Obasanjo faults Jonathan on Odi

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61757

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Ex-Ikeja LG boss, FG terminates P.6 • Toyin Hamzat •P.54 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contract murdered, buried •Re-awards it to Julius Berger, RCC

Obasanjo faults Jonathan on Odi “The same number of casualties that the IRA inflicted on the people of the United Kingdom in 100 years, is the same number that Boko Haram inflicted on our people in just two years. This is unacceptable... FG must cultivate the courage and political will to stop the killings and find a permanent solution to the problem."

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

L

AGOS—THE al leged strained relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and his one time benefactor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was further stretched, yesterday, after Obasanjo rebuffed the incumbent president’s claims that the army invasion of Odi in Bayelsa State in 1999 was a failure.

In a detailed response to the claim by President Jonathan, Obasanjo asserted that contrary to the claim, the invasion of Odi not only killed the militants but decimated their capacity to wage

Continues on page 5

The South-East and quest for equity state •P.17

The State and demand for•P.19 State police (2)

Mr & Mrs

AIRTEL'S NIGHT OF INFLUENCE—From left: Chairman Airtel Nigeria, Dr. Oba Otudeko; Managing Director/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Rajan Swaroop; acclaimed author and CNN Anchor, Fareed Zakaria and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Night of Influence, organized by Airtel in Lagos, yesterday.

Tension in CBN over •P.7 appointments, promotions

Some judges take bribes to grant bail — CJN

—P.6

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NO VEMBER 20, 2012—5 TUESDA NOVEMBER

POCKET CARTOON

Obasanjo faults Jonathan on Odi Continues from Page 1 such acts of terror against the state.

Obasanjo, however, said the Odi treatment would not necessarily be adaptable to the Boko Haram insurgency.

President Jonathan had during the presidential media chat on Sunday rebuffed claims of weakness made against him

by Obasanjo, asserting that the invasion of Odi ordered by Obasanjo in 1999 was a failure.

“After that invasion, myself and the governor entered Odi…and saw some dead people. Most of the people that died in Odi were mostly old men, women and children, none of the militants was killed,” Jonathan said on Sunday.

He continued: “If bombarding Odi was to solve the problem, then it was never solved. If the attack on Odi had solved the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, then the Yar ’ Adua government would not have come up with the Amnesty programme. So, that should tell you that the attack on Odi never solved the militancy problem and we had more challenges after that attack on Odi.” Following the presidential media chat, Obasanjo reportedly briefed Mr. Femi Fani-

Kayode, who served as his Special Assistant on Public Affairs and subsequently Minister of Aviation.

Upon the briefing, Fani-Kayode rebuffed President Jonathan’s claims that the Odi invasion was a failure.

He said: “During a live broadcast of the Presidential Media Chat to the nation on the evening of November 18, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan said that the military operation in Odi by the Nigerian Armed Forces in 1999, which was ordered

by President Olusegun Obasanjo, did not solve the problem or stop the killing of soldiers, policemen and innocent civilians in the Niger Delta area by the terrorists and militants. He also said that all he saw in Odi after he went there on an official visit as Deputy Governor were the dead bodies of old people.

With the greatest respect to Mr. President this is factually incorrect. He has either forgotten the relevant facts or he has been misinformed.

Whichever way he is mistaken and it is important for those of us that proudly served the Obasanjo administration to respond to him in order to clarify the issues,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

T

HE measure of a life well-lived is not in the accumulation of wealth, possessions, but rather through the lives touched and the sorrow ended.

Measure your life!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

There’s a lot I have had to cut down and forget. I believe it’s the only way ahead. It’s the only way to really live after loss, hurt or insult. Cut it down and forget it — Steve Goodier

J

UDITH Wallerstein studied and wrote for years about the lives of people who experienced disappointments. At first she was surprised to discover how long feelings of anger and hurt lingered after such experiences. Especially after a divorce, even 10 years after many former spouses were still just as angry at one another as in the beginning.

It’s as if they gazed every day in contempt upon the grand old tree that used to be their relationship, with bitterness. She noticed that some former spouses, years after a separation, still recited in detail negative violations and trespasses of the other.

The problem? These unhappy people were trapped emotionally by their anger and bitterness.

People will always trespass against us. But there comes a time to cut the tree down and forget it. The only way to move ahead is to let go and build a new foundation in uplifting happy and productive life. And though cutting that tree down is rarely our first impulse, Steve Goodier has this to say about letting go. “it is my best final response to those who trespass against me.”

clear the air and set the record straight for the sake of history and posterity.

“I had the privilege of being briefed about all the facts by President Olusegun Obasanjo himself and Col. Kayode Are, the former DG of the SSS, immediately after the Presidential Media Chat and I believe that it is appropriate to share some of those facts with members of the Nigerian public given the grave assertion and serious charge that President Jonathan has made.

Those facts are as follows:

Why Army invaded Odi “Five policemen and four soldiers were killed by a group of Niger Delta militants when they tried to enter the town of Odi in Bayelsa State in order to effect their arrest. This happened in 1999. After the brutal killing of these security personnel, President Olusegun Obasanjo asked the then Governor of Bayelsa State, Governor Alamieyeseigha, to identify, locate, apprehend and hand over the perpetrators of that crime.

“The Governor said that he was unable to do so and President Obasanjo, as the Commander-inChief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, took the position that security personnel could not be killed with impunity under his watch without a strong and appropriate response from the Federal Government. Consequently he sent the military in, to uproot and kill the terrorists and to destroy their operational base which was the town of Odi. The operation was carried out with military precision and efficiency and it’s objectives were fully achieved. The terrorists were either killed and those that were not killed fled their operational base in Odi. They were uprooted, weakened, demoralised and completely dispersed. That was the purpose of the whole exercise and that purpose was achieved. The truth is that the killing of security agents and soldiers with impunity by the Niger Delta militants virtually stopped after the operation in Odi and remained at a bare mini-

mum right up until the time that President Obasanjo left power eight years later in 2007.

I advise those that doubt this to go and check the records. ”The same thing was done in Zaki-Biam in Benue State in the North-central zone of Nigeria in 2001 after 19 soldiers were murdered in cold blood and then brutally beheaded by some terrorists from that area. Again after the Federal Government’s strong military response in Zaki Biam, the killing of security personnel with impunity stopped.

The objectives of the military operations in both Odi and Zaki-Biam were to stop such killings, to eliminate and deal a fatal blow to those that perpetrated them and to discourage those that may seek to carry out such barbarous butchery and mindless violence in the future.

“Those were the objectives and nothing more and clearly those objectives were achieved.

There is no doubt that after Odi, there were still unrest, agitations, protests, kidnappings and the blowing up and sabotage of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta area but there were hardly any more attacks on or killing of soldiers and security personnel by the terrorists and militants because they knew that to do that would attract a swift and forceful reaction and terrible retribution from the Nigerian military.

Odi, Zaki-Biam successful — OBJ “To stop and deter those attacks and killings was the objective of President Obasanjo and that objective was achieved. President Goodluck Jonathan was therefore in error when he said that Odi did not solve the problem of killings in the Niger Delta area by the Niger Delta militants. Not only did it stop the killings but it is also an eloquent testimony of how to deal with terrorists, how to handle those that kill our security personnel with impunity and how to deter militants from killing members of our civilian population and thinking that they can get away with it. If President Obasanjo had not taken

that strong action at that time, many more of our civilian population and security personnel would have been killed by the Niger Delta militants between 1999 and 2007.

“By doing what he did at Odi and Zaki-Biam, President Obasanjo saved the lives of many and put a stop to the killings and terrorism that had taken root in the Niger Delta area prior to that time.”

Fani-Kayode further insisted that President Obasanjo’s comments last week were also misconstrued and misrepresented in certain quarters.

“He never said that the Odi treatment should be applied to Boko Haram or that such action is appropriate in these circumstances. What he said was that a solution ought to have been found or some sort of action ought to have been taken sooner rather than allow the problem to fester over time like a bad wound and get worse.

“There can be no doubt that he was right on this because, according to President Jonathan’s own Chief of Army Staff, no less than 3000 people have been killed by Boko Haram in the last two years alone. That figure represents approximately the same number of people that were killed by the IRA in Northern Ireland and the British mainland in the 100 years that the war between them and British lasted and before peace was achieved between the two sides.

“The same number of casualties that the IRA inflicted on the people of the United Kingdom in 100 years, is the same number of casualties that Boko Haram have managed to inflict on our people in just two. This is unacceptable and it is very disturbing. The Federal Government must cultivate the courage and the political will to stop the killings by Boko Haram and to find a

permanent solution to the problem."

ACN slams Jonathan, aides The ACN on its part, also faulted the Jonathan administration as lacking in credibility, saying the president’s response to issues was at variance with the several responses given by his administration’s officials.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party cited a number of past actions and assertions by government officials that were rebuffed by the president on Sunday.

The party said: “Credibility is a key issue in governance, and lack of it renders a government impotent. Perhaps this worsening credibility gap in the Jonathan Administration is one of the reasons that it had so far failed to perform to expectation,” it said.

Citing what it described as the flip-flop or sheer disinformation by officials, the ACN said the president contradicted claims by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati that the government has revoked the power contract awarded to Canadian firm Manitoba.

He also cited reports credited to Dr. Abati in August and this month, that the government was engaged in “backroom channel” talks with Boko Haram, which was also categorically denied by the president on Sunday.

According to the ACN, “it is also instructive that President Jonathan has finally confirmed the reported illness of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, even when the spokespersons for the President and the First Lady said she was hale and hearty, and implied she was vacationing abroad, even as reports circulated that she was being treated for an ill-

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Junaid to Jonathan: You’re promoting corruption, insecurity zSays claim of fighting corruption laughable

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A Works Minister, Chief Mike Onolememen (middle); Ministrer of State for Works, Mallam Bashir Yuguda (left) and Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati during the announcement of the termination of the Lagos-Ibadan Exressway concession contract between the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney Limited at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Some judges take bribe to grant bail —CJN

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, yesterday, cried out that allegation of judges collecting bribes before granting bail to accused persons had become rampant, and vowed to fish out such judges and administer appropriate sanctions on them.

The CJN who spoke while flagging off the 2012 Biennial Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the lower courts, organised by the National Judicial Council, NJI, said: “There have also been complaints regarding some of you on laziness in the discharge of judicial duties, lateness in sitting and non-sitting at all and so on.

“Distinguished participants, as you are probably aware, I rose from being one of you to my present position. Going down the memory lane, I recall with pride that some decades ago I was a judge of the lower court and a magistrate to be precise. I recall with nostalgia our commitment, loyalty and dedication to our adjudicatory duties at the time. I also recall that the current luxuries of the courtrooms (inadequate as they may be now), the perks of office and the glamour with which your offices are now associated were not available to us then.

“Yet one cannot compare the meagerness of the salaries and allowances of my days on the lower court

bench with the current salaries and other perquisites of office of this era. I make bold to say that all of us took up appointment on the lower court bench then not so much for the material attraction (because there was none then), but rather for the honour, the respect and the sincere desire to be true representatives of the Almighty God. Our words were our bonds and to call the integrity of a Judge to question was then a taboo as every Judge, whether of the lower court or the higher court lived above board.

Allegations of corruption are rampant “However, it would appear that things have changed drastically between then and now.

Heads of courts receive reports and petitions concerning some judges of lower courts which are rather difficult to believe.

Allegations of corruption are almost becoming rampant.

“It is in the light of the above that I find the theme of this conference: ‘Judicial Reforms and the Administration of Justice’, timely and germane.

However, I must quickly stress that we should let the reform start from the hearts of individuals concerned. I urge that you reform yourself and allow yourself to be reformed by amending your conduct that brings dishonour to the judiciary as an institution.

Let your conduct be seen to

be both ethical and impeccable.

Be above board “I urge you to be above board; sit promptly at 9: 00 am; be fair to litigants and other patrons of your courts; lead your staff by example and by so doing, the image of the judiciary will continue to receive high rating in the opinion of the public.

"Let me, however, warn that the Judicial Service Commissions of various

jurisdictions will not hesitate to administer appropriate sanctions to any Judge of the lower courts found wanting.”

In his speech, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Umaru Eri, who noted that 75 to 80 per cent of cases were determined at the lower courts, said efforts were on top gear towards transforming the Nigerian judiciary from a manual paper-based professional environment to an automated one."

BUJA — SECOND Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed, yesterday, lashed out at President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim that he was tackling corruption and insecurity in the country with a view to repositioning the nation on the path of peace and progress.

Jonathan had made the claim during his media chat in Abuja on Sunday night.

But reacting in an interview with Vanguard, Mohammed described the President’s claim of fighting graft in the country as laughable, shameful and disappointing at a time when Nigerians and outsiders were making a jest of the country as a result of mounting corruption deliberately orchestrated by the government and its agencies.

According to Mohammed, “to me, the President’s talk about fighting corruption is disgraceful because he is economical with the truth given what his administration has done to rubbish the Ribadu report

on the looting of the Nigerian oil industry and the growing graft in other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“The latest claim of Mr. President on corruption clearly shows that he is merely lying and taking Nigerians for a ride because in a morally sound society, what has been happening in the nation’s oil sector should have landed many top government officials and other corrupt individuals in jail."

On Boko Haram

Turning to the claim by Jonathan that his administration was not negotiating with Boko Haram, Mohammed said he was not surprised by the action of the government because Jonathan and his government do not believe in resolving the Boko Haram uprising.

According to the former lawmaker, Jonathan is happy that the sect should continue with its nefarious activities so as to provide justification for his nonperformance and destruction of the Nigerian economy while the security agencies are smiling away Continues on Page 12

FG terminates Lagos-Ibadan expressway contract ...Reawards to Julius Berger, RCC

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — THE Federal Government, yesterday, terminated the contract concessioning of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway granted to BiCourtney Consortium more than three years after it was awarded.

The Federal Government has, therefore, engaged the services of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and RCC Nigeria Ltd to carry out emergency reconstruction of the road.

Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen, who announced the termination of the concessioning said adequate measures were taken to ensure that the Federal Government abided by all its contractual obligations.

He said the termination became necessary because of the “serial breaches of

the concession agreement

by Bi-Courtney Consortium and especially the failure of the company to reach financial clause as provided for in the agreement.”

He said to avoid the "senseless carnage on this important expressway, the Federal ministry of Works has engaged the services of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and RCC Nigeria Ltd to commence work immediately on the reconstruction of the expressway.

“While Julius Berger would handle section 1: from Lagos to Sagamu interchange, RCC Nigeria will be responsible for section 11: from Sagamu to Ibadan. The Federal Government wishes to assure that while it will continue to uphold the sanctity of contracts entered into by the Federal Government, it will not shy

away from implementing provisions of contact agreements dealing with non-performance on the part of the contracting party” he said.

The minister explained that “the legal implications of this termination have been carefully considered by the Federal Ministry of Works and indeed the Federal Government.

"If you recall we have been on this issue for quite sometime now and we have meticulously followed the concession agreement, the provisions of relevant clauses of the agreement.

"We have complied fully with provisions of this agreement. We have had cause even in the past to write the concessionaire to detail the breaches which it had committed in this agreement in this particular transaction and we have also followed the minimum

and maximum number of days the contractor was expected to remedy the situation but failing which the Federal Government had no alternative but to take this course of action.”

He said the ministry could not assess the percentage of job done by the company because “this is a concessioned project.

In other words, it is different from the normal EPC contracts, so the Federal Government, in a sense, did not make any direct payment to Bi-Courtney in this particular transaction.

"Bi-Courtney was supposed to raise the fund from the private sector and apply it to the construction of this expressway and toll it for as many as 25 years, to recoup its investment and this has not happened, and that is why today the concession has been Continues on page 14

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—7

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

A

BUJA — ALLEGED favouritism and politicization of appointments and promotion of staff by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, are reportedly causing tension and disaffection in the nation’s apex banking institution.

Vanguard reliably gathered that majority of the 1,861 senior and junior employees hired by the bank in the last three years were recruited largely through the influence of top bank officials and political actors in the administration, who see the apex bank as a goldmine reserved for their kith and kin.

Similarly, no fewer than 18 directors, assistant and deputy directors, were hired by influential and powerful persons into its executive management cadre within the period though the bank claims that there are no vacancies in the top cadre to warrant the promotion of overdue principal managers into such positions.

Bad blood Several appointments made by the new management are said to be causing bad blood in the apex bank including some made at the director level of the apex bank. In one instance a director was said to have been ‘smuggled’ from outside by a powerful clique into the bank recently even at a time the bank claimed there was no vacancy for qualified senior bank staff to fill at the director level.

Two new salary grades

Findings revealed that over 200 Principal Managers, who graduated in various disciplines from the universities and joined the apex bank between 1983 and 2007 and were due for promotion into the Directorate Cadre of the CBN years ago, have been denied promotion on the excuse that there are no vacancies in the Directorate cadre. However, in a bid to ‘accommodate’ the affected staff, CBN created two new grades: Principal Manager on CBN Salary Scale of 04.1 and Deputy Manager on CBSS of 06, which are not provided for in its staff manual.

With the new measure, Senior Managers, who would have automatically been promoted to Assistant Directors, have been pegged at Principal Managers while Assistant Managers will now spend several years as Deputy Managers before becoming managers, a development seen as unduly delaying their rise in the bank.

But in a dramatic twist, the grades of no fewer than 180 new employees of the bank were recently adjusted even while they were on probation without recourse to availability of vacancies, promotion interviews or examinations, raising eyebrow in the process.

Appeal for promotion It was based on the noticeable lopsided nature of appointments and promotions, that the affected Principal Managers wrote to the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on June 16, 2012, pleading with him to cause them to

Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Justice Umaru Eri (left) and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, at the Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the lower courts, in Abuja, yesterday.

Tension in CBN over appointments, promotions zAs staff allege undue favouritism, lopsidedness zWe have not committed any infraction—CBN be promoted to their respective grades, having served the bank meritoriously without blemish for over 20 years.

In the letter entitled, “A passionate appeal for the promotion of Principal Managers into Assistant Director Grade,” the aggrieved staff wrote: “Our appeal is that you passionately look into the issue of Principal Managers who graduated from 1983-1987 and worked in other notable organisations before joining the CBN. “We have further

Chinese firm invests N329bn in Total Nigeria offshore block

BY MICHAEL EBOH with agency reports

L

AGOS — CHINA Petrochemical Corporation, Sinopec, has invested N392 billion ($2.5 billion) in the acquisition of Total’s 20 per cent stake in an offshore Nigerian oil asset following an asset disposal programme.

The asset — the OML 138 block, which includes the Usan field — accounts for about 10 per cent of Total’s Nigerian production, which averaged 287,000 barrels a day last year.

Yves-Louis Darricarrere, Head of Exploration and Production, Total SA, said the sale was part of the

company ’s plans to complete $15 billion to $20 billion of asset disposals from 2012 to 2014 and was in line with its policy of actively managing its portfolio.

Also commenting, Patrick de la Chevardiere, Chief Financial Officer, Total, said the Usan field production, whose ramp up was slower than expected, could reach 140,000 barrels a day by the end of the year, adding that the company is expecting a peak rate of 180,000 barrels a day.

Chevardiere had further stated that Total was also searching for a buyer for its southwestern French

natural gas network known as TIGF, noting that current disposals could bring the company about halfway to its target.

Beijing-based Sinopec Group has also approached the French oil firm Etablissements Maurel et Prom (MAU), which operates in Gabon, about an acquisition, sources closed to the matter had stated.

Sinopec’s reserves of crude oil declined from 3.3 billion barrels in 2007 to 2.8 billion barrels at the end of last year, enough for nine years of production at 2011 levels, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

improved our skills and acquired additional qualifications and have served the bank meritoriously without blemish for over 20 years.

We are not unmindful of the budget implications of this exercise and we enjoin the management to consider and approve the supplementary promotions without accrued financial benefits to us.”

CBN ignores pleas But the CBN management is reported to have tactically ignored the plea of those not promoted to their appropriate ranks on the grounds that many of them were actually due to be flushed out to create room for new hands. A source familiar with the development said the CBN governor did not believe that appointments and promotion of staff should be based solely on years of experience and one’s year of graduation from the university.

Mixed feelings The development has, however, generated mixed feelings from those familiar with the bank’s history. For instance, in a letter addressed to the CBN, a former staff of the bank who was in charge of the staff Joint Consultative Council, JCC, warned that its deviation from laid down

rules and regulations in the recruitment and promotion of staff was likely to destroy the core values of the apex financial institution.

Pensioner warns Uke Harriman, who is now a CBN pensioner, wrote the letter to Sanusi, on May 31, 2012 and asked the bank to stop introducing strange measures capable of elongating the period of promoting qualified staff so as not to kill their spirit of creativity and productivity.

Harriman warned: “The haphazard promotion or appointment of employees without regard to seniority, qualifications, experience and performance will create self-seeking employees who will struggle to compensate in time for career advancement disruption caused by appointing an officer far junior in rank, age and qualification to them.

“As this expectation is gradually being impressed on the psyche of the employees, that any officer can be promoted to boss a senior officer who has been known to be qualified, dynamic and dedicated to his duties, there will be a negative adjustment to accept the situation.”

CBN committed no infraction But CBN’s Director of Corporate Communica-

tions, Ugo Okoroafor, told Vanguard in an interview that the bank had not committed any infraction in its appointments and promotions, as it has always followed due process in such matters. Okoroafor, who defended the appointment of persons from outside into the bank over the years, said the apex bank was not bound by any known law to use only existing staff in its operations.

The bank’s spokesman also dismissed as untenable allegations levelled against the bank’s appointments at the director level saying that appointments made were based on the outstanding performance of those engaged in thier previous engagements.

Okoroafor pointed out that the bank had no option than to create the two special grades to accommodate the Principal Managers and Assistant Managers in the absence of available vacancies to place them.

He said: “There is no law in Nigeria saying that only staff who have spent eternity in a workplace should become the heads of such places. The CBN is empowered to recruit qualified Nigerian experts to meet its core mandate of rendering quality banking services to the nation,” Okoroafor said.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

PIB: Do not be teleguided, lawmaker tells colleagues

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

B U J A— C H A I R MAN, House of Representatives Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has advised fellow lawmakers not to be teleguided by the Federal Government and multinational oil companies while deliberating on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Reyenieju, who gave the advice, weekend, also accused critics of the Petroleum Host Community Fund, PHCF, in the Petroleum Industry Bill of being shortsighted, hasty and economical with the truth.

Reyenieju, who represents Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, said that those kicking against the inclusion of the Fund in the PIB were treating it as though it were a provision designed to benefit a particular region of the country.

PIB not regional

Accordoing to him, it was wrong for anyone to treat the PIB as a legislation for the Niger Delta or South-South geopolitical zone, as oil could be found anywhere and anytime in Nigeria.

He said: “Unfortunately, what people do not understand is that as soon as oil is found in any community anywhere in Nigeria, that community becomes a host community and will equally benefit from the ten per cent revenue that will accrue to the Petroleum Host Community Fund. It is not a proSouth-South clause but a clause that will apply to virtually every state or region in Nigeria that oil may be found in their environment. It is not a regional bill.

“You will recall that about four months ago, Anambra joined the league of oil bearing states and immediately Mr. President declared that the state was now qualified to benefit from the 13 per cent derivation from oil revenue.

If Anambra was among states that were against the derivation principle in the past, now it has become a beneficiary. So

also Benue, Sokoto or Borno could be a beneficiary.

“The Host Community Fund is healthy and should not be jettisoned.

No aspect of that bill should be domesticated to a particular region because I believe that oil can be found in any part of the country.”

Powers

The legislator, however, joined the fray over

the enormous powers which the PIB has proposed for the minister and President and demanded a reduction of those powers.

He said royalties and signature bonuses were two major sources of revenue to the Federal Government, warning that they must not be left to the whims and caprices of the minister to dictate the terms.

Deregulation should be all embracing — Shamsudeen Essence of bill

Reyenieju explained that the essence of the bill was to create a new NNPC that will be run as a pure business venture that could go to the stock market where people could buy shares and make investments in the company.

“So you don’t need to subject an unbundled NNPC to normal annual budgetary ritual to get funds to run it," he said.

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM & PROVIDENCE OBUH

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OVERNMENT's move to deregulate the downstream petroleum sector shotuld be expanded to cover other sectors of the economy, Minister of National Planning, Alhaji Shamsudeen Usman, has said.

Addressing a world press conference ahead of the upcoming 18th Nigerian Economic Summit, Usman said it was pertinent for the entire econo-

my to be freed to allow for more development and private sector participation.

He remarked that the major issue to be looked at when considering subsidy of any nature was to identify that in the society, there were some people that needed support and ensure they were getting it.

Noting that subsidy should border more on its application, Shamsudeen stated that in some climes, subsidy could be an education loan scheme to relieve the less privileged.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—9

Court orders NIMASA to pay N6.8bn judgement fee

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

The Appeal Court, Lagos, yesterday ordered the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to pay into the account of the court a sum of N6.8 billion being a judgment debt over alleged unlawful detention of a commercial vessel, belonging to Hensmor Nigeria Limited on March 14, 2006.

In a unanimous ruling by the three presiding justices of the appellate court, it ordered NIMASA to pay the sum into the Registrar of the court on an interest yielding account domiciled with First

Bank of Nigeria Plc, within seven days of the ruling.

NIMASA had arrested the vessel belonging to Hensmor Nigeria laden with kerosene for five years, which resulted into litigation and the case was eventually won by the company at the trial court.

In the ruling read by Justice Adamu Jauro and agreed to by the two other justices, the court ordered NIMASA to pay the judgment sum into the bank’s account while adjourning the motion for appeal filed by the agency against the substantive judgment of the trial court till February 11, 2013.

Medical Guild says Lagos hospitals lack doctors

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWALE

Medical doctors under the employment of Lagos State Government, yesterday raised alarm over what they described as ‘acute shortage’ of doctors across the state – owned hospitals.

Speaking in Lagos, Chairman of Medical Guild, an umbrella body of doctors in the state, Dr.Olumuyinwa Odusote said the worst hit among the hospitals was the state’s teaching hospital, where it takes about five months for a patient to secure appoitment with a doctor.

Odunsote who frowned at the development blamed the problem on mass resignation of doctors following failure

of the State Government to implement the c o n t r o v e r s i a l Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, CONMESS in the state.

Appealing for quick resolution of the problem by the state government, said: “People wait as far as five months for appointments to see a doctor or get treatment.

Continuing, Odusote called on Lagos State Government to address the shortage urgently by i m p l e m e n t i n g CONMESS. “We have written to the state government over the problem at hand and we are hoping the resolution will be quicker than expected so that our people will not suffer unduly.”

