2015: No elections in North-East if... — INEC

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62037

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

OSHODI-APAPA ROAD: TANKERS DARE FASHOLA AGAIN!

STUCK—Heavy traffic at Berger Yard, stretching to Rainbow Bus Stop, along Oshodi Apapa Expressway caused by arbitrary parking by tanker drivers and construction work by Julius Berger Plc. Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. More pictures on Page15.

2015: No elections in North-East if... — INEC •10m voters may be disenfranchised •Wants N93bn for elections COLUMNISTS:

If elections were not held in the North-East because of insecurity, at least 10 million voters will be disenfranchised. According to the 2011 voters’ list complied by the INEC, there are 10, 038,119 voters in the six states of the zone.

North-East (registered voters) •P.17

•P.20 C M Y K

Adamawa Bauchi Borno Gombe Taraba Yobe

Total

1,714,860 1,835,562 2,730,368 1,266,993 1,308,106 1,182,230

10,038,119

Impeachment call not 10 treason — SANs, APC lawmakers

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA— THE Inde pendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is to spend N93 Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

NDDC—President Goodluck Jonathan (R) shaking hands with the Chairman, NDDC Board, Sen. Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (L), after the inauguration of the Board in Abuja. With them are some other board members.

2015: No elections in North East if... — INEC Continues from page 1 billion to conduct a hitchfree general election in 2015, even as it disclosed, yesterday, that elections may not hold in strife-torn sections of the

North-East.

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who disclosed these yesterday, also drew attention to what he described as the classification of elec-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

O

UR deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world — Marianne Williamson The very first time I heard these uplifting words

by Marianne Williamson was from Nelson Mandela during his presidential inaugural speech and these sage words have guided my heart with much hope and assurance over the years. I hope you find it meaningful too.

“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others” And from Joel Osteen comes the powerful words of advice and assurance. He says, if you worry constantly that not everyone like you, you’ll have a long term problem of being blessed because when you are blessed, the haters will come out. When they come at you, simply say, in a humble way, I am wearing this blessing well. When I wear my blessings. I am honouring the Divine, my parents and forefathers who gave and served. It is also the goodness and blessings being passed on from generation to generation.

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tions in Nigeria as war.

Jega spoke at a stakeholders’ hearing organised by the Senate Committee on INEC in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Abuja and the United Kingdom Department for International Development, DFID. He said that the commission was considering holding the 2015 elections between January and February.

He added that the country spent about $8 per voter in the 2011, which according to him was normal as he noted that Ghana in its last election spent between $10-12 per voter, while Kenya spent between $89, stressing that the $8 spent in the country was globally acceptable.

Jega, who described funding as one of the challenges facing the commission as it prepares for the 2015 elections for the 73.5 million eligible voters, said that election was one of the many things which require funding by government.

N29bn short The proposed N93 billion is N29 billion short of the N122.9 billion that was used in conducting the 2011 general elections and preparing a voters’ register.

He said: “In preparing for the forthcoming elections, one guiding principles for the commission has been to make elections more cost-effective and to give Nigerians better value for money.

“Our estimate is that the cost of election per voter, which is an international standard for viewing the cost of elections, is coming down in Nigeria.

“We project that for the 2015 elections, this would further come down by almost $1 from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10% drop.

“This compares favourably with some other African countries. However, we are anxious about getting all our funding requirements being met well in advance of the 2015 general elections.”

The INEC Chairman said that apart from the funding challenge, there was the problem of insecurity, which could affect conducting elections in some states in the NorthEast where there are challenges of insurgency.

North-East elections He added that unless security situation changes in the zone, the commission would not conduct elections in the affected states.

He said: “It is my hope that the challenges in the North-East will be resolved before 2015. If the security is such that we cannot hold election, then we may need to fall back on the law to suspend it or postpone it.”

Jega said that the commission cannot continue to conduct elections under a period of emergency, because same was brought about by generalised insecurity.

According to him, “the situation under a state of emergency is that you cannot do a free and fair election. Ideally, you cannot conduct election under a period of emergency.”

Elections as war Jega said one of the most depressing epithets of elections in Nigeria was that they were said to be akin to war, noting that the heat and passion associated with elections in Nigeria often make elections appear like war.

He said: “Pre-election violence has led to the death of many politicians, their supporters and innocent citizens.

“Widespread intimidation of voters persists and organised thugs spread fear across communities in the build up to elections.

“In any case, elections in Nigeria are a winnertakes-all affair, while the loser loses everything akin to payment of reparations by an enemy defeated in a war.

“In fact, election security has become a lasting issue facing the management of elections in Nigeria.

Lists electoral ills “Several security threats now characterise the electoral process.

These include physical attacks on INEC staff and facilities, attacks on security personnel on election duty, misuse of security orderlies by politicians, attacks on political opponents, cyber attacks targeting INEC’s databases, especially the register of voters and violence at campaigns.

“Other threats were intimidation of voters, snatching and destruction of elections materials, among others.

“These threats are now exacerbated by insecurity in some parts of the country, making the conduct of elections in those parts even more insecure.”

Jega said the attitude of the political class was another challenge, as there was widespread absence of moderation among politicians.

“We are concerned about this because even if the management of elections meets the highest standards, insofar as the contestants are unwilling to play by the rules, there will be grave

problems.”

He said that apart from the key challenges, there were what he described as residual challenges like the delay in the amendment to the legal framework like the Constitution and Electoral Act, completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units, and prosecution of election offenders.

Wants independent body for electoral offences Jega disclosed that the commission had prosecuted 200 electoral offenders though he harped on the establishment of a new body to handle electoral offences.

He said: “This remains a major sticking point in the work of the Commission. We have repeatedly noted that the commission lacks the capacity to prosecute the huge number of offenders.

“We hope that our proposal for the establishment of an independent body to deal with electoral offences, which is also in the report of the Election Reform Committee will materialise.”

Speaking earlier, Chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Andy Ubah, said the committee was interested in suggestions on how the issue of Nigerians abroad, who desire to contribute to the democratic development and participate in elections, would be handled.

He also suggested the idea of introducing e-voting and making adequate provisions for persons living with any form of disability to vote.

Members of different political parties and civil society organisations attended the stakeholders' meeting.

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8 —Vanguard,

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Boy, 20, remanded over theft of Blackberry phone

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AGOS — A 20-year-old boy, Nuru Lateef, was yesterday remanded in prison by an Abule-Egba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for pleading guilty to stealing a BlackBerry phone valued at N62,000.

The magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, remanded the accused in prison custody following his plea of being guilty to stealing a Blackberry smart phone.

Elias adjourned the case till December 23, for facts and sentencing.

The accused, who lives in Katangowa Market, AbuleEgba, specialised in stealing Blackberry phones.

The prosecutor, Inspector Racheal Williams, told the court that the offence was committed at Ogba Bus Stop on December13.

He said the accused removed the phone from one Mrs Chigozie Ebikam’s bag, when she was boarding a bus at Ogba Bus Stop.

“The accused had successfully removed the BlackBerry phone but was sighted by one of the passengers, who raised an alarm,” she said.

Man sues in-law for abandoning wife

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BUJA — Mr Salisu Mohammed, 45, of Lugbe village, FCT, yesterday, dragged his brotherin-law, Adamu Musa, before an FCT Area Court, Lugbe, over failure to cater for his wife.

Mohammed said, in a statement before the court, that Musa married his sister, Maryam, seven years ago, but brought her to her parents three months ago due to prolonged illness.

He said: “He abandoned my sister in our house and it is I and my parents that have been taking care of her feeding and sickness.

“We have been moving from one hospital to another and her condition is worsening.

“I want this court to order the defendant to come and take her to the hospital or in the alternative, pay the family N100,000 to enable us pay her medical bills.”

The defendant was not in court when the case was mentioned.

He was represented by his brother, Liman Musa, who claimed that the defendant was ill and could not come to court.

Police demolish 600 structures in Badagry

BY DAPO AKINREFON & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — OFFICERS of the Lagos State Command of Nigerian Police, yesterday, demolished over 600 structures erected on 65 hectares of land in Mowo Phase II, Badagry, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, LCDA, accusing the owners of trespassing on its land.

Vanguard gathered that the demolition came barely two years after the command, through the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued letters to the trespassers to vacate the land to no avail.

Sources close to the police said the order to demolish the houses was given by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Abubakar Muhammed.

When Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that the demolition exercise was carried out by over 200 armed policemen from Area K, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Ekpo Osu using five bulldozers.

Our correspondent learnt that the demolition began at about 10:00 am with the aim to reclaim the land said to belong to the Police from trespassers, who had been warned two weeks ago to vacate the land.

Land acquired 10 yrs ago

It was learnt that the 65-hectare land was acquired by the Police about 10 years ago to build houses for senior police officers and got the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, from the Lagos State Government in 2008.

After a few years, land speculators started encroaching on the land when the authorities failed to develop the land for its specific purpose.

The residents, however, argued that a case to determine the ownership of the land was still at the Badagry High Court, Badagry.

Mr. Waheed Yakub, one of the affected residents said: “I am yet to process my C of O but I bought the land over 10 years ago from the Opeisa family and I developed it a year after.”

When Vanguard visited the scene, women and children wailed during the exercise, claiming the notice was served only on Saturday, December 14, 2013.

In a telephone conversation, Baale of Atinporomeh, Chief Joshua Medepo, explained that he was aware that some hectares of land were acquired under the government acquisition policy for the construction of Police staff quarters.

Medepo, however, faulted claims by the Police that his domain was part of the acquired portion just as he added that the demolition should have stopped at Age-Mowo rather than affect-

ing Atinporomeh.

Notice was short —Akran of Badagry

In his response, the Akran of Badagry, Wheno Aholu MenuToyi, said though he was aware of the demolition, the notice given to residents by the Police authorities was short.

According to him, “I am aware of what is going on because I have been informed. Though the Police came around two years ago but could not take possession because at that time, they did not have the Certificate of Occupancy.

We told them it was only when they had the C of O that they could take possession. The demolition will not affect some areas around there.”

On the short notice given to

Scene of the demolitions yesterday owners of the structures on the said land, the monarch said: “It is a difficult thing to say because about a year or two ago, the Police had planned to take over the place but an appeal was made to them. Though the notice given to them was very short,

the notice was served on Saturday, December 14, 2013.

"I would not want to blame anybody. Those who built on acquired land should know, it is most unfortunate. Those who go about selling land tell people all sorts of lies. That is all I know.”

Boy, 12, docked over rape of 3-year-old ....Parents arrested L AGOS— A 12-year-old boy was, yesterday, arraigned before an Abule-Egba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl.

The accused, who lives at 4, Ajakaiye St., Agege, Lagos, is facing a one-count charge of rape.

The prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, told the court that the offence was committed at the accused’s residence on December 2.

“The accused is neither a student nor learning any trade. He is living with his parents, while the victim is the daughter of his neighbour,” Williams said.

He said the accused carried the child into the bathroom and raped her.

“It was the cry of the child that attracted the mother and the Police was alerted,” Williams said.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and the Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered the arrest of the accused’s parents.

He granted the boy bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case toDecember 20.

Police declare 6 wanted for

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — THE Police in Bayelsa State have declared six persons, all staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowe, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, wanted in connection with the murder of one Moses Frank who used to work at the institution.

The slain Moses Frank, a father of two, was aged 37.

He was shot dead on November 8, 2013 some distance away from his home at the

Agudama suburb of Yenagoa the state capital after seeing off his a visitor.

The late Frank, an indigene of Okiki in Ogbia Local Government Area was until his death the Financial Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) of the institution.

Those declared wanted by the police in connection with the murder are Messrs. Kuro Orubie, Oviemuno Olomu, Nicholas Akpolco, Diepreye Walson, Godday Obiyai and Godday Ogoro.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013— 9

59-yr-old man defiles 7-yr-old girl

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — POLICE in Ondo State is quizzing a top official of the Akure Zonal Office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Boma Benibo, 59, for allegedly defilling a seven-year-old girl.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at the residence of the suspect, 18, Kola Ogunmola Street, Ijapo Estate, Akure, lastTuesday.

The suspect resides in the same building with the parents of the victim.

It was learnt that the girl (names withheld)used to visit the suspect’s flat often to play.

But the unexpected happened last week when she visited and was there for over two hours which made her mother became suspicious.

On getting to the suspect's apartment, she discovered her daughter was not her usual self and after a brief interrogation she pointed at her private part.

Further interrogation, according to reports, showed that the suspect had touched her private part.

The father of the girl, Mr Rotimi Babadipe, immediately reported the matter at the Ijapo police station and the suspect was picked up.

Contacted, the state Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident.

Ogodo said: “The police was going to do a medical test on the girl to ascertain if Benibo actually penetrated her.

“Yes, it is true, but we have a

little problem to resolve, because the girl, on interrogation, said the man was fiddling with his private part and did not penetrate her.

AGOS— A Sales Representa tive of Syken Ltd., Lagos, Valentine Oluedoh, who allegedly stole N1.6 million, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

Oluedoh, 33, who lives at 32, Adebisi Street, Ikotun, Idimu, Lagos, is facing a count charge.

The prosecutor, Inspector Feddy Asu, told the court that the accused collected the sum from a customer of the company and falsified a teller for the amount.

He said the accused fraudulently converted the money for

Staff of the Federal Ministry of the Environment protesting over non payment of retirees benefits and staff allowances by the Permanent Secretary in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Mechanic arraigned for stealing bus valued at N800,000

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— A 35-year-old mechanic, Saheed Adegbola, was yesterday docked before a Lagos Magistrate's Court, sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly stealing a bus worth N800,000.

The defendant who resides at 1, Shomuiwa Street, Alagbado area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was arraigned before Magistrate

his personal use.

Asu submitted that the incident occurred on February 28 at 20, Kofo Abayomi Avenue, Apapa, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused may be sentenced to three years imprisonment, if

convicted.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr E.O. Ogunkanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi ordered that each of the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Margaret Dan-Oni. The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offence sometime in October 2011.

Okoi said the defendant conspired with others at 68/70 Jesus Save Plaza at Iyana Ejigbo and stole a Dodge Ram Bus valued N800,000 belonging to one Isaac Njepu.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to section 516 and punishable under section 402 of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

However, the magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the matter to January 20, 2014, for mention.

murder in Bayelsa The police in a statement signed by DSP Alex Akhigbe, the command public relations officer said: “The suspects, all indigenes of Bayelsa State and staff of the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, have been declared wanted by the Bayelsa Police Command in connection with the murder of one Moses Frank, November 8, 2013.

“The suspects, if seen, should be apprehended and handed over to the nearest police station or come directly to the office of the Commissioner of Police."

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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Sales rep arraigned over N1.6m theft

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“The police is trying to take her to the hospital so that a proper medical examination will be done to determine the fact of the matter.”

Delta PPRO, Uyabeme, dies in auto crash

People queueing to board BRT bus at Oshodi in Lagos. PHOTO: NAN

SABA— DELTA State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), has died in a motor accident.

He died on Sunday evening when his vehicle, a Toyota Highlander SUV which he was driving somersaulted several times along Ogwashi-Uku-Kwale road before plunging into a ditch while on his way to Asaba.

He reportedly died on the spot before any assistance could reach him.

Vanguard gathered that he was carrying two other persons who were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

Incidentally, before the news of the crash was broken on Sunday night, the late PPRO had spoken to Vanguard on phone over the police angle to the release of a kidnapped ex-Biafrain solider who was released along with his wife early on Sunday morning.

Fulani herdsmen kill trader in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — A young man, Ebamugha Akeni, was shot dead in the early hours of yesterday by some Fulani herdsmen at the riverside town of Torfani in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The deceased, a cement merchant in his early thirties, it was learnt was planning to tie the knot with his heart throb before his untimely demise.

Sources from the riverside town told our correspondent that the deceased was returning to Trofani from Odi when he was attacked by some armed Fulani herdsmen along the lonely Odi-Trofani road.

Though the motive of his assailant could not be immediately ascertained, it was learnt that the leadership of the community had earlier expelled the herdsmen from their land following complaints by the community folks of the destruction of the crops on their farmland.

The deceased youth who was riding on his motorcycle was said to have been shot on approaching a bend on the road leading to Trofani town.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

BY JEMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, DAPO AKINREFON, HENRY UMORU, BATHOLOMEW MADUKWE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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SSERTIONS by the Presidency that the call for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan amounted to treason were, yesterday, debunked by lawyers and opposition politicians, who claimed that charges of incompetence were currencies for traffic by the opposition in a democracy.

Meanwhile, it emerged that All Progressives Congress, APC, was yet to mobilise its members in the National Assembly to commence the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan despite its call on Sunday on the legislators to commence the removal of the President.

Jang cautions

On his part, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Chairman of the faction of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, loyal to President Jonathan entered the fray yesterday, to douse the tension with a charge that democracy should be retained as he affirmed that better quality democrats would emerge over time.

Sources in the National Assembly told Vanguard yesterday that the APC national leadership was yet to formally contact the party's lawmakers in the two houses on what is expected of them in heeding the call to impeach the President.

APC had through a press statement last Sunday urged the members of the National Assembly across party lines to commence impeachment proceedings against the President on the basis of alleged incompetence and misconduct arising from his alleged tolerance of corruption.

Ndoma-Egba, Ogor

Ahead of the weekly strategy meeting of the leaderships of the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday evening, Senate Leader Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and the Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor, dismissed the call from APC as inconsequential.

Noting that the PDP Senate caucus had not met over the issue, he said: “The threat was made yesterday (Sunday). We haven’t met and our party has not told us that he has done anything that would warrant impeachment proceedings.

“It is just a call. It remains what they called it— a call.”

Ogor, on his part, dismissed the call, saying it could destabilise the integrity of the House and the country.

He said: “This is a wishful thinking by the opposition, but it will have a very serious effect on the cohesion and unity that C M Y K

MEETING: From left— Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Deputy Managing Director and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group MD/CEO, both of Access Bank Plc, at an evening with Aigboje in Lagos.

Call for impeachment not treason —SANs, APC LAWMAKERS this Assembly has enjoyed since inception.

“It will have a destabilising effect on the body polity of this great country because impeachment process is not a tea party but a very serious issue.

“Impeachment is an impossibility in this case. They should wait and use the ballot box rather than use the National Assembly.”

APC lawmakers react

Members of APC in the House were equally dismissive of the threats of a treason charge from the Presidency as they asserted that impeachment was a part of the democratic process.

The APC Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, flayed the threat describing it as empty.

He said: “It’s an empty threat.

Impeachment is a constitutional process by which a parliament removes from office a president, vice president, governor or deputy governor.

“It cannot amount to treason because it’s not an unconstitutional means to change government.

“What the Presidency should do is to respond as honestly as possible to all the issues of constitutional breaches flying everywhere through various letters.”

Faparunsi Bamidele, APC Ekiti, said impeachment is a legislative tool that can be used to checkmate the excesses of any president.

He said: “Calling for the impeachment of the president cannot amount to a treasonable offence, rather it is a legitimate thing to do.

“It is an opportunity for Mr. President to x-ray himself and correct his mistakes.”

Abiodun Falake, APC Lagos, also dismissed the treason

charge, saying “it is an empty threat.

“In a democracy, a market woman can call for impeachment if her aspirations are not met.”

‘It's constitutional’

Chairman, House Committee on Land Scams in Abuja, Bimbo Daramola, APC Lagos, said: “It’s a window provided by the constitution and if the grounds for that are there in the reasonable consideration of the parliament, it will be an exercise in futility for anybody regardless of position to describe that action as empty threat.”

Eddie Mbadiwe, member representing Ideato North/ South, Imo State on his part said: “Those who are saying it’s treasonable will be advised to go and read the statute and know what it is.”

Lawyers

The House members were backed by some lawyers including Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), Professor Fidelis Oditah (SAN), Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Bamidele Aturu.

Oyetibo said: “Impeachment is a term provided for in the constitution, so it cannot be a treasonable offence. But it depends on the circumstances.

“If they go about it in a manner other than what is provided for in the constitution, then it is.”

Oditah said: “Why would it be treason? Is it not what the constitution provides for?

“If APC comes up with the plan to impeach the President it is no treason itself. Why would it be treason if APC has members in the National Assembly who are able to pass the resolution? Why would that be treason?”

Professor Sagay

Sagay said: “I was rather surprised. In a democratic setting, hard words between rival political parties do not matter. It is like what they eat— like bread and tea— for dinner.

“And what should happen is that the political operators on each side should prepare well, so that they know how to throw feedback at the other side.

“If they say something, you will reply with something sharper and more deadly. That is democracy.

“When you begin to resort to threats by using state power, it shows that you are politically immature.”

Ngige said: “They are trying to be mischievous and childish by such statement. Are impeachable offences for the executives not part of our constitution?

“So, does the call mean that the President is going to be removed?

“Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that an educated fellow like Dr. Reuben Abati can be issuing such statement, when I think he is supposed to be well informed about what democracy is all about.”

Also, human rights activist, Aturu, said: “Calling for the President’s impeachment certainly cannot be a treasonable offence.

“Even though I do not personally agree with it in the sense that I will want the National Assembly to investigate properly and give the President time to respond to the issues that have been raised, but that does not mean that anyone calling for the President’s impeachment has committed a treasonable offence.”

“That is one of the most

careless responses I have gotten from the Federal government in recent time.”

PDP lawmakers

Members of the PDP in the House of Representatives were, however, defensive of the president yesterday with some of them describing it as a storm in a tea cup.

Chairman, South-South Parliamentary Caucus, Warman Ogoriba, PDP, Bayelsa described the APC’s call statement calling for Jonathan’s impeachment as something that smirks of desperation and wondered whether the party was an activist group.

He said: “The desperation of APC is fast becoming something else. I do not know whether it is a party or an activist body.“ Henry Ofongo, representing Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, described the call by the APC as treasonable.

He said: “For me, if people are making allegations to incite the public to go against government; when you make allegations against a sitting President, if those things are unfounded, that means you are trying to incite the public to go against the government to create anarchy in order to overthrow the government. So, that is treasonable.”

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Toby Okechukwu, PDP, Enugu, said APC should slow down because a government does not operate in a vacuum, rather it operates with laws and a tenure system.

Ogbonna Nwuke, member representing Omumu/Etche Federal Constituency, Rivers State, the call was indicative of the fact that the country is at crossroads.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—11

Aganga projects N15trn FDI for 2014

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE, FAVOUR NNABUGWU & FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE Nigerian economy will attract about $96 billion (about N15. 4 trillion) foreign direct investment in non-oil sectors next year.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga, made this projection yesterday in Abuja, during a two-day workshop on Leveraging on Sustained Economic Gains for Successful Enterprise Nation for editors and correspondents covering the sector.

Meanwhile, the ministry has generated $7.4 billion (N1.2 trillion), as revenue for the Federal Government in 2013.

While reviewing the scorecard of his ministry for the outgoing year and expectation for 2014, Aganga said the industrial revolution

plans put in place by his administration had started yielding positive results as foreign investors will be investing $96 billion in the country next year.

He said: “These investments will go into petrochemical, fertiliser and telecommunication sector.

Sources

“We have $96 billion foreign investments in the pipeline and they are coming from United States of America, $1.4 billion through General Electric; South Africa, $3 billion; China, $9.3 billion; United Arab Emirate, $4 billion, among other countries.

“We called it pipeline investments because not all of them may materialise.”

He added that government has embarked on far-reaching reforms aimed at improving the business climate and

making the country the preferred investment hub in Africa and globally.

He said: “Today, Nigeria has a very strong macroeconomic environment and this has made the economy attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.

“UNCTAD has rated Nigeria the No. 1 investment hub in Africa and 4th globally with 35 per cent returns on investment.”

He vowed to sustain the progress made in the outgoing year, saying “ we want to sustain what we have achieved by doing what we ought to do because of competitors in the region and globally.

Foreign observer

“In view of this, we invited Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, to review our investment climate and tell us how to do better.

“They have reviewed and

presented their findings to President Goodluck Jonathan in London and in Abuja.

“The objective is that we want to attract investments from OECD countries as they control 60 per cent of global investments.”

In his welcome address, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investments, said the workshop underscores the importance the ministry attaches to media, both local and international, because of their indispensable roles of shaping public opinion on issues of national relevance and agenda setting.

He argued that the partnership by the ministry with the media has been yielding positive results in terms of the growing investors’ confidence in the economy, Nigeria’s rating on global competitiveness, among others.

AWARD: From left— Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas; Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Gani Fawehinmi Life Time Achievement Award recipient; Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu, Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Hallmark of Labour Foundation; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Special Guest of Honour and Professor Grace Alele-williams, former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, at the Great Nigerian Awards organised by Hallmark to mark its 17th anniversary in Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

Telecom operators face sanctions over poor services

BY OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor, EMEKA AGINAM & FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE Ministry of Communication Technology and the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, yesterday, charged telecoms providers in the country to work hard and improve their service delivery to consumers or risk fines, withdrawal of licences and jail terms of five years.

This is just as the regulatory authority, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has given notice to MTN, GLO, Airtel, Etisalat, Swift Networks, Intercellular, Multi-Links and Visafone of its intention to

sanction them for falling below specified Key Performance Indicator, KPI, on quality of service.

At a joint press briefing in Lagos, Mrs. Omobola John, Minister of Communication Technology, said: “NCC has announced, and I repeat here, from December 31 any network operator that does not meet previously agreed targets on quality of service, QOS, indicators will be immediately prevented from further expansion of their subscriber base until further notice.

“In other words, they will not be allowed to sell SIM cards to new subscribers until quality of service targets are met.”

According to her, the ministry is aware of the problems the operators have in terms of cost of right of ways, damage to fibre optics and base stations through acts of vandalisms, terrorism and flood, including multiple taxation. Yet these excuses are not valid for shortchanging consumers.

“To tackle quality of service issues in the industry, the ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Works developed new Right of Way, ROW, guidelines for Federal Government roads to enable operators have unencumbered means of laying fibre optics, which is critical for infrastructure development and quality of service.

“To remove arbitrary charges and eradicate multiple taxations that impede telecoms development across the nation, we got state governors and relevant authorities at the state and federal levels to address the issue of multiple taxations and adopt measures that will remove arbitrary charges and eradicate multiple taxations to enhance service delivery across the nation.

“At a closed-door meeting with Governor Fashola last week, the ministry facilitated a landmark agreement to remove constraints to the installation, rollout and deployment of base stations and fibre optic cable in the state.”

‘EFCC's broke’

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE ABUJA— THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is broke, cannot pay salaries of staff and services of prosecutors to carry out operational functions, its Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Aremu, has said.

Aremu disclosed this yesterday, at a public hearing on A Bill for An Act to Establish the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency, NFIA, 2013, organised by the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Economic Crimes.

He said the financial challenges facing the activities of the anti–graft agency was as a result of what he called nonremittance of appropriated funds for the agency by the Federal Government over the months.

The EFCC Secretary said: “I could recollect when the committee paid us an oversight function visit.

“We did make our financial position known to the committee that EFCC does not have N2 million in its accounts.

“We have been complaining that no money has been released for us for operations.

“If we can afford to pay salary this month, that is all. That is the position under which we operate presently.”

He opposed the intention of the Bill in making Financial Intelligence Unit, FIU, currently a department in EFCC, an independent Intelligence Unit on its own, insisting that “FIU, in most climes of the world, is run as a secret operational centre at the background of a major body like EFCC as it is presently in Nigeria. ”FIU as intended by the Bill should not be exposed to the public as a separate body on its own.

“It should be kept at the background as it is in most climes of the world.”

However, the Central Bank of Nigeria, National Intelligence Agency and National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, all rose in support of the proposed bill.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Yuletide: LAWMA intensifies night waste collection

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KEJA — THE General Manager, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, says the outfit will focus more on night services during the yuletide festivities.

He told newsmen, yesterday, in Ikeja that the strategy was in response to the anticipated 100 per cent increase in waste generation during the period.

“We don’t intend to congest traffic during the yuletide by deploying more compactor trucks; rather, we will do more work in the night during this period.

“Christmas and New Year are big festivals and we are anticipating 100 per cent increase in waste that would be generated during the period.

“We are changing our services and we intend to move in the night. We will distribute waste bags and cans to improve storage.

Passage

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HRISTOPHER GOODEY is dead.

He passed on last Sunday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, aged 58.

A celebration of life will be held for him on Friday, December 20 at the St. Phillip and James Catholic Church, New Road Busstop, Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos at 9a.m. followed by interment at Victoria Court Cemetry, Epe expressway, Lagos.

He is survived by sister, sons, daughters.

Ajudua to be arraigned for defrauding Bamaiyi of $8.39m while he was in prison.

Expected, Ajudua was to be arraigned on a 13-count charge of conspiracy and fraud alongside Elumile Adedeji (a.k.a Ade Bendel), Kenneth and Princess Hamabon William now at large.

Ajudua alongside other suspects allegedly defrauded Bamaiyi at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, where he and the other fraud

suspects were remanded.

Ajudua, currently answering various charges bordering on advanced fee fraud pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, according to his lawyer, Richard Ahonaruogho, was absent because he was only aware of the matter on Saturday, adding that his client was ill.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Ajudua and others fraudulently claimed that $1m out AGOS — THE absence of of the total money collected from a Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Bamaiyi was for financial Fred Ajudua from court, assistance for the treatment of yesterday, prevented his fresh Justice Olubunmi Oyewole’s arraignment before an Ikeja High father, who was handling Court for allegedly defrauding Bamaiyi’s case then. ex- Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Also, the former COAS, was Major General Ishaya Bamaiyi said to have parted with the of the sum of $8.395m (N1.2bn) money in foreign currency to also bribe some eminent personalities to intervene in his case where he was charged alongside Major Hamza Al-Mustapha for the alleged murder of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. He was latter discharged and acquitted by the trial court.

The suspects were said to have informed Bamaiyi that Oyewole’s father, was admitted at Saint Nicholas in Lagos and the $1m was meant to assist the judge in treating his father.

Justice Ipaye then adjourned till February 12, 2014 for the arraignment, while she ordered that LAUNCH: From left, HRH, Oba Mobadenle Oyekan, Olori Bukola Oyekan, Mr. & Mrs. Olabisi warrant of production Onasanya, MD, First Bank, and Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, MD, Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure, should be served on the prison authority to produce during the formal launch of Inagbe Grand Resort and Leisures by Grand Imperio Resorts Limited, Ajudua at the next hearing at the resort in Ilado, Lagos, week-end. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye date.

The offences of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences were said

BY BARTHOLOMEW According to the statement, ar- to be contrary to Sections the state.

MADUKWE In a statement by the Chief rangements for dealing with ur- 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Registrar, Mrs I.O. Akinkugbe, the gent cases during the Christmas AGOS — LAGOS State Chief Fee Fraud Related Judge, Justice Ayotunde vacation is to start on December 24 vacation were that each judge Offences Act. No. 13 of 1995 would deal with all urgent to January 2, 2014 although any Phillips, has approved nine days as ammended by Act No. as Christmas vacation for judges in cause or matter may be heard by a applications related to substantive 62 of 1999. cases already assigned to him/her. judge during the period.

