BONGA OIL FIELD SPILL: FG fines Shell $5bn

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61667

N150

TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Why I raised alarm on election day —Oshiomhole

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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•P.6

Jang, Aliyu disagree on quit order for plateau communities —P.7

Police uncover bomb factory in kogi, parade suspect —P.6

BONGA OIL FIELD SPILL:

FG fines Shell $5bn •Shell disagrees, says no law backs govt's action •Jonathan reconstitutes NNPC Board •NNPC spends $246m on presidential chopper, security, others —Audit

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, OKEY NDIRIBE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & KUNLE KALEJAYE

L

AGOS—THE Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO, has been fined $5billion over the massive oil spill that occurred at its Bonga oil field on December 20, 2011.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency,

Continues on page 5

PINI JASON When optimism is no longer enough •P.17

Mr & Mrs

CELEBRATING 13TH CJN —The first Female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, GCON,(2r) flanked by female ministers as they cut a cake shortly after she took the oath as the 13th Chief Justice of Nigeria before President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Mukhtar sworn-in as new CJN

•See story & pix on P.3

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—3

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), decorating Justice Aloma Mukhtar, first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, with the national honour of Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON, shortly after she took oath as the 13th CJN at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTOS: Abayomi Adeshida.

ABOVE: From left— Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Justice Mukhtar, new CJN; President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David Mark.

STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

Jonathan tasks new CJN on delayed trials, corruption, security

BY BEN AGANDE & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, charged Justice Aloma Mukhtar, the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, to tackle delay in the dispensation of justice, cases of corruption and engender the much-needed judicial reform in Nigeria.

The President gave the charge during the CJN's swearing-in in Abuja.

President Jonathan said: “Today, we are witness to history with the swearing in of Justice Aloma Mukhtar as the first female CJN. I join millions of our country men, women and youths in congratulating the Nigerian judiciary and Your Lordship as we record this important milestone in the annals of our nation's judicial history.

“She was the first female lawyer of the northern extraction, the first female High Court Judge from the north, first female second in command, Kano State judiciary, the first Nigerian female jury to be elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served for over 17 years.

“Today, she has risen to the pinnacle of her judicial career as the first female CJN in further service of our great country. My Lord, I congratulate you. Her Lordship’s achievement is an inspiration to all citizens, especially womanhood, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa and the rest of the world.

“The honourable CJN now joins an eminent and exclusive list of achievers recognized throughout the world as beacons of hope in this century. She will after leaving office become a member of our nation’s highest advisory council, the Council of State. Here again she will make history as the first female permanent member of that council. ”Your lordship is assuming office at a time when the nation is undergoing reforms in all critical areas of governance; it is particularly gratifying that her lordship had pledged during her Senate confirmation hearing to pursue judicial reform.

“I am, therefore, confident that your lordship will quickly settle down to work and commence urgent task of reforming and repositioning the judiciary for effective and efficient discharge of constitutional mandate. I have no doubt that your work at our nation’s apex court will benefit from your essential character of integrity, humility and courage.

Jonathan lists challenges ”Your Lordship will preside over the ju-

diciary at a time of profound changes that demand united response. We believe that judiciary can play a crucial role as we confront critical challenges.

“We are dealing with security challenges occasioned by sporadic act of terrorism in some parts of the country. The three arms of government must work together to overcome this terrorist threat and acts in the country. ”The war against corruption is another endeavour that calls for concerted action by all arms of government. I am confident that the judiciary, under your able leadership, will rise up to the challenge and provide the most needed support for government to address these challenges.

“Our citizens complained of delayed trial, particularly in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious concern.

This complaint has led to frequent calls for special courts or designation of special judges to handle them with the required experience and speed. It will be your prerogative to consider and decide on this call.”

Justice Mukhtar speaks Speaking to newsmen after the ceremony, Justice Mukhtar re-iterated her earlier stand that there was no need for a special court.

She said: “A judge, two or three in the states can be designated to take care of that. I will again go back to what I said in the Senate, that I will lead by example and I will hope and pray that the others will follow.”

On security challenges, she said: “I did say, during my screening in the Senate, that we will partner with the authority to ensure that we curb this menace.”

On delayed trials, she said: “It is not the fault of the judges alone. We have counsel to contend with bringing various applications. We have the Constitution also to contend with.

“Witnesses will not be available and there is a whole litany of reasons for this delay. You just place the blame at the doorsteps of the judges.”

Roll call Other dignitaries, who attended the ceremony held at the council chambers, included Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, and governors of

Justice Mukhtar (GCON) (right) and her predecessor, Justice Dahiru Musdapher.

Kano and Bayelsa states.

Tension in judiciary Meanwhile, the emergence of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar as the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, has evoked mixed reactions within judicial circles.

The palpable anxiety that enveloped the Supreme Court, yesterday, shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan administered oath of office on Justice Mukhtar as the 13th indigenous CJN, stemmed from the fact that never in the annals of the country had a woman piloted the affairs of Nigerian judiciary.

When Vanguard visited the Supreme Court complex situated within the Three Arms Zone, Abuja, it was a beehive of activities with heavy movement of files and occasional cluster of judicial officers discussing the new change of regime at the apex court in hushed tones.

Meanwhile, One of the officials who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said there was tension among some of the top judicial officers who had ordered their subordinates to ensure that all the legal records in their department were set straight.

‘She's strict, motherly' He said: “My brother, we have been sorting and arranging files since Friday. Many of us have been with Justice Mukhtar for a long time now. She is a strict person.

“We know what she can do to anyone or department that fails to do things the traditional way. Moreover, all the courts are proceeding on a long vacation today.”

Others described her as a disciplinarian, a mother and a jury per excellence, while others expressed fears that she might lead the most rigid administration in the history of the apex court.

Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Chief Justice of Nigeria (GCON).

Justice Mukhtar (middle) and justices of the Supreme Court after her swearing-in. STATE HOUSE PHOTO.

4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

From left: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Chairman Senate Committee on Education; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; Senator (Prof) Olusola Adeyeye, Deputy Chairman; Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulure, Deputy Governor.

Back row: r-l: Mr. Ademorin Kuye, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duties and Mr. Remi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, during the Senate Committee on Education's visit to Governor Fashola in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

From right: Senator David Mark, Senate President; Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Mrs Estel Ogbeha, and General Raji Rasaki, (rtd), former military govenor of Lagos State, during the funeral service for Lt Col Dickson Ovie Itete, of Nigerian Defence Academy, at the St Luke Military Church Protestant, Yaba, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Akwa Ibom dep gov tasks Northern leaders on Boko Haram

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EPUTY Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere, has urged Northern leaders to show more sincerity and commitment in addressing the menace of Boko Haram insurgency.

Ekere, who spoke on behalf of Governor Godswill Akpabio, at the conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Assembly in Uyo, expressed dismay that the reactions of some Northern leaders have not been encouraging and definitive in condemning the issue.

The Deputy Governor lauded the Southern leaders for coming together to take the bull by the horns and speak with one accord on the country’s problems especially the insurgency.

Ekere argued that the fight against the insurgency was a war between good and evil. He said: “The bombs explode everyday and kill our people. But each explosion is a call for us not to take the urgency of the situation for granted.

We must act to stop these brigands or they might stop us. The war raging around us is between the forces of love and the forces of hatred. It is between those who love life and those who love death. It is between those who want to build and those who want to destroy. It is between good and evil.”

The Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, thanked Governor Akpabio for allowing the conference to be held in Uyo and commended the Southern leaders for coming together in courage for the peace of the country.

A First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, called for a national conference.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

Bonga oil spill: FG fines Shell $5bn Continues from Page 1 NOSDRA, Dr. Peter Idabor, when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Environment.

The committee’s public hearing was meant to provide key actors in the Bonga oil spill an opportunity to brief the committee on the claims of affected communities.

Idabor said the sum was an “administrative penalty” considering the large quantity of crude oil discharged into the environment by Shell and the impact of the incident on the water and aquatic life.

According to Idabor, the penalty was also consistent with what was obtainable in other oil producing countries such as Venezuela, Brazil and the United States of America.

He explained that this penalty was not the same as compensation since compensation could only be demanded from a polluting company after a proper post impact assessment has been conducted and scientific evidence of impact established.

Idabor disclosed that NOSDRA, Shell and other relevant stakeholders have concluded plans to conduct the post impact assessment on the spill as soon as approval for funding is secured from National Petroleum Investment Management Services.

Shell disagrees with fine However, Shell has contested the fine, saying it has done nothing wrong to deserve the fine. In a quick response to Vanguard enquiries, a spokesman for Shell,

Mr Tony Okonedo, said: “We do not believe there is any basis in law for such a fine. Neither do we believe that SNEPCo has committed any infraction of Nigerian law to warrant such a fine.

“SNEPCo responded to this incident with professionalism and acted with the consent of the necessary authorities at all times to prevent environmental impact as a result of the incident.”

In the heat of the controversies over the spill, especially with regard to third party spill which was cited in several other parts of the Niger Delta, Shell claimed it had sent samples of the spill to laboratories abroad for tests to confirm its liabilities. But till date, nothing was heard of the result of the tests.

Reason for fine The NOSDRA boss explaining the reason for the $5 billion fine noted that “although adequate containment measures were put in place to combat the Bonga oil spill, it, however, posed a serious environmental threat to the offshore environment."

He said: “The spilled 40,000 barrels impacted approximately on 950 square kilometres of water surface; affected great number of sensitive environmental resources across the impacted area and has direct social impact on the livelihood of people in the riverine areas whose primary occupation is fishing.

“It also potentially caused a number of physiological effects on aquatic lives while surviving aquatic species around the spill site would migrate to a far-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: Remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally—E. Tolle

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HEN you are fully present and the people around you manifest unconscious behaviour, you won’t feel the need to react, so you don’t give it any reality. Your peace is so vast and deep that anything that is not peace disappears into it as if it had not existed.

The last, if not the greatest, of the human freedoms is your ability to choose your own attitude in any given circumstance. Samuel Silver sums aptly: The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today, but we can improve if we make use of the potential implanted in us by the creator.

ther distance to situate new habitat thereby forcing coastal communities to move deeper into the sea to carry out fishing activities.”

Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife had at the opening of the interactive session expressed displeasure that seven months after the spill, there were doubts if

Shell carried out a thorough clean-up programme as the oil firm was said to have hurriedly resumed operations on the facility.

She further stated that there were also indications that Shell had refused to accept full responsibility for the incident and had rebuffed claims from communities affected by the spill.

Jonathan reconstitutes NNPC board; partial audit report out petroleum sector.”

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N another develop ment, as Nigerians await full balance sheet of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, a partial audit report has indicated that the Federal Government owes the Corporation in excess of $246million for improper, informal loans used to cover a range of expenses, from a presidential helicopter to maritime security.

Reuters reported that the sum also includes outstanding debts owed by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, for the supply of gas to its power plants across the country.

The disclosure is coming on the heels of the constitution of a new Board for the NNPC by President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday.

The new Board is made up of the following members: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke as Chairman; while other members are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Group Managing Director, NNPC. Others are Alhaji Abdullahi Bukar, Mr. Steven Oronsaye, Prof Olusegun Okunnu, Arc. Daniel Wadzani, Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti (Group Executive Director, Finance & Accounts); Dr. Peter S. Nmadu (Group Executive Director, Corporate Services).

Although no reason was given for the sudden dissolution and reconstitution of the NNPC Board, but in a statement issued by the President’s spokesman Dr Reuben Abati, Jonathan charged members of the new Board to “discharge their duties efficiently and with integrity in order to enhance positive transformation of the

NNPC audit report Meanwhile, the audit, prepared by an outside organisation given access to accounts of the NNPC as part of a government’s efforts to improve transparency at the firm, raises doubts over its independence.

According to sources involved in the external audit, it will show outstanding debts owed to the oil company by a number of ministries and state agencies. The company paid for a $14 million presidential helicopter, and is owed $106 million by the state power firm and $124 million by a maritime security agency.

State governors are threatening to take the federal government to court over illegal tapping of oil revenues that should be shared with local government.

Africa’s biggest oil producer and key supplier to the United States is pinning its future oil industry hopes on turning the debt-ridden NNPC into an independent profitable company emulating Brazil’s Petrobras or Malaysia’s Petronas.

NNPC has a budget agreed by parliament.

Other revenue it collects

from oil production is meant to be passed to the government accounts.

The finance ministry and NNPC declined to comment on the debts and the presidency and oil ministry did not respond to requests for reaction.

“We are aware of many of these debts, obviously it isn’t an ideal situation,” an NNPC source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

State agencies in debt to NNPC should be funded through the budget, so such loans add to transparency concerns.

The NNPC needs its own funds to pay for joint ventures with foreign oil companies, some of which have lain dormant due to a lack of state investment.

“It does highlight the extent to which NNPC has been drawn into the more opaque areas of government - and will give ammunition to those critics who say it has operated at least partly as a slush fund for government,” Antony Goldman, Nigeria oil expert at PM Consulting said.

“It points to the huge difficulties in making independent a corporation with such a complex web of assets and liabilities, at least some of which appear not to have been

contracted solely on a commercial basis.”

A National Assembly report in May uncovered a $6.8 billion fraud involving a government gasoline import subsidy, which is partly run by NNPC. That report said NNPC was accountable to no one. It said the company owed oil traders, including privately-held Trafigura , $3.5 billion in unpaid bills.

Nigeria risks its two million barrel per day oil production declining in the next few years if it fails to reduce political uncertainty, corruption and criminality.

A long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), due to go to the National Assembly for debate within days, is supposed to spin off some assets and replace the NNPC with a new, independent and partially listed National Oil Company (NOC).

The draft PIB also states that the oil minister will oversee all institutions within the industry, raising question marks over how independent the NOC would be.

President Goodluck Jonathan replaced the managing director of the NNPC and three other senior directors last month in efforts to improve transparency and accountability.

FG 'll continue to intervene in Basic Education —Wike

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ATSINA —THE Federal Government will continue to intervene in basic education by providing instructional materials and upgrading critical education infrastructure in state across the country, Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has de-

clared.

Flagging off the distribution of instructional materials for primary and junior secondary schools in North West region in Katsina yesterday, Wike stated that President Jonathan was irrevocably committed to improving basic education in the country.

According to him: “The Federal Government will continue to intervene in basic education through its agencies, especially in the provision and upgrading of critical infrastructure, the training and retraining of teachers as well ad the provision of free textbooks and library resource materials.

6—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Presidency disowns PIB in circulation

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, disowned the version of the Petroleum Industry Bill presently in circulation that has been published on some websites, saying PIB which was approved by the Federal Executive Council recently was still undergoing finishing touches by relevant government agencies.

A statement in Abuja by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, advised all stakeholders to ignore the purported PIB in circulation as it was fake.

According to Abati, on completion of work on the Bill, it would be sent to the National Assembly on the seal of the President.

The statement read: “The Presidency has noted with concern and dismay that a document alleged to be the new Petroleum Industry Bill is now in circulation and has even been published on some websites.

“Before the country is assailed once again with talk about the promulgation

of this very important national law being hindered yet again by the existence of multiple versions, the Presidency wishes to categorically disown the document currently being circulated and published as the new Petroleum Industry Bill.

“Following the consideration and approval of its contents by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting last week, the authentic new Petroleum Industry Bill is still being finalised by relevant government departments and readied to be forwarded to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan.

"Upon its delivery to the National Assembly under the official seal of the President, the authentic new Petroleum Industry Bill will be available to all interested parties.

“The general public and all stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry are, therefore, advised to ignore the document currently in circulation as it is totally fake and lacking in authenticity.”

Police uncover bomb factory in Kogi

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA — KOGI State Command of the Nigeria Police has uncovered a bomb factory in Okaito, a remote village in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

Parading one of the suspects in Lokoja, the state Police Commissioner, Muhammed Katsina, said his men were able to locate the bomb factory following the confession of the man who was arrested in connection with the Sunday’s explosion in Okene.

The commissioner explained that the police discovered that a 4bedroom bungalow where the suspect ran to for refuge which served as a church and mosque was actually the base where bombs of various sizes are manufactured Vanguard gathered that the gang always started with Christian service, and minutes later changed to Islamic worship but unknown to the people of the area, while those “services” were going on, other members of the gang were busy assembling the bombs inside.

The police boss who declined to disclose the owner of the said building, said investigation was ongoing and warned property owners, particularly landlords, to examine properly those who they decide to rent their houses to as “anyone found within this criminal conspiracy will be dealt with as a culprit.”

Items recovered from the bomb factory site include 46 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 15 capacitors, 15 fuses, three bottles of potassium chloride, five litres of acid and one electrical detonator.

Others are rolls of firing cables, 250m detonating cord, three remote controlled siren, GSM sets, nails of various sizes, ammunition, a motorcycle, Bibles, Quran among other household items.

It would be recalled that between December 2011 till date, four different bomb factories have been uncovered in Kogi State; one in Kabba on the western axis of the state, while the remaining three were located in Okene, Okehi and Adavi areas, all in the central area of the state.

From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; former Head of Service, Mr. Steve Oronsaye and Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku, moments after the Governor met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Why I raised alarm on election day — Oshiomhole zCommends Jonathan, security agents

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA — GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, defended his condemnation of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during last Saturday’s election in the state, saying he needed to raise alarm in order to thwart the efforts of those who were determined to rig the election.

Speaking with State House correspondents when he visited President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Oshiomhole commended the president for ensuring that the votes of the electorate counted, by deploying enough security personnel in the state to maintain law and order.

According to Oshiomhole, “the President warned that there will be no rigging, no manipulation, no ballot snatching and orders were given to the army to ensure that none of those things happened and the army carried out the order.

"The Police IG was similarly instructed, he deployed his men probably much more than we probably needed and they delivered on the President’s orders. The SSS were fantastic because they were always at the collating centres where some of the manipulations

could take place. I have been a victim and so you would understand why I am familiar with it. And the SSS did a fanastic job, two plus two was four not five, not 15 and that made a lot of difference. So we need to appreciate the President and encourage him to sustain this principle of truly reminding all of us who hold political office."

On allegation against INEC Speaking on his allegation against INEC, Oshiomhole who waxed philosophical pointed out that “ in my own part of the world the fact that you got home safely does not mean you should not investigate an accident scene. We had several meetings, I informed INEC in a petition about two months ago that my opponents in their strategic meeting sent out their men and they reported back that it would be impossible for them to win. But then, their leader insisted they must win and that this is his last time.

They then agreed on a number of issues.

"One of them was that my support base in Benin City is very strong and incidentally, Edo South accounts for 55 per cent of the total registered voters.

And so they agreed that they were going to work with some people in the

INEC on election day to delay supply of materials.

"So, when you supply materials late, two things will happen: the number of persons who had queued up since 8 o’clock to wait for five hours will grumble if materials don’t come, the average person will say, well I have done my best, if the material has not come I have to go home.

“Don’t forget there are no eateries around the area and so people would have been compelled to fast. So the immediate implication of that is that you will find so many people would not able to vote.

“Number two, when you then push the elections into the dark hours in a country where you are not sure of power supply, when it is dark, it becomes easy for election manipulators to change numbers. So these I conveyed to Prof. Attahiru Jega and we raised it in the various stakeholders meeting that we had with him.

“I mean the reason Nigeria is not making progress is that we are afraid to tell the truth. It is not a big deal to be a governor but it is a big deal to tell the truth and to harass anyone who is responsible for dragging Nigeria backward.”

Promises to carry all along

Oshiomhole promised to carry every Edo indigene along not minding their political affiliation, adding: “But you see I made this point yesterday (Sunday), even when I was rigged out in 2009 I did try to work with everybody.

If you remember, I appointed three commissioners from the PDP in my first term because I was anxious to make the point that, yes as a trade unionist my business was to voice and to speak through to power and even to harass power if I thought it was being misused. I have done that all my life. So not a few were curious as to how I will now manage.

“I was always conscious of that and to avoid continued protest and diversions inside I want to carry everybody along and I demonstrated that by asking them give me three PDP commissioners.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and everybody has to go his way.

“I’m humbled by the fact that across the state, this is the first time in our history probably the only place this has happened, that a governor won election in every local government. This, for me, entails a huge responsibility when the people speak with one voice and say we prefer you, you have a duty to service that trust."

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—7

FUEL SUBSIDY PROBE:

Suspects to be arraigned soon —Lamorde

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

A

Deported Nigerians from Libya on arrival at the Murala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, weekend.

N32.8BN POLICE PENSION FRAUD:

EFCC gets court's nod to take over 45 property zAs court freezes bank accounts of six accused

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

A

BUJA — CHIEF Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal Gumi, has granted an interim order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to attach and take possession of the asset of all the six accused persons who allegedly defrauded the Police Pension Office to the tune of N32.8 billion..

The judge further ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of all the accused persons pending the hearing and final determination of the corruption case against them.

The six suspects who were arraigned on March 29, 2012, on a 16-criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, were Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office before he was made permanent secretary.

Fifteen of the 45 property which were ordered forfeited on interim basis, belong to Dangabar, 11 to Mrs. Onyegbula, six to Wada, five to Kigo and four each to Yusuf and Zira.

According to the order,

“all the bank accounts currently being operated and maintained by Inuwa Wada at Keystone and Zenith Banks are hereby temporarily frozen until the determination of the charge Number FCT/Cr/64/2012.

“Similarly, all the bank

accounts presently being operated and maintained

by Esai Dangabar, Atiku A. Kigo and Veronica Onyegbula in the following banks: EcoBank, FCMB, Access Bank, Sky Bank, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Aso Savings, GTB,

Mainstreet Bank and Wema Bank are herby temporarily frozen pending the hearing and determination of all the said criminal charge No. FCT/ 64/2012 presently pending before this court.”

BUJA — CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, has stated that investigations into fuel subsidy payments by the commission would soon be completed and those indicted arraigned in court.

Lamorde, who stated this, yesterday, when the President of Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, paid him a courtesy visit at the c o m m i s s i o n ’ s headquarters, in Abuja, noted that the commission was not unmindful of the clamour by Nigerians for action by the EFCC on the matter, adding that the complex nature of the nation’s oil and gas industry required that more time be taken to properly investigate the subsidy morass.

According to Lamorde, considerable amount of work has been done in the investigation of the fuel subsidy payments, adding: “The EFCC is avoiding media feast. That is why we are conducting the

investigations and interrogations quietly, so as to have a smooth outcome.

Very soon, some officials will be taken to court,” he said.

Lamorde then urged the Campaign for Democracy to help monitor some of the corruption cases in court with a view to facilitating the speedy disposal of such cases.

Earlier in her remark, Dr. Okei-Odumakin said the visit which is the first by her association to any organisation in Nigeria in the last six years, was intended to demonstrate the CD’s support for the leadership of the EFCC under Lamorde and to underscore its preparedness to collaborate with the EFCC in the antigraft campaign.

She disclosed that Lamorde’s assumption of duty was timely, noting that corruption has become the fastest growing industry in Nigeria.

She called on the EFCC to look into several cases of former governors indicted for corruption across the country with no visible progress being made in their trials.

RIVERS FUEL TANKER EXPLOSION:

STF quit order: Jang, Aliyu disagree Six decomposing bodies

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS—GOVERNOR Jonah Jang of Plateau State has disagreed with his Niger State counterpart, Governor Babangida Aliyu, over the quit order to residents of the troubled areas of the state by the Special Task Force, STF, saying he must have spoken for himself and not for Northern governors.

Jang in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs in his office, James Mannok, also advised people to be nationalistic in looking at issues that border on national interest.

Said the statement: “Governor Aliyu needs to appreciate the changing internal dynamics of the current security challenges in the affected areas culminating in the military operation targeted at the terrorists still hiding in the hills and killing innocent lives on the Plateau. This is a matter which is beyond settler-indigeneship but acts of terrorism, capable of tearing this nation apart.

“Governor Jang cautions

against statements that convey sentiments but should be tailored towards a nationalistic posture especially at a time when this nation is yearning for greater harmony and in search of the sponsors of this despicable acts against innocent citizens.”

Aliyu had been quoted in his capacity as Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum as warning against the possible backlash of the order purportedly given to Fulanis to vacate the troubled area.

The STF Commander, Major General Henry Ayoola, had last weekend debunked insinuations that a particular group was asked to vacate the area, explaining that of the five villages which people were asked to vacate, only one could be said to be predominated by “those complaining.”

He stressed that it was for the safety of those concerned in view of the military operation to uproot troublemakers unleashing terror in the area who are believed to be hiding within

the area.

discovered in bush

Jang appeals to stakeholders

zAs death toll hits 143

In a related development, Jang has appealed to stakeholders in the state to team up with him to find a solution to the current security problem in the state rather than view it as his problem or that of a particular section.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting, yesterday, he expressed regret that some well placed people could not differentiate between a common problem they should jointly tackle and seeking cheap political relevance.

“We cannot, therefore, allow our enemies shatter what God has given us as a heritage. We believe that as a government at this point of our history and as a member of Plateau family, we must come together and chart the way forward.

“The earlier we understand that a war has been declared on us, the better placed we will be to respond to this painful reality before us. We must draw from the resilient Plateau spirit and move on.”

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ORT HARCOURT — DEATH toll from last Thursday’s fuel tanker explosion at Okogbe on the ever-busy East West road in Ahoada West Local Government of Rivers State has risen to 143 following the discovery of six decomposing bodies, yesterday, from the bush near the scene of the incident. The death toll as at last Sunday was 137.

Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Dr Kayode Olagunju, however, said: “We are still battling with the actual injury figures, as a lot of victims were transferred from one hospital to the other, which could result in multiple counting. Some victims initially went home for traditional treatment while others

headed for some private clinics. We will work with other agencies and the Rivers State Government to collate the actual figures.”

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Director of the government-owned University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Professor Aaron Ojule, has called on relatives of victims being treated locally to move them to the hospital for free treatment, adding that some of the badly burnt victims might be flown abroad for further treatment.

He said many of the survivors were being referred to the teaching hospital from other hospitals and centres, adding that a subcommittee had been put in place to collate the actual figures of the victims in order to know those who have died so far to avoid confusion.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Dana crash report: Captain Tito disputes AIB report zWants airline banned, officials prosecuted

BY UDUMA KALU

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AGOS—THE June 3rd Dana plane crash could have been caused by human error, former Federal Airports Authority, FAAN, Advance Ground Instructor and pilot, Captain Tito Omaghomi, has said.

He also recommended that Dana airline should not fly again.

Faults report

In a presentation to top Vanguard editors yesterday at the newspaper’s corporate headquarters in Lagos,Tito, accompanied by two other aviation experts, Captain Charles Aisuen and Prince M. Nwoko, also queried the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, report on the crashed Dana plane, saying the working details of planes did not match details in the report.

The aviation expert said from the retrieved conservation between the control tower and the pilot and the crew hid information on the condition of the plane.

The two engines of the plane, he said were not working any more at the time the pilot radioed the airport, wondering how the landing gears could be raised if the engines were dead.

Also, a retired air plane inspector, Aisuen, said it could have been caused by human error.

Aisuen said that in the course of doing his job, he had grounded a pilot whose licence had expired. But the chairman of the airline got to some

government officials and had the grounded pilot fly the plane.

Tito, who has an over 40 experience in the industry said it was impossible for the black box to be destroyed, as it is fire resistant. For him, this is the first time that a black box could not be decoded.

From the retrieved conversation between the pilot, the co plot and the air control, Tito said there were gaps and outright lies in the report.

Instead of blaming the crash on engine failure, Tito said it was pure criminal negligence of the pilot.

The black box issue

On the black box, Tito querried where the black box was in the plane, "where did they put the black box? We want to know. If we could get readings from the voice recorder which is in the cockpit, it is a tape. We know from that accident, only the tail of that plane and the wings were saved before all got burnt. If they could decipher something out of the voice recorder, how come they cannot decipher anything from the flight data recorder?

What is the job of the flight data recorder? It will tell you the altitude of the plane, the speed.

Whether one wing was low, whether landing gear was down. It will tell you everything before that impact. All what civilised aeroplanes do now is that they take that black box

to the manufacturers and watch the last outing of the plane The way it took off from Abuja, engines start, checks, how it took off until it crashed. Now, they say that the black box is burnt beyond recognition. Nobody should do anything with it.

“But God in his infinite mercy, they agree that from their voice transmission, the plane had landing gears down. The plane had flaps and flaps extended. You say they lost two engines... Whatever makes a pilot put down his landing gear, he is double sure that he can make the runway, not to talk of a plane that was said to be operating on one engine.

“When they put in their report that the pilot was asking the co pilot to raise the landing gear, which landing gear were they raising? With what system were they going to use to raise the landing gear when the engines were not working?

Your landing gear could be raised only by hydraulic. The flaps you are asking for them to raise could only be raised by electrical means. Your engines were not working, your electrical systems had all failed, your hydraulic systems had failed. Why are you asking them to raise landing gear? With these statements, good lawyers can use somebody with knowledge of what I am now telling you, put them in the witness box. You will find out that it was a case of criminal negligence.”

Attah of Igala, longest reigning nor: “The Attah was remonarch, dies at 102 nowned for his quiet but

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN,

POLITICAL EDITOR

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OKOJA—DR. Aliyu Ocheja Obaje, Attah of Igala, Nigeria’s longest reigning First Class traditional ruler, is dead, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State announced yesterday.

In the statement by Governor Wada, the Kogi State Government said Dr. Obaje died yesterday at the age of 102.

Obaje, who ascended the throne on November 2, 1956 was the paramount ruler of Igala, the dominant ethnic

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group in Kogi State and was chairman of Kogi State Traditional Council until death.

Dr. Obaje was honoured with the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR and was appointed a minister without Portfolio by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello in the First Republic . He was also a member of two Constitutional Conferences in London in the build-up to Nigeria’s independence.

According to the gover-

effective administration of the traditional institution in the state and for his humble and humane disposition to the affairs of his people.

“The late Attah of Igala who was highly revered by his people, enjoyedwide spreadrelationships in various parts of Nigeria. A devoted Muslim, the late Attah is survivedbyhiswidowsandmany children, among whom is Chief Abdullahi Obaje, a National ExOfficiomemberofPeoplesDemocratic Party.”

“The Kogi State Government is finalising burial arrangements with the family,” he disclosed yesterday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—9

Briefly

Gunmen kill cop

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AMATURU—GUN MEN, yesterday, attacked three police formations in Damaturu, Yobe State, as one police recruit was confirmed killed during the attack.

Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Patrick Egbuniwe, said the attackers came to the areas around 1:45 pm.

Areas attacked according to him were the Area Command, A Division and the state CID, in the state capital.The commissioner said a combined team of security agents were able to repel the attack which lasted for 35 minutes.

He said a recruit constable was killed during the attack but at a different location as his corpse was found at Damaturu motor park, behind the A Division.

Fashola to Lagosians: Call me on 08034301122 on Gawat's whereabout z Promises huge reward for informant

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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KEJA—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, appealed to Lagosians who have information regarding the whereabouts of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, presenter, Alhaji Razaq Gawat, to urgently come

forward with such.

Fashola, who made the appeal, in an interview with newsmen, said such information will aid the investigation by police and the state government on the issue.

The governor noted that the success of any investigation by the police is

based on information provided by the residents of the state, adding “anyone who brought any useful information that could lead to the finding of the missing person would be substantially rewarded.”

He said: “I am optimistic that we will find him. I urge everybody to remain

From left, Elder Ifeanyi Nonyelu, Convener, PROM is Alive; Mrs. Victoria Onu and Mrs Pearl Nkele, at The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Synod of the West Women's Guide, with the Theme, 2012 Prom is Alive, at The Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos.

Photo: Oscar Ochiogu.

Bail granted

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—A Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has granted bail to three members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, who were remanded in Ikoyi Prison by an Igbosere Magistrate's Court, after they were arraigned for alleged murder of one Jamiu Kayode Adebara and intent to unlawfully kill Abduwahab Hassan by shooting him with a pump action gun.

Mustapha Adekunle Sego, Ismaila Abu Arogonmasa and Jamiu Enrinfolami, were arraigned with Kunle Jaiyeoba, Michael Kaizer, Sunday Omole Ikinrugbo and Tajudeen Saheed (NURTW members) on a three-count-charge bordering on murder before Magistrate F. O. DaviesAbegunde of Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos.

Afe Babalola seeks confab on Boko Haram

BY DAYO ADESULU

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AGOS—A legal lumi nary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Aare Afe Babalola, has condemned the Federal Government for not taking the issue of Boko Haram seriously, insisting on the immediate convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, as the only solution to Boko Haram insurgent and other burning national issues.

Babalola also called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to ignore fears expressed by notable Nigerians including chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and founder of The Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, that the

country was at the brink of disintegration except SNC was convened.

Babalola, Chairman/ Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Administration, spoke at the annual presidential /presentation awards to new fellows of the institute at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos.

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KEJA—A 28-year-old artisan, Ayodeji Jegede, was, yesterday, docked before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, charged with house breaking and stealing of property worth N5.48 million.

Police prosecutor, Barth Nwaokeye, alleged that Jegede and other accomplices now at large, burgled several houses in Alhaji Kofoworola Street, Ikeja,

Lagos, between last December and May and stole valuables.

He told the court that the defendant on December 10, at 7:30p.m, stole a Toyota Camry worth N900,000, laptop valued at N155,000, an ipad tablet worth N110,000, seven assorted watches worth N300,000 all properties of one Ogundele Olawumi.

According to Nwaokeye, Jegede had on May 11, about 8p.m, broke into the house of Olawumi again,

Babalola reiterated that countless security and economic challenges the nation faced, left no room for alternative but SNC. According to him, our national newspapers, he stressed, had catalogues of disasters ranging from terrorism, armed robberies, deaths, and

arson among others which now dominate their front pages.

He pointed out that government’s inability to curb the excesses of fundamentalists should necessitate invitation for dialogue, in order to know what their demands are.

Senate urges Lagos to pay education counterpart fund

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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KEJA—SENATE Com mittee on Education, yesterday, urged the Lagos State Government to urgently pay its 2012

Artisan docked for housebreaking, theft of N5m

BY ONOZURE DANIA

hopeful that we will find him. I know the police are working. They have some useful information that they are sharing with me.

We are pursuing the leads, it may take time. We are checking every information.”

“Anybody who has any information that may lead

and stole his Nissan SUV valued at N2.5million.

The prosecutor claimed that the accused also broke into the house of one Mercy Agwu on the eve of May 15 and carted away valuables including jewellery worth N200,000.

Other items allegedly stolen were a Blackberry curve valued at N85,000, an iphone valued at N50,000, a Toyota Camry car valued at N1.2 million and N30, 000 cash.

counterpart funding on education, saying “it affects development of education.”

