institutions in the 1960's and up to the early 1980's.

CBN to enforce e-payment of salaries from 2014

.Orders 48hrs cheque value for customers

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

T

HE CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday released guidelines on electronic payment of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes in Nigeria, saying enforcement will commence from June, 2014.

The guideline stated, “Deposit Money Banks are to dishonor payment instructions for all forms of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes payment not transmitted on a Bank approved straight through electronic payment and collection platform issued by organisations with more than 50 employees.

“This means payment instructions and associated schedules are no longer to be transmitted to deposit money banks (DMBs) by all public and private sector organisations through unsecured channels, such as paper- based mandates, flash drives, compact discs (CD), email attachments , etc. While nationwide commencement date of end-toend e-payment of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes is January 9, 2012, compliance monitoring and enforcement will be in stages. This is to give enough time to all stakeholders to make necessary adjustments as may be required. Compliance monitoring and enforcement by CBN shall be according to the schedule below.

According the guideline, enforcement for Federal government ministries, departments and parastatals based in Abuja will commence January 2014. Enforcement for Federal government ministries, departments and parastatals outside Lagos, and private organisations in the phase one and two cashlite states will commence June 2014.

The enforcement for states, local governments and private organisations in other states will commence December 2014.

The guidelines also stipulates a range of sanctions for different types of infractions in violation of the guidelines.

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Enugu PDP endorses Jonathan, Chime, ratifies new Chairman for Udi LG

T

BRIEFING: General-secretary, National Union of Textile Garment & Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and Vice President, NLC, Mr. Issa Aremu (middle); Deputy GeneralSecretary, Mr. Sylvester Chimeze (left), and National Treasurer, Mr. John Adaji, at a press briefing on the shut-down of Unity Schools in the north-east over terrorist attacks. Photo: Olu Aja

HE EXECUTIVE Com mittee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rose from a meeting, yesterday, where it passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan and the state Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime for their “visionary leaderships in piloting the affairs of the nation and the state respectively.”

The party said it was re-affirming their status as unmistakable leaders of the party at their respective levels.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the party also ratified the appointment of Prince Isaac Nwoye as the new Chairman of the Party in Udi Local Government Area chapter in the state by the Udi Local Government Area Executive Committee.

The action according to the

party was sequel to the suspension and removal of the former Chairman of the party in the local government area, Mr. Uche Ogbodo by the said Udi Local Government Area Executive of the party over the breach of the party’s constitution.

The state executive of the party also expressed dismay at what it called the utterances and unconstitutional actions of some individuals in the state, “who attempt to cause disaffection in the party and bring it into disrepute for selfish interests.”

It, however, commended the state leadership of the party for its innovative efforts in stabilising the party in the state, through effective administrative principles, internal democracy, wider consultations and

Act now before Boko Haram kills all of us, Arewa youths plead with Jonathan, Northern leaders

BY SONI DANIEl, Regional Editor, North

U

PSET BY the unceasing destruction of lives and property in the North-East, Arewa

....Borno replaces torched health centres with EMR units

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI — THE Borno State government has said that the 23 Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, torched during a recent attack by the Boko Haram insurgents in seven council areas have been replaced with Emergency Medical Response, EMR, units so as to deliver healthcare services to the people that live in the insurgency prone areas of the state.

The EMR, according to the Ministry of Health, comprises ambulances equipped with “medical facilities and accessories to save life and treat emergency cases in rural communities.

Speaking, yesterday, in Maiduguri on the PHCs at Dikwa, Bama, Benisheikh, Gulumba and Mafa towns, state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salma Kolo said that the destruction of health centres by the insurgents, would not deter the state government from providing health care services to its people.

Northern youths, yesterday, accused the Presidency and northern leaders of playing politics with the menace posed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The aggrieved youths, who met in Kaduna under the aegis of Arewa Youths Forum, expressed regret that despite repeated assurances, the governments had not been able to put an end to the spate of attacks that had crippled the region and displaced thousands of their natives into neighbouring countries.

The executives of AYF, who reviewed the state of insurgency in the three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, noted with

dismay that the terrorists had been able to move about freely and slaughter no fewer than 500 persons and sent away over 100,000 others into exile in Cameroun, Chad and Niger republics in the last few weeks without any serious challenge from the security agencies.

The National President of the AYF, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, who released the communiqué of the body to Vanguard, in Abuja, Sunday, said the youths were convinced that the issue of Boko Haram insurgency had been politicised by the Presidency, northern governors and religious leaders in the country.

The northern youths warned that if urgent steps were not taken by the government to tackle the insurgents, they might be forced to mobilise their members to register their displeasure with the government before it becomes too late.

They said they held the government responsible for the spate of wanton killings in the North-East, which had continued unabated.

Nonetheless, the group pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan and the northern governors to wake up and take necessary steps to tackle Boko Haram terrorists before they destroy the entire region and its people.

frequent admonition for due process and party discipline.

The party ratified the time-table for the meetings of the organs of the party in the state and mandated affected members to endeavour to attend the meetings regularly for the actualisation of the set objectives of the said organs.

It also reconstituted the membership of the Special Committee on the building of the new State Party Secretariat, with a standing order that the new secretariat should be in good condition for the forthcoming State Congress of the party.

....Police station, court, primary school razed; scores killed in Adamawa

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA — GUNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, weekend, attacked a police station, court, primary school and three churches in Fota Village, Lala District at Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, during which 10 people including seven police men were feared killed.

Sources from the area indicated that, the gunmen struck from several directions in the village, shooting indiscriminately.

Apart from the policemen, six other villagers were killed by the terrorists, who reportedly operated for several hours unchallenged. Three of the deceased villagers were killed at a wedding ceremony in Bisir village. ”When they arrived Fota at about 9p.m.

Saturday, they headed straight to the police station and set it ablaze; thereafter they torched the Area Court Building and a block of classrooms at Fota Primary School,” a youth leader from the village said.

’’The gunmen drove in dozens in a convoy of Hilux vehicles, motorcycles, among others, chanting, Allahu Akbar, (God is great) several times before fleeing after the the attack.

The residents said that troops were later deployed as many villagers were said to have slept in hilltops.

Another source from the area, who also pleaded anonymity said that, the terrorists were those fleeing from Sambista Forest in Borno State, following military onslaught in the area. ”They must be members of Boko Haram

sect fleeing from Sambista forest as a result of the recent military onslaught there,” the source explained.

Reports said that the policemen at the station were killed after about 30 minutes of gun-fire, pointing out that one of the attackers was critically wounded during the operation, but he was taken away by the attackers.

It was alleged that the insurgents, had after attacking Fota, made a stop-over at a nearby Bisir village, where they attacked another wedding party, killing some people while many others sustained injuries.

Yobe emir dies in auto crash

T

HE EMIR of Ngelzarma in Fune Local Government of Yobe State, Alhaji Mahammadu Mai Yeri Ibn Isa II, is dead.

The first class Emir was reported to have died in a ghastly car crash in Gerei, in Adamawa State.

The Secretary of the Emirate Council Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Mai Yeri, who confirmed the death to newsmen in Damaturu, informed that royal father died in an auto crash which

occurred around 2:00p.m., Monday afternoon.

Aged 49, the royal father was survived by two wives and 13 children.

It was gathered that his father, whom he succeeded, also died in an auto crash on Damaturu/Maiduguri highway.

A palace source revealed that the late emir will be buried Tuesday at his home-town in Ngelzarma.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 17

I

N 2005, Goldman Sachs Investment Bank forecast that Nigeria will be the 20th largest economy in the world by 2025 and the 12th largest by 2050; ahead of Italy, Canada and South Korea. Having identified Brazil, Russia, India and China as four emergent powerhouses of the world economy referred to as the BRICS; it included Nigeria among “the Next Eleven” countries of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam.

At the U.S.-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation of the Americas (NIDOA) in Washington D.C. in 2012, President Barack Obama of the United States acknowledged Nigeria not only as a strategic centre of gravity in Africa; he went further to proclaim the country “the world’s next economic giant.”

Early this year, with the rebasing of the country’s GDP, Nigeria emerged as the biggest economy in Africa, surpassing South Africa.

Manifest destiny It is no secret that Nigeria is a country of great potentials, even if that potential is yet to be appreciably realised. One of the strengths of the country is its large population. Currently estimated at 170 million, Nigeria is the seventh largest country in the world. By 2050, Nigeria’s population is projected by the United Nations to reach 389 million, rivaling that of the United States at 403 million. By the end of the century, the U.N. projects that Nigeria’s population would be between 900 million and 1 billion, nearing that of China which would then be the second most populous country in the

Nigeria cannot do without the North Nigerians have been intoxicated by oil. Since there is no oil in the North, they conclude that the North is no more than an albatross on the neck of the South and castigate it as a region defined by dependency.

This view is nothing short of idiotic. No serious-minded country relinquishes a region as rich and as resourceful as Northern Nigeria. Without the North, Nigeria’s much-vaunted potentials would vanish.

Without the North, Nigeria would be nothing more than yet another balkanized and insignificant African country, or group of countries. Take the North out of the Nigerian equation and there can no longer be any black country in the world that can possibly attain the status of a major power in the world. Without the North, Nigeria and Nigerians would be reduced to nonentities.

Northern imperative

N

igerians have been blinded by oil. Because of oil, we have become unproductively mono-cultural in our economy.

However, oil is hardly the only

Without the North, Nigeria and Nigerians would be reduced to nonentities

,

world after India.

Nigeria’s economic size is a blessing in disguise. It means the country will have a ready domestic market for its eventual industrial growth. It means it can envisage economies of scale not possible in smaller countries. Even now, Nigeria offers alluring returns for investors.

Says Charles Robertson, Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital: "We know it's not risk free, but look around the world and find another economy with 160 million people growing at 7 percent with such potential.

It's a struggle to find them."

Countries go to war to acquire the kind of real estate that is Nigeria. This makes it all the more ludicrous that there are noises coming out of Southern Nigeria demanding that the country should be divided. The most ethnically jingoistic of these is the insistence that Nigeria would be better off without the North. It would appear that some Southern

,

major resource we have.

Although oil revenues have brought us a great deal of financial prosperity, at the same time it stunted the inexorable emergence of agro-based industries in Nigeria. The backbone of such promissory local industries is in Northern Nigeria.

The North is the breadbasket of Nigeria. A significant proportion of the food we eat down South comes from the North. The North occupies 70% of Nigeria’s land mass, giving it comparative advantage vis-àvis the South in terms of agriculture, raw materials and livestock. A large chunk of the North is arable and supportive of year-round food production.

Thanks largely to the North, there is no tropical agricultural crop known to man that cannot be grown in Nigeria. With a transition from subsistence to mechanized agriculture, Northern Nigeria alone can produce enough food to feed the whole of Africa.

Northern politicians and military leaders have been the bane of the North and of Nigeria. They have grown fat at the expense of the poor.

They have deliberately kept the poor uneducated, preferring to feed them from the crumbs falling from their table. But as Boko Haram bites deeper, this too shall pass.

A new generation of Northern leadership is emerging. An example of this is Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano who is, by all accounts, redeeming his firstterm as Governor with the second-term.

Uneducated hogwash

A

i n Zamfara; uranium in Ta r a b a ; tin-ore in Plateau;

*Nigeria, bigger, stronger Northern Nigeria is bigger than most African countries.

Currently, Nigeria wastes a staggering 1.3 trillion naira on food imports; virtually one-third of the annual budget. But the North can produce all the food we need, thereby liberating valuable resources. Already, it is the North that feeds the South in Nigeria. Virtually all Southern food crops and livestock come from the North.

Much of Nigeria’s water resources are also in the North.

With the right policy mixes, the North will earn for Nigeria billions of dollars annually from agriculture.

Our Niger-Delta brothers should not get too carried away by their oil. If their oil is a national resource today, so will Northern agriculture and agroallied industries be national resources tomorrow. Oil is a wasting asset. Short of new discoveries, Nigeria’s oil will expire within the next 50 years.

However, Northern agriculture will never expire.

Northern resources There is something else besides.

There can be no doubt that there is oil in the North. It is only a matter of time before it is discovered. The geography and topography of the North and the discovery of oil in surrounding areas is a testament to this eventuality.

Since there is oil in Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic, the chances are pretty good that Northern states like Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto and Niger will one day become oil-producing states.

Moreover, the North is rich in mineral resources; far richer than the South. There is gold

columbite in Nassarawa; iron ore in Kogi; gysium in Gombe and limestone in Sokoto among others.

Hydroelectricity for the country is provided from Kainji Dam and Shiroro Gorge. There are game reserves in the North including Argungu, which make it a potential moneyspinner for tourism, a possible Kenya in the making if we can get rid of the scourge of Boko Haram.

Southern Nigerians should stop underestimating Northern industry. Northerners created the ground-nut pyramids, cotton farms and tanneries of old. With visionary national and regional leadership, these will surely make a comeback. So also will the textile factories of Gusau, Kaduna and Kano. All the Southern bigotry about the North being predominantly Moslem is just nonsense.

When you see what economic wonders Moslems are doing in places like Dubai, Oman, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, you will realise that Nigeria has a lot to learn from Moslems.

It should not be forgotten that by far the most enterprising Nigerian today is a Northerner from Kano. According to the most recent Forbes Billionaires list of March 2014, Aliko Dangote is now the 23rd richest man in the world with a net worth of $25 billion dollars. This is an amazing feat for an African and a Nigerian. Dangote is now richer than Alisher Usmanov; the richest man in Russia. He is also richer than Mukesh Ambani; India’s richest man. Dangote is all the more remarkable because he achieved this feat primarily through a route far less travelled by Nigerians: the hard, difficult grind of manufacturing.

The Northern problem is the Nigerian problem. It is the problem of bad leadership.

ll things considered, the boast of a Nigeria divorced from the North is balderdash.

Nigeria cannot do without the North. We cannot divide Nigeria into 350 ethnic nationstates. Let Southerners stop fooling ourselves. Any attempt to abridge Nigeria because some Southern areas want to go it alone will be disastrous.

Ethnic homogeneity is no panacea against internal conflict. Somalia is ethnically homogeneous. Nevertheless, it is a failed state. Southern Sudan only recently obtained independence from Sudan.

Nevertheless, it is already embroiled in inter-ethnic conflict.

There can be no romantic Oduduwa Republic, unless we foolishly ignore the long history of Yoruba wars. Try to turn back the clock, and the Egba, the Ekiti, the Ijebu, the Ijesha and the Ilorin will start locking horns yet again. Even now, there are daggers drawn between the Ife and Modakeke in Osun. There can be no return to Biafra, unless we pretend that the differences between the Aguleri and the Umuleri in Anambra or that between the Ezza and the Ezillo in Ebonyi are fiction. The Igbo have never been united.

Historically, they were organized into separate and autonomous republics. Biafra itself had problems with its ethnic minorities.

There can be no Republics of the Niger Delta. Are we then to divide the Efik from the Ibibio, the Ijaw from the Itsekiri; the Kalabari from the Ogoja; and the Ogoni from the Urhobos?

What then would happen after the oil runs dry?

There can only be the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No matter what anyone says, Nigeria is a country and a country it should remain. You don’t live together for 50 to 100 years and not become a country. It does not matter if some of us are Muslims and some are Christians: we are all Nigerians. It does not matter if some of us speak Hausa and some speak Yoruba: we are all Nigerians. Our diversity is our strength. That is the beauty of Nigeria. It cannot be reengineered.

Nigeria is a blessed country, carefully-crafted by divine ordinance. This is not time to start hankering after some midget states when the herculean Europeans are busy crafting a super-state. This is no time to think small. It is time for Nigerians to start thinking big and bigger.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 SCARCITY of kerosene has become a part of the daily challenges many Nigerians face. Unfortunately, their sufferings in sourcing kerosene, a fundamental cooking energy for a majority of Nigerian families do not enjoy the sort of prominence that a day’s shortage of petrol does.

Low income earning Nigerians bear the brunt of the scarcity. They use kerosene for cooking and lighting up their homes.

Their daily toils with providing food for the family endures the additional challenge of getting kerosene, one of the numerous by-products of the crude oil we produce.

The official price of kerosene is fixed at N50 per litre. Kerosene is never available at that price. Across the country, kerosene costs as much as N170 per litre. In most instances, availability is the bigger issue.

Scarcity of kerosene is attributed to diversion of the product by some marketers. Sharp practices by middlemen are other reasons for the

Ker osene – The erosene Forgo tt en Scar city orgott tten Scarcity high price of kerosene. Obviously the supply of the product is inadequate. It is the primary cause of the high cost of kerosene. DPR has to deal with the sharp practices. It has the means to detect marketers who divert products. What it lacks is the will to punish them, which is why the sharp practices thrive.

If government cared about ameliorating the sufferings of the poor, it would not watch as the little people eke out is expended on inefficient and expensive fuels like kerosene. Over the years, availability and affordability of kerosene

has posed challenges to users but government did not care.

Government usually claims it subsidises kerosene. Where is the subsidy if the product is sold at more than three times the official price? Many homes need kerosene. They are not getting attention for their pain because they are poor, including rural Nigerians, who their governments ignore their voices. What have their representatives at the National Assembly done about this recurring national burden on the poor, who are already over-burdened?

It is important to look beyond the immediate solution of liberalising kerosene importation to make room for other importers and marketers to join the business. The key to lower prices of kerosene, like fuel, lies in domestic refining of kerosene.

Government should be concerned enough about the plight of its people to act. In the longer term, other energy sources like gas, should be promoted as the alternative to kerosene.

OPINION

BY IKKENNA IFEOBI

Continued from Mondayviewpoints

P

RESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo was trained in England and India by the colonial administration and was in charge of the 3 Marine Commando divisions that overran Owerri and literally ended the Biafra war. Murtala Mohammed played a major part in the war, br utally annihilating many communities in Asaba and eventually crossing the Niger. On his return from the UK, thereafter, was made president while Gowon was at the OAU summit.

Both Chiefs Akintola and Awolowo all studied extensively abroad too.

Hence, one cannot say that there is shortness of Western influence in the orchestration of the Nigerian political class.

The nucleus of the problem in a country like Nigeria is not its ethnic diversity, or multiple languages and religions, but that it has mixed its ethnicity and religion with federalism and governance. Her leadership structure since independence was tied to ethno-religious heroes and figures that were surreptitiously handpicked by a racially hostile colonial overlord.

This made it very easy to orchestrate the entire demographic towards desirable ends, simply by pushing the right religious and ethnic button. On no grounds must religious or ethnic based decisions or organisations be allowed to threaten the integrity of the federal structure and government and

C M Y K

Amalgamation: The bright side of 1914 (2) this goes for Boko too. Development within political circles may begin with a rotational pattern, but must evolve to natural selection based on merit and constitutional principles: the best man for the job. While the rest of the world makes its internal borders fluid and streamlines their government, African economies like Nigeria must not be found furthering the stratification of their internal relationships. The more fluid its internal borders are the more efficient its economy, and more harmonious its social structure would be.Thankfully the new generation of Nigerians, or the post-unity school era, is beginning to look like the product of a positive social engineering exercise and a blue print for the future Africa. With more intertribal marriages, and families and inlaws now crossing tribal lines, the tendency for hostile decisions based on tribal grounds would very soon be a thing of the past. The Federal Government colleges brought kids from all parts of the country together and have been a big factor in neutralising these social barriers.

The amalgamation of the entity called Nigeria by the British may yet be the greatest post-colonial gift ever.

The diversity in terms of foreign policy is a huge advantage as it can draw representatives of almost all major global cultures and religions.

Spanning multiple climate regions and able to produce an array of crops, her natural resources within the national perimeter is unparalleled. If managed properly, Nigeria can perhaps be the fastest and strongest emerging economy in the world: The New Jerusalem, maybe. It took continental Europe hundreds of years of savage warfare to reach the EU stage and present day geo-structure.

Post-colonial Africa has a template that it can build on based on the fact that most countries were mapped according to resource and strategic positioning. This structure is retained by the domestic demographic and can be gradually built upon. The amalgamation bypasses the usual years of conflict that would have structured the region the way we have it today, and made resources accessible. Thanks to amalgamation, an Igbo man named Momman Dike was able to chauffer Lord Lugard for over four decades. Thanks to one nation, we can enjoy livestock and vegetables cheaper, raised and grown in the North. Thanks to the spirit of nationalism, a Yoruba man, Obasanjo, as president, allowed Many Igbo to serve in critical posts in his government and handed over power to a Northerner on two occasions.

Nigeria and Africa in general is evolving into a more tolerant cultural

synthesis of peoples determined to come together for the common good.

The political mistakes of the past must be seen as lessons on the historical blackboard. The new Nigerian must display nationalism akin to levels seen during national football matches at all times. This is the only way that the society can be engineered past the stratified psyche that defines postcolonial African nations like Nigeria today.

On a final note, it is interesting to note that there is no clear determinant as to who is indeed a Nigerian. There is no data base with verifiable biographic data that can ascertain that an individual is a Nigerian. The key to political synergy and success in a dynamic country like Nigeria is security and control, and control cannot be realised if every citizen identifiable with the country is not accounted for. A numbering of the demographic would not only give supreme fiscal ability, but ensure security and law enforcement. This is the bright side of amalgamation that must be pursued today for a better Nigeria tomorrow.

Concluded

*Mr. Ifeobi, an economist, wrote from USA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014— —19

O

NE of the major challenges facing us as a nation is the lack of authentic history. Just like in a war situation, it is the one that emerges victorious that tells the story, everyone tells his story from his own perspective. Our allocation of resources have been so skewed in favour of the centre, that historical records are being distorted, to give ethnic groups advantage. No ethnic group or region is left out, everyone wants to take control of the centre to confer economic advantage to self and ethnic interest. That is why the national conference must tackle the issue of regional and states autonomy very seriously. So there will be no need to falsify history and records to secure undue advantage at the federal level.

If we do not know our history, we will never have direction. We have to update our various curricula in schools for the younger generation to study, that they do not repeat the mistakes of the present generation who have been fed on faulty ideologies and history that has resulted- for example - in the distorted list drawn up for the recent centenary anniversary awards.

It is our flawed history, beclouded by ethnic sentiments

that has also made it very difficult for the matter of corruption to be tackled. It is like when two communities are fighting over the ownership of a portion of land; both of them will come up with historical documents and records to buttress their claim, but one of them must definitely be wrong as the true ownership can only relate to one source.

That is also the reason Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's suspension cannot be handled with impartiality as his actions as governor of the Central Bank has favoured a group of people at the expense of others. The favoured group will continue to shout 'persecution' in the matter.

The critical question here is: If I am to re-echo Atedo Peterside , did Sanusi really use his position as Central Bank governor to mismanage funds? If true, he must face the law.

The second question is: Did he raise the alarm of the missing NNPC fund to divert attention, knowing that he is under investigation and can of worms are about to be opened? If the allegation made by Sanusi is true, investigations should commence and guilty parties brought to book.

But the NNPC account has become an enigma, nobody

,

outside the inner circle seem to know how it operates. It was so throughout the military regimes when oil wells and liftings were allocated at random to friends, cronies and foreign partners. It reached its height during Obasanjo's eight years of civilian administration; he refused to hand over the Petroleum Ministry to a substantive minister despite severe pressures from concerned Nigerians and civil rights groups.

At a time the world was deprecating NNPC's recklessness - Halliburton, Siemens, NPDF and so on. Since Gaius Obaseki, who was MD under Obasanjo, we have had at least five managing directors in the NNPC, each one building on the rot of his predecessor. Now, the account has become so befuddled that they do not know where to start from. The rot is so deep, and - I suspect - so many big shots are involved, that

Amalgamation: The bright side of 1914

BY IKENNA IFEOBI

T

HERE appears to be a bright side to the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria by the British after all. While the motives of the architects may seem questionable to some, the undeniable truth is that there had to be a meeting point of the major cultures eventually- the Mohameddans, the SouthEasterners and the West. Given the antipathy created by most post AD religions towards older tribal beliefs, and even amongst its many denominations, it would have been a very confrontational exercise, costing millions of lives and probably centuries of squabble. It can be argued that colonialism gave a geopolitical template to the continent, albeit imperfect. Without this initial slate and if left to nation build naturally, most regions would take centuries of warfare to arrive to where they are today.

Also, the entropic trend of political evolution demands that communities, tribes, peoples and nations eventually evolve to their most efficient state. In this case two clear directions; reduce to tiny fragments of citystates, or merge into a behemoth or multinational super state.