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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Lagos judges go on Christmas vacation

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Dana audit now concluded — NCAA boss

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt Fola Akinkuotu has said that the audit of Dana Airlines has been concluded and the report revealed some “open items that

have to be closed.”

He, however, adjudged the outcome of the audit concluded on Friday as good and healthy.

According to Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, the DG described “the exercise as painstaking,

professional and transparent, involving the NCAA Flight Standard Group FSG, in conjunction with their foreign partners.”

The Director General said “NCAA will meet with Dana Air where their action plan towards closing the open items will be reviewed and agreed upon,” stating that further consultations will thereafter take place to determine possible date of resumption of flight operations.

Capt Akinkuotu has, however, declared that henceforth the audit will be an annual exercise for all airlines including Dana Air,

adding that a routine audit programme will be drawn up for all the airlines on annual basis.

The essence of this, the DG continued, was to ensure safety in the sky and also to avoid hitches in flight operations.

It will be recalled that the NCAA invoked its statutory responsibility and oversight functions in ensuring safety of the aviation industry by suspending Dana Air operations to carry out a full scale audit of the airline.

Olusi’s autobiography for launch today

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AGOS — LAGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Acting National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande and party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are among the dignitaries expected to launch 'Man: The Story of a Prince of Peace,” the autobiography of

National President of the Zumratul Islamiyyah Society of Nigeria, Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi.

The 358-page book on the former National ViceChairman (Southwest) of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, will be presented to the public today at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos at 10a.m.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—13

OBASANJO'S LETTER TO JONATHAN: Ijaw demand apology

Emami lauds Jonathan, Uduaghan over Escravos EPZ MoU

BY SONI DANIEL

BY EMMA ARUBI

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NDICATIONS emerged last night that prominent Nigerians of Ijaw extraction might take former President Olusegun Obasanjo to task for singling them out for attack in his missive to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Particularly considered offensive to the Ijaw, who are Jonathan’s kinsmen, is the use of quotations mark to describe their ethnic nationality by the former president in his controversial letter to Jonathan last week.

An Ijaw legal practitioner, Mr. Mela Ofoborika, told Vanguard in an interview last Sunday that natives of Ijaw ethnic nationality considered Obasanjo’s emphasis on Ijaw as a personal attack and a calculated attempt to disparage them before other Nigerians.

Naval Engineering College graduates 95 ratings

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HE Nigerian Naval Engineering College Ogorode, Delta State, has graduated 95 ratings, in its 2013 academic session.

The seven departments of the school which graduated the ratings include: Artificer Course A24B and A26A, which graduated 31 ratings; Automobile Mechanical Course, which graduated 15 ratings and Weapon Electrical Course A24B and A.26A, graduating 12. Others were, Power Qualifying Course, with 15 graduates; Basic Engineering School, with 22 graduates; Basic Mechanic Course which had 33 graduates and Fire Men Class Q6, with 28 graduates.

Commandant of the College, Commodore A. A. Bello-Odofin, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral G. A. Anyankpele, said the college has successfully trained Officers and men in Marine Engineering, Weapon Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Fire Fighting, and other allied engineering disciplines.

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BRIEFING: From left: Ms Jite Brume, member, Board of Trustees, Ovie Brume Foundation; Ms Evelyn Oputu, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ovie Brume Foundation, and Ms Eze Mba Nguema, Director, Ovie Brume Foundation, during a press briefing on 2013, Ovie Brume Foundation Exhibtion in Lagos . Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

23 Rivers LG bosses decamp to APC

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— TWENTY-three local government chairmen in Rivers State have

defected to All Progressives Congress, APC, assuring that they would mobilise grassroots support for the party.

Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government and

No new project, Jonathan tells NDDC Board NDDC. The Niger Delta

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, directed that no new project should be embarked upon by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, until all ongoing projects were completed.

He gave the directive while inaugurating the new Board and management of the commission.

According to the President, the general perception of many Nigerians is that the NDDC is a non-performing intervention agency of government.

He urged the new board and management to work hard to justify the purpose for which the commission was established.

The President specifically charged the Board Chairman, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, to use his influence as a former senator to attract adequate budgetary allocations for the commission.

To the new management, the President said: “I just have to admonish you very clearly that there are so many issues about the

people feel that the NDDC is not really doing what they are supposed to do over the period.

“There are so many ongoing projects. A body like NDDC should not just go into a voyage of contracts procurement but ongoing projects must be completed for people to benefit before new ones are awarded.

“There are just too many ongoing projects and we believe that you don’t even have enough manpower to manage the ongoing projects."

Chairman Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers state, Mr. Chimbiko Akarolo, who spoke on behalf of the others during a meeting with the acting chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Davies Ikanya, said they were going to work for the victory of the party in their local governments in all elections.

He said: “We want to assure you (referring to the APC Chairman) that we will work with you collectively. We want to reassure you that as mobilisers and grassroots politicians, we are leaders, we will not disappoint this party.

“We want to reassure you that as various leaders in the various LGAs, we will continue to sensitize our people on the programmes of our party sensitize them and re-engineer them on the manifesto of our party and where the party is going to and how progressive the party is.”

ARRI—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan have been commended for successfully completing the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Julius Berger Nigeria and the Ugborodo community for the take-off of the multi-billion dollar petrochemical and fertilizer projects at Ogidigben in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

National Youth Secretary of Ugborodo community and member of Escravos Export Processing Zone, EPZ, Monitoring Committee set up by Governor Uduaghan to facilitate the smooth take–off of the project, Mr. Bawo Emami, gave the commendation, weekend, in Warri. He admonished any contractor engaged in the project execution to handle its job with all the seriousness it deserved.

Emami, who also commended the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for facilitating the MoU with the host community, applauded their diligence, assuring that with Julius Berger's mobilization to site to kick-start the project, Ugborodo people and host communities were eagerly awaiting the President to do the ground breaking ceremony.

The youth leader maintained that there were no security challenges to the entire project.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Gov Obi tasks FG on federal highways, 2nd Niger Bridge

BY VINCENTUJUMADU

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WKA—THE issue of the deplorable condition of federal highways in the South East geo-political zone and the 2nd Niger Bridge came up again yesterday, during an interactive session of federal civil servants working in Anambra State, with Governor Peter Obi .

During the meeting, the governor called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the implementation of policy decisions relating to the two projects.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, described the two projects as very dear to the people of the zone and hoped that

serious work would begin on them as soon as possible.

He promised that the state government would continue to maintain cordial relationship with both the federal government and its establishments within Anambra State through constructive, proactive, and mutually beneficial relationship.

According to him, Anambra State will also continue to support federal establishments domiciled in the state within its limited resources to enable them tackle challenges facing them.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOS), Alhaji Buka Aji, who was represented by the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi, urged public

servants to adhere strictly to the rules while discharging their duties.

He assured that a lot of reforms were being carried out in the public service to engender quality delivery, in line with the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Aji added that plans were on to reduce huge financial cost of training personnel abroad by domesticating such training within the country.

He reminded them that meeting the demands of the transformation agenda entailed that workers maintained a high sense of discipline, punctuality to work, decorum, ownership of the reform process and avoiding rumour mongering, reminding them of the federal government’s zero tolerance for corruption.

Doctors want FG to establish Lassa fever centre in S-East

BY PETEROKUTU BAKALIKI— EBONYI State chapter of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, yesterday called on the Federal Government to establish a Lassa fever screening centre in the state for the South East geopolitical zone.

State chairman of NMA, Dr. Chidi Esike, who made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Physician Week held at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, lamented that the disease had over the years claimed the lives of some medical doctors who made concerted effort to save the lives of patients affected by it in the state.

It should be recalled that the outbreak of Lassa fever was first reported in Ebonyi State in 2008 during which lives of some persons, including two medical doctors and other health workers, were lost.

Also in 2011, four persons said to be residing at the Military cantonment, Nkwegu ,near Abakaliki, also died of the disease.

Dr. Esike stressed that if the initiative was implemented, it would not only assist in the treatment of the disease but also aid the development of research centres for the

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eradication of the scourge.

He said: “It is distressing to NMA that her members and indeed members of the health team who are so affected had to travel to other geopolitical zones to be diagnosed and treated for Lassa fever since there is no such treatment or virology centre in the south East geopolitical zone.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to establish as a matter of urgency, a virology centre

in Ebonyi State for the South East geopolitical zone. We have the man power and our members are willing to work to make the a centre a success.

“We also call on FETHA to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a dialysis Centre and other specialised services for our people since our members can and wiling to provide the required man power.”

800 rural dwellers receive free medical treatment in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—NO fewer than 800 residents of Awha Ndiagu, an agrarian community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, were last weekend given free health care services.

The 2-day free medical care, which commenced on Saturday, was carried out by a team of doctors, nurses and other health workers.

Speaking with newsmen at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Hospital, venue of the exercise, the benefactor, Okeke Obinna, said he was touched by the

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health challenges faced by members of the community.

Okeke further noted that the programme was driven by passion for service and gratitude to God, stressing that it had no political undertone.

He said: “I invited a team of medical doctors to come and embark on a 2-day free medical care for my people.

“The doctors from Abuja, Lagos and Enugu are screening, diagnosing and giving drugs to the patients. Special cases are being referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—15

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BY CHRISOCHAYI

BUJA—IN a deft move to curb corruption in the oil and gas sector, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Imitative, NEITI, is partnering with the Civil Society Organisations, CSO, to disseminate information to the public domain on activities in the sector to expose graft.

Chairman, NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group, Ledum Mitee, who disclosed this at the inauguration of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, Steering Committee in Abuja, said corruption thrived more in a society where citizens lacked information.

He said the periodic extractive industries reconciliation report sought to empower citizens of resource-endowed countries such as Nigeria, with reliable information as a tool to hold their governments and companies to account through informed discussion, constructive engagement, dialogue and advocacy over the way revenues were managed.

MItee said: “This is where the role of the civil society

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Tukur appoints Ojougboh special assistant BY

A AWARD: From left: Entrepreneurs and Business-Leaders Honourees, Bukola Adubi, Tobias Igwe, Tonny Elumelu and Titus Igwe, during the Future Award Best 100 Celebration, at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo: Akin Oladokun.

NEITI partners CSOs to tackle corruption in oil industrial in the NEITI/EITI process is fundamental. The CSOs are not only expected to freely and independently monitor and evaluate the implementation of the EITI principles and criteria, but are also required to take public

accountability, government transparency issues to the public domain in a manner that elicits popular participation and compliance.

“Against this background, Civil Society Organisations; therefore,

play a critical role in implementing EITI at both national and international levels. At the international level, it was civil society organisations that provided that initial impetus for the creation

of EITI. “Today, it is the coalition of national and international civil society organisations that form the back bone of the maintenance of high standards in its implementation.

HENRY UMORU

BUJA—MOVED by the lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has appointed former member, Federal House of Representatives, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, as his Special Adviser on Presidential Matters.

Tukur, in a letter dated December 9, and signed by him, said: “I am pleased to notify you of your appointment as Special Adviser on Presidential Matters in the office of the national chairman.

“Your appointment which takes immediate effect is at the discretion of the national chairman. You are expected to bring your wealth of e x p e r i e n c e .

Congratulations.”

16Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

TANKERS TAKE OVER APAPA-OSHODI EXPRESSWAY. PIX: JOE AKINTOLA, PHOTO EDITOR.

Tankers illegally parked on the fragile Kirikiri bridge which sometimes last for several days.

EXPRESSWAY TO NOWHERE: The traffic gridlock being experienced by commuters on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as a result of illegally parked petroleum tankers, worsened by the slow pace of ongoing reconstruction work by Julius Berger. This has caused untold hardhsip to motorists and pedestrians alike.

Tankers everywhere as the drivers claim to own the highway, while law enforcement agents fail to act.

DR. LALEKAN A. ARE’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN IBADAN. PIX:

From left, Dr. Lalekan Are, celebrant, his wife, Mrs. Bisi Are, Mr. & Mrs. Demola Igun, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State and chairman of the occassion, at the birthday of Dr. Lalekan Ayokunnu Are, at Kakanfo Conference Centre, Ibadan, Sunday.

Very Rev. Ademola Moradeyo (left) and Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Ola Makinde.

Be patient with Jonathan, IYC President counsels youths

BY EMMA ARUBI

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From left, Chief & Mrs. Adebayo Akande and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao on the occasion.

SHOLA OYELESE,

ARRI—YOUTHS in the country have been urged to be patient with President Goodluck Jonathan in his efforts to transform the economy and make life more meaningful for the masses.

Newly inaugurated president of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Mr. Elvis Donkemezuo made this appeal through the council spokesman, Mr. Senator Edounkumor on arrival

from the sixth National Executive Council meeting of Ijaw youths worldwide.

He urged youths in the country to shun evil and other social vices particularly the people Izonland, saying that there still exist administrative negligence, structural violence and underdevelopment which the president needed to fix.

According to him, the Elvis-led executive will

work in close harmony with other ethnic nationalities in the country while protecting and promoting the views, interest, peculiarities, socio-political and economic heritage of the Ijaw man at all times.

Addressing a gathering of Izon people, Edounkumor thanked them for supporting the new executive of the IYC, and charged those outside Ijawland to be good ambassadors of their people.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 17

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Mandela’s contemporaries African leaders are not inclined to relinquish power once they get hold of it. In Africa, when a man fights for power and succeeds, you have to kill him or he has to die to get him to leave. When he fights for power and succeeds, his office becomes his entitlement. It is his spoils of war. Public property is privatised.

Government is run as a personal estate. This has been the case with Mandela’s contemporaries, even in the Southern African sub-region.

Like Mandela in South Africa, Robert Mugabe fought triumphantly for the independence of Zimbabwe.

Like Mandela, he became Zimbabwe’s first black African president.

But unlike Mandela, Mugabe has refused to relinquish power. After 33 years in office, Mugabe is still Zimbabwe’s president. He has maintained that position by manipulating elections, falsifying poll results and by killing and intimidating his opponents. Clearly, Robert Mugabe intends to die in office. And yet, Zimbabwe is a country: it is not the personal property of Robert Mugabe.

Another contemporary of Mandela that is so unlike him is freedom-fighter Eduardo dos Santos of Angola. He has been president of Angola since 1979 for 34 years. Lately, he has changed the constitution to enable him to stay in power until 2022 when he will be 80 years old. The bet is on that even that date might be subject to review if he happens to live that long.

As Special Adviser to Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigeria’s foreign minister in the 1980s, I was privileged to meet many of these sit-tight African presidents first-hand, including the taciturn Robert Mugabe who refused to acknowledge Nigeria’s million-dollar gift to Zimbabwe for holding the 1986 Nonaligned Summit until prompted by his aides. What I observed were heads-of-states who clearly could not hold a candle to the man the whole

Do wn memor Down memoryy-lane with Africa's sit-tight presidents world is celebrating now: Nelson Mandela.

Houphouet-Boigny Felix Houphouet-Boigny was President of Cote d’Ivoire for 33 years. At his death, he was the third longest-serving head-ofstate in the world, after Fidel Castro of Cuba and Kim Il Sung of North Korea. He was the first President of Cote d’Ivoire, and he died in office as President. When we met him he was over 80 years old; nevertheless he said to us: I refuse to grow old, so that I can serve my country and Africa.

He asked us to meet him in Yamoussoukro instead of Abidjan. Yamoussoukro was Houphouet-Boigny’s village, but he had so privatized the government that he decided it should replace Abidjan as the nation’s capital. A lot of money was sunk into that fruitless exercise. It was only after his

,

S we celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, it is important to highlight what makes him so exemplary, especially on an African continent so bereft of good leadership. Why are there so few Nelson Mandelas in Africa? Unlike him, why are African leaders so powerhungry, self-seeking and corrupt? Nelson Mandela was an African. He was born in Africa and he grew up in Africa. However, in many respects, he was very unAfrican.

After spending a whopping 27 years in prison fighting for democracy in South Africa, Mandela chose to be president of the country for only one-term of five years. After such a long struggle, many might not have begrudged him if he became a life-president. But that was clearly anathema to Nelson Mandela. How can one understand this within the African context? It is a very unAfrican approach to political power.

*Mugabe

The cutlery, the plates, the glasses were of the highest quality with the president’s name, or his initials, H.B. inscribed on them. This man who became in effect the lifepresident of Cote d’Ivoire said to us: I myself, I am not from Cote d’Ivoire. I came from Ghana. But I can’t claim today to be Ghanaian. I am Ivoirian!

Gnassingbe Eyadema Gnassingbe Eyadema was

Like Mandela, Robert Mugabe became Zimbabwe’s first black African president. But unlike Mandela, Mugabe has refused to relinquish power

death that the capital was transferred back to Abidjan.

President Houphouet met with us at what I can only describe as his private castle in Yamoussoukro. As castles often are, the president’s castle was surrounded by an artificial lake. The lake was filled with live crocodiles which, our guide informed us, had to be fed raw meat several times daily; sufficient to feed a large number of Ivoirians.

The President led us down a long corridor with glassshowcases on either side filled masses and masses of pure, glittering gold of every description. He boasted that they had been in his family for generations.

People are surprised that I like gold, he said. It’s just that I was born in it.

The president then treated us to a lavish three-course lunch in a dining-room that could accommodate over 100 guests.

Everything was custom-made.

*Mubarak

*Gaddafi

hands were shaking so vigorously, it was obviously impossible for him to read it.

It was embarrassing to watch, but Eyadema was amused and he relished in it.

Eyadema took us to his village where a national monument had been erected in memory of his late mother.

While most countries have a tomb of the Unknown Soldier where wreaths are laid to honour their patriots, Eyadema converted his mother ’s graveside for this purpose.

President Babangida was then asked to lay a wreath there.

Muammar Gaddafi

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president of Togo for 38 years.

He came in through a coup d’état and refused to leave until his death. Eyadema ran Togo as a personal estate. He made his mother the mother of the nation and made her birthday the national day. Under him, Togo was militarised. An entourage of 1000 beautiful women sang his praises everywhere, as did highlyindoctrinated school-children.

When you heard a siren in the streets of Lome, you must drop whatever you were doing and clap ecstatically, on the understanding that it must be the president passing by.

Eyadema ruled Togo as a ruthless dictator. If you opposed him, you were likely to be killed. One particular incident made a deep impression on me while we were in his office. His foreignminister came to show him some document.

He held it obsequiously so that the president could read it, but his

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uammar Gaddafi was the Leader of Libya for 42 years; making him by far Africa’s longest-serving headof-state. Once he seized power through a coup d’état in 1969, he had no intention of relinquishing it. He held on to it until he was killed by his own people in 2011. When we went to see Gaddafi in 1986, he was already a hunted man.

The Americans had fired missiles through the window of his bedroom and killed his adopted daughter on the bed.

At the time, Gaddafi was reportedly sleeping in a tent in the yard. Gaddafi no longer lived in his attacked house but had made it into something of a national museum.

When you came to see Gaddafi, you never knew where he would be. His precise location at any given time was top secret. Some would be kept for weeks before seeing him, even when they had previous appointments. Because we were from Nigeria, Gaddafi did not keep us waiting for too long. Someone came and announced: the leader will see you now. But the question was where exactly. It soon became clear that it would not be in Tripoli.

We got in a car and were driven to some undisclosed location for three hours, and then had to walk in an open field. We were then told to wait. Soon a man came practically out of nowhere to see who we were. He was wearing a jumpsuit, the type of all-inone suits that roadside mechanics wear. His hair was unkempt and he had a big beard that needed trimming.

As he came nearer, it became clear that it was Gaddafi.

There was nothing head-ofstate about him. He looked like someone who had been deprived of sleep and probably needed a wash. A carpet was unfurled and some chairs placed in that field; and that was where Gaddafi met us. In that peculiar hideout, he had two of his young sons with him. They would soon become terrors in their own right, by all subsequent accounts.

What is the point of being head-of-state if you cannot even sleep in your own bed at night? What kind of life is that? Gaddafi’s predicament brings to mind the late Saddam Hussein of Iraq; another sittight president perpetually on the run. The story goes that you would just be told without prior notice that Saddam was spending the night with you, and you would have to surrender your bedroom. Later on, Saddam might send you a carpet as a thank-you gift for your enforced hospitality.

Hall of shame Some of the other sit-tight African presidents we met in those days are still in power today, over 25 years down the road. They include Dennis Sassou Nguesso who has been president of the Republic of Congo all bar five of the last 34 years. Nguesso was so vain; he kept a big mirror on the wall overlooking his desk. While he was talking to you, he would be busy admiring himself in the mirror. Paul Biya has been president of Cameroun for 31 years. In Biya’s Cameroun, the people were constrained to wear clothes with his portrait emblazoned on them. Then there was Teodoro Mbasogo who has been president of Equatorial Guinea for 34 years. His specialty is not only rigging elections, but winning in some precincts 103 precent of the vote.

It is not enough to have African heads-of-state troop to South Africa in honour of Nelson Mandela. It should be a time of sober reflection as to why so few of them are like him. Most African leaders are power-hungry good-fornothings.

During his memorial service, the South African government was embarrassed when the current president, Jacob Zuma, was booed. The boos may have been impolitic, but they were telling. Zuma was a hypocrite for eulogizing a man whose legacy he does not bear. So were Mugabe and others.

Even Olusegun Obasanjo, the fourth-term aspirant as Nigeria’s president, had the audacity to praise Mandela for only serving one term.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 IS it strange that the strongest defences Nigerians deploy against allegations of corruption is that past suspects, even offenders, were not punished? Impunity creates continuity in how we view suggestions that corruption should be punished.

We are comfortable with corruption. We expect it. We defend it. We justify it. We reduce corruption to bar room gossip, and sometimes topic for abusing each other. It ends there.

Two prominent Nigerians – Olusegun Obasanjo and Aminu Tambuwal – are accusing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of corruption, openly, directly.

Their positions are in the public domain.

Would they present formal petitions to the anti-corruption agencies that are well known to them?

Public outrage about the latest allegations rages in dissipate directions. Some wonder how they dare speak about the President in this manner. Others tag the confrontation a class war with nothing for ordinary Nigerians.

Other commentators have been more concerned with the profile of the newest wavers of the anti-corruption banner than

Corruption - Complicating Confusion their message. Obasanjo is the only one to have ruled Nigeria twice, first for two and half years as a military Head of State and for eight years as a civilian President. Tambuwal is Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the government that he alleges is corrupt.

They are both members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party that has produced governments at the centre since 1999, with majority in the National Assembly and governors in more States than all the other parties combined.

PDP is in turmoil. The statements are more of externalisation of the party’s internal wrangling than the more important war to secure Nigeria’s future.

What the duo say about corruption, or any matter, has to be taken serious. They speak from their vintage interactions with power and the national purse. People are however dismissive of them because corruption is seen along sectional lines.

Nothing is new in this treatment of corruption. Michela Wrong’s 2009 book, ‘It’s Our Turn To Eat’, details how corruption in Kenya was simply seen as a revolving bonus that comes with power. It was expected that the Kalenjins, Daniel Arap Moi’s tribe, should after 28 years in power, realise the Kikuyus, Jomo Kenyatta’s people, had rights to disperse the common wealth among themselves.

The attitude in Nigeria is about the same.

Corruption appears to be accepted as part of power. Those in power do not account for their tenures. One of the most complicating issues about corruption is the impunity that surrounds it, borrowing hugely from the immunity we offer our leaders. Nigerian leaders often ignore the implications of precedents.

Nigerians are judging Obasanjo and Tambuwal with precedents. They find little to comfort them.

OPINION

BY JOHN AINOFENOKHAI

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T is not surprising that health professionals in the country are still howling over the 2009 appointment of Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii as Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). They have shown that they are only interested in grabbing the position for one of their own; they are not in the least interested in objective assessment of the transformational leadership that Orhii has been able to offer since stepping in the saddle.

The appointment, which was made by President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua, was considered to be in apple-pie order by persons in many quarters; but pharmacists in Nigeria believe that the law, which prescribes the profession of who should be appointed Director-General, has, penciled down a professional pharmacist for the position. But is that really what the law says? The answer will be provided shortly.

Therefore, in a frantic attempt to darken the chances and or prospects of his tenure renewal, they have once again opened up on the issue by canvassing the trite argument that Orhii, a Medical Doctor with a Ph.D in Chrono-Neuropsychopharmacology and Juris Doctor from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas, United States of America, was not qualified ab-initio for appointment into the statutory position.

This is one of the lies that members of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have been peddling in their bid to lay exclusive claim to the Director Generalship of NAFDAC. In their effort to win the argument they have all the while canvassed since Orhii’s appointment, they have been patently dishonest in interpreting the Agency’s establishment Act. Section 9 subsection 1 of the Act on which

Health professionals and Orhii: Truth and falsehood they hinge their argument states that: “There shall be appointed for the agency by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the recommendation of the Minister, a Director General who shall be a person with good knowledge of pharmacy, food and drugs.”

It is clear from the phrasing of the law that it did not from the outset envisage that only pharmacists, who are qualified to register as professional members of the professional association of pharmacists, are the ones that can be appointed into that position. Had that been envisaged, it would have been explicitly stated. In fact, the provision is specific on a person(s) having good knowledge of pharmacy, food and drugs.

What is clear from the above, therefore, is that it is falsehood that only pharmacists are the ones who are qualified to be NAFDAC DG. It is not a correct assertion that is grounded in law. Pharmacists have found it convenient to harp on the aspect of the provision that pertains to them, discountenancing the other aspects of knowledge in food and drugs that pertain to food technologists, medical doctors and pharmacologists.

Their fraudulent attempt to usurp the position of NAFDAC DG to the exclusion of medical doctors and pharmacologists is to say the least is uncharitable. It rankles that they are pursuing a line of argument that tends to eliminate, against the spirit and letters of the law, food technologists who deal with food and pharmacologist and medical doctors who deal with drugs from seeking to be appointed into the coveted position.

Interestingly, NAFDAC is not solely about drug administration and control; it is also about food administration and control; and, it would further interest Nigerians to know that food is consumed by more Nigerians than they consume drugs.

The very law that the pharmacists rely on to push their advocacy is does not even help their campaign to claim exclusive right to the position of DG. Therefore, they have, unfortunately for them but fortunately for the like of Orhii and other medical doctors, pharmacologists, et al, lost the legal argument.

Even winning the moral argument is not possible for them in the circumstance. Where is the decency in the attempt to shut out food technologists and medical doctors/ pharmacologists when they are in the contemplation of the law? Is it because pharmacy is mentioned first in the provision of the Act? It is sad that pharmacists in Nigeria would resort to this desperate strategy when even in other climes heads of their food and drug agencies are not necessarily pharmacists. At the 8th International Annual Summit of Heads of top 20 Medicine Regulatory Agencies in the world, which held in Amsterdam from December 3-6, this year, NAFDAC was recognized for its innovativeness in fighting counterfeit medicines through the use of cutting-edge technologies.

The disclosure of the professional backgrounds of some of these medicine regulatory chiefs speaks volumes, perhaps about their abilities and capacities to drive

the agency, far beyond the relevance or otherwise of their professional or paper qualifications. For instance, the Executive Director of Swissmedic, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Jurg H. Schnetzer is a lawyer, business and health administrator.

Consider these: The federal Commissioner for the Protection against Sanitary Risks in Mexico, Mikel Arriola Penalosa, is a lawyer and Public Policy and Public Administrator; the Chief Executive Officer of Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Xavier De Cuyper is an agricultural engineer while in Canada that is mentoring Nigeria on vaccines, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Products and Food, Kathryn McDade is a political scientist and public administrator.

Moving closer to the courses that are related to drugs, food and chemical, the President of Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) in Germany, Professor (Dr) Klaus Cichutek is a Biochemist; Director of French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety in France, Professor Dominique Maraninchi, is an Oncologist; the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency, Professor Guido Rasi is a medical doctor (surgeon).

And like NAFDAC’s Orhii, the Coordinator, Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Lembit Rago, is a clinical pharmacologist; Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA, Dr Margaret Hamburg is a medical doctor; There are, of course, pharmacists heading other agencies like in Argentina and Korea.

What does the bigger global picture tell us? It is simply saying that NAFDAC’s Director Generalship cannot be consigned to the pigeonhole of pharmacists. This is food for thought.

*Mr. Ainofenokhai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 19

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LOOD of tributes have been expressed by many from all across the earth in honour of our sage, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who rested on Wednesday, December 5, 2013, and so much will follow. To be candid, since I was born, I have not seen or heard such deeply felt tributes by way of words and deeds just for a man who passed on, as I noticed from individuals across the spreads of life in a short time. The blend of reactions which came out freely out of the heart of persons is not only amazing, but speak of the social weight of a man whom I consider as one who possessed an unconditionally forgiving soul.

These compliments which had been given in honour of Mandela's conciliatory nature also signify time after time that he was arguably the most cherished, most respected, and most famed figure in recent time. However, what can easily be sieved from what is often said about him is that he was the father of a new South Africa.

Others alike even described him more succinctly as one who, for the right cause, refused to let the notion that the whites are more superior to the white thrive in South Africa. For this, Mandela was considered a saviour-figure without whom freedom and equality of persons would have been elusive, if not impossible to attain during those torturous days of apartheid.

Yet to many, probably in an

attempt to write his name on the wall of their hearts, saw in him, a human being with a sublime soul; one whose towering legacies, it will take long and hard to replicate. Moreover, these all seem to imply that Mandela's wit and spirit are unusual, and the values he handed down to posterity would continue for a longtime be unsurpassed. These comments, often said in tones of deep admiration and adoration are impossible to fault. But it has to be said that one, among other things which acts as a consequence of these pleasant outpourings is Mandela's forgiving spirit - the kind that echoes the words of the Christian Holy Scriptures that point when Jesus Christ admonished us to forgive those who us wrong, "seventy times seven." For those who do not or use, read or believe in the Christian Bible, but are well aware of the sayings , "To err is human, but to forgive, divine". They must have known that though humans sometimes "sin" against one another either with deliberateness or inadvertence, forgiveness has its divine reward. The act of forgiveness, not only causes a kind of inner peace to the individual who does it, but "heaps," as the Holy Bible puts it, "coals of fire" on one's enemies. By this stroke, one may say that Mandela's pearllike virtue of forgiveness not only caused his detractors to respect him, but also made them to hold him in awe. His act of forgiveness did more for s him; it made him

Mandela's pure heart and forgiving spirit must be emulated by rulers in Africa and Nigeria in particular

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the torchlight of personhood in our world today. Perhaps too, this was the reason he stayed this long with us.

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adiba, as Nelson Mandela was fondly called, fought long and hard against white oppressors. He gave sleepless nights to those white oppressors who swore to take away the happiness of South Africans.

Madiba during those dark days of apartheid never gave small peace to those whites who considered blacks as filths, or good enough to be classified along with dogs, monkeys and apes. He took from them in his own way, the same peace and free-living that they too denied others. But Mandela was convinced of what he did. He never used the pains of a few hegemonic breed as an alibi for his struggle.

