Forex problems caused N145 petrol price — FG

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 63026

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PDP CRISIS: Northern elders urge BOT to take over •P.9 BUHARI TO CAMERON: Nigeria losing Sterling, Access N1.93bn daily banks explain Don't apologise, as Shell halts involvement just return crude exports with EFCC •P.9 •P.16 •P.21

looted funds

Forex problems caused N145 petrol price — FG

By Levinus Nwabughiogu & Michael Eboh

•Says marketers can sell between N135 and N145 A •Anybody can now import petrol — FG •We'll resist hike; emergency meeting tomorrow — NLC LEADERS AND FUEL PRICE CHANGE • Gowon – 6k to 8.45kobo • Murtala – 9k • Obasanjo – 15.3k • Shagari – 20k • Buhari – 20k • Babangida – 39.5k • Babangida – 42k • Babangida – 60k • Babangida – 70k • Shonekan – N5 • Abacha – N3.25k • Abacha – N15 • Abacha – N11 • Abubakar – N25 • Abubakar – N20 • Obasanjo – N30 • Obasanjo – N22 • Obasanjo – N26 • Obasanjo – N42 • Obasanjo – N50 • Obasanjo – N65 • Obasanjo – N75 • Yar’Adua – N65 • Jonathan – N141 • Jonathan – N97 NEW FUEL PRICE—Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, briefing newsmen • Jonathan – N87 on the new fuel price, yesterday, in Abuja.

COLUMNISTS: Succession war (4): Media narratives Catholics and the Fulbe Bakasi Boys to in the voodoo place nomad (2) •P.17 the rescue? •P.19 •P.19

Badeh: I deducted N7.4bn from NAF accounts in 14 •P.8 months — Cashier

BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government, yesterday, hiked the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, directing marketers to sell at between N135 and N145 per litre.

Government also stated that any Nigerian firm could now import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by regulatory agencies.

In a statement in Continues on Page 5

How DSS official was set ablaze in Delta •P.12•P.12

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

I DON'T WANT YOUR APOLOGY—President Muhammadu Buhari (right) and British Prime Minister, David Cameron at the anti-corruption Summit in London, yesterday.

Forex problems caused N145 petrol price hike Continues from Page 1 Abuja, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, the agency responsible for determining products prices in the oil sector, said the decision to allow marketers fix the price within the new price

band of N145, became imperative in the face of extreme difficulties faced by importers in sourcing foreign exchange.

According to the PPPRA, to meet the consumption demand of the country, importers will henceforth be permitted to source for their foreign exchange requirements from secondary sources.

In the statement signed

by Acting Executive

Secretary, Mrs. Sotonye Iyoyo, the PPPRA said with immediate effect, the new price band for PMS shall be at a maximum of N145 per litre, noting, however, that NNPC retail stations on the outskirts of major cities were advised to sell at a price lower than N145 per litre.

She said: “We are conscious of the difficulties that Nigerians have been going through in the last few months, and to ameliorate this situation, we shall continue to modulate pricing in accordance with prevailing market dynamics, thereby ensuring fair value to all citizens.”

Also, briefing newsmen at the State House, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday, defended the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO EING afraid of disappointment is an ingredient in the recipe of failure. Fear has killed more dreams than guns would dare.

If you want to write a song, start now, if you want to lead a revolution waste no time about it, always follow the promptings of your heart and let your head guide you. It’s up to you.

B

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time— John Knock

I

F you desire to influence another person, the way to start is by nuturing them. At the heart of the nurturing process is genuine concern for others.

If you want to help people and make a positive impact on them, you cannot dislike or disparage them.

You must give love to them and give them respect.

The simple truth is that most people are desperate for encouragement. If you become a major nurturer in the life of another person, then you have an opportunity to make a major impact on them.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE Don't count your chikens until they are hatched.

jerking up of pump price of PMS, saying it was the only way out of the exorbitant prices of between N150 to N250 which Nigerians are subjected to at filling stations across the country.

He stated that the new policy would lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as experienced with diesel.

In addition, he argued that the increased price would also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector, while it would also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.

He, however, stated that Federal Government had articulated many social protection programmes in the 2016 budget to cushion the effect the hike might have on Nigerians.

Rising from a meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which also had other stakeholders, including the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Nigerian Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN), at Aguda House, official residence of the Vice President, Kachikwu said: “The reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government.

"As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50 per cent portion of total national supply of PMS.” Highlighting contents of the briefing, Kachikwu said: “We have just finished a meeting with

various stakeholders presided over by His Excellency, the Vice President. The meeting had in attendance the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN).

“The meeting reviewed the current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country; exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product, ranging, on the average, from N150 to N250 per litre currently.

“The meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS. “Following a detailed presentation by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to government is to take the following decisions: “In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by regulatory agencies.

“All oil marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

“Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, May11, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.

“We share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues.

“Along with this decision, the Federal Government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges. We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices.

“The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products.”

It's inevitable — LCCI Reacting

to

the

development last night, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, in a statement by its Director-General, Muda Yusuf, said: “The decision by the Federal Government to liberalize the petroleum downstream sector is inevitable given the acute resource constraint that the country is faced with at this time.

“The overregulation of the sector and the subsidy regime had put enormous pressure on government finances and on our foreign reserves. It was evident that the policy choice was not sustainable. The review is in the long term interest of the economy and the people.

“Petroleum subsidy management has been characterised by serious transparency issues for several decades. There are two components of the subsidy phenomenon.

“The first is the actual subsidy, which is the differential between the pump price and the landing and other costs of fuel. The second (and more disturbing component) is the blatant corruption inherent in the fuel subsidy regime.

“For several years, the Nigerian economy suffered severe bleeding from this phenomenon; with subsidy payments in the one trillion naira threshold, and even more.

In an economy with huge deficit in economic and social infrastructures, it was simply scandalous. It is in the overall interest of the economy and citizens for it to be discontinued.

“One of the critical elements of the Oil and Gas Sector reform, particularly the downstream sector, is the complete deregulation of the sector. This will create a number of advantages for the economy. It will free resources for investment in critical infrastructures such as power, roads, the rail systems, health sector, education sector etc.

“The deficiency in all of these infrastructure areas is phenomenal. Fixing infrastructure will greatly improve productivity and efficiency in the economy and impact positively on the welfare of the people.

“It will boost private investment in the

downstream oil sector especially in petroleum product refining. This will ultimately reduce importation of petroleum products and ease the pressure on the foreign exchange market as well as foreign reserves.

“It will eliminate the rampant patronage, rentseeking activities and corruption that currently characterise the downstream oil sector. It will improve product availability and eliminate fuel queues. It will create more jobs for the teeming youth of the country in the downstream oil sector as investment in the sector improves.

“However, for the objectives of the new policy to be achieved, the current foreign exchange policy needs to be urgently reviewed to improve liquidity and transparency in the foreign exchange market.

Only a limited success will be achieved if the current rigidities in the management of the foreign exchange market persist."

We'll resist hike —NLC

In a swift reaction, the Ayuba Wabba faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, rejected the increase and vowed to resist it alongside its civil society allies, calling on government to revert the hike to avoid a nationwide mass protest and industrial unrest.

On its part, the Joe Ajaero faction, equally rejected the hike, warning that there would be massive resistance by organized labour jointly to ensure that this further injury and hardship on Nigerians does not stand.

IPMAN commends FG

Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, the Vice President, Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has commended the Federal Government on the new pump price of petrol.

Maigandi told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), yesterday, in Abuja that the decision would help to put to an end the persistent petrol scarcity in the country.

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 12 , 2016

Nigeria’s first stockbroking firm marks 40th anniversary

By Jonah Nwokpoku

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AGOS—NIGERIA’S first indigenous stockbroking firm, Financial Trust Company Nigeria Limited, yesterday celebrated forty years of active participation in driving the growth of the Nigerian stock market.

The company was founded in 1976 by Chief Otunba Ajayi, a Canadian trained accountant, after a brief stint in the financial services sector.

Speaking during the anniversary held at the company’s headquarters in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Mr Alexander Ajayi, recounted the impressive feats accomplished by the company over the past four decades. He also used the opportunity to remind the public that the company is still in operation.

ALLEGED N61M RENT FRAUD: My story, by Adegboruwa ...My ordeal, a witch-hunt, he says

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—LAGOS lawyer and activist, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, through his law firm has denied allegation of obtaining money under false pretence by knowingly renting out a forfeited asset without due authorization levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He was arrested on Tuesday by EFCC operatives at his Lekki, Lagos office.

The law firm is insisting that he is being persecuted for speaking against the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, as the criminal case upon which the case is based had been dismissed.

A statement by the law firm, yesterday, said; “On or around May 2013, our law firm was approached by one Mrs. Sylvia Udeagbala, to represent her husband in a criminal case. In our first appearance in court, it happened that the complainant in the case, Chief Leonard Okafor and the defendant, Mr. Jonathan Udeagbala, were from the same town. It was thus decided to settle the case amicably out of court, and the court and the prosecutor were so informed.

“Mr. Jonathan Udeagbala owns a five-bedroom duplex in Nicon Town Estate in the Lekki area of Lagos. He had a business agreement with Chief Leonard Okafor for telecommunications.

The business didn’t go as

planned, so Chief Okafor demanded a refund of his investments, which caused Mr. Udeagbala to issue several cheques, which were alleged to have bounced, hence a criminal charge filed against him in court.

“Upon the intervention of our law firm, several peace meetings were held with the complainant in the case, Chief Okafor, and it was agreed that Mr. Udeagbala’s house in Nicon Town Estate should be sold or leased to offset the money outstanding in favour of Chief Okafor. Mrs. Udeagbala then secured a tenant, Shelf Drilling Co Ltd, for a five-year long lease of about N11 million per annum.

“This was disclosed to Chief Okafor and it was agreed by the

N23BN POLL BRIBERY SCAM: How I shared N450m — YUGUDA

By Soni Daniel

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, for his alleged involvement in the sharing of the N450m allocated to Zamfara State out of the $115m deposited in Fidelity Bank Plc. by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the 2015 general elections.

Yuguda is one of the former ministers in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan who are being investigated by the anti-graft agency.

Yuguda, in his statement, on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, admitted to have collected N450 million in his capacity as a chieftain of the PDP, in his state.

The former minister, who hails from Zamfara State, also stated that he supervised the sharing of the money in his home.

According to him, a former Secretary to the Zamfara State Government and member of PDP Presidential Campaign Committee 2015, Aminu Ahmed Nahuche, collected the sum of N450m allocated to Zamfara State from Fidelity Bank Plc.

AGM: From left; Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director; Chief Kola Jamodu, CFR, Chairman; and Mr Uabol Agbebaku, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, all of the Nigerian Breweries PLC at the Annual General Meeting, AGM of the company in Lagos, yesterday.

114 ROADS: Lagos releases N5.5bn second tranche payment Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami who medians, street lights and

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuur Olowoopejo

T

HE Lagos State Government has released another N5.5 billion in the second tranche of the total cost of N17.85billion for the ongoing construction of 114 roads across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs of the state.

Meantime, state government said it has saved N5.990 billion using the Treasury Single Account (TSA) since it adopted the policy on August 16, 2015.

On the construction of roads, the state government had earlier released N5.3 billion making a total sum of N10.8billion disbursed to date to ensure completion of the 114 roads by the end of June, 2016.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Community

disclosed yesterday, said that the construction of the roads was made possible through tax payers’ money.

Folami said that the second tranche of payment brings total payment to 61 per cent of the total cost of N17.85bn.

According to him; “The government again reiterates that as long as Lagosians continue to fulfil their civic responsibility , the government will continue to spend its resources wisely and the Lagosians will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Governor Ambode, in fulfilment of his campaign promises, empowered the Local Governments and the Local Council Development Areas to embark on construction of two inner roads in their various councils to boost economic activities and improve vehicular movement.

The roads are designed to accommodate walkways, road

standard drainage systems.

Paid N718m to 201 deceased civil servants families

The state’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi and Chairman Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo jointly disclosed at the on going ministerial press briefing in Ikeja, in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office, that the sum of N718 million was paid to families of 201 deceased civil servants who died in the course of serving the state, saying “this represent their death benefits.”

Akinkunmi stated that in order to protect the civil servants while serving the state, “the governor approved the reactivation of the Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance package of the State Universal basic Education Board, SUBEB/ Local Government staffs of the councils in the state.”

parties that the proceed of the lease be used to offset part of the money being claimed by Chief Okafor, as follows: Chief Okafor – N35 million; Mr. Udeagbala – N12 million; Renovation of the house by the contractor chosen by the tenant – N8 million; Fee paid to the agent – N2.5 million; and legal fee paid to our office – N2.5 million.

“The above sums were by agreement of all the parties duly disbursed, with documentary evidence of collection. When EFCC got to know that the said property had been let out to Shelf Drilling for five years at the rate of N10 million per annum, they told Shelf Drilling that the earlier money paid had been forfeited.

EFCC then asked Shelf Drilling to pay N12 million per annum. A sum of N24 million has so far been collected by EFCC. In fact, we are informed that as at May 10, 2016, EFCC served the tenant another invoice for rent for 2016.

“Part of the terms of settlement was that Chief Okafor will withdraw his petition and criminal complaint to the EFCC which he did through a letter of withdrawal written by his lawyers Atuegwu Egwuatu & Associates dated 19th August, 2013, and which was received by the EFCC on September 17, 2013.

“Consequent upon the withdrawal, the criminal charge was dismissed by the High Court on December 17, 2015, in a well considered ruling delivered by Justice D. Oluwayemi and the EFCC is aware of this.

“At all material times, our law firm was not aware of any interim order of attachment obtained by the EFCC on the property. With the ruling of Justice Oluwayemi which has dismissed the main criminal charge, there can be no subsisting order of attachment as something cannot be placed on nothing and be expected to stand.

“The above transaction took place ever before the Buhari administration. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has been receiving unofficial complaints from the EFCC, about his opposition to the Buhari administration and has ever been threatened with the above dead case. But the threats became more rampant upon his brief in the case of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and especially Mr. Azibaola Robert, cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan. On May 4, 2016, our firm appeared in Tompolo’s case at the Federal High Court, Lagos and May 4, 2016, our firm filed a suit in court, for the release of Jonathan’s cousin.

“On May 5, 2016, EFCC filed a case against Mr. Adegboruwa.

So, there is no fraud case against Mr. Adegboruwa. He is being persecuted for speaking against the Buhari regime. There is no way a criminal case can be maintained against Mr. Adegboruwa as the criminal case upon which the case is based has been dismissed.''

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 7

FANTASTICALLY CORRUPT COUNTRIES: Fayose blames Buhari for Cameron’s comments

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

By Etop Ekanem

A

D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s utterances outside Nigeria was the reason the British Prime Minister, David Cameron described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt”, saying; “What do you expect from the international community when the President of a nation keeps going abroad to say that his people are corrupt?”

He said it was annoying that President Buhari said he was embarrassed and shocked by Cameron’s comment, adding that instead of saying that he was shocked, the president should apologise to Nigerians for demarketing the country and his people.

The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka said it was on record that in February this year, President Buhari said in United Kingdom that “Nigerians’ reputation for crime has made them unwelcome in Britain” and went on to warn Nigerians to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be accepted abroad.

He said; “When a president mounts the podium in foreign lands and gleefully says that his own people are criminals, that they are corrupt and that those abroad should be sent back home, why won’t heads of other countries brand all citizens of such

VISIT: From left; Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of ife; his Olori F o l a s a d e Ogunwusi and f o r m e r p r e s i d e n t O l u s e g u n Obasanjo during the monarch's visit to the f o r m e r president at his H i l l t o p residence, Ibara, Abeokuta. Photo by Wunmi Akinola.

a country as fantastically corrupt?

“Rather than this grandstanding from the presidency, conceited efforts should be made to redeem the image of Nigeria that the president has destroyed.”

Governor Fayose, who said he was not against the anticorruption efforts of the Federal Government, added that all he was saying was that it should be done in accordance with the laws of the country and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must stop behaving as if it is above the law.

Gov throws weight behind protesting hospital staff

Meantime, protesting staff members of the Federal Teaching Hospital (FEHTI) Ido-Ekiti in IdoOsi Local Government Area of

Ekiti State yesterday prevailed on Governor Fayose to support them over their agitation and demand for immediate removal of their Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Lawrence Folorunsho Ayodele over of alleged official misconduct and insensitivity to the plight of th e hospital staff.

Fayose, who arrived the gate of the hospital at about noon yesterday into the arms of a mammoth crowd of the staff and residents of the community, was prevented from entering into the hospital as the aggrieved staff demanded that he addressed them outside the gate of the hospital.

All pleas by the governor and the leaders of the staff unions/ associations to them to allow Governor Fayose gain entry into the hospital and meet with their

leaders fell on deaf ears of the angry staff.

The governor, after about an hour of waiting at the gate, eventually succumbed to the will of the staff and addressed them, saying: “I’m not here for the Medical Director, Dr Ayodele. I’m here for you. This is a federal hospital. As much as you don’t want him again. I support you.

“Yesterday, I was with your leaders and Dr. Ayodele and I told them my mind and I told Dr. Ayodele that he did not do well with these people. I told him that if we were in an advanced democracy, if I were him, I would have resigned. I reminded him about the sayings of the elders, that you cannot be bigger than the institution, the community, whether you are the governor or the President.''

Agric Minister raises alarm over food poisoning in Nigeria

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — T H E Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, raised the alarm that there is a lot of self-poisoning going on in Nigeria.

Ogbeh cautioned Nigerians against consumption of food wrapped in cellophane, saying, such food could cause cancer.

The minister, who stated this in his keynote address entitled, “Economic Diversification Through Agriculture” at the ongoing Ogun State Investors’ Forum, enjoined Nigerians to go back to polypropylene bags , saying they are good for their health.

While speaking on the rates of importation of food, the minister claimed that Nigeria had spent $22bn per annum on food importation.

Though, the minister did not give the details of the category of the food imported in the past, he described it as a luxury the

Ogun factional PDP chair sues for reconciliation

country could not afford.

Ogbeh, who spoke in the presence of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun, wife of former President, Bola Obasanjo, among other investors, said Nigeria was in a very grave danger of collapse.

According to him, We have to go back to polypropylene bags

because they are good for our health. And on that, when you go to party in this country and you see moin-moin wrapped in cellophane bags, don’t eat it. You are eating diaphaxine, you are inviting cancer. Eat the ones in the leaves; that leaf is an antioxidant. It’s better for you. At that temperature, oxygen is being

pumped into the beans you eat.

“Even pure water, don’t keep them in the sun because from 30 degrees up, what you are drinking is not the water body.

There is a lot of self-poisoning going on in Nigeria now, which is why there are so many people lying in hospitals asking to be treated ,these are diseases.''

SERAP asks UK to extradite Diezani to face corruption charges

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

A

HEAD of the International Anticorruption Summit in the UK this week, a civil society group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the UK authorities to extradite Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to face charges of corruption and money laundering.

In its statement signed by its executive director, Mumuni Tokunbo, SERAP argued that

the charges preferred against Dieziani in UK court do not sufficiently capture the gravity of her alleged crimes and the increasing allegations of corruption against her in Nigeria.

SERAP’s request was sequel to the revelation by the Central Bank of Nigeria that it was carrying investigations into the roles played by banks in certain financial transactions, especially the N23 billion reportedly shared to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

by officials of the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to influence the outcome of the last general elections.

It stated that the anti-corruption summit in London provides an important opportunity for the UK government to support the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria.

It noted: “As a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption, the UK government can use the convention as a basis for the extradition of Mrs AlisonMadueke back to Nigeria.

A

factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, Mr Adebayo Dayo has urged the party members to join hands with his executive to move the party forward.

A statement by Mr Adeniji Bolaji, factional State Publicity Secretary, said the new chairman in his acceptance speech delivered immediately after being sworn-in for a second tenure, pleaded with members of the party who feel aggrieved to join hands with him to forge a united and prosperous party.

According to him; ‘’The chairman recognized the onerous task ahead and wants all leaders of the party to contribute to it. He praised the efforts of some leaders and recognized their importance to the task ahead, saying: “We are today humbled in victory but it would have been better if all our leaders are on the same page.

The chairman also gave kudos Sen. Buruji Kashamu for his untiring efforts and contribution to the continuous survival of the party. stating that it could have gone to extinction in 2011 had he not staked all his resources and energy to keep it afloat and viable for everyone that now seek to take a pick from it.

Sama Books Launch Services to train youths

S

AMA Books Launch Services says it has concluded plans to embark on a training scheme for unemployed youths across Nigeria.

In a statement by its principal partner, Mr Dafe Sama, the foundation is expected to work with Equator Micro Finance Bank to provide take-off loans for the graduates after the training.

He commended former president Olusegun Obasanjo for facilitating the scheme noting that it intends to make Ogun State the pilot scheme.

Sama explained that the loan is designed to cover 10-15 persons in each group like cooperatives, not to individuals.

“We are presently talking with Ogun State, through the help of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, our former president and governor Ibikunle Amosun led government is highly interested. We hope to spread to other states in Nigeria as we progress”, he said.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Badeh: I deducted N7.4bn from NAF accounts in 14 months —Cashier

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA — THE trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd), continued before the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, with a former cashier at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Emmanuel Abu, revealing how he deducted N7.4 billion from salary account of the Force in 14 months.

Abu, who said he served at the Air Force Camp located at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, testified before the court as the second prosecution witness, PW-1.

He mounted the witness box after the erstwhile Director of Finance and Accounts at the NAF, Commodore Abdullahi Yushau (retd), concluded his testimony, yesterday, and was discharged by trial Justice Okon Abang.

In his evidence-in-chief, Abu confirmed before the court that N558.2 million was deducted from salary account of NAF on monthly basis, saying he was the person in charge of converting the money into dollars before it was eventually transmitted to the defendant.

He told the court that two bureaux de change, Juda BDC and Vasma Holdings, were engaged to help in the conversion of the money to dollars every month.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness said: “As the cashier, my duties were to assist the Camp Finance Officers in all financial transactions, book keeping, interfacing with bankers, bureau de change (when necessary) and payment of bill for NAF headquarters.

“In 2011 when I resumed, I served under a Camp Finance Officer (CFO) Wing Commander, S. A. Bukar, from June 2011 to November 2012.

“In November 2012, a new CFO was posted in the person of Group Captain Mohammed Lawal Sini, who is now an Air Commodore.

“As a cashier, the source of funding from my office was the NAF headquarters and the funds are usually for personnel emoluments and monthly overhead expenses.

“We received the personnel emoluments in UCA NAF 37 PE Account, domiciled with UBA Zone 2. The account is for the payment of personnel emoluments.

“The second account from which we receive funds for overhead is UCA NAF 37 current account, domicile at Zenith Bank, Maitama. It is used for monthly overhead expenditure, for daily running of the office.

“In PE, we usually received about N900 million to N1.3 billion monthly. We pay salaries from it, the balance of the salaries, which

is usually for non-regular allowances, training and operations and hanger catering, is transferred to five other accounts, three with Zenith Bank, one with Diamond Bank and one with UBA.

Five other accounts “The remnant in PE account are transferred to five other accounts after paying salaries, because the balance of the salaries are meant for other purposes, and the PE account is just for payment of salaries.

“After distributing the money into five accounts, the funds are used

to augment NAF overhead expenditures. We use them to pay estacode, non-regular allowances, training and operations, also purchase of aviation fuel.

“For the expenditure of the fund, we receive approvals from the headquarters of NAF, usually approved by the Chief of Air Staff.

“However, in November 2012 when the new CFO resumed, he informed me verbally that there was a standing instruction for N558,200,000 to be set aside monthly for headquarters NAF training and operational purposes.

“He also informed me that the

amount is to be converted to US dollars, except there is any other instruction to the contrary.

“I complied with the instruction and I converted the amount monthly, from November 2012 to December 2013. Within the 14 months, a total of N7.8 billlion plus was set aside.

“Of this, within the 14 months, I received instruction to transfer a total sum of N410 million to AFCO Nigeria Ltd and N875 million plus to Right Builders Technologies." Justice Abang adjourned further hearing on the matter till May 18.

PRESENTATION — Olusegun Awolowo Executive Director/CEO of NEPC (left) presenting the Zero Oil Plan Initiative of NEPC to the European Union Delegation in Abuja (middle) Richard Young Deputy Head of EU Delegation and Filiippo Amato Head of Trade and Economic Section.

2019: We won’t join issues with Wike —APC

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

BUJA—INCENSED by reports attributed to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would return to power at the centre in 2019, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it would not react to such “idle postulations.”

In a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni, said the governor ’s utterances were a failed ploy to divert attention from the series of politically-motivated killings in the state.

“The national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in reacting to the idle 2019 postulations of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, caution security agencies and Nigerians not to be hoodwinked by this latest ploy to deflect attention from the continued and increased spate of mass killings and violence in the state.

“In monitored media reports, Nyesom Wike stated in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Tuesday, that the PDP is currently being re-organised to takeover the seat of power in 2019.

“The spate of killings in Rivers State has now assumed genocidal dimensions with horrendous killing and maiming of residents and security personnel almost on a daily basis.

"On Monday, five mobile policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr. Nasiru Halidu, were ambushed and killed at Okobe in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. ‘’On Tuesday, five persons were killed and scores injured in attacks in different parts of the state. The state High Court premises in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, also came under attack.

“Clearly, Rivers State has been transformed into a killing field.

The APC calls on the Police and

other security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, rise to stop the breakdown of law and order which has resulted in mass killings and other forms of violence in Rivers State,” he said.

According to the APC scribe, rather than joining issues with Nyesom Wike’s idle 2019 postulations, the APC-led administration will rather concentrate on ongoing efforts to deliver all-inclusive development in the country.

He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was already working assiduously to repair the rot caused by the PDP’s 16-year misrule and pillage of the country’s commonwealth.

He said: “Since the APC-led administration took over the governance of the country, the fight against Boko Haram had been invigorated with regional and global support and cooperation against the terror group."