Most countries since World W ar 11 have chosen the latter of safety in numbers. It took Europe two world wars and countless battles between the old kingdoms: the Romans, the Franks/Gauls, the English and the Spanish, to arrive at the European Union today; a single political economy, comprising of different peoples, nationalities and cultures, but with common goals in terms of economic and national security. From the North American free trade agreement (NAFTA), to the European Union, to the Organisation of African Unity it is clear that the current trend of civilisation irrespective of language or religious ideology is to come together for the common good. Post 1963 Nigeria has seen the country bent on

stratifying itself and creating more internal borders. Many have even pushed for the total disintegration of the country as a whole. A cursory study of the Nigerian psyche would reveal a deep inter-tribal distrust, and a huge religious gulf between the north and the south. These sentiments have been exacerbated by many religious based unrests and especially the 1967 to 1970 civil war. Fortunately, the entity called Nigeria is not held together merely by national agreement, as many would like to believe, but by strong post colonial and mercantile interests as well. To understand this one must explore the origin of Nigeria.

Nigeria as we know it today, at its earliest inception was a commercial and private property of several British merchants. These different British interests were eventually merged together by George Goldie in 1879 as the United African Company,(UAC) and later the Royal Niger Company. This private property at the time then gained recognition from the British crown, joining the then protectorate of Northern Nigeria and the Oil Rivers Delta into what is known as Nigeria today. The name itself was coined

by Lady Lugard- Flora Shaw, in an essay first published in Time magazine on the 8th of January 1897. She was apparently seeking a shorter name from the’ Royal Niger Territories’, ‘Central Sudan’, and other awkward names being used to refer to the Nigerian region at the time. So we see that Nigeria is tied to deep rooted European mercantilism, protected by the Crown and state. The vigour with which the British and American forces assisted the federal statusquo during the Biafra war would show those mercantile interests enforcing the retention of their original entity.

These private interests in the form of multinational companies still play a major role in ‘lobbying’ governments in post colonial African nations like Nigeria.

Nigeria especially remains a valuable entity:

the consequences will be earth shaking if we take what happened in the fuel subsidy rip-off as a yardstick. Now, when accountants are at a dead end, in the course of an investigation, they place a question mark on the figure that cannot be accounted for and put such account under suspense. This does not stop the on-going investigation, but allows for a clean slate beginning, which is to allow for the accounting to be done without any carry over strain. It mainly happens where and when there is a change of baton amongst personnel and handing over is to be made.

I have noted in a previous writeup that the NNPC has been blessed with so many qualified professional accountants. What kind of handing over had been done at the Financial Controller/ Directorate levels, during the multiple changes of regimes, we have had? If we are to go by the Finance Minister's statement that the NNPC business is complex and involved some exchanges in the form of barter and so on, do we not have recorded transactions of barter tradings?

I am of the opinion that if we pursue this reconciliation issue from now to 2015, we will not be able to make any headway, just as we have not had significant breakthrough with the fuel subsidy probe and others.

So, what am I proposing? For it not to be a rigmarole and another drain in our scarce resources, I propose that - like accountants do - the difference, whatever it is,

,

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

,

NNPC Account: Let's start afresh

Sanusi's outburst has brought greater awareness to the happenings in the NNPC and in the process, provoked an initiation of a better accounting and transparency standard for the NNPC

The vigour with which the British and American forces assisted the federal status-quo during the Biafra war would show those mercantile interests enforcing the retention of their original entity

,

rich in the purest crude oil, natural gas, gold, bauxite, coal, niobium, lead, etc; expected to be Africa’s largest economy very soon, and on the world’s 20 largest economies by 2050. It should therefore be expected that those commercial interests that operated through the colonial administration would continue to find new fronts to control such a resource basket, one way or another. The seed of the post independent political structure of Nigeria was sowed along religious and tribal lines, and even so without a sense of order and rotation for key positions representing a nascent nationstate. This was most likely premeditated, as it would make manipulation easy simply by using proxies to achieve political ends and stoking ethno-religious tension through surrogate Operation.

T

he Civil war may stand, after the amalgamation and independence, as the most notable phase in Nigeria’s political history. It is also interesting to note that key participants in that debacle turned out to be heads of state, and the creme de la creme of Nigeria’s political class, most of them attending the best schools abroad at the time and handpicked by the authority of the still pseudo-British government. The 60s at this time was globally turbulent, with the Vietnam War, Civil rights assassinations, Apartheid, and the cold war all brewing. In

should be placed under suspense, while a crack team of accountants and investigators continue to work on it without the distractions of the press and politicians. With immediate effect, open fresh account books for the NNPC that will be all inclusive, with nothing hidden. It must be open and transparent to any form of investigations and must cover every facet of the NNPC operations, with clear and simple operational modules.

Those to design the framework must include personnel from all the key sectors: Finance, Central Bank, Petroleum Ministry, Presidency, NOCs, security forces, etc. An open book for all to see, that is the new beginning that I crave.

Lastly, the NEITI ( Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency International ) audit report must be implemented to the fullest and all monies outstanding be deposited into the federation's account. It is a good thing that the Presidency has promised to implement the audit report recommendation. What Sanusi has cried for is not different from NEITI's persistent cries these past few years. The benefit, therefore, is that Sanusi's outburst has brought greater awareness to the happenings in the NNPC and in the process provoked an initiation of a better accounting and transparency standard for the NNPC. I hope this is so.

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

Nigeria, a constant factor with all the actors in the 60s brouhaha is their closeness to the previous colonial administration; mainly through education and military service.

Major Nzeogwu as history tells it was the initiator of what would become the social breaking point of the country. Born in Kaduna in 1936 to parents from Asaba, in what is today the Delta state, He was of the pioneering group of the Nigerian army intelligence corps, field security section (FSS) of the Royal Nigerian Army, Established in 1962 under Captain P.G Harrington of Britain.

He was privy to the intelligence dealings of the post colonial arm of control at the time, which was the military. Nzeogwu was the first Nigerian to hold the post of Chief instructor of the national intelligence and security branch of the military from 1962 to 1964. He attended the military academy at Sandhurst in England, and at such a young age had access to the highest levels of national and military intelligence, which in lay man’s terms is the spy agency. Lieutenant Emeka O. Ojukwu, the creator of Biafra was also of very privileged origin even. At a point his dad was rumoured to be richer than the country; his father having provided the luxury vehicle used at the time to receive the British queen when Nigeria couldn’t afford one. He attended Oxford College and was handpicked for his career path in the military. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa was also selected as the inspector of schools by the colonial administration.

He lost his life six years after the Queen knighted him. President Olusegun Obasanjo, was trained in England and India by the colonial administration, and was in charge of the 3 marine commando divisions that overtook Owerri and literally ended the Biafra war. Murtala Mohammed played a major part in the war brutally annihilating many communities in Asaba and eventually crossing the Niger, and on his return from the UK thereafter was made president while Gowon was at the OAU summit.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18

*Mr. Ifeobi, an economist, wrote from USA.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

One of the deplorable roads. PHOTOS: Bose Adelaja.

A blocked sewage.

Gowon Estate residents raise alarm over rot of infrastructure STORIES BY BOSE ADELAJA

Y

EARS back, Gowon Estate in Egbeda, Mosan Okunola local council development area of Lagos State, could conveniently pass as a high brow residential area and was therefore much sought after by many Nigerians.

It was one of the estates set up by former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, to house participants during the World Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, which took place in 1977.

After FESTAC 77, the build-

,

amenities such as motorable roads, stable power supply and adequate security which met international standard. But this presently is not the case as the place has since fallen into disrepair. In fact, apart from the absence of infrastructural amenities, the estate has become one big eye sore which residents attribute to lack of maintenance by the Federal Housing Authority.

During Vanguard Metro’s recent visit to the estate, many residents expressed fear about a possible outbreak of epidemic due to the absence of a sewage system and the fact that the drainage ways have been en-

Many residents expressed fear about a possible outbreak of epidemic due to the absence of a sewage system and the fact that the drainage ways have been encroached upon

ings were allocated to Nigerians on owner-occupier basis through a popular and transparent ballot system. Some of the buildings were, however, acquired by the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Air Force as well as the Nigeria Customs which allocated same as residential quarters to some of their officers.

Today, the two major markets in the estate are named after a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

At inception, Gowon Estate boasted basic infrastructural

,

croached upon. Also the residents have no access to potable water; they rely mostly on water from any source, sometimes at exorbitant cost. Apart from that, 99 percent of the roads in the estate have become death traps and most of the buildings are dilapidated.

Some of residents, including Mr Michael Elalor, Davies Aluede, Fidelis Edewor and Ejiro Jarikre, complained bitterly about the development which has grounded commercial activities in the estate.

According to them, due to the bad roads, many residents now trek home everyday, leaving

their vehicles parked at the roadsides at the mercy of street urchins.

During VM’s visit, it was observed that a good section of the estate has been taken over by shanties and illegal structures, many of which residents said play host to hoodlums, especially at night.

Some residents who bared their minds on the issue said the development has given rise

to nefarious activities at the estate.

But residents were particularly concerned about the deplorable condition of the roads there, especially at 4th Avenue as well as 411 road. ‘’My sister, it is usually terrible any time it rains.

Many of us usually relocate from the estate and come back after the rains, ‘’ lamented some of the residents.

They also informed that no fewer than four children were swept away in year 2013, during a downpour that lasted for several hours.

At the Sewage Road end of the estate, VM observed that some structures meant for transferring of sewage into raw materials have been illegally allocated to people although residents said this was facilitated by some unscrupulous elements in the Federal Housing Authority.

As for Christiana Solomon, who moved into the estate about three decades ago: ’’When I moved into this estate, it was comparable with today’s Lekki, but today, things have gone bad and the estate is now a haven for hoodlums. Flood is also a major problem, especially when it rains’’.

A source in the estate hinted that the local council, state and Federal Housing Authority usually visit owners of illegal structures and shanties to collect levies and dues which are not used to develop the estate.

Mrs Bisi Akinyelure informed that during the last rainy season, a balcony fell and killed two children. ‘’Most of the buildings are dilapidated due to the fact that the estate has long been neglected by government, ‘’ chorused Madam Nonyen Chidinma and Tiwalola Ajenifuja.

Persons living with disabilities send SOS to govt

P

EOPLE living with disabilities have called on government, to include them in its policy, while decrying continuing neglect, especially in the area of welfare and social amenities.

In a press statement, David Anyaele, the Executive Director Centre for Citizens with Disabilities CCD, said a thorough perusal of year 2014 budget, both at state and federal levels, shows that little or nothing has been appropriated for the rehabilitation and integration of Nigerians living with disabilities.

Anyaele urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to toe the line of his predecessors by not placing more value on the lives of Nigerians, especially those living with disabilities but build virile Nigerians for all to live. ‘’We are worried that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has followed the footsteps of his predecessors, especially Chief Olsegun Obasanjo whose administration placed no value on the lives of Nigerians with disabilities. It was Obasanjo’s government that laid the foundation for the disdainful treatment of Nigerians with disability through refusal to assent to Nigerians with disability bill passed by the National Assembly. It is the continued belief of the political class that places value on the sur-

vival of the fittest that exposes Nigerians with disabilities to exclusion, stigma, discrimination, isolation, marginalisation and sometimes to untimely death. This is because they are usually too weak, poor, voiceless and helpless to confront the government for inclusion of their needs in the appropriation; even when they are appropriated it hardly gets to them,’’ he lamented.

David said it was high time policy makers stopped discriminating against his members by non-inclusion in government programmes and activities. ‘’Federal, state and local governments policy makers should stop stigmatizing, isolating and discriminating against persons with disabilities through non-inclusion in governments programmes and activities,’’ he said.

He urged government to put machinery in motion to curb the nation’s security challenges which has given rise to disabilities in the affected states. ‘’At the same time, over 40 LGAs in the North East zone of Nigeria are in active, armed, violent conflicts as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, leaving death, destruction and disability in their wake for thousands of civilians, including women and children.

Disabilities can be prevented through better health care, nutrition, and safe environment,’’ he added.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 21

FG advised to sell oil assets to indigenous investors

By PETER EGWUATU

C

APITAL market operators and financial analysts have called on the Federal Government to sell oil assets to Nigerians and also offer some tax incentives that will enable the economy benefit from the huge billions of dollars the country is losing through oil companies operating in the country but are not listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Information gathered has shown that companies currently active in upstream oil and gas sector of the petroleum sector, with assets value of about $89 billion list their shares outside Nigeria.

“The listing of companies’ shares outside the country does not only deny Nigerian investors the opportunity to share in the profit made from Nigerian oil resource, but also affect the economic development of the country. It is expected that assets divestment in the oil and gas sector would create between $4 billion and five billion in value in the next two years,” operators noted.

Speaking against this background, financial experts and capital market operators have advised the federal government to take some proactive steps that would forestall past mistakes of handing over virtually all oil assets to foreign companies to the detriment of indigenous investors.

Managing Director of Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Ezeh, said ‘If the oil assets are sold to indigenous investors, the probability of their listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would be very high. “As we expect

FORUM: From left : Head, Group Corporate Strategy, Union Bank Plc, Lola Cardoso; Executive Director, Business

Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Business Development Corporate Solutions Sub Saharan Africa, NASDAQ OMX Group, Abishek Singh and General Manager/Head, Listings Sales and Retention, NSE, Taba Peterside at the Investor Relations Breakfast Forum, in Lagos.

further government and private divestment in the oil and gas sector, I believe indigenous firms should be given the opportunity to buy some of these assets.

If this is done, the companies will be listed on the Nigerian bourse thereby deepening the capital market.”

Speaking in the same vein , leading stockbroker and investment banker, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi of Partnership Investment Company Plc, said apart from

selling the assets to Nigerians, government should also give incentives such as lower tax rate to encourage listing on the NSE. “We should also require public companies with licences that serve larger public to list their shares on the NSE for public participation after a stated number of years. Government should compulsorily make privatised companies to list a portion of their shares. Without these steps, the

stock market will not grow as fast as we want,” he said.

Another investment banker and financial analyst, Mr. Bayo Rotimi of Quest Advisory Services Limited, said, “new listings can only be achieved through the introduction of incentives such as tax rebates and waivers as well as a continuous commitment towards the enthronement of transparency and accountability in the running of our capital markets. “

BPO will improve efficiency, connectivity in international trade — Memeh

By JONAH NWOKPOKU

H

EAD of Local Corporates and Trade Products, Transaction Banking, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Onyebuchi Memeh, has said that the adoption of Band Payment Obligation, BPO, in international transaction will improve efficiency and connectivity in the system.

He stated this while delivering a lecture at a workshop organised by International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, ICCN, in Lagos, on uniform rules for BPO. BPO is an alternative means of settlement in international trade that provides the benefit of a letter of credit in an automated environment without the drawbacks of manual processing associated with traditional trade finance.

Speaking on, ‘Bank Payment Obligation: General Requirements and Business Considerations’ Memeh highlighted key challenges faced by corporates using traditional trade flows in international transactions. He therefore, advocated the adoption of BPO as it is more efficient and presents opportunities and benefits for both importers and exporters. According to him, “Open account trade has challenges around insurance coverage.

In addition, Letters of Credit blocks corporate limit while

negotiation on payment terms are still on-going, leading to inefficient utilisation of credit limits.” He said that the adoption of BPO provides corporates the best of both worlds - the operational efficiency of Open Account with payment certainty of Letter of Credit.

He said, “BPO offers security for open account transactions and brings efficiency to Letter of Credits. It also enhances the Letter of Credit process while addressing Open Account challenges.”

He explained that BPO also offers advantage of electronic presentation of data instead of physical documents, resulting to improved quality and objectivity of compliance verification. It also offers quicker process as it focuses only on data relevant for financing and can be added at any time, for any amount value.”He noted that sellers can gain certainty of the timing of cash flow and can improve liquidity forecasts and may use BPO to get pre-/post-shipment finance through their own bank.”

He further noted that BPO will improve connectivity through faster access to documents to take delivery of goods as physical documents do not need to be examined and may bypass the banking channel. There is also quicker resolution of deviations (Amendments) as both buyer and seller can interact on an online portal, thereby enhancing faster clarification on discrepancies.

197.00

+2.20

2,963.00

+25.00

17.94

-0.38

108.31

+0.76

102.49

+0.93

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.75 STERLING 258.3706 EURO 212.967 FRANC 174.8983 YEN 1.5191 CFA 0.3059 WAUA 238.6622 RENMINBI 25.1859 RIYAL 41.2612 KRONA 28.5343 SDR 239.429

155.25 259.2054 213.6551 175.4634 1.524 0.3159 239.4333 25.2677 41.3945 28.6265 240.2028

155.75 260.0402 214.3432 176.0285 1.5289 0.3259 240.2044 25.2677 41.5278 28.7187 240.9764

CBN Exchange rate as at 10/03/2014

22— — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

I

t used to be a major fear among bank customers. The fear of losing money, in case your bank closed shop or the operating licence got revoked by regulatory authorities. The fear was very strong in the 1990s and early 2000s, when news of bank closure was the order of the day. The situation is better now, and the regulators are wiser but the truth is that bank failure is something that cannot be completely eliminated. Banks have failed and they would still fail because the human beings running them would make mistakes. Hence, even as people invest their money in bank deposits, there is still the fear of losing their money should the bank collapse.

One of the reasons why this fear persists is that most people that put their money in banks seem not to be aware that there is insurance for bank deposits too. It is called Deposit Insurance. It was one of the measures introduced to address the fear and impact of losing money due to failure or closure of a bank.

It works this way. Every money people put in banks is

Dead banks and living deposits

insured up to a particular amount called the Maximum Insured Deposit. Presently in Nigeria, the maximum insured deposit is N500, 000 for banks, and N200,000 for microfinance banks and mortgage banks.

This implies that if you deposit N1 million in a bank, N500, 000 is insured and will be paid

to you, in the event that the bank folds up.

For this purpose, each bank is charged what is called ‘insurance premium’, which is paid into a fund called Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) in the case of banks, and Special Institutions Insurance Fund (SIIF) for

microfinance banks and mortgage banks. The Fund is used to pay for the maximum insured deposit whenever a bank fails.

The organisation that manages the Deposit Insurance Scheme and Fund in Nigeria is called Nigeria Deposit Insurance

Top 10 performing stocks On the top 10 performing stocks last week were shares of Forte Oil Plc, IPWA Plc, Chams Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Union Dicon Salt Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria, UBN, Plc. Others were Costain (WA) Plc, UACN Property Development Co, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, CCNN, Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc.

F

orte Oil, which set a re markable record on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, by releasing its 2013 audited financial statement for December 31, 2013, one month ahead of the stipulated submission deadline, appreciated by 17.65 percent or N15.60 to close at N104 from N88.40 per share.

Besides, the company recently announced intention to pay dividend N4 per share dividend to shareholders and investors for the year, which has wittingly increased interest and patronage of the shares. During the year, the company successfully re-organised its capital to offset accumulated losses of more than N55.98 billion against share premium. It also diversified into Nigeria’s power sector with the acquisition of 414MW Geregu Power plant

under the Federal Government-led privatisation programme and significantly expanded its retail network to boost market share and profitability, among some initiative undertaken top boost profitability. The audited financial statement for the year ended 2013 showed revenue growth of 41 percent to N128 billion from N91 billion in 2012. Profit before tax soared by 467

percent from N1.15 billion to N6.52 billion, while profit after tax rose by 397 percent from N1.01 billion to N5 billion.

Earnings per share grew from

N0.93 to N4.32 within the same period.

IPWA Plc recorded 13.46 percent or N0.07 price appreciation to close at N0.59 from N0.52 though there is scarcely any information either on the management or the fundamentals that will warrant price increase. The most recent financials to be released to the investing public is the 2011 third quarter results for September 30 th , which

showed that gross earning declined by 13 percent to N241.07 billion from N276.06 billion in 2010 and loss before tax of N59.21

Corporation (NDIC). In 2012, the Corporation collected and paid into the Deposit Insurance Fund N62.3 billion as insurance premium from banks, microfinance banks and mortgage banks. At the end of the year, total money in the Deposit Insurance Fund for banks, and Special Institution Insurance Fund stood at N565 billion.

On the other hand, between 1994 and 2012, NDIC paid the sum of N6.82 billion to 528,212 insured depositors of 48 closed banks in-liquidation.

Similarly, in 2012, it paid N2.505 billion was paid as insured deposit to 75,322 verified depositors of 94 microfinance bank that closed shop.

But there is still N1.9 billion of insured deposits in the 48 banks, that are yet to be collected by the owners. It is either the owners are dead, or believe that their money died with the banks. Irrespective of the reasons, the fact is that the money is their waiting for them. (To be continued next week).

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

billion, a four percent decline over negative N61.56 billion reported in the same period of 2011. Listed on the building material sub-sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the company produces highly technological marine, protective, packaging, industrial and coil coatings in addition to building paints, wood finishes and automotive refinishes. By virtue of its products profile, IPWA Plc is the most diversified paint manufacturing company in Nigeria.

Chams plc appreciated by

12.00 percent or N0.06 to close at N0.56 from N0.50.

Following the move to improve stakeholders’ value, the company last year said it would expand its operation to other West African countries.

Also, effort to localise all its technologies through outsourcing and industry partnership is being made, while taking advantage of the steady growth of the payment industry to grow revenue. The company recently changed guards with the appointment of Ahmadu Bello University trained Veterinary doctor, Prof.

Shehu Usman Abdullahi, as a non-Executive Director with effective from September 19, 2013. Despite these positives,

the company seems to be locked in unending circle of dwindling fortune. For the year ended 30th September, 2013, Chams achieved revenue of N1.064 billion, as against N719.804 million recorded in the same period of 2012. However, this was wiped out by galloping cost of sales, which gulped huge N716.163 million leaving the company with mere N348.485 million as gross profit for the year. It ended up loss after tax of N614.629 million from another loss position of N1.029 billion in the same period of 2012.

Cornerstone Insurance went up by 10.00 percent or N0.05 to close at N0.55 from N0.50.

It was one of the 39 insurance companies that scaled the International Financial Reporting Standard, IFRS, hurdle in 2013 and got the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM’s approval for same.

Union Dicon Salt advanced by 8.51 percent or N1.06 to close at N13.51 from N12.45; UBN appreciated by 6.63 percent or N0.61 to close at N9.81 from N9.20; Costain rose by 5.73 percent or N0.09 to close at N1.66 from N1.57; UACN property appreciated by 5.35 percent or N1.07 to close at N21.06 from N19.99; CCNN advanced by 4.98 percent or N0.46 to close at N9.70 from N9.24, while Zenith bank went up by 4.63 percent or N0.95 to close at N21.45 from N20.50 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 23

Investors speak

T

he Investments and Securities Tribunal, IST, is the body established by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to deal with the various cases of breach of trust and other fraudulent acts that investors often encounter while operating in the capital market. The body according to its Director General, Dr Ngozi Chianakwalam, recently said they were able to resolve about 23 cases last year. In this interview, some shareholders spoke with Vanguard Investors’ Forum on the Tribunal’s performance. Excerpts: PASTOR WILLIAMS ADEBAYO: The IST is not doing less than what is expected of them because to establish and to get to a satisfactory conclusion of cases require a lot of underground fact-finding. Take for instance, in a situation where you have a shareholder ’s stock that was stolen, owing to the fact that the shareholder had passed away and some people who may not be entitled to these stocks may find the share certificates or through interception of the mail through which the dividend was being posted, some funny Nigerians may have access to the information and they will go and open a bank account for such a stock and begin to get another man’s business dividend.

Another case is because we have some wealthy Nigerians who have stocks before they died and their children could not realize on time that their father had such an investment.

So anybody that has the market understanding and comes across such stocks, realizing that the late had plenty stock, might cleverly go and open an account for it and begin to divert all the dividend payable to that late shareholder into such an account.

And these are some of the cases

On IST performance last financial year

Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange. that make it There are It is also good for the necessary for the many ways in tribunal to go all which operators tribunal to create more the way through play these awareness about what the case to ensure dubious acts. they are doing, this that they bring to And I believe function should not be left that the tribunal the fore all the facts that to the body alone but also is going a long surrounds each way to ensure to every of the market matter. in the regulators, and when this serenity Also, in some system while is done, the market will other cases you they are saving find some become a better place for shareholders’ unscrupulous fund and fortune all to do business operators in the from being system selling stocks of some wealthy eroded into fraudsters’ hands.

Nigerians. You know some people are Though some may think that their so wealthy that they hardly touch their proceedings take long time, I think stocks and if some funny operators see that whichever way you may want to this opportunity and realize that for the look at it, they are recording success, stock they are about to sell the company most especially with the introduction might not issue bonus; and knowing of CSCS which has further made it very this, when the price goes up, they difficult for anybody to sell stocks deliberately sell those stocks and when without prior knowledge of the owner. the price comes down, they buy into But I think in order for them to it. further prevent these cases from

,

By WILLIAM JIMOH

,

occurring in the first place, in the cases of those who still hold their share certificates that are not being passed into the system, which affects most especially elderly shareholders, which up till tomorrow you will continue to find in the country if there is no proper education most especially those investors who live in the rural areas.

They still have it hanged in their sitting rooms share certificates that are dated back to over 40 years ago, and still prefer that they remain there of which if a fraudster should lay his hand upon, they can go to any length with it.

So the CSCS’ requirement that every certificate be sent to their data base is something that all shareholders must comply with including those who live in the rural areas.

