44 massacred in Borno mosque by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 61945

Jonathan, Obasanjo wade into PDP, NGF crises; meet Govs

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N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

APC TO JONATHAN: P.5

Go to court if you •P.15 felt libelled

44 massacred in Borno mosque •26 others hospitalised

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORTS

AGOS—ABOUT 44 people praying at a mosque in Konduga town, some 22 miles outside Maiduguri, Borno state, have been gunned down by suspected Islamic militants, security agents said. A Department of State Service, DSS, agent and a member of a civilian vigilante group working with the military said,

Continues on Page 5

•I'm alive, Shekau says in new video; claims recent attacks •Challenges Obama, Hollande, Netanyahu

Saraki, Kwara ex-Gov quizzed by EFCC, —P.4

COLUMNISTS:

•P.19

•P.48

Mr & Mrs

PDP GOVS—From left: Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF; Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State getting set for a meeting of PDP governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last night.

RCCG ordains 11,256 ministers

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 3

4—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Saraki surrenders to EFCC, quizzed BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

GOC: From left— Major-General Obi Umahi, General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army; Mr. Jim Ovia, Chairman, Visafone and Mr. Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, during the welcome reception in honour of the GOC in Lagos, weekend. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

Tukur to 5 Northern govs: PDP's waiting for consultations to end BY HENRY UMORU

B U J A — N AT I O N A L Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said, yesterday, that the party was waiting for the five northern governors, who are presently having consultations with former leaders and stakeholders in Nigeria, to determine when reconciliation with them can take place. Tukur spoke to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, after his return from lesser hajj at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the party. He said the governors were free to carry on with their consultations, stressing that at the end of the day, they will meet with the leadership of the party and everyone would then know who was in charge. He said: “They are still consulting. When they finish the consultation, then we will know when to reconcile with them. “To this effect, it is advisable that party faithful, who are aggrieved, should use the party’s internal resolution platform, which is the party’s Reconciliation Committee or the leadership of the party.

Dares INEC on Anambra PDP

Also yesterday, Alhaji Tukur dared the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the lingering Chairmanship of Anambra State chapter of the party, saying that the electoral body cannot recognise anybody as presented by the party, but could only supervise elections by law. Tukur said: “First, let me edu-

cate those who may not understand. The role of INEC is to supervise and not to recognise anybody. It is not the purview or the responsibility of INEC to recognise; it is the party that recognises, theirs is to witness election. “They cannot accept an election if they did not also witness it. This matter is being resolved, so no problem. “I am happy to tell you that as we are talking now, preparation for ward congress is going on in Anambra. “Please pray for us. This time around, Anambra will be cool and perfect by the grace of God.”

The 5 consult

It will be recalled that Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, and Gover-

nor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State; Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, all members of PDP, have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the crisis in the party. They have also had consultations with former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida; former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.); former President Shehu Shagari, and exVice President Alex Ekwueme, among others.

“PDP needs no merger”

Also, yesterday, the PDP National Chairman boasted that as a party, it does not require to merge with any political party in the country for it to win elections in Nigeria. He said that he was lead-

ing a formidable political organisation that could not be intimidated by the antics of the opposition. While commending the INEC for the registration of All Progressives Congress, APC, Tukur promised to take PDP to a greater height by ensuring that it recaptures most states it lost in the past by 2015. Tukur said: “PDP, as a united and formidable political organisation under a big and unshakable umbrella, does not require a merger or coalition with any political organisation to face any other political party in the country. “Or to implement her genuine economic programmes aimed at alleviating the sufferings of Nigerian masses under the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. “As the National Chairman of PDP, my commitment to the ideals of our founding fathers is total and unwavering.”

11 books make NLNG award shortlist BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

HE Advisory Board of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, sponsor of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, yesterday, announced an initial shortlist of 11 books, out of 201 books submitted, for the 2013 edition of the prize. This year ’s edition focuses on poetry. The list, according to the General Manager, External Relations, NLNG,

Kudo Eresia-Eke, was arrived at after three months of intensive scrutiny by the panel of judges led by a renowned poet and literary critic, Prof. Romanus Egudu of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.

Shortlist

Books that made the list include Letter Home and Biafran Nights, by Akeh Afam; Eke Iquo’s Symphony of Becoming; Birthcry, Nwakanma Obi; Wild Letters, Ogochukwu Promise and Ede Amatoritsero’s Globetrotter and Hitler’s Children.

Others on the list are Marsh Boy and Other Poems by Egbewo G’ebinyo; Gomba Obari’s Length of Eyes; The Sahara Testaments, Ipadeola Tade; Launko Kinba (pen name for Femi Osofisan), Seven Stations Up the Stairways; Through the Window of a Sandcastle, Nnadi Amu and Sea of My Mind, Raji Remi. Chairman of the Advisory Board, Emeritus Professor, Ayo Banjo, disclosed that the final shortlist of three and subsequently the winner of the $100,000 worth cash prize will be announced in October.

BUJA—AFTER nearly two weeks of exchange of words with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, surrendered to the operatives of the commission in Abuja. Saraki, who was said to have reported at the commission yesterday morning, also rendered an official statement to the anti-graft agency in line with the issues raised against him by the commission. Vanguard learnt that a crack team of the agency’s operatives immediately swooped on the former governor, grilling him on his tenure as Governor of Kwara State and at the defunct Societe General Bank of Nigeria, SGBN. The former governor, who is a serving Senator, also took time to clear the air on the allegations of embezzlement levelled against him by the commission, saying that he had no cause to be invited, since the issues had been investigated by the agency over the years. At press time, the lawmaker was still being quizzed. It was not clear if the operatives would keep him overnight or grant him administrative bail on self recognition. It will be recalled that the commission had, last week, vowed to take all necessary measures to arrest and bring Saraki to justice over his tenure as governor and at the former bank. The commission was apparently irked when the former governor denied receiving an invitation dated July 25, sent through the Clerk of the National Assembly, for him to appear before it. EFCC vowed last Friday to take necessary steps to arrest and try him for several fraud-related cases. EFCC, apparently peeved by the refusal of Saraki to honour its invitation, said that it would use all legitimate means to compel the Senator to honour its invitation.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

MANDELA IN ASO ROCK—President Goodluck Jonathan (R) in a handshake with a member of Mara Group/Grandson of Mandela, Mr Ndaba Mandela, during their visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

44 massacred in Borno mosque; 26 hospitalised Continues from Page 1 yesterday, they counted the bodies at the mosque after last Sunday morning’s at-

tack. Also yesterday, embattled leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau made a video

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

You are beautifully and wonderfully made; you are not a biological mistake, you are created for a purpose, to rule, reign and have dominion. Don’t be put down by others, your self esteem starts and ends with you.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

LATO asked Socrates what is love....Socrates: Go into the field and get me the most special leaf. Plato returned with no leaf at hand. He said to Socrates, I found the most beautiful leaf in the field but I didn’t pick it up for I might find a better one, but when I returned to the place, it was gone. Socrates: We always look for the best in life. When we finally see it, we take it for granted and expecting a better one — Ella Randle In his collection of writings, the lesser mysteries of love. Plato gave an insightful discuss in this subject. He says, a person who is searching for divine love would be wise to proceed beautifully in this matter, for the youthful heart appreciates beautiful form; and first, if he is being divinely guided by a master or teacher versed in the subject he would come to know that everything emanates from the Source of life from which comes fair thoughts; and soon he will of himself perceive that the beauty of one form is akin to the beauty of another. This meaning, there is God in everything, in nature, in our thoughts, words, actions and deeds. We can see the God in each person and thus treat others as we would love to be treated but how unwise would one be not to recognize that the beauty in every form is one and the same! And when we know this, it will be easy to abate and relent the compulsion to despise and deem another a small thing; and one becomes a lover of all beautiful forms and a lover of life, which brings more enlightenment to know that the beauty of the mind and heart is more honourable than the beauty of the outward form.

appearance and claimed series of recent deadly attacks on security forces in the North-East. Shekau also insisted that he was in “good health” despite an ongoing military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamist insurgent group he heads. He also challenged US President, Barack Obama; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French leader, Francois Hollande, saying they were not his match. “You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a manner similar to previous Boko Haram messages. On the massacred 44, the DSS agent spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. But agency reports quoted one Usman Musa of the civilian group as saying that four of its vigilantes were also killed when they responded to calls for help. Another report said12 people were killed in Ngom of Mafa Local Government Area of the state between Saturday and early Sunday morning. The armed men, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect reportedly invaded

the two council areas during the Muslim Asba prayers. Residents who fled to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday for safety, disclosed that the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people. A source from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) said they received 26 victims of the attacks who are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Also a member representing Konduga at the state house of assembly, Ali Bukar Dalori told newsmen at Government House, Maiduguri that he received news of attacks on members of his constituency with shock. He said although he did not know the casualty figure, he was informed that many people lost their lives and some who were injured were brought to UMTH for treatment. “I was told that many people were killed. I will be going to the hospital to see the victims; I think the governor would be going there either today or tomorrow to see for himself. But whatever it is, many people were killed yester-

day,” he said. In the Shekau video, seated on a short stool with a Kalashnikov rested on his right shoulder, the Islamic sect’s boss said Boko Haram was “ responsible” for several deadly raids over the past months. These include attacks on the police and military in the towns of Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes that killed at least 35 people, according to the military. The video contained what Shekau claimed was footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons

mounted on flat-bed trucks. Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns of Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon. The Boko Haram leader has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7 million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head. “I’m challenging Obama,” Shekau said in the video. He voiced similar challenges to French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister B e n j a m i n Netanyahu.”They are no match for me,” he proclaimed.

Jonathan, Obasanjo wade into PDP, NGF crises BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

AGOS—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were last night involved in high level moves to resolve the crises that have engulfed the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. All 23 PDP governors, including Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State who was suspended by the PDP following the crisis that shadowed his re-election as chairman of the NGF, were at the meeting which was holding at the banquet hall of the presidential villa at press time, yesterday. It was the first time that Governor Amaechi would be involved in a PDP caucus since his controversial suspension last May. It was also the first time that Chief Obasanjo

will openly involve himself in the affairs of the party since he resigned his position as chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT last year. Remarkably, senior officials of the PDP were not invited to the meeting which was reflective of the insistence of the five Northern PDP governors that the present problems of the party were traceable to the Dr Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the party. A governor who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity prior to the meeting was hopeful of a positive development arising from the meeting between the governors, Obasanjo and Jonathan. Vanguard learnt last night that the invitation of Mr. Amaechi follows the insistence of Northern PDP governors that the crisis in the party must be addressed and his suspension redressed.

Prior to yesterday ’s meeting five PDP governors, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State had met some of the country ’s leading elder-statesmen and briefed them on their grudges which they claimed were capable of harming the country’s democracy. Among those they consulted were Obasanjo, and three other former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Yakubu Gowon. The five governors also met with former Vice-President Alex Ekweueme. Prior to last night’s meeting, the five governors and Governor Amaechi also met separately with President Jonathan during which they reportedly laid down their conditions for the resolution of the problems in the party.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Two arraigned over unsettled N330,000 birthday bash bill

AGOS — TWO men, who allegedly defrauded an eatery of N330,000 under the pretext of celebrating a birthday, were, yesterday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. The accused, Tayo Bamidele, 43, and Bankole Abdulramon, 25, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and breach of the peace. Bamidele, a driver, lives at 15, Apata St., Somolu, while Abdulramon, an ex-student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, resides at 68, Muyiwa Close, Oke-Ira, Ogba in Ikeja. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Raphael Donny, told the court that the duo committed the offences on July 20 at Slicks Bar and Kitchen, Victoria Garden City, Ajah on Lagos-Epe Expressway. “They accused conspired with others still at large to defraud Slicks Bar and Kitchen of N330,000 on July 20 under the pretext of marking Abdulrahmon’s birthday. “Abdulrahmon asked his friends (unspecified number) to order for food and drinks and after the birthday party, he failed to settle the bill. The accused were arrested and handed over to the police,” he said. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, Mr O.O. Fowowe, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

Court remands traffic officer over alleged robbery

BEOKUTA — AN Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court, yesterday, remanded a 32-year-old Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) official, Adedeji Ibrahim, in prison custody for alleged robbery. The police prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini, told the court that the offence was committed on May 23 at about 8.30 p.m. at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. He said the accused of 5, Akanni Street, Sapon, Abeokuta, allegedly robbed two passers-by, Florence Ogaraku and Yewande Adesemowo, of their money and valuables worth at N100,000. “Ibrahim robbed the two women of their valuables at the Moshood Abiola Stadium while they were on their way home,” he said. The accused, whose plea was not taken by the court, was not represented by a counsel. The Magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Adekunle, ordered that he be remanded at the Ibara prison and adjourned the case to August 30.

Bizman in court over dud cheque

BY ONOZURE DANIA

AGOS—A 43-YEAR-OLD businessman, Olakunle Mumuney, has been docked before a Lagos Magistrate's court, sitting at Igbosere, for allegedly issuing a dud cheque to one Chief Innocent Amobi. Mumuney, who is facing a two-count charge preferred against him by the police, was arraigned before Magistrate A. M Alli Balogun, The Police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Akin Owanade, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence between June 28 and August 31, 2012, at Plot C104, Amuwo Commercial Scheme, Amuwo Odofin, area of Lagos. He said that Mumuney, on June 28, 2012, issued a Unity Bank cheque number 09009333 dated July 31, 2012, for N350, 000 to one Chief Innocent Amobi and when he presented the said cheque at the bank for payment, it was dishonoured because of insufficient fund in the account. Owanade, also alleged that the defendant also issued a Unity Bank cheque number 090009334 dated August 31, 2012, N 350,000 to Amobi and it was also dishourned when it was presented for payment in the bank, due to the same reason. According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under section 313 criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011. When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge. The defendant's counsel Olajide Olutayo, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on a Olakunle Mumuney, liberal term as the offence is bailthe accused. able.

Items recovered from suspected insurgents by security personnel in Sokoto, Sunday night. PHOTO

S-African women married to Nigerians threaten protest J

OHANNESBURG — SOUTH African women married to Nigerians, yesterday, threatened to stage mass protest in Johannesburg to stop discrimination against them, their husbands and children. Mrs Lindelwa Uche, the chairperson of the United Nigerian Wives in South Africa, UNWISA, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria during the launch of the association, Sunday, in Johannesburg. Uche said that South African society did not take their marriage to Nigerians as serious relationships. She said: “Our society does not take our marriages serious, they see our marriages as relations of convenience and perceive us as evil to the society. “All of us are South Africans married to Nigerians living in South Africa, we decided to come together to fight against stigmatisation, discrimination, and humiliation, against our families by government departments and agency and the officials of the government, the community and our-in-laws.” The chairperson said an earlier protest march by the members of the association had not generated any response from the Home affairs office. “We protested against discrimination from home affairs officials in March this year, and since after that protest we have not received any response from the government. We felt before we embark on any further action we should come together and form an association registered by law.

“After the official launch of our association, our next action will be more than just a protest march to the city of Johannesburg home affairs office. It is going to be a protest where we will strip on the street of Johannesburg, so that people and government will know that there is an existing body and that we are not happy with the way our non South Africans husband and children are being treated.

“We also plan to carry our protest to Nigeria, we know that some South Africans also have businesses in Nigeria, if it is necessary we will take actions that will stop South Africa businesses operating in Nigeria. Indeed we are ready to go that far. “We have been quiet for so long but we cannot can’t take it anymore, for the sake of the future of our children, we have to put an end to this discrimination.”

Man docked over attempt to BY ONOZURE DANIA

AGOS— A 43-YEAR-OLD security man, Matthew Erazele, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, over attempted murder, of his sister, Esther Erazele. Erazele, who was docked before Magistrate Margaret Dan-Oni, is facing a count charge of attempted murder preferred against him by the police. It was said that the defendant had accused Esther, who resides in the same house with him,of bewitching him whenever he planned to get married. It was said that he used to see her in his dream, whenever he is with a woman that he wanted to get married to and she used to prevent him from getting married, which prompted him to hit her with

a hammer on the head and also twisted her neck. The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged crime on

Esther Erazele. after the act

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—7

Farmer allegedly kills daughter's lover in Ondo BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — DETECTIVES in Ondo State have arrested a farmer in Idanre Local Government Area of the state, Mr Ojo, for allegedly killing his daughter’s lover. However, it was alleged by the mother of the deceased that after his son was killed, the suspect hanged him on a tree to create impression that he committed suicide. But Police were still investigating the matter. The deceased, Ego George, 22, who was a commercial motorcycle rider was dating the suspect’s 20-year-old daughter, Feyi, a sec-

ondary school student. Vanguard gathered that the suspect allegedly committed the crime at Jemgbe Camp, a settlement in Idanre.He is said to be a native of Kabba in Kogi State while the deceased is from Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Narrating how the suspect allegedly killed his son, the mother, Mrs Grace George, said prior to the unfortunate incident there had been threats from Ojo to kill Ego should he not leave his daughter alone. Mrs George alleged that after killing his son, Ojo hanged him to create impression that he committed suicide, explaining that a

day before the tragic incident, he came with a policeman to arrest his son. She said: “Ojo came to Ego’s house in Jemgbe with the policemen to arrest him on Wednesday night, July 31, 2013 but did not meet him at home. “The following day, which was Thursday, August 1, Ego was reportedly missing. They later saw Ego’s corpse in the bush on Monday August 5." Confirming the incident, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said the body of the deceased had been taken to hospital for autopsy. The suspect, according to him, had been arrested and transferred to state CID, Akure.

Court remands 3 for allegedly abducting girl, 14

BUJA — A KARU Upper Area Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered that three men should be remanded in police custody for alleged conspiracy

O: NAN.

Ogun police nab 3 suspected robbers BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command said it arrested three suspected robbers barely a day after it arrested 11 suspects in Abeokuta. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abeokuta, yesterday, explained that the three robbery suspects were operating in Ogun and Oyo states before they were apprehended at Obada Oko and Papalanto, Ifo Local Gov-

murder his sister August 3, 2013, at about 8 pm,at 29, Ifekoya Street in Agege area of Lagos State. He said that the defendant, while inside the room with his sister used hammer to hit her head severally. Okoi said the defendant also twisted the victim’s neck, in order to strangle her. However, when the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Dan-Oni granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties, who are gainfully employed, resident in Lagos State. One of the sureties must be a clergy man while one must reside in his property and show evidence of tax payment and address verified. She adjourned the case to October 2, 2013, for mention and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri prison, pending when he is able to perfect his bail conditions.

ernment Area of the state on Sunday afternoon. According to Adejobi, “Abiola Akanni, Eniola Fajobi, and Peter Hammed are members of a robbery syndicate that was burst in Ifo recently whose case is under prosecution inMagistrate Court 2 of Otta with nine suspects already arraigned before the magistrate. “The suspects were arrested as a follow up to the ongoing investigation into the series of robbery operations of the burst syndicate by a special team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer in Ifo Division, CSP Gbenga Megbope. The suspects have confessed to the crimes. “Items recovered from the suspects included one locally made double barrel gun, one locally made single barrel gun, 20 live cartridges, 10 GSM hand sets, jewellery and three brand new unregistered Bajaj motorcycles."

and abduction of a 14-year-old girl. Those remanded are Mohammed Audu, 27; Adamu Chidawa, 30 and Adulkadir Sadiq, 20, all of Old Garage, Karshi in Abuja. The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, who gave the order, said this was to assist the police in tracing the whereabouts of the girl. Kagarko also ordered that the accused persons be brought back to court for their bail to be considered on August 19. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Stephen Eimoga, told the court that one Nicholas Anusiem of Tip-

per Garage, Karshi, reported the matter at the Karshi Police Station on July 6. He said the accused persons conspired and abducted the daughter of the complainant. Eimoga said the accused persons abducted the girl without the consent of her parents to an unknown destination. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 97 and 273 of the Penal Code. The three accused persons pleaded not guilty. Audu, one of the accused told the court that the girl was his girlfriend.

Remains of Bayelsa boat mishap victims recovered BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA — THE remains of Felix Azazi, a relation to the late National Security Adviser to the President, Gen Owoye Azazi and a yet to be identified man who died Friday in a boat mishap along the waterways of Ekeremor in the Bayelsa West Senatorial district have been recovered. Vanguard reliably learnt that the corpses were recovered late Sunday after two days of frantic search by local divers and community youths at ‘Beautiful Gate,’

some distance from Torugbene community in neighbouring Delta State. An inhaler was reportedly found in Azazi’s pocket, an indication that he was asthmatic. The corpses, it was learnt, had been deposited at an undisclosed hospital in Ughelli, Delta State. The deceased Azazi, an indigene of Peretoru in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state and the yet to be identified man said to be of Urhobo extraction got drowned when the boat in which they were travelling was hit by wave and capsized while over taking another boat.

Some Osun State indigenes travelling back to Lagos after Eid-el-Fitr holidays with freetrain transport organised by the Osun State Government, at the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Osogbo terminus, Sunday.

Enugu police arrest 2 suspected robbers BY CHINENYE OZOR

NUGU — POLICE op eratives from Ogui Division of the Nigeria police, Enugu State command have nabbed two suspects alleged to be involved in armed robbery and cultism within Ogui and its environs The suspects have been on the wanted list of the operatives. They were nabbed early yesterday within Ogui axis of the state following a manhunt based on information from members of the public. It was gathered that the suspects, Igatta Chinedu and Okonkwo Patrick of 57, Onyiuke Street, Ogui New Layout, Enugu were arrested in a Toyota Camry car with number plate ENUGU PZ 805 ENU after a gun battle with policemen. Recovered from the suspects were one revolver pistol with ammunition, one Automatic Pump Action rifle with five cartridges and the car.

Abductors of Edo teachers reduce ransom to N2.5m each

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—KIDNAPPERS of three primary school teachers in Edo State have further slashed the ransom placed on them to a total of N7.5 million, Vanguard gathered, yesterday, in Benin It would be recalled that the teachers, Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene, were abducted at gunpoint, in Orhogbua Primary School, Ekenwan village, during school hours about two weeks ago. The kidnappers had initially placed a ransom sum of N60 million on the three women but later reduced it to N5 million each last week. Sources at the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, said the kidnappers communicated their resolve to drop the ransom from N5 million each to N2.5 million to the husband of one of the kidnapped women. The Edo NUT leader said there was concern over the safety of the women as one of their husbands informed that his wife was weeping profusely when she was made to speak with him on phone, begging him to raise the money so that she would not lose her life.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

AU advocates extension of AGOA by 20 yrs

HE African Union, AU, yesterday, in Addis Ababa, advocated the extension of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, programme for the next 15 to 20 years for African business concerns to consolidate trade relations with the United State of America, U.S. The Chairperson of AU and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Haile Desalegn, made the call at the opening of the ministerial meeting of the 2013 AGOA Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Desalegn also called on the U.S. and other western nations to make more investments in Africa. He said there was significant improvement in trade relations after the introduction of AGOA in 2001, but lamented that countries had not been able to exploit the full potential of the trade, due to several difficulties faced in accessing U.S. markets. Desalegn said: “Even though there was a significant increase in African export to the U.S. after the enactment of AGOA, beneficiary countries have not been able to utilise the full potential of AGOA. “Even though statistics show that exports to the U.S. have been growing significantly over the past 12 years, the figures started from a low base and actual value is insignificant.” He said that export under the AGOA programme had also been limited to few products leading to some doubt over U.S. promises.

Boko Haram: FG to rehabilitate 2,000 youths in Yobe, Borno BY CALEB AYANSINA

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed that it would rehabilitate no fewer than 2,000 youths in Yobe and Borno states, to change their mindset from the havoc wrecked by the Boko Haram sect. The government also commissioned selected youths across the country on a peace campaign tagged I sign 4 Peace, geared toward restoring peace. The project, Vanguard gathered, was to reduce the potential of insurgency and youth restiveness in Nigeria, and to extensively curtail face-off between community groups and multinational companies operating in their areas. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, to mark to mark

the 2013 International Youth Day, the Minister of Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir said the rehabilitation programme would in due course be extended to Adamawa State. Abdulkadir explained that the idea was aimed at orientating the youths to make them change their perception from the violence that had enveloped the states, as a result of Boko Haram crisis. According to him, there was need to rehabilitate all the youths in the Northern parts of the country to make them shun all acts of violence that may result in crisis again, noting that Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states were selected as pilot states due to the state of emergency declared there by President

Goodluck Jonathan. The Minister said since the youth constitutes the driving force of the society, there was need to re-mould them, so that they could continue to contribute to the development of the country without engaging in violence. Speaking on the day's theme, Youth Migration, Moving Development Forward, the Minister said most youths migrate from Nigeria to flee persecution, escape economic hardship, among others reasons. He said: “Poverty, crowded and unsanitary living conditions and the challenges of finding decent employment are regular features of young migration. These are unacceptable.” Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the President

on Youth and Students Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe, said I Sign 4 Peace was formed in response to the need for action to bring peace and unity to the country. He said the project was the first of its kind in the country to practically mobilise, and reorientate Nigerian youths towards the restoration and sustainability of peace. He said: “The President is committed to building a better Nigeria, but we cannot achieve this without peace.” In his inaugural speech, the Coordinator of the project, Mr. Charles Olufemi, said youths must play their part to ensure the wellbeing of Nigerians and direct their energy towards driving the country forward. Olufemi said: “The goal of this initiative is to curb insecurity in the country.”

COLOSTRUM: From left— Dr. Bunmi Ogundimu, Coordinator, Colostrum International; Mrs Alaba Fadairo; Mrs Fatima Mohammed and Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, awardee, during Colostrum's international summit and award on breastfeeding awareness and advocacy on the theme Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers, A New Approach to Breastfeeding Compliance, Making Nigeria a success Story, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

‘Ambition of Tinubu, Buhari not part of APC merger agreement’ BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

BUJA—A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has dispelled the rumour in some quarters that there was an agreement between former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) and the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, not to contest for the party’s presidential ticket. He said that there was no deliberation of anybody’s ambition during the merger talks

adding that there was no bickering between Buhari and Tinubu. Obono-Obla was the Deputy National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, that merged with other political parties to form APC and was a member of the disbanded Joint Merger Committee. In an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, the human rights activist-turned politician said: “There is no struggle and tension between General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“Since the momentous and historic decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register All Progressives Congress, APC, as a political party, purveyors of falsehood and mischief-makers have gone to town to fabricate the tale that there is an intense struggle and tension between Buhari and Tinubu over their presidential ambition. “What started as a rumor and speculation was given official approbation and fillip by no less a person than the Special Adviser to the President,

Dr. Rueben Abati yesterday (Sunday) in a statement rebuking the position canvassed by the National Chairman of APC comparing Jonathan's presidency to a “kindergarten Presidency. “In the statement, Dr. Abati maliciously and falsely seems to create and indeed gave credence to the falsehood that has been peddled in official circles and a cross section of the media that there is an intense struggle between Buhari and Tinubu over their presidential ambitions. “The relationship between

them is unparalleled and heart warming. I want to use this opportunity to refute the rumour, gossip and speculation making the rounds that one of the conditions agreed by the political parties that merged to form APC, is that both Buhari and Tinubu must drop their presidential ambition. “I do this in my humble but privileged position as the Secretary of the Merger Committee of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and Co-Secretary of the Inter Party Joint Merger Committee.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 9

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

FG urged to declare June 12 Nigerian Youth Day

C O N D O LENCE: Kwara State governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) signing the condolence register of Late Pa Ibrahim Fashola, during a condolence visit to his Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at Lagos House, Marina, yesterday.

