BORNO MASSACRE: Boko Haram ideology devilish-Buhari

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62082

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

AMCON to pay N1trn FG disburses N200bn debt in October to public varsities 15

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BORNO MASSACRE:

Boko Haram ideology devilish — Buhari

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, BEN AGANDE, NDAHI MARAMA & LUKA BINNIYAT

A •Death toll rises to 121, thousands displaced •Military plans air, land raid of Boko Haram abodes •Northern govs, JNI condemn latest attacks

BUJA—FOLLOW ING Sunday ’s massacre in eight Borno communities by the Boko Haram sect, which has so far claimed 121 lives, former Head of State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has condemned the continued violence in Borno State. He described the ideology Continues on page 5

A POOL OF DEATH

COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

•P.28

Mr & Mrs

DANGER —Residents scooping diesel from a vandalized pipeline at Ijegun Imore, Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Ovie Azigbo.

Ex-banker hangs self after killing wife

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2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

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C M Y K

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4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON populations of those areas.

“May God grant us the strength and unity to overcome this.”

Military in air, land raid

COMMISSIONING—From left: Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Miss Alice Nemi; Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi; his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at the commissioning of Amb. Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School, in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Boko Haram ideology devilish — Buhari Continues from Page 1 fueling the Boko Haram insurgence as devilish and senseless, adding that it should not be given space in any civilized society.

This came as the Federal Government declared, yesterday, that the Air Force and the Army have stepped up their air and land attacks

to checkmate the terrorists.

Meanwhile, governors of the 19 Northern states, under the aegis of Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, as well as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, have also joined General Buhari in condemning the killings and urged the Federal Government to arrest the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

One tree makes a million match sticks, but when the time comes, only one match stick is needed to burn a million trees. Everything has his time and strength.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Never mourn the loss of innocence, because it always brings the much greater gain of wisdom —Erica Goros

S

TORIES are powerful enhancer, they resonate life lessons and teach inescapable truth about ourselves, perhaps that’s why’s most people like me, love them so much but the hidden messages is truth being effected when the teaching moments allows for transformation to occur from within.

When I was a little girl, my dad got me this beautiful baby doll as a birthday gift. One day, just three days after I got this doll, one my supposedly best friends, said we should play house, little did I know that this was an elaborate scheme to do something harmful to my doll, a few minutes later, she suggested that we should all leave our dolls alone and we can all go and watch a dance troop at the balcony of our house.

I wanted to take my doll but she convinced me to leave it behind with the others, I felt an internal signal alert, a warning, the warning that I often recognize when someone is not being truthful with me. Yet I ignored it, and I paid dearly too for that, so off we all went to watch the dance, only when we got there, there was no dance troop , my friend was nowhere to be found , and so we came back and just right there what I saw was excruciatingly painful, I watched my 20 inch baby doll burning with flames.

For the first time in my very young life... I knew pain, the pain of losing something that you really love.

situation before it spreads to other parts of the country.

Boko Haram violence devilish

Buhari in an unprecedented rebuke against the sectarian violence, called on the security agencies and the authorities to intensify vigilance just as he expressed amazement that the terrorists and criminal elements could still express themselves despite the heavy militarization of the region.

Gen. Buhari’s statement posted on his facebook page on Sunday night after the latest reports of about 121 deaths had at press time, yesterday, drawn 862 likes and 967 comments.

The three-time presidential candidate and national leader of APC in the statement said: “We condemn the recent escalation of senseless violence in Borno State. Our prayers and sympathies are with the victims and their families.

“There is no justification for this wanton disregard for the sanctity and dignity of human life. Any ideology that trafficks in terror and violence is a devilish ideology that has no place in a civilized society.

“This is the time for our security agencies and those responsible for the security and well-being of our citizens to intensify vigilance in order to mitigate future occurrences.

“Because, it is inconceivable that despite heavy militarization, terrorists and other criminal elements are still able to terrify the defenceless

Reacting to weekend’s attacks in Borno, Defence Headquarters in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said: “The ongoing onslaught against terrorists in some parts of the country will not be deterred by the unfortunate attacks being carried out against troops and innocent civilians by the insurgents.

“The terrorists who move from village to village attacking innocent civilians are those escaping from the onslaught against their makeshift hideouts along the border and entry point from neighbouring countries.

“The fighting patrols by air and land are being stepped up in the forests and hills of the affected areas and other parts of the north east where the Boko Haram terrorists are hiding.

“The security forces will continue to employ necessary fire power to enhance the effectiveness of the mission until the terrorists are duly curtailed.

“Meanwhile, locations that are prone to attacks are being reinforced while the general area is now under heightened surveillance and patrols.

Some suspected perpetrators of the recent assault have been apprehended and weapons recovered from them."

Death toll hits 121, thousands displaced

Meanwhile, the District Head of Izge, Mallam Bulama Apagu and the chairman of Madagali Council of Borno State, Mr Maina Ularamu, yesterday, said the death toll in Boko Haram attacks and killings at Izge; has increased from 106 to 121, as more bodies have been recovered in destroyed houses, nearby bushes and farmlands and were buried, yesterday.

The 15 additional dead bodies including women and teachers who were slain by the sect members as they attempted to flee their houses into the bush were discovered by the district head.

Speaking yesterday, in a telephone chat with newsmen, Ularamu said that 60 bodies were buried Sunday evening, including the 31 bodies that were discovered from the market square.

He said the other bodies were recovered Sun-

day by the Volunteer Group Members from houses and the nearby bush.

He, however, noted that more bodies could be recovered by the volunteer group, as some of the residents fled in different directions when the entire town was burning for over five hours.

Ularamu said: “The killing of many people in Izge has terrified and shocked the survivors, mainly the elderly, women and children.

These forced some of them to flee to the nearest safe place, like Gulak, the council headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. You know that Gwoza is also not safe for the fleeing residents to take refuge.

This was why more people from Izge are fleeing on foot, bicycles and motorcycles to the administrative headquarters of Madagali council, 30 kilometres away from Gwoza town in Borno State.

“As at yesterday morning, when I visited the temporary resettlement camps, we had over 10, 000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); and more are coming into this camp, because the people of other villages of Yazza, Bita, Waga Chakawa, Sabon Gari, Gori and Jaje with a population of over 1, 500, are still trooping into Gulak town for safety and relief materials from either the state or Federal Government.”

Mallam Apagu said the withdrawal of troops by the 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, after the killing of 10 soldiers in a clash with insurgents on Thursday, February 13, left the entire township vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks and killings on Saturday.

“I cannot speak further to you on these multiple attacks on my people who had done nothing against these gunmen.

We need more soldiers and policemen to protect us against terrorist attacks and killings here in this town,” Apagu said, yesterday.

He said as a result of

the large number of people killed, the volunteer group members were burying the bodies in mass graves of 15 bodies per grave as the ground was hard to dig.

Boko Haram better armed, motivated — Shettima Also, the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima said, yesterday, that members of Boko Haram were better armed and motivated than the security services.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the latest attack by the terrorist sect,Shettima said it was high time political leaders were held responsible to curb the wanton destruction of lives and property.

He said: “What we are being confronted with is a state of war. It is what I came to update Mr. President and the sooner we stopped playing the ostrich and rise to the challenges of the day, and marshall all resources towards neutralising the antics of Boko Haram, the better for all of us."

Northern govs decry security situation

Meantime, governors of the 19 Northern states, under the aegis of Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, also, yesterday, condemned the terrorist activities of Boko Haram and urged the Federal Government to arrest the situation before it spreads to other parts of the country.

The governors spoke after their meeting which lasted for about five hours in Kaduna State.

This was even as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, also yesterday, regretted latest killing of hundreds of innocent Nigerians in some parts of Borno and Adamawa villages by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

The JNI made its feelings known in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu in Kaduna.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

3 suspected cultists arraigned for murder

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

L

AGOS — THREE al leged cultists have been arraigned in an Ebute Meta court for the murder of one Yakubu Davis, 26.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Asu Feddy, the crime was committed at Campos Street, Lagos Island on January 11, 2014.

The accused, Jamiu Quadri, 18; Atolagbe Afeez, 22 and Olasunkanmi Okiki,19, who are members of “O-Strong Fraternity” were said to have stabbed Yakubu Davis to death with a broken bottle.

The prosecutor said the act contravened Sections of 409, 41 and 42 and is punishable under sections of 231 and 221 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.

The magistrate, Mr E. O. Ogunkanmi adjourned the matter till March 13, 2014 and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Also, one Abdulahi Jubril, a trader was also docked for allegedly stealing 243 grammes of gold worth N1,703,100.00 being property of one Alhaji Idris Yusuf.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Etim Nkankuk, the accused is facing two-count charge, having committerd the offence on December 2013 at Tejuosho market, Yaba, Lagos.

Jubril was alleged to have stole the gold while pretending to be supplying it to one Fatimo, a representation which he knew to be false.

The magistrate, Mrs Demi Ajayi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till tomorrow.

Poverty drove us into robbery —Suspects it. Not knowing what to do with it, we kept it in our house.

"One evening, last November, I went to a night club along Tolu Road to drink and I met Akpan, who is my childhood friend. He asked what I was doing and I told him I had lost my job and he also said he lost his job as a casual worker at Flour Mills.

"During our discussion I told him about the gun and that I did not know what to do with it. He said he would help me out and we parted ways.

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS — THREE men, Nsikak Akpan, 26; Friday Otu, 27 and Nsidibe Akpan, 24, who were arrested recently by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, for robbery, said it was poverty that drove them into robbery.

The bandits, arrested penultimate Thursday when they attempted to rob a bank customer of N18 million at Iyana Isolo, Daleko area of Lagos, said their inability to secure good jobs drove them into robbery.

The suspects met their waterloo when SARS operatives, led by SP Abba Kyari, received an intelligence report on their activities and rounded them up at Daleko axis of Iyana Isolo in an unregistered Toyota Camry car.

One AK-47 rifle with serial number AE-17-4293, belonging to a policeman attached to Area ‘B’ Command, Apapa, was recovered from a brown coloured bag found in the vehicle, while an AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, with an additional 35 pieces of 7mm ammunition for an English double barrel gun and 20 live cartridges were also recovered.

A source, who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said the AK-47 rifle was snatched from a policeman on duty at Apapa area of Lagos.

The source said the policeman was attacked January this

Old Ojo Road operation

The suspects year by the bandits who snatched his rifle.

The source also said the police became aware of the bandits' activities when they attacked a popular beer distribution outlet along Old Ojo Road, Agboju, Amuwo and carted away a large sum of money before escaping in a Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, found in the premises.

Lack of job led us into robbery Meanwhile, the suspects, during an interview, told Vanguard that their inability to secure jobs led them into robbery.

Friday Otu, who narrated how

Police yet to rescue abducted Chinese woman, husband ...kill 2 abductors

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MUAHIA — THE anti robbery unit of the Abia Police command, Saturday, killed two of the kidnap suspects that recently abducted a Chinese national and her husband in the commercial city.

Apart from the abduction of the foreigner, Mrs Tang Bing, married to a Nigerian, the late kidnappers, identified as Reuben Okezie and Lekwa

Uzor, were also alleged to be behind the kidnap of an aide to former deputy governor of Abia State, Achilefu Okey.

A police source in the area told Vanguard that the two late hoodlums were taking the police to their hideout at Iheorji village, in Obingwa Local Government Area, when other members of their gang ambushed the police.

According to the source, on sighting the security operatives,

Court remands 3 suspected homosexuals nabbed on Valentine's day

A

BEOKUTA — A Chief Magistrate’s court, sitting at Isabo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday, remanded three suspected homosexuals, including a 64-year-old Oluwasegun Adesina-Rasheed, Samad Ojo, 20 and Ope Abeeb, 18 in Ibara prison.

The suspects were allegedly caught in the act on February 14, St. Valen-

he became a robber said: "I was working in an aluminium factory along Oshodi-Apapa expressway and was paid between N18,000 and N27,000 monthly.

"But I was sacked after sustaining an injury in the factory and the owners did not show any concern. They sent me off when I could not continue working due to the injury and paid me off with part of my salary. I managed to treat my self.

"One evening while walking along Boundary Bus Stop in Ajegunle with my friend, Nsikak Akpan, we found a bag containing English double barrel gun and 20 live cartridges. We picked

tine's day at about 11:30 p.m. at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, otherwise known as Ile-Iroyin in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Banji Sangotokun told the court that the three men engaged in the indecent practice in the first accused’s, Adesina-Rasheed,

Honda CRV Sports Utility Vehicle .

All the accused who were represented by Kehinde Amosa, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and homosexuality.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Anthony Araba, denied the suspects bail and reminded them in Ibara Prison.

He adjourned the case till February 24.

the gang members fired at their patrol van, adding that the police returned fire, and while the gun battle raged, Lekwa and Okezie attempted to escape but were shot dead by the police.

The source disclosed that other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds as the police over ran the hideout.

According to the source, "As we got close to the camp, we were ambushed by other members of the gang. There was exchange of fire, they shattered our patrol van but we overpowered them and destroyed their camp.

"The two members tried to escape but were shot and they died on their way to the hospital."

Meanwhile, at press time, it was learnt that Mrs Bing and Achilefu are yet to be set free by the kidnappers.

However, according to a senior police officer at the command, who does not want to be quoted, the police were closing in on the fleeing kidnappers.

"In January, this year, he called me and said he had a job for us. When I asked him what it was, he said a friend of his wanted us to rob a place where they sell drinks along Old Ojo Road.

"He told us that his friend had perfected a plan, that we would have to strike at a time when there would be enough money in the place.

"Before then, I had also met one other guy, T-Boy, who said he had an AK-47 rifle for sale.

So, when Akpan brought this job, I contacted him and he gave me the rifle for N200,000, which I promised to pay at the end of the operation.

"We struck at the place during evening hours on two motorcycles and I discovered that their salesmen were just remitting their sales for the day.

"We rounded everyone up. I held the double barrel gun and Nsikak was with the AK-47 rifle.

Akpan went about the place collecting the mony and we escaped in an Xterra SUV we found in the compound.

We realised N800,000 "At the end, we realised N800,000 and I got N150,000 as my share, while Nsikak and Akpan got same amount. We gave N200,000 to T-Boy and the motorcycle guys and the informant got N150,000.

"I spent my share of the loot on clothes and food items. I gave part of it to my girlfriend. I was comfortable with the whole operation because it was easy and we didn't fire a shot.

How we were arrested "Four days after that operation, Akpan got information of a Diamond Bank customer who wanted to withdraw N18 million from the bank’s Ilasamaja branch. We went to the scene without knowing that the police were on ground. Before we got to the bank, they apprehended us.

"I regret getting myself into this mess but what will a young man who has no job do?"

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 —7

Ex-banker hangs self after allegedly killing wife

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — PROBABLY for fear of being held responsible for the death of his wife, a 40-yearold man, Anthony Bankole, who was an ex-staff of a commercial bank, yesterday, hanged himself in his uncompleted building at Olodo area, Kumapayi, Ibadan.

Vanguard gathered that the man had fought his wife, Kemi, who died later in the hospital last Saturday before he chose to take his life.

According to a source, the man, who resided at Abayomi Road had deceived a neighbour that he was going to withdraw some money from the bank through his Automated Teller Machine, ATM, when he decided to hang himself.

The source said it was too late for anybody to prevent him from dying as the deceased sent a text message that he was going to kill himself after he left the house.

The source said: “I did not have any premonition of his death because his wife died on Saturday.

When he told me he was going

out, I even gave him some money as transport fare and told him not to stay out long.

"The deceased lost his wife last Saturday and arrangements were being made for the burial as her remains were still in the mortuary."

It was gathered that Mrs. Bankole had a business centre at the University College Hospital, UCH. The source said the wife did not die on the spot as she was rushed to the UCH but died some minutes after and the re-

mains taken to Yemetu mortuary.

According to the neighbour, “we heard him shouting for help around 2 am on Saturday and with the help of another neighbour, she was rushed to the hospital. By that time she was already foaming in the mouth."

A scene of a fire outbreak, involving a tanker laden with petrol and other vehicles, in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Sunday.

Gunmen abduct senatorial aspirant in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI —UNKNOWN gunmen, yesterday, abducted a Bauchi-based politician at his residence in Darazo Local Government Area.

The politician, Alhaji Samaila Ahmed, was a House of Representatives member from Darazo Constituency between 2007 and 2011.

It was gathered that Samaila Ahmed is aspiring to contest the Senate to represent Bauchi Central Senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015.

According to a source from Darazo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the gunmen hid in a bush in the town for some days, monitoring the movement of the victim before they finally succeeded in carrying out their operation.

He said: "The people in the area noticed the presence of the gunmen in the bush before the operation and alerted the police but unfortunately no action was taken by security operatives."

Contacted, the Police Public Relations of the Bauchi State, DSP Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying: “We received a report from Darazo divisional police station that about 10 gunmen in security outfit, stormed the residence of the politician and abducted him."

DSP Mohammed said police had mapped out strategies to arrest the gunmen.

In the meantime, the state po-

lice command has foiled assassination attempt on the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Shira Local Government Area of the state.

The PPRO who confirmed the development said there was an attempt to assassinate the PDP chairman but unfortunately it failed.

He said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the attempt while three AK-47 rifles and three ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Police demolition: N100bn suit against IGP, others adjourned

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till February 21, hearing in the suit by some residents of Atiporome community in Badagry Local Government Area Lagos State, over demolition of their houses.

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, adjourned the case after counsel representing the Attorney-General of Lagos State, informed the court that he had not seen any of the processes from the applicants with which to respond to the suit and prayed the court for more time to sort out his processes and regularise his position on the matter.

The applicants, through their counsel, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, are claiming N100 billion against nine respondents for alleged wrongful demolition of their houses in Atiporome community in Badagry council.

The plaintiffs are Charles Adu, Joshua Medepo, Korede

Mayegun, Godwin Ogungbe, Oluseyi Adeleye, Alao Alapanla, Johnson Adebiyi, Justice Ovemurai, Afolabi Olukoya, Ibrahim Adedeji, Kolawole Adewumi, Edun Talabi, Joseph Onwueka, Joseph Ibukun and others.

Respondents are the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; Area Commander, Area K Police Command; Ministry of Police Affairs; Lagos Task Force on Environment and Special Offences Unit; Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; Lagos State Lands Bureau; Attorney General of Lagos State and Attorney General of the Federation.

The plaintiffs, in an affidavit, deposed to by Chief Charles Adu, averred that on December 14, 2013, they received a letter from the police that residents of the area should vacate their houses and land, adding: "The said letter from the second respondent specifically mentioned Agemowo and Agelado Mowo, Badagry, while our

community is at Atiporome, Araromi extension, and Mowo Phase 2.

“We contacted our solicitors and informed them of the situation, and then, a letter was drafted to clear the air that our communities were at Atiporome, but all our efforts to serve the letter on the second respondent were rebuffed. All efforts to also serve the letter on the third respondent’s office were equally rebuffed by the respondents, who chased us out of the area command.”

He further averred that surprisingly, on December 16, 2013 at 4.30 a.m., over 100 armed policemen from the Lagos Task Force, laid siege to the community and began to pull down their houses with bulldozers.

“Over 1,500 houses were demolished, while a six-month old baby was killed in one of the houses demolished.”

According to the applicants, they were not allowed to pick anything from their houses before the demolition, while scores of residents and youths were indiscriminately arrested.

Woman dies after altercation with co-trader

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO EKITI — After an altercation with a co-trader, a 56-year-old woman, Mrs Bosede Ajayi, yesterday slumped and died in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

Mrs Ajayi, a petty trader in the popular Bisi market, was said to have had a running battle with another trader, Mrs Raheem Aminat, over a space to display her wares before she died suddenly.

Vanguard gathered that the duo had engaged in fisticuffs for about 30 minutes over the space.

Shortly after, their colleagues were said to have intervened by settling the rift between them.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State command, Mr Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the incident, said it was a case of homicide.

Journalist alleges threat to life by strange men

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SABA— A journalist based in Delta State, Prince Orhomonokpaye, has cried out that his life is in danger, following his being trailed by some strange characters.

According to him, "Last Sunday, seven unknown gunmen allegedly trailed me to my residence obviously with plans to assassinate me.

"I strongly suspect those who arrested me recently over a report I published in my newspaper, Delta Guide in March 2013. Since I published that report, those affected vowed to assassinate me.

"Also yesterday, I received a phone call with an unknown number from some persons demanding to know my whereabouts.

This was after they had searched for me at my residence allegedly to kill me.

"I, therefore, use this medium to call on the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, DSS and other security agencies to wade into the issue towards saving my life."

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

5 Nigerians on board hijacked Ethiopian plane — Official

A

DDIS ABABA — THE Ethiopian Government has said five Nigerians were among the 193 passengers on board the Rome-bound Ethiopian Airplane, Boeing 767 that was hijacked yesterday.

The Ethiopian Minister of Information and Communication, Redwan Hussein, who confirmed this during a news conference in Addis Ababa, said other passengers included 140 Italians, 11 Americans among others.

He apologised to the passengers for the “undue emotional stress and inconvenience they faced in the course of the hijack.“ He said the suspected hijacker, whose name was given as Hailemedihn Abera Tegegn, 31, was under custody pending investigation by Authorities of the two countries.

According to him, the Ethiopian Government and its Swiss counterpart were making effort to expedite the travel of Flight 702 passengers to their intended destination.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Flight 702, with 202 passengers and flight crews left the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa at 12.30 a.m. local time and was due to land in Rome, Italy at 04:40 a.m. local time.

However, the plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Geneva at 6 a.m. local time, according to the Airlines statement issued early on Monday.

Hussein said the act of the said Asylum-seeking co-pilot was in violation of article 32 of the Ethiopian Constitution, which guaranteed the freedom of citizens to travel out of the country.

“It also represents a gross betrayal of trust that needlessly endangered the lives of the very passengers that a pilot is morally and professionally obliged to safeguard.“ He commended the Switzerland Government for the care it provided for the passengers and the prompt apprehension of the suspect, confirming that the suspect allegedly locked the cockpit door when the pilot went to the toilet and hijacked the aircraft.

AMCON to pay N1trn debt in October zRecovers 50% non performing loans

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU&JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Asset M a n a g e m e n t Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, said yesterday that it would pay a total of N1trillion of its debts in October, 2014, just as it disclosed that it has so far recovered 50 percent of the non performing loans.

The Managing Director of the Federal Government agency, Mustafa Chike-Obi, spoke at a one-day public hearing on the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2010 (Amendment) bill, 2014, organized by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.

“I want to say that these were debts that the banks had given up on. Some of those debts were between seven and 10 years old,” he said. He noted that the organization, in December 2013, paid off a total of “N1trillion of its debts well ahead of schedule", saying the development was due to the huge success in the restructuring and recovering debts.

“In December 2013, because of the huge success in restructuring and recovering debts, we have been able to pay off N1 trillion of our debts well ahead of schedule. We also plan to pay off an additional N1 trillion of debts in October 2014, which will reduce AMCON’s indebtedness by 30 per cent in the first four years of

operation,” he added.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act, Amendment bill, 2014, presently before the National Assembly, is seeking amendment to allow commercial banks in the country contribute an amount equivalent to fifty basis points of their respective total assets to the Resolution Cost Fund annually.

The Resolution Cost Fund is an agreement between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commercial banks as proposed in section 65 of the

bill. The fund seeks to meet the obligations of AMCON arising from debt securities issued in an event where the corporation is unable to meet up payments from proceeds generated through sale of acquired assets from banks.

Speaking at the event, Senate President, David Mark, who was represented by the Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, said: “Although AMCON believes that it is positioned to meet its obligations arising from the debt securities issued by it from its various sources of

income, the Resolution Cost Fund will act as an additional safety net.”

He further noted that the fund, if established will ensure that any future banking resolution costs, which may arise as a result of any financial mismanagement by the banks, will not be borne by taxpayers, but rather by the banks with money from the fund.

He also called for wideranging consultations with various key institutions and stakeholders in the sector, including policy makers, other legislators and members of the public to enable it have a clear vision on the AMCON bill.

MOU: From left — Mrs. Gladys Talabi, Glo Executive Director, Legal Services; Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland and Mr. Gbolahan Olajide, Glo Divisional Director, Ogun State after the signing of Memoradum of Understanding,MOU on Lisabi Festival at Ake Palace Abeokuta yesterday. Photo: WUMI AKINOLA.

Civil service: FG moves to resolve HND/degree disparity

BY DEMOLAAKINYEMI

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LORIN—THE Federal Government will soon resolve the age-long complaints of holders of Higher National Diploma, HND certificates over discriminations against them in favour of degree holders, in the areas of salary, promotion and other fringe benefits.

Already, a meeting of all the Heads of Civil Service of the 36 states of the federation has been scheduled for Ilorin, the Kwara State capital between Monday, February 24 and Friday 28, 2014 to thrash out the knotty issues relating to work schedule and qualifications said to be among the problems causing the disparity between holders of the two certificates.

The Kwara State Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed spoke on the issue at a news briefing in Ilorin, yesterday.

Mohammed explained that the rivalry in the area of job schedule between holders of the two

certificates would be thoroughly discussed and the issue put to rest once and for all.

“This issue of disparity between holders of HND and degree has been agitating the minds of many Nigerians. It is a very sensitive issue. We will use this needed platform to discuss it once and for all

and put the matter to rest. We will discuss their work schedule and make clarifications about it,’’ he said.

According to Mohammed, apart from the Heads of Service, relevant permanent secretaries, directors and deputy directors in 36 states of the federation were among

top government functionaries expected to attend the conference.

He described the disparity in academic qualification as sensitive issue, adding that the meeting would thrash out the matter for harmonious working relationship in the nation’s civil service.

Don't pay for equipment, Ikeja DISCO warns customers

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AGOS—THE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKDC yesterday advised customers to desist from contributing money to officials to buy electricity materials.

Its Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Pekun Adeyanju, gave the advice during its Customers Consultative Forum and Sensitisation meeting in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum, which was attended by more than 1,000 customers was held at the palace of Oba Salaudeen

Oguntade ll, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu.