Jonathan, Anyim for Igbo Day celebration in Lagos

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, would be the Special Guests of Honour at the Lagos Igbo Day Celebration which would hold on November 24, 2012.

According to the Vice Chairman of the Igbo Day Planning Committee, Dr Dom Ferguson, this year ’s Igbo day would be different from the other years as it would feature

a lot of innovations.

He said that Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State Chapter, decided to shift the celebration from the traditional September 29 to November 24 so that the members of the national body as well as Igbos in the other states of the federation would be in attendance.

According to him, some of the innovations in this year ’s Igbo Day celebration would include reading news in Igbo language by children as a way of promoting Igbo language, beauty pageant, catwalks by children and exhibition of works of art.

From left: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Aare Ago Bola Tinubu, Oba & Olori Adedotun Gbadegbo, Alake of Egbaland and Senator Remi Tinubu, Yeye Aare Ago of Egbaland, during the coronation of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Aare Ago of Egbaland. Photo: Wunmi Akinola

How past govt blocked Tinubu’s chieftaincy title — Osoba

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — F O R M E R governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba yesterday accused an un-named past government in the state of preventing chieftaincy titles to be conferred on former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Osoba further said that the chieftaincy title of Aare Ago of Egbaland which was conferred on Tinubu yesterday would have been conferred on him seven years ago, but for the unfavourable disposition of the administration in power Speaking in Abeokuta shortly after the conferment of the tittle of Aare Ago and Erelu Aare Ago on Tinubu and his wife respectively by the

Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo,Osoba said Tinubu deserves the honour.

Speaking further at the occasion which was part of the activities to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the coronation of Alake, Osoba who justified the conferment of the title on Tinubu, described the former governor of Lagos as a courageous fighter

Witness denies saying Atuche gave money to church

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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RIAL IN the ongoing case against the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche and three others continued yesterday with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as the anti graft agency produced one of its witnesses, Mr. Bolaji Ogunsola, who had requested for court’s protection over fear of attack.

At the resumed trial, the witness was crossexamined by the defence team, where he denied ever saying in his

evidence before the court that the first defendant, Atuche gave money to church.

Ogunsola, an exDeputy General Manager of Mortgages PHB in a crossexamination by Anthony Idigbe, SAN, said "What I said is that an instrument was given by Clearmont. I didn’t say the first defendant gave money to the church.

"There’s no email that was issued by the first defendant and I didn’t confirm from him whether it was his instruction.”

Atuche, is being charged with his wife Elizabeth and the former Chief Financial Officer in the bank, Ugo Anyanwu for allegedly stealing

N27.5 billion belonging to the bank by the anti graft agency.

He explained that though Atuche was the sole signatory of the account in contention, his review of all accounts in Mortgages PHB revealed that there is no sufficient information to confirm that Atuche is the owner of the account.

He also denied that Atuche ever issued a cheque for money to be paid to his church or his lawyer’s firm.

The trial Judge, Justice Latifat Okunnu adjourned the matter till December 4, 2012 to take the application by the defence to recall a prosecution witness, Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi and for further hearing.

for democratic values.

The occasion which was witnessed by eminent Nigerians who included presidential candidates of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the ACN during April 2011 general elections, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as well as ex-Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai among others.

Other eminent personalities at the occasion were former speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Bello Masari; ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; Senate Minority leader, George Akume; House of Reps’ Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila as well as former governors of Lagos and Ogun states, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Aremo Segun Osoba.

The monarch explained that Asiwaju Tinubu fought irrepressibly for the protection of civic liberty in Nigeria.

In his remarks shortly after the conferment, the ACN National Leader pledged that he would continue to support every developmental initiatives of Alake of Egbaland.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Mimiko promises better 2nd term

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K U R E — GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has assured that his achievement during his second term in office will surpass that of his first term.

He spoke through his Deputy Alhaji Alli Olanusi at a victory party to mark the reelection of the governor organised by the people of Irekari of Ose Local Government Area of the state.

Olanusi said that the margin of Labour Party’s

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor (left) endorsing the oath of office of Osun State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Gloria Ethieyorwe Oladoke (right), witnessed by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, during the ceremony, at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo, yesterday.

Ekiti PDP wants CP re-deployed

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKIT—The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has called for the immediate redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sontoye Leroy Wakama for alleged partisanship and unholy romance with the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state Speaking at a press briefing at the party ’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the party ’s Director General for Media,Communications and Publicity,Chief Gboyega Aribisogan alleged that the police boss has closed his eyes to series of criminal acts perpetrated by the agents of the ACN despite repeated calls by the opposition parties in the state that police must act According to the PDP spokesman,agents of the ruling party had a couple of weeks ago attacked the former governor of the state,Mr. Ayo Fayose at Oye,Ilawe and Ikere respectively,noting that the state police boss was yet to make an arrest He further alleged that the same agents of the state government had stormed the two hitherto towns of Ilasa and EgbeIro and chased out the monarchs with thugs.

But the police boss,Mr. Wakama in his reaction has denied the allegation of being partisan,saying police have made arrest in certain instances and charged some to courts.

On the issue of regency at Ilasa, he said it was not the duty of police to install a regent in a town,noting that the primary responsibility of the police was to maintain peace and order

The police boss said he was ready to leave the state any time his superior officers decide that he must leave.

The PDP spokesman further alleged that no arrest was made over the killing of one Mr. Teslim

Yusuff Abiola,a student of University of Ekiti State about a month ago.

He said the CP was over protecting the person that killed Abiola,because he happens to be one of the aides of the governor,

S-West PDP condemns Falana's position on FG’s $7bn loan

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has urged the National Assembly to ignore Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN's criticism on the Federal Government proposed $7 billion loan.

The party, which said it was time for Falana to be told to stop his shameless hypocrisy, added that; “a man who kept silent when Local Council workers, including primary health

workers were on strike for seven weeks and his kinsmen in Ekiti State were dying of cholera while children were unable to get immunisation does not have moral rights to speak in the gathering of sane minds.”

In a release issued by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, the PDP said; “if in the thinking of Falana, it was right for the Kayode

Oyo traders protest demolition of stalls

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — MARKET women in the popular Dugbe Market yesterday stormed the Oyo State Secretariat protesting demolition of their stalls and non-provision of alternative space by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration.

Also, the visibly angry traders alleged that some YES-O men recruited by the government stole some of their wares during the demolition exercise.

Brandishing placards 'ACN, call Ajimobi to order', 'After Lam’s death, Oyo people suffer,' 'YES-O stole after demolition,' the traders, despite the heavy presence of armed policemen, still found their way into the

Fayemi-led ACN government in Ekiti, his (Falana) home state to have borrowed N25 billion lavished the on irrelevant projects like laying of asphalt on already asphalted roads, installation of generator powered street lights, planting of flowers among others, he should

BY OLA AJAYI just keep his mouth BADAN — THE permanently shut on the presidential candidate Federal Government proposed $7 billion loan.” of the Congress for Progressive Change in the last election, General Muhammed Buhari; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji is what we have done.

Aminu Masari; the “We owe no apologies to Chairman, Petroleum spin doctors employed by Revenue Task Force, Mimiko to challenge our Nuhu Ribadu yesterday inalienable right which paid condolence visit to was not denied him in 2009 when he was fighting to recover its mandate.

BY GBENGA OLARI“It is sad that the LP’s NOYE Publicity Secretary, Mr. Femi Okunjemiruwa SOGBO —OSUN missed the point in his State government in reference to ‘an era when its bid to facilitate quick the judiciary was under administration of justice the cash and carry in the state has proposed characters of old and the to construct four lock up era of judgment prisons in four major purchase’. cities in the state.

HE ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ondo State has accused the Labour Party of locking up its secretariat to prevent its being served the court summons from the governorship tribunal seating in Akure.

Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, of ACN, Ondo State, in a statement yesterday said; “Governor Mimiko and the LP have been evading

service of the summon from the tribunal as an antic to buy time ,perhaps to ensure that the case is not disposed off within the constitutionally accepted period.

“The ACN is committed to pursuing the tribunal case to a logical conclusion. We have the responsibility of informing our numerous supporters in Ondo State, Nigeria and the world at large about why we are in court and this

secretariat.

The leader of traders, Otun Iyalaje of Ibadan land, Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Coker, fumed, saying, “It is at Dugbe Market that we make money to finance our children's education.

Many of these traders -widows and single mothers- cried out: "Where do we go now?

Governor Ajimobi must not scatter Dugbe Market during his government.

We closed down the market when he came to campaign. Is this what we would get in return from ACN?" Pacifying the angry women, the Speaker, House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu assured them that the House would step into the issue.

Buhari, Ribadu, others visit Lam Adesina’s family

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ACN accuses LP of evading Tribunal summons

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victory at the poll would have been wider but for the fact that a substantial proportion of the electorate erroneously voted for the people for Democratic Change (PDC) whose logo was similar to LP’s.

According to him, all ongoing projects will be completed, adding that more life-changing projects and programmes would be initiated.

“In all the 203 wards in Ondo State, this is the first victory ceremony to mark and thank God”.

the family of the former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina who died penultimate Sunday.

Also with them at the Felele residence of the late politician was the National Secretary of ACN, Lawal Shuaibu.

Buhari prayed that Allah would forgive the p o l i t i c i a n ’ s shortcomings.

Osun to build 4 prisons

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Briefing newsmen in Osogbo yesterday as part of the second anniversary ministerial press conference, the state Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Afolabi stated that the construction of the lock up prisons would be in

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—11

Private jets: CAN slams Kukah, Bakare

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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VISIT: From left: Hajia Fatima Wali Abdulrahman, member, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation; Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Secretary to State Government, Edo State; Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Co-Chairman, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, during the committee's visit to displaced persons camp at Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday.

We've raised over N12bn so far for flood victims —Dangote

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—CHAIR MAN of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday, paid a visit to the displaced persons camp in Edo State and disclosed that over N12 billion had so far been realised by the committee.

He said that though the committee targeted N100 billion, oil companies and several multinational companies were yet to donate to the project, adding that the committee intended not only to provide food for the victims but also rehabilitate them and provide all they had lost so they could live better than before.

Alhaji Dangote declared this when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House Benin City.

Sympathizing with the governor and people of the state over the flood disaster, Dangote said: “This committee is made up of heavy weights from the various professions.

“We are trying to see if we can raise N100 billion. We had a fund raising at the Villa in Abuja and we have actually raised twelve billion.

“I want to assure you that the displaced Nigerians would not be left to suffer. We will come to their rescue."

In his response, Governor Adams Oshiomhole thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for providing the leadership to galvanize support for the displaced persons because the challenge of the flooding was enormous.

He said: “I want to appreciate Mr. President for putting up such a high-powered committee that has laboured to get to this level, with compassion to share part

of their resources in a coordinated effort to mitigate the sufferings of the victims and give them hope. Mr. President has done extremely well. He has helped to tell us, as Nigerians, that we should be our brothers’ keepers in times of need.”

The governor lamented the gravity of the flood saying, “the challenge of the flood is enormous.

In the short run, we want to make sure that

our brothers and sisters are not allowed to die of starvation having been displayed by the flood, their farmlands destroyed, livestock destroyed and family life destabilized.”

Expressing joy that Nigerians have reacted positively to the displaced persons' plights by donating relief materials, he said he was encouraged by the way Nigerians have reacted across the length and breadth of the country.

C-River hotel staff found dead in swimming pool

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—CON TROVERSY now surrounds the death of one Wisdom Edu who, until his death, was a staff of Treasureland Hotels in Calabar Municipal Council of Cross River State, just as the tree beside the swimming pool where his body was discovered was said to have ‘mysteriously ’ withered within 24 hours after his death.

About five persons, including the manager of the hotel, had been quizzed by the police over the incident but some of them were said to have been released after making their statements.

Wisdom, as he was popularly known, was 19

years old and a native of Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of the state and was living at No. 4 Calabar Road, before his death on November 9, 2012.

Corpse discovered A family source claimed that his corpse was discovered early morning the next day by some naval officers who were lodged at the hotel. He was said to have deep a cut on his head.

Mr. Icha Mbotor, a relation of the deceased, said he received information about Wisdom's death on Sunday morning when his sister, Ghada Francis Ekun, called him to break the sad news and that the corpse was deposited at Calabar General Hospi-

tal mortuary.

He said that when he got to the State Housing Police Station where the matter was reported, the story of Wisdom’s death was confirmed and that the picture taken by the police showed that there was a deep cut on the deceased's head and his mouth was swollen.

HRISTIAN Associ ation of Nigeria, CAN, has condemned comments credited to the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah and Pastor Tunde Bakare, who claimed that acquisition of private jets by religious leaders diminishes moral voices of the church in the war against corruption and are therefore calling for a revolution in the Church of God. Speaking in a telephone interview, National Director of Research, Planning and Strategy, Elder Sunday Oibe, urged the Catholic bishop and the former vice presidential candidate of CPC, that if they have anything against the per-

son of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, they should come out and say so, and not hide under the cloak of the gift of a jet to attack the CAN president.

Oibe, who doubles as the Public Relations Officer of Northern CAN, said he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.

He said: “If there is any clergyman in the country whose constituency is government, it is Bishop Kukah, who served every government in power in the last decade.

“He thinks people have forgotten in a hurry how he served in Obasanjo's government and turned round to attack the former president, or his fraternity with the former Governor James Ibori and his Rivers State counterpart, Peter Odili.”

DMO assures on Nigeria's internal, external borrowing profile

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—DIREC TOR General, Debt Management Office, DMO, Abraham Nwankwo, has assured that there was no cause for alarm over the country’s internal and external borrowing profile, noting that the debts were necessary in order to meet the infrastructural deficit in the country.

The Director General, who disclosed this yesterday after a meeting of the supervising board of the agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, disclosed that Nigeria needed an inflow of $10 million (N1.6 billion) annually for the next ten years to fix its infrastructural deficits.

According to him, the country ’s debt profile which is made up of N6.3 trillion domestic debt and $6.29 billion for-

eign debt, are sustainable, adding that higher debt will boost the economy.

Yesterday ’s meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo and had in attendance, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Economic Adviser in the Office of the Vice President, Accountant General of the Federation, Niyi Otunla and DG DMO. Mr. Nwankwo said there was nothing wrong in borrowing and incurring debts as long as they were judiciously and prudently used to finance projects that would be beneficial to the people while measures are taken to reduce waste.

Bayelsa to spend N6bn on schools' renovation

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Government is to spend about N6bn to renovate, upgrade and reconstruct schools' facilities as part of plans to revitalise the education sector which was crippled by the recent flood.

Governor Seriake

Dickson who disclosed this yesterday at the State Transparency Initiative monthly press briefing, said contractors handling critical projects in the state had been ordered to return to site since the flood had receded.

He said the government's drive to address the decay of public infrastructure, especially

schools, was slowed down by the flood.

The governor, who explained that the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, had awarded N3.5 billion contract for 300 schools, added that the Ministry of Education would, in the next few days, award contracts for another 200 schools valued at about N1.9 billion.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Junaid to Jonathan: You’re promoting corruption, insecurity Continues from page 6

ECOWELD 2012: From left: Mr. Moses Umuwe, Managing Director, Mosad Marine and Engineering Services Ltd; Mr. Bawa M. A., representative of Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Prof. B. O. Adewiyi and Chief Solomon Edebiri, President, Nigerian Institute of Welding, during the opening ceremony of the 3rd ECOWAS Welding Conference Technical Exhibition, ECOWELD 2012, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

NUPENG alleges fraud in SPDC's divestment process

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—NA TIONAL Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has accused management of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, SPDC, of fraudulent practices in its divestment process.

Consequently, it has called on the National Assembly and Federal Executive Council to review the exercise.

President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, who made the allegation while briefing newsmen in Calabar, Cross River State, weekend, said Nigerians were being enslaved by SPDC. He said: “Today Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited is divesting and enslaving Nigerians in the organization under the guise of planning to move out from the down stream

sector and wanting to remain in the deep water and offshore. To be honest to Nigerians, the divestment process in SPDC is fraudulent.”

He said it was the agreement of his union that the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council, and President G o o d l u c k Jonathan should review all divestment processes in SPDC in the interest of the country.

“It is unfortunate that

today those who are buying over the interests of the company in the name of divestment and taking over the oil blocks are Nigerians who are using the back door to exploit the country,” Achese said.

He said it was a bad omen that the country was keeping quite to allow what he described as corrupt divestment in the SPDC, adding that NUPENG was raising the alarm again as a union

3,000 DPP members in Delta defect to PDP the opportunity to fly the

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE political fortunes of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Delta State, yesterday suffered a setback, following the defection of over 3,000 of its members to the ruling Peoples Democratic Par-

ty, PDP. Speaking on behalf of the people in Burutu, the State House of Assembly candidate for Burutu North constituency in the 2011 general election, Mr. Julius Pondi, said he left the PDP for the DPP with his supporters after he was allegedly denied

JTF impounds 5 suspected truck loads of bunkering products in C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, Sector 3 of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, in Calabar, Cross River State, has impounded five truck loads of diesel suspected to be bunkering products at Eight

that the ongoing divestment in Shell was fraudulent.

He called on the government to investigate owners of the companies buying the oil blocks as well as the oil wells.

He regretted that the oil wells were being bought at give away prices and promised that his union would not fold its arms and allow alleged fraudulent practices without reacting at the appropriate time.

miles Junction, Calabar.

The Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, said, while briefing journalists yesterday, that the products were intercepted in the early hours of Sunday.

He said the five trucks, with plate numbers Yobe XA 623 GJB, Kano SML19 XA, Adamawa XA 569-MUB, Taraba XA 408

SDA and Cross River XA 477 KTA, carried 200,000 litres of diesel He said the products, believed to be illegal bunkering, were coming from Calabar South and that the drivers of the truck escaped and ran into the bush when they sited members of the task force.

party’s flag in the 2011 House of Assembly election.

His return, which coincided with the hand-over of Burutu Council chairman, Dr. Moses Adagbabiri, to the Transition Committee Chairman, Navy Capt. Buckman Deinne, was witnessed by major stakeholders of the party.

Addressing the people, Pondi said: “I left the party due to some internal issues which necessitated my defection to DPP to actualise my ambitions, but unfortunately, I could not also do that.

“With the reconciliation of aggrieved members of the party by the current chairman and owing to his personality, my supporters and I are convinced of the sincerity of the party and decided to retrace our steps.”

with fortune in the name of fighting the sect.

He said: “The behaviour and pronouncements of the President and his officials concerning the Boko Haram issue clearly show that they are not sincere and interested in peace.

“It is clear to me therefore, that since Jonathan’s performance so far has been very abysmal, his administration is not interested in finding a lasting solution to the crisis so as to find justification for the failure that is already manifesting in the land.

“In a way, Jonathan needs Boko Haram and his blood tasty collaborators like one of the governors in the north because they provide him with an alibi for non-performance not only in matters of peace bit also in the management of the economy.

“It is because the President is failing, he is

now looking for something to take away attention from his failure. “ J o n a t h a n ’ s administration has been very unjust in the way it has been handling matters of national issues. As far as I know, anything that does not concern his tribe, the Ijaw, is not of interest to him and the government."

The Second Republic politician wondered why the government would not dialogue with Boko Haram when the same President sent a minister to South Africa to beg Henry Okah, an Ijaw like Mr. President, not to speak up on embarrassing issues so as to be given state pardon.

He alleged that the Jonathan’s government was showing lethargy towards ending the Boko Haram saga because the sect was attacking mostly parts of the north and not the president’s area of interest, which is Ijaw.

Senate picks holes in N427.5bn Education budget

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Sen ate, yesterday, faulted the budget allocation of N427, 515, 707, 889 to the Education Ministry for the year 2013, saying it was too small to address the myriad of problems confronting the sector.

According to the Senate, the Education Ministry's total allocation does not measure up to the 26 per cent approved for education by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural O r g a n i z a t i o n (UNESCO).

The Senate also lamented the level of the ministry’s budget implementation of 50 per cent in the 2012 budget, adding that the abyssmal performance was attributable to all sectors in the ministry.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja when the Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruquayyatu Rufai, appeared before his committee for the defence of the 2013 budget, Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia North, stressed that the Ministry’s budget represents less than 10 per cent of

the N4.92 trillion 2013 budget.

Meanwhile, the Senate has condemned in very strong terms, the 48 percent performance of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, noting that it was far below the expectations of Nigerians.

Speaking yesterday when the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple, appeared before the Senate Committee on Housing to defend the 2013 budget, Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, Yobe East, was not happy that out of the total sum of N41, 919, 082, 732 budgeted in 2012 for capital projects, only N18, 338, 849, 012 had been released and cash backed.

Speaking further on Education budget, Senator Chukwumerije said: “The sector should be given improved funding which the Committee hopes to address in conjunction with the Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly.”

He called on institutions in the sector to ginger up in their drive for funding by putting more energy on Internally Generated Revenue.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—13

Police declares Nwaforagu wanted over alleged robbery, kidnapping zI'm not on the run, says suspect

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—ANAMBRA State police command declared, yesterday, one Mr. Okey Nwaforagu (alias Ochiagha Nkpor) wanted for armed robbery and kidnapping that took place in many parts of the state in recent time.

But the suspect denied being on the run, saying

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he was at the Zone nine headquarters of the police in Umuahia yesterday to complain about alleged invasion of his hotel.

The police said Nwaforagu was allegedly involved in many armed robbery and kidnap incidents in the state and was said to be allegedly responsible for the murder of two policemen at

a hotel owned by him at Nkpor in Idemili area of the state.

Specifically, the police said Nwaforagu, who hails from Enugwu– Umusiome village, Nkpor in Idemili North local government area, is wanted for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in many parts of the

state.

It was gathered that though the police trailed him to his hideout, he disappeared before the arrival of security operatives.

However, Nwaforagu said his ordeal with the police was due to the petition he wrote against the police, adding that there was no reason for him to be on the run.

LAUNCHING: From left: President, National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; author of the Book and Director Legal Services, National Assembly ,Daniel Adem and Senate President, Senator David Mark, at the public presentation of a Book "Legislative Drafting in Plain English" in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Police de dettain 7-month-old bab babyy, parents over N20,000 debt

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—A SEVEN MONTH old baby boy, Uchenna Nwoye, his parents and two others were allegedly arrested and detained by the police in Onitsha over N20 000 debt owed by the parents.

They were arrested at Ifitedunu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State by policemen from Fegge Police Stattion, Onitsha, for failure to pay the N20,000 to a woman Uchenna’s father allegedly did business with.

Narrating the incident to newsmen, yesterday, in Onitsha, mother of the boy, 23year-old Mrs. Ukamaka Nwoye, said they were whisked away by the policemen without any reason, adding that they were fast asleep when heavily armed policemen numbering over 20

forced open their door and arrested all the occupants, including the 7months-old boy.

She said: “On November 7, at about 2.30am, we were all asleep when suddenly, some policemen came into our

compound and forced their way into our house and arrested us, including my 7-month-old baby.They took us to their bus and whisked us away to a place we later found out was Fegge Police Station, Onitsha.

“They denied us the opportunity to call any of

our relations. It was one of the policemen who saw how my child was almost suffocating inside the cell that secretly helped me to call one of my brothers and I told him where we were being detained. We spent over seven days in detention."

LCDA appeal: Lagos ACN carpets S-West PDP our contention, we feel

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AGOS—THE Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has denied allegation by South West Peoles Democratic Party, PDP, that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and ACN are manipulating the appeal case on the Ikoyi/ Obalende LCDA. In a statement, Lagos State Publicity Secretary of ACN, Joe Igbokwe, said: “Our reaction to the latest vile falsehood from the stable of a desperate dying cabal called South

West PDP is to laugh it off as yet another vain smear effort by PDP to cash in on the intelligence of a people that have proved for the umpteenth time that they are wiser than the antic of the PDP. “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Fashola and the ACN gives no heck about Ikoyi/ Obalende LCDA going to the PDP in a free and fair contest but we feel that PDP cannot just be patronised because they are very desperate. Even in

the judiciary still remains the best institution equipped to settle every electoral dispute, which is why we are still submitting to the primacy of the court in this matter.

Neither Governor Fashola nor the ACN has done anything to sabotage this process and we remain firm that the lower tribunal erred by disallowing our legitimate votes and approving PDP’s own votes.

This however, we believe, is left to the tribunal to decide."

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Tanker fire: 2 killed, 3 injured in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—NO fewer than two persons, weekend, lost their lives after a petrol tanker with registration number,:Cross River XA 574 Calabar, fell at Ntezi-Amuzu community, along AbakalikiAfikpo expressway in Ebonyi State.

Three other persons who sustained in juries in the ensuing inferno are now receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Vanguard learnt that the tanker, which fell on Saturday at about 3:55pm, discharged all the products it was carrying into some compounds belonging to members of NteziAmuzu community which sparked off fire that led to death of two persons and destruction of buildings and lockup shops worth million of naira.

When our correspondent visited the scene, it

was gathered that the truck fell because of a bad spot along the expressway which was not properly marked with a road sign to enable commuters take alternative routes.

An eye-witness account revealed that since the incident occurred, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in the state is yet to arrive the scene.

Aside from the two persons that lost their lives following the incident, three others were admitted at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA where they are currently receiving treatment.

A member of the community, Mr. Chidi Nwele, said: “It started about 3:55pm on Saturday. When the tanker was just passing, along the line, it fell on the

road and led to outbreak of fire. It destroyed two motorcycles, buildings and wounded three persons who are now receiving treatment in the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

“Two persons by name, Mrs. Margret Nworie and Mr. Felix of Ntezi-Amuzu community lost their lives because of the incident."

Cleric faults constitution review, slams NASS Rt. Rev. Manasse Okere. lence, crime and unemBY CHINENYEH OZOR

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SUKKA—THE An glican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has said that members of the National Assembly were not interested in the agenda of the masses but rather their personal interests.

Bishop Chukwuma stated this in an interview at St Paul’s Cathedral, Nsukka, during the consecration of the bishop of Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi, Abia State,

He said the National Assembly only ushered an agenda as constitutional amendment only to confirm the areas of their personal interests for elongation of tenure.

He said: "The National Assembly left all the agenda that affect the people and gave out areas that suite their personal interests at the expense of the masses.

“They should face the challenges of the entire country which bother on insecurity, poverty, vio-

ployment among others.”

FG terminates Lagos-Ibadan expressway contract Continues from Page 6 terminated.

“For your information, under this concession the construction period is supposed to last for four years and the four years will come to a close in about six months time and right now there is nothing on ground to suggest that the company is capable.”

He, however, assured that the non-performance of Bi-Courtney would not affect the Federal Government’s patronage of local contractors.

He said: “I would not want to say that it was a mistake, because though I was not in the office at that time, perhaps at that time they had the most responsible bids, the details is best known to the then Minister of Works and his team that handled the project.