BY DAPO AKINREFON & IKENNA ASOMBA

ON of late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 1993 presidential election, Mr. Abdul Abiola, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to declare June 12 as Nigerian Youth Day. Also, son of late legal luminary and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi, and the Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, enjoined youths to put themselves forward for elective positions in 2015. Abiola made the call at a rally in Lagos organised by the Nigerian Youth Leadership Group, NYLAG, to mark the World International Day of the Youth. Speaking after a walk in Ikeja which terminated at the Governor’s Office, Abiola, son of late Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, told newsmen that the youth contributed very much to the electoral success of the late MKO. He said: “Nigeria needs to recognise its youth and give a special day to celebrate them. “June 12 cannot be swept under the carpet. The youth who are the future of this nation will be gingered more if such a special day as June 12 is set aside for them”. Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NYLAG, Mr. Onyekachi Eze, said that June 12 should be declared a youth day to honour those that lost their lives especially the youth. He added that “the Nigerian government is yet to set aside a date for its own youth. Young people across the country are facing increasingly tough times. Setting aside a day as June 12 for the Nigerian youth will make a tremendous impact and make the young Nigerian more democratised.”

Mimiko, Shettima others condole with Fashola z8th day Fidau prayers hold today BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and his Borno State counterpart, Alhaji Kassim Shettima, were among several dignitaries who visited Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, at Marina, State House, to condole with him on the death of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Fashola, Pa Ademola Fashola, who died last Monday, in La-

gos, at 80. Meantime, dignitaries are expected to throng Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos Island, today, for more tributes and offer 8th day Fidau prayers according to Muslim rites for the repose of Pa Ademola Fashola. Mimiko, during the visit, described the governor ’s father ’s death as a sad occurrence adding, however, that although the death would naturally provoke moments of grief, survivors of the deceased should derive joy from

the fact that he lived a good life and left a worthy legacy in Governor Fashola. Mimiko went with some members of his Cabinet. “We have also come to rejoice with you because Papa lived a good life and he left behind a worthy legacy in the governor of Lagos state,” he said. Praying the Almighty Allah to grant repose to the soul of the deceased and to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss, the governor also thanked God and circumstances that produced a per-

Navy to combat terrorism with change in warfare strategy BY EVELYN USMAN

N a move to stem the tide of civilian massacre by terrorists in some parts of the North, the Nigerian Navy, yesterday, said it was time to change its warfare strategy,with a view to saving the defenceless populace. The Navy, therefore, yesterday, started a five-day training on Protection of Civilians in Peace Support Operations and Internal Security, at the Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos. Declaring the training open, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajuonu, explained that following the current state of security in the country, the Navy could no longer work in isolation in the creeks but was also involved in operations in built up areas like Plateau,

Maiduguri and Bauchi states. He said: “It is, therefore, considered extremely necessary for subitants to be trained on how to handle civilians in such operations, especially as the Uited Nations has made several provisions to improve the status of man. Thus, human rights activities can no

longer be taken for granted.” The training, which he said was in congnisance of the vision of the Chief of Naval Staff to emphasize professionalism in all aspects of naval training, was also aimed at lauching the trainees, comprising officers, commanders and senior ratings drawn from all the commands in the NN, into a new phase.

Lagos community sponsors youths in GCE exams In an attempt to stem the tide BY SIMON ADEWALE

YANRE Community Development Association, in Lagos State, has enrolled some youths in the area in the forthcoming GCE examination. The six deserving candidates passed a qualifying test that was conducted for all interested candidates in Ayanre, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Olorunda, LCDA, in Lagos State.

of delinquency, idleness and lack of focus among the youth, the executive committee of the association decided to set up as committee known as Ayanre Youth Development and Empowerment Committee. The programme is aimed at empowering the youths. Presenting the GCE forms to the youths, Chairman of Ayanre Youth Development and Empowerment Programme, Dr. J.Owoso, thanked the entire community for the initiative.

sonality like Mr. Babatunde Fashola. Also in his remarks, Shettima, said the father of Governor Fashola lived a good and fruitful life adding that he trained his children well and impacted positively on ordinary citizens, especially the poor and needy in the society. The governor noted that the elder Fashola wanted the best for his family and that was why he trained all his children well adding that the deceased lived a vey exemplary life of giving to others in need. He prayed for the repose of the soul of the octogenarian and also that the Almighty Allah would support the family of the deceased. In his response, Governor Fashola expressed gratitude to the governors for the visit and honour done to the memory of his father noting that for the governors to leave the ever tasking challenges of governance in their various states to come down to Lagos to commiserate with him and the family, was indeed, a demonstration of how deep their honour was. Fashola told Shettima: “There is a lot of history between us and the people of Borno State and I believe that this day’s honour reaffirms the common bond that our ancestors have shared. “They are bonds which we must rededicate ourselves to fastening, to tightening and to remoulding so that in the fullness of time we may also hand it over to our children. They are bonds that I belief if pursued rigorously, will ultimately bring peace to our nation”, the Governor said. According to him, “They are bonds of humanity; they are bonds of brotherhood, they are bonds of love and compassion. Those are the most needed ingredients now, in my humble view, to pursue in order to reach out to the promise of our nation which I see within touching distance.” Thanking his Borno State counterpart for the visit, Fashola encouraged him: “As you continue to soldier on in the pursuit of love, peace and brotherhood across barriers, I pray that Allah grants you all the wisdom and strength to discharge the mandate which was so graciously bestowed on you in respect of the people of Borno and, by extension, Nigeria.” Others who visited included; a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu and National Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Ayo Opadokun, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. David Paradang, and Executive members of the Igbo Communities in Lagos, among others.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013—11

S-West PDP passes confidence vote in Obasanjo BY DAUD OLATUNJI

APC FLAG-OFF: From left: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewal Omirin; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Governor Kayode Fayemi, with other Party chieftains, at the unveiling/hoisting of the All Progressives Congress flag, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Ekiti stands still as Fayemi, others launch APC BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

DO EKITI—ADO-EKITI, the capital of Ekiti

State, stood still for several hours yesterday, as party faithful, interest groups and members of the public wel-

comed the newly registered mega- party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The flag of the new party was launched and h o i s t e d amidst pomp and pageantry with the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, calling on Nigerians to embrace the APC, which he said was put together to rescue the country from bad governance, brigandage and systemic failure, which he said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, represents. Dr. Fayemi lowered the flag of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and hoisted that of the APC at the Governor ’s Office and lat-

er at the headquarters of his campaign office in Ado-Ekiti. The state APC chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, performed the same ritual at the state secretariat of the party at Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti shortly after Governor Fayemi arrived from his office to the warm embrace of enthusiastic party members. Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, assured that the newly registered APC would not discriminate against new comers who are ready to embrace the party. Meantime, as the new party was inaugurated in the state, members of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, a party in the alliance, stayed off from the rally. Members of the CPC, led by its chairman, Mr. Ajayi Babatunde, were at their Basiri office while the rally was on. Speaking with newsmen over the refusal of his members to join in the rally, Babatunde said leadership of the defunct ACN refused to carry them along. The CPC said officials of the ACN had frustrated several moves for them to meet where they were expected to put a final seal to their merger in the state.

BEOKUTA—THE South- West zone of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that it has passed a vote of confidence in former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his contributions to the party, describing him as a strong pillar of the party in the country. The PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman in the zone, Chief Ishola Filani, disclosed this while speaking at the party’s rally in IjebuIgbo, Ogun State, on Sunday. At the event which featured the defection of 5,000 members of opposition parties into the PDP, were the party ’s zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu, the Osun PDP Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; his Oyo and Ogun States counterparts, Yinka Taiwo and Adebayo Dayo, respectively, as well as a chieftain of the party, Buruji Kashamu, among others.

Ajimobi, Aregbesola lauded on LAUTECH

GROUP, Amalgamation of Citizens, Concerned with Development of Education in Yorubaland, ACCDEY, has praised Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, and Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, for inaugurating the Governing Council of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. A statement jointly signed on behalf of the group by Aaron Olajiire Adewuni and Muhib Gbolagunte, Chairman and Secretary General, respectively, described members of the Council, headed by Professor of Animal Science, and twotime Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Wale Omole, as qualified for the task of repositioning LAUTECH. ACCDEY said persons on the 8th Council have what it takes, academically and administratively, to govern any university in any part of the world.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Delta labour leaders order DLA workers to suspend strike BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

SABA — ORGANISED Labour in Delta State, yesterday, directed workers of the state Direct Labour Agency, DLA, to suspend their ongoing industrial action and resume work immediately. The suspension order was sequel to a meeting of the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC; Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUCPTRE; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, and the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr. Mike Okeme, in Asaba. A statement by Williams Akporegha, Chairman, NLC, Delta State, and other labour leaders in the state, called on the state government to urgently step into the matters that gave rise to the strike, to check the drift towards a total breakdown of industrial peace and harmony in the state. The labour leaders reaffirmed the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, reached on April 15, 2013 with DLA management and AUPCTRE unit of the agency concerning the issues.

CELEBRATION: From left, Mr. Chuma Chinye, Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; Mr. Joe Poroma, Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare; Sir Owene Wonodi, Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development and Mr. Fred Igwe, Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, at the 2013 International Youth Day Celebration, at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

Anti-Amaechi lawmakers shun sitting of Rivers Commission of Inquiry zLawmaker moves to disband commission BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

at the Commission, stressing that the Commission was merely on a fact finding mission. “No kobo needs to be paid to file your memo. Just do it with the Secretary of the Commission. Even if you don’t have a lawyer, the Commission will get a lawyer for you.

“This Commission is for everybody affected by the crisis and anybody, who has one thing or the other to tell us. It is a fact finding commission. We are not here to imprison anybody. We are out to get to the root of the matter,” he said. Meantime, one of the five

ORT HARCOURT — THE five anti-Governor Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, shunned the sitting of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to investigate the recent fracas in the House of Assembly. Chairman of the Commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, adjourned to Thursday after counsel to the Speaker of Assembly, Mr. Ken Atsuwete and counsel who represented the other 25 lawmakers BY AUSTIN OGWUDA pleaded for time extension to enable them put their docuSABA — THE state Commissioner ments in order. for Special Duties in charge of Delta Justice Georgewill, who granted them 48 hours also State Oil Producing Areas Development called on parties in the crisis to Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Timi be free to file their memoranda Tonye, yesterday, said meaningful observations had been made in course of monitoring projects embarked upon by the Commission. He said that such observations would be appropriately communicated to the Akpan, a former Minister of governor for necessary action. Women Affairs. Tonye in Asaba, weekend, said: “We The Ibibio leaders were react- are doing something worth the while in ing to Governor Akpabio’s the agency because as you know, we are briefing during a closed door delivering service to our people in line meeting, where he said that he with the state government’s three-point preferred to zone the governor- agenda. ship of the state in 2015 to Eket “For now, my office is mainly monitorSenatorial District, because, ac- ing the Commission’s projects and will cording to him, the district had report on same to the governor to take not produced a governor yet. necessary action.”

My inspection of DESOPADEC projects has revealed a lot — Commissioner

AKWA IBOM 2015: Ibibio leaders

insist on open contest

OLITICAL LEADERS in Ibibio land, the largest ethnic bloc in Akwa Ibom State, have told Governor Godswill Akpabio that the race to pick his successor in 2015 should remain an open contest in keeping with the tradition of electoral contests in the state. The Ibibio leaders made their position known in a meeting with Governor Akpabio at Government House, Uyo, weekend. Those present at the meeting included Ntisong Essien Ekidem, leader of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, the pan Ibibio socio-cultural group; Otuekong Sony Udo, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state; Dr. Maurice Ebong; Mrs. Rita

Delta Govt honours Prof Chukuma

ELTA STATE Government will August 17, 2013 honour Professor Nwose Chukuma of University of Lago, UNILAG, and who is also the Hostel Project Committee Chairman of the university, as a distinguished scholar.

The ceremony slated for the College of Education, Warri, is being hosted by the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, while other prominent sons and daughters of the state will grace the occasion.

anti-Amaechi lawmakers, Mr. Victor Ihunwo, representing Port Harcourt constituency III, yesterday, approached the state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, seeking among others, to stop the Commission from going ahead with its activities.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—13

JTF battles to rescue crude oil-laden barge in Bayelsa BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, yesterday, said efforts were on to rescue a crude oil-laden barge that ran aground in St. Nicholas River in Bayelsa State. Residents of Odioama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, had reported that the barge sank in the river on Friday, adding that the crew was evacuated by security operatives. Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Media Coordinator at JTF’s headquarters in Yenagoa, said that the maritime component of JTF was assisting in the rescue operation. Nwachukwu said that the area had been secured to ensure that oil thieves did not tamper with the cargo, while rescue efforts were going on.

Governors’ Forum set to check oil theft, says Uduaghan D

ELTA STATE governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, was determined to check the challenge of oil theft in the country. Fielding questions from journalists at the venue of the NGF meeting, weekend, Governor Uduaghan said that the measures taken by the Forum to support the Federal Government were paying off. According to him, the Forum

had to do something after the shut-down of two major pipelines (Trans-Niger and Nembe) led to the combined loss of about 300,000 barrels per day. “This resulted in the drop of our oil output from 2.5million bpd to 2.1million bpd. But as I speak today, the two pipelines vandalised and damaged had been repaired and re-opened,” he added. He said that the cooperation and vigilance of all Nigerians

Group expresses surprise over police failure to invite Wike BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT — A group, Rivers Peoples’ Forum, RPF, yesterday, expressed surprise at the failure of the Police in the state to invite the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike over statement he allegedly made threatening the peace in the state. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, who spoke when he received the Council of Chiefs of Ekinigbo clan , Obio Akpor Local Govern-

ment Area of the state, said the government would not be distracted by those that had constituted themselves into opposition. Okocha assured that Governor Chibuike Amaechi would continue to deliver on the dividends of democracy. RPF, which threatened to carry out a protest in the state to push for the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Wike over statement he allegedly made, threatening peace in the state, noted that it was already mobilising for what they dubbed ‘mother of all protests.’

was necessary to check illegal oil bunkering, which had drastically reduced the socio-economic potentials of the country. Speaking on the participation of Delta State-born, Blessing Okagbare at the on-going International Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, the governor expressed satisfaction with her performance so far. He commended Okagbare’s feat in clinching the silver medal in the long jump event and encouraged her to be focused and determination to secure a gold medal for the country in the World Championships. Uduaghan promised that his administration would continue

to support the athlete and other youths who are prepared to make a living out of sports. Briefing newsmen after the Forum’s meeting, the vice chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said that the NGF had resolved to streamline its position on the on-going review of the constitution and come up with a common position for the governors. The governors on the current strike action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, appealed to the lecturers to call off the strike in the interest of the country’s educational development.

....AGIP loses 20,000bpd BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—NIGERIA Agip Oil Company, NAOC, yesterday, said it loses about 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day due to alleged crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The development, the company added, led to the shutdown of production early this year to enable it effect repairs on 162 vandalised points by

suspected crude oil thieves. Speaking at a tripartite meeting initiated by the Bayelsa State Government on how to tackle the scourge, which had in attendance the company’s surveillance contractors, the Manager, Security, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Mr. Albert Ijuwe lamented the crude theft menace in the state. Ijuwe also thanked the state government for the initiative to curb oil theft in the state.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

UNN to honour pioneer students in Oct

I 've no regret for identifying with Biafra Police parade 10 MASSOB members — MASSOB LEADER zinAsDelta

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE University of Nigeria Nsukka will in October honour surviving members of its 1963 pioneer class. Vice Chancellor, Professor Bartho Okolo, announced this during the formation of a Committee to ensure the realisation of the goal of celebrating the pioneers who entered the first indigenous university in Nigeria on October 7, 1960 and graduated in 1963. They then went on to perform excellently at various interviews, including placement in the then Western Nigeria Civil Service, thus cementing the reputation of the university as a centre of excellence. The celebration of the pioneer students would form an integral part of the 2013 Founder’s Day of the University from October 17, 2013.

C M Y K

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—THE Regional Administrator of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in Delta State, Mr. Emeka Okafor, yesterday, declared while being paraded along with other members of the group at the State Police headquarters that he had no regret for identifying with Biafra which led to his arrest and challenged the police authority to arraign them in court if they so wished. The 52 years old MASSOB leader told newsmen that “why should I regret fighting for freedom. No problem, let us go to court. We were 10 that were arrested. We are more than 3,000 MASSOB members in Delta State. We intend to achieve a sovereign state of Biafra. We are tired of Nigeria. You know that after the war what brought about the war still persists and the Igbos are being marginalised in all areas of governance, no roads. "We are tired of Nigeria. Look at the deportation of Igbos from Lagos. That is one of the things you can

see. Why can't their stay be legalized in Lagos.” Delta State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Lucky

Uyabeme, while parading the arrested members of the group, displayed items recovered from them as follows, 114 Biafran

flags, 10 pairs of complete Biafran police uniforms with name tags, 129 Biafran pounds and 10 shillings among others.

We 'll rescue Anambra from unfair leadership — APC BY IKENNA ASOMBA

WKA—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, said the party was the only platform that could rescue the people of Anambra State from the unfair leadership of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last seven years. The party stated this during a meeting with some of the aspirants contesting the Anambra governorship election slated for November 16, on its platform. Speaking during the meeting, one of the aspirants, Senator Annie Okonkwo stated that the political party has come to

restore Anambra State. He said: “We know that people are not happy with what is happening in Anambra State

today, but we are promising every citizen of Anambra State that APC will change the face of Anambra State".

Nnaji, Sen Nwaogu for NUJ summit BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—FORMER Minister for Power and Chairman of Geometrics Integrated power plant, Professor Barth Nnaji and Senator Nkechi Nwaogu of Abia central, have both accepted to respectively deliver the keynote lecture and chair the second edition of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,

South East Media summit. The South East media summit is an annual initiative of the South east zone of NUJ as part of social responsibility and platform for interface among the people of the zone in keeping with the agenda setting duties of the media. This year’s summit has been scheduled to hold at Nike Lake Resort Hotel Enugu on September 20, 2013.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—15

FG blames epileptic power suppy on vandalisation of transformers BY BEN AGANDE

HE Federal Government, yesterday, blamed the epileptic power supply in the country on vandals who sabotage pipelines supplying gas to power stations as well as transformers. Minister of Power, Professor Nebo Chinedu who disclosed this after a joint meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the National Council on Privatisation said such acts of sabotage could only be attributed to ‘madness or being politically motivated’. The Minister who joined the governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam to address newsmen at the end of the meeting said the recurrent vandalism of gas pipelines to power plants which has led to the disruption in electricity generation was not an attack on government but on Nigerians who bear the brunt of power disruption. According to the minister, the condensate extracted from the pipelines which appears to be the only attraction for these vandals attract no substantial commercial value. The minister said the western axis of the pipelines network has been worst-hit but assured the public that urgent repairs are ongoing. Apart from the vandalisation of pipelines, the minister also attributed the decline in power supply to the reduction in water levels at the nation’s hydroelectricity power plants and vandalisation of transformers. He said “It is important to note that with regard to the busting of gas pipelines and vandalism of pipelines that bring gas, there isn’t any significant commercial value behind the action. It is sheer madness or may be essentially politically motivated just to cause damage to the country and to Nigerians. The ones that we find to be commercially motivated are so very painful. “The reason for people to carry out this act of vandalism is within them, because it is something that is beyond explanation, it is consistent, some people try to vandalize for all kinds of reasons, why they engage in this act of sabotage. “I agree with you that many serious arrests have been made, just like the issue of crude oil theft that is going on in this country. I think the seriousness given to this by the Federal Government to make sure that they arrest whoever that is involved in this act of sabotage is something that should give comfort to Nigerians otherwise, the efforts and the huge amount of money being expended by government to

ensure Nigerians enjoy constant supply of electricity is being sabotaged by some unknown individuals whose

motivation is actually not known to anybody, except to say that this is an act of madness. Any reasonable

person should rejoice on the fact that the things that are given to Nigerians should be protected by all Nigerians” he said.

Yoruba distrust for Hausa Fulani 'll destroy APC, by Ebute, ex-Senate President BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

APGA Anambra State gubernatorial aspirant, Chinedu Francis Idigo, addressing newsmen after obtaining form at Abuja office in Abuja while APGA chieftain, Chief Ezekoye and others look on. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

APC to Jonathan: Go to court if you felt libelled BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

LL Progressives Congress APC, yesterday, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to go to court if he felt libelled by the description of his presidency as a kindergarten presidency by the Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande. Meantime, the party has also described the claim of a feud between its leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as a figment of the presidency’s imagination, saying the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the presidency had been peddling lies over a phantom feud because they could not fathom how the leadership of the APC could put national interest above personal considerations. ‘’Mr. President, don’t let your

lick-spittle aides deceive you. There is absolutely no feud between the two leaders. Waiting for such a feud is like ‘Waiting for Godot’’’ it said. Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, said Chief Akande merely told the truth by his characterization of the Jonathan presidency asking ‘’Isn’t truth a defence to libel?’’ The party maintained that there was nothing strange or wrong in criticizing a democratically-elected President, after all he was neither an imperial president, a monarchy nor an emperor. According to APC: “‘In the true character of this presidency, it's increasingly irreverent and undignified spokesman failed to respond to

the issues raised by Chief Akande, and instead chose to haul abuses at a man who is old enough to be his father. Such irresponsible act does no credit to the spokesman or the president he is serving, and Nigerians will definitely not forget such crudity in a hurry. ‘’Where is the presidency’s response to Chief Akande’s assertion that he has written two letters to the President over the serious challenges facing the country, without getting a response? Where is the presidency’s response to Chief Akande’s assertion that President Jonathan is witchhunting political opponents? These are the issues that Nigerians are interested in, not how many hours the President sleeps at night because he is supposedly working tirelessly".

Jonathan promises infrastructure devt nationwide

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has stressed his administration’s commitment towards transforming every part of the nation through construction of massive infrastructure and institutional development. Jonathan made the remarks weekend while inspecting the Skills Acquisition Centre,

Otuoke, Bayelsa State, saying that no nation can develop without proper and adequate development of her manpower. The President who expressed satisfaction on the level of work done on the Centre, being handled by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, declared that, “I am particularly happy with what I have seen today.” Jonathan said: “In fact, I

commend the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for a job well done”. The skills acquisition centre, billed for commissioning next month is one of the nine skills centres being built across the nine states of the Niger Delta by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs with a mandate to train youths in specialized trade such as oil & gas, maritime and entertainment industries.

ORMER Senate President, Ameh Ebute, yesterday, described the merger of three political parties into the All Progressives Congress, APC, as unworkable, affirming the continuing hurt of the Yoruba people against the Hausa Fulani on account of the death in detention of Bashorun Moshood Abiola. In a session with newsmen in Lagos, Senator Ebute also charged northern leaders to give space to other sections of the country, noting that when northerners ruled the country they were not disturbed as President Jonathan is presently being disturbed. Senator Ebute presided over the affairs of the third Senate for some months in 1993 following the removal from office of Senator Iyorcha Ayu as Senate President. He also exonerated the people of the Middle Belt from the agitation of some sections of the north against a second term for President Jonathan, saying that there was no basis for the opposition given what he claimed were the good works of the president in most sectors of the polity. While describing the recent merger of three parties into the APC as unworkable, Ebute warned Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to be cautious of his relationship with Muhammadu Buhari. He said: “If I go into the history of Nigerian politics, you will agree with me that the merger will not work. I was in detention with Bola Tinubu in Alagbon for 50 days. Tinubu knew what happened and I still know what happened and I am surprised that Tinubu can go into marriage with these people.” Noting the events that trailed the arrest of Chief Moshood Abiola after he declared himself as president in 1994, he said: ”I don’t think that the Yoruba people have forgotten that incident to hobnob or have a marriage with people who will likely treat them the same way again.” He said: “You know them. You know the people that constituted the CPC, that is Buhari’s party. Buhari was the chief adviser to Abacha when Abacha was president".

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

African NGOs hold confab in US

HE International As sociation of African Non Governmental Organisations holds its its annual conference in Rockville, Maryland, USA, September 5 to 7, 2013. The conference which is organised by the International Association of African NGOs, seeks to bring together individuals from different races, gender and ethnicity to discuss issues ranging from capacity building for NGOs, empowering NGOs with technology and other developmental issues in developing countries. It will provide a forum where women and men from all over the world will meet and interact with government, diplomatic and business leaders from various countries, as well as from local governments and citizenry from Maryland, DC and Virginia areas. A statement from the organisers said that thousands of delegates from the United States, Africa,AsiaandtheCarribeanwill the attend the conference which has “empowering NGOs through awareness in the age of globalisation.”

13% Derivation: Youths petition Jonathan BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

KURE—OIL produc ing communities in Ondo State have threatened a mass action, if their request for direct payment of 13 per cent derivation funds is not granted. In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, leaders of the communities posited that the 13 per cent derivation fund belonged exclusively to the oil and gas producing communities. According to them, “the oil facilities, flow stations and installations are located in the oil and gas producing communities, where oil exploration, exploitation and production are being carried. ‘’Our position is that the 13 per cent derivation being managed by the governors in the oil and gas producing states is an aberration.” They also called for the setting up of a national derivation board to include executive chairman, secretary and a member from theRevenue Mobilisa-

tion Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC. C M Y K

RCCG ordains 11,256 ministers zAs Adeboye shops for fund to build bigger auditorium completed before August 10, 2014. “We can no longer delay the construction of a new auditorium. It AGOS—THE weeklong cannot be a small one because if annual convention of The we double what we have now it Redeemed Christian Church of God has been concluded with the ordination of 894 full pastors bringing the number of ordained ministers during the programme to 11,256. General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye announced to the worshippers at the closing ceremony, that the Pentecostal church had within one week commissioned a total of 11,256 ministers to help take the church to a new level. At the farewell service, Pastor Adeboye said: “The highest office in the RCCG is that of the pastor”, noting that “even the General Overseer is a pastor and very soon these people will be equal to the G.O.” BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKALATONA

would not be sufficient since the people outside now are more than those inside the auditorium,” he said, adding “join your faith with mine for an auditorium

and by the grace of God it will be ready by next year.” The cleric maintained that before the next dry season the work should commence.

Ordination

Assisted by his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye and few high officers of the church, he poured anointing oil on the heads of the candidates, laid hands on their heads before making the proclamation: “I ordain you pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in the name of God the Father, in the name of God the Son and in the name of God the Holy Spirit…” That was the highlight of the one week convention with the theme, JESUS. The exercise was followed by a thanksgiving service by the G.O and his biological family, which was immediately followed by the immediate family of founder, Rev. Josiah Akindayomi.

New auditorium

Meanwhile, following the unprecedented crowd that converged at the Redemption Camp for this year’s convention, Pastor Adeboye appealed for funds towards the construction of a bigger auditorium that will be three kilometers long and three kilometers wide which should be completed before the next convention in August 2014 He called on all brethren of the church to join him in building a new auditorium to the Glory of the Almighty God. Adeboye maintained that considering the size of the next auditorium, it would be pretty expensive but with God nothing shall be impossible.

Appeal for fund

He appealed to his partners to join hands with him to build the fourth auditorium, arguing that the current auditorium was erected by God Himself. He addressed some of his friends who could support him with N1 billion or N500 million to see his secretary. He also extended invitation to those who could help with N50 million and below to take part so that the project could be

AWARD: From left: Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa, CDGA, Dr. Dafe Akpocha; Chairman, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd, Mr. Kola Balogun and member, CDGA, Ms. Esther Gbonkumor, at the presentation and conferment of African gold service award to Mr. Balogun by CDGA in Ibafo, Ogun State. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 17

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 WHERE is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, heading? It is doubtful if PDP, any side of it, knows. Matters are complicated, so complicated that the intentions of its members are unknown. The size of PDP and its pervading influences are factors in its struggles. It is equally important to note that the insistence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that PDP adheres to the party’s constitution in electing its national executives, is partially responsible for most of the slide that has hit PDP. Other interests have fed on this to unleash anger at the party leadership. There are some who are happy to watch PDP tear away at itself. Their expectation is that the feud would result in the breakup of PDP. It is a vain expectation. The central interest in PDP is access to power. It is an aspiration some consider too important to explore on other platforms. Many politicians believe they would have easier access to power through PDP. Some of them have been on the queue since 1999. The realisation that 2015 may still elude them accounts for the upheaval in

PDP PDP,, Please, Please PDP. However, the aspect that bothers the public is the distraction PDP tussles have provided in the past few months. Leaders of the party are seeped in the politics of 2015; governance has taken a back seat. The effect is noticeable. Governors virtually live in Abuja as they are in different informal committees that have been constituted for 2015. Their constituencies wait for their attention. The electoral promises they made are in abeyance in the midst of political and economic challenges the country faces. PDP is reaping the consequences of running the party as a fiefdom. Its blunders have had minimal effects on the

political fortunes of the party since its ascension to power in 1999. The major character of PDP is that it barely plays by the rules, any rules. Rash of changes that attends its constitution during power contests has exposed the party to inconsistencies, which are at the centre of the crisis. Once, the PDP rule was that anyone aspiring to high office, had to win elections in his ward, local government area and State. When candidate Olusegun Obasanjo failed to deliver a single polling booth but got the waiver to be presidential candidate, PDP became a party of waivers. The rules suffered further depletion even as new ones were made. As PDP reorganises for future elections, INEC should be applauded for insisting that internal democracy rules in PDP, and indeed all the parties. Nigerians want political parties to deliver on their promises and not waste the time between elections in internal wrangle. PDP stands out because its size spreads the Nigerian’s misery.