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Responding, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the delay was because the state had not exhausted some parts of the fund meant for the previous year.

Fashola added that the style of structure recommended by Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, also contributed to the delay because some of the buildings could not stand the test of time, adding “many blocks of classroom collapsed after few months of construction.”

According to Fashola, “Due to this collapse cases, the state government de-

cided to design its own style of classroom block. With this design, we will be able to build structures that can stand the test of time.”

The governor, however, advocated for an urgent increase in assistance to UBEB, especially in the supervision of contractors handling school projects.

Earlier, the state chairman of SUBEB, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, said Lagos paid N1.92 billion as its counterpart funding for education last year.

Daodu said: “Last Friday, we received a letter from the Universal Basic Education, UBE, informing us that we have N852.9 million accredited for the state in the first and second quarter of 2012. And they expect us to pay our counterpart funding from it which is 429.7 million. We are at par with all the states in the federation. “

us to him, let us know. My number is 08034301122”.

Reiterating his call for useful information, Fashola, who also urged the people to remain calm, further assured, “I know that the police are working hard at the leads that we have picked up. Everybody who has reason to believe that he (Gawat) could be here or there must help us. Call 767 or 112 emergency toll free numbers to inform the security agents.”

The Lagos State Police Command has said it is investigating the case.

The command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: “The case was that of missing person and not kidnap.”

Investigation so far, according to police sources, show there was no sign of struggle where his vehicle was found at Apongbon end of Eko Bridge. The car, sources said, was neatly parked.

Bode George scores Fashola low z Says Lagos no longer working

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS—FORMER National Vice-Chairman of Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, has scored the Governor Raji Fashola administration low, declaring that “Fashola has gone to sleep.”

In a statement, entitled: “Lagosians: Are we going forward of moving backward,” George berated the state government’s drive towards tackling flooding in the state, saying “the drainages are overflowing with silt and choked with debris.”

He said: “Fashola has gone to sleep. There is flood everywhere. There is flood in schools. There is flood in homes. There flood on the roads. There is flood everywhere we go. ''The rivers, the lagoons and the channels are swollen with water, threatening to swallow our homes and everything we own. And, yet they say Lagos is working. Is Lagos working? No. Is Fashola working? No. Is Tinubu working? No. Is the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, working? No. They have all failed woefully.”

He called on the Federal government to end the continued sand filling of the lagoons and ocean by the ACN-led government, saying it portends danger if urgent steps were not taken.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Ekiti Dep Gov's planned trip to London to watch Olympics wasteful — Group

Contempt: Fresh trouble for detained Ogun PDP chieftains

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — BARELY three weeks after a Lagos State High Court committed the embattled chairman and two other members of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party Chapter in Ogun State to prison for contempt, another jail term looms against them over a fresh contempt charge.

Also likely to be affected are Chairman of OGSIEC, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi and six other commissioners of the electoral body.

The State High Court sitting in Ilaro, yesterday, adjourned hearing in the matter to Thursday.

The application was brought by the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive of Ogun PDP seeking the committal of the members of the Ireti Oniyide-led Caretaker Committee, OGSIEC chairman and the members of the commission to prison for alleged criminal contempt.

During the hearing, counsel to the applicants, Ajibola Oluyede, who moved the motion for the committal of the members of PDP Caretaker Committee and OGSIEC for criminal contempt, described the defendants as “serial contemnors.”

He said they had served the court processes on the defendants in accordance with the July 10 order of the court.

But, counsel to PDP, Gboyega Oyewole objected to the continuation of the case, saying they were not served the court processes.

Rubble of the two-storey building that collapsed at Inu Ewe Tioya, in Ibadan, yesterday. Inset, one of the injured workers being taken to the hospital.

6 injured in Ibadan building collapse z Oyo revokes bridge contract z PDP tackles Ajimobi over flood

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—NO fewer than six construction workers sustained injuries, yesterday, in Ibadan, when a two-storey building collapsed at Inu Ewe Tioya in the Oluyole Local Government Area.

Though, no one was reported dead in the incident, Vanguard, learnt that the workers were badly injured as one of them was trapped for about an hour under the rubble before he was rescued.

Those injured were taken a nearby hospital.

The building, according to an eye-witness, collapsed about 1.35 p.m.

One of the workers, Isiaka Ganiyu, who was injured, said, he was there with his co-workers working on the second floor of the new building when it collapsed.

Ganiyu said he heard the sound and later discovered he had been bur-

ied in the rubble.

The site electrical engineer, Yahaya Tijani, said the downpour caused the building to give way, dismissing the rumour that materials used for the building were sub-standard.

Officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, from Oluyole Unit Command, led the rescue operation.

Assistant Director of the state fire service, Mr. Diekola Dende, who led fire servicemen told newsmen that their command got a distress call around 2p.m. that a building had collapsed and rushed there.

Oyo revokes contract Mean time, against the backdrop of the heavy rains that sacked many Ibadan residents, weekend, and destroyed bridges and culverts, the Oyo State Government has revoked the contract

Ogun CNPP calls for peaceful LG poll

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BEOKUTA—CON FERENCE of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Ogun State Chapter, weekend, urged the electorate in the state to come out en-mass and exercise their voting rights in the July 21, local government election in the state.

Eight of the 14 political parties fielding candidates in the election urged their members to conduct themselves peacefully during the poll, while also calling on

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the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, to ensure a free and fair election and the contestants to avoid violence during electioneering.

In a statement after a preelection briefing in Abeokuta, jointly signed by Ogun CNPP Chairman, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, General Secretary, Biola Lawal and BOT Chairman, Are Shola Coker, the party appealed to party agents representing the parties at the polling booths to con-

duct themselves in a peaceful manner, while also urging OGSIEC to ensure all contesting parties were fairly treated without any favouritism.

Representatives of the eight contesting political parties at the briefing included Mr. Sola Coker, Chairman, Community Party of Nigeria, CPN; Prince Segun Odediran, Chairman, Peoples Progressive Party, PPP, and Adebanjo Adeniyi, Chairman, Republican Party of Nigeria, RPN.

of the firm that handled the reconstruction of Apete bridge.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, announced the revocation of the contract during an on-the-spot assessment of the havoc caused by the rain.

He said another contractor would be commissioned to take up the contract.

PDP tackles Ajimobi In another development, the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in the statement, has advised Governor Abiola Ajimobi to divert funds for the construction of a flyover at Mokola and proposed five-star hotel to helping victims of flooding that rendered many residents homeless.

The party, through its mouthpiece, Synergy League, also accused the administration of Ajimobi of alleged abject negligence in handling flood disaster in the state.

The group, in a statement

by Prince Dotun Oyelade, alleged that 11 months after last year’s flood disaster which led to loss of lives and property, the ACN government was yet to give proper explanation on how it spent the money donated by sympathisers.

The party said: “After last year's flood disaster, federal, state governments and corporate bodies donated handsomely to bolster government purse to assist thousands of victims, nothing meaningful has been achieved by government.”

DO-EKITI—A nongovernment organisation in Ekiti State, Ekiti Justice Group, EJG, has berated the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, over her planned trip to London to watch the Olympic Games, saying it was wasteful.

The group, which said the London trip will be the deputy governor’s 22nd since she assumed office 21 months ago, alleged that she was set to embark on the trip with the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Folorunso Olabode and a retinue of aides.

In a statement, in AdoEkiti, yesterday, by its Director of Communications and Strategy, Gbenga

Babawibe, EJG alleged that over N10 million was budgeted for the trip.

The group said: “It is the height of irresponsibility for a state government to be lavishing public fund on government officials’ frivolous foreign trips as being done by the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, government.”

“The question these people that are wasting Ekiti State funds on frivolities must be asked is; what is the business of Ekiti State Government with Olympic Games?

“This is bearing in mind that even the Federal Government had to reduce its delegation to the London Olympic Games to cut cost.''

...PDP flays Oyo Speaker, Assembly members' wives London trip

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BADAN—THE Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West has berated Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for approving the spending of public fund on trip to London, United Kingdom,UK,

by Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, and wives of members of the assembly.

The party, which described the trip as a waste

of Oyo State resources, said it was laughable that the Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, government in Oyo State would send wives of assembly members to London for training on “Husband Support.”

In a statement, yesterday, PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, condemned the trip, alleging that over N50 million was approved for the trip.

Akeredolu appoints Ajanaku Media Director

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KURE—MR. Idowu Ajanaku has been appointed Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy for the campaign organisation of Ondo State gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the October election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu,SAN. Ajanaku, an indigene of Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of the state, holds a second class upper degree in History and International Relations from Lagos State University,LASU. He is also a Fellow at Martin Luther King Centre for African Studies, Atlanta Georgia, United States.

He has worked in various media organisations including, Moonshine, Vanguard and The Guardian newspapers.

Until his appointment, Ajanaku was Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor

Babatunde Fashola,SAN, of Lagos State.

Passage

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ADAM Felicia Ige Agbana, a community leader, devout Christian, philanthropist and principle leader, aged 70, is dead.

In a statement, the family said there will be Service of Songs on Thursday, at her residence, 3, Oke Ayo Street, Egbe, Kogi State.

She will be buried in her family's Oke Otun Compound, Ilemesho, Ekiti State, on Friday.

She is survived by a widower, relations and children among whom is Abayomi Agbana-David, a Superintendent of Police, and DPO, Ajeromi Police Station, Lagos State.

Late Madam F. Agbana

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 —11

MEND: Why Tompolo suspended Boyloaf, by Warri-Ijaw group

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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From right: Wife of Rivers State Governor, Mrs. Judith Amaechi, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Wilson Ake (behind), Mr. Asita Honourable and Ahoada West Council Chairman, Awori Miller at the scene of the petrol tanker fire incident in Okogbe, Rivers State, Sunday.

ARRI—THE WarriIjaw Peace Monitoring Group, WIPMG, Warri in Delta State, yesterday, said, following the antecedents of former militant leader, Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf, it was not surprised that he said in a reent interview, that G o v e r n m e n t Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was not the leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND. Coordinator of

Rep warns against oil adulteration, pipeline vandalisation

BY DANIEL GUMM

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ARRI — RESI DENTS of Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State have been warned against tampering with crude oil and pipelines that transverse the waterways and land space of the constituency.

Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, House of Representatives member, gave the warning, during a courtesy visit by Federated Benin River Women.

Reyenieju, who represents Warri Federal Constituency in the House, said “our ecological and economic, present and future are constantly being undermined and endangered as a result of the current surge in crude oil theft and crude ‘refining’ being carried on by some miscreants.

“Because of sheer greed and the propensity to get rich at all costs, they go to

the ridiculous end of busting pipes and siphoning crude oil for sale and ‘refining,’ and in the process, much of the crude oil is spilled into waters and lands, thus endangering our present and future, economically and ecologically.

Tonye assures on judicious utilisation of funds by DESOPADEC

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of State Oil Producing Areas Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, Mr. Timi Tonye, has assured Deltans that 50 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund allocated to the Commission was being judiciously used. He noted that it was a new

Ihedioha congratulates Oshiomhole, lauds Edo people

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BUJA—DEPUTY Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, has congratulated Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, on his re-election Ihedioha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oke Epia, also commended the people of Edo State for exercising their electoral franchise freely, noting that by their majority vote for the governor, they have contributed to the growth and development of democracy in the country.

Ihedhioha also praised Independent National

“It is clear that the diesel produced from the crude processes of refining have destroyed a lot of engines since they are not up to standard. In the process, we undermine ourselves economically as such engines will have to be re-

placed. This is most wicked and anyone caught in this criminal act will be prosecuted.”

He praised the efforts of the military in combating the surge and appealed to the military authorities to encourage the current leadership of the army in the area for a job well done.

Electoral Commission, INEC, for discharging its mandate creditably and satisfactorily in a manner that increases the confidence of Nigerians on the electoral umpire.

The police and other security agencies were also commended for their contributions in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for the poll throughout the state, adding that the professional conduct of officers and men of the police indicated that the image of the force was gradually being improved upon by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

dawn for the oil producing communities of the state.

Tonye, who addressed newsmen in Asaba, said that to ensure the implementation of the commission’s mandate of executing relevant projects, people-oriented projects were conceptualised, designed and executed based on extensive consultations with the oil-producing areas and input from stakeholders.

He said the commissionawarded 1664 projects in the 19 local government areas which form its areas of

jurisdiction between 2007 till date, adding that out of these projects, 347 were sited in Itsekiri, 424 in Ijaw, 455 in Urhobo, 305 in Isoko and 115 in Ndokwa areas.

He pointed out that the projects were executed in accordance with the production quantum of the various ethnic nationalities under its purview.

He highlighted some of the challenges of the commission to include slow response by stakeholders to attend town hall meetings and youth restiveness.

WIPMG, Chief Patrick Bigha, who was a top operative of MEND told Vanguard, yesterday, that Boyloaf was suspended at a time during the struggle by Tompolo for indiscipline, after which, he (Boyloaf) was ‘ set up’ by Henry Okah to perform some jobs,

Navy assesses warships for emergency tre, Lagos, Navy CommoBY JOHNBOSCOAGBAK-

WURU

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ALABAR—FOL LOWING the spate of bombings in the country, the Nigerian Navy has commenced the assessment of its personnel and warships to determine their efficiency in event of any emergency on the nation’s maritime territorial environment.

The two-week exercise, which was flagged off by the Commodore Superintendent of the Naval Doctrine and Assessment Cen-

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

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AGOS—TRADE Un ion Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, said Saturday’s electoral victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, was a victory not only for Edo people but the generality of the downtrodden Nigerians, especially the impoverished and deprived workers. .

TUC, in a statement by its President-General and Secretary-General, Mr. Peter

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Esele and Chief John Kolawole, said “Nigerian workers and an overwhelming number of the masses all over the country were deeply interested in the outcome of this election and keenly watched the events leading to and during the actual election. They kept vigil all over the land despite the fact that a lot of them were not indigenes of Edo State and followed the returns after returns from around the towns and communities one after the other."

Ughelli South NULGE crisis deepens South, Patani and Udu LoBY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE cri sis rocking Ughelli

zCondemns Urhobo absence in Government President determination to conduct this historic election to show that SouthSouth people are capable of producing good fruit in a polluted environment.

The people of Niger Delta are united in this historic landslide victory of Adam Oshiomhole.”

The Ijaw group, however, appealed to President Jonathan to appoint Uhrobo indigenes into strategic positions in his government. “We want to use

dore Babalola Egbedina, yesterdat, at the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River State.

On the occasion, Commodore Egbedina, said the programme would entail assessment carried out by work-up group; scan on basic training operation and standard operation, among others.

He explained that the exercise sought to improve on the availability of the ships and the combat readiness of its platforms for operations, while also taking into cognisance the efficiency of the personnel.

Oshiomhole's victory for masses, workers —TUC

IMG commends Jonathan on free, fair polls in Edo AGOS—IJAW Moni toring Group, IMG, has hailed the role of President Gooduck Jonathan in the conduct of free and fair election in Edo State.

The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Joseph Evah, stated that the courage of President Jonathan to ignore the mafia and godfathers involved in the history of Edo State politics deserved commendation.

He said: “We salute Mr

and so, his outburst was not out of the blue.

Bigha said Tompolo was the leader of MEND and the headquarters of the organisation was in his former Camp 5 in Delta State, adding that Boyloaf was brought to Camp 5 by an ex-militant leader, Farrah Dagogo

this historic moment in the history of Niger Delta to appeal to Mr President to appoint an Uhrobo personality in strategic position in his government.

“The absence of an Uhrobo son or daughter in this government is a minus for South-South unity. The role of Uhrobo in stabilising Niger Delta unity as well as the preservation of Nigeria unity deserve encouragement at the highest level”, he noted.”

cal Governments after the just-concluded elections of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, across the 25 councils in the state, had heightened, following the dissolution of Ughelli South led executive of Mr Emmanuel Uwadewhe by the workers.

Kicking against a purported media broadcast by the state executive of the union, that Uwadewhe was returned as chairman of the council’s chapter for a second term, the workers, at a congress of the union, argued that election was not held in the council.

The aggrieved workers noted that; “the said broadcast was unconstitutional, null and void.”

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Gunmen kill 2 in Yenagoa

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

Y

ENAGOA—TWO men, were, yesterday, shot deadbyunknowngunmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The incident happened about 11.30am inGoodnewsStreet,Off SaniAbachaRoadintheAzikoro suburb. It was gathered that the two men were intercepted by a jeepcarryingtwoarmedmen,and athirdassociate,whocoordinated the mission.

Themen,accordingtocommunity sources, came out with guns after blocking their victim’s car and rained bullets on them, one shooting through the front door, the other from the front windshield.

It was gathered that the gunmen after the first round of shooting, were ordered back to continue the shooting spree on the targets to ensure they were really dead.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims, were not known faces in the community, while the gunmen were also strange faces.

State Police Public Relations Officer,MrFidelisOdunwa,who confirmed the incident, said they were on top of the matter, as investigation into the killings had begun, adding that it was too early to established whether it was a cult related attack.

Meanwhile, Col. Bernard Kenebai, Special Adviser on Security to Bayelsa State Governor, in a statement, denied that one of the victims was a security aide to the state governor, saying “We wishtodebunkclaimsandinsinuations that the persons killed are security aides to the governor.

They are actually repentant militants working closely with Joint Task Force, JTF, the police and State Security Services, SSS. “Governmentwishtocondemn in the strongest terms the killing of two people in Yenagoa. Government is working closely with the security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of this dastardly act and bring them to book."

Soyinka hails Akpabio on A'Ibom transformation Ibom to see the transfor- governor for the vision to

U

YO—NOBEL laurete, Professor Wole Soyinka, has described Akwa Ibom State as a modern state in the country.

Professor Soyinka, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Godwill Akpabio at Governor ’s Lodge, Uyo, said the state had indeed been transformed and swept away by modernisation.

His visit to the state, according to him, was in response to the governor’s invitation in Asaba, Delta State, during the recent South-South Economic Summit, challenging him to visit Akwa

mation programmes with a bid to changing his perception that democracy was not working in the state and in the country.

He recalled that he was in the state 12 years ago, and lamented that the state showed signs of decayed physical environment. He congratulated the governor on carrying out the beautification programme.

The nobel laurete who was accompanied by his wife, Folake and daughter, Mrs. Moremi SoyinkaOnijala, saluted the governor and Akwa Ibom people for the development strides experienced in the state and commended the

develope the state.

In response Governor Akpabio described Soyinka as a global citizen belonging to the world and Nigeria, saying “You are imbued in the hearts of Akwa Ibom people. You can choose to always come to the state because you have many fans here.

“We look forward in listening to you and tapping from your wisdom and knowledge. I thank you for your humility in visiting the state.

I want you to know that there is a ray of hope and that democracy is working in Akwa Ibom State and democracy can work in Nigeria.

Whenever you go outside the country, tell them that democracy isworking,”Akpabiosaid.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—13

NASS to ban aircraft above 20-yrs in Nigeria — Ngige

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—FORMER Governor of Anambra State and the Senator representing Anambra Central in upper legislative chambers, Dr. Chris Ngige has said the National Assembly will initiate a bill for a law forbidding aircraft above 20 years to operate in Nigeria.

The senator, who spoke at Ndiowu, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State during a condolence visit to the family of late Mr. Onyeka Collins Anyene whose family of six and three in-laws perished at the Dana Airline crashlast month, said it was suicidal for Nigeria to allow obsolete aircraft to be flying the country’s airspace.

He explained that the law would make it mandatory for the relevant aviation regulatory bodies to be alive to their responsibilities to ensure safety, stressing that the law would provide for heavy penalties on defaulters. Ngige argued that it would be improper to allow the present happenings in the aviation industry to continue.

According to him, “it is sad that in this modern world, air accidents that can be easily averted have become a recurring decimal in Nigeria. The National Assembly is poised to initiate a bill that would ensure safety in the industry. ” Ngige frowned at the heavy reliance on road and air transport, calling on the Federal Government to speed up the upgrading of

the rail transport system which he described as much safer.

According to him, “the pressure on our highways and air space is so much and that is why we need to diversify. The Federal Government should work on railway system and waterways to improve other transportation systems.

Even our roads which we use very often are not safe

as most of them are in pitiable state of disrepair, which ought not to be the case”.

The senator expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the act of toying with human lives in the name of business by airline operators, adding that the Dana Airline crash could have been averted if the relevant bodies had discharged their duties seriously.

O

WERRI Branch of Ni gerian Bar Association, NBA, has advised Imo State government to unconditionally implement the recent judgments of an Owerri High Court and the Court of Appeal nullifying its sack of local government chairmen and councillors as well as the reinstatement of sacked members of the State Judicial Service Commission, respectively.

In a statement by the NBA Chairman, Mr. S. I. Opara, the body while associating itself with the two judgments, advised Governor Rochas Okorocha that “the two judgments are very sound and are for the promotion of rule of law, constitutionality and democracy in Imo State”.

It was also the view of the lawyers that using transition committees to run the affairs of local councils in the state was unlawful and inconsistent with the provisions in the Nigerian Constitution.

“At the age democracy is in the country, things

C M Y K

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi yesterday swore in five new commissioners and four special advisers, including the Anambra State secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr. John Okoli–Akirika and the son of Dr Tim Menakaya, vice chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BOT, Mr. Ndubuisi Menakaya.

While Okoli was named commissioner for lands and survey, Menakaya was appointed commissioner in charge of the new ministry of social duties.

Other commissioners are

Mr. Chuba Okoli (Science and Technology, Dr. Uju Okeke (Education) and Mrs. Ngozika Okoye (Finance), Col. George Molokwu (rtd) re-appointed Special Adviser on Security Matters, Fidel Okafor, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mrs. Vivian Nwandu, a retired permanent secretary in the Ministry of Budget and Planning was named the Special Adviser on MDGs, while Chief Godfrey Muotolu who was until recently, the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission is the new Special Adviser on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters.

Anambra North: Okadigbo takes seat at senate

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

LAUNCH—From left: Acting Head of Marketing, Globacom, Niyi Olukoya; Assistant Director/Coordinator, Lagos National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Obi Iroegbu and Sale Director, Globacom, Mike Sidwell, during the launch of Glo Text4Million Season 3 in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

NBA advises Imo govt to implement court judgments

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

Obi swears in 5 commissioners, others

should be done according to the law because the law is the threshold upon which democracy can strongly stand”, the lawyers reasoned.

The NBA, however, ex-

plained that in taking the stand, the branch had no sentimental, emotional or political consideration, stressing that it was guided by the motto of the NBA, which is “promoting the rule

of law. The present Imo State Government, which is founded on democratic tenets and rule of law, is advised to abide by and implement the two judgments

....Election: EBF drums support for Wali

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

HEAD of today’s elec tion of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, national officers in Abuja, Eastern Bar Forum, EBF, yesterday called on delegates to vote for Chief Okechukwu Wali, SAN as President of NBA. It is the turn of the Eastern Bar to produce NBA President and in keeping with the traditions of the Bar, EBF, adopted Wali, SAN as the forum’s sole candidate for the office of the President of NBA. EBF in a statement by Mr. Kemasuode Wodu, Chairman and Mr O. Igwenyi, said “Wali was adopted after a painstaking, open and free process to ascertain his suitability and competence for the said position. All

members of the forum who were interested in the position, including Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, were

given opportunity to participate in the process, but Ngige declined in writing not to participate.”

NUPENG congratulates Oshiomhole

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG IGERIA Union of Pe troleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has said the victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State at the gubernatorial election Saturday shows his level of acceptance and popularity by the electorate. NUPENG said Edo people appreciated Oshiomhole's people-oriented policies and programmes which were unprecedented in the history of Edo State.

In a statement by its Act-

N

ing General Secretary, Mr Isaac Aberare, the union congratulated Comrade Oshiomhole for the victory, saying: “it is a well-deserved election for a second tenure as peoples’ Governor of Edo State.”

The statement said: “The landslide victory you recorded on Saturday shows the level of acceptance and popularity by the electorate who are appreciative of your people-oriented policies and programmes which are unprecedented in the history of Edo State after Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia’s regime".

BUJA—MRS. Mar garey Okadigbo, widow of the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo is to take up the seat once occupied by her husband in the senate today.

Her occupation of the seat brings to a close the vacancy arising from multiple litigations by various claimants to the Anambra North seat in the senate.

Mrs. Okadigbo was confirmed by the Supreme Court as the legitimate win-

ner of the senate seat during the April 2011 National Assembly elections. However, as a result of the litigations the seat was unoccupied at the inauguration of the seventh senate in June 2011 and remained vacant until the Supreme Court gave its declarative judgment on July 5, 2012.

The Supreme Court in its judgment pronounced Okadigbo the rightful occupant against the claims of two other Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspirants, Mr. John Emeka and former Senator Alphonsus Igbeke.

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Auto crash claims 8 lives in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—NO fewer than eight persons have lost their lives in an auto crash that occurred along the Enugu-Nsukka single-carriage way.

Three of the eight victims in the accident which took place weekend, were burnt beyond recognition.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the accident in a statement yesterday, said the vehicles involved a DAF trailer with registration number XE460AWK and a Ford Bus with registration number X A 4 3 5 K C .

The vehicles caught fire and burnt the passengers in the bus.

He said the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at Our Saviour Hospital Mortuary at 9th Mile awaiting autopsy and collection by their relations.

The PPRO said efforts were on to track down the fleeing driver of the said DAF t r a i l e r .

In another development, the State Police Command said it had commenced full investigations to determine

C M Y K

the extent of involvement of one Ifeanyi Ani of Akpugo in Nkanu West local Government Area of the state in a case of robbery.

The suspect and three other persons now at large were allegedly trying to rob their unsuspecting victims of their valuables at about

12 noon on July 13, 2012 at 9th Mile axis before security operatives from 9th Mile Police Division swooped on them.

Amaraizu said three of the suspects escaped with two motorcycles while one was a p p r e h e n d e d .

According to the police

spokesman, a Barreta pistol without ammunition was recovered from the suspect, whom he said, “revealed that he belonged to the gang that robbed one Malachy Eze and other traders at 9th Mile on July 10, 2012 along Enugu road 9th Mile.”

Abia taskforce impounds 33,000 litres of unrefined petroleum products

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—THE Abia State Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce has impounded a truck loaded with 33,000 litres of substance suspected to be unrefined petroleum products at the premises of a private company in Ossa area of Umuahia.

According to the State Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Don Ubani, the arrest of the truck was sequel to a petition by the Ossah Community alleging that the company had been operating illegal refinery.

On the strength of the petition, Ubani said he directed the taskforce chairman,

Mr. Tony Anyanwu to investigate the case, “which he did and brought back a report that the suspected truck and the substance are at the said premises with a sample to attest to that effect”.

He said the truck marked, Abia XB 855 NGK which had been under surveillance for some days before the information that the truck was parked somewhere around Ossah Community.

Ubani said the company had been deceiving the public by claiming to be in a different business while inside the premises it had “been running an illegal re-

finery contrary to the state government laws”.

“There is no doubt that the contents in the truck is crude oil, but we are going to run a test on it to prove them wrong and once that is done we will move to the next step, which is invoking the laws of the state on the company and its owners.

Reacting, a staff of the company, Mr. Jonathan Anyanwu denied being involved in running any illegal refinery. According to him, the company was only engaged in vegetable oil, “where we crush palm kernel to extract vegetable oil which we sell”.

Oshiomhole: Ebonyi ACN celebrates victory

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—MEM BERS of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ebonyi State chapter yesterday took to the streets in Abakaliki to celebrate the victory of Comrade Adams Oshiomole in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo state.

They marched through major streets in Abakaliki

carrying placards with inscriptions: “Victory at Last, Oshiomhole has done it again”, “Congratulation our Comrade Governor ”, “Shame to PDP and her rigg i n g machineries”, ACN remains the people’s choice party, ACN will soon sweep away PDP in the South East and South-South among others and “Oshiomole carry go.”

....Performance gave it to him — Ngige

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—SENATOR Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central in the senate has said the overwhelming votes given to Comrade Adams Oshionmole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State was a testimony of his performance during his first tenure.

In a statement, Ngige said the victory exemplified the collective wishes and

aspirations of the Edo electorate and admonished political office holders to realize that the only true way to secure the mandate of the people was good governance and not through rigging of election.

According to him, “I wish to congratulate you, my brother and comrade governor for the victory and the electoral confidence reposed on you by the people of Edo State. This has further shown that you ran a populist government in your first tenure in office."

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—15

NIS uncovers new illegal routes

Quit order to Plateau villages: We're after terrorists, not Fulani— Defence hqtrs

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—NIGERIA Immigration Service, NIS, has uncovered new illegal immigrant routes in Sokoto and Kastina states.

The new routes, according NIS, may have been the result of the total closure of the nation’s borders in Borno and Yobe states.

The border routes were closed in January this year, as part of a partial emergency imposed on 15 local governments across Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In spite of the border closure, terrorists elements from neighbouring countries were reported to be actively involved in terrorists activities in the country.

Service Public Relation Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Joachim Olumba, told Vanguard: “It is because of the blocking of Borno-Yobe axis that the attention of illegal immigrants shifted to other axis such as Sokoto and Katsina.”

Constitution review key to reforms — Ihedioha

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has described the constitution amendment process currently being undertaken by the National Assembly as a key measure towards the positive transformation of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic fortunes.

Ihedioha spoke, yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the international conference on Law Reform and the Law Making Process.

The conference is organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, in collaboration with National Judicial Institute, Law Reform Commission and International Law Institute, Washington DC. Ihedioha said the 1999 Constitution specifically empowered the National Assembly to amend the constitution as a critical part of law reform.

A

BUJA—DEFENCE headquarters said, yesterday, that it had no plans to dislodge people from Fulani-dominated communities in Jos, Plateau State, but to flush out terrorists who killed scores of innocent citizens a fortnight ago.

Chief of Policy and Plans, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruonagbere, who gave the clarification in Abuja yesterday, said the military was embarking on the action to protect the

state and Nigerians from perpetrators of the killings and destruction.

He said: “There have been certain misconceptions about the request by the Special Task Force, STF, directive that some villages relocate. The issue is that there are threats by terrorists to attack Riyom Local Government Area.

“The one that took place about two weeks ago is something never seen before, where terrorists dressed in military uniform and fatigue attacked and killed innocent people, women and children.

“Reconnaissance car-

ried out from the air and on ground confirmed that many of these terrorists are still in the mountainous areas.

Their hide-out

“They were detected in the following villages: Mahanga, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Maseh and Shong. Having been identified, the STF approached the Plateau State government to provide a temporary camp for internally-displaced persons, IDPs, to enable the operation to dislodge these terrorists. Camps have been provided in

Riyom and Barkin Ladi councils.

“The Defence HQ is not doing this because we think the Fulani are the culprit. We are not after the Fulani.

“That is why we are saying the people should leave so that we can take out these criminals and terrorists. I repeat, we are not out to wipe out the Fulani.”

Plan, operations

On what would be done in terms of compensation for property belonging to the communities damaged in the event of an assault,

Iruonagbere said: “We are a professional force that have been involved in peacekeeping operations in many parts of the world and we are bound by international rules relating to operations.

“That is why we are not using enormous but minimum force involving light weapons. So there is no need to destroy property.

“Ordinarily, by going to this length to explain what we plan to do, we have compromised the operations, but the kind of terrorist threat we are facing in Plateau State is an unusual threat.”

Adeyemi lauds FG's waiver on medical equipment

BY INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

MASS WEDDING: Some of the 250 couples in a mass wedding organised by the Hisbah Board in Kano, weekend.

Akpabio gives Acct-Gen, Finance Ministry ultimatum on workers' salary G

O V E R N O R Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has given the state Ministry of Finance and AccountantGeneral Office up till Friday to clear the backlog of May and June salaries owed civil and public servants in the state.

Akpabio, who addressed senior civil and public servants at the state sec-

Charity

T

HE Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, City of Joy, Apapa, will, Saturday, take its quarterly medical outreach programme to Apapa.

The programme, Community Impact Free Medical, will coincide with the Church’s annual event tagged Celebration of God’s Faithfulness, which begins Thursday.

retariat, Uyo, on the delay in payment of salary to workers, expressed displeasure over the development.

He expressed shock that staff of Hospitals Management Board, Local Education Committee, judiciary and State Education Board had not collected their May and June salary while staff of Governor’s Office, Deputy Governor’s Office, Ministries of Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Information and Communications, among others, were also yet to receive their June salary.

He blamed some Permanent Secretaries for the delay in the payment of salary to workers due to late submission of payment vouchers.

The governor appealed to the Permanent Secretar-

ies to forward the payment vouchers with Compact Disks to the AccountantGeneral and other relevant quarters for action.

Following complaints that some accounts clerks were responsible for the late submission of payment vouchers, Akpabio directed the Ministry of Finance and Budget De-

partment to hold training and re-training programme for staff on computer literacy to ease the preparation of vouchers.

Akpabio also directed the Accountant-General and Commissioner for Finance to distribute 400 computers to accounts staff for the preparation of vouchers.

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has praised the Federal Government for approving waivers for medical equipment and materials procured by him for public hospitals in Kogi State.

The medical assistance programme worth N100 million were procured through the Senator ’s Kingstone Charity Organisation, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, to fill the gap arising from what he disclosed as the dearth of ready facilities, equipment and other essentials in the state.

Senator Adeyemi disclosed that the medical equipment were procured from the United States of America, USA.

Union flays move to demolish structures in Abuja penciled down for demorender them jobless.

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

I

NFOMAL sector work ers in the country have raised alarm that the planned resumption of demolition of structures by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, in over 19 communities, towns and villages in Abuja will

Speaking under the umbrella of the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, FIWON, the workers appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the FCDA to halt the planned demolition.

FIWON, in the statement by its General Secretary, Gbenga Komolafe, said: “Already, three persons have died in Mpape, one of the communities

lition, out of anxiety.

“Apart from Mpape, with over 300,000 inhabitants, other communities to be affected by the exercise include Idu, Karmo, Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Saburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun Wada, Dei-Dei and Guzape with estimated cumulative population of over two million persons.”

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Kogi politician alleges threat to life

BY GBENGA OKE

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EDUCATIONAL: From left— Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education; Mr. Abdullahi Faskari, Deputy Governor of Katsina State; Alh. Dikko Suleiman, Chairman, Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, and Ahmed Modibbo, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, presenting educational materials to Master Aliyu Mohammed, during the flag-off of distributions of free instructional materials for basic education institutions in the North-West, in Katsina, yesterday.

Youths fault attacks on FCT Minister

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EAGUE of Niger Delta Activists, LNDYA, a non-governmental pressure group, has condemned what it termed as diversionary campaign of calumny against the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, by some disgruntled politicians from his home state, Bauchi.

