Delta govt, FG battleover Ibori's $15m

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61687

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

2012 OLYMPICS: Code of Conduct Why Nigeria failed bureau goes after govs, ....Athletes, officials blame Sports •Back page ministry, FG

ministers' assets

•P.7

Delta govt, FG battle over Ibori's $15m

BY IKECHUKWU NOCHIRI

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•Money exclusive property of Delta State — Counsel •FG asks court to grant it ownership of money

PLAYING WITH FIRE!

BUJA—THE Delta State Government has gone before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to challenge moves by the Federal Government to claim the $15 million allegedly given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the jailed former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, who left ofice in 2007.

The state, via an appli-

Continues on page 5

PINI JASON Did we go to the 2012 •P.17 Olympics?

JOHN AMODA Organised criminality: The supply side of potential •P.19 insurgents

Mr & Mrs

POVERTY OR MADNESS—Youths scoop oil on the Kirikiri Canal along Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos yesterday. Photos: Biodun Ogunleye.

SPECIAL REPORT: 100 yrs PHCN WINDING UP: of trade unionism in Nigeria — The Owei Lakemfa book serial on Pgs 32&33 C M Y K

Workers to get 15% severance package —P.6

2—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012

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4 — Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012

Malian president reappoints PM M

ALI’S interim president, Dioncounda Traore, has reappointed his prime minister, giving him three days to name a new government of national unity to form a united front against rebels in the north.

The West African nation has been split in two since a March 22 coup paved the way for a military advance by northern separatists and alQaeda-linked rebels.

“Prime Minister, Cheick Modibo Diarra was re-appointed to his post

by the president of the transition Dioncounda Traore in order to form a government of national unity in the next 72 hours,” Amadou Konate, an adviser with the prime minister ’s office, said on Sunday.

The re-appointment was also confirmed in a statement from the presidency. The decision was taken after consultations held at the weekend by Traore with the country’s “civil society” including political parties and the junta that overthrew the regime of

•Traore Amadou Toumani Toure before handing over to a

transition regime two weeks later.

Traore and Diarra were named as part of a deal to return leadership to a civilian caretaker government. The two men have had a rocky relationship, however, and the transitional authority, crippled by political infighting, has achieved little.

Diarra, an internationally renowned astrophysicist, has been under fire from much of Mali’s political class including Traore’s party who accused him of incompetence and called for his departure.

Oil: Sudan, South Sudan to strike accord brought the two coun-

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UDAN is “very opti mistic” it can reach a border security agreement with South Sudan that would allow a resumption of oil exports from the South, a senior official of the Khartoum government said.

Sudan’s Second Vice President al-Haj Adam Youssef said both sides did not need to solve all outstanding conflicts to reach such an agreement.

“We are very optimistic about the (border) security issue,” he told reporters at the weekend.

His comments were the strongest indication

yet that the border security issue between the two hostile African neighbors can be solved.

Oil is essential to both countries and they have reached an agreement about how much landlocked South Sudan will have to pay to export its oil through northern pipelines, ending a dispute that saw the South shut down its entire output in January.

But before exports can resume Sudan wants a security agreement for the 1,800 kilometer (1,200 mile) long border, much of which is disputed.

Border fighting

tries close to another war in April. It was worst violence since South Sudan became independent a year ago under a peace agreement to end a long-running civil war with the North. Juba, in turn, accuses Khartoum of frequently bombing its territory, a claim denied by Sudan.

At the end of this month, Sudan and South Sudan are due to resume talks sponsored by the African Union to solve the border security and other issues. Previous attempts to set up a demilitarized buffer zone along the border have failed.

ILLIONAIRE in vestor George Soros had a lot to celebrate on Saturday evening: his 82nd birthday and the engagement to his much younger girlfriend, Tamiko Bolton.

Soros and Bolton, who met in the spring of 2008, formally announced their engagement at a party at Soros’ summer home in Southampton, New York, attended by a small group of friends and relatives, according to a person familiar with the investor.

Soros proposed to Bolton, 40, a few weeks ago during a weekend visit to the Hamptons, a beachside colony on Long Island frequented by New York’s wealthy.

For Soros, this will be his third marriage and the second for Bolton, who C M Y K

was married briefly in the 1990s. Soros has five children from his previous marriages.

Last year, Adriana Ferreyr, a former girlfriend of Soros, filed a lawsuit alleging he had reneged on a promise to buy her an apartment. Soros has filed a pending motion to dismiss the suit by the former Brazilian soap opera star.

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LOBAL oil prices notched up yesterday as Brent crude prices rose in choppy trade, hitting a three-month peak on concerns about North Sea supply and Middle East tensions, while fears about a slowing global economy

checked gains.U.S. crude fell for a second straight session and Wall Street equities slipped after six days of gains, weighed down by data showing Japan’s economy expanded in the second quarter at half the pace expected.

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OPE Benedict XVI’s former butler and another Vatican employee must stand trial for stealing and leaking confidential papers in the latest scandal to afflict the Catholic Church, a magistrate has ruled. Paolo Gabriele, who was arrested in May on suspicion of stealing secret documents from the pope’s office and leaking them to journalists, was accused of “aggravated theft” yesterday. Judge Piero Bonnet also charged Claudio Sciarpelletti, an analyst and programmer in the Vatican state secretariat, with complicity. Sciarpelletti’s name had not been disclosed before.

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•al-Haj Adam Youssef

Syrian rebels down jet

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FTER weeks of dogged resistance, Syrian rebels in eastern Syria said they downed a government fighter jet yesterday, as

•Soros and his wife.

Global oil prices rise

Vatican endorses butler’s trial

Man beats JFK $100m security system

Soros, 82, marries woman twice younger

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B-R-I-E-F-S

A separate report showing Greece’s economy contracted by 6.2 percent on an annual basis in the quarter also fanned concerns about economic growth. Brent jumped more than $2 and U.S. crude more than $1 early in the session on support from tightening North Sea supplies and Middle East tensions.

local residents in Aleppo are giving limited support to therebels in the battle to control the country’s commercial capital. Some residents give them food and shelter while others are joining their ranks.

The state television said the plane crashed due to technical difficulties. The downing of a warplane would be a rare event for lightly armed rebels faced with the superior weaponry of President Bashar alAssad’s forces. In recent months the government has begun to use its air power to try to crush a 17month-old uprising.

The planned Arab league meeting on Syria was postponed yesterday.

Meanwhile, Syrian forces rounded up residents in a massive raid in the central district of Damascus and bombarded rebel strongholds around the capital, as fighting also raged in the second city of Aleppo, activists have said.

Security forces reportedly arrested at least 21 people as they raided houses and shops in the centre of Damascus on Monday.

MAN whose jet ski failed him in New York’s Jamaica Bay swam to John F. Kennedy airport, where he was easily able to penetrate the airport $100 million, state-of-the art security system.

Daniel Casillo, 31, was able to swim up to and enter the airport grounds on Friday night, past an intricate system of motion sensors and closed-circuit cameras designed to to safeguard against terrorists, authorities said.

“I think he should be given dinner and a bottle of champagne for showing us our faults,” said Nicholas Casale.

Egyptians Morsi

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hail

HE Egyptian president has ordered the powerful head of the army and defence minister, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, and several senior generals into retirement and canceled constitutional amendments issued by the military restricting presidential powers.

Mohamed Morsi announced through a spokesman on Sunday the dismissal of Tantawi and his appointment as a presidential adviser.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 14, 2012—5 TUESDA AUGUST

POCKET CARTOON

Delta govt, FG battle over Ibori's N15m Continues from Page 1 cation by its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah, SAN, argued that the alleged money legitimately belongs to it, even as it urged the high court to issue an order, remitting the fund to the Delta State treasury.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had on July 24, filed an ex-parte motion before the same court, wherein it sought to take possession of the money, which is equivalent of N150 million.

The Federal Government which disclosed that the cash was received by officers of the EFCC from an undisclosed agent of the exgovernor, told the court that the commission under its former Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, deposited the money into the strong room of CBN, on April 26, 2007.

It however, noted that Ibori had since denied giving the cash to either the EFCC or any of its officers.

Consequently, the Federal Government alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and the EFCC, who were listed in the suit as

the 1st to 3rd applicants respectively, prayed the court for “an interim order forfeiting the sum of $15m being an unclaimed property in possession of CBN to the Federal Government pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for the final forfeiture order of the said property.

As well as, “an order of this honourable court directing the publication in any national newspaper of the interim order under relief 1 above, for anyone who is interested in the property, to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days, why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Money exclusive property of Delta State — Counsel However, Delta State, in its application which is dated August 10, maintained that the Federal Government was bereft of the right of ownership of the money, insisting that $15 million was offered when Ibori held sway as Governor of the State.

In a 35-paragraphed affidavit attached in sup-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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ONOUR all commitments you make during negotiations lest your enemy fails to trust your word in the future.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit — Fran Lebowitz HERE is an old German fable about porcupines T that need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines.

When they find the optimum distance to share each other’s warmth without putting each other’s eyes out, their state of contrived cooperation is called good manners.

When you acknowledge other people politely, the signal goes out, “I’m here. You’re there. I’m staying here. You’re staying there. Aren’t we both glad we sorted that out?” When people don’t acknowledge each other politely, the lesson from the porcupine fable is unmistakeable. “ There is a saying that civility is the charm that attracts the love of all men; and too much is better than to show too little”. Jean Bruyere made and interesting observation about the virtue of being polite. “For every man is valued as he shows through this attitudes and conduct.” This thought is a reflection to ponder on if a person acts like a snob. It is only logical that this will become the trade mark by which he will be known. Politeness comes from within, the state of a beautiful heart.

port of the application, Delta State maintained that the release of the money would facilitate current developmental projects in the state.

Besides, the state, in its affidavit deposed to by one Nikiru Bridget Emakpor, a legal officer in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, noted that Ibori was a governor of the state between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2007, the period the money in dispute was allegedly offered to officers of the EFCC with a view to compromising investigation into his alleged involvement in acts of corruption.

Consequently, it argued that the $15 million was the exclusive property of the state and it is therefore entitled to collect same, being the bona fide owner.

According to the affidavit, “any money, asset or property recovered from Ibori rightly belonged to Delta State and same should be returned to it as it has always maintained its entitlement to any asset recovered from Ibori.”

The deponent further averred that “any denial by Ibori in respect of the money cannot affect entitlement of the state to the amount.”

Suit adjourned till Sept 1 The state said the reason it did not formally apply for payment of the money was in view of pending appeals before both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, saying it did not want to prejudice the outcome of the appeal cases.

Moreover, the state claimed that all monies, assets and property recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to Plateau State, just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.

It argued that there should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others, saying it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to Delta State.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole has adjourned argument on who should be rightful owner of the controversial money till

September 17.

The judge had earlier maintained that if on that date, no one showed up to lay claim to the money, the $15 million would be forfeited to the Federal Government.

FG asks court to grant it ownership of money The ultimatum followed argument by EFCC lead prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who urged the court to grant the Federal Government possession of the money.

Besides, in a 14 paragraph affidavit deposed by one Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori, he told the court that: “while the investigation was going on, on April 25, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000 given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.

“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000, we deposited same on April 26, 2007 with the CBN which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN. “That from the said April 26, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on January 9, 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.

“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated January 10, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000, 000, to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN. “That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was

kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.

“That it is in the interest of justice to, in the interim, make an order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria and allow publication to be made in the National Newspaper to alert any interested member of the public to come out within 14 days to show their interest, failure to which this honourable court will make an order of final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

EFCC to abide by court judgment “That the EFCC is ready to abide by the order that this honourable court will eventually make. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” he added.

It would be recalled that Ibori, 49, who was Governor of oil-rich Delta State between 1999 and 2007, was sentenced by a Southwark Crown Court in London for 13 years following his alleged complicity in a $250 million fraud while he was in power.

FG establishes Council on Niger Delta

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA — DETER MINED to address the challenges posed by the multiplicity of development actors and partners which often resulted in duplication of projects and programmes in the region, the Council on Niger Delta has been established with a view to coordinate and fast track the development of the region.

The Council will strive to, among other things, enhance information sharing and exchange of ideas among stakeholders; promote greater co-operation and mutual support; enhance synergy in service delivery; eliminate duplication of projects; wastage of scarce resources and build consensus on initiatives and development activities in the Niger Delta.

The Council was established during a three-day retreat organized by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to review the draft on Niger Delta Action Plan with the aim of ensuring that it encapsulates actions critical to the

development challenges facing the Niger Delta.

The retreat was attended by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of State, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi and management staff of the ministry.

Orubebe, who declared the retreat open, disclosed that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was created in 2008 with the mandate to formulate and implement policies, projects and programmes and coordinate development activities in the Niger Delta.

He said the ministry on commencement of effective operation in 2009, held preliminary consultations with the UNDP for a joint Technical Working Group to articulate a collaborative development framework for the Niger Delta.

The group comprised officials of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and representatives of Development Partners, including UNDP, World Bank, USAID, EU, DFID and PIND as well as the Embassy of The Netherlands.

6—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

PHCN winding up: FG to pay each worker 15% severance package zUnions constituting selves as outlaws — Nnaji

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE least qualified staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, with school certificate will be paid a minimum of N8 million while the highest officer in the organisation will receive at least N38 million total package in the payment being organised by the Federal Government as part of the repositioning of the company.

Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji who stated this yesterday while addressing newsmen after briefing Goodluck Jonathan on the Key performance Indicator, KPI, described unions in the PHCN as outlaws who are inconsiderate of the various positive steps being taken by Federal Government to address their plight following the privatization of the organisation.

According to the minister, the Federal Government has accepted to pay the aggrieved workers a

total of 15 percent as severance package for each employee over a period covering 2003 to 2012.

Part of the payment the minister said, will comprise 7.5 percent employer contribution as specified under the new pension law and another 7.5 percent expected to have been contributed by the workers themselves.

He said available records indicated that PHCN has failed to remit its quota of 7.5 percent to the workers pension accounts, adding that government has, however, accepted to pay such defaults amounting to 15 percent for each beneficiary against insinuation that the PHCN workers will receive a flat benefit of N85,000.

“The talk about some staff going home with N85,000 is from people who have a different mission” .

“The PHCN unions are constituting themselves as outlaws,” the minister said.

NIMASSA arrests 10 suspected pirates

BY GODWIN ORITSE & MAIMUNA MOHAMMED

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HE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, yesterday arrested 10 suspected pirates alleged to have attacked a NIMASA patrol boat causing the death of the Managing Director of Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Captain Romeo Itima.

Parading the suspects before newsmen, NIMASA’s Public Relations Officer, Hajia Lami Tumaka said the suspected pirates were arrested on board a tanker vessel ‘M. T Ocean Treasure’ following intelligence report.

According to her, the agency in collaboration with other security agencies which included the Nigeria Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force swung into action immediately the incident was reported. This led to the arrest of both the vessel and its crew.

She explained that the newly acquired bullet proof boat was being deployed to the Brass area to check the

unceasing wave of criminality around that region where the attack occurred.

The agency ’s spokesperson noted that the boat had to beat a retreat to the mother vessel since it did not envisage the attack.

She stated that NIMASA had spread its tentacles across every nook and cranny of the country, adding that unknown to the arrested suspects, the agency has been following the case.

Her words: “What happened was that because of the attack, the boat ran short of fuel and that was why it headed towards Escravos to refuel when this unfortunate incident happened.

“Captain Romeo is one of a kind and since this incident happened, we did not go to sleep, we had our tentacles spread out, we gathered intelligence report and we have been following the case unknown to them, and it was through this intelligence gathering we found that these were the people involved in the attack".

PRESIDENTIAL BRIEFING— Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (2nd right) with other presidential aides, including the Director General, Bureau for Public Procurement, Engr. Emeka Eze (2nd left) exchanging pleasantries with the Minister of State for Power, Arc. Darius Ishaku, during the presidential briefing on the 2012 budget performance of the Ministry of Power at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG to probe missing N1.7bn in UniAbuja zOrders recovery of N266m trapped in failed banks

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government has ordered an immediate probe into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of N1,763, 965,000 from accounts of the embattled University of Abuja.

Similarly, the government has directed the Governing Council of the institution to take urgent steps to recover N266 million trapped in failed banks and report back to government.

These recommendations are contained in a White Paper on the report of the Visitation Panel into the affairs of the University of Abuja between 2004 and 2010.

The panel, which was headed by Prof. D. A. Guobadia, submitted its report to the government in June last year but the views of the administration on the submission of the panelists, have just been released.

Disappearance of huge sums of money from UniAbuja In the White Paper, which was exclusively obtained by Vanguard yesterday, the government frowned at

the disappearance of the huge sum of money and other financial recklessness which took place in the institution within the period under review.

The 54-page report, which covered the 10point term of reference given to it by the government, detailed how the university was made to lose various sums of money and its gradual degeneration into the present state.

The report stated: “The periodic reports of the internal auditors revealed a number of weaknesses and complete non-adherence to suggestive measures by the management of the university.

“Panel observed that out of N10,681,315,000 cash generated by the University of Abuja in 2009/2010 financial year, only N8,917,730,000 was lodged in banks while the balance of N1,763,965,000 was not banked.

“By December 2010, the amount had not been banked and no action had been taken to discipline those involved in the disappearance of the said amount”.

The White Paper said, “The visitor frowns at the inability of the

management to exercise financial control over the institution and hereby directs the council to take immediate steps to recover all the money".

Apart from the missing funds, the panel noted with dismay the nonmaintenance of records of grants and subventions released by the government to the institution over the years.

Besides, the panel discovered to its chagrin that most items which should have been procured through contracts were purchased by cash over and above approved limit of N200, 000.

The panelists noted, “the frequency of individual cash advances for purchases was high, officers were granted multiple advances and many of them not retired. Thus, at the end of December 2010, the unretired advances stood at N210, 318, 712.00.

N.2m unretired advance The government also raised the alarm on the use of 97 bank accounts in 16 banks by the authorities of the university and asked for a reduction in the number, as well as the

use of e-banking to reduce the burden of those dealing with it.

It was not, however, clear yesterday whether the implementation of the White Paper will still go ahead or be put on hold until another visitation panel, currently looking into affairs of the troubled institution, turns in its report.

The Special Presidential Visitation Panel was empanelled recently following the crisis over the suspension of many courses following nonaccreditation by the relevant supervisory bodies, owning to observed inadequacies on the part of the institution.

The scrapping of many of its academic programmes prompted the aggrieved students to petition the Presidency to intervene.

The fate of the students now hangs in the balance except the government takes immediate steps to find a remedy to their problems.

Other members of the Guobadia-led panel, were Prof A. Uba, Mrs. O. O. Odegbaro, Mrs. Elsie Achukwu, Eng. J. O. Fadare, Alhaji M. J. Yusuf and Mr. H. O. Anaziah.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—7

Ballot boxes: Jega, Iwu accused of irrregular contracts

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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VP NAMADI SAMBO UNDERTAKES UMRAH—From left: Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Bunu; Vice President of Nigeria, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo and the royal protocol on arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for Umrah, Lesser Hajj in Mecca on Sunday.

Code of Conduct Bureau goes after govs, ministers' assets

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—THE Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, yesterday, said it has commenced the process of verifying personal assets of governors of the 36 states of the Federation and serving ministers.

CCB Chairman, Mr Sam Saba, who made the declaration on a day the General Overseer and Founder of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, paid a courtesy visit to the Bureau headquarters in Abuja, also said the amount of money being taken out of Nigeria everyday is enormous. Mr Saba said the verification of the assets would be based on the assets declaration forms already filled and submitted by both the governors and ministers.

He noted that the Bureau, in-line with its statutory mandate as encapsulated in the 5th Schedule Part 1 and Section 85 of the 1999 Constitution, recently gave the governors three months within which to declare their personal assets, stressing that though the directive was duly complied with, however, any of them found to had compromised in any way, would be recommended for prosecution by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. Nevertheless, Saba, C M Y K

who said he was delighted with the visit of Pastor Kumuyi, while reacting to questions from newsmen on why CCB never scrutinized the personal assets of some pastors who allegedly own fleet of cars and private jets, said “our jurisdiction does not extend to Pastors and other religious leaders.

The mandate of CCB is only in relation to public officers.

“Presently, all ministers and sitting governors have declared their assets, but I can assure you that verification is still ongoing. The truth is that we really don’t have problems with politicians because once they are coming into office; they fill the asset declaration form as a requirement for screening by the National Assembly.

“Where we have problem is with their advisers who are not screened, being appointees of the politicians.

“The truth is that the quantum of money being taken out of Nigeria everyday is enormous. If not for the blessings of God, this country would have been bankrupt a long time ago, that is why we thank God for the intervention of men of God like Pastor Kumuyi.”

Meanwhile, Pastor Kumuyi who was accompanied on the visit by his new wife, Esther, decried the increasing down-turn of things in the country, saying “the work CCB is

doing is very vital for the survival of this country.”

While urging the Bureau to embrace integrity and accountability in all its dealing with politicians, Kumuyi lamented that “we are rich but how we manage fund, for most of us in the public sector, is highly unacceptable.

“We should all know that things we do go into record before man and God. Even when we have passed on, the generation after us will look back and say, this is what we did and what we did not do. This is why we must leave a legacy be-

hind that will help us in future.

“In this country, we have all the money we are looking for but we know that money doesn’t answer all things. This is why you at the CCB must see your work as sacred.

If you want to do your work faithfully and creditably, you must not look for money or personal gains,” he added.

After his words of exaltation, members of staff of the CCB, comprising both Christians and Muslims, asked Kumuyi to pray for the establishment, a request he accordingly granted yesterday.

BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega are currently enmeshed in a fresh scandal over alleged sharp practices in the procurement process of the ballot boxes used during the 2011 general elections.

The allegation against them was contained in a counter-affidavit that was deposed before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court by an indigenous company, Bedding Holdings Ltd, which equally fingered the erstwhile INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu in the alleged fraud.

Specifically, the company, in an affidavit that was deposed by its chairman, Chief Sylvester Odigie, told the court that it has garnered sufficient evidence to prove that Jega allegedly sustained the fraudulent activities of his predecessor, Iwu, in the procurement process of additional 150,000 transparent ballot boxes used for the 2011 polls.

It further alleged that companies with insufficient share capital were used for selective tender and bidding for the procurement of the multi-billion naira ballot boxes procurement contract.

Besides, the INEC boss was accused of fraudu-

lently misrepresenting facts to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the approving authority for the contract in order to favour a preferred company, EMCHAI Limited, for the contract.

The deponent alleged that EMCHAI, which was awarded the ballot boxes procurement contract, in addition to using fake patent for bidding, had insufficient share capital of 10,000 with which it bided for the contract.

An exhibit attached to the motion filed by EMCHAI before the court showed that the company was rendering annual returns in paltry sum of between N1,000 and a maximum of N3, 000 between year 1999 to 2009 even after securing N5.528 billion for the 300,000 units of boxes used for the 2007 general elections and N1.950 billion for the 150,000 additional units of boxes for the 2011 general elections.

Likewise, another company allegedly used in selective bidding for the transparent ballot boxes procurement process by INEC under Jega was ANOWAT Project and Resources Ltd. ANOWAT was said to have been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, on September 22, 2010 barely two months to the November 15, 2010, a date Jega allegedly raised memo to the FEC in respect of the said contract.

FG to establish infrastructural master plan soon — Aganga

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BUJA—THE Federal Government will soon come up with an infrastructure master plan that will drive new investments in projects across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during a meeting with the Andrade Gutierrez, AG Group, yesterday.

The group was led by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Ambassador Vincent Okoedion; AG’s President for Africa, Rodrigo da Costa Fonseca, and AG’s new Managing Director for Nigeria, Mr. Amauri Pinha.

The AG Group is one of the largest infrastructure

investment companies in Brazil. Founded in Brazil in 1948 as a local company, the Group’s asset base in 2010 was $19.23 billion, while turnover was $10.3 billion. Currently, AG Group has completed over 650 projects in 38 countries, including the second largest hydro power plant in the world, Itaipu, in Brazil.

However, Aganga noted that Nigeria’s Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, which is currently being worked upon by the Ministries of National Planning, Trade and Investment, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, would be completed before the end of this year, adding

that it would help the country to focus on attracting investors for key infrastructure projects.

He said, “during the International Investment Council meeting, presided

by President Goodluck Jonathan recently, he commended each of the ministers for having very strong and robust master plan for each of the sectors.

"However, one of the decisions taken at the meeting was that it was time we put together an integrated infrastructure master plan that will bring everything together. The idea is that once we have that master plan (which we already have, but it is just to put it together),

then we will have a list of priority projects that are available for investors to come and invest in".

This will make it a lot easier for investors that are interested in infrastructure projects to look at one master plan and work from there.

“The integrated infrastructure master plan would be worked on among the Ministry of National Planning, the ICRC and the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Hopefully, we expect to have it before the end of this year but that doesn’t stop us from marketing other investment opportunities across Nigeria to genuine investors.”

8 — Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—9

Husband of 2 wives jailed for raping 3 minors

ANOTHER PHOTO-JOURNALIST BATTERED LASTMA official's death

Police investigation exonerates banker z She's innocent — Witnesses

BY MICHAEL OLADEPO, with Agency report

BY EVELYN USMAN

I

KEJA—AN Ikeja Mag istrate’s Court, yesterday, sentenced a 45-yearold commercial motorcyclist and husband of two wives, Alabi Bakare, to five years imprisonment for raping three minors.

Magistrate A. Isaac, who handed the verdict, said the sentence would be without an option of fine.

He said since the accused had pleaded guilty to the offence, the court had no option than to sentence him as charged.

The News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, reports that the accused, who was arraigned on August 8, had pleaded guilty to a charge of having carnal knowledge of the minors aged between three and five.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that Bakare raped the minors on August 3 at 7 p.m. at 19, Oluwakemi Street, Alapere, Ketu area of Lagos metropolis.

“Bakare was caught in the act by a co-tenant, who reported the matter to the police,” he said.

He said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

L Passengers hanging on a moving train in Lagos ; (inset), a photo-journalist, Mr. Tunde Ogundeji, after he was beaten to stupor by the irate pasengers, who protested his taking their photograph at Ikeja Railway Station, Lagos, yesterday.

Dana crash victims' corpses release delayed

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

I

KEJA—INDICA TIONS emerged, yesterday, that the scheduled daily release of the 132 identified bodies of victims of the Dana air crash may not go as planned at the Lekan Ogunshola Mortuary, even as management of TOS Funerals denied involvement in the brutalization of a photojournalist last week.

It was learnt that because of the hitches, the daily schedule of the release of bodies had not been followed even as complaints were making the rounds of victims’ relatives being denied access to the bodies following what mortuary officials described as inadequate completion of collection

forms.

According to the original schedule, issued last week, the last batch of the release of the bodies that ought to have been done yesterday could not be achieved.

Among those denied access were military personnel who went to claim two bodies.

A military official, who spoke anonymously, noted that the hospital authorities had released one of the two bodies they came to collect, but withheld one.

Problem forms

with

According to him, the collection forms were not properly filled.

He said: “We have asked to effect the necessary requirements on the

Lagos NUJ to protest members' harassment

I

KEJA—NIGERIA Un ion of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council, will this week embark on a peaceful mass protest to condemn incessant harassment and brutalisation of journalists in Lagos.

The union will also drag the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,

LASUTH, as well as the managers of TOS Funeral services to court over last Thursday ’s assault on Mr. Ben Uwalaka, a photo-journalist with Leadership Newspapers on the premises of LASUTH in Ikeja.

In a statement after its August Congress, Lagos NUJ's Chairman, Mr. Deji

Symposium on South Korea holds

L

AGOS—A symposium to herald the 64th independence anniversary of South Korea holds tomorrow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos.

Organised by Research Intelligence Magazine in collaborating with NIIA, the symposium will examine the dynamics underpinning the flow of trade C M Y K

between South Korea and Nigeria with a view to strengthening the relationship between the countries.

South Korea and Nigeria have maintained stable relations over the years and this has immensely contributed to the growing strength of both economies.

Elumoye and Secretary, Sylva Okereke, said the Council would mobilise its members with placards to protest to the seat of government at Alausa in Ikeja the recurring brutalisation and harassment of journalists by security personnel as well as ceaseless molestations by members of the public.

On Uwalaka, who was brutalised by mortuary attendants while covering the release of the corpses of the victims of Dana air crash at LASUTH morgue, the journalists demanded that those involved in the act be brought to justice.

The council also urged journalists to be more security-conscious in the course of discharging their duties, just as security operatives were told to see journalists as friends and not foes.

form and come back with it to collect the body.”

The soldier said they had planned to collect the two bodies yesterday to deposit them at the Yaba Military Hospital morgue pending burial.

Other families who were faced with the issue of inadequate completion of collection forms were also turned back with the mandate to fill in all necessary requirements and come back for their victims’ corpses.

A crowd gathered at the morgue, yesterday, and at the end of the day, six out of the 20 bodies earmarked for collection were claimed.

A source at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, said the victims’ relatives were briefed on the collection processes and how to complete the forms.

The release of bodies to the families has been made a private affair as security on the premises has also been beefed up since the brutalisation of the photojournalist and access to information restricted.

Several relatives also resorted to quietly collecting the bodies in private SUVs with their seats collapsed to avoid attention.

A mortuary source said that the bodies were released in bags which can be taken away with or without coffins.

Management of TOS Funerals, the morgue housing bodies of the victims of the Dana plane crash, yesterday, denied involvement of its staff in the assault on a photo-journalist with the Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Benedict Uwalaka.

The company’s legal adviser, Carew Kunle, who spoke to journalists on the premises of the mortuary, said Uwalaka’s attackers were not in the employ of the morgue.