2016 budget'll meet aspirations of Nigerians —HURILAWS

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS — SENIOR Legal Programme Officer, Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), Mr Collins Okeke, yesterday, said the 2016 budget would meet the aspirations of Nigerians across all walks of life, if properly implemented.

Okeke, who spoke at a media briefing in Lagos, on the topic, “Judicial Application of 2015 Election Laws in Nigeria,” pointed out that the 2016 budget was the most ambitious, following a reduction of over N17 billion.

“This is actually the first time Nigeria is having that size reduced from its budget. The infrastructural projects listed in the budget are also very ambitious. The problem we have been having is not passing the budget but implementing it. I am hoping that at the end of May 2017, government should be able to say that at least 60 per cent of the budget has been implemented,” he said.

Speaking on the judicial application of 2015 election laws in Nigeria, Okeke explained that Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 134 of the Electoral Act needed to be amended to provide exceptions to the election petition timelines.

The HURILAWS Senior Legal Programme Officer noted that the Electoral Act needed to be amended to incorporate and recognize the use of card reader during accreditation of voters.

According to him, card reader reports need to be recognized in the Electoral Act as part of admissible evidence in proof of electoral malpractices such as overvoting.

“The Electoral Act, especially Section 137, needs to be amended to afford locus standi to the electorate to bring election petitions. However, tribunals may also be empowered to consider and summarily dismiss in chambers frivolous petitions and petitions on issues already being canvassed in another petition or which should be more appropriately canvassed by a party to the election,” he added.

Okeke called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that card readers deployed for elections were pre-tested, of the highest quality and user friendly, including training its permanent and ad-hoc staff ahead of elections.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—9

Alleged N4.8bn fraud: Ex-Chief of Air Staff, Umar, docked, granted bail

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, docked former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged N4.8 billion fraud.

Umar, who pleaded not guilty to a seven-count criminal charge the anti-graft agency preferred against him, was alleged to have used funds he siphoned from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, between September 2010 and December 2012 to purchase six choice property in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna states.

In the charge marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/92/ 2016, EFCC alleged that Umar transferred N66 million into the Stanbic IBTC account No. 9202077424 belonging to Capital Law office from NAF operations account domiciled at UBA Plc, for the renovation/improvement of a house at 1853, Deng Xiao Ping Street, Off Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja.

EFCC alleged in count-four that Umar, between September and December 2012 in Abuja, used the dollar equivalent of N500 million removed from NAF account to purchase a fourbedroom duplex with boys quarters at Road 3B, Street 2, Mabushi Ministers Hill, Abuja.

The ex-NAF boss was further alleged to have in year 2011, used the dollar equivalent of N250 million to purchase a property situated at 14, Audu Bako Way, G.R.A. Kano State.

He was in count-seven alleged to have used N700 million withdrawn from NAF account to purchase a property at 14, Vistula Close, off Panama Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The prosecution maintained that the defendant committed an offence contrary Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended.

Application for bail

Shortly after Umar pleaded his innocence to the allegations against him, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, applied for trial date, even as he prayed the court to remand the defendant in custody.

However, the defence lawyer, Mr. Hassan Liman, SAN, told the court that he had already filed an application dated May 9, seeking the release of the accused person on bail, pending the determination of the case against him.

While confirming that the bail application was duly served on him, EFCC lawyer said he would leave the issue at the discretion of the court.

“We, however, urge my lord to

give conditions that will guarantee the appearance of the defendant for trial,” Tahir added.

In a short ruling, trial Justice Binta Nyako granted the defendant bail on self recognition.

The judge, who noted that Umar

was previously granted administrative bail by the EFCC, however, ordered him to surrender his international passport to the deputy registrar of the court.

Besides, Justice Nyako ordered

the defendant not to travel outside the jurisdiction of the court without permission.

The case was subsequently adjourned till June 7, 8 and 9 for trial.

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (retd) (middle) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday.

Sterling, Access banks explain involvement with EFCC officials As EFCC invites FirstBank Executive Director over Madueke's $115m sleaze

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AGOS— STERLING and Access Banks have notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, about their operations concerning the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Meanwhile, an Executive Director of FirstBank, Mr Dauda Lawal has been invited by the EFCC to assist with the ongoing investigations into sums allegedly received from the former Minster of Petroleum, Diezani AllisonMadueke.

"As a law abiding citizen, Mr Lawal is cooperating fully with the authorities. FirstBank will issue an official statement on this matter in due course," according to a release

by Folake Ani-Mumuney.

The banks, Tuesday, issued separate statements to the NSE about investigations into their activities by the EFCC. The statements were made available to investors by the NSE through its website.

Sterling Bank in its statement, explained that officials of EFCC visited the bank on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, to investigate a banking relationship of a nonbank financial institution.

The bank said it never held the account of the customer during the previous administration to which the matter had been linked either officially or otherwise.

The bank also stated that the nonbank financial institution (Asset

Management Company) purchased a number of loans on recourse basis from it on commercially acceptable terms.

The statement said the transactions were the concerns raised by the EFCC to Sterling Bank.

It said: “Arising from this incident the bank has commissioned a review of the compliance procedures of its non– bank financial institution clients with the aim of strengthening this area of our operations. In the Interim, the bank will not accept any new non-bank financial institution relationships.

“We thank our numerous partners for their support and assure you that the bank remains a compliant institution that continues to conduct its business within the ambit of the law.”

In a similar development, Access Bank said EFCC officials visited the bank on May 6, 2016, to investigate a specific transaction involving a customer of the bank in the normal course of business.

The visit, according to the bank, came without any form of earlier notification or invitation to the bank.

The bank said the officials informed the bank that they were investigating some transactions and sought the bank’s cooperation.

The officials, according to the

bank, met with the Group Managing Director and the bank’s Chief Compliance Officer who provided the needed information and documents.

It said: “Thereafter, the Group Managing Director was requested to accompany them to their office to further their investigation, which he willingly acceded to. Following the resolution of the underlying issues, he was allowed to leave the commission’s office on the same day.

“We have observed the wideranging speculations in the media connecting the visits of the commission to various personalities. We would like to state emphatically for the benefit of our stakeholders that the bank has absolutely no link, interaction or relationship whatsoever with any of the personalities stated in the media reports.

“As a bank, we shall continue to operate in line with the highest level of professionalism, consistently seeking best practices, and hereby wish to reassure our esteemed stakeholders that the bank remains committed to its strategic goals and objectives,” it said.

—NAN

PDP crisis: Northern elders urge BOT to take over

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA— THE Northern Elders Forum of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for the Board of Trustees, BOT, to take over the running of affairs of the party, pending when a substantive leadership was elected for the party.

Addressing journalists after its meeting in Abuja, yesterday, leader of the group, Professor Jerry Gana, insisted that the proposed convention of the party scheduled for Port Harcourt on May 21 should be postponed to allow for proper conduct of ward and state congresses.

The elders also rejected the the zoning of the party’s chairmanship position to the north, noting that the “zoning arrangement should follow the tradition already established by the party which stipulates that there should be a balance between the north and the south.’’

According to Professor Gana, since the party ’s National Working Committee, NWC, had zoned the presidency in 2019 to the northern part of the country, the chairmanship position should naturally be zoned to the south.

Speaking on why the BOT of the party should take over the leadership of the party, Gana insisted that their tenure “should expire on May 21, 2016, because they had shown to Nigerians that they were either unable or unwilling to bring about change.”

The PDP northern elders also called on the NWC of the party to shelve the idea of amending the constitution of the party, noting that the process adopted for the amendment was procedurally wrong and illegal.

He said for an amendment to be introduced, such proposal should be taken to each state chapter of the party for at least 90 days, while members of NEC would study the amendments for at least 30 days before considering them.

Speaking earlier before the commencement of the meeting, Gana expressed regret that he supported the emergence of Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman of the party for a short period, noting that his support was predicated on the agreement that he would complete the remaining duration of the North-East.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—11

C M Y K

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

How DSS official was set ablaze in Delta

By Perez Brisibe

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G H A R A — D E TA I L S have emerged on how a male school drop-out in his late 20s allegedly poured fuel on an official of the Department of State Services, DSS, and set him ablaze at Oghara, Delta State.

The victim, Andrew Maduku, 43, and father of four, is an indigene of Oghara attached to the DSS office, Bayelsa State and was said to have died as a result of 86 degree burns sustained from the attack.

Recounting how the incident occurred, brother to the victim, Felix Maduku, said: “My brother’s assailant doused him in fuel and set him on fire for scolding the suspect, who had pointed rays from a torch light on his (Andrew) face as he walked home.

“Refusing to put off the torch, my brother walked up to the suspect, and slapped him leading to a fight involving my brother and his assailant, who was accompanied by his friends.”

Speaking further, he said: “Like every law abiding citizen, my brother reported the matter at the

Oghara police station and was accompanied by some policemen to the residence of the suspect. On sighting the team of policemen, the suspect fled leading to the seizure of his laptop by the police.

“On April 24, the suspect, who

had been stalking my late brother, poured fuel on him, and immediately set him ablaze leading to his death the next day as result of 86 degree burns sustained from the incident.”

Speaking on the matter, a police source at the Oghara

Oil spill: Delta communities give NPDC 7-day ultimatum ...petition NNPC GMD

By Perez Brisibe

F

OLLOWING the recent oil spill that ravaged Edjophe, Otor-Edo and Iwhrekan communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, the communities have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to clean up the impacted areas and pay adequate compensation to the people of the communities, else they will shut down the

Utorogu Gas Plant and other oil facilities in their area.

The communities also petitioned the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, alleging that the management of NPDC absconded after hurriedly carrying out a Joint Investigation at the site.

The communities which also copied Minister of Environment, Minister of Petroleum Resources and the National Assembly, the petition explained that the oil

Judiciary, not my victory on trial —Dickson

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By Samuel Oyadongha

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, yesterday, accused the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress APC, in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, of trying to manipulate the outcome of the election through the petition tribunal.

Dickson noted that while the governorship election was won on merit, the integrity of the judiciary was on trial.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cleopas Mose emerged state Chairman of the party; Ebi Sunny-Goli, Deputy Chairman; Keku Godspower, Secretary; Gbalipre Turner, Treasurer and Ebi Fafi, Financial Secretary.

Others are Osom Makbere (Publicity Secretary), Luke Demeoru (Organising Secretary), Amalala Atua (Youth Leader), Perekeme Richard (Legal Adviser), Numuomikari Walte (State Auditor) and Eunice Akene (Women Leader).

Addressing PDP faithful during the state congress of the party, the governor said though he was optimistic of victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, “the C M Y K

party has uncovered the antics of the APC candidate in the state, Timipre Sylva, to manipulate the judicial process.”

He called on the Federal Government not to allow its institutions, particularly security agencies, to be used by APC chieftains in the state to witch-hunt and intimidate Bayelsans, in order to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

He said: “Our victory is not on trial, it was clear and transparent like our congress on Tuesday.

What is on trial, however, is the Nigerian Judiciary, the integrity of the Nigerian state and the individual consciences of the judges, who are sitting and all the justices who will sit on this matter from the beginning to the end. This is because we have done our best, you voted and we have defeated them roundly and squarely."

CTO Sec General makes case for regulation policy

By Prince Osuagwu & Anozie Egole

S

police station disclosed that the suspect, who went into hiding after the incident, has since been arrested by the police and is currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Asaba.

E C R E TA RY G e n e r a l , Commonwealth Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Organisation, CTO, Mr Shola Taylor, yesterday said that one of the strategies that can help Nigeria’s broadcasting sector is a regulatory body that is clearer in policy and decision making.

Taylor spoke, yesterday in Lagos, at the Digital Broadcasting Africa Forum, organised by the CTO in collaboration with Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC. He said that unclear regulatory decisions have

helped in drawing African countries down both in broadcasting and in telecommunications.

He said: “We have noted that legal challenges are impediments in digital circulation. In South African and some other African countries, we have experienced that. In Nigeria, we have had at least one case and in Ghana we have had that too. One of the key things to minimise legal challenges is to have a regulatory body which is very clear. And I think in the case of Nigeria, there is a clear need for regulatory bodies in broadcasting to be clearer in taking decisions because it will help the industry to minimise crises.”

spill occurred on April 28, 2016 and that as a result they have been living in pain.

The communities lamented that they can no longer carry out their normal fish farming nor drink from the polluted water, adding that NPDC officials only came to carryout JIV where it was established that it was caused by their equipments’ failure and promised to come the next day to assess the extent of damage before making adequate compensation “but up till this moment, they have not shown up.”

Work resumes at Rivers judiciary complex after murder of two guards

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— WORK resumed, yesterday, at the Rivers State Judiciary Complex, Port Harcourt, after the premises was shut down on Tuesday due to the killing of two private security guards by gunmen.

Police presence was visible at the judiciary complex.

Vanguard gathered that one of the private security guards who was hospitalised after the attack by the assailants is still in the hospital.

Workers were seen on their desks attending to files.

Lawyers and litigants were also seen in groups discussing matters of interest.

Meanwhile, the Police have decried a report that the Port Harcourt prisons came under attack by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—13

Niger Delta Avengers goes underground

By Emma Amaize & Brisibe Perez

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ARRI—MEMBERS of Niger Delta Avengers, largely an Ijaw militant group, which admitted bombing oil and gas installations in Delta State, recently, have gone underground following a massive manhunt for them by the Army, Navy and other security agencies.

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently given a marching order to the military to crush the group.

The group, which had boasted, May 5, in a statement by its spokesperson, Madoch Agbinibo, that it was on ground and neither the Federal Government nor exmilitant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, could stop it from crippling the nation’s economy, was reported to have tactically retreated to fight another day.

A source told Vanguard: “People say the headquarters of Niger Delta Avengers is in Delta State. I do not think so, but I know that they have their network of information gathering and are conscious of the directive by President Buhari to security agencies to crush the militant group.”

inquiries by our reporters since Sunday.

The group's other channels of communication have also been shut down, an indication that it has temporarily gone out of circulation.

Security agencies, groups deepen efforts

Vanguard, however, learned that security operatives, who are

collaborating with some Niger Delta groups, had obtained information on the identities of some members of the group and would likely pick some of their family members to force them out of hiding.

The Niger Delta Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation) headed by Commander Bibi Oduku, is one of such groups working closely

with relevant security agencies to bring members of Niger Delta Avengers to face the full wrath of the law.

Commander Oduku told Vanguard: “Niger Delta Avengers is a criminal and devilish group, which is interested, in crippling economic activities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria. I advise Niger Delta youths not to fraternize with these criminals.”

Incommunicado

The unrepentant group, whose strike teams blew up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, facilities, last week, has also not responded to mail

PDP STATE CONGRESS: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and wife, Martha, casting their votes during the PDP state congress in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

MOSOP, Abe condemn killings in Ogoni

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— MOVEMENT for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has condemned the killings in Ogoni, Rivers State, saying between March and April this year, about seven prominent sons of the area had been shot dead by unknown assailants.

Similarly, Senator Magnus Abe, All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Rivers SouthEast senatorial district at the yet to be concluded legislative rerun election in Rivers State, has decried the politicisation of crime in the state.

Speaking to newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on his way to Abuja, Abe said that crime in the state was festering because Governor Nyesom Wike, Mr. Felix Obuah and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership in the state were playing politics with criminality.

“What is escalating crime in Rivers State today is the politicisation of crime. We should stop C M Y K

politicizing crime. What is happening is too serious for politics.”

He accused the state government of paying lip service to issues of security and pretending to encourage law enforcement agencies to apprehend criminals and at the same time obstructing them from performing their duties.

On his part, MOSSOP President, Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, who spoke through spokesman of the body, Mr Bariaria Kpalep, said, Ogoni were disturbed by the ugly incident, describing same as part of ploy by

detractors to frustrate implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, in the area.

Appealing to those behind the killings to stop, he enjoined security operatives to do more to secure lives and property in the area.

“We call on the security agents to wake up from their slumber and do the needful.

We are also calling on all those involved in the killings and

other acts of violence to have a rethink and give peace a chance.

We are also calling on all Ogonis to come together and work concertedly to salvage the Ogoni situation,” he said.

Killing of security operatives: Don’t trigger repeat of Odi massacre, Dickson warns militants

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, yesterday, condemned the killing of seven Naval and Joint Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield personnel, along the creek of Nembe and Foropa community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state respectively and other parts of the Niger Delta region.

He said that the unwarranted attacks and killings of the nation’s security personnel were putting the state and the region in bad light and setting a stage for a repeat of the ugly incident that led to the 1999 Odi massacre in Kolokuma/Opokuma area of the state.

Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said that a meeting of community leaders, elders and other stakeholders would be summoned at a date to be announced later as part of efforts to check the trend with a view to improving the security situation in the state.

Describing the killings as unfortunate, the governor called on the perpetrators and their collaborators to stop with immediate effect.

“Terrorism does not favour peace, neither can democracy express itself through violence,” he said.

Dickson stated that the killings were also putting the innocent citizens in the state and the Niger Delta region in danger.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Alleged N600m scam:

Ex-PICOMSS boss docked

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned the former Chairman, P r e s i d e n t i a l Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety, PICOMSS, Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (rtd) before an Abuja High Court over an alleged N600 million fraud.

Atawodi was docked before Justice Peter Kekemeke alongside one Rabiu Hassan and his company, Hypertech Nigeria Limited.

The defendants are answering to a threecount criminal charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

EFCC alleged that they defrauded government to the tune of over N600 million through suspicious contracts to procure military boats.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Bello, asked the court for a trial date.

However, the defence team, led by Mr. Karina Tunyan (SAN) and Mr. Shareef Mohammed, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail, pending their trial.

After listening to the parties, Justice Kekemeke adjourned the matter to May 16 for ruling on the bail applications.

The judge ordered that they be remanded in Kuje Prison, pending the determination of their bail applications.

ASHAKACEM'S AGM: From left— Vice Chairman, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa; Company Secretary, Mrs. Zainab Silas-Umaru; Chairman, Board of Directors, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Rabiu Umar, all of AshakaCem Plc, during the company's 41st Annual General Meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

N24bn payout: EFCC detains Ize-Iyamu, Imasuen; quizzes Imoke 2 ex-ministers reveal sharing of N1.1bn

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has made a major breakthrough in pinning down and obtaining first hand information from the major beneficiaries of the $115 million (N24 billion) payout by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, through the former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank.

Apparently relying on information provided by the former MD, who was quizzed and released by operatives of the commission last week, EFCC intensified its grilling of top Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members who shared the loot a few hours to the last presidential election.

In a bid to recover the N1.2 billion received by the Edo and Cross River states chapters of PDP, EFCC, yesterday, questioned the former governor of Cross River, Senator Liyel Imoke, to shed light on how the N500 million the state got was used and his role in the sharing and utilisation of the money.

Imoke, who is being questioned for the first time since the cash scandal broke out, was taken in along with the state PDP Chairman, Ntufam Okon, who reportedly collected the N500 million the state chapter received out of the N24 billion cash bonanza.

Similarly, the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen and former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, were quizzed for hours at the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of EFCC over N700 million they reportedly collected and shared.

The questioning of the three key PDP officials coincides with the admission by two former ministers in the administration of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Musa Sada

from Katsina State and Asabe Asmau Ahmed from Niger State, that they actually collected N1.1 billion of the slush fund ahead of the presidential poll last year.

While Sada told EFCC investigators that he collected N700 million and handed over the cash to the state’s finance commissioner as instructed by the state governor, Ibrahim Shema, Asabe Asmau disclosed that she kept N105 million out of the N450 million

of her state’s share for herself and handed over the balance to PDP in the state.

However, EFCC is insisting that they should refund the amount they collected from the bank since it was taken from public till.

EFCC is likely to charge the former ministers to court.

An official of the commission told Vanguard last night that the officials being questioned had made useful information available to operatives and

that such information was being studied to be able to make the next move.

“We want the money back because the money was taken from the public treasury and we have made it very clear to all those involved in the looting and sharing of the huge cash,” the source said.

Meanwhile, sources close to Ize-Iyamu said he would address the press in Benin, today.

CCT adjourns Saraki’s trial till May 17

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—THE Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned further hearing on the 16-count criminal charge pending against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, till May 17.

The Justice Danladi Umarled tribunal adjourned the case to enable Saraki’s lawyers to further cross-examine the star prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas.

Wetkas, who is an investigative officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been on the witness box since April 6.

He was the head of a threeman team constituted in 2014 to investigate six petitions that were lodged against Saraki.

Meanwhile, under crossexamination yesterday, Wetkas told the tribunal that he never visited nor personally inspected the property the Federal Government alleged that Saraki falsely declared as his own in 2003.

Saraki was alleged to have made anticipatory declaration in respect of his ownership of 15a and 15b McDonald Road,

Ikoyi, Lagos.

The witness told the tribunal that though Saraki claimed ownership of the said property in the assets declaration form he submitted in 2003, the defendant, however, secured the property in 2008.

Wetkas maintained that documents his team obtained from the Presidential Implementation Committee on the sale of Federal Government landed properties showed that Saraki used his company, Tiny Tee Limited, to acquire a property from the committee.

He said though Saraki

listed 15a and 15b as his property, the Committee insisted that what was sold to Tiny Tee Limited was only number 15 McDonald Ikoyi, while Plot 15 Block 1-4 was sold to another company, Bitti Oil Ltd. Meanwhile, Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), yesterday, drew the attention of the tribunal to documents showing that the said property at 15 McDonald Road, Ikoyi, was actually occupied by one Engineer Chalistus Egwuagu and his family until 2008.

NLC faults N90bn budget for power

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

N

IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, faulted the plan by Federal Government to spend N90 billion in this year ’s budget on the power sector that was already private sector driven.

Even as it declared that the budget was anti-workers and anti-masses, NLC said: “We do not see the necessary levers upon which to anchor the aspirations of ordinary

Nigerians in it.”

In a statement, NLC factional President, Joe Ajaero, said: “Why would government be allocating such huge expenditure to a sector that it has almost pulled out from? Or, is the government planning new investments in new Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, and Generation Companies, GENCOs? “If so, we hope that the intentions are not to use public funds to establish these companies, only for

them to turn around and hand it over to the business arm of the ruling class. Perhaps, government is anticipating putting in more money in the already privatised entities as a fabled stabilisation measure or bail-out.

“We can summarise that this budget is anti-workers and antimasses as we do not see the necessary levers upon which to anchor the aspirations of ordinary Nigerians in it. We do not see increasing employment in this budget, neither do we see deliberate efforts at transferring wealth to the ordinary people.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—15

Blame Obi for stalemate in Anambra senatorial re-run, Umeh tells constituents

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—THE immediate past national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the party's candidate in the Anambra Central senatorial re-run election, Chief Victor Umeh, has blamed the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, for the lingering impasse.

Speaking with newsmen in Onitsha, Chief Umeh called on the people of the zone to hold

the former governor responsible for nonrepresentation of the zone in the Senate, adding that Obi procured a court order that stalled the election, which he had no business contesting for.

Umeh said: “I will blame Mr. Peter Obi for procuring the court order that stalled the election. The reason is that he was not part of the election at all; the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC, was right in excluding Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the election because the Court of Appeal disqualified its candidate.

“There is no way Mr. Obi should have joined the Senatorial race in 20I6; a race that started in 20I4. All of us started the race in 20I4, went through the processes of nomination, went to the election proper and the election was nullified.

“The law has been settled

long ago by the Supreme Court that the only people that participated in the nullified election who are qualified, will proceed to the repeat election.”

He said it was painful that his people in Anambra Central were losing representation, caused by an ‘intruder,’ who was now delaying the election that would have held on March 5, by procuring an order four days to the election.

VISIT: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (right) receiving a plaque from the Director-General of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, BrigadierGeneral Suleman Kazaure, who paid him a visit at Government House, Owerri.

ECOWAS economy under threat, says Ngige

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday, raised the alarm that the economy of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, was facing serious threat as a result of its monolithic nature.

The minister called on the Organisation of Trade Union of West Africa, OTUWA, to champion diversification of economy in the region in view of the adverse effect of the global economic downturn.

Senator Ngige, who spoke at the opening of the three-day OTUWA’s workshop in Abuja, said the mono-economic base of West African countries was largely responsible for their current economic woes.

According to him, “there is a big threat to the economy of the ECOWAS sub-region because of our largely mono-economic base. I am happy that your organisation has been able to weather its challenges. The revived OTUWA must, therefore, help the governments and employers in the sub-region to look elsewhere.

“In Nigeria, we must look for other sources of revenue and the most easily identifiable one is agriculture and, of course, C M Y K

mining. We are also diversifying in trade and services.

“And because of the availability of fertile land in West Africa, the same thing goes to sister countries.

OTUWA, which is our regional component of the World Union of Trade Unions, must henceforth, lead this campaign for the diversification of the West African economy.”

He further urged the union to help governments in the region develop the required skills for the full maximization of the utility of their cash crops by enhancing local processing of the raw forms into finished

products.

The minister, in a statement

by Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, in the ministry, told OTUWA to be “the catalysts in entrenching decent work environment in line with the ILO convention, which we all are signatory to.”

OTUWA reacts

Earlier in his address, the President of OTUWA, Mr. Mademba Sock, decried the numerous challenges facing labour in the sub-region and said the organisation was revived to fight the cause of the workers.

In his goodwill message, the International Labour

Organisation, ILO, Country Director to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Officer for ECOWAS, Dr. Dennis Zule, said ILO had asked member-states to organise national dialogues with all stakeholders to come up with suggestions that will be useful for its development initiatives.

He added that the initiatives have focussed on work and society, decent jobs, the organisation of work and production as well as governance of work.

He called on social partners in the respective countries to contribute to the ILO Future of Work Initiative.

Coalition wants int'l intervention in Nigeria's re-run polls

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—A coalition of human rights organisations based in South-East region, SBCHROs, has called on the leaders of the United Nations, UN, the European Union, EU, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and other developed countries, who have advanced in democracy, to mount pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to fix new dates for the re-run of the six vacant senatorial seats in the region.

The vacant seats are those of Owerri North (Okigwe) senatorial district, Imo State; Anambra Central senatorial district, Anambra State; Rivers West; Rivers South-East and Rivers East senatorial districts in Rivers State and the Kogi East senatorial district in Kogi State.