Mandela believed in the principles of equal justice with absolute conviction and necessity, not of sentiment and selfish grudge. The world knows that he led the struggle for the freedom of blacks in South Africa. Except of

Leaders and uncouth language

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly” - Jim Rohn (1930 – 2009).

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EADERSHIP entails many things.

Surely, one of the important attributes of a good leader is the ability to make use of language in directing his/her subjects towards a particular direction in achieving a desired cause of action.

Therefore, it becomes a terrible thing when someone in leadership position misuses words in an uncouth manner.

I have watched with keen interest, the way and manner the nation’s top-echelon leaders in both public and private life have become raw in their dealings with subordinates when it comes to the exchange of words. It is not just demeaning to witness such gory conversation; it clearly shows empathy between the leaders and the led.

Most recent of such outbursts is that involving the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, where he scolded a widow, Mrs. Joy Ifije for blocking the road with her petty goods and constituting a nuisance to road users. “You are a widow! Go and die. Because your husband died, you want to kill people on the road. Why did you put these things on the road?”, he had told the poor woman.

In the melee that ensued, the woman’s goods were impounded, even though she was said to have pleaded for leniency with the governor. The governor later apologised for the comments he made, which he attributed to anger. Oshiomhole later donated N2m to the widow and also offered her an automatic employment, with a charge to join in the campaign against road and walkways trading.

Well, while one could be tempted to rest the case with the governor’s largesse, what cannot be forgotten, however, is the fact that the people have witnessed one form of insult and ugly statements from their leaders at one time or the other. These unguarded statements normally send wrong signals to Nigerians, who have always looked up to these 'supposed' leaders for direction and succour.

When the people are given the impression that they are not important, like what happens on a near daily basis, they are invariably bound to be repulsive and insensitive any call of support by their leaders. While there cannot be any justification on the part of leaders to rain abusive words on the people, the uncouth language could, perhaps, be borne out of desperation by some of the so-called leaders, who are either not in touch with reality and or due to the fact that they are venting their anger on the innocent, ordinary man on the street.

Apart from the recent case under contention, in the past, our politicians had threatened fire and brimstone over elections in the office of the president, going by several statements credited to

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BY LEXZY OCHIBEJIVWIE

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Only forgiveness: Mandela and the true face of leadership

course for those misguided apartheid agents, the world heard of his genuine struggle, and sympathised with his revolutionary spirit. The world did not condemn what he fought for because they believed that it was just and needful. But Mandela, during the battle for freedom was not motivated by the will to halt the peace, or kill innocent persons, for he knew that freedom based on equality for all, regardless of colour or race is of the essence. He got what he struggled for, but considered it a victory for his people. Although, he was dubbed an enemy of the state, and convicted for crimes against it; Mandela became a liberator to his own people, and a friend to the world. But he did not get victory over the white oppressors so easily; he put himself into it, and was even prepared to die for it. He was a true leader who could put his life on the line for his people. Mandela was not one, who, for fear of losing his life or keep his office, could see thousands of innocent lives cut down , rather than identify and deal with a few who are guided by their slim self-interest to perpetuate wanton evil. After he endured pains, deprivations, and incarceration for 27years, he rose at that time from prison, much like Joseph in the old testament of the Bible, to become the president of a free (but not independent) South Africa. Like the biblical Joseph, he forgave those who would wished to rob their hands with glee if he had died. Mandela was neither an anarchist, nor an insurgent, nor was he a political criminal, a fatalist, a defeatist, or even a political fugitive like the American Edward Snowden. He was, for want of words, a freedom fighter, a modern King Solomon, and a true pacifist. Fundamentally, after sacrificing all his salad days for the freedom of his country, Mandela was neither hegemonic nor vindictive. As we may have

It is no longer news that in all tiers of governance in the nation, there is absence or near absence of any form of concrete social security for the unemployed, aged, physicallychallenged, senior citizens, orphans, widowers and widows, like Mrs. Ifije

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the former presidential aspirant of the Congress for Progressive Change, General Muhammadu Buhari; the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; militant leader, Asari Dokubo; the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark; former Federal Capital Territory’s Minister, Nasir elRufai; Chairman, Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, among others.

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hese unguarded statements, often unleashed in uncouth language, once prodded President Goodluck Jonathan, at the 80th birthday of the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Anthony Anenih, to accuse some

noticed, he did what was right.

When Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and became the first black South African president in 1993, he put his hand to the plough for forgiveness. Even though the scars inflicted on him by apartheid were ever there until he passed on, he considered forgiveness above all else. They said he embarked on 'true reconciliation' during his stay as South Africa's president, but he never would have done so without his forgiving spirit that nudged him on. I admire this much in him.

As one of America's most quoted writers, William Arthur Ward once wrote, "Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness."All of the praise and fame that Mandela now enjoys, even when he is no more, are the account of the step he took to hold on to forgiveness. Instead of contending with foes, Mandela built from them, friends with whom he would secure the future of South Africa.

Instead of thinking of new ways to pay back his enemies and those whites who cared less for him, Mandela treated them with kindness and deep love, for he clearly understands the truism that, "Two wrongs make no right".

Where others would have seen vengeful, he looked beyond this, and saw a world built on the foundation of universal tolerance and togetherness. As a true Ghandian, he built a solid wall of shared prosperity and peace on the strength of his forgiveness. .

Mandela's pure heart and forgiving spirit must be emulated by rulers in Africa, and Nigeria in particular.

*Mr. Ochibejivwie, a doctoral student of UNILAG, wrote from Jeddo, Warri, Delta State.

national elders of making provocative statements that could divide the nation along primordial cleavages.

While the President was sermonising on the evil of bad utterances, he too was criticised for his ‘I don’t give a damn’ outburst and another remark that says that the south-west was too sophisticated and too educated to be left in the hands of ‘radicals’.

Like what obtains in civilized nations, our leaders need to acquaint themselves with appropriate way of behaviour in their public life. This is what the nation needs - leaders who are responsible and responsive to the common good – in the way and manner they communicate. They should be made to communicate rightly.

This should form a strong basis for being elected in public office.

I think we need to ask ourselves a pertinent question: why did the poor Edo woman become a victim of Oshiomhole’s vituperation? In the first place, we must realise that she is a victim of neglect, fostered by bad governance. It is no longer news that in all tiers of governance in the nation, there is absence or near absence of any form of concrete social security for the unemployed, aged, physicallychallenged, senior citizens, orphans, widowers and widows, like Mrs. Ifije.

Those who cannot beg or resort to any unbecoming way of life would rather start doing something small to keep body and soul together and meet up with their everincreasing family and societal needs.

Perhaps, that is why the widow wants to earn a living by working hard, hence her petty trade on the walkway.

*Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal Univerisyt of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Fuss over Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road contract variation

BY TONY IKPASAJA

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AST month, the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, appeared before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to shed light on the revision of the contract for the Abuja-Abaji– Lokoja highway, from the initial N42 billion in 2006 to N116 billion in 2011.

Since the hearings, imaginations have run wild. Some of the views, including editorial comments, insinuate some wrong-doing, while others claim that the contract variation has jeopardised national interest. The minister has also been criticised for continuing with the project on the basis of the revised scope of work and cost, even though the processes leading to the cost variation were initiated before the incumbent minister assumed.

Ordinarily, the basis for the indignation that oozes from these opinions is understandable, against the backdrop of public concern about accountability and judicious application of our commonwealth. But those who have expressed negative views on the issue are barking up the wrong tree, as a forensic examination of the subject matter of their outrage will reveal just how misguided and misleading the comments have been.

In fulfillment of the Federal Government’s promise to dualise all roads leading to Abuja, the Federal Capital, contracts for the dualisation of the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja Road were awarded in four sections to four con-

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struction companies in 2006. The contractors are: Dantata & Sawoe, RCC, Bulletine, and Gitto Construzioni. The length of the road is 196km and the scope of work of the original contract involved the construction of a new carriageway only, which is to run parallel to the existing carriageway, so that it becomes a dual carriageway on completion.

The completion period was 30 months. However,

by May 2011, that is five years after the award, the

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soil investigations. Indeed, some of the sections which the contractors had completed within the 38 per cent bracket in five years had begun to fail.

It bears repeating that the original contract was for one carriageway only. There was no consideration whatsoever for the existing carriageway.

However, with increased vehicular traffic and much heavier axial load, the existing carriageway began to deteriorate rapidly by 2008. So, the country was faced with little progress on the new contract, and a failed carriageway on the existing road.

In November 2010, the Federal Ministry of Works constituted a Technical Committee made up of Ministry officials and representatives of the contractors, to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road project, and recommend measures to facilitate its completion.

The Committee submitted its report in January 2011. Key among the recommendations of the Technical Committee was the provision of adequate drainages on the new carriageway; and improving the existing carriageway by complete rehabilitation, where necessary. The Committee also recommended the review of the contract sums to cater for the existence of extensive unsuitable soils and review of obsolete unit rates.

Upon further consideration of the report and recommendations therein, including new costs, the Federal Ministry of Works forwarded the full reports to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on July 26, 2011. The BPP reviewed the submissions and issued certificates of “No Objection” for the new cost, which totaled N116 billion.

Memoranda were subsequently prepared and

If the present administration, which inherited the virtually comatose project, had merely been content with the completion of the road contract as initially conceived, there is little doubt that, editorialists, public affairs commentators, and other well-meaning Nigerians would cry shrilly over why the government did not deem it fit and proper to deliver a truly brand new expressway

projects had attained only about 38 per cent completion. Nigerians plying the road can attest to this, because of the frequency of carnage and excruciating loss of man-hours as a result of traffic jams, especially during festive periods.

Several factors were responsible for the non-delivery of the project on schedule. The most obvious of these was the grossly inadequate budgetary provision. In five financial years (2006– 2010), the total budgetary provisions for the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road project was N26.63 billion, representing 62.6 per cent of the total contract sum of N42.55 billion. Indeed, in 2006 and 2008, there were no budgetary provisions at all. While the project was starved of funds, the basic costs of construction materials such as cement, steel, bitumen, diesel, and labour skyrocketed, owing to inflation and the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.

In the circumstance, the unit rates of the contracts became obsolete.

Furthermore, the contractors encountered serious technical, geological and ecological challenges, including very unstable subsoil, fine white chalk, clay and black cotton soils, high water table, crop outgrowths, and rock formations. This necessitated the contractors requesting for a review of the rates.

In a sense, these challenges were traceable to the haste with which the contract was awarded in 2006, because enough time and attention was not devoted to detailed planning, as well as detailed geotechnical and

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tabled before the Federal Executive Council, which approved the contracts at its meetings of September 28, 2011, and November 23, 2011.

Contrary to some of the views being bandied, there is nothing “mysterious” about the variation of the contract sum from N42 billion to N116 billion. A mystery is inferable where there is no identifiable basis. Besides, the im-

pression being created is that the variation in the contract sum is a 24-carat discovery by a Senate Ad Hoc Committee that is exposing cobwebs.

To uncover implies some wrong-doing that was previously hidden from the relevant authorities, or those who should know.

As stated above, the variation was approved, first, by BPP, and then tabled before the Federal Executive Council, which considered and passed the Memoranda. ”.

What is perhaps little appreciated is that the revision of the cost of the construction of the AbujaAbaji-Lokoja dual carriageway is, in fact, a new contract, the scope of works of the earlier contract having been enlarged considerably. If the present Administration, which inherited the virtually comatose project, had merely been content with the completion of the road contract as initially conceived, there is little doubt that, editorialists, public affairs commentators, and other well-meaning Nigerians would cry shrilly over why the government did not deem it fit and proper to deliver a truly brand new expressway, by not only constructing a new carriageway, but reconstructing the existing carriageway, which had begun to fail by 2008.

It is obvious, therefore, that rather than jeopardise the national interest, the variation in the contract for the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja dual carriageway (through the expanded scope of works) is squarely in the national interest.

• Mr. Tony Ikpasaja is the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Works.

American Conservatives vs Pope Francis P

OPE Francis is Time Magazine’s 2013 Man of the Year. But to the vocal acolytes of the conservative creed in America, the man of God from Argentina is no more than another Fidel Castro dressed up in holy robes. Yes. Less than 24 hours after Time Magazine made the announcement, the far right quickly unleashed their tirade against the pope.

One of the high priests of this conservative movement, Rush Limbaugh, was quick to use his talk-radio programme to criticize Time Magazine’s choice. The same man had used the same forum to castigate Pope Francis for asking world leaders to think about helping the poor and the needy.

Rush told his audience on Wednesday (Dec. 11) that “This is just pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the pope.”

He did not stop there, but added that: “You know the pope, Pope Francis has issued an official papal proclamation, and it’s sad…..It’s actually unbelievable. It’s sad because this pope makes it very clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to capitalism and socialism and so forth.”

Another right-winger, Adam Shaw, who is also a news editor with FoxNews.com, did not mince words when he ridiculed

attention you would get from your doctor. You pay all your insurance premiums but when you need medical attention, the insurance companies will find a reason to drop you from their coverage – unless you were willing to practically sell everything you own and go into debt in order to meet their financial demands. And since this is about your health, what options do you really have?

The same beggar-thy-neighbour-forprofit reasons motivated the Republican/Tea Party members to shut down the USA government ostensibly because they wanted to curtail government’s expenditure and kill off Obamacare. They did not care that millions of people in government employment temporarily lost their means of livelihood. Neither did it matter to them that their so-called cost-saving measure eventually cost the US economy an estimated $26 billion.

Today, several low-income wage earners in America are agitating for an increase in the national minimum wage from the present $7.5 an hour. President Obama has called for the figure to be pegged at $10. But, no. The Republicans/Tea Party/Conservative movement will not budge. They contend that it increasing the minimum wage is bad Pope Francis, unlike for business to thrive. But, it is some of his predecesgood for business sors, has come out not to pay hardworking people boldly on the side of something that the downtrodden, the looks like a decent wage. By the way, poor, the even with $10 and marginalized, the hour, most of those workers will still neglected, and peoneed to have two ple who suffer from or more jobs in order to pay their all forms of discrimibasic bills. nation How about unemployment benefits and assist-

Pope Francis in his article. He characterized the pope as the Obama of the Catholic Church and accused the pontiff as someone who “the faithful for the enemy, the enemy for his friend, condescension for respect, socialism for justice and capitalism for tyranny.”

Why these vitriolic attacks on the Pope? Simple. Pope Francis, unlike some of his predecessors, has come out boldly on the side of the downtrodden, the poor, the marginalized, the neglected, and people who suffer from all forms of discrimination. This is how Time Magazine’s International Editor Bobby Ghosh described Pope Francis: “He’s changed perceptions of the church from being this out-of-touch institution to one that is humble and merciful.” Ghosh further said that “He’s changed the focus of the church from being focused on doctrine to becoming more about service. And he’s changed the tone in which the church speaks to one of compassion. It’s all about the poor. This is the church as it used to be in its — arguably its best period in the past. And Francis seems to be bringing that back.”

Attacking Pope Francis is mere subterfuge. The real enemy of the American conservative movement, and its Republican Party/Tea Party front-men, is anything that will challenge the wealthy and powerful in society; anything that will bring any form of social and economic justice; anything that will lift people above the threshold of poverty.

It is unbelievable that some people believe that poor people should remain buried in poverty. Why do these people oppose an idea like Obamacare? They just don’t want over 40 million people in America to have access to any form of health insurance, because Obamacare’s ultimate objective is to make health insurance AFFORDABLE. Doing that will undercut the excessive profit margins of this wealthy, business class. Various studies in the USA have demonstrated that the most potent cause of personal bankruptcy is being sick and having to get medical attention. Prior to Obamacare, insurance companies dictated how much

,

C M Y

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

,

ance to the jobless? No. The same clique of wealthy people does not want it. They enact laws to cut what they call subsidies to the poor, yet they gleefully grant farming subsidies that benefit their lucrative farming industry. Their philosophy appears to be that the poor should always remain poor. And they are the same people who oppose immigration reforms or anything that will benefit the struggling people in America. And such people are in millions, with recent studies that indicate that one in six Americans go hungry due to lack of food in a country that is awash with wealth.

Pope Francis’ ‘sin’ is to have called attention to the misery of the poor people around the globe. The Republicans/ Tea Party/Conservatives do not like such reminders that the world does not belong to them alone. While not specifically referring to them, the pope appears to have pricked their nerves and they are in the mood to fight back. They are patently afraid of the consequences of Pope Francis using his moral authority to query their avarice and inhumanity. But the huge irony is that these people who have little or no sympathy for the plight of the poor call themselves Christians and blasphemously invoke the name of God and the bible each time you hear them say something.

This anti Pope Francis attack by the conservatives has little to do with the pope as a person. It is all about protecting their wealth. My imagination informs me that when these rich-but-kill-the-poor-people die and attempt to get to the gates of heaven, if they actually get there, the archangels in charge of the gates will simply refer them to the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 21

P

ipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC said it has adopted strategic measures to deepen the Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG or cooking gas market and promote the use of the product across the country.

The PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, said one of the measures is to provide LPG skids in its 21 depots across the country, with the aim of bringing the products closer to consumers with particular emphasis on rural dwellers.

Promoting LPG usage among rural dwellers that make use of traditional fuel for cooking like charcoal, fire wood, PPMC said, would help reduce deforestation in the country and the global environment at large.

Managing Director of PPMC, Mr. Haruna Momoh, listed other measures to include the creation of viable access and the restoring of the Apapa LPG facility from 4,000 metric tonnes to 7,000 metric tonnes.

Manager LPG/SP & B of PPMC, Mrs. Ugona Betty, who represented Momoh, at the third edition of Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA in Lagos, said the PPMC has been contributing its quota in the development of LP Gas market in Nigeria. She noted that arrangements were currently on ground to complete the digitalisation of all LPG utilisation plants.

The PPMC boss also stated that the company looks forward to acquiring all LPG vessels and a healthy

PPMC adopts measures to deepen LPG market

By KUNLE KALEJAYE partnership with NNPC retail outlets and also gas to health initiative with NGOs to create awareness for substitute fuel.

He added that PPMC also plans to partner with regulatory agencies as well to promote industrial best practices in all its locations,

stressing that everyone needs to come together in the global transformation to ensure that the entry cost for rural dwellers is completely minimised.

“PPMC is saddled with the responsibility of petroleum products supply and distribution, as well as the supply and distribution of LP Gas in the Nigeria market.

PPMC has made tremendous stride in LP Gas market development in the past couple of years.

“The company is not resting on its previous achievements but it is actually pushing in the fore front in LPG utilisation, building and improving capacity development. The company is able to push in

MEETING: Dr. Rotimi Oladele, former Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lagos and MD, Magvon West Africa (middle); Hajia Rabi Muhammed, former Treasurer, NIPR and Liaison Officer to the Senate President (left) and Mr. Willy Ogbidi, former Secretary, NIPR Lagos, after a meeting in Lagos.

Labour demands industrial policy to promote local competitiveness

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

O

RGANISED Labour has called on the Federal Government to develop an industrial policy supportive of local production through deliberate strategies of promoting competitiveness through aggressive infrastructural support and a mix of well thought out macroeconomic framework that reward value addition and employment generation.

This came as it commended the Federal Government on the new Automotive policy, saying “although, increase in tariff up to 70 percent will initially raise the prices of imported second hand cars from Europe. It is a necessary sacrifice that is required to stimulate local production of automobiles in Nigeria. The establishment of local Assembly plants will create several thousands of jobs,

provide opportunity for skill development and save the country enormous foreign exchange that is usually transferred for the importation of all kinds of automobiles into the country. Similar policies had ensured that Nigeria attained self sufficiency in cement production within a short period.”

Some affiliates of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, gave the advice in a communiqué issued after a roundtable organized to mark the Africa Industrialization Day 2013 with the Theme: Job Creation and Entrepreneurship Development –A Means to Accelerate Industrialization in Africa organized by NLC, TUC Affiliates and Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, FIWON, with the Support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES.

NLC and TUC affiliates at the roundtable included union in Textile sector, Construction and Furniture industry the Food and Beverage sector Steel and Engineering, Chemical and Leather industry, as well as FIWON. Participants at the roundtable contended that in spite of the promise of independence for sustainable industrial development and the observed progress in industrialisation in the 70s through the 80s in which Nigeria recorded significant growth in the manufacture of household goods, steel and engineering, textile and apparels as well as automobile assembly, industrial manufacturing had witnessed monumental decline in the last two decades with contribution to gross domestic product, GDP, standing at a meagre 4 per cent in 2012.

these developments with the array of infrastructure strategically located across the country.

“In 2007 when NLNG announced the intervention scheme through the appointment of off takers by the federal government, PPMC decided to key into this vision to ensure the achievement of the intervention scheme.

PPMC did not only guarantee the availability of coaster storage at Apapa, PPMC embarked on the rehabilitation of all LPG utilisation plants strategically located across in the six geo-political zones of the country.

“These utilisation plants were constructed about 20 years ago but they were left unused.

PPMC then after the launch of the intervention scheme by NLNG embarked on a rehabilitation of the utilisation of these plants. These plants are located in Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kano, Guzo, Gombe, Enugu, Calabar and Makurdi.

“The aim of building these utilisation plants years back was to ensure that LP gas gets closer to consumers that disforestation is reduced and also that gas flaring is reduced to the barest minimum. Hence, the rehabilitation of the utilisation plant is to ensure that these visions are actualised.

This is a major achievement because this has enabled total penetration of LPG market and increased accessibility of LP gas to consumers” he said.

114.0

3.3

2,802.00

+37.00

16.28

-0.02

108.35

-0.32

96.43

-1.07

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.73 251.8231 212.3979 173.6198 1.4932 0.306 237.9988 25.4837 41.2525 28.4613 238.7639

155.23 252.6368 213.0842 174.1809 1.4981 0.316 238.7679 25.5665 41.3858 28.5533 239.5354

SELLING 155.73 253.4506 213.7706 174.7419 1.5029 0.326 239.537 25.6493 41.5191 28.6453 240.307

CBN Exchange rate as at 16/12/2013

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER

17, 2013

Accessing the shares of late relatives

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

A

lot of shareholders passed away without adequately handing over their investment portfolios to any relative. In fact in many instances, relatives of the shareholder may not even be aware of such investment. The worst case is when the late shareholder did not keep records of such investment and the relative only know when they began to receive dividend warrants posted to that late shareholder. That is when they began to realise that the late relative has investment in shares and hence began to find ways to retrieve or claim the shares.

But the problem is they don’t even know anything about shares or how to reclaim shares of late relatives. This is reflected in the enquiry from a reader who asked, “Please my late father has shares with UTC Nigeria Plc and NTC Limited. I have the certificates with me. How can I go about it?

So how can you reclaim the shares of a late relative? Take note that when we say reclaim, it does not mean that you transfer the ownership of

the shares to yourself. It only means having authority to manage those shares on behalf of the late relative. In other words, the shares continue to be in the name of the deceased.

Secondly, the process or procedure for reclaiming or having authority to manage the hares of a late relative is the same as that of having authority to manage his/her properties i.e land, houses, bank accounts etc. After all shares are parts of the property the deceased shareholder left behind. Also the process is a legal process involving the court, hence you need the services of a lawyer.

To reclaim, manage or administer the shares or properly of a late relative, you need a document called ‘Letter of Administration’ approved by a High Court.

The lettr is written by a lawyer, ased on the instruction of the family or represntative of the family of the lae shareholder. The letter will ontain list and value of all the shares and properties of the deceased. It will also conain names of at least two eple who will be nominated by the family to administer the shares. The Letter of

Administration basically applies to the court to confer authority on the nominated relatives the power to administer the shares or properties of the deceased shareholder.

Upon receipt of the letter, the court will do an independent valuation of the listed shares or properties for the purpose of determining the capital gain tax that should

be paid on the shares. There are two implications from the above. The first is, before applying for the Letter of Administration, the family of the deceased must first appoint a lawyer, and then nominate the those will administer the shares or property of the deceased. The second implication is that the family must take time to find out all the properties and

From left: Mrs. Veronica Ebinum, Director, Prime Innovation Institute of Technology(PIIT); Mr. Adesodun Akindele, MD Billoptions (Media Partner); and Mrs. Ngozi Odoh, Director PIIT, at the Media Briefing of Prime Innovation Institute of Technology (PIIT), in Lagos.

Top 10 performing stocks U

nion Dicon Salt Plc, International Breweries Plc, Lafarge WAPCO Plc, University Press Plc, Cadbury Nig. Plc and N.E.M Insurance Co. (Nig.) Plc were among the stocks that garnered enough investors’ patronage last week to emerge on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE’s top gainers. The rest were Associated Bus Company Plc, ABC, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Airline Services & Logistics Plc, ASL, and Mansard Insurance Plc. Union Dicon Salt, UDS, led the top performers with 40.12 percent or N2.74 price appreciation to close the week at N9.57 from N6.88. Since the news of take-over of majority interest by CBO Capital Partners in the company hit the market a month ago, it has remained the investors’ toast, featuring consistently on the top gainers list.

By the take-over, CBO Capital, one of the leading investment and project development firms based in Lagos, has been saddled with the responsibility of turning the

company’s fortune around.

The turnaround programme, according to UDS’s management, is being finalised, while the implementation is due to commence in the first quarter of 2014. The company is currently concluding a variety of strategic options, for a 2014 capital expenditure, Capex, requirement of N4 billion that will soon be announced. Yearto-date, the share price has risen by 126.78 percent from N4.22 at the beginning of the year to the present market price.

International Breweries Plc’s share price rose by 12.56 percent or N3.00 from N23.88 at the beginning of the week to N26.88. Only about two weeks ago, the Osun State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the company in order to increase its production chain. As part of the agreement, the company will invest $40 million to build another factory that would increase the production of the breweries.

investment of the deceased and get appropriate professionals to value them.

Now this can be a herculean task for a lot of families, especially if the deceased did not keep meticulous record of his properties and investments. It is a situation that is aggravated where the deceased also did not acquaint any relative with his affairs. To be continued next week.

According to the MoU, the state government will be responsible for the acquisition of land and payment of compensations to the original owners. Though International Breweries has for a long time been bogged down by streak of losses in its finances, the six months financial statement for September, 2013 indicated that it may have started to breathe fresh air. The company, though, still has to deal with rising cost.

T h e revenue for the period rose by 39.49 percent to N8.628 billion from the previous N6.185 billion. Cost of sales rose by almost the same margin, growing to N4.36 billion from N3.23 billion in 2012, thus representing 35.2 percent increase. Post tax profit saw 20.91 percent growth from N900.58 million in 2012 to N1.089 billion.

Lafarge WAPCo advanced by 5.97 percent or N7.25 to close at N111.20 from N103.95.

Three months ago, Lafarge signed a $225 million (N45

billion) syndicated underwritten multi currency medium term facility with some Nigerian banks to expand its Ewekoro Plant (the Lakatabu Expansion Project). Lafarge WAPCO’s two production sites, the Ewekoro and Sagamu plants, currently have combined capacity of two million metric tons of cement per annum. The unaudited financial statement for the period ended 30th September, 2013 showed a marginal increase of six percent in revenue, as it rose to N74.278 billion from N69.844 billion in the same period of 2012. Profit after tax also rose by 89 percent to N20.45 billion from N10.85 billion in 2012, while the cost of sales remained unchanged at N45.092 billion.

University Press recorded 6.97 percent or N7.25 price appreciation to close at N4.07 from N3.82. Listed in the printing/publishing sub-sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, University Press todate is the most highly priced stock in the printing sub-sector.

Available financial statement of

By NKIRUKA NNOROM the company for the half-year ended 30th June, 2013, showed that revenue rose to N197.465 million as against N177.682 million in corresponding period of 2012. Gross profit stood at N103.56 million compared to N95.59 million in 2012. This was, however, wiped off by increasing marketing & distribution expenses, as well as administrative expenses, which left the company with loss before tax of N64.292 million. Cadbury Nig. Plc recorded 5.94 percent or N3.70 price appreciation to close at N66.00 from N62.30; NEM Insurance went up by 5.26 percent or N0.03 to close at N0.60 from N0.57; ABC Transport advanced by 5.13 percent or N0.04 from N0.78 to N0.82; Custodian and Allied Insurance rose by five percent or N0.10 from N2.00 to N2.10; Airline Services & Logistics added 4.99 percent or N0.18 to its share price to close at N3.79 from N3.61, while Mansard Insurance advanced by 4.98 percent or N0.12 from N2.14 to N2.53 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 23

Fund managers are finding it difficult to cope

By WILLIAM JIMOH

P

ASTOR WILLIAMS ADEBAYO: The fund managers are currently having problems in their operations, with the exception of Kakawa Guaranteed Income Fund and a few others including Legacy Fund owned

by FCMB which really guaranteed your income because they have been the ones that are able to strive well and pay dividend.

But the other ones like Heritage have been in existence since 2008 and since then this is the first year they are able to pay just N10 dividend. With that we cannot rate them as a manager with substantial value when it comes to their relevance to the interest of the investors.

What I am trying to say is that most of them are just trying to survive; they have not been able to grow to the extent that they can be profitable to the managers and the investors. Currently they have problems even the one set up by other banks including Union Bank could not strive well in the market. The reason why I think most of them cannot do well is because they relied greatly on shares.

So if share does not do well, they will not do well too. Just as they are trying to survive, they want to grow and they still have administrators to pay.

With all these, they still have running cost which they want to manage and if possible cut to the lowest level and managing these together with the current market atmosphere, they have not been able to make much progress;

•Pastor Williams Adebayo with the exception of those ones I mentioned, all of them cannot cope.

WAHEED SHONIBARE: For almost five years after buying into this particular fund, this is the first time they are paying dividend. And instead of them to work on how they can be more profitable, they are giving excuses for their bad performances.

I have almost ten fund managers, including the Heritage, Kakawa, and most of them are not doing so well. One of these funds has recently requested that the unit holders approve a proposal that AGM be held only when the managers or the majority unit holder requested for it.

•Investor Adewale The question one may want to ask is; how will they perform well without a watchdog role of the investors when they skip AGMs if currently now that the investors are putting pressure on them to do well, they are not doing so well?

The reason they gave for thinking to embark on this is to be able to cut the operational cost while plowing the money they could have spend organizing AGM back to the return of the investors. But to us as unit holders, these are not enough reasons why they should not hold AGM, it is just a way to avoid investors from coming in contact with them which is not good enough for their operations.

INVESTORS SPEAK It is during the AGMs that they give the report of their performance and be it good or bad, the unit holders are ready to receive it, but not to get any report is what is bad and the act also did not support such practice and that is the more reason why we also reject it. That they will improve on posting financial statements and reports through soft and hard formats is also not acceptable because we have not made much progress in using these things.