AGOS—THERE were indications, yesterday, that the female banker whom the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, accused of crushing one of its officials to death last Friday on Lekki/Epe Expressway might be innocent of the offence after all.

Police sources at the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, told Vanguard, yesterday, that after 72 hours of discreet investigation, they found the woman innocent of the allegation.

Findings from the investigation, according to police sources, showed that the suspect’s green Landrover Sports Utility Van with number-plate CY 276 LAD, had no blood stain on it, neither was there any dent to suggest it could have hit anyone.

Police chief quiz woman, LASTMA officials Vanguard further gathered that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, personally interviewed the woman and other LASTMA officials who were on duty that fateful day.

However, details of the interrogation said to have lasted for several hours was not made known to Vanguard.

At the SCID, yesterday, no fewer than 12 persons, who claimed to have witnessed the scenario, volunteered themselves for questioning.

One of them, who gave his name as Hafeez, said although it was LASTMA’s side of the story that was told initially but further publications on the issue painted the picture in the right direction.

Another woman, who identified herself as Mrs Ikechukwu, said: “ I live in the said area and can authoritatively tell you that the banker is innocent of the accusations.

Yes,due to the current road construction, the people living in Ikota Estate created an outlet for themselves which is about two metres, where they would have to drive

against traffic and this was where the banker was stopped. I was on a motorbike at that time.

“The woman’s car was totally clean and undamaged where it was parked on the side of the road. I saw her talking on the phone, while the LASTMA official was on the ground some metres from her vehicle. I am ready to defend her anywhere for justice to be done.”

How LASTMA official died —Witness

Another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The lady pleaded with them but they were adamant.

Even, a man in a red car came down from his vehicle to plead with them, yet the LASTMA officials refused and went to get a towing vehicle. As one of the officials attempted to cross the road, he was crushed by a commercial bus, but he did not die on the spot. If they had attended to the deceased on time, he probably would have survived.”

Investigation, according to police sources, showed that the banker drove against traffic. But the sources stated emphatically that “ from our findings, she was not responsible for the death of the LASTMA official. ''She drove against traffic but as at the time the incident happened, it was discovered that her vehicle was stationed, with a towing van in front of it.

It was also discovered that the deceased, Hammed Balogun, stopped the vehicle and was about crossing to the other side when he was crushed by a hit and-run vehicle.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the case would be charged to court today.

She, however, clarified that the suspect was not carrying her baby in the car when she was accosted by LASTMA officials, neither was she with the baby at the point of arrest. We are making this clarification because of report that she was arrested with her baby. The baby was later brought to her.”

10—ANGUARD , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14,

2012

Ogun PDP c'ttees recommend congresses cancellation

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

From left, Catholic Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo, Bishop Jude Arogundade, during a courtesy visit of the bishops to the governor, in Akure, yesterday.

From left, Mr. Ogechukwu Udeagha, Head, Brand Management, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, presents the Businesswoman of the Year award to Ms. Funke Opeke, CEO, Main One Cable, during the All Africa Business Leaders Award,AABLA, West Africa regional finals at Porsche Centre, Lagos.

BEOKUTA—THERE is confusion among loyalists of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, following recommendation that the recently-conducted state and local government congresses of the party be cancelled by the committees that conducted them.

The congresses conducted on July 28 and August 4, 2012, respectively, were said to be neither transparent nor credible by members of the committees sent by the National Working Committee, NWC. It would be recalled that the committee for local government congress led by Mr. Teslim Igbalaye conducted the exercise on July 28, while the committee for state congress led by Malam Ibrahim Bamali conducted its on August 4.

But, in its recommendation, the committee for the state congress said

Obasanjo’s faction schemed out other factions in the party during the process which led to the emergence of Mr. Oladipo Odujinrin.

According to the report, “we strongly advise a revisit of the state congress which held on Saturday, August 4, 2012” in line with the reconciliation agenda of the party and in tune with the reality that three of the four factions in the state did not take part in the process.

The five-man committee alleged lack of transparency in the processes leading to the state congress, absence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the congress, disenfranchisement of some notable party stalwarts and their followers.

The committee also said it noticed that only one faction of the four groups of PDP in the sttae was dominantly represented, adding, “JMK, OGD and Kashamu factions were absent. Only the Obasanjo faction was ably represented.”

Murdock charges public officers on integrity, commitment

BY DAYO JOHNSON

Osun PDP accuses Aregbesola of siphoning govt fund zGo to court — ACN

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE & DAPO AKINREFON

O

SOGBO—THE Ac tion Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Osun State has given the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, a 21-day ultimatum to produce its proofs on the allegation that the ACN-led government of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola is siphoning N78 million monthly from the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme, OYES, an employment scheme initiated by the governor.

The government had through the OYES programme employed no fewer than 20,000 youths, which it paid N10,000 monthly each.

But, PDP, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, condemned the scheme, saying it was a means by Aregbesola to siphon the state’s resources.

Odeyemi said the C M Y K

“Aregbesola-led government is recklessly misusing the state’s finances while the governor is creating the impression that he is prudent with the resources at the disposal of his government.”

However, ACN, in a statement, yesterday, by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, challenged PDP to substantiate its allegation with facts or be dragged to the court of public opinion.

Oyatomi said: “If Osun PDP does not proceed to court to demonstrate its credibility by proving this allegation in the court within the next 21 days, then PDP will stand accused of being a collection of not just irresponsible politicians, but a dishonourable outfit unworthy of participating in civilised political engagements.”

He added that “ACN believes that it is high time the national office of PDP in Abuja called its people in Osun State to order be-

fore it makes the rest of us believe that this primitive conduct of the party in the state is actually the nature and characteristics of PDP nationwide.”

Oyatomi, who called for a public debate on the matter, stressed that

“apart from the challenge we have posed to PDP to approach the court to prove its allegations, we equally call on the best of PDP’s leaders to come forward with facts and figures in a public debate.”

A

KURE—A United States-based motivational speaker and televangelist, Dr. Mike Murdock, yesterday, challenged people in leadership positions to exhibit a high sense of integrity in order to repose the confidence of their followers in them.

He spoke at the leadership seminar tagged “The 21st Century Leader,” organised by the Ondo

Ekiti to build 16 creches in LGAs

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI—EKITI State Government is to construct a millennium model creches in each of the 16 local government areas of the state, even as it flagged off N50 million worth Mega Early Care Education Development Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, during the foundation laying of the centre, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the centre would afford children of age one and five receive early education He noted that the initiative was in conformity

with the Universal Basic Education Law, which prescribed ownership of a child education centre for each state of the federation.

Fayemi said the idea would increase the productivity of nursing mothers in the state civil service and make their children to be adequately taken care of and be breast-feed at the centre rather than taking them to their offices.

The governor assured that he would continue to accord early child education priority to add to the academic value and quality of education of the

state.

He said: “This mega centre will be a centre of activities, because I don’t believe that child education is a mere fancy, but an important aspect of education that can engender systematic transformation of the sector” Earlier, the chairman State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof Modupe Adelabu, said the centre was exclusively meant for children between age one and five, adding that the good performance money paid into the state by UBEC in 2009 will be used to put up the structure.

State Government for political office holders and top government functionaries in the state, in Akure.

Murdock added that they must also remain focused so as to achieve their goals.

He cited the laws of leadership to include love, goals, learning, mind, integrity, seed and mentorship, and that any would-be good leader must exhibit all the qualities to achieve result.

The motivational speaker, who submitted that leaders must remain committed to their setgoals with a view to leaving a good legacy for the upcoming generation.

He lauded the Ondo State Government for embarking on projects that will remain indelible in the minds of the people.

The televangelist also commended Governor Olusegun Mimiko for his landmark achievements in the state.

Gov. Mimiko, in his remarks, expressed optimism that the seminar would open up the minds of the participants towards leadership challenges in the century and also proffer solutions to them.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 —11

Edo North PDP leaders back Airhiavbere's court action

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

2013 BUDGET ALLOCATION MEETING: From right: Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Ben Ibe and Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr Peter Momoudo, during the 2013 Budget allocation meeting of the Ministry in Abuja yesterday.

Bakassi: Why I don’t want to see Imoke — Monarch

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR —PARA MOUNT Ruler of the displaced Bakassi Peninsula, HRM Etinyin Okon-Edet, has said that he deliberately refused to see Cross River State governor, Mr. Liyel Imoke, to avoid unnecessary pressure from government in their bid to reclaim Bakassi, ceded to Cameroon.

Etinyin Okon-Edet had recently announced that the Bakassi people will reclaim their ancestral home irrespective of the consequence, adding that it was the only option open to them as they alleged that the Federal Government and the international community that made promises during the hand over of the oil rich peninsula had failed to fulfill their promises.

The Bakassi paramount ruler, who is also chair-

man of Cross River State Council of Chiefs, said that the most painful aspect of the alleged deceit by the Federal Government was the removal of the 76 oil wells in the area and the delisting of Cross River State from the league of oil producing states, describing the action as double punishment to the people.

Though the state government had recently called on the people to

follow the path of peace in the resolution of the problem, the monarch said that Federal Government had ignored all calls for plebiscite for people to decide where they belong and for that reason, he had decided not to see Imoke.

He said: “I don’t want to see my governor, I am angry. We don’t have any problem with him, but we don’t want him to mount pressure on us to

Army probes killing of 7 N-Delta youths by JTF

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—THE Ni gerian Army has commenced investigation into the alleged extra-judicial killing of six Niger Delta youths by Joint Task Force, JTF, operatives, codenamed, Operation Pulo Shield on

June 23 in Bayelsa State.

Vanguard learnt, weekend, that the investigation into the allegation is being handled by the Special Investigation Bureau, Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, Lagos.

The Army, in a letter by Captain I. Suleiman, for

Suspected cultists kill UBTH female staff

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

E N I N — U N KNOWN gunmen suspected to be cultists, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, shot and killed an administrative staff of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH. The victim, who was identified as Mrs. Eliza-

abandon our position.

The people have decided to eject the illegal tenants out of our land.

“Bakassi people have not been fairly treated by this country and what we are looking at now is how to go back to our ancestral land by any means possible. We don’t want their relocation any longer, we are going to take it by whatever means because we have been led astray for almost 10 years now."

beth Osayande, was allegedly shot in front of her husband at their Akpata Street residence in Egor area of Benin.

Vanguard learnt that the gunmen, who rode on a motorcycle, said: ” That is the person, shoot her,” and they opened fire on her. She died instantly.

It was gathered that the son to the victim had a fracas with a boy, who parked his motorcycle in front of their residence

before she was killed.

Husband to the victim, Mr. Osayande, said he sent his son to get him some planks and the son noticed that a stranger parked at the entrance to their residence.

He said: “My son only asked him to give way but the stranger told him to shut up. He threatened to deal with my son and he came back in a few minutes and shot my wife.”

the Commander, SIB, Lagos, addressed to Omems Ogedegbe, a Warri-based lawyer to Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, which petitioned the Chief of Army Staff on the killings, urged him to send representatives of the group to interview the commander over the allegations raised in the petition.

Few days after the killings, human rights activists and groups, particularly IPDI, petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, over the incident, alleging extra-judicial killings.

The rights groups had argued that it was not true that the youths (suspects) were killed in a shootout with soldiers, as they were arrested and whisked to Agge community before they were extra-judicially killed later the same day.

ENIN—CONTRO VERSY has continued to trail Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the election petition by the governorship candidate of the party, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) at the election petitions tribunal, challenging the election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, with some leaders of the party in Edo North affirming their support for him.

The leaders, in a statement by Chief E. Ojo and three others, yesterday, in Benin City, insisted

that “the justice of this case will be better served by prosecuting the case in the court of law.

“We are unimpressed by the reasons given by Chief Dan Orbih (state chairman of the party) which, according to him, led to his unilateral withdrawal of PDP from the suit by Gen. Airhiavbere at the tribunal. We consider them very untrue, unfounded, baseless and lacking in merit.”

Chief Orbih, has meanwhile, described the leaders as unknown members of the party and political jobbers, who are out to feed fat on Gen. Airhiavbere’s money.

Physically challenged persons barricade Mbiama-Yenagoa road

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—VE HICULAR movement on MbiamaYenagoa Road, linking the Bayelsa State capital to the rest of the country, was, yesterday, paralyzed as hundreds of physically challenged persons took to the highway in protest over what they described as the insensitivity of the state government to their plight.

The protesters, many of whom were on wheel chairs and clutches stormed the Edepie Roundabout on MbiamaYenagoa Road as early as 7a.m., to register their grievances.

Armed with placards, some of which read, “Are we not citizens of Bayelsa,” “Govt should carry us along like other Bayesans.”

The development caused serious gridlock spanning several kilometers.

Ijaw graduates give 7-day ultimatum to Chevron

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

I

JAW graduates from oil and gas bearing communities of Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms in Delta State, operating under Kombot Employment Front, KEF, have issued a 7-day ultimatum to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to employ successful Ogere trainees among

or face a disruption of its operations in their areas.

Other demands include annual recruitment of 20 graduates into Chevron Nigeria Limited as regular staff, conversion of Egbema and Gbaramatu indigenes who are contract staff to permanent staff and immediate recruitment of their graduates into Escravos Gas to Liquid Project operation team.

Imuzeze passes on

M

R. Samuel Imuz eze of Ozalla, in Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State, is dead, aged 66.

Until his transition, he was a retired Civil Servant, having worked in different Local Government Areas in Edo State.

A statement by the family said funeral rites will commence on Thursday, August 16, at his residence in Eguada Ehor, Uhunwode Local Government, Edo State while the final internment will hold on Saturday, August

18, 2012 at his residence.

He is survived by children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren among whom is Mr. Charles Imuzeze, Executive Director, Great Measures Media Network, Lagos.

Late Samuel Imuzeze

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Orodje wades into Sapele Okpe Exco election suit

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

INSPECTION: Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) with Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare (with microphone), when he inspected the clearing and demolition of buildings blocking natural waterways around Sapele township, yesterday.

APELE—THE Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I, has waded into the legal tussle which rocked the planned election into the executive of Sapele Okpe Community, which is currently pending before a Delta State High Court sitting in Sapele.

The royal father, in a statement, said he was interested in restoring lasting peace to the community.

Ten members of the immediate past executive committee, had dragged Chief David Dafinone, Sapele Okpe Land Trust Committee and four other members of the current interim executive

FG warns youths against terrorist acts

Okene killings: Police in Edo beef up security at border towns B

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—FOLLOW ING the killing of some members of Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene, Kwara State, last week by unknown gunmen, Edo State Police Command has sent its men to border towns between Edo and Kogi states to monitor the activities of armed militia to ensure that they do not invade the state.

It will be recalled that men of Edo State Command arrested two of the gunmen who were among those allegedly responsible for the Kogi State church attack, last week at Ibilo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Balogun, told Vanguard, yester-

day, in Benin, in a telephone chat, that policemen had been deployed to all Muslims communities in Edo North to ensure a hitch- free Sallah celebration.

He said: “We have deployed policemen to the buffer zones between Edo and Kogi states to ensure that the gunmen,

who were responsible for the killings in Okene do not infiltrate Edo State.

We have beefed security in towns like Ibillo, Igarra, Okpella, among others. We are also taking some security measures to ensure that Muslims in Edo have a hitch-free Sallah celebration.”

Mr. Balogun, who had

I’ve no power to fix date for LG poll—Uduaghan

BY EMMA AMAZIE

W

A R R I — G OV E R NOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has said that he has no power to fix a date for the local government elections, an issue which has raised anxiety particular-

ly among political parties in the state.

Uduaghan explained at an interactive session with reporters in Warri, that it was only Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, that could fix the date and conduct the

No crisis in AAU over tuition fees—NAESS

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—NATION AL Association of Edo State Students, NAESS, has described as untrue, insinuations that fresh crisis was brewing in the state-owned Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, over tuition fees payable in the institution.

Meanwhile, authorities of the university have denied the killing

earlier addressed members of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, in the state, sued for aggressive recruitment of volunteers with unblemished record into the committee. He praised PCRC at Ibillo for assisting the Police in the arrest of the gunmen.

of two of its students in a cult clash. It was, reported recently, that two students of the institution were reportedly killed during a cult clash.

The university ’s spokesman, Mr. Chris Adamaigbo, in a statement, said that there was no cult clash in the university, let alone killing of its students. He said that academic activities in the university which resumed for the second semester on July 22, 2012 had been running unhin-

dered and without threat to the peace in the university.

Meantime, President of NAESS, Mr Ernest Asibor in a statement, disassociated themselves from the comment by one Gerrard Asekhameh, who claimed that the students were not happy with the acting capacity of the cur rent ViceChancellor of the university, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku and warned against utterances capable of causing crisis in the university.

elections.

The councils are being administered by caretaker committees since the tenure of elected chairmen and officials expired early this year.

Uduaghan said: “The date does not depend on me. DSIEC is conducting the election, I am an interested party in the election. I am a voter, so I am not the one to fix the date for the elections.”

He noted that following the numerous complaints he received, a Bill was sent to the Delta State House of Assembly, which is currently on recess, to ensure equal representation from the three senatorial districts.

The governor said if the lawmakers approve the listing, the Commission members would meet to decide how the election would hold and the date for the election.

committee, led by Mr. Moses Ogodo and First Bank of Nig Plc, to court.

The court had restrained the current executive from conducting election into the executive positions of the community development committee, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

When the matter came up for hearing recently, the Orodje, who dispatched a delegation of palace Chiefs, including Chief P. Omuvwie, the most senior Chief in Okpe Land and the majority leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief M. Igbuya, prayed the court to adjourn the matter as he (Orodje) was working on settling the matter out of court.

ENIN—THE Fed eral Government has appealed to Nigerian youths to desist from acts capable to tagging the nation as a terrorist state.

Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe, weekend, on an occasion to mark the International Youth Day, lamented the incessant killings in the Northern part of the country and urged youths to stay out

of trouble in the interest of the country.

Imagwe, who spoke on Building a better world, Partnering with the Youths, expressed the Federal Government’s determination to address the prevailing security challenges facing the country through the creation of jobs for the youths.

He noted that the theme for the celebration came at a time the nation was facing terrorism and unemployment challenges, which according to him, were great threats to the country.

Commissioner, Director laud work on Abigborodo road

W

A R R I — D E LTA State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Solomon Fukekeme and a Director in the Office of Project Monitoring Directorate, Governor’s Office, Asaba, Mr. Odion Sanusi, have lauded the pace and quality of work on the on-going Sapele-Abigborodo-Arowun road.

Their respective commendations were made during separate working visits to Sapele to inspect the road project.

Special Project Director of the road, Mr. Francis Maku-Eyituoyor, who addressed the officials, remarked that despite the hazard of the rainy season, the construction work was not stopped.

Fukekeme said that the money expended on the construction of a new road through an entire terrain of creeks, marshy land and rivers like the Sapele-Abigborodo-Arowun Road would construct over five major roads in an upland city.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 —13

Enugu begins registration residents of the state. of tricycles He explained that the reg-

E

NUGU—ENUGU State Government has started “fleet registration” of tricycles operating in the state to enable it plan the routing schedule for the operators.

The state’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr Chuka Utazi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Enugu, yesterday.

Utazi said that routing for tricycle drivers would help alleviate transportation problems being faced by

STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING: From left; Mrs A.M Daniel-Nwaobia, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior; Chief Emeka Nwogu, Minister of Labour, Productivity & Employment; Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of Interior, and Dr Samuel Orton, Minister of State, Trade and Investment at the stakeholders' meeting organised by Ministry of Interior and Anchor Dataware Solutions, ADS, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo; Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Police arrest owner of hotel allegedly used by kidnap suspects

BY VINCENT UJU-

MADU

A

WKA—ANAMBRA State police command has arrested the proprietor of Arthur Garden Hotel at Nkpor, Mr. Arthur Christopher, seven days after four suspected kidnapers were arrested in the hotel by the police.

In a statement in Awka, the state police command said the hotel proprietor was arrested in Enugu, adding that he was currently helping the police in their investigations.

Arthur Garden Hotel and its two other branches located at No 1 Anglican road, Nkpor and No 13 Central School road, Afor Nkpor, both in Anambra State, had also been sealed off, according to the police.

The arrest of the proprietor brings to five the number of people linked

with the hotel in police net.

Earlier, the police had arrested four persons whose names were given as Chinedu Eze, Obumneme Madugha, Okezue Chukwuemeka and John Okoro during a raid in the hotel.

According to the police, the arrested persons

made confessional statements that helped the police to rescue two kidnap victims whose names were given as Mr. Augustine Emeka, operations manager of Zenith Bank at Nkpor and Mr Vincent Ohiagwu from Uga in Aguata Local Government Area.

Both men were kid-

E

NUGU—A group, Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, said, yesterday, that it had formally written to the United Nations asking it to accord Biafra the status of an observer member of the body.

President of the group Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, who briefed newsmen in Enugu, said the application was submitted to the UN Security Council on August 6, 2012.

Onwuka, who expressed the determination of his C M Y K

Abia ACN to hold congresses

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, will hold its congresses at the end of this month as a way of strengthening the party towards 2015 elections.

Towards this end, some national leaders of the party, weekend, met in Umuahia, Abia State capital to discuss modalities for successful congresses.

Already, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina has been ap-

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—NO fewer than six primary school teachers, including a headmaster, in Ikeduru and Mbaitoli local government areas of Imo State are now being questioned for alleged fleecing of pupils and payment of ghost work-

ers.

The Executive Chairman of Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB, Mrs. Uche Ejiogu, who disclosed this while fielding questions at Correspondents’ Forum in Owerri, also said the headmaster, whose child left the school system

group to project Biafra to the world economic community, noted that the move was the first of its kind since the struggle for an independent state of Biafra.

The British-trained lawyer disclosed that his group had also, through the African Union Secretariat, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, requested for a meeting of all African Union Heads of State and Governments to be convened in Kampala on October 22, this year.

Onwuka explained that with the application, the United Nations membership would give Biafra the

recognition and support it had lacked since the Republic was born on May 30, 1967.

He said: ”The United Nations would now have the mandate and power to intervene, investigate and issue arrest against anyone who uses violence or force to kill Biafrans in their quest for self determination. ”It would now be against International Law for the Nigerian State through its President, Governors or security forces to use force to kill Biafrans either as individuals or groups."

several years ago, was still paying his salary until he was caught in the act.

Ejiogu said the headmaster had not only faced a panel but had equally agreed to pay all the monies he paid his son illegally, adding that the other teachers, who decided to flout the directives of the state governor on non-payment of fees by pupils will be sanctioned.

She said: “These teachers were busy collecting various sums of money from their pupils for handiwork.

“This runs counter to government directives and the monies collected were never accounted for by the teachers.”

On teachers’ welfare, Ejiogu said her administration was aware of the global essence of Information Communication Technology and the impact of digital technology and has decided to organise free computer programmes for all teachers in the state in partnership with a firm.

pointed the secretary of Abia State congress committee while Mr Abba Yaro is the chairman of the congress committee.

According to national officers, the committee has concluded plans to conduct their congresses at various levels in the state. They explained that the ward congress would take place on August 30, while the local government congress would hold on August 31. The state congress they further explained holds on September 1.

Imo reassures on completion of road projects

Headmaster, 6 others questioned O over alleged fraud

Group seeks UN recognition for Biafra Republic

BY TONY EDIKE

napped on July 29.

It expressed the commitment of the police to rid the state of all forms of criminal activities and urged members of the public to volunteer information that would aid the police in carrying out its duties of protecting lives and property.

istration would also assist the government in ensuring adequate security in the state.

Utazi said the fleet numbers boldly printed on the tricycles would help identify corrupt drivers easily considering the fact that robbers now used tricycles to perpetrate their criminal acts in the state.

He said: "We are registering the Keke Napeps. Fleet Registration means we capture your biometrics to know who you are."

WERRI—IMO State Government has expressed its determination to complete all road projects it embarked on at the beginning of the Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

Deputy Governor, Mr Jude Agbaso, made the pledge, yesterday, when he played host to members of the Correspondents Chapel at the Government House, Owerri.

He said: “This administration is assuring Imo people that all road projects

started by this government will be finished before the end of our tenure. There is no community that we have not reached and this makes us happy.”

He debunked the notion in some quarters that the administration was stingy, pointing out that money was put into areas where it was needed most.

“This administration does not share money to a few people. Money is communally owned and must be used to serve the people who own it,” he added.

Technical education key to industrialisation —Rector

BY VINCENT UJU-

MADU

A

WKA—RECTOR of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Professor Godwin Onu, said, yesterday, that technical education remained the key to the country’s rapid industrialisation and economic development.

Consequently, he called for more funding for the execution of capital projects that would put polytechnics on a better footing for the training of the required manpower.

Onu, while receiving officials of the Federal Min-

istries of Education and Finance who were in the institution to monitor the first and second quarters of the 2012 capital project execution, described Oko Polytechnic as an institution in a hurry to develop and, therefore, needed the support of the bodies.

He commended the efforts of the Federal Government to uplift the status of technical education in the country, but decried what he described as the delay in the release of funds, adding that the situation was slowing down the development of infrastructure in the polytechnic.

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Firemen battling to put out the fire from a luxury bus with number-plate Abuja XJ918AGJ which was razed by fire at Ilasamaja on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

ASUU blames bombings, kidnappings on injustice

BY TONYEDIKE NUGU—THE Aca demic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday decried the inability of the Federal Government to effectively address the increasing security challenges, particularly the menace of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram in parts of the country.

The union said the insecurity problems across the nation was an expression of people’s anger over high level injustice against the masses, hunger, deprivations and failure of government to tackle corruption.

President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir F. Isa made this known while briefing newsmen at the end of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the body held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN. Isa and the immediate past president of the union, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie who spoke on the outcome of the meeting, challenged all tiers of government to make security and welfare of the masses a priority, saying in spite of the high budget on security, bombings, kidnappings and armed robbery had become a daily occurrence.

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ASUU also noted that the spiral increase in the prices of essential commodities, low standard of leaving and joblessness had pushed many citizens into criminal activities.

Isa said: “The spate of insecurity in the country has continued unabated.

On daily basis, the newsstands are awash with reports of bombings, kidnappings, assassinations, armed robberies, arson, and related acts of vio-

lence perpetuated against the Nigerian people and foreigners alike. ”There are also reports of spiral inflation and phenomenal increase in commodity prices leading to food insecurity and reduction in standard of living across the country. Joblessness, homelessness, and decreasing access to education and other indices of under-development now characterise our national life.”

Tension in Umuahia over ‘inciting activities’ of suspect

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

M UA H I A — T H E fragile peace in crisis-ridden OhumeOmaegwu Autonomous Community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State is being threatened, following what the people described as alleged inciting activities of one Chief Chikara Ugorji standing trial for murder but currently on bail at an Umuahia High Court.

The community, which a few months ago was embroiled in crisis which saw the death of one person and destruction of property worth millions of Naira, al-

leged that Ugorji returned to the village on account of the bail granted him by the court, and allegedly started intimidating the people by calling meetings and threatening to deal with any person who challenged him.

But a source close to Ugorji has since denied the allegation, blaming the development on his “enemies” who want the crisis to continue for their benefit.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Umuahia, Mr. Vincent Nzeadibe, elder brother of Sopuruchi Nzeadibe, whose alleged murder Ugorji is standing trial, said it was very painful that his brother’s remains were still in the morgue, while the alleged killerwasgrantedbailonlyforhim to return and continue to intimidate the people.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—15

449 sit for Presidential Scholarship test

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & AMINAT AMUDA

A VISIT: From left— Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered); Brigadier-General Nnamdi Okore-Affia, Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM, when the Institute paid a courtesy visit to NYSC Headquarters, Abuja, Friday. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

FG declares Aug 20, 21 public holidays

FG establishes Council on Niger Delta

A

A

BUJA—FEDERAL Government has declared next week Monday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 21, as public holidays to commemorate the 2012 Eid el-Fitr Sallah celebration.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, in a statement in Abuja, “urged all Nigerians to emulate the exemplary attributes of

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BUJA—FOUR hun dred and forty-nine (449) first class graduates, yesterday, in Abuja, sat for Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme test, which has provision for only 100 slots.

Seven of the candidates, however, sat for the test at National Universities Com-

mission, NUC, office in London.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, said: “Out of this 449 candidates, who are writing the test this year, we are only going to take 100 students from the best of the best.

“The programme is for all first class graduates in the selected programmes like sciences, engineering and mo-

Islam which are love, tolerance and peaceful coexistence amongst the people.”

He said: “All Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, should use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for the peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood.”

BY CHRIS OCHAYI BUJA—DETERMINED to address the challenges posed by the multiplicity of development actors and partners, which often resulted in duplication of projects and programmes in the region, the Council on Niger Delta has been established with a view to coordinate and fast-track

the development of the region.

The Council will strive to, among other things, enhance information sharing and exchange of ideas among stakeholders; promote greater co-operation and mutual support; enhance synergy in service delivery; eliminate duplication of projects and wastage of scarce resources, and build consensus on

initiatives and development activities in the Niger Delta.

The Council was established during a three-day retreat organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to review the draft on Niger Delta Action Plan with the aim of ensuring that it encapsulates actions critical to the development challenges facing the Niger Delta.

nocular Biology and only 100 students will benefit from the programme.”

He said the government would look beyond the first class certificates of the candidates to examine their Comparative Grade Point Average, CGPA, and O’ level results to select the best 100.

He said: “Federal Government has plans to develop a critical mass of professionals, who will serve as catalysts of change and agents of scientific and technological advancement.

“This sustainable economic development will be achieved through the sponsorship of these outstanding students for postgraduate studies in the top 25 universities in the world.