OGUNBIYI OLUSOLA: The investment security tribunal is really doing well. You need to know that the people that are perpetrating these fraudulent acts in the market do a lot of home work and to ensure that there is fair treatment to both the accuser and the accused. They also need to do some home work and that is what might make it look as if their operation is taking a lot of time.

I will want to enjoin the directors of the body to ensure that they do not relent in their efforts to ensure that the capital market is sanitised of fraud of whatever form.

It is also good for the tribunal to create more awareness about what they are doing. This function should not be left to the body alone but also to every of the market regulators, and when this is done, the market will become a better place for all to do business. Because if the investors know what is expected of them as shareholders, where and how to get help when needed, then there will be less cases of selling or taking what does not belong to you since you know the implication of what you are doing.

MARKET NEWS SEC receives “Most Ethically Responsible Dividends Declaration S Federal Commission 2012/2013” Award

T

he Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, has received the honour of “Woman of Conscience” in her administration of a public sector company while the Commission, which she leads, was declared the “Most Ethically Responsible Federal Commission 2012/2013”.

Speaking during the award conferment at the Commission’s head office in Abuja, Executive Director, Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO), Prince Salih Musa Yakubu, commended the DG for her work in SEC especially her Arunma Oteh, SEC, DG determination to ensure said the integrity in the capital corru p t i o n . Yakubu market and her fight against responsibility of the organisation is to

fight corruption and promote ethical leadership and value reorientation.

In her response, Ms. Arunma Oteh, described the award as a call on the Commission to do more, adding, “It is great when you are doing your work and people are on their own recognising you and want you to give sustainability to your role in making the nation better. What we do as the SEC is important in making Nigerians realise their potentials.”

She dedicated the award to President Goodluck Jonathan, who has given her unalloyed support thus far, adding, “Many people do their work, but I will not have this recognition if there is no support from the president.

I pray God to give guidance and to make sure the right people are recognised.”

ome companies likely to declare dividends for 2013 have scheduled Board meetings to approve their different results and determine the amount to be paid as dividend. Within the week, Transcorp notified the NSE that following the meeting of the Board of Directors held on February 7, 2014, the Board recommended a dividend of N0.5kobo per share, the firs since its listing in 2007. If approved, payment of the dividend will be made on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and the qualifying date shall be Friday, March 7, 2014. The register of members and transfer books of the company will be closed from March 10, 2014 to March 14, 2014, both days inclusive.

Lafarge WAPCO has also scheduled a Board meeting where issues pertaining to dividend declaration will be discussed along side the 2013 annual accounts and reports.

Union Homes REIT proposed distribution of 241kobo as dividend to the shareholders for year ended December 31, 2013.

Finally, Unilever Nig. Plc’s Board of Directors will be converging later in the month to discuss proposed dividend payment for the financial year ended, December 31, 2013.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

T

O meet a 48-hour dead line to end fuel scarcity in Lagos, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, said it will inject additional 110 million litres of petrol into the market this week.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, had given PPMC and oil marketers 48 hours to clear the long queues at filling stations and end the lingering fuel shortages.

Confirming the development with journalists at the weekend in Lagos, PPMC Executive Director (Commercial), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had already supplied more than 74 million litres of petrol to Lagos, last week.

He gave the assurance that with the level of petrol in distribution across the country, normalcy would soon return to filling stations.

Komolafe said, “We have put in some measures to halt the artificially-induced fuel scarcity noticeable in parts of the country. We have also put in place measures to ensure a free-flow of petrol at filling stations in Lagos. NNPC is expected to supply 50 per cent of the petrol, while other marketers will supply 50 per cent.”

He explained further, “We have engaged stakeholders, including the NNPC, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, to find lasting solutions to the lingering fuel situation.”

He also used the opportunity to reiterate that there is no plan by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol, and appealed to marketers to stop hoarding the fuel.

He added, “Members of the public should also not engage in panic buying. We are convinced that in the days ahead, fuel situation will normalise as there is enough petrol to go round.”

Komolafe said further that a number of vessels from the major marketers had berthed to discharge petrol, adding that four vessels with more than 74 million litres were currently discharging to clear the queues.

According to him, “We have discharged a vessel, Alzea with 30 million litres; Ocean Centrum belonging to NIPCO with 22 million litres; and Vinte Enterpriser with 22 million litres.The vessels are currently discharging at Apapa, IBM Jetty, Capital Jetty and SPM Jetty in Lagos.

“While we intensify the ongoing direct monitoring of fuel situation across Lagos and its

From left: Chairman/MD, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji; Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dangote Group , Mr . Oare Ojeikere; Chief Executive Officer , Proximity Communications , Mr. Rotimi Olaniyan; Head of Marketing (West Africa), Consumer Banking , Standard Chartered Bank, Chima Nwuke and Africa Marketing Director Consumer Health Care Glaxosmith , Consumer HealthCare, Mr . Reuben Onwubiko, during the Proximity Marketing colloquium, an annual marketing leadership forum entitled; 'The Next Big Things' held at Pan African University, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Scarcity: Alison-Madueke gives •PPMC to inject 110 48-hour deadline million litres of petrol environs, we are providing extra volume of product to eliminate the queues arising from the scarcity.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr Obafemi Olawore, said that

four vessels were expected to berth in Lagos ports next week.

He assured Nigerians of effective petrol distribution to all stations across the country, and warned marketers to desist from hoarding the com-

modity.

“We are still expecting more vessels from MOMAN, IPMAN, DAPPMA and other marketers to strengthen the existing supply.We implore members of the public to avoid

panic buying and storing of fuel in residential areas.

“We will not hesitate to sanction any marketers found hoarding products,” Olawore warned.

Gas: 3,733MW of electricity to be lost in 3 months

BY MICHAEL EBOH

N

IGERIANS will have to grapple with epileptic power situation over the next couple of months, as the country is projected to lose about 3,733 megawatts of electricity between March and June 2014.

This, according to a document obtained from the Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, will be as a result of constraints in gas production, supply and inadequate power evacuation facilities, arising from frequent disruptions and tampering of crude lines, which negatively affect gas production and condensate evacuation.

The Chairman, PTFP, Mr. Reynolds Dagogo-Jack, in the document titled, ‘Maintaining service delivery & the early stabilisation of the infant privatised Nigerian electricity supply market,” disclosed that only 3,231MW of electricity will be effectively distributed in May, while 3,420MW is to be distributed in June.

Stranded generation for the months of March and June 2014, he noted, will be

1,512MW and 2,221MW respectively.

Stranded generation is when electricity power is available at the power plants, but cannot be evacuated to the end users.

Pipelines vandalism Dagogo-Jack disclosed that between May and November 2013, the country witnessed 12 major attacks on five critical gas pipelines in the country, leading to an average capacity loss of about 1,880MW of electricity.

Two major incidents, according to him, are the closure of the Trans Niger Pipeline by Shell Petroleum Development Company, which led to the loss of about 650MW from the Afam Power Plant, and the November 23 shut down of gas supply to Okpai by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, which led to a loss of 480MW. He gave a breakdown on the impact of gas constraints on stranded generation, saying as at December 2013, thermal deliverable power was 4,181MW with effective gas power capacity at 2,848, while the country lost 1,333 MW.

Future projections Dagogo-Jack also made the following projections for stranded generation: •September - 1,473MW; •December - 1,286 MW; •March 2015 - 1,216 MW; •June 2015 - 1,286MW; •September 2015 - 1,225 MW; and, •December 2015 - 1,416 MW He said, “Over the next two years, the increase in thermal generation capacity is expected to come from NIPP turbines, capacity recovery of former Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN GenCos and from additions to currently in-situ Independent Power Plants, IPPs. All these parties will be competing with each other for the limited supply of available gas.”

Minimising challenges In order to minimise the challenges, Dagogo-Jack advocated a “timely completion of the Obiafu/ObrikomOben (Ob3) infrastructure project to link the surplus Eastern network to the deficit Western networks.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 25

T

HE success of govern ment’s transformation agenda relies on the progress made in power sector reforms, which in turn, depends on developments in natural gas production. At the inception of President Jonathan Goodluck’s administration, reform of the power sector was made a top priority, and thus the Presidential Task Force on Power was constituted. On the basis of the report from this taskforce, the President set up the Presidential Action Committee on Power and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

Recently, the Vice-President requested the Ministries of Finance and Power to come up with appropriate shareholding formula for the NIPP since the project is jointly financed by Federal, States and Local Governments.

Power generation Federal Government’s target is to achieve over 7 Giga Watts (GW) of electricity before the end of the year by injecting about 3.5GW of electricity into the national grid through the NIPP projects. However, power generation of this magnitude has a direct correlation to aggressive natural gas production, and the oil and gas industry has a lead role to play in natural gas production. This should not be a difficult target to realize, considering that the Nigerian Jurisdiction is regarded as ‘a natural gas province with traces of oil in it’. Therefore, we need to examine what the oil and gas sector is doing to boost natural gas production in Nigeria.

Gas production Previous government’s policy of producing natural gas mainly for export is gradually being replaced with one that also accommodates gas production for domestic use (i.e. for cooking, power generation and manufacturing sectors). There have been notable achievements in gas production so far. Total average gas production increased from 7.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (scfd) in 2011 to 8.24 scfd in 2012, which translates to a 7% increase. There is also a decrease in gas flare to about 10% compared to 30% in 2010.

The Petroleum Minister ’s Emergency Gas Supply Plan (2012) has contributed over 230 million scfd for power generation and thus increased national power generating capacity by 30% (4.2GW of power). The planned addition of 450 million scfd of gas supply for power generation will boost generating capacity by an additional 40% (i.e. to 6GW of power). Domestic gas supply has peaked at 1.5 billion scfd currently, and a significant proportion is being channeled to the power sec-

Transformation Agenda: Upstream gas development and future challenges

BRIEF

‘Nigerian banks alone can’t fund power sector’ Stories BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

Oil Rig

tor.

The current gas supply should support about 5GW of power generating capacity.

Based on realistic projections this is expected to increase to 10GW by 2015/16. The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is being positioned as a dominant gas supplier to the domestic market.

NPDC has a producibility of 450 million scfd in the Western Niger Delta. In 2012, the Oredo Integrated Gas Handling Facility contributed 65 mscfd to the gas network.

Domestic gas supply to household and manufacturing sector almost doubled from 185 million scfd to 357 million scfd, and thus has provided feedstock for growth in the nation’s cement sector and over 200 manufacturing companies.

This figure continues to grow as the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) constructs additional pipeline infrastructure. Consequently, gas sales have risen to about 4 billion scfd in 2012 (an increase of about 70%).

Gas to power A contract has been awarded for the construction of a 120km East-West Gas Pipeline crossing the Niger River, and is expected to be completed by 2015. This pipeline creates a major linkage between the huge gas reserves in the Eastern Niger Delta and other parts of the country. On completion this critical gas pipeline could mitigate the shortfalls in gas supply to the power sector in the Western Region.

The Okapi Power Plant in Delta State, developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is about to become operational. This development represents the largest gas-to-power initiative in Africa. The two phases of the

,

CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is being positioned as a dominant gas supplier to the domestic market.

NPDC has a producibility of 450 million scfd in the Western Niger Delta

,

project would on completion generate a combined 1000 megawatts (MW) of power.

This project falls under the ‘Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’. On the basis of this power plant, NNPC will generate its first carbon credit in compliance with the Kyoto Protocol and related UN resolutions.

Another important development is the Calabar-AjaokutaAbuja-Kano gas pipeline infrastructure expansion. This pipeline will open up gas access to the East and Northern part of Nigeria. A major engineering review of the 1000km pipeline has been conducted and plans are in place to commence execution of the project by early 2014. The Ministry of Finance has committed to issuing Eurobonds of over $600 million to fund this project. By 2015 ending, this project would have established gas access to Abuja, and subsequently Kaduna / Kano, thereby opening up the Northern half of the nation for aggressive industrial revolution.

Overcoming development challenges The foregoing would suggest that the oil and gas industry has achieved a measure of success in developing gas, and future projections are also encouraging. However, going forward, a number of issues have to be addressed; particularly the issue of appropriate pricing of gas for domestic consumption still sticks out and affects independent power initiatives.

The choice is between continuing with the current subsidy regime to power plants and industrial firms and permitting the oil companies to produce and sell at market-driven rates. Resolving this matter would ensure that most of the power plants being constructed would be able to obtain gas feedstock for their operations.

In the near future, Nigerians would like to see further progress in the execution of the ambitious West African Gas Pipeline Project (launched by NNPC in 2004) to supply Nigerians with more gas for domestic consumption and to several neighboring countries. On completion, this project will increase government’s earnings from natural gas production. NNPC is also expected to establish strategic partnerships with global gas- producing companies to secure presence in international markets; expand gas-based industries through partnerships to ensure Nigeria becomes a regional hub for natural gas-based products; enhance access to capital and technology for natural gas production; and to promote independent control of jointventure operations.

Dr Chijioke Nwaozuzu, a petroleum expert wrote from Abuja. Email: cnwaozuzu@gmail.com. Tel: 070 6874 3617 (SMS only)

he huge financing gap in the power sector and the inability of the Nigerian financial sector to solely provide the funds needed to grow the sector will frustrate efforts to ensure steady power supply in Nigeria, says Mr. Patrick Okigbo, Principal Partner, Nextier Capital Limited.

According to Okigbo, this will make the on-going transformation and privatisation of the Nigerian power sector not to achieve its objective of addressing the epileptic power situation in the country, Okigbo, who disclosed this in a statement announcing the forthcoming Power Investors Summit: Nigeria, scheduled to hold on March 20 and 21, 2014, in Lagos, stated that a colossal amount of finance is still required to support the sector’s growth through system upgrades, grid expansion and gas supply and infrastructure.

He said Nigerian banks alone cannot provide the funds needed to drive the growth and development of the power sector, hence the need to engage international financial institutions to support in growing the sector.

NOG: Access Bank to drive growth of indigenous oil companies

A

ccess Bank Plc has announced plans to partner with other stakeholders to address the challenges facing independent and indigenous oil and gas companies, especially in the area of funding.

Access Bank spokesman, Mr. Segun Fafore, said this in a statement announcing the bank’s partnership with CWC Group, on the forthcoming Nigerian Oil and Gas, NOG, exhibition and conference, scheduled to hold between March 17th and 20th, 2014, in Abuja.

He said the bank will bring to bear its exceptional capacity and knowledge of the Nigerian oil and gas sector which has positioned it as the “preferred bank of operators in the sector.”

According to him, Access Bank Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, will join other industry experts to deliberate on how to overcome the challenges facing the growth of independent and indigenous producers and service providers in the oil and gas sector and ways of supporting them to overcome the challenges.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

FG grants Pinnacle Oil waiver for $250m projects

•Power Line

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

he Federal Govern

ment has approved a waiver to an indigenous oil and gas company, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited for a

$250 million Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ).

SPM is an offshore anchored loading buoy that serves as mooring point and interconnects to tankers loading or off-loading gas or fluid products.

SPM’s are becoming increasingly prevalent as they provide low-cost and rapid import and export of crude oil and refined products, using a range of tankers up to very large crude carriers.

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed this when a team from Pinnacle Oil and its technical partners visited his office in Abuja.

Senator Umar said the waiver granted to the company was in good stead to assist the oil company carry out the $250 million SPM in LFTZ. The Minister however advised the company to submit the list of all its technical partners to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), to analyse the company’s financial capability and technical know-how to carry out the project.

Umar expressed the Ministry ’s full support to enable the company execute the project, which he described as beneficial to Nigerians and the entire country when fully on ground.

Speaking earlier, Pinnacle Oil’s Managing Director, Mr Peter Mbah, said that the SPM project will gulp about $250 million.

Mbah explained that the partnership with the China Petroleum Technology Development Corporation (CPTDC) and Lekki FTZ CompanyLimited (LFTZC), would lead to the development of the Nigerian downstream sector. This is because the free zone provided a more convenient alternative for loading oil products.

He also said that under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the SPM would enable petroleum cargo vessels to anchor and discharge products via the network of undersea and onshore pipelines to respective tank farms.

“The Lekki Free Zone SPM couldn’t have come at a better time than now that government is withdrawing subsidy on petrol. Considering that factors which impact on the product price like demurrage and littering of cargoes. Also, the use of small vessels to take products from bigger vessels that cannot dock at the jetty due to the shallow draught, would be eliminated, therefore reducing the landed cost of petroleum products quite considerably,”

Mbah said.

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar welcoming the CEO of Pinnacle Oil & gas Ltd, Mr Peter Mbah with the company's technical partners when the team paid a courtesy call on the Minister on the $250m Single Point Mooring, SPM, with them is the Chairman, House Committee on Marine & Transport, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi admires in Abuja.

Japanese agency to fund $10m FCT solar project

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Water Board, Lower Usman Dam, Bwari and the Japanese International Co-operation Agency, JICA has concluded plans to fund a $10 million solar powered plant. The plant will provide electricity for the treatment of water at the Lower Usman Dam

in Bwari Area Council of the FCT. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, disclosed this last week in Abuja. He said that the project is dear to Nigerians, because of its operational efficiency for the treatment plant, also as it would make power available to the people in the area.

Igali said the renewable ener-

gy holds the greatest value to humanity, as the raw material is abundantly available in the country.

While commending the Government and people of Japan for the pilot scheme, Igali said the project has shown that it is possible to harness God-given gift through solar-powered energy source, for the benefit of Nigerians.

He said that JICA has also done well for Nigeria in the area of rural electrification, Water Resources, Environment, adding, “in fact the agency has done superlatively well in training Nigerian technicians that would man the solar plant when completed.”

Speaking on the project, the Minister of State (Power), Hon. Mohammed Wakil, commended JICA for the lead in rural electrification in his home State Borno. He added that JICA has demonstrated firm commitment to complementing efforts of the Nigerian Government in critical areas.

He said the project when completed would help in solving the problem of epileptic power supply, and that Nigeria will make good use of the project.

Earlier, the representative of the FCT, a director in the Ministry, Mr. Jiniye Auto, assured that the project will neither be abandoned nor vandalised when completed, as the FCT will protect the project.

The Country Representative of JICA, Seki Tetsuo, assured Nigerians, that the grant-in-aid given by the Government of Japan will be judiciously utilised for the project, he said that, the high-point in the agreement is the provision for training of Nigerians that would operate the plant.

FG hands over Olorunsogo power plant to new owner

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: The Federal Government has formally handed over the Olorunsogo Power Plc to SEPCO Pacific Partners Ltd, bringing to 16, the total number of power assets handed over to the private sector in the last four months.

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, also the Chairman of National Council on Privatisation, NCP, presided over the handover ceremony.

He noted that since the passage of Electric Power Sector Reform Act, EPSRA 2005, and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company, PHCN into 18 successor companies, very little was done to advance the reform of the Power sector.

He however said that things started to change with the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan, which led to the enunciation of the Transformation Agenda of the nation’s economy.

Sambo, who was represented by the Director General, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, said the reform and privatisation programme would not have been possible without the support and commitment from the Presidency.

He added that the provision of stable power remained imperative to drive the economic

transformation of Nigeria. He noted that, “It was the realisation that Nigeria will not attain the desired economic growth without adequate power that informed the power sector reform.”

In previewing the history of the reforms in the Nigeria Elec-

tricity Supply Industry, NESI, Sambo said, “Reform in this very critical sector commenced in 1999, with the inauguration of the Electric Power Implementation Committee, EPIC.” He said this “culminated in the development of the Nation-

al Electric Power Policy 2001, the enactment of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act 2005, and establishment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to facilitate the repeal of the now defunct NEPA Act.

Glencore confirms interest in buying Shell Nigerian assets

BY ONYEGBADUE AMAMDI with agency reports

C

OMMODITY trader and miner, Glen core, has confirmed its interest in buying oil assets that oil major Shell is selling in Nigeria.

It was reported last month that Swiss commodity trading houses, Glencore and Mercuria, along with the Dangote Group, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, Transcorp, and Greenacres, among others had indicated interest in acquiring the divested interests of some multinationals in Nigeria valued at about $3 billion or N480 billion.

Sources said that final bids for the stakes in the blocks were due in February, adding that Glencore was preparing to bid in a consortium which if susuccessful, would be its first inroad into Nigeria’s upstream sector.

Shell is selling its 30 percent stake in four oil blocks, with France’s Total, and Italy’s Eni, also looking to divest their 10 percent and five percent stakes.The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owns

the remaining 55 per cent.

According to sources, the combined 45 per cent stake in blocks OML 18, 24, 25 and 29 is worth around N480 billion, but could fetch even more due to inflated values put on assets in a country with an increasingly wealthy elite.

Shell is also selling the 97-km (60-mile) Nembe Creek oil pipeline, which has been regularly attacked by oil thieves.The Nigerian sales are part of a wider plan by Shell to dispose of $15 billion of assets this year and next to streamline operations after a profit warning.

“We are always interested in every asset that comes for sale. We always look at it and check if we can satisfy our returns criteria,” Glencore’s chief executive, Ivan Glasenberg, said when asked about the Nigerian assets at a presentation of results.

Together with Macquarie Group, Glencore had also made an unsuccessful attempt to buy Shell’s downstream Australian assets, which were then sold to oil trader, Vitol and the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, for about A$2.4 billion ($2.2 billion) last month.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—27

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

By Theodore Opara

•Kia Optima

Kia Optima, a sedan with rising profile T

HE Kia optima is per haps, one of the ‘craziest’ car designs from the Korean car maker. No wonder it was conferred with the most ‘Outstanding design’ award by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards (NAJA) in 2012 when it first arrived the Nigerian market.

One glance at the Optima convinces you that the car has all it takes to compete with its Japanese and European competitors.

The Optima and other Kia siblings have long changed this perception with their innovative and quality products. The beauty of its all however, is that the Optima offers you what competitors could offer and even more at less cost.

The Optima is powered by a class-leading Theta II 2.0 litre petrol engine with a six speed automatic transmission which delivers like a typical luxury sedan. High performance damper for ultimate driving performance over all road terrain adds to Optima’s excellent roadholding.

The Optima boasts of array of innovations. Starting from the long wheel base which gives one an impression of a limousine, the Optima has an amazing spacious interior. Through the innovative use of space and judicious layout of ele-

ments, headroom and legrooms for both front and rear passengers increased generously. The drivers seat incorporates an advanced memory system that remembers the setting for two different drivers. The front passengers also enjoys similar treatment.

The Interior of the Optima is not all about spaciousness, the use of luxury materials and emphasis on texture put the car ahead of its peers. The finishing of seats blending seamlessly with the trim detailing is another plus for the Kia sedan. Storage is generous too with door pockets, cup and bottles holders and seat back pockets. All of these are perfectly complemented by cool mood lamps and interior lighting. The cockpit of the Optima is well laid and shaped around the driver. A high-tech visually striking supervision cluster emulates classic sports car instrumentation with its dual cylinder design. Featuring a 3.5” colour TFT LCD, it gives you essentially information such as average fuel economy, trip distance to empty, open door warning and outside temperature.

Technologically advanced features in the Optima are countless. From the paddle shifters to auto

cruise control, and from a bright, easily readable supervision cluster to the wraparound, driver-orientted centre fascia, the Optima engages you all through the trip.

The Optima bristles with latest technology. The 530watt premium Infinity sound system features eight speakers in addition to the standard Aux-USB and iPod connectivity, ensuring an unsurpassed listening experience on the move. All of these operated via intuitive, fingertipsensitive controls.

The new Optima incor-

From left: Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, Dana Motors MD, representatives of Kia Motors in Nigeria, Homer Kim of Kia Motor Corporation (Korea) and Mr. Lukman Mamadu of National Automotive Council during the signing of agreement for the setting up of Kia assembly plant in Nigeria, inAbuja . porates a whole range of state-of-the-art safety features to provide the occupants with safety of the highest order. These in-

clude electronic stability control for sudden braking, oversize disc brakes for smooth control and power-

ful braking and details such as rear view camera and active headrests in the front seats.

ABC retrains driving crew, extends sprinter service to Lekki, Owerri, PH Over 400 ABC Transport drivers and attendants recently participated in a productivity and safety enhancement workshop in Calabar, Owerri, Lagos and Ewekoro (Ogun State). The month-long training, which began in February and ended last week, was to bolster the driving crew ahead of the challenges arising from the ongoing expansions in ABC Hauls following the acquisition of 80 Shacman heavy-duty trucks and in ABC Cargo Express which is set to take delivery of ad-

ditional 13 new trucks in a few weeks’ time.

The Training embraced key areas such as defensive driving, with emphasis on build-up areas, accident prevention, psychology of drivers and other road users, managing drivers for effective performance, effective crew welfare management, re-appraising drivers’ performance on the job, and root cause analysis involving accidents, among others.

Other trainings have been scheduled for operations and cargo frontline staff as

well as customer service staff of ABC Transport, which will cover issues common with running an efficient cargo operations, customer service delivery, managing service failures ad aggrieved customers, and the nexus between staff attitude and customer relationship.

