Terror: Nigeria, France, 4 others join forces

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62103

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Religion is first flashpoint P.52-53

Foundation of Nigeria's education policy obsolete — FG P. 16

Terror: Nigeria, France, 4 others join forces

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, WITH AGENCY REPORTS

•Benin, Cameroon, France, Chad, Niger in anti-terror deal with Nigeria BUJA — Following A the upsurge in Boko Haram insurgency in the •As terror attacks force shutdown in states; Borno, Benue worst hit North-Eastern part of the country, Nigeria has en•85 Borno schools shut; banks, businesses close in Benue tered into agreement with

France, Cameroon, and three of her other neighbours in a bid to contain the menace of the terrorists.

This is to increase the level of coordination and

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

•P.19

•P.42

Mr & Mrs

NESG SUMMIT: From left: Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Mr Foluso Philips; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Director-General, NESG, Mr Frank Nweke, Jnr. and Supervising Minister of National Planning, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, at the 20th Nigerian Economic Summit, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Fuel scarcity: ‘We saved Nigeria from crisis’ 80% of stolen oil sold in global market, by Uduaghan

P.8 P.4

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

APC fixes May 24 for National Congress

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

T

HE All Progressives Congress, yesterday, fixed May 24 for its National Convention.

The National Executive Committee of the party, which took the decision at a meeting held at its National Secretariat in Abuja, also fixed April 5 for ward congresses, April 12 for local government congresses and April 23 for state congresses.

This was disclosed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reading the party’s c o m m u n i q u é immediately after the meeting.

The party’s leadership also commiserated with the families of those who died and those that sustained injuries, on Saturday, March 15, at several venues of the job test by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS. APC also condemned Federal Government’s handling of the recruitment exercise.

According to the communiqué, “the needless deaths of our youths which resulted from a combination of exploitation, corruption, greed and incompetence of the relevant authorities, represent a needless violation of their right to life and dignity.”

Roll call

The meeting was attended by members of the party ’s Interim National leadership led

by Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

National leaders of the party present included Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, General Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Alli Modu Sheriff, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senators Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje.

APC MEETING: From left— All Progressives Congress, APC, national leaders Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.); APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; interim National Secretary, Tijani Tumsel and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, at APC's special meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

80% of stolen oil sold in int'l market— UDUAGHAN zSays big players, jerry can-carrying thieves should be arrested

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

G

OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Chairman, National Economic Council on Crude Oil Theft, NECCOT, said yesterday that 80 percent of stolen crude was sold in the international market.

He added that the theft in the Niger Delta would

continue until the Federal Government begins to prosecute the big oil thieves.

Uduaghan, in his presentation at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja, said his committee believed in prosecution of those linked to oil theft to reduce the scope of theft.

He said: “We need the political will to get the big

players in the oil theft ring and prosecute them. By the time we start serious prosecution of these people, the oil theft will reduce.”

The governor regretted that the jerry can-carrying oil thieves were being arrested, wondering why the big players were not arrested.

Uduaghan also canvassed Nigeria’s collaboration with

the international community to end the ugly trend He said: “We require international collaboration to discourage patronage of stolen crude oil from Nigeria in the international market.

“We need international collaboration to reduce arms shipped into the country and used for oil theft. The arms used by these people are manufactured in abroad.”

NIS RECRUITMENT TRAGEDY: APC calls for ‘criminal investigation’

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for a criminal investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths of 15 National Immigration Service, NIS, job seekers, including a pregnant woman, at various centres across the country last Saturday.

Rising from an Interim National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja yesterday, the party, which said that the Federal Government fleeced unemployed youths and their parents of N770 million via the NIS recruitment exercise, said the criminal investigation will also unearth “ who authorised the fleecing of

job seekers by a government agency, what happened to the money realised from the exercise and why the relevant officials did not ensure a better arrangement that could have saved precious lives.”

In a five-point communiqué by Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC warned the government against imposing total emergency rule on Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to oust democratically-elected governors.

It said: “The job stampede deaths constitute the latest in a series of events that have turned Nigeria into a massive killing field in recent times.

The orgy of killings in the past few weeks have left hundreds dead and many more maimed in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau,

just to mention a few.

“Never in the peace time history of our dear country has there been such a high number of needless deaths.”

APC commiserated with the families of the people who died at several venues of the NIS job test and hinged the tragedy on a combination of exploitation, corruption, greed and incompetence of the relevant authorities.

It said: “Out of sheer greed, N1,000 was collected from each of the over 770,000 unemployed applicants short-listed. The Jonathan-led PDP government therefore fleeced unemployed youths and their parents of N770 million using a consultant as conduit.

“Even then, the available vacancies of about 4,500 have already been filled

through the back door by over 3,000 candidates of PDP apparatchik and government officials.

“After presiding over a wasteful centenary celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan has been gallivanting around the country, addressing political rallies when he should be commiserating with families of the dead in the affected states, especially Yobe where innocent children were massacred by a cowardly band of terrorists, and Katsina which he visited a few hours after hundreds of people were killed.

“The imposition of a total state of emergency is being considered for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which is a smokescreen to remove the democratically-elected governors of the APC states.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

From left: Comrades Ade Adewunmi; Declan Ihekaire; Convener, Movement for Democratic Change and Peoples’ Rights, MDCPR, Raji Rasheed; Ilesanmi Ibrahim; Shedrack Balogun and others during a protest rally to the Lagos State Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, demanding the suspension of the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro and the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Parradang, over death of 16 applicants during weekend's NIS recruitment exercise.

Terror: Nigeria, France, 4 others join forces Continues from page 1 exchange of intelligence as well as hold regular meetings of experts with a view to containing the menace.

This is just as 85 high schools in Borno State are being shut inefinitely amidst fears of massive attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

According to an online news portal, The Premium Times, Nigeria’s other neighbours who also agreed to ensure effective policing of common borders to avoid the infiltration of terrorists and other criminals as well as the repatriation of suspects in conformity with existing protocols are the Republic of Benin, Chad and Niger.

These are some of the recommendations made by

the Directors-General of External Intelligence Services of the six countries, who met in Abuja, March 5.

Attendance

According to the report, the one-day meeting with the theme “Challenges of combating Boko Haram in the sub-region” was facilitated and declared open by the National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and attended by the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Heads of Security and Paramilitary Organisations, representatives of Heads of the External Intelligence Services, Director-General of the Department of State Service, and representatives of the Commander of the 7th Di-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Life is a mystery that must not be lived meaninglessly but must be lived meaningfully.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Being strong-willed is not enough, however. You also have to be hard on yourself. Someone who was strong-willed but self-indulgent would not be called determined. Determination implies your wilfulness is balanced by discipline — Paul Graham If you really want something in life, sometimes there may be a need for you to fight for it. Simply, this means being determined to manifest your dreams, goals and aspirations with every positive means at your disposal.

There will be setbacks, delays and even plenty of moments to give up, but remember two golden rules of success. Rule number one: don’t give up and rule number two: remember rule number one.

When someone tells me “no,” it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them.

Be flexible with new information about your plans, be open to ideas, try new ways of doing things and get different results, even modify the dream for a much better one as new information becomes available, but do not lose focus of your vision.

You are more likely to succeed when your desires and dreams have within its framework the aim to help others.

Waldo Emerson sums it nicely: “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

vision of the Nigerian Army and the French Intelligence Service.

The meeting was held behind closed doors at the conference room of the Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence The recent meeting of the Directors-General of External Intelligence Services is believed to be a boost to activities of the multi-national task force comprising troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

tions along the borders.

That meeting, where modalities for a joint military offensive are being worked out, is ongoing in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital.

The Abuja meeting also decided to recommend to heads of state of member states to consider the formation of a Joint Multinational Task Force and other related operational issues to combat the menace.

Recommendations

The forum, which broke into thematic groups based on the issues raised in the presentations, also agreed as follows: -Acknowledged and appreciated existing cooperation between intelligence and security services of participating countries; -Recognized that Boko Haram has metamorphosed into a regional phenomenon with strong continental and global reach; -Noted that activities of the Boko Haram constitute the most potent security threat to Nigeria and her neighbours with the goal of an Islamic State in Nigeria and eventually in neighbouring countries; -Noted Boko Haram’s propensity to instigate ethno-religious conflicts, erode the confidence of people in Government and create a condition of chaos with the use of sophisticated weapons, including Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), Rocket Launchers and Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS).

-Accepted that Boko Haram has established operational relations with international jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al-Shabab, Ansar-e-Dine and the Movement for

The meeting also recommended that the doctrine proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan that “an act of terror against one nation is an act of terror against all,” be adopted by Heads of State of participating states and that “the reaction of member-states to acts of terror be spontaneous, concerted, broadbased and integrated.”

It further recommended the effective implementation of existing regional and Confidential Agreements on Small Arms Light Weapons; the sensitisation of the local communities in border areas on the need to assist military and security agencies with timely information necessary for their operations; and the discouragement of payment of ransom in all ramifications.

It noted that due to the sensitive nature of defence matters, and to allow for members with the appropriate competences to participate, a meeting involving competent law enforcement officers to include Heads of the Armed Forces, Police, Immigration, Customs and Gendarmes of the five countries be convened before the end of March to discuss the conduct of simultaneous security opera-

What they agreed on

Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO); -Noted the increasing correlation between terrorism and arms, drugs and human trafficking, smuggling, violent crime and the militarization of the civilian population of member countries; -Expressed concern that terrorism has continued to thrive in the sub-region due to the proliferation of arms, the explosion of Information and Communication technology (ICT), expansion of terrorist networks, easy availability of recruits and existence of safe havens.

85 Borno schools shut

Meanwhile, 85 high schools in Borno State are being closed down indefinitely amid fears of massive attacks by Boko Haram terrorists. The closure will affect 120,000 students, according to government officials and teachers of the affected schools.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, in an interview on the BBC Hausa language service said the schools “are to remain closed until the security situation in the state improves.”

The closure is coming as the Federal Government, yesterday, inaugurated a new counter terrorism strategy to defeat Boko Haram On Monday, students started leaving the University of Maiduguri, saying they feared another attack.

At least one student was reported killed by a stray bullet in Friday’s attack on the barracks, which is divided from the campus by a riverbed that extremists use to infiltrate the city.

One school principal, who spoke on condition of anonymity said yesterday that “we have all agreed to close by this Friday and see what happens next.”

The principal of another school, Malam Ayuba said the state government hopes to keep open a handful of schools in Maiduguri, where it would be possible for students from other ar-

eas to write regional and national examinations scheduled for June.

Muhammed Karage, principal of the Federal Government College Maiduguri, said about 150 students already have been relocated to his school from Federal Government College Buni Yadi, the school that was burned down in the February 25 attack by the terrorists.

He said that students and staff from other federal colleges were being relocated to Katsina and Kaduna states. Also, the head of a private secondary school said private schools were considering holding exams this week, at mid-term, and then closing down.

It will have far-reaching effect —NHRC

Speaking on the closure, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, said the school closures could have far-reaching consequences, including ending the education of some students in a region where few ever have the opportunity to get to high school.

Odinkalu, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, said: “The average secondary school enrolment is slightly under five per cent (in northeast Nigeria), so I think it’s easy to understand that you cannot overestimate what the consequences of this could be, given the parlous state of education in the region and the fact that, clearly, whoever is orchestrating this is focused on targeting schools, educational institutions. The government should consider setting up well-protected camps where children can continue their education.”

According to him, such an “extreme measure” could be justified because “the entire area is a war theater.”

Continues on page 51

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

3 bus conductors docked for armed robbery

BY ONOZURE DANIA

T

HREE bus conductors were, yesterday, remanded in Kirikiri Prison by a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Ikeja over alleged armed robbery.

The defendants are Ismaila Azeez, 18; Olumide Ayorinde, 18 and Sodiq Oladeji, 25.

Magistrate Abimbola Oshodi-Makanju ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison pending the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

The defendants are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery preferred against them by the Police.

Police prosecutor ASP Samson Ekikere, told the court that the defendants and others at large, conspired to commit the offence on March 12.

Corporal robbed of 6 cars

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, yesterday, remanded six men in prison custody for robbing one Corporal Jimoh Ahmed of five new vehicles, property of Kunech Group of Companies.

The six men are Jeremiah Amgbeye, Justin Ugochukwu, Saviour Amgbeye, Augustine Amgbeye, Chucks Osagwu and Lawrence Ikibitedo.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against them by Lagos State government.

The prosecutor, Mr. Afolabi Sholebo, informed the court that the offence of armed robbery was contrary to Section 295 (2) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011 and the other offence was contrary to Section 297 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C17, Vol 2, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

IMPOUNDED: Four Chinese vessels impounded by the Nigerian Navy over illegal entry into Nigerian waters in Onne, Rivers State, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

19 Redeemed Church members, 36 others die in auto crashes A

multiple crash on the Potiskum-Maiduguri highway, involving three vehicles, Monday, killed 35 people, including 19 church members on their way back from Lagos, where they attended a religious meeting.

“All the 19 members of Redeemed Christian Church of God, who were travelling in one bus, were burnt beyond recognition as the bus caught fire on collision with the other two vehicles which also burst into flames shortly afterward,” said Yusuf Sani, spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in Yobe State.

“The victims in the other two vehicles were said to be returning from a wedding.” He blamed the accident on speeding.

On Sunday, 20 traders

returning from a local market were killed when the open van they were travelling

in collided with an articulated truck, Sani said.

He attributed the accident

Carpenter beats 12-yr-old son to death

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

L

AGOS—ONE Emmanuel Edet, a carpenter, was remanded in prison by an Ebute Metta magistrate, Ms S. Solebo, for killing his son.

The 12-year-old carpenter’s son, who used to work as an apprentice with his father, was said to have gone out for a beach party instead of going to the father ’s workshop at Okun-Ajah.

His outing got his 39-yearold father angry and he used a metal belt on the son. He became unconscious and eventually died.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector George Nwosu, the crime took place on February 11 at 11pm. Another man, Owuye Omolaju was also remanded for murder.

Omolaju, who works at God is Good bakery at Mayegun Street, Jakande Estate, Ajah, on February 14 at 1am, reportedly had a fight with the deceased, Wasiu Olobe aged 32, who he allegedly stabbed in the chest with a broken bottle.

Olobe died on his way to the hospital. The act is punishable under Section 221 of the criminal law of the

Pastor uses machete on wife for missing church programme

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA— AN Ogun State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Owode Egba, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, yesterday, remanded a Pastor, Samuel Daniel in prison for using a machete on his wife.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and providing false information, which is punishable under Sections 338 and 192 criminal code

to “reckless overtaking.”

Sixteen of the 20 victims were girls.

Vol 1 law of Ogun State, 2006.

The accused, who was a Pastor with an Apostolic Church in Ode Remo area of the state, reportedly went to his wife’s place of work at Itori village in Owode-Egba on December 10, 2013 and used the machete on her for abandoning church programmes.

He was reported to have taken his wife to the hospital and reported the case at Owode-Egba Police Station, but lied that two unknown persons attacked his wife.

After an investigation, he was reportedly arrested by the Police and charged to court. At the last adjourned date, Daniel pleaded not guilty while his counsel, Joy Augustine, filled a bail application arguing that the offence is bailable.

Presiding Magistrate, E. J. Ojikutu granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till May 26, while the accused, who appeared to have suffered partial stroke, remain in prison.

state, the charge said.

The matter was adjourned to April 11.

Commercial drivers ground Enugu over ‘Police extortion'

C

OMMERCIAL activities came to a halt at Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State, yesterday, as commercial drivers withdrew their vehicles from the roads in protest over what they called police extortion.

Commuters had to resort to the use of tricycles, even as they groan under high fares charged by operators.

Police said there was nothing like extortion by their men that they were only trying to clear traffic congestion on the roads in the area.

However, the situation would have worsened if not for the state government’s transport outfit, known as Coal City Shuttle.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 —7

ASSAULT: My story, by Ekiti commissioner

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI— EKITI State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, yesterday, denied ever assaulting a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member at Otun Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, weekend.

Olaosebikan was said to have had a face-off with the NYSC member, Mr. Thompson Enobong, during the continuous voters' registration exercise of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at his Otun-Ekiti country home last Saturday.

The commissioner was subsequently invited by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, for questioning.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Olaosebikan accused some media establishments and social media of blowing the matter out of proportion, saying he only had a minor disagreement with the NYSC member.

Olaosebikan, however, cautioned the leadership of NYSC against allowing itself to be used by some dubious politicians in the state in preparation for the June 21 governorship election.

He said: “It was true that the youth corps member was

shouting at the top of his voice that a lady, who is the younger sister to my orderly, should not register on that day at the registration centre.

“The noise was so embarrassing that I had to go near him and asked him not to be hostile with the people.

“As we were talking, the boy,

who never knew I was a commissioner, just pushed me and my people wanted to mob him. I was able to dissuade them. I was even the one that took him into a waiting car that drove him to where he was supposed to work.

“It was during the fracas that I knew he was not supposed to work in that ward.

"Later the thing started trending on social media that I was responsible for his beating and that he was hospitalised when nothing of such happened.”

He said he owe it a duty to ensure the safety of every NYSC member in Ekiti State as the Chairman of the Board of NYSC in the state and as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

Fire razes Christ Embassy Lagos hqtrs

BY BOSE ADELAJA & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

P

ROPERTY worth millions of naira were, yesterday, destroyed when fire consumed the main auditorium of Christ Embassy Church, located on Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

When Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that the fire started at 6.30pm from an apartment which housed about 14 power generating sets.

It was further learnt that the fire started as a result of power surge from one of the generating sets.

Sources said that immediately the church members noticed the fire, they tried putting it off with their in-house extinguishers.

However, the fire escalated and spread to the church main auditorium. The church management declined speaking on the incident.

An eyewitness, Mr. Oladele Akintayo, said: “Before the arrival of the emergency teams, several property had been destroyed by the raging inferno.”

General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Agency, L ASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke Osanyintolu and Director of Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said that the fire raged for about three hours before it was finally put out by the combined team of the emergency agencies at the scene.

Oke Osanyintolu said: “There is no casualty, but one of the fire service men sustained injury. The church lost a number of power generating sets and other property.”

According to Fadipe, “it was a very serious fire outbreak. The fire involved the generator house. A lot of armoured cables were also

affected by the inferno. They have about 14 big generators that were affected and the church’s stationary diesel and petrol tanks.

“However, with the effort of the fire service officials, we didn’t allow the tanks to burst. And we also prevented the fire from spreading to the air conditioner house.”

He blamed the church for the extent of damage, saying “ when my men arrived the scene, they were restricted by the church members who wanted to take over the affairs of putting off the fire.

“I had four fire trucks on ground from Ilupeju, Isolo, Ikeja and Alausa with 10,000 tones of water each and 18 factory-fitted generating sets to combat the inferno.

“The fire involved the power house and the warehouse, where compressors were stocked.

We faced serious interference from the church members.”

FIRE: Christ Embassy, A.K.A. Believers Love World, Lagos headquarters on fire yesterday. PHOTO: MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO.

2 remanded in prison over rape of Kwara Poly student

A

N Ilorin Magistrate’s Court has remanded two persons, Tajudeen Saadudeen, 28 (A.K.A. Reyes) and Olasunkanmi Mojeed, 24, both of Agbede area, Ilorin, over

their alleged involvement in cases of rape and criminal activities at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

They were docked over a fivecount charge of criminal

conspiracy, criminal intimidation, being in possession of criminal charms, disturbance of public peace and being members of a secret cult.

The offences contravene

Sections 97, 397, 217 and 113 of the Penal Code Law and Section 11(1) of Secret Cult and Secret Society in Educational Institution (Prohibition) Law 2004 of Kwara State.

Police raid Oyo PDP guber aspirant's office over arms, arrest 25

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN— THE Oyo State Police Command has raided the Ibadan campaign office of Seyi Makinde, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 elections where about 25 of his supporters were arrested.

Vanguard gathered that the office was raided following a petition that arms and ammunition were stored there.

The Iwo Road office was raided by a combination of security men from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Operation Burst, who were fully armed.

During the raid that lasted for one hour, women and men including a pastor were whisked away by the policemen.

An Ibadan High Chief, Senator Lekan Balogun, who is also a PDP chieftain described the raid as violation of the rights of the innocent people.

To him, police ought to have told the Department of State Services, DSS, to carry out surveillance to know if it was true that arms were actually there before the raid.

Speaking on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olabisi Ilobanafor, confirmed that police arrested 26 miscreants at the campaign office of the politician based on information that the people always engage in criminal activities and that they were with arms and ammunition.

She said they got bench warrant before storming the office. According to her, the 26 people were arrested and taken to Criminal Investigation Department, where they made statements.

She said they were released on bail as nothing incriminating was found on them.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Anti confab suit: Court orders service of process on ex-CJN, Kutigi, 2 others

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRIM

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Legbo Kutigi, be served with a copy of the suit challenging the constitutionality of the ongoing national conference.

Justice Abdul Kafarati made the order shortly after he joined Kutigi, chairman of the conference, to the suit filed before the High Court by a constitutional lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi.

Others the court equally joined in the suit include the deputy chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, and the Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Valerie Azinge.

When the matter was called up, the plaintiff told the court that he had on March 13, filed a motion “seeking for leave to join three personalities that are leading the constitutionally contested national conference.

“My lord, I am applying that three of them be joined in this suit as 5th, 6th and 7th defendants respectively.

“Subject to the indulgence of my lord, we are also asking that upon the granting of the prayer, all processes be served on all the new defendants.”

Following a no-objection stance by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who appeared for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Kafarati acceded to the prayer.

Before adjourning the matter to March 31, 2014, for mention, Justice Kafarati ordered the service of all the relevant processes on the exCJN, Kutigi and the two other new defendants.

The court further directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, who though listed in the matter as 3rd and 4th defendants, failed to appear in court.

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists at the end of the proceeding, Abayomi said he was convinced that both President Goodluck Jonathan and the former Chief Judge were currently threading the path of illegality.

Fuel scarcity: We saved Nigeria from crisis — FG ...NNPC, DPR raise alarm over declining crude reserves

BY MICHAEL EBOH & CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed that the steps it took to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians during the period of fuel scarcity helped save the country from plunging into a crisis situation.

Speaking during the Nigerian Oil and Gas, NOG, conference, in Abuja yesterday, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources, emphasised that the scarcity was caused by sabotage, diversion, hoarding, panic buying and rumours of imminent pump price increase.

She noted that the Federal Government will soon focus on reforming the downstream subsector, saying that government control of the sector has had an unpleasant impact on the economic fortunes of the country.

According to her, the subsidy policy cannot be sustained any longer because it did not benefit the poor it was targeting but rather it is benefiting the rich.

According to her, “The industry needs to move to the next level by increasing revenue and curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“The PIB is still with the National Assembly and we hope that it will be passed very soon.

However, we have been confronted with the menace of pipeline vandalism for decades and it has become much more prevalent in the last few years.”

Also speaking, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, said the success of its activities during the period

of the scarcity was due to the effective collaboration with other stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

He said, “As you were aware, it is the collaboration of so many stakeholders. We did our bit and what we did as far as NNPC is concerned, is to support the entire country from our own quota. If we didn’t do what we did, we would have been in more crises”.

He said the NNPC collaborated with the independent and major marketers, as well as the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, in achieving its aim.

On the planned reform of the downstream sector, Yakubu said the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, will remove the uncertainty surrounding the future fiscal framework in the oil and gas sector.

According to him, the passage

of the PIB will promote transparency, accountability and good governance and level the playing field for players in the Nigerian oil industry, adding that this will doubtless attract the much-needed investment in the Nigerian petroleum sector.

Furthermore, the NNPC and the DPR also raised concerns over Nigeria’s declining reserves, saying that efforts should be geared towards growing the country’s crude oil production and reserves.

According to Mr. George Osahon, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the country’ s crude reserves have dropped to about 35 billion barrels of crude, noting that the declining reserves is a major concern to the country, considering the important role played by oil and gas in the economy.

To boost the country’s reserves, according to Osahon, efforts

should be made in the development of small or marginal fields, bitumen exploration and exploitation and enhanced recovery methods.

He further stated that Nigeria should focus on frontier exploration in deepwater and inland basin, while regular licensing rounds should be conducted to ensure continued exploration and production activities.

Yakubu, on the other hand, said the quest to grow the country’s reserves should be encouraged, through stemming the scourge of pipeline vandalism and increasing production from small or marginal fields operators, as this will help mitigate production decline from large fields.

He further emphasised the need to attract capital investment in the oil sector, and the need to grow production and revenue by expanding the scope of participation.

VISIT: From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; leader of the delegation, Hajiya Bola Shagaya, Senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, Sen Simeon Ajibola and Mr. Laziz Jimoh during the visit of Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Confab: Professionals debate role of media

BY LAJUARENYEKA

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AGOS—THE role of the media in the ongoing national conference triggered indepth discourse yesterday at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, in Lagos, as practitioners debated on whether the media should act as participant or observer in the confab.

Speaking at the 4th Convocation lecture of the NIJ, titled: “The media and national conference debate: Observer or participant”, veteran journalist and publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, argued that the media’s role in the conference is both that of participant and observer.

Amuka, who represented the chairman of the institute’s governing council, Mallam Ismaila Isa, said: “We are participants because we have representatives at the conference from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and Ni-

geria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ. We are also observers because we must relay the happenings there to the Nigerian people. It seems to me that part of our job is agenda setting, and after the horrendous deaths of some young people during the National Immigration Service recruitment exercise last weekend, it is quite obvious that the national conference must focus on providing ways to get Nigerians to work.

It is government’s responsibility to look to the security and the well-being of the people.”

Mr. John Momoh, the Chief Executive Officer, Channels Television, who was the guest lecturer, however opined that for the media to be unbiased in its reportage of the conference, it must restrict itself to the role of observer.

Represented by the company secretary, Mrs. Abiola Olumeyan, Momoh said: “The role of the media in the national conference

is more of an observer, having power to shape public opinion, than that of the participant, otherwise the media would not remain objective and be forced to choose sides. I, therefore, believe that the role of the media during the national conference is to set the agenda of this national conference by providing Nigerians a platform to make their voices heard on issues of national importance; forge unifying elements that are held in common by all Nigerians in the conference and increase overall awareness of Nigerians on germane issues to be deliberated at the conference; the media should also enhance the general knowledge by providing the public with information, thoughts and thinking of the different delegates to the national conference. News broadcast through different media will also assist Nigerians to know about the day-to-day agenda and issues in the conference.”

Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, who represented the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos at the event, urged the graduating students and media practitioners present to adhere strictly to the code of ethics of the profession.

“It is the media’s responsibility to monitor the republic and make our leaders accountable to the people at all times. We must stay true to our responsibility as the fourth estate of the realm so that we do not become the fourth estate of the wreck.”

Akinfeleye added that “agenda setting is no longer the prerequisite of the media alone, as the audience has also become active.”

The lecture was attended by other eminent personalities such as the Provost of NIJ, Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Ikem, the Director General, Voice of Nigeria, Alh. Abubakar Jijiwa, represented by the Director of Programmes, Mr. Yusuf Ajibola, among others.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—9

Confab: We must work as a team — Kutigi ...Delegates begin first sitting late, adjourn till Monday ...No provision for personal aides ...Delegates to get e-payment

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN of the National Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutugi, yesterday, urged delegates to work as a team if the set goals of the confab and the country must be achieved.

Speaking yesterday during the first sitting, which was described as informal, Kutigi, who assured all delegates of fair hearing in the presentation of issues, asked them to use this week to familiarise themselves with the new environment, the National Judicial Institute, venue of the conference.

He adjourned sittings to Monday, March 24 to give delegates ample time to study the various documents the secretariat will be providing them which will give them deeper understanding and insight into the issues they will be deliberating on.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Conference, Mrs. Valerie Azinge who told delegates yesterday that they were not working at cross purposes with members of the National Assembly, stressed that the lawmakers should be allowed to work on referendum while the delegates concentrate on their own assignment.

According to her, issues and decisions that will come out at the end of the exercise would be that of the delegates as it was a national conference and not a constitutional conference.

Late commencement of sitting Meanwhile, there was a late take-off of sitting yesterday with Kutigi opening the plenary at 10.50am instead of the stipulated 10am with a strong apology from him that the programme started late because some delegates were stranded, while some were getting used to Abuja.

Confab programme, schedule Speaking further, Mrs. Azinge, who rolled out the programme of events for the delegates, disclosed that delegates would sit from Monday to Thursday from 10 am and go on break between 2-4 pm for lunch and then resume at 4pm, and close for the day’s session at 6 pm. Fridays are for administrative activities.

Sitting arrangement Azinge, who noted that subsequent sitting arrangements by delegates would be on alphabetical order, said that yesterday’s sitting was not proper because it was the first after President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the conference, adding that all delegates would be given their bags with names

on them containing conference materials.

Confab rules out today She also said that the Conference rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic will be ready today which would be discussed and approved by delegates at the next sitting, even as she said that delegates have three months to work, with the first week of sitting to discuss the President’s inaugural speech. Thereafter, they will move to other issues agitating the minds of the people and later break into committees.

Azinge disclosed that the Secretariat had proposed that every delegate be given 10 minutes to make his or her presentation on behalf of the group. One delegate will speak on behalf of the three delegates from each state, adding that there was also a provision for written presentation. She explained that the format will include subject, issues,

arguments and delegates’ prayers to the conference.

However, the conference could not debate on the Rules of Procedure and style of presentation which was deferred to next week Monday when the conference will reconvene.

Also addressing the delegates, Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who told the

delegates that everything including transport, accommodation and sitting allowances have been monetised, said that no delegate will be paid in cash, but by e-payment in line with Federal Government’s policy requiring each delegate to fill a form with his or her accounts details. She added that the allowances would be a flat for all the delegates.

12-week agenda She stressed that they have a 12-week agenda. The first two weeks are for brainstorming on issues before the commencement of the committees, which reports would be brought back to the plenary for deliberation by members. She said that with this arrangement, it will take the delegates about two weeks to make their presentations before conference will break into committees.

Debate on procedure rules and postponed Also yesterday, the conference deliberated but could not come to a compromise on the Rules of Procedure and style of presentation by the delegates and sitting arrangement.

COMMISSIONING: From left—Steve Faderin, Country Manager, CFAO Motors, Mario Spangenberg, President GM Motors Africa; Thievvy Guillemont, Director CFAO H/O Paris; Oliver Levigrie, Managing Director, CFAO Motors Nigeria and Ladi Abiodun, Head, Inter Motors CFAO a the commemoration of the visit of the GM Motors' President to Nigeria and commissioning of Adeola Odeku Chevrolet Isuzu showroom in Lagos yesterday

Corruption: EFCC grills sacked Justice Olotu for 8 hours

BY SONI DANIEL

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ARELY two weeks after being dismissed from office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, interrogated sacked Justice Gladys Olotu for over eight hours over corruption-related issues.

The embattled female judge, who has already challenged her untimely removal from office in court, was accompanied by two of her sisters and lawyer to the EFCC’s Intelligence and Special Operations Section following an invitation by the anti-graft agency.

Olotu, 55, who wore a polkadot dress and arrived the office by 9 am, was still being interrogated by the operatives of the anti-graft agency as at the time of filing the report.

But there were indications that she could be granted bail on self recognition by the operatives.

A top source at the EFCC said Justice Olotu was invited to clarify issues relating to property and bank accounts allegedly traced to her by the anti-graft agency.

The source alleged that many judicial officers, including Olotu hold a huge amount of monies, personal property and bank accounts in and outside the country.

A competent source hinted that when Justice Olotu arrived the EFCC’s office, she was immediately confronted with a catalogue of property and accounts said to be owned by her.

Among Olotu’s alleged myriad of landed property, which the Commission is investigating, include an uncompleted threebedroom Town Hall located at City Scope, Lagos.

The property valued at N20 million was acquired in 2006; a four-bedroom bungalow located at Karshi, Nasarawa State, acquired from the Nigerian Navy in 2009 valued at N10 million; a plot of land at Kjah Nasarawa State valued at N2.5 million in 2010; a plot at Kuruduma Abuja acquired in 2012 at N2.8 million.

Other properties alleged to be owned by ex-Justice Olotu are: six plots of land at Ogba Village, Benin, Edo State at N480, 000 in

2005; three plots of land located at Oben Village, Benin valued at N2.2 million; blocks of 4 sixbedroom flats acquired in 1979 valued at N16 million; one uncompleted twin 5-bedroom duplex, via a Lagos State government Allocation at N10 million; one block of 4 threebedroom flats via Edo State Government allocation valued at N10 million.

Others are: a plot of land at Guduwa Estate acquired in 2001 via FCDA allocation at N800, 000; a plot of land located at Lugbe, Abuja at N200, 000 and a plot of land at Ugbor, Edo State acquired via Edo State Government allocation at N600, 000.

Ex justice Olotu’s alleged shares being investigated include: Shares in Ossimo Investments Limited, a private family company. As at December 31, 2012, her estimated value of investment in the company was put at N825 million; shares in Unity Nominees Limited, a private family Company valued at N165 million as at December 31, 2012.

Others are 1, 030 units of shares in GTB; 20, 890 units of shares in Oando. She is also alleged to be a partner in Investment Company Limited, which has shares in Access Bank, First Bank, GTB, Julius Berger Nigeria, Oando and UBA. Sources at the Commission told our correspondent that the embattled judge, who was on February 27, 2014 ordered to vacate her office after the National Judicial Council found her guilty of judicial misconduct, could be granted bail on self recognition.

Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached to confirm the story; but a competent source at the Commission’s headquarters confirmed that “it is true the retired judge was with us to answer some questions”.

Her ordeal followed a petition dated September 10, 2013, by Civil Society Network against Corruption. Titled: “Demand For Investigation Of Financial Accounts and Assets of Judicial Officers”.

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja bridges: Motorists advise contractor to work at night L

A G O S — MOTORISTS and commuters plying the Dopemu-Egbeda and IyanaIpaja bridges in Lagos yesterday urged the contractor rehabilitating the closed bridges to work at night to minimise current hardships on the road.

The state government had announced that the bridges on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway would each be closed for 10 days.

The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, commenced rehabilitation work on the Dopemu Bridge on March 15, causing serious gridlock in the area.

Work on the Dopemu bridge would be completed on March 24, while the Iyana-Ipaja bridge would be closed from March 25 to April 5.

Motorists, who now encounter nerve-wracking traffic in the area, suggested that the contractor should work at night because the re-routing by the government had neither facilitated flow of traffic nor reduced the congestion in the area.

One of the drivers, Mr. Kamilu Ogundipe, said the rehabilitation should not be done during the day because it would complicate the traffic situation in the area.

“You know the volume of traffic here is high because it is a residential area, the closure has added to our suffering.

“This kind of work should have been better done at night,

considering when there will be light human and vehicular traffics.”

He said that people involved in emergency situations would need to get to their destinations on time and if they were delayed in traffic it could lead to loss of lives.

“In an emergency situation, people can lose their live here; we want to urge the government

to direct the contractors to work at night,” he said.

Another driver, Mr. Oluwafemi Awoyele, appealed to the government to identify more alternative routes for motorists plying the routes to alleviate their hardship.

Awoyele, who lauded officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, in controlling the

Alleged fraud: EFCC witness exonerates Ikuforiji

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BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, admitted before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, that Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji never used any of the funds he received from accounts department of the House for any illegal activity.

This is apparently a twist, as the commission is prosecuting Ikuforiji and his Special Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi on alleged money laundering charges.