OPINION BY ADA OZO /GRACE AGUDE

IR,

I am writing to you as a bona fide citizen of Nigeria and also as Founder/ National President of Umuada Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora, Inc. (a not for profit women organisation with headquarters in California, USA).I want to take a moment to first express my sincere appreciation to you and your fellow lawmakers in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for all the work you do to foster democracy and create an environment conducive for both foreign and domestic investment in our beloved country, Nigeria. Many of us have been following with very keen interest the progress our country is struggling to make towards democracy and in the development of her physical infrastructure. I am particularly happy that we have not had any interruption in the governance of our country since the Nigerian people decided to embrace the doctrine of power through the ballot box, as opposed to power through the barrel of the gun over a decade ago. We understand that democracy doesn’t always come easy — not even in the most advanced countries of the world. But because it is the bedrock of real lasting progress and /or development, we have no other choice but to embrace and nurture it to the best of our ability as a nation. You, the law-makers are obviously at the vanguard of the sustenance of democracy in our country. Whether or not democracy takes root and thrives in Nigeria depends on you, members of the Senate and House of Representatives. This means the way

Child marriage: Umuada Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora writes Senate and manner in which you get yourselves to the Senate, the type of laws you make, the nature of relationship you establish/maintain with the executive and judicial branches of government, the way you relate with your constituencies/the citizens of Nigeria should all be guided by the overall and best interest of ONE progressive Nigeria. In other words you, the federal legislators hold the key to Nigeria’s future! Incidentally many of our senators and members of the House of Representatives do not appear to understand just how important their portfolios are to the prosperity of our country. Lately we have heard so much about a purported bill in the Senate regarding legalising marriage for under-aged girls. My blood and that of the other members of my organisation was already boiling. We were already planning massive rallies across the USA and Nigeria, to express our distaste for such inhumane and insane proposition. Fortunately, and thank God Almighty, that Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Senate’s Deputy President and Chairman of its Committee on Constitution Amendment, clarified the issue in a timely manner at a press briefing in Abuja on July 23, 2013. Senator Ekweremadu is an honourable man. I respect and trust him very much. I, therefore, have no reason to think that he might not be telling Nigeria the truth this time. That notwithstanding, I still had to do my own homework and found that the Senate failed to remove Section 29 (4) (b) from the Constitution, rather than added anything new to it. Section 29 states:

*( “29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation. (2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria. (3) The President may withhold the registration of any declaration made under subsection (1) of this section if(a) the declaration is made during any war in which Nigeria is physically involved; or (b) in his opinion, it is otherwise contrary to public policy. (4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section. (a) “full age” means the age of 18 years and above; (b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age. )*

o big deal, one may say. But what worries me is why we should have a different age for males and females when it comes to renunciation of Nigerian citizenship, and why should it be senators from a particular region of the country that want to ensure that the clause “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age” stays /remains in the Constitution? Is it a shortcut to legitimizing under-aged marriages for girls? No matter the motive behind this move, one thing remains clear. This whole issue has brought to light the dark side of some senators

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that some of us did not know before now. I don’t know for you, but as a proud Nigerian I am ashamed to know that a senator would take a 13-yearold child for “wife”! I mean I’m sick to the stomach!! Hon. Senate President, this is no longer a private matter. It is not even a cultural or religious thing! A lawmaker sleeping with a child young enough to be his granddaughter!! If this is not pedophilia, then the Senate should please give concerned Nigerians their own definition of child molestation. You expect us to stay quiet in the face of this very despicable act of serial raping of a child? Where is the collective conscience of our nation? Shouldn’t this child be going to school like her other age mates across the globe, to prepare her for a better future? Shouldn’t it also be the responsibility of our law-makers to protect such unfortunate children from predators like the senator in question? As a concerned Nigerian and head of a group that stands up for the rights of women and children (Umuada Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora, Inc.), I am calling upon you, Hon. Senate President, to cause the Senate to investigate this matter and bring out the truth. We are living in the 21st century, and Nigeria cannot afford not to protect her own children.

*Mrs. Ozo & Mrs Agude are members of Umuada Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 13, 2013— 19

, T

“

HE constitution of this country has established the prime value of the currency of Nigerian citizenry, and our politics instead of being the cultivation of the appreciation of Nigerian citizenry, has been and continues to be a process of a structured depreciation of the value of citizenry. The dictionary defines citizenry as citizens collectively. Citizenry is not an aggregation, it is the collective expression of that which is intrinsic in citizenship, an appreciation of the worth of each constituent of the citizenry, an exercise only possible and expressible in the collective. This is why the word The People is so politically precious. The Constitution defines the Nigerian Citizenry as the source of all powers of government and the legitimation of its governance. “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Having firmly and solemnly resolved; to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign Nation under God;

dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding: And to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of Freedom, Equality and Justice and for the purpose of consolidating the Unity of our people; DO HEREBY MAKE, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES the following Constitution” Chapter II, the cornerstone of the Constitution deals with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. And Section 14 of this chapter spells out the sovereign will of the People. “Section 14(1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principle of democracy and social justice. (2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that(a)Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this

Constitutions derives all its powers and authority. (b)the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of government; and (c)the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provision of this Constitution”.

he provisions quoted above and that spell out the worth and standing of Nigerian Citizenry have been progressively depreciated by our politics from Independence to date. The price the entire society can pay in a Nigeria without its citizenry is beginning to be appreciated in the current condition of complete societal insecurity. The depreciation of the citizenry is daily and routine. When rules made for all are set aside for the

Lessons fr om the Lagos depor tation from deportation BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

ITH an avalanche of public outcry, there is need for a deep reflection over the recent expulsion of over 70 beggars and destitute by the Lagos State Government to the Upper Iweka Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State. A series of contradictions on the exact reasons for the repatriation could suggest that the misdemeanor was a plot hinged on social discrimination. The state government said the ejection was for rehabilitation, that is, it was meant to bring those affected - majority of who were destitute persons - closer to their family members even though many of them were said not to be from Anambra. If the Lagos government did not approve or embarked on the deportations, then who did? The contending issue however is whether the decision has not infringed on the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to live or settle in any part of the country freely and any without hindrance or molestation. While it is easy to discountenance the lame excuse that the beggars were taken to reunite with their families, the question to ask then is what could be their offence that could warrant the inimicalness meted-out to them? These hapless fellows were allegedly subjected to inhuman treatments in detention while some were even said to have died on the way when “they were bundled out of Lagos by officials of the state government” (The Peoples Daily, 02/08/ 2013). Ordinarily, when we hear or read about deportation, it has to do with the compulsory repatriation of a foreigner from another country other than his/her, usually based on immigration issues. But in this case, the

victims were ‘deported’ in their dear country at 2.30 am in the dead of night for that matter! Before now and in the course of rehabilitating infrastructure and districts in Lagos State, media reports had it that between 2007 and 2011, the state had dispatched 3,029 persons, excluding 15 foreign beggars. A few years back, about 160 destitute northerners were reportedly dumped on the outskirts of the Kaduna metropolis, including women, men, children, mostly crippled, the lepers, deaf and others with varying degrees of physical disabilities. In mid 2011, 196 beggars were allegedly repatriated to Sokoto State; 83 to Oyo State; 75 to Kano State; 67 to Osun State; 21 to Ekiti State; and seven to Ondo State while others were taken to Chad, Niger Republic, and Cote d’Ivore. On September 18 last year, the authorities of the state reportedly dumped about 100 destitute Igbo mostly made up of children, women, the aged and the physically challenged under the Upper Iweka flyover bridge in Onitsha at an ungodly hour of 4am. The Osun State Government too disclosed that it recently received 26 of its homeless indigenes residing in Lagos State, comprising 19 males, five females and two children. “At other times in the past, destitute persons from Oyo and some Northern states in the country had been sent back to their home states in a supposed bid to rid Lagos of street beggars” (The Sun News, 07/08/ 2013). No doubt, the determination of the Lagos State to become a mega city is desirable and is in tandem with modern day trend, it should, however, be pursed with a human

The Armed FFor or ces and the orces existence of Nigeria: The security issue

Definitely, there is a reason the streets of London, Dubai and Singapore are relatively safe today… you cannot be at ease when the society where you are flaunting your wealth is not at ease

“high and mighty”, the citizenry suffers a body blow. -When passages are violently and rudely made for dignitaries to go through on the same roads that are crowded wall to wall by citizens travelling on business of importance to them the citizenry is degraded; -When elected offices are treated as pensionable prebends the citizenry ceases to be an electorate; -When representatives become government with interests opposed to the represented, the government is separated from its citizenry and thus effectively disenfranchised. Love of country and the willingness to go to war against enemies of cherished and highly valued way of life are expression of enlightened self-interest. The opposite is the case, that in a country in which the elected act as monarchs and the citizenry are invisible to the elected government, invaders if not treated as liberators may at best be left unimpeded in their predatory ventures by the citizenry who have long come to see Government if not as their enemy, as a burden patiently to be borne. January 2011 Oil Subsidy Protests are an eye opener to the fact that there are two Nigerias, the Nigeria of Governments, and The Nigeria of We The People. The Nigeria of Governments is the Nigeria of the Elite living a subsidised life outside of the punishing discipline of the market place. Simon Kolawole calls the indigenes of Government Nigeria as the Elites who regard The Citizenry as The Enemy. In his Sunday February 3, 2013, back page essay, Kolawole writes on the Us versus Them attitude of the Elite towards Nigerian citizenry who are majority poor. He begins thus: “This story fascinated but

It would have been proper for the Lagos State Government to rehabilitate these hapless fellows in line with social welfare resposibilty, which is a hallmark of most democracies

face. That is, anything that is designed for the good of the society at the peril of the human component is certainly a failure. With all sincerity of purpose, what any responsible government should strive for is to bring development to the people; both the rich and the poor, within the available resources by making them feel the impact of governance. In view of the present circumstance, I think we should ask the question; how did the non-natives get to reside in Lagos in the first place?

part from those who were born there, a simple answer could be the strive for a better life, especially in a cosmopolitan city - the centre of excellence - where life is believed to be bed of roses. Up till now, several people who reside in Lagos, just like other rural-urban migrants, live a very miserable life that their family members in the village can never imagine. Whatever anybody may say to justify the action, we must realise that they are still Nigerians and their neglect is nothing but a reflection of the failure of our governments to take care of its citizens, as required by the constitution. As citizens with special needs, the World Health Organisation had observed in its ‘Report on Mental Health System in Nigeria’

saddens me. Reacting to one of my articles, a young, wealthy Nigerian said: “to be honest, I am making a lot of money in Nigeria. I have friends in government. I get juicy contracts and make handsome margins. I have houses in Lekki, London and New York. My house in Lekki has a high fence, security gates, guards on duty 24/7. My house in London has no fence, no security doors, no guards. Yet, I feel more secure in my London home than in my Lekki house”. He said the inequalities in Nigeria are such that “the wealthy live like prisoners—the rest of the society resents them. And that brings me to the topic of discussion today- the grave mistake our elite makes when they think it fun owning mansions and private jets, at our expense, in the face of the demeaning poverty in the land… Last week, I highlighted the twin evil of “outright looting” (no attempt to execute projects at all) and “hyperinflation” of contracts” (including padding of budgets by lawmakers). Resources that would have been freed up and utilized to accelerate infrastructural development are mindlessly pilfered. Definitely there is a reason the streets of London, Dubai and Singapore are relatively safe today… you cannot be at ease when the society where you are flaunting your wealth is not at ease… By elites, I refer to the politicians, the technocrats and the business moguls who collude to plunder our resources. They know themselves. We know them. By the way I am not saying it is a sin to be rich. I am not suggesting that to be poor is to be righteous. The key phrase here is accumulating wealth “at our expense”. Continues next week

that there is considerable neglect of mental health issues in the country for a number of reasons and noted that there is the growing incidence and influx of beggars in major cities, resulting into human carriage, kidnapping, indecent assault and a host of antisocial behaviour. Irrespective of anyone’s challenge or social condition, Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control”. Similarly, Section 41(1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution provides that “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom”. It would have been proper for the Lagos State Government to rehabilitate these hapless fellows in line with social welfare resposibilty, which is a hallmark of most democracies instead of subjecting them to the illegal and inhuman treatment. So, the issue isn’t about tribalism per se but social discrimination and bad governance. As a buoyant state in the country, what stops the Lagos State government from providing succour for the victims, who are in need in its Rehabilitation Centre in Majidun, where they were said to have initially been kept before being flushed out? Hence, to have arrested, detained and deported the destitute in the mode and manner that the Lagos State Government allegedly did is a purely flagrant breach of their constitutional right to freedom of movement as citizens of Nigeria. *Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from federal Varsity of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18

20— Vanguard ,

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 13 , 2013

We prefer dialogue to protests — Keke Marwa operators •As restriction order bites hard in Lagos STORIES BY BOSE ADELAJA

‘’W

*Long queue of tricycles waiting to pick passengers...Operators feeling the pinch of recent government restiction order Transportation explained that the restriction was necessitated by the security problems in the State, some of the operators who decried the order, told VM that the situation has forced them out of business.

Commuters bemoan Fashola’s free ride at Sallah

OMMUTERS in Lagos State, have bemoaned the introduction of BRT/LAGBUS free ride system, meant to cushion transportation effects in the State, especially during festive periods like Sallah. A cross section of the commuters told Vanguard last Friday that the buses were not enough to meet the transportation challenges during the last Id-El-Fitr break, especially at a time when commercial drivers inflated their fares by 100 per cent. Also, they complained about the lackadaisical attitude of the operators during festive periods which they said is becoming unbearable in the State. According to them, the officials behave rudely to the commuters coupled with the fact that there is usually an endless wait for the buses, many of which were completely withdrawn from operating during the festive period. Some of the commuters expressed dissatisfaction with

the development, saying government must curb the excesses of the operators before the situation gets out of hand. During VM’s tour of some of the bus-stops, there was a long queue with very few of the buses in operation. Also, some of the officials were unfriendly to the commuters as the situation almost resulted into fisticuffs at the bus-stops. Investigations revealed that some officials seized the occasion to engage in brisk business a constraint to the bus scarcity at Yuletide. A LAGBUS source which pleaded anonymity said the LAGBUS franchise scheme, were totally withdrawn from the free ride system as they were supposed to be subsidised by the State government but this never come into being. Sources also hinted that LAGBUS officials also send the buses on hire without remitting the money to government coffers.

A former motorcyclist who used to ply the OpebiOperations Association of Nigeria, Allen axis in Ikeja, Mr. Christopher Nzeribe, told VM TWBOAN, are now under the umbrella of that he sold his motorcycle in August 2012 to buy a Tricycle Workers Association of Nigeria, tricycle on a hire purchase arrangement. Nzeribe who TWAN. The group is led by Comrades Joseph is yet to complete the payment for the keke, was Odusanya, Buhari Moses and Paul Oginni devasted when the new order was rolled out. as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary, A couple of days back, commercial activities respectively. were almost paralysed in some parts of the As part of measures to curb the lingering State when some Keke Marwa operators took transportation problem caused by the to the streets to protest the high handedness restriction order, the executive members who of government. They alleged that the restricrecently addressed journalists in their Abuletion order has forced them out of business. Egba office, said they prefer dialogue to Some of those who spoke about the protests. According to them, the protesters development said the State Government had did not inform the House before embarking during one of its empowerment programmes on the recent protests as reported by some in 2011, distributed some tricycles and publications. motorcycles to them. They wondered why It is from this business that I feed my the same government five children; they may be forced out of will now turn around to place a restriction order school unless the restriction order is on motorcycles in 2012 and on tricycles in 2013. reversed VM’s checks in the affected areas revealed that apart from the Comrade Odusanya said members of the operators, the situation is also taking its toll public were misinformed that the operators on residents who now report late for work have been banned. ‘’Based on some recent while the aged ones have been finding it publications that the tricycles have been difficult to cope with the situation. banned in Lagos State, this unguarded At Ifako-Ijaye, a female tricyclist popularlly statement has created serious fear and threat called ‘’Mama” said the business is not only within the rank and file of members of the a means of transportation but a means of tricycles workers in Lagos State and we have livelihood for the operators. “It is from this since been receiving telephone calls and business that I feed my five children. They complaints from members. We are may be forced out of school unless the complementing government efforts on the restriction order is reversed,’’ she said. massive transportation schemes aimed at reMeanwhile, as part of the efforts to curb ducing challenges of transporting the masses various crises among the Keke Marwa opand also reducing the mass unemployment erators in the State, the government also came within the State. We are using this occasion up with the amalgamation of the two to state categorically that the State associations controlling Keke Marwa operaGovernment did not ban us; therefore, you tions in the State. By this development, the should be resolute and go on your business Keke Owners and Riders Association, KORA not allowing anybody to mislead or deceive and Three Wheelers Beneficiaries and you,’’ he said.

HEN will this lingering transportation problem come to an end in Lagos State? Kindly assist us to plead with Governor Fashola to ameliorate our sufferings as the State-owned transport service (BRT/LAGBUS) cannot solve all transportation problems in the State”. This plea was chorused by some stranded commuters at Ogba, a suburb of Lagos. Many of them had trekked for a couple of hours and were exhausted when Vanguard Metro, VM, met them. It was evident that the restriction order slammed on tricycles popularlly called Keke Marwa is already taking its toll on many Lagosians. Before now, the government had restricted tricycle operations in some Government Reserved Areas, GRAs, like Ikeja and Victoria Island but a few days ago, the restriction order was also extended to places like Surulere and Ogba-Ijaye where residents depend solely on this means of transportation. The restriction has forced many commuters to either trek long distances or remain stranded at the various bus stops. Although the State government through the Commissioner for

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 21

HE African Union Com mission (AUC) has called for a review and negotiation for better terms with the USA under the Africa-USA trade and investment relations. AUC commissioner for Trade and Industry, Mrs Fatima Haram-Acyl, made the call at the opening of the 12th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Addis Ababa. She said Africa’s exports under AGOA increased by more than 500 per cent between 2001 and 2011. Haram-Acyl said exports between Africa and the USA rose from $8.15 billion in 2001 to $53.8 billion in 2011. “However, it is unfortunate that about 90 per cent of these exports are still oil products, which underscores Africa’s need to diversify its exports and negotiate better terms for non-oil products with the US. Under AGOA, the volume of non-energy exports to the U.S. has increased by 275 per cent, from $1.2 billion to $4.5 billion between 2001 and 2011. “The number of countries exporting non-oil products under AGOA has also increased from 13 to 22 during this period“, she said. She said AGOA generated about 350,000 direct jobs and one million indirect jobs in Africa, especially in the textile and apparel sectors. “As it is evident from these statistics, US investment lies more in the capital intensive sector of mining and extractive industries. The manufacturing sector actually brings about growth in jobs and socio-economic development”, she said. Haram-Acyl expressed disappointment that some eligible countries had not taken advantage of AGOA to improve their trade relations and develop the industry. “Similarly, total U.S. trade with Africa excluding North Africa, in 2010 and 2011, grew by 29.5 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, the top U.S. export markets being South Africa, Nigeria Angola, Mauritius, Ghana and Ethiopia. “The top export categories were machinery and parts (22%), followed by transportation equipment (17%), cereals (8%), mineral fuels (8%), aircraft and parts (7%), and electrical machinery (6%). In 2011, U.S. exports to Africa, excluding North Africa, accounted for more than 100,000 jobs in the US with oil and gas contributing the largest share of imports to the US under AGOA. “This is indicating that the partnership contributed to the industrialisation of and job creation in the US more than what it contributed to Africa over the

AGOA: AU Commission calls for better trade terms period“, she said. The commissioner called for review to balance the trade between the US and Africa during the forum. “If we continue to export only raw materials under AGOA, we will not achieve one of its objectives which is export diversification“, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AU commission is considering the extension of the AGOA programme beyond 2015 for more inter-regional development. “There is a general conviction from both parties that AGOA did not develop its

full potential as an engine of intra-regional integration and that the benefits of AGOA have not been maximised. AGOA should be extended for a longer time in a predictable manner and the range of products eligible for AGOA imports expanded. This will help promote non-

extractive investments on the continent. “There is also need for more business to business interaction and to achieve that, more work on raising awareness among women and youth entrepreneurs and small and medium size businesses should be undertaken.’’

From left: Mr. Jose Priesto, President, Business Initiative Direction (BID); Mr. Emman Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer, Swiss Biostadt Limited receiving International Star for Leadership in quality award and an official at the BID 2013 Quality Awards in Paris.

Nigeria, 2nd most popular destination for US FDI — Hawkins BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU Nigeria has been described as the second most popular destination for U.S Foreign Direct Investment in Africa, owing to Nigeria’s high degree of friendship, trust and cooperation with the United States government. US Consul General, Jeffery Hawkins disclosed this at the just concluded Nigeria-United States bi-national commission dialogue held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affair (NIIA), Lagos, where he commended the efforts put in place by Nigeria government in ensuring that it maintains a productive diplomatic build up on her bi-national relations with the U.S, and indeed other countries, in order to expand mutual partnerships for tangible progress on

some of its economic key areas. According to the CG, ”Nigeria is now the second most popular destination for the U.S Foreign Direct Investment in Africa and many of the leading U.S-based global corporations have big footprints here in Nigeria, such as General Electric, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Procter and Gamble, and of course Chevron, ExxonMobil, which are key players in the Nigeria oil and gas industry and United States sixth largest exporter of oil and gas.” This endowment and cordial bi-national trade relations have provided a handful of American companies with the enabling environment needed to increasingly invest into Nigeria’s economy, thereby, contributing to cutting down on the number

of unemployed youth in Nigeria. Also disclosing that 0.35 122.4 Nigeria’s population is expected to double 2,452.00 -14.00 within thirty to forty years, an indication 17.01 0.19 that tens of millions of young Nigerians would be entering the labor market, Hawkins 108.25 +1.57 stated: “It is squarely 106.09 +2.69 in the interest of the United States to see that Nigeria becomes CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING an even more attrac154.75 155.25 155.75 tive place for these DOLLAR POUNDS 239.2435 240.0165 240.7895 companies and those EURO 205.9568 206.6222 207.2877 yet to arrive to do busi- FRANC 167.0805 167.6204 168.1602 1.5909 1.5961 1.6012 ness, and as such, YEN 0.2943 0.3043 0.3143 Nigeria desperately CFA WAUA 233.7167 234.4719 235.227 need these invest- RENMINBI 25.2875 25.3697 25.4518 ments which would RIYA 41.2612 41.3945 41.5278 expectedly provide KRONA 27.6078 27.697 27.7862 234.9415 235.7006 236.4597 jobs for these burgeon- SDR ing Nigeria youth popCBN Exchange rate as at 12/08/2013 ulation.”

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Risk & limitations of investment in cooperatives I

NVESTMENT in coopera tives is not a bed of roses. It has its risk and limitations, and it is pertinent to have an idea of some of these risks and limitations. Like in other forms of investment, you can lose your money investing in cooperative. How? The cooperative may invest in risky ventures that would collapse or the cooperative may be defrauded. For example, some cooperatives invest in shares when the stock market was booming. In fact, some provided money to their members to buy shares. This investment went down the drain when the market collapsed. A number of cooperatives never survived the crash. Also, for cooperatives whose members are employees of a particular company, and their contributions are deducted from their salaries, there has been instances where the employer, though deducted contributions from their salaries, but never remit it to the cooperatives on time. This usually happens when the company is going

through financial difficulties. Consequently, the company becomes heavily indebted to the cooperative. Though some of such companies do overcome the financial difficulty and repay the debt, a number of such companies do not survive. They collapse, and the cooperative and its members lose their money. In the two instances above, the common factor, which is a consequent of the nature of cooperatives, is the issue of management of cooperatives. Though management is a major factor for the success of any business endeavour, the case of cooperatives is unique. They are

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

All that the cooperative has is usually the contributions of members, and this limits its ability to employ competent staff, and embark on some very lucrative businesses, which require huge capital

owner managed, and thus the efficiency of the management is determined by the competence of the owners themselves. Given

the fact that most members of cooperatives usually have very limited business acumen and competence, this makes

management a major challenge for them. Thus inefficient management is a serious limitation that has occasioned the loss of investment in cooperatives. Close to this, is the amount of capital available to a cooperative. It is usually small especially at the beginning and also when compared to other businesses. A quoted company like Cadbury has access to funds from various sources, which enables it to raise funds and embark on various lines and scale of businesses. Hence, is

able to generate robust profitability and returns for shareholders. This usually is not always the same for a cooperative, especially during the infancy stage. All that the cooperative has is usually the contributions of members, and this limits its ability to employ competent staff, and embark on some very lucrative business, which requires huge capital. This, in turn, constraints the income of the cooperative and returns to members. Cooperatives are founded to render services to members. They are not usually driven by returns and profitability. The implication is that they are usually risk averse, and hence would avoid embarking on a risky business venture, no matter how lucrative it looks. Thus, if your investment objective is fantastic returns, cooperative will not be attractive to you. In fact if you become a member, you will find yourself being critical of the management’s low motivation for returns. You may scheme your way to the board and become the leader. But your appetite for returns might lead the cooperative into very risky businesses that may result into huge losses and eventual collapse of the group.