"But again, it is not out of place to give Nigerian companies opportunities to handle projects of this nature.

This is our country, who ever has the ability and the capacity to do projects of this nature, we believe should be encouraged.”

Nigeria's GDP grows 6.5% in 3rd quarter

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AGOS (REUTERS)— NIGERIA, Africa’s second-biggest economy, grew 6.5 per cent in the third quarter from a year earlier, helped by solid growth in the non-oil economy, data showed, yesterday.

GDP growth accelerated slightly from 6.3 per cent in the second quarter of this year, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS,

showed. Oil output in Africa’s biggest producer climbed nearly 6 per cent from the corresponding period a year ago.

Nigeria’s economy has been slowing this year due to a slowdown in developed economies that buy Nigerian oil and to the impact of an Islamist insurgency in the north of the country. The government forecasts 6.5

per cent economic growth this year, down from 7.4 per cent last year.

The NBS said the nonoil sector was “still the major driver of the economy,” recording 7.6 per cent growth in the third quarter and supported by growth in building and construction, cement, hotel, restaurant and electricity sectors.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—15

BREAKFAST: —President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being presented with a book on Nigeria's foreign relations by the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, during a breakfast meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

From left— Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, and Dr. Sanni Lugga, member, during a visit by the committee to flood victims at the ICE Relief Camp, Asaba, yesterday. PHOTO: Henry Unini.

ACN, CPC plot to destabilise Jonathan — PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, accused Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, of budgeting huge sums of money to destabilise President Goodluck Jonathan and his government.

According to PDP, the opposition political parties plan to use the money on negative propaganda designed primarily to confuse Nigerians.

The national Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed this when he received zonal publicity secretaries of the party at the national secretriat of the party yesterday.

He said: “We have uncovered a game plan by CPC and ACN on a propanganda war against PDP, the President and its elected officials to deceive the public.”

ACN reacts

ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and CPC's Engr.

Rotimi Fashikin immediately rebuffed the allegations describing the PDP and the government as fidgeting because of lack of confidence.

"Have you seen a government as insecure as this government," Mohammed asked yesterday.

He said the accusation was a plan by the government to hound the opposition, adding that it would fail.

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Jonathan in Pakistan for D-8 meeting

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan left Abuja, last night, for Islamabad, Pakistan, to attend the summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of Eight Developing Nations (D-8), which opens today.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the President will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Jonathan will also hold bilateral meetings in Islamabad with the presidents of Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Egypt, who are members of D-8.

Other D-8 nations are Nigeria, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Reps summon NNPC over N7bn revenue shortfall

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—HOUSE of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday, resolved to summon the management of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to appear before it for seven consecutive days to explain the shortfall of N7 billion in government revenue from the corporation in 2006.

The Committee, chaired by Solomon Adeola, said it would equally be querying other agencies, including the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, DPR; Petroleum Pipelines Marketing Company, the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and the Ministry of Petroleum over the issue.

Adeola also disclosed

that it would be instituting a comprehensive probe into the operation of the Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, which, according to him, has not remitted any revenue into government coffers after operating in the country for about seven years.

The lawmaker said the budget proposal submitted by the government to

the National Assembly did not reflect revenue expected from gas, even as he added that it would be unacceptable to the House for the Presidency to lump it up as revenue coming from other sources.

He also revealed that the committee was working hard to ensure that the Office of the Auditor-

General of the Federation got its budget as a first line charge from the Federation Accounts for it to be actually independent and discharge its responsibilities judiciously.

On the possibility of laying the 2003-2006 audit report to the House, Adeola said: “We will do that as the MDAs have a lot to return to the federation account.”

Speaking on the reso-

lution of his Alimosho Federal Constituency in the ongoing Constitution Amendment process, Adeola said his peoples, who are more than three million people, are demanding for the creation of two additional local governments for the area.

He also disclosed that his constituents kicked against the creation of more states, just as they rejected constitutional roles for traditional rulers.

INEC to delimitate, create new polling units

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, has said his administration would not only embark on delimitation of constituencies but establishment of more polling units across the country before the 2015 general elections.

He said that by law, the

delimitation exercise was supposed to be carried out only after a national census or head count. However, the national census or head count is expected to be conducted in 2016, after the last one in 2006.

Jega said the need to create additional polling units in the country became imperative due to demographic shifts in certain parts of the country, occasioned by ethno-reli-

gious crises or sheer explosion of populations in certain areas.

Jega, who spoke at the opening of a two-day workshop organised for INEC's Public Affairs Officers, PAOs, in Abuja yesterday, recalled that the commission had to create voting points to decongest some polling units during the 2011 general elections.

Jega noted that the

projects were not only going to be mouthful and ambitious, but also momentous and delicate.

He said: “My dear Public Affairs Officers, you will agree with me that these projects are not only mouthful, they are ambitious, momentous and delicate.

“They call for strenuous and professional explaining to our many stakeholders if we want to succeed.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 17

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No request made

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orget all that mushiness about justice, equity, fair play and good conscience. You would think that a former legislator would know better.

The issue is that the above is the kind of plea you make when you have a matter before the National Assembly.

You don’t insist that an institution gives you what you have not asked for and you begin to appeal to its

The South-East and quest for equity state

David Mark, Senate President conscience! One would have thought that a former member of the legislature would know that state creation is a legislative process and not an event that happens at the thud of the gavel!

As far as I know, there is no request from the South East before the National Assembly today for the creation of a state. I may be wrong.

Moreover, in the South East, there is no visible evidence that, beyond this kind of cringing by politicians craving for relevance, the zone is seriously strategising for an additional state.

First, there is no consensus yet among all the South Eastern states about where the additional state would be created. A state like Ebonyi is, at best, lukewarm about it. No local government in Ebonyi is interested in being part of any of the proposed new states. In other states, every political bigwig has his own new state proposal. As I write, there are at least ten different new states proposals.

That is not even the worst mistake about the whole thing.

As soon as the process of amending the constitution began, there arose entirely new fervour about the new state creation, so strident during the recent public hearings on the constitution amendment that Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution

Amendment, began to be accused of having a hidden agenda to use the Constitution review exercise as a smokescreen to create a new state for the South East.

This suspicion, of course, ignited the usual Nigerian greed which puts a blinker on “justice, equity, fair play and good conscience”. Other zones began to make demands for new states. One state alone even wants five additional states created out it! Of course, they are entitled to make their demands, particularly if the South East has failed to properly make its case in a way that isolates other requests. But such demand simply

amendment, was that he would facilitate the writing into the new constitution a new state for the South East! If such expectation were not met, the Igbo would roast him and Deputy Speaker, Sir Emeka Ihedioha alive!

Thus he had to make the elaborate explanation last week that creation of states is not synonymous with the constitution amendment exercise.

Creation of states will still follow the provisions of the constitution and involves almost everybody, every legislator and every legislative House in the land from the local government to the National Assembly. “It is very important that those agitating for new states thoroughly understand the provisions of Section 8 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which spells out the requirements and process for the task” Ekweremadu said.

South East and hunger for power

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he Igbo nation must find a way to ensure that those who speak on their behalf on important national issues must understand what the issues are. Because the politics of the area is more driven by hunger for power than struggle for issues and principles, ever so often people just sound off for relevance they hardly deserve. This not only confuses issues but makes the Igbo look unprepared and unserious about what they want.

If the South East seriously wants the injustice of unequal states to be rectified, they have to do their

,

DON'T know why it took so long for the clarification to be made; that neither the National Assembly, nor the Committee on the Review of the Constitutional can create states with fiat. That era belonged to the military!

Let me quickly make the point before I am misunderstood; I share the sentiment of the people of the South East that fair is fair. Since states are used as units of allocation of resources and values in this countr y, it is, therefore only fair that the South East geopolitical zone should have the same number of states as other geopolitical zones. I quite share that sentiment because after the civil war, probably as part of the post-civil war punishment, the Igbo were, for many years, helmed into two states!

However, the way the people of South East have gone about the creation of an equalisation state in recent times, is, to say the least, very embarrassing.

They have been pleading and demanding to be “given” an additional state, or that an equalising state be created for them. Up till last week, some political jobbers were running about making ridiculous and outlandish threats that additional state for the South East is not negotiable.

And I asked: who was such infantile talk meant for? Even those who are supposed to know made noise about the additional state for the South East as if we were under a military regime or the National Assembly were a Supreme Military Council!

The following were credited to a former Federal legislator who insisted that: “the creation of an additional state to (sic) South East geopolitical zone, to place the zone at par with other geopolitical zones, was not negotiable” He went on to insist that “the demand for a new state for the South East zone was a right and not negotiable” and he went on to humour himself that the demand was in tandem with justice, equity, fair play and good conscience! The former legislator concluded that the National Assembly “is an upright institution known for exhibiting justice and fair play to all manner of people and all shades of opinion”. He then urged the National Assembly to reconsider its decision and “create” an additional state for the South East zone!

After the creation of Akwa Ibom and Katsina states, Gen. Babangida decreed that the creation of states is closed. But some serious Igbo leaders convinced him to reconsider the matter. The argument was so persuasive and the strategy so well thought out that he and his colleagues were persuaded to reconsider the matter. The South East must clear the jokers from the scene so that Nigerians can hear their argument

says, if you give the South East an additional, state, we too must get, thus perpetuating the injustice. It is such clamour that prompted the Senate President, David Mark, last week to disclaim any hidden agenda in the whole constitution review exercise.

Ekweremadu's cross

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s for Deputy Senate President, the ridiculous expectation by the South East that as the chairman of the senate committee on the constitution

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homework and properly strategise for it. After all, after the creation of Akwa Ibom and Katsina states, Gen. Babangida decreed that the creation of states is closed. But some serious Igbo leaders convinced him to reconsider the matter. The argument was so persuasive and the strategy so well thought out that he and his colleagues were persuaded to reconsider the matter. The South East must clear the jokers from the scene so that Nigerians can hear their argument, at least.

OPINION

BY CHIDIEBERE OGBU

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HEN my friend Kingsley Onyekaba in USA, immediately sees this bye-line, he would think I have gone bonkers. We made a vow a year ago, never to discuss corruption in Nigeria, oil subsidy, turn around maintenance (TAM) and the big masquerade NNPC. I know he will say they ’ve settled him, serves him right, shame on him, he will stew in his own juice blablabla. I wouldn’t blame him.

This is not a civic responsibility; this is not even a crusade. I am neither supporting the Government nor am I an anti-corruption activist. I am struggling to remain sane. The NNPC waters have been so muddled that the resulting cacophony has left everybody talking at the same time and nobody is listening.

I met one Professor and asked him what he thought of the Ribadu’s Committee and her report. The Prof asked “have you watched ‘Thunder ball’ by James Bond” I stupidly said yes, then he added, “this is

Ribadu's report: A mountain out of a mole hill an oil Thunder ball” and left, I became more confused.

Okay let me begin from the beginning: FEMI OREBE a very reputable columnist in Nigerian Nation Newspaper had a screaming headline “NNPC is a cesspool of corruption” I agree with him into to. Only he did not state when the corruption began, whether it came with the present government, or has been there long before now.

Femi Orebe quoted Dr. Christopher Kolade in his lecture on “ POSSESSORS AT THE GATE’ which he gave as guest lecturer at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Obafemi Awolowo University and I quote “In Nigeria we possess a land that has been created by Almighty God, and into which He has poured endowment of such superior quality that its human occupants should have no difficulty accessing the basic requirements for living a reasonable good life. The resources of this nation

he wrote, to which human beings have added insignificant value,are more than enough to take good care of our true needs and that we can earn the respect of others through our performance rather than by how much wealth we display. As soon as man begins to look for ways of feeding his greed he enters a territory of discomfort. Whenever man tries to eat more than his system requires, that is whenever man tries to acquire more material wealth than one needs merely adds to his trouble”. Thank you Femi.

You see what I mean; oil was discovered in Oloibiri in the present Rivers State of Nigeria in 1958. Since then, all wealth generated has been plundered and squandered.

Continues on the Viewpoint page *Mr. Ogbu, a medical doctor, wrote from Owerri, Imo State.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 AFRICA is so doomed because we discuss its future without pondering the implications of the woes we bemoan. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation proceeded in similar fashion when it painted the dreary picture of the future of African youth. It was rather the picture of a futureless continent, a real threat to the global community.

How would Africa’s more than one billion people fare in the next few decades? The report said poor governance, absence of quality education, health, youth employment were creating an uncompetitive continent, the youth bear the brunt.

Governance remains central to the challenges Africa faces. Minimal attention is paid to the future, except the future of leaderships that invest state resources in sustaining their regimes. Many African leaders do not see the future of their countries beyond the confines of their own interests. Efforts at creating linkages that can develop the continent are lost in petty quests for individual prosperity, “value” leaders promote, and which the populace imitate.

The endangerment of Africa is total.

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

Continued from Monday viewpoint

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HE Ndudi Elumelu-led House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel set up to investigate the alleged $16bn expenditure in the power sector, the Farouk Lawan-led House Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management and the Nigeria Stock Exchange probe headed by Ibrahim ElSudi and the N6.2bn SIM cards registration probe had some reports that generated serious debates but are idling away.

In June 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration set up the Human Rights Violations Investigation Panel, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, to review the human rights abuses experienced during previous military regimes.

While the panel worked assiduously, according to its mandate, nothing came out of report, as some powerful Nigerians even sought the orders of the courts, to stop its proceedings.

Halliburton had sacked its top executive, Albert Stanley, for allegedly bribing senior Nigerian government officials with about US$180million to win Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, contracts in the late 1990s.While the Federal Government set up a probe panel, headed by the former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, to

Africa’s Grim Future Education barely prepares the youth for challenges of living in modern societies where the digital divide makes the differences uncomfortably obvious. African youth who embrace digital technology mostly deploy their knowledge to the distracting rewards of social media.

Where does the salvation lie? The Mo Foundation Report emphasises education, laments and the additional burdens of educated youth being unemployed, with more school age kids still out of school.

Governance is key in tackling these issues because governments award episodic treatment to grave matters of the sustenance of societies. Too many African governments are clueless about the importance of

investments in sectors that would create jobs to absorb the millions of youth whose present concerns must be tackled to guarantee their relevance in future.

Mo Foundation has a lot of work to do. Until the youth is the future of the continent and its affairs handled with the emergency the future of Africa demands, the Foundation’s job would not have been done. It is a lot of work that has deeper complications than many contemplate.

Africa suffers capacity deficit in many areas.

Outside leadership, infrastructure remains a limiting factor in the utilisation of the continent’s resources. Perhaps, the biggest threat is the imitative corruption our leaders have imbibed. Billions of dollars stolen from the continent, annually, end up in foreign banks. Not only do corrupt practices minimise resources available for development, they create a culture of impunity and a leadership lineage doused in corruption and decidedly immersed in maintaining its vice grip on Africa.

The world faces a grimmer future without a globally compliant Africa. The challenges are not for the youth. They are for the world.

OPINION Treating public reports with condescension(2) investigate the case, the Senate and the House of Representatives separately also probed the incident.

Till date, no result has come from the probes and nobody was ever prosecuted from the outcome of the probes even when other foreign countries had sanctioned those indicted in the Halliburton scandal.

Senate also probed the problems of call dropping and poor services by the GSM operators in the country. After much work, the Senator Sylvester Anyanwu-led committee’s report was rejected at the mercy of the million of subscribers, who are daily being exploited by the telecom operators.

In August 2008, the Federal Government set up a 10-man panel to investigate cement plants in Nigeria with the aim of arriving at how to cut down the exorbitant price of cement in the country and in the same year was the probe of the aviation sector by a panel, set up by then minister, Felix Hyat to investigate the utilisation of the N19.5billion Aviation Intervention Fund. Nothing was heard of the outcomes of the panels.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of River State constituted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a seven-man panel, headed by Justice Kayode Eso, in “unearthing the remote and immediate causes of cult clashes in Rivers State” and identifying

perpetrators and victims, with a view to prosecuting the culprits and compensating the victims.

J

ustice Eso identified ‘greed’ as the main cause of the Niger Delta crises, while the remote cause is demand for selfactualisation by citizens of the states. To date, the recommendations of the 572-page report have not been implemented.

The report of highly celebrated Dr. Pius Okigbo-led panel went the same way. The panel was meant to probe the Gulf War period receipts. The full report, submitted on September 27, 1994, never saw the light of day, and was declared “missing” from records till date.

The failure to implement previous reports has been attributed to the lack of stamina and passion on the part of government in bringing about a change.

Many of such reports had “died” because the government lacked the political will to implement them because it is widely believed that most of the key players in the agencies covered in the reports had links with government.

Several billions of scarce resources have been wasted in the course of running the panels, committees and commission in the sense that members collect fat sitting allowances and perks of office, apart from

the often ridiculously high administrative and secretarial expenses.

It should be appreciated that probing is a core part of governance and public office management. It is a modern tool used all over the world to get to the roots of problems, not necessarily for witch-hunting.

The essence of such probes or investigations is to make sure the causes of a problem are known, persons behind it punished if there is the need for that and to generally ensure there is safeguard built against a repeat.

That is why analysts believe that findings of the Ribadu Report would have helped the nation in some ramifications - putting a stop to the unhealthy practice of selling 100 per cent of the crude through traders instead of selling directly to refiners and privatizing or scrapping some of NNPC’s 16 subsidiaries.

Others include a requirement that a full report of all NNPC’s transactions be made to the National Assembly, arresting and prosecuting of perpetrators and financiers of illegal bunkering rings as well as ending NNPC’s illegal deduction of monies payable to the Federation Account.

Concluded *Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agric., Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012— 19

, Continued from last week: Amoda argued that as a nation, we must continue to emphasise the need for local police.

I

S it possible to speak of national insecurity in view of such regionalist dichotomy in the assessment of the present security challenges?

Senator Adokwe drives home his doctrine of “Presumption of Regularity ”, namely in making the point that abuse of authority and power is so universal that only the good that the law can do should be the argument for its enactment. “In Nigeria, the Nigeria Police is still being used by well-placed privileged citizens against the less-privileged ones. A governor can use the present police to do whatever he wants to do by just summoning the police commissioner and giving instructions.

The CP in the state would tell you, when it is convenient for him, that the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state and that he had directed him to do this or that and the day it is not convenient for him, he would say that he is not answerable to the governor but to the president or taking 'orders from above'. Even if we

are not going to have state police, the law must be made in such a way that wherever the police are, the state governor can have well spelt out and control over them”.

The security deficit argument has been exhausted by Senator Adokwe, leaving the ground for reform of the police as the systems of government rationale advocated by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State.

Senator Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business Position on State Police, in his interview of Saturday Vanguard, September 8, 2012 he was asked as follows: ”With the endless security challenges facing the nation, would you say the time is ripe for establishment of state police?

His answer: “I am becoming a lot more concerned. I had supported the establishment of state police partially. But as a member of the Constitution Review Committee, I will have to hear the rest of Nigerians before I will say this is how I will vote.

But I am

,

disappointed in the direction of the North against the South and that is the aim of the discussion. The aim of the discussion is to point out the advantage or disadvantages…

I have heard more submission of retired IGs of police. Those are matters that we should take as inputs in deciding whether or not to have state police. But we should also decide more whether the Federal Government is funding the police properly”.

G

overnor Fayemi’s position on state police dispenses with Enang’s constitutional strictures. He argues for state police in terms of that which is appropriate to a federalist government arrangement without differentiating between the federalist as the structure of sovereignty and of the administration of government.

This distinction is not trivial, for the lack of it is the hallmark of the thesis of Nigerian federalism. Dr. Fayemi’s position is phrased in the Wednesday Punch, September 12, 2012 by Oyetunji Abioye

Ribadu's report: A mountain out of a mole hill(2)

BY CHIDIEBERE OGBU

Continued from pg 17

L

EADER after leader, nobody gave a damn (that word again) about the hen that was laying the golden eggs.

Then two years ago by providence, God sent a man that lives near the chicken and the golden eggs, a man that wears the shoe (no pun intended) and should know where it pinches. Then all hell broke loose.

Corruption became quadrupled. Oil subsidy scam became a way of life. In a year 2.7 trillion Naira was wasted as oil subsidy. We shouted blue murder.

We called Jonathan names. We said crucify him. Surprisingly, out of character for a Nigerian leader he listened. Then through the Minister of Petroleum he set up three committees.

1, Petroleum Revenue Task Force chaired by MallamNuhuRibadu.

2, KaluIdikaKalu’s committee on Refineries and Turn Around Maintenance (TAM).

3, Special Task Force on corporate Governance and Controls in NNPC led

by Dotun Sulaiman.

We would recall that the President had earlier set up the AigImoukhuede committee on subsidy payment.

When the Petroleum Minister Mrs. Dieziani Alison -Madueke was setting up Ribadu’s panel, she said it was to enhance probity and accountability in the operation of the Petroleum Industry.

The Task Force was also charged with the responsibilities of helping Nigeria to determine and verify all Petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes, royalties etc.) due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to take all necessary steps to collect all debts among others.

Then I remembered my Professor friend again and the analogy he drew when he said: “You do not send your enemy to catch your friends. You do not put a cat among the pigeons”.

Sending Ribadu against the oil thieves was exactly what Jonathan did. The Prof paused and reflected and said with that singular behaviour he was beginning to believe that the President actually wanted to fight corruption.

Remember Ribadu contested against the President in the last election.

Remember Ribadu refused a 15 million dollars bribe. Remember Ribadu arrested and prosecuted some governors even if he was selective at least nobody convicted has complained. So the President appointing Ribadu was like shooting himself on the legs. Ribadu takes no prisoners.

However what came as a surprise to Nigerians was the outcome of his (Ribadu‘s) committee‘s assignment.

The bungling of the report as it were.

We have come to learn that the final report submitted to the President was markedly different from the report

,

The State and demand for State police(2)

The CP in the state would tell you, when it is convenient for him, that the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state and that he had directed him to do this or that

thusly: “I’ll continue to fight for state police”. Abioye reports the position of the Governor in the following: “He said the future of Nigeria depended on security and, as such, it was high time the country considered the establishment of state police.

He said: 'My position on state police has not changed. I do not see any evidence on the other side that can change my position. I am not talking as a politician. When I talk about state police I am talking as a security expert, which is my own area and I am not playing politics with it. I have a PhD in this area and I know what obtains everywhere in the world. For our police to become efficient, we need to function efficiently as it is done everywhere in the world where you have a federal system. It is a norm all over the world anywhere you have a federal system, you always have a police system at every level of the federation; you can do your own research. In the United States, Australia, Canada, India and everywhere there is a federation, the police exist at the local level, even at the city level; you have state police and federal police. They do different works and the work is complementary and also in many of the states I have highlighted they have a single training institution, so that training is regularized. In India, the police academy in Hyderabad trains people both at the local level, provincial level and at the Federal level'”.

In the citing of the Indian Training Institution, Dr. Fayemi leans towards the definition of federalism as the structure of administration.

You may call it ironical attitude by the President but something tells me that he wants to achieve maximum benefit from the oil sector by sanitising it

,

leaked to the Press. Also the executive summary of both reports differ. Therein lies the controversy.

M

any Nigerians have continued to argue for and against the manner which the committee handled the “final Report” or is it “Final draft”.

Many questions have been raised about procedures, not following the terms of reference and above all nonverification of figures.Therefore the report is inconclusive. For instance, in paragraph 4 of the covering letter, a caveat was literally handed down to government, to look into the nonverified numbers provided therein. The Nigeria LNG in a rejoinder accused the Task Force of not even visiting the company in the course of its work.Part of rejoinder read: “The task force neither met with NLNG management

What is the difference? It is in this fact: the structure of sovereignty determines the structure of government; but the structure of government does not determine the structure of administration of government.

The same structure of government may be effected by different structures of administration.

The structure of administration is task-determined and similar functions may be administered differently. Thus, the Indian monistic institution of training may for political reasons not be adopted by Australian politicians. Similarly, the United Kingdom is a federalist sovereignty constituted of the English, the Scots and the Welsh.

Yet the British Government, although unitarist, operates through a decentralized administration of government.

The United Kingdom has its parliaments- the English, the Scot- and neither can determine the structure of administration of the other.

The changes in the constitutions of colonial Nigeria were responses to the politics of colonial relations between the colonial unitarist government and the subjects agitating for self-government and independence. The import of the distinction made between the structure of sovereignty, the structure of government and the structure of administration of government is evident in the consummation of contestations for sovereignty. It is the course of this contestation that determines the structure of government and the structure of the administrative machinery of government.

Continues next week

nor visited the company in the course of its work. One would have taken for granted that the fact finding committee would get the view of all companies and stakeholders on relevant issues for clarifications on any of the assumed findings before rushing off to have the report leaked to the international press, this leaves us wondering the purpose of the inquiry ”. Up until now this rejoinder has not been disputed. My question becomes, why would the report be submitted uncompleted? It is therefore my considered opinion that the leaked report which contained some damning conclusions was meant to create mischief. Otherwise, same report ought to have been submitted to the President.

So I am sure the President knows that coming from the oil region, posterity will not forgive him if he allows the massive looting in the oil sector to continue. His people want good roads,clean water, good schools, good health centres, good houses etc.

My mind tells me that the President wants to behave like a landlord who will not allow tenants destroy his property, because all tenants are transitory. You may call it ironical attitude by the President but something tells me that he wants to achieve maximum benefit from the oil sector by sanitising it. He knows that more money will accrue to his oil producing States for development. He will not want to destroy the opportunity.

So now let us begin from today to watch and observe and see what the President does withRibadu’s report.

Concluded *Mr. Ogbu, a medical doctor, wrote from Owerri, Imo State.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 21

We have surplus gas for power — NNPC … says gas flaring has reduced by 15%

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu has said that the corporation has surpassed its target in gas supply and is presently in surplus availability for power generation.

Mr. Yakubu disclosed this in an exclusive interview with vanguard during the 42nd annual General Meeting and conference of Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSCHE held in Abuja.

He said that the feat was part of his vision to actualize the federal government’s strategic direction for proper harnessing of the rich deposit in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, adding that the corporation has also embarked upon some other strategic projects to actualize this objective. ‘‘When I came on board, there were a lot of challenges with gas for power installed capacity.

We have focused on that and as at today, we are in surplus of gas supply for power generation. We are also moving in that direction to actualize our short and medium term objectives to ensure that we actualize this initiative to support power generation. ‘‘NNPC is at the threshold of ensuring that oil and gas sector resources are properly harnessed in the oil and gas sector. This strategic vision is in line with Mr. President’s strategic direction for oil and gas industry. Our target is to grow gas reserve and it is our

vision to grow it to 40 million barrels per day,’’ he said.