In a statement, weekend, by the President of LNDYA, Prince Ajulisan Akumagba, the group raised alarm that the latest onslaught from some politicians in the Minister ’s home state was aimed at distracting him from the good works he is doing in the nation’s capital.

While commending

Senator Mohammed on his landmark achievements since he assumed office over two years ago, the Niger Delta youths advised all well-meaning Nigerians to ignore the false reports being peddled by some online sites, purporting that there were huge land scams in FCT involving some relatives and aides of the minister.

INNER of the Janu ary 2011 Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries, Mr. Jibrin Echocho, has raised alarm that his life was under threat because of a suit he instituted in the court to reclaim his mandate.

His counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in a petition to Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said: “Our client,

T

HERE were explosions and sporadic gunshots close to State Security Services, SSS, office, the central roundabout and Gujba area of Damaturu, Yobe State, yesterday.

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—TRAGEDY struck Chinese community in Kano State, weekend, when four Chinese nationals engaged in a free-for-all that claimed the life of two of them.

The incident, which occurred at a house in Kwanar Ganduje indus-

trial zone of the municipality, was brought to the notice of the police, which intervention came too late.

Kano Police Commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, told reporters, yesterday, that a crack police team sent to the scene found one Xusheng Kun, male, critically injured, while another, identified by his alias, Old Man,

It will be recalled that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam had pleaded with residents of Damaturu not to flee the state capital, as Joint Task Force, JTF, Police and SSS were doing everything possible to restore peace to the state.

However, most residents in some parts of the city, especially the Jerusalem Ward, were seen moving their property out of the state capital.

The cause of the recent shoot-out was yet to be ascertained at press time.

also sustained life-threatening injury.

He said that two staff of Kano-based Zhao Dongs Nigeria Limited, Jinbo Zhao Dang Dong and Smith Zhang Ze, were arrested at the scene.

The police boss explained that Xusheng Kun, male, was latter certified dead by Doctors at Murtala Muhammad Hospital, Kano, while Old Man gave up the ghost in the same hospital, Sunday.

Idris said preliminary investigation into the mat-

ter revealed that the fight was the result of “a business deal floated on trust that went sour and we also observed betrayal of trust in whole issue,” adding that the two suspects were in detention.

He said investigation was on-going “and as soon as we establish a case, we will arraign them in court.”

He noted that a Chinese short machete, one jack knife with blood stains, and some quantity of intoxicants were recovered from the scene.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

would not lapse until 2012, a judgment that was later set aside by the Supreme Court.

“Our client has since instituted an action principally against INEC, challenging the purported election of Alhaji Idris Wada as the governor of Kogi State in a purported election held during the pendency of INEC’s appeal at the Supreme Court.”

He said that the powers that be in Kogi State have been harassing and intimidating him.

Chinese nationals fight to death in Kano

Explosions, gunshots in Yobe

BY BALA AJIYA

Echocho, contested and won the primaries of PDP in 2011 and his name was sent to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Kogi State in the April 2012 elections.

“However, the fact that the election did not hold in Kogi State due to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which declared that the tenure of the then governor of the state, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim,

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

London Olympics: What's your take on Team Nigeria?

J

UDGING from the previous games, Nigeria needs extra efforts to do well at the London 2012 Olympics. The team must work harder, because their display in various sports so far has been unimpressive. I don’t see team Nigeria doing well.— Ms. Chinonye Chukwu, Student.

H

ONESTLY, because of the poor preparation, I don’t see Nigeria doing well. You can’t give what you don’t have. We will just go there and hope.

However, the basketball team may come back with silver or bronze.— Mr. Obinna Anyahuru, Lawyer.

I

see team Nigeria doing well if they can put their heads together. If they put the right people in the places, they will go far in the London Olympics.

Nigeria has been known to do well in sports for a very long time.— Mr. Dozie Nwosu, Aluminum Dealer.

N

IGERIA has every chance of doing well at the London Olympics. Last time, we lost the football gold medal to Argentina.

I believe they will do well because NFF and the President have been supporting them. —Mr. Omeje Onyebuchi, Businessman.

I

wish them well because whatever they win is for Nigeria. If they fail, we shall still receive them as our own.

I can’t say whether they will do well or not. It is up to them. The most important thing in Olympics is participation.—Mr. Oke Ekewenu, Man of Affairs.

I

F really we want to be sincere, the question we have to ask ourselves is, ‘did Nigeria prepare well to enable them do well at the London Olympics?” This is about garbage in garbage out. What we put in is what we will get.— Ms. Chinenye Ayambuba, Unemployed Graduate.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—17

L

When optimism is no longer enough

President Goodluck Jonathan: Time to act is now! is a drag on the nation’s foreign policy. If you remember the pedigree of Chief Anyaoku as an international diplomat, you would know that he had carefully chosen

,

AST week, while receiving the report of the Alfa Belgore-led Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Issues, President Goodluck Jonathan said: “Our enduring sense of brotherhood, unwavering desire for freedom, unique resilience and abiding faith in Nigeria, have seen us through sundry challenges over the past 52 years of nationhood. I am confident that these innate attributes will provide us the requisite fortitude to persevere and overcome in the face of new challenges”.

My fear about this somewhat overstretched platitude is that it lures one into a temptation to say let us all go to sleep, by the time we wake up, all our national challenges would have been resolved by our “enduring sense of brotherhood” and our “unique resilience”.

First, can we truthfully say we have “overcome” one challenge since independence? Anyone who truly appreciates the severity of our present challenges would rightly doubt if the mere expression of this type of optimism is enough to see us through these times. The truth is that our “unique resilience”, another way of saying that Nigerians are long suffering, and an excuse for the cowboys called politicians to brazenly ride roughshod over us, has worn thin.

That weariness is what is manifesting as the general and seemingly intractable violence in our land!

Let us contrast the above sophistry with the latest statement reportedly by the violent Islamic sect that there is not going back in its jihad in Nigeria. In a refutation of the information that the new National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) was in contact with them, the sect, after gloating about the continuing bloodbath in Plateau State, said, “Like we said earlier, Christians in Nigeria should accept Islam, that is true religion, or they will never have peace. We do not regard them as trusted Christians as some illiterates are campaigning because it was Christians that first declared war on Muslims with the support of government”.

After some other dilatory rambling, the sect concluded: “We do not have any agenda than working to establish Islamic Kingdom like during the time of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), no matter what will happen to us”. The general attitude has been to dismiss this kind of threat as unserious. But such ostrich posture has flooded the land with the blood of innocent Nigerians.

Last week, while presenting two books on Nigeria’s foreign policy to President Jonathan, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on Foreign Relations said that the current insecurity in Nigeria

National Youth Service Corp, an institution that symbolises “our sense of brotherhood” is now falling apart. As I always remind people, no country sits down at a conference to decide to go to civil war. Countries simply drift into civil war and disintegration. With our resilience wearing thin, “innate attributes” of the past may not be enough to get us out of the wood right now.

The discussions since the appointment of Sambo Dasuki as the NSA, sound as if he alone can resolve the current problems.

It is good to repose confidence on his abilities, connections and experience. But in fairness to him, I don’t think that he has any magic wand, especially if other institutions fail to work. He will only succeed to the extent we honestly want him to succeed. We now need to reexamine our approach to the solution of the current crisis. Could we be tackling the symptoms instead of the root causes of the crisis?

Honestly, I am not surprised that the

If we did not drag religion into partisan politics, looking for who is a Christian and who is a Muslim or animist, instead of looking for who is competent, we wouldn’t be where we are today, a regressing nation at war with itself!

his words. Anybody less diplomatic would have told you that Nigerian’s global image has been grossly diminished! Every little country is now kicking the butt of Nigerians from Oliver Tambo airport in Johannesburg to the local markets in Ghana! As if we needed to be reminded, Baroness Lynda Chalker warned us that investments will soon dry up if we did not act quickly. We can only wish away the ominous signs that our country is unraveling at our greater peril. The

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Islamic sect can boldly declare war on Christians. Yet, I hear people making “politically correct” statements like; the terrorism is not religious; it is as a result of poverty; it is because of revenue allocation! Now the sect, in its own words, has put the lie to all that diversionary posturing.

We sowed the seeds of the violence we are reaping today. I give an example.

When South Africa was emerging from apartheid, there was a serious debate

about the form of government. The Inkhata Freedom Party wanted separate regional governments. But knowing that such arrangement would afford the retreating apartheid a window for neoapartheid intrigues, the ANC put its feet down for a strong central government with a very liberal constitution. Turkey, we all know, is 99.9 percent Muslim. But Attarturk built a modern secular state that is today a competitive European country.

I don’t think the Turks are less Muslims because of that. The Turkish Military has an abiding duty to protect and defend the secularity of the state and has had occasions to step in and abort any threat to Turkey’s secularity and thereafter go back to the barracks. As we say, a constitution is the biography of a country, capturing its history and experience. But we have simply refused to accept the reality of either our history or our experience as a people aspiring for “brotherhood” in a heterogeneous country.

A nation at war with self

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ur equivocation about secularity of the country has come home to roost.

If we did not drag religion into partisan politics, looking for who is a Christian and who is a Muslim or animist, instead of looking for who is competent, we wouldn’t be where we are today, a regressing nation at war with itself! There is even another dimension of the religious dichotomy silently rearing its head today in Igbo land. There is a simmering interdenominational war waiting to happen, if some clerics are not called to order to restrain themselves from a provocative expansionist intrusion into partisan politics. The new struggle today in Igbo land is which denomination will own and control the states. And politicians are using holy water-carrying clerics as battle rams in a quest to confuse and dupe the people. The pulpit has become a platform for political campaign with all its vulgarity!

We must reach deep down to find out the basic truth about us. What is it that preoccupies us when the masses in an oil rich country spend all day to queue for kerosene and hundred are roasted trying to scoop fuel from the ground? What is that more important thing we are doing for which we cannot protect lives and property? Why does a country that preaches so much about “brotherhood” and unity be a land of hate and strife? Why are two religions that preach peace at each other ’s throat? Is it that the razor blade is blunt or the barber is incompetent?

We must ask ourselves these questions!

OPINION

BY TONY ODIADI

Continued from page 18

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OW, this is not a denial that certain legal queries does in fact exist as exemplified in the media and several fora.

What is actually at stake is the contest of position for ascendancy between a development financial policy initiative (the SWF) that is positive, pragmatic and forward looking and an un-deciphered legal view point (the judicial interpretation of a section of the constitution), that may be activist and robust leaning favourably to the national framework for innovativeness, prudence and sound management, or, worst case, may engender a return to unchecked public spending, wastefulness and a spectre of fiscal indiscipline. The Excess Crude Account (ECA) which has turned out a veritable financial life line for the three tiers of government since 2004 has same challenge from the state governors now carried more frenetically against the sovereign fund. Without prejudice to the on going litigation this is a bit after the fact, as the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority Act, 2011 is already an existing legislation.

The governors’ case turns upon the interpretation and effect of Sections 80 & 162 of the 1999 Constitution. Section 162(1) says ‘’The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called the ‘the Federation Account’ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the federation…’The matter is by no means that simple being a constitutional one, a supreme statute which must be taken whole for which the questions that will ultimately be before the court would be: Does the Constitution expressly prohibit the existence of a fund, a subsidiary account however called administered and distributed among the three tiers of government as envisaged

Nigeria: Let the sovereign wealth fund begin per sections- 80(2) & (3) as well as 162(3)? The better view is that the Constitution is silent on prohibition by not prescribing one and only one account. Where a provision is silent on a specific issue, any act not likely to defeat the broader objective of the provision but rather help to facilitate its fuller realisation is permissible. The broad objective of section 162 of the Constitution is the ownership, management and distribution of national revenue to the three tiers of government.

The 1999 Constitution restates the position in section 14(1)(c) that ‘’the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’’ This is to show that all acts of government in pursuit of the welfare of the people are basically constitutional. Section 16(1)(a) further captures this by mandating the state to ‘’harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy’’. The mandate therefore to promote national prosperity can be achieved through any scheme including setting aside funds for savings in any such accounts and investment schemes that will ensure the financial health and overall welfare of the Nigerian people. This is the legal or constitutional circumstance under which the sovereign welfare fund can be seen and wholly appreciated.

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lso, part of what will help the Supreme Court Justices reach a firm decision would be whether the governors can continue to collect monies disbursed from the Excess Crude Account while asking the Supreme Court to freeze the account as it were a kind of approbating and reprobating situation? Again, whether there are some aspects of the mandates, structure or funding of the sovereign wealth fund

that imperils the collective interests of the states in terms of budgetary stabilisation, infrastructure development and national savings for future generation? Finally, above all, whether section- 4(2) which provides for the legislative powers of the NASS to make laws for the ‘peace, order and good government of the federation’ excludes a law likely to enhance financial health of Nigeria when read together with the other foregoing provisions?

The governors and their legal team will shortly appreciate that canons of statutory and constitutional construction will be brought to bear on these provisions to understand whether even in the light of public policy in our jurisprudence an initiative which will likely create national prosperity will be vanquished in the alter of some narrow legal expediency. In an old English case on statutory constructionThe River Wear Commissioners Vs.Anderson (1877) the court held the view that ‘’We are to take the whole of the statute together and construct it altogether, giving the words their ordinary signification, unless when supplied they produce an inconsistency, or an absurdity, or inconvenience, so great to convince the court that the intention could not have been to use them in their ordinary signification, which though less proper, is the one which the court thinks the words will bear.’’

The Supreme Court, if it agrees to assume the original jurisdiction in this matter, will be tested to see if it would cast its lot for or against a fund conceived to promote sound management of the country’s financial resources.

Continues tomorrow on page 18 *Mr. Odiadi, wrote from London.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 WHEN life is meaningless, people throw it away without a thought. Thousands did so in Jesse, Delta State in 1998, and the hundreds who died in Okogbe, Rivers State last Thursday, added to the long list of Nigerians who died scooping fuel.

They knew the danger in the venture. They took their chance and like hundreds before them, they died. More will die until fundamental issues about survival in Nigeria are addressed. Condemnation of their behaviour is not a solution.

Why would people risk their lives after the well-known stories of fuel fires roasting 300 to death in Warri in 2000 and 125 in Ovim, Abia State in 2003? In between there were other fuel fires that killed Nigerians.

In 2006 alone, more than 500 people died in two separate incidents in Lagos (Snake Island and Abule-Egba). They were scooping fuel from burst pipes. As if to give the incidents national spread, at least 93 were killed in Kaduna, in March 2007, when an upturned fuel tanker they were looting burst into flames.

The incidents were avoidable, but the situations that produced them have been ig-

Death Of The Living Dead nored for long. People are too poor to value their lives. If fuel fire does not kill them, poverty will. They are the living dead, they have no hope; they have minimal expectations from life.

Surviving for the next hour, even at the cost of their lives, is more important than the consequences of the efforts at survival. Poverty, when experienced at the crippling levels more than 100 million exist, can produce devastating results. People at this stage think with their stomach.

Unfortunately, governments, with billions of Naira at their disposal, do not realise that

more than 100 million Nigerians live on less than N150 daily; in fact, they would be grateful if they had N150 daily. Policy makers are oblivious of the grim reality of life at this level.

Of course, the East-West Road, where the accident occurred has been a stagnated project for decades. On a better road, the tanker driver could have had space to manoeuvre.

The state of our emergency services reflects in the rescue efforts. It is unsurprising that they are unable to handle emergencies considering that facilities for regular life - water electricity, access roads, health services - are inadequate. Emergency services work within these constraints, no matter our expectations.

Our people know the consequences of scooping fuel. Governments have spent decades preaching about these dangers. Without addressing the poverty that leads to this extent of desperation, the preachment is futile.

The tragedies are damning portraits of how poverty continues to devalue Nigerian lives.

Nigerians are embracing death to escape poverty.

OPINION

BY TONY ODIADI

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NE of the curiosities in our current national discourse is this argument over the desirability or otherwise of having a saving and investment scheme as a nation giving the realities of our national circumstance. A nation with so much money, habitually engaging in wastefulness and is somehow ambivalent about saving for the future or against the rainy day, must be a study in self-destruct tendencies. The sovereign wealth fund (SWF) initiative which Nigeria embarked upon early last year is designed to help the country achieve a turn-around in fiscal attitude and help address our needless tendency to profligacy by setting aside some critical fund for the future. With the enabling legislation in place NSIA, 2011, Nigeria should truly be seen to have taken the right step forward just waiting for the fund to become fully operational. Never mind the governors’ current challenge of the legality of the fund and by extension its necessity however much they deny the latter which is the subject matter of this discourse.

Basically, SWF are funds of investable foreign currency owned by sovereign entities usually managed separately official exchange reserve of the country. The practice and management of SWF have captured ample scholarly attention and a growing body of literature from the perspectives of legal, policy, finance, management to politics, all of which now exist on the subject matter. Authors like Balin B, Backer LC, Monk A, Bortolotti et al, Van der Ploeg et al, Gelpern A, to name a few scholars who have done notable works in this regards. SWF have a huge potential for public wealth creation once well managed. They are similar but different from state owned enterprises (SOE) which are more obvious as part of traditional state ventures.

It used to be the case that governments kept excess foreign reserves as a measure to control unanticipated or anticipated

Nigeria: Let the sovereign wealth fund begin financial crisis, for example, the sub-prime crisis that hit the US in 2008/2009 but now other financial structures have come into being like the SWF. And so when there is a windfall in national resource earning, a government would have some options open to it; (a) use the fund to manage domestic and external debt, (b) channel the surplus into short term public spending and consumption for example in health, education, agriculture, etc or (c) accumulate public and private capital by transforming the exhaustible resource asset into interest earning foreign assets through setting up an SWF to enable long term financial stability and better fiscal responsibility.

With that conceptual background, one can understand why a sovereign wealth fund is imperative in our national circumstance with the best choice being for us to pursue option (c) above. Now, this writer was privileged to serve in the legal team, along with several Nigerian legal, financial and foreign experts that articulated the broad framework of the fund. There was the need to find additional use for the Excess Crude Account to limit predatory recourse to the account and create a fund that will be a regenerative and functional part of the fiscal architecture of Nigeria’s financial system. Such a fund that can help to recondition our public finance mechanism from that of debtor nation steeped in debt management, debt servicing to wealth creation, asset management and a serious voice in the global financial system.

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aving an SWF will further help Nigeria become a key player in the emerging platform on the global level where fund owners are earning ample returns from diverse investment portfolios. It will help Nigeria’s credit rating and facilitate foreign direct investments in all the sectors as a

direct consequence. Yes, several issues had to be taken into consideration from the standpoint of our nation as a federal state for example with a maze of contending interests to a global environment in which the fund and its investment direction must wade through geo-political and governance challenges. This is so because countries like the United States of America remain suspicious of foreign governments acting as state capitalists taking over firms and corporations through the existence of huge funds like pension funds as in Norway or sovereign wealth fund as in China and Venezuela.

Other fears elsewhere include the possibility that such investments may carry with them disguised political purposes. In terms of axis shift, scholars are already beholding the spectre of London, New York, Rome yielding some grounds as global financial centres to Doha, Dubai and Shanghai.

To be sure, these and other legal issues naturally weighed on the minds of the legal team, which it deliberated, evaluated and proceeded satisfied to be pragmatic and progressive in order to produce the legal and governance framework of the fund. There were comparative perspectives to see how the SWF practiced by other nations fitted into their laws. In all, it was found that national interest far outweighed any suggestion or tendency to some purist legal adherence in the creation of the funds. At any rate, this constitutional sparring between the federal and state governors on the fund in Nigeria remains a bridge still far ahead. This is more so for a document (1999 Constitution) that is still undergoing a full-scale review to bring it in line with our national realities and expectations. Continues on Pini's pg. *Mr. Odiadi, wrote from London.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012— 19

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HE Guardian, Tuesday, June 19, 2012 carried the following story headlined: “Police unveil new strategy against terror ”.

Vanguard, Tuesday, June 26, 2012 headlined its own story on the Police thusly. “Insecurity: Governors call for state police; make case for security intervention fund”. Vanguard, Wednesday July 4, 2012 presented the advice of former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav to the Federal Government on calls for state police. Vanguard reports him in the following: “Alhadji Abubakar Tsav, yesterday urged the Federal Government to discountenance suggestions for the creation of state police in the country, warning that such a venture would worsen the security challenge facing the country. Tsav who spoke to Vanguard against the backdrop of recent calls by governors of the 36 states for the creation of state police to enhance security in the country, warned that a police under the control of state governors would become instrument of intimidation and harassment of perceived opponents”.

The Guardian Tuesday July 10, 2012 headline in the front page

the past weekend, "Plateau killings: Grief, fear reign in Plateau, Nigerians mourn victims”. Of the comments of Plateau State House of Assembly, that of the Deputy Speaker employed his stringent critique of the Federal Government to make the demand for a state police.

The Deputy Speaker summed the debate thus: "The violence in the State and in the country is getting to its climax. Is the Federal Government just there to supervise the killing of its citizens every day?

We have resolved as a House that this President owes us explanation and he should tell Nigerians what is going on. We have also resolved that this House is demanding for a state police because it is obvious the federal police have failed. We are also demanding immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Plateau and the return of the responsibilities of securing citizens to the governor who is the chief security officer of the state”.

The demand for a state police as expressed by the Deputy Speaker provides the logic for that demand. Alhaji Tsav did not address the issue as defined by the Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. The reason given by Tsav for opposing

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the creation of state police can be turned on its head to support the demand for the state police. The Federal Government can be accused of partisan use of the Nigeria Police Force and that allegation can become the basis of the demand for a state police force under state control. The Deputy Speaker argues on another platform. He argues for a constitutional reform on the ground of government’s ineffectiveness in securing the citizens of Plateau State.

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e argues for the transfer of the functions of the police from the list of functions assigned exclusively to the Federal Government to the list of functions to be exclusively discharged by the State Government. He argues for confederal restructure of the country’s security regime. This time it is the police. Next, as it is indicated with demands for the evacuation of the Federal Forces from the streets of Plateau, can be demand for State Armed Forces.

When this demand for the shifting of the locus of security maintenance from the President to the State Governor is coupled with calls for a National Conference, it is obvious that anxiety fed by what is now incidences of war is approaching a panic loss of confidence in the

DANA crash and aviation industry

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

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E said to me that for him and a whole lot of successful private sector professionals, partisan politics and indeed politics generally had never been their thing. However, in recent time, he had begun to question such indifference and whether they still have any right to complain when things go so terribly wrong. I chuckled to myself as I reflected on what he was saying and the immortal words of Socrates in the Republic came rushing to me that: “Now the worst part of the punishment is that he who refuses to rule is liable to be ruled by one who is worse than himself”.

The spate of kidnapping for ransom had finally brought home the point that it is defective thinking to leave politics to those whose perception of security, for instance, is merely in the number of gun-toting mobile policemen at their beck and call when they are in office. The learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria proceeded to give me a rather hilarious but graphic illustration of the classic security conundrum that our public officers have created. He said that he had seen this so many times and no one seemed to have learnt any lesson from the experience of the previous officers.

He said that a common trait among public officers has been that as soon as one got elected or appointed to public office, the officer is assigned a number of mobile policemen. The typical public officer drives to the airport with two mobile

policemen in his car and four in the hilux escort car on his way from his state to Abuja. One of the policemen, of course, has to fly with him. The policeman dutifully surrenders his rifle to the cabin crew as required by aviation regulation to be collected at disembarkation. In Abuja, he reckons that he needs only one policeman to play guard even when he settles into a five-star hotel.

The life of the public officer is now too important to be toyed with that the full complement of half a dozen policemen must protect him at all times within the state. All too suddenly, the Senior Advocate continued, the tenure comes to an end, but there is still a hangover. The detachment of policemen reduces to two, which the officer has to pay for from his pockets. The former public officer sustains this for the first three months before reality kicks in as monthly income has ceased to flow in. In fact, for the three months since the end of tenure in office, there had been no income. The officer had simply been drawing down on reserve and the rate of depletion is alarming. It is time to begin adjusting to reality. The former officer drops one policeman and still manages to fly with one to Abuja. By the sixth month, even the lone policeman is finally dropped as the former officer is having difficulty paying air fare for himself alone.

The former officer is finally, once again Citizen John, a regular Joe, without frills or thrills.

Federal security regime.

The issue then to be addressed in this present context of urban warfare is whether the security of society is established by governments, federal, state or local or by an agent that establishes an order that it secures.

It is now reported that there are areas of the North that have become battle grounds and unsafe for citizens on occasions advertised and earmarked by the armed adversaries for operational purposes. If this is the case, then it implies that the Nigerian sovereign space has become tactically partitioned and the rule of government, federal, state and local has ceased to prevail in areas under the operational command and control of armed opponents of government; it further implies that operationally that the insurgents presently constitute a defacto state and government in the portion of Nigeria that it commands and controls. Within the context of the above scenario, it is easy to see that the creation of state police would be an irrelevant security expenditure, for where the federal security operations are presently constrained, the police, federal, state or local cannot assume the warfare security burdens of the Federal Government. Those demanding the creation of state police want at best, that the functions of the police placed on the concurrent legislative list. It should be known that such demand for constitutional reform is an uninformed demand. The security situation in Nigeria is a function of the contestation for sovereignty by the Boko Haram party. We must call a spade by its name. The Boko Haram is a party of state. It is at war to establish its rule over part of Nigeria. It seeks to establish itself as a sovereign by means of war. Only parties of state conduct wars for the purpose of creating their own order. It is immaterial whether Boko Haram is the only anti-Federal

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Nigeria's security politics: Who rules or who governs

The present security politics of the country must be correctly understood; the security politics is now not that of who governs but one of who rules

The security and welfare of the citizen is the main reason for the institution of government; security of the citizen cannot be misconstrued to be the protection of one percent of the population

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While the officer held swayin public office and appropriated several policemen to himself, the ordinary citizens, the tax payers, were left at the mercy of armed robbers and kidnappers. The end of his tenure also marks the ascendancy of some‘new Sheriffs’ on the block whose lives are now more precious, so the former public officer has to face the insecurity that ordinary citizens have come to accept as their lot. He ended by asking wistfully: “Does Citizen John have a right to complain about insecurity in the State after his tenure?”

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mazingly, this encounter with the Senior Advocate was shortly after a conversation I had with a former colleague in government. We were riding in my car on our way to a funeral of our deceased colleague and invariably, our discussion drifted to the spate of kidnappings and general insecurity and he said to me: “My brother, let me tell you, recently, I challenged the Commissioner of Police

Government party of state. The logic of contestation over sovereignty is everywhere the same. Its outcome is zero-sum; one party prevails over the rest. It is the same in the contestation over who rules Nigeria; it is immaterial whether Boko Haram is the only anti-Federal Government party of state. The Nigerian state must prevail over all its adversaries or be effectively destroyed. The outcome of the overthrow of the Nigerian state is also the overthrow of Nigeria’s Constitution and constitutional structure of government and governance. The overthrow of government is a consequence of the overthrow of the Nigerian state. The security challenge in Nigeria is not a challenge of government, it is a challenge of the Nigerian political class.

As long as the focus of the political class in the present crisis is on who governs at the Federal, state or local levels, Nigerian politicians are gravely mistaken for their survival is now the stake.

The present security politics of the country must be correctly understood. The security politics is now not that of who governs but one of who rules. The party that rules establishes the constitutions and the governments they institute on the platform of their sovereign military peace. The Nigerian political class from Independence to date has been in the business of outsourcing their security: firstly, to the British Colonial Armed Forces; secondly, to the Nigerian Armed Forces. Now some in desperation want to outsource it to the Nigeria Police. The Boko Haram insurgency has made sovereignty and therefore state making the issue of Nigerian security politics. If the political class must govern now and beyond 2015, it must first establish itself as the ruling class. Rulership is the basis and the foundation for governmentship, not the other way round.

over their failings when my in-law was kidnapped and what he said to me was instructive.” According to my former colleague, the Commissioner of Police provided him with the rough statistics of police deployment in the state. He said that out of a complement of about 10,000 officers, investigators and rank and file policemen deployed to the State with a population of 3.3 million people, more than 2,000 of the crack men of the force, about 20 percent of the total are on guard duty protecting less than one percent of the population consisting of public officers in the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, including top bureaucrats.

Other wealthy citizens are catered for with some having upto 10 per persons, depending on their financial disposition.

In this category are, of course, 419 kingpins who also need to be protected by the police. He said the Commissioner then turned to him and asked: “How many policemen are left to protect the remaining 99 percent of citizens and carry out other policing activities such as crime investigations?”

As the Senior Advocate rounded off, I told him that perhaps my visit could mark the beginning of the process of change because it is evident something proactive has to be done as we cannot continue like this. The security and welfare of the citizen is the main reason for the institution of government. Security of the citizen cannot be misconstrued to be the protection of one percent of the population. We agreed that we aretoo smart to continue with this order and we left on a note of renewed determination that we can collectivelymake a change. *Mr. Ofuani, a political analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, OWERRI

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OME traders in Nworie Lane Industrial Market, Owerri, as well as the management of United Bank for Africa Plc, Douglas Road branch, Owerri, will definitely not forget Monday, July 9, 2012, in a hurry. This is a day a mysterious fire razed part of the Industrial Market, some adjoining buildings and two floors of the bank!

What most of the traders laboured for years to acquire, fizzled out in a late evening fire that razed the market. Goods, equipment and cash conservatively put at N1 billion was consumed by the raging inferno.

The first school of thought argued that “the fire started from the second floor of the bank building, where very important documents are kept”. They equally reasoned that the first floor principally house computers where documents were stored before the inferno.

Another story had it that the huge mysterious fire started from the Industrial Market at about 10pm and uncontrollably spread to other areas. Whichever version is correct, the truth is that a good number of persons are now counting their losses.

As at the last count, two long blocks in the market and the entire Ekeson Zone were completely razed but Total Filling Station and Star Hotel Extension barely managed to survive

What most of the traders laboured for years to acquire, fizzled out in a late evening fire that razed the market; goods, equipment and cash conservatively put at N1 billion was consumed by the raging inferno

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the ravaging fire.

The traders and staff of UBA finished their day’s business and left for home. None of them had the faintest idea about the danger that was lurking around the corner. For specially the traders, Monday turned out to be another day of agony.

Some shop owners and sympathizers battled all night to contain the raging fire before the arrival of the largely illequipped State Fire Service proved abortive. The sad thing was that most of the goods a few shop owners managed to bring out were stolen by miscreants who pretended to be

*Fire fighters battling the raging inferno

Lamentations as late night fire razes market, bank ‘Good Samaritans’.

It was also gathered that printing machiness, computers, electric generating sets, compact discs, foams, fabricating machines, carpets, cash and other items were lost in the market.

One of the victims, Mr. Clifford Uzoho, who was operating a business centre in the market, reportedly lost everything. His younger sister, Chidera, who confirmed this to Vanguard Metro amidst sobs, said his brother “ worked so

hard to equip the place but has sadly lost everything in the inferno”.

Pointing to the ruins of her brother’s business centre and weeping profusely, Chidera said the fire has set the entire family several years backwards, stressing that they did not even know that the market was on fire and could not therefore be in a position to recover any pin from the establishment. While saying that he remains the bread winner of the family, Chidera wondered where victims of the fire would run to for

assistance in these hard times.

“Who will even be prepared to advance money to my brother to start life afresh? Where do we go from here? This is a big problem for the entire family,” Chidera lamented.

When Vanguard Metro visited the scene again Tuesday at about 10.35am, a thick smoke still covered the area, while a stationary fire engine and fire service personnel were seen doing what some on-lookers called “mop-up activities”.

A combined team of soldiers,

policemen, State Security Service and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps cordoned off the bank premises, as some bank officials made frantic effort to retrieve and pack what remained of their property into a waiting bullion van.

Spirited efforts made by Vanguard Metro to get an insight from any of the bankers on what they lost and where they were moving the remnants of their property to failed, as they all declined comments.

Abia: From war-war to jaw-jaw in Lagos

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE cool atmosphere of Victoria Island Lagos came alive when indigenes of Abia State resident in Lagos State rolled out the drums in their numbers to welcome their governor, Chief Theodore Orji.

The event was specially planned to offer the Governor n opportunity to render an account of his stewardship and to seek the inputs of his hosts on how to take Abia State to an enviable height.

Different Abia communities and cultural groups took their turns to entertain the Governor, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and other top political leaders in the company of the governor.

It was also an opportunity for most of those present to take turns ask various questions bor-

dering on the welfare of Abians, just as they advised the Governor on how to move the state forward, assuring him of their total support.

In his address, the governor thanked all Abians who had contributed in different ways to liberate the state from the grip of what he called selfish politicians.

He said his administration was on transformation mission to restore Abia state back to its former glory, and urged all Abians to support his government actualize his vision.

The Governor said much could not be achieved in the state in terms of delivery of democracy dividends because the state was in captivity of the forces of darkness until he liberated it. He assured of his willingness to ensure prudent use of available resources to transform the state through the re-

vamping of infrastructure.

Governor Orji also debunked rumours making around that his administration had not done enough, maintaining that he had done enough to justify the resources coming to the state and challenged the opposition to visit the state for confirmation.

Corroborating the Governor’s position, the former military governor of old Imo state and minister of external affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd) appealed to all Abians to support the government to enable him achieve better results.

He also backed the call for enthronement of true federalism in the country, saying that such step would enable Nigeria attain its full potentials.

Gen. Nwachukwu said recent developments in the country had made it imperative for

stakeholders in Nigerian to begin negotiation on how to enthrone fiscal federalism that would engender genuine democratic practice and speedy development in the country. “I support true federalism because that is the only way we can make progress. The importance of true federalism cannot be over-emphasized as it will bring in true democratic practice and development,” he said.

In his contribution, renowned scholar, Prof. Anya O Anya, lamented that the state had lost some years due to incidence of kidnapping, but commended the Governor for restoring peace in the state. Prof. Anya, while charging all Abians in diaspora to invest at home, pledged the readiness of Abia professionals to work with the Governor to transform the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 — 21

Alternative power exhibition holds in Lagos

By EBELE ORAKPO

T

HE issue of environment-friendly alternative power sources will once again take the front burner as Lagos Television (LTV) in conjunction with Folub Eletrik Servz is set to host stakeholders in the power generation sector in the 4th edition of the annual Alternative Power Exhibition. The seven-day event which will run from Monday, July 16 to Saturday, July 21, will be declared open by the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofiq Ajibade Tijani.

In an exclusive chat with Vanguard in her office the chairperson, Special Events Committee, Lagos Television.

Ms. Funke Moore, said the theme, Save much, go alternative, was chosen “because you spend so much money buying diesel or petrol for your generator and on maintenance so why don’t you just concentrate on having something that will not take so much money and that will not endanger your health? It is a convergence of all alternative power sources available in the country – solar, wind, hydro, inverters etc. It will be an opportunity for them to network and showcase their products and for members of the public to come and see what is available and also to buy.”