An EFCC operative, Mr. Adebayo Adeniyi, who is the first prosecution witness, under cross-examination, admitted that the investigation of the commission never reveal that the various cash payments, which

Ikuforiji allegedly received through Atoyebi from the Accounts Department of the House was used for any criminal activity such as terrorism, kidnapping, insider trading or market manipulation, tax evasion, drug trafficking, hostage taking, robbery, smuggling, sexual exploitation, organisation of criminal group or racketeering.

Adeniyi, a Principal Detective Superintendent with EFCC, had earlier told the court how various cash payments were made to Ikuforiji through Atoyebi at the Accounts Department of the Assembly.

He said the funds were withdrawn from the accounts of Lagos State House of Assembly with Wema Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank, ETB, which the Director of Finance of the House

5 ex-Lagos Fair employees for trial over N274m fraud owned by the complex.

BY ABDULWAHAB

ABDULAH AGOS—JUSTICE Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court yesterday fixed June 18 for definite hearing of the trial of five former employees of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex charged with N274 million theft.

Those charged for offences of conspiracy and stealing on November 28, 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, before the court wereBassey Eyamba, Francis Dajilak, Lazarus Okocha, Barnabas Kolo and Eunice Okafor.

When they were arraigned they all pleaded not guilty to the 20-count offence pressed against them.

The anti graft commission represented by Mr. Anslem Ozioko, had said that the defendants committed the offences between January 2009 and December 2011 in Lagos.

The commission alleged

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that they had committed the offence by fraudulently obtaining various sums of money belonging to their employer by renting and selling some plots of land

The alleged offence according to the commission contravenes Sections 390 (6) and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2003.

Activists task govt, others on sexual crimes

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA A G O S — RIGHTS activists have called for concerted efforts on the part of governments and faith-based organisations to combat the rising wave of sexual violence in Nigeria and punish offenders.

Alarmed by the incessant cases of sexual crimes, especially against children across the country, the activists, made the call at a gathering of human right groups and stakeholders in Lagos.

The forum was meant to stimulate action to reduce rape and end impunity of sexual crime offenders.

Citing different cases of rape across the country, Dr.

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traffic, said, however, that the situation had affected his business.

“It has affected us so much so that we cannot make the number of trips we used to make before the bridge was closed.

“Before, we used to make four trips but we barely make one or two now,” he said.

Josephine EffahChukwuma, founder, Project Alert, said: “Impunity seems to be the reason for this sexual epidemic we are currently experiencing because people committing these crimes are not being brought to book.

"As Nigerians we keep saying victims of sexual crimes – rape, gang rape and different forms of sexual abuse do not report their victimisation. We need to understand that for as long as the issues of sexual crimes are not treated with the seriousness they deserve, victims will continue to experience secondary victimisation."

and the Permanent Secretary were signatories to, but that the eventual disbursement of the cash to Atoyebi were not done through a financial institution.

On whether the received funds were for official use of members of the Assembly, the prosecution witness answered in the affirmative, adding: “We did asked some of the lawmakers and they admitted collecting the cash.”

Adeniyi further said: “My Lord, from our investigation, we discovered that the permanent secretary normally withdraws the cash from the bank on behalf of the Assembly in his name. We were also interested in seeing how these funds were expended and our investigation revealed the funds were paid to members of the Assembly and their officials, but these cash payments were above the threshold in which the permanent secretary could transact on.”

Lagos to prosecute owners of abandoned ships — FASHOLA

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the state has concluded plans to prosecute owners of abandoned ships dotting her shoreline, saying this will be for ecological reasons.

Fashola also said that the state’s climate change initiatives had created no fewer than 58,578 jobs.

The governor spoke at the opening ceremony of the three-day 6th Climate Change Summit, with the theme: ‘Exploring business opportunities in climate change mitigation and adaptation: Lagos State in focus'.

According to the governor: “We are looking at how to get professionals to assist in identifying owners of ocean-going vessels that are being abandoned on our shoreline.

“We intend to pursue claims against such owners for ecological damage which their ship has done to our state.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 11

DFID worries over states' inability to raise IGRs

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—THE Department for International Development, DFID, yesterday expressed concern that many of the states in the country are yet to fully utilise their capacities to generate revenue but still depend on revenue from the federation accounts.

It, therefore, challenged states to fully utilise their capacities to generate revenue internally for the development of the states.

The Southern Regional Coordinator of DFID, Mr. Sina Fagbenro-Byron stated this in Akure at a conference on internally generated revenue for Southwest and Kwara states.

Fagbenro-Byron said a study conducted between 2007 and 2011 revealed that the Southwest region accounted for 44.3 per cent of the total Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, in the country.

He explained that the IGR of the Southwest region between 2007 and 2011 was put at N926.6 billion, which was more than that of the four zones of Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and North central which had N675.5 billion.

Fayemi picks APC nomination form today

BY GBENGAARIYIBI DO EKITI—EKITI State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi will today pick the All Progressives Congress, APC, expression of interest and nomination forms at the party national secretariat in Abuja.

According to the statement by the spokesman of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dimeji Bankole in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said the governor will be accompanied to Abuja by some of the party hierarchy in the state including members of the Kayode Fayemi C a m p a i g n Organisation, National Assembly members from the state and other party faithful.

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Baptist High School unrest c‘ttee submits report zSays no religion is against Osun school re-classification zAttributes rumpus to rivalry between Christianity and Islam

BY LEKE ADESERI, S-WEST

REGIONAL EDITOR & GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—CONTRARY to insinuations that the reclassification exercise of schools in Osun was the cause of unrest in schools, the Committee set up by the state government to look into the disquiet in Baptist High School Iwo, on Monday night revealed that no religion in the state is against the policy.

The committee led by a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in the state, Gbadegesin Adedeji, while submitting it’s report, noted that no single religion in the state was against the re-classification policy except for ego.

He stressed that the committee was able to find out that it was the old rivalry between the two prominent religions that was responsible for the animosity witnessed in the school in Iwo. Adedeji commended Governor Aregbesola for being proactive in tackling the opportunistic differences that some people are trying to play on with the reclassification of schools in the state.

The government's argument for embarking on a re-classification that saw to the emergence of bigger schools where instructional facilities are concentrated has been that it wants to achieve a completely restructured education system for improved results by utilising its meagre resources, for effective learning.

Committee’s findings

According to the committee’s head, Gbadegesin: “The crisis in Baptist High School in Iwo was an issue that should not be treated with kids’ gloves. I want to use this opportunity to applaud the state government for setting up this committee.

“If the case of Iwo Baptist High School had been allowed to fester, it could have spread over the state. During our assignment, people came out in their hundreds and we had frank exchange of what could be the problem.

“On the basis of what they told us, we were able to get to a conclusion that no single religion is against the re-classification policy, all we noticed was that it was the ego among the dominant religions in the state that has been played up.”

Yorubas will never fight based on religion – Aregbesola

The governor while receiving

the report held that Yoruba race had lived for several millennia with strong distinction on how to approach the divine without any problem.

Aregbesola stressed that the policy was designed to bring out the best from pupils and students, hence the decision of government to nip in the bud the sectarian unrest at the Baptist High School, Iwo. He thanked God for not allowing the state to be engulfed in crises with what happened in the school, saying the basis for animosity as noted by the

committee was about ego.

He said with the similarities that exist between the two recent faiths, the rancor being witnessed in Nigeria was unnecessary.

The governor said: “No matter what we profess, Yoruba will never fight over religion because it is strange to them as they have lived together on different beliefs.

“If love is critical and crucial to all faiths, where do we find the hatred and animosity that now characterise our relationships as men of faith? Salvation is an

individual thing with God. “It’s good to hear that the committee was able to discover that it was not the re-classification of schools in the state that fuelled the attitude of some misguided students in the school in Iwo, but the rivalry between the two faiths was the cause of what happened in the school.”

Aregbesola assured that government is going to look into the report of the committee carefully and come out with a white paper that will show how to manage such occurrence.

SUMMIT: From left: Mr. David Cadman, President International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, ICLEI, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Environment, during the 6th Climate Change Summit, organised by Lagos State Government, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Police investigate killing of Osun PDP stalwart

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE SOGBO—OSUN State Police Command has begun investigations into last week’s murder of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart in Ile-Ife, Pa Taiwo Ogundele. The politician was assassinated at the back of his house in Okiti area of the town by yet to be identified hoodlums.

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The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu who disclosed this in Osogbo yesterday, assured that the killers of the politician would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Maishanu who stressed that the Police were on the trail of the killers of the politician, stated that the murder of the politician

would not be kept under the carpet, saying that the Police would ensure that the killers are fished out in no distant time.

The Police boss also said that full investigation had commenced on the case, adding that arrest had been made by the Police in connection with the incident.

PDP conducts Ekiti ward congresses today

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BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

DO EKITI—DESPITE the controversy trailing the conduct of party primaries in picking the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the June 21 gubernatorial election, the national leadership of the party has said that the ward congresses will take place

in the state today.

Speaking with the newsmen after a meeting with the stakeholders of the party at the party secretariat in Ado Ekiti yesterday, in preparation for today ’s ward congresses, chairman of the national PDP Ward Delegates Congress for Ekiti State, Alhaji Danladi Maiauduga, who came in from

Abuja appealed to interested parties to cooperate with members of the committee for a successful exercise.

The PDP chieftain said his team is in Ado Ekiti to conduct the congress holding today across the 177 wards being the people that would vote in the primaries slated for Saturday, March 22, if the consensus arrangement fails.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Displaced Bayelsa indigenes petition NASS, FG over devastation by Agip oil spills

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—DISPLACED indigenes of Izagara and Agum clans in Okoroba community, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have sent a Save-Our-Soul message to the leadership of the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Environment, over cases of devastation and alleged neglect by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, following last month's massive oil spillage in the area.

According to the aggrieved indigenes, though the families of the Izagara and Agum clans have played good hosts to the Nigerian Agip over the years, the people of the community have suffered huge losses occasioned by the effects of the activities of the multinational on their environment and main sources of livelihood as a people.

The community, in a statement, yesterday, in Yenagoa, through their spokesman, Mr. Gift Douglas, said that they had witnessed massive oil spills from the Brass/Ogada pipeline in recent years, as a

result of the aged pipeline and activities of vandals.

“Oil spillages have been a recurrent decimal in the land of Okoroba and it has affected our people negatively,” they lamented.

“Why are they treating Okoroba people with contempt? Will they exhibit such attitude in Milan, London, France or in any of the European Union member states?

“The application of double standards in the oil operations in the Niger Delta is worrisome.

We wish to state categorically that the spill is as a result of equipment failure, and by the legal implication, the people are entitled to be compensated adequately.

“We demand the immediate dispatch of relief materials to the community and an emergency meeting between the company, government and the Okoroba people.

“We demand a comprehensive environmental impact assessment; a proper clean-up of the land and the environment; a post-impact assessment of the Okoroaba devastated land as a result of the company's activities; adequate and prompt compensation to the people of Oko-

roba and the families for the loss of their sources of livelihood.

“We also demand that the company should carry out a comprehensive overhaul of

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ARRI—A FAC TIONAL leader in the oil-rich Ugborodo community, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, has blamed the recurring violence in the community on the failure of security operatives to challenge the unlawful eviction of some indigenes from their homes in Aruton (Ode-Ugborodo) by armed youths.

Ereyitomi spoke to Vanguard in Warri on the renewed clashes between supporters of the warring factions in the leadership tussle in Ugborodo, host to the Federal Government’s multi-billion dollar Export Processing Zone.

Breaking his prolonged silence on the lingering crisis, Ereyitomi, said: “It is sad that we (Ugborodo people) still delight in fighting and harming ourselves over needless differences. This is continuing despite the different undertakings parties had

signed to keep the peace as the Federal Government mediates with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

“The real reason for the renewed fighting is because some armed persons have driven others from their homes in OdeUgborodo. When a man is chased away from his home by force of arm, the tendency is for the exiled victims to fight back.”

He called on security

operatives to, in the interim, take control of the situation “ with robust presence by ensuring that nobody ’s right to free movement or settlement was infringed upon. Above all, there is need for urgency in prevailing on parties to respect the Federal Government’s peace intervention by respecting the terms of settlement for speedy resolution of the crisis in Ugborodo.”

Church of Nigeria honours Also honoured as NeheAbe, others miah’s awardees at the

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HE Senator representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has been honoured with the Nehemiah award by the Diocese of Ogoni in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

The award, instituted by the Diocese in appreciation of Nehemiah’s efforts in the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the purification of the Jewish community, follows Senator Abe’s outstanding contributions to the growth of the church in Ogoniland and society in general.

on Petroleum and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA to prevail on Agip to do the needful in cleaning up the environment and the payment of compensation our people."

COMMISSIONING OF A 300 CAPACITY COUNCIL HALL: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (2nd left); his wife, Unoma (2nd right), Speaker AKHA, Elder Samuel Ikon (right) and Lady Valerie Ebe, Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State (left), during the commissioning of a 300 capacity council hall at Ikot Abasi Local Government Council, by the governor, yesterday.

Ugborodo: Ereyitomi blames repeated violence on unlawful evictions

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

the various pipelines based on their ages and usage to avert further failures and consequent disaster. We call on the Ministry of Environment, the Senate Committee

Cathedral of All Saints, Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, were the state Commissioner for Works, Victor Giadom, Paramount Ruler of Kpite, Mene Samuel Nnee and Prince Princewill Gininwa.

Presenting the award, during a special thanksgiving service, to mark his 9th anniversary celebration, the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Solomon Gberegbara, explained that the awardees had spent time and resources in the promotion of Church activities and evangelism in Ogoniland.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—13

Rivers Assembly confirms Agumagu as CJ zAs court nullifies NJC's recommendation

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State House of Assembly, yesterday, confirmed Justice Peter Agumagu, President of the state Customary Court of Appeal, as the substantive Chief Judge for the state.

Earlier in the day, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, nullified the National Judicial Council’s, NJC, recommendation that Justice Daisy Okocha be appointed Chief Judge of Rivers State.

Trial judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi, in his judgment, said: “NJC recommendation is wrong”, because the council gave no reasons why it preferred Okocha to Justice Agumagu.”

In the House, the Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree and 17 other lawmakers voted in support of Justice Agumagu to be appointed Chief Judge of the state, after he was screened by the lawmakers that same yesterday.

“Justice Agumagu is hereby

C M Y K

confirmed as Chief Judge of Rivers State. Please, Mr. Clerk, convey our resolution to His Excellency,” the Speaker said, after voting on Justice Agumagu's confirmation was concluded.

Justice Akanbi had, in his judgment, said: “The letter of the NJC of July 2, 2013, and received on July 30, by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, that only the most senior judge must be appointed, contrary to the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, is wrongful, null

and void. The letter recommending Justice Okocha in preference to Agumagu, saying that Agumagu is not the most senior judge of the High Court, is wrongful and null and void.

“The criteria used by NJC to disqualify Justice Agumagu are wrongful, null and void. With greatest respect to the NJC, which is my employer, I cannot allow the argument of the defence counsel, that the governor must accept

the recommendation of the NJC. “The body most suitable to make recommendation on who to be the Chief Judge of the state is the state Judicial Service Commission, because it has local knowledge of the most suitable candidate than the NJC.” The judge gave instances of states, including Oyo, where a Chief Judge was appointed from outside the high court.

Mr Olusola Dare, counsel to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, de-

scribed the judgment as a “landmark judgment.”

Mr Ake Udenna, the counsel to NJC, said cases were determined based on their peculiar facts.

Meantime, Rivers State Government has lauded the judgment, saying it had untied the hands of the governor to now appoint a substantive Chief Judge for the state.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said the governor was now free to appoint a Chief Judge for the state.

Court restrains monarch from trespassing on church land

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AN Edo State High Court sitting in Uromi, has restrained the Onogie of Uromi, HRH Anslem Eidenogie, from further trespassing on a land allegedly belonging to Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Uromi.

The order is to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit. The court also

restrained servants, agents or privies of the defendant from entering and/or in any away trespassing on the said land.

Trial judge, Justice Victor Oviawe, made the order, after listening to arguments of counsel to parties on an exparte application by the Church by Gabriel GiwaAmu It will be recalled that the Anglican Church dragged

the monarch to the court for alleged trespass.

The church had prayed the court for an order to restrain the monarch, his servants, agents or privies from entering and/or in anyway trespassing and interfering with the land.

The church is also demanding the sum of N5 million as damages for the trespass on its land, measuring 3735.678 square meters, situated

along the junction of Uromi/ Ubiaja Road and Ojomon Street, Uromi.

It will be recalled that one Gregory Okpere had laid claim to the same land, leading to a court action, at the end of which judgment was delivered in the claimant’s favour

by Justice D. I.Okungbowa on October 17, 2006.

Hearing in the substantive suit is to commence May 5, 2014.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Insurgency sponsored to stop Jonathan — PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, alleged that acts of terrorism being perpetuated by members of Boko Haram in some parts of the country, where thousands have been killed and property worth millions destroyed, were being sponsored to discredit and give President Goodluck Jonathan a negative image.

According to PDP, it was clear that President Jonathan was being persecuted for no other reason than being from the minority, saying that no leader in the history of the country had faced the height of persecution that the President had been subjected to since he assumed office In a statement, yesterday,

by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said that

it came to such a conclusion after a careful examination of the trend and character of the spate of insurgency and sectarian violence in the country.

Metuh, noted that it was beyond conjecture that the Nigerian version of terrorism was the product of a narrow political persuasion that defies logic and reason.

He said: “We accept the reality of terrorism as a global phenomenon, however, the peculiar trend of the Nigerian version which subsists on a welter of nebulous demands and masked identities, hacking down innocent Nigerians -women, children and the elderly in an awful scorch earth fashion, and in an obstinate ridicule of dialogue, defies all reason and logic.

"This only summarises a well considered agenda of national destabilisation for a purely selfish political cause."

SWEARING-IN Professor Joe Asike, Chief of Staff, Oseloka Obaze, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Deputy Governor and Willie Nwokoye, Principal Secretary after the swearing -in of the principal officers of Governor Obiano in Awka, yesterday.

NHRC begins investigation into Immigration recruitment tragedy

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE Na tional Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, said it has commenced full scale investigation into the National Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment tragedy that

claimed the lives of about 18 persons, last Saturday.

The Commission, expressed concern over what it termed “avoidable” death of the innocent job seekers, stressing that “mainstreaming human rights in the work of every organisation is what is needed to avoid such an incident in future.”

Executive Secretary of NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe, spoke when he

received members of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights who came to lodge a complaint against NIS and relevant authorities with regard to the exercise.

Angwe ordered the Human Rights Monitoring Department of the Commission in the FCT, Niger, Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Benin offices to submit interim reports containing information on what happened, including identities of dead and injured persons.

Besides, he said the NHRC had set up a committee to thoroughly carry out a full-scale investigation into the allegations of human rights violations in the matter and make appropriate recommendations. ”The Commission will in line with its mandate and international best practices, ensure that victims of the incident are adequately compensated and measures put in place to forestall recurrence,” Angwe said.

Confab: Group faults Ike Nwachukwu’s nomination to lead Ndigbo

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA — IGBO socio-cultural organisation, Ndigbo Unity Forum, NUF, has faulted the nomination of Senator Ike Nwachukwu as leader of Ndigbo delegates at the on-going national conference.

In a press statement to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State, shortly after its one-day national convention, yesterday, the group said it was rejecting Nwachukwu’s nomination for failing Ndigbo in the past.

In the statement jointly signed by Au-

gustine Chukwudum, President and Chinedu Onyebuchi, Secretary-General, NUF said it is only worthy Igbo sons and daughters who had proven themselves through positive contributions to Ndigbo that should be saddled with the responsibility of representing Ndigbo.

On the Second Niger Bridge project, the group said: “We have read and found out that the Second Niger Bridge is going to be constructed under Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement that is going to place almost about 70 per cent of the construction of the bridge on its users.

Tony Elumelu, Rawlings to speak at leadership conference in Ghana

I

NTEGRITY INTER NATIONAL holds its eighth leadership conference on development in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Conference Hall of New Golden Tulip Int’l Hotel Accra, Ghana at 6. 00pm (Ghana time).

A renowned speaker and astute banker, Mr. Tony Elumelu, CON, former MD/CEO United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc and

founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, is expected to deliver a speech, entitled, ' Africa’s Industrialization in the 21st Century: Issues, Options, Challenges and Prospects.'

A statement by Dr. Richard Ikpada, head, Africa Operations of Integrity International said those expected at the event include heads of state, top government functionaries, envoys, business personalities, pro-

fessionals, eminent African statesmen, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and state governors, among others.

It added that Jerry J. Rawlings, former President of the Republic of Ghana is expected to deliver the keynote address, while Faure Gnassingbe of the Republic of Togo and Dr. Joyce Banda of the Republic of Malawi are expected to grace the occasion.

Vanguard, WDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—15

Reps move to probe NIS aptitude test mishap ...To investigate Kaduna killings

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

ABUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, resolved to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of 21 job applicants during last Saturday aptitude test for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. It also resolved that families of the victims should be given automatic employment, provided they were qualified.

The House also mandated its Committee on National Security and Public Safety to investigate last Saturday’s killings of over 100 residents in a Southern Kaduna village, directing the committee in plenary to carry out the assignment within two weeks and report back.

These came as the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro and Comptroller General of Immigration, David Parrandang, were also summoned to explain their roles in the aptitude test tragedy.

Four committees, including those on Interior, Justice, Public Service Matters and Labour and Productivity, were mandated to investigate the matter and report to the House within four weeks.

This development was sequel to a motion brought to the floor of the House by Sunday Karimi, PDP, Kogi State, under matters of national importance.

In the motion, entitled, 'Tragedy at 2014 immigration exercise in which one million Nigerian youths scrambled for 4,500 job placements,' Karimi had given a graphic detail with figures of how the aptitude test was conducted in almost all the state capitals.

He said: “On March 15, 2014, over one million Nigerian youths trooped into all the nation’s state capitals and other major cities to participate in the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment, for which the Service had in September, 2013, advertised positions into it and had obtained N1000 as application fee from each of the applicants.”

He explained that in Lagos alone,

PRESENTATION: National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, North West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah (middle), at the IDPs Camp, presenting relief support to the Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area, Daniel Anyip, on behalf of displaced victims of recent attack by unknown killers. about 70,000 youths showed up at the stadium for the test, adding that in Ibadan, the Liberty Stadium played host to about 20,000.

According to him, .the 60,000 capacity National Stadium in Abuja was overcrowded with 70,000 youths, while 25,000 candidates showed up like a sea of heads at llorin Stadium in Kwara State.

Karimi said: “In Benin, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, 26,000 youths trooped in all in a bid to write the aptitude test. ”The Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano played host to 15,800; Benue, 17,800 and Port Harcourt, about 23,000 candidates. ”Despite the crises and insecurity in the North East, Gombe and Borno State played host to about 5,000 applicants each, while in Sokoto State, 10,000 applicants participated in the exercise. ”This resulted in chaos and stampede in all the centres and several persons were reported dead and many more critically injured. At least, about 21 deaths were reported. ”In Benin, three pregnant women lost their lives; in Abuja, eight candidates, including two men and six women, died at the venue.

“In Port Harcourt, five corpses, including that of a pregnant woman, were recovered at the scene. In Calabar, Ogun, Lagos and at many other centres, candidates, all in a bid to secure a white collar job, were flogged and abused by security personnel. Many slept at the venues, a night preceding the exercise. ”An unrecorded number of Nigerians had lost their lives in motor accidents on their way to the

test centres.

“The National Bureau of Statistics ,NBS, states that 54 per cent of Nigerian youths are unemployed and puts Nigeria’s total unemployment at 23.9 per cent.

Karimi had in his motion, prayed the House to condemn unequivocally, handling of the recruitment of the Nigerian Immigration Service of March 15, 2014, and commiserate with the families of applicants who lost their lives and also empathise with those who suffered injuries as a result of the exercise.

He also said the Comptroller General of the Immigration Service and the Minister of Interior must appear before the House to explain the unwieldy recruitment of March 15, 2014, adding that the Federal Government should work in conjunction with state, local governments and public spirited individuals and organisations to evolve a job creation scheme that would best address the unemployment situation in Nigeria.

He canvassed a microcredit scheme, Nigerian Youth Empowerment Programme, to assist Nigerian youths keenly interested in handcraft and small businesses, in order to, at least, immortalise those who lost their lives.

The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, at this juncture, called for debates on the issue, but members sought an amendment that the Committee on Human Rights should be dropped for Labour and Productivity and this was carried.

Also, Jerry Alebiosu add-

ed that families of the victims should be given automatic appointment.

Though members received it coldly, the Speaker, sensing it might be dumped, explained to them a second time and it was amended that victims' families should provide replacements, provided they were qualified.

The issue of a micro-credit facility was not touched and Tambuwal explained that it was not included.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, the Minority Leader, Gbajabiamila, said the action of NIS at collecting money from job seekers amounted to fraud, which negated the spirit and letters of Section 419 of the Criminal Laws.

Said he: “What the NIS did was to obtain money by false pretence, contrary to section 419 of our criminal laws. Whoever is responsible must be treated and punished as we would a 419ner.

“To make matters worse, I am not aware that the revenue realised was considered as part of the revenue profile of the agency or the country when the 2014 budget was submitted. “ I am saddened by this occurrence and dismayed that the Minister’s statement that those who died were to blame for their conduct, if true, showed no trace of humanity. ”It is obtaining by false pretense when you take money from 520,000 people without telling them upfront there was limited vacancy for just 4,000 people, half of which had already been given to cronies and

preferred candidates any way.”

He stated the exercise was a proof to the alarming rate of unemployment in the country.

Meanwhile, the House has mandated its Committee on National Security and Public Safety to investigate the killing of over 100 people in a Southern Kaduna village.

In a motion under matters of national importance, moved by Gideon Gwani ,PDP, Kaduna, the House lamented the incessant killings of innocent citizens in the Southern Kaduna.

He noted in his motion that “since 2011, various communities in Kaura Federal Constituency have been targets of attacks by armed gunmen, causing deaths, injuries and destruction.”

Gwani In a motion under matters of national importance, moved by Gideon Gwani ,PDP, Kaduna, the House lamented the incessant killings of innocent citizens in the Southern part of Kaduna.

He noted in his motion that “since 2011, various communities in Kaura Federal Constituency have been targets of attacks by armed gunmen, causing deaths, injuries and destruction.”

Gwani said before last Saturday’s spate of killings, seven members of a family were murdered in their house on February 1, 2014, with houses and property destroyed and assorted grains of food stolen. ”Again on the night of Friday, March 14, 2014, to the early hours of Saturday, March 15, 2014, a massacre took place at Bondon village of Moroa, leaving behind 123 people dead, including children, women, men, aged, physically challenged people and many injured, with over 240 buildings destroyed and assorted grains of food with other valuable items stolen,” he added. ”Again on the night of Friday, March 14, 2014, to the early hours of Saturday, March 15, 2014, a massacre took place at Bondon village of Moroa, leaving behind 123 people dead, including children, women, men, aged, physically challenged people and many injured, with over 240 buildings destroyed and assorted grains of food with other valuable items stolen,” he added.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Foundation of Nigeria's education policy obsolete — FG

BY EMEKA MAMAH, EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau chief & EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

HE FEDERAL Govern ment, yesterday, said that the foundation which formed the bedrock of the nation’s education policy had become obsolete.

President Goodluck Jonathan made this known at the opening ceremony of the 20th Nigeria Economic Summit, with the theme, 'Transforming Education through Partnership for Global Competitiveness,' in Abuja.

This was even as the government said that it invested N561.9 billion in tertiary and secondary education between 2009 and last year.

The Chairman of the NESG, Mr. Foluso Philips, also called on Federal Government to make public the forensic audit of the alleged missing $20 billion oil money, with a view to resting the controversy permanently.

“Within weeks from now, Nigeria would be hosting for the first time, the global gathering for Economic Forum for Africa, which had been held in different parts of Africa for the past 24 years and will be attended by global players that are looking to Africa as the next great and emerging continent. This is indeed an honour to Nigeria, but setting also the urgency to fix the things that are clearly broken,” he said.

The NESG Chairman also stated that so much had happened to the economy since the end of the 19th summit in September 2013 on agriculture, with so many agro entrepreneurs emerging.

In addition to this, he said that the Federal Executive Council had adopted several policies to accommodate some of the recommendations made at the last summit.

Beyond these policies, he added that government was working on new legislations to support the agricultural transformation.

His words: “since the last summit, a number of private sector investors had made some investments like Dangote Group that committed $515 million in the tomatoes, rice and sorghum in

Kano State; Flour Mill of Nigeria has committed about $217 million for cassava processing, while Dansa Foods is to invest about $100 million on fruit juice processing. The economy at six per cent last year had continued to show a robust growth in output.

However, Jonathan asked NESG, to review the policy foundation developed about 45 years ago in 1969 to meet current realities. Jonathan spoke through the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo.

According to him: “More than

40 years after, this policy foundation is ripe for review, to determine its relevance and fine-tune its adaptability to national objectives, in this 21st century.

“It is my hope that this summit will take up this challenge by applying itself rigorously to the de-

sign of an ideal education system that will satisfy our national needs and aspirations.”

Jonathan pointed out that development of the education sector was one the major priorities of his administration as it was the key for accelerating national transformation and development.

“Education has changed the destiny of nations, big and small and we are determined to change our story for the very best,’’ pointing out that the Federal Government had identified access, quality and equity as the main strategic goals of the new education policy.

Jonathan stressed that government had introduced several initiatives including the girl and boy-child education, the Almajiri system, teacher training and retraining, increased funding and other far reaching policy reforms at all levels of the education system to achieve these goals.

He, however, called for more partnership between the three tiers of government, the private sector and international development agencies in designing credible sectoral accountability frameworks that will impact positively on the sector.

Development of human capital SUMMIT: From left, Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, Mr. Folusho Phillips; Vice President Namadi Sambo, and GMD, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, at NESG summit, in Abuja, yesterday.

APC senators chide Jonathan over immigration job deaths ...ask him to declare emergency on unemployment

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA — ALL Progressives Congress, APC, senators have berated the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan over last weekend tragic death of Nigerian youths in search of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, job.

According to the party, Jonathan’s government had left Nigeria worse than it met the country.

The senators said last Saturday’s tragedy during the Nigerian Immigration Service jobs tests, which left 17 people dead and many others injured across the country, was a further indication of government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

Reacting to the misfortune, in a statement, through their spokesman, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, yesterday, APC senators insisted that “the tragedy had further graphically underlined the insensitivity of the President Jonathan’s administration to the plight of the people.”

They asked the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, to resign his position, saying it was necessary for the committee set up to investigate the cause of the tragedy to carry out its function without any fear or favour. ”In other countries, the death of these helpless applicants in such a circumstance would be enough for the minister in charge to tender his resignation. ”We are calling on the Minister of the Interior, Abba Moro, to resign his position, because he can’t be absolved from the activities that eventually led to this monumental tragedy,” the senators said.

The APC senators expressed worry over what they called worsening unemployment problem in the country, saying attempts by them to provide constructive opposition had always been muzzled by the PDP dominated senators.

They also called on President Jonathan to tackle Nigeria’s problems, especially unemployment, with sincerity. ”We are very worried about the worsening unemployment rate and are, hereby, calling on President Jonathan to tackle the problem sincerely and decisively by declaring an emergency on the unemployment and urgently come out with a plan to tackle the problem. ”We would be deceiving ourselves not to admit that joblessness is an indirect effect of the spate of insecurity that is bedeviling the country all over."

“There is an urgent need to develop human capital, by investing and improving the skills of our people to facilitate the actualisation of our national objectives,” he stated, and urged stakeholders in the education sector to articulate practical solutions to surmount challenges of acquiring accurate statistics, especially at the basic and secondary levels, particularly on school enrolment and other education indices. “It is necessary that we get the numbers right to aid successful planning and decision-making,” he added.

Earlier in his speech, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had said that the Federal Government invested N561.9 billion in tertiary and secondary education between 2009 and 2013. Wike explained that tertiary education attracted N522.2 billion, while secondary education got N39.7 billion within the period under review. ’’The Federal Government invested N522.2 billion within the period 2009 - 2013, in the area of project development, academic staff training and development, library development and other high impact projects in tertiary education. ’Out of this amount, N456.5 billion was accessed while N65.6 billion was committed but not accessed. ’The investment in tertiary education through Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETfund to universities was N268.5 billion of which N35.1 billion was not accessed."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 17

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 OUTRAGE is raging against the death of 19, among them four pregnant women, at the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment exercise. Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, in reaction to calls for his resignation, said he needed to stick around to fix the problem. Nigerians seem aghast at the disregard for life. Why the hypocrisy?

Is this the first time people died during NIS recruitments? What happened about the screaming headlines? When did lives become so unimportant in Nigeria?Morro may be sacked or keep his job. None of the options scratches the problem; none would ensure there is no repeat next year with more casualties.

The only gain from his sack could be that government would start punishing those who allow things go wrong under their charge. It would open a chapter of responsibility in our national life and expectedly new challenges. Who would be punished for thousands of lives lost to Boko Haram attacks? Everybody or nobody, some would argue, since terrorists took those lives.

There seems to be a selective appreciation

NIS Death - Our Hypocrisy of life.

We mourn differently for plane crash victims, thousands who perish in terrorist attacks and the annual victims of NIS recruitment scandals. In the past, applicants died from the drills. With population increases, they die from stampedes, too many people chasing limited opportunities.

On the day of the NIS tragedy, more than 200 people herdsmen killed in villages in Kaduna State were being mass-buried. Outrage over their death was muted. Was it because they were villagers and no specific ministry was responsible for their death? We condemn all avoidable deaths. Our point is

that Nigerians have to focus on the bigger picture or we would again miss the point. If lives are important, all lives must be important.

The mode of the NIS recruitment did not care about lives. It was primitive, the consultants did not know the capacity of the facilities where they were stuffing people into, and they seemed to have no plans to manage them, once they squeezed into the arena. Even with the best methods, managing more than 500,000 people would be tasking. A poor plan was a perfect recipe for tragedy.

Apart from these, the desperation of the applicants was obvious. Why would pregnant women sign up for such drills? The big picture is the high level of unemployment in Nigeria. It provides fertile grounds for deaths and good business for job scammers.

Unemployment is high and rising. Statistics belie the fact. It is hypocritical for governments to show concerns about these deaths without dealing with their causes. Until government policies generate jobs, safety and security, more tragedies, of more magnitude, are on the way. It is unfortunate.

OPINION

BY MATTHEW ADEJOH

T

HE leaders of the North, or those who say that they are leaders of the vast North, that supposedly includes the Igala, Tiv, Idoma, Nupe, Gbagyi, etc, gathered recently in Kano and indulged in what can best be described as an exercise in deception all in a desperate attempt to get power to return to a region which has been balkanised because of the natural tendency of some people to think that power belongs to them.

Now that power has slipped from the hands of these few people, they want to remember that an Igala like me is one of them. For record purposes, there are people from what is described as the North today who do not share this delusive position.

The so-called Northern leaders are mobilising Northerners to perceive President Goodluck Jonathan in bad light as part of the grand strategy to ensure power returns to the North in 2015.

There is no doubt that this agenda is evil.

Validation: the days are replete with battles among Northerners from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau and Katsina.

Those fighting in this region are not Southerners, but Northerners slaughtering Northerners and these elders who cannot put the North in order are alleging a secret agenda with the National Conference.

But in the deception dance that went on in Kano, there was a ray of hope when Nuhu Ribadu mounted the rostrum. His words: "At a time global development moves in supersonic (speed), we trail behind on this path of progress. We give birth in record number and often end up throwing the kids C M Y K

National confab and delusion of Nor thern elder Northern elderss on the streets, leaving them to their own devices. The parents shy away from their responsibilities of upbringing while the governments abandon their own bits of provision of basic social amenities from healthcare to education.