Meanwhile, ABC Transport has introduced Sprinter Service on the Lekki (Lagos) – Owerri and Port Harcourt routes.

Essentially designed for passengers who like to

travel light, with little or no luggage, ABC Sprinter will run as a direct, daily passenger service from Lekki to Owerri and Port Harcourt. The service, is billed to kick off on Wednesday.

ABC Sprinter parades compatible midi buses, which are fully air-conditioned, roomy, and comfortable. This midi intercity service is designed to provide light travellers with enough legroom and comfort on long distance trips, as well as on-board refreshments.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 — 29

By Theodore Opara

Nissan overtakes Toyota with Teana N

ISSAN Motor Cor poration has outperformed Asia-based carmakers including Toyota Motor Corporation just as its mid-size sedan, Altima also known as Teana outsold Camry for the first time in 12 years at the end of February 2014 sales appraisal.

Bloomberg, a premier site for business and financial market news reported that Nissan U.S. growth of 14 percent this year through February contrasts with declines of 5.7 percent for Toyota.

Altima, Nissan top seller, rose 11 percent to 30,849 in February, for a total of 53,364, while Toyota Camry sales fell 7.3 percent to 28,998 last month, for a year-to-date total of 52,330.

Nissan has to this end set clear objectives and measures for boosting quality-up through the fiscal year 2016 with an ultimate goal “to become

•Hond Accord •

the top level in the area of quality from the customers perspective.

The automaker said Over the course of our

midterm plan “Nissan Power 88”, our objective is to establish “NISSAN” in the leading group of global automakers in product

quality and to elevate “INFINITI” to leadership status among peer luxury products by promoting quality program called

“Enhancing Quality”.

The automaker added that through Nissan “Enhancing Quality”, customers can expect better-

built cars that can deliver optimum performance throughout their lifecycle.

VON Automobile Nigeria, local Nissan assemblers and Stallion NMN, country representative for the brand have applauded Nissan's rising profile in global markets, saying: Nissan has the potential to become world leading brand when viewed against its vast experience in the last 80 years.

Nissan Motor Corporation recently marked another milestone when it celebrated 80 years of moving people with innovative and exciting cars.

Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, Managing Director, VON Automobile Nigeria Limited who gave this hint in Lagos said Nissan plant in Nigeria will soon change the game in Africa's most vibrant market when the VON Automobile plant with an annual installed capacity for 45,000 vehicles goes into full swing in April.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Honda Accord grabs number one spot T

HE Honda Accord was the best-selling car with individual American car buyers in 2013 and was joined by three other Honda models – the Civic, CRV, and Odyssey – as retail sales leaders in their respective segments in 2013, according to new-vehicle registration data compiled

by Polk, which was recently acquired by IHS. The Accord, built in Marysville, Ohio1, was the No. 1 produced car in America in 2013.

Cumulatively, the Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey posted retail sales of more than 1.11 million units in 2013, each earning the business of more than 300,000 individual American car buyers. Excluding full-size pickups, only one other model across the entire industry posted retail sales of more than 300,000 units in 2013. ”Our focus on retail sales to individual buyers has a direct correlation to the high resale value of Honda products, which is

a key factor in the value proposition for our customers,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We want to thank car buyers for making four Honda vehicles America’s top choices, purchased one car at a time.”

Additional highlights from the Polk /IHS Automotive data included: •Honda’s 2013 retail sales rose 8.4 percent from year-ago totals to 1,332,576 Honda cars and light trucks •Individual sales to retail car buyers made up 98.1 percent of all American Honda sales in 2013, compared to an average of 81.7 percent for all other non-luxury vehicles •Accord retail sales in 2013 rose from 12.2 percent to 360,089 •In addition to being retail sales leaders, both the Civic and CR-V ranked as the overall best-selling models in their respective segments for the third consecutive year, and both saw

retail sales and registrations jump to 8.2 percent in 2013 •The Odyssey also captured an impressive 32.2 percent of the U.S. retail registrations, selling nearly 25,000 more vehicles than the nearest competitor in the segment. Honda has been named the Most

Trusted Brand by Kelley Blue Book for two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) and the Best Value Brand by Automotive Lease Guide for six years in a row (2008 through 2013), in part due to the consistently high resale value of its products.

•Hond Accord

Octavia, best imported car in Germany M

ORE than 115,000 readers of the trade rag ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ (AMS) voted the SKODA Octavia and SKODA Superb “The Best Cars of 2014' in their respective classes. In the small car category, the SKODA Fabia achieved an outstanding third place among import models. This is the fifth class victory in the readers’ poll over the last four years for the Czech car maker.

The new SKODA Octavia is a real winner; The third generation of the traditional brand’s bestseller managed to jump into

the top 10 of the German new vehicle registration statistics straight away.

The import car has now won over the readers of the trade rag ‘Auto Motor and Sport’, who voted the Octavia ‘Best Car of 2014’ in the mid-class import rankings. Despite strong competition. 18.4% of the participants gave the successful model their vote.

The Superb - the flagship of the SKODA model range - came out on top for the fourth consecutive time, voted in the ‘Auto Motor and Sport’ readership poll as the best midclass import model. This

•SKODA Octavia year the Superb gained 22.2% of the votes.

The SKODA Fabia also secured a place on the podium. In the small car import rankings. 8.6% of all participants voted for the Fabia. ensuring one of the coveted podium positions with third place.

“We have been very

pleased this year to have won over the readers of ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ with the SKODA Octavia and SKODA Superb,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, SKODA Board Member for Development during the award ceremony in Stuttgart.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—31

Between Abacha and Jonathan’s Dialogue: What’s new?

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Again, while the Abacha conference did not constrain the delegates to certain issues, the Jonathan’s confab has already restricted the delegates to certain areas and warned them not to discuss the issue of Nigeria’s unity

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

N

OW, all eyes are on the opening of the 2014 National Conference, which has been dubbed by some Nigerians as “Jonathan’s Confab". But it does not really matter what appellation it is given. What is of paramount interest to most Nigerians is what it is out to achieve.

Expectations are high that the delegates can use the forum to change some fundamental aspects of the Nigerian constitution and put the nation on a better legal footing. Many have dismissed the confab as a sheer waste of time and resources and a calculated plan by President Goodluck Jonathan to buy the delegates for his re-election next year.

Although Jonathan has not formally declared his intention to run for a second term in 2015, all indications point to the fact that he has begun the groundwork, using his nationwide consultations with key natural and religious leaders and mass rallies to prepare the grounds for eventual declaration of his political interest.

It seems also clear that although many Nigerians, who support Jonathan’s reelection don’t see anything wrong with the appointment of most of the delegates by the Presidency and some governors, the action does not speak well of a democratically elected President.

Many argue that the path taken by Jonathan in the selection of the delegates deviates substantially from established democratic norms that have shaped other democracies around the world.

Most despotic regime in Nigeria It is even said that the late General Sani Abacha regime considered as the most despotic in the history of Nigeria, selected most of the 371 delegates to the 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference via keenly contested election.

A member of the Abacha Conference, Prof Ango Abdullahi and former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, says he had expected that the delegates to the present conference would emerge through an election to broaden the base for the various ethnic nationalities to be fairly represented.

Abdullahi, who is the current leader of the Northern Elders’ Forum and his Deputy, Dr. Paul Unongo, disagree with the selection of most of the delegates by the President and his associates, saying that the conference would only do the bidding of Mr. President to the detriment of the wider issues affecting the nation.

CONFERENCE COVERAGE TEAM Ochereome Nnanna, COORDINATING EDITOR Emmanuel Aziken, POLITICAL EDITOR Soni Daniel, EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATIONS Clifford Ndujihe; Umoru Henry, CHIEF PLENARY CORRESPONDENTS

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•Justice Idris Kutigi, Confab chairman

The NEF leader said: “The implication of selecting the delegates instead of allowing them to be elected is that we don’t have a true representation of the people of Nigeria. We are only going to have a meeting of people selected by Mr. President to act his script and whatever the script we will know when they finish and

write their resolutions.”

Beyond the selection of delegates by the Presidency and governors, the timeframe of the conference has also been pegged at three months while the Abachi conference lasted for a year.

The time constraint, according to another delegate to the Abacha confab and former Minister of Petroleum, Prof Jubril Aminu, is that not much of the fundamental constitutional issues affecting Nigeria can be tackled.

“I think that the proponents of the current conference also know that it cannot possibly have the same significance as

some of the preceding ones, where people were elected through election and given one year to deliberate on sundry issues of national importance.

“So, I don’t think it is logical to expect a three-month conference with no election and limited time to be able to accomplish what an elected one could do. If you look at the previous one, there were no restriction and they had a whole year to work, but in the current one, there are no-go areas and the time is just three months to do the job,” Aminu noted.

Again, while the Abacha conference did not constrain the delegates to certain issues, the Jonathan’s confab has already restricted the delegates to certain areas and warned them not to discuss the issue of Nigeria’s unity. In other words, those who had been nursing the idea of Nigeria’s break-up into regions or federations have been shut out of the confab and they cannot even raise the issue because a red flag has already been placed on it by the convener of the talk shop.

This is also one of the major reasons the President rejected outright the advocacy of the Sovereign National Conference, which has the force of law of some sort.

The outcome of the current talks is expected to be subjected to the endorsement of the National Assembly; a development that many believe may lead to the rejection of the recommendations.

PPA picks holes in PDP’s nomination of 150 delegates

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

N

ATIONAL Chairman of the Pro gressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Peter Ameh, has described as unfair the domination of the forthcoming National Conference by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four other political parties.

According to him, organs of the five parties at all levels nominated 218 of the expected 492 delegates with the PDP accounting for 150.

Only five of the 25 political parties, which had representatives in the National Assembly, were allowed to nominate two delegates each. The 36 state governments also nominated three delegates each.

The PPA has a lawmaker in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly but it was not included among the delegatesnominating parties.

Stating that it is not fair that the conference would be dominated by the PDP and four other political parties, Ameh said: “It is a big lie to say that the reason why PPA and 19 other political parties will be denied participation is to reduce the level of politics at the conference. The unlawful exclusion of the PPA from the conference is a deliberate attempt to silence the voice of our members from opening up on the injustice that has been brought upon them.

“The President has nominated 25 per cent of the total numbers of delegates, state controlled by PDP nominated three delegates each, while the party nominated two and PDP National Chairman coming as ‘elder statesman’ putting the

total number of delegates by PDP as a party at almost 150 delegates. APC as a party is expected to nominate two, while states controlled by APC nominated three each making the total number of APC delegates 56. APGA as a party nominated two, and state controlled by it also nominated three delegates putting their total number of nominations at five delegates. Labour Party got

five delegates, Accord, two delegates.

The overall number of delegates nominated by five political parties is summed up to 218 delegates while 20 political parties have none and you say this is fair? And that the conference is not political. Let us stop lying to ourselves the conference is totally political because almost half of the numbers of delegates will be coming from political parties.”

Itsekiris demand participation BYEGUFEYAFUGBORHI

G

IVEN the prominent role the Itsekiri ethnic nationality play in the socio economic well-being of the country, it was a shock to many Itsekiris that not one of them was nominated among the 492 delegates to the conference.

Within 24 hours after the list of delegates was released, Itsekiri activists trooped out in Warri to protest what they claimed to be a deliberate insult on their race.

Claiming that they contribute immensely to the nation’s cash inflows,Itsekiri youths, also marched round the palace of the Olu of Warri bearing placards.

Some of the placards read: “Itsekiris are the economic backbone of Nigeria!” "Confab without Itsekiri meaningless, unacceptable!” “Our Elders, Chiefs, representatives, please explain to us!” “Itsekiris are Nigerians.”

Esimaje Awani, one of the spokesmen for the protesters said, “Apart from the fact that Itsekiri nation’s existence pre-dates that of the nation of Nigeria, our land is the economic backbone of the country be-

cause of what we contribute to the national treasury through oil and gas. We cannot comprehend our disgraceful exclusion from a national dialogue meant to discuss the way forward for Nigeria. We are therefore in protest asking our leaders to explain why we are being excluded.”

Efejuku Tunukan, Welfare Officer, Itsekiri National Youth Council, said, "we are very angry. We are wondering if this country belongs to all of us (ethnic groups). We expect that Itsekiri should be considered first for representation because of our peculiar contribution to national development.”

Also, Nunu Emmanuel, said: "We spoke to some people and the excuse we hear is that more names are being expected. How acceptable is that? That we have to wait for nine last names to be listed in the Confab. Something is terribly wrong. The President must correct the inciting blunder. The confab, we have been repeatedly told is meant to move Nigeria forward. The discriminatory selection of delegates is capable of setting us several miles backward.”

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Delegates' list incomplete without Boko Haram members – Prof Nwala Professor Timothy Uzodinma Nwala is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, Nasarawa State University and had before then, taught at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he spent most part of his life. Nwala who hails from Imo State was a delegate to the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference where he was a member of the Political Structure and Framework of the constituBy HENRY UMORU

H

AVING been a delegate to the 1994 conference, what difficulties did you encounter you think should be better addressed now?

What is more important is to be able to learn from the positive elements of that conference. That conference came at a very critical time in the history of this country- 1994/ 1995.

The country was almost breaking into pieces. Everybody was complaining and that conference was called. Even though Abacha was at the centre of that conference, it was obvious that everybody was anxious to retrieve the country and people traced Abacha’s problem to the very structure of the country. So the idea that time was to try and reorganise the country.

We were lucky that that conference was attended by most of the greatest men this country has produced. One of the key elements the conference grappled with was the issue of the management of the conference itself even though Abacha had appointed a Conference Commission. That conference commission was more or less a technical commission. It had nothing to do with the agenda of the conference, we set the

good as the others. And so they were determined to defend the interest of their people and Abacha couldn’t manipulate it.

Abacha’s decree stipulated simple majority for decision taking but because of the high political process manoeuvring and relations and alliances built, it became obvious that the process was going to determine what happens.

Abacha didn’t really manipulate that conference, he didn’t have the power to. Sometimes, there were even moments when people exchanged blows in the conference because each group was determined to defend its own interest but at the end of the day, common sense prevailed.

I cannot complete the issue of what I am saying without touching on the key issue of the equation of our indivisibility of the country as a no-go-area.

That doesn’t make sense in a country besieged as we are now. The country wasn’t at war that time, but as it is now, the country is at war. If we don’t recognise that, then you don’t know where you are. The Boko Haram is a very formidable force and we have to contend with that and if we are having a conference, they should be there. And the only way I think they should be there is to say

terparts are enjoying. Who is going to put that on the table?

Who is going to remember that the South-East zone is part of the oil producing area and which should be provided for like the South-South?

Look at the Boko Haram thing; at the beginning, who were the greatest victims of the Boko Haram? It was the Igbo.

Most of them have been dying here and there is no federal policy to take care of them.

These are the kind of issues that should be tabled.

On the recurring threat to the existence of Igbo in Nigeria You have to be a student of history to appreciate the nature of that problem. It didn’t start today. It started from the colonial era. If you look at the history of the colonial period, anticolonialism, the greatest protagonists were the Igbos.

S-East leaders sing discordant tunes

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The Boko Haram is a very formidable force and we have to contend with that and if we are having a conference, they should be there.

And the only way I think they should be there is to say everybody should come and let us decide if we should live together or not agenda. It had nothing to do with the committees of the conference; we elected the various committees of the conference.

We also reviewed the agenda. We also decided the agenda of the conference, it was not determined by the late Head of State and because it was attended by the representatives of the various peoples of Nigeria, the issue of the interests of these various groups was total and there were a lot of issues and raising of voices because each group came with its best Eleven except the South West that came with what they were calling their Second Eleven, which also turned out to be

tion Committee; and Constitution Drafting Committee. In this interview, he speaks on how the 1994/95 conference avoided the landmines set by late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, how the British authorities established the diminution of the Igbo in the polity among others. Excerpts:

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everybody should come and let us decide if we should live together or not. Everybody should be there. How can you talk about the country without Boko Haram forces that are maiming and killing people all over the place? And I heard that the international community is recognizing that there is some sense of civil war.

But the Boko Haram members are faceless: I don’t think they are faceless. Some of their people have been arrested.

They have given some of them pardon. In fact, if people say they don’t know who Boko Haram are, where they are, their international connections,

•Professor Nwala: Abacaha couldn't manipulate 1994 confab then we don’t know what we are talking about. We don’t understand what is before us.

So what I am saying is that, it should have been good if Boko Haram people were invited to discuss the stability of the country along with every other person. And if they come and maintain their interest and the rest of the country is saying we stay together, then they will be a minority and that moment alone will also strengthen the solidarity of the rest against Boko Haram because Boko Haram is an ideological and military force.

The ideological part of it is that the people themselves have to be sufficiently roused that this is our common enemy.

You said late Abacha did not manipulate the conference...

I am saying that Abacha tried, but he couldn’t manipulate it.

Since Abacha and the Ox could not manipulate the conference, what they did was to wait. At the end of the day when the decisions of the conference were handed over to Abacha, the man sat on it. Even though there were some elements where we couldn’t agree with Abacha like the six geo-political zones, we debated and voted for it. People were still campaigning against it, but at the end of the day Abacha accepted it.What they did since they couldn’t manipulate the processes of the conference was to

make sure at the end of the day that that constitution was not promulgated into law.

I am a bit skeptical because when you look at the attendance, the people are not represented sufficiently. It’s like all comers' meeting. Bank people are coming, NUJ is coming and other people are coming. But the people who represent the actual geo-political forces are not there.

Are we expecting a better Nigeria after the Conference Vis a vis your experience as one of the delegates to the previous conference?

It is my prayer that it is going to give us a better Nigeria. But you see, some zones have peculiar problems that this conference cannot address. Let me take the South -East for example; the South -East has serious internal problems which this confab cannot address. And some of them that could be addressed by the conference, I don’t know the extent to which our delegates would muster enough courage to defend our interest.

In the South-East today, we have alienated youth, disorganized youth that are not taken care of by the internal forces and the Federal Government.

Many of them were part of the militant groups that fought here and there. But for one reason or the other, they were excluded from the sweet packages which their South-South coun-

Greatest antagonist

You remember the 1929 Aba women riots, the Europeans never believed that the black man was capable of that kind of resistance not to talk of the women. That time, it was a state of war. The Europeans sent their women back home.

Women with little sticks, cassava fronds, palm fronds. It shook the whole foundation of the colonial administration and made them go back to the drawing board and started sending their scholars to Oxford and Cambridge to do anthropology to understand more clearly the mind of the so-called primitive man not to talk of their women. And where did this happen? In Igbo land.

And soon after that was the period of militant nationalism.

From Herbert Macaulay to Azikiwe and then the rest of them. Azikiwe and the Zik movement. Even though Zik had followers from the North and the West, but the heart of it was in Igbo land.

So as time went on, the white man saw the Igbo man as their most hated opponents. And as a result of that oneness, they started strategically putting the Igbo at a disadvantaged position, raising antagonistic forces within the federation against the Igbo.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—33

Why Northern Elders Forum is not interested in Confab

— Ango Abdullahi Prof Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University and Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Food Security, is the leader of the Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, which canvases the interest of the North on major national issues. Ahead of the National Conference, the NEF leader dismisses the confab as a sham, saying it will not produce any tangible result, as the delegates are handpicked by the Presidency to do its bidding rather than being elected by Nigerians as was the case in some previous conferences. Excerpts:

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

W

good intentions for Nigerians.

So, what are we going to miss if the delegates to the current conference do not emerge through election?

What it means is that we don’t have a true representation of the people of Nigeria. That is the simple implication of the selection of people to the conference by one person. We are only going to have a meeting of people selected by Mr. President to act his script and whatever the script we will know when they finish and write their resolutions.

The basis of any conference, particularly when it comes to this kind of conference, is for people to be represented on the basis of a known legal framework. But this one we don’t know the parameters for choosing the delegates.

Today, you hear of people petitioning that they have not been given enough slots and some numbers are changed and all that. Is that how to do a conference?

Is your group concerned about the no-go area outlined by the Federal Government for the delegates?

In fact, that is another reason we would not like to attend the conference. As far as we are concerned everything should be put on the table for discussion if it

HAT is the difference between the three conferences you have attended and the one being organised now?

This one would be nothing compared to the previous ones. Nigerians were crying that the military had forced constitutions down their throats even though these constitutions were discussed by elected delegates from various parts of Nigeria. They were all elected by Nigerians but this one there is nobody being elected but all appointed by the president. In fact, this is not a National Conference but Jonathan’s Conference.

It was as a result of our attempt to correct the imbalances arising from our multi-ethnic configuration, which compelled us to adopt a federal Constitution that eventually moved us from three regions to four and to 36 states. This is what led us to have a large legislature to give every tribe and region a say in government. But the big story is that when the National Conference Advisory Committee went round the country to listen to what Nigerians wanted, they were told that the delegates should How can you assume that Nigeria’s unity be elected. And in their recom- is not negotiable? How? What is the basis mendations, the for it? There is no basis for such claim. If committee recyou read the history of other countries you ommended that at least two thirds will see that they started as one and later fell of the delegates apart and nothing happened must be elected.

That is in the recommendation. So, must achieve any tangible result bewhere do we stand now?

Did the committee state the mode of cause the agitation for the conference election in their recommendations to and the previous ones, have always been on the basis that Nigeria is faultithe President?

Look, let me tell you election is for rep- ly structured, that Lord Lugard made a resentation and it has no other mean- mistake by bringing the communities of ing other than one man, one vote. So, Nigeria into one country. Constant refwe don’t really know who these select- erence is often made to the amalgamed persons are going to represent. Who ation of Southern and Northern protectorates into one country. So, it was a do they represent?

I could vouch that I stood for election mistake and we believe this mistake before I was elected to represent my must be corrected and the only way to people in the three previous conferenc- correct it is to put everything on the taes. So I want you to point to one per- ble.

Let us go back to 1914 and see whethson, who is coming to this conference er Lugard’s mistake still stands and if who has been elected through an elecso, we correct it in whatever way Nigetion. You should show me one person who is coming to the conference who rians are satisfied with. But for us to be has subjected himself to one man one told that there are no-go areas, we wish vote so that we can clap for the fellow to disagree. It does not make sense at and believe that yes, this conference has all. How can you assume that Nigeria’s

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•Ango: Nigeria's unity should be negotiable unity is not negotiable? How? What is the basis for it? There is no basis for such claim. If you read the history of other countries you will see that they started as one and later fell apart and nothing happened. India, for example, started as one but later broke into Pakistan and Bangladesh and only recently Sudan broke into Sudan and Southern Sudan.

Right now, one of the oldest democracies, Scotland, is trying to see whether it should continue to be part of the United Kingdom or not and in Soviet Union, we have seen the number of countries that have come out of that nation over the years. So, why should you assume that the Nigerian situation is sacrosanct?

So, if you were saddled with the task of designing a National Conference for Nigeria, what would you have done to bring about an acceptable one for Nigerians given the issues you have raised against this one?

Let me ask you a question before attempting to answer your question. Why do we have a National Assembly in Nigeria? Do we have a National Assembly whose members emerged through elections? They may not be a perfect National Assembly but they are there all the same.

The Senate may not be a perfect house just as the House of Representatives.

Now let me show you some discrepancies that make things almost unworkable and unacceptable. For example, take the Senate on the basis of equality of states: Bayelsa has 1.7 million; Kano has 9.4 million, Lagos almost 10 million.

Combined population Kano with 9.4 million people has three Senators just like Lagos with over 10 million and Bayelsa with less than 2 million population has the same number of three senators with the rest. So, you see that the entire six South-South states with a current population of 27 million has 18 Senators and if you add the five South-East states you have 11 states with 33 senators.

The combined population of the 11 South-South and South-East states is less than the population of the North-

West zone which has a population of 37 million. But then, these 11 states have 33 Senators one third of the Senate and we with a larger population that has only 21 senators and you call this type of a thing parity, or equity or what? But you see just for us to continue to have this so-called peaceful co-existence, we have taken it in good faith.

Let me give you another example of the type of inequality that is playing out in this country. In the 2014 budget, the President’s South-South has N2.4 trillion as their budget. This is without the budget for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission and that of the Amnesty Programme.

If you add all of that the budget would come to N2.6 trillion for six states with 12 percent of the population of this country. But the entire Northern states with 19 states with 54 percent of the population of Nigeria have a combined budget of N2.4 trillion. So you see we have a problem.

National asset We were part of the conference that approved the 13 per cent Derivation from what it was before to what it is today. A sub-committee was set up under the late Shehu Yar Adua to handle it during the 1994 Conference. We are not blaming the Niger Delta states for what has happened because everything came back to the National Assembly and it was approved.

But the truth remains that all over the world, every asset off the shores of the state is a national asset. That is the global practice. But why should the asset just off shore Nigeria belong more to the people in the shoreline than the rest of us in the desert?