“Our customers should henceforth stop contributing money to electricity workers to buy installations, be it transformers or cables.

“We have made sufficient provision for equipment to paying customers who required them.

“Once you are paying your bills, it is our responsibility to change any faulty equipment within our network.

“Customers should also assist us in protecting our installations to so as to be able to serve you better,” he said.

According to him, the forum will give the company an opportunity to interact with customers and change the negative perception of customers towards the new company.

Adeyanju said that the forum would also help them to get update on the state of power supply and ensure equitable distribution of power to customers.

He said that the essence of the forum was to sensitise customers on the need to know the electricity company and appreciate its good will towards customers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014—9

Ministers dropped by Jonathan told to declare assets

BY EMMA UJAH

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HE Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has called on ministers who were dropped by President Goodluck Jonathan last week to declare their assets.

A statement by the Head, Press and Protocol Unit of CCB, Mrs. Iyabo Akinwale, in Abuja, said the directive was in accordance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the bureau, “Every public officer shall, within three months after coming into force of this bureau or immediately after taking office and at the end of every four years, submit to it a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities.”

President Jonathan, last week, dropped the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama.

The Minister of Information told State House correspondents that the affected ministers left the cabinet to pursue various political goals.

NCC kicks off 2.3 GHz auction tomorrow

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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HE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday, said that all was set to have a successful licensing auction on the 2.3 GHz spectrum band tomorrow.

The commission said the proposed licensing of 2.3 GHz spectrum has been influenced by the need to provide retail internet service providers (ISPs) and other users with the requisite wholesale wireless access and bandwidth to provide services to their subscribers pursuant to actualising the National Broadband Plan.

The commission said that the scale and growth of the Nigerian communications sector, since the market’s liberalisation, makes this auction a unique investment opportunity.

The NCC is set to kick start the auction tomorrow and round off on Thursday.

FG spent N243bn on Amnesty in 5yrs —Kuku zSays no amount is too much to pay for N-Delta peace

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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HE Federal Government said, yesterday, it has so far invested N243 billion in the implementation of the Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta ex-militants.

The amount, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, is far from the N400 billion being bandied about by enemies of the administration as the money spent by the Federal Government on the programme.

Kuku, who addressed the media in Abuja, insisted, however, that no amount was too much to be paid by the Federal Government to secure, deepen and guarantee peace in the oil-bearing Niger Delta.

Kuku said that Nigerians should be grateful to the Federal Government for instituting the Amnesty programme, which has drastically curtailed unrest in the Niger Delta and brought about a significant increase in oil production in Nigeria and boosted its economy.

He pointed out that the sum of money being expended on the programme yearly merely amounted to about five days’ oil revenue derived from the Niger Delta and urged the critics of the programme to bury their heads in shame.

According to Kuku, Nigeria’s daily oil output had fallen from 2.2 barrels per day to 700,000 barrels per day, as a result of youth restiveness in 2007, but that the success of the amnesty pro-

gramme had restored the production level to between 2.4 and 2.6 million barrels per day.

Amnesty budget less than five days’ oil revernue

He said: “Experts have juxtaposed this against the 700,000 to 800,000 barrels per day in 2007 and they have told us that at the current crude price of $110 and the current exchange rate of N160 to one dollar, Nigeria and its joint venture partners area making production savings of about N14.9 billion per day. The budget for Amnesty Programme in 2013

was N66.7 billion, which is less than five days’ gain from the programme.

“To put the record straight, the Amnesty Programme has received just N243 billion since its inception and not N400 billion or N260 billion that is currently making the rounds in a section of the media.

“In fact, we have noticed that in an attempt to inflate figures purportedly allocated to the Amnesty Programme, certain desperate politicians and their allies have formed the habit of collating the budgets of the Niger Delta Development Commission and that of the Ministry of

Niger Delta Affairs and lumped them up as what has been earmarked for the Amnesty Programme.

“This is not only malicious but also a calculated attempt to incite Nigerians and the international community against the Amnesty programme and its beneficiaries.”

Kuku also said that it was untrue that ex-militants were the ones running the NNPC pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, insisting that the contracts, which were terminated at the expiration of one year, were given to limited liability companies and not ex-militants as claimed in certain quarters.

NORTHERN GOVERNORS' FORUM: From left: Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State with Chairman Northern States Governors Forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and Deputy governor of Katsina State, Abdullahi Garba, at the meeting of Northern governors, in Kaduna.

NIGCOMSAT MD sent on indefinite leave

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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HE Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite NigComSat, Limited, Mr. Ahmed Rufai, has been ordered to proceed on indefinite leave.

The move, Vanguard gathered, was to enable government to investigate the financial status of the company.

An acting Managing director has also been appointed to oversee the affairs of the company pending conclusion of the investigation.

Head, Public Affairs of the company, Mr. Sonny AragbaAkpore, said the directive came from the Ministry of Communications Technology.

“Following a ministerial directive by the Communications Technology Minister,

Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Board of Directors of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd. has asked the Managing Director, Mr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai to proceed on indefinite leave.

This directive is to pave way for an investigation into the financial status of the company. Consequently, Ms Abimbola Alale, the Executive Director (Marketing) has been named Acting Managing Director pending the conclusion of the investigation.”

Aragba-Apkore added that “Ahmed-Rufai, who has extensive experience in both private and public sectors, started as Project Manager of NigComSat-1 before the establishment of NIGCOMSAT Limited in April 2006, when

he was named Managing Director/ Chief Executive.

"Alale also started as a member of the Project team and was appointed Director of Market-

ing of NIGCOMSAT Limited in 2006 and rose to the position of Executive Director (Marketing) until her recent appointment as Acting Managing Director.”

10—Vanguard , TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

FG targets $50bn ICT investment, flags off broadband campaign

BY EMEKAAGINAM

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AGOS—WITH its projection that 100 per cent of Nigeria’s over 160 million people will have access to broadband by 2017, the Federal Government, yesterday, said it was committed to double the current $25 billion so far invested in the nation’s Information and Communications Technology sector to make it $50 billion in the years ahead.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson who stated this in Lagos at the soft launch of ‘Broadband Campaign” with the theme Connected Nigeria, Connected Nigerians told the gathering that 80 per cent of the country would have access to mobile broadband and 20 per cent to fixed broadband by 2017.

The Campaign tagged Connected Nigeria, Connected Nigerians will raise awareness of the transformational benefits of broadband and will disseminate information on the benefits of broadband including what can be gained by adopting broadband access. It will also share information on how broadband is creating economic and social values for Nigerians.

While explaining that the campaign targeted at individual internet users was also to also sensitize end users on cyber security and online protection, and many more.

Public smokers face imprisonment as Fashola assents to Bill

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO A G O S — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, in Ikeja assented to a bill prohibiting smoking in schools, hotels, and other public places in the state.

Fashola’s assent followed the passage of the bill by the state House of Assembly on January 20, 2014.

the practise on their property and stop people from smoking around their premises.

Violators of the provision of the law are liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment or both.

In his remarks, Fashola said the new law spoke of the commitment of the state government to the promotion of public health and public safety.

What the law says

Reason for the law

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The law prescribes between one month to three months imprisonment or a fine of between N10,000 to N15,000 for offending smokers.

Any person who repeatedly violates the law risks six months imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 or both.

The law also requires owners and those in charge of public places and other “No Smoking Areas” to put up signs prohibiting

He said the overall objective of the new law was to protect lives and safeguard the rights of residents of the state.

He said: “I should have no difficulty assenting to this bill, because it serves to strengthen our hands towards a more efficient discharge of our responsibilities to protect lives and property.”

Presenting the bill for the governor’s assent, the Attorney-

N4.7bn fraud: Babalakin urges court to hear his application

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AGOS—JUSTICE Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court yesterday fixed March 5 to hear the separate applications filed by Chairman of Bi-Courtney Ltd., Wale Babalakin and his codefendants, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the N4.7 billion fraud charge preferred against them.

Babalakin and his co-defendants- Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Ltd., Bi-Courtney Ltd. and Renix Nigeria Ltd, were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. They had argued that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute them before a state high court without a valid fiat.

The defendants are challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the competency of the 27-count charge of conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action levelled against them by the anti-graft commission.

The prosecution’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that he had an accident, hence he could not participate in the proceedings to hear the applications, he, therefore, asked the court for short adjournment.

Dr. Abiodun Layonu, SAN, who represented Babalakin urged the court to allow the defence to adopt their written addresses in support of the applications. The judge adjourned the matter till March 14.

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How to rebuild Nigeria's image, by for Nigeria. It is possible to Aregbesola's aide attain a world class

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

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AGOS—THE Special Adviser on Tertiary Education to Osun State Government, Alhaja Mulikat Bello, has urged Nigerians irrespective of their status to cultivate and nurture right attitudes on matters that concerns building Nigeria’s reputation, saying this will go a long way in helping the country attain a world class reputation that it deserves.

Bello who stated this at the Centenary/Valentine Breakfast for Chief

Executive Officers, CEOs, and Top Executives, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, in Lagos, with the theme, “Being in love with Nigeria: The role of public/ private sector’s decision maker,” said it was important, if Nigeria must attain a world standard reputation, for its people to realise that they all have a part to play.

Her words: “Ensuring that we cultivate and nurture the right attitudes toward our country will bring about good reputation

reputation for the country if we do the right thing and work with the right partners at the right time On his part, Dr. Francis Anyim, Senior lecturer, Department of Industrial Relations, University of Lagos and the chairman of the occasion, said: “There is no straining in the fact that Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural and human resources but the erosion of values, bribery, corruption, lack of transparency, due process andintegrityhavehinderedher."

General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said while presenting the bill that the new law sought to protect both smokers and non-smokers.

He said while smokers were still permitted to smoke in privacy, they were not allowed to smoke in schools, theatres, hotels, schools, malls and other areas where lives could be endangered.

Ipaye said officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, had been empowered to enforce the law, urging residents to comply with its provisions for the overall safety of all residents.

Fashola also signed into law a bill to establish the Lagos State Emergency Command and Control Centre and to regulate making of telephone calls to the centre.

UNILAG to name 15 storey hostel after Patience Jonathan

BY DAYOADESULU AGOS—UNIVERSITY of Lagos is set to name a 15storey girls hostel after Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan this Friday.

At a briefing yesterday, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Duro Oni, said the 15storey building expected to cost about N3 billion would be named after the First Lady because of her contributions towards women folks.

He said: “It is a female hostel and the person due to be named after it is the President’s wife who has touched the lives of many women.”

According to him, like other

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tertiary institutions, UNILAG had been having problem of accommodation hindering students especially the female students getting to school on time, saying “about 28,000 undergraduates struggle for 8,500 spaces every year in UNILAG.” Similarly, Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, Prof.

Nwose Chukuma, said: “The parents’ forum is not only building a hostel to help solve accommodation problem in the university, the 15-storey hostel project is named after the First Lady to honour her for her numerous contributions to the development and emancipation of womeninNigeriaandAfrica.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 11

Ige’s murder: Omisore’s N20bn suit against Oyo State, IG holds I

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—CONTINUATION of a N20 billion suit by Senator Iyiola Omisore for alleged unjust persecution in the murder of the former Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige in December 2001 will come up on Friday before a Federal High Court in Ibadan.

The former deputy governor of Osun State filed the suit against the Oyo State government, Attorney General of Oyo State and the Inspector General of Police.

Ige was murdered in his Ibadan residence 13 years ago and Senator Omisore was among the suspects then.

When the case came up yesterday before Justice Abimbola Adejumo Obaseki of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, the adoption of leave of substitution brought before it by the counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Albert Adeogun was adjourned to Friday.

Senator Omisore, who is a governorship aspirant in Osun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the August elections, had in a suit marked FHC/IB/CS/51/2013 asked the court to award him N20 billion damages against the three defendants.

The counsel, Adeogun prayed the court to substitute an earlier reply to the objection of defendants’ counsel with the one he filed on February 7, 2014.

Counsel to first and second defendants, Funke Fawole and I.O. Tijani, had raised a preliminary objection on July 29,

2013 while Senator Omisore’s counsel filed a reply to the objection. The reply was dated January 3, 2014 and it was filed on January 6, 2014.

But counsel to the two defendants decided to withdraw the objection and filed it again

on January 31.

Counsel to the Police, Funke Fawole told the court to give her more time to study the reply of Counsel to Senator Omisore noting she was yet to be served as at the time the court sat yesterday.

SIGNINIG: From left: Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, deputy speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor of Lagos State and Mr. Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, during the signing of the Law to provide for the Regulation of Smoking in Public Places in the state and for Connected Purposes and a Law to establish the Lagos State Emergency Command and Control Centre in Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

FG pays Ekiti 3,000 SURE-P beneficiaries N90m stipend A DO EKITI—THE Federal Government has paid N90 million to the 3,000 beneficiaries of the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme, SURE-P, Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme in Ekiti State.

Chairman and Coordinator of the state Implementation Committee of the SURE-P in Ekiti State, Hon. Femi Akinyem, who made this known in a release issued in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, said the N90 million was for the months of October, November and December, 2013.

He urged the beneficiaries to visit their banks, saying; “credit alerts for one month stipend of

N10,000 must have been received by the beneficiaries with the remaining two months expected in the next two days.”

He said the payment was delayed because of administrative issues, adding that; “subsequent payments will be made as at when due.”

Akinyemi said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is a promise keeper, who will never go back on his promises and on this SURE-P programme and that has been further demonstrated with the payment of the outstanding three months entitlements of our beneficiaries.

“In a state like Ekiti, one can begin to imagine the positive

effects of N90 million coming into the economy of the state.

“Now that N90 million has been paid, Ekiti people can begin to see that those peddling the wicked rumour that the Federal Government no longer have fund to pay the beneficiaries never

meant well for the state.

“We promised SURE-P beneficiaries in Ekiti State that they will receive ‘Goodluck credit alert’ this month and they have started receiving it and I can’t but express gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for the SURE-P scheme.”

Aggrieved APC members decamp to LP in Oyo

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BADAN—SOME aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State are set to defect to the Labour Party, a letter made available to newsmen in Ibadan has revealed.

The letter, by LP’s National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, stated that its National Working Committee had accepted the defecting APC members.

It said the new members would soon be inaugurated by the national leadership of the Party.

According to the letter, the faction of the APC set to defect to LP were mainly young politicians in the age bracket of between 40 and 50 years.

It said the defectors included some immediate past board chairmen in Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration and

aggrieved loyalists of the late leader of APC and former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina. ‘’The young politicians had shown their disapproval to the conduct of the 2011 election where the flag bearer was chosen among eight other aspirants without primaries being conducted by the leadership of the party,” it said.

The letter said that after series of strategic meetings with the LP leadership including Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo in Akure, the APC faction was allotted some slots for the party’s offices including cochairmanship position.

It added that those appointed as co-chairman for Oyo LP is Mr. Gbenga Olayemi, a former Chairman of the Oyo State Council for Youth Development.

Ekiti-South wants to be gov, not minister —LEADERS FORUM

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DO EKITI— POLITICAL leaders in the Ekiti South Senatorial District, under the aegis of Ekiti South Leader’s Forum, ESLF, have said that the zone is not interested in any ministerial appointment, saying; “what our people want is the governorship not ministerial appointment.”

The forum, which insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, must pick its gubernatorial candidate from the zone to enhance the party’s chances of winning the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, said: “No indigene of the zone should settle for anything other than the governorship.”

Rising from its meeting at Ikere-Ekiti, the Forum said in a statement by its chairman, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo and Secretary, Hon. Gboyega Akinola, that; “The position of our people in the South is that PDP should pick its governorship candidate from the South, and Minister from either Central or the North.”

Alaafin hails judgment in Akibio of Ilara case

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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YO—THE recent ruling by an Oyo High Court confirming the appointment of Stephen Olufemi Oyeniyi Oparinde as Akibio of Ilora in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State has been applauded by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III. The monarch who prides himself as having won over 100 cases instituted against various governments as Alaafin, described the judgment on the Akibio as further proof that the judiciary remains the last hope of the masses, even as he called on the aggrieved parties to join forces with Oparinde in moving Ilora forward.

An Oyo High Court has dismissed two separate suits brought before it, challenging the appointment of Stephen OparindeasAkibioofIlorainAfijio Local Government area of Oyo State.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

I've no regret stopping Amaechi in 2007 —Obasanjo

BY JIMITOTA

ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he had no regret over his decision to stop Governor Rotimi Amaechi from contesting as the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the April 2007 general elections.

Obasanjo at the Ambassador Nne Krubo Model Secondary School, Ebubu community, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, before commissioning the institution, said he acted based on reports available to him then.

He said: “I believe I took a decision I believed was right. When I took it, I had no apology. I fast and pray to take decisions on important issues. When I have something that requires action, it must be taken, otherwise I am not a worthy leader. A report came on Amaechi which indicated that there were some issues and I said yes, there are some issues, going by the report.”

He said he was not happy with the court verdict which declared Amaechi winner of the election since he did not physically participate in the exercise.

“I found the judgment awkward

in the sense that, how can a man who had not contested an election, was not voted for, be declared winner? I laugh about it, but kept quiet.”

He said the issues Amaechi had with his candidature were straightened by the judgment of the Supreme

Court.

“He took it to the higher court and at the Supreme Court, he won and that was the end. As far as I am concerned, the issues have been straightened out.”

Obasanjo challenged those who are not satisfied with the apex court's verdict to take their case to God.

While commending the governor for his achievements so far in the state, Obasanjo appealed to Amaechi not to blame his predecessor, former Governor Peter Odili, for his failure to emerge the PDP flag bearer in the April 2007 election, saying that he (Obasanjo) should be held responsible for that action.

CONDOLENCE: First lady Patience Jonathan, fifth left, with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and his family during the first lady's condolence visit to the FCT minister on Sunday.

Some elected Ijaw leaders have failed our people —INC Western Zone

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA ENAGOA—THE zonal leadership of Ijaw National Congress, (Western Zone), has rated low the performance of some elected leaders of Ijaw extraction, saying that they had failed the people.

INC Western zonal chairman, Chief Robinson Ogunkoru, said though a few distinguished politicians and activists were desperately searching for ways and means to turn around the bad fortunes of the region through welfare programmes and infrstructural development plan, majority of the elected leaders were indifferent, selfish and have failed in their campaign promises to the people.

Ogunkoru, who spoke at the unveiling and launch of the website, owned by the founder of the Nengi James Foundation, lampooned some elected representatives of the people in government, noting that many of them have failed to live up to the expectation of the people.

Commending the initiatives of the Nengi James Foundation over its scholarship scheme, interschool competitions among indigent Ijaw students, presentations of cash and computers to secondary students, he said “even those who we toiled hard to elect, many of them have failed us. But here is a man, who has done so much

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with the little resources at his disposal for the cause of our people.

“Nengi James is selfless and committed to the struggle for the emancipation of

the people of the Niger Delta region. He is no doubt a dogged activist, who is concerned and committed to the emancipation of the Ijaw youths and the region at

large. If only every Ijaw man can show so much zeal and commitment to the development of our people, then the Ijaw nation will be great,” he added.

Uduaghan’s kinsmen donate buildings for take-off of poly project

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—ABIGBORODO community, home town of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, has provided buildings to the state government for the take-off of the newly approved Delta State Polytechnic, Abigborodo.

Chairman of the community, Mr. Monday Agbeyi, told newsmen that the people want the buildings to serve as hostels and lecture halls for the temporary site, pending when the permanent site would be completed.

Agbeyi, who led newsmen to the temporary and permanent sites, commended Governor Uduaghan and the contractor handling the project for the quality of job

done at the permanent site.

At the temporary site, journalists were shown 15 blocks of bungalows to be used as administrative offices and another structure with over 35 halls to be used as lecture theatres.

He said that the decision by the community to donate the facility to the state government for the take-off of the polytechnic was because of the need to facilitate the early commencement of academic activities at the new institution, adding that due to the immense

social and economic benefit of the polytechnic to the community , the people were willing to give government all necessary support to enable academic activities at the school commence.

We owe only two months salary arrears, Edo College of Education insists

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UTHORITIES of the College of Education, Igueben, Edo State, have said that the institution was owing its workers only two months’ salary arrears and not five as reported by a section of the media.

The college added: “Though we acknowledge the rights of any individual or group to express grievances and make petitions over matters of interest, particularly to a hallowed chamber like the Edo State House of Assembly, it is expected that accurate information should be provided at all times in order not to mislead members of the House and the general public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the College is owing its workers only two months and not five months as reported. In addition, there was never a time students of the College embarked on any protest over non-accreditation of courses.”

Madam Njokanma passes on at 100

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RS. Regina Njokan ma, of Anioshe Quarters in Ubulu-Unor, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, is dead aged 100.

Burial will take place March 7, at her home town.

She is survived by 9 children and many grand-children.

Late Madam Njokanma

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 13

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14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Work on N100bn 2nd Niger Bridge commences next month

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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ORK ON the proposed N100 billion Second Niger Bridge is to commence next month.

Already, ministry officials said that preparations were in top gear for President Goodluck

Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony on March 15, for work by the concessionaire, Messrs Julius Berger and AIIM to start.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen had hinted that the Federal Government had begun negotiations with contractors han-

dling the construction of the second Niger Bridge at Onitsha, Anambra State, with a view to securing a reduction in the cost of the project.

Onolememen said the negotiations for reduction in the cost of the bridge arose from the fact that the exact figures for building the

VISIT: From left, Mr. Andy Wabali, Financial Secretary, South-East, South-South Professionals of Nigeria,SESSPN; Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President of SESSPN; Mr. Chris Ndulue, Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Arik Air Limited; Chief Albert Iyorah, Treasurer, SESSPN, and Gloria Maduka, Assistant Executive Secretary, SESSPN, during SESSPN's delegation's courtesy visit to the MD of Arik Air Limited, on their forthcoming national forum, at Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

bridge were now known.

According to the initial contract terms, the contractor, Julius Berger along with its partner in the consortium, are to invest N100 billion. The Federal Government is also to contribute 30 percent in equity that would come from money sourced from the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. “The second Niger Bridge has now been fully designed. Now that the figures are known, we are negotiating it downwards on the basis of our own objectives and financial plans, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance. We will soon do the ground breaking,”Onolememen told reporters in Abuja.

Ministry officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, yesterday, however, said Julius Berger had earlier mobilised equipment to the site in July last year for preliminary work to commence, pending the conclusion of the negotiations.

According to them, the new bridge and its approach road are estimated at 12.4 kilometres, with the bridge alone having a length of 1.8 kilometres.

Party leaders shun women in politics confab

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — A confer ence designed to put women in a vantage position for 2015 general elections was yesterday shunned by party leaders.

Of all the political parties, only Labour Party honoured the invitation to the parley organised by majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande.

Apparently angered by this development, representative of Civil Society Organisations,CSOs, Mrs. Sa’adatu Sani, took a swipe at the political parties.

She said: “ This is put together by the Majority Leader of the House, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, a prominent member of the PDP and the chairman of the party is not here. ”The President is represented by his Vice, Architect Namadi Sambo, yet the party did not deem it necessary to even send a representative.”

Don’t fear those who cannot kill your soul, Obasanjo tells Amaechi

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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ORMER PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, adjured Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State not to fear persecutions or antagonism of his

political traducers so long as he puts the interest of his people above every other consideration.

Speaking at a special banquet in his honour in Port-Harcourt, the former president nevertheless admonished Amaechi

some of its agents.

Obasanjo nevertheless welcomed the development projects of the Amaechi administration at the banquet attended by some of the leading personalities from within and outside the state including former Supreme Court jurist, Justice Kabiri-Whyte.

“You should not worry about what people who don’t like you much as you would want them to like you have been making utter- say about you, you should ances that created the im- worry about your conpression that there was science and your God and disunity in Ohanaeze when the people who voted for there was none. you.

He accused Nwabueze of “If you can do what your printing leaflets and pam- conscience says is good and phlets aimed at discredit- right for the people of Riving the apex Igbo body in ers State, keep on doing it. recent times which, he ob- But bear in mind that there served, was not expected of is God who if you do not from such a highly reputed satisfy Him has the final legal luminary. judgement.

“So don’t worry about what those who cannot kill local government involved the soul, they can kill the is to block the road and ask body if they like or those motorists to produce all who will try and pull you kinds of licences (many down if you like, worry unheard of) before they will about God, the people you be allowed to continue on were voted to serve and your conscience. their journeys.

“Do not say that you have "The motorist will be deenemies.

I have no enemy tained with impunity by the and you should have no armed men and the brazen enemy, but if they oppose demand is no different from the one done by kid- you, leave them in the court nappers in the road. What of God once you know you puzzles every road user on are doing the right thing.

“I am here to see develthat road is the amount of raw cash extorted by the opment, I am here to hear uniformed government development, I am here to talk development.” staff."

not to regard anyone as his political enemy as he enjoined him to leave those who oppose him in the court of God. Obasanjo spoke following a narration by Governor Amaechi of his travails in the hands of the Federal Government and

You can’t speak for Ndigbo, Ohanaeze tells Nwabueze, Okorocha

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — APEX Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, told constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, and Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in plain language that they were not

qualified to speak for Ndigbo on any issue.

Addressing reporters in Awka, Anambra State president of Ohanaeze, Dr. Chris Eluemunoh, described the two Igbo sons as selfish persons, adding that they had no locus to claim being Igbo leaders.

According to Eluemunoh, both Okorocha and Nwabueze

Gov. Oshiomhole, save our souls

A

KA IKENGA, an Igbo social-cultural organiation, has called on the Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole to stop agents of the local governments in the state, who extort and harass travellers on federal roads in Benin City.

President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, in a Save Our Soul, SoS, to Oshiomhole, said, “ we noted with dismay the return of the hatchetmen on the Benin Ring Road, who disappeared from the federal roads in Edo State af-

ter we petitioned the Inspector General of Police and you (Oshiomhole) and the local government chairman involved.