The coalition also wants the world leaders to do same for the re-run of the nine vacant House of Representatives seats in Rivers State, adding that the said polls should be conducted and concluded inexcusably.

In a statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the coalition said it was also the constitutional duty of INEC and the security agencies in the country and not the voting populace, to provide security and ensure absence of violence during such polls.

75-yr-old, 4 others paraded over certificates' forgery

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—FIVE suspects, including a 54-year-old woman, were yesterday paraded by Anambra State Police Command for allegedly forging certificates of some tertiary institutions, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge and exemption certificates and printing fake Nigerian currency.

One of the suspects, 75-yearold Mr. Onuzulike Ude, a retired teacher, was allegedly

forging the certificates of the various tertiary institutions in a business centre operated by the 54-year-old woman, Mrs. Evelyn Nwoke, and, according to the police, they have been doing the business for a very long time.

Among the fake certificates recovered from them were those of University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Federal Polytechnic, Oko; College of Education, Umunze, as well as NYSC discharge and

exemption certificates.

Other documents recovered from them were certificates for Senior Community Health Extension Workers; Certificate for Junior Community Health Extension Workers; National Business and Technical Examination Board, NABTEB; Kano State Judiciary Statutory Declaration of Age; Afrihub Nigeria Limited certificate of participation and Oji River Local Government

Identification Certificate.

Also paraded was one Ikechukwu Nze from Isuochi, Abia State, for allegedly printing fake N1,000 and N500 notes and making purchases with them, while Maduabuchi Chinedu from Achina in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State was arrested for robbing a man of N18,000, using a sharp knife.

Nze said it was his friend that gave him the fake currency when he told him that he (Nze) needed money to start a business.

16—Vanguard, THUSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

By Emmanuel Aziken, Wahab Abdallah, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

P

R E S I D E N T MUHAMMADU Buhari, yesterday, waived apology from British Prime Minister, David Cameron over his depiction of Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country as he rather demanded that Britain and other custodians of illgotten wealth from Nigeria return such.

Buhari’s assertion at the beginning of an international conference on anti-corruption in London came as he confessed that the anti-corruption battle was more challenging than he anticipated at the commencement of his administration 11 months ago.

Buhari’s claim nonetheless, a near universal condemnation of

Fayose: You don’t deserve apology, you caused it Cameron should explain father’s indictment in Panama

Papers – Senate Chief Whip Queen’s silence commendable —Senator Lawan

Buhari, during his anti-corruption summit in London

Mr. Cameron’s assertion came from Nigerian politicians, lawyers and members of in civil society. A contrary view, however, came from Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State who blamed Buhari for feeding the international community the negative impressions of Nigeria during his travels.

The uproar in Nigeria and abroad came after Mr. Cameron was caught on audio feed describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as being among the most corrupt countries in the world.

Mr. Cameron was speaking to a select audience that included Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday ahead of an anti-corruption summit that commenced yesterday.

Apology, repatriation Speaking at the venue of the conference, Buhari was quoted by the BBC as saying that instead of an apology, he would prefer the repatriation of assets stashed in the UK by corrupt Nigerians.

“No. I am not going to demand any apology from anybody. What I am demanding is the return of assets,” he said.

“What would I do with an apology? I need something tangible,” he said.

Remarkably, Buhari in an interview with British broadcaster, Sky News said he agreed with Mr. Cameron’s description of Nigeria as a corrupt country.

Anti-corruption war In his keynote address, at the seminar, Buhari admitted that the anti-corruption war was more tasking than he had anticipated, saying that “many feathers have to be ruffled,” to make it successful.

In his keynote address entitled “Tackling Corruption Together: A Conference for Civil Society, C M Y K

I don’t want apology, return the loot, Buhari tells Britain

Business and Government Leaders,” the President stated that the seriousness which his administration had given to fight corruption was evident in his decision to revive the national anti-corruption agencies.

He said: “Tackling the menace of corruption is not an easy task, but it is possible, even if many feathers have to be ruffled. Our government’s dogged commitment to tackling corruption is also evident in the freedom and support granted to national anticorruption agencies to enable them carry out their respective mandates without interference or hindrance from any quarter, including the government."

He cited the implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, and the application of the Bank Verification Number, BVN, which according to him, have led to the elimination of 23,000 ghost workers from the Federal Government salary roll.

Noting the challenges in the battle against corruption, the President said unorthodox measures had to be taken in some high profile cases just as he pleaded with the international community to help Nigeria repatriate the suspects and the stolen loot.

“I admit that there are a few cases where apparently stringent rules have been applied as a result of threats to national security and the likelihood that certain persons may escape from the country or seek to undermine the stability of Nigeria. It is for this reason that we are seeking the support of many countries for the prosecution of certain individuals residing in their jurisdictions. Of course, we will provide the necessary legal documents and whatever mutual assistance is required to secure conviction of such individuals, as well as facilitate the repatriation of our

stolen assets.

Repatriation tedious, timeconsuming “Unfortunately, our experience has been that repatriation of corrupt proceeds is very tedious, time-consuming, costly and entails more than just the signing of bilateral or multilateral agreements. This should not be the case as there are provisions in the appropriate United Nations Convention that require countries to return assets to countries from where it is proven that they were illegitimately acquired.

Noting the country’s challenges in combating corruption in the oil sector, Buhari urged the international community to declare oil theft an international crime as he cited a Chatham House report of 2013 which averred that over 150,000 barrels of Nigerian crude was stolen daily.

Persecution of political rivals Fayose, flaying the anti-graft war of the present administration as a persecution of political rivals. said: “Rather than this grandstanding from the Presidency, concerted efforts should be made to redeem the image of Nigeria that the President has destroyed.”

Kalu, on the other hand, flayed Mr. Cameron and asked him to apologise, describing his assertion as greatly discourteous.

“Such utterances coming from the convener of the summit himself, just before the commencement, suggest that either he doesn’t take the summit seriously, or he is deceptive in terms of his commitment to the Nigerian government in the fight against corruption."

Serving and former members of the National Assembly were also divided on the issue.

Senator Ahmad Lawan,

chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence in his reaction, praised the stoical silence of Her Majesty, The Queen to her prime minister’s vituperation as reflective of her silent disapproval. Senator Lawan, however, said that taking the shame from Cameron could be an acceptable price if only he would return Nigeria’s loot stashed in Britain.

“After all, the loud silence of the Queen was a royal disapproval of his remarks and the intervention of the Archbishop was a spiritual and moral approval of President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.”

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, however, dismissed the uproar as unnecessary.

“Have Nigerians not perennially decried the corruption in their own country? Why is there hoopla because a Briton said of Nigerians what many Nigerians have often said about themselves?

“If Nigerians are hurt about what others say about us, then we should look inwards and mend our ways. Righteousness exalts a nation, not hypocritical anger!

“As for Cameron, since charity must begin at home, let him also tell Queen Elizabeth why his own father, Ian Cameron, hid funds in the tax haven of Panama.”

Senators Chukwuka Utazi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes and Dino Melaye also condemned the assertion of the British Prime Minister.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on his part said: “Nigerians should see the statement of the British Prime Minister as a challenge and give total support to the anti-corruption crusade of the present government, so that in future, no

foreign leader will make such a derogatory statement about our dear country. “ Former Senator Joseph Waku on his part said Mr. Cameron was right but that he should do the right thing in facilitating the return of Nigeria’s stolen treasures in his country," he said.

He said: “Well, if the British Prime Minister is aware that Nigeria is corrupt, then let him return the stolen and the corrupt property that are invested in the UK to Nigeria, that is all.”

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, on her part, said the comment was unfavourable.

She said, “Once the Transparency International starts publishing the figures, the wrong impression about us will rapidly change for the better.

“We are combating corruption, and I do know that this whole thing will change.”

Rep Adamu Kamale, PDP Michika Madagali Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, on his part, agreed with the Prime Minister, saying: “Well, any person that tells you that Nigeria is not corrupt is economical with the truth. The point remains that we should admit this country is corrupt.

Also reacting, former spokesman of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the APC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, said: “David Cameron breached his diplomatic privileges in public communication and exposed his insensitivity to the obvious and glaring irony of Britain serving as one of the today’s cesspools for global economic and financial crimes.

Prof Lakin Akintola, executive director, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, said the comment was a belated move to make Nigeria wake up against corruption.

“Cameron’s remark is belated because it failed to take cognizance of three landmark policies presently making change possible in Nigeria," he said.

Former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Monday Ubani, on his part said, “He was only saying the truth about Nigeria. Cameron knows how much Nigerian politicians store in the UK. Several of the politicians have several money and property in UK." In a statement by Mr. Issa Aremu, General Secretary of NUTGTWN and Chairperson, Industrial Global Union, SubSahara Africa, organized labour, said: “It is Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammed Buhari, that commendably unearthed serial looted funds running into trillions of Naira. It is also Nigeria that has commenced serial trials of some of the suspects, notably ones also linked to London.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016— —17

O

VER the past decade…cattle rustling has been transformed into a vicious criminal activity…far beyond the low-intensity conflict that had previously defined the relationship between farmers and grazers. New criminal gangs, armed with sophisticated weapons, have reportedly carted away cattle in commando-like operations that have resulted in the killings of herders…Available evidence also suggests that cattle rustling has not only metamorphosed into an immensely sophisticated and efficient organised crime, it is now also motivated by both ‘subsistence’ and ‘commercial’ imperatives. Accordingly, cattle rustling can be located properly within the domains of the crimes of the ‘dominant’ classes and the crimes of the ‘dominated’ classes – “THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF RURAL BANDITRY IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA”

BY PROFESSOR SAMUEL EGWU in RURAL BANDITRY AND CONFLICTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA edited by PROFESSOR MOHAMMED J. KUNA & DR. JIBRIN IBRAHIM I concluded last week’s essay by arguing that: “FulBe nomads are citizens too and deserve to be understood and appreciated in the context of building our country”. I was not surprised at the hostility, venom and opprobrium that issued forth from many readers of my piece, mainly from the Southern part of Nigeria, almost all, non-Muslim, and especially on online platforms.

The angst reflected the depth of prejudices and the festering attitudes of hate that seem to trail social issues in Nigeria today. And none has elicited as much passion as the bitter conflicts between nomads and sedentary farming communities.

As I have always argued, those who weave media narratives and helping to shape opinion come mainly from farming backgrounds and have naturally brought those prejudices into their narratives.

That deep-seated issues of history and identity are part of these contradictions which make them especially volatile. But I still believe that what is required is greater knowledge of the factors shaping these crises, to be able to devise means to diffuse tensions that threaten social harmony, and inter-communal relations in our country.

Contributors to food security I stated that nomads deserve to be understood and appreciated in the context of their contributions to Nigeria. A study by Isah Mohammed Abbass, showed that the FulBe own over 90% of the nation’s livestock, accounting for one third of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP and 3.2% of our entire GDP. As the major breeders of cattle, the FulBe are responsible for the supply of most of the meat that Nigerians consume, making the FulBe very vital to the local food chain as well as important contributors to national food security. This does not underplay the very important role of sedentary agricultural production C M Y K

Media narratives and the Fulbe nomad (2) at all. They are two sides of our food security coin and are therefore indispensable in the economic life of Nigeria. That is why the increasingly violent conflicts between these two groups are not in our national interest. The narratives in the media have not sufficiently appreciated the duality that I am talking about and the profiling of FulBe nomads has deepened tendencies of prejudice; aided proliferation of hate speech and encouraged tendency towards

The nomad faces a squeeze and a threat to a very precarious livelihood. The challenge that our country faces is how to find a balance for the survival and prosperity of the two groups; not the profiling of the FulBe nomad; not hate speech! deepening of crises phenomena as well as revenge seeking that can only lead to spiraling violence.

However, nomadic groups have been encountering serious problems associated with changing patterns of weather and a severe ecological crisis; the increasing alienation of grazing reserves; agricultural policies that favour sedentary farming communities but have left the nomadic groups and their herds in despair; the serious problem of rural banditry and cattle rustling; the killings of nomads and their cattle arising from political and communal disputes in many parts of North Central Nigeria in recent years.

And there is also an issue that has become central to the narrative in the media, related to the increasingly sophisticated arms that nomads are allegedly carrying around and have become part of the legend of nomad-

sedentary farmer conflicts. From about the 1950s, with the improvement in veterinary services, cattle herds began to multiply in many parts of West Africa, including Nigeria. Late colonial authorities as well as immediate post-independence governments made informed efforts to assist the grazing of cattle, with well laid out cattle routes as well as grazing reserves. There were over 400 of those grazing reserves in Northern Nigeria alone. DAILY TRUST ON SUNDAY carried a report from Miyetti Allah, the FulBe advocacy group which reported that 115 of those grazing reserves have been alienated for other uses. The increase in population has favoured alienation of land for farming and agricultural policies generally aid farmers. That has deepened the despair of the FulBe nomads and their search for the space of survival for their herds.

Threat to nomadic herders A very serious threat to the lives of nomadic herders has been the increased levels of rural banditry and the rustling of cattle. In Samuel Egwu’s paper that I quoted at the head of this piece, he cited figures for 2013 alone, that indicated that in North Central Nigeria, 28, 000 cattle were rustled in Plateau; 25, 000 in Nasarawa; 8,680 in Benue; 1, 650 in Kwara and 1, 500 in the FCT. Human casualties showed 2, 500 herders were killed in Benue; 264 in Plateau; 150 in Kwara; 70 in Nasarawa; and seven in the FCT. The paper also cited reports from clashes in Taraba state, which led to the killing of about 500 FulBe nomads, with even DAILY INDEPENDENT newspaper of March 14, 2014, reporting that 23, 000 were forced to move into Cameroun.

Many of the conflicts have also been directly related to political struggles for power as was witnessed in the Plateau, where the elite struggles for power in the urban areas were then transported into the rural areas and became severe conflicts of identity that pitched indigenous Plateau communities against FulBe nomads. FulBe nomads became drawn into conflicts that saw them as literally guilty by association of identities of ethnicity and faith.

What is very important in these issues of cattle rustling and rural banditry in general, is the introduction of sophisticated weaponry into criminality. One of

the more persistent accusations against FulBe nomads in recent times is that they have also been using weapons like the AK 47 assault rifles in conflicts with sedentary farming communities.

The allegation about assault rifles has then been played up as an evidence of a grand conspiracy by the FulBe people; a leading columnist, even blamed top members of the Northern elite as purchasing these weapons for a “Fulani Militia”. But the truth is much simpler than the conspiracy theories. If FulBe nomads are armed today as against the traditional weapons they used to carry, it is only because the criminal gangs that attack them and rustle their cattle, as well as take the lives of nomads now use very sophisticated weapons too!

Nigeria and small arms: The other point is that many other groups around Nigeria have been stockpiling weapons for a long time! The criminal groups bursting pipelines and other national assets in the Niger Delta carry very sophisticated weapons and other incendiary devices.

There are many videos of these groups flaunting their arsenals of sophisticated weapons. Many ethnic supremacist groups like the OPC are suspected to have also stockpiled weapons. And in response to the clashes with nomads, SATURDAY PUNCH of May 7, 2016, gleefully announced on its front page that: “FARMERS AMASS ARMS TO COMBAT KILLINGS”.

The truth today is that non-state actors have amassed a huge cache of weapons in Nigeria, and a 2009 Small Arms Survey noted that there were between one million and three million illegal small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. That inflow of weapon increased with the overthrow of Muammar Gaddhafi, in a disastrous NATO-backed operation, which the former administration openly supported, contrary to the decision of the African Union. This is the background against which the issue about alleged FulBe nomads’ weaponising of conflicts with farming communities must be properly situated.

Nomads also live in society and so are affected by its dynamics and because their very precarious existence has been under severe strains, they have been devising means to continue to survive.

Unfortunately, there have been ever more frequent clashes with other groups in that quest for survival.

Effects of desertification: The effects of desertification and the

shrinking of the Lake Chad, which was home for an estimated 30 million heads of cattle, have been disastrous for nomadic groups. And in an interview with DAILY TRUST ON SUNDAY of May 8th, 2016, Dr. Junaidu Ahmed Maina, a former President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, pointed out how newer agricultural policies can sometimes have consequences that were probably not properly thought through.

Take the issue of Fadama projects.

He said that: “There is a lot of wetland in the country, including our Fadama projects, which are now being used for crop production. In the past, Fadama projects were used strictly for animal production. I am not suggesting that it should be left exclusively for livestock production. We should take cognizance of the fact that wetlands are best for the rearing of animals”.

The effect that this new pattern of land use has had on the lives and livelihood of FulBe nomads and their animals is one of the consequences that we are harvesting in the many conflicts between the farmer and the herdsman today. And the relentless expansion of the Sahara Desert; and deforestation in the Sahel have led to the movement of FulBe nomads Southwards in Nigeria with the attendant consequences.

I have not stated these facts about the lives of FulBe nomads to justify the clashes that they have with sedentary farming communities. Where nomads have been responsible for criminal acts, they must not be spared from the law, just like other citizens from other backgrounds would not be.

Inter-communal relationships It is however important to appreciate the roots of what is happening in our country with consequences that poison intercommunal relationships and have morphed into a national security challenge. There is no doubt that the conflict between nomads and farming communities is a major national security challenge today.

But it is unacceptable to profile FulBe nomads and then ratchet up patterns of hate speech which seem designed to set up a whole ethnic community for treatments that recall the genocide in Rwanda or Bosnia.

We must learn to rise above our prejudices to have a more nuanced and knowledge driven understanding of the complexities of life in our country. A host of factors have conditioned the existence of the FulBe nomad, in a world of fast paced changes and increasing population of people, which have led to the alienation of more land for crop production.

The nomad faces a squeeze and a threat to a very precarious livelihood.

The challenge that our country faces is how to find a balance for the survival and prosperity of the two groups; not the profiling of the FulBe nomad; not hate speech!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY MAY 12, 2016 LAST week, the Global Fund said it had suspended the disbursement of grants to two Federal health agencies in Nigeria, following the discovery of shady practices relating to procurements conducted by them.

In a message, the Executive Director of the Fund, Mr. Mark Dybul, quoted an audit report of multiple grants between 2013 and 2015, carried out by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which indicted the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), of serial complicity, The audit report covered US$889 million of Global Fund grants, while unveiling frauds and collusions to the tune of US$3.8 million. The investigation, which began in late 2014 after a spot check from the Global Fund’s Local Fund Agent, uncovered forged and missing expenditure documents. It discovered there

Recovering stolen Global grants was no effective system of internal controls in place to safeguard the funds.

The audit identified lack of documentary evidence related to human resources and payment approval processes, with US$7.65 million identified as unsupported expenditures, amongst other gaps.

The OIG said it found evidence of systematic embezzlement, and identified US$3.8 million of irregular spending in the work of Nigeria’s Department of Health Planning, Research & Statistics (DPRS), a sub-recipient of the Fund. It confirmed that seven out of 10 DPRS staff and three

consultants were linked to the misappropriation of funds.

In recent times, thanks to international support, a lot of progress has been made against HIV, TB, and malaria in Nigeria.

For instance, deaths from malaria dropped by 62 per cent since 2000; HIV also declined by 52 per cent since that time while deaths from TB have reduced by 13 per cent.

Overall, programmes supported by the Global Fund have saved 1.2 million people in Nigeria.

Despite these achievements, Nigeria’s disease burden is still grim. With 24 percent of the world’s cases of malaria (largest

in the world); 9 percent of HIV disease burden (second largest in the world), and 7 per cent of the TB burden (also 2nd largest in the world), Nigeria lags behind in many areas.

No doubt, the Global Fund is duty-bound to demand accountability. H o w e v e r, the suspension of grants to Nigeria is an ill wind that blows no good for healthcare delivery in the country.

We commend the Presidency for quickly wading into this issue.

The culprits must be exposed and brought to book to reassure the donor stakeholders of the need to continue to support Nigeria’s disease control efforts.

It is, indeed, pathetic that funds meant to save poor and vulnerable Nigerians from lifethreatening diseases are shameless pilfered by to officials sent to execute the programme.

The integrity of the programme must be restored to keep donor funds coming to Nigeria.

OPINION Lamentation

on

By Uzo Nwokwu

F

OR too long now, Nigeria has become synonymous with epileptic power supply. Without doubt, the country harbours the most generators of all nations on earth, including brands and sizes. Today, we have graduated from epileptic supply to virtually zero supply of electricity to our citizens. No one in the government seems to be worried about the incalculable harm of these generators to public health, the environment, our psyche and the owners and neighbours of these harmful machines. But it is scandalous that a nation that sits on nearly inexhaustible quantum of oil and gas, petro-chemicals, trash, wind and sunshine is at the same time living in the darkest part of the earth. This is mainly because of the greed, avarice, ignorance, mediocrity and partisanship of its political class and leadership.

At a time the world's water resources are fast drying up as a result of climate change, and nations are in panic mood, desparately exploring and deploying all sorts of alternative energy technologies, Nigeria's leadership is still focused on the Kainji dam for solution to its power quagmire. At a time even much more endowed nations in the oil and gas sectors, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, C M Y K

Nigeria’s

power

and UAE are investing heavily in renewable energy technology as a present and long-term solution, our leadership is obsessed with the moribund Egbin power (less) station for succour.

At a time the world, including the USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France and other advanced and not-so advanced societies are tapping into all possible sources of energy simultaneously, we are protecting

Truth is that no nation, including Nigeria can develop without sufficient electricity to power it's infrastructure special interests in the power sector, playing dirty geo-political partisan politics while Nigeria lies prostrate on the ground.

Recently, the president, Muhammadu Buhari went to China and entangled Nigeria in among some other messy stuff, the construction of a solar farmbased power plant, a technology that has since become virtually moribund but which China is busy replicating all over

woes Africa, from South Africa to Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. The cost and source of funding are even the more worrisome.

For a nation that has some of the most brilliant experts in the power sector in the world today, it is inexplicable that rather than declare a state of emergency in the power sector and tap these experts to come home and rescue the nation, we have lumped the power ministry together with those of works and housing in apparent emphasis of our ignorance and low priority for the power sector.

Truth is that no nation, including Nigeria can develop without sufficient electricity to power it's infrastructure, electricity being the bedrock on which every and any other development or project depends for sustainability.

In addition to Geothermal technology, there is an abundance of technology and funds in the renewable energy sector outside Nigeria to power the nation but for some anachronistic policies and the greed of Nigeria's political class. It becomes even the more bizarre when you reckon with the fact that God has placed Nigeria right there at the centre of the equator which means that she can generate from renewable energy sector, twice or even thrice the amount of power that other nations can generate with the same equipment and investment.

Unfortunately, even states, local

governments and institutions are also folding hands, waiting for the federal government which appears today so confused and helpless in the face of the crisis. Only God knows how many lives have been lost to the power crisis, how much financial loss we have incured, the damage to the manufacturing sector and the economy generally, the discomfort to the people as well as what is going on in the minds of our rulers, particularly governor Babatunde Fashola whose benchmark for determining competent administrations is provision of adequate power supply within six months but who after one year seems yet to be as to wondering if he is actually the minster of Power, Works or Housing.

I guess whenever we come to terms with the fact that the status quo ante in Nigeria, our present politics, bitterness, vindictiveness, perception and manner of approach to our problems are unsustainable, we will turn around and make the necessary changes for the better. Nigeria needs all Nigerians, particularly its best eleven to bring her back to life.

Those Nigerians making excuses for the political class, the president and present and past administrations should hide their faces in shame. The decision to move the country forward must begin with the people and quickly enough, unless we want Nigeria to die of an imminent heart attack.

Mr. Nwokwu, a lawyer, wrote from USA.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12 12,, 2016 – 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com controversial and territoryexpansionist “grazing reserves”.

The same governor also ordered Fulani herdsmen occupying the premises of the State’s University to be flushed out by the State Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdullah. Why flush them

Bakasi Boys to the rescue?

I

T is very interesting how the state governors of Southern Nigeria have reacted to the aggression of territorial Fulani militias masquerading as “herdsmen”. Let us take samplers.

Fulani militiamen abducted and murdered the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Agbogidi Akaeze Ofulue III in Delta in February this year. The police later arrested, paraded and identified the suspects as: Usman Musbau, Suleiman Musa, Jaminu Ahmed, Umaru Baubakar, Garba Abubakar and a female gang member, Farida Abubakar.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa reacted to the whole incident by – wait for it – appointing a Northerner as his Special Adviser, to facilitate understanding between the people of Delta and non-indigenes of Northern extraction.

In Enugu State, after the massacre of about 50 innocent people in Ukpabi-Nimbo, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) broke down and wept like a baby. The following day, he surfaced in Aso Villa, dressed in babanriga, to see President Muhammadu Buhari.

The massacre (and perhaps the visit) finally untied the lips of our President who gave a directive to

the Police and other security agencies to do “all that is necessary” to stop the attacks and bring culprits to book. Days later, a delegation of governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by amiable Governor Kashim Shettima, paid Ugwuanyi a “solidarity” visit, though the governors of the nineteen Northern states had exonerated Fulani herdsmen of culpability.

In Anambra, Governor Willie Obiano reacted in his usual grandiose style, and announced that his government was launching a helicopter patrol of the state to identify spots where the “herdsmen” could be up to no good. Nothing was said about what would happen if they were spotted being up to no good. Helicopter survey without a ground action component will not stop cows from eating up the products of the agricultural revolution Obiano says he is doing.

In Ebonyi State, Governor Dave Umahi spoke, from both sides of his mouth. He announced that he did not have “any problem” with Fulani herdsmen grazing their cattle in his state. He stopped short of actually announcing the donation of land for their

The Bakasi Boys and other vigilante groups should take all necessary and legitimate measures to defend their communities if the lawenforcement agencies fail or refuse to do so out? After all, they were only harmlessly occupying university land! But by far the most decisive action taken so far came from Abia State. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, after consultations with stakeholders and the State Assembly, ordered the resuscitation of the Bakasi Boys, which was regularised by an Act of the State Assembly into a vigilante service under Governors Orji Kalu and TA Orji. He also directed traditional rulers in the various autonomous communities to supply at least ten able-bodied young men to the vigilante service in their domains. This is the typical Igbo approach to confronting communal threats (especially

Succession war (4): Catholics in the voodoo place N

IGERIA today is fast drifting toward Plato’s classic definition of a degenerating society, a society that encourages violence to prevail over reason; and a society that permits the voice of the mob to dominate the affairs of government.