But there is a baseline that has been accepted across the world which is like 200 Nautical Miles to the sea?

This is the international standard that should have left us where we were and the question of Onshore/Offshore dichotomy should not have arisen in the first place. But very crafty friends of mine sought financial solutions to the problem, which President Obasanjo initially refused to sign but had to buckle under because of his quest for a third term.

,

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the educational sector in Lagos have called on governor, Babatunde Fashola to save the lives of pupils in public schools from incessant but avoidable accidents in public schools by designing measures that would help improve the security of life in the schools.

They further wondered if the state government in its drive to provide block of classrooms install safety apparatus in the schools.

For example in the last six months there had been lifethreatening developments in Lagos public schools.

On October 31, 2013: At least 25 students of Ogba Junior Secondary School, Lagos, went into coma after inhaling a chemical waste discharged into drainage by a company called Bizcircuit Photo Laboratory, situated few metres from the school premises.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 12.

40pm while the students were still in their classes shortly before the normal closing period. The development led to pandemonium as school management panicked, and parents raced to the scene to rescue their children.

Offensive gas and smoke Vanguard gathered that the dangerous gas took the pupils unaware and enveloped the premises and got the victims unconscious.

Miss. Adetayo Adekanbi, a pupil of the school narrated thus; “We were just in the class when we all perceived the offensive gas and smoke that clouded the entire premises. We never knew it was injurious “For me, immediately I noticed it, I ran towards the gate

Students after inh fumes

Life-threatening accidents in Lagos schools

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO the scene that of the 25 victims, four were in critical condition and presently responding to treatment.

He said a distress was received and the officials responded immediately to save the situation.

,

In the last six months there had been life-threatening developments in Lagos public schools

to escape inhaling the odour, but some of my colleagues who weren’t aware, caught up by the gas.”

Officials of the various state’s emergency management agencies, arrived the scene and rushed the unconscious victims to Blue Cross Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. Newsmen were however, prevented from gaining access to the victims as they were dispersed by security personnel.

The Head of Logistic, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Femi Giwa, told journalists at

,

According to Giwa on arriving at the scene, the team conducted a general assessment and discovered that certain liquid chemicals with offensive and choking odour was stored and use for production in the photo lab on the first floor of the shopping complex.

“The offensive odour permeated the environment, which could have led to the unfortunate incident. Giwa stated.

He said the government immediately,sealed off the premises and arrested three of the staff of the photo studio.

Giwa however, assured that

proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain the chemical analysis and its effect on the environment.

Also, State Director of Fire and Safety Services, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said officials assisted the rescue team in arresting the further spread of chemical fumes.

On November 14, 2013: Eight students of Ajangbadi High School in Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos went into coma after the railing of the two-storey building in the school collapsed.

The incident which caused pandemonium in the school premises occurred at about 10:00 a.m. as the students were leaning on the rail on the second floor of the building.

Vanguard gathered that the rail had shown signs of rust but was not replaced.

Miss Rofiat Ademola, a Senior Secondary School, SSS1 student, said the rail finally gave way on Monday and injured eight of the SSS 3, students.

According to Ademola: “We were in the classroom at about

10:00 a.m. suddenly, we heard a loud noise.

“We rushed out to see what was happening and saw that some SSS3 students had fallen from the second floor of the building.”

Another student, Mr. Samuel Olasunkanmi, said the rail started showing signs of rust since last school term.

“Despite the bad state of the rail, the students still used to lean on it before it collapsed on Monday.”

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the council, Mrs. Ramota Oseni-Adeyeri who spoke to Vanguard, said only eight students were affected when the rail gave way.

Appropriate treatment Oseni-Adeyeri said: “The students were rushed to the Iba LCDA Primary Health Centre, PHC, where the medical officers gave them appropriate treatment.

“Of the eight students, only one is still in critical condition at the moment and she was transferred to the Igando Gen-

eral Hospital, Igando, for treatment.”

On March 06, 2014: There was palpable anxiety among parents and guardians in the Ogba axis of Lagos metropolis after 13 students of Ogba Junior Grammah School, Ogba, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, collapsed after inhaling an unidentified poisonous fumes discharged from one of the cottage factories in Ogba Shopping Arcade.

This came four months after 25 of the students of the same school collapsed after inhaling an unidentified chemical waste discharged into drainage by a Photo Laboratory, situated in the Shopping Arcade.

When Vanguard visited the school, the management and staff were wondering which company would have discharged such hazardous fumes .

Also, our correspondent observed that parents of the students raced to the scene to verify the condition of their children. While those whose children weren’t affected by the emission rushed them

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

— 55

IRONY OF A FLOATING SCHOOL:

Banned in Nigeria, nominated for award in London

By MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

R

ESIDENTS of MakokoIwaya Community have appealed to the Lagos state government to revoke its order and allow the Makoko floating school, a three-storey wooden structure commence academic activities.

This came as the floating school received nomination for the Designs of the Year 2014 award, an award which is overseen by London’s Design Museum.

The state government through the Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru had last year said that the structure is an illegal structure, adding “it shouldn’t be there, and we are trying to get rid of structures there.”

s being attended to haling poisonous

Recycled plastic barrels

s rampant back home, some were also sighted wailing over the ugly incident.

Mr. Oladokun, the father of one of the victims, who rushed to the scene immediately he heard of the incident, said: “I was in the office when my wife called me that my daughter, who is in JSS 3 was also affected.”

The incident was said to have occurred at about 12:40 pm while the students were still in their classes.

Vanguard gathered that the leak of the dangerous gas was least expected as it enveloped the premises making the victims unconscious.

Unconscious victims Officials of the National Emergency management Agency, NEMA and its Lagos state counterpart, LASEMA and the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU arrived the scene and rushed the unconscious victims to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja for treatment.

Lagos govt. reassures par- know the cause of the ents: The Lagos State emission.“The major responChairman, House Committee sibility of any responsible, senon Education, Science and sible and proactive governTechnology, Mr Alawiye ment is to protect the lives and King, has assured parents of property of its citizenry. the protection of children in “We are protecting lives and the state’s public schools. that is why we have many King gave the assurance in emergency agencies handling Lagos while reacting to Thurs- the incident,” he said. day’s incident involving about 13 pupils of Ogba Junior Secondary School, who became unconscious after inhaling poisonous gas during school hours.

The floatHe said the state ing school government had deployed relevant agencies to investigate the incident.

“The area has been sealed-off, relevant government agencies have been there; it has happened before and they suspected a photographic laboratory which was closed down.

“It is happening again and we have to investigate it and

The floating school buoyed by 256 recycled plastic barrels, was constructed by Mr. Kunle Adeyemi, the founder of NLE works, a Netherland based architectural company; was yet to be demolished.

The construction of the floating school, an initiative supported by the United Nation Development Programme, UNDP, was expected to kick start the regeneration of the community.

The floating school would be competing with 14 other structures selected from all over the world such as Child chemo house from Japan, Heydar Aliyev center in Azerbaijan, Museo Jumex, Mexico city and Wa Shan guesthouse,

Hangzhou, China.

Describing the school, the organizers of the award said that the structure is a prototype floating structure, built for the historic water community of Makoko, Nigeria, adding; “The school takes an innovative, cheap and sustainable approach to address the community’s specific social and physical needs.”

The floating school is expected to accommodate 100 children who will navigate to the school by boat.

Adeyemi who spoke to Vanguard from his Netherland office recently, said; “The desire to construct the school was burn out of curiosity after I visited the community. And my interest in the coastal community, where despite the little income made daily by the breadwinners, they have never stopped developing the infrastructures in the community.”

Explaining the building features, Adeyemi said; “The ground floor of the school would serve as an open recreational space for the pupils during the day and at night and weekends, their fathers can converge and hold meetings.”

He added that the first floor and the upper floor have classrooms that would serve as its primary purpose. According to him, “the structure would accommodate over 100 students and their teachers and it will add to the existing schools in the community.

Residents appeal The secretary of the community, Mr. John Keke who spoke to Vanguard, said “we are law abiding citizens of this country. And we will be happy if the state government could allow the floating school to remain.”

Mrs. Senayon Matthew, a petty trader said “I want my children to have basic education. And the state government will be doing them more good if it could allow the structure which has been nominated for award, to stand.”

Mr. John Adugbo, a resident of Makoko, said; “We are happy with the project. We need more of the project. We want a project that would aid more children to attend schools.

Presently, many children don’t have access to good educational facilities.”

“All we have are schools that were constructed to serve as palliative measures for the challenge.”

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

AQUARIUS; If you take unusual ideas coming to your mind today more seriously, things’ll work favourably for you. The more financially ambitious you’re the better.

PISCES; The Moon in your Star sign favours aggressive approach in a favourable way. Here is a day Artist among you can create master piece. Be stead-fast.

ARIES You’ll have much to gain if you’re more cooperative and embrace creative ideas of your close associates. And it’s good to be friendly, loving and caring.

TAURUS ; Aggressive approach is not what you need at work now, but creative approach. You’ve got nothing to lose if you take good advice from your friends.

GEMINI ; Whatever anybody says about your ambition and desire success will crown your efforts today. The more creative you are the better for your cause. And lovers can make it an exciting and happy day. Show your sex appeal and be loving.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

EOPLE do tell P stories.

So have a habit of

forming stories over whatever experience they have in life. Yet, there are those who earn a living

The Story Teller by telling stories.

We are not concerned with these.

Are you a story teller? In case you do not know who a story teller is, let

me illustrate. Are you one of those that tell tales of ill-treatment by your uncle? Do you ordinarily work hard at turning a molehill into a mountain?

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Are you a professional complainant? Watch it!

Very soon reasonable people will detest your presence.

Enough of all of that. Stop living a life of excuses, today.

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; Your ideas are brilliant and if you blend them creatively the sky’ll be the limit. Let people within your home base know that you truly care for them.

LEO; It does not matter who initiates creative idea that lead to success what is important is you should not be left in the cold all alone. The more co-operative you are the better for you. Don’t ignore your magnetic se-appeal.

VIRGO.; Good luck and happiness indicated for you today. But then, the scope of your success’ll depend on how co-operative and creative you are both with your loved one and at work. Prepare to take good advice especially from younger person(s).

LIBRA; Happenings within your working arena’ll give genuine cause to smile and with efforts on your part you’re in for a rewarding day. Take advantage of your sex-appeal to enhance your love life. Experiment with ideas creatively.

SCORPIO ; Creativity may take front in what’s happening within your base of operation and the best for you is to join them. Lovers are fairly favoured.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SAGITTARIUS ; Tomorrow is your great day. Yet your being creative today can earn you un-expected good result at the end of the day. Be family minded now.

CAPRICORN ; Needed solution to challenges along your career/business lines will come through your being creative. Prepare to take good advice on your finances.

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,

Basic characteristics of Capricorn Because they rarely day dream, Capricorn natives are set of practical people. This is because Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - the planet of career, sceptical and material things Although, the spirit of pessimism often times tempt the Capricorn born people, to succeed they will need to develop strong will that is indispensable to achievements of higher order because, series of challenges will come his/her way before he/she finally makes it to the top. Most natives of Capricorn are forced to shoulder many responsibilities early in life. Career building comes first in their priority lists which often leads to enviable career achievements that guarantee recognition. And another name for Capricorn is PATIENCE. Yet, he/ she can appear mean in the business circle. And tell you that seriousness and business are synonymous.

Above all, they are endowed with leadership capacity.

Capricorn ‘s quality is cardinal, element is the earth.

The cardinal aspect makes a natural leader with strong ability for hard work. Natives of cardinal signs crave for action and strongly desire prominence and often times make success of their love of action and desire for importance through relentless efforts.

The earthly connection with Capricorn further confirms innate ability for hard work and practicality . Saturn is the planet of hard task, delay, depression, frustration, frustration but reward after so much struggles. Being a difficult teacher, Saturn usually takes its natives through many different tasks, challenges and delay. All these are meant to teach them virtues of patience and hard work. However, Saturn usually brings its natives recognition and reward.

The cautious side of Saturn always manifest in all Capricorn born people thus, but it is necessary for them to watch that side of their characteristics as they often push their cautious side too far and most of the time it results to black mood.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—37

2011 Bonga spill: N-Delta communities withdraw suits against Shell

Ex-Niger Delta fighters threaten chaos in waterways

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BY EMMA AMAIZE

B

W

ARRI—OVER 200 Itsekiri and Ijaw communities in the Niger Delta affected by the Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, SNEPCo, 2011 Bonga Field crude oil spill have agreed to withdraw the suits against the oil company to facilitate payment of compensation to them.

The resolution was taken at a peace meeting held by representatives of the affected communities in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states in Warri, Delta State.

It was gathered that SNEPCo had already conceded to paying compensation to the communities along the coastlines whose fishing rights were impacted by the spill, but was uncomfortable with the avalanche of court actions against it.

Chairman/coordinator of the impacted communities, Mr. Monday Francis, disclosed at the Warri meeting that the Presidency intervened in the feud between Shell and the oil communities and part of the agreement reached at the meeting was to withdraw the court cases.

Oshiomhole assures on rural devt

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured people in the rural communities of the state that government will provide the needed infrastructure and amenities to make life comfortable for them and boost their economic wellbeing.

The governor gave the assurance during an inspection of projects, including roads, bridges and schools, in Etsako West, Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of the state.

In Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Governor Oshiomhole inspected the Council Road, Iyofa road, Okotokwe road, Iyekhe road, among others, which were completed with drainage system.

The governor told the jubilant crowds who trooped out to receive him that “I decided to come and see all the roads in these areas."

INSPECTION: From left: Mr Abdul Oroh, Commissioner for Agriculture; Governor Adams Oshiomhole; Mr. Lawrence Aghedo, Commissioner for Budget and Mr. Macdonald Obasuke, Commissioner for Commerce, during Governor Oshiomhole's inspection of Apana-Imiegba-Imiakebu Road, in Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State.

CONFAB: Urhobo calls for true fiscal federalism

BY FESTUS AHON & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

U

GHELLI—THE Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Committee on the National Conference, has presented its report to the Urhobo nation with a call for the relocation of Urhobo Kingdoms in Warri to Delta Central, amongst other demands.

Prof. Godini Darah, Chairman of the Committee, while presenting the report in Uvwiamuge, lamented the exclusion of the Urhobo people from the South-South delegates list released by the Federal Government for the national conference.

According to Darah, “The UPU agrees that the National Conference is a courageous and patriotic initiative taken by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to rescue Nigeria from protracted crisis.

The conference offers opportunity for the diverse people and nations of Nigeria to exchange ideas and proposals on how to build a democratic and equitable federal system of government.

“In the light of the foregoing, the UPU presented a memorandum to the Presidential Advisory Committee at its consultative meeting in BeninCity in October, 2013. The UPU Committee identified 32

issues that are of primary interest to the Urhobo nation.”

The committee listed 32 recommendations upon which the Urhobo nation will renegotiate its continual sojourn in the Nigeria state, insisting that its vast population and human resources must be reflected in any Nigerian arrangement.

Top on the list is the Urhobo's call for true fiscal federalism, adding: “The Urhobo nation has been a victim of the weakening of the fiscal federalism principle with Urhobo natural resources taken over by the Federal Government, thus generating poverty and violence.”

Family sues Army for killing 31-yr-old breadwinner

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—THE Ewugharodo family of Orere town, Ewu-Urhobo, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, has dragged the Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion, Nigeria Army, AgbarhaOtor before a Delta State High Court for the alleged murder of Efe Ewugharado, a 31-yearold fish farmer and breadwinner by soldiers on December 5, 2013, in Ughelli.

Other defendants in the suit instituted by deceased's elder sister, Madam Julie Ewugharado and widow, Mrs. Mabel Ewugharodo, are the Chief of Army Staff; Commander, Joint Task Force, JTF; Attorney General of the Federation and Setraco Nigeria Limited.

The deceased had three chil-

dren namely: Salvation Ewugharodo, male, aged 8 years and a primary three pupil of Ogele Primary School, Ughelli; Oghenetejiri Ewugharodo, female, aged 4 years and a Kindergarten 2 pupil of Ogele Primary School, Ughelli; and Favour Ewugharodo, male, aged 1 year, 2 months at the time of the incident.

The plaintiffs/claimants are demanding N500 million damages "as a result of the unconstitutional, wrongful and gruesome murder of the late Mr. Efe Ewugharodo, father of three children, by the defendants and/or soldiers under the control, supervision and command of defendants at 7.45 am

by Ughelli Bridge, near Ughelli Main Market, Ughelli town.”

They urged the court to declare the shooting and killing of the deceased while he was riding on a motor cycle with his wife as unlawful, wrongful and ultra vires the power of the defendants.

The family alleged that soldiers barricaded the only bridge near the Ughelli Main Market without public notice, while a second bridge was under construction, causing a serious traffic gridlock.

The claimants averred that the 2nd claimant on the above date rode on the same motorcycle with her late husband and the scene was very rowdy when they arrived, adding that without any provocation, by one of the soldiers and when he demanded to know his offence, other soldiers joined in beating him.

ENIN—EX-NIGER Delta fighters from Okerenkoko community, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Council of Delta State, yesterday, gave the state government a seven-day ultimatum to release one Michael Johnny and others who were remanded in Warri prison by a Delta State High Court, or they would cause chaos in the area.

They threatened to use “all means” to secure their release and create chaos in the water ways if the Police and judiciary in Delta State failed to release them from prison custody.

It will be recalled that Michael Johnny and nine others were remanded in prison custody by the court over alleged threat to the life of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

Women from Okerenkoko community protested last week calling for their release.

However, in a statement by Mr. Johnson Ebierede, made available to Vanguard in Benin City, they expressed worry that “the way our brothers were arrested by the police and their subsequent remand in prison by the court is suspicious."

NGO targets 1,000 commercial sex workers

R

IVERINE Communities Health Organisation, RIVCHO, a non-government organisation, NGO, working under the tutelage of Society for Family Health, SFH, and supported by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has declared that it would reach 1,000 commercial sex workers with its health programme by May. Mr. Emmanuel Waterway, RIVCHO’s Programme Officer, told newsmen in Warri that “changing lives and the society” is what RIVCHO’s work is about, and that Warri South, Uvwie, Udu and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State were the target areas.

He said more than 30 brothels in Warri area have been reached by RIVCHO.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Group tasks electorate against apathy in 2015 polls

.Urges good people to contest

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

Cars queuing for fuel at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, mega station, in Owerri, yesterday.

NHIS targets 70.8m enrollees by 2015

Anambra: Govt vows to ensure sale of fuel at N97 per litre

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — EXECUTIVE Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, has concluded plans to enrol 70.8 million Nigerians in the scheme by the end of 2015.

Thomas, who disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, yesterday, expressed optimism that the 70.8 million-enrollee target was attainable, in view of the strategies and programmes his agency would unfold soon.

He said: “Talking about enrolling 70.8 million Nigerians by the end of the 2015, well, it looks tall, but the truth is that it is achievable, and we are very happy about that."

MTN invests N9bn for amenities in states

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — MTN Foundation has invested over N9 billion to execute projects across communities in the 36 states of the federation.

Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, who disclosed this in Umuahia, Abia State, listed the projects to include MTN Foundation Y’ello DoctorMobile Medical Intervention Scheme, education and economic empowerment.

According to Ugboma, under the first phase of MTN Y’ello Mobile Clinics, a total of six state-of-the-art mobile clinics will be deployed across six states in the country, including Abia, Delta, Ogun and Taraba.

GROUP, Civic Conscious ness Initiative, CCI, has urged the electorate to come out en masse and participate actively in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

It also ruled out any hope in the present crops of political leaders across parties in the country, saying the “beautiful ones are not yet born.”

Chairman of the group, Prof.

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA — ANAMBRA State government vowed, yesterday, to ensure petrol was sold at the official rate of N97 per litre.

The product had sold in the state at between N120 and N140 per litre in the past two weeks, affecting adversely economic activities in major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia.

Chairman, Anambra State Com-

mittee on Procurement of Petroleum Product Distribution and Regulation of Prices, Mr. Damian Okwudili Obi, who made the vow, however, explained that the high cost of fuel was not peculiar to the state, but a nationwide problem which the Federal Government had already addressed squarely.

He said: “This is a nation-wide problem, but I am assuring the public that the Federal Government is taking care of the problem, so people will not start get-

....Community decries marginalisation

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA — THE people of Ebenator in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, decried the marginalisation of the area by previous and present government of Mr. Peter Obi. Speaking to reporters on the vexed issue, spokesman of the community and state secretary of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. Igwe Jerome, said the community had been marginalised in the sharing of political positions, especially during the eight years of Governor Obi’s reign.

He said: “It is very disheartening that our community that has always at all elections given Governor Peter Obi massive votes that had given him victory would be marginalised in the scheme of things, particularly in the area of appointive political positions. ”There are four communities that make up Nnewi South ll Constituency: Ukpor, Ezinifite, Ebenator and Akwaihedi, but of these communities only Ebenator had not been favoured with any appointive positions under the present and past governments.

And l want to use this opportunity to appeal to the incoming governor, Dr. Willie Obianor to address this political imbalance.”

Jerome also stated that Obi’s

administration did not embark on any road project in his community contrary to what he (Obi ) had done in other communities in the local government and other communities in the 21 local government areas of the state.

He said that though the outgoing governor graciously approved that the erosion site threatening the community be tackled head-long, the contract was not eventually awarded, even when he would leave office on March 17.

ting involved in panic buying.

“The product availability will soon be everywhere. Recently the NNPC and Federal Government took a bold step and as I am talking to you there is loading going on day and night. ”This is to make sure that the masses are not suffering, people should exercise patience because within two or three days time everything will return to normal.”

Obi also announced that a task force had been set up in the three senatorial zones of Anambra State to enforce the sale of petrol at N97.00 per litre, adding that all petrol stations had been directed to return to the official pump price as it were. ”Part of our job is the regulation of prices. We have a committee and inside the committee, we have a kind of task force that goes around the stations.

“We divided the task force into three zones, the central, south and north senatorial zones and each group is charged with the responsibility of correcting this problem. We also have leaders that go about monitoring the distribution and sale of the product,” Obi added.

Idowu Sobowale, who made the call at a briefing in Lagos, therefore, urged all good people and God-fearing Nigerians to rise and contest for political offices in the 2015 polls in order to salvage the country from the “Machiavellian principles.”

He said: “At the moment, with due apologies, there is hardly any difference between any of the major political parties leading the country and vying for the top positions in Nigeria.

The beautiful ones are not yet born in Nigerian politics; they must now begin to emerge.

“The era of politicians recycling themselves and impose their decendants upon the poor Nigerians, must be brought to a complete stop,” the don stated.

According to Sobowale, the measure became expedient because available statistics show that majority of the eligible masses are denied the opportunity to vote which gives opportunity to politicians to enjoy undeserved victories at the polls.

He stated: “Not only is our present generation of leaders terribly wasteful and corrupt, they are actually wicked for impoverishing and enslaving future generations with indebtedness.

“In Nigeria, it becomes imperative for proactive forces made up of good people to mobilise the citizenry to effect change through the ballot.

“Our aim is to sensitise the people as we approach 2015 elections, to be courageous enough to take their destiny into their hands by fielding good, God-fearing people who can serve effectively and incorruptibly in office.

“Politics is not necessarily a dirty game. God created the world and supervises its overall affairs.

Therefore, participating in politics is for the upright, a God-given mandate.”

Dep Governor, Dame Fashola laud judiciary's stance on violence against women

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

D

EPUTY GOVERNOR of Lagos State, Joke OrelopeAdefulire, and wife of the governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola, have urged the judiciary to sustain recent efforts geared towards ensuring justice for women suffering abuses across the country.

They spoke at the event organised to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, entitled, 'A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence against Women,” last weekend, in Lagos.

They said the recent decision of the judiciary over Titi Arowolo’s gruesome murder and the Ejig-

bo women saga was a rare proof of its commitment towards ending violence against women.

The women, however, recommended stiffer penalties for offenders, decrying that the menace of violence was taking a toll on majority of women and had culminated in women topping the list of patients in psychiatric hospitals.

Particularly, the deputy governor, who was represented by Alhaja Akiyode Afolabi, said: “Violence against women, as daily reported by the media, is becoming unbearable. ”The theme is apt because it asks questions on the way forward and reminds government

of all its promises. Time to end violence is now and every member of the society should take necessary steps rather than sit on the fence. ”All legal, political, social and economic instruments at our disposal should be employed to fight this scourge.”