“This means that only those candidates who are graduates from the 2009/ 2010 and 2010/2011 academic sessions are qualified for the selection.”

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Makurdi-Gboko Road accidents claim 11

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—TEN persons were feared dead, yesterday, in a ghastly motor accident on Makurdi-Gboko Road, involving the state-owned Benue

Links’ 14-seater bus and a trailer loaded with cement. Also, another accident on the same axis, claimed the life of one person.

Vanguard gathered from eyewitnesses that the illfated bus was conveying passengers from Gboko to Kano en route Makurdi, but was involved in the

mishap barely 30 minutes after take-off.

It was gathered that the driver of the packed passenger bus attempted to overtake the trailer at Liambee village, few kilometers from Wanunne, but unfortunately ran into it from the rear and skidded off the road.

The sources claimed

VACCINATION: Mrs. Gordons Obuah, mother of the Obuah Triplets, flanked by Dr. Busola Olufayo, leader of a medical team (right) and Mr. Felix Inaede, Manager of the Abuja Children's Home, after the vaccination of the inmates and staff of the Home against Herpatitis B Virus, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Obuah Triplets at the Abuja Chidlren's Home, Karu, weekend. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

that 10 persons died on the spot, while survivors were rushed to NKST Hospital at Wanunne, in Tarke Local Government Area of the state, for medical attention.

When contacted, General Manager of the Transport Company, Mr. John Baka, confirmed that one of the vehicles in the company’s fleet convening passengers from Gboko to Kano had an accident, adding that he had report of three deaths.

Baka said he had sent a team to the scene of the accident to ascertain the true situation.

However, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ejike Alaribe, told newsmen that four persons died in the accident, adding that the injured were taken to NKST Hospital in Wanunne for treatment.

Alaribe added that a head-on collision involving two cars, in the same axis, claimed the life of one person, yesterday.

Damaturu women protest arrests of husbands, children over suicide attack

BY BALA AJIYA

D

AMATURU—NO fewer than 300 women and children marched in the street of Damaturu, Yobe State, protesting the alleged indiscriminate arrests and detention of their husbands and children by Joint Task Force, JTF, in the state.

The alleged arrests and detention, it was gathered, was sequel to a lone suicide bomber, who killed six soldiers on Gashua Road. Following the suicide attack, the soldiers allegedly

stormed the neighbourhood close to the scene and arrested 30 people.

One of the protesters, Hajiya Adama, said: “The soldiers broke into our house and whisked away my husband and children. Since then we have not heard from them.

“Things are getting difficult for me and the children left, because he is the bread winner. We are appealing to the state government and traditional rulers to intervene to secure the release our husbands and children.”

The protesters marched

to the Emir ’s palace to register their grievances but met his absence.

They were later addressed by the District Head of Bulabulin Ward,

who promised, on behalf of the Emir, to intervene through the state government to ensure the speedy release of their husbands and children.

DAY 24: I’tikaf for Night of Majesty

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S the rainy season is suitable for farm ing, where crops and farm produce will grow and remain fresh, the period of Lailatul Qadri is a period for renewing our relationship with Allah and ensure closeness to Him. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity.

It is this night, in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet (S.A.W.), when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira.

Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet (S.A.W.), it has been named Lailatul Qadr.

This night had already opened its gates of treasures when the angel, for the first time, had come with the Divine Message, but its auspiciousness has continued to be with us permanently.

The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: “The person who offered prayers to Allah in the Night of Majesty with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven” (Bukhari).

This holiest and most blessed night is likely to occur on one of the odd

... as Police, vigilante group avert bloodbath in Plateau

BY AKANINYENE EZEKIEL

J

OS—ANOTHER bloody attack was, yesterday, averted in Kwakwi village of Riyom Local

Government Area of Plateau State, where similar attacks claimed the lives of two prominent lawmakers and hundreds of other residents in the council last month.

The would-be assailants, eyewitnesses claimed, were armed Fulani herdsmen, who were dressed in black attires. The village’s vigilante group, with the help of Police, gave them a hot chase and one of

OAAN, LIM on collision course with Kano Govt, consultant over billboards in the state. ing Practitioners Council der by anyone as a gross Chijide said though of Nigeria, APCON, violation of the very

BY INNOCENT ANABA

O

UTDOOR Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN, and Lawyers in the Media Forum, LIM, have called on the Kano State Government to stop its consultant and officials from destroying billboards in the state.

At a breakfast meeting of LIM, Mr. Charles Chijide, President of OAAN, noted that though the regulation of outdoor advertising was C M Y K

the constitutional responsibility of the local government areas, the state governments have enacted laws and have been regulating the sector.

He said Kano State Government’s foreign consultant had been removing billboards, after imposing over 1000 percent hike in levies and has been abusing and insulting Nigerians, and had also refused to obey a court order stopping the removal of billboards

the association had been grappling with high and multiple taxes in a harsh economic climate, state agents have been destroying billboards, sometime in disregard of orders of court, barring them from doing so. He decried what he called too many laws on outdoor advertising.

The breakfast meeting was organised by OAAN and LIM, a forum on Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. Registrar of Advertis-

Alhaji Garba Kankarofi, at the event, said: “I had advised OAAN to deal with this issue legally.

The association could also approach the National Assembly for their intervention.

“We can take our case to the National Assembly if truly there is a breach.

We can take it there as a complaint. If you are ready, I am ready.”

LIM’s National Chairman, Mr. Charles Odenigbo, described the disobedience to court or-

foundation of the Constitution.

He said: “We condemn the action of Kano State Government for what its agents have done, and we totally condemn the disobedience to an order made by a competent court.

“The Rule of Law enjoins equality of all before the law and we will join hands with OAAN to end this impunity. We will not fold our hands and allow our democracy to be raped by a foreigner.”

nights on the last 10 days of Ramadan and the reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person’s lifetime put together.

Although the odd nights have been given as clue for locating the Night of Majesty, no one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshiping Allah.

This is the reason for I’tikaf (seclusion) during the last 10 days of Ramadan so that we can locate the night and reap the benefits.

“Allahumma innaka afuwwun kareemun tuhib-bul af-wa fa-afu anni” (O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so forgive me.)

Prayer of the day

“O Allah, on this day, show me the way to win Your pleasure, do not let shaytan have a power over me, make Paradise an abode and a resting place for me, O the One who fulfills the requests of the needy, accept my prayers.”

Amen.

the suspected raiders was apprehended.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ayeni, told newsmen that a suspect was arrested in collaboration with vigilante group at 2am, with AK-47 rifle and 28 rounds of ammunition, while attempting to raid the village.

Ayeni said: “A gang of criminals invaded Kwakwi village in Riyom council and the youths mobilised and prevented them from carrying out their devilish act.

“A phone call was made to the Riyom Divisional Police and a patrol team with the youths swung into action and were able to capture the suspect with his AK-47 riffle.”

Ayeni confirmed that no one was killed in the incident and appealed to citizens to remain alert and give credible information to the Police to help fight crime in the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—17

Did we go to the 2012 Olympics?

Olympics medals London last week about his personal investment in what Chika has become today. Comrade Chukwumerije, we must recall, was a leftist (if not angry Marxist) journalist and publisher of the radical Afriscope magazine. To add martial arts to his leftist bent was only natural. I bear witness to the kind of personal sacrifice and investment that produced Chika Chukwumerije.

Chika Chukwumerije's effort

I

have always lived in Surulere. Ev ery Saturday and Sunday, young men and women trying to burn off the previous week’s ngwo-ngwo, ishiewu, nkwobi and odeku to create space for the coming week’s binging went to the National Stadium, Surulere, for exercise.

Boxers who would one day represent us in international championships or become professional boxers trained on their own under the flyover! As far back as the late eighties, every Saturday that I went to the Stadium, I saw Comrade Chukwumerije and ALL his young children at the taekwondo class behind the swimming pool. The investment he was talking about included time, dedication, discipline and money. Chukwumerije and his children came all the way from FESTAC Town to Surulere for practice!

So Chika’s Beijing bronze was a product of at least 20 years of hard work which our sports administrators probably knew nothing about! For Chika, it has been a lifetime preparation. This is

what catching them young is all about!

Let me also recall that Chioma Ajunwa’s gold in Atlanta had NOTHING to do with our sports administrators. The credit goes to Chief Segun Odegbami who picked the rejected Ajunwa (she had failed a drugs test and was treated like a leper) gave her hope, invested in her, took her to London for training and sourced sponsorship for her training. For redeeming Ajunwa, Odegbami was celebrated by the Mbaise nation and bestowed with a chieftaincy title, Enyioma of Mbaise!

Memories of Atlanta

W

e won the football Gold in At lanta using footballers produced

by Clemense Westerhoff. Let us recall that it took Westerhoff five years to produce the team that won us our first and only Africa Nation’s gold outside Nigeria and qualified us for the World

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It was the 10 seconds the world awaited with a suffocating sense of expectation! It was the 10 seconds that defined the London 2012 Olympics. Like the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the London 2012 Olympics will pass as the most spectacular, the most watched and the most successful Olympics in recent times, well, one might say since the Atlanta 96 Olympics which recorded 8.1 million ticket sales. But what will be engraved in our memories for a long time will be that famously expected 10 seconds. Then came the moment on Sunday 5 August 2012 and, like a blinding bolt of lightening, it was all over in 9.63 seconds!

Forget the 200 meters. We all know that the 100 meters dash is the main event in every Olympics. The winner is like the Victor Ludorum. We talk about him till the next Olympics. The 100 meters final lineup that Sunday bristled with stars: Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Ryan Bailey, Ushafa Powell and of course Jamaica’s iconic global brand, Usain Bolt! The question was who would take second after Bolt!

Like a Ferrari, Bolt won the 100 meters dash in 9.63 seconds! The world roared from London to Kingston. In that moment of global ecstasy the only other thing the world waited for was his trademark lightening bolt pose!

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Bolt struck down Ushaffa Powel and Gay, a Jamaican cabbie carrying me from the Marriot Hotel, Tampa Florida to the airport said that Bolt’s mother explained that her son’s secrete for success was his relish for yam! Yam? I said in my mind that if that were so, Nigeria should produce millions of Bolts, especially from Benue state!

But for Team Nigeria we went to London with the true spirit of Olympics—to participate! How come a little Sugarcane Island like Jamaica can torment the world with world class athletes and we can’t? Don’t we eat enough yams? We are talking of the Olympics, not National Sports festivals where states rent athletes just to win medals. We are not even talking of All Africa Games where medals from the physically challenged make up the majority of the haul! Nigeria believes in prayers and predictions to win us medals. You don’t prepare for the Olympics in two years! It is a quadrennial event! Nigeria appointed an athletics coach about six months to the game! Those in London now already have their eyes set on Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics. Olympics is a serious game and champions are like no other in the world and are heroes in every serious nation!

Our athletes, including the highly rated Blessing Okagbare, sensationally crashed out of their various events. Our hope shifted to Chika Chukwumerije, the taekwondo Bronze medalist in the Beijing Olympics.

Chika Chukwumerije is a product of many years of preparation! Comrade (Igwe!)

Senator Uche Chukwumerije spoke in

ity today! That is why the NFA or NFF signs coaches specifically to qualify us for semi-finals so that we can celebrate mediocrity! That is why they fired Samson Siasia! He was wasting time experimenting with young players instead of qualifying us for competitions we would never win! You can see the impatience they are showing to Coach Steven Keshi’s determination to grow our football and thereby make our League a serious League. It took the Chipolopolo of Zambia at least six years under the direction of one of Africa’s best footballers, Kalusha Bwalya, first as a coach/ player, then a coach and finally as FA Chairman to become Africa Champions.

The point I am making is that you cannot expect to reap where you did not sow. Something worse than that is to expect to reap when you DID NOT sow at all! I must admit that it is not every country that went to the Olympics that won medals. Our case is that we are not even doing well in the niche events we used to do well like weight lifting, wrestling, table tennis and boxing. Our sports have suffered from our national state of un-being. In the sixties our sportsmen and women came from the Schools, Police, Army and Prisons. These institutions favoured intakes with sporting abilities in their admissions and recruitments. Today we should be producing Olympians in shooting, archery, gymnastics, rowing, hammer, javelin, discus and shot put from the Military and paramilitary organizations. Our Ijaw brothers should be harvesting gold medal from the pools! Instead of shooting danfo drivers our police should be shooting traps!

We can do two things: Completely reorganize our sports associations and put them firmly in the hands of those who have participated in and understand the sports, not opportunists out for their pockets! For our football, the President should invite Sepp Blatter of FIFA here and make him understand that Nigerian governments at various levels fund football 100 percent as part

The point I am making is that you cannot expect to reap where you did not sow;Our case is that we are not even doing well in the niche events we used to do well like weight lifting, wrestling, table tennis and boxing

Cup for the first time! And because he stood up to the opportunists who exploited our footballers, they lied against him and booted him out. Then began the fraud that has ruled our football— packaging teams for competitions, so that we can win even bronze for the opportunists to go to Abuja to be celebrated and rewarded with cash!

I made a prediction that once we exhausted the rump of Westerhoff tutored footballers, our football would go under. That prediction has become a real-

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of youth development and therefore have the responsibility to ensure that their investments get the expected results. FIFA should therefore allow the government to sanitize our football administration and let those who have been in the sports all their lives run it like Kalusha is doing for Zambia. It is either that the government steps in to save our football or those blackmailers who run to Zurich to shout of government interference are allowed to fund it and run it their way.

OPINION

BY CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

D

“

O you regret supporting Jonathan’s presidential candidacy?”

“Not at all. As a matter of fact, if we are again faced with a similar set of circumstances as obtained last year, I wouldn’t hesitate to support him a second time.”

I had gone to pick up my London-based professor-friend from the airport. As we drove back into town I rehashed the reasons my only option was to be rooting for Jonathan’s election as President. As the memoir Power, Politics and Death by Olusegun Adeniyi, President Umaru Yar’Adua’s media adviser, has confirmed, Yar’Adua was already incapable of discharging the functions of his office well before he was moved to a Saudi Arabian hospital in November 2009. Yet, for many agonising months thereafter, vested interest prevented power from devolving to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as stipulated by the Nigerian constitution. This needlessly creating a dangerous power vacuum.

Throughout the trying period Jonathan conducted himself impeccably. This was also the way he behaved in 2005 when,

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Jonathan and his manifest destiny as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha ran into a political turbulence that forced him from office. Jonathan neither gloated nor carried on as though the globe rotated around his person. He simply stooped to conquer the challenges of his governorship. He was in that position when he followed Yar’Adua to Aso Rock as Vice President in 2007.

On a strictly personal note, I didn’t see why someone good enough to be a lover should be considered ineligible for marriage. The protestations of the disgruntled, that Dr. Jonathan should not contest the presidential election on account of an unwritten zoning “agreement” left unanswered questions. From before independence and through the First Republic, the country broadly stood on the Hausa-Igbo-Yoruba tripod. If a political party zoned the presidency into a NorthSouth dichotomy, did that mean that the northern leg of the tripod boasted a population balance with the two southern

legs? How did zoning redress the injustice of the South-South never ever producing a president? How did it justify the SouthEast suffering just about the same kind of relegation?

There are other questions. Why should the very economic sustenance and survival of Nigeria be indexed on oil from the South-South and, by the way, from the South-East also, when some posit it as an article of faith that politicians from the two geopolitical zones might not aspire to tenancy in Aso Rock?

How come that it was essentially those vociferously against Jonathan assuming the Vice-Presidency that formed the bloc against his running for the main prize? Was it right that the discriminatory political attitude distinguishing the hewers of wood and drawers of water (those sentenced to perpetually holding the cow in check) and the few divinely set apart to permanently direct national affairs (those who alone might milk the cow) should be allowed to forever obtain?

The presidential election came. In its wake Goodluck Ebele Jonathan emerged victorious. It was an election pronounced free, fair and credible by both local and international observers.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Iloegbunam, editor of PM Review,wrote from Lagos.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 N Thursday, August 2, 2012, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, signed the Lagos Road Traffic Bill into law. He said it was in a bid to ensure safety and orderly flow of traffic in the state. He reeled out statistics to illustrate the alarming rise in accident rates resulting in injuries and death.

The new law spells out the offences and punishments attached. For instance, trailers (apart from fuel tankers and long buses) are now prohibited from plying the roads between 6.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m.

Commercial motorcycle operators are not to ply major trunks, such as Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Apapa-Oshodi Express, Lagos-Badagry and Lekki-Epe Express.

Motorists are also forbidden to make phone calls, eat, count money or engage in “other dangerous activities,” while on the wheel. Pedestrians are forbidden to cross the expressways. They are now to compulsorily use the pedestrian bridges.

Violation of these laws attracts between N30,000 and N50,000 fines or

O

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

Continued from yesterday

T

HE eviction was implemented by armed security agents, who allegedly assaulted residents, who were bold enough to attempt to salvage their property from the rampaging bulldozers.

Sadly, the government made no prior arrangement to resettle or compensate the evictees before commencing the evictions. Faced with homelessness, the evictees took up residence at distant areas: Ilasan, Ikota and Epe communities which comprised its abandoned and uncompleted structures known to be in various stages of dilapidation.

Several weeks later, the state government also moved to evict them from the three communities and only reneged following public outcry and condemnation of the action.

Subsequently, it officially allocated the buildings to about two per cent of the affected landlords, whilst the remaining 98 per cent of the evictees were neither resettled nor compensated.

Makoko and its two neigbouring communities, OkoAgbon and Ago-Egun were described as three neglected kwashiorkor-suffering triplets as they appear to have been neglected by government.

The three communities are merely connected by a short bridge constructed over a wide canal in which there is stagnant, black and murky water. Although distinct, they share a common history, characteristics and problems.

Due to neglect over the years, the entire Makoko area (including Ago-Egun and Oko-Agbon) is bedeviled by environmental and infrastructural problems. A fast manifestation of the sordid scenario by any visitor is that as one gets to the bridge that connects the three communities,

The new Lagos traffic law imprisonment up to three years.

Predictably, many commentators have criticised the law as being “draconian.” We share the reservations of those, who feel that sending a traffic offender to three years in prison is way over the roof. But at the same time, we believe any citizen, who is willing to obey the laws of the land will have nothing to fear. Only those bent on maintaining the “jungle city” reputation of Lagos have cause to worry. But those who, like the state government, believe that the rise of Lagos to a mega city status calls for more discipline and adherence to safety standards will welcome the measures as we do.

The real problem, however, is whether the state government has the capacity to

OPINION On Makoko demolitions (2) one’s nostrils are assailed with a pervasive stench oozing from the murky water in the canal. The water is stagnant as it does not flow easily into the lagoon.

This is so because residents of the area have virtually turned the canal to a dumpsite. It is also a ‘toilet’ where they can relieve themselves. It was even alleged that unwanted babies are dumped in the canal.

Another problem of Makoko is flooding. During rainy seasons, the lagoon usually overflows as a result of poor drainage. It is a case of plenty waters everywhere, but none to drink. Lack of potable water is a perennial problem in the shanty.

More worrisome is the menace of the men of the underworld, who seem to have found the area a haven.

Crime rate is very high. The terrain makes it difficult to safeguard the people from the nefarious activities of criminals. For logistic problems, the police seldom go into the slum. Inhabitants merely put their fate on a few watchmen, who are neither trained nor equipped to face the superior power of bandits.

I

llegal residents from the Benin Republic, Togo and Cameroon were said to have relocated to the area, contributing to security challenges and over-population.

Epidemic and acute malaria fever are common diseases suffered in the area because of the brimming canal and the flooding.

The case of Makoko and many others in the nation is a

implement this law. Does it have the disciplined personnel to instil discipline on erring members of the public? Fears are being expressed that the track record of law enforcement agencies like the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have not been enviable. Laws like the ban on commercial motorcycles use of the highways and the wearing of crash helmet failed due to poor implementation.

Secondly, rotten eggs in LASTMA capitalise on these laws to victimise citizens through corrupt entrapment tactics for selfish profit. LASTMA officials permit drivers of their own vehicles to violate the law, and military and police officers harass officials bent on implementing the law. What new safeguards has the state government come up with to ensure that this new law works?

Massive public enlightenment must be mounted on all media, and government alone should not be left to do it. The law is in our collective interest. Let us give it a chance.

clear case of neglect and failure of the government to provide basic amenities for its citizenry. The long suffering by the inhabitants is pathetic, worrisome and unacceptable.

While the efforts of the government to remedy the agelong injustice against the poor are commendable, it would have been better appreciated if it had been done with a human face. The approach it has adopted on this sensitive issue is totalitarian, undemocratic and to say the least, crude.

The demolition has affected lots of people, particularly, women and children. Some of them were said to have relocated to beneath the Third Mainland Bridge while others are squatting with their relatives or friends.

The Lagos State government should, therefore, resettle displaced persons and pay the necessary compensations.

And what will be more applauding is how to turn the inherent opportunities and potentials of Makoko into goldmine.

Those arrested without any justification but were detained for resisting the demolition should be released.

Commissioner Oniru had said there was no plan by the government to resettle the displaced persons because they had allegedly been occupying the land illegally. Governor Fashola should not toe this line.

He should remember his pledge to the protesting evictees when he said: “I’m sorry about the loss of life from this exercise. Because in the process of doing our work, our primary responsibility is to protect lives and I regret that it happened and we shall investigate the circumstances. I have held meetings with your leaders and even those at Okobaba said they’re ready to move and we’re building houses for them at Agbowa”. This should be the next step.

Concluded •Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 14, 2012— 19

, V

ANGUARD, Tuesday July 24, 2012, Crime Alert carried a story

by Evelyn Usman and Ruth Chukwuemeka titled: “We were caught after renewing our charms on penetration of bullets”. This is a story of eight-man trans-state gang of armed robbers. When they were arrested they were in possession of five AK 47 and nine magazines. In the story they were described as a gang that “specialised in operating in almost all the parts of the country.

“Three members of this violent gang spoke freely of their roles in the gang and what made them decide to become members of the gang-inviolence-crime operations. One of them, Wale Adeniyi, 28 years old, described himself as the gang hit man. 'Whenever we were going for an operation, I was usually given a rifle first before any other person.

This was because of my boldness. It was Akin, our leader, who introduced me into the gang…'. 27 years Taofeek Bukola said he was the gang’s driver, while 20 years old Oladun Agemo declared himself the gang’s armourer”. The story even in its sketchy biographical

details of the three arrested sheds light on the economics of militant violence criminality and the transition from the working poor into full time armed robbery. From the tit-bits gleaned from the interview of these in police custody, it appears that the pathway into full time armed robbery is not along the continuum from poverty into incorporation into an operational gang but from the inadequacy of income present in some occupations. If this is the case, then the policy of job creation may be an ineffective response to the issue of armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy and insurgency. Job creation that merely provides a subsistence income may not provide sufficient disincentive to those taking on the invitation to join a more “lucrative enterprise”. Taofeek Bukola, the gang’s driver explains how he got recruited into this trade.

“He was tempted to join the gang because of his inability to get money for his mother’s medical bill… he said he had to cater for himself, his wife, two children and his siblings.

But meeting some of the financial

,

obligations of his mother, like buying of herbs and other things was the most tasking. 'As a result of this I would work in the bakery until 6am and then work as commercial bus driver, shuttling from Oshodi and Iyana-Ipaja. Yet I could not meet up, as I normally got N1,500 to N2,000 everyday, which I used to feed my family'. Taofeek, from his narrative, put in more than a 10hours to earn at most N2,000 per day- averaging N200 per hour.

Compared to Taofeek who could earn on six days working week about N50,000 per month(remember the N18,000 per month minimum wage that Governors claimed they could not pay), office workers living in IyanaIpaja and working in a Lagos Island could spend 10 to 12 hours, eight working and four travelling hours to earn about a third of Taofeek’s two jobs income.

T

he poor workers may depend on the unions to argue their case for a better deal- the Taofeeks are entrepreneurial in attitude and have their eyes wide open for better

Orhii and the battle against counterfeit drugs

BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO

T

HERE is no doubt that Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii means well for the Nigeria nation in the area of food and drug administration and control. His efforts in these regards are daily crystallising at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, where he is leading a team of committed bureaucrats to revolutionise operations of the agency.

This positive revolution has been practically and quite significantly demonstrated in the agency’s fight against counterfeit drugs.

Indeed, a number of technological innovations in this sphere by the Orhii leadership have forcefully repositioned NAFDAC as a progressive agent in the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts at transforming the nation.

In fact, such innovations as the TRUSCAN, black eye, mobile authentication service, radio frequency identification for detecting counterfeit medicines have upped the ante in the agency’s battle against the menace of fake drugs; and these innovations have enabled NAFDAC to gain global recognition as one of the top medicine regulatory agencies in the world and one that is at the front of fighting counterfeiting with the use of cutting-edge technology.

Indeed, it is on account of this that Nigeria (NAFDAC) is currently a member of the prestigious International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, IMPACT, that is made up of 103 member states with Orhii as Vice Chairman. He had also been invited for the second year running by Council of Foreign Relations in the US to discuss the way forward about counterfeit medicines.

Notwithstanding these achievements, the leadership is not resting on its oars. Its restlessness to expand the frontiers of effective food and drug administration and control is

tangibly remarkable. The leadership is making deliberate efforts to upgrade the agency’s laboratories to international and WHO standards to bolster fundamental experiments.

It has deepened efforts in pushing through international collaborations with other food and drug control agencies. For instance, it was from such collaborative efforts that NAFDAC leadership has been able to appraise the weakness in the law prescribing punishments for drug counterfeiters. Whereas, in China the punishment for drug counterfeiting is capital punishment, the current law for punishment for manufacturing of fake dugs in Nigeria is 15 years jail term with the alternative being N500,000 fine.

It is thus understandable why the Orhii leadership is pushing for a review of the law (Decree No. 15 of 1993) which set up the agency to make the punishment life imprisonment as it is done in India, including confiscation of assets of the culprits. The passion and commitment to emplace this legal architecture underscore the disposition of a revolutionary and sharply focused leadership.

The NAFDAC DG had rationalized this in a recent interview. Read him: “…I would have wanted death penalty for fake drug dealers.

Unfortunately, I had to come to terms with civil rights activists who believe that death penalty is no longer fashionable globally. So, we have come to the middle term that, like it is done in India, we should sentence these people for life and confiscate their assets because we know that at the heart of counterfeiting lies the incentive to make huge profits.

“So, we want to take the incentive out by saying that if you engage in counterfeiting, you would lose your assets; that will discourage him or her from engaging in counterfeiting in the first place. Therefore, we are asking for life jail term, confiscation of

,

Recruitment into organised criminality: The supply side of potential insurgents

Gang members know that theirs is a war as opposed to a peace profession; their operations may involve the taking of lives and they in turn run the risk of being captured and or killed

deals than on offer from their back breaking two or more jobs engagements. The interview continues: “I met Akin who introduced me to the gang. My job was to drive them to the venue of the operation, wait in the car while they went in and I drive immediately they come out. So far, I have gone on operations in Ibadan, Ogun and Akure with them. I was given N150,000 and in another N70,000 while in the third I was given N100,000. The money shared at the end of each operation depended on how much we realised in the operation. We usually operated with information. We don’t just go to anybody’s house”.

What each got also depended on an hierarchy of jobs. Wale Adeniyi, the 28 years old Akure born, the gang’s best hit man, got between N400,000 to N600,000 in some of the operations, with the least earned by him being N100,000. Wale could make between N2million to N3million in five operations. When only the economic facts are focused upon, the elite lifestyle that can be purchased from this deadly business is magnetically attractive to the Wales who become intoxicated from the bloody business. Wale boasted about his prowess during operations. “Whenever we were going for an operation, I was usually given a rifle first before any other person. This was because of my boldness. It was Akin, our leader who introduced me to this gang”. I have gone into these details, albeit from a sketchy but fascinating interview of these self-confessed professionals in organised planned armed violence raids of homes unsecured by the police, to bring to the fore the fact that what we are dealing with are alternate economies competing with the legal economies that have failed those who transit from the legal to the

The agency is not sparing efforts in tackling counterfeit drugs that have inundated the country; it needs all the encouragements to expand the frontiers of attack and put an end to the menace

,

assets and in situations where we can prove that the fake products caused death or severe bodily injuries to the victims, then some of the assets that are confiscated should be used to compensate the victims….” o underscore the seriousness of the agency in combating the menace, it is also proposing to make the offence a nonbailable one so that once the offenders, who are powerful or well-connected, are caught and put out of circulation, they would not be able to interfere with and prolong the course of justice.

Already, the Federal Government has bought into the proposal of the agency, which will also help to outlaw sub-standard drug and food products. Government decided at a meeting of the Economic Management Team, EMT, on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, to fine-tune details of the proposed review of provisions of the existing law and present it to National Assembly as an executive bill.

Although, three agencies-NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON and Consumer Protection Council, CPCreportedly made presentations at the meeting, according to the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, there is no doubt that the proposal by NAFDAC, to wit: life jail for drug counterfeiters, if passed into law, is a novelty that will send a strong message to the world about the nation’s seriousness to combat the menace of counterfeit drug.

The era, when NAFDAC deployed

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illegal economies. Wale Adeniyi with average per operation returns of N500,000 can purchase an upper middle class lifestyle in their milieu or launder the same into acceptable legal business upon retirement from the business of armed robbery. The fact is that the business of the gang grows insecurity for the households and householders within the legal economy and as such the gang itself is a national security threat. Before addressing the issue of the gang as the national security threat, what sustains the viability of the gang as gleaned from the interview is an important detail. Those who trade in violence from the military to the bus drivers believe in charms and prayers, and this gang was arrested on the day “they were going to renew their Ijaya (charm to instill fear on their victims) and also that which will not make bullet to penetrate into them. “It was on our way back to Otta that we were arrested”.