The short journey thus far into the seemingly simple process of selecting a candidate to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has become thoroughly embarrassing.

Current happenings portend a frightening glimpse into the future. In whichever direction we look, we see a lot of people carrying on in a manner suggestive of the primary as an end in itself. We see some turning the entire bush into snakes, perhaps oblivious of the fact that in the end, whoever emerges at the primary will require the support of the losers for the main election.

Meanwhile, some leaders who are supposedly separating a fight are fighting harder than those wearing the gloves.

The time has come to open a small window into some of the intrigues and the serial assassination plots – real and imaginary. If all this could be happening at the intra-party level, what do we expect when the struggle becomes interparty?

In the telling chapters of the Bible, the bold warning is given that kings should not always eavesdrop into their servants’ conversations, lest they might hear their servants abusing them. Contrary to this warning, Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, AAO, apparently had his ears glued to the window and politicians told him what he wanted to hear.

He was sold the dummy that His Deputy, The Rt. Hon. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, PEO, had contracted a native doctor to kill him. That was how Catholics began to deal

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in the voodoo place to the utter consternation of the Catholic authorities.

You can tell the witchcraft story to the marines! For PEO, “Why would I do that?

Like William Shakespeare, ‘If fortune would have me king; let fortune crown me without my stir.’”

Hear him further, “The alleged attempt to kill Mr. Governor is a wicked attempt by

In a democracy, the ultimate right to choose who rules belongs to the people.

Desperation and violence do not win elections; but hard work and good campaigns do enemies of progress to drive a wedge between me and Mr. Governor. It is an old and tired lie concocted to tarnish my image in the eye of the public. It is politically motivated. You are aware that the governorship election is around the corner and I am one of those vying for APC’s ticket. They failed when they tried during my re-nomination as Deputy Governor in 2012; and they will certainly fail again now… For me, nothing in the world is worth the blood of a fowl, not to talk of that of a human being. I leave these enemies of progress to the all knowing God. I know and I do believe that He will manifest Himself in this matter in the fullness of time.

Time they say writes the ultimate history and history delivers that final judgment”.

invasions) not playing to the gallery or crying for sympathy.

The Bakasi Boys are to act like the Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) in the North East.

These young volunteers who are not allowed to carry arms, work with the Army, Police and the lawenforcement agencies combating Boko Haram through intelligence sharing and providing the necessary backups usually required of irregulars in a conflict situation.

So, the Bakasi Boys will work under the Police (and perhaps the army where they are involved) to help identify spots where the Fulani militia are causing trouble, with the hope that the lawenforcement agents will carry out the President’s instruction of bringing the invaders to book even before they strike.

People have been asking the question: what should the Bakasi Boys do if the law-enforcement agents decide (as they have always done before the presidential order) to play to the gallery while the Fulani militia continue their expansionist campaign?

What should they do if the lawenforcement agencies actually collude with them to continue their insidious activities in view of the pro-Fulani way the Directorate of State Services (DSS) behaved during the discovery of the fifty shallow graves in Abia State? What should they do if the lawenforcement agencies continue to work against the interests of the indigenous people as soldiers maltreated the 76 Enugu men who went in search of their women abducted by the Fulani militias?

What should the ordinary citizen do when the law-enforcement agents charged with the

On the sideline, many are quick to ask, “If PEO had eight years to kill AAO and reap the full benefit of becoming Governor, of what benefit would it be for him to wait till the eve of their departure from government?”

So far, we have dealt with what looks like the imaginary assassination bid. The real assassination attempt came in the opposite direction on 30 April 2016 when PEO’s campaign team was attacked at the APC Secretariat in Auchi, Headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

This writer was part of the team that was attacked.

No sooner had the meeting with the delegates started than gunmen opened fire outside the Secretariat on both securitymen, members of PEO’s entourage and delegates. It was such a shocking and gory sight to behold. PEO had to be shielded inside the hall to avoid direct bullet contacts.

The gunmen who were armed to the teeth succeeded in shooting and brutally wounding the following persons: 1.Patrick Amakri (SSS Official attached to PEO); 2. Inspector Agge Felix (Escort Police Commander attached to PEO); 3.

Zibiri Yakubu (Driver); 4. Miss Nice Ogbeso (Delegate); 5. Inu Umoru (Delegate); 6.

Osabuohien Igiebor; 7. Matthew Ajayi (Musician) and 8. One man whose identity was not immediately known.

It was by the grace of God that PEO was not hit by bullets but it was also obvious that the attack was directed at his person and geared towards the disruption of the aims of his campaign. Meanwhile, from the group’s investigation, three principal

responsibility of protecting them from criminals, hoodlums and attackers turn around to support the attackers? What should they do if nothing changes in spite of the presidential order?

The answer is obvious. Selfdefence is the first law in nature. I do not think that the constitution and our laws will punish anyone who defends himself, especially where the law-enforcement agencies fail to carry out their duties responsibly and with despatch. Erecting high fences and gates and hiring security men to guard our homes is part of selfdefence. Wealthy people who pay the police to provide them escorts are also engaged in self-defence.

That the police hire out their men to such individuals is an affirmation of their right to selfdefence. The Bakasi Boys and other vigilante groups should take all necessary and legitimate measures to defend their communities if the law-enforcement agencies fail or refuse to do so.

This has nothing to do with asking Northerners to “leave” any part of the South. They are our countrymen and women, our brothers and sisters – provided they remain law-abiding, peaceful and agreeable with their host communities and fellow Nigerians. Herdsmen have lived among us forever unmolested.

Why did they turn nasty? Why have they become territorial? Why have some of them turned to armed banditry? And why have the lawenforcement agencies condoned their open display of sophisticated weapons and criminality?

Whatever the answers to these questions are, the people must rise and assert their right to selfdefence when those we pay to do so sell out.

culprits were identified and their names have been given to security agencies.

We owe our survival to the Almighty God and to the gallantry of the Security-men who repelled the attackers as they surged towards us. We shall remain eternally grateful to the Auchi Zonal Commander of the Nigeria Police who promptly assembled a crack team of senior police officers to escort us back to Benin that night.

At about 8.00 pm, we went to the hospital to see the victims. As the conditions of six of them became fairly stable, we transferred them that same night to UBTH, Benin City while the other two were still convalescing at the Auchi hospital.

While the circumstances around the PEO attack were still being investigated, the news has just come that the campaign team of one of the APC aspirants, Godwin Obaseki, GO, was attacked on Sunday 8 May 2016, at Sobe, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Details of the recent attack are still sketchy. For all we know, it is becoming messier by the day and something must be done to arrest the ugly scenario.

The APC will soon overcome these teething problems. After all, things normally get worse before they get better. All that is required now is the realisation that Edo State can do without this degree of desperation. “One-man-one-vote” is no longer a term in the abstraction, it is real. In a democracy, the ultimate right to choose who rules belongs to the people. Desperation and violence do not win elections; but hard work and good campaigns do.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Nigeria losing N1.93bn daily as Shell halts oil exports

By Michael Eboh, with agency reports

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igeria’s revenue woes heightened yesterday, as Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, declared a force majeure on the export of Bonny Light crude, as a result of damage to a major crude oil export pipeline, the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

According to a statement by Shell, the force majeure was declared because of a leak which necessitated the closing of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, adding that the force majeure had been in force since 12.00 Nigerian time on May 10.

As a result of the shutdown, Shell was forced to defer its Bonny Light loadings, which were scheduled for around 210,000 barrels per day on seven cargoes in the month of May. With the deferment of 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day, Nigeria is currently losing about $9.631 million, an equivalent of N1.93 billion daily. This is based on the current crude oil price of $45.86 per barrel and an exchange rate of about N200 to a dollar.

The Nembe Creek Trunk Line is a 100 kilometre pipeline, commissioned in 2010 with a capacity of 600,000 barrels per day. It carries Shell-operated Bonny Light crude to the Bonny export terminal.

Shell further stated that repairs on the trunk line are being carried out by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company, while it gave no details about how long the repairs would take.

Shell, however, stated that

Julius Berger gains strength as construction sector seeks bail out

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PRESENTATION: From left; Mr Lanre Adesanya, Executive Director (Commercial & Institutional Banking) Sterling Bank; Jide Ipaye, CEO Keex Sneakers/1st place winner of Sterling Bank's Meet the Executive Competition; Mr Yemi Adeola, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank plc and Mr Yemi Odubiyi, Executive Director (Operations & Services) Sterling Bank, at the presentation of a cheque to winner of Sterling Bank's Meet the Executive Competition in Lagos. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

gas supply to the 22 million tonnes per year Bonny Island Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) production facility was not interrupted.

Shell, builder and part owner of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, had in March last year, completed the sale of its stakes in the facility to Aiteo E&P, in a deal put at $1.7 billion, which also included the assignment of its interests in Oil Mining

Lease (OML) 29.

Total E&P Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited also assigned their interests of 10 per cent and five per cent respectively in the lease, ultimately giving Aiteo Eastern a 45 per cent interest in both the Nembe trunk and OML 29.

Shell had constructed the facility to enable it evacuate crude oil from OML 29 for ex-

port; starting from Nembe Creek to a manifold at the Cawthorne Channel field on OML 18, from where crude is evacuated the short distance to the Bonny oil terminal.

The facility has a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day at Nembe Creek, however, up to 600,000 barrel per day of liquids can be evacuated from the end point at Cawthorne Channel.

UBA, US EXIMBank sign MoU to expand trade worth $100m

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IGERIA's United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand trade worth US$100 million between the US and Sub-Saharan Africa. $ 125.90 0.75 Phillips Oduoza, CEO and Group Managing $3,077.00 30.00 Director of UBA Plc and Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank), appended their $44.06 0.43 signatures to the MoU at the World Economic Forum Africa (WEF) holding in Kigali.

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING According to a US 196 196.5 197 statement by UBA, DOLLAR 282.534 283.2548 283.9755 POUNDS 223.1264 223.6956 224.2648 “EXIM Bank is proud to EURO 201.8953 202.4104 202.9254 build on its decade’s FRANC 1.8098 1.8144 1.819 long commitment to YEN 0.3223 0.3323 0.3423 financing American CFA 277.1033 277.8102 278.5171 exports to sub-Saharan WAUA 30.0928 30.17 30.2472 Africa,” said Chairman RENMINBI 52.2583 52. 3916 52.5249 Hochberg.

“This RIYAL 29.9882 30.0647 30.1412 memorandum signals to American exporters and CBN Exchange rate as at 10/05/2016 African businesses alike

that there are many more promising opportunities to work together, and EXIM stands ready to provide the financing needed to turn more of those opportunities into realities.”

The two were joined by Uzoka Kennedy, Deputy Managing Director and Group Managing Director Designate, UBA and Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Group Head, Financial Institutions and International Organizations, UBA, who all participated in the signing ceremony.

Under the MOU, EXIM Bank and UBA will explore options for offering a range of financing solutions for American exporters and African buyers

The MOU is a statement of general intent between EXIM Bank and UBA to promote the availability of EXIM financing of up to $100 million in the region. EXIM Bank and UBA will work together to share information and develop export-financing opportunities in key sectors including commodities, agriculture and food products, spare parts, and large and small equipment purchases.

Under the MOU, EXIM Bank and UBA will explore options for offering a range of financing solutions for American exporters and African buyers, including short and medium-term financing programs that allow for flexible repayment terms and competitive insurance policies guaranteed by EXIM. Since 2009, EXIM has provided more than $6 billion in financing for transactions across sub-Saharan Africa. For the fiscal year ending in 2014, the Bank supported $2.05 billion in transactions in more than 20 sub-Saharan African countries.

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ulius Berger Nigeria Plc, has said that despite the country ’s economic downturn, it has remained profitable with a solid liquidity position.

The company added that it has continued to pay dividends to its shareholders.

This is even as the company’s recorded a turnover of N133.8billion in 2015.

At the company ’s 2015 investors’ forum in Lagos on Tuesday, Managing Director Mr George Marks attributed the company ’s decline in revenue to the downturn of the country’s economy as GDP dropped from 6.3 per cent in 2014 to 4 per cent in 2015.

He said “Among challenges under which Julius Berger operated during the financial year include falling crude oil prices, dwindling revenues and shrinking external reserves; higher interest rates; scarcity of foreign exchange; unstable exchange rate regime, amongst others, contributed to an extremely volatile business environment which ultimately affected most companies.”

According to Mr George Marks, “Businesses now expect a proactive economic stimulus programme governed by targeted revivalist policies.

He said “The Federation of Construction Industry, now earnestly seeks a bail-out programme for the sector.

Indebtedness of public sector to the construction industry is approximately N360 billion which the sector is asking the government to pay up as bail out. The sector working load is below 30 per cent capacity with a mass retrenchment of approximately 33,000 workers only on public projects, consequently, indirect retrenchment of approximately 130,000 people. Most domestic construction companies are struggling with a serious multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy.

Struggling FOCI membercompanies now work below 30 percent capacity as clients’ inability to meet contractual obligations in a timely manner existentially impacted the industry and forced a reduction of overheads and suspension of works on numerous projects.”

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Half of the world's uncultivated land which is suited for growing food crops is in Africa

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Agric investments can unlock prosperity in Africa —UN

By Yinka Kolawole

T

hough Africa is projected to experience its slowest growth rate this millennium, the President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Kanayo Nwanze, said that investments in agriculture can unlock prosperity in the continent.

He spoke as government and business leaders gathered for the Grow Africa Investment Forum and the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) recently in Kigali, Rwanda.

“Investments in agriculture can generate great riches for the continent and lift millions out of poverty and hunger. There are high returns to those countries that take agriculture seriously,” he said.

Since 2009 Africa has been seen as the next great investment frontier yet, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic growth on the continent is now predicted to be slower than the rest of the world for the first time in sixteen years. With many countries in southern and eastern Africa suffering from the worst drought in decades, and with fiscal deficits widening and conflicts increasing, some experts are questioning whether Africa is still on the rise.

Despite these dire predictions, Nwanze said Africa is still a continent of unprecedented opportunity, and supporting small-scale farmers and investing in rural areas are some of the best ways for countries to meet their broader development objectives, including poverty reduction. According to him, with the right investments, Africa could double its agricultural productivity in the next five years.

“Half of the world’s uncultivated land which is suited for growing food crops is in Africa. We need to work together to harness the continent’s potential and this means investing in small-scale farmers who are the backbone of African agriculture,” Nwanze stated.

Africa has 25 per cent of the world’s arable land, yet it generates only 10 per cent of global agricultural output. With a population growth of 2.7 per cent annually, food demand on the continent is expected to double every 30 years. According to the IFAD boss, investments that encourage increased agricultural production would cut Africa’s annual $35 billion food import bill, keeping this money on the continent to be used for broader economic development.

Nwanze said that investments alone will not transform the continent. He said governments need to get their own houses in order and ensure that there is a strong commitment to policies and incentives that encourage higher food production by smallholder farmers. “At IFAD we know that small-scale farmers do not want hand-outs.

They want economic opportunities. I am looking forward to discussing how we can create those opportunities and make agriculture a profitable sector and a powerful catalyst for development,” he stated.

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BUSINESS

How to start a business without money

By Ryan Westwood “I have a great idea for a business.

But I don’t have any money to start it up.” This is a common phrase from many startup entrepreneurs.

W

h i l e it’s true that a generous credit line, a team of investors, or an uncle with deep pockets can make starting a company easier, not having money is no excuse. If you are

Get creative Funding sources are everywhere.

Traditional entrepreneurship philosophy dictates that, to be successful, you should stick with one thing and not deviate from it. But desperate times call for desperate measures. If you are having trouble finding access to funds, there are a number of creative things you can do, such as the following:

department stepped up and offered to develop software for other customers. Then a few in the marketing department offered to develop websites. We added website and software development to our suite of services and landed a contract with Nationwide Insurance, taking the company from negative cash flow to 15 percent net profit per month in

confident that you have a product or s e r v i c e people want, don’t allow the lack of capital to deter you from your business goals.

By pivoting, grinding it out, getting creative, and differentiating yourself, you can bootstrap your way to a successful business.

Pivot U s e services to generate cash flow and fund a productbased business. Starting a serviceoriented business is easy. First, you provide services, and then you collect funds. But a product-based business often requires significant up-front capital to get it up and running. If you’re in this situation, consider selling services to generate cash flow and to build up funds for a productbased business.

Grind it out There’s no substitute for sweat equity. Sometimes you have to get into the trenches and make it happen.

During the first two years of business at my former company, PC Care Support, I knocked on doors, worked my own booth, and closed my own deals. I set up a table at the local college’s business school, hired five college students to work solely on commission, and knocked on people’s doors 7-8 hours per day looking for business. For those two years I didn’t receive a pay check. But I believed in my service, and I believed we could be successful. I was, as billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said, “hell bent on making it work.” The hard work eventually paid off.

Use current resources in new ways - Like most young companies, we encountered a cash flow crunch at PC Care Support. We had about 50 employees, and we wanted to protect everyone’s jobs. We looked at all of our departments and all of our employees’ skill sets to see where we could generate revenue. A few employees in the tech support

During the first two years of business at my former company, PC Care Support, I knocked on doors, worked my own booth, and closed my own deals

Crowdfunding: Alte

By Yinka Kolawole

T

he challenge for the average entrepreneur at the early stage is usually financing to fund their business idea or start up. The banks won’t give loans, family and friends don’t believe in the ideas enough to lend you the money and even if you sold your belongings to raise the money, you are barely able to scrape enough for what you need. The frustration has led many to throw in the towel and settle for paid employment.

The more viable option for many would-be entrepreneurs is usually to save from their earnings.

However in most cases unforeseen circumstances have prompted many to spend from these savings leading to abandoning their dream of starting their own business.

Many just wait patiently hoping someday something turns up. Few, if any, have actually heard of

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

6 out of 10 women dress for other women — WO poll

By Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi

T

HE age-old assumption is that women spend hours searching their wardrobes, making up their faces and standing in front of a mirror simply to impress the opposite sex(or their men).

As such, it isn’t uncommon to hear words like “You think say you still dey market?” when a married woman, for example, dresses up in some breathtaking ways— insinuating she’s all out to impress the opposite sex. Though women often say they find this quite embarrassing, deconstructing the deep-seated belief has remained almost impossible.

But how true is this assumption?

What or who do women primarily consider each time they stand in their underwear in front of the wardrobe, contemplating what to wear— or when applying their makeup? Is it men, themselves or other women?

and be happy. It builds your esteem. Then the man will notice you look good,” she said.

In her view, any woman who depends on men for affirmation might get hurt when she isn’t noticed or commended.

“Sometimes, you dress well and the man does not notice. If he notices, he also may not say it just to hurt you. So, if your happiness is tied to your man and what he has to say, you may never be happy,” she said.

Poll

...about 70 percent of the participants confessed they dress to impress other women because they find their compliments more genuine

Respondents

Woman’s Own posed this question to different women and got several interesting answers.

“For myself first. I love it when I dress well. I’m content. I feel like I can rule the world dressed well.

I can knock on any door. I can speak to anybody. For me, it is me first. Why should I dress up for a man? His compliments are only added perks,” a veteran journalist who preferred to be identified as Tope, said.

A younger mother, Tolulope Oluwole, who works with one of the new generation banks, however said she has a man who doesn’t see the need to dictate her

INSIDE The rise of women in male fields Pg 24 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Twin sisters, one passion Pg 25

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— 23

style, and as such, dresses up in ways that primarily appeal to her.

One of our respondents, a style consultant cum writer with a national daily, who spoke on anonymity, strongly disagreed that women spend hours in front of the mirror just to impress the opposite sex, whether married or unmarried.

“You dress for yourself first

As the debate got hotter, Woman’s Own conducted an online poll with 50 women aged between 20 and 50, and the result unearthed other issues that factor when women dress up.

Six out of ten women aged between 20 and 35 said they dressed to impress other women. In fact, the poll showed they bear girlfriends in mind when they ransack their wardrobes and wear their

Continues on page 25

Women need to tap into Nigeria’s booming beauty industry —Temitope Sedi, CEO Seddy Makeovers

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By Kehinde Ajose

EARS back, the makeup and beauty industry in Nigeria was not in existence because the territory was new and there was a lot of cynicism surrounding it. Those days only celebrities and the fashionistas wore makeup.

Today, all you have to do in order to be convinced is to attend a typical party called Owambe to understand how vibrant it is and the huge opportunities that abounds in the industry.

Temitope Sedi, an Illumin8 and Buntricia’s Total Package trained beauty entrepreneur and makeup artiste advocates that more women need to tap into the booming beauty industry in Nigeria.

“A Euromonitor International report valued the beauty and personal care sector at $595.8m in 2011, up from $439.8m in 2006. It also predicted that by 2016, Nigeria’s young yet increasingly sophisticated population will drive industry sales to $620.2m.

A lot of people complain that we are have too many makeup artistes. I don’t support that

notion. As long as we train more women who understand the business and have deep passion they will succeed. A lot has changed. People are more aware and conscious about their personal image.

I am a makeup artist; I run a makeup school and the growing need for training shows that there is a market for what we do. The beauty industry is empowering more women than any other industry and women need to tap into the booming beauty industry in order to be self- reliant.

She further adds that women should empower themselves by acquiring the right skills.

“Over the weekends, makeup artists make so much money, doing what they love.

Women should quit depending on their significant other and begin to empower themselves with the right entrepreneurial skills.

Gender is not an excuse for failure”

•Temitope Sedi

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24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Twin s

…the story of Esther

Esther Egbunkonye-Ogbue and Gloria Egbunkonye are twin sisters merging individual talents to emerge one of Nigeria’s most creative, wanted millin Amid dwindling demand for hats, the sisters have channeled their skills in b hat making into a modern, trendy line millinery—fascinators and hatinators.

Their enterprise, Sisterhood Crafties, garnered thousands of fans on social media; yet, for the University of Benin alumni, this is only the beginning.

Woman’s Own was with them.

By Josephine Agbonkhese

Our drive wasn’t patronage but passion

•A female truck driver in Lagos

—Esther Egbunkonye-Ogbue

The rise and rise of Nigerian women in traditionally male fields

By Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi

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N a world where strenuous, highly technical and intellectual jobs were considered the exclusive preserve of boys while girls were wired and advised, to think only of professions that required less muscular power, it’s can be quite amazing how women folks have evolved over time.

All around us, women are shattering barriers and breaking into fields like finance, medicine, engineering, driving heavy duty/ articulated vehicles, and much more, without compromising their femininity or roles as wives and mothers.

Yet, in spite of having to combine work with personal life, most of these women are also giving their male colleagues a run for their money.

Engineering One of such women is Engr.

(Mrs)Mayen Adetiba, who has, at different times, led the engineering profession both in Nigeria and abroad. Adetiba is today a household name and a force to reckon with in engineering practice in Nigeria.

Her exploits are contained in an exclusive interview she had with

Where did the inspiration come from?

I actually learned the basic skills millinery through observation from m elder sister who was then a milliner. Sh happened to have a training class runnin at some point and I was always around t help out. After graduating from school, was opportune to attend an inspirationa seminar where the speaker spoke abou tapping into talents. I pondered on wha I could do and then it dawned on me that I could make hats. My sister, Gloria and I, soon developed ourselves and b crafting in a more sophisticated way, cre fascinators, hatinators, bridal access throw pillows, etc.

Woman’s Own in this edition.

Medicine One of the most recent jawbreakers in medicine is Dr Abimbola Abolarinwa, who became Nigeria’s first female Urological Surgeon a couple of years ago. Interestingly, Urology deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract and the sex organs in male.

..in spite of having to combine work with personal life, most of these women are also giving their male colleagues a run for their money

“Initially, I had wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. But when I started my residency training, it suddenly occurred to me that urology is very practical; it cuts

•Dr Abimbola Abolarinwa, Urologist

across being a surgeon and a physician at the same time and there was a need for the specialty.

That was why I chose urology. All the while, I never thought it as being male-dominated; it never occurred to me that there was no female before me in training. I just wanted it because I loved it. I just found myself in it and that was when I realised that I actually got trapped in what was a maledominated specialty,” Abimbola said in an interview.

Auto mechanic Another woman who stands out in very strenuous male terrains is Engr. Sandra Aguebor-Ekperouh, Nigeria’s popular auto mechanic.

Engineer Sandra Ekperouh broke a major yoke by becoming the first woman to join the auto mechanic profession in a society where nobody could ever visualize a woman going under a car to fix it.

Her Lady Mechanic Initiative of Nigeria today consists of over 3,000

women working as mechanics.

Sandra’s bold step began as a dream when she was barely 13year-old.

Commercial bus driving Women have also evolved as commercial drivers of heavy, articulated vehicles since late Funmilayo Ransome Kuti became the first female to drive a car in the 30s in the country.

Today, women folks have looked beyond cars and are building careers for themselves as drivers of articulated trucks and more complex vehicles.

“I’d never seen any woman driving trailers. My curiosity pushed me to try the profession.

As it is, I have a passion for driving. So, driving heavy duty vehicles became a reality and I’ve been doing it for twelve years now,” the first female trailer driver from the northern region, Hajiya Rabi’atu Abubakar Mashi, said. Hajiya now works

How ‘sophisticated’ and which interna milliner do you draw inspiration from I draw inspirations from UK milliners. their pages on the internet, study their de and go the extra mile to recreate pieces

It’s one thing to identify your talen another to monetize it; what was your experience?

The most important thing was the pa We had passion for craft right from child The seminars we attended also helped drive wasn’t patronage but passion to c what we could create and were thrilled However, patronage started with our fr because we constantly displayed our w

as a trailer driver with Dangote Cement Company.