Other women who spoke at the event included wife of the Deputy Inspector General of Police and founder, Yemi Royal Foundation, Mrs. Yemi Osoba; members, Lagos State House of Assembly, Funmilayo Tejuosho and Omotayo Oduntan, and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry for Women Affairs, Alhaja Risikat Akiyode.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 - 39

INAUGURATION: From left: Chairman Idea Incubation Centre, Mr. Dotun Sulaimon, Minister for Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola PEACE MISSION: From left: South African First Lady, Mrs. Mantuli Zuma, Dame Johnson, and CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Wiebe Boer, at the Patience Jonathan, Sudanes First Lady, Hajiya Babiker Omar, and representative of inauguration of Techlaunchpad Phase 2, coordinated by Accenture Nigeria the First Lady of Cameroun, during the African First Ladies Peace Mission Bureau and Federal Ministry of Communication and Technology in Lagos. meeting in Abuja.

From left: Mr. Obinna Nweje, Regional GM, East, MTN Nigeria, Steve Wozniak, Co-founder, Apple Computers /guest speaker and Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, GM, Consumer Marketing, MTN, at the MTN leadership seminar with Steve Wozniakin Port Harcourt.

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ezeala (middle) being decorated by AIG Adeleke with his new rank of Superintendent of Police (left) and Benue State Commissioner of Police, Adams Audu.

Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, President, Federation of Construction Industry, flanked by Sachin Katare (left) and Kunche Surendra, Executives of Service Department, West African Ceramics Ltd, during the Building Construction & Mining Mart 2014 Expo in Lagos.

INVESTIYURE: Dr. Victor Wakwe, immediate past President (middle), congratulating the new President, Professor Rasheed Arogundade (left) and Dr. A. A. Olaitan, Vice President, during the investiture of the 18th College President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, at Ijanikin, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

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From left: Mr. Krishna Kumar, Director, Sales and Marketing, Intercontinental Hotel, Mr. Chuks Iku, Group Head , E-Channel, Skye Bank Plc, and Mr. Didier Coeln, GM, Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, at a briefing on the launch of Rewards Club by the Hotel, Powered by Skye Bank Plc, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left: Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Folunso Adebanjo, decorating Afekhai Philomena with his new rank of Supretendent of Police, in Benin City, yesterday.

From left: Former acting zonal Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Pegba Otemolu, former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, his wife and state coordinator, Women for Change and Development Initiative, Mrs Abosede Ogunleye, Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu, Chief Tunde Olowu, state Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Shodipo, Chief Zacchaeus Oyekunle and governorship aspirant, Hon. Kayode Amusan, all awardees, during the International Women Day celebration of the Ogun State chapter of Women for Change and Development Initiative.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Seven decampees set to return to PDP in Kaduna

Kwara civil servants promotion exam holds March 18, 20

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LORIN— THE Kwara State Civil Service Commission has fixed between March 18 and 20 for promotion examination for qualified civil servants in the state.

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Adelodun Ibrahim, announced this at a meeting with the management staff of the commission, yesterday, in Ilorin.

He said the examination was geared towards lifting the state civil service to greater height, and in line with the vision of the state administration.

He urged eligible civil servants to take note of the dates, adding that the commission would not reschedule another date for anyone that missed the exercise.

Alhaji Isiaka Ndakotsu, a director in the Commission, said that the exercise would be conducted in groups, adding that those in Group C: GL 07-09, would be examined on March 18; those in Group B: GL 10-13, would be examined on March 19, while Group A: GL 14-16, will write theirs on March 20.

Kaduna govt moves to ensure regular water supply

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ADUNA — THE Kaduna State Government, yesterday, said it had provided a 33 KV electricity substation and procured seven power generating sets to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water to Kaduna metropolis.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Ado Audu, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kaduna.

He said the substation was located at Malali Water Works, while the generators were installed in Kawo, Tudun Wada, Barnawa and Doka booster stations.

Audu said this was to provide back-up electricity to the water stations to avoid disruption in supply in the event of public power outage.

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A cross section of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors at the North Central PDP unity/sensitization rally held in Minna, Niger State, weekend.

Anti-gay law: Okogie, Osa-Oni blast Western nations

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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AGOS — ARCHBISHOP Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, and founder of Vineyard Christian Centre, Lagos, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, have sent a strong warning to the United States of America and its Western allies to desist from pressurising Nigerian government to soft pedal on its current anti-gay stands, vowing that no amount of intimidation would make the nation succumb to their whims and caprices.

Speaking at different occasions in the wake of pressures on President Goodluck Jonathan by officials of the US and other international human rights groups to have a rethink on the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act recently passed by the National Assembly and dully signed into law by the president, the duo cautioned them to mind their business and stop meddling into the nation’s domestic affairs.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos ahead of a world leadership conference of end-time generals scheduled to take place at the Guiding Light Assembly from Thursday, March 13 to Saturday 15, Osa-Oni said it was most unfortunate that the West, which brought Christianity to Africa, now wants African nations to embrace gay marriage which goes against the very foundation of the Christian faith.

He said: ”The Holy Bible is unambiguous about the issue of homosexuality and I thank God for the National Assembly for passing the bill into an act despite pressure from the West and the courage of President

Goodluck Jonathan for signing same into law without giving consideration to threats from Western leaders to stop aides to the nation.”

The Pentecostal archbishop described Jonathan as “God’s appointed for this season,” noting that he should be commended by all men of goodwill in the country for that singular act of bravery and a demonstration of patriotism.

On his part, the Catholic cardinal said: “I don’t know what concerns the United States and the other western nations on a matter that purely concerns our own moral code.

As a nation, we have a right to determine what we want and what we don’t want. ”If the western nations decide that homosexuality and lesbianism are good enough for them, fine. But they have no right to impose their will on us. We have made it clear that we do not approve of gay relationship under any guise

or its attendant consequences and we have every right to entrench such in our law. That is the wishes of our people, and as you know, the voice of the people is the voice of God.” On the possibility of Nigerian being sanctioned by the international committee like is the case with Uganda if it fails to bend to their wishes, Okogie said such a move, if contemplated, would be unfortunate as it would only make Nigerians more resolute in their stand.

He said: “I have said it before, and I will continue to say it: nothing can make us bend to their wishes. If, as I gathered, over 83 countries across the world are currently opposed to homosexuality, it shows how unpopular the practice is. It is against our religious belief and custom, and these are very sensitive areas that make us who we are as a people and we cannot compromise them."

ADUNA —AHEAD of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Kaduna State today for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, North-West rally, the state chapter of the party has made huge gains with the decamping of "some political heavy weights" into its fold.

A stalwart of the party and former National Assembly member, Mohammed Saleh Annur who spoke to newsmen, weekend, said several politicians who had earlier left the PDP had now indicated their readiness to return to the party.

His words: “I want to assure you that there are many top members of our great party that left few months ago, but because they are now satisfied with the leadership of the party, they are ready to return and they have assured some of us that they are coming back home to the PDP.’’ Annur further said many of the former members left the party because of some internal problems, adding: “Now that we have a new leadership at the national level, the party is becoming stronger and many of our members, both those who decamped and those that wanted to follow them out have now realised that PDP is the only party that guarantees them democracy and freedom.”

He said the state chapter of the PDP was also becoming stronger even in the face of crisis due to the leadership quality of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

Police high command promotes 354 officers and men in Benue

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI— OVER 355 officers and men of the Benue State Police Command were, yesterday, decorated with their new ranks in a mass promotion approved by the Police High Command.

Among the newly decorated officers was the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ezeala, who now wears the rank of

Superintendent.

Others who were also promoted included five Chief Superintendents, CSP, three Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents, 29 Assistant Superintendents, 69 Senior Inspectors, 97 Sergeants and 150 Corporals.

Addressing the officers at the Makurdi Police Officers Mess, the Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 4, Adeleke Adeniji,

enjoined the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, by rededicating themselves to their duties.

He said: ”Your new ranks come with added responsibilities and it is incumbent on each and everyone of you to rededicate him or herself to work and also show greater commitment to duties."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—41

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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HE cost of delivering construction projects in Nigeria may soon go up following a sudden increase in the price of cement, a major building material used in the nation’s construction industry.

The price of a 50 kilogramme bag of the product rose from N1,550 last month to N1,850 in the open market, an increase of about 15 percent. Although the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, CMAN could not be reached to confirm the present price increase, stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard Homes & Property noted that the price increase would have a multiplier effect on the construction industry as other materials which depend on cement, would also effect price increases.

A cement dealer in Magboro area in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area in Ogun State, Mr Adekola Rafiu told Vanguard Homes & Property that prior to the sudden price increase, the landing cost of a 50 kg bag of cement from Dangote cement was N1,410 while the retailers sold at N1,550. He explained that with the increase in the landing cost and sundry additions, a 50 kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for N1, 850.

Mr. Rafiu noted that although Lafarge/WAPCO did not announce any new increase in price when Dangote Cement did, he was shocked when the company also hiked the price

Bleak future for construction industry as cement prices go up

•Bags of cement for sale. of its product a few days later.

According to him, the new cost of bringing a 50kg bag of cement from Lafarge/WAPCO to his warehouse is now 1,750.

When you add other expenses incurred, a bag of the product will now be sold for N1,850 in the open market.

Reacting to the new development, a former chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB Lagos branch, Mr. Kunle Awobodu regretted that the increase is coming at a time when there is controversy in the cement industry over quality of cement being produced.

Awobodu who is the National Publicity Secretary of NIOB and Chairman, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, said cement should not be sold above N800 per 50 kg bag since it is a major ingredient in the construction industry.

Awobodu regretted that instead of finding ways of meeting their installed capacities, the cement firms are busy jerking up prices.

Presently, the cement companies have an installed capacity of 28 million metric tonnes but produce about 18 million tonnes.

“What this means, is that

Jonathan’s govt has invested heavily in the construction industry — FOCI

BY JUDE NJOKU

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ESPITE its members being owed over N200 billion for jobs already executed, the Federation of Construction Industry, FOCI, the umbrella organisation for about 125 major construction companies operating in Nigeria, believes that no government since independence, has invested heavily in the construction industry in the country than the present administration under the watch of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

President of the group, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, a builder, explained that under President Jonathan, Nigeria has become a huge construction site and if the trend is maintained, the nation’s construction sector will triple its investment value by 2021.

“The President is doing a lot in his transformation agenda.

Whether we like it or not, the man is doing his best for the construction industry; we are not only talking about road transportation but air and rail transportation. I am saying it very clearly that no government has invested in the construction industry in Nigeria than that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. If you go to the far North, you will discover that the government

is spending a lot of money in rail transportation from Kaduna to Abuja and Lagos.

Most of the roads in Nigeria, in the east, west, south and north are being dualised. If these jobs are going on and we have our members, (about 125 members) including the big players like Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe, Setraco, PW and the small ones like S&M Nigeria Ltd, involved in

•Senator Gbenga Ashafa being conducted round the exhibtion by Mr. Ogunbusola

cement manufacturers are not meeting stock capacity. If there is an increase in demand for cement, how long does it take cement manufacturers to increase production level? For the increase to come when there is controversy over the quality of cement produced in the country is unfortunate. This will lead to speculation about the quality of cement produced in the country. Construction is cheaper during the dry season than during the rainy season.

Even if there is increase in construction activities because we are in the dry season, does that justify the increase in the

the construction of these projects and if it is going on like that, I am very sure that our investments will triple by the year 2021,” he said Mr Ogunbusola who spoke at the just concluded four-day exhibition of the latest construction materials, machinery and heavy equipment tagged “Building, Construction & Mining Mart 2014” explained that by 2020, Nigeria alongside India will enjoy higher growth rates in the construction sector than notable nations like China.

“The contributions and impact of the building and construction sector of the economy cannot be neglected in the scheme of things in the country. The sector has become a veritable index when it comes to creation of both skilled and unskilled employment in Nigeria. I make bold to say that our contribution to the nation’s GDP stands out at 3.2 percent,” he said, while calling on the three tiers of government to release jobs to FOCI members.

price of cement?” he asked.

Also lamenting the price increase, a block moulder, Mr. Babatunde Lawal said that the rising cost of cement may force some block moulders and other related construction components to cut corners in their production and thereby endanger the construction industry. Lawal called on the government to look into the cause of the sudden hike in the price of the product.

“We don’t know what the price will become tomorrow. Some block industries have reduced the volume of their production since the price increment as demand has dropped. Before this situation, we used to produce 3,000 blocks a day with 78 bags of cement but with this rising cost, we have reduced our production by 50 per cent. We now produce 1,500 blocks using just 38 bags,” he explained.

Efforts to reach the president of Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, CEMAN Joseph Makoju, an engineer and consultant to Dangote cement for his reaction proved abortive, as his mobile phone was said to be switched off on several occasions that we tried to reach him.

Quantity surveyors hold workshop in Oshogbo Towards sustained growth of emerging economies in Africa- The infrastructural imperatives will be the theme of a two-day workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS. The workshop will hold between March 14 and 15 in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital.The Secretary, Marketing and Corporate Affairs of NIQS, Mr. Jide Oke who disclosed this in a press statement, explained that the workshop will deliberate on efficient project management of infrastructure in emerging economies of Africa; effective cost management of infrastructural development as a sine qua non for growth in emerging economies as well as sources and alternatives for financing infrastructure in emerging economies.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11 , 2014

FCTA, Chicason sign $2.75 billion agreement for the development of Abuja city centre T

By HENRY UMORU

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has signed a $2.75 billion agreement with Chicason Group led consortium of investors for the development of the Abuja City Centre. The scheme is tagged Abuja Down Town Development.

Speaking after signing the agreement, FCTA minister, Senator Bala Mohammed who expressed happiness over the project, disclosed that the Administration has decided to be pro-active to get what he termed alternative ways of funding the development of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the Minister, this Direct Foreign Investment, DFI of 2.75 billion US Dollars for a mixed-use development, would provide for the construction of a Five Star Hotels, shopping malls, office spaces, residential houses, condominium, and recreational facilities amongst others. He stated that the partnership was between the FCT Administration and the Chicason Group pooling resources from the United

Kingdom, China, South Africa and United Arab Emirate.

At the event, while the FCTA Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, an engineer, signed on behalf of the FCT Administration , Chief Alex Chika Okafor, the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Chicason Group and Mr.Patrick Osu, a lawyer and the company’s secretary signed on

behalf of the international investors.

Senator Mohammed who reiterated that the investment has multiplier effects on the country’s economy, stressed that skilled and unskilled employment would be generated as a welcome development. He added that the Direct Foreign Investment has shown that the World has confidence in the workings of the Federal Government under President Jonathan.

While noting that the Group has robust financial plan to execute the high profile capitalintensive project, Senator Mohammed said that the gigantic project would be the heart of Abuja. According to him, the Consortium has been structured with the FCT Administration having five percent equity share.

His words: “This equity share being enjoyed by the FCT Administration comprise the cost of the land in question at the

Central Business District, its premium as well as the development Control charges”.

He called on other genuine investors to take advantage of the liberalised posture of the government to come and invest in the Federal Capital Territory.

Responding, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chicason Group, Chief Alex Ckika Okafor promised to immediately deplore the needed resources to hit the ground running. “The cost of the technical drawings so far incurred by the investor is about 60 million US Dollars and the Consortium has all the wherewithal to execute the project within the stipulated time frame,” he said.

CSO advocates increased budgetary funding for roads sector

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HERE is a great need to boost road infrastructure construction, rehabilitation and maintenance in Nigeria so as to facilitate the attainment of real economic growth, wealth creation, poverty reduction and development”. This was contained in a 76-page report of the performance of the Nigerian roads sector between 2009 -2013 published by the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ Limited. The Roads Sector Performance Study which was written by Onwusoro

Chibuike with the assistance of Eze Onyekpere and Ikenna Ofoegbu, recommended that budgetary funding for the road sector should be progressively improved.

“Beyond appropriations, the Ministry of Finance should ensure full and timely release and cash-backing of budgeted funds to the Ministry of Works and other MDAs involved in the road sector. To avoid the spreading of funds in the sector so thinly, there should be a moratorium on new projects in the sector pending the completion of existing ones. Even among the existing ones, there should be a scale of preference and prioritisation to ensure that the more vital national roads are completed on schedule,” C S J recommended.

The Study which has six chapters, f u r t h e r recommended that MDAs involved in the road sector r e q u i r e capacity building to

A road under construction in Bayelsa State... Group seeks more funding for such projects

ensure that funds released by the Ministry of Finance are fully utilised and drawn down at the end of the fiscal year. MDAs also need capacity building in matters of project design, costing and timing to ensure that project reviews are reduced with its attendant cost overruns.

Apparently worried by the high cost of road construction in Nigeria CSJ suggested the reduction of the cost of road project implementation through benchmarking with African and international prices. “Taking into cognizance, the cost of building roads in other countries like Ghana, which has nearly the same soil environment like Nigeria, with also a Volta Region which is swampy will put extant costs in their proper context,” the Study recommended.

Describing PPP projects as highly politicised, CSJ called on the Federal Government to expedite action and move projects being considered for implementation under PPPs from the planning to the implementation stage.

There should be a specific time frame for each project being packaged under a PPP arrangement.

“PPP arrangements should be devoid of politics and government must develop the political will to stick to agreement and contracts signed with private sector operatives. However, at the stage of negotiations and signing, the details and facts of the transaction should be available to the public to facilitate contributions and possible interventions in the public interest”.

Architectural firm unveils new Lekki office complex years of design excellence entailed a 15.9

By JUDE NJOKU

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S part of activities marking its silver jubilee anniversary, Messrs ATO Architects, one of Nigeria’s leading architecture and design consulting firms, last week, opened its new purpose -built office complex in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos. The firm which started operations 25 years ago from the 6th floor of the Cooperative Bank Building, in Marina, Lagos, also used the celebration to inaugurate its anniversary lecture series.

The celebration which was tagged 25

kilometre Charity Walk to raise funds to support the Pacelli School for Blind and Partially Sighted Children, Surulere and the Lagos State Motherless Babies’ Home, Lekki.

The inaugural lecture which was delivered by a renowned architect, Prof John Godwin was titled, The WOW Factor as a Metaphor for Excellence? In the lecture, Prof Godwin highlighted the diminishing prominence of the architectural profession in favour of what he called glossy and shallow ‘do It yourself’ alternatives by flashy non-professionals. He observed that Continues on page 43

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11 , 2014—43

Liveable cities: Experts seek enforcement of planning laws

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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OVERNMENT’s inability to enforce planning laws has been adduced as the major reason behind the plethora of blighted settlements in the nation’s urban areas.

Built environment experts who brainstormed on Creating Livable Cities: A Call For Physical Environment Control Enforcement” at a breakfast session organised by Messrs Propertygate Development and Investment Plc last week in Lagos, called for strict compliance with planning laws The CEO of Propertygate, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi opined that the chaos on Nigerian roads,

indiscriminate construction activities that have resulted to the creation of more urban slums than cities are direct consequences of failure to enforce existing development regulations and laws.

According to Ajayi, “the way we shape our cities profoundly affects our quality of life in terms of physical and mental health. It also affects our opportunities for having friends and neighbours as well as we find jobs and hold on to them”.

Ajayi noted that liveable cities attract investment, stimulate local economy and boost real estate value and market. It also makes residents feel good, instil culture

of civility and decency as against recklessness and indifference and foster atmosphere for progressive advancement.

In his own submission, Mr. Muyiwa Adelu, a town planner, regretted that although Ikoyi/ Victoria Island and Ikeja have model master plans, “studies reveal that despite the availability of physical development plans there are deviations from the approved land uses in most of the schemes”.

“Since inception of Lagos state, there have being various urban and regional planning laws and now environmental laws. And the current law of 2010 Urban and Regional Planning Law is

determined to change the status quo of haphazard development control. “But it is not detailed enough to accommodate all that are required to enable great city.

Parks and gardens which are essential ingredients of a liveable city are left out while

laws on cemetery is left to moribund local governments and cremation centres are totally not considered yet in the various development plans within the city”, Citymatters managing partner noted.

Architectural firm unveils office Continues frompage 42 this trend has led to to erection of buildings that are unresponsive to the environment, non-functional and fiscally unsustainable.

“The buildings constructed by these non-professionals typically elicit the exclamation, ‘WOW!’ upon first encounter but mask

deeper unresolved problems underneath. This trend of events is a problem spanning beyond the shores of Nigeria to professional practice globally” he said.

The climax of the anniversary celebration was a cocktail party and open house held at the new Lekki office of ATO Architects.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 11 TUESDA 11,, 2014 —45

Centre, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, is supported by a team in the USA headed by Dr. Rahn Ravenall.

Partnership: In an overview, Isiavwe described the upcoming conference as the first of its type. “We are working in partnership with the Podiatry Institute of America, in Georgia to try to build local capacity in foot care in Nigeria.

Diabetic foot care workshop: “We hope to bring together these trainers from the USA to empower us in Nigeria in the area of Podiatry Medicine, especially targeting the diabetes foot ulcers in Nigeria.

The pilot training is in Lagos, but we will reach out to doctors in the different geo political zones.

• Dr. Afokoghene Isiavwe of Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, Lagos, explaining a point about the high incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in persons living with diabetes.

Experts seek end to high incidence of limb amputations in diabetics

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE HE lack of local capacity and training of podiatrists (medical specialists in foot care) for people living with diabetes in Nigeria is currently taking its toll on the management and care of the disorder in the country.

Currently there are no podiatrists in Nigeria, neither are there training facilities or institutions equipped to build capacity for the speciality.

Findings by Good Health Weekly reveal that even if a trained podiatrist comes into Nigeria from abroad, such specialist would find it difficult to integrate or practice.

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Contributions of podiatrists Yet other specialists such as endocrinologists that are trained to look after diabetics, cannot effectively carry out their role without the support and contribution of podiatrists.

Amputations: As a result of this gap, a high number of cases of diabetic foot ulcers are ending in amputations and even deaths. As one of the major complications of diabetes, diabetic foot (also known as diabetes mellitus foot) affects a signifcant number of people living with the disease. Findings from a Lagos- based study showed that diabetes mellitus foot is the second leading cause of diabetes-related deaths in Nigeria accounting for 19.5 to 24 percent of all diabetes mortality. A study on diabetes

mellitus foot ulcer in Midwestern Nigeria showed an amputation rate of 52.2 percent and mortality rate of 14.3 percent in a cohort of diabetes patients with foot ulcers.

More findings from a tertiary hospital in Lagos indicated that diabetes mellitus foot syndrome was responsible for most amputations in the surgical unit (55.14 percent of all amputations).

Data also show that the direct socioeconomic costs of successfully treating the diabetic foot ulcer in the country are about N220,000, whereas average monthly wage is about N10, 120.

Prevalence: The International Diabetes Federation, IDF, says Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes in Africa, as well as the highest number of persons with impaired glucose tolerance in Africa.

In 1997, prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria was put at 2.2 percent while different studies across the nation give prevalence ranging from about 2.8 percent to about 6.8 percent and as high as 23.4 percent in the oil-rich Niger Delta region in some cohorts.

People most affected are at the lower class, including persons already burdened by poverty, illiteracy and inability to care for their daily needs.

Policies: The Federal Government in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, WHO, launched the Stop Diabetes Initiative in 2013. There is also a policy of

free insulin for persons living with diabetes in the 56 Federal hospitals nationwide, as well as a policy of free diabetes treatment for children, however the extent of implementation or successes of these policies are unknown.

Currently, there are no

Diabetic sores The first lap is scheduled to take off from March 17-21, 2014 at the Lekki Peninsula Hotel, Lagos. They would train our doctors, general practitioners, surgeons, nurses, plastic technicians and people that look after diabetics. They will teach us technics that when we see people with diabetic sores, we know what we can do to make the sores heal better and faster.

“At the diabetic foot care workshop, healthcare providers will be enabled to do more for the foot. They will teach primary prevention which is care education so the patient

• Diabetic foot ulcers national or localised foot care training policy in existence in the nation. However, to help bridge the gap and raise awareness on diabetes foot care and the subspecialty of Podiatry, the Podiatry Initiative, Nigeria is calling for increased local capacity and better attention to diabetic foot care in Nigeria.The team, headed in Nigeria by an endocrinologist and diabetologist Dr. Afokoghene Rita Isiavwe of Rainbow Specialist Medical

does not come down with an ulcer on the leg. Nobody wants to lose a limb.

“We know there is a need. We know that if we are able to build local capacity so that doctors and nurses know what to do, we would be able to save more limbs and lives,” Isiavwe told Good Health Weekly in a chat.

Regretting that limb amputation is often inevitable if there is total blockage of blood supply or destruction of nerves, she however, observed

that there are symptoms at the early stage.

Symptoms: “There are symptoms when the blood supply is getting narrower and narrower, for some time, the person will feel pain, When the person living with diabetes comes to the hospital, for primary prevention the symptoms can be picked up early and a procedure known as vascularisation surgery can be carried out.

“It is just like a heart bypass.

We can bypass the blockage.

But beyond a certain period, there is nothing more to be done. Although podiatrists look after diabetic foot sores, they still require a vascular surgeon to carry out the bypass.

Living with diabetes: “Every person living with diabetes must see the their eye specialist and dentist for regular examinations. They must do regular kidney function tests and also obtain proper foot evaluation. We don’t have to cut off a limb except if it is gangrenous, that is, dead and there is no blood there. When the skin tissue is dead or dying, the colour changes, it ets darker and becomes dry. When you start noticing all that, it is time to get help. Fast.”