“Today, the local government men are back to the federal roads around Benin City to demand money from travellers, whose only crime is that they are passing through the highway in Edo State.

"The modus operandi of these extortionists, who claim to have the backing of the governor and the (Madam) Chairman of the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014—15

FG disburses N200bn to public universities

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government, yesterday, disbursed N200 billion to the nation’s public universities, in line with the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, after last year’s seven-month strike.

ASUU had, weekend, raised an alarm that government had failed to release the fund to universities, in line with agreement reached between both parties.

Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike distributed letters of allocation of the fund in a meeting with vice chancellors of universities in Abuja.

He urged the vice chancellors to ensure that the money was mainly used for the development of infrastructure in their various universities, adding that the money would be utilised before the end of 2014.

It would recalled that the Federal Government agreed to pay N200 billion for the revitalisation of the nation’s public universities in 2014 and same amount for the next four years until the universities were brought to world standard.

Wike said: “The Federal Government is committed to improving university education and I hope the benefiting universities would take advantage of the opportunity to take the institutions to the desired level.

“You must ensure that the funds are mainly used in improving infrastructure in schools and the money should be fully utilised within the year.”

He disclosed that government

had resolved to give public account of what tertiary institutions were doing from next month.

He said all tertiary institutions would be mandated to give account of funds allocated to them.

“It is imperative for the public to know how much government was investing in the country’s tertiary education and correct the impression that it was neglecting the sector.

“The exercise would be conducted in the six geo-political zones of the country beginning from March 4, 2014. The exercise would kick off with the North Central Zone at the Federal Col-

lege of Agriculture, Makurdi,” the minister said.

He said the South East zone would converge at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on March 11, 2014, while University of Port Harcourt would be host to the South-South on March 10, 2013.

He stated that the Ahmadu Bello University would be the host for the North West zone, while those in the South West zone would converge at University of Ibadan on days yet to be announced.

Wike urged the schools not to see the exercise as an audit of

their financial expenditure, but a public sensitisation of what they were doing in revitalising the tertiary education sector.

The minister also presented the ministry’s annual report for 2013 to the general public in Abuja, saying the Federal Government spent N225.070billion on federal universities in the 2013 budget.

According to him, N67.411 billion of the money was spent on federal polytechnics; N44.288 billion on federal colleges of education and N39 billion on federal colleges.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande; Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, and the Director, Centre, Leadership, Strategy and Development, LSD, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, at the Nigerian Women Strategy Conference, in Abuja, yesterday.

APC's all about money, defectors'll return to PDP — Bamanga Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — IMMEDIATE past national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, took a swipe at the the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing it as a commercial party whose leaders focus mainly on money.

According to him, those who dumped the PDP for the party will return soon when there would be no money to be shared.

Speaking, yesterday, when he received members of the National Consolidation Group, NCG, a pressure group under the PDP, at his Wuse 2 residence, Abuja, Tukur, who drummed support for his successor, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to ensure there was peace and harmony in the party, also stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to be

supported.

He stressed the need for leaders across the country to use their position to serve the people selflessly, with dedication to the peace, unity and stability of the country.

He said: “People are saying they are moving to ACP or APC, sometimes you don’t even know the name to call because they keep changing. But I can call it All Commercial Party because all

they talk about is money, and inducing people. ”I enjoin all members of PDP who defected do a re-think and come back; we are all one family, one nation under God.

Reps call for urgent probe of DG, Budget Office over alleged missing fund

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

ABUJA — CHAIRMAN, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Solomon Olamilekan, yesterday, called for urgent investigation of the Director-General, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, between 2004 and 2012 over ‘missing’ of funds in the Service Wide Vote Account.

Olamilekan said the Office of the DG had in its recent dealings with some agencies of the Federal Government, recorded irregular financial figures which, according to him, threw up some suspicions.

Sensing controversy, Olamilekan, who said he was in possession of a document which stated that the Presidential Committee had been given some N865 million, asked the team to go back, reconcile with its documents and reappear before House Committee on March 3, 2014.

The lawmaker spoke on the heels of a hearing between his Committee and the office of the Chairman, Presidential Committee on the Rehabilitation of Barracks, Mrs. Binta Mua’zu.

Mua’zu and her team were summoned by the committee to defend the N865 million released to it by the Budget Office, but surprisingly, the chairman declined, saying at no time did her committee collect money from the Budget Office to do its work.

Speaking further to journalists on his observation of the activities of the Budget Office, Olamilekan decried the inconsistencies that had characterised the office.

He said that on different occasions, the Budget Office had claimed to have released N7.1 billion to National Hajj Commission, NHC, from the Service Wide Vote Account only for the commission to later prove to the House Committee that what it got was N2.089 billion.

C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

We'll work to achieve 35% women representation in governance — Jonathan

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

P

RESIDENT GOODLUCK Jonathan, yesterday, said that his administration would work towards achieving 35 per cent women representation in governance in the country.

He spoke in Abuja at the Nigeria Women Strategy Conference, with the theme, 'Building Bridges of Opportunity: 2015 and Beyond,' organised by the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

Jonathan, who spoke through the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, said his administration would also be gender-friendly by encouraging women’s participation in politics.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to Sambo on Media and Publicity, Mallam Umar Sani.

“One of the policy directions of our administration is the increased women participation in governance. We have set the target of meeting the Mil-

lennium Development Goals, MDGs, of promoting gender equality and empowering women and the 35 per cent affirmative action on women representation in governance.

“I am proud that our women have never had it so good. Our administration, to say the least, is gender-friendly and compliant. ’’Apart from the accomplishments of women in the political sphere and their career pursuits, we have had significant progress in their meteoric

rise to the pinnacle of their professions.

“We have had a woman Speaker and another female majority leader in the House of Representatives. We have had women senators, governor and deputy governors, members of the House of Representatives, members of the houses of assembly at the state level, local government chairpersons and councillors at the grassroots level,” he also added.

Jonathan further said that

women were by their nature compassionate, loving and caring, adding that “Politics is all about selfless service and deep concern for humanity’s progress which is a natural trait possessed by women through their natural roles as mothers and nurses.”

He, however, stressed the need for more political education and enlightenment to encourage women participation in politics, particularly, elective offices

Avoid violence, bitterness in election, Jang tells politicians

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — AS local government election comes up in less than a fortnight in Plateau State, politicians in the state have been asked to conduct their affairs with decorum devoid of bitterness or violence.

Governor Jonah Jang gave the charge, yesterday, at the swearing-in ceremony of two newly appointed commissioners assuring that government had created an enabling environment for free and fair elections.

The governor also disclosed that the State Security Council and the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the state, have mapped out strategies to ensure peaceful elections.

He said the administra-

tion is committed to responsible deployment of resources towards delivering on his promises before the end of his tenure next year. ”The appointees are coming at a critical point where time is of essence and service delivery the ultimate as we are not unmindful of the fact that we have entered the last lap of the administration which means everyone on board must step up. ”I therefore expect you to come in with zest and dynamism driven by the desire to add value to the governance of the state. ”As the elections are just ten days away, I urged candidates and followers to play the game according to the rule devoid of bitterness or violence.

"Government on its part has created an enabling environment for free and fair elections,” Jang added.

NOA DG disowns recruitment website

A

BUJA — THe Director-General, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, has called on Nigerians not to patronise a purported recruitment website by the agency, describing it as a scam.

This was made known in a statement, yesterday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Agency, Mr. Paul Odenyi.

Odenyi said that NOA had not sought approval for recruitment of personnel and therefore, would not be in position to advertise for vacancies.

According to him, any re-

cruitment website purported to belong to the NOA was meant to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

Odenyi pointed out that the NOA would always advertise in national dailies for job placements, even as he warned job seekers to disregard the portal. The portal under reference is www.bestjobs.com/noa.

He, however, urged those seeking information about the agency to visit any of its offices across the country or its website and news portal: www.noa.gov.ng; www.transformation.gov.ng.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 17

I

N its days of arrogance, when some of its members boasted they would rule Nigeria for a proverbial thousand years, the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria) proclaimed itself the largest political party in Africa.

Today, the party is afraid that the rival APC (All Progressives Congress) would declare far larger membership strength than the PDP as a result of its recent membership-registration drive. What a difference a day makes in Nigerian politics.

Rather than being the largest party in Africa, a more accurate description of the PDP is that it is the most fraudulent. The PDP is a party of thieves, rogues, swindlers, charlatans, extortionists and 419 experts. If you don’t believe me, take a look at this who-is-who of PDP governors who were indicted by the EFCC on charges of corruption. James Ibori ( PDP Delta); D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha (PDP Bayelsa); Lucky Igbinedion (PDP Edo); Peter Odili (PDP Rivers); Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP- Enugu); Joshua Dariye (PDP Plateau); Ikedi Ohakim (PDP Imo); Ayo Fayose (PDP- Ekiti); Rasheed Ladoja (PDP Oyo); Alao Akala (PDP Oyo); Gbenga Daniel (PDP Ogun); Jolly Nyame (PDP Taraba); Abdulahi Adamu (PDP Nassarawa); Boni Haruna (PDP Adamawa); Saminu Turaki (PDP Jigawa); and Orji Uzor Kalu (PDP Abia).

Like a contagious lifethreatening disease, PDP has been an affliction on Nigeria for the last 15 years. The jury is still out on whether Nigeria will survive its contagion. But there is some indication that finally, gradually, the PDP is being cut down to size. The emergence of the APC and the massive defections from the PDP to it; have sent shocks to the PDP system. As a result, it has sobered up. The old arrogance has gone, or at least, is in

who steal funds meant for improving our power supply, deliberately making Nigerians live a life in utter darkness, will you repent today? I doubt it!”

Indeed, the PDP is a citadel of corruption. Under it, Nigeria has earned the largest amount of income in its 54-year history.

Simultaneously, the country has witnessed the most outrageous amount of theft and graft. President Jonathan seems incapable of tackling this.

Under his watch, no highprofile public official has been jailed for corruption. In the Nigeria of today, you might go to jail for stealing a goat. But if you steal 100 billion naira, the worst thing that can happen to you is that you might be charged to court where the case will die after receiving the initial publicity.

Disappearing funds Astonishing amounts of public funds keep disappearing, without satisfactory explanation as to what exactly happened to them. Oby Ezekwesili, a former World bank Director, stirred up

Like a contagious life-threatening disease, PDP has been an affliction on Nigeria for the last 15 years

,

remission.

The cavalier contempt for Nigerians has disappeared. It is time for a massive self-introspection by this PDP albatross, if it is not soon to be consigned wholesale into the dustbin of history.

People deceiving party At a service held at the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to commemorate the 2012 Democracy Day, Reverend Peter Akinola challenged President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife and some PDP governors and ministers to pray against corruption in Nigeria, but they refused. Akinola publicly berated them. He exclaimed: “There you go! Oh, corruption!

So, you are not ready to fight it, because you are all beneficiaries of it. Who is deceiving who? You are only deceiving yourselves, not God. And you who is stealing government funds, subjecting the poor to untold hardship; you who steal oil subsidy money, you C M Y K

There is no Goodluck in corruption

,

the hornet’s nest a few years ago by declaring that the combined administrations of Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan misappropriated literally billions of dollars. She pointed out that Obasanjo left $45 billion in Nigeria’s foreign reserve account and another $22 billion in the excess crude account when he left office in 2007; being direct savings from increased earnings from oil.

These savings completely disappeared without trace. So far, no explanation has been given as to where the money went.

More recently, the Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, told the members of the House of Representatives that NNPC failed to remit a whopping $20 billion to the Federation account.

Instead of just telling us where the money went, the Minister of Finance said forensic agents would be employed to audit NNPC accounts. Forensic audit of NNPC accounts can only reveal one thing; the NNPC has been a vehicle for defrauding the country of billions and

Last chance PDP

President Goodluck Jonathan billions of naira under successive PDP governments.

Renowned audit and advisory consultancy agency, KPMG, has already exposed massive corruption in the NNPC in a report handed over to Ministry of Finance a year ago. Massive petroleum subsidy claims, running into 28.5 billion naira between 2007 and 2009 alone, were paid where no petroleum was imported. Huge sums, again running into billions of naira, were diverted from the Federation accounts between 2010 and 2011.

Bad luck corruption

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan undermined any pretensions to be anticorruption by granting a presidential pardon to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Bayelsa State. Alamieyeseigha is a convicted felon.

He was arrested in London for moneylaundering, where over $1 million in cash was found in his house.

He jumped bail, escaped from the country disguised as a woman, and fled back home. He then sought refuge in his constitutional immunity from prosecution as a governor. However, he was promptly impeached, charged with corruption and sentenced to two years in prison.

As governor, Alamieyeseigha was a common thief. According to Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) which prosecuted him, over N43 billion in stolen funds were recovered from him alone. All this makes his presidential pardon unconscionable.

President Jonathan himself has

now beginning to give a damn.

He has just fired the Aviation minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who was involved in a scam of purchasing two bullet-proof cars for the ridiculous sum of 255 million naira without adhering to laid-down procedures. Time was when the president might have ignored the public outcry this produced. But in the new political climate of high-profile PDP defections to the APC, the PDP is developing new respect for public opinion and Mr. President has now found it expedient to give the public the impression that he now has zero-tolerance for corruption.

However, the emergence of the APC is likely to heighten corruption and not lessen it, as the PDP offers money to defectors to come back, to APC members to defect, and to PDP members to stay put. Indeed, by every indication of missing monies and financial shortfalls, it would appear that a PDP warchest is being prepared for fighting the 2015 elections.

Unfortunately for Nigerians, the APC is also a collection of thieves and robbers. A lot of noise is made about the anticorruption stance of Muhammadu Buhari, but if so, why is he an ally of Bola Tinubu? Nobody would accuse Tinubu of being an apostle of anti-corruption.

refused to declare his assets.

During a June 24, 2012 Presidential Media chat, the President said that he could not give a damn what the people think of him in response to the demand for him to declare his assets publicly.

More recently, he appointed Chief Tony Anenih, former Minister of Works during Obasanjo’s first term, as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Anenih is wellremembered by Nigerians as the Minister who had a budget of N300 billion for the building of roads in President Obasanjo’s first term and delivered precious little. This same man has also now been elected chairman of the Board of Trustees of the president’s party; the PDP. In effect, Nigeria is now a haven for corruption and for the corrupt. Recently, a man stole N23 billion in a pension scam and all he had to do was pay a fine of less than one million naira. The message was heard loud-and-clear around the country: corruption pays in Nigeria.

The EFCC occasionally goes through the motions of prosecuting and convicting some high-profile corrupt government official, but most escape serious sanctions.

Cecilia Ibru of Oceanic Bank returned over N225 billion in stolen money and assets, but she only spent six months in a high-society hospital in lieu of going to jail.

Game-change The emergence of the APC might have changed the psychology of the PDP and that of President Jonathan. The president that did not give a damn what Nigerians think is

T

he PDP has a golden opportunity to redeem itself.

Contrary to all the hype, it can only be dented; it cannot be defeated by the APC in the 2015 elections. For the last fourteen years, the PDP has been the only national party in Nigeria.

It has roots and formidable institutions in virtually every state of the federation. These cannot be overrun by a slipshod APC alliance of barely one year.

It is not enough for a PDP governor to defect to the APC, he cannot carry the PDP party machinery in his state with him. That machinery will still be difficult to confront and defeat in 2015. A defecting governor cannot build between now and then rival APC political machinery that will truly give the PDP a run for its money, especially in view of the fact that PDP is in power at the centre, and has big bankaccounts.

The APC might conceivably become a formidable opponent of the PDP by 2019, provided it lasts that long. However, it is more likely to unravel if it loses in 2015.

The glue holding it together is the desire for power at the centre.

Should it lose in 2015, most of the political prostitutes who have bailed to it from the PDP can be expected to bail back unabashedly with immediate effect.

In the meantime, the APC would have done its job, which is to scare the PDP into reform.

Nobody would blame Goodluck Jonathan if he cleans up the Augean stables of the PDP before the next election. The good news is that, thanks to the APC, the PDP may be wise enough to reinvent itself. The bad news is that the gang-thieves of the PDP are likely to be with us a little longer, at best with refurbished sheep’s clothing.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 NIGERIA has some laws Nigerians would wonder why they were made. One of them is the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, a 2007 law that expects prudent management of public finances from governments and their agencies.

The law is observed in breach as cases of outright malfeasance show. The FRA was meant to track and prevent conducts that were likely to result in abuses.

Reports of the Federal Government securing loans for power, education, and rail projects should worry anyone who knows about FRA. Government has chosen areas of our national live that we agree deserve urgent attention, but it is a poor excuse for wanton disobedience of the law. There are many grounds to be apprehensive. The burden of repaying the loan lies on future generations. The other is the penchant of the States and local government councils to go on their own borrowing binge.

When the Federal Government disobeys the law, it provides bad leadership for other tiers of government.

Section 44 (1) of FRA states that, “Any government in the Federation or its agencies

BY AUDU OBANTA

M

ALLAM Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, would go down in history as the most controversial Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). From his actions and words since his appointment as the boss of the apex bank five years ago, he comes across as one who revels in controversy. No doubt his love for activism could be responsible for this. There is really nothing wrong in being controversial, especially if he is sure about his facts on any issue he wishes to engage in. But this appears not to be the case with Sanusi. He would go down as one banker whose figures the public cannot depend on. Long before the brewing allegation of $49.8billion cum $10.8 billion/$12.8 billion and later $20 billion unremitted revenue somersaults, the Kano Prince had earned a reputation in voodoo presentation of figures and avoidable flipflops.

Sanusi began his journey of manipulating Nigerians with controversial figures in 2012 with his allegation that the National Assembly gulps 25 percent of the national budget. He had told Nigerians during a convocation lecture at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, that the huge cost of running the government was inimical to national development and went ahead to cite the example of the National Assembly which, he claimed, gulped a whopping 25 percent of the national budget in 2010.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate naturally took umbrage at Sanusi’s statistics describing it as a ploy to incite the Nigerian public against the legislative arm of government. When he was called by the Senate to explain his figures C M Y K

Wor king Without orking FRA and corporations desirous of borrowing shall, specify the purpose for which the borrowing is intended and present a cost benefit analysis, detailing the economic and social benefits of the purpose for which the intended borrowing is to be applied ”.

According to Subsection (2), “Any borrowing requires the existence of prior authorisation in the Appropriation Act or Law for the purpose for which the borrowing is to be utilised”.

Governments should get the legislatures’ approvals for loans. The FRA is meant to ensure that loans are used for the projects.

Legislature through budgeting and oversight functions ensure this.

President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua who

signed this law in December 2007 was the first to violate it in 2009 by borrowing $1 billion from the World Bank. More subtle violations of the law have gone unnoticed.

The various over-spent budgets are acts the Fiscal Responsibility Commission has failed to raise to public awareness. The implications for the economy are fairly known.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, are among 31 government agencies, the Act listed for scrutiny, yet they operate without recourse to FRA - the National Assembly does not vet their budgets.

Section 48 (1) of FRA urges government “to ensure that its fiscal and financial affairs are conducted in a transparent manner and accordingly ensure full and timely disclosure and wide publication of all transactions and decisions involving public revenues and expenditure and their implications for its finances”.

Laws are useless when those who should enforce them break them, that is the fate of FRA. The legislature should step up its oversight functions on FRA and other laws.

OPINION A closer look at Sanusi's figures and where he got them from, he said he stood by his figures which he claimed were sourced from the Budget Office. Upon further interrogation on how the National Assembly's budget of N136.25bn for the year translated to 25 percent of the N3.9 trillion national budget, he recanted explaining that what he meant was that the National Assembly budget was 25 percent of total Federal Government overheads and that he was misquoted by journalists.

At the end of the inquiry, it became clear that the figures Sanusi relied on for his allegation against the National Assembly were not entirely correct as they did not take into consideration service wide votes. The then Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, summarised the issue thus: “The document which Sanusi relied on did not consider service wide votes in the course of computation. Besides, his submission could not be totally written off as misleading, although it might not be as accurate as it should be.”

Having been proved wrong, Sanusi resorted to blackmail. Instead of apologising for his gaffe, he resorted to threatening the Senate with resignation, saying that he was willing to tender his resignation as CBN Governor and that he was not born with the office. The Senators let him off the hook having established the fact that the CBN boss’ figures were not completely correct as stated by Aganga.

Left off the hook without any sanction by the National Assembly, Sanusi was emboldened to rev up his ride with controversial figures with an allegation of

unremitted $49.8bn oil revenue against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in September 2013. In a letter to the President, Sanusi alleged that by the records available to him a whopping $49.8bn of revenue from oil sales between July 2012 and June 2013 was missing. How a banker and the chief economist of the nation could think and believe that such a huge amount of money could just disappear and the country would not be in a huge financial and economic mess beats the imagination!

But Nigerians believed him. The reasoning is: He is the CBN governor,as such, he should know. When the inter-agency team charged with the responsibility of reconciling the figures to verify the truth behind Sanusi’s allegation came up with its interim report indicating that $39bn was actually remitted into the Federation Account as against Sanusi’s $49.8bn, it became clear that the trust Nigerians placed on him as someone who should know was actually misplaced. He later confessed that the crude oil export documents he relied on for his allegation did not indicate that NNPC lifted some of the crude oil on behalf of other government agencies; a point NNPC alluded to when it explained that the CBN boss’s allegation was borne out of his ignorance of the workings of the oil and gas industry.

Barely two hours after the joint press conference where the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.

Diezani Alison-Madueke; and the CBN Governor all told the world that $39bn of the original $49.8bn alleged to be missing

by Sanusi have been reconciled with a $10.8bn outstanding yet-to-be reconciled, Sanusi told the Committee that what was outstanding was $12bn and not $10.8bn.

This is inspite of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's earlier submission of $10.8bn. The question that arises from this and which most Nigerians have refused to ask is: Where did Sanusi get the extra $1.2bn he added to the $10.8bn yet-to-be-reconciled revenue to arrive at the $12bn he came up with at the Committee's hearing barely two hours after agreeing that what was outstanding was $10.8bn?

Again, Sanusi was left unsanctioned for misleading the public and heating up the polity unnecessarily with his false figures.

His supporters argued that the yet-to-bereconciled $10.8bn (which they chose to brand as “missing”) was enough justification for the false alarm the CBN boss raised. NNPC came up with the explanation that the $10.8bn was not missing but was used for some of the critical operations it carried out as part of its statutory duties. It also provided legal backing for the expenditure (Section 7 Subsection A and B of the NNPC Act which provides that the corporation can engage in such expenses and deduct same from proceeds of crude oil sales).

Continues tomorrow

*Dr. Obanta, a Nigerian USA based legal practioneer, wrote from Maryland ,USA.

19—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

M

ADAM, thank you very much for reading my first letter to you, as l was told you did. The fact that you read the first one will make this second one, and the third; which shall be last on this issue, easily assimilating subject for your consumption. Oh, let me appreciate the fact that you have already raised the issue under discuss with my brother, your husband. That is too kind of you and the right step to be taken by any woman who is to be a blessing to her husband.

The madam at the Petroleum Ministry is not helping matters in this allegation of corruption being levelled against the NNPC, not by the Governor of the CBN, but by four previous bodies set up to look at the books of the institution [NNPC]. These were KPMG [a world acclaimed auditing/accounting firm], Nuhu Ribadu investigative Committee report, Aig-Imoukhuede investigative committee report and the Farouk Lawan; House of Representative Committee report. There are other committee, like the NEITI and RMAFC, reports indicting NNPC at different times. All these reports, at various times, indicted the “so-called holiness of operation” account your sister

minister of petroleum resources is presenting.

Madam, the reason why Sanusi Lamido Sanusi [whom l shall refer to henceforth as SLS]’ letter of September 2013, to your husband is now becoming a “political issue of engagement” in 2014, is the closeness and resemblance it bears to Olusegun Obasanjo letter to your husband on the state of the economy. Of course, l shall always remain the first person to admit that the timing of leaking the letter of September, 2013, to the public, either by SLS or whosever within his knowing, coming out at almost the same time OBJ letter appeared made SLS a major suspect. It interpreted the old adage of “the witch crying in the night and the child dying the next morning”.

There is a third reason why SLS has become a major suspect in the unfolding political events of the present. The Speaker of House of Representative added his voice of “Jonathan body movement” that tend to suggest his unwillingness to fight corruption. In addition to this is the unverifiable claim of the Niger State Governor [a man claimed by E.K Clark as lacking credibility – “ remember he nominated Jonah Jang as Northern candidate for the election of the Nigerian

What she has said in effect is that “we can steal it because there is no law against it”

,

Governors’ Forum only for him to vote for Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State” was how he described him] an agreement signed by Goodluck Jonathan to the effect of serving only one tenure. Again, at that time, OBJ also spoke of how “desirable for the Presidency to go to the North”. Add all these to Ibrahim Babangida “clarion call” on the Speaker of the House of Representative “to aspire for higher office in the land”, nearly anyone would almost come to the conclusion that SLS leaked letter is just to “complement the Northern agenda”.

Y

et Madam, l want you to put all comments of individuals mentioned above, plus many others in perspectives, including the SLS contentious letter. I shall say more about this man’s [SLS] character and what he really wants to achieve by his loquacious altercations in my third and last letter to you. For now, let us go to the SLS’s presentation of facts on the

Atiku, Tinubu and the APC ticket

The attempt to discredit the story that Tinubu had already traded the APC presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar ended up being a conspiracy of its own

BY FRANCIS EHIGIATOR

I

N the past week, the Atiku Abubakar Media Office has been engrossed in a spirited rebuttal of a story published online. According to the publication, it was alleged that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) tin-god, had signed an agreement to hand the presidential ticket of the APC to Atiku Abubakar as a precondition for his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The advertorial titled: “Hogwash”, which was placed in many national dailies by the Atiku Abubakar media group, unwittingly, drew the attention of many readers who did not even see, in the first place, the online publication that has kept the Atiku camp rattled, the Tinubu camp exposed, the Buhari clan disoriented and the entire APC hierarchy, highly embarrassed.