But this fete hasn’t been without its own challenges. As Olayinka Oloruntoba, one of the drivers of the popular BRT buses in Lagos puts it: “Sometimes, you get to the station to load and some passengers refuse to board because they see a lady behind the wheels. At other times, if you are driving on say the Third Mainland Bridge and there is a slight vibration, passengers would start to panic. But all that was at the beginning. Things are

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 —25

sisters, one passion

r & Gloria of Sisterhood Crafties

We can’t breakup like Psquare

a

ners. twin basic e of

— Gloria

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? in my he ng to I al ut at e a, began eating ories,

tional m?

I visit esigns s.

nt and r own

ssion. dhood. d. Our create d by. riends works

•Esther EgbunkonyeOgbue

outfit. Almost everyone is internet savvy now and uses at least two of the social media platforms; making this the easiest way to catch anyone’s attention. However, it is equally important you own a physical outfit where people can locate you or pick up their orders. Moreover, owning an office helps customers reduce uncertainty about you; to convincve them that you’re real and can be traced if anything happens.

•Gloria Egbunkonye

on BBM and other social media platforms. We also did a lot of person-to-person advertising.

We started getting referrals, we got invitation by Alexander McArthy Bridals who saw our works and was wowed.

She did an interview with us which she published on her website and the response from that interview was amazing. From there, we created our own Facebook page because we were at this point certain that what we were actually doing for passion could grow into real business. That inspired us also to open an office.

Would you say the (social media) platform is optimally being leveraged upon by upcoming entrepreneurs?

Our story also has been a major source of encouragement to other entrepreneurs. Majority of them who were not on any of the social media platforms are now on different platforms. It is becoming clear by the day that it is not enough to own only a physical business

better now. Some of my passengers even confess now that they feel safe when I’m the one driving.”

Butcher The influx of women into maledominated terrains has been without the slightest limits— abattoirs too can attest to that as more women take to butchering and meat selling as a profession.

One of such phenomena women is Mrs. Lara Sadiku, a butcher in one of the abattoirs in Lagos State.

“I love what I do; it’s just like any other job in which you have

When and how did you hit your first supply contract?

The first was a bridal train and it was a group job.

It was actually a referral from a friend’s friend in Ibadan. The lady saw us wearing a customized fascinator at that our friend’s wedding.

She loved the piece and it happened that she was planning her wedding at the time. She eventually ordered some for her bridal train and we made her 12 pieces and sold each for 1,700. That was September 2012. Thereafter, we started getting contracts for individual use.

Four years into this business, do you regret toeing this path?

We are most grateful for the choice we made. This business pays our bills and gives us time for ourselves.

to learn for a while. I learned meat business for four years as an apprentice because that is what I enjoy doing. People see this as a dirty job but to me, it’s okay,” she said.

Carpentry In what sector will one not find women these days?

Carpentary too is having its feel of the dynamic specie.

Mrs. Terese Mbama, a female carpenter, said she went into carpentary because she noticed children furniture were not being done properly.

Egbunkonye

I don’t want to believe you both have equal capabilities here; what’s your own area of strength?

We both do everything together but I specialize in the molding aspect. It is actually like a 50/50 thing; a division of labour. In fact, Sisterhood Crafties is a combination of our different ideas.

I learned through observation from our elder sister but didn’t really practice with her at that time like Esther did.

She was actually living with her while I lived with our parents. The seminar we both attended later on spurred my interest. I actually studied Sociology & Anthropology. After the seminar in 2012, Esther designed a beautiful headpiece and sent to me via BBM, and I rushed to her place the next day to see what she created. That was when we designed the headpiece we wore to the wedding which she mentioned brought us our first job.

When we were young, we did headpieces and other stuffs just for the fun of it. We made dolls and all kinds of designs with papers.

How much of local content do you bring into your production?

Basically, all the materials are imported because millinery is a foreign business. We can only put in local content by using fabrics like Ankara when we need to make certain customized pieces on demand.

What if you have to break up someday like Peter and Paul (Okoye) did due to ideological differences?

We know P-square vowed not to breakup but later did and then came together again; but Sisterhood Crafties, believe me, will not breakup. Our separation can only be to have either of us go to manage a new branch somewhere.

As kids, weren’t there times you quarreled and kept malice with one another?

(Laughs)Our quarrels never lasted two hours. We had normal disagreements which never went beyond the domestic issues. We could yell at each other but it all ended there.

But many say friends make better business partners than blood relatives…

We are womb mates, not just blood relatives; we are one egg that was divided into two parts. We reason the same way, act the same way even when we are at different locations. Whatever Esther likes is what I like, vice versa. We are two parts that make a whole.

6 out of 10 women dress for other women Continues from page 23 make-up—up to deciding what shoes to wear. It revealed they just love to attract compliments or envy from their peers. To a large extent, about 70 percent of the participants confessed they dress to impress other women because they find their compliments most genuine– more than that of men.

Explaining this factor, they said their friends were much

more likely to comment if they had changed their hair or make-up than their husbands or boyfriends. There is also the fact that women are much more in the know when it comes to clothes, make-up and style.

Explaining this factor, they said their friends were much more likely to comment if they had changed their hair or make-up than their husbands or boyfriends. There is also the fact that women are much more in the know when it comes to

clothes, make-up and style.

Woman’s Own particularly noticed almost all the participants thought compliments from men were the least sincere because they felt men say they look good regardless of what they actually look like; they compliment them as a tradition, without thinking.

So, who do women dress to impress? Men, themselves or other women? We leave you to decide.

C M Y K

26— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

There were just two of us in class —Engr Mayen Adetiba, renowned Civil Engineer •Says: “You’ll always stand out if you aren’t sloppy”

•Engr. Mayen Adetiba

IN the early 70s when engineering was still perceived as the boys’ club, the only black girl studying for a degree in Civil Engineering in one of the world’s most respected institutions, Columbia University, USA, was a Nigerian. That girl is today 65-year-old Engr.(Mrs)Mayen Adetiba, an icon who has led the engineering profession at different times, both in Nigeria and beyond.

A former President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria and three-time Vice-President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, Adetiba has also presided over the African regional body of the International Association of Consulting Engineers. Principal Partner at Delkem Associates, a foremost consulting engineering outfit, she is also Chartered Secretary-General of the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria, APWEN. In this interview, the amazon who sits on the board of several multinationals and who was the first female to be elected into the executive committee of the NSE, shares her experience working in a male-dominated field in the last 41 years.

Read on:

By Josephine Agbonkhese WHAT inspired you to study a course considered the exclusive preserve of men?

I left Nigeria in October 1970 and started studying Civil Engineering 1971. I didn’t actually set out to do engineering. I was going to read Accountancy but later changed to Computer Science.

I was then inspired by a Nigerian, Engr. Ojo to do Electrical Electronics but later settled for Civil Engineering. I must admit that at that time, it was pretty rare and in my class, when I got in, there were just two of us who were girls. Like I said, I didn’t set out to do engineering; I kind of broke into it.

So how did you cope as a female in department, plus the fact that you just broke into it?

My case was funny because aside being among the only two C M Y K

girls in the class, I was also the only black.

For a very expensive school like Columbia, where you have sons of presidents, senators and so on, it wasn’t easy because they spoke American English as upper-class children.

Different intonation So, coming from Africa, they had difficulty understanding my English because of the different intonation. For that, I also needed to horn my English (in terms of intonation) as much as possible so I could communicate.

Sometimes, it barred me from asking questions in class, so that people won’t laugh at me.

I would later go to see the Professors in their offices.

In terms of academics, did you compete favourably with

your male classmates?

I have always been an intelligent person. So, I didn’t have problems measuring up academically. There were times I was one of the best in class and at other times, I was among the average; you know grades sometimes fluctuate. I always took much more academic loads than most people in terms of units. I was registering like 24 points, which was double what anybody would take. Plus the fact that I had to work because at the time I left the country, which was just after the war, it was forbidden for money to be sent abroad. Even though my mother knew the then Central Bank Governor, it was almost impossible to send me money.

Scholarship from Nigerian government I had to work until they lifted the ban. Even in secondary school when I still had to participate in different sports, I did well academically. Besides, you must be among the top ten in your secondary school to be admitted to the likes of Columbia, Harvard and the rest of them. I got a scholarship from the Nigerian government immediately I graduated in 1975, to do my Masters and Ph.D at Cornell University, also in New York. After my Masters in May 1976, I returned to Nigeria.

What was it like practicing Civil Engineering in a nonegalitarian society like ours in the 70s?

I have not been discriminated against. I have been a lot luckier than most male and female civil engineers put together. I think people always like to patronize me since I started my own company 33 years ago. There were quite a number of complaints from female engineers about discrimination, but personally, I did not experience such.

More importantly, I think one’s attitude towards work also matters. If you’re hardworking and people find that

you put in all your efforts into your work, you will get patronized to a large degree. All through my 41 years in the industry, I’ve always been busy with work. There’s never been a time I have no job to do.

Most of your male contemporaries have not achieved as much as you have; what distinguished you…?

First of all, I would give God the glory. Secondly, I would say I like being thorough. In those days, people described me as “too finicky”, “proper”. Before any sketch left my office in those days when we were still using manual, I personally checked critically to make sure it was perfect.

So, if there were problems at all, it would be very minimal. I think if we are not being sloppy, we will always stand out. If I see an error on a job, I won’t say it doesn’t matter; I make sure it is fixed before it gets out of the office because I know I

If I say that, then I’m not being fair to other women because gender does have a lot to do with most people giving one a chance. A lot of women are actually being discriminated against. But personally, I am a fighter and I come from a family where I was so much favoured by my dad who thought I was superior.

So, I didn’t have any negative concept abinitio. My father made my younger ones come to me each time they needed any favour. Because of that, it was difficult for anybody to make me feel inferior. Aside that, personally, I feel a woman is first and foremost a human being before being a woman.

But I must also say that we’ve come a long way as women in the engineering profession, as well as other male-dominated fields. In those days, women were only in the teaching, nursing and secretarial professions.

Secretarial professions

I have not been discriminated against. I have been a lot luckier than most male and female civil engineers put together

will have to take the blame for whatever happens. Your work goes a long way in telling what kind of person you are. If you’re a sloppy person, it will manifest itself in your presentation.

You’re invariably saying drawbacks come from personal attitude to work, more than gender?

Now we have women heading banks. We have women pilots, truck drivers, and very soon when we have our trains, we’ll find women driving them. In the classroom also, girls constitute 25 percent of students in engineering classrooms. So, we’ve come a long way and it can only get better whatever the men like it or not; whether or not they approve the Gender & Equal Opportunities Bill.

What landmark projects can you recall you’ve handled?

I was the resident engineer during the construction of Durbar Hotel in Festac, Lagos.

That was during Festac 1977.

Then I was in my 20s and was working for Late Engr.

Fajemirokun because I had just returned from the US. The Akwa-Ibom Liason Office and the governor’s lounge in Abuja were done by me. The ELibrary the immediate past governor talks a lot about was one of my projects. We’ve done quite a bit of roads as well.

Amongst others, I’ve also handled quite a number of the NNPC projects in different parts of the country.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 27

,

& YOU three months. This got investors interested in our company, and it enabled us to have the cash we needed to get back to our core services.

Get a credit line - It is common for most startup businesses to rely on a line of credit. The American Express Plum Card, for example, offers a 60-day term for payment rather than a typical 30-day term.

Some banks or credit institutions offer credit designed to allow growth in the early stages of business. A word of caution: to keep from getting bogged down in debt when you are trying to expand a business, keep purchases to a minimum.

Use an incubator - If you believe you have a solid idea and a workable business plan, you may want to consider a business incubator. Upon acceptance, these programs provide funding

There’s no substitute for sweat equity.

Sometimes you have to get into the trenches and make it happen

designed specifically to financially assist a startup company.

Sometimes they offer office space or shared administrative services.

Most incubation programmes are sponsored by local or regional economic development organizations, and some are sponsored by colleges and universities.

Find an accelerator - These are much like incubators in that they are designed to provide funding.

However, an accelerator expects a rapid response to its investment.

If you are prepared and ready to hit the market quickly, this is a great option.

Crowdfund - Crowdfunding platforms are changing the face of capital, whether you’re growing a tech business, filming a movie, or selling jewelry. Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms allow the public to invest a small percentage of money in return for a future buy-in.

Differentiate yourself.

Small things make a big difference. Once you get to a million in revenue, your odds of funding increase exponentially.

Banks, for example, look at funding strictly from this perspective. Banks don’t care what kind of company you are – they simply look at your profit/ loss statement and make a decision. If you’re a profitable company with a million in revenue and good personal credit score, there’s a good chance that a bank will lend you up to $200,000. *Culled from forbes.com

ernative financing source for SMEs crowdfunding, and the opportunities it provides for entrepreneurs.

Crowdfunding is a collaborative process of financial support from a large group of individuals, usually via the internet, to fund a business, project or idea. It is an effective alternative method of raising finance for people with creative projects to fund their goals. It involves soliciting and collecting relatively small amounts of money from a large number of people. In Nigeria it has not been fully embraced compared to the US where $1.5billion was raised in 2011 via crowdfunding. Major players in crowdfunding include sites like kickstarter.com, indiegogo.com and rockethub.com.

In Nigeria, there are no known laws that guide crowdfunding unlike in U.S, Canada, Turkey, United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe where the practice is heavily guided

by legislation.

Though crowdfunding is yet to be fully embraced in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, there are a few players worthy of note. They include 234give.com gogoafrika.com and startcrunch.com.

Gogoafrika.com has recently been under construction and startcrunch.com seems to have been in a lull for a very long time.

234give.com seems to be the most healthy and active of them.

This is relatively poor for an economy that is said to be booming rapidly.

It is important for government to recognise the potential a platform of this nature possesses, pass legislation on it so that it does not get taken over by elements of a shady nature and those benefiting from it do so while maintaining best practices. *Culled from M.com.ng

One major barrier that will always come in the way of discovering new opportunities for the organisation is the silo mentality

,

Discovering growth opportunities in organisations “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking”…George Patton

R

egardless of the industry we play, b u i l d at one time or the other, we may f u t u r e have asked this pertinent question: how businesses can we discover more opportunities for may not business growth? That question goes to b e show that organisations are looking for p o s s i b l e one opportunity or the other to without a improve their results. In reality growth commitment opportunities are not magical; they to be abound in the things we see every day, m o r e things we discuss about and things we strategic. do. Interestingly, we all live in the same T h e y BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE environment, see what everyone sees, must be hear about the needs of people the same way others do. As an organisation, your committed to be more strategic in both their ability to think and act differently what thinking and their actions. Apart from the others have seen from a ‘generalised leaders, the collective employees must also perspective’ should be your focus and learn how to be more strategic in their that is where opportunities for growth thinking and actions. Naturally people were not born strategic thinkers; we were stem from.

Discovering the right opportunity at born with our ‘biological thinking’. This the right time will lead to the growth of is why often times we hear bosses telling their subordinates to be one’s business. What will fuel more strategic. Any time I the discovery is one’s ability hear such comment, I to think differently. So the key always pause to ask question to ask is: is your myself: how will they organisation ready to Naturally become strategic if they discover opportunities others people have not been taught? would have seen but were not Strategic thinking is a able to see it as one due to their were not broader, disciplined and limited way of thinking? Like born more innovative way of Albert Szent- Gyorgyi said thinking and is being “Discovery consists of seeing strategic learnt as a skill. what everybody has seen and thinkers One major barrier that thinking what nobody else has will always come in the thought”. This is true and it way of discovering new gives a competitive edge. opportunities for the Albert Szent- Gyorgyi was organisation is the silo simply encouraging individuals and organisations not to mentality. This happens when individuals join the band wagon and conform to or certain units/departments in an what everyone else is doing but rather organisation decide not to share useful to sit back and think of how to do things information or collaborate with others in the same organisation. Apart from differently. hampering new opportunities, it affects productivity, reduces efficiency and Stand out Remarkable results always come when employees’ morale and at the end of the an organisation stands out from the day the organisation suffers. There is no crowd and not conforming to their old way an individual or unit with such a silo ways of doing things. Interestingly, we mentality will proffer any opportunity have countless areas of opportunities for business growth.

Traditionally, organisations have in and around us. When we see or hear about a customer being treated poorly, encouraged analytical ways of thinking, processes being too cumbersome, where the parts (including some units/ approvals taking longer time than departments) are primary and the whole necessary, heavy bureaucracy, lack of (the entire organisation) is secondary. customer feedback system, lack of Silo mentality festers because people in employee welfare, etc, what comes to the workplace are jostling for resources, our mind? Some might see it as mere recognition and approval at the expense problems that will fizzle out with time, of others and the entire organisation. But another will see it as a time to sit back, really, forward looking organisations think and do things differently for his have moved from the analytical way of or her own organisation. The latter is thinking to systems thinking – where the whole (the entire organisation or more positioned for growth.

Truly, leaders have a major role to play country) is primary and the parts in helping their organisations stand out. secondary. Importantly, in systems They are also expected to build more thinking, cross functional teamwork is of future businesses for their encouraged and this is where discoveries organisations and concentrate less on for opportunities are hatched. There is day to day managing of the businesses. no ‘either/or’ solution to discovering But having leaders that will help their new opportunities but a varfiety of ways. organisations stand out and to also C M Y K

C M Y K

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PARADE: Cross section of 2016 Batch-A corps members during a parade in honour of the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure, who visited the Iyana Ipaja Orientation camp, Lagos.

We won't lose corps members again, NYSC boss vows D

By Dayo Adesulu

IRECTOR-GENERAL of NYSC, Brig Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure, has vowed to protect lives and properties of corps members during their national service and during elections.

Kazaure who made this assertion in-view of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states later this year said, never again will corps members die in the course of serving their fathers land.

Speaking during his visit to the ongoing 2016 Batch-A Orientation exercise in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, where he was quizzed in view of the imminent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo state later this year, Kazaure said: ‘’The NYSC will work hand in glove with relevant stakeholders in the states to ensure absolute safety of corps members who will participate in the processes to prevent the recurrence of the devastating case of late Corps member, Mr.Dumebi Okonta who was shot dead by hoodlums during Rivers rerun parliamentary elections.’’

Welfare and security of corps members He reiterated: ‘’The welfare and security of my corps members are my utmost priorities, I have already mentioned it in all the camps so we are going to make adequate arrangements with all our stakeholders to make sure that they are properly secured.”

Meanwhile, the D.G who addressed himself as the ‘National Dad’of the corps members, explained that the NYSC scheme is about national integration for service to the nation. He urged them to take

advantage of the bumper opportunities of the orientation camp which is meant to fortify them for the likely challenges during and after the scheme and more so, take the privilege of the skill acquisition course in efforts to be empowered.

He added that corps members should respect the culture and ways of their host communities and help add value to them through community development project and desist from vices. Be

upright ambassadors of your families, give diligent service throughout your service year, while bearing in mind that there are rewards for active service.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe, while extending a warm welcome to the D.G boasted about the unparalleled and exemplary place of the Lagos State orientation camp. According to him, adequate security and necessary facilities have been

made available for corps members on camp.

He said: “We have everything here, from mobile banking, to recreational facilities, clinic with prompt services. ''You would be surprised that we don’t have anyone sick laying on our beds because, we are very proactive in making sure that corps members who have health problems are treated expeditiously.

Akhanemhe, who lamented that many corps members have lost

their lives due to indiscriminate travelling of corps members said, though the camp is fortified with maximum security for safety of corps members, NYSC officials do keep tabs to ensure they don’t go outside the camp indiscriminately.

He said, “There is no way you can put a tracking device on corps members not to travel but then, we had lose more corps members to accident than illness.

Virtual Teaching: Okojie tasks stakeholders on capacity building

By Laide AkinboadeOriere

W

ORRIED about the struggling in Nigeria with the use of technology to teach in the universities, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, has challenged stakeholders in education sector to ensure they build capacity for training trainers in the area of virtual learning.

Okojie stated this while declaring open a two-day Capacity Building Workshop for the Production of D igital Multimedia Learning Content for academic staff of Distance Learning Centres and NOUN, organised by NUC in Abuja.

He said it is imperative for nations to prepare their youths for the future through the use of technology.

According to the Executive Secretary of NUC, “We want many students to benefit from

virtual learning. We cannot prepare the future for our children but we can prepare our children for the future. So let us be prepared to teach our children for the future.

“We must build capacity by training and retraining. The fact that many people want to use this facility in our university system, so the people that

Nigeria won’t be able to meet the demands for education if we continue to use the conventional method in our classrooms

would be trained at this workshop should be able to train other people. We are going to train the trainers and they should go back to build capacity."

Prof Folahan Ayorinde, a Professor of Chemistry, said; "The workshop is aimed at providing some academics in Nigeria with the skills to deliver lectures online and give presentations online. This lectures can be given to students without the use of the internet, through virtual means.

“The benefit of teaching students virtually means you are able to teach more students. It gives students access to more materials and you are able to use multimedia. If a student is not able to attend the lecture, he would have access to materials,” he said .

Dr Suleiman Ramon, from NUC, said for Nigeria to be able to meet demand for access, there was need to embrace the

use of technology to teach in our universities.

“It is very clear that Nigeria has been struggling with use of technology to teach in our universities. Nigeria won’t be able to meet the demands for education if we continue to use the conventional method in our classrooms. It is a way to reach more people in leaning,” he said .

Dr Abdullahi Liman Tukur from Moddibo University of Technology , Yola, a participant, said the training is apt considering the peculiar environment he came from (North East).

He stated, “This workshop is relevant to Open, Distance Learning, ODL, giving a peculiar nature of our environment because we are from North East. The ODL is becoming key to us.

We can develop our materials and upload them, especially at this particular time when most of our institutions are closed.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 29

Investment in higher education’ll stem brain drain — Experts

By Amaka Abayomi

A

LAUNCHING: From left, CEO, Cambridge University Press, Mr. Peter Phillips; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research & Development Council, Prof. Ismail Junaidu; Senior Economic Adviser, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, Oby Ezekwesili; and Director, Quality Assurance Department, National Examinations Council, Dr. Ikechukwu Emmanuel during the launch of Cambridge University Press in Nigeria, in Lagos.

Cambridge Press bids to make books more affordable

By Elizabeth Uwandu

T

HE Cambridge University Press (CUP), the oldest publishing house in the world has set up an office in Nigeria with a quest to make its books affordable to the 10 million estimated out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The CUP is working closely with Nigerian authorities and leading education professionals to improve this situation. The CUP will be offering its expertise by partnering with local authors and curriculum experts to develop a bespoke series of high quality education materials for the Nigerian market based on the approved Nigerian curricula.

In this regards, CUP on May 4, 2016 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos brought together education stakeholders of primary, secondary schools, education officials at the State and Federal Government levels to chat the way forward. Mrs Oby Ezekwesilli, former Minister of Education was the Guest Speaker at the event while Professor Ismail Junaidu, the Executive Secretary Nigerian Educational Research

and Development Council, was the Guest of Honour. Ezekwesilli who spoke on challenges of providing quality education for all Nigerian children, lamented that those incharge of education, lack workable policies.

The Managing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press, Mr Rod Smith said that CUP will be producing English language and science (physics, chemistry, biology) books (based on the Nigerian curriculum) at very competitive costs for the Nigerian school system.

Experience in publishing According to him, with over 450 years of experience in publishing, Cambridge University Press are well placed to provide opportunities for Nigerian students to access the best teaching resources – which is key to improving the level of attainment across the whole education spectrum, from primary to higher levels.

He said: ‘Cambridge has

decades of experience supporting Ministries of Education all over the world with training and quality control for the development of their own learning and assessment materials which is why we are so confident that through working collaboratively with ministers, educators, teachers and students alike, we can make a positive impact.’

The entry of the CUP into the Nigerian market means its teaching and learning materials will be produced locally and will become widely available in Nigeria at affordable costs.

Covering the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council’s (NERDC) curriculum, the Cambridge resources will be accessible and affordable to all learners at all levels from Primary 1 – Senior Secondary 3 across a range of subjects.

He said: “The aim of this programme is to give every learner in Nigeria the opportunity to share in and benefit from the gold-standard tradition and contemporary relevance of the University of Cambridge.”

Rivers wins 2016 Spelling Bee contest

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By Tare Youdeowei

IVERS State has emerged overall winner of the 2016 Spelling Bee national final which took place at NECA Hall in Lagos, as Miss Ruth Ejims, 12, of Shalom College, Port Harcourt beats other 49 contestants from twenty states.

With this feat, Ruth got a cash prize of N250,000 and will becoming an Ambassador of Betamalt, the sponsor of the contest which gives her an opportunity to travel to Washington DC in the United States in May to participate in the final of Spelling Bee, with a shopping allowance of $500.

Other winners were Tirenioluwa Deborah Adedipe of the Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State came second while Daniel

Ogwara of Aladunmo International School, Portharcourt, Rivers State came third.

Meanwhile, Miss Tirenioluwa, a 10-year-old student from Ota, Ogun State, came second in the keenly contested quiz, just as the third position went to a 10-yearold Master Daniel Ogwala, another student from PortHarcourt in Rivers State.

Thus, Tirenioluwa, who came second, won a cash prize of N150,000 while Daniel collected a cash prize of N100,000. The schools’ coaches of the winners also went home with various prizes.

In her reactions, the first prize winner, Ruth Ejims noted that she had always looked forward to emerging the winner of the

contest, adding that she reads a lot and worked hard towards the competition.

She said: “Hard work brought me this prize. I studied hard for it, I worked hard, I read books, everybody was like calling me bookworm, working dictionary.”

In her remarks, Mrs. Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Country Director of Spelling Bee Nigeria said “Spelling Bee Competition Nigeria is designed to better the lives of children through literacy, as well as champion the cause of education. ‘’We are impressed by the capacity and conduct of Spellers this year. More importantly we are glad that the process was transparent and the winner is indeed deserve victory she earned.

GROUP of education experts, consisting of Professors Olusola Oyewole, President, Association of African Universities, Ghana; Xie Tao, Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean, School of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, China; and Jo Beall, Director, Education and Society, British Council, has called for the improvement investments in higher education institutions to help stem brain drain being experienced in some countries.