Top 10 performing stocks By NKIRUKA NNOROM

ourteville Business Solution Plc, CBS, Beta Glass Plc, Academy Press, NPF MicroFinance Bank Plc, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc and Northern Nigeria Flourmills Plc, were among the stocks that pooled enough investors’ patronage last week to make it to the list of the top 10 performing stocks. The rest are Champion Breweries Plc, Cutix Plc, OkomuOil Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc, UBA. A computer-based system listed security, Courteville Business Solution, for the second week running has led the list of the top 10 gainers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. The company’s shares went up by 30.88 percent or N0.21 to close at N0.89 from N0.68 it started the week with. Though there has been commendable activity on this stock in the last three months since the Managing Director, Bola Akindele, made strong case that the share was under-priced, it has been difficult for it to break into two digit region. The highest it has climbed to this year was N0.96 and for the stock, it has been a continuous circle of upward and downward movement. Only recently, the company said it has extended its AutoReg services to the Kogi State government with the plan of including other states of the federation to the platform. It was also among the 13 companies recently commended by the NSE for compliance

to good corporate governance by filing their 2011 year end results well ahead of stipulated submission date. Available financial statement of the company for the first quarter ended 31st March, 2013, showed that its turnover rose by 33.78 percent from N233.97million in the first quarter of 2012 to N313.01million. Shareholders’ fund rose marginally by 3.08 percent from N2.82billion in the first quarter of 2012 to N2.90billion in the corresponding period of 2013, while retained profit grew by 63.21 percent to N86.84million in 2013, from N53.21million in 2012. Beta Glass, listed on the packaging/container subsector advanced by 20.92 percent or N2.28 to emerge second during the week. It started the week at N10.90 and closed at N13.18 per share. Beta Glass is involved in the manufacturing, sale and distribution of hollow Glassware in Nigeria. The revenue rose by two percent to N12.93 billion from N12.73 billion for the year ended 31 st December, 2012. Profit after tax dropped by 25 percent from N1.77 billion in 2011 to N1.33 billion in 2012. To-date, the share price has risen by 45.8 percent from year low of N9.04 to the present market price. Academy Press’ share price went up by 20.37 percent or N0.33 to close at N1.95 from N1.62 per share. Of the four companies listed in the printing/publishing sub-sector of the NSE, Academy Press ranks second in terms of pricing after University Press Plc. It had last year announced plans to veer into security printing. Available financial statement of the company for the

third quarter ended 31 st December, 2013, showed that revenue was up by 1.3 percent to N1.54 billion as against N1.52 billion in 2011. There was slight improvement in cost management as the cost of sales reduced to N799.93 million from N900.07 million in the previous year, indicating 11.1 percent improvement over the previous figure. Profit before taxation declined by 41 percent to N29.94 million from N50.79 million impacted by high administrative expenses, distribution expenses and high finance cost. Consequently, the profit after tax dropped by 42.6 percent from N35.55 million in 2011 to N20.42 million. Already, the share price has risen by 24.2 percent from N1.57 at the beginning of the year to the present market price. NPF Micro-Finance Bank advanced by 17.07 percent or N0.14 to close at N0.96 from N0.82 per share. It was the first micro-finance bank to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The second quarter financials for the period ended 30 th June, 2013 showed that gross earnings increased by 16 percent to N842 million from N726 million in 2012. Profit before tax declined by 14.15 percent to N253 million from N295 million, while profit after tax also slumped by 35.62 percent from N295 million in 2012 to N190 million in the review period. There has not been much capital appreciation on share price as it has just risen by 2.5 percent from N0.80 to the present market price. It had gone up to N1.22 per share before sliding. Multi-Trex and NNFM share prices appreciated by 10 percent apiece from N0.50 to N0.55 and N27.00 to N29.70 per share respectively. Champion Breweries went up by 9.99 percent or N1.33 from N13.31 to N14.64; Cutix’s share price increased by 9.95 percent or N0.20 from N2.01 to N2.21 per share, while Okomu Oil and UBA advanced by 7.87 percent and 7.80 percent from N44.50 and N7.82 to N48.00 and N8.43 per share respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK By WILLIAM JIMOH & HANAH ISIBOR

Investors pick holes in companies’ half-year reports

oseph Okpoye: The half year reports of companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, (NSE) is nothing to celebrate about as the recovery recorded in the stock market in the last six months cannot be 100 percent justifiable, most especially, when you consider the fact that some companies have not declared dividend for the past five to six years. Though this is not to dispute the fact that the market is recovering, everybody can see that, but for us to get to the level of confidence that existed before the melt-down, we still have a whole lot to do about those sectors that have not been living up to the expectation of shareholders and if care is not taken, that may continue for a long time. For instance, we are here today for the AGM of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance and from all indication, you can see that the insurance stocks have not been doing well and that is a fact. I don’t know what is really responsible for their bad performance; perhaps, it is due to the fact that the banks have taken over insurance businesses these days. If you look and study the happenings in the market, you will realise that apart from Consolidated Hallmark and one other insurance company that declared divi-

from 40 per cent to 80 per cent. This I know will help our economy. We have other companies that are not even holding any AGM and what the law says is that whether they make profit or not, they are expected to declare their status in terms of their financials and management issues. (Pastor Williams Adebayo is the President, Greenwich Shareholders Association of Nigeria)

*Joseph Okpoye dend above N1 or N1:50 Kobo, you will find out that most insurance companies are not declaring more than 50 kobo, which means that they are not improving and expanding .And I will tell you that contrary to the report that people are growing confidence in the market, it is not the same thing when it comes to insurance sub-sector. But I think when you talk of banks, conglomerates and travelling companies and other sectors of the market, one can say that they are trying. I think that is what the regulator is referring to when they reported that the market has improved and that investors’ confidence has also improved. If that is the case, I will say

*JASPER those statements are true , but for insurance they are not.

astor Williams Adebayo: To be realistic, the insurance stocks have not been doing well enough. Like every other stock, they also experience the crisis that befell the market, but while some other stocks are recovering now, the same cannot be said of insurance stocks. But still we must be careful in dealing with them. This is because if you look at the latest policy directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of banks, you will see that a lot of these insurance companies might soon meet their waterloo.

*Pastor Williams Adebayo I think they have also been clever and that is why they are embarking on merger talks. And I think that CBN should be able to help them to consummate their merger talks and then with the influence of foreign investors and the contribution of our legislators, the market will be better and with that we can say they have a brighter future. Also, like we have it in other countries where foreign investors are been made to list on their stock market, let foreign investors doing business in Nigeria be persuaded to come in, in order to boost the economy. Thank God, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been able to increase their participation

asper: There are some of these companies that are investing some money in power, and in expansion of their business which could have made them unable to perform well now. But I believe in the future there must be progress since all these expansion programmes are expected to make them more profitable. Talking about confidence, I think it will take a longer time and proof to convince some people to come back to the market because of the shock they experienced when they lost money during the downturn. It is only few people that can say they want to stay in the market because they hope things will get better. But it takes a lot of courage to do that. And as we can see those that stayed are to some extent enjoying the fruit of their patience because a good number of the stocks are currently appreciating.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS I need update on my late father’s shares y late father has shares in some companies. Since his death mid last year, we haven’t received any dividend warrant. What do I need to do to get his detailed statement of shareholdings? Do I go to CSCS or the stockbroking firm. What documents do I go with? (Ike Benedict)

Investors Forum You imply that you know your late father’s stockbroker, and that he also had a CSCS account. It is also implied that you know the various companies in which your father has shares. On that basis, our advice is that you first visit the registrars, inform them about his demise, and enquire why his dividends were not sent. Thereafter, you can visit his stockbroker to obtain his CSCS account. But that is if your father has a CSCS account. If in the process you suspect foul play, please send a petition to the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, it is the next-of-kin indicated by your father that has the authority to act in this regard Irregularities in my share-

holding in Union Bank Union Registrars has denied me of my shareholdings. I bought some units of the Union Bank shares. Bonuses given were verified, dematerialised and warehoused with my stock broker Cashville Investment Limited. After verification, my holdings did not reflect in the system of my stockbrokers till date. I bought 65,000 units of Union Bank shares in the only successful IPO they have conducted. 35,000 units were in my name and 30,000 units in my wife’s name. But my undoing was that I sent the certificates for verification and dematerialisation. They did a reconstruction when new investors came onboard, but I’m yet to receive information on the number of my holdings. I visited severally and completed forms for amalgamation of all my holdings and submitted. All my efforts came to nothing. I equally completed mandate forms on every visit, but nothing came out of it. Help me find out so that I can take a position to either write SEC or sue them out rightly. ( M.I. Ordiah.) Investors Forum

You did not mention whether you visited the stockbroker or the registrar. If it was the stockbroker, then proceed to the registrar and make enquiries. If you have complained to Union Registrar and your complaints were not resolved satisfactorily, you can send a formal complaint to SEC, and email us a copy of the complaint for investigation. How do I access my investment in DVCF Oil and Gas Kindly assist me concerning my shares with DCVF Oil and Gas Company. I bought some shares of this company some years back. I also asked them to be reinvesting the dividends, but in 2010, my house got burnt, and the share certificate was burnt, since then, I don’t know how to reach the company to ascertain the current value of the share. (Patrick Olise) Investors Forum Do affidavit and police reports about the incident, take them to Unity Registrars Limited. The company is located at Unity Bank Building, NO. 94, Agege Motor Road, Ido-Oro, Mushin, Lagos. Mobile No: 0803-3006-038, 01-

7408123, 01-8418765 No certificate, dividend from UAC since 1990 I bought U.A.C shares in 1990, and till now, they have not sent my share certificate and dividend. I have written to them twice but there was no response. (Dirisu Imhonikhe Samson) Investors Forum You need to first ascertain that the shares were even bought in the first instance. So , visit UAC Registrars Limited at UAC House ( opposite CMS Church, Lagos Island) 1-5 Odunlami Street, Lagos. You may also call 01-2663241, 2666229, 87300806 I need a stockbroker I bought shares from Zenith Bank, but I don’t have a broker.. Can you direct me to an approved company to get a broker? Investors Forum We don’t recommend or direct readers to any stockbroking company. You can choose a broker from the list of registered brokers. For the complete list, please visit the website of Ni-

geria Stock Exchange i.e. www.nse.com How do I become an investor? I like to know how to be an investor. Investors Forum The first thing is to read about investment. Then decide why you want to invest and for how long. Thereafter, you have to decide where you want to invest and how. If you decide to invest in shares and other capital market investment, you will need the services of a stockbroker.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Nigeria earns N3.81trn from oil in 6 months … Amount represents 76% of 2013 budget BY MICHAEL EBOH

IL revenue accounted for 86.67 per cent of gross federallycollected revenue from January to June 2013, as the Federal Government earned a total of N3.809 trillion from oil within the period. The amount represents 76.3 per cent of the 2013 Federal Government’s budget estimate of N4.99 trillion approved by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President. The amount is also 33.59 per cent of the N11.34 trillion projected gross federallycollectible revenue for the 2013 fiscal year. According to data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, gross federally-collected revenue for the six months stands at N4.935 trillion, broken down into oil revenue — N3.809 trillion and Non-oil revenue — N1.13 trillion. At N3.81 trillion, the amount earned from oil for the first half of the year dropped by 12.6 per cent compared to the N4.36 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2012. Monthly earnings Further breakdown of the 2013 earnings month on month shows: • January - at N599 billion; • February — N655.2 billion; • March – N595.3 billion; • April – N621 billion; • May – N648.6 billion: • June – N690.42 billion.

n view of the above, Analysts at Pearl Mutual Consulting Limited, called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to diversify the economy away from oil. The analysts, Hope Isangiedok and Olufunmi Adepoju, in their Second Quarter Economic Review, said: “Our major concern for the economy remains its mono-product nature, as crude oil remains the major source of revenue for the central government and majority of the states. “Although crude oil prices remain healthy at circa $110 per barrel, it is unhealthy for growth to have an undiversified income base.

Therefore, we stress the need for diversification of the nation’s income streams on the heels of new oil discoveries and sustained economic turmoil in Europe.” Also, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited, in their projection for the second half of 2013, said a sharp drop in oil prices and declining oil revenue among other factors in the months ahead will pose a serious risk to Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability. They noted that the Nigerian oil sector is recording a slowdown in growth, with a growth rate of 0.54 per cent in the first half of 2013 compared to 0.91 per cent in 2012, which they attributed to output constraints and new investments. They also projected a further decline in Nigeria’s domestic oil output to1.7 million barrels per day, due to increase in

•Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. theft, vandalism and force majeure as well as OPEC reduction and strict enforcement of quota among others. Quarterly earnings The CBN 2013 First Quarter Economic Report, showed the country earned N3.405 trillion ($21.28 billion) from crude oil production, and N2.657 trillion ($16.609 billion) from its export. Specifically, the report estimated Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensates and natural gas liquids, at an average of 2.05 million barrels per day (mbd)

or 184.50mbd for Q1, while exports stood at 1.60 mbd or 144.0 million barrels for the quarter. Deliveries to the refineries for domestic consumption were 0.45 mbd or 40.50 million barrels. In April 2013, the country earned N999.31 billion ($6.246 billion) from crude production, and N771.04 billion ($4.819 billion) from crude export. Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensates and natural gas liquids, was estimated at an average of 1.97 (mbd) or 59.10 million barrels. Crude oil export was

estimated at 1.52 mbd or 45.60 million barrels. This represented a decrease of 1.9 per cent below the 1.55 mbd or 46.50 million barrels recorded in the preceding month, the CBN said. In May, Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensates and natural gas liquids, was estimated at an average of 1.94 mbd) or 60.14 million barrels. This, according to the CBN, was 0.03 mbd or 1.5 per cent below the average of 1.97 mbd or 59.10 million barrels produced in the preceding month.

Shell write down is bad news for US shale O

VER the past few years, the oil majors have been punch drunk on US shale. Now comes the hangover. Royal Dutch Shell surprised the market on Thursday with a $2.1bn impairment, mostly on its liquids-rich shale properties in North America. The write down showed that the results from Shell’s exploration drilling for oil in its US shale acreage have been much worse than it anticipated. “Shale oil bulls take note,” wrote Oswald Clint of Bernstein Research. The news was sobering for a sector used to upbeat headlines. Production of tight oil in places such as North Dakota’s Bakken shale has increased so fast that it has reversed the decadeslong decline in US oil output, reducing America’s reliance on oil imports and even fuelling talk of US energy independence. Shell’s news shows that some of the breathless rhetoric about shale’s potential may be unwarranted – a view Peter Voser, its chief executive, appears to endorse. The idea of a shale revolution spreading from the US across the world is “a little bit overhyped,” he told reporters on Thursday. Shale impairments are nothing new. A clutch of companies, including BHP Billiton and BG Group, wrote down their US shale gas assets last year, as the low price of American natural gas reduced the value of their reserves. But it is far less common for the oil majors to take charges on their tight oil properties.

The impairment highlights a broader problem for Shell – the weak performance of its Upstream Americas business. It incurred a loss in the second quarter, and Shell says it will probably stay in loss for the rest of the year, and possibly longer. Analysts at Credit Suisse say Shell’s performance in its upstream – or exploration and production – division is a “real worry”. Ever since the oil industry figured out how to use hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” and horizontal drilling to extract gas from shale formations, the US “unconventional” gas story has had an irresistible allure for the super majors. Shell has been more gung-ho than most. In 2008, it paid $5.7bn to buy Duvernay Oil, which held promising tight gas acreage in western Canada. Two years later, it paid $4.7bn for East Resources, which held big positions in the Marcellus Shale. Shell says that its North American onshore gas portfolio now includes about 3.5m acres of mineral rights, with the potential to yield 40tn cubic feet of gas – the energy equivalent of nearly 7bn barrels of oil. But some analysts have said it paid too high a price to gain entry into the sector. And such a large position proved a double-edged sword last year when the shale gas supply surge pushed gas prices to 10-year lows. Shell said at the time that it would

switch its focus from gas to more profitable “liquids-rich shales” and Simon Henry, chief financial officer, said the company would produce 250,000 barrels of oil a day from its tight oil properties in five years’ time. But that could end up being way too optimistic. Mr Henry admitted on Thursday that the results of Shell’s exploration efforts in US tight oil had been disappointing, and “the production curve is less positive than we originally expected”. As of today, the company is only producing 50,000 b/d from these properties, he said. Shell’s experience has been echoed by others. Oil companies who rushed to buy acreage in Ohio’s Utica shale a few years ago have discovered the rock is not as porous as in other formations such as Texas’ Eagle Ford or the Bakken, and there is less natural pressure underground to help force the oil out. Many companies are now trying to sell their holdings there. Shell, it seems, is taking a similar tack: it has launched a strategic review of its North American shale portfolio, with the aim of halving the number of areas it operates in there. Mr Voser says the company wants to divest some small-scale properties which “are still prospective and can produce, but do not have the size we are looking for”.

Culled from Financial Times.

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‘Privatization’ll eliminate inefficiencies in power sector’

BRIEF 7,000 firms vie for 360 rural electrification contracts

lectricity challenges in Nigeria have been a recurring issue given the fact that the country is yet to achieve regular power supply. In this Interview Mr. Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, tells Sebastine Obasi, what Nigerians are to expect in the next few months. Excerpts: In April this year, at the State House Banquet Hall, you told journalists that prolonged labour issues were due to “forces”. What and who are these forces? We have overcome that. We have resolved it. Payment should start this month. Also, N348 billion was said to be required for payment of PHCN workers’ severances. But N45 billion was appropriated for payment. How is the balance going to be sourced? The management of the labour resolution is very ably undertaken by the committee appointed by the President to

transited from a vertically integrated government managed and owned utility, to an unbundled, private sector- owned and run utility. At one point, power companies said it was due to lack of gas. At the other point, they said it was due to system collapse. What is really responsible for the poor power situation being experienced in the country? I would like you to appreciate what this government is undertaking and what the government is delivering. What the government is undertaking principally is to transfer the

In the traditional PHCN/TCN sector, the monies they are claiming have not been injected. When they were injected, they were injected in a haphazard and irregular ways that have not enabled those entities to bring the best out of those monies.

do so. That committee is headed by the Ministry of Power and anchored by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Power. They are making fantastic progress. We will not like to advocate for them or even give data on their behalf, but I can assure you that government has the means to conclude the labour settlement. What value then is the Presidential Task Force on Power adding to the sector, given the fact that you have been its chairman in the last one year? If I may add, the validity, the relevance of the PTFP when it was inaugurated in June 2010 was clear, as a technical support to the realization of the Nigerian power sector reform road map. The road map is made up of specific deliverables, marshaled out as milestones. As each of those milestones get executed, they go to the next succeeding milestone, until the reform is implemented. Which means that the sector has been

management and ownership of the huge assets in the sector to private sector, for better management and for efficiency. Until that happens, our ability to ramp up electricity supply in the country will continue to be a struggle. In the interim, government said, while we are handing over these assets to private sector, we must do our best to make sure that the supply we have today does not drop. And if we can even add some megawatts to it while we are doing the transfer, we must do. That area is where we are struggling to be as good as we can be. But to transfer the sector to private sector owners, we have done very well and we will soon get to that point where the private sector will come in and handle this industry. Remember the telecommunication sector, it is from there that we will see the efficiency that we are all clamouring for. You cannot have these same

•Dagogo Jack people who have been in the sector for so many years, to do much better than they are doing today. If they were that good, there would have been no need for privatization. A lot of targets have been set on power generation. Yet the more money government puts in power, the less output. Is it that the money is being mismanaged or channeled wrongly? I do not share your points that the more money government puts in, the less power output. I do not share that view. What we have put money on in terms of power production specifically, is the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP. And they have started commissioning projects almost on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. So, that money has yielded the targets we sought to have. In the traditional PHCN/TCN sector, the monies they are claiming have not been injected. When they were injected, they were injected in a haphazard and irregular ways that have not enabled those entities to bring the best out of those monies. So, really speaking, we should not talk about the past. We should talk about the future. The future is that private sector will be the players, not government pumping in money. Government will not pump in money. The private sector will pump in money to look for profit while delivering service and electricity will grow. This is where we are heading. So, let us look ahead, let us not look backwards. In distribution also, targets were set to ensure that meters were given to the people. Later, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said people would pay for the meters. Why such policy inconsistency and what is being done to ensure that meters get to consumers? Again, I would ask you to look ahead. Who will give them these meters? Is it these

CEOs that are about to go, or the new owners that would be in the next three months at the latest? So, Nigerians should please be patient. Let private sector owners take over the distribution companies. They value metering. Then they can give meters in any shape or form they choose to give to their customers, so that they can get penetration, so that they completely account for the electricity they buy. Private sector does not waste money. They are not careless. They are efficient. Let us accelerate their takeover of this sector, so that efficiency will be the result. At the West African Power Industry Convention, WAPIC, in Lagos, you said power generation would reach 10,253 megawatts by the end of 2013. What is the guarantee that this will be achieved? Again, after that interview, I realized that the interpretations given to my forecast there was totally misrepresented. And I went back to the people who reported it and clarified it. The West African Power Conference was an investors’ conference where we needed to profile the forecast that will sensitize the investors coming into the country. I clearly qualified the 10,000 plus I mentioned there as the size of our total installed capacity in December. I totally qualified it that if you add all the power production in Geregu, where we have two plants, Omotosho, where we also have two plants, Sapele, (two plants), Ughelli, Shell Ughelli, Afam, Okpai, if you add all of them, plus the NIPP power plants by December, the aggregate of that installed capacity will be in the neighbourhood of 10,000. Now, there is a world of difference between this technical capacity available and that which you can transport through the transmission corridor.

BOUT 7,000 firms submitted bids for 360 lots of rural electrification projects, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Mr. Kenneth Achugbu, has said. This means that on the average, only one out of every 20 competing bidders would win a lot. Speaking at the public opening of the bids in Abuja, the REA boss said the deadline for bids submission was extended twice to give opportunity to the wider public to participate in the process. According to him, “Our agency has had a sordid and unpalatable history of being closed down because of an improperly conducted procurement process. It is only a fool who doesn’t learn from mistakes of his predecessors. We are therefore committed to playing the procurement game strictly in accordance with rules.” The next step in the process will be the evaluation of the bids by a committee for the selection of bids that meet the required terms and conditions. Achugbu however warned the bidding companies not to mount “pressures on us for favours related to this procurement exercise because we have none to offer. You don’t need a letter from powers and principalities to get a contract award from REA if you have done the right things in your submissions.” The REA is saddled with the responsibility of providing electricity to rural communities not on the national grid. In 2009, the agency was enmeshed in corruption scandal involving the then leadership. It was subsequently suspended but reactivated in 2011 by the federal government.

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PIB:

Oil & People

Raising false alarms (3)

•FELIX AYANRUOH

felix.ayanruohlaw@gmail.com

the investor on development • The profit-to-investment ratio of development (a measure of the capital efficiency and therefore a guide to where a company should direct its capital)

ATCHING, listening and reading news stories and commentaries debagging the PIB for • The exploration cover ratio (a guide to whether it is worth investing in the main reason of preying upon trying to discover hydrocarbons in people’s fears and prejudices is the first place) unfathomable, the most interesting When comparing ?scal regimes, most question of all the allegations raised in part I & 2 of this topical issue for experts focus on the level of “state me is this: Will the PIB as presented take” as a tool for ranking. This is an to the National Assembly attract over-simpli?cation of the issues involved, particularly when the foreign investment? The answer to that question is not calculation is of the percentage of the far-fetched. The fact that the objective gross project revenues that accrue to of both host government and the the state as this ignores even the effect International Oil Companies is of differences in costs of development maximizing the present value of and production. Ranking on state take, revenues generated by petroleum even when calculated as a percentage of net project revenues, is an archaic activities is ubiquitous. Every government evaluation for what Given that the in drafting a fiscal really influences ranking of state regime for its i n v e s t m e n t petroleum industry decisions—the value take is must ensure that the creation resulting fundamental in host state as a from the deployment comparing fiscal custodian to oil and of investors’ capital. regimes, the gas resources on However, this behalf of its citizens, approach still PIB’s fiscal maximize revenue, oversimplifies the impositions in including tax situation by relation to level receipts generated assuming a world by the exploration free of varying of fiscal burden and development geographies, on the investor operations. This c l i m a t e s , could be said to objective entails topographies, and be around 81.3% designing a fiscal reservoir conditions, system where not to mention market government take exploration and conditions (including development rights whether markets are regulated or trade on a spot basis) and, are acquired by companies who place potentially, local economic effects. the highest value on them. On the Nigeria’s fiscal regime in comparison other hand OIC’s objective is to build equity and maximize wealth by to its competitors and peers still producing oil and gas at the lowest remained attractive. The PIB possible cost and the highest possible introduces a more balanced and fair cost based incentives regime in place margin. The allegation that the fiscal terms of the production-based regime in the reform bill are extremely government revenues come from uncompetitive and would dampen production and not cost. It should be future deep water projects, and that noted that the sequence of imposition the current fiscal terms are already does not appear to be significantly among the harshest in the world, in different from the current regime in addition to the high risks and costs terms of economic impact. Given that the ranking of state take due to security and bunkering in the is fundamental in comparing fiscal oil-producing communities are not entirely true. It is axiomatic that in regimes, the PIB’s fiscal impositions the world of natural resources, fiscal in relation to level of fiscal burden on regimes hinges on the argument that the investor could be said to be around government should limit their take 81.3% government take. In terms of from a project to the economic rent in international comparators such as order that the behavior of investors Norway, Iran, Kuwait and Egypt should not be altered. That is the (average of about 85%), this level fiscal regime should neither deter appears to be solid. The alarmist magniloquence should investment which would otherwise cease. Nigeria has enough economic have been made, nor should it problems to worry about without being encourage investments which would frightened that the PIB will endanger otherwise not have been made. In other words the more appropriate its corporate existence. Some of the measures of the attractiveness of a fears of the OIC’s are well placed fiscal regime should include the when it comes to the fiscal regime of the bill. But there should be no reason following; to believe that if passed the PIB will cause more harm than good. • The rate of return permitted to

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Oil majors complain of risky, deteriorating environment BY MICHAEL EBOH

HE operating environment in Nigeria is deteriorating on a daily basis and poses a serious risk for companies in the oil and gas sector, according to, Royal Dutch Shell and Italy’s Eni. This was contained in the second quarter 2013 financial summary of both oil majors. A couple of days ago, Shell had declared that challenges in Nigeria eroded its profit for

second quarter 2013 by $250 million (N40 billion). The challenges according to the company, was brought about by incessant crude theft and pipeline vandalisation. Eni, in its interim update and second quarter results, said it lost about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first half of 2013. Using an average crude oil price of $102.62 per barrel, this translates to a loss of $3.08 million (N492.8 million) per

day; $92.36 million (N14.77 billion) per month and $554.15 million (N88.7 billion) for the six months period. The company said the loss was as a result of bunkering activities, sabotage of oil facilities and flooding in Nigeria. It however stated that excluding the impact in Nigeria and Libya, it expected its Exploration and Production output to grow by

more than three per cent for the rest of 2013. According to the company, performance in the second quarter 2013 was affected by force majeure events in Nigeria, and in Libya. Similarly, Shell said its production volumes were significantly impacted by the deteriorating operating environment in Nigeria. According to the company, the deteriorating operating environment in Nigeria

impacted production volumes by some 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the second quarter 2013, and by 65,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to second quarter 2012. The company said, “During the first half year 2013 the operating environment in Nigeria deteriorated substantially. An erosion of the business and operating environment in Nigeria is expected to adversely impact Shell’s earnings and cash flow from operations. “Other than the deteriorating operating environment in Nigeria, there are no material changes in our Risk Factors for the remaining six months of the financial year.”

PHCN commissions operational vehicles to drive revenue BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

OWER Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Ijora Business Unit has bought two operational vehicles and another for its staff social club to enhance service delivery and workers welfares towards effective revenue generation. The Business Manager of the unit, Mr Uzoh Obialeri, also assured customers within its network of complete quality service delivery to boost revenue drive. Obialeri gave the assurance during the official commissioning of the vehicles at the weekend, in Lagos. He said that the Business Unit is committed to improved service delivery to all its customers, while assuring improved

workers’ welfare. “We have inaugurated business and quality services delivery team in the unit that will respond promptly to customers’ difficulties. Additional operational vehicles have been commissioned to enhanced service delivery, while recreational centre has also been created for our staff to cushion their work efficiency. “Today, we want to recognise and reward departmental staff who have made exemplary achievement within three months in boosting the unit revenue generation,” he said. Obialeri also assured customers of accurate meter reading; prompt bill delivery, and prompt clearing of electrical faults in order to reduce the period of power outages induced by technical faults.

Conoco Phillips, ExxonMobil in $720m oil sands deal

onocoPhillips is selling its stake in a Canadian oil sands project to ExxonMobil Corp. and Imperial Oil Ltd. for about $720 million as it focuses on its U.S. shale oil and natural gas operations. The all-cash deal involves the sale of 226,000 acres of undeveloped land, roughly 93 miles (150 kilometres) south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, to ExxonMobil’s Canadian unit and Imperial, which is 70 percent controlled by Exxon. After the deal closes, Exxon Canada will own a 72.5 percent interest in the land, known as the Clyden oil sands

leasehold, with Imperial controlling the rest. The deal is a natural fit for Exxon, which has invested $11 billion in its Kearl oil sands project in northwest Alberta, and gives it access to even more oil to boost its global daily production, which has slid in recent quarters. Calgary-based Imperial already operates four oil sands projects in Canada and said the stake it is buying from Conoco is a “high-quality addition” to its portfolio. Conoco, which has been trying to sell the Clyden stake for months, expects to record a after-tax gain of about $450 million from the sale.