She said the exhibition became necessary because “the energy sector has not been living up to expectation and you know the importance of energy in the socio-economic development of any nation, and Nigeria has been lagging behind in this direction. Many factories have relocated to other countries because of this power problem.

People have been relying on generators but you know that generators are not environment-friendly, the fumes, noise etc. So we want to look at environment-friendly sources and that is why we are looking at alternative sources.

From right: Mrs Cathy Echeozo, Deputy Managing Director, GTBank; Mr. Aminu Muhammed, Corporate Relations Manager, COTECNA; Ambrose Ukwuegbu, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and Mr. Dauda Gotring, Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria at the 2012 GTBank Settlement Customer Forum, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Nigeria, France trade volume hits $7.3bn — Envoy T

RADE between Nigeria and France has reached the $7.3 billion mark, according to French Ambassador to Nigeria. In his remarks at a ceremony to mark the 222nd French National Day in Abuja, de Labriolle said the figure was more than the GDP of 20 African nations combined, 10 of which are in West Africa. He said the figure was also more than what France generated from all the French-speaking countries in West Africa annually.

French investment in the country cuts across all sectors of the economy but notably in oil and gas. “We, French, certainly believe that Nigeria is a country of extraordinary potential;

it is already, and by far, our first partner in Africa, south of the Sahara,” he said. We believe in Nigeria’s potential, and we believe in the future of this nation; this country can be, and should be much higher ranking in the various international indexes of good governance of doing business and transparency.” The ambassador said the cordial bilateral relations between Nigeria and France had further been boosted with the introduction of daily direct Air France flights from Abuja to Paris last month.

He also said that a new embassy complex, that will accommodate the chancery and residential quarters,

would soon be built as an evidence of the excellent ties both nations enjoyed.

“The new French President Francois Hollande has made it clear, in a recent message to President Goodluck Jonathan, that he wishes to reinforce further the Franco-Nigerian partnership,” de Labriolle said. de Labriolle, who is also French Ambassador to ECOWAS, also said France would work toward encouraging further regional integration in West Africa. He said trans-border issues, such as food security, public health, migration as well as piracy and terrorism, were better handled through regional integration.

Shell loses 12.58m barrels of crude to illegal bunkering in 6 months

T

HE Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said it lost 12.58 million barrels of crude oil between December 2011 and June to illegal bunkering. Mr Mesh Maichibi, the Company’s Operation’s Manager, Swamp 1, East, gave the figure to newsmen on Saturday. He was briefing the journalist during an over-flight of the Nembe Creek Trunk line (NCTL) in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Maichibi said that out of the number, 1.44 million barrels were deferred due to low pressure on the trunk line caused by trip-offs during the illegal bunkering activities. He explained that when crude oil stayed under ground and did not come out

for use, it was called deferment since there was a lost in production. The operation’s manager said the NCTL consisted of two major trunk lines, San Batholomew and Cawthorne Channel Junction Manifold, adding that crude oil theft on the facilities had increased recently.

Maichibi explained that the Trunk lines, re-commissioned in 2010, had not experienced any significant oil theft until Dec. 24, 2011 when a major spill of 245 barrels was reported on it.

He said that the spill was at the Tora manifold and was caused by two failed six inches bunkering connections.

“The repairs required installation of coffer dams and took till Jan 23, at a

total production deferment of 4.3 million barrels. Since the restart of production on Jan 23, there has been multiple facility trips caused by pressure drops, resulting from illegal off take. Once there are massive illegal bunkering activities, the pressure on the affected facility will drop and trip off,” Maichibi explained.

He said that after the commencement of production in Jan. 23, another trip-off occurred from Jan. 26, to Jan. 31 due to low pressure on the line.

Maichibi said that the situation reoccurred in February for 16 days, March for 10 days, and in April for 12 days all due to pressure trip-offs on export lines.

176.70

-3.65

2,256.00

-72.00

22.19

+0.27

98.13 84.75

-2.57 -2.47

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

0.2779 25.7566 191.7662 240.6991 41.3034 233.5272 159.6084 154.9 234.3423 1.9389 24.3357

0.2879 25.8397 192.3852 241.4761 41.4367 234.281 160.1236 155.4 235.0988 1.9452 24.4147

0.2979 25.9228 193.0042 242.253 41.57 235.0348 160.6388 155.9 235.8552 1.9514 24.4937

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/07/2012

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Dangote Sugar surpasses profit projections for first quarter …Allays fear of sugar scarcity STORIES BY PETER EGWUATU

I

NVESTORS in Dangote Sugar Refining Plc (DSR) are in for a bumper harvest this year as the company has surpassed its performance projections for the first quarter, 2012.

The management said at the weekend that the minor fire incidence at its bagging store

notwithstanding, would continue with its cutting edge business plans to achieve its set goals to the benefits of the stakeholders Managing Director of the Company, Engineer Abdulahi Sule, said that investors would have a good bargain this year as the company had surpassed its profit projection for the first quarter of the year and will likely sustain the

trend in the second quarter despite the challenges and the inclement industrial climate.

According to him, Dangote Sugar controls over 70 per cent of the sugar market in Nigeria and with “a sugar refinery which is the second largest in the world, it wouldn’t be a bad business strategy to step up our foray into West African markets having dominated the

local market, yet with more capacity for production.”

He, however, allayed fears being expressed in certain quarters that the recent fire that gutted a section of its Apapa refinery would lead to scarcity of Sugar, saying it is not true because the impact of the fire was minimal and besides, the refinery has strategic reserve which could last for two months even if it

does not produce at all.

It was learnt that the foremost Sugar Company would also reap bountifully when it finally consummates its acquisition of Savannah Sugar company, from Dangote Industries Limited, a move that has been endorsed by the shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting of the company.

Already, in furtherance of its strategic action plan to consolidate the market expansion, Dangote Sugar has commenced export of the product to Ghana, Gambia, SierraLeone with plans already afoot to enter other African countries.

Engineer Sule said in an interview in Lagos that the leading sugar company had entered into an agreement with Dangote Industries limited on the acquisition process and that all hands were on deck to

actualize the final acquisition of the firm thus making Dangote Sugar refinery the first fully integrated sugar manufacturing company in Africa.

According to Sule, “We have started exportation of Sugar into Ghana, Gambia and other countries after a pilot scheme. Over all, we are seeing a more positive prospect than we had envisaged because we had thought upon acquisition of Savannah Sugar our production would move up by 100, 000mt per annum within three years, but with what we have put on ground, we would achieve that within a reasonable time frames.

“The acquisition of Savannah sugar is very strategic, by the time we take off fully; we would be creating more jobs ten times we presently have.

GTBank unveils new current account for senior citizens From left: Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Chief Operating Officer, Anambra State Government Signage and Advertisement Agency, Jude O. Emecheta and Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Ayogu Eze, at the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON 2012 Forum, in Lagos.

Diamond Bank’s second quarter profit rises by 408%

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has declared profit after tax of N9.995 billion for the second quarter ended 30th June, 2011.

This compared to N1.967 billion recorded in equivalent period of 2011, represents significant 408.1 per cent improvement.

The bank’s unaudited quarter two financials made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated that profit before tax also rose by the same margin to N15.5 billion, compared to N11.2 billion in the same period of 2011.

The gross earnings witnessed 43.62 per cent increase to N64.77 billion, as against N43.62 billion recorded in 2011, while Loans

and advances to customers grew to N505.7 billion up from N433.5 billion in March 2011, amounting to 17 per cent increase and up 29 per cent to N392.0 billion in December 2011.

The results showed that Provisioning for bad debt during the period stood at N10.1 billion, as against N11.2 billion in June 2011.

The total Assets was N960.1 billion, up by 12 per cent from N855.3billion in March 2012 and up 20 per cent from N802.7 billion in December 2011.

The bank’s deposits from customers grew to N679.3 billion, which was six per cent increase from N641.1 billion in March 2012 and 13 per cent growth over N603.0 billion in December 2011.

Dr. Alex Otti, the Group

Managing Director, noted that the result was a testimony to the management’s efforts to solidify its financials and build on the progress made so far through the cleaning up of the balance sheet.

“In Q2, we continued to build on the solid foundation we established following the completion of our balance sheet clean up in Dec 2011. We are reporting healthy asset growth of 12 per cent quarter on quarter and we have sustained strong deposit growth especially from the retail segment of the market.

“Our cost structure remained stable in Q2, with our risk indicators continuing to show sustainable asset quality improvements which adequately place the bank to deliver on

target ROE by year end.”

He noted that the customer base was growing, with recurring monthly fee income improving, adding that growing retail liabilities have continued to sustain the low cost of funds.

Other highlights of the result showed that net interest income was up by 71 per cent to N42.0 billion compared to N24.5billion in June, 20111, net operating expenses rose to N29.1 billion from N25.3 billion, representing 15 per cent increase.

Cost/income ratio closed at 53 per cent, Loan/deposit ratio stood at 80 per cent, while liquidity ratio stood at 40 per cent compared to Central bank of Nigeria’s statutory minimum requirement of 30 per cent.

G

UARANTY Trust Bank ( GTBank) Plc, one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions has introduced a new current account for Senior Citizens called ‘The GTBank Seniors Account’.

The new banking product, which is the first offering of its kind by any Nigerian Bank, is designed to allow indigenous persons aged 70 years and above enjoy all banking services offered by GTBank for free.

According to Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/CEO of the Bank, the essence of introducing this premium account is to recognize, applaud and appreciate the invaluable efforts and contributions of the present day Nigerian’s Senior Citizens towards national development over the years. Speaking during the account launch which took place recently at the Bank’s ultra modern head office situated on plot 635 Akin Adesola Street, Lagos, Mr. Agbaje said ‘ we are an institution that deeply believes in African

values like respect, family, honesty and social responsibility. It is in this regard that we introduced this new current account for Nigerians aged 70 years and above, which allows them ‘Bank for Free”.

He further stated that GTBank Seniors Account Holders will not only enjoy free cheque book and ATM card issuances but would not pay COT or other Bank charges whilst enjoying priority treatment at all Guaranty Trust Bank branches nationwide.

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has always been at the forefront of industry innovations within the Nigerian financial services sector. The Bank’s most recent introductions include a ‘FastTrack’ banking system that allows customer withdraw money within its branches using their debit cards, the GTCrea8 eSavers virtual account for undergraduates and the GTBank e-account for salary earners, which enables them conduct all their banking activities without having to visit any of its branches.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 — 23

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 — 25

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

BRIEF

Severance pay:

Labour vows to resist PHCN sale •PHCN’s assets worth over N1.5trn

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

BYYEMIEADEOYE

E

LECTRICITY workers have vowed that no private sector individual or group will take over the assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, unless the severance benefits and other entitlements were fully paid.

At a joint briefing in Lagos, under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies, SSAEAC, the workers also insisted that the PHCN’s assets are worth over N1.5 trillion.

They argued that anybody valuing such assets at N200billion is not only a rogue, but an enemy of the country.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the two unions, the President-General of SSAEAC, Mr Bede Opara, said, “The fourteen months (14) long Negotiations between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Labour Unions in PHCN ended recently without concluding the most important issues of severance payment, gratuity and pensions.

“Furthermore the request for the payment of 53.36% salary increase availed public servants in 2009, when government freezed salaries in PHCN and requested for negotiation on our expired collective agreement were turned down by government.

In all, government turned down our requests because it claimed it has no money to pay.

On the vexed issue of gratuity and pensions, government proposed that a percentage of the two will be paid as severance, as government contended that gratuity is merged with pensions in the new Pensions Reform Act 2004.”

However, the unions disagreed with government, and argued that gratuity payment is exclusive of pensions, saying, “While gratuity is a one stop payment at the end of service which the Pension Reform Act never contemplated, or bordered with as it has nothing to do with pensions; pensions is for life and its mode of operation is adequately provided for in the Pension Reform Act.

NNRA tto o boost nuclear safety in Nigeria

T

From left: Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy; Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Ramesh Virwani and Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company Ltd., NGC, Mr Saidu Mohammed, during a working tour of NIPCO's terminal in Apapa, Lagos.

“In paying our Pensions, Government posited that it will pay into RSA to be opened by all staff and it will calculate in accordance with our superannuation up to June, 2004 which takes into recognition 25% of our salaries deducted for that purpose and

from June 2004 (effective date of the Pension Reform Act) it will calculate only 15% which is the minimum granted by the Pension Act. The Unions contended that our pensions should be calculated based on the practice of our superannuation fund by calculating

all Pensions to date on 25% deducted from staff salaries for that purpose.”

The workers, therefore, urged government to urgently offset its liabilities to them, failing which it would resist the privatisation programme for the power company.

Senate collaborates with BPE on power privatisation T

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

HE Senate has prom ised to work with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, to ensure the successful conclusion of the privatisation of the successor companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, by the last quarter of 2012.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, made the pledge when he and his team made an oversight visit to the Egbin Power Plc in Lagos.

He allayed the fears of the workers that they would be shortchanged in the privatisation exercise, saying, “Your entitlements will be paid. Privatisation is not to witchhunt or shortchange the workers.

When the investors buy the companies, we will make sure you smile to your homes. We are also looking at privatisation holistically.

It will bring prosperity.”

On the workers’ agitation that the calculation of their severance benefits should not be guided by the Pension Act of 2004, a member of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Adamu Gumba, urged them to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the law.

“The fear of leaving should not be there because you are the custodians of experience.

Those that will leave will have a smooth exit. On the other hand, there is a legal provision governing pension in the country.

Take another look at it. I advise you to negotiate with your pension adminis-

trator to pay you a certain percentage as a lump sum,” said Gumba, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Labour. “Unless you change the law, what you are asking for is not possible. When negotiating, make sure you go with existing laws in the country. BPE must work in accordance with the law.”

In his remarks, the Chief Executive of Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe, lamented the paucity of funds to address the challenges of the plant.

He revealed that five of the six turbines of the plant are operating. “We are not liquid. That is the bedrock of our problem. To overhaul a turbine, one will need about N5billion, yet our annual budget is about N1billion.”

HE Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, NNRA, has concluded plans to boost nuclear safety and radiological protection nationwide as it continues an awareness campaign via a scheduled training seminar for lawyers in the country.

The training, which was held in Lagos last week was the third of its kind to be organised by the Authority, and is aimed at enlightening lawyers on the basic factors that can shape the laws on nuclear safety.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who declared the event open, commended the management of the NNRA for its commitment to the capacity building programme for lawyers while urging the Agency to ensure the training moved to other states of the federation.

The Governor who was represented by the Solicitor General of the State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, stated that the development is commendable but prayed the Agency to sustain the momentum by institutionalising the NTC as an annual event.

“Nuclear matter is an issue that we cannot overemphasize; it is a subject that affects all of us, irrespective of our tribe, religion, party affiliation or educational qualification. The effect of radioactive substance cuts across both geography and politics. If not properly managed, radioactive substances and allied products may compromise not only the lives of the present generation but also several generations yet unborn.

“It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that the statutory objective of the NNRA is achieved. As we are all aware, the primary obligation of the Authority is the control and regulation of the use of radioactive substances, material, equipment, emitting and generating ionizing radiation.

Also speaking at the event the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, said that nuclear safety and protection is important in view of the recent global events that have put into focus the imperatives of nuclear safety and radiological protection.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—27

BRIEF

‘Clean power can transform electricity sector’ BYKUNLE KALEJAYE

A

Consultant Physician, Community Health Unit, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Dr. Emmanuel Aguwa (3rd

left); Executive Director, Medifield Healthcare Limited (4th right); Dr Femi Jegede, and staff of SPDC, Medifield Healthcare Limited, and Showers International Christian School, during the launch of the Comprehensive School Health Programme by Shell and Medifield in Port Harcourt.

Epileptic power in Nigeria is shameful —Ribadu •Blames subsidy scam on PPPRA

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

A

BUJA – The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has slammed the epileptic nature of power supply in the country in spite of the billions of naira spent over the past 12 years.

Speaking in an intervisew with journalists at the background of a special lecture session organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in Abuja, he noted that Nigerians look up to the regulatory agency to create an efficient and competitive system that will make the industry thrive.

He remarked that it is a shame that after so many years, Nigeria could not boast of reliable and effective electricity. “It is a failure and a shame that something as simple as electricity we cannot provide for Nigerians, in spite of billions of dollars earned from oil every year.”

“Poor electricity supply is behind most of the problems we are facing as a country, it has direct relationship with the poor state of the economy, rising cost of living and our inability to produce the things we need as a country,” Ribadu added.

According to him, most developed and developing countries have long solved the problem of electricity generation, even as he stressed that effective and

reliable power industry is at the heart of every economic growth index.

He noted that the state of the nation’s power supply over the years has been “embarrassing, almost humiliating, considering that many countries in Africa with even less resources have done better. It is a shame to observe that Egypt, in spite of all their challenges in the past few years, still generates over 70,000MW of power, and South Africa generates more than 40,000MW of electricity, while Nigeria still struggles to

produce a mere 4,000MW of power.”

Ribadu asserted that “If NERC gets it right with regards to the reform and regulation in the power sector, Nigeria will it right on electricity. Today, NERC is at the forefront of the march to reform the power sector, and a lot of Nigerians are looking up to them to deliver, and with the caliber of people I see here and the structures they have put in place, I have every confidence that we may finally be on the path to true electricity sector reform.”

Ribadu, who currently chairs the Special Petroleum Revenue Task Force of the Federal

government, also argued that the failure of the regulatory agencies to perform their tasks is to blame for the fuel subsidy mess the country is currently embroiled in.

According to him, “The regulatory agencies in the sector are directly responsible, because it is government money. When such money goes out it has to go through somebody, who is a government employee that has responsibility to protect it and make sure that we get value for every dime spent. It must be with his own conspiracy that money goes out for products or services not provided.

NERC moves to eliminate over-billing, others

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

T

HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has announced plans to remove all forms of overbilling by electricity distribution companies in a new framework for estimated billing to be released soon.

A statement from the Commission made available to our correspondent in Abuja, noted that “overbilling by electricity distribution companies is set to be eliminated as the framework for estimated billing and connection fees are to be discussed in a public consultation with customers, distribution companies, industry stakeholders and the general public in Abuja.”

NERC customarily holds

wider consultations as standard practice as a way of ensuring fairness to both customers and industry operators. “Distribution companies are expected to adhere strictly to the new guidelines that are to be based on consultation with major players and customers in the Nigerian electricity industry.

This forum provides the public with an opportunity to be informed on the critical sector issues as well as an avenue to participate in the process of improving the sector,” it stated.

According to the Commission, matters for consultation include the new methodology for estimated billing, which distinguishes customers into three distinct categories, namely – new customers, customers with faulty meters, and customers

whose meters cannot be read clearly.

It noted that, “Based on this criterion, these customers will be given estimated bills for a limited period of three months, after which the distribution company is required to provide the customer with a meter to ensure they are only paying for what they consume.

“In the same vein, the connection fee methodology will circumvent the reported practice of the distribution companies charging customers unnecessary and excessive fees for connecting to electricity services. With the new methodology, new and existing customers are no longer required to pay for meters as this cost has been built into the NERC approved electricity tariff.

S Nigeria’s domestic gas market is expected to grow at a projected annual rate of 25 per cent, experts in the oil and gas sector has expressed confidence that clean distributed power generation can transform the country’s electricity sector.

They believe that this can be achieved through a Nationwide Green Economy Initiative that will help to revitalise and position Nigeria’s economy for a”Knowledge-Based Economy” of the 21st century.

One such experts, who spoke at the recent third Nigerian Oil and Gas Technology Exhibition in Lagos, Mr. Ayo Jemiri of CG Management Solution Nigeria, said domestic gas utilisation and clean distributed power generation can transform the country’s power market.

According to him, the country can design, develop and deploy a “Nationwide Self-Generation/Captive Power Incentive Programme” that will integrate efficient and reliable clean distributed generation into the grid or independent distribution networks using “embedded generation” regulation.

For a cleaner environment, Jemiri stressed that only renewable and clean power generation technologies that are energy and green house gas, GHG efficient, and certified for carbon credit should be allowed in the proposed programme, adding that every distribution generation technology deployed under the programme should have design flexibility to either be off-grid or on-grid.

Stating the short term deployment strategy of the programme, Jamiri said it will enhance and improve revenue of the existing electric distribution companies, Discos, by structuring the power purchase agreements, PPA, in such a way that the Discos are the wholesale off-takers, adding that any programme application deployment must significantly reduce GHG emission when compared with power generators.

He further noted that “the country has to deploy net metering to accurately capture end-users power supply source and cost. There must be smart grid compliance (once the grid becomes reliable and efficient), hence help in demand-side and congestion management deployment by Discos. This will contribute to the capacity reserve market needed for a fully functional and robust power market by providing the generation capacity redundancy needed by the

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

BRIEF

PHCN warns against building structures under power lines

T

HE Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Molete and Akaran Business Units, in Ibadan, Oyo State has warned the public against building structures, and engaging in social and economic activities under the High and Low Tension lines of the two Business Units.

The warning became necessary because PHCN has observed that despite the Town and Regional Planning Law, which stipulates that a mandatory distance of 5.5 meters, 15.5 meters and 25 meters must be observed as setback from the low tension, 11kv and 33kv lines, member of the public’s have continued to violate the law The district management in a statement noted that such acts are being done with impunity irrespective of the dangers associated with such violations. “PHCN has expended a lot of resources on enlightening the public on the dangers of the infringement and have even had to make a report on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly on the issue in the past all to no avail,” the statement read in part.

It added, “PHCN wishes to reiterate that its overhead lines are constantly exposed to nature which makes them vulnerable to wear and tear.

Besides, accident could occur at anytime without warning, especially during this period of torrential rainfall.

“In the event of any line failure, the lives of the people under the power lines will be at great risk. The statement implores members of the public to refrain from converting the underneath of power lines to markets, playground, motor parks or places of worship.”

Against this backdrop, the power company urged residents to always observe the mandatory distance in relation to the power lines in order to protect themselves from unforeseen danger.

Molete and Akaran Business Units said they are currently compiling a list of areas where there are infringements on the routes of the power lines, adding that the list will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

N60bn Kashimbila Dam to be completed on schedule —FG

By OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI

T

he Federal Government has assured the people of Taraba State and its neighbours that the Kashimbila multi-purpose dam in the state would be completed on schedule.

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, who gave the assurance when the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, visited his office in Abuja, said the N60.63billion project would not be abandoned, as Federal government realises the economic potential of the 40 mega watt capacity hydro power.

The minister said the government is committed to the improvement of lives of the citizens through the provision of regular supply of electricity to all Nigerians for both domestic and commercial purposes.

Ishaku further explained that the recent tariff adjustment is to encourage investors in the power sector and to make electricity supply sustainable for economic growth, and implored the

From left: Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Oando Marketing, Mr. Awobokun Abayomi; CEO, World LP Gas Association, Mr. James Rockall; and CEO, Strategic Energy Ltd., Mr. Dayo Adesina, at the presentation of Oando 3kg cooking stove aimed at switching low-income households to the use of cooking gas. governor to sensitise his subjects on the reforms in the sector which are for the good of the citizens.

The multi-purpose dam when completed will provide electricity, pipe-borne water for domestic and economic purposes, tourism, fishery,

and irrigation to the people of Takum, K ashimbila and Gamovo on River Kastina-Ala areas of Taraba State.

It will be recalled that the contract for the Kashimbila multi-purpose dam was awarded in May 2007, at an initial sum of N42.93billion

but was reviewed upwards to N60.63billion due to the upgrading of the hydro power component from 6MW to 40MW by the Federal Executive Council. The dam is scheduled to be commissioned for production in April 2014.

Electricity: Eko spends N2bn on equipment rehab

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

T

O ensure stable power supply, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said it has expended about N2billion to resuscitate power equipment within its zone.

Several reinforcement, maintenance and installation of new equipment were carried out by the zone during the first quarter of 2012.

Addressing newsmen during the zone’s quarterly meeting in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said the zone has replaced several obsolete 33kv and 11kv Areas where obsolete power equipment was installed include Satelite Town, Amuwo, Ademola Victoria Island, Berkely, Orile, Coker, Lekki, Oke-Ira Kekere that cost an estimated sum of N500 million, Amoda said.

In replacing faulty power facilities, Amoda said that 33/ 11KV 15MVA transformers were installed at Keffi,

… 130,000 customers to get meters in 18 months Ademola, Anifowosha, Yaba NRC, Cappa/Nitel while additional transformers were also installed at Agungi, Lekki and a brand new 1x15MVA injection substation station was completed at Teuosho Yaba, which cost N300million.

He added that several 33KV and 11KV lines were constructed and additional 500KVA/300KVA Distribution Transformers were installed, which cost N750million.

According to him “In total, close to N2 billion have been committed to reinforce and maintain the network in the last six months.”

He admitted that the funding of the various project in the zone came from the Federal Government, which he describe as a practical demonstration of government’s commitment in improving the power sector for

the benefit of its citizens.

Metering consumers To fully enforce the new electricity tariff that took off on June 1, 2012, Amoda said that about 130,000 customers with faulty and obsolete meters are expected to be metered within the next 18 months, adding that in July the zone plan to install 8,000 meters to replace obsolete and faulty ones in the system.

He stressed that all meters would be supplied free of charge and new customers are guaranteed to be metered within three months under the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, approved connection fees while customers that have that have paid connection fees earlier before June 2012 with verifiable receipts of payment will be metered within seven days.

“The tariff review which

commenced on the 1st of June 2012, is to enable the sector function effectively by being able to pay all its commitment such as gas and maintenance of equipment and networks.

The MYTO 2 Order is designed to have a cost reflective tariff and also to attractive the much needed investment in reinforcement and expansion activities in Generation, Gas and Distribution in the sector.”

With several NIPP projects such as injection and lines construction that are ongoing in several locations within the Eko network costing several billions of Naira, most of which are at different level of completion, Amoda explained that improvement in power supply will manifest from the end of this month (July 2012) on incremental and sustainable basis.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—29

HIGH POINTS *Do the necessary soil tests to ascertain the bearing capacity of the soil •The nature of the soil must be taken into consideration when designing the building to sit on top of it •Raft foundations are required in places like Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula that have sandy subsoil conditions •Isolated footings or pad foundation (pillar pile foundation) is required for high rise buildings in areas where the soil is very weak •The cost of building in difficult terrains could be very high which makes it affordable only to the affluent

Foundation laying in a swampy terrain

Beware: Foundation works could make or mar your building

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

T

HE lure to live in one’s own property has driven many people, particularly those residing in the cities and urban centres, into buying land even in very difficult terrains. Unfortunately, some of the people who buy these “difficult lands”, lack the financial wherewithal to develop them. Some have ended up erecting structures that are unfit for human occupation. It is commonplace to find houses looking like airplanes about to take off, simply because the foundation works were improperly executed. In fact, most building collapses in the country have been attributed to poor foundation works. While the affluent can buy land on rocky terrains to build their mansions, experts advise those who cannot afford the huge funds required to build on such difficult terrains, to look for more suitable lands that would not require complex foundation works.

Built environment experts who spoke to Vanguard Homes & Property noted that foundation laying or requirement differs from one terrain to another. For instance, it would be very difficult and expensive to do the foundation of a building on a sloppy site, a swampy land or hard ground under the topsoil.

Usually, the foundations in such difficult areas will be dug around the edge of the land with varying depths depending on the height of the terrain and the materials to be used. If the terrain is soft clay or rock, then specialised foundation methods such as piling or anchoring would be used.

A Lagos -based builder and engineer, Mr. Olatunde Jaiyesimi told Vanguard Homes & Property that the first thing to be done before commencing foundation of building project is to test the

soil of the land. He said the result of the test which will be analysed by soil engineers will give the bearing capacity of the soil.

Mr. Jaiyesimi a former Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB and current Chairman, Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, added that based on the analysis, a suitable foundation can now be done. He pointed out that the foundation should be taken into consideration

when designing a building, as this will ensure the stability of the house.

Another Lagos-based Civil Engineer, Mr. Afolabi Adedeji stated that foundations of structures vary from terrain to terrain. Adedeji who is the Chairman/Chief Executive, Ethical Business and Management Associates noted that raft foundations are required in places like Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula that have sandy subsoil conditions while places like Agege and Ikorodu where there is firm laterite soil require minimal assistance from a foundation structure.

Adedeji added that what laymen regard as pillar pile foundation ( isolated footings or pad foundation) is required for high rise buildings in areas where the soil is so weak such as Onike, Yaba. “ A more recent and modern approach is vibrofloatation. This is particularly suited to built up areas, where the impact of the pile driving hammer may damage nearby building structures.

The soil, usually sandy, is treated through gentle vibration, to become very dense, so as to allow the building to more or less float on it after construction,” he said.

Adedeji advised Nigerians to avoid buying land in difficult terrains as only the affluent can afford to build lasting structures on such land. He however reasoned that experienced architects and engineers can have plenty of leeway to please their clients with

creative designs that fit into the existing rocky landscape, provided that it has adequate bearing capacity to support the superstructure or the house that will be visible to the owner and other people “In reality, those that procure construction services may not have the luxury of being able to choose to erect their proposed buildings on land that has perfect sub-soil conditions for inexpensive foundation construction. This is a fact of engineering and a fact of life.

Take for example, the highbrow areas of Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula in Lagos State, which require expensive raft foundations for low rise buildings and sometimes pile foundations or the relatively new vibrofloatation method for high rise buildings. People are still paying a premium price to have an office or home in these areas,” he said.

Pointing out that structural designs are most crucial when building in difficult terrains, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, former Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of NIOB said with suitable foundations, superstructures can be built on them. He however noted that architects need to take into consideration while designing that only structures with light loads are suitable in difficult terrains, gigantic structures on the terrains will have problem with time.

HAZARD

Protect your kids from common home hazards

F

OR beds: You should avoid placing babies to sleep on adult beds to prevent suffocation from soft mattresses and injuries from falling off the bed or in between the mattress and the frame. Make sure children use bunk beds responsibly and that the top bed has a safety railing to prevent falls.

Candles Use candles with extreme caution. Young children can move them to unsafe places or unknowingly knock them over.

Place burning candles away

from pets and objects that can ignite, such as curtains, newspaper, magazines and bedding.

Appliances and furniture: Large appliances and pieces of furniture, such as refrigerators, china cabinets and bookcases, have a danger of falling over onto children or adults if not properly anchored down. A disaster may occur if small children attempt to climb on unstable shelving.

Bathrooms: Wet floors and electrical ob-

jects are common hazards lurking in bathrooms. Use rugs and mats to prevent serious injury from slipping, and keep electrical items, such as hair dryers and radios, away from showers, tubs and sinks.

Electrical cords and outlets Replace cracked or frayed cords and electrical wires immediately, and avoid overloading outlets to prevent fire.

Watch cord placement to prevent tripping, and avoid placing cords underneath rugs.

Discourage small children

from pulling on cords, causing objects to fall on top of them. Use outlet covers to prevent children from sticking objects into outlets and electrocuting themselves.

Hot objects Little ones can easily tug on tablecloths or pull on pot handles, sending scalding hot food all over them. Use back stove burners first when cooking in homes with children, and do not leave hot irons unattended.

30—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Building materials watch

VP decries sharp practices in building and construction sector

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

BY CHRIS OCHAY I

T

HE Federal Govern ment last week decried the level of rot in the building and construction sector, which according to it has reduced the sector to a conduit pipe for all forms of nefarious activities thereby denying the economy the necessary resources for impactful development.

Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, an Architect, who made the remarks while declaring open the 2nd Building and Construction Economic Round table, BCERT organised by the Quantity Surveyor Registration Board of Nigeria, Building under construction QSRBN, in Abuja, said the government is seriously worried about the 2020 to adherence to the issue disturbing trend of sharp prac- of value-for-money, transpartices in the sector. ency, probity and accountabilThe theme of the round ta- ity within the building and ble was “the role of the build- construction sector, chaling and construction sector in lenged the quantity surveyor achieving visions 20-2020 to find lasting solution to the Sambo who was repre- cost of building project in Nisented by the Minister of geria.

Housing and Urban DevelopHe enjoined QSRBN and ment, Ms. Amal Pepple said other regulatory bodies in the a situation where the cost of industry, to continue to supprojects in Nigeria currently port the ongoing efforts by the ranks among the highest in government to bring sanity to the country is no longer ac- the housing and construction ceptable. sector.

The Vice President who tied “The need for all regulators the success of the transforma- to be extra vigilant cannot be tion agenda and vision 20- over emphasised. Achieving

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 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 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

professional excellence through greater ethical disposition of practitioners under your jurisdiction is an imperative if the sector must play its rightful role in the achievement of both the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20-2020. This brings to the fore the issue of value-for-money, transparency, probity and accountability within the building and construction sector,” he said.

Continuing, the Vice President lamented that “there are insinuations that the building and construction sector is a conduit pipe for all forms of nefarious activities hereby denying the economy the necessary resources for impactful development.

Continues on page 31

Builders seek legal teeth for National Building Code

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

T

he Federal and State Governments have been called upon to give legal teeth to the National Building Code and make it enforceable in every part of the country. This measure would bridge the various gaps in the regulatory process of policing the development of buildings in the country.

The Chairman of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, CORBON, Prof Akin Akindoyemi who made the call at the just concluded annual National Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Building NIOB,in Enugu, also called for the immediate review of the National Urban Planning Law. Prof Akindoyeni further enjoined state governments to enact urban planning laws which will take into consideration the building code and provide for a process of green building practice. According to him, CORBON has forwarded a sample of the bill to every state governor in Nigeria for consideration.

He therefore called for the inauguration of the National Building Code Advisory Committee. The committee should be empowered to ensure that

the code is technologically and procedurally current at all times.

Lamenting the paucity of fund available to the seven built environment regulatory bodies, he urged the Federal government to make provisions in its annual budget for the operation of the charters granted to the bodies.

The CORBON chairman pointed out that lack of fund has limited the regulatory bodies from carrying out their functions effectively in order to ensure safety in buildings in the country.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State in his keynote address, urged the builders to look for a proper way of identifying quacks in the profession. He assured them of his government’s readiness to partner with their institute.

The governor who was represented by the Chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. I.K Uwuegede, challenged builders on the need to bridge the housing deficit in the country through the use of modern building technology that will enhance mass production of houses.