"It is a little wonder that we have one of the highest mortality rates, out-of-school children, dropouts and social misfits.

Some of these children, who managed to escape the harsh formative years, end up on the streets as urchins. On reaching adulthood, frustration and lack of opportunities would dawn on them making them the victims that now give us sleepless nights."

Former Federal Permanent Secretary, who wants to be the unsolicited voice for the North and seeks political relevance, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, believes that the National Conference has been “deliberately designed to cause havoc to Northern unity and deepen its problems," adding that it will make it "easier for President Jonathan to exploit the fallout for his re-election campaigns." The reason why this will happen is because there is no longer a monolithic North and there will never be any longer.

Baba-Ahmed, who suggested a sabotage of the conference in other words, continues in his sinister agenda: “This Conference will not find answers to the decaying infrastructure in the North, or solutions to the millions of young uneducated, unskilled and unemployed citizens, or solutions to the dangerous trend which sheds so much Northern blood every time

elections come. The North will participate at this conference at best as a spectator or at worst a helpless victim of a conspiracy to exploit its weakness. [Therefore] every Northerner who walks out robs the conference of more of the very little credibility it has. The more of you (delegates) that walk out, the less likely it will be that they will claim that they held a National Conference."

But another Northern politician, Buba Galadima, also slightly toed the general line of argument by lamenters like BabaAhmed, Ango Abdulahi and Professor Awwalu Yadudu. According to him, the fragmented North should articulate an agenda that enables it use its large number to determine who will become the next president. What a beguiling motive!

Indeed, it is Ribadu who stole the show and the hearts of a vast number of unselfish Northerners. Read him: "The story of the North's deterioration is a replica of the Nigeria's story. Searching for solutions to these challenges also means groping for the ropes to a better future for our dear country. I am a believer in the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria, under which we are a federating unit with 72 percent of the total landmass and more than half of the population, according to the 2006 head count.

"As such, we have to first situate ourselves within the larger prism of the country. As part of a federal system, the North can legitimately articulate its own philosophy and tools for development as some people within the nation have done...to achieve

whatever agenda is for the North; we must first integrate ourselves fully into the Nigerian entity and the world as it is in this 21st century. In this journey we are making, we have to continue to evaluate and from time to time, shake up or shake off practices, norms and dogmas that hinder our progress."

Ribadu continued: “... Putting this house (or the North) in order means getting our acts together; it means cleaning ourselves of the quicklime that keeps us in a standing position without any movement…. Yes, we are in difficult times but I see opportunities in our difficulty. A lot of places have gone under such difficulties but with much introspection and self-cleansing, they emerged out of it stronger. Hard time, it is said, is like the washing machine; it twists, turns and knocks you around but it makes you come out clean. Nothing ever goes without teaching us something to learn."

If the Northern leaders will listen to men like Ribadu, they will win our hearts rather combust energy on inanities. If we spend the next five years, there is no way anyone from any of the other regions can ever get and hold on to power again. And we must not pursue power just to have it because if that is done, that power will slip away again, and conferences to abuse other Jonathans of the future will be held.

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

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014— —19

, T

HREE days ago Nigerians began yet another attempt at looking at the terms of their coming together as a people within a boundaried space. The National Conference is the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s own way of allowing Nigerians to have a say, it believes, in how they want to be governed. The idea of cobbling together the diverse ethnic formations that populate what is today known as Nigeria was entirely that of foreigners whose interests were informed by imperial designs that had no place for local considerations.

The best the colonialists could do was to allow Nigerians a say in shaping the future of their country in series of constitutional conferences that preceded independence in 1960. These were mere British sops meant to create the illusion that Nigerians too had a say in the determination of their fate.

The truth is that the concessions that came out of these conferences have never really amounted to much. Yet, this half-hearted approach to fundamental assessment of the basis of national existence has proven most attractive to Nigerian postindependent leaders. Nigerian

leaders are not exactly famous for originality of thought. The attraction of constitutional conferences is, perhaps, no greater than for the very fact that it provides Nigerian leaders an excuse for shoddy thinking and unoriginal approach to address agitations for the negotiation of what makes us all Nigerians.

It is thus easy for organisers of these conferences to claim to be providing Nigerians opportunity for national participation while silencing any point that seeks to raise questions about Nigeria’s socalled unity. In other words, the first thing imposed on conferees to these government-designed conferences is a gag order forbidding any discussion of whether Nigerians want to live together.

The reasons for this are not as high-minded as they may seem. In fact, they are no greater than the need to safeguard the position of the individuals and groups currently running the country’s affairs. Which is the reason why many Nigerians have been at a loss understanding what the conference that began on Monday would be doing that the National Assembly cannot do. This is more so as the outcome of these

,

conference would still have to go to the same National Assembly for it to have any chance of survival.

Is the conference in its lack of sovereignty, therefore, not a duplication of the role of the National Assembly, many have asked? In what way is what is going on now in Abuja an improvement on previous attempts? What would delegates to the conference be saying that others to previous conferences whose outcomes have since gathered mold for nonimplementation have not said?

Was it not for this reason that certain sections of the Nigerian public and political groups have expressed reservation about participating in the conference?

O

ne lesson from the Sani Abacha conference in 1995 is that nature abhors a vacuum, especially of the political type.

Those who stay away from this conference would be doing so at their own peril. Even though it hardly makes sense to describe any class of Nigerian politicians as credible today, refusal by the front seat players to be part of the conference could cost them more than just losing their place on the gravy train. They would be

Abia: Airport as catalyst for development

BY ROMANUS UWA

W

HEN Abia State's Chief Theodore Orji announced his government’s plan to construct an airport of international standard in the state before the expiration of his second term in office, some armchair critics and cynics did not take him seriously.

Not because the project is not feasible within the period, but in their usual cynical attitude, they did not see anything good in the project.

This is when it is obvious even to a layman that the project is developmental and desirable because of its economic importance to the state and the country at large.

Since the project plan was mooted by the state government, it has sparked off debate on the social media and newspapers without any of those opposed to it putting forward any superior, reasonable argument.

The main basis of their arguments was that with the Owerri, Port-Harcourt and Enugu airports, there is no need for another airport in Abia State. But they fail to understand or realise that there are not enough airports in the country today, and that for quick, even and proper development in line with the international economic standard, every state in the country deserves an airport of its own.

Have they forgotten that Gombe State shares common boundary with Adamawa State that has both local and international airports? But the Gombe State government during the administration of Alhaji Danjuma Goje constructed a modern airport which has since boosted the economy of the state.

Asaba Airport was recently built by Dr.

Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration in Delta State. This is when the state has airport in the oil- rich city of Warri and at the same time shares a common boundary with Edo State which has an airport in the state capital, Benin City. The Delta State government, conscious of what the people of the state want and its responsibility to them, went ahead to construct the airport in a strategic place close to Onitsha Bridge Head.

Today, the greatest users of the Asaba airport are businessmen from Anambra State, especially those of them in Onitsha Main Market, just as Aba/ Umuahia people are major users of Owerri Airport.

It is clear that when completed, the Umuahia airport will boost the economic viability of the state and attract more investors to it. There is no doubt that the proposed airport project is a right step in the right direction, especially at this period that the present government in the state has transformed and is still transforming the state through massive infrastructural developments that are already attracting local and foreign investors. With the Abia International Conference Centre nearing completion, Ibeku Ubani Modern market and other markets completed, there will be influx of investors into the state more than ever before. The airport will surely make their business transactions and movement easier because they will not need to land in Owerri airport before taking the risk of going by road to Aba or Umuahia for businesses. It will also save the investors and travellers time, and at the same time generate money and create jobs in the state.

As an expression of their eagerness and

,

Now the National Conference is here

Why is participation at this conference being made to look like yet another public service appointment with full career benefits?

shortchanging those they claim to represent as the field would be clear for the very dregs of the political class, mere prostitutes and mongers of power, to take over control of the political space. We saw this under Abacha when many of today’s political scoundrels first made their appearance on the national stage.

There is no reason though to imagine that the people now in Abuja or those who called them to ‘come and chop’ would be doing anything more than sharing pork to the different groups and individuals at the conference. One can, in fact, hazard a guess that many of those at the conference, expired politicians and other national figures in need of political rehabilitation and relevance, would see their role solely in terms of protecting the interest of their benefactors, those who thought they should be resurrected from political oblivion back into national reckoning. It is an opportunity for many of them to position themselves for-post 2015 politics. One would therefore not be surprised to see many of these individuals turning the platform of the conference into a soap box for re-launching themselves and reviving their comatose political life.

Far from making a doomsday prediction, this conference may provide a few of those genuinely interested in charting a new course for Nigeria opportunity to merely let off steam while being stymied by others simply out to sustain the status quo. They would have their say while the political jobbers would have their way. There is no doubt that many of the conferees, given their past record, would be spending their time in Abuja to sustain the illegitimate system that had given their mediocre minds the unfair advantage to be among the prominent figures of our national life. They will quickly

There is no doubt that the proposed airport project is a right step in the right direction; when completed,...(it) will boost the economic viability of the state and attract more investors to it

,

readiness to have the airport, two communities in the state had already donated 1,500 hectares of land to the state government for the project. The land which was donated by the Ikwuano, UmuahiaSouth and Obingwa people has undergone formal acquisition process between the state government and donor communities.

Apart from this, the state government has concluded plan on how to appreciate the donor communities in terms of employment when the project is completed and at the same agreed to pay compensation for all the cash crops destroyed when work begins.

At the project site, the perimeter survey and fence had been concluded, and other construction works are ongoing gradually.

F

or those expressing fears on how the project will be funded, Governor Orji has made it clear that the proposed Umuahia Airport and a seaport would be constructed through the Public-PrivatePartnership, PPP, initiative. The Governor said “we will source the funds from PPP.’’ He said the state government would partner with investors who indicated interest to partner with it. He said that the process of funding the projects would be articulated in the memorandum of understanding to be signed between the government and the

gobble up their share of over N6 billion, including N4 million monthly rent, set aside by Abuja for the conference and be out looking for more to take to wherever they came from.

The amount already appropriated for this conference and the upkeep of the conferees does not make it look like an event meant to make the conferees or the general Nigerian public see this as some form of national service.

Rather, it looks like a way to add more to whom much is already given while taking from those who do not have. The larger Nigerian population is the poorer for this.

What stops some of these conferees, most of whom are among the richest Nigerians alive- what stops them from picking their own bill or paying their own rent for the three months duration of the conference?

As former office holders, government contractors or civil rights advocates, many of them own choice properties in Abuja, can afford Abuja rent or very well take care of themselves in other ways. Why is nobody talking about what these well-heeled Nigerians can give back to Nigeria by way of sacrifice? Why is participation at this conference being made to look like yet another public service appointment with full career benefits? What is the logic of attaching so much to a threemonth task?

There might be too much attached to the comfort of conferees and the benefits that come with participation at the individual level as to render ineffectual whatever may be the outcome of deliberations. In other words, the proponents of the conference may be promising far more than they can or, in fact, do care to deliver. This just might turn out to be a walk down a wellbeaten path.

investors.

Obviously, the Governor’s confidence derives from the fact that both local and foreign investors have indicated interest in partnering with the state government in making the project a reality. What spurred most of the investors was the success of such initiatives in the state since the present government came into office in 2007. The state government has once again made a success of the PPP scheme which has collapsed in many states due to the failure of either the government or the investors to abide by the rules of the game. The PPP scheme is already paying off in the state with the construction of an international event centre relocated to Umuahia market.

Apart from the economic gains of such projects to both the state and investors, the conducive and secured atmosphere provided by the state government in the state is another great source of motivation for the investors. Obviously no investor will like to invest his money in a crime or violent prone environment. Since the state government tackled the menace of kidnapping in the state through various youth empowerment programmes, the state has become crime-free because most of the youths are now engaged.

The Abia example and success story in the area of PPP should be replicated in other states because due to paucity of funds and other administrative challenges, government alone cannot fund all projects, especially a massive one like the construction of a modern airport in Umuahia. Even if the project is not completed before the tenure of present government expires, there is every need for the incoming government to ensure that the project is completed because of its strategic importance to the economy and growth of the state. *Mr. Uwa, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 , 2014

Raped, eyes plucked by ritualists, woman cries for help

Katanga Village.

According to him: “The three suspects

BY SUZAN EDEH that were responsible for raping and reHE sad look on the moving the eyes of faces of sympathisers a young lady while and newsmen who had she was returning gathered in the female surfrom a ceremony gical ward of the Abubakar were arrested followTafawa Balewa Teaching ing some useful inHospital told it all. Some formation given to of them could not control the police by some their emotions as they residents in the rained curses on the three area”. heartless men who raped While saying that and removed the eyes of a the suspects conyoung woman in Lukshi fessed to the crime Village of Dass Local Govand will be charged ernment Area of Bauchi to court, he urged State. They could not help residents in the state but wondered what could to be conscious of have prompted anyone to their environment sexually abuse the woman and report any susand also deprive her of picious character to sight. the police when the *Zainab Mohammed...After her traumatic experience need arises.

Languishing in pain on her hospital bed, the vicIn his own confestim, Zainab Mohammed sion, one of the susstruggled to come to terms pects ,Bitrus Yakubu, with this pathetic reality as a 45- year-old man, she kept asking God why informed that they life has treated her so unwere instructed by fairly, especially as she may one native doctor never see again. called Galambi to Narrating her ordeal to pluck out the eyes of *Suspect *Suspect newsmen, the 32- year-old a woman for a remother of four said on that fateful ward of N1million after the operaday, she was returning home after tion. He said: “One native doctor, attending a turban ceremony when Galambi, told me and my colleagues she was attacked by three men into get him the eyes of a woman. I side a bush. According to her: “Afdon’t know what he intends to do ter attending a turbaning ceremowith the eyes, but he promised to ny in Lukshi, a village in Dass Logive us N1 million after the operacal Government, I started to head tion. We could not resist the offer home to meet my family as there because of poverty and the desire *Suspect was nobody to cook for them. When tized over the predicament of his to become rich people like our I reached a particular area close to wife told Vanguard Metro, VM, friends”. a bush, I saw three men looking at the situation has distabilized his me as I approached them.

Purpose of family.

T

Unwillingness to cooperate “One of them approached me and said that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with me and that he was willing to pay for it, but I objected because I am a married woman. When they saw that I was not willing to cooperate with them, they pushed me to the ground and dragged me inside the bush and raped me, one after the other.

“After raping me, one of them brought out a knife, stabbed and plucked out my right eye with it, while the other two held me tightly to the ground. He also tried to removed the left eye,but he could not. But the eye ended up being damaged. After doing this, they left me in my pool of blood and fled”.

Zainab called on the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to assist her financially as her husband is not capable of taking care of all the medical expenses.

The victim’s husband, Mohammed Usman, who is still traumaC M Y K

Giving account of how he received the bad news, he said: “I waited for my wife to return from the ceremony she attended in a nearby village,but she did not show up . When it was getting dark, I began to get worried and wanted to go and look for her.

Suddenly, some of my neighbours ran to my house to inform me that my wife was attacked while returning from the ceremony. What broke my heart was that the attackers did not only rape her, but also blinded her”.

He called on the state government to assist him , saying that he was a poor man and cannot shoulder the financial responsibilities of his wife’s medical treatment.

The state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed confirmed the arrest of the three suspects in connection with the incident. DSP Mohammed gave the names of the suspects as Sabo Rabo of Durr Katanga Village, Bitrus Yakubu of Dado Village and Mohammed Bamigboye of Durr

the charm

Bitrus also revealed that it was Sabo Rabo and Mohammed Bamigboye who raped the woman and removed her eyes,adding that it was actually his first time of committing a crime like that.

In his confession,the native doctor, Galambi denied sending the suspects to remove the eyes of the woman,but admitted receiving the eyes from them. “The men approached me to prepare some charms for them because they wanted protection; so I told them to get the eyes of a woman, which they agreed to bring. Another purpose of the charm is to help them to disappear whenever they want to. I don’t know whose eyes they removed or how they got it,my own work is to prepare the charms for them,” he said.

He said he never promised to give them the sum of N1 million as alleged by the three suspects, adding that as a native doctor what he demanded from his clients was not strange.

Immigration Tragedy: Prosecute all involved

BY EBELE ORAKPO

‘I

SAID it. I knew it would come to this,” shouted a commuter by name, Jossy, in the Oshodi-bound commercial bus this Sunday morning as the newscaster told of how many people died while many more were injured during the Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exam held last Saturday across the country.

Continued Jossy: “I knew they would have already taken the number of people they needed. I heard senators, governors, House of Reps members, ministers etc., had slots. All this exam nonsense was just for public show; to make us believe that the process was transparent.”

“I totally agree with you. If they really meant business, there should have been a shortlist; but there was nothing like that. You had about 4,500 openings and over 6.5 million applications.

The normal thing would have been for the officials to do a shortlist of about 5,000 candidates and then choose from the lot after an online test,” said Ify.

Invitation to applicants “I heard there was actually a shortlist but I think they invited all the applicants,”said John.

“When I saw the sms regarding the exam, I thought it was from fraudsters because it’s their stock in trade. They simply exploit the opportunity provided by high unemployment rate to rip off people. It’s nauseating. Here is someone desperately looking for a job and you defraud him knowing full well that you have no job to offer. God must judge them,” stated Jossy.

“Before God starts punishing them, government must punish them first by relieving them of their posts. All they were after was the billions to be made and not the safety of applicants,” said John.

“I heard they raked in

over N6 billion from the applicants as processing fee. Each applicant paid N1,000 processing fee so multiply 6.5 million by 1,000,” said Ify. “This is grossly unfair! Haba! At the expense of people’s lives?

The Minister of Interior, NIS ComptrollerGeneral, in short, any one directly or remotely connected with this should be sanctioned,” declared Okey.

“But how many people actually died?” asked Ade. Replied Ify: “We don’t know the exact figure. Some said 16, some 20, some 23. But even if it is just one person, it shouldn’t have happened.

Couldn’t this test have been done online? Why must we continue to take the difficult route?”

Noted Ade: “This simply shows that the unemployment situation in Nigeria is indeed frightening. Imagine having 69,000 applicants in Abuja and 56,000 in Lagos alone...”

Interjected Okey: “Wait a minute; you mean to tell me that Abuja had 69,000 candidates to sit for the exam all at once? So tell me why there wouldn’t be a stampede. Imagine the crowd coupled with the heat. Abuja Stadium has capacity to take only 60,000 but 69,000 went for the exam. If these guys meant well, why didn’t they schedule the exams over a period of one week or more? This is pure wickedness.

“Some of the applicants, I believe, already had jobs but needed a federal job which they feel pays better, is more secure and they do very little with plenty of time on their hands to pursue other businesses.

Again, some of them must have paid so much to fake recruitment agents who must have assured them of getting the job after they must have paid upwards of N150,000 each,” said John.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 21

Nigerian subscribers lose N730bn annually to poor QoS poor quality of service.

“Here in Nigeria, there was no service disruption but there is poor quality of service, which makes subscribers lose every year, the minimum of N730 billion. The NCC Act of 2013, and there is a section of

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

P

RESIDENT of National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers , NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, says Nigerian telecommunication subscribers lose a minimum of N730 billion annually to poor Quality of Service, QoS by telecommunication service providers.

Chief Ogubanjo, who disclosed this to Vanguard in an exclusive interview, decried the incremental drop in the quality of services across the nation, saying that payment of the N647m fine imposed by the industry regulator, NCC against the service providers should be made to subscribers rather than government.

He noted that the 2013 Act of the Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission, NCC lacks the capacity to protect the Nigerian consumers from poor quality of service, except there is disruption of service, which prompted the association to approach the court to determine the justification of continued refusal of the operators to compensate the subscribers for poor quality of service.

Part of their demand according to him from the court is to determine whether fines imposed by the NCC on the service providers should be paid to government, which does not have direct impact of

Union Bank unveils new corporate strategy

U

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has said that it has unveiled a new corporate strategy that will drive its operational growth and ad-

201.35

-3.7

3,008.00

+54.00

17.28

-0.54

108.51

+1.12

98.67

+0.47

154.75 257.5195 214.8085 176.2328 0.3088 239.3639 RENMINBI 25.2076 RIYAL 41.2612 KRONA 28.7778 SDR 239.6304 YEN 1.497

155.25 258.3515 215.5025 176.8022 0.3188 240.1373 25.2895 41.3945 28.8708 240.4046 1.5022

sometime ago, Blackberry services were disrupted and NCC gave a directive that they should give compensation of five-six days compensation to Nigeria subscribers of Blackberry services. Also in Ghana, and subscribers on Mtn ser-

From left: Mr. David Okeme, Marketing Director, Unilever; Mrs. Bunmi Oke, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria; Mr. Deji Elumoye, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists; Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Multichoice Nigeria Ltd and Mr. Goddie Ofose, Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, at the 2014 World Consumer Day Celebration and award presentation in Lagos.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC CFA WAUA

it that deals with human issues but when you go through the Act, there is nothing to really protect the consumer from poor quality of service, except perhaps there is something on disruption of services. “If you look at Nigeria

vices were given compensation.

It is unfortunate, that when fines are given, it is government that is the beneficiary of fines given by the operators rather than the consumers. “In 2012, N1.17 billion was given as fines and it was paid by the operators to government; and only about two three weeks ago, another fine in 2014 of N647 million, with that we know that subscribers get.

155.75 259.1836 216.1966 177.3716 0.3288 240.9107 25.3714 41.5278 28.9 8 241.1789 1.507

CBN Exchange rate as at 18/03/2014

dress service challenges.

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of the bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa disclosed during an

Hytera showcases digital two way radio portfolio

H

ytera, one of the world leading professional mobile communications solution provider, showcases its latest digital two-way radio portfolio at Securex West Africa 2014 in the Eko Convention Centre.

Hytera solution has been globally and locally in Nigeria, adopted by Government & Public Security, Utility, Transport, and Enterprises, which receive benefits of higher operational efficiency and security due to the advanced voice and data features.

Hytera, the first provider launching DMR Tier III trunking radios (Digital Mobile Radio) in 2010, offers the most complete DMR portfolio, including portable two-way radio, mobile radio, repeater, infrastructure and applications, and showcases some of the key products at the exhibition. Hytera X1p, the world’s smallest full power DMR radio, has been highly accredited by professionals due to its versatile functionalities, and its innovative industrial design has helped it make the way to Hollywood blockbusters.

interactive session with the media in Lagos.

He said that the bank has set out since last year to improve its operations and to establish a road map that will establish the bank as a significant player in the banking industry.

“Last year, we had two important tasks ahead of us – first, to immediately improve the bank’s operations by dealing with operational and service challenges, and second, to develop a roadmap to firmly establish Union Bank as a significant player within the Nigerian banking industry,” he said.

He added that, “after months of hard work during which we considered our strengths as a bank, our challenges and also the landscape within which we operate, we have emerged with a strategy that will guide the bank for the next three years. This strategy has been approved by the Board of Union Bank.”

Emuwa further disclosed that the bank’s strategic ambition was to become a highly respected provider of quality banking services.

He said, “This ambition is focused on six major areas of commitment which include: Quality of customer experience, quality of client base, quality of talent, quality of banking platform, quality of professional standards and quality of our earnings.”

The management of the bank also revealed that in the past years, it had made considerable in its efforts to improve the bank’s operations and services.

Speaking on the progress made by the bank on corporate, commercial and retail banking, the bank’s Executive Director, Commercial and Retail banking, North, Mr. Ibrahim Kwargana, said, “We have engaged our customers on all platforms. We have upgraded and renovated a number of our branches and will continue to do so.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor What reforms have you carried out since you became Commissioner of Insurance?

You know we have migrated from the Nigerian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which is called NIGAP to International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

Other reforms on the table stipulate how insurance operators must interact, how they must behave among themselves primarily and how they must inter-relate with the insuring public.

Claim settlement reform is also coming; we are going to be very strict on insurance companies fulfilling their promise to the insured. When an insurance company collects premiums and there is a problem arising from that contract, they do not pay when they like, they must pay when the customer is happy.

If a customer gets your money after sweating, it is going to be a terminal deal and we do not want that to happen any more. Even if he did not get it on time, it should not be as a result of annoyance following from mis-behaviour.

So, the claim settlement is coming, we are also having financial inclusion programme on the table. This is in tandem with the Federal Government’s objectives to expand financial literacy.

NAICOM is an important arm of the committee of regulators that has been given this national responsibility.

NAICOM is doing its own bit and of course, we know one or two things we have done to ensure that we have financial inclusion - micro insurance is one of it, Takaful is another one.

Our micro insurance guideline is completely holistic. We have decided to also embrace other parts of insurance into that one guideline so you don’t have multiplicity of guidelines. All these reforms are geared towards enhancing the perception of insurance positively by the populace as against the mindset that insurance is just to collect money and they neither pay nor render service. We want to be seen as serious business people because insurance is business anyway and unless we do this business well, we cannot thrive no matter how best suited our salesmen are.

Once the people are buying insurance, people who we persuade to buy insurance, if they are not persuaded, if they do not see value addition, we are not going to move far. In order to ensure understanding and build adequate capacity among the stakeholders, the Commission C M Y K

Insurance companies must pay claims on time henceforth — Daniel M

r. Fola Daniel, Commissioner for Insurance had a chat with journalists recently. In the chat, he disclosed the reforms the Commission has embarked on in order to make insurance attractive to Nigerians. He said that going forward, insurance companies must pay their claims promptly now that they have cash at their disposal.

Excerpts:

did resolve to conduct a series of workshops and seminars for all our stakeholders and this forum is one of it. It is an appropriate channel to raise public awareness on the key initiative of the Commission aimed at further opening the insurance market and by extension, increasing the Commission’s gross domestic product. I deliberately left out the MDRI. What is MDRI? arket Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI)) is part of our initiatives. One year ago, if you had asked me, I would not have been very assertive about it but today, I am very glad to say that we are recording appreciable progress. We are deepening the market.

State governments are partnering with us to bring the dividends of MDRI to the grassroots. We have an on-going partnership with states government.

Enugu State government just came on board and I think one other government in the South-South and the SouthEast, other governors are coming in and of course, you will remember that Lagos State Government also enacted a law which supported our MDRI programme as a challenge to public buildings collapse. We have had series of them in Lagos, but fortunately, it is reducing. It means more and

M

Fola Daniel Commissioner for Insurance

more people are being conscious and the town planning authorities are also more diligent in approving building plans that are before them. We also recognise the urgent need to develop the retail insurance market which has remained currently untapped considering the bad policies of the country.

What is micro insurance?

Micro insurance is small sum insured that can relate to people’s needs and their

micro insurance guideline has been released. Also, one significant thing that happened last year was the implementation of section 51 of the Insurance Act 2003 and we deliberately did not make noise about that because for me, it is better for us to beat our chest and say ‘oh I think we are happy or we are lucky not to be indicted for not implementing that section.’

That section of the law predated the 2003 Insurance Act. Indeed, that section of the

I am very glad to say that we are recording appreciable progress.

We are deepening the market. pockets. If someone is taking N5 million policy, that is no longer micro. Micro means small, N5,000, N20,000, N50,000, and N100,000 and may be maximum of N1m.

They are amounts that you and I in the city look at as insignificant, but they are sums of money that if an ordinary person in the village or rural area loses, he goes completely into bankruptcy.

We have released Takaful guidelines and I have said

,

law was in the 1990’s Act. And what was this for? t was for protection of insurance companies because you cannot sell a promise on credit and when the event will sure happen, you issue a credit note, nobody is going to take that from you and if you begin to claim that, well, we were not paid, it becomes later time argument.

No one is going to respect it and when we look at the

I

financials of insurance companies, through 2012, if we do analysis, (you can go back and the records are there), you find that most of these companies wrote an average of N1.5 billion, whereas the capital deployed statutorily even for a life office is N2 billion, for non-life office that is writing N1.8 billion and celebrating at the AGM, where there should be a riot!

I mean, they are undertrading, they are not utilising the capital. But that is not the worry, the worry is, if you look at the element constituting this N1.8 billion hypothetically generated by the insurance companies, about 90 per cent reside in collectables. You have 90 per cent that has not been collected and the tax authority, FIRS, will slam their price and you pay tax. Some of these companies are so dynamic that we even see people still manage to pay dividends; how they do it, I don’t know.

May be when I become a journalist, I will try to investigate because if you have done business of N100.00, and you collected only N40.00, you still pay tax, pay staff and you are looking happy, everyone is fine and you pay dividends, something is wrong. If it is full stop here, that would not have been a problem, but we begin now to see incidences of unsettled claims, for companies that celebrated AGM’s last week

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 23

Insurance companies must pay claims on time henceforth — Daniel

What did NAICOM do? e did a study, why are they not able to pay claims? Many of them were having cash problems, so they could not pay.

We discovered that the cash flow of the insurance industry was very poor and brokers were keeping insurance money. In other climes, the underwriters are the lords not the brokers. But here, if you are coming down from an aircraft and a Kaduna broker is coming, an MD is most likely to greet that broker first before the Commissioner for Insurance. They are the lords; they are keeping the money and that should not be. So, we could not do anything else than to look at the law, what does the law say? That is why we decided that it has become imperative to implement no premium, no cover.

In addition to the cash flow problem, we also saw traces of wiping out of these outstanding premiums because we are also not going to admit 100 per cent of these outstanding bills because there are threshold bills which we are not going to accept.

Once it goes into one year or two years, it is written off and that is one of the reasons insurance financials do not command credibility. When foreign investors want to come, they look at the books and they know the law, if you go to Lloyd’s of London, they know exactly how the insurance industry should operate given the available law.

So, we resorted to doing that

W

*Daniel

and I am very glad to say to you that the Federal Government showed huge leadership because if you do the analysis of clientele of insurance companies, the biggest customer still remains the government. So, if people owe insurance institutions, the government probably or most likely would owe, but the government decided to be responsive and they never opposed our implementation of these laws. All others can easily follow because if the government will not pay these premiums, how can we persuade Sheraton to pay?

Because they are business people, they need that money to do some other things. If you are not asking for money, why do you throw money at someone who is not going to collect it? So the Federal Government showed leadership and complied completely. But from that time, no government policy took place without money having been paid.

What did we have after that?

We had tremendous improvement in the cash flow of companies.

The apprehension of the

,

with a lot of champagne and some gullible investors clapping. We expected that cheques should be rolling out, but we find incidences of unsettled claims and we said that as regulators, there is nothing, no innovation that we will bring about, as long as the populace is not happy about claims settlement ability.

Can you imagine if claims were not settled, the kind of security situation we would be having?

People have lost their dear ones; they should not be made to suffer.

,

*Daniel insurance companies was anchored on the fact that they are likely to lose business and I said to them, ‘that is going to be temporary’. Those who had already imbibed the spirit of buying insurance will not suddenly draw back, they just do some adjustments.

How can they adjust?

If you require them to pay for one year, and because they are not used to paying you upfront, they can take shortterm policies for three months, they can pay for three months.

They know that they have a cover that lasts for 90 days.

After 90 days, they can also take another one, there is not going to be a break. They discovered that a few businesses were lost, though insignificant, but on balance, they had more money at their disposal. Now that insurance companies’ have more money at their disposal, I can wield the big stick because if you go to the mortuary to flog dead bodies, you are dissipating energy, even God will be angry. Why should you do that to the dead? What I am saying is that if an insurance company is broke, if they do not have money at all, I am not required to cancel their licence from day one, I just look at the gaps, you have insolvency margin, liquidity squeeze; the law requires that I give them 60 days to make good that deficit. Can you imagine what damage would have been done to people who have suffered losses and then you wait for 60 days before they find more money?

In practice, those 60 days is not doable because there are other regulators that would be involved. So really, when you say 60 days, literally, you are talking of about five to six months. A lot of damage would have been done. We now have a situation where

companies have enough cash and they can pay. It is no longer beating a dead body.

If I knock at your door, you know that I know you have money and you will pay. That money you put in a fixed deposit, quickly you will terminate it so I don’t make a public show of you.

Insurance claim settlement ability has significantly improved. If you look at the Nigerian Police claims for 2012, as a result of the unfortunate incident that is on-going in the North-East of Nigeria, you could see that there has been an upsurge in claims by the police and the armed forces. Can you imagine if claims were not settled, the kind of security situation we would be having?

People have lost their dear ones; they should not be made to suffer. They should not be made to cry again because they have shed all the tears. The insurance industry has been very responsive. You all remember the Dana crash. The Dana crash was a very big claim. At a time, there were technical hiccups sufficient for some insurance entity to say we walk away from this business.

Insurance practitioners are not just businessmen; they are nationalists, Nigerians, human beings. We sat together and we said, yes we know technicalities you can deploy to do this work, we have lost more people; the international community is looking at us, let us rise to the occasion and I am very happy about what I am about to say: the claim has been dealt with satisfactorily. Those who have genuine reasons to disagree, we are able to persuade them and say please let us not deploy technicalities, we are not going to win the argument if they call for public opinion.

We’ve had other claims - I

think the NIA should be able to better showcase what claims they are exactly because they have all the details.

As a regulator, I have a reasonable overview of what is happening. All of the initiatives I talked about are meant to entrench consumers’ confidence; we also recognise that even if insurance companies have all the cash, some people might still be needed or might still need to keep some people out of old habits. And so, we said now that there is money, what do we do? We need to reinvigorate our claims to complaint bureau which is dedicated to take complaints from members of the public.

We once spoke to the NIA, the insurance spokesperson, let’s use the two hands to wash each other so that we can be on the same page, and they responded by setting up an OBUDSMAN in the NIA, the OBUDSMAN is headed by a very reputable appeal court judge.

What they do is, instead of allowing issues to be dragged to courts where you can have protraction, they look at technical issues, they look at the nitty-gritty and they are able to give succour to the claimants. So that supports our effort in the CBU, so that some of these cases that come to us ordinarily, we just throw it back at the NIA as it is within their remits, they can deal with it very quickly. o, the NIA, OBUDSMAN and the complaint bureau we established are working well.

I was in India sometime in 2012, and the Indian regulator is one of the closest to us because it is the same kind of environment, a third world country. India is not a third world country, the only thing that is third world about them is the huge population, but they are very advanced. We compared those and I opened my mouth to say that our motor portfolio is one of the best in the world, highly profitable, an actuary was sitting in my front and Mr. Akah was sitting beside me by my left and was stepping on my shoes and I was angry.

Why does he want to ruin my shoes? He was sending me signal. So, when the actuaries spoke, I knew why this guy was going to ruin my shoes.

The actuaries responded by saying, if you have this kind of claim ratio to premium, it means one or two things, insurance companies are declining to pay their new claims or the claimants are not aware of their rights under the contracts, and that is why all your underwriters are smiling to the banks.

S

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Financial literacy crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

INANCIAL literacy among Nigerians espec i a l l y the young people will foster economic growth and development even as the country seeks the attainment of financial inclusion in the economy, said the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank, Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Speaking at the weekend while delivering a lecture to students of Girls’ Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State, Okonkwo noted that financial literacy will help young people gain financial freedom through prudent management of money and clear differentiation of needs and wants.

Specifically, the bank chief who spoke on “Inspiring Young People towards Financial Literacy and Freedom,” on the occasion organised by Fidelity Bank in partnership with Junior Achievement Nigeria to mark this year’s Global Money Week, (formerly Child and Youth Finance Week), a worldwide money awareness celebration from March 10 to 17, said one important reason young people must be financially literate is to enable them manage money and be free from poverty and some of the self-made worries that money can solve later in life.

He explained that the initiative is aimed at globally engaging children on aspects of financial education including saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment and entrepreneurship.