Speaking in a wide-ranging discussion on ‘Brain Drain: Can we stem the flow?’ for a special BBC World Service recording of The Forum at Going Global, the British Council’s conference for leaders of international education, the panel of experts said we face a world where there is this absolutely ruthless competition for the brightest and best.

According to Prof Jo Beall, in a global, interconnected world, we can’t confine people, but there is a policy issue in terms of governments needing to invest in people.

For Prof Oyewole, efforts to improve higher education

institutions will help to stem brain drain. In agreement is Beall, who said “if you don’t have investment in your higher education system or in the workplace to attract people to come home, then your country is more likely to be affected.”

Pointing out that China has witnessed some of the worst brain drain in modern countries, Prof Tao said “there are many problems and obstacles to China’s efforts to retain and attract talent. There are issues of food safety, environmental pollution and health issues, and all these things can discourage people from coming back to China to stay permanently.”

When asked what can help countries hold onto their best and brightest people stop from going overseas, Beall said “if you look at countries like South Africa and China, both have, in the past, had draconian policies to try and stop people moving, and in both cases, it resulted into spectacular failure. In all, the panel agreed that ‘ties of belonging’ are what can bring people back. “In order to make people stay in a country and like the country, you have to have that sense of belonging which means identity, and identity is complicated”, they said.

India varsities offer scholarships to Nigerians

By Tare Youdeowei

W

ITH the over one million backlog of students seeking admission into Nigerian universities yearly without success and the increasing difficulties in accessing foreign exchange, universities in India have announced scholarships to Nigerians as it begins 2016/17 academic session in July.

Chief Executive Officer of Edusoft Associates Limited, Mr. Badri Prasad who disclosed this said; "Some of the major attractions this year include the availability of scholarship to selected students.

There is siblings’ discounts in which one sibling pays the full fee and the other receives huge discount on fees, transfer of credits from schools in the UK and the US to continue studying in India at a fraction of the fees in the previous school. There is also work opportunities for post-graduate students," he explained.

Prasad who noted that education is increasingly becoming competitive globally, disclosed that universities in India have built infrastructure and faculty to provide quality education to people from

across the world. He said: “Nigerians have realised that they can actually study in world class universities at a fraction of the fees charged by schools in the United Kingdom and the United States. ‘’Since degrees acquired from universities in India are at par with schools in the UK and the US, we have in the last three years seen an upsurge in the number of Nigerians studying in universities in India. ‘’From medical sciences to engineering and social sciences, Nigerians can study any course of their choice. What we do at Edusoft Associates is to avail our professional experience to intending students to help them chose the course that best fits their career goal, and thereafter our wide network to select the school that best meets this need. ‘’In addition, visa processing and post-admission services to enable students settle down seamlessly are provided by Edusoft Associates to ensure that the admission process is hitch-free.

The major admission requirement, he says, is credit level passes in five subjects. No foundational, A-level or entrance examinations are required.’’

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Egg powder, Instant pounded yam flour from IBBU

By Ebele Orakpo “We need to strengthen research for efficiently produced healthy food, while ensuring the availability of food at affordable prices...”

– Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestlé A hungry man is an angry man, says a popular adage and one can only imagine what an angry man is capable of doing. There is absolute need for the world to be food secure. To this end, scientists at Lapai, Niger Statebased Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU’s Centre for Applied Sciences & Technology Research: Food Science & Technology Programme, came up with innovations aimed at preserving and adding value to agricultural produce.

They spoke with Vanguard Learning at the 6th National Universities Research and Development Fair held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in March.

Although Nigeria produces a lot of food during the farming season, over 50% of the produce is lost due to lack of proper storage facilities.

Excerpts:

*Egg powder

*IBBU Instant pounded yam flour

Packaged Powder

We employed the technology of foam-mat drying to dehydrate freshly purchased eggs Egg

"Egg powder is a highly dehydrated egg. They may be produced by various methods such as spray drying, vacuum drying, or freeze-drying.

We employed the technology of foam-mat drying to dehydrate freshly purchased eggs.

The eggs were washed, left to dry at room temperature, weighed and then cracked with a kitchen knife.

Dehydrated samples were scrapped off the aluminium trays and grinded with a grinder (Corona) to obtain fine particle sizes.

The sieved samples were then packaged as powdered whole egg (WE), powdered egg white (EW) and powdered egg yolk (EY).

Egg powder can become a sustained method of preserving egg without significant loss of nutrients.

Fortified instant pounded yam flour Every year, Niger State produces several tons of yams that require further value-added processing, preservation and packaging; the researchers conducted research trials to enhance preservativeness and storage of yam flour.

Instant pounded (poundo) yam flour is

made from dehydrated and grounded (comminuted) yam peels.

Traditionally, pounded yam is made by pounding boiled yam with a pestle in a very big mortar with concomitant addition of some quantities of water to make it soft and pliable. Instant pounded yam flour is made by boiling hot water which is used to pregelatinize the carbohydrate and then turn it with a paddle or

spoon depending on the size of the yam flour. The research work has enabled the development of novel yam flour for instant pounded yam production. It has also produced pounded yam which the colour and flavour were not adversely affected. The researchers areDennis Balogu; Cornelius Orishagbemi; Vincent Balogu, Theophilus Ikegwu and Babatunde Jubril.

ICAN commits to building capacity

By Providence Obuh

T

he Institute of C h a r t e r e d Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has reiterated its commitment to building capacity to enhance staff skill to enable them compete favourably.

Also, the institute observed its 2016 Staff Long Service Award and Presentation Ceremony in recognition of hard work and commitment to service over the last 10 to 35 years, just as two Deputy Registrars disengaged after expiration of their tenures.

Speaking on the occasion in Lagos, President of ICAN,

Otunba Olufemi Deru, assured that the council of ICAN will never take decisions on staff matters that would jeopardize its cordial and harmonious working relationship, explaining that the ceremony was organised to recognise and celebrate hard work and achievements of staff members who had worked selflessly in the institute for 10 to 35 years.

He said the gesture will not only help to boost staff morale and improve their motivation to serve, but it will also inspire and encourage others who have not attained the minimum of 10 years in the service of the institute.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—31

73% of all abortions done by married women— STUDY

By Sola Ogundipe

N

OT less than 41 million abortions totalling 73 percent of all abortions in the world between 2010 and 2014, were obtained by married women, according to a new study by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organisation.

The study, which found that between 2010–2014, a quarter of all pregnancies worldwide ended in abortion, said by marital status, the estimated abortion rate in 2010–2014 was 35 per 1,000 women 36 per 1,000 for married women and 25 per 1,000 for unmarried women.

A publication of the study in the Lancet entitled: “Abortion incidence between 1990 and 2014: global, regional, and subregional levels and trends,” by Gilda Sedgh et al., noted that, although the overall number of abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age (15–44 years old) in developed countries dropped from 46 to 27, in developing countries, it changed little, from 39 to 37.

The percentage of abortions dropped in developed regions from 39 percent in 1990–1994 to 28 percent in 2010–2014, while in developing countries, aborted pregnancies went from 21 percent to 24 percent over the same time span.

The study also found that although the global abortion rate declined slightly during the 25-year period studied, the absolute number of abortions per year increased as a result of population

growth. Globally, the annual number of abortions grew by almost six million, from 50.4 million in 1990–1994 to 56.3 million in 2010–2014.

“These trends suggest that women and couples in the developed world have become more successful at avoiding unintended pregnancies—the cause of most abortions—over the last two decades,” noted Dr. Sedgh, lead author of the study and a principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute.

MALARIA: Stakeholders seek strategic preventive investments

T

HE General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility Sustainable Development, CSR-SD, Total Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited, Dr. Charles Ngiribara and Country Director, Development Africa, Joshua Kempeneer have advocated preventive methods and strategic investment in the fight against malaria in the country.

Ngiribara said: "Annually, malaria affects over 300 million people globally and takes the lives of almost a million. This explains why our company is determined to join

Investment in family planning and reproductive health saves lives. Photo: courtesy Women Deliver

forces with all stakeholders and other corporate organizations in the fight to end malaria for good in line with the theme of this year's World Malaria Day. Ngiribara who spoke during a three day Roll Back Malaria Outreach, said: “Creating awareness goes a long way in helping the masses prevent and protect themselves from the illness and this is the reason for our gathering here. Prevention is our watchword at Total because it is less expensive than cure. We believe that with the corporation of everyone, we can control and prevent this scourge in our ultimate battle to eradicate it completely," he stated.

The outreach jointly organised by Development Africa in partnership with Total Exploration and Production Company and Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area offered opportunity for free tests and treatment for pregnant women, nursing mothers, among others, as well as distribution of long lasting insecticide nets in Ilaje and Olomu communities. Also, over 100 Rapid Diagnostic Kits were donated to Primary Health Centres.

Kempeneer, said: "The fight against malaria requires strategic investments, continued political will and innovation in the way that we combat the scourge; with this attitude we can eliminate malaria and help future generations achieve their full potential. We must commend the Lagos State Government and Total E&P Nigeria Limited for the continued effort and investment in the fight against malaria."

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

HAVE small breasts and wide hips so I have always been conscious of my body shape. I admit that sometimes I wear padded bras just to make me feel better about my appearance. Women do these things.

But the man I have been seeing gets annoyed by it. I remember the look on his face the first time we were undressing to make love. He appeared disappointed and that is exactly why I wear padded bras. I hate that look from men. I don’t know what to do- Faith Your body belongs to you so it is up to you to dress it up the way you please. However, you cannot honestly expect everybody to like it. To the woman wearing a padded bra, body shaping makes her look bigger and feel better. But for the man she is trying to impress, wearing a padded bra is deceitful. Guess what? They are both right.

So the choice is yours but here is something you need to know. Big breasts grab men’s attention easily but that is not the only thing they notice and care about in a woman. If you can learn to trust the body you came with, you will realize that you can also find love by looking just the way you are. There is somebody for everybody out there who will love you just the way you are – Uche There is this guy that I really really like. We have been friends for a while now but we have not yet taken it to the next level as in we have not slept together yet. I love him but it is not about sex for me. He is beginning to feel frustrated and I don’t want to lose him – Agnes Agnes realistically, there are very few people in the world that want to be in a sexless romantic relationship.

Such people are called Asexuals and they are few in the world. There is a strong possibility that you yourself are Asexual.

Now there is nothing wrong with not wanting a sexual relationship. The only problem however is that the person you love may not be okay with a sexless relationship. So you need to be realistic and not expect this to work – Uche

I will like to reorder Max Load supplement for sperm boosting. I didn’t think it was going to work so I ordered one and I have traveled back to Ondo. Please I need two more. I like it – Seyi Seyi call the numbers below to place your order or order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com – Uche I am interested in stimulators that can help me experience orgasms. My friends suggested one vibrator with a curved tip – Jumai There are many vibrators, supplements and arousal gels that can help you enjoy intercourse or selfpleasuring to the point of orgasm. The curved vibrator you talked about is referred to as a G Spot Vibrator, an example of which is the Cyberskin G Spot Buzzer. Rabbit vibrators like the OVO K1, K2 and K5 will also get the job done even better. And of course an arousal gel like the Jo Oral Stimulating Gel will help speed up the arousal and orgasm – Uche I am 62 years old and I have been going through erectile dysfunction for a while. I have heard about Libimax but can it help me at my age? Chike Yes it can. Libimax is good for strengthening erections, controlling premature ejaculation, helping with stamina/ multiple rounds and penis enlargement. Men older than you use it - Uche I have received my order. Thanks especially for the Sta Hard Cream stopping premature ejaculation - Philip I took two tablets of the Passions Aphrodisiac Mints on Sunday. I wasn’t sure if it was working but after about one and half hours I suddenly wanted intercourse so bad. Thanks – Ifeyinwa You are welcome. It is one of our new products – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

32— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

SCORPIO; If you wait till tomorrow before you make an important move ,you may be disappointed, because tomorrow’s influence will bring you more challenges than you can rightly anticipate now. But greater success indicated for you today.

SAGITTARIUS; Very soon there’ll be important development along your career line. But today will offer you best of opportunity and good luck to achieve your desired results. Be more ambitious now CAPRICORN; Here is a loving day for those of you willing to give priority attention to matters of the heart. Planning for both immediate and far future’ll not be out of place. And it’s good to think money.

AQUARIUS: This is the wrong time to gamble either with your physical cash or your source of income. Take nobody for granted. Take love more seriously

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Want to live in peace with your enemy?

T

HE holy writ says if our ways pleases the Lord, he will make our enemies to live in peace with us.I want to ask you a question:Are you living in peace and har-

mony with your neighbour?If you are not,then it is time for you to examine your relationship with your creator.If

TERROR MUDA

your relationship with your creator is smooth,there is no way your relationship with your neighbour won’t

in “Never say goodbye”

benefit from it.You cannot be antagonistic towards your neighbour and expect your creator to be happy with you.Relate well with your creator and your enemies will be at peace with you.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; Partnership related issues are becoming more important and if you try to sweep anything under carpet now, it’ll back-fire sooner than expected. Take your love life more seriously than before.

ARIES; Hard work will not go unrewarded if not today very soon. Important development coming through your working arena soonest will place you at advantage position. The more practical you are the better.

TAURUS; Love, romance and sentimental things can not be ignored completely today unless you want your concentration to waver .Be more enterprising in the business world Anyway success indicated for you today..

GEMINI; Happenings within your base of operation (both at home and at work) must be taken more seriously now, more especially as there’ll be Solar eclipse in Virgo tomorrow.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

CANCER; Both your mood and element of luck may not be as friendly as you’ll like.. Matters of the heart may top priority lists of some of you. But mind you your mood will change tomorrow.

LEO; If financial success is your priority you’ll need to redouble your efforts today and tomorrow.

Be protective of your possessions and personal family.

VIRGO; Placement of the Moon gives you the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the admiration of other people. You can make it a romantic day.

Experiment with your personal ideas.

LIBRA; Here is your day when element of luck will work favourably for you. Secret lovers are in for an exciting and memorable day. Keep your secrets please.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

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

What’s my social life?

Dear Joshua, I want your analysis and tell me about my social life, luck and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life; kindly tell me about my social life and luck.

Kola. Ilorin.

Dear Kola, What you will find here-under will answer your questions. Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. Aquarius and Leo are two most active social Star signs. And you will notice that your natal Venus in Taurus, Moon in Aquarius and Uranus in Leo formed T-Square aspects putting Venus as point-focus, meaning that the best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted.

Yes you can be a self made man but it is indicated that there will be times when both human and divine assistance will lift you up. You will have more to gain by your being spiritual .Saturday born people are favoured by BLACK and golden colours.

Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 36th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on. But the same 46th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 48th year on earth.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 33

Don't be afraid of women in politics, male politicians urged

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—SECRETARY of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South geopolitical zone, Princess Philomena Ihenyen, has advised male politicians in the country not to treat with apprehension and suspicion, women’s participation in politics but rather welcome them in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity, to raise human development to a higher pedestal.

She said that throughout history, women have shown their patriotism and unwavering commitment to the spirit of cooperation, solidarity a promotion of human dignity and common good of all.

Mrs. Ihenyen, at a lecture organized by the Independent Television, Benin, Edo State, listed Queen Amina of Zaria, Queen Idia of Benin, Indira Gandhi of India, Mrs. Olufumilayo Kuti, Golda Meir of Israel, Margaret Thatcher of Britain, Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Mrs. Hilary Clinton, among others, as women who, through their participation in politics, brought development to mankind.

She stated that the Edo woman in politics, therefore, has a rich legacy at the local and international levels from which to draw inspiration, courage and experience, adding that buoyed by

the advantage of technology, particularly the ICT, women hope to build up their political strength relying on the invincible powers of cooperation, solidarity, unity and coalition to project themselves for equitable and high stakes in politics.

She added that Edo women had paid their dues in their unwavering commitment and silent support to their party over

the years unlike their male folks who frolic from one party to another, shopping for material advantage.

She noted that since the advent of the 4th Republic in 1999, the struggle for women representation in politics was not just by women alone, saying: “When will the Nigerian woman politician be recognised on her own merit to

vie for legislative and executive offices at the highest level, as now happens in the judiciary?

“When shall a level playing field come to be in the Nigeria's political terrain, that women politician will be motivated to dare on their own to seek election to any office of their choice without looking over their shoulders to a looming male shadow?"

WORKSHOP: Mr D. I. Tayo, visitor; Mr Michael Ozah, Vanguard Lawyer; Mr Amos Oyedeje, Asstant Chief Driver, Vanguard Newspaper; Mr Solomon Emoren, Asstant Transport Manager, Vanguard Newspaper; Mr Hassan Balogun, Deputy Admin Manager, Vanguard Newspaper; Engr.

R. K. Durojaiye, Visitor, Mr Michael Ima, Asstant. Purchasing Manager, Vanguard Newspaper; Engr. Toyin Garuba, Zonal Head, Vehicle Inspection Services, V I S, Apapa Zone; Mr K. Adejuyigbe, visitor; Pastor Innocent Nwanekwu, Asstant. Admin Manager, Vanguard; Pastor Felix Oregbeyiwa, Chief Driver, Vanguard Newspaper; Mr S. O Ogunbowale, Visitor and Mr Francis Oputa- Oji, Admin. Officer, Vanguard Newspaper, during a workshop for Vanguard Newspaper by Vehicle Inspection Services, VIS, Apapa Zone, as part of its Bi-Annual Safety Campaign Week, at Vanguard Newspapers Headquarters, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

Delta LG workers groan over 10 months salary backlog

By Emma Amaize

A

SABA—EMPLOYEES of more than 20 local government areas in Delta State have not received salaries in the last eight to 10 months and are reportedly starving.

Investigation by Vanguard showed that many of the affected workers have absconded from their post, complaining that they do not want to collapse in their offices because of hunger.

Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Delta State chapter, Mr. Malik Ikpokpo, confirmed that councils in the state were in dire need because of the downturn in the economy.

Ikpokpo, who is the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, said: “I can confirm to you that in my council, workers have not been paid in the past 10 months and it is very disturbing to me.

“The council is practically getting zero allocation every month after the obligatory deduction of N130 million for payment of salaries of primary school teachers, two per cent allocation for agriculture, royal fathers’ stipends and other deductions.

“You can imagine where there is no money to pay salary of workers, how do we get money to carry out projects? I want to

improve the primary health care in my area and repair some bad roads, so many thing, but where is the money?”

He said that until lately, only three or four of the 25 councils in the state were able to pay workers from their allocations,

but the tide had changed in the past two to three months, as they could no longer pay and the respective councils are currently carrying out biometric exercise.

“It has been fluctuating around N10 million, N20 million and N30 million

depending on the month for some time now, but we require N60 million to pay council workers and we cannot pay because our internally generated revenue is just about N1.5 million monthly," he said.

PDP congress: Ayade tasks elected oficials on commitment

By Ike Uchechukwu

C

ALABAR—CROSS River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has called on newly elected officials of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state executive to remain committed to the ideals of Nigeria and unity of the country while discharging their duties in humility with equity and justice.

Meanwhile, Edim Inok Edim has emerged the new Chairman of PDP in the state, scoring 791 of the 809 votes cast by accredited delegates while Mr Patrick Emanghe emerged Deputy Chairman with 792 votes and Victor Odu clinched the position of Secretary of the party with 710 votes. Ayade, who spoke during the congress at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, said the new officials must “Remain committed to the ideals of

Nigeria and the oneness of the country. They should ensure they exhibit humility, equity and justice in the way they discharge their duties knowing that power belongs to the people.”

On the peaceful conduct of congresses in the state, Ayade said that they had a consensus and good understanding with wide consultations which he said was democratically done.

....As Mutu gets kudos over level playing field in Bomadi PDP congress

By Onozure Dania

N

IGER Delta Liberty Movement, NDLM, a socio-political group in Bomadi, Delta State, has commended Mr. Nicholas Mutu, House of Representatives member representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency, for his doggedness in ensuring that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ward, local government and those to represent Bomadi council in the state were not hijacked as he stood for fairness for all the candidates.

NDLF, in a statement by its

leader, Stow Ebiyikefe, urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other PDP leaders to always give listening hears to Mutu, explaining that due to his courage and forthrightness, every ward in the area was represented in the party's executive at the local government level.

The group, while describing the federal lawmaker as a committed party man, called on the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, to partner Mutu in addressing the challenges facing the Niger Delta region.

Crisis brews in two Delta communities over land dispute

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—CRISIS is brewing between Igbodo community in Ika North East and Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Areas, Delta State, following alleged encroachment on Igbodo farmland by a native of OnichaUgbo and manager of a new generation bank.

The bank manager who allegedly hired armed thugs to attack anyone who dared challenge his ownership of the land, was, recently accosted by three of the affected families from Igbodo, but the banker allegedly ordered his thugs who were brandishing Pump Action guns to shoot sporadically into the air to scare them away.

The people numbering over 10 escaped being shot as they ran to the Divisional Police Station, Igbodo to incident the matter.

One of the families had a month ago, reported the criminal activities on their farmland to the Police at the Area Command in Asaba, but the bank manager was alleged to have refused to honour all invitations extended to him by the police.

Delta PDP youths task politicians on philanthropy

P

DP Youth Renaissance, PYR, a youth group in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised Nigerian politicians to display acts of philanthropy, by contributing their quota to the socio-economic development of the society.

At a PDP youths conference in Agbor, Delta State, the youths commended Chief Sunny Onuesoke for designing programmes to facilitate sustainable socioeconomic development of communities through publicprivate partnership.

President of PYR, Mr. Joshua Okoh, commended the Onuesoke Foundation which advocates a sustainable environment promoting social and economic development in the society, adding that the philosophy of the foundation is founded on the activism, passion and approach Onuesoke has adopted over the years in his environmental campaign.

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—35

Senator Ekweremadu, a role model —Hon Ugwa

PDP congresses: 3rd faction emerges in Anambra, threatens legal action As

By Enyim Enyim

By Tare Youdeowei

T

HE DEPUTY Senate president Dr. Ike Ekweremadu has been hailed as a role model in the politics of the South-East.

In an interview with newsmen in his office, Hon. Sam Ugwa, the senior legislative aide to the Deputy Senate President, noted that the activities of his boss are unrivalled in the annals of the Senate representation for the South-East.

Recent killings Hon. Ugwa noted that as the highest ranking leader of the Igbo in the present political dispensation today, he has led by example with the manner he handled the recent killings in Enugu State by the Fulani herdsmen.

He pointed out that he not only visited the scene of the incident, but has been in the vanguard for a peaceful solution with his series of meetings with the South-East governors, which had led to the governors speaking with one voice to avoid the repeat of the ugly incident.

On the forth-coming birthday celebration this week of the Deputy Senate President, Ugwa wished the South-East leader a great celebration.

new Enugu PDP chairman pledges to reposition party

O

NITSHA—BARELY 24 hours after the Peoples Democratic Party state congress in Anambra, a third faction led by Mr Ngozi Agudosi has emerged and threatened to institute a legal action against a faction congress committee chairman led by Ladi Edun.

This followed a parallel state congress, yesterday, at different venues by the party that produced two state chairmen, Mr. Ejike Oguebego and chief Ken Emeakayi of Chief Chris Uba faction and senators Andy Uba and Stella Odua's faction.

Agudosi was one of the three chairmanship candidates that duly purchased forms to contest in the Andy Uba/Stella Odua faction but was disqualified by the Edun led faction congress committee on grounds that the position was zoned to Ihiala local government in Anambra south senatorial zone.

At the conference hall of Marble Arch hotel, venue of the Andy Uba faction of the state congress, Edun read out a court consent judgement with suit No. HIH/6/2015 which stated that Anambra stakeholders met and zoned the chairmanship position to Ihiala local government.

But speaking to reporters after

the congress, Agudosi said the consent judgment was fraudulently obtained by chief Ken Emeakayi, alleging that was what Emeakayi armed the factional congress committee with to disqualify him and one Mr Emeka Small.

In Enugu state, the newly elected chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Augustine Nnamani, has promised to work assiduously to reposition the party for the challenges ahead.

He also pledged to promote the

laudable programmes and policies of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration in the state, in line with the manifesto of the party.

This came as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, endorsed the process of Enugu State PDP congress which produced Nnamani and 28 other members of the State exco of the party as peaceful and transparent.

INEC, through its Administrative Secretary in Enugu State, Dr. Hyacinth Aniemena, hailed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other leaders of the party in the state for the orderly manner the congress

was conducted and called on politicians from other states to emulate the state.

The new state chairman of the party in his acceptance speech, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his uncommon leadership role that had brought peace and unity to the party.

He also lauded the governor for his impressive pace of development in the state, despite the current economic challenges in the country which had drastically affected the revenue inflow of the state.

2 arrested, bloodbath averted as Police stop touts, transporters' clash

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—THE timely intervention of the police in Nnewi, the industrial center of Anambra state yesterday saved what could have degenerated into a blood bath between some touts and transporters in the area.

Some touts had attempted to force transporters in the industrial city to use a private motor park built by a businessman who claimed to have the approval of government to make other

transporters use the park but the intervention of policemen from Nnewi Central Police station led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Ikechukwu Egbochukwu saved the situation as the transporters had already resisted and posed for war.

According to the source, over 800 touts allegedly brought in from Onitsha by the park owner attempted to force every bus in Nnewi to start using the private park. The clash between the touts and the transporters caused human and vehicular traffic even as

some onlookers sustained minor injuries as they scampered for safety before the arrival of the police team which arrested two of the attackers and dispersed others.

The source hinted that the transporters resisted being forced to use the private park, arguing that they were comfortable with the way they operated, using the roadside as their loading and unloading spot which they had become used to after being chased away from Nkwo Triangle motor park some years ago.

Corp Marshal of FRSC warns against use of fake tyres by motorists

By Emeka Mamah & Chinedu Adonu

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NUGU—THE Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi yesterday warned against the use of fake tyres by motorists on Nigerian

roads, saying that the usage of expired tyres and over speeding were the most significant challenges in traffic management in the country.

He, however, said that the campaign against expired tyres would commence from the end of this month.