In addition to ensuring sufficient gas supply for power generation, the NNPC boss also indicated commitment towards maximizing utilization of domestic gas in the country. ‘‘All our activities are geared towards achieving this strategic direction. Our strategy is also to maximize

-0.80

2,478.00

-24.00

19.15

+0.11

108.78 +0.77

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

154.75 245.5418 197.1051 163.5835 1.9058 0.28 233.7103 24.8155 41.2623 26.4182 235.9783

155.25 246.3352 197.7419 164.1121 1.9119 0.29 234.4654 24.8961 41.3956 26.5036 236.7407

of the key strategies that we have is to ensure that we actualize this goal, he added.

As part of NNPC’s effort to ensure sustenance of growth in the industry, he said that the corporation had put in a place key participants in the gas value chain such as producers, transmitters down to customers in the line of distribution.

From left: Mr. Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Engr.Joseph Akpieyi and Engr. Alex Ogedegbe, past Presidents, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE) at the 42nd annual general meeting and conference of NSCHE, in Abuja.

148.20

86.17

utilization of gas resources with particular focus on domestic gas utilization. We are aware that our power per capital is the lowest in the world and is part of this administration’s plan to grow power to 40,000 mega watts installed capacity. And in doing so, gas becomes a very key component because gas will actually take 80 per cent on power generation. So, one

+0.72 SELLING 155.75 247.1285 198.3788 164.6406 1.9181 0.3 235.2205 24.9767 41.5289 26.5889 237.5032

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/11/2012

Power: Omotosho to add 500mw by December — NDPHC

By KUNLE KALEJAIYE

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HE Management of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited has assured Nigerians that Omotosho Power Plant Phase ll is ready to contribute additional 500 megawatts to the national grid by December.

Mr. James Olotu, the Managing Director of the company, owners of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), disclosed this to news men in Ondo State during an inspection visit to some NIPP power plants in the South-West.

Olotu said three of the four units in Omotosho is already contributing about 375 megawatts to the national grid while the last unit would come on stream by December to make 500 megawatts.

He said the on-going success recorded in the NIPP power project is in line with the power sector reform agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“I have been assured by the contractor handling the projects that the 500 mega watts will be added to the national grid by December.

“Presently, three units which are one, two, and three are generating about 375MW are currently on the grid, while the last unit

four, would come on stream by December,” he said.

NDPHC also expressed satisfaction on the total level of commitment by the contractors handling the ongoing-NIPP projects in Omotosho.

“I’m very impressed with the work I saw here today, because all the workers are working like a team to achieved the stated goal. “Nigerians will be having additional 500MW available to the grid if all the gas requirement is provided. I am sure that all concerned people are working to ensure availability of gas to the power plants,’’ Olotu stated.

He said that with the level of work in all NIPP projects, the country is expected to get about 1, 500MW that will be added to the national grid by December, which is subject to availability of gas.

“Currently, we have about 700MW in the grid, which is expected to increase to 1,500 mw by December. Gas has been our major challenge but we hope it will be addressed with the level of assurance given by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC).”

Olotu said that some units are not working due to non-availability of gas, adding that they have been assured by NGC of gas availability.

FCTA warns developers against structures on Airport road

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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EDERAL Capital T e r r i t o r y administration (FCTA) has warned real estate developers to stop on going development of buildings along Abuja airport road despite the temporal suspension placed on further demolition exercise in that axis.

Acting Director of Development Control of the FCT Administration, Mr. Hamza Saliu Madaki, who represented the minister at a discussion forum organised by Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) in Abuja recently, promised that the sanity of the Abuja Master Plan must be upheld at all cost. “The order from the National Assembly asking Development Control to suspend the planned demolition of 37 estates is only temporal. We will continue with the demolition as soon as the issues raised are resolved with members,” the Minister stated He warned developers in the different estates within the FCT to stop work pending when the issues raised are resolved. “All estate developers within the FCT must stop work pending when we resolve all the issues raised. Please tell you member that could still be building to stop now in their own interest,” Madaki cautioned He advised developers to obey the rule of law in the FCT and endeavor to confirm from development control before going ahead to buy land before they commence building. “If these stringent measures are not put in place, the Master Plan of the FCT will be bastardised. Some developers are giving us headache by illegally building houses in lands that are not duly allocated to them. If due process had been followed, we would not have gone through that ordeal. If the developers of Minanuel Estate had sought for approval, we would not have demolished it because that estate was not supposed to have been erected there in the first place.

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The Nigerian capital market and the small investor (1)

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From Left: Director, Registry and Regulatory Affairs, NAFDAC, Mrs. Ogochukwu Mainasara; Managing Director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, Mr. Dhamaraja Eshwaran and Director, Sales, Mr. Felix Aighobahi performing the official unveiling of Julius Tonic Wine and Tempranillo Wine in Lagos.

Tripple Gee gr ows pr of it by 112.66% NKIRUKA NNOROM

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RIPLE Gee & Com pany Plc, a major security printing company in Nigeria, said it has steered its business back profitability following diversifications made in the course of 2011 financial year.

Addressing shareholders at the 22nd Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the chairman, Sam Idowu Ayininuola, said that the management was able to fully establish a new product line in packaging business.

He stated that though the business was quite competitive in the previous year, however, the diversification made in the packaging line offered some relief from the hitherto Cheque/security printing business which relied so much on banks’ patronage.

He noted that the company ’s net profit rose to N6.23 million, as against negative figure of N49.22 million in 2011, which represents 112.66 percent increase; he pre-tax profit at N8.91 million was 119.64 percent increase from a negative figure of N45.32 million in 2011, while the turnover for the period increased by 14.44 percent from N541.61 million in 2011 to N619.81 million.

He noted that the company ’s vision of manufacturing and selling quality paper and paper products of highest international standard is being achieved through promotion of a healthy and well-motivated workforce, satis-

fied customers and strong financial control that will guarantee good returns on shareholders’ investments.

He further stated that Tripple Gee consolidates its core business by introduction of innovative value added products and services, adding, ‘These include securing of certificates with the certidoc, the production of recharge voucher and PIN mailer.

“Tripple Gee is a responsible citizen and it adopts best practice in all its operations. The company has implemented the code of good corporate governance and it is committed to the continuous improvement of its operations,” Ayininuola assured.

Tripple Gee is a manufacturer of security documents, financial instruments and computer stationery.

Vitafoam assures NSE of improving shareholders’ value ByPETEREGWUATU

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he management of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has assured the Nigerian Stock Exchange of its commitment to enhance shareholders’ value.

They made the commitment during a visit to the NSE as part of its strategic positioning to remain a key player in the Nigerian Capital Market.

The visit, led by the company’s new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joel Ajiga, also reinforced the success story of Vitafoam Nigeria’s 50th Anniversary that was widely publicised.

Ajiga assured the Exchange’s management of the company’s commitment towards shareholder value and determination to furnish the Exchange with regular information on the company’s operations in line with the post listing requirements. He commended the Exchange’s management of the ongoing market recovery and introduction of market makers among others to

create liquidity.

While interacting with the stockbrokers on the trading floor, Ajiga explained that Vitafoam places premium on community social responsibility, citing the company’s assistance to some of the recent flood victims in many states. Ajiga who was accompanied by the Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Peter Folikwe, Technical Director, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi Executive Director, Finance, Mr Brass Ogun, the secretary, Mr Lekan Sani and the National Sales Manager, Engineer Bamidele Sola Owoade rang the symbolic closing bell.

In his welcome address, the Exchange’s Executive Director, Operations and IT, Mr Ade Bajomo, who represented the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Onyema, expressed joy that the NSE’s introduction of marker makers had impacted positively on the market while the Board of Trustees had been constituted for its Investor Protection Fund for enhanced investor protection.

have taken an interest in the performance of companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, from the late 1990s onwards. At that time, I had to visit the Registrars of most companies in order to retrieve family share certificates destroyed in a fire incident.

Given the amount of paperwork I encountered, I had to ask myself if some of the share certificates were sufficiently valuable for me to complete the recovery process. I discovered that a number of companies had disappeared from the daily lists of the NSE, especially banks and unit trust funds that had failed with shareholders losing all their investments.

It has been stated that if developing countries are to accumulate capital that would lead to adequate funding for projects; these countries must rely on their ability to mobilize domestic savings especially when they have no mineral or hydrocarbon resources. In countries with sufficient housing stock and readily available mortgages, the savings for most people is through home ownership with mortgages. That situation is not our lot in Nigeria and in the period from 2005 onwards, when the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, stipulated N25 billion as minimum capital for commercial banks, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians were encouraged to invest their savings in the capital market, especially in bank shares. Some banks failed at this juncture because they could not conclude arrangements to meet CBN conditions and in one instance investors lost their deposits for shares.

There was a spectacular rise in the share prices of companies quoted on the NSE from early 2006 to mid 2008 when a crash in the share prices commenced such that by the end of 2008, the share prices were less than they were in early 2006. By August 2009, the CBN intervened in some banks with the result that shareholders in these banks essentially lost all their investments, a repeat of the 1990s bank failures. The CBN and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, carried out forensic and diagnostic examinations of the banks and both organisations have stated publicly that they are aware that in some of the banks, the directors took

actions that were explicitly prohibited by statute and for which actions the affected directors have personal liability. Moneys can be recovered from directors of some of these banks by civil action and the moneys applied to the benefit of persons who were shareholders before the banks were recapitalised or nationalized. It is not good public policy to allow the illegalities that took place in some banks to remain unchallenged as this reinforces the climate of impunity hanging over the financial system.

T

he CBN and NDIC should therefore set up independent panels with an independent counsel heading each panel. The panels will look into the available forensic and diagnostic reports on the status of the banks and make recommendations for the recovery by civil action of moneys improperly applied by the directors of the banks.

As a shareholder of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBN, I spoke at the Extraordinary General Meeting, EGM, of 30 September 2011 on allegations that UBN obtained credit facilities of N30.477 billion which were misapplied by the directors in the purchase of 620 million units of UBN shares contrary to statute that forbids a company from purchasing its own shares. I indicated that on recovery the moneys should be utilized in the allotment of about 6 billion units of UBN shares to persons who were shareholders of UBN at the time of the EGM. Subsequent to the EGM, I have written to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, the Governor, CBN, and the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that action should be taken to get UBN to be in compliance with the law. I have had no response to these letters. My request to the Company Secretary, UBN for a certified true copy of the minutes of the EGM remains outstanding.

There were approximately 492,000 dispossessed shareholders of UBN and about 319,000 of these had investments of between 1 unit and 5000 units of shares at the time of the EGM. After share reconstruction, the value of their investment was 9% of the amount paid for the shares at the time of the 2005/2006 share offer.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 23

Etisalat, EDC collaborate on global entrepreneurship

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STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

S part of its contin uous support to the growth and development of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), Etisalat Nigeria has once again said its partnering with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan African University to host the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) in Nigeria.

The aim of the GEW

walk is to create awareness for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to seeking employment.

Special guests during the walk included former Super Eagles captain, international football player and super star, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and TV host and comedian, Tee A. Speaking, Head Business Market Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Bidemi Ladipo after walk en-

couraged more people to be part of the activities lined up for the week.

“Etisalat Nigeria is proud to be a sponsor of this 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Week. We are interested in empowering people to be controllers of wealth and create more jobs for Nigerians. We are a company that is very interested in impacting positively in the lives of our customers and Nigerians in general, by creating avenues for them

to explore their creativity and business skills to make profits,” he said.

According to him, Etisalat intends to make communicating a lot easier for existing and potential SMEs. This commitment he said was behind the launch of its special SME product, Easybusiness. Easybusiness offers reduced call rates which provides SMEs cost effective, faster and easier communications with their customers in Nigeria,”

Ladipo said.

Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Peter Bamkole who was excited about the Global Entrepreneurship Week, commended the sponsors and encouraged participants not to miss the activities lined up for the week. He said the activities have been designed to encourage and motivate entrepreneurs. He stressed the need to create more jobs in the country to reduce the high rate of unemployment.

BrandHealth holds Most TBA December

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RANDHealth Limited, the organizers of the annual brand awards in Nigeria tagged; Most Trusted Brands,(TBA) have concluded plans to host the third edition of the awards, which comes up in December 5, in Lagos In a statement, Mr. Emmanuel Udowoima, Chief Executive Officer of BrandHealth said that the theme for this year ’s edition is “Innovation as a Source of Trust”. He said that in as much as innovativeness in product packaging and delivery seems to be the order of the day in the market place, brands hold it as a point of duty to earn the trust of their consumers.

In his words: “The Most Trusted Brand Awards is perhaps the most transparent Awards in Nigeria as winners are chosen directly by the consumers and they do not have to pay anything to win the awards.”

MTN engages subscribers with MTN Booster, Super saver offers

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RUE to its commitment to continually enrich the lives of customers, MTN, has repackaged its MTN Booster and Super Saver bouquets to offer its subscribers superior call engagement at an affordable rate.

The bouquets tailored to meet the needs of high volume callers are in line with MTN’s new marketing theme to enable customers do more of what they love, that is, laugh more, talk more and live more.

Highlighting the benefits of the new bouquets, Kola Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, stated that the brand was continually seeking avenues to improve on its products and services, in order to suit the needs and lifestyles of its customers. “It is impossible to be on the MTN network and not find the bouquet that is tailored to suit your lifestyle and needs.”

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Nigeria to run on new financial reporting model from 2013 BYEMMANUELELEBEKE

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HE ministry of finance has announced that it would issue a new chart of financial reporting that would guide the operations of both the public and private sectors from January 2013.

The new financial reporting model is to enhance transparency and accountability in public finance management at the three tiers of Government in Nigeria aimed at checking waste.

Known as the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) the new accounting and reporting model are a set of high quality, independently developed accounting standards aimed at meeting the financial reporting needs of the public sector.

The standards are developed by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board which is an arm of the International Federation of Accountants ( IFAC) that uses a standardized uniform chart of accounts for budgeting and general purpose financial statements.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Government had in July 2010 approved the adoption of the IPSAS for the public sector and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the private sector which would pave way for the adoption of a uniform chart of reporting system throughout the country by the public sector and private sector respectively.

Speaking recently in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop attended by key Accounting personnel drawn from the three tiers of Government to appraise on: The Step to Step Adoption

of the IPSAS in the public sector from next January, the Minister of State Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama said that the adoption of the global accounting model in Nigeria was part of the reforms being carried out by the present Administration aimed at accountability and transparency in public finance management.

He gave insight into the journey so far and what Nigerians should expect: “The present Administration is carrying out reforms in critical areas of the economy geared

towards speedy economic growth and development of the country.

The implementation of IPSAS which is a component of public finances Management he said is one of the reform processes of the Government.

According to him, it was for this reason that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on 28th July 2010 approved that Nigeria should adopt the provisions of the international Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for private sector and the IPSAS for the public sector.

Consequently, the Federation Accounts Allocation

Committee (FAAC) at it’s meeting of 13th June 2011 set up a committee to provide a roadmap for the adoption of the IPSAS in the three tiers of Government in Nigeria. “ We are going to come up with new charts of accounts ; we are going to come up with new ways that budgets are presented so that everything is done in a fashion that is uniform and comparable. It’s when you record something that it tells you what it is, so if you have a very transparent way of accounting for expenditure, it makes sure that noting is understated or nothing is overlooked.

From left: Managing Director/CEO, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi; Executive Vice President, Private Banking, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Bernadine Okeke; Managing Director/CEO, FBN Capital Limited, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe and former Director General, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe at the closing session of the FBN Capital 2nd Annual Investor Conference in Lagos, last weekend.

CIBN engages N/Assembly, regulators, others to boost banking sector

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) said it is engaging the National Assembly, regulators, Bank CEOs, relevant Government agencies, Ministers and State Governors on how to boost its activities in the banking sector.

Also to maintain global relevance, the CIBN said it undertook a study tour to leading banking institutions in some countries of the world. Some of the countries include: Ireland, Scotland, India, Canada and Malaysia.

Speaking at the 46 th Annual Bankers’ Dinner, President/ Chairman of Council, CIBN, Mr. Segun Aina said “In-line with the mandate of the new council, the institute has embarked on a series of stakeholder engagements and

dialogue with the National Assembly, regulators, Bank CEOs, relevant Government agencies, Ministers and State Governors, tertiary institutions, CIBN Branches, etc all aimed at strengthening existing and creating new ties and relationships. We also embarked on a number of new initiatives aimed at rejuvenating the Institute and providing the much desired value- adding services to its members and other stakeholders while ensuring that high ethical standards and professionalism are maintained and sustained.

“As one of the means aimed at pursuing its vision of becoming a world class institution in banking and finance education, ethics and professionalism, the Institute has undertaken benchmarking study tours of some successful and leading banking Institutes in the world.

The tour which resulted in an extensive review of the curricula and examinations structure to be in line

with local requirements as well as meet global standards, also helped in creating four different paths/ routes to Chartered Banker qualification, and a number of achievements.

Aina expressed commitment to the repositioning of the Institute to meet and exceed expectations of all critical stakeholders, urging stakeholders to continue to cooperate, collaborate, partner and support the Institute.

According to him, “the banking community in 2012, as you are aware confronted the challenges it was faced with, coming out stronger and even more resilient thus restoring depositors’ confidence in the system. Regulators and operators are also working together to make the industry more efficient, more socially responsible and responsive and ready to withstand any future global financial crisis.

B-R-I-E-F-S

Sterling Bank rewards more customers

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TERLING Bank Plc has rewarded another set of customers in its on-going Savers’ Promo which kicked-off in July this year.

The bank said during the monthly draw of the promo in Lagos on Friday, that 14 customers across the country have won both consolation and cash prizes for October edition.

Out of this, four customers won a cash prize of N500,000 each, while 10 others won consolation prizes such as refrigerators and Home Theatre electronic systems.

The cash prize winners are Abioye Oluwakemi Grace (Ikeja Mainland Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB); Ocheinu Adah (National Assembly Branch); Taiwo Godwin Anoemuah( Challenge ETB Branch); and Pepple Douglas Elewe (Uyo ETB Branch).

Speaking on the promo, the Head Consumers Protection Council, Lagos Branch, Mrs Ngozika Obidike, said the process of selecting winners for the promo had been transparent.

The bank’s Group Head, Liability Products, Mr John Akingbade, said the promo was intended to reward loyal customers of the bank, and further promote the brand.

Akingbade said the bank was leveraging on the promo to take banking to the nooks and crannies of the country.

“This is the bank’s way of promoting financial inclusion.”

First Bank hits 5m verve card milestone on Interswitch network

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IRSTBANK of Nigeria Plc has received a “milestone achievement award for hitting 5 million Verve card issuance mark on the Interswitch network.

The Bank which got the milestone award for the feat from Interswitch at a short ceremony held at its head office in Lagos, achieved this through a steady growth from 1.9 million to 5 million Verve cards in one year.

According to Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, group managing director of Interswitch, the Bank also increased the activity rate of its cards, (i.e. number of active cards) on the Interswitch network from 56 per cent to 90 per cent in 12 months. To put this in proper perspective, 90% of First Bank Verve cards are active and have carried out at least 1 transaction in the last 2 months.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 , 2012— 25

Manitoba: Contract cancellation, harmful to Nigeria — Experts

By MICHAEL EBOH

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HE Federal Government’s decision to cancel the contract with Manitoba Hydro over the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, is harrmful to the Nigerian economy, and will further worsen the current power situation, according to economic analysts and stakeholders in the power sector.

The concerns come, even as President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, clarified that the contact has not been cancelled as widely reported.

“Our initial reaction was one of rude shock but upon further reflection, was not entirely unexpected. We opine that the cancellation of the contract is particular deleterious for several reasons,” said Managing Director of a foremost economic and investment research firm, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Mr. David Adonri, Chief Executive Officer, , Lambeth Trust & Investment Company Limited, in his own submission, maintained that the cancellation of the contract has called to question the seriousness with which the Federal Government of Nigeria is pursuing the privatization of the power sector.

According to him, following

OPS seeks protection of downstream interests in PIB

By EDIRI EJOH

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From left: Deputy Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Mr Omamofe Boyo; former First Lady and Founder WRAPA, Justice Fathi Abubakar; former Minister of Environment, Mr John Odey; and Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing, Mr Yomi Awobokun, at the Access Africa/Oando Marketing Plc Summit, in Abuja, recently.

the recent premature departure of Professor Bart Nnaji, as the Minister of Power, the nation acute power failure has once more descended on.

“It appears the powerful vested interests that are bent on derailing the power sector reform have finally succeeded in truncating the exercise. Personally, I

have serviced and started using my generator which was decommissioned during Nnaji’s tenure.

“It is illusory for Government to think that Nigeria can achieve meaningful economic development without the total deregulation and privatization of the metallurgical, power and energy industries which to-

Subsidy removal: NUPENG, PENGASSAN warn of imminent fuel scarcity

By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BRIEF

IGERIANS are at the risk of witness ing a worse fuel scarcity situation and high cost of petroleum products if the federal government went ahead to make good its threat to finally withdraw oil subsidy without the four refineries becoming fully operational, oil workers warned.

President Goodluck Jonathan said last week that there will be final removal of fuel subsidy and the money generated from the subsidy removal will be used to revamp infrastructure in the country.

But addressing Journalists in Calabar, the Cross River State capital at the weekend, President of The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, comrades Igwe Achese, and Babatunde Ogun, respectively, condemned the move.

The union leaders said that it was shameful that Nigeria, a top producer of crude oil in the world still imports refined

products like petrol from countries that are not so resource blessed like Niger that had recently discovered oil in their country and Ghana.

Comrade Achese after a four-day workshop for oil workers on Petroleum Industry Bill, noted that while the unions were not against the withdrawal of subsidy, relying almost completely on importation of petrol will continue to impoverish Nigerians.

He noted that the four refineries in Nigeria presently function at 20 per cent capacity, an indication that the country will continue to rely on importation of the products at higher costs to the detriment of the citizens.

“If we are deregulating the product, you will agree with me that there is going to be a very high inflation rate in the country, the cost of living would be very high. But then what are the palliative measures that government is going to put in place?

“I read in the papers, the president saying that the money that would be saved from the subsidy is what they would use to put infrastructure on ground.

gether constitutes the engineering infrastructure required for economic transformation.”

H

o w e v e r, M r. S e y e Adetunmbi, Chief Responsibility Officer, Value Investing Nigeria, said the if cancellation will right the wrong once and for all and the lighting will improve thereafter, then it may be worth the while to bear the pain of disrupted power supply that will come with the contract cancellation.

He said, “Most importantly, this situation should not arise if due process was adhered to in the first instance. This is one area that government should see to by blocking the leakages and defective structures that set the nation back through wrong implementation of set policies.”

The Managing Director of the economic and investment research firm who also spoken on the condition of anonymity, said the cancellation of the contract tends to lend credence to the extremely high level of political risks associated with doing business in Nigeria, adding that these risks come with significant costs for Nigeria and Nigerian businesses in the short term with even more adverse long term impact.

HE Organised Private Sector, OPS, under the umbrella of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has called on operators in the petroleum downstream sector to intensify effort to see that their interests are well-captured in the new Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which is still awaiting passage by the National Assembly.

The Petroleum Downstream Group of LCCI through the Chairman, Mr. Emma Osagie, called for a preview of the draft to identify what investors stood to gain once the PIB is passed.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Chamber, Mr. Goodie Ibru, who spoke at the Group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Symposium held in Lagos, said that the petroleum industry is significant to the country’s economy and as such regulations that concern the industry must be in sync with the international standards.

Ibru warned that “this is coming at a very opportune time when the Bill has not yet been passed and there is still time for the downstream sector to lobby for their interests and that of the people, because they are closer to the people. The right thing must be done by all the stakeholders in order to continue attracting foreign investors. Any disruption in the industry is also likely to ground the economy”.

A Professor of Law, Prof.

Yinka Omorogbe who also spoke at the event, said that reform is impossible without a legislation that empowers, encourages and sustains desired activities that will create an investor friendly environment.

She said, “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create a viable and vibrant investment environment and the only way to achieve that is for everyone to contribute to the process especially during the drafting.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

NDPHC commissions four injection sub-stations in Lagos … Hands over 1000 CSP transformers to PHCN

A

From left: Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia; MD/CEO, Masters Energy Oil & Gas Ltd, Mr. Vincent Ajala and Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Mr. Reginald Stanley at Masters Energy’s Exhibition Booth at the just concluded OTL Africa Downstream Expo in Lagos. efforts to ensure that come December, most of these projects would have been completed and people will be enjoying power supply. We don’t want to leave any customer behind during Christmas.

“There are several of these transformers all over the country being installed to relive the existing ones and nobody will say that they don’t have supply during that period. These are some of the projects that are still ongoing, and by the time all these projects are completed, you

will see that Nigerians will be appreciative of what the government is doing,” he said.

Amoda noted that the EKO DISCO has 27 NIPP projects while about 30 are in Ikeja DISCO adding the projects included brand new sub injection stations.

H

e expressed optimism that before December, customers should expect abundant power supply during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, adding that “We plan to have more than 20 hours of power supply

NGO to partner Finnish varsity on renewable energy

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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NGA set for 2012 gas confab, exhibition

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By KUNLE KALEJAYE S part of its effort to boost power supply in the country, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), owners of National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) has commissioned four new sub injection stations in the Lagos area.

One of the sub injection stations is a 15 MVA 33kV NITEL sub injection transformer in Oshodi, which is expected to add 33MW of power supply to the national grid that will serve Oshodi and environs, while a 60MVA 132/33kVA in Ojo is expected to add about 48MW to the national grid. The Ojo station will serve Iba, Ojo, Festac, Satelite, Ajanbadi, Alaba international market and its environs.

Other injection sub stations that were commissioned included a 15MVA 33/11KV at Imota and Agbowa, in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The company also handed over 1000 Completely Self Protected, (CSP) Transformers to both Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies in Lagos Speaking with newsmen during the commissioning of the projects, the Chief Executive Officer, EKO Distribution Company, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said the power sector is working tirelessly to ensure that electricity consumers had access to adequate power supply during the Christmas Season.

He said, “We are making

BRIEF

HE Governing Council of the Inter national Inner Wheel of Nigeria has declared its intension to partner experts at the Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland, inventor of cheap solar energy, on the provision of renewable energy in specific rural areas in Nigeria.

This was revealed in Lagos at the opening of the ‘Women for Africa’ Conference, organised by the International Inner Wheel of Nigeria.

This decision, according to Conference Coordinator, Mrs. Yemisi Alatise, became necessary as poor access to energy had continued to hamper growth and development in Africa, while also fuelling poverty, unemployment and also dearth

of business possibilities.

“Laurea University is interested in powering rural hospitals and schools where electricity does not get to. This is a pilot project and we hope to widen the scope,” Alatise said.