Although the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar had stated while jumping again out of the PDP that he was ready to perish his presidential ambition for the overall good of his new party, APC, his welldocumented desperation for power gives away this new line as a mere obfuscation.

Atiku has never hidden his ambition to be president right from the day former President Obasanjo chose him as his deputy.

Thus, within the first two years in their first term, the former vice president had hatched a near-perfect plan to supplant his boss by lining the majority of the PDP governors against Obasanjo to whom he had un-altruistically sold the Mandela one-term option. Stories have it that Obasanjo literally had to kowtow for his deputy before he got his party ’s renomination in 2003. And when it was clear C M Y K

that he had fouled the air within the PDP so much so that he could not be trusted with the party’s ticket, Atiku founded and funded Action Congress (AC) under which he pursued his obsessive ambition to be president.

When he failed and realised that AC was too parochial a party to fulfil his lifelong ambition, he returned to a broader platform, which the PDP represents. Back to the PDP, Atiku’s desperation pushed him to canvass the northern consensus candidate when he lost the zoning argument in the PDP. And when he lost the presidential primaries against President Goodluck Jonathan at the Eagle Square in 2011, the Adamawa politician lost control of himself as he resorted to raining unpresidential vituperations on Jonathan so much so that the delegates who voted against him were convinced that that they took the right decision.

As 2015 beckons, Atiku has perhaps reasoned that he has no chance in PDP and is threading the familiar path of shopping for platform again. So when Atiku begins his tales by moonlight that he has joined the APC not to pursue any personal ambition, what does he take Nigerians for? The panicky and unstrategic manner in which the Atiku Media Office that is normally very professional and efficient responded to the allegation of conspiracy between Atiku and Tinubu over the APC presidential ticket, clearly gives stronger credence to the allegation.

In trying to debunk the story that Tinubu had already sold the ticket to Atiku, Garba Shehu and his team largely relied on the ad hominiem argument – a fallacy that seems to attack the source of the story rather than its substance. It is not clear how tracing the story to one Churchill

whole world now know that NNPC. The Minister coordinating the NNPC actually is stealing money economy admitted that the under the guise of Kerosene missing [or shall we call it subsidy since there is a unremitted amount] was nothing presidential order against such near $49 or $20 billion “but practise, all she offered to say was $10.8 billion”. This is an that “l was not in office as of the admission [in whatever language time this presidential order was used or choice of words used] that given, but only relating to the as much as $10.8 billion committee what happened”.

American dollars “ was taken Then she threw a bombshell that away by somebody ” and that “the presidential directive is not somebody, you will agree with a law because it was not me Madam, is not in the CBN gazetted”. What she has said in effect is that “ we can steal it but at NNPC. Madam, there is more to this because there is no law against admission – a collaborative but it”. shockingly revealing – from the Madam, each time your husband Group Managing Director of the speaks, either inside or outside NNPC. He said [quoting Nigeria, that the “issue of admission of less than a week corruption in Nigeria is overago] that “the impression exaggerated”, he makes more Nigerians have is that $10.8 mockery of himself than those he billion seated in the four towers speaks with. How, with all these of the NNPC”, referring to the revelations, can a leader who NNPC’s corporate office. The really runs a country, tell the GMD further added, arrogantly whole world that the issue of though as if he were talking to a corruption is over-exaggerated in group of imbeciles, that Nigeria? The money stolen by “Nigerians believe NNPC is these oil thieves, ditto other sitting on money, but l want it segment of the Nigerian society, known that these monies we are is kept in banks of those people talking about are not ‘realisable [Europe, America, Asian and flows’”. He re-emphasised this by China] with the active concluding that “to put the collaboration of those countries’ records straight, the money is not citizens. Yet, these are the same seated anywhere because the people my brother, your husband $10.8 billion have been spent on tells everyday that there is no subsidy, pipeline maintenance corruption in Nigerian. Tell him not to say it again – never again and other losses”.

Madam, the “Oga” madam your until he is able to do something husband, my brother appointed about it. to preside over that corruptionriddled NNPC edifice, like l earlier told you, has not helped *Mr. Etakibuebu, a public analyst, wrote matters. When it dawned on her affairs at the Senate hearing that the fromLagos.

,

BYGODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

,

2nd letter to Dame Patience Jonathan

,

Umoren, allegedly working for the presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, affects the veracity of the story or makes it less factual. While the Atiku Media Office struggled all through to discredit the story that Tinubu and Atiku are at it again to their undemocratic best, it was clear that what they sought to achieve was sheer damage limitation but in the end the hogwash advertorial ended up accentuating the wheeling and dealing story between the two APC buccaneers.

The attempt to discredit the story that Tinubu had already traded the APC presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar ended up being a conspiracy of its own.

The bomb shell dropped by Shekarau, a founding leader of APC that Tinubu runs the party as a personal shop further threw spanners to the works of Atiku’s image makers. The former governor of Kano State not only revealed how Tinubu is imposing his whims and caprices on the party but also engaging in other illegalities.

If the party is not thinking about properly electing its officers, why would it worry about electing a presidential candidate?

Moreover, the leaders of APC, and its predecessor parties, ACN, CPC and ANPP are not known to be great advocates of the democratic process. In the defunct ACN, Tinubu and Bisi Akande for all intents and purposes represent the decision making organ of the party. They chose the presidential candidate, the senatorial candidates, the House of Reps and Houses of Assembly candidates whimsically without any reference to the people and party members. The vibrant Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, who lost his ticket, and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who ended up in the House instead of the Senate, are some of the relics of the Tinubu-Akande undemocratic imposition of candidates on the ACN. In the CPC it did not matter who won the primaries as long as the outcome did not reflect Buhari’s predilections and sentiments. ANPP on its own part appeared to have patented the manual of how not to run a political party!

There is indeed nothing new in the story that Tinubu had ceded the APC presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar even before he crossed over from the PDP. It is on record that the promoters of APC historically have proven themselves as poor advertisement for internal democracy and free choice. The controversies and crises arising from the imposition of interim officers from all the state chapters of APC nationwide seem to validate the story that the APC presidential ticket had been sold to Atiku even before the race began. The Atiku Media Office, rather than publishing “Hogwash” advertorial, should advert their minds to convincing the like of Buhari, Oshiomhole and Tambuwal who we hear are interested in the presidential ticket why they should remain in APC!

T

he result is that Tinubu and his clique in APC are not thinking about any convention to elect authentic party executives to replace his hand-picked interim executives headed by Bisi Akande.

*Mr. Ehigiator, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

C M Y K

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 21

Nigerian companies not contributing to poverty alleviation — Hastings

By MICHAEL EBOH

N

IGERIAN companies are not doing enough in helping to alleviate poverty and in reducing unemployment in Nigeria, Mr. Michael Hastings, Global Head, Corporate Citizenship, KPMG has said.

Speaking at a forum organised by KPMG, in conjunction with the Association of International School Educators of Nigeria, AISEN, in Lagos, Hastings said a number of companies in Nigeria, despite their impressive financials, are not doing enough in line with global efforts towards ensuring gainful employment for the teeming youths.

He said, “Nigeria has got outstanding and strong companies. The Nigerian Stock Exchange is full of companies that are very profitable. What I have not seen yet, with a few exceptions, is that very generous commitment of companies to work on poverty solutions and to work on dealing with the most complicated social dilemmas.”

In his presentation titled; ‘The Importance of Nurturing the Spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR,’ Hastings maintained that there are still a lot that needs to be done in Nigeria, which government alone cannot tackle without the partnership of big companies.

135.9

0.2

2,904.00

-18.00

15.64

“You have big cities, with people that are still on the edge of life. There are far too much that needs to be done and government cannot tackle it alone.

“This is where I would like to see Nigeria’s economic powerhouses join together with the foundations globally and decide on doing things differently. This will really

108.79

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DOLLAR 154.75 POUNDS 257.3957 EURO 211.404 FRANC 173.021 YEN 1.5164 CFA 0.3037 WAUA 237.3402 RENMINBI 25.5181 RIYA 41.2623 KRONA 28.269 SDR 237.8508

155.25 258.2273 212.087 173.5801 1.5213 0.3137 238.107 25.601 41.3956 28.3603 238.6193

skills of young men and women in Nigeria, able to engage in the agriculture, construction markets.

“I would like to see Nigerian companies treat fairly the chances for mass employment, not mass unemployment. That means equipping a whole new generation with the practical skills needed to build a nation.

Not just with the delimited

From left: Mr. Francois Sastourne, French Consul to Nigeria; Mr Emeka Onwuka, former Chairman, Enterprise Bank; Mrs Ekua Abudu, President , Association of International School Educators of Nigeria, AISEN; Lord Hastings, Global Head, Corporate Citizenship, KPMG and Mrs Marie-Therese Phido, Sales & Markets, KPMG at AISEN’s Speaker’s Series, organised in conjunction with KPMG in Lagos.

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CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

bring changes to Nigeria’s problems,” he noted.

He called on companies to develop a technical and practical skills programme for youths in the country , especially in areas of agriculture and construction He said, “I would genuinely like to see companies make a determined effort to develop the technical and practical

skills of financing economic.”

Hastings further stated that opening the boundaries of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, will tackle a lot of societal ills in Nigeria, adding that ethical conduct, integrity and positive attitude to customers among others, remain the most important drivers of business trust.

He stated that ethical responsibility and integrity must be included in the ways companies are governed in Nigeria, noting that companies need to build values, while government needs to be made accountable.

SELLING 155.75 259.059 212.7701 174.1391 1.5262 0.3237 238.8739 25.6839 41.5289 28.4516 239.3878

CBN Exchange rate as at 17/02/2014

I

N ensuring effec tive distribution of Kerosene product to every nook and crannies of the country, the Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has commenced sale of kerosene at N50 per liter in all states of the South West under the IPMAN kero-direct scheme.

The scheme was kick started in Lagos by the National President of the association, Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadri, with about 30 filling stations.

According to Abdulkadri, “We are here to ensure that kerosene is sold at N50 per litre as instructed

by Minister of Petro-

IPMAN flags off kero-direct at N50 per litre

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE leum Resources, Dr. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and it is being implemented by the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through IPMAN . That’s why we are here to ensure that consumers are aware of the price.

The president said that all products given to IPMAN by the NNPC to be sold at N50 per liter in Lagos and its environs is at least 5000 metric tones (MT).

He said that the gesture is being spread all over the country. “When I leave here, I will travel to Kano, Sokoto,

Gombe, Maiduguri, Bauchi and other axis. This is not meant for Lagos alone, but it is a national product and therefore, it should be given to all.

On issue of subsidy removal, he said, “you see ,this is a subject that can be discussed between the policy makers and the legislatures. But we as marketers,any product that is given to us with subsidy will be sold with subsidy for the masses.“For product given to us without subsidy, consumers will access it without subsidy.

That is the bottom line. This is an issue that belongs to Federal Government and the National Assembly.

“For us as captains of the in-

dustries, if product is given to us with subsidy under my leadership, I will continue to move from station to station to ensure that we sell at N50 per litre,” Abdulkadri said.

He, however, warned marketers to ensure that kerosene is sold at the approved regulated price, adding that the leadership of IPMAN will not hesitate to sanction erring marketers.

“So, what Nigerians should be looking up is to ensure that product being imported should be accessed by the masses. Nigerians need to enjoy the dividends of democracy and not just the politicians,” he stressed.

22— — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

The struggling state of collective investment schemes in Nigeria

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

I

T is now official that Col lective Investment Schemes in the Nigerian capital market are struggling and offer unattractive earnings. This was revealed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in its data on Net Asset Values and unit prices of fund management and collective investments schemes as at week ended January 31, 2014. Out of the 52 schemes listed in the data, seven recorded losses for the year ending December 31st 2013. Zenith Equity Fund, managed by Zenith Capital Limited led the pack with a loss of N280.97 million. It was followed by Kakawa Guaranteed Income Fund, managed

by Kakawa Asset Management Company Limited, which recorded N110.77 million losses. Zenith Ethical Fund, managed by Zenith Capital Limited came third with N47.64 million. Others were UBA Equity Fund, managed by UBA Asset Management Limited-N9.44 million; BGL Nubian Fund, managed by BGL Asset Management Limited-N4.97 million; Paramount Equity Fund, managed by Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited,-

N426,068; Union Trustees Mixed Fund, managed by CDL Asset Management Limited-N3,980.

In addition to these, there were no data for three schemes, namely Anchor Fund and Bedrock Fund bother managed by Cashcraft Asset Management Limited, and DVCF Oil and Gas Fund managed

by DVCF Oil and Gas Plc.

The implication is that, it is either they have closed shop, or did not have data to submit to SEC. While majority of the schemes posted profit, most of them posted poor earnings.

For example the net earnings per unit of 24 of the schemes was less than N1. When this is juxtaposed with their unit price, it becomes difficult to

imagine how a rational investor would put his/her money in any of these schemes. The Frontier Fund managed by Sterling Capital had a unit price of N112 but it recorded earnings per unit of 16 kobo.

The same goes for Afrinvest Equity Fund, with a unit price of N172.15 but with net earnings per unit of 17 kobo.

More worrisome is the fact

Top 10 performing stocks 7

-Up Bottling Company Plc, Julius Berger Nig. Plc, Portland Paints and Products Nig. Plc, Beta Glass Company Plc, Transnationwide Express Plc and Total Nig. Plc were some of the stocks that recorded appreciable price increase last week to make it to the top 10 performers.

Others were Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Plc, Union Dicon Salt Plc, Mobil Oil Nig. Plc and Red Star Express Plc. 7-Up, a beverage—non-alcoholic producing company, led the pack with 15.74 percent or N11.24 increase to close at N82.64 from N71.00.

The company disclosed last year that it spent whooping N2.26 billion in servicing bank loans, while another N681 million was earmarked for pursuing court cases. There is also sign of lax corporate governance as directors of the company habitually absent themselves from board meetings, a situation that has been causing rancour between the company

and its shareholders. The development where only three out of the nine directors of the company attended the four board meetings convened in 2013 almost stalled the annual general meeting last year. However, the chairman’s assurance that aggressive sales and marketing initiatives have been impacting positively on the company seem to be true as indicated by growing top and bottom line. The nine months unaudited financial statement for the period ended 29th December, 2013, showed that revenue rose to N54.954 billion from N44.782 billion in 2012. The profit after tax grew to N3.917 billion from N1.396 billion in 2012, while finance cost fell to N1.178 billion as against N1.822 billion in the corresponding period of 2012. Cost of sales however, rose to N33.298 billion from N28.371 billion in 2012.

Julius Berger appreciated by 5.63 percent or N4.00 to close at N75.00 from N71.00 per share.

Despite the claim of the company that some large scale projects such, as Admiralty Alexander- Link Brigde in Lagos, the Escravos Gas Liquid plant as well as the completion of a

major segment of the LagosBadagry Expressway as well as efficient use of its resources and streamlining of processes, impacted positively on its financials, the company recorded marginal decline in both the revenue and profit after tax for the nine months ended 30th September, 2013. The revenue for the period fell marginally to N136.622 billion as against N137.479 billion in the same period of 2012. Profit after tax declined to N3.78 billion from N3.79 billion. Earning per share remained the same at 3.15 kobo per share.

Portland Paints and Products Nig. Plc went up by 4.95 per-

that the worst performance was recorded by equity based scheme. The last two years could be regarded as boom years for the Nigerian stock market with average growth of 40 percent. That most of the equity based schemes could not replicate or surpass this level of growth in 2013 indicate fundamental problem of capacity and management.

But it is not all gloom. There are shining lights of the trade.

Interestingly both belong to the same company. These are Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund and Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund both managed by Stanbic IBTC Management Company. The two schemes have the most impressive net earnings per unit relative to the unit price.

Now is the implication of this information for the average investor? Some months ago, Investors Forum focused on the benefits of collective investment schemes, which basically is security of funds especially from the vagaries of the market. While about 95 per cent of the schemes reported by SEC have positive net asset value, the reality is that in terms of earnings and returns, most of them have nothing to offer investors. So if your major consideration as an investor is earnings, and you want to invest in a collective investment scheme, then you have limited options in terms of which of the schemes to invest in. To be continued next week.

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

cent or N0.26 from N5.25 to N5.51. Last year, UACN became a controlling shareholder in the company through acquisition of 51 percent stake in the company. The move was expected to boost Portland’s competitive edge in the decorative paints industry, as well as allow it to tap into Nigeria’s real estate and building materials sectors using UACN as leverage. The half-year financial result for the six months to June, 2013 showed a declining fortune as revenue fell to N1.354 billion from N1.466 billion in 2012.

Gross profit for the period went down to N596.649 million from N627.976 million, while profit after tax nose-dived to N58.85 million from N88.213 million in corresponding period of 2013.

Portland Paints markets the

SANDTEX range of paint products. It also has the widest range of decorative paints in the industry, ranging from decorative, general, industrial paints to auto refinishes.

Packaging/containers listed equity, Beta Glass, advanced by 4.73 percent or N0.92 from N19.47 to N20.39 per share. The company is involved in the manufacturing, sale and distribution of hollow glassware in Nigeria.

Transnationwide advanced by 3.24 percent or N0.08 to close at N2.55 fromN2.47; Total recorded 2.85 percent or N4.98 price increase from N175.01 to N179.99; Paints and Coatings Manufacturers went up by 2.56 percent or N0.05 from N1.95 to N2.00; Union Dicon Salt appreciated by 2.47 percent or N0.30 to close at N12.45 from N12.15; Mobil Oil advanced by 2.46 percent or N3.00 to close at N125.00 from N122.00, while Red Star Express added 2.27 percent or N0.10 to close the week at N4.50 from N4.40 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 23

Investors speak

Is proliferation of shareholders’ groups good for the capital market?

By WILLIAM JIMOH Olugbosun Ariyo is the Chairman Exceptional Shareholders Association of Nigeria.In this interview he speaks on the increased number of shareholders’ associations in the capital market, the benefits as well as challenges facing the associations amongst other issues.

Excerpt.

I hadmembernever been a of any shareholders

association before I started one, but I have always observed their operations and that helped me to draw the right pattern for the type of association we want to form. There is no number of shareholders associations that will be too much considering the population of the country, but the orientation of many people about what shareholders' associations’ entails and stands for is wrong.

Just as a million number of shareholders’ associations will not be enough for the country, it is vital to admit that there is a problem currently facing the associations. Those associations that are known don’t want the upcoming ones to be known as they are and they do it with all the resources within their reach. For instance, they always look for opportunity to rubbish them and when it comes to represent-

•Arunma Oteh ing the companies in the audit committees, they always want their members to occupy the whole seat.

Just like when Gani Fawehinmi was around, he was among the advocates of multi-party system. Since we have different interests, there is need for the society to provide for all and that is what every leader of any association needs to understand.

In the case of the audit committee, which I mentioned ealier, instead of allowing the qualified persons to occupy the position, some leaders of shareholders’ associations want only their members to be in charge.

•Olugbosun Ariyo In some cases, there are chairmen that instead of allowing their members to get to the post, always want to be there. And when the time comes for election, they bring people from nowhere just to ensure that they win elections, all these things are not good.

On the last note, I will say that the associations are trying to carry out their duties, but there is something they need to watch out for, which is the love of money. We should be mindful of being too money conscious.

Instead of doing what is expected of us, we as shareholders’ associations

now run after money.

For our association, Exceptional Shareholders Association of Nigeria, we started the process of establishing it last year and considering the nature of the market, we understand that as an association, we need to make information available to our members and other shareholders operating in the Nigerian capital market. We try our best to ensure that we let them know what is happening in the companies so that they will know the right companies they should put their money in. Most times, the shareholders don’t get this information from their stockbrokers because they are busy. It is the leaders of the shareholders’ associations that try to educate their members on investment opportunities through information we gather from reports and financial reports of companies. Once we foresee that a company has the potential to do well, we ask our members to go for the share.

Not all shareholders attend companies’ Facts behind the Figure, but we make information we gather from such meetings available to our members and non-members. To a very great extent, such interventions positively affect the decisions they make when it comes to taking position in any company.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS I need contact of Flour Mills Registrar Please, what can I do? I bought BAGCO shares then but now Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc. Two days ago, I collected my statement of account but the FMN SHARES doesn’t reflect in my statement.

Please, I need the e-mail address of the Registrar, customer care line phone number or any other assistance you can render to me. (Ogundele Mutiu)

us your email address, so that we can email the articles to you.

They are simple to understand. You can also visit a stock broker for more advice or information

Investors Forum Please contact Flour Mills Registrars Limited, 3rd Floor BAGCO Building, 45, Eric Moore Road, Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos. P.O Box 341 Apapa. Tel: 234-01-7732568; Email: enquiry@fmnregistrar.com

Investors Forum The only stock broker bearing that name on the Nigeria Stock Exchange is City Code Trust & Invest Company Ltd, and the company is still active.

The contact is 6, Davies Street, (3rd Floor), National Bank Building, Marina Lagos. Tel- 08033261882; 08023608778. Emailmailtoctilagos@hyperia.com

I need information on Bonds etc I just want say to a very big thank you to you all, for what you are doing and God bless you. Please I need your help on how I can get practical information on Bonds, mutual funds and private placement.

(Ojo I.K)

Investors Forum We advise that you visit the website of Vanguard and search for Investors Forum articles on these topics. Alternatively, you can availk

What is the status of City Code stock brokers?

My stock broker is City Code Abuja. I want to know if my stock broker is one of those stock brokers suspended in 2012 for misconduct and wrong doing. (Edward Redemi)

No stock broker in Warri I want to sell some of my shares, but no good broker in Warri. (Simon Eroravere)

Investors Forum We advise you to visit the website of Nigeria Stock Exchange (http:// www.nse.com.ng/Regulation/ForBrokers/Pages/Dealing-Members.aspx) for list of licensed stockbrokers, and

contact anyone of them to establish a relationship. Make sure you visit the office before you start doing business with the company.

First Registrar, pay me my dividend I’m a holder of the above share certificate from First Bank Plc for the purchase 11,251 shares of 50 kobo each, through my stock broker, UBA PLC. As my share request was for 37,900 units, FBN could only offer 11,251 units of the shares, but failed to either refund the oversubscribed amount or send me my certificate, until I engage the services of a lawyer to pursue the issue with First Bank in Lagos. Having released the certificate and sum oversubscribed in 2008, no dividend has been received from First Bank Registrars PLC, up till date.

This is not withstanding the fact that I have complied with all their requirements to enable them pay whatever is my dividend into my bank account with UBA PLC. Attached are photocopies of relevant documents, which I have already sent to First Registrar: FIRST Bank Share Certificate; First Registrars Form Cent. 01 and E – Dividend duly completed and forwarded since 2011; My letter

through my Lawyer duly acknowledge by First Registrar on 29th July, 2011; Signature Confirmation letter from my Bankers, duly signed by two signatories of the bank, with my passport photograph affixed and stamped by the bank. I shall be grateful sir, if you can help me prevail on First Registrar to pay to me whatever has been my dividend from 2007 till now. (Pastor Edward Anthony Gbiaye)

Investors Forum We contacted First Registrar about your case and below is their response.

“Kindly find attached dividend statement to confirm that you have no outstanding dividend, meanwhile, we shall investigate and avail you with the bank account where those dividend warrants were paid into. It would be appreciated sir, if you can fill the attached e-dividend form to enable us update your account for future dividend payment.

We were unable to adopt the edividend form attached because the bank account was the old one i.e.

NON- NUBAN compliance. Complete the attached e-dividend form with the new 10 digits account number and return same to us for processing.”

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

BRIEF

Kaztec invests N61bn in FTZ projects

BY MICHAEL EBOH

K

AZTEC Engineering Limited said it has invested about $380 million, about N60.8 billion within the last one year, in the development of its facility at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone in Lagos.

Speaking during a visit by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Idris Umar, to the facility, Mr. Marc Robillard, Commercial Director, Kaztec, said the amount was invested in land development, especially for reclamation of land at the project site and for the acquisition of brand new equipment.

According to him, “80 per cent of the project site was swampy, we had to reclaim the land, this costs us about $200 million (N32 billion).

He disclosed that the project will be completed within the next six months. He added that while the project is being completed in phases, the company will be undertaking new jobs, with revenue from the jobs ploughed back into the completion of the entire project.

Robillard noted that on completion, the company intends to undertake the construction of Floating Production Storage and Offloading, FPSO, modules in the facility.

He said as part of its contribution to the local content initiative of the Federal Government, the

company plans to build a training facility within the complex, for its staff and staff of other organization and community members among others.

He further stated that the company will soon commence the construction of an on-land accommodation facility for its staff, saying it expects to employ about 1,200 people on a full-time basis in the next couple of months.

Also speaking, Mr. Edwin Ndukwe, Business Development and Head, Communications, Chrome Group, parent company of Kaztec Engineering, stated that the project will help reduce unemployment in the country, as it is expected to create about 20,000 indirect jobs.

He said, “In terms of jobs, we are talking about creating up to 20,000 non-direct jobs.

We are plagued with joblessness in this country, and here, we have an independent investor mobilizing this massive work and ultimately we are going to have the training institute, which is the vocational institute, where we train capable hands , who will take jobs and apply their services in this country, generating revenue for themselves and the economy.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. NebolisaEmordi, commended the company for the speedy development of the facility.

He said the complex will provide dry dock facilities that

will ensure that a lot of vessels within the Nigerian maritime sector, instead of going abroad for their maintenance, will patronize the complex, thereby saving the country a lot of foreign exchange.

“The company has already said that whatever they are doing now is Phase 1A, definitely to get the full benefits of this facility, we will be talking of development spanning up to five to ten years.

By the time it comes to full capacity, the sky will be the limit in terms of provision of this facility, promotion of indigenous technology, training of Nigerians to acquire skills and job creation,” he maintained.

Emordi disclosed that the Federal Government will support the company in achieving its aims, noting that whatever approval the company sought, will be approved speedily, as long as it is within the ambit of the law.