He said that the programme will make young people make the right financial decision early in life, as they would have become smart enough about how to make money and manage same responsibly as

they grow older.

In Nigeria, the Bankers’ Committee designated March 13 as Financial Literacy Day. The day is being marked to focus attention on children and youth in primary and secondary schools nationwide and to empower them by enhancing their financial knowledge and planning skills. Taking them down memory lane when trade by barter was in vogue to the evolution of money as a means of exchange, Okonkwo who itemized the functions of money to include its use as a store of value and payment for

various goods and services among others, said that it is only through financial literacy that people can make their money grow.

“One irrespective of profession and vocation can work for and earn income, but the person must also learn to manage the money so that he doesn’t become poor,” he said, stressing that income earning and expenditure as part of financial education means that one must differentiate between what he wants and what he needs at a given point in time requiring the making of choices.

Western Union, Ecobank announce 24hrs services on ATMs

T

HE Western Union Com pany, an international payment services, and Ecobank Nigeria Limited an affiliate of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), have announced a partnership that allows customers can now conduct Western Union account based money transfer (ABMT) services using any Ecobank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Nigeria.

This development will enable Ecobank customers to have access to Western Union’s services using their Ecobank debit card in addition to the already existing Ecobank internet portal “ecobank.com”. To access this service, customers are expected to visit Ecobank Nigeria ATMs, insert their debit card, select ‘Western Union’, and follow through the easy steps to complete a transaction. A Western Union customer with an account in Ecobank can now access Western Union’s Money Transfer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Anthony Okpanachi, Deputy

Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria stated that “Ecobank & Western Union have leveraged technology to the advantage of their mutual customers. This will also encourage the financially excluded to maintain bank accounts with Ecobank, as Ecobank is the first to offer such an innovative and convenient banking service in Nigeria”.

Aida Diarra, Regional Vice President Africa, Western Union, stated that “Western Union values its collaboration with Ecobank which is growing consumer-driven solutions through digital applications across the continent. This development further promotes financial inclusion which is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Cashless policy”.

She further commented that “The financial services industry is a major driver of Africa’s economic growth and Ecobank and Western Union play a pivotal role by moving money across the continent in innovative and cost-effective ways.”

The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku, and some senior officers of the bank with students of Army Children School, Obalende, Lagos during the financial literacy day held in the school.

The missing oil money T

HE Justice Irikefe Tribunal was put in place in 1980 following on reports during 1979 that an amount of N2.8 billion was missing from crude oil sales for the period 1976 to 1979. This amount was at that time the equivalent of about one year’s sale of crude oil by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The tribunal had as its chairman Justice Ayo Irikefe, a judge of the Supreme Court at that time and who later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The tribunal, amongst other things, was to determine if N2.8 billion or any other sum of money was missing from the accounts of the NNPC. The conclusion of the Irikefe Tribunal was that no proceeds of crude oil sales were missing or not properly accounted for.

We currently have reports that for crude oil sales in the last few years, the NNPC may not have credited the Federation Account with some amount that should be due to the Federation Account. It would appear that the NNPC has not built into it organisational fabric measures that would prevent the sort of controversies that took place about thirtyfive years ago when an amount of N2.8 billion was alleged to be missing from crude oil sales receipts.

Chief Festus Marinho, the first Managing Director of the NNPC, was in position during the controversies of 1980.

He published a book in 2010 entitled Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry: A Maverick Pioneer. The book is further subtitled – A recollection of my life, times and contribution to Nigeria’s prosperity. The book should be read by officials in both the legislative and executive arms of government. Government officials would thereby understand why the current situation has arisen and why the public views with suspicion government officials who are placed in charge of the nation’s assets.

Extraordinary measures The information in Chief Marinho’s book is that crude oil sales are on long-term basis and that the same customers are retained as long as they were performing. Invoices for sales of crude oil are issued by the NNPC and payments against invoices are made into nominated accounts of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in Europe and North America in hard convertible currencies. The CBN subsequently credits the NNPC crude oil sales account held with the CBN. The CBN is therefore aware of NNPC’s income from crude oil sales. The issue of what amounts should have been paid into the Federation Account can be readily resolved without recourse to any extra-ordinary measures.

The NNPC is not capitalised and therefore it does not view itself as a totally commercial organisation. Chief Marinho has indicated in his book the advantages of capitalising the NNPC. A few years back, the Federal Government used funds from the excess crude account for some power sector projects. Eventually, these projects have been capitalised as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company belonging to the Federal Government, the State Governments and the Local Governments. The NNPC can also be capitalised.

One of the views that found ready public acceptance at the time of the Irikefe Tribunal was that the N2.8 billion was paid into a private account to earn interest in that account for some time before the money was transferred back into government accounts. This was denied and the Irikefe Tribunal found no such transactions. However, any organisation that has faced such a challenge to its credibility should have made its point by presenting its audited accounts promptly.

There may also be some significance to a missing oil funds controversy occurring about thirty five years after the previous in 1979/1980. Give the rules of employment into government establishments which stipulate the maximum length of service for an employee as thirty-five years, there would be very few current employees of the NNPC who were in service in 1979/1980. This should alert us to the need to put our institutions on a firm and proper footing for all generations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 25

bode’s view that broadband is at its infancy in Nigeria with less than about 2% of the population having access to it. He, however, added that the cost is still exorbitant even for corporate bodies. “We are still far from ITU targets which recommend that 50% of citizens and 40% of households by 2015 should have access to broadband.

However, the recent policy framework and spectrum auction by NCC are designed to boost broadband availability in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah while briefing the legislators at the workshop said that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan seeks to promote broadband deployment, increase broadband adoption and usage, and ensure the availability of broadband services at affordable prices.

DIARY Select ICT events zTelecom CEM World Congress 2014 April 2014, Venue TBC, London zHong Kong ICT Expo 13 – 16 April 2014 Hong Kong. z Cards & payment Asia holds in Singapore 23-24 April 2014. zTransport Networks for Mobile Operators 2014 13 – 14 May 2014 London. zCritical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

New inventions shaping life and living

Airgun Cordless Compressor

T

he Airgun inflates bicy cle tires, rafts and other items quickly and easily, without the need for a manual pump or a large compressor.

Offered by Airman, the battery-powered Airgun compressor looks a great deal like a cordless drill.

Easy to hold in the hand, the device is equipped with a 5-inch flexible hose and an LED to help users see as they attach the hose. The Airgun can be used to inflate bike tires, and also comes with a selection of adapters to allow it to inflate balls and inflatable toys.

I N S I D E C M Y K

,

IS TALK STILL CHEAP?

‘Nigerians spend N447.8bn on recharge cards monthly’

By LAJU ARENYEKA

A

WORKSHOP organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, weekend, to educate Nigerian Legislators on some intricate parts of telecom business/ investments, incidentally exposed that Nigerians make a massive monthly investment of over four hundred billion naira on recharge cards alone.

This whopping sum, may have demystified the age

long cliché that ‘Talk is cheap’. Besides, the investment on recharge cards, surprisingly dwarfed the ones made on House Rent, Petrol, Kerosene and electricity – options, known to have squeezed the economies of average Nigerians for several decades.

From the statistics of an ICT expert, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode of Aluko &Oyebode law firm, Nigerians spend 149.1bn on House rent, 128bn on Petrol, 144.8bn on Kerosene, and 91.8bn on

FG flags off Digital ICT Samsung enters Club to bridge market with NX30 gender divide smart camera

electricity monthly.

At the workshop themed: “ICT infrastructure as key driver for economic development: what role for the legislature?” Oyebode reeled out these figures to postulate the impact of ICT infrastructure on economic development.

However, he noted that “a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, shows that broadband penetration contributes significantly to economic growth. But notwithstanding all of the po-

tential of ICT to GDP, Nigeria still lags behind due to insufficient development

,

Preview

Impact on prices

•RECHARGE CARDS.... Consuming large chunk of Nigerians' earnings

Juwah argued that the effect of this would be an increase in competition in the industry, a downward impact on prices, and improved quality of services to subscribers.”

The workshop also provided operators the opportunity to give their perspectives on the Open Access Model of the NCC, meant to deepen broadband penetration. In a paper titled:Broadband and Infrastructure development in Nigeria: Operators’ perspective of the Open Access Model, Exec-

Besides, the investment on recharge cards, surprisingly dwarfed the ones made on House Rent, Petrol, Kerosene and electricity

of ICT infrastructure.

Today, broadband penetration is estimated at 6% in Nigeria.

Another facilitator and Principal Partner, Kayafas Konsult Ltd, Mr Stephen Bello, also echoed Oye-

A connected world leads to higher productivity

utive Officer, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, contended that “operators have had a mixed reaction to the Open Access model.

Large, incumbent operators with most of the existing infrastructure have not been very enthusiastic about the plan. Since open access will drive convergence of infrastructure costs to a common benchmark, it will become increasingly difficult to gain benefits from proprietary infrastructure, higher tariffs, which make it difficult for new Continues on page 30

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

PCs may be vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware Microsoft warns

By EMEKA AGINAM

L

ess than a month to Windows XP end of service(April 8th 2014), the software giant Microsoft has warned that after that date, computers currently running Windows XP will no longer receive critical security patches and updates, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware, and the growing risk of cyber-attacks that can steal or damage personal information and business data.

This is even as new research by Microsoft has shown that Windows XP is five times as susceptible to viruses and attacks as Windows 8.1 because older operating systems were not designed to be protected against the fast evolving exploitation techniques and threats of today.

With Microsoft studies showing that PCs running XP are estimated to double productivity costs within two to five years, operating systems like Windows 8, coupled with a productivity suite like Office 365, not only offer complete protection against modern threats, but ensure enhanced business efficiency.

“End of Service doesn’t mean XP will stop running, but over time security and performance will be severely affected.

“The latest International Data Corporation (IDC) data shows that businesses are prone to spend three times more on dealing with security issues in the next year if they don’t plan to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.”, Rotimi Olumide, Windows Group Lead for West, East, Central Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, said.

According to Olumide, “With small businesses contributing up to 50% of GDP and up to 90% of employment in many sub-Saharan African economies, it is vital that they embrace newer technologies to remain competitive and thrive in the modern-era,”.

From consumers and smaller businesses, to large corporations, Windows 8 and Window 8.1 offer increased speed, reliability, security, a range of productivity-boosting apps, and lower-cost of ownership.

They also provide a modern platform designed for a new generation of hardware experiences from tablets and innovative touch devices to traditional desktops and laptops to ensure the modern workforce has the tools that allow them to stay productive and connected virtually anytime, anywhere.

NPA adopts Paydirect for revenue collection

I

ntegrated payments, processing and transaction switching company, Interswitch Transnational, announced that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has adopted its flagship revenue collections solution- Paydirect for the collection of fees and duties.

NPA will now collect payments faster and more efficiently, helping to reduce operational costs and improve vessel turnaround time at the port as it currently it takes 3days to confirm payments. The adoption of Paydirect reduces this to a couple of minutes.

Paydirect is a multi-channel, secure, web-based solution that enables organisations to receive payments made by their distributors, agents, customers and subscribers into their accounts, across all of the banks operating in Nigeria and customer touchpoints on the Interswitch network. Paydirectserves an array of clients across various sectors including 30 of 36 states governments,several local governments, other key Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

Group Managing Director, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, said: that “is committed to the digitization of payments across the various tiers of the economy and society. The decision of the Nigerian Ports Authority to use Paydirect, our flagship multi-channel revenue collection solution, to collect its payment is a further testament to this drive. We are proud that Paydirect is being used to solve practical challenges and will significantly accelerate the operations of the six ports across the country.

Samsung enters market with NX30 smart camera

BY EMEKA AGINAM

E

XPANDING its camera range, one of the leaders in the digital media and digital convergence technologies, Samsung Electronics has introduced professionally-inspired compact system camera NX30, a high-performance device featuring wireless network connectivity and compatibility with a broad range of devices.

Style and functionality: According to Samsung, the award-winning NX30 embodies style and functionality, and raises the bar for compact system cameras all over the world.

The product was unveiled at an elaborate

event in Ikeja, Lagos on March 13, 2014.

Speaking at the launch of the innovative product, the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, described the NX30 as a device that combines the quality imaging of a

top of the range camera with the sharing functions associated with smartphones and other smart devices.

“Since its launch in 2010, the Samsung NX System has become synonymous with innovation and design, making it the best digital imaging technology available to everyone without compromising on style.

age capturing: “The NX30 builds even further on this illustrious heritage. Not only does it deliver incredible speed and accuracy through advanced video and photographic features, it is truly built around the user, with upgraded Smart Camera functionality - making shooting and sharing both easy and seamless,” he said.

Kim added that Samsung’s NX30 camera has been engineered to offer superior image capturing while maximizing simplicity and ensuring that users are just one click away from seamless connectivity.

Offers superior im-

Investment in tech start-ups will grow software market — Johnson

By EMEKA AGINAM

T

o bridge the fund ing gap that plagued Nigerian technology companies and also realize the potentials of the software industry in the 21st century knowledge society, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said that investments in the technology start-ups will grow indigenous software industry.

It would be recalled that the Techlaunchpad started in 2012, following a meeting with chief information officers of banks and oil and gas companies, to identify issues affecting the patronage of local software entrepreneurs and solutions to address them.

The initiative which is a public private partnership is focused on carefully selected tech startups who will be provided a training and mentorship program through Heads of ICT and Executive of private sectors The Minister who stated this recently in her remarks at the closing ceremony of the Techlaunchpad first edition and the unveiling of the second edition in Lagos with optimism said that investments in software entrepreneurs would create a minimum of 25 sustainable ICT businesses that are fundable.

By so doing, she added that it would increase the participa-

tion and investment of the venture capitalists and private equity managers in the ICT in Nigeria, which will be over $100 million in the next few years; increase the footprints of Nigeria young ICT companies in Africa as solution and service providers; and create jobs.

While ICT innovation will continue to play a major role in creating knowledge-based societies and wealth for the citizens, the Minister told the gathering that the Ministry has put in place a set of initiatives that will assist the tech start-ups to create successful bueinesses which will directly create job and wealth.

Assuring that the ministry remained committed to its mandate of promoting the growth of the ICT industry, she said that investment in software will create sustainable business in the digital economy.

The Minister who is very passionate about local said that, “This will provide the opportunity for Nigeria to raise software giants that would create jobs and wealth, while becoming regional and global players such as Indian IT service providers like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro and HCL Technologies. These are indigenous companies that were created, nurtured and established in India, but servicing global markets.

•Omobola Johnson “What we are doing today is part of the bigger plan that will strengthen innovation ecosystem and grow the digital economy in Nigeria. We are working to refocus the efforts of talented software developers in the country of not just writing code and developing applications, but creating successful and viable companies around the software that they are developing to create jobs and wealth,” According to Johnson, if the Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) and Technology Innovation Programme (Techlaunchpad), were fully implemented , it will go a long way in assisting software entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 27

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Nigeria and the challenges of cyber crime

By CHRIS UWAJE

I

•Co-Founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak (m) flanked by MTN's Akinwale Goodluck (r) and Kola Oyeyemi when Wozniak lectured recently at MTN Leadership Series in Lagos.

N 1982 and 1983, the first desktop computers began to appear, many were equipped with operating system called Berkeley UNIX which includes Network Software – which allows relatively easy connection to the Internet. The personal computer revolution continued through the eighties, making access to computer resources and networked information increasingly available to the general public.

The rapid growth of the Internet and other Telecommunications technologies are promoting

FG flags off Digital ICT Club to bridge gender divide

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

HE Minister of Com munications Technolo gy, Mrs. Omobola Johnson weekend flagged-off the Digital Girls Club at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari FCT . This was in continuation of the plan to have the club in I2 federal government girl’s schools across the six geopolitical zones, in the country.

The Minister said the project was in recognition of the power and transformative potential of ICTs for development as the Ministry focuses on ensuring that Nigeria leverages the power of ICTs to bridge the digital divide between women and their male counterparts.

She described the project as one of the ICT interventions of the Ministry of Communications Technology that will empower Nigerian girls and encourage them to embrace careers in ICTs. For her, “ICT has powerful transformative tools that foster development and advancement of economies, whether developing or advanced. It is a useful tool for bridging the digital divide in most economies. It also plays a crucial role in the socio-economic empowerment and development of communities and nations across the globe.

She also described ICT as the bedrock of development, adding that “leveraging on this critical tool not only helps us create wealth and jobs, but it also enables development at all levels- health, agriculture, education, among others”.

The minister said that president Goodluck Jonathan in a bid to empower women and girls in Nigeria, had created a gender empowerment scheme titled Girls and Women in Nigeria (G-WIN) and urged women to embrace ICT and bridge the digital divide.

She explained that the Digital Girls Clubs will teach the girls ICT skills and increase their knowledge of technology necessary for empowerment.

The clubs is being set up in twelve public schools that already have computer labs with internet access in the six geo-political zones of the

country. Johnson noted that a curriculum to transform and positively impact on the girls has been developed to teach the girls relevant technology skills that will transform their lives.

A portal www.digitalgirls.org.ng has been created to act as a key tool to also stimulate and empower the girls to embrace and adopt ICTs. According to the Minister, 1200 girls from the 12 pilot federal government schools will be impacted upon in the first instance and the Clubs will be set up across all the Federal Government colleges

in all the states of the federation six months after the pilot test in the selected 12 schools.

The Clubs will be manned by professionals who will play a key role in stimulating the interest of the girls. Periodically mentors will be invited to give inspiring talks and participate in various ICT related activities that will interest the girls.

Current statistics in Nigeria reveals that Nigerian women make up 50 per cent of the population but hold less than 20 per cent of ICT jobs in the country. Also only about 33 per cent of women are online in Nigeria.

...as Oteh makes case for more women in ICT

By RICHARD UDOFIA

T

he Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh, last week, in Lagos advocated for more women involvement in IT industry.

Ms. Oteh spoke in a program organized by women in management, business and public service titled, “Repositioning for global relevance: Opportunities and Realities”.

She said that since the liberalization of the telecom sector in the early 2000 in Nigeria, women contribution to the development of the telecom sector has been low, due to their inadequate technical knowledge in driving the telecom sector.

The Director General admitted that although the telecommunication industry is used exten•Arunma Oteh sively by virtually all sec-

tors of the economy now and this accounts for 2.8 billion users globally, surprisingly of all these numbers, only an insignificant percentage of users are women.

While identifying that, revolution in social media has changed the way of life, business pattern and development processes of many Nigerian Women, Ms Oteh said that telecom industry has added about 7 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

However, she explained several efforts by Government to provide an interactive environment for business investors and transactions, as this will improve access to finance for prospective entrepreneurs.

She encouraged other women to take after the CEO of Main One cable company, Ms. Funke Opeke and get involved in the current internet broadband campaign going on in different states, as the latter have significantly reduced internet broadband cost in West Africa.

advances in virtually every aspect of society and every corner of the globe. Most of these advances represent positive changes in our society.

Unfortunately, many of the attributes of this technology - low cost, ease of use, and anonymous nature, among others - make it an attractive medium for fraudulent scams, child sexual exploitation, and increasingly, a new concern known as “cyberstalking.”

Cybertalking begins when 2 or more people communicate through emails or a chat room.

You usually don’t know who is on the other side of the computer. Since people don’t usually know who that person is it encourages you to say things that you normally wouldn’t in person.

The person or people you are corresponding with may be offended by your word or vice versa.

The harassment may then start from that stranger you were chatting with. Then the cyberstalking starts with the constant abusive emails, obscene or inappropriate pictures. Your life could be threatened or even your computer could be sabotaged. Identity theft occurs during some of these encounters.

Identify theft While some content of cybertalking maybe abusive, offensive and/or insulting, the content of cyber-crime e-mails are pretentiously camouflaged as friendly, business like and even loving – but the core trade is deceit and fraud. The resultant effects are “identity theft” in cyberspace and related crimes and socio-economic personal and/or corporate damages.

Can it be rightly said therefore that Man has become entrapped in its own techno-knowledge dynamics? Some of the most critical cyber crimes are: Insiders, Hackers (or “crackers”), “Hacktivism.” Or Political Hacking, Criminal Groups, The Phonemasters’, Internet Fraud, Foreign intelligence services. Information Warfare, Virus Writers, Internet Fraud, Identity Theft, Child Pornography, Terrorists Etc. Recognizing this emerging problem, Vice President Al Gore asked the Attorney General on February 26, 1999, to study the problem and to report back with recommendations on how to protect people from this threat.

It is estimated that identity theft has become the fastest-growing financial crime in America and perhaps the fastest-growing crime of any kind in our society.

Identity Theft: Is There Another You?: Joint hearing before the House Subcommittees.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 29

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

A connected world leads to higher productivity

Dare Ogunlade, the General Manager Cisco, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, cuts the picture of a workaholic. Even when he buries his big frame behind a portable laptop in his cosy Victoria Island office knocking away on the key boards, all it takes to bring him to life is a question on connected world or Internet of Everything, IoE. With an electrical engineering background and having spent almost 20 years in the field, Ogunlade has ICT in his fingertips. He didn’t disappoint when Hi-Tech came calling. Excerpts:

By PRINCE OSUAGWU CISCO is involved in quite a few developmental initiatives in many countries but Nigeria seems to be a different market where it’s important to be in the big cities in order to compete.

This has led many organizations to settle only within the big cities leaving the rural areas unattended to.

Is Cisco doing anything differently to develop the rural areas?

Cisco is all about the network and anywhere there is network connectivity typically, you will find us trying to partner with those playing in the rural areas with our technology. In the case of Nigeria we have sub-sea fiber-optic cables bringing an enormous amount of broadband to our shores.

Now, various stakeholders are working towards getting this broadband to the hinterlands, including of course, the rural areas. Since our technology is centered on the network connectivity there has to be that infrastructure before we can step in.

In our model, we work with partners; we sell our products through partners and at the end of the day we enable our

partners work with infrastructure providers in those remote areas to be able to deliver service to them.

We rarely hear about Cisco these days, even in critical areas that we believe are Cisco’s major focus like cloud computing among others, Can you tell us why Cisco keeps a low key on activities in Nigeria?

I am assuming you have this perception because we do not allocate a significant portion of our marketing spend to advertising when you compare us to some of the other big technology players out there.

Calculated strategy This is part of a calculated strategy. We focus our spending on supporting our partners and their efforts to market to their customers – that is how we are creating awareness. We also invest heavily in roadshows and events designed to educate business leaders, customers as well as perspective customers about technology and its key drivers in Nigeria.

One of Cisco’s campaigns in

,

brought about this trend?

Globally, the impact and the importance of wholesale data centers continues to grow as companies realize the value of minimizing infrastructure investments on the balance sheet and freeing up capital to strengthen their core business activities. Let’s look at data centers from a Telco perspective: regulation forces

,

•Dare Ogunlade

recent time is on Internet of Everything (IoE). If the internet is in some times and ways expected to do everything, don’t you think the labour market will be affected in some negative way?

I do not agree because the more connected the world is, the more productive it will be. Indeed, economists have proven that internet penetration and overall internet connectivity do have a very positive impact on country GDP. The more connected the world, the better the quality of decision making for instance and the less is the transaction costs.

For example, imagine if we conducted this interview with you being in your office and me in mine and we could chat, you could see me and we have crystal clear communication.

The hours spent on the road could have been used on something more productive.

Data warehousing is getting more popular in Nigeria.

What do you think has

Skype which is practically plug and play and very affordable. Do you think it will affect or has affected the adoption of telepresence in Nigeria?

I think there is a target market for both segments. Cisco TelePresence is typically for an enterprise or organization while Skype has more of a residential play. An organization looking for quality of service, security and how it can also integrate with existing tools will definitely subscribe to Telepresence.

You manage the West African business, where does Nigeria stand in Cisco’s Global business strategy. Is there a long- term investment plan for Nigeria?

The structure we have in Africa is that we have four focus countries and five areas.

Our focus countries are South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt and our focus areas are our South African business,

Indeed, economists have proven that internet penetration and overall internet connectivity do have a very positive impact on country GDP

them to keep records for a long time so they must have a huge data centre capability.

Banks as well, because of the nature of their work and the sensitivity of the information they carry, must also have a robust data centre infrastructure. However, it doesn’t make economic sense, for instance, for 23 banks to build 23 data centers, which is what is pushing consolidation.

Let’s talk about telepres ence. Looking at other disruptive technologies like

East African business around Kenya, English speaking West African countries around Nigeria, Egypt and other countries that make up Africa, which we call Emerging Africa.

As one of the four focus countries, Nigeria is important and we also recognize the growing rate of Nigeria so we know it is going to be one of the biggest countries by share price and opportunity. Yes, we have a long term view for the market.

‘Nigerians spend N447.8bn on recharge cards monthly’ Continues from page 25

entrants/smaller players to participate in the telecoms value chain in Nigeria. Currently, the bigger you are, the more you can maximize value across the entire value chain, from value added services like ring tone, content distribution, to network connectivity services, corporate connectivity, Internet service.”

She also added that “open access implies barriers to entry will not be as high and thus new players could come into the market if they think they can do better without having to build out and replicate the infrastructure owned by any of the big boys. Smaller players are excited at the opportunity – but daunted by the challenges and need support.

The example of Superflux is a good one.

Indigenous entrepreneurs that are raising money locally will need support if we do not want to stifle their growth. This is a proven model in other parts of the world, so we need government to support them.”

Joseph Tegbe of KPMG, also made a case for the Open Access Model. Based on the various challenges in the country and the

trend of deployments in other jurisdictions, he sought to convince the lawmakers that the Open Access Broadband Deployment Model is suited for Nigeria as it would fill the gaps in broadband deployment, through the deployment of new fibre and leveraging existing fibre infrastructure;available to the new network infrastructure and services to all telecom operators on a fair and non-discriminatory basis at a regulated price; minimise duplication of rollout and unnecessary environmental impact; Help realise the objectives of the National broadband plan with a minimum broadband speed of 1.5 Mbps to the general population; Facilitate faster and wider broadband penetration nationwide andsharing of infrastructure.

The Deputy Director, Legal and Regulatory Services of the NCC, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, who spoke on the need for critical national infrastructure law, explained that critical infrastructure are “systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the nation that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Lewandowski warns teammates not to underestimate Zenit B orussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has warned his teammates not to underestimate Zenit St Petersburg in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie today.

The Bundesliga side recorded a 4-2 win in the first leg, but Lewandowski has stressed that BVB must do better than in this weekend’s Bundesliga defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach if they are to hold off Zenit in the return at the Signal Iduna Park.

“We’re not in the quarter-finals yet, even after winning the first leg 4-2. We need to be on our toes and mustn’t underestimate Zenit,” the Poland international told Bundesliga.com.

“I hope nothing happens that could jeopardise our passage into the next round, but the tie isn’t over and we can’t afford to play like we did against Gladbach.

“We will do everything to win the return leg in front of our own fans on Wednesday.

We don’t want to lose in Dortmund again.”

Lewandowski has netted six goals in seven Champions League appearances so far this term.

Olympiakos pr omise more miser y to Moyes, Man Utd

Rooney calls for support as United face Olympiakos T

he England striker admitted the defeat to Liverpool was a “nightmare” but is looking on the bright side ahead of the Champions League clash Wayne Rooney has called on Manchester United fans to help their under-fire side make it through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

United fans got behind their team in the latter stages of Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool , despite the humiliating manner of the loss.

Rooney described the defeat as a “nightmare” and one of his worst days in football, but singled out the United fans for sticking with their team.

United face Olympiakos tonight in the decisive leg of their last 16 Champions League tie, trailing 2-0 from the first game in Athens.

And Rooney called on the fans to play

he newly crowned Greek champions are hoping to complete a huge shock win over United as they travel to Old Trafford 2-0 up on aggregate.

After wrapping up the Greek league title on Saturday,

Olympiacos are now ready for what they are calling ‘the match of the year’.

While United warmed up for today’s Champions League last 16 clash at Old Trafford with a dismal display and a 3-0 defeat by rivals

United offer Kagawa plus cash for Reus

their part again at Old Trafford and help United turn the deficit around and progress to the quarter-finals.

Writing on his official Facebook page, the striker said: “Yesterday was one of the worst days I’ve had in football and was hard to take.

Valdez: We will not sit back at Old Trafford

O

T

lympiacos striker Nelson Valdez is looking forward to today’s Champions League return leg against Manchester United and says his side will continue to play their own way rather than defend.

The experienced Paraguayan played a key part in his side’s league match on the weekend, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Panthrakikos.

Valdez was keen to reiterate that his side would not sit on their two-goal advantage over United and would try to restrict the English champions from getting into their flow.

“Our purpose is not to defend; we will go to stop United from playing their game, to prevent them from enforcing their rhythm and for us to qualify to the next round.”

Additionally, the former-Borussia Dortmund player stated that he and his colleagues were looking forward to a potentially historic night.

M

anchester United will look to begin their summer rebuilding process by landing Marco Reus from Borussia Dortmund – and offering Shinji Kagawa in part-exchange.

United boss David Moyes is determined to make the club a force in the Premier League again next term after a hugely-disappointing debut season at Old Trafford.

And he has targeted Dortmund playmaker Reus, 24, as the man to help turn around the Red Devils’ flagging fortunes, according to reports this morning.

He will try to lure Borussia into a deal by offering former Dortmund favourite Kagawa back to the club in a player-plus-cash bid.

Reus has been a target for Moyes and United for some time and the reigning Premier League champions failed to sign the Germany star in January.

Kagawa, meanwhile, was a big hit in Germany during his spell with Borussia between 2010 and 2012 and would be welcomed back warmly by the club after a generally disappointing time in *Reus England.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 33

we will be ready for United,” he said. “The league title will make the trip more enjoyable. But we need to stay focused.

“If we think we have the upper hand in the tie, we will fail.”

And Valdez warned the Reds that the Greek side won’t be coming to Old Trafford just to hold on to their lead.

“Our goal is not to play defensively, despite the advances that we have from the first match,” he said. “We can take the advantage we have and can finally get a big qualification.”

Olympiacos have lost just two games this season on the domestic front, whilst United have lost a total of nine with five coming at home.

Meanwhile the Greek side have scored 36 goals away from home this season, conceding just four.

Danny Welbeck (Manchester United FC) & Hernán Peréz (Olympiacos FC)

Liverpool, the Athens-based side secured their 41st title with five games to spare after a 2-0 win over Panthrakikos.

But boss Michel didn’t hang around too long for the celebrations following goals from Paraguay forward Nelson Valdez

and Spanish playmaker David Fuster.

He flew to Manchester and was in the stands on Sunday.

And he revealed he and his players won’t let the title win put them off their challenge of defending the 2-0 lead they take into the second leg.

“After the celebrations and the joy,

P

hil Jones has warned Olympiacos that it is not in Manchester United’s nature to give up ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Red Devils, who are currently seventh in the Premier League, trail the Greek champions 2-0 on aggregate after a surprise loss in Athens almost three weeks ago.

United currently boast a 100 per cent record at Old Trafford in Europe this season after wins against Real Sociedad, Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk.

And Jones promised United would produce a performance to lift the Old Trafford crowd after a humiliating 3-0 loss to bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

“We don’t give up, you know,” Jones told Uefa’s website.

“Our mentality is to keep training hard, keep doing the right things and eventually it will turn.

“We truly believe that, and that’s what will happen. We’ve got to be patient and stick at it but it will come.

“We didn’t play as well as we’d like to have played [in Greece] but

Man Utd don’t give up, Phil Jones warns Olympiacos

*Kagawa

there’s no point dwelling on it now.

“We’ve got to deal with what’s happened and look forward to the future, and the future is putting in a performance at Old Trafford that will lift the crowd, lift the players and turn it around.

MATCHES TODAY B/Dortmund Man United

v v

Zenith 8:45pm Olympiakos 8:45pm

Pacquiao ready for 5th Marquez clash

T

here’s only one fight that Manny Pacquiao would readily take. And no, it’s not with Floyd Mayweather.

According to Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the Filipino has been itching to get back at Juan Manuel Marquez ever since he got knocked out by the tactical Mexican in December 2012.

“Pacquiao is always ready to fight Marquez and he already said ‘get me a fifth fight,’” Arum said in Boxing Scene.

After three controversial fights with Marquez, the Filipino superstar was determined to get a dominant victory over the Mexican counterpuncher during their fourth bout.

However, the overeager Pacquiao got clipped with a counter right hand from Marquez in the sixth round, effectively halting the bout by knockout.

Federer ‘surprised’ by improvement R

oger Federer will head to Miami in a positive frame of mind despite seeing his 11-match winning streak ended by Novak Djokovic in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells The Swiss went into the clash as the man in form but it was Djokovic who conquered his own doubts to win 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/3).

Federer had beaten his rival two weeks earlier on his way to the title in Dubai and had hoped to repeat the double he managed the last time he won backto-back tournaments in 2012.

Although it was not to be, Federer was happy he had managed to maintain his form at such a high level, putting his struggles of last season even further behind him.

The 32-year-old said: “I’m very happy.

I think I’m playing really good tennis. I’m moving well, serving well - consistently well. So many things are working.

Serena aims for seventh Sony Open triumph

S

erena Williams will be aiming for her seventh Miami Open title when the tournament begins this week.

The world number one’s only tour victory so far this season came in Brisbane in January, with her last outing a semi-final defeat to Alize Cornet in Dubai.

Williams admitted she was “embarrassed” by the loss and has yet to compete since due to a back injury.

The American is unlikely to have an easy time in her first match back, with a potential match-up with 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the offing.

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—35

NNPC lost 300,000 bpd in 2013 to pipeline vandalism —NNPC GMD

From left: Edwin Doran, former owner, Edwin Doran Travel World; Roger Ford, Partner, RussellCooke Solicitors, solicitors to Edwin Doran; Robert McCaw, Solicitor, Regnum Solicitors; Mehmet Erdogan, Principal Partner, Regnum Solicitors, solicitors to Peacock Travel; and Paul Phillips, Partner, Brian Paul Ltd., Chartered Accountants, during the signing of agreement on the take-over of Edwin Doran Travel World by Peacock Travel, a subsidiary of Peacock Group.

ABUJA — THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, saidNigeria lost 300,000 barrels per day or 109.50 million barrels in 2013 from severe attacks on critical export pipeline.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the NNPC Group Managing

Director, Mr Andrew Yakubu, gave the figures at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas, NOG, conference in Abuja.

Yakubu said the incessant vandalism of crude oil export pipelines and domestic crude oil and petroleum product pipelines impacted negatively on the economy.

According to him, what Nigeria lost in 2013 is equivalent to the production of Equatorial Guinea and larger than the entire production of Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Cameroun and Gabon.

Yakubu said the shut-in of such a significant production had elicited the Federal Government’s attention to take some drastic actions to tackle the situation following the negative impact on government’s revenue.

He said: “The initiatives include the setting aside of N15 billion for the purchase of security equipment to checkmate the scourge of oil theft in the Niger Delta approved by the National Economic Council, NEC. “Utilisation of new technology and radar surveillance to boost maritime security and increase sea patrol by the Nigerian Navy.

“Inauguration of an InterAgency Maritime Operations Coordination Committee, IMOCC, to provide synergy among agencies operating in the industry to ensure safety and security in the Nigerian maritime industry “Provision of air surveillance of Nigeria’s pipelines with modern aircraft manned by Nigerian pilots trained under the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) programme.

“These initiatives are in themselves not sufficient to maintain our leading position in oil production in Africa.”

Yakubu said government’s commitment in evolving new strategies to checkmate pipeline vandalism stemmed from the need to improve small field economics, new acreage management system and new exploration paradigm shift.

He noted: “Nigeria’s crude oil production is dependent on key arteries: Trans Forcados, Trans Niger, Nembe Creek line and Temidaba-Brass Line.