On how to eradicate building collapse, the President of NIOB, Mr. Chuck

Omeife,advised those who intend to undertake building constructions, to demand for the professional status of anyone to be engaged. This will enable them to ascertain that such person is a builder duly registered by CORBON. In his paper titled “Curbing the incidence of building collapse in Nigeria: sanctions, liability and legal imperatives,” a past President of the institute, Mr. Dachollum Jambol called for the urgent implementation of the building code to address absence of planning of the nation’s towns and cities, incessant collapse of building, fire incidents, built environment abuse and other disaster.

He explained that the implementation of the building code would address the issues of dearth of reference design standards for professionals, use of unqualified persons for building production process and lack of maintenance culture.

Jambol who is a lecturer in the Department of Building, University of Jos, called for government’s collaborative efforts with professionals and regulatory bodies without any delay to conduct a comprehensive audit of all construction firms operating in Nigeria to ensure their level of compliance with the building code and all relevant industry practice regulation, legislations and controls.

“There is need for comprehensive audit of all construction firms to assure quality and competence of personnel allowed into the industry and quality of products; and ascertain technological capabilities/capacities for practice,” he said.

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.

NSE partners NIBRRI on buildings collapse

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE Nigerian Society of Engineers has lauded the efforts of the Nigerian Institute of Building and Road Research Institute, NIBRRI to stem the tide of buildings collapse in the country and promised to collabo-

rate with the institute in that direction.

Speaking during a visit to the Director General of the Institute, Prof Danladi Matawal, an Engineer, in continuation of his visit to Engineers in key positions in government, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Continues on page 31

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—31

PROPERTY BRIEF Propertygate posts impressive results

T

he Managing Director of a Lagos-based real estate development company, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi believes that huge economic opportunities abound in Nigeria’s real estate market. Speaking at the firm’s 3rd general meeting held in Lagos, Mr Ajayi noted that in 2011 alone, the company recorded a startup of 44 housing units of various types. According to him, cash inflows for the year rose to N434m from N263m in 2010; total current assets

Dubai property

Lagos promises good roads infrastructure

Dubai property market T sees back-to-back launches W

hile there are still imbalances in the demand and supply equation, Dubai’s developers are - for the first time since the third quarter of 2008 - starting to test market sentiments with a series of new launches. Over the last four months, five developers have released new stock, with the latest being Dubai Festival City which is offering 24 townhouses at prices starting from Dh4.8 million.

Earlier, both Nakheel and Emaar had residential launches within their existing developments, and so did Al Barari with a limited supply of 33

premium villas. There was even the launch of a midpriced offering in the form of the Ritaj master-development in Dubai Investments Park. All of this attests to a gradual return of investor confidence in the local property market principally driven by regional investors and, to an extent, existing residents looking to acquire homes in a still soft market.

For Dubai Festival City , the recent launch - within the Al Badia cluster - marks only its second ever. “We did sell around 10 townhouses some three years ago, but that wasn’t an official release of a particular phase,” said Ian

Plumley, general manager for property sales there. “It was to satisfy the needs of some of our long-term tenants; so we sold to some tenants the property they were living in.

“To a degree it was a toe in the water for us and we stopped the exercise as the property market collapsed.

Now we are officially dedicating this brand new phase to selling homes to all-comers and so this is the first official public launch of freehold townhouses in Dubai Festival City .”

A big plus for the development is that “Investors can take immediate possession as they are all completed which is a first for brand new properties in Dubai,” said Mario Volpi, head of residential sales and leasing at Cluttons.

NSE partners NIBRRI on buildings collapse Continue from page 30 Engr Mustafa Shehu said the society will work with NIBRRI to ensure that the recommendations from the stakeholder’s summit is implemented.

“I would like to commend your efforts so far on the job and the innovations you are bringing in, particularly, the technical workshop on “curbing the incidents of building collapse in Nigeria” which came out with far-reaching recommendations on how to stem the spate of failure of buildings in the country. I want to assure that the NSE will work with you to ensure that these recommendations are implemented”, he said.

The NSE President sought the partnership of the Institute in the area of research outcomes in local building and construction material; local construction, Ffundation and earth works for building and bridges; the design and construction of roads best suited for our environment; and all classes of engineering materials.

Such research outcomes, he observed, will help members of the Society in their day to day professional activities as they seek to provide the best engineering infrastructure for the country. “There is no doubt that our members will be interested in using your innovative machines if they are

stood at N370m compared to proceeding year ’s N331m; while gross earnings rose to N287m in the year from N276m. Ajayi said 2011 recorded the highest number of development starts in a year by the company since its commencement of business operations, while its past endeavours yielded start-ups and completion of 15 housing units with a market value of over N600m “Taking a look at the future of the industry, we believe that the real estate market in Nigeria remains strong, though daunting,” he stated.

he Lagos State Gov ernment has reiterated its commitment to the provision of first class road infrastructure in different parts of the state. The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, an engineer made the pledge at the handing over of the newly constructed Ladipo Police Post to replace the one located at Kalesanwo Street, Ladipo in Mushin Local Government Area earmarked for demolition due to the ongoing road reconstruction projects in the area. He attributed the smooth completion of the Police Post to effective partnership between the residents of the community and the government.

“When corporate entities support government to realise its goals and objectives especially, in the overall greater interest of the community then we are able to forge ahead faster,” he said.

Hamzat who appealed for sacrifice in the greater interest of the State, said it was important for owners of proper-

ties impeding construction works being carried out by the state government to sheath their swords and cooperate with the government in order to ensure quick delivery of projects. He added that the Union Bank Plc had demonstrated goodwill and a high sense of corporate social responsibility by donating plot of land to the State for the construction of the Police Post.

Stating that court cases will delay delivery of projects, he said three cases are presently in courts concerning the reconstruction of Ago Palace Way Okota as a result of the planned demolition of houses obstructing the right of way thus resorting to delay on the date of delivery of the project.

While assuring that the state government in spite of its challenge of limited resources, will continue to pursue the revamping of its infrastructure, the Commissioner stated that the administration has awarded various road contracts across the state.

VP decries sharp practices commercialized, easier to maintain and efficient. We look forward to collaborating on this in a manner that would be beneficial to our members and the Institute”, he said.

In his remarks, Prof.

Matawal welcomed the Nigerian Society of Engineers saying many of their staff were young engineers who needed the support of the society to build their careers.

He said on assumption of duties a year ago, he had set himself a target to revitalize the Institute and position to it to carry out useful research in building and roads construction.

Continue from page 30 The Federal Government is seriously worried about this disturbing trend, and hereby challenges quantity surveyors, as building and construction cost experts, to find a lasting solution to the problem of high cost of building and construction projects in the country”.

“One way of starting is for us to have a constructive engagement on how we can effectively harness your expertise to achieve much with the limited resources in the capital budget provisions through better project costing to enable us record higher levels of project completion. A situation where the cost of projects

in Nigeria currently ranks among the highest in the world is unacceptable,” the Vice President said.

QSRBN President, Mallam Husaini Adamu Dikko said the vision of the country becoming one of the top biggest economies in the world by the year 20-2020 is achievable.

“Considering where we are coming from and where we are today, this is indeed ambitious though not unachievable. But we must buckle up and all hands must be on deck to gain the necessary momentum and synergy required to make the vision realisable,” he said.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

BY THEODORE OPARA

I

T was not surprising that Kia Picanto was crowned ‘Budget Car of the Year’ by The Nigerian Auto Awards. The Picanto beats other contenders to grab the award and the audience lauded the decision of the organisers. No doubt, the award was one of those that the audience felt was well deserved and Kia representatives in Nigeria, Dana Motors should be proud of it.

The Picanto has shown what a small car should be with its trendy design, comfortable interior and good road holding.

The Kia’s smallest car owes this award largely to its good design as there is hardly any car in its class that could boast of such outstanding design.

Don’t forget that it was the same person that designed the Audi T T that was responsible for Picanto design.

A critical look at the Picanto tell you that the car’s biggest attraction is the design. But you will not be disappointed when you step into the car.

There is enough room to take the driver and his four passengers and luggage for a city ride.

Also, Kia did not compromise in the finishing of the car as it used quality materials and trim in the car. The seats are comfortable and sporty. Maybe the only budget materials in the car could be the horn and audio system though IPOD, Aux and USB connectivity make your stay in the car very interesting. You can plug in your mobile music storage device and enjoy your tunes while on the move.

Depending on one's taste, one can settle for the Picanto with full option including multifunction steering wheels, automatic transmission, electric folding outside mirrors, bluethooth hand free, sunvisor illumination lamp etc.

Three engine lineup are available in the Picanto range including Kappa 1.2 MPI, Kappa 1.0 MPI, and Kappa 1.0 FFV engines, but Dana at inception introduced only the 1.0 MPI engine as the Nigerian specification.

The engine delivers a maximum 69 PS at 6,200 rpm. This highlight engine is fuel efficient

Picanto: Beyond a budget car

LFA, the Lexus with lightening speed

T

with reduced vibration and noise. The engines are marched with either a five-speed manual or four speed automatic transmission. Each of the transmission work harmoniously with all engine and offer smooth, noiseless gear shifting.

Safety-wise, the Picanto is small but mighty. Kia has built in the latest class leading safety measures such as seatbelt pretensioners, hill start assist control (HAC), airbags, vehicle stability management (VSM) and electronic stability control (ESC) among others. But some of these features come as option that are

available on demand.

Though a small car, the on board versatility of the Picanto is class-leading.

For instance, the 60:40 split rear seat back is ideal when you need to carry unusual shaped items while still letting you carry three people. But when it comes to sizeable loads, you can fold down both rear seats and make use of the extra space. Under the tailgate, there is 200 litres of luggage space too. The fun in the Picanto is all round as there are many storage space to keep the car neat at all times. With all these features, the Kia Picanto sets standard as a small

car. It is beyond a budget car or rightly put, a budget car with a difference.

HIS Lexus will cause your adrenalin to rise. It is the fastest Lexus ever and only 500 units are available in the world, all units pre-sold.

It is called the Lexus LFA. Powered by hand-assembled 412kw 4.8 litre V10 engine with sixspeed automated sequential gearbox, the Lexus LFA sport hit 100km/h from zero in just 3.7 seconds and has top speed of 325 km/h.

Isn't it amazing?

The LFA is constructed with carbon fibre and is a complete luxury sport car with HDD satellite navigation, Mark Levinson digital surround sound system and dual automatic climate control. Lexus is aware that powerful sports car like LFA deserves powerful brakes, the luxury car maker equipped it with carbon ceramic material brake disc.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—33

How VW plans to become world biggest carmaker W

HEN Ferdinand Piëch arrived as Volkswagen’s chief executive in 1993, things looked dire.

The carmaker was overspending, overmanned and inefficient, and had lost its reputation for quality.

How things have changed: last year the VW group’s profits more than doubled, to a record €18.9 billion ($23.8 billion). As other European volume carmakers seek to close factories and cut jobs, VW is seizing market share in Europe, booming in China and staging a comeback in America. It plans to spend €76 billion on new models and new factories by 2016. Its global workforce is more than half a million, and growing.

It took years for Mr Piëch—now chairman, but still with his hands firmly on the wheel—to tame VW’s menagerie of semiindependent brands and get to grips with its global empire of factories. He has been a ruthless hirer and firer of executives: only last month Karl-Thomas Neumann was removed as head of VW’s Chinese operations, supposedly for his disappointing performance, despite the juicy profits VW is making in China. Mr Neumann had been talked of as a possible successor to the chief executive, Martin Winterkorn.

Mr Piëch is a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who founded VW after Hitler called in 1934 for the creation of a cheap “people’s car ”, a Volkswagen. The PiëchPorsche clan controls both VW and Porsche, a sportscar maker that is now being folded into VW after the failure of an overambitious and highly leveraged reverse takeover. On July 4th VW agreed to buy the 50.1% of Porsche it does not yet own for €4.46 billion. VW is also buying Ducati, a maker of fancy motorbikes, and consolidating MAN and Scania, two lorrymakers, into its commercial-vehicles division. Yet still the firm remains hungry. It has long coveted Alfa Romeo, a premium-car division of Fiat; and is rumoured to be eyeing up Navistar, an American lorrymaker. Mr Winterkorn nevertheless dismisses the suggestion that the group is getting unmanageably big.

Mr Piëch’s plan was for VW to become the world’s biggest carmaker by volume by 2018. Last year, however, as Toyota struggled with the aftermath of Japan’s tsunami and GM floundered in Europe, VW reached its goal seven years early (see chart), if you do not count Subaru, Toyota’s distant affiliate, or GM’s Wuling joint venture in China, which

mainly makes Chinesebranded cars.

The 8.5m vehicles VW made last year cover all corners: Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT in the mass market; Audi in premium cars; Porsche, Bugatti and Lamborghini in sports cars; Bentley at the luxury end; plus various commercialvehicle brands. Most (SEAT excepted) are firing on all cylinders. IHS

Automotive, a forecaster, expects VW easily to beat its target of 11m sales by 2018.

Fierce competition and regulatory pressure to develop alternative-fuel cars are forcing other makers to seek costsharing partnerships.

Toyota and BMW are teaming up on low-carbon technologies. GM’s Opel division in Europe is joining Peugeot-Citroën to

make smaller cars.

Daimler is edging towards a threesome with the Renault-Nissan alliance.

Sergio Marchionne, the boss of Fiat and Chrysler, recently suggested merging several European makers to create “another Volkswagen”.

Volkswagen has been better than its rivals at reducing the number of

common “platforms” that its cars are built on. This allows it to offer a fabulous variety of brands and styles while slashing manufacturing costs. The next stage, launched this year, is a versatile platform codenamed MQB, which will underpin the VW Golf, Audi A3, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon, in all their variations.

Finally, auto industry gets handbook, directory

T

HE Nigerian auto in dustry may still be evolving, owing mainly to the fact that the local content development of the industry is still a far cry from what it should be. Presently, the market is flooded with all kinds of brands from all over the world.

Lee Iacocca had written in his autobiography how it was a taboo to touch a Japanese automobile in 40s and 50s.

This was because as an employee of Ford Motor Corporation, the American automobiles reigned supreme. But it did not take long before the Japanese auto brands began to trouble American brands, in fact, not too long ago, Toyota Motor Corporation surpassed the biggest American auto maker, General Motors in sales figure.

Then came the Kore-

ans. Deawoo with Kia, Hyundai etc. Though Daewoo has been bought over by General Motors, Kia and Hyundai are doing very well in the domestic and international markets.

The Chinese have not been left behind. Talk of Geely, Brilliance, Jinbei, Sinotruk, Great Hall, JMC etc, have continue to make their marks in the last five years.

All these brands and many others coming from Europe, Asia, United States of America etc have found their way to the Nigerian market.

But, just like the genuine guys are making efforts to stamp their feet on the ground and let discerning patrons know that they are the companies to deal with, others who do not enjoy the accreditation of the auto

manufacturers are also there. The Nigerian public need to be guided about the numerous brand and these behind them especially as they make their purchase of new cars.

A handbook, the Nigerian Auto Media Guide has been published by two experienced Nigerian auto journalists to serve as a guide of brand new vehicles in the country.

The book, consists mainly the Corporate Profile-Enlists, the profile of the main auto distributing companies in the country, with emphasizes on their mission and corporate contacts in terms of physical addresses nation-wide, telephone numbers, email addresses etc.

“The Personality Profile- features the brief

Curriculum Vitae of some of the brains behind the auto industry in Nigeria, as well as the profiles of some government officials who are connected to the auto industry.”

Also “the Agencies connected with road transportation were not left out. Agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Federal Roads Maintainance Agency (FERMA), National Automotive Council (NAC) etc are captured in this section.

“Nigeria Auto Market Guide publication has also provided readers with some relevant information like a comprehensive classified listing of auto companies, tyre companies, Insurance companies where genuine Auto insurance can be obtained, import statistics etc.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

KIDNAPPING: Explosive intrigues in Delta

By EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South

U

DUAGHAN'S coded missiles: Anybody who is acquainted with the wave of kidnapping in recent times in Delta State would not have been shocked by the verbal banter between the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, when the IGP visited the state in June.

The setting was Government House, Asaba and the event - a stakeholders’ meeting, June13, with the visiting police chief.

Governor Uduaghan was angry that the head of the AntiKidnapping Task Force of the Delta State Police Command, CSP Dickson Adeyemi Osamwonyi, who was arrested in March for allegedly aiding and abetting kidnappers in the state, was released by police authorities, barely two weeks earlier.

Abubakar’s visit to the state was to take delivery of 60 patrol vehicles, two Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, and communication gadgets donated to the police by the Delta State government. Uduaghan was, however, so troubled about the matter that he had to let off steam in the open. Few days to the visit, Nigeria and Udinese midfielder, Christian Obodo, was kidnapped in Warri, while the governor’s cousin, 70-year-old Pa Sam Uduaghan, was kidnapped during his visit.

The governor told the IGP: “The people of Delta State want me to send a message to you on recent happenings in the state and even the state House of Assembly deliberated on it. Few days ago, some persons, your police officers,

Police IG, Abubakar

suspected to be involved in kidnapping, who were earlier apprehended, were released. What is bothering us is that their release coincided with the recent upsurge in kidnap cases in the state. We want you (IG) to have a second look at that issue.”

IGP’s no-nonsense retort: Mr. Abubakar thought otherwise. He replied the governor thus: “You are talking about the officer being investigated, I haven’t forgotten, you said investigation. You see what you should understand, Deltans didn’t complain to me. As Inspector General of Police, I have a responsibility to this country, when I realized what was happening, I was worried because I have a lot of brothers and sisters in this state.

Transfer out of command "So, it was I, who initiated that investigation, so if you tell me Deltans are worried, they didn’t complain to me. Because of what you said, you saw the action we took. The officers had been transferred out of the command because we want to do justice. But the proviso there is, I cannot sanction or prosecute anybody without preponderance of evidence.

"We have investigated and we didn’t find any evidence against the police officer. I want to be fair and just to everybody. I don’t want to prosecute anyone because they say someone is a thief and there are no evidences to prove that actually that person is a thief.

If you have that evidence against that police officer that we could use to prosecute him, please bring forward to us such evidence.”

IGP’s response seemed to

Delta governor, Uduaghan

A kidnap gang

suggest that the consequent redeployment of the former antikidnapping boss to another state was done out of emotion and not based on his purported deceitfulness, as there was no preponderance of evidence to sanction or prosecute him.

Lawmakers’ bombast: It is not only Uduaghan that is enraged by the freedom granted CSP Dickson. Members of the state House of Assembly are also unhappy. In a resolution on the matter, they tongue-lashed the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Parry Osayande, over his alleged role in the return of the police officer to the state.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Johnson Erijo, in a motion, urged the House to condemn Osayande’s actions for redeploying Osamwonyi to the state. Supporting the motion, the Majority Leader, Hon. Monday Igbuya, queried Osayande’s interest in Osamwonyi’s redeployment. He also accused the PSC boss of suspected clandestine dealings with Osamwonyi.

Speaking in support of the motion, Igbuya queried the interest of Osayande in the matter, accusing the PSC chief of clandestine dealings with Osamwonyi. Visibly angry, he

accused Mr. Osayande of paying back the state in its own coins because Delta allegedly denied his (Osayande’s) son a N3.5 billion security gadget contract.

Other members of the House who spoke in support of the motion expressed worries and fears over the release of the police officer, and called for his immediate rearrest, stating that he was “inexplicably released” following the alleged intervention of Osayande.

Unanimous adoption of motion

The motion, which was unanimously adopted, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Inspector General Police to re-open the investigation into the alleged involvement of the police officers, particularly Osamwonyi, in the cases of kidnapping in the state, adding that his release had, in the past few weeks seen an increase in kidnappings. However, the IGP claimed responsibility for the arrest and release of Osamwonyi, making the allegation against Osayande look like unfounded information.

Action, not war of words: The current spate of kidnapping does not really call for war of words, what is required is action by security agents.

The latest after the IGP’s visit was the kidnap of Markson Macaulay, son of the Secretary to S t a t e Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay a t h i s hometown, PSC chairman, Osayande

Owheologbo in Isoko North Local Government Area. It actually came five days after the governor’s cousin was kidnapped from his residence at the Direct Labour Agency, DLA, Road, Asaba.

No longer a handshake: With the kidnap of Macaulay’s son, Deltans are not left in any doubt as to the reality that if kidnappers intended the unwholesome activities to be a “handshake”, it was certainly no longer so, as it has crossed the shoulder level. And clearly, what is playing out can no longer be taken as a child’s play, it is a serious affair. Before the abduction of the SSG’s son, a brother to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, was also seized by kidnappers.

M

rs. Susan Elumelu, mother of Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, member, representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in the House of Representatives and former Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu, was kidnapped, April 23. Mr. Monday Whiskey, a journalist and former media assistant to the chairman of Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, was kidnapped from his house at Orhuwhorun town in Udu Local Government Area in March by kidnappers.

Actually, it has been a harvest of sort for kidnap gangs, who abducted a Grade One Chief Magistrate, Mr. Obomejero Aforkeya from his residence in Iwhrekpokpor, Ughelli metropolis, two daughters of a Chevron Nigeria Limited contractor, aged two and nine and their mother at Effurun Roundabout, along Nigerian Ports Authority on Airport Road, Effurun. Every segment of the state, including foreign nationals,

Continues on page 35

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—35 dumbfound by evidence – Delta speaker: But Delta Speaker, Hon Ochei, does not seem to believe the power game theory, as he told newsmen while fielding questions, Monday, June 25, at Asaba that Delta lawmakers stood by their resolution, on the eve of the IGP’s visit, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the IGP to revisit the investigation of Mr. Adeyemi.

He called on Abubakar to ensure that adequate protection was provided for persons willing to offer useful evidence that might nail the former leader of the antikidnapping squad in the state, who was earlier arrested for aiding and abetting kidnapers in the state. His words: “A lot is going on, but we still leave it to the Nigeria Police to ensure that they bring the culprits to book. The IGP may have been quoted as telling people to come forth with evidence, which is fine, but let him also ensure the protection of those who intend to give the evidence and you will be shocked by the level of evidence that he (IG) will receive. We stand by our resolution, we are not shaking and we believe the right answers will come out soon if not very shortly.”

Kidnapping: Explosive intrigues in Delta Continues frompage 34 had felt the impact of kidnappers whose motivating spirit is money. A medical doctor, Dr. Ngozi Chibuikem, was seized, some months ago, at the Central Hospital, Warri. She was released when security operatives got wind of the kidnap gang that carried out the operation and threatened the mother of the gang member, who in turn, contacted her son to release the female doctor.

The true test: To show that he had nothing to hide on the release of CSP Dickson, the IGP challenged anybody with concrete evidence against the embattled police officer and his team to come forward as he could not prosecute anyone discriminatorily.

Concrete evidence From the utterances of Governor Uduaghan and the House of Assembly, it could be that the executive and legislative arms are privy to some information, which Mr. Abubakar is not aware of.

The challenge in the Dickson case, therefore, is for the IGP to be given concrete evidence to convince him that some people were not after the police officer for nothing.

Security agents are colluding: Investigation, nonetheless, showed that policemen and other security agents are aiding and abetting kidnappers and other criminals in the state. They usually passed information to the gangsters and told them when the coast was clear for them to operate.

More often than not, it was the gang that failed to cooperate that was reined in. There is a case of a senior police officer recently transferred out of the state, who was named by an oil bunkering syndicate as one of its godfathers.

But, even as all dogs eat human excreta, it is only the one it is found in its mouth that will be accused of eating shit.

Policemen allege power play: A number of policemen in the state police command, who spoke to Vanguard, said CSP Dickson was caught in a messy power game with some powerful forces in the command, which used their connection with politicians to tarnish his name. According to a senior police officer, “The genesis of the whole problem is the kidnap of Hon Gabriel Nwike Okpuno in March 2012, which some alleged he colluded with the kidnappers to extort money.

“But there was nothing like that, it was a false allegation that was made against him. I can tell you that the man is behind the

inroads the command has made on the bursting of kidnap syndicates in the state. They said he sat in conference with the kidnappers, but he was the one that arrested the victim’s driver for the offence and the pregnant wife of one of the kidnappers. Let me tell you what happened, a senior police officer was envious of his rising profile and was in cahoots with some persons, who passed the information across to some people in high quarters that Dickson was fraternizing with kidnappers, and they later followed it up with a petition.

"This is what happened, but it is not true and the IGP himself testified to this. Go and find out, Dickson rescued an 80-year-old Madam Beatrice Onah, an Enugu-resident Deltan, kidnapped December 15, 2011,while on home visit at Kwale and nabbed the entire kidnap gang in addition to the recovery of the full ransom of N2 million extorted by the gang. He is not the kind of officer that will compromise with kidnappers”, he added.

Apprehension everywhere: While waiting for the warring parties to sort out the Dickson affair, the people are worried about the growing menace of kidnappers in the state. Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Warri branch, Gweke Akudihor, lamented that security agents have failed to nip in the bud the alarming cases of kidnappings and killings in the state.

Kidnappers and murderers To this end, the NBA boss said the chapter has decided at a crucial meeting to sanction any lawyer who defends suspected kidnappers and murderers.

He said: “We took the fundamental resolution that lawyers in the area will no longer defend cases bordering on kidnapping and killing because they are acts of terrorism that do nobody any good.”

Akudihor said that any lawyer who fails to comply with the order would be sanctioned, adding: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria is confronted with acts of terrorism and it seems to give the impression that the government does not know what to do. We understand clearly that the problem did not start with the present administration.

Regrettably, the Nigerian government has not been taking this worrisome issue seriously”.

Akudihor, however, suggested that jobs be provided for the teeming youths, who are jobless, lamenting that kidnappings and killings were capable of

Map of Delta State

destroying the fabric of the society.

We are not sleeping – Delta police boss Briefing newsmen, May 2, at Asaba, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, said the police were not sleeping over the spate of kidnappings in the state, pointing out that at least 44 suspected kidnappers were arrested in a period of one month. According to him, the waves of armed robberies and kidnappings have reduced considerably in the state following the command’s “dogged fight against the men of the underworld.”

Delta State police spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard that Governor Uduaghan’s cousin, SSG’s son, international footballer, Christian Obodo and a host of others, who were kidnapped were all released by the police, while some of the kidnappers were arrested. He assured that the police would continue in its battle to dislocate kidnappers and other criminals from the state.

Battling kidnapping from water to land: As a ‘Warri boy’, the governor, Dr. Uduaghan, is not new to the problem and intricacies of kidnapping in the state. Under the regime of his predecessor, Chief James Ibori, while he was SSG, he played a pivotal role at a very trying time when militants were abducting foreign hostages on the waterways.

He, sure, understands the dynamics, and that was probably why the first agency he put in place on assumption of office in 2007 was the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC. The team was an information gathering unit that was charged, among other things, with collaborating and providing intelligence information to security agencies to ensure safety on the waterways of the state.

Many believed the DWSC performed commendably and peace having returned to the waterways, the governor dissolved the committee in March,

as kidnappers had shifted their operations from water to land.

Flash points: The flash points were Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Effurun, Ekpan, Udu, Asaba, Orerokpe, Ozoro and Oleh.

Because of the spate, a number of government officials claimed the kidnappings were being Death sentence sponsored by some persons to as last card discredit the Uduaghan government, but some people For some years now, the countered that with the huge resources at its disposal, the governor had, because of his government should be able to strong belief that only God has fight kidnappers and their the power to give and take life, sponsors to submission. The state declined to sign a death penalty government had set up a joint prescribed for kidnappers by House of Assembly in an Antimilitary force kidnapping.

Terrorism and Anti- Kidnapping The governor’s donation of 60 Bill that had been passed. But, patrol vehicles, two Armoured the House re-dusted the bill and Personnel Carriers, APCs, and still retained the fatality clause. It communication gadgets to the is still waiting for the state police command in governor’s assent. But, addition to other gesthere are recent feelers tures in the past, is bethat due to the lieved to be one of the unmitigated impunity ways to properly posiof kidnappers, the tion the police to fight governor may sign the kidnappers and other bill into law, and it is criminals in the state. The widely believed that Some of the kidnappers with death penalty for challenge arrested by the police anybody found guilty claimed they were in the of kidnapping, aiding engaged in the and abetting it as the Dickson business because of case may be, and unemployment, but the case, parallel crack down by governor was quick to security agents, fault the claim, saying, therefore, kidnappers will run for “Are you telling me that is for the their life in the state. because somebody is Deputy Governor, IGP to be not employed, he should Prof. Amos Utuama take to criminality? given (SAN), while receiving the Chairman of the concrete Police Service s that an excuse Commission, PSC, Mr. evidence for committing a Parry Osayande, crime?” He, however, to during his visit to said his government Asaba, stated: “Very had given employment convince soon, the governor will to a lot of Deltans and him that assent to the bill and it was also working to will be a criminal create more job some offence carrying death opportunities. people penalty for anybody to Sometime ago, the attempt or even kidnap governor enlisted the were not another. This is a very support of traditional big challenge to all of rulers to rein in their after the those who are enforcers subjects involved in the police of law because we act. He had also met must stamp out with religious leaders to officer for kidnapping in any moralize on nothing form, in any shape, in kidnapping. order to a have a very IGP will be peaceful Delta State.”

I

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Turkish airlines crash on take off at Tenerife airport in

Why our planes crash (5) The summary of the final report of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry submitted by the Task Force team headed by Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike (rtd) on March 2006 Continues from yesterday

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NAMA should review its contract award system.

NAMA would need to develop and enforce a structured procedure for evaluation and selection of contractors before registration and ensure that contracts are awarded to only registered contractors and within the approved registration limit.

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AAN should deploy software tools especially those that are web-based to enable effective budget planning, monitoring and forecasting. This software can be easily made available to the managers within each Directorate and Airports to enable them better contribute to the budgetary planning and implementation process.

Additionally, the development of budgets at FAAN could be enhanced by requiring that the basis and criteria for arriving at the budget numbers be included in the budget estimates developed by the Airports and various Directorates. This will ensure the development of right budget estimates resulting in the elimination of virement or augmentation of votes.

Budget performance report Moreover, budget performance reports should be submitted to each Directorate for the purpose of review; and be made available to management and the Board which will review and come up with appropriate control measures to ensure the realisation of the budget targets.

FAAN should take proactive measures to ensure the timely receipt of the annual budget guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. The guidelines

and the internal Budget Call Circulars should be forwarded to the various Directorates and Airports to enable them prepare their budget estimates. To ensure the achievement of the above, FAAN should come up with an agreed timeline to support the Budget Cycle.

109. FAAN should revise its procurement system in line with Government Due Process Regulations. FAAN would need to train its staff to understand government policies affecting the award and payments for contracts. Contract documents should be reviewed by internal audit to ensure that due process requirements have been met before payments are made.

A

policy should be put in place requiring finance department to only effect payments for contracts that have been issued with a Due Process Certificate.

Moreover, there is need to maintain a list of contracts. New contracts should be verified and checked against this list to ensure they have not been previously awarded.

The Resident Due Process Team should check all contracts and ensure that Due Process Certificates are obtained prior to the award of contracts. Internal Audit should also carry out an independent check to confirm compliance with due process especially compliance with the advertisement rule. FAAN would also need to maintain contractors’ fees with

appropriate references and tags.

There should be regular and independent review of contract awards. Single files should be maintained by all contractors. In cases where a file is full, contractor file should indicate a closure slip that maps it to another file.

110. FAAN should review its accounting and financial system.

FAAN would need to develop detailed and comprehensive process documentations and process manuals to support the accounting and financial reporting process. Preferably, FAAN should implement an end-to-head system to automate the entire accounting and financial reporting process.

Introduction of automated system The introduction of this automated system will ensue the capture of transactions into the system at source. This will make data capture more efficient as well as remove the risks of error associated with data recapture using the returns from the outstations. Additionally, FAAN should set up an independent function for the regular and intermittent audit and review of transactions captured into the system to ensue their propriety. An initial measure should also be implemented to ensue that data capture and preparation of various financial reports are independently reviewed to ensure that integrity of such postings and

the financial reports. FAAN would also need to carry out an immediate identification and recording of all its fixed assets, and define policies for fixed assets accounting especially as it affects recognition and depreciation.

111. FAAN should enhance access security to its main business application package.

The measure should include the following: (I) Password rule should be defined and configured in the system.

(II) The system should be enabled to force password change for new users at the point of first logon to the system.

(III) Users on the system should be trained on IT security to enable the adoption of good IT security practices. (iv) User groups with various access levels should be created on the application to ensure segregation of duties. Each staff with systems access should be assigned to specific group. (v) A function should be established within Internal Audit for the regular and intermittent review of the systems, access authority levels and transactions logs to ensure integrity of the system, access leevls and transaction processing.

112. NAMA should review its Master Plan to include revenue and service level targets and other performance measures.

Proactive management This will ensure that management is proactive in all aspects of the operation and that the annual budgets are derived from and are consistent with the Agency’s Master Plan. The Master Plan objectives will also guide in selection of priorities.

113. NAMA should review its contract award system.

NAMA would need to develop and enforce a structured procedure for evaluation and selection of contractors before registration and ensure that contracts are awarded to only registered contractors and within the approved registration limit. It should also require that contractors’ company letter-head specifies board of directors, contact phone numbers, company registration number with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). These details should be verified during assessment to ascertain their validity.

114. NAMA should review its financial and accounting system.

NAMA would need to automate and integrate its entire business processes to provide a single local point for transactions processing, data storage, archiving and report generation. The automation should provide online realtime functionality for debtors and creditor classification and ageing profile. It should also invest operating surpluses in short term

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—37

Why our planes crash (5)

Seamless services The project is to provide information and communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure upoon which to run seamless services by all the agencies of the industry, on-line and in real-time with Lagos, Kano, Abuja, and Port Harcourt Airports. Currently, the project is not receiving due attention as some of the agencies seem to desire a separate network. The sum of N24 million has already been spent on consultancy alone; so it would be desirable to complete the project.

116. NIMET should review its financial and accounting system.

NIMET would need to devise a comprehensive set of procurement a procedures and communicate them to all staff and implement them accordingly. The DG NIMET should enforce the recording of transactions in the appropriate ledgers.

There is also need to carry out a full assessment of staff training needs and an adequate investment made on training in ACCPAC accounting Package before the software is implemented. Furthermore, NIMET would need to evaluate its staff mix and recruit qualified staff to perform audit and finance functions. Furthermore, the agency should clear all nu-reconciled items on bank conciliation statements.

Cheques whose lives have ex-

pired should be canceled an and reissued to beneficiaries if need be.

117. Nigerian airlines should be encouraged to undergo IATA Oversight Safety Audit (IOSA).

IATA has set an international standard for commercial airlines and regularly carries out audit on its members based on those standards. It is necessary that Nigerian airlines register with IATA to enjoy more international recognition, confidence and access to other tangible benefits such as technical assistance, which are consequent on successful audit.