Oyeyemi spoke at a capacity development workshop for Zonal

and Sector Heads of Operations of the FRSC in Enugu saying that the high rate of road accidents on Nigerian roads must be minimised.

The theme of the two day workshop is “Enhancing Operational Activities in Field Commands.”

According to him, the rate of crashes on the roads was

alarming, adding that 90 per cent of such incidences between February 9 and April 7 were as a result of tyre blowout.

His words, “In Nigeria today, we are aware of what is taking place with respect to loss of lives and properties on our roads. This shows we have a major problem in our hands."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On herdsmen's continuous attack on innocent Nigerians

W

hy is this government quiet about herdsmen killing innocent Nigerians? If it were to be Niger Delta, they would have sent Army to eliminate them.

Killings everywhere and world governing bodies are quiet. -Mr. Pobeni Paowei, Worker

W

hat is going on in our country, Nigeria, herdsmen in negative news every day? Have they changed their name from Boko Haram to herdsmen? Can’t our governments do something to stop these killings? -Mr. Chinedu Young, Self Employed

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re we cursed or are we the cause? I repeat, the real enemies of Igboland are our political leaders at present. Let us sack the enemies at home. We Igbo are blessed with intellectuals, why do we let charlatans lead us? -Miss Ugama Che Che, Graduate

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hese displaced terrorists are all over the country calling themselves herdsmen. We are completely tired of you.

You have no respect for human life and you cannot create even an ant. Mrs. Josephine JoeFadile, Businesswoman

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nugu State, Taraba State, very soon these blood thirsty terrorists in the disguise of herdsmen will ruin this country. Where are the security operatives of this country? -Mr. Daniel Ikerionwu, Worker

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hese rampaging herders on a killing spree are definitely living in the era of barbarism. The world today and other decent Nigerians are already living in the era of intellectualism. -Miss Nwosu Njideka, Employed

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

IBTC BIZ SESSION: From left—Executive Director, Corporate and Transactional Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ms Yewande Sadiku; Vice Chairman, African Steel Mills, Mr. Raj Gupta; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Managing Director, WEMPCO Group, Mr. Robert Tung; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC, Yinka Sanni, at the bank's 2016 iron and steel business session in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

TRADE FAIR: From left—Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Mr. Sola Oyetayo; Director of Commerce, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Mr. Hakeem Adeniji; President, Dr. Nike Akande; Deputy President, Mr. Babatunde Runwase; and Director -General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, all of LCCI, during the presentation of the 2016 Lagos International Trade Fair Prospectus in Lagos.

GREAT PLACE TO WORK: From left—Great Place to Work Master Trainer, Olumide Ajomade; Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Sade Morgan; Human Resources Director, Grace Omo-Lamai, and Managing Director, Ben Langat, all of Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., during the Great Place to Work awards night in Lagos.

OPENING: From left—CEO, Raumplus Global, Mr. Bergmann Carsten; Franchisee, Mr. Adeyanju Adelakun; Mrs Dunke Adelakun; CEO, Bang & Olusen, Mr. Mogans Vihelsen, and Director, Raumplus, Germany, Mr. Lieber Sebastian, during the opening of an ultra-modern office complex/showroom of Raumplus and Bang & Olufsen, in Abuja.

AWARD: The 51st President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Otunba Olufemi Deru (2nd left), presenting a plaque to Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, one of the recipients of 2016 ICAN Merit Awards, at its annual dinner and awards in Lagos. With them are Chief AdeOjo's family members.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—37

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38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Egbeda murder: Police conduct autopsy

By Evelyn Usman

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S INVESTIGATION into the domestic violence that led to the alleged killing of Mrs Ronke Shonde by her husband , Lekan, last week in Egbeda area of Lagos continues, Vanguard gathered that an autopsy was conducted on the corpse yesterday to ascertain the exact cause of her death.

This followed denials by her husband, Lekan, of being culpable of her death, as widely reported.

Rather, he claimed that his late wife was hypertensive.

News, however, filtered in yesterday evening that the autopsy report was out , with the result unknown.

But this was described as false by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni , who simply stated that he was not aware of any report, adding that such information was capable of jeopardizing police investigation.

As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives also visited scene of the crime at 5, Tiemo Crescent, off Awori Street, Ile-Epo Alhaji, accompanied by Lekan, who wore a forlorn look..

They conducted a close to four hours search of the flat, scrutinizing every object and taking photographs where necessary, but the outcome of the search could not be immediately ascertained.

Besides, the suspect as gathered had refused to eat since he turned himself in to the Police. He was said to have kept insisting that he wanted to die.

Meanwhile, the publishing firm where one Kayode , the man that was alleged to have had a clandestine relationship with the late Ronke, yesterday, denied having anyone by that name as a member of their staff.

The illicit relationship according to Lekan, sparked off the quarrel with his late wife.

'Pastor' docked over alleged N6m prayer fraud A

38-YEAR-OLD ‘pastor’, Ilimesekhe Ogie, yesterday, appeared before an Ojo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State for allegedly obtaining N6 million from Rufus Ezuluka to offer prayers that will

help him become a rich man.

The accused pastor, whose address was not disclosed in court, is facing a-two-count charge bordering on fraud.

The prosecutor, Insp. Uche Simon, told the court that the

accused committed the offence on June 7, 2014 at Alaba International Market in Ojo. “The accused on the said date did conspire to commit felony to wit stealing money from a prayer client for prayers to become rich.

TRAINING: From left, Director, Inspectorate, National Insurance Commission, Mr. Barineka Thompson; Managing Director, First Standard Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Tayo Akintunde, and Managing Director, Titan Insurance Brokers, Mr. Francis Ewherido, at the NAICOM-organised training on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, for insurance brokers, in Lagos, yesterday.

Delta shooting: Families petition Army chief, rights commission

By Emma Amaize

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ARRI—THE families of Mrs. Alice Akparobi and Shedrack Saduwa in Delta State are calling on Nigerian Army authorities to arrest and

prosecute officers allegedly involved in extra-judicial murder and attempted murder of their daughter and son respectively by soldiers attached to the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun Barracks, near Warri.

In a joint petition by their solicitor, Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq., the families said one of the soldiers in an army checkpoint at Jakpa Junction, Effurun, opened fire on a tricycle rider, April 30, during the sanitation exercise, “which in turn

Police quiz Anambra councillor over alleged killing of nephew

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R. CHIDIEBERE Onyema, the councilor representing Nsogwu Umunze Ward 2 in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra is helping the police on the alleged killing of his nephew.

The deceased, identified as Nnanyere Onyema, 19, lost his life over an allegation that he stole two cell phones.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Mr Ali Okechukwu, who confirmed the development in Awka yesterday, said that the councilor had already been detained at the State Criminal Investigation

Department at Awka.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the incident,” Okechukwu said.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs Gloria Onyema, said that Nnanyere died on May 6, after receiving severe beating from the councilor on the day of the incident.

She said that Chidiebere came to her apartment in the early hours of May 6, demanding to see Nnanyere.

“After the day’s business, I and my husband returned back home later in the day and was told by Nnanyere’s younger brother, Tochukwu that Chidiebere had been beating Nnanyere.

“When I went to look for Nnanyere, I saw him at Chidiebere’s flat lying helplessly on the ground with severe wounds.

“When I inquired the reason for the beating, I was told that my son stole Chidiebere’s mother ’s and sister ’s cell phones," he said.

ambushed and shot them severally.

One of the victims, Olawale, who spoke to Vanguard at the Emergency OCTORS ARE currently and Accident Unit, Lagos University battling to save the lives of two Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday, young men allegedly attacked by said: “On May 2 around 10p.m., I was gunmen at Lakowe village in Ibejutaking food to our colleagues working Lekki area of Lagos last week . at a site in Lakowe Village in IbejuIt was learned that the victims, Lekki area of Lagos in company of two Adeniyi Olaewe, 32, and Ojo Yekini, Olawale, one of the of my other colleagues.

30, were attacked by gunmen who victims “My colleagues sat at the rear seat.

D

hit Mrs. Akparobi and Mr Shedrack Saduwa, who were at the material time present at the scene of the incident.”

According to the counsel, “The victims were abandoned by the said soldiers in the pool of their blood, until Mr. Shedrack Saduwa, who was hit in the stomach on the fateful day with his intestines gushing out, was rushed to a nearby hospital.

“However, Mrs. Alica Akparob was not lucky as she passed on twenty minutes after the incident and her corpse deposited at the morgue of the Central Hospital, Warri by soldiers from the 3 Battalion, Effurun, led by Major Laleye on the same day."

Inter-communal clash: Soldiers arrest 4 in Delta

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—MEN of the 222 battalion of the Nigerian Army have arrested four persons

2 narrowly escape death as gunmen unleash mayhem

By Esther Onyegbula

“Ogie did conspire and collected N4.2million from Ezuluka who said he needed prayers to become a rich man.

“Ezuluka gave Mbisike Ekene the sum of N1.8million so that he could be linked to the pastor for prayers, ‘’he said.

Simon further said that Ezuluka, a salesman, unlawfully, collected the monies from his boss, Enoch Okwunne, who owns an electrical wire shop.

Simon said that the offence contravened Sections 409 and 326 of Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while Chief Magistrate Paul Adedamola granted him bail in the sum of N10.5 million with two sureties in the like sum.

Adedamola said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, be gainfully employed and must also present evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

He said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and then adjourned the case to June 27.

I saw a vehicle deliberately trailing towards our car with sinister motive .

As I tried to swerve our vehicle to another direction, the vehicle moved closer.

“Before I could find out what the problem was, the next thing I heard was sporadic gunshots and I was hit by bullets. I managed to run out of the vehicle, yet the shooting persisted.

in connection with the intercommunal clash between Igbide and Okpolo-Enwhe communities, both in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

It will be recalled that several persons were killed and seven houses razed over the weekend in renewed hostilities between the feuding communities over boundary dispute.

Security sources said the suspected culprits were arrested by soldiers who were drafted to the neighbouring communities, and handed over to the police at the Oleh divisional headquarters for preliminary investigations.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—39

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40 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Corrupt Judges should be sentenced to life imprisonment — Justice Kuti The fight against corruption in the country has reached a level where the judicial arm of government is not spared.

Judiciary before now was well referred among the other three arms of government, however recent revelations have proved to the contrary. In this interview, a retired academic and a justice of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Professor, Justice Abdul-Fatai Kuti suggested that judges convicted for corruption be sentenced to life imprisonment or their assets confiscated. He also spoke on the controversial grazing bill as well as state police. Excerpts:

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

A

S a retired High Court Judge, what do you think can be done to achieve judicial independence?

We should have people who are bold enough to say their mind. I was offered a job by the late Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mohammed Bello and I refused and he said I would regret it. I was offered a job to the International Criminal Court and I rejected it. We must have people who can stand on principles and be bold. I did that on personal reasons which I would not disclose at this stage.

I am the only African who rejected the job. Whenever I go to my bank, people run helterskelter to attend to me, yet I don’t take overdraft. I had been in Abuja where people came after I have decided a case with bags full of dollars and I refused.

Bags full of dollars I was given a house with swimming pool and all that and I refused. People must be bold, courageous and principled. That is part of what can guarantee judicial independence.

We are looking at the judiciary as an institution. For instance, the judiciary is still depending on the executive for funds.

The president is the only person that can allow the judiciary to be independent in the sense that no president should allow anybody to be above the law.

We must shun the issue of pleabargaining. You agree that you are guilty so that you will not get the full judgement, which normally you would have got. For instance, if you are accused of murder and you say I am guilty of manslaughter so that you would not be executed. That is C M Y K

not law. This is what we need to do.

The slow pace of justice delivery has been a stumbling block to the judiciary such that some are asking for judicial automation.

Anything that is going to improve the judiciary technologically should be done. Land cases doesn’t need to stay up to 30 years, what is happening? Is it the salary or the discomfort of

Let every state has its own state police. People in an area know themselves, they will be able to give the police enough information on crime the chambers and whatever?

They must do whatever that can improve the sector.

Do you think it is possible for the President to know the character of those to be appointed as judges?

It is the work of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to do a thorough work when the president gives them directive for appointment of new judges into Federal Courts. The president will give them directive that he wants good people irrespective of their ethnic background because he himself is detribalised.

What of the judges who

Justice Abdul-Fatai Kuti are on the bench already?

My view before now was that corrupt or convicted judges should be executed. But I have mellow down on that because in most of the countries of the world now, you don’t execute them any more. So we give them life sentence. That will serve as deterrent. Once they know that they would go for life imprisonment, they will do well.

Once they know that their properties would be confiscated, they will do well. There must be a kind of deterrent. But if they are old like myself, 80 and above, you can’t send them to prison.

You will confiscate their properties and give them heavy fine.

What if they are unable to pay their fine?

Then they go to prison. Judges are wicked, maybe you do not know. We are wicked. How can they say that they should go and execute someone and within minutes it is done? We are not God but we

Justice Abdul-Fatai Kuti

are following the law. Justice must be done without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. Even your own son, you can try and convict him. The same applies to your mother, father and brothers.

Is that not wickedness? We are wicked people.

Do you agree that we should have a special court to try corruption cases?

Yes, I support that.

But some say if we go that way, we might have special courts for every issue?

I doesn’t follow. Special cases require special treatment.

Are you saying that the regular courts are not competent enough to do the job?

I am not condemning any court. Don’t condemn the regular courts. If you want to have another court, have it but don’t condemn anything.

What is your opinion on the controversy surrounding the national grazing bill?

I have no comment on that because it is very controversial.

As a judge, I am apolitical, whether you are retired or you are working, you don’t dabble into politics. Because the law is made for the people and not the people for the law. Whatever the president wants is what will happen in Nigeria.

The bill is not about the president. It is reportedly before the National Assembly for consideration.

The bill will go through different stages before

it can become law and people who are more intelligent will still sit and do a critic of it. So let us leave it as it is.

The constitution says the security and welfare of the people is the primary responsibility of the government. In your own view, is this government doing that?

As far as I am concerned, this government is going to do that whether you like it or not. Give this government a chance.

You don’t build government in a day.

Rome was not built in a day. It takes time. This government is going to succeed whether people like it or not.

Do you have an opinion as to what needs to be done?

I have no comment on that. I don’t have. What I want is whatever that would improve the system.

Assuming you are called upon to serve in a committee to oversee a process by the president, what will you do?

I will decline. I don’t want to be in any committee.

Foreign service If Buhari call me, I will tell him that I don’t want anything from him.

You mean you cannot serve this country any more in any capacity?

I cannot, at 79? It depends on your health. No, I cannot work at 79. I don’t need money any more.

What is your view on state police?

Let every state has its own state police. People in an area know themselves, they will be able to give the police enough information on crime.

What is the level of gift or gratification a judge can accept from his friends and colleagues?

As a Judge you don’t need gratification. What for? You don’t need their money at all. Let them do their work and thank God. In my own case, I was never in practice except for two years out of the 47 years, I never took any money from anybody.

That means that you did not have practice experience?

I don’t need it. I was in the foreign service. It was more than practice experience.

That means that your experience in litigation and advocacy would be limited?

It is not limited. Those two years, if you know what I learnt you will clap for me. I am not praising myself.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 41

Leadership failure responsible for stunted economic growth — NBA President

By Dayo Benson

F

AILURE of successive governments has been attributed to their inability to provide the required vision and expertise needed to ignite economic growth in the country since independence.

Nigerian Bar Association NBA , President Mr Augustine Alegeh SAN, made this assertion while delivering a lecture titled Law and National Development at the 15th Annual Justice Idigbe Memorial Lecture, organized by the Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Edo state.

According to him , “we have witnessed several instances of abuse of office and mismanagement of our natural resources by those we entrusted with our commonwealth . Though Nigeria’s crude oil and gas reserves have continued to increase over the years, despite our enormous endowment, Nigeria has not been able to record significant economic

growth and development relative to our resources”.

He said “the reason for the Nigeria’s economic woe’s and setback were identifiable as absence of rule of law, corruption, insecurity and failure to implement extant laws, adding that several programmes were initiated and sold to the public as policies and programmes designed to boost development and economic growth at all levels, but regretted that “these programmmes were mere conduits to siphon and loot the public treasury.”

He stated further that, “the few of such programmes that worked and impacted positively on the lives of the citizens were later abandoned by successive governments that erroneously thought that these programmes had served their purposes being the initiatives of previous administrations.

“One remembers with nostalgia,the days when the US

Dollars was lower than the Naira at about 70K-$1. During those days, the Naira was considered to be a very strong currency exchange in the world market based on the value of products Nigeria exported. Presently, we

•Mr. Augustine Alegeh

Group to teach law through drama

By Jane Echewodo

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ORRIED by the increasing rate of ignorance of the laws of Nigeria, a production firm known as Interpreters Production Company, has commenced a television series tagged legal drama, aimed at educating people about law through drama.

Speaking at the launch of the television series tagged “Burden of Proof” over the weekend, the director of the production company, Ademola Ishola expressed worry over high rate of illegal, wrongful arrests and detention of ignorant citizens and other acts of civil wrong with

impunity by lawless security officials and individuals.

According to Ishola, “It is no doubt that we are in the midst of crisis, lawlessness, abuse of human right, intimidation, extortion, victimization, torture, inhuman treatment as well as harassment which has become the norm in our society.

“This happens on a daily basis and all is due to the ignorance of the law on the part of the evil perpetrators too. Ignorance is the root and stem of all evil. The great book says: my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge.

“Experience has shown, over the years, that the greatest

are faced with the sad reality of having the currency exchange rate at $1 to N320.”

He said it has become imperative to examine the relationship between law and National Development in nation

obstacle to people’s access to the law and justice is borne out of accessible information on the position of the law on issues affecting the people, what their rights are and how to enforce them.”

He however, pointed out that the drama concept is to ensure that the due process and procedures permitted by the law are adhered to in the treatment and handling of the common man. “We are driven by a strong sense of social justice. We are putting together the information every citizen of this country ought to have about the law and its enforcement. We are taking up the challenge of educating and

enlightening our people on their basic rights and legal remedies against human violators. We are going to use power of information to usher in a new era where everyone is purged of ignorance of the law”, Ishola added.

While also pointing out that some legal issues treated in the first edition of the drama concept include: Forceful ejection, mareva injunction, limitation of action, desertion of pregnant woman or girl (sec.277 Criminal Law of Lagos State), false imprisonment, perjury, negligence (resulting in industrial injury), nuisance (generator noise and fume), breach of promise, domestic violence (husband to wife), domestic violence (mistress to domestic servant).

Law firm’s annual lecture tasks govt on economic growth

By Dayo Benson PROFESSOR at Harvard Business School , Prof.

Robert Z. Lawrence has advised Nigerian government to take advantage of global economy trend by moving the nation away

A

EDITORIAL Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) dayobenson@yahoo.com

from mono economy to achieve a sustainable growth .

He stated this at this year’s annual lecture organised by a law firm Punuka, titled “ The challenges of balancing the need for protection of developing economies and the provision of enabling environment for foreign investment”.

The event which was ended by former Head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, also featured Dr. Sonny Kuku, as chairman of the occasion. Some of the lawyers at the lecture included Mohammed Belgore, SAN, Sylva Ogwemoh, SAN, Olatunde Busari, SAN, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Funke Aboyade, SAN, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe and General counsel of Nigerian stock exchange Mrs Tinuade Awe. In his presentation, the guest lecturer, Prof. Lawrence who spoke on growth and international trade stated that growth has

slowed down in advanced economies like Europe and Japan. He explained that, “ a lot is being driven by what is happening in China which is moving in to service business.

Because of growing wages, manufacturing businesses are no longer competitive. Nigeria has to take advantage of this by moving away from mono economy. “ He explained that sustainable growth in economy is when technology is used to achieve development.

He said that a “country ’s growth is measured by what you do when things are good, that is, whether you save or spend the money made when things are good. If the trade regime in Nigeria today is promotion structural change, is the exchange rate in the country competitive”he asked. He added that “there is

room for improvement in Nigeria in terms of world trade forum”, stating that infrastructures in the country had to be improved. He therefore urged President Mohammadu Buhari to identify largest supply chain operatives and ask why they are not coming to Nigeria. He advised that “it is better to have the largest supply chains operate in Nigeria than borrow money from them”. He urged the federal government to institutionalise an competitive exchange rate policy, which he said was very critical. While calling on government to subsidise its products, he pointed out that “what Nigeria needs is a tighter exchange rate policy than anything else”.

Principal partner Punuka Mr Anthony Idigbe SAN, said the topic is of “great debate and controversy because of the challenges of growing the economy.”

building, added that governments world over, are increasingly engaging in law reforms programmes as they seek to ignite, support and sustain economic growth and development in their countries and Nigeria must not be different.

Alegeh who disclosed that the petroleum industry has undergone several modifications and reform however noted with dismay that, “it is rather unfortunate that despite discovering crude oil over 59 years ago, we are yet to enact an Act that has the capacity to regulate all activities within the petroleum sector.

He reiterated that attempt by the National Assembly to break the petroleum Industry Bill and pass it piecemeal is certainly not the solution to the problem in the Oil and Gas Reform, adding that the PIB is expected to address the constant face -off between Oil companies and their host communities.

Nigeria hosts first ICC Africa arbitration conference THE International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris, in conjunction with the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, ICCN, will from June 19 to June 21, 2016 hold the 1st ICC Africa Regional Arbitration Conference in Nigeria.

The conference is scheduled to take place in Lagos with the theme: “Arbitration and Africa – Prospects and Challenges.”

Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is partnering ICCN as supporting organisation for the conference, with both the President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris, Mr. Alexis Mourre and the President of NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, delivering keynote speeches at the opening ceremony of the Conference.

The three day conference is expected to examine the relationship between inward foreign investment in emerging markets in Africa, the types of disputes which may arise, and the African experience resolving investment and other business disputes by arbitration.

According to the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Vice President ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot, SAN, “there is currently, a rapidly growing interest in African arbitration and this conference being the first to be hosted by the ICC International Court of Arbitration on the continent will offer an opportunity for a wide range of experts and participants to discuss the challenges and prospects of Arbitration in Africa.

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42 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Ethiopians die in floods, landslides after heavy rain

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Chinese President Xi Jinping with Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace during a state visit by the Chinese President where the Queen reportedly described Chinese officials as 'very rude.'

T least 50 people in Ethiopia have died in floods and landslides caused by heavy rain, a stateaffiliated broadcaster has reported.

The rainfall follows one of the worst droughts in more than 50 years, made worse by the El Nino phenomenon.

Administrators in the southern district of Wolaita said 41 people had died in landslides on Monday.

Nine other people drowned in floods in the south-easternareaofBalethat also killed hundreds of head of cattle.

Rescue efforts are under way to save people missing in the landslides, Wolaita police commissioner Alemayehu Mamo told Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).

But a major road and bridge hadalsobeendamagedinthe

SNNP region, hampering rescue efforts, he said.

The BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza in the capital, Addis Ababa, says more than 10 million people are already in need of urgent humanitarian assistance because of the drought.

The government and aid agencies have launched a $1.4bn (£970m) appeal to help those requiring urgent food assistance.

Queen filmed calling Chinese officials Egypt opens Gaza crossing for 48 hours after 85-day closure ‘very rude’ whether you knew, but it was

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HE Queen has been filmed saying Chinese officials were “very rude” during last year’s state visit

by President Xi Jinping.

She was discussing their treatment of Britain’s ambassador to China with a senior police officer at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday.

It came after David Cameron was overheard saying Afghanistan and Nigeria were “fantastically corrupt”.

Buckingham Palace said the Chinese visit had been “extremely successful”.

Chinese officials in both London and Beijing also recalled the visit’s “success”.

The invitation to President Xi was part of the government’s policy of courtingChineseinvestment.

The Queen’s remarks were filmed as she was introduced to Metropolitan Police Commander Lucy D’Orsi,

who the monarch is told had overseen security during President Xi’s visit to the UK in October.

An official went on to tell the Queen that Commander D’Orsi had been “seriously, seriously undermined by the Chinese, but she managed to hold her own and remain in command”.

Commander D’Orsi told the Queen: “I was the Gold Commander so I’m not sure

BRAZIL: Rousseff takes impeachment fight to Supreme Court

B

RAZILIAN President Dilma Rousseff has taken her battle to survive impeachment to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch attempt to stay in office a day before the Senate is expected to vote to try her for breaking budget laws.

Brazil’s Attorney General Eduardo Cardozo, the government’s top lawyer,

Over 8m displaced by conflict in 2015, says report

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ORE than 8.6 million people were internally displaced due to violence and conflict in 2015, with Yemen, Syria and Iraq accounting for more than half the total number, according to a new report.

The report, released on Wednesday by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, said displacement has snowballed since the Arab Spring protests began in 2010 and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

About 4.8 million people were internally displaced in the Middle East and North Africa, adding to millions of people who fled their homes in the previous years and have not left their countries.

Yemen, where an Arab C M Y K

quite a testing time for...”

“I did,” the Queen said.

Commander D’Orsi continued: “It was at the point they walked out of Lancaster House and told me that the trip was off, that I felt...”

TheQueensaid:“Theywere very rude to the ambassador.”

CommanderD’Orsireplied: “They were... it was very rude and undiplomatic I thought.”

The Queen described it as “extraordinary.”

coalition assembled by Saudi Arabia is fighting Houthi rebels, had 2,509,000 internally displaced people as of December 31, 2015.

Of those, 2.2 million were registered in 2015 alone, a twentyfold increase over 2014 figures.

asked the Supreme Court to annul impeachment proceedings on Tuesday, his office said. Cardozo’s move comesbeforeavotethatcould see Rousseff suspended from office for up to six months to stand trial and, eventually, removed from office.

Rousseff’s opponents have more than the 41 votes needed to launch her trial in the upper chamber of the Congress, and they are confidentthattheycanmuster two-thirds of the 81 senators, or 54, to unseat the president.

As the prospect grew of Rousseff’s removal and a potential end to 13 years of rule by her leftist Workers’ Party, anti-impeachment protesters blocked roads and burned tyres in the capital Sao Paulo and other cities on Tuesday. Morning traffic was disrupted as protesters clashed with police.