“These lines connect to three export terminals: Forcados, Bonny and Brass."

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Boko Haram: 10 lessons from Biafra safety in the face of attack from land or air.

We were clearly tutored to understand that to run was to DIE. Our mothers were taught not to look for their children but save their lives first. Family bunkers where members hid during air raids were constructed. With these, we survived many bomb attacks.

It is doubtful if our citizens facing the wrath of Boko Haram in the northeast villages have been exposed to some current trainings considering how they react to attacks and the consequential death tolls.

They should be trained to expect sudden attack and advised on how to respond whenever it happens.

BY CHIEF FELIX AMADI

BY PETER AWELEWA ADEBIYI

O

UR country has witnessed several great events in the past years, indeed, within 100 years of the amalgamation of the different nations within it, under the then Governor General, Lord Lugard. It was his wife who had the singular honour of giving a common name to the various nations; she named it Nigeria. Nigeria remained a colony of Great Britain for many years thereafter.

However, less than 10 years of the amalgamation, the elite within the country had begun to agitate for political emancipation and the restructuring of a defective entity forcibly put together without any prior consultation(s) with the different nations that were fused together to form the country.

It was apparent that the people did not understand the rationale behind the formation of the country. They simply found themselves living under conditions and influences which came from a strange culture and environment. Nigeria wobbled on supposedly until the end of colonial rule in 1960, when the average Nigerian, both young boys and girls and indeed young men like me, felt that the situation of things would change as we were throwing away the toga of oppression from those who had ruled Nigeria in various parts and ways before 1914 and had only bound them into one country for better enslavery between 1914 until 1960. Little did we know that we were only making a move from frying pan to fire. Political stability had been barely effective for a brief period of six years when the military men struck in 1966 and sacked all the politicians. This

Map of Nigeria

own and survive, but those who have hijacked the reins of government and the economy had rendered poor, 80 per cent of the masses. These few with no altruistic reasons for being in government other than to amass wealth, unashamedly flaunt their ill-gotten gain, in extreme posh castles which they have built for themselves and their children, wives and concubines.

As for those who chose to be politicians, they regard it as a profession and from which they can milk the economy dry. Someone recently gave an analysis or breakdown of the tragedy that has befallen Nigeria in recent times. He opined that the annual budget of the National Assembly was N7 Billion in 1999 but that in 2013, it was more than N155 Billion. While the number of members in the Legislative Houses has not exceeded what the Constitution stipulated in 1999 when civil rule began, the budget has kept increasing at an alarming rate. He wondered what is responsible for this astronomical increase and resulting waste. His conclusion was that the Nigerian Political Godfathers and our political leaders, who have become incurably and politicalYear in, year out, poverty preyed on ly bankrupt, should be held accountable. the people and today, Nigeria has If we were to assess become one of the poorest nations the political years before now, we can say in the world that the period besingular action shattered the dreams of tween 1914-1960 was the best, 1960-1966 expectant Nigerians who had been was good, while 1966-1999 was the looking forward to a better future. The worst.1999 till date, remains the most soldiers “ruled” Nigeria with the able difficult to classify, because our mouths assistance of the civil servants who en- can no longer describe appropriately couraged the military men to implement what we presently see and many of the their obnoxious and draconic laws and various events that are currently going policies. The military was in active pow- on, defy logic. We are all in it and the er in Nigeria for about 30 years without road ahead appears not only tortuous much pretence to accountability. but is laced with pits, valleys and dunThey prepared the national budget geons. We are also aware that he who themselves and implemented same. falls into a dungeon may have come to The result was that together they con- his ultimate end or destruction. That is stituted themselves into a class easily the current scenario of life in Nigeria as known as the elites and their collabora- it appears today. tors. The three economic classes in NiWe are in a country where one cannot geria were reduced to two, namely the guarantee that he or she will remain poorest and the richest. The Nigerian alive in the next minute because of currency, one of the strongest in the many factors that can cause one’s sudworld at that time, became heavily and den demise. These factors include but mindlessly devalued because of untold are not limited to violent “Boko Haram” corruption. attacks in the land, nefarious activities Year in, year out, poverty preyed on of kidnappers and ritual murderers all the people and today, Nigeria has be- over the place, activities of armed robcome one of the poorest nations in the bers on the streets, in the homes, workworld. The reason why this is so, we all ing places and banks. There are also know. There are certainly enough finan- road accidents and other untold, sudcial and other resources in Nigeria with den happenings such as vicious comwhich every citizen could be educated, munity disturbances which claim nugainfully employed and have food on merous lives. their tables. Each of the 36 States of Nigeria can in fact form a country of its To be concluded

,

IGERIANS have continued to be inundated with the ever chilly tales of the deaths of scores of innocent citizens on daily basis in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East. The way out of this trouble has obviously become the pre-occupation of many having realized that it is better to think and proffer solutions than fold arms and blame the government in newspaper publications, demonstrations and public statements.

The Buni Yadi massacre of FGC students left so much bad taste in the mouth and evoked in me memories of the Nigeria civil war which started when I was Apparent barely 10 years old. In those 30 months of injury my boyhood marred by war which I luckily survived, there are experiences to be shared The third lesson is the evacuation of for the benefit of the children and parents people in danger of apparent injury to living in the northeastern part of Nigeria safety. As a boy in 1968, I lived with people now traumatized by Boko Haram. who were evacuated from war endangered There are also memories that can benefit communities of Biafra including people the military leaders fighting Boko Haram from Udi and Nsukka in the present day insurgency even when it has come from an Enugu state and Ogoni from the present ordinary civilian who experienced war as day Rivers State. a boy. Yes, Nigeria fought a civil war for 30 One therefore wonders why people in months at the end of which the secession border communities of Adamawa, Borno of the former Eastern Region (Biafra) was and Yobe states being massacred by Boko brutally stopped. The objective was to keep Haram daily cannot be evacuated to safe the country one and the end justified all refugee camps. If Biafra could do it in 1967, the means employed. obviously Nigeria can in 2014. Besides In relation to the current insurgency securing the endangered people, it affords which now has all the trappirigs of real war, the military and intelligence organs the the first lesson to be drawn from the civil opportunity of appropriately executing their war was the Federal Government’s galvanization of the entire citizenry Intelligence by the natives of against the people of Biafra with a various communities was the slogan devoid of ethnic or religious colouration...To keep Nigeria one.’ To cornerstone of Biafran military defeat Biafra, therefore, became a intelligence movement keyed in to by all Nigerians other than those on the side of offensive without fear of unnecessary cassecessionist Biafra. This national ualties.

The fourth lesson is the protection of consciousness was the most lethal weapon in the hands of Gen. Yakubu Gowon and school children as much as practicable from his military. In the current war against terror, disasters consequent upon war strife or civil national consciousness against Boko Haram commotion. This is necessary because the is yet to emerge despite the unending children are the future who will grow to bloodshed. It is probably because some rebuild the city destroyed by wars fought Nigerians seem to see the problem as by parents. When air raids on Biafra Goodluck Jonathan’s challenge and which territory became too severe in 1968, schools they pray becomes the albatross that will were closed to protect the children of Biafra make him abandon power. Others who are and when they were reopened in 1969 saddened by the deaths of fellow Nigerian children and their teachers studied under citizens in the Northeast look forward to tree shades instead of the highly exposed seeing a non partisan and humanitarian school premises. The emphasis was the movement against the insurgency that will protection of the children. With the vicious draw them in and add strength and Boko Haram operating in the north east of grassroots appeal to what the residency is the country and focusing on soft targets, schools should be closed and children doing. relocated to areas where safety , may be guaranteed until normalcy returns.

Crushing The fifth lesson bothers on military momentum strategy. In our boy soldiering, we were With the two positions, it means the level thought to blow the bridge of disaster and of national consciousness needed to I want to believe this is a long tested confront and defeat Boko Haram is not yet operational pattern in warfare. With Boko crystallized. Even as I commend the current Haram operating from along our borders achievements of the Chief of Army Staff with Chad and Cameroun Republics, the (COAS) Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah who borders should be closed. This cuts off the has since relocated to Bornu State, we need enemy’s supply line and weakens the from all Nigerians a heart that will generate operational capacity of members within the a consciousness with crushing momentum national boundaries.

The sixth lesson is the need for the military against Boko Haram.

The second lesson from the civil war is to leverage on native intelligence. the seeming poor awareness of the civilian Intelligence by the natives of various population in the Boko Haram affected zone communities was the cornerstone of Biafran of the monumental dangers they face. This military intelligence. In every community, was unlike the situation in Biafra where the good and the bad are well known by internal propaganda sensitized everyone the people. Indigenes and strangers can of the imminence of death in the hands of be differentiated and movements “vandals”. The popular radio jingle still interpreted. With careful investigation, it engraved in my brain was: a time of may be that communities severely attacked genocide is a time for vigilance; Biafra be by Boko Haram in the North-East have bad vigilant! Consequent upon this, people were leadership which led their youth into engaged in dog sleep (i.e. with one eye deviant behavior of joining the insurgent open). Even as a primary five pupil in 1967, group. The attack may well represent a we were taught how to dive for cover, how punitive payback on such community to shield from bullet and how to craw! to leaders.

To be concluded

,

Who says the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable?

N

,

,

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—37

Contending with unfavourable S/Korean immigrant policies

I

MUST say of a truth that Nigerians in South Korea deserve words of praises for their patience and committed efforts for ensuring that they live with the many unfavourable South Korean immigration laws, which ordinarily are perceived as discriminatory”.

These were the words of Elder Felix (other names with held for security reasons), a member of the Diaspora Nigerians in South Korea.

Having sufficiently voiced his feelings concerning the many undeserving discriminatory Korean immigration law, Felix who had on several occasions organized peaceful protest marches to the Nigerian embassy in South Korea over the unspeakable things Nigerians in Korea are subjected to on a daily basis.

He told Vanguard Consular Advisory that more than ever before, several critics have often referred to Korean government’s goals,

strategies, policies mostly as they concern African immigrants, particularly Nigerians as fundamentally discriminatory.

Felix noted that after serious deliberation over the common belief among Nigerians in South Korea, each having almost identical story to relate concerning the unhealthy attitude of the Korean immigration authorities towards Nigerians is quite disheartening.

He said, “I could not see a point

,

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

denied of their human rights. I am also of the view that it would be a happy development if foreign ministers of both countries agree on a diplomatic meeting point concerning the issue of balanced immigration laws”.

Felix who is also a committed investor in South Korea and Nigeria, stressed the need to challenge the popular belief among Diaspora Nigerians in South Korea to ensure a hitch-free bi-

I must say of a truth that Nigerians in South Korea deserve words of praises for their patience and committed efforts to ensuring that they abide by the many unfavorable South Korean immigration laws, which ordinarily are perceived as discriminatory

in the preferential judgment given to other immigrants who are non Nigerians. I believe that our government should make haste in balancing out the differences to ensure that Nigerians are not

,

national co-existence between Nigerians and the Koreans in the key areas of both countries economies.

Reason, according to him, is when an issue of that magnitude

•Ambassador Desmond Akawor

is not properly dissected, it will give room for unwarranted reciprocating actions, which would not be healthy in many ways. “Indeed, such reciprocities are never a happy development and in many ways boycotts intended future investments between the two countries.

"And very significantly, the general movement by Nigerians in South Korea towards ensuring they live in harmony with citizens of host country (South Korea) is not yielding positive result, hence they seek the intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Akawor who according to many distressed Nigerians in the country appear visibly unbothered over the welfare of Nigerians under his

supervision.” Felix added.

Another source who spoke on grounds of anonymity told Vanguard Consular Advisory that the ambassador often dilly dallies with complaints of Nigerians who visit the embassy with sad tales of how they had been molested and or unjustly harassed by South Korean immigration officials.

Immigration officials He, therefore, suggested the need to get the attention of the Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to their aid.

“Although South Korea has experienced a large influx of foreigners since 1991, many of whom gained entry into the country undocumented, it is not enough to subject them to this high hurdle stay permit requirements,” the source added.

38—

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

to execute. But sources close to the then CG confided that authorities of the Ministry of Interior demanded 1,000 slots, to which Mrs. Uzoma declined.

This sparked series of underground confrontation and in some instances public altercation between the Service and the Ministry of Interior.

Though she still had three months to retire from Service, a terse statement from the Ministry signed by Dr. R.K Attahiru, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro announced her retirement, followed in quick succession by the cancellation of the recruitment exercise.

Recruitment exercise

Unending controversies: Vested interest, power play

BY VICTORIA OJEME

S

ATURDAY, March 15, 2014 would remain a sad day in the mind of many Nigerians on account of the about 15 Nigerians who lost their lives and several others injured in their quest for gainful employment into the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS. Tragedy struck when there was a stampede and several of the already fatigued applicants were trampled to death, while others simply passed out. During a visit to the National Hospital on Sunday, Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, hinted that government will look into the possibility of automatic employment for those injured in the aptitude test stampede that has led to over 15 deaths across various centres in the country.

He added that government would foot the medical bills of those receiving treatment at various hospitals across the country.

The minister who pleaded for understanding of Nigerians over the incident said, “together we can salvage the situation and lay a foundation that will forestal any future occurrence of this type of tragedy.” He blamed the stampede on “people who didn’t even apply, people who were not shortlisted for this exercise turned up yesterday, including pregnant women, to undertake

this exercise, and it is very unfortunate”.

Explaining the choice of stadia nation wide for the recruitment exercise, Moro said it was due to physical exercises which are “very vital component of any enlistment requirement into the Nigerian Immigration Services, and so we didn’t expect that what happened that day was going to happen; we expected orderliness based on the logistic arrangement that was put in

place.”

But this is not the first time, NIS recruitment exercise would end up in a stampede. Last year, for instance, the Minister stated that the N1000 collected from applicants was to reduce the number of applications into the Service and, therefore, prevent the occurrence of a stampede. But the N1000 per applicant did not deter job hunters from finding their way to the various venues of the recruitment exercise. In

Abuja and Lagos alone over 125,000 applicants were chasing 4,500 jobs with many more applicants thronging the remaining 35 states of the federation. Little wonder the stampede.

Why has the recruitment exercise of NIS become so trouble-ridden? one might ask.

The answer is not far-fetched.

NIS’s recruitment has not been without controversy because of the many power plays and vested interest at the top hierarchy of the service. During the tenure of former Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, a total of 4,000 cadets from level seven downwards were to be recruited and by Service regulations. This was within the powers and authority of the CG

The statement made available to journalists at the time read in part thus: “I am to further convey that you are to hand over the duties and responsibilities of your office on or Wednesday, January 16, 2013 to the most senior deputy comptroller general of Immigration in the person of Rilwan Bala Musa, mni, who will act as comptroller general of Immigration pending the appointment of a substantive CG of Immigration. On behalf of the Minister of Interior and all members of the board, I wish to thank you for your service to Nigeria. The board wishes you good luck in your future endeavour.”

The minister had following allegations of skewed recruitment in favour of applicants from certain sections of the country and non-advertisement of its recruitment process ordered the cancellation of the recruitment exercise under the sacked CG. Uzoma in her defence of the allegations of secret recruitment exercise into the service at the time despite the insistence of the House of Representatives

Continues on page 39

Hold Interior Ministry, NIS responsible — Chukwuezie MR. Obinna Chukwuezie, a Youth Employment Practitioner and founder of Journalists Initiative for Youth Empowerment in this interview, argues that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service,NIS, should be held responsible for the manner in which the recent recruitment exercise into the NIS was conducted.

Y position on the saga: Service who made shoddy First of all, it was wrong recruitment should be held for a government agency to responsible. They should be charge a job-application fee. It suspended according to civil is discriminatory and deprives service rules pending the those who cannot afford it the outcome of the investigation. right to apply. Secondly, it was Both organisations should wrong to use stadium for a apologise to Nigerians; they recruitment test. Thirdly, it was should take up the bills of wrong to attend to the entire funerals, treatment and applicants at the same time, compensation. They should give when you do not have such automatic job to one member of capacity. the bereaved family. The Federal Those to be held responsible: Government should declare Of course, the Minister of March 15 as National Youth Interior and the Comptroller Unemployment Day. General of Nigeria Immigration Implications of huge turnout

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Chukwuezie

of youth unemployment Being a fresh graduate in Nigeria is becoming a nightmare - they do not have skill to create job, they do not have godfathers to secure a job, they do not have money to pay job-racketeers, they

are prey to job-scammers, they are prey to witch doctors who extort from them to give them interview-success charms; their parents and younger ones expect them to give back.

In 2013 as reported by the Nigerian Tribune on September 17, the World Bank put the youth unemployment rate at 38 per cent. Journalists Initiative for Youth Empowerment in 2013 discovered that graduate unemployed youth make up over 70 per cent of the entire unemployed youth population in Nigeria. In a nation where over 20 million are idle and angry, then insurgency, kidnapping, ballot-stuffing and other violent crimes will continue to rise despite the huge budget for the military campaign.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

From joblessness to lifelessness •Nigeria’s ticking time-bomb ticks faster

happened. Though some claimed to have written but as far as I am concerned what happened inside that stadium was programmed to be like that by the immigration authorities.

“It is painful that we are going through this after paying application fees. This is callous.

The Immigration officers were even telling us to go home.’ They can hold on to their job, I am done with them”.

Her ordeal is one out of the many controversies that trailed the exercise nationwide. About 5pm, some of the applicants were already heading home, while others waited in anticipation of writing the exams that never took place. As a result of the huge turnout, vehicular movement on many streets in Surulere was impeded, following the gridlock that followed.

Further findings by VanguardFeatures,VF, showed that there were neither sufficient

THE conduct of last Saturday’s recruitment exercise by the Nigeria Immigration Service,NIS, has passed a vote of no confidence on the Ministry of Interior and the NIS. CHARLES KUMOLU, who witnessed the exercise in Lagos, writes.

T was an incident no one used horsewhips to control the could have ignored. Not crowd. ‘’While we were inside, when you consider the shocking people were writing their names tragic reality of it all. And that is and I did so. Despite doing that, why Nigerians are presently the whole process looked mourning the avoidable waste uncoordinated. Nobody was of lives and angry at the same talking to us and we were not told time over the human error(some what to do. At a point, we saw say greed) that gave rise to it. It some people struggling with is such that the song on the lips some immigration officials. In the of many across the country, is midst of that confusion, the now that of sorrow. Hence, officers started firing guns and nobody seems to be in a hurry to tear gas. We had to run for our forget March 15, 2014. lives, ‘’ she stated.

The tragedy of that Saturday Still lamenting, Grace who was which ranks among the most panting as she spoke, said: ‘’I saddening in Nigeria’s recent did not write the exams and they history, is better understood will come out tomorrow to claim through the story of Mrs. Grace that some people sat for the Agbonovare. exams in Lagos. Nothing of such In the early hours of that day, the mother of one, who resides in Festac Town, set out for the National Stadium Lagos.

Her aim was primarily to Unemployed Youth Vanguard, participate in the Nigerian Continues frompage 38 Immigration Service ,NIS, Committee on Federal Character possibly acting under the recruitment exercise. In her bag on the matter, informed that the influence of any of the big were school certificates, a pencil, decision of a ‘secret recruitment’ players.

Sources close to the current pen, eraser, white shirt and was to prevent the recruitment of terrorists mistakingly into such leadership of the NIS, hinted that shorts. a highly sensitive organisation. the NIS helmsman saw the But Moro rose in stout defence newspaper advert for enlistment Intimidating of his Minitsry’s position and on his way to Abuja, begging the crowd why it supported the cancellation, question of why it was not Having waited for over six citing almost the same security necessary to at least accord the months for the exams she was reasons as the former CG. CG the courtesy of informing him definitely in high spirits that Although, he insisted on need of such major event in a morning. Not even the the for “a more transparent, department under his watch. intimidating crowd that she saw acceptable and effaceable Competing demands by vested upon arrival at the venue in platform to be established to enlist interests and the consequences Surulere, could give an inkling qualified Nigerians into the of the failure to meet these of what awaited her. To the service.” Citing the security demands soon found vent in the unemployed mother, all that challenges facing the country, decision by the Ministry to recruit mattered then was writing the Moro directed the immediate a consulting firm by the name exams and wait for any miracle cancellation of the recruitment Drexel Consort to carry out the exercise into the Nigeria recruitment exercise as well as afterwards. ‘’Sir, I have waited for so long Immigration Service two weeks the ill advised strategy of for this day and this crowd will after the exercise. He directed adopting on-line application for not dampen my spirit, we must that all appointment letters issued a fee of N1,000.

Indications that the exercise see it to the end. We were told and documentation carried out may run into a hitch came via an should be cancelled until the the exercise will start at 10 am,’’ she casually told this reporter, Indications that the exercise may run who was at the venue with a close into a hitch came via an oversight visit by relative. With the sights and sounds of the environment, the House Committee on Interior appearing as if there was a football match between Nigeria Civil Defence, Immigration and oversight visit by the House and a top soccer nation, Grace Prisons Service board met to Committee on Interior. The and her friends roamed about the consider the waiver granted the Committee ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service to immediate suspension of the stadium and its environs.

A few hours later, the rowdy recruit men and women into the collection of N1,000 on-line application fee, expressing situation gave way to a chaotic Service.

With these actions, one had disappointment that the Ministry atmosphere, as the job seekers’ cheerful mood began to slide into thought that there would not be had gone ahead to collect the fee agitation. At exactly 3 pm, a re-occurence of the 2013 inspite of the House’s resolution pandemonium broke out incident. But from every ordering the suspension of such. following the inability of the indication, the minister’s actions But the minister denied organisers to coordinate the had not reined in the challenges. knowledge of such. He said, “I mammoth crowd and commence The storyline of the trouble with am not aware of the House the exams. At this point, Grace the current exercise is almost a resolution to stop the collection and others who were inside the rehash of the last aborted of N1000. If for any reason the stadium found their way outside. exercise: vested interest and committee had any reservation Narrating her ordeal to this power play between the about what we are doing, we are writer, who was seated at one of Ministry, the hierarchy of the open to advice. If the committee the eateries close to the venue, NIS, National Assembly as well resolves that we should stop it she said the security agencies as the new entrant, a group that today, I have no reservation fired warning shots, tear gas and addresses itself as the Nigerian against that.”Apparently still

I

security nor crisis control plans in place for such an intimidating turnout.

Against the backdrop of the sham that the exercise turned out to be across the country, many have not stopped asking among other questions: why the exercise was conducted in one day and the rationale behind inviting all who applied. While the answers are being awaited, it was gathered that the Ministry of Interior and the NIS were not on same page on some issues relating to the recruitment before that day.

A source close to the Ministry told VF the leadership of the Ministry took about one thousand slots of the 4,556 vacancies spaces advertised. This situation, the source added, did not go down well with the top echelon of the NIS, leading to the shambolic manner the exercise was conducted across the country.

Regardless of this, the leadership

— 39

of the NIS is not also being spared as some have described the failure of the exercise as an indication of leadership ineptitude on its part. That is why there is a general consensus for the sack of the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. David Paradang.

In addition, the reported deaths of no fewer than 20 applicants across various recruitment centres, is among the various reasons for the calls.

Already some eminent Nigerians have joined the calls for the heads of the duo.

This was contained in a petition signed by Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission; Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Ayo Obe, lawyer and human rights activist; Bashir Tofa, former presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention; Aliyu Modibbo, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and 57 others.

Unending controversies: Vested interest, power play

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Comptroller General NIS, Parradang

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro

reeling under the pressure that had been unleashed on it, the Ministry came out with a lengthy clarification signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele. She said, “The Ministry of Interior, on Monday September 23, 2013 received in audience, representatives of the Nigerian Unemployed Youth Vanguard led by Mr. Solomon Adodo, National Coordinator and Mr. Usman T. Shehu, National Treasurer. The representatives submitted a letter to the Ministry containing three demands on the on-going recruitment exercise being conducted by the Ministry for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The demands are that the Ministry should: (a) Forthwith, refrain from charging the unemployed youths the N1,000 fee; (b) Refund the monies so far collected from the job seekers thus far (sic)”; and (c) Conduct the on-going recruitment exercise in a fair and undiscriminating manner ”.

The Ministry considered the

demand and replied as follows: (a) That there was an earlier effort by the Ministry to recruit officers for the NIS’ (b) That the exercise which was manually done was mired in controversy and had to be discontinued; (c) Subsequently, a new ICT-based recruitment exercise had to be adopted for the purposes of fairness, transparency and accountability in line with the transformation agenda of the government; (d) That a consultant was engaged to provide internet platform to enable applicants access the application forms which will enable the Ministry process the applications.

The consultant was authorised to charge a maximum processing fee of N1000 per applicant to cover the cost of scratch card to access the site. This is intended to save the applicants the cost of travelling to Abuja to submit their applications, as well as avoid other inherent risks including unauthorised middlemen activities and other abuses

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40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

in the North Central states, Nigeria will be delivered to him in 2015.

He described the Transformation Agenda of the president as one of the best things to have happened to the country pointing out that Kwara, Nasarawa states in particular will be recaptured.

•President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov Aliyu Babangida (Niger State); Vice President Namadi Sambo and Senate President David Mark at the PDP rally in Minna, Niger State recently

Jonathan crosses the bridge T

HE North-Central serves as a bridge between the North and the South and would prove pivotal in the resolution of the 2015 presidential contest. The recent rally by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Minna was an opportunity for the ruling party to up the stakes in the unfolding battle for the soul of the nation.

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

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ITH six states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja serving as a bridge between the far North and southern parts of Nigeria, the North-Central geo-political zone is easily one of the country’s most strategic political pies.

It is therefore not out of place for political parties to jostle for political footholds in the area.

Last week’s unity rally of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Minna, Niger State could thus be seen as preparing grounds for the party the in the zone ahead of the 2015 polls.

Held at the Trade Fair Complex along Minna Paiko Suleja road, the caliber of PDP stalwarts that attended the rally indicated that the party meant business.

The mammoth crowd of PDP faithful included President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, PDP governors from across the country especially North Central states, members of the National Assembly and a

host of other party stalwarts and supporters from within and outside Niger State.

As early as 7 am, party supporters had started trooping in to the venue which had been turned into a beautiful arena with posters of President Jonathan, Sambo, Mu’azu and Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of the state.

Right from the “State Box” which was reserved for the president, his vice, senate president, past and present national chairmen and officials of the party and other dignitaries was a long wooden pathway laid with red carpet and elevated above the pavilions to enable the crowd catch a good glimpse of the speakers while walking to the podium or delivering their speeches.

PDP stronger without defectors –Jonathan Speaking at the rally, President Jonathan described those who left the PDP recently for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as retrogressive, adding that their departure was good and would not have any adverse effect on the party.

According to him, the defection of the governors, legislators and some of their supporters to APC was a good omen for the PDP because since their defection, PDP has been waxing stronger and stronger.

His words: “If some people have been with the PDP for 14 years and now they said they are leaving for the progressive, the question is where are they progressing to? It means in the past 14 years, they have been involved in retrogressive activities in PDP and were problems to us and you will agree with me that now that these retrogressive elements have left, PDP will progress more.”

He called on Nigerians especially the PDP supporters not to be moved by anybody who uses the media to preach violence but rather should be focused on what PDP had done for the country in the past years.

PDP has done well, ‘ll do better –Sambo, Mu’azu Vice President Sambo, in his brief remarks, thanked the people of North Central for their support for the party in the past

years and called on them to remain loyal and dedicated to the PDP and government of the day.

Also speaking, the national chairman of the party, Dr. Mu’azu described PDP “as the only party that has given hope to the hopeless, given life to our wives, given hope to our mothers, given life and hope to our youths and we promise to do even better.”

He called on Governor Babangida Aliyu to finish the job he started with his colleagues by bringing them back into the fold (PDP).

He thanked him and his colleague, the governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido for coming back after seeing the light

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Middle Belt and 2015:

We’re behind Jonathan – Akpabio Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, who is also the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio noted that despite the challenges and distractions in the country, Nigeria is still moving forward, adding that as foot soldiers at the state levels, all the PDP governors are solidly behind President Jonathan and will deliver the country to him in next year’s elections.

He enumerated few ongoing and completed projects across the country especially in Niger State, which include the on-going Zungeru Hydro electricity Dam, the dualization of Suleja Lambata road, ongoing Bida Mokwa road, ongoing Kontagora - Sokoto road, dredging of River Niger and the construction of Baro Port, which he said are practical testimonies to the fulfillment of Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

Anenih, Aliyu speak BOT chairman, Tony Anenih called on Nigerians to appreciate what God has given Nigeria in the person of President Jonathan whom he said deserves all the support needed to further transform the country into an enviable nation.

He described the crowd at the rally as assuring and a good testimony to the fact that Nigerians are solidly behind the president and the PDP. Governor Babangida Aliyu described the occasion as not a

President Jonathan described those who left the PDP recently for the All Progressive Congress (APC) as retrogressive, adding that their departure was good and would not have any adverse effect on the party

but the job they started has not finished because now, they should go back to convince their colleagues and let them see the light and come back to PDP and they will be treated equally when they return.”

He however ruled out automatic tickets for any aspirant for any political office.

2015: With our governors’ support Jonathan ‘ll win – Mark Senate President Mark in his address assured President Jonathan that with the governors

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campaign rally but a gathering to showcase unity and solidarity and to galvanize the people and tell them that PDP is intact.

Looking into future elections, Dr. Aliyu cast his mind back to how the president eventually cinched the office saying, “when many people never thought you will be president, you eventually became president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and by God’s grace, your days have not finished, our days at PDP have not finished because we are

Continues on page 47

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—41

Buhari can never rule because... — Sen Ikpo E

LDER STATESMAN, Senator Nosike Ikpo was one of the leading lights in the Second Republic. Ikpo, in this interview, posits that former Military Head of State, General Muhammudu Buahri cannot rule Nigeria owing to his involvement in scuttling a democratically elected government. He also says the National Conference will succeed if well managed just as he bares his mind on other burning national issues. Excerpts:

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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O you think the National Conference will bring the much needed solution to the nation’s problems?

It is good depending on how it is managed, how it is run. If there is sincerity in the whole process because there is a problem, the problem in Nigeria like some of us have always said is the problem of leadership.

If Jonathan has a clear idea of where, what he wants Nigeria to be and gives a proper direction to the conference, they will come out fine. Somebody has to give direction. When you talk of leadership, the number one person has to have an idea of what he wants to achieve for the people he is leading.

The uncompleted job of restructuring Nigeria could be completed in that place. Nigeria is so wrongly structured. The creation of states has led to pockets of dissatisfaction certainly amongst the people of Nigeria. There cannot be peace if there is no justice.

People in the North are not happy. I remember what late Tarka said when forming the separatist movement in the Middle Belt. He was fired by a

government cannot be elected as president of Nigeria.

He is not entitled to. He has no moral justification to become a democratic leader of this country.

So I don’t know where they are going. My friends are there.

Most of them are my old colleagues in the UPN, they are all there and I am still attracted to them but the idea of the possibility of Buhari becoming presidential candidate of that party nauseates me completely.

I don’t know why they feel that he can be of any use to them. In any case they can still be a viable opposition without having Buhari as presidential candidate.

I didn’t know Tinubu in our time, because was still a young man then, probably he was still abroad so he wasn’t part of Awolowo’s children and he had never spoken as an Awoist.

I am not talking about what do you call them, fire eaters, no. He comes from an environment that he cannot run away from Awolowo. Look at his mother who died recently, a great market woman. When we needed money in 1962-63 during the Action Group crisis, we go to her.

So he came from the environment from where he can’t run away from Awolowo’s political

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If Jonathan has a clear idea of where, what he wants Nigeria to be and gives a proper direction to the conference, they will come out fine

statement made by the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello on the 1st of October 1960 that the minorities of the Middle Belt would be the tools of Northern leaders to rule Nigeria.

The man took action, mobilized his people and started agitation for a separate state. The matter is still there; every young man, every active politician in the Middle Belt is still asking for a separate identity.

Talking about a viable opposition, do you see the emerging All Progressives Congress, APC …..?

(Cuts in) I do not see how Tinubu and Buhari can lead Nigeria. Buhari may be a very honest person but I don’t know him. He campaigned in 2007, he wanted to be president of Nigeria but he never reached this part of the country; he never reached Delta State.

And in any case anybody who overthrew a democratic

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views, he cannot.

All those who are supporting him (Tinubu) presently who are his disciples, definitely are disciples of Chief Awolowo.

That is not the same as saying that he can be a successful president. I don’t know his personal views and manifestos.

What we want is a good leader.

For instance, a good leader is somebody like Uduaghan. You can’t identify his friends, you can’t identify his enemies only him alone can tell you who his friends are or vice-versa . He has ideas, he knows where he is going, what to do.

Look at what we are doing in Delta State. Whom can you tell me that Uduaghan is likely to hand over to? I don’t know. All of us are guessing.

What type of person do you think is fit to succeed Uduaghan?

All of them are my children. All the aspirants are my children particularly from the North. I

•Ikpo: Confab will succeed if there is sincerity in the whole thing made a statement the other day Do you support the call on and many people misunderstood President Jonathan to run for a me that I probably sold out. I can’t second term? sell out at this stage; I am 85 so He has to go back. He has done what am I selling out for? reasonable well. I voted for him You don’t expect that after in 2007 because I had no Uduaghan, another governor alternative as I couldn’t have should come from the South. voted for Buhari.

It will be unreasonable, so Are you satisfied with the way people will expect that another corruption is been tackled? governor should come from Delta It is the mindset of leaders of a North. But what I am quarrelling country. Take Jerry Rawlings of with our people is that for Ghana for instance. He set out to anybody to think that he can go clean Ghana and cleaned up the to bed hoping because of rotation place. I am not saying that there that governor will come to Delta is no corruption in Ghana North I don’t believe in that. anymore. But definitely, the So that was what I was situation cannot go back to what opposed to. it was before Rawlings.

Are you saying Nigeria needs the Rawlings method?

We need that type of revolution. We have not seen a revolution; something drastic has to happen to make people behave.

I cannot even send my cook to the market today. I can’t afford the rising cost of food at Ibusa market, then somebody is hoarding billions not even naira but dollars. So somebody has to come out and decide to stop this thing called corruption.

Well, that is my idea. All these military coups have not even helped us. They have not done exactly what I would have done if I were a young man, if I were a soldier and I wanted to clean up the place. They are merely changing batons and from one bad ruler to the other that is all.

Looking back when you were in the Senate and now, any comparison?

There are two different scenarios. They can never be the same. My salary when I was in the Senate was N15,000 per month.

When I told my constituent at Agbor, they couldn’t believe it.

And we were paying five percent to the party. At the end of every month, the cashier from the UPN office would come with his receipt.

As what?

Contribution to the welfare of the party and for the building of the party. When people said I brought College of Education Agbor, I didn’t go to build the place. It was the same thing I did for Asaba College of Education.

I did not go to build it or look for a contractor, I only influenced the siting of the colleges to those places. But it is not so now; now they give you the money. It is in the budget, then you take it and do what you like.

Jonathan crosses the bridge Continues from page 47 aware of what you have done, what you are doing and what you are going to do and this is why we will support you beyond 2015.”

He assured that despite what is happening in Kwara and Nasarawa, the two states and other states formerly belonging to the PDP will be recaptured in 2015 because we will not rest on our oars and take things for granted as we will go to the villages, hamlets and we will not spare anybody and even those who said they will not vote for us, we will talk to them and leave our doors open for them to return.”

Dr. Aliyu called on his colleagues to ensure that they not only retain their states but gain more states saying, “by 2015, we hope to get back our 28 states by

the grace of God and the place to start is the June/August governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states because if we can get these two states, at least the message would have been clear to everybody.”