From left: Mr Dimeji Salaudeen, Partner and Head, Internal Audit and Risk Compliance Services, KPMG; Mr Michiel Soeting, Partner and Global Head of Energy and Natural Resources, and Mr Victor Onyekpa, Partner and Head, Tax Regulatory and People Services during a press conference by the visiting Michiel Soeting on global oil issue, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Mobil, 12 banks in N1.38trn deal for local contractors

By SEBASTINE OBASI

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ONTRACTORS and vendors doing jobs for ExxonMobil can now have access to funds as the oil major, in partnership with 12 leading Nigeria banks has made available $8.6 billion (N1.376 trillion) under the under the ExxonMobil Nigeria Contractor Finance Scheme (EMNCFS).

Speaking at the launch of the scheme, the Chairman/ Country Director, ExxonMobil Upstream affiliates in Nigeria, Mr. Mark Ward, said the scheme is an initiative that seeks to support Nigeria’s national content aspirations by providing ExxonMobil contractors better funding options to fulfill contracts awarded to them.

He said the initiative underscores one of the three key elements of ExxonMobil’s national content programme which seeks to develop local suppliers to form a competitive base.

“Partnering with 12 leading Nigerian banks, it is our expectation that with $8.6 billion available under the scheme, ExxonMobil contractors nationwide would be able to access better and quicker funding options to enable them execute their contracts speedily. The cooperation of the banks has proved invaluable to the successful rollout of this scheme,” he said.

Ward explained that 24 contractors have been able to access funds under the scheme and promised to

continue to encourage more contractors to sign up to the programme. “They are ensured easier access to competitive funding as well as reduced loan processing time which would enhance speedier completion of their contracts while building their capacity,” he added.

According to him, some of the benefits of the scheme include access to cheaper funds, availability of a reduced loan processing time, increase in credit eligibility and local content development, as Nigerian vendors, contractors and banks would have a win-win situation.

Also speaking, Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring

Board, NCDMB, said that ExxonMobil has continued to demonstrate that Nigerians should be carried along in the executions in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, there are opportunities in the industry but funding has been the major challenge for local contractors.

“There are opportunities in the oil industry, but funding is the major challenge. Beyond contracts in the industry, Nigerians should think along the line of manufacturing and fabrication, which will give more jobs to the citizenry,” he said.

He therefore urged Nigerian banks to pay attention to the needs of Nigerian contractors in the industry. Some of the banks involved include, First Bank, Standard Chartered, Access Bank, Union Bank, Ecobank, Zenith and GTBank.

Total E&P appoints first female MD M

rs. Elisabeth Proust has been appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Total upstream companies in Nigeria, consisting of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Total Upstream Nigeria Limited and severalother subsidiaries.

According to a statement by Charles Ogan, Deputy General Manager – Policy, Media & Coordination, with the appointment, Proust now becomes the representative of the Total Group.

“In her new position she becomes the first female Managing Director in the over 50 years history of the company in Nigeria. Mrs. Proust succeeds Mr. Guy Maurice who has been assigned to other duties in the Total Group,” Ogan said.

Also speaking, Mr. Yves-Louis Darricarrere, Upstream President of Total SA, said, “We have great confidence in the ability of Mrs. Proust to steer the ship of the upstream companies in Nigeria at this critical period in the Group’s activities in the country.” Continuing, Ogan declared that Proust arrives in Nigeria with over 34 years extensive experience in the oil and gas industry.

He said, “Elisabeth Proust is a 1979 graduate of Mechanics and Marine Hydrodynamics from the Mechanical Engineering School (ENSM) in Central Nantes, France and also has a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the French Petroleum Institute (ENSPM) Paris, both in France. She joined Elf in 1980 and started her career with ten years of hands on experience as a driller.

“Proust has held key technical and managerial positions in Exploration and Production in various Total subsidiaries in France, Cameroun, Brazil, Angola, the Netherlands and Russia. Between 2004 and 2008, she was later Vice President Development Engineering and Head of Petroleum Engineering Competence for Total worldwide. In December 2008, Mrs. Proust was appointed President and Managing Director for Total E&P Indonesia. She was also the chief executive for 15 other Total companies in Indonesia and the Total Group representative for the refining/ chemicals and marketing divisions.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 25

Oil & People

Fuel pricing in rural, remote areas under deregulation

By CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU

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UEL pricing in rural areas follow a different trend because the retail outlets are fewer compared to urban areas; and so the fuel retailers can afford to charge higher prices, due to lesser competition, or outright collusion among the few retailers.

This can result in market failure. The customers in these areas are said to operate in a ‘captive market’ depending on the distance the motorists have cover to get to the nearest township (where cheaper fuels could be obtained). Therefore, pricing in rural and remote areas have to be closely monitored by regulatory agencies.

Outcome of market forces Some commentators have argued that the operations of free market forces should not be impeded for any reason. However, in this case, the unfettered operations of market forces will lead to socially and economically undesirable outcomes because higher fuel prices in rural/remote areas will increase the cost of living in those locations.Some of the effects could be rural-urban migration; abandonment of agricultural, fishing and mining activities; low levels of investment in economic activities in rural areas, crimes, etc.

Exceptional market conditions such as acute and sudden shortages in the supply of goods and services whose demand is price inelastic or sudden hikes in prices of such goods (e.g. petroleum product) have often led to calls for regulation. In this case, the social consequences of allowing the free market principles to pre-

vail would be unacceptable in distributional terms. So, government intervention is justified on grounds of market failure.

Therefore, policymakers have to predict the pricing and distributional consequences of proposed measures and design a form of regulation that would lead to outcomes consistent with the overall public interest. Some other commentators agree that the achievement of ‘social justice’ represents a higher value than the protection of free markets, since markets are basically instruments that have to be assessed by their effects on society.

The notion of ‘territorial justice’ provides another basis for ‘regulation in the public interest’ (i.e. social regulation). This notion

suggests some equalization or redistribution of resources between regions, which can be achieved typically by financing or subsidizing services from the Central Fund. For instance, the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) was set up as a Nigerian Government Agency to redistribute petroleum products between the southern and northern parts of Nigeria, and to equalize fuel prices.

Market deregulation: In a deregulated downstream petroleum regime, PEF and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in Nigeria will have to play an increasing role in addressing the rural-urban fuel price differential.

The rural-urban fuel price dif-

ferential is one of the manifestations of unacceptable distributional outcomes when free market forces are fully in play. The use of subsidy schemes for fuels has been a popular tool for governments all over the world in addressing the special needs of rural and remote populations.

The vulnerability of such population groupings to probable predatory pricing practices from established fuel supplies or limited competition among the few fuel retailers in such locations has encouraged the design of policy instruments to counteract fuel pricing problems in such locations and the attendant high cost of rural living.

Price subsidies: From an economic stand-point, subsidies are

From left: NUPENG Vice President, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Aliu Balogun; MD Nipco Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy and Chairman, Lagos Zone, NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, during a courtesy visit to the company by the union leadership, in Lagos.

Forte Oil re-launches engine oil L

BY ONYEGBADUE AMAMDI

EADING oil marketing company, Forte Oil Plc, has re-launched its engine oil brands.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Forte Oil, Mr Akin Akinfemiwa,explained that the project was a threeyear journey, saying that in the year 2010, the company decided to create a new appeal as Forte Oil. He said the company started with rebranding their stations, rebranding their people, processes and philosophies, and now as part of that rebranding process they had thus repackaged their engine oil products.

The CEO stated that they had used an enhanced formulation, but still retaining the same British Petroleum formulation representing excellence, quality and thus is an above average lubricant.

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According to him, “At Forte Oil, we are committed to excellence and quality, and we do our things in a transparent way that makes us stand out as a brand. Our core values are being committed, open, responsive, and also respect.

“We are committed to everything that we do as a company.

We are open and very transparent in our dealings with all our stakeholders we value honest and open feedbacks both from our employees and even receiving such from our stakeholders.”

We are responsive to the needs of our customers and all our stakeholders and in everything that we do we treat everybody with respect.”

Clarifying further, Akinfemiwasaid: “You need to look at Forte Oil beyond just engine oil; we are a foremost integrated energy solutions provider.We are not only man-

ufacturers of engine oil, we are also retailers of refined petroleum products; we are involved with power generation.We are involved with upstream services now if you look at our entire business you will see that we are an energy solutions provider.

“And there is nobody that says that being an energy solutions provider has to be masculine.

We must take into account the female gender in everything that we do. What we found most important and crucial to us lies in our core values and when we looked at those core values beyond the masculinity of the engine oil business which is one aspect of our business Tiwa Savage came tops in the evaluation.”

Speaking as the brand ambassador, music star, Tiwa Savage, said: “it is definitely anhonour and a pleasure for me to be part of this incredible com-

pany. I think the first thing that comes to mind whenever you step into a Forte Oil petrol station, even their offices you can definitely tell that there is a difference in terms of the quality of service you get; the cleanliness of every single gas station.”

Speaking further she said: “If you look at the past few years you’ll see how much they’ve grown in our economy, and yes it is beautiful for them to even consider someone like myself.

I did not really know too much about engine oil but now i can safely fix my car myself i don’t need a mechanic anymore.”

In her comments, the representative of the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mrs.NwaomaOlujie,also the Head, Customer Feedback and Collaboration, congratulated Forte Oil on the repackaging of their engine oil products.

thought to distort competition depending on the absolute size of the subsidy as well as its size relative to the cost of the activity being subsidized. Provision of subsidy is not entirely a bad thing, depending on the goal behind it. Subsidies are regarded as an important policy tool for promoting business development and for addressing social problems and market failures.

Economic policy provides five main justifications for subsidies, as follows: growth promotion, income re-distribution, correction of externalities, provision of special goods, and for increasing economic returns.

Subsidies could be classified into two categories based on purpose, such as ‘resource allocation purpose’ (e.g. for externality correction, reducing costs, etc) and distributional purpose (e.g. addressing regional inequalities, income redistribution, etc).

Regulatory subsidies However, there are six main instruments for effecting subsidies, such as direct cash transfers; tax concessions; and provision of cheap credit. Others are regulatory subsidies (where government uses regulatory instruments to subsidize particular groups; ‘benefit-in-kind’ subsidies (where sales by Stateowned companies are made at lower-than-market prices); and purchase subsidies (where government makes purchases at higher-than-market prices).

Even the industrialized and developed countries have recognized this challenge of fuel pricing problems in rural/remote locations and the need to address it. It is important for the Nigerian Government to recognize that this challenge will arise in rural locations under a deregulated fuel price regime, and to study how the advanced economies have dealt with it.

For instance, countries like Australia, introduced the Petroleum Product Fuels Subsidy Scheme (PPFSS) under the State Grants (Petroleum Products) Act since 1965 targeted at reducing pump price of petroleum products in rural and remote areas. About 21% of all State Grants in the UK is directed at rural development.

Also, the European Union guidelines on State Aid also provide that aid may be granted by its Member States where there are serious economic, social, geological, or environmental problems. Such aides are meant to promote the development of areas where the per capital income levels are low, or where there is serious unemployment; or to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or of certain economic areas. This is provided the aid does not affect trading between Member States.

Dr. Chijioke Nwaozuzu, is a petroleum policy expert in Port Harcourt cnwaozuzu@gmail.com

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Epileptic power: FG to spend N1.72bn on generators

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE negative effect of the epileptic power situation in the country has again been brought to the fore, as Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, of the Federal Government plan to spend aboutN1.722 billion for the purchase of generators and other power generating facilities in 2014.

This is a pointer to the possibility that Nigerians may not experience any improvement in power supply in 2014.

The amount to be used in the purchase of power generating sets, as contained in the 2014 Appropriation Bill sent by the Presidency to the National Assembly, is 8.2 per cent of the N20.6 billion the Federal Government is proposing to spend in ensuring steady supply of power across the country in 2014.

The sum is to be used in the purchase of a number of diesel and gas-powered generators, a handful of solar power generating sets and transformers by 70 MDAs of the Federal Government.

Expenditure profile The Directorate of State Security Service is to spend the most, as it intends to expend N297 million on the purchase of generators for its offices. The Maritime Academy, Oron, followed with plans to spend N150 million on the purchase of generating sets and other

power generating equipment.

Others are: •Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital - N100 million each.

Teaching Hospital, for generating sets, 2.5 megawatts, MW, transformers and other accessories - N52 million •Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi- N52 million

From left: Ernest Nwapa, Mark Ward, Adeola David and Dennis Ayomoto of Citibank, at the launch of the ExxonMobil Contractor Finance Scheme, in Lagos.

•Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, - N94.92 million.

•Voice of Nigeria, VON; Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC; and National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano - N71.61 million, N65 million and N57 million, respectively.

•University of Maiduguri

?Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries, Baga; and Federal College of Horticulture, DadanKowa, Gombe State N25.8 million and N24.9 million respectively.

Appropriation Bill In the 2014 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly, the Federal Government plans to spend N20.6 billion to ensure steady supply of power across the country in 2014, 7.87 per cent less than the N22.36 billion budgeted for the same purpose in the 2013 budget.

The funds is to be used to finance a number of projects, such as the construction of a 215MW Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO)/Gas power plant valued at N3.7 billion and a 10MW wind farm worth N1 billion.

The Federal Government is also proposing an expenditure of N2.3 billion for the construction of small and medium hydro power plants; while N461 million is proposed for renewable energy for electricity generation.

The government also plans to spend N700 million and N1.8 billion to connect Gurara and Bayelsa, respectively to the national grid in 2014.

The FG budgeted N1.4 billion for the Electrifying Nigeria (Light Up Nigeria) project; N150 million for advocacy and awareness for successor companies and N1.7 billion to conduct feasibility studies for coalfired plants at Enugu, Gombe, Benue and Kogi.

Total commissions N150m facilities at Kings College

BY SEBASTINE OBASI HE students of Kings College, Lagos, can now study in a better conducive environment as Total Upstream and its asset partners in the OML 130, commissioned a twin lecture theatre, an assembly hall and a generating set, built at the cost of N150 million.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Charles Ngoka, Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water District, who was represented by Mr. Joseph Ajilore, Executive General Manager, Administration, said the twin lecture hallwill accommodate 400 students, while the assembly hall has a capacity for 500 persons. These are complemented by a 30KVA generator.

“Total Upstream and its partners are happy to be able to create an impact for the benefit of the users of these projects. We hope they would be of tremendous and valuable use to the school and its students,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Dele Olapeju, Principal of the college, said that it is gratifying to note

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BRIEF

that the management of Total Upstream and its partners have lived up their corporate social responsibility by delivering the facilities to Kings College. He promised that they would be put to proper use.

On his own part, Mr. Fidel Pepple, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, who was represented by J. S. Kolapo, said that NAPIMS and its partner, Total, take education and capacity building seriously.

This, he said, is why they align with federal government’s aspiration to develop the country and meet the needs of the citizenry.

“As the investment arm of NNPC, we will continue to work with all our partners and stakeholders to support various programmes of government. The donation of NNPC/ Total is part of that continuous effort to ensure that we contribute to the development of Nigeria,” he said.

Pepple also said that the projects were executed to enhance the academic environment of the students of Kings College.

NUPENG lauds NIPCO’s downstream operations

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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HE leadership of National Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has commended the management of NIPCO for promoting industrial harmony in the nation’s oil and gas industry in the last three years.

NIPCO’s operations in the downstream of the nation’s oil and gas industry, according to NUPENG is laudable and will boost investors’ confidence in the sector.

The recognition was made during a courtesy visit by the union to NIPCO management at its Apapa terminal in Lagos is a fallout of the leadership roles of the organisation as acclaimed by stakeholders in the sector.

NUPENG Zonal Chairman, AlhajiTokunbokorodo, who led the delegation, said they have watched with admiration the meteoric rise of the company in the last 36 months since the present leadership came on board.

He described the incumbent Managing Director, MrVenkatapathyVenkataraman, as a big blessing to the company and the industry in general going by the growth pattern of the company in the last three years.

Korodo noted that the union has watched with keen interest and admiration the zeal and commitment shown so far by the present leadership, which in his estimation is unrivalled in the industry.

“Your efforts at promoting industrial harmony are a laudable one and will go a long way in ensuring continuous growth in the company and further shore up investors’ keen interest in the downstream giant,” he declared Korodo affirmed that the N U P E N G – N I P C O relationship had remained very cordial to the delight of stakeholders, adding that no efforts will be spared to ensure the continuity of this noble path.

He assured that the union will stand solidly behind the organization, and block any moves to truncate the continued growth of the company, in view of its contributions to the sector in particular and the industry in general.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014—27

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28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY

18, 2014

The ups and downs of Odua's tenure

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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IXED reactions from aviation stakeholders and others have greeted the removal of Princess Stella Oduah as the Minister of Aviation. She was sworn in on July 2, 2011 and deployed as Minister of Aviation on July 4. She was last Wednesday relieved of her post alongside the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Police Affairs, Chris Olubolade and the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama.

As customary, her performance, actions and inactions while in office have been assessed by stakeholders and other observers depending on the volume of information they have and their prejudices. But what has almost been a consensus is that there has been visible and remarkable infrastructural changes in all our airports. However, those who seemed to have benefited from previous rots in the airports have kicked against •Princess Stella Oduah these changes. The ugliest moment in her tenure came in October 2013, when has also started on the construction of five she was accused of forcing the Nigeria Civil new international airport terminals in Lagos, Aviation Authority, NCAA, to buy two Port-Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu armoured cars for her use at the cost of N255 under a Memorandum of Understanding million (US$1.6 million). Her critics between the governments of Nigeria and contended that the cost was inflated, there China. was no provision for such a purchase in the Another significant milestone was the budget, and that their acquisition process did commencement of international flights by not comply with public procurement policy.

Ethiopian Airlines at the Akanu Ibiam They further contended that since NCAA International Airport, Enugu, on August 24, procured the vehicles for the former minister, the first international flight from the South it has not been able to meet its statutory East geopolitical zone of the country since obligations to most of its staff. The agency is independence. Following the remodeling of currently cash strapped as it is unable to carry the international terminal of Mallam Aminu out trainings of its technical staff both in the Kano International Airport, Kano, Turkish country and abroad. Although Oduah denied Airlines joined the list of foreign airlines her involvement in the scam and in her operating at the airport on December 13. defence before the National Assembly said On October 29, Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air services Agreement, BASA, Whether or not the aviation history with Israel in Tel Aviv for the in Nigeria will be fair to the former commencement of direct flights between the two countries. The ‘E’ minister will be determined by the and ‘D’ fingers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport actions and performance of her have been expanded extensively successor and put to use, with a full she only advised them to “do the needful,” complement of facilities as conveyor belts, the excuse was not accepted by the majority. security screening machines, immigration She was found guilty by both the House counters and transit lounges, which are at Committee on Aviation and the Senate various stages of completion.

Aviation Committee and President Jonathan The introduction of aerotropolis, airport was advised to “review her appointment.” cities, and perishable cargo export into the Another low point in her tenure was the country ’s aviation industry are major Dana Air and the Associated Airline crashes. landmarks that are designed to make the Dana Air crash killed 153 people and the industry make significant contributions to the chartered Associated Airlines plane that country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) crashed in Lagos was carrying the corpse of a even in the short term. A number of policies former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun were also introduced by the Minister of Agagu, and about 20 people who were all Aviation during this period, some of which travelling to Akure for the former governor’s were the removal of import duties on aircraft burial. Fifteen people died in the crash. This spares, providing an enabling environment led to the call for the minister to resign. for local airline operators to acquire new Without doubts, Princess Stella Oduah aircraft, reintroduction of a national carrier recorded some remarkable achievements. It for the country and the automation of revenue is believed that some of these achievements points of all parastatals under the Ministry recorded were products of the Aviation Sector of Aviation.

Master Plan, otherwise known as the Aviation Whether or not the aviation history in Roadmap, created by her to facilitate the Nigeria will be fair to the former minister will implementation of President Goodluck be determined by the actions and Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the performance of her successor. Nigerians can aviation industry. easily be nostalgic. If her successor does not Some of these milestones include the Airport hit the ground running and immediately Remodeling Project, which has led to the show signs of improving on her structural transformation of many airport achievements, there will be clamour for her terminals across the country, in keeping with return to the ministry. international standards and practices. Work

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Waiting for Hillary Clinton

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HE biggest political buzz in the U.S. was, is, has been and will continue to be about Hillary Rodham Clinton, former First Lady, Senator, and U.S. Secretary of State. Will she or will she not contest the presidency? Even without an answer to this question, it appears as if the gods have decided that come November, 2016, the U.S. presidency will be hers. But Hillary is yet to publicly declare her interest in running for the White House. Yet, her silence is louder and more piercing than the sound of a million vuvuzelas. In fact, she need not declare her intention because everyone knows that she will very much like to make history as the first woman ever to become a U.S. president, as well as the first, first lady to do so in a country where, in 2014, women still earn less than men even where they occupy the same position.

Yes, for overall, every one dollar a man earns in the U.S. a woman in the same position earns less – about 70 cents! Besides, while female presidency is still beyond the reach of Americans, it is certainly not new to our world. As I write, Africa has two of them in Malawi and Liberia and another one in the Central African Republic on an interim basis. And two more can be found in U.S. neighbourhood of Brazil and Argentina. Two issues make Hillary’s political next-move the hot-topic issue that it is. First, we have current vice president Joe Biden.

Running for the presidency It is no secret that Biden would like to have his last try at running for the presidency. At almost 72, age is no longer on his side.

As the serving vice president, he has enough political visibility to go for that office. But, Hillary’s shadow looms too large for the Biden camp. It is an irony that the lady who is outside of government is eclipsing the fortunes of someone in the position of the vice president of the United States.

The second issue is about the Republican Party. As it is, the party has no identifiable leading contender to carry its flag in the 2016 presidential election. The only person who got close to doing so is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Unfortunately, the governor is now mired in a chain of controversies that have practically sidelined him from the presidential race, at least for now. Another potential contender of some substance is Senator Rand Paul, son of former failed presidential contender, Ron Paul.

Yet another is Marco Rubio, the young, handsome and brilliant senator from Florida whose Hispanic parentage is supposed to

give him an element of advantage among Latino voters. Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and younger brother to former President George W. Bush, is also on the list.

But, he has to first woo over his own mother as the matriarch of the Bush family and former first lady of the U.S. has publicly come out to say that Jeb, her son, should not run for the presidency. Apparently, she means that Americans have had enough of the Bush family with her husband and son having already occupied the presidency.

The Republican dirty-trick is something Senator Rand Paul has apparently made his mantra in the past weeks: telling whosoever cares to listen to him that Hillary is not suitable for the U.S. presidency because her husband, Bill Clinton, is a man who, in 1995-1996, was impeached over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Then, Bill Clinton admitted having an “inappropriate relationship” with Monica, an intern at the White House.

So, why is Rand Paul now resurrecting the ghost of Lewinsky, and trying to hang the scandal around Hillary’s neck when it is obvious that she was also a victim of her husband’s inappropriate relationship? As bizarre as this appears to be, the senator believes that Hillary and Bill are two sides of the same coin. If Americans elect Hillary they also would be “electing” Bill at the same time. So, why not attack Hillary and say that potential donors should stay away from her because did inappropriate things to a young lady almost twenty years ago. So, it would be immoral to financially support Bill’s campaign to raise funds for his wife because he abused a woman several years ago. Of course, few people, including some Republicans,think that Rand Paul is on to anything tangible with his ranting against the Clintons.

Both Benghazi and Lewinsky are unlikely to stop Hillary’s ambition.

Americans remember that she stood by her man and saved her marriage and family when the Lewinsky scandal made headlines. They also remember that although she mounted a vigorous campaign against incumbent President Obama during the 2007 U.S. primaries, she was gracious in defeat and magnanimously served the Obama administration with distinction as Secretary of State. She also distinguished herself as a U.S. senator. The Republicans will have to look for something else with which to fight Hillary. Neither Benghazi nor Lewinsky will scuttle her presidential ambition.

In fact, the only thing that can stop Hillary is Hillary herself. It is either that she decides not to run for the presidency – which is most unlikely – or she dramatically fumbles and discredits herself.But for now, you can call her the political juggernaut in the 2016 U.S. presidential race!

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 29

Pellegrini: We’ll attack Barcelona

Fernandinho back, Aguero out against Barca

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Ibrahimovic set to shine

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SG travel to Ger many without injured striker Edinson Cavani. Otherwise coach Laurent Blanc is confident he’ll be able to name his usual side in a 4-3-3 formation.

PSG reached this stage by winning opening round Group C with 13 points from six matches.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can is suspended and centre-half Emir Spahic is a doubt.

The Germans qualified by finishing second behind Manchester United with 10pts.

PSG are 2.28 favourites, which is no surprise. They won four and drew one of five matches in the group phase before losing their final game v Benfica after they had already qualified, and their form in all competitions this season has been excellent: W25-D9L3 (68% win rate).

•Ibrahimovic

ANCHESTER City are currently the “biggest team” in Manchester and will approach Barcelona’s visit without fear, according to Manuel Pellegrini.

Pellegrini was in combative mood as he addressed the press on the eve of a Champions League last-16 tie which provides the latest opportunity for City to underline their credentials as one of Europe’s elite teams.

The City manager has been on the wrong end of Barca’s brilliance in the past, losing out on the Spanish title in 2010 despite taking Real Madrid to a then-record points total.

But City average threeand-a-half goals a game at home in this season’s Premier League, and Pellegrini is not about to alter his attacking style for today’s first leg.

He said: “When you play against Barcelona, against important teams, you always must consider important things.

“But I think the most important thing is to try to be the same team that you are seeing every week here in the Premier League.

“That for me is very important, to continue having the style of play, to continue having the personality to try to beat Barcelona.

Leverkusen have nothing to lose, says Voller

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UDI Voller insists Bayer Leverkusen have nothing to lose ahead of their UEFA Champions League last16 tie with Paris SaintGermain.

Sami Hyypia’s side host PSG in the first leg of their clash today as they aim to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since reaching the final in 2002.

Leverkusen have enjoyed an impressive season and sit second in the Bundesliga, but head into the visit of the defending Ligue 1 champions on a run of five defeats in their last seven matches in all competitions.