Gang members know that theirs is a war as opposed to a peace profession. Their operations may involve the taking of lives and they in turn run the risk of being captured and or killed. The provider of surgical services to the wounded and the provider of magical protection and insurance are components of the gang’s business corporation.

The owners of gangs know these economic details when they appoint their chief operation officer in the likes of the “Akins” who introduced Wale to the gang. From these details a glimpse of light can be shone into the darkness of the “underworld” of the foot-soldiers of criminal gangs.

The police-journalist partnering in the publication of Crime Alert can be developed as a segment of national security intelligence research grounded in a multidisciplinary security programme in our faculties of law and social science.

propaganda and noise making in the media, was long over. The Orhii leadership, consequent upon stepping in the saddle on January 13, 2009, had realised that Nigerians were tired of rhetoric and had moved to quickly and quietly set off a process of revolutionising the battle against fake medicines, which is the agency’s core mandate. Today, the Russian-trained pharmacologist and physician, biomedical scientist must be dancing to the quiet rhythm of his soul-seeing the mileage NAFDAC has covered under his watch.

The result of the process has been quite evident. Indeed, the agency is not sparing efforts in tackling counterfeit drugs that have inundated the country. But, this is not also to conclude that it is perfectly on top of the situation. It needs all the encouragements it can get to expand the frontiers of attack and put an end to the menace. In the meantime, the Orhii leadership must be commended for its devotion to the enterprise.

The enitre NAFDAC leadership must also be commended. It should be recalled that the agency recently proposed to the Presidency a N200 billion Pharmaceutical Intervention Fund, PIF, which is intended to aid the reanimation of the local pharmaceutical industry. This is, no doubt, part of the revolution that is geared towards bringing about positive growth and transformation of the industry.

The plan will enable the industry to meet the local demands for drugs as well as for exports. Significantly, also, the PIF initiative, which now has the imprimatur of President Goodluck Jonathan, as reported, is expected to create around 250,000 jobs for pharmacists and other stakeholders in the emergent industry.

This is the visible transformation trajectory on which Orhii has taken NAFDAC in the last three years and he is still pressing on. It must be clearly stated that NAFDAC has not completely won the battle against counterfeit drug, but it has so far put up a huge challenge.

This is to encourage the Orhii leadership to continue with the revolution.... *Mr. Ojeiifo, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 21

CPC threatens sanction over substandard computer accessories

BY ONOZURE DANIA

T

HE Consumer Protection Council CPC, has threatened to sanction dealers of substandard and fake computers software and accessories, saying that henceforth, such individuals would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The Director General of CPC, Mrs. Ify Umenyi gave the warning while inaugurating the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, market desk office at computer village in Ikeja.

She warned that anyone caught dealing in substandard computer products in the country, would be liable under the CPC Act of 1992 and other extant regulations.

“Let me sound a note of warning that the council is determined to give Nigerian consumers succor in terms of their purchases in genuine mobile and computer sets and materials,” she said.

Umenyi, advised manufacturers of computer accessories such as batteries, to ensure that their products carry expiry dates, the ratings and type, instructional manual, safety information, safety signs and guaranty or warranty information for at least six months.

She described fake and substandard products as products that fail to meet the basic minimum standards set for genuine products and thereby manifest in forms of defects in packaging, labeling and pass off.

She also said that for electronics products and devices, there are a number of requirements that should be adhered to strictly, and she listed them to include the name of the product, country of origin, specifications, date of manufacture, batch or lot number.

According to Umenyi, the reason for the establishment of the CPC desk office is to make sure that the partnership will give birth to an avenue for gathering and dissemination of information on the illegal activities of unscrupulous traders, so as to allow genuine business activities to thrive.

From left, Mr Iyk Nwosu, President, Highlight Phones; Mrs Ify Umenyi, Director General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Mrs Ngozika Obidike, Lagos zonal Coordinator, CPC, at the inauguration of the Consumer Protection Council Desk at the Computer Village, Ikeja in Lagos.

NLC decries crude oil theft in Nigeria … Says it’ll ruin nation’s economy if left unchecked

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has expressed grave concern over the high rate of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation in Nigeria, warning that it could ruin the nation’s economy if not immediately checked.

NLC at its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Benin City, Edo State, argued that a situation whereby nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria’s crude was stolen by highly placed individuals and other criminals was dangerous for the nation’s economy and survival.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the NLC also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to speedily take the necessary actions to stop this show of-shame.

The communiqué, signed by Comrade

Abudlwaheed Omar and Chris Uyot, NLC President and Acting General Secrtary respectively, reads “NEC acknowledges that illicit activities in the form of occasional illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation have been familiar features of oil production in the Niger-Delta but wishes to reiterate that the same cannot be said to be the situation at the moment, as nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria’s crude is stolen by the high and the mighty.

“NEC is outraged by this heinous crime and calls on Mr. President to speedily take the necessary action(s) to stop this show of shame. NEC warns that in the event Mr. President fails to act within a reasonable time, it will take all the steps necessary, including mobilizing its members to stop oil production.”

On corruption, the communiqué stated

“NEC condemns the rising incidence of corruption in government and government’s ambivalence towards it and warns that this ambivalence is capable of destroying the nation. Accordingly, it urges the government to demonstrate the necessary will and skill to combat corruption in all its ramifications, especially the cases of Halliburton, Siemens, pension fund, oil subsidy fund, Malabo Oil among others.

“NEC is similarly worried by the inability of the judiciary to speedily dispense justice in high profile corruption cases, citing the cases of James Ibori and Erastus Akingbola who were convicted in the UK with the same set of evidence that Nigerian courts could not secure conviction, NEC advises the judiciary not to sacrifice justice on the altar of technicalities.”

Shell, Caverton Helicopters lauded on local content

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EGULATORS and other stakeholders in both the oil and gas and the aviation sectors have commended Shell Petroleum Development Company and Caverton Helicopters on their strong commitments to indigenous manpower and capacity development in fulfillment of the objectives of the Local Content Development Act. This commendation was given at the Business Performance Review of the five-year contract awarded in 2010 by Shell to Caverton Helicopters/ Dancopter for the provision of aviation support services.

Won after a competitive bidding process, the contract is the biggest ever awarded by the oil multi-national to an indigenous company and is seen as a major milestone in a field

previously dominated by foreign companies.

The meeting was held primarily to review the performance of the contract as indicated in the contract documents, but it ended not only with praises for both partners but with a strong vote of confidence in the Local Content Development Act, a legislation designed to aid the development of indigenous capacities in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

The consensus among stakeholders at the meeting, which was held at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, was that the Shell/Caverton Helicopters’ partnership is early proof of the workability and gains of the national content development initiative of the Federal Government.

The Director General of the Local Content Development Board, who was represented by Mr. David Adeyeye, lauded Shell for taking local content development seriously and for taking the lead in this area.

He also commended Caverton Helicopters for making a bold statement on behalf of indigenous companies.

“Caverton Helicopters has demonstrated that, as a nation, we can succeed if we are serious about capacity building and that the opportunity and potential to grow and do more is there,” he said.

On its part, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority also extolled Shell and Caverton Helicopters for partnering effectively for local content development in such a strategic sector.

165.55

-0.90

2,45500

-22.00

20.69

-0.11

112.80

-0.42

92.80

-0.56

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

154.83 243.0367 191.2305 159.2246 1.9764 0.2713 232.8827 24.33 41.2836 25.6903

155.33 243.8215 191.8481 159.7388 1.9828 0.2813 233.6347 24.4091 41.4169 25.7732

155.83 244.6064 192.4656 160.253 1.9891 0.2913 234.3868 24.4881 41.5502 25.8562

CBN Exchange rate as at 13/08/2012

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

MARKET REBOUND:

stockbrokers advocate attitudinal change

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

S

TOCKBROKERS in the nation’s capital market have said that a change in attitude among the investing public towards investment was required for the market to be returned to a path of growth.

The stockbrokers who spoke to Vanguard on the backdrop of performance of the market in the second quarter of the year noted that there should be a change in approach in favour of

long term investment.

They observed that investors’ attitude had tilted towards short term investment with the 2008 crash in order to shield themselves from any eventualities.

The Managing Director, Maxifund Securities Limited, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, regretted that though there was expectation that the market would maintain steady rise in the second quarter of the year, foreign and local investors’ appetite for short term investment has continued to impact

the market negatively.

He emphasized that investors only see the market as short term investment window where they could just come in, make money and go away.

He said, “Many investors are interested in short term investment.

Nobody wants to do long term investment. They want to make profit and leave. It is as a result of lack of confidence.”

He charged the operators on the need to woo retail investors, stressing that what is obtainable in stock mar-

ket today was a situation where ‘balloon investors’ come in with a lot of money, mop up shares when the prices go up, make excessive money and run away.

“If we allow the market to go ahead the way it is supposed to be going up and down, it won’t have any problem. The market is not operating with such indicators because of the excess profit taking by foreign and local investors,” he affirmed.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director, Crane Securities,

Mr. Mike E z e , s a i d that “Foreigners are not exiting the market per se, rather what is happening is that they are taking away the profits which they have made both in the equities and bonds market.

Eze noted that it was noticeable this time around because networth investors have devised a systematic approach to their attitude towards investment.

“They now do short term profit taking instead of what used to obtain in the past whereby they leave their funds in the system for a longer period of time.

There was the believe that the longer the money stayed in the market, the more profit they make, but now that the market has crashed, if they stay long they may end up losing their money,” he said.

Also, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Fund, Malam Gar-

ba Kurfi, said that one of the major challenges facing the market was that many investors are no longer interested in long term investment, stressing that short term investment affects the growth of the market.

He stated that change in attitude was urgently needed for stability to be achieved.

The Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said a fundamental part of the current problem with the capital market is its shallowness and lack of breadth.

Onasanya noted that currently, less than 10 per cent of listed equities are actively traded, while the NSE offers only basic products, adding that there have been arguments, though, to the effect that the NSE’s product offering has only reflected the domestic economy ’s financing needs.

Baer to buy Merrill wealth unit

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From left: Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Partnership Investment Plc (middle) and two other directors, at the annual general meeting of the company in Lagos.

Sterling Bank assures on entrepreneurial development

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

S

TERLING Bank has reiterated its belief in human development and wealth creation, assuring that it will continue to invest in these areas to empower the Nigerian entrepreneurs for the growth of the sectors.

Speaking at the end of the Fate Foundation Series sponsored by the bank, Mr. Shina Atilola, Group Head, Corporate Development of the bank also assured that the bank will continue to empower the Nigerian entrepreneurs to achieve their desired goals.

His words: “it is the Bank’s desire to see every Nigerian youth gainfully employed and be able to make a living without looking for jobs but start their own business.

Therefore, our partnership with Fate Foundation on these lecture series is to ensure that our future entrepreneurs are well empowered and position to fully understand the Nigerian C M Y K

business environment and how to attract the right credit” M r. A t i l o l a ex p l a i n e d f u r t h e r t h a t t h e partnership with FATE Foundation serves as a platform to promote entrepreneurship and increase the level of SME awareness and participation across board. “It further reiterates the Bank’s commitment to continuous Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative to further promote education in the Country”, he added.

He maintained that the continuous demonstration of relentless patriotism of the bank has continued to stand it out among its peers as one that is genuinely committed to the overall development of nation in general.

Sterling Bank Plc, originally incorporated in 1960 as Nigeria Acceptances Limited, was licensed as Nigerians first Merchant Bank in 1969. It has since continued to act in line with its mission to “deliver solution s that enhance stakeholder ’s value”.

WITZERLAND’S Julius Baer (BAER.VX) is close to buying Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s () private banking units outside the United States, two people familiar with the situation said, potentially adding 50 percent to its business.

A deal could be announced early next week, the sources said.

One of the sources said that Baer could pay up to $2 billion for the unit, which manages some $90 billion for clients in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

“An announcement is expected within a couple of days now,” one of the people said, asking not to be named.

Bank of America and Julius Baer declined to comment.

Julius Baer, which has no other business lines outside private banking, said in June that it was in talks to buy the unit, though it declined to say whether it wanted to

buy the whole business, or parts of it.

Bank of America is the world’s largest wealth manager, managing close to $2 trillion of client assets, but its non-U.S. arm is relatively modest.

If Baer were to buy all the business from Bank of America, it would increase assets under management by about 50 percent from the 179 billion Swiss francs ($183.56 billion) that the bank reported with its half-year numbers in July.

Reuters first reported that Bank of America had put the unit up for sale, as it had never been able to build up the business to match the scale of its home market.

The second-largest U.S. bank has lagged peers in recovering from the financial crisis, largely because of huge losses, and lawsuits tied to its 2008 acquisition of subprime mortgage lender Countrywide Financial.

Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 23

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Liquidity squeeze ‘ll hamper economic growth — FMDA boss

BY LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

N

IGERIA’S economy will witness continued downturn in the second half of the year due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, decision to reduce the amount of money in circulation to checkmate inflation, said Mr. Wale Abe, Executive Secretary, Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria, FMDA. Abe, who was speaking at the

Finance Correspondent Association of Nigeria, FICAN, roundtable on the economy in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Monetary and Fiscal Policy in Half year 2012 and the Impact on the Economy,’ said the CBN’s action will hamper the flow of money to the real sector of the economy, as most of the funds will now go into the purchase of government securities.

He said, “The main issue is not the increase in the price of food, but structural imbalance in system. These include power shortage, difficulty in moving agricultural products from the North, among others. The CBN has found an antidote by denying the system liquidity.”

“What we have seen within the last six months of the year is that the Central Bank has

From left: Mallam Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL), Mr. Ayotunde Ogunsakin, Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit and Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi, Enterprise Bank Chief Inspector when the Police Commissioner paid a courtesy visit to the MD/CEO

kept the monetary policy rate at 12 per cent. At the beginning of the year, the CBN said in other to tackle inflation, it would tighten liquidity in the open market operation, OMO. And throughout the six month, MPR has been kept at 12 percent.

“What is most important is that there must be stability in the macro environment. To a large extent, CBN has been able to achieve that but with a very high cost to the economy. First of all, our economy needs to grow and what has been denied this economy is growth. Forget the indicators in terms of GDP being at 7 per cent.

“Of cause, what has happened globally has negatively affected growth. Based on the fact that the US economy, the Euro zone and Greece are experiencing recession, in terms of export and import relationship, we discover that Nigeria is an importing economy, and Nigeria economy relies basically on crude oil. So what affects the global market will also have an impact on Nigeria’s economy.

“Crude oil price has been sliding. So the government is borrowing more to finance its activities. Given the challenge, if crude oil falls further, government will have no alternative but to borrow more,” he said.

Ecobank, Oceanic merger: Customers lament non-harmonisation of accounts

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

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LMOST one year after the consummation of merger and acquisition (M&A) agreement between Ecobank and Oceanic Bank, the banks are yet to harmonise their accounts as former depositors of Oceanic Bank still find it difficult to either withdraw or deposit money with Ecobank.

Vanguard investigation revealed that customers of Oceanic Bank usually wait for long hours in branches of Ecobank to transact their business, sometimes without success, a problem the bank attributed to internet system failure.

Several customers of Oceanic Bank that spoke to our correspondent observed that the experience was frustrating, more so as Access Bank and Intercontinental Bank that were involved in similar arrangement have since crossed that hurdle.

Reliving his ordeal in one of Ecobank’s branches in Ikotun, a customer of Oceanic bank who simply identified himself as

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Oluwa Stanley, said that he had to walk home a month ago after waiting for several hours to make withdrawal in the bank due to inability of the bank to successfully connect to the internet.

He said, “My sister, the whole experience is frustrating. On that day, I forgot to go out with my ATM card.

Unfortunately, I ran out of money and went to the nearest Ecobank branch with the hope of making withdrawal, but that transaction did not go through as several attempts to connect to the server proved abortive.”

“I don’t understand this; it is nonsense. They shouldn’t have gone into the transaction with Oceanic bank when they know that they don’t have the capacity to carry it through,” he lamented.

Another customer of Oceanic Bank, who declined to be mentioned in print, said she has been having the same experience since Ecobank took over Oceanic.

“To make things worse, they will tell you to either look for Oceanic Bank and do your business or wait for as long as their internet takes to connect.

In other days, they (Ecobank staff) will tell you that it will take about two working days to post transactions done in their branch for Oceanic Bank customers online,” she observed.

“Sometimes when you come here to make payment, you will see several other Oceanic Bank customers waiting for that same purpose. Infact, I don’t know when they will resolve this problem so that one can enjoy seamless services just like in other banks,” she said.

Another customer of Oceanic Bank whom Vanguard met waiting in one of the branches of Ecobank at MazaMaza, cynically said that Ecobank took more than it can chew by taking over Oceanic Bank. “I just came here to make payment now (Friday) and they are telling me that the transaction will be through by Monday.”

Confirming the development, a staff of Mazamaza

branch of Ecobank told Vanguard that the problem has being with them since the conclusion of the merger, saying that it was more of internet connectivity.

“The problem is that we don’t use the same service provider. It was easy for Access Bank and Intercontinental Bank to harmonise their systems because they use the same service provider –Flexcube, but in this case, we use Flexcube, while Oceanic Bank uses Finnacle.

“You will even realise that Oceanic Bank customers are yet to be migrated to Ecobank account due to this same problem,” she stated.

Asked when all these would be over, she said, “I am not aware of that; may be, as soon as they are able to resolve the interconnectivity problem. You can’t even begin to imagine the huge sum involved in resolving problem of this nature. You may be thinking the money is there, but it is not exactly as you think.”

B-R-I-E-F-S Egypt offers $740m in T-Bills, Qatar boost reserves

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GYPT will offer 4.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($740 million) of treasury bills today after securing $2 billion from Qatar to help boost reserves that fell to a record low in July.

The North African country will sell three- and ninemonth securities valued at 1 billion pounds and 3.5 billion pounds, respectively, according to central bank data on Bloomberg. The average yield on nine-month notes rose for the first time in six auctions last week, gaining six basis points, or 0.06 of a percentage point, to 15.71 percent. The was little changed at 14.19 percent.

Qatar, the world’s richest country based on per-capita income, agreed to deposit the funds with the central bank, Egyptian Presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said yesterday. Foreign reserves tumbled by $1.1 billion last month to $14.4 billion, the lowest level since Bloomberg started tracking them in 2004.

Today’s sales are part of a Finance Ministry plan to raise a record 175 billion pounds in the three months that end Sept. 30.

Standard Chartered to agree to N.Y. monitor demand

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TANDARD Chartered Bank Plc has agreed to a New York Department of Financial Services demand that the bank hire an outside monitor to ensure compliance with U.S. anti- money laundering laws, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The agreement on the monitor, mandated by the regulator in an Aug. 6 order, stems from negotiations between the bank and state officials ahead of an Aug. 15 hearing at which Standard Chartered will be asked to explain why its license to do business in New York shouldn’t be revoked.

New York banking Superintendant Benjamin Lawsky alleged Londonbased Standard Chartered flouted U.S. banking laws as part of a decade-long deception, helping launder about $250 billion in Iranian funds in contravention of U.S. statutes and without proper disclosure. Lawsky is said to seek as much as $700 million to settle the investigation, another person familiar with the case said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 25

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Guinness in new campaign fray for Johnnie Walker Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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OHNNIE Walker from Guinness Nigeria Plc stead has revealed a new campaign tagged, “Keep Walking Nigeria” picks Samson Siasia, as the first Nigerian Johnnie Walker alcoholic drink.

The Keep Walking Nigeria campaign will celebrate individuals who achieve their goals despite the odds, and seek to inspire the nation to Keep Walking.

The event attended by a host of high profile Nigerian entrepreneurs, politicians, businessmen and celebrities,

guest speaker, Samson Siasia, made one of his rare public addresses and inspired the esteemed guests with his own story of personal progress. The first Nigerian to be recognised as a Johnnie Walker giant, Siasia’s ideals as a person, a former player and coach are in harmony with those of Johnnie Walker himself and the brand philosophy of ‘Keep Walking’.

Sharing with the assembled guests the story of his own journey through life so far and how he is determined to Keep Walking to achieve his goals, Siasia moved the audience as he told how, throughout his life, he had always believed in himself and had been deter-

mined to make a success of his life.

Relating personal progress to his passion for football, he summarised, “One thing I have learnt: when life

tosses you the ball, play it; because nothing can stand in the way of a man who believes in himself.”

A poignant video featuring

Samson Siasia narrating his own story of personal progress was unveiled at the campaign, Keep Walking Nigeria event.

NIMN inducts 23 fellows

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HE National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN)has inducted 23 persons into its fellowship fold. Chief. Lugard Aimiuwu, president, NIMN who spoke at the induction of the Fellows in Lagos said the institute through its programmes is building Gold for Nigeria in marketing

and management, while stressing that each Fellow inducted is worth more than Gold in their weights.

He said that the institute is steadily building capabilities in its members, thus noting that the future belongs to the strong and that weakness provokes challenge, whilst he stated that

those conferred with the Fellowship of the institute had worked assiduously for the title.

Going on, Aimiuwu said Nigeria is experiencing unprecedented turbulence, where progress had always been one step behind failure.

“But shall we give up or get on with it? NIMN does not believe in simply moaning about darkness. We would rather light a lamp.”

He however used the medium to invite Nigerians in both the private and public sectors to attend its forthcoming conference of marketing professionals titled, Achieving Real Business Growth in Turbulent Times.”

FGBMFI commits N100m to 2012 convention

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ULL Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), Nigeria, said about N100 million will be expended on the 2012 National Convention scheduled th th for the 15 through 18 August in Lagos to empower participates.

According to Mr. Ayoola Badejo, Chairman, Convention Planning Committee, said the Convention which is a biannual empowerment programme of its members spiritually and otherwise is expected to attract about 20,000 business men , where prospective entrepreneurs will be tutored on business strategies, growth and empowerment.

Badejo who said the convention this year’s theme tagged, “The Season of His Glory” was borne out of the burden that at the end of the Convention participants will be equipped with the tools required to build successful businesses and showcase righteousness in the business environment.

In addition, Engr Niyi Ogunnusi, Regional Vice president, FGBMFI, South West pointed out that some of the best faculty in their disciplines have been selected to handle various sessions.

Those expected include; Arc. Ifeanyi Odedo, FGBMFI, National president, Bishop David Oyedepo, Bro Gbile Akanni and Dr. Okey Onuzo among others.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—27

Subsidy scam: ‘Banks too are culpable’

BY CLARA NWCHUKWU

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ARKETERS and oil traders have expressed concern that banks have been shielded from the fuel subsidy scam investigations.

Some of them who spoke with Vanguard argued the banks re as culpable as the operators since they were the ones that issued the Letters of Credit, LCs, that were used for the fuel import transactions.

In their opinion, as major players in the petroleum industry, the banks should bear the heat more, as without them there would have been no transactions.

Explaining the role of banks, one of the marketers said, “Everything about oil and gas transaction revolves around the banks. They fund these transactions and so they have a good knowledge of the set up.

They release the funds; receive the funds, even deducting all the principals and interests due before crediting marketers’ accounts with whatever is left in the balance.”

Agreeing that banks should equally be investigated, another marketer noted that there is no bank in Nigeria that in not involved in funding fuel imports, because of the quick turn round on funds and profit involved.

He maintained, “The banks have all the documents and information that can throw more light on some grey areas because the banks keep a firm grip on the transactions and they do not want to lose their money.”

He, added, “It is the banks that warehouse these funds. You cannot investigate the marketing companies and get the true picture without also investigating the banks. Most times, the marketing companies record losses in transactions because when banks are done with their deductions; there will be hardly anything left for the marketers.”

Report criticisms Despite being reputed as being more credible than the House of Representatives’, the reports of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payment headed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhede, has continued to receive more criticisms from petroleum operators.

The marketers maintained that the report is lopsided and biased, adding that the it is not a true reflection of their presentations to the committee.

They also argued that the

L-R: Executive Director, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Bashir Bakare; Country Chairman, Shell, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu; Chief Executive Officer, Blueway, Mr. Johnny Skolund; and Logistics Manager, Shell, Mr. Henry Nwogbolu, during a Business Performance Review organised by Shell to review its contract with Caverton Helicopters in Lagos...last week committee was a ploy by the federal government to tarnish the image and reputation of those of them engaged in genuine businesses, and who have invested time and resources into filling the vacuum created by government’s ineptitude to meet national fuel consumption.

Rather than make them out to

be a bunch of corrupt operators, who are out to take advantage of the system, government should, instead, express better appreciation for their efforts in not only providing fuel for the people, but also investing in infrastructures that have kept the economy running and providing employment to thousands

Shell, Caverton explain aviation partnership

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he Shell Group has explained that the driving mission behind its recent partnership with Caverton Helicopters is not only to grow Nigerian content in line with the Federal Government’s aspirations, but also build a local capacity strong enough to compete globally.

The Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, told journalists on the sidelines of the review of the partnership progression in Lagos last week that through this medium, Shell is able to enhance completion for better services in the aviation industry.

He said, “Our own vision for operating in Nigeria is helping Nigerian companies to develop and grow a robust business that can compete globally. This is our way of supporting the federal government’s programme of developing local capacity by taking a very small company and helping them to grow.”

The Shell boss also argued that the partnership is not about making money, but about building businesses, in this C M Y K

instance, Caverton and developing competition. “In the past, we only had two or three companies that can provide this kind of service to us, but with Caverton joining, we have increased the competitors by one,” he added.

Affirming, the Managing Director of Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Sola Falola, said, “The partnership with Shell is about developing capacity and national content. In terms of aviation capacity, it is the

,

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

He maintained that with effective competition, the quality of service will significantly improve for the better, while also forcing down costs in the long run.

“Where we can help the nation in terms of improving the standard of the aviation industry, we will first of all start with those operations that we know will impact on our business and if people find that useful am sure it will then be extended to other

Our own vision for operating in Nigeria is helping Nigerian companies to develop and grow a robust business that can compete globally

ability of the indigenous company to achieve global standards and to also perform up to global standards.”

To underscore the impact of the partnership, Sunmonu noted that Caverton has grown from 120 workers pre-contract agreements to over 500 currently, in addition to increasing their fleet from two to eight aircraft.

,

operators in the industry,” he said.

The Caverton chief executive, who argued that the Shell contract was not the breakthrough that his company was waiting for, recalled that the company which signed agreements with Shell in 2010, had previously executed other aviation contracts for the oil and

gas industry.

He revealed, “In 2006, we won the NLNG contracts, and in 2009, we started working for Total, and we actually got contracts in March 2010, before we got the Shell contract.”

He, however, admitted that “The Shell contract of course is a major boost, because of the amount and the size of the contract, it is a major boost to Caverton,” adding that since Shell is regarded as a parameter for standards in safety and quality in the oil and gas industry, there is a sense of pride in working with them.

Highlighting some of the benefits of the partnership, Falola disclosed that Caverton is now strong enough to extend its operations to the sub-region, and has now moved into Cameroon not only to offer aviation services, but also to build the country’s local capacity.

He noted that this is one of the strengths of the Nigerian Content Act, as with it, indigenous companies can grow and expand even beyond the shores to other African countries and globally to compete.

Nigerians.

They also questioned the sense of equity in the composition of the committee. According to one of the marketers who was indicted in the report, “We made presentations before the panel with the full complement of all the documentation of the transactions being questioned.

Why should I be held responsible for a mother vessel that was not on the Llyods’ list?”

The marketers, however, agreed that there was the need to sanitise the sector in order to bring credibility to bear on all the operations and practices of the oil and gas sector. They insisted that they are not averse to probes and investigations neither are they in support of unwholesome practices in the sector, but noted that objectivity and transparency is key in the investigations.

Another marketer whose company was named for further investigation in the report insisted that his company was not culpable for any offence.

According to him, “The transaction for which my company was indicted was properly done. There are records of the arrival of the product, the storage and trucking. All the relevant government regulatory agencies witnessed and certified the transaction. The money from that transaction was also paid to the appropriate quarters. All the records are there. There is nothing whatsoever that is shady about the transaction.”

Some of the marketers also criticized the transparency of the report, and insisted that companies that are known for circumventing the process were not included in the report.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 29

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

BRIEF Expert task FG on research and development

By KUNLE KALEJAYE

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Business acumen Ojulari stressed that except the country built sufficient business acumen and recognized the need to take research and knowledge into something more sustainable for mankind and the development of Nigeria.

Citing Shell as an example, he noted that the Anglo-Dutch oil giant has pioneered various breakthroughs in technology, adding that despite this and the efforts of other IOCs, they have not impacted significantly in the development of the country.

Narrating his experience in Qatar, he recalled that most of the developments that make the country stand out today were through collaboration. “I saw all the technology and it was the integral part of their investment.

I also realized that they were in collaboration with some universities where professors were in the center to work with the industry players.”

He noted that although the International Oil Companies, IOCs, were in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in all kinds of developmental efforts, Nigeria still needed to borrow from the Qatari example, by building more research centres.

Total’s Usan FPSO produces at 180,000 barrels per day

Total produces 2.2 billion barrels in Nigeria •Invests $10bn in 5 years •Partners Google, MIT on education curriculum

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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IGERIAN unit of French oil giant, Total, said it has added about 2.2 billion barrels of oil to the nation’s oil mix over the past 45 years between 1966 and December 2011, as one of its major numerous achievements in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector since its 50 years of operations.

In a brochure distributed to participants and visitors to the Society for Petroleum Engineers, SPE, annual conference and exhibitions in Lagos, the company said it has also invested about $10billion in the country in the last five years.