Test of political might The event was not only a solidarity rally but also an opportunity for aspirants in the zone eyeing various offices to test the political waters as their placards were carried from one spot to the other at the venue with their supporters singing and drumming in defiance to pleas from the masters of ceremony not distract the audience.

More disturbing is the shameless exhibition of some hooligans who gained access to the venue disguised as party supporters and caused panic at

the tail end of the rally.

As President Jonathan was addressing the gathering, the hoodlums started removing the tarpaulins used as roofing and decoration of the pavilions.

Their actions made the crowd to hurriedly vacate their seats in fear as most people including the security agents on ground watched without any intervention.

One of the spectators at the venue Alhaji Adamu Mohammed who looked so worried over what was going on simply said “assuming these boys have invaded this venue with the intention to unleash terror and cause havoc, this is how they would have had a field day with our security personnel watching helplessly.”

However, the rally ended peacefully without any causality.

42— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

WEDNESD A Y, MARCH 19, 2014 WEDNESDA

He’s not as hot as he made out to be Dear Bunmi, AM in my mid-30's and a divorced mother of two, my marriage broke up because I could no longer condone my ex’s constant infidelity. I have a good job and own my flat.

The problem is my current partner. I met him last year and he boasted about his erotic conquests right from the word go.

He also told me he liked a lot of love-making, even though that didn’t really impress me as my previous relationship had ended because of my ex’s constant erotic demands.

At the beginning of this new relationship, the love-making was good. But the last few months, my boyfriend seemed to be avoiding love-making.

He’s still his old loving self, but the lack of love-making is getting me down.

He says it is our constant argument that turns him off. I am not worried and I can cope with the lack of too much love-making, if it weren’t for my feeling of rejection.

Lately, he’s had difficulty in maintaining an erection and when I mentioned it, he just laughed it off and said you couldn’t predict a man’s libido.

This man of mine has his own house and a good job, but he’s too fussy about his expensive digital music system and his fancy furniture. As a result, I don’t often visit with my children. I would really like to settle down and each time I tell

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My husband gave me venereal disease!

Dear Bunmi, HENEVER I see my husband, I feel like physically hurting him. You see, I currently have venereal disease and he is responsible.

He must have picked it up from one of the strings of cheap girls he’s always seen with!

In the last four weeks we’d made love fairly regularly. It

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was during this period that I discovered I was very itchy. I had sores in my private parts along with a very bad discharge. I went to the clinic in the office and you can imagine how embarrassed I was when the doctor told me 1 had venereal disease.

He gave me some cream for the itch and antibiotics. He said my husband would have

He uses me as a cover-up Dear Bunmi, Y WIFE and I have been friends with a colleague in the office and his wife for over eight years now.

Unfortunately, he is having an affair that is not a casual one. When he is with this new girlfriend of his, he telfs his wife that he is with me. 1 have covered for him so far but I hate lying.

My wife would go bananas if she finds out I condoned something like this. Also, it is too close for comfort. Yet I feel I should be there for a friend.

Lately, his wife has been blaming me for keeping her husband away from their mat-

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rimonial home. What should I do?

Johnson, by e-mail Dear Johnson, I am all for friends helping each other, even doing the occasional moral misdemeanour for each other. But you should draw the line when it comes to getting in the middle of each other’s marriages. You might end up being the cad.

As soon as you can, tell your friend that you know his affair is his business and that you’re not going to squeal on him. Then tell him his alibi is his problem, not yours.

to be treated too, but he has refused to go to the clinic because he knew I'll accuse him.

He even had the nerve to accuse me of playing fast and loose. I feel like killing him!

Justina, By e-mail.

Dear Justina, Much as you would like to kill your husband, you would still have to convince him to see his own doctor, not necessarily the one in your office.

However, there are infections you can pick up through other avenues besides sex like toilets and your surroundings, for instance.

A doctor I discussed your symptoms with, said he couldn’t diagnose the trouble with absolute certainty, but that it sounds as if it was thrush.

It is the commonest of female infections of the sex organ. Hundreds of thousands of women develop it every year; and wearing synthetic material has helped a great deal to aggravate it. Men can’t be blamed for every infection a woman has. So stay away from your husband’s throat!

Either of them could be my baby’s father Dear Bunmi, AM seven months pregnant and I’m not sure who the father of my baby is.

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I don’t know if it is my current boyfriend or the one before him. To be honest, I am still in love with my ex-boy-

Has this operation affected my fertility?

Dear Bunmi, GOT married a couple of years ago and we have been trying for a baby without positive result. Early last year, I felt this terrible pains in my lower abdomen and I was rushed to the hospital and the doctor said I had an ectopic pregnancy and that he had to operate right away to remove it from one of the fallopian tubes, already damaged.

Could this be responsible for my infertility?

Augusta, by e-mail

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Dear Augusta, An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy which occurs outside the womb. The womb is connected by means of two tubes with the ovaries. The female egg or ovum, passes down these tubes (called fallopian tubes) into the womb and when fertilisation

happens and the fertilised ovum lodges in the uterus. It occasionally happens that the fertilised ovum lodges in one of the tubes. When this happens, there is no room for the ovum to grow, so trouble soon develops. Often there is pain in the lower part of the abdomen on one side and brown discharge or slight bleeding from the vagina. If the condition continues, the fallopian tube may burst.

The symptoms often occur soon after a missed period before pregnancy is confirmed. So in the event of pain and brown discharge, a doctor should be contacted without delay even if you are not sure you are pregnant.

The doctor then operates to remove the affected tube. After the operation, both ovaries and one healthy fallopian tube are left, so fertility is not greatly affected.

friend and very much want the baby to be his.

We split up about the time I got pregnant, because he had roving eyes. When I told him about the likelihood of his being responsible for my pregnancy, he said I should let him know when the baby is born; that he would want definite proof that he was the father, and not my current boy-friend.

I think about my ex all the time and want us to get together again. I’m hoping fervently that the child is his, so that he would come back to me.

Cynthia, Bye-mail Dear Cynthia, I wouldn’t be too optimistic if I were you. When your baby arrives, you can easily arrange for a blood test to find out who the father really is.

But is your current boyfriend aware of your present dilemma? How would he feel about succumbing to a paternity test?

What would be his reaction if it was proved he didn’t father the child? You’re in a real dilemma here and only time and your conscience will sort things out.

my boyfriend that I would be better off looking for a new partner, he always insisted that he loves me and doesn’t want to live without me. He’s also a divorce in his 40's. He has no children and the lack of love-making and commitment makes me feel I’m wasting my time.

Lilian, By e-mail Dear Lilian, I wish you’d seek counselling before you let go of your marriage; infidelity is in itself seldom a reason for ending a marriage.

Your current boyfriend, who boasted of his high libido, but unfortunately couldn’t really deliver, could have a problem. What you don’t know is that a lot of men do that as a disguise for their unease at having a low erotic drive. His desire is obviously low, and as yours is too, you would be compatible. Unfortunately, because you think he is a stud, you make demands for love-making that he’s unable to fulfil. That really intimidates him and for all you know, it could be the reason why his first marriage broke up.

You needn’t fear that a loving man’s loss of desire is a rejection of you. This man seems like a stranger to you. Why did his marriage break down? What are his views on long-term relationship and children? The man obviously loves you, but what does he want from you? Assure him that you’re not as crazy about love-making as he obviously believes.

You needn’t fear that a loving man’s loss of desire is a rejection of you. This man seems like a stranger to you. Why did his marriage break down? What are his views on long-term relationship and children?

The man obviously loves you, but what does he want from you? Assure him that you’re not as crazy about love-making as he obviously believes.

She wants me to try sex at 16 Dear Bunmi, WILL soon be 16 and of the same age with a girl I am friendly with next door.

We play with other friends in a big compound, and when no one is looking, we show each other our private parts.

Now, she wants me to try sex with her. She brags that she had done it before and will tell me what to do. She says that at my age, I am too young to father a child. Is she right? I have never had sex and would love to try it if there is no danger.

I

Bolade, By e-mail.

Dear Bolade, You would be playing with fire if you had sex with this girl.

I will advise you to steer clear of her. If you are old enough to have an erection, you will have a discharge during proper intercourse and the girl might get pregnant.

She is obviously more experienced than you are and with the AIDS scare, you have to be really careful.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 43 YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpful and pledging loyalty today, they may be forced and get on your nerve tomorrow when effects of fullmoon’ll come to play.

GEMINI: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable trouble tomorrow, either at home or along your career/business lines, should be well taken care of today. Be very open.

CANCER: YOUR best bet today is to seek important co-operation of influential people and that of your spouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are, the better for you.

LEO: IF others want you to conclude an important financial transactions that can possibly be done today, you’ll need to say no and go ahead as tomorrow may not be as conducive as today.

By Richard Eromosele

Speak your expectation

W

HAT is the situation with you now? Have you allowed your present situation to consume you?

Have you given up on your situation?

As you stand now, what is the nature of

the words that comes out of your mouth? Are the words coming out of your month capable of lifting your spirit?

Are you speaking of your present situation or you are projecting more what you expect to happen to your life?

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Do not allow what is happening to you now drain you of your hope. No matter what you are going through now, speak your expectation. Even in pain, dwell on paean.

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO: IT’S important you don’t take things and people for granted now because they may not be as co-operative tomorrow as they are now. Be more loving.

LIBRA: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air of understanding within your working arena today, tomorrow’s full-moon may turn the whole thing the other way.

SCORPIO: HERE is an exciting day that will climax tomorrow. After a long time, others will see how passionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble, please.

SAGITTARIUS: IF your desire is to make money today, you will need to be less emotional and prepare for domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your love life.

CAPRICORN: GOOD relationship between the moon in Capricorn and lucky Jupiter in your star sign will bring you good opportunities. Be less argumentative.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS: THIS is your day when things will go according to your plans. Financial success indicated but if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bring disappointment.

PISCES: THE moon in your star sign that encourages you to be as assertive are likely to oppose you tomorrow. Try to be more friendly.

ARIES: HAPPENINGS within your working arena should be taken more seriously now or else, avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’s important you are more practical about your health.

Be more loving.

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

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

What,s my immediate future?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in what you are doing.

Please tell me what I should expect concerning my immediate future. Would I succeed travelling abroad for business ?

Adedeji. Epe. Dear Adedeji, Few years back you have started a very longer (years) great cycle of success and happiness, and this year you will be moving closer to the peak of the said cycle; meaning that your 40nd year on earth will be much more better than all your previous ones on earth.

Then because of transiting lucky Jupiter in Sagittarius – your Solar 9th house of travelling and distant affairs you can be successful at acquiring visa and have a fruitful foreign travels.

However that is not to say that there will not be any challenge during the year.

Actually like it happened about six/seven months ago when work and accident related issues were the major challenges.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Delta guber: APC root for Enwosa-Willams

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

ARRI—All Progressives Congress, APC, supporters in Delta State have pledged allegiance to the aspiration of Ben EnwosaWilliams, a retired Airforce Squadron Leader in the race for the 2015 governorship in the state.

The development which has given birth to the Ben Lion Heart APC Network within the Delta APC, followed recent declaration of manifestoes and leadership agenda by Enwosa-Williams during the ongoing state wide consultation with stakeholders over his aspiration.

Among his agenda for a better Delta State, EnwosaWilliams has promised a “compact security in Delta, integrated road network to remote areas, full agricultureal programme for mass empowerment, establishment of special science schools and free health and Old People’s Home for the aged.”

Edo govt, NHRC disagree over executed inmates

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—EDO State Government officials and members of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday engaged in a heated debate over the execution by hanging of four inmates on death row by the Edo State Government on June 24, 2013.

While Edo State Government faulted the condemnation of the execution by the NHRC, which according to it followed due process, the NHRC said the execution was hasty, alleging that there was an application for a stay of execution pending before the Federal High Court, which was yet to be decided before the execution was carried out.

The stakeholders, which include the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in the state, Nigerian Prisons Services and others debated the issue yesterday in Benin City, at the SALI second practical workshop for Judicial Actors organised by the Avocats Sans Frontiers in collaboration with the European Union.

NHRC Assistant Coordinator, Mr. Nicholas Osadolor faulted the state government for the execution, insisting that the right of appeal was not exhausted. But the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Edo State

AAU students warned against cultism

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—VICECHANCELLOR of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma-Edo State, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku has warned the newly admitted students of the university to shun cultism in its entirety.

Agbebaku gave the warning at an orientation programme for the new students of the institution, yesterday in Ekpoma, admonishing the news students against joining secret cults,

08102479985

insisting that it was an avenue to self destruction.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Isaac Aigbedion, also urged the fresh students to shun acts that could negatively touch on the integrity of the university or impugned on the rights of other members of the university community.

She charged them to adhere strictly to the laws of the nation, warning that being students do not grant them immunity against the laws of the land.

Ministry of Justice, Mr Anthony Okungbowa, disagreed, saying “the right of appeal was exhausted. The matter had gone through the Supreme Court and the Committee for Prerogative of Mercy.”

Speaking also, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, Edo State

Command, Enehinola Philomena, admonished the human rights community that rather than condemn the execution, “I think the best thing is to attack the law and prohibit death sentence through the amendment of the constitution. That is what we should fight with the National

Assembly to do because as long as the law remains there, execution will continue.”

Head of Avocats Sans Frontiers in Abuja, Angela Uwandu, said that about 140 inmates were currently receiving free legal services from the association.

NANS election: Nigerian students told to subsume personal interest Akamkpa just like any other election as alleged by Elija Udi,

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — LEADERSHIP of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, zone B, has urged students to subsume their personal interests in the general interest of the Nigerian students in the zone and across the federation, describing the recent zonal election as free and fair.

Public Relations Officer of the zone, Pedro Obi in a statement, faulted report credited to one Elija Oghenekevwe, describing the report as malicious and mischievous.

“It is imperative that as the public relations officer of the largest NANS zone in the nation that I put the record straight as it were, that; Jude Imague, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Affairs is a true ambassador of the zone in whom we are well pleased.

“And therefore, efforts by any person or group of persons to cast aspersions on his office/person, all in a bid to mislead the general public will be resisted.

“The NANS zone B election that took place on 3/3/2014 in Akamkpa, Cross River State. It was the ‘freest and fairest’ election we have ever witnessed in the history of NANS in this nation and has also been acclaimed by the general public as a model for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to emulate in order to give the country a free and fair election come 2015.

“Imague was on ground at

stakeholder that has the interest of the zone at heart and never influenced the outcome of the

as there was a level playing field for all aspirants at the convention.”

Unified LG Service Staff Regulation review committee begins work

BY TOMMYANADUAKA

T

HE committee set up by the Delta State government to review the unified Local Government Service Staff Regulation of 1977, has commenced work.

Comprising the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr Andrew Odum, as its chairman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour, Mr Mike Okeme, as its Secretary, director of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Frank Atube and the transition committee chairman of Ika North East council, Princess Ijenwa Okwunonke among others, the committee has embarked on sensitisation/ courtesy visits to various stakeholders in the state.

While speaking at the office of the President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE,Delta State branch, Mr David Ofoyenor, Odum said that the visit was to intimate the branch President of the establishment of the committee, and solicit the support and cooperation of the union and its members.

Odum remarked that local government laws established many years ago was no more tenable to the present day development, adding that in line

PEOPLE SPEAK

with the three points agenda of the state governor, there was need for a review of the laws to be profitable to staff of the local governments and the citizenry.

Omobude for burial

M

rs. Rosa Omobude of Uheh Qaurters, Igueben, Igueben LGA, Edo State is dead, aged 80 years.

In a statement by Mr. Ben Ezeme, there will be a lying in state and social wake keep at her Idomoka residence on March 28.

She will be buried on March 29 in her home town, Uheh Qtres, Igueben.

The late community leader is survived by six children, including Mr. Felix Omobude and Mrs. Tina Ezeme, among other relations.

Late Rosa Omobude

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On withdrawal of fuel subsidy

GEJ saw that fuel subsidy is the headquarter of corruption in Nigeria and wanted to remove it and systematically fight corruption, but we said no. Today we are regretting our action. Preventing corruption is far better than arresting and prosecuting corrupt officials. Mr. Ajadi Razaq- Video Coverage

There’s subsidy yet I’m paying N140 for a litre of kerosene and same amount for petrol.

That means the marketers are stealing from me and the government at the same time. As painful as it may be, subsidy removal is a lesser evil than subsidy maintenance. Mr. Ubong Essien- Businessman

Money left behind from subsidy withdrawal will simply go into the wrong pockets as well.

There is no other solution than stopping the importation of refined fuel. Repair refineries.

Build new refineries and stop importing fuel period. Everything else is bla bla bla! Deborah Onyema- Student

I am yet to be convinced that subsidy removal is not a fraud against this country.

Since the announcement of the removal of subsidy by the President in January 2012, fuel price keeps going up every now and then. Mr. Charles Adibe - Worker

I support the total removal of fuel subsidy, but first of all, our refineries must be fixed, adequate transportation facilities must be made available and an enabling environment must be created to help the poor masses to withstand the effect of fuel subsidy removal. Mr. Asuquo Bassey - Engineer

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014—45

Group flays aspersions on Akpabio

Ex-lawmker sues Navy over alleged human rights abuse

A

non-governmental organisation, championing good governance in Nigeria, the Searchlight of Hope Foundation, SOHF, yesterday, condemned the recent aspersions by some Abuja- based Akwa Ibom politicians on the Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

National Coordinator of SOHF, Mr. Effiong Ekanem, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, said that such campaign of calumny against the governor was diversionary and self-centred.

Ekanem said the unprovoked attack was not necessary bearing in mind the monumental developmental programmes that the governor had executed in the last seven years in the state.

He said: “Governor Akpabio is a shining star, who has brought hope and light to the people of Akwa Ibom State, ensuring that infrastructural developments and resources are evenly distributed to all the local governments in the state.”

Confab: Isoko decries exclusion

BY UDUMA KALU

I

SOKO Development Union, IDU, has condemned the non-inclusion of an Isoko to canvass Isoko nation's interest as delegate in the national conference.

Major-General Paul Omu (rtd), IDU President-General, in a statement after the people’s pre-national conference meeting in Oleh, Delta State, said the Isoko people welcomed the conference as a way of addressing the county’s inherited colonial problems.

He also noted the absence of federal presence in Isokoland, adding that since 1999, no Isoko person has been appointed minister, ambassador, head or chairman of a major parastatal, lamenting that Isoko youths were almost completely excluded from the amnesty and skills development programme of the Federal Government.

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

W

GSM CONGRESS: From left: Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda, Director of Communication and Information Policy, US Department of State; Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission and Mr. Abdullahi Maikano, Director/Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, at the just-ended GSM congress, in Barcelona, Spain.

Delta House elects new Speaker

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—DELTA State House of Assembly, yesterday, elected Mr. Peter Onwusanya as its new Speaker, following the resignation of the immediate past Speaker, Mr. Victor Ochei.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Basil Ganagana, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, read out a letter of resignation from the erstwhile Speaker, Mr. Ochei.

After reading Ochei’s letter of resignation, the Deputy Speaker called for nomination since the office of the Speaker had

been declared vacant.

At that point, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Johnson Erijo, nominated Onwusanya, and was seconded by the member representing Ika North-East constituency, Prince Sam Obi. When no other nomination was made, a voice vote was called, and Onwusanya was elected the new Speaker.

The new Speaker, an Accountant by profession, was immediately sworn in and he took over the officiating of the sitting of the House from Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ganagana.

He sought the cooperation of

his colleagues, saying, “I humbly wish to solicit your support and cooperation at all times to make me succeed in this great task and responsibility you have reposed on me.”

The former Speaker, Ochei, was absent at yesterday’s sitting.

Present at yesterday’s sitting were the state Chairman of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori and the wife of the new Speaker, among others.

Navy arrests 22 Chinese, 4 ships suspected of illegal entry into Nigeria

T

HE Nigerian Navy has arrested four ships and 22 persons, suspected to be Chinese, who allegedly entered Nigeria’s territorial waters illegally.

The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Godwin Ochai, who announced the arrests, said the vessels were carrying large tonnes of fish.

He named the vessels as Liadda Zhong Yu 15177, Liadda Zhong Yu 15178, Liao Zhung Yu 15030, and Liao Zhung Yu 15029.

Ochai spoke while handing over the 22 suspected illegal immigrants in Onne, Rivers State, yesterday, to the Nigeria Immigration Service and the State Department of Fisheries, for further investigations.

He said the suspects

breached international maritime laws and procedure by fishing in Nigeria’s territorial waters without permit.

“As part of the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice-Adm. Usman Jubrin’s determination to fight maritime crimes, one of our ships, NNS Burutu, arrested four foreign ships on our waters on March 14. When our troops went on board the alien ships, they discovered that the four vessels had no immigration documents, neither did the 22 crew members have passports.

“Similarly, on probing further, we discovered that the suspects did not have any form of permit to engage in fishing activities in the nation’s territorial waters. The Nigerian Navy with its statutory responsibility to provide maritime se-

curity will continue to go after both foreign and domestic threats capable of undermining the nation’s security and economy.

“We will go after them, arrest them and put them forward for prosecution at the nation’s law courts,” he said.

Ochai said the Navy was still conducting investigation into the mission of the ships.

According to him, the CNS has provided NNS Pathfinder adequate resources to carry out 24-hour surveillance of the waterways in the effort to stop oil theft, pipeline vandalism and sea piracy.

The commander urged the public to provide the Navy timely information that would lead to the arrest of those undermining Nigeria’s maritime safety and the economy.

ARRI—FORMER member of Delta State House of Assembly and Chief Executive Officer of Kayriott Hotel and Suites, Effurun, Chief Efe Afe, has instituted a N1 billion suit against the Nigerian Navy and Chief of Naval Staff before a Delta State High Court over alleged unlawful arrest and detention following January’s clash between the hotel staff and naval personnel in Warri.

Plaintiff in the suit, Afe, is seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights. He is praying the court to declare that his arrest and detention on January 31, by the personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta is “unconstitutional, illegal, oppressive and violates his fundamental rights as enshrined under Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 constitution, as amended."

He is also asking the court to restrain the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or howsoever called, from further arresting or detaining him based on the facts leading to this suit.

PDP chieftain mourns Uwechue

A

PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP chieftain and senatorial aspirant in Delta State, Chief Pascal Adigwe, has mourned the demise of former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Amb. Ralp Uwechue.

Chief Adigwe, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency, in a tribute, described the late Uwechue’s exit as a big loss, not only to the people of Delta North, but to all Nigerians.

He said that Uwechue was an avid protagonist and defender of the Aniocha course, a diplomat per excellence.

“An unbeatable leader with eminence advocate and industry, a son of the soil, our utter ego, an adviser and mentor to us. We have lost a gem," he lamented.

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Sambo, Okonjo-Iweala for AES, Club inauguration

Amuwo-Odofin boat mishap avoidable — Ashafa

.transportation Boosts safety on water in Lagos

V

ICE PRESIDENT Nama-di Sambo, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, are to grace tomorrow’s inauguration of Abuja chapter of Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria, and AES Excellence Club in Abuja.

Others expected to also be in attendance are Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen; Dr. Nike Akande, former Minister of Industry, among other notable personalities.

PRESENTATION: From left, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Miss Ijeoma Mbonu, winner of 2013/2014 Nwa Ada Igbo beauty pageant, organised by Enugu State Government, and the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe Mmamel, during the presentation of prizes to the winners, at Government House, Enugu, yesterday

Japan builds clinics for 2 communities in Nasarawa

Obiano appoints Secretary to State Govt, 2 other officers

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA — THE Japanese government has constructed healthcare centres for two communities in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The new clinics, which were handed over to Angwan Ahmadu and Angwan Ayaba communities respectively, were put at $102, 356 (over N15 million) Speaking during the commissioning of the projects, the Deputy Head of Mission of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Masaya Otsuka, pointed out that the aim of the humanitarian gesture was to positively affect lives in rural communities.

ITC workers protest unpaid salaries, allowances

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — AG GRIEVED workers of Imo Transport Company, ITC, yesterday, blocked the entrance to the transport establishment to protest their unpaid seven months salary, three years allowances and other entitlements.

This development came on the heels of similar protests staged by workers of the Specialist Hospital, Owerri, Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, Imo Concorde Hotel and pensioners of IBC, over unpaid salaries and pensions.

When Vanguard visited ITC, two coffins allegedly deposited by the aggrieved workers, were seen at the company's two entrances.

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

S PART of measures to further prevent avoidable loss of lives through water transportation, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has distributed life jackets to local commercial boat owners in Agboyi-Ketu and Ikorodu West Local Council Development Ar-

...as Anambra House of Assembly pledges support

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, with agency reports

A

WKA — GOVERNOR Willy Obiano of Anambra, yesterday, in Awka, appointed Mr. Oseloka Obaze as Secretary to the State Government, SSG, following his retention in that position from Peter Obi’s administration.

He also appointed Professor Joseph Asike as his Chief of Staff, and Mr. Willy Nwaokoye as Principal Secretary.

The appointments came as Anambra State House of Assembly pledged its support for the new governor to ensure the state government achieved greater heights.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new appointees, Obiano said they were capable hands who had done well in their private careers and would carry out their tasks dutifully.

“The task ahead is huge, we need the best of hands and I believe they will deliver,” the governor said.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Oseloka thanked the gov-

ernor for the honour done to them, saying they would work to meet the expectations of the governor to surmount the challenges of governance in the state.

The oaths of allegiance and office were administered on the appointees by the Solicitor-General of the state, Mrs. Tina Emekekwue.

Meanwhile, Anambra State House of Assembly has pledged its support for the new governor to ensure the state government achieved greater heights.

Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili, Speaker of the House, gave the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, yesterday in Awka.

“I will ensure that the legislature, which I am the head, will stop at nothing in supporting every good intention of the governor for the common good of the Anambra people.

“All I am asking Anambra people is to support him, they could criticise him with love when need

be for the future of our children and generation unborn. This is necessary so that our state can make a great history,” she said.

The speaker said the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Peter Obi, had done “very well in all sectors of the state’s economy.”

Nwaebili, therefore, advised the new governor to build on the structures on ground.

Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Secretary to the State Government, who also spoke, called on all citizens to rally round the governor by giving him necessary support and criticism

Deregistration: Obey court order, FRESH Democratic Party tells INEC

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

F

RESH Democratic Party, FDP, has called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to give it recognition, in line with an Abu-

Okorocha worries over 'near-comatose' state of Judicial Service Commission

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has expressed concern over the near-comatose position of the state’s Judicial Service Commission, JSC. The governor expressed his frustration at the swearing-in of four newly appointed non-statutory members of the commission, JSC, in Owerri, yesterday.

Speaking shortly after their oath of office, Okorocha urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in transforming and strengthening the commission which, according to him, had been

comatose in the past two and a half years.

“I urge you all to bring your wealth of experience to bear in transforming and strengthening the state JSC, which has been largely comatose in the last two and half years,” Okorocha said.

He particularly charged the appointees to quickly look into the status of the President, Customary Court of Appeal, with a view to confirming and strengthening his position.

Okorocha said: “It is true that we have lost about two and a half years because of the challenges we had in setting up this body, but finally, we have got it right.”

eas at Agboyi water jetty, Lagos.

He, however, recalled the sad incident that happened recently at Amuwo Odofin where a boat carrying over 15 people capsized, saying, the incident was unfortunate.

He added: “ This sad incident could have been averted (at least to some extent) if proper safety measures were adequately put in place.”

Presenting the jackets to beneficiaries, Ashafa noted that the security and welfare of the people were the primary purpose of government, as stipulated in the constitution.

“Therefore, safety of our people must be handled with utmost priority because it is only the living that can benefit from the fulfilment of the promises made during campaigns.

“In this regard, it is my vision to do all within my power to ensure that my constituents possess the basic equipment for safety when the need arises. ”We are gathered here today to encourage ourselves to always remain alert and safety-conscious, especially for people who use the water-ways as their major mode of transportation."

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Chief Livy Uzoukwu commended the government for finding them worthy to serve the state and promised effective service delivery.

“Going by what has happened in recent years, wherein the JSC was virtually in coma and by so doing, a lot of statutory responsibilities expected to be done by the JSC were not done,” Uzoukwu said.

The new appointees include Chief Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, Chief Jude Nnodum, SAN, Chief Jude Agbugba and Chief Sebastine Ibezim, SAN.

ja Federal High Court judgement, which declared its delisting illegal.

It also accused the commission of disobeying the court order, by abandoning the notice of appeal filed five months after the judgement was delivered.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, in Lagos, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Kola Dopamu, regretted that FDP’s name had been consistently missing on ballot papers since the judgement was delivered.

His words: ‘’It is no longer news that the Independent National Electoral Commission in December 2012, by its fiat, wrote party and other parties out of existence. We picked the gauntlet and challenged the legality of the action at the Federal High Court, Abuja. A long drawn battle it was. INEC participated effectively in the legal contest and at the end of the day, judgement was delivered

by Justice Gabriel Kolawole."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 47

CELEBRATION: From left: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, his wife, Olufunsho and Executive Director, Marketing, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, at the Ogun State International Women's Day celebration, at Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

EMPOWERMENT: From left: Mr. Saheed Waheed, Chairman, Success Movement Association, Ikorodu, Mr. Adewale Jaiyesimi, Secretary, Success Movement Association, Ikorodu, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, House of Representatives, and Olori Muibat Oyefusi, the Olori of Ayangburen of Ikorodu, during the donation of Keke NAPEP to the association, at the empowerment scheme for All Progressives Congress, APC, members, Ikorodu chapter, Ikorodu, Lagos.

From right: MD, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, Director of Roads, LAMATA, Mr. Olufunsho Elulade and Director, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Frederick Olofin, at a stakeholders' meeting in Lagos.

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right), presenting a plaque to Alhaji Jubril Rowaye, Chairman, Brila Energy Ltd. during a visit to the Governor in Uyo.

From left: Comrade Oyinkan Olasanye, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise Intiative, guest speaker, Comrade Pesie Obiajulu, ex-President, TUC, and Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, President, TUC, during the TUC's celebration of International Women's Day 2014 in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

BRIEFING: From left: Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Promoter Olokun Festival, Professor Kolawole Raheem, and Mr. Lambert Dike, during the briefing to mark the 2014 Eledumare Festival, organised by Oodua Peoples Congress in Lagos.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left: Principal, Ikolaba High School Senior 2, Ibadan, Mr. Salami Akinwale, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni, and Principal, Ikolaba High School Senior 1, Ibadan, Mrs. Omobola Adetoro, at a financial literacy programme, organised by the bank for the school in Ibadan, Oyo State.

From left: Mrs. Ukonu, Proprietress, Loral International Schools, Mrs. Lorreta Nwosu and Ogechi Ukonu, second runner up, Loral Idol Season 2, receiving her prize at the school premises,at Igebesa, Ogun State.

MD/CEO, Citibank Nigeria Ltd (right), during a lecture at Army Day Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State in commemoration of Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day 2014.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Don calls for expansion of NHIS

Yobe killings: Bauchi receives 200 students, staff from Yobe

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN — A PROFES SOR of Chemical Pathology, at the University of Ilorin, Professor Adeyinka Akande, has called for the expansion of Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to accommodate more Nigerians.

He said this while delivering 144th inaugural lecture of the university, entitled: "From Nothing to Something: Evidence is Best Teacher.’’

Akande said: “The programme, NHIS, should be expanded to achieve at least 30-50 per cent of both formal and informal sectors staggered within the next few years as advocated by the Nigerian Medical Association. The scope of the scheme should also be expanded to cover medical evaluation. ’’The current situation in the country where only between two to five per cent of the population of Nigeria and about 70 per cent of the formal sector is registered and covered by NHIS is not acceptable.”

...as 80,000 subscribe in Kwara

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN— ABOUT 80,000 people, majority of them women and children, have so far subscribed to the NHIS in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

Ahmed spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the just completed multi-million naira General Hospital, with the state-of-the-art facilities at his home town, Share, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

He also launched NHIS in the area and urged residents of the state to embrace the programme to enjoy quality and affordable health care services throughout the year.

The governor explained that patients were expected to access the heavily subsidised scheme by state government and various health related international organisations for a year, after the payment of N500 only.

After commissioning the NHIS under the Share Prosperity Agenda, “SHARE,” the governor and his friends paid for over 5,000 people to freely access the scheme.

C M Y K

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

From left: Mr. Habib Abdullahi, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA; Mr. Olumide Oduntan, Executive Director (Finance & Admin), NPA and Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director, Interswitch Limited at a workshop, in Lagos.

Killings: NAF commences aerial surveillance of Benue

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — AS part of ef forts to stem the unending bloodbath between Benue farmers and suspected Fulani herdsmen, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday, commenced the aerial surveillance of the affected communities in a bid to nip such clashes in the bud.

The Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Tactical Air Command, NAF, Air Vice Marshal, AVM Umar Omeiza, who flagged off the exercise in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said the operation was in compliance with the directive of the Chief of Air Staff, CAS. Omeiza said the exercise would afford security operatives in the state the opportunity to have a comprehensive aerial view of the entire state to mobilise and effectively secure the lives and property of the people.

His words: “The main purpose of this exercise is to help tackle the persistent cases of clashes between farmers and suspected Fulani herdsmen. ”We will concentrate our patrols in the flash points including the

riverine communities that had witnessed several crisis recently. ”At the end of this operation, which we are carrying out in conjunction with other security agencies, we will sit and analyse our findings for necessary action that would help in checking insecurity and the threat to peace in the state.”

Omeiza also debunked rumours making the rounds in

Oduah didn’t influence sack of agency heads —Dati

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

A

BUJA — THE former Min ister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, had no hand in the removal of the former heads of aviation agencies. This was the contention of the spokesperson for the Aviation parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, while debunking claims by some critics that Princess Stella Oduah influenced the removal of the former heads of aviation agencies.

Dati said in a statement that

Bauchi targets 3m people for HIV/AIDS test, counselling

B

BY SUZAN EDEH

AUCHI — ABOUT three mil lion people are being targeted for free HIV/AIDS testing and counselling in Bauchi State.

Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria, BACATMA, Dr. Abdulaziz Manga, made this known, yesterday, at a forum organised by the Senator A.D Rufai Foundation in Bauchi, the state capital.

Manga who was represented on the occasion by the Director HIV/AIDS Control in the agency, Mallam Yakubu Abubakar, said the exercise would be supported by

the town about an impending attack on the Makurdi NAF Base by the suspected Fulani herders.

He said:“It is not true.

Moreover, we are aware of the security challenges we are currently facing in the country. In that wise, we have taken all necessary security measures to ensure the security and safety of the command.”

the Federal Government.

He noted that the exercise would be carried out within two years in 12 HIV/AIDS prone states and the FCT. According to him,“the project is a Federal Government initiative to reduce the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS by ensuring that people have access to prevention, treatment and care,” of the diseases.

Manga further said the Federal Government spent about N260 million for the smooth conduct of the exercise, pointing out that more centres for free testing and counselling would be established to meet the estimated target in the state.

the Federal Government had, in its wisdom, decided to effect changes in the top management of the aviation agencies recently, undoubtedly in the public interest.

He said the erstwhile managing directors of FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Nnamdi Udoh; Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Chinyere Kalu and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu all worked with the former minister throughout her tenure without any issue.

He said:“These gentlemen worked under Oduah when she was aviation minister; so if she wanted to remove any of them she possibly could have done so.”

He said Oduah left a well-articulated master plan for Nigerian aviation which “will be difficult to reverse. Most of these self-centred critics wish things remained the way they were before the Oduah era so that they could continue with their acts of impunity. We would like to sound it loud and clear that the Nigerian aviation industry can never go back to those days of mindless impunity.