And sporting director Voller accepts that PSG, C M Y K

•Voller who sit five points clear at the top of the French top flight, will be expected to reach the next round.

“PSG are obviously the favourites,” Voller told L’Equipe. “We will play a game against a team that is one of the five best in Europe. Bayer has nothing to lose.”

•Fernandinho

F

NEVER LET GO . . . Manchester City players shield FC Barcelona’s pointman, Lionel Messi from their vial area during one of their matches

Messi’s new boots sure to shine against Man City

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O mark the return of the Champions League and with it, one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the whole competition. FC Barcelona will visit Manchester City today at the Etihad Stadium as both sides look to get their foot into the next round. Of course Barcelona will then host Manchester City in two weeks, but this week’s match will set the tone for the return leg.

With the World Cup right around the corner and all the biggest brands pushing out new boots, new colors, and new kits right now, Adidas have officially launched Lionel Messi’s new boot. The F50 that Messi traditionally wears has been given an incredibly sharp new color enhancement, with the base of the boot being white.

From there, Adidas seemingly had a bit of fun with the shoe of arguably the best player in the world.

Black stripes adorn the sides but its the bright neon colors that adorn the back half of the boot that really catch the eye.

Messi’s signature symbol, an “M” sits on the back of the boot, while his name comes down the laces, and a bright green sole plate covers the bottom of the boot. The Argentinian ace was seen wearing the boots throughout training this week in Barcelona with one of those photos being seen below.

ERNANDINHO is set to make his Manchester City comeback against Barcelona today but Sergio Aguero has been ruled out.

Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has missed City’s last three games with a muscle injury but trained on both days since Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Chelsea, and manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed he is available for the first leg of the last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium today.

AC Milan star roots for Man City

F

ORMER Manches ter City striker Mario Balotelli wants to see his old club beat Barcelona in today ’s Champions League clash.

Balotelli himself will be involved for Milan in their tie against Atletico Madrid, but admits he keeps an eye out for his old team-mates and friends at the Etihad Stadium.

*Messi

*Balotelli

PSG present formidable challenge for Leverkusen

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AYER Leverkusen must brush off recent poor form if they are to stop Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris Saint-Germain’s march to the Champions League quarter-finals in today’s last-16 first-leg clash.

Leverkusen have their work cut out containing maverick Ibrahimovic and overcoming the formidable obstacle of high-scoring PSG if they are to reach the last eight for the first time since 2002.

Any side with Ibrahimovic in their ranks is dangerous and the Parisians finished as comfortable winners of Group C, scoring 16 goals in the *PSG players celebrating process.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Weststar unveils Neobus luxury coach •Offers incentives

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ESTSTAR Associates Limited, authorised distributors of Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge products in Nigeria has unveiled the Neobus N10 luxury coach into the market with array of incentives to customers.

The luxury coach which was unveiled at the Weststar Associates Lekki, Lagos office recently looks classy and elegant with high-end features in luxury coach technology.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director Weststar Associates, Mr. Mirko Plath explained that the Neobus has all it takes to be the toast of luxury bus operators with its array of modern feature, competitive price and built quality which are the hallmarks of Mercedes Benz products.

He pointed out that free training for drivers, availability of parts, free spare parts such as windscreen, headlamps mirrors and front bumpers are some of the incentives on offer for buyers of the new Mercedes Neobus from Weststar.

He described the Weststar after-sales backup as one of the best in the industry, adding that they always stand by the customers at all times. “At Weststar, customers satisfaction is very paramount, hence, we are offering these whole lot of extras free to enable customers replace them when the need arise. On the threats posed by Chinese made luxury buses, the managing director explained that their quality stands them out.

“We are not compromising quality. Nothing will make Weststar go for cheaper buses at the expense of quality, safety and other standards”, he said.

Continuing, he said “we cannot begin to compete with Chinese products.

Our approach is different.

The vehicles we are bringing into the country offer our customers value for their money.

In his presentation, the managing director of Neo Bus Africa and coach (PTY) Limited, Mr. Alberto Punnalin highlighted the qualities of the new bus luxury bus he said C M Y K

ranks among the best luxury coaches around the world, adding that they were not in competition with Chinese coaches.

According to him, “in addition, in order to be compliant with the international body resistance rule, high materials were used to build new record N10 bus. So with less weight, the bus can comfortably transport more passengers.”

“The proliferation of Chinese products are not peculiar to Nigerian market alone, but there are different customers, while some will go for Chinese coaches others will go for highend coaches like the Neobus N10,” he said.

The Neobus according to him are available in luxury coaches, BRT, school buses, mini buses, intercity buses and extra long version that can take up to 220 passengers while the double decker version will soon be introduced.

There are 59 (2x2) recline able seats with leatherflex covers, footrest and

folding armrests. The toilet, which is optional, has been developed to users’ comfort with plenty of room to ensure easy access. It also has a mechanical ventilation system that always generates negative pressure inside, ensuring that smells do not get into the passengers room. It is cooled and has LED lighting, while the taps have a

mechanical timer.

“New Road – N10 is all about the new design philosophy of Neobus, bringing the DNA of products to a higher level. The main characteristics are: fluid sculpture, V-angled cutouts and sharp creases with an up-righting concept. It is completely different from its competitors due to its originality and

elegance”, says the Design Manager of Neobus, Leonidas Fleith The body of NewRoad N10 comes on a Mercedes-Benz 0-500 RSD 6x2 Chassis. The bus also consists of 6 in-line vertical cylinders, air suspensions, and has an OM-457 LA- PROCONVE P-5 (Euro III) engine with 360 horsepower

In addition, the N10 has also been developed to meet the stricter safety standards, R66, version 1, which involves under-going structural calculations by finite elements, in addition to tipping tests, front/side impact tests, maximum side-bending tests and survival cell test.

Mack truck rides on single digit interest finance T

HE introduction of single digit interest rate facility by Mack truck representative in Nigeria, Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM), has boosted the sale of Mack trucks in Nigeria, as the Group Executive Director, Mr. Taiwo Shittu has revealed that the scheme improved his company sales figure by about 100 per cent last year.

According to the Director, who spoke to journalists at their Oshodi-Apapa expressway office recently, The single digit finance has worked for us. We recorded over 100% increase in sales last year when compared to 2012, as we surpassed our expectations. He added that more and more transporters are embracing the scheme, but added that they are encouraging more people to key into the scheme.

Throwing more light on the scheme, the Chief Financial Officer, of the company, Mr.

Paul Okunaiya, explained that financing solution for truck acquisition would allow customers access funding for the acquisition of brand new Mack trucks at single digit interest rate and payment spread over a five year period. The rate is fixed throughout the payment period which would help projection as payments will not vary adverse with movement in interest.

According to him, the rate enjoyed may be as low as 5 percent but would not exceed 10 per cent per annum. The rate is based on the assessment of each company business and financial risk.

The finance scheme covers not just the trucks but in addition, the trailers that would be required to run with the trucks as well as the Flat beds, tankers, buckets et al. All that is required to own your desired Mack Trucks and other acces-

sories is just a down payment of 15% of the value of your desired purchase. No collateral, no bank guarantee, no hassles.

The Group Executive Director, further explained that his company which has been into the truck business for many years, has an ap-

preciable number of new Mack trucks in stock as well as spare parts and technical expertise. We have enough trucks on ground which means that the customer does not need to wait a long time before collecting the truck he paid for.

He identified those who have keyed into the

scheme to include operators in haulage and gas business, breweries, cement, consumables and all kinds of wet and dry cargo operators. The scheme kicked off about eight months ago and it has also increased our

Continues on page 31

From left: Lukman Shittu, Director, Lanre Shittu Motor, Nze S.N. Okenmuo, MD, Esotrac Agency Ltd; Taiwo Shittu, Group Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Groups and Fred Otabor, Truck Sales Manager, Lanre Shittu Motors, when Okenmuo took delivery of Mack trucks bought by his company from Lanre Shittu Motors.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 —31

By Theodore Opara

New Nissan Teana

Nissan Teana returns with class-leading features F

RESH from a total makeover, the Nissan Altima also known as Teana has opted out of the mid-sized sedan segment to provide customers with premium experiences and high technologies for the 2014 model year.

The Teana’s package with better value proposition to keep it fresh against increasing competent rivals. Teana’s innovatory features are designed to reposition the car way ahead of competitors.

The Teana according to Nissan is in spite of this new twist, is affordably priced than its rival and is ultimately the game changer in the increasingly competitive entry D-segment.

“We are simply re-emphasizing leadership in the D-segment not only by enhancing class-above

premium and thoughtprovoking technologies but by introducing classleading driving pleasures,” says Nissan Managing Director in Nigeria, Mr. Parvir Singh.

Some of Teana’s distinctive features are to be found in the customizable 3D meter, HMI voice communication and full mobile connectivity, as well as the complete set of around video monitor and intelligent transport system.

The 2014 Teana unlike its predecessor comes equipped with a darkened grille slats at the front end which gives the car a bold and sophisticated appearance with seamless bumper and projector type headlights and a duck tail spoiler at the back.

This is in addition to a longer sloping rear roofline and raised trunk that

creates a more fluidic silhouette that is supported by a sloped A-pillar angle and a raised waist-line that gives a lower coefficient aerodynamic drag.

And down the flanks, there are additional details such as sculpted side sill covers running beneath the doors as well as blind spot warning (BSW) radar system that warns drivers, using LED lights mounted inside the base of the side mirror.

Nissan also stressed Teana maximum efficiency for its conventional version that constitutes the light-

OLLOWING one of its best years in history, the Hyundai Santa Fe was awarded with MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Award for “Best Large Utility’ at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

MotorWeek, television’s longest running automotive series has presented the Drivers’ Choice Awards annually since 1983.

“The Santa Fe hits all the large family utility hot buttons and then some,’ said MotorWeek editorial staff. “There are tons of standard features, an eye pleasing design, and even above average comfort in the third-row.’

MotorWeek editors evaluated vehicles to judge the best new cars and trucks of the year based on what consumers value C M Y K

with wood trim that gaves it two-tone elegance and luxurious ambience, the 2014 version is a lot more improved with cabin – black leather seats and dashboard that gives a premium feel.

A change of colour does not however take away the fact that the cabin is spacious with copious amounts of head and legroom even though the Teana still comes with a wheelbase of 2,775mm.

Mr. Amit Sharma, Head - Sales and Marketing, Stallion NMN, the Nissan national sales distributors

also remarked that the Teana is undoubtedly exceptional and comfortable for long drives; and when stuck in traffic through the usually crawling pace he noted; it definitely offers a less fatiguing experience.

He thus described Teana as Nissan’s solution to the market customers needs, adding that the car shows top-level fuel economy and acceleration supported by the CVT with wide gear ratio and less friction and a thicker torque engine.

Mack truck rides on single digit interest finance Continued from pg 30 customer base, he revealed.

On why his company

Hyundai Santa Fe wins again

F

est in this group.

That’s not all; the Japanese automaker says Nissan’s class-exclusive use of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is to achieve an impressive 76km per gallon on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway driving cycle for the 4-cylinder model but urged customers who are obsessed with performance to opt for a potent V6, a rare feature in the family sedan category.

Although previous incarnations of the Teana 2.5L featured big interior along

most: price, practicality, performance and fuel efficiency. The best models are then selected for each category. The annual award aims to produce a list of winners that can be used as a practical guide for car shopping.

“Since the launch of the all-new Santa Fe , the vehicle has earned countless accolades for its performance, sleek styling and advanced technology offerings,’ said Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “This award further demonstrates Hyundai is proven success in the highly competitive CUV/ SUV segment & ndash it is a honor to be recognized by one of the most trusted names in automotive media.’

introduced the single digit interest rate scheme, he said our desire is to get the best for our customers, as we discovered that many banks were not adequately financing transporters businesses due to high interest rates.

The advantage you have with us is that we have the trucks on ground and those who buy now will avoid higher prices due to the increase in the import duty tariff and levy as a result of the new Federal Government auto policy.

He expressed satisfaction with the commitment of customers towards the scheme, explaining that the good thing is that none of our customers has defaulted so far in servicing the facilities for the ac-

quisition of Mack trucks, and this has encouraged us to extend the scheme to the Yutong bus brand, also distributed by our company. It would be recalled that LSM had in November last year, unveiled a promo for its customers to procure Mack truck spare parts at 30 per cent discount, and the promo is still on-going.

Shittu further stated: we have come to discover that Nigerians are very credit worthy, and beyond that, the durability of the Mack trucks has contributed largely to ensure that the operators get returns for their investments which enables them to service the facility. We are highly encouraged by our customers commit-

ment to servicing the facility, and we believe the reason behind this is that the vehicles are performing and giving them value for their money.

Interestingly, he said, the scheme has been widely acknowledged as recently we received an award for this innovative contribution to the truck industry as Truck Company of the Year from the Nigerian Auto Journalists Award (NAJA) last year.

Meanwhile, the executive director disclosed that his company is in discussion with Mack Truck on how to set up an assembly plant in Nigeria. He noted that in due time Mack will be producing trucks in Nigerian for the African market and the rest of the world.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Yes, there are rumours, but we are not after Mark — Sen. Ibrahim *Why Shema cannot help PDP in Katsina SENATOR Abu Ibrahim who represents Katsina South Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress is the Deputy Minority Whip. He is known as the Asiwaju of the Senate. In this interview, he dismissed the insinuation that Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State would harm the chances of the APC in the state. Excerpts

W

ith Governor Ibrahim Shema about to leave office would he be a threat to your return to the Senate?

Your question is suggestive that Gov. Shema is in control in Katsina state. But I disagree with you. Three senators, 13 out of the 15 members in the House of Representatives are all APC. So, Shema has never been in control. Shema has no influence in Katsina and cannot adversely affect the APC. Besides, l have done enough in my zone as to generate even more interest for the APC. Secondly, the APC is a conglomeration of the CPC, ACN, ANPP, nPDP. Every big name of the PDP in Katsina state is now in the APC; all the former Speakers, the two former deputy governors, and ministers.

Movements to one party So as far as the APC is concerned only Shema is left in the PDP. Even if he contests for the senate seat now he cannot win, l can assure you.

As the deputy minority whip, how have you checked the PDP from overwhelming your party ’s positions in the chamber?

You see, once you are elected to become a senator, it does not matter whether you are PDP, APC or whatever.

There are senators who l used to see every night and they saw me every night and we bonded together a lot but because of the movements to one party or the other, there is suspicion.

With what is playing out now could there be a change in the Senate leadership?

I think we as APC have repeatedly said that our aim is not change of leadership of the senate. The senate president himself commended us that APC is not working to take over the leadership of the National Assembly. Mark has been fair and mature in his handling of C M Y K

matters in the Senate.

Besides, we have to look at figures. To remove the principal officers you need two third of the majority. So it’s not possible.

Yes, there are rumours and especially are these so because of party politics. The understanding is that now it’s raw politics and l expect this raw politics to take the back seat soon. It will soon be over once the perceived injustice done to the APC is removed or satisfied, we shall go back to our normal selves.

Do you see the APC as a party that is ready to take over government at the centre, and if so, what gives you the confidence?

The APC is very ready. Look, how many governors do we have now? About 16 governors!

How many senators? 40 plus!

And you are asking whether we are ready? Give me Nigeria now l will rule it, as simple as that. Make me president tomorrow and see if l will not be able to do a good job. APC has quality people. If you want real change in this country, the APC has it. It can close its eyes and change Nigeria by stepping on everybody’s toes

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BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

As far as the APC is concerned only Shema is left in the PDP. Even if he contests for the senate seat now he cannot win, l can assure you

,

in combating corruption to make sure that we become more aggressive and disciplined.

We have that kind of person, we have a genius in Bola Tunubu who transformed Lagos into something else, a state that was getting N2 billion and he generated N20 billion monthly. We have people who are intelligent and who can rule Nigeria better..

Is the leadership offered by President Goodluck Jonathan short of the expectation to take Nigeria forward?

Where have we made progress, tell me? Go to the Federal Office of Statistics and they will show you how far we

•Ibrahim: PDP can do anything for power have fallen? So, as far as I am concerned there is no progress.

Tell me what have they achieved? That is why l call the PDP Poverty Development Party. Look at the economy, are we improving? No, we are not.

The biggest business in Nigeria is corruption, that is the only thing thriving. When about 23 percent of your budget is spent on capital projects and the rest on chop, chop, you know something is terribly wrong.

So, obviously you need a virile leadership that will take Nigeria to where we all desire it to be.

Could you react to the

allegation that the PDP gave some APC members $2m to defect from the APC to the PDP? Anything can happen. The PDP can do anything to continue ruling Nigeria. They are desperate. All the missing oil money that people are talking where do you think they are going?

Can they attract those of you in the senate?

You see it is about personal integrity.

Nobody has approached me and nobody would. I believe generally that my colleagues would be above board.

We need truth confab, not SNC— Onaiwu Etinosa Onaiwu, vice president, Red Carpet Protocol; Editor-in-chief, Governor’s Mandate magazine and executive producer, Governor’s Mandate Television, in this interview with Vanguard, gives his take on current issues in the polity. Excerpts:

H

IS take on the spate of defections in the polity among political parties What we are experiencing can be looked at in two ways.

First, the spate of defections is the price we pay for not having issue-driven debates and campaigns in our politics.

So, the politicians do not have any ideological promises that you can hold them to when they defect.

On the other hand, you can consider it as a development which will form the basis for developing our democracy because as our politics evolve,

people will begin to ask questions. Defections are neither new nor peculiar to us.

Former American Republican President, Ronald Reagan, was once a Democrat. He left the democrats in 1962 to become a Republican.

It is nothing new; even in these days, Republicans still defect to the democratic side and vice versa but it is just that ours seem to have raised a lot of eyebrows because of the number of people and the speed with which it occurred.

However, I think that in the long run, many will have to

explain to their electorate why they are defecting. The governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, for example, had to explain to the people in his state that they would be better off with the All Progressives’ Congress and that they would get their oil wells back under an APC-led administration.

Whether he is right or not that’s more issue-driven and more relevant. Eventually, that will be considered a good foundation. More so, since it has been entirely civil, I have confidence that it will help to

develop our politics.

On how the defections and other events could shape 2015 Well, if anything, it is going to make any interested party or individual work hard for his or their votes. What these developments have proved, so far, is that no one will take electioneering for granted.

The APC has formed a merger which, on the surface, looks like a threat to the ruling party, the PDP. Now, while the PDP cannot sit back and think that all is well, the APC will know that they have an epic battle on their hands if they must wrest power from a party that has held it since 1999. Both par-

Continues on page 33

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014—33

Akwa Ibom 2015: We know where we are going — Aniekan Umana, Info Comm MR. Aniekan Umana is the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communication. In a recent visit to Vanguard corporate headquarters, he fielded questions from editors on recent political developments in the state and the future political direction of the state. Excerpts:

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HAT is the relationship between your governor and the former SSG Umana Umana?

I don’t think there is a soured relationship, just political interests and realignments, reshufflings here and there.

Why would your governor ask security men to seal up the SSG’s office.

Who said an office was sealed up?

It was widely reported.

It depends on what side you want to hear. The governor was not in town, Obong Umana Umana was not in town, so how do you seal off the office of somebody who was not even there? We were all in Abuja.

It was alleged that the wife of the governor led the security men to the office?

No, no, that is not true. That is totally false and I want to plead with people to leave the wife of the governor and members of his family out of this issue. It is taking blackmail too far. What is the role of the wife of the governor in the day to day administration of the state. No, that is not her job.

Was there an agreement between Governor Akpabio and Umana prior to the 2007 election?

I don’t know of any such agreement.

So what role did Umana play in the election of Obong

Akpabio as governor?

They served in the same cabinet in the administration of Obong Victor Attah. The governor was first commissioner for petroleum and environment, then commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs and then in the closing days, commissioner for lands and housing. Obong Umana Umana was Commissioner for finance and so, they were good friends in the cabinet.

What logistic support did Umana provide for Akpabio to become governor?

I don’t know about that.

It would seem that the way Umana left government is becoming a trademark given that the former Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, left almost in the same circumstances.

They are not the same. These were two separate cases. There are only two ways of a deputy governor leaving office: impeachment or resignation.

Elective position Ekere resigned and cited personal reasons, but for an appointee, the office is held at the convenience of the governor who appointed the person in the first place. So, it is not an elective position.

It is just like me, I am holding this office at the convenience of the governor and my

•Umana: No accord between Umana Umana and Akpabio business is to interpret his vision and to work as he directs me on a daily basis to make sure that I meet his aspiration and vision for the people of Akwa Ibom State. Every appointee must understand this.

It has been widely reported that the present SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel is being primed to become the PDP gubernatorial candidate in

2015. How true is this?

I don’t understand what you mean by being primed, but I

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

They have said Uyo, no. Ikot Ekepene, no, and chorused Eket Senatorial district and the governor has made it clear that that is where to look at

do know that he is ably qualified to hold the position he is holding. In the first place

We need truth confab, not SNC— Onaiwu Continued from page 32 ties will now go ahead to appeal to the electorate more earnestly and aggressively, if not genuinely. In the end, the people will be the winners.

On allegations that President Goodluck Jonathan is aiding and abetting corruption through his ‘body language’ We will do this nation a service to take corruption way beyond the president. True, the buck stops with him, but at the end of the day, he is just another product of the society and environment where we find ourselves. Corruption permeates our society and it has resulted to a systemic rot which, I believe, will not take one or two terms of a serious presidency to elimi-

nate. All those parents who pay people to write examinations for their children, people who steal in private and in public, those who disobey traffic rules, disregard court orders and embezzle depositors’ funds in banks were not inspired by the president.

Seeing all these, I will advocate a national conference on corruption, a truth conference and not a sovereign national conference which some people are proposing. This issue is serious enough for us to come together and talk about it.

Those who are insisting on a sovereign national conference need to know that corruption is a greater issue because so many people are in it. And because all ethnic

•Onaiwu groups, both minority and majority are caught-up in it, it has become a unifying factor beyond any other thing in the country. If we must fight

he came out from a very senior position in Zenith Bank, he was an executive director of the group. He worked at the topmost echelon of corporate Nigeria, so I think he was roundly qualified for the job just like the man who was there did his best. So I don’t understand the issue of being primed.

What is your principal's view on the issue of the governorship in 2015?

The people have spoken roundly on the direction that they are looking. The governor has asked the people, he has asked stakeholders, he has asked party executives, he has asked people in religious gathering where the governorship should go, and the people have pointed to a direction.

In the last administration, Uyo Senatorial district held it for eight years, today, the governor is from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district and by May 2015, he (governor) would have held power for eight years and Eket Senatorial district with 12 local government areas is the third arm in the tripod and the people are looking that way.

The equation and calculation looks that way and if what the people are saying is anything to go by, I tell you that if you do an election today, what you have heard the people say would be the result. They have said Uyo, no. Ikot Ekpene, no, and chorused Eket Senatorial

corruption, we need to have a truth conference where we must tell each other the truth.

Rather than asking how ethnic nationalities have been treated in the country, these ethnic nationalities should be asking themselves how much they have contributed to corruption in the country.

I don’t think anyone can say that one ethnic group is more corrupt than the other. If we say that corruption has stunted our growth, we need to sit and decide on how to eliminate corruption from our midst.

You are saying a truth conference, rather than a sovereign national conference, will serve the nation better?

If I had my way, I would have a national truth conference first.

,

district and the governor has made it clear that that is where to look at.

Many say that the governor is performing but some have said that what is on ground is not commensurate with inflows.

I think that is an uninformed position and I pity those who hold that position because I can see the poverty of knowledge there. The answer that the governor gives to such people is that you should come and see. Judge him on what you have seen on ground. He would tell you that if you think Akwa Ibom has one million naira that you will see 80 per cent on the ground on infrastructure.

I am saying this because the starting point was working with the State House of Assembly to ensure sound budgeting. The starting point for the uncommon transformation was the budgeting. He had to reverse the old trend and blocked all the loopholes in government and all the leakages that enable you blow the system

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

HE Lagos state government is having a running battle with land-grabbers and encroachers on state lands which deprive her of accruable revenue.

Before the present onslaught, series of stakeholders' meetings were held to educate communities on the consequences and inherent dangers in the nefarious act.

However, if the recent move by the state government is anything to go by, then, the menace and activities of landgrabbers will soon be a thing of the past.

A bill is currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, proposing 21 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of land grabbing.

Repossession of property

•Lagos community protesting against land grabbers

The bill stipulates that anyone who sells land to another person knowing that such a land belongs to a third party commits an offence and is liable to 21 years imprisonment upon conviction.

In the bill titled: ‘Law to Prohibit Forceful Entry and Occupation of Landed Properties, Violent and Fraudulent Conducts in Relation to Landed Properties in Lagos State,” the lawmakers also proposed 10 years for any owner of a landed property who uses violence to seek repossession of his property.

The proposed law, which underwent public hearing, recently, prohibits anyone from using force to take over any landed property in the state.

“Any person or group of persons who, having used force to take over a landed property in the state after the

Lagos goes to ‘war’ with land-grabbers •Seeks 21-yr jail term for land-grabbers, 10 yrs for forceful re-possession With about seven million land documents stored in the Electronic data Management System, EDMS, at

,

Fraudsters have for long thrived on the ignorance and sometimes reluctance of buyers to take measures confirming genuineness of properties before purchase

commencement of this law, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a prison term of 21 years,” states Section 2, subsection 1 of the 17-section bill.

The law also stipulates a fine of N300, 000 or a prison term of three months for anyone who trespasses into another person’s land and refuses to leave even when the original owner of the land obtains justice.

It also bars the use of thugs, vigilantes or any other such group for the purpose of taking possession of a landed property in order to execute a court judgment.

,

the land registry, consisting details of documented lands and properties in Lagos, land grabbers sure have tough times ahead of them.

That of course is, if citizens are willing to take the right steps guiding intending land buyers within the state, which was the case with one Mr. and Mrs. Johnson who recently fell victim of fraudster.