The brochure, which captured all the breakthroughs by the Total upstream companies in Nigeria, also indicted that it had participated in seven development projects both ongoing and under study in the country.

Among the list of other major milestones included, the involvement in 50 oil and gas permits in the country, nine of which it is the operator, a development that placed it as Nigeria’s fourth largest producer. In fact, it had continuously engaged in the production of oil from its Oil Mining Lease, OML 58 for 40 years without interruptions.

Total which is in Joint Venture, JV, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it the international oil company that partners the most with indigenous oil companies to boost local content development.

Some of the partnerships are with South Atlantic Petroleum, SAPETRO, in Akpo; Conoil in

,

PETROLEUM expert has called on the Federal Government to collaborate with industry operators in research and development in order to create sustainable values in uplifting technological development in the sector.

The former Chairman of Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Nigerian Council, Dr. Bayo Ojulari, said the country is faced with the challenge of lack of adequate research and development centers.

Ojulari, who made the call in a panel discussion held at the just SPE Annual International Conference and Exhibition 2012 in Lagos, also noted that there is an urgent need to build local capacity in the petroleum sector.

The SPE boss, who also represented the Shell Country Chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sumonu, argued, “I have seen most companies make interesting strides in developing technologies and techniques, and why have all that collection of efforts not yield required results? For me, moving forward is about consolidation, collaboration and creating values from everything we have because if whatever resource we have does not translate into value it will die a natural death.

During the SPE, the first set of participants shared their experiences and knowledge gained from the science and technology initiative with their counter parts from various universities in the country.

According to one the beneficiaries of the scholarship, Dr Jaiyeola Opadiji, “There is a need for total overhauling of the curriculum and methods of

There is a need for total overhauling of the curriculum and methods of learning if Nigeria must develop technologically

OML 136 and Oil Prospecting Licence, OPL 257; Emo on OPL 285; Noreast on OPL 215; and Amni International on OMLs 112 and 117.

Google, MIT initiative Total upstream companies has also entered into strategic corporate partnership with Google and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, to empower Nigerian lecturers in the faculties of Science and Engineering, to develop a new curriculum and teaching methods in tertiary education.

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learning if Nigeria must develop technologically.”

Making a comparative analysis of their curriculum at MIT and Nigerian universities, Opadiji explained that Nigerian university curriculum does not encourage students to really use their innate abilities to add values to the body of knowledge and develop their potential. This is because most scholars were often caught up with memorizing the lecturers’ notes and reproducing same in examinations in an attempt to

pass without necessarily assimilating the knowledge impacted.

He noted that students were “pushed out” annually through handouts and other course information, without ensuring that they really understood the import of the knowledge being impacted.

Whereas at MIT, students rarely failed their courses because of the type of curriculum they used to make them useful to the society by adding value to the knowledge acquired.

The lecturer, who said they were given the task of auditing departmental courses and their relevance to the society, observed that most of the courses taught in Nigeria universities in one semester were mere repetitions or duplications of the same courses under different headings.

He said that aside from the auditing of curriculum, lectures, recitation, and open access to academic materials, laboratory, weekly seminars and a host of others, were organised for students to share knowledge.

Opadiji reflecting on the poor state of Nigerian universities emphasized the need to develop a symbiotic partnership between industry and tertiary institutions such that the challenges militating against teaching and learning would be tackled within record time.

Knowledge acquired At the end of the course, participants said they were exposed to new methods of teaching and learning, open access to academic resources, weekly seminars, and were also able to establish collaborative networks with MIT professors.

Giving an insight into the genesis of the new synergy with MIT/Google, former executive director, External Affairs, Total, Mr John Addeh, said the lecturers’ empowerment scheme was borne from Total’s experience with the establishment of Institute of Petroleum Studies.

He described the MIT/Google project as a train-the-trainer strategy geared towards computer engineering, chemical engineering and other engineering fields to open up more studies in these fields more than the liberal sciences.

He argued that with more people participating in the programme, Total will be able to create a generation of Google lecturers, adding that the first set of eight lecturers will soon be joined by another set of 12 to be drawn from other faculties such as mechanical engineering, geophysics, ocean engineering , geology and a host of others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—31

PHCN vows to arrest, prosecute saboteurs

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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HE Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, has vowed to arrest and prosecute anyone caught sabotaging power supply in the country by carrying out illegal sand mining under the EgbinIkeja 330KV high tension wire.

The General Manger of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Mr. Oyeleke Adeoye, said the transmission’s management has put in place security measures to curb the ongoing menace of illegal sand evacuation under the high tension.

Adeoye, who served the warning during a town hall meeting with the entire representatives of the community under Magboro along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, said the essence of the meeting was to fashion out ways to tackle the perennial problems associated with uncontrolled evacuation of sand under PHCN transmission line.

He said, “The reason why we called for this meeting is to enlighten you on the inherent danger associated with this uncontrolled evacuation activities. The financial

implications of the remedies could be better channeled to the development of the grid.”

The meeting which lasted for over two hours was attended by the State Security Service, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Civil Defense Corps and traditional chiefs, to find lasting solution to the ongoing illegal dredging perpetuated by the sand dealers.

Adeoye, who was represented by Mrs Celestina Osinm, Manager, Corporate Affairs, TCN, said the ongoing excavation under the towers of the transmission line along Orowofela, Ilupeju, Omotedo, Sanni and Kajola, communities under ObafemiOwode Local Government area of Ogun State, posed a serious threat to power supply.

In her words, “Those who are

perpetuating this act don’t realise the gravity of damage they are doing to the communities and the country at large. We need to urgently stop them to avoid total breakdown of the towers.

“This is our third time of coming to this community on this issues, our attention has been drawn to the continuous illegal evacuation activities by some laterite dealers under PHCN transmission lines despite the concerted efforts of the Nigerian Police to stop them.”

She warned that TCN will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anybody or association found dredging illegal sand under the transmission lines, adding that if the towers were brought down, the entire country power supply

will be affected.

According to her, “We cannot afford to allow a few people to jeopardise our collective interest in moving the country and power sector forward, we urged all traditional chiefs in these communities to caution their subjects and the perpetuators to desist from the act or face the wrath of the law. This ugly activity calls for a national re-think and prompt collective action in order to speedily reverse the ugly trend with its negative socioeconomic consequences before the towers collapse.”

Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, Chief Akibu Sanni, the Bale of Sanni Omotedo, said that the affected communities are willing to collaborate with TCN to find lasting solutions to the ongoing menace in the area, adding that the essence is to avoid putting the community t risk.

He, however, urged the management of TCN to employ security agents that will watch over their towers, adding that the communities alone cannot ensure their safety.

Bauchi residents decry hike in electricity tariff

BY SUZAN EDEH

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ONSUMERS in Bauchi State have decried the constant power failures they have been experiencing in the face of increases in electricity bills, following the commencement of a new tariff regime by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in June.

They expressed their displeasure towards the unpleasant development and wondered what criteria were used to arrive at the astronomical hike in tariff, contrary to what the industry regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, told the general public.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that apart from the tariff which has been increased from N7.30 to N12.45 per unit of consumption for residential (R2), the monthly energy consumption has been indiscriminately increased for all the affected persons.

Outrageous electricity bills

Maersk rejigs management

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.P. MOLLER-MAERSK said its six-member executive board would take over at the Danish shipping and oil group’s legally registered management on Jan. 1., a technical move that will not affect its strategy.

In Denmark, the registered management team sometimes comprises the chief executive and maybe one other person, while the company also has a wider executive management group.

Maersk said on Monday it would abandon a partnership, the firm A.P. Moller, established in 1914 and now consisting of three partners, that has served as its registered management since 1965 and replace it with the executive board.

Board chairman, Michael Pram Rasmussen said: “Management has worked satisfactorily. However, it is a construction which can be difficult to explain, especially outside Denmark.

The management will consist of group chief executive Nils Smedegaard Andersen, CFO Trond Westlie, Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou, Maersk Drilling CEO, Claus Hemmingsen, Maersk Oil CEO, Jakob Thomasen and APM Terminals CEO, Kim Fejfer, Maersk said.

The company said the change was in accordance with the wishes of the late Maersk McKinney Moller, former principal owner, who died in April at age of 98 and who was son of the founder, A.P. Moller.

BRIEF

Soldiers deployed by Federal Government to an PHCN for smooth privitisation process

Seplat donates water, electricity in Edo, Delta

BY FESTUS AHON & GODWIN OGHRE

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GHELLI—AS part of its so cial responsibility to its host, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, based in Sapele, Delta State, has commissioned several motorized water borehole projects across oil producing communities of the state and Edo State.

The projects commissioned included, two 11/500kva step down transformers and street lights in Okeregbagha and Okunumerhe quarters of Amukpe community; two water projects at OgbeOgume, Ogbagu-Ogume, Elume, Ogiedi-Elume, IturuElume in Delta State and two water projects at Iguelaba and Oben, and renovated block of classrooms at Oben primary school.

At Iguelaba community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Edo State, where a water project was commissioned, the chairman of the community, Mr.

John Odia, noted that the water project was supervised by the company and completed to specification.

At Amukpe community in Sapele Local Government Area, the company installed an 11MVA step down transformer and another 500KVA substation transformer to boost power generation in the area.

At Oben community, also in Orhiomwon council, the company commissioned three water projects and renovated a community primary school, Secretary of the community, Mr. Johnbull Omokaro, who doubles as Seplat Communities of Operations Development Committee Secretary said, adding that the projects were supervised by the company’s engineers and completed to specification.

Omokaro hailed the company for renovating the community primary school and enhancing teaching and learning condition of staff and pupils of the school.

Human Resources Manager of

the company, Mr. Mike Akeh, who represented the Base Manager, Prince Chukwumah Igelenyah, said the projects were facilitated by a Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, which the company had entered into with its host communities.

He added that the GMOU provided for “win-win” collaboration with direct participation of the representatives of the communities in projects from inception to completion, with emphasis on due process, empowerment and human capital development.

Meanwhile, the company has been commended by the Oba of Benin. The monarch, represented by a senior palace chief, Chief Gauis Aigbogin, who is the Imuokpan of Benin Kingdom, told Vanguard that the royal father was grateful for the spread of infrastructural projects across Edo communities and enjoined other multinational oil companies to emulate the stride of Seplat Petroleum, so as to give Edo communities face lift.

A resident of Sohon Company, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis, Mallam Ibrahim Bola, said that he used to pay N507 monthly for electricity bills, but under the so called new tariff, his bill has risen to N4,500 per month, which he decried was very outrageous.

“I can’t make up because I don’t have such money to pay monthly .The worst of it is that since this June, I cannot remember how many times I have seen light in my house, and yet we are being made to pay more for less. If that is the case, I think I will opt for my generator rather than paying such amount because I only see light once in a week,” he complained.

Another resident, Hayatu Garba, who lives in Wuntin Dada, also a suburb of the Metropolis lamented that her bills rose to N7,000 since the hike in tariff. She disclosed that in the past, she used to pay an average of between N1,000 and N2,000.

She said, “My average energy consumption over the past six months has been in the range of 200 units. With the new electricity tariff, I was credited with about 600 units of energy consumption for the month of June –August, but there has not been any noticeable improvement in power supply over these months.”

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA

No job, no food...protest by labour leaders

How Military decreed against organised Labour This is the second edition of the serial on OWEI LAKEMFA's latest work: "One hundred years of trade unionism in Nigeria". The first part was published yesterday.

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The December 18, 1975 date for inauguration of the NLC gave the regime little room to manoeuvre. But fortunately for it, there were antiNLC elements in the Labour Movement who were willing to ally with the regime in its mission to smash labour centre

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ON the other hand the West African Pilot and Daily Comet both Zik Newspapers highlighted Imoudu’s role and encouraged the strike.

The colonial authorities, unused to being outgunned by the “natives” were confused and further messed up the situation. Intellectual, Robin Cohen wrote: “The hard line of the strikers owned much to the attitude of the government, which successively threatened the strikers with a forfeit of wages, attempted to run a skeletal railway service with the aid of the management and Port Harcourt prison labour, took on 900 blackleg labourers, ordered the arrest of nine leaders suspected of being responsible for the derailment of a train, and finally banned the West African Pilot and the Daily Comet.”

W

hen the work ers called off the strike on Saturday, August 4, it was with the colonial regime’s acceptance of four basic conditions. There would be no victimisation of any of the striking workers, the prosecution of the strike’s leaders would be dropped, the ban on

the two newspapers would be lifted and an impartial inquiry to be set up to look into the workers primary demands.

The General strike gave momentum to nationalist agitations.

It became a folklore told in parts of the country while Imoudu, the fearless trade unionist who propelled the strike, became a legend, he became known as the Number 1 in the trade union movement.

The main political party, the NCNC incorporated him into its executive. Imoudu had correctly read the workers mood. He had conquered fear to lead them against a rampaging colonial master that was still drunk from its conquest of Hitler and Germany. He had dared to struggle, he had dared to win.

As for the labour leaders led by TUCN president T. A. Bankole who had sped off leaving their followers behind, their days as labour leaders were numbered.

To save itself, the TUCN’s General Council at its meeting of October 1945 sacrificed Bankole and his leadership.

Delegates conference

An interim president, Mr. F. C. Coker of the Postal Workers was elected to run the Congress until the delegates conference which held two months later. This December 1945 TUCN conference elected N. A. Cole of the Nigeria Nurses Association as president, and A. Adio-Moses one time leader of the Mercantile Workers, as full-time secretary.“ The inquiry set up following the general strike was headed by W. Tudor Davis. It rejected the government argument that increase in COLA allowances would lead to inflation.

It upheld the workers submissions and recommended a 50 per cent increase in allowances. In 1946, the lionized Imoudu was part of a three-person NCNC team that toured the country. The other two were its president, Herbert Heelas Macaulay and General Secretary, Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Macaulay subsequently took ill during the tour and died before it could be completed.

Imoudu's inclusion Imoudu’s inclusion in the historic tour was proof that labour had arrived at the centre stage of anti-colonial politics.

Unions, Unity and Democratic Struggles. “All agitations for the improvement in salary and work-

ing conditions of Nigerian workers always had as its conclusion, the need for political independence.” So ran the summary of veteran Labour writer, Pastor Umoh James Umoh while characterizing the Labour Movement in the anti-colonial struggles that eventually led to the country’s independence.

The two major historical strikes at this time were the 1945 general strike led by Michael Imoudu and the Iva Valley miners’ strike of 1949 that led to a massacre of workers After independence, unions shifted attention to the struggle for an equitable distribution of resources, social justice and a living wage. Just as labour was involved in politics, so also were successive governments the country involved in the Labour Movement.

During the All Nigerian Peoples Conference (a national conference) which held from May 19-21, 1961, a Labour Committee was set up to unify the labour centres. It was chaired by Dr. Sam. A. Aluko with his fellow economist Pius Okigbo, and nationalist businessman Alhaji Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi as members. The conference empowered a Labour Reconciliation Committee led by the then Parliamentary Speaker, Alhaji Jalo Waziri, to reconcile the Imouduled Nigeria Trade Union Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria then led by Haroun Adebola.

Politicians' interference Labour did not object to politicians’ interference in its internal politics nor did politicians object to labour’s involvement in politics. When there were electoral crisis in 1964, Labour called a general strike to force government to respect the ballot box and its results. Following the military coup, when General Aguiyi Ironsi met the leaders of the then our Labour centres in the country on February 14, 1966, he toldthem that: “The trade unions will now be required to play a more constructive role.”

The bulk of the trade unions supported the Federal Government during the three-year civil war from 1967-1970. But the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was uncomfortable with Labour and thought a divideand-rule tactic was the best. He, therefore, courted the the United Labour Congress, ULC, to the exclusion of the three other centres.

In 1973, workers in the country decided to have a single labour centre. As a first step, two of them; the NTUC and the Labour Unity Front, LUF, on September 28, 1973 at the Rowe Park, Lagos, merged to form the Nigeria Trade

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—33

How Military decreed against organised Labour Continues from page 34

Union Federation, NTUF. The new Federation elected Abayomi Ishola and Samuel Udoh Bassey as President and General Secretary, respectively. Apparently this did not please the Gowon administration.

He quickly issued Decree 31 of 1973 nullifying the merger by listing the old four labour Centres; the ULC, NTUC, LUF and the Nigeria Workers Council, NWC, as the only legal labour centres in the country.

On September 21, 1974 during the burial of a labour leader, Mr. J.A. Oduleye, the trade unions decided once more to merge into one indivisible labour centre. But Gowon’s Decree 31 was a stumbling block. The only way to maneouvre was for each of the four labour centres to convene its delegates’ conference and pass resolutions for voluntary dissolution, and vote for a merger. The NTUC and LUF quickly passed such resolutions but the other two centres did not until the overthrow of Gowon on July 29,1975 removed any protection they thought they had.

colonial unionist like Michael Imoudu.

Thirdly, they were afraid that pro-Gowon unionists who were in the defunct ULC may use the NLC against them. Fourthly, the existence of a powerful, sole labour centre led by independent unionists ran against the conception of the new regime’s image of itself as a supra-nationalist body which had come to save the country from itself.

The regime, led by men like Generals Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua had already decimated the armed forces, the civil service and the judiciary. Labour

Progressive Front for the Labour movement and the Committee of Trade Unions in defence of trade union rights.

They had three major prayers which they put in form of protest letters and with which they bombarded the regime. They wanted the military to: i. Dissolve the new NLC because its leaders were slated by the merging four labour centres rather than through open elections. ii. Probe the four old centres. iii. Ban particular Labour leaders from participation in trade union activities.

All three prayers were an-

on the next day as scheduled.

Adefope marched into the Lagos City Hall venue of the conference to announce that the regime would probe all major labour leaders in the country.

Having arrested so many labour leaders, the regime dragged three of them including the new NLC President, Wahab Goodluck to a Lagos Magistrate Court charging them with running a banned political party, the NLC. As far as the military was concerned, the NLC was a political party and since it had banned all political parties, the NLC had no right to exist.

The magistrate remanded all

T

he trade unions in the coun try were subsequently restructured into 42 industrial unions and a “new” Labour Centre, the NLC was allowed to operate from February 28, 1978.

General Yar’ Adua the Deputy Head of state on that day told Labour that the NLC will be regarded as a partner but “... without prejudice to the overriding responsibility of the government to preserve the security and peace of the nation”. The message was clear, as far as the military’s interest goes, while Labour would be exploited in the political process, it should not explore that process.

Continues tomorrow

remembered the word Nigeria

Birth of the NLC Gen. Henry Adefope...proscribed labour Labour leader number one, Comrade centres Michael Imoudu

to them was the sole surviving force that could challenge the regime.

The December 18, 1975 date for inauguration of the NLC gave the regime little room to manoeuvre.

But fortunately for it, there were anti-NLC elements in the Labour Movement who were willing to ally with the regime in its mission to smash labour centre. These elements floated two groups. The

swered. On December 4, 1975, the regime’s Labour Minister, General Henry Adefope, declared that the military would carry out “limited intervention” and ensure “guided democracy” in the trade union movement. Thirteen days later, on the eve of the NLC’s inaugural conference, police arrested about a hundred delegates to the conference in an attempt to stop it. But the conference went

Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress leaders ahead of a labour protest

Comrade Hassan Sunmonu...elected NLC president in 1978

three in custody until January 30, 1976. On February 12, 1976, General Murtala Mohammed signed a decree constituting a tribunal to probe Labour; it was on the eve of his assasination. In May 1976, Adefope announced that the NLC is not a legal body. With that, Nigerian workers for the first time in thirty three years had no central organisation under which to mobilise. Four months later, the regime imposed a wage freeze and workers had no national platform on which to resist it.

In February 1977, the military carried out what remains its most successful coup against Labour by banning its crème de la crème from trade union activities. Six of the eleven victims of this ‘coup’ were executive members of the defunct Nigeria Workers Council. They included its President, R. A. Ramos, GeneralSecretary A. U.Akpan and Treasurer P. A. Isagua. The other three were P. A. Nwaneri, J. O. Orotunde and K. A. Adeniran. From the militant NTUC were its president and leader of the NLC Wahab Goodluck and NTUC scribe S. U. Bassey. Leaders of the militant Railway Workers, Michael Imoudu and M. J. Sule were also banned. The formal instrument of the coup was styled the Trade Unions (Disqualification of Certain Persons) Act 15.

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The ULC convened a conference in Kano in September 1975 at which the merger resolution was passed while the NWC followed suit with a conference in Lagos the following month. With that, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was born.

However, the new soldiers who overthrew Gowon were suspicious of the NLC whose new leader, Comrade Wahab Goodluck, was one of the radical unionists who led the two crippling 1964 general strikes against politicians. They were also uncomfortable with a legendary anti-

That 1985 strike showed the power of unified Labour and gave confidence to workers that they could always exert pressure on the political class. The government’s conclusion on the other hand was that the trade union movement’s powers must be watered down, if not destroyed

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34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

New storage facility to generate 20,000 jobs

BY JIM REX-LAWSON MOSES

A

new storage facility, being constructed at the Lekki Free Trade Zone by the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, is capable of generating up to 20, 000 new jobs upon completion, the Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Mbah, has said.

Mbah disclosed this at the weekend during the facility tour and opening of the 2012 Eko-Expo and the Lekki Free Trade Zone Investors’ Forum, which was declared open by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

The Pinnacle boss said the project, expected to gulp about $250million, which will comprise a 400,000 Metric tonne, MT tank farm for storage on the shore that will be connected to a Single Point Mooring, SPM and Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) facilities.

The facility also includes an 11kilometer sub-sea and onshore pipeline network with a capacity to handle up to 80 percent of the total national refined petroleum products demand.

Transshipment operations According to Mbah, the facility when in place will eliminate any need for lightering or other transshipment operations as the norm in the Nigerian downstream industry today, and will also negate any need for investment in the construction of a shore side jetty. Furthermore, the mooring facilities will enable petroleum cargo vessels of between 5,000MT DTW and 155,000MT DTW capacities to anchor and discharge products with minimal vessel congestion as compared to the current situation on the Apapa/ Kirikiri axis.

In line with the above, Mba stated that Pinnacle Oil has entered into a Joint Memorandum of Understanding with the Lekki Free Trade Zone Company and China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation (CPTDC) for the development of this project.

The facility is reputed to be Nigeria’s first commercial offshore

products terminal infrastructure, otherwise known as a deep sea floating jetty, aimed at the transfer of refined petroleum products and gas from tankers of various sizes to tank farms on the shore as well as for the loading of products on tankers for distribution along the West African coast.

Mbah, further said, ‘’the impetus to develop this proposed petroleum products handling infrastructure is based on certain fundamentals. The Lekki Free Trade Zone, which will make it possible and easy to import and export products, thus enabling the servicing of the entire West African market. The development of the Zone into a major hub for industrial and commercial activity in Lagos State, necessitated

the Zone to make provisions for the expected high consumption of refined products by allotting about 10 parcels of land for the construction of tank farms.

“The Zone will likely attract even more relevance as petroleum companies are discouraged from locating new storage facilities in the Apapa/Coconut axis. The growing need for petroleum products in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, and the increasing need for importation of products, and the resulting high volume of imported refined products into the sub-region is anticipated to continue growing, in spite of the ongoing efforts in markets like Nigeria to encourage local refining via deregulation.’’

Lonestar denies liquidation claims

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, PORT HARCOURT

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ONESTAR Drilling Nigeria Limited has dismissed speculations that the oil service company was being liquidated, a situation it blamed on perceived detractors.

The Technical Assistant to the Executive Chairperson, and son of the founder, Mr. Lovett Idisi, who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that rather than being liquidated, the firm was growing stronger.

“We are doing well. We are in business,” he insisted, adding that the future of the firm was bright and will continue to

play a leading role in the oil and gas sector.

To underscore this, he said the company recently made two senior appointments, with Mr. John Pickford, as the Managing Director, and Mr. Sam Ewan, as the Administration Manager, adding that the recent restructuring in management was necessitated by the death of his father and founder, late Chief Humphrey Idisi, about three years ago.

He, however, revealed that the changes did not go down well with some top management staff, who made frantic effort to resist the move, until it became clear to them that they could not stop it.

IEA trims 2013 oil demand outlook

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ASED on weaker economic growth assumptions, the International Energy Agency has reduced its outlook for 2013 worldwide oil demand by 150,000 b/d from its month-ago forecast. Oil demand growth now is pegged at 870,000 b/d in 2012 and 830,000 b/d in 2013, according to the Paris-based agency ’s latest oil market report.

Oil demand among the countries of the Organization for

Economic Cooperation and Development, which now includes Chile, Israel, Slovenia, and Estonia, is forecast to average 46.1 million b/d this year and then decline to 45.8 million b/d in 2013 due to demand decreases in Europe and Asia.

Non-OECD demand will average 43.5 million b/d this year and 44.7 million b/d next year, IEA forecasts, as demand rises in all regions except Europe.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—35

BY JUDE NJOKU

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he Federal government recently approved a new national housing policy that will ensure the construction of one million houses annually.

Rising from the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo, in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who was then attending the RIO+20 summit, in Rio de Janeiro, the Information Minister, Mr.Labaran Maku and his Housing & Urban Development counterpart, Ms Amal Pepple, said the new policy replaces the 1991 Housing Policy, as well as the Urban Development Policy initiated in 1997.

The Information Minister noted that “for almost two decades, Nigeria has been struggling to bring up a new policy to facilitate the growth of housing provision in the country.

The proposal to build a minimum of one million houses annually is not a new policy after all. The Vision 20 2020 Committee in 2010, actually came up with that proposal but the target has never been achieved.

Against this backdrop, fears are rife that the new policy thrust might just be another tall dream that would not be realized. This fear is premised on the fact that the enabling environment that would make the realization of the target easy to come by, has not been put in place Built environment experts posit that although the target appears a tall dream, it is realisable if the necessary foundations are laid. President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Mr Emeka Eleh stated that even though the land

HIGH POINTS zTo actualize the dream, the government must create the enabling environment z The mortgage sector should be revamped *The government should intervene to reduce the interest rate for borrowing to a single digit z The Federal housing Authority and similar agencies should be strengthened to provide social housing z Government should provide infrastructure in the suburbs so that people can live in far places and come to work in the city centres C M Y K

Housing Estate in Lagos

FG’s 1million houses a year: Tall dream but realisable if... NIESV professionals support the policy, the government must create the enabling environment to actualise it. “The question is, what is on ground to ensure the realization of that target?, he asked.

Noting that the policy proposal is still at its embryonic stage, Mr. Eleh stated that “Implementation is key and in implementing, let the public be told how the government will go about it”.

“For us as an Institution, we must say that ensuring private sector participation is very key to achieving the target. The private sector must remain the engine of growth for that kind of target to be achieved.

Things to be done before the target can be realized Continuing, the NIESV President called for a review of the mortgage sector, strengthening of the Federal

Housing Authority, FHA and Government’s direct intervention in housing. His words: “One major issue is the mortgage sector that needs to be revamped. Mortgage is very key to housing delivery all over the world.

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he idea of full payment for a house is an impossible event; buying a house for even N5 million or N10 million and you are required to put down the whole amount is difficult for anybody to achieve and that is not one of the things that develop the economy. So, one key area is to develop the mortgage sector and make it possible for that sector to play its own role in national development.

Secondly, Government should intervene in the housing sector by way of reducing the interest rate. You

know that housing is a longterm venture and capital intensive, so the same way government is intervening in other sectors, (Government has intervened in the agriculture and aviation sectors), it should also intervene in the housing sector to lower the interest rate, so that people can borrow at a rate that is reasonable. The idea of borrowing at double digit interest rate to finance housing is too high.

Again is the cost of building materials. We have been told that we are now self-sufficient in cement production based on the number of plants that are now operational. But at what price? At N1,700 per 50 kg bag of cement, the price remains very high because cement is a major component of building material. What do we do ? If you look at the bulk of housing deficit in this country, the bulk

of it is low-income.

Government should open up the suburbs so that people can live there and come to work in the city centres”.

Social housing and its implementation Mr. Eleh lauded the social housing policy of the government but advised that its implementation should be at the local government level.:” It is a policy that we believe in and key into it because even though we believe that the private sector should be the engine of growth in the housing sector, we also believe that there are those who may not be catered for because they cannot afford the housing in the commercial market. We believe that social housing is appropriate because the aim of every government must be to house all its citizens. Until everybody has proper shelter, nobody is safe.

We advise that these policies can work better at the local government level because they are closer to the people. We also call on the Federal government to reequip or strengthen the Federal Housing Authority, FHA. Recall that the FHA was meant to be a social housing development platform for the government. That was how Festac was built. We want to encourage them to strengthen FHA and such agencies at the state level so that they can play their roles which is to develop houses and sell at subsidized rates,” he said. Another issue raised by the NIESV President is the provision of infrastructure, which he noted, constitutes a substantial chunk of the cost of housing delivery.”Subsidy can come in different forms; it can come in form of lands for development, it can come in the form of direct assistance, it can even in the form of government lending assistance to infrastructural development, because we keep saying that the major component of cost that we don’t talk about is infrastructural cost.

HAZARDS

How to prevent falls in the home F

alls are worse for young children and older adults.

Very few deaths from falls occur in adults under 60. For children, the most severe falls are associated with three products: baby walkers, windows, and play equipment including trampolines Below are a few things that you can do to prevent people in your home from falling: Put window guards on all windows

Put soft, protective surfaces under play equipment.

Pay special attention to staircases. Make sure that they have handrails, are well lighted, do not have any loose carpeting, and are always clear of toys and other items.

Use safety gates both at the top and bottom of staircases if children are in the house.

If you have a dark basement, install a light on the staircase and paint your bottom step a bright colour to make it more visible.