Explaining how small communities in Finland had benefited from alternative energy, prominent Finnish scholar of Applied Sciences, Ritva Jaattela, who spoke at the event, revealed that Finland’s highly industrialised economy had devised a very cheap solar energy, made possible by the collaborative efforts of Finnish universities and small companies.

To ensure growth in renewable energy in Africa, Ritva therefore recommended a synergy between universities, for technical knowledge, and local companies.

but eventually we will have 24 hours of power supply.”

The Managing Director of NDPHC Mr. James Abiodun Olotu, thanked the project contractor, project consultant and field manager for a job well done, adding that more of such projects will be commissioned across the country before December.

In his words, “At this stage, we are handing the projects to PHCN Eko to ensure the equipment are safe and the customers are happy with power supply. We thank the contractor, PIVOT Engineering Company Ltd, project consultant and the field manager who coordinated activities before the commissioning of the project. More of this kind of project will be commissioned across the country to boost power supply in December.”

CEO of Ikeja DISCO, Mr. Chris Akamnonu, said the commissioning of the injection sub-stations and handing over of the CSP transformers to PHCN is a “promise made, promise fulfilled” by the Jonathan administration to improve power supply to Nigerian.

It would be recalled that NDPHC had earlier commissioned 11 sub-station of 1x15 MVA with the capacity of generating power for about 10,000 residents in AgbowaIkosi, Ipakodo, Ijede, Agbara, Ajangbadi, Orile-Coker, Fowler, Alagbon, Bekley, Apapa Raod and Tincan.

HE Nigerian Gas Association, NGA, said all is set to host its 8th International Gas Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to hold between November 25 and 27, 2012, in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The theme of the conference is, “The Gas Revolution: Industry Feedback on the Gains, Challenges and Opportunities.”

The organisers said the event promises to be a three day gathering of policymakers, operators, investors and professionals in the oil and gas industry, to discuss various issues including, Gas to Power, Gas in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and Gas Revolution Feedback in Nigeria.

They said that the event will also feature the conferment of special recognition awards to industry personalities, which include; Engr Charles Ozesua, the Chairman/CEO of OwelLinkso Group; Engr. Andrew Yakubu, the Group Managing Director of NNPC; Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Gas; Mr. Supo Shadiya, a Director at Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL; and Engr. Ernest Nwapa, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, among others.

The NGA President, Engr.

Chima Ibeneche, said that “the theme for this conference is in tandem with the Nigeria government’s aspiration to reposition the natural gas sector to support a greener, flare-free basis for economic growth, while also driving more effective links between the sector and other economic areas such as industries, agriculture and human development through increase local content and indigenous participation. What is required is for investors and those interested in the sustainability of the gas industry is to continue to be engaged, focused and committed to the full implementation of agreed industry deliverables.

He argued further that the journey to organising the NGA 2012 already surpassed expectations. “In the areas of inviting and convincing speakers to attend as well as the overall willingness of the participants to engage in fruitful deliberations on Operationalising the 2012 PIB, LNG and the Future , Nigeria Content & Sustainable Development and Leadership Roundtable on the Gas Revolution (Challenges & Opportunities) in Nigeria, we are very pleased.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 27

Why PIB ’ll enhance bankable industry transactions

By FELIX AYANRUOH

P

ART One of this article reviewed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the need for foreign investment and project financing.

The most crucial issue in structuring a project finance transaction is the complex interplay among a wide range of project participants. The project sponsors are responsible for developing the project, which involves obtaining the necessary government approvals and permits, negotiating project documents, securing the financing and providing the technical, organizational, and financial resources to meet challenges that might affect the project. A project sponsor can be a single company in the business of project development or a consortium of interested parties, including developers, construction contractors, equipment suppliers and end-users of the projects products.

Since foreign investors are the main focus of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, a greater return of investment is expected due to higher level of risk - in-

cluding political risk. However, the level of equity returns has become a sensitive political issue since an increase in equity return will almost invariably translate to price increases in petroleum products.

The project company is the central contracting party for the project documents and as the borrower under the financing agreements. Usually, the project company is a single purpose corporation, partnership or trust organized by the project sponsors with no assets other than those comprising the project itself and the financial resources provided by equity and debt investors. he off-taker is the purchaser of the petroleum products. Since the off-taker is the sole provider of the revenue stream on which the project financing depends, the competence and creditworthiness of the off-taker is crucial to the bankability of the project.

The recent removal of petroleum subsidy, coupled with the fact of the large market for refined product, the issue of off-takers creditworthiness becomes moot.

Debt has been the source of

T

about three-quarters of all the money typically required for project finance in energy projects. The majority of this debt has involved both commercial debt providers and creditenhanced loans from mission lenders – e.g., Export Credit Agencies (“ECAs”) and Multilateral Development Banks (“MDBs”). ECAs and MDBs have made it easy for relatively high-risk countries like Nigeria to obtain financing at terms similar to those in developing countries with less risky project environments.

The role of the Nigerian government in energy projects is seminal to the success of these transactions, and also needs its full support. For example, the PIB provides for the establishment of a legal and regulatory framework - the upstream petroleum inspectorate and the downstream petroleum regulatory agencies to administer enforce policies, laws and regulations to all aspect of the petroleum operations.

Mitigation of risk

The most important factor in any successful project finance

transaction lies in the identification, analysis, allocation and mitigation of project risks. A project risk relates to events that could affect the core objective of the project. Such events can occur during development, construction and operation stages. Project risks can be classified as commercial, political as well as force majeure events – natural disaster.

Commercial risk includes cost overruns, delays and shortfall in project revenue caused by uncertain sales and prices. While political risk, on the other hand, involve the possibility of expropriation of assets, civil unrest, and change in labor policy and foreign exchange inconvertibility, change of administration, environment laws, and tax policies. Undeniably, militant unrest and price distortion of petroleum products were until recently clearly identifiable project risks associated with petroleum development in Nigeria.

P

roject risks can be mitigated through a va-

riety of measures including different forms of guarantees and the involvement of certain types of parties e.g. a key state entity. Formal guarantee can be provided by host government or by multilateral and bilateral agencies.

Derivatives agreements can also be used to reduce or mitigate risks associated with price fluctuation, such as increase or decrease in gas prices. The finance package should include protection against fluctuation in gas price through hedging facilities such as forward sales and futures and options contracts.

Given the Nigerian government’s intention to establish a clear regulatory and fiscal regime, deregulation of the downstream sector and the establishment of the amnesty program, which has effectively addressed the issues of militancy unrest, the author is of the opinion that project financing of petroleum industry in Nigeria are “bankable” transactions – and hence, potentially attractive for financing by lenders or other debt holders.

EATECH bemoans poaching, paucity of funds

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NDIGENOUS firm, Engi neering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH) has bemoaned the high rate of poaching of trained skilled staff from indigenous oil and gas firms by foreign multinationals saying it was one bane to the growth of the local industry and demanding for regulatory institutions to step in and halt the negative trend.

Emmanuel Okon, managing director of EATECH, one of the local contracting firms in Nigeria petroleum industry said staff poaching came second to funding constraints, as challenges facing indigenous firms in the industry. And he said unless efforts were made to address these ills, it would be difficult for local firms to take full advantage of the local content policy initiative of the federal government.

Okon spoke at the fifth year anniversary of the company held in Lagos recently where he also demanded that local firms commit more funds into boosting the growth of the education sector of their host or operating communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

“Funding presents itself as the major factor facing most

indigenous entrepreneurs in running successful businesses in the oil and gas industry,” said Okon.

“Indigenous companies providing similar services like their foreign counterparts are paid less thereby affecting negatively their ability to sustain competent and certified personnel especially those trained by them.

“The twin evil of poaching trained personnel by multinational companies and sustaining these trained personnel by local companies is a challenge which requires the intervention of regulators,” he added.

Okon who identified the high remuneration of staff by multinational firms noted that they were able to pay higher salaries because they usually got more income earnings from even similar contracts or jobs performed by local firms.

He said to improve the manpower base for local firms, despite the poaching by foreign firm, EATECH had to inaugurate an award (that goes with N100,000 gift) for the best graduating student of Electrical and Electronic Department of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, located in Ikot Ekpene.

Africa Section, Department of Foreign Affairs Dublin, Niamh Browne (left); Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Fay; Managing Director, CITA College Dublin, Felicia Ochelle-Olimap; and Managing Director, Blue Square Dublin, Yemi Sobowale at the 2013 Open Day Presentation of Youth Leadership Summer Programme "Experience Dublin Ireland in Lagos

NNPC raises alarm over impersonation of GMD

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HE management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has called on members of the public to beware of persons who are impersonating its Group Managing Director, GMD, Engineer Andrew Yakubu, on the Internet using various social media platforms.

In a statement made available to journalists over the weekend, Mr. Fidel Pepple, the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, said, “the activi-

ties of these criminally minded persons entail the issuance of fake letters on the Internet with the aim of defrauding innocent

members of the public including investors within and outside Nigeria.”

Shell donates N75m relief materials to flood victims

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HE Shell Petroleum De velopment Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC, has presented relief and medical materials worth N75 million to flood victims in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.

This is in addition to the $ I million jointly donated by SPDC and Shell Nigerian Production Com-

pany, SNEPCo, in support of flood displaced persons in 24 states across the country.

The money and relief materials were donated through the Red Cross, and would be used along the lines of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU signed with the humanitarian organisation.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

LAWYERS IN DIASPORA:

Collaborating for effective dispensation of justice in Nigeria Being a paper presented by Femi Falana, SAN, at the Gala Night by the British Nigeria Law Forum at Hilton London Docklands, U.K. recently

R

EINTEGRATION ofNige rians in Diaspora: In the past ten years, there has been an outpour of ideas and strategies particularly from Nigerians in Diaspora about how Nigeria can develop. In the previous dispensation, under former President Obasanjo, a few Diaspora Nigerians were brought to help the administration and many of them made impressive impact on policy and development in Nigeria in the interests of imperialism.

The economic team of the regime led by Nigerians from abroad ensured that the sum of $12.4 billion was paid by the Federal Government to the London/ Paris Club to settle fraudulent external debts while subsidies from social services were cancelled as public enterprises were sold at give away prices in the name of privatization. Scientific studies across West Africa have also shown that countries such as Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria hugely benefit from remittances from their citizens abroad. Indeed some scholars have done a comparative study between such mon-

FEMI FALANA etary remittances and the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), and found out that in certain cases remittances are far higher than ODA. This has made some people to question the continued relevance of ODA, if its quantum and social impact in Africa is meager.

However, there are three major realities about the Nigerian Di-

aspora. A large number of them are well trained, highly skilled and competent and they are doing well abroad. Second, a large number of them are very patriotic and proud of their country in spite of the leadership challenges facing Nigeria. Third, and as a corollary to the foregoing, a lot of them are keen to help their country in any way they can, if the conducive atmosphere exists.

Unfortunately, while little is known about the patriotic Nigerians who are helping to fix the problems of many developed countries so much is reported by the western media of the few Nigerians living abroad who are involved in criminal activities.

Frustration by political class Conversely, in spite of the willingness of Nigerians in Diaspora to return home to contribute to the development of the country, many have been frustrated by the political class and they are themselves being consumed by the system they want to change. The first problem many of them are confronted with is that they have to patronize somebody in order to be accorded attention or recognition. The spaces and places where they can make impact have either been blocked, nonexistent or have already been taken over by a mediocre and candidates of a “godfather”. They realize that nobody is imaginative enough to create entrance for them or visionary enough to take initiative, or is confident enough to work side by side with them.

They realize also that merit does not count in Nigeria and cannot work, neither will anybody because of their special talents and skills give them attention or consideration. Even where they choose to set up their own private enterprise- may be a clinic, a construction company, they discover that what they are required to secure bank loans, and government approvals and access to clients required much more

Map of Nigeria AGF, Adoke Mohammed

than what is decent.

In a nutshell, they have to replay the rot they left behind many years ago, prior to their sojourn abroad. Even those who seek to participate at the government or policy level may find out that unless they become a stooge, a lackey of some big wig in the party or government, they will never get recognition or core appointment that will make them deploy their skills to good use and in the public interest. To this effect, the first step towards reintegrating the Nigerians in Diaspora, in my opinion, is to understand that the Diaspora is socially, professionally and politically multi-faceted while at the same time they have some glaring commonalities.

Accordingly, there is a need to

,

BY FEMI FALANA

thronement of rule of law, judicial independence and social equilibrium including voting rights.

Voting by Nigerians in Diaspora: Voting rights for instance, remains one of the fundamental rights of Nigerians in the Diaspora but due to its non-inclusion in the 1999 Constitution, a lot of Nigerians of voting age living abroad have been constitutionally disenfranchised and discriminated against. Considering the number of Nigerians living in the Diaspora and as stated earlier, their, enormous contributions to the economic development of Nigeria; they deserve to be given an opportunity to take part in the country’s electoral process and to exercise their voting rights.

In spite of the willingness of Nigerians in Diaspora to return home to contribute to the development of the country, many have been frustrated by the political class and they are themselves being consumed by the system they want to change

find entry points at the level of federal, state and local governments, and then at the levels of agencies, civil society and communities where the Diaspora can make an impact. Everything should not be seen as being related to holding a government appointment or getting attention of federal government.

There are several levels and layers in which the Diaspora can contribute their quota and make an impact in the Nigerian society. Hence, in order to ensure a level playing ground for Nigerians in Diaspora and encourage them to take an active part in the socio-economic reformation of Nigeria, we as Nigerian lawyers either under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; the British Nigeria Law Forum, BNLF; or other organizations of Nigerian lawyers abroad must come together to fight for the en-

,

It is an institutional discrimination under color of law, which has no basis whatsoever under international law, customs and conventions for the rights of people. Interestingly, Hon. Abike Dabiri, the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora made an unsuccessful attempt to include the Diaspora voting rights in the 2011 Electoral Act by introducing a bill for the recognition of the voting rights of Nigerians living abroad. Much as she tried, the bill could not pass through the first reading as the House of Representatives rejected it on the ground that the project was too expensive and essentially unripe for Nigeria. In rejecting the bill, the House forgot that the issue of voting right is not a privilege but a right that must be protected by them and be guaranteed by the Constitution.

Happily, some concerned Nigerians abroad have taken up the task of championing this cause and have even challenged its validity in Court.

In the recent case of Akeem Bello & ors vs The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, (2008), an unreported Federal High Court case in which I represented the Plaintiffs, the Court held that Nigerians in the Diaspora are entitled to participate in the Government of Nigeria by voting for candidates of their choice.

Registering and voting abroad Precisely, the Court was of the view that “the time is ripe for Nigeria to give its citizens living abroad the opportunity to register and vote abroad in any election in Nigeria without having to travel to Nigeria for that purpose”.

The Court however, noted that the Nigerians in the Diaspora could not enforce that right in the absence of an enabling legislation because the 1999 has no such provision under it. As one of the steps to set the ball rolling and get the Constitution amended to reflect the judgment and the right of Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Court admonished the INEC to approach the National Assembly “by sponsoring a bill for the sake of Nigerians in the Diaspora and in doing so, borrow a leaf from the countries that have already adopted the external voting”.

Be that as it may, there cannot be a better opportunity for revisiting this issue than now when the National Assembly has embarked on yet another review of the 1999 constitution. To this effect, I urge your group to take a principled position by joining hands with other patriotic Diaspora organizations and other Nigerians both at home and abroad who are at the forefront of championing this effort.

To be continued

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—29

From left: Prof. Rahamon A. Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, UNILAG; Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, Pro-Chancellor and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa State (5th right) and members of the State House Chairman of Council; Chief Arthur Mbanefo and Mr. Mac of Assembly, after a visit by the lawmakers to the governor, at Government House, Uyo. Ovbiagele, Chairman, Advancement Board, UNILAG, during the presentation of Award to Donors/Partners and the launch of UNILAG Donors' Forum. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

From left: Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, representing Lagos State Governor; Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Ayangburen Former Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (middle); Executive Chair- of Ikorodu, HRM, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi and his wife, Olori Muibat Oyefusi, man, Leverage Multiglobal Limited, Innocent Uchibolu (right) and Mr. Basil at the 2012 Ikorodu Oga Day celebration in Ikorodu, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Ukafor after an interview with former President Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

Gbadamosi.

From left: President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama; Archbishop Valerian Okeke and Archbishop of Abuja and Cardinal designate, Most Rev. John Onaiyekan, at the 2nd National Pastoral Congress in Abuja.

From left: Mrs.Yemisi Alatise, past National Representative, International Inner Wheel Nigeria; Mrs.Lanre Olomofe-Kufeji, Vice-Chair, District 911; Mrs. Chidinma Ashimole, newly inducted President, Inner Wheel Club of Lagos; Mrs. Karine Uwaje, and a club member shortly after the induction of the new President of the Inner Wheel Club of Lagos, weekend.

From left: MD/CEO, FBN Holdings Plc, Mallam Bello Maccido; Chairman, Chapel Hill Denham Group, Mr. Olawale Edun and MD/CEO, FBN Capital Ltd, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe at the FBN Capital Investors conference in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From right: Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika; President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Mr. Agele Alufohai, and President, Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, Mallam Husaini Dikko, during a visit to the Army Chief in Abuja.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

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36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard,

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

— 37

Gaza crisis: Fresh Israeli strikes claim 26 more lives A

T least 26 people have died in the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces kept up air strikes aimed at stopping rocket attacks into Israel.

Fewer rockets have been launched, but Israeli towns were still being hit, even as ninety-five Palestinians and three Israelis have died in six days of violence, the latest including a militant group commander.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire continue, with a senior Egyptian official saying there are “encouraging signs”.

Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of the Islamist movement Hamas which controls Gaza, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested a ceasefire but that it was up to Israel to stop the war that, he said, it had started.

Israel immediately denied making any such request, Reuters news agency reported.

Meshaal said that a truce was possible in

Gaza, as was further escalation of the conflict.

Morale in Gaza was high and anyone who attacked the Palestinians would be “buried”, he added.

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has said an Israeli ground invasion would have “serious repercussions”, saying Egypt would never accept it “and neither will the free world”.

Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was ready to expand the operation, after Israel authorised the mobilisation of up to 75,000 army reservists.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they targeted about 80 sites overnight into Monday alone, including militant-owned

buildings, weapons storage facilities and police stations, bringing its total to 1,350 sites targeted since Wednesday.

In truth there is little enthusiasm in Israel either in the government or among the military top brass - for a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military analysts believe that a large part of Israel’s military goals were achieved during the opening two days of this conflict.

The increase in the number of civilian casualties inflicted in the Gaza Strip, and the consequent shift in international support for Israel, probably weighs more heavily than any modest advantages in

Israeli soldiers stand near armoured military vehicles at a staging area near the border with the Gaza terms of destroying additional rockets or Hamas infrastructure.

Strikes continued on Monday, with a leading

was targeted.

One of the overnight blasts destroyed a Hamas police headquarters.

US President Obama hails Burma’s remarkable journey

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HE United States of America President while making his first visit to the South East Asian nation has said that Burma was on a

Egypt PM hopeful on Gaza truce deal

‘remarkable journey’ of reform that has much further to go.

A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform, he said, as he

extended a “hand of friendship” But, in a speech at Rangoon University, he urged Burmese people to

E

GYPT’s prime minister Hisham Kandil, yesterday said that an agreement brokered by Cairo to stop the fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza could be closed.

“Negotiations are going on as we speak and I hope we will reach something soon that will stop this violence and counter violence,” Prime Minister said in an interview in Cairo for the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit.

Israel launched an air campaign on Wednesday with the declared goal of deterring Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, from launching rockets at its southern communities.

Egypt is seeking to reinstate a ceasefire after an informal one it brokered in October collapsed.

figure in the militant group Islamic Jihad, named as Ramez Harb, killed as a building housing media workers

accept Muslim Rohingyas after recent violence.

On his arrival, crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets. However, the visit was intended to show support for the reforms put in place by Thein Sein’s government since the end of military rule in November 2010.

Activists have warned

that the visit may be too hasty - political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved.

Just yesterday, another prisoner amnesty was announced, with about 50 of the 66 inmates freed reportedly political detainees. About 200 political prisoners remain behind bars, activists said.

US, Europe hail Sierra Leone vote, urge peaceful result Mr Obama toured Shwedagon Pagoda, in the heart of Rangoon

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HE European and U.S. Observers yesterday said that

US urges Nigeria to promote unity, democracy

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU AND PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence Macaulay at the just concluded lecture to honor the memory of late Hubert H. Humphrey held last week in Lagos has urged Nigerian government to promote unity and democracy without conflict.

A the event organized by the United States embassy in conjunction with the Hubert H. Humphrey

Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, the US Ambassador to Nigeria in his keynote address said that US was very proud to associate with Nigeria. “I thank all of you for keeping the memory of this great US accomplisher alive.

Nigeria is a country with great intellects and you should work towards what binds you together. And to say learning from the American experience, I believe that Nigeria and America are the same in teaming with intellectuals”.he said.

At the lecture titled,

“Fostering Unity in Diversity in Nigeria: Learning from the American experience”, he said that as a nation of immigrants, U.S was continuously learning.”

What keeps us going is the strong sense of nationhood which I believe is paramount to fostering progression “stressing that, “with our diversity and diversity of culture, differences need to be embraced to make way for a better system of democracy and that is what we desire and for this reason, Nigeria needs peaceful co-existence and

a common goal to foster unity, which is not a function of individual will, but collective will.” he added.

The US Amb. further said that free religious act was a cherished act in the United States, suggesting that Nigerians should contribute to the fabric that would bind and form a national identity with unique characteristics to promote unity and a democracy without conflict, promising that the U.S will always encourage Nigerians to be focused on constant work towards progress.

Sierra Leone’s elections were generally well conducted with a large turnout. The observers with optimism said that the election would help consolidate democracy in the West African state if the eventual results were accepted peacefully by the contenders While praising Saturday ’s voting as largely calm and peaceful, the 100-strong European Union observer mission said however it noted “some shortcomings”, including an “unequal playing field” during p r e - e l e c t i o n campaigning that favored the ruling party of President Ernest Bai Koroma.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

•Obasanjo

•Jonathan

SWIFT AND SLOW, STRONG AND SUPPLE:

Obasanjo and Jonathan WHAT had been whispered as a quarrel between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his one time protégée, President Goodluck Jonathan burst out yesterday after Obasanjo’s Man Friday, Femi Fani-Kayode took up Jonathan on issues pertaining to the invasion of Odi. At issue is Obasanjo’s swift response to Boko Haram and his protégée’s alleged slowness to the Boko Haram insurgency.

I

T was a lecture to mark the 40thanniversary of the repentance of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor from the life of crime. It was thus an irony that an occasion to celebrate the man of God would turn into a platform that would generate a quarrel between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his one time protégée, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at the occasion in Warri last week President Obasanjo had expressed discomfort at what he described as President Jonathan’s slow response to the Boko Haram insurgency.

“My fear is that when you have a sore and you don’t attend to it early enough, it festers and becomes very bad.

Don’t leave a problem that can be bad unattended,” President Obasanjo had said.

Noting how he responded to

near similar situations during his civilian regime when militants in Odi, Bayelsa State killed some soldiers and then in Zaki Biam, Benue State, Obasanjo continued: “On two occasions I had to attend to the problem I faced at that time. I sent soldiers to a place and 19 of them were killed. If I had allowed that to continue, I will not have authority to send security whether police, soldier and any force any where again. So, I had to nip it in the bud and that was the end of that particular problem,” he said.

“If you say you do not want a strong leader, who can have all the characteristics of a leader, including the fear of God, then, you have a weak leader and the rest of the problem is yours,” he added.

It was a response that several associates of President Jonathan have been falling over one another to rebuff. The claim

by President Obasanjo is in the wake of what many believe to

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

Before now, President Jonathan had undoubtedly to the irritation of Obasanjo and his associates shown some public displeasure of the actions of the Obasanjo presidency

,

be actions taken by the incumbent against the interest of Obasanjo.

It was as such not surprising that when President Jonathan hosted the presidential media chat last Sunday that the issue of his alleged slowness would crop up.

Reacting to the issue, President Jonathan dismissed Obasanjo’s assertion that the

invasion of Odi curbed militancy at that time.

Jonathan who remarkably was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State at that time said: “After that invasion, myself and the governor entered Odi…and saw some dead people. Most of the people that died in Odi were mostly old men, women and children, none of the militants was killed.” ”If bombarding Odi was to solve the problem, then it was never solved. If the attack on Odi had solved the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, then the Yar’ Adua government would not have come up with the Amnesty programme. So, that should tell you that the attack on Odi never solved the militancy problem and we had more challenges after that attack on Odi.” t was a direct hit back at Obasanjo. Before now, President Jonathan had undoubtedly to the irritation of Obasanjo and his associates shown some public displeasure of the actions of the Obasanjo presidency.

During the campaigns for the 2011 elections Jonathan had publicly disavowed the “Do or Die” political philosophy embraced by Obasanjo in the run up to the 2007 election.

I

Jonathan warned that nobody should kill for him.

So when President Jonathan on national television dismissed Obasanjo’s prompt response to the insurgencies that befell his administration as a failure, it was not surprising that the Obasanjo camp would react and even so, swiftly.

Obasanjo who is not given to much talking spoke through a former Minister in his government, Chief Femi FaniKayode who was popularly known as his attack dog.

Responding to the assertions

by Jonathan on Sunday, FaniKayode after being personally briefed by Obasanjo and the then Director-General of the State Seucrity Services, SSS, Col. Kayode Are, rtd. dismissed what he described as the revision of history.

Asserting that either Jonathan forgot or was wrongly briefed on Odi, Fani-Kayode said: “Whichever way he is mistaken and it is important for those of us that proudly served the Obasanjo administration to respond to him in order to clarify the issues, clear the air and set the record straight for the sake of history and posterity,” he said.

“After the brutal killing of these security personnel President Olusegun Obasanjo asked the then Governor of Bayelsa state, Governor Alamesighya, to identify, locate, apprehend and hand over the perpetrators of that crime. The Governor said that he was unable to do so and President Obasanjo, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, took the position that security personnel could not be killed with impunity under his watch without a strong and appropriate response from the Federal Government.

Appropriate response “Consequently he sent the military in to uproot and kill the terrorists and to destroy their operational base which was the town of Odi .”

“The operation was carried out with military precision and efficiency and it’s objectives were fully achieved. The terrorists were either killed and those that were not killed fled their operational base in Odi, were uprooted, were weakened, were demoralised and were completely dispersed.”

“That was the purpose of the whole exercise and that purpose was achieved. The truth is that the killing of security agents and soldiers with impunity by the Niger

Continued on page 39

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—39

MIMIKO’S VICTORY:

Lessons for sham progressives

BY EMMANUEL AJIBULU

against the party.