118. Government should provide funds for the implementation of the …........... of the new Communications Navigation Surveillance (CNS)/Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems by NAMA in accordance with the ICAO/AFI Implementation Plan.

Airlines should equip their aircraft over the next five years to be able to operate into new CNS/ATM environment.

Navigation system The CNS/ATM is the latest satellite based navigation system recommended for the industry.

ICAO regulations require Governments and airlines to use the new system. This is to provide for safe operations and expeditions flow of air traffic.

119. Government should encourage private sector participation in building standard aircraft maintenance hangars. NCAA should also remove any existing impediment to third party use of available maintenance facilities.

The lack of well-equipped and properly manned hangar facilities is a major problem in Nigeria. In line with Government’s economic reform programme, interested investors could be assisted through tax waivers, land concessions by FAAN and access to funds to set up modern hangars.

To facilitate synergy in the industry, NCAA should remove any

Japanese airline crash which claimed more than 520 lives

existing obstacles to third party use of available maintenance facilities. This would also encourage airlines to more effectively deploy or pool available engineering manpower and other resources for the benefit of the sector as a whole.

120. All existing BASA should be reviewed at their expiration. All future BASA should be guided by the principle of reciprocity.

•Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike (rtd), Most of the commer- chairman, Task Force on Aviation Industry cial agreements were entered into at a time when the ports. It should also strengthen its national carrier – Nigerian Air- Quality Control Unit to draw up ways- was not functional. Most standards, monitor job perforof the domestic airlines then mance and functionality equiplacked capacity to compete inter- ment. This is to ensure standard nationally. However, it is noted of equipment, services and perthat most domestic airlines have sonnel necessary for NCAA to promatured over the years and vide oversight. It will also improve should be allowed to fly interna- reliability and accuracy of weathtional routes. This would in turn er reports. give them access to foreign currency which is necessary to help CHAPTER 3 boost their financial base for safCauses of derelictin in the Nier operations. All such agree- gerian Aviation Industry: An ments should adhere to the prin- Overview: ciple reciprocity in order to en3.1 Introduction: sure fair and equal opportunity 3.1.1 The spate of airline accifor all carriers in the industry. dents which claimed many lives 121. Government should up- in Nigeria in the last quarter of grade the infrastructure at 2005 and the huge public outcry NIMET, preparatory to its full and disenchantment with the avicommercialization. ation industry which followed, were symptomatic of serious strucAvailable tural deficiencies. For an indusresources try whose modus operandi is policing and enforcement of an inNIMET provides essential ser- ternationally stringent safety and vice to several sectors of the na- security standards, t have recordtion, not just for aviation; and it ed several accidents within such has within available resource dis- a short space of time, is an indicharged its duties creditably well. cation of serious system failure.

However, most of its equip0ment 3.1.2 Reacting to recent air diare obsolete or unserviceable. The sasters, an aviation analyst, DavTask Force believes that if Gov- id Learmount, pointed out, that ernment upgrades the facilities of globally, airline crashes in 2005, NIMET, it could commercialise were a reversal of a much imservices. proved aviation safety standard of 122. NIMET should step up its over a decade. In 2004, for exameffort to modernise weather ob- ple, with 28 fatal accidents and servation equipment at the air- only 466 fatalities, the year had an all-time best safety performance. However, in 2005, the number of fatal (airline) accidents increased to 34, with 1,050 fatalities.

The Analyst goes on to point out that almost all the air accidents that occurred in 2005 involved smaller carriers, using older generation aircraft, in poor countries that already had a mediocre safety record in their air industry. The same report points out also that none of the aircraft types involved in the accidents were of the newer generation (i.e.) basically, post1990). This, he concluded, is consistent with the established facts that each generation of aircraft has brought improved safety performance. Another useful conclusion in the same article which is relevant here is that there were no fatal accidents involving major airlines, for the period in question.

To be continued

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Continues frompage 36 financial instruments rather than being tied down in current accounts; while customers should be categorised based on net worth. NAMA would also need to establish a procedure to enforce staff to retire advances collected promptly. Staff should not be allowed to collect new advances without retiring the previous ones collected.

115. Government should revisit the Aviation Network Project with a view to kick-starting it and ensuring its early completion.

Government should encourage private sector participation in building standard aircraft maintenance hangars. NCAA should also remove any existing impediment to third party use of available maintenance facilities

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38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Who becomes NBA Gen Sec? THE position of General Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is one of the most prestigious offices in the association. In actual fact, it is the most important, second to the office of the President of the association. Among candidates running for office in the association’s election slated for today in Abuja are Mr Emeka Obegolu, Mr Olumuyiwa Olowokure and Mr Emmanuel Haruna. These men are by all standrad, eminently qualified to occupy the said office. Whoever emerges therefore will not be for lack of qualification of others, but simply because only person can occupy the office

BY INNOCENT ANABA

M

R EMEKA OBEGOLU: He is an active member of the association. Born to the family of Chief Charles and Chief Mary Obegolu, both legal practitioners, he read law at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State. He was called to the bar on September 28, 1999.

He had his early practice experience with the firm of Adetokunbo Kayode & Co from 1999 and resigned in 2002 to set up Greenfield Chambers in partnership with a colleague, Agada John Elachi.

He is also an Arbitrator and Mediator by passion, a consummate and committed Bar Man. Urbane, erudite, dynamic and innovative, Emeka has meritoriously held positions that portrayed him as an outstanding team player and a detailed and resourceful person.

As modest as the above is, meeting Emeka one-on-one, you cannot but be amazed at his humility, transparent sincerity and generally amiable nature.

None the less, he is a perfect description of a fair and firm person.

Disseminating of information He noted that as Publicity Secretary, NBA Abuja Branch, he introduced the use of SMS/Text Message to disseminate information; collaborated with AIT, to use the programme Legalscope to propagate ideas of the Bar. And as Secretary, NBA Abuja Branch, he published the Abuja Branch Directory at no cost to the Branch after many years and introduced the circulation of Minutes of Meetings by e-mail at least two weeks before the meeting.

He added that as Publicity Secretary NBA, he introduced electronic newsletter; live coverage of opening ceremony of Annual General Conference; Bulk SMS of news real time; Photo coverage and reportage of branch activities; Facebook and Twitter social discussion platform

for NBA and NBA Helplines, promising to do more, if voted Secretary General.

On why he is running for the position, he said: “The major point of my aspiration is to bridge the gap between NBA and its members. Having served as Publicity Secretary for close to two years, I had come to realise that members do not have a personal relationship with the NBA and I had traced the problem to non availability of direct membership benefits for members.

“Part of the things I would want to do differently upon assumption of office as General Secretary is to g e n e r a t e membership benefits for members such that will justify their membership of a professional association and make it beneficial for members to pay their Bar Practising fees.

“With the completion of the lawyers database verification exercise, each lawyer will have a space within our website where he/ she can print his practice licence each year, access the NBA electronic library, which I will introduce as a membership benefit, register for conferences and print out receipt therefrom, and generally operate as an individual member of NBA. “I will support branches through the creation of a Branch Support and Advisory Directorate within

*Mr. Emeka Obegolu

peer review mechanism for branches,” he added.

MR OLUMUYIWA OLOWOKUR: He was called to Nigerian Bar in 1986 and had practised law in Kaduna, where he did his National Youths Service Corps, NYSC. After four years of learning the ropes in the reputable law firm of Paul Usoro and Co, he established his firm in Kaduna, where he developed a reputable practice with emphasis on immigration, taxation, insurance, servicing international development organisations and more recently pre-election matters and election petitions.

His mission is to be in a position to, with due regard to the NBA Constitution, superintend a National Secretariat that is IT driven, operates in an efficient manner that accords with the best and modern practices and above all, caters for the membership needs of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria wherever they are, whether in Nigeria or abroad.

For me, my bid to be General Secretary of NBA is all about offering myself for service predicated on maturity, experience and integrity

the secretariat to conduct compliance audit and engender

H

e had a highly successful tenure as Chairman of Kaduna Branch, as Chairman, he led the Branch to host one of the most successful and seamless conferences in the annals of NBA history. As the Kaduna State Coordinator of ‘Project Swift Count’ he represented NBA as State Coordinator in a coalition of civil society organisations that officially observed the 2011

* Mr. Olumuyiwa Olowokur

general elections.

He said, if voted in as Sec Gen, he would maintain a dedicated telephone helpline and on-line help services to enable members get prompt answers to questions and complaints and generally make the secretariat more accessible; ensure capacity building programmes for members are professionalized so as to give value for money.

He added that in concert with the President, National Executive and the Branches, he would explore ways of reducing the incidence of the ever growing menace of fake lawyers and other professionals and individuals charging ‘legal fees,’ ensure advance copies of NEC minutes and other relevant documents reach NEC members promptly; prompt production and distribution of annual practice license reactivation of the NEC stamp and seal project.

MR. EMMANUEL HARUNA: He was born in Odolu, Igalanela/Odolu Local Government Area, Kogi State. He read law at Ahmadu Bello University, and was called to bar in July, 1983. After his NYSC as Legal Aid Counsel in Imo State, he did his pupilage with Dr. S.S. Ameh & Co in Jos. He worked with Benue State Ministry of Justice and rose to different levels before setting up his law firm, E.A .Haruna & Co. If elected General Secretary, he said he intend to improve the National Secretariat progressively over the years. He said: "In pursuits of this progressive improvement, two key areas I will focus on are by ensuring that minutes of previous meeting and other critical NEC papers are transmitted to members of NEC in good time to elicit robust and informed deliberations and decisions and members of staff of the National Secretariat do not presently appreciate the fact that their employment depend on the

membership of our great association.

“The aloofness with which some of our members are treated leaves much to be desired. As General Secretary, I will ensure a complete break from this state of affair. Staff and management will be persuaded to treat our members as their employers that we really are through due respect and warm reception that our members deserve. The pace of an Information Technology driven National Secretariat will be sustained and improved upon.

Economic hardship “It is obvious that majority of our members are bitterly dissatisfied with the new BPF and AGP fees in the context of the present prevailing economic hardship.

Whoever emerges as president will be constantly reminded of the need to fruitfully pursue the mandate for downward review of BPF through the General Council of the Bar. Of course, the downward review of AGC registration fees will be easier to handle by the new body of national officers after inauguration sometime in August 2012.

“For me, my bid to be General Secretary of NBA is all about offering myself for service predicated on maturity, experience and integrity. I cannot elect myself as General Secretary.

So, I will be bound by the outcome of the election. I will accept it which ever way it goes. But I am confident that I will win.”

His agenda, includes cause to be produced and transmitted to members of NEC previous minutes of meeting and other critical NEC papers not later than seven days before any subsequent meeting of NEC to enhance quality contributions during meeting.

Vanguard Vanguard,,

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

LIBRA; Similar to yesterday but, today more emphasis’ll be on money. Thus those of you who are more financially ambitious’ll have better and rewarding day than others. However that is not to say you should neglect your health.

SCORPIO; Positive things are happening from (and around) you. The more enterprising you are the better for you today. And some of you will be mixing business & pleasure without harm. Lovers can have their way moderately.

SAGITTARIUS; This is your day when things’ll go according to your plans. And you’re advised to hit very hard not minding minor pressure from your base.

CAPRICORN; Once again success would come if you experiment with good ideas rightly at the right time.

Those of you travelling are in for an exciting day.

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JULY 17, 2012 — 39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

E

VERYMAN or woman is thirsty for one thing in the life - we all want to be appreciated. The desire to be appreciated is innate in every human being.

The thirsty man No matter what you give a man, if you don’t appreciate him, he is like the thirsty man given a bottle of mineral instead of a glass

TERROR MUDA

of water, he can’t be satisfied. Appeciate a man for the little thing he has done for you and he will go out of his way to do greater

in “Never say goodbye”

things for you.

Whether a small man, whether a big man, whether a little child, a big girl, big woman, etc, we are all thirsty for appeciation.

Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

AQUARIUS; Early part of the day may bring you good opportunity along your business/business lines. Work and your health must be taken very seriously PISCES; Like yesterday the Moon will operate from your Star sign again to the betterment of your cause.

Think of both your immediate and far future now.

ARIES You can still count on the supports of your tried and trusted friends. But it’s imperative you keep secrets as much as you can positively do.

TAURUS; The more receptive and willing you are to give and take co-operation the better for you today.

It’s wrong of you to neglect your friends in need now.

GEMINI; You’ll have the needed opportunity to consolidate on progress you have recorded yesterday along your career/business lines. Try to work harder.

CANCER; Element of luck will work favourably for you. Therefore you’re advised to expand the scope of your tentacle for better results. It’s another fairly favourable day for lovers who are more enterprising today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; Joining forces with other people is not a sin but it’s important everybody knows the clear term of the venture , be it of short or longer duration. Be very practical.

VIRGO; Many of you’ll travel either physically or within your mind; whichever one you’re involved with the out come will be favourable. Be more receptive, especially if your priority is commercial success. Take your new ideas more seriously today.

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

BASIC CHARA CTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS OF A QU ARIUS AQU QUARIUS Aquarius is ruled by freedom loving Uranus-the planet of unpredictability, eccentricity and genius.

Aquarius is friendly, loving, hopeful and very altruistic in nature. That is why they are nice persons who truly care for others, especially the less fortunate ones. They are loyal friend willing to belong to powerful social clubs or reasonable community.

The quality of Aquarius is fixed. That means it is important for them to watch the way they change their minds on important issues; Uranus factor makes all Aquarius natives freedom loving and whoever tries to impose any idea on you will be resented The element of Aquarius is the air. That makes you an intelligent person with fair share of sense of humour. Aquarius is the star sign that rules considerable social influence, and the natives of this star have better chances to have at least some influential friends. Then, Aquarians are truly good friends and bad enemies; it is not in the best interest of anybody to frustrate an Aquarian..

Aquarius being a scientific sign. Aquarians can be inventive. Any Aquarian who falls to take his sudden flashes of ideas seriously is doom (to fail eventually) because, Uranus the ruler of Aquarius, usually bring success to Aquarians unexpectedly through ideas that come suddenly, and unexpected luck usually accompany their sudden inspiration and/or ideas.

The most dangerous weak points of Aquarian are the tendencies to procrastinate things and willingness to take opponents or enemies for granted I mean you must not believe that some body you might have had heated argument with will not try to undermine your progress after what will look like intervention of peace makers.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Edo: Civil society group lauds INEC, security agencies, others

Ikot Akpan Udo crisis: Community rejects c'ttee's report

T

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

O

NE of the Civil Socie ty groups that monitored the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State, CLEEN FOUNDATION, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies as well as the people of Edo State for the peaceful conduct of the election.

The group also commended the JUSTICE FOR ALL, J4A, programme of the United Kingdom Government Department for International Development, DfiD, for its generous support towards the observation of the election.

The foundation in its statement on the conduct of security officials during the Edo State governorship election, however, recommended that INEC’s logistics deployment strategy should be improved upon while the terrain and peculiarity of the environment should be studied before elections.

DINNER—From left: Former Education Minister, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi; his guest, Rotary International President, Mr. Sakuji Tanaka and District Governor, District 9125 Nigeria, Rotn Felix Obadan during a dinner hosted in honour of the Rotary helmsman by Gbagi at his Asokoro residence, Abuja, weekend. Pix: Abayomi Adeshida .

Former Education Minister, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi (right) watched as his guest, Rotary International President, Mr. Sakuji Tanaka dance to a traditional Delta performance.

N100,00 bribe: Delta community petitions IG

HE embattled Ikot Ak pan Udo community in Ukpum Ete clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, said it has rejected the recommendations proposed in the report of the Adhoc Peace and Reconciliation Committee set up by the state government, stressing that the adhoc committee not only performed its assignment perfunctorily but also did so with predetermined conclusions even before it embarked on it.

Rising from a meeting at Ikot Akpan Udo on Sunday, the community said the recommendations were not realistic and that the community was insisting on the relocation of the Amazaba Andonis who hired mercenaries to destroy the community and kill 13 of her citizens four years ago.

The community said in a statement signed by the Village Head, Chief Oscar Abel, that during the sittings of the Adhoc Committee at Ikwa in Ikot Abasi LGA, there was no time that Ikot Akpan Udo agreed to live together with the Amazaba Andonis as claimed, adding that the committee might have been influenced by unknown considerations to turn in

Cleric urges Nigerians to eschew violence

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE In spector General of Police has been petitioned by the people of Edjophe community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, over alleged forceful demand and collection of N100,000 bribe from one Chief Vincent Sito by the Divisional Crime Officer (name withheld) of the Otu-Jeremi Police Divisional Headquarters for the bail of six members of the community.

The petition written by their solicitor, P. O. Onota, ESQ said the six persons were invited to the Otu-Jeremi police station on July 9, 2012 over alleged assault of two persons (names withheld).

Two persons, according to the petition allegedly dealing on Indian hemp in the community, claimed that Mr Efe Onodeku and Mr. Jeremiah Ovwere were flogged after they refused to leave the area on the orders of the community.

The petition noted that six persons (Mr. Blessing Ogberetini, Mr. Double, Mr. Christopher Kpotogri, Mr. Blessing Kevwe, Mr. Ogbo, Mr. Moses, Miss Helen and Mr. Peogeot) were invited by the police after Mr

Efe Onodeku and Mr. Jeremiah Ovwere reported a case of assault against them.

According to the petition, the six persons were refused bail until the community was forced to part with

N100, 000, lamenting that effort by the President- General of the community, Mr. Sunday Mrakpor and Mr. Vincent Sito, to make the DCO to release them without payment of the N100, 000 yielded no result.

Unpaid salary: Minister summons Promasidor, labour leaders

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

M

INISTER of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, and labour leaders in the nation’s Food and Beverage sector are to meet in Abuja, today over refusal of the company to pay workers for the three weeks it locked them out in June.

Organised labour is threatening to declare industrial actions on the company to compel Mr. Keith Richard-led management to pay workers their wages.

While Mr. Richard is insisting that the workers must forfeit their pay for the three weeks the management locked them out, workers are saying the management must pay to avoid industrial unrest.

Though the Lagos office of the Labour Ministry and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, has waded into the lingering dispute which led to the opening of the company after a three-week management lock-out, the management is said to have refused to honour the agreement reached.

Before this development,

organized labour under the umbrella of National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, had given the management up to last Thursday to pay the workers or face industrial unrest.

NUFBTE, in a letter to the Managing Director of Promasidor, dated July 5, 2012, asked the MD to stop misinforming workers of the current position of things, by telling them that the company is waiting for a pronouncement, and pay the workers their full salaries to save the company from another avoidable industrial unrest.

such a predetermined report.

The community said it will not sign any memorandum of understanding with the Amazaba Andonis as recommended, noting that doing so would offer the Amazaba Andonis another opportunity to unleash fresh mayhem that would exterminate the remnants of Ikot Akpan Udo and take away their land.

The statement added that the Eastern Obolo local government council had always asked for a delineated boundary with her neighbours in Ikot Abasi and Mkpatenin local governement areas, stressing that the Akpan Udo river shall serve as that boundary with Ikot Abasi LGA, while the Amazaba Andonis should be moved to Otunene and Ememen island which is within Eastern Obolo LGA as a permanent solution to the incessant boundary clashes.

Chief Abel asked: “How will Eastern Obolo local government council administer Amazaba if it is brought back to Ikot Akpan Udo land in Ikot Abasi local government area? It is not done, and will offer another opportunity for blood bath in this district. The government should resolve this matter finally by separating the two disparate and disagreeable peoples.”

N

IGERIANS have been urged to eschew violence and follow the path of peace in the current security challenges facing the nation.

This call was made by a cleric, HRH Ifeoluwa, Founder and Spiritual Leader of Ifeoluwa Mission (Chrislam), while briefing newsmen on the state of the nation in Lagos on Sunday Ifeoluwa, who propagates Chrislam, which according to him is the panacea for total peace in the world said, “For peace to reign in the country, I appeal to Nigerians, especially the Boko Haram sect and its supporters to calm down. The best option for them should be dialogue so that our country is not plunged into chaos. Nigeria is the most beautiful country in the world I can think of".

God gave us everything as a nation to be successful, if only we can allow peace to reign. Boko Haram is not the problem, rather the problems of Nigeria lie within us. We should

correct perceived anomalies amongst us as individuals. You as a person do you really love you neighbour?

You cannot get justice, especially if you are poor. We should look inwards to solve our problems. Too much corruption, favouritism, nepotiism pervade the land.”

While tracing the problems of the country since independence, the fiery preacher said, “President Goodluck Jonathan is not the problem of Nigeria. Although he has not exhibit any forms of action to tackle the country’s problems.

The cause of Nigeria’s problems is the former military Heads of State that had ruled this country at one point or the other. Some of them are still living. They should close ranks, forgive one another and solve the problems they created.

They should put the interest of the country above individual’s interest because this county is greater than any person. He also advised Nigerians to always put make positive comments about the country instead of negative things or wanting to run the county down.”

Vanguard,

Y 17, 2012 TUESD AY , JUL TUESDA JULY

— 41

Zuma heads A U commission as troops hit Al-Shabaah AU S

OUTH African diplo mat and doctor Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been elected to become the first female head of the African Union Commission, ending a leadership battle that had threatened to divide the organisation. DlaminiZuma, South Africa’s home affairs minister and an ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma, on Sunday defeated incumbent Jean Ping of Gabon, who had been at the helm of the Commission, the AU’s steering body, since 2008.

Dlamini-Zuma, a 63year-old who has previously served as minister of health and foreign affairs, had to undergo three voting rounds before Ping, 69, was finally eliminated.

A final confidence vote of 37 in favour gave her the

60 per cent majority she needed to be elected.

“Now we have the African Union chair Madame Zuma, who will preside over the destiny of this institution,” Benin’s president and current AU chairman Thomas Boni Yayi said. The contest to head the Commission of the 54-member AU had been deadlocked since last year, with neither Dlamini-Zuma nor Ping winning a two-thirds majority.

This came as African Union and Somali troops captured the strategic town of Afgoye from alQaeda-linked al-Shabab fighters without major resistance, declaring a military breakthrough, officials have said.

“We have crossed the River Shabelle and we are now there in Afgoye. We

•Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma hold the town,” AU army spokesman Paddy Ankunda said on Friday.

BY EVELYN USMAN

N

IGERIA is to send a new batch of 6000 officers and men to re-

didate had either lied to the public or misrepresented “his position at Bain to the SEC, which is a felony,” by saying he had left the company in 1999. Romney gave five network interviews to defend himself, stating the Obama campaign had gone “out of control.”

R

•Obama trail. “Harry Truman said ‘the buck stops with me,’ and I think understandably people are going to be interested in are you in fact responsible for this company you say is one of your primary calling cards for your wanting to be President,” he said.

On Thursday an Obama campaign manager upped the ante on Romney’s final days at Bain Capital by suggesting the Republican can-

YRIAN troops and rebels battled inside Damascus for a second day in some of the worst violence in the tightly controlled capital since the country’s crisis began 16 months ago.

The fighting yesterday briefly closed the highway linking the capital with Damascus International Airport to the city’s south and plumes of black

smoke drifted over the city’s skyline. “Mortar shelling resumed in the early morning,” the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), a grass roots network of activists, said. Reuters news agency said the crackle of small arms fire echoed through the streets of the city. This came as the Syrian government declared the Moroccan ambassador an

place its contigent to the United Nation Peace keeping mission in Dafur , Western Sudan.

The troop which is setto depart soon will replace the four battalions 6,000 officers and men who returned to the country at weekend, having spent six months on peace keeping in the wartorn region.

Representative of the Director of Peace Keeping Operations, Army headquarters, Major Igwe Omoke, who was on ground to welcome the last batch of 1600 officers and men from 12Field Engineers Regiment

(FER),based in Ijebu Ode, said another four battalions was been sent to be replace those that have been recalled.

He said that as long as the understanding between the United Nation and Sudan’s government with the Nigerian Army remained, Nigerian troop would remain in Darfur the Western region of Sudan torn by strife. He explained that 11 FER Zaria , would be replacing 12 FER in Dafur while 244 battalion would be replaced by 15 FER, Badagry.

Major Omoke whose mandate is to ensure the

after an improvement in his health,” his office said in a statement yesterday.

On July 4, Mahmud had ordered the formation of a committee of medical experts to look into the 84-year-old Mubarak’s health, and determine whether he

could be moved back to prison, deputy prosecutor general Adel alSaeed said. The doctors agreed that “Mubarak’s health is currently stable with medication, and it is considered good for someone of his age,” Saeed said.

H

country ’s leaders.The pair spoke at a press conference in Jerusalem yesterday, with Clinton saying that she and Israeli leaders would discuss

smooth rotation of troops going and coming from Dafur, assured that the troop would fare well in Dafur , as the men and officers had been trained for the purpose. “ We have a Nigerian Army peace keeping centre in Jaji, Kaduna which is a United Nation recognized training institute,where peace keeper Army battalion selected to go for peace keeping are trained for one month .

Thereafter, they will be moved to our Forward Operating Base in Abuja from where they will proceed to the mission area”

Mubarak goes back to prison E

GYPT’S prosecutor general have ordered Hosni Mubarak, the convicted former president, back to prison nearly a month after he was moved to a military hospital in Cairo after reportedly suffering a stroke.

Abdel Meguid Mahmud “has issued an order to transfer former president Hosni Mubarak from the Maadi Armed Forces Hospital to Tora prison hospital

Syria: Battle for Damascus intensifies

S

that AU troops had also secured the roads leading from Afgoye, which controls a key route from southern Somalia to the capital. “There is some shooting here and there, but mostly it is calm ... We control all the road junctions out of Afgoye,” he said.

More than 400,000 people were living in the Afgoye region at the start of the year, the world’s largest concentration of displaced people, according to the UN.

Nigeria replaces peace keepers to Sudan

Obama puts Romney on defence EPUBLICANS con tinue to call on President Obama and his campaign to give an apology for questioning Mitt Romney’s role at Bain Capital. They won’t be getting one. “No, we won’t be apologizing,” the president said in an interview aired today.

“Sometimes these games are played during political campaigns. Understand what the issues are here: Mr Romney claims he’s Mr. Fix-it for the economy because of his business experience, so I think voters entirely legitimately want to know what is exactly his business experience.” Speaking to NBC’s Richmond, Va., affiliate station, WAVY-TV, Obama invoked a past White House occupant in an argument he has used for days on the campaign

“We have been fighting since Tuesday to achieve this objective and we

have achieved it now.”

“There was some brief resistance but we have crushed that,” said Somali army commander Mohamed Abdullah.

Columns of AU and Somali troops backed by tanks launched the longawaited attack on Afgoye four days ago, marching northwest 30km from the capital Mogadishu to the town, an area crowded with displaced people.

“The Shabab are fleeing the town, they are running away into the bush,” said Ankunda, adding

unwelcome person in the country in response to Rabat’s decision to expel its envoy.Morocco asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the North African country calling for a transition to democracy that would meet the Syrian people’s aspirations for freedom. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been struggling to crush a 17month revolt against his rule.

•Mubarak

Clinton meets Israeli President

ILLARY Clinton, the US secretary of state, has met President Shimon Peres in Israel, in one of a series of meetings planned with the

•Hillary Clinton and Shimon Peres

“broad range of matters, including Egypt and Syria, peace efforts, Iran, other regional and global issues.”Protest crowds have greeted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet Egypt’s newly elected president, Mohamed Morsi, and support the country’s “full transition” to civilian rule. Clinton flew to Israel from Egypt, where she held talks on Saturday with Morsi, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader, who told her Egypt will respect its international treaties.

C M Y K

42—V anguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 17, 2012 42—Vanguard, TUESDA JULY

Pregnancy no longer a death sentence in Ondo State

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

T

EARS of joy accompanying safe delivery is fast becoming common place in communities across Ondo state. Pregnancy is no longer the death sentence it used to be some years back.

Interestingly, it is almost like a competition among women in the state to get pregnant and even among those who had earlier stopped child bearing.

Women are having a rethink and going back to the labour ward following the string of safe deliveries being witnessed across the state in recent times.

The Abiye /Mother and Child Hospital initiative introduced by the State government is playing a major role in this development.

Each day, at least 25 safe deliveries are recorded at the State MCH in Akure.

Prior to the advent of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration in 2008, the World Bank had declared Ondo State as having the worst maternal and child health indices in the South West zone of Nigeria.

Public health facilities Also, a baseline survey conducted by the state showed that only 16 per cent of patients who register at the public health facilities came back to deliver there while the remaining 84 per cent patronised traditional birth attendants and faith-based organisations. This, however, increased the number of maternal and child deaths in the state.

But the good news today, is that the challenge has been surmounted all impossibilities to become one of the states in Nigeria where pregnancy is no longer seen as the easiest way to die but rather a better place to be a mother.

This has been the trend ever since the Ondo State Government blazed the trail with the establishment of Abiye safe motherhood project and establishment of ultra modern Mother & Child hospitals specifically dedicated for ensuring survival

,

The progress witnessed by the state in the area of maternal health earned it the World Bank recognition - a first in the history of Nigeria and the entire African continent

,

•Beneficiaries of the improved Ondo State Mother and Child Hospital initiative in Akure, during a post natal clinic day.

of children and their mothers before and during pregnancy as well as after delivery in 2009.

Today in Ondo, the maternal mortality ratio is put at 100 per 100,000 live births, also within two years of the projects the State has drastically reduced maternal and child mortality ratio in the state with 30 per cent.

The progress witnessed by the

state in the area of maternal health earned it the World Bank recognition - a first in the history of Nigeria and the entire African continent.

The Abiye project of the state was said to be a bold paradigm shift from what obtained previously because it sought to bring qualitative and effective healthcare services to people

where they live, work and play.

If the tempo in the state is maintain, the state may be awarded the 2012 Bill Gates leadership award.

Statistics show that between October 2009 when the project was launched and June 30th, 2012, a total of 12,676 deliveries were taken, out of which 11,832

women delivered naturally and 1,844 by Caesarean Section.

However, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ibiyemi who spoke to Good Health Weekly during a tour of health projects in Akure has this to say, “It has never happened in this state before but today we come in and pay nothing but get quality services. This baby I am carrying was born just yesterday, through CS it is not up to 24 hours but I am already on my feet. If it were in the private hospitals, I would have paid through my nose.”

Critical observers say, one factor that may have earned the state this enviable status on maternal health may not be unconnected with its strategies to ensuring follow ups and reducing the delay in seeking qualitative care when complications arise.

To address this, Medical Director of the Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, MCHA, Dr. Lawal Oyeneyin said the state trained 50 Health Rangers, who in turn train Community Health extension workers to track at least 25 registered pregnant women till delivery even if it meant visiting them in their homes.

Each ranger or health facility is equipped with means of vehicular movement and evacuation of patients ranging from customised motorcycles to tricycle and 4-wheeled ambulances, adding that speedboat ambulances have Continued on Page 43

Nigeria pledges $33.4m for family planning services

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

I

N furtherance of its commitment towards enhancing access of voluntary family planning services to an additional 120 million women and girls in Nigeria and the rest of the world's poorest countries by 2020, the Federal government has announced a total financial commitment of US$33.4 million (N5.2104 billion) towards ensuring availability of reproductive health services and family planning commodities,

• Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate

over the next four years.

Making the announcement during the London Summit on Family Planning co-hosted by the UK Government's Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Minister of State for Health,Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria was fully committed to meeting unmet needs for reproductive health services and commodities, including family planning.

Pate who spoke at the global event on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan observed: "In addition to our current annual commitment of US$3 million for the procurement of reproductive health commodities, we are now committing to provide an additional US$8,350,000 annually over the next four years, making a total of US$33,400,000 over the next four years. This is an increase of 300 percent."

The Minister stated that the Nigerian government was committed to increasing the awareness and demand for family planning and reproductive health services by

women regardless of their socioeconomic status.

"In our quest to save one million lives in Nigeria by 2015, we consider all lives have equal value. The Federal Government of Nigeria remains fully committed to meeting unmet needs for reproductive health services and commodities, including family planning. This will be done in an integrated, collaborative manner.

His words: "Within the context of our desire to enhance maternal and child survival, as well as accelerate our demographic transition, we are committed to achieving the goal of a contraceptive prevalence rate of 36 percent by 2018. Achieving this goal will mean averting at least 31,000 maternal deaths.

Over 700,000 mothers will be prevented from injuries or longterm complications due to childbirth."

Pate affirmed that for Nigeria to reap its demographic dividend and fulfill aspiration for it to become one of the world's largest 20 economies by 2020, there is need for purposeful government

effort to meet the currently unmet need for family planning commodities, enhance education of both girls and boys and empower our women.

"We recognize that in Nigeria, the average total fertility for uneducated women is more than twice that of women who have had above secondary education.

Thus, girl-child education remains an important area of focus to improve reproductive health and reduce maternal and child mortality.

"We are focused to save the lives of mothers and children from preventable causes and consider family planning a life-saving intervention. This effort is important for our country to reap its demographic dividend in the years to come," he stated.

An unprecedented effort showcasing innovative partnerships and leadership at the country level, empowering women to reach their full potential, the Summit underscored the importance of access to contraceptives as both a right and a transformational health and development priority.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 17, 2012 — 43 TUESDA JULY

Pregnancy no longer death sentence in Ondo Continued from Page 42 been earmarked for riverine areas.

Oyeneyin said to facilitate communication, individual mobile phones on a toll free caller-user group platform were provided for the pregnant women and their caregivers.

He recalled that the 2008 declaration by the World Bank that the state had the worst maternal and child health indices in the South West Zone served as a matter of urgency a wake up call for the administration to undertake as a matter of urgency the total reform of what he described as” dysfunctional health system”.

Oyeneyin said the situation in the state informed the Abiye Safe motherhood project partly sponsored by the World Bank in 2009 to reduce child maternal mortality at least by 50 per cent and increase facility utilisation by 60 per cent.

He said the scaling up of Ondo State Safe motherhood programme tagged Abiye – plus is currently underway in the other 17 local government areas in phases.

It is expected that collation of impact statistics will be complete by December 2012. He pointed out that Abiye programme is structured to pragmatically address the impediments militating against ensuring that pregnancy is no longer a death sentence in Ondo State.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju said all the latest innovations in the state is hinged on improvement of maternal and child health in pursuit of the Millennium De-

velopment Goals, MDGs, 4 and 5.

Adeyanju noted that the Abiye safe motherhood project was sponsored by the World Bank and piloted in Ifedore Local Council with a mandate to develop sustainable, equity-based healthcare services that will provide universal access to the people.

He said healthcare service in Ondo State especially at the Mother and Child Hospitals under the Abiye safe motherhood programme is free for pregnant women, children under five, and elders above 70 years. “Our investment in these areas is a deliberate investment which is basically to improve the human development index. For us in Ondo State, we realised the fact that there is usually the rural and urban disparity in terms of maternal and under five mortality.”