Neuropathic ulcers Further, the medic warned that poorly controlled blood sugar often leads to development of neuropathic ulcers. “Bad sugar control leads to ischaemia. We aim to teach the patient from the beginning about the danger of ulcers - neuropathic, (nerve), ischaemic (poor blood supply) or combination of poor blood supply and sugar control.

Medical research shows that there are two types of diabetes.

In Type 1 diabetes, the body fails to make insulin at all while Type 2 occurs as a result of old age, infection and inactivity or overweight.

Risk factors: Risk factors include poor diet, overweight, family history, etc. “When you are diabetic, you must do the right things. If your diabetes is not well managed, it can lead to stroke, blindness, erectile dysfunction and amputation.

“The unusual thing about diabetic limb amputation is that if one limb has been amputated, the chances of the other limb becoming affected are high because the problem of the first leg is very likely to happen to the second leg.

“Gangrene is the problem. If somebody comes in with a gangrenous toe or part of the leg that is black, they would not realise that the problem goes deeper. But by the time a scan is done, and it is discovered Continues on Page 47

46—Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 11, 2014 TUESDA

‘HEFAMAA not out to witch-hunt medical doctors’

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS State Government has de bunked insinuations that its Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, was out to victimise or witch hunt medical practitioners in the State.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina, who disclosed this, said the Agency was set up to ensure improvement in the quality of healthcare delivery services in Lagos State.

Adesina who spoke during the 2nd HEFAMAA grassroots meeting in Lagos, explained that "HEFAMAA provides correctional services which is why the agency doesn't close up health facilities without several prior notice.

Defaulters would have been warned to put things in place, and once correction is made, no sanctions are applied".

At the meeting, attended by major healthcare practitioners and stakeholders in the public healthcare sector, Adesina observed that medical related crime can only be determined by medical practitioners and regulatory bodies before the alleged suspect is handed over to the police.

"Law enforcement agents like Police are to take crimes related to medical regulatory agencies such as HEFAMAA, and we determine those that should be sanctioned by their respective pro-

fessional bodies. It is not for the Police to go arresting owners of health facilities.

"To reach out to Lagosians, we are doing this sensitization in every district in the state, using mouth to mouth sensitization from community heads, educationist, and religious leaders. We are involving the young ones because we know that once they have knowledge they can exercise their right and in-

fluence their community".

Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. Jimmy Asuni said apart from monitoring of healthcare facilities, the Agency educates people about services in healthcare facilities.

"Even when healthcare facilities have been registered, we still go for random monitoring to ensure that they are compliant with the acceptable standards," he added.HEFAMAA

• Medical Officer for Igando-Ikotun (L.C.D.A) Dr Olatunji Orebiyi,Member of the Governing Board Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) Professor Kola Oyedeji,Representing Chairman (HEFAMAA) Board Dr Kola Korolo,and Executive Secretary, Dr Jimmy Asuni,at the 2nd HEFAMAA Grassroot Meeting in Lagos.

Protect your fertility, women told • As Nordica Fertility Centre holds Million-Woman March for Endometriosis

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

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OMEN with persistent and abnormal chronic pain especially during the menstrual period have been urged to seek prompt and proper medical attention as they may be suffering from endometriosis - a chronic disorder that occurs when normal endometrial tissue grows outside the womb lining and within the abdominal cavity.

Making the call on this year's Million Woman March for Endometriosis or Endomarch, which was aimed at saving women from the pain and trauma of endometriosis, Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Clinic, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, urged women of reproductive age to protect their fertility at all times. Ajayi, who is the Endomarch Country Affiliate Partner, described the awareness as a global initiative through which women unite to take a stand against endometriosis.

Presence of endometriosis "This activity is to educate, empower and effect change while improving the living standard for women of reproductive age who experience regular pain during menstruation period or at all time to consult doctor and not to look at it as something normal because it may be due to the presence of endometriosis in the body."

He said if not detected early, the endometrial growth can damage various organs in the abdomen such as making

the tissue to be blocked or prevent women from getting pregnant.

“Endometriosis reduces quality of life and self esteem and denies many young ladies the ability to complete their educational career while others cannot maintain their relationship or career.”

Further, he regretted that, diagnoses of endometriosis at times could be very challenging because it usually comes with different kind of symptoms but the commonest sign is usually pain.

“This pain could be during sexual intercourse or at during defecation. But it gets worse when women are menstruating.

Sad enough, if not attended to on time it could present with infertility or bleeding from strange places such as nose, nervous among other.”

Several participants took part in the early morning walk organised by Nordica Lagos in collaboration with the Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria. The walk took off from Murho Okunola Park, Victoria Island and terminated at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island, where the medic described endometriosis as a genetic disorder, however, researchers have not been able to identify the gene cell that normally causes it, that is why everybody is trying to get a cure.

“It cannot be cured for now, we can only ameliorate the symptoms," Ajayi noted Consultant Obetetrician & Gynecologist , Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Prof. Oluwole Ayodeji, opined that not every painful menstruation is endometriosis, but about 80 per cent might be so. He urged women who experience chronic pain to seek medical help, while calling on government at all levels to help

in training doctors and also allocate money for research. Stressed that the percentages of hospital that can do the test of diagnose endometriosis in Nigeria is about 2 to 3 per cent.

Corroborating his Health and Education, Lagos State, Dr. Leke Pitan disclosed that one of the challenges with endometriosis is misunderstanding, ignorance and misdiagnosis. Pitan called on government to encourage endometriosis awareness particularly at the Primary Healthcare evel so that health volunteer as Lagos state government has created, can take it up as part of their schedule to be propagating the idea and local government also should do the same thing.

Chevron, St. Kizito partner to tackle TB in community

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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ITH Nigeria ranked the 13th most endemic country with Tuberculosis, TB, among the High Burden Countries, HBCs, Chevron Nigeria Limited recently empowered grassroots management of the disorder at community level with donation of a mobile x-ray machine to St. Kizito Hospital, Lekki, Lagos.

The state-of-the-art equipment is to assist and considerably improve diagnosis and monitoring of TB especially among children.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Deji Haastrup, said the machine would aid diagnosis and monitoring of TB especially among children.

Appreciating the hospital's humanitarian and medical care within the poverty-striken community of Jakande, Lekki area of Lagos, Haastrup said the machine, would also help reduce the risk of TB in highly populated areas of Lagos state while eliminating hazards of co-infection and increased risks of results in deaths of inhabitants.

Receiving the x-ray machine, Dr. Alda Gemmani of St. Kizito, described the gesture as a demonstration of commitment to care for the good health and general welfare and development of the people in whose community they operate.

Gemmani who noted that most countries in Africa and South-East Asia account for approximately 80 per cent of new TB cases each year, recalled that it was in realisation of the high TB burden that her clinic started the Directly Observed Treatment, DOTs, at the facility.

The DOTs clinic was set up in 2005 to provide free TB treatment with the assistance of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the oil firm.

Chevron in 2005, donated a chest clinic to the hospital, TB fighting drugs in 2009, and an annual donation of N3 million or drugs of same value. to support the hospital.

• Cross section of participants in the Million Woman March For Endometriosis organised in Lagos by Nordica Fertility Centre in collaboration with Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria, weekend.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, MARCH 11, 2014 —47 TUESDA

Warri hospital embarks on free surgeries

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private hospital in Warri, Delta state, B.U Hospital ltd as part of its corporate social responsibility in collaboration with some well meaning members of the society has embarked on free surgeries for indigent patients needing surgical intervention who can not afford their surgical bills.

Speaking to some beneficiaries of the programme they expressed delight at what the hospital has done and ex-

WAPCP seeks end to fake drugs

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EST African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, WAPCP, has called for total elimination of fake drugs in Nigeria. Lauding the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, over the reduction in tfake drugs in the country, it said the nation was winning the war, but urged NAFDAC not to rest on its oars.

Speaking during its 26th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Symposium, the Chairman, Pharm Ike Onyechi noted that "Fake drug is a global menace, we advocate for the total elimination of fake drugs hence the theme of our conference is " The impact of fake and substandard drugs on quality of life in West Africa."

Former Chairman, WAPCP, Professor Fola Tayo said, "We have a Drug Advisory Council, that look at various drug challenges and proffer solutions on how to deal with them. Strengthening the mechanism of quality control is another way the college is using to tackle menace of fake medicine.

"We facilitated the establishment of the School of Pharmacy, University of Liberia and University of Sierra Leone, harmonised drug laws and regulations in WAPCP member countries among others.”

pressed appreciation to both the hospital and all those who contributed to making the programme possible.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Bright Emenena said the programme which is the hospital’s initiative will be done annually and hopes it gets bigger so that more surgeries can be accommodated.

According to him, he is an ardent believer of the Private Public Partnership, PPP, out of 29 surgical cases identified, 21 were successfully performed while the eight others were outside scope of the exercise and so were referred to other medical centers.

Emenena also said the issue of health funding will continue to be a major issue in Nigeria until universal health coverage is achieved through the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS.

Diabetics Continues from page 45

• Dr. Bright Emenena

• L-R; Executive Secretary MTN Foundation, Ms Nonny Ugboma; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Executive Governor, Abia State, Dr. Sir T. A. Orji; Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Sir. Ude Chukwu and Commissioner for Health, Abia State, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah during the presentation of the MTNF Y'ello Doctor Mobile Clinic to the state at Michael Opara Auditorium, Abia State recently.

that there is no good blood supply from the knee down, the person may not understand why we need to cut from the knee when it is only the toe that is black.

In medical wards of government hospitals, such as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, as well as most General Hospitals, a significant number of admissions is as a result of diabetic foot ulcer.

Expensive disorder: Diabetes is an expensive disease to manage. If it is not well controlled, it affects all systems in the body. “A person living with diabetes will need too see an eye specialist at least once in two years if there are no complications, but if the blood vessels in the eye have been affected, they will need to go more often for procedures.

The diabetic will also need to see the dentist more often, and will need to have the heart looked after because diabetes affects the heart.

“In fact it is said that the person with diabetes that has not suffered a heart attack is like a normal person that has suffered an attack. That is the cardiovascular risk.

“We try to give medications to reduce the risk of all this. Diabetes care is not only about sugar control. You need to check the weight, cholesterol, eyes, heart, kidneys, liver, nerves and so on.

During my interaction with a person living with diabetes, I want to make sure the person understands the risks. I want to emphasise foot care, and to explain why shoes should be bought the the evening when the feet have expanded,” she stressed.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) • Dr Vijaya Rajakumani,

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NEED your advice. I have been suffering from herpes for a few years now and each time I think it has been cured, it will come back again. I am finally in a wonderful relationship with a woman that I want to marry and I desperately need a cure. She does not know that I have Herpes because I don’t want to scare her and drive her away but I don’t want her to contact it either. Right now, we use condom during intercourse. Please what do I do? Sam Dear Sam, it is actually a good thing that you are concerned about your fiancée contacting this disease.

Unfortunately, the Herpes Simplex Virus (type 1 and 2) has no cure. The reason it has no cure is that the virus bonds with the nervous system within your spinal cord in a manner that is almost impossible to eliminate. The only good news about your situation is that herpes will not kill you. It is just a nuisance of a disease that manifests in the form of one or two blisters around your mouth or genitals and is very itchy. A Herpes outbreak comes and goes every few months and there are medications that you can take to suppress the frequency of the outbreaks and treat the blisters when they come, such as Valtrex, Famvir and Acyclovir. You also need to know that herpes can be transmitted through other means apart from sexual intercourse. Any form of skin to skin contact when you are having an outbreak is enough to infect someone. Simply put, if you shake someone’s hand, especially with sweaty palms during an outbreak, you can give the person Herpes. That is why one in every six people you meet has Herpes. Many people who have it don’t even know that they have it because not everybody has the cold sores or blisters symptoms during an outbreak.

My advice is to tell your fiancée the truth. It is likely she already has the herpes virus anyway because it can also be contacted through kissing. Both of you can live very normal lives even with herpes and as time goes on, the frequency of your outbreaks will reduce to once or twice a year with the occasional

blister or itching – Uche I have diabetes and it has killed my sex life. My erection is so soft that penetration is impossible. I am still a young man with a young wife. I need your help. Thank you – Sola Sorry about that. Often it is the medication for the diabetes that weakens the erection. However, there is hope. Some erection supplements can be taken by diabetics an example of which is the Exploding Thunder supplement. Exploding Thunder restores your erections and enables you perform better than ever – Uche I am 59. I had surgery three years ago. Since then, I have not been able to get an erection. I have tried all kinds of medication and taken Viagra but nothing has worked. Can you help? – Frank Frank that is unfortunate. If Viagra did not work for you, I wouldn’t recommend wasting money on more supplements. I suggest wearing an artificial penis for intercourse instead. It is called a Penile Extension and it comes in sizes of six, eight and ten inches.

Penile Extensions are realistic looking, firm like a real erection and will help you fulfil your marital obligations to your wife. Sorry and good luck – Uche I have a penis like a five year old. Is there any kind of enlargement that can help? Samuel Samuel combine regular penis enlargement exercises (with the Penis Enlargement Pump) and an enlargement supplement like Big Bam Boo. Do this every day and within months of constant use, you will notice some impressive growth – Uche The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014—49

‘Pussy Riots’& Sr. Rice

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HE launch of the Jonathan adminis tration’s Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan,NIRP, and the National Enterprise Development Programme, NEDEP, looks more and more like déjà vu. This plan, he said, would boost the annual revenue to be earned per annum by Nigerian manufacturers up to N5 trillion as well as set the stage for a new era of industrial, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises development in Nigeria. The country is at the very edge of a massive socio-political revolution. From that precipice, it will emerge either better or worse. It is an unlikely time to be hankering after an industrial revolution. It is also a good time to ride on the national angst for change, and let our collective adrenalin steer us into something marvellous. Jonathan’s Industrial Revolution Plan sounds like a plan.

Map of Nigeria dustrial era. There is rhetoric- enough rhetoric to fill the coffers. At the convening last year of the 18- member board of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment Mr. Olusegun Aganga, the president said all the usual and nice things about improving Nigeria’s “global competitiveness” ranking and “revitalizing the economy”. Indeed, on that occasion, he’d charged the board to “enhance “Nigeria’s competitiveness by proposing policy The only trouble with it is that it is not quite recommendations that will create an economy different, in thrust as well as in content, from that attracts domestic and foreign investments other similar plans of other periods in the without focusing on or benefitting any specifcountry. The prevalent fear is that it will go ic interest group or sector”, saying policies will the way of the others. Obasanjo’s Operation be developed based on “quantitative, eviFeed the Nation was introduced by the fed- dence-based analysis and will align with the eral military government headed by Gener- broader long-term transformation agenda of al Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979. It had the the current administration”. All the right buzz specific focus of increasing food production words are used. Foreign Direct Investment. on the premise that availability of cheap food Job/wealth creation. Productivity. New marwould ensure a higher nutrition level and kets. Progress. Revolution! Still, history also invariably lead to national growth and shows you cannot simply assemble your great development.OFN lasted till the civilian gov- wise men together, concoct some magic broth ernment of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979. In and thereby will an industrial revolution into June 1986, the Structural Adjustment Pro- being, regardless of how much collective pasgramme, SAP, was introduced after a public sion is brought onto the table. An industrial debate on IMF loan conditionalities. It was Revolution is a policy matter, but the successaimed at re-structuring the productive base ful policy would not be about the Industrial of the economy and promoting non-inflation- Revolution itself, but the enabling factors ary economic growth. There is precedence which, where present, might trigger a revolufor the desire of Nigerian leaders to desire tion under the right conditions. Conditions required might vary from The only trouble with Jonathan's plan is one country to the othThe industrial revothat it is not quite different, in thrust as well er. lution in Japan, great as as in content, from other similar plans of oth- it was, did not come until at least a decade er periods in the country after Britain’s, and was an “industrial revolution”, as it is such a rev- premised on modernization and a cultural as olution that catapulted the first world from well as economic opening up of Japan to the the dark ages into the age of prosperity. The advanced world. The embracing of electricity Industrial Revolution was a period from the had finished the deal. The initial Western in18th to the 19th century where major chang- dustrial revolution had been premised on teches in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, nology, coal, the conquering of iron and its transport, and technology had a profound subsequent use in the fashioning of mass proeffect on the socioeconomic and cultural con- duction machinery, and most importantly, cruditions starting in the United Kingdom , then cial inventions. For South Korea, it came even subsequently spreading throughout Europe, later, and faster. Premised on sheer determiNorth America, and eventually the world. nation and the uncommon diligence of her Economic historians are in agreement that people, that country achieved sustained inthe onset of the Industrial Revolution is the dustrial global leadership in spite of having most important event in the history of hu- little land, few natural resources and seemmanity since the domestication of animals ingly insurmountable odds. For Nigeria, in and plants. It is a tired concept, but appar- addition to all these, it is important- crucial, ently a necessary one. Like Nigeria, pre-in- even- for the Jonathan revolution team to study dustrial Europe did not have a static econo- closely and then push to surmount the chalmy, and manufacturing counted for a signif- lenges that had constituted pitfalls for the inicant share of its total economic activity - dustrialization ambitions of previous adminabout 40 percent of Britain’s GDP in the istrations. Leadership is not as much about early eighteenth century, as estimated. Yet, having ideas, as the ability to persuade large lack of cooperation between the dispersed blocks of people with as little exertion as posproductive entities and the lack of power sible. Doubtless, an industrial revolution is still prevented the capacity from translating into possible in a post industrial age, when hucollective wealth and real material prosper- man resource has superseded material reity across board. Indeed, Nigeria could be source in value. said, at this point, to still be in the pre-in-

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HIS is a tale of two protests; one to eat their lunch as they waited for the in Russia and the other in the security personnel to come and arrest United States. How both stories were them. They did not try to escape. It took treated in the U.S. press tells yet an- about an hour of waiting for the securiother story. First, to Russia. Two mem- ty people in the high-security zone to bers of the Pussy Riots musical band notice that the security alarm in the falanded in the U.S. in the first week of cility had gone off. They rushed to the February amidst great media fanfare. place and arrested Sister Rice with her Having emerged from prison as 2013 friends. Sr. Rice, you may want to know, wound up, the two members of the is an 84-year-old lady!

Upon her sentencing, Sr. Rice told Moscow-based Russian rock band came to the U.S. as part of a world reporters that her only regret about the tour to promote their music and anti- incident was that she waited for more Putin (Russian president) mission. than seventy years to do the deed; she While in the U.S., Maria Alyokhina should have done it much earlier in and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova toured her life! For a frail lady of 84 years, three a number of media houses, includ- years in jail is more like a life sentence. ing the prestigious New York Times But, Sr. Megan Rice is not complainand appeared at concerts and other ing. In fact, during the sentencing, she public events where they were lav- told the judge: “Please have no leniency ishly hailed as custodians of human with me. To remain in prison for the rights in Russia. To further show how rest of my life would be the greatest important the U.S. government re- gift you could give me.”She, like the garded the renegades, Maria and biblical Daniel who was thrown into a Nadezhda were accorded the honour den of lions because of his belief in his of paying a courtesy call on the U.S. God, is much appreciative of the fact ambassador to the United Nations, that she had made her point and was Samantha Power. And, emboldened now happy to serve her term in joy and by their high-profile reception, the la- happiness. As an anti-nuclear weapdies even called on the world to boy- ons activist, nothing was more precious cott the winter Olympic Games in than an 84-year-old lady successfully Sochi, Russia. But, on that score they gaining entrance into a U.S. top secudid not succeed. In the frenzy to out- rity nuclear facility just by cutting the do one another in The media hardly noticed Sr. Rice praising the Pussy and her two colleagues except report Riot ladies, practically no one in the their sentencing usually inquisitive U.S. media bothered to mention the barbed wire-fence around the building. immediate reason a Russian court sen- Perhaps when Sr. Ricefinally meets her tenced the musicians to jail in 2012. God she would proudly stand before Well, here is the reason: three ladies him and proclaim: Lord, I did it!

Here is beef of the stories: two young of the Pussy Riots made their way to the altar at the Cathedral of Christ ladies who, in the process of a protest the Saviour church in Moscow and against their president in Russia, went staged a punk-prayer-protest-dance to the altar inside a holy place of woragainst President Putin. It is the ship in Moscow to do their “dirty equivalent of a group of scantily dance” and were appropriately jailed dressed Nigerian female musicians for their act. In the U.S. they were hailed forcing their way to the tabernacle as human rights, gay-rights, pro-deinside the Holy Cross Cathedral in mocracy, anti-Putin activists and were Lagos Island, to let bum-bum gyrate given a visa to come to the U.S. to be to the sound of Ikwokrikwo music celebrated. The U.S. media heaped because they hate Goodluck praises on the ladies. Yet, in the same Jonathan. That act was seen as a U.S. an 84-year-old nun whose activgreat artistic expression of human ism is against the dangers posed by rights protest in the U.S. media, which nuclear weapons to our world, was why the ladies where hailed and giv- thrown into jail for her courage and protest. en such warm reception.

The media hardly noticed Sr. Rice and Now, to the other story in the U.S. Megan Rice is Catholic nun. On Feb- her two colleagues except report their ruary 18 this year, just as members of sentencing the way they could have the Pussy Riots were ending their reported the sentencing of some hard“successful” tour of the U.S., Sr. Rice core criminals that robbed banks and was sentenced to nearly three years committed all sorts of mayhem. Sr. Rice in jail for breaking into a U.S. nucle- was hardly celebrated for her anti-nuar facility in Tennessee with two men, clear weapons activities. One of the few Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael people who called attention to her Walli. Sister Rice and her two male brave act was Rachel Maddow of MSNcolleagues are anti-nuclear weapons BC. But to most of the news media, Sr. activists. In July 2012 they armed Rice and her colleagues did not amount themselves with ordinary pliers, to anything as substantial as the dancmatched to the high-security nuclear ing Pussy Riots ladies!

I wonder what would have been the facility which housed uranium for the U.S. nuclear industry, cut a portion fate of the Pussy Riot ladies if they of the wire-fenced and gained unhin- were Americans protesting against dered entrance into the high-securi- President Obama by dancing Beyonty compound. There, they smeared cé’s “all the single ladies” at the altar blood on some of the tanks in the fa- inside the Washington National Cathecility, sang some songs and sat down dral in Washington D.C.

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Planning for a Revolution T

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50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Fire destroys 330Kv TCN transmission line

BY CHRIS OCHAYI & KUNLE KALEJAYE

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loaded petrol tanker, which fell and caught fire at Ogborode Junction, near Warri in Delta State, has destroyed the 330kv Sapele Ughelli transmission line and brought down 12 Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN’s towers along its route.

The fire, which started at 9:42am on Sunday, March 9, caused the melting and snapping of all of the line conductors between the two towers causing a loss of balance along the transmission line and swinging of towers.

It resulted in the eventual collapse of tower 82 to 93. Tower 81 did not collapse but was bent.

In a statement by the General Manager (Public Affairs) TCN, Mrs. Seun Olagunju, TCN said the petrol tanker destroyed the 330kV Sapele Ughelli transmission line and brought down TCN’s towers 82 to 93 along its route.

With the collapse of the 12 towers, TCN said that it has temporarily lost power evacuation from that line as all power generated by Delta and Sapele power stations would now only be evacuated through the second 500Mw capacity 330kV transmission line from Ughelli to Benin.

Despite the transmission limitation caused by the fire incident, TCN assured that the second 330kV transmission line from Ughelli to Benin and the 132kV transmission lines one and two from Benin to Ughelli, will adequately evacuate power generated from the power stations to Benin.

TCN also noted that it has also put in place plans to ensure that the transmission lines are free of encumbrances to ensure continued efficient wheeling of power generated.

MEETING: From left— Dr. Kayode Oguntimehin, Permanent Secretary, PHC Board; Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Public Health; Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, and Mr. Kamal Bayewu, Chairman, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, during the town hall meeting on maternal and child mortality reduction in Lagos State, at Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Ajegunle. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

ALAM'S LOOT: Bayelsa disowns lawyer, as EFCC spits fire

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA— THE Bayelsa State Government, yesterday, disowned a lawyer, who claimed to have been mandated by the state to file a suit challenging Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for not remitting the various sums of money it recovered from former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

George Uboh, cited as the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security System, is reported to have approached the Federal High Court Abuja and asked it to compel the anti graft agency to remit N1.4 billion and $1.3 million to the state, being the amount it forfeited from Alamieyeseigha in 2005.

The state government said it did not mandate the said lawyer to file the suit and asked EFCC and the public to ignore the matter.

The statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson, made it clear that the state did not authorise any individual to institute the suit and had no case with EFCC for that matter.

The statement said in part: “The attention of Bayelsa State Government has been drawn to a publication in some sections of the media entitled Bayelsa asks EFCC to remit N1.4bn from Alamieyeseigha.