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Lekki residents ignore residents ignore ocean surge surge warning warning •As fun seekers storm beaches BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

ESIDENTS of Lekki area of Lagos State are ignoring the latest warning by the state government of imminent danger from Sea Level Rise, SLR, which could lead to loss of lives and property. They have remained in their homes pretending that the warnings are incosequential. In the wake of fresh overflow, the state government, promptly alerted residents on possible ocean surge in Lekki beaches, stressing that danger looms in the beaches and its environs. General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Dr .Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who gave the alert, noted that accidents and emergencies that occur during festive periods could be attributed to people’s non-chalant attitude and carelessness. He warned residents to be safety conscious and stay away from the affected areas especially, Lekki Beach, Alpha Beach and Elegushi Beach even as he urged fun seekers not to go near the beaches to avert disaster. He added that the tidal waves began at 3am and lasted till 6am, and said a repeat of the wave might cause damage in the beaches and environs. According to him, “For now, those

residing along the shore should stay off. Those who are close to the sea can confirm that there are times the tidal waves are on the increase but the truth is that scientifically things are changing.” According to Mr. Kayode Williams, a resident of Jakande Estate: “I woke up at about 4.am in the morning only to be confronted with this chilling water everywhere around the vicinity. Initially, I thought, I was dreaming but the second thought and I said to myself, this is another reality of ocean surge. “Immediately, I woke my family and alerted other neighbours on the need to get to a safer place because no one could predict what the next moment would be. Actually, in the past, we have seen the worse scenario, where people lost their lives, due to negligence. When asked if he was prepared to relocate, Williams retorted: “To where? I have lived here for donkey years. Accommodation is quite expensive in Lagos and hard to come by. I hope on God for survival.” Latest check by Vanguard showed that no single occupant has relocated. It was gathered that the confidence of residents was rekindled as the ocean receded midFriday, last week. Some of the residents were seen drying up their soaked properties in the sun, apparently, to return them when fully dried up.

Lagos/UNDP T

HE climate change phenomenon in recent decades has become a cause for global concern. Just like other nations, Nigeria has stepped up actions to mitigate and adapt to the threats posed by climate change. Similarly, states have taken up the challenge. Lagos State, faced with the threat of SLR and flooding, is one of such states, hence, the move to venture into preparing a climate change policy. Last week, the state Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Development Progranmme UNDP, met with experts at a three-day workshop to validate the state draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan. The event had in attendance policy makers, civil societies, academia, environmental experts,

private sector guru, international organizations and the media from around the world. Some of the personalities that deliberated on the draft include: Prof Niyi Osuntogun; Prof Jide Alo (FAS), Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Research, University of Lagos, UNILAG; Prof. David Okali, Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team NEST, Ibadan, Oyo State and Peterson Olum, an environment and climate change consultant, from Kenya, among others. At the workshop, Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the draft policy was aimed at addressing the impact of climate change in state, noting that the journey leading to the draft of the policy and action plan was tortuous. “Our approach to climate action is guided by two considerations: first,

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Gloomy picture of expected sea level rise I

T was recently predicted by experts that Sea Level Rise, SLR, and flooding will have serious implication on the health and life-style of coastal dwellers. It is estimated that 3.2 million Nigerians could be displaced from their homes by the development. Over two million of those to be affected live in Greater Lagos (Lekki and Aja axis)and other urban areas. Unique features of Lagos State such as high and rapidly increasing population, flat topography, extensive coastal areas and a high water table, which in some areas of Lagos Island is less than 0.15 metres from the surface, are major factors that further increase the state’s vulnerability to climate change impacts. It is expected that many will move to areas considered to be more habitable very soon. The frequency of ocean surge on residents has been a recurring decimal with attendant loss of lives and destruction of property.

Destruction of property Residents of Lekki area and environs, Lagos Island, during the Eid-el-Fitri holidays, woke up in the early hours of Thursday, last week, to find their homes being taken over by slight ocean surge that occurred overnight. Though, no life was lost, properties were said to have been destroyed in the process. The situation also led to panic among residents. Most of the affected areas that experienced the overflow of the Atlantic Ocean included: Alpha Beach, Jakande, Ilisan Estate and environs, located at

Adesegun Oniru, who raised the issue of danger to the coastline; “the increase in the number of wrecked vessels along the state coastline constitutes grave danger to the marine environment in the state. “It is causing the degradation of the shoreline and properties on the coastline. There are over 200 abandoned vessels along coastline that has been identified by the state government.” He alleged that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, an agency saddled with the responsibility of removing wrecked vessels, has failed to act.

Protection of coastlines Lekki area, along Lekki-Epe Expressway. Particularly, the premises of SilverBird Television, was virtually taken over by the ocean water which made movement into and out of the place almost impossible with operational vehicles grounded in the water. Some make-shift structures erected along the affected areas were uprooted and personal belongings swept away. The incident was largely due to the effect of climate change on the SLR of the Atlantic Ocean. Meantime, the adverse effects of climate change are already being felt by almost all sectors of the economy in the state, and it’s taking a toll on the livelihoods of majority of residents. For example, there is increased incidences of water and vector-borne diseases, which are consequences of the changing climate in the state.

Some experts, like a university don, Dr. Dupe Olayinka, have raised doubts over the safety of Eko Atlantic City, a mega project sponsored by the Lagos State Government. They argue that an earlier surge was exacerbated by the project but this had since been debunked by state government agencies. It will be recalled that the state government, earlier this year, raised alarm over the increase in the number of abandoned vessels on the state coastline saying; “They constitute great danger, as many communities along the coastline may fail to exist.” President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 during his visit to the state, promised prompt release of ecological fund to protect the ocean line in the state. According to the Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure, Mr.

“The FG has done nothing for coastline protection without the removal of wrecks and protection of coastlines. Various letters have been written to FG since Yar Adua’s time till date and not only have we not got any help from the FG, to get a reply to our various letters is a big problem. “This is not just a water front issue; the Ministry of Environment is also concerned. We are talking about the ecological fund as well. We have not gotten any assistance so far,” Oniru said.The commissioner lamented that the cost was huge for the state government to bear, saying “it will cost about N80 million to remove a vessel. “However, when we realised that FG wasn’t forthcoming, last year, we began the construction of 18 Groynes, to help protect the coastlines from being eroded. “The project is a three-year contract to terminate in March 2014. the state has constructed five of it to protect Goshen Estate and others along that coastline.

validate climate change policy the need to be pragmatic and sustainable: we bear in mind the costs and the trade-offs involved and thereby adopt policies that balance both economic growth and sustain the environmental.

“Secondly, the imperative of collective action at the local and global levels; at the local level, we have inexorably been engaging different stakeholders at individual and corporate levels to form a strong

partnership between the public, private and the people.” Bello said. According to him; “The state government, with the holding of the three-day workshop has demonstrated its continued commitment to

seeking and formulating policy framework necessary for mitigating and adapting the society to the impact of climate change.” However, the final product of the draft is expected to be a document that will be given speedy approval of the State Executive Council.

Recommendations/ Implementation The Ministry of the Environment MoE, of the state government will be responsible for the implementation of the policy, working in close collaboration with other key line ministries. The policy recommends that various implementation instruments be developed for its operationalisation. These include an elaborate State Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. The Climate Change

Department within the MoE shall coordinate and manage the implementation of the Policy so as to enhance synergies and minimise duplication of efforts. It shall work jointly with existing relevant state and national governments’ agencies, departments and institutions as well as other agencies, departments and institutions that may be established in the implementation of the policy. As a coordinating institution, the Climate Change Department shall be vested inter alia with mandates to design climate change strategies and plans, design relevant projects, promote the introduction of climate change in education curriculum, and initiate relevant climate change capacity building projects.

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Dating a guy who’s not asking you out By ONOZURE DANIA RE you dating a guy who’s not really ask ing you out or even bothered to find little ways and romantic gestures to please you? Perhaps, in all probability, he’s just having a fling or looking at you only as a pastime. You can make a guy jealous if you feel like your relationship has no life or if you feel unwanted by your new boyfriend. Jealousy plays a very important part in romance. Jealousy induces desire and attraction and it also makes a guy want you more. If a guy likes you and sees you flirting with another guy, his jealously may make him desire you more and try harder to please you. But then, there is a thin line between making him love you more and making him hate you for the way you treat him. There are many ways to make a guy jealous. Some are cute but most of them are just wicked. Depending on your relationship status with the guy, here are a few things you can do to make him jealous and take notice of you. Have a great life without him. If he cancels a date or makes any last minute plans, tell him you are busy and hang out with your own friends. And when he calls you while you are out with your own friends, don’t hang up after saying goodbye. Instead leave the phone on the

Behind closed doors S

ometimes last year, a story brokeout in Lagos social circle of how an unsuspecting wife intercepted a sms message from her friend to her husband. On face value you may readily ask, “and so what?” But the story was not that simple. The women involved were very close friends and had been so for a couple of years even though there was a distinct age difference between them. The older woman, an older horse in social circles, had taken the younger one under her wings , integrating and helping her navigate the delicate waters of high class social life. To assist her cope with the high financial cost of keeping up appearances at social gatherings and life generally, the older friendand of course, more comfortable woman often assisted her friend with money some of the time. The two families were quite close, almost like blood relatives. However, no one ever suspected that between the older rich man and the younger woman, was a web of lies and deceit of the most wicked nature.

Steady relationship They were having a steady, steamy, sexual relationship unknown to their unsuspecting partners. So, as this young lady benefited from her older friend, so did she also curry favour from her friend’s husband with the aid of her body. However, as the saying goes, every day for the thief, one day for the owner. The two women had gone out on a shopping spree one day. And while the older woman was busy picking fabrics and paying for them, her friend was busy texting away, giving report of their activities to the woman’s husband. She gave a detailed list of the number of fabrics her friend bought; a list of the “few” she bought for her, which she did not even like, the ones

she had spotted and loved and would love to come back to the shop to buy for herself, the cost implication of what she wanted and how and when they were to meet to collect the money. The most interesting part of it was that even though she got no response, she went on sending sms after sms to her supposed lover. What the young friend did not know was that, her older friend had mistakenly picked her husband’s phone when she left home that morning. So, while she thought her lover was getting the messages, they were actually being received by her friend. On concluding their transactions, the older friend decided to check the messages that had ac-

be lucky once in a while to escape the embarrassment of being caught in the game. Not being caught also does not however diminish the guilt, if one is without a conscience. The above story sets the template for which our issue of discourse will take. Begining from today, you will be reading the narratives of some of our respondents who shared their experiences with us. For some , it was exciting and fun while it lasted and for others, well......, not so wonderful after all. Happy reading! Adeola, 34, a Pharmasist, narrates one of her biggest escapades as a single girl. She says they all still see each other even though the affair ended some

When we stepped on to the dance floor, he showered me with a lot of money but I wasn’t really surprised because I already knew he has a lot of money

cumulated on her phone only to discover they were from her friend seated right beside her. Her first reaction was to ask why she was sending her messages when they are together. Naturally, her friend’s reaction was also to deny same. but no sooner has she, did she also realise the blunder she had made and the most embarrassing drama that was about to unfold before her. The game was over. The older woman broke down in tears as the shop owner and her attendants looked on in amazement. Of course, our wayward, greedy woman tried to pin her evil act on the devil but it did not work. She was left on her knees as she shamefully pleaded with her friend for forgiveness. She has since lost her home and her lover who naturally chose to remain with his wife of many years and struggles, over their unholy alliance. Incidents such as this are not uncommon, the actors may just

•Abi, resides in Delta state, needs an intelligent and good looking girl, aged 17-23. 07088104883 •Emmanuel, tall, dark in complexion, good looking, mature and resides in Delta state, needs a God fearing lady to be his wife, surprise visit is welcome. 08084308915, 07030727729 •A guy, needs a lady, who is a born again Christian, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08026087175,08155146572 •Akanni, 43, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a matured lady, aged 30-45, for a good relationship, that can lead to marriage. 08023529988, 08033068126, 08025069593 •Akin, 29, good looking, a graduate, needs an established lady, aged 25-35, for a serious relationship.07032172688 •A guy, 28, tall and resides in Abuja, needs an ac-

years back. Her story: We were introduced at a party by his cousin. I’d noticed him even in the crowd almost immediately on our arrival as he was actually very good looking. We each stole a few glances at each other and I knew he found me attractive too. As the party progressed, my friend, his cousin informed me that his cousin fancied me a lot and has requested to be acquainted with me. She however warned me not to take him seriously. According to her, he is maried with a three year old son. The wife could not attend because she is ill. However, if I wish, I could just string him on for his money as he had just arrived from England and was still loaded with Pound Sterling. So, I made up my mind to just enjoy his company while the party lasted. But things did not work out as simple as that as I ended up dating him for over a year. That is, until my husband came back from England too. I

was not married at the time. I just had a steady relationship with someone who might be cheating on me too somewhere for all I knew. So, I was invited to a seat beside him even though we were already sharing the same table with some other friends and family members. I later learnt he had come to settle down in the country with his family. I was happy that he was not in the country for just some kind of holidays and that we would be able to see a lot of each other. We exchanged profiles and chatted as if we’d known each other for ages, you know,

tive girl around Abuja for a relationship, aged 20-23. 07067317780 •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published. This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

table and let him overhear your fun conversations and bristle with rage for not being able to have a fun time with you. Try to speak highly of your ex. Bring some competition into the air by letting him know how great your ex was and how well he treated you so you can set a benchmark for him to beat. You can compliment other guys. If your guy doesn’t treat you well, compliment any guy friend for the smallest of gestures and talk about how sweet he is with your boyfriend. Your boyfriend will want the same attention too. Get touchy feely with your guy friends. Laugh a lot with your guy friends, play along with them and tease them. Get especially touchy feely while playfully posing for a photo or hugging goodbye in front of your man. Flirt on facebook. Getting a lot of attention on facebook from other guys could make your new boyfriend realize how desirable and wanted you are by everyone else. Ignore his calls now and then. Pretend like you are busy and make him miss you. But look gorgeous every time you see him. He will be too mesmerized to stay angry, and yet, he will crave for you. Let him know you are getting attention. If another guy asks you out or flirts with you, let your new man know all about it. It will make him jealous and it will also make him work hard to woo you and make you fall in love with him first. we just blended. When we stepped on to the dance floor, he showered me with a lot of money but I wasn’t really surprised because I already knew he has a lot of money. By the time we left the party, we’d both agreed to have lunch together the following week. Dear readers; comments, opinions and views on this issue are very much welcome. Please send contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Email Address: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com hoping to read from you soon.

•Clinton, 20, handsome, fair in complexion and a student, from Delta state, needs a girl friend, for a relationship that can lead to marriage aged 17-19. 08131830242 •Sam, 35, resides in Lagos, needs a supportive, caring and loving woman, aged 45-55, from any part of Nigeria.08068553322 •Frank, 26, tall, handsome, fun loving and resides in Anambra, needs a lady, aged 20-25, who is pretty and busty, for a serious relationship. 08165551524, 08034629384 •Babs, Yoruba by tribe, self employed and needs a lady that is sexy and romantic, aged 35 -50, for a relationship.08098244008 •Desmond, 33, handsome, chocolate in complexion, gentle, employed and resides in Benin, needs an employed and hard working lady, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08067086269 •Kingsley, 26, needs a lady, in Ogun state for a serious relationship.08164627192

Vanguard Vanguard,,

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 —

YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LIBRA: YOUR best bet today is to seek important co-operation of influential people and that of your spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for you. SCORPIO: IF others want you to conclude an important financial transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as conducive as today. SAGITTARIUS: This is your lucky day and the more self assertive you are the better but then it is important you don’t take things and people for granted. Be wise CAPRICORN: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding within your working arena today, tomorrow’s full-moon may turn the whole thing the other way.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY By Richard Eromosele

F you are living in this part of the globe, the country of Nigeria to be precise, you must have heard of the phrase ‘I beta pass my neighbour.’ This is the popular name by which the little generator used for generating electric energy is well known in

‘I beta pass my neighbour’ Nigeria. Virtually every house has it. Now it is no news that Nigeria is alleged to be the largest importer of generating set in the world. Now if you think this phrase refers to this generating set alone, you are making a mis-

take. I want you to look at yourself dispassionately and answer the following questions: Were you born with any deformity? Is it not in your 20’s that you graduated from the university? You live in a choice area, isn’t it? You have the privilege

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

to change your job every time, isn’t it? Have you not travelled round the world? You can afford what to eat and when to eat compared to your mates who are local champions, can’t you see, you are better than your neighbour? Indeed, you beta pass your neighbour. Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please. PISCES: IF your desire is to make money today, you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life. ARIES: GOOD relationship between the Moon and lucky Jupiter will bring you good opportunities. Be less argumentative. TAURUS: THIS is your day when things will go according to your plans. Financial success indicated but if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment. GEMINI: THE Moon encourages you to be as assertive as possible but you will need to expect certain level of opposition. Try to be more friendly.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more practical about your health. Be more loving. LEO: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your nerve tomorrow when effects of full-moon’ll come to play. VIRGO: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, either at home or along your career/business lines, should be well taken care of today. Be very open.

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

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What’s my immediate future? Dear Joshua, I am interested in what you are doing. Please tell me what I should expect concerning my immediate future. Would I succeed travelling abroad for business? Olabode. Mushin,

Dear Olabode, Few years back you have started a very longer (years) great cycle of success and happiness, and this year you will be moving closer to the peak of the said cycle; meaning that your 4OTH year on earth will be much more better than all your previous ones on earth. Visible signs of the positive things will physically manifest during your major first period of the year 2013 that will come between Aug. 19 and Sept. 16, 2013. Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of travelling and distant affairs you can be successful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful foreign travels. However that is not to say that there will not be any challenge . Actually like it happened about six/seven months ago when work and accident related issues were the major challenges, there will be repeat of such when AROUND OCTOBER 2013.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Warri Refinery gets 2-week ultimatum from youths over kerosene

Weppa-Wanno condoles with Fashola

BY FESTUS AHON

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

G H E L L I — ALMAGAMATION of Oil Producing Communities Youths, AOPCY, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Deport Manager, Warri Refinery, Delta State, Engr. Ali Abdallah, to release the 50 trucks of kerosene approved by the Managing Director of

HE Weppa Wanno Union, a socio-cultural group of Etsako indigenes of Edo State, has condoled with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State over the demise of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Fashola. In a statement by its President, Chief Egietseme Idiyen, the union said that it received the news of the sudden demise of the patriarch of the Fashola family with shock and sadness. It, however, thanked God that he lived to be 80 and led an exemplary and fulfilled life worthy of emulation. The group described the late Pa Fashola as a role model for discipline and hard work. It said that the elder Fashola would be missed by all. The union urged the Fashola family to take solace in the Almighty Allah and implored Governor Fashola not to be deterred by the irreparable loss in pursuing his laudable goals for Lagosians, who also grieve with him at this moment.

Products and Pipeline Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr. Haruna Mommoh, for communities affected by last year ’s flood or its members would shut down oil facilities in the communities. Spokesman of AOPCY, Mr. William Onose, told newsmen in Ughelli, Delta State that the Deport Manager was unwilling to release the kerosene,

which he noted was for the 53 communities in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Isoko North, Isoko South, Patani, Burutu and Ndokwa West local government areas of Delta State. According to him, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ughelli North council, Chief Friday Akpoyibo, had on behalf of the flood-ravaged communi-

Gbagi repositions for 2015 Delta guber race BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—FORMER Minister of State for Education and leading entrepreneur in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has resuscitated his political structures in the three senatorial districts of state, in preparation for the 2015 governorship race. Vanguard gathered that Gbagi is consulting with other leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, opinion leaders and royal fathers in the state on his ambition, which a close source said “is borne out of his burning desire to transform the state.” Gbagi, who contested the party’s governorship ticket with former governor, Chief James Ibori and the incumbent, Dr. Emmanuel Udua-ghan, it was gathered, believes that 2015 is

his turn to rule the state and had asked Deltans to judge his contributions to the development of the state as a former minister and entrepreneur. He was quoted to have said:

Bizman petitions IG over robbery allegation

HE Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has been asked to investigate the armed robbery allegation leveled against the Chief Executive Officer of Muras Iron and Steels Limited, Alhaji Muraina Oyinloye by the duo of Peter Omotosho and Joseph Dansu. Counsel to Oyinloye, Goke Olakulehin, in the petition, alleged that the said Omotosho and Dansu, in a bid to take over the premises of his business located at 29, Adekunle Banjo

Delta Central by-election: Group backs Majemite As politicians clamour to fill the vacant seat of Delta Central Senatorial District created by the death of Senator Pius Ewherido, a group, Delta Must Be Good Group, has called on people of the district to throw their weight behind Chief Fred Majemite for the position.

The group noted that Majemite’s experience, track record and his down-to-earth nature, placed him many steps ahead of others aspiring for the seat. In a statement by Chief Ibru Okotie, President, the group called on all Urhobo sons and

“I am not boasting. I am the biggest investor in Delta State. All I desire is an opportunity to be in the driver’s seat and steer Delta to its destined riches and glory.”

daughters, at home and in diaspora to join hands, irrespective of party affiliations to deliver him during the election. It assured that Majemite, having been tested several times, would definitely continue with Ewherido’s visionary programmes.

Street, Magodo, Lagos, have sponsored “kangaroo complaint of armed robbery and illegal gun running” against him. Olakulehin, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, alleged that Omotosho, who had been masquerading as official of Lagos State Government, had been terrorising his client since June 2010. The lawyer narrated that his client (Oyinloye) purchased the property in question from a friend based in the United States, and that after all necessary payments were made, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the then Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Lands, signed all the documents relating to the property. Olakulehin said that Oyinloye was on the land until June 2010, when Omotosho and Dansu invaded the land under the guise of working for the state government with

thugs brandishing all sort of weapons. He added that upon notification, the state government divested itself of complicity in the matter and advised that a formal petition be written to the police as the allegation against Omotosho and Dansu was criminal in nature. He said: “While the above is still pending, some hoodlums and OPC members, under instruction of Omotosho, moved into the land armed with dangerous weapons and forcefully drove out our client from the land without due process of law and also pulled down the structure on the land. “As a result of my client’s resolve to resist the attempt to take over his property, Omotosho and Dansu further instigated officers of Federal SARS to raid the premises again in connection with armed robbery and gun running allegation.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

ties, solicited for the purchase of 50 trucks of DPK (kerosene) at subsidised rate through Benuaks Services Limited, an independent marketer, in March. He said: “The MD of PPMC approved the release of the 50 trucks, but the Deport Manager of Warri Refinery has been sitting on them.” Claiming that the kerosene was currently being sold at prices ranging from N200 to N250 in the communities, he said: “The 50 trucks of DPK were meant to be distributed at subsidised rate to the affected communities.” Onose alleged that Abdallah was insensitive to the plight of flood victims, and called for his removal as the Deport Manager.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On ‘deportation' of Igbo from Lagos

HIS issue addresses the fundamental rights of the Nigerian citizen, one of which is the right of freedom of movement. Every Nigerian has the right to go where he/ she chooses and live. So, I am not in support of it, if really there was any form of deportation.— Miss Alade Deborah, Model.

T is a violation of their fundamental human rights as Nigerians, including the right to seek and work anywhere in Nigeria, the right to movement, and association. It subverts the letters and spirit of our Constitution. It must be addressed properly.— Mr. Ayode Longe, Journalist.

ELL, I believe it is a dangerous thing to do because of the possible retaliation. For your information, there are also Lagosians in other parts of the country, including Anambra State. Let us all live as one Nigeria, whether Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa.— Mr. Nonso Azudife, Student.

OME people are saying 14 Igbo without residence were deported, while some held that 70 Igbo were picked at various places and dropped at Upper Iweka in Anambra State. However, a Nigerian has a constitutional right to reside anywhere in the country.— Miss Fortune Ajie, Model.

F some Igbo were actually deported for whatever reason from Lagos, then Governor Babatunde Fashola should not shy away from coming out and apologising to Igbo. Most major markets in Lagos are occupied and kept going by Igbo.— Miss Nwaofor Chinaenye, Student.

OES any state government have the constitutional right to deport a citizen of Nigeria? Is it entrenched in the constitution of Nigeria? If not, it becomes a case of glaring impunity staring us all in the face. And the necessary steps must be taken.— Miss Ezinne Ikeri, Broadcaster.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—37

Gas leak in Bonny: Health hazard reported in community BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

ORT HARCOURT—RESIDENTS of Oloma community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, have alleged health complications and injuries sustained from panic, following leaks in the community, from a gas pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company. Though Shell claimed it had brought the leakage under control, Richard Abbey, Chairman, Organisation of Fishermen, Sea Food Dealers and Farmers in Niger Delta, OFSDF/ND, said that the company also needs to ease the impact of the gas leak on local fishermen and community members, who need to be catered for. Abbey narrated that the Shell’s gas pipeline from Well 29 located in Oloma community got ruptured on August 7, venting gas, which flows into the environment and endangering the health of the people, said “The situation created panic, resulting in injuries among the people from fear that a slight spark could

Cour t settles community chairmanship tussle

HE Court of Appeal in Benin City, Edo State, has declared Mr. Christopher Jemijaye as the rightful elected chairman of Ugborhen Community of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State. The appellate court upheld the decision of a Delta State High Court, which had declared Sunday as chairman of the community. Lower court judge, Justice E.N Emudainohwo, in her ruling, had said that the court having heard the arguments of G. Kerewi, the lawyer for the claimant and E. Owe for the defendants held as follows “By order 25 rule 6 (b), the rules clearly states that the consequences of the defendants failure to participate in a pre-trial conference and that is, for final judgment to be entered against him and not for the matter to be adjourned to enable him comply with the rules. The court hereby, orders pursuant to order 25 rule 6 (b) of the entered against the defendants as claimed by in the claimants amended statement of claim dated June 30, 2010.”

set off a explosion and fire outbreak. A Joint Inspection Investigation, JIV, carried out by the company and the communities indicated equipment failure. “As I speak to you, some persons are complaining of pains

on their chest and mid ribs, some, especially children sustained serious injuries in the attempt to evacuate human and materials out of the area against looming explosion,” he added. An Oloma community lead-

er, Asinyetogha Hart alleged that Shell’s continuous refusal to upgrade its pipeline facilities in Oloma community and Okoloma Lodge, had continued to pose environmental and health hazards to the inhabitants.

LAUNCH—Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Mokel (right); Chairman, Info Tech Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) Governing Board, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman; winner of iDEA Hackathon Competition, Le-Media Team Two; President-General, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Uwaje (left) at the launch of iDEA second incubation centre in Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar.

Cleric slams Boko Haram over war against Western education BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—RETIRED Archbishop of the Benin Catholic Archdiocese, Edo State, Archbishop Patrick Ekpu, weekend, said that members of the Boko Haram sect were not being sincere to Nigerians, noting that their excuse of killing their fellow Nigerians because they were against Western education was nonsensical. He also urged the Federal Government to be sincere in

its dialogue with members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, current on strike, warning that the strike was killing the country ’s education sector. Archbishop Ekpu, who addressed newsmen in Benin City, noted that the bloodshed being perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in some parts of the North was wicked and inexcusable and urged them to change their evil ways. “Even if you remove Christianity, does the African culture promote the killing of your

neighbour just because you disagree? What are they using to kill these Christians? Is it their manufactured ammunition or those manufactured by the very Europeans they claim they don’t want their culture? The dress they wear, where are they from? The food they eat, what are they served on, are they not things gotten from western civilisation? They are not sincere and they have no love for fellow Nigerians. And their actions being politically motivated cannot be justified for any reason.

Akpabio urges media to focus on positive devt

KWA IBOM State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Nigerian media to focus on things that unite the country rather than concentrate on attacks of persons. Chief Akpabio while fielding questions from newsmen in Uyo said: “There is no tin god in Akwa Ibom State. I believe a national newspaper should not personalise issues by calling people names, which does not reflect the person. It was quite an unfortunate and I hope they have learnt their lessons and focus on things that will unite the country and not use their

paper for personal attack. “I am happy that the state government had responded to the editorial, which was not a true reflection of who I am. People were even commenting on the change of the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, who has made history as the longest serving officer in this part of the world right from 1979 till date and had served the state meritoriously. “So, making a change in that office is for the state to move forward. The former SSG made his intention known for his

political ambition which the law states that any public officer aspiring for any political post has a right to resign to achieve that ambition. “The state government making such changes should not attract editorial comment unless people are unduly interested in the affairs of others. Let people remove the log from their eyes before they remove the one in others’ eyes.” He said: “This was never an issue except they had nothing more to write. I think they should rather write and commend nationally on global challenges”.