Look out for pets because pets cause most of the recorded falls.

Make your shower safe: use non-slip rubber mats and install extra rails or grab bars if necessary. Also, make sure that the existing rails and other supports are in good condition and can support your weight.

Make sure that you always use (and have!) sturdy step stools when getting things in the kitchen or out of closets.

Do not allow children under six years old to climb on bunk beds.

If you have small children, install locks on all cabinets and drawers so that they won’t be able to climb them

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Effective mortgage system will reduce corruption in housing sub-sector — Jeje

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

Sand Soft per tipper load ---N13,000 Sharp double tipper load---N23,000 Gravel double tipper load---N25,000 Gravel single tipper load---N18,000 Granite per tipper load----N120,000

•Cross section of Sir Michael Otedola Housing Estate, Lagos emphasized that a parcel of land without reduce temptation.

He NIESV exco members that it is in proper title is a dead asset because it will realisation of this fact and the pursuit of not have economic value that will be this laudable objective that the Lagos useful in business transaction such as State Government is introducing the using it for collateral to raise fund to grow Home Ownership Mortgage System one’sbusiness.Hesaiditwastounderscore LAGOSHOMS that is predicated on this importance that the State Government mortgage system. He added that quite handed title documents to 1000 home a lot of reforms have been introduced to owners in the State recently.

Jeje promised that members of NIESV the property sector of the system to make life easier for the people. According to will be engaged in the sale and the him, these include the Electronic maintenance of the various estates built Certificate of Occupancy to make land by the government across the state. He documentation easier, faster, eliminate therefore implored interested members fake ones and add more economic value of the institution to apply, assuring that to the land. The Commissioner they will be considered.

FG awards Oshodi-Apapa Expressway phase 2 reconstruction for N15 billion

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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he Federal Government at the weekend disclosed that it has awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Phase 2 of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway to construction giant, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the cost of about N15 billion. The government is also working to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the section 1 of the ever busy expressway with its mains scope, the construction of a dedicated bridge across Port-Novo Creek into Tin-Can Island Port and a Trailer Park with a capacity for about 400 trailers.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, an architect, who made this known while on inspection of the ongoing repair works on Third Mainland Bridge added that his ministry has finalized the procurement of construction of dedicated lanes to Tank Farms, Tin-Can Island Port and Apapa Quays to ease traffic congestion around the ports.

He said part of the contract will involve the reconstruction of the carriageway between Apapa Quays and Beachland Flyover. Onolememen who noted that currently, Julius Berger is carrying out massive erosion control works along Lagos/Otta Road inclusive of other drainage structures to ease perennial flooding

Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block---N130 9 inches vibrated per block---N150 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90

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AGOS State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje has noted that effective mortgage system which allows for long term repayment for property acquisition is one of the most potent tools in the fight against corruption in the housing subsector. Jeje said the heavy burden of raising so much money by an individual for the purchase of land, construction and other inputs into housing provision has led people to source funds through whatever means available to meet their housing needs.

The Commissioner who disclosed this while receiving the executive members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers NIESV in his office last week, noted that, apart from the fact that shelter is the second basic necessity of man, our culture makes all men inclined towards home ownership, stressing that there is the need to make acquisition of same less stressful in order to

Building materials watch

problems experienced on the road, pointed out that the erosion control measure is to complement the impressive work done at Dalimo along Lagos/Otta Road by Julius Berger where over 1000 metres of massive open drainage channel has since been completed.

The Minister who also disclosed that the federal government will decide on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway in the next two weeks, said talks are already going on between the government and the concessionaire to the road, BiCourteney in a bid to find the way forward concerning its

rehabilitation.

According to him, the issue of Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway came up for discussion while briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on key indicator performance of his ministry the year.

“A meeting was held last Tuesday with the President on the issue. We are also engaging the concessionaire to find the way forward. There has been a series of meetings with the concessionaire.

The meetings will end next week.

After this, the way forward will be known”. He added that the concession will certainly be reviewed by the federal government.

Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton ---N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton---N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton---N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton---N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton---N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12---N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12---N800 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece---N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece---N1,500 Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre------------------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre----------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre---....N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre---------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre-----------------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre-------------N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre-------------N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------------N170 25 mm diameter---------------......N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length ----------------------------N120 25 mm diameter per length--------------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

N-Delta stakeholders to meet on challenges of infrastructural development

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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etermined to address the challenge of infrastructure confronting the region, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has concluded arrangements to convene a stakeholders’ conference, which will afford participants the opportunity to develop a framework that will fast track the development of the region Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe who disclosed this while receiving the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru, who led the delegation of traditional rulers and other state executive members on a visit to him in his Abuja office, said those expected at the conference include, all the State Governors, the Deputy Governors, some key Commis-

sioners and traditional rulers.

The minister, who rekindled the present administration’s commitment to transform the region, said President Goodluck Jonathan who is also from the region, is working day and night to deliver sustainable infrastructure to the people of the Niger Delta.

“In the next two months, we will be having a stakeholders’ conference where all the governors, the deputy governors, some key commissioners, traditional rulers, youths, women as well as men will be invited to discuss on what we called collaborative infrastructure development framework for the Niger Delta,” he said.

Orubebe added that, “the master plan that was developed by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is more or less like a total encyclopaedia of

what we expect to have in the Niger Delta.

But the Ministry of Niger Delta is reducing it to practical term so that people will know what they are expected to do. We are working with UNDP, and all our donors’ agencies, developer partners for the projects.

“We are working round the clock to ensure that whatever that is required for the completion of the East West Road in terms of financial resources must be gotten from the appropriate quarters.” He said and assured that the road would be completed in 2014.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru had commended the Minister for efforts made in the dualization of the East West road.

Ikuru who decried the attitude of the Federal Government towards the state regretted that there has been virtually no Federal Government presence in the state in terms of contract awards in last twenty-five years.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 —37

Why can’t I have her?(3)

When my brother came back home that evening, he called me into his room and asked about my affair with Lande. I told him it was true because there was no reason to lie about it any longer. To my surprise, he started laughing.

He laughed so hard that I started wondering if something was wrong with him. When he finally took hold of himself, he started making little jokes with

me, calling me a dog and buddie stuffs like that.

He said he could never have guessed that I was as dangerous as that.

Then he suddenly became serious.

He told me that what we were doing was a taboo, that in-laws don’t date each other. He said

,

HI, Though I have not been able to really establish any reason why sexual relationships between in-laws are frowned at, I have been able to establish that it is not entirely a taboo in the society. I can count a couple of people who have done this and the heavens have not fallen down.

However, no matter how much argument you want to put up, getting most people to consent to such a relationship is almost like talking to a brick wall. This was exactly what happened to the young man in the story you will be reading today.

Kenny, (30) a banker, narrates his escapade as a young undergraduate.

He insists several years after that he still does not understand why everyone was against his affair with his sister-in-law.

Dear readers, please your views/opinion and contribution to this story is very much welcome.

Our address remain: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Happy reading!

out her threats to take Lande to Ibadan that day. Early the next morning, my brother called me, gave me some money for my transportation to Ibadan.

I didn’t know what to say as I knew that pleading with his wife would not

In fact, she refused to even acknowledge my presence at all, she just ignored me as if I did not exist at all

it would be difficult for him to keep me in his house because his wife no longer trusts me and considers me a threat even to the children. I was shocked. Does that mean I had become a pervert or child molester or something like that?

He said our action, if discovered by the kids, could set a bad precedence for them, adding that it would be better if Lande and I return to our parents in Ibadan.

My brother ’s wife refused to answer my greetings when she returned from work that evening.

In fact, she refused to even acknowledge my presence at all. She just ignored me as if I did not exist at all. It was not as if I had anything meaningful to say even if she were to ask me any questions.

Later that night, I heard my brother and his wife arguing about the matter. I guessed that she had changed her mind about which of us should leave the house, since she did not carry

,

change anything. So, I parked my things and left for Ibadan.

However, after waiting for a few days for Lande to come to Ibadan, I learnt that she was not coming as her sister had changed her mind about sending her back to their parents.

I later learnt that she came to that decision because of me. She said she could not vouch for both of us to be in Ibadan at the same time and not continue our affair. So, it was from her house that Lande returned to school after the holidays.

A few months after resuming at school, Lande paid me a visit on campus.

She told me about how her sister went to inform their parents and how everyone has been treating her like a leper since the incident. How she is never allowed to go out on her own anymore and how people have stopped believing whatever she says. on hearing all she had

to say, I was touched and felt so sorry for her.

I began to wish for a chance to make it up to her. She still wanted to continue seeing me and asked if I felt the same thing for her. on my part, I did not really mind, but the controversies would be too much for us to cope with.

On my return to Ibadan, even my mother had called me a greedy thief and accused me of taking advantage of Lande. Lande’s mother and older siblings also threatened to disown her if they ever saw us together again.

So, even if we had been deeply in love, the opposition was too much to allow such love to grow. The whole thing was dangerous, but at th same time, exciting and I enjoyed it while it lasted.

It is one relationship that i will never forget as long as I live. She never visited me again after that and we only ran into each other once before she got narried about three years ago. I hear she now has two children.

But what I still don’t understand is why they insisted that it is taboo for us to date each other.

They were not able to provide any answers for it either. Till today, I don’t know what their problem was.

Funny enough, when I tell people about what happened, they too insist it is bad, but they do not say why. It is not as if we are related by blood. I am not married to the older sister, it is my older brother that is.

Again, it is not my older brother that is having an affair with Lande, so what is immoral about it? I still believe they should have left us alone to decide what we wanted since we are not kids.

Concluded Assisted by Onozure Dania

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•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!

Parents’ Interference in Children’s Relationships

BY ONOZURE DANIA

RECENTLY, I was discussing with a friend who has been complaining about the way her parents treats her male friends. She said some who had interest of going into a relationship with her have had cause to change their minds because of the way her mother behaves whenever they are around.

Many of her friends are scared of even visiting her.

Yet, ironically, her parents have been on her neck to marry. What most people do not understand is that parents will always be parents, no matter how old their children gets. Parents have a compulsive instinct to have a say in the life of their children.

The downside of this is that sometimes, parents can go beyond their limits thereby adversely affecting their relationship with their children and even with their in-laws.

It is very common for parents to interfere in their children’s relationships.

While it would be nice for parents to accept the person that their son or daughter chooses to spend their time with, this does not always happen.

Since many parents can be very protective of their children, they may have a very difficult time opening up to the idea of their son or daughter being in a serious relationship.

There are times that family ties get broken due to a parent or a child’s action and this can take years to heal. What happens next is that family gatherings are no longer well attended as one child decides not to show up to avoid seeing the other with which he or she had a rift.

This indeed is an awkward situation.

Parents should know their limitations. Just because

they are the mother and father does not mean they have the freedom to interfere in their adult child’s life and relationships.

The first thing that you will need to do is determine what exactly the problem is. Do your parents call your boy friend or girl friend to find out their whereabouts every time you are with your friends?

Do your parents tell you that they don’t approve of the person you are having a relationship with? Have your parents tried to get involved at every opportunity that is open to them?

Before you begin to fix the problem, the most important thing that you will need to do is determine what they are.

Most people will be able to tell if their parents are a problem. However, there is always the possibility that your partner does not realize how large of a problem their parents really are.

Making your partner aware of the problem with their parents is one of the main keys to fixing the problems. If you are the one who has parents that are a problem, it is important to be sensitive to the needs of your partner.

Try to put yourself into their shoes and look at the situation from a different perspective. This will help you determine if your partner is overreacting or if there is reason for concern.

You may want to get into an argument or confrontation with your partner’s parents. Depending on how far the parents push it, this may or may not be necessary. If you are verbally abused and your partner does not seem to be willing to stand up for you, then you are going to need to do it yourself.

Remember that the best thing that you can do is be the bigger person.

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38 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 39

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Man docked for defiling 5-yr-old

Minister canvasses database for expatriate workers

BY ONOZURE DANIA

T

BY LAJA THOMAS

A

45-year-old man, Alabi Bakare, has been docked before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a five-year-old girl.

Bakare, who was accused of assaulting the child (name withheld), a commercial motorcycle operator, is married with two wives.

The defendant, who is a neighbour of the victim's parents, is facing a one-count charge of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor.

The Police prosecutor, Mr Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that Bakare had allegedly had sex with two other girls, who are minors and whose names were simply given as Jumoke, aged four and Azeezat aged, eight, before he was recently arrested.

Nwaokoye, said that the man committed the offence on August 3, 2012, at Oluwakemi Street, Alapere, Ketu.

The prosecutor alleged that Bakare, has been sexually assaulting little children over time before he was finally caught.

From left: Chief Superintendent of Customs(CSC), Idris Yahaya; AC Alfred Omiye, the celebrant, Mrs. Florence Omiye and CSC Kolade Kayode, during an event to mark the promotion of Mrs. Florence Omiye to the tank of Assistant comptroller(AC).

RANAO seeks increase in members' pension payment

BY GODWIN OGHRE

E

Bad portion of road in Araromi Phase 1, near Cambell in Ado-Odo, Otta Local Government Area, Ogun State. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Amend new traffic law, truck owners beg Fasola

BY MAIMUNA MOHAMMED & VICTORIA EDEMA

T

RUCK owners in the country have expressed fear that the new traffic law introduced by Lagos State Government will leave them at the mercy of armed robbers, who will attack their trucks at night.

The truck owners, who assessed the implication of the restriction order on their activities in Lagos, condemned the new law.

They maintained that the exemption of fuel tankers from the restriction order indicates that most of the fuel tankers belonged to those in power.

They also noted that the law, which prescribed N50,000 fine and the impounding of trucks plying the roads during the day, was another way of extorting them. They said the policy would lead to congestion in the

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HE Federal Gov ernment has been advised to have a database of employed expatriates in the country.

This was the consensus of stakeholders at a conference organised by the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with Anchor Database Solutions, held in Lagos, with the theme: Expatriate quota administration in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.”

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba

Moro, said: “As stakeholders, we are here to rub minds on the challenges of expatriate quota administration as a veritable vehicle of economic and industrial development, attraction of foreign direct investors, transfer of technology and unemployed youths in the country” adding that “the conference will enable the Ministry of Interior to come up with recommendations to government on the formation of more robust and contemporary expatriates quota policy that is in line with international best practice.”

ports as many trucks will not be able to cope with the volume of cargo coming into the ports.

President of Association of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, told Vanguard that the association would make effort to dialogue with the state government to resolve the issue.

He added that the road traffic law was capable of

sending most of the truck owners out of business as the law was not favourable to them and might expose truck drivers to danger at night.

Ogungbemi called on the state government to rescind the decision considering its negative impact on the economy of the nation.

Also speaking, Chief Eneh, Vice Chairman of Joint Council of Trucks, said the law was not acceptable to them, adding

that they would seek legal means to stop the government from implementing same as a lot of workers in trucking industry would lose their jobs.

Another stakeholder, Mr. Ibrahim Omotayo, said the law was not bad, as its workability remained the major problem as there are no parking spaces, the roads are bad and the security situation leaves much to be desired.

Hoteliers task FG on stable epileptic supply of elecpower supply tricity to businesses, parBY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—CHAIR MAN of Delta State branch of Hoteliers Association, Chief George Owarieta, has appealed to the Federal Government to take more practical steps to boost power supply in the country.

Owarieta, in a chat with newsmen, yesterday, in Asaba, said the association would not hesitate to go to court to resist any

attempt by individuals and government agencies, who may wish to fraudulently collect illegal levies from its members.

Noting that a new nineman executive had been put in place to pilot the affairs of the association for the next two years, he urged government to provide a conducive atmosphere for business to thrive.

He said: “Nigerians are suffering gravely from

ticularly in Delta State.

Hotels can scarcely break even because of huge cost of diesel to power our generating sets. In Warri, while electricity is scarcely available, exorbitant bills are charged by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. We appeal to Federal Government and PHCN to translate the huge investment in the sector to gradual increase in power supply to our industries."

FFURUN—RE TIRED Army, Navy and Air Force Officers of Nigeria, RANAO, weekend, urged the Federal Government to improve on the pension that they are receiving, saying that what they are earning now barely sustains them considering the present economic situation of the country.

The war veterans who made the call in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, at its 25th anniversary

in Effurun Army Barracks, said that government should look into the plight of its members who served the country and retired meritoriously and yet have no shelter of their own.

In a statement through its Zonal Coordinator, South, Lt. Col. J. A. Adidi (rtd), said the association which was formed 25 years ago has 23 chapters in Nigeria and a chapter each in the United Kingdom and Ireland, created to cater to the needs of retired members of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Man arraigned over N.4m fraud

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & IBUWARISO EMMANUEL

A

38-year-old man, Abiola Oladimeji, has been arraigned before an Apapa Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly duping an accommodation seeker of N480,000, under the pretext of helping him secure a three-bedroom apartment.

The suspected fraudster, who pleaded not

guilty, when the charge was read to him, is facing a one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and absconding immediately after collecting the said money.

According to the prosecutor, Mr John Iberedem, the suspected fraudster on failing to fulfill a promise he made to the accommodation seeker (Mr Ben Obiekomi) did not return the money to the complainant.

Uduaghan gets kudos over appointment of GM for DBS Asaba

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

D

ELTA State Gover nor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been commended for the appointment of Mr. Albert Oshogbor as the substantive General Manager of Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba.

A media consultant in the state, Mr. Emma Fejokwu, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Asaba. He said Mr. Oshogbor's appointment was well deserved, adding that he had no doubt that the new General Manager of the station would take the establishment to greater heights.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 14, 2012— 41

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

form quorum before carrying out their action”.

The suspended members apart from Alhaji Massalla are: Barr.

Morgan Anyalechi (National Vice-Chairman, South-East); Sunday Obasohan (Deputy National Organising Secretary); Barr. Bala Bako (National Legal Adviser); Mr. Ferguson Okpara (National Youth Leader) and Mrs. Ella Nwabueze Ezeanya (National Woman Leader).

He further announced the setting up of a seven-man disciplinary committee headed by the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tayo Sowumi to “investigate the flagrant and brazen display of disobedience to the party constitution by the suspended NWC members and to make appropriate recommendations to the NEC” scheduled to hold on July 27.

*Gov Obi

*Umeh

APGA: The power struggle tearing Ndigbo flag THE Victor Umeh leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance which only recently prevailed in its protracted battle with the party’s original founder, Chekwas Okorie is now fighting dissidents within its ranks

BY CHRIS OCHAYI SINCE the burial of the late Biafran leader and Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in March 2012, peace has departed the soul of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Ojukwu until his death had been the pillar behind the political success of APGA in the South East geo-political zone.

With Ojukwu, APGA made history when it broke into Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stronghold in the South eastern states in the 2003 election using the late Igbo leader's personality and the love the people had for him.

But shortly after OdumegwuOjukwu’s demise, political observers are worried over what would become of the party in future, especially, in the SouthEast where it enjoys a commendable level of popularity.

This has been especially highlighted by the increasing degree of acrimony within the top leadership of the party.

APGA began to experience uneasy calm shortly after the burial of Ojukwu, its former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT. Uneasy calm especially reigned in the party between April and May, 2012.

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Remarkably, this was also the period when the leadership of National Chairman, Chief Victor and National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi successfully won the decisive leadership battle for recognition against the party’s former leader and founder Chief Chekwas Okorie.

The last judgement, which sent Chief Okorie packing from the party was that delivered by the Supreme Court, which confirmed Umeh as the authentic national chairman of APGA. Chief Okorie, acting in accordance withthe ruling, returned the APGA certificate of registration to the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC.

Crack in APGA However, almost immediately after, the discord which had been simmering within the Umeh camp broke to the fore just after INEC handed over the certificate of registration to Umeh in April 2012.

What should have been a source of joy and admiration turned sour as the party was engulfed in leadership crisis precipitated by what some described as greed and ambition of some party officials.

On June 19, 2012, a section of

party through the misadministration of Umeh and Shinkafi and failure of the leadership to convene annual national convention as well as the party struck at the national flagrant spending of the party’s secretariat located at Libreville funds.

The faction subsequently Street in Wuse II district in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to suspended Umeh and Shinkafi over the alleged offences. hold an unauthorised meeting.

The action of Massalla group The officials including six members of the National Working irked Umeh, who reacted by Committee, NWC were led by announcing the immediate Alhaji Sadiq Massalla, the suspension of the six members of Deputy National Chairman, the NWC of the party including Massalla who had North who was earlier announced subsequently Umeh's suspension proclaimed the However, and replacement. faction's Acting Umeh said: “Their Chairman. They the nefarious activities announced a 13culminated in the point allegation of rebellion unfortunate event of misconduct against against June 19, 2012. After a Umeh and the Umeh thorough deliberation, National Secretary, the NWC unanimously Alhaji Sani received a resolved to suspend Shinkafi. serious them from the party The allegations indefinitely. Their i n c l u d e blow when "romance and INEC at the indefinite suspension is in accordance with nocturnal meetings Article 21.2(d) of the of Chief Victor end of last APGA Constitution”.

Umjeh and Alhaji month According to Umeh, Sani Shinkafi with the efforts of the group the leaderships of conferred in changing the Congress for legitmacy leadership of the party Progressive lacked constitutional Change, CPC, and on the merit and is bereft of Action Congress of Umeh logical reasoning Nigeria, ACN, leadership any “because it grossly fell with intention to short of the merge with the requirements of the parties, systematic constitution of the party and retrogressive as they did not even shrinking of the

Umeh's defence Umeh, who read a 16-point communiqué, which was adopted at the end of the emergency meeting of his NWC, noted their action was not tenable under APGA’s constitution.

Umeh described the attempt of the other faction of APGA led by Massalla to suspend him and National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Shinkafi as “a failed attempt by dissidents whose actions could not be condoned by the party”.

Apart from disparaging the Massalla faction, Chief Umeh also lampooned the convener of the APGA stakeholders meeting, held at the Enugu home of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, noting there was no place under the party ’s constitution which empowers the party’s Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tim Menakaya to call for such a meeting of stakeholders.

U

meh also claimed that he had the other 19 NWC members, 36 State Chairmen as well as elected members of the National Assembly under his APGA. As if fingering Governor Peter Obi for sponsoring the party’s crisis, Umeh told the governor to immediately conduct local government elections in Anambra State as there was no justifiable reason for continuing to deny people in the third tier of government in the state their rights to choose their leaders democratically.

The Massalla group further tackled Umeh when it convened a meeting of the NEC of the party. The NEC meeting said to be observed by officials from the INEC was also attended by representatives of Governor Obi in the person of Chief Obinna Okafo, where Obi gave credence to the faction.

But Umeh’s faction almost

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—43

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY:

A revolt against elderly youths W

HATEVER made the Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, to absent himself from what was arguably one of the most significant events of his ministry in the year was couched in bureaucratic syntax.

The chubby looks of the new minister may have accommodated him at the commemoration of the International Youth Day in Abuja last Thursday.

It is, however, doubtful if any measure of tolerance could have been extended to Alhaji Garba Chiza, the celebrated National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who has been severally estimated to be in his 60s. Indeed, the jokes were on the PDP’s youth leader at the event as many youths openly complained how positions and spaces earmarked for youths have been permanently taken over by the elders.

“If a 60-year old is a youth, then a 40-year old is a child and a 30year old must be a baby,” one of the speakers at the event said.

The ceremony was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, through its Democratic Governance for Development, DGD, project.

Guests at the event cut across political stakeholders, representatives of youth groups and civic society groups among others.

Gender advocates Prominent among those who graced the occasion were one of the country’s leading gender advocates and member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Nkoyo Toyo; Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri; National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima; UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure; and Country Director of ActionAid, Dr. Ussain Abdu, National Youth Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, among others.

Reading the message of the United Nation’s Secretary General, in his own welcome address, the UNDP representative, Mr. Toure, who is also the UN Resident Coordinator said the commemoration of the day was meant to highlight “the many ways the United Nations, Member States, the private sector and other stakeholders can

YOUTHS and elders young at heart gathered in Abuja last Thursday for the commemoration of the International Youth Day. The looming issue at the occasion was how youths could help themselves to expand the political space.

Civil society movement

L-R: National Secretary of CPC, Engr. Buba Galadima; Mr. David Ross of CIDA, Mallam Aminu, representing the Minister of Youth, Hon, Nkoyo Toyo, Ms. Ade Lekoetje, UNDP Country Director and Dr. Hussani Abdu of ActionAid partner with, and for the youth.”

In his remarks at the event Mr. Omeri disclosed how the agency is presently engaged in promoting a Citizens Responsibility Volunteer Scheme as a way of tying Nigerians to their responsibilities to their fatherland. Noting the urgency of promoting patriotism education, he said, “it is better to promote patriotism education than civic education because if you are patriotic you will perform your civic responsibility.”

Whatever Omeri said, received some form of heart searching as Galadima gave his own remarks.

“How do you become a leader of tomorrow if you are not part of the gang of today?” Galadima asked. Noting how what he referred to as bad governance had reduced the space for the youths to express themselves, he said: ”What we ask from the authorities is for them to provide a level playing field so that the

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

of Dr. Abdu is the imprecision on who is a youth.

“Defining a youth is vague and that is one of the problems and this has led to a situation where a 60-year old man is the national youth leader of a political party and when you complain they say that their constitution did not define who a youth is.”

Remarkably, he decried the danger facing the youths in their bid for self-actualisation saying that the space available to them had been significantly narrowed.

Noting constitutional provisions on entry into political offices, he observed that whereas entry points have been raised life expectancy has at the same lowered reducing the time frame for Nigerians to actualize themselves politically.

If a 60-year old is a youth, then a 40-year old is a child, and a 30-year old must be a baby, one of the speakers at the event said

,

youths can have the opportunity to develop themselves.” “There is enough to make everybody in Nigeria to be happy,” he said in reference to reports of Nigerian government officials

accumulating billions of naira in ill-gotten wealth at the expense of the citizenry.

Ebikibina, the National Youth Leader of the ACN in his own submission summarized the predicament of the youths thus: "The Nigerian youths have come a long way from being in the vanguard for Nigeria political development to a present state of near hopelessness and helplessness; a state where matters of Nigerian development are routinely decided without the youth in mind.”

The country director of ActionAid, Dr. Abdu in his keynote address with the theme, ‘Walking the Talk: Youth Inclusion in Nigerian Politics’ noted how youths have been strategically excluded from the political fray despite much talk about their inclusion.

Significant in the exclusion of the young and youths from mainstream politics in the view

Currently, the minimum ages for qualification for the office of President, Senator and member of the House of Representatives are 40, 35 and 30 years respectively. Expectations that the lamentations of the youths would receive some form of sympathy from Rep. Toyo, herself a veteran in the country’s civil society movement, was immediately cast aside once she got the opportunity to speak.

“There is no wholesome condemnation or commendation because there is no society that is wholly good or wholly bad,” the member of the House said as she derided the attitude of lumping everyone together in the political space.

“If you want to change that situation, you have to come in there and change it,” she submitted. If we do not have a dominant counter force in the system, the system will continue to support its own, it will continue to define itself in the way it is defined. The beneficiaries of the system will continue to benefit from the system.”

Toyo, however, did not drop the microphone without throwing back the taunts against her party’s National Youth Leader, saying: “The older people in the ACN are worse that the older people in the PDP. Am I wrong,” she asked to a muted applause.

APGA: How power struggle is tearing Ndigbo flag Continues from page 42 immediately rubbished the import of Massalla’s NEC meeting following a petitioned to the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command, alleging forgery of the signature of 11 NWC members by the Massalla group.

Umeh said it was on the strength of the forged signatures of the 11 NWC members that the Massalla group obtained INEC’s nod to conduct the NEC meeting.

Though, the FCT Police Command had started

investigations into the matter they are yet to make open their findings.

Just as the report is being awaited, APGA was rendered an orphan following injunctions and counter-injunction granted by the Judges of Enugu High Court and Abuja High Courts, restraining both Umeh and Massalla from performing certain functions in APGA. However, Chief Umeh’s moves to vacate the order at the Enugu High Court suffered a set back as the Enugu Chief Judge,

Justice Innocent Umezulike fixed the hearing on the mater for September 17, 2012 This development has forced Chief Umeh to postpone indefinitely, the NEC meeting of the party scheduled for August 1, 2012.

Although, Chief Umeh has since appealed the verdict of Justice Innocent Umezulike who had fixed the hearing on the mater for September 17, 2012, until the Appeal Court vacates the lower Court’s position, the injunction will still remain an albatross for

Umeh to carry on with the activities of the party.

However, the rebellion against Umeh received a serious blow when INEC at the end of last month conferred legitmacy on the Umeh leadership.

The commission conveyed its recognition vide a letter by its Secretary Abdulahi Kaugama with reference number INEC/ LEG/APGA/222/11/313, deposed that the processes taken by the opposiing group to sack Umeh were faulty.

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44—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Stallion Group launches Apollo

Hyundai Sante Fe 2013

W

Hyundai redesigns 3rd generation Santa Fe for efficiency H

YUNDAI staged a world premiere of the all-new Santa Fe at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, held from April 4 to 15.

The all-new Santa Fe showcases the brand’s cutting edge capabilities through its “Fludic Sculpture” design, impressive fuel economy and a host of features to delight drivers and passengers with high expectations for functionality and comfort.

The exterior of the Santa Fe invokes the impression of irrepressible motion through its own design concept called “Storm Edge,” which captures strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formatioin of a storm.

Urban style design The futuristic and urban-style design, with its bold hexagonal front grille, let people know immediately that Santa Fe is a Hyundai.