Often times the disease burden is always in the rural areas and facilities are always located in the urban centres which also inform our citing of some major projects in the rural areas.”

•Team members of Ignite Scientific Group, Public Health Lecturer, Dr. Kemi Odukoya, National President Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Dr. Anthony Omolola, Ignite member, NIMR, Dr. Bartholomew Brai during Doctors’ Dinner organised by Ignite last Thursday.

FG repositions to meet MDG targets on water, food security

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

CALL has been made for demonstration of greater political will in funding and execution of projects in the water sector at Federal, state and local tiers of government so as to enable

Nigeria meet up targets of the Millennium Development Goals, water, food security and overall well-being of the population.

The call which came last week in Abuja, at the end of a 2-day collaborative meeting between Federal and state governments on strategies for completion of on-going

Group tasks NASS on Child Rearing Bill

A

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

GAINST the backdrop of the reduction in breastfeeding culture from 43 percent in 2005 to 18 per cent in recent times, the National Assembly has been urged to immediately pass into law the Child Rearing Bill as a strategy to support Nigerian mothers breastfeed their children appropriately and bring them up as responsible citizens.

Making the call last week in Lagos at a press conference to herald the 2012 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme: “Child Rearing Bill: An Antidote to Corruption and other Societal Ills”, National Coordination, Colostrum International, Dr. Bunmi Ogundimu also decried the indiscriminate sale of infant formula in the open market against the international code of breastfeeding substitute marketing.

Ogundimu attributed recent waves of crime and violence in the country as not being unconnected with the fact that mothers no longer breastfeed their infants, hence the loss of many of the benefits of breastfeeding which include the motherchild bonding.

She said breastfeeding would encourage bonding and instill family values apart from other developmental benefits and called on government at all levels to revisit the country’s child rearing practices by initiating deliberate policies, rules and regulations that would focus solely on production of qualitative citizenry.

According to her, with dramatically shift workforce, the Child Rearing Bill would cover areas such as two weeks maternity leave, six months breastfeeding leave, two weeks paternity leave, establishment of creche organizations and breast milk banks amongst others.

On the importance of six and half months breastfeeding leave, she argued that

Nigeria will find herself in good company if thie proposed elongated maternal leave with pay is approved.

Raising alarm on the indiscriminate sale of infant formula in the open markets, she explained that the International Code of Breastfeeding Substitute Marketing prohibits the sale of infant formula in the open market stating that in recent times manufacturers and markets in Nigeria have breached the code with impunity over the years.

Blaming the development on poor regulatory framework and lack of proper monitoring by agencies of government, she observed: “These companies deploy various strategies to give free samples to mothers at hospitals, an apparent negation of the baby friendly hospital initiative campaign propounded by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation.

“Infant formula should be classified

under prescription drugs to be made available to infants under certain conditions example where milk banks are not available. Sanctions should also be placed on erring marketers,” she noted.

She called for establishment of a Breast Milk Bank as special centres where nursing mothers with challenges can go to procure breast milk as the need arises.

Earlier, the General Secretary of Colostrum International, Mr. Ayo Dahunsi urged Nigerian mothers to embrace breastfeeding culture, so that in the next 15 years, Nigeria will begin to evolve a new nation free of violence. Activities to mark this year’s World Breastfeeding Week to include a road show to the Lagos State House of Assembly where the proposed Bill would be submitted for onward submission to the National Assembly, a seminar on breastfeeding and its benefits amongst others.

• From left: Mrs Susan Uko-Abasi, Project Co-ordinator, Truth for Change Initiative, Mother Edith Daniel, President, Mothers of Nations International Organisation, Dr Mrs Bunmi Ogundimu, Project Co-ordinator, Colostrum International and Peter Dahunsi, member, Colostrum International , at a news briefing to mark World Breastfeeding 2012 and the 10th anniversary of the organisation,

and abandoned projects in water sector, also identified the need for better repositioning and funding of the River Basin Development Authorities to play a pivotal role in bridging communication between the three levels of government; Participants at the meeting recognised the need for proper Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, of all water sector projects for effective project implementation and sustainability.

The meeting, with the theme “Coordination Meeting on Collaboration between the Federal and State Governments on Strategies for Completion of On-Going and Abandoned projects in Water Sector, was held at the instance of the National Economic Council, NEC directive to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to initiate a collaborative effort between Federal and State governments to address the worrisome issue of abandoned projects in the sector.

It aimed at taking stock of the successes and challenges of the Ministry in delivering its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), inventory of all on-going Federal Government water sector projects needing completion and the prioritized list of Federal government water sector projects for possible joint collaboration with the State governments in the short term (20122013), medium term (2012-2015) and long term (2012 - completion date beyond 2015).

Participants worried over the fact that Nigeria is currently off track on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) due to lack of coordination, abandonment and poor funding of various water projects across the nation and sought reaffirmation of the overriding importance of the water sector to national socio-economic development, i.e. agriculture, health, poverty alleviation and hydro-power generation. They decried the nonexistence of synergy and harmonization in project development efforts among at the three government levels which has perpetuated proliferation of new projects and called for better repositioning and funding of the River Basin Development Authorities to play a pivotal role in bridging communication between the three tiers of government.

44

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, JULY 17, 2012 TUESDA

Indulge inspires wellness through knowledge

BY NAOMI UZOR

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HE 2012 Indulge wellness work shop/seminar at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, was a good development in achieving wellness through knowledge about the topic “Know Your Risk: Silent Killer Illnesses and Diseases”, Managing Director/CEO, Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Bolaji Adebiyi, got participants rapt attention with his presentation on “Nutrition, Health, & Fitness: Key to Feel Good Principles”, introduced some hilarious charts that got participants reeling with laughter, but without losing the significant doctrine of how to feel good.

The Wellness Games segment exposed people to nutritional activity in terms of how to eat balanced and healthy combination of foods for good health.

Major obstacle to exercise has always been the ‘time’ factor. Hence participants were taken through different combination of exercise - aerobics, stretching and strength - that are possible while sitting at your office desk.

The practical demonstration of several stress triggers by participants was hilarious, without taking the seriousness out of daily stressors like ‘pick up and school drop’, house relocation, retirement, traffic, consistent power failure and stress of putting on generators, marriage, infidelity, housemaids and others, and their negative impact on people’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

The Marketing Director, Vitafoam, Mr. Peter Folikwe who spoke on ‘lifestyle activation’ hammered home the truth about the link between good restful sleep and a good mattress. Neimeth presented the AZ of Hypertension, and solidified with reading of participants’ BP – a few got the shock of their lives with a high BP analysis. The segment ‘Personal Hygiene and Wellness’ was highly participatory, dramatic and fun, and within the same breath highlighting the critical connection between oral, body, hair, and skin care and self-esteem and confidence.

All hail the mighty mung A

N American couple that I know was having health problems and the wife decided to change their eating habits and even some of the foods they were eating even though her husband wasn’t totally agree with the decision. Her desire was to decrease the amount of food they were eating while increasing the amount of meals eaten during the day.

During her research she looked to combine foods that would allow the elimination commercial artificially grown red meat, and limit the intake of lighter white meat and fish while satisfying the bodies need for proteins, vitamins, and essential nutrients that are contained in meats.

She was encouraged when she found a bean that possessed a high energy potential along with good amounts of fiber and protein, and also high in essential vitamins and minerals.

The bean is also low in carbs, sugars, and fat. Excited, she added it to a vegetable smoothie for breakfast, in sprout form on her salad for lunch, and steamed for the light dinner meal. Her husband, liking the taste and versatility, joined in her culinary exploits and even enjoyed

Julia Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

munching on the raw bean as part of a raw mix for the small between meal snacks.

Looking for that one food that you can eat the seeds raw, eat the sprouts either raw or cooked, and the beans cooked? Say hello to the Mung bean. I know – what’s that, I’ve never heard of it, where do I find them? Well they are more popular than you think, available in most Asian foods and vegetable stands in the sprout form. They go well in soup, as a garnish, or as part of a fresh vegetable mix. The raw beans can be stored in a container and eaten whole or ground and the cooked bean can be mixed with other cooked vegetables or served alone. The nice thing about Mung beans is that, as an ingredi-

T

BY EMMANUAEL ELEBEKE

NAFDAC rewards safety club members, seeks support

T

• From left: Chairman Emergency Response Group, Dr, Nnamdi Nnauwa, with the Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, lagos, Dr. Wahab Yinusa and the The Group Medical Director, Reddington Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, during a training programme for medical personnel on emergency response.

Experts task global community on mHealth, high MMR HE unacceptably high maternal mor tality and morbidity in the country would be curbed if essential prenatal care, skilled attendants, and trained midwives supported by trained Traditional Birth Attendants and emergency medical transport, are based in clean, well equipped facilities, with essential medications, and specialist care for life-threatening complications.

Medical experts from Matercare International, MCI specialists with the Global obstetrical Community under the aegis of World Federation of Catholic Medical Association, FIAMC, at the international scientific conference/7th Annual General Meeting in Lagos with the theme:”Marshall Plans for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Nigeria,” lamented the unchecked trend that the international community has made poor progress at improving maternal health, especially in the world’s most desperate regions.

In his submission, Founder, MCI, Dr. Robbert Walley noted: “There is basically a lack of compassion, innovation, a conspiracy of silence and an inappropriate reliance on reproductive health which is irrelevant to reducing 91 percent of the

ent, the recipes for their use is somewhat endless.

As versatile as the bean is in cooking, it is also just as versatile in growing. Not only can it be grown all over the world it can also be grown in your kitchen. Known to sprout in as little as one day, check with your local gardening professional for helpful tips on growing in your climate and soil conditions. The mighty Mung bean has been around for thousands of years and successfully grown on many continents including Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe.

Next week we will explore some really tasty fruits, but until then – enjoy!!

direct obstetrical causes of maternal mortality. “ Reiterating the commitment of MCI at providing lifesaving services to mothers in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, Walley urged the international community to implement the Charter of maternal rights, the first since 1930, which lays out what is required in order to prevent 91 percent of maternal deaths developed by MCI. In his paper entitled “ Using mHealth to Improve Maternal Health in Nigeria”, a Senior analyst, at Altarum Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, Mr. Charles Nwasor examined the prospects of leveraging Mobile Health (mHealth) in transforming the delivery of maternal health services.

He observed that the state of maternal health in Nigeria is prime for disruption if the high rate of deaths and injuries that occur due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth must be stemmed.

“Nigeria is second only to India as the most hazardous place in the world for expectant mother, with only about 2.2 percent of the world’s population/ Nigeria bears 14 percent of the global burden of maternal deaths. This means that roughly 109 Nigerian women and girls die every

day; while at least another 20 suffer severe physiological injuries for every one of those deaths. Yet these numbers, however grim, are likely underreported because of the high incidence of non-facility based birth attendants,” he posited.

Noting that Nigeria had over the last decade, recorded a high positive number in the use of mobile telephony, he added it creates an opportunity to disruptive innovation by capitalising on the high penetration rate of low-cost mobile technology to enhance the delivery of maternal health services in the country.

Nwasor said mobile technologies would transform healthcare by improving the reach, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare services.

For him, mHealth can have more lasting impact on the way care is accessed, delivered, and advanced, when combined with other health information technologies like electronic health records systems.

Earlier, President, Catholic Doctors Association of Nigeria, Lady Henrietta Williams urged Nigerians to plug into the various well meaning initiatives thrown up by both government and other agencies to curb the growing cases of maternal death.

HE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC has rewarded members of the NAFDAC Consumers Safety Club, NCSC, in Ekiti State for their efforts in taking the messages and ideals of the Agency to the grassroots.

The programme, which held at Christ’s School Hall, was graced by members of the NCSC drawn from different secondary schools across the state.

Speaking at the occasion, the State Coordinator, Mr. Francis Ononiwu, said NAFDAC started the NCSC to colloborate with students who are to take the messages of the Agency to their colleagues and parents, most especially in the rural areas.

Ononiwu described members of the club as the Agency’s foot soldiers who would help in disseminating information about the activities of NAFDAC. He pledged that fakers and those who adulterate regulated products would have no hiding place, as the Agency would not relent in its efforts at tracking them down.

He stated that the setting up of a National Pharmacovigilance Centre was to help in monitoring adverse drug reactions in people.

Explaining how the system would work, Ononiwu said anybody who buys a drug that leads to adverse drug reactions should take such drug to the point of purchase and the pharmacist who sells will fill a form to help in tracing the source of the drug.

In her remarks, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Niyi Abegunde, said the establishment of the NCSC was timely and a good step in the right direction.

Also, Representatives of Bakers and Producers of packaged water, Chief Bosun Osaloni and Mr. Femi Ogundipe, lauded the efforts of NAFDAC. noting that the activities of the Agency had helped in safeguarding the lives of Nigerians, as adulterated products were being phased out.

V anguard, TUESD AY, JUL Y 17, 2012—45 Vanguard, TUESDA JULY

Pfizer, LASG partner to improve mental health services

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

I

N the bid to position mental healthcare as priority through the training/equipping of General Practitioners and primary care physicians in the diagnosis and management of mental health disorders, the Lagos state government in partnership with Pfizer, last week commenced the “Prime MD” – an initiative aimed at building the skills of healthcare practitioners in the diagnosis and management of depression and

anxiety in the state.

Last week, at the skills building workshop held for 160 medical practitioners in the area of mental health, Medical Director, Pfizer Nigeria, Ghana and East Africa Region, NEAR, Dr. Kodjo Soroh, said depression is a global health concern and efforts have been on to enable primary care and general practitioners play key roles in the diagnosis and treatment, hence the whole idea was to bring access to effective mental healthcare services closer to Lagosians especially at

the grassroots.

“Pfizer went into partnership with the Lagos State government so that the medical personnel at the primary level will be equipped with knowledge and skills to make proper diagnosis of mental disorders, especially as and many of these doctors do not have the appropriate skills,” he remarked. Further, Soroh observed that research has shown that 80 percent of mental cases are in the rural areas. “The Lagos state government is the first to take mental health to the grass-

• FromL-R: Medical Director, Pfizer, Nigeria and East Africa Region (NEAR), Dr. Kodjo Soroh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile, Mental Health Desk Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and Senior Lecturer/Consultant Psychatrist, Lagos State University of Medicine, Dr. Rotimi Coker, during the Pfizer/Lagos State Partner on Training to Improve Mental Diagnosis, held at the Main Auditorium, NECA House, Alausa Ikeja.

roots. We know that at that level, the first person the patient sees is the General Practitioner, and this initiative is to empower the GP in such a way that he can make proper diagnosis.”

Further, Soroh said: “In mental illness there are the predisposing factors, the perpetuating factors and the precipitating factors. Insecurity can precipitate chronic anxiety, and just grieving can precipitate mental illness.

The skills being acquired through this partnership is also for counselling and sharing information about anxiety and depression and to make early diagnosis and seek treatment and counselling in good time.”

In a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile said the recently adopted Mental Health Policy will activate and enhance existing capabilities of mental health facilities and human resources.

He said the government was committed t o activating the prim a r y health in each of the 57 local government and local council developm e n t areas to offer 24 hours pri-

mary health services including mental healthcare services.

Olugbile explained that government is building a stakeholders’ community to include nongovernmental organisations and private entities like Pfizer to assist in the implementation of the policy and strategies.

Also speaking on the initiative, Mental Health Desk Officer, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe said in October 2011, the state government announced a mental health policy which is a statement of intention. “What we are trying to do in the state is to ensure that the Primary Healthcare centres, have capacity to identify and diagnose mental health problems.

If people are able to get quick attention, the mental health institutions would be decongested and there would be fewer people roaming the streets. Mental health is a tenet of primary healthcare, but it has been ignored.

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46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Lagos rolls out new fines for traffic offences •Operators react

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

BY the time Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, finally signs into law the new bill that will repeal and reenact the road traffic law and make provisions for road traffic

and vehicle inspection in the state, motorists and commercial motorcyclists, popularly called “Okada” including bullion van drivers, might be in for a very tough time with law enforcement agencies in the state.

The Lagos State House of Assembly, last Thursday, July 12,

passed the bill , ready for Fashola’s assent.

The bill which emanated from the executive arm, is aimed at regulating vehicular movement and to impose strict sanctions and enforcement on any erring vehicle operator in the state.

OFFENCE PENALTY 1.riding a motor-cycle against traffic 2. riding on the kerb, median or road setbacks 1st time offender – N20,000.00 subsequent offender N30,000.00 or the riders motor-cycle will be impounded 3.one way driving 3year jail term after psychiatric examination 4. Smoking while driving N20,000.00 fine 5.failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout N20,000.00 fine 6.disobeying traffic control N20,000.00 7.violation of route by commercial vehicles N20,000.00 fine.

8. Riding motor-cycle without crash helmet for rider and passenger N20,000: 00 or 3years imprisonment or both.

9. under aged person, under 18yrs old riding a motorcycle N20,000.00.

10.driving without valid driver’s license. vehicle to be impounded.

11.Learner driver without permit N20,000.00 12. driving with fake number plate 1st offender N20,000.00 and 6 month imprisonment or both.

Stakeholders’ react

A

CCORDING to Nurudeen Owodunni, a motorist; “for me, I support the decision of the state government. This is because Nigerians especially motorists need laws like this to abide by the traffic law of the state. The havoc created by one way driving is more than the benefit that it may bring to those engaging in it. It causes accidents and it is the genesis of traffic in Lagos state. But the aspect of the law that states jail term for anyone who drives against traffic is cruel. If the government is bent on going ahead with the law, they should also not spare officers of the Nigerian Army, police and other security agencies in the state.

Mr. Gbenga Adebayo “For me it is good because it will bring sanity to Lagos roads. They should arrest and impound any vehicles caught driving against the traffic in the state.

A commercial driver, Mr. Samuel Anthony, “the government should not think of introducing such law because those who drive against the traffic do not do it out of proportion but because they are frustrated with the level of traffic in the state caused by bad roads. Whenever it rains in Lagos, larger percent of roads in the state will not be motor able.

Before the rain, some of these roads are in poor condition. And

when it rains, the some sections of the road are totally out of use because it is either water-logged or damaged by the flood.

Mr. Ishaq Jato, “Before the law can be effective, there is need for the government to provide certain things. First, the state government needs to revitalise the water and rail transport system to serve as alternative means of transportation in the state.

Mr Andrew Oke, an Okada rid-

er, said: “Lagos state is looking for a way to ban us the Okada that is why they are coming out with this stringent law. It is unnecessary and anti people. If a ban is placed on Okada operation, movement within the congested city of Lagos will be hampered while many will be thrown into unemployment market. We are not armed robbers. After all, many of the Okada riders are unemployed graduates.”

Traders, residents cry as soldiers take over security at Kirikiri prisons

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

T

HE extra security measures taken by the Federal Government in forestalling any possible attack on the Kirikiri Prison, may be taking its tolls on residents and traders of the area following the deployment of soldiers from the 81 Division Lagos, to guard the prison.

Traders at the Kirikiri market and those at the Prison Officers Wives Association shopping complex told Vanguard yesterday that, soldiers and armed prison warden officials had ordered them to close their shops on or before 9: pm daily.

This may telling hard on traders of the area who were used to staying late at their shops. Kunle

Adeshola a trader at the Kirikiri Bus-stop, who spoke with Vanguard said, “ the solders asked us not to stay in our shops longer than 9:pm, but they wouldn’t explain why they took the decision . I really don’t think our market poses any threat to their prison, but we can’t stand against their order because we are all scared.”

Other residents who spoke to Vanguard also lamented that the new measures will affect them negatively. Charity Eguma a resident of Comfort Obort street said, “ I don’t know how they expect us to cope with this new directive. This is the only market where we buy our food stuffs.

Closing it by 9.pm is unacceptable”

A suya vendor in Lagos

Slow down food, lemm

BY DAVID EMEKA KALU AS Ramadan approaches, David Emeka Kalu, a poet and freelance journalist in this humourous piece, “Slow Down Food, Lemme Catch Up Witcha!”, writes about discovering Lagos’s street delicacies and authentic local cuisine

“M

y life looked good on paper – where, in fact, almost all of it was being lived.”

I felt I had just been defined, my amorphous existence sharply outlined, reading those words of Martin Amis’ amidst the manuscript-weighted, book-lined shelves of my writing room.

The consolidation of memory, the recalling of consciousness from the universe of my present novel. I went through that surrealistic process, realizing like one awakening from a coma the length of my disappearance from pubic affairs. Total absorption will do that to a writer. Morph you into a Rip van Winkle. From being long subjected to the creative photosynthesis that bends the artist inwards towards the sun of his craft, at the price of exclusion from time’s passage through the terrain. Patting my manuscript, whispering promises of a quick return, I tore myself from the realm of heroic characters in fabricated cit-

ies, leapt forward before I could change my mind, and fell through the stars in a purple and yellow galaxy to Lagos lying just outside my door.

I felt I was still in free fall, tumbling through green and brown clouds, being driven through the highways of Lagos. Ah, but Saladin Chamcha survived his plummet from an airplane. Why not I, mine through Lagos with its dense population of wonders and people from all over the world?

I did not mention this daredevil fall was made by light of a gibbous moon in whose beams Lagos Island shimmered anachronistically.

Close circuit cameras Driving past estates surrounded by high concrete walls, the kind fitted in bygone eras with battlements, now fitted with close circuit cameras, I wondered what those dwelling within were concealing from public glare.

Acclimatization tours in oncefamiliar now-strange locations instil all sorts of thirsts and hungers. Nostalgic thirsts and hungers. But my skin was thick; I was inured. In this, the city of FESTAC 77, the festival that celebrated the histories and cultures of Africa putting them on display for the world. The city with a street

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012— 47

serious-minded fast food joints.

Chicken Republic, Nandos and KFC were the Obas now. But I didn’t feel like a burger or chicken and chips. My ptyalin was effervescing for something more traditional.

I could have a dinner of sizzling suya bought fresh off the grill and served with sliced onions and juicy tomatoes. I could get this from any of the numerous aboki at every other street corner. If it were yet afternoon I could dine on boli, a meal of roasted ripe plantains served with peanuts.

Driving past Eko Lé Meridien hotel I came across another type of fast food: instant noodles prepared by street side vendors in broad moonlight and served up with omelettes or sardines in melamine plates.

Roadside Noodles vendor

me catch up witcha named Queen’s Drive in honour of Queen Elizabeth and the drive she took here on her visit to hand over Nigeria for self-governance.

The city of the assassination of Murtala Mohammed, a military Head of State many vow was possibly the best leader Nigeria ever had. In Lagos with its port at Badagary called The Point of No Return from which over a million slaves were transported from Africa to Europe and to the United States – among them Uluadah Aquino and the ancestors of T. D. Jakes, my hunger was for a gastronomic meal.

What to eat?

I explored my choices: I could go to a restaurant. It seemed on this sojourn that I was relearning Lagos, its glittering nighttime skyscape, the expanded freeways with their controversial tolls, the new kings of alimentation in its fast food restaurant structure. My last visit to Lagos seemed to have been in the late nineties. A time when Mr Biggs held the monopoly on fast foods with outlets almost rivalling the Redeemed Christian Church in parishes. Tantalizers was but – in the words of one of Nigeria’s greatest poets – ‘a shrub amongst the poplars, thirsting for sun-

light…’, then. And there were Sweet Sensation, Mama Cass and Big Mac – all similarly straining for light beneath Mr Bigg’s vast canopy.

Now sadly it appeared Mr Biggs had been eclipsed by more

An image paused suddenly in the slide show of memory. An image from the Philippines captured on my last visit in the tour bus of my Google research. A road-side noodles vendor in a busy Manila street serving steaming noodles into a cup, smiling and bowing as he handed it to a customer. Roadside noodles vending had been big business in Asia for years, I discovered during that enquiry.

Ever since the seventies when Japan’s Nissin Food Products introduced the Cup Noodles, the next step forward from Momofuku Ando’s invention of instant noodles’ in 1958. From the car’s window beside Eko Lé Meridien hotel, watching as with the ease of jugglers the vendors tore open packs of Indomie and Chicki Chicken Noodles, soaked the con-

tents in bowls of hot water, and returned almost before the motion was completed to turn the eggs frying on their stoves, I realized noodles vending had elbowed its way into the cramped roadside trades of Lagos’ metropolis and established itself sometime during my long disappearance.

Naturally, I was enticed.

Even as I watched, in between cooking the noodles the vendors scooped cocoa, sugar and milk in mugs, poured in measured lengths of piping hot water from soot-blackened kettles, stirred and handed the steaming cups to waiting customers.

The taxi driver parked. I got out, crossed the street and took up on a bench between a man in a suit and a youth clearly from a construction site.

“Aboki give me bread and egg,” the youth demanded.

“How many egg?”

“Two egg.”

“Do me two Indomie and two egg,” the suited man said.

I watched the noodles vendor break open two packets of Indomie noodles. While they soaked in hot water he cracked

two eggs into a bowl. From another bowl he spooned pre-sliced onions and peppers into the eggs, sprinkled in salt, beat the eggs, poured them in the frying pan.

He reached for a loaf of bread, sliced it down the middle, turned the egg, returned to the soaking noodles, drained them in a sieve, spooned in onions and pepper, tore open the sachet of noodles flavouring, added this, turned back to the eggs on the stove, scooped them expertly unto the sliced bread, handed it in a plate to the construction worker, lifted the noodles in their bowl, poured them in the pan, stirring and raising the flame in the stove without breaking a sweat.

I gazed on like a man in a daze.

The sheer art of it. The fluidity of movement. It was almost a dance, a culinary Terpsichore out here on this starry night this beautiful night of recognition and relearning. As when you are rejoined to a former love after an interval of years, appreciating familiar facial expressions, fascinated by new tics, this was a new surprise from Lagos, my unpredictable.

David Emeka Kalu is a writer and poet.

A road in the megacity

Access 57: Lagosians lament bad roads, insecurity, others

BY BOSE ADELAJA

I

N Lagos State, Access 57 stands for the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas with the sole purpose of bringing government closer to the people.

All things being equal, citizens are to enjoy portable water supply, quality education, good roads with drainage, adequate health care and security of lives and property as the case may be. By so doing, the primary focus should be geared towards developmental purposes at the grassroots.

Unfortunately, investigations show that majority of them have failed to fulfil their reason for existence as they are found wanting in almost all the areas.

In nearly all the councils, Vanguard can say that adequate security is missing as citizens no longer sleep with their two eyes closed; portable water, good roads with drainage are also rare.

In view of this, citizens were

asked to assess the impact of the state government’s Access 57 on the quality of life. They also bared their minds on the performances of their Council Chairmen so far.

Lagos Island, for example, is wearing a new look and being upgraded everyday in terms of infrastructure. Also places like Apapa, Lekki, Eti-Osa, Ojo, Yaba, Surulere and Coker/Aguda have displayed a bit of decency with a clean environment.

Partial closure

The drainage was okay with motorable roads, also, vehicular movement was in order but for gridlock which may have been occasioned by the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Many residents poured accolades on their chairmen but complained about lack of portable water to take care of their domestic needs.

Unlike the councils earlier mentioned which could boast of some level of development, the reverse

is the case at Ejigbo, Oshodi/ Isolo, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Igbogbo/ Bayeku, Ojokoro, Ifako/Ijaye, Ikotun, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ajeromi, Agbado/Okeodo, Kosofe, Egbe/ Idimu, Mushin, Ipaja/Ayobo and Agbonyin/Ketu to mention just a few where residents lament lack of good governance.

Dotting these areas were deplorable roads as well as lack of security for lives and property.

Investigations also revealed that the public taps in these areas are not in good condition while students still seat under trees and make shifts to receive lectures in some public schools especially at Community Junior and Secondary Schools, Bayeku.

Many access roads have been taken over by flood, potholes and craters especially at Aboru, Isheri/Oshun, Idimu, Meiran, Alapere, Owode/Elede, ogijo, Casso, Kolinton, Ejigbo, Isolo, Itokin, Imota, Iyana Ipaja, Igbo/ Elerin,Egbe, Idimu, Iju/Ishaga and Ijegun among others.

Residents of Ikorodu and its environ said cultism is now the order of the day as many primary and secondary school students have taken to cultism.

At Alapere, a car owner, Mr. Ibrahim Alawode whose car broken down because of the poor road said he could not go home for fear of vandalism, ‘’around 2am, some area boys came with diggers to destroy the road in order to cause gridlock at day time to boost their patronage when there is gridlock.’’ he said.

As at the time of filling this report, most of the 57 Local Council bosses could not be reached through their official numbers as their phones were either switched off and some did not respond to their calls around 10am.

However, Hon Mursiq Durosinmi of Ojo simply said, ‘’Seeing is believing, I believe our works will speak for us,’’ while Hon Adegbenga Basanya of Igbogbo/ Bayeku was said to be at a meeting when he was called.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

PDP: It is finished

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

"I

T is finished,” Comrade Adams Oshiomhole shouted to celebrating supporters last Sunday as he rode triumphantly along one of the rain washed roads of Benin-City, the Edo State capital.

The sweeping victory of Oshiomhole, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate in the gubernatorial election was itself not totally unexpected.

That is, given the sterling performance of the Oshiomhole administration in its first tenure.

Not even the drench of the rain could suppress the impact of Oshiomhole’s

declaration that Sunday that the dominance of the clique that had dictated the political direction of the state was finally over.

Indeed, that was the feeling of many associates of Chief Anthony Anenih that were also that Sunday gathering to review the impact of the decisive loss.

Some of the associates of the famed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leader were in such a foul mood, that they were refusing to answer calls.

Reality it seemed was distilling on the several men and women who had for most of their political lives hung on to Chief Anenih for political survival.

The decision to withdraw a press statement questioning

Oshiomhole’s victory on the basis of the winner ’s earlier castigation of the election was the first indication of reality distilling on the men of the old order.

Chief Anenih had triumphed in all electoral conquests all his political life in Edo State. Oshiomhole has become the first governor to govern the State without his approval.

All others, including Oshiomhole in his first term, had received Anenih’s blessing to become governor.

Saturday ’s disaster, remarkably is not just a setback for Anenih and the old guard, but also for the PDP as a party both in Edo State and the rest of the country.

The underbelly of the party

*Anenih: Is this the end? that has ruled Nigeria for thirteen years, albeit with

very mixed results has been found. Many will now want to hit at it.

Oshiomhole thanks Edo, INEC ...as more congratulations pour in

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, AUSTIN OGWUDA, SIMON EBEGBULEM, GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE &

JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole yesterday expressed his appreciation to the people of Edo State, Nigeria’s democracy stakeholders for making his reelection possible.

Oshiomhole in a statement issued by his campaign organization paid special tribute to the Oba of Benin praising his fatherly guidance and conduct in ensuring a peaceful election.

In the statement issued by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media in the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, OCO said: “We at the Campaign Organisation wish to place on record our hearty appreciation for the steady and committed roles played by several individuals at different times in the course of the electoral battle.

We are further buoyed by your sense of loyalty and steadfastness which was uncommonly displayed to sustain the electoral discourse in the build-up to the election.

We remain eternally grateful to the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria for the overwhelming support it rendered throughout the campaigns and the ultimate exercise of the election. We remain thankful to the Nigeria Labour Congress for their show of solidarity for one of their own

*Oshiomhole: Sweet victory in deepening the essential ingredients of democratic practice.” “We want to appreciate in very special way, our highly revered Omo N ‘Oba for his exemplary role in maintaining the sanctity of the Palace and the unflinching support the Palace has been giving to the government and people of Edo State thus far.”

The expression of thanks came as various stakeholders continued to congratulate Oshiomhole on his re-election.

Uduaghan, Ogboru hail poll

Among them was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State in a congratulatory message to Oshiomhole urged him to see the outcome of the election as testament of the will of the people.

While encouraging him to be magnanimous in victory, Governor Uduaghan in a statement in Asaba, yesterday

also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for proving itself once again by conducting a free and fair election devoid of violence.

But he however enjoined INEC “to look into some of the issues raised by voters” and thanked the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct during the election.

Governor Uduaghan said he was looking forward to working with Oshiomhole as governor of a sister state with common interests, advising him “to rally those who contested with him to collectively confront the dire needs of the people of Edo State”.

Chief Great Ogboru, the Democratic Peoples Party, candidate in the 2011 gubernatorial election in Delta State on his part hailed the election as a “reaffirmation of the human will to prevail over falsehood” and praised the people of Edo State for standing

up in defence of their votes.

Ogboru in the statement said: “As a people of common heritage, the good people of Delta State stand united to salute the manifest courage of our fellow Bendelites in Edo State. For defending your democratic right to elect your own leaders, we are proud of you. For your vigilance in ensuring that your votes counted, you are a beacon of hope. Your victory is ours too.

Indeed, we salute your courage and congratulate you for the victory.”

“For our Comrade Governor Oshiomhole, we have no doubt that his legacy has spoken loudly and resulted in this good victory. It is our hope, which we must very soon meet with granite will and confidence, that indeed Delta will join Edo to complete the freedom of our old Bendel State from the claws of bad governance,” Ogboru said.

Management of resources Former Senator Francis Okpozo, in his own reaction described Oshiomhole’s victory as the end of god fatherism in the politics of Edo state and as such warned the “god fathers” in Edo state to limit themselves in Edo State and leave Delta state alone”.

Okpozo who attributed Oshiomhole’s victory to his hard work and prudent management of resources in the state, urged the governor-elect to do more for the people of the state following the support he received in the 18 Local Government Councils of the

state.

“Oshiomhole was rewarded because of his good work, efficient and prudent management of the resources that accrued to Edo state, since he assumed office as a governor.”

“What has happened now is a testimony that those who call themselves god fathers have been disgraced because they are not the god fathers of the people but for a few cabal. And it will be difficult now to show their political relevance. And those god fathers in Edo state should limit themselves to Edo state and leave Delta state alone”.

Cross Rivers ACN too

Chairman of ACN in Cross Rivers State, Mr. Hilliard Eta, reacting to the outcome of the election urged INEC to use the just concluded governorship election in Edo State as the benchmark for the 2015 general elections.

Eta, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, in Calabar, described the victory of Governor Adams Oshiomwhole in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, as having a wider implication for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said, “It is beginning to show that Nigerians appreciate good governance for which his party and Oshiomhole represent.”

He noted that the Edo election should be used as a benchmark of good governance in the SouthSouth.

Member of the House of Representatives representing Owan West and East Federal constituency, Mr Pally Iriase,

Continues on page 49

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—49

*From left Pastor Tunde Bakare, Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG); Professor Niyi Osundare, guest speaker; Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the occasion and Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin during the SNG's State of the Nation lecture in Lagos. Photo:Lamidi Bamidele.