Delta community leader restates commitment to devt BY FESTUS AHON

G H E L L I — P R E S I D E N TGENERAL of UnukpoOrogun quarters, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Josiah Ntekume, has promised to work in harmony with government and oil companies operating in the area in the interest of the sustainable development of the community. Speaking at the OtorhoOrogun Town Hall, after his election, which he won with 35 votes, Ntekume said that the area was yearning for development and expressed the determination of his executive to partner government and development agencies to move the community forward. He said, “my people need street lights, pipe borne water, modern town hall and other basic amenities and I want to assure them that I will not disappoint because of the confidence they have reposed on me and my team.”

Students’ union leader condemns Delta House over US tour

ELTA State Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students, Prince Koyoyo Uhrorho, has condemned the leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly for wasting N1.2 billion on capacity building in the United States of America. Prince Uhrorho, who condemned the amount of money spent on the exercise, said it would have been better if the money was utilised to solve the problems facing Deltans and the state’s infrastructure. He also called on the striking university lecturers and Federal Government to urgently resolve the impasse between them in the interest of the Nigerian students.

38—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Anyaoku’s biography for launch August 15

PICTORIAL biog raphy of former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, entitled: “Footprints of Iconic Diplomat,” will be launched on August 15, 2013, at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. According to a statement by Leverage Multi Global Concept, the event will be chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while President Goodluck Jonathan is special guest of honour. Other special guests expected at the event include, erstwhile South African President, Thabo Mbeki; Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, among others governors, ministers, traditional and religious leaders.

Obi flags off more road projects in Anambra

WKA—ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has flagged off the construction of Awka Etiti-Egbu Umuenem Otolo Nnewi Road, amid cheers from the crowd that witnessed the event. In attendance at the flagged off were the members of the state Executive Council, the transition Chairman, Idemili South Local Government Area, Mr. Eugene Ezekwem and the transition team, the traditional ruler of Awka Etiti and members of his cabinet. In his speech, the transition Chairman, Mr. Ezekwem, expressed happiness with the governor for the construction of the road, which when completed would link up neighbouring communities. He said the road had been neglected by previous administrations in the state. On his part, Commissioner for Information, Chief Joe Uzodike, praised the governor for awarding the road project. He also noted that the road had been neglected by previous administrations in the state, adding that the people of the area would ever remain grateful to Governor Obi.

‘DEPORTATION’ OF IGBO FROM LAGOS: Ohanaeze condemns Police role zRejects Lagos State Government’s explanation

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—THE Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo cultural organisation, yesterday, condemned the role played by the Nigeria Police in aiding the recent deportation of some Igbos from Lagos on the order of the state government. Anambra State president of Ohanaeze, Elder Chris Eluemunoh, at a news conference in Awka, also faulted the explanation by the Lagos State Government on the matter, arguing that the deportation was an inhuman act aimed at insulting and embarrassing the Igbo race. He said: “Ohanaeze must not fail to condemn the role of the Nigeria Police, who escorted the vehicle that brought the deportees down to Onitsha from Lagos. What a travesty of justice that security agents, who are paid from public fund to protect the rights of citizens were used to perpetuate the violation of the constitution they all swore to defend and protect. “We urge the Inspector General of Police, IG, to investigate the role of his men in the despicable and illegal action of the Lagos State Government. Ohanaeze also totally rejects the explanations by the Lagos State Government in defence of her action and we ask whether the dumping and

abandoning them under the bridge at Onitsha at midnight was the best way to return them to their homes for proper integration. “Ndigbo and the people of Anambra State in particular rightly deserve an unreserved apology from the Lagos State Government, else it would be taken that her action was a calculated insult aimed at creat-

ing unnecessary friction between the Yoruba and Igbo, who have been living and working peacefully in Lagos for decades and contributing immensely to the development of the state.” The organisation also faulted those blaming Governor Peter Obi for letting the president know about the development, noting that the governor’s ac-

tion was a mature way of handling the vexatious action. According to Eluemunoh, “Ohanaeze supports all the steps the governor had so far taken to seek redress for the degrading treatment meted out to Ndigbo, even as he appealed to Igbo people to remain calm and law-abiding.”

ROTARY AWARD: From left: Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke; Group Executive Vice Chairman, Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor; former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani and APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, during the award to Sir Offor as First Rotary Ambassador of Polio in Nigeria and the Highest African Donor to the Rotary Foundation, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

FETHA raises alarm over employment racketeers in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—THE Man agement of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, has raised alarm over the activities of some employment racketeers who are currently collecting money from prospective employees in exchange for employment at the federal institution. Vanguard gathered that the employment racketeers are suspected staff of FETHA who are allegedly collecting between N100,000 and N400,000 from applicants that participated in the last recruitment exercise by FETHA. A victim who did not want her name in print, stated that a staff of FETHA told her to bring N400,000 so that her employment could be guaranteed. She said: “I am surprised at what is happening here. I participated in the job interview with all my credentials in place so I’m wondering why they are telling me to bring money. In

fact, the money I was asked to pay depends on your course of study while in the university. “I need a job desperately. I told my husband about it and he is trying to raise the N400, 000. My brother I need a job.” Addressing newsmen, the Chief Medical Director of FETHA, Dr. Paul Ezeonu, regretted the activities of the em-

ployment racketeers, lamenting that their actions were negatively affecting the integrity and employment procedures put in place by the hospital management. Ezeonu, who was enraged by the development, warned that any staff of FETHA or individual found guilty of employment racketeering would

not only be sacked from work but would be prosecuted. He said: “The list of those who succeeded in the recruitment exercise would pass through some appropriate quarters; the hospital Board and the Ministry and of course, the Federal Character will go through it and then it will come back.”

Catholic Bishop cautions politicians against election violence

WKA—THE Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, yesterday, cautioned politicians to desist from election violence and malpractices or face the wrath of God. Ezeokafor spoke on the backdrop of the forthcoming local government and governorship elections scheduled to hold in Anambra State. The cleric, who made this

known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, called on the people of the state to pray for the smooth conduct of the polls. He stressed the need for politicians to abide by the rules to ensure that the elections were hitch-free. According to him, the elections should not be business as usual where politicians

snatched ballot boxes and rig the polls against the wishes of the electorate. Ezeokafor urged the youth to reject any offer from politicians who try to use them as thugs for their selfish ambitions. The local council and governorship elections are scheduled to hold on October 5 and November 16, respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013â&#x20AC;&#x201D;39

From left, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck; Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, at the presentation ceremony of security vehicles by MTN Foundation to Ondo State Government. MEETING: Cross Section of Jonah Jang-led Nigerian Governors' Forum, during their meeting, yesterday, at Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

PLATFORM: From left: Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Wilsher; Head, High Value Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi; Afro Juju icon, Sir Shina Peters; CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Steve Evans, and R&B Singer, Seyi Shay, during the Lagos edition of Etisalat Cloud 9 Music Platform, at Villa Meddici, Victoria Island, Lagos.

AWARD: A cross-section of qualified and deserving candidates, receiving G.C.E forms from Ayanre Youth Development and Empowerment Committee, as part of the association's empowerment programme for youths in the Ayanre Community Assciation in Olorunda LCDA of Lagos State Photo:Simon Adewale

VISIT: The SSG Edo, Prof.Julius Ihonvbere (7th left); Mr. Sylvanus Idenwekhai, IPMA Chairman Midwestern zone (6th left); Mr. David Ikhuora (8th left);Hon. Noma Ogbomo, IPMAN Benin Unit General Secretary (4th left), and other excutive members when they paid a courtesey visit to the SSG shortly after election of newly elected members of IPMAN.

INSTALLATION: From left, RTN Andy Ikponmwen giving an award to Hon.Uyigue Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, and Andrew Oiboh, during his installation ceremony as the 8th President of Rotary Club of Benin Metropolitan, Rotary International, District 9140, at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Airport Road, Benin City. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

DEFECTION: A chieftain of Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu (left) with Elder Yomi Akinwonmi (right), addressing former members of the Labour Party, LP, All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Party of Nigeria,PPN, who defected to PDP.

10TH AFRICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF WORLD GIRLS GUIDE

From left, Mrs. Margaret Olowu, Past Chief Commissioner, Nigerian Girls Guide Association; Mrs. Shakirat Bayewu, representing Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; Mrs. Patricia Bagudu, International Commissioner, and Mrs. Adefemi Taire, President, Nigerian Girls Guide Association, during the opening ceremony of the 10th African Regional Conference of World Association of Girls Guide and Girls Scouts, WAGGGS, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

From left: Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, representing Governor of Lagos State; Dr. Nkosazana Zuma, Chairman, African Union; Mrs. Nadine El-Achy, Chairman, World Board, World Association of Girls Guide and Girl Scouts, and Dr. Christie Toby, Chief Commissioner, Nigerian Girls Guide Association. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

N35M SALARY:

Navy sanctions two officers for indiscipline

Senator vows to resign if...

BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—THE Ni gerian Navy has sanctioned and withdrawn two of its officers (names withheld) from the Able Regulatory and Qualifying Course 02/13 of the Naval Provost and Regulating School in Makurdi, over indiscipline. The Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajuonu, disclosed this, yesterday, at the ceremony marking the graduation and presentation of awards to officers of the Naval Provost Officers Basic Course 02/13 and Able Regulatorty Qualifying Course 04/13 in Makurdi Rear Admiral Ajuonu said “the Nigeria Navy is a citadel of discipline which all officers must key into, and anything to the contrary would be sanctioned appropriately. ”That is why all ratings and officers of the Nigeria Navy must continue to uphold the tenets of discipline and also exemplify themselves in their chosen carrier.” Earlier, the Commandant of the Naval Provost and Regulating School in Makurdi, Commodore Gora Aldehu, said a total of 14 officers were nominated for the Naval Provost Basic Course; however, only 13 reported. He said “ 36 out of the 37 Ratings nominated for the Able Regulator Qualifying Course reported for the course.” According to him, the graduands exemplified themselves in the course of study at the school.

First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan and President, African First Ladies' Peace Mission, (M); flanked by President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi and his wife Denise on arrival at the Pan African Women Conference in Bujunbura, Burundi, weekend.

FLOOD: We lost 515 houses — KSERA Official BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

ANO—THE Executive Secretary of Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, KSERA, Alhaji Ali Bashir, yesterday, confirmed that no fewer than 515 houses were lost to flood occasioned by heavy down pour between Friday and Sunday, in about seven local Government areas of the state. In a chat with Vanguard, Ali Bashir said: “There are increased fears that the figure might rise due to another heavy rain recorded weekend, and we are doing our best to contain the tide.” He noted that a team of enumerators had been dispatched alongside National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, officials to ascertain the correct figure, stressing that “the report would enable government take appropriate

40 officers graduate from Air Force School BY PETER DURU

AKURDI —AS part of ef forts to tackle the security challenges facing the country, the Nigerian Air Force, has graduated 40 officers from the Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence, NAFSAINT, in Makurdi. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Training and Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Isiyaku Umar, urged the fresh graduates to “imbibe and

practicalise what you have learnt in the school to safeguard the national security and integrity of our country from being compromised or jeopardized.” Represented by the Commander, 325 Ground Training Group, Christopher Dola, AVM Umar, implored officers and men of the force to uphold the tenets of professionalism, discipline and loyalty to constituted authority in the country.

measure to cushion the effect on the affected people”. Ali Bashir said all the eight local council areas of the municipality were affected, while Warawa, Dawakinkudu and Dawakin Tofa local councils were also hit by the natural disaster. National Metrological Agency had for now listed Kano as one of the 14 states in the Northern region that would likely witness torrential rain with attendant flood in the next couple of weeks and event of the last few days seems to be con-

firming the prediction. A torrential downpour that lasted four hours last Friday and Sunday left the state capital and adjourning local council areas flooded, essentially due to blocked drainages and bad environmental culture. Several buried corpses unearthed by the rain had equally been reburied by officials of the state Environment ministry, while efforts were being made to fumigate the affected areas to forestall outbreak of diseases.

USAU—SENA TOR Kabir Marafa, representing Zamfara Central Zone, named by a national daily as one of the 24 Senators allegedly collecting N35 million as salaries monthly, has threatened to resign if it is proven that he actually collects such amount. Marafa, who spoke in a chat with newsmen, wondered why the said newspapers could publish such a fabricated story to cause trouble. According to him, even if senators were collecting what the paper had claimed, he saw nothing bad in it, because none of them had requested for it and were not paying themselves or asked how much they should be earning. The senator who was in Gusau to celebrate the Sallah, also noted that it was better for the media house to talk about the increasing corruption bedeviling the country, instead of such mischievous publication against the senators, describing it “as baseless, un-true and an attempt to tarnish the image of the senate.” On the issue of the controversial early marriage, the lawmaker said: “We have different cultures and religions and we live peacefully with one another and you cannot compel me to do things the way you do, or force me to either be a Muslim or a Christian."

Senator tasks STF on high influx of people into Jos

OS— SENATOR Gyang Pwajok has asked the Special Task Force (STF) to “critically study”, rather than celebrate the rising traffic in Jos city. “Practically all roads and streets in Jos are recording very high traffic and I have often heard security agencies say that it signified a return of peace. I don’t agree much with that. I think it is rather a time to analyse this increase in traffic and the influx of more people because it could signal the arrival of insurgents fleeing from various directions,” Pwajok told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, yesterday. He said that such insurgents could take advantage

of the peace in Plateau to relaunch their activities and throw the state into fresh chaos, and advised security agencies to be “very alert”. Pwajok particularly called for stiffer measures to safeguard Plateau borders with Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Taraba. “There must be a network of collaborative peace efforts; the STF must identify strange elements and track down criminals by raiding their their training grounds and camps. “There must be improved and increased intelligence gathering to make for effective proactive steps so as to check criminals before they move,” he said. The Senator said that special attention should be paid

to the surrounding settlements and advised security agencies to comb “even the smallest settlements” for suspects. He also spoke on the peace efforts between the Fulani and Berom in Plateau North, and expressed satisfaction that the parleys he initiated in May had indeed yielded the desired results. “The attacks are now very rare and am happy because that has spared enough time for security agents to go after cattle rustlers and other petty crimes,” he said. He also expressed happiness that the Fulani had come to understand that cattle rustling were being carried out by criminals and not by specific communities.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 41

42—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Cadenza flaunts European luxury car features K

IA Motors, since the beginning of the millennium has left no one in doubt that it is the car maker to watch. The Korean oldest car maker has continued to churn out captivating cars with exceptional designs in every segment. But what is amazing to all this time around is that Kia has delved into the luxury car segment which hitherto used to the exclusive preserve of European and American car makers. Before the end of the last millennium, the mention of Kia simply means budget cars, and some would go to the extent of calling them all kind of names. But this is no longer the way Kia cars are perceived. They are now revered in every segment you find them, be it SUVs, sedans, mini vans or what have you. The Kia models have joined the class of respectable models, having hired former Volkswagen Group design chief to create outstanding models. The truth, as at today is that there is hardly anything you find in premium brands that you can’t find in Kia cars. The Kia Quoris is a typical example of a Kia that has almost everything the BMW series, MercedesBenz S-Class and others in this class have.

Numerous features Though the Quoris has it all, but its immediate “ younger brother ”, Cadenza has tapped successfully from the Quoris numerous features. The Cadenza is a headturner any day both in design, performance and comfort. Masterfully created with Kia aesthetic touches, the Cadenza, makes a bold statement with its harmonious balance of modern curves and futuristic design cues. This stunning premium sedan from Kia is powered by a Lambda II 3.5-litre gasoline engine which generates a maximum 290 PS of power at 6600 rpm. Cadenza’s powerful engine is a fuel efficient lightweight unit which composed of an aluminum cylinder block with dual continuously variable valve timing system to maximise efficiency and silent timing chain system C M Y K

to minimise noise. Mated to this engine is a six-speed automatic transmission which delivers superb performance and fuel economy with its MacPherson suspension. With thoroughly modern styling and innovative features, coupled with all the luxurious touches found in today’s most expensive European luxury cars, the Cadenza’s numerous styling details are not only appealing to the eyes but very functional and practical. Top quality materials, including supple pure leather seat coverings can be found throughout the Cadenza’s interior, while a choice of

premium packages offers plenty of special extras, Exceptional convenience and comfort abound in the Cadenza. For instance, apart from the leather seat,

eight-way driver and four way front passenger power seat electrically adjustable power front seats, offer maximum flexibility for finding the

most comfortable seating position, driver seat knee extension designed for long-legged drivers, power rear sunshade, rain censors which

automatically activates the wiper when rain drops are detected on the windshield, auto defog system, and full-auto climate control featuring dual-zone temperature control are all standard features in the Cadenza. Cadenza is generously equipped with innovative technologies such as steering wheel paddle shifters, remote control audio system and auto cruise control with just your thumbs to minimise distraction while driving, advance radar sensor at the front of the car monitors the gap between the vehicle ahead. Safety-wise, the Cadenza has got superlative safety features. Rear view camera, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), safety power windows, high-strength body structure, large disc brakes, eight airbag system all work together to provide excellent safety for Cadenza occupants. Styling details like smart key, puddle lamp on side mirrors, pocket lights, foglamps with unique chrome – molded housing, door scuffs etc, adds to Cadenza beauty.

Toyota partners film maker to produce October 1st

oyota Nigeria Limited is lending its support to the production of a $2 million movie to be launched on Nigeria's 53rd independence day anniversary. The

commencement of the production of the movie is billed for next month. The movie titled: st October 1 by Kunle Afolayan Production aims at showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage to the outside

world and the younger generation. Speaking at a briefing to announce its sponsorship of the project, Toyota Nigeria Limited chairman, Chief Michael Ade Ojo who spoke through his

Executive Director, Mr. Kunle Ade Ojo said that Toyota, among other things, will supply the vehicle needed for the movie which will project Nigeria positively to the outside world. Mr. Ade Ojo explained that though

Continues on page 43

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 43 By Theodore Opara

Toyota partners film maker to produce October 1st Continues from page 42 Toyota was not available in Nigeria during the colonial era, Toyota vehicles will be used at the scene of the movie for logistic and other purposes. According to him, Toyota is happy to partner with the producers of the film because it will go a long way in promoting the cultural heritage of the country. Said he “it was unfortunate that when we got our independent, in October 1, 1960, no Toyota vehicles was used during the celebration. But now we want to rewrite history of this country by providing vehicles for logistics and transportation during the production of the film.” Also speaking during the presentation of the star-studded cast that will take part in the movie, which include the daughter of the chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Deola Sagoe, the producer explained that they carefully picked the team which are among the very best in the country and abroad. Some of the cast include prominent film actors like Kanayo O. Kanayo, Sadiq Daba (Bitrus) of the famous Cock Crow at Dawn and many foreign actors. The producer however commeded the management of Toyota Nigeria Limited for being part of history. The movie, according to Mr. Afolayan is about the Nigeria independence day celebration. He however called for support from both private and corporate organisations toward the success of the movie saying that his company has not yet gotten all the funds required for the making of the world-class movie that will showcase the country positively to the outside world.

Richbon partners XGMA on construction equipment

he General Manager, Richbon Nigeria Limited, Mr. Edmund Okwu has described the XGMA construction equipment brand which his company is introducing into the country as among the best in the world. Mr. Okwu who spoke to Vanguard Motoring in his Lagos office recently said that his company carefully selected the world-class product for the Nigerian market because of its pedigree in the construction industry. According to him, the goal of his company is to take the construction equipment brand to the same level they have taken the Sinotruk truck brand in Nigeria which has become a household name in the country. “We entered into partnership with XGMA which is a leading construction equipment brand and our aim is to expose the qualities of this products to Nigerians who are in need of strong, durable and economical construction equipment. According to him, their performance in marketing and maintaing used construction equipment range helped them to settle for XGMA products which are very good and yet affordable. “The advantages of the XGMA products are too numerous to mention here. They are strong, durable, efficient, affordable, energy saving and easy to maintain,” he said. Though coming from China, we went for the very best that is use all over the world with guarantee. Rated among the best in the world, and used in almost 80

countries of the world, the XGMA has the largest manufacturing base of construction equipment in China and largest assembly line of wheel load in China too. Established in 1951 on an assembly line covering an area of 1.35 km2, the brand

has grown to be rated among China’s top 70 most valuable brands. “The main products of XGMA are construction machineries such as wheel loaders, excavator, forklift, road constructions macheneries, environment friendly. machinery which are used extensively for building operations. XGMA products are energy saving and efficient and are widely used in minings, infrastructure construction, civil engineering, agriculture, forestry, and water conservancy construction, ports and freight yards for shoveling,

bulldozing, loading and unloading, digging, lifting towing and carrying of materials etc,’ the General Manager stated. Meanwhile Richbon is planning to launch the XMGA Construction Equipment into the Nigerian market next month. According to the General manager, the company will be introducing a full range of the product with the aim of dominating the market.

Why your car needs alloy rims — JD TEC boss

FRONTLINE rim distributor and specialist who is also Chairman of JD Auto Designs Limited, Mr. Jude Uchenna Obiekwe, has stated that beyond aesthetics, the fitting of alloy rims in vehicles comes with a lot of benefits to motorists. Speaking in Lagos at one of his company ’s outlets, he said “you need to install alloy rims for aesthetics, durability, performance, class, and stability of the car because it helps the suspension of the vehicle as well as the braking system.” The specialist in rims added that “If you come to JD Auto Designs, you get value for money, with pocket friendly prices, C M Y K

quality customer care, because when you treat your customer good, they will always come back, we take customer retainership policies very seriously. “The interesting thing about us is that you get rims that fit the pockets of all customers –for high profile vehicles like Range Rover, Porsche, G-Wagon to the regularly saloon cars. “And to further make our products and services more accessible, we just opened a Lekki, (Lagos) office, and we have a nation-wide network to easily reach all who are in need of our services throughout the country ”, the chairman added. On how he ventured

into t h e business, he said “it has been a long lasting dream for me to go into this business.” According to him, “If you must go into anything, it must be something you have passion for, and if you are dedicated and

focussed, it must surely work out. I was doing this business even while in high school. And having obtained an MBA, it has gone a very long way in helping the business. Knowledge from school, coupled with what I see abroad whenever I

travel, has added value to the business.” The business since inception has grown from strength to strength, though not without challenges. Obiekwe recalled that “we started operations in 2005 with the aim of building an enduring service industry. At JD Tec Auto Design Limited, we regularly develop creative and innovative strategies that are tailored to meet the needs of our customers as well as add value to their businesses. We are continually investing in our resources; our staff are well trained, our products are constantly being modified to serve a continuously growing market.” JD Tec Auto Design

Limited sales and provides services for alloy rim/tyres ranging from chrome, machine silver, black and stainless etc. The company also offers electronic alignment, automated tyre changing, wheel balancing, gear oil and greasing, chamber casting etc. Vision of the dynamic company is “to be a frontline organisation driven by excellence and innovativeness”, while the mission is “to be one of the leading integrated alloy rims/tyres solutions provider”. The company ’s core values include integrity, customer friendliness, on time delivery, total quality and door to door delivery.

44—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Benue 2015:

Glimpsing life after Suswam

THE quest by interest groups for reckoning in the post-Suswam years in Benue State is beginning to take shape with two supposedly politically marginalised blocs drawing attention to themselves. BY PETER DURU

Terhemen Tarzor Others include Chairman House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Barr. Emmanuel Jime, former registrar, Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN, Engr. Felix Atume, National President of the Agricultural and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria, AAEUN, Comrade Simon Anchaver and university don, Prof David Ker among others. There is no gainsaying that the two blocs with their claims of marginalisation will need a

Political stakeholders The position of the Idomas was recently buttressed by the Idoma Youths Progressive Movement, IYPM who after a monthly meeting urged political stakeholders in the state, to support the agitation for power shift to the zone in the interest of fairness, equity and good conscience. “Our agitation for power shift in Benue state is galvanized by the singular fact that since the creation of the state, no one from Benue South senatorial district has had the opportunity to lead the state as Governor,” the group’s national president, Mr. Ameh Igoche, maintained. Among the contenders from the zone include Dr. Sam Ode, a former Minister of State for Nigeria Delta, the deputy governor, Chief Steven Lawani, who even though he has not come out to declare but is through his body language showing that he is in the race. Ode has been one of the personalities that have been looked upon to break the jinx against the Idomas given his

HE quest by political stakeholders to position themselves and their protégées on the line to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam is increasingly taking the centre of place in covert and not so covert political and indeed social gatherings across the state. Nocturnal meetings are regularly organised by supposed contenders, pretenders and their associates to strategise on how to gain the advantage in the unfolding contest. As at last count, no fewer than 30 individuals had indicated interest in running for the governorship and that in the midst of agitations by various groups and political blocs who are laying claim to an exclusive prerogative to produce the next governor of the state. The Idomas who dominate the Benue South senatorial district have insisted that the zone deserves the political right to produce the next governor of the state, given the fact that the zone had never produced a governor in the 37 year history of the state.

•Suswam mixed Idoma/Tiv parentage. While his father is Idoma and his mother Tiv, Ode was known to have been brought up as Tiv, and it is no wonder that he is considered by some Tiv in the state as an acceptable “Idoma” governor of the state. Paul Ogbole is another contender from the zone, but many doubt his ability to stand when the when the contest gets into full shape. Irrespective of the agitations of the Idomas, they will still have to contend with the quest by another politically deprived bloc in the state. The Masev, Iyarev, Nongov

Development Association, MINDA, an acronym referring to a geo-political bloc in the Tiv speaking area is also laying claim to the governorship position come 2015. Among the leading contenders for the position from this bloc are the Minister of state for Trade and Investments, Dr. Samuel Ortom, renowned journalist and Permanent Secretary Government House Administration, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, Commissioner for Lands, Mr. John Tondu and former Speaker, Prince

ruling party following which they swoop on rebels within the PDP to confront the PDP. That is why many believe that whoever or which ever bloc is favoured by the PDP to produce the next governor, that there would still be trouble in the party and a mass exodus and realignment of political forces. Governor Suswam in a recent interview with journalists in Makurdi stated clearly that the race for his successor would not be zoned to any political zone or bloc, insisting that the ruling party would toe the part of

Governor Suswam in a recent interview with journalists in Makurdi stated clearly that the race for his successor would not be zoned to any political zone or bloc, insisting that the ruling party would toe the path of justice and fairness to produce his successor

lot of lobbying, horse-trading, reciprocal concessions and political maneuvering for any of them to produce the next governor. Political pundits are of the view that where this is lacking, it may lead to a possible cleavage of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State. That is a development opposition parties in the state could exploit to undo the ruling party given the unfolding events in the last few months in the state. That indeed had been the practice of opposition parties in the state given their past “wait and see” attitude of allowing a fault line to emerge in the

justice and fairness to produce his successor. “Even when I contested, aspirants from the three senatorial zones also contested with me, so we cannot at this time stop anyone from indicating interest in the race.” Despite these assurances by the governor, many of the leading contenders believe strongly that Governor Suswam would largely determine the person that will succeed him. It is not surprising that the governor has become an unwavering chorister in the Jonathan Choir, supposedly believing that that would guarantee him a leverage in the control of the PDP structure in the state.