Eager to have their own property, the couple gathered all they had including loan from the co-operative in their offices and made payment to the property agent .

It was an offer they could not resist two plots of land along Lekki Express Road at a price they considered quite reasonable.

In the Johnsons' case, the couple aftr the payment went to the land bureau to document it only to find out otherwise.

Aware of the activities of illegal land allotees which occur on a regular basis, the state Land Bureau, sensitizing the people, advised, that anyone wishing to acquire properties should make proper enquiries before purchase.

Proper enquiries To this effect, the office called on members of the public to cross check any land matter in the office to avoid falling victim to swindlers.

The most appropriate properties to buy according to the office are those whose papers have been perfected.

Having registered such, information

on it is readily available at the land registry. This made it easy for future sales as the survey can be tendered at the registry for verification.

Fraudsters have for long thrived on the ignorance and sometimes reluctance of buyers to take measures confirming genuineness of properties before purchase.

Cloning of Cs of O The Certificate of Occupancy (COf-O) issued with the name of the original owners on it is, for that reason not transferable. Not giving up as usual, in their several attempts to beat security, fraudsters now clone C-of-Os. Such forged papers could be detected by the authority at the point of presentation before payment is made for particular property.

According to source at the Lands Bureau, as a secondary owner, legal document of transfer of ownership known as governor’s consent can be obtained.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Road accidents: Fashola reads riot act to truck owners, drivers

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

F

OLLOWING the spate of road crashes in Lagos state, Governor Babatunde Fashola has called on the truck drivers and operators to embrace better business model and be safety conscious while driving.

Addressing the truck/articulated vehicles operators, Fashola lamented that in spite of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012, the truck drivers had remained the major causes of accidents in the state.

The governor however urged the truck owners to ensure that all their drivers visit any of the five Lagos State Drivers Institute, LASDRI centers to acquire new driving skills that will enable them to drive safely.

Fashola lamented that low life expectancy in Nigeria is caused by unsustainable business model adopted by operators, saying it is better for them to move their goods at night rather day time.

He blamed the recurrent road crashes incidences on failure of the drivers and operators to obey the traffic law.

The Governor, who decried the manner in which the truck operators

messed up Apapa axis, said the poor environmental condition of the axis should not be excuses for driver to defecate in the public.

"When we went there with the Taskforce chairman, parts of the dirt’s we removed from the place were

human faeces, which I think shouldn't be found there", he said.

Governor Fashola, however urged the operators to cooperate with the state government in order to enjoy government's policies, adding that the policies are meant to improve living

— 35

condition of everyone in the state.

He said; “I appeal to the operators of articulate vehicles and haulage businesses to co-operate with us so that we can serve you better. Anybody could become victims of these crashes and traffic gridlock, it could be anyone.

It could be your son, wife as anybody could be victims of some of these unsafe practices The governor also decried attitude of Nigerians towards change, reiterating that the growing low life expectancy in the country is due to avoidable crashes which, according to him, claim lives of innocent citizens.

"You have to talk to your employees and other stakeholders in this business to adopt a safer business models, we can't allow you to continue to kill our citizens. We have a duty to protect lives and properties," Fashola added.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa said the road accidents involving the truck call for urgent actions to be taken, saying the meeting was designed to find a lasting solution to the road crashes caused by the articulated vehicles.

"We believe if we are able to talk to you, you will adopt a safer model of going about your businesses. We can't allow people to die of accident involving your men. Besides, you damage our infrastructure a lot. These are reasons why you have been invited to deliberate with us on the solution to these road crashes," Opeifa said.

An articulated truck involved in an accident.

National issues mar Lagos school census plans

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

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with approximately four million learners.

There are several unresolved issues pertaining to population census in respect of Lagos which will directly affect the proposed annual school census.

Being located in a federal structure, the Lagos is however affected by the

OPUL ATION census is an integral development factor in any system , district , city or country.

The proposed plan by the Lagos state government to conduct an annual schools’ census with a mission to help generate accurate and reliable data will face problem arising from unresolved issues from the national census The head count for schools in the state is among others, meant to enable the state align with practice in the world, where the stakeholders including Principals, Head teachers, teachers and enumerators will be trained by the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria, ESSPIN. ESSPIN is a partnership between the Nigerian Government and the United Kingdom Department for International Development, DFID - to develop effective planning, financing and delivery systems that will improve the quality of basic education.

By the end of this year, it is expected to have a significant impact on 7,500 public and 1,600 non-government schools •Lagos school children.

overarching laws of the federation.

In June last year, the National Census Tribunal declared null and void the headcount in 14 local government areas of the state for the 2006 National Population and Household Census, ordering the Nigerian Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a fresh headcount in the areas to ascertain the

true population figure.

The Lagos State Government had, on behalf of 19 out of 20 old LGAs, which covers 40 out of the new 57 councils in the state, sought the intervention of the National Census Tribunal to nullify the 2006 census figure of 9,113,605 allotted to the state by the NPC based on petitions written by the local governments alleging irregularities, which resulted in the exclusion of many residents from the exercise.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the tribunal, however, did not uphold the petitions of the remaining five local government areas of Shomolu, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Mushin and Oshodi-Isolo on the ground that sufficient proof was not presented by the petitioners.

The Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu, earlier explained that the need for the schools’ census cannot be overemphasized hence she appealed to all stakeholders to key into the exercise for a successful exercise.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

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FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014—37

Dickson tasks political class on service

2015: Ex-student leader drums support for Ochei

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

BY FESTUS AHON

Y

U

GHELLI—FORMER Vice President of National Association of Delta State Students, NADESSTU, Mr. Donald Igudia, yesterday, expressed optimism that the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, would deliver democratic dividends to Deltans if given the mandate to govern the state in 2015.

Igudia, during a consultative visit to youth leaders, past and current student leaders from Ughelli North in Ododegho town , urged youths in the state to give Ochei all the needed support.

He said: “My mission here is to seek your support in preaching to youths of the state to play active role in the forthcoming elections and not to allow ourselves to be used as agents of destruction.

“I want to make us understand that we must support youths to get into various positions of leadership in the state especially the governorship election, where ours is a major contender, that is the person of Ochei.

I want to assure us that Ochei will deliver come 2015 if we support him."

Missing funds: CNPP chieftain flays Sanusi over comments

BY IFUNANYA OKAFOR

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HE Secretary General of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu, has advised the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, to consider the image of the country before grandstanding about probity in public office.

Reacting to the Sanusi’s sustained campaign against officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Chief Ezugwu said his recent activities suggest that he was desperate to ingratiate himself into the consciousness of Nigerians through preaching accountability.

INSPECTION: Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (right) explaining some points to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal (middle); Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, Mr. Owan Eno and Mr. Bassey Ewa, during the inspection of construction work at the multi-billion naira Calabar International Convention Centre.

Delta Beyond Oil: Why initiative's gaining global acclaim —Ogeah D ELTA State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, has said that the decision by the state government to adopt a wholistic approach to development has become a template not just for the rest of the country, but beyond.

The initiative, Delta Beyond Oil, enunciated by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, according to him, is to effect a paradigm shift from the nearly 100 percent reliance on revenue from crude oil in driving the state’s economy, by harnessing other resources in the state to create a vibrant economy away from oil which is a finite resource.

Ogeah, who spoke on a television programme, said that the areas of emphasis in weaning Delta State from dependence on oil are agriculture, information and communication technology

(ICT), developing other natural resources, including solid minerals, developing the huge manpower base, and creating a clement environment for investment and private enterprise to thrive.

He said: “The vision entails the development of a strong infrastructural base, which include modern roads, efficient water transportation, efficient healthcare system, and world class educational system. Delta Beyond Oil is not a physical structure in terms of a building, but an enduring vision to prepare the state for the inevitable drying up of hydro-carbon deposits. In effect, the vision does not come with any cost.

“The vision recognises the fact that despite a relatively significant revenue from oil,

Delta is faced with huge challenges, especially in the cost of developing critical infrastructure due to its tough terrain. The game changing initiative and the accomplishments recorded so far attracted a medley of recognitions and awards by reputable local and international media houses and other organisations.”

Among the awards recently conferred on Dr. Uduaghan are the Man of the Year 2013 by three mainstream newspapers, including The Sun, Vanguard, Leadership and Nigerian Pilot. From Dublin, Republic of Ireland, came the International Outstanding Leadership Award

by Metro Eireann, the country’s multi-cultural newspaper.

2015: Ogoni urged to work in harmony over Rivers governorship

I

N a bid to reposition Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State ahead of the 2015 general elections and retain its foremost position of being the largest ethnic group in the state, a chieftain of Ogoni Welfare Association, Lagos State, Mr. Baribea Nwidezua, has called on the people of Ogoni to work with other senatorial districts in the state to ensure that politics of consensus and inclusiveness was practised so as to put an end to ethnic politics and political gangsterism.

Nwidezua, the Chief Executive of Bias Motors, urged Ogoni people to raise the profile of the area in national politics, by embracing the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, adding that no candidate or strange party would be imposed on the people.

He declared Ogoni's loyalty to the Federal Government and the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, saying that ethnic politics was an ill wind that blows nobody any good and must be discouraged in order not to turn Rivers State into a political battle ground as 2015 elections approaches.

He added that the All Progressives Party, APC, cannot capture Rivers State in 2015, even if the party employs the service of the best election

riggers, adding that with the PDP structure on ground in the Niger Delta, there was no way the APC could capture the state as the party was currently boasting of doing.

Nwiidezua said: “The Ogoni people strongly identify with President Goodluck Jonathan as his dynamic administration fights against corruption and other vices in order to move the country forward.”

He advised the Ogoni nation to remain focused and not be distracted by desperate politicians, who are set to mortgage the conscience of their fatherland for selfish interests.

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has urged the ruling class in the country to make service their watchword with a view to making a positive impact in the lives of those they govern.

He also charged the citizenry to contribute meaningfully to the country ’s growth and development by being alive to their civic responsibilities.

Dickson, at a dinner/command performance to mark his administration’s second anniversary in Yenagoa, said that Nigeria will develop faster if leaders and citizens alike appreciate its diversity as an asset and collectively fight the challenges confronting the country.

While underscoring the importance of national unity, Dickson took a swipe at politicians and political parties that are fanning the embers of strife and disintegration.

Compensation over land for oil pipeline splits Delta community

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—CONFLICTING claims over compensation for lands earmarked for an oil and gas pipeline cutting through Igbuku community in Ndokwa East Local Government, Delta State, has set the Ekegu Royal family against others in the community.

In a rejoinder to an earlier compensation request to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Nestoil, the company involved in the planned pipeline, the family noted that certain persons, allegedly unqualified, were parading themselves as owners of Igbuku land and representatives of the community with the aim of collecting compensation due to Igbuku.

The alarm raised by the family, represented by Mr Matthew Omasanuwa, and forwarded through their lawyers, warned the companies to discountenance all negotiations made by others for themselves or on behalf of the community in respect of compensation.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 , 2014

NPA boycotts Senate Committee’s visit ...NASS accuses MD of disrespect

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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CONFERENCE: From left, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo; Professor Adesola Adenikiju, and Mr. Michael Tidi, at the on-going Nigeria Association for Energy Economics Conference, in Abuja.

Angry reactions trail IMSU VC's appointment

Governorship's not about kola nut breaking — Sen. Nwaogu

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — ANGRY reactions have started trailing the appointment of former national president of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, as the substantive vice chancellor of Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri.

Odinma Owerri, a sociocultural group comprising chieftains of different political parties operating in the state, rose from an emergency meeting, weekend, and condemned the appointment of Awuzie.

“It is a matter for regret that Governor Rochas Okorocha did not find any academic from Owerri zone fit to occupy the seat.

“It is sad that Okorocha picked as VC somebody that came a far third from the three presented to him,” chairman of Odinma Owerri, Sir Oliver Enwerenem, fumed.

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — A leading governorship aspirant in Abia State for 2015, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, has dismissed the conservative views of some people in the state that women were not good enough to run for the seat, reminding them that governance was not kola nut breaking which women did not perform in Igboland.

According to Senator Nwaogu, such conservative views no longer hold as they are now at variance with present day political realities.

Nwaogu, who spoke at the inauguration of a three classroom block she attracted for Owerri Road Primary School, Aba, through the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, projects, weekend, declared she currently represented the best material for governor of the state in 2015.

According to her, men should know that governorship position was not breaking of kola nut which women were excluded from performing in Igbo tradition.

“We are not going there to break kola nut. I know I can do it, I know that Senator Nkechi Nwaogu will add value, bring smiles to the faces of our people,” the senator said.

Nwaogu, who represents Abia Central senatorial district, expressed her readiness to battle it with her male counterparts in the race to succeed Governor Theodore Orji in 2015 on the platform of the ruling PDP.

A

BAKALIKI — THE Rec tor, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Professor Francis Otunta, has warned the executives and members of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions of the Polytechnic not to engage in acts of violence and misconduct capable of undermining the status of the institution.

This is came as the union embarked on a one-day protest over Federal Government’s unwarC M Y K

ranted neglect of polytechnic education in the country and unfulfilled demands of the union since 2009.

The protest, which witnessed large turn -out of NASU members within the polytechnic environment, saw them carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “IPPIS will not work for us. We don’t need it,” “NASU pleads.

Pay us the arrears of CONTISS 15 migration,” “Please ensure continuity in the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration,” among others.

The rector, who charged them

The senator said she had paid her dues in Abia politics, having served the state in the capacity which she used to touch the lives of people positively.

Senator Nwaogu warned against political neophytes coming into the arena with the intention of using Abia as a “political kindergarten” to experiment on how to govern a state, and urged the people to rise and say no to such an idea.

Abaribe, SMEDAN empower 650 artisans with N33million

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

S

ENATE COMMITTEE Chairman on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, has distributed cash grants of N33million to over 650 artisans in Abia South senatorial district to reduce the unemployment rate in his constituency.

The grant, which was facilitated in collaboration with the Small

Avoid violence when asking for your right, rector warns NASU

BY PETER OKUTU

HERE ARE Indications that the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, may have boycotted the visit of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, despite two weeks notification of the visit.

The Senate Committee on Marine Transport, weekend, paid an oversight visit to the agency over 2014 budget, but was surprised to witness the absence of the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, only to be represented by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Mr. Olumide Oduntan .

This is even as the committee

to maintain peace and order while advising the Federal Government to meet their demands, assured that their messages would be delivered to President Goodluck Jonathan through the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike. ”While asking for your right do not go violent; do not do what will bring Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic down; we have begun to develop, let us continue to develop. Let everybody contribute his or her quota in the upward movement of this institution."

and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, was preceded by training of the recipients, drawn from the six local governments in the zone.

The event which held in Aba, attracted traditional rulers, a mammoth crowd traders and a horde of party faithful.

Abaribe, who gave out the cheques to the beneficiaries, explained that the training was originally meant for 350 persons, adding that the need to address the issue of joblessness necessitated its increase to 660 artisans.

"Of course, the increase in number means that the amount advanced to each person dropped correspondingly, yet what was given would definitely go a long way to aid the recipients in their chosen field,” he said.

He encouraged the recipients to make judicious use of the funds, describing registered cooperatives as a vehicle for other empowerment grants from institutions as the Bank of Industry.

Earlier, Abia State Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Don Ubani, expressed delight in the programme.

vowed not to pass the agency’s 2014 budget until the agency had satisfactorily revealed to it all ongoing projects and their stages.

A visibly angry Senate Committee Chairman on Marine Transport, Hajia Zaynab Kure, expressed her shock at the shabby way the NPA managing director handled their statutory oversight visit to the agency, which she tagged a sign of disrespect to her and other members of the committee.

Senator Kure said: “On behalf of my distinguished colleagues, I want to express my disappointment and displeasure, and of course, embarrassment at your MD's inability to receive an esteemed committee made up of distinguished Senators that have come on an oversight function to NPA. “This honourable committee wrote about two weeks ago to NPA that we are coming on a constitutional and statutory assignment. If for any reason the MD, who must have received the letter, knew he won’t be around to receive us, he should have written back to us that he has another assignment that he feels is much more important than receiving this committee.

“But there was no communication. I only got a call from the NPA MD on my way to the airport, by which time all my other colleagues have even boarded the aircraft, informing me that he won’t be able to receive us.

“I did not tell my other colleagues because I thought that if I had done that, I won’t be doing justice to what has brought us here. I wanted everybody to come and see things for themselves. Except for one of us, every other member of this committee is here for this oversight visit.

“But for us to get here and the MD is not here, I must tell you that the committee is seriously disappointed and we are not happy at all. We want you to communicate same to your MD. “We know that you are working as a team but the MD has no right, whatsoever, to have treated us the way we are treated today.

We should have known that he won’t be here and would have possibly rescheduled our trip.”

Corroborating her, another member of the committee, Senator Ben Ayade, described the action of the NPA MD as an absolute disrespect to the National Assembly.

“I feel highly compromised. I think there is an absolute disrespect for the National Assembly.

This conduct is deliberate. I find it very insulting.

On the passage of the 2014 budget of the NPA, Senator Kure disclosed that the committee came down to Lagos to see things for itself before passing the budget.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 -39

VALENTINE: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his wife, Mrs. MEETING: From left: Hon. Patrick Aguinede, Commissioner for Basic Roli Uduaghan (right) with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, at an event tagged Education, Edo State, Archbishop of Bendel Province, Anglican Communion, 'An Evening With The First Family' organised to mark Valentine Day, in Government Most Rev Friday Imaekhai, and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during a meeting with Church leaders on the church building and perimeter House, Asaba . fence erected by the Church on Government land.

FLAG OFF: From left: Group Head, E-Channels, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Chuks Iku,Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, and Regional Director, Abuja/North Central, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Gbaye Adewuyi, at the flag off ceremony of the biometric data capture and electronic payroll system for the state workforce in Lokoja.

From left: Mr. Tajudeen Fatai, Store Manager, Swatch, Mr. Segun Ogunleye, Marketing Communication Manager, Smart Mark and Mr. Usime Martin, Brand Manager, Swatch, at the unveiling of 2014 Swatch Valentine collection in Ikeja. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

AWARD: From left: Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Haruna Manu, Executive Director, Ethics Ambassadors (NGO), Mr. Salih Yakubu and Hon. Mohammed Idris, when Hon. Manu received an award as the most ethically responsible legislator from the North-East in Abuja.

From left: Ms. Yvonne Ike, Non Executive Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc/MD, Renaissance Capital West Africa, Mr. Seni Adetu, MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and Ms. Olajobi Makinwa, Head, Transparency & Anti-corruption, UN Global Compact, at the Pathway of Pride event organized by Guinness Nigeria Plc to showcase business integrity in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

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PRESENTATION: HRM, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri, presenting a cheque to one of the 15 recipients who benefited from the Itsekiri Education Trust scholarships, at the Olu's palace, Warri, Delta State. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

DONATION: Dr. Asabe Shehu Yar'Adua, Founder, Asabe Shehu Yar'Adua Foundation, ASYARF, with the Brazilian Coordinator, Mr. Valentine Nwanugo and some members of ASYARF donating items to Family Vocational Home, Yan Yan, Abuja, to mark Valentine's Day with the physically challenged in Abuja.

INSPECTION: From left: Clerk, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Mrs. Betty Okoroh, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Sen. Boluwaji Kunlere, Operations Base Manager, Pan Ocean Oil Corporation,Mr. Monday Ikhureigbe, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, Sen. Ahmad Zannah, Sen. Bello Tukur and Deputy General Manager, Corporate Strategy, Pan Ocean Oil Corporation, Mr. Adeshina Shittu, during the inspection of the firm by the Senate Committee on Gas Resources in Delta State.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Nasarawa awards N1bn contract for provision of chairs, desks in schools

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AFIA—THE Nasarawa State Government has awarded a one billion Naira contract for the provision of chairs and desks in primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

Malam Abdulkarim Mohammed-Abdullahi, Executive Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday, in Lafia.

He said that the contract became imperative to provide a conducive learning and teaching environment, as well as reduce the hardship being experienced by the pupils and students.

According to him, the move was also to improve on the standard of education in the state.

Kaduna partners UNICEF in fight against Polio

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ADUNA—THE Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency said it was collaborating with UNICEF to revive 1,700 health committees at ward levels to effectively fight poliomyelitis.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Sufyan Babale, stated this at a one-day Sensitisation and Training Workshop for Traditional Leaders on their roles in polio eradication held in Sabongari, Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the programme was organised by the agency in collaboration with UNICEF “C” Field Office, Kaduna.

Babale said the revival of the committees became imperative in view of their importance toward the eradication of the disease.

“The essence of the collaboration is to make the committees more effective and functional to adequately eradicate poliomyelitis right from the ward levels."

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NAFDAC intensifies search for fake drug producers in rural areas

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI —THE Na tional Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has intensified its patrol and raid of rural communities to fish out producers of fake food, drugs and other regulated substances.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii made this known, weekend, at a civic reception in his honour at Lessel, by the people of Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, following his re-appointment for another five years by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Orhii said: “Dealers in fake medicines and other harmful substances and chemicals who

think they can hide in our rural communities to shield their evil activities from the eyes of the law must think twice because we are prepared to chase them into holes in order to cleanse our country.

“Drug fakers are death merchants; they are worse than armed robbers. Nobody should patronise them; nobody should have any dealings with them because they are killers.

“I urge our rural dwellers across the country to always avail our agency with every useful information that will help us trace and arrest them before they kill our people.”

He stated further that the renewed action plan on regu-

lation and enforcement would be galvanized with the use of Mobile Authentication Service, MAS, and other anticounterfeiting technologies that had gained the agency global acclaim.

Earlier in his speech, Governor Gabriel Suswam said the re-appointment of Dr. Orhii by President Jonathan was a clear indication that the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP, would always “encourage excellence and hard work.

“That is why we must all continue to support and encourage the PDP-led government of President Jonathan in its quest to deliver democratic dividends to our people.”

From right: Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Vice President Namadi Sambo and National Chairman, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa’ Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) and Conference of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, during the Maiden Conference of COAN at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos on Saturday.

We are rebuilding Kwara PDP — Edojah

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

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AGOS—THE chairman of the caretaker committee of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Solomon Edojah has enjoined all those previously vexed by the past leadership of the party to return for fresh air in the party.

Speaking when he received Princess Bilikisu GambariEdewor, a senatorial candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the 2011 elections into the party, Edojah said that the exit of the past leadership has turned into a blessing for the party, noting that it has led to an influx by all those who had previously stayed away.

“In fact, his exit has led to a mass influx of party faithful from other major political parties to the PDP,” Edojah told GambariEdewor during a solidarity visit to the party headquarters in Ilorin.

Noting what he described as a quiet political revolution in Kwara State, he said major political gladiators in the state were daily flooding the party headquarters to join the PDP.

“Since we assumed office, there is no day that people are not crossing over to the PDP. The major political har-

vest was the coming on board of Mohammed Belgore with over 10,000 APC members,” he said.

UniJos appoints new Bursar, Librarian

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS— THE Univer sity of Jos has appointed two new principal officers, a bursar and a librarian to fill existing vacancies for the two positions.

Those appointed are Mr Alhassan Ibrahim, 49, as Bursar and Dr Stephen Akintunde, now the university Librarian following the approval of their appointments by the Governing Council of the university.

A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications of the university, Mr. Steve Otowo said the appointments took effect from February 14.

A Chartered Accountant, Ibrahim was until his appointment, the deputy Bursar (Accounting Division) of the University while Akintunde was the Acting University Librarian.

Ibrahim obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting (2nd Class Upper Division) from the University of Calabar in 1990. He has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Maiduguri and is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN. Also, Akintunde began his career in the University of Jos as temporary Library Assistant Grade III in 1973 when the university was still a campus of the University of Ibadan, steadily rising to the position of deputy Librarian (Administration and Systems) in 1998 and then acting University Librarian in 2013.

Ugborodo crisis: Ijaw beg Oritsejafor, Rita Lori-Ogbebor to intervene

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AGOS—THE Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the bloody crisis in Ugborodo community in Itsekiri land as a bad chapter in the history of Niger Delta.

In a statement signed by Comrade Joseph Evah on behalf of IMG, the Ijaws pleaded with President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Niger Delta woman leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor to intervene in the crisis as neutral leaders of thought from Itsekiri land, adding that the outstanding qualities of the two elders made them global citizens.

“We condemn the continued

loss of lives and property as a result of oil politics in Itsekiri land. Ugborodo community, one of the richest home lands in Africa must not be turn to another sad story of Ogoni land during the military era where blood of women and children freely flowed to excite our external enemies.

“We plead with Pastor Oritsejafor and Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor to lead the peace effort by applying godly and traditional wisdom to make the warring brothers and sisters to reason that the hatred, if allowed to grow, will, God forbid, consume the present and future generation of Itsekiris”, the Ijaw

group said.

The Ijaws also appealed to the warring factions to “give peace a chance and listen to genuine peacemakers to enable the projects sited in the community to take off because the existence of such projects will surely light-up the expected glory of the Niger Delta region.

“We salute the Olu of Warri for his fatherly role to bring about peace in his kingdom and we are confident that the Itsekiris that are famous in producing global intellectuals, businessmen and politicians are capable of handling this fast-growing anarchy to the delight of the rest of Niger Deltans and Nigerians."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 — 41

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014— TUESDA

Prescription errors, drug resistance mar Nigeria’s HIV treatment programme

By SOLA OGUNDIPE A HIGH incidence of major medication errors related to prescription of incorrect antiretroviral therapy, ART, protocols, potential drug-drug interaction or contraindication and inappropriate duration and/or frequency of medication are being recorded in Nigeria's HIV treatment programme.

The result of a recent comprehensive study on patients on antiretroviral therapy, ART, in 14 selected HIV treatment centres in Nigeria, chronicles the high incidence of medical errors related to prescription of incorrect antiretroviral drug treatment plans and potentially hazardous drug-drug interactions.