How to save Nigeria from corruption

BY DAPO AKINREFON

R

EVELATIONS from probe panels set up by the National Assembly, show that corruption remains a cancerous affliction in the polity.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, graft has continued to extend its tentacles to virtually every sphere of the nation's life.

Nigerians would agree with the fact that it is not that the country has been free of corruption since independence, but the dimension it has taken in the recent time is to say the least alarmingly unprecedented.

Worried by the effect of corruption, the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, organised a state of the nation lecture entitled: “Why we no longer blush: Corruption as grand commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, in Lagos, penultimate Monday.

Roll call

The banquet hall of the Sheraton hall, venue of the lecture, was crowded by eminent Nigerians, who profferred ways out of the graft mire.

Those present include daughter of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs. Tokunbo Awolowo; President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, Spokesperson of the SNG, Mr Yinka Odumakin; and chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Onyekachi Ubani.

Others include Mr Jimi Agbaje, Professor Ropo Sekoni, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Mr Tunji Alapini(rtd); Mr Henry Boyo, Dr Amos Akingba and Mr Francis Ojo .

The trio of Professors Niyi Osundare and Itse Sagay (SAN) and SNG Convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare submitted that combating corruption remains an inclusive war Nigerians must rise to fight urgently.

Time for radical reformation — Bakare Bakare, while explaining the need to eradicate the monster that has eaten deep into the fabric of the polity said “ sordid revelations of the past six months have laid the

arguments to rest as to the forces that are bent on freeing our people from the stranglehold of corruption and those who want to keep them in perpetual subjugation.”

In his opening remarks, Bakare stated the need for radical reformation if Nigeria must move forward.

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

While urging Nigerians to take a cue from the transformation and its effects in Georgia, he said “ without doubt, time has come for Nigeria to embrace the spirit and the letter of such radical reformation to avoid the needless, prevalent and sickening bloodshed that now characterize our nation.”

Nigeria needs an incorruptible ruler — Sagay

Sagay, who chaired the event, warned of dire consequences

More congratulations pour in Continues from page 48 yesterday, said Oshiomhole’s victory has unified the state.

Iriase who served as Campaign Coordinator for Oshiomhole in Edo North senatorial district, said that Oshiomhole’s second coming in office would be more successful, just as he urged other heads of institutions to emulate the transparency of the INEC chairman, Prof.

Atthairu Jega for the good of the nation.

“The victory has shown that Adams Oshiomhole has united

Edo state. And ethnicity has not played a part in the election of Adams Oshiomhole. What has played a part is politics of development and what it means is that, that is the way to go for Nigeria.”

Edo SDMP guber candidate

Meanwhile, the candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), in last weekend’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, Mr. Frank Ukonga has congratulated Oshiomhole on

his victory describing the election as comparable in conduct to the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

While commending all contestants in the governorship position for their cooperation during the election, he called on them to accept the results in the spirit of sportsmanship.

“We commend the people of Edo state who are the real champion that insisted on the concept of one, one vote” he said,and insisted that without the people, they will not be where the state is today.

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

“Nigeria is in a situation where we have to find a policeman to police the police,” the constitutional lawyer stressed, adding that the the country needs an incorruptible person to redeem the nation from its present state just.

He called on Nigerians to sustain the struggle, saying: “we are going to sustain the struggle and ensure that we see it to the end. The only type of person or persons, who will change Nigeria are those who are incorruptible. If the civilians don’t tackle corruption, then, the leadership must come from somewhere else. And if it must come from another source, we will not be happy about it. They have always said that the elites are the problems of Nigeria, but I thank God that we have so many elites who can change Nigeria.”

Corruption may kill Nigeria —Osundare

Relatedly, Osundare argued that if Nigeria failed to kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

Lamenting the rate at which corruption is thriving in the country, the renowned poet enjoined Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands.

Osundare, who lectures at the University of New Orleans, chronicled both past and present graft cases involving some public office holders, and expressed worry that most Nigerians no longer query how corrupt persons come about their money. e said, “Why is it that Nigerians no longer blush? How did we come to lose our sense of shame after losing our sense of propriety and proportion? How did we come

H

to develop a skin that is so thick that no arrows of degradation, no needles of dehumanisation are ever sharp and violent enough to penetrate our body and rouse our senses?

How did our nerves slide into their present state of stupor?

How did we plunge into this state of dysconsciousness?”

He continued: “Corruption is the fastest growing industry in Nigeria. The malaise is massive, the dysfunctionalities are daunting. But we must never allow this situation, grim as it is, to plunge us into cynicism and despair. Yes, indeed, Nigeria is worth fighting for. And this fight will have to be carried out by the people of this country. The soldiers have shown by their many years of misrule that our national salvation is not in their hands. The present gaggle of civilian rulers is proving to be no different.”

Decying the alarming rate at which corruption has taken over all sectors of the economy, the prolific poet said “corruption has taken over the fabric of the Nigeria Corruption has taken over the commanding heights of Nigerian society. It is, without doubt, the Grand commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We must make sure that we kill corruption before it has the chance of killing Nigeria.”

Structural corruption In addition, he proffered that “this may sound rather farfetched to some people, but one of the ways of tackling graft in this country is to address the structural corruption in the very composition of Nigeria itself.

A succession of visionless, close-minded rulers has made the country both loveless and unlovable. To many Nigerians, Nigeria is ‘their country’, some distant no-man’s-land where you go to scoop your own fortune and take your loot back to your own clan. They may call it stealing in Abuja, but as far as the home crowd is concerned, you have only brought back your/their share of the national cake.”

Nigeria has deviated — Awolowo

Corroborating other speakers, Mrs. Awolowo said what the nation was currently experiencing was a complete difference from the Nigeria led by the circle of her late father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Also lending his voice on ways to tackle graft, a former police chief, Mr Tunji Alapini said “someone asked where do we start from. I think we should start from now. We must hold our lawmakers accountable.”

The currently administration has repeatedly restated its commitment to tacklig graft. It is to be seen how far it would go in the crusade.

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

The unbreakable cord (5) lived in Calabar as husband and wife.Tosin came to join him from Lagos.

Contrary to what I had thought, everyone came to sympathise with me, advising me to accept all that happened as destiny. Some felt that it was because we came from different ethnic groups that he did not marry me, or that my parents

,

HI The story you are reading reminds me of one of the best home movies I ever saw, Unfinished Business, featuring Genevieve and Desmond Eliot.

Today, it has become a trend among the rich, famous or powerful to pair off their children in marriage in order to consolidate a relationship or to ensure that they remain within a certain circle in society.

Dear reader, your views/ reaction/or contribution to this story and trend is very much welcome.

Please write and share it with us. Send your contributions to: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007 Apapa, Lagos, or our e-mail add r e s s : humananglepage@yahoo.com Please stay glued to this page. Happy reading!

Ekanem, (29), concludes her classic love story today: As for me, I couldn’t utter a word. I was glad that the boy defied her orders by helping me to pack my bags and even getting a taxi to take me to the motorpark.

But for him, I don’t know what I would have done. I was also happy that it was a work day and most of the neighbours had gone to their offices.

That afternoon, I left for Enugu without saying goodbye to Akin. And I didn’t see him until school resumed two months later.

The wedding took place in grand style in Lagos.

The Nikah ceremony at the Lagos Central Mosque, reception at Eko Hotel and a lavish evening party.

Many of my school mates attended through the invitation of Tosin’s sister. Tosin and Akin now

This was how we continued the affair again, to the astonishment and dismay of everyone. It was this time that the jeering really started. There were rumours that I was allowing him because of his money. Some said that he was just using me to while away time whenever his wife travelled out of town and she often

They blamed him for not allowing the marriage to work, my name always came up in their arguments

were not rich and famous like Tosin’s. My case was not new, they reassured, trying to cite several other similar cases. I was glad that I wouldn’t have to stay in Calabar for too long as I would soon write my final papers. I managed to settle down to serious work.

It was the day I started writing my exams that Akin, in the company of a very close friend of his came to see me. In fact, the guy had been his best man at the wedding. His friend came in while he waited in his car. It was after much persuasion that I agreed to follow him to the car. When he saw me, he jumped down and walked towards us. We did not say anything; we just stared at each other until they left.

Two days later, he came again, but this time on his own. We exchanged pleasantries and all he could say again was how sorry he was and how he really loves me. From then on, he continued coming.

His excuse was that he felt he had to see me through my examinations.

,

did. After our examinations, I went to Enugu and he would always come to see me over the weekends.

Soon, I started coming to Calabar too to spend time with him. My parents were not happy but there was nothing they could do about it. With his uncle’s assistance, posting for my service year was influenced to Calabar so we could continue to be together. After this, he helped me secure a job with a bank in Calabar.

His marriage did not work out as he’d predicted. They were always quarreling. Exactly a year and eight months after his wedding, Akin asked me to marry him. Since they are Muslims, he could have a second wife, he argued. We were always together. At my office and his, everybody knew about us and the circumstances of our relationship.

On three occasions, Tosin came to fight me in my flat and at the office over her husband. I had thought I would be jeered at for a second time but I

was wrong. Indeed, the world has changed because she was the one that ended up disgracing herself. Many people insisted she had no business with me and should go and face her husband at home.

It wasn’t easy, but we refused to chicken out. Their union had produced a boy and it lasted for only two years.It was two years of squabbles, fighting, family problems generally and he was not happy. I always felt sorry for him when he narrated his problems at home to me. He wasn’t having it easy on any side as his father was not too impressed by his behaviour too. However, this time, he had his mother’s ears and support.

They blamed him for not allowing the marriage to work. My name always came up in their arguments, he says. He used to tell everyone that it was unfortunate since it was me that he really wanted to marry in the first instant and not Tosin. If there was anyone to blame, it was them.

It wasn’t easy for me at home too as my father was not really impressed about the relationship.They insisted that I bring home a young boy from our part of the country. However, my heart told me otherwise. It took a lot of energy; guts and prayers on our side to be able to stand against all the pressures.

Even when my parents consented to our marriage, they were still hostile towards him and a similar thing went for his family too. It is only his mother that has been comforting in some ways. She too must be facing a lot of hassles from Akin’s father. Tosin returned to her parents’ home in Lagos with her child. Akin and I are now married. We had a traditional wedding ceremony last year and we have been blessed with a baby boy too.

Sometimes, I think I feel guilty that Tosin lost her home because of me. But then, what could I do?

Concluded Asisted by Onozure Dania

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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!

When he’s not committed

BY ONOZURE DANIA

W

hat does it mean when a man says he cares for you and loves you, but he is not making any moves to get closer or commit to you?

When he calls you all the time but can never quite get into a routine of seeing you as often as you’d like? When you know he’s not with you and you know he’s not at work and you know he’s not at home and he’s not answering his cell phone.

This happens like that all the time. When a man starts affecting the way you think and do things, it can creep up on you. It doesn’t just happen overnight.

The bad thing is, women almost instinctively jump to the conclusion that he’s losing interest and then they blame themselves for not being something; fill in the blank here, pretty, sexy, smart, successful, sweet, nice, understanding, enough. And it couldn’t be less true. But once ladies have attached themselves to a man, invested time and their hearts in him, it’s so hard to do anything but to make mistakes.

It’s hard not to make excuses for him, give him space and time and try to be understanding about all the other pressures and stress in his life. And at the same time, this is the part that gets really tough that makes ladies angry.

So, how can one manage being angry and being understanding? How can you want to grab him and shake him and yet give him space? How can you love him and keep your heart open to him?

When a woman wants to punish a man, it can be so confusing that no matter what you do, you end up feeling bad. It’s more of an understanding, an attitude, a new way to think and communicate with men about what you want in a relationship.

Here it goes. You don’t want him, but you want a real relationship.That sounds simple.

But most ladies do exactly the opposite. The way they express themselves sometimes over and over again, with words or body language and things they do, that he is what they want, can be very embarrassing.

So much so that the man feels cornered, pressured, and his fears jump right up to the top of his mind, heart and body. It is a good thing though that sometimes, women want to separate the men from the boys.

They want to let a man know where they stand, what they want and what they don’t want and some men will run because they don’t want what they (ladies) want.

Which is a real, committed relationship. And these men who run are the wrong men. Sometimes ladies make men run too because they tell them what they want in ways that don’t work.

The way that works, is to say I don’t want a boyfriend, I’m looking for someone to walk off into the sunset with and get married and have a family and so I don’t want to get exclusive with anyone until that guy shows up and that’s it.

You don’t ask him for anything. You simply refuse to close up your other options except sexually, of course, until you are sure that means engagement ring, wedding date. That he means to make you happy, forever.

The next step is to make it your job to make sure you keep your options open, no matter how emotionally involved you feel yourself getting with any man. It’s your job to make sure that you don’t get so emotionally involved with any man until you are sure he means to make you happy forever. You take it step by step, date by date, and you bridge your way to a real relationship with a great man. In other words, no man should ever feel like he’s your man of choice, or that you are only seeing him. At least, not until he’s committed.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012—51

the end of your tour of duty and wear them proudly because you have worked for them, you have earned them and they are yours.

It is not every officer than can be blessed with this honor and opportunity” .

At a colourful ceremony witnessed by the Force Commander of UNMISS, Nigeria’s Major General Moses Obi, the UN Police Commissioner, Dr. Fredrick Yiga and the Consul-General of Nigerian mission in South Sudan, Dangiwa Kumba Gideon, the SRSG said the UN was particularly impressed with the Nigeria Police contingent because their expertise have been brought to bear in the areas of investigation, administration, community policing and building capacity where the South Sudanese Police was really lacking.

Furthermore, the SRSG expressed profound appreciation to the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria for deeming it fit to send a very senior officer in the person of AIG Tsafe to witness the medal parade noting that it showed the very high esteem with which the AIG Mamman Tsafe (second left) with Mrs Hilda Johnson, SRSG for UN Mission and other Nigeria Police officers.

Police leadership held its personnel, attributing it to the very high standards in return of the offictailoring, carpentry, farming, etc.” ers.

In his remarks, Force ComThe visit of the AIG to South Sudan Police headquarters fol- mander of UNMISS, General lowed the presentation of UN Moses Obi expressed satisfaction medals to 34 Nigerian Police Of- with the performance of the Nificers who made the country gerian Police officers noting that proud in the performance of their they have done very well in their duties as mandated, with the Spe- roles as Staff Officers of the variKINGSLEY OMONOBI, lacking in many aspects. These need to support the Sudanese in cial Representative of the UN Sec- ous deployments, Liaison officers, who was in South Sudan include shortcomings in the area anyway he can. He told the retary General, hailing Nigeria’s Advisers and Trainers which, he said, has in no small of Legal Affairs among Sudanese Deputy IG that his ob- undisputable contrimeasure helped to bution to peace and others.

Our Police need to know servations about the Nigeria PoOUTH Sudan Police build capacity. The UN orderliness in the more about judiciary practices as lice contingent was made possiauthorities, weekend, in Police Commissioner in new independent Juba, pleaded with the Nigeria it concerns the rule of law and its ble by the IGP of Nigeria because charge of UNPOL, Dr. nation.

Police Force to urgently come to application to not only South of his belief that a properly kitted We want to Yiga noted also that the The commendaSudanese citizens but foreigners and motivated Policeman is altheir aid in the area of training of Police Contintion of the SRSG as well”. ready primed to face difficult chalsay, we are Nigerian manpower and capacity building gent’s contribution is came with AIG Explaining further, Gen. Kur lenges and succeed. He promised especially as they have seen from watchful highly appreciated esMamman Ibrahim the performances of the Nigeria Luala said, “a major challenge to convey other requests of the pecially against the Police contingent in the newly in- facing us is that our Police per- Sudanese to the Nigerian IG for Tsafe promising the and imbackdrop that the team UN authorities that sonnel is composed of elements consideration. dependent country, that Nigeria pressed are given very difficult more dedicated and Police officers are ‘top class’ com- who were not originally policeassignments and deselfless performance with the t the office of the Deputy parable to those in Europe and men. Some of them came from ployed to remote and should be expected the army, some from the militia Special Representative of other advanced countries. perfordifficult terrains. from Nigerian police groups, and some from remnants the Secretary General, Political Deputy Inspector General of His words: “It is a very peacekeepers under mance of South Sudan, Lt. General Gordon of the former Sudan Police Force. (D-SRSG), Raisedon Zenenga, difficult we are dothe MD Abubakar Micah Kur Luala who made the The greater percentages of them AIG Tsafe was told that the UN is the Nigeri- ing here.job South Sudan (IG) administration. are not educated or trained. appreciative of the contributions plea when he received the Assisis a new country, coman Police While congratulatof the Nigerian Police Force to UN tant Inspector General of Police, ing out from a war situpeacekeeping, not only in South ing the recipients for contingent Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, repre- Training ation. So many things making the nation Sudan, but other missions. He sentative of Nigeria Police IGP, opportunities under UNare not in place. Secuin general and the pointed out that the performancMohammed Abubakar; during a sector in particular Nigeria police es of the Nigerian Police contin“What we are after, which we MISS, they rity courtesy call on the South Sudan is deficient in many arproud with the perPolice headquarters in Juba, dis- have tried to lay down in our pol- gents in Liberia, Congo, Darfur, are well eas and the Nigerian formance, AIG Tsafe closed that among many chal- icy is that we want our police Sierra Leone, Haiti, East Timor, and other Police that we said: “It shows that kitted, lenges facing the country’s Police transformed. To achieve this, we among others, were well docuhave from 36 countries you have been dismented and a reference point in force, they were yet to be fully pro- want training opportunities, a are really doing a lot to ciplined and hard- alert at all workable social welfare system in peacekeeping. fessionalized. stabilize the situation. working officers, times and Zenenga specifically requested Luala said: “We want to say, we place, a proper police structure Responding on behalf that you have been are watchful and impressed with including a CID for investiga- AIG Tsafe to take the message command of his colleagues, Conworthy ambassadors home that for South Sudan in parthe performance of the Nigerian tions, a correction centre, a proptingent Commander, of our great nation. respect Police Contingent under UN- er civil service and a viable intel- ticular, there was need for NigeSuperintendent of PoI am proud of you, ria to help the new country build MISS. They are well kitted, alert ligence branch”. lice, Okon Effiong, exthe IG is proud of Responding to the plea, Assis- key institutions of governance at all times and command respect. pressed appreciation you and I am sure which are presently in short supWe expect a lot from nations like tant Inspector General of Police, for the medals presenNigeria who have passed Zone 2, Maman Tsafe, expressed ply, adding: “These include the UN is proud of you.

Nigerians are proud of you. tation noting that it was recognithrough some of the difficulties understanding with the situation teachers for schools, organizing “As for the medals you are get- tion of their hard work and it we are facing now and have the South Sudanese found them- the judicial system, helping out much experience like you. Al- selves noting that he was sent to in correctional and prisons sys- ting today, I want you to start would spur them to doing more ready, South Sudan is rich in men Juba by Nigeria’s IG because he tem, Immigration, Civil Service, wearing them right here in South to justify their continued particiand human resources but we are (MD Abubakar) appreciated the and other specialized fields like Sudan. Bring them back home at pation in the UN mission.

South Sudan begs Nigeria Police for training S

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52 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Mikel: Expect more from Chelsea J

OHN Obi Mikel insists winning the Champions League was just the start for Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea.

The Blues defeated Liverpool to claim FA Cup glory before Di Matteo guided them to victory over Bayern Munich to lift the biggest prize in European football.

Glory in Munich ensured club owner Roman Abramovich got his hands on the trophy he craved and secured Di Matteo a two-year contract as manager.

Mikel was a vital part of the Italian’s side during his caretaker spell in charge and is determined to play an equally important role this season.

The Nigeria midfielder said: “People still talk about that night

in Munich everywhere we go, but we want to build on it.

“We won’t relax, we want to keep building and keep winning trophies.”

Mikel admits the departures of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa marked the end of an era at Stamford Bridge.

But he is confident that new arrivals Eden Hazard and Marko Marin will make just as big an impact.

The 25-year-old added: “We have lost some players and hopefully the guys who come in will bring even more than the ones who have left.

“The guys who have left did really well for this team and will always be remembered.”

B-r-i-e-f-s Para-table tennis player dies at Lagos Stadium

A

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT ... Mikel says Chelsea will make even more noise this season

para-table tennis player, Muritala Ibrahim, 42, has died at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, where he made home for many years.

Ibrahim, had represented Nigeria in several para-table tennis championships, including the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, Atlanta 1996 Olympics and Sydney 2000 Olympics and won silver medals in the three Games.

Security men at the stadium sad on Monday that Ibrahim, was among people who had made the stadium their place of residence.

Ibrahim took ill on

IOC lifts Kuwait suspension

Liverpool desperate to land Walcott T He earns £65,000 a week and is looking to be brought into line with other England internationals in the Premier League on £100,000 a week.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is ready to make an official bid for Walcott, 23, while former Blues chief Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the player to

•Walcott

L

IVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate to land Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.

And he is ready to finance a £15million bid by selling Kop flop Andy Carroll.

Walcott has one year left to run on his contract and has yet to agree a new deal at the Emirates.

Paris St Germain.

But Rodgers, looking to bring in new faces on Merseyside, believes Walcott could become a major star at Anfield.

Last night, Liverpool knocked back Newcastle’s offer to take former Toon ace Carroll back on loan.

A

It is thought Kop bosses want a permanent deal to raise money for new signings.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is likely to come back with a new offer to take Carroll on a cut-price permanent deal — just 18 months after selling the 6ft 3in striker for £35m.

HE International Olympic Committee said on Monday it has lifted the suspension of Kuwait which means that all 204 IOC members can compete at the upcoming London Games.

The IOC said in a statement that its executive board made the decision “following a written guarantee by HRH The Emir of Ku-

wait to issue a decree in August 2012 which will put in place new sports legislation.

“The lifting of the suspension will be definitely confirmed once the entire process and the new sports legislation are implemented. ” Kuwait’s Olympic committee was suspended by the IOC in January, 2010 over government interference.

Chelsea get • 64m Champions League London 2012: Olympic arrivals ‘lost’ on bus for four hours boost the Allianz Arena saw stage of the competi-

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HELSEA have received a huge cash reward for their Champions League triumph over Bayern M u n i c h i n M a y, picking up €64 million in prize money.

The Blues’ penalty shoot-out victory at

them unsurprisingly take home the biggest payout of the clubs which took part.

Losing finalists Bayern earned €42m from the €760m prize fund shared among 32 participating teams.

Despite being eliminated at the group

West Ham make club record £15m bid for Carroll switch.

£15m West Ham bid for Andy Carroll last night sparked off a tug-of-war with former club Newcastle.

Promoted Hammers have made a club record offer to sign the Liverpool striker permanently.

But Newcastle yesterday made contact with Kop bosses and tabled an offer to take him on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent

Sunday night and died shortly after.

The Lagos Liaison Officer of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr Tayo Oreweme, expressed shock over Ibrahim’s death and condoled with his relations.

Oreweme, however said that Ibrahim’s death could have been avoided if he had heeded to her advice that people should not sleep at the stadium premises.

She said that she was sad over the incident because the deceased might have got help when he fell ill if he was with his family.

And although Liverpool last night rejected Toon’s offer, sources hinted Carroll would welcome a return to his home- town club, who sold him to Liverpool for £35m inJanuary of last year.

West Ham are desperate to mark their return to the Premier League with a move for the England international and had also been considering a season-long loan.

•Carrpll

tion, Manchester United were England’s second highest earners, receiving a sum of €35m.

Rivals Manchester City, who were also knocked out early on, took around €27m for their efforts.

Arsenal, who went further in the competition, only to be eliminated by AC Milan over two legs, took €28m into the Emirates Stadium coffers.

English clubs are rewarded for valuable broadcasting deals, which are factored into the Uefa payout calculations. The administrative body paid clubs €7m for taking part, plus resultsbased bonuses.

It has also been revealed that Champions League revenue will rise around 20 per cent over the next three seasons.

T

HE two-times world 400 metres hurdles champion Kerron Clement was getting a less than favourable first impression of London on Monday morning as the bus taking him to the Olympic Village struggled to find its destination.

The American, among hundreds of athletes from across the world arriving in the capital this morning ahead of the Games, claimed the bus had been

lost for four hours.

Clement tweeted: “Um, so we’ve been lost on the road for 4hrs. Not a good first impression London.

Athletes are sleepy, hungry and need to pee. Could we get to the Olympic Village please.”

The 26-year-old, who won the world title in 2007 and 2009 before surrendering the crown to Great Britain’s Dai Greene in Daegu last year, is the defending Olympic silver medallist.

Table tennis coach says players training for Olympic gold

N

ASIRU Bello,the National Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), says his players are in top form at their training camp in Germany, where they are preparing for the London Olympics.

The country will be represented in the table tennis event of the Games by

Funke Oshonaike, Offiong Edem, Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri.Bello said in a telephone interview that the players were preparing seriously for the Games, adding that the training they were undergoing had helped them to improve on their proficiency.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 — 53

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 — 55

FEDERATION CUP: El Kanemi Warriors stun Team Nigeria arrive London Kwara Utd, Rangers fall to Prime M EMBERS Team Nigeria arrived London yesterday ahead of the London 2012 Olympics. The team made up of table tennis players, weight lifters and track and field athletes were led by the Director General of the National Sports Commission who is also the Chief de Mission, Dr Patrick Ekeji and Team Nigeria’s Head of Administration, Alhassan Yakmut.

The athletes were

BY JACOB AJOM TRUE to tradition, the 2012 Federation Cup has continued to churn out surprise results. The tradition was kept alive at the Agege stadium, Lagos yesterday when a 22nd minute strike

by Thompson Ezekiel gave newly promoted National League side, El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri a shock 1-0 victory over Nigeria Premier League side, Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin.

In Ibadan, Premier League table toppers, Rangers International of Enugu fell by the same margin to Prime FC. It was a result most followers of the local game least expected although El Kanemi worked hard to earn their victory, they also had a touch of luck as Kwara played most of the second half with ten men.

The match started with Kwara gaining more of the ball possession as their pace and crisp touches on the ball were a delight to watch.

Crown hold Pillars PRESENTATION: Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Presenting Federation Cup to Alh. Aminu Maigari, President Nigeria Football Federation[NFF] Mrs. Joke Orelope- Adefulure, Deputy Governor Lagos state[right] and Mr. Enitan Oshodi, Commissioner for Youth Sports and Social Development, look on. During the Gov. Fashola of Lagos state Handing over of Federation Cup to NFF, in State House Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez With Coach Kelechi Emetoele on the sidelines passing instructions, the El Kanemi players stood their grounds rebuffing all forays and thwarting every move with occasional counter attacks. Team captain, Bamai Bukar and Stanley Onuegbu were

Athletes, visitors Continues from BP Minister David Cameron said the G4S shambles would not compromise Britain’s largest peacetime policing exercise.

“We had contingency plans, we are using those contingency plans and we will do whatever it takes to deliver a safe and secure Games,”Cameron told a news conference.

The security fiasco dominated the headlines over the weekend and raised fears that Britain would struggle to cope with the Games.

A cartoon in the Daily Telegraph newspaper showed a red-faced, overweight runner wearing a G4S vest, complaining: “I didn’t realise I had to run all the way to the end”.

Some 12,500 police will be on Olympics duty each day, backed up by soldiers, fighter jets and missile batteries on the top of apartment blocks near the Olympics site in east London.

Security chiefs said they had prepared for threats on the scale of

moved into the Olympic Village where they are expected to stay throughout the Games beginning 10 days from today.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tony Ubani confirmed the development, adding that the Nigerian team was ready to take on the rest of the world. “The team arrived London and the Nigerian camp is optimistic of a good outing,” he said.

the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Four British Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people on three trains and a bus in London on the day after the city was awarded the Games in July 2005.

London’s main Heathrow Airport was ready for its busiest day on record, while the Olympic village opened its doors to the first athletes.

The first arrivals at an airport notorious for queues at security checks and passport control said everything had gone smoothly.

“I was expecting a three-hour queue like everyone said. It took not even five minutes. It was flawless - good job London,”said John Retsios, 36, who had flown from New York with the U.S. Modern Pentathlon team.

Airport operator BAA Plc, owned by Spain’s Ferrovial , said it expected a record 237,000 passengers to use Heathrow on Monday, including 335 athletes.

The busiest day for arriving athletes is expected to be July 24.

quite outstanding in their defensive roles while occasional runs by Thompson and Chidi Orji gave the Kwara defense a lot of concern.The scoreline stood at 1-0 at the end of the first stanza.

The second half resumed with the same pace and grit, particularly, as the Kwara team became desperate to even scores. It was in one of such desperate moments that Charles Ogar carelessly stepped on an El Kanemi player. His indiscretion attracted the centre referee’s wrath and was given the marching orders.

A visibly happy Coach Emetoele said after the match, “I am happy but towards the end, we almost lost it. I always tell my players to remain disciplined. It almost cost us the match. I am happy I have listening players.

We’ll approach each opponent as they come.”

Kwara United sweat merchant, Tunde Sanni was shell shocked but said luck was against his team. “We

played well. We had a good game in all ramifications. The red card worked against us but we remain hopeful,” he said.

BY IMMEY BASSEY A beautiful equaliser in the 64th minute by Bode Daniel gave Crown FC of Ogbomosho a deserved one point against Kano Pillars in the seco n d match of the Round of 16 of the Federation Cup holding at the Agege Township Stadium in

Lagos.

Kano Pillars had gone ahead in the 43rd minute through Rabiu Ali from a free-kick spot close to the eighteen yard box.

Kano Pillars striker, Gambo Mohammed would have doubled the lead for,the title chasing NPL side in the second half when he missed a close range shot.

Shanghai: No lack of ambition for Drogba

D

IDIER Drogba, who received a hero’s welcome on Saturday 14 July 2012 upon his arrival at Shanghai Airport, has no lack of ambition in his new venture.

“Money is not everything, I came here for a new experience, a new challenge,” stated the new striker of local club, Shenhua.

With a salary of 15 million Euros per year, the former Chelsea player wants to win titles with his new club.

“I came here to win titles and not to retire,” insisted the captain of Côte d’Ivoire’s national team.

The European champion signed a two-and-ahalf-year contract with

the ambitious Shanghai club on 20 June 2012 and admits that his mission is not going to be a walk in the park. However, he added that the success of the team will require the

involvement of everybody.

“I am not Superman. If we want to win, we must be a team and make the effort,” confided Drogba during his press conference.

Boko Haram Continues from BP to Nigeria’s top flight and now in the round of 16 of the Federation Cup. “Heartland treated me badly, I was a pioneer player in the club, rose to become the captain and subsequently became player/coach. My first year as a coach we missed the League crown by

just one point behind Rangers and went on to represent Nigeria in the WAFU Cup. We played in the final and lost the first leg in Lagos 0-1 to Hassacas of Ghana but were able to hold them 0-0 in Accra. I still feel sad the way I was treated by Heartland. I took them to Champions League final too.”

Beach Volleyball in cover-up shock

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

Olympics: Athletes, visitors flock to London after security row

T

HE first wave of Olympic athletes and visitors began pouring into Britain on Monday and officials played down fears that a packed London would buckle under the pressure.

There are speculations that London could buckle under the pressure of its biggest peacetime security and transport operation.

An embarrassing shortage of security guards, fears over airport queues and questions about the capital’s creaking transport system have overshadowed preparations for the Games.

Extra soldiers were drafted in to help police the Games after private security firm G4S said it had run out of time to train all its newly recruited members of staff.

The company’s share price fell sharply on Monday.

Less than two weeks before the opening ceremony on July 27, Prime Continues on Page 55 TODAY'S

Boko Haram loves football — Emeteole

BY JACOB AJOM

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FOCUSED: Shanghai Shenhua player Didier Drogba (L) trains for the first time with the team in Shanghai yesterday as he begins a two-and-ahalf-year contract that is expected to make him one of football's highest-paid players. AFP PHOTO

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

HIEF coach of new ly promoted El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Kelechi Emetoele has played down fears of insecurity in the Borno State capital owing to activities of the dreaded religious sect, Boko Haram, saying that football was perhaps, the tonic needed to cancel such fears.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard in his hotel room in Ojodu, Lagos Monday, Coach Emetoele said “ we have been having a wonderful time in Maiduguri. In Nigeria today, nowhere is

safe. You hear of kidnappings in the South and all sort of things in other parts of the country, some natural while others man-made causes.

Nowhere is safe in Nigeria,” he said repeatedly.

Asked about the conduct of fans, particularly in deference to the presence of Boko Haram in the city, Emeteole raised his voice. “The atmosphere during our home matches has always been electrifying.

Even the Boko Haram

Continues on Page 55

Olympic arrivals ‘lost’ on bus for four hours — P.52

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 4 Malice (5) 7 Ditch (6) 9 Untruth (3) 10 Consume (3) 12 Loiter (5) 13 Trudge (4) 15 Abase (5) 17 Lottery (6) 19 Country (4) 20 Object (5) 22 Tree (3) 24 Unshaven (7) 27 Epoch (3) 28 Shabby (5) 31 Fashionable (4) 33 Yearned (6) 35 Beneath (5) 37 Face (4) 38 Trap (5) 39 Father (3) 41 Adage (3) 42 Grid (6) 43 Prise (5)

DOWN 1 Witless (6) 2 Distort (6) 3 Expert (3) 4 Team (4) 5 Gem (5) 6 Gifted (8) 8 Moiety (4) 11 Endured (9) 14 Smear (4) 16 Unite (4) 18 Release (4) 21 Barter (8) 23 Network (4) 25 Parched (4) 26 Action (4) 29 Eatable (6) 30 Shouted (6) 32 Swear (5) 34 Rock (4) 36 Close (4) 40 Arid (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Scar 4, Pad 6, Mass 9, Urn 10, Gorgeous 11, Stay 14, Gum 16, Scale 19, Embraced 21, Peril 23, Disagree 24, Elect 27, Tap 31, Undo 33, Enriched 34, Gun 35, Cede 36, Toy 37, Dumb.

How to Play Sudoku

people love football. We have never recorded any incident throughout the season. Even the visiting teams can testify.”

Coach Emetoele who still bears bitterness against his former club, Heartland Football Club of Owerri said he went to Maiduguri to prove a point. He has largely been vindicated as he has piloted the modest Maiduguri based clubthough with a rich history- to gain promotion

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Cook 3, Rage 4, Produced 5, Dash 6, Music 7, Art 8, Snarl 12, Fence 13, Above 14, Gap 15, Merit 17, Award 18, Expel 20, Disarray 22, Lap 25, Lunge 26, Crone 28, Heat 29, Scum 30, Feat 32, Dud.

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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