Yes, MASSOB has outlived its usefulness COMRADE Archiboy Agbaigba is the President of Oha Ukwa-Ngwa Congress in Abia State. He is also an Aba based civil rights activist. In this interview, he asserts among others that the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has outlived its usefulness. Excerpts:

HAT is your reaction to the recent assertions by MASSOB that the present Abia State government is a failure? It is very unfortunate that the group will come out now to reenact what they did last time, which affected our people negatively. MASSOB has outlived its usefulness, if there were any. Their sweeping criticism of the present

government betrayed the facts on the ground. The level of development we are witnessing in Abia today is quite encouraging, It has never happened before in the history of the state. So for a group that is not known in the state to make such uninformed criticism smacks of mischief. Some insist that MASSOB is not entirely wrong in its

appraisal of the governor’s performance. Do you and your congress share the same feeling? They are wrong. Their criticisms are completely misplaced. Our people are scared of their true intention. They will not forget in a hurry how the same MASSOB scared Aba people away from the last census exercise. It was that

singular antic that made our people, particularly the UkwaNgwa people to be grossly undercounted during that exercise, so we cannot with all seriousness accept the MASSOB posturing again. They also did the same thing during the voters' registration exercise stopping our people from registering to vote in the Continues on page 45

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 —45

Insecurity: Where we went wrong — Ade Dosunmu LAGOS State Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 election and former DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, MON, in this interview calls on the Federal Government to embark on holistic measures capable of engendering social security as a way out of the current security challenges facing the country. Excerpts: BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

IGERIA was relatively peaceful and secured in the time of our founding fathers. How did we get to where we are? When we refer to the time of our founding fathers, I want to believe you are referring to close to 50 years ago. Definitely you will agree with me that the situation is not the same in terms of population, diversities and awareness on the part of the citizens. Another reason that could be responsible for this is that the world is now a global village and the level at which information are disseminated and shared is at an unprecedented rate. This may be responsible for the various terrorist incursions into our system. I also believe that these are challenges for a country that is developing. In the early 60s, the population of Nigeria was less than 60 million but now with a population of over 160 million and as the most populous black nation, we should have planned to address things like this. What then would you say we are not doing rightly as a people? It is obvious that the rate of our development is not keeping up with the expectations of the people in terms of providing for their psychological needs and taking care of their social pressures. We need to come up with a more robust and aggressive development plan that will address the challenges

•Dosunmu: Wants insecurity tackled that usually come with development as a nation. This is not happening for the first time, it has happened to some other countries that have passed through our stage and we are expected to learn from them. Islamists in North and militants in South are fingered as root causes of the whole problems. Can there be smoke without fire?

Going by my training, I don’t want to assume that the insecurity situation in the country is purely religious or due to agitation against marginalization. Rather, I want to see it as a kind of revolt against the inability of the state to provide for the social-economic needs of the people. Take for instance, developed countries like US, UK and Canada where they have good

social security systems, which serve as succour to prevent social tension. If you take a sample of the budgetary provisions that these countries spend on social security schemes, it runs into billions of dollars or pounds depending on the country and the justification for it is in the ability of these schemes to reduce social problems like militancy, destitution, drug addiction and other forms of social vices that can threaten the existence of the state. I want to say that the security problem that we have in Nigeria is a product of lack of social security. In developed societies, people, who are not employed, get paid to keep body and soul together. In the case of Nigeria, such people may not necessarily be paid but holistic measures should be put in place to empower them to be able to do things for themselves. We have very adventurous people here who do not rely on the government. If you look at the population of those in the public service, they are not up to 10 million.

Increasing population What is that compared to the increasing population of Nigerians which now is put at far above I50 million? What the people need is an enabling environment for whatever lawful businesses they are doing for themselves to thrive.

'Yes, MASSOB has outlived its usefulness' Continues from page 44 misguided fallacy that Biafra was going to be realized through the United Nations' fiat. The irony is that MASSOB has suddenly found its voice when the state has zoned the 2015 governorship of the state to Ukwa-Ngwa in Abia South zone.

Achievement of equity The zone has remained patient and God brought T.A Orji who has not hidden his avowed desire to achieve equity in the state to pronounce that the governorship is zoned to Abia South thus giving us the opportunity to produce the governor of the state for the first time in 2015. Now, MASSOB has suddenly woken up to

champion Abia cause. What a lame cause. You did say that MASSOB’s scare mongering tactics have mostly robbed off on the people negatively. Can you expantiate further on this? Yes, MASSOB penchant for scare-mongering has robbed off negatively on Ndigbo in general, not only only on our people. The last census exercise is a case in point, so their antics are no longer acceptable to us. They are a group for sale. They are being used to propagate mischief and we will not allow them to halt the pace of progress in Abia. But MASSOB claims to be agitating for the overall interest of the Igbo. Do you share a contrary view in the light of the prevailing circumstance?

•Agbaigba

It is a false claim. Where are they in Abia? They are in Imo state not in Abia. Even in Imo what do they do apart from

extorting money from hapless citizens in Okigwe? Can they point at any achievement on behalf of Ndigbo if not for their destabilizing tendencies. If they are genuine, honestly we will support their cause but minus the call for the Igbo not to be part of Nigeria. Their latest outburst is misplaced and has portrayed them as hired goons. We have not seen any good that MASSOB has done in all the years of agitation except sending our youths to avoidable death in the name of searching for Biafra. What advisc do you have for Governor Orji? Don’t lose focus. Remain steadfast. The government and governor Orji must ensure that his legacy projects are not cut short by such unholy distraction.

When government creates enabling environment for industries to thrive, people will be able to establish businesses. Investors will come in and put industries on the ground country whereby they will help themselves and at the same time help others by way of employment. Boko Haram challenge: All the challenges by Boko Haram in the North-East and militants in the South-South are as a result of lack of social security. If, for instance, the power system is working fine and young people are occupied in doing things for themselves: artisans, hairdressers, welders, and small businesses that people have the capacity of doing will be able to go on smoothly.

Updated position The country also has the issue of population explosion on its hands. Yet, there is no effective planning to get updated position of our population figure to aid the job of budgeting. How then do we have effective budgeting? Before you do budget at all, our national planning office should have been able to know our population accurately, and then forward same to the budget office which will put together the budget that the planning office will use in a way that the generality of Nigerian masses will benefit. See the number of students that seek for admission in Nigerian universities; how many of them actually get admitted? And it is so because there are no adequate facilities in the university environments to accommodate them. In a society where the planning office works effectively, all these should have been detected ahead of time and provisions made for them. If you also look at the programmes that are run in the universities, many of them are not arranged in accordance to the needs of the industries. You see, where people offer Arabic, Philosophy, Yoruba, etc, which are okay but do not really go with the demands of the industries in need of services of graduates, what you would have is unemployment like we have currently. In essence, I am saying that the majority of graduates that our universities are producing nowadays are not employable. What the industries need today in the world is in the range of engineering, medicine and some in the arts.

46— Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 13, 2013 TUESDA

EKO hospital tackles ‘silent killers’ BY CHIOMA OBINNA

• National Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme, NCMP, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe; (left); President, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Osahon Enebulele (centre) and Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah, applauding evaluation of the pfSPZ Vaccine, while urging sustained focus on malaria prevention and control.

Nigerian medical experts applaud investigational malaria vaccine an additional tool in our arsenal — Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, National Coordinator, NMCP •FGIt isshould invest more on indigenous malaria vaccines — Dr. Osahon Enebulele, President, NMA • A great achievement, but we need to be cautious — Prof. Innocent Ujah, DG, NIMR • BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA NIGERIAN medical professionals have applauded the early-stage clinical evaluation of an investigational malaria vaccine known as the PfSPZ Vaccine, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health. In a report published last week in Science - a scientific journal, announcing the phase 1 trial of the vaccine, researchers observed that from preliminary studies, the vaccine had been found to be safe, to generate an immune system response, and to offer protection against malaria infection in healthy adults.

An additional tool Reacting to the development, National Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme, NMCP, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, described it as a welcome development. “The news is welcome as are other vaccine projects that are going on at various stages of trial. The process for this one is just starting and if it is to be pursued, will take 8-10 years for it to come to be. “The first in line and closest at hand known as RTS,S is at the final stage of testing and if everything goes right, that one should be able to come into use in 2015. That one is undergoing the last stage of trial which is the phase 3. Nigeria is one of the countries where the final stages of the trial are being carried out.

The centres are in Jos and Enugu.” She said:”If the results of the trial for RTS,S continue to show green light, if things continue the way we are expecting, by 2015, that vaccine should be recommended for use by the World Health Organization, WHO. “The new product that we are talking about has simply shown some promise worth exploring further and would take a long time to come into fruition if all continue to go well. However when this or other vaccine comes into effect, we are going to use it in addition to what we are already doing in malaria control. Further, she said: “This is just the beginning for the new product as far as the process for a vaccine is concerned. If at the third stage it is proven to be 100 percent protective, other issues may have to be considered such as costs and other things. Based on several considerations a decision has to be made whether we can use the vaccine or stick to other measures. But the important thing is that we have an additional tool to our arsenal. “We would not stop doing what we are doing currently to prevent malaria, including use of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, intermittent prevention in pregnant women, environmental and other measures. “That is the message to take from this. Everyone is excited, I am excited too because there are already 20 vaccines in line, including this one. If the ones we think would be successful prove

not to be so, we would be hopeful that the others might be okay, knowing that we have others to assess. It is something to be happy about, I am happy about it but it does not mean we should go to sleep. Invest in indigenous vaccines Applauding the feat with a commendation of the team of researchers from the NIAID, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Osahon Enebulele, called for more research into development of indigenous vaccines. “We strongly call on Nigerian governments at all levels, to invest more in the search for an indigenous malaria vaccine in Nigeria that can protect against other strains of the malaria

parasite, besides Plasmodium falciparum. “We also urge scientists and researchers in Africa, and Nigeria in particular to advance the study by replicating it in the various scientific research institutes in Nigeria.” Enebulele, who is also Vice President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, observed that the NMA is particularly excited by the outcome of the Phase 1 clinical trial on account of the fact that it offers great hope to the African region where malaria is pre-eminently endemic. “As we await the outcome of further clinical trials of the vaccine candidate, the NMA

Continues on page 47

ONCERNED by growing incidences of silent killer diseases among Nigerians, EKO Hospitals last week offered free health care services simultaneously in its facilities at Surulere, Ikoyi and Ikeja in Lagos for over 1,500 persons. Services provided included free eye test, blood sugar test, immunisation, deworming, health talk, consultations, and treatment, as part of the 2013 Health Week aimed at creating awareness on silent killer diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, cancer, amongst other non communicable diseases. Chief Operations Adviser, EKO Hospital, Zak Mood said the initiative was to create awareness and give opportunity to people to benefit from the expertise the hospital offers as part of its Cooperate Social Responsibility, CSR. Momodu said certain predisposing factors to these diseases is stress. "Stressors in the environment are many including things that people do not realise that they are stressors such as marital life, family life, and economic situation. All these add up to increase the level of free radicals in the body." He stated that science has shown that these free radicals in the body contribute significantly to the development of cancer and other diseases that are now of public health emergency. These add up to the reasons why Eko Hospitals decided that they will do this health week to screen people so that people will be aware of certain diseases that have not yet manifested, for them to know and then they can follow up either in Eko Hospital or in any other hospital."

New multi-drug treatment for gonorrhoea BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

INDINGS of the first clinical trial to evaluate combination therapy for treatment of gonorrhoea, also called the “gentleman’s disease” are to be presented at the 20th Meeting of the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research, ISSTDR, in Vienna, Austria. Two new antibiotic treatments using injectable gentamicin in combination with oral azithromycin and oral gemifloxacin in combination with oral azithromycin, uccessfully treated gonorrhea infections in a clinical trial conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, and the National Institutes of Health,

NIH in the face of growing antibiotic resistance. Researchers found 100 percent effectiveness of the injectable gentamicin/oral azithromycin combination in curing genital gonorrhea infections, and 99.5 percent effectiveness of the oral gemifloxacin/oral azithromycin combination. Both combinations cured 100 percent of infections of the throat and rectum.

Although this does not change current gonorrhoea treatment guidelines. CDC still recommends only injectable ceftriaxone, in combination with either azithromycin or doxycycline. Gonorrhea is one of the most common STIs thatcan cause serious health problems, particularly for women, while increasing a person’s risk of contracting and transmitting HIV.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 13, 2013— 47 TUESDA

Coercive approach is best for health insurance — Simbo Okiri, MD/CEO, Avon HMO

CORPORATE HEALTH

INCE its formal launch in Lagos recently, Avon Healthcare Ltd., a Health Maintenance Organisation, has strived to widen the scope and availability of affordable health insurance in Nigeria. In this chat with SOLA OGUNDIPE, the outfit’s MD/ CEO, Mrs. Simbo Ukiri argues that one of the was to ensure universal health coverage is to make health insurance compulsory. Excerpts: UNIVERSAL coverage: One issue that we have identified within the Nigerian health system is the lack of information and awareness about health insurance. Level of awareness and education is lacking. Technology is also lacking. There is need for engagement across all stakeholdersWe believe that the benefits of health insurance and being part of a health insurance scheme, is one that most Nigerians do not know about. One of the first things we need to do to resolve this, is to be part of the wave that educates Nigerians and bring awareness to them that health insurance exists, works and delivers as promised. It is to let Nigerians know that health

insurance has real, measurable benefits for every body and everyone should subscribe to it. Avon Cover: Under the Avon cover, there are a variety of plans for every part of the Nigerian society. People should imagine quality of health care that is seamless and accessible with ease and convenience. It is one that assures you that your health plans are going to be met based on the health plan you have chosen from our portfolio of offerings. Approach to health plans: The coercive approach is more effective because if left to people's discretion, as a country and people we tend to believe the worst will never happen to us. Which is a good way of

• Mrs. Simbo Ukiri. thinking, but at the end of the day when these unplanned illnesses and situations occur, many of us suffer greatly. Most companies cannot afford to meet the health bills of their staff who come down with chronic ailments and illnesses. There are instances in which the companies have

to let such people go, or the people themselves cannot return to work; the ailment gets worse and the affected persons even lose their lives. So if there is legislation to make Health insurance compulsory, and employers of labour begin to see that health insurance - just like pension - is

something that has legislative backing, then that will also help to improve universal coverage. Avon accredited health provider: A typical Avon accredited health provider, can be anywhere in the country, it will have hospital premises that will have a doctor in attendance for the whole day and a doctor within call overnight. It will have a well equipped theatre, one or two specilalists, an obstetrician and gynaecologist as well as physicians who can attend to people with diabetes and hypertension. At the end of the day, what drives healthcare usage are chronic ailments such as hypertension and diabetes and maternal and child healthcare. We want to have specialist within reach. The hospital will have internet, well structured quality assurance tools in place that we can verify from time to time. We believe technology will achieve a key role in enabling Nigeria attain universal coverage. The first step is to ensure that the system works, and that it has the necessary skills and there are facilities. We have to be able to pay for the right services and make investments in the system.

Task before Avon: Our task in Avon is simple. We want to ensure that Nigerians from all walks of life have access to affordable and adequate health care, without facing financial obstacles when they need to attend to their health. We will ensure that there is a plan for everyone, no matter the social strata they belong to.

Malaria vaccine Continues from page 46

strongly advises great caution in the interpretation of the research finding as more field studies using a larger number of study subjects need to be conducted in order to validate the effectiveness of the vaccine and the duration of the malaria protective period. “Similarly, we advise that other on-going research efforts to develop other vaccine candidates (about 20 vaccine candidates at various clinical trial stages) should be stepped up. Caution: In his reaction, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, Professor Innocent Ujah, described the investigational vaccine trial as the greatest achievement in health research of the 21st century.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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48— Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

OME years ago, I visited Angola. On a sight-seeing tour around Maputo, my guide took me to an area of the city where the powers-that-be lived. The houses were obviously more elegant than those in other areas. The streets were tarred and the gardens manicured. He then said something that caught my attention. He said: “There are no powercuts in this part of the city.” Negatively egalitarian: For some reason what came immediately to my mind was that Nigeria is an egalitarian country. Don’t ask me to justify this questionable distinction, but I thought: “There are no parts of Lagos where there are no power-cuts.” All Nigerians enjoy power-cuts. Even the powerful are not denied this benefit. While that might suggest there is little discrimination between the rich and the poor in Nigeria, it is not intended here as a compliment. It means we have not been able to define exclusion zones to power-cuts. Let me put it this way: Nigeria seems to be currently incapable of identifying an area, city or region where there would be no power-cuts for whatever reason? There were powercuts in the middle of the African Cup final football match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Given our current romance with power-cuts, is it possible for Nigeria to define an area of excellence with regard to something as basic as electricity? The President of Nigeria is the Patron of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. In that capacity, he gives an annual speech on the state of Nigeria’s

The triumph of mediocrity in Nigeria morning, has a long stretch and then comes to a sudden decision: “I am going to run to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Two weeks later, he is interviewed about his candidature in one of the country ’s major newspapers, after having given a bulging brown envelope to a strategically-placed journalist. Does anyone really believe this nincompoop has a chance of becoming president of Nigeria? Yes, indeed! In Nigeria, all things are possible. Even a blind man can become the goal-keeper of the Super Eagles. Nigeria is a democratic country in a truly Nigerian sense of the word. Just about anybody can be president of the country. Chris Okotie was a musician. Then he morphed overnight into a pastor. From there, he received a divine

Even a blind man can become the goal-keeper of the Super Eagles. Nigeria needs to become a serious country. A country where a chronically sick man is “selected” President and then dies in office is not a serious country

foreign policy under the auspices of the Institute. I recall one of those speeches when General Ibrahim Babangida was Head of State. The venue was the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. In the middle of the president’s speech, there was a power-cut that lasted thirty minutes. The back-up generator failed to come on. Everyone remained there in the dark in silence, waiting for the light to come back on. The security implications were not lost on me. Given Nigeria’s checkered history, there might have been a coup d’état at that very minute and the president could have been attacked.

Democratisation of power cuts My problem with that incident lies in our inability to guarantee electricity even when the president of the country is giving a major speech. In other countries, heads would roll for such a blunder. In Nigeria, it is par for the course. We are not bothered because power-cuts are “democratised.” Nobody is excluded. Today, I bet there are power-cuts even in Aso Rock. The only thing will be that standby-generators are turned on when they occur. Mediocre presidents: Nigeria is a country of mediocrities. Anybody can be anybody in Nigeria. A carpenter can be appointed as Minister of Health. A doctor can become the Minister of Mines and Power. Qualifications matter little. It is “Turn-by-turn Nigeria Limited.” An indolent man wakes up in the

call to run for president of Nigeria. Nobody seemed to be bothered by this. Nobody laughed at his presumptiveness. He filled the newspapers with adverts proclaiming his divinely ordained candidature. He never thought it necessary to start off by running as a local government chairman. He overlooked his state legislature. He refused to consider running for membership of the Federal House of Assembly. He considered the Senate to be beneath his aspirations. He clearly felt running as the Governor of his state would not cut it. In Nigeria, experience is irrelevant. Presidents don’t get much done anyway. Therefore, the first choice of a political neophyte by name of Chris Okotie was to run as president. Presumably, as president, he would run the country by prayer and fasting. Nigeria is a country where true presidential materials never get to be presidents. Many are celebrated in death as the best presidents Nigeria never had. On the contrary, we have many examples of men who glory at becoming presidents unexpectedly, without plan or purpose. Obasanjo became president and claimed: “Not My Will.” Shagari became president when all he wanted was to be a Senator. Goodluck Jonathan became president essentially as a result of his good luck. That means people become president who don’t have a clue what to do when in power. When they become president, they register in a school and start to learn the ABC of public policy. By the time

they reach JSS 1, their term is over. Then they might shoot for a third term. Challenge of leadership:Different countries define their areas of specialisation; not Nigeria. When you think Brazil, you think football. When you think of Cuba, you think Olympic boxing. When you think of Jamaica, you think of world class sprinters. When you think of Japan, you think electronics. But when you think of Nigeria, nothing of excellence comes to mind. When you think of Nigeria, you think of corruption, kidnapping and armed-robbery. When you think of Nigeria, you think of 419; “yahoo yahoo” and other scams. We only specialise in the negatives. We have not yet decided as a nation to be good at anything or to be known for anything good. In 52 years of independent existence as a country, we have still not even decided to be a nation. And yet, it is a decision that can very easily be made. All it requires is a leadership that can challenge Nigerians to excellence. There is no question that Nigeria is full of remarkable people who are exceptional in virtually every area of human endeavour. You will find them all over the world, in key and strategic areas of the economies of foreign

*Something needs to be done about this failure-driven Nigeria.

countries. But you will struggle to find them in Nigeria. The same Nigerian who fails to pull his weight while working at the Federal Ministry of Education, undergoes a metamorphosis when he moves to the British Council where he puts up a stellar performance. “We choose to go to the moon,” declared John F. Kennedy as President of the United States in 1962, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” By 1968, United States had landed a man on the moon. That is proof of leadership. A decision is taken and resources are marshaled to bring it to fruition. By the same token, Nigerians can and should choose to excel in something for

a change. We cannot continue in the current pattern where we chose to go to the Olympics and are determined to win no medals whatsoever. The last Olympic outing was nothing short of disgraceful. We tried our very best to fail and succeeded. The best sprinters in the world are naturally produced in Nigeria, the same way the best middledistance runners are naturally produced in Kenya and Ethiopia. Nevertheless, we continue to watch on the sidelines as a small country as Jamaica, with only 6 million people, dominates the sprints in the Olympics. Football prodigies: Nigeria is a nation of footballers. Visit any major Nigerian city on a public holiday, and you are likely to find that many streets have been converted to makeshift football pitches. However, since our local football league is still under mismanagement, Nigerians adopt clubs of the foreign English Premier League. The London clubs are the most favoured, especially Arsenal and Chelsea. As a matter of fact, the European Champions League is hotly contested in Ibadan and Enugu.

Comparative advantage There is no reason why a Nigerian team cannot win the World Cup in football, and yet, we even fail to qualify for participation. Nigeria has a comparative advantage in producing excellent footballers. For some reason or the other, we produce quite a number of world class footballers who give good accounts of themselves all over the world. Nevertheless, we fail again and again to put together a world-class national football team. When we manage to qualify for the World Cup, we choose our coaches four weeks to the competition and train a ragtag team for no longer than a fortnight. Is it any wonder why we always come back with eggs on our faces? Finally, after a 19 year hiatus, we won the African Nations Cup this year in spite of ourselves. We did our very best to ensure failure as usual. But somehow, we succeeded most unexpectedly against the odds. The coach, Steven Keshi, claimed he only had five weeks to prepare. He refused to include some of the country’s best players in the squad. By the quarterfinals, word had reached him that he would be fired, something that must have been very good for team morale. Having won the cup against the odds, he immediately decided to resign before the Minister of Sports successfully prevailed on him to stay on. Something needs to be done about this failure-driven Nigeria. Something needs to be done about our penchant to be mediocre. We need to stop squandering our riches. Nigeria needs to become a serious country. A country where a chronically sick man is “selected” President and then dies in office is not a serious country. A country where a man like Alao Akala becomes the Governor of a state is not a serious country. A country that cannot increase its power output in eight years, in spite of spending 16 billion dollars for that very purpose, is not a serious country.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—49

Deportation of dissidents (2) In this concluding part, Femi Falana, argues that if the practice of deportation of citizens is not discontinued, the deporting state governments should be prepared to defend their actions in court

NATION that complains of inadequate funds to establish a social security scheme for the majority of the people allowed a cartel of fuel importers to corner $16 billion while oil thieves stole crude oil worth $7 billion on the high seas in 2011 alone. Yet the influential oil thieves and pirates are walking free on the streets of our state capitals without any official harassment. Others who engage in unprecedented corruption, fraud and other financial and economic crimes have never been deported to their states of origin. It is time the government was restrained from holding the poor vicariously liable for the crisis of underdevelopment of the country. Therefore, part of the billions of naira being earmarked to build mega cities should be set aside for the rehabilitation of beggars and the destitute. There is no doubt that Lagos state is put under severe pressure, from time to time, by millions of Nigerians who have been economically displaced in their own states of origin. But unlike its counterparts the Lagos state government has devised effective strategies to compel the rich to pay taxes through their noses. In addition the monthly statutory allocation of the state from the federation account is partly based on its population. In the circumstance, the Lagos state government should take from the rich to service the poor. As in the case of most of the “area boys” who have been productively engaged by the Fashola Administration the Lagos state government should formulate programmes for the rehabilitation and resettlement of beggars and other destitute to make them contribute to the economy of the state. Conclusion: In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961 the United

States President, Mr. J.F. Kennedy warned that “if a free society cannot help the many who are poor it cannot save the few who are rich.” About 40 years later, those cautionary words resonated in the case of Hoffman v. South African Airways (2001) CHR 329 at 354 where Justice Ngcobo of the Constitutional Court of South Africa stated that “Our Constitution protects the weak, the marginalized, the socially outcast and the victims of prejudice and stereotyping. It is only when these groups are protected that we can be secure that our own rights are protected.”

Pauperising the people With respect to the implementation of neoliberal policies that have continued to pauperise our people I am compelled to remind the ruling class in Nigeria of the plea made by the Late Dr. Akinola Aguda in 1985 that “our new perspective in law and justice must be such as to guarantee to each of our people food, drink, lodging, clothing, education and employment in addition to the rights guaranteed to him so far by our Constitution and our laws, so that justice may mean the same thing to everyone.” Finally, since the deporting state governments have no immigration officials to police their borders there is no assurance that the deportees will not find their way back to where they were deported. However in view of the illegality of the deportation of poor people the governments of the federal capital territory and the respective states are advised to stop it without any further delay. If the practice is not discontinued the deporting state governments should be prepared to defend their action in Court. Sooner than later. •Falana is a Lagos Lawyer and human rights activist

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

ORRUPTION is a cankerworm that must be rooted out of the fabric of the nation if the country must move forward and join the club of developed nations of the globe… Nigeria is ranked 139th out of 176 countries in Transparency International’s 2012 Corruption Perception Index… While it is a known fact that political corruption is not a recent phenomenon in Nigeria, the scale and ramification are becoming more alarming daily. Billions and trillions of Naira are voted annually by the different tiers of government for infrastructure rehabilitation, upgrade and renewal, but the nation has little to show for the huge resources expended, largely because of corruption… “When a Nigerian is given political appointment, his friends and members of his community of origin, celebrate because they see it as an opportunity for one of their own to corruptly amass wealth. If at the end of his tenure, it is discovered that he did not primitively accumulate capital, he is ridiculed and dubbed a fool. If he did, he is further celebrated and given all sorts of chieftaincy titles. This signifies that we live in a society that tolerates corruption. Consequently, efforts

THE LAGOS DEPORTATION AND THE LAW:

Good local governance: Still a mirage in Nigeria—Mero Asagba

Mero Asagba against corruption, he lamented that “our failure to achieve collaborative anti-corruption success has positioned us in a situation of war.” Essentially, the books outline interrelated processes that can move Nigeria out of the valley of poverty, corruption and needless pains, if practiced. It deals with virtually all issues affecting man such as healthcare, economics, politics, environment, administration and human behaviour among others and their effects on socioeconomic well-being of the citizenry and the way out. Book one, 438 pages, which

A better understanding of the corruption issues will help us fight corruption. Behavioural change is the fulcrum of the whole work

by various institutions such as the EFCC and ICPC are bound to fail.” With these words, Dr Gbesimi Mero Amojaine Asagba, outlines in a three-part, 2117-page book titled: “Good Local Governance,” why good local governance is far from sight in Nigeria and why the country still wallows in poverty in spite of abundant human and material resources. Asagba, who wrote in a simple, free-flowing and comprehensive manner, attributed the inability of Nigeria to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which would have improved the lot of the citizenry, to graft. “We need to go back to the practice in our various traditional communities whereby corrupt members of the communities are labeled and socially ostracized. This will send the correct message to public office holders that as a people, we are intolerant of corruption,” the medical doctor-turn author suggested. Calling for urgent action

consists of 51 chapters, presents the principles of good governance and establishing good governance, in what the author described as standard treatment guidelines (STGs). It dealt with six principles: focusing on the purpose of governance and its outcomes for citizens; transforming effectively defined goals; taking informed and transparent decisions and managing risks; promoting values demonstrated through behaviours; developing capacity and capability of the leadership group to be effective; and engaging stakeholders in making decisions. Book two (Diagnosis), 703 pages, looked at change factors of leadership. The first part of it deals with corruption threats and inefficiency challenges, while the second part deals with anticorruption issues, electoral credibility, child development, and primary health care development possibilities. Having done the diagnosis, the author goes ahead in Book three

(1068 pages) to proffer cures for the sickness - corruption. Book three deals with leadership behavioural changes, applying four strategies, the MERO strategies: the Moral change, Educational change, Respect and regulatory change and Organizational change. Apart from stressing the need for behavioural change, book three deals with health issues achieving health for all. How? It presents Primary health care strategies, physiological welfare, safety and security issue and maternal health care, the mother before pregnancy, during pregnancy, child birth and after birth. It lays emphasis on the child, the needs of the child, its nutrition and immunization, growth and development and issues of perfect monitoring measurement and control.