Doctors raise concerns after over 70-year old woman gives birth

D

OCTORS in India on Wednesday raised ethical and health concerns after a woman gave birth to her first child in her 70s, following two years of IVF treatment.

Daljinder Kaur gave birth last month to a healthy boy after falling pregnant by her 79-year-old husband, following fertility treatment at a northern Indian clinic.

Kaur said the couple, married for 46 years, were

overjoyed at finally having their first child after enduring years of taunts in a country where infertility is sometimes seen as a curse from God. “I feel blessed to be able to hold my own baby. I had lost hope of becoming a mother ever,” Kaur told AFP from her home in Amritsar city.

“I used to feel empty.

There was so much loneliness”, she added.

E

GYPT opened its border with Gaza for the first time in three months on Wednesday, giving Palestinians a two-day respite fromaclosurestemmingfrom frictionbetweenCairoandthe enclave’s Islamist rulers.

Egypt’s shuttering of Rafah

and destruction of crossborder smuggling tunnels, along with tight restrictions imposed by Israel along its own frontier with Gaza, have deepened economic misery for many of the 1.9 million Palestinians in the enclave.

Egypt’s military-backed

South African paralyzed after being tossed from train

A

27-YEAR-old South African man who was thrown from a moving train after resisting a group of assailants is paralyzed from the waist down, prompting a flow of donations for what is expected to be a long, costly rehabilitation.

Darryn August hit a tree aftersuspectedrobberstossed

him from the train in the Cape Town area last week, and his cousin, Edwin Brooks, said Wednesday that doctors believe August will likely not walk again because of spinal damage.

“I don’t think the full reality has hit yet,” said Brooks, who described August as undergoing a “roller coaster ride of emotions.”

government has kept its border with the Gaza Strip largely closed since Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted as president three years ago.

Egyptian officials view Gaza’s governing Hamas group as a threat, accusing it of supporting an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula bordering the Palestinian territory. Hamas denies the allegation.

Some30,000Gazansareon a waiting list to cross at Rafah.

Only a few thousand, including patients, students and holders of residency permits in third countries, were likely to do so on Wednesday and Thursday before it closes again.

Drought triggers water, power shortages in Burkina Faso

A

STRONG drought hasleftmanyresidents without drinking water in the West African nation of Burkina Faso.

The capital Ouagadougou, which has been badly hit, is currently cutting off the city’s water supply intermittently.

The city of two million residents has suffered shortages since April 27 and some of them lasted as long as a week.

Many in Ouagadougou nowtravelseveralkilometres, usually on motorbikes with large jerry cans, looking for drinking water.

Not surprisingly, the shortages are leading to a rising cost for the water available at pay-fountains, where some of the merchants

have been quick to increase their prices. Jeannine Ouedraogo, who owns a payfountain in Zone-1 of the city,

said she had not experienced such a severe crisis since settling in the region more than 20 years ago.

•Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Mach Kabore

World’s largest cargo plane departs from Ukraine to Australia

T

HE world’s largest cargo plane, a Guinness record holding An225, took off from an airfield near Ukraine’s capital Kiev on Tuesday on its way to Australia.

The world biggest plane was built in the Soviet Union

in 1988 in order to carry the Soviet Union’s own attempt at a space shuttle, called ‘Buran.’

With the collapse of the Soviet Union the Buran programme was shut down and the plane was left on the territory of independent

Ukraine.

In 2001 the plane was restored and given a second lease of life.

Able to carry up to 250 tons, loaded through the plane’s nose, the commercial plane is designed for carrying super heavy cargo.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—43

form the Yoruba father of the boy that he was being sent to Warri and that he would return his son to him during the week before he and his family leave for Warri.

Again ,the Yoruba man asked Mr. Okereke if he was going to Warri with his two sons to which the teacher answered in the affirmative. Then the Yoruba father asked a most disarming question: “If your sons are going with you to Warri , why can’t my son also go with you to Warri?” Mr. Okereke looked flustered and said, “Okay! Why not! Your little son can also come with us to Warri”.

Our Fathers' Land encapsulates life and times of Dr Titus Okereke

By Ode Okore

I

T has been my view that it would be just as dangerously incestuous for an editor to review a book he worked on for a publishing house as it would be tacky for the chairman of a publishing house to launch a book from his own stable.

However, I am making in my case an exception to the rule because of one reason: I was also a consultant to the book. I am about to comment on, not a consultant in terms of being a guiding light to what happened in Nigeria or Biafra in those tragic years (I was outside the country during the civil war) but only as to whether, from a writer and a book editor’s point of view, the material was good enough to be published.

So my comments are as a friend of the author who watched him develop his ideas into this wonderful book and the main reason I feel compelled to write my comments will be made clearer at the end of the write up.

It was one morning early in 2014 when my friend Professor Moyibi Amoda called me to come to his house in Anthony that he wanted to introduce me to somebody, an old friend. I got there and met the Professor sitting in the ground floor living room of his mansion with the friend who was holding in his hand a few typed pages of a manuscript. The professor did not waste time in introducing us.

History of the civil war He said Dr. Titus was an old Ughelli boy (that is, Government College, Ughelli), he is an academic and wanted to write something, maybe a book, on his experiences in Nigeria, before, during and after the civil war. He has started to put something down but he was not sure whether what he has written so far was of any use, that is, whether it could actually be publishable.

So he has called me to look at what he has written so far to see if it was good enough for him to continue or to stop wasting his time. The first thing that came to my mind was, “Oh, not another Biafra book again!”

Of course, the history of the civil war, or of any war for that matter, can never be exhausted but I was saying to myself, If it was an intellectual work, a historical and political study of the events that shaped our country in those years, then yes, but if it was going to be another popular biography about the war, then maybe, we have had enough!’

Perhaps the reason I initially felt that way was that in my own judgment many of the civil war biographies I have read are largely self-serving. Anyway, I told the two gentlemen that I would go

home and read through what Dr. Titus had written and I would later call the professor to tell him what I thought. If the writing was not exactly up to par, but it could be worked on or ‘rescued’, I would also tell him and Dr. Titus the role I could play. If it was outright bad quality work, I would be honest and blunt about it.

When I got home that morning I threw the stapled pages on the bed. I did not take them to read until late in the night. And what I read excited me to no end.

The next morning I called Professor Amoda quite excitedly and I told him how I felt about the write-up, “Marvelous!” I said “Simply marvelous!”He quickly called Titus to arrange another meeting for the three of us. Dr Titus was himself quite excited

Titus was generally regarded by his many friends as an authentic Sapele and Warri boy, That initially baffled me... that I liked very much what he had so far written. My reaction encouraged him very much and after that he brought a few more

segments for me to see.

This was necessary because I wanted to see there was a consistency in the quality and vibrancy of what he was writing. After one more meeting between the three us, I was satisfied he had got a handle on his project. So he took off and I did not see him until several months later when he delivered the final work to me to edit. I could not really start on the work for quite some weeks because I was down with prostate problem.

The Lord did not want me to be admitted and kept in the hospital, so I had to stay in bed most of the time except when I had to be taken to the hospital to change my catheter. So, for quite some time, the manuscript became my companion in bed because I took to editing it propped up on the bed.

I was able to edit the work in bed because it told a story that, even though I had read some portions closely and skimmed through others a number of times I was not tired of taking it up again and again. Why? Titus was generally regarded by his many friends as an authentic “ Sapele and Warri boy”. That initially baffled me. How could a man born in Anambra by Igbo parents be regarded as an authentic “Sapele and Warri boy”? His life actually started in Sapele where his teacher father had been posted

Living with the Okerekes to as a teacher in the government school. Sapele in those years was a bustling township where people from different tribes lived together: the Urhobos, Itsekiris, Yorubas, Ijaws , Hausas, Igbos, Isokos, etc. Now, a Yoruba family had been watching this Igbo teacher Okereke and his family with their two sons. The Yoruba man liked the way Mr Okereke was bringing up his two sons.

So, one day he went to Mr. Okereke and told him so. Not only that, he asked that his own son should live with him also believing that he would grow up a better person like the teacher’s children. Mr. Okereke said “Why not! Let him come.”And so the little Yoruba boy moved in to live with the Igbo family, the Okerekes.

A few years later, Mr. Okereke was again transferred to Warri, another bustling township of Delta. Mr Okereke went to in-

Now observe that throughout these two or three years of the Yoruba boy living with the Okerekes, there was never talk of how much the Yoruba father would pay to Mr. Okereke for the upkeep of his son in terms of his feeding, school fees, school uniforms and books and pencils.

What has just transpired is indeed a first class adoption! Without the usual rancor, or fanfare!

Anywhere in the world what has just transpired would be singled out and celebrated as an example of pure unfettered love.

The relationship between the Okereke and the Yoruba families had just sprung up naturally and without strains but only to truncate the usually perceived primordial socio-cultural as well as political animosities between these two peoples.

Continues on Sunday Vanguard

Pushing boundaries on African modernism via design

By Prisca Sam-Duru

T

HIS indeed, is an era of taking everything to the next level. Redefinition of existing products, services and of course organisations have never been this trendy and Nigerian architects, seeking to lead the pack are emerging with artistic designs that are innovative in all ramifications.

Showcasing themselves under the name, African Alliance for New Design, AAND, three dynamic architects; Principal Architect at Studio Imagine Simply Architecture, Si.SA, Seun Oduwole; Creative Director at MOE+ Art Architecture, Papa Omotayo and award-winning amateur photographer and author, Tosin Oshinowo; are a neoteric collective of designers seeking to establish a fresh wave of African Modernism.

As part of activities mapped out for Open House Lagos, a three day architecture festival, which showcases the outstanding architecture of the city, the trio held a one week design exhibition which opened

One of the designs displayed during the exhibition in Lagos. on Sunday May 1, at A WhiteSpace, Ikoyi Lagos.

Displayed were works that promote the AAND’s philosophy of African Modernism. It defines the architectural narrative for Africa with the view to describing a position and creating a clear direction for the development of a clear language and vehicle for transformation through good design.

Portraying this philosophy were designs made with local fabrics known as ankara. Also, some household furniture made with these fabrics are designed in the form of ladies’ shoes and other accessories. To say that the exhibition showcased

the height of creativity will amount to an understatement.

The practices’ style of Architecture is Afro-Modernism creating simplicity through massing of form.

Psychological impact The exhibition was birthed out of a desire to define a new narrative where architecture goes beyond mere building and function, to investigation of the social and psychological impact of architecture on the environment. With the aim of exploring and promoting the

value of good design, the exhibition featured a selection of built and design works from cmD+A,MOE+Art Architecture and SI.SA, three exciting design led practices.

AAND aims to drive this initiative by informing society on the time tested role of architects as protectors of the built environment and visualisers of the future. It seeks to create dialogue and improve communication between professionals, students and the public on the importance of good design.

Tosin, the Principal Architect at cmDesign Atelier(cmD+A) said the Alliance was here to bring and create awareness about the growth of creativity within the profession that is not fully being acknowledged in the wider public realm in Nigeria.

For Papa Omotayo, a RIBA graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, UK said he desires to work with strong focus on context, culture and nature creating architecture that tries to give a little meaning to the everyday beyond the realms of form, function and even technology.

44—Vanguard,THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

A cross section of Pensioners (Inset; Barrister Ivor Takor).

Redeeming states, LGs workers from poverty after retirement

By Ivor Takor

I

N Nigeria, the first public sector pension scheme was introduced through the Pension Ordinance of 1951 with retroactive effect from January 1, 1946, which protected the pension rights of colonial public officers.

This was followed by Decrees 102 and 103 of 1979 enacted for the civil service and the military respectively, with retroactive effect from April 1974. The two decrees became Pension Act 1990 and remained in force with universal application in the Public Service of the Federation, Public Services of States and Local Governments until it was repealed by the Pension Reform Act, PRA, in June 2004.

Comprehensive reform Nigeria in 2004 carried out a comprehensive reform of its pension schemes, with the promulgation of PRA 2004, which became effective on June 25, 2014.

The Act established a Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, for employees’ in the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and the Private Sector. Employees of the Public Sector of states and Local Governments were excluded from the coverage of the Act. The exclusion was not an oversight by the Fola Adeola Committee that carried out the pension reform and drafted the Bill that was enacted into PRA 2004. Employees of states and local governments were covered in the draft bill. However, Governors mobilised representatives of their states from both chambers of the National Assembly to remove employees of states and local governments

from the bill before it was passed into law. Their excuse was that the country was under civil rule therefore; there must be the practice of true federalism, which does not allow the National Assembly to make laws for the states on an issue such as pension, which does not fall in the exclusive legislative list of the Constitution. Never mind that when they stand to benefit, such as the recent bail out from the federal government for financially bankrupt states to pay backlog of salaries areas to their employees, Governors’ will jettison the principle of true federalism.

Years into the implementation of the PRA 2004, which repealed the Pension Act 1990 that was of universal application in the whole of the Public Sectors in the country and at the introduction of the CPS, no state government enacted a law to protect the pension rights of its workers. Disturbed by this lacuna, the Board of the National Pension Commission, PenCom, approached the National Council of States and got the council to agree to adopt the CPS for their employees. The council decided that state governments would enact their own pension laws in line with a draft bill that was prepared for them by PenCom. As at the last count, only about 10 state governments have either enacted pension laws or are at various stages of enacting pension laws for their employees.

More disturbing is the fact that even those that have enacted their own pension laws, thereby keying into the CPS, operate the scheme in default of their own laws.

Greedy political class: Nothing so far exposes the greed, avarice and self-centredness of our ruling political class like the pension rights of states and local

government employees. Some of the immediate past Governors who failed in eight years to enact laws to take care of pension of employees of states and local governments they superintended over, were able to within two days, through subversive generosities extended to the members of their ever “cooperative” Houses of Assemblies were able to protect for themselves, bloated “pension”, allowances, which include houses, bullet proof vehicles, domestic and security helpers and provisions for medical tourism, which they smuggled into the statute books of the states in the name of pension rights for political office holders or whatever names so called. It is honestly difficult to understand why a Governor who served a state for eight years should believe that his services were more meritorious, deserving a

The bail out to states from the Federal Government was used to pay outstanding salaries and nothing was said about payment of pensions

better rest after labour than other employees of the same state and local governments, who have put in between 20 to 35 years of services. Some of these Governors’ have turned Abuja the seat of the Federal Government, to their safe haven. They can be seen in the hallow chamber of the

Senate of the National Assembly, superintending as Ministers in Federal Ministries, while some of them are already positioning themselves for Ambassadorial positions and chairmanship of “lucrative” Federal parastatals and Agencies.

Nothing highlights the urgency for the adoption of the CPS for employees of states and local governments now than the remarks of Mr President. Sahara Reporters on its online portal reported on March 25, 2016 that President Muhamadu Buhari remarked while speaking at the second National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held in Abuja on March 24, 2016, that 27 states of the federation were having difficulties paying their workers’ salaries due to the country’s economic woes. Mr President was only reminding his party members who included Governors’ elected on the party’s platform, what was already known to every Nigeria. If nothing else points to the obvious bankruptcy of most state governments, the recent cry by state Governors for bail out from the Federal Government to assist them to pay outstanding workers’ salaries was a direct acceptance of the bankruptcy of most state governments.

No bailout for pension payment: The bail out to states from the Federal Government was used to pay outstanding salaries and nothing was said about payment of pensions.

The reason is not farfetched. It is only current workers who can tackle state governments because of outstanding salaries areas.

Pensioners apart from being weak and old, their platform the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, can only beg and rely on the conscience (something that is facing extinction in public governance) of state Governors for their members to pay. The way to redeem States and Local

Government Workers from old age poverty and penury is for States to immediately key into the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Under the CPS, pension is fully funded through contributions by the employer and the employee.

In a fully funded pension scheme, pension funds and assets match pension liabilities at any given time. The contributions are paid into a personal pension account of the employee (contributor) known as Retirement Savings Account, RSA. The funds in the RSA are invested to generate additional fund. On retirement, the employee is paid from the outstanding fund in the RSA, which includes the contributions of the employer and the employee and the return on investment thereof and any pension benefit accruing to the retiree before the commencement of the CPS. The CPS unlike the old Define Benefit Scheme, DBS, it replaced, has built-in safeguards meant to protect the fund from mismanagement and fraudulent practices. The monthly contributions are put into an RSA, which the employer cannot access, while the fund is warehoused by the Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs, and managed by a Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs. The law established the PenCom, among other objectives, to regulate, supervise and ensure the effective administration of pension matters and retirement benefits in Nigeria.

Pension industry Over 10 years into the commencement of the CPS, for workers of the Federal Public Service and Private Sectors employees, a non-existing pension industry, which came into effect with the enactment of PRA 2004, which introduced the CPS, is now boasting of over N5 trillion investable fund, and has become the beautiful bride of investment in the country.

Keying into the CPS by state governments will ensure that states and local government employees receive their pensions without any delay. Payment of pension will no longer be relied on annual budgetary provision by states, most of who are relying on Federal Government bail outs to pay salaries of current employees.

States will not voluntarily key into the scheme.

If they did not do so when their economy was not the way it is now, they will not on their own do so now even though it is the only way out. It is time for PenCom, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, industrial unions and the persuasion of the Federal Government to get them to key in. *Ivor Takor, mni, is Director, Centre for Pension Right Advocacy

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016—45

C M Y K

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 — 47

F

*GOOD FRIENDS... NFF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Mexico City on the eve of the 66th FIFA Congress taking place in that city on Friday, 13th May.

Keshi set for S/Africa job F

ORMER Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi could soon be leading a club in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) after he agreed to work with an agency in that country.

Keshi signed a deal recently with top South African sports talent agency, Quality Talent Sports.

The 54-year old tactician was fired from the Super Eagles post last July, and has been out of work since.

He has now agreed a deal with the Johannes-

FIFA Continues from BP

Football Association (FBF) was suspended with immediate effect due to a recent injunction by a local judicial court which impeded the holding of the due election.”

It means Benin are set to miss June’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.

The decision was made at the inaugural meeting of the Fifa Council, which has replaced the Executive Committee, meeting, which is being held in Mexico. A court ruling in Benin on 4 May prevented the FBF from holding presidential elections and the suspension will be lifted only once a new Executive Committee has been installed.

C M Y K

burg-based agency to secure a deal for him with a PSL club ahead of the 2016/17 season.

“Stephen Keshi has signed with Quality Talent Sports, one of the biggest agencies in South Africa and they will work towards getting him a club in the PSL as soon as possible,” a source confirmed.

Keshi, a former Nigeria captain, has coached the senior national teams of Togo and Mali, qualifying the former to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His last job was with Nigeria, where he won The FBF has been overseen by a Fifa-appointed normalisation committee since September 2015 and they had been tasked to organise elections.

Benin are currently second in Group C, two points behind group leaders Mali.

The Squirrels are due to host Equatorial Guinea on the weekend of 3-5 June and then travel to face Mali in September.

Only the group winners guaranteed a place at the 2017 finals in Gabon but Benin are currently the best of the second-placed teams and could qualify as one of the two best runners-up. The Fifa Council meeting also ratified a recent decision of the bureau of the Council to appoint a normalisation committee to run the daily affairs of the Guinea Football Federation.

ORMER Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo is pleased to have secured the services of major international players to take part in his testimonial game later this month in Port Harcourt.

Yobo, 35, has been in Europe visiting his old stomping grounds and speaking to players expected at the game and is happy at the overwhelming response “It has been amazing.

Almost everybody wants to come and play,” he said. “My only regret is that I can’t invite everybody.”

At Everton where he spent nearly a decade of his playing career, Yobo was warmly received by the entire club and presented to a stadiumwide ovation by the fans at half time of their Premier League game against Bournemouth.

“That was an emotional moment for me. And I would like to thank Evertonians for the love.”

The Testimonial, on May 27, will be hosted by the Rivers State government at the new Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium

Yobo pleased with players’ turnout for testimonial

•TERRY: One of the players expected at the Yobo Testimonial.

Zenith WBL: Dolphins, First Bank in ultimate battle tional stadium Lagos as technically speaking to

By Jacob Ajom

*Keshi the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as well as reaching the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

T

HERE could not have been a more befitting final of the 2016 Zenith Bank Women Basketball League than what is on offer today at the indoor sports hall of the na-

Rio 2016 Olympics: Visa offers digital payments

By Providence Obuh

A

S part of its celebration of 30 years as exclusive payment provider, Visa, a global payments technology company is set to implement 4,000 POS terminals across key Olympic venues, as well as 11 ATMs in partnership with Bradesco at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The company is creating and managing the entire payment system infrastructure and network to all venues including stadiums, press centers, point-of-sale (POS), the Olympic Village and Olympic Superstores.

Executive Vice President, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Visa Inc. Mr. Jim McCarthy, stated, “Visa has always

stood for universal acceptance and the most secure and fast way to pay across merchants, borders and currencies. As we prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Visa is transforming the way fans pay, giving them choice in how they want to pay for anything, anytime and everywhere.”

The company is also extending the value of its sponsorship to Olympic games host cities, facilitating the development and advancement of payment infrastructure in those markets and thereby introduce acceptance of new technologies and innovation throughout Rio, focusing on new ways to pay including payment wearable and mobile phones– letting fans swipe, tap, dip or click to pay in Rio.

the defending champions, Dolphins Basketball of Lagos square up against former champions, First Bank of Lagos.

The match up is ideal as the two sides have brushed aside all oppositions and emerged as worthy finalists. Fans will be thrilled as the girls on both sides are experienced and grounded in the game and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring victory goes their way.

The defending champions will have to do a lot,

Ranieri Continues from BP

of the most incredible achievements in the history of English football.

Leicester beat Southampton 1-0 at the King Power Stadium at the start of April before a 20 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

A 2-2 draw against West Ham at Upton Park followed as questions about Leicester’s staying power began to surface again but Ranieri’s side returned to form with an emphatic 4-0 win against Swansea to end the month on a high.

stop the fire power of the First Bank ladies, particularly the versatile Upe Esther Atosu, captain Chioma Udeaja and Magdaline Ukato.

But Dolphins are equal to the task as the forceful play of the likes of Juliet Currency, Patience Okpe and Nadege Kodjo.

Coaches Peter Ahmedu of First Bank and Ochuko Okorogwu of Dolphins know what is at stake and they will ask their players to do the needful as any slip could spell doom for their teams.

Ronaldo Continues from BP

overcome their Champions League quarter-final hoodoo, following four successive defeats at the last-eight stage.

However, it appears the Real Madrid man has now become the priority for PSG. And, Le Parisien claim Jorge Mendes has verbally agreed a deal with president Nasser AlKhelaifi, for the former Manchester United superstar to move to the French capital.

Ronaldo now has to decide whether he wants to swap Madrid for Paris.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Agent agrees verbal deal for Ronaldo to join PSG C

Ranieri wins Manager of the month award C

LAUDIO Ranieri has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for April after guiding Leicester to three wins and a draw as the Foxes closed in on their remarkable title triumph.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has won the Player of the Month award after scoring seven Premier League goals for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Ranieri led Leicester to Premier League glory as the Foxes kept their cool in the final weeks of the season, completing one Continues on Page 47

•Ranieri

Results NPFL: Giwa IfeanyiUba Ik Utd MFM Nasarawa Tornadoes Rivers Utd Shooting Sunshine

0 1 2 0 3 2 1 1 2

Akwa Lobi Plateau Utd Enyimba Abia Warriors Heartland Wikki Warri Wolves Rangers

3 0 2 0 2 1 0 2 1

RISTIANO Ronaldo must decide if he wants to join Paris Saint-Germain after his agent agreed a deal with the Ligue 1 champions, according to reports in France. PSG have been in search of a new club

symbol with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s likely summer departure to signal the dawn of a new era.

The moneybags side have been linked with moves for Ronaldo and Neymar as they try to Continues on Page 47

•Ronaldo

Attention Nigeria: FIFA suspends Benin over court ruling •2017 Afcon hopes dashed F

IFA has suspended the Benin Football Federation (FBF) from global football after a court ruling in the country blocked upcoming elections.

The suspension is a reminder to what awaits Nigeria if Chris Giwa goes ahead to take over the secretariat of the NFF as he had threatened to.

A statement from football’s world governing body said: “The Benin Continues on Page 47

•Giwa

•Dalung

•Pinnick

Int’l friendlies: French embassy frustrates NFF

T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation has appealed to the Embassy of France in Nigeria

with regards to issuance of visas to one player and technical and administrative officials of

the Super Eagles ahead of two international

Continues on Page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Change (5) 7 Muddle (4) 8 Evoke (6) 9 Impression (5) 11 For each (3) 13 Rotter (3) 15 Stagger (4) 1‘6 Individual (3) 18 Sea-eagle (4) 19 Complain (7) 20 Fastener (4) 22 Destiny (4) 23 Clammed (7) 25 Flat (4) 27 Ant not (3) 28 Unaccompanied (4) 30 Performed (3) 31 Tear (3) 33 Scoff (5) 36 God-like (6) 37 Pain (4) 38 Coach (5)

DOWN 1 Skirmish (5) 2 Dpmleu (3) 3 Beverage (3) 4 Material (3) 5 Intelligent (3) 6 Cough (5) 10 Foodlist (4) 11 Iron (7) 12 Declined (7) 13 Maker (7) 14 Envelop (7) 16 Harmonium (5) 17 Cinder (5) 18 Sprite (3) 21 Lair (3) 24 Borough (4) 26 Call (5) 29 Supple (5) 32 Untruth (3) 33 Fixed (3) 34 Epoch (3) 35 Manufated (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, React 5, Devote 8, Haste 10, Humane 11, Awer 14, Porous 15, Educate 18, Eel 19, Inn 21, Dear 23, Motor 24, Slit 27, Net 29, Day 31, Ripened 32, Teller 34, Else 35, Edible 38, Laden 39, Energy 40, Never.

DOWN: 2, Emu 3, Chance 4, Tan 5, Deep 6, Veered 7, Eraser 9, Section 12, Woe 13, Role 16, Dell 17, Enter 20, Notice 22, Ague 24, Settle 25, Idle 26, Taller 28, Befine 30, Yes 33, Rely 36, Den 37, Lee.

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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