INVESTOR ADEWALE: The AGM is the platform where they tell Unit Holders about their profit and loss and they give explanation for their performance. And if they said they want to do this because they can get the reports across to the Unit Holders both in hard, soft and electronic formats, not all investors are electronic covered.

Moreover, most of the DVDs they send do not open except one uses a computer system. I have many at home that I could not access rendering them useless at the same time resulting to a waste of funds.

If you go by what is available in the market today; a situation whereby it is a week after AGM that you are receiving the reports and financial performance in your mail box, and when you send mail to these companies requesting for explanations on certain issues, they find it difficult to respond and when they send copies to you, you cannot access it and those times you are able to, it is usually late often weeks after the meeting that you receive the reports.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS No dividend from Ecobank In 2006 I bought shares of former Oceanic bank which is now called Ecobank but up till now I have not received dividend. Please help me ask the company what’s happening?

(Enwene Gabriel)

I bought 2000 units of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) shares during the company’s Initial Public Offer from Union Bank Plc main branch in Asaba, Delta State. But I have not received my share certificate or heard anything from them till date. Please help!

Investors Forum You need to contact the bank’s registrar. The contact is ESL Registrars Ltd, 16/A Rauf Taylor Close, Off Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

08034550924, 07042952312

Investors Forum Contact Africa Prudential Registrars Plc at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 01-8401153, 018931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

I need update on shares in Transcorp

I need update on Eko corp Early in the year, I saw an advert

placed by Eko Corp for the sale of the company ’s Maitama-Abuja land earlier earmarked for a Hospital.

Meanwhile for a long time now, the company has not done AGM, no bonus or dividend? (Paul) Investors Forum Please contact Afribank Registrars Limited located at 2A Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Village, Lagos.

P.M.B.12021 Lagos.

Phone: +234 1 2691867, 2692094, 7735963; Fax: +234 1 2692019 I need education on bonds What are FGN BONDS and how do I obtain them (O.A GERGER Gboko

Benue State) Investors Forum Bonds are issued by a government or firm to borrow money. Hence when you buy bonds, you are lending money to the issuer of the bond. The issuer pays annual interest rate on the money borrowed (called coupon). FGN bonds are issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Like shares you can now buy and sell bonds on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange through a stockbroker.

I want to know the possibility of changing a Stock Broker that is not doing well. Please your advice will be highly cherished. (Sir B C Obi.) Investors Forum Yes you can change your stockbroker.

When you identify the new broker you want to move to, go there and complete a stock account transfer form.

The new broker will complete the process and all your stock account will be transferred from the old broker to the new one.

From left: Winner of star prize, Mrs Wemene Omoja; Managing Director, Raywens Nig. Ltd; Chiarman, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumatarous; National Sales Manager, Flour Mills of Nig, Mr. Gbenga Ogunbanwo and Marketing Manager, Golden Pasta, Mrs Modupe Babalola at the Golden Pasta & Noodle Lagos customer raffle draw.

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

24— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Jonathan urges transparency in sale of marginal fields

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: President Good luck Jonathan has called for transparency in the sale of oil wells, as the nationwide road show embarked by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, for the 2013 Marginal Field award exercise ended in Abuja.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, who disclosed this at the conclusion of the road show in Abuja, said the President directed that the process should be conducted in transparent manner. The national road show was held respectively in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Abuja.

Alision-Madueke, who noted that the Marginal Fields round was held last in 2003, gave the assurance that sufficient time will be given for the processing of applications in order to ensure transparency.

Recall that two weeks ago the minister formally flagged off the second marginal field licensing round for the sale of 31 oil fields comprising 16 onshore fields and 15 others in the continental shelf.

Represented by Danladi Kifasi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the minister explained that emphasis is on the local companies because they needed to be encouraged in line with the local content policy.

He recalled that the last Marginal Field licensing round took a period of four years to be completed, but that this process will not take more than five months.

The Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the agency in charge of sales of the oil wells, Mr. George Osahon,

P

ORT HARCOURT: STAKE HOLDERS in the South South region have called for a review of some of the guidelines for the 2013 marginal field award.

They spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State shortly after the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mr George Osahon, presented the guidelines before prospective investors in the region. Some

FG blames 22% drop in power on pipeline vandalism

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

while announcing fees for the process put the cost of application fees for N200,000 per field, processing fees N300, 000 per field.

O

n the candidates apply ing from outside the country, he said application was 1,000 Pound Sterling or $1,600, processing fees 1,500 Pound Sterling or $3,200 and $3,000 for data prying fees as well as $15,000 Data leasing fees.

He explained that, “this programme is essentially meant for the Nigerian people,” adding, “at least, 51% of the beneficiary interest is owned by Nigerian citizens.”

Drill or lose Osahon warned Nigerian companies seeking to acquire the marginal fields to develop the assets within two years, or lose them.

The DPR Director also warned that what transpired in the 2003, where field winners were unable to develop the fields 10 years after, will not be tolerated this time around.

He said that any company that is bidding this time around cannot have a promoter that has more than 25 percent shares in the company. Also, among the promoting team or shareholders, “you must have at least one of them being somebody who is an experienced up stream that is exploration and production components.

“I must say that access to financing is critical in the bid process,” he stressed, adding that the bidders must provide evidence of access to finance.

“One of the issues we have had so far is that people get fields, 10 years after they get

the field they have not done a thing. If you recall marginal field by definition means a field that has been discovered by major IOCs and 10 years thereafter they have not developed those fields.

“We take those fields from IOCs (international oil companies) give them to Nigerian companies and another 10 years down the road, those fields have not been developed and then you ask yourself what is the difference.

“We do not want to give these assets out and wait for another 10 years for them to be developed, therefore we have indicated again as one of the conditions, if you get a field within two years of getting the field you should have done something. If have not the powers that be will take the field from you.”

… as DPR, South-South stakeholders disagree on guidelines

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BITS Brief

of them argued that since most of the oil fields to be awarded were in the Niger Delta, they should enjoy some concession in the whole exercise.

They also urged the DPR to review one of the guidelines, which stated that no single individual would be allowed to hold more than 25 percent equity in any company bidding for fields.

Some of them said they already had existing companies where they hold above 25 per-

cent stake. “Some of us think that since the oil fields are in the region prospective investors from the area should get some privileges. Again another worry some of us have is that we hold far above 25 percent shares in our existing companies. So are we going to be shut out of the exercise because of this? There should be a review to accommodate us in the region,” they insisted.

Meanwhile, Osahon said the guidelines for the bidding proc-

ess were evolved to ensure that at the end of the day the various fields would be developed, adding that it was also to give room for indigenous firms to be actively involved in the nation’s oil industry.

Continuing, he said about four promoters were expected to come together to bid, adding that no bidder would be allowed to go for more than three fields. He also said every applicant company must have a technical partner.

BUJA: The Federal Gov ernment has blamed the poor power supply being experienced recently in the country on the vandalism of gas infrastructure, which according to it accounted for about 22% drop.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, which paid oversight visit to the ministry.

Nebo said the act of sabotage of the gas pipeline, which sometimes are done by unscrupulous persons using dynamites on the lines, for instance the Western trunk from Warri through Escravos was found to have been damaged at many points far more than it was initially imagined.

He added that “another one at the Eastern axis at Boko loma was punctured at many points, and it would take the next one month to fix.”

He argued that the vandals have injured the nation’s economy so much that they should not be spared, and called on the lawmakers to enact a stiffer penalty on these saboteurs as this will serve as deterrence to others.

The worrisome problem associated with vandalism according to the Minister informed the convocation of stakeholders’ forum, which was organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

This forum brought together all security agencies to tackle the menace, it was resolved that information sharing among all stakeholders is key to fighting vandalism.

On budget performance, the minister said that partial releases of funds have relatively affected projects, and reminded the legislators that electricity projects are not useful until the final nuts are tied.

With regard to some of the achievements during the year under review, Nebo identified the 3rd Benin– Onitsha 330 KV double circuit transmission line as completed. He also said that 70% progress has been recorded in the implementation of the 215 MW Kaduna Power Plant.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 25

PIB: Why Nigeria must act fast I

f the history of bill processing in Nigerian parliament is analyzed, the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, must rank among the unenviable topmost in the bills that have suffered the longest delay, lengthiest argument, and perhaps most distracting political connotations.

This is in spite of the immense fortunes and potential the bill holds in stock for Africa’s most populous country, and World’s sixth oil-rich nation. Paradoxically, this is a bill many expected to enjoy utmost priority and harmonious support for quick passage into law in view of the strategic importance of oil and gas sector to Nigeria’s economy and overall development. Consequently, the question is: Where lies the patriotism of Nigerian lawmakers?

It is a common knowledge that many states and local governments become broke any time there is a shortfall in petroleum revenues, which affects monthly disbursement in the federation account. As it is said: “no Nile, no Egypt” to highlight the importance of River Nile to the economy of Egypt, it will not be wrong to say: “no petroleum, no Nigeria”.

The PIB seeks to establish a legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for the petroleum industry in Nigeria, in order to rejuvenate the sector which experts believe has been stagnated for decades amid a dynamic hydrocarbon international marketplace that has built economies of UAE, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

Among the benefits which the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani AlisonMadueke has been drumming support for are: · To create a conducive business environment for the petroleum operations; · Enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefits of Nigerian people; · Optimize domestic gas supplies, particularly for power generation and industrial development; · Establish a progressive fiscal framework that encourages further investment in the petroleum industry while optimizing revenues accruing to the government; · Establish commercially oriented and profit-driven oil and gas entities. Other benefits of the bill includes: · Deregulate and liberalize the downstream sector; · create efficient and effective regulatory agencies; · Promote transparency and openness in the administration of petroleum resources in Nigeria.

Additional benefits include to promote the development of Nigeria Content in the petroleum industry; protect health safety and environment in the course of petroleum operations; and to attain such other objectives to promote a viable and sustainable petroleum inC M Y K

Nigerians. More so, knowing that the hydrocarbon industry is a global market, it is imperative to take meaningful steps to protect Nigeria from perceived vagaries of the market dynamics.

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President Goodluck Jonathan dustry in Nigeria.

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ommenting on the winwin nature of the bill in a press interview while attending a recent Nigerian Senate public hearing on PIB, Alison-Madueke called for the quick passage of the bill, saying: ‘’We believe that it is essential to have this kind of open stakeholders forum here and there. You are fully aware that some of the fiscal regimes have been a cause of concern to the multinational oil companies in particular and some of our independent companies as well.”

Continuing, she said, “… It is unlikely that there will all be a time when there will be full agreement obviously. A country has to make revenue and return on investment out of its core mono-economy products, which in our case is

Diesani Alison Madueke

oil and gas so to speak. So we must up the intake of revenue because the production sharing contract, PSC, of 1993 was very adverse for this country,’’ she concluded.

With all the good intentions embodied in the bill, industry stakeholders are united in voicing that the country is losing tremendously as a result of the perpetual delay of the PIB. For instance, available economic indicators show that petroleum contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product, GDP, have been on a downwards trend since 2009, from an initial 18.89% in the first quarter of 2009, to about 13.42% in the third quarter of 2012.

This is essentially as a result of decline in investments in the sector, especially the onshore front as investors are said to be afraid and uncer-

tain of the PIB outcome, coupled with sustained losses to theft and vandalism. There is therefore the need to avoid further delay to transforming the bill into an Act. For one, Nigeria economy is peculiar in the sense that since the advent of oil and gas exploration and production, other key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, trade and services suffered neglect leading to a mono-cultural condition where petroleum became the mainstay of the economy.

Hence, the Nigerian Government depends mainly on oil and gas proceeds for finance and trade balances. The country therefore more than anything, else requires a regulatory framework that will guarantee the fortune of this lifeline. The PIB is the key to a home-grown approach encompassing the interest of all

lso, Government’s eco nomic diversification efforts need to be vigorously pursued by clearing all obstacles against the PIB. This will help the industry to stabilize once more and provide the needed fund, before the energy independence policies of petroleum importing nations begin to show impact.

The global economic meltdown having dealt a heavy blow to the economies of many developed nations has prompted high energy consuming nations like the U.S. to look into policies of energy independence. They are also painstakingly exploring new ways of cutting down oil imports. This necessitates putting all machinery in place to open up the industry through the quick passage of the PIB so that Nigeria can start the robust phase of oil industry that the new bill holds in promise.

It is a known fact that modern technology has tremendously improved and is still improving the speed and accuracy of doing business. The oil and gas sector is not an exception and has benefited adequately from technology revolutions. Hence concerted effort in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation across the globe has yielded fruitful results such as developing shale oil and gas, and discovering many new frontiers.

In Africa for example, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Chad are among emerging oil producing nations. It is instructive to make hay while the sun shines, by settling every impediment on the PIB, to avoid losing Nigeria’s trade partners to the new oil producing nations. Also, avert a situation where advancement in engineering could develop economically competitive means of extracting shale oil.

Transformation Agenda: Privatisation of national refineries CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU

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T was with delight that I read about government’s plan to privatize our national refineries/petrochemical plants.

Industry experts have been clamoring for some time now for this event to occur. I believe it’s an idea whose time has finally come, and would usher in an era of expansion of the downstream petroleum industry in Nigeria, whereby new refineries/petrochemical plants would be constructed and existing ones rehabilitated and debottle-necked (i.e. expanded).

Industries that derive feedstock from refineries and petrochemical plants could be established by private companies, such as ammonia

and fertilizer companies, etc.

Let’s briefly examine the state of play in our refining/ petrochemical sector, and to appreciate why the government has decided to privatize them.

Nigeria’s three refineries are over-aged and new refineries are yet to be constructed. For instance, the newest refinery (i.e. the new Port Harcourt Refinery) was commissioned in 1989, which is roughly 24 years ago. All the national refineries have been operating inefficiently for the past 15-20 years. Average capacity utilization is in the range of 18 -25%, thereby placing our national refineries at the bottom of the ladder among African refineries. The age of the refineries is not entirely the cause of low capacity

utilization.

The poor performance of the refineries may be attributed to factors, such as wrong business model, inadequate governance structure, poor maintenance/ rehabilitation regime, supply chain constraints, etc. The most critical of these factors is the structure of the business model.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, (a monopoly organization) has several subsidiaries, and the relationship between these is sometimes unclear and awkward. This is the case with the relationship between the Pipelines & Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and NNPC refineries. PPMC supplies all crude feedstock to the refineries (i.e. single

supplier). PPMC evacuates all refined products (i.e. single off-taker). PPMC owns and repairs all pipelines carrying crude oil to the refineries and those evacuating refined products (i.e. single pipeline owners and maintenance company). The refineries are paid a processing fee by PPMC, so there is no incentive to keep costs down.

To make matters worse, repairs and maintenance budgets are approved along the lines of a ‘complex chain of command’ which commences from the Federal Executive Council level to NNPC Board, and then goes further down the ‘food chain’. Therefore, the refineries managers have no control whatsoever over their businesses.

26— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

BITS Brief

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ffective June 1, 2014, t h e Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, said it planned to commence a process of requalification of gas cylinders in the country.

Confirming the development, Mr. Obiora Manafa, Head of Department, Metrology and Instrumentation, SON, said the Organisation would embarked on the exercise in collaboration with other agencies.

These are the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA); and Nigeria Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM).

Manafa explained that other stakeholders in the domestic LPG value chain like filling plant owners, manufacturers of cylinders, LPG retailers and other end users would be part of the requalification exercise.

He said, “SON has developed standards for requalification of cylinders and establishment of refurbishing centres. SON is collaborating with relevant stakeholders on the establishment of cylinder test centres at LPG filling plants across the country. “ A joint SON/NALPGAM committee has been set up to work out the modalities of withdrawing expired and substandard LPG cylinders from circulation, the commencement date of the cylinder re-qualification policy is June 1, 2014.

While stating that SON had pegged the standard lifespan of LPG cylinders in Nigeria at 15 years, Manafa further explained: “The committee will also work out the registration of plant owners for accreditation of test centres

by SON, while SON is to assist in setting up pilot test centres in 10 filling plants in Lagos, one in Abuja and one in each geopolitical zones of the country.”

According to him, “Pressure testing equipment has been designed by SON for the test

Market operator acknowledges poor remittance by DISCOs

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A LPG cylinders

SON to re-qualify gas cylinders centres and a pilot unit is being produced. The criteria for accreditation of test centres are such that the plant must be licensed by DPR while been a member of NALPGAM and equipped with the right technologies and personnel, in addition to signing an undertaking with SON not to fill a substandard or expired cylinder.”

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hile listing some of the benefits to be derived from the re-qualification policy, Manafa noted that: “The lifespan for any cylinder in Nigeria is now 15 years and re-qualification is every five years.

“We foresee that this will give more business to our indigenous cylinder manufacturers who will be actively engaged, enhance safety of lives and properties

in the industry, boost the LPG business, create more confidence in the minds of users on safety, at the same time, eliminate most of the sub-standard cylinders from circulation.”

The importation of substandard gas cylinders became more pronounced during the face-off between Nigeria Liquefied Natural gas, NLNG and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. NLNG which accounts for 150,000 metric tonnes of LPG yearly from its Bonny Island plant in Rivers State, was blockaded by security forces attached to NIMASA over none payment of tax to the Federal Government.

As a result, LPG terminals in Lagos exhausted their supply resulting in artificial scarcity, which left dealers

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r Dayo Adeshina, the President of the Association, said that the trend ias also discouraging the use of cooking gas at homes, as it is deterring genuine investors in the business.

According to him, the LPG market was dominated by those who were cutting corners in order to remain in business.

IPMAN tasks members on PPMC loading policy

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA: The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has urged its members nationwide to comply with the new petroleum products loading policy: First in First Out, FIFO, introduced by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, or face sanctions.

The National President of IPMAN, Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir, and Secretary, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, in a statement signed respectively, explained that the policy was aimed at sanitizing the loading system for petrol, kerosene and diesel (PMS, DPK and AGO, respectively).

The Association directed all its zonal chairmen and depot heads to comply to ensure the immediate clearance of outstanding tickets.

The statement also warned that the leadership of IPMAN will be left with

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with the option to import the cheaper product with high propane from Niger Republic.

Meanwhile, the importation of substandard gas cylinders into the country with 50 per cent propane, which has higher rate of combustion, has raised fear of domestic gas explosions among gas users, the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA has said.

no option than to sanction any member, zonal or depot executive flouting the rule as stipulated by the PPMC, as this will amount to sabotage.

PPMC has written IPMAN expressing concern over delay in compliance to its new products loading policy, which entails that products loading at depots should be based on first come first serve.

In a quick response to the PPMC letter, IPMAN last week directed all its zonal chairmen from the North Western, Western, Eastern, MidWestern and North Eastern zones as well as depot managers to ensure strict compliance to the policy.

The statement reads; “The National president of IPMAN received a letter from PPMC management on the above subject matter.

“The president in consultation with the principal NEC officials review the policy extensively and agreed that the policy will sanitize the loading system of PMS, DPK, and AGO.

BUJA: Executive Di rector, Operator of the Nigerian Electricity Market, ONEM, Mr Jan Bagnall, has admitted to poor payment of the November statutory remittance by owners of the recently privatised Distribution companies, Discos.

Bagnall, who confirmed the default in Abuja, however added that some Discos have recently complied and that the payment update would be made available to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, shortly after compilation.

Bagnall said: “there were some payments but I do not know the value or who they are from yet. We are working on that, so we can’t give you specifics right now, but we would find that out soon.”

It would be recalled that the NERC had last week issued a compliance deadline to the defaulting Discos.

The Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, had disclosed that only N2billion was remitted with an outstanding of N10 billion as payment for services rendered during the first month of the physical takeover.

The ONEM boss also noted that major challenges facing the private-led power sector is the issue of system collapse and gas pipeline vandalism, which are being addressed.

He added, “We have got towers collapsing and vandalism of gas pipelines. We need thorough partnership to resolve them and after this we can now get power 24/7,” he said.

Meanwhile, NERC has launched a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy to promote safety and healthy working conditions among its staff.

The HSE workshop was organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. While declaring a three-day Health and Safety Workshop open in Abuja, Amadi stressed the need to consistently orientate electricity workers on safety compliance. He said, “Health and safety is a culture before it becomes a practice, if they are not safety conscious, they, staff, will not be able to practice it.”

He maintained that safety in the work place is an attitude that must be imbibed, noting that high compliance rate could be achieved in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, through research on safety campaigns strategies.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 27

Uncertainty in Nigeria, others stall OPEC quota target

BY SEBASTINE OBASI

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ncertainty in the Niger ia’s oil rich Niger Delta region, Libya and Saudi Arabia, has stalled the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, quota target.

At the end of its oil Ministers’ meeting last week, Secretary General Abdullah al-Badri, said OPEC has cut its crude oil output towards next year ’s global requirement.

Involuntary outages, as opposed to elective cutbacks, are said to be taking their toll on OPEC output.

Oilfield maintenance in Nigeria, and a cutback in Saudi Arabia reduced supply, while Libya’s output fell the most of the 12 OPEC members last month due to strikes and protests.

OPEC expects demand for its oil in 2014 to average 29.57 million barrels per day (bpd), maintaining its previous estimate. That suggests there will be virtually no surplus crude in the market in 2014.

The amount of excess oil has fallen from earlier this year when OPEC output was well above 30 million bpd.

“Signs of a recovery are already visible in rising global industrial production,” OPEC said. “The global economy has gained traction again.”

Nigeria has continued to be in the league of member countries that are the main drivers behind fall in OPEC output in recent times.

Output by the 12-member OPEC decreased 245,000 barrels to an average 30.007 million barrels per day (bpd) last month from 30.252 million in October, the survey of oil companies, producers and analysts showed.

Nigeria’s production dropped 100,000 bpd to 1.89 million in November, the lowest level since May. Production is often disrupted by unrest in the Niger Delta, the country ’s main oilproducing region.

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igeria, OPEC’s seventhlargest producer, is yet to come near the 2.53 million bpd estimate in the 2013 budget, due largely to oil theft which has assumed an unprecedented dimension in recent times and the nation has seen significant drop in revenue from its oil and gas industry.

The amount lost to oil theft in the first quarter was estimated at over $1.23 billion (N190 billion), according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation C M Y K

(NNPC). October oil revenue from crude sales was N443.05 billion ($2.7 million), 5 percent lower than it projected, according to Ministry of Finance.

With more than 200,000 bpd of crude oil being lost to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and spills, Nigeria ranks fourth in the league of countries who contribute to global oil supply outages, estimates from analysts at

Deutsche Bank and other shipping and industry sources recently showed.

Saudi Arabian crude output declined 150,000 barrels a day to 9.65 million. The desert kingdom pumped 10 million barrels a day in September, the most in monthly data going back to 1989. The October estimate was reduced by 200,000 barrels a day.

Libya’s output plunged to about 250,000 bpd due to

deadly fighting between radical Islamist fighters and the army. However, the Oil Minister Abdelbari al-Arusi said he hoped production would be back to its normal level of 1.5 million bpd within two weeks.

According to the estimates, total global outages amount to 3.15 million bpd, about 3.5 percent of daily world oil demand of 90 million bpd.

OPEC report kept unchanged forecasts which point to a smaller share of the world oil market for OPEC in 2014 due to increasing supply from the United States, in the midst of a shale energy boom, and other non-OPEC countries.

Despite the upbeat note on global growth, OPEC is yet to see any uptick in oil demand.

It expects world consumption to rise by 1.04 million bpd in 2014 and less than the 1.2 million bpd increase in nonOPEC supply.

Miners

FG urges Nigeria miners on joint venture mining

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

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BUJA- THE Federal Gov ernment at the weekend, urged miners in the country to embark on joint venture mining to boost rapid development of the sector and also attract foreign direct investment.

This was said by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, during a courtesy visit by the Miners Association of Nigeria, MAN, to the ministry.

Sada said it was now imperative for Nigerian miners to form joint mining ventures as it is in the oil and gas sector with international and local partners who have good ideas, knowledge, technical expertise and financial muscles to grow and develop the mining industry.

Sada said: “Mining nations all over the world started to grow their mining industries with joint venture strategy for

rapid growth and development, which had at the end attracted direct foreign investments, and now are big players globally.

Nigerian miners should also learn from such experiences to facilitate the transformation of this money spinning sector of our economy.

“Miners and investors in the nation’s mining industry should endeavour to sign community development agreements with the various community development associations in their host communities instead of with a village or community head to avoid unnecessary clashes in their operations across the country.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has the best intentions for the development of Nigeria’s mining industry. Also you should know that Nigeria has the right mining geology in Sub-Saharan Africa for the exploration and

exploitation of its huge solid mineral endowments.”

The minister expressed pleasure over the one day ‘Miners’ Stakeholders Forum’ organised by MAN, which is scheduled for today (Monday) in Abuja. He further stated that big mining events all over the world started with little ideas that have fast-tracked the growth and development of the mining sector in most countries.

He assured that the management of MAN that the ministry would give the necessary support and cooperation for the successful hosting of the Miners’ Stakeholders Forum.

Speaking earlier, President, MAN, Alhaji Sani Shehu, said that the purpose of their visit to the ministry was to formally inform and invite the minister, and also to solicit the ministry ’s support and cooperation for the association’s one day stakeholders forum.

BITS Brief

China pipeline blast exposes risks of urban sprawl A

Chinese oil pipeline punctured twice a week by oil thieves cleared a safety inspection just two months before a section of the line exploded and killed 62 people in November, sources at the pipeline operator Sinopec said.

Reuters reports that initial findings of an investigation showed crude oil leaking from the pipeline into urban storm drains appeared to have fuelled the explosion, the worst accident at facilities owned and operated by top Asian refiner China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec).

The case highlights the risks involved as both energy pipeline networks and China’s cities expand rapidly. Urban development has engulfed many existing pipelines, providing an opportunity for thieves but also leaving lines dangerously close to residents, industry and commerce.

The Dongying-Huangdao II pipeline was breached on average more than 100 times a year by thieves to siphon off oil, a source at the pipeline subsidiary of Sinopec said.

The pipeline met internal safety standards during a company inspection completed in September, another Sinopec source said.

They declined to be identified, saying information about the accident remains sensitive as the authorities conduct their investigations. Sinopec declined to comment.

“The problem of energy thieves and the clash with urban infrastructure hasn’t been given enough attention,” said Lin Boqiang, director of the China Centre for Energy Economics at Xiamen University in southeast China.

“With the pipeline boom in China, there are problems with safety management of pipelines.”

The blast occurred in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao in Shandong province and the official investigation ordered by Beijing has yet to be completed.

Yang Dongliang, the national director of the State Administration of Work Safety, blamed the explosion on a “serious dereliction of duty ”, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported last month. It did not give any further details on the cause.

The explosion exposed problems with oil and urban drainage pipeline layouts, pipeline supervision and the handling of oil leaks, Xinhua quoted Yang as saying.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

By Theodore Opara

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NARGUABLY one of the most powerful cars in its class, the current Toyota Avensis is no doubt one of the most exciting cars to have rolled out from Toyota plants.

Viewed from any angle, the Avensis has a design that stands out, revealing the European and Japanese ‘blood’ in it. The Toyota Avensis good looks has made it the choice of many corporate in the world.

According to Toyota, “the styling of the Avensis gives it a dynamic and unique presence. The outstanding basic performance delivers agile driving with a reassuring feeling, while your pleasure is enhanced by the spacious cabin with its premium quality interior furnish and sophisticated equipment.

Creating a new dynamism full of originality, the Avensis provides a cutting edge at the top level in its class."

Under the hood of the Avensis is a powerful 16 valve 2.0 litre engine with four-speed automatic transmission. For those who prefer manual drive-train there is a six-speed manual transmission. The fuel system is electronic fuel injection which economises fuel with enhance performance.

The compact, lightweight engine integrates various advanced technologies to deliver both excellent performance and low fuel consumption. The techonologies include Dual VVT-i which optimally controls the open/close timing of both the intake and exhaust valves based on driving conditions, further contributing to fuel economy and reduced exhaust gas emission.

The Avensis owes its excellent road-handling not only to the engine but to the suspension. At the front is Macpherson struts shockabsober with stabiliser bar while the rear is double wish one gas filled shockabsorbers with stabiliser bar, giving the Avensis solid rock performance on the road.

Inside, the Avensis is very spacious with generous legroom for both front and rear occupants. The cabin is also filled with premium-quality materials.

Toyota engineers paid careful attention to details such as the choice of colours and materials making the interior one of the most wellpackaged in its class.

A feature of the Avensis luxurious cabin is the re-

Toyota Avensis: Sedan with dynamic, unique presence fined simplicity and ease of use of the abundant appointments. For instance, the audio system features digital radio tuner and CD player feeding six speakers to provide quality sound.

The system’s touch-panel display and steering wheel switches enable easy operation. Other features

like USB/mini jack, bluetooth function, automatic air-conditioning system coupled with noise absorbing, noise insulating and vibration-damping material gives the occupants of the Avensis a quiet and enjoyable ride during any trip. The Avensis comes with array of innovative technologies. Smart entry

and start system, eight -way power front seats, keyless entry system, 60/40 split, fold-down rear seatbacks that enables you accommodate your luggages the way it suits you are some of the smart things in the Avensis.

Also, the various integrated storage spaces help you keep the Avensis cabin

neat. High level of active and passive safety features abound in the Avensis.

Starting with the intelligent headlamps which enables the driver to have a better view at night and when turning, the Avensis is equipped with EPS-VSC integrated control system, ABS with EBD system to optimise distribution of braking force in various

driving conditions.

Also, the Avensis comes with disc brakes on all four wheels, ventilated on the front for excellent heat-dissipation efficiency, while crash safety body helps absorb impact energy in a collision. It is also equipped with SRS driver airbags, knee airbags and curtain airbags, as well as active backrest.

VON Automobile to assemble passenger cars in 2014 •Impresses Senate Committee

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HE just ended over sight visit of the Senate Committee on Trade to VON Automobile last week, could redress seeming skepticisms on the ability of the local vehicle plants in the country to utilise the modified standard Automotive Industry Policy that was announced October 2, 2013.

VON Automobiles and other local vehicle assemblers have lately come under severe criticisms from a group of vehicle importers, who are opposed to the bespoke policy that favours local assembly against importation of fully built units, FBU. According to a state-

ment by VON Automobiles, the visit, which is the first since the Automotive Policy was announced, seeks to ascertain whether the plants can justifiably take advantage of the revised policy.

Senator Elder Odion Ugbesia, Chairman Senate Committee on Trade, who led members of his team on the guarded tour of the plant, commended the management of VON for its achievement within a relatively short time, urging the plant to urgently meet the Spring target for the production of passenger cars, as the public eagerly awaits the gains of the Auto Policy,

he said.

“I’m glad I came here, and I’ve seen for myself – you can see real effort on the part of private entrepreneur to actually start something in the area of manufacturing and that is commendable,” Senator Ugbesia remarked.