Why I wrote the book Asked why he wrote the books, which he said took him 10 years to write, he said: “Having been around, having worked in critical health sectors as a doctor in both government and private hospitals, it became clear to me that we have omitted some things. We are not paying attention to critical things that will make our hospitals to function effectively. We found out that the issues of politics, economics and public administration were not addressed. I started by writing a little bit on child survival. Before I knew it, it had become mother survival. “So, the main purpose of writing this book is to make Nigerians understand the real issues of effective governance. A better understanding of the corruption issues will help us fight corruption. Behavioural change is the fulcrum of the whole work.

To be concluded

50—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Why abandoned and uncompleted projects dot the landscape — NIQS Chairman

•Mr. Shonubi

•An abandoned project

BY JUDE NJOKU

AVE you ever wondered why abandoned and uncompleted projects dot the nation’s landscape? The Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi seems to have an answer to why this scourge is on the increase, especially in Nigeria’s urban centres. Shonubi told Vanguard Homes & Environment that the principal reason behind the avalanche of abandoned and uncompleted projects is non-utilisation of the services of construction cost experts from the conceptualization through to the execution of such projects. The Lagos State NIQS boss who stated that most projects are abandoned due to a mismatch between the available funds and what the consultants have designed, maintained that the use of Quantity Surveyors in both buildings and heavy/civil engineering projects, would reduce cost overruns that ultimately lead to the abandonment of projects. ‘When you go round various parts of Nigeria, you will see signboards standing with skeletal works like excavation and then the site is abandoned. But I believe strongly that if Quantity Surveyors were used, all that would not not be. You (Client)

would have been well advised on how to manage the funds you have and know whether you can embark upon the project and if you don’t have enough funds, you know whether to scale down the magnitude of the project or look for more funds or not start the project at all until you are ready. Whichever way you look at it, it is obvious that Quantity Surveyors are underutilized both from the perspective of the developers and the financiers because you see projects done but very high over and above the initial cost because Quantity Surveyors are not involved or consulted’.

Elimination of cost over runs Continuing, Mr. Shonubi explained that although the use of Quantity Surveyors in construction projects will not totally eliminate cost overruns, he insisted that it would reduce it to a large extent. Another factor adduced by the cost expert for the rising occurrence of abandoned/ uncompleted projects, is policy somersault on the part of the government. Noting that government should be a continuum, Mr. Shonubi regretted that this is not the case with politicians in Nigeria’s political landscape. He decried the habit of abandoning projects simply because the newly elected

officials do not want their predecessors to take the credit. The construction cost expert advised those embarking on new projects not to follow the maxim, ‘cut your coat according to your size’ but rather to cut their coat according to the material available. He further advised clients to always design what they have the funds to build.. Responding to allegations that people don’t patronise Quantity

Surveyors because they collude with contractors to inflate costs in a bid to defraud the clients, the Lagos State NIQS boss said: ‘To the best of my knowledge, sometimes people give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. That, I think, is a fallacy that has been spread around by people who don’t want Quantity Surveyors to be involved in any project they are handling, principally because they know that if a Quantity

Surveyor is in a project, all their own shenanigans would be exposed and in order to prevent that from happening, they try as much as possible to poison the minds of would-be clients that this is what quantity surveyors do’. He commended the Lagos State Government for employing and making use of in-house Quantity Surveyors in its projects, but noted that these in-house surveyors are usually overworked. ‘When you look at the quantum of projects being undertaken by Lagos State, you want to ask whether the manpower they have is adequate to actually superintend over these projects. I am aware that our members are being tasked, (I don’t want to use the word, ‘overworked’) but there is a limit to which you can advise the government if you are in their employment,’ he said.

Firm upgrades toilet facilities in two Lagos schools, promises more BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

WO schools in Lagos- Arch Bishop Taylor Memorial Primary School on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island and Onike Baptist Girls Primary School, Yaba are the first to benefit from the upgrade of toilet systems extended to schools across Lagos State by IL Bagno. The Lagos-based firm which is the regional distributor for the world’s leading manufacturers of sanitary ware and bathroom fittings and accessories, provides total bathroom solutions, creating unique and innovative bathroom themes for both the domestic and commercial markets. Handing over the upgraded facilities to the schools last week, Mr. Smart Akusebo, the company’s Finance Controller who stood in for the Managing Director, Mr. Michael Owolabi, said “the donation of ultra modern toilet facility to Arch Bishop Taylor Memorial Primary School

is our own way of giving back to the society as a socially responsible organisation”. Akusebo who disclosed that the gesture is an ongoing exercise that will benefit many schools across the state, advised the school authority to put the toilets which are six in number to their best use by their regular maintenance. He thanked the school management for accepting his company’s request to upgrade the existing toilet system in the school. Responding on behalf of the school, Eti-Osa Local Government Area’s Education Secretary, Mr. Lanre Taiwo who commended the company and promised that he will ensure that the facility will be regularly maintained for it to last. The Head teacher, Mr. Ola Adebayo who thanked IL Bagno for voluntarily embarking on the renovation of the toilet system in the school, also promised to ensure the facility will be put its best use.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013—51

renovation of a number of other structures. The Polytechnic Staff School now has a permanent site that is properly fenced. The Medical Services department has been expanded, renovated and equipped. Speaking to newsmen recently, the Rector said: “My future plan is to strive relentlessly to build, sustain and improve the status of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, as a first-rate Polytechnic in Nigeria that would be comparable to the best of its kind in the world. I am poised to ensure that our products would be technologically sound, functional and capable of contributing effectively to the objectives of national development, within the context of the mission of the institution”.

Mission of the institution

•One of the buildings in the school

Infrastructure uplift gives Federal Polytechnic Nekede new face BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

HEN Dr. (Mrs.) Cele Njoku was appointed Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, some skeptics were of the view that her outing was going to be unimpressive, uneventful, drab and possibly agonizing for staff and students. Another fraction felt it was best to just wait and see how her tenure would turn out to be, while an insignificant minority believed she was poised to deliver on her mandate. Some staff of the institution believed she was stepping into a large shoe left behind by the immediate past Rector, Onyekwere Nwankwo, an Engineer.. Indeed, Nwankwo made his mark in the school but the truth is that Njoku appears not overwhelmed by the successes of her predecessors. Events have since shown that she is very prepared to write her name on the sands of time. Any old timer to the school will realize that the reformation started from the gate. Dr, (Mrs.) Njoku has for instance and within the past two and a half years, established an Industrial and Maintenance Services Centre, IMSC, where broken tables, chairs, cupboards and laboratory equipment can be refurbished instead adopting the former practice of purchasing new ones. It is also on record that the school has witnessed radical infrastructural development

transformation despite the overwhelming challenges. The gigantic structures and edifices springing up on campus are definitely things to behold. There are the evening and weekend programmes buildings, the 500-capacity lecture theatre, erection of the school’s perimeter fence and a

fabrication centre to actualize the full technological status of the institution. Mention must also be made of the fish ponds built for the Fisheries Department and Furniture Workshop that currently produce the tables, desks and chairs needed by the school. Other structures that

stand to the credit of Njoku include the 500-capacity Auditorium, the ICT Centre and the New Polytechnic Gateway. Some other buildings are in various stages of completion. They include the gigantic School of Business Studies, the Entrepreneurship Centre, as well as the

Only recently, the Senate Committee on Education visited the institution during their oversight function. Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who led team, commended the Polytechnic management during a post-inspection press briefing. Among the projects that captured the fancy of the senators included the newly completed evening programme building complex, the 500-capacity auditorium, the fabrication and nail manufacturing centre, nursery and primary school buildings, as well as the on-going ultramodern School of Business complex.

High cost of building: Axion comes to rescue BY JUDITH UFFORD

n a country that daily grapples with high cost of building and construction, the challenge is always on how to reduces cost, build houses that are affordable for the majority of people and also reduce the burden taxpayers bear in getting the government to construct roads. This is where Axion products come in. Recently, the management of Axion Global Engineering Ltd., a subsidiary of Axion Canada, unveiled a number if civil engineering products based on new technology in the construction industry. The company’s managing director, Okey Eze, speaking recently at Bolton White Hotel, Abuja, venue of the event, said Axion products would help mitigate of cost of building and construction in the country. This is, according to him, because less cement would be used after adding the product to the mortar mixture. This is for Axion Tuffcrete powder/polymer and oxide, which appears to be the flagship product of the company though there are many other products for different purposes in the building industry. It is a waterproof and fireproof product that is used as additive to cement.

The managing director said when using cement for concrete, one only needs to apply 20 percent of Axion tuffcrete powder and use 20 percent of the already diluted Axion polymer liquid for concrete mixture. This reduces the need for cement by about 50 to 60 percent, he said. He said it eliminates cracks on the walls that one sees in some buildings. Eze said most times, cracks are caused by the soil on which the building is erected. In addition, he said another way this technology reduces the cost of building is that it makes tiling and screening unnecessary for anyone who cannot afford such luxury. He said the product comes in different colour variants, a reason why it is possible to have coloured POP and at the same time have POP outside rather than inside the building because of it waterproof nature. Continuing, he said, Axion Tuffcrete is not affected by oil or fuel spillage. As a result of this it can be used to repair damaged conventional concrete and will adhere to it without the need for sny additional additives. Eze said this means that Axion lasts longer than conventional concrete. The product, Eze further said, is durable, has more load bearing

capacity and comes in powder or liquid variants piand withstands extreme and harsh weather conditions. On pricing, he said 50kg of the product was N1,500, adding that it is available in smaller measures as low as 10kg. Another product unveiled at the occasion was Axion bitumen booster refiner, which Eze said is a unique product that combines the ability to increase the volume of bitumen by as much as 40%, even as it stabilises and improves the elasticity of this all important product used in road construction and rehabilitation. He said it offers the widest heat range, tested to allow asphalt mixes to withstand temperatures as low as 28C and as high as +72C. For those in the road construction industry this is a much needed relief considering that scarcity of bitumen makes it difficult if not impossible for construction companies to go ahead with or complete projects. The other product unveiled by Eze is Axion solid base stabiliser, which is used to stabilize the soil and make it as thick as a 25 centimeter concrete slab. He said it is a powerful ‘binder’ used to work over large in-situ soil stabilization and earth works installations.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Mursi supporters brace up for crackdown I

SLAMIST supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi refused to abandon their protest camps in Cairo yesterday, threatening that they would fend off any police crackdown with sticks, stones and their faith. Security sources and a government official had said on Sunday that police action to dismantle the camps would begin at dawn despite the risk of violent clashes. But nothing transpired during the course of the day. At the al-Nahda camp, centered round a traffic circle and extending down a palm tree-lined boulevard next to the city zoo, protesters lolled in the shade of tents away from the mid-

afternoon sun. The mood was solemn but not fearful. Asked about the threat to break up the camps, Ahmed Shargawy, a 23year-old translator, said: “They said that 15 days ago too. They always say they are going to finish it.” A block away, half a dozen armored troop carriers and a few squads of soldiers were positioned outside a police station, but they did not look like part of a strike force ready to move. The authorities are keen to end the protests, the focus of opposition to the military’s overthrow of Mursi six weeks ago. They had held off from acting over the Eid alFitr holiday after the Muslim fasting month of

moval. Western and Arab envoys and some senior Egyptian government members have pressed the army to avoid using force as it tries to end the crisis in the Arab nation of 84 million people.

Malians await poll result

Egyptian security forces are preparing to besiege the supporters of deposed president Morsi freely elected leader, Ramadan. The holiday camps after reports of must be reinstated. The ended on Sunday. A se- an imminent crackarmy says it acted on becurity source said the down. half of Egyptians who The demonstrators delay was also because had staged huge rallies crowds had swelled the say Mursi, Egypt’s first to demand Mursi’s re-

UK considers legal action against Spain over Gibraltar

HE UK government is considering legal action against Spain over the imposition of additional border checks in Gibraltar, Downing Street has said. A spokesman said the prime minister was “very disappointed” by Spain’s failure to remove the checks over the weekend. Legal action through the EU would be “unprecedented”, the spokesman added. The Spanish government, which has said its checks are essential to stop smuggling, said it would not relax border controls. Spain said it had an “obligation” to police the border, and insisted its controls were legal and proportionate. A government spokesman also said Spain was considering taking the dispute to the UN Security Council, where it

could seek the support of Argentina. He told the BBC that although the Falkland Islands - over which Britain went to war with Argentina - and Gibraltar were different issues, there were similarities

between the two disputes. The issues to be raised at the UN could include disputed waters, Britain’s failure to comply with previous UN resolutions and the disputed stretch of land which

border controls, which caused lengthy traffic queues, and suggested a 50 euro (£43) fee could be applied to every vehicle entering or leaving the British territory.

Robert Mugabe slams opposition R

OBERT Mugabe has launched a stinging attack on his opposition rivals in his first public speech since he won Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential election. Rejecting PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s claims that the vote was stolen, he said those against him could “go hang”. Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) boycotted the speech. The MDC has lodged a legal challenge against the result of the “stolen

with 35% and Welshman Ncube third with 3%, according to official results. The president’s ZanuPF party also gained a parliamentary majority of more than two-thirds, win-

The prisoners will be freed on Tuesday. The delay allows time for last-minute legal challenges by victims’ families. The announcement came after Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to sabotage the

ning 160 of the 210 seats. In his Heroes’ Day speech, which dealt with a series of national issues, Mr Mugabe focused at one point on his election victory and called for cel

Dutch Prince dies in ski accident •Mugabe election”, demanding it be rerun. Mr Mugabe won 61% of the vote in the election on 31 July, while Mr Tsvangirai came second

Israel set to release 26 Palestinians SRAEL’S government has given details of 26 long-term Palestinian prisoners to be freed as part of a deal which will see peace talks resume this week. A list of names chosen by a ministerial committee was published overnight.

links Gibraltar and Spain, he said. The row was sparked after Gibraltar created an artificial reef which, the Spanish say, will destroy fishing in the area. Madrid stepped up

peace talks by approving nearly 1,200 new settlement homes. Direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are scheduled to take place in Jerusalem on Wednesday, two weeks after a preparatory round in Washington.

UTCH Prince Friso has died, 18 months after he was left braindamaged by an avalanche while skiing in Austria. “His Majesty the King announces with great regret that this morning his highness Prince Johan Friso... died at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, aged 44,” a palace statement said on Monday. “Prince Friso died from complications as a result of oxygen shortages during his ski accident on February 17, 2012,” the statement said. The prince had “minimal consciousness” and his condition was un-

changed, the palace said. The prince, the middle son of the former queen Beatrix, was skiing offpiste in the Austrian Alps when he was buried in an avalanche. Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was to end his holiday early and return to the Netherlands on Tuesday, said that “despite everything this news still comes as a shock”. “Prince Friso remains in our minds as a man with broad interests who always put his multifaceted talents at society’s service,” Rutte said in a statement.

ALIANS are awaiting the outcome of a presidential election run-off they hope would usher in a new era of peace in the West African nation with international montiors reporting satisfaction with voting conditions. The process of ballotcounting began on Sunday, as polling stations around the country closed shortly after 6pm local time (1800 GMT) as scheduled. An electorate of nearly seven million had been asked to choose between former premier Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and exfinance minister Soumaila Cisse to lead Mali’s recovery, following last year ’s coup. The two candidates have declared themselves confident of victory in the run-off, called after none of the 27 candidates in the first round on July 28 achieved an outright majority. Mali refugees divided over value of vote The European Union’s election observation mission was to present a report on turnout and voting conditions on Monday. Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from the capital Bamako, said that EU observers were happy with the vote, the result of which should be known by the end of the week. “Logistics problems in the first round were largely solved,” he said. “They were happy, thinking that this will probably run according to plan.” However, he said bad weather and apathy may have affected turnout.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 53

Lightning, Bolt seen together I

T’s the kind of picture a sports photographer can only ever dream of: The sprinter Usain Bolt clinching gold as a lightning bolt illuminates the stormy skies above. That’s exactly the shot snapped by AFP photographer Olivier Morin on Sunday night as the Jamaican athlete won his 100m final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow. Photographers, sports fans and commentators were slack-jawed after seeing the image Monday, with one Irish article calling it “the coolest picture of the decade”. Morin, 47, who’s based in AFP’s Milan bureau, shrugged off his role in capturing the image, saying he can only claim “one percent” credit. “Let’s be honest: the only things I was able to control were the framing of the shot and when to hit the remote-controlled trigger,” he wrote in an AFP blog posting. “The flash of lightning — well, of course that can’t be planned.” Morin, an AFP veteran of 23 years, said he’d set up five remote-controlled cameras along the edge of the track, all of them focused on Bolt’s lane. He envisioned getting a photo of the winner with his hands in the air. “It’s of course the lightning that makes the photo, because we’re talking about Usain Bolt here. “Without the flash in the sky, it wouldn’t really be anything that special. “I knew it was a good shot, but I didn’t anticipate the amount of reaction it would get,” Morin said.

AVID Oliver of the United States won his first major title on Monday, claiming the 110 metres hurdles crown at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow. The 31-year-old posted the fastest time of the year, 13.00sec, while compatriot Ryan Wilson took silver with 13.13sec and Russian Sergey Shubenkov won the bronze in 13.24sec. Defending champion Jason Richardson finished fourth after hitting the final hurdle while Olympic champion Aries Merritt was never in contention and finished sixth.

BET 9JA hooks Remo Stars

Lightning strikes again: Usain Bolt surged to another 100m triumph, this time at the World Championships The image was massively shared on social media sites, and on Twitter was tweeted and retweeted thousands of times. Britain’s The Guardian newspaper called it “an image that is almost cer-

tain never to be repeated”, the Huffington Post said the photo was “astounding”, and the Washington Post designated it the picture of the day. Irish sports site The Score went further — calling it the “coolest pic-

ture of the decade.” Bolt clocked a season’s best 9.77 seconds in heavy rain at the Luzhniki Stadium, with American Justin Gatlin claiming silver and Nesta Carter, also of Jamaica, taking bronze.

Adams wins 4th shot put gold at worlds

LYMPIC champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand won the shot put Monday, becoming the first woman to capture four straight individual titles at the world championships. Adams won with a toss of 68 feet, 6 inches. She has now won 38 straight events and has won eve-

•Adams

Ohuruogu Continues from BP big screen at the halfempty Luzhniki stadium and a beaming smile broke out across Ohuruogu’s face as her name flashed up first while Montsho was left staring in disbelief. Russian Antonina Krivoshapka took the bronze in 49.78. “I feel like I’m in a dream, I can’t believe it,” Ohuruogu, whose time was a British record, told the BBC.

Oliver hurdles to Moscow glory

“I just thank god that everything came together today. It has been really tough. It feels really surreal.” Ohuruogu, world champion in 2007 and Olympic gold medallist in 2008, is known as a big race performer who often leaves her attack until the final few metres and the 29-year-old did not disappoint the British fans noisily screaming her on.

ry major championship at least twice. Christina Schwanitz of Germany took silver

with a throw of 66-11 ½. Gong Lijiao of China was the bronze medalist at 65-5 ½.

Okagbare speaks Continues from BP Okagbare’s height that naturally puts her in good stead for long strides is a huge advantage. “I thank God for using me to end the drought for Nigeria. It’s a blessing from God. I’ll savour the medal but I have got more races to do so it’s better to keep a cool head now,” Blessing said here at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow. Nigeria last won a medal in the World Championships in Seville, Spain in 1999. Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu won silver and bronze in Hurdles and 200m respectively. Nigeria only got into the books again here in Moscow after a 6.99m effort placed Blessing behind Unioted State’s Brittney Resse who jumped 7.01 to win the gold. Ivana Spanovic of Serbia won silver with a jump of 6.82m.

“I’m taking it one at a time and feeling good about it. It’s tough but I’ll do my best not to lose focus,” Blessing said of her remaining races. After the 100m last night she would be back for the 200m on Thursday and will also run the 4x100m relays. Nigerians here are celebrating the Delta athlete for the silver and expecting more from her. “What a great thing it will be for me to cover a gold medal winning athlete from Nigeria,” Daren Esan, a track and field expert and journalist said. “Anything can happen tonight in the 100m but I think she can win gold in the 200m. She has the good finish to do so. The 100m would depend on how she starts. Others expressed similar expectations including Cameroun’s Rene Thobhi.

N a move that is bound to have ripple effects on Nigerian football, Remo Stars of Shagamu have signed a major kit deal with Bet9ja which will see them wear the company ’s logo for many seasons. Speaking at the weekend, Chairman of the national league side Honorable Kunle Soname said; “the deal is worth a lot but we don’t want to discloseit. We believe it will help us to achieve our promotion target. We are the first Nigerian club to be kitted by an international brand, which makes our club an international brand. We are excited that Bet9ja decided to go into this partnership which will be beneficial to both parties. We believe that this partnership will endure for many years to come.” Also speaking, the CEO of Bet 9ja Ayo Ojuroye said that they decided to partner with Remo Stars in order to promote the Nigerian league . “Bet 9ja is the only company that offers betting on Nigerian league. We want to generate awareness about the Nigerian

league, hence we are going into partnership with Remo Stars. We do not want to reduce our product to just betting on the foreign league. We cannot be Bet 9ja and promote only the foreign league.” Ojuroye noted that “ Our core product is football, though we are into entertainment, recreation and show business. We offer on-line betting, live betting during matches as well as through our shops and small outlets. Bet 9ja wants to reward people’s passion for football and other sports. He disclosed that although the company only started business 6 months ago, it is the only betting company that has paid more than N1.5 million winning bonus on a single game. ‘We want to be the best betting company in Nigeria through our wide range of products which cuts across age, class or creed. You can take a bet on-line on your mobile phone, go into any of our retail outlets or do it during matches. We are here with our best services and we want Nigerians to benefit from it”, he assured

Fraser-Pryce Continues from BP flew out of the blocks to win by five-metres in a time of 10.71s. American duo Camelita Jeter and English Gardner never really threatened despite the pre-race build-up. Murielle Ahoure from the Ivory Coast was second with Jeter in third for the bronze. Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce last won the World Championship gold medal in 2009.

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare came a distant sixth. Meanwhile, Germany ’s Raphael Holzdeppe won the pole vault title at the World Athletics Championships on Monday. The German vaulted a best of 5.89 metres, winning on countback from Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France, with another German, Bjorn Otto, taking bronze (5.82m).

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Eagles in Durban, ready for Bafana Drogba wins Super Cup Bafana •Ameobi, Ejide, Nsofor arrive A goal from Drogba in extra time earned Galatasaray a 1-0 victory

NLY three players, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Fegor Ogude are expected on Tuesday morning in Durban on time for Wednesday prestige Mandela Challenge friendly against Bafana Bafana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa. The Eagles arrived Durban from Johannesburg on Monday morning after a six hour over night flight from Lagos to Johannesburg. The team was led by Head Coach Stephen Keshi with four home stars, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona. The NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who is expected for the game will also hit town on Tuesday.

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Robbers attack NOC's treasurer

RMED robbers yesterday attacked Treasurer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Hon Bappa Aliu and made away with his Nigerian International Passport with a British visa. Aliu was on his way to Bauchi to connect a flight to Lagos where he was scheduled to travel with other officials of NOC to Glasgow for a meeting of the Commonwealth Games. President of NOC, Engr. Sani M. Ndanusa and Scribe, Hon. Tunde Popoola were shocked when the news of the Treasurer ’s attack was relayed.

Glo urges Eagles to beat Bafana •Ameobi

•Nsofor

When the team got to its Southern Sun hotel abode several of the invited players were already in their rooms. Among the early birds were late call ups James Okwuosa and Gege Soriola, who are both based in South Afri-

ca. There was also Obinna Nsofor, Elderson Echjiele, who were the first foreign based stars to arrive Durban. Other early comers include Uche Nwafor, Efe Ambrose, Ogenyo Onazi and Brown Ideye.

EADING telecommunications company, Globa com, has enjoined the Super Eagles to ensure victory over Bafana Bafana of South Africa as they meet in the Mandela Challenge billed for the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on Wednesday. The high profile encounter has been generally regarded as a friendly between both nations in honour of former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela. But players from both sides have talked tough ahead of the tie.

over Fenerbahçe on Sunday in the Turkey’s Super cup. This crunch match between the Champion of the S?per Lig and the winner of the Cup Ziraat of Turkey at the Kadir Has Stadium of Kayserie was also the stage for the 375th derby between the two Istanbul’s great rivals. Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for the last half hour of the encounter after the sending-off of defender Bruno Alves, Galatasaray could not seal the deal in the 90 minutes of the game, going into extra time with the final whistle blowing on a goalless draw. The Elephants’ skipper ultimately freed “Aslan” in the 99th minute on a Hakan Balta’s cross, getting the upper hand on Cameroonian Pierre Webo to head the winner home.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 — 55

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 , 2013

It’s God’s BLESSING, Okagbare speaks on her silver STORIES FROM ONOCHIE ANIBEZE, Moscow

XPERTS here are tipping Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare for a possible gold medal in the 200m, going by her slow start and powerful finish.

Continues on Page 53 CHAMPION STUFF......Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu celebrates after winning the 400m final at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on August 12. PHOTO: AFP

Nigeria’s Ohuruogu wins gold for Britain N

IGERIAN-BORN B r i t a i n ’ s Christine Ohuruogu cemented her reputation for leaving it late by snatching the 400 metres world title from defending champion Amantle Montsho with a desperate lunge to the line on Monday. Botswana’s Montsho, aiming to become only the second woman to win back-to-back world 400m golds, was left to despair the fact she did not dip at the finish with just 0.004 seconds separating the two rivals who were both given a time of 49.41 seconds. The pair endured an anxious wait before the result came up on the

Continues on Page 53

Fraser-Pryce wins 100m

•Okagbare finishes 6th

HOT LEGS — Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wins 100m.

AMAICAN Shel ly-Ann FraserPryce has won the 100-

metres gold medal at the World Athletic Championships in Moscow.

No one else stood a chance as Fraser –Pryce Continues on Page 53

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN ACROSS 1 Bewilder (6) 1 Suit (6) 2 Scheme (8) 5 Agitate (4) 3 Servant (6) 8 Shore (5) 4 Contriteness (9) 9 Male (3) 5 Musical piece (7) 10 Midday (4) 6 Slender (4) 11 Mound (4) 7 List (4) 12 Donated (5) 8 Marsh (3) 13 Scatter (6) 14 Ignore (9) 16 Dwell (4) 15 Insect (3) 18 Region (4) 17 Through (3) 20 Welcome (3) 22 Transgression (3) 19 Adversary (8) 20 Appropriate (3) 23 Choose (3) 21 Compel (7) 24 Frank (4) 26 Charm (6) 25 Tribe (4) 27 Blasphemy (6) 28 More (6) 29 Wander (4) 30 Hard (5) 30 Trial (4) 32 Complete (4) 31 Hurry (3) 33 Assistant (4) 34 Observe (3) 35 Frighten (5) 36 Jot (4) 37 Attractive (6)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Stuck 9, Mortar 10, Risque 11, Pilot 12, Sand 15, Waft 17, Sterile 20, Day 21, Exert 23, Rift 25, Chit 26, Trade 28, Act 30, Embosom 33, Stay 35, Wane 36, Court 38, Denial 39, Goblin 40, Bogey.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Miss 2, Prone 3, Sap 4, Tripple 5, Crop 6, Kit 7, Squad 8, Testy 13, Attract 14, Drift 16, Faction 18, Exude 19, Arc 22, Throw 24, Try 27, Emerge 28, Aside 29, Taunt 31, Sally 32, Meant 34, Solo 36, Cab 37, Toy.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

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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