AUCHI — THE Fed eral Ministry of Education has explained that over 200 staff and students transferred from the highrisk security areas have arrived the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bauchi after the closure of their schools by the government over security challenges in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

The Coordinating Officer, Inspectorate Unit, Federal Ministry of Education, Bauchi State office, Mallam Muhammad Abdullahi, stated this yesterday while answering question from newsmen in Bauchi.

He said that parents and students complied with the directives by the Federal Government in connection with students moving to both the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bauchi and Federal Government College, Azare, also in the state.

According to Abdullahi, “at the Federal Government’s Girls’ College, Bauchi, over 200 students and their teachers had arrived. All of them were accommodated because arrangements were made for them by the principal of the school.”

When newsmen visited the Federal Government Girls College, the Principal of the college, Hajiya Aisha Altine Sheji was said to have travelled to Abuja on official assignment.

However, a staff of the college confirmed to newsmen that they received students, majority of them from Federal Government’s Girls’ College, Potiskum in Yobe State.

The source said that "the principal had completed arrangement to receive the teachers and their students before travelling to Abuja," adding that "adequate preparations were made in the area of provision of classroom and hostel accommodations.’’

According to her, “before their coming, we had 35 students in each class room, but with this, the number has increased to 45, which is still conducive for teaching and learning.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—49

2014 Imagine Cup: Microsoft begins search for best tech students

Celebrated scholar, Acholonu dies at 63

BY UDUMA KALU

R

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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EVICES and Services giant, Microsoft Nigeria, has begun search for the best technology studenst in Nigeria to participate in its 2014 annual Imagine Cup students technology competition, aimed at encouraging students to create imaginative technology solutions that can solve some of the world’s toughest problems.

Now in its 12th year, the competition has grown to become the world’s global student technology competition with more than 1.65 million students from more than 190 countries having participated in the Microsoft Imagine Cup annual competition from inception.

According to Microsoft, students who are 16 years or older, as of September 10, 2013 and are, or will be enrolled as students of a university at any time between January 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014, are eligible to participate in the competition.

Interested applicants, Microsoft said, are to register for the competition on h t t p : / / www.imaginecup.com/ and follow up with news and updates about the competition on Imagine Cup Blog.

The devices and services giant said that students have until 12.00am, April 10, 2014 to register for this year’s competition in their three main competitions, Games, Innovation, and World Citizenship.

Accordingly, a team is made of up to four eligible students and a mentor, who advises on the teams’ project.

Each competing team will make an original technology project from start to finish, come up with a great idea, make a plan, build a project, and submit it to Imagine Cup. It can be either purely software or a combination of software and hardware.

It needs to use either Windows, Windows Phone, or Windows Azure.

BRIEFING: From left: Ladi Ayodeji, Director, Media and Communication Strategy, Fresh Democratic Party, FDP; Kola Dopamu, National Legal Adviser, FDP; Fred Agbaje, legal practitioner and counsel to FDP; Femi Onifade, gubernatorial candidate, FDP, Ogun State and Patrick Doyle, National Vice-Chairman, South-South, FDP, during a press briefing on disregistration of FDP, by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after a Federal High Court order not to deregister the party, at FDP secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

PDP'll reclaim mandate from defectors in Kwara —Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday promised that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will reclaim its mandate from members of the party in Kwara State who defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress.

He stated this at the Presidential Villa when he received a delegation of leaders from Kwara State, led by Bola Shagaya and Lazeez Jimoh, who were on a solidarity visit to the State House.

President Jonathan emphasised that the PDP will not only win at the centre but the state

and local levels in the general elections in 2015.

While expressing appreciation for the reception accorded him and his entourage at the Kwara rally, President Jonathan commended the people of Kwara State for refusing to be distracted by the programmes deliberately put together by the state government and turning out in their large number at the Unity Rally.

According to the President, the large turn out at the rally has confirmed that Kwara belongs to PDP and that will again be demonstrated come 2015 general elections.

He said: “Let me also join others to express our appreciation for the reception you

gave to us when we came for the rally. The rally in Kwara was even bigger than some zonal rallies.

“The state government had wanted to distract the attention of the citizens. They arranged some programmes even within Ilorin and those programmes failed. These things do not happen by chance but because men and women who are here worked very hard to get to that level.

So extend our appreciation to those our brothers and sisters and formidable members of our party who are not here.

“You spent your personal money in mobilising our people to get there that day."

Senate begins Emefiele’s screening as CBN gov

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—THE Senate will Thursday, commence the screening of Mr. Godwin Emefiele for appointment as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN. If confirmed by the Red Chamber as requested by President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Emefiele will succeed Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was placed on suspension by the President over sundry allegations.

The Senate disclosed this in its Notice Paper yesterday.

Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, according to the Notice Paper, is to formally move the

motion for the screening and confirmation of the nominee.

The Senate will also, during the exercise, screen Mr. Adelabu Adebayo Adekola as Deputy Governor of the CBN, as nominated by the President.

It is expected to also treat a bill seeking amendment of the CBN Act to remove a sitting CBN governor from being chairman of the CBN governing board.

The CBN Amendment Bill which is being sponsored by Senator, Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East, has already gone through the First Reading in the Senate.

It seeks to reduce the powers of a sitting CBN governor by amending section 7(1) of

the existing Act which states that “The CBN governor shall be in charge of the day to day management of the b a n k . " But the proposed amendment states that the governor shall be in charge of the general administration of the affairs and business of the bank and shall be answerable to the Board for his acts and decisions.

The amendment Bill also specifically states that ”The board shall consist of the Chairman, who shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate and shall be a person of proven integrity credited with expertise in financial regulation.”

ENOWNED aca demic, Prof. Catherine Acholonu, is dead.

She died yesterday morning in Imo State from kidney failure which had ravaged her health since this year.

Born on October 26, 1951 in Orlu, Imo State, Acholonu is known for pioneering a new feminist ideology, Motherism, different from Western mainstream feminist movement.

She also did extensive works on Africa and Igbo cultural studies and was involved in the political development of Nigeria.

A former Senior Special Adviser, SSA, to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Arts and Culture, and foundation member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Acholonu was also a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. She contested for the post of Nigerian president in 1992 and Senator in 2003.

A member of PDP National Women Mobilization Committee and the Imo State Woman Leader of PDP in the formative years of the party, Acholonu was also the national spokesperson of the Movement for Gender Parity, a gender-advocacy group that was in the frontline for the demand for and attainment of the post of the First Woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Achololu’s books include Motherism; Earth Unchained; The Gram Code of the African Adam; Who’s the head or state and They Lived Before Adam.

She founded Professor Catherine Acholonu’s Research Centre, based in Abuja, to engage Africa’s pre-history, stone inscriptions, cave art, and linguistic analysis of ancient symbols and communication mediums from the continent. Her work is reported to make a very persuasive case for the re-evaluation and possible rewriting of world history to ensure the contributions of the ancestors of indigenous Africans in it.

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—51

Terror: Nigeria, France, 4 others join forces Continues from page 5

FG inaugurates new counter terrorism strategy

In a related development, the Federal Government, yesterday, inaugurated a new counter terrorism strategy under the acronym ‘Nigeria’s Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism’.

Under the new approach, the Counter Terrorism Centre in the office of the National Security Adviser, in conjunction with international partners, practitioners in security and experienced academics, has developed a strategy that defines roles and responsibilities of ministries, departments and agencies as well as the civil society have to play in the fight against violent extremism.

Making the disclosure in Abuja, National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) said: “The new strategy seeks to prevent attacks before they happen by preventing our people from becoming terrorists in the first place.”

The NSA emphasized that the soft approach to countering terrorism has resulted in the development of a Countering Extremism Programme (CVE) involving three tiers of government and all other sectors in the nation.

He said: “The first stream involves de-radicalization of convicted terrorists, suspects awaiting trial and those who might be released through court orders or such other government decisions arising from ongoing engagement and dialogue with repentant suspects.

“The second stream which is society approach to the counter terrorism thinking and through which the war on terrorism can be won is by mobilizing our family, cultural, religious and national values.

Through fear and violence, extremist groups are bent on changing the way we see and relate with each other and the only way to defeat this is to remain united and confront the threat as one nation under God.” Regarding the third stream, Dasuki said: “We are building our capacity to communicate our national values better and institutionalizing the capability through strategic communication for the military and law enforcement, and public diplomacy for our civilian institutions.”

Principles to be employed

Towards achieving the communication approach to counter terrorism, he said, some principles will be employed to counter extremist ideology.

These principles, he said, are: “Terrorism in Un-Islamic” because the terrorist twist and pervert the true meaning and spirit of religious text to win support for their evil cause.

“Counter terrorism is not against Muslims” because the fight against terrorism in Nigeria has been misconstrued by Muslims as a fight against them.

“Encourage and Empower Muslims to speak out against terror” because the ideology of terrorism will be defeated through mainstream Muslims in Nigeria.

“Muslim/Christian relations” should be encouraged through interfaith awareness because the terrorists are desperate to ignite a religious war between Nigerian Christians and Muslims in order to actualize a war scenario that would aid their operations.

“Counter terrorism fight is apolitical” as government would build inter party collaboration to tackle the scourge.”

In his address, Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke disclosed that the nation now has laws in place for the prosecution of suspects for terrorism noting that this can be done within six months as against five to eight years.

“We are also working to ensure that those arrested for terror offences are charged to court within 48 hours”, he said.

Turkish Airlines allegedly ships arms to Nigeria

Turkish Airlines allegedly shipped weapons to unknown groups in Nigeria, which has been ravaged by violence between the army and Boko Haram militants, a new incriminating phone call revealed on Tuesday.

The leaked conversation is the latest blow to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been hit by a corruption probe ensnaring his key allies and a widening phone-tapping scandal.

In a tape posted on YouTube, Mehmet Karatas, an assistant executive of

the airline, allegedly tells Mustafa Varank, an advisor to Erdogan, that he feels guilty over national flag carrier’s arms shipment to Nigeria.

“I do not know whether these (weapons) will kill Muslims or Christians. I feel sinful,” Karatas was allegedly heard saying.

The leaked call has the potential to harm the airline’s image — which is 49 percent state-owned and is in an aggressive push to become a global player.

It is the latest in a series of recordings implicating Erdogan and his aides in corruption and other abuses of power ahead of crucial local polls on March 30.

The Turkish strongman has dismissed most of the tapes as “vile” fakes put together by rivals.

Markets, schools shut in Benue

Meantime, schools and markets were shut down last Monday in Makurdi, Benue state capital following unconfirmed reports that some Fulani herdsmen had perfected plans to bomb Makurdi and its environs.

The situation had caused panic and forced various political and civil society organisations to announce that schools, churches and markets should be closed.

However, the commissioner of police, Mr Adams Audu debunked the allegation and said the command had not permitted any group to carry out any protest.

He said the news that herdsmen have planned to bomb Makurdi and other areas was untrue.

A statement signed by the police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala stated that the command have beefed up security and urged the people to carry on with their normal businesses.

Several schools including Kingdom Heritage Model School, located at Wurukum and Kids Authority Nursery School GRA and Redeemers Nursery School all in Makurdi were locked.

The Makurdi Modern Market and Wurukum Market were also shut.

Some men and women gathered at strategic points discussing the situation.

Security operatives mounted critical areas of the town, just as artisans and roadside vendors could not open for business.

Banks and churches resumed late for operation too.

52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Religion is first flashpoint STORIES BY HENRY UMORU

A

S the plenary session of the conference got underway yesterday, religion, that divisive and contentious matter that has for long pitched Nigerians against one another came to the fore.

The assistant secretary admin, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu had told the delegates that the secretariat was presently making arrangements for Muslim delegates to have their daily prayers.

His assertion was quickly followed by a request by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who demanded for a similar provision for Christians who he noted were presently observing the period of lent.

Responding, the Conference Secretary, Mrs. Valerie Azinge however promised that the Secretariat would discuss with the management of National Judicial Institute, NJI as she quickly added that Christians should pray at home as there was no provision for that yet.

Religious tension was further stoked after Pastor Tunde Bakare, himself a former Muslim, questioned the propriety of the conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi interjecting his statements with Arabic Islamic incantations.

Bakare, confessed that the Chairman, had confused him twice since the conference

•Kutigi

commenced.

First was on Monday and the second was yesterday as he advocated for the adoption of a standard language through out the life span of the conference.

Bakare warned that religion must not be allowed to divide us, but must unite us.

“Mr. Chairman, I did not understand you today, again I did not understand you, yesterday. Religion should not divide us, but unite us. We must adopt a standard language if not, I will say Praise the Lord and at the end of the day, we will now have a church service instead of a National Conference.”

•Bakare

Speaking further, Pastor Bakare stressed the need for punctuality and sacrifice on the

ORMER Special Adviser to the president on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa yesterday took a swipe at what she called unreasonable demands from some fellow delegates.

A former senator at the conference, Senator Mohammed Ibrahim representing Senator ’s Forum had asked that the secretariat should make provision for them to get personal assistants against the backdrop that the work will be tedious.

The demand immediately fired up Mama Bakassi as she took umbrage against the demand which she saw as a distraction and an encumbrance.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Ita-Giwa who lampooned those demanding for allowances to their aides, told them that they were the ones responsible for the problems, adding that instead of sitting down to deliberate on how to get the country out of the mess they created, they

•Ita-Giwa were busy asking for additional allowances.

Senator Ita- Giwa said, “Some of us here are the architect of where Nigeria is today, we are here to correct, most people are here with anger.”

Some of the delegates representing the Stakeholders Category, Retired Military officers, traditional rulers, geopolitical zones, among others

part of delegates, as he said that 10 a.m. must be 10 a.m. as punctuality is the soul of

business and asked that delegates must agree on the quorum.

Delegates agree on sitting arrangement THE seeming divisive tones of the delegates to the National Conference changed at their inaugural meeting on Tuesday as they all agreed to pursue a Nigeria agenda.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most delegates prior to their inauguration on Monday canvassed strongly for their sectional interests against national interest.

Mama Bakassi flays architects of Nigeria’s problems

F

•Ozekhome

at the conference, it will be recalled have been playing key role in government since the first republic in various capacities and have one way or the other associated with every administration both military and civilian.

Her umbrage was partly addressed by the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Sanusi who urged the delegates to eschew bitterness and embrace peace for the overall interest of Nigeria, stressed that all the delegates were Nigerians and must see themselves as Nigerians, just as he said that delegates must see themselves as part of Nigeria’s problems and must be part of those to solve them, adding.

“We should see ourselves as responsible for what Nigeria is, we should be responsible for correcting the problem; the problem of poverty, corruption, unemployment, ensuring that we provide good schools, better life for the people.”

However, after the inaugural meeting, most of the delegates, who spoke on the floor of the house, called for the jettisoning of their primordial views.

When the Secretary, Dr Valerie Azinge announced that delegates would sit in alphabetic order, a few delegates preferred sitting according to their states or interest groups to easily confer on issues.

However, majority of them supported the arrangement, saying it would discourage ethnic, religious and other divisive interests at the conference.

The delegates who raised their voices in unison said that they were all at the conference as Nigerians.

An All Progressive Alliance (APC), chieftain and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, said a panNigeria agenda should be the watchword of every delegate.

“I think I have come here as a Nigerian. We should sit in alphabetical order. If any group wants to confer on anything, they can do that after the plenary.

“I didn’t come here to be Yoruba; I want to be able to interact with others and see how we can have a pan-Nigerian discussion,” Osoba said.

Also speaking, Mr Atedo Peterside, said that he had no state as he hailed from Rivers but had left the state 40 years ago and had been living in Lagos.

“Some of us here don’t even have states. I am from Rivers but I have left the state about 40 years ago.

“I have been living in Lagos since then and I am married to a Lagosian.

“If I say I am a Rivers man, they

reject me and if I say I am a Lagosian, they reject me,” he said.

Mr Steve Aluko, the Executive Director, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), said he was impressed at the proceedings at the inaugural meeting.

“From what I have heard people say, I think a lot of people have come to this floor to speak the Nigerian language, on how to move Nigeria forward.

“My joy is that a good number of the delegates also applauded the Nigerian issue, not ethnic or religious sentiments.

“I think if this is what will drive the national conference, we might be setting a better pace for the future generation to step in.

“From the discussions I’ve heard with fellow delegates and the rest, people are willing to take the templates higher than what people even expected.

“I just wish this conference will be the end mark of conferences in the country,” Aluko said.

Brig-Gen Jeremiah Temlong, a delegate representing the NorthCentral zone, said he was impressed that everybody was talking about Nigeria at the inaugural meeting.

“Everybody was speaking with the hope of fixing Nigeria.

“It wasn’t antagonistic and you see everybody appealing to our conscience that we should all work together as Nigerians, not as tribal warlords or religious warlords,” he said.

Prof. Dakun Shown, a delegate representing Plateau, said the conference started on a commendable note that gave hope to the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014—53

Gana, Omar, Isekhure roll out agenda for delegates AS the National Conference got underway yesterday, three of the prominent delegates spoke to Vanguard on their expectations. The leader of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC delegation Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, the chief priest of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosa Isekhure and former Minister of Information, Prof.

Jerry Gana.

National unity not negotiable — Umar, NLC boss

BY HENRY UMORU

W

E will articulate our positions as usual because this is our main focus and that is that. The unity of the country is not negotiable.

Then fundamental issues of good governance, cost of governance, restructuring if the need arises and also other social vices like corruption, unemployment and so on. These are the major issues that will be on the front burner for labour.

On the proposal for a referendum Of course, it is going to strengthen democracy and it is going to work better for Nigeria if whatever is the outcome of the conference is subjected to a referendum which would mean the generality of Nigerians would also have a say in whatever is deliberated and resolutions arrived at here.

We are really encouraged by the words of the president as it appears that the president means business and there seems to be not much of a hidden agenda and that is what Nigerians are looking for.

•Umar: NLC president

It'll be sinful to bequeath chaos to our children — Isekhure

•Isekhure

C

HIEF Nosakhare Isekhure, Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom said: "I think this confab is to re-order Nigeria in terms of how we see ourselves, in terms of prioritization of our interests like what does Nigeria really want to achieve. Like the President rightly said, when we started in 1960 as a nation, we had high hopes. Those people who fought for our independence had high hopes as to what Nigeria is going to be 20, 30, 100 years. But when the military coup of 1966 came, everything went down and it has consistently gone down.

A few of our leaders like Murtala Mohammed, you know took some very fundamental decisions like moving the capital from Lagos to Abuja for the suppose of decongesting Lagos as it were. And now we are witnessing Abuja now the way it is. Enough streets for people to move and others.

However, the politics has not changed because people still see Nigeria essentially from their ethnic establishments which is very bad. Nigeria is a nation and when you are in a nation, every ethnic nationality subordinate themselves. You don’t talk about where you come from. You talk about I am a Nigerian and that was exactly what the President talked about yesterday (Monday). Nigeria is the project.

Definitely, I believe that the caliber of people here because when you stay too much in the sun, you become adapted to it.

I believe because of the nature of the conference, because of the caliber of personnel drafted from all over the country, this is the first time we are bringing students, handicap people, which is very good. And it is a diversion from the old routine way of doing things, bringing everybody to come here and debate and to express their views as to how they believe this country can move forward in order for things to be alright, that is the right thing to do.

I am very confident that Jonathan has a very good mission; he has a good objective concerning the conference. And I am also confident because of the kind of people you see there like the Hon. Justice Kutigi who is not only a notable Nigerian, but one who has served the judiciary well.

I believe we will advice, digest our ideals, we will offer solutions

and present to the government and we will also follow up to ensure that government take the next critical step, either by subjecting it to a referendum which is the most important aspect of it or apply any political methodology that can make the ideals suggested to the implementation, something that will ginger up the new agenda for a new nation.

Ethnic nationalities seek constitutional recognition

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

E

THNIC nationalities in the country have called for the recognition of the numerous ethnic groups in the constitution because they are “the original and primary stakeholders of the Nigerian Project.”

The call was part of the agreements reached at the first ever Ethnic Nationalities Conference held in collaboration with The Patriots in Abuja, recently.

Attended by more than 50 Ethnic Nationalities from all the geo-political zones of the country on the banner of Ethnic Nationalities Forum (ENM), the groups in a joint communiqué signed by Chief Solomon Asemota (chairman), Michael Orobator (secretary) and 39 other leaders, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating a National Conference that will afford Nigerians the opportunity to address and proffer solutions to the numerous ills plaguing our country. It, however, advised him not to succumb to ill-intentioned advice from politicians, technocrats, and other Nigerians intent on derailing the process for their selfish gains.”

However, they said the confab should have been ethnic

Yes, I am excited — Jerry Gana

T

HERE is going to be a very profound consensus generated around major issues that are agitating people’s minds and they will be peacefully resolved so that we can move forward together.

Issues of revenue allocation, fiscal federalism, people are agitating about because they want devolution not only of functions, but of resources. So that the centre can be decongested, so that states and local governments can become more functional, more effective, more robust in delivering services.

But there are a lot of people who are asking about the structure of governance.

Maybe, we would listen to them and see which is the best structure that works. Even the system of governance, some of us are happy about the Presidential system of government.

There are those who believe that it is a bit too expensive and they want to discuss other issues, why not?

But the most important thing

•Gana that is going to be added in this, is that the news of the implementation of our decision this time around is going to be different. It is not going to be left to the whims and caprices of any person after we’ve left.

It will be decided and I think everybody is asking for a referendum which is good and we agree with it. In other words, implementation is not going to be subjected to the recommendation of anybody after we’ve left.We will decide it and Nigerians will now have a stamp of authority.

nationalities driven because they are Nigeria’s original and primary stakeholders.

Urging the president to stay focused, they said the President “will leave his name in letters of gold if he oversees a National Conference that honestly addresses the numerous ills of our country.”

They noted that the ethnic nationalities constitute the sociological and cultural foundation of the Nigerian State; and the Nigerian State has no territory other than, or different from, the territories of the various Ethnic Nationalities comprised within it Yorubaland, Igboland, Hausaland, Kanuriland, Tivland, Beninland, Ijawland, Ikaland, etc from which it follows that Nigeria is, in reality, a union of Ethnic Nationalities.

And having existed long before colonialism and having been the primary targets of, and sufferers from, the marginalization, oppressions and injustices abounding in the country, and being the heart and soul of the Nigerian State, they said “the Ethnic Nationalities demand, as their inalienable right that they should be given legal recognition in the Constitution and their status as separate “Nations” or “Nationalities” should also be recognized.”

Right of seccession The gathering said that the status of the ethnic groups as separate nations or nationalities confers on them certain inherent rights, in particular the rights of self determination including the right of secession in accordance with article 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right which provides that ‘all peoples shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination.’

“The African Charter has been incorporated by national legislation as part of Nigeria’s domestic law. It is, therefore, disdainful of the law to stop the proposed National Conference from talking about something prescribed and authorized by the law of the country.

Accordingly, recognition of this right, which is an already existing right, is not inconsistent with the notion of the indissolubility or the perpetuity of the Nigerian State. It is a notion to which most of us adhere,” the ENM said.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

R - E - V - E - A - L - E- D !

•what goes on inside SARS walls.

•victims recount ordeal at SARS, Awkuzu,

By EVELYN USMAN

T

he arrest of one Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, a popular hotelier in Anambra State, his wife and some of his workers by the Police in Anambra State on August 1, 2013, sent shock waves all over the country. He was arrested after human heads were allegedly found in his hotel, Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha. Mokwe, alongside four of his employees were publicly paraded and later detained at the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Awkuzu, a suburb of the state and later, arraigned at the Magistrate court 11, Onitsha on a four-count charge of conspiracy and murder, unlawful possession of two human heads and two AK 47 rifles with rounds of ammunition. They were also accused of killing one Nnalue Okafor.

Immediately after their arrest, the cries of innocence by the hotelier and members of his family aroused the interest of a foundation committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights called Network On Police Reforms In Nigeria, NOPRIN, and they took up the

and detained at SARS, Awkuzu months before the arrest of Mokwe. His whereabouts is unknown till date, a development the missing man’s parents recently petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

Describing Mokwe’s arrest as frame up, the foundation stated; “On August 1, 2013

“ The finding that Chief Mokwe and his co-accused were framed up also destroys the foundation upon which the Anambra State Government based and tended to justify its hasty decision to demolish Upper Class Hotel”

,

responsibility of fighting for the rights of the suspects. They carried out thorough investigations into the circumstances that led to their arrest and later came out with startling discoveries.

After they were granted bail by court, the suspects also opened up on their experiences while in detention at SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State.

Crime Alert gathered from NOPRIN that the case took a new twist after it was discovered that the purported murder of Nnalue Okafor for which Police accused Chief Mokwe and his employees was a ruse after all because the said Nnalue was earlier arrested

•Amobi nzedigwe

•Chibueze Ikemere

,

Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, his wife and his workers were arrested, paraded publicly as criminals and detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. One of the arrested workers, Mr. Justin Nwankwo- a PhD student at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was working part time in the hotel to earn income to run his academic program.

Chief Mokwe’s hotel was also destroyed on the instructions and orders of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi. “Chief Mokwe’s arrest and the destruction of his property were based on spurious and defamatory allegations of

murder and unlawful possession of human heads and arms. While Chief Mokwe’s wife was released after some hours in detention, the rest were severely tortured and held in unlawful police custody for more than three months before they were charged to a Magistrate Court on October 17, 2013 and were remanded in Onitsha prisons.

On November 4, 2013 they were granted bail by an Onitsha High Court. Since then, investigations and the facts that have emerged after these events have exposed the mind boggling atrocities going on at the Awkuzu SARS and how politicians and other influential individuals use SARS as a tool for victimization, oppression and injustice.”

Frame-up

N

OPRIN’s national coordinator , Mr Nwanguma Okechukwu further disclosed that investigation by the foundation in mid January 2014 in Anambra State revealed that Chief Mokwe and his workers were framed up with the purported murder of one Nnalue Okafor (23) and eventually charged to courtafter 81 days in unlawful detention.

He said : Operatives from SARS Awkuzu arrested Nnalue Okafor on Monday, April 29, 2013 and detained him up to October 2013. Nnalue’s moth-

•Nnalue Okafor (mssing or alive?) er Mrs. Nwauza Okafor visited SARS for the second time, with her husband Mr. Nweke Okafor to see their son on invitation by a police officer at SARS who called them and gave his name as Emma.

“Further findings revealed that the missing man , Nnalue Okafor is a member of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. He was report-

edly arrested around Silas Works area of Onitsha in the company of other MASSOB members, said to have fled upon the arrival of the policemen.

Police and other security agents regularly invade the area known for MASSOB meetings and gatherings and typically brutalize, arrest, detain and torture several of them. Several MASSOB members arrested during police raids have been

Uneasy calm at Ladipo .as traders threaten showdown

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

T

raders at the popular Ladipo Market in Lagos are threatening a showdown with their leaders following what they described as the ‘imposition of non-traders’ on them by government. To this end, they have vowed to resist attempts by the present leadership to alienate those they claim were genuine traders whom they elected to lead them.

The Secretary of AguiyiIronsi Traders Association, Ladipo, Chief Christian Ibegbunam and the Financial Secretary, Vincent Nwosu told Crime Alert that contrary to reports that there is peace in the market, traders are living

•Mr-Umar-Manko in fear of their lives as a result of the autocratic way some

•Chie

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 55 Edited by: Emma Nnadozie emmadozie@hotmail.com 08023145281, 08111813021

ef Bonaventure Mokwe executed or disappeared from SARS custody. The news of Nnalue’s arrest was broken to his parents by his friend and a fellow MASSOB member, 23 years old Onyedika Igboenyeukwu, a.k.a Ngige.

Testimonies

“The testimonies by Nnalue Okafor’s mother Mrs. Nwauza Okafor, his father, Nweke Okafor and Nnalue’s friend,

Onyedika Igboenyeukwu who witnessed his arrest as well as testimonies by other victims and witnesses revealed a pattern of atrocious abuse of police powers and unprofessional conduct by Awkuzu SARS. “Nnalue Okafor was arrested and detained in April, 2013 and had not yet been released

by SARS Awkuzu as at October when his parents last visited SARS but were not allowed to see him. Chief Mokwe was arrested in August. All these clearly contradict the claim by SARS that Chief Mokwe and his co-accused workers murdered the same Nnalue Okafor who is not known to have been released by SARS despite repeated visits by his parents and lawyers,” Okechukwu stated.

Continuing, he said: “The finding that Chief Mokwe and his co-accused were framed up also destroys the foundation upon which the Anambra State Government based and tended to justify its hasty decision to demolish Upper Class Hotel. If the Anambra State Government had followed due process and allowed investigation to confirm or rebut the allegations leveled against Chief Mokwe before demolishing his hotel, the blunder of hasty and embarrassing action by government would have been

avoided. Chief Mokwe and his co-accused would also not have been subjected to the undeserved and unjustifiable human rights abuse, public odium and humiliation the government and police subjected them to.”

The torture chamber at Awkuzu SARS

N

arrating his ordeal to Crime Alert , Justin Nwankwo, the PhD student/ Researcher at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Manager of Upper Class Hotel until August 1, 2013 when he was arrested alongside Mokwe and some staff stated; ‘I arrived Awkuzu SARS on the 1st day of August, 2013.

With a weakened body, I kept my mind at alert refusing to faint or collapse in the van. Yet upon arrival, I could read the bold inscriptions on the wall of that Nazi camp which reads “ Well come to hell fire.” I quickly told myself that we are in for the worst. I have heard the tales of this bay and camp from Aschelon and Zeba. I always thought and believed that it was the land of mongrels and that it was absolutely reserved for them.

“No...I was mistaken! I was marshaled straight by an officer to an open rickety hall, all

market people who claimed to be their leaders are handling the affairs of the market.

According to the traders, “There is no peace in our market. Recent reports that peace has returned to the market is total lies and blatant falsehood calculated to hoodwink the authorities and members of the public.

“The report emanated from one of those leading a faction that wanted to enthrone themselves on the hapless and helpless traders. These are the people that led thugs to attack the market to overthrow the genuine traders we elected to lead us led by Jonathan Okoli few years back. How can there be peace when there are various court

cases over the election still pending in court, while they are yet to redress the injustice meted on our popular leaders.

“Our President, Jonathan Okoli, for example was incarcerated for over a year at Ikoyi Prsions on trumped up charges just because he was clamouring for justice and working for the best interest of traders at Ladipo. The only way to bring peace to the market is to call on all the contending parties to withdraw the cases in court.

Although, we learnt that they have succeeded in crippling our President, Jonathan Okoli, after he was waylaid by assassins who orchestrated an accident that nearly killed him, traders are lamenting

the untold hardship they are going through inside the market because of the leadership that was imposed on them.

“Those people that claim to be our leaders are not genuine traders. They have been extorting money from traders indiscriminately and also threatening us with security agents. There is no cohesion between the present leadership and traders in the market.

This has made most of us to call for the re-in statement of Jonathan Okoli as our leader because when he was in charge, we were not brutalized or turned to slaves.

We are therefore appealing to the Federal government to urgently intervene in this matter before things get out of hand,”they stated.

,

Anambra state

other victims were separated, each to his or her own fate.

Standing by one end was another police officer with two suspects who were chained together and tempo of the interrogation was getting higher.

Momentarily forgetting my own ordeal, I kept a gaze on all corners of the hall abandoned with an ominous look of a 2nd world war torture camp.

Ropes were streaming down from ceiling tops, bags of sand were elevated on perimeter wall fence of the hall and all types of rod and metal varying in shape, length and size were starring at you while you hear shouts of people from the back of the hall screaming the name of their late great grandmothers to come and intercede on their behalf. Buckets of water were on standby in case one faints or opts to die before appending signature to already written statements. I was still taking stock of the entire facility when I was jolted back to reality by the sound of a rapid military rifle...tem tem tem!!!!!.

You no wan talk...you wan follow am go, you wan travel!!! were the words resonating from the other end of the hall. I tried looking but slaps from my investigating Police Officer reminded me that I was not in this camp for excursion or tourism. “That guy don travel oooo ...so make you tell me the truth

the picture. At the turn of each question and non compliance, a bag of sand is added at my back to add extra pain.

“In the midst of the torture, I opted to set forth at dawn...dragging myself to crossover the thresholds of deaths but they were Anthills in the Savannah. The gods were wise. Around 8pm that night, I was unconsciously taken into Cell 5. I came to know the real essence of that cell days later. Cursed with five cells at that Bay...some are better than the others. Cell 5 is the worst because it is tagged. ”Condemned cell”.

“High profile criminals caught with military rifles are kept there awaiting execution and because our case had all the above element, I smelled the cell for 6 hours and was transferred out in the morning of next day while the Director remained there till the 5th of August. From cell 5, I moved to Cell1 and to cell 4 where I rotted away without taking bath or brush, defecting in a nylon polythene and not seeing the light of day except on occasional visit.

“A total black cell filled with the stench of rugged criminals caught with locally made rifles.

In my days at Guantanamo bay...I rekindled my pastoral skills and led the two twin cell

Ropes were streaming down from ceiling tops, bags of sand were elevated on perimeter wall fence of the hall and all types of rod and metal varying in shape, length and size were starring at you while you hear shouts of people from the back of the hall screaming

otherwise I go travel you “ were the words from the officer.

“Some policemen started by asking me questions ranging from personal to family and academic background. One of them shouted, “.Mr. tell us what happened or I will shoot your two legs. I started my story of what happened but that was not what they wanted to hear. The questions were already made and I must be categorical in my answers. They asked; ‘Your Director kills people...No Sir! And the torture started properly... Ropes tied on my two hands, two legs, then both leg and hand bent and tied together with a rod passing in between them and then elevated to a perimeter wall. In fact, if you have watched a goat prepared for barbecue, then you are close to

,

of 3 &4 in morning, afternoon and night devotions. Sleeping was with one eye open because gunshots fill the air at all times and people are summarily judged through the barrel of a gun. Answering your name at odd hours is risky and mention of your name reminds of the ambulance job we do each day for fallen comrades. A room of not more than 2 square size packed up by 29 to 31 suspects...heat kills, hunger kills, mental switch on and off kills and police bullets does the rest. Who will be the next to fire? At the camp, talks of going to court is freedom itself and remanding one in prison custody was answering of prayers from God. Every day we waited for our turn...singing to the Almighty songs like . ‘Abraham Blessing are mine!’ ‘ He delivered Paul and Silas,”he stated.

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Woman delivers triplets without surgery

By PETER EGWUATU

T

HE premises of Randle General Hospital in Surulere, Lagos agog recently when it recorded the birth of a set of triplets without the mother undergoing Caesarean Section, CS. The babies, all females, were born through normal delivery around 4.30pm on Sunday, March 2, 2014, to one Calister Nkem, a trader and mother of two with assistance of healthcare personnel at the hospital.

She had earlier been scheduled for a CS in accordance with normal medical practice for multiple births.

The woman, a member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ijeshatedo Surulere, Lagos, was full of praises to God for not undergoing surgery.

“I am very happy and I praise God Almighty for giving me the courage and strength to give birth to these babies naturally without any operation.

“My faith really helped me. Before I gave birth, my Area Pastor and Parish Pastor, Mrs. Joy Okupe and Mr.Yele respectively, had prayed and prophesied that I would have a safe and normal delivery even though the doctor had declared Caesarean birth.

“Even the doctor was pleasantly surprised that the babies came out without any stress and he told me that my faith in God really did the magic.”

Narrating how the babies were born, Calistus said. “After attending the Sunday service on that fateful day, I never knew that it was going to be the D-day, we have been waiting for.