Hyundai believes the all-new Santa Fe will be a great answer to families with two or more kids that seek the size, flexibility and capability of a crossover at the same time. The new Santa C M Y K

Fe rides on 2,700 mm wheelbase, with an overall length of 4,690 mm, height of 1,680 mm, and width of 1,880 mm, while lowered height and extended overhang gives it a sportier look . Like its wider apparance, the new Santa Fe offers more spacious cabin room as well. While both first row headroom and second row legroom are increased for more space, seating convenience is improved by lowering hip point and ground clearance.

The new Santa Fe is also

economically appealing without sacrificing fun to drive.

For the US market, two types of gasoline engines are available: 2.4 litre Theta II GDI four-cylinder engine and 2.0 litre Theta II turbo-charged engine.

Maximum power With a 2.4 Theta II GDI engine, the Santa Fe delivers maximum power of 193 ps, and maximum torque of 25 kg.m,

while achiving a great fuel economy of 23/33 pmg (city/highway). In the case of 2.0 Theta II turbo-charged engine, it boasts maximum power of 268 ps, and maximum torque 37.2 kg.m.

Thanks to both GDI and turbo-charged technologies, the Santa Fe delivers more power than many V6 competitors, yet offers 4 cylinder level fuel economy of 22/ 31 mpg (city/highway).

ORLD renowned Apollo Tyres has formally launched its product range in Nigerian tyre market, appointing tyre division foremost merchandise, Stallion Group as substantive custodian of the brand.

Dr. Louis Ceneviz, CEO, Apollo Tyres (Pty) South Africa who conferred the honour on the marketers said at an inaugural banquet titled ‘Evening with Apollo Tyres' at the Oriental Hotel , Lekki Lagos, the CEO’ said that Apollo Tyres is a global brand with an annual turnover of $2.5 billion. Established in India more than three and half decades ago, the Apollo brand according to Dr. Ceneviz has plants inthreecontinents–Africa,Asiaand Europe with nine technologically advancedplantsinvariouslocations – (two in South Africa, two in Zimbabwe, four in India and one in The Netherlands).

He described its foray into the Nigerian market “as the beginning of an exciting journey that will enable Apollo Tyre usher ultra-high performance products that are suitable for speeds of up to 300km per hour.”

“We believe offering the right product to the right customer is essential ... and that is why we develop niche applications within a larger category to enable the provision of efficient fuel and cost saving products for each product segment,” Apollo helmsman said.

Also describing Apollo Tyres as precision engineered tyres, Mr. Ceneviz said the company spares no expense when it comes to plant equipment that produces high quality premium tyres. Apollo Tyres currently produces 400,000 metric tons of tyres across all automotive categories annually with exports to more than 70 market destinations worldwide.

Coscharis Lekki facility ready for unveiling

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OSCHARIS Motors, one of the leading automobile distributors in Nigeria will soon open for business in its ultra- modern office, showroom and workshop located at the highbrow Lekki in Lagos State. The state of the art corporate headquarters according to Coscharis was aimed at offering customers the best service as well as ensuring customer intimacy, product leadership and service excellence flowing from its investments in bringing the company closer to the customers and guaranteeing value for money. “ This latest facility is to ensure that the experiences of customers in sales, service and repairs match the sublime features of the vehicles themselves while also serving as the company’s corporate Headquarters,” says Coscharis. It is quite notable that

Coscharis Motors represents a very significant aspect of the auto market in Nigeria and therefore, "only appropriate to extend a similar iconic edifice in Abuja to Lagos, especially as Lagos represents its largest market.”

Coscharis Motors commitment is in providing showrooms and workshops that are not only among the best in the country but also meet and exceed the expectations of its customers and manufacturers alike.

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onsequently, at the new Lekki facility all brands’ ranges of the company would be displayed while retaining the individuality of each brand in terms of their corporate identities.

Achieving this has resulted into a unique architectural design well befitting of the premium brands that the company represent. With a large set of

premium customers coming from the new location, the company is elated to locate very closer to them and with newer and improved sales and services resources at their disposal.

In identifying with the Lagos State’s Public Private Partnership initiative, Coscharis Motors efficiently took over the Eko Engineering project for sales and aftersales services of all auto brands as well as managing the Vocational Centre for technical skill acquisition specifically to provide aftersales support for Rapid Response fleet of vehicles.

This venture is at Ikeja and now called CG-Eko LLP. It was formally inaugurated by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

With a vision to build an institution that will be timeless in its relevance; Coscharis Group

came up with the mission to deliver excellent products and services to its customers giving them the highest value for their money. And as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, CSR, it will plough back resources into the immediate and larger society, while ensuring that the employees have a sense of pride and fulfilment.

Coscharis Group has over 26 branches nationwide with presence in three African countries; Ghana, Gabon and Cote D’Ivoire. Its subsidiaries and associated companies include– Coscharis Motors Limited, Coscharis Auto Industries, Coscharis Technologies Limited, Coscharis Beverages Limited, CG Biostadt Limited, Coscharis Medical and Food Limited and CG-Eko LLP.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012—45

Elizade boss counts blessings, weeps for Nigeria

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HIEF Michael Ade Ojo, Founder/ Director, Elizade Motors, is a fulfilled man, not happy with the turn of events in the country.

Chief Ade Ojo who is also the chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, while speaking at the dinner organised by his company at its Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently to mark the 40 x 1 existence of his company counted his blessings as a successful businessman, family man and grand father but has frowned at the way things were going on in the country.

While thanking customers, friends and well-wishers, the 74-yearold grand father said: “Your presence is a mark of respect and friendship and I am here tonight to say thank you for many things.

“Having thanked God, the next group is our customers for your support and trust over the last 41 years.” Continuing he said, “I thank my employees who are over 1000 in number and I want to revert to God again for providing me with children I can depend on, who have listened to me and taken after me.

“God has been generous enough to us to have enabled us to put up an institution that speaks, even after we would have left this planet–The Elizade University.”

Having made all remarks, the Elizade boss lamented the way things were degenerating in the country.

“When I look at the country we are in, many

C Toyota Avensis 2012 M Y K

times, I shed tears. It is my hope that something could be done to change the trend and clear the mess.

Many times, I have said that all of us are sinners, it is not only the leaders that are sinners and if you don’t believe, you are sinners, you can’t confess your sins, and be forgiven.

“At 74, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. What I have seen is like we are engaged in a rat race and not knowing where we are going. It is time we should know the danger we are in so that we can begin to do something. I am telling you as a 74-year-old, unless we begin to recognise that we are not in the right place, we are racing into bottomless pit,” he said.

Speaking at the occasion, the managing director of the company, Mr. Demola Ade Ojo collaborated his fathers remarks

that what they were doing was the celebration of God’s goodness on the Ade Ojos.

“What we are doing to-

the first six months, as well. ”The Sub-Saharan Africa left hand drive markets, which includes countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, among others, showed the highest growth rate for the region, with sales nearly doubling in size, growing by 92 per cent when compared to the sales figures between January and June 2011.”

She said the top performing products in the left hand drive markets include the Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic and Spark. ”The recently introduced Chevrolet N300,

started this business, we can sit down here to celebrate the success of Chief Ade Ojo, Toyota.

Zero death road traffic crashes result achievable — FRSC T HE Corps Marshall and chief executive, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Osita Chidoka has said that zero death road traffic crashes result is achievable in Nigeria if the right steps are taken.

Chidoka who made this remark in Abeokuta, at the launch of the United Nations Decade of Action on Roads Safety, by Ogun State Government and

launching of ambulances for emergency services in Ogun State said he had no doubt that the step taken by Ogun State Government was strategic towards making Nigerian roads one of the safest within the global safest roads in line with vision 20:2020.

He remarked that the decision of Ogun State Government to launch the United Nations Decade of

GM Sub-Saharan Africa records 58% growth in 1st half which replaces the N200 hand drive markets inHE General Motors regions showed outseries, has also proven cludes the Isuzu Pickup T Sub-Saharan Africa standing growth in their extremely popular in the as well as the Chevrolet (GMSSA) region sales particular markets over volumes for the first six months of 2012 continue to show solid year on year growth. According to Rita Kavashe, Export Director, GM Sub-Saharan Africa and Managing Director, GM, East Africa operations, the region recorded almost 60 per cent growth in the first half of the year.. ”When taking a look at the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year, the Sub-Saharan Africa region’s sales between January and June 2012 grew by an outstanding 58 per cent” She said: Kavashe said all three Sub-Saharan Africa sub-

day is not just for our customers but to celebrate the goodness of the Lord on the Ade Ojo family. Fourone years after my father

left hand drive markets, where it is currently available in the sevenseater passenger modelthe N300 Move, and the Cargo Van configuration known as the N300 Max.” Kavashe said General Motors also showed significant growth in the South East Africa right hand drive markets, which includes Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.

Sales for January to June 2012 grew by 49 per cent in this sub-region compared to the same period last year. ”Key products in the South East Africa right

Cruze and Aveo,” she s a i d .

Kavashe said the General Motors East Africa sub-region, which includes countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, grew by 26 per cent, specifically showing growth in demand for both the Isuzu Pickup and Isuzu b u s e s . ”This has been attributed to large infrastructure projects taking place in the region, as well as the Kenyan government’s current phasing out of 14 seater minibus taxis popularly known as ‘matatus,” she added.

Action on Roads Safety stands them out among other states.

He said: “If by this step, the Ogun State Government succeeds, then by the end of 2020, the current number of people that perished in the state would be reduced by 50 per cent as demanded by the United Nations.” Continuing, he said this was still not the ultimate aim of Nigeria as national road safety strategic document has been developed for Nigeria where the nation envisioned a country where road traffic crashes would result in zero death.

“This vision as challenging as it may look is achievable.”

The FRSC boss disclosed that the United Nations General Assembly worried by the alarming rate of deaths caused by road traffic crashes estimated at 1.3 million annually across the globe, unanimously passed a significant resolution on March 2, 2010, declaring 2011-2020 to be the decade of action on road safety.

The decade of Action is designed as an exceptional framework in which all stakeholders, government

agencies, non- governmental organisation, educational institutions, the press, political leaders, religious leaders, civil societies and others can work together through concerted efforts at eliminating the scourge of road traffic crashes, thereby improving road safety both locally and globally.

According to him, the UN had warned that if action was not taken, by 2015, road traffic crashes will be the leading health burden for children over the age of five in developing countries.

The annual death rates is also forecast to rise to 1.9 million by 2020. He noted that before, road safety had been met with muted action resulting to huge loss of lives and material resources in the country.

To this end, he added, “we as a nation and a part of the international community, cannot and will not fold our hands to see these lives being wasted through road traffic crashes, which in most cases are caused by human error. It has become a necessity to use initiatives and every device within our reach to take action. And this is the time.”

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

J O U R N A L I S T ’ S B AT T E R I N G :

Acid test for Office of Public

•MRA, Lawyers bitter over the assault

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor OLASUNKANMI AKONI, CHARLES KUMOLU & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

T

HE Office of the Public De fender, OPD, was created by the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2000 to render free legal services to the less-privileged in the society regardless of their status, cultural or political affiliation and also to those whose fundamental human rights are being trampled upon. It focuses on social economic services like child abuse, domestic violence cases, and issues relating to compensation, for instance, where someone is being unlawfully dismissed from service.

The office also handles cases relating to unlawful detention and harassment of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents. Following the alleged assault on Leadership Newspaper photo Journalist, Mr. Benedict Uwalaka last Thursday, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State directed the office to take up the case in order to bring the culprits to book.

Uwalaka’s alleged attacker... on the run

battery but also attempted murder. This is not a matter of just an apology by the state government but for those characters to be brought to book. Their action is despicable and the characters are easily identifiable in the televiRelease of sion. They must be charged to the corpses court and the case pursued to a The governor also directed that logical conclusion. It must not be the state’s Attorney- General and swept under the carpet.

Victim should head to court — Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye should enAturu Human rights activist, sure that justice is Bamidele Aturu dedone. The incident happened when scribed the act as barbaric, insisting that the culUwalaka was on covprits be made to face the erage of the release of corpses of those that law. He said: “That is There is barbarism on the part of lost their lives in the ill those Lagos State hosfated Dana air crash at no way the Lagos State Unipital official. The Lagos State governmental versity Teaching anybody should investigate the Hospital,LASUTH, to can justify their families and relmatter and bring the the ratioculprits to book. There atives. is no way anybody can MRA reacts: Meannale of time, the Media justify the rationale of beating a journalist, Rights Agenda, MRA, beating a who was performing his has condemned the brutal and violent at- journalist, lawful duty. Journalists are constitutionally tack on the photojour- who was backed to perform their nalist. MRA described the action of the mor- performing duties, so preventing them from doing that is tuary attendants as his lawful criminal and inexcusagainst the law. We are able under any cir- duty living in a democratic setting and not a juncumstance. It called on the hospital managegle, so what those hosment and Lagos State Govern- pital staff did was barbaric. You ment to take decisive action to don’t brutalise journalists, whose bring the perpetrators to justice. duty it is to inform and educate Mr Richard Akinnola — Hu- the society. The victim should seek man Rights Activist: The issue is redress in the law court, because not only a matter of assault and his fundamental human rights

Leadership newspaper’s photojournalist, Benedict Uwalaka

had been tapered with by those people who are agents of Lagos state government. He should seek compensation from his attackers.”

Mr Ralph Nwoke — A Lawyer: It is very clear that it is assault. The journalist can sue or the state can take criminal proceeding against the perpetrators.

Even when the state takes criminal proceeding, that does not stop the journalist from suing because he was assaulted. The problem usually is that when things like this happen, nobody pays for it and that will continue to foster the culture of impunity. People believe they can do anything and get away with it. But if punish-

New LAWMA trucks...women drive some of them

ments are meted out, next time it will serve as a deterrent for other people.

Mrs Funmi Falana: The attitude of the hospital officials as seen on the television and on the print was uncalled for and uncivilised. The journalist was treated badly and he must seek redress to teach others a lesson to avoid a future occurrence. The hospital officials are expected to know that

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012— 47

Defender apart from the fact that LASUTH is a public facility, the journalists have every right to cover the issue involved, that is the Dana

crash. Even if there will be exceptions either from the family or the authority, it shouldn’t have been the way it was handled by

the officials.

They should be aware of the Freedom of Information Law which empowers Nigerians to have access to reasonable information. So the journalists have the right in the course of performing their constitutional duty to visit that activity going on that day. So, the attack is a gross violation of his fundamental rights, which must not go unchallenged.

Cross expressway, pay N100 bribe • As KAI officials make money from pedestrians’ disobedience

BY BOSE ADELAJA

D

O you know that in some parts of Lagos, one can cross an express road at will as long as you have ‘kola’of as little as N100 in your pocket?

No thanks to some officials of law enforcement agencies, especially the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, brigade saddled with the responsibilities of enforcing the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos State, turning this popular disobedience by some citizens to quick way of making money.

In case you are not aware, a visit to Cele Okota and Ketu areas of Lagos will convince you about the escapades of some KAI officials in this regard. On daily basis, a team of KAI brigade is seen with a Black Maria parked few metres away from the pedestrian bridges as the officials move to and from the tarmac looking for victims.

In most cases, victims who refuse arrest are whisked into the vehicle and detained for hours before taken to KAI office where their fate is determined.

On the other hand, those who ‘plead guilty’ are to part with amounts as little as N100 depending on the officials involved. Vanguard gathered that victims who satisfy such requirement are assist-

ed to cross the remaining part of the expressway as oncoming vehicles are flagged down by these officials while those who do not meet up, are whisked into the patrol vehicles to meet some officials of the brigade, for penalties from N2000 and above.

Investigations reveal that the brigade officials usually generate huge amount of money which they share among themselves depending on their rank and resumption time at the bus-stops.

Although KAI Marshal General Danjuma Meigeri, has said great penalty awaits erring officials but investigations revealed that many of them have perfected the means of keeping their loot with-

out being caught by higher authorities.

A source at Ojota told Vanguard that the loot is either hidden in the officials’ beret or kept with street urchins popularly called area boys or some of the traders at the bus-stops.

Victims’ account: A first time visitor to Lagos, Alhaji Abdulkareem Azees, narrated his ordeal to Vanguard thus: “During the Dana air crash at Iju-Ishaga area, I came to Lagos from Ile-Ife, Osun State, in search of my children who live at Iju-Ishaga. Unfortunately I was detained by KAI officials as soon as I arrived Ojota after which one of them accompanied me to a new generation

An overhead bridge in Lagos...it’s N100 for disobedience

bank close by where I withdrew a sum of N2000 to regain my freedom.”

Another victim, Tolulope Aralamo, said he no longer uses the pedestrian bridge in order to save time. He said: “I live at Ketu but no longer use the pedestrian bridge since I have understood their language which is parting with a sum of N100.”

A vendor at Cele expressway, Okota area said: “KAI officials only visit the bus-stop on few occasions and erring pedestrians are made to part with N200 on such occasions. KAI officials have adopted the ‘pay and go’ method. You need not entertain fear if you can meet their requirement.”

It’s outright dismissal—Danjuma: Ïn a swift reaction, KAI Mar-

shal General, Danjuma Meigeri, told Vanguard that any officer found wanting will be dismissed.

He said: “In as much as the State government has frowned at corruption in every sector, who am I to condone it? I am yet to get an official report about it but I am assuring you that I shall not spare anybody found guilty of corruption.

“I have always told people, don’t spare KAI officials regardless of the rank, if any of them demands for bribe, all you need do is to look at his name tag and report to my office and he or she will be dismissed outrightly. I am not happy to hear this, if our dear governor is fighting corruption, how much more I, a retired army officer, the offence attracts outright dismissal.”

LAWMA female truck driver speaks on experience •Says I feel like a superwoman driving the truck

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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RS. Opeyemi Adeshina drives one of the of the new skip trucks recently introducedd by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA. The skip trucks were bought to increase the Authority’s fleet in its drive to further enhance effective waste collection and disposal in rough and not easily accessible terrains in the state.

Adesina who is in her mid 30s, expressed her gratitude to the state government for giving the truck drivers the opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the state despite their gender. He said: “Initially, I doubted my ability to do the job but in the long run I began to develop confidence on the job. Today I can drive to any part of the state to collect waste. I was trained

by LAWMA officials, I have never drove before then.

“What really encourages me more on the job, is when people, especially women hail me for doing a good job. They wonder what a woman like me could be doing behind the truck. I am happy doing the job and even to do it better. Though, the salary is not too fantastic but it is encouraging.

Sometimes, people who appreciates what we are doing do give us tokens according to their will.

The issue of bad roads and traffic

gridlocks are some of the challenges we confront but the drivers, especially commercial drivers, do show understanding by being patient with us on the road.”

The skip trucks have hydraulic working capacity of 3000 kg work load and suitable for handling 4.5 cubic metre containers, with an operating pressure not more than 140 kg cm-2. They make use of garbage loading by tipping the

container to 45-50 degrees with a 60 litre hydraulic tank capacity.

They were designed to manoeuvre narrow and rough terrains which were difficult for LAWMA traditional trucks to evacuate refuse. They are to work at the nooks and crannies of the state Apart from using its own equipment, LAWMA presently run an institutionalised public private participation, PPP, initiative in-

volving over 500 private investors owning over 618 waste collection trucks. The abolishment of the use of open trucks by PSP operators and formal introduction of modern compactor trucks in May, 2008 also gave birth to the commencement of the pay as you go scheme and use of three wheeler-motorised refuse collection in slums and low income areas.

Traffic Law: NURTW shops for park spaces

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

AGOS State chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, has directed its members in the 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, of the State to get spaces suitable for motor parks as the existing ones in the 20 local government cannot cope with its membership capacity.

The step became necessary so that the body can meet up with the new Traffic Law, recently signed by the State governor. Deputy state secretary of the Union, Comrade Paul Ogini, said in an interview with Vanguard that the union was determined to support the state government’s move in making the law functional.

Ogini said that to adhere to the law, the union had earlier presented its demand to the government which promised to render necessary assistance. Among other things, the union wants the government to provide not less than two

motor parks in each LCDA to add to the existing ones in the 20 local governments.

Ogini said: “We don’t want to be seen as rogues, that is why we implored the government to provide more motor parks so that we can stop operating on the roads. Any commercial driver who refuses to adhere to the Traffic Law will be sanctioned. We have deployed our task force officials to the roads to enforce the Law.” He said the union will map out strategies to stop miscreants who parade themselves as NURTW members to collect dues from motorists outside the motor parks stressing that the union will use everything at its disposal to stop operations on the roads.

He added: “We shall try our best to comply by the rules without due harassment by law enforcement agents. The task force has been mandated to stop illegal activities on the high ways.”

48—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 14, 2012 — 49 TUESDA AUGUST

One year without polio:

Angola’s success story

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

UGUST 10 2012 marked a milestone in Angola. It was the day the Southern African country recorded one year without report of a single new case of wild poliovirus. By extrapolation, the country could be said to have moved a step closer towards eradication of the contagious crippling disease .

A joint press release by the Ministry of Health of Angola, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, noted that after a concerted effort to stop polio transmission the number of polio cases dropped from 33 in 2010 to five in 2011 and no cases registered in 2012. Laboratory results have confirmed that the last case of wild poliovirus was a 14month-old child from Uige Province in the country's Northwest in July 2011.

Angola, which eliminated polio from 2001 to 2004, has been plagued by re-emergence since May 2005. The disease spread to Namibia (2006), the Democratic Republic of Congo (2006, 2008 and 2010), and the Republic of Congo (2010).

It was gatherd that in recent years, the country made significant progress against polio by improving

disease surveillance, strengthening the quality and coverage of mass polio vaccination campaigns, expanding and improving routine immunisation services as well as expanding access at a household level to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Also in the last year, Angola has sought to better control of the circulation of the polio virus in reservoirs, particularly in Luanda and Benguela, as well as along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo with steps including synchronizing vaccination campaigns.

Vaccination campaigns In the view of the Deputy Minister of Health, Evelize Fresta, "This achievement reflects the leadership and commitment of the Government, who contribute around 89 per cent of operational costs of the polio campaigns. It also signifies the impact of our investment in strengthening access to primary health care services.

"We deeply appreciate the commitment of local, provincial and national Government officials, civil society, international partners and the private sector and the media, who have

all played a significant role in achieving this milestone." The country invested in improving the quality of massive vaccination campaigns, where thousands of health workers and volunteers were deployed to ensure door to door vaccination against polio, including vaccination at crossing points, main streets, markets, water points targeting all children under the age of five.

For the first time in the country's history, 95 per cent of children targeted in these campaigns were reached, according to the post-campaign independent monitoring data from the last nationwide polio campaign from June 29 to July 1, 2012.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, GPEI, in 2012, 103 cases have been reported as of 1 August 2012, and only three countries remain endemic: Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. the acting WHO Representative in Angola, Factors such as improvement in quality of campaigns, high commitment of government at all levels, and implementation of community-based strategies played a significant role. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 per cent.

Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, marked its 50th anniversary with a tree planting exercise last week. Dignitaries that graced the occasion included Professor Ade Elebute, Chairman, Hygeia Ltd, and former Chief Medical Director, LUTH. Assisting him during the exercise are the current Chief Medical Director, Professor Akin Oshibogun; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committe, Professor Olugbenga Ogunlewe (right) and Head of Engineering services .

Reckitt Benkiser embarks on massive campaign against malaria

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

F

OLLOWING the con tinued wrong perception of Nigerians about incidence of malaria, experts have called for massive awareness campaign on malaria particularly in the rural areas with a view to reducing the scourge of malaria in the country.

To this end, Reckitt Benkiser, makers of Mortein Insecticide has embarked on an 8-week anti-malaria campaign in 75 primary health care and maternal centres in Lagos State.

At a two-day training workshop, the Brand Manager, Mortein Insecticide for Reckitt Benckiser, Mrs. Toyin Yusuf, said the campaign is targeting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

It would educate women C M Y K

on how to keep their environment mosquito free,importance of mosquito treated nets

among other things.

She said it was necessary to train the health instructors and Roll Back Malaria

partners so they could pass on the training at their various primary health care centres.

•Health Educator, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, Mrs. Sakeenah Salvador-Bakori; Deputy Director, Health Education,LSMoH, Mrs. Omowunmi George; Brand Manager, Mortein, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Plc, Oluwatoyin Yusuf; and Assistant. RBM Manager, LSMOH , Dr. Victoria Omoera, at the Mortein/LSMoH Training for RBM Officers and Health Educators in Lagos, last week. Photo by Diran Oshe.

“We are training 90 people throughout the eight week period of the campaign in Lagos after which we would take the campaign to other states of the country,” she added At least 32,000 new mothers would be given free Mortein insecticide.

The Scientific Service group Coordinator, Research for development, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Uchenna Nwakanma explained that Mortein is composed to meet World Health Organisation standard on toxic substances.

“Toxic Insecticide exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects which include irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Gastric symptoms such as stomach cramp, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weak-

ness, slowed heart rate and even cancer “What we have therefore done with Mortein is to stay away from those hazardous substances because we do not want the insecticides to harm anybody.

These women therefore need to know how important it is to use the right insecticide and know how to spray to keep from harm.”

Deputy Director, Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Omowunmi George who reiterated government’s determination to make the state malaria free stated that the government was taking the fight against malaria very seriously.

She pledged that the state would continue to collaborate with credible organisations to reduce the incidence of malaria to minimum in the state.

50

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 14, 2012 TUESDA

For N6.59m, Femi, 19, will live a normal life again

BY ONOZURE DANIA

F

OLLOWING an accident at the Al pha Beachin Lagos, in January 2011, Femi Oduntan, 19, has been confined to the wheelchair after he sustained a spinal cord injury. Ever since, Femi has been languishing in agonising pain. Narrating the ordeal, Omowunmi Oduntan, his mother, said Femi was rushed to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos,and later transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba. He was unconscious and paralysed completely for days. He was in the intensive care unit of LUTH, where he was put on respiratory support for almost two weeks. The doctor said then, that his chance of survival was 10 percent.

Currently, Femi urinates through a catheter and is unable to pass faeces. “I insert my hands into his anus to bring out his faeces. He can’t walk and we carry him everywhere, I have been bathing and feeding him for the one and half years.”

A medical report by Dr G.V Ramdas in India, disclosed that Femi, has a C4 fracture with dislocation and spinal cord injury which seems to be complete below C5. The diagnosis states that the patient has problems of bedsores and that 10 months have elapsed, with the only option being decompression and stabilization to prevent the on going injury, at the fracture site. “We may have to do a stem cell transplant which is however not an accepted form of treatment but being tried out with variable results. In any case, that is the only option as surgery at this stage can worsen the patient’s condition.

“If the patient is willing to accept the risk, if something is compressed and is not working, then it can be improved.”

Pleading for assistance, she said her son requires urgent financial assistance to the tune of N6.59 million, equivalent to $39,960, to enable him go for corrective surgery that would enable him to be able

• Femi on his sick bed.

to stand on his feet again. His hoping to go to Fortis Hospital, New Delhi in India, for the operation.

Omowunmi said the amount is for the treatment and the 40 days stay in India.

Already, the family has spent over N6.0 million on hospital bills overthe last 18 months since his treatment commenced.

“We have spent all our savings and sold our property to keep him alive. I sold ev-

erything in my provision store; his father also sold every property that he has. If not for the help from the family members, who had been helping us out, he would have since died. We don’t even have a source of livelihood now, it is difficult for us to feed now that is why we are calling and pleading with government, orgainsations and well meaning Nigerians, to come to our aid and help us so that our son will

Nurses urged to promote women’s reproductive rights

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

N

IGERIAN nurses have been tasked to protect and enhance the reproductive health and rights of women by ensuring they have access to the the right services and information.

A senior health practitioner at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Professor Grace Odeyemi, who made the call at the 2nd annual Scientific

Conference of the Association of General Private Nursing Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPNP. Odeyemi deplored the high rate of maternal deaths in Nigeria, where the risk of maternal death is one in 16. "Every minute one woman dies due to causes related to pregnancy, child birth and postnatal period.

At the event which was held in

Maternal health: Abia hinges success on PHCs revitalisation

A

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

BIA State Government is hinging the current reduction of maternal and child deaths in the State on revitalisation of the Primary Healthcare facilities within five kilometres walk to residents across the state.

In a chat with journalists, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr .Okechukwu Ogah said the decision to battle maternal mortality and child death to a standstill encouraged the government to embark on an aggressive building and equipping of more than 210 PHCs in different political wards in the State.

In what seems like giving account of what the government of Governor Theodore Orji has achieved in the health sector since it came on board, Ogah disclosed that over 210 PHCs scattered in different political wards in the State have been built and equipped by the present administration.

“At the last count, we have 527 PHCs in the State that is, the old plus the new. What we have done is to ensure that, every five kilometres there, is a primary health centre where people can go to access primary health care.’’

He said despite challenges particularly in the area of human resources to man the newly constructed centres, the government is doing its best by collaborating with the local governments to ensure there are human resources in the centres by training its manpower.

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not die as this is the peek time of his life.

She added that apart from the financial and emotional turmoil of his condition, Femi has also suffered academic setbacks because he is always in and out of hospital receiving treatment.

A medical report, by Dr Olufemi Bankole, Consultant Neurosurgeon, observed that due to the gluteal and sacral pressure ulcers that remained unhealed, Femi would remain in the wheelchair, until he regainsuse of his limb. What this means is that he is going to be assisted in his daily activities like a baby.

Ayodele, Femi’s father said the family had raised N 1million, but was unable to raise more money, since they had expended over N6.0 million on various treatments at the LUTH and other hospitals just to keep him alive. “We were begging to pay the bills he incurred at the ICU. My business is no longer functioning. I am appealing to corporate organizations, government and well meaning Nigerians, to come and rescue my son. He reads and writes well, nothing is wrong with his brain but he can not walk, for him to have survived till today, I know God has a special plan for him. Please Nigerians should help me to rescue my boy. “ Donations for Femi can be made to Omowunmi Oduntan: EcoBank Account number 0003840165.