Also adding that the Stallion Group should speed up activity at the plant to roll out passenger cars for the benefit of the motoring public, the head of the Senate Committee on Trade said: “We are tired of bringing in tokunbo – and now we are saying some effort on the part of Stallion Group of Companies to do something that will transmit into manufacturing of cars

in Nigeria. And I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen.”

According to Senator Ugbesia, “the only way the National Assembly can support vehicle plants in the country is through legislative support by way of reviewing existing laws and providing enabling environment that would encourage investors.”

In his reaction to critics of the new Auto Policy, Elder Ugbesia said: “I am sure those in protest haven’t read or studied the Policy. You must allow any policy time to grow.

No policy ever pleases everybody. Most new policies please some people and of course, offend others and there is nothing

you can do about that.”

He encouraged the plant to be dynamic and proactive, adding that patronage of locally assembled vehicles is subject to the principle of supply and demand, and the country still hasn’t have enough plants that could produce its vehicular needs, until all the plants are able to produce in their respective installed capacity, Senator Ugbesia cautioned.

He said, “Let us face fact; we don’t have that capacity that can meet the demand of our huge market. What they are doing here is infinitesimal considering the huge market, so we haven’t reached that stage yet.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—29

By Theodore Opara

Commuters decry traffic congestion on Ikorodu-Ketu road C

OMMUTERS on Iko rodu Road and drivers plying the route have decried the traffic congestion being experienced daily along the Ketu-Ikorodu axis currently undergoing expansion. They attributed the sickening traffic at Mile 12 to the uncoordinated activities of the ‘wheel barrow boys’ who scrabbled for load from traders and shoppers at the market area.

They also complained about the insufficient number of traffic managers/wardens along the

route, which many impatient motorists capitalised on to drive against the traffic. Some faulted the approach of working on both sides of the road simultaneously.

The commuters lamented the man hours lost in traffic on the road. The stretch of Ikorodu Road from Ketu to Ikorodu town is notorious for traffic congestion, but the Lagos State government expects that to change once the two-lane road is converted into a four-lane Expressway with two BRT

lanes. Although the commuters, who spoke to our correspondent, said they were aware that they would have to bear some ‘pain’ until the project was completed, they argued that the situation should not be as bad as it was at the moment.

They, therefore, called on the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency to deploy more officials in the area to help manage the chaotic traffic.

A bus driver, Ahmed Tijani, said on Tuesday, said the situation could be

improved if more LASTMA officials were deployed in the road.

“Because LASTMA people are not many on the road, people drive anyhow. There is no patience,” he said. A commuter, Tunde Odekunle, who shared Tijani’s sentiment, added that the situation was getting worse. He said, “If you were here on Saturday, you would have seen how people are suffering on this road. To get to Mile 12 from Ikorodu, which used to take under one hour, now takes three

hours or four hours.”

With drivers spending more hours on the road, and, consequently, being unable to make as many trips as they used to in a day, transport fares have shot up. Since Saturday, fares have more than doubled, especially during rush hours. Odekunle, who works at Mile 12, said, “To get from Mile 12 to Ikorodu now, they charge up to N500. This is something we even paid as low as N50 when the traffic was not much.”

Asked what he felt could be done to improve the situation, he said it was for the construction firm to work on one lane of the road first before moving to the other and to help fill the potholes on parts of the road where they were not working.

“Since they started work on the road, the potholes have increased. They need to fill it up so that cars can move easily because if all cars have to slow down because of the potholes, they traffic will become heavier.” Some have argued that the activities of truck pushers around the Mile 12 market contributed to the worsening traffic situation. A commuter, who gave her name as Ju-

dith Okeka, said the truck pushers had always operated on the road and lamented the amount of time she spent in the traffic every day to get to work on Lagos Island. She said, “Yesterday (Monday), I spent four hours in the morning to get to Ketu (from Ikorodu) and on my way back home, I spend more than four hours. That is almost nine hours in traffic.” Like some other commuters, she said there was the need for traffic officials to work with the construction workers to better manage the situation as there was no alternative route.

Asked why she did not consider using a ferry to get to the Island, she said it was too expensive at N600. “I don’t have that kind of money to spend; how much is my salary?” she said.

But Odekunle insisted that there was not much the traffic officials could do.

He said, “The traffic is just too bad; they are trying their best, but they are tired. If you go to Ikorodu now, you will see that the road is scattered. In some places, it is like there is not road at all. That is why I said the construction company should help us and fill those parts.”

Ssangyong’s global sales exceed 14,000 units for second consecutive month

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SANGYONG Motor (CEO Lee Yoo-il), part of the USD 16.2 billion Mahindra Group, announced that the company sold a total of 14,092 units in November 2013 – 6,540 units in domestic sales and 7,552 in exports, including CKD kits. Its sales in November exceeded 14,000 units for the second consecutive month, highly increasing by 17.9% from a year earlier and by 21.6% on an accumulated basis. This continuous sales growth was driven by robust sales of the Korando family brand including the New Korando C. In particular, the company posted its second consecutive month of record domestic sales at 6,540 units in November.

Sales increased by a substantial 48.5% over the same month last year and by 35.6% year to date,

showing the highest continuous growth among the domestic automakers.

The company sold 6,202 units in the domestic market in October 2013, recording the highest ever monthly sales in 7 years since December 2006 at 6,534 units.

While its domestic sales continue an upward trend in each category, the Korando C and Korando Sports led the sales momentum with a rise of 7.9% and 101.7% respectively compared to the same month last year. Ssangyong’s exports in November recorded 7,552 units backed by continued sales growth in the Russian and Chilean markets. The cumulative exports during the period from January to November this year rose by 12.8% year-on-year despite priority being given toward meeting increased domestic demand.

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

By Theodore Opara

VW Golf conquers Japan

T

HE Golf is ‘Car of the Year 2013/14’ in Japan.

Thus, for the first time in the 34-year history of this prestigious award a foreign car has beaten the local competition.

Particularly impressive was the score awarded by the 60-strong jury to the latest generation Golf, which has been available in Japan only since 25th June: 504 out of a possible 600 points - a record for an imported car and a lead of 131 points over the second-placed vehicle and 337 points over the car in third. ”We are delighted that

T

HE management of Elizade Auto Land Ltd, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of JAC vehicle range after carrying out a 120-days test-run on the various models of the vehicles which include passengers cars and truck.

The test-run which started in the first quarter of the year saw Elizade Auto Land Ltd handing over 18 JAC vehicles to Evans Medical Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Cybele Cosmetics Ltd, Lagos Taxi Drivers Unions, Redolent Favours, Nigalex Nigeria Aluminum Extrusions Ltd, Syndicated Industries Ltd and God is Good Driving School, Ibadan to test-run and report back their findings to Elizade Auto Land.

Speaking at the official closing ceremony of the test-run at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja recently, the chairman Elizade Auto Land, Dr. Herbert Ajayi stated: “We can confidently say that we have achieved what we set out for with this JAC compatibility rest-run, adding that the company would not relent in offering quality automobiles and services to its customers.

The chairman said It was in line with the company’s resolve to support every sector of the Nigerian economy that they acquired the license to be the sole distributors of the JAC vehicles in Nigeria with their new subsidiary, Elizade Auto Land.

According to him, their thought initially was to bring the vehicles as cost effective automobile brand alternative for prospective buyers. But while was laudable, they needed to ascertain that the vehicles they were bringing were compatible with the Nigerian environment and capacity to deliver.

While the test-run lasted, Dr. Ajayi said that they followed the workings of the

Elizade Auto Land endorses JAC vehicles for Nigerian road after 120 years test-run vehicles closely throughout the 120 days and every observation was well documented and sent to JAC manufacturers in China and so far they were satisfied with the results.

Also speaking at the occasion, the managing director Elizade Auto Land, Mr. Demola Ade-Ojo said that the day was one of historic importance in the history of the company, adding that the JAC brand has come to stay.

He said, for every for two years, we have delivered on our promise to provide the best in automobile sales, after-sales-service and provision of genuine spare parts. "Our foray into searching for more cost-effective auto brand alternative to our costumers’ needs is what has brought

us here today. Our commitment to satisfying our customers’ needs and establishing best quality is what constantly drives us. As we all know, the JAC test-run for compatibility has come to an end," he said.

The managing director pointed out that the JAC cars are not new to Nigeria, but we decided that we would like to lend more structure and credibility to the importation of these cars into the country. In reaching our to the JAC parent company in China, Elizade Auto Land, a division of Elizade Nigeria Ltd, decided that a quality/compatibility check had to be carried out to ascertain that these JAC vehicles could perform satisfactory in the Nigerian environment.

Continuing, he said, "as

a company, Elizade Auto Land is committed to delivering great value to her customers around the country. What we have done with the JAC vehicles testing is no different in terms of delivery value.

Apart from the fact that we are working with JAC manufacturers in China to provide a cost-effect alternative for automobile buyers in Nigeria, we are also committed to providing appropriate facilities for sales-after-sales services and genuine spare parts for these vehicles. He disclosed hat they are currently building standard workshops and showrooms in Lagos. "Also, there are trained technicians on ground to ensure that the vehicles will always be properly maintained.

Availability of spare parts is also part of the value added package that we are offering our customers," he stated.

"As we have finished the test-run exercise, we are glad to inform you that we are here to stay. We wold continue to provide the best in automobiles sales-aftersales services and genuine spare parts to our esteemed clients," he promised.

Today, as we take another giant step with this JAC test-run card event, we would like to assure you that our drive to offer excellent quality services and automobile can only go higher. Our drive is stronger than ever to ensure that our clients are satisfied with their motor vehicles and the services we offer.

the Golf is the first imported car to win the main prize in the 34-year history of Car of the Year Japan. This award is dedicated to everyone who has supported Volkswagen in Japan over the past 60 years,” said Shigeru Shoji, Volkswagen Group President in Japan.

Explaining its decision, the jury highlighted in particular the new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) as a core strength of the Golf: the MQB formed the basis for precise handling with simultaneously high levels of ride comfort and driving pleasure, the jurors said.

Further features to earn praise included the excellent standard of safety, the clear and clean design, the high-quality interior and exterior finish and the highly modern TSI engines.

The Golf is available in Japan in three versions: ‘Trendline’, ‘Comfortline’ and ‘Highline’. Customers have the choice of two efficient and nimble turbocharged direct injection petrol engines: the 1.2 TSI and the 1.4 TSI with active cylinder management (ACT). In October, Volkswagen also extended the range with the addition of the new Golf GTI, featuring a 2.0 TSI engine that is impressing car buyers in Japan as well.

Since the launch of the new Golf on the Japanese market, over 13,000 vehicles have already been ordered - an indication of the brand’s strong growth in general in Japan.

Hyundai named most reliable manufacturer H

YUNDAI beat out ev ery competitor to earn the distinction of “Most Reliable Manufacturer” in the 2013 Car MD Vehicle Health Index™ Manufacturer & Vehicle Reliability Ranking. Released today, the annual report provides a ranking of manufacturers and vehicles with the lowest combined “check engine” repair incidents and costs. The Index ranks the top 10 manufacturers, top 100 vehicles overall, top vehicles by category and the most common repairs by make. After two consecutive years of finishing second Hyundai overtook Toyota and drove to the top of the list with its low repair frequency.

“The 2013 CarMD Vehicle Health Index Manufacturer and Vehicle Reliabili-

ty Ranking looked at data that applies to more than 119 million vehicles, so to earn this ranking is no small feat,” said Leon C. Chen, CEO, CarMD.com Corporation. “We commend

Hyundai for its commitment to quality and to its efforts to minimize vehicle operating costs.”

Hyundai’s 2013 Index rating was .80 with an average repair cost of $312.67, the lowest Index rating of

all parent manufactures studied and the second lowest overall repair cost.

This year’s Index is based on more than 151,000 specific repairs performed on model year 2003 to 2013 vehicles from Oct. 1, 2012

to Sept. 30, 2013. The Index is determined by the manufacturers whose vehicles had the fewest percentage of CarMD repair incidents combined with the lowest cost per repair, per number of registered vehicles on the road.

“Hyundai strives to provide our customers with a worry-free car ownership experience by offering a lineup of vehicles that deliver on both quality and reliability, backed by the most competitive protection program in the business,” said Erwin Raphael, director, Engineering and Quality, Hyundai Motor America.

“Earning the first place title in CarMD’s Vehicle Health Index Report proves that our recipe for combining high value vehicles with long-term vehicle protection is a success.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 31

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Imo: The story of Okorocha’s

betrayal, by Agbaso

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

E

conomist and politician, Chief Martin Agbaso is one of the leading lights of politics in Imo State. He was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the 2007 gubernatorial elections following which he made claims of victory. Agbaso who passed over the 2011 contest in favour of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in this interview faults the actions and attitude of Governor Okorocha especially in the controversial impeachment of his own junior brother, Sir Jude Agbaso as deputy governor. Excerpts: The accusation If you recall in the third week of March this year, my brother, Mr. Jude Ikechukwu Agbaso then deputy Governor of Imo state, was accused to have received N458 million bribe from a Lebanese contractor.

Then, I in very clear terms said that my brother had nothing to do with the money that was alleged to have been taken as bribe money.

It was Rochas Okorocha who approved the contract, awarded it, paid the said contractor N1.3 billion of Imo State money without due process, without even an award letter or any form of advance payment guarantee.

So the curious thing at the point was, why would a man who did all this, who got all the benefits that were unprecedented from the governor, go to the deputy governor who was away in India on official assignment, and give him a bribe of almost 40% of the money collected? That didn’t make sense to me. And I said that we as a family would do every thing humanly possible to get to the crux of the matter; we would do everything to find out who took this money, where the money is domiciled and who the beneficiaries we. Last week, the news broke. EFCC, after putting us through grueling, painful, eight months of investigation finally cleared my brother or any Agbaso for that matter of any wrong doing, of any involvement whatsoever in the alleged bribe C M Y K

•Martin Agbaso scandal. Again, this man who went to the Imo state house of assembly and said to them: “I am a Lebanese journey man, criminal contractor. I have taken 458 million naira of Imo state money and given to the deputy Governor.” They kissed this man and told him to walk away. A man who said: “I have committed a crime against this state, against this nation,” they turned around and let him walk away, and began hunting a deputy governor who knew nothing.

Okorocha’s beef He said that I, the deputy governor’s elder brother, tried to impeach him, so he was trying to retaliate. Later on, he said that as long as Jude Agbaso remained the deputy governor, his life was at risk, that Agbaso could kill him.

This is someone whose deputy governor was impeached, someone who got into office on the same ticket as you, was impeached in the most brazen manner, malicious and mischevious manner, in a show of shame that this country had never seen before.

Before the impeachment panel could even sit to look at the papers, a report had been sent to the House of Assembly, before the House of Assembly could finish the process, a deputy governor nominee had been selected. Before the man could say Jack Robinson, a new deputy Governor was sworn in and yet he said he didn’t know anything about it.

Agreement on one term There has been a catalog of anomalies committed by the administration of Rochas Okorocha. They are all documented here. You are just determined to destroy my name in the eyes of the Imo people and of Nigerians. You had an agreement with me that you were going to be governor for four years and we both signed this agreement witnessed by the national chairman of APGA. And you made this pronouncement in churches, in halls, in stadia, everywhere you said to people that you had an agreement with Martin Agbaso that you would be governor for one term, and after that the governorship would go to Owerri Zone who rightfully should produce the next governor.

Instead of doing that, you’re looking for a way to tarnish my image. But it’s not going to work because there is a God out there who rules in the affairs of men and women. You can’t continue to mislead the people, and lie your way through life as if it’s business as usual. Rochas Okorocha, it is no longer going to be business as usual, every step you make will be checked.

On EFCC Clearance of Jude Agbaso For the first time in this country, somebody was accused of something and the person wrote to EFCC, ICPC to come and investigate him. He said: “If you find me guilty, jail me. But if you

find me innocent, say it so I can clear myself. Now the job of EFCC is to investigate the matter. When they are through with investigation, if they find you wanting on any of the allegations, then they take you to court for prosecution.

EFCC has concluded this investigation and found nothing.

The money was said to have been given to you as bribe was lodged in two accounts, one in Dubai and one in Lebanon. We know where these monies are. EFCC has confirmed that he did not commit the crime. Joseph Dina himself has said in a written statement that he did not give him bribe. If Jude Agbaso committed any crime, EFCC would be prosecuting him in court.

Apology to Ndi Imo First of all, I owe the people of Imo state a big apology. I was misled by Gov. Rochas Okorocha.

I did not know his antecedents before I went into an agreement with him. By everything he has done in Imo state, he has shown that he is a person who does not honour his word.

What I saw was a philanthropist

who trains other people’s children. And I believed that if he could do that, when he gets into a position of authority, our people would be better off.

Everything I did was to put Imo State forward.

Because I was already in court for three and half years, fighting a legal battle over elections I won in 2007, I was not prepared to go into an election in 2011. This guy came and with his normal talktalk I thought we had a good candidate. Please Ndi-Imo, I am sorry for bringing this man. He brought himself and I helped him. I thought it was the best thing to do at the time. But that is the limit of a human being. I could not see tomorrow.

Now, he is saying that he (Jude Agbaso) was incompetent. How can you say that a man is incompetent when his boss, the governor was the one who brought the contractor, paid him, awarded the contract without any advance payment guarantee or letter of award. This money, N1.3bn of Imo State money that is still at large was not paid through the ministry, but on the directive of the governor, issued (through) to the principal secretary to the governor, commissioner for finance and to the accountant general. This payment did not go through the ministry at all. By the time the commissioner who was the deputy governor knew what was happening, the money had been paid. In fact, the first N200 million that was given to that man was paid in cash. So how do you say that such a man is incompetent?

Because you

BY CHRISTY EDWARDS USEN-AKPAN

I

write today as a product of history and a former leader of Nigerian students to pay tribute to a man who rose from a fairly modest background to champion an inspiring legacy for Akwa Ibom State and for my generation. Governor Godswill Akpabio, CON, has become an icon of this generation, a champion of uncommon transformation, a true leader and a dynamic manager of people, resources and processes. Nigerian students and former students’ leaders cannot but reckon with you; we are proud that you are one of us, being a former students’ leader yourself.

Your Excellency, your

administration has gone on record as the most student friendly administration Akwa Ibom State has ever had. This administration’s studentfriendly policy interventions include, but are not limited to, the free, compulsory and qualitative education scheme, overhaul of school infrastructure in hundreds of primary and secondary schools across the state, infrastructure rehabilitation and support grants to the University of Uyo and other tertiary institutions in the state, take-off and scaled-up funding for the Akwa Ibom State University and consistent bursary and scholarship opportunities for students of the state origin, including grants and laptops to Akwa Ibom State students at the Nigerian Law School.

Your tenure has also seen the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—33

My unfinished affair in the House of Reps —Uboh-Adekoya

BY DAPO AKINREFON

E

ngineer Doris UbohA d e k o y a represented Ika Federal Constituency, Delta State in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011. Mrs. UbohAdekoya is again pushing to return to the House and in this interview explains unfinished businesses she has left in the House.

Excerpts: Between 2007 and now a lot of water has passed under the bridge politically. What lessons have you learnt?

I have learnt a lot of lessons.

It is possible you win your elections on the field but you might not actually get your seat. My experience has been a terrible one. Like I said, it is one that taught me the lesson and that is you must follow your votes not just at your ward level but all the way to collation because if you fail to do so a lot of things are bound to happen. Eventually in my own case, results were manipulated and that caused it.

Why do you want to go back to the House of Representatives?

I will start by answering your question: why not? All I am trying to do is contribute my own quota to nation building. I do not think because I was pushed off the horse once, I should stop

learning how to ride a horse.

If I do that, then I will not know how to ride a horse. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing well. I believe that the journey of a thousand miles starts in one day. There might be pitfalls, but if you say because of that pitfall you go back, then you will never see light at the end of the tunnel.

There are so many things to be done in Nigeria. Our education sector is lagging, as a matter any sector you want to put your finger on, is lagging. And it is only people like up you and I that can turn it around. If some of us do not blaze the trail, ignoring all the pitfall along the way, and to actually take up the mantle, then that power transformation from the older generation cannot happen. So, I want to be part of the solution and not one of the complainers that Nigeria is not good.

While in the House of Reps, you co-sponsored the Minimum wage bill..

Point of correction.

I did not co-sponsor the bill but I sponsored the bill all by myself. Not because other members did not want to, but because a lot of people want to stay away from controversial bills. If you look at the controversial bills, they are usually the ones that belong to the underdogs. To me, the common man is the reason we were in the House

•Doris Uboh-Adekoya of Reps.

The minimum wage bill was something I started and it went all the way to third reading in the House of Reps.

Coincidentally, an executive bill came to meet my bill and the bills were merged together to become one. Eventually, it was accented to law. I think that is the singular thing I can say I am really proud of and I will like to be given another chance in the house to even do more because we have a

lot of issues in Nigeria that need to be attended to. I think it was a rather positive thing for me that I was able to stand up for what I believed in and also say this is how I feel even if it took me being dragged on the floor of the house to have my voice heard on the floor of the house. That was what happened.

Would you say you are satisfied with the outcome of the bill?

No, I would not say I am. I

think it needs to be amended.

They should have included how often they want the increment to be. Things like that should be included into the bill. That way, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not be coming to argue about increment because it has been embedded in the bill. But it was not done, it ended up being a one line issue and I think that needs to be looked at again to serve the purpose it was expected to serve.

You served in the House of Reps during the Dimeji Bankole era, can you tell us how the experience was like?

I think my experience is out there for anybody who wishes to know. It was good, bad and ugly but I took it all in strides.

I did not expect it to be all rosy. Dimeji Bankole led us to the best of his capacity, though to me, his best was not good enough but he did what he could and it was an experience. Rightly or wrongly, it was an experience, I have taken it and I am learning from it.

Can you compare the Bankole era to the Tambuwal era?

I am not in the house presently and so, from what point of view am I comparing?

Looking at the house from outside is not the same as if you are in the house. If I am a former member. I can only judge from what I see on the television but I cannot really compare. I did work with both of them. Tambuwal was part of the leadership and is my friend and still is. I think they both have the same style.

are one of us: Tribute to Gov Akpabio emergence of leading Akwa Ibom State students into prominent offices in the students and youth movement nationally. We have also witnessed the appointment of an unprecedented number of former student leaders to serve in political offices, a salutary trend in leadership development.

One of my greatest reasons for excitement is that your birthday holds on the wings of the 16 Days of Action on Violence against Women, which is usually celebrated the world over from November 25 to December 10 every year to draw attention to the violation of women’s rights at home, at school, at work and on the streets. When several years ago, we were laying the foundations of the Nigerian Female Students Leadership Forum; our mission was to

build the capacity of girls and young women in our campuses as champions of social change and their own rights. In the past, students’ and youth leadership used to be an all-men affair. Today I am happy to see that the girls and young women are not just ably represented in the movement but more so in leadership capacities.

Through laws, policies and the composition of your administration, you have shown that you are a champion of women’s rights.

I am a living testimony of your investment in the development of women. Our young men in the students’ movement have a huge lesson to learn from our Governor.

In making these remarks, I cannot fail to appreciate the role of the wife of the Governor, Her Excellency

Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, a woman who has not only personally mentored me in diverse areas, but has also taken under her wings, the entire Nigerian students movement in Akwa Ibom State. She intervenes during critical junctures to ensure that conflicts are amicably resolved, and that the younger generation stays focused and politically mobilized for their present and future leadership roles. We remain ever grateful, ma’am. When the history of this state is finally written, one of the most important chapters will be reserved for her roles not only in supporting the father of uncommon transformation but also in leaving her own compassionate legacies in the hearts of our people. We remain grateful to this Amazon.

At 51, Your Excellency, yours

is a rendezvous with history, a tryst with destiny and a messianic pact with mankind.

In all these, you stand tall as a first among equals. By your exemplary leadership, you have vindicated Frantz Fanon who once quipped: “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill, or betray it.”

Yes, you are indeed fulfilling your mission. But above all, you have challenged the rest of us, to do likewise, if not more. Because you are one of us, Your Excellency, we are indeed inspired to stand up for our generation, following in your footsteps!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR EXCELLENCY!!!

Christy Edwards-Akpan is Special Assistant to Governor Akpabio on Education Monitoring.

•Governor Akpabio

Godswill

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

•A typical Lagos Island market

Shoppers, fun-seekers storm Lagos Island for Yuletide rush A

s Christmas and New year celebrations draw close, Lagos residents and residents of other states of the federation have started trooping to Lagos Island as destination point for their shopping and relaxation needs.

It will be recalled that Idera Universal Marketers Limited, the umbrella body of 14 traders associations doing businesses in and around central Lagos, last week, unveiled a 3,800 units of ultra modern shops at Magboro, located along the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to de-congest Lagos Island Central Business District, CBD. As synonymous with the period, in the commercial hub of the nation, vehicular

movements have also increased resulting in traffic gridlock, in most areas of the metropolis giving traffic managers a run for their money.

As many private companies are getting ready to close businesses for the year, Apapa seaport at this time of the year, is also a beehive of activities as many rush to transact one business or the other.

Shoppers are in last minute rush to purchase various items, including food stuff for the end of the year celebrations.

The ever popular Balogun Market and Idumota, in CBD area of the Island are clearly the most visited markets by shoppers.

Shoes, clothing materials, electronics and other household items are enjoying patronage despite the seeming poor economic

situation of the country.

Malls have also been recording high patronage.

Presently, there are various leisure programmes at the Bar Beach which had turned the area to a beehive of major commercial and leisure activities.

One of such activities is the Lagos countdown carnival, where various musical artists entertain guests every evening.

In Lagos generally, residents are in festive mood, as many streets have been adorned in different colours in readiness for carnivals.

Several youths have taken to the streets, blocking the roads and demanding for handouts from motorists as part of money they need for their end-of-the-year carnival.

Some of the areas where this practice is rampant include: Lagos Island, Ikotun-Egbeda

axis, Agege, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Surulere, Bariga, Satellite Town and Agboju Amuwo among others.

When Vanguard visited Lagos Island, some of

,

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

declared that picnickers were patronising his business. “We are really making some good bucks from the horseback riding. Short distance ride along the coastline attracts as low as N500,” he said Also the popular ‘Wait and get Photographers’ were making brisk business, as each photograph cost N200.

Ali Abu, popularly called Mai Suya, a roasted meat seller, said; “There is economic hardship, but people are trooping in to have fun, we are making a lot of sales” .

Alhaja Bisi Oladejo, dealer in all forms of clothing materials in Balogun Market,

In Lagos generally, residents are in festive mood, as many streets have been adorned in different colours in readiness for carnivals

business people found at the Beach admitted that patronage had been encouraging in spite of the economic crunch.

Patronage at the beach

Oladele Taiwo, a Horse rider at the Bar Beach

,

said, “It is usual to experience upsurge in patronage at Yuletide. This year is no different as I speak, I have about 10 supply requests to meet up. That is cool profit for me. You know that by January, business will be on the low ebb again only to pick up later in the year.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

— 35

1,421 hotels, restaurants shun Lagos consumption tax collection

By MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

F

ive months after the Supreme Court judgment which validated the collection of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax, HORCT, in Lagos, 1,421 of the 2,431 registered hotels and restaurants are yet to comply with the law.

The law which came into effect on June 22, 2009, was on July 19, this year declared valid by the Apex court; upholding section 1 of the law which makes operators of these tourism outlets collection agents of consumption tax.

The consumption law also mandates the agents to collect and remit five percent of the total bill issued to their customers, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT) and service charge, as tax for the state government.

According to a reliable government source, because of the large number of noncomplying hotels and restaurants, the state government has issued letters

One of the collectors of consumption tax to the tourism outlets on ‘SelfAssessment on Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax from August 1st, 2009 till date’; requesting that they conduct a self assessment on their operations and file returns to show their sales (annual) on

all chargeable transactions (food, drinks, accommodation/ rentals and others).

The source explained that filing returns and remitting the applicable taxes from all transactions made by the hotel, restaurants and others to the state government is

embedded in Section 6 1(b) and section 8 of the law.

Vanguard gathered that the tourism outlets are expected to return the completed forms on or before December 20, this year. Inability to comply with the directive is a violation of the consumption law.

How local councils, police erode freedom of association in markets

By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

O

NE area of disagreement, which has continued to generate crisis in the markets in Lagos is the right of traders to form and run association in their markets. Apart from local governments establishing and maintaining markets, business people trading in these markets need to organise themselves to complement the government’s efforts especially in the area of environmental sanitation, provision and maintenance of social amenities.

•Alaba market

As members of market associations, the traders have the right to make rules, byelaws and or constitution to guide the affairs of their association. They have right to decide who their leaders should be and how they will be elected or chosen.

However, these inalienable rights as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution are being threatened in some markets by the police and local council officials, according to a petition before the Inspector General of Police.

One of the markets where the infringement on the rights of traders is becoming recurring is Alaba International Market and the issue has led to instability and unceasing bitter tussle for chairmanship of the unions.

In the petition to the IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, dated November 4, 2013, Barrister Eric Chukwuemeka Igweokolo, alleged that council officials

in collaboration with police officials were extorting money from the market unions and imposing leaders on them And any market union chairman, who fails to ‘corporate’ is removed from his position and replaced with those are willing to play ball.

Pleading with the IG to intervene, Igweokolo said: “Because of the population of people who trade in Lagos State markets, the market associations generate a lot of money. Take for instance in one section of Alaba International Market like Fancy and Furniture Dealers Association where you have over 3000 members and every member pays N500 monthly for electricity, N350 monthly for security levy, N300 for environmental sanitation and other sundry levies like fines imposed by the association, you discover that the association generates millions of naira every month “It happens that members elected to lead these market associations most often do not account for the money generated by the association.

They embezzle the money and use substantial amount to

‘settle’ the police and local government to ensure they remain in office… Once a person is elected into the office of the chairman of a market association, the first thing he will do is to pay homage to the Divisional Police Officer and Area Commander within the area of his market and later to the Commissioner of Police to entrench himself in his position as the chairman of the market association. He will agree to share the association’s money with the police and local government, in return for protection.

“It is for the above reason that the election of officers of most market associations is riddled with crises. In most cases, life is lost and many people are maimed, and members do anything within their power to win election. In 2008, at Alaba International market, some members of the market used the Nigeria police to frame up their fellow members with the offence of armed robbery and they were dumped in Kirikiri prison for 81 days so that they will not participate in the market election.”

Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler, told Vanguard that since the passage of the bill, the state government has had different meetings with the stakeholders in the hotel and recreation sector.

According to him, “The tax isn’t meant to be paid by the hotel operators but by those who use the hotels and event centres. And it is a flat rate of five percent on food, drinks, accommodation and hall rentals.”

According to him; “We have a total of 1, 566 registered hotels, 703 restaurants and 162 event centers. This makes it a total of 2, 431 in the state.1, 010 have fully complied with the remittance of the consumption tax. 1, 421 are yet to comply with the law.”