The study, entitled “Incidence and Types of Medication Errors in Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource-Constrained Settings” published in the January 2014, Volume 9, Issue 1, e87338 edition of the open access journal PLoS ONE, was a prospective cohort assessment of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy between February 2009 and March 2011 in outpatient pharmacy, who were screened for medication errors based on the provisions of the national HIV care and treatment guideline.

Resolution In their resolution, the researchers, who were all affiliated with the Howard University Pharmacists & Continuing Education (PACE) Center, Abuja & Washington DC, USA, reported how the incidence and rate of medication errors which they described as “somewhat high” in antiretroviral prescription, potentially threaten the nation’s treatment programme.

“Majority of identified errors were related to prescription of incorrect ART regimens and potential drug-drug

•Medication errors related to prescription of incorrect ART plans and potentially hazardous drug-drug interactions are common occurrences at HIV treatment sites. interactions; the prescriber was contacted and the errors were resolved in majority of cases. Active screening for medication errors is feasible in resource-limited settings following a capacity building intervention,” the researchers noted.

Based on the nation’s multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS, led by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, which remarkably lowered the national HIV prevalence from 5.8 percent in 2001 to 3.6 percent in 2012 , Nigeria is widely expected to have one of the most ambitious HIV treatment programmes in the world.

But with a vast population of 3.8 million People Living With HIV/AIDS (10 per cent of the global HIV burden) and an estimated 520,000 People Living With HIV/AIDS, PLWA, on ARV treatment out of about 900,000 that qualify, much

Get screened for cancer, Nigerian women told

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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OMEN aged between 18 and 65 years have been enjoined to get screened for cervical and breast cancers. Medical Director, Optimal Cancer Centre, Lagos, Dr. Femi Olaleys, urged Federal Government to put in place structures for screening women within this age group who are most vulnerable, Olaleye who spoke on this year’s World Cancer Day in Lagos, decried the low level of awareness about cancer..

Lamenting that many women are unaware that sexual intercourse can lead to cervical cancer, said women especially young girls, are getting involved with sex, hence the rising cases of cancer of the cervix.

Olaleye said the World Health

Organisation's (WHO's) prediction that by 2025, 19 million people will die of cancer should not be allowed to come to past.

He said women should be taught to self-examin their breasts to forestall breast cancer.

"As a country, we are not doing enough because we focus on curative health rather than prevention. The United Kingdom spends £4 billion to screen women for cancer. Are their lives superior than those of our women? No," he noted.

Further, Olaleye said global cancer statistics by a cancer awareness organisation, Globalcan, showed 24 women die daily from cervical cancer.

"Similarly, Nigerian professor of radionuclear medicine, Ifeoma Okoye said about two in 25 women die daily from breast cancer."

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the capacity of those manning our facilities.”

Aborishade linked concerns about the PLoS study report to findings of the 2010 Global Burden of Disease, GBD, Study which identifies HIV/AIDS as the worst health problem in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and number two in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.

The GBD study, he recalled, ranks HIV is the number one cause of Disability-Adjusted Life-Years, DALYs, lost worldwide.

“Whereas most other conditions disproportionately affect the old and the very young, DALYs lost for women aged 25 to 45 and men aged 30 to 45.

• Grounds for concerns over HIV treatment regime.

Nigeria's predominantly youthful population to us constitutes a peculiar catchment bracket here, and cause of worry.”

• Prof. John Idoko, NACA DG remains to be desired,according to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

NigeriaHIVinfo.com reacts In a reaction to the report, Coordinator of Nigeria’s No.1 HIV/AIDS information portal, NigeriaHIVinfo.com, Mr. Steve Aborishade, said the result of the research graphically details the grave implications to treatment outcomes in HIV patients.

“An important concern to us will be the infringement that this could represent to the right to health of Nigerians who are on HIV medications and on the government programmes.

The insights which the report provides represent a dull blight on an already contentious treatment programme dangerously buoyed by marked integrity deficits.

“To us at NigeriaHIVinfo.com, the findings become worrisome as it raises serious concerns around the integrity of our ART regime, especially from the research conclusion which suggests that active screening for medication errors is feasible even in resource-limited settings like ours if only we would build

Concerns Aborishade said the findings constitute serious grounds for concerns considering the gale of recent controversy around the supply and dispensing of substandard ARV medication to Federal government treatment centres across the country, coupled with the failure to extend ARV treatment to all who require it and failure to halt new infections in children and adults.

“This gross shortcoming represents likely factors capable of collapsing the foundation of our ART regime with the modest gains recorded overtime in the light of revelations which question the capability, sincerity and indeed clarity of our policy direction and of our programme implementation.

“It sadly also makes mockery of our President's avowed commitment which fuelled his declaring last year that no Nigerian life would be lost to HIV/AIDS again.”

Calling for immediate attention to redress the malady, Aborishade expressed hope that those directing the intervention process will see the urgent need to respond with more clarity of purpose. “We demand that they entrench a new regime driven by accountability and openness even in the midst of constraints to available resources. The Nigerian people deserve an explanation as to how we remain at this junction having in mind the huge investments in tax payers' money and foreign donor's grants that the HIV intervention continues to consume,” he stated.

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Vanguard, TUESD AY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014— 47 TUESDA

Uduaghan commissions 100-bed maternal, child care centre

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has boosted the Free Maternal and Child Care Programme of the State with a brand new 100-bed Maternal and Child Care Centre at the Warri Central Hospital.

The Governor, who also launched the State Ambulance Service at the occasion, charged women to embark on family planning and promptly register for antenatal care. Uduaghan explained that the Government's free maternal and child care schemes were borne out of the high premium it places on the health of women and children.

"Our unflinching resolve to protect the lives and health of our women and children led to the establishment of the Free Maternal Healthcare Programme in 2007 and Free Under-Five Healthcare in 2010.

"These programmes have helped to ensure that all pregnant women in Delta State can access free healthcare throughout the period of pregnancy, delivery and afterwards while our children, below the age of five years, are guaranteed free medical treatment in all public health facilities.

"With these two programmes, we have greatly reduced the risk of injury and death in women from pregnancy related causes and in children, from diseases. Our steadily declining maternal mortality and under-five mortality rates are attestation to these facts.

"These achievements further spurred us to improve on our successes given our belief that no woman has to die neither because she is pregnant nor should any

child die owing to preventable and treatable diseases.”

"This dream, fuelled and sustained by the passion to further protect lives of women and children, has led to the establishment of this ultra-modern edifice we now call the Maternal and Child Care Centre.

The modern health facility is equipped with state of the art medical equipment and staffed with commensurate quality of manpower that can provide tertiary level maternal and child healthcare.

"With this new centre, we would be better positioned to achieve the MDGs as related to maternal and child care by the year 2015."

Uduagthan urged pregnant women to embrace family planning and space their births to guarantee their health and health of their babies.

He also charged women to promptly register for antenatal care when they get pregnant and go to the hospital for delivery rather than patronise quacks.

Inaugurating the state's ambulance service, explained, "the increasing carnage on our highways due to road traffic accidents is the driving force for the creation of this ambulance service...The Delta State Ambulance Service is therefore aimed at the reduction of overall morbidity and mortality in Delta State."

•L-R: Dr. Kingsley Agholor, Medical Director of the Central Hospital, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Dr. Joseph Otumara, Commissioner for Health, during the Commissioning of the new 100-bed Maternal and Child Care Centre at the Warri Central Hospital.

No shortage of vaccines in Nigeria — FG

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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HE Federal Government has assured Nigerians and the International Community of adequate vaccine supply and injection materials at all health facilities in the country. Executive Director and Chief Executive, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

He disclosed that the Federal Government, in 2014, provided N6 billion for vaccine procurement through UNICEF. "All needed vaccines for first quarter of 2014 had already been distributed to all health facilities nation-wide since November last year. "Nigeria had enough vaccines for Immunization in all antigens that could last the Nation uptil 3rd quarter of 2014 and procurement process for future requests had since commenced. He noted with delight, Nigeria’s success in attaining over 83 percent coverage in routine immunization in 2013, stressing that Nigeria’s target of 87 percent coverage for 2015 would be achieved.

He therefore called on all parents and caregivers to avail themselves of immunization services by making their children and wards available for immunisation against vaccines-preventable diseases.

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UN-HABIT AT deputy cchief hief tto o inaugurat e UN-HABITA inaugurate Nigeria’s National Habitat Committee

By JUDE NJOKU

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EPUTY Executive Director of United Nations Human Settlement Programme, UN-Habitat, Ms Aisa Kirabo Kacyira is billed to arrive the country tomorrow at the start of a five-day mission to strengthen growing ties between the Agency and Nigeria Ms Kacyira who is also the Assistant Secretary-General of UN-Habitat, is coming ahead of the 5th session of the African Ministerial Council on Housing and Urban Development, AMCHUD slated for N’djamena Chad later this month. The mission is also coming ahead of the 7th session of the World Urban Forum billed to hold in Medellin, Columbia from April.5-11.

A statement by UN-Habitat’s National Programme Officer, Mr. Paul Okunola explained that Ms Kacyira’s visit is coming in the wake of mounting efforts towards the articulation and adoption of a New African Urban Agenda, which is required to tackle the growing challenge of urbanisation on the continent.

“These processes will lead up to the landmark third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, billed to take place in 2016. Nigeria, which is leading preparations under this initiative in Africa, had last year demonstrated its commitment to the process with a pledge of

$3million spread over three years, to drive participation by African countries,” he said..

The statement explained that during the visit, Ms Kacyira will hold several high-level meetings with top government functionaries including the Supervising Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Musa M. Sada and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala. She will also address the inaugural ceremony of Nigeria’s National Habitat Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

The establishment of National Habitat Committees, Okunola explained was recommended by the UN General Assembly to serve as a vehicle for ensuring a broad-based, gender balanced and inclusive participation process leading up to the Habitat III summit, and will include representation from government, civil society, the private sector, academic and research institutions and the media.

The Committee will, among several other tasks, ensure the effective and efficient participation of all stakeholder groups in the Habitat III preparatory process and oversee the preparation of national reports. The deadline for conclusion of National Habitat reports is June, this year. Ms Kaycira is a former Mayor of Kigali, capital of the Republic of

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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•Ms Aisa Kirabo Kacyira Rwanda, where she had also previously served as Governor of Eastern Province, the largest in Rwanda and as an elected Member of Parliament prior to assuming office as Assistant Secretary-General for UNHabitat.

Meanwhile, UN-Habitat Urban Youth Fund has unveiled plans to provide grants to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good urban governance, shelter, secure tenure and risk rehabilitation. Small development initiatives are eligible for grants up to $25,000.

The Fund which is in its 6th year, aims to assist youthled organisations in designing and implementing projects that will contribute to sustainable urbanisation in the developing world. The Fund also seeks to gain insight from successful grass roots youth projects and create greater awareness of the need for youth mainstreaming in development policies and strategies.

Sachet water producers want FG to establish dump site for recycling wastes

By FUNMI OLASUPO

A

GAINST the backdrop of the proposed phase out of non-degradable plastics in the country, the Association of Table Water Producers, ATWAP has called on the Federal government to establish a dump site where the waste could be processed and recycled.

The National Chairman of ATWAP, Elder Obi Ina made the call in a chat with Vanguard Homes & Property in Abuja.

Obi opined that it would be more appropriate for the Federal Government to focus on establishing recycling plants in the country instead of its proposed plan to ban the use and production of plastics.

He maintained that the association was ready to provide alternatives that would be beneficial to Nigerians and keep the environment clean.

“The basic issue here is the management of the waste, and I don’t think the banning

LAWMA partners UK firm on knowledge transfer, capacity development

should be on the fore front but how do we manage the waste.

Assuming a technology is eventually found that could degrade the materials within a given period of time, within such period of time, we still need to manage the environment even if it is for a week. It has to decompose so that’s where the government’s focus should basically be and not necessarily on the banning,” he said.

Continuing, he said, “Several countries have adopted measures to caution producers of plastics by means of reducing the production and use of plastic materials, imposition of taxes, fines, restriction but no country is talking of banning it completely. In most of the countries, they talk about recycling, no country talks about incineration these days, because of side effects”.

He further explained that “the use of nylon brought problem because those who were saddled with some responsibilities failed to live up to the expectation,” noting, “the association is willing to set up task force to clean up the environment”.

HE Lagos State Waste Management Authority. LAWMA has signed a memorandum of understanding MoU, with Knowledge Factory International KFI, a United Kingdom based firm to foster knowledge transfer, as well as capacity and technology development within the public and private sectors. The MoU also takes care of the establishment of an Africa Centre of Excellence on waste management.

KFI as an organisation, offers organisational capacity development, knowledge transfer, performance improvement and international project funding acquisition.

Speaking at the signing ceremony., the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya said the MoU has set forth the framework for the development of a mutually beneficial relationship between his agency and KFI and the roles to be undertaken by each party. It further seeks to initiate actions that would foster the achievement of the partnerships’ respective objectives in the areas of knowledge transfer and capacity development on waste management and leadership for public and private sectors in Africa.

Specific objectives The specific objectives include bridging technology gaps and correcting policy deficiencies in the waste management sector, enhancing human capacity building and knowledge transfer among local, national and international organisations, improving on public and private sectors performance in solid waste management and related issues across Africa and beyond as well as promoting accelerated growth and sustainable development.

Oresanya disclosed that the parties shall be jointly involved at each stage of all new programmes’ conceptualisation, design and development. According to him, the parties shall work collaboratively on the realisation of specified programmes. KFI will however be responsible for bringing together the international experts and communities that will support the programme and activities covered by the MoU. Oresanya who said a steering committee comprising members from both parties would be set up, added that the primary function of the committee is to advise, facilitate and monitor progress of activities covered in the MoU. Under the MoU agreement, LAWMA will act as host to the Centre and capacity development programme in Nigeria and Africa.

Responding, the Chairman of KFI, Prof.

Chris Nwagboso said with the partnership agreement LAWMA has positioned itself as a knowledge- based institution ready to access funds or grants from financial institutions that are currently being accessed by Asian countries.

Nwagboso disclosed that his firm decided to collaborate with LAWMA because of the excellent job the Authority is doing with regard to waste management.

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Mustard tutors Olympic Solidarity Course on Rowing/Kayak

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OUTH African Craig Mustard will give out lectures beginning from today at the Boardroom of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, on Canoeing/Kayak for Nigerian coaches on the latest updates in the sport. The course, which began yesterday ends on February 21.

The course is aimed at updating the coaches on the modern technicality of the sport. The Project officer of the course, Augustine Odijie said that coaches would benefit from the course because of the ever-changing world of technology and scoring systems. ‘’Mr Mustard is one of the gurus of the sport and he will impact on the Nigerian coaches. This is one course that many coaches can take advantage from”, Odijie noted.

The coaching course is being packaged by the Nigeria Olympic Committee alongside Canoeing/Kayak Federation.

Wenger brands Mourinho ‘silly, disrespectful’ A

RSENE Wenger has dismissed José Mourinho as “silly and disrespectful” after the Chelsea manager taunted him as a “specialist in failure” for not winning any trophies since 2005.

He projected the weary disdain of the teacher of a troublesome pupil as he responded to the Portuguese’s latest barbs by saying: “I am embarrassed for him. Honestly. I didn’t speak about him at all in my press conference and I have no more to say. Let’s focus on things that are worth it, on football. I am more disappointed for Chelsea than for me. I don’t want to get into those silly disrespectful remarks.”

“I am not interested in the subject at all. If you are interested and you have nothing better to do in your life you are free to do it.

“Honestly, I cannot force my interest in things that are not interesting for me.

I love football. I am sorry to disappoint you. What is interesting for me is what happens on the pitch.There is no final word in that, unfortunately.”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (left) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger are involved in a heated debate

Kaka: Ronaldo is best footballer, Messi’s finest

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C Milan midfield er Kaka says Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer he has ever played with, while Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane are the finest he’s ever faced.

“The best ones I played against were Zidane and Messi,” Kaka wrote in a Q&A via Milan’s official Twitter page.

“The best one I’ve played with was Cristiano Ronaldo."

Gebrselassie turns pacesetter at London Marathon

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AILE Gebrselas sie will pace a world record attempt at April’s London Marathon, race organisers have announced.

The Ethiopian great, 40, has been enlisted to take a loaded men’s elite field, including debutant Mo Farah, to the 30 kilometres mark at worldrecord speed on 13 April.

Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang, who will be perhaps Farah’s biggest threat, set the current alltime mark of two hours, three minutes and 23 seconds at last September’s Berlin Marathon.

The London race director, Hugh Brasher, said: “We are delighted to announce that Haile Gebrselassie has agreed to run as a pacemaker in this year’s race. Haile is an icon of distance running, a man who has broken 27 world records on the track and road during his long and brilliant career, and we can’t think of anyone better to set our elite men up for a crack at the world marathon record."

•Kaka

Builders International School tourney holds Saturday Haile Gebrselassie, right, will pace a field that includes Mo Farah, left, at the London POLO ••• From Left : Head Media Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Mr. Jide Sipe, Assistant Manager Mrs. Ololade Fadeju, Polo Club President, Hon Habeeb Fasinro and Deputy Tournament Manager Mr Seyi Oyinlola at Lagos Polo Club…

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LL is set for the third edition of Builders International School bi-annual Interhouse Sport competition which is billed to hold at the LASU Museum, Oba Akinjobi road in Lagos this Saturday, February 22, 2014.

In a statement issued by the school management, the Proprietress, Oluwamodupe Lawrence disclosed that the school has

continued to make giant strides in academics, aside from promoting and maintaining high cocurricular activities.

The school’s bi-annual Inter- House sport is a competition that is primarily aimed at testing the physical skills and strength of young athletes. It is also an avenue for promoting unity and friendship among students as they compete in various field and track events.

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Why Pillars crashed — Chukwu, Obuh T

OP coaches Christian Chukwu and John Obuh have decried the premature exit of Kano Pillars from the CAF Champions League at the weekend.

Nigeria champions Pillars crashed out in the very first hurdle when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to AS Vita of DR Congo.

Former Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu described Pillars elimination as unfortunate and an embarrassment to the country.

“Pillars’ elimination was quite unfortunate.

They did their best, but it was not good enough,” lamented Chukwu.

“No doubt, the non-start of the league contributed a lot to this loss just as the management’s delay in picking a coach also contributed to this shock exit.”

Former Nigeria U20 coach Obuh told MTNFootball.com Pillars ouster makes mockery of the Nigerian league.

“It is quite distasteful to hear that the Nigerian league champions are once again out of the continent in the preliminary round. It goes to show that much still needed to be done by the league managers so that we get credible representations,” Obuh said. “However, it must be stated that the non start of the domestic league, to a very large extent, affected our teams on the continent.

The earlier we put the league in order, the better for all of us. It is very painful.”

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ETERAN sports broadcaster Mr Walter Oyatogun is dead. He died at the early hours of yesterday according to a press release signed by his daughter and broadcaster, Moyo Oyatogun of Star FM Lagos. With deep hearts, we the family of Oyatogun, annouunce the death of our loving father, husband, grandfather and friend, Walter Oyatogun Moyo acknowledged that her father was a sports man to the core.

“He was a sports man, a boxer, a wonderful man that held the sports world for a long time, training many athletes and being satisfied that he has served the country in the best way that he could”.

Moyo ended the statement by saying of her

Pillars player in action during the match against AS Vita

Ochei International Wheelchair basketball tourney begins today from Togo and Ghana are

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HANA,Benin R e p u b l i c wheelchair basketball national teams have arrived for the 3rd edition of the Sir Victor Ochei International wheelchair basketball championship which dunks off today at the Indoor Sports hall of the National Stadium,Surulere, Lagos.

The teams joined eighteen others from all over the country to make twenty teams fightingfor the five million naira prize

Mexico match Continued from BP Liga side Almeria.

They have also recalled skipper Joseph Yobo and Juwon Oshaniwa, while four players from the domestic league were also picked.

“The World Cup is a long way from now. We still have five months, we still have a game to play in America, then after that we will know what the Eagles team would look like,” Amokachi said.

The former Everton of England striker also

Ace broadcaster, Walter Oyatogun passes on

spoke on Nigeria chances at Brazil 2014, saying Africa’s flag bearers as a whole stand a good chance to excel.

“It’s football, you never know what would happen. We are going to Brazil as the dark horses. You know that Africa has never gone beyond the quarterfinals, but with the kind of players we have and those of other African representatives have, 2014 may be a good year for the African continent.”

money at stake.

The president,Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria,Bukola Olopade disclosed that two teams

having immigration issues at the boarder but that the federation through the national sports commission .

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tournament at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja slated for February 21 and 22. The Badminton

NFF

Continued from BP in the passage of the country’s budget could adversely affect the Super Eagles build-up for Brazil 2014.

Nigeria’s sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi has, however assured that cash will be available for the team in good time.

“The Nigeria football Federation has submitted their financial plan to the National Sports Commission and we have finished work on it and sent it to the appropriate quarters and we believe that it would receive priority attention,” Abdullahi said.

“I have no doubt in my

mind that the plan for the World Cup would go very well.

“We would give all the support that is necessary to the Nigeria football Federation to succeed because if they succeed, everyone is happy.”

Nigeria face Mexico on March 5 in a warmup game and several other tune-up matches are planned for the team.

They plan to set up a training camp in Houston, USA, from May 25.

The African champions are drawn against Argentina, BosniaHerzegovina and Iran in the first round of the World Cup, which kicks off in June.

late father that “ you have created an impact in our lives.”

The sports world in Nigeria mourned yesterday as the news Walter’s death spread. He covered football, boxing and track and field with passion.

Pillars board sacked

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HE board of Kano Pillars led by Abba Yola and the management team headed

by Abba Galadima have been fired by the Kano state government.

This was a direct consequence of the club’s

Badminton fiesta at Lagos Country Club T is poised to be a battle royal at the 2nd Cleanserve Inter-club Badminton

Late Oyatogun

Section of the Lagos Country Club will engage in battle with the following clubs: Ikoyi Club 1938, Makurdi Club, Badminton Exclusive Club Kaduna, Shell Club Port Harcourt, Indian Community Badminton Club, University of Lagos Staff Club, WAHUM Badminton Club (Chinese), and Indonesia Community Badminton Club.

early dismissal from the preliminary rounds of the 2014 Caf Champions League.

In a bid to reposition the football outfit towards a better outing in the future, the special adviser to the state governor on sports development, Gara Gombe announced several individuals to replace the sacked members of the former board.

Ibrahim Haruna will occupy the position of the chairman board of directors with Garba Nuhu Danburan as vice chairman. Aminu Dan Amo, Lawan Adda’u, Sabo Abdullahi Kofar Mata, Bashir Muazu, Abubakar Naziru Aminu, Kabiru Ali Dawaki, Nasiru Garba Bichi and Garba Umar are the other members of the board.

Pellegrini Continued from BP this season, with a Champions League last16 tie against Barcelona the latest test standing between City and an unprecedented quadruple.

David Moyes’ men, meanwhile, have struggled to defend the title they won last season, have been knocked out of both domestic cups and are

fighting just to finish in the top four.

And while Pellegrini appreciates United’s past glories, he is confident his side have altered the balance of power and are now a more dominant force than their city rivals.

When asked if City had overtaken the Red Devils, Pellegrini told reporters: “The biggest team is City now but we can’t forget the last few years.”

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014 Today's Champions League games Leverkusen Man City

v v

PSG 8:45pm Barcelona 8:45pm

Manchester City bigger than United, says Pellegrini

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A N U E L Pellegrini has claimed that Manchester City are now a bigger club than

Mexico match to decide World Cup squad — Amokachi

struggling rivals Manchester United.

The Chilean has engineered an assault on four competitions Continues on Page 55

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UPER Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has said that the friendly match against Mexico would shape the country’s call-ups for a World Cup training camp.

Nigeria take on Mexico on March 5 in Atalanta, Georgia, in the only FIFA free window available before the World Cup in June.

The African champions have called up three uncapped players, Belgium-based striker Imoh Ezekiel and Michael Uchebo and Ramon Azeez from La Continues on Page 55

Champions League Special — Pg 29

FACE-OFF: Moyes, Pellegrini exchange pleasantires

Minister promises NFF World Cup cash

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GETTING READY: Victor Moses, Shola Ameobi (m) and Bright Dike celebrate a goal against Italy

HE Nigerian government will adequately fund the country ’s team to the World Cup in June, the country’s sports minister has assured.

Nigeria qualified for a fifth World Cup in November, but there are serious concerns a delay

Continues on Page 55

•Abdullahi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Haphazard (6) 5 Make (6) 8 Start (8) 9 Die (4) 10 Owns (3) 12 Squander (5) 15 Droop (3) 17 Beverage (3) 18 Pinch (3) 19 Wonder (3) 20 Coarse (5) 21 Epoch (3) 22 Expert (3) 23 Employ (3) 24 Obscure (3) 26 Firearm (5) 29 Owing (3) 33 Formerly (4) 34 Final (8) 35 Bomb-hole (6) 36 Tremble (6)

DOWN 2 Fragrance (5) 3 Moist (4) 4 Madness (5) 5 Dupe (5) 6 Every (4) 7 Shinbone (5) 10 Store (5) 11 Vapour (5) 12 Bet (5) 13 Sneer (5) 14 Follow (5) 15 Rate (5) 16 Elegance (5) 25 Interior (5) 27 Bury (5) 28 Sensational (5) 30 Custom (5) 31 Stunt (4) 32 Present (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Chic 4, Sob 6, Opal 8, Avenue 9, Outfit 10, Raw 12, Groom 14, Trite 15, Lager 18, Severe 20, Unsure 24, Treat 26, Refer 28, Pence 30, Apt 32, Pardon 33, United 34, Stud 35, Wan 36, Eddy.

DOWN: 2, Hover 3, Console 4, Seer 5, Blow 6, Outer 7, Aviator 11, Axe 12, Gas 13, Mar 16, Get 17, Rue 19, Elegant 21, Nap 22, Sterile 23, Eke 25, Rap 27, Ended 29, Creed 30, Anew 31, Turn.

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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