Also another factor which was identified that worked against the ACN was the perception of Senator Bola Tinubu by the people of Ondo state who saw him as pillar and godfather of all the party’s appointed and elected men and women including the six state governors under ACN platform.

The truth is that an average indigene of Ondo State detests godfatherism and dictatorship.

The people would rather like a governor whose administration cannot be hijacked by external interests.

It was a great joy for the good people of Ondo that the state did not experience the ‘Armageddon’ that actually

A

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S expected with every victory, the landslide success of Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the October 20, gubernatorial poll, triggered uncontrollable jubilation amongst the great people of Ondo State and even beyond.

Mimiko convincingly won at the polls no doubt, however one cannot forget so soon the campaign of calumny which preceded the election especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The campaigns were based on denying the good works of Mimiko which were his qualification certificate before the people. Since the people of Ondo State despise deceptions, sadly the party failed to win the hearts of a majority of the principled Ondo people.

On the part of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which its candidate came third in the contest, the first miscalculation of the party was the alleged imposition of Rotimi Akeredolu as its candidate by the party ’s leadership.

This, to indigenes of Ondo State meant that there was no internally democratic mechanisms that were fair to all in the party; the people also saw the party as cheating against those candidates who were not given equal treatments. Akeredolu could be a very good candidate but the way he was selected was

•Mimiko: Victory at last annoying and those who know the people of the state would not be surprised if a kinsman of Akeredolu opposed him for cheating others in the race.

In another token, it was obvious that the ACN did not take its time to study the people. Since they had been succeeding in the other SouthWest states, the leaders of the party concluded that the same tactics, strategies and weapons used in those states were enough to “capture” Ondo State. At the time the ACN was campaigning, Mimiko was the governor of the state and the

people would have wanted him to be treated as such. The people did not like some derogatory and uncomplimentary languages used and also the sheer arrogance and pride displayed against their incumbent Governor. It was therefore true that some of those who had vowed to vote for the ACN actually changed their minds when they heard those disparaging words used against him by the party leaders. Even if money and materials were distributed, the people’s hearts had been fixed

And now that elections are over, we have a re-elected Governor that is competent, progressive, trusted, tested and reliable.

The resounding victory of Mimiko in the election is a product of good governance of his administration. Mimiko stood by the people all through the period, by embarking on various development projects that have direct bearing on them. Mimiko’s victory was not bought, but laboured for, and amazingly the governor would not let the people down even in his second term in office.

The applause that greeted the victory of Mimiko across the country, shortly after the announcement, especially from the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan; leadership of both

The truth is that an average indigene of Ondo State detests godfatherism and dictatorship. The people would rather like a governor whose administration cannot be hijacked by external interests

,

hung in the air prior to the election of October 20. In place of doom, the state witnessed bliss, courtesy of a globallyacclaimed free and fair election.

In fact, many individuals and institutions that had, on account of the palpable fear occasioned by pre-election tension in Ondo, been at alert to outdo one another in sympathising with the state, in the event of the undesirable expected, were disappointed.

chambers of the National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), state governors, including the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a host of others was an indication that he was the popular choice of the people.

the Boko Haram insurgency in the last two years Fani-Kayode was to note that that figure was not up to the total number of lives lost in the 100 years of the Northern Ireland troubles.

Even before Jonathan defended himself on television, some, including rabid haters of Obasanjo had gone out to blast him. One of such was Alhaji Shetimma Ali Monguno, a one time Minister of Petroleum Resources. He was sharply critical of Obasanjo’s suggestion on the use of force saying that the Boko Haram insurgents should be treated like any other Nigerian child. Monguno who had been nominated by the Boko Haram insurgent group as one of its preferred peace moderators with the Federal Government suggested that the Amnesty Programme that was extended to the Niger Delta militants should ordinarily have been extended to the

northern insurgents.

“The President could come out and still employ the same tactics, which he and the late president (Umaru Yar’Adua) employed to have persuaded the militants in the southsouth.

He could have employed the same methods for the Boko Haram of the north. The northerners were expectant that he was going to use that,” Alhaji Monguno said.

How to deal with Boko Haram, arguably the greatest security challenge to have faced the country since the civil war remains an issue.

President Jonathan had in time past repeatedly said that it was something that would peter out going the extent to set a 2012 mid year deadline for the insurgency to cease. But with the group still active, even though not as before, Obasanjo’s intervention, even if troubling has found some good hearers.

*Emmanuel Ajibulu wrote from 3 Arms Zone Abuja emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com

Obasanjo and Jonathan Continues from page 38 Delta militants virtually stopped after the operation in Odi and remained at a bare minimum right up until the time that President Obasanjo left power eight years later in 2007. I advise those that doubt this to go and check the records.”

According to him, a similar provocation of the Nigerian military in Zaki Biam in Benue State after 19 soldiers were murdered led to the invasion of that community.

“The objectives of the military operations in both Odi and Zaki Biam were to stop such killings, to eliminate and deal a fatal blow to those that perpetuated them and to discourage those that may seek to carry out such barborous butchery and mindless violence in the future. Those were the objectives and nothing more

and clearly those objectives were achieved.”

“There is no doubt that after Odi there was still unrest, agitations, protests, kidnappings and the blowing up and sabotage of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta area but there were hardly any more attacks on or killing of soldiers and security personnel by the terrorists and militants because they knew that to do that would attract a swift and forceful reaction and terrible retribution from the Nigerian military.

Attacks and killings “To stop and deter those attacks and killings was the objective of President Obasanjo and that objective was achieved. President Goodluck Jonathan was therefore in error when he said that Odi did not solve the

problem of killings in the Niger Delta area by the Niger Delta militants. Not only did it stop the killings but it is also an eloquent testimony of how to deal with terrorists, how to handle those that kill our security personnel with impunity and how to deter militants from killing members of our civilian population and thinking that they can get away with it. If President Obasanjo had not taken that strong action at that time many more of our civilian population and security personnel would have been killed by the Niger Delta militants between 1999 and 2007. By doing what he did at Odi and Zaki Biam President Obasanjo saved the lives of many and put a stop to the killings and terrorism that had taken root in the Niger Delta area previous to that time.”

Noting the recent disclosure that at least 3,000 Nigerians have been killed on account of

C M Y K

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Cadenza, the new definition of luxury STORIES BY THEODORE OPARA

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HE drive was excellent, the finishing, perfect and the interior quiet and comfortable. You could hardly fault the all-new Kia Cadenza in any way, be it design, safety or handling, the Cadenza has got it all. It reflects Kia’s rising profile in the auto industry since the beginning of the new millennium.

A successor model to the Kia Opirus, the Cadenza could pass for the most improved car in its class.

Powered by a new Lambda II 3.5 litre petrol engine that churns out 290Ps at 6600 rpm, the Cadenza boasts one of the most powerful engines in its class. Its powerful aluminium engine features dual continuously variable valve timing, a silent timing chain system to minimise noise and variable intake system efficiency.

Other advantages of the new Cadenza engine include, reduced vibration, low noise when idling and accelerating, an eco oil filter that lowers maintenance costs and reduced overall weight to enhance fuel economy. Added to this, is the next generation six-speed automatic transmission which guarantees smooth ride.

Vanguard Motoring test drove the all new Cadenza not long ago and the performance was amazing. The Cadenza is fast, and grips the road like a typical luxury sedan. The quiet interior and finishing gives you

a feeling of being in a premium sedan while the braking is superb.

As befitting a luxury sedan, the Cadenza’s accelerator pedal is designed for maximum comfort by allowing your foot and ankle to move in the same trajectory as the pedal itself.

During the test drive the Cadenza felt much at home on the Lekki Epe expressway while the sound system blasted.

The engine could make you abuse the approved speed limit in the country with ease. But I maintained my cool knowing I could bump into the

FRSC check point on the road.

In summary, the Cadenza is a car with both style and performance to back it up. From nimble

steering to precision-controlled handling, everything is geared to fit your driving needs.

Inside the Cadenza Kia engineers have brought

their midas touch to bear.

The elegant, advanced ergonomics of the Cadenza dashboard merge seemlessly with the latest technology. All of it work-

ing in harmony through intuitively operated controls to provide cohesive stimulating and wholly enjoyable driving environment.

Comfort and space were giving priority in the Cadenza as luxury has been raised to the highest level in the new Kia flagship sedan.

Kia took safety to the next level in the new Cadenza. A rigid, highstrength steel structure with re-inforced side sills means energy is effectively absorbed and dispersed in the event of collision. The Brake Assist System deploys in an emergency situation, sensing brake pedal speed and applying increased pressure to ensure a shorter brake distance. Airbags at the front and sides offer protection for both driver and passengers.

Coscharis Ford unveils QuickLane, partners Motorcraft

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OSCHARIS Ford General Manager, sales, Mr. Lekan Adenuga has said that the motive behind the introduction of Ford “QuickLane” by the company was to ensure better and quicker service for customers.

Speaking during a one day training programme for its spare parts dealers, the General Manager said that the dream of Coscharis is to ensure that all their customers have access to everything that could make them enjoy their Ford vehiclesall the time.

He disclosed that the company is appointing Certified Part Wholesale Dealers to ensure availability and effective distribution of Ford parts nationwide. The idea, according to him was to ensure that Ford parts were available to their customers at their beck and call.

To this end, he said, Ford is supporting the programme by setting up a central warehouse in Dubai to reduce the time frame of bringing parts into the country. This, he said has made it possible

for parts to be delivered to their office in less than 12 hours. This development, according to him, will ensure availability of genuine and quality Ford spare part at affordable price rather than allowing the customers to patronizing sub standard parts.

He however disclosed that Ford has entered into a partnership with Motorcraft, a renowned original spare parts manufacturer to produce genuine parts for its customers. He described the partnership between Motorcraft and Ford as one that is work-

ing. “This is what has been in place over the years and we are bringing it to Nigeria,” he said, adding that it was one of the strategies employed to make spare parts faking impossible and unattractive for heartless businessmen who want to take advantage of price to flood the country with substandard spare parts.

Describing Motorcraft spare parts as very high quality he disclose that the company makes batteries for Ford cars that could last for more than five years.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—41

•All-new Range Rover 2013 set to hit Nigerian road.

Our target is to be number one — Lanre Shittu C

HINA’S leading construction equipment manufacturer, Sany, has said that its goal is to become the number one construction equipment distributor in Nigeria. Sany is a member of Lanre Shittu Group of Company in Nigeria, a leading automobile distributor, which also represents Mack Trucks and other notable a u t o m o b i l e manufacturers in Nigeria.

Speaking to Vanguard Motoring shortly after the official launch of the Sany range of construction equipment in Lagos on Thursday, Yao Yao, managing director Sany said that they were very happy to find a partner like Lanre Shittu Group in Nigeria who have made Mack Truck a household

name in the country.

According to him, the partnership with Lanre Shittu will make their dream of becoming number one construction equipment distributor in Nigeria very possible within a short time. Describing Sany range of products as highly efficient, durable, energy saving, reliable and comfortable, Yao said they have the best and biggest factory in China, Germany, America and India.

“We are the leader in research and development with biggest research team you can think of in the construction equipment industry,” he said.

“We have chosen the best partners in Lanre Shittu Group, and have the best products with

Sany construction equipment

best after sales backup across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt.”

In his remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Soye Oluremi Oniagba, Managing Director Rem Bam Nigeria Ltd commended the chairman of Lanre Shittu Group, Mr. Rasak Lanre Shittu for bringing the right products into the country at all time.

“If every businessman in Nigeria, has Lanre Shittu’s attitude to business, the country would have gone far.”

“He has confidence in the country and has in-

vested very heavily in the economy and the automobile sector,” he stated.

“The first time he introduced Sany Construction equipment to me, I told him, I have been used to other brands, but I can tell you that since then, I have never been disappointed. Sany products can give you the same mileage like other established brands, if not more,” he further stated.

Also speaking to Vanguard Motoring the Group Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr. Taiwo Shittu said “having tested the Sany products in Nigeria over the last

one year, we have found it good enough to finally unveil it into the Nigerian market. He described the quality of Sany product as very high and comparable to the very best you can find anywhere in Europe and America. According to him, “Sany is number one equipment manufacturing company in Asia and has gained acceptance in Germany, Brazil, America and India.” He noted that, Sany Construction equipment is a combination of Chinese and Germany technology. The executive director further explained that Sany entered into partnership with Lanre

Shittu Group barely a year ago and all efforts were channelled towards training the manpower to effectively handle the world class product in Nigeria. “Sany is a new dealership we signed last year but we have been concentrating on the training of our technicians both abroad and locally to handle the equipment and guaranty customers investments in the products,” he said.

“All the logistics of having a dealership have been going on in the last one year while well over 50 technicians and engineers have completed training on the maintenance of this product.

Road crashes: FRSC advocates Speed Calming Devices

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HE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the

Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka has advocated for the introduction of speed calming devices on some sections of the highways as part of measures to curb excessive speed among drivers in the country.Making a presentation during a courtesy visit at the national headquarters of the Federal Roads maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Corps Marshal observed that FRSC findings in week 45 indicate that speed violation was predominant cause of 142 road crashes recorded across the country with 64 cases, followed by loss of control, tyre burst, dangerous driving and wrongful overtaking.

According to Chidoka, the rise in road crashes

in week 44 “showed that in comparison with similar period last year, road crashes have increased by 30.9% while fatality reduced to only 1.72%”. He added that “in similar vein, comparing the third quarter of 2012 with the same period last year, there was an increase of 55% in road crashes and 13.3% increase in fatality.”

However, the Corps Marshal disclosed that sustained intervention by the FRSC during festive seasons such as the Easter, Sallah, Valentine Day, Christmas, Workers’ Day and the New Year eve has impacted positively on road crash reduction, indicating that adequate funding and sustained patrols, public enlightenment and enforcement of traffic rules and regulations will achieve a dras-

tic reduction of road crashes through out the year. The Corps Marshal commended FERMA for donating 31 road side clinics to the FRSC and solicited for the furnishing of the clinics to enhance the Corps’ rescue activities especially during the yuletide. He also implored the management of FERMA to strive towards improving rehabilitation of bad portions of the highways, in view of Ember months travels, furnishing of rehabilitated roads with signs and road markings that meet with global standards, implementation of FRSC findings on audited roads in the country and to deliver on FERMA’s promise of 6 heavy duty tow trucks to the Corps.

42— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Otedola Link Bridge: New death trap for Lagos motorists ACCIDENTS ON OTEDOLA LINK BRIDGE Date Nov 15, 2012 Nov 13, 2012 July 12, 2002 Aug 15, 2012

No of deaths Seven Two Two 40

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

in the series of accidents happened last Thursday, when an articulated vehicle with a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol reportedly lost control crushed four other vehicles.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident happened at about 5.30 pm which resulted into a gridlock on the expressway as travelers got stuck on the ever-busy highway.

At least four people died on

O

TEDOLA link Bridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has definitely turned into nightmare with the frequency of fatal auto accidents that occurred in recent times.

At least three fatal crashes occurred there between July and November this year claiming about 60 lives.The latest

the spot. The vehicles involved were a Skoda saloon car – FKJ 167 AX; Land Rover SUV- AH

LAWMA: Employer of more women than men

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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DAILY chore at home has become an avenue to earn a living. On daily basis, many Nigerian women start their day by sweeping their houses before setting out for work and if they knew that the daily routine could create a good source of income, many of them would have been more creative and proactive in discharging such duty.

Today, Lagos State Waste Management Authority LAWMA, has not only given women an opportunity to prove themselves, it has also been able to put food on their table as the ratio of women to men in its employment is 58 to 42.

LAWMA has developed a shared vision for women and their development especially in the area of employment. Speaking with Vanguard over the weekend, LAWMA helmsman, Ola Oresanya, said his organisation had a unique vision for women.

According to him, female employees are spread across all sections of the organisation and they seem to be very efficient as they are granted equal opportunities to enhance productivity.

Also, LAWMA is seen as one of the examples of performing organisations where the female employees play a major role in the execution of their primary duties which are particularly in the area of waste management from handling of heavy duty refuse collectors through to dump site.

A visit to Olusosun dump site at Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area LCDA, weekend, revealed that female engineers of LAWMA kitted in their dominant orange colour uniform, safety boots and others were seen operating heavy duty machines.

Also, a walk around some parts of Lagos, revealed that the opportunities are so many particularly in the area of road sweeping, refuse collection and clearing of water hyacinth in some riverine areas among others.

Oresanya, who believes in making LAWMA a worldwide organisation said, ‘’though people want their names to be known but I believe in making LAWMA a worldwide organisation because if LAWMA does not exist,

nobody will know Oresanya,’’ he said.

According to him, ‘’women to men ratio is 58 to 42. Coping with women has been very easy because they have more commitment to a course they believe in and we have developed a model for shared vision for the organisation, which has assisted in driving a high level of commitment from our women. Moreso, maternal interest has been taken care of with the creche in place,’’ he explained.

In a chat with Vanguard, some of the women expressed gratitude to the organisation for granting them opportunity to use a supposedly domestic exercise to earn their living.

723 SMK; Volvo truck- KSF 806 XC; a tanker laden with 33,000litres of petrol- XB 166 NGL. There was another vehicle which number could not be ascertained immediately.

According to one Mr. Segun, whose house is close to the scene of the accident, attributed the accident mainly to the carelessness of the driver of a truck conveying heavy iron rods, which had a minor accident there the previous night, leaving one of the iron pipes it was carrying close to the Berger link bridge.

Impending danger Because of the rod, motorists found it difficult to manoeuver through the little space left for vehicles to pass.

Segun explained: “The driver of the fully loaded truck, who was driving at a high speed, was not aware of the impending danger. He rammed into the rod abandoned in the heart of the road before the 18-seater bus and saloon car had a rear collision with the truck, thereby somersaulting severally along the road.”

August 15th 2010 fatal crash A fatal crash also occurred on the same spot two years ago, when 40 people were burnt to death on a Black Sunday

and scores of others were severely injured in a multiple auto accident Over 30 vehicles were involved in that crash and it completely crippled movement of vehicles on the expressway.

Fifteen of the vehicles got completely burnt.

An articulated vehicle, otherwise known as trailer, loaded with sugar, while descending the bridge that links the old Lagos Toll Gate to Berger Bus Stop, reportedly had break failure and rammed into a stream of vehicles on the busy road.

Some of eyewitnesses, however, blamed the accident on the roadblock mounted on the expressway by men of the Nigeria Police then. A five-yearold boy and his mother were among those who lost their lives in the accident, while those who jumped down from the bridge were all injured. It was gathered that the unmarked truck was heading towards Ibadan when it ran into the barricade in the middle of the road and attempts by the driver to stop the vehicle failed, forcing him to ram into the vehicles in front of him.

One of the buses hit by the truck reportedly went up in flames before the affected vehicles in turn caught fire.

17 passengers of an 18-seater bus and another 13 passengers from another 18-seater bus were among the people who got burnt in the road carnage.

The accident scene almost became riotous, as some people threw various objects at every police van that attempted to stop at the scene of the accident.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 43

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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HREE years ago, night life in Tarkwa Bay community, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, LCDA, died abruptly, when the Federal Government placed a dusk to dawn curfew on the riverine community.

This was sequel to the bomb attack by Niger Delta militants on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Atlas Cove jetty, sited at the entrance of the community, on July 12, 2009.

Since then, it has been tails of woes for residents of Tarkwa Bay, which was once the centre of attraction for tourist and fun-seekers in the state during the day and at night.

Speaking on the issue, the residents said that the dusk to dawn curfew on the community has brought adversity to the area and crippled development in the island.

The residents argued that while the curfew placed on adjourning communities have been lifted; the central government omitted the community from the list, causing phobia within and around the community.

They lamented that the reason for the curfew which was due to the activities of Niger Delta militants was no longer tenable with the militants embracing amnesty, adding “they have also been sent on different training programmes.”

Speaking about the curfew, the chairman of the Community Development Association, CDA, Mr. Ben Boco said that after the attack, NNPC imme-

Atlas Cove: Tarkwa Bay still under curfew, 3 years after

diately constructed another jetty and the Federal Government lifted the curfew on other adjourning communities excluding Tarkwa Bay from the list.

Boco stated that within this period, movement in and out of the community remained restricted. “The presence of the military has created fear around the community, restricting many from visiting the community.”

Another resident, Mrs. Doris Momoh, who has lived in the community for 30 years, lamented that the curfew had forced many to relocate from the community.

“When I came to this community 30 years ago with my family, the number of people living in the community could be counted. But after few years, the number of residents in the community increased to over 30, 000. And night life

commenced but since the placement of the curfew, all these have stopped: many have relocated and night life no longer exists,” Momoh said.

She explained that larger percentage of the residents work at places that are far away from the community leaving them with no option than to return late at night. And due to the curfew, they are restricted from coming into the com-

LAGBUS in bus crisis for National Sports Festival

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

HEAD of the National Sport Festival, Tagged: “Eko 2012”, slated to commence on November 27, 2012, managers of LAGBUS Asset Management. Ltd, red buses are presently running from pillar to post to meet up with

the required fleet for the festival.

LAGBUS so far has issued 18 companies with licenses to run buses on some routes across Lagos state. The goal is to ensure that affordable transportation is available to all in every part of Lagos in the near future.

Other franchises are; Adonis Venture/Eko Consult Limited Countrywide Logistics Limited, Fab-Rem Project International Limited Megacity Bus Services Limited Nationwide Unity Transport Limited Trans-Urban (Ikeja) Multipurpose Cooperative Society LAGBUS started operations

on the 17th of February 2007.

LAGBUS was created out of the experience of Lagos state over the years to assist in alleviating the transportation issues in the state. With over 500 buses and 40 routes currently in operation, it operates a prepaid and on-the-bus ticketing service available in different denominations on different routes.

The vision is to deploy buses in dedicated right of way with prepaid tickets, select operators and GPS monitoring to create a modern bus transportation system for Lagos while the mission is to create a modern, secure and sustainable bus transportation service designed for the special needs of Lagos.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, recently, commissioned the Muritala Mohammed Way dedicated BRT corridor and launched new LAGBUS franchises’ buses on Tuesday 29th May, 2012 at the Yaba Bus Terminus.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, last Tuesday in Lagos gave franchise certificates to seven newly-appointed franchise operators under the LAGBUS Asset Management Ltd., operators of LAGBUS.

munity. In search of where to lie down for the night, many pass the night under the bridge and some turned their offices to their homes.”

The general secretary of the CDA, Mr. Peter Erefa, angrily added, “It gives one a great concern after three years and considering the huge number of militants who have laid down their arms and embraced amnesty.”

On the steps taken by the community over the issue, Mr. Gabriel Kayode said; “last year, when the state governor came for his re-election campaign, we discussed the issue with him and he said it was a Federal Government order.

But he said he would discuss with President Goodluck Jonathan on how the curfew would be lifted.”

Kayode added “apart from this, we have also gone to discuss the issue with various Federal Government agencies.”

Erefa continued, “All we are asking from the central government is to lift the curfew placed on the community three years ago.”

According to Erefa, “ we want the night life that once existed in the community back. Many fun-seekers who thronged the community ’s beach have deserted us due to the curfew placed on the community.”

Speaking to Vanguard, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, said that he had directed the council chairman to liaise with the security officials assigned to the area, to study the security situation and report to the ministry.

Ojelabi added that it was only after the report had been submitted that the state government would embark on various measures to ensure that the curfew was relaxed.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Katsina begins 30Mw solar project

Bauchi rejects 6-zone structure

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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BY SUZAN EDEH

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AUCHI—BAUCHI State government has opposed the recognition of the six geo-political zones in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

State Deputy Governor, Aminu Saleh, who made this known, yesterday, while presenting a paper at a zonal public hearing on the constitution amendment in Gombe, said: “As a state government, we are against the autonomy of geo-political zones as tiers of government, likewise the abolition of state Independent Electoral Commission and the establishment of State Police.”

6th AMAGE congress begins in Calabar

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O fewer than 30 Nigerian physicians and researchers alongside their counterparts from other parts of the world will participate in the sixth congress of the African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology, AMAGE, holding in Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State, from Thursday.

Organised in collaboration with the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN, the congress will be attended by specialist in diseases of the digestive system (Gastroenterologists).

A statement by the President of the AMAGE Congress, Prof. Hussein AbdelHamid of Egypt and the General Secretary, Prof.

Olusegun Ojo of Nigeria, said the congress was also expected to feature papers on Africa health in general.

It added that Nigeria was chosen to host the congress because of its position as one of the important gates to Sub-Saharan African region.

Expected speakers include AMAGE SecretaryGeneral, Prof. Olusegun Ojo; Chairman Local Organising Committee, Calabar, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba; President of the Nigerian scientific committee of the congress, Prof.

Musa Mohamed Borodo, among others.

LAUNCH: From left— Ms. Aida Diarra, Vice President, North-Central and West Africa, Western Union Company; Mr. Linus Adaba, Group Remittance Manager, Ecobank; Mr. Jean-Claude Farah, Senior Vice-President, Middle East and Africa, Western Union; and Mr. Patrick Akinwutun, Group Executive, Domestic Bank, Ecobank, at the launch of Account Based Money Transfer, ABMT,

by Western Union and Ecobank in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo, Editor.

IGERIA-German Energy Commission has started the construction of 30 mega watts of solar-powered electricity project to boost power in Katsina State.

Governor Ibrahim Shema flagged-off the project in Katsina, yesterday, giving the firm handling the job eight months to complete it.

Shema, who assured of necessary support and cooperation of his administration to ensure timely completion of the project, further noted the need to tap water, gas and wind to source energy for societal development.

The governor lamented

that although inadequate power supply started long ago, the Federal Government was however working hard to tap all the energy sources in the country to address the matter.

According to him, the 30 mega watts of electricity project, when completed, would encourage the development of industries, technology and the creation of jobs among the citizens.

Commissioner for Resource Development, Mr. Musa Nashuni, said Governor Shema had been trying to develop alternative source of energy since he assumed office, pointing out that his efforts were beginning to yield fruitful results.

Man jailed 2 months for contempt of court

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE LICENCE: Mr. Charles Anosike of Agency Consulting Ltd. (right), receiving Chartered Management Consultancy Licence from Dr. Michael OlawaleCole, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), at the licensing of Chartered Management Practitioners by the Institute.

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51-year-old driver, Edem Asuquo, has been sentenced to two months imprisonment by an Agege Grade ‘A’ Cus-

6 renounce cultism at Oko Poly

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—SIX stu dents of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, have renounced their membership of the Black Movement of Africa, popularly known as

Black Axe, and the Vikings cult groups.

Five were said to be members of Black Axe, while one was reportedly a member of Vikings.