Chairman of the Hotel and Personal services employers’ Association of Nigeria, HOPESEA, Chief Samuel Alabi, said “We are not against the implementation of the consumption tax but what we have been advocating for which is yet to be resolved is that there is a problem with VAT and Consumption taxes and that Lagos state government should state categorically if they are the same.

“The association’s argument was that both VAT and consumption taxes are the same.”

He argued that it isn’t an easy task for the tourism outlets in the state to remit what they didn’t collect.”

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

CARNIRIV: RSTDA assures of safety

STRIKE: Wait for directive, ASUU-DELSU tells lecturers

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

T

HE Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA, Dr. Sam Dede, has assured Nigerians and international tourists of their safety as the Port Harcourt Carnival, CARNIRIV 2013, began yesterday with the Kids’ Carnival.

Dr. Dede assured participants all over the world of the readiness of the government and people of Rivers State to host them to another glamorous cultural and tourism fiesta in Port Harcourt.

A

SABA— THE leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in Delta State, led by Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, has asked lecturers not to return to the classrooms until necessary protocols were concluded.

The directive came against the backdrop of calls by Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, that they returned to work, after the deal reached between the national executive of the union and the federal

government last week.

Mordi told his colleagues to remain at home until they got the green light from the local ASUU over the suspension of the strike.

Mordi insisted that “after the suspension of the strike by NEC and briefing of DELSU congress on the outcome of NEC meeting, lecturers will be free to resume teaching.

“The university administration, as the University Senate may direct, will make the revised academic calendar public and all things being equal, this should

happen in the next 96 hours.”

Academic activities were yet to commence at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, and Anwai-Asaba campuses, even as the state.

Commissioner Hope Eghagha, made the appeal at the official handover ceremony of e-library complex at the Anwai-Asaba campus, weekend.

He also urged parents to ensure that their children and wards returned to their campuses as government had invested much in the provision of educational facilities in

DELSU and other state-owned higher institutions.

Welcoming the Commissioner, the Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof.

Eric Arubayi, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof.

Chukwuemeka Aloamaka, thanked the state government for building a library of world class in the university.

He noted that the library edifice had boosted the image of the university and would also enhance the accreditation of many courses in the university.

Disregard PDP's criticism, ex-council bosses tell Oshiomhole

Turkish Airlines begin Kano-Istanbul route

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN— FORUM of Former Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Edo South senatorial district has admonished Governor Adams Oshiomhole not to be disturbed by the criticisms from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, so he will not lose focus in his development strides.

Chairman of the forum and former chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Mr. Crosby Eribo, who stated this yesterday, commended the governor for exhibiting uncommon humility when he apologised to the widow over his outburst.

According to him, though PDP politicised the issue, the governor’s conscience is clean as he meant no harm.

He said: “All Orbih, the chairman of PDP in the state, is trying to do is to cook up fictitious claims against the finances of the state to distract the governor. But we are glad

T

HE inaugural flight of Turkish Airlines from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, has departed for Istanbul through Ndjamena with 105 passengers on board.

According to Yakubu Dati, Coordinating General Manager, Aviation Parastatals, “the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, expressed delight at the start of flight operations by the Turkish Airlines in Kano.”

Represented by the Commissioner of the AIB, Capt. Usman Muktar, she described the commencement of the new route as another milestone in President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

that Oshiomhole is not that kind of leader that listens to charlatans.

“As a forum, we believe that Oshiomhole is the best governor the state has produced and we want him to continue with his good works and not allow himself to be distracted with the tissues of lies being dished out by PDP.

“The governor had issues with a widow but he quickly apologised to the widow showing that he is not an arrogant leader.

“It shows he is blessed with so much wisdom. But PDP has failed to apologise to the people of Edo State for the looting they did in this state for over 10 years.”

Bayelsa Police declare 6 wanted over poly staff's death

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— THE Police in Bayelsa State have declared six persons, all staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, wanted in connection with the murder of one Moses Frank.

The slain Moses Frank, a father of two, aged 37, was a staff of the polytechnic located in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa

State.

He was shot dead on November 8, 2013, some distance away from his home at Agudama suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital, after seeing off his visitor.

The late Frank, an indigene of Okiki in Ogbia Local Government, was until his death the Financial Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, of the institution.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has sworn in Mr. Didi Adodo as the state Commissioner for Establishments and Special Duties.

Performing the ceremony in Benin, yesterday, Oshiomhole said Adodo, who was formerly Commissioner for Special Duties (Labour) during his first tenure, was reappointed based on his commitment and vision to reposition the state.

Oshiomhole said: “Let me welcome back Didi Adodo to this executive council as a commissioner responsible for Establishment and other Special Duties, especially NonGovernment Organisations and Civil Societies.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Edo gets new Special Duties Commissioner

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On APC's call for Jonathan's impeachment

I

T is ironical that N i g e r i a n s accommodate these wolves in sheep clothing.

Who is a saint? It will take a good leader more than two terms in office to repair the damage that had been repeatedly done to this country.— Mr. Elias Osaghae, Businessman.

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IGERIANS should be careful of desperate politicians. It is time we played politics of ideas. Watch out, these evil pretenders will never succeed with their conspiracy against Nigerians. No impeachment. God bless Nigeria, Amen.— Mr. Godwin Omovie, Engineer.

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MPEACHING President Jonathan is not the solution. It will not make you a president. Nigerians know those behind this country’s woes. So let us speak the truth. This is just my view on the issue of impeaching the President.— Mr. Ekpedeme Akpan, Engineer.

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IKE the Biblical saying, “let him without sin cast the first stone.” What have you done as a Nigerian to make the country a better place? Now APC want him (President) impeached so that it can take over and enrich its members.— Mr. Francis Chinedu, Engineer.

T

HE gang up between the South-West and North has been on for too long. They have been using the population from the South-South to ridicule South-East. Now we have our own as the President. Jonathan is our brother, and we cannot but support him.— Mr. Nonso Azudiefe, Student.

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, please bite harder now and save Nigeria’s democracy from the enemies within.

The enemies are around the corner. The enemies do not want to wait till 2015 for us Nigerians to decide who rule us.— Ms. Anne Kelechi, Fashion Designer.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—37

Delta PPRO dies in auto crash

Yuletide: Police assure on security along Benin by-pass

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—EDO State Police Command has assured motorists travelling to the South-East and other states in the South-South this yuletide, through Benin by-pass, saying it had mapped out strategies to ensure security along the road.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Folunso Adebanjo, who stated this weekend, also described as an attempt to ridicule the command and distort facts, the claim by the family of one Samuel Imaikop that the deceased was a victim of extra-judicial killing.

The late Michael was among four suspected armed robbers killed by the police penultimate Sunday.

The Police command and the family had been in a war of words over the death after the family insisted that the deceased was a farmer and not an armed robber as claimed by the police.

Commissioner Adebanjo, who spoke on the arrangement being made to beef up security along the notorious Benin bypass, told Vanguard weekend: “You are already aware that the bypass is no longer haven for armed robbers. We have a special squad that will ensure that Nigerians ply that road without any fear."

Students blame fall in education standard on disregard for teachers

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—FOLLOWING the face-off between Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the federal government, a group, League of Nigerian Students for Good Governance, has blamed the dwindling standard of education in the country on fragrant disregard for teachers.

The group in a statement by its President, Prince Ellis Ogheneochuko, and Secretary, Comrade Austin Ostone, urged students to stand solidly behind ASUU in its efforts to improve university education in the country.

SWEARING-IN: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) congratulates Comrade Didi Adodo after being sworn in as Commissioner for Establishments and Special Duties, yesterday.

RIVERS ASSEMBLY: Abe flays Police for aborting resumed sitting

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—SENATOR representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has described the state police command’s denial of access for resumed sitting by lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, RVHA, as a deliberate injustice against Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Speaking at the inauguration of emergent Save Rivers Movement, SRM, at Eleme, Abe alleged that the police disposition to Rivers Assembly’s resumption was an act in further submission to the wishes of those who controlled the levers of power, stressing that as the compelling reasons Amaechi and his supporters defected to the All progressives Congress, APC. He said: “Court asked that the House of Assembly should reconvene. The 25 members went to the House to resume sitting but they were not allowed to go into

the Assembly, against the court order, because they know that the 25 lawmakers loyal to Governor Amaechi are in the majority. What sort of justice can that system of policing be attributed to?

“They have taken our oil wells at Soku; they have stopped the Port Harcourt water project originally initiated by the Federal Government in conjunction with the African Development Bank.

Can you compare the Port Harcourt International Airport to any other in Nigeria?

“I don’t think we deserve this sort of treatment after Rivers State gave two million votes to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The problem of Rivers State is not coming from any Minister or Supervisory Minister. Our problem is not coming from even the Minister of Police Affairs. Rivers State has been singled out for persecution, intimidation and

monumental injustice by those who control the levers of power.”

Abe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, said he wholeheartedly identified with those who formed the Save Rivers Movement.

“I share your vision; I admire your mission; I share your dreams and I believe in your struggle to protect and secure the future of Rivers State,” he added.

He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to act and be seen as President of Nigeria and not the President of Bayelsa or only a President for the Ijaw.

Governor Amaechi was represented at the event by his Deputy, Tele Ikuru, who restated that Amaechi did all he could to move the PDP forward but did not succeed because the party was like a car whose engine had malfunctioned."

YULETIDE: Ban on use of fireworks still in force —Police

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—AS the yuletide approaches, Edo State Police Command has banned the use of fireworks throughout the state.

The command's Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Moses Eguavoen, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin, said both users and sellers of fireworks, popularly called knock-out bangers, risked being arrested for flouting the order.

Eguavoen said: “This is to inform the general public that the ban on the sale and use of fire-

works popularly called knock-out is still in force.

“Edo Police Command is, therefore, using this medium to advise the general public, parents, guardians, children, traders, and workers, etc, not to indulge in the use of fireworks before, during and after the Christmas and New Year celebrations as hoodlums may want to hide under this unwholesome practice to perpetrate their nefarious acts.

“There will be continuous manhunt for both buyers and sellers of any form of fire-

works in the state by operatives of the command and all defaulters will be arrested and prosecuted.

“The command remains committed to its efforts at reducing crime and criminality to its barest minimum, particularly as we approach the end of the year.”

The ban has been applauded by some residents of Benin City, Edo State capital, who claimed that fireworks had been used in the past by criminals to create fear and confusion before robbing law abiding citizens.

SABA—DELTA State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, has died in a motor accident.

He died on Sunday evening while on his way to Asaba when his vehicle, a High Langer Jeep, in which he was driving, suddenly somersaulted several times on Ogwashi-UkuKwale road, before plunging into a ditch.

He reportedly died on the spot before any medical assistance could reach him.

Vanguard gathered that two other persons who were also in the vehicle, were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba.

Incidentally before the news of the crash was broken on Sunday night, the late PPRO had spoken with this reporter on phone at about 1pm.

This reporter had wanted to get the police angle to the release of kidnapped ex-Biafrain solider who was set free along with his wife early on Sunday morning.

Policemen at the state police headquarters, Asaba, wore mournful looks yesterday as they lamented the late PPRO's death.

Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan hypocritical —Ex-militant leader

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HAIRMAN, Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in Delta State, Preye Ekpebide, has described as hypocritical, former President Olusegun Obasanjo's letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of polarising Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines.

Ekpebide, who took a swipe at Obasanjo, said the accusation against President Jonathan was baseless as it contained no iota of truth.

Speaking with newsmen, weekend in Bomadi, Delta State, Ekpebide noted that it was against the norms of society and friendship for anyone to publicise a private letter to the President of a nation.

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Don’t conduct LG poll, Accord Party advises Obi

Utomi blames Nigeria’s woes on prefessional politicians

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

“I think that that is one of the greatest problems we have in Nigeria, because there are too many people who don’t have a work and they are providing leadership for this nation. They don’t even now know how to work anymore. They live off the Nigerian state and they call themselves professional

politicians. I believe that the idea and the concept of professional politician are dangerous for progress if we are going to make any progress in this country.”

He therefore suggested that to curb the trend, “government should institutionalize a process where nobody can be in public

office for more than eight years.

For instance, if you are governor, you serve two times, then you should not take up any appointment into public life until at least after two years, so that you go back to your people and understand what being a citizen means in a democracy.”

N I T S H A — NATIONAL vice chairman of the Accord Party in the South East, Mr Innocent Igboekwe, yesterday, advised Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, headed by an acting chairman, Mr Sylvester Okonkwo, to rescind their decision to conduct the local government election scheduled for next Saturday.

Igboekwe’s advice followed the postponement of the council election in the state for three consecutive times within three months.

The election was first fixed for October 5 and based on an excuse that the date was close to the November 16 governorship poll in the state, the state electoral body further shifted it to December 14 and to the chagrin of the political parties and candidates, the local government election was again postponed to December 21, which the political parties feel is not feasible.

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Pedro dumps PDP for APC

Owerri residents lament growing heaps of refuse

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI A G O S — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is fast losing its grip on staunch members in the on going crisis rocking its folds, as plans have been concluded by the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Olufemi Pedro, to decamp to All Progressives Congress, APC. A statement issued in Abuja by the media aide to Pedro, Mr. Lanre Anjolaiya, stated that the former governor would be received by national leaders of APC to the party today at an official declaration event slated for Abuja.

Anjolaiya said: “Our dear country, more than ever before, is in dire need of purposeful leadership committed to leading us out of the woods; and one for which all men of good conscience must join hands.

“The task of nation building no doubt comes with challenges and always at great personal costs; yet it must be fulfilled by genuine patriots.”

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AGOS—FORMER presidential candidate and Chairman Lagos Business School, Professor Patrick Utomi, has blamed the numerous challenges bedeviling Nigeria on politicians who have devoted their entire lives to public life without any other means of livelihood.

He said that they live off the Nigerian state as they have no vision about how society should be organized.

Utomi stated this while delivering a keynote address at the seventeenth anniversary celebration and 2013 Great Nigerian Awards of Hallmark of Labour Foundation, HLF in Lagos.

Utomi said: “The trend of professional politicking is getting us into dangerous trajectory in the evolution of public life in our country. At times when people start out as local government chairmen, may be as commissioners, then they manage to assemble the resources, and become governors, then when they are done with being governors, they must become senators.

“And there are people living out their entire career without a work to do. And they are ostensibly serving in public office. And that projects a dangerous pattern for our country.

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

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WERRI—RESIDENTS of Owerri, Imo State, and adjoining communities have cried out over growing heaps of uncleared refuse scattered all over the area.

Our roving reporter observed that most of the refuse collection sites had been left unattended to for weeks and this has engineered terrible stench from the decaying refuse.

Vanguard equally gathered that the people’s impression about the ugly situation is that the state government has either refused to

ASSESSMENT: From left: Amona of Lisa, Hon. Adeyinka Adefunmiloye; Otun-Baale of Lisa, Chief Lateef Odugbemi, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, and Director, Administration, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Mr. Tunde Adesanya, during an on the spot assessment of Lisa Memorial Arcade, Ogun State.

pay for services already rendered or that the contractors are incapable of discharging the assignment.

Most of the residents who spoke to Vanguard on the issue, claimed that “the sordid situation was capable of fueling an epidemic of unimaginable proportion if left uncleared.”

Mazi Ikecukwu Chukwudi recalled with grief that Owerri municipality and the adjoining communities had sadly degenerated to a very dirty areas.

“I recall with nostalgia that during the Chief Ikedi Ohakim

Lagos nominates 3 candidates for NIPR council election

L

AGOS—AS part of p r e p a r a t i o n s for the 2013 Annual General Meeting, AGM, of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lagos chapter of the institute has endorsed the nomination of three members to participate in the Governing Council election slated for December 17, at the Gracious Hotel, Abuja.

The nominated members are Dr. Rotuimi Oladele, former chairman of Lagos chapter and Managing Director of Megavons West Africa;

Mr. Willy Ogbidi, former secretary of the Lagos chapter and a PR consultant; and Hajia Rabi Muhammed, former treasurer of Lagos chapter and the laison officer to the Senate President.

The nominated candidates were presented to members of the chapter at the October monthly general meeting by the chapter chairman, Mr. Joseph Okonmah, to represent the chapter at the national governing council of the institute.

era, Owerri municipality was not only very clean but was also tagged the cleanest state capital in the federation by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

“The present government does not have any reason not to build on the success of Ohakim in this direction,” Chukwudi said.

Some traders in Owerri Main

Market, Relief Market and World Bank Market, decried the presence of uncleared refuse in the markets, pointing out that the situation was exposing them to health hazards.

All the respondents were in agreement that the filthy environment in the markets had succeeded in breeding rodents, flies and other disease germs.

FG restates commitment to youth devt

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated government’s commitment to youth development. He said this last Sunday, during the official flag off of The Future Awards Africa at State House, Abuja.

Jonathan who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo said: “This government has seen the importance of the youth, and places serious value on them. Through our transformation agenda, we are creating job

opportunities for the youths; this administration is committed to increasing access to education.

“As Nigerians, we know there’s more to be done, but yet, there’s plenty to celebrate.

Adebola Williams, Director of Operations for the Awards, noted that the award had inspired a new generation of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs over the past eight years.

According to him, “this year marks an exciting new phase for the awards and we are delighted that The Future Awards Africa will be going continental for the first time.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—39

,

PROMO:From left, Liability Product Manager, Ecobank Nigeria, Mofoluwaso Osinuga; Snr. Manager (Regulation and Monitoring), National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Kayode Ojoogun; Area Manager, Abuja, Ecobank Nigeria,Mustafa Banye, and Assistant Chief Surveillance and Enforcement officer, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Omagu Nwachukwu, during the 3rd Draw of the Ecobank Giant give away promo, in Abuja.

CELEBRATION: From left, Mrs. Odukoya Olubukayo,Head, Correctional and Elders Care Service office of the Youth and Social Development, Lagos State; Mr. Musbau Abdullahi,Director, Social Welfare Department; Chike Onyejekwe,Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO, and Mrs .Bunmi Lawson,representative of the Group General Manager, Napims, at SNEPCO end of year celebration, at Old Peoples' Home, Yaba, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

FORUM: Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commissions, NCC, and Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President, South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria, during International Telecommunications Union, ITU Telecom World 2013 'Change in a Digital World' forum, in Bangkok.

VISIT: Financial Secretary, Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners & Practitioners, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi; Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Ajayi; Chairman, Lagos chapter, Mr. Oladimeji Adesanya; National President, Mr. Micheal Ale, and Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, LSWRC , Mrs. Tanwa Koya, during a courtesy visit of members of the association to LSWRC office, in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba (middle), accompanied by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Abdu Shettima (left), and the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, during the commissioning of two blocks of twin two bedroom flats and a block of four units studio flats bungalow by the Chief of the Naval Staff to commence the completion of the Phase II Project, at the Nigerian Navy Barracks.

PARLEY: From left, Calixthus Okoruwa, CEO, XLR8; Miss Yomi Onakoya, Communication Manager, NBC Ltd, and Mrs. Yanju Olomolola, Head, Public Affairs and Communications , both of Nigeria Boltling Company, NBC, during media parley with newsmen on the company's luncheon, in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, photo editor

ANNIVERSARY: From left, Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Culture; Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation; Chief Loisa Oghiadome, Sir Joseph ArumemiIkhide, Chairman, Arik Airline; Mrs. Mary Arumemi-Ikhide, and Mr. Godwin Emefiele, MD, Zenith Bank Plc, during the seventh anniversary dinner of Arik Airline, in Lagos on Sunday. PHOTO: LAMIDI BAMIDELE

AWARD: From left, Deputy Chairman-in-Council, Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology, Professor John Akanya OON, presenting the Most Innovative Smart Mobile Phone of the Year Award to Nokia representatives; Innovation Manager, Nokia Research Centre, Nokia West Africa, Moses Acquah; Channel Marketing Manager, Nokia IMEA, Tushita Garga, and Marketing Manager, Nokia Ghana, David Anku, during the African Product Award 2013, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

COMMISSIONING: From left, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director, GTBank; Controller General of Immigration, David Paradang; Dr. Patrick Abba Moro, Minister of Interior, and Mr. Obinna Nwosu, Deputy General Manager, Access Bank Plc, during the commissioning of Ikoyi Passport Office Applicants' waiting lounge, built by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, at the Ikoyi Passport Office, yesterday. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Ijaw remember Azazi one year after

Yero marks one year in office, vows to uphold justice, fairness

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BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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ADUNA — G O V ERNOR Muktar Yero of Kaduna State has pledged to promote justice and fairness in the administration of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki.

Yero spoke while marking his one year anniversary in office, yesterday, and thanked all the stakehoders in the state for ensuring peace and good neighbourliness within the period.

He was sworn into office following the death of the former governor, Patrick Yakowa, in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State last year.

"We shall continue to govern all and sundry irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political persuasions in line with the basic principles of justice, equity and fairness," he said.

1,500 orphans, others benefit from Huawei charity project

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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AGOS—NO fewer than 1,500 orphans and less privileged in Nigeria at the weekend benefited from Huawei charity project.

The kind gesture by Huawei, one the leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions providers in the country was part of their corporate social responsibility to the Nigerian society and in solidarity with Children and the less privileged around the country.

About 300 children from several orphanages in Nigeria participated in this year’s Christmas celebration organized by Huawei in partnership with NUNGTSO Charity Foundation(NCF).

VISIT—Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State receiving the Czech Republic Ambassador to Nigeria, Pavel Mikes during a courtesy call at the Kano State Governor's Lodge, Aminu Kano, Abuja, yesterday.

CBN pledges to protect consumers of financial goods, services

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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OS— THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has assured consumers of financial goods and services of maximum benefits which would result in not only enabling people to take charge of their financial well-being but also enhance economic development.

This the apex bank will achieve through the Consumer Protection Department, CPD, which had been created and empowered to enhance consumer financial capability through consumer education, ensuring fair and responsible market and business conduct amongst financial service providers.

Addressing newsmen in Jos, yesterday, on activities to mark the commencement of the consumer awareness campaign, the CBN’s Director, Consumer Protection Department, Hajia Umma Dutse represented by Hajia Khadija Kasim, said activities of the department will engender trust and confidence in the financial system.

She said: “At the time the present management of CBN assumed duty in 2009, the financial system was virtually on the brink of collapse. Extensive study of the financial system revealed that lack of consumer sophistication among other factors was responsible.

“The CBN introduced reforms to sanitize and stabilize

the system and the Consumer Protection was included to promote a sound and stable financial system as enshrined in the CBN Act and this will ensure consumers are given reasons to trust the system and be confident in dealing with financial services providers”.

The Director added that intensive consumer enlightenment will increase awareness and understanding of financial products and services, enhance efficient usage of financial resources and empower Nigerians with the requisite knowledge to make informed choices and take effective actions that will enhance their financial well-being.

According to her, “ we are out for financial literacy programme because it is only when the vast majority of the Nigerian population is finan-

cially literate that they can come on board the formal financial system thereby contributing to financial stability.

“The consumer education programme will articulate a multi-stakeholder approach to the delivery of financial literacy/education across all segments and sectors of the Nigerian society”.

Outlining the activities for the week-long event, Dutse stated: “Today marks the kick-off of the awareness creation campaign in Jos. We have several stakeholders engagements and public enlightenment activities all geared towards creating consumer awareness and also assuring the public that the CBN has put in place several structures to ensure adequate protection for consumers of financial services."

AGOS—THE Ijaw Monitoring Group has described the former National Security Adviser, late General Owoye Andrew Azazi as one of the greatest stars to emerge from the Niger Delta region.

In a tribute signed by Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator of the group to mark the first anniversary of the death of the late general, who died in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State on December 15, 2012 after attending a burial ceremony in the state, the Ijaw group stated that the people of Niger Delta were proud that the region produced one of the world’s first class military officers.

“Azazi’s place in world military history has proved that despite our harsh environment, we are able to provide intellectual people that can compete with any brain in the globe. As Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, General Officer Commanding (GOC), National Security Adviser (NAS) and first Ijaw four-star general, he carried the Ijaw spirit of boldness and courage to serve the Nigerian nation and the same fearlessness led him to direct the army to rebuild Ayakoromor town in Burutu LGA of Delta State illegally destroyed by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The desire to serve his people at the grassroot inspired him to humbly accept the chairmanship of Bayelsa State flood victims Relief committee to provide scour for the communities."

Polio immunization: 23 ad-hoc staff sacked in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ANO—NO fewer than 23 ad-hoc polio immunization staff attached to Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State have been sacked for allegedly denying five children the opportunity to be immunized against polio in the last round of the exercise.

The Head of Department, HOD, Primary Health Care,in the local government,Mallam

Muazu Doka who confirmed the incident said that the affected workers included five supervisors and 18 others employed for vaccination.

Doka further said that the sacked workers were deployed to Hotoro North for the routine exercise but failed to discharge their responsibilities in line with their schedule of duties.

The HOD revealed that about 310, 877 children were targeted for immunisation against polio in the next

round of the exercise this year.

“We attach much importance to the global fight against polio and our decision to sack these set of ad-hoc staff for negligence of duty tallies with our resolve to erase polio from our environment,” Doka explained.

Doka also spoke on the recent discovery of polio virus at Kawo under the Ginginyun ward in the local government, blaming it on the mother of the victim who consistently denied her children access to vaccination before the incident occurred.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 , 2013

How posterity will judge Uduaghan

Dear Sir, INDLY publish this article in your widely read newspaper as I wish to share my opinion concerning a man, I believe, has been misunderstood in some quarters. Of the more than four million people who populate Delta State only a few will judge Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan harshly when his eight year tenure comes to an end on May 29, 2015.

Uduaghan himself cannot expect that everyone should embrace him with open arms and score his tour of duty high. But no matter how these few persons feel about the steps taken

by Governor Uduaghan to reposition Delta State, those who have benefitted from more than six years of people-oriented programmes will surely sing his praises.

K

That explains why one of his cardinal objective is human capital development, because ingrained in this objective are the seeds of development the extent of which is unfathomable.

In doing all that he is doing however, Uduaghan has taken bold steps where as it were others dreaded to walk.

If his successors in office refuse to continue many of his policies and programmes, there may be storm, thunder and tsunami of unbelievable dimension. That is not to say that Uduaghan is leaving or will leave a system that will be unmanageable for whoever will step into Government House Asaba by 2015.

What is clear is that the policies and programmes in place should be continued and improved upon with more fund-

leaders had been democratic in their styles of leadership and created a healthy opportunity and amicably settle all the differences of the aggrieved parties. The lingering political storm in the party, if not well managed,

Crisis in PDP

I must confess that the present crisis rocking PDP could have been averted if its

,

I decided not to sympathise with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and those that make up the party in this particular period of the party’s travails. The foundation for the party’s destruction has been laid a long time ago by the strange bedfellows that call themselves its members. President Jonathan is supposed to be the unifying factors in the party. Unfortunately, the party is now witnessing its last days through him and he doesn’t seem to think so. Even if he does, he is so confused that the best way to bring the party back to normalcy is to destroy perceived enemies! As far as I know, the death of PDP may be the beginning of the blessings Nigeria needs at this critical time.

Anonymous 08020582233

T

Mahammed is so anti- intellectual , shallow and lacks basics. How can a Ph. D holder make such a sweeping condemnation of a sitting president without facts and figures? Inflation rate has remained a stable- single digit, exchange rate has been stable, foreign direct investment has reached an all time high, PHCN is being privalised in one of the most transparent exercises in recent history, banking reforms took place enough to ensure Nigerian banks are among the strongest in

,

PDP’s travails and nPDP defection to APC

If the former chairman of the EFCC , Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, could prosecute a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and send him to jail, I see no reason why Mr. Lamorde should not try all the Inspectors – General involved in this scam

,

will definitely diminish the magnitude of success the socalled largest party would have recorded in 2015.

Blessing 08034899325

Africa. Juniad is just one of the many hungry northern parasites whose only means of survival is government money.

Junaid Mohammed Joy 08077986629 and alleged armed Still on Junaid Morobbers in PDP hammed’s alleged The assessment of President comment Jonathan

by

Junaid

Prospect Onus 20, Chioma street, Marble Hill Estate, Asaba, Delta state

Dear Sir,

ing and better cooperation to enable more persons in Delta State benefit from the well thought vision of Delta State Government.

Those who scoff at the free maternal care introduced by the government may do so because they are no longer within the child bearing bracket or have never been in need where a little money could have saved a life. Those who say the payment of examination fees for children in public school is not a big deal

,

cause they could not raise as little as five hundred Naira to purchase drugs.

Uduaghan may not have taken many big things to all homes in Delta State, but the people enjoy many little things that help to push them to the next day and keep hope alive.

ACF is not doing enough HE Arewa Consultative Fo-rum, ACF, is the umbrella social organisation championing the interest of the entire Northern part of Nigeria just like the Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo are doing in the South-West and South-East respectively.

The ACF is believed to be the brain behind the dreaded Kaduna mafia that alleged determined who ruled Nigeria in the past.

When the historic June 12, 1993 elections believed to have been won by the Late Chief Moshood Abiola was annulled, it was alleged that ACF considered the victory a great threat to their collective interest in the North, hence

Not many people are aware that Governor Uduaghan has fixed a 50-year development blueprint for Delta State

The reasons are legion. In every facet of life, people in Delta State have seen a change like never before unfolding before their own eyes.

Not many people are aware that Governor Uduaghan has fixed a 50-year development blueprint for Delta State.

In it, painstaking effort was made to identify the growth potentials of and development pathway of the more than one thousand communities that make up the State.

should reflect on a few years down the line when many children were denied education just because one child considered very brilliant in the family had to go to school first in the hope that he will get a job and start taking care of others. To some, the under five health care programme is an unnecessary bargain. But they need to be told that not all fingers are equal and they needed to walk in the shoes of many poor parents who watched their babies die be-

I strongly agree with Dr.

the annulment. When the Yorubas refused to be pacified inspite of Chief Ernest Shonekan’s interim government, the group was said to have anointed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because they felt more at home with him. The above scenario showed the enormity of their power and influence in Nigeria.

What baffles me however is that the ACF appears to be more interested in having their way in Nigeria than in the peace and harmony of their region. For instance, the killing of innocent citizens in the North which has almost become a norm in the areas, seems not to move their leaders and elders. The Boko Haram insurgency appears to Junaod Mohammed that President Jonathan does not deserve to lead this country come 2015, due to his poor performance. I am baffled each time President Jonathan dresses his transformation agenda as a success when it has not translated to a better living condition for the average person.

Henry 08039821540

N2 billion payroll fraud in Nigerian Police If the former chairman of the EFCC , Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, could prosecute a former Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and send him to jail, I see no reason why Mr. Lamorde should not try all the Inspectors – General involved in this scam as

have gone beyond their capability. In fairness to the Arewa elders, they protested the wanton destruction of lives and property in the North.

The one I cannot understand is the killings in Plateau State which appears to be left to the Governor of the State, Jonathan Jang and his people to contend with. If people suspected to be Fulani cattle rearers do not invade Agatu Local Government areas today, it would be Beromians who inhabit Jos, the Plateau State capital and its adjourning villages.