“The said reports quoted one Mr. George Uboh, Chief Executive of Panic Alert Security System, reportedly acting on mandate of Bayelsa State Government, wrote to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to remit N1.4 billion and 1.3 million USD recovered from a former governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

“Bayelsa State Government denies the reports and states categorically clear that it did not mandate any individual or firm to act on its behalf to request or institute any suit against the EFCC.” Beyond asking for the repatriation of the sums to

the state, the lawyer also prayed the court to compel EFCC to pay interest at the rate of 21 percent on the sums to the government without further delay.

Uboh, who accused the EFCC of trading with the Bayelsa money by placing it in fixed deposits, said Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, who investigated Alamieyeseigha, should be made to quit office as he was not qualified to continue having traded with looted funds of Bayelsa State.

The plaintiff averred that Lamorde had violated his oath of office by presiding over the affairs of the

commission after investigating and prosecuting the former governor and using the proceeds for trading.

Even before the denial by the state, the EFCC had already taken serious exception to the suit and threatened that it would not back down on its investigations on Bayelsa State and its officials despite the filing of the suit, which it claimed was meant to deter it from doing its work.

A statement by EFCC's spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said it doubted the claims by the lawyer and would press ahead with its work in the state.

Jega tasks politicians on campaign rules

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AGOS— CHAIRMAN, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, restated his warning to political parties to stop violating the rules governing electioneering ahead of 2015 polls.

Jega, who spoke during an interactive session with editors in Lagos, noted that all parties had violated the rules on campaigns.

According to the INEC chairman, it is wrong for anyone to be campaigning for votes as a candidate for now.

He said since parties had not conducted primaries no candidate could lay claim to

any platform yet.

Jega said: “When you say vote for me for this office in 2015, it is wrong because there is no platform. This can only happen when primaries have been conducted."

The INEC boss warned politicians to play by the rules, saying the commission was identifying people, who had breached the rules in some states.

He said such information was being passed on to security agencies for necessary action.

Jega, however, said that political parties could conduct rallies as long as they do not campaign for

votes for the 2015 general elections.

He expressed the hope that 2015 polls would be better than the previous ones, but raised concerns over the attitude of some stakeholders, especially politicians.

He urged such politicians to change and respect the rules of the game.

On the part of INEC, he said the electoral body had substantially “placed square pegs in square holes" to ensure improvement in future elections.

He said: “We have told our staff that anyone who does anything wrong will have himself or herself to blame.’’

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 51

NEWS BRIEF

Mexican drug lord killed in shoot out

Four days after, no trace of Malaysian plane A

NXIETY and speculation mounted yesterday as hopes and efforts to locate the missing Malaysian Boeing 777 airline proved fruitless. So far, all the leads have failed to guide search and search of flight 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing which vanished four days ago.

The Boeing 777-200ER, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, when it went missing on Saturday. There have been doubts on the true identities of some of its passengers, especially as two of them were discovered to be carrying stolen Italian and Austrian passports. An expanded search area involving three dozen aircraft and 40 ships from 10 countries have so far failed to find any sign of the aircraft. International search team from teams of searchers from Vietnam, China, Singapore, Indonesia, the United States, Thailand, Australia, the Philippines and New Zealand have been working alongside

RITAIN, Germany and other Western governments put fresh pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to take steps towards a peaceful solution to the crisis over Crimea by engaging in talks with the government of Ukraine and acquiescing to the creation of a high level “contact group” of diplomats to seek a way out for all sides.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel delivered a rebuke to President Vladimir Putin , telling him that a planned Moscowbacked referendum on whether Crimea should join Russia was illegal and violated Ukraine’s constitution.

Putin defended breakaway moves by proRussian leaders in Crimea, where Russian forces tightened their grip on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula by seizing another border post and a military airfield. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all parties to

T’s deja vu, drug lord style. Mexican authorities say they gunned down notorious cartel leader Nazario Moreno Gonzalez yesterday. By most measures, it sounds like a major victory in the government’s fight against organized crime. But there’s a catch.He was supposed to be dead already.

In 2010, then-Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s government trumpeted Moreno’s death, announcing that he’d been killed after two days of shootouts between armed forces and criminals. Officials revealed a surprising twist yesterday, announcing the 2010 report of his death was inaccurate.

Monte Alejandro Rubido Garcia, executive secretary of Mexico’s National Public Security System, said Moreno was very much alive when federal troops cornered him on Sunday. They planned to arrest him, Rubido said, but Moreno was fatally shot after he opened fire.

UN probes genocide in CAR

L Grieving relatives of missing Malasian air-plane yesterday Malaysians to scour the Gulf of Thailand, part of the South China Sea that lies between several Southeast Asian countries.The search team have extended their radar to a larger portion of the Gulf of Thailand between Malaysia and Vietnam. So far, no clue has been found. An oil slick that searchers had thought might be from the plane turned out to be fuel oil

typically used in cargo ships.

International intelligence agencies joined the investigation Sunday into two passengers who boarded the missing Boeing 777 jetliner with stolen passports, as Malaysian authorities said radar images showed the plane may have turned back before vanishing.

More than a day and half

after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing, no debris from the plane had been found, and the final minutes before it disappeared remained a mystery. The plane, which was carrying 239 people, lost contact with ground controllers somewhere between Malaysia and Vietnam after leaving Kuala Lumpur early Saturday morning for Beijing.

Crimea: Britain, Germany reject proposed referendum

B

I

remain calm and urged a political solution to the crisis, during telephone calls with U.S. President Barack Obama and Merkel. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk

will hold talks with President Barack Obama in Washington tomorrow on how to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, the White House said. The White House said that Ukraine’s Prime Minster

Arseniy Yatsenyuk would be traveling to Washington on Wednesday for talks with President Barack Obama to seek ways to end the crisis.

Russia warns Ukraine against lawlessness

R

USSIA has denounced alleged lawlessness by far-right activists in eastern Ukraine, in a statement likely to trigger fear in Ukraine over possible Russian intervention.

The Russian foreign ministry said on Monday it was outraged by lawlessness in the country’s east, blaming the far-right group Right Sector for “conniving” with the new government

Protesting Ukrainians in Kiev yesterday.

in Kiev.

Right Sector is a grouping of several farright and nationalist factions who were actively involved in the uprising against Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovich.

The movement uses swastika signs, is blamed for various attacks, and according to its leader Dmitro Yarosh, has “enough weapons to defend all of Ukraine.” Its activists were among the most radical and confrontational of the demonstrators in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and organised “selfdefence” brigades for the protest camp.

EADERS of a U.N. investigation of human rights abuses in Central African Republic said they will look into “reports of genocide” as they launched the probe yesterday.

The chair of the investigation, Bernard Acho Muna, said he is concerned that hate propaganda used by both Christians and Muslims in the conflict will fuel more violence.

“We are hoping that our presence and the investigations we are doing will be a signal that the people who are making this hate propaganda will not move to action,” said Muna.

Political disputes in Central African Republican are turning increasingly sectarian as Muslims are killed, Qurans are destroyed and mosques are set on fire. Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled to neighboring countries in recent months.

In December, the 15-nation Security Council mandated an investigation of human rights abuses in Central African Republic for an initial period of one year to compile information and help identify perpetrators with an aim toward prosecuting them.

Muna said the investigating panel would report on its work in June and December.

North Koreans vote for new national council

P

OLLING stations have opened in North Korea as voters started to approve their first national council in five years amid a holiday atmosphere.

Sunday’s election doubles as a national headcount and may offer clues to power shifts in Pyongyang, AFP news agency reported.

The vote to elect representatives for the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) was taking place as scheduled, the state-run KCNA news agency said, adding that voter turnout was a whopping 91 percent as of 2pm.

Those who are ill or infirm and cannot travel to polling stations are casting votes at special “mobile ballot boxes,” it added. Apart from the physical casting of votes, there is nothing democratic about the ballot, with only one approved candidate standing for each of the 687 districts.

Prince Harry goes public on romance

P

RINCE Harry and his long-term girlfriend Cressida Bonas have finally made their romance official with two very public outings in three days after spending months trying to avoid being pictured together. Bonas joined the 29-year-old prince at a public engagement for the first time on Friday, and on Sunday the pair were pictured watching England’s victory over Wales at a Six Nations rugby match at Twickenham. Public appearances by the royals are carefully choreographed and this weekend’s activities suggest the relationship between Harry and Bonas, 25, is now official.

Harry, the youngest son of heir-to-the throne Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, recently quit flying army helicopters for a desk job organising commemorative military events in London.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11,

2014

Oshodi-Apapa road shut down: Lagos govt, FG, Police, Navy trade blames •want stakeholders to appeal to oil union leaders for orderliness •as IPMAN convenes stakeholders meeting on way forward •Navy, Police pledge assistance

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, OLASUNKANMI AKONI,GODFREY BIVBERE, ESTHER ONYEAGBULA & JONAH NWOKPOKU

F

IVE days after Mile2-Apapa express way was shut down by petrol tankers, relevant government agencies were last night still trading blames. The Navy said it was not its responsibility to check the situation, and that its role was only to assist in resolving the logjam. The police, despite the assurance of the commissioner of police, Umar Manko, said that his men were working on the situation, could not resolve the gridlock as it got messier yesterday with hoodlums patrolling the expressway undisturbed by the police.

Last night some motorists ran into Vanguard crying that they were attacked by hoodlums.

This was even as the Lagos State government, yesterday, blamed the federal government for the protracted gridlock. It declared that the Federal Government's directive to petrol tanker drivers from all parts of the country to flood the state had frustrated its ability to check the situation.

Apapa remains the only centre where fuel is being loaded in the entire country.

Speaking through Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the government admitted that operatives of its agency, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, had been completely overwhelmed by the problem, dimming hopes of resolution for motorists and other road users. Opeifa’s declaration came as the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, IPMAN, will hold an emergency meeting of its Central Working Committee today to further brainstorm on measures to nip present crisis in the bud and forestall future recurrence. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, also declared it was doing its best to ease the chaotic situation in the area.

Opeifa said the only thing that could cushion the effect of the present traffic gridlock in the area was for the leadership of oil unions to appeal to their members to maintain orderliness by keeping to a single lane. He said, “As I speak to you, over 1,000 oil tankers across the country were directed to Lagos Port for loading of the PMS, which is the result of congestion you are witnessing at Apapa area as well as the ongoing reconstruction work on the road. So, stopping tankers from entering Lagos cannot solve the situation as that could aid scarcity again because they will claim they can't get access to the port.

“At present, men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, are overwhelmed but they are trying their best possible to keep traffic moving. I believe before the week runs out, the congestion would have subsided.”

Meanwhile, activities of trailer and truck drivers heading for the ports and tank farms in and around the port completely paralysed business as it now takes between three and five hours to get in and out of the port. No fewer than 300 trucks were seen on the queue on the road from Ijora Bridge through Barracks Bus Stop to the front of Lagos Port complex, Apapa .

On IPMAN’s meeting scheduled for today to review the situation, it National President, Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu, said

his group would redress the present situation, confirming that his members were now loading products at only terminals in Lagos.

While noting that his men had started moving products from coastal areas to the hinterland through roads, he said, “I can assure Nigerians that product availability has improved. Initial delay in vessels clearance at the port has been resolved. Our challenge now is gaining access to the terminals. You know is normally busy and when you add the rush by us to reach the terminals and load product, you can imagine the gridlock. Under normal circumstances, eighty percent of the products are supposed to be transported through pipelines. The rest are supposed to be moved through trucks. Widespread pipeline vandalism halted that plan, hence the resort to land haulage of the products.”

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said it was doing its best to ease the chaotic situation but an unofficial sources in the union said the only solution to the crisis was for tankers and other articulated vehicles to be stopped from entering Lagos until those already in left. Lagos Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, who oversees NUPENG in South-West States and Ilorin, Kwara State, lamented that containers and ongoing construction on the expressway were also compounding the pandemonium, saying the union had no control over container drivers and road construction.

Restoring normalcy The Nigerian Navy in Lagos, however, said the logjam experienced on the expressway since last Friday was caused by an accident involving a truck and a commuter transport vehicle. The Navy said it was working in conjunction with the Nigerian Police to restore normalcy to the road.

Asked what the Navy, whose personnel and officers make use of the road, was doing to ameliorate the hardship on the road, a senior Naval officer told Vanguard that the Navy, which was part of a Task Force of security agencies set up by the Lagos State government to handle such matters, was working with sister agencies to solve the problem.

In his reaction, the Commander NNS Beecroft, Commordore Ovenseri Uwadiae stated; “We are not the primary agency responsible for traffic control. What we do is to assist the agencies when the traffic situation is serious and overwhelming. We have been doing it. Besides, we have our barracks around that axis and that is the more reason you see our men joining other agencies to control free flow of traffic.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, on his part, said, “Tanker drivers from different parts of the country converged on Apapa to take delivery of the product, as that was the only place in the country fuel was available. Lagosians should be rest assured that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible, as men of the Nigeria Police Force are doing everything possible to ensure that hoodlums don’t take advantage of the situation to rob or attack motorists.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 53

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Guardiola dreads Arsenal

Simeone: Milan not just about •Says 2-0 scoreline ‘dangerous’ may be 2-0 Balotelli ARSENAL down in their Cham-

A

TLETICO Madrid coach Diego Simeone says he expects AC Milan’s top players to “be at their best” in today ’s Champions League last-16 second leg, “Balotelli can make the difference, but it is the team which makes him powerful. They are also dangerous on the wings through [Mattia] De Sciglio and [Urby] Emanuelson. [Sulley] Muntari has a good shot.”

•Guardiola

pions League tie against Bayern but coach Pep Guardiola is insisting his side cannot afford to be complacent in tonight’s second leg.

“Winning 2-0 in London was a very good result for us, but it is also dangerous.

“We have a very good chance to go through, but we have to be in the situation that we really focus on the game.

“We have to bring our ideas across in the way we

Wenger banks on Ozil A

•Simeone

Galliani: Milan can beat Atletico

•Balotelli

M

ILAN Vice-presi dent Adriano Galliani says his side are capable of turning around their Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid.

"I hope we come back from Madrid having qualified. I have seen Atletico a lot this season and they are a squad who are very dangerous at home. But I hope that Milan can have a dream evening tonight."

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes midfielder Mesut Ozil allowed his penalty miss against Bayern Munich last month to affect him too much as the Gunners prepare for the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against the Bundesliga side.

“I think it affected him mentally too much, the penalty he missed against Bayern. It was not only physical, it was mental.

“He had the feeling he let the team down at a very important moment of the game, that affected his performance very much. Psychologically sometimes the wound is like a physical one. You can talk and talk and talk, but it takes time. You just have to leave it to time.

“I think he is over it. He has a good opportunity to show on Tuesday how good he is. It was certainly important to him and to the team as well. I like the way he finished against Everton, in a calm, convincing way", said Wenger

play, and know what the strengths are.

“The Champions League is a huge game for us, it is not like a day-today game in the Bundesliga. We have to do our best.

We have to make sure we have the ball, that we really attack well and go through to the next phase.

“They have a lot of quality, so we have to make sure we have a lot of possession.

We have to make sure they do not score a goal."

Muller: We won’t be complacent

T

HOMAS Muller has insisted Bayern Munich will not show any complacency when they face Arsenal for the second-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tonight.

“Thinking about the character of our team, we have won our last 16 games in the Bundesliga. We always turn up everybody always wants to win. We are not careless or arrogant. We always concentrate and want to win.”

Bring on Milan —Taarabt Mourinho backs City, Arsenal to qualify

C •Mourinho

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho insists domestic rivals Manchester City and Arsenal are still very much in with a chance of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals.

“Can’t City win in Barcelona? Barcelona lost against Valladolid. And lost at home against Valencia.

So, why can’t they win?

“Arsenal, at Bayern, can they win 2-0 and go to extra-time? Difficult. Probably the most difficult, but they can.”

Giroud: Belief key to beating Bayern •Giroud

•Muller

O

LIVIER Giroud has urged Arsenal to believe in themselves as they seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Bayern Munich tonight.

“Hopefully we can keep a clean sheet first because we need to keep our goal clean and

maybe if we score early, why not? We have a good chance if we believe in our quality, and if we put the same commitment in [as against Everton on Saturday] and the same determination I think we have a good chance."

•Taarabt

A

DEL Taarabt has in sisted that AC Milan do not fear Atletico Madrid ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Spain.

“We should have won at San Siro. It could have been 2-0 in our favour, but we were unlucky. On Tuesday we’ve got no fear about taking on Atletico Madrid. s I see no reason why we can’t do the same over there in Madrid.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 — 55

Keshi faces selection headache for World Cup S

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has admitted he faces a selection headache ahead of the World Cup, but adds he is happy it is so. ”It’s going to be very difficult because Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players,” said Keshi.

“I just pray we pick the right players because even the new ones are pushing hard for a place. It’s a good development for us, but it would give us serious headache to pick the right squad for the country but that is what we want that we have options.”

Keshi has kept faith with the core of the team who won a third Africa

Cup of Nations in South Africa last year, but several others outside this group have been pushing for consideration recently.

The Eagles capped four players, namely Leon Balogun, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo and Imoh Ezekiel, in last week’s friendly against Mexico.

And the likes of Victor Anichebe and Osaze Odemwingie could well earn a recall, while debate lingers on as regards Villarreal striker Ike Uche, who Keshi has said he is not in his plans for Brazil.

Nigeria are to submit a 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup latest May 13.

*Ike Uche

O

Gaiya who condemned the jersey because the green was not exactly as deep as the one in our flag,” Kojo said yesterday.

“We should move with time. These days you light up things to make

A

LHAJI Demola Alli, alias Fireman, famed exnational table tennis player, journalist and long time serving image maker of the Nigeria

SMAIL Gata and Olabisi Samuel have quit Albanian club FK Kukesi because they are unhappy with the cash offered them.

A source close to both players told MTNFootball.com that the players cancelled the two-year deals they signed with the club and

Nigeria Continued from BP smooth outing for the Super Eagles at Brazil 2014.”

The total expenditure has been put down to 2,084,053,765 Naira with 1,254,164,329 Naira coming from government, while the balance of this amount will come from sponsors and fund raising events.

The money will cover

beautiful and has semblance of our colour then it is in order. If Gaiya has issues with the quality of the jersey I’ll stand with him but not on the reasons that he announced,” Kojo said.

Olympic Committee, NOC, died yesterday at the age of 83 years. Mr Paul Bassey, a member of the Sports Veterans confirmed the death saying ‘’he left us this evening(yesterday) after a brief illness. Also, Dr Kweku A. Tandoh, Director of Sports, Lagos State who described the late Ping-Ponger as an all-round sports man

cost of a training camp in Houston, Texas, USA, as well as bonuses and allowances of the team.

This will be Nigeria’s fifth appearance at the World Cup. They are drawn against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first round of the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off in Brazil on June 12.

HE Lagos State government has promised to deal with principals who field mercenaries to represent their institutions in the state’s grassroots d e v e l o p m e n t programmes.

Lagos sports d e v e l o p m e n t programme is based on building capacity from the schools and according to the state’s Director of Sports, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, the government would leave

have since returned to Nigeria. ”Ismail (Gata) and Bisi (Samuel) have cancelled

Ezeh, Aderemi get Most Outstanding Player Awards

T

OCHUKWU Ezeh from Onitsha and Omalade Aderemi

their contracts with FK Kukesi of Albania due to peanuts the club want to pay them.

Pistorious Continued from BP Gert Saayman gave evidence to the South African court.

Twice his testimony was interrupted by Pistorius’ sobbing and retching. But the defence team argued against an adjournment, saying it would not help his state of mind.

The microphone had to be moved away from Pistorius so the sound would be less audible.

Judge Thokozile Masipa appeared concerned about Pistorius and asked his lawyer if he was able to cope.

Barry Roux replied that

said that he would be buried today at the Ikoyi Cemetary, Lagos.

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Sani M. Ndanusa expressed shock at the death of ‘Fireman’ and described him as an allround sports man. ‘’His life was all about sports and we pray that God grants him eternal rest’’, Ndanusa mourned.

no stone unturned in the quest to raise future champions.

Speaking during an interactive session with a select group of journalists at the weekend, Tandoh said ensuring that genuine youths are involved in the state’s sports d e v e l o p m e n t programme is the only way of taking the country back to its position in international sports.

“We have started an athletics programme centred around the schools, which means that all the budding talents in the schools will have the opportunity to be discovered and nurtured to stardom.

“To do that, we must ensure that only genuine students, whose position in schools must be attested to by their school principals, are allowed into the programme."

CBN Junior Tennis Championship

Nigerian players quit Albania

I

T

NOC, Bassey, Tandoh mourn ‘Fireman’

Kojo disagrees with Gaiya over Eagles jersey “I totally disagree with them beautiful. If the colour is strikingly NE time Nigeria F o o t b a l l Association chairman, Kojo Williams has fumed over comments made by Godfrey Gaiya on the new Eagles Jersey.

Gaiya is the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Sports.

Last week, he condemned the green on the Eagles World Cup jersey, insisting that it was not exactly the green on Nigeria’s flag.

He said that the his committee could probe the production of such jersey for Nigeria. This followed the display of the World Cup jerseys by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Lagos warns principals over mercenaries

his client was not fine but added that “ nothing would change” and Pistorius wanted the proceeding to continue.

The judge earlier imposed an order banning the media from live broadcasting Professor Saayman’s evidence because of the grim nature of the testimony.

She also banned the reporting of autopsy details on social media sites.

The judge did, however, say that media would be able to broadcast some summary of the pathologist’s evidence with the agreement of the court.

from Ondo were awarded the “most outstanding player ” for boys and girls respectively at the grand finale of the CBN Junior Championships last weekend. This is the first time the award has been given to players who did not win any titles.

Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy, organisers of

Peace Udoh the junior tennis circuit, said the MOP will now be decided at the semifinal stage.

Ajunwa calls for adequate funds for sports councils states.

A

TLANTA1996 Ol ympic gold medalist in long jump, Chioma Ajunwa has urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to ensure that it supported state sports councils with adequate financing.

Ajunwa said yesterday in Lagos that adequate financial support would strengthen the councils to organise regular grassroots championships for athletes in the

“Once the sports councils are functional, there will be a turn-around in our sports.

“It will also guarantee a situation where athletes from various shades of the social strata will have an opportunity to showcase their talents.

“It is the only way that we can also reach and identify young talents in the villages who are not yet privileged to be in the town."

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Keshi faces selection headache for World Cup — Page 55

Nigeria to spend N2bn for World Cup T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation (NFF) plan to spend two billion Naira (more than $11 million) for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, officials have announced.

General secretary of the NFF Musa Amadu dropped the hint during the house committee on sports budget defence.

He said, “We expect that N1.2 billion will come from government, while the football house will source the balance of the money to ensure a Continues on Page 55

Keshi

Pistorious vomits in court O

UEFA matches today Atletico Madrid v AC Milan 8:45pm Bayern Munich v Arsenal 8:45pm

•Pistorious

Guardiola dreads Arsenal •See Page 54

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

Kojo disagrees with Gaiya over Eagles jersey — Pg 55 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

SCAR Pistorius was repeatedly sick in the dock yesterday as he listened to a graphic description of the injuries he inflicted on his dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Blade Runner vomitted into a bucket several times as pathologist Continues on Page 55

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Begin (5) 7 Assimilate (6) 9 Equality (3) 10 Cot (3) 12 Error (5) 13 Press (4) 15 Pointed (5) 17 Decline (6) 19 Border (4) 20 Inn (5) 22 Faucet (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 Noise (3) 28 Assessed (5) 31 Increase (4) 33 Strangeness (6) 35 Interior (5) 37 Cupid (4) 38 Boulder (5) 39 Father (3) 41 Taxi (3) 42 Alloy (6) 43 Salute (5)

DOWN 1 Exile (6) 2 Guard (6) 3 Sphere (3) 4 Secure (4) 5 Deal (5) 6 Demote (8) 8 Lover (4) 11 Swelled (9) 14 Require (4) 16 Food (4) 18 Ran off (4) 21 Telephonist (8) 23 Fairy (4) 25 Animal (4) 26 Appointment (4) 29 Despot (6) 30 Disperse (6) 32 Flinch (5) 34 Dingy (4) 36 Tidy (4) 40 Parched (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Pass 4, Cup 6, Love 9, Awe 10, Beginner 11, Rear 14, Cut 16, Petty 19, Deceased 21, Renew 23, Donation 24, Trend 27, Rod 31, Drab 33, Abnormal 34, All 35, Glee 36, Hue 37, Till.

DOWN: 2, Aged 3, Said 4, Confused 5, Part 6, Large 7, Owe 8, React 12, Admit 13, Score 14, Car 15, Tenor 17, Timid 18, Young 20, Denounced 22, Wad 25, Rural 26, Noble 28, Rash 29, Grit 30, Pail 32, Ale.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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