At about 3pm I started feeling somehow and started crying, so my husband quickly took me to the hospital and immediately I was admitted and before I knew it the first baby came out at about

4.30 pm, the second came out 4.43pm, and the third at 5.52 pm. They weighed

2.3 kg, 2.0 kg and I.8 kg respectively.

My babies and I were discharged on

February 4, 2014 at about 12 noon.”

Continuing, Nkem said “ On the day I was to be discharged when the matron told me that my triplets were the first for the year in Randle General Hospital, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos and that, I would be presented with gifts. We waited for hours, but the Medical Director was nowhere to be found and my husband said we should leave and we left.

“I was not expecting triplets, but God knows best. The babies are all female. Already I have two girls before the triplets came. To God be the glory.”

•The triplets and their mother, Mrs Calista Nkem

Experts task Nigerian surgeons on quality of services

BY CHRISTOPHER NJOKU

N

IGERIAN Surgeons have been charged to focus on better out come of operations with quality materials and not on cost benefits of surgical equipment.

Experts who gathered at the recent launch of surgical accessories by worldrenowned United State-based Demetech Corporation,in partnership with First Foundation, noted that suture materials are very invaluable in surgical operations.

Speaking on Improving the Outcome of Surgery, Dr. Foluso Omodele, who was the Guest Speaker, said sutures are used to oppose vessels and tissues, adding that

if quality ones are not used, it may get surgery complicated.

On his part, National President, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria,AGPMPN, Dr. Anthony Omolola, said that most surgeons in the country face several challenges due to low quality materials.

According to him, “The essence of this programme is to introduce to the Nigerian market a new brand of suture material. This Suture is from Florida in United States. We have challenges in some of the sutures that we use currently in Nigeria. We want to make sure that we bring quality to Nigerians in terms of good surgical outcome.”

Head Sutures and Surgical Accessories unit of First Foundation, Chizoba Alu,explained the different types of suture materials to include polyglactin 910, Chromic catgut, polydioxanone, polypropylene and Nylon sutures.

Alu said these sutures have their various characteristics and are tailor-made to meet specific need of certain tissues.

She added that Demetech has mechanical skin staplers on its stable. She said: “In as much as a surgeon wants to make sure that the surgical environment is good, they should also remember that the life of a patient depends on that strand of suture that remains in the body.”

The National Health Bill 2014 NIGERIA, and its health care professionals in particular, received a Valentine season present from the National Assembly on February 19, 2014.

The Senate passed the National Health Bill, aka SB 215, after its 3rd reading.

It had received its first reading on October 2, 2012 and the second on December 12, 2012.

The clauses of the Bill are divided in seven parts: PART 1 - RESPONSIBILITY OF NATIONAL FOR HEALTH AND ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH SERVICES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM PART II HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES PART III - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF USERS AND HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL PART IV - NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND INFORMATION SYSTEM PART V - HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH PART VI - CONTROL OF USE OF

BLOOD, BLOOD PRODUCTS, TISSUE AND GAMETES IN HUMANS PART VII- REGULATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS It is now a public document and soon, with the seal and signature of President Jonathan, will become Law in Nigeria.

Our National Health Bill is easy reading when compared to the”Affordable Care Act”, aka “Obamacare” , which was signed into Law on March 23 2010 in the USA. It was over 2000 pages!

In the UK, the Health and Social Care Act 2012 was introduced in the House of Commons on Jan 19th 2011. It was set out to deal with NHS resources and reform. The UK Government then allowed a “ listening exercise” for 2 months between April and May; after which the Bill was put to a “ public committee” on June 21st, and then received its 3rd reading in the House on Sept 7th.

Amendments Amendments and recommendations were then reviewed and subjected to further committee analysis (by both House of Commons and House of Lords)

fogfem@yahoo.com before it became Law on March 27th 2012.

By the way, it was just under 500 pages.

The message here is not that our health services is same with the UK, but the painstaking, transparent democratic processing that the Bill went through before passage there.

Has our Bill gone through the same processing? Did multiple readings by the same participants bring about appropriate and sufficient changes and alterations?

Those in audio engineering know that after you have spent so many hours in the studio listening to the same song, you soon lose the perception needed to engineer that song. The song needs fresh, critical ears.

The fact that the National Assembly has produced such a document deserves hearty cheers. Many in the health industry have been crying for this for many

years. Our Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members have done credit to the nation by attending to SB 215 in view of the other very challenging crises (such as corruption and security) facing the nation.

However, in a democracy such as ours, a Bill such as this, cannot, must not be signed into Law without full public discussion, analysis, reviews and corrections.

With a strong push by the media, this discussion is already ongoing.

There is not enough space here to outline the Bill in its full detail.

It is available on the internet and many other sources.

There are 65 clauses in all, spread across 30 well laid out pages.

Join me next week for : The National Health Bill 2014 - The good, the bad and the ugly!

V anguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 57

NEWS ON BRIEFS

US suspends diplomatic relations with Syria

Crimea: Putin blasts Obama, signs unification treaty R

USSIAN President Vladimir Putin made it clear yesterday that he has no intention to back down from plans to annex Crimea, despite warnings from President Obama that doing so would incur further U.S. Sanctions.

This came as he signed a treaty claiming the Black Sea region as Russian territory. The sudden and historic redrawing of Russia’s borders, has plunged Russia’s relations with the West into a new post-Cold War low.

But Putin shrugged off the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union over its fast-track seizure of Crimea, which the international community still regards as part of Ukrainian territory.

In an unusually emotional address in the Kremlin before the treaty was signed, Putin declared that Crimea has always been “in the hearts” of his countrymen and should never have ended up as part of the territory of postSoviet Ukraine.

XACTLY six months from now, Scots will go to the polls to vote on the future of their country.

It’s a vote that could end Scotland’s 300-year union

T

BRIEFS

T L-R)Crimea’s Premier Sergey Aksenov, Head of Crimean State Council Vladimir Konstantinov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sevastopol mayor Alexey Chaly at the signing of the unification treaty yesterday

Putin railed against what he saw as Western “double standards” with regard to recognizing Crimea. He singled out the United States for its policies of foreign intervention since the end of the Cold War. According to Putin, “Our Western partners, especially the USA, believe that they can decide for the world, that they can decide other people’s fate,” he said.

“ Look at Belgrade. At the end of the twentieth century.

Then Afghanistan, Libya.

Those nations were tired, but the U.S. cynically used that.”

He referred to the American principle of “freedom” and asked rhetorically, referring to Sunday’s independence referendum, “But what about the free will of Crimeans? Isn’t that of the same value?”

with England and Wales as Great Britain — and see it launch into the world as an independent nation of some 5.3 million people.

Russian lawmakers have

drawn a parallel between Scotland’s vote and the referendum held in Ukraine’s Crimea region Sunday.

But any such comparison

Flight MH370: Fresh fact links route switch to cockpit computer WELVE days after the disappearance of Malaysian airplane on flight MH370, new media reports indicate that the

HE United States has officially told the Syrian government to immediately suspend its diplomatic and consular missions in the country, and ordered its diplomats to leave the country if they are not US citizens.

“We have determined it is unacceptable for individuals appointed by that regime to conduct diplomatic or consular operations in the United States,” US special envoy for Syria, Daniel Rubinstein, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The order essentially closes the Syrian embassy in Washington and its honorary consulates in Troy, Michigan, and Houston, Texas, and forces all personnel who are not legal US residents to leave the country.

Retired Pope Benedict analyses Francis’ interview

Putin outlined the long historic ties between Crimea and Russia. He said that Russia had been “robbed in broad daylight” when Crimea remained part of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union and that Crimea had been given away “like a sack of potatoes.” After the speech, Putin signed a treaty with Crimean.

••• Strengthens Scottish push to end English Union

E

T

missing aircraft was diverted from its scheduled path due to programming through the aircraft’s computer system rather

Search area for the missing airplane

than a manual control.

Quoting senior American officials, The New York Times reinforced the belief that someone in the cockpit was responsible for the plane’s disappearance 12 days ago.

Meanwhile, Intensive background checks of everyone aboard a missing Malaysian jetliner have so far failed to find anyone with a known political or criminal motive to crash or hijack the plane, Western security sources and Chinese authorities have said.

Malaysia said it had conferred with the US and Chinese ministers on the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, an unprecedented 26-nation operation that now spans Asia from the Caspian Sea to the southern Indian Ocean.

is disingenuous: The referendum in Scotland is being held with the consent of the UK government, it will be internationally recognized, and Scotland’s people have had years to consider what is a genuine choice.

By contrast, the referendum held in Crimea was illegal under Ukrainian constitutional law and took place under duress, only days after armed “proRussian forces” took effective control of the peninsula. Voters also did not have the option of saying “no” to cutting ties with Kiev.

On September 18, voters will be presented with a simple yes/no question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

The Scottish government, led by the Scottish National Party, says this is a “once in a generation opportunity” for Scotland’s people to take control of the decisions that affect them most. A “yes” vote means that “Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands,” it says, and that life will be better and fairer for its people.

HE man who serves two popes has revealed that retired Pope Benedict XVI wrote four pages of critique and commentary on Pope Francis’s landmark interview in which he blasted the church’s obsession with “small-minded” rules.

Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, Benedict’s personal secretary and head of Francis’ papal household, told German broadcaster ZDF that Francis had solicited Benedict’s input on the interview, which was published in September in 16 Jesuit journals around the globe and helped define Francis’ agenda.

Francis received a draft of the interview to vet before publication, but it’s unclear whether Benedict saw that draft or the published text. As a result, it’s unclear if any of Benedict’s suggestions impacted the final version.

Regardless, the revelation is further evidence of the remarkable and unprecedented collaboration between the two popes, who stay in touch by phone, in person and by sending notes back and forth across the Vatican gardens via Gaenswein.

Another Bush angles for the White House

B

Y all appearances, former Florida governor Jeb Bush is a man on a mission. His itinerary for the next several weeks includes stops in Tennessee, New Mexico and Nevada to appear with Republican candidates in this fall’s elections or help them raise money for their campaigns.

And then he speaks at a dinner ahead of a Republican Jewish Coalition meeting featuring several potential Republican presidential contenders at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel is owned by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who gave over $100 million to Republican candidates in 2012.

So what, exactly, is Jeb Bush up to? Could Bush, 61, the son of a U.S. president and the brother of another, quietly be laying the groundwork for a historic attempt to become the third member of his family to occupy the White House?

Thailand to lift Bangkok state of emergency

T

HAILAND’s government is set to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding provinces two months after imposing it to curb antigovernment protests, as the security situation has improved due to the dwindling number of demonstrators.

The protesters have been trying since early November to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the country of the influence of her brother, ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

“We have agreed to lift the state of emergency and use the Internal Security Act starting from tomorrow until April 30 as the number of protesters has dwindled ... and after pleas from the business community,” national security chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 , 2014

FCTA inaugurates committee on mass housing

By HENRY UMORU

A

S part of moves to address problems associated with mass housing in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed last week, inaugurated a 14-member White Paper Committee on Mass Housing Scheme.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. John O. Chukwu, an engineer who stood in for the Minister, noted that the white paper would give the FCT mass housing scheme the character and direction in conformity with the Abuja master plan. He was however worried that the objectives behind the initiative have not been fully realized within the expected time frame because the scheme has been beset by a myriad of gaps and deficient structures.

Chukwu who recalled that the FCT Administration introduced the Abuja mass housing scheme in 2000 to facilitate the provision of affordable houses to meet the increasing demand for shelter by residents of Abuja, regretted that it (scheme) was dogged by implementation challenges which culminated in the emergence of illegal and unplanned settlements masquerading “as mass housing estates” across the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

The permanent Secretary opined that with this White Paper in place, there would be drastic but positive change to improve in the service delivery in that sub-sector. The committee is to critically examine the conclusions and recommendations of the Ministerial Committee, as it guided the provisions of Mass Housing Development Guidelines for FCT; Guidelines for final Engineering Design of Infrastructure for the Federal Capital City and Satellite Towns; FCT Development Control Manual as well as generate conclusions that will represent the position of the FCT Administration on that matter.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee and Director of FCDA Engineering Services Department, Mr. Adamu Alfa Abu, an engineer, appreciated the confidence reposed in them and pledged to live up the expectations of the FCT Administration.

Waiting for the bulldozers?

LAND DISPUTE:

Animashaun, Ojora families bicker over Supreme Court judgment

By ONOZURE DANIA

T

HE Sunmonu Animashaun Family of Coker Compound in Itire, Surulere have called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to call the Ojora of Lagos, Oba Fatai Aromire to order over alleged incessant of harassment and embarrassment of bonafide allottees/lessees of their properties.

Oba Aromire was alleged to have embarked on unauthorised demolition of their houses in spite of the intervention of the State Government.

The Animashaun family is therefore urging Governor Fashola to prevail on the Ojora of Lagos to desist from what they described as

illegal act of demolitishing their houses.

The petition dated March 3, 2014 was signed by their counsel, Mr. Ogunjimi Oluseyi Olaniyi. The petition was also copied to the Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, the Speaker House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone II) and Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

In the petition, the Family claimed that, “presently the said Oba Fatai Aromire and his cohorts in spite of all the pieces of advises given by your very self to desist from further demolishing of the properties lying and situated at Orile and its environs have continued to do so”

Continuing, the counsel said, “as it stands now, our clients’ properties lying and being at both No. 2 and 5 within Coker Compound, Orile, Lagos are presently being demolished by the said Oba Fatai Aromire and his cohorts which same is not only unconstitutional but

Oba Aromire was alleged to have embarked on unauthorised demolition of their houses in spite of the intervention of the State Government frivolous”.

“Upon this, our client therefore urgently demands and we so demand that you abate Oba Fatai Aromire from further demolishing the said properties hence there will be breakdown of law and order

Jonathan to open estate surveyors confab in Uyo

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare open the 44 th annual general conference of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, slated for the Le Meridien Hotel Conference Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, March 27.

The conference which holds from March 2528 at the Ibom Hall of the hotel, according to NIESV President Mr. Emeka Eleh, will also be graced by Governor Godswill Akpabio. Eleh who will be hosting his valedictory conference as head of NIESV’s council further disclosed that the immediate past Managing director of Zenith Bank PLC, and founder of Visafone, Mr. Jim Ovia will deliver the keynote address on the theme: Maritime, Coastal and Inland Waters Investment and Management in

within and around Orile forthwith.”

The Lagos State Government had on Monday 28th October, 2013, through the office of Land Bureau, Governor ’s Office , in a paid advertorial, informed Lagosians that it had paid the sum of N3.0billion (three billion naira) compensation to the Ojora Chieftaincy Family in line with the Supreme Court judgment in suit No. SC/54/2005.

The affected areas include Orile Iganmu . Aloko, Savage, Sari, Oso-Ofin. Oso-Olodi, Coker. Aleigbe. Laniyonu.

Tapa, Bankole, Imoru and adjoining villages as contained in survey plan No. AL64A/ 1974.

The government which said it has paid all the compensation as agreed with the Ojora Chieftaincy Family, lamented that the Ojora Chieftaincy Family has fallen short on its own part of the bargain.

“The office of the Governor of Lagos State is inundated daily with reports of harassment and embarrassment of bonafide allottees/lessees of the state government scheme/estate by agents claiming to be from the Ojora Chieftaincy Family and Council.

“For emphasis and clarity, members of the public, especially allottees/lessees of government schemes/estates, namely Amuwo-Odofin, Badiya, Iganmu, Apapa Industrial and Ijora are advised

National Development.

Other special guests expected at the confab include: the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, a former Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission, Mrs. Tayo Omotosho and Mr Etido Inyang, an engineer.

Speaking in Lagos on activities lined up for the conference, Mr Eleh said, “It has always been our tradition to invite the President who is our grand patron to declare open the annual conference and we have assurances that he will honour us in Uyo”.

to take particular note of the above stated facts and refrain from entering into any form of financial arrangement with the Ojora Family or its agent. Any such request or proposal should be brought to the attention of the state.

“Similarly, the Ojora Chieftaincy Family and Council are by this notice enjoined to desist from acts of disturbance, harassment and embarrassment of bonafide allottees/lessees of the state government having accepted the compensation tendered by the Lagos State Government (and which has been partly paid) as full and final settlement for all its rights, title and interest in the land referred to in the paragraph above.

“The current administration in the state is a peace loving one and would not tolerate any act that is inimical to peaceful co-existence of residents of the state”, the advertorial read in part.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 59

FG partners Japanese agency to develop National water resources master plan

By FUNMI OLASUPO

By CALEB AYANSINA

T

HE Nigerian Government has officially received the revised edition of the Integrated National Water Resources Master Plan which was originally developed through a partnership arrangement between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Japanese International Corporation Agency, JICA. The Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe who received the document from JICA, also inaugurated a Project Monitoring Unit, PMU made up of a committee to monitor the implementation of the master plan in Nigeria.

Speaking on the master plan, the Minister said JICA commenced the review of the document in August 2011and progress reports 1 and 2 were presented to the steering committee and other stakeholders during discussion and workshops.

Discussion and workshops She added that detailed discussions were held at various times with the Technical Department to enrich the report with the final interim report presented to all stakeholders in a workshop in Abuja on December 3, 2013.

Mrs. Ochekpe further explained that the first edition of the document was formulated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and supported by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA in 1995. ” Fifteen years later, the

A

Water Resources Minister, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe making a speech at the event

Nigerian Government considered it necessary to review the master plan because of so many changes which involved increase in population, increase in water demand, globalization, climate change and many other related activities that have occurred over the years,” she explained.

According to her, the final report of the document was a guide to all activities in the water sector not only at the federal level, but also at the states and local government levels as well as all the private stakeholders in the water sector.

Inaugurating the monitoring committee for the implementation of the master plan, the Minister appealed to the members to take the assignment seriously.

”I charge you to take this assignment very seriously and to see that this document is put to effective use. You are expected to come up with effective work plan on how to carry out the implementation, to ensure that we use the National Water Resources Master Plan effectively. You are also expected to advice the Ministry on how to achieve the objectives of the master plan,” she added.

The 15-member committee is headed the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Laraba Bagaiya.

Chief Representative for JICA, Seki Tetsuo said that the revised edition of the masterplan marked the beginning of a new era in the water sector in Nigeria. Seki Tetsuo said the

master - plan would not work magic if not implemented and followed up as scheduled.

He called on stakeholders and other relevant organisations in Nigeria, particularly the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to make strong assurances and commitments towards the implementation of the master plan by playing the central role among relevant Ministries Department and Agencies.

While encouraging International Development Partners to incorporate the Master Plan in their projects, Tetsuo urged meaningful discussion between the Federal, States and Local Governments on the utilization of the document.

FG reserves N5bn contracts to wholly owned Nigerian companies

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

I

IPC Homes plans to build 50,000 housing units in next 6 years

N line with the Nigerian Content Act 2010, the Federal Government will henceforth award contracts for projects within the range of N5 billion to only companies that are wholly owned by Nigerians.

Against this backdrop, 15 companies that are wholly owned by Nigerians were recently awarded the contracts for 21 Category C projects which are from N5 billion and below Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, an architect, made the pledge recently when he received in audience, members of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, led by its president, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi.

The Minister charged Nigerian engineers to raise the ante. “Our engineers should not just be contented

with little supervision or consultancy jobs.

They should endevaour to go beyond that,” he said, adding .

That the ministry would assist Nigerian engineers to have a fair participation in Federal Government projects.

“NSE can collaborate with the Ministry of Works. The Ministry will be willing to collaborate with you to deal with some of those problems and provide you with the necessary opportunities to allow local companies showcase their capacities,” he said.

The NSE President said the inclusion of local content in engineering works was the only way to develop their capacity and ensure relevance in infrastructure development.

He decried the rising occurrence of collapsed buildings in the country.

“Investigations revealed that poor workmanship, use of cheap and inferior

materials, wrong interpretation of building design, inadequate supervision, non-adherence to due process in building construction, lack of maintenance culture, greed on the parts of contractors and client representatives alike, abuse of plans and the activity of quacks are some of the reasons behind these avoidable agonies,” Olorunfemi said.

“We will partner all stakeholders to stem this negative development. We will join forces with the Engineering Regulation Monitoring arm of COREN to ensure that the relevant laws guiding the sector are adhered to; stimulate law enforcement agencies to bring offenders to justice, draw the media into the stakeholders’ forum to play their part by educating clients to avoid cheap services which often land them in the hands of quacks,”

BUJA – OWING to a disconnect between the housing solutions provided by the government and the people the solutions are meant for, a developer, IPC Homes Limited has proposed an implementable housing solution scheme targeted at the low income earners in the country.

The solutions which are meant for all social classes of Nigerians, according to the Managing Director of IPC Homes, Mr. Wale Owomoyela, would provide not less than 50, 000 housing units by 2020.

Owomoyela said the company is aware of the enormous housing challenges faced by Nigerians hence it has come up with affordable estates at Gurku in Nasarawa State. Allottees can pay on installments spread over a period of 24 months.

“IPC is one of the few real estate organisations that provide real estate solution to people that cannot afford to part with more than N750 per day or N3500 per week or N15,00 per month,” he said.

Noting that government efforts alone cannot solve housing problem in the country, the IPC Homes boss said his company is prepared to contribute its quota towards reducing the deficit. “At IPC, we believe that the housing deficit in Nigerian requires multiplicity of strategies. We have a deficit of 17million housing units.

Ashafa lauds West African Ceramics for producing quality

T

HE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Land, and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has commended West African Ceramics Ltd for producing high quality ceramic and vitrified tiles that meet the needs of the building and construction industry in Nigeria.

Ashafa gave the commendation when he visited the company’s exhibition booth at the just concluded Building Construction & Mining Mart 2014 Expo at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District who was the special guest at the expo applauded the company. for indigenous production of vitrified tiles which meet international standards and quality.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

We’re ready for Messi — Keshi insists H

EAD coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi is not worried about the prospect of masterminding an upset over Argentina at the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face the Albiceleste on June 25 at the Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre in a Group F game.

Argentina will be relying on the brilliance of FC Barcelona’s superstar, Lionel Messi to strike a dagger into Nigerian

•Keshi

hearts but Keshi is relishing the prospect of stopping the little magician in his tracks.

“Messi is probably the best footballer in the world but we cannot lose sleep about him because there will be 10 others on the pitch that day,” Keshi told supersport.com.

Nigeria will be meeting Argentina for the fourth time in the World Cup group stages following earlier encounters in 1994, 2002 and 2010.

The Super Eagles lost all three previous encounters against the South Americans and Keshi is keen to end the trend.

“I didn’t feel bad about the fact that we will play against Argentina in the group stages because even if we didn’t draw them, we would have met teams like, Spain, Germany, Brazil or England.

“We have been drawn against Argentina. There’s nothing we can do about that. We just have to get ourselves ready,” he said.

Eagles build-up impresses Akpoborire

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborire has expressed satisfaction over what he termed “the smooth build up” of the Super Eagles ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. In a chat with Sports Vanguard in Lagos, the 1985 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner noted that unlike previous World Cups, “our preparations this time have been less chaotic and I pray it continues this way until it dovetails to the tournament proper.”

Looking ahead of the international friendly

against Scotland, Akpoborire said, “every match is important to the team right now. We should not really look at the results. What matters is the impact the friendly matches will have on the team He, however, called for early camping before the tournament proper in June, saying that the players should resume at the pre-World Cup camp as soon as the European season ends.

“We have no time,” he told Sports Vanguard in Lagos at the weekend, adding that “the players need serious and intensive training in the three weeks or so that they have before the tournament.”

Okpekpe road race: Oshiomhole begins training

A

Sani Kaita blocks Messi in a group match of the 2010 World Cup.

HEAD of the second edition of the Okpekpe international 10km road race slated for May 3rd, 2014, comrade Adams Oshiomhole has resumed training .

The governor who resumed training around the hilly Iyamoh/ Ayua community is been grilled by an ex international athlete, Yusuf Ali who doubles as the technical director of the Okpekpe road race.

Oshiomhole was put through a 3km road walk before he traveled few days ago and he had since resumed training three days ago.

A close source to the governor, said , the governor he has resumed full 10 kilometres training and he is ready to pick one of the star prizes this

Veterans salute new Sports Minister, crave NFF, NSC participation at Ojidoh funeral

T

HE new Minister of Sports, Chairman National Sports Commission has been told to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor in office. “ There is a consensus in the sports community that your predecessor did well. You can do

•Tamuno-Danagogo

better, by building on the foundation he laid” so says the Association of Sports Veterans Nigeria.

The Veterans rose from their meeting appreciating the giant strides the country has made in the field of sports especially football and wished it will continue.

In the congratulatory letter addressed to the new minister, they welcomed him into office and prayed for his success “….in the year of the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. These are the toughest of times but we pray for your success. “ With Honourable Elegbeleye as your Director General, a man

who has brought invaluable experience to bear on the development of sports, with other Directors you are condemned to succeed……” the Veterans wrote Also “…pleasing to hear” was the Minister’s decision to pay attention to other sports, the Veterans said. “ It is pleasing to hear that you will pay attention to other sports.

There is no gainsaying the fact that football is the king of Nigerian Sports, but there is need

Oyo state appoints marketer for next National Sports Festival The honourable are also interested in Ebidowei Oweifie

D

ETERMINED to ensure, Oyo State is host of the 2016 National Sport Festival, the state ministry of youth and sport has engaged the services of Nilayo Sports Management Limited to handle the bidding processes for the games.

commissioner for youth and sport,Farouk Umar Alao had during the recently held mini sport festival held in Abuja declared the interest of the people of the state in hosting the biannual national sport fiesta.

Plateau and Edo states

year .

“Last year , which was the first edition , the governor took 131 position. This year, he is well prepared and ready to be among the first ten positions.”

Similarly, over six communities including Auchi are eagerly waiting for the second edition of the 10km road race which they said has brought life and economic activities to their communities.

Mr usman lawal a food vendor at the area said last year’s edition of the Okpekpe race turned his life around thus he can not wwait for the d day.

“Oga, last year, I made a lot of money . Now,I am able to expand my business . May God bless the initiators of the programm.”

hosting the 20th edition of the festival.

It would be recalled that the last time Oyo state hosted the festival was in 1979 while Edo last hosted 2002.

Speaking in Lagos, General Manager, Nilayo Sports Management, Mr

informed that the biding documents are ready for presentation to the National Sports Commission{NSC} at a yet to be fixed date in May. Oweifie who assured that the state will win the hosting rights ahead of other contending states.

•Late Pa John Ojidoh

to develop the potentials of our youths who have interest in other sports. “ We wish you well in the service of fatherland and will always be ready to partner with you in taking our sports to greater heights” The Veterans pledged.

In another development, the Veterans association have called for a visible presence of the Nigeria Football Association and the National Sports Commission in the funeral of Pa John Ojidoh.

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 61

Qatar

Flamingoes

Continues from BP

their opening match, the national U-17 Women football team, the Flamingoes will tonight attempt to consolidate their position in Group D when they take on Columbia in the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Unlike the Nigerians, Columbia lost their opening match 4-0 to Mexico at the other match.

This will give the Flamingoes a psychological edge over the South Americans who will try and claw their way up from the bottom.

With strikers like Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and the ever dependable g o a l k e e p e r Onyinyechukwu Okeke, the coach Bala Nikyu lads will go for an outright victory to ensure they qualify for the next stage of the tournament.

The coach has charged

Continues from BP Chelsea, and 12 from Manchester City in the final Champions League qualification berth.

Moyes’s team host Olympiakos on Wednesday evening in the Champions League last-16 trailing 2-0 from the first leg. Yet asked how much his future depended on the outcome of the game, the manager said: “My future has not changed

the girls to put the China result behind them as they aim to better the performances of their predecessors in the tournament.

“I expect more from my players, particularly, my strikers. They have to be better organised and more lethal in front of goal,” Nikyu told reporters in a pre-mtch chat.

The girls themselves have resolved to do more than their performances against China.

Rasheedat Ajibade who was voted man-of-thematch said she will score more goals and lead Nigeria to the next stage.

“All I have to tell Nigerians is to continue praying for us, and we won’t let them down and

by God’s grace, we will bring the trophy back to Nigeria,” Ajibade assured.

The match comes up 3am

Moyes

one bit. I have got a great job and know exactly the direction I want to go in.

“It’s not been the season we wanted and I have ideas I want to put in place but the most important thing now is Olympiakos. If we can go through it would be a massive lift. We know we have got ourselves in a poor position being 20 down.”

Continues from BP

Flamingoes celebrate after scoring against China.

Alampasu Continues from BP picked for the country’s squad to the recent CHAN in South Africa.

Some of the other players invited are Wilfred Ndidi, Abdullahi Alfa, Akinjide Idowu, Saviour Godwin, Aliyu Abubakar, Chigozie Obasi, Dennis Okon Nya and Zaraddeen Bello.

They are latest Wednesday to join 35 Asked if he had received assurances from the club’s executive regarding his job security, Moyes said: “The biggest assurance is that they let me get on with the job, they never discuss it. We talk about the future, we make big plans going forward.

“That is why they gave me a six-year contract.

This is not a club that works on a short-term vision, it is a long term one.”

other players who were picked from a two-week open trial in Abuja.

The Flying Eagles under coach Manu Garba have been training for a third week in Abuja ahead of a 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against either Kenya or Tanzania in May. Kenya and Tanzania will do battle next month for the right to face sixtime African Youth Champions Nigeria in May with the overall winners advancing to the final qualifying round in August.

Continues from BP revealed coach Stephen Keshi is hoping to persuade the West Brom forward to change his mind.

But Anichebe told BBC Sport: “I haven’t spoken to anybody, that goes from the federation to Stephen Keshi himself.”

However, he has not ruled out a return to the fold - and he realises the tournament in Brazil may be his last chance to play at the biggest event in football.

“We will see what happens,” said Anichebe, who missed out on selection for South Africa 2010. “Right now I’m playing well, feeling fit, strong and helping my team in the situation we are currently in at the moment.

“If I continue to play well from now to the end of the season then we can take it from there.

“I’m grateful that the coach says he is willing to give me a chance, but I think everybody in Nigeria and around the world knows what I can do and

of claims of new evidence of payments from a Qatari former Fifa vice-president to one of his fellow board members.

The controversial Trinidadian former Fifa executive committee member Jack Warner received $1.2m (£720,000) from a company controlled by former Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam in December 2010.

The newspaper also alleged that a note from one of Warner’s companies, Jamad, to Bin Hammam’s firm, Kemco, requested $1.2m in payment for work carried out between 2005 and 2010.

It was also claimed that Warner’s two sons and an employee were paid a further $1m by the same Qatari company.

One document referred to in the article was said to have stated that payments were to “offset legal and other expenses”, but a separate letter claimed that more than $1m covered “professional services provided over the period

Anichebe capable of.

“The Premier League is watched around the world so it’s easy to see what qualities I can bring to the team.

“If not, there are so many other talented Nigerians around the world that would also love the opportunity to represent their country and play in such a prestigious tournament.

“Yes the World Cup only comes once in every four years and it could be my last opportunity - this is something I’m aware of but I haven’t spoken to anybody.”

A former England youth international, Anichebe switched allegiance and played his first game for Nigeria in March 2008.

He scored on his debut in a 2-0 win over South Africa to help them reach the 2008 Olympics and was then part of the squad that went on to win silver in Beijing.

In his last appearance for the Super Eagles, a 2-0 win over Madagascar in 2011, he suffered a groin

2005-2010”.

The payment was allegedly requested a fortnight after Fifa’s 22man executive committee voted to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

Last March it emerged that the FBI was investigating a series of corruption claims surrounding world football’s governing body and that Warner’s Miamibased son, Daryan, had agreed to be a cooperating witness.

According to the allegations in the newspaper, payments totalling at least $750,000 were made to Warner’s sons and a further $400,000 was paid to one of his employees.

Bin Hammam was the most senior Qatari football official inside Fifa at the time of the flawed bidding race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.

He was later banned from football for life after evidence emerged that he had bribed senior officials at the Caribbean Football Union.

problem. Since then he has opted to concentrate on securing regular first-team football at club level.

That decision has led to criticism from some Nigeria supporters but Anichebe rejects any suggestions he does not care about the country.

“I believe I have some good fans in Nigeria that understood and respected my decision to concentrate on getting fit,” he said.

“Some players would have just joined the team, not in great condition but for personal gains. I see the bigger picture in things and it’s worked for me.

“Nigeria also won the Nations Cup in 2013 and we got to discover other talents that we may not have got the chance to see.

“So any ‘fan’ that sees me as unpatriotic is just being unfair because if you check the meaning of patriotism it’s the love and devotion you show for your country and I love Nigeria.

“I grew up in England but only see myself as a Nigerian and my longterm objective is a lot bigger than this because I hope to give back to my country.

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Today's Champions League fixtures Man U Dortmund

Anichebe makes U-turn, begs Keshi IGERIA striker Victor Anichebe insists he has not been asked to return to the national side for the World Cup. The 25-year-old recently put his international career on hold to “manage his body” and to focus on his club.

Super Eagles media officer Ben Alaiya Continues on Page 61

Olympiacos Zenith

DEFIANT David Moyes has insisted his job is not under threat, with the Manchester United manager claiming his “future has not changed one bit”.

The Scot is under increased pressure following the insipid 30 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday at Old Trafford.

United are 18 points behind the leaders, Continues on Page 61

OALKEEPER S u n d a y Alampasu will lead 19 other players from the

Qatar reacts

W

ORLD football’s governing body is likely to face renewed pressure over the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, following publication by Britain’s Daily Telegraph

Continues on Page 61

Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles training camp in Abuja.

Alampasu was named

•Anichebe

•Jack Warner

best goalkeeper at last year ’s FIFA U17 World Cup and was also Continues on Page 61

Flamingoes set to fly over Colombia

A

FTER an impressive 2-1 victory over hard-fighting China in Continues on Page 61

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

•Moyes

Qataris paid FIFA official $1.2m

Alampasu leads Eaglets to F/Eagles

G

8.45pm 8.45pm

My job is not under threat — Moyes A

As Brazil World Cup beckons:

N

v v

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Shy (6) 5 Uttered (6) 9 Fish (5) 10 Soften (6) 11 Escaped (6) 12 Salute (5) 14 Pace (4) 17 Animal (3) 18 Throw (4) 20 Located (5) 22 Whelp (5) 23 Gossip (7) 24 Pass on (5) 26 Repair (5) 29 Hero (4) 30 Crooked (3) 32 Facts (4) 33 Booby-trapped (5) 35 Hold (6) 36 Sick (6) 37 Memorise (5) 38 Deserved (6) 39 Freshest (6)

DOWN 1 Constraint (6) 2 Hammer (6) 3 Telephoned (4) 4 Admission (5) 5 Smooth (5) 6 Skin (4) 7 Abduct (6) 8 Nakedness (6) 13 Oriental (7) 15 Weary (5) 16 Flower-part (5) 18 Remedied (5) 19 Rent (5) 21 Age (3) 22 Through (3) 24 Puzzled (6) 25 Linger (6) 27 Shortage (6) 28 Objective (6) 30 Drank (5) 31 Long (5) 33 Distance (4) 34 Eat (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Pluck 7, Reeked 9, Due 10, Tot 12, Marry 13, Trip 15, Organ 17, Normal 19, Tell 20, Scene 22, Dad 24, Derided 27, Lit 28, Fresh 31, Pass 33, Fitted 35, Motor 37, Wind 38, Wafer 39, Nor 41, Lap 42, Delete 43, Still.

DOWN: 1, Gratis 2, Define 3, Wet 4, Puma 5, Leant 6, Careless 8, Doom 11, Tradition 14, Pond 16, Glad 18, Reel 21, Cataract 23, Deft 25, Rift 26, Drew 29, Edited 30, Hidden 32, Smell 34, Trod 36, Oral 40, Rep.

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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