The Arewas will do well by addressing this wanton killings and pray for the return of the Ahmadu Bello era when the entire North treated themselves like one family.

James Adeyemi, Abule-Egba, Lagos.

WAEC please release my result

M

Y names are Oke Tope Abraham. I sat for the 2013 WAEC Examination at Dekadmo Private School, Ikorodu. Some results from that centre were released while mine was withheld. I have been to WAEC on several occasions but was told to hold on. I have gained admission and the result is needed to process the admission.

My WAEC examination No is 4251285114 Yours sincerely Oke Tope Abraham 08188174098

well as their cohorts.

Anonymous writes in from FCT, Abuja

Onslaught on Boko Haram and emergency rule in northern states It was quite a relief to read the success of the military offensive against the Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country. It was the first sign by the Federal Government that the security of the people is rated above political scheming to retain political office. But lack of continuity has been the bane of progress in this country; something that should be jettisoned this time around.

Otherwise, the religious bigots would regroup and come out stronger.

Francis 08026986452

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103,

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published.

Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Osun proposes 27 new councils

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — OSUN State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, presented a bill for the creation of new area councils before the state House of Assembly.

Presenting the bill, the governor said the Local Government Area Council Creation Committee headed by former Speaker of the state assembly, Professor Mojeed Alabi did a great job by scrutinising requests received for area councils.

He added that after Professor Alabi submitted the committee's report, a review panel headed by the Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti also examined it and came up with suggestions.

Aregbesola added that the existing local government areas are too large, making governance largely ineffective, the situation he said must be reversed.

He said the bill proposes 27 new Local Council Development Areas which will co-exist with the 30 local

government areas and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke recognised by the constitution.

He added that parliamentary system of government was being proposed in the new local councils, whereby the party with the majority seat will elect

the chairman of the area council.

According to him, the administrative head of area council will be called Council Manager, while funds accruable to the present councils areas will be shared with the proposed ones.

In his speech, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, who commended the governor, said the initiative was yet another development outposts at the grassroots.

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, CLARA NWACHUKWU & CHRIS OCHAYI

A

INVESTITURE: Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, out-going President of Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM (left), decorating incoming President of NIM, Dr. Nelson Uwaga, during the latter's investiture as the 19th President and Chairman of Council, at Muson Centre Onikan, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

LP may sanction Ogun executive members zHands over structure to Daniel

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — A strong indication has emerged that the National Working Committee of the Labour Party, LP, may have concluded plans to sanction the Chairman and the Secretary of the party in Ogun State for alleged anti-party activities and embarrassment.

Vanguard gathered that the national leadership took the decision at the meeting in Akure, Ondo State on Sunday to punish Mr. Olabose Simeon and Sunday Oginni, who in their capacities as chairman and secretary respectively, announced the expulsion of ex-Governor Olugbenga Daniel last Friday.

The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who was said to have announced the decision of the national leadership of the party to hand over the party structure in Ogun State to Daniel, described him as a man with winning formula to sweep the polls in 2015.

Vanguard learnt that the party described as great embarrassment the purported expulsion of the former governor and others.

According to the statement, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu on behalf of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party allegedly apologised to the former governor for what he described as great embarrassment.

While promising that the NEC would take appropriate action C M Y K

Missing $49.8bn: CBN confronts NNPC, DPR, FIRS

against those he described as dissident members of the party, it also handed over the party structure in the state to Daniel.

The national chairman of the LP was quoted to have denied knowledge of the expulsion and assured that the perpetrators of

the act shall be appropriately reprimanded.

"We are aware of the forces behind them, but we would not lose sleep because with the latest development in the party, the situation is under control," he said.

The legal adviser of the party in the state, Chief Gboyega Okenla described the purported expulsion as "an act of gross indiscipline of some members of the party."

Ekiti bars civil servants from partisan politics

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — ANY civil servant found engaging in partisan politics in Ekiti State risks losing his job, the state Head of Service, HoS, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya has warned The HoS gave the warning, yesterday, at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti as part of activities marking the 2013 Civil Service Week with the theme, 'Enhancing Accountability, Transparency and Integrity.'

He, however, warned civil servants to remain apolitical and operate within the parameters of the service rule, noting that engaging in political activities by civil servant amounted to act of misconduct The HoS, therefore, warned that any civil servant found playing partisan politics in the course of performing his official duties would be dealt with accordingly.

Famosaya who emphasised the importance of ethical conduct by

civil servants, added that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria equally barred civil servants from being political.

“However, I must say that it is the constitutional right of every Nigerian citizen to vote at elections, provided he/she is a registered voter.”

He recalled that some civil servants, including an assistant director, had been caught and forcefully retired for engaging in political activities.

“In fact, in the new civil service rules to be introduced, there is a place that states what a civil servant can do or not,” he added.

Famosaya commended workers for ensuring harmonious relationship with the government which he said had resulted in the industrial peace being enjoyed in the state He said in spite of the financial constraints faced by the government that the present administration in the state had

not failed in ensuring that workers were paid promptly and granted housing loans.

Meanwhile, a Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Fakehinde has admonished civil servants to be instruments of good governance in the country.

Fakehinde, who is the Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti, gave the admonition during a mass attended by civil servants last Sunday.

He said: "It is only true governance, engineered by dedicated civil servants that would ensure that dividends of democracy get to the people."

The clergyman reminded civil servants that the positions being occupied by them are privileged ones, adding that they should discharge their services faithfully and according to the will of God. He said as the engine room of government, they should collaborate with politicians to ensure that the people feel the impact of good governance.

BUJA— THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday confronted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, at a crucial closed-dooor meeting over the non-remittance of about $49.8bn from crude oil sales to the Federation Account.

The meeting, which held at the instance of the Presidency followed a strong letter by Sanusi to President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the missing sum, started at about midday and did not end until about 8pm.

The CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, stirred the hornets’ nest, last week, when he claimed that $49.8 billion had not been remitted by the NNPC to the federal purse.

The meeting which was presided over by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Dandali Kifasi, also had in attendance representatives from the ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources; the CBN; Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS; the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR; NNPC and some presidential aides.

Vanguard learnt that yesterday’s meeting was the kick-off of a series of such meetings, aimed at reconciling accounts with the respective agencies.

Our source, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence during a one-hour break said: “The meeting is not going to be a one-stop meeting because we are reconciling accounts.”

The source, however, refused to give further details, saying: “We cannot say what the outcome is for now because we are still in the process of reconciliation.

After we are done with the reconciling, then we will have something to tell you.”

It was further gathered that yesterday's meeting was characterised by heated arguments between officials of the CBN on one hand, and those of the NNPC and the other agencies, who are involved in oil production and sales for Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 —45 TUESDA

Mirabel Centre confronts sexual assaults in Lagos

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

O

VER the years, several incidents of rape, and other forms of sexual assault have not been investigated or pursued to logical conclusion either because the victims, who are usually girls and young women (single or married) failed to report the incident, or even if they reported, the culprit/culprits were not apprehended and prosecuted.

While experts note that sexual violence can cause serious sociological and emotional problems, the worry about the rising incidence of sexual abuse.

“Victims are more often than not, reluctant to disclose the incidence of sexual abuse due to fear, threat, or coercion. Rape is nearly always underreported because of the fear of public shame, ridicule and stigmatisation, said an expert in sexual abuse.”

But all that may be changing, as the Mirabel Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, goes into operation. It is located at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, and operated by Partnership for Justice, funded through a grant from the DFIDfunded Justice for All programme in cooperation with the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

The setting up a sexual assault referral centre called the Mirabel Centre to provide timely professional services to survivors of rape and

• Itoro Eze-Anaba: No to sexual violence

• At Mirabel, help at hand for victims of sexual violence. sexual assault in a caring and compassionate manner while respecting their rights to make choices., provides assistance (medical and counselling) to victims of sexual assault across Lagos State.

Executive Director/Managing partner, Partnership for Justice, Mrs. Itoro EzeAnaba, disclosed that since it opened its doors to the public in July 2013, the Centre has witnessed unprecedented influx of clients. “The Centre has so far assisted 125 clients at an average of 25 per month.

A rundown of cases handled in first five months of operation, revealed a total of 86 victims of rape reported for care, support and counselling.

Eze-Anaba said during the first month of operation in July, there were 23 clients; 25 in August; 33 in

September, 19 in October and 25 in November.

Further, she revealed that 11 of the rape incidents were cases of statutory rape, 29 were assault; four, battery and one defilement. Within the period in question, 40 of the victims were aged 10 or less , 17 were under the age of six, while 44 were aged between 11 and 15.

Precisely 78 of the 84 victims aged below 15 were assaulted by somebody

known to them. In a statement, Eze-Anaba affirmed that 86 of the victims were brought to the SARC by the Police.

“The Police now have somewhere they can take victims for provision of assistance to as well as to carry out a forensic examination that is admissible in court without having to make any payments to the medical practitioners.”

Noting that 81 of the

victims were referred afterwards to Social welfare or NGOs that can provide additional support, she said the Centre is providing a much needed service to victims of sexual assault.

“Statistics such as these and those from other sources clearly show there is a huge problem with sexual assault in Lagos State and greater effort is needed from government and other agencies to address the problem.

Urging men to know that they cannot use women and girls for sexual gratification in the absence of

their consent, or treat them violently, with impunity, she declared that it is not enough just to deal with the consequences. “Much more effort needs to be made to prevent sexual assault in the first place,” she observed Described as the “hope of the common man,” there are plans to set up a place such as the Mirabel Centre in Abuja for victims of rape and sexual violence.

“It is absolutely essential. from the police, the medical report is taken by our staff to the relevant police station.

Birth registrations improve in Nigeria --- UNICEF A

NEW report by the United Nations Population Children's Fund, UNICEF, shows improvement in birth registrations

• Vanguard health correspondent, Chioma Obinna, who emerged the Best Health Correspondent of the year 2013 in the Lagos State government Family Health Merit Award , receiving her award from Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola during the Awards ceremony at the City Hall, Lagos, last week.

in Nigeria even though the births of about 230 million under-fives around the world, approximately 1 in 3 of all children, have never been registered.

Tagged; Every Child's Birth Right: Inequities and trends in birth registration, the report shows that the overall growth and progress in birth registration of children under 5 years old in Nigeria rose from 30 percent in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, 2007 to 41.5 percent in 2011.

Released globally to mark UNICEF's 67th year of existence, the report collects statistical analysis spanning 161 countries and presents the latest available country data and estimates on birth registration.

A close look at the data showed that in Nigeria not all children have benefited from the progress. "Children from poorest households saw only a slight increase from 9 percent to 12 percent; whereas their richest counterparts increased

from 51 percent to 76 percent."

UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough said: "We still have a lot of work to do in terms of narrowing the gap for Nigeria to achieve universal registration of all children under five years.

"Moving forward, it would be necessary to focus on those children who are currently under-served.

These include children from the poor neighbourhood, rural areas, children with disabilities and all marginalized, excluded and invisible children."

Gough said children unregistered at birth or without identification documents are often excluded from accessing education and health care.

"If children are separated from their families during natural disasters, conflicts or as a result of exploitation, reuniting them is made more difficult by the lack of official documentation.

"Nigeria's progress in

birth registration is hinged on innovative use of the RapidSMS technology introduced by UNICEF. This has improved the national birth registration system.

"Today we can get the real time data and trends of birth registration in any of 774 LGAs. Over 4,000 registrars report twicemonthly the number of registered boys and girls and the data are posted immediately on publicly accessible website.

"In the past, Nigeria's birth registration was characterised by delay, but today, as a result of Rapid SMS, those registered by their 1st birthday has increased from 10 percent in 2009 to over 40 percent in 2012.

“Birth registration, as an essential component of a country's civil registry, strengthens quality of vital statistics, aids planning and government efficiency.

Praising effort of government, the UNICEF Rep asked for more."Let us seize this momentum and get every child registered by 2015," he stated.

46—Vanguard, TUESD AY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 TUESDA

Elation in Umunkaka community as Peace Health Centre opens

BY FRANCIS IGATA

U

MUNKAKA community, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state came alive recently on the occasion of the formal opening of the new Primary Healthcare Centre tagged “Peace Health Centre” The joy and elation of the people was understandable. For decades, the densly populated community situated in the heart of Nsukka, had been without any visible healthcare facility to attend to the growing medical needs of pregnant women, children, the aged and others.

But thanks to the benevolence and public spiritedness of an indegene, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, Founder/CEO, Peace Mass Transit who built and equipped the health centre to mark his 50th birthday, the community now prides itself as having a befitting and wellequipped healthcare facility to attend to needs of the people.

Speakingat the Centre’s official commissioning, the Town Union President, Aneze Emmanuel, described the coming of the facility as “a prayer answered”.

He said the donor, had been touching millions of lives far and wide because of his humanitarian disposition and belief in serving God through uplifting the lot of the poor, the needy and downtrodden.

“Earlier this year, precisely in March, this Town Union that unites six villages that makes up Umunkaka namely Amukwa, Mbuke,Umunwara, Amofia, Orihe and Umuabere villages got a message from Dr. Sam Onyishi requesting for a piece of land to build a Primary Healthcare Centre for the community. All of us present in that meeting, being his kinsmen received the message with great joy and gladness, knowing him very well through his antecedents and pedigree that each time he opened his mouth to make a pledge it is good as having been fulfilled.

“The problem of scarcity of land for the project came up and we were faced with several options including compromising this compound we are now gathered and you can agree with me that such option could have dealt a big blow to the aesthetics of this compound and capable of

• The new Primary Healthcare Centre tagged “Peace Health Centre” in Umunkaka community, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

• Founder/CEO, PMT, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi.

making our fore father who envisaged and left this legacy restless in their graves.

Continuing, the Town Union President declared that, “the community has decided to add another chieftaincy title to the litany of titles he (Onyishi) already has in his kitty. We are giving him a symbolic ram in Igbo tradition to nudge him to trudge on his life fearlessly and never to look back. Also, we are presenting him a Holy Bible haven perceived that it is his priciest possession in life to enable him pursue his

Nigerians cautioned against patronising unregistered medicine dealers

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

I

T is just by a stroke of luck that Edward Mba, an electrician, isn’t blind today, after he suffered trauma from effects of a bottle of eye drops he purchased from a drug hawker in a commercial bus.

Edward had thought the drug was original because of the NAFDAC number and expiry date conspicously displayed on the bottle, so he applied the medicine to his eyes, little realising it was counterfeit.

But rather than subside, his condition worsened and Edward rushed to the nearest General

Hospital where diagnosis revealed that the eye drops he had purchased was injurious to his eyes.

Edward is one of the lucky few that have survived to relate the agonising experience of patronising unauthorised medicine dealers. Several unsuspecting persons have suffered grevious injury or totally lost their lives as a result of patronising street medicine vendors.

Dangers of patronising suspect sources of medicines are eobvious, said the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Association

of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria, ACPN, Pharm. Aminu Abdulsalam-Yinka.

Lamenting that charlatans don’t have basic knowledge about how medicines should be stored, he said to maintain quality, medicines must be stored properly and away from harsh weather.

“Apart from storage issues, medicines should be given and taken only when necessary by an authorized person. So buying medicines from hawkers or unauthorised dealers comes with consequences, and even genuine medicines from inappropriate

• As part of activities to commemorate World AIDS Day 2013 in Nigeria, former Super Eagles stars took to the pitch of the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos, against a team of entertainment celebrities from the movie and music industries in the 2nd edition of the novelty football match tagged “Superstars Play for Life’. The match was organised by Friends Africa in partnership with Coca-Cola to raise awareness for the HIV/AIDS and to lend support to the cause of ending stigmatisation and discrimination against People Living With HIV/AIDS.

places can become inefficient.

Medicines exposed to harsh environment can degrade and become toxic as a result of inappropriate storage,” he added.

There are persons who attribute poverty as a reason for purchasing medicines from street and roadside vendors. One of such is Labake, a mother of four.

“I buy medicines from these sources because they are cheaper. If I go to the hospital or pharmacy the cost will be unaffordable and when I don’t have such money, what do I do,” she queried.

National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Olufemi Adebayo said “accessing a trained pharmacist, ensures whether a case needs medicine or not but if you go to a street trader whose aim is to make money he will encourage you to buy more. It is dangerous to buy from unapproved vendors because of increased risk of buying fake and substandard medicines, leading to complications. It is better to patronise places where quality medicines are guaranteed.”

At a Continuing Education Conference, titled "Good Medicines, Excellent Practice: Myth or Reality", timmediate past Presidnt of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm.

Azubike Okwor, urged Nigerians to always purchase medicines from registered and authorised sources only where the original emblem of the Society is displayed.

evangelism.

“This legacy we are celebrating today will go a long way in enhancing grassroots healthcare of all and sundry in this environs and we are pleading with government at different levels to come to our aid by putting measures in place that will encourage proper functioning and maintenance culture and practices comparable to other similar health institution elsewhere.”

Said Onyishi, “We in Peace Group have deemed it necessary to offer this gift of healthcare centre because it will help our people to live healthier and longer at very subsidised fees.

Consultants from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, will now be at your reach.”

He said the Association of Resident Doctors, UNTH has offered to help achieve this.

Overall, tthe project cost N20 million. A breakdown shows the land cost N800,000, the building N8.0 million while drugs/equipment and disposables worth N2 million have been stocked. A brand new 18- seater executive bus valued at N5 million has also been donated to the healthcare centre.

Onyishi, who is undertaking one year subvention of the healthcare centre to the tune of N3,600,000, will hands off after one year of operation.

“Umunkaka Development Union in collaboration with ARD, UNTH, will continue to run the Centre professionally and service to Umunkaka community and Nsukka in general.”

In a response, leader, ARD, UNTH, Enugu, Dr. Ugwoke Celestine said the project will boost primary healthcare services in the community while ensuring optimal services at the hospital.

Adding value to lives should be frontal in the Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, of any company or Group in the country.

Such, will immeasurably loose the binding thread of penury, poverty and pauperism prevalent in the society that will bestow a sense of belonging to such class of people and to mankind.”

Vanguard, TUESD AY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—47 TUESDA

Genotype Foundation tackles Foundation canvasses support for Sickle Cell Disease with awareness persons with movement disorders

BY RACHAEL OLAYIWOLA

“I

T is our Right To Know”. This was the theme of a youth seminar organised by the Genotype Foundation recently in Lagos to enlighten youth in secondary schools about issues surrounding Sickle Cell Disease, SCD. Currently, Nigeria has the highest number of people living with sickle cell anemia in the world. At the event, free genotype testing and blood grouping were carried out for all participantswho were drawn from 10 secondary schools in Lagos.

Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs. Doris Gbeminoye stressed the essence of knowledge about the genotype and it’s attendant implications. In her view, the event was designed to give hope to persons living with the sickle cell disorder.

Gbemiloye observed that it is advisable to get tested early in life so as to avoid complications in future. ”A person with sickle cell anaemia, SS, cannot marry another person with sickle cell anaemia. Intending couples should not wait until they attain marriageable age before knowing their genotype. Do it when you are much younger,” she advised.

Further, she said: I am happy we have been able to touch lives no matter how small. To you youths, it make look confusing now and you may not know the benefits of what we are doing here today, but I assure you 10 years from now you will see the importance of this conference in your individual lives.”

Gbemiloye lamented that many persons living with the disorder in Nigeria are too poor to afford treatment, hence so many die untimely. We need support to make laws that are compliant

and create the required awareness which is about prevention and treatment.

She pointed out that the ultimate goal is to run genotype tests in for 5,000 students in every state of the Federation and save so many generations yet unborn. There is a lot of ignorance about sickle cell disease, but we want to save the younger generation. At their time having the disease is crucial, it should be about choice and not chance.

Ayoola Olajide, author of “Menace in My Blood”, who was diagnosed with with sickle cell anemia when he was about four years old, spoke about the power of enlightenment urged persons with sickle celldisease to seek genetic counseling to help them better understand the disorder and how it will affect them and their children.

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

W

ITH almost zero knowledge of movement disorders such as Multiple System Atrophy, MSA, amongst Nigerians, the Funmiayo Fashina Foundation, FFF, has canvassed support was key to patients coping psychologically and emotionally even as they called for a support system for sufferers.

Associate Professor and Consultant Neurologist, Dr. Njideka Okubadejo, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, said in Nigeria, 60, 000 to 70, 000 Nigerians have MSA. But more worrisome is that most of the patients remained undiagnosed while many do not receive any form of treatment. MSA is a progressive neurological disorder

• L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris with Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina; Coordinator, Eko Free Health Mission Programme, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and Governor Babatunde Fashola during the tour of the Eko Free Health Mission site at Badagry weekend.

that affects adult men and women in their 50s and 60s.

“To recognize MSA, one of the early symptoms is that the patient has difficulty with movement, slowness or shaking like in Parkinson disease. Also, there is dizziness when the patient is standing and there may be urinary problem and complicated constipation. People with MSA are diagnosed and treated by neurologist, physical therapist nurses and psychologists.”

Canvassing total support for patients during a 10-kilometre rustee member of the Foundation, Ajibade Fashina said the condition could be overwhelming as such those who provide support may also need external support.

“Support is key to the patient, emotionally and psychologically, considering that sometimes the aliment could be overwhelming.”

Drawing from his late wife’s experience he said the patient may not be able to carry out some certain duties without being assisted. He lamented continued misunderstanding about the ailment and said the only way of correcting such misconceptions was to intensify the level of awareness among the people, including doctors “Having noticed the shallow knowledge of the disease, we organises training for doctors to increase their level of awareness and also empower them on symptoms to look out for. Sometimes, they see those symptoms and ascribe them to something else. We have trained 126 doctors and nurses on how to best manage the disease,” he said.

Okubadejo said there is currently no cure for MSA; adding that treatments are available to help people cope with some of the symptoms.

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48—V anguard 48—Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

N69.3bn Abuja National Square set to replace Eagle Square T

BY HENRY UMORU

he Federal Government said it has concluded arrangements to pull down the multipurpose Eagle Square located in Abuja’s Central District and in its place, build a new Abuja National Square estimated to cost N69.3 billion.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed who disclosed in Abuja, explained that the new Abuja National Square which is a component of the Nigeria Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower project will now serve as national event centre. The project is located between the National Mosque and the National Christian Centre within Abuja Central Area.

The Minister told newsmen during an inspection of the multi-billion naira project that the National Square has a 40,000 square metres platform for hosting national and other symbolic events. The project is said to have reached about 35 percent completion level and would require about N31 billion to complete..

Senator Bala Mohammed who stated that the Square has provision for two-level basement car parks built to accommodate 1200 cars.

The Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower project, which has four major components, was conceived as a multifunctional edifice with facilities for cultural exposition, tourism, socialisation, recreation, hospitality and commercial activities. The components include the Cultural Centre; the National Square and Underground Car Park; the Millennium Tower with a revolving Restaurant and Belvedere and a Commercial Tunnel.

Senator Mohammed disclosed that the project is arranged in three phases with the first phase nearing completion. This phase involves the completion of the National Square and the two-level basement car parking lots with a capacity for 1200 cars.

The FCT Minister explained that the second phase of the project involves the completion of the Millennium Tower with the revolving restaurant and viewing platform while the third phase involves the completion of the remaining aspects of the project consisting of the Commercial Arcade and components of the Cultural Centre such as the Hotel, Auditorium, Museums, the conference rooms, the

swimming pool, fitness centre and offices.

Eagle Square is presently being used for major events like motor fairs, parades and national convention by political parties..

This turn-key project (design and construction contract) was awarded to Messrs Salini Nig. Ltd, an Italian construction giant which commenced work in 2007.

Designed by the Italian architectural firm of Manfredi

Nicolleti, the project sits on two adjacent plots (36 & 37) that are bounded East-West by roads NS8 and NS9 and North-South by road B8 and B10 respectively, within the Cultural Spine of the Central Business District of Abuja.

The Federal Government also appointed Messrs Sal-Consults, an indigenous consulting firm to review the detailed designs to be submitted by the contractor in order to ensure that they conform to Nigeria’s

cultural, social and environmental peculiarities. The firm will also supervise the project and ensure that government gets maximum values for her spending on it.

The Cultural Centre component of this project is a gigantic structure encased in a pyramidal shell of glass and steel towering about 50 metres in height. It houses among other functional spaces, the museums, a hotel, offices, recreational and sport-

ing facilities, auditorium, conference rooms, fitness centre, exhibition hall and coffee s h o p s .

The Millennium Tower component which symbolises the unity and strength of the Nigerian state is a structure that is 170m in height, and stands on three concrete cylinders that carry a revolving panoramic restaurant and belvedere (viewing platform) at 110 metres above the ground. It shall dominate the skyline of the Federal Capital City of Abuja and the rays of its powerful laser spot lights are designed to be seen more than 50 kilometres from the city centre.

The FCT Minister disclosed that when completed, the Tower can be spotted at night from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport thus making it possible to locate the city centre from there and even beyond.

It will have a giant steel flower veil, rising from the ground, and carrying an illuminated symbol of Nigeria’s Coat of Arms. The basement of the Millennium Tower also houses such facilities as an entrance foyer, shops and a restaurant.

The National Square is a 40,000 square metre platform for hosting national and other symbolic events, the National Square forms the roof of a twolevel basement car park built to accommodate 1200 cars.

The Commercial Tunnel is a large underground pedestrian arcade 30 metres wide and 80 metres long, lined up with shops on both sides.

Eagle Square Abuja... waiting for the bulldozers

LAWMA partners UK firm to formulate policy on management of construction waste

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

A

policy framework for the establishment of Construction and Demolition Waste Management System, CDWM in Lagos State is being put together by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA in partnership with GEMS 2, a United Kingdom based agency championing the economic empowerment of women and the poor within the construction sector chain supply.

The policy document which is expected to be submitted to

LAWMA by the end of the year, is intended to be adopted and used by the Lagos State Government and Private Sector Participants, PSP who will be engaged in the implementation.

By this policy, activities of relevant ministries, departments and agencies such as Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Physical Planning and Permit Authority, LASPPPA , Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and Lagos State

LAWMA MD, Mr Ola Oresanya and officials of GEMS2

Building Control Agency, LABCA will be coordinated through a formalised construction and demolition waste management system.

Briefing newsmen on the policy framework at GEMS 2 office last week, Thomas R. Roberts, an International Construction and Demolition Waste Policy consultant stated that a lot of money is lost through illegal dumping of construction demolition wastes as well as through uncoordinated handling of CDW. Roberts who is putting the policy document together, assured that the voluminous document will be completed and submitted to LAWMA by the end of the year. He pointed out that the policy will create jobs for Lagos residents, as construction and demolition waste can now be properly managed through coordinated approach. According to him, most of the construction and demolition waste being dumped illegally before can now be recycled for other uses to generate income. The consultant said a committee comprising LAW-

MA staff will be set up to guide the implementation of the policy.

The Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya said the primary focus of construction and demolition waste management would be on reuse and not on recycle, adding that the policy should also focus on hazardous waste.

Oresanya who noted that the objective of the policy is to make construction and demolition waste a big business venture in Nigeria and particularly in Lagos, pointed out that it will create jobs and wealth for Nigerians.

“The policy will also guide the handling of building collapse debris. The policy will help Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA in its activities”, he said.

The Team Leader of GEMS, Mr. Paul Weijers said his agency decided to go into partnership with LAWMA in the formulation of the policy because the policy will create jobs for people thereby enhancing their economic well being.

V anguard anguard,, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013—49

Procurement: Aliyu charges built environment experts to raise the ante

BY JUDE NJOKU

T

he new President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Alhaji Murtala Muhammad Aliyu has charged members of the Institute to up the ante to ensure that the services they render to their clients meet international benchmarks.

Aliyu who spoke in Lagos at the 2013 annual dinner of the Lagos State chapter of the Institute, explained that due to the changing environment globally, most construction activities would come to the developing countries, hence professionals in the built environment must be build up their capacity to be able to bid for and win international jobs.

Stressing their importance of training in order to hone their skills, the NIQS President advised the construction cost experts to take advantage of such programmes or risk losing the juicy jobs to well organised expatriate companies.

As an Institute, what we need to do is first of all, to wake up our members and make them appreciate the limit of small size. I have associated with a Firm that has 4,800

L-R, Mr. Brian Greenaway, of UPDC, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, NIQS President and Mr. Olayemi Shonubi, NIQS chairman, Lagos chapter at the dinner professionals in the United Kingdom and it is a consulting firm and they bid for all kinds of jobs. They have all sections of the built environment there, ranging from construction of roads, nuclear plants, housing estates, airports and so on. But the truth is that not just quantity surveying, even in other professions, there is no way we can

sustain our operations in the market if we remain in small sizes. There is a difference between professionalism and entrepreneurship and most of our services are still as you said one-man shows. Now is the time for us to talk together, using seminars and workshops to realise the limits of smallness and growth in size that can compete favourably

CIB confab focuses on construction in developing countries

“

Construction in developing countries and its contribution to sustainable development” will form the bedrock of a three-day international conference of the Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, CIB, Working Commission on Construction in developing countries slated for Lagos next month.

The conference which would be hosted by the University of Lagos, Akoka is the first CIB conference to hold in the WestAfrican sub-region since the CIB was formed about 60 years ago.

The CIB is a United Nations global network of over 5,000

experts from over 500 member organisations active in the education sector, research community and industry who cooperate and exchange information in over 500 commissions covering all fields in building and construction research and innovation.

A statement jointly signed by Prof Godwin Idoro and Mrs Hikmot Koleoso,( Chairman and Secretary of the conference) said the conference will be held between January 28 and 30, 2014. A website w w w. c i b w 1 0 7 c o n f e r e n c e 2014.com has been opened for the conference.

The statement disclosed thats UNILAG and Herriot Watt

University, Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, have been granted the joint hosting right for the 2014 and 2015 conferences billed for Lagos and Edinburgh.

“The conference offers unique networking opportunities for individuals, corporate bodies and government agencies. It will also feature a threeday exhibition of construction related materials, components, technologies and other products/services. The exhibition is open to all stakeholders in construction and related industries especially manufacturers of construction materials, components, plants and equipment; oil and gas sector, property developers,

Fashola charges Lagosians on road usage, hands over 16 roads in Mushin

BY AZEEZ SANUSI

L

agos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged Lagosians to adopt more positive attitude towards public facilities so as to ensure optimal use of resources. He also decried the conversion of roads and its setbacks to market, sales points and workshop, saying it amounts gross abuse of public facilities. The Governor spoke at the handing over 16 completed roads in Mushin.

He disclosed that the N87 billion sourced from the bond market is being deployed to pay contractors on projects being undertaken by his administration.

He declared, “our roads are

common property. How we use it, is our responsibility. We must behave as responsible people by avoiding trading on the road or doing car wash or mechanic works on the roads”..

Fashola explained that only an effective partnership between the people and the government will guarantee meaningful and gave the assurance that his administration will deliver life changing projects in Lagos.