Pointing out that the state did not limit its efforts to building facilities alone, Ogah said the state has done also well in child and maternal health, family planning and immunisation and diagnosis which remain a major problem in healthcare in the country.

He said in 2010, Abia was having a high rate of 88 per cent of her children immunised and in terms of immunisation status in the country, the State was one of the states championing the cause of immunisation.

• Dr. Okechukwu Ogah.

For over 20 years, the State did not record cases of polio until during the problem in the Northern part in 2009, when some people who returned to the East imported cases of polio.

The government is tackling the problem of staffing at the secondary and specialist health institutions and to check medical tourism, the state government, in partnership with an Indian company, MeCure, established a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre, one in Umuahia and another one in Aba. To check medical tourism, he stated that, Abia state government in partnership with an Indian company, Me Cure, has established a State of the Art diagnostic centre, one in Umuahia and another one in Aba. Corroborating his views, the Chief Medical Director, Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Prof. Augustus Mbanaso who talked about the genesis of the construction of the diagnostic centres said the journey began in 2007 when the Governor visited Harvard University Teaching Hospital in Washington D. C, USA and was amazed when he found that in that complex, it has all gadgets and decided to replicate it in the state.

The centres are equipped with the latest diagnostic equi pment. such as: mammography machine, Chest X-ray, machines, C.T Scanner, used to scan the brain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), used to detect problem in the spine, EGC machine used for exam

partnership with Pfizer, the "Safe Motherhood" scheme initiated by the World Health Organisation, was unveiled.

In a presentation entitled: "Save a Woman, Save a Nation", Odeyemi remarked that reproductive rights of women are inalienable. "Every woman has the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health, and the right to services and information. They should be able to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children," she noted.

Deploring the high rate of maternal and child deaths in the country, she stated: "The onus falls on us as health workers to avail pregnant women with information that would save their lives.

“By this conference, we have challenged ourselves. We shouldn't let women die needlessly. When a woman dies, children lose their primary caregiver; countries forego her contributions to economic and social development. A woman's death is more than a personal tragedy. It represents an enormous loss to her family, community and nation."

She said the "Safe Motherhood" scheme is to help reduce the high rate of maternal death by "ensuring that all women receive the care they need to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy and childbirth."

President AGPNP, Dr T.J Olawale said nurses in private practice could provide effective service if given the right education.

Victoria Oloruntegbe, the Acting Director of Nursing Services, Health Service Commission, Lagos State, said maternal death is a priority in Lagos State. The state has provided world-standard maternal and child health centres that have brought smiles to people's faces. And as we have been saving women, we will save this nation."

Assistant Director Communication, Pfizer, Mrs.Margaret Olele, said Pfizer has a rich portfolio in women's health and malaria medicines for pregnant women and was committed to supporting initiatives that will help the country attain the MDGs' goals.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 14, 2012 — 51 TUESDA AUGUST

Exercise - No gym required L

AST week I gave you some questions to answer before this week’s segment. To recap those questions, I listed them below: What is your Body Mass Index (BMI)?

To calculate your BMI use the following formula: Metric Units: BMI = Weight (kg) / (Height (m) x Height (m)).

English Units: BMI = Weight (lb) / (Height (in) x Height (in)) x 703.

-http://www.freebmicalculator.net/ calculate-bmi.php 1.Do you currently exercise?

2.What is your current level of exercise? a.Zero b.1 hr/week c.20 min 2 or 3 days/week d.20 min/day (6 days) e.30 min or more/day (6 days) 3.What do you consider proper exercise?

4.Where do you exercise?

5.When do you exercise?

6.Do you participate in sports?

7.Do you think if you are thin you are in good shape?

8.Do you smoke?

9.Do you drink alcohol? How much?

This week as promised, I will give you my thoughts on the above answers and also insights for starting and maintaining a competent and successful exercise routine. So let’s get started.

The answer to question 1 is a personal one; something you would share with your doctor or they may calculate it for you when consulting them before beginning your exercise programme.

Remembering that one of the goals in any exercise routine or programme is to eliminate fat, by calculating your BMI and then viewing the chart on the link, you will know where you’re starting from and

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

have an idea of where you need to go.

BMI will also let you know of a potential risk for cancer as the following link from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests: www.cancer.gov/ cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/Fs3_70.pdf.

This doesn’t mean that if you’re thin you won’t get cancer, but your risk is higher if you’re overweight or obese.

Question 2 is the yes/no answer that sets up all the answers for questions 3 thru 6 which we will cover next week. If the answer is yes, keep it up, but if the answer is no, make an appointment with your doctor, calculate your BMI, make up your mind to get healthy, and get moving.

Keep in mind Newton’s First Law of Motion, or the Law of Inertia, which states

“An object in motion continues in motion unless acted upon by an external force, and an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an external force.”

Again if the answer is no, what is the external force acting upon you? TV, fatigue after work, the “I need to get whatever it is done today so I will start exercising tomorrow” attitude?

Whatever the excuse, next week I will dispel all the excuses so you will have no reason not to start your exercise program.

Until then – stay healthy.

You can read more about exercise in my book “Chronicles of a Cancer Survivor”.

Available at Glendora International Bookstores – Ikoyi, Alausa-Ikeja & Abuja; all correspondence to juliafortune@hotmail.com

Pfizer, Graceland International School partner against pneumonia

T

HE need for parents to know that the burden of pneumonia in children aged five years and below can be prevented through vaccination, was high point of the flag off campaign organised by Pfizer held during the graduation/ prize giving awards at Graceland Montessori Nursery and Primary School in Port Harcourt Rivers State.

Contrary to misconceptions, experts argued that it was bacteria known as streptococcus pneumonia otherwise called pneumococcus that cause pneumonia, an inflammatory condition of the lungs associated with fever, chest symptoms. It is typically caused by streptococcus pneumonia and infectious agents like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasities.

Pneumococcal disease otherwise known as Pneumonia is the second highest vaccine preventable killer disease among children under 5 years of age with death rate of 15 children per minute, 900 every hour and about 22,000 every day which amount to 8 million young lives lost yearly worldwide with Nigeria contributing ten percent of the total figure.

This sobering effect therefore, highlight the need for enhanced preventive measures especially in Nigeria to foster awareness of issues related to the endemic and further take necessary steps in saving the younger population.

The Director of the school Mr. Essien remarked that the school was poised for greater height and advised the graduating pupils to cherish the greatest gifts given

to them by their parents (Education) as they move ahead in their various academic pursuits and he also admonished them to free themselves of all vices that will derail their education.

The head Teacher, Mrs Inyang said: Graceland Montessori School is committed to providing a complete and qualitative education with a view to turning out well groomed students. It set out to achieve this vision by creating a conducive learning environment, using top class facilities and human resources for academic, moral, religious and skill development of the total child.

The Deputy Director of the school, Mrs. Irene Essien, icharged the pupils to take full control of the next journey towards achieving success in life.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO again everybody. Today we continue revealing our new arrivals for this summer and the coming months. In this edition, we will examine new organ enlargers, performance enhancers, books, masturbators and vibrators.

Organ Enlargers/ Vaginal Shrinkers Size Matters Enlargement Strap is a device worn on the penis all night for organ enlargement. It comes highly recommended and guarantees a bigger, longer and thicker penis within a few weeks. It works by gradually stretching the penile tissues, making your skin cells divide and multiply. Before you know it, you’ve got a mighty big gun for a penis. In addition to other penis enlargement options like Max Size capsules, Mega Me Enlargement Cream and Pistol Pump, men now have the option of using Size Matters Enlargement Strap for their enlargement.

Reverse Vagina Tightening Gel. While men want to be bigger, women want to be tighter. The Reverse Vagina Tightening Gel is a new vagina tightening formula that enables women get tighter instantly for better sex. The results last for a few hours and you can reapply as often as you want. It is also lubricant.

Sex Toys for Men and Women Sasha Grey’s Cream Pie Masturbator: This masturbator for men is an exact replica of Sasha Grey’s genitals. Sasha of course is one of the biggest and most successful adult movie stars in the world and recently went main stream, featuring in movies by Steven Soderberg and Mark Whalberg.

Pipe Dream’s Extreme Fanta Flesh Masturbator: This is a superb and portable masturbator for men shaped like a woman. It is made with materials so real and skinlike that you forget the difference. What I appreciate most about masturbators in general is that they keep men out of trouble. If your wife or girlfriend is not in the mood for sex, you don’t have to have an affair. With a good and portable masturbator, you can take care of business any time of the day. No cheating and no sexual frustrations to deal with. That’s the miracle of science.

Lucid Dream Water Proof G Spot Vibrator: The month

of August is all about G-Spot vibrators and we have got six new toys in this category. G-Spot vibrators enable women climax and ejaculate. If you are a female looking for the best and affordable orgasm that money can buy, Lucid Dream Water Proof G Spot Vibrator is your man.

Black Balled Monster Dong: For some women, the ultimate dong must be long and thick enough to fill them up for the ultimate satisfaction. The Black Balled Monster Dong is an eleven inch long, super thick and heavy dong that fits the bill. It is so big that if it were a weapon, it would be an atomic bomb.

Adult Books A Pumper’s Hand Book teaches you how to use your penis pump for organ enlargement and instant erection (in the cases of men with erectile dysfunction), how to get the best results with pumps and the kind of pumps that are best for penis enhancement. Users of penis pumps will benefit from this book.

Clitology is a very revealing book that explains a woman’s intimate geography to men and teaches them all manner of techniques for getting women wet, wild and orgasmic.

Clitology is the ultimate guide to understanding how to pleasure a woman. It contains lots of coloured illustrations too.

Performance Enhancers for Women and Men Climax Female Sexual Enhancer: This is a superb performance enhancer for women with low libido, low arousal and low sexual enjoyment problems. It is very effective and works within an hour.

Max Testosterone: This supplement helps men with low libido regain their sex drive. It is ideal for middle aged men and older men who have essentially ‘lost their mojo’.

And that’s it for today. Next week, we will have our third and final new product discussion for the month of august.

Men and women in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can also order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

AUGUST 14, 2012

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

What on earth is Coco up to?

Empress back from shopping spree abroad

By AYO ONIKOYI

C

OCO Austin, wife of the celebrated rapper-actor, Ice T isn’t exactly a nuntype kind of celebrity, the Hungarian-blooded reality show star is known for below-the-deck come-on taste in her choice of dresses. She is famed for her love for bikinis and Coco would rather lay almost all-bare, basking in the sun in some beach than sit at home going through chores like a conventional mother would do.

But recently the star hit her admirers a little below the belt when she hit the pier in Asbury Park, New Jersey and biked around in a skimpy blue bikini that barely contained her luscious curves. Once she was finished bikini biking around, the reality star strolled in the sand with her beloved pooch, laying it all on the line, her God-given gifts of life.

It would not be an exaggeration to say the bad-mama-jamma left a horde of gaping, helpless admirers in the wake of her own idea of enjoying a sunny afternoon. The question remains what on earth is Coco trying to prove especially when one considers the irony that she is an iconic figure that tries to inspire many on her reality show with husband, ‘Ice Loves Coco’ on Entertainment channel that runs in several cable channels of the world.

The 33-year old Coco married Ice T some 11 years ago and the couple premiere their show ‘Ice Loves Coco’ on June 12, 2011. They are blessed with 3 kids, at least showing the marriage is as healthy as it can get. But then when one considers Coco had a boob job to look the way she is, then flaunting it may just be her way of making good money well spent?

By AYO ONIKOYI

N

OLLYWOOD ebony beauty, Empress Njamah has always been a hot item that comes on the menu, fresh and bubbling with intense vibrancy as if the many ups and downs of life would rather not have a piece of her. As much as many scandals that rock her boat the emerald-eyed actress has always found the mettle to paddle on, having a ball at every turn. The Nigerian-Cameroonian half-caste only recently returned from her trip abroad where she toured four countries of the world. “ I have been out of the country, shopping for the House of Empress boutique, beauty place and spa. I was actually in four countries” she confirmed and also revealed what she has been doing in the area of movie-making “ Two of my jobs just came out; Bank Job and Cleopatra and I will soon be on set in two weeks with Mercy and Funke and then off to the United Kingdom to shoot with Ruke Amata” For sometime now Empress seems to be engrossed with her House of Empress which she opened in different locations in the heart of the capital city, Abuja just over a year ago.

Her confirmation of being involved in moviemaking may just be the reassurance her fans need that the sexy actress has not abandoned movies for business.

•Empress

WS78 serenades London with special performances

By BEN NJOKU

A

FTER rocking Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States respectively, the Wole Soyinka at 78 Project (WS78) tagged: The Mind of a Patriot, which later relocated to the city of London, recently came to a close with a big bang amid cheers and calls for an encore.

Amazingly, officials and guests of the programme had a lot of fun as the event like the Nigerian version was packed with various activities and performances spanning three days from July 27 to 29.

Most of the officials and actors arrived London from Nigeria on July 27, to a reception at Emukay Bar and Restaurant, Camberwell, London.

Emukay which is owned by a Nigerian, Mr. Tunji Oyelana, is a prestigious and cozy place where they serve delicious Nigerian meals that have your mouth watering even before you taste it.

The reception was well attended by Nigerians and Londoners alike. Despite the delay faced at the Heathrow Airport earlier in the day,

the visiting actors from America were also in attendance as well as Professor Robert Fox who was to give a repeat of his lecture entitled ‘From Tigritude to Transcendence: The Conscience and Conscientiousness of Wole Soyinka’ the next day.

Also in attendance were Alhaji Teju Kareem of Zmirage multimedia limited, Gbenga Adeniji of The Punch Newspapers (winner of the 1st edition of the WS essay competition), Prof.

S e g u n Ojewuyi,

*Peter Badejo and others of GlobalNewHaven, Mr. Akin Olukiran who delivered 2011 advocacy lecture and very many other distinguished persons. There was plenty to eat and drink as Tunji Oyelana serenaded them with popular high life tunes while playing his Keyboard for accompaniment.

Coco

Notorious playboy John Mayer woos Katy Perry

T

•Notorious ladies man John Mayer is reportedly trying to convince Katy Perry that he has put his womanising days behind him and has claimed he wants to “change his ways” for her.

HE 34 year-old has in the past been linked to a string of Hollywood hotties including Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson but now he is ready to settle down with the recently divorced Miss Perry who has been the object of his desire.

“John has had his eye on Katy for a while and he had to try and convince her that he was right for her,” a source told Ra-

darOnline.

“The best way he thought he could do that was by dispelling his past reputation as a lothario to Katy. John and Katy have been spotted out on a string of dates and after a heart to heart with the ‘Part Of Me’ singer, Mayer managed to convince her that he is “boyfriend material”.

“John realises now that it made him appear a bit of a

douchebag and an unattractive catch,” the source continued.

“He knew he had to change his ways if he ever wanted to get serious with somebody and he had a heart to heart with Katy, telling her he was desperate to change his ways.

“Katy believed him and now their relationship is moving on.

She wants to visit his home in Montana and has slowly warmed to the idea that he’s boyfriend material.”

Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, AUGUST 14, 2012 —53

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54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Flamingoes promise good per perfformance Bolt considering offer to play cricket at U-1 7W orld Cup U-17 World T T HE Media Officer of Flamingoes, Gloria Akujobi, said on Monday that the team would perform well in the forthcoming U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan, better than they did in New Zealand in 2008.

The 3rd edition of the U-17 World Cup will hold from Sept. 22 to Oct. 13 in Azerbaijan.

Akujobi said that the team had been engaging in friendly matches with local clubs as part of efforts to ensure a good performance.

“In fact, as part of our preparations for the World Cup, we’re playing friendly matches with local clubs in the country. Through these friendly matches, we will be able to select our final 25 players that will represent the country in Azerbaijan.

“We believe that this year is going to be better for us. The Flamingoes in the last World Cup got to the quarterfinals, so we are expecting a better performance,” she said.

Akujobi said that five players have been dropped from the 35 invited.

“It’s going to be like that, playing matches and dropping players before we get the final

CELEBRATION . . . Falconets players celebrating their victory in one of their matches 25 players we need.

“So far, there are no challenges, the Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation(NFF) has

EST Ham manag er Sam Allardyce has warned London’s Olympic Stadium could become a ‘ white elephant’ if his side are not allowed to relocate there.

The Stratford venue has been the centre of a glorious fortnight of sport, culminating in Sunday night’s spectacular closing ceremony.

But its future has long been the subject of debate, with the Hammers initially denied tenancy last October following a legal dispute involving Tottenham and Leyton Orient. The need to preserve a home for athletics at the stadium was central to London 2012’s legacy aims, but Allardyce insists the stadium and surrounding park will fall into decline without the regular use provided by Premier League football.He told the Times: ‘If they keep

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Akujobi, however, said that the team had yet to know when it would depart for their training tour.

Yobo w ants Eagles tto o beat Niger wants S

UPER Eagles skip per, Joseph Yobo, has said he expects a very good result from the team as it confronts Niger Republic on Wednesday in Niamey in an international friendly.

Yobo, whose protract-

Allardyce insists on taking the Olympic stadium

W

provided all that we want in camp and everything is going on fine,” the media officer said.

HE next time you see Usain Bolt in action may not be on a running track, but with a cricket bat in his hand after revealing he is considering an offer from Shane Warne to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia next season.

The superstar Jamaican sprinter lit up the London 2012 Games, taking gold medals in the 100 metre, 200m and 4x100m relay, but could soon be running a mere 22 yards between the wickets.

Bolt is a massive fan of cricket and played the sport in his home nation at junior level and revealed his prowess during a charity match in 2009 when he cleanbowled Chris Gayle.

And now legendary leg-spinner Warne has offered him the opportunity to participate in Australia’s Big Bash

it for athletics, the only time it will ever get a big crowd again after the Olympics is when they hold the World Championships there in five years’ time.

ed transfer saga from EPL side Everton was eventually concluded about ten days ago, said he knows the quality of the local based players and trust that even without the foreign based stars, Nigeria will get a good result in Niger.

“I wish them good luck and a fine result because they are quite good and capable of doing what all of us in the team can do”, Eagles Media Officer Ben Alaiya, quotes Yobo as saying in an electronic conversation.

LG School 3 Sango wins Olota Cup

T

HE Local Govern ment School 3 Pupils beat their counterparts from Ilupeju Community Primary School 5-4 on penalties in a scintillating encounter after a 2-2 stalemate at the end of regulation time.

The Match which took place at St. Michael’s Primary School, Ota, was a highlight of this year’s anniversary celebration of the coronation of HRH Oba Osayintola Alani Oyede Arolagbade III, the Olota of Ota (Awori Kingdom) and has been sponsored by the noo-

dles giant since its inception in 2005.

According to Indomie’s Area Marketing Manager for Lagos and its Environs, Mr. Jide Adebiyi, the brand’s involvement with the football tournament is borne out of its commitment to helping discover and nurture budding sports talents who could bring laurels to their community and country in the future.

This year’s tournament featured more than 50 schools from 4 zones comprising the Atan, Iju, Ota and Sango-Ijoko zones.

League which runs between December 7 and January 9. Bolt will consider the offer, if he can get enough time off.

Bolt said: ‘If I get the chance I will definitely try because I know it’s going to be a lot of fun.

I don’t know how good I am. I will probably have to get a lot of practice of

•Bolt

MAN OF THE MATCH . . . From left: Stanley Eze, Captain of St. Augusting Secondary School Ebonyi State, Stanley Eze ( L ), winner of Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship, receiving Trophy from Mrs. Funmi Osineye, Brand Manager Milo (2nd L), as others watch in admiration during the Grand Slam of 14th Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, held at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Federer sstill till ttops ops men’s rankings

W

IMBLEDON cham pion Roger Federer stayed top of the men’s tennis rankings released by the ATP Monday.

The 31-year-old Swiss, who was beaten by Britain’s Andy Murray in Sunday’s Olympic final, remains on 11,435 points narrowly ahead of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (11,270), who Sunday claimed his third title of the season at the Toronto Masters.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal remains third with Olympic gold medallist Murray fourth and Spain’s David Ferrer fifth.

The only changes in the top 10 see Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia gain a place to eighth, while Juan Martin del Potro of

Argentina drops to ninth and John Isner of the United States comes in at 10.

Congo athlete, coaches go missing after Games

A

CONGOLESE judo competitor and three other members of the central African country’s Olympic delegation have gone missing in London since the weekend, local media reported on Monday, adding to a list of seven other African athletes who vanished during the Games.Democratic Republic of Congo’s Cedric Mandembo, who lost his only judo match in 49 seconds to Russian Alexander Mikhaylin in the 100 kg category, disappeared shortly after Sunday’s closing ceremony and was not answering his mobile phone, U.N.-sponsored Radio Okapi reported, citing the Congolese Olympic Committee.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012 — 55

Eagles Continues from BP ic pitch of Stade Omnisport in Niamey. Training commenced at about 3:45pm, with Keshi as usual lecturing the players on the importance of the game and the need to show Nigerians that they are worthy ambassadors who can always put on the national colours.

Moments after training started with Coach Hyundonou Valere, Sylvanus Okpala, Dan Amokachi taking their turns and Ike Shorunmi busy with his two goalkeepers, some of the players ran out of the pitch because the heat was practically piercing their boots due to the scorching sun. Training became a nightmare.

But Keshi insisted on

training in the condition, which at the time stood at 33 degrees Celsius, with humidity at 46 per cent. The players therefore had to endure the training for about 1hour 15 minutes, because Keshi noted that the same condition will apply on match day when they file out against the Mena. The only difference being that the game will be played on a natural turf.

Immediately, after training all the players ran to the sidelines to remove their boots and had to loosen up after training on bare foot because of the heat. “We have to endure it because we are professionals and we want to do well in the friendly and in other upcoming games”, Keshi said after the training.

TUSSLE••• Super Eagles goal poacher, Ikechukwu Uche (L) contests with an unidentified Namibian player during their AFCON 2013 qualifier in Calabar. Eagles won 20. Photo: Sylva Eleanya

Nigeria Continues from BP Olympic Games that ended Sunday night with a closing ceremony that was a music JAM. But the little the minister could do was consumed in his preference to plunge into the dirty football politics at the time than double effort to prepare the Nigerian team for the Olympics.

Unfortunately, the ministry dragged him into it and because of the popularity of football in Nigeria he savoured the exposure and visibility the lingering but orchestrated crisis of Nigerian football attracted to him.

That was at the expense of tackling few issues with our Olympic preparation. There were issues with funding and technical problems with the teams that Nigeria would present. But the minister was busy with football that did not qualify for the Olympics. He meant well but he was misguided.

Some officials re-echoed the minister’s early romance with football as part of what affected Nigeria’s preparation but, in the main, blamed it on the now tradition of not developing sports but just engaging in competitions. Some athletes also bared their minds. For the avoidance of victimisation they preferred not to have their names on print.

Said one Nigerian official here: “The minister came into office and rather than face our C M Y K

preparation for the Olympics the ministry lured him into football politics and the money that would have been spent on our preparation was spent on trips to Zurich, the FIFA headquarters. Time and energy were spent too on a problem they all later found out to be the creation of officials of the sports ministry who simply wanted their candidate in the NFF” Another official put his this way: “The Federal Government is to blame.

They are not yet ready to take sports seriously.

They don’t fund sports well and when it comes to the games like the Olympics they expect results. Until they start funding sports well, the failure that we have experienced here will continue.”

One senior official who is a member of international body accused the federal government of aiding corruption by always releasing money late for preparations during which the money is misappropriated.

“When you make a budget for preparation and include about three training tours but money is released late you cannot embark on those tours again and the preparation is affected.

This has been our story for a long time. It just didn’t start now. This makes the pockets of ministry officials fat but affects our preparation.

N2.3 billion was released for the London

Chukwumerije Continues from BP wish.”.

“I believe that now the first and foremost thing that must be done is that somebody will have to take responsibility.

“If Nigeria had gotten one single gold medal, they would have been bloating and rejoicing.

“In the same way, when we fail, they should be punished because they are the people at the head. And so, all those at the head of sporting authorities from the minister to the head of the ministry should be sacked.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others so

that they know that in Nigeria there must be a reward or punishment for role performance. “ Role performance is never done in Nigeria.

When you finish whatever you are doing, you go behind and bribe one official or the other and criticise or politicise it with one person who is your brother or sister from the same tribe.

“The first thing to be done is to have an objective assessment of role performance and attribution of responsibility for success or failure, first to the political heads, secondly to head of the various sports,”

Olympics and a huge part of it was surely not spent on the athletes or our participation here. It happened before and it is happening now, so it is not only about people who are in the ministry now. It is about our faulty system.”

An athlete is thinking of changing nationality.

Said she: “I am not sure I will compete for Nigeria again. They will not help you and they expect so much from you. I know how other countries who are winning gold here helped their

athletes to prepare. All the things they promised us in the last Olympics have not been fulfilled.

We will continue to fail until we change and since change is not possible now it is better for me to change. Haven’t you seen that the Nigerians competing for other countries are doing well?.”

Another athlete said that it is only at the time of competition that Nigeria tries to engage the athletes, adding that “it is always too late to do something meaningful.”

he said.

He noted that the current trend could be arrested by engaging foreign technical experts to coach the athletes.

“On the sur face it means getting foreign expertise; we have done enough empty national ego.

“Sports have gone very, very scientific all over the world except in Nigeria.

“We should get somebody, who will help us to get the requirement for each event. What is the pattern and level of skills wanted for each event and we will know what to do.”

According to him, a situation where Nigeria appears helpless is not in the best interest of A sports association technical official spoke from experience: “I know the age of my athlete. But don’t be surprised that by the next Olympics they will ask him to get ready for the Olympics because they are not developing any other person to take over from him. There’s no development programme, no money, no pro gramme to develop talents. So, how can we do well in sports? Why do we have the sports ministry?.”

the development of sports.

The results from the Games concluded on Sunday was reminiscent of the failure at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in South Korea where the country failed to win a single medal.

This was a direct opposite of the best the country achieved at the 1996 Games at the Atlanta Games, where the country finished with two gold medals – from athletics and football event.

Sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, while admitting failure at a news conference in London, described the predicament of Team Nigeria as a clear testimony of the decline in Nigerian sports.

He said, however, that Nigeria should learn lessons from the failure instead of giving excuses.

“We shall, therefore, not attempt any excuses or indulge in any unproductive blame game.

We must not see this as a failure; we must see it as an opportunity to rebuild.

“When other countries found themselves in this kind of situation in the past, they have used the galvanizing power of disappointment to get down to work,” he said.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Sack NSC — Sen. Chukwumerije

S

EN. Uche Chuk wumerije on Monday in London called for sanctions against all the people responsible for the country’s failure to win medals at the just-concluded 2012 London

Olympic Games.

Chukwumerije, who was reacting to the failure of Team Nigeria to win medals at the Games told newsmen in London, before his departure for Nigeria that what had

happened in London was a “national shame”.

He said Nigerians must act to check the tradition of impunity where whatever happens is presumed to be“God’s

Continues on Page 55

Why Nigeria failed •Athletes, officials blame Sports Ministry, FG

T

RULY, Bolaji Abdul lahi was appointed sports minister and chairman of the National Sports Commission a few months to the Olym-

pic Games and there was nothing much he could have done to change the impending doom then that has now manifested at the 2012 London Continues on Page 55

Eagles train in Niamey T HE Super Eagles had their first training session in Niamey, Niger Republic on Monday afternoon, but had to retreat after about an TODAY'S

hour due to the scorching heat of the Nigerien capital.

Big Boss Stephen Keshi along with his assistants all took part in the training session that took place at the synthet Continues on Page 55

CLAYFOOTED: Nigeria’s Ajoke Odumosu (R) hands the baton to Regina George as they compete in the women’s 4X400 relay final of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London. PHOTO/AFP.

PUZZLES YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Coarse (5) 7 Staggered (6) 9 Sorrow (3) 10 Beverage (#) 12 Tolerate (5) 13 Bitter (4) 15 Stroll (5) 17 Quell (6) 19 Deficiency (4) 20 Precipitous (5) 22 Observed (3) 24 Fault (7) 27 Obscure (3) 28 Bare (5) 31 Steady (4) 33 Scanty (6) 35 Incident (6) 37 Rip (4) 38 Passage (5) 39 Apex (3) 41 Fish (3) 42 Contemporary (6) 43 Prise (5)

DOWN 1 Emergency (6) 2 Deny (6) 3 Moist (3) 4 Fuel (4) 5 Revolt (5) 6 Devote (8) 8 Deceased (4) 11 Diversion (9) 14 Regretted (4) 16 Endure (4) 18 Murder (8) 23 Flank (4) 25 Clown (4) 26 Sharp (4) 29 Warden (6) 30 Throughout (6) 32 Skirmish (5) 34 Particle (4) 36 Deviate (4) 40 Tankard (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Sweat 5, Suffer 8, Match 10, Sombre 11, Avow 14, Morale 15, Idyllic 18, Win 19, Oat 21, Debt 23, Pupil 24, Mass 27, Set 29, Mop 31, Rupture 32, Amulet 34, Gape 35, Apiece 38, Scrap 39, Expert 40, Deign.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Woo 3, Embalm 4, Tar 5, Sham 6, Florid 7, Reject 9, Tedious 12, Vow 13, Wane 16, Data 17, Caper 20, Titular 22, Blur 24, Meagre 25, Smug 26, Solace 28, Stripe 30, Pep 33, Test 36, Pad 37, Cog.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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