Parading the cultists, who had voluntarily renounced their member-

ship, before the school authorities and a large crowd of students, leader of the anti-cultism squad in the institution, Mr. Ade Abdulahi, said the students were arrested a few days ago.

He said some incrimi-

Tension over renewed GMoU in Delta

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ARRI—THE recently renewed Global Memorandum of Understanding, GmoU, between Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL; Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, and the Delta State Government is causing ripples.

In a statement by Chief Jeffrey Ojogun, Chairman/Amadiwei of Benikrukru Community and the General Secretary, Fanty Wariyai, have cautioned the signatories to the renewed GMoU to steer clear from all affairs of the community as their action did not get their backing.

They also warned CNL

to stop meddling in the affairs of Benikrukru Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

They accused Chevron of trying to cause disaffection and disunity in the community, threatening to mobilise women and children to cripple the company ’s facilities.

The statement read in part: “We just rose from an emergency meeting at Benikrukru, where we resolved that all those who participated in the signing of the renewed GMoU between the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, Egbema/ Gbaramatu Communi-

ties Development Foundation and the Delta State Government be sanctioned.

“They went ahead and signed the renewed GMoU with Chevron, when we have told them not to do so.

“They are on their own as they did not attend the signing ceremony with the total support of our community of which they represent in the EGCDF and henceforth, we do not want them to transact any business in the name of our community again.

“We will no longer accept this divide and rule tactics from Chevron, enough is enough and a word is enough for the wise.”

nating items were recovered from one of the students’ room, who denied being a member of any secret cult.

Items recovered were mace, a symbol of authority, axes, Bible, vests, packets of candles, regalia, knife and charms, which were burnt after a cleric in the institution, Venerable Osondu had prayed for them.

Rector of the institution, Prof. Godwin Onu, said the Polytechnic had in 2010 witnessed 50 students renouncing cultism and said the institution would no longer tolerate cultism.

Onu declared the institution cult-free, saying his administration was committed to ensuring security and enabling environment for the students.

He assured the students, who renounced their membership of cultism, that nobody would molest, intimate and attack them for doing so.

Onu said the authority would not hesitate to expel any student involved in cult activities.

tomary Court in Lagos, for not allowing his wife to pack her belongings from the house, following a court order.

President of the court, Mr. Emmanuel Sokunle, ruled that Asuquo should be kept behind bars for disregarding a subsisting judgement.

Sokunle ruled: “Asuquo is, hereby, sentenced to two months imprisonment for contempt of court.”

Sokunle noted that Asuquo declined to allow his 42-year-old wife, Grace, to leave the house, even after judgement was given, thereby disrespect the court’s order.

He said: “I gave a judgement on October 30 and I ordered the woman to go with some policemen to pack her property from Asuquo’s house, but he refused.”

Grace (petitioner), who lives at 4, Thompson Street, Ishaga area of Lagos, had approached the court, seeking the dissolution of her 13year-old marriage on the grounds that her husband was threatening her life because she was childless, asking her to leave the house.

However, Asuquo, who resides at 4, Ikokoyi Close, Iju Water Works area of Lagos, urged the court not to dissolve his marriage because he still loves her unconditionally despite not having any child for him.

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Tension as Kogi House resumes

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA—KOGI State House of Assembly is to resume sitting after five weeks of tension and crisis generated over the impeachment of the Speaker of the House, Hon Abdullahi Bello, alongside other principal officers.

Vanguard gathered that members of the House agreed to resume sitting after the imbroglio following the intervention of the former governor of the State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, weekend.

Idris was said to have prevailed on the aggrieved parties at a meeting at the Glass House, Lokoja, asking both camps to sheathe their swords for peace to reign in the state.

However, there were still divergent opinions on who would preside over

the sitting today, as both camps were eager to produce the interim Speaker during the first sitting.

According to sources, the Momoh Lawal-led group was insisting that its boss would be the protem Speaker on resumption today, just as the G-13 group believes the impeached Bello should resume as Speaker and thereafter tender his resignation letter.

It was further learnt that neither camps would produce the new Speaker due to the new peace arrangement, since both camps had agreed to give the speaker ship to another member from the Central Senatorial axis.

The other principal officers would be restored to their positions since the Speaker, Bello was allegedly the sole target of the executive, who has now agreed to toe the path of reconciliation.

‘Nigerians better under Jonathan'

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OUTH-South politician, Chief Richard Lamai, weekend, declared that in spite of the current political and socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians, the country was better under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the people should unite in their support for the President at these trying times to enable him deliver on his campaign promises of transforming the nation without distraction.

Lamai, who spoke in Abuja said Nigerians should trust and support the president because he has started delivery of his campaign promises by ensuring that elections conducted under his watch so far have been free and fair.

He said: “Although President Goodluck Jonathan was a candidate in the 2011 general elections, he ensured that the elections were generally free and fair. Both local and international observers confirmed this.”

IBB, Buhari, Abubakar, Ribadu, others pay tribute to Saraki

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN—THREE former Heads of State, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar, were among several other prominent Nigerians that paid glowing tributes to the late political icon and Waziri of Ilorin, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, yesterday, describing him as a man of honour and dignity, who dilligently served his people and country.

Babangida and Abdulsalami, who came to Ilorin together on condolence visit to the family of late Saraki, were accompanied by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Alhaji Ndanusa and Ahmadu Abubakar.

General Buhari and former Speaker, Aminu Masari, came separately almost the same time with former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, among others.

They all described the death of Saraki as a great loss to the family and nation.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion and the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, have described the death of Saraki as a great loss to the medical profession and the country even as he urged the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State to immortal-

ise him.

Enabulele said: “Dr. Olusola Saraki was a foremost medical doctor, politician, statesman and business man. He was a very dear, forthright and purposeful colleague.

“We most humbly request that the government of Kwara State to rename the State Government House or the State House of Assembly Complex after Dr. Olusola Saraki.

“We also urge the Federal Government to name a national monument after the elder statesman as a way of preserving his legacies.”

IBB explained that when people ask for long life it is not to last for 1,000 years, but for people to continue to speak of your good deeds even after death.

Immediate past Acting National Chairman of

World Toilet Day: 34m Nigerians practise open defecation

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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S Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year ’s World Toilet Day, a joint UNICEF and World Health Organisation 2012 report has revealed that estimated 34 million Nigerians practice open defecation.

According to the report, Nigeria is amongst top five countries in the world with largest number of people defecating in the open.

A statement by UNICEF to mark the day in the country seeks an end to open defecation, adding that lack of toilet remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children.

According to UNICEF statistics, in Nigeria it is estimated that diarrhoea kills about 194,000 children under five years annually, while respiratory infections kill another 240,000.

These are largely preventable with improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene.

UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ibrahima Fall noted that trends in the past five years allow for cautious optimism that significant progress will be made in decreasing the number of people who practice open defecation globally.

Fall disclosed that globally, UNICEF is supporting 50 countries, including Nigeria, to im-

plement Community Approaches to Total Sanitation, CATS, such as Community Led Total Sanitation, CLTS, aimed at empowering communities to identify their sanitation challenges and take necessary actions to end open defecation.

He explained that CLTS aims to make all communities free of open defecation by focusing on social and behavioural change and the use of affordable, appropriate technologies.

Auditor-Gen queries non-remittance of N4trn

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UDITOR-General of the Federation, AuGF, has queried the non-remittance of over N4 trillion by various ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, in the 2009 fiscal year.

House of Representatives has, therefore, re-

solved to investigate the accounts of some Federal Government agencies, including Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF. Also to be probed are Stabilisation Account, Ecological Fund and Excess Crude Account.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Saraki family, described the two former military Heads of State as great men of honour.

Mallam Ribadu, who said Nigerians should celebrate the life and times of late Saraki rather than grieve over the loss, said people should thank God for his life.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support creation of new states?

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HE creation of new states is not a vital issue now. Division of the country is more important, because the bomb blast is becoming unbearable. Imagine creating new states when it is difficult to manage and control the existing 36 states.—Ms. Chioma Ani, Student.

T

HAT is absolute rubbish. They just want to create office for themselves and as well give room for more First Ladies. The idea, as far I am concern, is absolute rubbish, I repeat. Creating new states will not solve any problem in Nigeria.— Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Lawyer.

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do not think the crea tion of new states would solve Nigeria’s problems. We already have 36 states and there are still bombings and unlawful killings in various parts of Nigeria. I think the lesser the states, the better Nigeria would be.— Mr. Timileyin Jaiyeola, Clearing Agent.

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INCE all the cur rent 36 states in Nigeria were created by military governments, it will not be bad for the civilian government to create some. If the requirements for state creation are met, then let them go ahead and create new ones. — Ms. Cineol Koneke, Student.

I

wonder why creation of new states should be an issue. Well, it may also be a positive change on the agitations of minority groups. However, my worry now is how would the proposed new states be managed and on whose account?— Mr. Chewed Emmanuel, MC.

T

HERE are problems facing Nigeria.

Creation of more states is not one of them.

They all forgot about the promises in their manifestos. I suspect they are waiting for another election year to manipulate people for votes for a second term.— Ms. Blessing Ezeokoye, Student.

54—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Toyin Hamzat...killed by unknown gunmen

Hamzat’s profile

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Clerics and sympathisers at the Toyin Hamzat's burial site yesterday as he was buried at his residence in Aiyepe, Ogun State. Inset is late Hamzat.

Hamzat, former Ikeja Council boss killed, buried

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor, OLASUNKANMI AKONI, EVELYN USMAN, BOSE ADELAJA & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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HE former Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State, and ex Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Health during his first term in office, Oluwatoyin Hamzat, has been assassinated by unknown gunmen.

He was reportedly shot in the head at Sabo, Sagamu, Ogun State, at about 9p.m. on Sunday.

He was said to have left Sagamu Town Club where he went for a meeting and was heading for his country home when he met his fate.

The killers, it was learnt, blocked his car wiith an Ogun painted taxi. They emerged and

shot him at point blank. They reportedly left the scene without taking anything from his car.

His nephew who was in the car with him when the incident occurred, told Vangaurd that his remains had been taken to Ijebu Aiyepe, Odogbolu Local Government, for burial this afternoon, according to Islamic rites.

He said they were on their way to his country home, where the former chairman did his housewarming on October 1 when they were ambushed by the gunmen.

The colourful politician was spotted at Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s 2000 days in office celebration, held at LTV 8, Ikeja and Chief Kamoru Danjuma’s colourful party held in Abeokuta, on Sunday.

He was said to be preparing for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s chieftaincy ceremony in Abeokuta yester-

day before the incident occurred.

Also confirming Hamzat’s death, Keye Abiodun Banjo, Secretary of Bobakeye age group of Ijebu-land of which the deceased was a member, told Vanguard that he received a call last night in-

Ogun Police give account of the killing ••arrests 5

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EACTING to the killing of Hamzat, police spokesman in Ogun State, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, described the killing as a case of assassination as nothing was taken away from the car.

He said: “Truly, the man was killed yesterday. It was a case of assassination. Noting was taken away from him. He was shot in

Fashola, Ashafa, lawmakers, express shock

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O V E R N O R Babatunde Fashola and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District and members of the state House of Assembly, in a prompt reaction, expressed sadness over the death, describing it as “shocking.”

In a condolence message to the family of the deceased, through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the governor described it as most unfortunate, shocking and heart rending, the fatal attack on his former Special Adviser.

According to the governor, it was a supreme irony of life that such a man of peace who gave so much in the service of his nation and community could come to such a violent end.

While condoling with his Ogun state counterpart, the government and people of Ogun State as well as the immediate family of the deceased, Fashola, said

Hamzat’s death was a personal loss to him, Lagos State and the entire South West family of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The governor therefore, prayed the Almighty Allah to grant the soul of the departed Al-Janah Firdaus and imbue the widow and family members with the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Unassuming public officer Also, in his short message, Ashafa expressed shock at the sudden demise of Hamzat, he described as a gentle, unassuming public officer with high integrity.

Ashafa condemned the dastardly act and called on the authority of the Nigerian Police to as a matter of urgency unravel the people behind the act and bring them to book, to serve as deterrent to others.

“This killing must not go down as another mystery death in this

forming him that Toyin was dead.

“I received a call last night from someone that Toyin was killed in Shagamu around 9.30 p.m. He was a member of Bobakeye of which I am the scribe of the group.

He will be buried today in Aiyepe in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

“He was not at the meeting we held last week but he sent his apologies. We will all miss him.

May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

country. Enough is enough. The killers must be brought to book.”

Ashafa stated.

Also, members of the state House of Assembly, during it plenary session yesterday, commiserated with the family of the deceased. The Chief Whip of the House, Dr. Abdulrrazaq Balogun who brought the issue up said his death was so sudden.

He recounted their last meeting after Toyin Hamzat was made the Otunba in Ijebu-Ode. Balogun said “Once a Special Adviser for four years in the Ministry of Health, he had a cordial relationship with his Commissioner and performed his role deligently as expected of him.

Similarly, Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet, informed the sitting that she had a good working relationship with him as the Chairman of the Sport Council. She described him as a party faithful that is committed to the progress of the ACN government.

front of his woman friend’s house.

Five suspects have been arrested and they are in our custody at the state police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.”

The five suspects are the deceased’s woman friend, her husband and three taxi drivers.

It was gathered that the woman’s husband and the late Toyin Hamzat once met at the woman’s residence at Sagamu where they engaged in a brawl.

Vanguard also gathered that one the taxis impounded has been identified as the one used during the operation. A police source also confirmed the arrest of the man who allegedly fired the shot that killed Hamzat.

He was a progressive politician — Tinubu

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N his comment, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described the death of Toyin Amzat as sad. “I received the shocking and sad news of the death of one of our most illustrious sons and progressively minded politician, Mr. Toyin Hamzat. It is an irreparable lost not just to the family and my heart goes out to them but also to our party, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the people of Ogun and Lagos states.

“The insecurity on our roads in our homes and offices is appalling. Our lives are not secured.

Our homes and offices are not safe."

AMZAT, a Pharmacist, was a pioneer member of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress, AC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He was the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government between 1999 and 2002 and later became a Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also served as Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Health during his first term in office He was born 1 October, 1960.

He attended Adeola Odutola College Ijebu Ode for his ‘A’ Level and the University of Lagos, Idi Araba, for his Pharmacy degree.

Late Oluwatoyin Hamzat, was a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Honorary fellow, West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacist, Member, Ikoyi Club 1938, Member, Yoruba tennis Club.

PSN condoles with Amzat’s family

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has offered condolences to family of immediate past Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, late Toyin Amzat, who was murdered in bizarre circumstances on Sunday night.

In a sympathy letter signed by the PSN President, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo described Amzat as an accomplished pharmacist and promising politician whose professional colleagues were already imagining as a possible successor to Governor Amosun of Ogun State after his tenure was a dynamic pharmacist who brought in character and style to governance as a member of the Executive Committee of the Lagos State Government.

Akintayo noted that Amzat, who was one time Chairman of the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State, Senior Special Assistant on Local Government matters to former Governor Bola Tinubu championed laudable health initiatives to redress deficiencies in healthcare planning and was fondly admired by stakeholders in the health sector for his bold and fearless submissions.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—55

Now, the hospital comes to you in a box

Oshibogun recommends 6 teaching hospitals for Lagos

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

I

MAGINE a hospital that is big enough to change the world but small enough to fit in a box? This hospital doesn’t cost billions, on the contrary, it is quite affordable and requires no extensive staff training.

Better still, it takes up less room than comparable equipment, keeps digital records of patient examinations, easily and securely shares data with consultants and specialists and is lightweight and easy to transfer between examination rooms.

If you can imagine all these, then you already have an insight into the revolutionary healthcare aid called the “Hospital In A Box”.

An invention of New Yorkbased Nigerian medical doctor, Steve Ayanruoh, “Hospital in a Box” is a portable device that collects basic health data from potential hospital patients.

The device with US Patent No. 98765432 is changing the lives of patients and health professionals and brainchild of New York based Ruskat Medical Equipment Corporation.

Open up the device which looks strikingly like a simple briefcase and you find nine of the most up todate and essential life care medical equipment.

In there is a spirometer which measures lung health, and electrocardiogram, EKG, which measures heart activity, and a nebulizer which enables a patient inhale medicine into the lungs.

Other contents include a Pulse-Oximetry used to measure oxygen levels in the blood and pulse; an Otoscope for examining the ears; a thermometer for measuring body temperature; a cuff to measure blood pressure; wireless to send patient data wirelessly and an AC/DC, power source/ outlet.

Information from hospitalinabox.com describes

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• Revolutionary “Hospital In A Box” the handheld device as one that health care providers can quickly and easily utilise to perform comprehensive medical examinations at anytime of the day, anywhere in the world and transmit the results via wireless technology.

This device makes it possible for relevant and crucial patient

information including multiple examinations results and their corresponding digitized images to be shared and compared with others elsewhere in order to properly and accurately evaluate the health of the patient. With “Hospital In A Box”, a patient almost needs not go to the hospital.

Rather, the hospital “goes” to the patient.

PUBLIC health physician and Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Professor Akin Osibogun has called for establishment of up to six teaching hospitals in Lagos State to ensure better access to quality health care for the teeming populace.

Oshibogun who spoke during a 15-kilometre walk tagged "A Walk for Life" organised by the LUTH as part of its 50th anniversary, said more teaching hospitals are needed in the State because presently, LUTH and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, are incapable of meeting the demand.

He feared that the perennial issue of shortage of bed space in LUTH, which constitute hindrance to patient’s access to care, has become a national challenge.

“In assessing LUTH, we cannot put the problems of all Nigerian system on one hospital. There is no hospital that can have one million beds. Every hospital will only have a limited number of beds.

“I think what we need to advocate is the establishment of additional teaching hospitals in Lagos metropolis. In my professional assessment, we need a minimum of four to six teaching hospitals in Lagos.”

Commenting on the walking exercise, Osibogun said it was meant to draw attention to the importance of exercising.

Giving an insight, he said exercise boosts the immunity, is good for the heart, helps to improve cardiovascular fitness as well as prevent or minimise effects in those who are predisposed to diabetes. “Every person should engage in exercise, even if it is brisk walking for at least 30 minutes.

It will help to promote the health of our population. “If we had carried out the exercise inside our hospital premises, that would have been good for our staff alone, but we wanted members of the public to know that we promote exercise and we want them to also exercise,” he stated.

Global Fund sacks Inspector General

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

• The Lagos University Teaching Hospital held a “Walk For Life “ to mark tts 50th anniversary of the recently. L-R: Prof Akin Osibogun, CMD, with Mr Ola Ijimakin, GM, Marketing ,Fidson HealthCare Plc after the excercise. PHOTO: Joe Akintola Photo Editor

Misconception, unhealthy lifestyle bane of diabetes care in Nigeria

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & GABRIEL OLAWOLE

A

S Nigerians joined the rest of the World to mark this year ’s World Diabetes Day, Stakeholders have blamed the increasing burden of diabetes in the country on misconceptions about who is at risk and unhealthy lifestyles.

With over six million Nigerians living with Diabetes, the stakeholders are of the view that Nigerians should take a step further to take responsibility for

their health by ensuring regular blood sugar checks.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR in collaboration with Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, Lagos State Chapter, the Director General of the Agency, Prof.

Innocent Ujah emphasised the need to focus on educating Nigerians on how to prevent the causes of disease conditions like diabetes with a view to protecting the future.

Ujah who regretted that Diabe-

tes Mellitus was no longer an adult problem as its now found even in children reiterated the need for massive awareness on various steps to preventing it.

Lamenting the destructive nature of the disease, he said: More worrisome aspect is the fact that diabetes reduces quality and quantity of life.”

On his part, a Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Dr. Ogbera Anthonia disclosed that for now, there is no cure for diabetes but

it can only be control through early intervention.

Anthonia dismissed the general misconception that only fat people alone suffer from the diseases saying, “it is no more working because slim people are also coming down with diabetes.”

Blaming the increasing prevalence of diabetes on lifestyle, Ogbera employed Nigerians to monitor their glucose and engage in exercise, at least 20-30 minutes walking twice a week.

Continues on Page 57

I

NSPECTOR General of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Mr John Parsons, has been sacked.

It was gathered that the Board’s decision came after a careful review of his performance, which was found to be unsatisfactory.

Parsons was responsible for overseeing audits and investigations by the Office of the Inspector General, whose mission is to provide the Global Fund with independent and objective assurance over the design and effectiveness of controls in place to manage risks affecting programs supported by the Global Fund.

In a statement, the Board confirmed its full support for Continues on Page 57

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—57

Top cancer-forming foods to avoid (2)

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N fact, one European study links the decline in breast cancer cases in Europe to the forty-one percent drop in use of HRT. Th is study further adds that HRT stimulates the growth of preexisting, clinically latent tumors that may not otherwise become clinically apparent. A check of Internet sites like MedLine and MedMD suggest that if HRT must be used, do so at the lowest possible dose and for the least amount of time.

Beef, especially, is another dangerous source of artifi cial hormones. Because hormones stimulate growth in cattle and farmers are essentially paid based on the weight of the animals they sell for

slaughter, hormones increase an animal’s weight and as such, the farmer’s profi ts. While the USDA may assert that there are strict regulations in place regarding hormone use, the truth could be that the only requirement is that residue levels in meat are less than one ercent of the daily hormone production of children, which is eff ectively unenforceable because there is no USDA testing for hormone residues in meat. Another issue could be that even if the USDA did test these animals, synthetic hormone residue is not practically diff erentiable from the natural hormones created by the cow’s

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

body.

Farming, like any other business, is a profi t-driven business; farmers are always looking for ways to cut costs. One of the ways they may legally do this is by feeding their livestock the cheapest food available, which is soybeans and corn. In fact, statistics show livestock consumes 47 percent of the soy and sixty percent of all the corn produced in the What is even more disturbing is that both corn and soy are two most commonly known genetically-engineered

Global Fund sacks Inspector General Continued from Page 55 an independent and strong Office of the Inspector General, noting that robust audits and investigations are essential to the health of the Global Fund, to root out instances of financial impropriety and to assure donors and implementers that money is properly accounted for.

The Board said it made its decision based on factors including a performance review; an independent external peer review of the audit function; and a report to the Board by its Audit and Ethics Committee.

Further, it said that it recognized the need to maintain continuity in the work of the audits and investigations currently underway, while the Global

Fund conducts a search for a new Inspector General.

It will employ a similar search process to the effective and successful recruitment it recently completed to se-

lect a new Executive Director. The Board expects the search for a new Inspector General to take about six months. An interim Inspector General will be appointed shortly.

Misconception, unhealthy lifestyle Continued from Page 55 Speaking, the National Co-ordinator, Non- Communicable Disease, Dr. Anthony Usoro urged Nigerians to pay proper attention to their lifestyles and avoid self medication.

His word: “Nigerians should begin to pay more attention to their lifestyle and the kind of medications they take. People should reduce of excess consumption of

refined sugar and carbohydrate. Over eating is not good, obesity is not good, overweight is not good, avoid this through increasing physical activities and taking balance diet at reasonable quantity.”

Usoro further recommended routine medical check up every six month, adding that disease like diabetes could be nip in the bud as this would also facilitate early intervention.

and chemically sprayed crops in the US, both huge risk factors for cancer. In fact, a whopping 85 per cent of all soybeans and 40 percent of all corn is now genetically altered.

As well, notwithstanding the pesticide and genetically modifi ed issues, soy is further known for its estrogenic effects, particularly in breast cancer. The FDA itself lists 288 studies citing the potential dangers of soy, yet it is still being touted as the best alternative to meat.

Many studies have been focused on the eff ects of food dyes and not surprisingly, the findings are not good.

Some studies report food dyes have been found to mimic the growth-promoting eff ects of estrogen, a known risk factor for cancer. Others directly link food dyes to thyroid cancer. Almost all junk food is fi lled with artificial flavoring and colours, which are linked to a variety of cancers.

Avoid these foods as much as possible and read labels. You would be surprised at how much of our food is made with artifi cial fl avoring and colours!

As discussed earlier, all refined carbohydrates raise blood glucose levels, a factor now linked to cancer. Sugar, high fructose corn syrup and white fl our are not only devoid of any nutrients but they essentially throw your body into sugar shock. Avoid these foods.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

G

OOD day. I want to say that you are doing a very good job in making couples happy with your products. I am ashamed to say that I am a frequent masturbator and I have been doing this since my teenage years to the effect that it has affected me physically and emotionally. I have non-existent erections and my penis size has shrunk severely. I am approaching 30 years and I have been masturbating for ten years. What affordable product will you recommend for me to restore my limp penis as well as improve my tiny penis? Also I am always fatigued with aching joints and pains. Yes this is the result of excessive masturbation. Please help. Thank you sir – Moses Dear Moses, first of all thank you for your kind words.

You just said a lot of things which indicate that you never got appropriate sex education. Masturbation is the art of self-pleasuring, also known as penile massage. Everybody masturbates. Biologically, masturbation poses no health risks and it does not make your penis smaller or cause you to permanently lose your erection. Body massage in general feels good.

It relieves stress, aches and pains and helps us sleep and function better. Masturbation is localised massage that gives sexual pleasure while also relieving stress and frustration and enabling us relax and sleep better.

It is important that you understand these things because there is a whole lot of misguided opinions about penile massage especially when viewed through a religious lens.

Now you know the benefits of masturbation. But do you know what happens when humans are unable to have sex or masturbate? What happens is that anger builds up and so does frustration, stress, violent and devious behaviour. A significant degree of domestic violence against women is caused by male sexual frustration. And guess what? If humans never had sex or masturbated, violence, sexual molestation and rape in our world would rise to epidemic proportions and that includes the rape of house hold pets and farm animals

too. I am catholic and in my church, there is a rising incident of priests molesting young children all around the world. This is not surprising because priests cannot marry or have sex so innocent children suffer as a result.

Sexual deprivation can be dangerous.

So we have to stop the hypocrisy. Unfortunately, we are scared of publicly acknowledging the benefits of masturbation because we are afraid of being judged by other people. Meanwhile those other people who are judging you are masturbating too. Enough of the hypocrisy and ignorance. Masturbation is helpful. Everybody does it, and everybody enjoys it, just like sex. These are facts.

You can confirm it from your psychologist or medical doctor. But always talk to the experts.

So stop feeling depressed. If you cannot get an erection and you have aches and pains in your body, go and do a test in the hospital. You sound sick. Yes there are certain supplements that can give you erections such as Xzen 1200 and Sex Voltz but you are young and you should be able to get an erection without problems. Secondly, your penis is not shrinking. When a man is aroused, blood rushes to his penile tissues to enlarge it and that is how he gets his erection. When the blood leaves the penis and retreats into the body, the penile tissues shrink. This is normal for all men. It is not an illness. As for penis enlargement, you can use Big Bam Boo supplement to make it bigger. Big Bam Boo is a great enlargement supplement that gives strong erections too. Take care Moses – Uche That’s it for today. The name of the person featured here has been changed for his privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

34m Nigerians practice open defecation

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A

S Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Toilet Day, a joint UNICEF and World Health Organisation report of 2012 has revealed that estimated 34 million Nigerians practice open defecation.