He implored Community Development Associations, CDAs, Moslem and Christian clerics to continue to preach peace and tolerance which are factors that determine togetherness that sustain our infrastructure.

The Commissioner for Works

and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat stated that the road projects are part of the State government’s efforts at upgrading the socio-economic infrastructure available in Mushin, one of the identified less developed communities in the State.

Hamzat listed the new roads as Akanro/Ishaga, Akinyemi Crescent, Badejo Kalesanwo Street, Olanibi Ojekunle Street, Kekereowo Babalola Street, Ronke Street, Akinlawon Street, Ajana Street, Sadiku Street, Paul Okuntola Street, Eniola Street, Apesin Street, Kelani Street, Oyewuwo Street, Folarin Street and Oke Onijo Street. The total length of the roads is 10km.

internationally.

“As an Institute, what we need to do is first of all, to wake up our members and make them appreciate the limit of small size. I have associated with a firm that has 4,800 professionals in the United Kingdom and it is a consulting firm and they bid for all kinds of jobs. They have all

sections of the built environment there, ranging from construction of roads, nuclear plants, housing estates, airports and so on. But the truth is that not just quantity surveying, even in other professions, there is no way we can sustain our operations in the market if we remain in small sizes. There is a difference between professionalism and entrepreneurship and most of our services are still as you said one-man shows. Now is the time for us to talk together, using seminars and workshops to realise the limits of smallness and growth in size that can compete favourably internationally,” he said.

Apparently referring to the crisis which the Institute grappled with a few years ago, the former Federal Minister of State (Power and Steel) sued for the unity of NIQS members.

“Let’s unite, let’s come together and push the Institute forward. This is the only profession we all have. The period of stress is over; unity is key for us to move forward,” he said.

In his brief remarks, the chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Institute, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi stressed the role of quantity surveyors in the construction industry. He regretted that most Nigerians still do not understand the role of quantity surveyors in the construction industry, hence some of them end up not getting value for the money they expend on projects.

Lifemaster Furniture opens for business in Lagos

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

A

new furniture and inte rior décor firm, Messrs Lifemaster Furniture has opened its doors for business in Lagos with a promise to provide homeowners with exquisite designs that will satisfy their finishing needs.

Conducting newsmen round its showroom located in the Ikeja Business District, the Managing Director of the company, Andy Xing said materials and accessories for its furniture are imported from China but assembled in the company’s factory in Lagos.

He explained that the company which is barely one month old in business, is also into sales of state-ofthe-art lightings, remodeling of apartments, interior

decorations and installation of kitchenette.

“Quality furniture products and professional interior décor services are the cornerstones of the Lifemaster brand, tailored to customised individual taste and choice without compromising standard that is world class”, he boasted.

Xing said his company has plans to open outlets in Abuja and Port-Harcourt as a step towards achieving its goal of being a leader in Nigeria’s lifestyle industry. .

According to him,friendly prices, free delivery and an on-going sales promotion, are a few of the value-added services that Lifemaster customers will enjoy this season as the brand aims to enrich the lifestyle of its target customers.

50—V anguard 50—Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

A middle income housing estate

Why we have not passed social housing bill — Senate T

CALEB AYANSINA

he Senate has explained the reason for the delay in the passage of Social Housing

Bill, saying it was due to further deliberation on some grey areas at the committee level.

The vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing

and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa gave the reason during tan awards dinner organised by the Housing Circuit Magazine, in Abu-

FG launc hes rur al women ener gy security launches rural energy

…says clean energy is prerequisite for healthy living

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

A

BUJA- In a bid to cut down on energy poverty in the country, the Federal Government, has launched the Rural Women Renewable Energy Security, RUWES, initiative.

Speaking at the launch, the Supervising Minister of Environment Mr .Darius Ishaku, an architect, highlighted the importance of energy in different spheres of life. “Energy is essential in meeting our most basic needs like cooking, lighting and heating that is a prerequisite for a good health, a reality that has been largely ignored by the world community,” he said.

Ishaku regretted that “nearly half of the country’s populations cook on open fire, a contributor to deforestation, global warming, respiratory infections and premature deaths.”

According to him, “solid and fossil fuel combustion emissions from household are a leading risk factor for diseases, accounting for approximately four percent of all lost healthy-life years in low and middle income regions of the country.”

“The statistics is worrisome as the demand for fuel wood resources for household energy impacts terrestrial ecology and land use pattern in a number of regions within the country and that fuel gathering typically requires many hours per week for poor population. Potential climate effects are of concern due to the reenhouse gas and carbon-

aeous emissions from household combustion of fossil fuel, deforestation and the resultant incidents of erosion across the country,’’ he said.

Widespread deployment of clean cook stoves and solar lighting systems under the RUWES project with energy and combustion efficiency are improvements over traditional dirty fuel sources. They could also help mitigate adverse effect on human health, energy poverty, time and income savings and climate consequences.

“The project RUWES initiated by the Renewable Energy programme of the Federal Ministry of Environment is targeted at the under- served rural women who are usually off grid, energy poor and have the highest incidents of health related issues from

harmful energy practices,’’ he said.

The Coordinator of Renewable Energy Programme of the Ministry; Mrs Bahijjatu Abubakar, an engineer, said “the objective of the RUWES project is targeted at the poor Nigerian rural women that are under served.”

“Nigeria contributes 10 percent annual deaths globally and over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually due to fire wood related diseases,” Abubakar said.

She lamented that “the deaths recorded from fire wood usage are higher compared to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria put together.”

“The risks women are exposed to when they cook breakfast, lunch and dinner with fire wood which is equivalent to smoking 3-20 packets of cigarette per day and calls for at-

j a .

Governor Theodore Orji was conferred with an award as Urban Development Governor of the Year 2013, while Sena-

Chief Orji who was represented by his Commissioner for Petroleum, Sir Tom Ubani described the as well deserved in view of his giant strides in the urban development sector.

titudinal change towards the use of clean cook stoves. Renewable energy is to address poverty and it is about economic empowerment, creation of jobs and also contributing to the environment which benefits is cleaner, affordable, domestic and effectively infinite source of energy for all energy needs,” She warned on the use kerosene lamps because they emit dangerous fumes that if in-

haled during study can affect the academic performance of the users.

“It has been discovered that children who read with kerosene lamps because of incomplete combustion and emission of black carbon have their intellects affected and so we must do something about it. We don’t want Nigeria to be contributing negatively to the world’s development,’’ she said.

Orubebe summons contractors over slow space of work at Skill Acquisition Centre

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

M

INISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has summoned the contractors handling the Skill Acquisition Centre in Ikot Nakanda, Cross Rivers State to his office in Abuja to explain the reasons behind the slow pace of work at the site in spite of huge funds committed to the project.

Elder Orubebe, who was accompanied by the Minister of State, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, an architect, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke and other top management staff of the

tor Ashafa and nine others received special recognition awards for their contributions to the nation’s housing sector.

Ashafa who recalled the Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs said, “ we are aware that housing is completely out of the reach on an average man in Nigeria today.” He pledged the readiness of the National Asembly to pass the social housing bill as this would help to reduce the 17 million units housing deficit. ”The delay is due to further deliberations at the housing committee level on some grey areas that would ensure that the bill stands the test of time,” the lawmaker said.

On the award, Ashafa said; “I it as a clarion call not to relent in my avowed commitment in ensuring that our government embarks on affordable housing schemes using the relevant mortgage institutions to achieve this objective.”

Ministry, on the inspection tour of the project site, expressed disappointment with the level of work done so far by the contractors.

The Skill Acquisition project meant to train Niger Delta youths in the entertainment industry, is expected to be completed by now ahead of its formal commissioning in March 2014.

The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done by Messrs Globe Tenst Nig. LTD – Lot one, Messrs Naaman Associates – Lot Two, Messrs Anchor Nuel LTDLot Three, the contractors handling the construction works.

V anguard anguard,, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 51

BRIEFS

UN makes $6.5 billion appeal for Syria

South Sudan slams curfew as coup plot fails

S

OUTH Sudan’s Presi dent Salva Kiir has said a coup led by his former deputy has been foiled and vowed to bring to justice those responsible.

Soldiers loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, attempted to overthrow the government of South Sudan, as sporadic fighting between factions of the military gripped the capital in the latest violence to hit the world’s youngest nation.

Flanked by government officials, President Salva Kiir, who had put on fatigues with an army general’s epaulets, said in a televised address to the nation that the military had foiled a coup orchestrated by “a group of soldiers allied with the former vice president.”

The soldiers had attacked the South Sudanese military headquarters near Juba University late on Sunday, sparking sporadic clashes that continued yesterday, he said. “The attackers went and (the) armed forces are pursuing them,” Kiir said yesterday.

“I promise you today that justice will prevail.”

The government was now “in full control of the military situation”, he said, ordering a curfew in Juba from 6:00pm to 6:00am which will remain in force until further notice.

Details of the attempted coup remained sketchy, but South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the Associated Press news agency that troops in the main army base raided a weapons store in Juba but were repulsed.

Some politicians had since been arrested, he said, but could not confirm if former vice president Riek Machar - who he said led the attempted coup - was among them. Benjamin said the coup was plotted by “disgruntled” soldiers and politicians led by Machar.

An Associated Press journalist saw heavily-armed soldiers patrolling the streets of Juba yesterday while gunfire was coming from the city’s main army barracks.

The streets were largely empty of civilians.

• Salva Kiir The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported the sound of mortar and heavy machine-gun fire, saying hundreds of civilians had

South Africa unveils Mandela’s statue

S

OUTH Africa took an important step to keep the memory of its anti apartheid hero, Dr. Nelson Mandela alive when it unveiled a gigantic statue of the late president, barely 24 hours after his interment.

The mood was joyous yesterday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria as a military band played and fighter jets flew overhead to honour Mandela after 10 days of mourning over his death ended Sunday with his burial.

President Jacob Zuma presided over the unveiling, which preceded a party in celebration of the Day of Reconciliation, a national holiday.

The statue stands on the grounds of the Union Buildings, where Mandela delivered his inaugural speech after becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

Mandela's statue

A

The judge rejected a request for a new trial. The defense had said comments by jurors after the verdict that they were disappointed he hadn’t testified showed they were biased against him.

The defendant, whose

R

at a meeting of donor countries in Geneva yesterday.

There are parts of country where for 22-23 hours a day people aren’t getting electricity. Fuel is scarce. Even if the violence were to stop tomorrow we would have to maintain help on the humanitarian front. “This is the largest amount we have ever had to request at the start of the year,” Amos told a news conference, referring to the worldwide appeal.

EU keeps door open for Ukraine

D

IVISIONS emerged in the European Union’s policy towards Ukraine yesterday as the Dutch foreign minister slapped down a senior EU official for announcing on Twitter that he had suspended work on a trade agreement with Kiev.

EU foreign ministers arriving for talks on the EU’s relations with Ukraine and Russia said the door remained open for Ukraine to seal a farreaching trade and political agreement with Brussels despite Kiev’s last-minute decision in November to pull back

T

Bachelet wins Chile’s presidential election

S

OCIALIST Michelle Bachelet, who was Chile’s president from 2006 to 2010, cruised to

appearance in court Monday was neat in contrast to the final days of his trial, slumped in his chair as the sentence was read. He complained to the judge about alleged abusive treatment by jailers while locked up during the trial.

victory in Sunday’s presidential runoff.

With more than 93% of votes counted, she won 62.3% of votes, election officials said. Evelyn Matthei of the conservative Independent Democratic Union party garnered 37.7% of votes and conceded the election.

“I shall be a president for everyone in Chile,” Bachelet said during a congratulatory phone call from President Sebastian Pinera. She will take over from him in March.

Russia stations missile on Western region USSIA has deployed Iskander missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometers in its Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania, the proKremlin newspaper Iz-

HE United Nations has appealed for a record $6.5 billion for Syria and its neighbours to help 16 million people, many of them hungry or homeless victims of a conflict that has lasted 33 months with no end in sight.

The Syrian appeal accounted for half of an overall funding plan of $12.9 billion for 2014 to help 52 million people in 17 countries, announced by UN emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos

from signing the deal.

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans sharply criticized EU enlargement chief Stefan Fuele, the official in charge of negotiations with Ukraine, who announced on Twitter on Sunday that talks with Ukraine were on hold because Kiev had failed to give a clear commitment to sign the trade deal.

“I think making policy on the basis of a Twitter notice by Mr Fuele is perhaps not the best way of approaching this issue,” he told reporters.

“There was no reason from a Dutch point of view to suspend talks.”

EU, Turkey sign deal on migrants, visas

US citizen gets 28 years for charity fund scam judge handed down a 28-year prison sentence yesterday to a man convicted of masterminding a $100 million, crosscountry Navy veterans charity fraud.

Judge Steven Gall also ordered the defendant, who identifies himself as 67-year-old Bobby Thompson, to pay a $6 million fine. Authorities say the defendant is Harvardtrained attorney John Donald Cody.

The Ohio attorney general’s office, which handled his trial, asked the judge in a filing last week to sentence him to 41 years in prison.

sought shelter at a UN compound.

Joseph Contreras, a spokesman for UNMISS told AFP, ”we have more than 800 civilians who came into our compound adjacent to the airport, mostly women and children. Among them are seven wounded, including a two-year-old boy in a critical condition.”

Tension had been mounting in South Sudan since Kiir fired Machar as his deputy in July. Machar, who has expressed a willingness to contest the presidency in 2015.

T

vestia reported yesterday. The missiles have been in place “for some time,” according to Izvestia’s source, a highlevel Defence Ministry official it did not name.

Another unnamed military source said they

were deployed about 18 months ago.

The Izvestia report followed a story in German newspaper Bild on Saturday that said secret satellite imagery showed Iskander-M missiles stationed near the Polish border.

URKEY and the EU have signed a deal enabling EU countries to send back illegal migrants who entered the 28-nation bloc via Turkey.

The deal also establishes a roadmap for lifting visa requirements for Turks travelling to the EU. Visa-free status is expected in three years’ time.

Turkey is a major tran-

sit country for Asians and Africans heading for the EU. Ankara has set up special camps for thousands of Syrian refugees, but other migrants often face great hardship.

Greece, where migrant reception centres are overcrowded, stepped up security on its land border with Turkey in August 2012.

US judge declares NSA wire tap illegal

A

federal judge says the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of phone records violates the Constitution’s ban on unreasonable searches. The judge put his decision on hold pending a nearly certain government appeal.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon has granted a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiffs Larry Klayman and Charles Strange, concluding they were likely to prevail in their constitutional challenge.

Leon ruled Monday that the two men are likely to be able to show that their privacy interests outweigh the government’s interest in collecting the data. Leon says that means that massive collection program is an unreasonable search under the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment.

The collection program was disclosed by former National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden, provoking a heated debate over civil liberties.

52—Vanguard 52—Vanguard,,

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 YOUR LUCK TODAY

CANCER; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

LEO; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

VIRGO; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money before 12.31pm. Try to be more diplomatic.

LIBRA; If care is not taken you would mislead others before 12.31pm while you are close to minor but costly mistakes from 12.31pm. Be wise with money.

SCORPIO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly.

LEISURE THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

A

DIARY simply put is a book with space where you record your daily experiences. You could also record your plan, engagements and appointments.

You And Your Diary For some professions; possessing and regularly keeping a diary is a must. For example, the legal practitioner, the diary saves him from the trouble of trying to

TERROR MUDA

remember his appointments. It also helps him to remember events that occurred to him and other individuals, countries institutions or firms.

The use of diary

in “Never say goodbye”

requires maturity.

For instance, it could remind you of old wounds and thus bring back the pain of the incident each time you come across such records in your diary. So use your diary wisely.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS; It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you before 12.31pm no matter how genuine their intention. Watch what you do with your health. Tomorrow is your best day.

CAPRICORN; Take it easy along your career/business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for. Take your social life seriously.

AQUARIUS; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

PISCES; Miscalculation is possible before 12.31pm that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

ARIES; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money.

Watch what you tell others before 12.31pm.

TAURUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you practical till after 12.31pm.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

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,

What’s my sesitive part?

Dear Joshua, I ma interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

Francis, Kano.

Dear Francis, According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your commendation.

Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic self-hood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache . Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age. While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously.

Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard,TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 53

Tennis author, Odoko tasks NTF over tennis slide

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

FORMER tennis player and now author of a tennis book, Robinson Odoko has challenged the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to wake up to its responsibilities of midwifing the growth of tennis players, who are now endangered species because of the poor state of the game.

Speaking yesterday to Sports Vanguard, Robinson, who has just authored the book, “Tennis for Health and Wealth”, said that he was saddened by the deteriorating state of Nigerian tennis, which he noted was the failure of administrator to think and follow-through with a sustainable developmental porgramme.

“The state of Nigerian tennis is deplorable as our players are not on the radar of world tennis. We are simply nowhere near the other

countries who are doing well because our administrators have failed to fashion out a winning fomular that will put our players on the pedestal of champions.

“What makes our case even more worrisome is that we used to be somewhere near up there but a certain failure of leadership has contrived to put our tennis back. The truth is that our administrators are not paying enough attention to tennis development especially at youth level”, added Odoko.

On the way out of the problem, Odoko, whose 232-page book, takes a holistic view on the rudiments of tennis for players, coaches, administrators and even enthusiasts urged the NTF and the National Sports Commission to adopt the strategies used by countries, whose players are excelling in tennis for

Iheanacho Continues from B/P contract talks with EPL side Manchester City.

Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was quoted by team’s spokesman Ben Alaiya, as saying that he had to sanction the departure of the player after his father, James Iheanacho, personally put a call to him on Monday afternoon requesting the release of his son for the trip to England.

“Initially a young man came declaring that he was the agent of Iheanacho, but I declined to deal with him until I hear from the family because the boy is still a minor. It was soon after my rejection that I got a call from his father who told me that they have gotten travelling visa to the United Kingdom and that I should oblige him with his son’s release. I did and told the young man to go and do the nation proud at whichever club he finally chooses to settle down with”.

Keshi acknowledged that Iheanacho is a talented player but also cautioned

that the player should be handled gently and professionally as he navigates his professional career. The national team also cancelled its second training session for Monday after it appeared that the close to three hours morning training session may have taken its toll on the players. “We have to be cautious not to push the players too hard so that nobody will break down”, Keshi said.

The Eagles presently in camp for the CHAN 2014 tournament will on Wednesday play its second practice match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna at the Mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium.

Its first game against Prison FC of Abuja, ended 4-1 at the weekend. Another game has also been scheduled for Saturday in a bid to toughen the side for the CHAN tourney.

Keshi said it would have been great to play an African country before the start of the tournament but noted that time factor may not permit that.

'Sand' Eagles coach searches for new players

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

C

•Robinson Odoko the revival of Nigerian tennis.

“As I said earlier, our problem is simply administration and for us to get it right, our administrators must go back to the basics and do things that will bring out the best from our teeming players. If the administrators cannot think on the way out, they can go to countries whose players are doing well in tennis tennis and copy the strategies they are using to churn out champions. If our administrators can imitate other countries, you can be sure that one day, we will be up there”.

On why he authored Tennis for Health and Wealth, Odoko said that “I had to write it as my own contribution to tennis in this country.

This book is allencompassing. This sport has declined a lot in this country, with a lot of people unable to pay coaches. A lot of these coaches also need coaching because of evolving state of the game, which in turn, throws up other unresolved issues.

“This book attempts to bridge the gap and provide a cutting-edge solution to all these problems, so that our tennis can come back to live again”, he added.

Who is Roy Odoko?

What is his pedigree in tennis?

What is background in sports?

We shall serve you the details on this amiable man and more on his book later. Watch out.

Executive Director, FCMB Capital Markets, Tolu Osinubi, presenting trophy to Isa Abdullahi, captain and goal keeper of the Super Sand Eagles (wiiner of the 2013 Beach Soccer Tournament- COPA Lagos) during the final of the tournament held in Lagos on Sunday December 15.

N

IGERIA league clubs and the League Management Company are headed for another collision over plans for an abridged season.

Tottenham Continues from B/P charge with faith that he was capable of securing Champions League qualification having been eroded within the club’s hierarchy.

The Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, and the technical director Franco Baldini had spoken briefly with Villas-Boas in the aftermath of the harrowing 5-0 defeat, with Villas-Boas emerging to insist he would not resign. There were further talks on Monday, before the club issued a

OACH of Super Sand Eagles, Audu Adamu has spread his dragnet in hunt of new players who will take over from captain Olawale Isiaka, Ogbonnaya Okemiri and Azeez Abu Speaking to Sports Vanguard after his troops spanked Senegal 5-2 to win the final match of the 2013 Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament held weekend at the Eko Atlantic, Adamu said that the plan to start searching for new players has become necessary if Nigeria must keep up with the pace of development happening in global beach soccer.

“The likes of Isiaka, Okemiri and Abu have done exceedingly well for

Nigeria, but they are no longer getting younger, which makes it important for us to start searching for new players to take over from them. The search starts now and I hope that these ones will be able to deliver in due course”, said Abu, who added that he was excited with the trio of victories recorded by his team at the Copa Lagos.

“I am happy with the outcome of the game. This is the third time we are winning this tournament and you can see that we have improved over the years, I believe this team will go places. All the teams that participated in the tournament are good. It’s just a pity that one team had to take the trophy home at the end of the day..”

statement confirming his departure was “by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties”. The club’s technical co-ordinator, Tim Sherwood, will oversee Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against West Ham United and could yet be placed in caretaker charge until the end of the season.

Villas-Boas’ position had been severely undermined by his team’s toils this season, despite Spurs’ comfortable progress out of their Europa League group and seventh place in the Premier League.

LMC, Clubs clash again Majority of the clubs kicked against such a plan last season and this forced the LMC to jettison it.

The clubs’ argument is that such a format would mean drastically reduced

funding by their financiers.

The new 2013/2014 league season will begin in February immediately after the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in South Africa.

Champions League Continues from B/P who both finished second in their groups, it was yet again a harsh lesson in the importance of winning the group.

Manchester United and Chelsea, both group winners, were drawn against Olympiacos and G a l a t a s a r a y respectively. The latter tie represents a potential return to Stamford Bridge for Blues legend Didier Drogba, whose

last kick for the club was the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final.

Last season Arsenal drew Bayern in the last 16 and seemed to be as good as out when they lost the first leg 3-1 at the Emirates. But they came within a whisker of making the quarterfinals when taking the second leg 2-0 at the Allianz Arena, going out only on away goals.

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2013

Klitschko no longer WBC heavyweight champ

T

HE Board Meeting of the WBC and its president Jose Sulaiman have decided to appoint Vitali Klitschko, one of the WBC’s greatest and most successful H e a v y w e i g h t Champions, as Champion Emeritus.

The WBC show his full support of Vitali Klitschko in his political activities in his home country Ukraine and understand that he is unable to defend his title inside the ring in the foreseeable future.

Therefore the WBC appoint Klitschko Champion Emeritus and thus give him the opportunity to decide at

a later point whether he wants to resign from professional boxing or fight for the WBC Heavyweight title again.

Vitali Klitschko: “I want to thank the WBC and its president Don Jose Sulaiman for the support in our fight for democracy and freedom in the Ukraine. It was and is a great honor to hold the WBC title and I’ve always done it with pride. The offer of the WBC gives me the theoretical possibility to return to the boxing ring which I cannot imagine at all to the current state. Right now, my full concentration is on politics in Ukraine.

W

ITH the huge patronage of the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament in the last three years, Pepsi, one of the partners of the event, has called for sustained beach soccer culture in Nigeria to add to the growing tourism industry in Nigeria.

Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Norden

ARIA Sharapova has admitted that Jimmy Conners was not to blame after she split from the coach after just one match. Sharapova hired the eight-time Grand Slam champion after her second-round exit at Wimbledon and he worked with her in the days leading up to the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. But,

Thurston said at the final of this year’s Copa Lagos at the weekend, that the large turnout of fans has shown that Beach Soccer is gaining acceptance amongst Nigerians.

He said Copa Lagos is not just about football, as there is also music, entertainment and fashion, to make it a fun weekend for families and groups of friends.

Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year

M

Sharapova opens up on split with Conners

M

Pepsi seeks sustained Beach Soccer culture in Nigeria

•Vitali Klitschko having lost to Sloane Stephens in her first match in Ohio, the Russian ace announced that Conners was no longer her coach, and she would go it alone for a while.

URRAY is the fourth tennis player to win the award and the first since Greg Rusedski pipped Tim Henman to victory in 1997.

Virginia Wade and Ann Jones were also crowned in 1977 and 1969 respectively. Andy Murray was duly crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Leeds on Sunday night, capping an historic

year which saw him become the first British man in 76 years to win the Wimbledon singles title.

Murray had started the evening as one of the shortest-price favourites in the award’s 60-year history, with best odds of 1/19 available from online bookmakers on the night of the ceremony at the city’s First Direct Arena.

Vanguard, TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2013 — 55

Arsenal scare Bayern A

RSENAL have got the reigning European champions run-

•Ribery

ning scared despite finishing as runners up in their group and a recent thrashing by Man City.

Bayern Munich’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed his fear at facing the Gunners in the last 16 of the Champions League.

They met at the same stage last year, with the germans knocking Arsenal out on the way to glory.

Rummenigge said: “They are the Premier

League leaders. We don’t need to be warned.

“Some 10 months ago, they beat us 2-0 in the second leg of the last 16.

“That was the most awkward draw we could get. It is not what we would have wished for.”

Philipp Lahm, one of Bayern’s key men said: “That’s not a dream draw. They are a dangerous opponent. For us it is the most difficult draw from the pot.”

Ancelotti: Schalke will pose a Real test •Ronaldo

•Ozil

C

ARLO Ancelotti gave his view on the Champions League round-of-16 draw, in which Real Madrid will face Schalke 04.

The Italian highlighted the German outfit’s experience and warned that his side would have to bring

Martino: City won’t have liked it either

G

ERARDO Martino assured that Manchester City are a “ very big” opponent with “excellent players”.

The English team will take on Barça in the Champions League

•Messi

round-of-16.

“It’s true that City are a very big opponent with excellent players,” assured Martino. “I imagine that they won’t have liked being drawn against Barça either,” he added.

Pellegrini: Barça are not the same again

M

ANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini assured that Barcelona, their rival in the Champions League round of 16 ,”will be very concerned” about the outcome of the draw.

“I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us. They are not the

D

IDIER Drogba has declared himself the “luckiest man” in the UEFA Champions League after the round of 16 draw paired his Galatasaray A? side with the team he helped win the trophy in 2012, “What a draw. I’m the luckiest man in the Champions League. I’ll play both games at home. See you in a few months”.

Meanwhile, John Obi Mikel has expressed his

•Toure team of two years

ago,” said Pellegrini “If you want to win something important, you must beat important teams,” said the former Málaga and Real Madrid coach, who stressed that the recent victory away against Bayern Munich (2-3) has given them “a lot of confidence”.

their A game to come out on top.

“They are an experienced team. It isn’t a good or bad draw. This is the last 16 of the Champions League and we will have to be at our best in both legs.

It’s a really important competition and we will have to be ready to give our all.

“We have the desire and enthusiasm to make it through to the quarter-finals. Every game matters in the Champions League, so you have to be fully focused and motivated.

We can’t afford to take our eye off the ball in any match in the competition”, he concluded.

Drogba, Mikel react delight to be playing against Drogba in February.

“I’m sure [Didier Drogba] will text very soon, it will be great to have him back. We shouldn’t get carried away about him coming back; he is a player that was here for eight years, he won major trophies, he’s a big player with a big personality.

Obviously he had to

move on but Chelsea continue, we have to win games, he’s coming here with his new club Galatasaray who we want to beat, so we shouldn’t get carried away about him coming back. We want to win the game.

“They are a great team.

Didier, Wesley [Sneijder], they have a good team and obviously they have Roberto Mancini who is trying to implement his

philosophy and change the way they play. It will be tough but it’s a game we’re looking forward to.

“It will be good to meet old rivals, who you have played against in the past, as well as old teammates. We know what to expect from their fans.

They will be right behind their team and support them but it’s up to us not to listen to them and make sure we go out there and play our game.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

Iheanacho quits Eagles for Man City V

ICTORIOUS UAE U-17 World Cup, Golden Eaglets revelation, Kelechi Iheanacho, has left the Super Eagles camp for a trip to England for

Continues on Page 53

Man City, Arsenal handed horror Champions League clashes

ROUND OF 16 DRAW

•Against Barcelona, Bayern Munich •Drogba returns to face Chelsea

S

•Mourinho

•Wenger

•Iheanacho

•Pellegrini

•Moyes

PANISH giants Barcelona were handed the toughest possible draw Monday when they were paired with Manchester City in the standout tie of the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Holders Bayern Munich were also given a difficult draw as they will face Arsenal for the second year in a row at this stage.

For the English pair, Continues on Page 53

Bayer Leverkusen Man City AC Milan Arsenal Zenit Olympiakos Galatasaray Schalke

v v v v v v v v

PSG Barcelona Atletico Madrid Bayern Munich Dortmund Man U Chelsea Real Madrid

Tottenham sack André Villas-Boas A

NDRE Villas-Boas has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in the wake of Sunday ’s humiliating home defeat to Liverpool, the manager departing White Hart Lane after barely 18 months in Continues on Page 53

•Villas-Boas

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Chaff (6) 5 Reiterate (6) 8 Impeded (8) 9 Chamber (4) 10 Bath (3) 12 Dusk (5) 15 Fuel (3) 17 Tune (3) 18 Sick (3) 19 Consume (3) 20 Anew (5) 21 Beer (3) 22 Owns (3) 23 Finish (3) 24 Fasten (3) 26 Beg (5) 29 Sprite (3) 33 Lament (4) 34 Recovering (8) 35 Ebb (6) 36 Supposition (6)

DOWN 2 Farewell (5) 3 Neat (4) 4 Rustic (5) 5 Wireless (5) 6 Divide (4) 7 Fragrance (5) 10 Handle (5) 11 Swim (5) 12 Clutch (5) 13 Egg-shaped (5) 14 Booby-trapped (5) 15 Clearing (5) 16 Bundle (5) 25 Angry (5) 27 Huge (5) 28 Apportion (5) 30 Ship (5) 31 Run off (4) 32 Sort (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Stop 4, Sob 6, Itch 8, Furore 9, Outing 10, New 12, Throb 14, Brook 15, Kayak 18, Revere 20, Insert 24, Titan 26, Speak 28, Gaudy 30, Met 32, Polite 33, Appeal 34, Here 35, Set 36, Drew.

DOWN: 2, Truth 3, Provoke 4, Seen 5, Blow 6, Inter 7, Candour 11, Era 12, Tor 13, Bar 16, Yet 17, Kit 19, Explode 21, Nag 22, Snapped 23, Try 25, Ire 27, Alive 29, Drape 30, Mess 31, Tart.

THE KCIKBOXER

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K