According to report, Nigeria is amongst the top five countries in the world with largest number of people defecating in the open.

Meanwhile a press statement by UNICEF to mark the Day in the country seeks end to open defaction.

A lack of toilet remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children. Accord-

ing to UNICEF statistics, in Nigeria, it is estimated that diarrhoea kills about 194,000 children under five every year and in addition, respiratory infections kill another 240,000. These are largely preventable with improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene.

UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ibrahima Fall noted that trends in the past five years allow for cautious optimism that significant progress will be made in decreasing the number of people globally who practice open defecation.

Fall disclosed that globally, UNICEF is supporting 50 countries including Nigeria to implement Community Approaches to Total Sanitation, CATS such as

Community Led Total Sanitation aimed at empowering communities to identify their sanitation challenges and take necessary actions to end open defecation.

He explained that Community Led Total Sanitation aims to make all communities free of open defecation by focusing on social and behaviour change and the use of affordable, appropriate technologies.

Fall said UNICEF is supporting implementation of Community Led Total Sanitation in 30 States, and over 2 million people living in more than 3,000 open defecation free communities are estimated to be using toilets as a result.

•With 34 million Nigerians practicingopen defecation, the nation is a is amongst the top five countries in the world with largest number of people defecating in the open.

Dame Fashola flags off 2nd MNCH week today

W

IFE of the Lagos State Gov ernor, Dame Abimbola Fashola flags off the 2nd round of the Maternal Newborn and

Pneumonia: 2,000 internally displaced children immunised in Delta State

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

H

ISTORY was made on Monday November 12, 2012, when the Delta State government immunised 2,000 internally displaced children aged between 2-5 years with 2,000 doses of the pneumococcal vaccine.

The event, first of its kind in Nigeria, was in partnership Pfizer Nigeria, the World Health Organisation, Rotary International, the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, UNICEF and other partners aspart of activities to herald this year’s World Pneumonia Day with the theme “Fight Pneumonia, Save A Child”.

The vaccines were procured through the State’s Ministry of Health, to vaccinate the children simultaneously at the relief camps across the state as one of the strategies aimed at improving the immunisation coverage and prevention of death from preventable childhood diseases in the State.

During the flag off at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp at the Institute of Continuing Education, ICE, along Victor Odogwu Crescent in Oshilmili South Local Government Area, Asaba, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan Delta said the initiative was part of a strategy to reach every child at risk of pneumonia.

“We have chosen to mark this day by identifying with a group of persons that as at now is very susceptible to pneumonia. These are the internally displaced persons. Over 300,000 persons were displaced by the flooding and even though we could only bring in 35,000-40,000 into the various camps, among them are children under 5 years who constitute 30 percent of the population that falls into the age bracket that can be affected by pneumonia.”

The Governor said the strategy to reach every child was starting from the camps out of belief that immunisation would drastically

cut down the number of deaths from pneumonia.

“I want to thank Pfizer who has made it possible for us to get these vaccines at a highly subsidised cost. I'm glad we are the first state to key into this programme and I want to assure you as a responsive government that is medically

played by the recent floods.

“If high immunisation coverage is achieved, then every child in the susceptible age group will be protected. If all eligible children between 0-59 months are vaccinated in a community, then the herd immunity of that community becomes high and inter-

the price is going as low as $20 dollars and that’s why we are here today. It will prevent them for a life time.

“Pneumonia kills 1.4 million people everyday in the world and it is the second commonest cause of death in Nigeria, so what we

•Volunteers immunising children with the PCV 13 vaccine at the ICE Camp for Internally Displaced Persons in Asaba, Delta State last week. PHOTO: Nath Onojake. very conscious we will ensure the maximum benefit is derived,” Uduaghan observed.

In his statement, the State Commissioner for health, Dr. Joseph Otumara, said the initiative is one of the strategies aimed at improving immunization coverage towards prevention of deaths from preventable childhood disorders in the State.

“Today we will be immunising about 2,000 children with the vaccine that has been registered by NAFDAC. Delta state is the first government that has decided to take the future of children in their hands. We want to do it for the sake of these 2,000 children dis-

ruption of preventable childhood killer diseases is achieved,” he said.

In his contribution, Country Manager, Pfizer Nigeria and East African Region, NEAR, Mr. Enrico Liggeri, said the main purpose was to vaccinate children of different ages and prevent them from pneumonia now and in the future.

“What we are doing is immunisation and this is the first State in Nigeria to get the children immunized against pneumonia.

Pneumococcal immunisation was registered in Nigeria 2010, but it was very expensive - about $50 dollars, but

do here in Nigeria is basically to kick-start the programme because this will be the first government progamme in Delta state calling Pfizer and doing a large scale immunization,” Liggeri observed.

In 2011, 7,889 children aged 059 months were managed in the Delta State government health institutions, out of which 6,641 were out-patients while 1,248 were in-patients.

Between January-September 2012, a total of 4,115 cases of pneumonia were recorded in the State – 3,586 as out-patients and 529 as in-patients. Nigeria currently bears 20 percent of the global burden of pneumonia.

Child Health, MNCH, Week in the 57 Local Government Area Councils of the state, today.

Disclosing this at a press conference in Lagos, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina announced that 729 health posts made up of 287 fixed posts and 442 outreach posts have been designated for the on going exercise as part of strategies to ensure the attainment of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs 4 and 5.

Describing the week as high impact, low-cost intervention for mother and child, Adeshina explained that the week-long programme was aimed at promoting ante-natal care for expectant mothers and child care.

While urging families and caregivers to visits the posts along with their underfive children, she said: “The maternal newborn and child health week was introduced with an objective of improving the healthcare seeking-behaviour of the whole family especially mothers and caregivers of children under the age of five years. The week is being celebrated with the provision of an integrated, highimpact preventive and promotive services to the whole family and these services include routine immunization, vitamin A supplementation with growth monitoring and promotion as well as screening of under five children for malnutrition.”

Adeshina said the state’s Maternal Mortality Ratio, MMR of 555 per 100, 000 per live births was unacceptable stressing that mothers are still dying though not from diseases but at normal life enhancing process of recreation.

She said the statistics of the under-5 and infant mortality rates are unacceptably high, with the former at 157 per 1,000 live births and latter 75 per 1,000 live births.

“The November round plans to consolidate on the gains recorded in the lastround as registration of more births is expected and the practice of birth registration enhanced,” she stated.

Highlight of the week will be the crowning of the MNCH prince and princess whom will be selected from the nominated princes and princesses of the 57 local government and local coun. cil development areas.

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Expert warns on dangers of PVC building materials

HIGH POINTS PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic material ever used by home owners.

DEHP produced by PVC has been found to cause damage to reproductive system of sex resulting in partial or total infertility

•says they are environmentally damaging

Virtually in most advanced countries, application and usage of PVC have either been eliminated or restricted for environmental and health reasons.

BY KINGSLEYADEGBOYE

A

UNIVERSITY don and a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Prof.

Samuel Wara has noted that Poly Vinyl Chloride commonly known as PVC which is one of the common synthetic materials heavily used in building construction today, especially for interior finishes, is the most environmentally damaging plastic material ever used by home owners.

According to Wara who is a lecturer in the Department of Electronics Engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the danger in the use of the materials is premised on the fact that the life cycle of PVC right from its production stage to its usage and finally disposal always results in one form of health and environmental hazard or the other.

He said in Nigeria, the use of PVC products such as PVC ceiling, PVC windows and doors as well as roofing materials made from PVC has become the order of the day, pointing out that this is as a result of failure of relevant regulatory agencies involved in the building construction industry to check and enforce the building regulatory code as related to various building materials applications.

Common practice He added that it is now a common practice to see mansions, offices and other heavily occupied buildings being finished with PVC products.Prof Wara said the argument often put forward in support of PVC materials includes their appealing aesthetics, lower cost, fire retardant and lower weight among many others. He however noted that ‘’while these appear tempting, the comment in January 1998 issue of the Environmental Business News is disturbing. This report stated that ‘while Greenpeace has been most vocal regarding environmental and health concerns with PVC, they are by no means the only voice out there expressing such concern’.

There is the urgent need to check influx of PVC products into Nigeria.

•Windows made of PVC materials ‘’Also, the position of the International Association of Fire Fighters in the U.S. does not favour the continuous use of PVC products as building materials. According to the Association, ‘due to its intrinsic hazards, we support effort to identify and use the alternative building materials that do not pose as much risk as PVC to fire fighters, building occupants and the communities’. It is imperative to critically examine the other side of PVC products in the light of its usage as building materials going by growing concerns and call for its abolition in virtually all of advanced countries’’, he said.

On the dangers inherent in the use of PVC-based materials, the fellow of NSE told Vanguard Homes & Property that PVC products which are rich in chlorine; reduces its natural fire

retardant property considerably, explaining that in the event of fire incident in a building finished with PVC products, the materials become a double edge sword in the sense that its long smoulder period enhances release of irritating and poisonous hydrogen chloride gas.

He added that the occupants of such building might get caught up in fire due to late sign of visible fire outbreak. ‘’In addition, building materials made from PVC such as PVC windows, ceilings, doors as well as PVC vinyl flooring and roof release a chemical softener called DiEthyl-Hexyl Phathalate (DEHP), which has been associated with the increase in respiratory sensitisation. Also, some PVC products such as PVC mini-blinds have lead

additives as active component.

This lead additive was found to cause lead poisoning in people living in such buildings, especially in small children. ‘’Flexible PVC such as one used for ceilings and roofs causes harm to indoor air quality and encourages growth of hazardous moulds. Three separate epidemiological studies have found that human exposure to PVC in building interior such as roofs, ceilings, doors, windows, blinds etc causes significant elevated risk of asthma and other pulmonary conditions, including bronchial obstruction, wheezing and pneumonia, prolonged coughing and irritation of nasal passage and eyes. ‘’The hazards posed by dioxins, DEHP and vinyl chloride are largely unique to PVC products owing to the fact that it is the only major

building material and the major plastic that contains chlorine or requires plasticizer or stabilizer.

DEHP produced by PVC has been found to cause damage to reproductive system of sex resulting in partial or total infertility. Notable impairments include testicular damage, reduction in sperm count, suppressed ovulation, abnormal development and function of testes’,he stated.

On what can be done to check this, Prof. Wara said across the world, governments, companies, agencies and scientific organisations have come to a common position and recognised the hazards of PV, pointing out that virtually in most advanced countries, application and usage of PVC have either been eliminated or restricted for environmental and health reasons.

According to him, this is achieved by the introduction of PVC avoidance policies to safeguard the populace, while numerous local and regional governments have put in place specific policies to avoid use of PVC products in building construction in an attempt to checkmate the inherent dangers in PVC.

How to build a book case

F

IRST, choose a location for your bookcase and determine the size that best fits your needs. It may help to make a simple diagram of the book case you are about to make, noting the dimensions for each part.

Secondly, with your dimensions in hand, you are ready to cut the top, sides, and interior shelves out of 3/4'’ birch plywood. Since the birch plywood comes in 4'’ x 8'’ sheets, it will be easiest to use a table saw to rip down the lumber to your desired width. Don’t concern yourself

with cutting the lumber to the proper height or length yet. That will be done in the next step.

Next, take your top, side panels and interior shelves to a miter saw and cut them down to the appropriate length. The miter saw will make a cleaner, more controlled cut than the table saw, and is a better choice for smaller pieces of lumber.

If your dimensions are too large to be cut using your miter saw, the cuts can be made on the table saw, but take great care to make the cuts as clean as possible.

Start by affixing the top to the two side panels using wood glue and finish nails. Then, install the shelves by putting glue in the rabbit joints and sliding the shelves into the joints, one shelf at a time .

With the shelves in place, add finish nails through the outside of the unit to hold the shelves in place.

If you intend to hang the unit on the wall, you will want to glue and nail a 2” strip of wood across the back top edge to use as a cleat.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012—59

MATERIALS WATCH Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block---N130 9 inches vibrated per block---N150 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90

•Low income housing estate

FG committed to providing affordable housing for citizenry— Pepple

By CHRIS OCHAYI

M

INISTER of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple has reiterated that affordable housing is paramount in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, going by the importance of shelter to individuals and the nation.

Ms. Pepple who stated this while commissioning 106 housing units at the weekend at Crown Court Estate, constructed by Crown Realities Plc in Mabushi area of Abuja, said the desire of the present administration is to abridge the current 17 million housing deficit facing the nation.

She expressed satisfaction with the developers, stating that this is what a home should look like. The estate with 106 housing units of detached and semi-detached houses as well as luxury condominiums with first class finishes and facilities on three hectares of land, is a first step in the move by the company to build more houses in the Federal Capital territory.

Informal sector She said, “We want to concentrate on providing houses for low income earners especially those in the informal sector and we believe that even if it is for them it shouldn’t be of low quality”.

The Managing Director, Crown Realties, Mr. Darl Uzu, said the estate is their way of registering presence in the property market in the FCT and tackling housing shortage in the country.

“The estate is safe for residents as the company had gone an extra mile, presently securing life and property has become a major problem in most urban centres in the world. The estate has its own independent power project with three synchronized generators of 600KVA capacity each; elaborate waterworks with 550,000-litre fibre storage tank with a treatment plant, an overhead fibre tank, laundry mart and shopping complex.

“The recreational area has

the club house that features the swimming pool, changing room and gymnasium. There are also fire hydrants and extinguishers in strategic locations within the estate in addition to a telephone exchange that is connected to every apartment with Internet facilities, as well as preinstalled DSTV connections”, Crown Realties boss said.

Uzu explained that the company opted for preinstalled air conditioners in all the apartments so that the beauty of the estate would not

be destroyed by individual installation of air conditioning units.

The chairman of Crown Realities, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, in his remarks said that their developments are always futuristic, and the company had taken its standard a notch higher to development of the estate.

He added that it is the first in the Federal Capital Territory, and that they have plans to embark on more projects in the FCT.

Home &You interiors holds Open Day A

s part of its commitment to promoting lifestyles, Home and You Interiors,one of Nigeria’s fastest growing interior design/furniture and accessory company has concluded plans to hold its Open Day. The Open Day comes up this Saturday.

According to the CEO of the firm, Feyisola Abiru, the open day is to educate and create awareness on the importance and maintenance of home furniture. “The open day is to enable prospective client to view our unique and creative products tailored to meet their specific needs. And our designs which are competitively priced because we seek to deliver on our vision of quality and value for money.

“We are trying to showcase our product to the world with the open day. We would be launching our new line of product and fragrant line. We would also launch our handbook that we have put together for everybody. It is a reference book that will enable people learn one or two tips on how to make your home look as attractive as possible.

“Basically, we cater for the needs of individuals, corporate clients and a few projects. we want to re-

position our brand by engaging and executing more projects. Prior to the open day which is slated for November 24, 2012, there would be a sales week to encourage people to come in and purchase products at a discount rate.

Sand Soft per tipper load ---N13,000 Sharp double tipper load---N23,000 Gravel double tipper load---N25,000 Gravel single tipper load---N18,000 Granite per tipper load----N120,000 Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton ---N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton---N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton---N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton---N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton---N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12---N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12---N800 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece---N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece---N1,500 Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre----------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre----------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre---....N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre---------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre--N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre----N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------N170 25 mm diameter---------------N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length -------N120 25 mm diameter per length------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

Works Perm Sec warns directors against hiding of contractors’ files

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE new Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Works, Dr Abubakar Mohammad has warned directors in the ministry to desist from hiding contractors’ files in an attempt to delay due process for any reason.

Dr Mohammad who took over fromMallam Burka GoniAji told directors from the 21 departments in the ministry to disabuse their minds from the supposition that contractors had come to take away the ministry’s money hence they hide their files in order to delay processing their contracts or certifications.

According to him, “I want directors in this ministry to

desist from hiding the files of contractors that are working with the ministry for reason that the contractors are coming to collect money from the ministry” He explained to the directors that contractors handling projects for the ministry were on contract to provide the needed infrastructure that would help make life easy for the country’s citizenry hence they should not be seen as coming to take the ministry’s money.

He added that contractors and consultants of the ministry are very important partners in progress towards the delivery of service and requested that payment for work satisfactorily done should be prompt.

“For any nation to develop, it needs infrastructure. When you have good infrastructure, the country will be able to attract investors that are not only for foreign direct investment but the local investors too will be happy doing business in the country” Dr Muhammad was redeployed from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to Ministry of Works, while t Alhaji Bukar Goni-Aji was moved from Federal Ministry of Works to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Dr Mohammad also cautioned directors against lackadaisical attitude to work

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Di Matteo to drop Torres against Juve ••• Moses set to play R

OBERTO Di Matteo is prepared to drop Fernando Torres from the Chelsea side to face Juventus in the Champions League - if he thinks it’s right for the team. And should that be the case, Nigerian forward, Victor Moses might be handed a starting role in tonight;s crucial clash He said: “Am I prepared to leave Torres out on Tuesday? I think we will have to assess the whole team and see how everybody is, and

Man U drop Rooney, RVP for Galatasary match

M

ANCHESTER United have left a number of senior players, including Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, behind for the trip to Galatasary on Tuesday.

Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Patrice Evra and David de Gea also miss the Champions League game.

Nani (hamstring), Shinji Kagawa (knee) and Jonny Evans (groin) are also out.

The squad includes seven players yet to play in Europe: Nick Powell, Larnell Cole, Davide Petrucci, Joshua King, Marnick Vermijl and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

•Torres

how they have recovered.

“A lot of players only came back Thursday afternoon or Friday from internationals in Europe and the rest of the world.

“We will assess them and see what the right selection is for Tuesday. If I believe it is the right thing to do for the team, then yes.”

Di Matteo added: “I think as a team we have to be better defending.

You don’t defend with one player - you defend with the whole team, like you want your whole team helping when you are attacking as well.

“It is a defensive organisation on the pitch that we need to look at and, as I said before, maybe I have to do some changes.

“We have got bodies in midfield - the 4-2-3-1 system really helped us last season after the change (of manager) but maybe in terms of personnel we have to do something different.”

•Moses

Juve will match Blues — Buffon

•Ambrose

Benfica clash e xcit es Ambrose ex cites E •Robin van Persie

FE Ambrose is looking forward to Celtic’s UEFA Champions League game against Benfica after Saturday’s hardfought 2-0 victory over Aberdeen.

The Nigerian said: “To get back to winning is a great feeling. The past two or three games in the league have not been good for us. We’ve lost points and conceded goals, but this is football.

Valencia eye Bayern scalp

V

ALENCIA coach Mauricio Pellegrino will seek retribution when his side hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday. The former Valencia player will remember only too well the spot kick he missed against the German giants that decided the 2001 final.

Both teams are on nine points in Group F, while Belarusian side BATE Borisov (six) can illafford to lose at home to pointless Lille if they harbour hopes of making the last 16. Last time they met in September, Bayern saluted 2-1 with goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos.

•Gomez

“We had to be patient and take our chances when they came. The manager asked us to be patient, because the goals would come, even if it took until the 95th minute.

“We know the Benfica game is going to be another difficult game for us,” he said. “We are going to work hard to maintain the same levels we have been used to in the Champions League.

“We are not going there to lose. They are a good team and they have great fans and a good atmosphere, but they know that Celtic are not just there to be run over.

“We have beaten Barcelona and Spartak Moscow, so it will be a different atmosphere.

“If they lose the game, they are out so we know they’re going to give it their all, but we are going to make sure we do the same and not be overawed by the surroundings or the fans.”

•Buffon

J

U V E N T U S goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that the Italian side are on the same level as Chelsea.

“Until now we have showed that we deserve the opponent’s respect and that we will play at the same level,” he said.

“Chelsea’s players deserve respect, they are the European champions and in the last 10 years they have left a mark in world football’s elite.

“When the draw was

made, we knew our group was balanced.

Three teams are going for two places and it will be so until the 95th minute of the game.

“I have faith in this group, in the coach and in the quality of our strikers.”

“There isn’t a problem. There are expectations of the team, of the club and me to end this cycle of big matches and I am hoping they could go in the right way. There won’t be any surprises.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 61

Barca Continues from B/P chances. I will do my best to get in the goals that will help us beat Barcelona,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com “We lost to them at Camp Nou narrowly. I am sure we can beat. “The home loss to Celtic was a big setback for us, but that’s in the past and getting past Barca is my target.”

He added: “Beating Celtic and Barcelona are the only remedies for us to be part of the next round. We can do it for the fact that Celtic beat Barca, we also can beat both of them.

“We can’t be written off, this is football and anything can happen in our next two games.

And we just need to stay positive and give our best.” Spartak final group game will be on December 5 away at second-placed Celtic, who shocked the top Russia club 3-2 in the reverse fixture early last month.

Maigari Continues from B/P Eaglets in Sunday ’s 2013 Under-17 African Junior Championship qualifier in Calabar Maigari, a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship, said the action of the Malian FA is inimical to the overall development of football on the continent, adding that the NFF would follow the protest against the eligibility of such clearly over-aged players in a cadet competition to a conclusive end.

Eko 2012: Corporate lift for Team Delta

E

MINENT Deltans in the political and corporate spectrum extended their support in the quest by Delta State to consolidate her leading role in the forthcoming National Sports Festival holding in Lagos by doling out the sum of N10m.

Leading the pack of donors to lift “Team Delta” are Andy Ayonmike of Waland

Services, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa and Dere Otubu, Group Chairman of Senforce Insurance Brokers.

The Delta State Sports Commission headed by Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has said that it would leave no stone unturned in championing and sustaining a healthy sports revolution in the State, and possibly in Nigeria.

Nations Cup Continues from B/P friendly matches before they land in South Africa for the Nations Cup. Keshi spoke from San Francisco, USA where he had gone to briefly reunite with his family immediately after the friendly with Venezuela in Florida. He returns this week. Read his comments from USA: “What happened in Florida was good. I saw in our team what I wanted to see. They worked and marked well. They worked as a unit. Everybody was a worker against Venezuela that played their full squad. Shola Ameobi was so mature and Dike showed he has power and speed. The result of this is that Eagles will be more competitive from now. If a player cannot give us 110 percent then he may not have a place in our team. I will need at least three quality friendly matches before the Nations Cup. I will prefer that African countries are among them. The matches will give me a better picture of the team we will present in South Africa although everything is in my head now. The good thing is that our team is now more competitive. Anybody that comes into camp now will sit tight. It will not be a piece of cake to play for Eagles. We are determined to achieve that because that’s what will help us in South Africa and the World Cup qualifiers.”

Keshi started building a new team when he was announced the new coach last year after Nigeria failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup. He started infusing local players in the team and it really paid off as the players stood out in matches, sometimes excelling more than the Europe-based players.

He decided to leave out the likes of Osaze Odewengie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Dickson Etuhu after the nightmare performance in Kigali, Rwanda in February. His blending work has continued unlike the coaches before him who saw nothing good in the local players.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 — 63

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Maigari blasts Malian FA over age-cheats

A

LHAJI Aminu Maigari, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken a swipe against

Nations Cup squad in my head — Keshi

the Malian Football Federation (NFF) for allegedly parading ‘old men’ as teenagers against the Golden Continues on page 61

Champions League special on Page 60 DOLLAR MAN — Abebe Dinkesa pocketed $50,000 Obudu Prize money.

Barca must fall, says Emenike

Today’s Fixtures

E •Keshi

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

A

FTER the 3-1 vic tory over Venezu ela Stephen Keshi has become more confident about the team that he is building.

It’s all about the revelations and lessons that friendly matches engender. Shola Ameobi of Newcastle now has a place in Eagles but he must continue to work hard. So is Bright Dike who plays in the Major

League Soccer. Ogenwo Onazi and Nosa Igiebor stamped authority in the friendly in Florida.

Overall, the performance of the players individually and as a team impressed Keshi and he is now appealing to Nigeria Football Federation to ensure Eagles play at least three more quality friendly matches before they land in South Continues on page 61

TODAY'S PUZZLE

MMANUEL Emenike has said home team Spartak Moscow must beat Barcelona tonight to stay alive in the Champions League.

Spartak are bottom of Group G with three points from four matches, but they could improve their chances of going past the group stage with a win over the Catalan giants Barcelona who they almost upset at Camp Nou in September before they lost 3-2.

“Our game at home on Tuesday against Barcelona is a must-win game for us to boost our Continues on page 61

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

Nordsjaelland v Shakhtar Donetsk 8:45pm Juventus v Chelsea 8:45pn BATE Borisov Lille 6pm

v

Valencia v Bayern Munich 8:45pm Spartak Moscow v Barcelona 6pm Benfica v Celtic 8:45pm CFR Cluj-Napoca v Braga 8:45pm •Emenike (r) vies for the ball with Javier Mascherano of Barca.

ACROSS 4 Glue (5) 7 Favour (6) 9 Abrade (3) 10 Swab (3) 12 Recover (5) 13 Stroke (4) 15 Surround (5) 17 Relax (6) 19 Merit (4) 20 Thick (5) 22 Consume (3) 24 Pet (7) 27 And not (3) 28 Quoted (5) 31 Liberate (4) 33 Gear (6) 35 Cogs (5) 37 Daybreak (4) 38 Power (5) 39 Age (3) 41 Freeze (3) 42 Open (6) 43 Seat (5)

Galatasaray v ManU 8:45pm

DOWN 1 Seasoned (6) 2 Go back (6) 3 Edge (3) 4 Chaste (4) 5 Diminish (5) 6 Suffer (8) 8 Garment (4) 11 Pierce (9) 14 Nuisance (4) 16 Asterisk (4) 18 Lank (4) 21 Practice (8) 23 Fold (4) 25 Observe (4) 26 Gentle (4) 29 Problem (6) 30 Signify (6) 32 Moral (5) 34 Cut (4) 36 Engrave (4) 40 Seize (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Omit 4, Sew 6, Muse 9, Art 10, Artifice 11, Snip 14, Big 16, Knell 19, Scimitar 21, Demur 23, Diminish 24, Score 27, Nib 31, Snap 33, Champion 34, Oil 35, Rely 36, Nee 37, Need.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Mart 3, Trip 4, Spirited 5, Whet 6, Mason 7, Urn 8, Still 12, Ashes 13, Ditto 14, Bid 15, Gamin 17, Equip 18, Lithe 20, Ruminate 22, Rib 25, Canoe 26, Reply 28, Scan 29, Open 30, Cope 32, Ail.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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